1 . Analysis of the trial of the four-day working week has revealed great efficiency, reduced stress and increased staff engagement, fueling hopes that a better work-life balance for employees could be in sight.

Perpetual Guardian, a New Zealand financial services company, switched its 240 staff from a five-day to a four-day week and maintained their pay. Productivity increased in the four days when they worked, so there was no drop in the total amount of work done, a study of the trial released on Tuesday revealed. The trial was monitored by academics at the University of Auckland and the Auckland University of Technology. The eight-week experiment was closely watched by employers and policymakers around the world. “This is an idea whose time has come,” said Andrew Barnes, Perpetual Guardian’s founder. “We need to get more companies to give it a go.”

The government has conducted a study of the possibility of four-day weeks. However, research points to the complexity of achieving productivity gains in major industries such as retail(零售), where being present is a key part of the job. Smaller companies experimenting with four-day working weeks have found performance was better in the first few weeks as excitement about the project took hold, before falling slightly. “The biggest concern is ensuring that the full-time introduction of the policy doesn’t lead to self-satisfaction, as there is a risk that peopled productivity will slip back,” said Tammy Barker, a branch manager who was part of the trial. “Therefore, we’ve spent a lot of time making sure every person in every team has their own plan as to how they’re going to maintain and even improve productivity.”

According to Jarrod Haar, a professor of human resource management at the Auckland University of Technology, significantly lower job stress was reported with four-day working weeks. “Beyond wellbeing, employees reported their teams were stronger and functioned better together, more satisfied with their jobs, more engaged, and that they felt their work had greater meaning,” he said. “It is really a great way to make employees be more committed to the organization and less likely to look elsewhere for a job.”

1. What changes took place in Perpetual Guardian during the experiment?

A．The length of daily working hours	B．The amount of pay per week
C．The efficiency of the employees	D．The work done per month

2. What does the government’ research on the four-day working week probably reveal?

A．Some workers may become lazy.	B．The policy doesn’t suit all industries.
C．The four-day working week won’t work.	D．Many employers don’t approve of the trial.

3. How did Tammy Barker deal with the concern about the policy?

A．By making plans for each of the employees.

B．By dividing all the employees into different teams.

C．By helping every employee get satisfaction from the work.

D．By encouraging every employee to be responsible for their plan.

4. What’s Jarrod Haar’s attitude towards the four-day working week?

A．Unclear.

B．Concerned.

C．Approving.

D．Negative.

2 . The technology research company International Data Corporation, or IDC, has predicted a huge surge in total worldwide data in the coming years. It predicted world data demand will grow from 33 zettabytes（泽字节）in 2018 to 175 zettabytes by 2025. The world is about to have a serious data-storage problem that will only become more severe over time.

Several companies say they are exploring a possible solution. They suggest using genetic material, DNA, to store data. Experts have estimated data stored by DNA systems could be one billion times as many as those held in traditional electronic devices of comparable size.

Information about living things is stored in DNA using four different kinds of molecules（分子）. They can be represented by the letter codes A, T, C and G. Researchers have discovered that data can also be stored within DNA in the sequences of these letters. Electronic devices, however, store information in a two-letter code that produces combinations of ones and zeroes.

In order to make DNA storage succeed, digital information has to be changed to DNA storage and then back to digital data. One company working on DNA storage development is Microsoft. The company announced earlier last year that it had shown the first “fully-automated” DNA storage system. The research team from Microsoft and the University of Washington reported it had successfully encoded the word “hello” in pieces of DNA and changed it back to digital data. A chemical process is used to get the DNA into a storage device.

Microsoft said DNA storage systems can not only store more data, but also hold data for much longer periods of time. For example, DNA samples from the ancient bones of animals and humans have proven that the material can last thousands of years in tough conditions.

Experts from the World Economic Forum have praised recent developments in DNA storage technologies. But the organization says much more work needs to be completed before DNA storage systems can effectively compete with electronic ones. Currently, the systems are costly and the processing time can be very long.

1. What does the underlined word “surge” in Paragraph I mean?

A．Loss.

B．Exchange.

C．Increase.

D．Share.

2. What makes DNA have bigger storage ability?

A．Its bigger size compared with electronic devices.

B．Its way of storing information in a four-letter code.

C．Its function of combining letters freely.

D．Its self-reproduction characteristics.

