無錫市高三英語期末考試試卷含答案

無錫市普通高中2019年秋學期期終教學質量抽測建議卷

高三英語2020.01

命題單位:江陰市教師發(fā)展中心制卷單位:無錫市教育科學研究院

注意:本試卷分第一卷（選擇題）和第二卷（非選擇題）兩部分。答案全部做在答題卡上。

總分為120分，考試時間120分鐘。

第一卷（選擇題，共85分）

第一部分聽力測試（共兩節(jié)，滿分20分）

做題時，先將答案標在試卷上。錄音內容結束后，你將有兩分鐘的時間將試卷上的答案轉涂

到答題卡上。

第一節(jié)（共5小題:每小題1分，滿分5分）

聽下面5段對話。每段對話后有一個小題，從題中所給的A、B、C三個選項中選出最佳選項，

并標在試卷的相應位置。聽完每段對話后，你都有10秒鐘的時間回答有關小題和閱讀下小題。

每段對話僅讀一遍。

1.Whatdoesthewomanwant?

A.Coffee.B.Juice.C.Tea

2.Howdoesthemangoshoppingnow?

A.Bybus.B.Onfoot.C.Bycar.

3.Whatarethetwospeakerstalkingabout?

A.Afilm.B.Anactor.C.Theman'ssister.

4.Wheredoestheconversationprobablytakeplace?

A.Inanoffice.B.Inarestaurant.C.Inahospital

5.Whatdoesthewomanplantodotomorrowmorning?

A.Stayinbed.B.Dosomewashing.C.Cookbreakfastherself.

第二節(jié)（共15小題:每小題1分，滿分15分）

聽下面5段對話或獨白。每段對話或獨白后有幾個小題，從題中所給的A、B、C三個選項

中選出最佳選項，并標在試卷的相應位置。聽每段對話或獨白前，你將有時間閱讀各個小題，每

小題5秒鐘:聽完后，各小題將給出5秒鐘的作答時間。每段對話或獨白讀兩遍。

聽第6段材料，回答第6至7題。

6.What'stheprobablerelationshipbetweenthetwospeakers?

A.Teacherandstudent.B.Driverandpassenger.C.Husbandandwife.

7.Whatwillthespeakersdonext?

A.TelephoneTom.B.Listentosomemusic.C.Attendaconcert.

聽第7段材料，回答第8至9題。

8.Whatisthegirllongingtodo?

A.Travelalone.B.Stayoutlateonweekdays.C.Havemorepocketmoney.

9.Howoldmightthegirlbe?

A.15.B.17.C.II.

聽第8段材料，回答第10至12題。

10.Whendoestheconversationtakeplace?

A.Beforeclass.B.Inclass.C.Afterclass.

11.Whattroubledoestheboyhave?

A.Heisconfusedaboutpartofwhatthey'velearnttoday.

B.Heunderstandsnothingofwhatthey'velearnttoday.

C.HehasdifficultyunderstandingChapter3ofthetextbook.

12.Howdoesthewomandealwiththeboy'strouble?

A.Explainthepuzzletohiminclass.

B.Askhimtogotoherofficethatafternoon.

C.Asktheboytorefertothetextbookfirstonhisown.

聽第9段材料，回答第13至16題。

13.Whereisthewomangoingnow?

A.Toanartmuseum.

B.ToaChineserestaurant.

C.Toanundergroundstation.

14.Whydoesthewomancometothecity?

A.Onbusiness.B.Forshopping.C.Fortravelling.

15.Whydoesthemanrecommendtherestauranttothewoman?

A.Becausetheservicethereisgood.

B.Becausethefoodthereistasty.

C.Becausethepricethereislow.

16.Whichisthebestmeansoftransporttotherestaurantaccordingtotheman?

A.Thebus.B.Thetaxi.C.Theunderground.

聽第10段材料，回答第17至20題。

17.Whatmakesfattymealsmorepopularwithchildren?

A.Freetoys.B.Fastfood.C.Specialdiscounts.

18.Whatmiddaysnacksareoverweightchildrenadvisedtoeat?

A.Chocolatebars.B.Sweetcookies.C.Applepies.

