1 . There are often many assumptions made about young people aged 15 to 21, but only a few can be proved with hard evidence. Now, new research has been published to help people get a better idea of these _________ young people.

According to an international survey in 2016, young people in emerging (新兴的) economies like China and India have a _________sense of hope about the future, compared with those living in Europe, North America and Australia.

The survey was _________ between September and October by the Varkey Foundation, a UK-based non-profit organization. It surveyed 20,000 young people who were born between 1995 to 2001 in 20 countries. They were asked questions about their hopes, ambitions, personal views and community values.

It was found that 53 percent of those questioned in China thought the world was becoming a better place – the highest percentage among the countries surveyed. Some 93 percent of them also felt _________ for the future because of advances in technology, such as in medicine, renewable energy and computing.

Indian youth were the second most_________, with 49 percent taking a positive view of the world’s prospects.

_________, young people in France, Italy and Turkey had the most negative outlook on the future, with fears about extremism and the rise of global terrorism.

“At a time of nationalist and populist (民粹主义的) movements (such as Brexit (脱欧) or US President Donald Trump’s plans to build a wall along the US border) that focus on the _________between people, the evidence shows that young people share a _________ similar view of the world,” Vikas Pota, chief executive of the Varkey Foundation, told The Guardian.

“They are a generation that is deeply _________ about the future of the world,” he added.

As for young people in China, what they __________ most is the impact of climate change — some 82 percent of those who responded to the__________ said so.

Pota said it was __________ that young people in China were aware how serious the problem of climate change is.

“This is surely a hopeful development. The young population of China is more aware than anyone of the seriousness of the climate crisis – and will be__________ for change,” he told South China Morning Post.

The overall survey showed a sense of optimism in the __________ and opinions of the generation that is likely to shape the next few decades, according to Pota.

“They are more likely to travel, to migrate across borders and to forge (建立) friendships in other countries than any __________ generation,” he said. “Global citizenship is not dead. It could just be getting started.”

1.

A．undereducated

B．misunderstood

C．overestimated

D．well-disciplined

2.

A．greater

B．fainter

C．simpler

D．safer

3.

A．enforced

B．operated

C．demonstrated

D．conducted

4.

A．hopeful

B．fearful

C．concerned

D．eager

5.

A．fantastic

B．realistic

C．optimistic

D．enthusiastic

6.

A．As a result

B．Without doubt

C．Beyond that

D．In contrast

7.

A．exchanges

B．agreements

C．differences

D．similarities

8.

A．routinely

B．traditionally

C．surprisingly

D．slightly

9.

A．pessimistic

B．optimistic

C．excited

D．passionate

10.

A．fear

B．suffer

C．consider

D．expect

11.

A．question

B．survey

C．attitude

D．movement

12.

A．amazing

B．encouraging

C．depressing

D．puzzling

13.

A．preparing

B．looking

C．pressing

D．waiting

14.

A．attitudes

B．emotions

C．dreams

D．interests

15.

A．original

B．present

C．next

D．previous

2 . Economists have long tried to calculate the value of unpaid housework. In terms of inputs and outputs, the_______of a stay-at-home parent can easily be overlooked, hidden in the _______ of freshly ironed shirts and the contents of a full belly. The courts, too, have tried their hand at putting a price on housework.

Last month China was shocked when a court ordered a man to pay his wife $7,700 for housework during their live-year marriage. The wife, known as Ms Wang, told a judge in Beijing that she "looked after the child and managed the household _______ while her husband did not care about or participate in any other household affairs besides going to work". On average, Chinese women spend four hours a day on housework, compared with about an hour and a half for men.

The court ruling was widely _______. But on Weibo many users were disappointed with the amount _______ to Ms Wang. One user commented: "Women should never be stay-at-home wives. When you divorce, you are left with nothing whatsoever." The government has adopted policies aimed at advancing co-parenting and protecting women's rights. Most provinces, for example, have in recent years introduced _______ leave for new fathers. But many people argue that it is too short—an average of just two weeks—to _______ new mothers, who receive a minimum of 98 days, from child care.

In the West, where the starting principle is an equal split of the couple's assets on divorce, claims for extra compensation are _______ by the courts. Housework is seen as equivalent to financial contributions, so neither spouse _______ financially by doing more cooking and ironing than their partner.

