1 . On Indonesia’s eastern island of Sumba, a lack of electricity once left many communities in the dark at night. But off-grid(离网) solar energy programs are bringing people there limited electricity years before normal power systems reach them. Such small solar panels(电池板) mean a lot to them. They can work later in the evenings, help their kids with their homework and even hold more social gatherings. Besides, there are experts saying off-grid solar programs could be reproduced across the nation of thousands of islands and that the energy is renewable.

However, off-grid solar energy systems face problems too. Most villagers depend on donators, some international organizations, to pay most of the cost of solar panels, so, villagers without off-grid solar panels have to wait until there is enough money from the donators. And when solar systems break, imported parts are needed, which can be hard to find and costly. While the solar systems can power light bulbs and charge cellphones, they do not provide the same amount of power as a grid and thus cannot operate devices like a sound system for a church.

Despite these challenges, off-grid solar programs have proven successful in Indonesia and other places, such as Bangladesh and Africa, south of the Sahara Desert. These programs, offered by companies like Sumba Sustainable Solutions, help provide electricity for millions. The company has sent over 3,000 solar light systems across the island, reaching more than 3,000 homes. To continue the successful completion of off-grid solar projects, Sumba Sustainable Solutions is seeking support from Indonesia’s Just Energy Transition Partnership Deal, which involves loans and other money from developed nations and international financial companies. By increasing solar use in Indonesia, more people will have access to electricity and improve their livelihoods.

1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?

A．The benefits such programs offer.

B．The future solar panels will hold.

C．The living conditions of people on Sumba.

D．The advantages of normal power systems.

2. How many challenges are mentioned in paragraph 2?

A．2.

B．3.

C．4.

D．5.

3. What is the author’s attitude towards off-grid solar programs in Indonesia?

A．Subjective

B．Favorable.

C．Doubtful.

D．Critical.

4. What can we infer about off-grid solar projects in Indonesia?

A．Joint efforts are being made to complete them.

B．It has bettered people’s lives across the country.

C．The government offers financial support for them.

D．Many companies are participating for huge profits.

2 . 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.

2. What does the underlined word “accelerated” mean in paragraph 3?

A．speeded up

B．lived up to

C．influenced

D．prevented

3. What do the figures in paragraph 5 show?

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.

4. According to Cecilia Qi, what is a major challenge for women?

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.

3 . It is reported that 90 million people in China suffer from depression, with around 90% not getting any effective treatment. Other research further suggests that mental disorders have generally become more common across China in the last 30 years.

China’s resources for dealing with mental health have not always been at the same level as other countries. A 2020 WHO report showed that there were only 1.7 psychiatrists per 100,000 people, compared with 15 per 100,000 in the European countries.

In the past, mental health support was largely focused on specific groups such as “left-behind children”. However, many now recognize the need to make support more widely available.

One issue that has helped bring mental health into the spotlight on a national scale is that of “996” work culture. The term refers to jobs in which employees are required to work six days per week from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. With the 996-work culture, more and more people are starting to realize that actually, mental health can affect a whole number of people. As we all know, long hours of overtime may cause many health problems, even leading to sudden death.

Our government is indeed designing policies to deal more effectively with mental health challenges. The country’s National Health Commission plans to introduce screening (筛查) for vulnerable groups and require medical institutions as well as universities, colleges and high schools to re evaluate mental health policies. The government plans to set up mental health outpatient services in 40% of the general hospitals in pilot areas by the end of 2022, a move catalyzed by the pandemic.

Whether said policies will be effectively implemented remains to be seen. However, what is clear is that mental health is now very much taken seriously across China.

1. What do we know from the first two paragraphs?

A．China’s medical level is quite backward.

B．Mental health problems are getting more serious.

C．China has the largest population with depression.

D．Many people with depression refuse to be treated.

2. What does the underlined word “psychiatrists” in paragraph 2 refer to?

A．Doctors.	B．Professors.
C．Researchers.	D．Patients.

3. What can we learn about the 996-work culture?

A．It is well received by employees.	B．It severely affects people’s health.
C．It can make people work even harder.	D．It does harm to “left-behind children”.

4. What measures our government going to take?

A．Cooperating with medical institutions.	B．Establishing more voluntary organizations.
C．Setting up outpatient services in pilot areas.	D．Designing policies to deal with the challenges.

