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Will you please（）this article to see if there is any misprint?

Many members of the women’s liberation movement advocate that men should（）some of the responsibilities of childcare and household work.

Some city planners believe that each city is（）: in other words, because of cultural differences, one city can't simply copy others.

They persecute those who do not（）to their ideas.

Write a 300-word composition about your view on information security and information transparencyYour composition is to include 3 paragraphs:1. In the first paragraph, state your main idea.2. In the second paragraph, support your main idea with specific examples and necessary reasoning.3. In the last paragraph, bring your composition to a natural conclusion.Attention: Write your composition on the Answer Sheet B.

As Technology Gets Better, Will Society Get Worse?Imagine that two people are carving a six-foot slab of wood at the same time. One is using a hand-chisel, the other, a chainsaw. If you are interested in the future of that slab, whom would you watch?This chainsaw/chisel logic has led some to suggest that technological evolution is more important to humanity’s near future than biological evolution, nowadays, it is not the biological chisel but the technological chainsaw that is most quickly redefining what it means to be human The devices we use change the way we live much faster than any contest among genes. We’re the block of wood, even if, as I wrote in January, sometimes we don’t even fully notice that we’re changing.1. Assuming that we really are evolving as we wear or inhabit more technological prosthetics—like ever-smarter phones, helpful glasses, and brainy cars—here’s the big question: Will that type of evolution take us in desirable directions, as we usually assume biological evolution does?Some, like the Wired founder Kevin Kelly, believe that the answer is a resounding “yes”. In his book “What Technology Wants”. Kelly writes: 2. “Technology wants what life wants; Increasing efficiency; Increasing opportunity; Increasing emergence; Increasing complexity; Increasing diversity; Increasing specialization; Increasing ubiquity; Increasing freedom; Increasing mutualism; Increasing beauty; Increasing sentience; Increasing structure; Increasing evolvability.”We can test the “Increasing” theory by taking a quick trip up north, to an isolated area south of the Hudson Bay. Here live the Oji-Cree, a people, numbering about thirty thousand, who inhabit a cold and desolate land roughly the size of Germany. For much of the twentieth century, the Oji-Cree lived at a technological level that can be described as relatively simple. As nomads, they lived in tents during the summer, and in cabins during the winter. Snowshoes, dog sleds, and canoes were the main modes of transportation, used to track and kill fish, rabbits, and moose for food. A doctor who worked with the Oji-Cree in the nineteen-forties has noted the absence of mental breakdowns or substance abuse within the population observing that “the people lived a rugged, rigorous life with plenty of exercise.” the Oji-Cree invariably impressed foreigners with their vigor and strength. Another visitor, in the nineteen-fifties, wrote of their “ingenuity, courage, and self-sacrifice,” nothing that, in the North, “only those prepared to face hardship and make sacrifices could survive.”The Oji-Cree have been in contact with European settlers for centuries, but it was only in the nineteen-sixties, when trucks began making the trip north, that newer technologies like the internal combustion engine and electricity really began to reach the areas. The Oji-Cree eagerly embraced these new tools. In our lingo, we might say that they went through a rapid evolution, advancing through hundreds of years of technology in just a few decades.The good news is that, nowadays, the Oji-Cree no longer face the threat of winter starvation, which regularly killed people in earlier times. They can more easily import and store the food they need, and they enjoy pleasures like sweets and alcohol. Life has become more comfortable. The constant labor of canoeing or snowshoeing has been eliminated by outboard engines and snowmobiles. Television made it north in the nineteen-eighties, and has proved enormously popular.But, in the main, the Oji-Cree story is not a happy one. 3. Since the arrival of new technologies, the population has suffered a massive increase in morbid obesity, heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes. Social problems are rampant; idleness, alcoholism, drug addiction, and suicide have reached some of the highest levels on earth. Diabetes, in particular, has become so common (affecting forty per cent of the population) that researcher think that many children, after exposure in the womb, are born with an increased predisposition to the disease. Childhood obesity is widespread, and ten-year-olds sometimes appear middle-aged. Recently, the Chief of a small Oji-Cree community estimated that half of his adult population was addicted to OxyContin or other painkiller.Technology is not the only cause of these changes, but scientists have made clear that it is a driving factor. In previous times, the Oji-Cree lifestyle required daily workouts that rivaled those of a professional athlete. “In the early 20th century,” writes one researcher, "walking up to 100 km/day was not uncommon.” But those days are over, replaced by modern comforts. Despite the introduction of modern medicine, the health outcomes of the Oji-Cree have declined in ways that will not be easy to reverse. The Oji-Cree are literally being killed by technological advances.The Oji-Cree are an unusual case. It can take a society time to adjust to new technologies, and the group has also suffered other traumas, like colonization and the destruction of cultural continuity. Nonetheless, the story offers an important warning for the human race. The problem with technological evolution is that it is under our control and, unfortunately, we don’t always make the best decisions.4.This is also the principal difference between technological and biological evolution. Biological evolution is driven by survival of the fittest, as adaptive traits are those that make the survival and reproduction of a population more likely. It isn’t perfect, but at least, in a rough way, it favors organisms who are adapted to their environments.Technological evolution has a different motive force. It is self-evolution, and it is therefore driven by what we want as opposed to what is adaptive. In a market economy, it is even more complex: for most of us, our technological identities are determined by what companies decide to sell based on what they believe we, as consumers, will pay for. As a species, we often aren’t much different from the Oji-Cree. Comfort-seeking missiles, we spend the most to minimize pain and maximize pleasure. When it comes to technologies, we mainly want to make things easy. Not to be bored. Oh, and maybe to look a bit younger.Our will-to-comfort, combined with our technological powers, creates a stark possibility. If we’re not careful, our technological evolution will take us toward not a singularity but a sofalarity. That’s a future defined not by an evolution toward superintelligence but by the absence of discomforts.The sofalarity (pictured memorably in the film “Wall-E” is not inevitable either. But the prospect of it makes clear that, as a species, we need mechanism to keep humanity no track. 5. The technology industry, which does so much to define us, has a duty to cater to our more complete selves rather than just our narrow interests. It has both the opportunity and the means to reach for something higher. And, as consumers, we should remember that our collective demands drive our destiny as a species, and define the post human condition.

