单选题 中国银行(Bank of china)是中国四大国有商业银行之一。它在全球范围内为个人和企业客户提供全面、优质的金融服务。自1912年成立以来，中国银行一直在中国的金融史上扮演着十分重要的角色。中国银行的业务范围涵盖商业银行、投资银行、保险和航空租赁(aircraft leasing)。中国银行在世界各大金融中心都开设了分支机构，并在全球30多个国家和地区建立起机构网络。
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单选题 Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write on the topic EQ (Emotional Quotient). You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.
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单选题 Child psychologists—and kindergarten teachers—have long known that when children first show up for school, some of them speak a lot more fluently than others. Psychologists also know that children's socioeconomic status tends to be closely connected with their language facility. The better off and more educated a child's parents are, the better vocabulary ability that child tends to have by school age—and vocabulary skill is a key predictor for success in school. Children from low-income families, who may often start school knowing significantly fewer words than their better-off peers, will struggle for years to make up that ground. Previous studies have shown that wealthier, educated parents talk to their young children more, using more complex vocabulary and sentences, than parents of lesser means. And these differences may help explain why richer kids start school with richer vocabularies. But what goes on before children can talk, during that phase—familiar to any parent—when communication takes the form of pointing, waving, grabbing and other kinds of baby sign language? Do well—off parents also gesture more to their kids? Indeed they do, say psychologists Susan Goldin-Meadow and Meredith Rowe of the University of Chicago. The researchers found that at 14 months of age, babies already showed a wide range of 'speaking' ability through gestures, and that those differences were closely linked with their socioeconomic background and how frequently their parents used gestures to communicate. High-income, better-educated parents gestured more frequently to their children to convey meaning and new concepts, and in turn, their kids gestured more to them. When researchers tested the same children at 54 months of age, they found that those early gesturers turned out to have better vocabulary ability than other students. At 14 months of age, researches say, pointing toward an object is the way most kids use gestures. If a parent responds to that gesture by identifying the object in words—by saying, 'That's a doll,' for example—children get a head start on growing their original vocabularies. 'That's a teachable moment, and mothers are teaching the kids the word for an object,' says Goldin-Meadow.
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单选题 Educators today are more and more often heard to say that computer literacy is absolutely necessary for college students. Many even argue that each incoming freshman should have permanent access to his or her own microcomputer. What advantages do computers offer the college students? Any student who has used a word processor will know one compelling reason to use a computer: to write papers. Although not all students feel comfortable composing on a word processor, most find revising and editing much easier on it. One can alter, insert, or delete just by pressing a few keys, thus eliminating the need to rewrite or re-type. Furthermore, since the revision process is less burdensome, students are more likely to revise as often as is necessary to end up with the best paper possible. For these reasons, many freshman English courses require the use of a word processor. Computers are also useful in the context of language courses, where they are used to drill students in basic skills. Software programs reinforce ESL (English as a Second Language) instruction, as well as instruction in French, German, Spanish, and other languages. By using these programs on a regular basis, students can improve their proficiency in a language while proceeding at their own pace. Science students take advantage of computers in many ways. Using computer graphic capabilities, for example, botany students can represent and analyze different plant growth patterns. Medical students can learn to interpret computerized images of internal body structures. Physics students can complete complex calculations far more quickly than they could without the use of computer. Similarly, business and accounting students find that computer spreadsheet programs are all but indispensable to many aspects of their work, while students pursuing careers in graphic arts, marketing, and public relations find that knowledge of computer graphic is important. Education majors learn to develop grading systems using computers, while social science students use computers for analyzing and graphically displacing their research results. It is no wonder, then, that educators support the purchase and use of microcomputers by students. A versatile tool, the computer can help students learn. And that is, after all, the reason for going to college.
单选题 For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay entitled Every Coin Has Two Sides. You can cite examples to illustrate how you understand the above saying. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.
单选题 中秋节(Mid-Autumn Festival)源自于人们对月亮的崇拜。我国是古老的农业国家，古人经长期观察认为，月亮的运行同农业生产和季节变化有很大关系，因此祭月就成了祈祷国家长治久安的一项重要祭祀活动。在长期的历史进程中，人们在祭月拜月的同时，又出现了赏月的习俗。中秋节成为固定的节日，大约是在唐代。北宋时期，中秋节已经成为普遍的民俗节日。
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单选题A. It's easy to be complacent (自满的，得意的) about weight and long-term health issues, especially when you're young, carefree and only living for tomorrow, but recent statistics provide a harsh wake-up call for teens and children. B. According to a report produced by the British Medical Association (BMA), the state of adolescent health in the UK is in a poor condition. A key problem is obesity, which is thought to be caused by a poor diet with too many high-fat, high-calorie foods, along with a lack of exercise. In fact, the report claims that excess body weight is 'now the most common childhood disorder in Europe', and a staggering one in five youngsters aged 13 to 16 are overweight and nearly one in five-15-year-olds are obese. C. The figures are worrying as being obese can cause both immediate and future serious health problems. These include the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. It's also the 'most impotrtant dietary factor in cancer', said a spokesperson for the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF), and can cause complications (并发症) during and after pregnancy. Type 2 diabetes used to only affect middle-aged people, but in recent years cases have been detected in teens as young as 13-year-old for the first time. This, in itself, is believed to be another direct factor linked to the rising levels of obesity. Health Implications D. Neville Rigby, from the International Obesity Task Force, expressed concern at the levels of teen obesity. 'It's very worrying because of the high' risk that people who are obese in their teenage years will continue to be in adulthood', he said. Putting things into perspective, he added, 'Children affected by obesity are likely to have a shorter lifespan than their parents.' E. As well as physical illness and disease, being obese or overweight can cause a range of psychological problems too. The BMA report highlighted that it can significantly affect well-being, 'with many adolescents developing a negative self-image and experiencing low self-esteem.' It can also lead to eating diseases, bullying, depression, and feelings of loneliness and nervousness. This is something that the charity Weight Concern is keen to emphasize. 'Obesity can have detrimental (有害的) effects on children's psychological well-being, ' said a spokesperson. 'Many overweight children report social difficulties, which in turn may contribute to anxiety and depression, and obese children are often subject to teasing and bullying. All this can have devastating effects on their self-esteem.' Weight Distribution F. Doctors use a measurement system called the body mass index (BMI) to assess whether people are a healthy weight, overweight or obese. It's worked out by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by their height in meters squared. For example, if I am 1.7 meters tall and weigh 68 kilos. my BMI would be 23.5 (68 divided by 1.7×1.7), which fails into the desirable or healthy range. Adults (over 18) are overweight if they have a BMI of between 25 and 30, and they are obese if it's 30 or over. As well as BMI levels, the areas where the fat is deposited in the body is important, too, explained a spokesperson for the BNF. People who have extra fat around their middle, a body we call apple-shaped, are at a greater risk of some diseases than those who have most of the extra weight around their hips and thighs, or are pear-shaped. Prevention and Treatment G. When it comes to preventing and treating excess weight and obesity, experts believe a healthy balanced diet and regular exercise are crucial. The key to maintaining a good weight is to balance your energy intake and output, as weight is gained if you regularly eat more than you burn off. Obese children may require a specially developed program, said Weight Concern, which is likely to focus on healthy eating, exercise and social support. In the case of children, it's beneficial for the whole family to adopt healthier behaviors and it's important not to single out a child. H. Likewise, the Royal College of Paediatrics suggests parents should be actively involved in helping children manage their weight, and says obesity problems should be dealt with slowly, by making gradual changes to eating habits and physical activity. Losing weight can be tough, but although crash diets sometimes sound appealing, the Food Standards Agency stress that they don't work. Instead, their top tips for losing weight include eating the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables each day, cutting down on sugary and fatty foods, opting for lower-fat versions of dairy products and increasing your intake of starchy foods. I. Increasingly inactive lifestyles and couch-potato tendencies, for example watching television and playing computer games, are thought to be contributors to obesity, so being more active is very helpful. The minimum recommended level of activity is at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity, five days a week. Moderate intensity means a state in which your breathing and heart rate are faster than normal. Siobhan Weir, physical activity program manager at the Health Protection Agency said, 'Getting people to take some moderate activity as opposed to being sedentary is likely to have the greatest beneficial effect on their health.' A good form of exercise for those who have been leading fairly inactive lives—and one that s tree—is walking, she says. 'Research shows that walking a mile briskly uses the same energy as running a mile and regular physical activity can reduce weight by as mush as one stone in three months. To really reap the benefits, aim to walk briskly so that you are feeling warmer and slightly out of breath.' If walking isn't for you, there's a whole range of other activities available, from team sports such as football, hockey or basketball, classes such as aerobics or sessions at the gym, to alternatives such as martial arts, yoga or tai chi. The key is to find something you enjoy and stick to it. J. It's easy to put off healthy eating habits and exercise, but the sooner we start, the better the outcome for our health. By starting at a young age, the chances are good habits will continue into the future, too.
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单选题The greenhouse effect causes trouble by raising the temperature of the planet. The 30 rise is not very much, but the Earth's ecosystem is very weak, and small changes can have large effects. It has been believed that this 31 of one degree will happen by the year 2025. This could probably 32 the North American corn belt, which produces much of the world's grain, 33 to much higher food prices, and even less food for the Third World than they already have. However, it would also mean that some countries which are further north would be able to 34 crops they had never been able to before, although there is less land as you move north from the corn belt. The other serious worry is that rising sea levels from the melting of the polar ice could 35 flood many countries. A rise in sea levels of one meter, which many experts are 36 by the year 2100 (and some as soon as 2030), would flood 15 percent of Egypt, and 12 percent of Bangladesh. The Maldives in the Indian Ocean would almost 37 disappear. Most of the countries which would suffer most from a rise in sea levels are the poor 38 states, so the islands in the Caribbean, South Pacific, Mediterranean and Indian Ocean have formed the Alliance of Small Island States, AOSIS, so they have a 39 voice in international politics and can make the richer developed world listen to their problems. A. severely B. damage C. island D. critical E. grow F. mainland G. louder H. predicting I. rise J. completely K. geometry L. actual M. extending N. leading O. develop
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单选题 假日经济(Holiday Economy)是在节假日期间的一种全民消费行为，十分有助于中国的经济增长。假日经济是伴随有中国特色的“黄金周”所出现的一种社会现象。由于人们生活观念的改变，更多人会选择利用七天的假期去旅游、购物、娱乐。全民消费刺激了旅游、零售、交通、影院、展览、体育和其他相关产业。这种经济模式既有益于人民也有利于国家。
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单选题 Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a news report to your campus newspaper on a visit to a local farm organized by your Student Union. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.
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公务员热
近些年来的“公务员热(civil servant fever)”使得国家公务员考试成为竞争最为激烈的考试之一。毕竟，人们都希望在风险最小而又轻松的情况下获得最高的回报。如果成为一名政府工作人员是一份比其他任何工作都富有成效的工作的话，那大学毕业生们这样选择就不足为奇了。同时，就业压力、工作保障和社会福利也都被认为是人们不遗余力想成为公务员的原因。
单选题 关于中国美食(cuisine)的电视节目数不胜数，但像《舌尖上的中国》(A Bite of China)这样受欢迎的不多。这部最新的七集纪录片，从地域、历史以及文化等方面深入探讨了中国人的饮食。中国美食有悠久的历史和富有特色的传统烹饪手法。这一节目试图呈现出更多有关食物的文化元素，如饮食习惯和饮食道德(ethic)。在展现中国饮食文化辉煌成就的同时，也反映出中国的社会变迁。
单选题Women in 2011 made no significant gains in winning more top US business jobs, according to a study, but the head of the study said women are poised to make 27 in the year ahead. The number of women who were board directors, corporate officers or top earners at Fortune 500 companies remained 28 unchanged, said the study by Catalyst, a nonprofit group that 29 opportunities for women in business. The percentage of companies with women on the board of directors was 15.1 percent this year, compared with 14.8 percent in 2010, Catalyst said. Also, the percentage of corporate officer positions 30 by women was 15.7 percent in 2011 and 15.4 percent in 2010, it said. The percentage of top earners in 2011 who were women was 6.2 percent, compared to 6.7 percent in 2010, it said. The research on the Fortune 500 companies was 31 on data as of March 31,2011. The slight changes in the numbers are not considered 32 significant, Catalyst said. Nevertheless, given the changes in U.S. politics, the future for women in business looks more 33 , said Ilene Lang, president and chief executive 34 of Catalyst. 'Overall we're 35 to see change next year,' Lang said. 'When we look at shareholders, decision makers, the general public, they're looking for change.' 'What they're basically saying is, 'Don't give us 36 of the status quo (现状). Get new ideas in there, get some fresh faces,'' she said. A. officer B. changes C. based D. positions E. more F. promising G. businesslike H. surveying I. essentially J. strides K. promotes L. statistically M. confused N. held O. expecting
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单选题 The most pressing nuclear energy issue is the disposal of nuclear waste. Even if all the reactors in existence were completely safe to operate, there would still be unsolved issue of what to do with the waste from generating electricity by means of nuclear energy. Those who claim that they feel comfortable with nuclear energy are, none the less, concerned about waste disposal methods. Seven states, including California, have put the building of nuclear plants on hold until legislators are convinced that there is a safe way to dispose of the radioactive waste from the plants. In the meantime, pools of liquid waste and piles of solid waste from private industry and governmental bomb production grow. Since 1962, the volume of radioactive waste produced by the nuclear power industry has amounted to about 4,300 cubic meters. By the end of the twentieth century, if production continues at the same rate, there will be 40,000 cubic meters of nuclear waste. Power plants and bomb-making are not the only sources of waste. Uranium mining and milling operations have dumped 24 million metric tons of radioactive tailing wastes at dumping sites around the nation. At places where uranium is currently milled, there is another 100 million metric tons of tailings. Uranium tailings are solid materials in the slurry (or watery mixture) of depleted ore-bearing rock, chemicals, and liquids that result from milling. Usually, the slurry is piped to holding ponds. When a uranium mill goes out of business, the ponds are left to evaporate, uncovering piles of dried tailings. Uncovered piles of tailings give off radioactive radon gas. Once in the air, the gas finds its way into the water supply and the food chain. Consequently, many nuclear experts agree that uranium mill tailings may be more dangerous than high-level radioactive wastes from reactors and bombs.
