Read this sentence:
"She has lived in London for five years."
This sentence tells us that:
"She has lived in London for five years."
This sentence tells us that:
How online photos and videos alter the way you think
The images we are exposed to on social media and internet websites have a surprising influence on the way we view the world.
Every day we are bombarded with digital images. They appear on our social media feeds, in our search results and the websites we browse. People send them to us via messaging apps or over email. By the end of today, billions more will have been uploaded and shared online.
With the average user spending 6 hours and 40 minutes per day on the internet, according to one report, these images make up a significant portion of our everyday visual input.
And, recent research indicates that they may even be influencing our perceptions.
One study published earlier this year analysed images on Google,Wikipedia and the Internet Movie Database (IMBD), specifically looking at what genders predominated when they searched for different occupations − such as "farmer", "chief executive officer" or "TV reporter". The findings were stark. Although women were underrepresented overall, gender stereotypes were strong. Categories like "plumber", "developer", "investment banker" and "heart surgeon" were far more likely to be male. "Housekeeper", "nurse practitioner", "cheerleader" and "ballet dancer" tended to be female.
So far, so unsurprising. Anecdotally, I found the same phenomenon myself in 2019, when I was trying to find gender-balanced images for this website. Searching on Getty Creative, one of our main stock photo sites, I had found that photographs of male doctors outstripped female doctors by three to one − even though in the US, for example, physicians under 44 at the time were more likely to be female than male. This depiction of medical professionals were only part of the problem. There were twice as many options for photos of women with babies, or for that matter, of women with salads, as of men.
The more biased images AI models themselves spit out, the more we see; the more we see, the more implicitly biased we become ourselves
The latest study, however, took this a step further. Rather than just showing the extent of gender bias in online imagery, the researchers tested whether exposure to these images had any impact on people's own biases. In the experiment, 423 US participants used Google to search for different occupations. Two groups searched by text, using either Google or Google News; another group used Google Images, instead. (A control group also used Google, but to search for categories unrelated to occupations, like "apple" and "guitar"). Then all participants were given an "implicit association test",which measures implicit biases.
Compared to Googling text-based descriptions of occupations, the participants who used Google Images and received visual representations in response showed much higher rates of implicit gender bias after the experiment − both immediately after and three days later.
"The rise of images in popular internet culture may come at a critical social cost," the researchers write. "Our findings are especially alarming given that image-based social media platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok are surging in popularity, accelerating the mass production and circulation of images. In parallel, popular search engines such as Google are increasingly incorporating images into their core functionality, for example, by including images as a default part of text-based searches."
There's another growing problem, too: how the images already circulating online are informing and shaping AI models. Earlier this year, I experimented with this myself. I asked ChatGPT to create images for me of dozens of various professionals: doctor, lawyer, scientist, comedian, poet, teacher, customer service representative, nutritionist, thought leader, CEO, expert. Except for two or three results − dental hygienist, nurse and housekeeper − it delivered, again and again, a man. And not just a man, but a slim white man around his 30s with a crop of flowing brown hair.
In a later attempt, trying to get away from career bias, I asked ChatGPT to come up with different sorts of people for me: someone "smart", someone "successful", someone watching an opera, someone watching the show Love Is Blind, someone who quit their job to take care of the kids. Once again, over and over, I got the white guy with the lustrous hair.
Obviously, models like ChatGPT are learning based on the imagery that already exists. But, once again, this may perpetuate a vicious cycle: the more biased images AI models themselves spit out, the more we see; the more we see, the more implicitly biased we become ourselves. And the more biased we become, the more we create and upload our own biased imagery.
So what can be done? A good deal of responsibility lies with the tech and AI companies. But even when their intentions are good, there doesn't seem to be an easy fix. In its attempt to correct for racial, gender and other biases, for example, Google's AI tool Gemini sometimes overcorrected − one image it generated of the US Founding Fathers included a black man, for example, while an image of German soldiers from World War Two featured a black man and an Asian woman.
In the meantime, we need to take control of shaping our digital visual world ourselves.
While it seems obvious, the fact that we can − to a certain extent − curate our social media feeds often goes overlooked. Seeking out accounts and influencers who are of different ethnic and racial backgrounds, or photographers from different parts of the woresults we get by altering the way we phrase the initial query.
The most effective strategy of all might be reclaiming our time. In the eponymous "digital detox plan" of art entrepreneur Marine Tanguy's book The Visual Detox: How to Consume Media Without Letting It Consume You, for example, there are no surprises, but some good, solid reminders − such as putting limits on when you look at a screen or your phone, deleting apps you aren't using, and spending time outside without technology.
I became aware recently that even my several-year-old phone has a timer you can switch on for various apps, choosing whatever time period per day you'd like. While I can't say that I've always heeded its warning when I hit my limit, it's helped me become much more aware of, and cut down on, my social media usage. As we have covered before, putting your phone in another room entirely seems to keep even the thought of checking it at bay.
Above all else, however, it may be awareness that is key. We don't often think about our visual consumption or consider how often we're surrounded by images that have been deliberately created and served to us, often to persuade us to purchase something.
Nor do we think about just how strange and new a phenomenon that is. For the vast majority of human evolutionary history − some 99% of the time we have been around − we wouldn't have seen many images within our own natural environment at all, save some cave paintings or handmade sculptures. While, in Europe, the Renaissance ushered in a new era of image production − which saw the rise of art markets and of artworks made for popular consumption, like printmaking − people still wouldn't have seen anywhere near the number of man-made images that we see today.
