2023-2024学年上师大附中高三上期中英语试卷
II. Grammar and Vocabulary
Section A
Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passages 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.
How to future-proof your career against the threat of AI
Ever since the industrial revolution, people have feared that technology would take away their jobs. While some jobs and tasks have indeed been replaced by machines, (21) _________ have emerged. The fear that jobs might disappear or be replaced through automation is understandable. Recent research found that a quarter of tasks that humans currently do in the US and Europe could be automated in the coming years.
The future of work is a popular topic of discussion, with countless books (22) _________ (publish) each year on the topic. These books speak to the human need to understand how to future might be shaped. A strong theme of concern is found in these books about technology enabling certain tasks to be automated, (23) _________ (make) many people out of jobs.
Specifically, (24) _________ worries people is that knowledge-based jobs -- like those in accounting or law -- that have long been regarded as being exclusive（专属的、专有的）to well-educated professionals are now under threat of replacement by machines. But there is another, (25) _________ (ambitious) way to think about this. Some books stress the potential of humans collaborating with AI, to enhance each other's skills. (26) _________ being replaced, lawyers would then be empowered by technology. In reality, automation and empowerment co-exist, both of which (27) _________ (concern) with your future career.
In light of this, the key to future-proofing your job is continued learning, (28) _________ is a valuable skill to develop in any career. Also, critical thinking and analytical skills are going to be particularly central for how humans and machines (29) _________ empower one another. Above all, choose a job that you enjoy and keep learning (30) _________ if you do need to change course in the future, you know how to.
Section B
Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.
A. advance B. appeal C. association D. differs E. diligently F. entirely G. frustration H. produce I. uncooperative J. vague K. worthy
The garden path
Imagine a plate holding two strawberries, identical in appearance. One came out of a supermarket box. By the time it reached the plate it may have been off the vine for two weeks. The other strawberry was picked from a garden minutes before being eaten.
The first one will probably taste like a slightly sour cucumber, with a(n) __31__ hint of berry taste. The second is likely to be sweet and floral（花的、花卉的）. Supermarket strawberries are not __32__ without advantages: they are convenient and available in the northern hemisphere（地球的半球）in February. But the two berries are distinct from each other in the same way that hearing music in a concert hall __33__ from listening to it on a worn-out cassette. The home-grown fruit is an edible（可食用的、能吃的）case for cultivating a home garden.
Those who long dismissed gardening as a waste of time __34__ this argument with great passion. They think a garden can yield peas that taste like the vibrant, green essence of spring; tomatoes and carrots of incomparable sweetness; and lettuces and herbs that taste like themselves rather than the plastic they are usually packaged in. Growing your own vegetables ensures a reliable supply, offering virtuous seasonal __35__.
That attitude misrepresents the ultimate __36__ of gardening; it mistakes the product for the purpose. On the other hand, a garden, especially in the early years, can also yield little but __37__. New gardeners may plant the wrong crops for their soil. And even expert gardeners can lose a season's harvest to __38__ weather.
No matter. The real joy of gardening is the time spent doing it. The deepest pleasure -- as with cooking, writing, bringing up children or almost anything worthwhile -- is in the work itself. A gardener's memories centre not on the food produced, but on long summer afternoons with hands in the dirt, surrounded by family, if the garden is at home, or deepening __39__ with friends and neighbours in a community garden. To garden is to __40__ help life thrive（兴隆、兴旺、繁荣）with love and patience, in the ground and above it.
III. Reading Comprehensions
Section A
Directions: For each blank in the following passage, there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context.
