1 . A baby born today will be thirty-something in 2050. If all goes well, that baby will still be around in 2100, and might even be an active citizen of the 22^nd century. What should we teach that baby to help them survive and flourish in the world of 2050 and beyond? What kind of skills will they need in order to get a job, understand what is happening around them, and navigate their tough life?

At present, too many schools across the world focus on providing pupils with a set of predetermined skills, such as writing computer code in C++ and conversing in Chinese. Yet since we have no idea how the world and the job market will look in 2050, we don’t really know what particular skills people will need. We might invest a lot of effort in teaching kids how to write in C++ or to speak Chinese, only to discover sooner or later that AI will have been able to code software far better than humans, and that a new translation app will have enabled you to conduct a conversation in almost flawless Mandarin, Cantonese or Hakka, even though you only know how to say ni hao.

So what should we be teaching? Many experts argue that schools should downplay technical skills and emphasize general-purpose life skills: the ability to deal with change, to learn new things, and to preserve your mental balance in unfamiliar situations. In order to keep up with the world of 2050, you will above all need to reinvent yourself again and again.

To succeed in such a demanding task, you will need to work very hard on getting to know your operating system better—to know what you are and what you want from life. This is, of course, the oldest advice in the book: know thyself. This advice was never more urgent than in the mid-21^st century, because unlike in the days of Laozi or Socrates, now you have serious competition. Coca-Cola, Amazon and Facebook are all racing to hack you.

Right now, the algorithms (算法) are watching where you go, what you buy, and who you meet. Soon they will monitor all your steps, breaths and heartbeats. They are relying on big data and machine learning to get to know you better and better. And once these algorithms know you better than you know yourself, they could control and manipulate (操纵) you. In the end, authority will shift to them.

Of course, you might be perfectly happy giving up all authority to the algorithms and trusting them to make decisions for you and for the rest of the world. If, however, you want to maintain some control over your personal existence and over the future of life in general, you have to run faster than the algorithms. To run fast, don’t take much luggage with you. Leave all your illusions (幻想) behind. They are very heavy.

1. What does the underlined word “downplay” in paragraph 3 most probably mean?

A．Give too much emphasis on something.

B．Make people think that something is less important.

C．Offer your reasons why something is right or wrong.

D．Decide something in advance so that it does not happen.

2. According to the article, ___________ plays a vital role in children’s bright future.

A．imagination

B．adaptability

C．self-discipline

D．a good sense of balance

3. It’s important to know our operating system because ___________.

A．if we don’t, algorithms will hack all our devices.

B．it is an essential skill for us to succeed in the world of 2050.

C．we need to learn how algorithms work and make full use of them.

D．we need to outrun algorithms to keep some control over our personal life.

4. The article mainly talks about _________.

A．the importance of knowing yourself

B．the threats and dangers of technology

C．what kind of skills we might need in the future

D．some potential benefits algorithms would bring to humankind

3 . Adversity quotient (AQ逆商) is one’s ability to handle adversities well. It is known by other names such as resilience (适应力) and persistence.     1    . A person with high AQ is tough and will not easily give up in the face of hardship, and often has the following qualities:

    2    

As we all know, change is the only constant in life. In the natural world, a creature that cannot adapt to changing circumstances eventually comes to an end. An employee who refuses to adapt to great changes such as heavier workloads will give up and leave.     3    . The ups and downs of life will not crush them.

High emotional quotient (EQ)

    4    . Poor emotional control can make a situation worse than it already is. A person with a high EQ usually knows that the emotional impact of an adverse situation is only temporary. It is the classic “this too shall pass” mode of psychology.

A positive attitude toward life

A person with a high AQ has a positive outlook on life. They will see the half-full glass instead of the half-empty one.     5    .

The concept of AQ is becoming increasingly relevant as the world goes through tough times. People with high AQs are an asset to any organization.

