Young Africans are logging in and clocking on
His home is Bungoma, a small town in western Kenya, but his workplace is the world. Kevin, who asks that his real name be masked to protect his credibility, has written about offices in China without ever going there. He has reviewed home-security systems he has never seen.
Some are attracted to the work by the flexibility and pay; others because they cannot find a traditional job. There are advocates for freelancing.
Freelances, like the wider outsourcing (外包) industry, “are fighting against a reputation of Africa as somewhere where you would not expect digital work to take place,” says Mohammad Amir Anwar of the University of Edinburgh, who co-wrote a book about Africa’s digital workforce. Some African freelances use virtual private networks and fake names to pretend they are somewhere else.
The available data suggest that it will take time for Africa to become a continent of digital freelances. In 2019, Mr. Anwar and colleagues estimated that there were 120,000 African workers on Upwork, the continent’s most popular platform—fewer than in the Philippines. Most did not seem to be making any money.
Outsourcing practices have also sparked moral questions. Al Astra (a live-streaming company) content-moderation center in Kenya run by Sama (an outsourcing firm), workers told journalists that they were mistreated and misled about the nature of their work.
Technological change bounces in unpredictable directions. Could Al tools, previously trained by Kenyan workers, one day make these freelances such as Kevin unnecessary?
| A．Africa’s digital workers are re-mapping the old geographies of labor. |
| B．The internet creates new kinds of work, without any patterns of inequality. |
| C．A former employee has taken both companies to court, accusing them of forced labor. |
| D．Typical tasks include data entry, online marketing, or even writing essays for lazy students. |
| E．Baraka Mafole, a student in Tanzania, organizes training events for navigating online platforms. |
| F．Power cuts and competition for part-time jobs from cheaper workers in Asia and beyond create other challenges. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】People often imagine that a knowledge of languages is sufficient to make an interpreter. Of course it is a prerequisite, as are two hands to a professional boxer. But just as the fact of having two hands does not make a boxer, so the knowledge of different languages, be they many or few, does not make an interpreter. It is only an instrument which you must learn how to use in a particular way — for which you may or may not be gifted.
The basic qualities required of the interpreter are not exceptionally rare, but their combination is very uncommon. They are:
(1) A capacity for being passively receptive, i.e. for drinking in readily and without any personal reaction all that may be said by the speaker.
(2) The type of quick-wittedness which makes for prompt and effective repartee (妙语), interpretation being a sort of mental game of tennis.
(3) A good memory, because all the tricks of the trade are intended only to make up for its deficiencies. Two things are expected of the interpreter’s memory: first, that it should store up an exceptionally large vocabulary in the related languages and supply instantly the required word or phrase; second, that it should retain for a very brief period(seldom more than one hour) a picture as full, detailed, and accurate as possible of what has just been said after which the interpreter will be well advised to wash his mind clear of most of what he has memorized. In this latter function, the interpreter’s memory is therefore the reverse of the comedian’s. Whereas the actor has ample time to learn his part, gradually, and methodically, and is then expected to remember it over a long period and repeat it on a succession (连续) of occasions, the interpreter must wholly commit to his memory fleeting thoughts and words as they fly past, and then bring them back to mind only once, a very short while later.
The work of the translator and that of the interpreter are fundamentally different and can hardly be combined. Very rare indeed are people who can do both. The reason for this is clear: the translator can or should search at leisure for the accurate term, as well as effort to express himself in the best possible grammar and style; he may re-write the same paragraph ten times or more, improving it each time; he may consult all dictionaries and reference books, and ask for help and advice. The interpreter, on the other hand, is given hardly any time to think, can consult neither books nor friends, and must “put across”, immediately and as accurately as possible, whatever the speaker wishes to convey. But he may express nuances (微妙) by varying the tone of his voice, he may paraphrase when he does not find the exact word, he may repeat, correct or add to what he has just said, if he sees that he was not properly understood. These are in reality two contrary techniques.