In Britain, the concept of compensation fell out of use for over a decade before resurfacing in 2020, bringing the question of pay for housework into the ________. Last year a woman was compensated and received £400,000 ($520,000) for giving up her legal career to focus on the family. When her marriage broke down and the couple's assets were divided, she asked for an additional sum to ________ the sacrifice she had made by cutting her career short. The judges agreed, but only because she was already a high earner and could prove she had been on track to become one of her firm's leading money makers. She was compensated not for the housework, but her forgone legal career. So Ms Wang's claim for extra compensation would probably have failed anywhere in Europe. But she may never have felt the need to make it ________.

Many women have no option but to leave the workforce when they start a family—the cost of child care might ________ the benefits of a second salary, particularly if working hours and earnings are reduced to ________ family responsibilities. Legal and financial recognition of unpaid domestic work would change this calculation. But it would be simpler (and fairer) to share domestic burdens more evenly. More important than writing new rules about compensation for housework is strengthening existing ones that ________ shared parental leave. With both spouses more involved in parenting, family responsibilities can be shared. Why wait until the divorce to quibble over who did the housework?

1.

A．accusations

B．ambitions

C．contributions

D．exclamations

2.

A．fabrics

B．folds

C．packages

D．pockets

3.

A．appliances

B．chores

C．conflicts

D．expenses

4.

A．approved

B．celebrated

C．circulated

D．questioned

5.

A．awarded

B．channeled

C．furnished

D．transferred

6.

A．additional

B．compulsory

C．free

D．paid

7.

A．free

B．help

C．relieve

D．suspend

8.

A．considered

B．encouraged

C．favored

D．rejected

9.

A．gives out

B．loses out

C．misses out

D．wears out

10.

A．forum

B．horizon

C．lens

D．spotlight

11.

A．admit

B．recall

C．reflect

D．signal

12.

A．at first glance

B．for the first time

C．first of all

D．in the first place

13.

A．counter

B．eliminate

C．outweigh

D．replace

14.

A．accommodate

B．escape

C．fortify

D．shift

15.

A．check

B．distinguish

C．promote

D．publicize

3 . “Chinese tourists have overtaken (超过) Germans as the world’s biggest-spending travelers after a decade of rapid growth in the number of Chinese vacationing abroad,” the United Nations World Tourism Organization said.

Chinese tourists, known for travelling in organized tours and ________ luxury fashion abroad, spent $102 billion on foreign trips last year, 41 percent more than the year before, ________ deep-pocketed travelers from Germany and the United States.

Tourists from other fast-developing economies with a growing middle class, such as Russia and Brazil, also ________ spending in 2012. In decline-hit Europe, however, French and Italian tourists controlled their holiday ________.

“The impressive growth of tourism spending from China and Russia reflects the ________ into the tourism market of more middle classes from these countries,” said Taleb Rifai, secretary-general of the UN World Tourism Organization, which is based in Madrid.

The German Travel Association said it was to be expected that the Chinese tourists would ________ overtake Germans in spending, given that the country had more ________ than North America, Russia, and Europe put together.

“But that they have overtaken us already is ________,” said Juergen Buechy, president of the German Travel Association.

“The Chinese make more long-distance trips than Germans, who ________ go to Mediterranean (地中海) destinations, meaning that the ________ vacation spending per holiday was greater,” he added.

China is the world’s fastest-growing tourist-source market, ________ higher spendable incomes in the world’s second-largest economy and looser foreign travel restrictions.

Chinese tourists made 83 million ________ trips in 2012, compared with 10 million in 2000.

“Hotels, tour companies, restaurants and even taxi drivers will need to improve ________ of Chinese cooking, culture and language if they are to ________ them away from favourite destinations such as Thailand and the Maldives,” European tourism officials have said.

Other countries in the top 10 posted growth in travel spending. ________, only Russia came close to China’s huge growth, with a 32 percent increase in vacation budgets (预算).

1.

A．starting

B．buying

C．showing

D．designing

2.

A．costing

B．passing

C．beating

D．controlling

3.

A．increased

B．limited

C．postponed

D．checked

4.

A．lengths

B．budgets

C．destinations

D．plans

5.

A．inquiry

B．investigation

C．research

D．entry

6.

A．eventually

B．secretly

C．suddenly

D．normally

7.

