1 . The four-day workweek’s moment has arrived. With a new proposal of legislation (立法) in America to reduce the standard workweek from 40 to 32 hours, awareness of a shorter workweek — and enthusiasm for it — is gaining. And so is the doubt around it.
Initial doubt is reasonable since American work culture has been founded on constant working and expectations for overachievement. However, if there were ever a time for transforming thinking, this is it. The challenges over the past years have strengthened our muscles of adaptation. And the new practice of working from home proved that we can adjust quickly to changing conditions.
Four-day workweek pilots (试点) are emerging across the globe, with some companies now deciding to adopt the policy permanently. Microsoft Japan and Kickstarter represent just the growing number of organizations exploring the four-day workweek.
Supporters cite many benefits, including improved physical and mental health, increased gender equity and positive environmental impacts. It is easy to imagine what we might do with an additional day-off - spend time with family and friends, pursue a hobby, sleep. Pilot findings show increased productivity as well. Many in favor of the four-day workweek anticipate a more fulfilled community.
Some leaders will see the research and believe that a pilot is worthwhile. Others will resist the idea. They were taught that face time with employees is the only way to ensure accountability (责任心) and productivity. Less face time can feel like a loss of control.
While each organization will need to find what works for them, doing so can be a productive exercise. Leaders can let employees work out the details rather than “solving” the challenge from the top down. Perpetual Guardian asked employees to propose their own productivity measures, including how to increase productivity and arrange shifts. Awin, a tech firm, saw 80 employees volunteer for task forces to ensure that their switch to a four-day workweek went smoothly.
1. Why are Americans doubtful about the new workweek practice?| A．There are limited legislation proposals for it. |
| B．It challenges American work value. |
| C．It goes beyond their standard workweek. |
| D．There are few pilots for it across the globe. |
| A．American work culture. |
| B．Challenges of the new practice. |
| C．Details of the new workweek pilots. |
| D．The possibility of adopting the new practice. |
| A．A more healthy and efficient society. |
| B．Diversity of organization management. |
| C．Increased sense of responsibility. |
| D．More choices of community services. |
| A．Handle the challenges from the top down. |
| B．Allow the employees to try the new practice. |
| C．Work out detailed solutions for the organization. |
| D．Develop more ways to measure productivity. |
One of the most difficult realities about the teaching profession is that we seldom know if we have made a difference. When I become discouraged about my job, my students or myself, I often think back to one particular day of my teaching career.
My first year of teaching was almost over. I taught junior English at Milford High School on a one-year contract. I had a bright group of students and I was grateful for that. However, as the end of the school year drew to a close, my students continually asked if the regular teacher would be returning. I tried to respond with little emotion. Deep down, though, I was more bothered by leaving than I admitted.
Finally, the day came to give my last final exam. I passed the office before the bell rang and saw a couple of the students from my class, and I thought how difficult saying good-bye would be. They were a group with whom I could joke, have fun and share ideas. Teaching them was a pleasure, and we all had learned a lot that year. But, as successful students do, they were moving on to twelfth grade, and I doubted they would remember much about me after a few more years of their academic careers and busy lives.
Just about this time I was on hall duty outside my classroom, and I noticed the crowds thinning out and classroom doors shutting. I looked in my room to find only two students in attendance. When I commented that it was awfully strange that their classmates were so late, they agreed and then quickly asked to get a drink outside. The hallway was awfully quiet. I walked down the hall several times to see if anyone was coming. Suddenly, I heard footsteps coming down the hall. I was annoyed that after such a great year with these kids, I would — on their last day with me — have to give them a lecture about responsibility.
注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
I sighed and then observed them coming peacefully towards me with something in their hands.
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I stood alone outside my classroom with the roses, thinking about their touching words on the cards.
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3 . A United Airlines flight from Chicago to Washington D.C. made a bit of aviation (航空) history last December, completing a 600-mile trip that the airline hopes will prove the first leg of a journey to a greener future.
In a first, one of the two engines on the 737 Max 8 was powered entirely by fuel made from used cooking oil and waste fat from beef, pork and chicken. Refined (提炼) at a Southern California plant, the fuel produces about 80% less emissions (排放) than conventional aviation fuel. Biofuel had been mixed with conventional fuel in the past, but United Airlines said it had never been used by itself in the engine of a commercial flight.
The Chicago carrier made the flight to show the progress it has made toward its goal of getting rid of greenhouse gas emissions by2050. It’s a goal shared by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
For now, the biggest challenge is producing enough low-emission, sustainable aviation fuel that can be used in existing commercial planes without adjustment to power the world’s airlines. The world’s refineries now produce about 26.4 million gallons of low-emission, sustainable aviation fuel a year. That is only a tiny part of the 18.3 billion gallons of fuel burned by U.S. carriers alone in 2019.
“There is no question there is a challenge,” Gene Gebolys, chief executive of World Energy, a Boston biofuel energy company, said. “It’s all about scale (规模).”
