1 . “My P.E. teacher taught me maths.” It has been a common joke for years but when a P.E. teacher applied for the head-teacher job, many parents worried that “the joke could come true”. Some parents asked, “Does the P.E. teacher know maths and English? If not, how is he supposed to tutor the students?” But there were still parents who believed P.E. teachers had more time to discipline the students since they didn’t have many classes.
This concern is actually a “subject bias”, that is, choosing a P.E. teacher as the head-teacher is not good for the students’ grades since he doesn’t know Chinese, maths, or English. It is acceptable for Chinese teachers, maths teachers and English teachers to be head-teachers because these subjects are important to entrance exams and scores. Such a concern reflects parents’ anxiety in the current educational environment, which tends to link the head-teacher’s responsible subject with the facts whether the school cares about the class and the children’s performances in the subject.
Many people care about their kids’ academic performances only. They don’t care about their kids’ P.E. performance at all. Even if kids have P.E. classes, parents care little. P.E. teachers are in humble position and their classes are often occupied by other teachers. Of course, if students, P.E. performance is related to grades and entrance exams, parents won’t mind “a P.E. teacher being the head-teacher”.
At the moment, P.E. is gradually included in entrance exams.
In terms of high school entrance examination, Guangzhou will launch a new high school entrance exam which includes P.E. performance and Health examination in 2021, raising the score to 70 points.
In terms of the college entrance examination, universities having the right of independent enrollments added P.E. tests to their entrance exams in 2019. This practice is seen as an important signal that the assessment of physical fitness and athletic ability, which are important aspects of a student’s overall quality, may be included in the college entrance examination in the future.
We hope that it’s a trend for P.E. teachers, music teachers and art teachers to become head-teachers.
1. By saying “My P.E. teacher taught me maths”, what does the author intend to show us?| A．It is just a joke that seldom happened in reality. |
| B．P.E. teachers hardly assist students in maths. |
| C．P.E. teachers are good at teaching maths.. |
| D．Parents doubt the ability of P.E. teacher. |
| A．is of little benefit for students’ academic performance |
| B．is humbler than Chinese, math or English teachers |
| C．reflects whether the school cares about the class |
| D．gets unfairly judged due to the current educational system |
| A．To raise students’ awareness of physical health. |
| B．To call on parents to pay attention to P.E. teachers. |
| C．To test the overall ability of high school students. |
| D．To make P.E. teachers equal with other teachers. |
| A．Neutral. | B．Unexpected. |
| C．Supportive. | D．Critical. |
2 . Almost every family buys as least one copy of a newspaper every day. Some people subscribe to as many as two or three different newspapers. But why do people read newspapers?
Five hundred years ago, news of important happenings--battles lost and won, kings or rulers overthrown(推翻)or killed--took months and even years to travel from one country to another. The news passed by word of mouth and was never accurate. Today we can read in our newspapers of important events that occur in faraway countries on the same day they happen.
Apart from supplying news from all over the world, newspapers give us a lot of other useful information. There are weather reports, radio, television and film guides, book reviews, stories, and of course, advertisements. The bigger ones are put in by large companies to bring attention to their products. They pay the newspapers thousands of dollars for the advertising space, but it is worth the money for news of their products goes into almost every home in the country. For those who produce newspapers, advertisements are also very important. Money earned from advertisements makes it possible for them to sell their newspapers at a low price and still make a profit.
1. The phrase “subscribe to” in the first paragraph means“________”| A．go to the newspaper stand and buy | B．send their own news stories to |
| C．agree to buy for a specific period of time | D．become faithful readers of |
| A．bad news traveled quickly and good news slowly |
| B．few people cared about events that took place in faraway countries |
| C．kings and rulers were often overthrown or killed |
| D．news was passed from one person to another |
| A．wasted | B．not much |
| C．well spent | D．of no use to anyone |
| A．Five hundred years ago it took a long time for news to reach other countries. |
| B．Newspaper advertisements turn people’s attention away from their products. |
| C．The news that we read in newspapers is mainly about new products. |
| D．When newspapers are sold at a low price, the newspaper producers will lose money. |
3 . At the start of every working week, millions of people around the world get ready for something they do endlessly, joylessly and badly ： a meeting
It was awful before the pandemic (疫情), when research showed there were an average of 55 million meetings daily in the US alone. I fear to think what the figures look like now that Covid-19 and remote working have started the age of the continuous meeting.
