1 . So, if you are one of those who felt something was missing, we recommend rethinking your philosophy to work and career. It may be time to reframe what being happy with your career requires. The good news is that there is a better path out there waiting for you.
Is there a clear and appealing purpose to your work?
We under-estimate our ability to do something in addition. We can always find time for something we truly love.
As time goes by. we lose some of our youthful vigour (活力). Spend some time reminding yourself of what mattered most to you in your teens and early twenties. Sometimes we put these things to one side while we start our careers believing we will return to them and then forget. Make 2024 the year that you fulfill any hidden promises to your youth.
Reacquaint (重新熟悉) yourself with joy| A．Reconnect with your youthful idealism |
| B．Set aside some time to evaluate your past work |
| C．Is it a job that you would like to pull yourself out |
| D．However, to find it, you will need to think differently |
| E．Can you link your daily efforts to making a difference to something important |
| F．If you don't love your work, try to find something you can love alongside your job |
| G．Give yourself permission to find one pleasure, goal, or ambition you will conquer |
2 . Imagine a world where nothing ends up in landfill. Instead, everything can be reused and recycled, creating products that never reach their “end of life”. According to a recent report by the Circle Economy Foundation, only 7.2% of all used materials are being cycled back to be reused and recycled without creating waste.
An Italian company aims to change this by creating furniture products made from a plastic-like biomaterial, which is fully organic and biodegradable (可生物降解的), and can be used over and over again. Using fruit peel, orange seeds and coffee grounds collected from businesses in Italy, the company can redistribute products to the same businesses for use in their offices, instead of furniture made from common plastic. If, by mistake, any of the material ends up in the ocean, it doesn’t produce any microplastics.
Each product is made through a four-step process. First, the food waste is dried and crushed into a very fine powder. Then, the powder is mixed with a biodegradable plastic alternative known as polyhydroxybutyrat (PHB), with the fruit waste making the PHB more study (坚固的). The material is then turned into a filament (细丝) and, using a spool, put into a 3D printer.
Because a lot of food waste would be buried and incinerated in the landfill, which would produce lots of carbon dioxide, Reusing fruit peel and coffee grounds decrease carbon dioxide from the production of plastic, according to the director of operations in the company. He adds that the biomaterial is as sturdy as wood, and won’t begin to break down unless it’s touched by water, bacteria or acidity.
Despite its eco-friendly benefits, the biomaterial is expensive. It costs probably six times more than common plastic, and it is a very difficult and expensive process, so this is why many companies aren’t doing it.
However, the director is hopeful that in a few years, as-more consumers and businesses are forced to face the damage that unsustainable plastic is doing to the planet, the biomaterial will be much more widely used. “We really believe this is the material of the future,” says the director. “Little by little, a step at a time.”
1. What is a problem faced by the current world according to paragraph 1?| A．Pollution is becoming milder. |
| B．The rate of recycling is too low. |
| C．Plastic poses a threat to the ocean. |
| D．New material needs to be improved. |
| A．It is of benefit to the environment. |
| B．It is cheaper than common plastic. |
| C．It is given a welcome by businesses. |
| D．It has gradually replaced common plastic. |
| A．Damaged. | B．Burned. | C．Selected. | D．Recovered. |
| A．New Material: One Way To Regain Fruit Peel |
| B．From Landfill To Furniture: The Journey Of Furniture |
| C．Sustainable Material: The Future Of Eco-Friendly Furniture |
| D．Italian Businesses Using New Strategies To Manage Industrial Waste |
3 . Are aliens trying to contact the Earth? Six new mysterious blasts of radio energy are detected from deep space. While the source of the waves remains unknown, some suggest the mysterious bursts of energy could be a sign of alien life trying to contact us. The waves were detected by researchers from McGill University in Montreal.
The detection follows 11 previously recorded fast radio bursts (FRBs) from the same location, called FRB121102. This is the only known repeater of FRBs. Although there have been a number of FRBs from the site, the origin of the radio bursts remains a puzzle to researchers.
