1 . It has been five years since I left my staff job and became self-employed. I remember my terror as I walked out of the office for the last time and the excitement when I sold my first piece days later. Working for yourself, setting your own hours and being responsible for your success or failure are exciting. I left my job just as summer was starting, and my first few months were as blissful as the fair days.

When winter came, an office where someone else paid for the central heating and my salary was guaranteed seemed attractive. January is tough for freelancers (自由职业者), and it was no different for me — after masses of work, I earned none. I shared my fears with some businesswomen I knew — what if the reality would be more like what I was experiencing?

Whether through choice or circumstance, the number of freelancers is rising and, if you’re just starting out, it is scary. I’ve been lucky that these women making money their own way shared key lessons about what it takes.

You can’t feel half-hearted about what you do because, at some point, you’re going to have painful days. When that happens, you have to remember why you wanted this life in the first place. Don’t quit your job for something that you think might be more interesting, quit it for something you can’t stop thinking about.

Setting up a business is tough. Rather than waiting until all is perfect, go for the moment when it feels as if momentum (势头) is with you. Look after yourself. There is no sick pay when you are self-employed. You can’t do a bad day’s work and blame it on your boss. You are the backbone of your business and you need to prioritize your health and well-being. Rest regularly and find like-minded people to support you and lift you up when things get hard.

Finally, enjoy it. Freedom is yours and, if you can make it work, there is nothing better.

1. What does the underlined word “blissful” in paragraph 1 mean?

A．Pleasant.

B．challenging.

C．Awful.

D．Boring.

2. What bothered the author when winter came?

A．The cold weather influenced her working performance.

B．She eventually realized freelancing wasn’t to her taste.

C．Masses of freelancing work brought her much anxiety.

D．She couldn’t even earn enough to meet daily basics.

3. According to the author, why should we quit for a new job?

A．To escape from the current pain.	B．To satisfy our temporary interests.
C．To explore where our strength lies.	D．To pursue what we really desire.

4. What’s author’s probable attitude towards becoming freelancers?

A．Critical.

B．Favorable.

C．Cautious.

D．Unclear.

2 . Even before Molly Johnson-Jones graduated from Oxford University in 2015, she felt professional pressure to land a “prestigious (享有声望的)” job in a high-powered industry. She says she and her university friends felt there were professions that carried prestige—particularly the fields of finance, medicine and law. That’s why Johnson-Jones ended up in investment banking for two years once she graduated, even though it didn’t feel like quite the right fit.

These kinds of “very traditional industries” have indeed carried prestige, says Jonah Stillman, co-founder of GenGuru, a firm that focuses on different generations in the workplace. As Gen Z joins the workforce, however, experts and younger workers say what’s considered a “prestigious” job may be expanding. Some younger workers do still report making money is prestigious, especially as cost of living shoots up; and working for certain firms or in specific industries can make a career. But many also place equal stress on other elements, such as values of the company, flexibility, and freedom from long, intense work hours.

And some data indicates that Gen Z are indeed turning to more meaningful work. April 2023 data from LinkedIn of more than 7,000 global workers shows 64% of Gen Zers in the UK, Germany and Ireland now consider it important to work for companies that share their values. The data also shows these young workers highlight work-life balance and career growth as top draws for potential workplaces.

This change in Gen Z’s attitude towards work may be in part because mechanisms (机制) behind finding jobs and seeing other possible career paths are changing, says Josh Graff, managing director of EMEA and LATAM at LinkedIn. With a greater number of jobs being posted online, “people have so much more access to information today than we did when we were applying for a job 20-plus years ago … This allows you to have much better visibility into a wealth of roles,” he says. “That change in the workplace, in the workforce … is leading people to understand there’s a wider range of options out there.”

1. Why did Johnson-Jones end up in investment banking?

A．She had a passion for finance.	B．She wanted to make a lot of money.
C．She found herself well suited for the career.	D．She felt pressure to take up a highly-regarded job.

2. What is the main point of paragraph 2?

A．Making money is still the main concern of younger workers.

B．Gen Zers are not interested in traditional “prestigious” jobs.

C．The definition of a “prestigious” job is changing for younger workers.

D．Short-time work is still considered prestigious for younger workers.

3. What do most Gen Zers in the UK, Germany and Ireland consider important when it comes to work?

A．Whether they can have a good job title.

B．Whether they can receive a good salary.

C．Whether companies’ values are in line with theirs.

D．Whether they have enough opportunities to socialize.

4. What may be contributing to the change in Gen Z’s attitude towards work?

A．The changing job search methods.

B．A lack of high-paying jobs in traditional industries.

C．A growing stress on companies’ social responsibility.