单选题For over three decades Intel has been providing Semi-conductor chips for computer hardware makers around the world. Intel's chips have been 28 many computers for years—both Macs and PCs. But, since tablet computers hit the market—the trend has shifted towards the small, mobile devices while sales of desktop computers 29 . Earlier this year, Intel introduced a new genre of laptops called 'ultra-book convertible laptops'. Intel Marketing Associate Mike Fard explains, 'This year it's all about touch, we have touch computers based on Windows 8 running the Intel 30 , but even more exciting than just touch, is the ultra-book convertible. What that means is that you have a standard laptop that converts into a tablet and we have multiple designs that 31 this capability of going from a tablet to a laptop. This is one from Lenovo; we also have one from Dell.' Intel has 32 a technology called 'Ivy Bridge' on its new line of chips 33 reduces power consumption 34 . This newest generation of laptops is sure to be a 35 with consumers, with lower prices than before. Earlier thin laptops were in the $1 000 price range. The ultra-book convertible 36 , is expected to sell for around $600—making it more 37 against regular tablet PCs. A. drop F. running K. however B. managed G. processors L. decreasing C. adopted H. hit M. feature D. core I. dramatically N. applied E. competitive J. competent O. which
单选题 McDonald's is having a bit of an identity crisis. Recently, the burger giant announced a 5.2% drop in profits for the first three months of this year and a l.7% decrease in same store sales in the US. President and CEO Don Thompson emphasized that McDonald's would be focusing on its core products, like its Big Mac, Egg McMuffin, and its famous French fries. Thompson's back-to-basics vow comes in response to the sort of menu creep the chain experienced last year, when it rolled out a seemingly endless stream of limited time offers, like its Mighty Wings, a steak and egg burrito (蛋卷饼), a steak breakfast sandwich and so on. It's vital that McDonald's craft a consistent message, so customers' expectations are met when they choose to eat there. When McDonald's first got off the ground in the 1940s, it had a nine-item menu made up of hamburger, cheeseburger, soft drinks, milk, coffee, potato chips, and a slice of pie. It built its iconic(标志性的) reputation on guaranteeing that these food and beverage items would have the same great taste no matter the McDonald's location at which they were served. Just as crucial, too much menu diversification, which McDonald's has suffered from lately, leads to longer customer wait times in an industry built on speed. 'What McDonald's workers do inside those four walls is really impressive. Everyone has their time and place, and their entire job is done in two or three steps,' says Howard Penney, managing director at Hedgeye Risk Management. Adding more processes that come with a bigger menu, specifically the smoothie(奶昔) and espresso machines, has disrupted McDonald's restaurants' time and motion, he says. It takes a lot longer to make a smoothie than it does to pour a fountain Coke. 'Everything they've done to become all things to all people has slowed service,' Penney says. Going back to its roots could be just what McDonald's needs. After all, it seems like a long shot for the fast food giant to become the next Chipotle or Panera since, as Penney puts lt, 'the core McDonald's customer is not looking for a wrap with a cucumber in it'.
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Where Have All the People Gone?
A. Germans are getting used to a new kind of immigrant. In 1998, a pack of wolves crossed the Neisse River on the Polish-German border. In the empty landscape of eastern Saxony, dotted with abandoned mines and declining villages, the wolves found plenty of deer and few humans. Five years later, a second pack split from the original, so there're now two families of wolves in the region. A hundred years ago, a growing land-hungry population killed off the last of Germany's wolves. Today, it's the local humans whose numbers are under threat. B. Villages are empty, thanks to the region's low birth rate and rural flight. Home to 22 of the world's 25 lowest fertility rate countries, Europe will lose 30 million people by 2030, even with continued immigration. The biggest population decline will hit rural Europe. As Italians, Spaniards, Germans and others produce barely three-fifths of children needed to maintain status quo, and as rural flight sucks people Europe's suburbs and cities, the countryside will lose a quarter of its population. C. The implications of this demographic (人口的) change will be far-reaching. The postcard view of Europe is of a continent where every scrap of land has long been farmed, fenced off and settled. But the continent of the future may look rather different. Big parts of Europe will ren-aturalize. Bears are back in Austria. In Swiss Alpine valleys, farms have been receding and forests are growing back. In parts of France and Germany, wild cats and wolves have re-established their ranges. The shrub and forest that grow on abandoned land might be good for deer and wolves, but is vastly less species-rich than traditional farming, with its pastures, ponds and hedges. Once shrub cover everything, you lose the meadow habitat. All the flowers, herbs, birds, and butterflies disappear. A new forest doesn't get diverse until a couple of hundred years old. D. All this is not necessarily an environmentalist's dream it might seem. Take the Greek village of Prastos. An ancient hill town, Prastos once had 1000 residents, most of them working the land. Now only a dozen left, most in their 60s and 70s. The school has been closed since 1988. Sunday church bells no longer ring. Without farmers to tend the fields, rain has washed away the once fertile soil. As in much of Greece, land that has been orchards and pasture for some 2000 years is now covered with dry shrub that, in summer, frequently catches fire. E. Rural depopulation is not new. Thousands of villages like Prastos dot Europe, the result of a century or more of emigration, industrialization, and agricultural mechanization. But this time it's different because never has the rural birth rate so low. In the past, a farmer could usually find at least one of his offspring to take over the land. Today, the chances are that he has only a single son or daughter, usually working in the city and rarely willing to return. In Italy, more than 40% of the country's 1.9 million farmers are at least 65 years old. Once they die out, many of their farms will join the 6 million hectares one third of Italy's farmland that has already been abandoned. F. Rising economic pressures, especially from reduced government subsidies, will amplify the trend. One third of Europe's farmland is marginal, from the cold northern plains to the dry Mediterranean (地中海) hills. Most of these farmers rely on EU subsidies, since it's cheaper to import food from abroad. Without subsidies, some of the most scenic European landscapes wouldn't survive. In the Austrian or Swiss Alps, defined for centuries by orchards, cows, high mountain pastures, the steep valleys are labor-intensive to farm, with subsidies paying up to 90% of the cost. Across the border in France and Italy, subsidies have been reduced for mountain farming. Since then, across the southern Alps, villages have emptied and forests have grown back in. outside the range of subsidies, in Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine, big tracts of land are returning to wild. G. The truth is varied and interesting. While many rural regions of Europe areemptying out, others will experience something of a renaissance. Already, attractive areas within in striking distance of prosperous cities are seeing robust revivals, driven by urban flight and an in-flooding of childless retirees. Contrast that with less-favored areas, from the Spanish interior to eastern Europe. These face dying villages, abandoned farms and changes in the land not seen for generations. Both types of regions will have to cope with steeply ageing population and its accompanying health and service needs. Rural Europe is the laboratory of demographic changes. H. For governments, the challenge has been to develop policies that slow the demographic decline or attract new residents. In some places such as Britain and France, large parts of countryside are reviving as increasingly wealthy urban middle class in search of second homes recolonises villages and farms. Villages in central Italy are counting on tourism to revive their town, turning farmhouses into hostels for tourists and hikers. But once baby boomers start dying out around 2020, populations will start to decline so sharply that there simply won't be enough people to reinvent itself. It's simply unclear how long current government policies can put off the inevitable. I.'We are now talking about civilized depopulation. We just have to make sure that old people we leave behind are taken care of.' Says Mats Johansson of Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. The biggest challenge is finding creative ways to keep up services for the rising proportion of seniors. When the Austrian village of Klaus, thinly spread over the Alpine foothills, decided it could no longer afford a regular public bus service, the community set up a public taxi-on-demand service for the aged. In thinly populated Lapland where doctors are few and far between, tech-savvy Finns the rising demand for specialized health care with a service that uses videoconferencing and the Internet for remote medical examination. J. Another pioneer is the village of Aguaviva, one of rapidly depopulating areas in Spain. In 2000, Mayor Manznanares began offering free air-fares and housing for foreign families to settle in Aguvivia. Now the mud-brown town of about 600 has 130 Argentine and Romanian immigrants, and the town's only school has 54 pupils. Immigration was one solution to the problem. But most foreign immigrants continue to prefer cities. And within Europe migration only exports the problem. Western European look towards eastern Europe as a source for migrants, yet those countries have ultra-low birth rates of their own. K. Now the increasingly worried European governments are developing policies to make people have more children, from better childcare to monthly stipends (津贴) linked to family size. But while these measures might raise the birth rate slightly, across the much of the ageing continent there are just too few potential parents around.
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单选题 Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a composition on the topic On Environmental Protection. You should write at least 180 words following the outline given below:
1．近年来，地球环境遭到了人类严重的破坏
2．原因
3．解决这些问题的办法
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Whose Rules Are These, Anyway?
A. The director of the art-rich yet cash-poor National Academy Museum in New York expected strong opposition when its board decided to sell two Hudson River School paintings for around $15 million. The director, Carmine Branagan, had already approached leaders of two groups to which the academy belonged about the prospect. She knew that both the American Association of Museums (AAM) and Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) had firm policies against museums' selling off artworks because of financial hardship and were not going to make an exception. B. Even so, she said, she was not prepared for the directors group's 'immediate and punitive' response to the sale. In an e-mail message on Dec. 5 to its 190 members, it condemned the academy, founded in 1825, for 'breaching (违反) one of the most basic and important AAMD's principles' and called on members 'to suspend any loans of works of art to and any collaboration on exhibitions with the National Academy.' Ms. Branagan, who had by that time withdrawn her membership from both groups, said she 'was shocked by the tone of the letter, like we had committed some crimes.' She called the withdrawal of loans 'a death knell (丧钟声)' for the museum, adding, 'What the AAMD have done is basically shoot US while we're wounded.' C. Beyond shaping the fate of any one museum, this exchange has parked larger questions over a principle that has long seemed sacred. Why, several experts ask, is it so wrong for a museum to sell art from its collection to raise badly-needed funds? And now that many institutions are facing financial hardship, should the ban on selling art to cover operating costs be eased? Lending urgency to the discussion are the painful efforts of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, which has one of the world's best collections of contemporary art but whose endowment (捐赠) is said to have shrunken to $6 million from more than $40 million over the last nine years. Wouldn't it be preferable, some people asked this month, to sell a Mark Rothko painting or a couple of Robert Rauschenberg's legendary 'combines' —the museum owns 11—than to risk closing its doors? (Ultimately, the museum announced $30 million bailout(援助) by the billionaire Eli Broad last week that would prevent the sales of any artworks.) D. Yet defenders of the prohibition warn that such sales can damage an institution and the damage is impossible to repair. 'Selling an object is a knee-jerk(下意识的) act, and it undermines core principles of a museum,' said Michael Conforti, president of the directors' association and director of the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts. 'There are always other options.' E. The sale of artwork from a museum's permanent collection, known as deaccessioning, is not illegal in the United States, provided that any terms accompanying the original donation of artwork are respected. In Europe, by contrast, many museums are state-financed and prevented by national law from deaccessioning. But under the code of ethics of the American Association of Museums, the proceeds should be 'used only for the acquisition, preservation, protection or care of collections.' He code of the Association of Art Museum Directors is even stricter, specifying that funds should not be used 'for purposes other than acquisitions of works of art for the collection.' F. Donn Zaretsky, a New York lawyer who specializes in art cases, has sympathized with the National Academy, asking why a museum can sell art to buy more art but not to cover overhead costs or a much-needed education center. 'Why should we automatically assume that buying art always justifies a deaccessioning, but that no other use of proceeds—no matter how important to an institution's mission—ever can?' he wrote. Even Patty Gerstenblith, a law professor at DePaul University in Chicago known for her strong standpoint on protecting cultural heritage, said her position had softened over the years. 'If it's really a life-or-death situation, if it's a choice between selling a Rauschenberg and keeping the museum doors open, I think there's some justification for selling the painting,' she said. But several directors drew a much harder line, noting that museums get tax-deductible donations of art and cash to safeguard art collections for the public. Selling off any holdings for profit would thus betray that trust, they say, not to mention robbing a community of art, so no exceptions for financial hardships should be allowed. G. Dan Monroe, a board member of the directors' group and the director of the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Mass, said that almost any museum can claim financial hardship, especially now that endowments are suffering. 'It's wrong to look at the situation from the standpoint of a single institution,' he said. 'You have to look at what would happen if every institution went this route.' It's a classic slippery slope this thinking goes: letting one museum sell off two paintings paves the way for dozens of museums to sell off thousands of artworks, perhaps routinely. 'The fact is as soon as you breach this principle, everybody's got a hardship case,' Mr. Monroe said. 'It would be impossible to control the outcome.' Deaccessioning has proven thorny for museums even when the money is directed into accepted channels like acquisitions. H. Sometimes the controversy centers on the irreplaceable nature of the object for sale, as when Thomas Hoving, then the director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, began aggressively sorting out its collection in the early 1970s, selling high-profile paintings like Van Gogh's 'Olive Pickers' and Rousseau's 'Tropics'. The Metropolitan owned only one other painting by Rousseau, and the resistance was fierce. Yet critics of strict deaccessioning rules make a public-access argument as well. 'Most big museums can't show 90 percent of the objects they own—it's all in storage,' said Michael O'Hare, a cultural policy professor at the University of California, Berkeley. 'What's wrong with selling these objects to smaller museums or even private collectors, who are more likely to put them on display?' I. At the National Academy, Ms. Branagan called deaccessioning an act of last resort, one that she would not have considered without a 'long-range financial and programmatic' plan. Branagan said she told her members as much before they voted for the sale—181 to 2 in favor—in November: 'I remember saying unless you believe you can support sweeping change, then do not vote for deaccessioning,' she said. 'The tragedy isn't that we're going to sell these four pieces. That's not a tragedy. The tragedy would be if in 10 or 15 years we were back here having the same conversation.'
