无锡市高三英语期末考试试卷含答案

无锡市普通高中2019年秋学期期终教学质量抽测建议卷

高三英语2020.01

命题单位:江阴市教师发展中心制卷单位:无锡市教育科学研究院

注意:本试卷分第一卷（选择题）和第二卷（非选择题）两部分。答案全部做在答题卡上。

总分为120分，考试时间120分钟。

第一卷（选择题，共85分）

第一部分听力测试（共两节，满分20分）

做题时，先将答案标在试卷上。录音内容结束后，你将有两分钟的时间将试卷上的答案转涂

到答题卡上。

第一节（共5小题:每小题1分，满分5分）

听下面5段对话。每段对话后有一个小题，从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项，

并标在试卷的相应位置。听完每段对话后，你都有10秒钟的时间回答有关小题和阅读下小题。

每段对话仅读一遍。

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.

第二节（共15小题:每小题1分，满分15分）

听下面5段对话或独白。每段对话或独白后有几个小题，从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项

中选出最佳选项，并标在试卷的相应位置。听每段对话或独白前，你将有时间阅读各个小题，每

小题5秒钟:听完后，各小题将给出5秒钟的作答时间。每段对话或独白读两遍。

听第6段材料，回答第6至7题。

6.What'stheprobablerelationshipbetweenthetwospeakers?

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

7.Whatwillthespeakersdonext?

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

听第7段材料，回答第8至9题。

8.Whatisthegirllongingtodo?

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

9.Howoldmightthegirlbe?

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

听第8段材料，回答第10至12题。

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.

听第9段材料，回答第13至16题。

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.

听第10段材料，回答第17至20题。

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:英语知识运用（共两节，满分35分）

第一节单项填空（共15小题:每小题1分，满分15分）

请认真阅读下面各题，从题中所给的A、B.C.D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡

上将该项涂黑。

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

第二节完形填空（共20小题;每小题1分,满分20分）

请阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡

上将该项涂黑。

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（虚荣，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

第三部分阅读理解（共15小题:每小题2分，满分30分）

请认真阅读下列短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在

答题卡上将该项涂黑。

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（塘谷鸟）duringbreedingseason,withbirdwatchersalsotreatedto

thesightofsearchingskuas（贼鸥）.

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

气）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（催化齐Ll）madefromthenaturallyabundantelementcobalt（钻）.

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（小虾）,andthesetheyhadeatenrawandwerestilleating,

althoughtheywereallsickandwouldnotgetwell.Inthelastdayorsohiswifehadcrawledoutand

dugafewweeds.Buttherewasnofuelandsotheyalsowereeatenraw.Butthebitternesswasgood

afterthetastelessfleshoftherawshrimps.Yes,springwascoming.

Hesatonheavily,lookingoutoverhisland.Ifhehadhisbuffaloback,ifhehadhisplowthatthey

hadburnedforfuel.Butnowhewascomfortedbynothing.

Andhelooked,hopeless,intothebarren（贫瘠的）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（非选择题，共35分）

第四部分：任务型阅读（共10小题；每小题1分，满分10分）

请认真阅读下列短文，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1个单词.请将答案写在答题纸上相应题号的横线上。

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（存货，总信）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'性循环）or“flywheel"effect,

allowingcompaniesthatembraceittooperatemoreefficiently,producemoredata,improvetheir

services,attractmorecustomersandofferlowerprices.Thatsoundslikeagoodthing,butitcouldalso

leadtomoremonopoly（垄断）power.

Artificialintelligenceinbusiness

•AlisemployedbyPingAntofindout(72)____▲______whoarepotential

borrowersbymonitoringaround50tinyfacialexpressions.

The(71)Aof•WithclevererandspeedierAl-poweredprograms,aFrench

AIinsomehome-improvementretailermakeshisbusinessmore(73)Abasedonpast

businessessalesdataandotherinformation,suchasweatherforecasts.

•Leadingtechfirms,suchasGoogleandAmazon,(74)____▲_____their

successtoAI,whichhelpsthemwithpro