In the more than 100,000 generations since the Homo branch of the evolutionary tree emerged, we have evolved to spend far more time looking at the world (and people) around us than at images, never mind images on a screen. Perhaps, it seems, there is an argument for trying to incorporate more of that time away from our screens into our everyday lives today.
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20241101-how-online-photos-and-vid eos-alter-the-way-you-think
In the context of the article, what does the phrase "curate
our social media feeds" imply?
Climate change poses significant challenges to cattle farming, a sector vital to global food security. Among the most pressing concerns is the increasing frequency and intensity of droughts. Reduced rainfall diminishes pasture quality and availability, limiting feed for livestock and increasing water scarcity. This can lead to decreased animal growth rates, reduced milk production, and increased mortality rates. Moreover, prolonged droughts can contribute to desertification, shrinking available grazing land and forcing farmers to adopt costly alternative feeding strategies.
Beyond drought, other climate-related impacts include heat stress, which can significantly impact animal health and productivity. Rising temperatures can exacerbate heat stress, leading to decreased feed intake, reduced fertility, and increased mortality in livestock. Furthermore, extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall and flooding, can cause infrastructure damage, contaminate water sources, and lead to the loss of livestock.
The cattle farming sector itself contributes to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions, primarily methane produced during animal digestion and nitrous oxide from manure management. Deforestation for pasture expansion also releases significant amounts of carbon dioxide.
To address these challenges, a multi-pronged approach is crucial.
• Genetic selection: Breeding programs focused on developing drought-resistant livestock breeds are vital. and heat-tolerant
• Sustainable feeding strategies: Implementing precision feeding techniques, improving feed efficiency, and exploring alternative drought-resistant forage livestock resilience. feed sources, varieties, such as can enhance
• Integrated farming systems: Integrating crop and livestock production, such as through agroforestry systems, can improve soil health, enhance water retention, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Technological innovations: Utilizing technologies such as precision livestock farming, remote sensing for pasture monitoring, and renewable energy sources can improve resource efficiency and reduce the environmental footprint of cattle production.
Furthermore, strong policy support, including incentives for sustainable farming practices, investments in research and development, and improved access to climate information services, are essential for the long-term sustainability of the cattle farming sector.
Addressing the challenges posed by climate change requires a collaborative effort involving farmers, researchers, policymakers, and consumers. By embracing innovative solutions, prioritizing sustainable practices, and fostering a collective understanding of the importance of climate-resilient livestock production, we can ensure a future when this vital sector continues to thrive while minimizing its environmental impact.
Internet:<conafer.org.br> (adapted).
Judge the following item based on the text above.
One of the strategies proposed focuses on specific systems for both soil health and water retention improvement.
TCU•
A new scholarship aimed at developing the next generation of artificial intelligence “pioneers” will open to applicants in spring 2026, with the first cohort beginning studies the following autumn.
The Sparck AI scholarships, named after pioneering British computer scientist Karen Sparck Jones, will give master’s degree university students access to industry-leading firms as the Government looks to boost the UK’s AI credentials.
The University of Bristol will be one of nine universities to offer the fully-funded Government scholarship, alongside faculties in Newcastle, Manchester and Edinburgh.
The scheme has been developed in line with the Government’s “AI Opportunities Action Plan”, receiving more than £17 million of funding from Westminster, with the grant covering both students’ tuition and living costs.
Alongside master’s places, 100 scholars will receive placements in leading AI companies, as well as mentorship from industry experts. It is hoped the scholarships will give students “unparalleled access” to the fast-moving industry.
Vice-Chancellor Evelyn Welch said the scholarships would give Bristol the chance to “explore bold new ideas and nurture exceptional talent.” Technology Secretary Peter Kyle MP said he believed the scheme would help students secure “highly skilled jobs” and build “a workforce fit for the future.” AI talent acquisition firm Beamery said the scholarships would help their goal to create “equal access to work” and connect “talent to opportunity”.
Internet:<www.bbc.com> (adapted).
About the ideas and the linguistic aspects of the previous text, judge the following item.
It can be inferred from the text that the new scholarship scheme will undoubtedly achieve its goal of developing the next generation of AI groundbreakers.
Read the excerpt from a passage and answer the
question that follows:
"Despite his extensive travels and the vast knowledge he acquired about diverse cultures, he remained somewhat of an enigma to his acquaintances. His conversations were filled with abstract ideas, often leaving his listeners pondering long after he had departed."
Which of the following best describes the main effect of the protagonist's conversations on his listeners?
"Despite his extensive travels and the vast knowledge he acquired about diverse cultures, he remained somewhat of an enigma to his acquaintances. His conversations were filled with abstract ideas, often leaving his listeners pondering long after he had departed."
Which of the following best describes the main effect of the protagonist's conversations on his listeners?
USP•
Texto para a questão
How to write, according to the bestselling novelist of all time
Everyone has a book inside them, or so the saying goes. In this day and age, those who want help coaxing the story out can receive instruction online from some of the world’s most popular authors. Lee Child and Harlan Coben, who have sold hundreds of millions of books between them, teach thriller writing; Jojo Moyes offers tips on romance yarns. And now Agatha Christie, the world’s bestselling writer of fiction, with more than 2 bn copies sold, is instructing viewers in the art of the whodunnit—even though she died in 1976.
