1 . Luis Reynoso says he’s always tried to get involved in his children’s education: attending meetings on school-improvement projects and providing classroom food. But when his youngest daughter’s school invited families to attend a nine-week programme Let’s Change the Course organised by a leading education advocacy group here to learn about parenting and school participation, he realised his past efforts barely scratched the surface.
Each weekly session touched on different parenting themes, like setting up a special space at home for kids to do homework, and the importance of confidence. One of the most helpful sessions, he recalls, focused on what a child should know academically in each grade and how to talk to teachers about his daughter’s performance. “The workshops really woke me up,” says Mr Reynoso.
Levels of parental participation in Mexican schools have long been low. Many people commonly believe a child’s education is the school’s job to get involved. In some parts of the country, mother’s or father’s own lack of education can play into a sense that they have nothing to contribute. And even in private schools, where there might be more adults with fixed jobs, the participation is very rare, with some parents viewing their tuition bill as their educational contribution. There are also cases where the schools themselves ignore the potential of parents in a child’s education, discouraging communication between families and schools.
But the importance of family participation is something many non-profit education advocates and recently the government are starting to home in on Mexico. Part of Mexico’s 2013 national education reform stresses the importance of parents playing a more active role in their child’s education, encouraging an increase in parental-participation programmes, including Let’s Change the Course.
Susana Castellanos, headmaster of a school in Mexico City, says, “People are recognising you have to work together to create happy successful citizens. It’s no longer acceptable to set apart the roles of teacher vs. parent vs.school headmaster.”
1. What influence did Mexico’s education reform have?| A．The number of parental-participation programmes rose. |
| B．Many non-profit educational organisations were set up. |
| C．Teachers’ roles in school education started to get increased. |
| D．Parents began to attach importance to children’s education. |
| A．His previous efforts were in vain. | B．He missed the key point of participation. |
| C．His daughter disagreed with what he did. | D．He failed to catch the importance of school. |
| A．The necessity to set up a space for kids to do homework. |
| B．The academic requirements for kids in different periods. |
| C．The importance of knowing children’s performance. |
| D．The ways to increase students’ confidence. |
| A．How to contribute more to children’s education. |
| B．How to know the levels of parental participation in Mexican schools. |
| C．Why schools failed to provide chances for parents to get involved. |
| D．Why parents played less active roles in school education in Mexico. |
2 . Calling all poets! Time for Kids has a challenge for you: Write a rhyming poem and enter it in the TFK Poetry Contest. It must be a poem that does not copy another poet’s work.
How to enter: This contest begins at 12 pm on May 14 and ends at 12 pm on July 15. To enter online, visit time for kids. com/poetry contest and follow instructions to submit the following: (a) an original and previously unpublished poem; (b) the entrant’s first name only and email address; (c) a parent’s email address. Limit one entry per person or email account.
Judging: All entries will be judged by poet Kenn Nesbitt, based on the following criteria: creativity and originality (50%), use of language and rhyme (25%) and appropriateness to contest theme (25%). Winners will be notified by email during the month of August and must respond within five days.
Eligibility (资格): Open to legal citizens of the United States who are elementary school students and are 8 to 13 years old at the time of entry.
Prizes: Our judge will select four semi-finalists (半决赛选手), from which one winner and three finalists will be chosen. The winner will receive an online class taught by Kenn Nesbitt. All the semi-finalists will receive a signed copy of Big foot Is Missing, which is worth about $275. The semi-finalists’ poems will be published at timeforkids.com.
1. What does the poetry contest value most?| A．Whether the poem is novel. |
| B．Whether the poem is humorous. |
| C．Whether the poem is written in rhyme. |
| D．Whether the poem is suitable for the contest theme. |
| A．A $275 bonus. |
| B．An online class. |
| C．The position of the assistant editor. |
| D．A signed copy of Big foot Is Missing. |
| A．One month. | B．Two months. |
| C．Three months. | D．Four months. |
3 . Education appears to protect older adults especially women,against memory loss,according to a study by investigators at Georgetown University Medical Center.
The study tested declarative memory in 704 older adults (58—98 years of age).Declarative memory refers to our ability to remember events,facts,and words,such as where you put your keys or the name of that new neighbor.The investigators found that their memory performance became progressively worse with aging.However,more years of early-life education countered these losses,especially in women.
For example,the declarative memory abilities of an 80-year-old woman with a bachelor’s degree would be as good as those of a 60-year-old woman with a high school education.So,four extra years of education make up for the memory losses from 20 years of aging.
“Simply said,learning brings about learning,” says the study’s senior investigator,Michael Ullman.“Since learning new information in declarative memory is easier if it is related to knowledge we already have,more knowledge from more education should result in better memory abilities,even years later,” adds the study’s lead author,Jana Reifegerste.