A．businessmen

B．housewives

C．residents

D．immigrants

8.

A．exciting

B．frightening

C．amazing

D．interesting

9.

A．usually

B．reluctantly

C．purposefully

D．ideally

10.

A．public

B．additional

C．free

D．average

11.

A．in spite of

B．thanks to

C．except for

D．in addition to

12.

A．family

B．business

C．exploratory

D．foreign

13.

A．knowledge

B．appreciation

C．criticism

D．ability

14.

A．tear

B．attract

C．drive

D．cheat

15.

A．Otherwise

B．Therefore

C．Besides

D．However

4 . It was a long way up the humble zipper (拉链) to become the mechanical wonder that has kept our lives “together” in many ways. The zipper had passed through the hands of several gifted inventors, though none _________ the general public to accept the zipper as part of everyday life. It was the magazine and fashion industry that made zipper the popular item it is today.

The story began when Elias Howe, inventor of the sewing machine, received a patent (专利) in 1851 for an “Automatic, Continuous Clothing Closure.” However, it didn’t go much further beyond that simple _________ description.

Perhaps it was the success of the sewing machine, that stopped Elias from _________ marketing his clothing closure system. As a result, Howe missed his chance to become the _________ “Father of the Zip.”

Forty-four years later, inventor Whitcomb Judson marketed a “Clasp Locker” device _________ to the system described in the 1851 Howe patent. Being first to market, Whitcomb got _________ for being the “inventor of the zipper.” The clasp locker was released at the 1893 Chicago world’s Fair by his universal fastener (扣件) company and was met with little _________ success. Not many products were sold at that time.

It was an electrical engineer named Gideon Sundback who helped make the zipper the hit it is today.

_________ hired to work for the Universal Fastener Company as an ordinary employee, Sundback relied on his excellent design skills to rise to the position as head designer. When Sunback’s wife died in 1911, the sad husband busied himself at the design table focusing on the _________ of the fastener. In December of 1913, he came up with what would become the __________ zipper. __________, it still took 20 more years to persuade the fashion industry to seriously promote the new closure on clothing.

In the 1930s, a sales campaign began for children’s clothing featuring zippers. The campaign advertised zippers as a way to promote __________ in young children as the devices made it possible for them lo dress by themselves. And Esquire magazine declared the zipper the “Newest Tailoring Idea for Men.” saying it would __________ “the possibility of unintentional and embarrassing dressing moments.”

Today the zipper is everywhere and is used in clothing, luggage, leather goods and __________ other objects. Thousands of zipper miles are produced daily to meet the needs of consumers, __________ the early efforts of the many famous zipper inventors and developers.

1.

A．convinced

B．advised

C．permitted

D．invited

2.

A．manufacturer

B．function

C．price

D．material

3.

A．imagining

B．delaying

C．pursuing

D．rewarding

4.

A．recognized

B．upgraded

C．interpreted

D．pretended

5.

A．agreeable

B．familiar

C．similar

D．inferior

6.

A．edition

B．credit

C．method

D．wealth

7.

A．commercial

B．private

C．domestic

D．potential

8.

A．Purposefully

B．Generally

C．Originally

D．Decidedly

9.

A．brand

B．assessment

C．packing

D．improvement

10.

A．profitable

B．scarce

C．modern

D．noticeable

11.

A．Moreover

B．For example

C．However

D．On the contrary

12.

A．self-awareness

B．self-reliance

C．self-defense

D．self-guidance

13.

A．avoid

B．worsen

C．balance

D．personalize

14.

A．mechanical

B．countless

C．reliable

D．portable

15.

A．in name of

B．thanks to

C．in addition to

D．in case of

5 . One of the roles of the Nobel Prize for literature is to shine a light on someone who has been less visible than they deserve. That role was _______ this year in the announcement of Abdulrazak Gurnah as winner.

Unlike previous popular recipients living in Britain, he is not a _______. He could, as he said after the announcement, have reached more readers, but his publications _______ to grant him that. His publisher felt sorry for the fact that he “is one of the greatest living African writers; yet no one has ever _______ him,” but with this he did not agree: “I didn’t think I was ignored.”

