2 . The United Nations announced on April 19 that India is going to become the most populous country in the world by the end of June. India’s population by the middle of this year is estimated to come in at.1.4286 billion, compared to 1.4257 billion for China, in the State of World Population Report 2023 by the United Nations Population Fund. The data showed the United States at a distant third, with an estimated population of 340 million.

One of the main reasons for this rapid population growth is India’s high birth rate, said Time magazine. In 2022, there were about 23 million newborns in India. That’s more than any other country.

This big population has both good and bad effects on India. The Associated Press noted that having a lot of people who are of working age can help the economy. It means that there are more people who can work and earn money, which can lead to economic growth. It can also attract foreign investment, meaning companies from other countries and regions might want to invest in India.

However, there are also some challenges that come with having such a big population. One challenge is that there might not be enough resources such as food, health care and education-for everyone.

CNN stated that it can also be hard for people to find jobs because so many people are looking for work. According to a 2021 report from the World Bank, India’s labor force participation rate, which is the proportion (比例) of the active labor force in the working-age population, is 46 percent the lowest in Asia.

Online news magazine The Diplomat said that, despite these challenges, India is still a country with many opportunities for growth. Many manufacturing companies are choosing to set up factories in. India, especially for making things like mobile phones and semiconductors (半导体).

Morgan Stanley, a US investment bank, said that India is on track “for unprecedented (空前的) economic growth” that will allow it to overtake Japan and Germany to become the world’s third-biggest economy by 2027.

1. What is one of the main reasons for India’s rapid population growth mentioned in the text?

A．Birth boom.	B．Birth decline.
C．High immigration rates.	D．Improved living conditions.

2. What potential benefit does India’s large population offer for its economy?

A．Lower unemployment rates.	B．A higher labor force participation rate.
C．Increased levels of education.	D．More opportunities for foreign investment.

3. What challenge could come with having a large population in India?

A．Higher poverty rates.	B．Higher levels of pollution.
C．Lack of access to resources.	D．Decreased economic growth.

4. Which of the following can replace the underlined word “overtake” in the last paragraph?

A．Control.

B．Exceed.

C．Overestimate.

D．Compare.

3 . According to a new report in Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, the number of online posts related to the circulation(流通) of used goods in 2022 increased by 814 percent year on year. Instead of buying useless things, people are changing towards using secondhand goods and replacing underused or unused objects. This trend is picking up in the country.

Since the summer of 2022, a 26-year-old Shanghai citizen named Chen Jiaorong has been walking along Julu Road in Shanghai’s downtown area once or twice a week, looking around and picking up “garbage” (垃圾). After her action was noticed online, she was described by others as a “stooper”.

The word “stoop” means to bend forward, but in the United States, it also refers to a platform or entrance stairway to a house. The term “stooper” was created in the US after a lot of people put their used or underused belongings in front of their doorsteps to be taken away for free by those in need. Later, “stooping” was used to mean “picking up abandoned goods and recycling them”.

As the first “stooper” in China, Chen had her own way. She picked unused goods to help find suitable new owners for some items. When she found such abandoned (被抛弃的) goods, she put a pair of eyeball-shaped stickers on them before publishing notes on her social media accounts, and guiding others to pick them up from the streets.

“‘Stooping’ is a new word in China, and some people even have no idea of it. Most of us still think secondhand goods are dirty and it is embarrassing to reuse them,” said Wu Kaisi, a well-known stooper in Guangzhou. “The slowing economy and the increasing cost of living have pushed the development of the used-goods industry. People are gradually advocating (提倡) a savings-based consumption (消费) and environment-friendly lifestyle instead of blindly seeking for expensive consumption. Now, more young people are joining us.”

1. What does the report in paragraph 1 show?

A．Selling used items is popular among young people.

B．Reusing secondhand goods has become a new trend.

C．People tend to buy products from social media platform.

D．The buying power of Chinese consumers is in decline.

2. What is the purpose of paragraph 3?

A．To explain a fact.	B．To make a prediction.
C．To make some concepts clear.	D．To present an example.

3. How did Chen find owners for the abandoned goods?

A．By organizing offline sales.	B．By displaying them on Julu Road.
C．By putting up notices on the street.	D．By posting related information online.

4. What does Wu Kaisi think of the lifestyle of stooping?

A．It is embarrassing.

B．It is worth advocating.

C．It slows down the development of economy.

