上海市曹杨第二中学2025-2026学年度第二学期高二年级期中考试英语试卷（含答案）

2025-2026学年度第二学期高二年级期中考试英语试卷一、单项选择（共10小题；每小题1分，满分10分）从A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。1.______countrywinsthebidtohostthe2030WorldExpowillattractmajorinternationalinvestmentanddiplomaticattention.A．WhicheverB．NomatterwhichC．WhateverD．Nomatterwhat2.Itremainsunclear______impactartificialintelligencewillhaveontheglobaljobmarketoverthenextdecade,thoughexpertspredictsignificantchangesintraditionalindustries.A．thatB．whatC．howD．whether3.______China’scarbonneutralitygoalscanbeachievedby2060dependslargelyonbreakthroughsinrenewableenergytechnologyandinternationalcooperation.A．WhenB．WhatC．WhyD．How4.TheresearchteamhasdevelopedabackupAIsystem______theprimaryalgorithmfailstoprocessthemassiveclimatedatacollectedfromsatellites.A．sothatB．incaseC．nowthatD．aslongas5.Theengineersconstructedtheoffshorewindfarmprecisely______theenvironmentalimpactassessmentrecommended,minimizingdisruptiontomarineecosystems.A．becauseB．sothatC．asD．unless6.FollowingthesuccessfullandingofChina’slunarprobeonthefarsideofthemoon,scientistsremainuncertain______thecollectedsampleswillrevealevidenceofwatericeinpermanentlyshadowedcraters.A．whetherB．thatC．whatD．when7.ThegroundbreakingresearchreportreleasedbytheWorldHealthOrganizationconfirmsthealarmingfinding______microplastics,detectedinhumanbloodsamplesforthefirsttime,mayposeseriouslong-termhealthriskstomultipleorgansystems.A．whichB．whenC．howD．that8.TheInternationalSpaceStation______bedecommissionedby2030,accordingtoNASA’sofficialroadmap,withplansalreadyinplaceforitscontrolleddescentintothePacificOcean.A．isgoingtoB．isabouttoC．istoD．will9.Theleadscientistglancedatherwatchnervouslyandwhisperedtohercolleague,“Theexperimentalfusionreactor______reachignitiontemperature.Everyoneneedstoevacuatetheobservationdeckimmediately.”A．isgoingtoB．isabouttoC．istoD．will10.Newsspreadrapidlyacrosssocialmedia______China’shomegrownlargepassengeraircraftC919hadsuccessfullycompleteditsfirstcommercialinternationalflight,markingamilestoneinthecountry’saviationindustry.A．thatB．whetherC．ifD．what二、语法填空（共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分）阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。HowSchoolsandTeachersCanGetBetteratCulturalCompetenceCulturalcompetenceisdescribedas“havinganawarenessofone'sownculturalidentityandviewsaboutdifference,andtheabilitytolearnandbuildonthevaryingculturalandcommunitynormsofstudentsandtheirfamilies.”Thedifferences11.______makeindividualsuniqueareessentialelementsofasociety.Wheneducatorsfailtoacknowledgetheirownbiasesandassumptions,theobstacleofastudent'sdevelopmentalprocessisinevitable.Havinggoodintentionsisnotsufficient;theactionsare12.______willbeseenandfeltbystudents.Whatoneindividualmayviewasinnocent13.______haveharmfuleffects.Schoolsneedtofeeltheurgencyandracetoendexclusionarypracticesbyimprovingculturalawareness.IdentifyAreasforGrowth—Everyonehasapastandupbringingthathasshapedthewaytheyviewtheworld.Thoseexperiences14.______arenotnegative,butwhentheseexperiencestwistthewayapersonviewsothers,anadjustmentmayberequired.Afewyearsago,ateacherenteredmyofficeupsetaboutthedispositionofastudent.Asthestudentstoodbesidetheupsetteacher,Ibegantolistentotheteacherexplaintheincident.Whatwasexplainedwastherealitythattheteacherwasupsetwiththestudent'sdisrespectfulattitude.Iaskedformoredetailsaboutthe15.