1 . Freelance is a kind of work that goes back to medieval times when it was used to describe soldiers who sold their skills to those prepared to pay their market rate. Today it's an increasingly common way of working for people in a range of occupations and appeals to many who feel constrained by corporate culture.

What you gain is freedom of movement; what you can lose is a sense of belonging. You can end up feeling isolated from normal support networks, because suddenly you are responsible for your own welfare, training, safety, career development, equipment, professional updating and a thousand other things,it is easy to remain unaware of these things in the relatively spoiled existence of full-time employment. So before you leap up into this exciting and potentially rewarding way of working,stand back and take a look at the risks.

Freelancing has always been a common way of working for writers,artists and performers,but the range of occupations with a substantial number of freelancers is growing steadily. Anyone with a marketable skill can choose to do it alone. Websites offer a free directory listing for those with skills to sell. Their categories include accountants,healthcare consultants,landscape architects and computer trainers. Areas of work that have problem recruiting staff are always keen to employ freelancers.

Being a freelancer is different from other forms of self-employment-you still work for an employer or several employers but have to develop a completely different set of relationships with them. Employers are now your customers,you are their supplier. You have to become indispensable(不可缺少的)to them,providing solutions to their problems,some of which they may not even realize they had. In many ways you have to behave like their dreamed employee,being more willing and available than you may have got used to while in a “proper job”.

You also have to be aware of,and sensitive to,the fact that you can be seen as a threat by your customer's conventional employees,who may regard you as taking work they could do. Successful freelancing relies on the cooperation of everyone you come into contact with. Work that brings you into conflict with an existing workforce can be more troublesome than it's worth.

1. The first freelancers originated in medieval times were_____.

A．soldiers

B．writers

C．artists

D．performers

2. The underlined word “constrained” in Paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to_____.

A．shocked

B．charmed

C．chained

D．elevated

3. Which of the following sentences is NOT true about freelancers?

A．They can enjoy greater freedom than full-time employees.

B．They need to work for no employer but themselves only.

C．They have to shoulder full responsibilities for themselves.

D．They may feel isolated because they belong to no corporate culture.

4. Those who take up freelancing are NOT supposed to_____.

A．have professional skills to sell to different employers

B．be well aware of the challenges of freelancing

C．be able to work both independently and cooperatively

D．compete with conventional employees to have an edge over them

2 . If you hear the word“Castle” or the word“palace”，you may picture the same kind of building for both：large，made of stones，probably with a tower. And，of course，you're not entirely wrong，as those are features of both palaces and castles.

So then hay bother to visit one royal building in the United Kingdom Buckingham Palace and another the same country Windsor Castle?It turns out there is a difference，and you

can find it pretty plainly in these two popular buildings.

The Case for Castles

Castles were residences for royalty.But they were also intend as defensive seats. Say you're a king who has taken a particular area over.Now you have to hold it. castle and staff it with soldiers to defend your conquered territory and ensure it remains part of   your kingdom.

Castles were built throughout Europe and the Middle East primarily for protection of the king and his people.Some common features of castles include：

●thick walls and heavy gates to keep invaders out

●protective low walls for archers to shoot with cover

●high towers for keeping a lookout over the surrounding

●gate houses for admitting allies instead of allowing enemies into the castle

The Place for Palaces

Palaces， on the contrary， had no defensive purposes.They were first meant for showing off the great victory of the war.Palaces were where the spoils(战利品) of war might be displayed,along with grand architecture,massive banquet halls,golden table settings and maybe even hundreds of luxuriously decorated rooms.

While kings certainly took up residence in palaces as well as castles,nonmilitary royals might also have lived in (or still live in)palaces. Ministers could live in castles to show the power of their riches rather than their nonexistent military power. The term comes from Palatine Hill in Rome.

1. Which of the flowing is one feature of castles?

A．Low towers surrounding castles.

B．Defensive low walls for shooting.

C．Gatehouses allowing enemies into the castle.

D．Thick walls and heavy gates to lock invaders in.

