Hollywood’s theory that machines with evil minds will drive armies of killer robots is just silly. The real problem relates to the possibility that artificial intelligence(AI) may become extremely good at achieving something other than what we really want. In 1960 a well-known mathematician NorbertWiener, who founded the field of cybernetics, put it this way: “If we use, to achieve our purposes, a mechanical agency with whose operation we can not effectively interfere, we had better be quite sure that the purpose which we really desire.”

好莱坞的理论认为有着邪恶头脑的机器会成为杀手机器人大军，这太愚蠢了。这一可能性的真正问题在于，AI（人工智能）可能会变得非常擅长于实现某些东西，不仅是我们真正想要的。1960年，著名数学家诺伯特维纳创立了控制论领域, 提到：“如果我们为了达到我们的目的而使用一种我们无法有效干预其运作的机械装置，我们最好确定我们真正想要的目的。”

A machine with a specific purpose has another quality, one that we usually associate with living things: a wish to preserve its own existence. For the machine, this quality is not in-born, nor is it something introduced by humans; it is a logical consequence of the simple fact that the machine can not achieve its original purpose if it is dead. So if we send out a robot with the single instruction of fetching coffee, it will have a strong desire to secure success by disabling its own off switch or even killing anyone who might interfere with its task. If we are not careful, then, we could face a kind of global chess match against very determined, super intelligent machines whose objectives conflict with our own, with the real world as the chess board.

有特定目的的机器还有另一种特性，我们通常把它与生物联系在一起：希望保留自己的存在。对于机器来说，这种特性不是天生的，也不是由人类引入的；如果机器死了，就无法达到其原始目的，这就是这一简单事实的逻辑化结果。因此，如果我们给机器人发送一条取咖啡的简单指令，它就会有强烈的愿望，禁止关闭自己的开关，甚至杀死任何可能干扰其任务的人，来确保成功。如果我们不小心，那么，我们可能会面临一场全球象棋比赛，棋盘就是现实世界，对手是异常坚定，其目标与我们的目标冲突的超级智能机器。

The possibility of entering into and losing such a match should concentrating the minds of computer scientists. Some researchers argue that we can seal the machines inside a kind of firewall, using them to answer difficult questions but never allowing them to affect the real world. Unfortunately, that plan seems unlikely to work: we have yet to invent a firewall that is secure against ordinary humans, let alone super intelligent machines.

参加并输掉这样一场比赛的可能性应该会引起计算机科学家的注意。一些研究人员认为，我们可以将这些机器密封在一种防火墙内，用它们解决困难的问题，但决不允许它们影响现实世界。不幸的是，这一计划似乎不太可能实现：我们还没有发明一种防火墙来保护普通人，更不用说超级智能机器了。

Solving the safety problem well enough to move forward in AI 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, as it has been by some AI researchers. Some argue that humans and machines can coexist as long as they work in teams—yet that is not possible unless machines share the goals of humans. Others say we can just “switch them off” as if super intelligent machines are too stupid to think of that possibility. Still others think that super intelligent AI will never happen. On September11, 1933, famous physicist Ernest Rutherford stated, with confidence, “Anyone who expects a source of power in the transformation of these atoms is talking moonshine.” However, on September 12, 1933, physicist Leo Szilard invented the neutron-induced nuclear chain reaction.

很好地解决安全问题以推动AI的发展似乎是可能的，但并不容易。几十年内为超级智能机器的到来做好计划是可能的，但这个问题不应该像一些AI研究人员所做的那样，随意被忽视。有些人认为，人和机器可以共存，只要他们在团队中工作，但这是不可能的，除非机器与人类的目标相同。也有人说我们可以“关掉它们”，好像超级智能机器很蠢，不会想到这种可能性。还有人认为超级智能AI永远不会发生。1933年9月11日，著名物理学家欧内斯特·卢瑟福满怀信心地说，“任何期望这些原子转化过程成为能量来源的人都在胡说八道。”然而，1933年9月12日，物理学家利奥·西拉德发明了中子诱导链式核反应。

单项填空

　1. (2015·常州模拟)—Can you help me?

　—Yes. ________ your teacher’s advice, in my opinion, and everything will be OK.

　A. FollowB. Following

　C. To follow D. Followed

　解析选A。考查“祈使句+and+陈述句”结构, 因此正确答案为A。本题中的祈使句后加了in my opinion这一插入语, 加大了试题难度。

　加固训练

　________ you follow your teacher’s advice, in my opinion, everything will be OK.

　A. UnlessB. If　C. SinceD. Because

　解析选B。句意: 如果接受老师建议的话, 在我看来, 一切都好。此处为条件状语从句, 故用连词if合适。

　2. —I think the firm may not offer you a good pay.