There is a(n) _______ , here, that has to do with who is doing the looking, and what counts as officially being noticed. There is also a point of _______: calling Gurnah an African writer. In fact, while that seems to broaden horizons, it narrows and distances what he is doing. Gurnah was born in Zanzibar, and left for Britain when he was 18, _______ regional conflicts for what he hoped would be calmer waters, which turned out to be stronger dark current. He has lived in Britain ever since.

He began and stuck to writing to _______, to himself, of the shock -- of racism, rejection, poverty and loneliness. His ten novels return to it _______, which begins in 1996’s Admiring Silence. His work exists because of Britain as well as Zanzibar; it may ________ both or wholly neither. It arrives out of a(n) ________ of English literature (Gurnah is professor of literature at the University of Kent), and his first language, the rhythms and stories of Islam.

________, many of the UK's thirteen Nobel-winning writers were born elsewhere as by 2019, 14% of the UK’s population were born abroad. People might also be astonished at how many of those countries were once part of the British empire. Gurnah has spoken of how much of the world is still processing the wounds that colonialism ________, especially the experience of “losing your place in the world”-- where place is not just ________, but also belonging, status and culture.

In this sense, Gurnah’s work, which ________ those who might not have been remembered in history--shopkeeper, homemakers, students and refugees, could not be more British. But, more importantly, it could not be more universal.

1.

A．assumed

B．fulfilled

C．interpreted

D．handled

2.

A．household name

B．black horse

C．new face

D．walking dictionary

3.

A．demanded

B．tended

C．qualified

D．failed

4.

A．cast doubt on

B．shown sympathy for

C．taken any notice of

D．put trust in

5.

A．bridge

B．gulf

C．opposition

D．association

6.

A．illustration

B．definition

C．navigation

D．accusation

7.

A．prizing

B．initiating

C．fighting

D．escaping

8.

A．take care

B．take charge

C．make sense

D．make sure

9.

A．repeatedly

B．periodically

C．scarcely

D．accidentally

10.

A．bother with

B．contribute to

C．consist of

D．admit to

11.

A．spite

B．knowledge

C．empathy

D．necessity

12.

A．Obviously

B．Naturally

C．Consequently

D．Strikingly

13.

A．imposed

B．healed

C．received

D．examined

14.

A．psychological

B．geographical

C．ideological

D．demographical

15.

A．discounts

B．awards

C．spotlights

D．evaluates

6 . Traditionally uniforms were manufactured to protect the worker. When they were first designed, it is also likely that all uniforms made symbolic sense---those for the military, for example, were at first_________to terrify the enemy; other uniforms indicated a distinction in ___________---chefs wore white because they worked with flour, but the main chef wore a black hat to show he inspected and supervised.

The last 30 years, however, have seen an increasing__________on their role in mirroring the image of an organization and in uniting the workforce, particularly in “customer facing” industries. From uniforms and workwear has appeared “___________clothing”. “The people you employ are your ambassadors，” says Peter Griffin, managing director of a major retailer in the UK.

“What they say, how they look, and how they behave is of vital importance.” From being a simple means of _______ who is a member of staff, the uniform is emerging as a new channel of marketing communication.

Truly effective marketing through___________images such as uniforms is a subtle art, however. How we look sends all sorts of powerful messages to other people. Dark colours give a sense of _________while lighter colour shades suggest people are approachable. Certain dress style creates a sense of conservatism(守旧)，while others a sense of _________to new ideas. If the company is selling quality, then it must have quality uniforms. If it is selling style, its uniforms must be stylish. If it wants to appear_________, everybody can’t look exactly the same.

But turning corporate philosophies into the right combination of colour, style, degree of branding and uniformity is not always _________. According to Company Clothing magazine, there are 1,000 companies supplying the workwear and corporate clothing market. Of these, 22 ________ for 85% of the total sales---￡380 million in 1994.

A successful uniform needs to _________two key sets of needs. On one hand, no uniform will work if staff feel uncomfortable or ugly. On the other hand, it is ________if the look doesn’t express the business’s marketing strategy. The greatest challenge in this respect is time. When it comes to human awareness, first impression counts. Customers will assess the way staff look in just a few seconds, and that few seconds will_________their attitudes from then on. Those few seconds can be so important that big companies are prepared to ________years, and millions of pounds, getting them right.

1.

A．intended

B．pretended

C．extended

D．attended

2.

A．age

B．gender

C．education

D．status

3.

A．preference

B．argument

C．interest

D．emphasis

4.

