内容正文:
1
阅读理解-阅读单选3
试题基本信息
·题型:阅读理解-阅读单选/选择4题(全文约420词)
·核心知识点:环境污染、说明文
·考查重点:词义理解、细节理解、推理判断、主旨大意
材料剖析
。文章结构:提出生成式AI加剧电子垃圾危机→分析电子垃圾的危害→指出AI导致电
子垃圾增长的原因→强调研究贡献→评述现有法规不足→提出减少电子垃圾的解决
方案
核心观点:生成式A虹不仅消耗大量能源,还将产生大量电子垃圾,对环境造成负面影响,
需要采取措施减少其环境影响
阅读理解短文
Generative AI Is Likely to Worsen the E-Waste Crisis
Every time generative artificial intelligence drafts an e-mail or creates an image,the planet
pays for it.Making two images can consume as much energy as charging a smartphone,a single
exchange with ChatGPT can heat up a server so much that it requires a bottle's worth of water to
cool.By 2027,the global AI sector could annually consume as much electricity as the Netherlands.
A study in Nature Computational Science identifies another concern?AI's contribution to the
heap of electronic waste.Generative AI applications alone could add 1.2 million to 5 million
metric tons of e-waste by 2030.
This would add to the millions of tons of electronic products:the globe gets rid of annually.
Cell phones,computers,and other digital products often contain mercury ()lead,or other toxins.
If thrown away improperly,they can contaminate air,water,and soil.In 2022,the UN found that
about 78%of the world's e-waste ended up in landfills or unofficial recycling sites,where laborers
risk their health to collect rare metals.
AI rapidly consumes physical data storage devices and high-performance components which
last only two to five years but are replaced quickly as newer versions emerge.Asaf Tzachor,a
researcher at Reichman University,emphasizes the importance of monitoring and reducing AI's
environmental impacts.
Tzachor's study examined the volume of hardware used for large language models and its
lifespan.It predicts that the adoption of generative AI could increase e-waste,although hardware
innovations might help reduce this.Meanwhile,technological advances could make AI system more
accessible,increasing their use.
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This study's main contribution is highlighting AI's environmental consequences.Researchers
like Shaolei Ren from UC Riverside suggest that AI companies should slow their pace to minimize
these effects.
Currently,few countries have strict e-waste disposal laws.In the U.S.,there's no federal
requirement for recycling electronics.although some states have policies.A new bill.the Artificial
Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act of 2024,aims to address AI's environmental impact but
lacks compulsory reporting from companies.Microsoft and Google,however,have committed to
reaching net-zero waste and emissions by 2030.
To limit e-waste,companies can extend the life of their servers through regular maintenance
or repurpose old hardware,which can reduce waste by 42%.More efficient design could cut the
demand for hardware and energy,potentially reducing e-waste by 86%.
题目选项列表
1.28.The phrase"the heap"underlined in Paragraph 1 probably means_
A.growing amount.B.effective recycling.C.fast consumption.D.practical application.
2.29.According to Asaf Tzachor,
is likely to contribute to the growth of AI-related
e-waste.
A.the use of the rare metals.B.the improvement in language models.C.the increasing
accessibility of AI technology.D.the reduction in the number of hardware components.
3.30.What is implied about the U.S,federal law on e-waste management?
A.It is inadequate due to the lack of enforcement.B.It is effective in ensuring proper
disposal of e-waste.
C.It has recently been updated to include AI regulations.D.It forces companies to report
their e-waste disposal practices.
4.31.What is the author's purpose in writing this article?
A.To showcase AI's potential for reducing e-waste.B.To explain the mechanisms behind
AI technology.
C.To highlight the urgency of reducing AI's environmental impact.D.To analyze the
possibilities of lessening Al's environmental footprint.
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核心词汇详解
1.generative
核心词性
形容词(adj,高频核心):核心含义是”生成的;能生产的”,在AI领域特
指”生成式的”,如generative AI(生成式人工智能);也可表示”有生殖力
的”,用于生物学语境。
必记词性转换
动词:generate,核心含义是”产生:生成;引起”,强调通过某种过程制造
出某物,例The machine generates electricity.(这台机器发电。)
名词:generation,核心含义是”一代:产生;发电”,高考常用搭配是the
younger generation(年轻一代)、power generation(发电).
名词:generator,核心含义是”发电机;发生器”,指产生电能或其他能量
的装置。
高频搭配
形容词:generative artificial intelligence(生成式人工智能)、generative ap-
plications(生成式应用程序)。
动词:generate energy(产生能量)、generate heat(产生热量)、generate
data(生成数据)、generate concerns(引起关注)。
易混辨析
generate(v.)vs create(v,):generate侧重通过物理或化学过程”产生;
生成”(如能量、数据等),较为正式;create侧重”创造;创作”,强调从无
到有地制造出原创事物(如艺术、作品等)。
generative(adj.)vs productive(adj.):generative强调”具有生成能
力的”,尤指技术或系统的生成功能;productive侧重”多产的;有成效的”,
形容人或活动的产出效率高。
2.contaminate
核心词性
动词(V,高频核心):核心含义是”污染;弄脏;毒害”,指有害物质进入环
境或物体使其受污染,例The river was contaminated by industrial waste.