2. Why were palaces first built?

A．To accommodate ordinary soldiers.

B．To defend the king's conquered territory.

C．To show off the art of royal painting,

D．To display huge success of the war.

3. What is the main purpose of the next?

A．To list the reasons for kings living in palaces.

B．To make a comparison between castles and palaces.

C．To talk about The value of castles in modern times.

D．To show palaces are more popular than castles.

3 . The African elephant will disappear within two decades if urgent action is not taken to save one of the world's most iconic animal species, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has warned in a new campaign fundraiser.

The population of these elephants—the largest animal currently walking the earth—has declined by 70 percent in the last 40 years, in large part because of the illegal ivory trade, which is the biggest driver of elephant poaching, according to the non-profit.

In fact, 20,000 elephants are killed every year to feed this trade—which is equivalent to one death every 26 minutes.

Once an elephant is killed, poachers harvest the ivory to meet a growing demand for products made from this material. Ivory can be turned into ornaments and decorations, as well as being used in traditional Asian medicine for its intended therapeutic value. Elephants are also sometimes killed to provide a source of meat.

This poaching takes place despite a global ban on ivory sales under the CITES multilateral treaty (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) which was introduced in 1990. Above the poachers are powerful organized criminal networks which commonly engage in corruption, money laundering and assassinations.

Part of the issue in policing the problem is that the governments of nations where Africans elephants live often lack sufficient resources to protect and monitor elephant herds, which often reside in remote and inaccessible habitats. When the animals are killed, they often suffer a brutal death.

African elephants are found in 37 countries across the continent and are categorized as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with a remaining population of around 415,000 in the wild, according to WWF.

These animals play a crucial role in the ecosystem, helping to maintain healthy habitats for many other species.   This is because African elephants help to disperse seeds.

The population of African elephants—which are split into two subspecies—once numbered between three and five million during the last century. However, this figure has fallen dramatically as a result of poaching and other factors, such as habitat fragmentation or loss.

1. The word “poaching” (paragraph 2) probably means ________.

A．desperate desire	B．severe damage
C．illegal hunting	D．cruel killing

2. What is the main reason for the sharp decline in the number of African elephants？

A．They were hunted by other animals.

B．They failed to survive the natural disasters.

C．There is no suitable living environment.

D．They were illegally traded for ivory.

3. Which of the following can be learned from the passage?

A．Absence of bans or regulations on ivory sales is the biggest driver of elephant poaching.

B．Elephants living in remote habitats are less vulnerable than those living in nations with adequate resources.

C．If the African elephant disappear, the ecosystem there is likely to be ruined.

D．African elephant herbs usually migrated in large population.

4. What’s the best title for this passage?

A．African Elephants Will Be Gone in The Future

B．African Elephants, Leading Role in Ecosystem

C．The Population of African Elephants

D．Different Types of African Elephants

4 .

our mission        our supporters   about us

Frequently Asked Questions

What is “UNICEF”?

UNICEF is the United Nations Children’s Fund

When created in 1946 to help children in war-torn Europe, China and the Middle East, UNICEF stood for “United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund”. In 1947, UNICEF USA was founded, one year after UNICEF, to support UNICEF’s lifesaving work for children.

By 1953, UNICEF's task was extended to address the needs of children in the developing world. At that time, the words “international” and “emergency” were dropped from the organization’s name, making it simply the United Nations Children’s Fund. UNICEF has helped save more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization.

What is UNICEF USA’s mission?

We work for the survival, protection and development of children worldwide through fund raising, advocacy and education.

How can I volunteer for UNICEF in the field?

UNICEF secures volunteers, who must have at least a Bachelor’s Degree and two-to-five years’ experience in their field of expert knowledge and skills, through the United Nations Volunteers program.

If you are a citizen of the United States and meet the above standards, send your resume to the United Nations Volunteers program at the following address for more information: United Nations Volunteers, c/o Peace Corps, 1111 20th St.N.W, Washington, DC 20526.

If you are interested in volunteering within the United States, click here to learn how.

