2025~2026学年上海市曹杨第二中学度第二学期高二年级期中考试英语试卷

2025~2026学年上海市曹杨第二中学度第二学期高二年级期中考试英语试卷一、单项选择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Directions:Afterreadingthepassagebelow,fillintheblankstomakethepassagecoherentandgrammaticallycorrect.Fortheblankswithagivenword,fillineachblankwiththeproperformofthegivenword;fortheotherblanks,useonewordthatbestfits.HowSchoolsandTeachersCanGetBetteratCulturalCompetenceCulturalcompetenceisdescribedas“havinganawarenessofone'sownculturalidentityandviewsaboutdifference,andtheabilitytolearnandbuildonthevaryingculturalandcommunitynormsofstudentsandtheirfamilies.”Thedifferences11makeindividualsuniqueareessentialelementsofasociety.Wheneducatorsfailtoacknowledgetheirownbiasesandassumptions,theobstacleofastudent'sdevelopmentalprocessisinevitable.Havinggoodintentionsisnotsufficient;theactionsare12willbeseenandfeltbystudents.Whatoneindividualmayviewasinnocent13haveharmfuleffects.Schoolsneedtofeeltheurgencyandracetoendexclusionarypracticesbyimprovingculturalawareness.IdentifyAreasforGrowth—Everyonehasapastandupbringingthathasshapedthewaytheyviewtheworld.Thoseexperiences14arenotnegative,butwhentheseexperiencestwistthewayapersonviewsothers,anadjustmentmayberequired.Afewyearsago,ateacherenteredmyofficeupsetaboutthedispositionofastudent.Asthestudentstoodbesidetheupsetteacher,Ibegantolistentotheteacherexplaintheincident.Whatwasexplainedwastherealitythattheteacherwasupsetwiththestudent'sdisrespectfulattitude.Iaskedformoredetailsaboutthe15(perceive)disrespectfulnatureoftheattitude.Theteacherdescribedcolloquialism,tone,andalackofeyecontact.AtthatmomentIdismissedthestudentandexplainedthatthestudentwasnotbeingdisrespectful,butratherwhattheteacherwasexperiencingwasthemethodofcommunicationinwhichthestudentinteractswithhiscommunity.Educatorsmusthaveaninnerdialoguetodeterminewhatexperienceshaveshapedtheteacher'sviewsofstudents.Districtsmustcreatespacetohavea16(broad)discussionandberealisticabouthowteachers'individualbiasaffecttherightsofstudents.Thespaceforamacroconversationforthedistrictisnecessaryandmustbeaccompaniedwith17culturalawarenessisreflectedinindividualbuildings.ListenandObserve—Whatmayseemasasimpletaskisrarelypracticed.Thebeginningofunderstandingislistening.Whenoneisconstantlytalking,thereisnoroom18listening.Asdeanofschoolculture,Ioversawdisciplineatapredominantlyblackschool.Awhiteforeignstudent,frequentlyintrouble,complainedbutnoonelistened.Mediationrevealedhefeltunwelcomedandmisunderstood.Wefailedhimbynotaddressinghisneeds.Districtsandeducatorsfailatculturalawarenessbecauselistening19(notinitiate).Listentotheparents,listentothestudents,listentoyourpeers,listentoyourstaff.20whatyouhearconfirmswhatyousee,act.Fartoooftendistrictsfailtoseebecausetheyfailtolisten.三、选词填空Directions:Completethefollowingsentencesbyusingthewordsinthebox.Eachwordcanonlybeusedonce.Notethatthereisonewordmorethanyouneed.