“Evidence suggests that girls often have better declarative memory than boys,so education may lead to greater knowledge gains in girls,” says Ullman.“Education may thus particularly benefit memory abilities in women,even years later in old age.”
The study tested individuals in a non-Western population.Participants varied in the number of years of education,from none at all to graduate studies.“Future research is needed to test whether the findings can be generalized to other populations,” Ullman says.
“These findings may be important,especially considering the rapidly aging population globally,” Reifegerste says.“The results argue for further efforts to increase access to education.”
“Education has also been found to delay the beginning of Alzheimer’s disease,” Ullman says.“We believe that our findings may shed light on why this occurs.”
1. What does the passage mainly talk about?| A．Declarative memory abilities fail with aging. |
| B．Women should try to obtain a bachelor’s degree. |
| C．Learning regularly helps improve old adults’ memory. |
| D．Early-life education helps prevent memory loss in old age. |
| A．Canceled. | B．Changed. |
| C．Replaced. | D．Reduced. |
| A．Slow down the process of aging. |
| B．Promote the development of education. |
| C．Advance the study of Alzheimer’s disease. |
| D．Ensure the equal rights of women’s education. |
4 . We all know what burnout (倦怠) is and why it’s bad. But fewer of us have heard of “boreout (闷爆)” — a related phenomenon that’s arguably just as harmful. “Boreout is different from burnout in the sense that bored-out employees rarely collapse from exhaustion. Bored-out people may be present physically but not in spirit, and people can keep doing this for a good while,” says Lotta Harju, who has studied boreout for years.
Workers who realize they’re experiencing boreout may also be unwilling to flag it up as an issue to managers or human resources. “While the behaviors that lead to burnout — overwork, driving oneself hard — are appreciated and rewarded by employers, boreout reflects a lack of interest and a lack of motivation,” says Harju. “These are not accepted in organizations.”
There are some quick fixes for boreout, like taking on work tasks that are more interesting to you. But a 2016 study Harju and her colleagues worked on showed that people who had boreout were less likely to engage in constructive activities like trying to find new, interesting challenges at work. What happens more often, she says, is that people will just show up at their desks and spend time shopping online, chatting with colleagues or planning other activities. She says that these people aren’t lazy, but are using these behaviours as “coping mechanisms”.
Fahri Ozsungur, an associate professor of economics at Mersin University, Turkey, who was behind the 2021 study on the health effects of boreout, points out that combating the phenomenon isn’t just down to the individual. “Giving meaning to the job is not just up to the employees,” he says. “It’s also up to management to create an office culture that makes people feel valued.”
If you think boreout is seriously affecting your health either physically or mentally, it may be valuable to ask yourself how you might be able to reselect your career path toward something healthier for you. Seek the advice from advisers, career consultants, friends and family. “I do not know whether there is a better way to figure out what works for you than trial and error,” Harju says. “Boreout can mark a transition to something else: a different career entirely, or a different role in the organization. If only people take its cue.”
1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?| A．To provide the background. | B．To tell us who Lotta Harju is. |
| C．To give a definition of burnout. | D．To introduce the topic of the text. |
| A．They lack relevant knowledge. |
| B．They are warned not to talk about it. |
| C．They fear to be laughed at by their colleagues. |
| D．They don’t want employers to know their lack of drive to work. |
| A．Encouraging. | B．Fighting. | C．Trusting. | D．Blaming. |
| A．Sticking to the job before adapting to it. |
| B．Forcing employers to give a salary increase. |
| C．Trying to spend more time with your family. |
| D．Considering changing a new job interesting you. |
5 . If you’re considering volunteering in South Africa with beautiful nature and wild animals, you’re probably wondering: What does an average working day look like? What are the costs of the program?
The organizations that you will volunteer for usually have resources for assistance in place. In addition, most countries have an embassy or consulate (领事馆) in Cape Town , Pretoria, or Johannesburg where you can find support in case of problems.
Benefits of volunteering experiences to individuals
Best places to volunteer in South Africa
Cape Town is one of the most popular places to volunteer in South Africa. Being in an urban environment as well as being near nature provides different volunteer opportunities related to marine conservation (保护), education, and animal care. Durban and Johannesburg are also good options for volunteer work.
Costs of volunteering in South Africa
Most volunteer programs require fees for training, housing, and meals.
| A．Volunteer support in South Africa |
| B．Places to hang out in your spare time |
| C．Will I be working together with other volunteers? |
| D．Do you have a better understanding of the local places? |
| E．Volunteering in South Africa will be an unforgettable experience. |
| F．It takes a volunteer $700-$800 per week to take part in a volunteer program there. |
| G．If you want to work on environmental conservation, Kruger National Park can be a great choice. |
6 . George Headley would have been a dentist in the USA rather than one of the greatest cricketers (板球运动员) if he had got his papers from Panama on time. The Indian legend was born in Colón, Panama and a period of unemployment in Jamaica caused him to begin the process of seeking a career elsewhere.