May I donate non-cash goods for emergency relief?

Some have asked us about donating goods here in the U.S. for emergency relief efforts abroad. While we are grateful for the desire to help, UNICEF does not accept non-cash goods. Why?

Financial donations are the fastest and most efficient way to provide assistance. Donated goods must be screened, sorted, stored and transported. UNICEF pre-positions supplies to speed up delivery and sources them locally whenever possible. A blanket donated today can take weeks, or even months, to arrive abroad. A dollar donated today, however, will be arranged tomorrow to buy lifesaving supplies.

We also purchase supplies in large quantities to save money. That means your financial donation will get more supplies to more kids in need than your donation of non-cash goods.

1. Which of the following statements is true of UNICEF USA?

A．It no longer provides emergency fund.

B．It is localized to focus on national affairs.

C．It was originally created for kids’ education.

D．It supports children growth at home and abroad.

2. If you want to be a UNICEF USA volunteer,______ is NOT a must.

A．required education background	B．related working experience
C．American nationality	D．educational program participation

3. Financial donation is a better choice than non-cash goods because of_________.

A．the good will	B．operational efficiency
C．local assistance	D．the reliable supply

5 . Have you ever heard of Nollywood? Nollywood is the name of the Nigerian (尼日利亚的) film industry. Nigeria is one of the largest film industries in the world based on the quantity of films produced, placing them right below India’s Bollywood and above USA’s Hollwood!

Born in around 1992. Nollywood is the youngest compared with the other two “woods”, and uses new forms of financing and production. Now it’s in adulthood. and bigger productions have become more regular. However, this was not always the case. Although movie theaters were rare in Nigeria during earlier period, original stories were not. Despite lack of funds and experience, self-made directors began to use commercial video cameras to shoot their movies and sold them for home viewing. Even though this resulted in movies with low production value, the original stories instantly made them a hit. Today, the film industry is the largest employer after agriculture and makes up 5% of Nigeria’s GDP.

Nigeria is a big player in the industry and it is constantly improving its craft, taking on new challenges. Nollywood is known mainly for its comedies and dramas, but we are increasingly seeing horror movies and musicals.

Although sometimes heavily criticized for low production values. Nollywood continues to grow fans worldwide. Nigerian movies now make up 11% of Nigeria’s non-oil exports! The average movie is produced in 7-10 days on a budget between ￡7,000-12,000 (Hollywood’s average is around ￡60 million per movie with one year production time).This is changing, however, as more filmmakers are receiving proper training and are aiming to make films up to the international standard.

1. What is the advantage of Nollywood?

A．Commercial support.	B．Original stories.
C．Dominant comedies.	D．Fast production.

2. Which of the following statements about “woods” is NOT true according to the passage?

A．Bollywood produces more films than the other two “woods”.

B．Nollywood is known as the youngest among the three “woods”.

C．Hollywood’ s budget for an average movie is much less than Nollywood’s.

D．It takes much less time to produce a Nollywood film than a Hollywood one.

3. We can infer from the passage that _________.

A．Nollywood’s contribution to Nigera’s GDP is second only to agriculture

B．Nollywood makes fewer comedies and dramas than horror movies and musicals

C．movies made by Nollywood occupy more than 11% of Nigeria’ s export industry

D．more filmmakers in Nollywood are attempting to improve the quality of its films

4. The passage mainly talks about _______.

A．films worth enjoying in Nigeria.

B．major differences among the “woods”.

C．promising future of Nollywood.

D．features and changes of Nollywood.

6 . "When I was 16 years old, I was diving in Greece, but I was disappointed because I saw more plastic bags than fish.” These are the words of Boyan Slat, an engineer who designed the world's first ocean plastic cleanup system.

Every year, more than 8 million tons of plastics end up in our oceans, according to the UN Environment Programme. It is predicted that the weight of ocean plastics will match the weight of all the fish in our oceans by 2050. To prevent this from happening, in 2013 Slat created the Ocean Cleanup, an environmental non¬governmental organization, and put his plan for an ocean cleanup device into action.

