1 . Goolsbee, now a professor at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, said the rising number of Americans out of work forever paints a troubling picture about the recovery (恢复).
“If we are on path to only be two-thirds recovered,” Goolsbee wrote, “and then have millions of businesses closed down and the jobs there lost fast, there will be years for us to try to get back onto the path we were on before.”
And those everlasting job losses will influence the economy. People out of work may cutback spending or even stop it. They are at risk of falling behind on car payments, credit card bills and bank loan (贷款). Those risks are magnified by the fact that the government has so far failed to provide additional economic recovery policies (政策) — even though the US economy is in great need of them.
“Good insurance (保险) policies for people out of work have helped them pay the loan much more easily,” Principal’s Shah wrote, “but with everlasting job losses clearly rising and still no sign of an additional economic recovery package, the trouble will become more widespread and obvious.”
The hope is that those recognized as jobless at present will in the end get a job somewhere else. Even though some restaurants, shops and small businesses have shut down, new companies are opening each day here and there. But there is a time limit at play because the time of continuously out of job influences the chances of getting another job. “The longer you’re out of the job market,” said PNC’s Faucher, “the more difficult it becomes to find a new one.” Many Americans who had a job loss or had a too long vacation without any payment are eagerly looking forward to another job.
1. What does the underlined word “magnified” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?| A．Reduced. | B．Enlarged. |
| C．Avoided. | D．Unchanged. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Confused. |
| C．Disappointed. | D．Uninterested. |
| A．Losing jobs gets them out of the job market. |
| B．They have more opportunities to have vacations. |
| C．They successfully get offers from new companies. |
| D．Losing jobs for long makes it harder to find a new one. |
| A．The jobless usually spend less. |
| B．Insurance companies offer necessary loans. |
| C．More job losses suggest a dark economy future. |
| D．The economy recovery depends on the government. |
2 . Affordable Beach Vacation in Corfu
Corfu, an island off the coast of Greece, offers visitors sunkissed shores with clear water and lots of beaches.
Finding the Perfect Beach
Our first pick is Sidari Beach. It’s a blue flag beach perfect for couples looking for a more private feel, as it’s far from bigger tourist destinations. Issos Beach makes for the perfect place for watching the sunset. Dassia Bay has a bit more water sports. Paleokastritsa is an amazing West Coast village with six beaches on offer, including Rovinia Beach.
Getting around Corfu
Corfu offers bike rentals and bus service as a cheaper alternative (替代) to taxis. The best time to visit Corfu is during the “shoulder season” in April/May. The weather isn’t as warm as the high seasons but it remains perfect. It is not crowded in this period, but you still need to book ahead of schedule as Corfu stays popular throughout the year.
Eating Out For Less
There are a lot of well-priced restaurants but street food is also a big winner. Some popular choices are Souvlakia and Pita Gyros. There are also many cheeses special to Greece, including Tirokafteri and Ladotyri. Corfu also has many unbelievable desserts (甜食). Stazei Meli is a tourist favourite to give them a try.
1. Which place is probably the best choice for couples?| A．Sidari Beach. | B．Dassia Bay. |
| C．Issos Beach. | D．Rovinia Beach. |
| A．Rent a bike. | B．Book in advance. |
| C．Wear warm clothes. | D．Set off in April/May. |
| A．It cooks popular dishes. | B．It severs well-priced food. |
| C．It produces special cheese. | D．It sells amazing desserts. |
3 . When it comes to thrilling places to travel to, the nation of Thailand has got to be at or near the top of the list. The beaches of Thailand are simply amazing. Here is a look at the four best beaches in all of Thailand.
Maya Bay
This small beach attracts some huge crowds, but it is still worth a visit thanks to what is widely regarded as some of the best sights in the whole country. The Maya Bay Beach is located on a small island and is only accessible(可进入的) via boat or passenger ferry.
Lamai Beach
For the traveler looking for a quite unforgettable beach experience during their visit to Thailand, a trip out to Lamai Beach in Samui is a must. The sandy areas are long and wide with plenty of room for everyone. The water is inviting and easy to access.
Patong Beach
Patong Beach is not only one of the most beautiful and popular beaches in Thailand, but it is the largest beach on the popular island of Phuket. The soft white sand is a great place to relax. Some of the many great activities that travelers can join in during a visit to Patong Beach include jet skiing, kayaking, surfing, diving, snorkeling(浮潜) , swimming, and more.
Haad Rin
Haad Rin is one of the most popular party spots in the country, for both locals and travelers. All month long, during most parts of the year, there are some special entertainment(娱乐), eating, and socializing opportunities.
