1 . Those who had the pleasure of watching Benny Goodman at work saw a rather ordinary-looking man in rimless glasses and a conservative business suit; but they also saw a human being who could play the clarinet(单簧管) like no one before or since. This made Benny Goodman a unique individual.
Other Americans who have stood out from the flock include Joe DiMaggio, Beverly Sill, Ernest Hemingway and Jonas Salk. They, like Benny Goodman, were recognized and honored for no other reason than excellence.
It is doing something better than other people that makes us unique. Yet a surprising number of people still see individuality as a surface thing. They wear garish clothes, dye their hair strange colors and decorate their skin with tattoos to make some kind of social statement. But an ordinary guy who has dyed his hair purple or orange is nothing more than the same person with a funny-looking head.
The whole purpose of individuality is excellence. Those who invent, who improvise(即兴发挥), who know more about a subject than other people do, and who take something that doesn’t work and make it work––these people are the very soul of capitalism.
Charles Kettering didn’t like the idea of cranking a car to make it start, so he invented the electric starter. Henry Ford figured out the assembly-line technique and made it possible to mass-produce automobiles, and Elisha Otis, inventor of the elevator, indirectly created the city sky-line. These people understood that individualism means working at the top of one’s capacity.
The ones with the purple hair and the funky jewelry are just along for the ride, trying to be “different” and not knowing how to go about it.
The student who earns straight A’s on his report card has grasped the idea and has found the real meaning of individuality. So has the youngster who has designed his own spaceship, who gives piano recitals, who paints pictures of the world around him.
Benny Goodman understood it too. This is why he was at his best, blowing his clarinet, in a blue suit and black shoes.
1. The author mentions the appearance of Benny Goodman to _________.| A．show what a talented musician should look like |
| B．introduce an important figure in the musical world |
| C．contrast with his talent in music performance |
| D．indicate that he can’t stand out from the flock |
| A．an individualist tends to seek difference both in character and appearance |
| B．the essence of individualism lies in pursuing excellence to the full |
| C．being different in appearance is the very first step to being individual |
| D．those who strive to win the recognition of others are real individualists |
| A．A scientist who conducts research solely advancing knowledge for the greater good rather than for personal recognition. |
| B．A social media influencer who conforms to popular opinions to maintain a large following. |
| C．An artist who creates unique works but fail to gain fame and recognition from others. |
| D．An entrepreneur who prioritizes ethical considerations over profit in his business practices. |
| A．specific to general | B．cause and effect |
| C．examples and conclusion | D．comparison and contrast |
2 . I was among 31 murderers sent to the Louisiana State Penitentiary in 1962 to be executed or imprisoned for life. We were unskilled, impulsive and uneducated misfits, mostly black, who had done dumb, impulsive things — failures, rejects from the larger society. Now a generation has passed since I’ve been here, and everything is much the same as I found it. The vast majority of us are handed over to suffer and die here so politicians can sell the illusion that permanently putting people to prison will make society safe.
Getting tough has always been a “silver bullet”, a quick FIX for the crime and violence that society fears. Each year in Louisiana — where excess is a way of life — law-makers have tried to outdo each other in legislating harsher penalties. The only thing to do with criminals, they say, is get tougher. In the process, the state boasts one of the highest look-up rates in the country, and imposes the most severe penalties in the nation.
If getting tough resulted in public safety, Louisiana citizens would be the safest in the nation. They’re not. Louisiana has the highest murder rate among states. Prison, like the police and the courts, has a minimal impact on crime because it is a response after the fact, it doesn’t work. The idea of punishing the few to discourage the many is fake because potential criminals either think they’re not going to get caught or they’re so psychologically distressed that they don’t care. about the consequences of their actions. The threatened punishment, regardless of its severity, is never a factor in the equation.