A new wave of music and arts projects has emerged, focusing on someone who may seem for some a dubious source of inspiration. Imelda Marcos, former first lady of the Philippines, is currently becoming the subject of musical, song cycles and shows on a worldwide arena.When the Marcos regime collapsed in 1986, and Imelda and her husband Ferdinand were exiled in Hawaii, they carried with them allegations of embezzlement, corruption and human rights abuses. Imelda had spent the last twenty years living off a seemingly endless supply of funds, living an exotic and glamorous lifestyle and ribbing shoulders with powerful figures worldwide. In 1972, when the superstar couple’s popularity was fading and they were at risk of losing their power, Ferdinand Marcos instated martial, leading to an era of chaos and plunder, and what is described by some as the second most corrupt regime of the twentieth century. Ferdinand and Imelda fled in 1986 to escape the People’s Power Revolution. Imelda leaving behind some 2000 pairs of shoes. After her husband died in Hawaii due to ill health, Imelda stood trial in the United States on behalf of her husband. Following that, the returned to the Philippines to face seventy more counts of corruption and tax evasion. She has now returned to congress in the Philippines, her make-up and gowns as flawless as ever.So what makes Imelda Marcos such an appealing muse? Undoubtedly, Imelda Marcos’s resolute character which has withstood exile, legal battles and the wrath of her enemies makes her an appealing heroine, but film-maker Fenton Bailey attributes her iconicity to her sense of glamour and style, and her role as a cultural trend-setter. And like so many women who let nothing come between them and their goals, she has gained a certain iconic status, particularly among homosexuals, not unlike that of Judy Garland and Lady Gaga.And now the story of Imelda Marcos can be seen in the format of a musical, and artistic genre which is quite befitting for this flamboyant, entertaining figure of beauty and glamour. “Imelda—A new musical” has played in Los Angeles and New York. The artistic director of the musical, Tim Dang, realises that the musical glosses over the darker aspects of the Marcos regime, but wanted to portray Imelda as a person with all her faults on display, leaving the audience to come to a verdict. However, despite the glitz of the show, reviews were mixed, stating the “the serio-comic spoof... Had a vacuum at its centre”.The story of Imelda Marcos has also been immortalised as a song cycle, “Here Lies Love” written by David Byrne and Norman Cook, in which Imelda comes across as both a hero and villain. Their reasoning was to try to understand the story of how people can attain positions of such power and greed. They were also inspired by Imelda’s love of dancing and clubbing, and how her own style of music could be incorporated into their own. Byrne adds that their story is not black and white—the couple were very popular at first, and Imelda headed a lot of public works in the Philippines and added much to the nation’s sense of culture and identity.At the Cultural Centre of the Philippines, a tour named “La Vida Imelda” led by Carlos Sedran describes the life of Imelda Marcos, the cold war and martial law, while also portraying the glamour of the Imelda lifestyle. He describes it as an eternal story, in which her extravagance can be seen as either distasteful or in some ways estimable.There is a danger that these new art forms airbrush out the atrocities which accompanied the ostentation and glamour. It was a time when democracy was suppressed, political enemies disappeared, and billions of dollars which could have helped the poverty-stricken country were spent on the Marcos’s extravagant lifestyle. However, the artists involved are keen to make clear that the regime also resulted in great leaps forward in the country’s culture, architecture and infrastructure. The Marcos legacy remains in the form of hospitals, Heart and Lung Centres, Folk Art theatres and homes for children and the elderly, notwithstanding that the Marcos couple set their war-ravaged, poverty-stricken land onto the world stage.1. Why are Imelda’s shoes mentioned in the second paragraph?2. What aspect of Imelda’s character is emphasized in paragraph 3?3. Why is Imelda compared with Judy Garland and Lady Gaga?4. What was it about Imelda’s story that interested David Byrne and Norman Cook?5. Which of the following is not mentioned in the text as something Imelda Marcos did for the Philippines?

