1 . The sudden death of the 23-year-old female emplovee of Pinduoduo has sparked a heated debate, with many criticizing the overwork culture. Three experis share their views. Excerpis (节选) follow:
Labor laws compatible (兼容的) with digital era needed
This case should inspire society to reflect on how to better protect employees’ rights in the digital era. The relevant clauses in the Labor Law cannot be specifically applied to charge internet companies suspected of violating laborers' rights and interests.
The blurring (模糊) of the line between social and economic activities in the digital era makes it difficult to define fixed working hours.
Lawmakers should find out the new factors affecting labor relations due to the rapid development of internet and communications technology. This can pave the way for law-making on working hours in the digital era. “996” working schedule is against labor laws.
More than one year ago, it was shocking to hear e-commerce tycoons (巨头) Liu Qiangdong and Jack Ma publicly support the "996" working schedule to push their employees to work harder. A growing number of companies have been using different methods to exercise ever-increasing control over their employees.
To correct the situation, it is vital that the country bring in specific law on internet enterprises, especially in terms of labor contracts and work schedules, and make it clear that the “996” working schedule is illegal.
Death due to overwork needs legally definition
Work pressure and long working hours can seriously affect workers' physical and mental health, making. them more easily hurt by occupational and stress-related diseases.
But it is difficult to prove that a person dies of overwork. Only a person who dies at the workplace or of a sudden illness within 48 hours of getting off work is considered a victim of work.
China should issue guidelines explaining in detail what leads to death due to overwork.
1. What do the three experts agree on?| A．The Labor Law in China is non-effective. |
| B．It is difficult to define fixed working hours. |
| C．Supervision on companies should be tightened. |
| D．Improvement should be made to the current laws. |
| A．To highlight the models of e-commerce. |
| B．To introduce tycoons' attitudes to overwork. |
| C．To confirm their efforts to protect employees. |
| D．To express disagreement on “996” working schedule. |
| A．To make somebody anxious. | B．To do sports or other physical activities. |
| C．To use your power to achieve something. | D．To test or make experimental use of something. |
| A．Someone dies on his way to office. | B．Someone dies of a heart attack in his office. |
| C．Someone dies three days after work. | D．Someone dies after work without symptoms. |
2 . Have you ever loved a destination but couldn’t figure out why — or even a way ——to express your feelings? That’s my dilemma with Morocco.
In August, I traveled in a country that had long been, on my wish list. I rode a camel, got lost in Medinas, and ate more couscous (粗麦粉) than was humanly possible.
I loved the trip. Our friendly guide introduced us to the helpful locals. I made friends with my tour mates and my roommate (which, on a tour, is a huge blessing). I loved being lost in the smell of different spices, and the chaos of millions of people and the dark red of the Sahara were all I wanted them to be.
There were many moments when I felt like a fish out of water and things didn’t go my way. But I take pleasure in those moments because it’s when you are pushed out of your comfort zone that you grow. Morocco lived up to all my expectations, but for some reason, my experience has been hard to express. Why?
One constant in my travels is that of a touchstone, one defining point where the trip all comes together and acts as a prism (三棱镜) for everything the journey represented . In Costa Rica，it was getting lost in a jungle. In Thailand, it was meeting those five people who changed my life.
I’m so inconsistent about Morocco because I lack that touchstone. There’s no “whoa” moment. But I have thousands of little ones - staring at a million stars in the blackness of the desert, discovering new foods with some amazing Australians on my tour, and befriending the fish sellers.
1. What does the author regard as a huge blessing?| A．Going on a guided trip. |
| B．Having a helpful guide. |
| C．Being warmly received by the local people. |
| D．Getting along well with the fellow travelers. |
| A．To prove Morocco lacks the touchstone. |
| B．To show his reliance on the touchstone. |
| C．To compare Morocco with Costa Rica and Thailand. |
| D．To share his experience in Costa Rica and Thailand. |
| A．The lack of big moments. |
| B．The little “whoa” moments. |
| C．Meeting with five Thai people. |
| D．Making friends with Australians. |
| A．Unpleasant travel in Morocco. |
| B．Finding a touchstone on travel. |
| C．Reflection on traveling in Morocco. |
| D．Lack of special moments in Morocco. |
3 . YMCA Camp Widjiwagan
3788 North Arm Rd
Ely, MN 55731, USA
Phone: 651-645-6605
High quality canoes and backpacking adventures and wilderness trips in the BWCAW, Quetico Provincial Park and in the finest wilderness areas throughout North America, “Widji” wilderness trips focus on respect and values that build skills for life as they develop an unparalleled relationship with the environment. Camp is open for all abilities and ages 10-17.