19.Whatisthemostimportantthingingettingchildrentoexercise?

A.Forcingthemtoexerciseeveryday.

B.Makingexercisefunforthem.

C.Teachingthemtohaveastrongwill.

20.Howmanysuggestionsdoestheauthorprovideforoverweightchildren?

A.Two.B.Three.C.Four.

第二部分:英語知識運用（共兩節(jié)，滿分35分）

第一節(jié)單項填空（共15小題:每小題1分，滿分15分）

請認真閱讀下面各題，從題中所給的A、B.C.D四個選項中，選出最佳選項，并在答題卡

上將該項涂黑。

21.Thegreatestgiftsinlifearenotpurchased,butthroughhardworkanddetermination.

A.acquiredB.arrangedC.adoredD.allocated

22.thepathofacountyistherightoneisamattertobedecidedbyitspeople.

A.ThatB.WhatC.WhetherD.Why

23.ThousandsoffireshavebrokenoutinBrazil,muchoftherainforest.

A.havingendangeredB.endangersC.endangeredD.endangering

24.Whenabirdspotsahunter,justflyingaway,itcallsoutinalarmandwarnsotherbirds.

A.regardlessofB.otherthanC.insteadofD.ratherthan

25.Chinahaseffortstopromote“redtourism"featuringvisitstositeswithsignificanceofrevolutionaryhistory.

A.takenupB.steppedupC.broughtupD.madeup

26.AtthewebsiteWordSpy,fappy,__isshortfbrfatandhappy,isdefinedasoverweightandhappywithone'slife.

A.whereB.whenC.whatD.which

27.TaiwaneseactorGodfreyGaoaneveningvarietyshowwhenhesuddenlycollapsed,whichsaddened

thousandsofhisfans.

A.hadfilmedB.wasfilmingC.hadbeenfilmedD.wasfilmed

28.CreditsinAdvancedPlacementclassescangreatlyhelpstudentsgaintocompetitiveschools.

A.privilegeB.distinctionC.currencyD.admission

29.Alcoholisclassifiedasadowner,anditislegal,itcandamagetheliverifconsumedinlargequantities.

A.becauseB.unlessC.althoughD.until

30.?—Itseemsthatnothingcanfromhermindthememoryofthewar.

—PoorAnna!

A.cureB.claimC.eraseD.ease

31.Thecombinationofeconomicandcareeropportunitiesandsponsorshipforstudyingabroadisliesbehindthe

reversalofChina'sbraindrain.

A.thatB.whatC.whereD.why

32.Ifweteachtoday'schildrenwithyesterday'steachingmethod,we'llrobthemoftomorrow.

A.confidentialB.commercialC.conventionalD.conditional

33.---FrozenIIwasonshowonNovember22nd,2019.

---HaditnotbeenforthefactthatItiredout,Iwouldhavegonetoseeitthatnight.

A.wasB.wereC.amD.hadbeen

34.HowfantastichisspokenEnglishis!Heabroadforseveralyears.

A.maystayB.musthavestayedC.canstayD.musthavebeenstaying

35.―Iamwormoutafterworkingsolong.

…Me,too.It'stimeto.

A.callitadayB.pullmylegC.flyoffthehandleD.killthefattedcalf

第二節(jié)完形填空（共20小題;每小題1分,滿分20分）

請閱讀下面短文，從短文后各題所給的A、B、C、D四個選項中，選出最佳選項，并在答題卡

上將該項涂黑。

MoststoriesofkindnessdonotbeginwithaMarvelmoviesuperstar.Mine36Itwasatagardenpartyfbrthe

ACLU.Iwas37mygrandmothertotheevent.WhenRobertDowneyarrived,inagorgeouscream-coloredsuit,my

grandmothershrugged,farmoreinterestedin38herpaperplatewithcheese.Hewasn'tCaryGrantorGregoryPeck.

Whatdidshe39?

