1 . It’s hard to find Alice Munro in the media. Even after she won the 2013 Nobel Prize in Literature, the Canadian writer just appeared for a quick interview and then dropped out of sight. On Dec 29th, she still didn’t seek the spotlight when she was named one of the five Women of the Year by the Financial Times.
In Munro’s eyes, ordinary lives always hide larger dramas. So she records what we casually think of as the everyday actions of normal people. She often focuses on life in her hometown, a small village in Ontario which she is most familiar with. She writes about the ordinary things in the village —trees in the Ontario wilderness, poor country schools and long last illnesses. Above all, she talks about girls and women who have seemingly ordinary lives but struggle against daily misfortune.
She has a special talent for uncovering the extraordinary in the ordinary. These are ordinary people, ordinary stories, but she has the magic. Her precise language, depth of detail and the logic of her storytelling have made her stories inviting.
Runaway, one of Munro’s representative works, is a good example of her writing style. One of the stories centers on the life of an ordinary woman Carla, who lives in a small Canadian town with her husband Clark. The story slowly forms a picture of Carla, trapped in a bad marriage, her unhappiness building into desperation until she decides to flee. The story of Carla is a story of the power and betrayals of love. It is about lost children and lost chances that we can all find in life. There is pain beneath the surface, like a needle in the heart.
Since she published her first collection of short stories in 1968, Munro has won many awards, with the Nobel Prize being her biggest honor. On Oct 10th, 2013, the Nobel Prize committee named Munro the “master of the contemporary short story”.
1. We learn from Paragraph 1 that Alice Munro ________.| A．didn’t get on well with the media | B．was surprised at winning the Nobel Prize |
| C．didn’t value the title of Women of the Year | D．remained modest though very successful |
| A．center on the happy life of country women |
| B．are about betrayals of love and violence |
| C．focus on everyday life of ordinary people |
| D．are romantic stories setting in her hometown |
| A．The complicated plots. | B．Her rich imagination. |
| C．The humorous language. | D．Her writing techniques. |
| A．tries to run away from her husband | B．is a faithful wife to her husband |
| C．leads a happy life with Clark | D．loses all hopes for a better life |
| A．Alice Munro and her hometown. | B．Alice Munro and her writing style. |
| C．Alice Munro’s representative works. | D．The awards Alice Munro won. |
2 . Acting & Musical Theater
The Summer Acting & Musical Theater program, which starts on Friday, July 3 and ends on Thursday, July 23, is created for talented students who have been inspired by musical theater.
The program develops the abilities of experienced performers who are serious about the field and eager to work hard. Our goal is to help you grow creatively through full-time, college-level theatre training under the direction of popular professional performers and teachers.
The students can improve their performance skills and can get the knowledge about the history of theater, the style of theater and so on. Students will complete the program with improved audition(试演) skills.
Classes aim to improve your command of body, mind and voice. Students will take a trip to see at least one professional production with program teachers. An exhibition of the students’ class work will be presented at the conclusion of the program to family, friends, students from other Summer College programs, and the University community.
Program Costs:
Accommodation: $3, 359: Traffic: $2, 234
Audition requirements:
Auditions should include the following video materials:
●Two different songs;
●One age-suitable monologue(独白);
●One short dance part;
●A personal statement regarding your background and training, experience in performances, and personal goals in theater;
●Each part of the audition should be about one minute in length;
●You should be the only person shown in the audition;
●The audition is given online with your application.
Typical day:
9: 00 am to noon classes focus on musical theater, including acting, voice, movement, dance and scene study.
1: 00 to 4: 00 pm classes involve additional work in acting, movement, and voice, along with rehearsals(排练) for public performances.