Christie’s course is the result not of recently unearthed archival footage, but artificial intelligence. BBC Maestro, an online education platform, brought the idea to the Christie family, which still controls 36% of Agatha Christie Ltd (AMC Networks, an entertainment giant, owns the rest). They consented to bring the “Queen of Crime” back to life, to teach the mysterious flair of her style.
A team of almost 100—including Christie scholars as well as AI specialists—worked on the project. Vivien Keene, an actor, provided a stand-in for the author; Christie’s face was mapped on top. Crucially, Ms Keene’s eerily credible performance employs only Christie’s words: a tapestry of extracts from her own writings, notebooks and interviews.
In this way, the creator of Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple shares handy writing tips, such as the neatest ways to dispatch fictional victims. Firearms bring ballistic complications. Be wary of poisons, as each works in a unique way. Novice authors can “always rely on a dull blow to the head”.
Many of Christie’s writing rules concern playing fair. She practiced misdirection and laid “false clues” alongside true ones, but insisted that her plots do not cheat or hide key evidence: “I never deceive my readers.” In sections devoted to plot and setting, she explains how to plant key clues “in plain sight” and plan events with detailed “maps and diagrams”. She advises viewers to watch and listen to strangers on buses or in shops and to spice up motives for murder with a love triangle.
Some of the most engaging sections come from “An Autobiography”, published posthumously in 1977: Poirot’s origins among the Belgian refugees who reached Devon during the First World War, or fond memories of her charismatic, feckless brother Monty, who had “broken the laws of a lot of countries” and provided the inspiration for many of Christie’s “wayward young male figures”.
By relying on Christie’s own words, BBC Maestro hopes to avoid charges of creepy pedagogical deepfakery. At the same time, it is that focus on quotation which limits the course’s value as a creative-writing toolbox. The woman born Agatha Miller in 1890 speaks from her own time and place. She tells wannabe writers to use snowstorms to isolate murder scenes (as they bring down telephone wires) and cites the clue-generating value of railway timetables, ink stains and cut-up newspapers. These charming details are irrelevant to modern scribblers.
Yet anachronism is not the course’s biggest flaw: it is that it lacks vitality. Christie enjoyed a richer life than learners will glean from this prim phantom: she was a wartime nurse (hence her deep knowledge of toxins), thwarted opera singer, keen surfer and archaeological expert who joined her second husband on digs in Iraq. Furthermore, her juiciest mysteries smash crime-writing rules. The narrator does it; the detective does it; all the suspects do it. Sometimes there’s no detective: in “The Hollow” (1946) Christie regretted that Poirot appeared at all. With its working-class antihero and gothic darkness, “Endless Night” (1967) shatters every Christie cliché. This high-tech, retrofitted version of the author feels smaller and flatter than the ingenious original.
The Economist, May, 8th, 2025
Assinale a alternativa que sintetiza com mais precisão a crítica
principal do autor ao curso de escrita “ministrado” por Agatha
Christie via inteligência artificial.
Agriculture and fisheries are closely linked to climate, making them vulnerable to changes in temperature, CO2 levels, and extreme weather. While increased temperature and CO2 can enhance some crop yields, this depends on factors like nutrient levels, soil moisture, and water availability. More frequent droughts and floods could challenge food production and safety, while warming waters may shift fish habitats, disrupting ecosystems. Overall, climate change may complicate traditional methods of farming, livestock raising, and fishing.
Crop responses to temperature changes depend on each crop's optimal growth temperature. Warmer conditions might benefit certain crops or enable the cultivation of new ones, but yields decline if temperatures exceed a crop's threshold. Increased CO2 can enhance plant growth under controlled conditions but may be offset by water, nutrient, and temperature constraints. Additionally, elevated CO2 reduces the protein and nitrogen content in crops like soybeans and alfalfa, lowering their quality and diminishing the forage value for livestock.
Extreme weather events, such as floods and droughts, can harm crops and reduce yields. For example, high nighttime temperatures in 2010 and 2012 lowered U.S. corn yields, while premature budding caused $ 220 million in losses for Michigan cherries in 2012. Rising summer temperatures may also dry soils, complicating drought management. Increased irrigation could help, but reduced water availability might limit its feasibility.
Climate change also favors weeds, pests, and fungi, which thrive in warmer, wetter conditions with higher CO2 levels. This could expose crops to new threats and increase farming costs. U.S. farmers already spend over $ 11 billion annually on weed control, and these challenges are likely to grow as weed and pest ranges expand.
While rising CO2 stimulates plant growth, it also lowers the nutritional value of major crops like wheat, rice, and soybeans by reducing their protein and mineral content. This poses a potential risk to human health. Additionally, increased pest pressure may lead to higher pesticide use, further impacting health and reducing pesticide effectiveness. Climate change, therefore, presents multifaceted challenges to food production, nutrition, and ecosystems.
Internet:<climatechange.chicago.gov> (adapted).
Based on the text above, judge item below.
Elevated temperature and CO2 levels improve some crop fields especially because of nutrient levels in the soil.
PSS•
Consider the dialogue below:
David: Hi, Emily! Have you ever thought about the impact of technology on our daily lives?
Emily: Hi, David! Yes, I think about it often. Technology has certainly made our lives easier in many ways, but it also has its downsides.
David: Absolutely. For example, smartphones have made communication much faster, but at the same time, people seem to be more disconnected in real life.
Emily: I agree. It's ironic, isn't it? We have more ways to connect, yet it sometimes feels like we're more isolated.
David: That's true. Do you think there's a way to find a balance between using technology and maintaining real-world connections?
