1 . The US tech giant Microsoft Corp and the leadership consulting firm DDI worked together on a new project on Thursday, with the goal of helping more than 1 million women in China improve their digital skills and embrace the digital future.
The Women Digital Future project came as reports show that women have been more negatively impacted by the COVID-19 than men, and an improvement in digital skills is expected to help them better deal with the bad results from it.
Microsoft said it will partner with a number of companies and organizations to help women in multiple ways, as COVID-19 has accelerated digital transformation worldwide and women are faced with more challenges in both life and work.
Alain Crozier, chairman and CEO of Microsoft Greater China, said, “Microsoft has always placed a high value on the development of our female employees and strongly promoting the power of women to drive the world forward.”
Mindy Yeh, managing director of Greater China, said the company’s global survey shows that there are nearly double the number of female leaders at the top 20 percent of well-performing companies than in the bottom 20 percent. Moreover, they have clear advantages in terms of teamwork and interaction.
Cecilia Qi, general manager of GSK China, said, “Digital transformation is both an opportunity and a challenge for women. This is especially the case in the new era, which requires companies to provide women with more support to help them achieve better work-life balance and continue to gain success as they continue forward in their career. Success belongs to everyone, and I believe that, in the future, society will be more supportive of women and provide them with more equal career opportunities.”
1. What is the main purpose of the new project?| A．To help women fight against COVID-19. |
| B．To reduce the bad impacts from COVID-19 on women. |
| C．To help women better prepare for the digital future. |
| D．To promote the products of Microsoft Corp. |
| A．speeded up | B．lived up to | C．influenced | D．prevented |
| A．Women are more popular in good companies. | B．Women receive more support from society. |
| C．Women leaders have more advantages over men. | D．Women leaders perform better in some fields. |
| A．Women have no chance to succeed in the digital age. |
| B．Women are treated unfairly in pursuing a successful career. |
| C．Women need support to achieve a balance between work and life. |
| D．The world is too complex for women to achieve their dreams. |
2 . In this modern age, most of us have forgotten to be patient and get angry very quickly over minor things like a traffic jam, a baby crying and such things. It often seems so easy to get what we want right away that when we have to wait even a little while, it seems like we are waiting for ages. We used to be happy to wait 10-15 minutes it took to reheat food in the oven (烤箱), but now we’re impatient when waiting two minutes it takes in the microwave.
With the convenience provided by modern society, is patience still a virtue (美德) in the fast-paced world? To begin with, I’d like to share the meaning of the word “patience”. Generally it means being able to tolerate delay without getting impatient. However, it isn’t necessarily a passive activity. It takes an active commitment, knowing when to take action and when not to.
So I would argue that patience is still — and always — a virtue. Sure. I used to be one of those who often stared at the microwave for the full two minutes it took to heat my food. And in the end, the food tasted bad. If l had had the patience to heat the food properly in the oven, I would have enjoyed a delicious meal.
Actually the benefits of patience go beyond just heating up our food. Patience is an exercise in self-control which shows that we can handle life problems when things get tough, and that we can exercise good judgment. Lack of patience can cause us to make wrong decisions that negatively affect our health and happiness, waste our time, put us under a lot of stress and affect our relationships in a very negative way.
Everything in life happens for a reason. Sometimes we face an obstacle (障碍) because we need to grow in ways we didn’t realize. It’s not always obvious when that was happening, but with patience we will soon see clearly why it happened; and what we were meant to learn from it.
Taking time to think about our actions and being patient are a small price to pay when we determine the best possible solution to any problems.
