1 . This Is How Scandinavia Got Great

Almost everybody admires the Nordic model. Countries like Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland have high economic productivity, high social equality, high social trust and high levels of personal happiness.

Nordic nations were ethnically homogeneous(同质的) in 1800, when they were dirt poor. Their economic growth took off just after 1870, way before their welfare states were established.     1    

The 19th-century Nordic elites did something we haven’t been able to do in our country recently. They realized that if their countries were to prosper they had to create truly successful “folk schools” for the least educated among them. They realized that they were going to have to make lifelong learning a part of the natural fabric of society.

    2     The German word they used to describe their approach, bildung, doesn’t even have an English equivalent. It means the complete moral, emotional, intellectual and civic transformation of the person. It was based on the idea that if people were going to be able to handle and contribute to an emerging industrial society, they would need more complex inner lives.

Today, Americans often think of schooling as the transmission of specialized skill sets — the student can read, do math and recite the facts of biology.     3     It is devised to help them understand complex systems and see the relations between things — between self and society, between a community of relationships in a family and a town.

The Nordic educators worked hard to cultivate each student’s sense of connection to the nation. Before the 19th century, most Europeans identified themselves in local and not national terms.     4     The idea was to create in the mind of the student a sense of wider circles of belonging — from family to town to nation — and an eagerness to assume shared responsibility for the whole.

That educational push seems to have had a lasting influence on the culture. Whether in Stockholm or Minneapolis, Scandinavians have a tendency to joke about the way their sense of responsibility is always nagging at them. They have the lowest rates of corruption in the world. They have a distinctive sense of the relationship between personal freedom and communal responsibility.

A．Bildung is the way that the individual matures and takes upon him or herself ever bigger academic responsibility.

B．What really launched the Nordic nations was generations of phenomenal educational policy.

C．Bildung is designed to change the way students see the world.

D．But the Nordic curriculum conveyed to students a pride in, say, their Danish history, folklore and heritage.

E．They look at education differently than we do.

F．The Nordic educators also worked hard to develop the student’s internal awareness.

2 . There was a time when we thought humans were special in so many ways. Now we know better. We are not the only species that feels emotions, or follows a moral code. Neither are we the only ones with personalities, cultures and the ability to design and use tools. Yet we have all agree that one thing, at least, makes us unique: we alone have the ability of language.

It turns out that we are not so special in this aspect either. Key to the revolutionary reassessment of our talent for communication is the way we think about language itself. Where once it was seen as an unusual object, today scientists find it is more productive to think of language as a group of abilities. Viewed this way, it becomes apparent that the component parts of language are not as unique as the whole.

Take gesture, arguably the starting point for language. Until recently, it was considered uniquely human - but not any more. Mike Tomasello of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, and others have collected a list of gestures observed in monkeys and some other animals, which reveals that gestures plays a large role in their communication. Ape(猿) gestures can involve touch, vocalising or eye movement, and individuals wait until they have another ape’s attention before making visual or auditory gestures. If their gestures go unacknowledged, they will often repeat them.

In an experiment carried out in 2006 by Erica Cartmill and Richard Byrne from the University of St Andrews in the UK, they got a person to sit on a chair with some highly desirable food such as banana to one side of apes and some undesirable food such as vegetables to the other. The apes, who could see the person and the food from their enclosures, gestured at their human partners to encourage them to push the desirable food their way. If the person showed incomprehension and offered the vegetables, the animals would change their gestures - just as a human would in a similar situation. If the human seemed to understand while being somewhat confused, giving only half the preferred food, the apes would repeat and exaggerate their gestures - again in exactly the same way a human would. Such findings highlight the fact that the gestures of the animals are not merely inborn but are learned, flexible and under voluntary control - all characteristics that are considered preconditions for human-like communication.