Humans are uniquely smart among all the other species on the planet. We are capable of outstanding feats of technology and engineering. Then why are we so prone to making mistakes? And why do we tend to make the same ones time and time again? When Primate Psychologist Laurie Santos form the Comparative Cognition Lab at Yale University posed this question to her team, they were thinking in particular of the errors of judgment which led to the recent collapse of the financial markets. Santos came to two possible answers to this question. Either humans have designed environments which are too complex for us to fully understand, or we are biologically prone to making bad decisions.In order to test these theories, the team selected a group of Brown Capuchin monkeys. Monkeys were selected for the test because, as distant relatives of humans, they are intelligent and have the capacity to learn. However, they are not influenced by any of the technological or cultural environments which affect human decision-making. The team wanted to test whether the Capuchin monkeys, when put into similar situations as humans, would make the same mistakes.Of particular interest to the scientists was whether monkeys would make the same mistakes when making financial decisions. In order to find out, they had to introduce the moneys to money. The monkeys soon cottoned on, and as well as learning simple exchange techniques, were soon able to distinguish “bargains”—If one team—member offered two grapes in exchange for a metal disc and another team-member offered one grape, the monkeys chose the two-grape option. Interestingly, when the date about the monkey’s purchasing strategies was compared with economist’s data on human behaviour, there was as perfect match.So, after establishing that the monkey market was operating effectively, the team decided to introduce some problems which humans generally get wrong. One of these issues is risk-taking. Imagine that someone gave you $1000. In addition to this $1000, you can receive either A） an additional $ 500 or B） someone tosses a coin and if it lands “heads” you receive an additional $1000, but if it lands “tails” you receive no more money. Of these options, most people tend to choose option A. They prefer guaranteed earnings, rather than running the risk of receiving nothing. Now imagine a second situation in which you are given $2000. Now, you can choose to either A） lose $500, leaving you with a total of $1500, or B） toss a coin; if it land “heads” you lose nothing , but if it lands “tails” you lose $1000, leaving you with only $1000. Interestingly, when we stand to lose money, we tend to choose the more risky choice, option B. And as we know from the experience of financial investors and gamblers, it is unwise to take risks when we are on a losing streak.So would the monkeys make the same basic error of judgment? The team put them to the test by giving them similar options. In the first test, monkeys had the option of exchanging their disc for one grape and receiving one bonus grape, or exchanging the grape for one grape and sometimes receiving two bonus grapes and sometimes receiving no bonus. It turned out that monkeys, like human, chose the less risky option in times of plenty. Then the experiment was reversed. Monkeys were offered there grapes, but in option A were only actually given two grapes. In option B, they had a fifty-fifty chance of receiving all three grapes or one grape only. The results were that monkeys, like humans, take more risks in times of loss.The implications of this experiment are that because monkeys make the same irrational judgements that humans do, maybe human error is not a result of the complexity of our financial institutions, but is imbedded in our evolutionary history. It this is the case, our errors of judgement will be very difficult to overcome. On a more optimistic note however, humans are fully capable of overcoming limitations once we have identified them. By recognising them, we can design technologies which will help us to make better choices in future.1. What was the aim of the experiment outlined above?2. Which of the following statements is the best paraphrase of the highlighted sentence? On a more optimistic note however, humans are fully capable of overcoming limitations once we have identified them.3. The words “cottoned on “ are closest in meaning to（）.4. Which paragraph addresses why moneys were chosen for the experiment?5. What can be inferred about Laurie Santos?