______(perceive)disrespectfulnatureoftheattitude.Theteacherdescribedcolloquialism,tone,andalackofeyecontact.AtthatmomentIdismissedthestudentandexplainedthatthestudentwasnotbeingdisrespectful,butratherwhattheteacherwasexperiencingwasthemethodofcommunicationinwhichthestudentinteractswithhiscommunity.Educatorsmusthaveaninnerdialoguetodeterminewhatexperienceshaveshapedtheteacher'sviewsofstudents.Districtsmustcreatespacetohavea16.______(broad)discussionandberealisticabouthowteachers'individualbiasaffecttherightsofstudents.Thespaceforamacroconversationforthedistrictisnecessaryandmustbeaccompaniedwith17.______culturalawarenessisreflectedinindividualbuildings.ListenandObserve—Whatmayseemasasimpletaskisrarelypracticed.Thebeginningofunderstandingislistening.Whenoneisconstantlytalking,thereisnoroom18.______listening.Asdeanofschoolculture,Ioversawdisciplineatapredominantlyblackschool.Awhiteforeignstudent,frequentlyintrouble,complainedbutnoonelistened.Mediationrevealedhefeltunwelcomedandmisunderstood.Wefailedhimbynotaddressinghisneeds.Districtsandeducatorsfailatculturalawarenessbecauselistening19.______(notinitiate).Listentotheparents,listentothestudents,listentoyourpeers,listentoyourstaff.20.______whatyouhearconfirmswhatyousee,act.Fartoooftendistrictsfailtoseebecausetheyfailtolisten.三、选词填空（共20小题；每小题1分，满分20分）第一节单句选词填空（共10小题）Directions:Completethefollowingsentencesbyusingthewordsinthebox.Eachwordcanonlybeusedonce.Notethatthereisonewordmorethanyouneed.A.primitiveB.solitaryC.blissfulD.loanedE.stretchedF.heapedG.restorativeH.submissiveI.monumentJ.verticalK.scale21.Thenegotiations______onforthreeexhaustingdays,withbothpartiesrefusingtocompromiseonkeyissuesuntilabreakthroughfinallycameattwilightonthefourthday,whenfatigueanddesperationforcedthemtofindcommonground.22.Thecourtroomsatintensesilenceasthedefenseattorneypresentedthefinalpieceofevidence—atimestampedsecurityvideothatirrefutablyplacedthedefendantmilesawayfromthecrimescene.Inthatinstant,the______tippeddecisivelyinfavorofacquittal,andtheprosecutor’sonce-solidcasebegantocrumblelikeahouseofcards.23.Thearchaeologistcarefullyexaminedthe______toolsunearthedfromthecave,marvelingathowthesecrudeimplements—chippedstonesandsharpenedbones—hadenabledourancestorstosurviveinahostileworldthousandsofyearsbeforethedawnofcivilization.24.Thenationalmuseumhas______severalpricelessRenaissancepaintingstotheinternationalexhibition,thoughthedecisionsparkedheateddebateamongcuratorswhoworriedabouttherisksoftransportingsuchfragilemasterpiecesacrosscontinents.25.Afterdecadesofcollaborativeresearch,theelderlyprofessorchosetopursuea______pathinhisfinalyears,retreatingtoaremotecabinwherehecouldmeditateonthephilosophicalimplicationsofhisdiscoverieswithouttheconstantinterruptionsofacademicconferencesandpeerreviewcommittees.26.Thenewlywedsspenta______weekonthesecludedisland,whereturquoisewaterslappedagainstpristinebeachesandtheonlysoundswerethegentlerustlingofpalmfrondsandthedistantcallsoftropicalbirds—aperfectescapefromtherelentlessdemandsoftheirurbancareers.27.Theregimedemandedabsoluteloyaltyfromitscitizens,expectingthemtoremain______toauthoritywithoutquestion,butundergroundresistancemovementsbegantoemergeaspeoplegrewwearyofsurrenderingtheirautonomyandcriticalthinking.28.Thetoweringskyscraperstandsasa______tohumanambitionandengineeringprowess,itsgleamingfacadereflectingthecity’stransformationfromahumbletradingpostintoaglobalfinancialpowerhouseoverthespanofjusttwogenerations.29.Theinvestigativejournalistfoundherdesk______withanonymoustipsandleakeddocumentsafterherexposureoncorporatecorruptionwentviral,eachenvelopepotentiallycontainingtheevidenceneededtobringdownanentirenetworkoffraudulentexecutives.30.Thespa’snewwellnessprogrampromisesatruly______experience,combiningtherapeutichotsprings,deeptissuemassage,andguidedmeditationtohelpexhaustedpatientsrecoverfromburnoutandrebuildtheirdepletedenergyreservesaftermonthsofchronicstress.第二节短文选词填空（共10小题）Directions:Completethefollowingpassagebyusingthewordsinthebox.Eachwordcanonlybeusedonce.Notethatthereisonewordmorethanyouneed.A.successfullyB.distinctC.establishedD.evaluatedE.consumedF.complicationsG.navigationH.recreateI.purposelyJ.comprehendK.reflectiveTheLighthouseofAlexandriaTheLighthouseofAlexandriaisoftenreferredtoas“ThePharosofAlexandria”.Foraslongashistoricalbuildingshavebeen31.______,theLighthouseofAlexandriaisconsideredtohavebeenoneofthetopthreetalleststructuresintheworld.Itisprecededbythetwopyramidsidentifiedas“Khufu”and“Khafra”.Duringtheyearsof956,1303,and1323,theimmensestructurereceiveddamageasaresultofearthquakesthatoccurredinthearea.Thecitizensofthetimeusedamixtureoffireand32.______mirrorlikematerialinordertoprovidethelightingneededbyshipstodiscovertheport.Claimsindicatethatthelightwassoimmensethatshipsasfarouttoseaas35milescouldseethe33.______lightcomingfromthemysteriouslighthouse.Therearealsolegendsthatthefireemittedfromtheportwassoprotectivethatshipsthatcontainedenemieswouldbe34.______atseasothattheywouldnotreachtheshoreswherethelighthousestood.Intheyearof1183,atravelerbythenameofIbnJubayrobservedtheLighthouseofAlexandriaandmadethefollowingobservation:“Descriptionofitfallsshort,theeyesfailto35.______it,andwordsareinadequate,sovastisthespectacle...”Intheyearof1994,scubadiversthatspecializeinarchaeologysearchedthewaternearwherethemagnificentstructurestood.Theywereableto36.______discovermanydifferentpiecesofblockandotherconstructionmaterials.ItisamysteryastowhythestructurefinallycollapsedintotheMediterraneanSea.Ithasbeen37.______thatthefalllikelyoccurredintheyearof1326.Therearemanytheoriesaboutthefinalcollapse,butmanyagreethattheearthquakesoftheareaprobablyresultedinthe38.______.Therearemanyothertheoriesthatindicatethestructuremayhavebeen39.______destroyedduetorumorsthatthereweregreattreasuresburiedunderneaththestructure.Itisbelievedthatamanidentifiedasthe“CaliphatCairo”wastoldofarumorfromaneighboringportthatextremelyvaluabletreasureswereunderthebuildinginordertoeliminatetheportasa40.______systemintothearea.Whilethisisjustalegend,couldithavebeenwhatledtothefalloftheLighthouseofAlexandria?Thisremainstobeoneofthegreatestunsolvedmysteriesoftheworld.四、完形填空（共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分）Directions:ForeachblankinthefollowingpassagetherearefourwordsorphrasesmarkedA,B,CandD.Fillineachblankwiththewordorphrasethatbestfitsthecontext.TheDiamond-WaterParadoxHaveyoueverpurchasedsomethingandthoughttoyourself,“It’scrazyhowmuchI’mpayingforthis!?”Thismighthappenmore41.