Emily: I believe there is. Perhaps it's about setting boundaries, like limiting screen time or having tech-free days to spend more quality time with family and friends.
David: That's a good point. It might also be helpful to be more mindful about how we use technology.
Emily: Definitely. Being conscious of our usage can help us use technology more purposefully rather than letting it control us.
Based on the dialogue, which of the following statements best captures the main theme of their conversation?
PART 1: READING COMPREHENSION
The War at Home: The Struggle for Veterans to Find Jobs
In today's tough and competitive job market, it can be challenging for any adult to land a decent job. Though education can definitely improve outcomes, sometimes it's not just abont the degree. Experience can also play a major role in helping people find jobs. Yet in some cases, if you do not have the right kind of experience, this may be of little help. Just ask one of the many college-educated military veterans who serve their country only to return to find a job market that will treat them as rookies.
Army veteran John Lee Dumas said he had zero anxieties about finding a job after graduating college and had been told that his military experience would give him a leg up on other candidates. But things did not turn out that way.
"I quickly found out that I was lumped together with recent college grads for entry-level positions, and that an employee that had two years' experience at a job in a similar industry was considered way more qualified than I was despite my four years as an officer in the army", Dumas said.
When Dumas did find work, he said it was difficult to acclimate to the civilian Office environment.
"I often found that my peers and above had a hard time dealing with my direct approach and attitude about tackling problems head on, often asking for forgiveness rather than permission", he said.
One issue is that veterans are too modest when it comes to stating their accomplishments in the military.
"For some reason, I've had veterans not tell me about their awards and honors, but it should all be listed - from commander' s coins to medals of honor," Hurwitz said.
Navy veteran Tom Graves, who has a career in world force development helping companies understand the benefits of hiring skilled and experienced military veterans, agreed.
(Adapted from http://www.onlinecollege.org)
Considering the text, what does the word "skilled" mean in this extract?
" [...] the benefits of hiring skilled and experienced military
veterans [...]."
Something in the water? Why we love shark films
From the Steven Spielberg classic Jaws, to predators stalking the Seine in Under Paris, there is no shortage of shark films.
Hollywood and audiences love them, seemingly never tiring of the suspense, gore and terror.
There are prehistoric giant sharks in The Meg, genetically engineered ones in Deep Blue Sea, and sharks high on cocaine in the ingeniously named Cocaine Shark.
Even Donald Trump is a fan – he was reportedly due to play the US president in a Sharknado film, before becoming the actual president.
I became hooked on them after watching James Bond film Thunderball, where the villain keeps sharks in his swimming pool.
It led to a lifelong interest in shark films, as well as an irrational fear of swimming pools, even ones filled with chlorine inside leisure centres.
Hayley Easton Street is the British director behind a new shark film, Something in the Water, which tells the story of a group of women stranded at sea.
She explains that, as fan of shark films herself, she “absolutely wanted” to make the movie.
So why are shark movies so popular? “It's the fear of what could be going on with the unknown of [the sea]” she tells BBC News.
“Just being stuck in the middle of the ocean is scary enough. You're trapped in something else's world and anything could happen.”
But despite Street's love of shark films, she did not want the ones in hers to be portrayed as marine serial killers.
“We kill 100 million sharks every year” she notes.
The director was also aware that the release of Jaws led to a huge rise in the hunting of sharks, partly because they had been portrayed as merciless killers.
“As much as I love shark films, I love sharks.”
“I was really conscious of that, because it's easy for people to start seeing them as killing machines... or monsters, which they are not.”
She adds: “I feel it's more scary to have the realistic theme of it, that, you know, if you are out in the ocean and there are sharks and they do mistake you for something else, they will kill you.”
Despite the huge success of Jaws, Spielberg has said he “truly regrets the decimation of the shark population because of the book and the film”.
Spielberg is not the only person concerned about Hollywood's portrayal of sharks and the impact it continues to have.
US marine biologist Andriana Fragola dedicates herself to educating people about sharks, often sharing videos of her diving with them.
She says they are “misunderstood predators” that have been harmed by movies and the media.
Andriana tells me that she has watched Netflix's new shark film, Under Paris, and was not impressed.
“Their whole thing was it's about conservation, about studying them, but then the sharks are still eating people.”
“So it's giving a little bit more of a rounded education and a little bit more depth to the story, it's not just people swimming at the beach and getting attacked and eaten.”
“But the bottom line and what people can draw from the movie is that sharks are still really dangerous to people and they're just going to continuously hunt and eat people.”
“If that was true, we would be reduced as a human species. Everyone who goes to the beach, they would be threatened.”
Andriana says the perception of sharks causes a real issue for conservation.
“It's a huge problem because people don't want to protect something that they're scared of.”
“The perception from people is that they're dangerous to humans so we should eradicate them, and that's obviously a huge problem for conservation and getting people to want to empathise or sympathise with sharks and wanting to actually protect them.”
“It's unfortunate because 100 million sharks are killed every year, and globally sharks kill fewer than 10 people every year.”
“We're really focused on the sharks being the monsters and them being out to get us. In reality it's the opposite.”
It is unlikely that Hollywood will stop making shark films, or we will stop watching them.
But the figures show that far from being the serial killers of the sea, sharks are actually much more likely to be the victims of humans.
(Charlotte Gallagher, Culture reporter, BBC 2024. Accessed: 29 July 2024. Available in:<https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckmmgxvp7dgo>. Adapted.)