D．It changes young people’s wasteful lifestyle

5 . China’s tea culture has undergone dramatic, changes in recent years. The appearance of new-style teas can be traced back to the cheap roadside milk tea stands of the 1990s. Most of these drinks were made from powdered mixes and contained neither fresh milk nor fresh tea. The base ingredients weren’t updated until the arrival of Taiwan-based brands like CoCo and A Little Tea in the 2000s, leading to innovations such as “cheese tea”. These businesses started the “Milk Tea 2.0” era, transforming the milk tea business from a mixture of small stands into a standardized and fast-moving industry.

But even as the Taiwan-centric “Milk Tea 2.0” revolution was sweeping the world, the seeds of its next evolution were already sprouting (发芽) on the Chinese mainland. In 2012, a 21-year-old man named Nie Yunchen opened a milk tea store in the small southern city of Jiangmen, where he sold milk tea. By 2020, Nie’s HeyTea had 695 stores worldwide; was worth an estimated, 16 billion yuan, and had attracted a large number of imitators.

The new brands made their mark, by offering a more diverse range of tea bases, often with extras like seasonal fruit sparkling water, cream cheese or nuts.

The viability (可行性) of this business model owes much to China’s widespread embrace of high-end consumerism. Jason Yu, general manager of the market research firm Kantar World panel China, told me that “mothers with refined tastes”, urban white-collar workers, and those born after 1990 are the main drivers of Chinas new-style tea market—and, more broadly, the consumer market as a whole. These groups tend to be defined by busywork and home lives, and they see upscale drinks like tea and coffee not only as a way to quench their thirst (解渴), but also as a source of comfort. In this sense, new-style teas are filling a psychological, rather than a physical need. Many tea brands are aware of this and they have sought to associate themselves with healthy and relaxed lifestyle through their marketing campaigns.

Another driver of new-style tea consumption, according to Yu, is the desire among young people to combine consumption with social activity. “The goal of consumption for this generation of consumers is socializing,” Yu, said “You rarely see a person drinking Hey Tea by himself.”

1. How were new-style teas influenced by Taiwan-based brands?

A．These brands gave them a new name.

B．These brands changed their ingredients.

C．These brands in proved-their marketing.

D．These brands made them a healthier drink.

2. What can We learn about Nie’s HeyTea?

A．It can compete with “Milk Tea 2.0”.	B．It is targeted at high-income groups.
C．It has a good market at home and abroad.	D．It gradually develops the domestic market.

3. How do many tea brands advertise their products?

A．By improving the brand image.	B．By stressing their relaxing effect.
C．By showing their nutritious value.	D．By comparing them with other products.

4. What makes new-style teas popular with young people according to Yu?

A．The low price.	B．Their rich variety.
C．The chance to socialize.	D．Their desire To show off.

7 . Cheerleading squads (啦啦队) are known for their energy and athleticism, and always add fun and excitement to any event. Most cheerleading groups have young members, so this Arizona cheerleading squad certainly stands out. Sun City Poms, which only recruits (招募) members who are over 55, has distinguished itself as a cheerleading squad that brings joy to seniors and audiences of all ages.

Established in 1979, the team consists of women aged over 55 who live in Sun City, a retirement community in Arizona. This community of active seniors women are passionate about dancing, performing and staying active, and prove that there is no age limit to what you love to do. The team has become increasingly popular, and the members are known for their energetic performances at parades, festivals and events throughout the state.

Despite the demanding schedule, the women remain committed to the team. This cheerleading squad brings joy to seniors by keeping members physically fit, building friendships, and fostering a sense of community. The Sun City Poms currently has 30members and a handful of trainees, who can join after completing a three-month class, learning two routines, and proving they have what it takes.

On March 25, the group successfully held the “Celebrate the Poms” show, which drew a crowd of over 700 people. It even included a special number from “The Flops”, who count the husbands, friends and lovers of the Poms as members.

Zirbel, in her eighties, already has a lot of memories with the group and is ready to make more. She shared that in one event alone. She estimated that she walked about three miles. Despite the tiring schedule and off days, Zirbel is not about to leave the team anytime soon.

1. What made the Sun City Poms special?

A．Its founders.

B．Its members.

C．Its location.

D．Its service.

2. What should an applicant do to join the Sun City Poms?

A．Get through qualification training.	B．Demonstrate their advantages.
C．Remain committed to the team.	D．Practice 3 routines in 2 months.

3. Why did Zirbel mention “three miles” in her sharing?

A．To prove her energetic daily life.	B．To indicate her tiredness of the work.
C．To show the effort involved in the event.	D．To complain about the stress of the training.

