资源简介

西南大学附中2023—2024学年度下期期中考试
高二英语试题
（满分：150分；考试时间：120分钟）
第二部分 阅读（共两节，满分50分）
第一节（共15小题；每小题2.5分，满分37.5分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。
A
The library is the heart of a university—its collections, services, and study spaces are central to every student’s educational journey. Let’s take a look at some famous university libraries around the world.
Magdalen College Old Library
Oxford University is famous for its academic programs, but it’s also known for its outstanding libraries that are said to include more than 11 million books. The Old Library at Magdalen College is the crown jewel of the university’s library system. It contains more than 20,000 rare books and manuscripts. Nearly all of these volumes were published before 1800.
TU Delft Library
The library at the Delft University of Technology was constructed in 1997, which has more than 862,000 books, 16,000 magazine subscriptions and its own museum. But it will only take a glance to be attracted, as it is a sight to remember. The building itself exists beneath the ground, so you can’t really see the actual library. What makes it interesting is the roof, which is a grassy hill.
Trinity College Library
The Trinity College Library in Dublin is the oldest library in Ireland, founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. It contains more than 200,000 of the library’s oldest books. Treasures of the library’s extensive collection include a rare copy of the 1916 proclamation (宣言) of the Irish Republic and a beautiful 15th century harp (竖琴).
Joe and Rika Mansueto Library
Opened in 2011, the Joe and Rika Mansueto Library at the University of Chicago is designed with a grand glass roof, perfect for staring out when you are tired. The library can hold around 3.5 million volumes through its underground automatic storage system. If you are not already impressed, the librarians, robotic cranes, will knock your socks off. They can locate and bring you any book within an average time of 3 minutes.
21. What do Magdalen College Old Library and Trinity College Library have in common
A. Both house stringed instruments.
B. Both feature attractive designs.
C. Both boast numerous ancient books.
D. Both gain recognition as crown jewels.
22. Which library possesses its own museum
A. TU Delft Library. B. Trinity College Library.
C. Magdalen College Old Library. D. Joe and Rika Mansueto Library.
23. Who might the passage be intended for
A. Music enthusiasts. B. Book collectors.
C. Exchange students. D. Jewel designers.
【答案】21. C 22. A 23. C
【解析】
【导语】本文是一篇应用文。主要介绍了世界上一些著名的大学图书馆。
【21题详解】
细节理解题。根据小标题Magdalen College Old Library下的段落中“It contains more than 20,000 rare books and manuscripts. Nearly all of these volumes were published before 1800.(里面有2万多本珍本书籍和手稿。几乎所有这些卷书都是在1800年以前出版的)”以及小标题Trinity College Library下的段落中“The Trinity College Library in Dublin is the oldest library in Ireland, founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. It contains more than 200,000of the library’s oldest books.(都柏林的三一学院图书馆是爱尔兰最古老的图书馆，由伊丽莎白女王一世于1592年建立。它收藏了20多万本图书馆最古老的书籍)”可知，Magdalen College Old Library和Trinity College Library的共同之处是两者都拥有大量的古籍。故选C项。
【22题详解】
细节理解题。根据小标题TU Delft Library下的段落中“The library at the Delft University of Technology was constructed in 1997,which has more than 862,000 books,16,000 magazine subscriptions and its own museum.(代尔夫特理工大学的图书馆建于1997年，拥有超过86.2万册图书，1.6万份杂志订阅和自己的博物馆)”可知，TU Delft Library有自己的博物馆。故选A项。
【23题详解】
推理判断题。根据第一段“The library is the heart of a university—its collections, services, and study spaces are central to every student’s educational journey.”（图书馆是大学的心脏，它的藏书、服务和学习空间对每个学生的教育之旅都至关重要。）可知，短文的对象是交换生。故选C项。
B
My mom spent years as a stay-at-home mom so that my brothers and I could focus on our education. However, I could tell from her curiosity of and attitudes toward working women that she envied their financial freedom and the self-esteem that must come with it. When I asked her about working again, she would tell me to focus on achieving my dream. I knew she had once dreamed for herself.
For years, I watched her effortlessly light up conversations with both strangers and family. Her empathy and ability to reach the heart could make anyone laugh, even when the story itself did not apply to them at all. “Mom, have you ever thought about being a stand-up comedian ” “It is too late for me, son,” she responded, laughing at the idea. I could not bear to watch her struggle between ambition and doubt.
Her birthday was coming up. Although I had already bought her a present, I knew what I actually wanted to give her. I placed little notes of encouragement inside the present. I asked my family and her friends to do the same. Eventually I had collected 146 notes, and each with the same sentiment, “You are humorous, full of life, and ready to take on the stage.”
On the day of her birthday, my mom unwrapped my present. She was not surprised as she had been hinted at it for long. But then she saw those little notes. She started to weep with her hands full of notes. She could not believe the support was real.
Within two months, my mom gave her first performance in a New York comedy club. I have read the notes countless times with my mom. They are framed and line the walls of her new office space that she rented with the profits she made from working as a professional comedian. For many parents, their children’s careers are their greatest accomplishment, but for me my mom’s is mine.
24. What was the attitude of the author’s mother to working women
A. She was curious about their income.
B. She admired what work brought them.
C She felt indifferent to working women.
D. She appreciated their ambitions in finance.
25. According to the author, what makes his mother a good comedian
A Her effort in making friends. B. Her talent to bring people joy.
C. Her curiosity about working women. D. Her desire for financial independence.
26. How did his mother feel when reading the notes on her birthday
A. Amazed and hesitant. B. Sad and disappointed.
C. Moved and encouraged. D. Delighted and proud.
27. Which can be the best title for this article
A. My Mom’s Greatest Success. B. My Mom’s Comedy Career.
C. A Special Birthday Gift. D. A Journey to Independence.
【答案】24. B 25. B 26. C 27. C
【解析】
【导语】本文是一篇记叙文。文章主要讲述了作者在看到母亲对职业女性的憧憬和羡慕之后，决定帮助母亲，于是在母亲生日这天，送给了母亲一个特别的礼物，即自己从家人和朋友那里收集的146条鼓励母亲的小纸条，母亲很感动也很受鼓舞，最终母亲实现了自己的梦想。
【24题详解】
细节理解题。根据第一段中的“However, I could tell from her curiosity of and attitudes toward working women that she envied their financial freedom and the self-esteem that must come with it.(然而，从她对职业女性的好奇和态度中，我可以看出她羡慕她们的财务自由和随之而来的自尊)”可知，作者的母亲对职业女性很好奇，她很羡慕职业女性因工作所带来的财政自由和自尊，故选B。
【25题详解】
细节理解题。根据第二段中的“For years, I watched her effortlessly light up conversations with both strangers and family. Her empathy and ability to reach the heart could make anyone laugh, even when the story itself did not apply to them at all.(多年来，我看到她毫不费力地点亮了与陌生人和家人的谈话。她的同情心和打动人心的能力能让任何人开怀大笑，即使这个故事本身并不适用于他们)”可知，作者的母亲在与人交流和逗笑他人方面上有天赋，所以作者认为，母亲的天赋能给人们带来欢乐，这是母亲成为一名优秀的喜剧演员的原因。故选B。
【26题详解】
推理判断题。根据第四段“She was not surprised as she had hinted at it for long. But then she saw those little notes. She started to weep with her hands full of notes. She could not believe the support was real.(她并不感到惊讶，因为她早就得到暗示过了。但后来她看到了那些小纸条。她开始哭了，手里拿满了纸条。她不敢相信这种支持是真的)”可推知，当作者的母亲读到她生日的笔记时会感动和受鼓励的，故选C。
【27题详解】
主旨大意题。通读全文，尤其是第三段“Her birthday was coming up. Although I had already bought her a present, I knew what I actually wanted to give her. I placed little notes of encouragement inside the present. I asked my family and her friends to do the same. Eventually I had collected 146 notes, and each with the same sentiment, “You are humorous, full of life, and ready to take on the stage.”(她的生日快到了。虽然我已经给她买了礼物，但我知道我真正想送她什么。我在礼物里放了一些鼓励的小纸条。我要求我的家人和她的朋友也这样做。最终我收集到了146条笔记，每一条的感想都是一样的：“你很幽默，充满活力，准备上台了。”)”可知，文章主要讲述了作者在看到母亲对职业女性的憧憬和羡慕之后，决定帮助母亲，于是在母亲生日这天，送给了母亲一个特别的礼物，即自己从家人和朋友那里收集的146条鼓励母亲的小纸条，母亲很感动也很受鼓舞，最终母亲实现了自己的梦想。C项“特别的生日礼物”适合作文章标题，故选C。
C
Clothes were once used until they fell apart. Not today. In high-income countries in particular, clothing and footwear are increasingly frequently bought, thrown away and replaced with new fashions, which are themselves soon thrown away and replaced.
