1 . A YOUNG girl raises her hand in class to answer the teacher’s question. She proudly gives the correct answer when her classmates start to giggle . Among them, she hears somebody call her a “know-it-all” and sees another roll his eyes. She doesn’t dare to speak up again because confident women are often called“ “bossy”.
Despite decades of advances, it seems that women continue to face prejudice when it comes to holding a position of power.
Laila Farah, an associate professor at DePaul University in Chicago in the US, said the reason for this stereotype lies in history.
“This is an old phenomenon which reflects the fact that many people think females don’t have the same brain capability compared to the male brain,” Farah said.
What’s more, the prejudice is so deep in our society that it has become hard to ignore. “Gender bias is found in the media, schools, the workplace-basically everywhere,” Farah said. “It is learned in infancy and goes from toys chosen to assuming females aren’t good at math.”
Another reason for confident women being called bossy is that “some people aren’t used to women being confident enough to speak their minds”, said high school junior Jessica Bella from Illinois. Embarrassing women by calling them “bossy” has caused some of them to tone down their confidence.
In a study done by the Girls Leadership Institute, a program that helps girls develop strong leadership skills, many girls said the biggest thing holding them back from participating in class was being judged.
“Sometimes, I know I have the right answer in class, but I don’t raise my hand because I don’t want to be annoying, ” said high school junior Emily Grigg from Illinois.
Still, some women have bravely stood up against this stereotype.
“If women in leadership positions are considered to be bossy, then I like to do all I can to prove that wrong. We all have an equal opportunity to present our knowledge no matter how that may come across, ”said Christina Jakubas, an English teacher from Illinois.
Maybe what we need to do is turn being bossy into something empowering for women. After all, bossy people get the job done.
1. Why does the author write about the experience of a girl raising her hand in class?| A．prove that confident women tend to be bossy |
| B．explain why bossy women are unpopular in groups |
| C．explore what stops women from being themselves |
| D．show how women should fight against gender bias |
| A．Females failing to do as well as males in math. |
| B．Gender bias becoming hard to ignore in society. |
| C．Women who hold a position of power facing prejudice. |
| D．Females not having the same brain capabilities as males. |
| A．Confident women tend to possess strong leadership skills. |
| B．Bossy women usually get their jobs done better than men. |
| C．Females in leadership positions should try to avoid being bossy, |
| D．Females should ignore negative comments and bravely speak their minds |
| A．Health | B．Society | C．Politics | D．Entertainment |
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（^），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下面画一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1．每处错误及修改均仅限一词；
2．只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
On my way to home yesterday afternoon, I happened to witness a traffic accident. When an old woman was crossed the road, she was knocked down by a boy riding bike. The boy was such frightened that he stood still at the scene but didn’t know what to do. I quickly went up and saw the old woman lie on the ground, making crying because of pain. I stopped a taxi and told the driver that had happened. The driver drove them to the nearest hospital at once. To our relieve, we were told that the old woman wasn’t injured seriously after she was examined carefully. The boy was deep grateful for our help.
3 . Guangdong Province is set to make swimming lessons compulsory (必修的) in primary schools starting from 2020, and suggesting the courses be given from the fourth grade. Do we need to make swimming compulsory in schools? Forum readers share their opinions.
White Bear (Poland)
In Poland swimming lessons are not compulsory, but most of the schools have them. I think that when it is only possible -- there should be the swimming lessons for kids. It is a lifesaving skill.
Mister Panda (France)
I come from France where swimming lessons in school are compulsory. I even got my lifesaving certificate (证书) in school.
Jet. feng (China)
As a boy born in a rural area, I learnt swimming in a river near my home when I was 7 or 8 years old. I just learnt how to dog paddle (breaststroke) because no one taught me. Until I entered university, I got a chance to improve my swimming skills in PE lessons. Compared with my classmates, I felt lucky because most of them couldn't swim. I think it’s a good idea for schools to teach students to swim.
Boilermaker21 (Unknown)
There are swimming lessons in my city, but I felt upset about how they were taught. The kids spent 45 minutes of the one hour lesson practicing strokes ON DRY LAND. They only spent 15 minutes in the water. All of the children panicked (惊恐) and sank immediately to the bottom. Then all of the parents scolded the children, telling them that they weren't paying attention to the teacher and that they were failures.