The delay, however, gave Headley time to make his first-class debut (首次亮相) for Jamaica against the visiting Lord Tennyson’s XI from England. These were his scores in the three first-class games in the series: 16, 40, and 71. The rest, as they say, is history. Yet, consider what might have occurred if his documents had arrived on time and he had migrated to America. There would have been a missing chapter in cricket.
Headley’s ta le brings to the fore the role that happenstance (偶然情况) plays in life. In the song A Different Comer, George Michael lamented (哀叹) that a romantic union went wrong and suggested that it might have been better if circumstances had worked to prevent their first meeting: “Take me back in time; maybe I can forget. Turn a different corner and we never would have met.”
Our lives are the result of much planning and deliberate action. But they are the result of chance as well. “The harder I practice, the luckier I get” is a quote normally used by sportsmen to discount the occurrence or consequence of luck. Athletes like to think that whatever success they’ve had is only down to them. To admit otherwise is to devalue the skills and efforts.
The changes in luck are a large part of why we watch sports. It fosters uncertainty, which, in turn. enhances interest in the process and the result. On any given day, the underdog can be at the champion. Whenever that occurs, luck is likely to have played some significant part, and sport is better for it.
1. What decision did George Headley make before getting his papers?| A．To complete his official documents in Panama. | B．To sharpen his cricket skills in Jamaica. |
| C．To get a degree in medicine in the USA. | D．To work as a dentist in the USA. |
| A．It affected his debut performance. | B．It became a turning point in his life. |
| C．It benefited the England cricket team. | D．It led to a missing chapter in cricket. |
| A．To stress the importance of chance. |
| B．To explain the necessity of planning ahead. |
| C．To show the significance of the first impressions. |
| D．To illustrate a love-hate relationship with friends. |
| A．Practice makes perfect. | B．Little people can make a big difference. |
| C．Efforts and chances are equally important. | D．Nothing is impossible to a willing heart. |
7 . Eating chocolate at least once a week could avoid a heart attack, according to new research published in a magazine. Chocolate is packed with plant chemicals that weaken inflammation(炎症) and help blood flow, explained scientists.
The study author Dr. Chayakrit Krittanawong said, “Our study suggests chocolate helps keep the heart’s blood vessels healthy.” The study collected data from six trials that examined the link over the past five decades. A total of 336,289 people reported their intake. Those who ate chocolate more than once a week reduced their risk of coronary artery(冠状动脉) disease by eight percent. This was compared to peers who ate it less than once a week.
Researchers stress that some heart-healthy nutrients in chocolate can improve some measures of heart health by reducing inflammation and flushing low-density lipoprotein(低密度脂蛋白) out of the body. When the latter collects, it causes vessels and arteries to become blocked up. It can stop blood flowing to the heart or brain, causing a heart attack or stroke.
Dark chocolate has long been known to have health benefits but recent research has suggested milk chocolate may also provide valuable nutrients to the heart. Dr. Krittanawong pointed out his study did not investigate whether any particular type of chocolate is more beneficial or if there is an ideal portion size. He said, “Chocolate appears promising for the prevention of coronary artery disease. But more research is needed to show how much and what kind of chocolate could be recommended.”
While it’s not clear how much is perfect, Dr. Krittanawong warned people against overeating. He said, “Moderate amounts of chocolate seem to protect coronary arteries but it’s likely that large quantities do not.”
1. What does Paragraph 2 mainly talk about?| A．The result of the study. | B．The process of the study. |
| C．The participants of the study. | D．The purpose of the study. |
| A．A stroke. | B．A heart attack. |
| C．High-density lipoprotein. | D．Low-density lipoprotein. |
| A．Chocolate is good for blood pressure. |
| B．Dark chocolate is beneficial to health. |
| C．Milk chocolate may also benefit the heart. |
| D．Chocolate contains special plant chemicals. |
| A．Indifferent. | B．Hopeful. |
| C．Negative. | D．Uncertain. |
8 . In 1970, before he became a blues legend, Stevie Ray Vaughan was working as a dishwasher in Dallas. One of his jobs was cleaning out the trash bin. To do it, Vaughan had to stand on some large wooden barrels, which were for the kitchen crew to dump hot grease(油脂). One day, while he was cleaning, the top of a barrel suddenly gave and he fell in.
