1 . How to Fall Back in Love with Reading
Do you remember the last time you spent time reading books for pleasure? In the age of digital distractions, it is easy to struggle to find the time and headspace to get lost in literature.
Set aside time for reading books. Whether it’s 20 minutes before bedtime or an hour on your lunch break, carving out sometime in your schedule will make it easier to sit down and read. And if you find that you don’t have much free time, try listening to audiobooks.
Keep a reading journal. In your journal, you can write down your thoughts about what you’re reading or graffiti pictures inspired by the book.
Make reading a social activity. Whether you start a book club with your friends or join an online reading group, being able to discuss what you’re reading with others can make the experience more enjoyable.
| A．Find a book that interests you. |
| B．Create a positive reading routine. |
| C．But that doesn’t mean reading books is a thing of the past! |
| D．By this way, you can easily fit reading into your busy lifestyle. |
| E．Plus, it’s a great way to get recommendations for what to read next! |
| F．The others in your book club may come from different backgrounds. |
| G．It doesn’t have to be very involved, just a couple of sentences to jog your memory. |
2 . Our old, artificial Christmas tree was in rough shape by the time we retired it. At least a decade had passed since my wife and I bought the tree, a medium-size fake tree with built-in lights, at a Target in Brooklyn and carried it on the subway to our tiny apartment. Over the years, we dragged that tree from apartment, jammed it onto a moving truck to Los Angeles and later packed the weathered box onto another moving truck, this time to Chicago and our current home. By the end, layers of duct tape (强力胶布) held the box together, the wear and tear of a decade of delivering holiday cheer.
Our little tree looked run down, but it was the only tree our family ever knew. It stands proud and glowing in the background of photos of me and my pregnant wife during our last Christmas in Brooklyn without children. Our oldest was born a month later during a January snowstorm. The tree shows up again in the next year’s photos, this time surrounded by holiday gifts for a boy about to turn 1. Then it appears in photos of our son and his 1-month-old brother, this time with California palm trees just outside the door. And in more recent photos, our tree lights up windows overlooking shining Chicago snow. This year, after much debate, we decided to retire our dear old tree, with its bent branches and the lights that had burned out years ago. Rather than feel depressed, we used the moment to launch a new family tradition: our first real Christmas tree.
So here’s a toast to all your family’s traditions—the old and the new. I hope you enjoy this issue, which we have filled with stories of seasonal joy and holiday cheer. Happy holidays!
1. Where is the author’s present home?| A．In Chicago. | B．In Brooklyn. | C．In California. | D．In Los Angeles. |
| A．His budget was tight. | B．He was attached to it. |
| C．It was in good condition. | D．It was environmentally-friendly. |
| A．An editor. | B．A salesman. | C．A delivery man. | D．A home designer. |
| A．The finest diamond must be cut. |
| B．Out with the old, in with the new. |
| C．Old friends and old wine are best. |
| D．All things in their being are good for something. |
3 . Popular Countries to Visit in 2024
ZimbabweZimbabwe is a country that travelers all over the world always talk about, not only because it is a friendly country, but also because it is one of Africa’s safest places. In Zimbabwe, you can visit many tourist attractions. For example, Big Five-filled national parks, forested mountains and the Victoria Falls. Here you can see African lions, African elephants, African buffaloes, African leopards, and rhinoceroses, which are called the big five animals.
JordanIf you have a taste for adventure (冒险), you will certainly love Jordan, because there is a 650-km-long path in Jordan and you can have a 36-day hike here. There are several other places for people to visit, for example, the Rift Valley is the best place that attracts travelers fond of adventure to challenge. Besides, the Dead Sea is the lowest point on Earth, which can leave a deep impression on people.
IndonesiaFrom Sumatra to Papua, more than 17,000 islands make Indonesia a multicultural (多元文化的) country. On these islands, there are many kinds of tasty food, which could offer tourists good feelings and experiences. Thanks to heavy investment (投资) in new air, land and sea connections by the government, people from 169 countries can enter Indonesia with free visas (签证) . It has never been easier to explore this warm country.
BelarusBelarus becomes more and more popular because of the relaxed visa requirements. There are lots of art exhibitions, cafes and local parties in Belarus. In its beautiful old towns, people can go to the fashionable bars and join the happy summer street parties. Minsk, the capital of Belarus, has been chosen as the host city for many global events and meetings. 2024 European Games is on the list.