The so-called “fast fashion” is having a surprising environmental impact. Take water. The fashion industry, one of the world’s largest users of water, consumes anywhere from 20 trillion to 200 trillion litres every year. Then there are microplastics. Plastic fibres are released when we wash polyester (聚酯纤维) and other polymer-based textiles (纺织品), and make up between 20% and 35% of the microplastics choking the oceans. Added to this are specific chemicals, such as those used to make fabrics stain resistant and the pesticides required to protect crops such as cotton.
Change is badly needed, but will require the fashion industry to work harder to embrace more of what is known as the circular economy. That will involve at least two things: refocusing on making things that last, and so encouraging reuse; and more rapidly expanding the technologies for sustainable manufacturing processes, especially recycling. There’s a big role for research—both academic and industrial—in achieving these and other ambitions.
Researchers could begin by helping to provide more accurate estimates of water use. There is also work to be done on improving and expanding textiles recycling. Undoubtedly, used textiles go to landfill in part because there are relatively few systems that collect, recycle and reuse materials. Such recycling requires the manual separation of fibres, as well as buttons and zips. Different fibres are not easy to identify by eye, and overall such manual processes are time-consuming. Machinery is being developed that can help. Technologies also exist to recycle used fibres chemically and to create high-quality fibres that can be reused in clothing. But these are nowhere near the scale needed.
28. Why does the author mention “water”, “microplastics” and “chemicals” in Paragraph 2
A. To list examples. B. To prove a point.
C. To provide an idea. D. To give a definition.
29. Which of the following goes against the concept of “circular economy”
A. Efforts are made to lengthen the lifespan of textiles.
B. Worn-out clothes are used as dishcloths and oil rags.
C. High-quality fibres are created to be reused in clothing.
D. Fashion industry is encouraged to release new lines more often.
30. What is the right thing for the fashion industry researchers to do
A. To make sure that all of the used textiles go to landfill.
B. To separate fibres, as well as buttons and zips manually.
C. To improve and expand textile recycling to a larger extent.
D. To encourage consumers to satisfy their desires for fashion.
31. Which of the following is a suitable title for the text
A. Say No to the So-Called Fast Fashion
B. Address the Challenges for Researchers
C. Embrace More of the Circular Economy
D. Cut Fast Fashion’s Environmental Impact
【答案】28. B 29. D 30. C 31. D
【解析】
【导语】本文是一篇说明文，文章主要介绍了所谓的“快时尚”正在对环境产生了不良影响，因此我们需要减少快时尚对环境的影响。
【28题详解】
推理判断题。根据第二段的“The so-called ‘Fast fashion’ is having a surprising environmental impact.(所谓的“快时尚”正在对环境产生惊人的影响)”和“The fashion industry, one of the world’s largest users of water, consumes anywhere from 20 trillion to 200 trillion litres every year. Then there are microplastics. Plastic fibres are released when we wash polyester (聚酯纤维) and other polymer-based textiles, and make up between 20% and 35% of themicro plastics choking the oceans. Added to this are specific chemicals, such as those used to make fabrics stain resistant and the pesticides required to protect crops such as cotton.(时装业是世界上用水最多的行业之一，每年的用水量在20万亿到200万亿升之间。还有微塑料。当我们清洗聚酯纤维和其他基于聚合物的纺织品时，塑料纤维被释放出来，构成了阻塞海洋的20%到35%的微塑料。除此之外，还有一些特殊的化学物质，比如用来使织物耐污的化学物质，以及保护棉花等作物所需的农药)”可知，作者在第二段中提到“水”、“微塑料”和“化学品”的是为了证明一个观点——“快时尚”正在对环境产生惊人的影响。故选B。
【29题详解】
推理判断题。根据第三段的“That will involve at least two things: refocusing on making things that last, and so encouraging reuse; and more rapidly expanding the technologies for sustainable manufacturing processes, especially recycling. There’s a big role for research--both academic and industrial--in achieving these and other ambitions.(这将至少涉及两件事：重新专注于让物品耐用，从而鼓励重复使用；更迅速地扩大可持续生产工艺的技术，特别是回收利用。在实现这些和其他雄心方面，学术和工业研究都发挥着重要作用)”可推知，鼓励时尚产业更频繁地发布新产品与“循环经济”的概念不符。故选D。
【30题详解】
细节理解题。根据第四段的“Researchers could begin by helping to provide more accurate estimates of water use. There is also work to be done on improving and expanding textiles recycling.(研究人员可以从帮助提供更准确的用水量估算开始。在改善和扩大纺织品回收方面也有工作要做)”可知，时尚行业研究者应该做的正确的事情是在更大程度上改善和扩大纺织品回收利用。故选C。
【31题详解】
主旨大意题。通读全文，尤其是第二段的“The so-called ‘Fast fashion’ is having a surprising environmental impact.(所谓的“快时尚”正在对环境产生惊人的影响)”和第三段的“Change is badly needed, but will require the fashion industry to work harder to embrace more of what is known as the circular economy.(变革是迫切需要的，但这需要时尚行业更加努力，更多地接受所谓的循环经济)”可知，文章讲述了所谓的“快时尚”对环境产生的影响，以及给我们提供的建议，以避免这种影响，因此最好的题目是D选项“Cut fast fashion’s environmental impact(减少快时尚对环境的影响)”。故选D。
D
Amazon’s Alexa will be able to revive the voices of deceased relatives, allowing users to feel as if they are speaking to lost ones beyond the grave.
In a video shown on stage, Amazon demonstrated how, instead of the robot Alexa’s signature voice reading a story to a young boy, it was his grandmother’s voice.
Rohit Prasad, an Amazon senior vice president, said the updated system will be able to collect enough voice data from less than a minute of audio to make personalization like this possible, rather than having someone spend hours in a recording studio like how it’s done in the past.
The concept starts from Amazon looking at new ways to add more “human features” to artificial intelligence, especially “in the post-pandemic era, when so many of us have lost someone we love,” Prasad said. “While AI can’t rid that pain of loss, it can definitely make their memories last.”
