阅读理解

Discover Beautiful Belfast, Northern Ireland

Here are a few of the attractions that bring in tourists from around the globe.

Belfast City Hall

Belfast's City Hall, located in the center of the city, is a good place to begin touring. The magnificent building, which opened in 1906, houses exhibits that are related to Belfast's history and government. Outside, the gardens are full of impressive statues and memorials.

Titanic Belfast

Shipbuilding was a major industry in Belfast around 1900. The famous Titanic was built in the city's shipyards from 1909 to 1912. Today, people can visit Titanic Belfast, an interactive museum that praises the legendary ship and those who died with it. In 2016, the popular museum was voted the world's leading tourist attraction.

Ulster Museum

The largest museum in Northern Ireland is Belfast's splendid Ulster Museum. It has been called Northern Ireland's treasure house of the past and present. From mummies to moon rocks, the museum boasts impressive art, natural science and history collections.

St. George's Market

Award-winning St. George's Market was built in the 1890s and is Belfast's last remaining market housed in a Victorian building. Visitors will find approximately 200 booths selling food, clothes, antiques, crafts and more. Go early for the market's famous breakfast, and try a specialty coffee or tea while listening to live music.

1. （1） Where can you learn the history of Belfast government?

   A . At Titanic Belfast. B . At Ulster Museum. C . At Belfast City Hall. D . At St. George's Market.
3. （2） Which attraction has been selected as the world's leading tourist destination?

   A . Titanic Belfast. B . Ulster Museum. C . Belfast City Hall. D . St. George's Market.
5. （3） What can visitors do at St. George's Market?

   A . Have a good lunch. B . Enjoy music live. C . Buy some furniture. D . Admire natural scenery.
7. （4） Where is this text possibly taken from!

   A . A science journal. B . A health magazine. C . A travelling brochure. D . A geography textbook.

 阅读理解

Nothing seems to brighten up a room faster than a bouquet of flowers. While bringing a touch of nature inside, fresh flowers make a room look and smell better. Perhaps that's why people who are limited to hospital rooms appreciate flowers so much.

Larsen Jay experienced this for himself. After falling from a building in 2007, Jay was in the hospital for weeks. He faced numerous surgeries and began losing hope. Jay's friends and family members, though, came to his rescue. They delivered fresh flowers each day and something wonderful happened. Jay's mood began to improve, and he looked forward to the future with increased hope.

He soon realized that others around him weren't receiving the same type of emotional support. This drove him to go from room to room, giving away his flowers. The results were amazing! He found that people's misery quickly turned to happiness.

After leaving the hospital, Jay couldn't forget the power of his flowers. Within six months, he came up with the idea for Random Acts of Flowers.

Random Acts of Flowers accepts donations of previously used flowers, often from weddings, and rearranges them. The flowers are then given to people in hospitals and nursing homes. In their first year, the organization served fewer than 100 people. But by 2018 they had given out close to 300,000 bouquets.

According to many studies, fresh flowers and plants can help with the healing process. A Harvard study found that flowers bring health benefits, including reduced stress. A different study found that patients with flowers had shorter hospital stays and lower levels of pain. A 2001 Rutgers study discovered that flowers help reduce depression. The University of Tennessee Medical Center did a study on Random Acts of Flowers in 2016. Almost 95 percent of the patients who had received flowers reported an improvement in their emotional condition.

Time spent in hospitals and nursing homes is no bed of roses. But groups like Random Acts of Flowers are making a difference. They give away fresh flowers to show kindness and promote healing.

1. （1） Why did Larsen Jay have to stay in hospital for a long time?

   A . Because he got injured in an accident. B . Because he wanted to cheer others up. C . Because he had to look after other patients. D . Because he needed to carry out operations.
3. （2） What inspired Jay to set up Random Acts of Flowers?

   A . The frequency of his friends' visit. B . The flowers he gave out to others. C . The changes of other patients when they got flowers. D . The experiences of his own when he received flowers.
5. （3） How does the author organize Paragraph 6?

   A . By listing statistics. B . By making comparisons. C . By quoting research results. D . By analyzing cause and effect.
7. （4） What can we learn about Random Acts of Flowers

   A . It is well received. B . It cures the patients. C . It needs more support. D . It is highly profitable.

 阅读理解

Imagine looking through 3.7 million outfits online in search of just the right fit. Sounds like an impossible task, doesn't it? Not anymore — artificial intelligence (AI) stylists make such a task possible.

An AI stylist is a computer algorithm (算法) that can put together outfits. It works by scouring the internet in a very similar way to the Google search engine. The program searches for clothing images on fashion blogs, online stores and social media, collecting thousands of outfits created by human stylists. The program can also "read" text and pick out important details about each article of clothing. Both the images and text are stored in a data set from which the AI stylist makes fashion suggestions for people based on their personal preferences.

An AI stylist can collect tens of thousands of outfits to display to millions of shoppers online. This data set of outfits is constantly updated and controlled by a team of people. The team helps the computer improve the algorithms which in turn helps the AI stylist put together better outfits for a customer.

