1 . Direction: Summarize in no more than 60 words the main idea of the passage and how it is illustrated. Use your own words as far as possible.

To be or not to be Entrepreneurs

A friend of mine was once so inspired by his own start-up concept that he pulled out his phone, checked the availability of his preferred URL, and registered the domain name on the spot. Similar scenes play out at lots of business schools in the USA. The majority of MBA students range in age from the mid-20s to the 30s; with all the discussion of start-ups and new businesses, it would seem that they’re living the Millennial dream of entrepreneurship.

But it seems more often than not these days, the startup ideas fail to take off. When I check on my peers’ start-up proposals after a few weeks, I often find that their ideas have been abandoned, and that my classmates are focused on their steady corporate jobs. Research suggests entrepreneurial activity has declined among Millennials to almost a quarter-century low. More Millennials believe they can have a successful career by staying at one company and attempting to climb the ladder than by founding a new one.

Some of the reasons have been well-documented.

The romantic view of entrepreneurship involves angel investors and venture capital funds, but in fact, the ordinary entrepreneur is more likely to fund a start-up using personal savings—something underemployed Millennials simply could not build as they entered the workforce during or in the immediate wake of the Great Recession. Funding from friends and family is the next most common source, but this personal network could not help much during the most recent economic downturn, when so much home equity was underwater.

Lately, though, it seems that even those who might typically have access to other forms of funding, like venture capital, are having a hard time getting investors’ attention. While a mobile app can make for a decent side hustle to a regular corporate job, it won’t turn into the next Apple or Google, and American investors know that.

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2 . With a hybrid（混合的）approach to work, the importance of being physically present in a centralized office is greatly reduced, allowing for far more flexible work schedules among employees. In most cases, this means some employees working on-site in the office, some employees working off-site—either from ___________ or remotely from another location—and some employees who have the flexibility to switch between the office and working remotely, ___________tasks, deadlines, and personal needs.

When businesses adopt hybrid work models, which rely heavily on a remote-first approach, the entire concept of location is ___________. By connecting to the workplace using cloud solutions, video conferencing technology, and similar tools, employees do not need to be ___________ present in the workplace in order to do their job—although they can be if they prefer to be, or for situations where ___________ communication is better suited.

This can offer a number of benefits for both employees and employers. ___________, on days when bad weather might prevent people from getting into the office, they are still able to work from home. Similarly, if major events make it necessary to ___________ the workplace—as was the case with the COVID-19 pandemic—there will be ___________ disturbance to operations.

Moreover, the removal of geographical barriers can be extremely advantageous in terms of ___________, allowing employers to gain access to a wider talent pool, making it easier to find qualified candidates and build a more diverse and inclusive workforce. With ____________ work arrangements now among the top benefits sought after by job seekers, companies employing the hybrid model are better positioned to ____________ top candidates.

Another major benefit associated with flexible work schedules and the hybrid work model is the ability to make a business more ____________. This is important because research suggests that employees are more likely to take a job and stay in a job with companies that have a strong environmental agenda. ____________, 64 percent of young people say they would not take a job with a company that did not have a promise of social responsibility.

The most significant environmental impact made by the hybrid work model is the largely reduced amount of ____________ among employees. The effects of this are especially significant when there's a long distance between home and work, which requires employees to use their own cars. Fewer people coming into the office is also likely to reduce the carbon footprint associated with the office itself. All of this can combine to help improve a company's green certificate and aid in positioning the organization as a ____________ company in the eyes of job seekers and customers.

1.

A．office

B．enterprise

C．home

D．department

2.

A．succeeding in

B．depending on

C．taking on

D．setting aside

3.

A．developed

B．removed

C．defined

D．grasped

4.

A．physically

B．visually

C．instantly

D．properly

5.

A．business

B．regular

C．effective

D．face-to-face

6.

A．In brief

B．Above all

C．For instance

D．In particular

7.

A．avoid

B．clean

C．attend

D．reserve

8.

A．considerable

B．continuous

C．unnecessary

D．minimal

9.

A．judgement

B．enrollment

C．procedure

D．management

10.

A．formal

B．wise

C．flexible

D．complex

11.

