1 . Alipay, the digital payment arm of Chinese financial technology company Ant Group, is allocating more resources to roll out translation services in 16 languages, to ensure foreigners in China can use mobile payments without any hurdles.

Alipay’s move comes amid China’s intensified efforts to further improve foreigners’ payment _________ in the country.

Alipay has allowed foreigners in China to link their _________ bank cards, including Visa and Mastercard, to its mobile payment tool, greatly streamlining (精简) the payment processes, said Zhu Xugang, director of the cross-border business at Ant Group.

Users of 10 overseas e-wallets are also able to use their familiar home e-wallets on their own phones by _________Alipay QR codes, to enjoy seamless mobile payment experiences across Alipay’s vast merchant network.

According to Alipay, foreigners can use the app to complete payments at restaurants, hotels, scenic spots, convenience stores and supermarkets, as well as for ride-hailing, shared bikes, buses and other public _________services in China. The newly _________ multilingual app includes English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Japanese.

The mobile payment app has also _________ the single transaction (交易) limit for overseas travelers using mobile payments from $1,000 to $5,000 and lifted the annual cumulative transaction limit from $10,000 to $50,000.

The State Council, China’s Cabinet, published a guideline on improving payment services and _________ payment convenience in early March, a move to better meet the _________payment needs of the elderly and foreign visitors.

Last week, the People’s Bank of China, the country’s central bank, _________a payment guide that provides foreigners with text and graphic __________ on using bank cards, cash, mobile payments and e-CNY in China, the latest step in the country’s push to optimize the payment experience for foreigners.

Wang Pengbo, a senior analyst at market consultancy Botong Analysys, said the intensified efforts to provide convenient payment services will not only __________ improve the living and consumption experience of foreigners in China and attract more of them to the country, but also promote the healthy and sustainable development of the payment __________.

Wang said the move demonstrates the country’s resolve to expand high-standard opening-up, __________ the online payment scenarios of Alipay are wide enough, with high usage frequency. So, what it should do now is to expand the scope of foreign bank card binding and improve and simplify authentication of new users, to provide more convenient payment services to foreigners.

Meanwhile, Chinese banks are taking measures to expand the __________ of overseas bank cards and facilitate their use of cash in the country.

Dong said more efforts are needed to expand the scenarios of various types of payment methods at tourist attractions, sporting events, transportation hubs, healthcare and beauty centers and other daily __________ sites.

1.

A．expectations

B．memorizations

C．experiences

D．durations

2.

A．international

B．domestic

C．interior

D．commercial

3.

A．copying

B．photographing

C．sharing

D．scanning

4.

A．transportation

B．security

C．education

D．maintenance

5.

A．evolved

B．launched

C．specialized

D．simplified

6.

A．decreased

B．restricted

C．suspended

D．raised

7.

A．implementing

B．enhancing

C．administrating

D．subscribing

8.

A．diversified

B．facilitated

C．digitalized

D．conflicted

9.

A．purchased

B．authorized

C．released

D．commercialized

10.

A．designs

B．illustrations

C．instructions

D．imagery

11.

A．significantly

B．artificially

C．individually

D．frequently

12.

A．gateway

B．industry

C．deadline

D．term

13.

A．developing

B．monitoring

C．securing

D．adding

14.

A．recognition

B．acceptance

C．regulation

D．policy

15.

A．construction

B．application

C．production

D．consumption

2 . 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 French bakery has become a tourist attraction in Nanping township, which is part of Zhuhai, a coastal city in Guangdong province.

Papa Romantic, located in Beishan community, attracts a large number of Chinese and foreigners alike. After     1     (taste)the bakery’s bread, some Chinese students who have returned from abroad have expressed admiration, while foreigners who lived in Zhuhai but moved to other Chinese cities such as Beijing     2     (continue) to have bread and pastries from the shop     3     (ship) to them.

The bakery is a welcoming environment for those who want to sit and enjoy authentic French cuisine.

On one side is a well-preserved old ancestral hall, and on the other side are lush trees that provide shade     4     the sun. The shop has a bright storefront, and the aroma of the bread, the aluminum tables and the chairs under sun umbrellas display a peaceful atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle.

