1 . It is a common question to ask yourself: What do you want to be when you grow up?

In the past it has generally been accepted that a person will follow one career path, but an emerging group of people have changed this idea. By pursuing jobs across several walks, this group has come to be known as “slashers (斜杠青年)”.

There are many reasons why this has become popular, particularly among those under the age of 30. In modern competitive society, having multiple income streams (多种收入来源) is one of the best ways to create financial security.

Zhao Sichen is one follower of the slasher movement. The 34-year-old is an English teacher at Tsinghua University High School. Outside the classroom, Zhao also works as project manager in charge of education programs at the Internet tech company NetEase.

In addition to providing a sense of job security, becoming a slasher reduces boredom and prevents becoming burned out on (不再热衷) focusing on a single path.

According to the Guardian, “Entrepreneurs (创业者) are a typical example of a group that expects to spread their careers across multiple areas.” Erin Albert is a typical slasher in the UK. Apart from having written books, Albert is an assistant professor, an entrepreneur and a law student. Albert often asks his students to think about, “why they can’t both take an immediate job offer they are not sure about as well as work toward their ‘dream’ job”.

Technology has also promoted this choice. Online tools and platforms have allowed people to pursue different interests and career paths as they have promoted the ability to work remotely. Never has it been easier for those who have interests in a variety of careers to pursue them at the same time. It seems that right now the sky is the limit for those who are considering what they want to do in the future.

1. What do we know about slashers?

A．They are mostly 30 years old.	B．They follow one career path.
C．They change jobs frequently.	D．They tend to work several jobs.

2. Which of the following is NOT the reason for the popularity of slasher movement?

A．It gives people more free time to relax.

B．It helps people gain financial security.

C．It gets people to pursue their dream.

D．It makes people feel less bored in a single job.

3. What does the underlined sentence in the last paragraph mean?

A．Technology allows people to work remotely.

B．Doing more than one job might be encouraged.

C．Most people will work several jobs at the same time.

D．It has become more common for people to pursue multiple jobs.

4. What’s the best title of this passage?

A．Pursuing Your Dreams.	B．Slashers in China.
C．Slashing through Jobs.	D．Choosing Multiple Jobs.

2 . Accepting a job offer can be exciting.     1     If we feel like we are settling, then it can also bring about a sense of frustration, anxiety, or even sadness.

I have felt the sting (刺痛) of settling many times in my life. Years ago, I took a freelance (自由职业的) role that at first, second, and third glance led to feelings of depression. What was once an expanding universe of potential in my career suddenly contracted.     2     “This is not why I studied mathematics or worked so hard,” I complained. I felt stuck. But the job came with a bonus: business trips to a fascinating city. And once I realized that the job wasn’t entirely gloomy, I started to notice other pluses I hadn’t previously considered.

We will all take roles at various times in our careers that do not tick all our goal boxes. We have a good reason for accepting the job offer, such as the need for a job in a certain location to keep family members together.     3     If we’re currently in this situation, we need to shift our concept of settling. Instead of taking a role with a sense of desperation, we can think about the new skills we’ll develop or the connections we’ll make.

We alone get to decide how to perceive an opportunity. A job is not a destiny. It is simply a step toward a destination. We must be aware of how individual roles, even the most boring, are still useful, relevant, and beneficial.     4     Something is not happening to us; on the contrary, we are making something happen for us.

    5     I expect there will be other jobs that at first glance will seem like I am settling. But I will serve myself even better if I see the situation for what it is: a temporary station on the way to a fascinating and fun career.

A．I need the money, so I settle.

B．Oh, how I hungered for more!

C．But what if the job doesn’t tick all our boxes?

D．And when we make this mental move, we feel stronger.

E．Yet we may feel that it presents too many new challenges.

F．The freelance role that I settled on years ago won’t be my last.

G．But we may also have a sense of unease that we are giving up the ability to dream.