Traveler's dilemma
An airline loses two suitcases belonging to two different travelers, Lucy and Pete. Both suitcases happen to be the same and also contain __41__ antiques. An airline manager tasked to settle their claims figures that simply asking the travelers for the price is hopeless, for they may __42__ it. Instead, he asks them to write down the price of the antique as any dollar between 2 and 100 __43__ so that they can't negotiate with each other. If both write the same number, he will pay each of them that amount. But if they write different numbers, he will assume that the lower one is the actual price and that the person writing the higher number is __44__. In that case, he will pay both of them the lower number along with a(n) __45__ and a punishment -- the person who wrote the lower number will get $2 more as a reward for honesty and the one who wrote the higher number will get $2 less instead. __46__, if Lucy writes 46 and Pete writes 100, Lucy will get $48 and Pete will get $44. What numbers will Lucy and Pete write
In 1994, economist Kaushik Basu crafted the "Traveler's Dilemma" (TD) to challenge the narrow view of __47__. TD serves the purpose because the game's logic dictates that 2 is the logical option. Admittedly, Lucy's first idea is that she should write the largest possible number, which will earn her $100 if Pete is similarly __48__. Soon, however, it strikes her that if she wrote 99 instead, she would make a little more money, because in that case she would get $101. But surely this __49__ will also occur to Pete, who will choose 99 as well. Continuing with this line of reasoning would send the travelers down to the smallest permissible number, namely, 2-this is where the __50__ leads us.
In experimental studies, contrary to the predictions, most people pick $100 or a number close to it, either without thinking the problem through or while fully aware they are __51__ the reasonable choice. So, while most people instinctively feel that they would select a much higher number than $2, this instinct seems to __52__ the predicted logical outcome, $2. By rejecting the logical choice and acting illogically by writing a higher number, people end up getting a substantially bigger __53__. Based on these studies, researchers have proposed that people appear to have a natural, positive attitude in favor of __54__. This attitude leads to a cooperative model that favors the seemingly unreasonable but __55__ strategies.
41. A. precious B. identical C. controversial D. fake
42. A. assess B. highlight C. neglect D. overstate
43. A. intentionally B. precisely C. separately D. casually
44. A. supervising B. cheating C. imitating D. complaining
45. A. bonus B. identity C. discipline D. alarm
46. A. By contrast B. In addition C. For instance D. On the whole
47. A. negotiation B. fairness C. reason D. instinct
48. A. calm B. greedy C. foolish D. imaginary
49. A. pessimism B. perseverance C. challenge D. insight
50. A. evidence B. logic C. goal D. emotion
51. A. contributing to B. departing from C. appealing for D. dreaming about
52. A. echo B. overlook C. contradict D. alter
53. A. punishment B. interest C. investment D. payoff
54. A. cooperation B. investigation C. perfection D. imagination
55. A. straightforward B. instructive C. acceptable D. beneficial
Section B
Directions: Read the following two passage. Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage you have just read.
(A)
Do Your Employees suffer from Friday-Itis
Have you heard about Friday-itis, the significant drop in motivation and concentration seen on Fridays among may workers who look forward to their weekend days off but a day in advance
Almost every employee has at some point experienced the need to take an unplanned day off for rest, for the sake of his physical or mental health. Defined by the Labour Standards Act and most collective agreements and employment contracts, a sick day is a one-time day of leave taken by an employee due to the inability, whether psychological and physical, to be present at his workplace to adequately carry out his professional functions.
Short and occasional, this involuntary absence is easily accepted and absorbed by the company. But when it is repeated and almost invariably falls on the eve of a weekend, absence for last minute sickness can quickly give an employer a headache.
When it becomes avoidable, systematic and based on a false motive, this "Friday Sickness" syndrome falls into the category of unreasonable and abusive absenteeism. This has significant impact on a company's organizational efficiency, productivity and competitiveness. So much so that many managers avoid setting up important meetings on Fridays, knowing the higher likelihood that their staff will all be at work the rest of the week.
Despite the high cost of absenteeism, a study published in 2012 by the Conference Board of Canada found that only 46% of Canadian companies report that they monitor their employees' absences and the reasons given. To properly assess absenteeism means beginning to understand it and not letting it pass.
Although abusive in form and use, Friday sick leave can also be explained by other factors that need to be taken seriously. An employee can take a break in the wrong way that he might reasonably need, in connection with factors specific to the company -- having a clearly excessive, workload, for example.
Focusing on suspicious monitoring or the threat of fines is not a solution for employers. Indirectly forcing presenteeism on an employee, in other words to come in and stay at work even when he has serious reasons not to do so, can be even more damaging for everyone. Statistics Canada estimates that loss of productivity associated with presenteeism is 7.5 times higher than that caused by absenteeism.