World Energy’s Paramount, California, facility now has the capacity to refine cooking oil and animal fat into 15 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel a year. The company is investing $1.5 billion to modernize the facility and enable it to produce up to 370 million gallons a year.
“Standing where we are right now, it is going to be an extremely ambitious goal to get to net zero by 2050,” Gebolys said. “Do I think it’s possible? Absolutely.”
1. What is the experiment of United Airlines?| A．Using fuel from fat and oil alone in engines. |
| B．Refining cooking oil and waste fat. |
| C．Mixing biofuel energy with conventional fuel. |
| D．Developing biofuel-powered carriers. |
| A．The stability of the refined cooking oil. | B．The lack of raw materials. |
| C．The limited production capacity. | D．The energy consumption in production. |
| A．Favorable. | B．Intolerant. | C．Doubtful. | D．Unclear. |
| A．Energy Company Discovers a New Green Fuel |
| B．Global Airlines Promise a Low-emission Future |
| C．Is Biofuel Energy Ready for Mass Production? |
| D．Could Cooking Oil Help Airlines Reach Zero Emissions? |
4 . When most people think of drones (无人机), they think of technology and fun. Safe to say, few people would think about farming. However, a group of students from York College of Pennsylvania have been building a drone that will not only help local farmers but the environment, as well.
Samantha Gotwalt and Blayde Reich, two senior Mechanical Engineering majors at York College in the group, both found the work to be quite fascinating. According to Samantha, the idea came from a York College professor, who has worked with drones, and wanted to get students involved with a project beneficial to the community. “We really want to help farming and agriculture. It’s super-important to America and our economy,” Blayde says. “We want to help the smaller farmers, and one of the perks is not having to spend their money on fertilizer and pesticides (杀虫剂).”
The idea is to design and build a drone that will take video imagery of the fields to determine what is needed to produce the best crop, while saving money and sparing the environment by reducing pollutants in the water runoff. Ideally, that data gained will help the farmers better determine what chemicals they need — and what they don’t.
However, finding the right equipment for the project was a challenge, starting with what drone the team would design for this particular usage. Samantha says she researched durability and control of drones to help make the proper determination.
“We are flying over the field and we want to have enough efficiency and go relatively slow enough that our pictures turn out well - and fly low enough that it is not using up all of its power,” she says. “The fields are a couple hundred acres(英亩), so you need your drone to be able to fly the length of that field.”
Blayde says the team continues to learn a great deal of information that will help the farmers and the environment.
1. What does the underlined word “perks” in paragraph 2 refer to?| A．Challenges. | B．Features. | C．Benefits. | D．Solutions. |
| A．Spreading proper quantities of pesticides. |
| B．Helping to determine the chemicals needed. |
| C．Assisting to monitor the state of crops. |
| D．Measuring the areas of the fields. |
| A．Its camera capacity. | B．Its data collection ability. |
| C．Its durability and control. | D．Its material and efficiency. |
| A．Disciplined and realistic. | B．Experienced and reliable. |
| C．Humble and reserved. | D．Responsible and creative. |
5 . One day, Marga asked if I would join her in hiking to Base Camp at the foot of Mount Qomolangma to celebrate her 60th birthday. I
We met our guide Achut Pandey in Kathmandu. He was a man of joy and
When we left Namche Bazaar, we took the Three High Passes route, which is less-traveled, longer and more
Achut’s faith in us was never
Thanks to Achut, I made it, at 65.
1.| A．turned down | B．jumped at | C．looked for | D．gave up |
| A．wealth | B．honesty | C．kindness | D．taste |
| A．preferable | B．difficult | C．crowded | D．deserted |
| A．mad | B．starved | C．desperate | D．frozen |
| A．withdrew | B．exposed | C．helped | D．resigned |
| A．gradually | B．ultimately | C．initially | D．obviously |
| A．expected | B．rested | C．suffered | D．ate |
| A．effort | B．fun | C．fortune | D．pressure |
| A．supported | B．humbled | C．confused | D．directed |
| A．growth | B．speech | C．breathing | D．pace |
| A．restored | B．tested | C．shaken | D．rewarded |
| A．cheerful | B．unwilling | C．calm | D．meaningless |
| A．reached | B．left | C．guarded | D．established |
| A．admired | B．praised | C．guided | D．contacted |
| A．straight | B．muddy | C．smooth | D．uneven |
6 . STEM
Innovative. Eye-opening. Inspiring.
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math constantly reshape the communities we live in. Our STEM tours challenge students to develop imaginative solutions to global problems through critical thinking and creative expression.
Health Sciences in Great Britain
Paging the next generation of doctors, nurses, and health professionals — this tour through England and Scotland is for you. Trace the innovations that shaped Britain’s modern healthcare landscape, and participate in hands-on workshops to discover how real-life medical careers operate.
