It’s 13:30 and 28-year-old Marten Pella 's smart phone starts pinging, a signal that it’s time for us to stop working around his living room table and instead start our workout routine together. A cartoon character wearing bright red shorts on video begins instructing us to do star-jumps and sit-ups around his apartment.
Pella, a research assistant at Stockholm University, is part of the Hoffice movement, which invites workers-freelancers（自由职业者）or full-time employees who can do their jobs remotely—to work at each other’s homes to increase productivity and enjoy an active social life.
Those attending Hoffice events advertised on Facebook are typically asked to work silently in 45-minute blocks, before taking short breaks together to exercise, or simply chatting over a coffee. In addition, each participant shares daily objectives with the rest of the group upon arrival, and is invited to report back on whether or not they have achieved them at the end of the day.
“Often when I am alone, I can work focused for a couple of hours but then I’m easily distracted（分心）.The help of others makes me so much more disciplined.” says Pella, who attends Hoffice events as both a guest and a host. Lunches mean networking and connecting with new contacts. “People are coming from really different areas and have different professions so there can be really interesting discussions,” he says.
The Hoffice movement has grown quickly since it was founded in 2014 by Swedish psychologist Christofer Franzen, now 37. He had been giving lectures on the benefits of collective（集体的）intelligence, but realised he was spending most of his own time working alone at his kitchen table. “I wanted to test more structured home co-working with friends in similar situations,” he says.
Franzen says that holding events in houses and apartments creates a unique atmosphere, because there’s a sense of community and desire to contribute. He’s looking for ways to expand the social value of Hoffice, by matching up members with relevant skills to share and even encouraging jobseekers to join its gatherings.
1. Where is Pella when his smart phone starts pinging?| A．In his own home. | B．In his office. |
| C．In another person’s home. | D．At Stockholm University. |
| A．Watch an exercise video. | B．Work silently for 45 minutes. |
| C．Tell each other their daily plans. | D．Report what they have achieved. |
| A．They usually work alone. |
| B．They often give lectures. |
| C．They study collective intelligence. |
| D．They have to work at a kitchen table. |
| A．Sharing Comfortable Workplaces | B．A New Way to Make New Friends |
| C．Benefits of Collective Intelligence | D．Working from Others’ Homes |
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【推荐1】You don’t need to be a world-class mountaineer to stand out in a job interview. Here’s my advice on how to nail the most common interview question.
Most people are so eager to show off what they’ve been involved in. Don’t worry, and there will be time for that. The interviewer has reviewed your resume and will ask you plenty about your expertise. “Tell me about yourself” is a question you’re certain to be asked at any job interview.
Everyone has something interesting to share about themselves. I’ve heard people talk about everything from being a world-class sushi chef to an ice carver.
Another way to think about the question is: “What gets you up every morning?” The person also wants to know what your sense of passion and purpose is. That volunteer work on a farm cooperative in South America, for example, shows you have a global perspective.
| A．Take a risk to get personal. |
| B．Showing honesty is one of the most important things. |
| C．Running your first 10 kilometers shows you like a challenge. |
| D．And then everything you say about yourself will be questioned. |
| E．It's also important to tell it in a way that makes you memorable. |
| F．Too many people respond to it by giving a recital of their resume. |
| G．"Tell me about yourself" is an invitation for you to share brief information. |
【推荐2】Andrea Speranza wanted to be a firefighter long before she had the right word for her wish. After one childhood adventure at a construction site ended with a brake lever inserted in her leg, and an emergency call to the fire department, she found herself in amazement. “As they gave basic medical treatment to me, I thought they help everybody and they can do anything,” says the now 52-year-old from Toronto, Canada.
In 2000, Speranza fulfilled her dream of becoming a firefighter, joining the Halifax Regional Fire Service. Her job was exactly as fulfilling as she imagined it would be, except for one thing: she still hadn’t seen another woman in her role, not in a magazine, not on television, not in real life. Even today, less than five percent of firefighters in Canada are women. Speranza decided that she wanted to help young women see that they, too, could have a career like hers.
The result is Camp Courage, a program for girls aged 15 to 19 who want to learn more about firefighting, and police work. In 2006, Speranza and about 20 volunteers welcomed their first 17 participants, recruiting(招募) attendees through advertising in schools and recreation centres. Over the course of eight days, the girls discover the ins and outs of being first responders: learning how to put out fires, delivering first aid and even using the jaws of life on a car.
Camp Courage now runs one session every year in Halifax and is free to attend. Hundreds of girls have now passed through Camp Courage, and 36 percent are doing exactly what Speranza hoped they would: working as first responders across the country.