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The Causes of Conflict
A. The evidence taken from the observation of the behavior of apes and children suggests that there are three clearly separable groups of simple causes for the outbreak of fighting and the exhibition of aggressiveness by individuals. B. One of the most common causes of fighting among both children and apes was over the possession of external objects. The disputed ownership of any desired object—food, clothes, toys, females, and the affection of others—was sufficient ground for an appeal to force. On Monkey Hill disputes over females were responsible for the death of thirty out of thirty-three males. Two points are of particular interest to notice about these fights for possession. C. In the first place they are often carried to such an extreme that they end in the complete destruction of the objects of common desire. The aggression is so overriding (压倒一切的) once it has begun that it may utterly destroy the object for which the struggle began and even the self for whose advantage the struggle was undertaken. D. In the second place it is observable, at least in children, that the object for whose possession aggression is started may sometimes be desired by one person merely because it is desired by someone else. There were many cases observed by Dr. Isaacs where toys and other objects which had been discarded as useless were violently defended by their owners when they became the object of some other child's desire. Therefore, the grounds of possessiveness may be irrational (非理性的). Whether sensible or irrational, contests over possession are commonly the occasion for the most ruthless (残忍的) use of force among children and apes. E. One of the commonest kinds of object arousing possessive desire is the notice, good will, affection, and service of other members of the group. Among children one of the commonest causes of quarreling was 'jealousy'—the desire for the exclusive possession of the interest and affection of someone else, particularly the adults in charge of the children. This form of behavior is sometimes classified as a separate cause of conflict under the name of 'rivalry' (竞争) or a 'jealousy.' But, in point of fact, it seems to us that it is only one variety of possessiveness. The object of desire is not a material object—that is the only difference. The object is the interest and affection of other persons. What is wanted, however, is the exclusive right to that interest and affection—a property in emotions instead of in things. As subjective emotions and as causes of conflict, jealousy and rivalry are fundamentally similar to the desire for the possession of toys or food. Indeed, very often the persons and property which is desired, are the sources of toys and food. F. Possessiveness is, then, in all its forms a common cause of fighting. If we are to look behind the mere facts of behavior for an explanation of this phenomenon, a teleological (目的论的) cause is not far to seek. The exclusive right to objects of desire is a clear and simple advantage to the possessor of it. It carries with it the certainty and continuity of satisfaction. Where there is only one claimant to a good, frustration and the possibility of loss is reduced to a minimum. It is, therefore, obvious that, if the ends of the self are the only recognized ends, the whole powers of the agent, including the fullest use of his available force, will be used to establish and defend exclusive rights to possession. G. Another cause of aggression closely allied to possessiveness is the tendency for children and apes greatly to hate the intrusion (侵入) of a stranger into their group. A new child in the class may be laughed at, isolated, and disliked. A new monkey may be poked and bitten to death. This suggests strongly that the reason for the aggression is fundamentally possessiveness. The competition of the newcomers is feared. The present members of the group feel that there will be more rivals for the food or the attention of the adults. H. Finally, another common source of fighting among children is a failure or frustration in their own activity. Sometimes a child will be prevented either by natural causes such as bad weather or illness or by the opposition of some adult from doing something he wishes to do. The child may also frustrate himself by failing, through lack of skill or strength, to complete successfully some desired activity. Such a child will be in a bad temper. And, what is of interest from our point of view, the child will indulge in aggression—attacking and fighting other children or adults. Sometimes the object of aggression will simply be the cause of frustration, and it's a straightforward reaction. But sometimes the person or thing that suffers the aggression is irrelevant to offense. I. Of course, this kind of behavior is so common that everyone feels it to be obvious and to constitute no serious scientific problem. That a small boy should pull his sister's hair because it is raining does not appear to an ordinary person to be an occasion for solemn scientific inquiry. He is, as we should all say, 'in a bad temper.' Yet it is not, in fact, really obvious either why revenge should be taken on entirely innocent objects, since no good to the aggressor can come of it, or why children being miserable should seek to make others miserable also. It is just a fact of human behavior that cannot really be deduced from any general principle of reason. J. But it is, as we shall see, of very great importance for our purpose. It shows how it is possible, at the simplest and most primitive level, for aggression and fighting to spring from an entirely irrelevant and partially hidden cause. Fighting to possess a desired object is straightforward and rational, compared with fighting that occurs because, in a different and unrelated activity, some frustration has barred the road to pleasure. The importance of this possibility for an understanding of group conflict must already be obvious.
单选题 During the Second World War, doctors tried to save severely burned pilots with grafts of donated skin. The grafted skin looked good for a few days, but then withered and died. Studies led by Peter Medawar—who won a 1960 Nobel Prize for his work—found that grafts of an individual's own skin did work, while those of a donor did not. We now know that the donor skin grafts failed because the recipient's immune system recognized the grafted skin as foreign and killed it. The same process leads to the rejection of donated organs. But how does our immune system learn what is self and what is foreign? As immunologist Daniel Davis explains in The Compatibility Gene, it is all down to specific genes—formally known as the major histocompatibility complex genes. Although our appearance, lifestyle and career path may make us feel unique, we are actually always one of a group: it is only our compatibility genes that define us as true individuals. Davis provides a well-written and easy-to-read account of the sometimes complicated biology behind the crucial genes that affect our lives so profoundly. From early on in the evolution of life, individual cells—and later multicellular organisms—developed the ability to recognize that which was the same as them, and that which was different. Davis recounts how, when we are growing as fetuses, our compatibility genes train the immune system to recognize our own cells and tissues as 'self' and so, in healthy people, they know what not to attack. Our cells are identified by the presence of unique surface molecules, coded for by the compatibility genes. Meanwhile, our immune systems make antibodies. These are randomly generated in a kind of lottery, which means they will be able to attack a great diversity of molecules, especially those of pathogens. By chance, though, a few of these antibodies will also match the compatibility-gene molecules on our own cells. Leaving such antibodies around would be suicide—literally. To stop this, Darwinian-style selection comes into play within the immune system, eliminating any cells that produce antibodies matching 'self'.
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单选题 Psychologists take opposing views of how external rewards, from warm praise to cold cash, affect motivation and creativity. Behaviorists, who study the relation between actions and rewards, argue that rewards can improve performance at work and school. Some other researchers who study various aspects of mental life, maintain those rewards often destroy creativity by encouraging dependence on approval and gifts from others. The latter view has gained many supporters, especially among educators. But the careful use of small monetary rewards sparks in grade-school children suggesting that properly presented inducements indeed aid inventiveness, according to a study in the June Journal Personality and Social Psychology. 'If they know they're working for a reward and can focus on a relatively challenging task, they show the most creativity,' says Robert Esenberger of the University of Delaware in Newark. 'But it's easy to kill creativity by giving rewards for poor performance or creating too much anticipation for rewards.' A teacher who continually draws attention to rewards or who hands out high grades for ordinary achievement ends up with uninspired students, Esenberger holds. As an example of the latter point, he notes growing efforts at major universities to tighten grading standards and restore falling grades. In earlier grades, the use of so-called token economics, in which students handle challenging problems and receive performance-based points toward valued rewards, shows promise in raising effort and creativity, the Delaware psychologist claims.
单选题Directions:Forthispart,youareallowed30minutestowriteashortessay.Youshouldstartyouressaywithabriefdescriptionofthepictureandthenexpressyourviewsonexcessivepackaging.Youshouldwriteatleast120wordsbutnomorethan180words.
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中国象棋
中国象棋属于二人对抗战略型棋盘游戏，是最受欢迎的棋盘游戏之一。在中国古代，象棋被列为士大夫们的修身之艺，现在则被视为一种益智的活动。象棋由两人轮流走子，以“将死”对方的将(帅)为胜。象棋棋盘共有64格，中间的“河界”将之分为两个“敌对”的部分。每人各有棋子16枚，包括1枚将(帅)、2枚马、2枚车(chariot)、2枚象(相)、2枚士(仕)、2枚炮和5枚兵(pawn)(卒)。一般而言，执红色棋子的一方先走子。
阅读理解Passage Two
Questions 26 to 30 are based on the following passage
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作文题For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay titled "Are people becoming addicted to technology ? ".You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.
单选题One in five US workers regularly attends after-work drinks with co-workers, where the most common 27 range from bad-mouthing (说……的坏话) another worker to kissing a colleague and drinking too much, according to a study 28 on Tuesday. Most workers attend so-called happy hours to 29 with colleagues, although 15 percent go to hear the latest office gossip and 13 percent go because they feel obligated, said the survey conducted for CareerBuilder.com, an online job site. As to what happens when the after-work drinks flow, 16 percent reported bad-mouthing a colleague, 10 percent shared a secret about a colleague, 8 percent kissed a colleague and 8 percent said they drank too much and acted 30 . 5 percent said they had shared a secret about the company, and 4 percent 31 to singing karaoke. While 21 percent of those who attend say happy hours are good for 32 , 85 percent said attending had not helped them get 33 to someone higher up or get a better position. An equal number of men and women said they attend happy hours with co-workers, with younger workers aged 25 to 34 most likely and workers over 55 least 34 to attend. Overall, 21 percent of workers attend happy hours with co-workers and, of those, 35 a quarter go at least once a month. The survey was 36 online by Harris Interactive on behalf of CareerBuilder.com among 6,987 full-time employees. A. bond B. acknowledged C. nearly D. specially E. anywhere F. mishaps G. obligated H. likely I. conducted J. idly K. unprofessionally L. networking M. released N. confessed O. researched
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单选题 Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on the importance of being a civilized tourist. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.
单选题 2010年世界博览会(World Expo 2010)于5月1日至10月31日在中国上海举行。世博会吸引了190个国家和56个国际组织参展。超过7300万中外游客参观了世博园，参观人数是历届世博会中最多的一次。这届世博会的主题是“城市，让生活更美好”(Better City，Better Life)，体现了人类对更适宜居住环境、更美好生活的愿望。在世博园里所有的展馆(pavilion)中，中国展馆是最受欢迎的场馆之一。
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Deborah Kenny's Born to Rise Tells Story of Harlem Village Academies
[A] Deborah Kenny, CEO of the Harlem Village Academies, is frustrated with the Nation's current education system. Unlike most, though, she decided to do something about it. Part declaration part record, her book Born to Rise writes clown her journey toward creating and running her own system of progressive charter schools in Harlem in New York City. What is your educational philosophy? [B] We want our students to receive the same high-quality education as students who are privileged to attend the best private schools in the country. Personally, I believe a progressive education is superior as long as it's delivered by really smart, talented teachers who know how to execute well. It's a sophisticated approach that really only works well in the hands of a really sophisticated educator. [C] We're dealing with a little bit of a challenge because students enter this school from the regular public system. And when they enter in fifth grade, they're not yet well-trained in the basic reading, writing, and math—which means that we have to catch them up on basic math skills, on the basics of writing. And many of them come in at a kindergarten, first-grade or second-grade level in reading. So we have to accelerate their mastery of the basics, but we reject the idea that if you do that you can't teach that at a high level. [D] We push ourselves constantly to think about how we can make sure that our students will catch up while we teach at the highest possible level. It means asking difficult, delicate questions, not accepting an answer that is not backed up by evidence, the kinds of things that you would expect to see in the best private schools. We aim for a high level in rich discussions where the students are asked to analyze a challenging text and where the teacher does not accept just any answer simply because the student is behaving. What makes the Harlem Village Academies different? [E] First of all, I have to say what we have in common with other charter schools because we have learned so much from them: creating an expectation that all students will attend college, naming classrooms after colleges, the longer school day, the longer school year. I feel it's important to give credit where credit is due because I learned from them. In those early years when I opened the school, most of these other schools had been around for seven years, ten years, some of them even longer. [F] As far as what makes us different, I'll tell you what the teachers say: teachers tell us that the level of professionalism and passion for teaching at a high level and teaching above the test, not to the test, and working in an environment, where everybody is trusted to do their job and continually learning—there's this incredible culture of learning. There's this incredible workplace culture where the adults are continually becoming better and learning more about how to become a better leader. [G] The teachers get to make all of the decisions about their own professional development rather than being enforced to attend the training. They are treated like professional-grade doctors and lawyers at the highest level. They actually make the decisions not only about what books to use and what teaching method to use, but even about what their own professional development looks like. [H] There's a very clear set of standards for what the students need to know and be able to do at the end of each year and quarter, and we hold teachers accountable for that end goal. But we give them complete freedom to decide how they're going to achieve it, which is how all professionals are treated. Unfortunately, it's not how most teachers are treated in this country. Most teachers are treated like factory workers, where there's a set of rules on how they have to do everything. What does the curriculum look like at Harlem Village Academy schools? [I] It looks like a classic liberal-arts curriculum, where math, reading and writing are not the only subjects taught. Even if the state focuses its testing on those things, we do not let the state dictate our curriculum. We are interested in a rich curriculum that includes art, music, science and social studies and a wide variety of electives. And character education is integrated throughout. How do you address the criticisms people have regarding charter schools? [J] I'd say that the main criticisms are stemming from the fact that in a charter system the teachers are not unionized, and they're treated as professionals instead of as manual laborers. The charter movement is challenging the current situation, it's coming along and saying we used to completely change the underlying premiere (前提) of how we go about public education. We should give power to all parents, regardless of socioeconomic level, to choose where they send their child, and that creates market competition: if you have an amazing school with caring teachers and great results, parents are going to choose that school. The charter movement is putting the needs of children first. It challenges the notion of tenure (终身教职), where there's no accountability at all. What's next for you and the Harlem Village Academies? [K] We are going to triple (增至三倍) in size in the next two years. We will have a full K-12 system. We're starting two new elementary schools, we will be serving 2,000 children, but we are not eager to grow super big. We want to use the platform of what we're learned and the results that we've produced. And building a team where teachers are trusted, happy and cooperative is really the foundation for an excellent school. So we want to find a way to get our message out nationally and continue to be part of the movement.
单选题 How do you get the most out of your revision time, and end up with the best grades you can? Or, if you're a different sort of student, how can you get the same grades you're getting now, but spend less time revising? Decades of research carried out by psychologists about learning and memory has produced some clear advice on doing just that. First, space your practice. Our analysis showed that people who leave longer gaps between practice attempts go on to score higher. In fact, the longer the gaps, the higher the scores. If you want to study effectively, you should spread out your revision rather than cramming. This is easier said than done, but if you are organized enough, you can spend less time revising and remember more. Second, make sure you fail occasionally. A new result from our analysis shows that people who are most inconsistent when they first start have better scores later on. Our theory is that these people are exploring how the game works, rather than trying to get the very highest score they can every time. Players even finish the game with a score that tells them how good they are. Invest some time in trying things out, which may mean failing occasionally, if you want to maximize learning in the long run. Third, practice the thing you'll be tested on. Writing exam answers is a skill, just like playing an online game is a skill. You wouldn't try and improve at a game by trying to memorize moves, you'd practice making them. Fourth, structure information, don't try to remember it. Just looking at your notes won't help you learn them. Instead, you need to reorganize the information in some way. This approach, called 'depth of processing', is the way to ensure material gets lodged in your memory. Fifth, rest and sleep. Even napping can help consolidate your memories, and maybe even make you more creative. This is great news for those people who like to nap during the day, and is a signal that staying up all night to revise probably isn't a good idea. No matter what method you use, you need to know how to learn better.
