I offer to pay you $200 in one year if you give me $190 today. Good deal or bad deal? It’s the kind of math problem you might encounter in real life,
A survey in 2022 funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation found that 61 percent of parents of students said math education should be “relevant to the real world”
Harvard has a personal finance course in the
In most high schools, personal finance classes are light on math, and math classes are
There is a
In conclusion, the integration of math and personal finance in education is not just an academic pursuit, but a
| A．similar to | B．as opposed to | C．compared with | D．coupled with |
| A．lifting | B．lowering | C．forgetting | D．struggling |
| A．awful | B．forced | C．perfect | D．temporary |
| A．apply to | B．pass down | C．identify with | D．kick off |
| A．for | B．but | C．and | D．so |
| A．breathing | B．rolling | C．quoting | D．introducing |
| A．politics | B．economics | C．mathematics | D．physics |
| A．Traditionally | B．Constantly | C．Frequently | D．Thankfully |
| A．restore | B．recover | C．reconsider | D．retell |
| A．lacking | B．sufficient | C．absent | D．present |
| A．depressing | B．amazing | C．challenging | D．motivating |
| A．combination | B．separation | C．application | D．publication |
| A．regional | B．local | C．national | D．individual |
| A．learn | B．increase | C．examine | D．manage |
| A．practical | B．regrettable | C．miserable | D．relaxing |
2 . Recent years have seen a small increase in unemployment rates due to slowing of the economy. The fact that many college graduates are finding it difficult to land a job has sparked online discussions on the cost of education and the returns on it, with many agreeing with the notion that “education is useless”.
Stories like a person with a doctorate’s degree from Zhejiang University is delivering food, and overseas-returned graduates are selling hot-pot ingredients have caused many to question the value of education. Moreover, the fact that about 36,000 fewer candidates have applied to take the postgraduate exam in 2024, the first decline in numbers in years, has also fueled the “education is useless theory.
Is education truly worthless? This question has resurfaced due to several factors.
The wide spread of higher education has significantly increased the number of college graduates, reducing the value of college degrees. As the job market becomes over-crowded with graduates, the scarcity of high-level talents has become apparent, particularly in fields such as the humanities. For example, more than 900 institutions in China offer English major, making it the most common degree program, yet there’s a shortage of top talents who are proficient in English and have a good knowledge about the differences in Chinese and foreign approach to fields such as international relations and journalism.
The declining returns on the investment in education have given rise to the “education is useless” theory. Given the challenging job market, many believe college education does not guarantee any sort of employment, let alone a suitable job. And with various economic opportunities available, the notion that one can become financially successful even without formal education is becoming increasingly acceptable.
In light of these developments, combined efforts need to be made to change the situation. For instance, universities must take measures to integrate education, research and industry, while enhancing cooperation with enterprises through tailored talent training programs. Additionally, the authorities need to pay greater attention to vocational education, an important part of China’s educational system. Students, parents and society, on their part, should abandon their bias against vocational training, because it integrates education with career prospects throughout the learning process, offering targeted, technical and practical training which allows students to master their skills which can get them well-paying jobs in the future.
Developing a correct view of employment and career choice is key to abandoning the notion of “education being useless”. People, especially students, must understand the current employment landscape, their positioning, and strengths and weaknesses. While realizing that a college degree is no longer a ticket to employment, college students should leverage education resources to enrich their professional knowledge and competitiveness. And youths should approach vocational education with an open mind in order to make the most of what the job market has to offer.
Education is not synonymous with earning money, nor does a college degree guarantee financial success. The value of education is knowledge, which we need to make informed decisions not only in our professional life but also in our social and other fields of life.
1. What are the main reasons for the recent rise in the belief that ”education is useless”?| A．Economic slowdown and job scarcity. |
| B．Sad stories about educated individuals. |
| C．Decline in postgraduate exam applicants. |
| D．Emphasis on practical skills over qualifications. |
| A．By focusing solely on academic research. |
| B．By integrating education, research, and industry. |
| C．By ignoring cooperation with enterprises. |
| D．By eliminating vocational education courses. |
| A．limit | B．abandon | C．balance | D．maximize |
| A．Negative and pessimistic | B．Positive and supportive |
| C．Balanced and objective | D．Unclear and ambiguous |
3 . Riding the bus to school could be keeping some kids out of class. Most school buses run on fuel. Those buses send out pollution, including tiny particles and gases. Bus riders get exposed to high levels of this pollution. When breathed in, it can lead to breathing problems, such as asthma (哮喘), which may keep kids home from school. But replacing the worst-polluting buses should cut down on student absences, a new study shows.
