1 . Obese people experience discrimination (歧视) in many parts of their lives, and the workplace is no exception. Studies have long shown that obese workers, defined as those with a body-mass index (BMI) of 30 or more, earn significantly less than their slimmer co-workers.
Yet the costs of weight discrimination may be even greater than previously thought. “The overwhelming evidence,” wrote the Institute for employment Studies, “is that it is only women living with obesity who experience the obesity wage penalty (薪资损失).” They were expressing a view that is widely aired in academic papers. To test it, The Economist has analyzed data concerning 23,000 workers from the American Time Use Survey, conducted by the Bureau of Labour Statistics. Our number-processing suggests that, in fact, being obese hurts the earnings of both women and men.
The data we analyzed cover men and women aged between 25 and 54 and in full-time employment. At a general level, it is true that men’s BMIs are unrelated to their wages. But that changes for men with university degrees. For them, obesity is associated with a wage penalty of nearly 8%, even after accounting for the separate effects of age, race, graduate education and marital status.
The conclusion — that well-educated workers in particular are penalized for their weight — holds for both sexes. Moreover, the higher your level of education, the greater the penalty. We found that obese men with a Bachelor’s degree (学士学位) earn 5% less than their thinner colleagues, while those with a Master’s degree earn 14% less. Obese women, it is true, still have it worse: for them, the equivalent figures are 12% and 19%, respectively (分别地).
Your line of work makes a difference, too. When we dealt with the numbers for individual occupations and industries, we found the greatest differences in high-skilled jobs. Obese workers in health care, for example, make 11% less than their slimmer colleagues; those in management roles make roughly 9% less, on average. In sectors such as construction and agriculture, meanwhile, obesity is actually associated with higher wages.
These results suggest that the total costs of wage discrimination borne by overweight workers in America are greater than expected. Now, it’s time for our governments to take it seriously.
1. What does the underlined word “it” refer to in paragraph 2?A.Obese men earn less salary. |
B.Only obese women earn less salary. |
C.Both obese men and women earn less salary. |
D.Weight discrimination may be greater than previously thought. |
A.A fat woman office director. |
B.An obese construction worker. |
C.An obese man with a bachelor’s degree. |
D.A heavier female doctor with a Doctor’s degree. |
A.Supportive | B.Objective | C.Subjective | D.indifferent |
A.Overweight discrimination in other countries. |
B.The reason of discriminating obese people in their lives. |
C.American people’s attitude towards overweight discrimination. |
D.Actions taken against overweight discrimination in workplaces. |
2 . Imagine this: You walk into a place and the atmosphere is light and airy. The subtle scent of coffee beans fills the air and everyone that approaches you is friendly and welcoming. You’re comfortable and feel like you belong. As in most cities, it’s a place where people meet, discuss ideas, and conduct business. After taking a few sips of that Caramel Macchiato, you immediately get that feeling of energy and optimism. Perhaps it’s partly due to the caffeine and sugar rush, or maybe it’s that the presence of a Starbucks typically indicates a city on the rise.
In December of 2017, Trenton’s first Starbuck’s café was opened to the public at 102 Warren Street. Walking in, people living in Trenton scream at everything about this café, from the diverse but local stuff to the Trenton themed décor (室内装饰) and art. To make things better, this Starbucks also serves as an “opportunity café” which essentially means the young people in our communities are recruited and offered job training and employment. This program not only uplifts our youth, but also increases the amount of minority business in the city.
In the interviews with customers, a trend in responses arose. To many, the Starbucks was a “favorite place to stop in after work” and provided “a very relaxing environment.” The staff were often highly praised, noted as being friendly, helpful, and working in harmony. The interior décor of the café struck a lot of people’s attention, given the familiarity of the atmosphere. Painted on the walls, all around the store, are murals (壁画) with bright, colorful, graffiti-like designs very sui generis in Trenton, showcasing local monuments like the State House and the famous “Trenton Makes” bridge.
This new Starbucks brings a sense of modernity to Downtown Trenton and reminds us that our city is always developing. Open from 6 a. m. until 7 p.m. every day, the building is hardly ever empty. This space is made for everyone in Trenton, even the non-coffee lovers.