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阅读理解Science of setbacks : How failure can improve career prospectsA) How do early career setbacks affect our long-term success? Failures can help us learn and overcome our fears. But disasters can still wound us. They can screw us up and set us back. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was genuine, scientifically documented truth to the expression what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger ?B) One way social scientists have probed the effects of career setbacks is to look at scientists of very similar qualifications. These scientists, for reasons that are mostly arbitrary, either just missed getting a research grant or just barely made it. In social sciences, this is known as examining near misses and narrow wins in areas where merit is subjective. That allows researchers to measure only the effects of being chosen or not. Studies in this area have found conflicting results. In the competitive game of biomedical science, research has been done on scientists who narrowly lost or won grant money. It suggests that narrow winners become even bigger winners down the line. In other words, the rich get richer.C) A 2018 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, for example, followed researchers in the Netherlands. Researchers concluded that those who just barely qualified for a grant were able to get twice as much money within the next eight years as those who just missed out. And the narrow winners were 50 percent more likely to be given a professorship.D) Others in the US have found similar effects with National Institutes of Health early-career fellowships launching narrow winners far ahead of close losers. The phenomenon is often referred to as the Matthew effect, inspired by the Bible’s wisdom that to those who have, more will be given. There’s a good explanation for the phenomenon in the book The Formula: The Universal Laws of Success by Albert Laszlo Barabasi. According to Barabasi, it’s easier and less risky for those in positions of power to choose to hand awards and funding to those who’ve already been so recognized.E) This is bad news for the losers. Small early career setbacks seem to have a disproportionate effect down the line. What didn’t kill them made them weaker. But other studies using the same technique have shown there’s sometimes no penalty to a near miss. Students who just miss getting into top high schools or universities do just as well later in life as those who just manage to get accepted. In this case, what didn’t kill them simply didn’t matter. So is there any evidence that setbacks might actually improve our career prospects? There is now.F) In a study published in Nature Communications, Northwestern University sociologist Dashun Wang tracked more than 1,100 scientists who were on the border between getting a grant and missing out between 1990 and 2005. He followed various measures of performance over the next decade. These included how many papers they authored and how influential those papers were, as measured by the number of subsequent citations. As expected, there was a much higher rate of attrition (减员) among scientists who didn’t get grants. But among those who stayed on, the close losers performed even better than the narrow winners. To make sure this wasn’t by chance, Wang conducted additional tests using different performance measures. He examined how many times people were first authors on influential studies, and the like.G) One straightforward reason close losers might outperform narrow winners is that the two groups have comparable ability. In Wang’s study, he selected the most determined, passionate scientists from the loser group and culled (剔除) what he deemed the weakest members of the winner group. Yet the persevering losers still came out on top. He thinks that being a close loser might give people a psychological boost, or the proverbial kick in the pants.H) Utrecht University sociologist Arnout van de Rijt was the lead author on the 2018 paper showing the rich get richer. He said the new finding is apparently reasonable and worth some attention. His own work showed that although the narrow winners did get much more money in the near future, the actual performance of the close losers was just as good.I) He said the people who should be paying regard to the Wang paper are the funding agents who distribute government grant money. After all, by continuing to pile riches on the narrow winners, the taxpayers are not getting the maximum bang for their buck if the close losers are performing just as well or even better. There’s a huge amount of time and effort that goes into the process of selecting who gets grants, he said, and the latest research shows that the scientific establishment is not very good at distributing money. Maybe we should spend less money trying to figure out who is better than who,he said, suggesting that some more equal dividing up of money might be more productive and more efficient. Van de Rijt said he’s not convinced that losing out gives people a psychological boost. It may yet be a selection effect. Even though Wang tried to account for this by culling the weakest winners, it’s impossible to know which of the winners would have quit had they found themselves on the losing side.J) For his part, Wang said that in his own experience, losing did light a motivating fire. He recalled a recent paper he submitted to a journal, which accepted it only to request extensive editing, and then reversed course and rejected it. He submitted the unedited version to a more respected journal and got accepted.K) In sports and many areas of life, we think of failures as evidence of something we could have done better. We regard these disappointments as a fate we could have avoided with more careful preparation, different training, a better strategy, or more focus. And there it makes sense that failures show us the road to success. These papers deal with a kind of failure people have little control over—rejection. Others determine who wins and who loses. But at the very least, the research is starting to show that early setbacks don’t have to be fatal. They might even make us better at our jobs. Getting paid like a winner, though? That’s a different matter.
单选题Directions:Forthispart,youareaskedtowriteanessaybasedonthefollowingchart.Inyourwriting,youshouldinterpretthechart,andgiveyourcomments.Youshouldwriteatleast120wordsbutnomorethan180words.全球电子商务成交额统计图(Unit:$billion/单位:亿美元)
阅读理解Questions 1 to 10are based on the following passage
阅读理解Sugar shocked. That describes the reaction of many Americans this week following revelations that, 50 years ago, the sugar industry paid Harvard scientists for research that shifted the focus away
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How to Eat Well
A. Why do so many Americans eat tons of processed food, the stuff that is correctly called junk (垃圾) and should really carry warning labels? B. It's not because fresh ingredients are hard to come by. Supermarkets offer more variety than ever, and there are over four times as many farmers' markets in the US as there were 20 years ago. Nor is it for lack of available information. There are plenty of recipes (食谱), how-to videos and cooking classes available to anyone who has a computer, smartphone or television. If anything, the information is overwhelming. C. And yet we aren't cooking. If you eat three meals a day and behave like most Americans, you probably get at least a third of your daily calories (卡路里) outside the home. Nearly two-thirds of us grab fast food once a week, and we get almost 25% of our daily calories from snacks. So we're eating out or taking in, and we don't sit down—or we do, but we hurry. D. Shouldn't preparing—and consuming—food be a source of comfort, pride, health, well-being, relaxation, sociability? Something that connects us to other humans? Why would we want to outsource (外包) this basic task, especially when outsourcing it is so harmful? E. When I talk about cooking, I'm not talking about creating elaborate dinner parties or three-day science projects. I'm talking about simple, easy, everyday meals. My mission is to encourage green hands and those lacking time or money to feed themselves. That means we need modest, realistic expectations, and we need to teach people to cook food that's good enough to share with family and friends. F. Perhaps a return to real cooking needn't be far off. A recent Harris poll revealed that 79% of Americans say they enjoy cooking and 30% 'love it'; 14% admit to not enjoying kitchen work and just 7% won't go near the stove at all. But this doesn't necessarily translate to real cooking, and the result of this survey shouldn't surprise anyone: 52% of those 65 or older cook at home five or more times per week; only a third of young people do. G. Back in the 1950s most of us grew up in households where Mom cooked virtually every night. The intention to put a home-cooked meal on the table was pretty much universal. Most people couldn't afford to do otherwise. H. Although frozen dinners were invented in the '40s, their popularity didn't boom until televisions became popular a decade or so later. Since then, packaged, pre-prepared meals have been what's for dinner. The microwave and fast-food chains were the biggest catalysts (催化剂), but the big food companies—which want to sell anything except the raw ingredients that go into cooking—made the home cook an endangered species. I. Still, I find it strange that only a third of young people report preparing meals at home regularly. Isn't this the same crowd that rails against processed junk and champions craft cooking? And isn't this the generation who say they're concerned about their health and the well-being of the planet? If these are truly the values of many young people, then their behavior doesn't match their beliefs. J. There have been half-hearted but well-publicized efforts by some food companies to reduce calories in their processed foods, but the Standard American Diet is still the polar opposite of the healthy, mostly plant-based diet that just about every expert says we should be eating. Considering that the government's standards are not nearly ambitious enough, the picture is clear: by not cooking at home, we're not eating the right things, and the consequences are hard to overstate. K. To help quantify (量化) the costs of a poor diet, I recently tried to estimate this impact in terms of a most famous food, the burger (汉堡包). I concluded that the profit from burgers is more than offset (抵消) by the damage they cause in health problems and environmental harm. L. Cooking real food is the best defense—not to mention that any meal you're likely to eat at home contains about 200 fewer calories than one you would eat in a restaurant. M. To those Americans for whom money is a concern, my advice is simple: Buy what you can afford, and cook it yourself. The common prescription is to primarily shop the grocery store, since that's where fresh produce, meat and seafood, and dairy are. And to save money and still eat well you don't need local, organic ingredients; all you need is real food. I'm not saying local food isn't better; it is. But there is plenty of decent food in the grocery stores. N. The other sections you should get to know are the frozen foods and the canned goods. Frozen produce is still produce; canned tomatoes are still tomatoes. Just make sure you're getting real food without tons of added salt or sugar. Ask yourself, would Grandma consider this food? Does it look like something that might occur in nature? It's pretty much common sense: you want to buy food, not unidentifiable foodlike objects. O. You don't have to hit the grocery store daily, nor do you need an abundance of skill. Since fewer than half of Americans say they cook at an intermediate level and only 20% describe their cooking skills as advanced, the crisis is one of confidence. And the only remedy for that is practice. There's nothing mysterious about cooking the evening meal. You just have to do a little thinking ahead and redefine what qualifies as dinner. Like any skill, cooking gets easier as you do it more; every time you cook, you advance your level of skills. Someday you won't even need recipes. My advice is that you not pay attention to the number of steps and ingredients, because they can be deceiving. P. Time, I realize, is the biggest obstacle to cooking for most people. You must adjust your priorities to find time to cook. For instance, you can move a TV to the kitchen and watch your favorite shows while you're standing at the sink. No one is asking you to give up activities you like, but if you're watching food shows on TV, try cooking instead.
阅读理解Success was once defined as being able to stay at a company for a long time and move up the corporate ladder. The goal was to reach the top, accumulate wealth and retire to a life of ease. My fathe
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How Alcohol Speeds Memory Loss in Men
Middle aged men who drink 2.5 drinks per day may accelerate memory loss by six years, according to a new study. Researchers from University College London in the UK assessed the drinking habits of 5,054 men and 2,099 women at three different times over a ten year period. When the participants turned 56, they took the first of three tests of their memory and executive function over the next 10 years. They report in the journal Neurology that men who downed an average of 2.5 drinks per day showed signs of memory loss sooner than men who didn't drink or men who were lighter to moderate drinkers. Even after they controlled for memory-affecting factors such as their diet and exercise habits and occupation, the connection held. The researchers didn't find a similar trend among women, although the heavier drinking women did show deficits in organization and planning skills. A drink was classified as beer, wine or liquor, and while those ardent spirits (烈性酒) like vodka (伏特加酒), gin or whiskey showed the fastest declines, there didn't appear to be any differences in memory loss among those drinking beer or wine. It's not the first study to document the negative effect that drinking can have on cognitive (认知的) functions. But it is among the first to look at its effects starting in younger, middle aged people. And it demonstrated bow little alcohol it takes to affect higher order functions like memory. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, for men, drinking up to four drinks a day is considered low risk drinking, while up to three drinks daily is considered low risk for women. When measuring potential health risks associated with drinking, the Centers for Disease Control says moderate consumption involves up to two drinks daily for men and one alcoholic beverage a day for women. The researchers speculate that alcohol somehow interferes with blood flow to the brain. Previous studies showed that excessive drinking can also damage nerve cells that can affect the brain's cognitive functions, but these latest findings suggest that the harm may begin sooner than experts had thought—and last longer than they had expected as well.
单选题 丝绸之路(the Silk Road)起源于公元前1世纪，是一条具有重要历史意义的国际贸易路线。由于丝绸在这条线路的贸易中占有很大比重，1877年德国著名的地理学家费迪南·冯·李希霍芬(Ferdinand von Richthofen)将其命名为“丝绸之路”。它不仅是一条古代国际贸易线路，也是连接中国、印度、波斯(Persia)、希腊和罗马等国的一座光辉灿烂的文化桥梁。中国四大发明和西方宗教正是通过这一桥梁传入各国的。
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单选题 Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay on reasons of online game addiction and suggestions as to how to get rid of it. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.
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单选题 There is a new type of small advertisement becoming increasingly common in newspaper classified columns. It is sometimes placed among 'situations vacant', although it does not offer anyone a job, and sometimes it appears among 'situations wanted', although it is not placed by someone looking for a job, either. What it does is to offer help in applying for a job. 'Contact us before writing your application', or 'Make use of our long experience in preparing your curriculum vitae or job history', is how it is usually expressed. The growth and apparent success of such a specialized service is, of course, a reflection on the current high levels of unemployment. It is also an indication of the growing importance of the curriculum vitae (or job history), with the suggestion that it may now qualify as an art form in its own right. There was a time when job seekers simply wrote letters of application. 'Just put down your name, address, age and whether you have passed any exams', was about the average level of advice offered to young people applying for their first jobs when I left school. The letter was really just for openers, it was explained, everything else could and should be saved for the interview. And in those days of full employment the technique worked. The letter proved that you could write and were available for work. Your eager face and intelligent replies did the rest. Later, as you moved up the ladder, something slightly more sophisticated was called for. The advice then was to put something in the letter which would distinguish you from the rest. It might be the aggressive approach. 'Your search is over. I am the person you are looking for', was a widely used trick that occasionally succeeded. Or it might be some special feature specially designed for the job interview. There is no doubt, however, that it is increasing number of applicants with university education at all points in the process of engaging staff that has led to the greater importance of the curriculum vitae.
单选题 For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay according to the following instructions. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.
Suppose a mild earthquake takes place in your campus, what should you do to protect yourself from being hurt?
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单选题 Alex Pang's amusing new book The Distraction Addiction addresses those of us who feel panic without a cellphone or computer. And that, he claims, is pretty much all of us. When we're not online, where we spend four months annually, we're engaged in the stressful work of trying to get online. The Distraction Addiction is not framed as a self-help book. It's a thoughtful examination of the danger of our computing overdose and a historical overview of how technological advances change consciousness. A 'professional futurist', Pang urges an approach which he calls 'contemplative (沉思的) computing'. He asks that you pay full attention to 'how your mind and body interact with computers and how your attention and creativity arc influenced by technology'. Pang's first job is to free you from common misconception that doing two things at once allows you to get more done. What is commonly called multitasking is, in fact, switch-tasking, and its harmful effects on productivity are well documented. Pang doesn't advocate returning to a preinternet world. Instead, he asks you to 'take a more ecological (生态的) view of your relationships with technologies and look for ways devices or media may be making specific tasks easier or faster but at the same time making your work and life harder'. The Distraction Addiction is particularly fascinating on how technologies have changed certain field of labor—often for the worse. For architects, computer-aided design has become essential but in some ways has cheapened the design process. As one architect puts it, 'Architecture is first and foremost about thinking.., and drawing is a more productive way of thinking' than computer-aided design. Somewhat less amusing are Pang's solutions for kicking the Internet habit. He recommends the usual behavior-modification approaches, familiar to anyone who has completed a quit-smoking program. Keep logs to study your online profile and decide what you can knock out, download a program like Freedom that locks you out of your browser, or take a 'digital Sabbath (安息日)'; 'Unless you're a reporter or emergency-department doctor, you'll discover that your world doesn't fall apart when you go offline'.