Revolution Camp at St.Olaf College
1520 St Olaf Ave
Northfield, MN 55057, USA
Phone: 800-944-7112
St.Olaf is one of the top liberal arts colleges in the United States and is located just south of Minneapolis. Campers will train in softball on Mabel Shirley Field, home of St.Olaf softball. The field sits in short walking distance of the Tostrud and Skoglund Centers and will also have access to St.Olaf's swimming pool. Camp is open for all abilities and ages 7-16.
Discovery Day Camp
8 Different Locations, Across Minnesota
Fort Snelling, MN 55111, USA
Phone: 612-261-2300
Discovery Day Camp is a week-long program (5 days) that is open to youth aged 8-17. Each day will be filled with activities such as swimming, hiking, climbing, archery, STEM activities, outdoor skills, crafts and more! All of the activities will be age-appropriate and guided by our well trained and enthusiastic staff. With multiple sessions offered at a variety of locations, you are sure to find something that will fit your busy schedule!
PGA Junior Golf Camp at GolfTrack Academy at Hyland Greens
10100 Normandale Blvd
Bloomington, MN 55437, USA
Phone: 916-476-8132
PGA Junior Golf Camp—Full and half-day camps provide an excellent opportunity for youth of ages 12-19 and abilities to improve their technical skills, develop strong course management and learn golf in a fun, supportive and positive environment. Overnight camps for advanced players are held at nationally-acclaimed facilities and provide opportunities for serious game improvement. Every camp is designed to help your child become a leader on and off the course.
1. Which phone number can you dial if you want to learn softball skills?| A．651-645-6605. | B．800-944-7112. | C．612-261-2300. | D．916-476-8132. |
| A．It provides outdoor activities. | B．It has enthusiastic workers. |
| C．It runs in different places. | D．It offers the longest programs. |
| A．YMCA Camp Widjiwagan. | B．Revolution Camp. |
| C．Discovery Day Camp. | D．PGA Junior Golf Camp. |
4 . Not long ago, Linda Khan was sitting by a hospital bed in Houston, feeling ill at ease. Beside her lay her father who needed a heart surgery. The two of them had engaged in nothing but depressing small talk. Then, her eye fell on a pile of books. She picked up one, and started to read it out loud. "Right away it changed the mood and atmosphere," she says. Reading gave the daughter a way to connect with her father. Listening allowed the father travel on the sound of his daughter's voice into a place where he felt himself again. “From then on," Khan says, “I always read to him."
In a 2010 survey in the United Kingdom, elderly adults who joined weekly read-aloud groups reported better concentration, less anxiety, and an improved ability to socialize. The survey authors owed these improvements in large part to the “rich, varied diet of serious literature" that group members consumed, with fiction encouraging feelings of relaxation and calm, poetry fostering focused concentration, and narratives giving rise to cognitive (认知的) thoughts, feelings, and memories. In truth, almost any kind of reading to another person can be beneficial.
Readers get rewards too. For Neil Bush, the late-life hospitalizations of his famous parents, George H. W. and Barbara Bush, became opportunities to repay a debt of gratitude. “When I was a kid, they would read to me," he said. With his parents in and out of care, “We've been reading books about Dad's foreign policy and, more recently, Mom's autobiography." Bush went on, his voice thick with emotion, “And to read their amazing life to them has been a remarkable blessing to me, personally, as their son."
To many people, reading to parents may seem so far outside the normal range of regular activities, and it may even feel odd and improper. However, there are still a lot many who brave the momentary strangeness of reading to elderly adults and both reader and listeners are, to borrow a phrase from Wordsworth, surprised by the joy of it.