Robotics, Engineering, and the Future of Cities in Japan
Home to countless organizations specializing in robotics and engineering, Japan is at the forefront of innovation in sustainability and human mobility. From high-speed superconducting magnetic (磁悬浮) trains to ASIMO the robot, see how the future of cities is closer than you think in Japan. You can take a guided tour of Tokyo with a STEM expert before visiting other Japanese cities.
Agriculture in Ireland
Get your hands dirty as you experience the farm-to-table journey — an important part of life in Ireland — by visiting a variety of local farms around the country. Learn about organic and sustainable farming practices, the impact of climate change on traditional food production, and how each agricultural product requires specialized care.
Reef (礁) Regeneration and Conservation in Australia
As the world’s largest living organism, the Great Barrier Reef is the foundation of Australia’s coastal ecosystems. And Townsville, which will serve as your base of operations for this tour, is a world-famous center for scientific reef research and conservation. Conduct a field survey with koalas and snorkel (潜水) alongside the Reef.
1. Which best suits those expecting a career in medicine?| A．The tour in Great Britain. | B．The tour in Japan. |
| C．The tour in Ireland. | D．The tour in Australia. |
| A．Healthcare workshops. | B．Robot programming classes. |
| C．Labor experience in the fields. | D．A field survey with sea lives. |
| A．Artists. | B．Adventurers. | C．Volunteers. | D．Students. |
Space Station Rice Tests Show Promise
Chinese astronauts have successfully grown rice seedlings (幼苗) onboard the Tiangong space station.
There have been other rice
China launched the Wentian space laboratory into orbit on July 24. The space lab, which weighs 23 metric tons and is 17.9 meters tall, is the country’s
“We want to investigate how microgravity affects the plant flowering time on the molecular (分子的) level
“If we want to land on and explore Mars, food
8 . I was recently in a business meeting, where two managers faced off with their wildly different opinions. But to our surprise, the meeting went remarkably well — and all because one of them simply showed a calm maturity (成熟). He kept saying things like, “I absolutely see your point, Jeff,” and “You’re right about that. Could we consider…?”
♦Focus on your own stuff.
It can be so easy to compare ourselves to other people over our paychecks, the contents of our closets, relationship statuses etc. But when you realize that all that matters is you, you can’t help but just do you.
♦Know how to laugh at yourself.
Joan Rivers said, “Life goes by fast. Enjoy it. Calm down. It’s all funny.”
♦
I don’t think there is anything more grown-up than taking 100 percent responsibility for your life. No excuses or exceptions — parental, governmental or otherwise. When you own your circumstances and your “stuff” you’re empowered.
| A．Never react. |
| B．Don’t blame others. |
| C．Life doesn’t have to be so serious, does it? |
| D．And when that happens, life gets awesome. |
| E．Will guilt and regret have you living in the past? |
| F．He met his colleague’s argument with absolute calm. |
| G．Maturity begins when drama and dissatisfaction end. |
The Perfect Gift
Colin walked through the mall with his head down. He couldn’t bear to look at another window display of great Christmas gifts he couldn’t afford. There were only a few days left until Christmas, and Colin still didn’t t have a present for his parents. He had only managed to save four dollars and seventeen cents. He counted the money in his pocket and sighed heavily.
“You look upset today, Colin. What is the matter?” Colin’s older sister Whitney asked.
Colin explained his problem to his sister.
“Why don’t you make them something?” Whitney suggested.
“Making presents is for babies,” Colin said. “Mom and Dad won’t like baby stuff.”
“Hey, that is not true. When I was your age, I wrote Mom and Dad a poem for Christmas. They loved it so much that they had it framed (给……做框),” Whitney said.
Colin knew that was true. The poem was hanging in the living room right above the fireplace. Mom and Dad often stood at the fireplace and read the poem to him. But Colin wasn’t good at writing poems, so that didn’t really help him.
“It doesn’t have to be a poem,” Whitney said, “It could be anything that makes them think of you whenever they look at it. That’s why homemade gifts are special — because they make you think of the person who made it.”
“But I don’t know how to make anything Mom and Dad would actually want!” Colin said, kicking a tiny stone across the parking lot.
Whitney opened the car door. “Yes, you do! You’re always drawing those funny little comics. Why don’ t you do a family portrait(全家福) as a comic? Mom and Dad would love it.”
”Maybe," Colin said. He thought about the idea the whole way home. He even pictured how he would draw everyone.
注意：1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在相应位置作答。
Paragraph 1: For the next two days, Colin drew one picture after another.
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Paragraph 2: After all the other presents were opened, Colin handed his gift to his parents.
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1. What are the good seeds confirmed by?
| A．Containers. | B．X-rays. | C．Freezers. |
| A．To be preserved for long. |
| B．To tackle climate change. |
| C．To safeguard food supply. |
| A．Where seeds are stored. |
| B．How the seed bank works. |
| C．Why seed banks are important. |