Afterthespeeches40withthanks,westooduptomakeourexit.Butassherose,mygrandmother41

andfellintothewheelchairramp（坡道）thatprovidedthedisabledwith42tothestage.Thewheelchairrampshad

43edges,whichslicedherlegrightopen.Thebloodwas44.1putmyhead45mykneesbecauseIthoughtI

wasgoingtofaint（昏倒）.46，somebodytookcontrolofthesituation.ThatpersonwasRobertDowney.

Heorderedsomeonetocalla（n）47.Hetookoffhisgorgeoussuit,48hissleeves,andgrabbedmy

grandmother'sleg.Thenhetookthesuit,whichI'd-49he'dtakenofonlytogetit50andhetieditaroundher

wound.Iwatchedthesuitturnredwithher51>Heknewhowtospeakto

hen52her,and--mostcritically--playtohervanity（虛榮，心）.Hetoldherhowbeautifulherlegswere.Hestayed

withheruntiltheambulancecame.

Believeitornot,Ihurriedintotheambulancewithoutaword.Iwastoo53andtooshytothankhim.

Weallhavethingswewishwe'dsaid,momentswe'dliketorevisitandre-experience.Rarelydo

wegetthatchanceto54thosetimeswhenwordscompletely55us.

36.A.isB.doesC.hasD.will

37.A.drivingB.sendingC.accompanyingD.inviting

38.A.packingB.pilingC.providingD.equipping

39.A.careB.needC.likeD.ignore

40.A.startedB.pausedC.closedD.concluded

41.A.trippedB.shookC.jumpedD.dashed

42.A.admissionB.accessC.wayD.path

43.A.sharpB.vagueC.abruptD.flat

44.A.amazingB.thrillingC.shockingD.relieving

45.A.inB.overC.offD.between

46.A.NaturallyB.UndoubtedlyC.EventuallyD.Luckily

47.A.doctorB.organizerC.ambulanceD.taxi

48.A.liftedupB.broughtupC.rolledupD.putup

49.A.assumedB.hopedC.assuredD.confirmed

50.A.inthewayB.outofthewayC.onthewayD.bytheway

51.A.woundB.scarC.stainD.blood

52.A.amuseB.pleaseC.distractD.disappoint

53.A.embarrassedB.dizzyC.ambiguousD.arbitrary

54.A.catchupwithB.makeupforC.putupwithD.makeuseof

55.A.forgotB.escapedC.lostD.failed

第三部分閱讀理解（共15小題:每小題2分，滿分30分）

請認真閱讀下列短文，從短文后各題所給的A、B、C、D四個選項中，選出最佳選項，并在

答題卡上將該項涂黑。

A

Europesmostbeautifulplaces

Europeisanamazinglyvariedplace.Theoldcontinent'shistoriccitiesanditsMediterranean

beachesdrawmanyofitsvisitors,butthebestdestinationsaresometimesitsmoreremotecormers,

knownmainlytolocalsandafewbravetravelers.

LakeInari,Finland

HighabovetheArcticCircleandclosetoFinland'sborderwithRussia,LakeInariisayearround

paradise.Dark,snowywintersmakeitidealforcatchingaglimpseoftheauroraborealis.

Itstree-linedbanksglowaburntorangeduringautumnandinsummer,youcanswiminitschilly

shallows.ThecenteroflocalSamiculture,it'sasremoteandtraditionalasFinlandgets.

Unst,ShetlandIsles,Scotland

ThemostnortherlyoccupiedislandoftheBritishIles,Unstisawild,ruggedplacewhereseas

crashintothedramaticMuckleFluggaseastacks.

Thelaterareaharborforgannets（塘谷鳥）duringbreedingseason,withbirdwatchersalsotreatedto

thesightofsearchingskuas（賊鷗）.

YorkshireDales,England

Itsnarrowlaneslinedwithdrystonewallscryouttocyclistsseekingmarvelousadventureswhile

itsmoodyhillcontinuallyattractwalkers,nomattertheweather

GeologicalwonderssuchasthelimestonespectaclesofMalhamCoveandGordaleScarmakeit

perhapsthemostbeautifulpartoftheBritishIsles

LoireValley,France

ChateaudeChambordandChateaudeChenonceauarethemostfamous,filledwithclassic

viewingtowers,formalgardensandboatinglakes.