After years of research and develop¬ment in the Netherlands, a device called System 001/B successfully started gathering plastics on October 2, 2019. The device uses a 600-meter-long C-shaped tube to gather all the floating rubbish. Unlike other cleanup methods, the system floats freely according to the direction of the waves, which allows waste to flow into and stay within the device. A sea anchor is attached to either end. This slows down the system as it floats through the water and allows the faster-moving rubbish, carried by the waves, to flow into its mouth. System 001/B can also collect waste below the surface using a 3-meter-deep skirt（挡板）attached to the end. After being gathered, the trash will be dragged back to shore by boat and recycled.

Right now, the system operates in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, an area that is 3 times the size of France. Once operational, the Ocean Cleanup expects a full fleet to be able to clear 50% of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in 5 years.

"It remains to be seen whether this dream will become a reality, but it is undeniable that humanity must work together to reduce our plastic use and repair the damage our waste has caused," Slat said. "We are starting to see a young generation that gets it and is excited about a sustainable （可持续的）future, but the question still comes down to: Are we going fast enough, and how much damage will have been done before we get there?"

1. The underlined word “match” in Paragraph 2 probably means “_________”.

A．compare	B．equal
C．measure	D．cover

2. Why did Boyan Slat create the Ocean Cleanup?

A．To collect ocean plastic waste.

B．To help to invent System 001/B.

C．To protect the living environment of fish.

D．To do research on the ocean environment.

3. What can we know about System 001/B?

A．It can collect and recycle garbage at the same time.

B．It can only gather ocean waste which floats on the water.

C．It aims to clear up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in five years.

D．It is an ocean-cleaning device which has already been put to use.

4. What does Slat want to tell us according to the last paragraph?

A．Young generations care less about the environment.

B．The future ecology of the oceans is deeply worrying.

C．People should work hard to decrease plastic pollution.

D．It's quite difficult to repair the damage to the environment.

7 . Directions: For each blank in the following passage there are four words or phrases marked A, B,   C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? If you were like most children, you probably let your imagination run _______ . Maybe you dreamed of   flying into space   or being   a   famous chef. Then perhaps over the years, your dreams became more _______ Or you might have   given up on some altogether.

If that’s the case, then today’s the day for you. January 13th is Make Your Dreams Come True Day. If you’ve been   _______   fulfilling your dreams, this is the day to make a fresh   start.

It’s important to dream because dreams can   give us the _______   to succeed in life. Dreams   inspire and   motivate us. The great thing about dreams is that there’s no _______   to accomplish       them right away. They might take a few years   or they might take a lifetime to _______ . The     important thing is that you’re       _______   working toward your dream. And the best way to do that is     by setting goals.

What is the_______between a dream and a goal? It’s been said that dreams are the final destination; goals are the stops along the way.

Dreams can be very _______ . But the steps you take to reach them should be very     ________.       Your dreams state what you want, but goals explain how you’ll get there. That makes goal seting a necessary step in       ________     your dreams.

Many successful people have spoken about dreams. Former U. S. Secretary of State Colin Powell stressed the________ of working for our dreams. “A dream doesn’t become reality through   magic: it takes sweat,     ________     and hard work. “Author Les Brown reminded us that dreams have       no__________   limit. You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new   dream.

If you’ve been dreaming about doing something for years, start today. Write down yo dream, and     ________   your goals. Then you’ll be on your way to making your dreams come   true.

1.

A．fast

B．high

C．well

D．wild.

2.

A．colorful

B．amazing

C．realistic

D．attractive

3.

A．putting off

B．taking off

C．getting off

D．paying off

4.

A．opportunity

B．direction

C．energy

D．access

5.

A．pressure

B．doubt

C．sense

D．need

6.

A．seek

B．achieve

C．explain

D．design

7.

A．really

B．almost

C．always

D．hardly

8.

A．concept

B．similarity

C．comparison

D．difference

9.

A．unreal

B．general

C．changeable

D．flexible

10.

A．specific

B．abstract

C．common

D．complicated

11.