Cecilia Zhang (China)
It is a pity that many Chinese athletes won world championships in swimming while most schools don't have the swimming facilities. Swimming is an essential lifesaving skill that everyone should access to. The earlier, the better. The government needs to put money into the popularity of the sport.
1. What do we know about Jet. feng?| A．He suggests children in China learning swimming in rivers. |
| B．He had a good command of swimming skills when he was a child. |
| C．He can swim as well as most of his classmates in university. |
| D．He considers it necessary for schools to give swimming lessons. |
| A．Amazing. | B．Disappointing. | C．Impressive. | D．Effective. |
| A．Swimming is a lifesaving skill. |
| B．How students in different countries learn swimming? |
| C．Should swimming lessons be compulsory in schools? |
| D．Countries show different attitudes towards swimming lessons. |
4 . On the Atrai River in the northwest of Bangladesh, a small boat is tied up in tall grass that lines the riverbank. It is packed with narrow benches which are jammed with children. There are 29 students in the small boat.
So one local charity has decided to take the classrooms to the students in the form of schools on boats. This boat is one of 23 floating schools run by Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha, a local non-profit group. Each morning the boat goes along the river picking up students.
Much of Bangladesh is less than 16 feet above sea level.
"
| A．Educators in Bangladesh have an extra problem. |
| B．It would be hard to fit any more into the narrow boat. |
| C．The boatman delivers the students back to their villages. |
| D．In heavy rains, 70 percent of the country can end up under water. |
| E．It is also the eighth most populous nation in the world with 160 million people. |
| F．Once the whole class is on board, it pulls over to the riverbank and school starts for the day. |
| G．If the children can't go to school for lack of transportation, then the schools should go to them. |
5 . Most of London's national museums are completely free of charge. So without cost to worry about, these are the must-see museums for art lovers on their first trip to London.
National Portrait Gallery
PHONE +44 20 7306 0055
Where else but the National Portrait Gallery can you find oil paintings of the Bronte sisters and William Shakespeare alongside black and white photographs of the Spice Girls and a mixed media portrait of J.K. Rowling? Featuring a collection of famous British people from the Tudor period to the present day, the National Portrait Gallery is a must for those who like British culture.
Science Museum
PHONE +44 33 3241 4000
Ideal for left-brainers, London's Science Museum celebrates scientific, technological, and mathematical achievements — but that makes it sound so serious. With interactive exhibits, flight simulators, an IMAX theater, and even a milkshake bar, a trip to the Science Museum is far from the boring science lessons from back in the day.
Churchill War Rooms
PHONE +44 20 7416 5000
The Imperial War Museum is a collection of five museums and sites. One of the collection' s most fascination inclusions is the Churchill War Rooms. Walking through the underground labyrinth （迷宫）of war rooms is literally walking in the footsteps of Sir Winston Churchill and his war cabinet during WWII
Natural History Museum
PHONE +44 20 7942 5000
Once the home to African elephant specimens and surprising casts of a Triceratops and Diplodocus, the museum' s main hall now floats the real skeleton of a blue whale high above visitors’ heads. Though no longer in the entry hall, you can still find dinosaurs here, such as the first fossil ever found from a T. rex.
1. Which is the best choice for J.K. Rowling’s fans?| A．National Portrait Gallery. | B．Science Museum. |
| C．Churchill War Rooms. | D．Natural History Museum. |
| A．View the arts of the Tudor period. | B．Enjoy a film in an IMAX theater. |
| C．Learn about the war history of Britain. | D．Watch the skeleton of a blue whale. |
| A．44 20 7306 0055. | B．44 33 3241 4000. |
| C．44 20 7416 5000. | D．44 20 7942 5000. |
6 . The popular streaming service Netflix announced plans to exclude (排除) tobacco use from any of its new shows and movies that target younger audiences, specifically those below the age of 15. According to media reports, the decision comes from pressure from Truth Initiative, a large non-profit organization aiming to get rid of tobacco and make its use “a thing of the past”.
Smoking is a bad habit and no parents want their kids to start smoking. As such, excluding the vice (坏习惯) from television shows and movies young people watch makes good sense. I’ll acknowledge that Netflix’s decision to exclude smoking is a good one — but it’s a wildly inconsistent standard. What about other vices? For example, the use of bad language?
As parents of three young boys, my wife and I are trying to expose our children to good things. We want to encourage them to grow up to become responsible men who see the value and potential in every person. We want to see them avoid the landmines that so often entrap young people today.