单选题 聘金(endowment)是中国传统习俗的一部分。这一习惯在整个中国都很普遍。但是近几年来其标准不断上升，致使大多数家庭都很难达到。高额的聘礼常常“抢劫”了新郎父母毕生的积蓄，甚至引起家庭纠纷。此外，许多新婚夫妇被迫举行奢侈的婚礼宴会，在这个过程中，大量债务的累积可能使他们的新婚生活变得辛酸，至少在最初阶段是这样。想想老一辈节俭的婚礼，虽然简简单单，但也幸福美满，没有给他们婚后的生活带来任何影响。
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单选题 English is what matters. It has displaced rivals to become the language of diplomacy, of business, of science, of the Internet and of world culture. Many more people speak Chinese—but even they, in vast numbers, are trying to learn English. So how did it happen, and why? Take the beginnings of bilingualism(两种语言 ) in India, for example, which has promoted the growth of the biggest English-speaking middle class in the new Anglosphere. That stems from a proposal by an English historian, Thomas Macaulay, in 1835, to train a new class of English speakers: 'A class of persons, Indian in blood and colour, but English in taste, in opinion, in morals, and in intellect.' At a stroke, notes Mr. McCrum, English became the 'Ianguage of government, education and advancement, at once a symbol of imperial rule as well as of self-improvement'. India's English-speaking middle class is now one of the engines of that country's development and a big asset in the race to catch up with China. Bit by bit, English displaced French from diplomacy and German from science. The reason for this was America's rise and the lasting bonds created by the British Empire. But the elastic(灵活的), forgiving nature of the language itself was another. English allows plenty of sub-variants, from Singlish in Singapore to Estglish in Estonia: the main words are familiar, but plenty of new ones dot the lexicon, along with distinctive grammar and syntax. English as spoken by non-natives, however, is different. Listen to a South Korean businessman negotiating with a Pole in English and you will hear the difference: the language is curt, emphatic, stripped-down. Yet within spoken 'Globish', as Mr. McCrum neatly names it, hierarchies(等级) are developing. Those who can make jokes in Globish have an advantage over those who can't. The big shift is towards a universally useful written Globish. Spellchecking and translation software mean that anyone can communicate in comprehensible written English. The English of e-mail, Twitter(一个社交网络和微博服务网站) and text messaging is becoming far more mutually comprehensible than spoken English, which is undermined by differences in pronunciation, politeness and emphasis. Mr. McCrum aptly names the new language 'an avenue for all thoughts'.
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单选题 中国是世界上发现与使用蚕丝最早的国家，人们在四五千年前就已经开始养蚕了。随着蚕丝的使用，刺绣工艺也逐渐兴起。宋代时期，崇尚刺绣服装的风气已逐渐在民间广泛流行，这也促使了中国刺绣工艺(Chinese Embroidery)的发展。刺绣的用途广泛，包括生活和艺术装饰等。刺绣作为中国优秀的民族传统工艺，在国外也享有很高的声誉，是中国文化艺术的杰出代表之一。
单选题 Faces, like fingerprints, are unique. Did you ever wonder how it is possible for us to recognize people? Even a skilled writer probably could not describe all the features that make one face different from another. Yet a very young child—or even an animal, such as a pigeon—can learn to recognize faces, we all take this ability for granted. We also tell people apart by how they behave. When we talk about someone's personality, we mean the ways in which he or she acts, speaks, thinks and feels that make that individual different from others. Like the human face, human personality is very complex. But describing someone's personality in words is somewhat easier than describing his face. If you were asked to describe what a 'nice face' looked like, you probably would have a difficult time doing so. But if you were asked to describe a 'nice person', you might begin to think about someone who was kind, considerate, friendly, warm, and so forth. There are many words to describe how a person thinks, feels and acts. Gordon Allport, an American psychologist, found nearly 18,000 English words characterizing differences in people's behavior. And many of us use this information as a basis for describing or typing his personality. Bookworms, conservatives, military types-people are described with such terms. People have always tried to 'type' each other. Actors in early Greek drama wore masks to show the audience whether they played the villain's (坏人) or the hero's role. In fact, the words 'person' and 'personality' come from the Latin persona, meaning 'mask'. Today, most television and movie actors do not wear masks. But we can easily tell the 'good guys' from the 'bad guys' because the two types differ in appearance as well as in actions.
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单选题In Hard Economy for All Ages, Older Isn't Better...It's Brutal. A. Young graduates are in debt, out of work and on their patents' couches. People in their 30s and 40s can't afford to buy homes or have children. Retirees are earning near-zero interest on their savings. B. In the current listless(缺乏活力的) economy, every generation has a claim to having been most injured. But the Labor Department's latest jobs reports and other recent data present a strong case for crowning baby boomers(二战后生育高峰期出生的人) as the greatest victims of the recession and its dreadful consequences. C. These Americans in their 50s and early 60s—those near retirement age who do not yet have access to Medicare and Social Security—have lost the most earnings power of any age group, with their household incomes 10 percent below what they made when the recovery began three years ago, according to Sentier Research, a data analysis company. Their retirement savings and home values fell sharply at the worst possible time: just before they needed to cash out. They are supporting both aged parents and unemployed young-adult children, earning them the unlucky nickname 'Generation Squeeze'. D. New research suggests that they may die sooner, because their health, income security and mental well-being were battered(重创) by recession at a crucial time in their lives. A recent study by economists at Wellesley College found that people who lost their jobs in the few years before becoming qualified for Social Security lost up to three years from their life expectancy(预期寿命), largely because they no longer had access to affordable health care. E. Unemployment rates for Americans nearing retirement are far lower than those for young people, who are recently out of school, with fewer skills and a shorter work history. But once out of a job, older workers have a much harder time finding another one. Over the last year, the average duration of unemployment for older people was 53 weeks, compared with 19 weeks for teenagers, according to the Labor Department's jobs report released on Friday. F. The lengthy process is partly because older workers are more likely to have been laid off from industries that are downsizing, like manufacturing. Compared with the rest of the population, older people are also more likely to own their own homes and be less mobile than renters, who can move to new job markets. G. Older workers are more likely to have a disability of some sort, perhaps limiting the range of jobs that offer realistic choices. They may also be less inclined, at least initially, to take jobs that pay far less than their old positions. H. Displaced boomers also believe they are victims of age discrimination, because employers can easily find a young, energetic worker who will accept lower pay and who can potentially stick around for decades rather than a few years. I. In a survey by the center of older workers who were laid off during the recession, just one in six had found another job, and half of that group had accepted pay cuts. 14% of the re-employed said the pay in their new job was less than half what they earned in their previous job. 'I just say to myself, 'Why me? What have I done to deserve this?'' said John Agati, 56, whose last full-time job, as a product developer, ended four years ago when his employer went out of business. That position paid $90,000, and his résumé lists jobs at companies like American Express, Disney and USA Networks. Since being laid off, though, he has worked a series of part-time, low-wage, temporary positions, including selling shoes at Lord Taylor and making sales calls for a car company. J. The last few years have taken a toll not only on his family's finances, but also on his feelings of self worth. 'You just get sad,' Mr. Agati said. 'I see people getting up in the morning, going out to their careers and going home. I just wish I was doing that. Some people don't like their jobs, or they have problems with their jobs, but at least they're working. I just wish I was in their shoes.' He said he cannot afford to go back to school, as many younger people without jobs have done. Even if he could afford it, economists say it is unclear whether older workers like him benefit much from more education. K. 'It just doesn't make sense to offer retraining for people 55 and older,' said Daniel Hamermesh, an economics professor. 'Discrimination by age, long-term unemployment, and the fact that they're now at the end of the hiring queue just don't make it sensible to invest in them'. L. Many displaced older workers are taking this message to heart and leaving the labor force entirely. The share of older people applying for Social Security early rose quickly during the recession as people sought whatever income they could find. The penalty they will pay is permanent, as retirees who take benefits at age 62 will receive as much as 30% less in each month's check for the rest of their lives than they would if they had waited until full retirement age(66 for those born after 1942). M. Those not yet eligible for Social Security are increasingly applying for another, comparable kind of income support that often goes to people who expect never to work again: disability benefits. More than one in eight people in their late 50s is now on some form of federal disability insurance program, according to Mark Duggan, chairman of the department of business economies and public policy at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. N. The very oldest Americans, of course, were battered by some of the same ill winds that tormented those now nearing retirement, but at least the most senior were cushioned by a more readily available social safety net. More important, in a statistical twist, they may have actually benefited from the financial crisis in the most fundamental way: prolonged lives. O. Death rates for people over 65 have historically fallen during recessions, according to a November 2011 study by economists at the University of California, Davis. Why? The researchers argue that weak job markets push more workers into accepting relatively undesirable work at nursing homes, leading to better care for residents.
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单选题 It is all very well to blame traffic jams, the cost of petrol and the quick pace of modern life, but manners on the roads are becoming horrible. Everybody knows that the nicest men become monsters behind the wheel. You might tolerate the odd road hog, the rude and inconsiderate driver, but nowadays the well-mannered motorist is the exception to the rule. Perhaps the situation calls for a 'Be Kind to Other Drivers' campaign; otherwise it may get completely out of hand. Road politeness is not only good manners, but good sense too. It takes the most cool-headed and good- tempered of drivers to resist the temptation to revenge when subjected to uncivilized behavior. On the other hand, a little politeness goes a long way towards relieving the tensions of motoring. A friendly nod or a wave of acknowledgement in response to an act of politeness helps to create an atmosphere of goodwill and tolerance so necessary in modem traffic conditions. But such acknowledgements of politeness are all too rare today. Many drivers nowadays don't even seem able to recognize politeness when they see it. However, misplaced politeness can also be dangerous. Typical examples are the driver who brakes violently to allow a car to emerge from a side street at some hazard to following traffic, when a few seconds later the road would be clear anyway; or the man who waves a child across a zebra crossing into the path of oncoming vehicles that may be unable to stop in time. The same goes for encouraging old ladies to cross the road wherever and whenever they care to. A veteran driver, whose manners are faultless, told me it would help if motorists learnt to filter correctly into traffic streams one at a time without causing the total blockages that give rise to bad temper. Unfortunately, modem motorists can't even learn to drive, let alone master the subtler aspects of roadmanship. Years ago the experts warned us that the car ownership explosion would demand a lot more give-and-take from all road users. It is high time for all of us to take this message to heart.
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阅读理解Nowadays you can’t buy anything without then being asked to provide a rating of a company’s performance on a five-star scale. I’ve been asked to rate my store 【C1】________ on the EFTPOS terminal before I can pay. Even the most【C2】________activities, such as calling Telstra or picking up a parcel from Australia Post, are followed by texts or emails with surveys asking, How did we do? Online purchases are【C3】________followed up by a customer satisfaction survey. Companies are so【C4】________for a hit of stars that if you delete the survey the company sends you another one. We’re【C5】________to rate our apps when we’ve barely had a chance to use them. One online course provider I use asks you what you think of the course after you’ve only completed【C6】________2 per cent of it. Economist Jason Murphy says that companies use customer satisfaction ratings because a【C7】________display of star feedback has become the nuclear power sources of the modern economy. However, you can’t help but【C8】________if these companies are basing their business on fabrications (捏造的东西). I 【C9】________that with online surveys 1 just click the【C10】________that’s closest to my mouse cursor (光标) to get the damn thing off my screen. Often the star rating I give has far more to do with the kind of day I’m having than the purchase 1 just made.A)announceB) commonplacC) confessD) desperateE) experienceF) fascinatedG) optionH)promptedI) roughlyJ) routinelyK) shiningL)ShoweringM) varietN) voyageO) wonder
作文题For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay titled "Do violent video games lead to violence? " You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.
听力题Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard
问答题Why it matters that teens are reading lessA) Most of us spend much more time with digital media than we did a decade ago. But today’s teens have grown up with smartphones. Compared with teens a couple of decades ago, the way they interact with traditional media like books and movies is fundamentally different.B) Analysis of surveys of over one million teens in the United States collected since 1976 reveals a major shift in how teens are spending their leisure time. Paper books are being ignored, in favor of screens. Digital devices are changing other behaviors, too. More and more, young people choose spending time on their electronic devices over engaging in other activities, regardless of the type. Indeed, by 2016, the average American high school senior said they spent six hours a day writing text messages, on social media, and online during their free time. And that covers just three activities, and if other digital media activities were included, that estimate would no doubt rise.C) Teens did not always spend that much time with digital media. Online time has doubled since 2006, and social media use has moved from a periodic activity to a daily one in the same period. By 2016, nearly nine out of ten young women in the 12th grade said they visited social media sites every day. Meanwhile, time spent playing video games rose from under an hour a day to an hour and a half on average. One out of ten American 8th grade students in 2016 spent 40 hours a week or more playing video games. Let me emphasize that this is equal to the time most adults spend per week at work.D) If teens are spending so much time using electronic devices, does that mean they have to give up some other activities? Maybe not. Over the years, many scholars have insisted that time online does not necessarily take away time spent engaging with traditional media or on other activities. Some people, they argue, are just more interested in certain kinds of media and entertainment. Thus, using more of one type of media does not necessarily mean less of the other.E) That may be true, but that still does not tell us much about what happens across a whole generation of people when time spent on digital media grows. Large surveys conducted over the course of many years tell us that American youth are not going to the cinema nearly as often as they did in the past. While 70 percent of 8th and 10th grade students used to go to the movies once a month or more, now only about half do this. More and more, watching a movie is something teens choose to do on their electronic devices. Why is this a problem? One reason is that going to the cinema is generally a social activity. Now, watching movies is something that most teens do alone. This fits a larger pattern. In another analysis, researchers found that today’s teens go out with their friends much less often than previous generations did.F) But the trends related to movies are less disturbing compared with the change in how teens spend their time. Research has revealed an enormous decline in reading. In 1980, about 60 percent of senior high school students said they read a book, newspaper or magazine every day that was not assigned for school. By 2016, only 16 percent did. This is a huge drop and it is important to note that this was not merely a decline in reading paper books, newspapers or magazines. The survey allowed for reading materials on a digital device.G) Indeed, the number of senior high school students who said they had not read any books for pleasure in the last year was one out of three by 2016. That is triple the number from two decades ago. For today’s youth, books, newspapers and magazines have less and less of a presence in their daily lives. Of course, teens are still reading. But they are generally reading short texts. Most of them are not reading long articles or books that explore deep themes and require critical thinking and reflection. Perhaps not accidentally, in 2016 reading scores were the lowest they have ever been since 1972.H) This might present problems for young people later on. When high school students go on to college, their past and current reading habits will influence their academic performance. Imagine going from reading texts as short as one or two sentences to trying to read entire books written in complex language and containing sophisticated ideas. Reading and comprehending longer books and chapters takes practice, and American teens are no longer getting that practice.I) So how can this problem be solved? Should parents and teachers take away teens’ smartphones and replace them with paper books? Probably not. Research has shown that smartphones are currently American teens’ main form of social communication. This means that, without a smartphone, teens are likely to feel isolated from their peers. However, that does not mean teens need to use electronic devices as often as they do now. Data connecting excessive digital media time to mental health issues suggests a limit of two hours a day of free time spent with screens, a restriction that will also allow time for other activities—like going to the movies with friends or reading longer, more complicated texts.J) The latter is especially important. I would argue that of all the changes brought about by the widespread use of digital devices, the huge decline in reading is likely to have the biggest negative impact on today’s teens because reading books and longer articles is one of the best ways to learn critical thinking. It helps people to understand complex issues and to separate fact from fiction. Thus, deep reading is crucial for being a good citizen, a successful college student and a productive employee. If serious reading dies, a lot will go with it.