1. Interpretation is similar to playing tennis in that both need _________.| A．two hands | B．quick response |
| C．mental fitness | D．good muscle memory |
| A．memorize all that is said and remember it for a long time |
| B．memorize the important part of what is said and remember it for a long time |
| C．memorize for a short period all that is said and then forget about it |
| D．memorize all that is said gradually and completely |
| A．It is not necessary for the interpreter to possess all the basic qualities. |
| B．It is uncommon for the interpreter to possess all the basic qualities. |
| C．Certain qualities are more important than the others. |
| D．Only two of the qualities are actually required. |
| A．The qualities required of a translator are basically opposite what is required of an interpreter. |
| B．Being an interpreter is more stressful because an interpreter cannot take back what has been said. |
| C．Putting effort into combing the qualities of a translator and an interpreter can enhance their performance. |
| D．The qualities of a translator are easier to obtain than those of an interpreter. |
【推荐2】To empower students to succeed and make a difference in the 21st century， educator，business leaders， and recent college graduates agree that students have to be better prepared through a liberal， well rounded education and the ability to apply their skills and knowledge to hands-on， real-world learning experiences.College learning for the New Global Century， a recent report released by the National Leadership Council for Liberal Education and America's Proms e(LEAP) ， covered specific areas in which institutions can help students prepare for the transition into the workforce.
87 percent interviewed agree that America's colleges and universities need to raise the quality of student achievement to ensure the United States remains competitive.“There is a need to connect what businesses， corporations， and employers want and what colleges offer to meet real-world challenges.”explain Cruncher.“We have to stop channeling students into a narrow field.We need to teach them to think critically， write well， and be a team player with global awareness in order to be a viable(surviving independently) contributor to the business or nonprofit sectors.”
In a previous report， the council began to address the types of skills graduates need to have.The outcomes：besides having a main focus or line of education， they would a so have to think critically and write well.On the negative side， they found there was a basic disconnection about
the type of education students needed to pull this off.“It was a pleasant for members on the board that many of us were on the same page.It became the basis for his current report.”
The College Learning report show show val y important a liberal education is， says Humphreys.“We can focus on what business leaders want and argue for a broader-vision education.To produce responsible citizens in a complex society with global emphasis， we must teach important skills that are marketable.Employers want students to talk about the experiences that brought their education to life.”Business executives place the greatest emphasis on what they look for when evaluating the skills of potential new hires， and 69 percent of employers said combining broad knowledge with more in-depth focus is“very important.” Employers were somewhat c once med about recent college graduates not having necessary specific job or technical skills but agree that“he technical can be taught.“They expressed the greatest frustration with the challenges of finding“360-degree people.”Crutcher agrees.“That's what it means to be flexible.The mind has to be quick， or you will be left behind.”
So what more do employers really want from recent college graduates?“They want students who can function in groups， work in teams， write critically，have analytical reasoning,and communicate effectively，”says Humphreys.“Keep in mind the most important thing-the world is changing-becoming more global and more connected because of technology， and we have to change with it.Emphasize undergraduate research.Less memorizing.Put into action what you're learning.Both business leaders and recent graduates say engaged learning is key to continued success in the workforce.”
Employers appear to support the recommendations.Both employers and recent graduates stress the need for colleges to integrate skills and knowledge of a major to broader areas of study and to apply both to real-world settings and situations through community service， internships， and study-abroad experiences， for example.
They strongly endorse the concept of a liberal education and producing good citizens.It also helps if students develop a sense of social responsibly through practical skills that span all areas of study， such as communications.
A strong work ethic(道德准则) and sense of loyalty promises greater dividends(回报) for the employer and possible greater success for the individual.This type of graduate is a good investment for an employer and can have along-range impact not only on self-growth but on business development and the community at large.