A.primitiveB.solitaryC.blissfulD.loanedE.stretchedF.heaped

G.restorativeH.submissiveI.monumentJ.verticalK.scale21.Thenegotiations21onforthreeexhaustingdays,withbothpartiesrefusingtocompromiseonkeyissuesuntilabreakthroughfinallycameattwilightonthefourthday,whenfatigueanddesperationforcedthemtofindcommonground.22.Thecourtroomsatintensesilenceasthedefenseattorneypresentedthefinalpieceofevidence—atimestampedsecurityvideothatirrefutablyplacedthedefendantmilesawayfromthecrimescene.Inthatinstant,the22tippeddecisivelyinfavorofacquittal,andtheprosecutor’sonce-solidcasebegantocrumblelikeahouseofcards.23.Thearchaeologistcarefullyexaminedthe23toolsunearthedfromthecave,marvelingathowthesecrudeimplements—chippedstonesandsharpenedbones—hadenabledourancestorstosurviveinahostileworldthousandsofyearsbeforethedawnofcivilization.24.Thenationalmuseumhas24severalpricelessRenaissancepaintingstotheinternationalexhibition,thoughthedecisionsparkedheateddebateamongcuratorswhoworriedabouttherisksoftransportingsuchfragilemasterpiecesacrosscontinents.25.Afterdecadesofcollaborativeresearch,theelderlyprofessorchosetopursuea25pathinhisfinalyears,retreatingtoaremotecabinwherehecouldmeditateonthephilosophicalimplicationsofhisdiscoverieswithouttheconstantinterruptionsofacademicconferencesandpeerreviewcommittees.26.Thenewlywedsspenta26weekonthesecludedisland,whereturquoisewaterslappedagainstpristinebeachesandtheonlysoundswerethegentlerustlingofpalmfrondsandthedistantcallsoftropicalbirds—aperfectescapefromtherelentlessdemandsoftheirurbancareers.27.Theregimedemandedabsoluteloyaltyfromitscitizens,expectingthemtoremain27toauthoritywithoutquestion,butundergroundresistancemovementsbegantoemergeaspeoplegrewwearyofsurrenderingtheirautonomyandcriticalthinking.28.Thetoweringskyscraperstandsasa28tohumanambitionandengineeringprowess,itsgleamingfacadereflectingthecity’stransformationfromahumbletradingpostintoaglobalfinancialpowerhouseoverthespanofjusttwogenerations.29.Theinvestigativejournalistfoundherdesk29withanonymoustipsandleakeddocumentsafterherexposureoncorporatecorruptionwentviral,eachenvelopepotentiallycontainingtheevidenceneededtobringdownanentirenetworkoffraudulentexecutives.30.Thespa’snewwellnessprogrampromisesatruly30experience,combiningtherapeutichotsprings,deeptissuemassage,andguidedmeditationtohelpexhaustedpatientsrecoverfromburnoutandrebuildtheirdepletedenergyreservesaftermonthsofchronicstress.Directions:Completethefollowingpassagebyusingthewordsinthebox.Eachwordcanonlybeusedonce.Notethatthereisonewordmorethanyouneed.

