1 . Years ago, when I was working as a sales manager, there were people on my team who were always the top-performing employees. We all knew how to get the job done, but there were a few who had interpersonal (人际的) skill s and persuasive abilities to land the sales.
To get hired, you obviously need to have the necessary skills to complete the required tasks. For example, you’re not going to be interviewed for a position in IT if you don’t know how to work a computer. These kinds of skills are called hard skills. However, many employers are looking for applicants who possess certain soft skills that relate to one’s personality, such as leadership qualities, time management abilities, and communication skills.
The biggest difference between hard and soft skills is how each type of skill is got. While hard skills are abilities learned through education or training, soft skills are more subjective personality qualities that you’re either born with or you develop through life experiences. Hard skills are the technical knowledge you gain through training that get you in the door, and soft skills are the personality qualities that make you a good employee and keep you there.
It’s easy to quantify hard skills because they’re specific and often define the basic requirements of a job. Soft skills are more difficult to measure. But they’re transferable (可转移的) across all industries.
So in addition to hiring people who know what they’re doing, employers look for applicants with a specific set of soft skills that can’t be taught as easily as hard skills. These innate (先天的) personality qualities can be developed, but it takes time, and employers would rather hi re someone who’s already there.
1. Why did the author mention her experience of being a sales manager?| A．To praise her colleagues’wonderful skills. |
| B．To introduce the topic of two kinds of skills. |
| C．To stress the importance of interpersonal skills |
| D．To prove that she has much experience in managing. |
| A．The ability to get knowledge. |
| B．The ability to interview a leader. |
| C．The ability to play a computer game. |
| D．The ability to communicate with others. |
| A．How they are got in our life. | B．When they are needed in our work. |
| C．Which is easier to develop in us. | D．Which is more important in daily life. |
| A．Soft skills are as important as hard skills |
| B．Hard skills can be changed into soft skills |
| C．Applicants need more soft skills than hard skills |
| D．Employers put more stress on hard skills than soft skills |
2 . Jindalee State School
Email:info@jindaleess.eq.edu.au
Phone:(07)3725 5777
Website:www.jindaleess.eq.edu.au
7th November 2023
Class Placement Information
Dear Parents,
We are now providing you with information about your child’s 2024 class placement. Your child Najera Ochoa Ava is in 1W in 2024. The teacher for this class is Mrs Shelly Waner in room B11b.
Students return to school on 27th January 2024.
The office will close at 3:30 p. m.9th November 2023 and reopen on 20th January, 2024.
SNACK SHACK(零食铺)
The Jindalee Snack Shack is now closed for cleaning—we will not be taking any orders this week.Wewillreopenonthefirstdayofschoolandwillcontinuetoacceptonlineordersonly viawww.quickclig.com.au.Snackswillcontinuetobeavailableforpurchaseduringsecond break.
THE UNIFORM (校服) SHOP
The Uniform Shop will be taking orders online during December but items(物品) will not be available for collection until January. The shop will open on 20th January.
BY APPOINTMENT(预约) ONLY—please check our P&C Facebook page or the school newsletter for a booking link. Please do not come to the shop without an appointment.
The shop will continue to operate on an appointment system in 2024 and will be open on the first day of school. We will then resume(恢复) trading on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the term, for appointments and online order processing, from 28th January.
A calendar of the 2024 school year can be viewed at the following website, www.education.qld.gov.au.
On behalf of the Jindalee State School family, I wish you all a happy holiday.
We look forward to seeing you in the New Year.
Yours sincerely
Ms Penny Grant
Principal
1. When will the new academic year begin?| A．7th November 2023. | B．9th November 2023. |
| C．20th January 2024. | D．27th January 2024. |
| A．Students should check the school newsletter to order uniforms. |
| B．Visitors are not welcome without an appointment. |
| C．It will remain closed after 3:30 p. m. each day. |
| D．It will not take orders until January 2024. |
| A．By calling(07)3725 5777. |
| B．By contacting Mrs Shelly Waner. |
| C．By visiting www.education.qld.gov.au. |
| D．Byemailinginfo@jindaleess.eq.edu.au. |
The Double Ninth Festival is a special day for older people in China. It started long ago. The festival is on lunar September 9th. On this day, people show love and respect to their grandparents.
