1 . In Japan many workers for large corporations have a guarantee of lifetime employment. They will not be laid off during recessions or when the tasks they perform. are taken over by robots. To some observers, this is capitalism at its best, because workers are treated as people not things. Others see it as necessarily inefficient and believe it cannot continue if Japan is to remain competitive with foreign corporations more concerned about profits and less concerned about people.
Defenders of the system argue that those who call it inefficient do not understand how it really works. In the first place not every Japanese worker has the guarantee of a lifetime job. The lifetime employment system includes only “regular employees”. Many employees do not fall into this category, including all women. All businesses have many part-time and temporary employees. These workers are hired and laid off during the course of the business cycle just as employees in the United States are. These “irregular workers” make up about 10 percent of the nonagricultural work force. Additionally, Japanese firms maintain some flexibility through the extensive use of subcontractors. This practice is much more common in Japan than in the United States.
The use of both subcontractors and temporary workers has increased markedly in Japan since the 1974 — 1975 recession. All this leads some to argue that the Japanese system is not all that different from the American system. During recessions Japanese corporations lay off temporary workers and give less business to subcontractors. In the United States, corporations lay off those workers with the least seniority. The difference then is probably less than the term “lifetime employment” suggests, but there still is a difference. And this difference cannot be understood without looking at the values of Japanese society. The relationship between employer and employee cannot be explained in purely contractual terms. Firms hold on to the employees and employees stay with one firm. There are also practical reasons for not jumping from job to job. Most retirement benefits come from the employer. Changing jobs means losing these benefits. Also, teamwork is an essential part of Japanese production. Moving to a new firm means adapting to a different team and at least temporarily, lower productivity and lower pay.
1. according to the passage, a woman in Japan ________.A.cannot get a lifetime job | B.is impossible to get a part time job |
C.will be employed for life | D.is among the regular workers |
A.They don’t want to lose their retirement benefits. |
B.They are not adaptable people. |
C.Any change of jobs will make them less paid. |
D.They get used to the team work. |
A.Those who want to change jobs frequently in Japan should think twice. |
B.Those who are first laid off by American corporations are temporary workers. |
C.The use of subcontractors makes Japan films less flexible |
D.The Japanese system is totally different from the American system |
2 . The Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration(ETA)supports a wide variety of programs to ensure that all youth have the skills and training they need to successfully make the switch to adulthood and careers. These programs include:
ApprenticeshipApprenticeship is a combination of on-the-job training and related classroom instruction in which workers learn the practical and theoretical aspects of a highly skilled occupation. Applicants for apprenticeship programs must be at least 16 years old and meet the program sponsor's qualifications.
YouthBuildYouthBuild programs give at-risk youth ages 16-24 the opportunity to transform their lives by earning their high school certificate of graduation or an equally state-recognized degree, learning to be community leaders, and preparing for college and other post-secondary training opportunities.
Job CorpsJob Corps is the nation's largest and most comprehensive residential, education, and job training program for at-risk youth, ages 16 through 24. Private companies, state agencies, federal agencies, and unions recruit young people to participate in Job Corps, where they can train for and be placed in jobs.
Youth ConnectionsThe Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act(WIOA)of 2014 is carrying out a comprehensive youth employment program for serving qualified youth, ages 14-24, who face barriers to education, training, and employment.
For more information about youth programs, visit ETA's Division of Youth Services page.
1. What can participants do in the YouthBuild?A.Obtain a graduation certificate. | B.Lead the state communities. |
C.Prepare for secondary training. | D.Study theories of skilled work. |
A.YouthBuild. | B.Youth Connections. |
C.Job Corps. | D.Apprenticeship. |
A.To improve youth training. | B.To advertise for youth services. |
C.To transform youth development. | D.To introduce ETA youth programs. |
1. What does the speaker say about the college job market this year?
A.It’s unpredictable. | B.It’s quite stable. | C.It’s not optimistic. |
A.20%. | B.22%. | C.50%. |
A.They need more work experience. |
B.The salary is usually good. |
C.Their choice is limited. |
4 . Ask any business leader what big challenges they face and it’s likely that skills and labor shortages will be high on their list. They’re concerned about how to develop the skills they need for the jobs of tomorrow. According to the World Economic Forum’s latest Future of Jobs Report 2023, organizations across all industries identify skills gaps and an inability to attract talent as the key barriers preventing industry transformation.
There’s a potential solution to all of this: a “skills-first” approach. The new report, Putting Skills First: A Framework for Action, launched during the World Economic Forum’s Growth Summit, finds that switching to a skills-first mindset can directly benefit over 100 million people globally who’re currently under-utilizing their existing skills, because they’re under-employed in their current job or because they’re unemployed. The analysis, which covers 18 economies, finds workforce under-utilization ranges from 4% of the working population in Thailand, to 7% in the US, 13% in France, 27% in Brazil and 43% in South Africa.
