1 . The misery of my bike commute in Calgary, Alberta, is the river valley hill. It’s not particularly steep, but at about a mile long, I rarely climbed up without arriving with sweat. Studies have shown the prospect of arriving at work sweaty is one of the biggest _________ to getting would-be bike commuters out of their cars. That’s especially true in a city like Los Angeles, where _________ may face long routes , hills or hot streets with a lack of shade.

“Pedelec”, or pedal electric-assisted bikes like the one I rode, can end that worry. They look and act like traditional bicycles, but their motors make pedaling much easier when required. Sometimes called the most energy-efficient motorized mode of transportation ever built, they’re also incredibly green. The biggest barrier may be the outdated attitude that sees bikes only as a recreational athletic opportunity rather than a practical _________ option.

At a time when cities across North America are struggling to combat crippling traffic and reduce climate emissions, e-bikes have the _________ to ease the both problems. And yet ridership has yet to truly _______.About 152,000 e-bikes were sold last year in the U.S., a figure that would be more than 5 million if Americans used them at the same rate as western Europeans.   

Many of the barriers to e-bike _________in North America are legislative. Patchwork rules treat e-bikes more like mopeds than traditional pedal bikes in some jurisdictions,meaning they are _______from bike lanes and from boarding public transportation.

Few places on the continent, _________, are better poised to break through barriers than California. Legislation was approved last year to encourage e-bike use, by legally differentiating the cycles from mopeds. In an attempt to head off worries about turbocharged machines flying down sidewalks and bike lanes at unsafe speeds, the law classifies bikes into different tiers to _______ lower-speed e-bikes, which top out at 20 mph, from faster-moving “speed pedelecs”, which are restricted from protected bike paths.

Amid these legislative ________, e-bikes have become more accessible to consumer. Finding them in bike shops isn’t as __________ as it once was, and their cost has fallen as the price of lithium-ion batteries has dropped. Today, a decent e-bike, while still __________, is comparable in price to a high-end mountain bike. After years of ____________over mixing pedal and motor power, cycling advocacy organizations also are finally throwing their support behind e-bikes. Dave Snyder, the executive director of the California Bicycle Coalition, __________ the state’s new legislation based partly on the __________that e-bikes help out those who“just can’t ride as far or as fast as they need to”.

1.

A．advantages

B．processes

C．barriers

D．complements

2.

A．riders

B．builders

C．customers

D．volunteers

3.

A．production

B．communication

C．facilities

D．transportation

4.

A．routine

B．potential

C．temporary

D．major

5.

A．make of

B．carry on

C．bring up

D．take off

6.

A．adaptation

B．adoption

C．adjustment

D．justification

7.

A．proved

B．alerted

C．banned

D．authorized

8.

A．however

B．unless

C．meanwhile

D．anyway

9.

A．originate

B．combine

C．separate

D．satisfy

10.

A．factors

B．benefits

C．limits

D．damages

11.

A．proper

B．critical

C．sensational

D．difficult

12.

A．expensive

B．distinctive

C．sensitive

D．intensive

13.

A．trouble

B．concern

C．power

D．scale

14.

A．favored

B．folded

C．referred

D．gifted

15.

A．appeal

B．address

C．amount

D．advocate

2 . A baby born today will be thirty-something in 2050. If all goes well, that baby will still be around in 2100, and might even be an active citizen of the 22^nd century. What should we teach that baby to help them survive and flourish in the world of 2050 and beyond? What kind of skills will they need in order to get a job, understand what is happening around them, and navigate their tough life?

At present, too many schools across the world focus on providing pupils with a set of predetermined skills, such as writing computer code in C++ and conversing in Chinese. Yet since we have no idea how the world and the job market will look in 2050, we don’t really know what particular skills people will need. We might invest a lot of effort in teaching kids how to write in C++ or to speak Chinese, only to discover sooner or later that AI will have been able to code software far better than humans, and that a new translation app will have enabled you to conduct a conversation in almost flawless Mandarin, Cantonese or Hakka, even though you only know how to say ni hao.

So what should we be teaching? Many experts argue that schools should downplay technical skills and emphasize general-purpose life skills: the ability to deal with change, to learn new things, and to preserve your mental balance in unfamiliar situations. In order to keep up with the world of 2050, you will above all need to reinvent yourself again and again.