There are many ways in which Chinese people express their respect. When an older person enters a room, everyone stands. People are introduced from the oldest to the youngest. When we present a book to an older person, two hands are used. Young people always offer their seats to older people on a crowded subway or bus.
Respecting older people is a tradition in China. That’s because the Chinese know that older people have knowledge and experience that young people can learn. Chinese people are proud of being old.
In Western countries, however, older people seldom think they are old. They are called “seniors” instead of “old people”. They’d rather do everything themselves. Even after retirement (退休) they take up hobbies, part-time jobs and new activities to keep their bodies working well.
Westerners respect their older people, too. Usually, seniors don’t have to buy tickets for trains and buses. They are given discounts (打折) in stores and restaurants.
But Western seniors don’t often live with their children—they live alone. For holidays, the family usually gather at the grandparents’ home, and a great smile and a warm hug for their parents are enough for grown children to show their respect.
1. When is the double ninth Festival?2. Where is it a tradition to respect older people?
3. What can the young learn from older people?
4. Can seniors in Western countries take the trains for free?
5. How do Western grown children show their respect?
4 . Changing the wording about expiration dates (有效期) on perishable (容易腐坏的) food items could help reduce food waste, according to a new study. “With very few exceptions, the date labels (标签) that are used in the United States are not standardized,” said Brad Rickard, a researcher working on this study. “And they’re not food safety dates; they’re just food quality dates.”
In a survey of consumers, the researchers asked participants to rate, on a 1-5 scale (5 being extremely likely), their likelihood of discarding (丢弃) 15 different food items that were one day past the stated date code (代码) in the first section of the survey, the question included only the expiration date code; the second section repeated this exercise but with both a date code and a date label that included one of 10 different wording variations.
Four of the date label variations followed those that have been widely adopted in the U.S.: “Best if used by”; “Best by”; “Use by”; and “Sell by”. The other six featured a date label and a biosensor, an indication of food quality. Biosensors which detect microorganism growth and change colors accordingly — are popular in some European markets, but are not as common in the U.S.; for the survey, the researchers chose biosensors with the colors green (fresh), blue (less fresh) and purple (past fresh).
Survey results showed an increase in discard intentions with the “Use by” and the “Best if used by date label, implying that foods with these date labels were more often discarded and replaced. Rickard also said the innovation of the biosensor technology impressed the U.S. survey participants, and when it was presented to participants as green, it led to significantly lower discard rates.
One of the unintended consequences of a more uniform approach to date labels, the researchers note, is a potential increase in food waste depending on the wording of the label, as well as an increase in the re-purchasing of perishable items high in protein, fat and cholesterol (胆道醇). “If you tell all food companies to change all their ‘best by’ dates to ‘best if used by’ dates, that might actually increase food waste,” Rickard said.
1. What can be learned about food date labels used in the U.S.?| A．They are subject to uniform standards. |
| B．They are designed to reduce food waste. |
| C．They suggest the freshness level of a food item. |
| D．They indicate whether a food item is safe to consume. |
| A．Its significance. | B．Its finding | C．Its goal. | D．Its method. |
| A．They sent a message to consumers when food changed color. |
| B．They were able to detect the expiration date of food accurately. |
| C．They helped participants decide whether to throw a food item away. |
| D．They were used to differentiate European and American markets. |
| A．Food companies changing their food packaging. | B．Higher sales of some perishable food. |
| C．Customers choosing healthier food. | D．A decrease in food waste. |
5 . Peter is a high school student and he lives in Suzhou. His family often take a trip to cities, such as Nanjing and Hangzhou. But Peter always hoped to visit Shanghai. This year, his dream finally came true.