The next few decades will see great changes in the way energy is supplied and used. In some major oil producing nations, “peak oil” has already been reached, and there are increasing fears of global warning. Consequently, many countries are focusing on the switch to a low carbon economy. This transition will lead to major changes in the supply and use of electricity to power their homes and vehicles. Secondly, there will be an increase in power generation, not only in terms of how much is generated, but also how it is generated, as there is growing electricity generation from renewable sources. To meet these challenges, countries are investing in Smart Grid technology. This system aims to provide the electricity industry with a better understanding of power generation and demand, and to use this information to create a more efficient power network.Smart Gird technology basically involves the application of a computer system to the electricity network. The computer system can be used to collect information about supply and demand and improve engineer’s ability to manage the system. With better information about electricity demand, the network will be able to increase the amount of electricity delivered per unit generated, leading to potential reductions in fuel needs and carbon emissions. Moreover, the computer system will assist in reducing operational and maintenance costs.Smart Grid technology offers benefits to the consumer too. They will be able to collect real-time information on their energy use for each appliance. Varying tariffs throughout the day will give customers the incentive to use appliances at times when supply greatly exceeds demand, leading to great reductions in bills. For example, they may use their washing machines at night. Smart meters can also be connected to the internet or telephone system, allowing customers to switch appliances on or off remotely. Furthermore, of houses are fitted with the apparatus to generate their own power, appliances can be set to run directly from the on -site power source, and any excess can be sold to the grid.With these changes comes a range of challenges. The first involves managing the supply and demand. Sources of renewable energy, such as wind, wave and solar, are notoriously unpredictable, and nuclear power, which is also set to increase as nations switch to alternative energy sources, is inflexible. With oil and gas, it is relatively simple to increase the supply of energy to match the increasing demand during peak times of the day or year. With alternative sources, this is far more difficult, and may lead to blackouts or system collapse. Potential solutions include investigating new and efficient ways to store energy and encouraging consumers to use electricity at off-peak times.A second problem is the fact that many renewable power generation sources are located in remote areas, such as windy uplands and coastal regions, where there is currently a lack of electrical technology, this can be done more efficiently by reducing the reinforcement or construction costs. Although Smart Technology is still in its infancy, pilot schemes to promote and test it are already underway. Consumers are currently testing the new smart meters which can be used in their homes to manage electricity use. There are also a number of demonstrations being planned to show how the smart technology could practically work, and trials are in place to test the new electrical infrastructure. It is likely that technology will be added in ‘layers’ starting with ‘quick win’ methods which will provide initial carbon savings, to be followed by more advanced systems at a later date. Cities are prime candidates for investment into smart energy, due to the high population density and high energy use. It is here where Smart Technology is likely to be promoted first, utilising a range of sustainable power sources transport solutions and an infrastructure for changing electrically powered vehicles. The infrastructure is already changing fast. By the year 2050, changes in the energy supply will have transformed our homes, our roads and our behavior.1. According to the first paragraph, what has happened in some oil producing countries?2. Which of the following is NOT a benefit of mart Gird technology to consumers?3. What is the problem with using renewable sources of power according to the article?4. In paragraph 5, what can be inferred about cities in the future?5. According to the author, what can be inferred about the introduction of Smart Gird Technology?