Amazon has long used AI recreations of people’s voices to voice Alexa. But they have also increasingly improved over the past few years, particularly with the use of AI and deepfake (高仿真的) technology.
However, Amazon’s attempt at personalized Alexa voices may struggle most with the weird valley effect—recreating a voice that is so similar to a loved one’s but isn’t quite right, which leads to rejection by real humans. “For some, they will view this as creepy or outright terrible, but for others it could be viewed in a more profound way, perhaps for the first time and in a way that isn’t a strict recording from the past.” said Michael Inouye of ABI Research. He believes, however, the varying reactions to announcements like this speak to how society will have to adjust to the promise of innovations and their eventual reality in the years ahead.
The technology is also likely to lead to fears that it could be used to impersonate living people, which could be used to bypass security systems. In 2019, a manager at a British energy company lost almost￡200,000 after criminals used AI to fake his boss’s voice, directing him to transfer the company’s funds to a foreign bank account.
32. What is the feature of the updated system of Amazon’s Alexa
A. It will use AI recreations of people’s voices.
B. It will free the grandmother from reading a story.
C. It will be highly efficient in collecting voice data.
D. It will make a breakthrough in deepfake technology.
33. What would Michael Inouye probably agree with
A. We should tolerate the limitations of new technology.
B. Technology should meet the promises it made before.
C. Technology should recreate exactly our loved ones’ voice.
D. We should constantly increase our demand for technology.
34. What does the underlined word “impersonate” in the last paragraph mean
A. Interact with. B. Prove to be.
C. Have command of. D. Pretend to be.
35. What’s the author’s attitude towards Alexa’s personalized voices
A. Critical. B. Objective. C. Supportive. D. Skeptical.
【答案】32. C 33. A 34. D 35. B
【解析】
【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章描述了亚马逊新的AI人声模仿科技亚历克斯，它可以模仿人们失去的亲人的声音，但是同时它也具有弊端。
【32题详解】
细节理解题。根据文章第三段“Rohit Prasad, an Amazon senior vice president, said the updated system will be able to collect enough voice data from less than a minute of audio to make personalization like this possible, rather than having someone spend hours in a recording studio like how it’s done in the past.(亚马逊高级副总裁罗希特·普拉萨德(Rohit Prasad)表示，升级后的系统将能够从不到一分钟的音频中收集足够的语音数据，从而使这样的个性化成为可能，而不是像过去那样让人在录音室里呆上几个小时)”可知，亚马逊Alexa升级后的系统的特点是它将在收集语音数据方面非常高效。故选C项。
33题详解】
推理判断题。根据文章第六段“However, Amazon’s attempt at personalized Alexa voices may struggle most with the weird valley effect—recreating a voice that is so similar to a loved one’s but isn’t quite right, which leads to rejection by real humans. “For some, they will view this as creepy or outright terrible, but for others it could be viewed in a more profound way, perhaps for the first time and in a way that isn’t a strict recording from the past.” said Michael Inouye of ABI Research. He believes, however, the varying reactions to announcements like this speak to how society will have to adjust to the promise of innovations and their eventual reality in the years ahead.(然而，亚马逊在个性化Alexa语音方面的尝试可能会遇到奇怪的山谷效应——重新创造一个与亲人非常相似但不太正确的声音，这会导致真实的人类拒绝。“对一些人来说，他们会认为这令人毛骨悚然或彻头彻尾的可怕，但对另一些人来说，可以用更深刻的方式来看待它，也许是第一次，而不是从过去的严格记录中看待它。”ABI Research的Michael Inouye表示。然而，他认为，人们对这类公告的不同反应表明，在未来几年，社会将不得不适应创新的前景及其最终的现实)”可知，Michael Inouye认为新技术有其弊端，但也需要人们用不同方式看待它，社会需要适应并接纳新技术的实现。故选A项。
【34题详解】
词义猜测题。根据文章最后一段“The technology is also likely to lead to fears that it could be used to impersonate living people, which could be used to bypass security systems. (这项技术还可能引发人们的担忧，担心它可能被用来_____活人，从而绕过安全系统)”及下文“ In 2019, a manager at a British energy company lost almost ￡200,000 after criminals used AI to fake his boss’s voice, directing him to transfer the company’s funds to a foreign bank account.(2019年，英国一家能源公司的一名经理损失了近20万英镑，原因是犯罪分子利用人工智能伪造了他老板的声音，引导他将公司的资金转移到一个外国银行账户)”可知，这项技术会引发利用AI冒充活人的担忧，它是有弊端的，根据各选项意思A项：与……互动；B项：被证实为；C项：精通；D项：假装，假冒。根据含义D项匹配该语境含义。故选D项。
【35题详解】
推理判断题。根据文章第五段“Amazon has long used AI recreations of people’s voices to voice Alexa. But they have also increasingly improved over the past few years, particularly with the use of AI and deepfake technology.(亚马逊长期以来一直使用人工智能模拟人类的声音来为Alexa说话。但在过去几年里，它们也在不断改进，尤其是在人工智能和高仿真的技术的使用下)”以及文章第六段第一句“However, Amazon’s attempt at personalized Alexa voices may struggle most with the weird valley effect—recreating a voice that is so similar to a loved one’s but isn’t quite right, which leads to rejection by real humans. (然而，亚马逊在个性化Alexa语音方面的尝试可能会遇到奇怪的山谷效应——重新创造一个与亲人非常相似但不太正确的声音，这会导致真实的人类拒绝)”以及文章第七段“ In 2019, a manager at a British energy company lost almost ￡200,000 after criminals used AI to fake his boss’s voice, directing him to transfer the company’s funds to a foreign bank account.(2019年，英国一家能源公司的一名经理损失了近20万英镑，原因是犯罪分子利用人工智能伪造了他老板的声音，引导他将公司的资金转移到一个外国银行账户)”可知，作者描述了Alexa个性化声音的优点和弊端，说明作者的态度是客观的。故选B项。
第二节（共5小题；每小题2.5分，满分12.5分）
阅读下面短文，从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
It happens from time to time that after a whole morning of studying, you are tired in the afternoon. It is then that you may want to eat something sweet, perhaps a sweet drink or a chocolate bar to lift your mood. ___36___
But a study suggests that sugar can make you feel worse rather than lift your mood. The German and UK researchers collected data from 31 studies involving nearly 1,300 adults. ___37___ Those emotions include anger, alertness, depression and tiredness. They found that people who have too much sugar become more tired and less alert within an hour, and that these feelings become more intense over time.
According to researchers, when people take in sugar, their blood sugar levels rise rapidly, leading to a burst of energy and a short “feel good” period. However, as they begin to digest the sugar, their blood sugar levels decrease quickly, leading to a bad feeling. ___38___ As with caffeine, this prevents the body from relaxing, leaving people being tired and less alert.
___39___ According to WHO, it is healthy to have the sugars found naturally in fruit, vegetables and milk, so long as they make up less than 5 percent of our daily total energy intake.