Throwinatourofitsgraperies,wheresomeoftheworld*sfinestwinesareproduced,andits

glamourisimpossibletoignore.

56.Accordingtothepassage,thebestdestinationsinEuropeare.

A.historiccitiesandMediterraneanbeaches

B.knowntopeoplearoundtheworld

C.familiartoonlyahandfulofpeople

D.similartoeachotherwithnoobviousdifferences

57.Ifyouareacyclistinterestedinadventures,you'dbetterchoose.

A.Unst,ShetlandIsles,ScotlandB.YorkshireDales,England

C.LoireValley.FranceD.LakeInari,Finland

B

Awidely-usedgasthatiscurrentlyproducedfromfossilfuelscaninsteadbemadebyanartificial

leafthatusesonlysunlight,carbondioxideandwater,andwhichcouldeventuallybeusedtodevelopa

sustainableliquidfuelalternativetopetrol.

Thecarbon-neutral（碳中和）devicesetsanewstandardinthefieldofsolarfuels,afterresearchers

attheUniversityofCambridgedemonstratedthatitcandirectlyproducethegas-calledsyngas（合成

氣）一inasustainableandsimpleway.

Ratherthanrunningonfossilfuels,theartificialleafispoweredbysunlight,althoughitstillworks

efficientlyoncloudyandovercastdays.Andunlikethecurrentindustrialprocessesforproducing

syngas,theleafdoesnotreleaseanyadditionalcarbondioxideintotheatmosphere.Theresultsare

reportedinthejournalNatureMaterials.

Syngasiscurrentlymadefromamixtureofhydrogenandcarbonmonoxide（一氧化碳），andisused

toproducearangeofproducts,suchasfuels,medicines,plasticsandfertilizers:

“Youmaynothaveheardofsyngasitselfbuteveryday,youconsumeproductsthatwerecreated

usingit.Beingabletoproduceitsustainablywouldbeacriticalstepinclosingtheglobalcarboncycle

andestablishingasustainablechemicalandfuelindustry,"saidseniorauthorProfessorErwinReisner

fromCambridge*sDepartmentofChemistry,whohasspentsevenyearsworkingtowardsthisgoal.

ThedeviceReisnerandhiscolleaguesproducedisinspiredbyphotosynthesis-thenatural

processbywhichplantsusetheenergyfromsunlighttoturncarbondioxideintofood.

Ontheartificialleaf,twolightabsorbers,similartothemoleculesinplantsthatharvestsunlight,

arecombinedwithacatalyst（催化齊Ll）madefromthenaturallyabundantelementcobalt（鉆）.

Whenthedeviceisdippedinwater,onelightabsorberusesthecatalysttoproduceoxygen:The

othercarriesoutthechemicalreactionthatreducescarbondioxideandwaterintocarbonmonoxideand

hydrogen,fonningthesyngasmixture.

Asanaddedbonus,theresearchersdiscoveredthattheirlightabsorbersworkevenunderthelow

levelsofsunlightonarainyorovercastday.

"Thismeansyouarenotlimitedtousingthistechnologyjustinwarmcountriesoronlyoperating

Theprocessduringthesummermonths,“saidPhDstudentVirgilAndrei,firstauthorofthepaper.t4You

coulduseitfromdawnuntildusk,anywherentheworld.n

58.Withtheartificialleaf,wecan.

A.producesyngasinasustainableandsimpleway

B.preventcarbondioxidefrombeingreleaseintotheatmosphere

C.makeproductslikemedicines,plasticsandfertilizersoutoffossilfuels

D.harvestabundantsunlightthroughpetrolandcloseheglobalcarboncycle

59.Forthesyngasmixturetobeformed,wemightaswell.

A.getridofonelightabsorber

B.blockthecontactwithsunlight

C.provideaspecialcatalyst

D.keeptheartificialleaffarawayfromwater

60.WhatcanwelearnfromwhatPhDstudentVirgilAndreisaid?

A.Syngashasalreadybeeninwidespreadusearoundtheworld.

B.Theartificialleafispoweredbyfossilfuelsratherthansunlight.