To succeed in such a demanding task, you will need to work very hard on getting to know your operating system better—to know what you are and what you want from life. This is, of course, the oldest advice in the book: know thyself. This advice was never more urgent than in the mid-21^st century, because unlike in the days of Laozi or Socrates, now you have serious competition. Coca-Cola, Amazon and Facebook are all racing to hack you.

Right now, the algorithms (算法) are watching where you go, what you buy, and who you meet. Soon they will monitor all your steps, breaths and heartbeats. They are relying on big data and machine learning to get to know you better and better. And once these algorithms know you better than you know yourself, they could control and manipulate (操纵) you. In the end, authority will shift to them.

Of course, you might be perfectly happy giving up all authority to the algorithms and trusting them to make decisions for you and for the rest of the world. If, however, you want to maintain some control over your personal existence and over the future of life in general, you have to run faster than the algorithms. To run fast, don’t take much luggage with you. Leave all your illusions (幻想) behind. They are very heavy.

1. What does the underlined word “downplay” in paragraph 3 most probably mean?

A．Give too much emphasis on something.

B．Make people think that something is less important.

C．Offer your reasons why something is right or wrong.

D．Decide something in advance so that it does not happen.

2. According to the article, ___________ plays a vital role in children’s bright future.

A．imagination

B．adaptability

C．self-discipline

D．a good sense of balance

3. It’s important to know our operating system because ___________.

A．if we don’t, algorithms will hack all our devices.

B．it is an essential skill for us to succeed in the world of 2050.

C．we need to learn how algorithms work and make full use of them.

D．we need to outrun algorithms to keep some control over our personal life.

4. The article mainly talks about _________.

A．the importance of knowing yourself

B．the threats and dangers of technology

C．what kind of skills we might need in the future

D．some potential benefits algorithms would bring to humankind

3 . Dating in the workplace is, if not a taboo, certainly a conundrum-not only for businesses, but also for the employees who find themselves falling for a co-worker. - [1] - Should it be allowed? Would it be authoritarian to ban it? Should employees inform their bosses of office relationships, or should they conceal them? Is requiring so-called “love contracts” to be signed by both parties before initiating a relationship even realistic?

-[2]Most people spend 30 to 45 hours in the office each week-and with team-bonding activities, work celebrations and Friday drinks, it’s normal for colleagues to build a bond with one another, especially if they find that they have more things in common than just their employer.

From the company’s point of view, however, couples at work are a serious risk factor which must be mitigated. Without a proper dating policy in place, claims of sexual harassment and accusations of favoritism become a significant risk. It’s not necessary to ban office romance (though you are certainly allowed to): but you do need to have clear rules in place, to ensure you’re doing all you can to head off any potential issues. Ask, for example, that all employees who embark on a relationship have a sit-down, be it casual or formal, with HR. - [3] -

As for employees, there are two things to consider when you find yourself romantically interested in one of your colleagues: first of all, is it worth it?-[4] - Regardless of how your employer feels, office romance can be quite complicated-not only because you’ll most likely be the target of gossip, but also because your work environment will be affected if the relationship does not work out. And secondly, what is your company’s dating policy? If they have a zero-tolerance policy, do not risk your job or assume you will be able to keep your relationship on the down low. In the vast majority of cases, it’s simply not possible.

Attitudes towards office romance are certainly changing, with more companies reassessing zero-tolerance policies and opting for a more casual approach to how their employees connect with one another. That said, however, office romance is still a complex issue, and it should be treated with gravitas.

1. Who is this article aimed at?

A．companies

B．employees considering a relationship with a colleague

C．employees who are not in a relationship with a colleague

D．all of the above

2. Which of the following do employees need to decide before starting an office romance?

A．what their dating policy will be

B．whether the advantages of it outweigh the disadvantages

C．whether to inform the company

D．whether to follow the company’s dating rules

3. In paragraph 4, line 5, what does the author mean by the phrase “keep your relationship on the down low”

A．hiding your relationship	B．making an example out of your relationship
C．protecting your relationship	D．creating rumors about relationships

4. In which of the positions [1], [2], [3] or [4] does the following sentence best belong? “It is, of course, it is not surprising that relationships do form in the workplace.”

A．[1]

B．[2]

C．[3]

D．[4]

4 . It is hard to imagine that many people are stupid enough to want children because it looks so fantastic — most adults understand that a baby is not a haircut. But it is interesting to wonder if the images we see every week of stress-free, happiness-enhancing parenthood aren’t in some small, subconscious way contributing to our own dissatisfactions with the actual experience, in the same way that a small part of us hoped getting a part of the way celebrities live might make us look just a little bit like them.