1. What is the major function of Paragraph 1 in the passage?A.To present an introduction to the topic. |
B.To set a background for the main theme. |
C.To summarize the main idea of the passage. |
D.To describe a common phenomenon for the readers. |
A.People are amazed at the number of job opportunities provided by the Starbucks. |
B.“Opportunity café” program helps achieve booming economy and bring spiritual benefits. |
C.Most respondents regarded the Starbucks as a harmonious and entertaining workplace. |
D.Numerous people are attracted to stop in after work by the murals with original designs. |
A.Substantial. | B.Delicate. | C.Inspirational. | D.Unique. |
A.Starbucks Is Designed for Everyone |
B.Starbucks Gains Popularity in Trenton |
C.Starbucks Sets an Atmosphere of Progress |
D.Starbucks Creates More Job Opportunities |
3 . In recent years American society has become increasingly dependent on its universities to find solutions to its major problems. It is the universities that have been to blame for developing the expertise to place men on the moon; for dealing with our urban problems and with our worsening environment; for developing the means to feed the world’s rapidly increasing population. The effort involved in meeting these demands presents its own problems. In addition, however, this concentration on the creation of new knowledge significantly impinges on the universities’ efforts to perform their other principal functions, the transmission and interpretation of knowledge-the imparting of the heritage of the past and the preparing of the next generation to carry it forward.
With regard to this, perhaps their most traditionally acknowledged task, college and universities today find themselves in a serious situation. On one hand, there is the American commitment, especially since World War Ⅱ, to provide higher education for all young people who can profit from it. The result of the commitment has been a dramatic rise in enrollments(登记入学) in our universities, coupled with a striking shift from the private to the public sector of higher education.
On the other hand, there are serious and continuing limitations on the resources available for higher education. While higher education has become a great ”growth industry“, it is also at the same time a tremendous drain(耗竭) on the resources of the nation. With the vast increase in enrollment and the shift in priorities away from education in state and federal(联邦的) budgets, there is in most of our public institutions a significant decrease in expenses for their students. One crucial aspect of this drain on resources lies in the persistent shortage of trained faculty(全体教师), which has led, in turn, to a declining standard of competence in instruction.
Intensifying these difficulties is, as indicated above, the concern with research, with its increasing claims on resources and the attention of the faculty. In addition, there is a strong tendency for the institutions’ organization and functioning to fulfill the demands of research rather than those of teaching.
1. According to Paragraph 1, what should be the most important function of American universities?A.Sparing no effort to create new knowledge for students. |
B.Enhancing students’ competence of tackling social problems. |
C.Making experts on advanced industries out of their students. |
D.Preparing their students to transmit the knowledge of the past. |
A.more students and less investment | B.education quality and economic profit |
C.low enrollment rate and high education demand | D.private ownership and American commitment |
A.many public institutions have to cut down enrollments of students |
B.teachers are not competent enough to perform satisfactorily in class |
C.some institutions are forced to reduce the total expenses on research |
D.there is keen competition for resources between public and private institutions |
A.The improper distribution of American universities’ resources. |
B.The increasing argument over American universities’ primary task. |
C.The inability of American universities’ organization and fulfillment. |
D.The growing focus on American universities’ function of research. |
4 . Eight scientists were awarded the 2023 Future Science Prize, also called “China’s Nobel Prize”, the first Chinese non-governmental science award jointly initiated by groups of scientists and entrepreneurs (企业家). Since the establishment in 2016, a total of 35 scientists have been awarded the Future Science Prize so far.
Chai Jijie and Zhou Jianmin received the Future Science Prize in life sciences for the discovery of resistosomes (抗原小体) and explanations of their molecular structures and functions in plant immune responses against pathogens (病原体). Understanding of resistosome functions will lead to better methods for controlling plant disease and therefore have enormous importance for global food security.
Chai said that he felt extremely honored, excited and happy via a video call at the press conference. He emphasized that this recognition was not only for himself but also for the team’s years of hard work. “My cooperation with Professor Zhou has lasted for nearly 20 years. Our partnership has been productive and enjoyable, and I believe our cooperation will carry on,” he said.