D．Increased access to information about potential career paths.

3 . At the start of your career, it can feel like a Catch-22 situation: You can’t get hired without experience, but you can’t get experience without being hired.     1     Luck certainly plays a part and personal connections can be hugely valuable, but what else can you do?

Target realistic roles. If you don't have relevant experience in your chosen field, you’ll have to apply for roles right at the bottom of the ladder and work your way up—     2     They can both be character building and a great way to develop a knowledge of the role. That will give you a head start as you work your way up through the organization.

Emphasize the skills you do have. Don't get hung up on the experience you don’t have.     3     Soft skills such as communication, and team working are highly valued by all sorts of employers. If you lack experience in your chosen field, then it’s important to acknowledge that, but use it as an opportunity to demonstrate your passion for the role and your motivation to learn.

    4     Some industries are so competitive that, even to get an entry-level position, you might have to consider working for free. Volunteering and internships (实习) are excellent opportunities to gain first-hand knowledge of a job and build useful contacts that could lead to a paid position.

Stay busy and resilient (有韧性的) . Trying to find a job with little or no experience isn't easy, and yet it’s something everyone has gone through.     5     However, by volunteering, participating in community activities, being social and getting out in the world, opportunities will present themselves and you will find the right role for you.

A．Look for work experience.

B．Seek jobs with no experience needed.

C．How does an employer decide on whom to interview?

D．So, what is the key to getting jobs with no experience?

E．It’s all too easy to take the rejection personally and quit.

F．There’s certainly no shame in targeting entry-level and junior roles.

G．Instead, focus your application on the skills that make you a great fit for the role.

4 . Career coaches provide a series of services, from helping you figure out what you want to do to exploring chances for career growth.     1     To make it all worthwhile, some helpful tips are offered here to help you choose a right coach.

Know what type of professional you need to hire.     2     In other words, they help you explore your future career possibilities and figure out what is stopping you from advancing in your development.

    3     Go into your coaching relationship with an idea of what you think you need from them, but be willing to think about their guidance on what other measures may make you more successful- for example, Business Value training to make sure you’ll be satisfied in a new job.

Try sample lessons to find the right one. Most coaches offer free sample lessons, which help you get to know their styles clearly. You may need a coach with career experiences, or you may need one who offers life advice. If you aren’t sure what you want, ask questions.     4    

Consider cost, and make contact. Coaching fees are not the same. Some coaches charge more for polishing resumes, while others include that in the overall price.     5     Once you’re clear about it, you can make your decision and communicate with the chosen coach.

A．Make sure you have a well-designed resume.

B．You need to understand what you’re receiving for the expense.

C．Career coaches also provide services for your personal training.

D．Thus, you can assess whether the coach understands your needs.

E．Engaging with a career coach requires an investment of time and money.

F．Know which services you need and be open to services you don't know you need.

G．Career coaches can help you decide how to make full use of your professional potential.

5 . If you are planning to start a career in the field of education，science，or culture，then an internship（实习） at UNESCO will be ideal for you．

Who can apply？

       You have completed your full-time university studies；or．

       You are studying in a graduate program for a master's degree．

       Applicants in technical assignments must have reached the last year of their studies in a technical institution．

What are the requirements？

       You must be at least 20 years old．

       You should have a good command （掌握） of either English or French．

       You must have an excellent knowledge of office-related software．

       You should be able to work well in a team and adapt to an international working environment．

       You should possess strong interpersonal and communication skills．

What do you need to prepare？

       Visa：You should obtain the necessary visas．

       Travel：You must arrange and finance your travel to and from the location where you will do your internship．

       Medical insurance：You must show proof of a comprehensive health insurance valid（有效的）in the target country for the entire period of the internship．UNESCO will provide limited insurance coverage up to USD30,000 for the internship period．

       Medical certificate：You must provide a medical certificate indicating you are fit to work．

       Motivation letter：You should have your motivation letter ready before filling out the application form．

Your application will be accessed by UNESCO managers and will stay in our database for six months．We do not respond to every candidate．If selected，you will be contacted by a manager．If you do not receive any update within six months，it means that your application has not been successful．

1. According to this passage，applicants are required to________．

A．hold a master's degree in science

B．have international work experience

C．be fluent in either English or French

D．present a letter from a technical institution

2. What will UNESCO provide for the internship period？

A．Limited medical insurance coverage．

B．Training in communication skills．

C．A medical certificate for work．

D．Financial support for travel．

3. What should applicants do before filling out the application form？

A．Contact UNESCO managers．	B．Get access to the database．
C．Keep a motivation letter at hand．	D．Work in a team for six months．