Prison has a role in public safety, but it is not a cure-all. The only effective way to contain crime is for society to work to prevent the criminal act in the first place. Our youngsters must be taught to respect humanity of others and to handle dispute without violence. It is essential to educate and equip them with the skills to pursue their life ambitions in a meaningful way. As a community, we must address the adverse life circumstances that breed criminality. These things are not quick, and they are not easy, but they are effective. Politicians think that’s too hard a sell. They want something they can point to at re-election time. So the drumbeat goes on for more police, more prisons, more of the same failed policies.
Ever see a dog chase its own tail?
1. Which of the following situations is not regarded as a “silver bullet”?| A．Employing a roundabout way to help students correct their mistakes. |
| B．Setting up refuges to shelter the homeless war victims. |
| C．Training farmers with farming techniques to help them out of poverty. |
| D．Adopting effective policies to save economy from worsening. |
| A．they are proud and boastful of high lock-up rates | B．they fail to address the root of the problem |
| C．they don’t treat people of different races alike | D．they give priority to precaution over punishment |
| A．turn over a new leaf. | B．get a kick out of it |
| C．an eye for an eye. | D．prevention is better than cure |
| A．Prisons — A Tool for Election. | B．Why Prisons Don’t Work |
| C．An Appeal from a Murderer. | D．Why Society Is a Safer Place |
3 . Technology has blurred the boundaries between work and play, professional and personal, and career and downtime. Whether it’s a digital nomad (数字游牧民) blogging on a Bali beach or a manager checking emails on a Niseko ski lift, people are seamlessly combining work and leisure. The traditional boundary between business and personal travel is fading, giving rise to a new trend known as “bleisure travel.”
Bleisure travel extends beyond the usual practice of bringing a partner to a conference. Professionals worldwide are increasingly adding weekends or even weeks to their work trips, whether they are traveling alone, with a partner, or as a family. According to Jeanne Liu of the Global Business Travel Association, more than one in three business travelers will incorporate a leisure component into at least one of their trips this year. Contrary to expectations, this trend is not limited to entry-level employees; managers and millennials are equally likely to partake in bleisure travel.
Employers are recognizing the benefits of bleisure travel, as it contributes to travel well-being, job satisfaction, and productivity. Taking the opportunity to bring family members along or adding fun elements to a business trip reduces stress and enhances the overall experience. Australians, who face longer working hours and higher travel costs, are particularly receptive to bleisure travel. Guests at business-oriented hotels like Quest St Leonards in Sydney are increasingly opting to have their partners join them for a weekend stay or longer, rather than making quick trips back home.
Richard Tonkin, a general manager who frequently travels for work, always extends his trips to explore new destinations. He carefully researches cities and books bike tours as a way to quickly see the sights and discover places of interest. Tonkin’s wife, Enza, who works part-time, often accompanies him on these trips and explores the local area or indulges in her own activities, such as shopping or visiting galleries and restaurants.
The modern bleisure traveler is typically culturally curious and interested in local cuisine. Hotels like Quest St Leonards ensure their front office staff are knowledgeable about not only popular attractions but also hidden gems and events happening in the area. They provide guests with tailored guides that cater to their specific interests, whether it’s offbeat cafes and boutiques or trendy bars and restaurants.
The main obstacle for most business travelers considering bleisure is time. Paradoxically (自相矛盾的是), while technology enables them to work and play at the same time, it also limits their leisure time. However, as the trend continues to gain in popularity, more professionals are finding ways to strike a balance and make the most of their business trips by incorporating leisure activities.
1. Which of the following is a proper description of modern bleisure travelers?| A．They prefer to travel alone rather than with a business partner or a family member. |
| B．They tend to be curious about local culture and cuisine, and eager to explore the area. |
| C．They are more interested in attending conferences and business meetings than travelling. |
| D．They are more likely to be entry-level employees than company managers or millennials. |
| A．It is primarily embraced by employees with shorter working hours and lower travel costs. |
| B．Limited leisure time gives professionals a chance to strike a balance between work and life. |
| C．Its increasing popularity suggests that professionals prioritize personal experiences over work. |
| D．Family members coming along the bleisure travel will have to follow their partner s schedule. |
| A．They are struggling to accommodate travelers due to limited availability and high demand. |
| B．They are indifferent to the trend and do not offer any specific services for bleisure travelers. |
| C．They are discouraging bleisure travel by offering only business- oriented facilities and services. |
| D．They are training staff to know about local travelling information and offering tailored guides. |
| A．the rise of digital refugees in the workforce |
| B．the benefits of business travel for professionals |
| C．the trend of combining work and leisure travel |
| D．the challenges of balancing work and recreation |
4 . The decline in moral standards--which has long concerned social analysts--has at last captured the attention of average Americans. And Jean Bethke Elshtain, for one, is glad.