______thanyouwouldlike,basedonthedozensoftransactionsyoumaymakeonadailybasis.Questioningsomeofyourfinancialtransactionsmaybebestansweredorexplainedthroughsomethingknownasthediamond-waterparadox.Gettingenoughwatertosustainlifetypicallyhasa42.______price,whileapieceofdiamondjewelryhasahighprice.Whydoesaneconomyputamuchlowervalueonsomethingvitaltosustaininglifecomparedtosomethingthatsimplylooks43.______andsparkles?Thisquestionisthediamond-waterparadox,alsoknownastheparadoxofvalue,anditwasfirst44.______bytheeconomistAdamSmithinthe1700s.Inhisworks,Smithpointsoutthatpracticalthingsthatweuseeverydayoftenhavelittleornovalueinexchange.Thingslikecups,socks,andwaterareafewexamples.45.______,thingsthatoftenhavethegreatestvalueinthemarkethavelittleornopracticaluse.Anexamplemaybeanoldpieceofartor1920sbaseballcard.Otherthanlookingatit,thereisn’tmuchelsewecandowiththeartorbaseballcard.So,whyarethings46.______thisway?Understandingwhytheparadoxexistscanbe47.______byunderstandingtheeconomictermsknownasmarginalutilityandscarcity.Scarcitycanbesimplydefinedashowreadily48.______aproduct,skill,orserviceis.Istherealotofitcomparedtowhatpeoplearedemanding?Marginalutilityistheadditionalsatisfactionorgainsomeonegetsfromusingorpurchasinganadditionalunitofaparticulargoodorservice.Peopleare49.______topayahigherpriceforgoodswithgreatermarginalutility.So,let’sgobacktowateranddiamonds.Thereisplentyofwaterinmostpartsoftheworld(notscarce),whichmeansthat,asconsumers,weusuallyhavealow50.______forwater.Inatypicalsituation,wearen’twillingtopayalotofmoneyforonemoredrinkofwater.Diamonds,51.______,arescarce.Becausetheyarehardertofindandget,ourmarginalutility(additionalsatisfaction),foraddingadiamondtoourcollectionismuchhigherthansomeoneofferingusonemoredrinkofwater.Ifoneisdyingofthirst,thenthisparadoxmightnot52.______,andthemarginalutilityfromanotherdrinkofwaterwouldbemuchhigherthantheadditionalsatisfactionofowningadiamond.Let’slookatanexample.AnExampleDoespaying$300-$400foranXboxcomparedto$50forasolidpairofshoesmakesense?Fromapracticaland53.______standpoint,itcertainlydoesn’t.Inorderto54.______andenableourmostbasicformoftransportation(walking),weneedshoestoprotectourfeet.TheyarecertainlymoreimportantandpracticalthananXbox.Theprice55.______comesbacktothesatisfaction,ormarginalutility,wegetfrompurchasingapairofshoescomparedtoanXbox.Ifyouwereinthemiddleofthejungleandtryingtosurvive,youmightpaymoreforthoseshoes,butuntilthathappens,mostofuswillcontinuetopaymoreforourelectronics!Thisparadox,indeed,remindsusthatvalueisnotdeterminedbypracticalusealone,butbytheinterplayofscarcityandmarginalutility.41.A．unconsciouslyB．frequentlyC．occasionallyD．rarely42.A．fixedB．highC．fairD．low43.A．shinyB．dimC．roughD．smooth44.A．neglectedB．acceptedC．presentedD．rejected45.A．ThereforeB．MoreoverC．InotherwordsD．Ontheotherhand46.A．measuredB．comparedC．valuedD．displayed47.A．challengedB．facilitatedC．replacedD．questioned48.A．accessibleB．availableC．apparentD．convertible49.A．preparedB．ableC．reluctantD．willing50.A．scarcityB．demandC．marginalutilityD．expectation51.A．howeverB．otherwiseC．accordinglyD．besides52.A．holdB．settleC．matterD．vanish53.A．emotionalB．generalC．fundamentalD．survival54.A．getaroundB．getoverC．gettogetherD．getacross55.A．tagB．differenceC．capD．