A．educational

B．political

C．corporate

D．academic

5.

A．checking

B．identifying

C．operating

D．introducing

6.

A．studio

B．audio

C．visual

D．factual

7.

A．clarity

B．authority

C．responsibility

D．possibility

8.

A．kindness

B．safeness

C．quickness

D．openness

9.

A．ambitious

B．serious

C．creative

D．similar

10.

A．easy

B．wrong

C．difficult

D．tough

11.

A．exchange

B．call

C．stand

D．account

12.

A．establish

B．balance

C．neglect

D．quit

13.

A．pointless

B．important

C．useful

D．careless

14.

A．keep

B．shape

C．draw

D．value

15.

A．develop

B．take

C．cost

D．spend

7 . Never in recorded history has a language been as widely spoken as English is today. The reason why millions are learning it is simple: it is the language of international business and,     _______, the key to prosperity.

David Graddol, the author of English Next, says it is _______ to view the story of English simply as success for its native speakers in North America, Britain and Ireland, and Australasia — but that would be a mistake. Global English has entered a more complex stage, changing in ways that the English-speaking countries cannot control and might not _______.

An important question one might ask is: whose English will it be in the future? Non-native speakers now _______ native English speakers by three to one. The majority of encounters in English today take place between non-native speakers. According to David Graddol, many business meetings held in English appear to run more smoothly when no native English speakers are _______. This is because native speakers are often poor at ensuring that they are understood in international discussions. They tend to think they need to avoid longer Latin-based words, but in fact _______ problems are more often caused by their use of idioms, metaphors, phrasal verbs, etc.

Professor Barbara Seidlhofer, Professor of English and Applied Linguistic at the University of Vienna, records and transcribes spoken English interactions between speakers of the language around the world. She says her team has noticed that non-native speakers are _______ standard English grammar in several ways. Even the most experienced speakers sometimes omit the “s” in the third person singular. Many omit definite and indefinite articles where they are _______ in standard English, or put them in where standard English does not use them. Nouns that are not plural in native-speaker English are used as plurals by non-native speakers (e.g, “informations,” “knowledges,” “advices”). Other variations include “make a discussion,” “discuss about something,” or “phone to somebody.” Many native English speakers will insist these are just _______. “Knowledges” and “phone to somebody” are simply wrong. Many non-native speakers who teach English around the world would __________. But language changes, and so do concepts of grammatical __________.

Those who insist on standard English grammar remain in a(n) __________ position. Academics who want their work published in international journals have to obey the grammatical rules followed by native English-speaking elites (精英).

But spoken English is another matter. Why should non-native speakers bother with what native speakers regard as correct? Their main aim, __________, is to be understood by one another, and in most cases there is no native speaker present.

Professor Seidlhofer says, “I think that what we are looking at is the __________ of a new international attitude, the recognition and awareness that in many international contexts non-native speakers do not need to speak like native speakers, to compare themselves to them, and thus always feel ‘__________’.”

1.

A．however

B．therefore

C．otherwise

D．instead

2.

A．relieving

B．shocking

C．tempting

D．disappointing

3.

A．accept

B．oppose

C．mind

D．doubt

4.

A．outnumber

B．overlook

C．upgrade

D．underestimate

5.

A．attentive

B．agreeable

C．energetic

D．present

6.

A．diagnosis

B．comprehension

C．disturbance

D．concentration

7.

A．creating

B．improving

C．varying

D．obeying

8.

A．edited

B．neglected

C．avoided

D．required

9.

A．mistakes

B．coincidences

C．exceptions

D．excuses

10.

A．fear

B．object

C．agree

D．fight

11.

A．ignorance

B．evolution

C．correctness

D．guidance

12.

A．honored

B．mysterious

C．falling

D．powerful

13.

A．by comparison

B．after all

C．on purpose

D．in reality

14.

A．disappearance

B．emergence

C．criticism

D．evaluation

15.

A．less good

B．less lonely

C．more alive

D．more adapted

8 . Adolescents are generally more likely to lean into risk and uncertainty than children or adults — and that’s a good thing.

Recent research ________ adolescent risk taking helps us understand why we’re more likely to ________ things that feel uncertain or scary during these years, and why these risks are so important to learning and development. It also provides insights into how this desire for exciting experiences can promote healthy versions of risk taking that adults can support.

