Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.

No Filming at Concerts and Movie Theaters on Phones

“Please, no flash photography.”

Polite requests like this can be found in museums all over the world, but they generally don’t discourage people from taking photos of 【小题1】 they feel like. The same goes for concerts, movie theaters and other places 【小题2】 people routinely ignore filming restrictions. A new patent from Apple may block that rule-breaking feature—on phones at least.

The patent, 【小题3】 (award) to Apple today, outlines a system which would allow venues, like concert halls or theaters, to use an infrared emitter (红外发射器) to remotely disable the camera function on smartphones. According to the patent, infrared beams could be picked up by the camera, and interpreted by the smartphone as a command 【小题4】 (block) the user from taking any photos or videos.

Many musicians and performers have banned cellphones from their shows 【小题5】 they object to the free footage circulating around the web. 【小题6】 this, images still manage to leak out. Prince’s last concert before he passed away in April was supposed to be cellphone-free—it apparently wasn’t. If Apple’s patent 【小题7】 (introduce) into iPhone software, with venues putting infrared emitters around their stage, leaks like this could potentially stop happening.

But the patent also raises questions about the sort of power that this technology would be handing over to 【小题8】 with more immoral intentions.

Given the company’s rigid support of personal privacy when it comes to police requests to break into users’ devices, it’s possible that Apple just 【小题9】 (patent) the technology so that no one else will use it. But who knows, if it does intend to introduce this feature to future operating systems, sales of camcorders, or even GoPros, could get a much-needed boost, as people try to avoid 【小题10】 (use) the prohibitive software.

Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can be used only once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. applauding       B. entry-level   C. struck   D. fascination   E. back-seat   F. stuck G. stand               H. promoter     I. hook     J. dominant        K. empowered

The nature is part of us. Therefore, it holds a mysterious 【小题1】 for me. In my memory, the valley was quiet and calm, only to see the wheat all over the mountains waving together in rhythm when the wind blew through, like a ballet troupe. The sun rose every morning as usual, sweeping across the valley and ultimately falling behind the peaks. The snow that falls in winter always melts in spring, bringing new hope to this nature where everything was pleasant and beautiful.

Led by fate, I have became an environmentalist and had the honor of being invited to address students about my green lifestyle for a long time. The students were surprised at my lifestyle and maybe they thought my lifestyle was no longer suitable for modern life. Fortunately, they were still listened to whole lecture, saluting or 【小题2】 me——to some extent the applause implied their encouragement to me. As I began to interact with them under the stage, I was 【小题3】 by kids’ lack of knowledge of nature so that they had little knowledge of protecting environment.

After the address, I put up a stand in the 【小题4】 offering green food, hoping them interested in it to get the 【小题5】 experiencing a first-hand feeling of the green lifestyle no one shows any interest in. So I decided to team up with the concert 【小题6】 to run a campaign: “anyone who can answer a(n) 【小题7】 environmental question is qualified to attend the concert. Soon the music can 【小题8】 them coming here”.

Since then , I have been considering why kids today do not have the same deep appreciation for nature that I do. One of the significant factors may be that the former rural civilization has been replaced by the urban civilization. In the past, the poor played the 【小题9】 role in the nature, so they cleared the wasteland, planted crops and reproduced civilization. With the massive invasion of industrialization and urbanization, people were forced to move away from nature. The struggle between tradition and modernity, the confrontation between humans and nature has led people to believe that they are the masters of the universe. Is this really the case? It is time to think about who 【小题10】 us to destroy nature.

My father decided to start learning French when he was 57. On the surface, his retirement hobby seems a little random — our family has no connection to French-speaking countries — but his ______ ran deeper than a passion for cakes. My grandmother developed signs of Alzheimer’s disease (阿尔兹海默症) in her early 70s, and studies suggest that being bilingual, that is, being able to speak two languages equally well, can ______ the start of the condition by up to five years. Drawn by that ______ benefit, many people have attempted to pick up a new language in adulthood.

Lots of activities are linked to better brain health in old age, like getting more education when you’re younger and physical activity. Experts say regularly speaking multiple languages may be especially ______ though. “We use language in all aspects of daily life, so a bilingual brain is ______ working,” said Mark Antoniou, a professor at Western Sydney University who specializes in bilingualism.

