Wearing Hanfu and sitting in front of a Chinese zither (筝), Peng Jingxuan, a young Chinese student, moves her fingers gently along the strings on a street in Paris, France.
Peng has shared more than 200
Chinese zither (筝), or guzheng, is an ancient musical instrument with 21-26 strings and a length of 1.63 meters. Peng
Considering her audience’s
2 . If you’re a white-collar worker working at an office, it’s unlikely that anyone can guess exactly what you do from your clothes. That’s not true for lots of the people you interact with. The bus driver who gets you to your destination, and the people on reception as you enter the building — they’re likely to be wearing some kind of corporate uniform. A poll of American workers conducted last summer by Gallup found that although most employees wear casual clothes, almost a quarter wear a uniform.
Some employers require uniforms, since they help ensure a level of professionalism in appearance, project a brand identity with useful job-specific features, and send a clear signal to customers about whom they should approach with questions.
Those customers draw different conclusions if staff are in uniform. A study by Robert Smith of Tilburg University and his colleagues asked people to imagine being on the receiving end of poor service when picking up a pizza. They were then shown pictures of uniformed or non-uniformed employees. Participants were more likely to blame the company than the individual for a bad experience when a uniform was involved. If corporate clothing makes each worker seem more representative of their employers, the authors suggest that it may be a good idea not to give it to inexperienced workers.
Uniforms can also affect the psychology of employees. In 2012, Hajo Adam and Adam Galinsky coined the term “unclothed cognition” to describe the effect that specific clothes have on the way people think and feel. In one study, Emilie Caspar of Ghent University gave participants the option to apply minor electric shocks to other people in return for money; those dressed in Red Cross uniforms showed more empathy than those in normal outfits.
The effects uniforms have on workers will obviously vary. The obvious objection to uniforms is that they lack individuality. But employees who don’t have to wear a formal uniform tend to have their own pattern of dressing, thus forming another informal uniform.
1. What do we know about white-collar office workers?A.They must follow strict rules about uniforms. |
B.Their way of dressing reveals their job duties. |
C.Their clothes may not be relevant to their work. |
D.They wear uniforms to inspire customers’ interest. |
A.They imagined being served in a shop. |
B.They dressed up in employees’ uniform. |
C.They were asked to work in a pizza shop. |
D.They ordered pizza from uniformed employees. |
A.They block customers’ en-clothed cognition. |
B.They re an expression of being inexperienced. |
C.They are inferior to their own pattern of dressing. |
D.They lack an express on of wearers’ individuality. |
A.An essay on fashion trend. |
B.A review of workplace culture |
C.A guidebook about making clothes. |
D.An introduction about social customs. |
A.By plane. | B.By bus. | C.By subway. |
4 . NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour recommendation about what to view and read this weekend.
Riddle of FireRiddle of Fire is set in Wyoming. Three kids just want to play video games, but their mom gives them a request that only when they bake a pie for her ten can they play their video games. So this launches a little charming adventure. Full in love with this movie, I hope other people will heck it out. — Monica
Palm Royale, streaming on Apple TV+Palm Royale stars a bunch of women and is set in the late 1960s-Kristen Wiig plays a woman who wants to fit in with the rich society at an exclusive Palm Beach club. There is a sub-plot about women’s environmental consciousness. It is silly fun, with excellent costumes. — Danielle
Collecting the Simpsons, by Warren EvansThis book takes you through the T-shirts, the video games, the comics, the cookie jars, all the Simpsons stuff that was produced around the mid-90s. It goes into the Bart phenomenon where Bart Simpson was tied fighting in the Gulf War and playing local music. It’s a fun and interesting tip into that time. — Jordan
Get the Picture, by Bianca BoskerUnlike her previous book Cork Dork exploring the wine world, Bianca’s new book sets out to better understand the art world. Instead of talking about things in the art world that sound strange, she goes in with an open heart and tries to listen to what people are saying. I learned a lot about art, and I appreciated her approach. — Linda
1. Why does Monica recommend Ridle of Fire?A.It keeps us conscious of the environment. | B.It reminds us of life in the mid-1990s. |
C.It’s filled with fascinating adventures. | D.It helps us listen to the language of art. |
A.To fit in with the rich society in a club. | B.To get the children to bake a pie for her. |
C.To play local music while fighting at war. | D.To listen to what artists say in the artwork. |
A.What to do to get admitted into the rich society. |
B.Who to turn for help making a pie for his mum. |
C.How to appreciate the true beauty in an artwork. |
D.Whether to go to the war or enjoy local music. |
5 . The client crises in my social-work job always multiplied during the holidays. As I drove through the darkness that rainy December night, I shelved my worry and focused on our December events.