1. What do you know about the program?| A．Students can have chances to audition in films. |
| B．The program helps students grow healthily. |
| C．The program will last for three weeks. |
| D．The program provides accommodation for free. |
| A．writing | B．performance | C．conference | D．guidance |
| A．seldom attend classes in the morning | B．cannot be taught by well-known actors |
| C．will get some information about theater | D．will usually perform for college students |
| A．a performance with your partner | B．a short dance part in one minute |
| C．an online introduction of yourself | D．a suitable monologue in one minute |
| A．To tell us how to hold a musical theater program successfully. |
| B．To call on more and more students to pay attention to theater. |
| C．To introduce the development of the Summer Acting program. |
| D．To attract more students loving performances to attend the program. |
3 . Thirteen can be a challenging age. Not only did I have to
When we moved, my beloved
Cowboy was without a doubt the
And then I realized that my only chance to
My turn
| A．worry about | B．adapt to | C．control | D．stretch |
| A．upsetting | B．exciting | C．smooth | D．wrong |
| A．leader | B．idol | C．companion | D．follower |
| A．borrowed | B．donated | C．drew | D．purchased |
| A．shortest | B．ugliest | C．strongest | D．sweetest |
| A．point out | B．hold back | C．look into | D．care about |
| A．faced | B．made | C．discussed | D．explained |
| A．improving | B．breaking | C．racing | D．failing |
| A．where | B．which | C．when | D．what |
| A．rarely | B．temporarily | C．smoothly | D．quickly |
| A．rewarding | B．similar | C．pleasant | D．bitter |
| A．compete | B．learn | C．doubt | D．withdraw |
| A．waited | B．rested | C．farmed | D．practiced |
| A．gradually | B．slowly | C．finally | D．secretly |
| A．knocked | B．rounded | C．carried | D．escaped |
| A．starting | B．finishing | C．central | D．straight |
| A．smiles | B．applause | C．silence | D．tears |
| A．audience | B．announcer | C．competitors | D．guests |
| A．In fact | B．After all | C．As a result | D．On the contrary |
| A．dreamer | B．supporter | C．winner | D．partner |
4 . Children are starting on digital devices at ever younger ages, and opinions on the effects of children’s digital-media habits are deeply polarized (两极分化的).
Jean Twenge, a psychology professor, thinks excessive (过度的) use of the internet and social media makes children lonely and depressed and poses serious risks to their physical and particularly their mental health, sometimes to the point of driving them to suicide.
However, Daniel Kardefelt-Winther of the Innocent research office of Unicef examined various evidence and found less cause for alarm than is often suggested. Most of the studies he examined seem to show that the technology helps children stay in touch with their friends and make new ones.
The relationship between the use of digital technology and children’s mental health, broadly speaking, appears to be u-shaped. Researchers have found that moderate use is beneficial, whereas either no use at all or extreme use could be harmful.
What worries some experts more is that screens are becoming part of the middle-class armory(武器) for perpetuating (巩固) social advantage. Children from well-off homes are enrolled in private classes to learn skills like “How to be a YouTuber”, which poorer parents cannot afford.
1. What is the second paragraph mainly about?| A．The disadvantages of overusing digital media. |
| B．The bad effects of using digital media. |
| C．Several bad impacts of using digital media. |
| D．The advantages of overusing digital media. |
| A．lonely | B．depressed | C．suicide | D．all the above |
| A．Objective. | B．Favorable. | C．Indifferent | D．Uncertain. |
| A．Not all Children from rich homes can attend private classes |
| B．Not all Children from poor homes can learn skills like “how to be a YouTuber”. |
| C．Digital media is the only way of strengthening the middle-class. |
| D．Digital media can widen class gap. |
| A．Should children interact with digital media? |
| B．Should parents allow their children interact with digital media? |
| C．What children do to interact with digital devices? |
| D．How children interact with digital devices. |
5 . Don’t know where to choose gifts for friends or family? Here are five special gift shops featuring different kinds of gifts.
Games Gadgets
Tel:402-875-5543
Games Gadgets is the perfect one-stop (一站式的) shop for electrical goods. Here at Games Gadgets we provide a wide range of electronic goods at some of the very best prices around. From Cameras and GPS Sat Navs to Gaming Accessories and Computers, iPads and iPods, we have everything you could ever need.
Reba
Tel:406-637-2219
Reba supplies fashion clothes, jewellery (珠宝) and gifts to people throughout the local area. Reba is an independent store, supplying well-known brands as well as up-and-coming designers. Reba is a store for those who love clothes, jewellery and gifts and it always aims to ofier something different.
The Sweet Shop
Tel:421-896-3129
The Sweet Shop is a brand-new gift store created just for chocolate lovers. The shop sells a wonderful range of chocolate-themed goodies from dark to white chocolate. It is extremely popular with all kinds of parties, chocolate lovers and people who are looking for a fun activity.
