1 .

I offer to pay you $200 in one year if you give me $190 today. Good deal or bad deal? It’s the kind of math problem you might encounter in real life, _________, say, whether the cosecant (余割) of a 30-degree angle is 1 or 2. You can imagine students _________ their spirits and paying attention when they realize that they need to know algebra (代数) to avoid being cheated on a loan. Math and personal finance make a _________ fit. Students grasp concepts in math much better when they see how those subjects _________ their daily financial lives.

A survey in 2022 funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation found that 61 percent of parents of students said math education should be “relevant to the real world” _________ that only 21 percent said it was. The drive for relevance goes beyond K-12 education. Some of America’s top universities are _________ personal finance into their curriculums.

Harvard has a personal finance course in the _________ department that’s taught by John Campbell, a past president of the American Finance Association. “_________, personal finance was regarded as a very sort of hands-on skill that you might teach to people who were going to a technical high school,” he told me. “There is, I would say, a modern movement to _________ of personal finance as a subject with actually a lot more intellectual content.”

In most high schools, personal finance classes are light on math, and math classes are __________ in personal finance. The FiCycle curriculum has plenty of each. “The personal finance component is incredibly __________ for our high school students,” Philip Dituri, the director of education at Financial Life Cycle Education, who has a doctorate in math education, told me. He believed that quite a lot of students would be stimulated by the __________.

There is a __________ standard for personal finance education that was put together by the Council for Economic Education and the JumpStart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy. It emphasizes how to __________ one’s finances. FiCycle focuses more on the underlying concepts. It’s about “how and why individuals and households transfer consumption over time,” Financial Life Cycle Education says.

In conclusion, the integration of math and personal finance in education is not just an academic pursuit, but a __________ necessity for students to guide their real life. It is time for educational institutions to take note and adapt their curricula to better prepare students for the financial challenges of adulthood.

1.

A．similar to

B．as opposed to

C．compared with

D．coupled with

2.

A．lifting

B．lowering

C．forgetting

D．struggling

3.

A．awful

B．forced

C．perfect

D．temporary

4.

A．apply to

B．pass down

C．identify with

D．kick off

5.

A．for

B．but

C．and

D．so

6.

A．breathing

B．rolling

C．quoting

D．introducing

7.

A．politics

B．economics

C．mathematics

D．physics

8.

A．Traditionally

B．Constantly

C．Frequently

D．Thankfully

9.

A．restore

B．recover

C．reconsider

D．retell

10.

A．lacking

B．sufficient

C．absent

D．present

11.

A．depressing

B．amazing

C．challenging

D．motivating

12.

A．combination

B．separation

C．application

D．publication

13.

A．regional

B．local

C．national

D．individual

14.

A．learn

B．increase

C．examine

D．manage

15.

A．practical

B．regrettable

C．miserable

D．relaxing

2 . ChatGPT, the new artificial-intelligence technology created by Open AI, has many worrying about the future of education. The two largest public school districts, New York and Los Angeles, have banned the chatbot from their devices and networks, concerned that students may use it to cheat on assignments. Though ChatGPT’s capabilities are limited, it will likely continue to disrupt education as the technology advances.

But educators needn’t fear this change. Such technologies are transformative, but they threaten only the information-centric type of education that is failing to help students succeed. What young people need today is educational models that help them take ownership of their studies. They need instruction that equips them with real-life skills and prepares them for an economy in which rote, mechanical tasks will be increasingly performed by machines. AI may be a useful invention that hastens much-needed educational reform.

Practicing skills to enhance one’s facility with reasoning, analysis and argumentation — rather than memorizing basic information — should be central to learning. These are skills young people will need in future careers and, most important, that AI can’t replicate. Our experience with AI is perhaps best understood when compared with previous disruptions in education. When printed books, for example, began to emerge in the mid-1400s with the advent of the movable type, one can imagine university professors feared that students wouldn’t need to come to class because they could simply buy the book.

Yet in practice, printing had the opposite effect: The number of universities exploded along with the total number of books. The new technology disrupted the mechanical aspect of education, but in doing so it allowed educators to refocus on higher-level skills — the strategic elements rather than the tactical. The same followed the introduction of calculators and spreadsheets, which freed up time that would have been spent memorizing rote algorithms for mathematical problems.

This change didn’t make the underlying skills unnecessary; it merely transformed what could be done with them. The effect of such technology as ChatGPT will likely be similar. The AI will serve as an information-gathering and mechanical-organizing tool, but it won’t eliminate the fundamental need for critical thinking. These skills will persist and only increase in value. Therefore, schools must remember that the value created by education isn’t a head full of facts but a person with the skill to use these facts with the tools available to magnify his effect in the world. AI is best seen as another of these tools, which, when used strategically, can unleash student learning and performance in ways not yet seen.

1. What does this change refer to in Paragraph 2?

A．Some public school districts have banned from their devices and networks.

B．The information-centric type of education is failing to help students succeed.

C．Artificial-intelligence technology keeps making new progress nowadays.