　— ________ , I won’t take the job.

　A. That is to say B. What’s more

　C. In that case D. In other words

　解析选C。句意: ——我认为公司不可能提供给你丰厚的报酬。——在那种情况下, 我不会接受工作。that is to say也就是说; what’s more而且, 更为甚者; in that case在那种情况下; in other words换句话说。

　3. (2015·淮安模拟)In their efforts to persuade us to buy that product, shopkeepers have made a close study of human nature and have ________ all our weaknesses.

　A. divided B. arranged

　C. classified D. separated

　解析选C。句意: 在说服我们买那种产品所尽的努力中, 店员深入研究了人性而且将我们的弱点进行了分类。classify“将……分类”, 符合句意。divide“划分”; arrange“安排”; separate“分开”。

　4. We are at your service. Don’t hesitate to ________ us if you have any further problems.

　A. appeal to B. turn to

　C. come to D. apply to

　解析选B。考查动词短语。句意: 我们随时为您效劳。如果还有问题, 可随时找我们。turn to sb. 意思是: 向某人求助。

　加固训练

　(2015·武汉模拟)When you have difficulty in learning new words, you can ________ the dictionary.

　A. turn up B. turn in

　C. turn to D. turn over

　解析选C。考查动词短语。句意: 当你学习新单词有困难时, 你可以求助于词典。A项意为“把声音调大, 出现”, B项意为“上交”, D项意为“翻转”。

　5. (2015·安徽师大附中模拟)—Shall I check the lab before I go home?

　— ________ . I’ll check it myself later.

　A. Go ahead B. No problem

　C. No hurry D. Don’t bother解析选D。句意: ——我回家前要不要我检查一下实验室? ——不烦劳你了, 晚些时候我会亲自检查的。go ahead“干吧, 做吧”; no problem“没问题”; no hurry“不着急”; don’t bother“不烦劳你了”。

　6. As we all know, he has ________ having been frightened and accepted others’ help.

　A. acknowledged B. confessed

　C. recognized D. admitted

　解析选A。句意: 据我们所知, 他承认受惊并且接受了他人的帮助。acknowledge指“公开承认(隐瞒或否认做过的事)”符合题意。confess自愿服罪或认错; recognize正式承认(主权、权利); admit在外界或自己良心的压力下承认。

　7. (2015·徐州模拟)Of course, access ________ up-to-date, accurate information is an important thing for anyone ________ is doing research.

　A. to; whose B. of; that

　C. to; who D. of; who

　解析选C。access to sth. “使用某物或接近某物的机会或权利”; 先行词为anyone而定语从句中又缺少主语, 故用who。

　8. (2015·南京模拟)—Hey, if you can’t enjoy that at a sensible volume, please use the earphone. I’m studying.

　—Oh, I’m sorry. I ________ realize it ________ you.

　A. don’t; bothers B. didn’t; bothered

　C. don’t; was bothering D. didn’t; was bothering

　解析选D。答句句意: 我没意识到(指前者提醒之前没意识到, 现在已意识到了)这么大的音量一直打扰着您。故第一个空用一般过去时, 第二个空用过去进行时。

　9. —How soon will the candidates get their university admissions?

　—It may take three weeks for all the applications to be ________ .

　A. withdrawn B. delivered

　C. edited D. processed

　解析选D。考查动词。句意: ——申请者要多久才能拿到他们的大学录取通知书? ——所有的申请处理起来要三个星期。withdraw撤回, 取消; deliver投递, 传送; 发表; edit我; process处理, 加工。根据句意选D。

　10. (2015·宿迁模拟)He commanded that all the gates ________ immediately in case the murderer escaped.

　A. should shut B. would be shut

　C. shut D. be shut

　解析选D。句意: 他命令立刻关上所有的门以免杀人犯逃走。command后接宾语从句时, 从句使用虚拟语气, 即“should+动词原形”, should可以省略。宾语从句的主语gates与shut之间为逻辑上的动宾关系, 因此使用被动语态。

　11. According to school bus safety rules, when a school bus stops on the road to ________ or pick up students, other vehicles behind it must stop to wait.

　A. drop off B. take off C. pay off D. turn off

　解析选A。句意: 根据校车安全条例, 当校车在公路上停车上下学生时, 其后的车辆必须停车等待。drop off“中途下客”对应pick up。take off“脱下, 脱掉”; pay off“付清, 还清, 付清工资解雇(某人)”; turn off“关掉”。

　12. (2015·海门模拟)—Excuse me, I’d like to make an early ________ to have my hair cut tomorrow.