A skills-first approach focuses on a person’s skills and competencies rather than on their qualifications or job history, so that what someone can do becomes far more important than which university they went to. Crucially, this focus on skills continues long after the worker has been hired, with an emphasis on continually developing their abilities right through their career.
Making skills a priority is fairly advantageous. For businesses, taking a skills-first approach dramatically increases the potential pool of talent from which they can draw on. For individuals, it provides access to good jobs that offer skills building, career progression and higher earning potential which they’d otherwise have been excluded from without the right qualifications.
Delivering such ground-breaking change requires more than simply the involvement of HR teams. It’ll require the commitment of CEOs and policy-makers at the highest level to drive it through. So far a company in UK has introduced a range of degree apprenticeship (学徒制) programs which enable applicants without a degree to gain one while working at the firm. The organization is also developing new career paths to ensure it has the right skills to meet the changing needs of the economy.
1. What plays a key role in industry transformation?A.Working environment. | B.Employees’ job history. |
C.Employees’ competence. | D.Business leaders’ management. |
A.It was launched by 18 economies. |
B.It focuses on a skills-first mindset. |
C.It shows the decline of global economy. |
D.It points out employment trends. |
A.Further research needs to be done. |
B.It depends on global cooperation. |
C.Some measures are already underway. |
D.It is well accepted around the world. |
A.A skills-first approach. |
B.A more inclusive society. |
C.Developing new career paths. |
D.Creating a framework for job markets. |
5 . With almost all big employers in the United States now using artificial intelligence (AI) and automation in their hiring processes, the public is considering some urgent questions: How can you prevent discrimination in hiring when a machine is keeping the discrimination? What kind of methods might help?
Some 83% of employers, including 99% of Fortune 500 companies, now use some form of automated tools as part of their hiring process, said the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s ( EEOC) chair Charlotte Burrows, at a hearing on Tuesday. She said everyone needs to speak up on the debate over these technologies. “The risks are simply too high to leave this topic just to the experts.”
Last year, the EEOC issued some guidance around the use of cutting-edge hiring tools, noting many of their shortcomings. The agency found that resume( 简历) scanners which prioritize keywords and programs which evaluate a candidate’s facial expressions and speech patterns in video interviews can create discrimination. Take, for example, a video interview that analyses an applicant’s speech patterns to determine their ability to solve problems. A person with a speech problem might score low and automatically be screened out. The problem will be for the EEOC to root out discrimination or stop it from taking place.
The EEOC is considering the most appropriate ways to handle the problem. It’s agreed that inspections are necessary to ensure that the software used by companies avoids intentional or unintentional discrimination. But who would conduct those inspections is a more challenging question. Each option presents risks, Burrows pointed out. A third party may turn a blind eye to its clients, while a government-led inspection could potentially stop innovation.
In previous remarks, Burrows has noted the great potential that AI decision making tools have to improve the lives of Americans, but only when used properly. “We must work to ensure that these new technologies do not become a high-tech pathway to discrimination,” she said.
1. What does Burrows suggest people do?A.Make their own voice heard. | B.Follow the experts’ suggestions. |
C.Stop using AI in hiring processes. | D.Watch debates about technologies. |
A.By scanning keywords. | B.By evaluating resumes. |
C.By analyzing personalities. | D.By assessing speech patterns. |
A.High expense. | B.Unfair results. |
C.Age discrimination. | D.Innovation interruption. |
A.Favourable. | B.Disapproving. | C.Cautious. | D.Doubtful. |
A. estimates B. lack C. potential D. crucial E. transforms F. rejected G. anxiety H. unemployed I. routine J. impact K. affects |
Joblessness is far more than an economic misfortune. It can be psychological disaster for the
7 . 听双语新闻:填词
Steps to bolster youth employment
A national employment campaign is taking place from July to December focusing on this year’s 10.76 million new college graduates and jobless people under the age of 35, said the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. Under the national campaign, human resources bureaus at all levels are required to
Graduates who have financial difficulties or disabilities will receive
8 . Delivery workers will finally be able to charge their electric bicycles — and themselves — at new stations created out of repurposed news stands in New York City, Senator (参议员) Chuck Schumer announced on Monday.
The repurposed news stands, the first of their kind in the nation, will feature charging stations safe for e-bike batteries, bike parking, and a place for delivery workers to rest or ride out bad weather.
“You’ve been riding this bike a long time. You need a break. Maybe you’ve got to make a phone call. Maybe you have to take care of your personal needs, any of these things,” Schumer said. “They’re constantly out on the street, no place to rest, no shelter to protect them — imagine it’s pouring rain, or even snow and you still got to do this,” he said. “And so we’re going to take underutilized (未利用的) public space on our streets like this news stand right behind us. Very simple.”
And the stations, which will be designed by Manuel Mansylla, will not contain bathrooms — which were once a flashpoint (焦点) for delivery workers who were banned from using the restrooms at some of the very restaurants from which they were delivering food.