D．The development of AI is making a difference to the traditional education.

2. The example of printed books is mentioned to show ______.

A．the new technology disrupts education in our previous experience

B．the movable type printing negatively impacts our university teaching

C．such technology helps shift our attention to students’ higher-level skills

D．AI frees us from memorizing rote algorithms for mathematical problems

3. According to the author, schools are advised to ______.

A．instruct students in obtaining as many facts as possible

B．adopt teaching strategies to enhance students’ performance

C．equip students with necessary skills with the help of AI

D．teach students to magnify the effect of tools in the world

4. Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?

A．AI can save education from itself.	B．ChatGPT disrupts educational reform.
C．AI raises worries about school education.	D．ChatGPT transforms education at all levels.

4 . Recent years have seen a small increase in unemployment rates due to slowing of the economy. The fact that many college graduates are finding it difficult to land a job has sparked online discussions on the cost of education and the returns on it, with many agreeing with the notion that “education is useless”.

Stories like a person with a doctorate’s degree from Zhejiang University is delivering food, and overseas-returned graduates are selling hot-pot ingredients have caused many to question the value of education. Moreover, the fact that about 36,000 fewer candidates have applied to take the postgraduate exam in 2024, the first decline in numbers in years, has also fueled the “education is useless theory.

Is education truly worthless? This question has resurfaced due to several factors.

The wide spread of higher education has significantly increased the number of college graduates, reducing the value of college degrees. As the job market becomes over-crowded with graduates, the scarcity of high-level talents has become apparent, particularly in fields such as the humanities. For example, more than 900 institutions in China offer English major, making it the most common degree program, yet there’s a shortage of top talents who are proficient in English and have a good knowledge about the differences in Chinese and foreign approach to fields such as international relations and journalism.

The declining returns on the investment in education have given rise to the “education is useless” theory. Given the challenging job market, many believe college education does not guarantee any sort of employment, let alone a suitable job. And with various economic opportunities available, the notion that one can become financially successful even without formal education is becoming increasingly acceptable.

In light of these developments, combined efforts need to be made to change the situation. For instance, universities must take measures to integrate education, research and industry, while enhancing cooperation with enterprises through tailored talent training programs. Additionally, the authorities need to pay greater attention to vocational education, an important part of China’s educational system. Students, parents and society, on their part, should abandon their bias against vocational training, because it integrates education with career prospects throughout the learning process, offering targeted, technical and practical training which allows students to master their skills which can get them well-paying jobs in the future.

Developing a correct view of employment and career choice is key to abandoning the notion of “education being useless”. People, especially students, must understand the current employment landscape, their positioning, and strengths and weaknesses. While realizing that a college degree is no longer a ticket to employment, college students should leverage education resources to enrich their professional knowledge and competitiveness. And youths should approach vocational education with an open mind in order to make the most of what the job market has to offer.

Education is not synonymous with earning money, nor does a college degree guarantee financial success. The value of education is knowledge, which we need to make informed decisions not only in our professional life but also in our social and other fields of life.

1. What are the main reasons for the recent rise in the belief that ”education is useless”?

A．Economic slowdown and job scarcity.

B．Sad stories about educated individuals.

C．Decline in postgraduate exam applicants.

D．Emphasis on practical skills over qualifications.

2. How can universities contribute to improving the current situation?

A．By focusing solely on academic research.

B．By integrating education, research, and industry.

C．By ignoring cooperation with enterprises.

D．By eliminating vocational education courses.

3. The underlined word leverage in paragraph 7 can be best replaced by___________.

A．limit

B．abandon

C．balance

D．maximize

4. What is the author’s attitude towards the development of vocational education?

A．Negative and pessimistic	B．Positive and supportive
C．Balanced and objective	D．Unclear and ambiguous

5 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.

A place where young people can shine

Kindergarten Without Walls is a unique concept different from the traditional model of education.     1     (house) in a small general store, this unconventional “kindergarten” opens its doors for free to mainly migrant children and children in difficulty. It     2     (offer) a range of activities — from singing and dancing to painting, watching movies, reading books, and playing games — since 2018. The Kindergarten Without Walls sounds like the ultimate dream for any child.

The kindergarten is funded by its founder Tang Haoduo,who aims to create a supportive and caring community for children in the neighborhood. And the volunteers come from different walks of life.     3     the weather is, they will step in as teachers on time, offering their time and expertise to the children. Tang, an art teacher at a public junior high school,     4     (involve) in social art practice for 5 years by the end of this November. His vision gives migrant children a chance to express and enjoy     5    . As an artist, his dream was to establish a space that is not just a short-term endeavor, but a long-term commitment to     6     (build) a community of artistic expression and cooperation.

Zhu, an art practice researcher, notes that the starting point of this Kindergarten is humble and down-to-earth. “Tang is an ordinary person     7     neighborhood, where the kindergarten is located, is not different from his own life,” she says. Zhou believes healing from personal trauma (创伤) is a joint effort requiring the support and involvement of a compassionate community     8     a lonely journey. “The     9     (good) part of Tang’s project lies in the authentic growth of the relationships between the children, families, neighbors, and broader community. It is the spontaneous, beautiful things in people and the community     10     grow naturally, given an opportunity”, she says.

