1 . Cultural intelligence, or cultural quotient (CQ) is the ability to manage cultural diversity.     1     It also involves understanding and appreciating cultural differences and being able to adapt to those differences.

    2     For one thing, it can help you avoid misunderstandings and communication breakdowns with people from other cultures. For another, it enables you to build strong relationships with them. Want to improve your CQ? Try the following tips.

If you’re unfamiliar with the culture, chances are you’re not going to adapt well to it. So the first practical aspect of CQ you need to improve is your CQ drive.     3     This drive is the first step towards higher CQ that may help you be open to new possibilities. All you have to do is explore the new situation you find yourself in.

After you’ve motivated yourself to get a bit more familiar with the culture, it’s time to go one step further.     4     Of course, this doesn’t mean you need to become an expert in the said culture. Simply, you should try to get to know the ways in which that culture forms and influences its people’s values and behavior.

Lastly, you need to use what you have learned and come up with a strategy that will help you improve your CQ. You can expose yourself to various media. This is a useful and easily accessible way to learn about how culture affects behavior. Again, it helps if you learn the language of the culture. This may open a whole new world for you.     5    

A．You should broaden your CQ knowledge.

B．There are many benefits of having high CQ.

C．To be culturally intelligent is no easy matter.

D．This means your motivation to learn about a different culture.

E．Seek out opportunities to interact with people from other cultures.

F．This ability is not limited to your cultural sensitivity and awareness.

G．It can help you better understand people from other cultures as well.

2 . Five Tasks for Your Winter Garden

As autumn has come, winter is on the way. When it finally arrives, it can be cold outside. However, even a blanket of snow doesn’t stop a keen gardener.     1    . Read on to find out some main tasks for winter.

Build New Beds

If you live in a more temperate area, you can start making new beds for your vegetable garden now. Raised beds are easy and relatively inexpensive if you have plenty of homemade fertilizers.     2    , you can usually pick it up quite cheap from the city landfill.

Tend to Apples and Pears

Winter is fit to prune(修剪) apple and pear trees. You can remove the damaged and diseased branches when the trees were dormant(休眠).     3    .

    4    

Frost covering can be put over cold hard vegetables before the temperature drops too far to help keep those plants happy in winter. Frost covering can be helpful for Brussels Sprouts, kale, winter cabbage and leeks if you live in milder climates.

Take Hardwood Cuttings(插条)

    5    . Some plants in the garden which do well with hardwood cuttings include elderberry and currants. Roses, buddleia (butterfly bush) and other shrubs also propagate by these types of cuttings.

A．Cover Crops

B．If you don’t have anything to made fertilizers

C．Here are plenty of jobs you can do in the garden

D．Many bare root trees can also be planted in winter

E．Even if homemade fertilizers will be bad as it is too cold

F．Plenty of leaves help keep some hardy plants from freezing

G．Winter is a great time to multiply plants by hardwood cuttings

3 . Are you starting to feel a little burnt out by all the texts you’re getting? Constant conversations and messages make it harder to focus and could start stressing you out.     1     We’ll start with ways to choose and enforce your boundaries if someone tries to reach you when you’re not available.

Set daily times when you’re available.

Make a clear schedule each day for when you check your messages and are available to have a conversation.     2     It’s okay to read the texts you get during your leisure time, but don’t respond to them until you’re scheduled. Let anyone who would try to contact you know about your availability so they’re less likely to disturb you in the future.

Use screen time limits for your app usage.

Change your settings so you can’t use apps when you run out of time. Set a time limit for how long you can use your messaging apps. Sometimes you may run out of time.     3     Remember that it’s okay not to respond right away. If there is an urgent issue, someone can always call you.

    4    

Changing your boundaries can be tough, so keep strengthening them. Even though you may still get a lot of text messages, stick to the limits you set for yourself so you don’t stress yourself out or feel the need to reply. Otherwise, if you keep responding when you said you’re unavailable, other people might be confused or get mixed messages.