So the next time you feel tired and can’t concentrate on study and work, perhaps you should think twice before you bite into a chocolate bar. There are still other ways to relieve tiredness. ___40___
A. Maybe a little exercise at midday is a better idea.
B. So cutting sweet food out of the diet is a good choice.
C. They studied the effect of sugar on some aspects of mood.
D. After all, it’s believed that a “sugar rush” gives you energy.
E. Sugar in any form is not necessarily good for the human body.
F. But the result of the study doesn’t mean giving up sweet food altogether.
G. To remain on a “high”, people may eat more sugar until they become addicted to it.
【答案】36. D 37. C 38. G 39. F 40. A
【解析】
【导语】本文是一篇说明文。主要介绍了糖在被消化时会使人的血糖降低，让人情绪低落，但适量摄入水果、蔬菜和牛奶中的天然糖分对人的健康有好处。
【36题详解】
上文“It is then that you may want to eat something sweet, perhaps a sweet drink or a chocolate bar to lift your mood.(那时你可能想要吃一些甜的东西，也许是一杯甜饮料或一块巧克力来提升你的情绪)”说明你可能会想要吃甜的东西来提升情绪，D项“毕竟，人们相信“甜蜜冲刺”会给你能量。”说明人们想要吃甜的东西的原因，承接上文，符合题意。故选D。
【37题详解】
上文“The German and UK researchers collected data from 31 studies involving nearly 1,300 adults.(德国和英国的研究人员从包括近1300名成年人的31项研究中收集了数据)”说明研究人员收集了很多数据，以及下文“Those emotions include anger, alertness, depression and tiredness.(这些情绪包括愤怒、警觉、沮丧和疲惫)”说明其中包括一些消极的情绪，C项中They指代上文中的The German and UK researchers，C项“他们研究了糖对情绪某些方面的影响。”承上启下，符合题意。故选C。
【38题详解】
上文“However, as they begin to digest the sugar, their blood sugar levels decrease quickly, leading to a bad feeling.(然而，当他们开始消化糖时，他们的血糖水平会迅速下降，导致一种糟糕的感觉)”说明人们消化糖时，血糖下降会导致不好的感觉，G项“为了保持“高”，人们可能会吃更多的糖，直到上瘾。”说明人们对于上文出现的情况采取的应对措施，承接上文，符合题意。故选G。
【39题详解】
下文“According to WHO, it is healthy to have the sugars found naturally in fruit, vegetables and milk, so long as they make up less than 5 percent of our daily total energy intake.(据世界卫生组织称，水果、蔬菜和牛奶中的天然糖分是健康的，只要它们占我们每日总能量摄入的比例不到5%)”说明适量摄入天然糖分是健康的，F项“但研究结果并不意味着完全放弃甜食。”建议不要完全放弃甜食，引出下文，符合题意。故选F。
【40题详解】
上文“There are still other ways to relieve tiredness.(还有其他缓解疲劳的方法)”说明缓解疲劳还有其他方法，A项“也许中午做点运动是个好主意。”举例说明了缓解疲劳的方法，承接上文，符合题意。故选A。
第三部分 语言运用（共两节，满分30分）
第一节（共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分）
阅读下面短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
Back in the days when I was just a young student, I was always absent from school ___41___, too shy to step into the public attention. My grades, though not absolutely good, was above the ___42___. However, an unexpected incident allowed me to___43___life lessons and gradually accept the challenges thrown at me.
One rainy afternoon, while walking home from school, an accident happened. A speeding car ___44___me, leaving me with a broken leg. Lying on my hospital bed,pain aching through my body, the reality of my situation ___45___. This unforeseen incident had set me back academically, and I needed to figure out how to achieve my previous___46___.
With the help of my parents and teachers, who ___47___accompanied me through the healing process, I managed to transform my ___48___ into a stepping stone. I began to acquire the will to push myself beyond my limits. After several months, I returned to school. My teachers had made accommodations for me, which included access to ___49___classes to catch up on the lessons I missed. Fueled by a newfound ___50___, I made every effort to engage in all activities and strived to stay active in both the academic and extracurricular fields.
In the end, my actions___51___fruit. Not only did my academic performance improve, but I also developed an ability to adapt to unexpected situations. I realized the importance of being able to___52___my fears and overcome them. The incident that I___53___viewed as a major discouragement was, in fact, a turning point in my life. It was an opportunity to adjust my perspective and learn to admire the strength within myself.
The___54___did not happen overnight. It was a gradual process, just like adding a new piece to a puzzle every day. But with each piece, I moved one step closer to the bigger ___55___ .
41. A. camps B. days C. facilities D. events
42. A. minimum B. maximum C. average D. majority
43. A. absorb B. forget C. teach D. avoid
44. A. approached B. hit C. lifted D. followed
45. A. gave in B. sank in C. fit in D. cut in
46. A. standing B. playing C. suffering D. finding
47 A. occasionally B. casually C. constantly D. scarcely
48. A. shyness B. setback C. strength D. performance
49. A. practical B. optional C. basic D. extra
50. A. drive B. concept C. version D. skill
51. A. planted B. distributed C. sold D. bore
52. A. assess B. address C. monitor D. hide
53. A. initially B. actually C. suddenly D. eventually
54. A. inspiration B. assumption C. transformation D. exploration
55. A. space B. ambition C. picture D. capacity
【答案】41. D 42. C 43. A 44. B 45. B 46. A 47. C 48. B 49. D 50. A 51. D 52. B 53. A 54. C 55. C
【解析】
【导语】本文是一篇记叙文。文章主要讲的是作者被车撞了，原本这个事情影响了作者的学业，后来作者趁此机会改变了自己，从一个害羞的人变成一个积极参加各种活动的人。
【41题详解】
考查名词词义辨析。句意：当我还是一个年轻的学生时，我总是缺席学校的活动，太害羞了，不敢进入公众的视线。A. camps营地；B. days一天；C. facilities设施；D. events活动。根据下文“too shy to step into the public attention”可知，作者太害羞了，不敢在公共场合多露面，所以作者总是缺席学校的活动。故选D。
【42题详解】
考查名词词义辨析。句意：我的成绩虽然不是很好，但在平均水平之上。A. minimum最小值；B. maximum最大值；C. average平均水平；D. majority大多数。根据上文“though not absolutely good”可知，作者的成绩虽然不是很好，但在平均水平之上。故选C。
【43题详解】
考查动词词义辨析。句意：然而，一件意想不到的事情让我吸取了人生的教训，并逐渐接受了抛给我的挑战。A. absorb吸取；B. forget忘记；C. teach教；D. avoid避免。根据下文“gradually accept the challenges thrown at me”可知，有一件事让作者吸取了教训，逐渐敢于接受挑战。故选A。
【44题详解】