　—Will 8 o’clock do?

　A. appointment B. arrangement

　C. employment D. engagement

　解析选A。句意: ——劳驾, 我想早点预约明天理发。——8点行吗? make an appointment“预约, 约定”, 符合句意。arrangement“排列, 安排”; employment“雇用, 使用”; engagement“约会, 订婚”。

　13. (2015·盐城模拟)We are looking into the problem. You can offer any information ________ to it.

　A. similar B. relevant C. unique D. equal

　解析选B。句意: 我们正在调查这个问题。你可以提供与此相关的任何信息。relevant“相关的”, 符合句意。similar“相似的”; unique“独特的”; equal“相等的”。

　14. (2015·太湖模拟)He refused to acknowledge ________ in the match, but in vain.

　A. to defeat B. to be defeated

　C. defeating D. being defeated

　解析选D。句意: 他拒绝承认在比赛中被击败, 但这一切都是徒劳的。acknowledge后接动名词作宾语, 主语he与defeat之间为逻辑上的动宾关系, 故选D。

　15. Any packet ________ properly will not be accepted by the post office.

　A. not to address B. not being addressed

　C. not addressed D. not having addressed

　解析选C。写地址与包裹之间是被动关系, 应用过去分词表被动。表示否定意思时, 将否定词放于非谓语动词之前, 故选C

　阅读理解

　(2015·长沙模拟)

　Christmas, Easter and Birthday parties can be difficult times for grandmothers and parents as they rush around trying to arrange the perfect celebration or making everyone as happy as possible! What’s better than a birthday party that makes your grandchild smile throughout or a celebration that impresses relatives and close friends?

　That is why Granny Look has supplied in this section, one of the most comprehensive guides to making these special occasions that happen perhaps once a year a real success.

　From a selection of Advent Calendars to party planning or Christmas-stocking fillers we have all the possibilities covered so that your children and grandchildren will really have a memorable time with attractive gifts and original ideas.

　Bring that festive spirit to all those traditional days, and ensure you are always ready for any possibility. Granny Look’s extensive links are bound to make every special occasion an entirely different experience from the year before and allow everyone to feel entertained and content.

　CHRISTMAS-STOCKING FILLERS

　LOOK no further! ! Granny Look helps the family to prepare in time for FATHER CHRISTMAS. Give SANTA CLAUS some ideas. He can fill all the children’s Christmas-stockings with goodies! Unique Christmas gifts for children-stocking fillers.

　A Granny Look favorite!

　ADVENT CALENDARS

　All children love the build-up to CHRISTMAS! What is better than choosing one of Granny Look’s selection of Advent Calendars! Here you will find a list of websites to buy traditional or fun Advent Calendars for children at Christmas time.

　A Granny Look favorite!

　BIRTHDAYS

　LOOKING for a SPECIAL BIRTHDAY GIFT. Explore Granny Look’s selection of PRESENTS, PARTY PLANNING, PARTY TOYS and PARTY GAMES for your Children and Grandchildren’s BIRTHDAYS.

　Plan and organize the KIDDIE’S PARTIES ahead of time! ! Don’t forget the PERSONALISED INVITATIONS!

　CHRISTMAS

　LOOK and BOOK now! ! Granny Look’s selection of CHRISTMAS GIFTS for children.

　Some guides to “What’s on in your area”. . . for the kids. PANTOS, SHOWS, THEATRES . . . at Christmas time!

　UNIQUE Christmas gifts for Children. Spend QUALITY TIME with your Children’s Children this FESTIVE SEASON!

　文章大意本文主要介绍了一个网站: Granny Look。该网站的主要功能是帮助祖父母或者父母为一些诸如圣诞节、复活节、生日聚会等特别的场合做准备。

　1. From the text, we know that “Granny Look” is ________ .

　A. a person who guides you to make your yearly celebration a real success

　B. a magazine that helps the family to prepare for special occasions

　C. a company that sells all sorts of products on the Internet

　D. a website that helps you to prepare for special occasions

　解析选D。细节理解题。结合第二段和ADVENT CALENDARS部分中的内容可知, Granny Look是帮助人们为特别的场合做准备的网站。故答案选D。

　2. The purpose of the text is ________ .

　A. to make children have a memorable holiday

　B. to show you how to shop on the Internet

　C. to give you some information about Granny Look

　D. to introduce some goods

　解析选C。写作意图题。本文主要介绍了Granny Look这个网站的一些相关信息。故答案选C。

　3. If you want to send some invitations to your daughter’s classmates, where will you search for the information?

　A. At Birthdays.

　B. At Advent Calendars.

　C. At Christmas-stocking fillers.

　D. At Christmas.

　解析选A。细节理解题。根据文中BIRTHDAYS部分的最后一句话“Don’t forget the PERSONALISED INVITATIONS! ”可知, 要想给女儿的同学发请柬的话, 可以在BIRTHDAYS部分寻找信息。故答案选A。