Adolescence is particularly filled with uncertainty, as young people figure out who they are in the ________ of shifting social landscapes, new responsibilities, and more challenging schoolwork.

Research has shown that adolescents are more willing than adults to enjoy uncertainty and explore situations in which there is a potential for a reward(in whatever form), but the outcome is not assured. This ________ for uncertain outcomes is essential to learning and development during adolescence.

Meanwhile, our brains ________ significant changes during adolescence, adding new connections and strengthening frequently used pathways in response to experience. One of the ways the brain responds to experiences that matter is through dopamine. Dopamine is involved in how the brain processes ________ , but it’s not just a “feel good” chemical. Every time we do something with an uncertain outcome — taking a “risk” — increased dopamine is released. This release   ________ other parts of the brain that the activity or situation is new and deserves attention. This is a kind of amplified learning that’s actively shaping the connections between neural systems in our brains.

Because adolescent brains release more dopamine compared to children or adults, adolescents are more sensitive to the rewards and their reward system is more ________ by risks which tends to make young people more interested in exploring.

Risk taking doesn’t take place in a vacuum. Research has shown that when ________ are in the room, or if adolescents even think they may be observed from another room or online, they are more likely to take risks, and the reward response from risk-taking behavior become stronger. It’s not so much that friends ________ each other to do things risky, but that the rewarding feelings are more ________ when their friends are present.

Adults often ________ peers with more dangerous risk-taking behavior. ________ , peers can also motivate youth to take positive risks, engaging in environmental campaigns, or standing up for the ________ that they are devoted to happen in peer contexts. Adults should know that adolescents can benefit from healthy social opportunities to try new things, without knowing for sure how they will ________ .

1.

A．looking at

B．looking up

C．looking from

D．looking over

2.

A．avoid

B．ensure

C．achieve

D．approach

3.

A．contest

B．context

C．text

D．test

4.

A．disgust

B．competition

C．tolerance

D．adaption

5.

A．go through

B．go over

C．go in for

D．go after

6.

A．information

B．problems

C．rewards

D．reactions

7.

A．relaxes

B．breeds

C．fills

D．alerts

8.

A．excited

B．organized

C．complicated

D．adopted

9.

A．parents

B．peers

C．teachers

D．relatives

10.

A．force

B．pressure

C．instruct

D．oblige

11.

A．inviting

B．interactive

C．beneficial

D．intense

12.

A．associate

B．charge

C．appreciate

D．combine

13.

A．By comparison

B．In other words

C．On the contrary

D．Worse still

14.

A．course

B．condition

C．cause

D．caution

15.

A．turn out

B．put out

C．give out

D．bring out

9 . Switzerland is surrounded by three of Europe’s major—and most populous—countries: France, Germany and Italy. For thousands of years, the region has been a busy trade ________, both from east to west as well as from north, to south. Today, Switzerland is an indispensable part of the European transport network and ________ a superb motorway and railway infrastructure. Five international airports in Zurich, Geneva. Basel. Bern and Lugano offer direct ________ to destinations around the world.

Switzerland is a popular place to do business, a center of education and a favorite travel destination. At the heart of this success story lies a stable political system. The county has not gone through any major political changes since the foundation of the federal state inn 1848. This has created space for economic, social and artistic development. Federalism, the successful integration of different cultures, and the mechanisms of direct democracy are all means to increase the ________ of its citizens and residents. This process of forming unity out of ________ has often been seen as exemplary. And, of course, the country is small and ________, which also contributes to the high quality of life in Switzerland.

Political stability is also ________ in an economic system that manages to balance a free market economy with social responsibility.________ are very rare in Switzerland.________ its deeply rooted work ethic and high educational standards, this social harmony represents one of Switzerland’s key advantages as a place to do business and has made a major contribution to its economic development.

Stability, a well-developed sense of service and discretion, and a strong currency have turned Switzerland into a leading financial center. From a historical ________, the fact that the county was not involved in the two world wars has contributed to this development. It is a country with ________ natural resources, so the strength of its import industry has also played a significant part. Not being a member of the EU. Switzerland is also not part of the so-called Eurozone. For this reason, the use of the euro in everyday life is limited to Switzerland’s border and tourist regions.

In terms of income, assets and per capita gross national product. Switzerland ranks among the top in the world.