3. What is implied in Paragraph 4?

A．Developing DNA storage needs support from big companies.

B．The DNA storage system has drawn worldwide attention.

C．The DNA storage system faces great challenges.

D．Using DNA to store data can possibly be a reality.

4. What can we learn from the text?

A．Researchers need to perfect the systems greatly.

B．Experts are supportive of the electronic devices.

C．Experts are dissatisfied with the recent advance in the systems.

D．Researchers need financial support to develop the systems.

3 . Simon Groot, a seed expert of the Netherlands, is credited with introducing high-quality, disease-resistant vegetable seeds to more than 60 countries including the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia. He was awarded the World Food Prize on Monday.

Developing seeds has been the Groot family business for a long time. He is the sixth generation of, what is called, a seedsman. He began his search for better vegetable seeds to help farmers in Southeast Asia in 1981. When he was 47, his family’s company had just been taken over by a larger corporation.

Sixteen years earlier, he had made his first trip to Indonesia. There, Groot learned that vegetable seeds which were developed for the moderate climate of Europe, did poorly when planted in the hot tropics（热带地区）. He thought there was a great possibility of introducing hybrid（杂交的）vegetables to the area. The area lacked vegetable seed developers who were trying to create hybrids for the local climate.

“It was neither charity nor business. It was a passion for providing farmers all over the world with good seeds,” said Groot. Now 85, he said developing seeds has always concerned him, “I noticed the seed quality in that part of world was so much below our standards and below achievable standards.” He added that he “could not stand” that the farmers there did not have better seeds.

At the time, farmers in Southeast Asia usually saved seeds from season to season. That was because the seeds available for sale were often old. Those seeds were usually from Europe or North America and did not grow well in their tropical climate. This meant that the farmers ended up with smaller crops, and lower quality that changed greatly from season to season. The plants also could easily become infected with diseases.

Groot received the $250, 000 World Food Prize during an award ceremony at the Iowa Capitol.

1. What do we learn about Groot from Paragraph 2?

A．He learned vegetable feeds did poorly in Europe.

B．He carried on a business of several generations.

C．He has introduced seeds to countries worldwide.

D．He turned his family’s company into a larger one.

2. What drove Groot to develop new vegetable seeds?

A．Doing charity.	B．Making money.
C．Support from farmers.	D．Sense of responsibility.

3. What was the challenge for farmers in Southeast Asia?

A．Having no access to high-quality seeds.

B．Having no financial support for better seeds.

C．Lacking advanced technology for growing crops.

D．Failing to export their produce to western countries.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Business Has Been Passed from Generation to Generation

B．Vegetable Seeds for Hot Areas Have Been Created

C．Family Business Serves Farmers in Southeast Asia

D．World Food Prize Goes to Dutch Seed Developer

4 . National Parks Recreational Vehicle Trips

Trip 1: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands&Capitol Reef

Visit the five Utah’s national parks. Activities include going boating on the Colorado River, and hiking Angels Landing for an impressive view of Zion Canyon. One thing is guaranteed：you’ll see the Milky Way, the pale white band of stars across the sky at night, like never before in this beautiful area of the country.

Available: Apr. 1 to Oct. 23; Duration: 8 to 13 nights

Price（for up to 4 guests): $4, 990-9, 840

Trip 2: Banff&Jasper

Travel along the Icefields Parkway which connects the parks and towns of Banff in Alberta, Canada, Lake Louise and Jasper Lake. Book a ride in a big snowcoach（雪车）onto the Athabasca

Glacier, and take a flight-seeing tour over the huge icefields that cover the area of the Rocky Mountains.

Available: Jun. 15 to Sept. 15; Duration: 8 to 13 nights

Price (for up to 4 guests): S5, 260-6, 080

Trip 3: Mount Rushmore & Colorado

This trip is perfect for anyone interested in America’s history, from forts to huge rock carvings of historical figures. Starting in Denver, your journey will take you through Colorado and into Wyoming.

Available: Start as early as Feb. 1 to Oct. 10; Duration: 8 to 13 nights

Price（for up to 4 guests): $5, 124-7, 880

Trip 4: Yosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon

Start your journey in the Bay Area and then head cast to Yosemite with its impressive waterfalls, and towering cliffs（悬崖）. Combine your visit to Yosemite with stops at Sequoia National Park to see the five largest sequoia trees in the world, and Kings Canyon.

