Many leading AI researchers think that in a matter of decades, artificial intelligence will be able to do not merely some of our jobs, but all of our jobs, forever transforming life on Earth.
The reason why many regard this as science fiction is that we've traditionally thought of intelligence as something mysterious that can only exist in biological organisms, especially humans. But such an idea is unscientific.
From my point of view as a physicist and AI researcher, intelligence is simply a certain kind of information-processing performed by elementary particles (基本粒子) moving around, and there is no law of physics that says one can't build machines more intelligent than us in all ways. This suggests that we've only seen the tip of the intelligence iceberg and that there is an amazing potential to unlock the full intelligence that is potential in nature and use it to help humanity.
If we get it right, the upside is huge. Since everything we love about civilization is the product of intelligence, amplifying (扩大) our own intelligence with AI has the potential to solve tomorrow's toughest problems. For example, why risk our loved ones dying in traffic accidents that self-driving cars could prevent or dying of cancers that AI might help us find cures for? Why not increase productivity through automation (自动化) and use AI to accelerate our research and development of affordable sustainable (可持续的) energy?
I'm optimistic that we can develop rapidly with advanced AI as long as we win the race between the growing power of our technology and the knowledge with which we manage it. But this requires giving up our outdated concept of learning form mistakes. That helped us win the race with less powerful technology: We messed up with fire and then invented fire extinguishers (灭火器), and we messed up with cars and then invented seat belts. However, it's an awful idea for more powerful technologies, such as nuclear weapons or superintelligent AI—where even a single mistake is unacceptable and we need to get things right the first time.
1.How do many people feel about leading AI researchers' predictions?
A.Worried. B.Curious. C.Doubtful. D.Disappointed.
2.What does the author think of intelligence?
A.We know little about it. B.It belongs to human beings.
C.It is too difficult to understand. D.We have nothing more to discover.
3.What does the underlined word “upside” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?
A.Cost. B.Risk. C.Quantity. D.Advantage.
4.What's important for us in the race between people and technology?
A.Learning from failure. B.Increasing our intelligence.
C.Avoiding making mistakes. D.Being more optimistic.
I didn’t understand the irony (讽刺) immediately. Only on the way home. The book I had just returned to our local library was called “Unquiet Landscape” by Christopher Neve. He widened my view.
But the ironic word for me in his books title. Irealized, was “unquiet”. It applied not to the landscape but to our local library. I have thus visited it again since then, and my conclusion is much the same: This is no longer a quiet place.
On both of my visits the library was packed with small children, and they were doing rather a lot of small-children things, such as dancing in circles, singing, jumping up and down, and so on. Various adults sitting around were clearly not discouraging them, rather the opposite.
I wasn’t exactly shocked. But I have to say that my understanding of library behavior and purpose changed somewhat. All my upbringing (教养) about libraries was what they were sanctums(圣地), places of escape in a noisy world. If one clearedone’s throat in a library, one was likely to be stared at by the librarians not to mention tolerating the disapproval of fellow library users enjoying their post-lunch nap. The first school I attended had a library that was entirely conventional infunction. In it, we boys did (or were expected to do) one thing only: read. The second school i attended allowed one to write as well as read in the library.
Since those days, my attitude, I hope, has changed a little. I’ve come across some very pleasant librarians eager to help with my projects. Some of them are surprisingly generous with providing access to their books, which are as dear to them as their own children. And the silence rule has, over the years, become much less strict. Even quite loud laughter, I find, is not always opposed to.
1.What did the author do after finishing the book?
A.He visited the lands mentioned in the book.
B.He expressed his admiration to the book winter.
C.He kept his habit of staying quiet in the library.
D.He made a close observation of the local library.
2.What did the author find out about the adults in the library?
A.They made lots of noise.
B.They were soft with the kids.
C.They didn’t listen to the librarians.
D.They couldn’t stop their kids bad behavior.
3.What’s the author’s attitude to librarians nowadays?
A.Positive. B.Disappointed.
C.Unconcerned. D.Worried.
Choosing a university
Kazumi
Mymain reason for coming here was the Human Rights course. When I was at school I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to be a doctor or a lawyer, but having decided to be a lawyer, I then had to choose which first degree I should take before starting, law school in another city, I’ve always wanted to help people and I figured that taking Human Rights would allow me to learn about how I can make a real difference in the world.
Vladimir
I love maths. I was tom between two possibilities: I could become an engineer and apply maths at a practical level. Or I could become a maths teacher, I needn’t have worried because in the end I didn’t have to choose! I got everything I wanted thanks to my university, which will qualify me to be a high school teacher while gaining a general engineering degree at the same time.
Osvaldo
One of the reasons I chose this university was because of the effort that they put into organizing the open day. The lecturers and current students provide an enthusiastic overview of their courses and of life in the city. This was in contrast to other universities I visited, which just let their reputation do the talking. Although I chose not to live on campus, the rooms there seemed comfortable and very reasonably priced.
Maria
When the time came to select the university, I had three possibilities, but I still could not decide. So it was time to schedule campus tours. They all had their advantages, but this place instantly appealed to me. As soon as I arrived, I was struck by the smiles everyone gave me. What I value most here is the feeling that I am part of a supportive community.
1.Who can obtain a double qualification from his or her university?
A.Kazumi. B.Vladimir.
C.Osvaldo. D.Maria.
2.Why did Osvaldo choose his university?
A.He found the courses affordable.
B.His university sold itself more convincingly.
C.He was won over by the university s reputation.
D.His university offered excellent accommodation.
3.What do we know about Maria?
A.She takes great interest in community service.
B.She made her choice from the very beginning.
C.She feels a sense of belonging at her university.
D.She was hoping to pass on knowledge to others.
假定你是李华，你校将举办中文书法展(Chinese Calligraphy Exhibition).请写封邮件邀请你的外教John参加，内容包括：
1. 时间及地点；
2. 展览内容；
3. 邀请他学书法。
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear John,
How is everything going with you?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Challenges of life are of great importance in our grow. They remind me my days in senior high school which I joined in the military training. It was the first time I have lived away from my home so I found it difficult to fit in. And the training officer was strict in me. I once thought I couldn’t stick to the end, but anyway, I made them. The trials made it much easy for me to adapt to life, but the difficulties I came across have now become a precious memory in my life. In short, learning to regard the challenges of life as a stepping stone to future success and make best of them.
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容 （1个单词） 或括号内单词的正确形式。
The Great Wall of China is one of the greatest 1. (sight) in the world—the longest wall in the world. 2. （it） winding path and steep mountains take in some great scenery. The “Long Wall” has a long history—more than 2,600 years. It 3. (build) in different areas by different dynasties.
In the Qin dynasty, the First Emperor of Qin linked the northern walls 4. (prevent) aggression from northern nations. In the Han dynasty, the emperors 5. wanted to protect trade on the Silk Road extended the Great Wall into today’s western China. The Great Wall is a building project with the longest duration and at 6. cost of lives, blood, sweat and tears. It 7. (deserve) its place among the “New 7 Wonders of the World” and the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
During the construction of the Great Wall, there were many 8. (extreme) interesting stories, such as Lady Meng Jiang weeping over her husband’s death at the Great Wall, a sad but romantic love story set in the Qin dynasty. The Great Wall of China is the must-see attraction in China. Perhaps the most 9. (power) advertising words in history come from the poetic pen of Chairman Mao, “Until you reach the Great history Wall, you’re no hero.” It means getting 10. difficulties before reaching a goal.