“I used to think that it’s awesome that I can be a firefighter and save all these people,”
Speranza says with a smile. But the opportunity to recruit other girls to save lives alongside her is what really keeps her going. “It’s not even measurable.”
1. What made Speranza want to be a firefighter?| A．Her dream as a baby. | B．The emergency call. |
| C．Firefighters’ encouragement. | D．Her admiration for firemen. |
| A．To create more jobs for women. | B．To strengthen fire fighting force. |
| C．To see more females in her field. | D．To improve the status of women. |
| A．It runs throughout the year. | B．It attracts women of all ages. |
| C．It operates well and bears fruit. | D．It provides training for firefighters. |
| A．A female firefighter. | B．An immeasurable career. |
| C．A good choice for women. | D．A dream-building program. |
【推荐3】Catfish effect is the effect that a strong competitor has in causing the weak to better themselves. Actions done to actively apply this effect in an organization are termed catfish management.
In Norway, live sardines are several times more expensive than frozen ones, and are valued for better texture and flavor. It was said that only one ship could bring live sardines home, and the shipmaster kept his method a secret. After he died, people found that there was one catfish in the tank. The catfish keeps swimming, and the sardines try to avoid this predator (捕食者). This increased level of activity keeps the sardines active, thus, increasing their survival rate greatly.
Catfish effect has been one of the hottest topics in human resources management. Therefore, I will keep the explanation short and sweet. When an outsider joins a well-established team as a competitor, he causes the weak to better their performance. This method is meant to motivate each of the teammates to feel the competition in order to keep up the competitiveness level of the whole team.
However, adding a catfish in the team can also bring in the downside in the group’s dynamics.
The team would go back to the storming stage. Under-performers would become more negative about the change that the catfish tried to implement (实施) because they would see it as a threat. The failed attempt of implementation of changing will create under-performance in the team as a whole, which will lead to a greater management challenge.
The key employee or backbone employee will feel demotivated because the opportunity to get a more senior job has decreased. If there are too many catfish in the company, this would generate a stressful work environment. The employee would constantly worry if they are being “preyed” by the catfish. The mental burden would create a harmful corporate culture and increase the distrust between employees.
A high standard is required on the catfish. The catfish would eventually turn into a leading role in the team. Lack in leadership skill from the catfish would lead to a bigger chaos in the workplace. Worst situation would be setting up a bad leadership role model to further an unhealthy competitive environment.
1. What is paragraph 2 of the text mainly about?| A．The magic trick of catching sardines. | B．The underlying logic of the effect. |
| C．The exact origin of the legend. | D．The great wisdom of a catfish. |
| A．Unfair corporate culture. | B．Violent work environment. |
| C．Great management challenge. | D．Reduced promotion chance. |
| A．Qualifying a catfish for a leading role. | B．Setting up a harmonious relationship. |
| C．Creating a less competitive workplace. | D．Stopping a catfish entering a company. |
| A．Subjective. | B．Pessimistic. | C．Objective. | D．Doubtful. |
【推荐1】Imagine you’re talking to someone and find a big piece of green thing in their teeth after lunch. Are you g ping to tell him/her? It can feel awkward to tell somebody they have something in their teeth, or elsewhere.
Beyond issues related to a person’s appearance, feedback is also vital for learning and growth.
In workplaces, feedback from managers can improve performance. We also give feedback in our personal lives. like telling our partners the dish they cooked was too hot.
Finally, we should still be careful about immediately or eagerly telling anyone and everyone how they can improve
| A．So what are proper; ways to-provide feedbacks? |
| B．There’s no doubt many of us avoid giving feedback. |
| C．Students need feedback so they can improve their grades. |
| D．So why are we sometimes unwilling to provide feedback elsewhere? |
| E．Constant and eager feedbacks have a significant impact on the receivers. |
| F．Constructive feedback should be specific, actionable and delivered in a timely fashion. |
| G．Therefore, we can see that many people are unwilling to provide feedback on account of their failing to appreciate its value. |
【推荐2】How to Handle an Argument with Your Family Members
We’ve all been there. A relaxed evening with our family members. A lot of laughing. And then, as if someone had sat on the TV remote and changed the channel, the mood shifts. No more warmth. Suddenly there’s shouting, a ping-pong of accusations(指责), deadly stares, and hostility(敌意) streaming from eyes like red laser pointers. Having a conflict with your family members is frustrating, and you may feel sad and depressed.
Do remember that as much as it might feel this way, you’re not in a court of law with your family members.
Do try to be an advocate of others’ feelings.