Available: May 19 to Oct 8; Duration: 8 to 13 nights

Price（for up to 4 guests): $5, 224-9, 540

1. What’s special about the five Utah’s national parks?

A．The beautiful starry sky.	B．The impressive waterfalls.
C．The rich history of America.	D．The adventurous activities.

2. Which of the following trips will be suitable for tourists available in March?

A．Banff & Jasper.

B．Mount Rushmore & Colorado.

C．Yosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon.

D．Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands & Capitol Reef.

3. In what aspect do the four vehicle trips have something in common?

A．The location.	B．The tourist activities.
C．The nights included in the trip.	D．The target groups of tourists.

5 . When Ludwig von Beethoven died in 1827, he was three years removed from the completion of his Ninth Symphony(交响乐). He had started work on his Tenth Symphony but, due to declining health, wasn’t able to make much headway: All he left behind were some musical sketches.

Ever since then, Beethoven fans and musicologists have puzzled over what could have been. Now, thanks to the work of a team of scientists, Beethoven’s vision will come to life.

The scientists were divided into two parts-the human side and the machine side. The human side deciphered (破译)and transcribed the sketches from the Tenth Symphony, trying to understand Beethoven’s intentions. Meanwhile, the A. I. side faced more challenges.

First, and most fundamentally, they needed to figure out how to take a short phrase and use it to develop a longer, more complicated musical structure, just as Beethoven would have done. Next, because the continuation of a phrase also needs to follow a certain musical form, the A. I. needed to learn Beethoven’s process for developing these forms. The A. I. also needed to learn how to take a melodic line and harmonize it and how to bridge two sections of music together. Finally, once they had a full composition, the A. I. was going to have to figure out how to orchestrate it, which involves assigning different instruments for different parts. And it had to pull off these tasks in the way Beethoven might do so.

The success of the attempt proves they were on the right track. But these were just a couple of minutes of music. There was still much more work to do. At one point, one of the music experts on the team said that the A. I. reminded him of an eager music student who practices every day, learns, and becomes better and better. Now that student, having taken the baton from Beethoven, is ready to present the Tenth Symphony to the world.

1. What can we know about Beethoven’s Tenth Symphony?

A．Beethoven lost his health in an attempt to finish it.	B．It was highly thought of by fans and musicologists.
C．It aroused great interests among Beethoven fans.	D．Beethoven didn't start to create it until 1824.

2. What does paragraph 4 mainly talk about?

A．the difficulties the AI side solved	B．the contributions of the human side
C．Beethoven’s music composition process	D．how a symphony was usually created

3. In the process of completing Beethoven’s Tenth Symphony, which description is not true?

A．It’s a great challenge for the AI technology.

B．The human side should imitate Beethoven’s music creating process.

C．It is a combined effort of human and AI technology.

D．It's more demanding for the machine side than human side.

4. What’s the author’s attitude towards the Tenth Symphony completed by A. I.?

A．skeptical

B．positive

C．negative

D．indifferent

6 . It was Jennifer William's mother who got her hooked on books. As a librarian, she read to her three children every day. “Not until we went to kindergarten,” Williams told the local news site. “Until we went to college.”

When Williams, now 54, became an elementary school teacher and tutor in Danville, Virginia, she wanted her students to fall in love with reading just as she had. But early on, she realized that some kids had limited access to books.

To Williams, the solution was simple: Give kids books. In 2017, as part of a civic event called Engage Danville, she gave away 900 used children's books over three days. Most people would be satisfied with that.

“I was like, ‘Anybody could do that,’” she said. “I wanted to do something that's going to stretch my faith, my work ethic, my everything.”

So she raised the ante considerably by setting a new goal for herself: Give away one million books. It sounds like an unreachable number, but as Williams posted on Face book: “Don't complain in the bleachers if you aren't willing to work hard out on the field.”

In the four years she's been devoted to her work. The Book Lady, as Williams has come to be known, has given away more than 78,000 books—only 922,000 more to reach her goal! And she's not slowing down. It's too important for kids with few options.

“Reading can take you anywhere,” she said. “You can travel in time and space. If you can read, you can learn almost anything.”

1. We can learn from the first paragraph that Jennifer Williams ________.

A．often reads to her children	B．works in a local library
C．credits her love for books to her mother	D．didn't like reading until her college time

2. How did Jennifer Williams feel after she donated 900 books in 2017?

A．Proud.