During the video call, Zhou remarked that the Future Science Prize is grounded in the national context. It is heartening to see that the prize places greater emphasis on supporting agriculture.
Zhao Zhongxian and Chen Xianhui received the Future Science Prize in physical sciences for their influential breakthroughs in the discovery of high-temperature superconducting materials and systematic advancements in elevating the transition temperature. Notably, both Zhao and Chen conducted systematic studies to show the underlying physical mechanisms of high Tc materials, positioning themselves at the forefront of superconductor research for several years.
He Kaiming, Sun Jian, Ren Shaoqing, Zhang Xiangyu received the Future Science Prize in mathematics and computer science, for their extraordinary contributions to artificial intelligence by introducing deep residual learning (深度残差学习).
The 2023 Future Science Prize Week and the Award Ceremony were held in Hong Kong from October 14 to 17.
1. For what were the eight scientists awarded?A.Their never-ending pursuit of knowledge. |
B.Their long-term partnership in researches. |
C.Their remarkable contributions to science. |
D.Their intense efforts to overcome barriers. |
A.Vision. | B.Passion. | C.Ambition. | D.Cooperation. |
A.Their discovery is ground-breaking. |
B.Zhao and Chen have a long way to go. |
C.Research is certain to be rewarded. |
D.The real value cannot be overestimated. |
A.To appeal to many more people to innovate. |
B.To reveal the recipe for their great success. |
C.To encourage us to be committed to science. |
D.To introduce the 2023 Future Science Prize. |
5 . Does a happy person live longer? Many studies have convinced us that happiness brings good health, which has resulted in an increasing demand for speakers and products encouraging positive thinking. However, being happy does not promise that one is going to be healthy. There are other factors that influence one’s health and long life such as a person’s genes or even a person’s socio-economic condition.
Some research even suggests that positive thinking can be dangerous. Positive thinking, when taken to the extreme, can cause a person to be separated from reality. For example, a person who thinks that staying happy and positive can help him recover from an illness like cancer but later fails to recover from it, may blame himself for not being happy. In this case, positive thinking may potentially make the victim disregard other factors. Sometimes the pursuit of happiness is even associated with serious mental health problems such as depression.
All types of happiness are not good for us either. For example, pride, a pleasant feeling, can sometimes rob us of the ability to empathize with others or understand another’s viewpoint. This anti-social behavior can cause people around us to turn away from us, and this could, in turn, make us feel lonely and do harm to our mental and even physical health.
Moreover, unpleasant feelings can be beneficial to a person’s well-being. Researchers believe that unpleasant feelings can help us make sense of our challenges and experiences in a way that supports psychological well-being. For example, if I have behaved badly towards my good friend, the feelings of guilt and sadness might motivate me to apologize and ask for forgiveness. The rebuilding of a broken relationship can be a lift to one’s mental well-being.
In trying to experience happiness, we should remember that seeking for happiness as an end in itself can be self-defeating, and does not necessarily lead to better health. After all, one will surely experience setbacks and conflicts in life. Instead, learning to cope with negative emotions with a realistic positive attitude is key to a person’s good health.
1. What’s the writer’s opinion in this passage?A.Negative thinking can be dangerous. |
B.Staying happy can bring good health. |
C.Unpleasant feelings cannot be beneficial. |
D.Happiness cannot ensure one’s good health. |
A.When we use it with a realistic attitude to solve problems. |
B.When we focus on it as an only determinant of happy life. |
C.When we think it one of the necessary factor for good health. |
D.When we realize it may rob us of the ability to understand others. |
A.They rebuild a broken relationship. |
B.They lead to self-reflection and personal growth. |
C.They help keep the problems and challenges away. |
D.They prevent long-term negative effects on mental health. |
A.An ultimate goal. | B.An individual plan. |
C.A final decision. | D.A great start. |
6 . Lying in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, the fishing village Huatulco is home to nine bays, 36 beaches and thousands of baby turtles that apparently needed me. I had three open days on my calendar, and a desire to save some turtles. And so, away I went to Huatulco with Wildcoast, a group of champions-for-change who were protecting coastal and marine ecosystem in the U. S. and Mexico.