A．compete for

B．put up

C．vote for

D．comb out

12.

A．fast-growing

B．profitable

C．competitive

D．sustainable

13.

A．Psychologically

B．Originally

C．Eventually

D．Additionally

14.

A．work

B．travel

C．research

D．cooperation

15.

A．multi-national

B．world-famous

C．forward-thinking

D．peace-loving

3 . Directions: Read the following passage. Summarize in no more than 60 words the main idea of the passage and how it is illustrated. Use your own words as far as possible.

A Really Determined Person Will Always Succeed

Many job seekers feel limited by the choices they made at college or university. They may think that because they studied marketing, all they can ever do is work in marketing. All the evidence shows that, in fact, employers are less interested in acquired knowledge than the ability to think and learn. It is also very difficult to predict the needs of society. For example, if a person chose to study dentistry because there was a lack of dentists when they were in high school, that may not be the case when they graduate. The needs of employers and the economy can change very quickly, and often unexpectedly.

Of course, if it is a very tough time economically, it is hard to find employment straight after university, but it is by no means impossible. It might take several months longer to find a job after graduating, but there is work out there. My chosen career has always been competitive, but I never thought about the other people going for the same jobs. It may be human nature to compare your progress to your peers, but perhaps the best advice would be to try not to. Be focused on what you want and how you are going to get it. After all, it may appear that a friend who has a really well- paid job is doing well, but how do you know what their job is actually like?

A really key piece of advice is never get downhearted by rejection, because there will probably be a lot. You can achieve your dream job, whatever it is. You must never give up. Be prepared to work hard and for long hours without necessarily climbing up the career ladder. There is a lot to be said for learning your ' trade' from the bottom up. At the start, there will probably be little money, but it will be worth it in the end. The best jobs are not supposed to be easy—that is what makes them challenging. And if you like a challenge, just keep your head down and go for it.

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4 . Hard work is often the only competitive advantage many people possess. We may not be as experienced or as _________ as other people.

But we can always work harder, smarter and longer.

As Kara Lawson-the Duke women's basketball team head coach-says, generally speaking, there's a huge _________ between working hard and competing.

Plenty of people work hard. But what is the best praise you can receive or give?

You competed.

_________ Lawson, most people mistake hard work for competitiveness:

“Hard work is I give you a task. I give you limitations on some task. I say, ‘You have to do this, in this amount of time, with this much weight.’ And then I force you to do it. I can force you to work hard just by what I ask you to do. You can't force someone to _________.”

The difference might seem amazing. Hard work requires effort and so does competing.

But working hard doesn't automatically mean _________ improvement. I can put in countless hours of effort without ever trying to “win.”

As Lawson says to her players:

“At the end of every session, that's the question you're asking yourself: Did I compete today?

That's different than working hard. Working hard is something some people do. Many people work hard in whatever job they do. Before you start, and then when you're done, be _________ with yourself: ‘Did I compete today?”

When you think you're _________, when you think you've done all you can, remember: You always find a little more inside you. You are capable of more than you think. Dig deep. Work a little harder.

When you're on the downside（劣势）of _________ and reaching a goal feels impossible, don't just work hard.

Compete: Make the extra phone call. Do the extra preparation. And remember to offer to not just tell _________ what to do but show them and then work beside them.

Every day, compete: to be the best boss you can be, the most empathetic（同理心的） listener you can be... Whatever it is, compete.

Competing will make you an even __________ “you” than you are today.

And that's the only competition that really matters.

1.

A．devoted

B．satisfied

C．talented

D．excited

2.

A．relationship

B．difference

C．benefit

D．connection

3.

A．Thanks to

B．In addition to

C．In response to

D．According to

4.

A．compete

B．obey

C．change

D．cooperate

5.

A．striving for

B．leading to

C．asking for

D．turning to

6.

A．strict

B．honest

C．serious

D．curious

7.

A．finished

B．engaged

C．interested

D．fried

8.

A．disadvantage

B．success

C．advantage

D．adventure

9.

A．employers

B．listeners

C．competitors

D．employees

10.

A．better

B．kinder

C．wiser

D．harder