The age at which you learn another language appears to be less important than how ______ you speak it. The cognitive (认知的) benefit is from having to ______ your mother tongue, which your brain is forced to do if you’re trying to recall the right words in another language. So if the second language is used a lot, you’re getting that cognitive ______ . That process is called cognitive inhibition. In theory, by improving these types of processes, the brain becomes stronger to the ______ caused by diseases like dementia. The stronger your mental power, the thinking goes, the longer you can function normally, even if your brain health starts to ______ .

However, evidence for the benefits of learning a second language as a hobby in your 60s is ______ . Research by Dr. Antoniou and colleagues found that while Chinese adults 60 and up improved on cognition tests after a six-month language learning program, people who played games like Sudoku did as well. Two more recent studies on the topic found virtually no ______ in cognitive performance after people took part in language-learning programs.

The scientists who conducted those studies offered a few potential ______ . One is that the participants were highly motivated volunteers, who may have already been at peak performance for their age, making it hard to see any ______ . Another is that the language interventions were perhaps too short. The handful of studies looking into the issue have used language lessons that were very different in their ______ and frequency. Some studies taught participants for eight months, others for just one very intense week.

【小题1】

A．affection

B．contribution

C．motivation

D．struggle

【小题2】

A．delay

B．prevent

C．signal

D．stimulate

【小题3】

A．additional

B．educational

C．lasting

D．potential

【小题4】

A．beneficial

B．common

C．impractical

D．rare

【小题5】

A．carelessly

B．constantly

C．creatively

D．delicately

【小题6】

A．long

B．often

C．soon

D．well

【小题7】

A．command

B．practice

C．restrict

D．spread

【小题8】

A．function

B．psychology

C．system

D．training

【小题9】

A．damages

B．operations

C．pains

D．signs

【小题10】

A．decline

B．improve

C．matter

D．restore

【小题11】

A．available

B．mounting

C．stronger

D．weaker

【小题12】

A．difference

B．involvement

C．point

D．reduction

【小题13】

A．applications

B．explanations

C．findings

D．suggestions

【小题14】

A．diversities

B．improvements

C．outcomes

D．possibilities

【小题15】

A．content

B．intention

C．length

D．requirement

Attempts to genetically engineer the American chestnut tree (Darling 58) have failed, exposing the risks of rushed solutions to complex problems. In December 2023, the American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) announced it was ending its years-long effort to create a blight-resistant chestnut. These trees grew poorly, failed to resist disease, and often died.

The American chestnut, once abundant in Eastern U.S. forests, was destroyed by blight in the early 1900s. Some surviving trees sprouted from stumps or resisted the disease naturally. Efforts to restore the species have divided scientists into two camps: one advocating for natural restoration and the other for genetic engineering (GE). The GE approach started in 1989, led by researchers at SUNY-ESF with backing from industry players like Duke Energy, and Monsanto.

In 2020, researchers sought USDA approval to deregulate Darling 58. The tree was engineered with a wheat gene to combat the acid produced by chestnut blight. However, critics argued the testing period was too short to predict the tree’s long-term impact. The proposed plan to spread GE traits through wild forests sparked fears of ecological harm.

By 2023, it was revealed that years of research had mistakenly used the wrong tree variety (Darling 54). TACF withdrew support, citing poor results, reduced survival rates, and commercial conflicts involving a for-profit company. Despite setbacks, SUNY-ESF continues to push for USDA approval, claiming the trees are safe.

Meanwhile, organizations like the American Chestnut Cooperators Foundation focus on natural methods, breeding pure chestnuts with blight resistance. Hybridization with Chinese chestnuts is another method under development.

The Darling 58 debacle highlights the risks of genetic engineering and commercial motives behind GE trees. Critics argue that GE is less about forest health and more about profits from faster-growing or industrially modified trees. As the debate continues, the lesson remains clear: science must proceed cautiously, especially when dealing with long-living species like trees.

【小题1】The primary purpose of this passage is to ________.

A．criticize the use of genetic engineering on chestnut trees in forest restoration.

B．describe the main history of the American chestnut tree’s decline since the 1900s.

C．explain the controversy surrounding the restoration of the American chestnut tree.

D．promote natural breeding as the best solution for chestnut tree restoration.

【小题2】Why did the USDA petition for Darling 58 face criticism?

A．The testing period was not long enough to predict long-term effects.

B．The genetically engineered trees were not resistant to blight.

