广东省广州市四校2020-2021学年高二下学期英语期末联考试题

Yu Chenrui, 29, is a fantastic maker of automata. On social media, Spooner, a famous British automata artist, applauded Yu as "a great practitioner".

Interested in handcrafts as a boy, Yu first encountered automata at an exhibition in 2015 when he studied at the Communication

University of China in Beijing. "It is like meeting a like-minded friend, " Yu says, recalling the moment.

When he graduated in 2016, Yu landed a job at an advertising agency near Shichahai, where he stayed for three years because. At that time, he was not sure whether he could make a living out of his hobby.

While working as a designer, Yu kept exploring and advancing his skills in wood carving and mechanics. Every day, when he walked along the Shichahai lake, he watched ducks swimming and diving. He envied, in a way, their freedom to do as they pleased.

Finally, though, despite the job's good salary, it was not enough to compensate for not following his true passion. In 2018, Yu quitted his job and returned to Chengdu to open his automata workshop.

The studio he rents exceeds 200 square meters, and Yu has spent more than 300, 000 yuan refurbishing it. Just after finishing the restoration, Yu didn't know what to do and worried about cash flow. To keep himself occupied he planted blueberries, raspberries and cherries. He watered, weeded and added fertilizer every day.

Over time, Yu's reputation grew and his business flourished. With prices ranging from hundreds to tens of thousands of yuan, his fantastic pieces of art have attracted collectors worldwide.

Many of Yu's creations are built with a dash of wisdom, a sprinkle of humor and are inspired by observations of real life. Woodcutter and Worm is originated from his own experience of finding a wormhole while cutting wood.

In an age of technology, automata is undoubtedly a marginal sector. Yu estimates that it has attracted no more than 10 full-time makers and practitioners across the country. "I hope it can be enjoyed by people of all ages, and makes them feel more connected and happier, " He says.

Our biggest, most popular stories exported around the globe—Hollywood movies often erase and fail to show humanizing description of Latinos.

It is no secret that fictional storytelling offers an opportunity to inspire and shape the views of audience. Yet on Monday, a study by the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, found that across 1, 200

of the most popular films released from 2007 to 2018, only 3% of protagonists (主角) were Latinos who made up just 4. 5% of all speaking or named characters in spite of the fact that Latinos account for

18% of the U. S. population and 23% of movie ticket buyers.

The results also show that the description of Latino characters in these films—as criminals, in poverty or without any links to a rich Latino heritage or community—dramatically extends the scope of the problem.

So, what can be done? The process of authentic storytelling starts with storytellers. Hiring more creative Latinos is a significant first step to changing the narratives that have long excluded or stereotyped the community. We also need more Latinos behind the camera. Of those 28 directors interviewed for the study, only 1 was a Latino. We need Latinos from a variety of backgrounds controlling top motion pictures at the same rate of success as movies by their white directors.

Changes behind the camera can change stories from the outdated stereotypes that mirror the dangerous image about Latinos that has ruled our news cycles, presenting instead a picture of this

Vibrant (有活力的) community. This means Latinos as characters working in government, finance, higher education, and leading Fortune 500 companies—in other words, showing the world as it is and offering Latinos what have been awarded to other groups.

It's time for Hollywood to commit to producing movies at studios with Latinos at the center, produced by Latinos and reviewed by and for both Latino and non-Latino global audiences. Netflix and Amazon have already recognized this and are pursuing a strategy that invests in and locates production in Latin America and Spain — with investments in original content across multiple countries.

Why bother cooking? You don't have time, of course (or you think you don't); that's the big reason. But you also don't do it as well as the professionals, so just let them handle it for you. Or at least let them give you a head start in the form of meal-assembly shops (食品组装店) and canned, frozen and pre-chopped ingredients. Michael Pollan thinks you should bother. His latest book, Cooked, is a powerful argument for a return to home cooking.

Scores of food writers and editors, myself included, have long mourned for the increase of companies on the public's diet. We have seen the slow retreat (撤退) from the kitchen as primary contributor to America's obesity and other health and environmental problems. But perhaps only Pollan can so effectively pick up the clues of so many food movements, philosophies and research papers and turn them into a persuasive narrative with a clear message. He writes, "The best way to recover the reality of food, to return it to its proper place in our lives is by attempting to master the physical processes by which it has traditionally been made. "

Don't challenge him. Because of the power of his writing, Cooked may prove to be just as influential as Pollan's other book, The Omnivore's Dilemma, possibly the single most-quoted text by those caring about how our eating choices affect the planet.

As in The Omnivore's Dilemma, Pollan knows that his reliability depends on a willingness to practice what he urges, so in Cooked he takes just as much of a hands-on approach as he suggests his readers do. He divides the book into four sections: in this case, the classical elements of fire, water, air and earth. Each represents a type of cooking—barbecue, braising (炖), bread baking and fermentation—and, as the book's subtitle promises, explores cooking as no less than a transformation of nature into food and drink.

Hollywood's theory that machines with evil minds will drive armies of killer robots is just silly.

In 1960 a well-known mathematician put it this way: "If we use, to achieve our purposes, a mechanical agency whose operation we cannot effectively control, we had better be quite sure that the purpose put into the machine is the purpose which we really desire. "

For the machine, this quality is a logical consequence of the simple fact that the machine cannot achieve its original purpose if it is dead. So if we send out a robot to fetch coffee, it will secure success by disabling its own off switch or even killing anyone who gets in the way. If we are not careful, then, we could face a kind of global chess match against super AI with the real world as the chessboard.