list五、阅读理解（共16小题；56-70每小题2分，71-75每小题3分，满分35分）Directions:Readthefollowingpassages.Eachpassageisfollowedbyseveralquestionsorunfinishedstatements.ForeachofthemtherearefourchoicesmarkedA,B,CandD.Choosetheonethatfitsbestaccordingtotheinformationgiveninthepassageyouhavejustread.AOnceuponatime,inavillageinLaMancha,therelivedalean,thin-facedoldgentlemanwhosefavoritepastimewastoreadbooksaboutknightsinarmor.Helovedtoreadabouttheirdaringexploits,strangeadventures,boldrescuesofladiesindistress,andintensedevotiontotheirladies.Infact,hebecamesocaughtupinthesubjectofchivalrythatheneglectedeveryotherinterestandevensoldmanyacresofgoodfarmlandsothathemightbuyallthebookshecouldgetonthesubject.Hewouldlieawakeatnight,absorbedineverydetailofthesefantasticadventures.Astimewenton,theoldgentlemancrammedhisheadsofullofthesestoriesandlostsomuchsleepfromreadingthroughthenightthathelosthiswitscompletely.Hebegantobelievethatallthefantasticandromantictaleshereadaboutenchantmentschallenges,woundsandbattlesweretruehistories.Atlasthefellintothestrangestfancythatanymadmanhaseverhad:Heresolvedtobecomehimselfaknighterrant,totravelthroughtheworldwithhorseandarmorinsearchofadventures.First,hegotoutsomerust-eatenarmorthathadbelongedtohisancestors,thencleanedandrepaireditasbestashecould.Althoughthehead-pieceofthehelmetwasintact,unfortunately,thevisorthatwouldhaveprotectedthefacewasgone.Nottobediscouragedbythisdeficiency,however,hefashionedanotheroutofsomepiecesofstiffpaperandstripsofiron.Inhiseyesitwaswithoutadoubtthemostsplendidhelmeteverfashioned.Nextheconsideredwhatglorious,high-soundingnamehemightgivehishorse,whowastobearhimonhisquest.Forthoughhishorsewasbutatiredhack,practicallyskinandbones,tohimitappearedasmagnificentasBucephalus,thehorseofAlexandertheGreat.Afterfourdaysofinventingandrejectingvariousnames,heatlastsettledonRocinante,whichhethoughtsoundedsuitablygrand.Hethensetabouttochooseasuitablenameforhimself.Aftereightdaysofhardconsideration,hedecidedthathewouldbeknownasDonQuixote.Followingtheexampleofmanyknightsheadmired,hedecidedtoproclaimhisnativelandaswell,andsohecalledhimselfDonQuixotedeLaMancha.Nowheneededtofindaladywhomhemightadoreandserve,foraknightwithoutaladyislikeabodywithoutasoul.Itsohappenedthatinaneighboringvillagetherelivedanice-lookingfarmgirlwhomhehadonceadmiredfromadistance.HedecidedthatshewouldbetheladyofhisfancyandthatsheshouldbeknownasDulcineadelToboso,anamethattohisearssoundedmusicalandanythingbutordinary.Now,withallthesepreparationsmade,DonQuixotewaseagertosallyforth:Awholeworldawaited,fullofinjusticestobemaderightandgreatdeedstobeperformed.So,cladinhisrustyarmor,withhisimprovisedhelmettiedtohishead,DonQuixotemountedRocinanteandstartedoutthroughthebackofthestableyard.Butthenhehadaterriblethought:Hehadneveryetbeendubbedaknight!Hetookcomfort,however,inhismemoryofthemanybooksofchivalryhehadreadanddeterminedthat,likemanyoftheheroesinthosebooks,whichhetookfortruth,hewouldsimplyhavehimselfknightedbythefirstpersonthatcamealong.SoherodeonunderahotJulysun,blissfullyhappyinhisthoughtsofhow,inyearstocome,otherswouldreadofthebraveexploitsofDonQuixotedeLaManchaandhisfaithfulsteed,Rocinante.56.Whatisthemainfocusofthepassage?A．Theoldgentleman’stransformationfromareaderintoaself-imaginedknight.B．Theharmfuleffectsofexcessivereadingonone'smentalhealth.C．