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写作题Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a letter to a foreign friend who wants to learn Chinese
单选题As many office workers adapt to remote work, cities may undergo fundamental change if offices remain under-utilized. Who will benefit if working from home becomes the norm? Employers argue they make considerable savings on real estate when workers shift from office to home work. However, these savings result from passing costs on to workers. Unless employees are fully compensated, this could become a variant of parasitic (寄生的) capitalism, whereby corporate profits increasingly rely on extracting value from the public—and now personal—realm, rather than on generating new value. Though employers are backed by a chorus of remote work advocates, others note the loneliness, reduced productivity and inefficiencies of extended remote work. If working from home becomes permanent, employees will have to dedicate part of their private space to work. This requires purchasing desks, chairs and office equipment. It also means having private space dedicated to work: the space must be heated, cleaned, maintained and paid for. That depends on many things, but for purposes of illustration, I have run some estimates for Montreal. The exercise is simple but important, since it brings these costs out of the realm of speculation into the realm of meaningful discussion. Rough calculations show that the savings made by employers when their staff works from home are of similar value to the compensation workers should receive for setting up offices at home. What does this mean for offices in cities? One of two things may happen: Employers pass these costs onto employees. This would be a form of expropriation (侵占), with employees absorbing production costs that have traditionally been paid by the employer. This represents a considerable transfer of value from employees to employers. When employees are properly compensated, employers’ real estate savings will be modest. If savings are modest, then the many advantages of working in offices—such as lively atmosphere, rapidity of communication, team-building and acclimatization (适应环境) of new employees—will encourage employers to shelve the idea of remote work and, like Yahoo in 2013, encourage employees to work most of the time from corporate office space.
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阅读理解Educatorsandbusinessleadershavemoreincommonthanitmayseem.Teacherswanttopreparestudentsforasuccessfulfuture.TechnologycompanieshaveaninterestindevelopingaworkforcewiththeSTEM(science,technology,engineeringandmath)skillsneededtogrowthecompanyandadvancetheindustry.Howcantheyworktogethertoachievethesegoals?Playmaybetheanswer.FocusingonSTEMskillsisimportant,buttherealityisthatSTEMskillsareenhancedandmorerelevantwhencombinedwithtraditional,hands-oncreativeactivities.Thiscombinationisprovingtobethebestwaytopreparetoday’schildrentobethemakersandbuildersoftomorrow.Thatiswhytechnologycompaniesarepartneringwitheducatorstobringbackgood,old-fashionedplay.Infactmanyexpertsarguethatthemostimportant21st-centuryskillsaren’trelatedtospecifictechnologiesorsubjectmatter,buttocreativity;skillslikeimagination,problem-findingandproblem-solving,teamwork,optimism,patienceandtheabilitytoexperimentandtakerisks.Theseareskillsacquiredwhenkidstinker(鼓捣小玩意).High-techindustriessuchasNASA’sJetPropulsionLaboratoryhavefoundthattheirbestoverallproblemsolversweremastertinkerersintheiryouth.Therearecognitive(培养)benefitsofdoingthingsthewaywedidaschildren—buildingsomething,tearingitdown,thenbuildingitupagain.Researchshowsthatgiven15minutesoffreeplay,four-andfive-year-oldswillspendathirdofthistimeengagedinspatial,mathematical,andarchitecturalactivities.Thistypeofplay—especiallywithbuildingblocks—helpschildrendiscoveranddevelopkeyprinciplesinmathandgeometry.Ifplayandbuildingarecriticalto21st-centuryskilldevelopment,that’sreallygoodnewsfortworeasons;Childrenarebornbuilders,makers,andcreators,sofostering(培养)21st-centuryskillsmaybeassimpleasgivingkidsroomtoplay,tinkerandtrythingsout,evenastheygrowolder.Secondly,itdoesn’ttake21st-centurytechnologytofoster21st-centuryskills.Thisisespeciallyimportantforunder-resourcedschoolsandcommunities.Takingwhatevermaterialsarehandyandtinkeringwiththemisasimplewaytoengagethoseimportantmakerskills.Andanyone,anywhere,candoit.
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听力题此题为音频题
阅读理解Being an information technology, or IT, worker is not a job I envy. They are the ones who, right in the middle of a critical meeting, are expected to instantly fix the projector that’s no longer working. They have to tolerate the bad tempers of colleagues frustrated at the number of times they’ve had to call the help desk for the same issue. They are also the ones who know there are systems that are more powerful, reliable and faster, but their employer simply will not put up the funds to buy them. According to a recent survey, employees who have a job reliant on IT support consider IT a major source of job dissatisfaction. Through no fault of their own, they can suddenly find their productivity deteriorating or quality control non-existent. And there’s little they can do about it. The experience of using IT penetrates almost the entire work field. It has become a crucial part of employees’ overall work experience. When IT is operating as it should, employee self-confidence swells. Their job satisfaction, too, can surge when well-functioning machines relieve them of dull tasks or repetitive processes. But if there’s one thing that triggers widespread employee frustration, it’s an IT transformation project gone wrong, where swollen expectations have been popped and a long list of promised efficiencies have been reversed. This occurs when business leaders implement IT initiatives with little consideration of how those changes will impact the end user. Which is why managers should appreciate just how influential the IT user experience is to their employees, and exert substantial effort in ensuring their IT team eliminates programming errors and application crashes. Adequate and timely IT support should also be available to enable users to cope with technological issues at work. More importantly, IT practitioners need to understand what employees experience mentally when they use IT. Therefore, businesses need to set up their IT infrastructure so that it is designed to fit in with their employees’ work, rather than adjust their work to fit in with the company’s IT limitations.
阅读理解What happens when a language has no words for numbers?A) Numbers do not exist in all cultures. There are numberless hunter-gatherers in Amazonia, living along branches of the world’s largest
单选题此题为音频题
听力题此题为音频题
完形填空MostanimalsseekshadewhentemperaturesintheSaharaDesertsoarto120degreesFahrenheit.ButfortheSaharansilverant,【C1】________fromtheirundergroundnestsintothesun’sbrutalraysto【C2】________forfood,thisistheperfecttimetoseeklunch.In2015theseantswerejoinedinthedesertbyscientistsfromtwoBelgianuniversities,whospentamonthinthe【C3】________heattrackingtheantsanddiggingouttheirnests.Thegoalwassimple,todiscoverhowthe【C4】________adaptedtothekindofheatthatcan【C5】________meltthebottomofshoes.BackinBelgium,thescientistslookedattheantsunderanelectronicmicroscopeandfoundthattheir【C6】________,triangularhairreflectslightlikeaprism(棱镜),givingthemametallicreflectionandprotectingthemfromthesun’sawfulheat.WhenPh.D.studentQuentinWillot【C7】________thehairfromanantwitha【C8】________knifeandputitunderaheatlamp,itstemperaturejumped.Theants’methodofstayingcoolis【C9】________amonganimals.Couldthisreflectivetypeofhairprotectpeople?Willotsayscompaniesareinterestedin【C10】________theseants’methodofheatprotectionforhumanuse,includingeverythingfromhelpingtoprotectthelivesoffirefighterstokeepinghomescoolinsummer.A)adaptingB)consciouslyC)crawlingD)crowdedE)extremeF)huntG)literallyH)moderateI)remoteJ)removedK)speciesL)specimensM)thickN)tinyO)unique
单选题Have you ever wondered how acceptable it is to hug or touch someone? While it may sound safe to avoid all physical contact so as not to offend anyone, the lack of touching might imply cold attitudes or indifference in interpersonal relationships. So, what should we do? The simple answer is to thoroughly learn unique cultural norms for physical contact. In nonverbal communication terminology (术语), physical contact and the study of touching are generally referred to as haptics. Haptics in communication often suggest the level of intimacy. They are usually classified into two groups: high-contact and low-contact. Asia and quite surprisingly the United States, Canada and Britain belong to low-contact cultures. People from the rest of the world, such as Latin America, are considered to be in high-contact cultures, where they tend to expect touching in social interactions and feel more comfortable with physical closeness. Despite the classification, there are more complex factors such as relational closeness, gender, age, and context that can affect how someone views physical contact. One common French custom of greetings is cheek-kissing, but it is mostly restricted to friends, close acquaintances and family members. While cheek-kissing for Latin Americans is also a universal greeting form, it does not require such a high degree of relational closeness. However, gender matters more for them because cheek-kissing often only happens between women or a man and a woman but not two men. In contrast, in certain Arabian, African, and Asian countries, men can publicly hold hands or show physical affection as signs of brotherhood or friendship while these behaviors may suggest a romantic relationship in other parts of the world. Although men’s touching is more normal in these cultures, physical contact between persons of opposite sexes who are not family members is negatively perceived in Arabian countries. These factors could definitely affect the degree to which someone is comfortable with tactile (触觉的 ) communication and physical intimacy. Therefore, if you are someone who loves to show physical affection, you should not be afraid to show it or drastically change your behaviors—just ask for consent beforehand!
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阅读理解Thestartofhighschooldoesn’thavetobestressfulA)Thismonth,morethan4millionstudentsacrossthenationwillbeginhighschool.Manywilldowell.Butmanywillnot.Considerthatnearlytwo-thirdsofstudentswillexperiencetheninth-gradeshock,whichreferstoadramaticdropinastudent’sacademicperformance.Somestudentscopewiththisshockbyavoidingchallenges.Forinstance,theymaydropdifficultcoursework.Othersmayexperienceahopelessnessthatresultsinfailingtheircoreclasses,suchasEnglish,scienceandmath.B)Thisshouldmatteragreatdealtoparents,teachersandpolicymakers.Ultimatelyitshouldmattertothestudentsthemselvesandsocietyatlarge,becausestudents’experienceoftransitioning(过渡)totheninthgradecanhavelong-termconsequencesnotonlyforthestudentsthemselvesbutfortheirhomecommunities.Wemaketheseobservationsasresearchpsychologistswhohavestudiedhowschoolsandfamiliescanhelpyoungpeoplethrive.C)Inthenewglobaleconomy,studentswhofailtofinishtheninthgradewithpassinggradesincollegepreparatorycourseworkareveryunlikelytograduateontimeandgoontogetjobs.Onestudyhascalculatedthatthelifetimebenefittothelocaleconomyforasingleadditionalstudentwhocompleteshighschoolishalfamilliondollarsormore.Thisisbasedonhigherearningsandavoidedcostsinhealthcare,crime,welfaredependenceandotherthings.D)Theconsequencesofdoingpoorlyintheninthgradecanimpactmorethanstudents’abilitytofindagoodjob.Itcanalsoimpacttheextenttowhichtheyenjoylife.Studentslosemanyofthefriendstheyturnedtoforsupportwhentheymovefromtheeighthtotheninthgrade.Onestudyofninth-gradestudentsfoundthat50percentoffriendshipsamongninthgraderschangedfromonemonthtothenext,signalingstrikinginstabilityinfriendships.E)Inaddition,studiesfindthefirstyearofhighschooltypicallyshowsoneofthegreatestincreasesindepressionofanyyearoverthelifespan.Researchersthinkthatoneexplanationisthattiestofriendsarebrokenwhileacademicdemandsarerising.Furthermore,mostadultcasesofclinicaldepressionfirstemergeinadolescence(青春期).TheWorldHealthOrganizationreportsthatdepressionhasthegreatestburdenofdiseaseworldwide,intermsofthetotalcostoftreatmentandthelossofproductivity.F)Givenallthat’sridingonhavingasuccessfulninthgradeexperience,itpaystoexplorewhatcanbedonetomeettheacademic,socialandemotionalchallengesofthetransitiontohighschool.Sofar,ourstudieshaveyieldedonemaininsight:Students’beliefsaboutchange—theirbeliefsaboutwhetherpeoplearestuckonewayforever,orwhetherpeoplecanchangetheirpersonalitiesandabilities—arerelatedtotheirabilitytocope,succeedacademicallyandmaintaingoodmentalhealth.Pastresearchhascalledthesebeliefsmindsets(思维模式),withafixedmindsetreferringtothebeliefthatpeoplecannotchangeandagrowthmindsetreferringtothebeliefthatpeoplecanchange.G)Inonerecentstudy,weexamined360adolescents’beliefsaboutthenatureofsmartness—thatis,theirfixedmindsetsaboutintelligence.Wethenassessedbiologicalstressresponsesforstudentswhosegradesweredroppingbyexaminingtheirstresshormones(荷尔蒙).Studentswhobelievedthatintelligenceisfixed—thatyouarestuckbeingnotsmartifyoustruggleinschool—showedhigherlevelsofstresshormoneswhentheirgradesweredecliningatthebeginningoftheninthgrade.Ifstudentsbelievedthatintelligencecouldimprove—thatistosay,whentheyheldmoreofagrowthmindsetofintelligence—theyshowedlowerlevelsofstresshormoneswhentheirgradesweredeclining.Thiswasanexcitingresultbecauseitshowedthatthebody’sstressresponsesarenotdeterminedsolelybyone’sgrades.Instead,declininggradesonlypredictedworsestresshormonesamongstudentswhobelievedthatworseninggradeswereapermanentandhopelessstateofaffairs.H)Wealsoinvestigatedthesocialsideofthehighschooltransition.Inthisstudy,insteadofteachingstudentsthattheirsmartnesscanchange,wetaughtthemthattheirsocialstanding—thatis,whethertheyarebulliedorexcludedorleftout—canchangeovertime.Wethenlookedathighschoolstudents’stressresponsestodailysocialdifficulties.Thatis,wetaughtthemagrowthmindsetabouttheirsociallives.Inthisstudy,studentscameintothelaboratoryandwereaskedtogiveapublicspeechinfrontofupper-yearstudents.Thetopicofthespeechwaswhatmakesonepopularinhighschool.Followingthis,studentshadtocompleteadifficultmentalmathtaskinfrontofthesameupper-yearstudents.I)Experimentresultsshowedthatstudentswhowerenottaughtthatpeoplecanchangeshowedpoorstressresponses.Whenthesestudentsgavethespeech,theirbloodvesselscontractedandtheirheartspumpedlessbloodthroughthebody—bothresponsesthatthebodyshowswhenitispreparingfordamageordefeatafteraphysicalthreat.Thentheygaveworsespeechesandmademoremistakesinmath.Butwhenstudentsweretaughtthatpeoplecanchange,theyhadbetterresponsestostress,inpartbecausetheyfeltliketheyhadtheresourcestodealwiththedemandingsituation.Studentswhogotthegrowthmindsetintervention(干预)showedless-contractedbloodvesselsandtheirheartspumpedmoreblood—bothofwhichcontributedtomoreoxygengettingtothebrain,and,ultimately,betterperformanceonthespeechandmentalmathtasks.J)Thesefindingsleadtoseveralpossibilitiesthatweareinvestigatingfurther.First,weareworkingtoreplicate(复制)thesefindingsinmorediverseschoolcommunities.Wewanttoknowinwhichtypesofschoolsandforwhichkindsofstudentsthesegrowthmindsetideashelpyoungpeopleadapttothechallengesofhighschool.Wealsohopetolearnhowteachers,parentsorschoolcounselorscanhelpstudentskeeptheirongoingacademicorsocialdifficultiesinperspective.Wewonderwhatwouldhappenifschoolshelpedtomakebeliefsaboutthepotentialforchangeandimprovementalargerfeatureoftheoverallschoolculture,especiallyforstudentsstartingtheninthgrade.