A．Sensitivity to changes

B．Adaptability to changes

C．However, a person with high AQ will stay no matter what

D．Without high AQ, anxiety and depression are usually not far behind

E．They will see even criticism in a positive and constructive spirit

F．AQ is the capacity to bounce back after you have been pushed down

G．The ability to regulate one’s emotions is important when faced with adversity

5 . There are a number of ways to help improve final exam test scores without staying up all night and cramming (临时死记硬背), for instance, taking advantage of the resources available and taking care of your body.

Stay on top of your work. Completing all of your work by its due date will help you stay on top of the content, minimizing the time needed to prepare for finals.     1     For instance, attending class is a guarantee not to fall behind in your work.

    2     Don’t feel like you need to give equal study time to each course. Look back at your progress throughout the semester. If your grade is borderline, between a ‘C’ and a ‘B’, for example, or you’re hoping to raise your grade, you’ll want to put in a bit more effort.

Find a study partner or a tutor. It is advisable to find a tutor or a study partner at the beginning of the semester as you can bounce around ideas and ask questions while studying. However, stay away from good friends when struggling with the material.     3    

Select your studying environment strategically. You need a quiet studying location free of distractions.     4    . Sometimes colleges open up conference rooms or other spaces to allow additional room for studying during exam week.

Maintain your health in the finals week. Finals can be a stressful time, so make sure you are taking care of your physical self. Exercise is an effective tool in helping your body reduce stress.     5    

A．Keep track of your progress.

B．Figure out which courses to prioritize.

C．But don’t overdo it this week to avoid a muscle injury over finals.

D．If the library, study area, or outdoors does not work for you, keep looking.

E．Reviewing in the finals week is a lot easier if you’ve been keeping up all along.

F．Plus, you will assess time needed for better academic performance prior to the finals.

G．The best study partner is often someone you don’t know well and less likely hang out with.

6 . Scientists have long believed that humans need meaningful social connections to survive.     1     Knowing that we have people to depend on and who care for us makes us feel confident and safe. And the stronger our relationships are, the more likely we are to thrive. So how do we strengthen the existing friendships in our lives?

    2     —sharing your time, attention or resources with them. People want to be and stay friends with people who value them, and generosity is a way to express that.

You can think about what your skills and talents are and find a way to turn them into generous acts.     3     Or if you’re great with kids, you might offer to babysit for your friends who are parents.

And talk about your struggles, happiness and guilty pleasures. Think about how good it feels to tell a friend you secretly like a boring TV show and hear them say “Me too!”. We feel a deeper connection to our friends when our weakness is met with support.    4    

Talk about your disagreements. It’s hard to deal with conflict in friendships     5     It might be painful at first, but it shows you want to be sincere with them—and that you want to make your relationship better. So if you have an issue with a friend, don’t sweep it under the rug. Try talking about it.

A．Be generous with your friends.

B．Spend a little time with your friends.

C．In fact, they’re connected to our well-being.

D．It means they accept us for who we really are, the good and the bad.

E．However, being able to handle it in a healthy way can strengthen your friendships.

F．For example, if you have green fingers, give your friends some flowers you’ve tended.

G．For instance, if you are generous with your friends, treat them to big dinners frequently.

7 . Weighing yourself regularly is a wonderful way to stay aware of any significant weight changes.     1    

As for me, weighing myself every day caused me to shift my focus from being generally healthy and physically active, to focusing only on the scale. The original training program is beneficial for me to develop muscle.     2     However, thinking only of lowering the number on the scale, I changed my training program.

I found that weighing myself daily did not provide an accurate description of the hard work and progress I was making in the gym. It takes about three weeks to a month to notice significant changes in your weight due to changing your training program. The most immediate changes will be observed in skill level, strength and inches lost.     3     Instead, I switched to a bimonthly weighing schedule. Weighing every other month allows me to observe and account for any significant weight changes.     4     I use my bimonthly weigh-in results to get information about my nutrition as well. If my training intensity remains the same, but I’m constantly hungry and dropping weight, this is a sign that I need to increase my daily caloric intake.

    5     I’m experiencing increased passion for working out since I no longer carry the burden of a disappointing morning weigh-in. I’ve also experienced greater success in achieving my specific fitness goals, because I’m training according to those goals, not the numbers on a scale.