1. If you want to have a very impressive beach experience, which is highly recommended?| A．Maya Bay | B．Lamai Beach |
| C．Patong Beach | D．Haad Rin |
| A．Maya Bay | B．Lamai Beach |
| C．Patong Beach | D．Haad Rin |
| A．Relax on the white soft sand. |
| B．Take part in adventurous activities. |
| C．Have a good time with the people living here. |
| D．Learn much culture and history about Thailand. |
4 . The biggest and the smallest of the world’s animals are most at risk of dying out, according to a new analysis, with vertebrates (脊椎动物) in the so-called “Goldilocks zone”—not too big and not too small—winning out. Action is needed to protect animals at both ends of the scale, they say. The research adds to evidence that animals are dying out on such a scale that a sixth extinction is considered under way.
One clue is body size. Research on birds and mammals has shown that those with larger bodies are more likely to go extinct. Yet, when the researchers made a database of thousands of birds, mammals, fish, amphibians (两栖动物) and reptiles (爬行动物) at risk of extinction, they found disproportionate (不成比例的) losses at the large and small ends of the scale.
“Surprisingly, we found that not only the largest of all vertebrate animal species are most threatened, but the very tiniest ones are also highly threatened with extinction,” Prof. Ripple told BBC News.
Large animals, such as elephants, rhinos (犀牛) and lions have long been the target of protection efforts. However, fish, birds, reptiles and amphibians that are the giants of their kind, such as the whale shark, Somali ostrich (鸵鸟) and the Chinese giant salamander (蝾螈), tend to be overlooked. Meanwhile, small species at risk--such as frogs and shrews (鼩鼱)--receive very little attention.
“I think, for the smallest species, first of all we need to bring higher awareness to them, because the larger ones get a lot of attention, but the smaller ones get very little,” said Prof. Ripple.
In the study, vertebrates with the smallest and the largest bodies were found to be most at risk of disappearing, whether they were on land or living in oceans, streams or rivers.
Heavyweights are threatened mainly by hunting, while featherweights are losing out to pollution and cutting down forests. “Ultimately, reducing global consumption of wild meat is a key step to reduce negative impacts of hunting, fishing, and trapping on the world’s vertebrates,” they write in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
1. What made the researchers feel surprised?| A．A sixth of animals are dying out. |
| B．Small animals are in great danger. |
| C．Great losses of birds and mammals. |
| D．Big animals are at risk of disappearing. |
| A．Transform our habits. | B．Change our concepts. |
| C．Find ways to save small animals. | D．Take measures to stop pollution. |
| A．Loss of forests. | B．Climate change. |
| C．Human activities. | D．Environmental pollution. |
| A．Size Matters When It Comes to Extinction Risk |
| B．Large Animals Are Badly in Need of Protection |
| C．Why a Great Number of Animals Are Dying out |
| D．What We Should Do to Protect Endangered Species |
5 . Many cars advertisements（广告）in the United States are red, blue or green. But nearly 75% of the new cars sold in the United States are black, white, silver or gray.
Les Jackson is a reporter who writes about cars. He says Americans prefer the cars whose colors do not show dirt clearly. In this way, the owners can wash their cars less to save money. In fact, some areas that are short of water do not allow people to wash their cars often.
Dan Benton works for a company called Axalta, which sells paint（涂料）to international car markers. He says white cars are usually sold at a better price than cars of other colors. And they absorb less energy, which means temperatures inside them are lower in warmer areas. Besides, research at Monash University in Australia suggests that there is a lower risk of car accidents during the day for white cars compared with darker ones. In China, many buyer say white makes a small car look bigger.
Axalta says about 11% of the cars sold in North America are red and 8% are blue. In South America, 10% of the new cars sold are red.
“Green cars have become less popular,” Dan Benton says. “In the mid 1990s, green was the most popular color in North America. But today, green cars are hard to find.”
In the future, people may not have to choose the color of their cars---technology may let owners change their cars’ paint color anytime.
1. Americans like to buy cars that don’t show dirt clearly in order to _________| A．save energy | B．save money |
| C．follow the government policy | D．reduce car accidents |
| A．looking more beautiful | B．absorbing less heat |
| C．being more expensive | D．being safer |
| A．South American | B．Australian |
| C．Chinese | D．North American |
| A．Red | B．White |
| C．Blue | D．Green |
6 . Imagine meeting someone for the first time who comes from a distant country but is fluent in your language. Would you adapt the tone of your voice, or the spacing of pauses in your speech? How about adjusting your body language and facial expressions, depending on the background of the person in front of you?
These are just a handful of the shifts in behaviour that can contribute to what is known as your "cultural intelligence", or CQ.
"The number one predictor of your success in today's borderless world is not your IQ, or not even your expertise(专长)," writes social, scientist David Livermore in his book The Cultural Intelligence Difference. "It's your CQ."