A.successfullyB.distinctC.establishedD.evaluatedE.consumed

F.complicationsG.navigationH.recreateI.purposelyJ.comprehendK.reflectiveTheLighthouseofAlexandriaTheLighthouseofAlexandriaisoftenreferredtoas“ThePharosofAlexandria”.Foraslongashistoricalbuildingshavebeen31,theLighthouseofAlexandriaisconsideredtohavebeenoneofthetopthreetalleststructuresintheworld.Itisprecededbythetwopyramidsidentifiedas“Khufu”and“Khafra”.Duringtheyearsof956,1303,and1323,theimmensestructurereceiveddamageasaresultofearthquakesthatoccurredinthearea.Thecitizensofthetimeusedamixtureoffireand32mirrorlikematerialinordertoprovidethelightingneededbyshipstodiscovertheport.Claimsindicatethatthelightwassoimmensethatshipsasfarouttoseaas35milescouldseethe33lightcomingfromthemysteriouslighthouse.Therearealsolegendsthatthefireemittedfromtheportwassoprotectivethatshipsthatcontainedenemieswouldbe34atseasothattheywouldnotreachtheshoreswherethelighthousestood.Intheyearof1183,atravelerbythenameofIbnJubayrobservedtheLighthouseofAlexandriaandmadethefollowingobservation:“Descriptionofitfallsshort,theeyesfailto35it,andwordsareinadequate,sovastisthespectacle...”Intheyearof1994,scubadiversthatspecializeinarchaeologysearchedthewaternearwherethemagnificentstructurestood.Theywereableto36discovermanydifferentpiecesofblockandotherconstructionmaterials.ItisamysteryastowhythestructurefinallycollapsedintotheMediterraneanSea.Ithasbeen37thatthefalllikelyoccurredintheyearof1326.Therearemanytheoriesaboutthefinalcollapse,butmanyagreethattheearthquakesoftheareaprobablyresultedinthe38.Therearemanyothertheoriesthatindicatethestructuremayhavebeen39destroyedduetorumorsthatthereweregreattreasuresburiedunderneaththestructure.Itisbelievedthatamanidentifiedasthe“CaliphatCairo”wastoldofarumorfromaneighboringportthatextremelyvaluabletreasureswereunderthebuildinginordertoeliminatetheportasa40systemintothearea.Whilethisisjustalegend,couldithavebeenwhatledtothefalloftheLighthouseofAlexandria?Thisremainstobeoneofthegreatestunsolvedmysteriesoftheworld.四、完形填空TheDiamond-WaterParadoxHaveyoueverpurchasedsomethingandthoughttoyourself,“It’scrazyhowmuchI’mpayingforthis!?”Thismighthappenmore41thanyouwouldlike,basedonthedozensoftransactionsyoumaymakeonadailybasis.Questioningsomeofyourfinancialtransactionsmaybebestansweredorexplainedthroughsomethingknownasthediamond-waterparadox.Gettingenoughwatertosustainlifetypicallyhasa42price,whileapieceofdiamondjewelryhasahighprice.Whydoesaneconomyputamuchlowervalueonsomethingvitaltosustaininglifecomparedtosomethingthatsimplylooks43andsparkles?Thisquestionisthediamond-waterparadox,alsoknownastheparadoxofvalue,anditwasfirst44bytheeconomistAdamSmithinthe1700s.Inhisworks,Smithpointsoutthatpracticalthingsthatweuseeverydayoftenhavelittleornovalueinexchange.Thingslikecups,socks,andwaterareafewexamples.45,thingsthatoftenhavethegreatestvalueinthemarkethavelittleornopracticaluse.Anexamplemaybeanoldpieceofartor1920sbaseballcard.Otherthanlookingatit,thereisn’tmuchelsewecandowiththeartorbaseballcard.So,whyarethings46thisway?Understandingwhytheparadoxexistscanbe47byunderstandingtheeconomictermsknownasmarginalutilityandscarcity.Scarcitycanbesimplydefinedashowreadily48aproduct,skill,orserviceis.Istherealotofitcomparedtowhatpeoplearedemanding?Marginalutilityistheadditionalsatisfactionorgainsomeonegetsfromusingorpurchasinganadditionalunitofaparticulargoodorservice.Peopleare49topayahigherpriceforgoodswithgreatermarginalutility.So,let’sgobacktowateranddiamonds.Thereisplentyofwaterinmostpartsoftheworld(notscarce),whichmeansthat,asconsumers,weusuallyhavealow50forwater.Inatypicalsituation,wearen’twillingtopayalotofmoneyforonemoredrinkofwater.Diamonds,51,arescarce.Becausetheyarehardertofindandget,ourmarginalutility(additionalsatisfaction),foraddingadiamondtoourcollectionismuchhigherthansomeoneofferingusonemoredrinkofwater.Ifoneisdyingofthirst,thenthisparadoxmightnot52,andthemarginalutilityfromanotherdrinkofwaterwouldbemuchhigherthantheadditionalsatisfactionofowningadiamond.Let’slookatanexample.AnExampleDoespaying$300-$400foranXboxcomparedto$50forasolidpairofshoesmakesense?Fromapracticaland53standpoint,itcertainlydoesn’t.Inorderto54andenableourmostbasicformoftransportation(walking),weneedshoestoprotectourfeet.TheyarecertainlymoreimportantandpracticalthananXbox.Theprice55comesbacktothesatisfaction,ormarginalutility,wegetfrompurchasingapairofshoescomparedtoanXbox.Ifyouwereinthemiddleofthejungleandtryingtosurvive,youmightpaymoreforthoseshoes,butuntilthathappens,mostofuswillcontinuetopaymoreforourelectronics!Thisparadox,indeed,remindsusthatvalueisnotdeterminedbypracticalusealone,butbytheinterplayofscarcityandmarginalutility.AdamSmith亚当·斯密，英国经济学家，古典经济学之父，著有《国富论》。Xbox是由美国微软公司开发并于2001年发售的一款家用电视游戏机。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Onceuponatime,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．somewhattypicalThesunsetsonafieldinsouthernEngland.Whenitrisesagainthefollowingmorning,thatfieldhasbeentransformedintoanenormousworkofart.Alargesectionofthecrophasbeentampedintoapatternofcircles,ringsandothershapes.Butwhocreatedit?Arecropcirclestheworkofalienvisitors?Aretheyanaturalphenomenon,createdbyelectricallychargedcurrentsofair?Oraretheyhoaxes?Believersandnaysayerseachhavetheirowntheories,butthetruthremainselusive.

UFOsandAliens

Possiblythemostcontroversialtheoryisthatcropcirclesaretheworkofvisitorsfromotherplanets—sortoflikealiencallingcards.Peoplewhoagreewiththistheorysaythatthecirclesareeithertheimprintleftbylandingspacecraftormessagesbroughtfromafarforusearthlings.SomeeyewitnessesclaimtohaveseenUFO-likelightsandstrangenoisescomingfromcropcirclesites.Winds

Probablythemostscientifictheorysaysthatcropcirclesarecreatedbysmallcurrentsofswirlingwinds.Thespinningcolumnsforceaburstofairdowntotheground,whichflattensthecrops.Butthequestionremains—howcanafewsecondsworthofspinningaircreatesuchperfectlydefinedcropcircles?AircraftAfewresearchershavetheorizedthatsmallairplanesorhelicoptersstirupdowndraftsthatpushthecropsdownintopatterns.Recreationattemptssofarhavenotbeenabletoproducethetypesofdowndraftsnecessarytomaketheperfectlyroundedgesseeninmostcropcircles.EarthEnergy

Someresearchersbelievethattheearthcreatesitsownenergy,whichformsthecircles.Onepossibleformofearthenergyiselectromagneticradiation.Infact,scientistshavemeasuredstrongmagneticfieldsinsidecropcircles,andvisitorshavesometimesreportedfeelingatinglingsensationintheirbodywhileinornearthecircles.Humans

Theeasiestexplanationforcropcirclesisthattheyareman-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.Oneofthemostunexpectedthingsabouthavingchildrenishowthequesttomoldperfectlittlehumansultimatelybecomesaprojectofmakingyourselfabetterperson.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’sape