The fact the ordinary citizens are now starting to think seriously about the nation’s moral climate, says this ethics (伦理学) professor at the University of Chicago, is reason to hope that new ideas will come forward to improve it.
But the challenge is not to be underestimated. Materialism and individualism in American society are the biggest obstacles. “The thought that ‘I’m in it for me’ has become deeply rooted in the national consciousness,” Ms. Elshtain says.
Some of this can be attributed to the disintegration of traditional communities, in which neighbors looked out for one another, she says. With today’s greater mobility and with so many couples working, those bonds have been weakened, replaced by a greater emphasis on self.
In a 1996 poll of Americans, loss of morality topped the list of the biggest problems facing the U.S. and Elshtain says the public is correct to sense that: Data show that Americans are struggling with problems unheard of in the 1950s, such as classroom violence and a high rate of births to unmarried mothers.
The desire for a higher moral standard is not a lament (挽歌) for some nonexistent “golden age,” Elshtain says, nor is it a wishful longing for a time that denied opportunities to women and minorities. Most people, in fact, favor the lessening of prejudice.
Moral decline will not be reversed until people find ways to counter the materialism in society, she says. “Slowly, you recognize that the things that matter are those that cant’ be bought.”
1. Professor Elshtain is pleased to see that Americans ________.| A．have adapted to a new set of moral standards |
| B．are longing for the return of the good old days |
| C．have realized the importance of material things |
| D．are awakening to the lowering of their moral standards |
| A．its growing wealth |
| B．the self-centeredness of individuals |
| C．underestimating the impact of social changes |
| D．the prejudice against women and minorities |
| A．was something unheard of | B．was by no means a rare occurrence |
| C．attracted a lot of public attention | D．began to appear in analysts’ data |
| A．if people can return to the “golden age” |
| B．when women and men enjoy equal rights |
| C．when people rid themselves of prejudice |
| D．if less emphasis is laid on material things |
5 . Young Africans are logging in and clocking on
His home is Bungoma, a small town in western Kenya, but his workplace is the world. Kevin, who asks that his real name be masked to protect his credibility, has written about offices in China without ever going there. He has reviewed home-security systems he has never seen.
Some are attracted to the work by the flexibility and pay; others because they cannot find a traditional job. There are advocates for freelancing.
Freelances, like the wider outsourcing (外包) industry, “are fighting against a reputation of Africa as somewhere where you would not expect digital work to take place,” says Mohammad Amir Anwar of the University of Edinburgh, who co-wrote a book about Africa’s digital workforce. Some African freelances use virtual private networks and fake names to pretend they are somewhere else.
The available data suggest that it will take time for Africa to become a continent of digital freelances. In 2019, Mr. Anwar and colleagues estimated that there were 120,000 African workers on Upwork, the continent’s most popular platform—fewer than in the Philippines. Most did not seem to be making any money.
Outsourcing practices have also sparked moral questions. Al Astra (a live-streaming company) content-moderation center in Kenya run by Sama (an outsourcing firm), workers told journalists that they were mistreated and misled about the nature of their work.