The ________ excellent standard of living is also based on the high level of education and corresponding work ethic.________, people work 42 hours per week. Taxes are comparatively low, both for business and for businesses and for individuals. Corporate taxation as well as the rate of value added tax are among the lowest that can be found anywhere in the world.

All these factors make Switzerland a safe country with a low crime rate. The Swiss ________ being tidy and clean, which is why recycling is popular .________ to this a rich cultural variety and beautiful scenery, and you get a quality of life that is hard to beat.

1.

A．business

B．partner

C．route

D．channel

2.

A．boasts

B．brags

C．occupies

D．claims

3.

A．networks

B．links

C．planes

D．tourBys

4.

A．welfare

B．consciousness

C．participation

D．obligation

5.

A．complication

B．diversity

C．liberation

D．simplicity

6.

A．manageable

B．negligible

C．expandable

D．exhaustible

7.

A．undermined

B．eliminated

C．underrated

D．expressed

8.

A．Crimes

B．Strikes

C．Accidents

D．Appeals

9.

A．Thanks to

B．Contrary to

C．In combination with

D．In case of

10.

A．argument

B．perspective

C．attitude

D．stance

11.

A．few

B．boundless

C．abundant

D．nonexistent

12.

A．exceeding

B．variable

C．resulting

D．unbelievable

13.

A．By contrast

B．To sum up

C．As a rule

D．Put differently

14.

A．value

B．deny

C．consider

D．suspect

15.

A．Tie

B．Contribute

C．Add

D．Adjust

10 . We suppose it makes sense that, after humans, connected dogs are the next big thing. Link AKC, backed by the American Kennel Club (hence the AKC), has just announced a smart collar _______to give dog owners more information about their pet’s well-being.

The collar does a few different things, from tracking your dogs’ location to _______ its comfort. The collar’s built-in GPS means you’ll be able to keep an eye on your pup’s _______ at all time, and, when paired with the base station, even set up a “_______ fence” that will alert you if the dog starts wandering astray (迷路). There’s also a handy remote-controlled light _______ you need to go out in the dark in search of your dog companion.

Like any wearable worth its salt (名副其实), the collar also _______ as an activity tracker. The Link AKC collar will let owners track their dogs’ activity levels and see whether it’s getting the right amount of exercise each day, taking into _______ its breed, age and size.

One of the best features, we think, is the temperature sensor that will _______ you if your dog is in an environment that’s too hot or cold. Considering the number of foolish people who still leave dogs in hot cars _______ all common sense and endless public service announcements (seriously, just don’t do it, yeah), this could ________ save some lives.

Finally, the collar has a ________ called “Adventures” that will let you create a “scrapbook” of memories with your dog by pushing a button, which you can then ________ on social media. We assume this will be more like a Facebook check-in with a photo, and that it won’t be uploading a montage of you and your dog playing in the forest to Starship’s “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now”— but we secretly hope for the latter.

A lot of ________ is being put on how the collar looks too, and we can see why; somehow the market for wearable dog tech has already nailed fashion better than the human one.

The collar will cost $199, however you’ll also need to ________ up for a monthly membership in order to use the device, and plans start at $6.95 with a two-year commitment. We assume that might put some people off.

The collar will be shipping by December 28, the company says, however right now it can only be ordered to the US. You can ________ one today from the website, and we’ll let you know if we get word on UK pricing and availability.

1.

A．enabled

B．designed

C．faced

D．inspected

2.

A．monitoring

B．committing

C．concerning

D．avoiding

3.

A．reality

B．reach

C．location

D．experiment

4.

A．magic

B．virtual

C．realistic

D．powerful

5.

A．for sure

B．in case

C．so that

D．in spite of

6.

A．appears

B．distinguishes

C．manufactures

D．functions

7.

A．account

B．step

C．concern

D．thrill

8.

A．delight

B．criticize

C．alert

D．inspect

9.

A．thanks to

B．due to

C．owing to

D．despite

10.

A．effectively

B．harmlessly

C．potentially

D．currently

11.

A．performance

B．feature

C．condition

D．technology

12.

A．share

B．solve

C．create

D．measure

13.

A．emphasis

B．effect

C．foundation

D．consideration

14.

A．enter

B．add

C．sign

D．enroll

15.

A．preserve

B．conserve

C．maintain

D．reserve