B．Unsatisfied.

C．Unhappy.

D．Admirable.

3. What does the underlined phrase "raised the ante" mean in paragraph 5?

A．found a new direction	B．set up a higher aim
C．made a different decision	D．improved one's ability

4. What's a suitable title for the passage?

A．The Book Lady	B．One Million Books
C．Children Needing Books	D．A Great Teacher

7 . Between 1 November and 7 December 2021, three locations across London will give visitors the chance to explore a collection of collaborative projects, all working to address climate change in unique and creative ways. All the exhibitions are free.

1 to 11 November: Paternoster Square, next to St Paul's Cathedral, London EC4M 7BP

12 to 29 November: Aldgate Square, Aldgate High St, London EC3N 1AF

30 November to 7 December: Guildhall Yard, off Gresham Street, London, EC2V 5AE

The exhibitions will show the work of nine Creative Committees-global actions developed to provide creative responses and solutions to the climate challenge through art, science and digital technology. The aim for these committees is to stimulate global conversations about climate change and to inspire transformational change.

We look forward to seeing you onsite. Join the global conversation and come and see how you can:

·create green space in your city with Green Space Atlas

·learn to make plant graffiti（涂鸦）with Trees for Life

·step up to the climate challenge with Millipede's virtual shoe shop

·set up a school Eco-Committee with Connecting the Climate Challenge

·be inspired to reuse and recycle with Tales of Care and Repair.

1. If you are available on November 20^th, which place should you go to enjoy an exhibition?

A．Paternoster Square

B．St Paul's Cathedral

C．Aldgate Square

D．Guildhall Yard

2. What can we know about the exhibitions?

A．It will charge a small fee.	B．It will last for more than 2 months.
C．It encourages citizens to submit works.	D．It aims to solve climate change from new perspectives.

3. If you are interested in recycling things, which project can help you?

A．Green Space Atlas.	B．Trees for Life.
C．Tales of Care and Repair.	D．Connecting the Climate Challenge.

8 . Recently, the idea that listening to classical music can increase intelligence, especially in ____, has caught the attention of the media, researchers, and parents around the globe.In the early 1990s, researchers from France and the US published articles that said ____ Mozart for 10 minutes temporarily ____ performance on IQ tests and challenging tasks.

___, the media quickly began reporting on the “Mozart effect”.

In 1997, Don Campbell published a book about this ____ phenomenon.Campbell said that classical ____ could improve health and memory, prevent mental and physical disorders, and ____ stress and depression.He soon ____ with The Mozart Effect for Children, as well as CDs and products for parents of young children.Today, a wide selection of similar products is ____, including Baby Mozart and Baby Bach, two bestselling DVDs in the popular Baby Einstein series.There are even music players specially ____ for expectant (预产期的) mothers to wear on their stomachs.__, babies can listen to classical music before they're even ____.

____, there is some doubt surrounding the “Mozart effect”.Parents ___ whether it is a proven reality or just a fad (潮流) designed to make money.Frances H.Rauscher, a psychologist and author of one of the original studies, is ____.Much of the original ____ pointed to temporary improvements on specific tasks.She ____ these findings have been incorrectly described as a general increase in ____.“I don't think it can hurt,” Rauscher said.Yet she added that ____ may still want to think twice ___ spending a fortune trying to make a genius (天才) out of their baby.

1.

A．scientists

B．musicians

C．adults

D．babies

2.

A．joining in

B．dreaming of

C．talking about

D．listening to

3.

A．improved

B．measured

C．provided

D．enjoyed

4.

A．On the whole

B．As a result

C．On the contrary

D．In other words

5.

A．common

B．natural

C．interesting

D．alarming

6.

A．literature

B．music

C．world

D．education

7.

A．cause

B．place

C．reduce

D．limit

8.

A．began

B．dealt

C．agreed

D．followed

9.

A．useless

B．priceless

C．available

D．changeable

10.

A．tested

B．designed

C．searched

D．collected

11.

A．By the way

B．In this way

C．On the way

D．All the way

12.

A．born

B．lost

C．trained

D．invited

13.

A．Besides

B．Therefore

C．Instead

D．However

14.

A．check

B．question

C．determine

D．evaluate

15.

A．real

B．right

C．normal

D．doubtful

16.

A．anxiety

B．material

C．research

D．argument

17.