C.Theartificialleafdoesnrtdependtoomuchontheweatherorlocation.

D.Syngasiscurrentlymadefromamixtureofhydrogenandcarbonmonoxide.

C

Forsomepeople,highereducationisnotjustagoalinlife,butalsoanexpectation.IntheUnited

States,ifyourparentsattendedacollegeoruniversity,thereisagoodchancethatyouwill,too.Evenif

yourparentsdidnotgotocollege,youstillhaveagoodchanceofcompletinghighereducationifyour

familyiswealthy.

Butyourchancesarereducedifyoucomefromaneedyfamily,acommunitywithlimited

educationalresourcesoryousimplyhavenoonetofollowasanexample.

Helpingthoseinneedisoneofthemainideasbehindastrategyofbehavioralsciencecallednudge

theoryornudging.Nudgingisawayofchangingpeople'sbehaviorthroughindirectsuggestionandby

supportingpositiveactions.

AgrowingnumberofU.S.collegesanduniversitieslooktonudgingaswaytosupportpoor,

minorityandfirst-generationstudents,Theyalsoareusingittoincreaseoverallgraduationrates.Two

commonformsofnudgingareemailstostudentsandtextmessagestotheirmobilephones.Schoolsand

othereducationalorganizationskeepincontactwithstudentsthisway,offeringadviceandhelpwhen

needed.

However,AlejandraAcosta-ahighereducationpolicyexpertatNewAmerica一notesthatthere

areseveralqualitiesanudgecampaignmustpossessinordertobesuccessful.

Acostasaysmessagesmustbetimely,meaningtheyreachcollegestudentswellbeforethedateby

whichastudentisrequiredtotakeaction.Additionallynudgesshouldbewrittenclearlyandprovideas

muchinformationaspossible.Ifstudentsstarttostruggleinclass,schoolofficialsshouldnotjust

messagethem,sayingtheyshouldseekacademicsupport.Themessageshouldgiveinformationabout

whatkindsofsupportthecollegeoruniversityoffersandexactlyhowthestudentcanmakeuseofthem.

Thatiswhynudgesshouldpossessinteractivequalities,Acostasays.Forexample,studentsshouldbe

abletoaskquestionsofschoolofficialsorbedirectedtoawebsiteformoreinformation.Inaddition,

collegesanduniversitiesmustensuretheirsupportservicesareinplaceandworkingasbesttheycan.

Whennudgeswork,theycandoalotofgood.In2018,anonprofitgrouplaunchedanudging

campaignatfourU.S.communitycolleges.Theyworkedwithnearly10.000first-yearstudentsatthree

suchcollegesinOhioandoneinVirginia.Arecentstudyfoundthatolderandminoritystudentswho

agreedtoreceivethesenudgeswere16to20percentmorelikelytocontinueintotheirsecondyearthan

thosewhodidnot.

61.Whoismostlikelytoreceiveandcompletehighereducationaccordingtothepassage?

A.Tony,whosefatheristheonlybread-winnerinthefamily.

B.Jimmy,whosemotherisaworkerinasmallfactory.

C.Betty,whosegrandmotherisahousemaidofafamousuniversityprofessor.

D.Cathy,whoseparentsfailedtoattendcollegebutsucceededinstartingabigcompany.

62.Whatcanweknowaboutnudging?

A.Itisanchoredinpsychologicalscience.

B.Itisawaytoimprovepeoplesmind.

C.Itoffersconcreteanddirectadvice.

D.Ithelpsstudentsviaemailsandtextmessages.

63.Whichadjectivescanbeusedtodescribeidealmessagequalitiesofnudging?

A.Timely,practicalandinteractive.

B.Timely,interactiveandsustainable.

C.Immediate,authenticandconsistent.

D.Immediate,interactiveandpermanent

64.Whatisthepassagemainlytalkingabout?

A.Theproblemwithhighereducation.

B.Awayforcollegestosupportstudents.

C.Thepopularityofnudgingcampaign.

D.Anationalcampaigndealingwithpoverty.