56. What is Friday-itis
A. A decrease in motivation on Fridays due to employees anticipating the weekend.
B. A medical condition that specifically affects employees on Fridays.
C. A term used to describe excessive absenteeism on Fridays.
D. A syndrome where employees refuse to work on Fridays.
57. According to the passage, what kind of absence does the company easily accept
A. Absence for last minute sickness.
B. Repeated absence before weekends.
C. Short and occasional absence.
D. Avoidable and systematic absence.
58. What impact does repeated last-minute sickness absences on Fridays have on employers
A. It leads to increased productivity and competitiveness.
B. It causes employees to prioritize rest and their overall well-being.
C. It has a negative impact on organizational efficiency and productivity.
D. It provides employers with a headache due to the need for more meetings.
59. What is the potential consequence of forcing presenteeism on employees
A. It leads to a decrease in overall productivity.
B. It results in a decrease in absenteeism rates.
C. It helps in improving employees' motivation and concentration.
D. It causes employees to take unplanned days off more frequently.
(B)
Memberships Sun City OV Resident Public
Single Couple Single Couple
18 Hole Play
Current Annual $3,590 $6,685 $4,060 $7,175
New Annual $3,770 $7,020 $4,265 $7,535
Current Combo 18/9 $5,345 $6,230
Hyrid (Fee + Reduced Daily Rate) $1,000 $1,250
New Combo 18/9 $5,615 $6,540
Corporate $3,103
9 Hole Play
Current Annual $2,155 $4,020 $2,440 $4,530
New Annual $2,265 $4,220 $2,565 $4,755
Additional Offerings
18-Hole Smart Card (Virtual Punch Card) $480 $700
9-Hole Smart Card (Virtual Punch Card) $320
18-HOLE ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS
Green fees included
Driving range privileges
9-day advance tee time reservations
Corporate Membership: Limited availability
After 11:00 AM, Mon-Fri; anytime Sat-Sun and holidays
9-HOLE ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS
Green fees included
Driving range privileges
8-day advance tee time reservations
Additional 9 holes
10/11 - 5/31 $20 - 6/1/ - 9/19 $10
MEMBER BENEFITS
NO TRAIL FEE for private cart owners
NO INITIATION FEE
Pro Shop discount 25% off apparel
10% off all accessories, equipment & golf balls, excluding sale items.
Members and resident's guests play at the resident guest's daily rate when accompanied by member or resident.
Resident guest rate is an additional $10 for 18 and $5 for 9 holes
10/11/20 - 5/31/21
Payment schedule available (9&18- Hole Annual memberships only)
50% before July 1- balance due by Oct. 31
NOTE: Membership rates for residents do not include a golf cart. An additional cart fee will be applied for residents when using a club cart.
HYBRID MEMBERSHIP
Golf Fee per season (Reduced Daily Rate does not include the rental cart or tax)
Summer 18 holes - $15 / 9 holes - $10
Fall 18 holes - $25 / 9 holes $15
Winter 18 holes $30 / 9 holes $20
Spring 18 holes - $25 / 9 holes $15
8-day advance tee time reservations
Pro Shop discounts 25% off apparel 10% off accessories, equipment, shoes, hats, and golf balls, excluding sale items.
SMART CARD - 10 PLAY
10 -- Pre-paid Green fees
8-day advance tee-time reservations
May be used for guest(s)
No expiration or refunds
Golf cart not included in Resident Smart Card
Public Smart Card includes cart
NEW ANNUAL MEMBERS
Purchases your annual pass June 1 and play for 13 months (6/1/20 - 6/30/21)
Proration available after 7/15/21
60. If you are one of Sun City OV residents' guests who want to play for 18-Hole for 3 days, what is the overall rate
A. $15 B. $30 C. $45 D. $60
61. Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to this advertisement
A. If you are a resident, your membership rates will include a golf cart.
B. If you apply for a Smart Card, you are not entitled to an opportunity of refunds.
C. If you apply for a hybrid membership and you want to save money, you can play in summer.
D. For a non-resident to apply for a single 18-HPCA membership, you have to pay at least $2030 before July 1st.
62. Where would you most probably see this ad
A. A food magazine. B. A science journal.
C. A travel brochure D. A fitness leaflet.
(C)
Deafened
It has always been assumed that noise is a problem unique to animals. But a new study by Ali Akbar has revealed that plants suffer too.