Sadly, typical television shows and movies contain material that’s the exact opposite of that. It’s often said that companies only produce what people will consume — and there’s some truth in such a claim. But the organization I work for has long had an online site that helps parents know about what's in a movie, show or music album. We don’t tell you whether you should watch or listen — we simply let you know what it’s about — and let you decide. It’s our most popular site, attracting millions of visits each month.
Netflix might be surprised how many new customers they would win if they started producing content that parents actually want instead of themes that regularly stand in opposition to the values of the millions of moms and dads like me who want to see our kids accomplish more in life rather than simply avoiding the smoking habit.
1. Why did Netflix plan to cut smoking from youth-targeted content?| A．Because of appeals from parents. |
| B．Because of the influence of media reports. |
| C．Because of requests from young audiences. |
| D．Because of pressure from a tobacco control organization. |
| A．Bad habits. | B．Comfort zones. |
| C．Unrealistic dreams | D．Improper friendships. |
| A．It teaches parenting skills. |
| B．It promotes youth programs. |
| C．It advertises movies and shows. |
| D．It serves as an entertainment guide. |
| A．It is helpless. |
| B．It is far from enough. |
| C．It is against popular values. |
| D．It is a warning to tobacco makers. |
7 . International Students House
International Students House （ISH）, a unique club and accommodation center founded in 1965, offers a range of services to aid students while they are studying in London. It is located in the heart of London's West End and is close to all public transport facilities.
Accommodation
♦Comfortable accommodation for up to 450 people in single, twin, 3/4 bedded and multi-bedded rooms
♦44 self-contained flats for married students and families
♦ Long and short stays welcomed
Membership
Club membership is open to all full-time students. Membership costs are kept to an absolute minimum to enable the widest possible access. You can join for as short as one month and for up to one year at a time. Membership entitles you to use the various facilities of the House. It has:
• Restaurants
• Clubs and societies
• Study rooms
• Dance, music and films
• Fitness training
• Student bars and coffee shops
• Travel and much more!
The best way to check out all we have on offer is to drop in any Tuesday evening between 7.15 pm and 8:30 pm for Open House in the Club Room. This is an opportunity for you to meet the staff and other club members, enjoy a free cup of coffee and find out all about what's going on. You can take advantage of special membership offers. (Useful tip: Bring along 3 passport-size photographs if you wish to take out membership.)
The Students Adviser
Thanks to the support of STA Travel and in association with the London Conference on Overseas Students (LCOS), ISH now provides the service of the Students Adviser. This new welfare service is open to all students at London's academic institutions. It aims to provide welfare support to help students overcome any personal or practical difficulties they may be experiencing while studying in Britain. One of the key features of the service is that the Students Adviser can be seen during the evenings until about 8:00 pm, Monday to Thursday.
1. What can be learned about ISH?| A．It has a history of almost 50 years. | B．It is designed for married students. |
| C．It offers flexible accommodation options. | D．It is far away from public transport facilities. |
| A．Make acquaintance with the staff | B．Obtain special membership offers. |
| C．Study or work in London. | D．Come with the required photos. |
| A．Its service is free for students in Britain. | B．It is accessible on weekdays. |
| C．Its purpose is to raise academic standards. | D．It gets aid from STA Travel. |
8 . Over the past few months, COVID-19 has caused great uncertainty around the world affecting people's lives in all aspects.Education is also greatly affected. With students all turning to online instruction, live-streamed classes have become popular among schools and universities.
In China, the use of e-learning is unusual not only in size but also in depth.
In fact,online instruction as an alternative teaching mode has been expanding rapidly in recent years.Many Chinese start-ups focus on AI applications in online courses,and various online educational platforms are set up.
Compared with formal instruction,online courses save abundant costs and create a flexible teaching mode(模式）－homeschooling,especially during a crisis.
| A．However,online teaching has its own disadvantages. |
| B．The traditional face-to-face teaching style has been challenged. |
| C．Chinese colleges and universities started the spring term online. |
| D．Moreover,online education is fairly acceptable to college education. |
| E．Online teaching provides a chance to reconsider the current education system. |
| F．For one thing,the impressive practice sets a good example to other countries. |
| G．So,it's early to predict how the future of the education system will look like. |
A paper route is one of the most common tried and true ways to earn money, and has been the first job for many kids over the decades.