1. It is agreed that compared with all the other animals, only human beings ________.

A．own the ability to show their personalities

B．are capable of using language to communicate

C．have moral standards and follow them in society

D．are intelligent enough to release and control emotions

2. According to the passage, humans are not so special in language ability because language ________.

A．involve some abilities that can be mastered by animals

B．is a talent impossibly owned by other animals

C．can be divided into different components

D．are productive for some talented animals

3. What can we learn from that experiment by Cartmill and Byrne?

A．Apes can use language to communicate with the help of humans.

B．Repeating and exaggerating gestures is vital in language communication.

C．Some animals can learn to express and communicate through some trials.

D．The preferred food stimulates some animals to use language to communicate.

4. What is probably the best title of the language?

A．Language involves gestures!	B．Animals language - gestures!
C．So you think humans are unique?	D．The similarity between humans and apes.

3 . Directions: Read the passage carefully. Then answer the questions or complete the statements in NO MORE THAN FIFTEEN WORDS. Write your answer on the answer sheet.

Choosing a suitable career today can be difficult for several reasons: There is far broader choice of careers; definitions of careers are changing and becoming more fluid; and companies have greater expectations for their employees. Most people joining the working world today are likely to change jobs several times. So there are a few simple things that you should know if you want to make the right career choices.

A skill and a talent are two different things. Skills can be learned, but people are born with talent. Although you might have a skill for something, you might not be interested in it. However, if you have a natural talent for something, you are more likely to enjoy doing it. Find out where your talent lie, and look for a job that lets you develop them.

The most valuable quality in the world of careers is experience. Careers always look very different once you are involved in them. If you are thinking about pursuing a certain career, you should find a person who already does it. Also, try to get as much experience as you can. It could be useful to gain some work experience at a company as a volunteer. If you do this, you can find out whether the job is right for you. As you won’t be getting any money, it is unlikely that you will have to keep doing it unless you enjoy it.

If you graduate at the top of your class, you may have the chance to find the perfect job. However, for most graduates, the biggest priority is simply finding work. The best way to choose between different options is to ask yourself, “Which job will give me the greatest chance of being excellent at something?” As you are just beginning your career, the best choice may not necessarily be the one that pays the highest salary.

1. What makes it difficult to choose a suitable career nowadays?
________________
2. A skill is something you learn while a talent is something ________.
3. Why is experience the most valuable quality in finding a job?
________________
4. According to the passage, the job that ________suits a person best.
5. What is the passage mainly about?
________________

4 . Princeton University

Location

The University is in Princeton, New Jersey. It is an hour’s train ride south of New York City and an hour’s train ride north of Philadelphia.

Students

There are 4,600 undergraduates. There are also 1,900 graduate students, but Princeton is unusual among universities in having a student body made up largely of undergraduates.

Faculty (教师）

Princeton has about 700 full time faculty members. There are another 300 or so part-time and visiting faculty. All faculty members at Princeton are expected to teach and research.

Degrees

Princeton offers two undergraduate degrees: the bachelor of arts (B.A.) and the bachelor of science in engineering (B.S.E) degree.

Academic Year

An academic year runs from September to late May and lasts two terms (fall and spring). A normal course load is four or five courses per term, although many students take extra courses.

Residences

Princeton provides housing for all undergraduate students. Freshmen and second-year students are required to spend their first two years in one of five colleges. Each college has its own dining hall, common rooms and computer centers.

Fees and Expenses (Academic Year 2009-2010)

Tuition: $29,910

Room and board: $8,387

Other expenses (books, telephone, etc.): $3,083

Total:$41,380

1. How many kinds of faculty members are there in Princeton University?

A．One

B．Two

C．Three

D．Four

2. In Princeton University, an undergraduate will pay at least ________for the Academic Year 2009-2010 in addition to tuition.

A．$41,380

B．$52,850

C．$11,470

D．$8,387

3. In what way is Princeton University different from other American universities according to the passage?

A．It has five colleges.

B．Its students are mainly undergraduates.

C．It provides housing for all undergraduate students.

D．All the faculty members at Princeton are expected to teach and research.