It wouldn't be a problem if all meetings did what they were supposed to do and helped busy people make good decisions about important matters. But the evidence suggests otherwise. Studies over the past 15 years have shown about 70 percent of workers have rated their meetings poor or unproductive, writes US professor, Steven Rogelberg, in his 2019 book The Surprising Science of Meetings.
“The root of the rotten meeting is simple," says Madeleine de Hauke, a meeting coach and teacher. “We spend our lives in meetings, but there's very little investment (投入)into helping people run them effectively," she told me last week.
A meeting coach might say that, but I think Ms de Hauke is correct. Running a meeting well takes skills. At a minimum, people need to know in advance why they are meeting； what they are supposed to achieve ； who really needs to be there and how they should contribute. Yet meeting leaders are expected to learn all these on the job.
I thought the pandemic had made things worse. But Ms de Hauke makes a convincing argument that Zoom calls merely strengthen what was going on before. If a meeting was productive and cheerful before, it is probably better now. If it was wasteful and annoying, it is likely to be worse.
Still, a bad meeting is like a virus. By failing to produce good decisions it often requires another meeting to be held, then another and another. Luckily, there is no need for a vaccine (疫苗), just a bit more care and preparation, and an understanding that there is no shame in being taught how to lead a meeting well.
1. What does the passage focus on?| A．Why people hate meetings. |
| B．How Covid-19 affects meetings. |
| C．Recommending experienced meeting coaches. |
| D．Suggesting developing the skills of meeting running. |
| A．Meetings are poor and short. |
| B．Meetings are dull and fruitless. |
| C．Meetings make people less interested in work. |
| D．Meetings cause people to make wrong decisions. |
| A．Invite people to attend the meeting in advance. |
| B．Invest much money to run meetings successfully. |
| C．Set clear goals and make preparations for the meeting. |
| D．Make everybody present at the meeting learn some skills. |
| A．By comparison. | B．By classification. |
| C．By analying causes. | D．By listing examples. |
4 . “I’m sorry,” the bank teller said. “Your check has bounced (拒付).” Her words took a moment to sink in. This year had brought so much pain. A divorce (离婚), losing my house, then the loss of my job right before the holidays… and now the check for my car insurance had bounced!
Leaving the bank, I wondered what I would do. My unemployment (失业) checks were delayed, and everything seemed to be piling up. How long could I last without money? How I missed my parents in the faraway Los Angeles, whom I had not seen for five years.
December in Michigan meant it was not only dark, but cold and snowy. Despite (尽管) that, I had an urge to take a walk on my favorite trail. Being cold and dark also meant there was a good chance no one else would be out, so I decided to go.
On the trail, I was grateful for sounds of rushing water coming from the little river. They covered my soft sobs while I walked. Tonight, it all felt like too much to bear.
Eventually, when my tears dried up, I headed home. Approaching my apartment (公寓) door, I noticed something bulky hanging on the it. Probably another bill, I thought. While I struggled with my boots, I could see a card with my name on it through the clear plastic bag. Reaching in, I took out a very small, white envelope. Inside the envelope was a beautiful card with no name written on it, but it was stuffed with gift cards --- hundreds of dollars of gift cards that could meet my urgent needs!
I was in shock and awe. The timing of this amazing anonymous (匿名的) gift, arriving at exactly the right moment, was almost too much to comprehend. Again, I began crying, but now they were tears of joy. I felt so loved.
I would go to Los Angeles tomorrow!