1. What did reading offer to Linda and her father?| A．A way to establish a bond. | B．A way to travel together in reality. |
| C．A way to treat the disease. | D．A way to engage in learning. |
| A．Improvements in mental health. | B．Benefits of reading to others. |
| C．Changes in cognitive process. | D．Development of social skills. |
| A．Reading benefits more than the listener |
| B．Parents should red more to their kids. |
| C．Children should show their gratitude. |
| D．Reading to parents is children's duty |
| A．Improper and odd. | B．Abnormal but worthy. |
| C．Rewarding and joyful. | D．Interesting but unnecessary. |
5 . Who're happier, men or women?Research shows it's a complex question and that asking whether males or females are happier isn't really that helpful, because basically, happiness is different for women and men.
Women's happiness has been declining for the past 30 years, according to recent statistics.And research shows that women are twice as likely to experience depression compared with men.Gender（性别） differences in depression are well confirmed and studies have found that biological, psychological and social factors contribute to the difference.
Early studies on gender and happiness found men and women were socialized to express different feelings.Women are more likely to express happiness, warmth and fear, which help with social bonding and appear more consistent with the traditional role as a primary caregiver, while men display more anger, pride and disrespect, which are more consistent with a protector and provider role.
Recent research suggests that these differences are not just socially, but also genetically related.Studies have looked into these findings further and discovered that females use more areas of the brain containing mirror neurons（镜像神经元）than males when they process feelings.Mirror neurons allow us to experience the world from other people's view, to understand their actions and intentions.This may explain why women can experience deeper sadness.Women tend to experience more negative feelings, such as more guilt, shame and to a lesser degree, embarrassment.
Psychologically it seems men and women differ in the way they process and express feelings.With the exception of anger, women experience feelings more strongly and share their feelings more openly with others.Studies have found in particular that women express more appreciation﹣which has been linked to greater happiness.This supports the theory that women's happiness is more dependent on relationships than men's.
1. Which feeling are men more likely to show compared with women?| A．Warmth. |
| B．Depression. |
| C．Happiness. |
| D．Disrespect. |
| A．Psychological factors. |
| B．Biological factors. |
| C．Educational factors. |
| D．Social factors. |
| A．a science fiction |
| B．a culture brochure |
| C．a nursery guide |
| D．a health magazine |
| A．Men and women differ in biology and psychology. |
| B．Men and women experience happiness differently. |
| C．Social roles have a great effect on men and women. |
| D．Women's happiness has declined in the past years. |
6 . “Sunday Morning”honored the creative, inspiring and newsworthy men and women who passed away in 2020, who'd touched our lives in unforgettable ways.
Pain and sorrow - the calling cards of 2020. “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers provided us reassurance（保证） that tomorrow may be better. Although Withers left us at 81, his notes of comfort helped during a year that wasn't even a month old before grief was already setting in.
The death of 41-year-old Kobe Bryant, along with his 13-year-old daughter and seven others because of an air crash, astonished everyone-basketball fans or not.
“My momma always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get". COVID was certainly the box we all wished we never got. But Winston Groom, who created Forrest Gump, reminded us through that character that challenges exist, to be overcome.
Dignity for Black Americans remained an unfinished struggle in 2020. The deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor-just to name a few-restarted a movement for equality and justice not seen since the 1960s.
Gender equality lost some of its superheroes, too. Helen Reddy, who was inspired to retire after “I Am Woman” became her most popular song in 1974, offered the soundtrack for the fight that she herself engaged in. But there were few champions for women as influential as Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. In her 27 years on the Supreme Court，she expanded rights for women as well as men. Small in stature（个子）,a giant for us all. The only thing tougher than Justice Ginsburg was the cancer that took her at age 87.
While the sun isn't out just yet, the hope is that it's just over the horizon.
1. What did Winston Groom want to tell us through Forrest Gump?| A．Forrest Gump had a box of chocolates. | B．A person's character determines his fate. |
| C．We didn't expect to get Covid-19 in 2020. | D．We are living through difficulties in our life. |
| A．Kobe Bryant. | B．Forest Gump. | C．George Floyd. | D．Ruth Bader Ginsburg. |
| A．She was a racist. | B．She died from an accident. |
| C．She was a musician. | D．She didn't retire until her death. |
7 . If all goes well, a balloonwill soon rise from Esrange Space Center in Kiruna, Sweden. It will float highinto the upper atmosphere and then return to Earth. However, environmentalists have arrived to stop this from happening.