I was taken to La Escobilla to experience Wildcoast in action. Just one hour north of Huatulco, this protected beach is where mass turtle nesting happens. This natural phenomenon lasts just four days during rainy season, hundreds of thousands of female sea turtles swinging their way ashore to lay their eggs.
Between threats of dogs, crabs, development and oil spills, the little creatures have the whole world against them. As recently as 2002, turtles hunting was not only a common practice, but an important part of the culture and diet in the Oaxaca communities. Luckily, Wildcoast rescues turtle eggs and recreates habitats by monitoring temperatures and humidity. Thanks to their efforts, the sea turtles have made a major comeback, with now over 72 million turtles being born on the beaches that Wildcoast protects.
I got to hold 50 of the tiny creatures in a bowl. Despite an average laying of 100 eggs, just one in 1, 000 baby turtles will make it to adulthood. Gazing into the bowl, I so badly wanted them to taste the sea and find shelter somewhere deep in the ocean. Finally, it was time to liberate those little creatures. Out spilled the creatures, some moving full steam ahead while others barely paddled in place. Literally, hundreds of them began to spread out across the beach.
With each set of waves, we witnessed the survival of the fittest, some pushing past the whitewash while others crashed back to shore. Their fight for life made my eyes wet. A flock of birds were ready to dive into the sea for their moving targets. “One in 1, 000.” Nature was cruel and compassionate at the same time. After 30 long minutes, the last creature made his way to the sea.
1. The baby turtles are threatened by various factors except ________.A.the cruel hunters | B.the rapid development |
C.the extreme weather | D.the oil-polluted ocean |
A.With slow pace and fear. | B.With all energy and enthusiasm. |
C.With full caution and curiosity. | D.With great satisfaction and responsibility. |
A.One baby turtle in 1,000 can make his way to the sea. |
B.Thousands of baby turtles were crashed back to shore. |
C.The struggle of baby turtles for life touched the author. |
D.Baby turtles can hardly survive the harsh living conditions. |
A.Think twice before you leap. | B.God helps those who help themselves. |
C.Cease to struggle and you cease to live. | D.When the buying stops, the killing can too. |
7 . Over 7,000 species around the world are considered endangered. That number doesn’t even include the plants, animals, and other lifeforms that are listed by some scientists as vulnerable, critically endangered, or extinct in the wild.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) maintains the most-comprehensive list of endangered species around the world. The Red List of Threatened Species, as it’s called, judges each species on five different standards for an in-depth scientific approach. According to the IUCN, an endangered species is one that meets any one of the following criteria (标准): a 50%-70% population decrease over 10 years, a total geographic area less than 5,000 square kilometers, a population size less than 2,500 adults, a restricted population of 250 adults, or a statistical prediction that it will go extinct within the next 20 years.
Though the IUCN’s Red List covers a wide range of what qualifies as an endangered species, it doesn’t quite say how a species reaches those low points. Prepare to feel guilty: the most common factor when it comes to species decline is human intervention. Loss of habitat, the introduction of a foreign species into the environment, hunting, pollution, disease, and loss of genetic variation (基因变异) are all causes of species decline and most often are a result of human activities. Take the bald eagle for example: the rise in human population and urban development of North America limited the animal’s habitat; an increase in hunting the eagles for sport lowered their population size; and the use of the pesticide DDT on farms harmed the animal’s reproductive capabilities.
But even though humans are the number one cause of species decline, classifying species as endangered encourages action to reverse the effects of human intervention. Conservation efforts by the US Fish and Wildlife Service criminalized (使非法) the hunting of bald eagles and the use of the pesticide DDT in the mid- to late 20th century. The effect was positive, as bald eagles have been on the rise and were taken off the endangered species list in 1995.
