Soft Skills—Soft or Not?
Rapidly advancing technology and its impact on education have been a subject of much debate. How can schools equip students with the skills to succeed in a changing job market? Since technology is driving many social changes, there is an opinion that governments should keep focusing on STEM subjects. These are often referred to as “hard skills”, which are prioritized in primary schools and right through to university level.
However, research from Harvard University on the global job market has shown that STEM-related careers grew strongly between 1989 and 2000 but have slowed ever since. In contrast, jobs in the creative industries, which are probably most associated with the need for soft skills, are growing rapidly. A study by Deloitte Access Economics predicts that “soft skill-intensive occupations will account for two-thirds of all jobs by 2030”.
With the rapid evolution of technology, a focus on hard skills leaves people delicate when facing change, as these skills often have a limited shelf life. According to a survey, more than one in four adults reported a mismatch between their skills and those needed for their job role. Fortunately, soft skills can solve the problem, enabling people to adapt to change more easily in their chosen field. Additionally, interpersonal interactions in the modern workplace require some level of soft skills. At a company they might be negotiating to win a new contract or networking for a new job. People use soft skills every day at work and developing them will help things in the job go smoothly.
Many universities have begun to emphasize soft skills such as critical thinking alongside hard skills. But the issue goes much deeper. Soft skills need to be handled across the entire education system so that by the time students reach university level, they are already armed with the qualities needed to further develop these skills.
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2 . Age Reversal Technology
Our life spans (时间段) used to be relatively short.
As people live longer, population aging becomes a greater economic problem. It has both placed a burden on public health spending and decreased productivity of workforce. And aging is the fundamental driver behind many diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, to name just a few. One expert in population aging at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Halldór Stefánsson, explains that some serious diseases related to aging — that very few people lived long enough to experience in the past — have replaced infectious diseases as the main cause of death.
The amazing news is that age reversal technology will soon be a reality. On the bright side, the process of reversing aging is already possible for cells in scientific experiments.
A.And science has moved on to extend life spans of some animals, though not yet of humans. |
B.Human aging timeline is also driven by other factors. |
C.In the 1800s, life expectancy across the world was less than 40 years of age. |
D.So, the question on all our mind is — can science stop aging? |
E.Initially restricted to developed countries, population aging has also become a trend in the developing world. |
F.Age reversal technology will also increase health span — the length of time during which one is healthy. |
3 . From Smells to Soundtracks
When a young sawfly, a bee-like insect, is threatened by its attackers like ants, it emits a mixture of unpleasant smells to defend itself. These emissions can seriously annoy a potential enemy.
Scientists wanting to study these smelly compounds—to understand which aspects of them discourage attackers and why—face great challenges. Meetups between sawflies and ants in a lab are difficult to carry out. There are also a very limited quantity of the insects’ emissions. On the side, Jean-Luc Boevé, a zoologist who studies insects, from the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, is an amateur musician and composer. He decided to try a different way—the sound approach. “To be honest, I considered this project so unpractical myself that I set it aside,” he said. It was months before Boevé and his partner, Rudi Giot, finally made a resolution to get started on it.
They chose 16 sawfly species’ emissions to translate into sounds. First, they figured out which molecules (分子) were present in each smelly compound and in what amounts. Then they assigned various characteristics of those molecules matching properties of sound. For example, smaller molecules like a kind of acid found in vinegar, a sour-tasting liquid, evaporate (挥发) quickly, so Boevé and Giot assigned them sounds with higher pitch ( 音 高 ). Larger molecules were given lower-pitched sounds. In all, the scientists created individual audio descriptions for 20 molecules. Then they combined the sounds of each molecule present in a sawfly’s smell to construct the insect’s soundtrack. If a molecule was of higher proportion in an emission, they assigned it a higher volume. In such a case, the smaller a molecule is, the higher its pitch will be; and the higher the proportion of a molecule is, the higher its volume will be.
To test out the audio descriptions they created, Boevé and Giot examined people’s reactions to the soundtracks and compared them to ants’ reactions to the original smells. They played the 16 emission soundtracks and the 20 molecule sounds through speakers to about 50 study participants. Then the scientists measured how far people backed up to get to a “comfortable position” away from the noise. Most of the study volunteers told the researchers that the high pitch, as well as the high volume, was what made them withdraw. “Ants and volunteers moved away from a chemical and its matching soundtrack respectively,” the researchers wrote.
Boevé said he hoped the process would give other zoologists a new way to compare sawflies’ chemical defenses with those from other insects. It may also offer researchers clues about which molecules fight off enemies most.