1. What does the report released by LEAP focus on?| A．College students' application of skills and knowledge. |
| B．College students' preparation for the entry into workforce. |
| C．College students' desire for well-rounded education. |
| D．College students' ability to learn real-world experience. |
| A．preparing students to meet real challenges |
| B．raising the quality of students' achievement |
| C．teaching students to think critically |
| D．guiding students into a narrow world |
| A．It failed to help graduates to focus on their studies. |
| B．It failed to track students' mainline of education. |
| C．It failed to help graduates develop skills which are critically needed. |
| D．It failed to clarify how students could be on the same page in education. |
| A．find employees with flexibility and quick mind |
| B．produce responsible citizens with global emphasis |
| C．place the greatest emphasis on what they look for |
| D．combine broad knowledge with more in-depth focus |
| A．Attach importance to memorizing work. |
| B．Keep themselves occupied in learning. |
| C．Bring what they are learning to life. |
| D．Try to enrich study-abroad experience. |
| A．Those with a sense of social responsibility. |
| B．Those with the concept of a liberal education. |
| C．Those with practical skills and work experience. |
| D．Those with a strong work ethic and sense of loyalty. |
注意:每个空格只填1个单词。请将答案写在答题卡上相应题号的横线上。
How many cabs in New York City? How many tears in a bottle of wine? These aren’t just the lyrics (歌词)to a song by the Australian musician Paul Kelly. They are the kind of questions you are likely to be asked during a job interview.
In recent years, it has become common for bosses to ask interview questions that are impossible to answer. There is no right answer to these “brainteasers”. Instead, they are supposed to help an interviewer calculate an applicant’s ability to reason. What matters is how you come to the conclusion, not what conclusion you arrive at.
Brainteasers started out in management consultancy firms. Young graduates hoping to join the company would be asked: “How many phone booths are there in Manhattan?” They weren ’ t expected to blurt out (脱 口说出)a random number — instead, they were expected to show they could solve even the most stupid problem.
As consultants swarmed across other organizations, they bought their inscrutable (难 以理解的)questions with them. Now, people applying for a job in a call centre can expect to be asked how a nuclear power plant works.
While many bosses have great confidence in how good or effective brainteasers are, a research paper published in the journal Applied Psychology found they are useless for spotting the best candidate for the job. What they are great for is to make employers feel like intellectual giants.
The study’s findings are not surprising. Studies have repeatedly found that most methods of selecting job candidates are hopelessly flawed (有缺点的).Job interviews are among the worst way of picking the right person for the job.
The results of this research raise the question: if interviews are bad at picking the right person for the job, what are they there for? One feeling I have is that many job selection processes are thinly disguised (伪装的)forms of suffering, designed to make applicants feel worthless and boost the confidence of the person asking the question.
Think about the extensive list of personal skills required for even the most lowly entry-level job. Or those painful assessment centres where you are supposed to play nice with people you are competing against to get the job. And then there are the firms that ask applicants to make a presentation to convey how awesome the firms are. All these exercises seem designed not to get the best person for the role, but to assure the boss how great they are, and remind you just how lucky you would be to get this boring job.
| Passage outline | Supporting details |
| Introduction to brainteasers | They are widely used in job interviews and the answers are They focus more on an applicant’s |
| They started out in management consultancy firms and spread to other organizations. Nowadays，a job applicant is often asked questions | |
| Research findings | They are just meant to show off the |
| In—depth Analysis | Many job selection processes make job applicants have a poor Some job applicants are asked to show skills, some of which are In some assessment centres, job applicants are required to play nice with their Some job applicants are supposed to make a presentation to |
【推荐1】Every pet owner loves his pet. There is no argument here.
But when we asked our readers whether they would clone their beloved animals，the responses（反应）were split almost down the middle. Of the 228 readers who answered it，108 would clone their beloved animals，111 would not and nine weighed each side without offering an opinion.
Clearly，from readers’responses，this is an issue that reaches deeply into both the joy and eventual sadness of owning a pet. It also shows people’s widely different expectations over the developing scientific procedure.
Most of the respondents who favored the idea strongly believed it would produce at least a close copy of the original；many felt the process would actually return an exact copy. Those on the other side，however，held little hope that cloning could truly recreate a pet；many simply didn’t wish to go against the natural law of life and death.
Both sides expressed equal love for their animals. More than a few respondents owned“the dog/cat in the world”.They thought of their pets as their“best friend”，“a member of the family”，“the light of their life”.They told moving stories of pets’ heroism，intelligence and selfless devotion.