C．The USDA was accused of favoring genetic engineering companies.

D．The petition did not include input from environmental scientists.

【小题3】According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?

A．Darling 58 chestnut trees were approved for widespread planting in 2023.

B．Natural methods of restoring the American chestnut show no promise.

C．Critics believe the genetic engineering is profit-driven rather than ecological.

D．TACF fully supports SUNY-ESF’s efforts with Darling 58 chestnut trees.

【小题4】What can be inferred about releasing genetically engineered trees into the wild?

A．It may lead to deregulation and commercialization of GE trees.

B．It will rapidly restore ecosystems with minimal risks.

C．It proves corporate interests align with environmental goals.

D．It shows GE is more reliable than natural restoration.

Workplace injuries still happen, In a statistical report produced by Safe Work Australia, there were a total of 104, 770 personal injury claims for a work-related incident last year alone. The most typical type is related to repetitive body movements, followed by unexpected falls and contact with moving equipment. Prioritizing health and safety is essential in creating a positive and productive working environment.

【小题1】According to the info chart, workplace injuries may lead to ________.

A．long leave of absence at work	B．tax avoidance for companies
C．nationwide salary reduction	D．increased mental alertness

【小题2】Which group of percentages best fits the blanks numbered 1, 2 and 3?

A．①17%;②24%;③38%	B．①26%;②43%; ③ 18%
C．①78%;②23%;③30%	D．①39%; ②25%;③17%

【小题3】To ensure safety in the workplace, it is suggested that one should ________.

A．make themselves clean before working	B．wear safety equipment when necessary
C．stretch arms and legs before lifting objects	D．receive proper training on taking breaks

In the past, jobs were about muscles. Now they’re about brains, but in the future, they’ll be about the heart. – Minouche Shafik, the president of Columbia University

LinkedIn researchers recently looked at which skills any given job requires and then identified over 500 likely to be affected by generative A.I. technologies. They then estimated that 96 percent of a software engineer’s current skills — mainly in programming languages — can eventually be possessed by A.I. Skills associated with jobs like legal associates and finance officers will also be highly exposed. In fact, given the broad impact A.I. is set to have, it is quite likely to affect all of our work to some degree or another.

Circling around this research is the big question emerging across so many conversations about A.I. and work, namely: What are our core capabilities as humans?

If we answer this question from a place of fear about what’s left for people in the age of A.I., we can end up admitting a diminished view of human capability. Instead, it’s critical for us all to start from a place that imagines what’s possible for humans in the age of A.I. When we do that, we find ourselves focusing quickly on people skills that allow us to cooperate and innovate in ways technology can intensify but never replace.

A recent Jobs for the Future survey found that 78 percent of the 10 top-employing occupations classified uniquely human skills and tasks as “important” or “very important.” These, commonly referred to as soft skills, include building interpersonal relationships, negotiating between parties and guiding and motivating teams.

Now is the time for leaders, across departments, to develop new ways for students to learn that are more directly tied to where our economy is going, not where it has been. Critically, that involves bringing the same level of preciseness to training around people skills that we have brought to technical skills.

Ultimately, for our society, this comes down to whether we believe in the potential of humans with as much belief as we believe in the potential of A.I. If we do, it is entirely possible to build a world of work that not only is more human but also is a place where all people are valued for the unique skills we have, enabling us to deliver new levels of human achievement across so many areas that affect all of our lives.

【小题1】According to LinkedIn’s recent research, __________.

A．soft engineers are required to identify 500 languages

B．A.I. will replace humans in jobs requiring certain skills

C．we humans underestimate the impact A.I. is set to have

D．A.I. technologies are to influence research to some degree

【小题2】Which of the following is “a diminished view of human capability” (paragraph 3)?

A．Humans are losing control of the world.

B．Technology intensifies humans’ cooperation.

C．Humans outsmart A.I in terms of critical thinking.

D．A.I. and humans are similar in their ability to innovate.

【小题3】Leaders in different departments are advised to __________.

A．teach students unique technical skills	B．develop students’ soft skills for their future
C．remind students where our economy is going	D．build healthy interpersonal relationships with students

【小题4】According to the writer, what is the core factor of human development?

A．Practical value set on skills.	B．Firm belief about A.I. technologies.
C．Decisive effects brought by A.I.	D．Confidence in our potential.