Blue Department Store
Tel:419-156-9910
A favorite shopping destination for many foreigners, Blue is devoted to top brands including expensive famous wines which are all 30 percent oft, maybe 40 to 50 percent off. We have no more than70 kinds of world-famous wine in our store. Location: No. 6001 Oak Street, O Hare International Airport.
Quality Stuff Off-Price Department Store
Tcl:491-938-9012
Quality Stuff Off-Price Department Store opened only one month ago and it features new sportswear this season. They have well-known brands such as Nike, Adidas, Levis, Nautica and Hush Puppies. Quality Stuff Off-Price Department Store is famous for the reduced price of each item. Reduced rates vary from 40 percent to 80 percent. The best buys here are some brands, which find a nice balance between style, quality and price.
1. Photographers will most probably go to ________.| A．Game Gadgets | B．Reba |
| C．Blue Department Store | D．Quality Stuff Off-Price Department Store |
| A．Wine. | B．Sportswear. | C．Chocolates. | D．Fashion clothes. |
| A．Games Gadgets. | B．Reba. | C．The Sweet Shop. | D．Blue Department Store. |
| A．421-896-3129 | B．491-938-9012 | C．419-156-9910 | D．402-875-5543 |
| A．an art review | B．a travel guide | C．an advertisement | D．an official report |
6 . For generations, we’ve spent the first third of our lives acquiring the college degrees we need to find jobs. These degrees are the stamps on our professional passports that pave the way for the remaining two-thirds of our journey. However, the future of work won’t be about college degrees, it’ll be about job skills.
According to the World Economic Forum, over one billion jobs, almost one-third of all jobs worldwide, are likely to be transformed by technology in the next decade. We’ve already seen this happen. Think of the apps you use to shop, track orders and simply stay informed. The stores need to keep them up and running at all hours, day after day, all year round, meaning they need those who can analyze and secure customer data.
In these and other similar situations, people are the organizing force making sure technology works the way we want it to. This means a quick rise in new kinds of digital jobs. According to the Forum’s Jobs of Tomorrow report, there’ll be a rapid influx of roles at the forefront of the data and AI economy, as well as new roles in engineering, cloud computing and product development. These jobs need talent with relevant skills, and importantly these skills can be learnt even by those without college degrees.
Shifting our focus from degrees to skills will mean transitioning (过渡) to always-on skills-based education and employment organizations that acknowledge not just certification but fitness-for-job and employment as outcomes. In recent years, several companies have focused on continuous learning for the workforce — the trend will become stronger.
When it comes to skills, employers look for more than just technical skills. Companies want people with an eye for detail, creative problem-solving skills, a collaborative mindset and an ability to handle complex issues. These also are skills that can be learnt. Anyhow, lifelong learners with ever relevant skills will be in greater demand in the workplace.
1. What is the function of Paragraph 1?| A．To propose a definition. | B．To present an argument. |
| C．To give an example. | D．To make a comparison. |
| A．It calls for higher demands for degrees. | B．It makes many jobs less challenging. |
| C．It reduces their dependence on degrees. | D．It connects them with degrees closely. |
| A．Increase. | B．Recovery. | C．Decline. | D．Change. |
| A．Their traditional technical skills. | B．Their continuous learning abilities. |
| C．Their certification-based education. | D．Their desire to start their own business. |
| A．Skills Are Different From Degrees | B．Degrees Will Be More Competitive |
| C．Degrees Will Shape the Future of Work | D．Skills Are More Vital for Future Work |
7 . The way people hold to the belief that a fun-filled, pain-free life equals happiness actually reduces their chances of ever gaining real happiness. If fun and pleasure are equal to happiness then pain must be equal to unhappiness. But in fact, the opposite is true: more often than not, things that lead to happiness involve some pain.
As a result, many people avoid the very attempts that are the source of true happiness. They fear the pain unavoidably brought by such things as marriage, raising children, professional achievement, religious commitment (承担的义务), self-improvement.
Ask a bachelor (单身汉) why he resists marriage even though he finds dating to be more and more satisfying. If he is honest he will tell you that he is afraid of making a commitment. For commitment is in fact quite painful. The single life is filled with fun, adventure, excitement. Marriage has such moments, but they are not its most distinguishing (显著的)features.