1. What happened to the author?| A．Something was wrong with her check. | B．She had to sell her car for lack of money. |
| C．Her divorce made her house taken away. | D．She didn’t succeed if finding a new job. |
| A．in the early morning | B．in the late morning |
| C．in the late afternoon | D．in the deep night |
| A．The bank teller | B．Her former husband | C．Her parents | D．Her friend |
| A．Angry crazy calm grateful |
| B．Disappointed sad surprised warm |
| C．Disappointed moved surprised grateful |
| D．Crazy sad calm joyful |
5 . When I was a kid, my siblings (兄弟姐妹) and I used to have ice cream for dessert. Every day, we would choose which ice cream flavor to have, whether to eat it in a cone or a bowl. Then we would happily wolf down our treat (款待) as fast as we could.
Once, though, when I was probably about 10 or 11, our grandpa came to visit us. Grandpa always had a unique view on things. On this particular occasion, my sister and I were making bets as to who could finish our ice cream first. With a smile, Grandpa said, “Why would you want to finish first? If you eat slowly, it will last longer. You should have a competition to see who can finish last.” Even now, I always try to taste my ice cream, but of course this is about more than just dessert.
Too often, kids want to scramble (争夺) for more, whether it’s more ice cream, more toys, or more friends. This habit persists into our adult years, and we end up constantly scrambling for more. We never develop the skill of appreciating what we have. If we learn to recognize this pattern and change it, we can raise our kids a little differently, giving them the tool of tasting their widely known dessert, which could lead to a happier life for them.
What my grandpa taught me that day was really that if you take the opportunity to enjoy what’s in front of you, the pleasure will last longer and be more rewarding than if you rush through life always trying to get the next treat. It’s a lesson that, I think, has made my adult life happier, as well. These days, when I want something, I wait as long as I can before I allow myself to have it. Then, when I finally get it, I make sure to treasure it as long as possible, because I know that, no matter what it is, it will be gone all too soon.
1. The author’s grandfather advised her sister and her to_______.| A．stop eating ice cream | B．learn something from their way of eating |
| C．stop the competition between them | D．eat ice cream as slowly as possible |
| A．Humorous. | B．Wise. | C．Strict. | D．Careful. |
| A．Value what you have. | B．Keep longing for more. |
| C．Have a balanced diet. | D．Save for the future. |
| A．The author benefits a lot from her grandfather’s advice. |
| B．The author doesn’t like ice cream as much as before. |
| C．The author just starts to understand her grandfather. |
| D．The author longs for the days when they ate ice cream. |
6 . Those who work on the “996” model (where employees work from 9am to 9pm, 6 days a week) must envy their counterparts (对应的人)in an American company, because they have a shorter work week. Basecamp, a Chicago-based web application company gives all his employees a short work week: just four days—a total of 32 hours, between May and September every year. Also, they usually work five days a week for the rest of the year.
“That’s plenty of time to get great work done. This is all we expect and all we want from people,” says Jason Fried, a co-founder. “Working 60-plus, or 70-plus hours is unnecessary. In fact, if you have to work 60-plus or 70-plus hours a week, there’s a management problem.”
The company’s summer workload must fit reduced hours, Mr. Fried insists, otherwise the benefits of a shorter week - to recover from work, enjoy time with family and develop outside interests - would be undone.
His new research finds that it is not just long hours that are harmful to employees’ physical and mental health. It is also the intensity (强度)of work. Moreover, it suggests that intensity work harms career prospects (前景).That is because unbearable hours and intensity are in the opposite direction, reducing the quality of the work.
The research concludes that the level of intensity we apply to the work we do is generally “a stronger predictor of unfavorable outcomes than overtime work”. The research compared people of similar jobs and education levels, and found they were more likely to suffer poorer happiness and worse career prospects, including satisfaction, security and promotion, when they worked at an intense level for long periods.
1. What do we know about Basecamp’s four — day work week?| A．It lasts nearly half a year. | B．The work pressure is too high. |
| C．There are some management problems. | D．Employees work more than 8 hours a day. |
| A．Given plenty of time, people can do more. |
| B．To get work done well needs plenty of time. |
| C．People can do a job very well in a short work week. |
| D．A long work week is appropriate for reduced workload. |
| A．Getting much more rest. | B．Improving work quality. |
| C．Refusing a five-day work week. | D．Avoiding working too intensely. |
| A．More Work, More Profits | B．Shorter Week, Better Reward |
| C．Less Work, Less Benefits | D．Longer Hours, Higher Intensity |
7 . To Friend or Not to Friend
We all love our parents and turn to them when we're in need, but would you like them to hear the conversations you have with your friends on the school playground or lunch queue? Social networking sites have become extensions of the school hallways, so would you add your parents as "friends” and allow them to view your online activities and conversations with friends?