1. The author uses the example of reheating food to show that .| A．people have no time to enjoy the meal | B．high technology brings more benefits |
| C．more people lack patience now | D．the fast-paced life makes people stressed |
| A．People under stress tend to get angry. |
| B．Patient people are more likely to make better decisions. |
| C．People with self-control are easier to succeed. |
| D．Patient people are unlikely to make mistakes. |
| A．A wise man learns from experience. |
| B．A brave man is not afraid of challenges. |
| C．A man should find out reasons for what happened. |
| D．A man should be patient to deal with difficulties. |
| A．The causes of impatience. | B．Ways to exercise patience. |
| C．Is patience really a virtue? | D．What does “patience” mean? |
3 . 17-year-old Norwood was driving three friends home in St. Petersburg, Florida, on February 20. As they
As smoke
The impact had caved in Norwood’s driver’s side door, jamming it
But halfway down the street, she realized that her best friend, Simmons, wasn’t with them. Norwood ran back and found Simmons in the back
She started
| A．came | B．referred | C．pointed | D．led |
| A．turned | B．broke | C．looked | D．crashed |
| A．rose | B．burnt | C．blew | D．cleared |
| A．Get out | B．Stand up | C．Make out | D．Put up |
| A．full | B．shut | C．still | D．open |
| A．stepped | B．drove | C．climbed | D．ran |
| A．attempted | B．proposed | C．managed | D．intended |
| A．car | B．yard | C．door | D．seat |
| A．threw | B．picked | C．lifted | D．pulled |
| A．destination | B．safety | C．shelter | D．emergency |
| A．goal | B．record | C．sign | D．danger |
| A．Obviously | B．Fortunately | C．Hopefully | D．Surely |
| A．touching | B．hurting | C．pressing | D．checking |
| A．response | B．trouble | C．worry | D．sense |
| A．inspired | B．moved | C．annoyed | D．frightened |
4 . If you picnic in a Texas park, chances are you’ll encounter fire ants — a kind of pest that can deliver painful bites. This invasive (入侵的) species, like many others, is not only annoying but also destructive.
An invasive species is any kind of living thing that isn’t native to an ecosystem and causes harm. Sometimes non-native species are imported by accident, like in the 1930s when ships from South America inadvertently took fire ants to North America. Other times non-native species are imported deliberately. Some types of Asian fish that were originally imported to the U.S. from China to clean fish farms escaped and entered rivers. Green iguanas were brought to China, as pets, but irresponsible owners released them.
Non-native species have even been imported for emotional reasons. A man once released dozens of European starlings (八哥) in New York in an effort to bring all the birds mentioned in Shakespeare’s writings to America. Today, millions of starlings cause over $800 million in damage to U.S. agriculture every year. Invasive species’ global economic influence is also enormous. The U.S. government assesses that invasive species cost the American economy over $120 billion every year.
Invasive species can damage their host habitats by unbalancing local ecosystems. They often lack natural enemies in their new environment and out-compete native species for food and other resources. They also might feed on local species. Invasive species can also carry diseases for which local species have no immunity (免疫力). This can result in the loss of an entire native species.
Invasive species are among the leading threats to native wildlife. About 42% of threatened or endangered species are at risk due to invasive species. Unless people take serious action, the economic and environmental costs of invasive species will become disastrous.
1. What does the underlined word “inadvertently” mean in paragraph 2?| A．Separately. | B．Regularly. |
| C．Temporarily. | D．Unexpectedly. |
| A．To satisfy his wish. |
| B．To raise them as pets. |
| C．To copy Shakespeare’s behavior. |
| D．To do agricultural experiments. |
| A．Food shortage for native people. |
| B．Serious economic imbalance. |
| C．Economic and environmental problems. |
| D．Dangerous diseases for humans. |
| A．Wildlife Conservation |
| B．Protecting Native Species |
| C．Environmental Protection Measures |
| D．Our Unwelcome Guests |
5 . When did you last write a letter? Properly write one—by hand? In a digital world, sending a text or email is far more convenient than using traditional mail. Well, some people claim that writing still has many benefits, so maybe it’s not time to throw away your ballpoint or fountain pen yet.
These days, when people request things in writing, a typed, electronic document will be accepted. Doing this on a computer means it could be saved, edited, copied and sent via email. But doing a handwritten document is unique: it requires planning and thought, and, as well as practicing your handwriting, it helps you to remember selling and punctuation.
Some experts believe your brain benefits from using old-fashioned pen and paper. This is particularly related to students, because typing notes into a laptop is thought to lack the “tactile feedback” (触觉回馈) to the brain. They think taking note by hand involve cognitive engagement (认知参与) in summarizing, paraphrasing organizing, concept and vocabulary mapping. They also agree that handwriting may improve fine movement skills in your hands and fingers.
There are everyday benefits to using pen and paper too. Writing notes, shopping lists or messages on the back of an envelope can still be useful, quick and convenient. But putting pen to paper in a letter to a friend or loved one can probably have the most influence. Pen pal writer Katherine Moller told the BBC: “In a word where it is so easy to get online email or to send a fast text, it is so personal and so precious to know someone choose to turn off the virtual world to spend some time with you.”
So, while digital skills remain important, don’t get rid of your pens and pencils yet-especially if your smartphone, tablet or laptop runs out of power!