Few wonder the loss is so disturbing（令人不安的）and the cloning so attractive.“People become very close to their animals，and the loss can be just as hard to bear as when a friend or family member dies，”says Gary A. Kowalski，author of Goodbye Friend：Healing Wisdom for Anyone Who Has Ever Lost a Pet. “For me，cloning feels like an attempt to turn death away... It’s understandable. Death is always painful. It’s difficult to deal with it. It’s hard to accept.”
But would cloning reduce the blow? This question seemed to be at the heart of this problem.
1. While talking about the readers’ responses，the expression“eventual sadness of owning a pet”refers to _______.| A．the troubles one has to deal with in keeping a pet |
| B．the high cost of owning a pet |
| C．the death of one’s pet |
| D．the dangers involved in the cloning of a pet |
| A．He has never thought about the problem of cloning. |
| B．He is in favor of the idea of cloning pets. |
| C．He has lost his beloved pets. |
| D．He has doubts about the cloning of pets. |
| A．Can cloning make the pain one suffers less when a pet dies？ |
| B．Can pet owners afford the cost of cloning？ |
| C．Does cloning go against the law of nature？ |
| D．How reliably does cloning produce an exact copy of one's pet？ |
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项 （A 、B 、C 和 D ）中，选出最佳选项。
A recent announcement by scientists that they have successfully cloned the first human embryo(胚胎) has caused much debate and has shocked many people around the world. On the one hand, some scientists point out that if you clone an embryo, you can produce valuable tissues(组织) and organs that could be used to save human lives. On the other hand, many people, including some scientists, disagree and fear that if mankind interferes with (干涉) nature in this way, they may be on their way to producing a real-life Frankenstein's monster.
Cloning is producing an exact copy of a plant or an animal using its cells. The first mammal to be cloned successfully from an adult cell was Dolly—the sheep. She was born in 1996 and died in early 2003, at a much younger age than normal. When she was born, many people were angry because they thought cloning would create more diseases in the animal world. However, in general the scientists were praised for their wonderful scientific breakthrough.
The Scottish scientist who created Dolly, Ian Wilmut, is shocked that some scientists are now considering cloning human beings. Although he researches cloning, he has never thought of creating copies of humans. Instead, he thinks the scientists should concentrate on creating new tissues and organs that could eventually be used to cure diseases like cancer. However, some people consider that cloning human embryos with the intention of destroying them shows no respect for human lives.
While cloning human embryos is illegal in many countries, some scientists are already pushing ahead with the research so as to deliver a cloned human baby. Severino Antinori, an Italian doctor, is one of the leaders in this field of research. He has declared that he wants to be the first to clone a human being.
In China, scientists have focused their efforts on cloning animals, as well as stem cells to be used in medical research. China has succeeded in producing clones of cows and goats, and continues to research ways in which cloning can benefit mankind.
1. Which of the following statements about cloning is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Cloning technology can only be applied to animals. |
| B．A cloned animal can live longer than a normal one. |
| C．People all over the world are happy about the birth of Dolly. |
| D．Cloning can produce valuable tissues and organs to cure human diseases. |
| A．cloning may produce a real-life Frankenstein's monster |
| B．cloning might create more diseases in the animal world |
| C．cloning human embryos shows no respect for human lives |
| D．cloning can't help those who want to clone their dead children |
| A．Ian Wilmut. |
| B．Severino Antinori. |
| C．The author. |
| D．The Chinese scientists. |
【推荐3】What will you do if you can’t eat everything bought in the canteen?
Food waste, which has become a global issue, serves as a mirror that reflects various cultural and social issues in different countries. In the West, for instance, consumerism, the belief that it’s good to use a lot of goods and services, is often to blame for food waste.
| A．Students waste is extremely serious, |
| B．To reduce food waste is a big task, and it needs time. |
| C．China, in turn, features its own eating culture. |
| D．But canteen waste is merely the tip of the iceberg. |
| E．So we shouldn’t waste our food. |
| F．Students can never realize the serious food waste situation. |
| G．Most of us would simply throw away any leftover food. |