At Papa Romantic, the best-selling items include baguettes, croissants, sandwiches, crepes and cookies. In addition, some unique treats such as fig bread and colorful macrons are also popular among young customers.

Owner and baker Ronan Salaun,     5     comes from the Brittany region of France, said the ingredients at his bakery     6     (import), and he refuses to use chemicals or additives in his food.

    7     his friends return to France, they know they need to bring him some crystal salt from a natural salt pond in France. The black pepper he uses comes from Madagascar.

“Simple things are important, and the quality of salt and pepper makes a big difference,” Salaun said.

While remaining true to his French roots, he has also taken into consideration the dietary habits of Chinese people. “Chinese locals prefer soft crust bread, while French like the crusty one. I sell both kinds. I can’t just maintain the original characteristics; I must adapt to locals’ preferences,” he said.

A former mechanical engineer, Salaun, was sent by a Hong Kong company to work at a furniture factory in Wanzai township, Zhuhai, in November 2000. He said he couldn’t have imagined how much his life would change with that move.

At that time, Wanzai was a tiny town     8     (border) Macao known for its flower trade.

For Salaun, life in Wanzai seemed simple and rustic. He remembers    9     when he wanted to take a bath, he had to heat the water up with firewood and then transport the water in a bucket to the bathtub.

Although the living and working conditions were not as favorable as     10     abroad, Salaun grew to love Zhuhai, which is located at the mouth of the Pearl River.

3 . Both my parents worked for 30-plus years for their employers — they had lifelong careers at a single company. Growing up, they taught me the importance of “loyalty” and “commitment”.

But in a rapidly changing world, the concept of a job for life has become as rare as a dial-up internet connection. This shift from stable, long-term employment and single-employer careers to a world where frequent job changes are the norm comes directly from globalisation, rapid technological advancements and the changing ideas about work.

Globalisation has turned the world economy into a giant, interconnected web. This has made job markets fiercely competitive and talent and opportunities in the labour market more diverse and digitally accessible.

Jobs can be widely publicised and explored online and are no longer tied to your city of birth. Add to this the rapid technological progress. We now live in a world where the skills you learned yesterday might not be enough for today’s job market.

The job market is transforming, with new careers emerging as automation and artificial intelligence (AI) advances. Risks and price policies can be efficiently assessed using AI, making insurance underwriters redundant while advanced software in banking and finance mean data analysis can be automated.

Online booking has reduced demand for travel agents and desktop publishers are being replaced by user-friendly software, which allows people to create their own materials. These changes highlight the need for professionals to update their skills and adapt to a technologically evolving job market.

As a result, career paths have become fluid and multi-directional. It’s no longer just about climbing the corporate ladder and getting a regular paycheck; it’s about exploring different paths, switching jobs and industries and sometimes even venturing into freelancing and the gig economy.

Loyalty is defined as an employee’s commitment to their organisation and its goals. It means a willingness to put in extra effort and to uphold the company’s values and objectives. Loyal workers often identify strongly with their workplace, are reliable and view the organisation positively, even during tough times.

When long-term employees change workplaces, it does not mean they are disloyal. It signifies a change in priorities and a redefined loyalty bond. Employees are loyal to their employer and its interests while working there. But they also seek mutual growth and expect to be recognised and rewarded.

Career paths are now a kaleidoscope (万花筒) of experiences and opportunities. Instead of a career identity being about a company brand, it is about skills, experiences and the meaningfulness of the work. This transformation means career decision-making is more intricate, considering personal aspirations, market trends and family considerations.

1. What factors have contributed to the shift in job market dynamics?

A．Increased reliance on desktop publishing software.

B．Changing ideas about loyalty and commitment.

C．The decreasing demand for travel agents due to online booking systems.

D．Globalization, rapid technological advancements, and evolving work concepts.

2. What skills are highlighted as essential for professionals in the evolving job market?

A．Skills related to desktop publishing.

B．Skills that were relevant yesterday.