1. Where will you go if you are interested in African animals?| A．Zimbabwe. | B．Jordan. | C．Indonesia. | D．Belarus. |
| A．The 650-km-long path. | B．The 36-day hike. |
| C．The Rift Valley. | D．The Dead Sea. |
| A．Indonesia is one of the safest places in the world. |
| B．Many foreigners can visit Indonesia with free visas. |
| C．Indonesia is famous for its tasty food. |
| D．More than 17, 000 cities form the warm country. |
| A．Because the visa requirements have been less strict. |
| B．Because there are lots of art exhibitions, cafes and local parties. |
| C．Because people can get 30-day free visas. |
| D．Because people can join the happy summer street parties. |
| A．Zimbabwe. | B．Jordan. | C．Indonesia. | D．Belarus. |
4 . Employers are flooded with job applications on a daily basis. A recent study found that employers spend an average of six seconds reading a cover letter (求职信) before they make the initial decision on whether a candidate fits the job or not. Here's how to make sure yours gets the attention it deserves.
Add your cover letter keywords.
Show you “get” them. Your cover letter should demonstrate that you have done some research into what the organization’s pain points are.
Proofread (校对). Don’t assume spell check will catch every mistake.
| A．Actually, it won’t. |
| B．Adapt for the company. |
| C．Highlight your past achievements. |
| D．Address your cover letter to the proper person. |
| E．This helps you to tailor your cover letter to the role. |
| F．Remember that you’re selling yourself, but the employer has to want to buy. |
| G．It’s important to present yourself as a solution to a hiring manager’s problem. |
5 . Cannes, a coastal city in France, is famous for hosting the Cannes Film Festival every year. It’s also a beautiful place to visit any time of the year. Here are 4 things to do in Cannes.
Stroll (漫步) along the famous La CroisetteEnjoy a stroll down La Croisette — a famous 2-mile waterfront road. It’s the place where the Cannes Film Festival takes place. Take a seat for people-watching or enjoy the beautiful scenery. Discover recreational (娱乐的) places for kids or go to summer music concerts at a low price.
Explore the historic Le SuquetLose yourself in the attractive streets of Le Suquet, the historic old town of Cannes. An impressive 5th century theater will take your breath away. Visit the World Explorations Museum, and enjoy wonderful views from the tower. Walk through narrow streets and discover cafes and wine bars.
Take a tour of Cannes with a screenwriterYou can set foot on a small-group tour, led by a screenwriter and historical researcher. Get fully immersed (沉浸) in the city’s rich film history, and see how it transforms itself into an international film center. Remember to book your tour on the Internet in advance.
Leave for Sainte-MargueriteTake a ship to Sainte-Marguerite, the largest of the Lerins Islands just off the coast of Cannes. Enjoy walks on coastal paths, or relax on the beaches, which are perfect for swimming and picnics. Enjoy local seafood, or go deep into the island’s past with a visit to the 7th century Fort Royal.
1. What can we know about La Croisette?| A．It holds free summer concerts. |
| B．It offers play areas for children. |
| C．It becomes well known for top-class service. |
| D．It allows visitors to take photos with film stars. |
| A．Stroll along the famous La Croisette. | B．Explore the historic Le Suquet. |
| C．Take a tour of Cannes with a screenwriter. | D．Leave for Sainte-Marguerite. |
| A．By water. | B．By car. | C．On foot. | D．By air. |
6 . Nowadays, we know how to work with al old items. Many of them can be reused after being properly processed. Instead of sending them to the trashcan, we have new choices.
Participate in the Give the Gift of Sight Program. Run by Lions Club International, the program makes it easy for you to donate your old eyeglasses and sunglasses to needy people in developing countries. After you drop glasses off, they are cleaned, repaired, and grouped, then distributed.
Donate your used computer to computers for Kids, a non-profit organization.
Recycle sneakers (运动鞋) and athletic shoes. Since 1990, NIKE has sponsored the Reuse-A-Shoe program.