Don’t try to explain yourself. You often want to explain yourself when having conflicts with your family members, but you don’t have time. You’re being cut off and attacked again.
| A．If you are looking for a new relationship |
| B．Don’t attempt to prove yourself in the face of your loved ones |
| C．The point of an argument isn’t to prove the others guilty or to win |
| D．Rather than going in circles about what you think and how you feel |
| E．Each accusation strikes deeper and deeper into your sense of justice |
| F．Don’t talk about what happened as though you’re simply stating the facts |
| G．Here are the do’s and don’ts when you are arguing with your family members |
【推荐3】Everyone can benefit from better communication.
Verbal language is only one aspect of the communication—body language is another aspect. If you ever wanted to know how to tell if someone is lying, body language is the answer. Your body language tells other people what you aren’t verbally saying, such as if you are anxious, confident, confused, angry or any other type of emotion or state of mind. If you become great at reading body language,it will help you become a better communicator.
Listen to others
Before you ever begin to speak, take a minute to see if anyone else has something to say.
Think before you speak
You parents probably told you this as a child, but many people still do not take a moment to think about the words they are about to say.
| A．This is not and over-night thing. |
| B．Singing a song for them is good. |
| C．Become fluent in body language |
| D．Don’t try to make the conversation go your way. |
| E．You should decide what you want to get in any conversation before you choose your words. |
| F．If you are too anxious, you can’t find the right body language to use in the communication. |
| G．In fact, if everybody were excellent communicators, the world would be a much better place. |
【推荐1】Take your dog for a meal. At more restaurants including some of the most fashionable ones, dining with animals is now part of the evening’s menu.
When locals in Key West, go out to dinner, a popular place is an open-air restaurant. On entering the restaurant, they’ll likely see a cat next to a sign that says “Pet the Cat, $1.”
For the owners of the restaurant, serving human guests alongside their pets is a no-brainer. Since they opened the restaurant, they’ve had a friendly rule towards pets, the one that allows pets into the restaurant in a given week.
Americans more and more depend on restaurants (they eat 4.2 meals out each week), it’s only natural that the family pet is finally getting into the act. Enter “pet-friendly restaurants” into an Internet search engine and many restaurants come out.
Why do restaurants court pets? “Dogs never send their food back,” jokes one owner.
The trend(趋势) doesn’t only belong to common places. Many high-rank restaurants also have followed the trend. And there are some cooks making a special effort to treat those with four legs. Lorie Ann, co-owner and cook at a restaurant named Fish Wagon in Calif., specializing in German and French food, serves a free home-made “doggie burger” and a few doggie “cookies” to non-human guests.
Even as more restaurants seek to draw pet owners, they are still the exception. Most local health rules make it clear that pets should be prevented from restaurants and suggest that they be kept out of open-air areas. Still, many officials don’t pay attention to the rules and allow pets to sit outside with their owners.
To make pet owners convenient within the rules, some restaurants allow pets to sit with their owners only when the animals are “parked” just outside the designated (指定的) dining area .
1. Why does it become part of the evening’s menu to take pets for a meal naturally in America?| A．Many restaurants aim to please non-human guests. |
| B．People have meals out more often than ever before. |
| C．Pet owners want to give their pets better things to eat. |
| D．More and more restaurants have friendly rules for pets. |
| A．Try to clean. | B．Try to stop. | C．Try to please. | D．Try to introduce. |
| A．Restaurants please owners in order to bring more dogs. |
| B．Restaurants give more special service to pets than humans. |
| C．Health rules don’t have any influence on dining out with pets. |
| D．Restaurants try to balance between the rules and guests’ need. |
| A．Pet Meals | B．Petting Cats in Restaurants |
| C．Pet Owners | D．Dining out with Your Pets |
【推荐2】“I like pigs,” Winston Churchill supposedly once said. “Dogs look up at us, cats look down on us, but pigs treat us as equals.” Whether Churchill’s contemporary George Orwell also liked pigs is less clear. But he, too, surely saw something in them that was lacking in other domestic beasts, for it was they who ended up running the show in novel Animal Farm. Pigs, then, are intelligent social creatures.
And, like all animals, they sometimes fight. A study just published in Animal Cognition by Ivan Norscia, a biological anthropologist at the University of Turin, in Italy, and his colleagues, looked at how a group of 104 domestic pigs went about resolving such incidents. In total, Dr. Norscia and his team studied the details of 216 pig conflicts over the course of six months.
Some pigs tend to be attackers; others tend to be victims. Who is what depends largely on weight, for, among pigs pounds mean power. The attacker might bite, kick, bump or lift the victim (or string together a sequence of those actions). Most conflicts ended in seconds, but some lasted a minute or two.