Which of the following can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．Having children contributes little to the glamour of celebrity moms.

B．Celebrity moms have influenced our attitude towards child raising.

C．Having children intensifies our dissatisfaction with life.

D．We sometimes neglect the happiness from child raising.

5 . The public must be able to understand the basics of science to make informed decisions. Perhaps the most dramatic example of the negative consequences of poor communication between scientists and the public is the issue of climate change, where a variety of factors has contributed to widespread mistrust and misunderstanding of scientists and their research. The issue of climate change also illustrates how the public acceptance and understanding of science (or the lack of it) can influence governmental decision-making with regard to regulation, science policy and research funding.

However, the importance of effective communication with a general audience is not limited to hot issues like climate change. It is also critical for issues such as the genetic basis for a particular behavior or the use of animal models because in these areas, the public understanding of science can also influence policy and funding decisions. Furthermore, with continuing scientific advances, more non-scientists will need to be able to analyze complex scientific information to make decisions that directly affect their quality of life.

Science journalism is the main channel for the popularization of scientific information among the public. Much has been written about how the relationship between scientists and the media can shape the efficient communication of scientific advances to the public. Good science journalists are specialists in making complex topics accessible to a general audience, while sticking to scientific accuracy. Unfortunately, pieces of science journalism can also oversimplify and generalize their subject material. As a result, the basic information conveyed is difficult to understand or obviously wrong.

Even though scientists play a part in conveying information to journalists and ultimately the public, too often the blame for ineffective communication is placed on the side of the journalists. I believe that, at least in part, the problem lies in places other than the interaction between scientists and members of the media. It exists because we underestimate how difficult it is for scientists to communicate effectively with a diversity of audiences, and most scientists do not receive formal training in science communication.

1. What does the example of climate change mainly serve to show?

A．Adequate government funding is vital to scientific research.

B．Government regulation helps the public understand science.

C．The public’s scientific knowledge can influence policy making.

D．There is widespread public mistrust and misunderstanding of scientific work.

2. Why is it important for scientists to build a good relationship with the media?

A．It helps scientists to build a better public image.

B．It helps them to effectively popularize scientific information.

C．It enables scientists to better apply their findings to public health.

D．It enables the public to develop a positive attitude toward science.

3. What is the problem with some pieces of science journalism?

A．They give inaccurate or complicated information.

B．They oversimplify people’s health problems.

C．They fail to mention the scientific advances.

D．They lack detailed information about scientific research.

4. According to the writer, what should scientists do to communicate to the public more effectively?

A．Interact more with the media.

B．Give training to science journalists.

C．Improve their communication skills.

D．Arouse the public’s interest in science.

6 . The make-up has been __________ and the costumes are back in the wardrobe. All of the ghosts, and zombies (僵尸) have disappeared for another year. If you were out On October 31, you probably noticed that there seemed to be many more of the __________ creatures scaring up fun on Shanghai streets this year. Not everyone, however, is __________ about the increasing popularity of Halloween in our city.

In actual fact, Halloween is a holiday that makes __________ people unhappy, even in countries where it is widely popular. It is not surprising that stories of the dead rising and walking among us might offend certain religious and cultural __________ of any country.

__________, costumes are often designed to be scary, disturbing and even disgusting. This particular feature of Halloween is exactly what __________some elderly passengers on the metro a few nights ago. A group of local university students, who were heading for a Halloween party, had dressed up like zombies. Their frightening appearance shocked the elderly passengers, causing them to become nervous.

Micro-bloggers later discussed the __________ online, expressing __________ opinions. On one hand, some see it as an example of young people showing a lack of __________ and respect towards the people around them. On the other hand, others see it as a harmless way to have fun.

__________ one’s judgment of that particular story, we can all agree that this is an obvious case of both cultural and generational __________. China is a country that values respect for dead ancestors. It’s quite likely that some Chinese people see certain Halloween traditions as making fun of the dead. It seems that while China’s younger generation embraces the celebrations of Western countries, the __________ generation can easily feel offended and question the wisdom of adopting foreign holidays.

China is changing rapidly, and many of those changes are due to outside influences. As the country embraces the values and cultural celebrations of foreign countries, what happens to __________ values and celebrations? How do generations, which are becoming so vastly different, continue to respect and understand one another? __________ to think about while you eat your Halloween candy.

1.

A．washed up

B．washed off

C．put on

D．put down

2.

A．frightening-looking

B．exciting-looking

C．worrying-looking

D．upsetting-looking

3.

