卷子答案网-一个不只有答案的网站高考英语外刊阅读天天练：阅读理解专题十六
①
The climate crisis poses an “existential risk” to the health and wellbeing of all children, and action is needed immediately.
In a major intervention, Dr Camilla Kingdon warned of the “grave risk” from the physical and mental effects of the climate emergency. Air pollution, extreme weather and unprecedented energy costs were having “a very real and detrimental
effect” on millions of children. But as a country we still had our “heads in the sand” when it came to climate change, Kingdon said.
Multiple studies have found that rising temperatures are having a devastating effect on foetuses, babies and children. Research shows that in children, air pollution can stunt lung growth, cause asthma and affect blood pressure, cognitive abilities and mental health.“Children breathe faster, so they inhale more airborne toxins in proportion to their weight, than adults exposed to the same amount of air pollution. As such they are especially vulnerable to air pollution, which can lead to asthma in childhood, and lifelong health issues，”concluded the studies.
Kingdon said health inequality meant some children were affected more than most. “Climate change poses an existential risk to the health and wellbeing of all children. However, the current impacts of climate change are not experienced equally.” Low-income households had less choice in where they lived, were more likely to live in deprived areas and so were exposed to extreme weather and poorer air quality, she added.
The climate emergency was also leading to more damp and cold homes as a result of increases in winter precipitation in the UK. For low-income households, homes may be too expensive to heat to an adequate temperature, increasing their exposure to cold and mould.“Every child is at grave risk of the effects of our changing climate, but none more so than children in lower-income families,”said Kingdon.
“We cannot continue on like this as a country,”said Kingdon.“There is no such thing as the “right time” economically to tackle climate change, and indeed the cost of not reaching net zero is far greater. We must act now and with our children in mind,” said Kingdon.
【The Guardian(October 21, 2023)】
The underlined phrase “had sb. heads in the sand” can best be paraphrased by______.
Make joint efforts
Avoid addressing the issue directly
Take timely steps
Demonstrate great interest
How did the researchers conduct the studies in paragraph 3
By citing previous studies
By quoting a scientist’s words
By comparing children and adults
By going through papers
Which is not the reason why some children are affected more than most
Climate change only pose an existential risk to poor children
Poor children are more likely to be exposed to extreme weather
More damp and cold homes are available to poor children
Low-income families can’t have an adequate temperature in winter
How did Kingdon feel towards the UK government in climate change issues
grateful
Puzzled
Gratified
Discontent
②
One of the executives invited to Rishi Sunak’s international AI safety summit next month has warned that the conference risks achieving very little, accusing powerful tech companies of attempting to “capture” the landmark meeting.
Connor Leahy, the chief executive of the AI safety research company Conjecture, said he believed heads of government were poised to agree a style of regulation that would allow companies to continue developing “god-like” AI almost unchecked.
Leahy is one of just 100 people who have been invited to November’s summit at Bletchley Park, which Downing Street is hoping will mark a turning point in how advanced AI technology is developed.
Officials have published an agenda for the summit that talks about the importance of “responsible capability scaling” – the idea that companies should develop their cutting-edge models according to a set of guidelines. However Leahy and others believe that there should be a complete moratorium on developing artificial general intelligence – AI models that can accomplish tasks at a human or beyond-human level of intelligence. Leahy said: “The aim of responsible scaling is to provide a framework which looks like something was done so that politicians can go home and say: ‘ We have done something.’ But the actual policy is nothing.”
Leahy’s comments echo recent warnings from others in the world of AI. Geoffrey Hinton, the man known as the “godfather of AI”, recently quit Google to sound a warning about the “existential risk” posed by digital intelligence. Weeks later, a group of senior executives from the AI industry released a statement saying: “Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority ...”
Warnings such as this prompted Sunak to call the summit, to be held from 1 -2 November. It is designed to act as a forum for heads of state and technology executives. British officials have been touring the globe encouraging heads of state to attend the conference, which they hope will be the first in a series.
【The Guardian(October 21, 2023)】
1.What’s the government’s purpose to hold the AI summit
A. To condemn powerful tech companies
B. To allow companies to develop a “god-like” AI
C. To organize a landmark meeting ti discuss the future of AI
D. Ti invite famous AI scientists to Downing Street
2. what does the underlined word “moratorium” probably mean
A. Stop
B. discussion
C. responsibility
D. occupation
3. what will Geoffrey Hinton agree with according to the passage
A. It is no use setting up “responsible capability scaling”
B. Politicians have done some actually useful policies
C. Powerful tech companies should mitigate the risk of human extinction
D. It is urgent to cease developing AI for human existence
4. what’s the best title of the passage
A. Can human beings escape from threatening AI
B.AI summit could lead to ‘a race to disaster’
C. AI summit is on the way in UK
D. Tech companies put regulations into effect
③
It was something rather irregular at an otherwise regular board of appeals meeting in Maine. A resident wanted an exemption from the no-chicken rule. But this wasn’t just any resident. It was C-Jay Martin, 25, who is blind and has epilepsy and autism. Chickens are what brought C-Jay joy despite his challenges.“Having something to share with other people was important to him,” said his mother, Amy Martin.
But Bangor is not OK with chickens. In fact, city ordinances explicitly prohibit residents from keeping “fowl, goats, sheep, cattle or swine of any kind.” So would the staid New England borough of 31,000 make an exception for C-Jay and his emotional support hens
It was with high hopes that Martin headed to the otherwise mundane municipal meeting earlier this month. She told the appeals board she got the chickens in April after researching the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing by landlords or municipalities, and finding it might allow her son an accommodation.
She was joined by neighbors and community members who showed up to support C-Jay and his chickens. One noted C-Jay regularly assumes the responsibility of feeding the chickens, despite his disabilities. Another said their cooing and soft noises are clearly a comfort to C-Jay. Others said Martin and C-Jay keep the chickens’ area in their yard very clean.
But there was some peckish-ness, so to speak. Some raised concerns about whether the presence of the chickens could attract rodents, and didn’t want an exception for C-Jay to open the door for others to keep banned animals.
City officials, seeming to side with C-Jay and his flock, assured attendees that no increased rodent activity would not be tolerated and any livestock exemption would only apply to C-Jay Martin at his house.
In the end, it was a unanimous vote: the appeals board ruled that C-Jay had a need for the chickens. He would be allowed to keep them, although limits on the number were imposed, and noisy roosters prohibited.
Martin said her son is relieved his beloved chickens will stay. “When he’s sitting outside listening to an audiobook, or just hanging out in the backyard the sun shining, he always knows where they are because he can hear them,” she said. “He’s never really alone.”
【USA Today(October 20, 2023)】
What was the “irregular” thing happened at a board of appeals meeting in Maine
Residents there were prohibited from raising any animals at home
A special resident there wanted to keep Chickens although there was a no-chicken rule
Disadvantage groups there were under huge discrimination
Disabled person didn’t want to share with other people
What’s the meaning of the underlined word “staid” in paragraph 2
United
Developed
Stubborn
Remote
Which of the following is correct concerning C-Jay and his flock
The flocks were raised according to the Fair Housing Act by the whole community
C-Jay was incompetent to take care of the chickens because of his disabilities.
C-Jay obtained emotional support from his flocks
Banned animals are more likely to be tended in Maine
Where is the passage probably be taken from？
Lawsuit case
newspaper
academic report
anecdote
BCAD
CADB
BCCB