That plants can be damaged indirectly by noise pollution has never been in doubt. Since most flowering species depend upon pollinators（授粉者）and most fruit-bearing species need animals to spread around their seeds, it is obvious that if these animal partners are harmed by noise then their botanical counterparts（同类者、极其相似的人或物）will do badly, too. What has remained unknown is whether or not plants themselves suffer directly from noise pollution.
Scientists have previously assumed that plants may be able to sense sound waves as they are struck by them. A number of experiments have confirmed this in recent years -- plants heavily exposed to ultrasound（超声）in the lab have shown a range of negative responses including the expression of stress-related genes, slowed growth and reduced development of seeds.
Yet attacking plants with ultrasound is not the same as growing them in the presence of actual traffic noise. To this end, Ali Akbar decid'ed to set up an experiment to study precisely this question.
Working with a team of colleagues, he grew marigolds and sage in his lab that are commonly found in urban environments. The plants were divided into two groups after getting mature. One group was exposed to 73 decibels（分贝）of traffic noise. The other group was left to grow in silence. After 15 days had passed, samples were taken from the youngest fully expanded leaves on every plant in the experiment and studied.
None of the plants exposed to the traffic noise did well. Analysis of their leaves revealed that all of them were suffering. The team found that a range of hormones（荷尔蒙）normally associated with healthy growth and development in plants were present at significantly reduced levels in the plants exposed to the noise. Two stress hormones, which are normally produced to prevent insect attacks and deal with salty soil or very cold temperatures, were elevated.
Ali Akbar's findings make it clear that though plants lack ears, the noise of traffic still bothers them enough to trigger dramatic stress responses that are not much different to those that would be found in plants exposed to drought, highly concentrated salt or heavy metals in their soil.
The next question is whether all noise pollution affects all species in the same way. The natural world is by no means silent. Whether some plant species have evolved coping mechanisms, which might one day be collected and transferred into urban-living species, is a mystery worth exploring.
63. What did scientists believe in the past
A. Noise is a problem facing both animals and plants.
B. Plants can be affected by noise in an indirect way.
C. Animal partners can do harm to their botanical partners.
D. Sound waves can damage plants they strike.
64. What did Ali Akbar want to confirm in their experiment
A. Ultrasound is similar to traffic noise in that it doesn't harm plants.
B. Plants exposed to ultrasound exhibit negative signs of growth.
C. Traffic noise causes plants to grow unhealthfully and slowly.
D. Plant leaves contain hormones dealing with a harsh environment.
65. Which of the following statements is TRUE
A. Plants growing is silence have a reduced level of hormones.
B. Plants exposed to noise respond differently from those in drought.
C. Different noise pollution has the same effect on all species.
D. An increases in stress hormones in plants means they are in hardship.
66. What can we infer from the passage
A. Some plants may not necessarily be harmed by the sound in nature.
B. Some plants have surely developed a method to cope with traffic noise.
C. Unban-living species can be engineered to grow well in the natural world.
D. The silence in nature promotes the development of noise coping mechanisms.
Section C
Directions: Read the passage carefully. Fill in each blank with a proper sentence given in the box. Each sentence can be used only once. Note that there are two more sentences than you need.
A. So people feel like they are getting more done. B. If you do these or similar things, then you are one of many multitaskers. C. People are less able to filter out their knowledge of the previous task and look at things afresh. D. Some psychologists say that the human brain just isn't good at concentrating on two things at the same time. E. Recent studies, however, show that Melissa and others like her are perhaps getting less done than they think they are. F. Now, with numerous studies to refer to, the answer could not be more clear - multitasking isn't all it's supposed to be.