D

Liu,thefarmer,sat!atthedoorofhisone-roomhouse.ItwasawarmeveninginlateFebruary,and

inhisthinbodyhefeltthecomingofspringHowheknewthatthetimehadnowcomewhenlifebegan

tomoveinthesoil?Hecouldnothavetoldhimself.Mostofal,inayotheryearthanthishemight

havepointedtohiswheatfieldswherehepantedwheatinthewinterwhenhelandwasnotneededfor

riceandwhere,whenspringwasmovingintosummer,hepatedthegoodriceforricewashischief

crop.Buthelandtoldnothinghisyear.Therewasnowheatonit,forthefloodhadcovereditlong

afterwheatshouldhavebeenplanted,anditlaytherecrackedandlikeclaybutnewlydried.

Well,onsuchadayasthis,ifhehadhisbuffalo（水牛）andhisplow（犁）ashehadalwayshadin

otheryears,hewouldhavegoneoutandplowedupthatcrackedsoil.Heachedtoplowitupandmake

itlooklikeafieldagain,yes,eventhoughhehadnotsomuchasoneseedtoputinit.Buthehadno

buffalo.Ifanyonehadtoldhimthathewouldeathisownwaterbuffalothatplowedthegoodlandto

him;hewouldhavecalledthatmanidiot.Yetitwaswhathehaddone.Hehadeatenhisownwater

buffalo,heandhiswifeandhisparentsandhisfourchildren,theyhadalleatenthebuffalotogether.

Butwhatelsecouldtheydoonthatdarkwinter'sdaywhenthelastoftheirstoreofgrainwasgone,

whenthetreeswerecutandsold,whenhehadsoldeverything,eventhelittletheyhadsavedfromthe

flood,andtherewasnothingleftexcepttheshabbyhousetheyhadandthewormclothestheywore?Was

theresenseinremovingthecoatfromone'sbacktofeedone*sbelly?Onthatdaywhenhehadseenthe

facesofhisoldparentssetasthoughdead,onthatdaywhenhehadheardthecryingofhischildrenand

seenhislittledaughterdying,suchadespairhadseizedhimasmadehimlikeamanwithouthisreason,

sothathehadgatheredallhisstrengthandhehaddonewhathesaidheneverwould;hehadtakenthe

kitchenknifeandgoneoutandkilledhisownbeast.Whenhedidit,eveninhisdespair,hescreamed,

foritwasasthoughhekilledhisownbrother.Tohimitwasthelastsacrifice.

___（68）—Itwouldhavetakenthemallexceptthatinthegreatpoolslyingeverywhere,which

wereleftfromtheflood,therewereshrimps（小蝦）,andthesetheyhadeatenrawandwerestilleating,

althoughtheywereallsickandwouldnotgetwell.Inthelastdayorsohiswifehadcrawledoutand

dugafewweeds.Buttherewasnofuelandsotheyalsowereeatenraw.Butthebitternesswasgood

afterthetastelessfleshoftherawshrimps.Yes,springwascoming.

Hesatonheavily,lookingoutoverhisland.Ifhehadhisbuffaloback,ifhehadhisplowthatthey

hadburnedforfuel.Butnowhewascomfortedbynothing.

Andhelooked,hopeless,intothebarren（貧瘠的）spring.

65.Whydidn*tLiuknowthecomingofspringaccordingtoParagraph1?

A.Becausehewastoooldandweak.B.Becausethericefailedtocomeup.

C.Becausethebarrenfieldtoldnothing.D.Becausethefloodwasstillinprogress.

66.Theunderlinedword"idiot"inParagraph2isclosestinmeaningto__

A.heroB.foolC.geniusD.idol

67.WhatcanbeinferredfromParagraphs2and3?

A.ThehardworkofploughingthecrackedsoilachedLiu

B.ThecryinganddyingfamiliesaddedtoLiu'seconomicburden.

C.Liuremovedhiscoattofeedhisbellybutfoundituseless.

D.KillingthebuffaloforfoodwasthelastthingthatLiuwoulddo.

68.WhichofthefollowingsentencesbestsuitstheblankinParagraph4?

A.Yet.Itwasnotenough.

B.Well,thatwassorrowforaman.