考查动词词义辨析。句意：一辆超速行驶的汽车撞了我，把我的腿摔断了。A. approached接近；B. hit撞击；C. lifted提起；D. followed跟随。根据下文“leaving me with a broken leg”可知，作者被车撞了。故选B。
【45题详解】
考查动词短语辨析。句意：躺在医院的病床上，全身疼痛，我渐渐意识到自己的处境。A. gave in屈服；B. sank in领悟：完全被知晓、感受或理解；C. fit in适应；D. cut in插嘴。根据下文“This unforeseen incident had set me back academically”可知，作者开始领悟到自己的处境，也就是作者开始渐渐意识到自己的处境。故选B。
【46题详解】
考查名词词义辨析。句意：这件意外的事让我在学业上倒退了，我需要想办法恢复到以前的水平。A. standing地位；B. playing演奏；C. suffering苦难；D. finding发现。根据上文“This unforeseen incident had set me back academically”可知，这件意外的事让作者在学业上倒退了，作者需要想办法恢复到以前的水平，空格处意为“地位”。故选A。
【47题详解】
考查副词词义辨析。句意：在父母和老师的帮助下，他们一直陪伴着我度过康复的过程，我成功地把挫折变成了垫脚石。A. occasionally偶尔；B. casually随意地；C. constantly一直；D. scarcely秘密地。根据上文“my parents and teachers”和下文“accompanied me through the healing process”可知，作者的父母和老师一直陪伴着作者。故选C。
【48题详解】
考查名词词义辨析。句意：在父母和老师的帮助下，他们一直陪伴着我度过康复的过程，我成功地把挫折变成了垫脚石。A. shyness害羞；B. setback挫折；C. strength力量；D. performance表现。根据上文“This unforeseen incident had set me back academically”可知，这个事情影响了作者的学业，所以对作者来说是一个挫折，作者成功地把挫折变成了垫脚石。故选B。
【49题详解】
考查形容词词义辨析。句意：我的老师为我做了一些安排，包括让我上额外的课来补课。A. practical实用的；B. optional可选择的；C. basic基本的；D. extra额外的。根据下文“to catch up on the lessons I missed”可知，作者要上额外的课来弥补之前错过的课。故选D。
【50题详解】
考查名词词义辨析。句意：在一种新的动力的推动下，我尽一切努力参加各种活动，努力在学术和课外领域保持活跃。A. drive驱动力；B. concept概念；C. version版本；D. skill技能。根据上文“I began to acquire the will to push myself beyond my limits”可知，作者找到了新的动力，空格处意为“驱动力”。故选A。
【51题详解】
考查动词词义辨析。句意：最后，我的行动取得了成果。A. planted种植；B. distributed分发；C. sold卖；D. bore结果实。根据下文“Not only did my academic performance improve, but I also developed an ability to adapt to unexpected situations”可知，作者的行动取得了成果，空格处意为“结果实”。故选D。
【52题详解】
考查动词词义辨析。句意：我意识到直面恐惧并克服它们的重要性。A. assess评估；B. address设法解决；C. monitor监督；D. hide躲藏。根据下文“my fears and overcome them”可知，作者直面恐惧，并克服它们，也就是解决了恐惧。故选B。
【53题详解】
考查副词词义辨析。句意：这件事起初被我视为一大挫折，但实际上却是我人生的转折点。A. initially最初；B. actually事实上；C. suddenly突然；D. eventually最终。根据上文“This unforeseen incident had set me back academically”可知，刚开始作者认为这个事情影响作者的学业了，把它当成一个挫折。故选A。
【54题详解】
考查名词词义辨析。句意：这种转变不是一夜之间发生的。A. inspiration灵感；B. assumption猜想；C. transformation转变；D. exploration探索。根据上文“I made every effort to engage in all activities and strived to stay active in both the academic and extracurricular fields”可知，作者借着这次事件改变了自己，因此这是一个转变。故选C。
【55题详解】
考查名词词义辨析。句意：但每完成一件作品，我就离更大的蓝图更近了一步。A. space空间；B. ambition野心；C. picture图片；D. capacity能力。根据上文“adding a new piece to a puzzle every day”可知，作者的转变就像是每天在拼图上加一块新东西一样，因此每完成一件作品，作者就能构建出更大的图片，故选C。
第二节（共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分）
阅读下面句子，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
56. In many countries, a driving license is a valid ____________ (prove) of identity. (所给词的适当形式填空)
【答案】proof
【解析】
【详解】考查名词。句意：在许多国家，驾驶执照是有效的身份证明。此处应用名词proof作表语，由a可知，应用单数，故填proof。
57. It was the first time that the novel by Charles Dickens ____________ (adapt) into cinema. (所给词的适当形式填空)
【答案】had been adapted
【解析】
【详解】考查时态语态。句意：这是查尔斯·狄更斯的小说第一次被改编成电影。It was the first time that后接过去完成时，主语the novel与谓语adapt为被动关系，应用过去完成时的被动语态。故填had been adapted。
58. I kindly request your assistance in ____________ (logic) organizing the data for my research project. (所给词的适当形式填空)
【答案】logically
【解析】
【详解】考查副词。句意：我恳请您帮助我有逻辑地组织我的研究项目的数据。分析可知，所填应是副词作状语，修饰动词“organizing(组织)”。“logic”，名词，意为“逻辑”，其副词形式为“logically(合逻辑地，逻辑上)”。故填logically。
59. The authorities no longer subscribe ________ the view that disabled people are unsuitable as teachers. （用适当的词填空）
【答案】to
【解析】
【详解】考查介词。句意：当局不再认同残疾人不适合当教师的观点。设空处应填介词to，动词短语subscribe to意为“同意，赞同”，为固定搭配，在句中作谓语动词。故填to。
60. ____________ was so impressive about Jasmine’s victory was that she came first in the marathon bare-footed. (用适当的词填空)
【答案】What
【解析】
【详解】考查主语从句。句意：Jasmine的胜利给人留下深刻印象的是，她在马拉松比赛中赤脚获得了第一名。空处引导主语从句，从句中缺少主语，指代事情，连接代词为what，置于句首，首字母大写。故填What。
61. Determining where we are in relation to our ________（surround） remains an essential skill for our survival. (所给词的适当形式填空)
【答案】surroundings
【解析】
【详解】考查名词。句意：根据我们周围的环境来确定自己身在何处，这是我们生存的一项必不可少的技能。分析句子可知，设空处为介词to的宾语，并且前面有形容词性物主代词our修饰，应用名词surrounding，根据语境，应用复数形式，故填surroundings。
62. The farmer’s only concern is ____________ there will be a major thunderstorm or a gentle breeze next week. (用适当词填空)
【答案】whether
【解析】
【详解】考查表语从句。句意：这个农民唯一关心的是下周是大雷雨还是微风。空处引导表语从句，从句缺少“是否”之意，应用whether引导表语从句，故填whether。
63. Learning a foreign language involves ____________ (grasp) unfamiliar grammar rules and communication skills. (所给词的适当形式填空)
【答案】grasping
【解析】
【详解】考查动名词。句意：学习一门外语需要掌握不熟悉的语法规则和沟通技巧。involve doing sth涉及做某事。动名词作宾语。故填grasping。
64. Researchers claim that young people may risk going deaf if ____________ (expose) to very loud music on a daily basis. (所给词的适当形式填空)
【答案】exposed
【解析】
【详解】考查状语从句的省略。句意：研究人员声称，如果年轻人每天接触非常吵闹的音乐，可能会面临失聪的风险。此处是if引导的状语从句的省略，当从句主语和主句主语是同一主语时，且从句含有be动词，从句可以省略主语和be动词，主语young people和exposed是被动关系，完整从句为if they are exposed to very loud music on a daily basis，省略they are，故填exposed。
65. ____________ (ambition) to excel in academics, he eagerly handles every challenge, constantly seeking opportunities for growth and improvement. (所给词的适当形式填空)
【答案】Ambitious
【解析】
【详解】考查形容词。句意：立志在学术上出类拔萃，他热切地应对每一个挑战，不断寻求成长和进步的机会。此处应用形容词ambitious作状语，单词位于句首，首字母大写，故填Ambitious。
第四部分 写作（共两节，满分40分）
第一节（满分15分）
66. 假如你是李华，你的美国朋友Eric即将来中国留学，担心无法适应。请你写一封推荐信，向其推荐一个在华留学经验分享app，内容包括：
1. app 的名称及内容；
2. 推荐理由；
3. 表达祝愿。
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Eric,
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
【答案】Dear Eric,
Aware of your concern for adjusting to life in China in your upcoming studies here, I highly recommend you to check out the “China Study Pal” app.