4. Which of the following sayings best suits the story?

A．No young or old learner is a teacher.

B．When is life enough to be idle and idle?

C．One year older, one more point of responsibility.

D．Although the violin is old, it can still play a good tune.

8 . It seems that some people were simply born charming. When they enter a room, everyone notices their presence. They are like magnets.       1       The key is to have certain habits that charming people have in common.

⚫   Charming People Give You Their Undivided Attention

Stop to think about two or three likable people you know. Do they constantly check   their   phone   while   you   are   talking   to   them?   Do   they   continually   redirect conversations to themselves so they can become the center of attention? Probably not. They ask you intelligent questions and show a true interest in what’s going on in your life.           2    

⚫They Follow Through

    3       They are not “all words and no action.” Average people often say “Let me know if you need any help” . However, when it comes to the crunch and you turn to them for help, the answer will often be “I’d really love to help, but…” There’s always a “but.”     4       If they say they will help, they will.

They Take Real Pleasure in Proactively Helping Others

Charming people don’t preach or tell you how to do things, and they certainly don’t brag about their own lives and successes.       5       They will likely refuse any “reward” offered as they expect nothing in return. And they are the ones helping you even if you don’t ask for it.

In a word, charming people will always let their actions talk for them instead of words. If we were all wired that way, we would probably become popular too.

A．They always surprise you with something new.

B．You won’t find this with charming people, however.

C．Therefore, don’t make promises that you can not keep.

D．They take delight in giving you a helping hand proactively instead.

E．They focus on being “interested” rather than appearing “interesting.”

F．One common quality of charming people is that they stick to their words.

G．However, we are all born with the ability to attract other people’s interest in us.

10 . Many people dream of becoming a programmer for a leading tech company, as such work can secure a high salary that is envied by many. However, it may also mean having routinely to accept overtime work.

Recently, a programmer created a project called “996.ICU” on github.com, the well-known code-sharing website. The project criticized the “996 work schedule” where employees work from 9 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week, with the prospect of ending up in an intensive care unit (ICU).

The work schedule is common among Chinese tech companies. On the website, many programmers working for China’s tech companies shared evidence showing that their companies asked them to work the long hours. Among them were major names like e-commerce leaders Alibaba and JD.com, as well as telecoms equipment manufacturer Huawei.

Several bosses of tech companies have defended “996” as a kind of work culture. Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba, said it’s “a huge blessing” for young workers to work “996”. “If you don’t do ‘996’ when you’re young, when will you?” Ma said, according to a post on Alibaba’s WeChat account. “If you don’t invest more time and energy than others, how will you achieve the success you want?”

However, People’s Daily said that those who questioned “996” should not be labeled. “Valuing hard work does not equal forcing employees to work overtime,” commented the newspaper. “One should not attach the moral labels of ‘slackers’ or ‘not willing to strive’ to employees who are against ‘996’.”

Meanwhile, Cui Zhendong, a lawyer with the Yiqian Law Firm, said that it is illegal for a company to introduce a compulsory “996” work schedule for employees, since the Labor Law clearly states that the working hours of an employee should not exceed an average of eight hours daily, or 44 hours a week. Employers may extend working hours after consultation with an employee, but shall not exceed three hours a day or 36 hours a month.

A senior developer with the e-commerce giant Alibaba, who asked not to be named to protect his career, said employers seldom say the schedule is compulsory, but failure to follow the rules could lead to low performance scores and layoffs. “Refusal to overwork can also lead to losing your annual bonus, which is a lot of money,” he said.

“When resorting to the legal system for protection, there is a price to pay: time, money and the risk of losing your job, therefore they turn to cyberspace,” Jiang Ying, a professor of law said.

To better protect workers from harsh treatment, Jiang suggested that the systems for appealing to the court of law should be beefed up.

1. What can we infer from the passage?

A．The “996”work schedule is merely a rare case among companies.

B．The “996” work schedule is a newly invented system that is unique to China.

C．People’s Daily thinks it forgivable to criticize those who challenge the “996” work schedule.

D．In reality it’s so difficult for employees to defend their right against overwork through law.

2. How many hours is an employee permitted to work at most per day by law?

A．3.

B．8.

C．9.

D．11.

3. What does the underlined phrase “beefed up” in the last paragraph probably mean?

A．Improved.

B．Banned.

C．Exposed.

D．Encouraged.

4. Where is the passage most probably taken from?

A．A government report.	B．A newspaper.
C．A scientific essay.	D．A code-sharing website.