4. Which of the following is Not True?

A．Princeton offers two undergraduate degrees.

B．An academic year lasts about nine months in Princeton University.

C．Undergraduates should spend their first two years in one of five colleges.

D．It’s about an hour’s train ride from Princeton University to the north of New York City.

5 . Saturday 28 April, 2001: Denis Tito was setting off on his holiday. Mr. Tito’s journey was certainly unusual. So was the transport he chose and the price of his trip.

The 60-year-old multi-millionaire from New York was sitting on board a Russian spaceship. He was on a journey to the International Space Station. It might have been a routine trip for the two astronauts who were traveling with him, but for him it was certainly no ordinary journey. Dennis Tito was the first tourist ever in space, and he had paid the sum of $ 20 million to go there. As the spacecraft left the earth’s atmosphere, Tito drank a glass of fruit juice to celebrate and looked down at the earth’s blue-green surface. Two minutes later, he was sick. Luckily, it was only a minor problem. He soon recovered, and from then on enjoyed a smooth journey. When he arrived at the space station, there was a big smile on his face. “A great trip!” he commented. “I love space.”

For a long time space travel was something for heroes. But all this is going to change. Companies like ProSpace are investing large amounts of money in space travel. They want space and space travel to belong to the public, not just governments. There are other plans, like voyages through space from one side of the world to the other. Maybe we will be able to depart from New York at nine o'clock in the morning, and arrive an hour later --- in Tokyo! Such a schedule would allow the business travel to return to New York on the same day, and still have eight hours for a meeting!

1. Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?

A．Business Travelers.	B．Space Tourists.
C．A space Exploration.	D．A frightening Adventure.

2. According to the passage, Dennis Tito ________.

A．enjoyed his trip very much.	B．was too sick to eat anything in space.
C．suffered a lot during the trip.	D．didn’t think the trip was worthwhile.

3. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

A．Tito was the first American tourist in space.

B．Tito contributed all of his wealth to his space trip.

C．Tito visited the Russian Space Station during his trip.

D．Space travel has become a routine for Tito since then.

4. It can be expected from the passage that ________.

A．space travel will belong to the public instead of governments.

B．airplanes will some day reach the speed of space vehicles.

C．we will be able to circle the earth within less than an hour.

D．travel between two places on earth will be made through space.

6 . Social Integration — Welcoming the Newcomers

Social integration is the process through which minority groups interact, come together or are incorporated within a community, Increased social integration helps reduce conflict and tension in society, and it can help the new migrants feel more connected to their new community. How do different groups remain relatively cohesive in society?

A few countries around the world have adopted integrated frameworks for their economic, social, political and cultural policies with regard to accepting these migrants into the local society.     1    . This is to allow them to achieve their full potential in life. There are still ongoing efforts to integrate different cultures and races, and the governments have encouraged their immigrants to take an active part in social, cultural, economic and political activities.

Integration takes place in neighbourhoods. work places, schools and public places where people from diverse backgrounds spend most of their time.     2     Especially among the younger children, being in the same class as their foreign counterparts will teach the local children the meaning of tolerance and empathy. Participation in sports, community engagement and volunteer work are also other possible ways that eliminate discrimination and other forms of intolerance. From participating in arts programmes to being parent volunteers in schools, these platforms provide opportunities for people to interact and work towards a common cause. Sports programmes have also been used to encourage social integration. In fact, sport can strengthen social networks and promote non - violence and respect. In these ways, meaningful relationships among those of different ages, racial groups or faiths are built on the basis of common interests.

    3     still, countries have also acknowledged that human movement across borders cannot be stopped. Instead, it should be better managed so that migration is safe, legal and beneficial for everyone.     4     Indeed, the government and local communities play a key role in integrating these newcomers and empowering them to contribute to their new communities, while maintaining their identities.

A．Social integration is no doubt a continuous changing process.

B．Formal education is one common platform that brings together diversified groups.

C．Integration also takes place in various arts programmes which are supported by local community.