The parking lot was full. Everyone in our small Arkansas town must have turned out for the Christmas program. Our second grader son Jon should have joined his class inside the gym by now, but I was running late. Jim and Michael, our fifth graders, were warm and dry inside.
While Jon played with a toy in the back seat, I drove once more through the parking lot. Then I saw, through the downpour, the narrow area of grass between two cars perfect for our small car. I pulled into the spot, nosing forward to line up beside my neighbor.
With a loud noise, the front of our new car ran over some hard stones and hung over a foot above a pool. Shaking, I held the wheel and couldn’t decide whether to drive forward or backward. Either would do damage to my car.
Suddenly, someone tapped on the driver-side window. A man stood there in the cold rain. Without greeting he gave me instructions. “When I walk to the front of your car and lift, put it in reverse (倒挡) and back up.”
He moved unhurriedly around to the front of the car into my headlights. With apparent strain, he lifted and held the car’s front end. I remember staring a moment, and then I put the car in reverse and looked over my shoulder until the front tires rested on the ground again. Before I could thank him, he was gone. I never saw him again.
Much later, I realized our car-lifting angel marked a turning point in our family’s direction. In the decades since that evening, life has thrown plenty of difficulties in our way. But I recall that night and know confidently that there’s someone ready to help.
1. What was the author’s task that December night?A.Attending a Christmas event. |
B.Sending Jon to his gym lessons. |
C.Taking the car to the garage. |
D.Solving one of the client crises. |
A.He raised the front of the car in the rain. |
B.He backed out the author’s Car skillfully. |
C.He picked up the author’s children from the gym. |
D.He saved the author from the pool of water. |
A.Unidentifiable. |
B.Predictable. |
C.Life-threatening. |
D.Far-reaching. |
A.I Learned a Lesson That Night. |
B.The Heavy Lifter Saved Me. |
C.I Was Coached to Back My Car. |
D.The Act Eased Client Crisis. |
A.A shop assistant. | B.His wife. | C.His co-worker. |
7 . Things To Remember On Your First Solo Travel Adventure
If you’ve ever thought about just taking a trip yourself instead of waiting for someone to join you, you’re not alone.
Don’t be afraid to talk to random people. Though there is someone who poses a threat, it’s important to remember that not everyone is out to get you.
It’s okay to have bad days.
It’s okay to start small.
A.You are the boss of your own adventure. |
B.You need to make an unusual travel choice. |
C.It’s no secret that solo travel is on the rise. |
D.Sometimes things can go incredibly wrong. |
E.People like you simply don’t know how to start. |
F.Most of the time people are just curious and try to be friendly. |
G.Remember, your first solo trip doesn’t have to be to a whole other continent. |
8 . In the old-fashioned town of Willowbrook, two friends named Emma and Liam shared an intimate bond. They were inseparable and spent every moment together, laughing, exploring, and creating unforgettable memories.
One cold winter morning, as the first snowflakes gently fell from the sky, Emma woke up with a stuffy nose and a sore throat. She tried to brave it and get ready for school, but her body felt weak and achy. Unwillingly, she called Liam to let him know she couldn’t make it to school that day.