The study focused on schools that were asked to take part in a U. S. government program. The program offered schools cash back for money spent on cleaner school buses. The 2, 816 school districts in the new study all asked for the money. But not all got it. Only 383 were picked to receive funding. Winning districts could buy new buses and desert old ones.
The program started in 2012. From 2012 to 2017, the winning districts very likely had less bus pollution. And a year after getting new buses, student attendance had improved in those districts. For an average district of 10, 000 students, about six more students attended school each day in the winning districts. Districts that replaced the oldest buses had an average of 45 more students in school each day.
Those numbers may sound small, but they can add up, says Meredith Pedde, an environmental epidemiologist (流行病学家). Almost 3 million U. S. kids ride school buses more than 20 years old, her team figures. Replacing all of those old buses could mean 1.3 million fewer student absences each year, the data suggest. And school attendance matters for student achievement.
Now the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a new program for school buses. It’s offering $5 billion through 2026 to replace old fuel buses with cleaner ones. Almost all U. S. school districts can apply for the new rebates. But schools in low-income areas and in rural areas will get priority. Kids in these areas tend to face the most health risks from old buses, EPA notes. And anything that cuts air pollution, Pedde says, should improve student health.
1. What is the primary reason why riding the bus to school might lead to student absences?| A．Serious fuel shortage for school buses. |
| B．Lack of available seats on school buses. |
| C．High risk of disease spreading in a bus. |
| D．High levels of pollution from school buses. |
| A．It increases health risks for students. |
| B．It is a costly and ineffective measure. |
| C．It helps to improve student attendances. |
| D．It has no significant effect on absences. |
| A．Financial aids. |
| B．School posts. |
| C．Health benefits. |
| D．Public resources. |
| A．To describe the potential risk of school buses. |
| B．To talk about the use of cleaner school buses. |
| C．To discuss the importance of decreasing absence. |
| D．To call on the government to improve school buses. |
4 . Last year, Liu Xiang, who lives alone in Shanghai, wrote an analysis of nearly 3,000 words on small home appliances that make living alone all the more pleasurable. Her take on these items, ranging from desk lamps and hair dryers to cooking machines, drew more than 100 replies, unusual for that specific section of the discussion group where 50 replies would normally put the topic in the hot category.
However, the interest shown to what to some may seem like a trifling matter should not really be that surprising given that in China 77 million people live alone. These solo dwellers, aged 20 to 39, are mostly engaged in high-paying jobs in fields like finance, so as a group they have tremendous spending power.
Home appliance makers and sellers are one of the main beneficiaries of the solo economy. Take Little Bears Electric Appliances. It has been expanding and updating its product line to target at the solo market, and half its 40 product categories are now singles-friendly.
A New York University sociology professor, Eric Klinenberg, said in his book Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone that the single society is becoming hugely powerful and an indicator of social change.
In 2018 and 2019 the Japanese video game Travel Frog became a hit in China. Actually, Travel Frog was a game that seemed to speak directly to those who keep the solo economy ticking. In it, a wayward (任性的) frog has become a baby people are keen on looking after. The frog never interacts with the player, eats alone, reads and does craft work at home and often sets out on journeys, sending postcards to the player letting him or her know its new location. The Travel Frog phenomenon was just one more sign of the increasing importance of the solo economy, with more and more people actively or passively accepting and enjoying their solitude.
Travelling alone is becoming a strong market opportunity. 75% of Ctrip’s self-operated tour groups have opened options for one-person travel, and it plans to develop more innovative products and services tailored to solo travelers.
In entertainment and recreation, too, the solo economy is changing how things work. Minikaraoke booths, self-service photo studios and self-service gyms have popped up on many comers in many cities.
1. Liu Xiang’s article about small home appliances is well-received by _____.| A．those living all by themselves | B．a specific discussion group |
| C．home appliance producers | D．people with high-paying jobs |
| A．are innovative in design | B．are easy to use to any individual |
| C．address the needs of the individual | D．are environmentally conscious |
| A．They both seem to enjoy living alone. | B．They are both keen on travelling. |
| C．They both stimulate the solo economy. | D．They both interact with others reluctantly. |
| A．The popularity of solo dwelling. | B．The prospect of the solo market. |
| C．The influence of living alone. | D．The rise of the solo economy. |
Previously, cross-cultural marriage were not accepted. However, most people now get married out of love for one another, not because of one’s race. Cross-cultural marriages, therefore,
A web-based survey conducted by Divorcees Club found that many of its members had been in unhappy cross-cultural marriages: Loneliness, custom differences and adapting to a new lifestyle were quoted as the main reasons. The club provides a wide range of services
Most studies conducted on interracial marriages conclude