Technological change bounces in unpredictable directions. Could Al tools, previously trained by Kenyan workers, one day make these freelances such as Kevin unnecessary?
| A．Africa’s digital workers are re-mapping the old geographies of labor. |
| B．The internet creates new kinds of work, without any patterns of inequality. |
| C．A former employee has taken both companies to court, accusing them of forced labor. |
| D．Typical tasks include data entry, online marketing, or even writing essays for lazy students. |
| E．Baraka Mafole, a student in Tanzania, organizes training events for navigating online platforms. |
| F．Power cuts and competition for part-time jobs from cheaper workers in Asia and beyond create other challenges. |
6 . Plugs across America
The United States has around 150,000 fuel stations to re till fossil-fuel-burning vehicles. Despite the rapid growth of all-electric vehicle in America — 400,000 of them were sold in 2021, up from barely la, 000 in 2012 — the country has only 6,000 fast electric charging stations, the kind that can rapidly charge a battery-powered car.
A glance at America’s charging map reveals a lot of charging deserts. This makes sense, as EVs (electric vehicle) still represent less than 3% of new car sales. Large cities have a growing number of fast charges, but not nearly enough to accommodate so many EVs. Away from cities, these charters are along interstate highways closely enough to allow electric cars safe passage. Otherwise, they are nearly nonexistent in rural America. And EV stations have a problem that gas stations don’t: “Even the fastest Tesla supercharger is still going to take 15 minutes to put a couple hundred miles on the vehicle,” says Jeremy Michalek, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University.
Michalek says American charging facilities fall far behind what’ needed for the whole country to transition to electric driving. On the bright side, there is time to catch up, because not all Americans will embrace at once. Most early adopters were those with access to a charge at home in their garage or parking space. Those owners can wake up with a full battery and only need to rely on public charters when they leave town on an extended trip. But as the country gets to higher levels of EV adoption, the current facilities won’t be enough. That is why Michalek says the US needs to prioritize increasing the number of charges at rest stops along well-traveled highways, especially as more people use electric cars for summer-time road trips.
“As we act to higher levels of EV adoption, if we don’t have enough chargers for peak demand, the wait times are going to be unlike what we see with gas stations,” he says.
Charging dead bones will be larger as more Americans consider an EV. Renters who do not have the option to install a home charges will be hesitant to go fully electric until they can feel confident a public plug will be there when they need it. And as more households drive only electric vehicles, it will be crucial that people can get to all the places they want to go.
In the best case, Michalek envisions public-private cooperation to build a national charging network. The US government has promised to install plugs throughout rural areas, while companies constructing charging stations across America will have a strong motivation to fill in the country’s biggest cities. After all, companies like Electrify America, EV go, and Charge Point charge customers of energy they use.
1. It can be learned from the 2nd paragraph that ______.| A．there is a shortage of charging stations in the rural areas of America |
| B．it takes about 15 minutes for an average charge to charge a battery-powered car |
| C．more electric vehicles are sold than fossil-fuel burning cars in large cities in America |
| D．there are enough charges in America considering the limited sales of new electric vehicles |
| A．Companies setting up charging stations are hesitant to go electric. |
| B．Those who already have a home charge don’t have to find a public plug. |
| C．Top priority needs to be given to adding more charging stations across the country. |
| D．There is enough time to establish a charging network, because not many EVs are uscd. |
| A．Some renters don’t have the intention to go electric. |
| B．Some renters might not be authorized to install a home charge. |
| C．As more renters are unwilling to use public plugs, the charging dead bones are growing. |
| D．Some renters might not have enough confidence in the public plugs for the safety reasons. |
| A．The government and some companies. |
| B．The local government and every household. |
| C．The charging facility providers and every family. |
| D．The federal government and the local rural government. |
7 . For many students, maths and science have always been boring subjects, too bogged down (陷入困境) with technical details to ever be fun or exciting. Teachers have long tried a variety of strategies to get students excited about STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering and maths.
The use of robotics is on the rise in today’s world, and allowing students to play with robots and learn how they work can have huge benefits for them. Not only does it give them a head start in subjects like computer programming, maths and science, it can also develop an interest in careers students may have never considered before.
Robots Teach More Than Tech Skills
Robots are most often associated with technology and other STEM-related fields. However, playing with robots has educational benefits beyond simply learning to build and program the robots themselves. Robots can be used to develop problem-solving skills, get students working cooperatively and more.