Theprocessofpreparingequipmentandchoosingnamesforaknightlyquest.D．Thecontrastbetweentheoldgentleman'sfantasyandtherealityofhissituation.57.Accordingtothepassage,whydidtheoldgentlemansellhisfarmland?A．Tofinancehisjourneyasaknighterrant.B．Topurchasemorebooksaboutchivalry.C．Tobuyproperarmorandweaponsforhisquest.D．Tosupporthisneglectedfamilyandestate.58.Whatcanbeinferredabouttheoldgentleman’smentalstatefromthepassage?A．Heisfullyawareoftheabsurdityofhisplanbutpursuesitforentertainment.B．Hehascompletelylosttouchwithrealityandbelievesintheworldofhisbooks.C．Heisdeliberatelypretendingtobemadtoescapehismundanelife.D．Heistemporarilyconfusedbutwilllikelyrecoveroncehisadventurebegins.59.Thephrase“anythingbutordinary”inparagraph7isclosestinmeaningto______.A．completelycommonB．decidedlydifferentC．quiteexceptionalD．somewhattypicalBThesunsetsonafieldinsouthernEngland.Whenitrisesagainthefollowingmorning,thatfieldhasbeentransformedintoanenormousworkofart.Alargesectionofthecrophasbeentampedintoapatternofcircles,ringsandothershapes.Butwhocreatedit?Arecropcirclestheworkofalienvisitors?Aretheyanaturalphenomenon,createdbyelectricallychargedcurrentsofair?Oraretheyhoaxes?Believersandnaysayerseachhavetheirowntheories,butthetruthremainselusive.UFOsandAliensPossiblythemostcontroversialtheoryisthatcropcirclesaretheworkofvisitorsfromotherplanets—sortoflikealiencallingcards.Peoplewhoagreewiththistheorysaythatthecirclesareeithertheimprintleftbylandingspacecraftormessagesbroughtfromafarforusearthlings.SomeeyewitnessesclaimtohaveseenUFO-likelightsandstrangenoisescomingfromcropcirclesites.WindsProbablythemostscientifictheorysaysthatcropcirclesarecreatedbysmallcurrentsofswirlingwinds.Thespinningcolumnsforceaburstofairdowntotheground,whichflattensthecrops.Butthequestionremains—howcanafewsecondsworthofspinningaircreatesuchperfectlydefinedcropcircles?AircraftAfewresearchershavetheorizedthatsmallairplanesorhelicoptersstirupdowndraftsthatpushthecropsdownintopatterns.Recreationattemptssofarhavenotbeenabletoproducethetypesofdowndraftsnecessarytomaketheperfectlyroundedgesseeninmostcropcircles.EarthEnergySomeresearchersbelievethattheearthcreatesitsownenergy,whichformsthecircles.Onepossibleformofearthenergyiselectromagneticradiation.Infact,scientistshavemeasuredstrongmagneticfieldsinsidecropcircles,andvisitorshavesometimesreportedfeelingatinglingsensationintheirbodywhileinornearthecircles.HumansTheeasiestexplanationforcropcirclesisthattheyareman-madehoaxes,createdeitherforfunortostumpthescientists.ColinAndrews,cereologistandauthorofthebook,CircularEvidence,admitsthatabout80percentofcropcirclesareprobablyman-made,butsaysthattheother20percentareprobablytheworkofsome“higherforce.”60.Accordingtothepassage,whichofthefollowingtheoriesissupportedbymeasurablescientificevidence?A．Cropcirclesarecreatedbyalienspacecraftlandings.B．Cropcirclesareformedbyelectromagneticradiationfromtheearth.C．Cropcirclesareproducedbydowndraftsfromaircraft.D．Cropcirclesareentirelytheresultofhumanhoaxes.61.Whatcanbeinferredaboutthewindtheoryfromthepassage?A．Itiswidelyacceptedbymostscientists.B．Ithasbeenproventhroughsuccessfulexperiments.C．Itisconsideredlessscientificthanthealientheory.D．Itfailstofullyexplaintheprecisionofcropcircles.62.WhichofthefollowingbestdescribesColinAndrews'attitudetowardtheoriginofcropcircles?A．