1 . I’ve been a volunteer in the Macmillan@Glasgow Libraries programme for just over a year. I got involved because I was looking for something to volunteer for after I retired from work. I thought being a Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Volunteer might be a good way to do that by using some of the skills I learned at work.
At one time, I felt I made a real difference when a lady come to use the service. She was very upset, but she was not the person with cancer. It was her partner. She had lots of things on her mind. We, together with a counselor, had a chat about her to help deal with all the emotions she felt. We knew we could arrange something, so we discussed with her what could be done for her family. She was relieved that we could get something arranged for her and liked the fact that we managed to get the ball rolling during her visit.
The good thing about having the services in the library is that the environment is non-clinical and therefore more relaxing than the hospital or doctor’s surgery. The team in the library are not medically trained. That means we do not use big words or medical terms very often.
It’s great that the people who volunteer all work well together, helping each other to get a solution for people who come in. It’s good to have to team at the other end of the phone whenever we get something unusual. It is a pleasure to be able to help as a volunteer.
1. What can we infer about the author?| A．He is a retired doctor. |
| B．He is volunteering in a hospital. |
| C．He is a counselor in cancer. |
| D．He has fought against cancer before. |
| A．Because she was affected by cancer. |
| B．Because her husband suffered from cancer. |
| C．Because she didn’t know how to treat cancer. |
| D．Because she had a poor relation with her husband. |
| A．They do well in teamwork. | B．They receive medical training. |
| C．They all waited to be helped. | D．They often meet unusual things. |
| A．To call on readers to do voluntary work. |
| B．To show us how to help those in trouble. |
| C．To share his experiences as a volunteer. |
| D．To teach us how to take care of cancer patients. |
2 . Whether you want to impress a new teacher, or just chat with a new acquaintance, knowing how to start a conversation can help you feel more comfortable and confident.
No matter what the situation is, you can find something positive to say. Comment on the weather, the food, or the event itself. Saying something as simple as you hope your conversation partner has a good time also is a good way to get a conversation rolling. People tend to respond better to a positive subject rather than a negative one. Staying positive also helps put others at ease.
It can be difficult to try to talk to someone when it feels that you have little in common. In these situations, getting the other person to talk about his or her own interests, work, or expertise can be a useful way.
Learning how to start a conversation is an important skill that can help you build social connections. It can be difficult initially, particularly if you struggle with shyness or social anxiety.
| A．If you put the skills into practice |
| B．Instead of pushing your fears away |
| C．Everyone feels some level of fear in social situations |
| D．Eye contact will make your partner feel embarrassed |
| E．Try to think of every interaction as a practice session |
| F．People often enjoy talking about things they are passionate about |
| G．People will be more interested in continuing a conversation with you |
3 . From self-driving cars to carebots (care+robots) for elderly people, rapid development in technology has long represented a potential threat to many jobs normally performed by people. But experts now believe that almost 50 percent of occupations existing today will be completely unnecessary by 2025 as artificial intelligence continues to change businesses.
“The next fifteen years will see a revolution in how we work, and a revolution will necessarily take place in how we plan and think about workplaces,” said Peter Andrew, Director of Workplace Strategy for CBRE Asia Pacific.
A growing number of jobs in the future will require creative intelligence, social skills and the ability to use artificial intelligence.
The report is based on interviews with 200 experts, business leaders and young people from Asia Pacific, Europe and North America. It shows that in the US technology already destroys more jobs than it creates.
But the report states: “Losing occupations does not necessarily mean losing jobs — just changing what people do.” Growth in new jobs could occur as much, according to the research.
“The growth of 20 to 40 person companies that have the speed and technological know-how will directly challenge big companies,” it states.
A report by Pew Research found 52 percent of experts in artificial intelligence and robotics were optimistic about the future and believed there would still be enough jobs in the next few years. The optimists pictured “a future in which robots do not take the place of more jobs than they create,” according to Aaron Smith, the report's co-author.
“Technology will continue to affect jobs, but more jobs seem likely to be created. Although there have always been unemployed people, when we reached a few billion people there were billions of jobs. There is no shortage of things that need to be done and that will not change,” Microsoft's Jonathan Grudin told researchers.