C．Skills in data analysis and adaptability.

D．Skills in insurance underwriting.

3. How does the passage suggest employees should approach loyalty in the modern workplace?

A．By remaining with a single employer for their entire career.

B．By prioritizing personal growth and recognition.

C．By relying on traditional definitions of loyalty.

D．By avoiding job changes to maintain loyalty.

4. The best title for the passage is________.

A．Forget About a Job for Life

B．Learn More as Much as You Can

C．Benefit from Long-term Employment

D．The Impact of Globalization

4 . 作为年轻人，我们具有极强的创造力，可以大胆设想、勇敢探索。(As …) (汉译英)
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5 . Astronomers are eagerly anticipating a celestial (天体的) event that promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime sight: the appearance of a “new star” in the night sky, expected to occur sometime between now and September, as reported by NASA. This event, known as a nova (新星), is projected to take place within the T Coronae Borealis system, nestled in the constellation (星座) Corona Borealis, situated between the Boötes and Hercules constellations.

In contrast to the explosive demise of a massive star seen in a supernova, a nova is characterized by a sudden, brief explosion originating from a collapsed star, specifically a white dwarf. The T Coronae Borealis system is affectionately called the “Blaze Star.”     1    These stars orbit closely enough to interact violently, leading to periodic explosive events, with the last eruption observed in 1946.

    2     Over time, the red giant becomes increasingly unstable, shedding its outer layers onto the white dwarf. This exchange of matter eventually triggers a “runaway thermonuclear reaction,” resulting in the nova phenomenon, according to NASA.

While the precise timing of the upcoming nova event remains uncertain, astronomers are closely monitoring the T Coronae Borealis system, which has been dimming since March of the previous year. William J. Cooke, lead of NASA’s Meteoroid Environments Office, notes that while most novae occur unexpectedly, T Coronae Borealis is one of the 10 recurring novae in the galaxy, offering some predictability to its eruptions.

Located approximately 3,000 light-years away from Earth, the T Coronae Borealis system is typically too faint to be seen with the naked eye.     3    

Once the nova reaches its peak brightness, it will appear as if a new star has emerged in the night sky, remaining visible for a few days without any equipment and slightly over a week with binoculars before gradually fading from view over the course of about 80 years.

    4    As an effective observing approach, they provide valuable insights into the dynamics of recurrent novae and the processes occurring within these stellar systems.

The NASA Universe account on X will provide regular updates on the nova event, allowing enthusiasts and researchers alike to stay informed about this captivating astronomical phenomenon. Reflecting on past experiences, including witnessing the 1975 Nova Cygni, which inspired his career in astronomy, Cooke underscores the significance of these celestial events in shaping our understanding of the cosmos.

A．This recurrent nature provides astronomers with some predictability regarding its eruptions, aiding in their monitoring and preparation for the upcoming event.

B．The mechanism driving these eruptions is the transfer of matter from the red giant to the white dwarf.

C．It consists of a white dwarf and an aging red giant star.

D．This heightened visibility will last for a few days without the need for any equipment and slightly over a week with the aid of binoculars.

E．Astronomers plan to utilize various instruments, including the Hubble Space Telescope and the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, to observe and study the nova in different wavelengths of light.

F．However, during its peak brightness, it is expected to shine as brightly as Polaris, or the North Star, making it visible to observers in the Northern Hemisphere.

6 .

A．Boring and uninteresting	B．Dull and slow-paced
C．A real page-turner	D．Too complex to follow

7 .

A．Filled with exciting challenges and projects	B．Surprisingly relaxed and stress-free
C．Productive but a bit overwhelming	D．Unpredictable and full of surprises

8 .

A．Change in meeting venue	B．Frequent rescheduling
C．Long meeting duration	D．Lack of agenda

9 .

A．Nervous but satisfied with the change	B．Regretful and uncertain about the style
C．Uninterested and indifferent to his appearance	D．Excited and confident with the new look

10 . “新中式”服装既能体现中华优秀传统文化魅力，也能融入日常穿搭，正受到年轻一代追捧。(combine) (汉译英)
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