Never throw away books or magazines. Books and magazines are a great aid to help those who’ve been sent to prison. Some of them quit school at an early age.
| A．Recycle holiday and greeting cards. |
| B．Find one near you by searching online. |
| C．So don’t forget the “early reader” books. |
| D．Here are some ways to recycle worn - out items. |
| E．It aims to improve the computer skills of youth. |
| F．It takes in used sneakers and breaks them into pieces. |
| G．Over 1.5 million pairs of shoes are recycled and repaired. |
7 . While conquering the world’s swimming pools in the late 1990s and the 2000s. Amanda Beard had already included breathing exercises in her training. Several years after the end of her athletic career, she discovered walking meditation. Today the seven-time US Olympic medalist practices walking meditation in nature, around the house, or while walking the dog. It’s a daily practice with the focused mindfulness of meditation that contributes positively to every aspect of her life, she says.
You don’t need equipment or a designated space to start. The idea of a walking meditation is to pay attention to the way your body feels, noticing things like the sky, trees, tuning into all of your senses. This means you can meditate “on the go” in the countryside, in the city, in your backyard, and virtually anywhere. A simple, 10-minute walking meditation for beginners requires that you just start at ease. Consider what you hear, smell and see. Think about how your feet touch the ground. Fully focus on these feelings.
A report in Health Promotion Perspectives also found that walking meditation can improve your balance, adjust your heart rate, boost your mental focus, and help you battle anxiety and depression. “The benefits of meditation are many,” says Dr. Schramm, a board-certified family physician and meditation teacher. “When we do this over and over again, we train the brain to focus on only one thing at a time and this increases both our blood flow and actual neuronal (神经元) changes within our brains.”
“The magic of meditation is to be able to help you connect with yourself; meditation shouldn’t feel a certain way,” says Tara Stiles, a yoga and wellness expert. It’s a common mistake in meditation: People fear a wandering mind. “A wandering mind is completely normal,” Stiles says. “Even experienced meditators aren’t sitting there never having a thought, but when they have the thought they choose to guide themselves back to their breath instead of getting frustrated.
1. What is walking meditation?| A．Plain walking. | B．Mindful walking. |
| C．A competitive sport. | D．Deep thought while stationary. |
| A．A familiar environment. | B．A 10-minute walking time. |
| C．A relaxed but observant state. | D．A piece of special equipment. |
| A．Enhancing the blood flow. | B．Undergoing balance training. |
| C．Having more active thoughts. | D．Decreasing neuronal changes. |
| A．Carefree. | B．Frustrated. |
| C．Concerned. | D．Positive. |
8 . As a big country, China’s economic and political influence is felt around the world. And its influence in education and culture has been growing too. The Confucius Institute offering free language classes has gained increasing popularity in both Hungary and Serbia. By offering opportunities to learn Chinese language and traditional arts, Confucius Institutes bring Chinese culture closer to interested learners serving as bridges between nations.
During my childhood, I held an unspoken fascination for Asian culture a passion cultivated through watching dramas such as the Monkey King. At the time, the idea of studying this captivating region didn’t occupy my mind. My turning point came when the desire to challenge myself led me to choose China for further education. It was a decision—not only for academic growth, but also to experience the responsibility of looking after myself. Taking the road that is less traveled means less company, less comfort. But it also means forging a life with an entirely different perspective I am seeking.
Undertaking Chinese language training presented a remarkable opportunity for many reasons. I firmly believe that acquiring proficiency in the language of the culture is not merely useful, but is also an effective means to truly understand that culture. The combination of learning the language in a classroom setting and applying it in everyday life offers an enriching experience. I participated in the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations held by my local Confucius Institute, such as trying my hand at Chinese crafts providing me with a first-hand experience of the culture.
If given another chance, I would explore even deeper into the rich cultural tapestry that surrounds me. Exploring renowned landmarks like the oriental Pearl Tower previously unvisited, felt like embarking on a new journey of discovery. I can say that along this path, I am gradually learning that valuable lessons unfold step by step.