It is not uncommon for close synonyms to be understood to share the same meaning. The difference between words like “hard” and “difficult”, for example, goes tragically unnoticed. One may employ one or the other with complete indifference, postulating no discrepancy between them. In general this is well and good; most people lack the scrupulous pedanticalness to quibble over such trifles. Nevertheless, for those of us with ample compulsiveness （and time）, it is of significant value to comprehend such nuances.Take for example the following sentences: 1） The test was hard. 2） The test was difficult. Is the difference between these synonyms readily apparent? Is there a noticeable difference between them at all? Indeed, these questions are valid and warrant answer. For, what would be the point to having multiple words with the exact same meaning? No, that would be superfluous; the English language being far too economical. While many close synonyms share similar, if not the same, dictionary definitions, the feeling, or mood, they convey is utterly singular. Although a dictionary can provide information about word meanings, pronunciations, etymologies, inflected forms, derived forms, et cetera, it cannot communicate how it feels to use a word.So, if there is indeed at difference between words like “hard” and “difficult”, what is it? To begin, “hard” is pragmatic and realistic, firmly grounded in reality. It is a utilitarian word that gets the job done and doesn’t apologize for its brusque, uncouth nature. On the other hand, “difficult” is eloquent and refined. It is civilized, willing to expend the effort necessary to appear urbane. Why, the mere difference in sonic quality between them is striking enough. “Hard” makes a quick, unassuming sound, having but a single syllable （voiced under certain inflections, it can even come across as harsh）, while “difficult” is more lengthy and melodic, its number of syllables totaling three times that of its counterpart. Furthermore, “hard” is more likely to be used in casual, informal circumstances, or to communicate an idea “on the go” or simply to “get it out” as the sayings go. It is used without pretense, and does not maintain a feeling of being overly concerned. In terms of daily usage, “hard” may be employed by an exhausted brick mason when posed with the question, “How was your day?” Conversely, “difficult” may be used by a military general upon explaining to his or her superior the progression of a particularly taxing campaign.Similar to “hard” and “difficult”, the words “weird” and “strange” too are close synonyms, and may seemingly be used interchangeably. Take for instance the following sentences: 1） Sea monkeys are weird. 2） Sea monkeys are strange. Contrary to popular belief, these sentences are not tautologous. So how do they differ? Their dictionary definitions are nearly identical, so the difference does not lie there. Rather, the difference involves the feeling, or mood, that these words convey. Notice that while “weird” and “strange” both have but one syllable, the latter has a remarkably distinguished feel. Similar to “hard”, “weird” conveys a more basic, a more crude, sentiment. Something “weird” is crass or gross, and is typically undesirable. No one wants to be associated with something “weird”. If trying to impress someone, one probably doesn’t want to be categorized among the “weird”. On the other hand, if something is labeled as “strange”, it is not necessarily bad. Rather, something “strange” is simply abnormal, or unusual——a deviation from what is expected. This distinction between “weird” and “strange” is so pronounce that the latter can be used as a euphemism for the former in certain situations. For example, notice how a simple substitution is able to make the following sentence less offensive: “Your mother’s cookies taste weird” compared to “Your mothers cookies taste strange”. In the former sentence, the speaker sounds as though he or she is insulting your mother’s cookies, stating that they taste bad. In the