The possibility of losing such a match is alarming. Some researchers argue that we can seal the machines inside a firewall, never allowing them to affect the real world. We have yet to invent a firewall that is secure against ordinary humans, let alone super intelligent machines.

Solving the safety problem seems to be possible but not easy. There are probably decades in which to plan for the arrival of super intelligent machines. But the problem should not be dismissed out of hand, Some argue that humans and machines can coexist working as a team—yet that's not possible unless machines share the goals of humans. Others say we can just "switch them off" as if super intelligent machines are sitting ducks. Still others think that super AI is a pipe dream. On September 11, 1933, a famous physicist stated, with confidence, "Anyone who expects a source of power in the transformation of these atoms is talking nonsense. "

A. as it has been by some AI researchers.

B. Moreover, we have a firewall security problem.

C. Unfortunately, that plan seems unlikely to work.

D. because many AI researchers will figure out a way.

E. However, on September 12, 1933, physicist Leo Szilard did it.

F. A purpose-driven machine has one characteristic: a wish to preserve its own existence.

G. The real problem is that AI may become skilled at achieving something other than what we really want.

Jory Fleming, a scholar of 26, is challenging assumptions about autism (自闭症).

As a young child, Fleming1with language and withdrew from other children. When he 2 began uttering words in preschool, they rarely 3 to anyone but him. He was diagnosed with autism at five.

4 him out of himself and into the world became the job of his mother, Kelly Fleming, who 5her dreams of becoming a doctor to educate and care for him. She became the 6 of his world, and he would go crazy whenever she went anywhere without him.

Even with years of 7 treatment, Fleming avoided most conversations until he was about 18.

Unless he was exchanging factual information, he didn't see the point, for speech still 8 unique challenges. Because Fleming thinks in images, not language, whatever comes out of his mouth is the 9 of a painstaking "translation process"that often feels 10 and imprecise.

Fleming has a 11 time with many other language problems like common idioms. He also has trouble anticipating how people will 12 what he says. He once said his brother looked "sexy" in his sunglasses, and his family broke out laughing.

Moments like these have left Fleming concerned that he will 13 say something hurtful, so he takes great care with how he speaks. He still 14 a manual (指南) he read in college that offers tips for dealing with people in emotional situations. Because a smile is rarely misinterpreted or misconstrued, he also tends to grin when he talks.

Fleming often feels like he's on his own small island, but works to build 15to the neurotypical (神经病学的) mainland.

The world is full of tick boxes, particularly in our social lives. We want answers and we want them now. From the popularity of the "yes man" to the "it's okay to say no" revolution, it sometimes feels like we (catch) in a tug-of-war between the two extremes. In reality, both "yes" and "no" have many hugely important (apply) in life. But what about those situations that fall between?

Using "maybe" in my personal and professional life actually lowers my likelihood of breaking promise, reduces disappointment, and makes communication better for everyone involved.

Earlier this week, a friend of mine invited me to a play (star) his son on Friday night. But I, being (terrible) busy at that time, told him it was a maybe. It turned out that I ended up (assign) an extra project. It was a pity that I missed his son's play, but I was not that (shame) of my absence.

Of course, the concept can be used in ways that are irritating or harmful. A "maybe" that sparks joy for you can leave the other person in the dark if not employed responsibly. If possible, let the person who issues the invitation makes the demand of you know roughly how long you're going to think things over, so he/she knows to expect.

1）表示支持；

2）介绍一些主要的志愿活动；

3）申请方式。

注意：

1）写作词数应为 80 左右；开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。

2）文中不得透露个人姓名和学校名称；

3）请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

It was one of ordinary days in October, grey and drizzling all the time. I dragged myself out of the bed and all of the routines began early. I dropped my two older children at school with relief and unwillingly headed to the supermarket to buy groceries with my youngest. Never had I felt any tinge of gratitude for my comfortable home or lovely family.

I was getting mad and frustrated with this early day, and my son, just four years old at that time, was being difficult. I raced around to pick the items with no regard to the cost, while trying in vain to control my naughty child whose behavior had now added to my complete displeasure. Yes, I was that mother, threatening, roaring at a small child, the kind of behavior you see in others before you have children and think, "I will never be one of those people. "

Eventually we made it to the checkout and stood in the queue waiting our turn. After a short time, I noticed that someone had joined the line behind us. I turned and saw an old man. He wore a dirty overcoat, tied around the middle with rope. His shoes were worn-out, and his trousers tapped around sockless ankles even on this cold, wet day. In his hands he carried a small box of long-life milk.

As I had too many groceries, I asked him if he'd like to go ahead of me. It was more like an automatic reaction than an act of kindness on my part. Perhaps I just did it out of a sense of guilt, or I just wanted him gone. After all, it was his presence that made me uncomfortable, in the same way I feel uncomfortable and avoid my eyes when passing a homeless person.

He didn't respond to me as if I had said nothing to him. Then I looked at him and repeated my words. This time, I was sure that he had heard what I said.

注意：

1）续写词数应为 150 左右；

2）请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。