A．imaging

B．avoiding

C．reaching

D．believing

12.

A．process

B．benefit

C．consequence

D．importance

13.

A．blood

B．determination

C．intelligence

D．loyalty

14.

A．age

B．extra

C．space

D．normal

15.

A．transfer

B．convert

C．establish

D．devote

8 . Every culture on the planet has certain topics that people avoid discussing. But the taboos (禁忌) of one culture may be very different from those of another. You may be _______ that people from other cultures say what you can’t talk about.

Paying attention to what people don’t _______ can teach us something important about their culture. Their taboo topics give us clues about what they value, respect or even fear. Topics that are considered too personal or too controversial (有争议的）may also be avoided.

America is full of taboo topics. Usually, during a polite conversation, Americans will _______ both politics and religion. They also avoid talking about racial issues(种族问题).

Why? Because these topics can cause strong opinions and _______ . Americans believe it’s best to avoid them — especially at social gatherings.

Many Americans also do not feel _______ talking about their personal income, age or health. _______, they prefer to make small talks about the weather, sports or common interests.

What do these taboos tell us about American _______? For one, they show that Americans place importance on _______ . America certainly isn’t the only place that values it. You will find _______ taboos about asking personal questions in many European countries. “This is especially true in Germany”, says Hanna Graf, a German living in Shanghai. “In Germany, you are not supposed to ask about other people’s personal business,” she says. “But there are no ________   rules about what you can’t ask; it’s just in people’s minds.”

In Brazil, ________, almost anything seems open to discussion. “Brazilians talk about all kinds of personal issues,” says Mark Quinlan, who grew up in Brazil. But of course, even Brazil has its own taboos. In Brazil, soccer is the one topic that can turn friends into enemies. Brazilians love the sport. Saying anything ________ about soccer can cause big trouble. Even expressing preference for one team over another can be ________.

Like Brazilians, Australians talk freely about almost anything. However, they do not talk about their personal or business ________. They prefer to let people judge them by their actions, not their words. Boasting(夸大) your achievements will only make you the ________ of other people’s jokes.

And what about your taboos? The next time you have a conversation, pay attention to what isn’t said. You might be amazed at what you learn about your own culture.

1.

A．excited

B．surprised

C．fascinated

D．relieved

2.

A．stress

B．consider

C．desire

D．discuss

3.

A．rule out

B．take to

C．touch upon

D．focus on

4.

A．arguments

B．interactions

C．agreements

D．relationships

5.

A．embarrassed

B．relaxed

C．confused

D．disappointed

6.

A．Besides

B．Occasionally

C．Frankly

D．Instead

7.

A．values

B．features

C．status

D．dreams

8.

A．culture

B．independence

C．privacy

D．freedom

9.

A．formal

B．unique

C．similar

D．aggressive

10.

A．specialized

B．written

C．common

D．basic

11.

A．moreover

B．however

C．therefore

D．anyhow

12.

A．important

B．worthless

C．magical

D．negative

13.

A．beneficial

B．impressive

C．dangerous

D．emotional

14.

A．achievements

B．secrets

C．lives

D．failures

15.

A．audience

B．designer

C．target

D．interpreter

9 .

Nest (T3007ES) Learning Thermostat(恒温器), Easy Temperature Control for Every Room   in Your House.

SAVE ENERGY WITH NEST: Nest introduces the 3rd generation Nest Learning Thermostat. With four beautiful colors to choose from and an easy to read display, this thermostat will help make your home not only smart but energy efficient. With just a few manual adjustments, the Nest Thermostat can learn your habits and start to save you money by automatically adjusting the temperature.

READ THE DISPLAY FROM ACROSS THE ROOM: The Nest Thermostat does something new. It’s called Farsight, and it lights up to show you the temperature, weather or time. You can even choose a digital or analog(模拟的) clock face. Farsight is big and bright on the beautiful display-you can see it from across the room.

