1 . Like many people, in terms of socializing, I prioritize (优先考虑) making time for my closest friends and family. When it comes to reaching out to people, I don’t know as well I often find myself unwilling to engage. This could be a big mistake, though, according to a new study. Having different types of social interactions seems to be central to our happiness —something many of us may think little of.

In a series of surveys, researchers looked at how having a socially diverse network related to people’s well-being. In one survey, 578 Americans reported on what activities they had been engaged in, with whom and for how long over the past 24 hours, while also saying how happy with life they were. The researchers found that people with more diverse social networks were happier and more satisfied with life than those with less diverse networks — regardless of how much time they had spent socializing overall.

“The more you can broaden your social circle and reach out to people you talk to less frequently —like an acquaintance, a friend, a coworker, or even a stranger —the more it could have positive benefits for your well-being,” said the lead researcher Hanne Collins of Harvard Business School.

To further test this idea, she and her colleagues looked at large data sets from the American Time Use Survey and the World Health Organization’s Study on Global Aging and Adult Health. In both cases, they found that when people had a broader range of social interactions, they experienced greater happiness and well-being.

Then Collins and her colleagues did another analysis, using data from a mobile app that 21,644 French-speaking people used to report on their daily social activities and happiness. There, they found that when someone experienced greater-than-average social diversity one week, they were happier that week and the week after.

Why is that? It could be that being with different people contributes to different kinds of emotions, which may be a driving force in our happiness, says Collins. Alternatively, it could be that having a more diverse network allows you to get various social supports when you need it. Whatever the case, Collins hopes her research will inspire people to expand their social networks when they can.

1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?

A．Reaching out to strangers is a must in people’s life.

B．It could be a mistake for people to socialize with strangers.

C．Diverse social interactions contribute little to people’s happiness.

D．Many people are more willing to interact with the closest friends.

2. What do we know about the Collins’s study?

A．Its results were different from culture to culture.

B．Its results were against the ones of previous surveys.

C．The researchers collected large amounts of data from different apps.

D．It focused on the impact of a more diverse social network on life happiness.

3. Which of the following is mentioned by Collins?

A．Any stranger or co-worker can bring you happiness.

B．Broad social circle contributes to more happiness.

C．Happiness depends on how much time you spend with strangers.

D．Broad social network leads to a balanced life.

4. What will be most probably talked about after the last paragraph?

A．Collins’s social life.	B．Collins’s conclusions.
C．Collins’s new research.	D．Collins’s specific suggestions.

4 . With almost all big employers in the United States now using artificial intelligence (AI) and automation in their hiring processes, the public is considering some urgent questions: How can you prevent discrimination in hiring when a machine is keeping the discrimination? What kind of methods might help?

Some 83% of employers, including 99% of Fortune 500 companies, now use some form of automated tools as part of their hiring process, said the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s ( EEOC) chair Charlotte Burrows, at a hearing on Tuesday. She said everyone needs to speak up on the debate over these technologies. “The risks are simply too high to leave this topic just to the experts.”

Last year, the EEOC issued some guidance around the use of cutting-edge hiring tools, noting many of their shortcomings. The agency found that resume( 简历) scanners which prioritize keywords and programs which evaluate a candidate’s facial expressions and speech patterns in video interviews can create discrimination. Take, for example, a video interview that analyses an applicant’s speech patterns to determine their ability to solve problems. A person with a speech problem might score low and automatically be screened out. The problem will be for the EEOC to root out discrimination or stop it from taking place.

The EEOC is considering the most appropriate ways to handle the problem. It’s agreed that inspections are necessary to ensure that the software used by companies avoids intentional or unintentional discrimination. But who would conduct those inspections is a more challenging question. Each option presents risks, Burrows pointed out. A third party may turn a blind eye to its clients, while a government-led inspection could potentially stop innovation.

In previous remarks, Burrows has noted the great potential that AI decision making tools have to improve the lives of Americans, but only when used properly. “We must work to ensure that these new technologies do not become a high-tech pathway to discrimination,” she said.

1. What does Burrows suggest people do?

A．Make their own voice heard.	B．Follow the experts’ suggestions.
C．Stop using AI in hiring processes.	D．Watch debates about technologies.

2. How might programs in video interviews select employees?

A．By scanning keywords.	B．By evaluating resumes.
C．By analyzing personalities.	D．By assessing speech patterns.