In the past the generation gap included a technology gap, where children were up to date with latest technology and parents were left behind, content to continue their day to day lives as they always had because they had no need to know more about technology. However, more and more parents are beginning to realize just how important social networks are in their lives. This realization has given many parents the motivation to educate themselves about social networking sites.
These days many people are attracted to social networking sites because they can choose who they have around them; there's also a certain amount of control over privacy that we don't get in real life. Sometimes we feel that privacy is violated when we must accept a "friend" request from a parent or family member.
It's a difficult choice whether or not to allow a parent to become a part of our online lives. On the one hand we don't want to "reject" their request because that might hurt their feelings or make them feel you have something to hide. On the other hand if you do accept, then you could have a sense of being watched and no longer feel free to comment or communicate the way you did before.
A recent survey suggested that parents shouldn't take it personally if their child ignores their request: "When a teen ignores a parent's friend request, it doesn't necessarily mean that they are hiding something, but it could mean that this is one part of their life where they want to be independent." Perhaps talking with parents and giving explanations would help soften the blow if you do choose not to add them to your friends list.
1. From Paragraph 2, we learn that| A．parents feel secure about the privacy online |
| B．social networks successfully fill the generation gap |
| C．parents have realized the importance of social networks |
| D．social networks offer a platform for parents to communicate |
| A．they hide something from their parents |
| B．they are unwilling to be watched by parents |
| C．their parents tend to fall behind in technology |
| D．their parents make negative comoments on them |
| A．parents* friend requests | B．social networks |
| C．privacy online | D．the generation gap |
| A．teachers | B．parents |
| C．teenagers | D．researchers |
8 . There are times when I set off for my running-group sessions with little enthusiasm. It might be because I’m tired, or stressed, or have had to unwillingly tear myself away from something else. I’m the coach, so I can’t choose to give it a miss.
It was yet another cold, dark, wet evening and I wasn’t feeling the love as I gathered all the necessary outfits-head torch, reflective waterproof jacket, hat and gloves. No one in their right mind will come out in this weather, I thought. But when I turned into the car park, my headlights picked out runners making a dash through the rain to our meeting point, where others were already working out to stay warm, with chat, laughter and hugs. They, too, I realized, might be tired, stressed or busy. But, unlike me, they had a choice about whether to come running or stay at home. And that makes their decision to come--and to keep on coming-all the more uplifting. As on so many other occasions, I went home from the run feeling better than when I’d arrived.
I believe one of the strongest motivations behind these runners’ decisions to come along is being part of a group. Belonging to a running community makes running greater than the sum of its parts. It’s no longer just a workout; it’s a catch-up with friends, a laugh and a shared experience. It provides a space to share your running triumphs and disappointments, to be congratulated and comforted, and, just as important, to congratulate and comfort others.
Research has long shown the likelihood of staying motivated is higher when exercise takes place in a group. The reasons are many. A study at the University of Southern California found people enjoy physical activity more when they are with others and are more likely to keep it up over the long term. There’s also an element of social facilitation-an “I’m not going to let XX beat me” attitude that drives you to push harder and produces a greater sense of achievement. And research by Strava in 2017 found running in a group made runners go faster and further. Using data from 90 million runs taking place all over the world, Strava found that the average pace of runs taking place in a group was seven seconds per mile quicker than solo runs, and the distance covered was an average of 1.3 miles further.
I joke about people being more motivated to come to my running sessions by the tea and biscuits afterwards than by the running itself. There’s probably some truth in that, but it doesn’t matter. Those laughter- and chatter-filled minutes are every bit as important as the running in between.