An AI stylist displays outfits and fittings based on a customer's desires, but it can also suggest things that may be a little out of the customer's comfort zone. People are often willing to try something new if they are following styling advice.

An AI stylist can run into trouble when people of different cultures use it. What is trendy in Asia can be very different from what is fashionable in Europe. AI stylists keep up with the latest trends in different countries and then change the program for different regions. Companies can create a set of guidelines for the AI stylist to use, which can be adjusted by country to reflect preferences for different styles.

An Al stylist must also keep up with "fashion rules". For example, big-sleeved tops do not go with skinny fit blazers. It is difficult for the AI stylist to recognize "rules" like these. So a different AI model that can recognize the cut, style and color of garments adds that information to the database.

AI stylists have been tested against real stylists and fashion influencers and have received positive feedback. Maybe someday we won't put together an outfit without using our AI consultant first.

1. （1） How can an AI stylist choose the suitable outfit from plentiful ones?

   A . By its reading abilities. B . By its supporting team. C . By its powerful algorithm. D . By its connection to the internet.
3. （2） Why does an AI stylist recommend slightly different styles from the users' familiar ones?

   A . Because the algorithms need updating. B . Because AI stylists are testing customers' feedback. C . Because people usually accept professional suggestions. D . Because AI stylists have not read the users' preferences.
5. （3） What problem might AI stylists have?

   A . They may fall behind the fashion. B . They cannot be accessible in some countries. C . They cannot recognize the styles of some clothes. D . They may be unable to understand some fashion rules.
7. （4） Which of the following words best describes the future of AI stylists?

   A . Uncertain. B . Doubtful. C . Predictable. D . Promising.
9. （5） What is the most suitable title for the passage?

   A . AI VS. Humans         B . How to Choose a Proper AI C . AI: Changing How You Look D . Warning: AI Replacing Stylists

 根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。

To have a good conversation is a pleasure for most people.  Sometimes there are awkward silences while people try to think of something to say. Some conversations are one-sided. One person asks all the question, and the other just gives one-word answers. Actually, a good conversation needs two or more people to keep it going. They need to say things that others can answer and expand on.

"What do you do?" is a good place to start. You can also simply say, "Tell me about yourself." Most people love an opportunity to talk about themselves.

As the other person begins to respond to your question, look for common ground.When the person finishes their story, you can comment and mention something that you did. Then you can talk about those activities and your plans for the coming weekend.

When the other person is talking, listen to them. Do not interrupt. When they finish, ask some more questions, and listen to the answers. Similarly, if you are answering a question, don't go on and on.A good verbal exchange is a little like a tennis game, in which the ball goes back and forth. Also, avoid yes/no questions. They can stop a conversation. Instead, ask open-ended questions using what or why.　　

A conversation should end well, too. After you've conversed for a bit, you can say, "I need to run now." You may also give a reason.

Now go out and enjoy a good conversation.

A. Give an answer and stop.

B. But not every conversation is good.

C. Talking with others can be fun for everyone.

D. Positive comments and conversations produce a chemical reaction too.

E. To get the ball rolling in a conversation, ask something about the other person. 

F. If you ask someone about their weekend, the person could talk about what they did. 

G. Say something like, "I really need to get going. My exercise class starts in 10 minutes."

 阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的A、B、C和D选项中，选出最佳选项。

By thirty-six, Scott Fischer had already climbed big mountains of Asia. 1 , he had promised himself to conquer (征服) the second-highest mountain in the world — mighty K2 of the Karakoram Range.　　

Fischer and his guide, Ed Viesturs, began their trip with other climbers. As Fischer was preparing to make a long step, an ice block shifted under his foot and 2 him off-balance. His arm had been torn from its socket (关节窝) when Viesturs 3 him to safety. Fischer's 4 was horribly swollen (肿) so they tried to return to base camp. Luckily, after two hours among the six climbers was a 5 , who helped fix his arm. For two weeks, he stayed 6 in the camp to rest while others continued with the climb. The news that the leader had managed to reach the peak 7 him to pursue his goal despite a 8 arm.　　

When they 9 their climb, they met with countless other problems. At one time, they were almost10 by an avalanche (雪崩) while moving to rescue others. Fighting against all 11 , they struggled upwards and soon emerged into the magic al world of intense blue sky. They realized they could go no further — they had 12 K2's top. After a small 13 , they realized they had to return to the camp before dark but the footprints they made on the snow were hardly 14 . With instinct (直觉) and courage, they finally managed to struggle their way back. After fifty-three days on K2, Scott Fischer 15 it.

 In the last few years, the Great Shakespeare Book Hunt ____one of the best activities during Shakespeare Week.

The Xi'an City Wall ____ originally to protect the city in the Tang dynasty and has now been completely restored.

 Many people think that listening to music is a hobby ____ can reduce stress and anxiety.

Mum ____be preparing for the festival in the kitchen. Let's go and see!