But the researchers say that the repeated FRBs imply that whatever is causing the FRBs is not a one-time event, such as an explosion or a collision. Instead, they say that flares (耀斑) from a young neutron star (中子星) are a promising candidate.
Previously when waves have been detected, astronomers have also asked Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) to take a closer look at whether they could be a message from aliens. But it is unclear whether the researchers will ask SETI to help this time.
If there were any intelligent alien life forms out there, in Stephen Hawking’s opinion, we were playing a dangerous game by trying to contact them. If alien s discovered the Earth, they would likely want to conquer and colonize our planet.
But the co-founder and former director of the SETI Institute, Jill Tarter, doesn’t think this will be the case. She argues any alien s who have managed to travel across the universe may be friendly and peaceful. “The idea of a civilization which has managed to survive far longer than we have... and the fact that the technology remains an aggressive one, to me, doesn’t make sense,” she said.
1. What is the purpose of the question in paragraph 1?| A．To draw readers’ attention. |
| B．To indicate commonality in astronomy. |
| C．To emphasize the mystery of the source. |
| D．To highlight the discovery’s significance. |
| A．Messages from aliens. |
| B．The explosion of a star. |
| C．Flares from a neutron star. |
| D．A collision between two stars. |
| A．We should try to find the aliens. |
| B．The aliens may conquer the Earth. |
| C．We can play games with the aliens. |
| D．The aliens may live with us one day. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Critical. | C．Indifferent. | D．Supportive. |
4 . From a fish and chip stall, Jenny has come to be the toast of London’s foodie scene. She has achieved a remarkable feat by becoming a famous chef, a distinction that has been a dream coming true for her. “It’s still sinking in,” she said, expressing her surprise at the overwhelming social media response to her accomplishment.
Her restaurant is a unique space where modern West African cuisine takes center stage, highlighting the rich culinary (烹饪的) traditions of Nigeria’s Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo ethnic groups. “In my restaurant, I bring together these three culinary traditions, providing an exciting journey for diners,” Jenny described. Each dish tells a story, from a black sauce for fish, a postpartum (产后的) meal for new mothers, to a fermented tomato sauce.
Jenny’s love for food began at a young age, but she was initially guided towards a more traditional career path. She studied biological sciences in university, where she also ran a fish and chip cart. Her move to the UK in 1999 marked the beginning of her journey towards culinary success.
As for her, her restaurant is not only a restaurant but also Jenny’s way of honoring her heritage and the food her grandmother used to prepare. “The memory of my grandmother’s cooking inspires me every day,” she shared. Jenny’s cooking shows heartfelt respect for her roots, and her mission is to showcase the flavors of her culture.
Jenny longs to be a role model for chefs from diverse backgrounds. She recognizes the value of representation and hopes her success can inspire other chefs in the UK. She notes that while the industry is slowly becoming more inclusive, it’s crucial for employers, landlords, critics, and investors to expand their perspectives to support a variety of cuisines.
Her fame is a testament (证明) to her talent and dedication, but it’s the personal connection to her dishes and the memories of home-cooked meals that truly fuel her passion. Jenny’s story is a shining example of how one can achieve their dreams while staying true to their cultural identity.
1. What is the character of Jenny’s restaurant?| A．It serves traditional British cuisine. |
| B．It is famous for postpartum meals only. |
| C．It is managed by a social media influencer. |
| D．It features West African culinary traditions. |
| A．Being a biological sciences student. |
| B．Being a social media influencer. |
| C．Being a corporate executive. |
| D．Being a professional chef. |
| A．She prioritizes commercial success over culture. |
| B．She aims to westernize traditional Nigerian cuisine. |
| C．She uses her restaurant as a medium for scientific research. |
| D．She integrates her personal history with her professional knowledge. |
| A．Celebrity status. | B．Culinary revolution. |
| C．Diversity in cooking. | D．Profits of her restaurant. |
5 . Years ago, I bought a blouse. That same day, I considered putting it on, but for no particular reason decided not to. That weekend, I again considered wearing the blouse, but the occasion didn’t seem special enough, so again, I passed. Fast forward to today. I have never worn that blouse.