Designed especially for international students like you, it serves as a platform for sharing experiences and seeking support, where you can find helpful guides, tips and resources to navigate your journey abroad. Besides, it also provides a channel to connect with other students, allowing you to make new friends and share experiences. What’s worth mentioning is its region-specific feature, which offer targeted answers for users in different cities.
I’m confident this app will make your transition smoother and more enjoyable. Best of luck, and have an amazing time studying in China!
Yours,
Li Hua
【解析】
【导语】本文是应用文。要求考生给即将来中国留学而担心自己无法适应的Eric写一封推荐信，向其推荐一个在华留学经验分享app。
【详解】1.词汇积累
寻找：seek→look for
有用的：helpful→useful
此外：Besides→In addition
提供：offer→provide
2.句式拓展
简单句变复合句
原句：Aware of your concern for adjusting to life in China in your upcoming studies here, I highly recommend you to check out the “China Study Pal” app.
拓展句：Since I am aware of your concern for adjusting to life in China in your upcoming studies here, I highly recommend you to check out the “China Study Pal” app.
【点睛】【高分句型1】Designed especially for international students like you, it serves as a platform for sharing experiences and seeking support, where you can find helpful guides, tips and resources to navigate your journey abroad.(运用了非谓语动词作状语和where引导的非限制性定语从句)
【高的句型2】What’s worth mentioning is its region-specific feature, which offer targeted answers for users in different cities.(运用了what引导的主语从句)
第二节（满分25分）
67. 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。
Dad and Madison were walking through the party store, gathering decorations for Madison’s upcoming birthday party.
“But I don’t want to invite Lucy Gilbert! I don’t like her!”
“Madison, you are being unreasonable. If every girl in your class is invited to a party but you, you’ll feel left out. It would be a big mistake not toinvite Lucy to the party. ”“She never even talks to me! ”
Dad sighed and moved down the aisle ( 走廊). “Lucy is a new girl in class. She just moved here a little over a month ago. Think about how that must feel. She doesn’t know one single person in the school. She left all of her old friends behind and now she has to try to make new friends. Your party will be a great chance for her to get to know everyone. ”
“No, it won’t. She will probably sit in the corner and not talk to anyone. Every day at lunch she sits all by herself. She wants to eat alone!" Madison shrugged and rolled her eyes (翻白眼).
“Madison, I’m done discussing this. You will invite every girl in your class, including Lucy Gilbert!"
On Saturday morning, the family blew up balloons and decorated the house cheerfully. Madison was dressed beautifully for the day, wearing her new blue dress. It was not typical of her to dress herself like this. She usually wore sports clothes because she loved to be outside riding her horse Star with a lead rope (缰绳).
Madison greeted her friends at the doorstep, picturing (想象)various presents her friends would bring her. In the meanwhile, she was wondering whether Lucy would ruin the party if she came. Anyhow, all the girls she invited came finally, including Lucy. The girls had a fantastic time by singing and dancing while Lucy sat in the corner silently alone. Later, all the girls gathered around the table as Madison opened her presents. Opening them one by one, Madison thanked her friends, with a bright smile on her face.
注意：
1. 所续写短文的词数应为150左右；2. 请按如下格式作答。
Paragraph 1：
Lucy’s present was the very last to be opened.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:
Deeply moved by what she said, Madison held the lead rope tightly in her hands.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
【答案】高分范文
Lucy’s present was the very last to be opened. Worrying that it would ruin the party, Madison grabbed the present reluctantly. As soon as she opened the box, her eyes widened in surprise——inside was a delicately hand-made lead rope! Amazed at its beauty, Madison pulled it out of the box. “It’s a lead rope for your horse Star. I made it by myself!”Lucy added, “I heard you talking about your horse at school. That’s when I got the idea of making you a lead rope. ”
Deeply moved by what she said, Madison held the lead rope tightly in her hands. It was the most beautiful birthday present she ever received. She suddenly felt so guilty because she had been so mean to Lucy. Feeling a mixture of regret and gratitude, she blinked back her tears and said, “Thanks so much for this lead rope. I love it! Would you like to join us and be our friends ” Lucy nodded cheerfully——Madison put her arm around Luey’s shoulders, both smiling. With applause and laughter echoing through the house, Lucy joined the other girls to enjoy the party.
【解析】
【导语】本文以人物为线索展开，讲述了麦迪逊要过生日会，她的爸爸让她邀请班上的所有女同学，可麦迪逊不想邀请新来的女孩子露西，但后来被露西的礼物感动的故事。
【详解】1.段落续写：
①由第一段首句内容“露西的礼物是最后一个被打开的。”可知，第一段可描写麦迪逊被露西的礼物惊叹到了。
②由第二段首句内容“麦迪逊被她的话深深打动了，她紧紧地握着那根缰绳。”可知，第二段可描写麦迪逊被露西感动并结为朋友。
2.续写线索：不情愿——震惊——打动——悔恨感激——结为朋友——感悟
3.词汇激活
行为类
①打开： open/unfold/unpack
②加入：join /take part in/ attend /participate
情绪类
①惊叹不已：be amazed at /lost in wonder/to exclaim in astonishment
②感谢：thanks/show one’s appreciation/show one’s gratitude/be grateful
【点睛】[高分句型1]. Worrying that it would ruin the party, Madison grabbed the present reluctantly. （运用了现在分词作状语）
[高分句型2]. That’s when I got the idea of making you a lead rope.（运用when引到的表语从句）
[高分句型3]. With applause and laughter echoing through the house, Lucy joined the other girls to enjoy the party.（运用with的复合结构）西南大学附中2023—2024学年度下期期中考试
高二英语试题
（满分：150分；考试时间：120分钟）
第二部分 阅读（共两节，满分50分）
第一节（共15小题；每小题2.5分，满分37.5分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。
A
The library is the heart of a university—its collections, services, and study spaces are central to every student’s educational journey. Let’s take a look at some famous university libraries around the world.
Magdalen College Old Library
Oxford University is famous for its academic programs, but it’s also known for its outstanding libraries that are said to include more than 11 million books. The Old Library at Magdalen College is the crown jewel of the university’s library system. It contains more than 20,000 rare books and manuscripts. Nearly all of these volumes were published before 1800.
TU Delft Library
The library at the Delft University of Technology was constructed in 1997, which has more than 862,000 books, 16,000 magazine subscriptions and its own museum. But it will only take a glance to be attracted, as it is a sight to remember. The building itself exists beneath the ground, so you can’t really see the actual library. What makes it interesting is the roof, which is a grassy hill.
Trinity College Library
The Trinity College Library in Dublin is the oldest library in Ireland, founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. It contains more than 200,000 of the library’s oldest books. Treasures of the library’s extensive collection include a rare copy of the 1916 proclamation (宣言) of the Irish Republic and a beautiful 15th century harp (竖琴).
Joe and Rika Mansueto Library
Opened in 2011, the Joe and Rika Mansueto Library at the University of Chicago is designed with a grand glass roof, perfect for staring out when you are tired. The library can hold around 3.5 million volumes through its underground automatic storage system. If you are not already impressed, the librarians, robotic cranes, will knock your socks off. They can locate and bring you any book within an average time of 3 minutes.