Typically CQ is measured through a series of questions that assess four distinct components. The first is "CQ Drive"-the motivation to learn about other cultures. Then there is "CO Knowledge", which is an understanding of some of the general cultural differences you may face. "CQ Strategy" examines how you make sense of those difficult conflicts and learn from them, while "CQ Action" involves your behavioural flexibility-whether you are able to adapt your conduct like a cultural chameleon.
"While understanding a specific culture can be useful, it may not predict at all your ability to engage effectively in a new place," says Livermore. "In fact, our research finds that individuals who have lived in multiple locations for extended time are more likely to have higher CQ Knowledge than those who have lived multiple decades in one overseas setting."
Someone with low CO might have a tendency to judge everyone else's behaviour by his own cultural standards. If he comes from a more sociable environment, for instance, and notices that his Japanese colleagues are very quiet in a meeting, he may assume that they are being unfriendly or bored. A person at the top of the scale(级别), meanwhile, might realise that silence is a sign of respect and that feedback(反馈)won't be given unless it is explicitly required. As a result, he'll make sure to offer suitable opportunities within the meeting for others to provide their opinions.
1. Which of the following best describes "a cultural chameleon"?| A．Learning from other cultures to have a high CQ. |
| B．Taking action to overcome the communication barrier. |
| C．Getting along well with others despite cultural differences. |
| D．Changing behaviour according to the cultural background. |
| A．Experiencing a variety of different cultures. | B．Spending a long time in a specific culture. |
| C．Meeting people from a distant country. | D．Having personal experience in another culture. |
| A．People with low CO. | B．People with high CQ. |
| C．People from a different culture. | D．People from a sociable environment. |
| A．Those who are going to be a social scientist. |
| B．Those who want to learn about CQ Knowledge. |
| C．Those who conduct some research on CQ and IQ. |
| D．Those who interact with people from different cultures. |
7 . Everyone needs friends.There is an old saying, "Friends are God’s way of taking care of us." But how do you find real friendship and keep it?
The American writer Sally Seamans tells young students some smart ways to make friends.Sally says finding friendship is just like planting a tree.You plant the seed(种子)and take care of it to make it grow.
First, you should choose a friend.What makes a good friend? It is not because a person has money or good looks.A good friend should be kind and patient(耐心).For example, if you have a bad day, a good friend should listen to your complaints and do his best to help.To make a good friend, you cannot be too shy.You should make each other happy and share your lives.
But things cannot always be happy.Even the best friends have fights.What should you do when you have a fight with your friend? You have to talk to him or her.When there is no one around, have an honest talk.If he or she doesn't want to talk, you could write a letter.
There are three steps to being friends again:
Tell him or her how you are feeling; say what your friend has done wrong, and explain why you did this or that.Remember that friendship is the most important thing in your life.
1. Sally wants to tell students the ways to .| A．make friends | B．plant trees | C．get happy | D．keep fit |
| A．be lovely and cool | B．have good looks |
| C．have lots of money | D．be kind and patient |
| A．buy a present for | B．never say a word to |
| C．write a letter to | D．have dinner with |
| A．Teenagers and friendship. | B．Finding and keeping friendship |
| C．The trouble of growing up. | D．Good friends around you. |
8 . “Italy without Sicily does not leave an impression on your soul: here lies the key to everything.” This is what Goethe wrote during his voyage through Italy in 1787. In fact, Sicily is Italy’s largest island and at the same time a small world of its own. Typically Italian and yet completely different: contrasts (差别）characterize Sicily in many aspects --- scenic as well as cultural.
The sunny island has always been considered a blooming place. It is in spring that Italy’s southernmost point shows its best, when countless almond trees turn the island into a sea of flowers. Beautiful lemon trees are to be found all over the island, but most of all on the soil beneath Mount Etna, the landmark of Sicily and the largest volcano of Europe.
Windswept bushes and splendid sand dunes in the southeast attract you. Here you will find Sicily’s most beautiful sandy beaches --- extending for kilometers on end, wide and gentle.
In the thinly populated inland, the mountain area with its valleys, streams and plateaus creates an almost mysterious atmosphere; in the mountain villages time seems to have stood still.
The islands around Sicily are worth a visit, too: from Sicily you can easily reach the Lipari Islands, for example.
As various as the island’s landscape and sights are its people --- the Sicilians. The poet Angelo Fiore held that, there were “five million Sicilies”, just as many as there are people. In the Sicilian melting pot of cultures you will find elements contributed by the Greeks, the Romans, the Arabs, the Normans, the Hohenstaufen dynasty, the Spanish and the French. Southern Italian hospitality, celebrating colorful, lively festivals and keeping up religious customs are surely among the islanders’ characteristics.