7 . 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.

How to Enhance Children’s Attention Span

In a world of increased multitasking and smart devices that constantly compete for our attention, it has become harder to keep children on task during studying or house hold activities. Part of this is environmental, put part of it is also a lack of training that is taking place. Being attentive is a skill, rarely an innate talent, and must be cultivated in children for them to succeed.

Eliminating environmental distractions’ can be a smart way to, improve a child’s attention. It’s important to remember that many things in a child’s environment can draw a child’s attention span away from the task or lesson at hand, including surrounding noises, visual messes and internal distractions. Providing an environment that is as free of distractions as possible can dramatically Improve a child’s attention because it means there are fewer things around for the child’s attention span to be divided between. This is also why it’s a good idea to do studying in an area which is not usually used for other activities, such as in the sitting room.

Not being prepared for a lesson also serves as a distraction because it needs a five or ten minutes to gather the necessary materials. Help keep your child organized and make sure all necessary study materials are close at hand before it’s time to start a lesson to avoid a wild goose chase that will break up your child’s attention before the lesson has even begun.

Several scientific studies have linked a child’s decreased attention span to increased time in front of screened devices such as tablets and television, so parents should make efforts to limit over-stimulation caused by these devices to leisure time and keep them away from studying activities. This isn’t to say that children should avoid the use of smart devices, televisions, or video games indefinitely. After all, these outlets provide much-needed relaxation to children and can even help to improve their hand-eye coordination. I strongly suggest that parents should make sure that screen-time is a privilege (特权) , not a right. That is to say, use screen-time as a reward.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8 . 语法填空

In ancient times the most important examinations were spoken, not written. In the schools of ancient Greece and Rome, testing usually consisted of saying poetry aloud or    1     (give) speeches.

In the European universities of the Middle Ages, students working for advanced degrees had to discuss questions in their field of study with people who had made a special study of the subject.

Generally,     2    , modern examinations are written. The written examination,     3    all students are tested on the same questions, was probably not known    4    the nineteenth century. Perhaps it came into existence with the great increase    5    population and the development of modern industry. A room full of candidates for a state examination,     6     (time) exactly by electric clocks and carefully watched over by managers, appears like a group of workers at an automobile factory. Certainly, during examinations teachers and students    7     (expect) to act like machines.

One type of test is sometimes called as “objective” test.     8    is intended to deal with is facts, not personal opinions. To make up an objective test the teacher writes a series of questions, each of which has only one correct answer. Along with each question the teacher writes the correct answer and also three statements that look like answers to students who have not learned the material properly.

9 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。1.

A．The ever-rising childcare prices.	B．The balance between work and family.
C．The budget of family expenses.	D．The selection of a good daycare center.

2.

A．The prices of childcare vary greatly from state to state.

B．Increased childcare prices have not led to better service.

C．Childcare workers’ pay has not increased with the rising childcare costs.

D．There is a severe shortage of childcare professionals in a number of states.

3.

A．Caregivers should receive regular professional training.

B．Less strict rules about childcare might lower the costs.

C．It is crucial to strike a balance between quality and costs.

D．It is better for different states to learn from each other.

10 . Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. addressed        B. boast        C. approach        D. sense        E. wealthy F. glimpse        G. revealed        H. pushy        I. statistics        J. peers        K. motivation

College Rankings Are Something, but Not Everything

I am always confused when reading statements like “Princeton University is the number one college in the United States.” Are those who attend Princeton inherently brighter than their     1    ? Is Princeton able to produce more geniuses upon graduation?

High-ranking colleges in global education leagues attract greater talent in staff and students, and     2     better facilities, therefore generating more profits. In the United States, however, this virtuous cycle can turn vicious when financially-challenged parents end up spending their life savings on their children’s education, while     3     individuals can simply buy their way in. Besides, these rankings face criticism for potentially influencing colleges to make minor adjustments in     4     to improve their position on the table.

I didn’t care about college rankings for years until I recently saw something different. This past October, Shanghai Ranking Consultancy     5     the Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2023, which assesses universities worldwide across 55 subjects in five disciplines. It is said to employ a more in-depth     6     to evaluate the performance of universities. And this makes it easier for prospective students to choose the best college for their specific subject. But how much weight should you give to these rankings?

In my opinion, college rankings can serve as a reference, offering a     7     into the reputation and strengths of institutions. However, they should not be the only determining factor for you. There are many aspects to a university education that can only be     8     when you are clear about your goals.

I once taught a three-month program to prepare university students for overseas exchange programs in England. But some of them displayed low     9    . It wasn’t merely due to a language barrier. These individuals seemed to lack communication skills, critical thinking and, more importantly, a     10     of purpose, which might help determine their future academic quality. After all, what lies in the heart of education is “U” .