For a long time, comedy has been referred to as a profession for men only. But this has changed in recent years. Many female comics have made themselves outstanding on the stage not by ignoring the issues of gender (性别) inequality, but by bringing them to light.
Yang Li, 28, a stand-up comedy for about three years, focuses on the difficulties females face. For example, recently she bitingly joked about how women are represented in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. “In the film, The Avengers, there are six heroes, and only one of them is a woman, whose superpower is the ability to slow down her aging. How exactly can she be designed to save the world by surviving until all the bad guys die?” she said.
Despite getting more important roles, women still face challenges in the comedy industry. “I’ve found that the audience tend to be more judgmental about a female comedian’s appearance,” said Yang Mengqi, an outstanding comic. To avoid unwelcome attention, female comics have to be especially smart in choosing what clothes they wear to perform.
The other challenge is that females are sometimes taken less seriously, despite plenty of evidence of their talent and dedication in the field with males in the majority. Maple Zuo is a comic who performs in both English and Mandarin. “It’s hard to fit in when I’m the only female comedian at a show.” said Zuo, who has toured internationally. “Every time there’s a comedy scene party, they are naturally divided up into two groups: one for the male comics, the other for their girlfriends, she said. “I always end up hanging out with the girlfriends.”
Even so, many Chinese female comics feel optimistic about their future. Yang said, “When people ask what has motivated me to stick with stand-up comedy, my response is simple: I hope to use whatever influence I have to improve gender equality.”
1. Why did Yang Li joke about the role of the woman hero in The Avengers?| A．The woman hero is less brave than male heroes. |
| B．The woman hero has the power to defend the world. |
| C．There is only one woman surviving in the world. |
| D．The role shows the negative image about women. |
| A．They are particular about clothing. | B．They are not always valued. |
| C．They have a talent for acting. | D．They are often treated critically. |
| A．Confused. | B．Content. | C．Disturbed. | D．Hopeful. |
| A．To introduce the development of the comedy industry |
| B．To comment on the roles women comics play. |
| C．To present the challenges that female comics face. |
| D．To argue for the achievements of female comics. |
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【推荐1】American cities are similar to other cities around the world: In every country, cities reflect the values of the culture. American cities are changing, just as American society is changing.
After World War Ⅱ, the population of most large American cities decreased; however, the population in many Sun Belt cities increased. Los Angeles and Houston are cities where population shifts(转移) to and from the city reflect the changing values of American society. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, city residents(居民) became richer. They had more children so they needed more space. They moved out of their apartments in the city to buy their own homes. They bought houses in the suburbs(郊区).
Now things are changing. The children of the people who left the cities in the 1950s are now adults. Many, unlike their parents, want to live in the cities. They continue to move to Sun Belt cities and older ones of the Northeast and Midwest. Many young professionals(专业人士，专门人才) are moving back into the city. They prefer the city to the suburbs because their jobs are there; or they just enjoy the excitement and possibilities that the city offers.
This population shift is bringing problems as well as benefits. A large number of poor people must leave their apartments in the city because the owners want to sell the buildings or make apartments for sale instead of for rent. In the 1950s, many poor people did not have enough money to move to the suburbs; now many of these same people do not have enough money to stay in the cities.
Only a few years ago, people thought that the older American cities were dying. Some city residents now see a bright, new future. Others see only problems and conflicts. One thing is sure: many dying cities are alive again.
1. What does the author think of cities all over the world?| A．They are alive. | B．They are hopeless. |
| C．They are similar. | D．They are different. |
| A．Because older American cities were dying. |
| B．Because they were richer and needed more space. |
| C．Because cities had the worst parts of society. |
| D．Because they could hardly afford a life in the city. |
| A．are faced with housing problems |
| B．are forced to move to the suburbs |
| C．want to sell their buildings |
| D．need more money for daily expenses |
| A．American cities are changing for the worse |
| B．people have different views on American cities |
| C．many people are now moving from American cities |
| D．the population is decreasing in older American cities |
Why are so many people unhappy in their jobs? There are two primary reasons. First, some people are convinced that earning a living is wasting time that they could spend enjoying themselves or uncovering their true talents.
If this is the case with you, recall your last long vacation. Was it two weeks of complete enjoyment? More likely it was a week and a half of fun in the sun, with another half a week of “Boy, I can’t wait to get back to work.” If you didn’t feel such vacation blues, then imagine taking a leave of absence. You could use it to work on a novel, attend classes or just sit around watching TV. At the end of three months, in all likelihood, your self-respect would be at an all-time low. While all work and no play are not good, all play and no work are disastrous. We need to feel we are accomplishing something. We also need some form of order in our lives.