Liam was concerned when he heard the tiredness in Emma’s voice. “Don’t worry, Em. I’ll take care of everything at school for you,” he assured her. Feeling grateful for Liam’s understanding, Emma forced a smile and replied, “Thank you, Liam. You’re the best friend anyone could ask for.”
After school, Liam hurried to Emma’s house, carrying a meal he had prepared for her. He knocked on the door, and Emma’s mother welcomed him with a warm smile. “Oh, Liam, you’re such a thoughtful friend,” she said.
“I brought some soup and tea for Emma. I hope it will make her feel better,” Liam replied, some concern in his eyes. Entering Emma’s room, Liam found her curled up under a blanket, looking pale but relieved to see him. “Hey, I brought some comfort food to cheer you up,” he said, setting the food on her bedside table.
Emma’s eyes lit up, and she smiled weakly. “You didn’t have to, but thank you. This means the world to me,” she whispered. Sitting by her side, Liam kept her company, chatting softly and making her laugh despite her illness. The warmth of their friendship enveloped the room, bringing a feeling of comfort to Emma’s tired soul.
As Emma regained her strength, she realized just how lucky she was to have a friend like Liam. His unwavering presence and kindness had made her recovery easier and brighter. Their friendship grew stronger with each passing day, and from that moment on, they knew they would be there for each other through thick and thin.
1. What does the underlined word “intimate” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?A.Satisfactory. | B.Informal. | C.Close. | D.Temporary. |
A.It was too cold to go outside. | B.Liam failed to pick her up. |
C.She was in a bad condition. | D.School was closed for the heavy snow. |
A.Considerate and caring. | B.Brave but lazy. |
C.Selfless and active. | D.Independent but stubborn. |
A.Emma’s illness. | B.A precious friendship. |
C.Liam’s company. | D.How to help a friend. |
9 . Tired of the busy and chaotic life in Las Vegas, Nevada for nearly ten years, my family and I decided to slow down to lead an eco-friendly life. None of us felt that this could be
Before long we
When we first moved to the property, we did some
While living here for the past four months has been a big adjustment, there are many
Overall, going off the grid has been
A.accepted | B.achieved | C.abandoned | D.anticipated |
A.put forward | B.came across | C.set about | D.brought up |
A.complained | B.informed | C.worried | D.warned |
A.denied | B.adopted | C.promoted | D.changed |
A.chance | B.minute | C.imagination | D.thought |
A.demanded | B.desired | C.decided | D.advised |
A.remodeling | B.removing | C.reevaluating | D.recollecting |
A.depression | B.soul | C.courage | D.frustration |
A.differences | B.adjustments | C.benefits | D.disadvantages |
A.painful | B.educational | C.moral | D.bitter |
A.cooperation | B.conversation | C.devotion | D.conservation |
A.Therefore | B.Nevertheless | C.Besides | D.Otherwise |
A.recycling | B.classifying | C.cleaning | D.purchasing |
A.rarely | B.carelessly | C.normally | D.reluctantly |
A.familiar | B.convenient | C.terrible | D.beneficial |
10 . Travelling abroad can present many challenges, including long journeys, language problems, and culture shocks, plus the expense of transport and accommodation. However, there’s rarely a dull moment when you’re in a different country.
One of the wonderful benefits of going abroad is that you can learn history and culture without real effort. There’s a natural tendency to absorb other cultures and pick up historical concepts, while enjoying yourself at the same time.
Another great benefit is that living in a foreign culture is the only real way to fully understand its language.
Removing yourself from the familiar and travelling to a new country can be a very powerful tool for gaining self-awareness and deeper understanding. The new land gives you a fresh social environment.
A.It’s far superior to learning it in a classroom. |
B.It can help you shift how you see yourself. |
C.The direct experience helps you remember something easily. |
D.Many people wonder what they should do in a foreign country. |
E.Travelling abroad can also boost creativity and drive innovation. |
F.Another benefit of travelling ab road is the relaxation you can get. |
G.It is rewarding to get to experience life in different ways. |