One of the most popular uses for robots is in problem-based learning. In this learning model, students are presented with a problem they must solve.
Robots Help Students with Disabilities
Robots aren’t just for students who need a challenge.
Students with autism who may shy away from interaction with a human being are more likely to open up to a robot, and the risk of failure or embarrassment in front of the robot is much lower.
Robots are only going to become a bigger part of everyday life in the future. Using robots in the classroom is a proven way to get kids excited and increase learning.
| A．It turns out, one of the best ways to get kids interested in STEM is through the use of robots. |
| B．STEM is an education curriculum that focuses heavily on the subjects of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. |
| C．Instead of following a teacher’s directions, students work out their own solutions to the problem. |
| D．Here’s how applying modern technology can benefit students in PE class and enhance cross-curricular engagement. |
| E．Robots can provide a way for students with autism to practice social skills without the pressure of interacting with a real person. |
| F．Playing with robots can have additional benefits for students with disabilities. |
8 . Diving with a Purpose
The water is cool against my skin, the silence absolute, and as I hover (盘旋) over the remains at the bottom of the sea, I feel peaceful, thankful, a sense of coming home.
Go underwater with me, and you’ll see about 30 other divers, paired in sets of two. They calmly float in place, despite strong currents off the coast of Key Largo, Florida, sketching images of coral-covered artifacts or taking measurements.
We are members of Diving With a Purpose, a group that trains divers to find and conserve (保存) historical and cultural artifacts buried deep in the waters.
However, the wrecks are hard to find. Ships from the past were primarily made of wood, and they have disintegrated over time and been absorbed by the sea. Searchers today use equipment such as side-scan sonars (声呐) to detect unnatural, manufactured materials in dark water.
The sandy ocean floor covers and reveals as it fancies. What may be seen today may not be seen tomorrow. A proper expedition with historians and archaeologists can take years. But it is important to take as long as is needed to look.
| A．Its goal is to help us find history and stories under the water. |
| B．We are helping document and mapping the remains of a shipwreck. |
| C．We love and volunteer to go underwater for the magic and cool feelings. |
| D．However, in some ways there is still so much we don’t know about DWP. |
| E．The information we gather from the depths tells a more inclusive history of us. |
| F．Unfortunately, the work can take place at sites home to marine life that shouldn’t be disturbed. |
9 . As the latest crop of students pen their undergraduate application form and weigh up their options, it may be worth considering just now the point, purpose and value of a degree has changed and what Generation Z need to consider as they start the third stage of their educational journey.
Millennials were told that if you did well in school, got a decent degree, you would be set up for life. But that promise has been found wanting. As degrees became universal, they became devalued. Education was no longer a secure route of social mobility. Today, 28 percent of graduates in the UK are in non-graduate roles, a percentage which is double the average among OECD countries.
This is not to say that there is no point in getting a degree, but rather stress that a degree is not for everyone, that the switch from classroom to lecture hall is not an inevitable one and that other options are available.
Thankfully, there are signs that this is already happening, with Generation Z seeking to learn from their millennial predecessors (前辈), even if parents and teachers tend to be still set in the degree mindset. Employers have long seen the advantages of hiring school leavers who often prove themselves to be more committed and loyal employees than graduates. Many too are seeing the advantages of scrapping a degree requirement for certain roles.
For those for whom a degree is the desired route, consider that this may well be the first of many. In this age of generalists, it pays to have specific knowledge or skills. Postgraduates now earn 40 per cent more than graduates. When more and more of us have a degree, it makes sense to have two.
It is unlikely that Generation Z will be done with education at 18 or 21; they will need to be constantly up-skilling throughout their career to stay employable. It has been estimated that this generation, due to the pressures of technology, the wish for personal fulfillment and desire for diversity, will work for 17 different employers over the course of their working life and have five different careers. Education, and not just knowledge gained on campus, will be a core part of Generation Z’s career trajectory (轨道).