The second and perhaps more common reason for people not to like their work is that they feel trapped. Once you’ve been at a company for five years and get married, have a mortgage and a child, you often feel you have very little choice about jumping ship if things aren’t turning out as you’d planned. A steady paycheck can be the biggest restrict of all. People hate having to do something because they have no other choice.
If you find yourself hating your job, your option takes the form of an up-to-date resume. You might also take a weekly glance through the help-wanted section, and make some visits to industry functions where low-key networking can take place. You’re not giving up on your current job. Rather, you are providing yourself with an option. If things get unbearable at work, you could jump ship.
At the core of adopting a positive attitude to your workplace is, above all, assuming responsibility for your own situation. Most people feel controlled by their environment, but they really aren’t. They have to learn to manage that environment so they can get from it what they need.
1. What are people likely to do after a long vacation according to the author? (No more than 10 words)2. What can people get from work according to the second paragraph? (No more than 10 words)
3. How do you interpret the underlined word in the last paragraph? (One word)
4. What do you think is the main idea of the passage? (No more than 15 words)
5. What will you do if you hate your job one day in the future? (No more than 20 words)
【推荐3】In today’s households where both parents go to work and kids have busy schedules with school, homework and many afternoon activities, finding time for a gathering at the table seems all but impossible. Yet, studies have shown time and again that eating together has multiple benefits for family members, especially children.
According to reports issued by the CASA, children who eat more with their family are at lower risk of developing poor eating habits, weight problems or alcohol dependencies. They tend to perform better academically than those who frequently eat alone. Family meals came into American life in the mid-20th century. In the 60's and 70's, social, economic and technological changes quickly dissolved the short-lived way of family meals. Restaurant visits, take-out and TV dinners have since become the norm (常态).
There are indications, however, that the old customs are coming back. According to the latest CASA reports, 59% of surveyed families said they ate dinner together at least five times a week, a significant increase from 47% in 1998. Whatever drives this trend, it is a development that should be welcomed.
Eating together as a family is not just about food and nutrition. It is about teaching them how to become members of their society and culture. Sharing a meal with loved ones should be considered a special event, which can almost take on the form of a ceremony, as it was practiced by our ancestors for whom finding food was a constant struggle.
Of course, there is no guarantee that the simple act of eating at home surrounded by family may make children more socially responsible. But it can lay the groundwork for a lot of things that point them in the right direction.
1. What does the underlined sentence suggest?| A．This practice of family meals started to change. |
| B．Dining at home would enjoy great popularity. |
| C．The society was to develop at a high speed. |
| D．Americans would attach importance to take-out. |
| A．Favorable. | B．Disapproving. |
| C．Reserved. | D．Objective. |
| A．valued the education of children | B．liked struggling with each other |
| C．cared much about food nutrition | D．appreciated the importance of food |
| A．Good Eating Habits Matter | B．Family Dinners Benefit Kids |
| C．Meals Take on New Meanings | D．Old Customs Are Coming Back |
【推荐1】Visitors to Britain may find the best place to sample local culture is in a traditional pub. But these friendly pubs can be dangerous places of potential gaffes (失礼) for the newcomers. A team of researchers have discovered some of the unknown customs of British pubs-starting with the difficulty of getting a drink. Most pubs have no waiters-you have to go to the bar to buy drinks. A group of Italian youths waiting 45 minutes before they realized they would have to fetch their own. This may sound inconvenient, but there is a hidden purpose.
Pub culture is designed to promote sociability (社交) in a society known for its reserve. Standing at the bar for service allows you to chat with others waiting to be served. The bar counter is possibly the only site in the British Isles in which friendly conversation with strangers is considered entirely suitable and really quite normal behavior. “If you haven't been to a pub, you haven't been to Britain.” This tip can be found in a booklet, Passport to the Pub: The Tourists' Guide to Pub Etiquette, a customers' rule of conduct for those wanting to sample “a central part of British life and culture”.
The trouble is that if you do not follow the local rules, the experience may fall flat. For example, if you are in a big group, it is best if only one or two people go to buy the drinks. Nothing annoys the regular customers and bar staff more than a group of strangers blocking all access to the bar while they chat and hesitate about what to order.
1. The underlined word “sample” in the first paragraph probably means “________”.| A．taste | B．experience | C．test | D．record |
| A．encourage people to communicate with each other |
| B．encourage more people to consume drinks |
| C．attract more tourists to the pubs |
| D．form its own character of culture |
| A．you won't buy good local drinks |
| B．you may annoy the regular customers and bar staff |
| C．you may fail to feel the local culture |
| D．you might get into a dangerous place |
| A．Self-service Pubs in Britain | B．British Local Pubs: Special Chat Places |
| C．Local Pub Culture in Britain | D．Manners in British Local Pubs |
【推荐2】It's a lesson that most of us learn years before were old enough to drive: Red means stop, green means go. Simple enough. But what happens when you live in a culture where green also means blue?
