2024届高考英语外刊阅读天天练：七选五专题模拟训练十三

 

高考英语外刊阅读天天练：七选五专题模拟训练十三

①

Until recently, no one had heard of this game with the crazy name. If you haven’t played it yourself, you’ve probably at least heard of pickleball. Here’s how the game is played.

____1____ It’s played on a badminton-sized court with a slightly lowered tennis net, using square paddles and a small perforated plastic ball that’s similar in size to a tennis ball, but much lighter. ____2____

Unlike tennis, you can score only when it’s your turn to serve. ___3____ Be sure to hit with enough force or you’ll end up with a falafel—pickleball slang for a shot that falls short of the net. Matches can be played in doubles or singles, and games are played to 11 points. Lose with a score of 11-0 and you’ve been “pickled”!

Whether you play regularly—and consider yourself a “pickler”—or only once in a while, it’s a very social game and a perfect way to make new friends.____4____Part of the appeal is that pickleball is easy to learn and you don’t have to be super athletic to pick it up.

Playing the game can improve your hand-eye coordination and increase reaction time. __5_____ It’s a great aerobic work-out, and because it’s a low-impact sport, it’s easy on your joints.

【Reader’s Digest USA(October, 2023)】

A. It’s a sport that’s bringing folks together.

B.You don’t need to join a league or have a pickleball court to get in on the action.

C.Pickleball takes components from tennis, badminton and table tennis.

D.And because you can vary the intensity, pickleball suits serious athletes and weekend warriors alike.

E.Since the lighter ball doesn’t bounce as much, it’s easier to get a rally going.

F.Fans range from kids to seniors, with those ages 18 to 34 making up the fastest-growing player group.

G.The goal is to keep the ball in the air, and if your opponent  fails to return the ball over the net, you get the point.

 

②

How great would it be to have robot assistants like the ones from our favorite cartoons and sci-fi shows? Well, AI chatbots like ChatGPT are getting us there. Here are a few:

Manage your inbox

AI can sort through your emails in a flash, identify important messages and even compose responses on your behalf. __1___

____2____

Try a prompt like:“I have 36 hours in Atlanta. Can you suggest a travel itinerary that includes must-try restaurants and music venues?”

Give (or get) homework help

____3____It won’t do their homework for them, but it can explain concepts and walk them through a math solution.

Plan meals

You could say, “Give me 10 ideas for dinner that aren’t burgers.” ____4___

Learn English

The AI app Elsa can teach English to those who speak other languages. _____5___

【Reader’s Digest USA(October, 2023)】

A.Plan a trip

B. Get design ideas.

C.You can check them before they’re sent if you’d like.

D. When the app is done with its job, you can share the notes with others.

E.Socratic is an AI app that can help students with math problems and other homework.

F.Simply talk to it in English, and it will correct your pronunciation and give you tips on how to speak more fluently.

G.Or, if you have limited ingredients in your fridge, you could ask for “five meal ideas that use carrots and onions.”