1. What do we know about Boevé from paragraph 2?A.He was devoted to the research for several months. |
B.He started a new approach after months’ hesitation. |
C.He came up with a creative idea thanks to a composer. |
D.He was faced with difficulties in studying rare sawflies. |
A.The volume of sounds is based on the proportion of molecules. |
B.Smaller molecules and lower pitch share similar characteristics. |
C.Audio descriptions of the molecules can be divided into 16 kinds. |
D.Participants were required to compare the sounds with the smells. |
A.the soundtracks are more than what humans are likely to bear |
B.the ants dislike the sounds as much as humans hate the smells |
C.humans’ reactions to the sounds resemble ants’ responses to the smells |
D.other zoologists are looking for innovative ways of studying molecules |
A.explain ways to transfer smells into soundtracks |
B.introduce research on sawfly’s effect on humans |
C.demonstrate a scientific study on insects’smells |
D.test out people’s reaction to various soundtracks |
4 . Welcome to the Hunter
Take a short break from Sydney’s urban delights and escape to Hunter Valley Wine Country! Just a two-hour drive north of open spaces, fresh country air, super wines and excellent food.
Set around the quiet villages of Pokolbin and Broke, this region is of fertile volcanic soils, backed by the rolling wooded hills of the Brokeback Ranges. It’s a place where the natural Australian landscape has been accompanied by a tradition of cultivating grapes dating back over 190 years. Grapes were first grown in this valley in the 1830s, making the Hunter Australia’s oldest wine-producing area, where you can find varieties of admired wines. The region is also popular for its fine dining and various activities.
Fine Wines
Begin your tour by visiting some wine factories dotted around the village of Pokolbin. Most wine factories are open daily for tastings. You could start at Tyrrell’s Wines, one of the area’s most popular and still family-owned after over 160 years. Taste award-winning wines in its atmospheric underground rooms, among the oldest in Australia.
Eating Well
When it’s time for a change of pace, turn to the Hunter Valley’s fantastic food, including cheeses, bread and vegetables. Dine on praised Modern Australian meals at excellent restaurants such as Roberts at Pepper Tree. If you’re after a light lunch, or just coffee and a snack, try the more casual Café Enzo or The Grill at Rothbury Estate.
Activities & Touring
When it’s time to work off all that food and wine, there are a host of options. Play tennis, or enjoy a round of golf. Hire a bike, or go horse-riding in the hills.
Enjoy a bird’s eye view of this beautiful rural landscape by taking an early morning hot-air balloon trip—or be really adventurous and sample the unforgettable thrill of double skydiving.
1. This passage is mainly intended for ________.A.hunters all over Australia |
B.villagers in Pokolbin and Broke |
C.those interested in growing grapes |
D.those living in urban areas in Sydney |
A.Pokolbin and Broke are located within the Brokeback Ranges |
B.traditional ways of growing grapes are adopted in Hunter Valley |
C.the locals produce wines in admiration of the region’s popularity |
D.the Hunter enjoys the longest history of making wine in Australia |
A.Having a light lunch at Roberts at Pepper Tree. |
B.Riding a horse in the hills to help with digestion. |
C.Purchasing wines in old family-owned wine factories. |
D.Taking hot-air balloon trips whenever you feel the need. |
5 . We owe our knowledge about the Earth’s geography largely to such explorers as Christopher Columbus and James Cook, who ventured into the seas in search of new lands. Portuguese ship captain Ferdinand Magellan was also such a man, who was the first explorer to sail around the world.
Magellan was interested in the paths Christopher Columbus had taken on his voyages, and after studying the maps of those routes for years, he requested King Manuel in 1513 to allow him to sail to the Spice Islands, but this time he would travel the waters south of South America. He was convinced that the trip would be shorter than if he headed to the southern tip of Africa and then across the Pacific Ocean. Nevertheless, Manuel refused his request. Later on, Magellan applied himself to astronomy ( 天 文 学 ) and navigation for almost two years. In 1517, he took the information gathered from his studies to Charles I of Spain, who agreed to fund his voyage.
In 1519, with 5 ships and 241 men under his command, Magellan sailed across the Atlantic to what is now Rio de Janeiro; he then headed south to find the passage to the Pacific. Luck was not with him, however—he was unable to find that passage before the end of summer, and he adjourned in Puerto San Julian, Argentina, a country in southern South America, where one ship was destroyed, and some of his crew rebelled.
Determined to continue, Magellan managed to restart his voyage in the spring of 1520, but difficulties once again nearly defeated him. The crew went for 98 days without seeing any land, ran out of food, and used up almost all their water. 19 men died before the ships reached Guam, and conflicts with people there prevented them from getting resupplied fully. When they finally reached the Philippines in 1521, Magellan himself was killed in a battle.