What happened here? Why do people own so many unused possessions, treating them as though they are too special to use? To find out, I ran an experiment in which participants imagined buying a bottle of wine. We had half of the participants imagine considering opening it one night, but deciding not to. Then when we measured how special the wine seemed, and participants intentions to open it later we found that those who had imagined holding off on opening it were in fact less likely to intend to open it later. When asked the reason, most assumed they were waiting for a future occasion to open it a more special occasion.
Why do people fall into this mental trap? Prior research points to a recipe for what psychologists term “specialness spirals”. When you give up using something, if you believe that you are waiting to use it, the possession will start to feel more special. And as you search for the right occasion day after day it becomes more tempting (吸引人的) to hold out for a future occasion. The less you use it, though, the more special it feels, and the cycle continues. Ultimately, the likelihood (可能性) of using the possession becomes rarer and rarer. The more this happens, the more stuff you have lying around.
How can you fight specialness spirals? Try committing in advance to using an item on a specific occasion. When buying a dress, tell yourself you’ll wear it this weekend. Or when purchasing a candle, plan to light it that day. This strategy encourages you to actually enjoy your possessions.
1. Why has the author’s blouse sat unworn for many years?| A．She forgot where it was put. | B．She soon grew to dislike it. |
| C．She had no other clothes to match it. | D．She failed to find a right occasion to wear it. |
| A．Discuss how to deal with the wine. | B．List reasons for drinking the wine. |
| C．Decide whether to drink the wine. | D．Evaluate the quality of the wine. |
| A．They result from an optimistic attitude to the future. |
| B．They help explain the psychology of delayed rewards. |
| C．They can attract people into shopping traps. |
| D．They can lead to a collection of unused stuff. |
| A．To describe a purchase experience. | B．To explain a psychological phenomenon. |
| C．To criticize a wrong consumption concept. | D．To encourage people to prepare for a rainy day. |
1. What is the man probably doing?
| A．Promoting a product. |
| B．Hosting a program. |
| C．Conducting a survey. |
| A．Because of a school project. |
| B．Because of a health problem. |
| C．Because of her parents’ words. |
| A．See movies. | B．Read books. | C．Do exercise. |
| A．She becomes braver. |
| B．She sleeps better. |
| C．She concentrates more. |
1. What is Wing Wang good at about Chinese?
| A．Vocabulary. | B．Pronunciation. | C．Grammar. |
| A．Wing Wang. | B．Melody Weng. | C．Summer Sun. |
| A．She is a master guide. |
| B．She taught history before. |
| C．She knows Chinese music. |
| A．Tell her a site. | B．Find her a job. | C．Introduce her to a trip. |
1. Which race did the woman take part in?
| A．The three-kilometer one. |
| B．The five-kilometer one. |
| C．The ten-kilometer one. |
| A．Primary school students. |
| B．High school students. |
| C．College students. |
1. What did the teacher do to his plants?
| A．He gave them too much attention. |
| B．He never watered them. |
| C．He rarely took care of them. |
| A．The teacher’s plants survived. |
| B．The teacher’s plants were destroyed. |
| C．The baker’s plants were not destroyed. |
| A．Guiding is better than giving. |
| B．No pain, no gain. |
| C．Prevention is better than cure. |
1. Why did the woman come to China?
| A．To take a vacation. | B．To earn school fees. | C．To learn Chinese. |
| A．She speaks Chinese more fluently. |
| B．She depends more on her friends. |
| C．She’s more sure about her future plans. |
| A．Return to her country. | B．Settle down in China. | C．Make some friends. |