21. What do Magdalen College Old Library and Trinity College Library have in common
A. Both house stringed instruments.
B. Both feature attractive designs.
C. Both boast numerous ancient books.
D. Both gain recognition as crown jewels.
22. Which library possesses its own museum
A. TU Delft Library. B. Trinity College Library.
C. Magdalen College Old Library. D. Joe and Rika Mansueto Library.
23. Who might the passage be intended for
A. Music enthusiasts. B. Book collectors.
C. Exchange students. D. Jewel designers.
B
My mom spent years as a stay-at-home mom so that my brothers and I could focus on our education. However, I could tell from her curiosity of and attitudes toward working women that she envied their financial freedom and the self-esteem that must come with it. When I asked her about working again, she would tell me to focus on achieving my dream. I knew she had once dreamed for herself.
For years, I watched her effortlessly light up conversations with both strangers and family. Her empathy and ability to reach the heart could make anyone laugh, even when the story itself did not apply to them at all. “Mom, have you ever thought about being a stand-up comedian ” “It is too late for me, son,” she responded, laughing at the idea. I could not bear to watch her struggle between ambition and doubt.
Her birthday was coming up. Although I had already bought her a present I knew what I actually wanted to give her. I placed little notes of encouragement inside the present. I asked my family and her friends to do the same. Eventually I had collected 146 notes, and each with the same sentiment, “You are humorous, full of life, and ready to take on the stage.”
On the day of her birthday, my mom unwrapped my present. She was not surprised as she had been hinted at it for long. But then she saw those little notes. She started to weep with her hands full of notes. She could not believe the support was real.
Within two months, my mom gave her first performance in a New York comedy club. I have read the notes countless times with my mom. They are framed and line the walls of her new office space that she rented with the profits she made from working as a professional comedian. For many parents, their children’s careers are their greatest accomplishment, but for me my mom’s is mine.
24. What was the attitude of the author’s mother to working women
A. She was curious about their income.
B. She admired what work brought them.
C. She felt indifferent to working women.
D. She appreciated their ambitions in finance.
25. According to the author, what makes his mother a good comedian
A. Her effort in making friends. B. Her talent to bring people joy.
C. Her curiosity about working women. D. Her desire for financial independence.
26. How did his mother feel when reading the notes on her birthday
A. Amazed and hesitant. B. Sad and disappointed.
C. Moved and encouraged. D. Delighted and proud.
27. Which can be the best title for this article
A. My Mom’s Greatest Success. B. My Mom’s Comedy Career.
C. A Special Birthday Gift. D. A Journey to Independence.
C
Clothes were once used until they fell apart. Not today. In high-income countries in particular, clothing and footwear are increasingly frequently bought, thrown away and replaced with new fashions, which are themselves soon thrown away and replaced.
The so-called “fast fashion” is having a surprising environmental impact. Take water. The fashion industry, one of the world’s largest users of water, consumes anywhere from 20 trillion to 200 trillion litres every year. Then there are microplastics. Plastic fibres are released when we wash polyester (聚酯纤维) and other polymer-based textiles (纺织品), and make up between 20% and 35% of the microplastics choking the oceans. Added to this are specific chemicals, such as those used to make fabrics stain resistant and the pesticides required to protect crops such as cotton.
Change is badly needed, but will require the fashion industry to work harder to embrace more of what is known as the circular economy. That will involve at least two things: refocusing on making things that last, and so encouraging reuse; and more rapidly expanding the technologies for sustainable manufacturing processes, especially recycling. There’s a big role for research—both academic and industrial—in achieving these and other ambitions.
Researchers could begin by helping to provide more accurate estimates of water use. There is also work to be done on improving and expanding textiles recycling. Undoubtedly, used textiles go to landfill in part because there are relatively few systems that collect, recycle and reuse materials. Such recycling requires the manual separation of fibres, as well as buttons and zips. Different fibres are not easy to identify by eye, and overall such manual processes are time-consuming. Machinery is being developed that can help. Technologies also exist to recycle used fibres chemically and to create high-quality fibres that can be reused in clothing. But these are nowhere near the scale needed.
28. Why does the author mention “water”, “microplastics” and “chemicals” in Paragraph 2
A. To list examples. B. To prove a point.
C. To provide an idea. D. To give a definition.
29. Which of the following goes against the concept of “circular economy”
A. Efforts are made to lengthen the lifespan of textiles.
B. Worn-out clothes are used as dishcloths and oil rags.
C. High-quality fibres are created to be reused in clothing.
D. Fashion industry is encouraged to release new lines more often.
30. What is the right thing for the fashion industry researchers to do
A. To make sure that all of the used textiles go to landfill.
B. To separate fibres, as well as buttons and zips manually.
C. To improve and expand textile recycling to a larger extent.
D. To encourage consumers to satisfy their desires for fashion.
31. Which of the following is a suitable title for the text
A. Say No to the So-Called Fast Fashion
B. Address the Challenges for Researchers
C Embrace More of the Circular Economy
D. Cut Fast Fashion’s Environmental Impact
D
Amazon’s Alexa will be able to revive the voices of deceased relatives, allowing users to feel as if they are speaking to lost ones beyond the grave.
In a video shown on stage, Amazon demonstrated how, instead of the robot Alexa’s signature voice reading a story to a young boy, it was his grandmother’s voice.
Rohit Prasad, an Amazon senior vice president, said the updated system will be able to collect enough voice data from less than a minute of audio to make personalization like this possible, rather than having someone spend hours in a recording studio like how it’s done in the past.
The concept starts from Amazon looking at new ways to add more “human features” to artificial intelligence, especially “in the post-pandemic era, when so many of us have lost someone we love,” Prasad said. “While AI can’t rid that pain of loss, it can definitely make their memories last.”
Amazon has long used AI recreations of people’s voices to voice Alexa. But they have also increasingly improved over the past few years, particularly with the use of AI and deepfake (高仿真的) technology.
However, Amazon’s attempt at personalized Alexa voices may struggle most with the weird valley effect—recreating a voice that is so similar to a loved one’s but isn’t quite right, which leads to rejection by real humans. “For some, they will view this as creepy or outright terrible, but for others it could be viewed in a more profound way, perhaps for the first time and in a way that isn’t a strict recording from the past.” said Michael Inouye of ABI Research. He believes, however, the varying reactions to announcements like this speak to how society will have to adjust to the promise of innovations and their eventual reality in the years ahead.
The technology is also likely to lead to fears that it could be used to impersonate living people, which could be used to bypass security systems. In 2019, a manager at a British energy company lost almost￡200,000 after criminals used AI to fake his boss’s voice, directing him to transfer the company’s funds to a foreign bank account.
32. What is the feature of the updated system of Amazon’s Alexa
A. It will use AI recreations of people’s voices.
B. It will free the grandmother from reading a story.
C. It will be highly efficient in collecting voice data.
D. It will make a breakthrough in deepfake technology.
33. What would Michael Inouye probably agree with
A. We should tolerate the limitations of new technology.
B. Technology should meet the promises it made before.
C. Technology should recreate exactly our loved ones’ voice.
D. We should constantly increase our demand for technology.
34. What does the underlined word “impersonate” in the last paragraph mean
A. Interact with. B. Prove to be.
C. Have command of. D. Pretend to be.
35. What’s the author’s attitude towards Alexa’s personalized voices
A. Critical. B. Objective. C. Supportive. D. Skeptical.
第二节（共5小题；每小题2.5分，满分12.5分）
阅读下面短文，从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
It happens from time to time that after a whole morning of studying, you are tired in the afternoon. It is then that you may want to eat something sweet, perhaps a sweet drink or a chocolate bar to lift your mood. ___36___
But a study suggests that sugar can make you feel worse rather than lift your mood. The German and UK researchers collected data from 31 studies involving nearly 1,300 adults. ___37___ Those emotions include anger, alertness, depression and tiredness. They found that people who have too much sugar become more tired and less alert within an hour, and that these feelings become more intense over time.