A．sad

B．regretful

C．happy

D．delighted

4.

A．no

B．any

C．some

D．all

5.

A．differences

B．identity

C．influences

D．values

6.

A．Nevertheless

B．Furthermore

C．Indeed

D．Consequently

7.

A．delighted

B．excited

C．stressed

D．upset

8.

A．accident

B．incident

C．event

D．affair

9.

A．positive

B．negative

C．mixed

D．uncertain

10.

A．sensitivity

B．sensibility

C．connectivity

D．credibility

11.

A．Because of

B．In view of

C．For the sake of

D．Regardless of

12.

A．conflicts

B．confusions

C．crashes

D．challenges

13.

A．teenage

B．older

C．past

D．middle-aged

14.

A．natural

B．native

C．original

D．traditional

15.

A．Everything

B．Something

C．Anything

D．Nothing

7 . Why does social media trigger feelings of loneliness and inadequacy? Because instead of being real life, it is, for the most part, impression management, a way of marketing yourself, carefully choosing and filtering the picture and words to put your best face forward.

Online “friends” made through social media do not follow the normal psychological progression of a interpersonal relationship. You share neither physical time nor emotional conversations over the Internet. You simply communicate photographs and catchy posts to a diverse group of people whom you have “friended” or “followed” based on an accidental interaction. This is not to say that your social media friends can't be real friends. They absolutely can, but the two are not the same. Generally speaking, there are no unfiltered comments and casually taken photos on our social media pages. And, rightfully so, because it wouldn't feel safe to be completely authentic and vulnerable with some of our “friends” whom we don't actually know or with whom trust has yet to be built.

Social media can certainly be an escape from the daily routines, but we must be cautioned against the negative effects, such as addiction, on a person's overall psychological well-being.

As humans，we are eager for social connection. Scrolling (滚动) through pages of pictures and comments, however, does not provide the same degree of fulfillment as face to face interactions do. Also, we tend to idealize others' lives and compare our downfalls to their greatest accomplishments, ending in feelings of loneliness and inadequacy.

Social media can lead people on the unhealthy quest for perfection. Some people begin to attend certain events or travel to different places so that they can snap that “perfect” photo. They begin to seek validation through the number of people who “like” their posts. In order for it to play a psychologically healthy role in your social life, social media should supplement an already healthy social network. Pictures and posts should be byproducts of life's treasured moments and fun times, not the planned and calculated image that one is putting out into cyberspace in an attempt to fill insecurities or unmet needs.

Ultimately, social media has increased our ability to connect with various types of people all over the globe. It has opened doors for business and allowed us to stay connected to people whom we may not otherwise get to follow. However, social media should feel like a fun experience, not one that contributes to negative thoughts and feelings. If the latter is the case, increasing face to face time with trusted friends, and minimizing time scrolling online, will prove to be a reminder that your social network is much more rewarding than any “like”, “follow” or “share” can be.

1. What does the author imply social media may do to our life?

A．It may facilitate our interpersonal relationships.

B．It may filter our negative impressions of others.

C．It may make us feel isolated and incompetent.

D．It may render us vulnerable and inauthentic.

2. Why do people post comments selectively on social media?

A．They do not find all their online friends trustworthy.

B．They do not want to lose their followers.

C．They want to avoid offending any of their audience.

D．They are eager to boost their popularity.

3. What are humans inclined to do according to the passage?

A．Exaggerate their life's accomplishments.

B．Strive for perfection regardless of the cost.

C．Paint a rosy picture of other people's lives.

D．Learn lessons from other people's downfalls.

4. What does the author advise people to do when they find their online experience unconstructive?

A．Use social media to increase their ability to connect with various types of people.

B．Stay connected to those whom they may not otherwise get to know and befriend.

C．Try to prevent negative thoughts and feelings from getting into the online pages.

D．Strengthen ties with real-life friends instead of caring about their online image.

8 . No business would welcome being compared to Big Tobacco or gambling. Yet that is what is happening to makers of video games. For years parents have casually complained that their offspring are “addicted” to their smartphones. Today, ________, ever more doctors have using the term literally.

On January 1^st “gaming disorder” — in which games are played ________, despite causing harm — gains recognition from the Worth Health Organization. A few months ago China, the world's biggest gaming market, announced new rules limiting children to just a single hour of play a day. Western politicians worry publicly about some games' similarity to gambling. Clinics are sprouting around the world, promising to cure patients of their habit.