4 . Over the years, there has been a rising trend in the popularity of volunteer vacations and a rapid increase in the number of people interested in volunteering while traveling. Here are a few established organizations for you to choose.

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) program is a United Nations organization that contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. Based in Bonn, Germany, UNV is active in around 130 countries every year. Anyone who is concerned about world peace and development is welcome.

Contact online: https://www.onlinevolunteering.org/en/ opportunities

Volunteers In Asia (VIA) is an independent, non-profit organization aimed to increase understanding between the US and Asia. Based in San Francisco, VIA provides two kinds of programs. VIA’s Asia Programs offer Americans the chance to live and volunteer in Asia. while VIA’s Programs enable East Asian university students to participate in programs in the US.

Contact online: https://viaprograms.org/contact/

Meals on Wheels originated in the UK. It’s a program that delivers meals to individuals at home who are unable to purchase or prepare their own meals. This type of service requires many volunteers with a good knowledge of basic cooking to prepare the meals.

Contact online: https://www.mealsonwheelssa.org.au/

Big Brothers Big Sisters offers a range of mentoring programs (指导计划) to meet the needs of Canadian children and families. In the traditional one-to-one mentoring programs, one youth and one adult mentor meet twice a month for at least one year. Big Brothers Big Sisters also operates group mentoring programs for teenagers and clubs for newcomer Canadian youth. Volunteers are in demand all the year around.

Contact online: https://bigbrothersbigsisters.ca/

1. Which might one choose to promote the understanding between the US and Asia?

A．The United Nations Volunteers.	B．Volunteers in Asia.
C．Meals on Wheels.	D．Big Brothers Big Sisters.

2. What do we know about Big Brothers Big Sisters?

A．One youth and one mentor meet at least once a month.

B．It operates clubs for children from local communities.

C．It works with schools to operate group mentoring programs.

D．Volunteers can register at any time of the year.

3. Who may be quite interested in the passage?

A．A college student in the gap year.	B．A traveler on a one-week tour.
C．A government official working in the UN.	D．A newcomer to Canada to make money.

5 . Why do you check social media? Is it to keep up with everything that your friends and family are doing? Is it to find new trendy spots to eat? Regardless of the reason, you may find yourself with different degrees of envy or discomfort after a quick look at your phone. Then you might be suffering from a phenomenon known as “Fear of Missing Out (FOMO). ”

While the phenomenon of FOMO can be traced back for centuries, it had never been the issue as it is today, causing widespread discussion and research. This rise in checking social media is naturally connected to the increasing leading position that social media holds over our lives. Every time someone opens their WeChat Moments, Facebook, Twitter... etc. , they are bombarded with the highlight reels of other peoples' lives. A sunny beach, delicious-looking food, a super cute kitten-they are all uplifting photos, yet they're very likely to bring about more unhappiness than joy. You see, the first thought to come out of your mind may be “Wow, that's so cool/delicious/cute”, but then it takes a hard U-turn. You're thinking: “I wish I were there” or “my life is so boring compared to his/hers.” The more you see, the more likely you are to have these negative feelings.

What's worse is the habit many people have of turning to social media in search of happiness when they are feeling down, not realizing that they are just going to end up in a negative cycle of endless disappointment. Montesquieu once said: “If one only wished to be happy, this could be easily accomplished; but we wish to be happier than other people, and this is always difficult, for we believe others to be happier than they are.”

FOMO will go hand in hand with dissatisfaction and envy. Appreciate what you already have, because someone else out there in the world would gladly give everything to be you.

1. What is the purpose of the questions in paragraph 1?

A．To introduce the topic of the passage.	B．To explain the function of FOMO.
C．To describe the features of FOMO.	D．To give the reasons for checking social media.

2. How might people feel seeing other's perfect life through social media?

A．Joyful.

B．Admiring.

C．Comfortable.

D．Envious.

3. What can we conclude from Montesquieu's words in paragraph 3?

A．We could turn to social media for happiness.

B．We couldn't realise our dream without hard work.

C．We couldn't harvest happiness through comparison.

D．We could live better than others by showing ourselves online.

4. What is the author's attitude towards FOMO?

A．Indifferent.

B．Objective.

C．Doubtful.

D．Hopeful.