Couples with infant children are lucky to get a whole night’s sleep or a three-day vacation. I don’t know any parent who would choose the word fun to describe raising children. But couples who decide not to have children never know the joys of watching a child grow up or of playing with a grandchild.
Understanding and accepting that true happiness has nothing to do with fun is one of the most liberating (解放性的) realizations. It liberates time: now we can devote more hours to activities that can really increase our happiness. It liberates money: buying that new car or those fancy clothes that will do nothing to increase our happiness now seems pointless. And it liberates us from envy: we now understand that all those who are always having so much fun actually may not be happy at all.
1. According to the author, a bachelor resists marriage chiefly because ________.| A．he is unwilling to take on family responsibilities |
| B．he believes that there is no happiness in marriage |
| C．he finds more fun in dating than in marriage |
| D．he fears it will put an end to all his fun adventure and excitement |
| A．a moral duty | B．a rewarding task |
| C．a thankless job | D．a source of inevitable pain |
| A．hatred | B．prejudice | C．misunderstanding | D．ignorance |
| A．have as much fun as possible during one’s lifetime |
| B．make every effort to liberate oneself from pain |
| C．put up with pain under all circumstances |
| D．be able to tell happiness from fun |
| A．Happiness often goes hand in hand with pain. |
| B．One must know how to gain happiness. |
| C．It is important to make commitments. |
| D．It is pain that leads to happiness. |
8 . A single teacher can reach thousands of students in an online course, opening up a world of knowledge to anyone with an Internet connection. This limitless reach also offers opportunities to school districts that need to save money, by reducing the number of teachers. It can help high achievers in need of more advanced coursework than their districts provide. This is especially true in small districts that offer few traditional courses to students working ahead of their grades.
A study in Maine and Vermont examined the effect of online courses on eighth graders with strong math skills in schools that didn’t offer face-to-face math classes. Students were divided between online math and standard math offered in traditional classes. Both groups of students were tested at the end of the school year. The online students did better than those in standard classrooms. They were also twice as likely to complete advanced math later in high school.
But there is something wrong with it. In reality, students who complete these courses tend to do quite poorly on subsequent (随后的) tests of academic knowledge, suggesting that these online courses often give students an easy passing grade without teaching them very much.
Some researchers examined the performance of hundreds of thousands of students at DeVry University, which offers online and face-to-face versions of all its courses, using the same textbooks, assessments (评估), homework and teaching materials in each course. Even though the courses are seemingly the same, the students who attend online courses do worse. The effects are lasting, with online students more likely to drop out of college altogether. Hardest hit are those who entered the online class with low grades. Work by researchers in many other colleges is in line with the DeVry findings: The weakest students are hurt most by the online learning. For those with strong academic skills, by contrast, online learning can open up amazing opportunities.
Online education is still in its youth. Many ways of learning are possible, and some may benefit students with deep and various needs. As of now, however, the evidence is clear. For advanced learners, online classes are a good choice, but academically challenged students need a classroom with a teacher’s support.
1. What’s Para.1 mainly about?| A．The advantages of online courses. |
| B．The reduction in school teachers. |
| C．The educational conditions in poor areas. |
| D．The combination of online and traditional courses. |
| A．Traditional students were more likely to do better in math. |
| B．Both groups had little difference in their performance. |
| C．Traditional students did worse than online ones. |
| D．Online students tend to fail in their higher education. |
| A．DeVry invited different teachers. |
| B．DeVry involved different classes. |
| C．DeVry used different teaching methods. |
| D．DeVry chose students of different levels. |
| A．It suits good students. |
| B．It has been fully developed. |
| C．It is useful to poor students. |
| D．It should be forbidden in schools. |
| A．Education needs further study in the long term. |
| B．Online courses influence different students in different ways. |
| C．Traditional courses fail to fit modern education anymore |
| D．Online education is harming traditional courses and teachers. |
9 . Back in late 2013, Mathias Mikkelsen moved from Norway to Silicon Valley in California, to seek support for his online project called Timely. He didn’t know a single person there. Mathias says, “I knew I needed to make friends. So I rented rooms in shared Airbnb houses, and moved somewhere new every week.”
Mathias’ idea worked, but his next challenge was to get himself into a “hacker house”, a place shared by a number of similar young tech entrepreneurs (企业家). Everyone can help each other and share advice and inspiration. In mid-2014 he was finally able to get himself into a “hacker house”, but all the beds were taken. So if he wanted in, he had to sleep on an airbed in a cupboard.