Hebelievesallcropcirclesarecreatedbyhumans.B．Heisskepticalaboutanynon-humanexplanations.C．Heacknowledgesbothhumanandpossiblynon-humancauses.D．Heisconvincedthataliensareresponsibleformostcropcircles.COneofthemostunexpectedthingsabouthavingchildrenishowthequesttomoldperfectlittlehumansultimatelybecomesaprojectofmakingyourselfabetterperson.Thoughhardlyrevolutionary,thisepiphanycametomerecentlywhenIwastalkingtoaninanimateobject,Amazon’sEchospeaker,infrontofmy18-month-oldJack.“Echo,turnonthelights.Echo,setmythermostatto72degrees.Echo,play‘WheelsontheBus’,”Icommandedthegadget,whichunderstandsandrespondstoanevergrowingsetoforders(including,nosurprise,“Echo,buymorediapers”).EverytimeIsaid“Echo,”Jack’seyesshotuptothecylinder-shapedspeakeratoptherefrigerator,itsglowingbluehaloindicatingitwaslistening.Then,oneday,theinevitablehappened:“Uggo!”Jackbarked.“Bus!”AfterIexplainedtoJackthatit’snotnicetocallsomeoneanuggo,Isawmyselfthroughmyson’swords—anddidn’tlikehowIlooked.Sure,Echodoesn’tcarehowyoutalktoit.ButtoJack,Imusthaveseemedlikeatyrant.Andbyimitation,hebecamemylittledictator.Thisdilemmaislikelyonlytogrowasvoice-basedartificialintelligencebecomesmorecommonplace.Already,Apple’siPhonesandiPadshaveSiri;Google-powereddevicescomewithasimilarfeature,GoogleNow;andMicrosofthasCortana.Soonwe’llberegularlytalkingtodigitalMoneypennysathome,workandeverywhereelse.Likemostparents,mywifeandIhopeJackgrowsuptobekind.Likemosttoddlersheneedssomehelpwiththis.Myexchangeswithmytechnologyhaveclearlybeensettingabadexample.Buthowexactlytotalktoourtechnologyisfarfromclear.“Theissueof‘please’ishuge.It’soneofthefoundationsofetiquette,”saysLizziePost,presidentoftheEmilyPostInstituteandthegreat-great-granddaughterofAmerica’sbest-knownarbiterofmanners,“Kidsmodelthebehavioroftheparent,andifyouwantyourchildtobeusingthewordpleaseoften,youneedtouseitoftentoo.”SonowIsay“please”asmuchasIcan.Isayittomywife,myson’steddybear,Siri,Echo,Cortana,evenmydog.Butnoteverybodyagreesthatspeakingtocomputersthewaywe’dliketobespokentoisthebestwayforward.OrenEtzioni,CEOoftheAllenInstituteforArtificialIntelligenceinSeattle,isone.“Idon’tsay‘please’and‘thankyou’tomytoaster,”heargues.“WhyshouldIsayittoEcho?”Etzionibelievesthatthemachineswehavenow,oursmartphonesandtablets,areeffectivelyappliances.“Itseemstomethatwereservepolitenessasasociallubricant,”hesays.“Ithasapurpose.”Andasafather,Etzioniisconcernedthathissonwilloveranthropomorphizesmartdevices.“I’dbeworriedthathe’dgetconfusedinthesamewaythatwedon’twantourkidstothinkSupermanisrealandthenjumpoffsomethingtosoarintothesky,”hesays.Ifyou’veeverbeenfooledbyanonlinecustomer-servicechatbotoranautomatedphonesystem,you’llagreethatthistechnologyisevolvingquickly.Cominggenerationswillfinditevenhardertodifferentiatebetweenbotsandpeople,astheyencounterevenmoreartificiallyintelligentassistantsbackedbymachinelearning—computersthatteachthemselvesthroughrepeatedinteractionswithhumanbeings.AtMicrosoft,forinstance,there’sapersonalityteamdedicatedtohelpingCortanagetabettergraspofmannersandmannerisms.Thetechnologyisbeinginfusedwithculturalcuestomakeitmorelikable.Forexample,Cortana’savatarbowstoJapaneseusers,whopreferformality.“Havingapersonalitydesignedintothesystem,knowingsomeofthenuancesofthewayhumanscommunicate,howtheyusedifferent