Only one ship, with 18 survivors, made it back to Spain in 1522. But the exploration must in one very important respect be considered a success—it paved the way for explorers, merchants, and settlers to sail the Pacific, travelling relatively quickly to new and far-off lands.
1. Magellan believed that the trip would be shorter if he ________.A.cut through the Spice Islands |
B.went across the Pacific Ocean |
C.headed directly to the southern tip of Africa |
D.traveled the waters south of South America |
A.was held up | B.was cheered up | C.gave up | D.sped up |
A.Not taking along fresh water. |
B.Not choosing the right time. |
C.Magellan’s unexpected death. |
D.Failure to get a full resupply. |
A.Magellan’s lasting and fruitful persuasion of the kings. |
B.Magellan’s tough exploration of sailing round the world. |
C.Magellan’s significant influences on Earth’s living space. |
D.Magellan’s contribution to people’s knowledge of sailing. |
A. highlighting B. total C. enriched D. urgent E. relief F. perspective G. ignoring H. altered I. filling J. separate K. downgraded |
Chinese Women Bridging Gap
Zhang Jianli used to employ only male workers on his construction sites throughout Chifeng, Inner Mongolia. Now with large quantities of work but inadequate manpower, Mr. Zhang has
A labor shortage is pushing employers to hire more women to build high-rises, maintain rail tracks and drive trucks, among other roles. Chinese women are
Women’s presence on construction sites has grown a lot. As a consequence, employers have set up
State media, in recent years, have praised the roles of women working as truck drivers and construction workers,
Three Myths About Skin
We put importance into caring for skin since it’s the first thing other people see. Skin might be one of the least correctly
Myth No. 1: Healthy skin is skin that looks perfect. When we talk of healthy skin, we
Myth No. 2: You only need sunscreen on sunny days. UV rays from the sun are so strong that
Myth No. 3: You can shrink pores. Pores are the tiny openings in our skin. They’re
Our skin is
8 . Archaeologists are scientists who search for clues that help form a clearer picture of the lives people led in the past. Archaeology is a modern science, but it has been
In the 1700s, scientists and adventurers from a variety of countries traveled
Today,archaeologists uncover the past in many different
A.advancing | B.changing | C.digging | D.evolving |
A.books | B.history | C.ruins | D.science |
A.lost | B.later | C.older | D.several |
A.inventors | B.scholars | C.visitors | D.writers |
A.extensively | B.nationwide | C.regularly | D.together |
A.in progress | B.in good condition | C.on display | D.out of control |
A.Besides | B.However | C.Instead | D.Meanwhile |
A.coined | B.considered | C.recognized | D.used |
A.created | B.developed | C.established | D.investigated |
A.countries | B.fields | C.locations | D.ways |
A.certain | B.likely | C.ready | D.necessary |
A.honorable | B.peaceful | C.rural | D.recent |
A.gave away | B.gave off | C.left behind | D.left out |
A.choosing | B.examining | C.studying | D.protecting |
A.aware of | B.fed up with | C.ignorant of | D.familiar with |
A. seldom B. urgent C. rare D. cast E. budget F. excelled G. critic H. marks I. peak J. smashed K. paved |
A film glorifying the heroism of Chinese Soldiers fighting American troops during the Korean War (1950-1953)
“Based on current box trends and data,the box office of The Battle at Lake Changjin could finally
The film tells the story of how Chines People's Volunteer (CPV) soldiers stood their ground against the fierce cold, and the enemy's more advanced weapons during the Korean War. As the war raged on,the Ninth Corps of the CPV army was sent to the DPRK on an
Wearing only canvas (帆布) shoes and thin cotton uniforms,the CPV soldiers fought bravely in freezing temperatures in Changjin Lake. This battle was a turning point in the war,which
This film is a
This action-filled movie also owes much of its popularity to its
This year
Love without boundaries
When most people hear the word “holiday”, they picture sunny beaches and mountain top resorts. But for Dr. John Ness, a plastic surgeon based in Minneapolis, USA, “holiday”
Dr. Ness commits one week of holiday time per year
(raise) to make volunteering part of my life,” he said. “The first time I can remember volunteering was singing songs at the local nursing home when I was young. I was aware of the idea that we all have gifts that we can use
The experience inspired a lifelong passion for Dr. Ness, who has now participated in around 15 surgical missions with a number of organizations. When he entered the “Why I Volunteer Photo Contest.” he earned great respect and support.
Although Dr Ness always works 12-14 hours a day on “holiday” to repair the