In most animal species that would be that. However, many of the pig conflicts Dr. Norscia observed had interested parties beyond the protagonists (主角). He therefore wanted to understand the role of these bystanders in resolving fights —and what this says about pigs’ cognitive (认知) abilities.
Since there was usually not enough time for a bystander pig to intervene during the heat of a conflict (though this did occur), he and his colleagues looked at what happened in the three minutes directly following an aggressive interaction. Sometimes, they found, the protagonists made up on their own —for instance, by touching noses.
On other occasions, though, a third pig stepped in. Sometimes this bystander acted as a peacemaker, engaging with the attacker and reducing the number of subsequent attacks compared with what might otherwise have been expected. Sometimes, by contrast, the bystander engaged with the victim. This appeared to calm the victim down, for it reduced anxiety-related behavior such as shaking and scratching.
1. Why does the author mention Winston Churchill in the first paragraph?| A．To prove pigs are clever. | B．To show pigs are inspirational. |
| C．To state Churchill loves pigs. | D．To introduce the topic of the text. |
| A．Their ages. | B．Their weight. |
| C．Their safety needs. | D．Their cognitive abilities. |
| A．To comprehend the role of bystanders in conflict resolution. |
| B．To figure out the relationship between pigs. |
| C．To record the details of 216 pig conflicts. |
| D．To find out the reason for pigs’ conflicts. |
| A．By shaking it. | B．By touching its nose. |
| C．By scratching its back. | D．By offering comfort to it. |
【推荐3】Like many other people, I love my smart phone, which keeps me connected with the larger world that can go anywhere with me. I also love my laptop，because it holds all of my writing and thoughts. In spite of this love of technology, I know that there are times when I need to move away from these devices and truly communicate with others.
On occasion, I teach a course called History Matters for a group of higher education managers. My goals for the class include a full discussion of historical themes and ideas. Because I want students to thoroughly study the materials and exchange their ideas with each other in the classroom, I have a rule—no laptop, ipads, phones, etc. When students were told my rule in advance of the class, some of them were not happy.
Most students assume that my reasons for this rule include unpleasant experiences in the past with students misusing technology. There’s a bit of truth to that. Some students assume that I am anti-technology. There’s no truth in that at all. I love technology and try to keep up with it, so I can relate to my students.
The real reason why I ask students to leave technology at the door is that I think there are very few places in which we can have deep conversions and truly engage complex ideas. Interruptions by technology often break concentration and allow for too much dependence on outside information for ideas. I want students to dig deep within themselves for inspiration and ideas. I want them to push each other to think differently and make connections between the course materials and the class discussion.
I’ve been teaching my history class in this way for many years and the evaluations reflect student satisfaction with the environment that I create. Students realize that with deep conversation and challenge, they learn at a level that helps them keep the course materials beyond the classroom.’
I’m not saying that I won’t ever change my mind about technology use in my history class, but until I hear a really good reason for the change, I’m sticking to my plan. A few hours of technology-free dialogue is just too sweet to give up.
1. Some of the students in the history class were unhappy with________.| A．the course materials | B．the author’s class regulations |
| C．discussion topics | D．others’ misuse of technology |
| A．The author made the rule since he was against technology. |
| B．The author made the rule mainly because of his unpleasant experiences. |
| C．The author’s history class received low assessment. |
| D．The students think highly of the author’s history class. |
| A．allow students to get on well with each other |
| B．improve teaching and offer more help |
| C．help students to better understand complex themes |
| D．prohibit students being involved in class |
| A．The author will continue his plan until a good reason comes up. |
| B．Some students will be punished according to the rule. |
| C．More and more students will be absent in history class. |
| D．The author will help students concentrate on what they learn. |
【推荐1】I took a journey to New York,US several months ago.It was the first time I had been abroad.It was also the first time I had taken a trip by myself.I had great enthusiasm and high hopes,and I wasn't let down.
It’s hard to describe how I felt when I arrived at the airport in New York.Looking at people of different races and nationalities passing by and hearing different languages all around me,I couldn’t say anything for a long time.I had never understood the cultural diversity of the US so clearly and closely before.
The following days were even more impressive.We integrated（融入）into the forest of concrete and cement（混凝土和水泥）.We waved to the Statue of Liberty;we looked down at the busy island of Manhattan;we looked at well-known universities—Harvard of ancient Egypt.