Consider the sentence “[...] there is no shortage of shark films.” (1
st§) It implies that:
FGV•
Read Text I and answer the five questions that follow it
Text I
Cybersecurity risk: time for auditors to take heed?
The global interest in cybersecurity is growing. As we move into the cyber age, technology has become a huge part of both our everyday lives and today’s business environment, as more and more businesses increase their online presence and digital exposure by leveraging technology for almost every aspect of their business. But just as technology presents opportunities to many businesses, it also presents threats and challenges. Over the years, cyber attacks have continued to occur, escalating in frequency, severity and impact. These incidents have impacted every industry from financial services to retailers, entertainment and healthcare providers.
[…]
Perhaps due to its constantly evolving nature, cybersecurity risk remains complex and abstract to many. There may also be a perception that cybersecurity risk is not relevant to small businesses, hence, cybersecurity risk may not have been considered and addressed in all financial statements audits. But let us think about this: risk assessment is a crucial part of audit planning and auditors are required under the auditing standards to obtain an understanding of business risks that may result in risks of material misstatement of the financial statements. Just as auditors would consider an entity’s business risks in a financial statements audit, cybersecurity risk is an equally important risk area that cannot be ignored. Perhaps even more so, given the broad extent to which cyber attacks can cause fundamentalenterprise-wide damage to organisations, and for some attacks, even a huge impact to the financial statements. Cybersecurity risk is hence an essential consideration in any financial statements audit.
Adapted from : https://charteredaccountantsworldwide.com/cybersecurity-risktime-for-auditors-to-take-heed/
The first word in the fragment Perhaps due to its constantly
evolving nature (2nd paragraph) expresses
O texto seguinte servirá de base para responder à questão.
Ship carrying explosive fertiliser heads to UK waters
A Maltese-flagged cargo ship carrying thousands of tonnes of potentially explosive fertiliser is set to travel through UK waters.
Ruby, which was earlier accompanied by an escort tug, has reportedly been rejected by several countries due to its cargo.
The ship, which has 20,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate on board, was previously damaged but deemed seaworthy by authorities in Norway.
HM Coastguard is in contact with the vessel, which according to ship tracking data, was in the North Sea off the Kent coast on Thursday morning.
The ship, owned by Maltese firm Ruby Enterprise, set off from the northern Russian port of Kandalaksha in July.
The national maritime emergency service said it will monitor the ship's progress as it heads towards and through UK waters.
Vessels are not required to ask permission to travel through UK territorial waters for legitimate purposes.
An escorting tug, Amber II, which had sailed with the boat from Norway, left the Ruby on Thursday morning and sailed east. Its current destination is listed as Rotterdam, in the Netherlands.
Though there is no suggestion of immediate danger from the cargo, the same chemical caused a devastating blast at a Beirut warehouse in 2020.
Ammonium nitrate is regularly transported around the world and used as fertiliser but is also used in explosives.
The ship is carrying seven times the amount of ammonium nitrate that caused the Beirut explosion.
Ruby's location on Thursday, according to Marine Traffic. Marine Traffic data suggested the ship was in the North Sea on Thursday.
Soon after departing Russia, the Ruby briefly ran aground after reportedly encountering a storm.
It then continued its journey around the Kola Peninsula and docked in Tromsø, Norway.
Norway's Maritime Authority told the BBC the vessel was inspected by DNV Group to ensure it met safety and environmental standards.
The group found damage to its hull, propeller and rudder, but the Ruby was still deemed "seaworthy".
As a precaution, DNV Group, and the Maltese flag registry, insisted that a tug escort the vessel for the remainder of its journey.
The ship was bound for Klaipeda, in Lithuania, according to ship tracking firm MarineTraffic.
But despite being deemed seaworthy, the ship was denied entry to Klaipeda. Algia Latakas, the port authority's chief executive, told the BBC that this was "because of its cargo".
Andrea Sella, professor of chemistry at University College London, said the cargo was not high risk, unless there was a fire on board.
"While I understand the caution of the authorities in Troms, I suspect that the chances of a similar disaster to Beirut are relatively modest," she said.
She added: "It would also be interesting to know what the nature of the repairs might be as clearly welding might significantly raise the potential fire risk."
Other reports suggested Sweden had imposed a ban as well, but Sweden's transport agency denies this.
"What the Swedish authorities did was to follow the matter in case we would have needed to act in some way," a spokesperson told the BBC.
In recent weeks, the Ruby travelled south along Norway's coast and through the North Sea.
The ship reportedly has had restricted manoeuvrability, though the BBC has been unable to confirm this.
On 25 September, it anchored about 15 miles (25km) north east of Margate, in Kent, near the Dover Strait - one of the world's busiest waterways.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said the vessel is "currently securely anchored outside UK territorial waters waiting for appropriate conditions to refuel at sea before passing through the English Channel".
Refuelling at sea is a common practice and will take place in accordance with safety procedures and in favourable weather, said the MCA.
Its current destination is listed as Marsaxlokk, in Malta.
But Maltese authorities have told local media that the ship can only enter the country if it empties its cargo beforehand.
Marco Forgione, director general of the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade, raised concerns about potential "environmental damage".
"Should the ammonium nitrate start to leak out of the ship and contaminate the sea... shipping through the channel would have to be diverted to avoid further shifting the pollution through its waters," he said.
He added that damage as a result of the potential scenario would be "immense" and cause "ongoing disruption".