　4. You will fail to find any information at Christmas when you need ________ .

　A. Christmas cards B. fun Advent Calendars

　C. Christmas gifts D. tickets for theatres

　解析选B。细节理解题。根据文章CHRISTMAS部分的内容可知, 文中没有提及“fun Advent Calendars”。故答案选B。

　5. If your son wants a traditional Advent Calendar, you should search ________ .

　A. BirthdaysB. Advent Calendars

　C. Christmas-stocking fillers

　D. Christmas解析选B。细节理解题。根据ADVENT CALENDARS部分中的“Here you will find a list of websites to buy traditional or fun Advent Calendars for children at Christmas time. ”可知, 如果你儿子想要一个传统的基督降临日历, 你应该去搜索Advent Calendars。故答案选B。

　任务型阅读

　(2015·江苏东南中学模拟)

　请阅读下列短文, 并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入一个最恰当的单词。

　注意: 每个空格只填一个单词。

　When I opened my e-mail the other day, a pretty woman named Rachel appeared on my computer screen. She greeted me by name and started talking enthusiastically. Every now and then she stopped to smile at me or blow a kiss. She was reading to me an e-mail from my brother, and a lot of it was about his getting the phone company to give him a high-speed Internet connection. It was pretty cool.

　Rachel was there thanks to a new technology called Facemail. Facemail lets you send an e-mail that gets read to the receiver by an attractive male or female form or by a clown. The software, which is free, can be downloaded at www. Facemail. com.

　Facemail faces are lifelike, and they copy emotions based on the ones that you put in your text. For example, type in X, and Rachel blows a kiss.

　Life FX, the company that develops the Facemail is sure there are broad business uses. The reason e-business is not popular, the company says, is that buying over the Internet lacks the human touch. But what if you went to the Nike website and Michael Jordan greeted you by name, waited on you and personally closed the sale? And the company is talking with Whirlpool about using the technology in a computer screen on a fridge. Then if Mom can’t be home when the kids get back from school, she can leave a note with voice and image telling them what there is to eat.

　Facemail could get hot fast. Personally, I’m a fan. But Facemail should be used with words in an e-mail and add angry emotions when you’ve got a psycho-mail.

　Title: A New Technology on Facemail

　My findings ·The other day, when I opened my e-mail, I was greeted by a pretty woman on my computer with great(1) ________ .

　·She kept reading to me an e-mail from my brother about a high-speed Internet connection.

　·She stopped to smile at me(2) ________ . (3) ________ to Facemail ·With the help of a male or female or a clown, Facemail can get your e-mail(4) ________ to the receiver.

　·Facemail’s(5) ________ faces can stimulate emotions you put in your text. (6) ________ Life FX with e-business ·Life FX is sure to have broad business uses.

　·You can be greeted and waited on by Michael Jordan politely.

　·Buying through e-business is not popular for lack(7) ________ the human touch.

　·The(8) ________ of the Facemail can be used on a fridge. My personal

　(9) ________ ·Facemail is fantastic and fun, but it has some disadvantages.

　·Firstly, it should be used with words in an e-mail.

　·Secondly, it might make you(10) ________ when getting a psycho-mail. Conclusion Facemail could get hot fast. 答案: 1. enthusiasm　2. occasionally/sometimes

　3. Introduction(s)　4. read　5. lifelike　6. Comparing　7. of　8. technology　9. opinions/views　10. angry

　语篇随练根据阅读理解完成句子

　1. , one of the most comprehensive guides to making these special occasions.

　那就是为什么精品店在这个区域已经供应的原因, 其中面的指导之一就是制造这些特殊场合。

　2. We have all the possibilities coveredwith attractive gifts and original ideas.

　我们涵盖所有的可能以便于你的孩子和孙子会真正地有难忘的时刻, 他们会有精美的礼物, 这其中也包含了他们自己的想法。

　3. that festive spirit to all those traditional days, you are always ready for any possibility.

　把节日精神带到所有的传统日子, 你务必要对任何可能做好准备。1. That is why Granny Look has supplied in this section

　2. so that your children and grandchildren will really have a memorable time

　3. Bring and ensure