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单选题Directions:Forthispart,youareallowed30minutestowriteanessay.YoushouldstartyouressaywithabriefdescriptionofthepictureandthenexpressyourviewsonInternetandthedistanceamongpeople.Youshouldwriteatleast120wordsbutnomorethan180words.WriteyouressayonAnswerSheet1.
单选题Some marriages seem to collapse so suddenly that you'd need a crystal ball to predict their demise (灭亡). In other 27 , though, the seeds of marital dissolution are not only easier to see but they may be planted even before the honeymoon bills come 28 . According to UCLA psychologist Thomas Bradbury, Ph. D., the way a newlywed 29 when his or her spouse is facing a personal problem—work stress, say, or a recent weight gain—is a 30 good window into their marital future. Bradbury and Lauri Pasch, Ph.D., invited 57 couples, all married less than six months, to 31 a difficulty that each partner was having. While some couples proved to be superstars at providing emotional support, others were woefully inept (笨拙的). You just cringed (退缩) when you watched them, Bradbury says. Two years later, nine of the couples had already 32 and five other marriages were intact but hanging by a thread. These 14 couples, it turned out, had been far less likely to provide support to one another as newlyweds than the other 43 couples whose marriages were 33 . Bradbury thinks a couple's inability to help each other through 34 times is what often blossoms into full-fledged marital discord (不和谐)—and ultimately divorce. All of which suggests an obvious antidote (轶事) to the sky-high divorce rate: ff couples can learn how to provide emotional support before they marry, they 35 a better chance of staying together. The trouble, Bradbury says, is that couples who go for premarital counseling—where they can learn such skills— 36 to be the ones with a lesser risk for marital problems in the first place. A. thriving B. comments C. tough D. tend E. committing F. cases G. stand H. intends I. due J. reacts K. surprisingly L. durable M. split N. regularly O. discuss
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单选题 Imagine donating your DNA to a project aimed at discovering links between genes and diseases. You consent to your genome (基因组) sequence being released anonymously into the public domain, though you are warned there is a remote possibility that it might one day be possible to link it back to you. A few years later, that remote possibility comes to pass. How should you feel? This is no longer a hypothetical (假定) situation. The researchers' intentions were honorable. They have not revealed these identities, and the original data has been adjusted to make a repeat using the same technique impossible. All they wanted to do was expose privacy issues. Consider them exposed. It is clear that genomics (基因学) has entered a new phase, similar to that which social media went through a few years ago, when concerns were raised about people giving away too much personal information. What happens when the same applies to our DNA? Having your genome open to public examination obviously raises privacy issues. Employers and insurers may be interested. Embarrassing family secrets may be exposed. But overall, personal genetic information is probably no more revealing than other sorts. In fact there are reasons to believe that it is less so: would an insurance company really go to the trouble of decoding a genome to discover a slightly elevated risk of cancer or Alzheimer's disease? The available evidence suggests not. In 2006, Harvard University set out to sequence the genomes of 100,000 volunteers and make them publicly available, along with personal information such as names and medical records. One of the goals was to see what happens when such data is open to all. The answer seems to be 'not a lot'. So far this Personal Genome Project has published 148 people's full genomes. Not one volunteer has reported a privacy issue. This is not a reason for arrogance but it suggests that our genomic secrets are less interesting to other people than we might like to believe.
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问答题How to not be boringA) Humans are creatures of habit. We love to establish a routine and stick with it. Then we often put ourselves on auto-pilot. Routines can be incredibly useful in helping you get things done. However, too much of a routine can also make you incredibly boring. Nevertheless, many people live lives that are boringly predictable, or live a life where everything is outlined or planned.B) To tell the truth, interesting people are more popular among their friends. If you don’t arouse someone’s curiosity or brighten someone’s day, you probably come across as being a little bit dull. But that doesn’t mean your life has ended and you can’t do anything to change it. If you find yourself searching for something to say beyond small talk, try these tactics to find more interesting approaches to conversation.C) Recently, I was at a gathering of colleagues when someone turned to me and asked, "So, what’s new with you?" Ordinarily, I think I’m a good conversationalist. After all, it’s literally my job to talk to people and tell their stories or share their advice. And that’s not exactly an unexpected question. Still, the only "new-to-me" topics that came to mind were my daughter’s basketball tournament (锦标赛) and my feelings about that morning’s political headlines—neither amusing nor appropriate topics at that moment.D) Oh, no, I thought. Have I become boring? But sharing our experiences in an authentic way to connect with other people is what makes us interesting, says associate professor Michael Pirson. The hesitation I felt in not sharing the ordinary things that were happening in my life, and the wild mental search for something more interesting, may have backfired and made me seem less interesting.E) "If someone is making up some conversation that might be interesting, it’s probably not going to land well," says Pirson, whose expertise includes trust and well-being, mindfulness, and humanistic management. "It’s going to feel like a made-up conversation that people don’t necessarily want to tune in to."F) The most interesting people aren’t those who’ve gone on some Eat, Pray, Love journey to find themselves. Instead, Pirson says, they’re those who examine the ordinary. "Often, the ’boring things’ may not be boring at all. Maybe they are actually little miracles," he says. Share your observations about the world around you—interesting stories you heard or things you noticed—and you may be surprised by the universal connection they inspire.G) This is essentially how Jessica Hagy starts her day. The author of How to Be Interesting-. An Instruction Manual, Hagy spends a lot of time thinking about what’s interesting to her. People who are interesting are persistently curious, she says.H) Think about the everyday things around you and ask questions about them. What is that roadside monument I see on my way to work every day? Who built that interesting building in my city? What nearby attractions haven’t I visited? Why do people do things that way? Use what you find to ask more questions and learn more about the world around you. "Having that sort of curiosity is almost like a protective gear from getting into boredom," she says. And when you find things that are truly interesting to you, share them.I) Television veteran Audrey Morrissey, executive producer of NBC’s The Voice, is always looking for what will make a person or story interesting to viewers: It’s usually a matter of individuality. "Having a strong point of view, signature style, or being a super-enthusiast in a particular field makes someone interesting," she says. That means embracing what is truly interesting or unique about yourself. "Many people are ’ not boring’ in the way that they can carry a conversation or can be good at a social gathering, etc. To be interesting means that you have lived life, taken risks, traveled, sought out experience to learn for yourself and share with others," she says.J) Of course, it’s possible to be a fountain of knowledge and a boring person, says public relations consultant Andrea Pass. Paying attention to the listener is an important part of having a conversation that’s interesting to both parties. Talking on and on about what’s interesting to you isn’t going to make you an interesting person, she says.K) "If the listener is not paying attention, it’s your sign to shorten the story or change direction. Make sure to bring the audience into the conversation so that it is not one-sided," Pass says. Be a better listener yourself, and give others opportunities to participate in the conversation by inviting them with questions or requests to share their own experiences or thoughts, (e. g. , "Now, tell me about your favorite book," or "Have you ever been to that attraction?") Questions are a powerful tool, especially when they encourage others to disclose information about themselves. A 2012 study from the University of California, Santa Barbara, found that roughly 40% of the time we are talking, we’re disclosing subjective information about our experience. And when we’re doing so, our brains are more engaged. So one strategy to leave others with the impression that you’re a sparkling conversation partner is to get others to talk about themselves.L) Being relatable is also essential, Morrissey says. "The best entertainment and storytelling comes from people who are relatable—those who don’t shy away from opening up but freely share who they are and what they care about. These are the people viewers most relate to and find interesting. Being authentic, honest, and vulnerable is always interesting."M) I have now come to realize that being boring, in actuality, is not only about who you are as a person, but also how you present yourself. No matter what, make sure you are having fun in life. Because when you are enjoying, people around you will begin to enjoy as well. Show some interest in them and they will definitely show some in you. If you are a very reserved person, this could be a little difficult at first. But with a little effort, you can definitely improve.
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单选题From climate change to the ongoing pandemic (大流行病) and beyond, the issues facing today’s world are increasingly complex and dynamic. Yet solving problems like these requires new approaches that extend beyond traditional ways of thinking. A study led by Yale Professor of Psychology, Paul O’Keefe, found that having a growth mindset (思维倾向) of interest may spark this type of innovation. Professor O’Keefe established in earlier studies that people hold different beliefs about the nature of interest. Those with a growth mindset of interest tend to believe that interests can be developed and cultivated, while those with a fixed mindset of interest tend to believe that interests are inherent (与生俱有的) and simply need to be ’found. ’ Building on these findings, the latest research examined how a growth mindset of interest can boost integrative thinking across the traditional disciplinary boundaries of arts and sciences. For example, in one task, research participants were instructed to create new college majors by combining two or more existing academic Arts or Science programs at their university. After coding and analyzing the ideas they generated, the team found that people with a growth mindset of interest were more likely to bridge programs across the arts and sciences to create new majors like computational economics rather than creating majors that drew from only one of those areas, like computational chemistry. As Professor O’Keefe pointed out, "This research provides a useful direction for organizations whose products and services call for integrated and creative solutions. Take smartphones for example. You need not only computer science and engineering knowledge, but also an understanding of psychology and visual design to create a better product. Employees with a growth mindset may be more likely to devise innovative ideas that bridge multiple areas of knowledge to achieve better solutions." The benefits of a growth mindset of interest may also extend to those seeking employment. This is a pressing issue because many people are becoming unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Having a growth mindset of interest can help job seekers expand their interests and become more adaptable to different fields, and take the initiative to learn new skills.
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问答题Many people believe that passion and commitment are the foundations of strong romantic relationships. But a relationship is made of two【C1】________individuals. And the personality traits (特性) these individuals【C2】________or lack can often make a relationship more—or less—likely to【C3】________. Recent research has found that one trait in particular—humility (谦逊)—is an important indicator of successful relationships. Humility can sometimes be【C4】________with a lack of confidence. But researchers have come to realize that being humble generally indicates the【C5】________of deeply admirable personal qualities. Being humble means you have the ability to accurately【C6】________your deficiencies without denying your skills and strengths. For example, you might recognize that you are intelligent, but realize that you are not a【C7】________. Thus, humility leads to an honest view of one’s own advantages and shortcomings. Humble people do not ignore, avoid, or try to deny their limits or deficiencies. They can【C8】________mistakes, see value in things that are far from perfect and identify areas for improvement. Perhaps it is not【C9】________, then, that humility appears to be a huge asset to relationships. One study found that people tend to rate this quality【C10】________in their spouse. The study also found that someone who is humble is more likely to initiate a romantic relationship, perhaps because they are less likely to see themselves as "too good" for someone else. Thus, a humble partner might be your ideal partner.A) acknowledgeB) assessC) confusedD) endureE) extremelyF) geniusG) highlyH) permanentI) possess J) presence K) puzzled L) status M) surprising N) thoroughly O) unique
阅读理解Social isolation poses more health risks than obesity or smoking 15 cigarettes a day, according to research published by Brigham Young University. The【C1】________is that loneliness is a huge, if silen
汉译英龙井Longjing是一种绿茶，主要产自中国东部沿海的浙江省。龙井茶独特的香味和口感为其赢得了“中国名茶”的称号，在中国深受大众的欢迎，在海外饮用的人也越来越多。龙井茶通常手工制作，其价格可能极其昂贵，也可能比较便宜，这取决于茶的生长地、采摘时间和制作工艺。龙井茶富含维生素C和其他多种有益健康的元素。经常喝龙井茶有助于减轻疲劳、延缓衰老。
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问答题Suppose your university student union is planning to hold a speech contest. You are now to write a proposal for organizing the contest. The proposal may include the topic, aim , procedure and selectio
汉译英普洱Puer茶深受中国人喜爱。最好的普洱茶产自云南的西双版纳xishuangbanna，那里的气候和环境为普洱茶树的生长提供了最佳条件。普洱茶颜色较深，味道与其他许多茶截然不同。普洱茶渔brew的时间越长越有味道。许多爱喝茶的人尤其喜欢其独特的香味和口感。普洱茶含有多种有益健康的元素，常饮普洱茶有助于保护心脏和血管，还有减肥、消除疲劳和促进消化的功效。
阅读理解A South Korean city designed for the future takes on a life of its own
A) Getting around a city is one thing and then theres the matter of getting from one city to another
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汉译英铁观音是中国最受欢迎的茶之一，原产于福建省安溪县西坪镇，如今安溪全县普遍种植，但该县不同地区生产的铁观音又各具风味。铁观音一年四季均可采摘，尤以春秋两季采摘的茶叶品质最佳。铁观音的加工非常复杂，需要专门的技术和丰富的经验。铁观音含有多种维生素，喝起来口感独特。常饮铁观音有助于预防心脏病、降低血压、增强记忆力。
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问答题 都江堰Dujiangyan坐落在成都平原西部的岷江上，距成都市约50公里，始建于公元前三世纪。它的独特之处在于无需用堤坝调控水流。两千多年来，都江堰一直有效地发挥着防洪与灌溉作用，使成都平原成为旱涝保收的沃土和中国最重要的粮食产地之一。都江堰工程体现了我国人民与自然和谐共存的智慧，是全世界年代最久、仍在使用、无坝控水的水利工程。
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阅读理解Passage One
Questions 21 to 25are based on the following passage
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翻译题中国家庭十分重视孩子的教育
听力题Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard
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问答题There’s a stress gap between men and womenA) "I used to work very hard. I love to create things, grow them and solve problems," said Meng Li, a successful app developer in San Francisco. "I didn’t really care about my mind and my body until they decided to go on strike. "B) Ms. Li said her stress led to sleeplessness. When she did sleep, she experienced "problem-solving dreams," which left her feeling unrested when she woke up. "After I became a first-time mother, I quickly realized I was so busy caring for other people and work that I felt like I’d lost myself," she said.C) It’s a common story—one we frequently ridicule and readily dismiss, for example, by claiming that women tend to complain more than men, despite the growing sum of research that underlines the problem. Women are twice as likely to suffer from severe stress and anxiety as men, according to a 2016 study published in The Journal of Brain and even more stressed. After her own struggle with this, Ms. Li took a step back and used her experience to build Sanity & Self, a self-care app and platform for overworked women. "The realizations I had in that process helped me gain insights and ultimately got me ready to integrate self-care into my daily life," she said.I) The stress problem extends beyond mental health when you consider the link between stress, anxiety and heart health. Worse, most of what we know about heart disease comes from studies involving men. However, "there are many reasons to think that it’s different in women," Harvard Medical School reported. For example, women are more likely to experience disturbed sleep, anxiety and unusual fatigue before a heart attack. Stress is so normalized that it is easy for women to shrug off those symptoms as simply the consequences of stress. Many women also do not experience chest pain before a heart attack the way men do, which leads to fewer women discovering problematic heart issues. Harvard reports that women are "much more likely than men to die within a year of having a heart attack" and "many women say their physicians sometimes don’t even recognize the symptoms."J) The good news is, women are more likely than men to take charge of their stress and manage it, the American Psychological Association reports. The concept of self-care, at its core, is quite simple. "The basics of adequate sleep, healthy diet and exercise are a good place to start," Dr. Joyce said. "Support from trusted relationships is vital. This includes professional support from various health and wellness providers if stress is becoming increasingly overwhelming. "K) Disconnecting from work and home responsibilities is also obviously important. But it’s much easier said than done. It is important to understand what causes your stress in the first place. "Get really specific with what’s stressing you out," Ms. Li said. "We often chalk up our stress to broad experiences like work. But work stress can take many different forms. Is a colleague being disrespectful of your time? Is a boss undermining your day-to-day control over decision making? These are different causes of stress and can benefit from different kinds of self-care." L) Ideally, your spouse or partner will be supportive, rather than dismissive, of your stress. It is important to talk through these issues before they come to a head. "Women working outside of the home should make an effort to have a conscious conversation with their partners about more equitable sharing of household and family responsibilities," Dr. Joyce said.