But thanks to new city laws that went into effect at the start of this year, including requiring restaurants to allow delivery workers to use their restrooms, that’s thankfully not the main concern anymore, said Gustavo Ajche, a delivery worker. “The bathroom is different. There’s no problem with that any more what we need here is more parking spaces,” he said.
Not everyone loves the idea of news stands being repurposed for e-bike charging stations. “After car chargers on the sidewalk, this is another facility of the city taking pedestrian (行人) space to create charging stations,” said Christine Berthet of CHEKPEDS, the pedestrian advocacy group that has long called for the creation of more public space for pedestrians.
1. What service can delivery workers expect from the repurposed news stands?A.Charging their phones. | B.Selling them e-bike batteries. |
C.Repairing their bikes. | D.Offering them shelter. |
A.They are underutilized. | B.They are necessary. |
C.They are simple to construct. | D.They are gaining popularity. |
A.They get more parking spaces. | B.They can use car chargers on the sidewalk. |
C.They can use restaurant bathrooms. | D.They get extra pay for working in bad weather. |
A.Critical. | B.Unclear. | C.Tolerant. | D.Favorable. |
9 . Ideally, childhood is a time of growth and learning. But for many children around the world, this time is cut short when they are forced to work, sometimes in dangerous conditions. As a result, June 12 is recognized as the annual World Day Against Child Labor.
As of 2020, around 160 million children worked as child laborers, which means that one child in 10 was a child laborer. Overall, child labor has decreased over the past 20 years, but in recent years, this progress has stalled. Child labor is distinguished from ordinary housework, helping with a family business or working to earn pocket money after school. Work done by children is classified as child labor when it harms the child physically, mentally, socially or morally, or when it hinders(阻碍) the child’s education.
About 79 million children are engaged in hazardous child labor. Sometimes this means the work is extremely dangerous because of heavy machinery or exposure to chemicals. Hazardous child labor can also involve harsh conditions, long hours, or exposure to various kinds of abuse.
The primary goal of the World Day Against Child Labor is raising awareness of the issue and encouraging individuals, organizations and governments to take action. Fighting child labor is a complex task. It involves social workers who identify child laborers and take action to provide these children and their families with other options. But it also involves change in communities as a whole, challenging the social norms(行为准则) that can lead adults to make their children work.
Child labor and poverty often go hand in hand as parents feel that removing their children from school is necessary to earn money so the family can survive. So, measures or policies meant to fight poverty are also tied to preventing child labor. Being harmful to children and to communities, child labor hinders children from growing into healthy, educated citizens who could make a difference in society. By highlighting the problem and offering a variety of solutions, the World Day Against Child Labor can make the situation a bit better.
1. What does the underlined word “stalled” in the second paragraph mean?A.Slowed | B.Speeded | C.Stopped | D.Disappeared |
A.Helping parents with the daily housework. |
B.Assisting family business during the holidays. |
C.Earning money for one’s camp trip after school. |
D.Working in a shoe store every weekday afternoon. |
A.The consequences of child labor. | B.The main types of child labor. |
C.The seriousness of child labor. | D.The reasons against child labor. |
A.Social workers. | B.Parents. | C.Governments. | D.Communities. |
10 . Young people’s career expectations have become more concentrated in fewer occupations over the past two decades though social media and technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) are developing rapidly, according to a report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Traditional occupations from the 19th and 20th centuries, such as lawyers and police officers, continue to trap the imaginations of young people around the world as they did nearly 20 years ago.
The report, based on a latest survey of the 15-year-olds in 41 countries, said the career expectations of youngsters may be “antiquated and unrealistic”. Nearly half of young people around the world wish to work in just 10 of the most common professions. The surveys show that too many teenagers are ignoring, or don’t know, new types of jobs that are coming up, particularly as a result of digitalization (数字化). It is a concern that more young people than before appear to be picking their dream job from a small list of the most popular, traditional occupations, like teachers, lawyers or business managers.
The report found that among boys and girls who perform similarly in science, boys are more likely to expect to work in science and engineering. The top 10 occupations preferred by boys have changed very little since 2000 but girls are now more likely to want to be architects, police officers, and designers rather than hairdressers or writers.
The report also found a broader range of career expectations in countries with strong and firm occupational training for teenagers. For example, in Germany teenagers show a much wider range of career interests that better reflect patterns of labour market demands. More than a third of students in the UK report a lack of career advice at schools and colleges. Young people’s wishes are set as young as age seven, and do not change enough over time to meet demands.
1. What are the career expectations among young people like according to the report?A.Outdated. | B.Uncertain. | C.Purposeful. | D.Demanding. |
A.Puzzled. | B.Surprised. | C.Satisfied. | D.Worried. |
A.Strengthening the vocational training for teenagers. |
B.Offering more new types of occupations with high pay. |
C.Advertising new types of occupations on social media. |
D.Enriching the occupation imaginations of young people. |
A.New occupations for young people. | B.Young people’s career expectations. |
C.The occupational training for the young. | D.The difficult demands in labour market. |