The campaigners are against the balloon because of what occurs in flight. The balloon will shoot dust into the Earths upper atmosphere, causing more sunlight to reflect back into space. The dust, known as stratospheric aerosolinjection(SAI), is part of a solar geoengineering (地球工程) program named SCoPex which is being conducted by Harvard University. The aim of the program is to purposely change the Earth's atmosphere to fight climate change.
Those who oppose worry about two things. Firstly, the moral risk-if solar geoengineering works, talks on reducing greenhouse gases will be challenged. The second concern is the amount of SAI in the atmosphere. To keep temperatures low, the need of the reflective dust tobel released high above Earth will be endless, and a sudden stop could result in rapid warming. Raymond Pierrehumbert, a physicist at Oxford University, says solar geoengineering is even tool risky to research beyond computer models.
Not all environmentalists are opposed to it. Since the world is unlikely to achieve the 1. 5 ℃ global warming target set in the Paris Agreement, some green organizations favour small-sized geoengineering research.
Regardless of the criticism, the research continues. Geoengineering is increasingly gaining international attention. A recent report about climate change suggested that SAI could help keep warming below 1. 5℃. The National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine in the USA has developed a research plan for solar geoengineering and received governmental funding totaling $9 million. Both China and India have also launched research programmes of their own. Activists may oppose the experiments, but balloons will likely fly anyway.
1. What is the function of SAI?| A．To attract dust. | B．To throw sunlight back. |
| C．To absorb heat. | D．To fight against pollution. |
| A．It may change computer models. |
| B．It may produce too much dust. |
| C．It may release greenhouse gases. |
| D．It may worsen global warming. |
| A．To a limited degree. |
| B．At a lower temperature. |
| C．By green organizations. |
| D．Without international attention. |
| A．Voices of environmentalists are ignored. |
| B．More support is going to geoengineering. |
| C．Global warming is getting worse in Sweden. |
| D．Geoengineering has proved effective in India. |
8 . Jean was a single mother with a young son. She taught the first grade and worked very hard. She drove a small old car. One August, the teachers returned from a summer break to see Jean drive up to school with three children. The two girls were Jean’s former students who had lost their parents. They did not want to enter a foster care center. They turned to Jean-their first grade teacher-for help. Though she and her son lived in a small house, Jean took the girls in.
During lunch, while other teachers shared life stories, Jean never complained about her new responsibilities. She did, however, speak about her car. With three children to transport, the car was too small and slow. It even burned engine oil. Jean needed something new. However, she couldn’t buy one with three children in her home.
As a good friend, I listened to her concerns. At that time, I did not have much money. But I wanted to help Jean buy a car. An idea hit me when I watched a TV show.
One day, Jean received an invitation to a TV show. She was surprised but decided to attend it. Midway through the show the host called Jean to the stage. He explained he had received a letter, knowing her need for a new car. The audience listened to the details of Jean’s story and were all moved. Then the host said that Jean would receive a new car for her family. Cheers filled the studio and Jean shook with disbelief.
Six hundred miles away, I watched the joy of it all from the television in my living room. Jean’s big heart taught me many lessons that year. I did nothing but share her story.
1. What can we infer about Jean according to the first paragraph?| A．She was a driver. |
| B．She was very kind-hearted. |
| C．She knew the girls’ parents. |
| D．She wanted to sell her small car. |
| A．She found it hard to raise kids alone. |
| B．She couldn’t afford to buy a new car. |
| C．She couldn’t spare more time for her students. |
| D．She had no time to transport her kids to school. |
| A．The author turned to the show for help. |
| B．The school rewarded her for her hard work. |
| C．The school wanted to make her story known. |
| D．The show picked some single mothers to report randomly. |
| A．A Letter from My Friend |
| B．Helping My Friend Get a Car |
| C．Inviting My Friend to a Show |
| D．A Single Mother with Three Kids |
9 . The transatlantic car carrier, Oceanbird, is being designed by Wallenius Marine, a Swedish shipbuilder,with support from the Swedish government.
With a capacity(容量) of 7,000 vehicles, the 650 foot-long vessel will have a similar size to ordinary car carriers, but it will look totally different. The ship will have five “wing sails”, with each being 260 feet tall. These sails are capable of turning 360 degrees, and it can be shortened to 195 feet in order to pass under bridges or withstand rough weather.