Are games really addictive? Psychologists are ________. The case for the defence is that this is just another moral panic. Killjoys in the past issued ________ serious warnings about television, rock 'n' roll, jazz, comic books, and even novels. As the newest form of mass media, gaming is merely enduring its own time in the stocks before it eventually ceases to be controversial. Furthermore, defenders argue, the criteria used to diagnose gaming addiction are too ________. Obsessive gaming, they suggest, is as likely to be a symptom (of depression, say) as a disorder in its own right.

The prosecution refutes that, unlike rock bands or novelists, games developers have both the motive and the means to engineer their products to make them ________. The motive arises from a business-model shift. Many use a "free-mium" model, in which the game is free and money is made from purchases of in-game goods. That ________ playtime directly to profits. The means is a combination of psychological theory and data that helps games-makers ________ that playtime. Psychologists already know quite a lot about the sorts of things that animals, including humans, find rewarding. Smartphones use their permanent internet connections to send gameplay data back to developers. That allows products to be constantly fine-tuned to ________ spending.

While psychologists argue about the finer points of what exactly counts as addiction, the industry should recognize that, in the real world, it has a problem. Clinics are already reporting booming business, as lock-downs have given gamers more time to spend with their hobby. The regulatory climate for tech is getting ________. And being associated in the public mind, fairly or not, with gambling and tobacco will not do the industry any favours.

It would be wise to get ahead of the discussion. A good place to start would be with hard data. Many of the studies supporting the opinion that games are addictive in a ________ sense are not clear: they rely on self-reported symptoms, contested diagnostic criteria, and so on. Even basic questions about the amount of time and money spent by users are hard to answer. The industry has an abundance of ________ that could help. But gaming firms mostly keep details of how gamers behave ________, citing commercial sensitivity.

In the long run, that will prove unwise. Gaming firms should make more of their data available to researchers. If — as seems likely — worries about addictiveness are ________, it is hard to think of a clearer way of showing it. And if not, it is better for firms to recognize the problem now and do something about it ________. The alternative is that regulators will force them to act. And once a government is seized by a fit of moral panic, it can lash out.

1.

A．however

B．therefore

C．still

D．instead

2.

A．superbly

B．compulsively

C．brilliantly

D．proportionately

3.

A．split

B．determined

C．diversified

D．misunderstood

4.

A．directly

B．jointly

C．similarly

D．formally

5.

A．loose

B．objective

C．basic

D．strict

6.

A．valuable

B．marketable

C．accessible

D．irresistible

7.

A．applies

B．ties

C．adds

D．draws

8.

A．control

B．reduce

C．maximize

D．restrict

9.

A．cut

B．boost

C．finance

D．balance

10.

A．milder

B．damper

C．gentler

D．chillier

11.

A．broad

B．legal

C．technical

D．medical

12.

A．data

B．time

C．wealth

D．leisure

13.

A．open

B．secret

C．independent

D．reliable

14.

A．overblown

B．shared

C．eased

D．dismissed

15.

A．reluctantly

B．thoroughly

C．voluntarily

D．adequately

9 . Gone are the days when a mother’s place was in the home: in Britain women with children are now as likely to be in paid work as their unburdened sisters. Many put their little darlings in day care long before they start school. Mindful that a poor start can spoil a person’s chances of success later in life, the state has intervened ever more closely in how babies and toddlers are looked after. Inspectors call not only at nurseries but also at homes where youngsters are minded; three-year-olds follow the national curriculum. Child care has increasingly become a profession.

For years after the government first began in 2001 to twist the arms of anyone who looked after an unrelated child to register with the schools, the numbers so doing fell. Kind but clueless neighbours stopped looking after little ones, who were instead herded into formal nurseries or handed over to one of the ever-fewer registered child-minders. The decline in the number of people taking in children now appears to have halted. According to data released by the Office for Standards in Education on October 27th, the number of registered child-minders reached its lowest point in September 2010 and has since recovered slightly.

The new lot are certainly better qualified. In 2010 fully 82% of nursery workers held diplomas notionally equivalent to A-levels, the university-entrance exams taken mostly by 18-year-olds, up from 56% seven years earlier, says Anand Shukla of the Daycare Trust, a charity. Nurseries staffed by university graduates tend to be rated highest by inspectors, increasing their appeal to the pickiest parents. As a result, more graduates are being recruited.