1. Why are Goethe’s words mentioned in the first paragraph?| A．To attract us to Sicily. |
| B．To introduce the topic of the text. |
| C．To give us a taste of Goethe’s talent. |
| D．To describe Sicily’s unique natural sights. |
| A．Sicily is separated from the Italian mainland. |
| B．Sicily has unique scenes and cultures. |
| C．Sicily represents Italian cultures. |
| D．Sicily is Italy’s largest island. |
| A．Sicily is filled with flowers all year round |
| B．the mountain villagers lead a fast-paced life |
| C．Mount Etna is at a short distance from Sicily |
| D．you can enjoy sandy beaches in the southeast |
| A．The friendliness of the Sicilians. |
| B．The festive atmosphere of Sicily. |
| C．The melting pot of cultures of Sicily. |
| D．The different customs of the Sicilians. |
9 . According to a new study, putting preschooler(学龄前儿童) in bed by 8 p.m. could reduce their chances of becoming overweight or obese later in life by half. Preschoolers are children around the age of 4 or 5.
The World Health Organization says obesity can lead to serious long-term health problems like diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
Researchers from the Ohio State University’s College of Public Health have found that young children who go to bed after 9 p.m. are twice as likely to be obese later in life. The researchers wrote their findings in The Journal of Pediatrics.
The lead author of the study is Sarah Anderson. She is a professor of epidemiology(流行病学). Anderson says that, for parents, the results of the study support the importance of creating a bedtime routine.
She says that having a usual bedtime routine is something “families can do to lower their children’s risk” of becoming overweight.
Researchers used data from 977 children for the study. These children are part of a larger project called the Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. The project follows healthy babies born in 1991 in 10 cities in US.
When these children turned 15 years old, the researchers looked at their rates of obesity. Of those with the earliest bedtimes, only one out of 10 was obese. Of those who went to bed between 8 and 9 p.m., 16 percent became obese. And out of those with the latest bedtimes, 23 percent became obese.
The World Health Organization reported in 2014 that the number of overweight babies and young children worldwide had increased from 31 million in 1990 to 44 million in 2012. If that trend continues, the WHO warns, there will be 70 million obese children in the world by 2025.
1. According to the passage, the risk of obesity ______.| A．can be cut by half if children go to bed by 9 p.m. |
| B．can lead to low blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease |
| C．is the highest at the age of 4 or 5 |
| D．is higher for those children who sleep late at night |
| A．heavy | B．light | C．fat | D．slim |
| A．The research is organized by the World Health Organization. |
| B．The result shows that children sleeping before 8 p.m. have the lowest rate of obesity. |
| C．The findings are based on the data provided by The Journal of Pediatrics. |
| D．The research is funded(提供资金) by the Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. |
| A．Objective(客观) | B．Disappointed | C．Positive | D．Satisfied |
10 . LAS VEGAS — It was different in the light of day.
There was no “pop, pop, pop” of gunfire, no screams. Just a quiet lot of cars abandoned by those, like Kassidy Owen, who escaped with their lives.
“It’s strange to hear the silence,” Owen said, “because all I remember was the noise.”
The 22-year-old was one of dozens of concertgoers who returned to the scene of the Route 91 Harvest festival on Wednesday morning to fetch the vehicles they left behind as they fled from a gunman raining down bullets from high above in the tower of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino across the street.
Survivors of the deadly mass shooting in Las Vegas on Sunday needed their cars to move on with their lives -- to get back to work, to school, home. It was the first time they were returning to a scene that would forever change them, when joy and celebration and music turned into killing and horror.
Before they could move forward, they had to go back to the place where they thought they were going to die.
Owen had run to her car to hide and had tried to drive away, but she couldn’t. People were running, bodies dropped to the ground, and cars bottlenecked in the parking lot. During a brief pause after more than 10 minutes of gunfire, she worried the lights of her SUV made everyone inside a shining target.
“They’re shooting again!” her best friend’s brother screamed. “Turn off the car!”
That’s when she got out and fled.
“I just remember shutting the door and running,” Owen said.
Now, nearly three days later, she was back, sitting in the driver’s seat of her SUV. Her eyes were swollen and red. This was a long way from over.
“You just keep hearing the gunshots in your head,” Owen said.
1. Why did Kassidy Owen return to the scene of terror?| A．To get back her car for daily life. | B．To show sympathy to the victims. |
| C．To search for her missing friends. | D．To look into the cause of the shooting. |
| A．abandoned | B．jammed |
| C．stopped | D．left |
| A．Because she had escaped being caught. |
| B．Because she wanted to find the gunman. |
| C．Because she couldn’t rid herself of those terrible scenes. |
| D．Because she had saved others’ lives by turning off the car. |
| A．Going back to where they would die | B．Owen’s experience in Las Vegas |
| C．How to survive in a mass shooting | D．Return to the unforgettable scene |