The vessel has appropriate safety certificates approved by the vessel's flag state and is able to make its own way, said the MCA.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62g95721leo
Why was the ship Ruby initially escorted by a tug?
FGV•
Read Text II and answer the five questions that follow it
Text II
OpenAI’s GPT-4 Scores in the Top 1% of Creative Thinking
By Erik Guzik
Of all the forms of human intellect that one might expect artificial intelligence to emulate, few people would likely place creativity at the top of their list. Creativity is wonderfully mysterious—and frustratingly fleeting. It defines us as human beings—and seemingly defies the cold logic that lies behind the silicon curtain of machines. Yet, the use of AI for creative endeavors is now growing.
New AI tools like DALL-E and Midjourney are increasingly part of creative production, and some have started to win awards for their creative output. The growing impact is both social and economic—as just one example, the potential of AI to generate new, creative content is a defining flashpoint behind the Hollywood writers’ strike.
And if our recent study into the striking originality of AI is any indication, the emergence of AI-based creativity—along with examples of both its promise and peril—is likely just beginning.
When people are at their most creative, they’re responding to a need, goal, or problem by generating something new—a product or solution that didn’t previously exist.
In this sense, creativity is an act of combining existing resources — ideas, materials, knowledge — in a novel way that’s useful or gratifying. Quite often, the result of creative thinking is also surprising, leading to something the creator did not — and perhaps could not — foresee.
Our results?
GPT-4 scored in the top 1 percent of test-takers for the originality of its ideas. From our research, we believe this marks one of the first examples of AI meeting or exceeding the human ability for original thinking.
In short, we believe that AI models like GPT-4 are capable of producing ideas that people see as unexpected, novel, and unique. Other researchers are arriving at similar conclusions in their research of AI and creativity.
Adapted from https://singularityhub.com/2023/09/10/openais-gpt-4-scores-in-thetop-1-of-creative-thinking/
Based on Text II, mark the statements below as true (T) or false
(F).
( ) The text opens by asserting that emulating human creativity has always been considered by everybody as a priority in AI projects.
( ) The outcome of creative thinking can be unpredictable at times.
( ) The author concludes that using AI for creative ventures is worth the effort.
The statements are, respectively,
( ) The text opens by asserting that emulating human creativity has always been considered by everybody as a priority in AI projects.
( ) The outcome of creative thinking can be unpredictable at times.
( ) The author concludes that using AI for creative ventures is worth the effort.
The statements are, respectively,
O texto seguinte servirá de base para responder à questão.
Manufacturing dips as container outlook slides
The NEOI fell to 48.9 in August from 49.6 in July, indicating deteriorating trade conditions for the third consecutive month. Traded goods slowed in both developed and emerging markets, but India maintained a modest growth in goods exports during August, the last month for which figures are available.
In addition, the global PMI has shown a contraction of manufacturing, signalling a further deterioration in cargo levels in the immediate future.
"China's goods exports fell for the first time in 2024, signalling a broader decline in manufacturing as the year progresses," said global freight forwarder Dimerco.
Headquartered in Taiwan, the Taipei-listed forwarder said that the Federal Reserve's recent interest rate cut may revive global goods trade.
August trading in the US continued to grow amid concerns about a US East Coast strike, and a November election that could see major import tariffs imposed on goods, said Dimerco.
"The early peak season suggests an earlier-than-usual start to the slow season, with expected declines in handling volume from September to December, projected at 2.31m, 2.08m, 1.92m, and 1.89m teu, respectively. If these forecasts hold, total port volume for 2024 could reach 24.98m teu, a 12% increase from 2023," said Alvin Fuh, VP - ocean freight at Dimerco Express Group.
Dynamar analyst Darron Wadey, said: "Approaching 470 vessels bringing around 3.2m teu in capacity are expected to be delivered by the end of 2024."
That massive increase in capacity, and the fact that much of this increase is for larger sized vessels, means that any correction in freight rates should have started up to a year ago, according to Wadey.
"It is only the happenstance of the Red Sea and US East Coast situations that have, artificially, buoyed the markets. When the markets do correct therefore, the falls will only be more dramatic because the inevitable has been delayed whilst the stream of new ships coming online continues," said Wadey.
Drewry Shipping Consultants' analysis shows that blank sailings are expected to increase between 9 September and 7 October with an additional 53 blanked sailings, totalling 90 for the period. Some 67% of these cancelled services were on the Pacific eastbound, while a further 21% on the Asia to Europe trades and 12% on the Atlantic.
Even with these cancelled services, rates are continuing to fall on all the major trades, according to Dimerco.
New entrants are said to be another element to failure of lines to maintain rate levels.
"While the three major alliances are increasing blank sailings, several individual carriers have deployed 11 extra vessels for Europe WB and 14 for TPEB to handle the expected cargo surge before China's Golden Week. However, the anticipated pre-October 1 cargo rush in China did not materialise this year, leaving no backlogs or rollover cargo for these extra loaders to transport," said Dimerco's monthly analysis.
Rebalancing trade can only be achieved through the long-term and steady growth of trade, said Wadey, combined with "a strategic rather than knee-jerk ship ordering policy". These required shifts are generational, he said, "in the short term, political events in the US might lead to an end-2024 rush for cargoes again... but then where does that leave 2025 and beyond?"
Drewry's WCI index fell a further 7% this week, closing at $3,691/feu.
https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/containers/manufacturing-dips-as-c ontainer-outlook-slides
What reason does the article give for the failure of shipping lines to maintain rate levels, despite efforts to manage capacity through blank sailings?