1. We can infer from the text that in the future ________.| A．people will face many difficulties |
| B．people will take up more creative jobs |
| C．artificial intelligence will threaten people's lives |
| D．most jobs will be done in traditional workplaces |
| A．people won't necessarily lose jobs |
| B．big companies will face fewer challenges |
| C．small companies will win against big companies |
| D．most people will become interested in technology |
| A．Mixed. | B．Worried. |
| C．Doubtful. | D．Optimistic. |
| A．there will be enough jobs for people |
| B．things will change a lot in a few years |
| C．many people will become unemployed |
| D．technology will totally change future jobs |
4 . 4-Day Classic Beijing Tour
The 4-day classic Beijing tour is designed for tourists who come to visit China for the first time. It covers the most popular and typical places in Beijing, fully displaying the scenery, culture, history, local lifestyles and features, food and drinks, business, etc. to you.
Day 1: Arrival in Beijing
Your guide meets you at Beijing Capital International Airport, and helps you check in at your hotel.
Enjoy Peking duck as welcome dinner.
Accommodation: Downtown Beijing
Day 2: The Great Wall & the Summer Palace
Start your day at the most famous part of the Great Wall, the Badaling Great Wall. Leave the downtown for the Great Wall at 8 am. Since it is a long drive to the Great Wall (about 2 hours' riding), have a break at the Beijing Bona Jade Museum on the way. Lunch will be enjoyed in a local restaurant. In the early afternoon come back to the city and have a sightseeing (观光) tour of the Summer Palace.
Suggested activity: Beijing opera shows (Liyuan Theatre, 19:30-20:30 every evening)
Accommodation: Downtown Beijing
Day 3: Beijing city sightseeing & the local experience
Your guide meets you at the hotel at 8 am and set out for the day's touring: Tian'anmen Square and the Forbidden City.
After visiting the two sites, have a break and get ready for lunch.
Hutong visit: see some traditional arts of the old Beijing, such as paper cutting and kite making, and visit a local family.
Accommodation: Downtown Beijing
Day 4: Beijing Olympic sites
Visit the Olympic sites: the Bird's Nest, the Water Cube and the Olympic Green, showing the fast developing modern China. Enjoy some free time after visiting the sites.
After lunch, it is shopping time and then the tour is over.
1. Whom is this advertisement aimed at?| A．Experts who study history and cities. |
| B．People who are interested in touring. |
| C．Kids who were born in other cities. |
| D．Foreigners who are new to China. |
| A．Visit the Summer Palace on the first day. |
| B．Go to Liyuan Theatre in the evening. |
| C．Go sightseeing in a Beijing hutong. |
| D．Live and eat downtown in Beijing. |
| A．Day 1. | B．Day 2. | C．Day 3. | D．Day 4. |
5 . Like many couples, Sheila and David Hoffman enjoy travelling. Since 2000, they’ve often visited relatives in Australia and enjoyed holidays in many European countries including France, Germany, Italy, and Greece. And they’ve toured around America, but they haven’t once stayed in a hotel. The Hoffmans are part of a growing number of people who use their home as a way to have inexpensive holidays. So far, they’ve swapped their three-bedroom London home with people who want to stay there for anything from a week to two months.
In a home swap, you offer your house as a place to stay and anyone who’s interested gets in touch. If your dates and requirements fit, then you make a deal to exchange houses for an agreed time. The exchange can involve more than just a place to stay — some homeowners also exchange cars and others will arrange for a friend or neighbour to be on call in case of emergencies. Some exchangers will even organise restaurant bookings and trips.
Home swaps have existed in Britain on an organised basis for decades but they really took off with the arrival of the Internet. Previously, the process was long and drawn-out, involving letter exchange and expensive international calls to complete arrangements. Now, it can all be done with a few clicks. Most home-exchangers register (注册) with a specialist home-exchange company that deals with the organisation.
More people are using their homes as a way to enjoy holidays at home as well as abroad. Most of them choose to follow the trend because they are interested in how natives lead their lives. When you live in a typical home rather than a hotel, it’s almost like an exchange of lifestyles. It’s also a cheap way to travel making sure you won’t run short of money on your journey.