D．Concerted efforts are made to ensure there are equal opportunities for migrants regardless of their backgrounds.

E．Societies are better off if they promote social integration through common practices that reduce tension, discrimination and poverty.

F．Social integration should be guided in reasonable steps and stimulated by local governments.

7 . Ellen Weiss can hardly see David Schmitt can barely hear. Are they typical victims of aging's cruelest blows? Not really. Weiss is actually a fresh resident doctor in family practice, age 30, and Schmitt a medical student, 26. They have been assigned roles, ages and particular illnesses as an innovative part of their medical training.

Introduced in only a few medical centers so far, such role playing is designed to expose doctors to the pains endured by the patients. It is just one of several techniques being tried at medical schools and hospitals in an attempt to deal with the most universal complaint about doctors: lack of sympathy. “Residents are usually young and healthy.” says Dr. Stephen Brunton. “They've not really had a chance to understand what patients go through.”

Role-playing programs give them a crash course. At Hunterdon, students' faces are instantly aged with cornflour and make up. Next the disabilities are laid on: gloves cripple fingers, and peas inside shoes prevent walking. Then the ersatz invalids are asked to perform common tasks: purchasing medication at the drugstore, undressing for x rays, fling out a Medicare form and, most awkward, using the bathroom themselves.

At Long Beach, new residents assume made-up illnesses and cheek into the hospital for an overnight stay, The staff treats them as they would any other patient, even sending them a bill. The entire entering class of medical students at the Uniformed Services University of the Heath Sciences are issued bedpans and told to use them. Some are even subjected to an indignity: spending most part of the first day of school as people with disabilities.

Instant patients usually start out activated and joking. “But by the end of a few hours, most say, ‘I'm exhausted.’” observes nurse Linda Bryant at Hunterdon. Schmitt discovered that “a major accomplishment was doing up my collar.” And, to his surprise, “I wound up hating physicians who didn't realize how much medication would cost and how hard it was to go and pick it up.” Weiss also learnt: “I realized how little I talk to patients. I might ask them about chest pains but not ‘Can you get dressed, eat O. K, take your medicine?” Jeffroy Ortiz thought he was in for a quiet rest when he was sent to the intensive care unit, suffering from “chest pains.” Instead he spent a sleepless night: “People were coming in to do labs, the man in the next bed was groaning, and the heart monitor was bleeping, which was noisy and scary.”

Any patient could have told him so, but many educators believe the direct experience of such miseries will leave an enduring sense of sympathy. Doctors have long defended taking a cool, dispassionate approach to patient care, arguing that it helps preserve objective judgment and protect against burnout. But critics disagree. “By concentrating on symptoms and lab data, we ignore a wealth of information that can affect patients' well - being.” observes Dr. Simon Auster at the Uniformed Services medical school.

1. According to the passage, the role-playing programme is designed ________.

A．as an innovative part in the local community

B．as part of the play the residents have to watch

C．to help doctors understand the pains endured by the patients

D．to expose students to school facilities in a vivid way

2. What does the phrase “the ersatz invalids” in paragraph 3 refer to?

A．Local patients who usually start out activated and joking.

B．Students who make up their faces to look aged.

C．Doctors who perform common tasks that may not occur in real hospitals.

D．Customers who purchase medications and undress for X rays with the help of students.

3. The instant patients may feel most embarrassed when they ________.

A．fill in a Medicare table	B．are using the washroom on their own
C．are issued bedpans and told to try them	D．meet with someone they know well

4. What can be concluded according to the passage?

A．Residents should always take a cool approach without sympathy to patient care in their job.

B．Doctors ought to be completely independent from the symptoms and be previous lab data.

C．Doctors may ignore information influencing the patients' health only by focusing on symptoms.

D．Experience in role-playing programs won't help the new doctors preserve objective judgment.

8 .