latter sentence, however, the speaker sounds as though the cookies simply taste different, or unusual, compared to what he or she is used to —the difference owing to the innocuous addition of too much flour perhaps.Finally, let’s look at the synonyms, “happy” and “glad”. As in the aforementioned cases, these words seem to have little or no discernible difference between them. Take for example the following sentences: 1） Tommy is happy because he got a new bike. 2） Tommy is glad because he got a new bike. Most understand these sentences to have the same meaning. And again, upon consulting a dictionary, one will find highly similar, if not the same, definitions. But these definitions lack the feeling, the unique emotional charge that these words convey. The word “happy” conveys a sense of levity, or a carefree attitude. The thought of someone who is “happy” conjures the image of a bright-eyes, ruddy, smiling face. One is “happy” on the morning of his birthday, discovering a new puppy bounding into his bedroom. On the other hand, the word “glad” conveys a sense of relief or contentment. The thought of someone who is “glad” conjures the image of a man standing crossed-armed, nodding gently, a stoic grin crossing his face. One is “glad” when he sees that the child’s lost puppy has been found, and was merely frolicking too far from home.Granted, the notion that close synonyms can be used interchangeably is prevalent among English speakers. And alas, the dictionary—the text purported to be responsible for clarifying such issues—is of little assistance. In the end, it is left to us the speakers of the language, those actively responsible for maintaining its sustenance and generation, to understand how these words make us feel and what mood we are inclined to attach to them. Using the examples and insights described above, one may come to recognize these subtle, yet crucial, differences.Granted, the notion that close synonyms can be used interchangeably is prevalent among English speakers. And alas, the dictionary the text purported to be responsible for clarifying such issues——is of little assistance. In the end, it is left to us, the speakers of the language, those actively responsible for maintaining its sustenance and generation, to understand how these words make us feel and what mood we are inclined to attach to them. Using the examples and insights described above, one may come to recognize these subtle, yet crucial, difference.1. As used in paragraph 1，what is most likely meant by “scrupulous pedanticalness”？2. According to paragraph 3, which of the following describes someone who is utilitarian?3. Which of the following sentences from the passage represents a fact, rather than an opinion?4. The author writes: “To begin, “hard” is pragmatic and realistic, firmly grounded in reality. It is a utilitarian word that gets the job done and doesn’t apologize for its brusque, uncouth nature. On the other hand, ‘difficult’’ is eloquent and refined. It is civilized, willing to expend the effort necessary to appear urbane.” Which of the following literary devices is used in this quotation?5. With respect to the way in which close synonyms are commonly understood, the author’s tone can best be described as（）.

The young people made a new（）to the governor.

Alan is a good football player and never breaks（）.

The modern camera lens may be coated with more than ten（）for each piece of its glass.

It is impossible for us to（）such a difficult task within the limited time.

Several loudspeakers are（）from the ceiling and we can hear the speaker very clearly.

Students with（）problems may apply for student loans.

What he said in the meeting（）everybody present.

Sometimes the student may be asked to write about his（）to a certain book or article that has some bearing on the subject being studied.

I was unaware of the critical points involved, so my choice was quite（）.

The engineers in this lab spent several weeks（）their plans for the new bicycle.

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