Then we visited some well-known university—Harvard,Yale,Princeton and Columbia—each with its own appealing and time-honored history.But what all these universities have in common is their peaceful academic atmospheres witch you could feel everywhere.I was impressed by the libraries,decorated just like cathedrals（教堂）, and the laboratories just next to the classroom.My dream is to return to those places as an international student.
Finally came our destinations—the Model United Nations conference at the University of Chicago.Students from various countries arrived to act as United Nations delegations and share their opinions about global issues.
As a non-native speaker,I felt that competing against native speakers was a very tough task.But it was also a rare change to improve my English and I couldn’t throw it away.With perseverance and devotion.I got used to talking to other delegations naturally.Although I didn't win any awards,the chairman praised me at the closing ceremony for my excellent performance.That made me feel really proud.
This trip brought me unforgettable and valuable experiences that will benefit me forever.
1. What is the main purpose of the author's going to America?| A．To see some places of interest. | B．To visit some well-known universities. |
| C．To attend a competition at a university. | D．To learn about the cultural diversity there. |
| A．Regretful. | B．Amazed. | C．Peaceful. | D．Confident. |
| A．To work for the United Nations. | B．To tour more countries in the world. |
| C．To have a job in the United States. | D．To study in the famous universities in America. |
| A．He won an award in the competition. | B．He was praised by the chairman. |
| C．He could persuade others to accept his opinions. | D．He could speak English well at the conference. |
【推荐2】Smartphones can be a force for good. Your phone is always with you, making it the perfect device to push you into a more beneficial way of living. Here are some of the best apps that can help.
Habitica
Habitica turns the goal of forming good habits into a game, with its own characters and scoring. It’s a lot of fun, and the app also lets you build habits with friends and family. In addition to regular repeating habits, you can add a more general to-do list, and the rewards you get can be customized too—you could treat yourself to a meal out or an extra hour of games.
Smoke free
If you’re determined to give up smoking, Smoke Free is one of the most comprehensive apps for giving you that extra push you need to make a permanent change. The app offers a host of useful features to people wanting to go smoke-free: the ability to see your progress over time, charts showing how your health is improving, day-by-day encouragement, and some advice on techniques for giving up smoking.
MyFitnessPal
You can find tons of health and fitness apps for your phone, but My FitnessPal stands out not just because it is easy to use, but because it makes practical suggestions for you. It can take in a host of data, from the calories you’re taking in to the number of swims you’re doing per week, and offer reports on calorie consumption and macronutrient (大量营养素) breakdown.
1. What can Habitica help you to do?| A．Win a tough game. | B．Start a lasting friendship. |
| C．Develop a pleasant habit. | D．Find a fancy restaurant. |
| A．The freedom to smoke. | B．The ability to make progress. |
| C．Charts about your excellent health. | D．Advice on how to quit smoking. |
| A．They’re practical. | B．They’re cheap. |
| C．They’re interesting. | D．They’re free. |
【推荐3】Two years ago I was very lonely and didn't talk with anyone about my feelings. At the time I didn't have many friends. I wanted someone to share my experiences and secrets with. I wanted someone to understand me. I started to imagine this friend. Often I imagine our conversations and what we would do, but I didn't give my imagination a face.
Some weeks later I started a new project in school and I was working with one of my schoolmates. We had never worked together before but we got along well. After the project we started to spend some time together in school. One day we decided to take a walk. Ever since that walk we've been friends. We listened and really understood each other.
I had wished for a best friend, but the universe gave me so much more. I have met one of my soul mates(挚友). We can sense each other, and it just takes one look and we know what the other is thinking. I didn't think our friendship could grow much stronger. But now we have known each other for two years and our friendship is growing all the time.
It hasn't only been easy. We have gone through both easy and hard times. But I'm grateful for the hard times, because they have forced me to grow and taught me a lot. My best friend has changed me. She has made me believe in myself. And I am now focusing on achieving one of my biggest dreams. Without her, I wouldn't even have realized what my biggest dream is.
I know there are soul mates out in the world for you. I am so thankful to have met one of mine. Believe in them, and your paths will cross.
1. What did the author do before meeting her soul mate?| A．She chose to stay alone. | B．She spent time with other friends. |
| C．She told others about her feelings. | D．She pictured a friend in her mind. |
| A．By taking a walk. |
| B．By attending a party. |
| C．Through a school project. |
| D．Through a friend's introduction. |
| A．Their friendship is still developing. |
| B．She is the author's only soul mate. |
| C．They are trying hard to realize their dreams. |
| D．She has little confidence in their friendship. |
| A．She went through them easily. |
| B．She has learned a lot from them. |
| C．They have made her suffer. |
| D．They have made her dream come true. |