1. Which of the following species can be considered endangered?A.One that will go extinct within the next 50 years. |
B.One whose population size is less than 5,000 adults. |
C.One whose habitat is less than 2,500 square kilometers. |
D.One whose population decreases 20% over twenty years. |
A.The causes of species decline. |
B.The disadvantages of the pesticide. |
C.A list of worldwide endangered species. |
D.Common features of endangered species. |
A.To show its rareness. |
B.To blame humans for its decline. |
C.To stress its importance in nature. |
D.To show the meaning of ranking it endangered. |
A.Entertainment. | B.Health. | C.Science. | D.Education. |
8 . I’ve reached the turn-around point of the day’s kayaking (皮划艇) trip. Sweat runs down my cheek as I
Solo outings had never
In October 2022, I decided to
Pride
Adventuring alone has become like medicine for me! It’s also pushed me to go
A.dip | B.raise | C.point | D.slip |
A.exhausting | B.awesome | C.surprising | D.terrible |
A.crossed | B.lost | C.cleared | D.occupied |
A.available | B.crucial | C.tough | D.common |
A.admissions | B.circumstances | C.connections | D.relationships |
A.bring up | B.take up | C.pull up | D.put up |
A.appreciate | B.collect | C.cut | D.sweep |
A.ashamed | B.scared | C.aware | D.tired |
A.time | B.effort | C.room | D.money |
A.myth | B.regulation | C.definition | D.truth |
A.pulled | B.looked | C.coursed | D.carried |
A.occasionally | B.initially | C.constantly | D.instantly |
A.visited | B.swam | C.rowed | D.admired |
A.within | B.into | C.beyond | D.through |
A.emerged | B.ballooned | C.surrounded | D.encountered |
9 . Five years ago, my husband and I bought a farm.
As we restore the land, I feel my well-being
It has taken a couple of years to
We also learned how to
Owning a farm was never our
A.disappearing | B.lasting | C.returning | D.crashing |
A.song | B.light | C.shadow | D.storm |
A.secured | B.found | C.explored | D.repaired |
A.clear | B.remove | C.shelter | D.access |
A.patients | B.friends | C.staff | D.family |
A.weaker | B.older | C.taller | D.smaller |
A.respond to | B.appeal to | C.concentrate on | D.depend on |
A.preparing | B.selecting | C.processing | D.learning |
A.grown | B.changed | C.faded | D.remained |
A.gratitude | B.contribution | C.responsibility | D.drive |
A.house | B.life | C.organization | D.career |
A.supports | B.impresses | C.recognizes | D.persuades |
A.destination | B.plan | C.adventure | D.belief |
A.familiar | B.flexible | C.meaningful | D.tough |
A.prediction | B.admiration | C.expectation | D.evaluation |
10 . Liu Jichen, 23, a student from Tsinghua University, has developed a WeChat mini-program called “Clear Your Plate”. After a meal, users can open the mini-program and take a picture of their empty plates. Once the image is recognized by the AI(Artificial Intelligence), students can collect points and use them to buy gifts or purchase charity meals to children in impoverished(贫困的) rural areas.
Liu and his team, together with other organizations, launched the “Clear Your Plate” campaign in November for the third year. It has swept over 1,017 universities across the country. The one-month campaign attracted almost 1.6 million participants and collectively reduced food waste by 862 tons and carbon emissions(碳排放) by 3,337 tons.
“Technological innovation is a good way to reduce food waste,” Liu thought. He organized a team of 20 members to work on the project at the end of 2017. To solve the AI’s problem of identifying photos of empty plates, the team spent half a year collecting over 100,000 samples in canteens and restaurants. In 2018, the mini-program was officially put into operation on Oct 16, World Food Day. They then launched a campaign later that year.
“There were so many unknowns in research and development. For our team members, the biggest challenge was whether we were confident enough to complete it,” Liu said. They not only achieved their goal, but now, the mini-program has more than 5 million registered users, according to Liu. “We hope our efforts can start a new trend among the younger generation by encouraging them to cherish(珍惜) their food and develop the habit of thrift(节约),” Liu added.
1. What can we know about the “Clear Your Plate” mini-program?A.It aims to put an end to waste and encourage thrift. |
B.Its 6 million users are mostly students. |
C.It helped reduce food waste by 3,337 tons. |
D.It is an exchange of food for rewards to help poor children. |
A.They found it tough to promote the campaign. |
B.They felt uncertain whether they could complete the project. |
C.They lacked professional technical support. |
D.They had difficulty gathering enough samples. |
A.Optimistic and demanding. | B.Generous and responsible. |
C.Talented and humorous. | D.Creative and determined. |
A.A guidebook. | B.A news report. | C.A book review. | D.A textbook. |