1. The author sometimes feels to go coaching the running group.| A．reluctant | B．content | C．excited | D．frustrated |
| A．It involves a coach offering assistance. |
| B．It creates space to socialize with others. |
| C．It inspires members to beat their records. |
| D．It frees runners from boring daily routines. |
| A．citing a typical example | B．listing accurate statistics |
| C．performing an experiment | D．sharing his own experiences |
| A．attract more runners from other groups |
| B．build up some strength before running |
| C．make his running group stand out of all |
| D．add more life to their running experience |
9 . You can either travel or read, but either your body or soul must be on the way. The popular saying has inspired many people to read or go sightseeing. Traveling just like reading, is a refreshing journey from the busy world. Books, brain food, can keep you company on your travel.
On the Road, 1957, by Jack Kerouac
The book is a globally popular spiritual guide book about youth. The main character in the book drives across the US continent with several young people and finally reaches Mexico. After the exhausting and exciting trip, the characters in the book begin to realize the meaning of life. The book can be a good partner with you to explore the United States.
Life is Elsewhere, 1975, by Milan Kundera
Jean-Jacques Rousseau once said, “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.” The book tells a young artist’s romantic but miserable life, about how he reads, dreams, and has a relationship. Experience the artist’s passionate life in the book during a trip to Central Europe. The book invites you to deeply reflect on your current life.
The Stories of Sahara, 1967, by Sanmao
The book narrates the author’s simple but adventurous life in the Sahara Desert, which seems a desolate and dull place. The fancy natural scenery and life there, along with the author’s romantic and intensive emotion, will inspire you to explore the mysterious land. Reading the book is like participating in a dialogue with the author, who is sincere and humorous.
Lotus, 2006 by Annbaby
This novel set in Tibet, tells three people’s stories, each with their unique characteristics. It reveals modern people’s emotions and inner life, their confusion about love, and exploration of Buddhism.The book is a good partner to bring you to the sacred land Tibet.
1. Which book is about the exploration of life value through a journey?| A．On the Road. | B．Life is Elsewhere. |
| C．The Stories of Sahara. | D．Lotus. |
| A．Jack Kerouac’s. | B．Sanmao’s. |
| C．Annbaby’s. | D．Milan Kundera’s. |
| A．Lotus is a religious book exploring Tibetan Buddhist culture. |
| B．On the road advises a classic route for driving across the US. |
| C．The stories of Sahara records its authors’ own life in the desert. |
| D．Life is Elsewhere demonstrates Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s own life. |
Then we worked out a plan: When Christie takes one of her children out, I’ll watch her other three. And when she watches two of mine, I’ll take someone out.
The children were extremely quick to accept the idea of “Mommy and Me” time. Christie’s daughter, McKenzie, went first. When she returned, the other children showered her with tons of questions. McKenzie was smiling broadly. Christie looked refreshed and happy. “She’s like a different child when there’s no one else around,” Christie shared with me quickly. With her mother all to herself, McKenzie didn’t have to make an effort to gain attention.
Just as Christie had noticed changes in McKenzie, I also discovered something different in each of my children during our alone times. For example, I am always surprised when my daughter, who is seldom close to me, holds my hand frequently. My stuttering（口吃的）son, Tom, doesn’t stutter once during our activities since he doesn’t have to struggle for a chance to speak. And the other son, Sam, who’s always a follower when around other children shines as a leader during our times together.
The “Mommy and Me” time allows us to be simply alone and away with each child ---talking, sharing, and laughing, which has been the biggest gain. Every child deserves（应得到）to be an only child at least once in a while.
1. What is the text mainly about?
| A．The experience of the only child being with mother. |
| B．The advantage of spending time with one child at a time. |
| C．The happy life of two families. |
| D．The basic needs of children. |
| A．happy | B．curious | C．regretful | D．friendly |
| A．The daughter acts like a leader. | B．Sam holds her hand more often. |
| C．The boys become better followers. | D．Tom has less difficulty in speaking. |
| A．having brothers and sisters is fun |
| B．it’s tiring to look after three children |
| C．every child needs parents’ full attention |
| D．parents should watch others’ children |