O texto seguinte servirá de base para responder à questão.
Fossils show flying reptiles ate squid and fish
Prehistoric flying reptiles lived on a diet of small fish and squid, the latest scientific research has shown.
Researcher Dr Roy Smith said stomach contents discovered in fossils were the "smoking gun" evidence for the diets.
The findings were made by scientists from the University of Portsmouth and the Staatliches Museum fur Naturkunde Stuttgart in Germany and published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
Pterosaurs lived 182 million years ago and had wingspans of up to 12m (39ft).
The team analysed the fossilised stomach contents of two pterosaur species, dorygnathus and campylognathoides.
They lived during the early Jurassic period, and were found in modern-day south-west Germany.
They found that dorygnathus ate small fish for its last meal while campylognathoides ate prehistoric squid.
Dr Smith, from Portsmouth University's School of Environment and Life Sciences, said: "It is incredibly rare to find 180 million-year-old pterosaurs preserved with their stomach contents, and provides 'smoking gun' evidence for pterosaur diets.
"The discovery offers a unique and fascinating glimpse into how these ancient creatures lived, what they ate, and the ecosystems they thrived in millions of years ago."
Dr Samuel Cooper, also from the University of Portsmouth, said the stomach contents told scientists "how the animals interacted with each other".
He added: "For me, this evidence of squid remains in the stomach of campylognathoides is therefore particularly exciting.
"Until now, we tended to assume that it fed on fish, similar to dorygnathus, in which we found small fish bones as stomach contents.
"The fact that these two pterosaur species ate different prey shows that they were likely specialised for different diets.
"This allowed dorygnathus and campylognathoides to coexist in the same habitat without much competition for food between the two species."
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2ym7zedrno
In the text, the phrase "smoking gun" evidence is used to
describe the fossil findings. Which of the following best
explains the meaning of "smoking gun" in this context?
UFF•
TEXT 1
What do AI chatbots really mean for students and cheating?
October 31, 2023 By
Carrie Spector
The launch of ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots has triggered an alarm for many educators, who worry about students using the technology to cheat by passing its writing off as their own. But two Stanford researchers say that concern is misdirected, based on their ongoing research into cheating among U.S. high school students before and after the release of ChatGPT.
Here, Lee and Pope discuss the state of cheating in U.S. schools, what research shows about why students cheat, and their recommendations for educators working to address the problem.
What do we know about how much students cheat?
Pope: We know that cheating rates have been high for a long time. At Challenge Success we’ve been running surveys and focus groups at schools for over 15 years, asking students about different aspects of their lives — the amount of sleep they get, homework pressure, extracurricular activities, family expectations, things like that — and also several questions about different forms of cheating.
For years, long before ChatGPT hit the scene, some 60 to 70 percent of students have reported engaging in at least one “cheating” behavior during the previous month. That percentage has stayed about the same or even decreased slightly in our 2023 surveys, when we added questions specific to new AI technologies, like ChatGPT, and how students are using it for school assignments.
So AI isn’t changing how often students cheat — just the tools that they’re using?
Lee: The most prudent thing to say right now is that the data suggest, perhaps to the surprise of many people, that AI is not increasing the frequency of cheating. This may change as students become increasingly familiar with the technology, and we’ll continue to study it and see if and how this changes. But I think it’s important to point out that, in Challenge Success’ most recent survey, students were also asked if and how they felt an AI chatbot like ChatGPT should be allowed for school-related tasks. Many said they thought it should be acceptable for “starter” purposes, like explaining a new concept or generating ideas for a paper. But the vast majority said that using a chatbot to write an entire paper should never be allowed. So this idea that students who’ve never cheated before are going to suddenly run amok and have AI write all of their papers appears unfounded. What would you suggest to school leaders who are concerned about students using AI chatbots?
Pope: Even before ChatGPT, we could never be sure whether kids were getting help from a parent or tutor or another source on their assignments, and this was not considered cheating. Kids in our focus groups are wondering why they can't use ChatGPT as another resource to help them write their papers — not to write the whole thing word for word, but to get the kind of help a parent or tutor would offer. We need to help students and educators find ways to discuss the ethics of using this technology and when it is and isn't useful for student learning.
Lee: There’s a lot of fear about students using this technology. Schools have considered putting significant amounts of money in AI-detection software, which studies show can be highly unreliable. Some districts have tried blocking AI chatbots from school wifi and devices, then repealed those bans because they were ineffective. AI is not going away. Along with addressing the deeper reasons why students cheat, we need to teach students how to understand and think critically about this technology. For starters, at Stanford we’ve begun developing free resources to help teachers bring these topics into the classroom as it relates to different subject areas. We know that 3 teachers don’t have time to introduce a whole new class, but we have been working with teachers to make sure these are activities and lessons that can fit with what they’re already covering in the time they have available.
I think of AI literacy as being akin to driver’s education: We’ve got a powerful tool that can be a great asset, but it can also be dangerous. We want students to learn how to use it responsibly.
Available from: < https://ed.stanford.edu/news/what-do-ai-chatbots-really-mean-students-and-cheating>. Access: 08 Dec., 2023. Adapted.