(这条河被工业废料污染了。)
必记词性转换
形容词:contaminated,核心含义是”受污染的”,作定语或表语,例con-
taminated water(受污染的水)。
名词:contamination,核心含义是”污染;污染物”,不可数名词,例envi
ronmental contamination(环境污染)。
高频搭配
动词:contaminate air/water/soil(污染空气/水/土壤)、contaminate food
(污染食物)、be contaminated with(被…污染)。
名词:prevent contamination(防止污染)、sources of contamination(污染
源)。
易混辨析
contaminate(v.)vs pollute(v.):contaminate语气较强,侧重有害物
质对环境或物体的”玷污;毒害”,可能导致不可逆转的损害;pollute是常
用词,泛指对空气、水等自然环境的”污染”,程度可轻可重。
contamination(n.)vs pollution(n.):contamination更强调污染物本
身或污染的过程,pollution侧重污染的状态或现象,使用范围更广。
3.disposal
核心词性
名词(,高频核心):核心含义一是”处理:处置”,尤指废物、垃圾的处
理,如waste disposal(废物处理);二是”支配权;控制权”,常用搭配at
one's disposal(任某人支配)。
必记词性转换
动词:dispose,核心含义是”处理;安排;使倾向于”,例dispose of waste
(处理废物)、dispose sb to do sth(使某人倾向于做某事)。
形容词:disposable,核心含义是”一次性的;可处理的”,如disposable cups
(一次性杯子);也可表示”可自由支配的”,例disposable income(可支配收
入)。
高频搭配
名词:c-waste disposal(电子废物处理)、sewage disposal(污水处理)、at
one's disposal(任某人使用/支配)、methods of disposal(处理方法)。
动词:dispose of(处理;除掉;放弃)、dispose resources(分配资源)。
易混辨析
disposal(n.)vs treatment(n.):disposal侧重”最终处理;丢弃”,强
调处理的结果;treatment侧重”对待;治疗;处理(过程)”,如medical
treatment(医疗)、waste treatment(废物处理过程)。
dispose of vs throw away:dispose of是正式用语,指”妥善处理”(如
废物、财产等);throw away是非正式用语,强调”随意丢弃,不涉及处理
方式是否恰当。
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4.emission
核心词性
名词(.,高频核心):核心含义是”排放;排放物”,尤指气体、液体等的
排放,如carbon emissions(碳排放);也可表示”(光、热等的)发出”。
必记词性转换
动词:emit,核心含义是”排放;发出(光、热、声音等)”,例The factory
emits harmful gases.(这家工厂排放有害气体)。
形容词:emissive,核心含义是”发射的;放射性的”,用于物理或化学语境。
名词:emitter,核心含义是”发射器;发射体”,指发出信号或能量的装置。
高频搭配
名词:net-zero emissions(净零排放)、greenhouse gas emissions(温室气体
排放)、emission reduction(减排)、emission standards(排放标准)。
动词:emit carbon dioxide(排放二氧化碳)、emit light(发光)、emit a sound
(发出声音)。
易混辨析
emission(n.)vs discharge(n.):emission侧重”(气体、辐射等的)排
放”,较为正式,常用于环境领域;discharge可指”(液体、气体的)排放”,
也可指”(职责、债务的)履行”,使用范围更广。
emit(v.)vs release(v.):emit强调”持续或有规律地释放”(如机器排
放气体);release侧重”释放;发布”,可指释放被限制的人或物,或发布信
息、产品等。
5.toxin
核心词性
名词(,高频核心):核心含义是”毒素;毒质”,指生物产生的有毒物质
或化学毒素,如mercury toxins(汞毒素);也可比喻”精神毒素”。
必记词性转换
形容词:toxic,核心含义是”有毒的;有害的”,可形容物质或关系,例toxic
chemicals(有毒化学品)、a toxic relationship(有害的关系)。
名词:toxicity,核心含义是”毒性;毒力”,指物质的有毒程度,例the toxicity
of the drug(药物的毒性)。
高频搭配
名词:heavy metal toxins(重金属毒素)、natural toxins(天然毒素)、toxin
exposure(毒素接触).