3. What is a possible outcome of third-party inspections?

A．High expense.	B．Unfair results.
C．Age discrimination.	D．Innovation interruption.

4. What is Burrows’s attitude to AI decision-making tools?

A．Favourable.

B．Disapproving.

C．Cautious.

D．Doubtful.

6 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1. Where does the conversation take place?

A．In a bank.

B．At an airport ticket office.

C．At a police station.

2. Where was the woman’s money probably stolen?

A．Near the bank.

B．On the moving stairs coming up from the underground.

C．Around the police station.

3. What’s the woman doing in the city?

A．Doing a business.

B．Paying a visit.

C．Having lessons.

4. How much did the woman lose?

A．About 10 dollars.

B．About 4,500 dollars.

C．About 4,200 dollars.

7 . Should we allow modern buildings to be built next to older buildings in a historic area of a city? In order to answer this question, we must first examine whether people really want to preserve the historic feel of an area. Not all historical buildings are attractive. However, there may be other reasons —for example, economic reasons —why they should be preserved. So, let us suppose that historical buildings are both attractive and important to the majority of people. What should we do then if a new building is needed?

In my view, new architectural styles can exist perfectly well alongside an older style. Indeed, there are many examples in my own hometown of Tours where modern designs have been placed very successfully next to old buildings. As long as the building in question is pleasing and does not dominate (影响) its surroundings too much, it often improves the attractiveness of the area.

It is true that there are examples of new buildings which have spoilt the area they are in, but the same can be said of some old buildings too. Yet people still speak against new buildings in historic areas. I think this is simply because people are naturally conservative (保守的) and do not like change.

Although we have to respect people’s feelings as fellow users of the buildings, I believe that it is the duty of the architect and planner to move things forward. If we always reproduced what was there before, we would all still be living in caves. Thus, I would argue against copying previous architectural styles and choose something fresh and different, even though that might be the more risky choice.

1. What does the author say about historical buildings in the first paragraph?

A．They are more pleasing than modern buildings.

B．Most of them are too expensive to preserve.

C．Some of them are not attractive.

D．They have nothing to do with the historic feel of an area.

2. Which statement will the author probably agree with?

A．Some old buildings have spoilt the area they are in.

B．Buildings that affect their surroundings are attractive.

C．People should protest against new buildings.

D．We should reproduce the same old buildings.

3. By“move things forward”in the last paragraph,the author probably means“

A．destroy old buildings

B．respect people’s feelings for historical buildings

C．put things in a different place

D．choose new architectural style

4. What is the main purpose of the passage?

A．To explain why people dislike change.

B．To argue that modern buildings can be built in historic areas.

C．To warn that we could end up living in caves.

D．To make a comparison between modern buildings and historic buildings.

10 . As is known to all of us, Extroverts(性格外向的人) are those sociable individuals who always seem to be the life and soul of the party, often outspoken and able to express their opinions easily.     1     .

Many of us are taught to admire some traits of extroverts from a very young age and are often encouraged to interact, play and communicate with extroverts.     2     , becoming pseudo-extroverts —introverts(性格内向的人) who learn extroverts’ behaviour intentionally. While externally they may seem to enjoy the company of others, or being in the center of attention, they can still become more nervous in intense social situations.

    3    ? According to Dr Berit Brogaard, a professor of philosophy, extreme loneliness, such as times like the lockdown during the pandemic, does not affect introverts as much as extroverts because extroverts are good at social interaction and introverts are more comfortable with levels of isolation.

Lack of social contact, something extroverts are skilled in, can lead to depression, loneliness, and even early death.

So what are the benefits of introversion? These introvert people seem to have more time for deeper thinking and reflection and thus can become more balanced.     4     . Finally, introverts are often fantastic observers, as sitting out of the focus can give them more time to watch the behaviour of others.

Everyone has a different personality.     5     . But, whatever your personality is either introvert or extrovert, there are clear advantages to being either.

A．It’s likely that people will be more outgoing truly instead of being encouraged

B．So what are the benefits of extroversion

C．However, not all of us are wired that way

D．They also tend to be good listeners and think before they speak

E．It is what makes people individual and unique

F．So is being an extrovert really better

G．It seems that at times people are made to be more outgoing