Drive around Japan long enough and you'll find “go” signals in different kinds of blue. “Is this signal broken?” you might ponder. “Did some careless workers install the wrong bulbs?” The answer, as Atlas Obscura points out, is not in the wiring, but in the Japanese language.
Hundreds of years ago, the Japanese language included words for only four basic colours: black, white, red, and blue. If you wanted to describe something green, you'd use the word for blue-ao. That system worked well until the word midori began showing up to describe green. Even then, midori was considered a shade of ao. This sudden switch-over had lasting effects in Japan.
Today you'll still see green things doubtfully labelled blue. A fruit seller might sell you an ao-ringo (blue apple) only to disappoint you that it's actually green. Likewise, green bamboos are called aodake (“blue bamboos”) and an inexperienced employee may be called aonisai, meaning a “blue two-year-old”. And that brings us to traffic lights.
Initially, Japan's traffic lights were green as green can be. Despite this, the country's official traffic documents still referred to them as ao. International traffic law commands all “go” signals must be represented by green lights, and Japanese linguists objected to their government's decision to continue using the word ao to describe what was clearly midori. The government decided to compromise. In 1973, the government passed through an order that traffic lights use the bluest shade of green possible-still technically green, but noticeably blue enough to justifiably continue using ao nomenclature (命名法).
So, while it may appear that Japan uses blue traffic lights, the government assures us it's actually just a very blue shade of green-green enough to satisfy international regulations blue enough to still be called ao. Don't ever say the government never solved anything.
1. What does the underlined word “ponder” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?| A．Remark. | B．Wonder. | C．Explore. | D．Hesitate. |
| A．The public preferred blue to green. |
| B．Green must be used with caution in Japan. |
| C．The word ao developed later than the word midori. |
| D．There were limited words to describe colours in Japan's history. |
| A．The colour of “go” lights is a mix of blue and green in Japan. |
| B．Japan's traffic lights still disobey the international traffic law. |
| C．Japanese linguists opposed changing the color of traffic lights. |
| D．Japan's traffic lights were first addressed as green in official papers. |
| A．Traditional colours in Japan | B．Interesting driving rules in japan |
| C．Why Japan has blue traffic lights | D．Why green can cheat people in Japan |
【推荐3】Southeast Asia has a population of about 680 million people and its countries are seeing rapid economic growth. However, it is also expected to be one of the regions which could be most heavily affected by climate change. Natural disasters already regularly affect the region. Two recent examples are Typhoon Rai, which hit the Philippines and Cyclone Seroja, which affected Indonesia. Urgent action is required to build up the region’s ability to adapt to climate change, and it is a collective responsibility.
Electric Vehicles (EVs) have been a hot topic in regard to climate change, especially since 92% of transport-related emissions (排放) in Southeast Asia come from road transport. Some Southeast Asian nations have started focusing on increasing EV production. Indonesia wants 20% of all cars built there to be EVs by 2025 and Thailand wants to hit 30% by 2030. Thailand also lowered taxes on EVs from 8% to 2% to help incentivize consumers.
Grab, a car rental company with a presence across Southeast Asia, has been a strong advocate of turning to EVs. It is actively helping their driver-partners turn to EVs by making them more affordable through partnerships with automakers, energy providers and other key industry players. It already operates the largest EV rental company in Indonesia with about 8,500 vehicles and also has a feature in Singapore called “Eco-friendly Rides” that allows users to be prioritized for a cleaner energy vehicle for their rides. More than one million rides on cleaner energy vehicles have been provided through that initiative so far since its launch in 2021.
However, some argue that EVs have limitations with regards to controlling emissions. Since Southeast Asia primarily uses coal and natural gas to generate electricity, emission reduction may not be currently comparable to that of regions using more renewable energy. Additionally, EV adoption does also generate concerns around dealing with the used solar panels and EV batteries safely, so they are not the be-all and end-all solution to climate change.
1. Why does the author mention Typhoon Rai and Cyclone Seroja?| A．To prove the importance of Indonesia. |
| B．To show the impact of natural disasters. |
| C．To stress the reason of climate change. |
| D．To raise the awareness of economic growth. |
| A．Educate. | B．Thank. | C．Encourage. | D．Protect. |
| A．It makes them less expensive. | B．It founds more branches. |
| C．It cooperates with drivers. | D．It adds features to their vehicles. |
| A．The driving safety of EVs. |
| B．The growing need for solar energy. |
| C．Their efficiency in reducing emissions. |
| D．The consumption of coal and natural gas. |