But professionalization has also pushed up the price of child care, defying even the economic depression. A survey by the Daycare Trust finds that a full-time nursery place in England for a child aged under two, who must be intensively supervised, costs £194 ($310) per week, on average. Prices in London and the south-east are far higher. Parents in Britain spend more on child care than anywhere else in the world, according to the OECD, a think-tank. Some 68% of a typical second earner's net income is spent on freeing her to work, compared with an OECD average of 52%.

The price of child care is not only eye-watering, but has also become a barrier to work. Soon after it took power the coalition government pledged to ensure that people are better off in work than on benefits, but a recent survey by Save the Children, a charity, found that the high cost of day care prevented a quarter of low-paid workers from returning to their jobs once they had started a family. The government pays for free part-time nursery places for three-and four-year-olds, and contributes towards day-care costs for younger children from poor areas. Alas, extending such an aid during stressful economic times would appear to be anything but child’s play.

1. Which of the following is true according to the first paragraph?

A．Nursery education plays a leading role in one’s personal growth.

B．Pregnant women have to work to lighten families’ economic burden.

C．Children in nursery have to take uniform nation courses.

D．The supervision of the state makes child care professional.

2. It can be learned from Paragraph 2 and 3 that ___________.

A．the registered child-minders are required to take the university-entrance exams

B．the number of registered child-minders has been declining since 2001

C．anyone who looks after children at home must register with the schools

D．the growing recognition encourages more graduates to work as child-minders

3. The high price of child care __________.

A．prevents mothers from getting employed

B．may further depress the national economy

C．makes many families live on benefits

D．is far more than parents can afford

4. What is the author’s attitude towards the professionalization of child care?

A．Objective.

B．Skeptical.

C．Supportive.

D．Biased.

5. Which of the following would be the subject of the text?

A．The professionalization of child care has pushed up its price.

B．The high cost of child nursing makes many mothers give up their jobs.

C．The employment of more graduates makes nurseries more popular.

D．Parents in Britain pay most for child nursing throughout the world.

10 . A few years ago, a young woman at Facebook came to my desk and asked if she could speak privately. We headed into a conference room, where she began firing off questions about how I balance work and family. As the questions came faster and faster, I started to wonder about her urgency. I interrupted to ask if she had a child. She said no, but she liked to plan ahead. I inquired if she and her partner were considering having a child. She replied that she did not have a husband, then added with a little laugh, “Actually, I don’t even have a boyfriend.”

It seemed to me that she was jumping the gun but I understood why. From an early age, girls get the message that they will have to choose between succeeding at work and being a good mother. By the time they are in college, women are already thinking about the trade-offs they will make between professional and personal goals! When asked to choose between marriage and career, female college students are twice as likely to choose marriage as their male classmates. And this concern can start even younger. Peggy Orenstein, the author of Cinderella Ate My Daughter, related the story of a five-year-old girl who came home distraught from her after-school program and told her mother that both she and the boy she had a crush on wanted to be astronauts.When her mother asked why that was a problem, the little girl replied, “When we go into space together,who will watch out kids?” At five,she thought the most challenging aspect of space travel would be dependable childcare.

As I’ve mentioned, I’m a big believe in thoughtful preparation. Everywhere I go, I carry a little notebook with my to-do list. But when it comes to integrating career and family, planning too far in advance can close doors rather than open them. I have seen this happen over and over. Women rarely make one big decision to leave the workforce. Instead, they make a lot of small decision along the way, making accommodations and sacrifices that they believe will be required to have a family. Of all the ways women hold themselves back, perhaps the most pervasive is that they leave before they leave.

1. What does the underlined sentence in paragraph two “she was jumping the gun” mean in the passage?

A．She was taking action before everyone else did.

B．She was making preparations earlier than she was supposed to.

C．She was reluctant to make the decisions all by herself.

D．She was wondering how to balance work and family.

2. What is paragraph two mainly about?

A．After-school programs in primary schools encourage children to picture their future life.

B．Domestic life is preventing women nowadays from pursuing higher goals in workplaces.

C．Females nowadays start to weigh their choice between family and career at an even earlier age.

D．Female college students are more willing to assume domestic responsibilities than their male classmates.

3. What does the underlined word “distraught” in paragraph two mean?

A．upset

B．delighted

C．satisfied

D．excited

4. Which of the following statements would the author probably agree with?

A．Females are advised to make life-decisions after thoughtful preparation.

B．It’s better for girls to plan for leaving the workplace step by step.

C．Women usually make up the their mind to quit their job in a very short period of time.

D．Planning too early for balancing career and family is hindering females from promotion in the workplace.