A STYLE FOR EVERY HOME: The Nest Learning Thermostat now comes in four fantastic colors; Copper, Stainless Steel, Black, and White. Choose copper to add a warm touch. Stainless steel is perfect for a classic, versatile look. Black blends in with dark walls and stylish décor(装饰). And white looks great in simple, modern homes.

WORKS WITH NEST: Nest has worked hard to design thoughtful devices to help keep you safe and secure. Nest devices not only communicate with each other but also with the other smart devices around your home. Your Nest Secure can use your smart light bulbs to help get your attention in the event of an emergency; your smart washer and dryer can take the data from Nest and run the next load of laundry when energy demand is low. Look for the Works with Nest badge and let Nest handle the rest.

Technical Specifications

High resolution color screen: 24-bit color LCD, 480 x 480 at 229 pixel per inch (PPI), 2.08” (5.3cm) diameter

Sensors: Temperature, Humidity, Near-field activity, Far-field activity

Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery

Wi-Fi connection access

Languages: English, French, Spanish, Dutch

1. Which description about the product is TRUE?

A．It sells best in Memory and Storage Products section.

B．It is equipped with electronic system.

C．It needs to be plugged in when being used.

D．It has various colors available on Amazon.com.

2. Which benefit does the produce NOT have?

A．You can control it from your phone remotely.

B．It helps to save energy efficiently.

C．It will learn your schedule and adjust the temperature.

D．It is resistant to pressure and shake.

3. How much should you pay at least if you have a 2-floor house and want your thermostat to work independently?

A．$385.93.

B．$325.84.

C．$320.98.

D．$356.93.

10 . The Internet of Thing (IoT) aims to get everything and everyone talking. Attaching sensors to “things”, such as cows, cars and refrigerator, and then assigning them unique IP addresses allow then to “talk” to the Internet. Of course, the IoT will involve much more than a handful of sensors. Networking company Cisco estimates that 50 billion Internet - connected devices and objects will be sending over date by 2020.

Specific Benefits The IoT will allow people to track things and processes like never before. Airplane manufacturers will be able to continuously track the condition of airplane parts, allowing them to do preventive maintenance and avoid costly downtime. Consumers could install smart meters in their homes to monitor energy usage and observe energy price changes in real time. That would allow people to adjust their habits and use electrical appliances during lower-priced hours.

Some Fears Some critics fear that the IoT could end up being a fashion that people lose interest in over time. Having Twitter feeds on refrigerator doors may sound cool at first, but the attraction could fade as quickly as the excitement over last year’s smart-phone! Other critics are doubtful that companies making Internet - connected appliances will provide long-term software updates. If that happens, a refrigerator or washing machine that should last 10 years or more could last two or three due to software that’s outdated.

A Positive Example Early this year, owners of the Tesla Model S electric car received a recall notice alerting them to a charger plug, needing to be fixed. Amazingly, owners of the Model S sat back while the company performed an “over the air” wireless update. Customers confirmed the update by tapping on the car’s touchscreen console to see that the Model S was running the latest software version. No trip to the dealer was required! Perhaps Tesla’s remote fix is a sign of things to come. Someday soon, people’s lives might become a lot more efficient and convenient thanks to the IoT.

1. How do researchers get everything and everyone talking?

A．By establishing the IoT and launching a handful of sensors.

B．By connecting sensors with them and appointing them unique IP addresses.

C．By communicating with them all the time through the IoT.

D．By sending people to track them day and night and collect useful data.

2. What else do critics worry about the IoT besides its probably ending up being a fashion?

A．People will lose interest in it as quickly as the thrill over last year’s smart-phone.

B．Refrigerators and washing machines will be replaced by other devices in a few years.

C．Whether related companies will provide long-term software updates or not.

D．The software provided by companies will be outdated easily and quickly.

3. According to the passage, when owners of the Tesla Model S electric received a recall notice, they _______.

A．just waited in the car while the maintenance is being done through wireless update

B．were required to go to the nearest 4s store to make some adjustments or repairs.

C．could definitely depend on the IoT to send them the charger plug to be fixed

D．had to confirm the update with the help of the equipment provided by the company