Are you a multitasker
Do you watch TV and cook dinner at the same time Do you often interrupt your work to check your email Do you talk on your phone while you're driving _________67_________ According to a survey by the magazine Scientific American MIND, 90 percent of American adults multitask regularly.
Most people say they multitask because they are too busy, and multitasking saves time. Popular electronic devices like tablets and smart phones make it convenient to do several tasks at once. _________68_________ Melissa Brown of Evanston, Illinois, says she has no trouble listening to music, surfing the Internet, and sending text messages to friends while she does her homework.
_________69_________ That's because with multitasking, there are actually many "micro-interruptions" in which people stop one task, start another, and eventually return to the first one. These stops and starts make it difficult to concentrate, and so multitaskers actually waste time, according to a study at Microsoft Corporation. In the study, workers who interrupted their work to answer an email or text message took an average of 15 minutes to return to the work they were doing before the interruption.
_________70_________ This doesn't matter if you're only preparing a salad and listening to the radio, they say. But if you're doing a difficult task that requires thinking, like writing a report, then multitasking can slow you down and cause mistakes. It can even be dangerous, as in the case of people who talk on the phone, eat, or even apply makeup while driving.
IV. Summary Writing
Directions: Read the following three passages. Summarize the main idea and the main point(s) of the passage in no more than 60 words. Use your own words as far as possible.
Brain Hunger
Do you ever feel like no matter how much you eat, you are still not full You may be suffering from a condition known as "brain hunger". This occurs when the dopamine（多巴胺）signaling in your brain is damaged, making it difficult for your body to recognize when it has had enough food. What are the underlying causes of brain hunger
Genetics can play a role. Research has shown that the dopamine receptor D4 gene may be responsible for regulating cognitive functions related to eating behavior and body weight. Some people have this gene variation that does not allow for a normal dopamine release in response to things that typically would bring joy and pleasure, including food. This means that those individuals won't get the same "high" feeling they would normally experience when eating. Obesity is also linked to brain hunger. Brain scans of obese individuals show changes in dopamine signaling pathways which can lead to less recognition of the feeling of being full even after a meal.
While it is still unclear whether obesity or genetics is the primary contributor to brain hunger, one thing is certain losing weight alone is not enough for those affected. Studies show that certain areas of the brain responsible for sensing fullness do not change even with weight loss, which could lead to continued hunger and weight regain. So, what came first: genetics or obesity that cause this brain signaling change It is possible that if someone has a genetic tendency to be affected by this abnormal dopamine signaling, an environmental trigger can start a series of brain hunger which brings about overeating.
It is also important to practice mindful eating and pay attention to hunger cues to begin perceiving the feeling of being full. Brain hunger can be an uncomfortable and frustrating condition, but it is possible to manage through a combination of treatments.
V. Translation
Directions: Translate the following sentences into English, using the words given in the brackets.
72. 要不了多久这款新产品就会被推向市场。(it)
73. 这部电影旨在增强大众对电信诈骗的防范意识。(aim)
74. 直到从那场意外事故幸存下来，他才开始意识到没有什么比安全更重要。(Not until)
75. 尽管由于身体不适他输了比赛，但他在比赛过程中展现出的坚强意志让在场的所有观众都为他欢呼鼓掌。(Despite)
VI. Guided Writing
Directions: Write an English composition in 120-150 words according to the instructions given below in Chinese.
疫情过后，旅行重新回到了大众的生活中。但由于时间有限或生活节奏过快等原因，“特种兵旅行”（"military-style" travel）逐渐成为一种风尚，很多人用尽可能少的时间浏览尽可能多的景点。你会选择这种旅行方式吗？请结合原因谈谈你的看法。
21. others. 22. published. 23. making. 24. what. 25. more ambitious
26. Instead of. 27. will be concerned 28. which. 29. can. 30. so that
31. J. 32. F. 33. D. 34. A. 35. H. 36. D. 37. G. 38. I. 39. C. 40. E
41-45BDCBA. 46-50 ACCBDC 51-55BCDAD
56. A. 57. C. 58. C. 59. A
60. B. 61. A. 62. D
63. B. 64. C. 65. D. 66. A
67. B. 68. A. 69. E. 70. D