Rather than obsessing over the scale, turn your focus to how you look, feel, how your clothes fit and your overall energy level.

A．That was bad to my overall fitness goals.

B．Muscles rely on more than just activity to grow.

C．I had gained weight in the form of muscle mass before.

D．For these reasons, I stopped weighing myself every day.

E．That tells me whether I need to adjust my training program.

F．The decision to stop weighing myself every day has done a lot of wonders.

G．However, when done too often, this habit can sometimes hurt more than it helps.

8 . Every delicious steak you have ever enjoyed eating started with a good cut of meat. However, picking that perfect cut can be challenging — supermarkets are flooded with options, and it is not as straightforward as simply choosing the one with the highest price tag. Follow this guide for some advice.

Tenderloin (US), Fillet (UK), Eye Fillet (AUS/NZ)

A classic cut, the tenderloin comes from the strip of muscle tucked against the backbone of the animal. As this muscle does not do much work, this is the tenderest cut of beef — which also makes it the most expensive, and arguably the most desirable. We say “arguably” because, while the tenderloin is supremely lean and a favorite of those who love their steak to melt in their mouth, it can also be tasteless. Filet mignon, widely referred to as the creme de la creme (精华) of all steak cuts, is cut from the very tip of the tenderloin.

Ribeye (US/ UK), Scotch fillet (AUS/NZ)

This cut, from the rib section of the animal, comes with an abundance of rich marbling. The ribeye won’t give you that same “melt-in-your-mouth” feeling, but it is still one of the tenderest cuts available. Differently, the ribeye is cooked with the bone in, while the Scotch fillet is not.

Strip (US), Sirloin (UK), Porterhouse (AUS/NZ)

Coming from the hindquarter of the animal, the strip is not quite as tender as the tenderloin, or loaded with quite as much flavor as the ribeye, but for many steak lovers, it is just right. The best part is that because this all-rounder has a bit more chew and a bit less marbling than those cuts, it tends to be less expensive.

T-bone

Can’t decide between the tenderloin and the strip? Why not both? The T-bone is cut with strip on one side of a bone, and tenderloin on the other. With two very different textures (口感) and flavors, the T-bone gets the best of both worlds, but it can also be more difficult to cook. The meat closer to the bone is slower to cook than the rest of the steak.

1. What makes the tenderloin the most expensive part among the steak?

A．Different textures.	B．Much flavor.
C．Rich marbling.	D．The tenderest cut.

2. What can we learn about the steaks from the passage?

A．It’s not a piece of cake to pick a perfect cut.

B．All things considered, Ribeye is the best.

C．A good cut only means the most expensive one.

D．It usually takes little time to cook T-bone.

3. Which of the following is not mentioned in the article concerning steak?

A．Price.

B．Packaging.

C．Cooking method.

D．Flavor.

9 . Anxiety can be treated with medication.     1    . So, what else can be done to help? Here are three ways for your reference.

Lavender (薰衣草)

Evidence suggests that lavender may be as effective as medicine in improving common and persistent anxiety.     2    . Lavender has no sedative, making it a safe alternative.

Researchers found that the smell seemed to help mice relax, allowing them to explore brightly lit and unfamiliar territory.     3    . That is probably because they were more anxious.

Talking therapies

    4    . A psychologist explained, “Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) teaches us to become aware of the thoughts and body sensations that make up our anxious experience. It takes courage and can feel counter-intuitive, but when we approach anxious thoughts and body sensations (tension in muscles, knot in the stomach) with curiosity and kindness-rather than trying to fight them-we give anxiety less power.”

Mindfulness

Mindfulness meditation can be an excellent way of returning our anxious mind back to the present. The object of our focus may be the sensations in our body as we sit or walk or breathe or it may be some external stimuli such as sound or an object.     5    

A．We worry for many reasons

B．It’s thought to make the brain calm

C．Mice were used in their experiment to test this therapy

D．Mice not exposed to lavender preferred to hide in the dark

E．Mindfulness helps us see what is here at the present moment

F．We can approach anxiety with a kind and courageous attitude

G．However, experts agree other approaches may also be effective