The Coming Series
Express Yourself! The Art of Cartooning Time: Thursday, January 6, 18: 30 Welcome to the first event in our new series, Express Yourself! We will explore many forms of personal self - expression and discuss how and why people create things and have hobbies. Join William Denham, an American diplomat stationed in Shanghai. Outside of the office, Will's main artistic hobby is drawing cartoons. His cartoons have been displayed in two shows in Shanghai. He will discuss his hobby, what it means to him, and help take participants on their own cartooning journey. This entertaining and interactive event is open to all - including those with no drawing or cartooning experience. Be sure to bring your favorite pen or pencil, a notepad or sketchpad, and a creative attitude.	Breaking Barriers: The NHL's Trallblnzer Willie O'ree Time; Wednesday, January 12, 18: 30 Join us to watch and discuss the award - wining documentary, Willie, inspired by the story of Willie O'ree who, in 1958, became the first black player in the National Hockey League (NHL). Willie tells the story of an extraordinary life and triumph over adversity. It also examines larger issues such as race, equality, inclusion, community, and so on, Through goal setting. hard work, and perseverance, Willie overcame many barriers and paved the path for talented hockey players, regardless of race, to play at the highest level. Please register to learn about this groundbreaking sports time.
American Short Fiction: Writing Our Storles x The Yellow Wallpaper Time: Tuesday, February 15, 18: 30 Quick to read and easily shared, the short story is said to be the literature of our times. We invite you on a journey to get to know some of the best short stories in American literature. The Yellow Wallpaper, by American author Charlotte Perkins (Stetson) Gilman, was first published in 1892 but persists in American culture as a literary touchstone. While it is a horror story on its surface, a careful reading reveals deeper themes of gender equality and the importance of self - expression. And in this time of global situation, it reemerges as a study on the effects of isolation. Join American diplomat Peter Fasnacht to discuss these themes and their connections to American society. Please read the story ahead of the talk. You can find the story here.

* Online registration is capped at 40 for each event. RSVP : http: //shpas012121.wanshe.cn

* The discussion will be conducted in English.

1. Which of the following is NOT true about the first event?

A．William Denham will share his artistic hobby with the participants

B．The participants will explore various forms of personal self - expression

C．Drawing or cartooning experience isn't a must for the participants

D．The participants will be provided with essential drawing tools.

2. What can we infer from the coming series?

A．The story of Willie O'ree is neither inspiring nor entertaining.

B．The Yellow Wallpaper tells a horrible story revealing global emergency

C．Those who haven't registered online are also welcome to the events

D．Applicants had better have a good command of English.

3. Which of the following is the most possible theme of the series introduced in the passage?

A．Arts and literature	B．Books and films
C．Entertainment and interaction	D．Heroes and achievements

10 . It's the best kept secret of modern science: 16 years of the Human Genome Project suggest that genes play little or no role in explaining differences in intelligence. While genes have been found for physical features, such as height or eye colour, they are not the reason you are smarter (or not) than your sisters and brothers.     1    .

Very likely, you will simply not believe this and are sure from your own experience that it's "a bit of both" nature and nurture. But those genes that have been found only explain 1%-5% of any psychological characters.    2    . It's something scientists call “missing heritability”. Robert Plomin, one of the world's leading geneticists, told the Guardian last year. "I have been looking for these genes for 15 years and I don't have any."

Of course, babies are born different and biological transmission of traits (特征传送) does occur - it's just not genetic. For instance, there is abundant evidence that autism (自闭症) may be due to what happens during pregnancy, prematurity or difficulties during the birth itself.    3    . But it has been proven many times over that the right kind of nurture can correct it.

    4    . It means that most babies have the potential to succeed in conventional terms in exams and careers. There is no inherent (先天的) reason why children from low-income families cannot succeed as much as those from affluent homes.

A．Neither are they why you are less smarter than your brothers and sisters

B．Nor are they why you are like your high-achieving or dull parents

C．Your genes decide your achievement

D．This is not just my opinion

E．About a third of babies are born "difficult" for these reasons

F．That it's not genes is extremely good news