Luckily for Vaughan, it had been a while since last grease was dumped, so the stuff had cooled and he was able to safely climb out of the barrel. However, the next day, Vaughan’s boss fired him for breaking the barrel. The young man could have been severely injured, but he lost his job for his trouble.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. National surveys suggest that burns, cuts, falls and other injuries are extremely common in the fast food industry, where underpaid people are placed under intense pressure to work quickly.
Then there’s wage theft—employers try to avoid paying workers what they’re legally entitled to. According to the Economic Policy Institute, lawyers together with federal and state agencies recovered at least $933 million for victims of wage theft in 2012 alone and that was just for the workers whose cases were successfully pursued.
People with power—employers, managers and owners of big and small businesses—quite often do mistreat their workers. And they do it because there are no consequences to fear and workers often can’t leave their job without putting their livelihood at risk. So they dare not speak out against the unfair treatment.
So we also need social institutions—a universal basic income, an allowance, a job guarantee, truly universal health care and more—that give workers an alternative to depending on incomes. And we need a strong labor movement that can punish employers if they don’t give workers their fair share and press the government to enforce the law.
1. Why was Vaughan able to escape serious injury?| A．The barrel did not have a cover. |
| B．His colleagues rescued him in time. |
| C．The temperature of the stuff in the barrel was low. |
| D．He immediately broke the barrel and ran away. |
| A．Employers treat their employees badly. |
| B．Employees may easily get injured at work. |
| C．Competition is fiercer in the fast food industry. |
| D．Employees fail to defend their rights through laws. |
| A．The potential consequences of wage theft. |
| B．The reasons for the phenomenon of wage theft. |
| C．The conflict between employers and employees. |
| D．The complaints from employees about wage theft. |
| A．Employees should work harder to improve incomes. |
| B．Vaughan was fired owing to his negative attitude to work. |
| C．It’s unnecessary for employees to be in conflict with employers. |
| D．Some measures should be taken to protect employees’ interests. |
9 . Whether you’re in high school or college, classes will be over in June. If you’d like to work in the summer vacation, have you started looking for a job? If you haven’t, now’s the time to search for positions, fill out applications, and get yourself hired. You can follow our tips below.
Make or update your resume. Even if potential positions require you to submit an application, some may also ask for an accompanying resume.
Look ahead.
Pay a visit. If there’s a certain place where you’re interested in working, put on an appropriate outfit(装束), take your resume and visit there.
Remember, it’s important to get started on the summer job search now, as so many others will be looking for seasonal work.
| A．Get your references ready. |
| B．Ask to speak with the manager. |
| C．Contact your former employers immediately. |
| D．What do you want to do after you graduate from college? |
| E．It might make sense for you to stay in your college town. |
| F．And don’t get discouraged if you can’t find anything immediately. |
| G．Go to the career services office at your school to help you with your resume. |
10 . Reading books can obviously make you a better, smarter entrepreneur. According to a 2018 study of over 160, 000 adults in 31 countries, the more books that were present in participants’ childhood homes, the more competent they now are as adults with skills in literacy, mathematics, and technological problem-solving. Researchers note that book-oriented socialization, indicated by home library size, equips youth with lifelong tastes, skill and knowledge.
Growing up with home libraries boosts adult skills in literacy, numeracy and technological problem-solving beyond the benefits acquired from parental education or your own educational or occupational attainment. Kids who grow up in a home where reading is valued and modeled are more likely to be good readers. Strangely enough, though, advanced education doesn’t necessarily offset the “lots of books in the home” advantage. Adults who grew up with relatively few books in their homes and later earned a college degree had literacy levels approximately equal to adults who grew up in homes with large libraries but only attended school for nine years.
Jessica Stillman writes, surrounding yourself with more books than you could ever read says good things about your mind. Those books serve as a constant reminder of all the things you don’t know — which helps keep you intellectually hungry and curious. And possibly, this will keep you a little more modest, since research shows the quicker you are to admit you don’t know something, the faster you can then learn it. As Jeff Bezos says, a key sign of intelligence is the willingness to change your mind, something that only happens if you’re willing to admit that your current thinking may not be the best thinking. Modesty, learning and the willingness to change your mind when new data presents itself: That’s another three bonus every entrepreneur can benefit from.
1. What does paragraph 1 mainly talk about?| A．The tough process of the research. |
| B．An inspiring discovery of the research. |
| C．Numerous data of the research. |
| D．Advanced technology of the research. |
| A．Compete with. | B．Differ from. |
| C．Go against. | D．Compensate for. |
| A．To keep readers intellectually hungry. |
| B．To stress the significance of modesty. |
| C．To remind readers of their ignorance. |
| D．To evidence the benefits of home library. |
| A．Home library size indicates some lifelong skills. |
| B．Home reading equals to a college degree. |
| C．Modesty makes a promising entrepreneur. |
| D．Childhood libraries lead to adulthood success. |