On June 22nd, Peter’s family took the train to get to Shanghai. Their first destination was Zhujiajiao Ancient Town. After arriving there, they tasted many delicious foods first. Then they watched Kunqu Opera performances and hanfu shows.
On the second day, Peter’s family went to Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park. They not only watched many animals, but also joined in some traditional activities about the Dragon Boat Festival. For example, they made zongzi and joined in a boat race. Peter also played an ancient game — touhu. This was the first time he had tried the game. It was so interesting. They also went to At Life Hub@ Anting Square.
On the last day, Peter’s family enjoyed the old Shanghai songs and guofeng music at the concerts. They also went to Jiabei Country Park. They had fun at a music festival and took many photos at a Chinese art show.
“The three-day vacation was a great experience for me,” Peter said, “I learned a lot about Chinese traditional art and history.”
1. Which city did Peter always hope to visit?| A．Suzhou. | B．Nanjing. | C．Shanghai. | D．Hangzhou. |
| A．They visited some parks. | B．They took many photos. |
| C．They watched hanfu shows. | D．They tasted many delicious foods. |
| A．Watching animals. | B．Making zongzi. |
| C．Enjoying a boat race. | D．Playing touhu. |
| A．Jiabei Country Park. | B．At Life Hub@ Anting Square. |
| C．Zhujiajiao Ancient Town. | D．Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park. |
| A．Tiring. | B．Great. | C．Boring. | D．Safe. |
6 . 2023 Hot List: The Best New Restaurants in the World
Place des Fetes — New York City
This famous wine bar provides a spot with a rare sweet and warm atmosphere. For date night, go to the bar with views of the open kitchen, or fill up the large table in the back with a group and taste the entire item menu. Either way, do not miss the famous mushroom soup.
Le Doyenne — Saint — Vrain, France
Australian chefs James Henry and Shaun Kelly transformed the former stables (马厩) of a 19th-century private estate into a working farm, restaurant, and guesthouse driven by the principles of regenerative agriculture. More than one hundred varieties of fruits, vegetables, and herbs make their way into Henry’s cooking after being carefully nurtured by Kelly.
Mi Compa Chava — Mexico City
Almost everyone eating here is devoted to fixing last night’s damage from drunkenness and getting a head start on creating today’s. On the sidewalk, crowds of locals and tourists alike line up for fisherman Salvador Orozco’s creative takes on Sinaloa and Baja seafood. Anything from the raw half of the menu is a sure bet, though cooked dishes like fish can help fill out a meal.
Vilas — Bangkok
Can a dish inspired by a Spanish recipe using Japanese ingredients (原料) still be considered Thai? For Chef Prin Polsuk, one of Bangkok’s most famous Thai chefs, it most certainly can. At his latest restaurant, a small dining room at the base of Bangkok’s hulalongkorn’s 1897 journey around Europe and the foreign ingredients and landmark King Power Mahanakhon Tower, he draws inspiration from King Chulalongkorn’s 1897 journey around Europe and the foreign ingredients and cooking techniques he added to the royal cookbooks.
1. What can you do in Place des Fetes — New York City ?| A．Drink the red wine. | B．Taste the mushroom soup. |
| C．Watch the musicals. | D．Enjoy the beautiful views. |
| A．Place des Fetes. | B．Le Doyenne. |
| C．Mi Compa Chava. | D．Vilas. |
| A．To introduce the features of some restaurants. |
| B．To compare the origins of some restaurants. |
| C．To state the similarities of some restaurants. |
| D．To recommend some foods of some restaurants. |
7 . Students at St. Stanislaus High School in Mississippi are among the volunteers along US coasts raising oysters (牡蛎) to help restore, or repair weakened reefs (礁). Oyster reefs are an important part of coastal environments. Each oyster cleans 95 to 190 liters of water a day. The reefs provide living space for shrimp, crabs and fish. They also protect coastlines. In the states of Maryland, Virginia, Mississippi, and Alabama, now there are more than 1,000 oyster gardens. Most of them are in wire cages hanging from private ports.