1. Two questions are asked in paragraph 1 to ________.| A．offer background information | B．ask for opinions |
| C．show disagreement | D．lead to the topic |
| A．Because it involves planning, thought and handwriting. |
| B．Because it creates spelling and punctuation. |
| C．Because it does harm to hands and fingers. |
| D．Because it helps the brain recover from disease. |
| A．There are everyday benefits to using pen and paper. |
| B．Writing by hand to someone shows true emotion. |
| C．It is not easy to email or to send a fast text today. |
| D．Digital sills are always important and necessary. |
| A．It’s Time to Throw Away Your Pens |
| B．A World with Writing by Hand |
| C．Do We Still Need to Write by Hand? |
| D．The Birth of Writing by Hand |
6 . On the way home from his job at a cake shop on one August evening, Craig Schum stopped his car at the East Hampton Airport for a break. He got out of the car and kicked off his shoes to relax.
Within seconds, though, Schum saw something shocking: A small plane dived and crashed into the woods at about 100 yards from the run-way. “I don’t remember making the decision that I should go help out,” he says. “I just started running.” Schum rushed across the street barefoot before taking off his apron (围裙). Then he climbed over a six-foot-high fence and ran toward the woods.
When he got there, he discovered the pilot, Stephen Bochter－his head was covered in blood－beside the burning plane. Brochter’s only passenger, his wife, Kim Brillo, was on the ground, unable to move. “She had blood all over her,” says Schum. “I thought she was dead.”
Without a second thought, Schum struggled to lift the fence and brought Brochter and Brillo out from under it. There was only one thought in Schum’s mind that he must bring the couple to safety as quickly as possible. Moments later, the entire plane exploded (爆炸). After the ambulance arrived, Bochter and Brillo were taken to a nearby hospital and treated for injuries.
Brochter, an experienced pilot, later said that the plane’s electrical system had failed shortly after take-off. He had been trying to land at the East Hampton Airport when the plane began to fall. He managed to level the wings before crashing into the woods. “Everything was on fire, and Schum came out of nowhere to save us,” says Bochter. “We are extremely lucky to have lived through it because of him.”
1. What did Schum do upon seeing the plane crash?| A．He called the police at once. | B．He decided to pull over. |
| C．He rushed to rescue without thinking. | D．He got back to put on his shoes. |
| A．How Schum got to the crash site. | B．How terrible the crash was. |
| C．How Schum helped with the crash. | D．How the injured were treated. |
| A．The crash of the plane was no surprise. |
| B．Schum came to help at Brochter’s request. |
| C．The plane broke down near its destination. |
| D．Brochter appreciated Schum’s timely help. |
| A．An Angel in an Apron | B．An Experienced Pilot |
| C．A Terrible Plane Crash | D．A Couple in Love |
7 . You may have noticed something different when you ate at your favorite restaurant. Or perhaps you picked up on it while looking through your social media apps (社交媒体软件) . You guessed it——we’re becoming a foodie (吃货) culture.
For some, that means photographing every dish, but others are taking it one step further. Sophia Hampton, a senior at Staples High School in US, chooses to make her own food. She has been published in Future Chefs, a cookbook of recipes (食谱) by teens.
Hampton’s best advice for those who want to be foodies is to get in the kitchen.
“Start cooking,” she said. “There are so many resources online, like recipes and articles about food. Go to your local farmers’ market and start cooking with them.”
Besides blogs and online resources, there are also hands-on cooking classes for students. The Chopping Block, a Chicago cooking school, offers many different classes for teens, including courses on chocolate and French food.
By attending cooking classes, surfing online and going to restaurants, you can find endless recipes. But sometimes becoming a real foodie means being behind a camera. As our food-loving culture becomes more popular and teen-friendly, social media apps like Facebook, have become major players in food culture.
“Getting involved in foodie culture is as easy as having a camera and a social media app,” one foodie said. “I always go to streets and farmers’ markets to take beautiful pictures of food. Wherever food prices are expensive, the photos are free.”
1. What does Hampton advise those who want to be foodies to do?| A．Post their recipes online. | B．Cook food by themselves. |
| C．Eat at their favorite restaurant. | D．Take photos of every dish they eat. |
① cooking classes ② online resources ③ new restaurant ④ public libraries
| A．①②③ | B．①③④ |
| C．②③④ | D．①②④ |
| A．People’s growing interest in traditional culture. |
| B．The convenience of getting different food. |
| C．The use of cameras and social media. |
| D．The drop in food prices. |