Pope’s research, Challenge Success, has been investigating students’ lives and
behavior for
FURB•
Read the excerpt of the book entitled 'The Other Tongue: English across cultures' written by Joshua A. Fishman, published in 1992:
Sociology of English as an Additional Language
The ongoing nativization of non-native Englishes in various parts of the world proceeds within the penumbra of a rather stable and widespread image of English. This image is itself both influenced by and, in turn, contributory to an international sociolinguistic balance of power that characterizes the latter part of the twentieth century. This balance of power rests solidly on three realities: (1) not only is English increasingly associated with technological modernity and power, but this association is now being fostered by non-English mother-tongue interests; (2) English is both functionally fostered and regulated by local political authorities; and (3) indigenous "preferred languages" are complementary fostered and regulated by these same authorities.
Not only is English still spreading, but it is even being spread by non-English mother-tongue interests.
The world has previously witnessed the spread of languages of empire, the diffusion of lingua francas, and the growth of international languages. In most respects, therefore, the continued spread of English for international and intranational purposes is not novel in the annals of world history—or, if it is novel, it is so primarily in a quantitative sense, in terms of scale, rate, and degree, rather than in any qualitative sense or in terms of kind. If there is something qualitatively new under the sun in conjunction with the spread of English inthe non-English mother-tongue world, it is merely that the spread has reached such an order of magnitude that it is now significantly fostered by the non- English mother-tongue world, rather than being predominantly de- pendent on resources, efforts, or personnel of the English mother -
tongue world (Conrad and Fishman 1977). Whether we monitor the veritable army of English-speaking econo-technical specialists, advisors, and representatives, or whether we examine the diffusion of English publications, films, radio and television programs, literacy programs and educational opportunities, it is becoming increasingly clear that non-English mother-tongue countries are significantly active in each of these connections. Nor is their involvement merely that of Third World recipients of Western largesse. True, Third World nations are themselves fostering massive efforts via and on behalf of English. On the other hand, however, equally massive programs via English are being conducted by the Soviet Union, the Arab world, and mainland China-world powers that have their own well-developed standard languages and that normally oppose various political, philosophical, and economic goals of the English mother-tongue world.
Source: FISHMAN, Joshua A. Sociology of English as an additional language. The other tongue: English across cultures, v. 2, p. 19-26, 1992.
According to the text, what is a key reason for the
continued global spread of English in
non-English-speaking countries?
Choose the correct alternative:
Choose the correct alternative:
FAU•
O texto I refere-se a questão
TEXTO I
The study of language acquisition is fundamentally the process by which humans, and some believe even certain higher animals, acquire the capacity to perceive, produce and use words to understand and communicate. This is a central topic in the disciplines of linguistics, cognitive science, and psychology. Moreover, it holds considerable interest in educational science, anthropology, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence, reflecting the breadth of its implications and impact.
The language learning process is multifaceted, influenced by a multitude of factors. Among these are the learner's cognitive abilities, encompassing memory, attention, perceptual and reasoning skills. Equally important is the learner's social environment – family, peers, teachers and the broader cultural context, which can provide opportunities for exposure to the language, affect the learner's attitudes and motivation, and determine the nature of the language input.
Exposure to the language, both in terms of quality and quantity, is also a critical factor. This involves interaction with proficient users of the language and access to diverse linguistic contexts. The role of motivation cannot be overstated. It can greatly enhance the learner's engagement, persistence and performance.
The complex interplay of these factors shapes the trajectory of language learning, with every individual's path being unique. Nevertheless, there are patterns and regularities in the process that researchers strive to identify and understand. These insights not only enrich our understanding of human cognition and social interaction but also have practical implications for language teaching and learning.
Qual é um componente essencial do
desenvolvimento de competência
comunicativa para os alunos de inglês como
língua estrangeira?
Dr. Joy, an experienced physiotherapist, is preparing a
presentation for a physiotherapy conference. He would
like to include a real case study to illustrate an important
point about the effectiveness of a specific technique.
During the presentation, Dr. Joy mentions identifiable
details and displays images of a client he treated, without
having obtained formal authorization from the client or
their legal guardian. Dr. Joy believes that using this
information will enrich the presentation and promote the
technique. Based on ethical standards for
physiotherapists, which of Dr. Joy's actions is prohibited?
Text 19A4-I
It is a universal fact that cinema is a visual medium. Films have the power to overwhelm our senses as well as our minds, subjecting us to a variety of experiences that can range from the sublime to the devastating. Colours play a crucial role in this interesting phenomenon, forming an integral part of the composition of each frame and dictating how the viewer perceives the spectacle on the screen. Apart from the cinematic medium, colours have always been a part of our experience and how we make sense of the vastly nuanced world around us. Although science has definitively explained what colours are in terms of light, they have always mystified artists and philosophers like Arthur Schopenhauer and Ludwig Wittgenstein, who tried to understand their importance in anthropological frameworks.
More notably, the famous German poet and artist Johann Wolfgang von Goethe published a seminal exploration of colours in his 1810 work Theory of Colours. In it, he examined how each colour corresponds to various psychological states in the minds of human beings. He wrote, “Light and darkness, brightness and obscurity, or if a more general expression is preferred, light and its absence, are necessary to the production of colour… Colour itself is a degree of darkness.” Goethe’s theories might seem baselessly romantic in the 21st century but the underlying ideas have been implemented by filmmakers and cinematographers to curate the voyeuristic experiences of their audiences. Famed cinematographer Vittorio Storaro has based his artistic vision on Goethe’s work, insisting that colours do have a direct connection to the mind of the viewer.
Internet: <https://faroutmagazine.co.uk> (adapted).
Based on text 19A4-I, choose the option that correctly presents Goethe’s description of the relationship between light, darkness, and colour.