C.Thatwaswhatthewinter'sfaminehadtakenfromthem.1

D.Thatsacrificemadehimrealizetheonlycomfortlentwastodieontheirownland.

69.Whafsthewriterstoneinwritingthisstory?

A.Indifferent.B.Critical.C.Favorable.D.Sympathetic.

70.Whichofthefollowingservesasthebesttitleforthispassage?

A.BarrenSpringB.DesperateFarmersC.TerribleFloodD.HorribleFamine

第二卷（非選擇題，共35分）

第四部分：任務型閱讀（共10小題；每小題1分，滿分10分）

請認真閱讀下列短文，并根據(jù)所讀內容在文章后表格中的空格里填入一個最恰當?shù)膯卧~。

注意：每個空格只填1個單詞.請將答案寫在答題紙上相應題號的橫線上。

Artificialintelligenceinbusiness

Liedetectorsarenotwidelyusedinbusiness,butPingAn,aChineseinsurancecompany,thinksit

Isagreattool.ThecompanyletscustomersapplyforloansthroughisappPotentialborrowersanswer

questionsabouttheirincomeandplansforrepaymentbyvideo,whichmonitorsaround50tinyfacial

expressionstodeterminewhethertheyaretellingthetruth.Theprogram,enabledbyartificial

intelligence（AI）,helpsidentifycustomerswhorequirefurthercheck.

Insteadofrelyingonroughestimates,clevererandspeedierAl-poweredpredictionspromiseto

improvetheefficiencyinbusiness.LeroyMerlin,aFrenchhome-improvementretailer（零售商），now

usesAItotakeinpastsalesdataandotherinformationthatcouldaffectsales,suchasweatherforecasts,

inordertostockshelvesmoreeffectively.Thathashelpeditreduceitsinventory（存貨，總信）by8%even

assaleshaverisenby2%.

UntilnowAIhasbeenbeneficialmainlytothetechnologydepartment.Mostoftoday'sleading

techfirms,suchasGoogleandAmazonintheWestandAlibabaandBaiduinChina,wouldnotbeas

bigandsuccessfulwithoutAIforproductrecommendations,"targetedadvertisingandforecasting

demand.

Thepathaheadisexcitingbutdangerous.Around85%ofcompaniesthinkAIwilloffera

competitiveadvantage,butonlyonein20is"extensively"employingittoday.Onedifficultissuefor

companieswillbetiming.CompaniesarestrugglingtofigureoutwhattospendmoneyonIfthey

investhugesumsinAIearlyon,theyruntheriskofovercommittingthemselvesorpayinglarge

amountsforworthlessstartups.Butiftheywaittoolong,theymayleavethemselvesopentodestruction

fromupstarts,aswellasfromcompetitors.

Somemayhavebeenmisledbyenthusiasticmediareports,believingAltobeamagicstickthat

canbeinstalledaseasilyasapieceofMicrosoftsoftware,saysGautamSchroffTataConsultancy.

Services,anIndianfirm.

Bossesofnon-techcompaniesinabroadrangeofindustriesarestartingtoworrythatAIcould

affectorevendestroythem,andhavebeenbuyinguppromisingyoungtechfirmstoensuretheydonot

fallbehind.

Alonger-termconcernisthewayAIcreatesavirtuouscircle（良'性循環(huán)）or“flywheel"effect,

allowingcompaniesthatembraceittooperatemoreefficiently,producemoredata,improvetheir

services,attractmorecustomersandofferlowerprices.Thatsoundslikeagoodthing,butitcouldalso

leadtomoremonopoly（壟斷）power.

Artificialintelligenceinbusiness

?AlisemployedbyPingAntofindout(72)____▲______whoarepotential

borrowersbymonitoringaround50tinyfacialexpressions.

The(71)Aof?WithclevererandspeedierAl-poweredprograms,aFrench

AIinsomehome-improvementretailermakeshisbusinessmore(73)Abasedonpast

businessessalesdataandotherinformation,suchasweatherforecasts.

?Leadingtechfirms,suchasGoogleandAmazon,(74)____▲_____their

successtoAI,whichhelpsthemwithpro