1. What is the main function of the Confucius Institute in global cultural exchanges?| A．Offering language courses with a very small fee. |
| B．Fostering international understanding of Chinese culture. |
| C．Promoting Chinese tourism and business opportunities abroad. |
| D．Serving as a platform for economic cooperation between countries. |
| A．The TV drama the Monkey King. |
| B．The Asian cultural fascination. |
| C．The desire for whole-person growth. |
| D．The dream to study in a foreign place. |
| A．To highlight the challenges of living abroad. |
| B．To encourage others to participate in local festivals. |
| C．To criticize the traditional classroom language learning. |
| D．To emphasize interactive learning in cultural understanding. |
| A．The Path Less Traveled |
| B．Language as a Bridge to Culture |
| C．Guide to Studying Abroad in China |
| D．Embracing Art: Beyond the Classroom |
9 . Initiating volunteering activities in your community is a powerful way to form unity, address local needs, and create a positive impact. To embark on this fulfilling journey, consider the following steps.
Identify community needs
Build partnerships
Establish partnerships with local organizations, non-profits, and community leaders.
Launch volunteer recruitment drives through community centers, schools, and social media. Clearly communicate the goals, the impact volunteers can make, and the benefits of collective action. Provide various spaces for involvement, recognizing that people have different skills and time commitments.
Celebrate achievements and maintain motivations
Regularly acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of volunteers.
| A．Organize volunteer drives |
| B．Always lean on neighbors for assistance |
| C．Create a sign-up system to update the process |
| D．Cooperative efforts highlight the impact of volunteering |
| E．Start by understanding the specific needs of your community |
| F．Share success stories to inspire others and create a positive feedback circle |
| G．Regularly assess the impact of volunteer efforts, adapting strategies to evolving community needs |
10 . The fact that gender diversity is something that companies constantly desire highlights the problem in itself. Actually, there are several professional industries where the female to male ratio (比例) is still nowhere close to equal. Across industries, the workforce gender balance is still highly skewed (偏向……的), even in domains which do not conventionally involve laborious work. The tech industry is a case in point, with the workforce imbalance definitely being one of the most prominent on the list.
Diversity and inclusion need to go hand in hand, and women around the world are increasingly assuming important positions and taking core decisions in the tech sector. These women are driving technological change and innovation which impact the industry at large.
Gender diversity, like diversity in general, is important for varied perspectives and thought processes in a company. These perspectives are what help shape advancements and new ideas in technology and overall operations for the success of the business. This is especially true for technologies such as AI. The effects of personal biases on AI can tilt (使……倾斜) the results and, thus, they require a number of inputs and caution on the team’s part, to be able to produce accurate solutions based on diverse and inclusive data.
According to a 2017 report on Higher Education by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, women were at or near parity (对等) among undergraduate degrees in science IT and computer. Most women equal men when it comes to skills, but face discrimination in other areas, thus creating a gap and reducing the will to continue at the company.
According to reports, biased treatment within the workplace is the most frequently cited reason for leaving, followed by poor management. There is still scope for a shift in attitudes at workplaces, which is a major obstacle when it comes to retaining women employees. In order to retain this talent and hi re more talent like this, governments, NGOs and leaders from tech organizations need to come together to help close the gender gap further by providing more flexible work options and decision-making opportunities for women.
More and more women across the world are interested in pursuing tech careers or maintaining their existing ones. There is a need to encourage them to take up roles in AI and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) with opportunities that are both fair and equal. Given the computer-driven nature of AI, there is a need for women from diverse backgrounds to balance out the conventionally male-dominated profession to give an accurate representation. Thus, an inclusive and diverse workforce, combined with better HR policies will retain and draw in more women. This, in turn, will help the entire tech industry to develop a more comprehensive, empathetic (感同身受的) way of operations, which will undoubtedly influence the future socio-cultural thread driven by products and services developed by them.
1. From the first paragraph we know that ________.| A．gender balance problem remains to be solved |
| B．laborious work demands more gender balance |
| C．not all industries have gender balance problem |
| D．gender balance problem has been more serious |
| A．unsatisfying income | B．unfair treatment |
| C．competitive workplace | D．poor management |
| A．Encouraging women to take up all kinds of roles. |
| B．Treating women employees more kindly than to men employees. |
| C．Offering women diverse work choices and decision-making opportunities. |
| D．Providing a tolerant working environment combined with favorable welfare. |
| A．To appeal to women to protect their proper rights |
| B．To present the fact of gender bias in the tech industry |
| C．To call for more women representation in the tech industry |
| D．To teach the tech industry how to get rid of gender bias |