Colin Wood, one student looking after the St. Stanislaus garden, said he was excited by the hands-on work. “I didn’t realize oysters had a big influence on the environment. And 50,000 to 55,000 adult oysters grown here each year go to reefs in Mobile Bay,” he said.
In the 1950s, an average of 37,400 tons of oysters were taken yearly from partly salty waters in the US. But US oyster harvests fell sharply in the 1990s. Data showed the cause of the drop could be overharvesting, pollution, pests and other problems. Then oyster gardening started.
Oyster gardening uses many of the same methods as farming. Farmers around the country grow oysters near the surface of water. Oysters develop much faster where the water holds more food they eat and enemies can be more easily removed. But the oysters are not being grown to be eaten. Oyster gardens get pulled from the water every seven to ten days. The time out of the water is used to clear out small animals, keep oysters from growing through the wires, and dry and clean off plant-life growing on the wires.
Bob Stokes, the director of the Galveston Bay Foundation in Texas, says, “Oyster gardening is as much about education as it is restoration.”
1. How does Colin Wood feel about his work?| A．Simple. | B．Tiring. | C．Creative. | D．Meaningful. |
| A．The use of oyster gardening. |
| B．The influence of oyster harvests falling. |
| C．The reason for starting oyster gardening. |
| D．The problems oyster gardening is facing. |
| A．To repair the cages. |
| B．To pick weak oysters out. |
| C．To examine the water quality. |
| D．To keep a good environment for oysters. |
| A．What oyster gardening is |
| B．Oyster reefs are becoming endangered |
| C．Volunteers keep oysters to restore reefs |
| D．Why oysters are growing popular in the US |
8 . Jobs for Teens
Teenagers earn more than just money at a part-time job, they also earn experience, financial independence, responsibility, and savings for college. Here are some popular jobs for teens to earn extra money while getting valuable experience for the future.
Babysitting
Babysitting is a true way for any teenager who enjoys kids to make money. Neighbors, family friends, and relatives with small children often need help and want someone they know and trust. In order to offer more valuable services, teens can take classes on dealing with possible dangerous situations.
Coffee Shop
If your teen enjoys coffee, music, laptops, and people, then working as a waiter at a coffee shop can be a great part-time job choice. Coffee shops often offer a peaceful atmosphere (氛围) perfect for people watching. Besides, he can earn tips (小费)! If your teen wants to serve people, working at a coffee shop part-time could be the job for him.
Dog-Walking
Many elderly neighbors, friends on vacation, and people who work long hours need help washing and walking their pets. If your teen enjoys working with animals and is responsible for his work, then this is the job for him. His part-time business will begin to pick up once he sets himself up as a reliable animal lover.
Food Services
If your teen loves communicating with people, restaurant employment might be right for her. She can choose from such positions as cashier, server, food runner, dish washer, and prep cook. Food industry positions can help your teen develop people skills, self-respect, and responsibility, while enjoying a bit of socializing.
1. Which job is especially fit for pet lovers?| A．Babysitting. | B．Coffee Shop. |
| C．Dog-Walking. | D．Food Services. |
| A．They offer music and laptops. |
| B．They help improve teen’s social skills. |
| C．They have a peaceful atmosphere. |
| D．They provide tips for employees. |
| A．Parents. | B．Teenagers. | C．Teachers. | D．Graduates. |
9 . Atomic shapes are so simple that they can’t be broken down any further. Mathematicians are trying to turn to artificial intelligence (AI) for help to build a periodic table of these shapes, hoping it will assist in finding yet-unknown atomic shapes.