Pros:
First, if your child rides his bicycle every morning during deliveries, he will be getting a great workout while he is earning money. Second, paper deliverers have the freedom to do their route as quickly as they want, in the order that they want; and they don’t have to dress up to do it!
Cons:
Unpredictable Weather: your child will be facing adverse(不利的) weather conditions.
Early Morning Hours: newspapers have to arrive early, many times by 5:00 in the morning. But your children might have to be up as early as 2: 00 a. m. to get the papers out on time.
Collecting Money: It can be intimidating(令人胆怯的 ) for some children to ask strangers for money.
What Kids Can Learn About Money (by doing a paper route):
Paper routes depend on punctuality of the paper delivery. Your child will learn to deliver the papers by a specified time each morning.
Family business
If you own your own business, you can hire them to work for your family business.
Pros:
Since you will be the employer, you can make changes to their schedule if you need to. In addition, your child will work for you, so you’ll always know where he is and be able to keep an eye on him.
Cons:
Variability: depending on your line of work, you may not have enough work to keep your child busy consistently.
Limited for Children: If you don’t have your own business, but like the idea, you may want to ask friends, neighbors, or relatives you know who might want to hire some additional help.
What Kids Can Learn About Money (by working for the family business):
Working for the family will give your children a direct line of communication when they want to talk. Give them the opportunity to discuss pay rates with you. Introduce them to negotiations to agree on a fair rate.
1. What are the advantages of paper routes, according to the passage?| A．They are safe and have a flexible schedule. |
| B．You just work in the morning and can get a great workout. |
| C．You don’t have to wear a uniform or work in your spare time. |
| D．You will get exercise and have the freedom to work the way you want. |
| A．They can change their children’s schedule as they want. |
| B．They can ensure the safety of their children. |
| C．It makes them busy, so they don’t have time to work. |
| D．it will help children develop the spirit of enterprise. |
| A．Children have to arrive at 5: 00 am to prepare the newspapers on a paper route. |
| B．Parents approve of children asking strangers for money on a paper route |
| C．Working for the family business can increase the communication between parents and children. |
| D．Only children whose parents own a business can work |
10 . Sticking to a vegan diet might sound difficult, especially with many popular dishes containing meat or other animal products. Yet in recent years, veganism (素食主义) has become one of the fastest-growing lifestyle trends in the world. According to HuffPost, more than 3 million people in the United States are vegans. In the UK, about 542,000 people have chosen veganism over the past decade.
What is driving this growth in veganism? One reason may be that people want to protect the environment. Producing meat and dairy products is known to be stressful for the environment. According to a 2013 study by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, global meat manufacturing causes about 18 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. This figure is higher than all the world’s cars, trains and planes combined. According to BBC News, another reason is that many of today’s young people believe it’s wrong to kill animals for food. Jess Murray, 22, a student at University College London, said she chose to become vegan when she realized that eating animals is a choice people make, rather than something we must do to survive. “Becoming vegan was an ethical(伦理的) decision,” she told the Guardian.
For many people, veganism simply means eating no meat, cheese or eggs, but going animal-free also applies to fashion and manufacturing. For example, leather is used to make shoes and clothing. Every year more than a billion animals, from cows to horses to snakes, are killed to make leather products from their skins. Now, many brands are looking for other materials. The sports brand Puma, for example, has made shoes out of pineapple leaves. Tesla, the US car maker, is said to be removing animal-based leather from its seats. Earlier this year, US singer Lady Gaga created the vegan makeup brand Haus Laboratories. On the brand’s Instagram account, it says: “Cruelty-free and vegan, because we love animals and you.” So, if you’re interested in protecting animals and saving the environment, you might want to give veganism a try.
1. Which can be the reason for people being vegetarians according to the text?| A．They want to survive on earth. |
| B．They pursue fashion in the world. |
| C．They try to adopt a green lifestyle. |
| D．They worry about their own health. |
| A．Going animal-free means letting go of the animals. |
| B．Veganism simply means boycotting goods from animal skins. |
| C．Lady Gaga created her makeup brand out of pineapple leaves. |
| D．Many brands are seeking substitutes for animal-based leather. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Ambiguous. |
| C．Skeptical. | D．Prejudiced. |
| A．Science. | B．Fashion. |
| C．Entertainment. | D．Life. |