According to researchers, when people take in sugar, their blood sugar levels rise rapidly, leading to a burst of energy and a short “feel good” period. However, as they begin to digest the sugar, their blood sugar levels decrease quickly, leading to a bad feeling. ___38___ As with caffeine, this prevents the body from relaxing, leaving people being tired and less alert.
___39___ According to WHO, it is healthy to have the sugars found naturally in fruit, vegetables and milk, so long as they make up less than 5 percent of our daily total energy intake.
So the next time you feel tired and can’t concentrate on study and work, perhaps you should think twice before you bite into a chocolate bar. There are still other ways to relieve tiredness. ___40___
A. Maybe a little exercise at midday is a better idea.
B. So cutting sweet food out of the diet is a good choice.
C. They studied the effect of sugar on some aspects of mood.
D. After all, it’s believed that a “sugar rush” gives you energy.
E. Sugar in any form is not necessarily good for the human body.
F. But the result of the study doesn’t mean giving up sweet food altogether.
G. To remain on a “high”, people may eat more sugar until they become addicted to it.
第三部分 语言运用（共两节，满分30分）
第一节（共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分）
阅读下面短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
Back in the days when I was just a young student, I was always absent from school ___41___, too shy to step into the public attention. My grades, though not absolutely good, was above the ___42___. However, an unexpected incident allowed me to___43___life lessons and gradually accept the challenges thrown at me.
One rainy afternoon, while walking home from school, an accident happened. A speeding car ___44___me, leaving me with a broken leg. Lying on my hospital bed,pain aching through my body, the reality of my situation ___45___. This unforeseen incident had set me back academically, and I needed to figure out how to achieve my previous___46___.
With the help of my parents and teachers, who ___47___accompanied me through the healing process, I managed to transform my ___48___ into a stepping stone. I began to acquire the will to push myself beyond my limits. After several months, I returned to school. My teachers had made accommodations for me, which included access to ___49___classes to catch up on the lessons I missed. Fueled by a newfound ___50___, I made every effort to engage in all activities and strived to stay active in both the academic and extracurricular fields.
In the end, my actions___51___fruit. Not only did my academic performance improve, but I also developed an ability to adapt to unexpected situations. I realized the importance of being able to___52___my fears and overcome them. The incident that I___53___viewed as a major discouragement was, in fact, a turning point in my life. It was an opportunity to adjust my perspective and learn to admire the strength within myself.
The___54___did not happen overnight. It was a gradual process, just like adding a new piece to a puzzle every day. But with each piece, I moved one step closer to the bigger ___55___ .
41. A. camps B. days C. facilities D. events
42. A. minimum B. maximum C. average D. majority
43. A. absorb B. forget C. teach D. avoid
44. A. approached B. hit C. lifted D. followed
45. A. gave in B. sank in C. fit in D. cut in
46. A. standing B. playing C. suffering D. finding
47. A. occasionally B. casually C. constantly D. scarcely
48. A. shyness B. setback C. strength D. performance
49. A. practical B. optional C. basic D. extra
50. A. drive B. concept C. version D. skill
51. A. planted B. distributed C. sold D. bore
52. A. assess B. address C. monitor D. hide
53. A. initially B. actually C. suddenly D. eventually
54. A. inspiration B. assumption C. transformation D. exploration
55. A. space B. ambition C. picture D. capacity
第二节（共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分）
阅读下面句子，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
56. In many countries, a driving license is a valid ____________ (prove) of identity. (所给词的适当形式填空)
57. It was the first time that the novel by Charles Dickens ____________ (adapt) into cinema. (所给词的适当形式填空)
58. I kindly request your assistance in ____________ (logic) organizing the data for my research project. (所给词的适当形式填空)
59. The authorities no longer subscribe ________ the view that disabled people are unsuitable as teachers. （用适当的词填空）
60. ____________ was so impressive about Jasmine’s victory was that she came first in the marathon bare-footed. (用适当的词填空)
61. Determining where we are in relation to our ________（surround） remains an essential skill for our survival. (所给词的适当形式填空)
62. The farmer’s only concern is ____________ there will be a major thunderstorm or a gentle breeze next week. (用适当的词填空)
63. Learning a foreign language involves ____________ (grasp) unfamiliar grammar rules and communication skills. (所给词的适当形式填空)
64. Researchers claim that young people may risk going deaf if ____________ (expose) to very loud music on a daily basis. (所给词的适当形式填空)
65. ____________ (ambition) to excel in academics, he eagerly handles every challenge, constantly seeking opportunities for growth and improvement. (所给词的适当形式填空)
第四部分 写作（共两节，满分40分）
第一节（满分15分）
66. 假如你是李华，你的美国朋友Eric即将来中国留学，担心无法适应。请你写一封推荐信，向其推荐一个在华留学经验分享app，内容包括：
1. app 的名称及内容；
2. 推荐理由；
3. 表达祝愿。
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Eric,
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
第二节（满分25分）
67. 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。
Dad and Madison were walking through the party store, gathering decorations for Madison’s upcoming birthday party.
“But I don’t want to invite Lucy Gilbert! I don’t like her!”
“Madison, you are being unreasonable. If every girl in your class is invited to a party but you, you’ll feel left out. It would be a big mistake not toinvite Lucy to the party. ”“She never even talks to me! ”
Dad sighed and moved down the aisle ( 走廊). “Lucy is a new girl in class. She just moved here a little over a month ago. Think about how that must feel. She doesn’t know one single person in the school. She left all of her old friends behind and now she has to try to make new friends. Your party will be a great chance for her to get to know everyone. ”
“No, it won’t. She will probably sit in the corner and not talk to anyone. Every day at lunch she sits all by herself. She wants to eat alone!" Madison shrugged and rolled her eyes (翻白眼).
“Madison, I’m done discussing this. You will invite every girl in your class, including Lucy Gilbert!"
On Saturday morning, the family blew up balloons and decorated the house cheerfully. Madison was dressed beautifully for the day, wearing her new blue dress. It was not typical of her to dress herself like this. She usually wore sports clothes because she loved to be outside riding her horse Star with a lead rope (缰绳).
Madison greeted her friends at the doorstep, picturing (想象)various presents her friends would bring her. In the meanwhile, she was wondering whether Lucy would ruin the party if she came. Anyhow, all the girls she invited came finally, including Lucy. The girls had a fantastic time by singing and dancing while Lucy sat in the corner silently alone. Later, all the girls gathered around the table as Madison opened her presents. Opening them one by one, Madison thanked her friends, with a bright smile on her face.
注意：
1. 所续写短文的词数应为150左右；2. 请按如下格式作答。
Paragraph 1：
Lucy’s present was the very last to be opened.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:
Deeply moved by what she said, Madison held the lead rope tightly in her hands.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

展开更多......

收起↑