形容词:toxic waste(有毒废物)、toxic fumes(有毒烟雾)、toxic effect(毒
性作用)。
易混辨析
toxin(n.)vs poison(n.):toxin特指”生物产生的毒素”(如蛇毒、细
菌毒素),较为专业;poison泛指”毒药;毒物”,可指天然或人造的有毒物
质,日常用语中更常用。
toxic(adj.)vs poisonous(adj.):toxic可形容物质”有毒的”,也可形容
抽象事物”有害的”(如toxic culture):poisonous主要形容物质”有毒的”,
强调能致人死亡或生病,如poisonous mushrooms(毒蘑菇)。
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6.landfill
核心词性
名词(.,高频核心):核心含义是”垃圾填埋场;垃圾堆”,指倾倒和掩埋
垃圾的场地,如municipal landfill(城市垃圾填埋场);也可表示”垃圾填埋
法”。
必记词性转换
动词:landfill,.核心含义是”把…埋入垃圾填埋场”,例The waste is land
lled.(这些废物被埋入垃圾填埋场)。
名词:landfilling,核心含义是”垃圾填埋(过程)”,指将垃圾填埋到指定
场地的过程。
高频搭配
名词:landfill site(垃圾填埋场)、landfill gas(填埋场气体)、landfill capacity
(填埋场容量)。
动词:landfill waste(将废物填埋)、be landfilled(被填埋处理)。
易混辨析
landfill vs dump:landfill是专业术语,指有控制的垃圾填埋场;dump可
指随意倾倒垃圾的场所,通常不规范。
landfill vs incineration:landfill是将垃圾掩埋;incineration是焚烧处理
垃圾,两者是不同的垃圾处理方式。
答案与逐题解析
正确答案:28-31ACAC
1.28.A (growing amount)
考点:短语词义辨析
语境:前文提到生成式AI每次生成内容都会消耗能源,后文指出到2030年生成式AI应用可
能新增120万至500万吨电子垃圾,说明电子垃圾的数量在不断增加。
辨析:A.growing amount(增长的数量);B.effective recycling(有效回收);C.fast consumption
(快速消耗);D.practical application(实际应用)。”mounting heap”中”mounting”意为”逐渐
增加的”,”heap”指”堆”,结合上下文对电子垃圾数量增长的描述,A符合语境。
2.29.C(the increasing accessibility of Al technology)考点:细节理解
语境:文中提到"Asaf Tzachor..predicts that the adoption of generative AI could increase
e-waste...Meanwhile,technological advances could make AI system more accessible,increasing
their use,.”,即技术进步使AI技术更易获取,从而增加其使用,进而可能导致电子垃圾增长。
辨析:A.the use of the rare metals(稀有金属的使用)文中未提及与电子垃圾增长的直接关联:
B.the improvement in language models(语言模型的改进)不是Tzachor指出的直接原因;C.
the increasing accessibility of AI technology(AI技术的日益普及)符合原文"more accessible,.
increasing their use'”的表述;D.the reduction in the number of hardware components(硬件组
件数量的减少)与电子垃圾增长无关。C正确。
3.30.A(It is inadequate due to the lack of enforcement.)考点:推理判断
语境:文中提到"In the U.S.,there's no federal requirement for recycling electronics..Anew
bill..aims to address AI's environmental impact but lacks compulsory reporting from compa-
i©s.”,说明美国联邦层面没有电子回收的强制要求,新法案也缺乏企业的强制报告要求,即法
律不够完善。
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辨析:A.It is inadequate due to the lack of enforcement.(由于缺乏执行而不充分)符合”no
federal requirement”lacks compulsory reporting”?的描述;B.It is effective in ensuring proper
disposal of e-waste..(有效确保电子垃圾的妥善处理)与原文不符;C.It has recently been up-
dated to include AI regulations.(最近更新纳入了AI法规)文中新法案尚未有效解决问题;D.
It forces companies to report their e-waste disposal practices..(强制企业报告电子垃圾处理情
况)与lacks compulsory reporting”相悖。A正确。
4.31.C (To highlight the urgency of reducing AI's environmental impact.):
主旨大意
语境:文章开篇指出生成式A1可能加剧电子垃圾危机,详细说明其对环境的负面影响,如能源
消耗、电子垃圾增加,还提到相关研究和现有法律的不足,最后提出减少电子垃圾的建议,整体
强调减少A虹环境影响的紧迫性。
辨析:A.To showcase AI's potential for reducing e-waste.(展示AI减少电子垃圾的潜力)与
文意相反;B.To explain the mechanisms behind AI technology.(解释AI技术机制)非文章重
点;C.To highlight the urgency of reducing AI's environmental impact.(强调减少AI环境影响
的紧迫性)符合全文对AI环境问题的担忧及呼吁:D.To analyze the possibilities of lessening
AI's environmental footprint..(分析减少AI环境足迹的可能性)是文章部分内容,并非主要目
的。C正确。