1. Where do Sheila and David Hoffman live?| A．In Australia. | B．In the US. | C．In the UK. | D．In France. |
| A．Smart. | B．Strict. | C．Humorous. | D．Thoughtful. |
| A．It caused many problems. | B．It saved a lot of time. |
| C．It was well-organised. | D．It was complicated. |
| A．They hope to experience life as the locals. |
| B．They are not used to staying in hotels. |
| C．They do not want to leave their houses unused. |
| D．They need to earn money from exchanging their homes. |
6 . When you're feeling low or even a little depressed, what do you want to do? The answer for most of us is not very much. Our natural response to a bad mood is to rest with our comfort of choice and hibernate (蛰伏) a bit.
But according to new science, the best way to fight off the depression is to force yourself to get out there and do something new. You might have to drag yourself off the sofa, but this research shows you'll be happier for the effort.
For the study, the research followed the daily movements of 122 study subjects, using the location-tracking features of their phones for three to four months. They also sent subjects regular text messages asking them to report on their mood.
The scientists discovered the more people visited new and different locations, the happier they felt both that day and the next. Variety and novelty seem to lift our mood. “We also find that if we feel better today, we're likely to move around and have more novel experiences and have more experiential diversity the following day," study coauthor and NYU psychology professor Catherine Hartley said.
"These results suggest a reciprocal link between the novel and diverse experiences we have during our daily exploration of our physical environments and our subjective sense of well-being." Hartley commented.
This isn't the first time science has linked new experiences with positive brain benefits. Previous studies have shown that new and challenging experiences light up learning centers in the brain. Just as experience has probably taught you, you learn a lot faster when you get outside your comfort zone. If you've been stuck at home a lot lately, it's no shock that you feel lazy. Your brain is missing out on the novelty and exploration it desires. The good news is, if you can force yourself to do something new, you'll feel you can grow smarter.
1. According to new science, what should we do to lift our spirits?| A．Explore the outside world | B．Have a complete rest |
| C．Choose to enjoy our hobbies | D．Stay in the comfort zone |
| A．By phoning the subjects. |
| B．By analyzing the subjects' locations. |
| C．By referring to previous relevant studies. |
| D．By tracking the subjects' movements and moods. |
| A．strong but temporary | B．weak and indirect |
| C．beneficial to each other | D．suitable for each other |
| A．Novelty improves learning effectiveness. |
| B．It's harmful to get stuck at home too long. |
| C．Your brain desires novelty and exploration. |
| D．Exploration is linked with positive emotions. |
7 . I began to grow up that winter night when my parents and I were returning from my aunt’s house, and my mother said that we might soon be leaving for America. We were on the bus then. I was crying, and some people on the bus were turning around to look at me. I remember that I could not bear the thought of never hearing again the radio program for school children to which I listened every morning.
I do not remember myself crying for this reason again. In fact, I think I cried very little when I was saying goodbye to my friends and relatives. When we were leaving I thought about all the places I was going to see—the strange and magical places I had known only from books and pictures. The country I was leaving and never to come back was hardly in my head then.
The four years that followed taught me the importance of optimism(乐观), but the idea did not come to me at once. For the first two years in New York I was really lost—having to study in three schools as a result of family moves. I did not quite know what I was or what I should be. Mother remarried, and things became even more complex for me. Some time passed before my stepfather(继父)and I got used to each other. I was often sad, and saw no end to “the hard times.”
My responsibilities in the family increased a lot since I knew English better than everyone else at home. I wrote letters, filled out forms, translated at interviews with immigration officers(移民局官员), took my grandparents to the doctor and translated there, and even discussed telephone bills with company representatives.
From my experiences I have learned one important rule: Almost all common troubles go away at last! Something good is certain to happen in the end when you do not give up, and just wait a little! I believe that my life will turn out all right, even though it will not be that easy.
1. How did the author get to know America?| A．From radio programs | B．From books and pictures |
| C．From her mother | D．From her relatives |
| A．often lost her way | B．did not think about her future |
| C．studied in three different schools | D．got on well with her stepfather |
| A．She worked as a translator. | B．She attended a lot of job interviews. |
| C．She paid telephone bills for her family. | D．She helped her family with her English. |
| A．her future will be free from troubles | B．it is difficult to learn to become patient |
| C．there are more good things than bad things | D．good things will happen if one keeps trying |
8 . Although problems are a part of our lives, it certainly doesn't mean that we let them rule our lives forever. One day or another, you'll have to stand up and say—problems, I don't want you in my life.
But good news is that all problems can be dealt with. Now read on to know how to solve your problems.