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听力题Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard
听力题Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard
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阅读理解Can you remember what you ate yesterday? If asked, most people will be able to give a vague description of their main meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. But can you be sure you’ve noted every snack bar in your car, or every handful of nuts at your desk? Most people will have a feeling that they’ve missed something out. We originally had this suspicion back in 2016, puzzled by the fact that national statistics showed calorie consumption falling dramatically over past decades. We found reliable evidence that people were drastically under-reporting what they ate. Now the Office for National Statistics has confirmed that we are consuming 50% more calories than our national statistics claim. Why is this happening? We can point to at least three potential causes. One is the rise in obesity levels itself. Under-reporting rates are much higher for obese people, because they simply consume more food, and thus have more to remember. Another cause is that the proportion of people who are trying to lose weight has been increasing over time. People who want to lose weight are more likely to under-report their eating—regardless of whether they are overweight or not. This may be driven partly by self-deception or wishful thinking. The final potential cause is an increase in snacking and eating out over recent decades—both in terms of how often they happen and how much they contribute to our overall energy intake. Again, there is evidence that food consumed out of the home is one of the most poorly recorded categories in surveys. So, what’s the message conveyed? For statistics, we should invest in more accurate measurement options. For policy, we need to focus on options that make it easy for people to eat fewer calories. If people do not know how much they are eating, it can be really hard for them to stick to a diet. Also, we should be looking for new ways to ensure what people eat wouldn’t have much impact on their waistlines. If this works, it won’t matter if they can’t remember what they ate yesterday.
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单选题Nationwide, only about three percent of early childhood teachers are male in the U. S. Experts say this can have an impact on young children whose understanding of gender roles and identity are rapidly forming. Research has found that having access to diverse teachers is beneficial for children. For the youngest learners, it means they are more likely to get exposed to different varieties of play and communication. It also helps them develop healthy ideas around gender. "In our world and our society, we have very specific stereotypes (模式化形象) of gender roles," said Mindi Reich-Shapiro, an assistant professor in the teacher education department of the Borough of Manhattan Community College, and one of the authors of a recent study. "It’s important for children to see other possibilities and other paths they can take. " Despite mostly feeling supported by colleagues and family members, many of the male educators surveyed in the study reported facing social or cultural resistance in their careers as early education teachers. Some also reported that there were parents surprised or concerned that their child had a male teacher. And they had been advised by colleagues or other staff not to hug children. Reich-Shapiro and fellow researchers made several recommendations to increase male representation in the field. Low pay has long been acknowledged as a major issue in the early childhood field. Over 70% of male educators who said they intended to stay in the early education workforce noted an increased salary was a major motivating factor for them to commit to the career long-term. The report suggests paying all early childhood educators the way elementary school teachers are paid. Cities and programs should establish support groups for male early childhood educators and provide mentoring and professional development advice for male educators and their program leaders. The authors also suggest that traditional recruitment approaches for early childhood educators "do not address the gender gap in the field." They recommend providing young men opportunities to work with children through training and volunteer programs, targeting groups of men who are considering a career change, such as fathers.
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问答题Suppose you have just participated in a school project of collecting used books on campus. You are now to write a report about the project, which may include its aim, organizers, participants and acti
听力题此题为音频题
听力题此题为音频题
单选题此题为音频题
单选题此题为音频题
听力题Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard
单选题此题为音频题
单选题With obesity now affecting 29% of the population in England, and expected to rise to 35% by 2030, should we now recognise it as a disease? Obesity, in which excess body fat has accumulated to such an extent that health may be adversely affected, meets the dictionary definition of disease, argues Professor John Wilding. He points out that more than 200 genes influence weight. "Thus body weight is strongly influenced by biology—it is not an individual’s fault if they develop obesity." Yet the widespread view is that obesity is self-induced and that it is entirely the individual’s responsibility to do something about it. Recognising obesity as a chronic disease with severe complications rather than a lifestyle choice "should help reduce the stigma (耻辱) and discrimination experienced by many people with obesity," he adds. Professor Wilding disagrees that labelling a high proportion of the population as having a disease removes personal responsibility or may overwhelm health services, pointing out that other common diseases, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, require people to take action to manage their condition. He suggests that most people with obesity will eventually develop complications. "But unless we accept that obesity is a disease, we are not going to be able to tackle it," he concludes. But Dr. Richard Pile, a physician with a special interest in diabetes, argues that adopting this approach "could actually result in worse outcomes for individuals and society." He believes that the dictionary definition of disease "is so vague that we can classify almost anything as a disease" and says the question is not whether we can, but whether we should, and to what end. If labelling obesity as a disease was harmless then it wouldn’t really matter, he writes. But labelling obesity as a disease "risks reducing autonomy, disempowering and robbing people of the intrinsic (内在的) motivation that is such an important enabler of change." What’s more, making obesity a disease "may not benefit patients, but it will benefit healthcare providers and the pharmaceutical (制药的) industry when health insurance and clinical guidelines promote treatment with drugs and surgery," he warns.
问答题It is commonly believed that the great English dramatist and poet William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-on-Avon on April 23, 1564. But it is impossible to know the【C1】________day on which he was born. Church records show he was baptized (施洗礼) on April 26, and three days was a customary amount of time to wait before baptizing a newly born baby. Shakespeare’s date of death is【C2】________known, however: it was April 23, 1616. He was 52 and had retired to Stratford three years before. Although few plays have been performed or analyzed as extensively as the 38 plays Shakespeare wrote, there are few surviving details about his life. This 【C3】________of biographical information is due primarily to his social【C4】________; he was not a noble, but the son of a leather trader. Shakespeare【C5】________attended the grammar school in Stratford, where he would have studied Latin and read【C6】________literature. He did not go to university and at age 18 married Anne Hathaway, who was eight years his【C7】________. They had four children, including the twins, Hamnet and Judith. Nothing is known of the period between the birth of the twins and Shakespeare’s【C8】________as a dramatist in London in the early 1590s. In a million words written over 20 years, he【C9】________the full range of human emotions and conflicts with a【C10】________that remains sharp today. As his great contemporary the poet and dramatist Ben Jonson said, "He was not of an age, but for all time."A) capturedB) classicalC) conclusivelyD) emergenceE) exactF) generatedG) particular H) positionI) precision J) probably K) quality L) scarcity M) senior N) separated O) systematically
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听力题此题为音频题
单选题The human thirst for knowledge is the driving force behind our successful development as a species. But curiosity can also be dangerous, leading to setbacks or even downfalls. Given curiosity’s complexity, scientists have found it hard to define. While pinning down a definition has proven tricky, the general consensus is it’s some means of information gathering. Psychologists also agree curiosity is intrinsically (内在的) motivated. Curiosity covers such a large set of behaviors that there probably isn’t any single "curiosity gene" that makes humans wonder about and explore their environment. That said, curiosity does have a genetic component. Genes and the environment interact in many complex ways to shape individuals and guide their behavior, including their curiosity. Regardless of their genetic makeup, infants have to learn an incredible amount of information in a short time, and curiosity is one of the tools humans have found to accomplish that gigantic task. Hundreds of studies show that infants prefer novelty. It’s what motivates non-human animals, human infants and probably human adults to explore and seek out new things before growing less interested in them after continued exposure. But curiosity often comes with a cost. In some situations, the stakes are low and failure is a healthy part of growth. For instance, many babies are perfectly proficient crawlers, but they decide to try walking because there’s more to see and do when they stand upright. But this milestone comes at a small cost. A study of 12- to 19-month-olds learning how to walk documented that these children fell down a lot. Seventeen times per hour, to be exact. But walking is faster than crawling, so this motivates expert crawlers to transition to walking. Sometimes, however, testing out a new idea can lead to disaster. For instance, the Inuit people of the Arctic regions have created incredible modes to deal with the challenges of living in northern climates, but what we forget about are the tens of thousands of people that tried and failed to make it in those challenging landscapes.
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听力题Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard
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听力题此题为音频题
问答题Suppose your school is organizing an orientation program to help the freshmen adapt to the new environment and academic studies. You are now to write a proposal, which may include its aim, duration, p
问答题The sheets are damp with sweat. You’re cold, but your heart is racing as if a killer just chased you down a dark street. It was just a nightmare, you tell yourself; there’s nothing to be afraid of. But you’re still filled with【C1】________. Given how unsettling and haunting nightmares can be, is there a way for dreamers to【C2】________, or even turn off, these bad dreams as they happen? Research is【C3】________, but some studies suggest that people who can master lucid dreaming—that is, the ability to be【C4】________that a nightmare is happening and possibly even control it without waking up—may hold the【C5】________. Nightmares are part of the human experience, especially for kids. Doctors【C6】________don’t consider occasional nightmares a problem. They can just be symptoms of a sleep disorder that can【C7】________from an unpleasant experience, stress, or certain drugs. To treat the disorder, there are a number of medicines and therapies that are backed by【C8】________research, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, which analyzed the available research on the treatment of nightmare disorder in a recent【C9】________published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. However, nightmares are complicated, and researchers are still struggling to understand them, said Dr. Rachel Salas, an expert on sleep disorders and an associate professor at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore. What we do know is that people【C10】________to have different kinds of nightmares at different points during the sleep cycle.A) amountB) answerC) avoidD) awareE) departF) drasticallyG) fear H) limitedI) mechanical J) result K) review L) rigorous M) tend N) timidity O) typically
听力题Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard
问答题 大运河Grand Canal是世界上最长的人工河，北起北京，南至杭州。它是中国历史上最宏伟的工程之一。大运河始建于公元前4世纪，公元13世纪末建成。修建之初是为了运输粮食，后来也用于运输其他商品。大运河沿线区域逐渐发展成为中国的工商业中心。长久以来，大运河对中国的经济发展发挥了重要作用，有力地促进了南北地区之间的人员往来和文化交流。
问答题 坎儿井Karez是新疆干旱地区的一种水利系统，由地下渠道将水井连接而成。该系统将春夏季节渗入seep into地下大量雨水及积雪融水收集起来，通过山体的自然坡度引到地面，用于灌溉农田和满足人们的日常用水需求。坎儿井减少了水在地面的蒸发evaporation，对地表破坏很小，因而有效地保护了自然资源与生态环境。坎儿井体现了我国人民与自然和谐共存的智慧，是对人类文明的一大贡献。
听力题Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard
单选题
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写作题For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write an essay titled "Is technology making people lazy? ".You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.
阅读理解Boredom has become trendy. Studies point to how boredom is good for creativity and innovation, as well as mental health. It is found that people are more creative following the completion of a tedious task. When people are bored, they have an increase in associative thought—the process of making new connections between ideas, which is linked to innovative thinking. These studies are impressive, but in reality, the benefits of boredom may be related to having time to clear your mind, be quiet, or daydream. In our stimulation-rich world, it seems unrealistic that boredom could occur at all. Yet, there are valid reasons boredom may feel so painful. As it turns out, boredom might signal the fact that you have a need that isn’t being met. Our always-on world of social media may result in more connections, but they are superficial and can get in the way of building a real sense of belonging. Feeling bored may signal the desire for a greater sense of community and the feeling that you fit in with others around you. So take the step of joining an organization to build face-to-face relationships. You’ll find depth that you won’t get from your screen no matter how many likes you get on your post. Similar to the need for belonging, bored people often report that they feel a limited sense of meaning. It’s a fundamental human need to have a larger purpose and to feel like we’re part of something bigger than ourselves. When people are bored, they’re more likely to feel less meaning in their lives. If you want to reduce boredom and increase your sense of meaning, seek work where you can make a unique contribution, or find a cause you can support with your time and talent. If your definition of boredom is being quiet, mindful, and reflective, keep it up. But if you’re struggling with real boredom and the emptiness it provokes, consider whether you might seek new connections and more significant challenges. These are the things that will genuinely relieve boredom and make you more effective in the process.