Mathias says, “I slept in that cupboard for three months. Did I feel stupid and embarrassed? Not at all. It was extremely valuable and without it I don’t think I would be where I am today.”
As a teenager, he discovered that he was good at computer programming. While at middle school, he started to design websites for companies as a part-time job. After graduation, he worked for digital design companies in Oslo, his hometown. To be his own boss, he started work on Timely. Mathias released (发布)the first version of Timely in May 2013 in Oslo, but “nothing happened”, and then he moved to Silicon Valley.
Working with a programmer in India, Mathias released the second version of Timely at the end of 2014. Its sales slowly started to grow. A year later, Mathias decided to move the business back to Oslo. “While there were no tech start-up companies in the city when I left, it has thrived later. Oslo is now a great place to find tech staff.”
His company now has annual sales of more than $2 million. Looking back on his time in a cupboard, Mathias says it was “a crazy time, but super cool”. He adds, “I was working every minute of every day, so I honestly didn’t care where I was sleeping.”
1. What was the challenge of Mikkelsen when he first arrived in the US?| A．He didn’t have a place to settle down. |
| B．He needed more money to start his project. |
| C．He didn’t know how to get into a “hacker house”. |
| D．He had no connections there. |
| A．Living there could help him with his career. |
| B．He could find investors for his project there. |
| C．He wanted to make lifelong friends with others who lived there. |
| D．It was much cheaper to live there than, renting an Airbnb house. |
| A．He valued his time in the cupboard of the “hacker house” very much. |
| B．His Timely was liked by many people in his homeland. |
| C．He had never wanted to start his own company until he designed Timely. |
| D．His friends advised him to go to the USA. |
| A．Developed rapidly. | B．Disappeared gradually. |
| C．Changed immediately. | D．Remained undoubtedly. |
| A．No man can do two things at once. |
| B．Never too old to learn, never too late to turn. |
| C．Where there is a will, there is a way. |
| D．Waste not, want not. |
10 . Top 4 Traditional Summer Jobs for College Students
With the summer break around the corner, students will be looking for seasonal and short-term jobs for extra cash, to stay busy or to make additions to their resume (简历). The following jobs have been the best choices for many young adults.
LifeguardBecause summer is the busiest season for pools and beaches, lots of summer jobs exist for strong swimmers. Lots of positions can be found at community and neighborhood pools, while those who live near the coastline can also find positions at public beaches. These jobs are a great opportunity to build your fitness, keep people safe and be outdoors to enjoy some fun in the sun. The average hourly wage for lifeguards is $9.50.
Camp Counselor (辅导员)Students, who enjoy spending their time with children, being a leader and experiencing fun outdoor activities are often the perfect fit for camp counselor positions. Students studying science, for example, can work at a science camp, while those with a creative talent can work at an arts-focused summer program. The average hourly wage for camp counselors is $9.28, but those with years of experience or specific academic backgrounds may earn more.
Sales Associate (助理)Students with a skill for persuasion and helpfulness often enjoy sales associate jobs. Students interested in business, finance or sales/marketing are often attracted by these roles, but they’re also a great fit for anyone seeking a low-pressure summer position or even just a discount at their favorite store. The average wage is $10.20 hourly.
Food ServerAlthough it may not seem like the greatest way to spend a summer, working as wait staff allows students to build their social skills, stay active, enjoy free meals while working and familiarize themselves with different cuisines. The average salary is $9.00 hourly, but tips can raise that number hugely.
1. Being a lifeguard means you can ________.| A．work indoors only | B．work near your home |
| C．have fun with your friends | D．work without certifications |
| A．It requires students to be good at outdoor/activities. |
| B．A background in a specific area may help profit more. |
| C．It offers the highest average hourly wage among the four jobs. |
| D．The experience of selling things can help you earn more money. |
| A．Enjoy free meals. | B．Develop a set of new skills. |
| C．Enjoy lower purchase prices. | D．Build a career for sales or marketing. |
| A．How to communicate with others | B．How to deal with pressure. |
| C．How to train their patience. | D．How to make different cuisines. |
| A．Lifeguard. | B．Camp counselor. | C．Sales associate. | D．Food server. |