Older generations often talk about their degree in the present and personal tense: “I am a geographer” or “I am a classist”. Their sons or daughters would never say such a thing; it’s as if they already know that their degree won’t define them in the same way.
1. The percentage of UK graduates in non-graduate roles reflect ________.| A．the shrinking value of a degree |
| B．Millennial’s opinions about work |
| C．the desired route of social mobility |
| D．public dissatisfaction with education |
| A．school leavers are willing to be skilled workers |
| B．Generation Z are seeking to earn a decent degree |
| C．parents are changing their minds about education |
| D．employers are taking a realistic attitude to degrees |
| A．The employers’ preference for high school leavers. |
| B．A wider variety of choices besides pursuing a degree |
| C．A change in parents attitudes towards college education. |
| D．More emphasis put on lecture hall rather than classroom. |
| A．They will have a limited choice of jobs. |
| B．Lifelong learning will determine what they are. |
| C．They will focus more on personal accomplishment. |
| D．Education will no longer be a core part in their life. |
10 . Until 1964 most forms of gambling were illegal in the United States. Since then, however, more and more stales have legalized gambling in order to raise income. The U. S. gambling industry has gone from an attitude of “prohibition” to one of “promotion”, as all but five states have now legalized gambling as a solution to their depressed economies.
Most states in the United States now depend on incomes from state lotteries (博彩) and use them for good causes, such as improving public education, maintaining slate parks, and developing environmental programs.
State governments maintain that the voluntary contribution of funds through state lotteries is preferable to increase state sales or income taxes, and the residents of states using the lottery system tend to support this. The gaming industry has also benefited some of the nation’s poorest citizens: Native Americans. The U. S. government ruled in 1988 that slates could not tax the revenues earned by gambling on Native American reservations. Having taken advantage of this ruling an open cosmos (赌场) on their reservations, many Native Americans moved from a life of poverty to a life of wealth.
Although there are many advantages to legalized gambling, there has also been a good deal of criticism of state-supported gambling. As states increase their support of state lotteries, they seem to encourage commercial gambling in all its forms. About 50 percent of the U. S. population plays the lottery, according to a study by the University of Chicago. This trend has led to an increase in habitual gambling. More than 5 million Americans suffer from gambling addiction. Those most at risk of becoming addicted include the poor, young people between twelve and eighteen years old, and women over the age of fifty, who are looking for some entertainment. As a result, many of them will end up in prison or even homeless. The promise of winning big fortune has created big problems.
Perhaps the most important concern is the moral issue of legalized gambling. The lottery is the only form of gambling that is essentially a government control. Critics ask whether gambling is a proper function of government. Should the government be the spokesman for the expansion of gambling? Critics say state advertising of lotto emphasizes luck over hard work, instant happiness over careful planning and entertainment over savings. The traditional work ethic (道德准则) is being devalued by the pipedream of striking it rich, and this is sending confusing messages to young people.
In 1996, Congress created a commission to conduct a legal study of the social and economic impacts of gambling in the United States. After two years of study, the Commission recommended an end to the expansion of legalized gambling and a ban on Internet gambling. Some feel this will severely hurt the gambling industry. Others fear that it is not enough and are asking the government to take a tough stand against gambling.
1. According to the passage, we know that________.| A．any forms of gambling were banned before 1964 in the USA |
| B．the economical problems led to the rise of gambling industry in the USA |
| C．all American stales have legalized gambling since 1964 |
| D．only five states have now legalized gambling because of the depressed economies |
| A．State lottery system helps to raise money to improve people's public welfare. |
| B．Gambling industry helps to change the American way of life. |
| C．Gambling industry helps to improve the life of some poor Native Americans. |
| D．State lottery system helps to increase state sales or income taxes. |
| A．The expanding of the gambling industry. |
| B．The suffering of the gambling-addicted people. |
| C．The moral problems brought about by the legalized gambling. |
| D．The disadvantage of Internet gambling. |
| A．wonderful idea | B．creative idea |
| C．unworkable plan | D．practical plan |
