1 . Directions: Read the following passage. Summarize the main idea and the main point(s) of the passage in no more than 60 words. Use your own words as far as possible.

Is Small Talk Necessary?

What’s the first thing you do when you enter a crowded room? You probably look around for a familiar face. When you can’t find one, you have two choices: you can stand alone, or you can walk up and speak to someone that you don’t know.

Starting a conversation with a stranger, though, is often uncomfortable and can be a little scary. Yet as you go through life, you’re sure to encounter strangers in many different situations, when a need to connect with others will hopefully outweigh your fears. In order to prepare, it helps to learn the art of small talk.

Small talk is the beginning stage of a casual conversation, which usually takes place between strangers or casual acquaintances. With small talk, two or more people search for common interests and points of connection. If one is discovered, the conversation usually begins to flow more naturally, often resulting in deeper discussion.

Mastering a few techniques will allow you to enter a room full of strangers with confidence.

When you walk up to a group, notice anyone trying to make eye contact with you because this is often a sign that the person is interested in talking. Begin by introducing yourself, and then, you should begin with one of three topics: talk about yourself, the other person or something you can both observe, like the weather.

Another way to begin a conversation is with a compliment. Your praise of someone’s scarf might lead to a discussion about favorite places to shop.

Radio host Terry Gross, who has interviewed thousands of people over the years, says one opening request works for her every time: “Tell me about yourself.” This approach gets the ball rolling because people enjoy talking about themselves.

Though small talk takes practice, it’s worth the effort and it’s the stimulus that can lead to deeper conversations.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2 . US Businesses Give in to Worker Demands to Keep Employees

As many American businesses struggle to fill jobs, some have started negotiating demands that used to be non-negotiable for most hourly employees.

One of the top demands for many workers is scheduling — the days and time they spend on the job.     1     That means employees are pushing back against requirements to work weekends, late nights or holidays.

    2     Therefore, workers can be more careful about the jobs they choose. There were 10.4 million job openings at the end of August and 11.1 million openings the month before. Those numbers are the highest since at least December 2000, when the government started recording the data. At the same time, the U.S. Labor Department said the number of people quitting their jobs jumped to 4.3 million in August from 4 million in July.

A recent study from an employment company found that nearly 40 percent of jobseekers worldwide said schedule flexibility was one of their top three issues in career decisions. Instawork is an employment marketplace that connects local businesses with hourly workers.     3    

Such changes are happening as companies try to hire more workers for the upcoming holiday season. Target Corporation, for example, said this month it will pay $2 an hour more to employees who agree to work schedules during busy days of the holiday season. Sumir Meghani is co-founder and CEO of Instawork.     4     Hourly workers are now asking how they can get the same work-life balance as workers in other kinds of jobs who can work remotely.

During the pandemic (大流行病), hourly workers were hit especially hard when businesses like department stores and restaurants were forced to close for a few months during the spring of 2020. Those who remained employed at essential businesses like grocery stores found themselves working too much and too hard.

A．There are currently many job openings in the United States.

B．Hourly workers are now seeking more flexibility in their schedules.

C．He thinks companies are learning that money alone cannot solve their hiring issues.

D．Now, he notes, it’s more about what you need as an employee and how we can make you happy.

E．It says the rate at which employers were able to fill weekend schedules dropped from January through August compared with weekday work.

F．That contributed to a labor shortage, forcing employers to look for ways to make their jobs seem more attractive while also cutting back on hours of operation.

3 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in each blank with a proper word given in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. awarded       B. contemporary       C. demand       D. emitted       E. explore       F. exposure G. inevitable       H. protective       I. tragic       J. undertake       K. unmatched

Praise for Pioneers in Science

In memory of Marie Curie on her birthday on Saturday, the official website of the Nobel Prize posted a photograph of her notebook saying, “Marie Curie died of aplastic anaemia (再生障碍性贫血) on 4 July 1934, a result of years of     1     to radiation through her work. Even today her laboratory notebook from 1899-1902, is radioactive and will be for 1,500 years.”

The tales of Marie and other scientists of her time are in some sense very     2    .

Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen, a professor of physics at the Wuerzburg University in Germany, discovered X-ray in 1895. A year later, Antoine Henri Becquerel found that some natural substances     3     rays, too. Later, Marie and her physicist husband, Pierre Curie, gave it a name, radioactivity.

However, the harmful effects of radioactivity were not discovered until decades later. Marie and her     4     scientists dealt with radioactive substances for decades using little or no protection.

Marie’s death is a reminder about the risks pioneers in science     5    . It was only after people handling radioactive substances began to get similar diseases that medical experts asked people to use protection. Today, medical health workers and patients wear heavy     6     covers during X-rays.

It is almost     7     that those exploring new frontiers (前沿) for science are exposing themselves to unknown dangers. There is a(n)     8     for better protection for the pioneers, but that is not possible until the dangers are fully known.

For example, the space suits astronauts wear protect them against radiation. However, only time will tell if there are some other unknown dangers that they need to protect themselves against.

The contributions and sacrifices by such pioneers to the field of science are     9     and deserving of our respect. Because the pioneers not only     10     new frontiers, but also help us better protect ourselves from unknown environments.

4 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.

A．How to book a movie ticket.	B．Whom to see a movie with.
C．Whether to see a movie.	D．Where to see a movie.

2.

A．It has been widely criticized.	B．It has received good comments.
C．It has a totally different style.	D．It has been reviewed many times.

3.

A．It creates better atmosphere.	B．He likes the company of strangers.
C．It is much more relaxing.	D．He dislikes Marvel’s old movies.

4.

A．She felt very tired.	B．She tried to avoid the tall guy.
C．She needed some sleep	D．She’d like to see the tiny details.

5 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.

A．The importance of bees to agriculture.

B．The factors in causing the decline of bees.

C．The reasons for choosing a day for bees.

D．The ways to increase the diversity of bees.

2.

A．The change in their food forms.	B．The disappearance of their homes.
C．The loss of some plants.	D．The poor harvest in agriculture.

3.

A．Raising awareness of protecting bees.	B．Keeping more people away from bees.
C．Inspiring more art works about bees.	D．Encouraging professors to keep bees.

6 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.

A．Many leaders are anxious about their team’s productivity.

B．Employees are happier when they work from home.

C．More and more people prefer to work at home now.

D．Working remotely improves employees’ productivity.

2.

A．4%.

B．18%.

C．38%.

D．58%.

3.

A．It can strengthen their leadership.	B．It can help them manage their time.
C．It can relieve them of some concern.	D．It can cause them to set higher goals.