Talk, it really helps. What most of us think is that our problem can be understood only by us and that no talking is going to help.
Write your problems.
Don't lose faith and hope. No matter what you lose in life, don't lose faith and hope. Even if you lose all your money, family…you should still have faith.
Your problems aren't the worst. No matter what problem you get in life, there are another one million people whose problems are huger than yours.
Go about and solve your problems because every problem, however big or small, always has a way out.
| A．Of course, we've been fighting troubles ever since we were born. |
| B．When we have a problem, a pressing, critical, urgent, life-threatening problem, how do we try and solve it？ |
| C．Having a personal diary can also be of huge help if you don't want a real person to talk with. |
| D．But the truth is that when you talk about it, you're setting free the negative energies that have been gathering within you. |
| E．We can often overcome the problem and achieve the goal by making a direct attack. |
| F．Tell yourself：when they can deal with them, why can't I？ |
| G．With faith and hope, you can rebuild everything that you lose. |
9 . How to Keep a Relationship Healthy and Strong
Are you new to experiencing relationships? Well, let me give you advice on having a healthy and possibly longterm relationship.
Make sure you give them respect. Now respect isn’t just simply treating her or him nicely. There’s a lot more to it. You have to learn to adjust to their liking.
Make sure you have a good sense of humor with them. Laughter is the key to happiness. Laugh a lot with them, joke with them. Laughter may seem silly, but it’s the secret to a lot in life. It will keep the sparks alive.
Make sure the communication is good. This goes along with trust, but always communicate how you feel, even if it’s something that upsets you. Instead of screaming, talk to them.
| A．Show them your personality. |
| B．Be an honest person with them. |
| C．Make sure you are encouraging to your partners. |
| D．Laughter keeps the relationship strong and lasting. |
| E．Don’t start to neglect them and make them feel unwanted. |
| F．Basically, learn to study your partners’ moods, wants and needs. |
| G．If they did something that made you unhappy, tell them about it in a respectful manner. |
10 . The national outpouring of grief(悲痛) at the death of two legendary academicians(院士)over the weekend, as if people had lost beloved members of their own families, offers much food for thought.
At 1:02 pm on May 22nd, 2021, liver surgeon Wu Mengchao, 99, died in Shanghai. He is known as the founder of hepatobiliary surgery(肝胆外科) in the country and was the teacher of roughly 80 percent of the nation's experts and doctors specializing in liver surgery today. Wu operated on thousands of patients, and saved at least 16,000 lives. Five minutes later in Changsha, Hunan province, agricultural scientist Yuan Longping died at the age of 91. He was known as the father of hybrid rice who helped lift the nation out of hunger.
With their dedication to science and commitment to the people, the two devoted their lives to saving lives and improving people's livelihoods. Together with generations of their students, they not only made a big difference to the lives of the Chinese people, but also many living in other developing and least-developed countries.
Wu insisted that medical science is humanity while Yuan's lifelong dream was always to enable the Chinese people to fill their own bowls with rice. What makes Wu and Yuan great is not only their achievements, but also their shared attachment to the people. The public's spontaneous(自发的) outpouring of grief at their deaths, which has been rare in the country for decades, shows how much their down-to-earth dedication to improving people's lives touched hearts throughout the country.
Yuan and Wu are just two representatives of the large numbers of scientific workers that have devoted their lives to their research, giving the country's people-centered development principle with more practical meaning. The country needs more scientists to inherit and carry forward their spirit. Even those in other walks of life can draw inspiration from the two academicians' commitment to their dreams, care for the people, and unconcern about material enjoyment, so as to make the best of what life grants for themselves and others.
1. Which two fields do the Wu Mengchao and Yuan Longping specialize in?| A．Education and agriculture. | B．Medicine and social science. |
| C．Education and social science. | D．Hepatobiliary surgery and agriculture. |
| A．devotion | B．influence | C．exploration | D．respect |
| A．Because the modern Internet helped to spread the news. |
| B．Because Wu and Yuan are well known over the country. |
| C．Because people think it necessary to follow the sorrowful trend. |
| D．Because they made great contributions and shared selfless love to the people. |
| A．A sorrowful weekend |
| B．Let their scientific spirit live on |
| C．Two great academicians passed away |
| D．The great contributions of two great scientists |