Although the general theory of wing sails is not new, designing the Oceanbird’s sails has been a challenge, says Mikael Razola, the research project manager for Oceanbird. “That’s because these are the tallest sails that have ever been constructed. The top of the sails will be more than 100 meters above the water surface. At such a height, the wind direction and speed change a lot,” says Razola.
To better understand the atmospheric conditions(大气条件) at this height, Wallenius put sensors on top of its existing vessels to gather data of wind. “All of this information has helped us make the most of the power available in the wind and design an efficient wing vessel,” says Razola.
With its special sails, Oceanbird will outperform conventional car carriers in the aspect of exhaust emission. Nowadays, the shipping industry is under pressure to reduce emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. According to the International Maritime Organization, the UN body that regulates global shipping, shipping accounted for 2. 89% of global manmade greenhouse gas emissions in 2018. And in the same year, this organization introduced a mandatory( 强 制 的 ) 50% reduction of total annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Oceanbird is designed to exceed(超过) the target---Wallenious said the ship would emit 90% less CO2 than other car carriers.
With a stop speed of about 10 knots, Oceanbird will be slower than standard car carriers, which can travel at 17 knots. It will take around 12 days, instead of the standard seven to cross the Atlantic. “This long journey will require some scheduling changes as well as acceptance from carmakers,” said Razola. “But the response so far has been very positive. ”
Researchers in Wallenious have built a 7-meter model of Oceanbird which will sail in Stockholm’s archipelago to gather data that will help finalize the ship’s design. “It will take around three years to launch the full-size version. Our ambition is to see Oceanbird sailing in 2024,” Razola said.
1. What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?| A．The design of Oceanbird. |
| B．The capacity of Oceanbird. |
| C．The operating method of wing sails. |
| D．The sailing conditions for car carriers. |
| A．The lack of financial support. | B．The lack of previous theories. |
| C．The wind conditions at different heights. | D．The tough weather on the Atlantic Ocean. |
| A．Increase the sailing speed. |
| B．Arrange a scientific sailing schedule. |
| C．Handle the conflicts between carmakers. |
| D．Use standard ships instead of Oceanbird |
| A．Giant and inconvenient. |
| B．Low-cost but inefficient. |
| C．High-capacity and high-speed. |
| D．Well-designed and environment-friendly. |
10 . Nashville offers many after-school tutoring centers to help kids develop their skills and creativity.
Spotlite Dance Studio
4075 Luke Ct, Murfreesboro, TN 37128, USA
Tel：(615)4594200
Set up in 2006, Spotlite Dance Studio is offering full day, half day and evening dance camps to kids aged 2-18. We have fun, new themes each week. We will work on dancing techniques and play fun games, activities, and more.
STEM Bllilders
504 Autumn Springs Ct, Franklin, TN 37067, USA
Tel：(615)366—9196
Along with education, to be successful in life, reasonable thinking, problem solving and teamwork are necessary skills in today’s competitive society. STEM Builders provides a unique combination of science, technology, engineering, math and fun. Both founders of the center beginning in 2016 have more than 15 years of IT experience.
Smile Doctors
152 Heritage Park, Murfreesboro, TN 37128, USA
Tel：(615)848—0011
Created in 2015, Smile Doctors provides excellence in orthodontic(牙齿矫正的)care resulting in beautiful, confident smiles and unforgettable experiences. Every interaction strengthens the idea that each person has value as a human being. We hope our positiveinteractions will motivate kids to improve themselves.
Tap Root Farm
905 Hickory Hills Dr, Franklin, TN 37067, USA
Tel：(615)594—3210
We have been“caretakers”of the farmland for over 50 years. Come and join us in the joy of keeping our family farming!Activities of our 2019 Tap Root Farm Summer Farm Camp (June 24—29)include horseback riding and gardening(planting and harvesting vegetables, herbs and flowers).
1. Where should you go to grow vegetables?| A．905 Hickory Hills Dr, Franklin, TN 37067. |
| B．4075 Luke Ct, Murfreesboro, TN 37128. |
| C．152 Heritage Park, Murfreesboro, TN 37128. |
| D．504 Autumn Springs Ct, Franklin, TN 37067. |
| A．Teamwork. | B．Problem solving. |
| C．IT experience. | D．Reasonable thinking. |
| A．Smile Doctors. | B．Tap Root Farm. |
| C．STEM Builders. | D．Spotlite Dance Studio. |