A．cheers

B．expects

C．remembers

D．believes

18.

A．costs

B．health

C．disorders

D．intelligence

19.

A．teachers

B．experts

C．parents

D．players

20.

A．after

B．unless

C．before

D．as

9 . Children think other youngsters who wear glasses look smarter and are more honest than those who don't wear glasses, according to a U.S. study of 80 children. In addition, the researchers found that children seldom judge peers wearing glasses in terms of appearance.

The study included 42 girls and 38 boys, aged 6 to 10.Of those, 30 wore glasses, 34 had at least one classmate with glasses, and almost two-thirds had at least one parent who wore glasses. The study participants were shown 24 pairs of pictures of children. The children in each pair of pictures differed by gender and race, and each pair of pictures included one child with glasses and one child without glasses. The children were asked a series of questions about each pair of photos. About two-thirds said children wearing glasses looked smarter than those without glasses, and 57 percent said children wearing glasses looked more honest.

These findings may help comfort children as they're fitted for their first pair of glasses, lead author Jeffrey Walline, an assistant professor of optometry at Ohio State University, suggested in a prepared statement. "If the impression of looking smarter will appeal to a child, I would use that information and tell the child it is based on research. Most kids getting glasses for the first time are sensitive about how they're going to look. Some kids simply refuse to wear glasses, because they think they'll look ugly," Walline said.

1. What impression may a youngster wearing a pair of glasses leave on his classmate?

A．Ugly.

B．Easygoing.

C．Dynamic.

D．Intelligent.

2. Which of the following is correct about the participants of the study?

A．Most of them wore glasses at an early age.

B．Most of them had one family member wearing glasses.

C．They observed children of different ages in each picture.

D．They were required to answer the same questions.

3. Why may the result of the study comfort the children first wearing glasses?

A．Because the study is carried out in a scientific way.

B．Because it convinces them of the necessity of wearing glasses.

C．Because it may help remove all their initial worries.

D．Because the children do care about being smarter.

4. What is the best title of this article?

A．Wearing Glasses, Smarter Looking.	B．Wearing Glasses, More Intelligent.
C．Concerns on Wearing Glasses.	D．Wearing Glasses, a New Trend.

10 . Our tiny boat was ploughing through (费力穿过) the waves across the Indian Ocean and I was absolutely freezing.The further we got from the shelter of the land, the more I thought how foolish I'd been to come along on this trip.

The pilot of the boat looked almost 60 but, perhaps because of a lifetime on the open sea in the hot sun, was very fit and strong.I was wondering how he managed to find his way.To me, it seemed difficult enough to navigate a boat without any electronic equipment even on a sunny day.

So at least we were safe.But this was not what we had come along for.A look at the other divers' faces suggested that now they were also doubtful that we'd ever get the chance to see a whale shark — these weather conditions were totally unsuitable for diving! None of us spoke.It seemed too much of an effort.Then suddenly the boatman stopped the engine.He said a few words in his own language to the diving instructor, who immediately jumped up from his seat and told us to get ready to dive.

When I jumped into the grey sea, I was sure I wouldn't see anything.But then ...there it was! An enormous whale shark, slowly swimming through the water.I couldn't believe my eyes — my first whale shark! I hardly dared breathe — I was afraid my streams of bubbles (气泡)  might scare the huge creature away.And the other divers were equally awed.Slowly we approached this huge animal.It was swimming quite slowly and we were able to swim with it, looking at the beautiful markings on its back.I was still holding my breath, telling myself that this huge fish was harmless! Then I reached out and touched it, stroking  (轻抚) its thick skin.It was amazing how this giant suddenly gained speed — we watched it as it swam away from us, and a few moments later it was gone.

1. While riding a tiny boat across the Indian Ocean, the author _____.

A．volunteered to act as a pilot

B．felt regret about his decision

C．enjoyed the beautiful sunshine

D．talked with other people happily

2. The author probably wanted to know how the boatman _____.

A．kept fit in his spare time

B．spent his life on the boat

C．navigated his boat at sea

D．communicated with others

3. What was the purpose of the author's trip?

A．To see a whale shark.

B．To learn how to dive.

C．To swim the Indian Ocean.

D．To save underwater creatures.

4. How did the author feel after he jumped into the sea?

A．Rather anxious and angry.

B．A little scared but excited.

C．Doubtful and disappointed.

D．A bit tired but later relaxed.