Tom Coates at Imperial College London and his colleagues are working to classify atomic shapes known as Fano varieties, which are so simple that they can’t be broken down into smaller components. Just as chemists arranged element s in the periodic table by their atomic weight and group to reveal new insights, the researchers hope that organizing these atomic shapes by their various properties will help in understanding them.
The team has given each atomic shape a sequence of numbers based on its features such as the number of holes it has or the extent to which it bends around itself. This acts as a bar code (条形码) to identify it. Coates and his colleagues have now created an AI that can predict certain properties of these shapes from their bar code numbers alone, with an accuracy of 98 percent.
The team member Alexander Kasprzyk at the University of Nottingham, UK, says that the AI has let the team organize atomic shapes in a way that begins to follow the periodic table, so that when you read from left to right, or up and down, there seem to be general patterns in the geometry (几何) of the shapes.
Graham Nib lo at the University of Southampton, UK, stresses that humans will still need to understand the results provided by AI and create proofs of these ideas. “AI has definitely got unbelievable abilities. But in the same way that telescopes (望远镜) don’t put astronomers out of work, AI doesn’t put mathematicians out of work,” he says. “It just gives us new backing that allows us to explore parts of the mathematical landscape that are out of reach.”
The team hopes to improve the model to the point where missing spaces in its periodic table could point to the existence of unknown shapes.
1. What is the purpose of building a periodic table of shapes?| A．To gain deeper insights into the atomic shapes. |
| B．To create an AI to predict the unknown shapes. |
| C．To break down atomic shapes into smaller parts. |
| D．To arrange chemical elements in the periodic table. |
| A．Its holes. | B．Its bends. |
| C．Its atomic weight. | D．Its properties. |
| A．Design. | B．Help. | C．Duty. | D．Threat. |
| A．Thanks to AI, new atomic shapes have been discovered. |
| B．Mathematicians turn to AI to create more atomic shapes. |
| C．AI helps build a relationship between chemistry and maths. |
| D．A periodic table of shapes can be built with the help of AI. |
10 . Various sports attract fans for different reasons: Spectator sports draw even more fans who just love to watch. Here are some of the most beloved sports worldwide.
Hockey-2 billion fans
Hockey, both on ice and on a field, wins a following of two billion enthusiastic fans worldwide. Field hockey is mainly played in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia, while ice hockey is particularly popular in Canada and the US, where kids grow up playing pond hockey. Unlike ice hockey, field hockey usually does not involve body contact in the form of checking and hitting.
Football-4 billion fans
Football, better known as soccer in the US, is by far the most popular sport in the world. Experts estimate that the origin (起源) of football may go as far back as two thousand years, beginning in ancient China during the Han Dynasty. One major reason for football’s global popularity is that unlike other sports that require expensive equipment, all you need to play football is a ball and your feet.
Volleyball-900 million fans
Volleyball pits two teams across a high net, each attempting to smash the ball onto the opponent’s floor. A popular variant, beach volleyball, is competed on sand by pairs rather than the regular six players per team. The crowd appeal of beach volleyball has grown greatly in recent years.
Tennis-1 billion fans
An estimated one billion people worldwide follow professional tennis tournaments and matches. In tennis, players on both sides of a net try to hit a ball with a racket so that it either goes past their opponent (对手) or bounces twice on their opponent’s side of the court to score points. Tennis superstars like Rafael Nadal, and Serena Williams are now household names around the world, with huge international fan bases.
1. Which sport attracts the most fans according to the text?| A．Volleyball. | B．Hockey. | C．Football. | D．Tennis. |
| A．Its long history. | B．Its great convenience. |
| C．Its unique origin. | D．Its huge fan bases. |
| A．Playing ice hockey involves body contact. |
| B．Soccer is American people's favorite sport. |
| C．Beach volleyball has attracted the most sports fans recently. |
| D．A tennis player loses one point if his ball goes past his opponent. |