Silence the person if they don’t respect your boundaries.

Don’t hesitate to cut off communication if they still won’t listen. Some people may not understand your boundaries no matter how often you remind them. If you’re still bombed with messages throughout the day, silence the person or turn off notices from the app they use so you don’t get notified.     5    

A．Be consistent with your boundaries.

B．And it is impolite or rude.

C．You may not be able to access the apps until the next day.

D．Reply to the messages occasionally.

E．Give yourself set hours to relieve the pressure of replying right away.

F．Avoid responding to those people and their messages, and you can pull yourself out of a stressful situation.

G．Luckily, putting limits on how often you reply leaves you under less pressure.

4 . Critical reading is active reading. It involves more than just understanding what an author is saying. Critical reading involves questioning and evaluating what the author is saying and forming your own opinions.     1    

● Consider the context of what is written.

You may be reading something that was written by an author from a different cultural context than yours. Or, you may be reading something written some time ago in a different time context than yours. In either case, you must recognize and take into account any differences between your values and attitudes and those represented by the author.

●     2    

Don’t accept what is written at face value. Before accepting what is written, be certain that the author provides sufficient support for any statements made. Look for facts, examples, and statistics that provide support. Also, look to see if the author has integrated the work of authorities.

● Analyze assumptions made by the author.

Assumptions are whatever the author must believe is true in order to make statements.     3     This means you must read carefully in order to identify any assumptions. Once you identify an assumption, you must decide whether or not the assumption is valid.

●     4    

In doing this, be certain that the sources are reliable. For example, Einstein is a reliable source if the author is writing about landmark achievements in physics.     5     Einstein is not a relevant source when the subject is poetry. Finally if the author is writing about a subject in its current state, be sure that the sources are current. For example, studies done by Einstein in the early 20th century may not be appropriate if the writer is discussing the current state of knowledge in physics.

A．Evaluate the sources the author uses.

B．Question statements made by the author.

C．Also be certain that the sources are relevant.

D．Identify any possible prejudice the author has.

E．Here are the things you should do to be a critical reader.

F．The reasons why you should be a critical reader are as follows.

G．In many cases, the author’s assumptions are not directly stated.

5 . How does it feel when you solve your problem by yourself? Things may not always go as planned, but being resourceful can help you stay calm and work your way out of tricky situations.

Being resourceful means finding smart and creative ways to solve a problem, using whatever resources you have at the time.     1     They can also be anything else that’s useful, such as information, advice or your own experience. It also means trusting your instincts, the ability you’re born with, rather than through training and being confident about your ability to face challenges. A resourceful person is not the one getting cross or panicking when something goes wrong. They’re thinking about how to solve the problem.

    2     when we learn to problem solve for ourselves rather than immediately going to others for help, it can help to build our confidence, help us feel more independent, and feel better about making decisions. Being resourceful may not help you avoid problems, but thinking creatively about how you can deal with them will make you feel less stressed and more prepared next time.     3     This can boost self-esteem, that is, how you feel about yourself.

When you’re facing a challenge, try to focus on the actual problem rather than how you feel about it. Think about where and when it happened and what the causes are. Next, think up as many solutions to the problem as you can.     4     Finally, review what has and hasn’t worked, so you’re equipped to deal with a situation next time.

And remember, if you have a tricky problem that you’re unable to solve, then ask a trusted adult for help.       5    

A．You also learn what you’re good at.

B．Here is how you can be more resourceful.

C．These may be practical things like pens and paper.

D．No one is expected to solve all problems by themselves.

E．Resourcefulness is a skill that’s good for you in lots of ways.

F．They can be famous mottos that always inspire us to move on.

G．Weigh up what’s good and bad about each one and choose the best.

6 . The world has spent a long time living with the pandemic. But many people have become lazy about protecting their safety. Are you spending time indoors and unmasked with trusted friends? Or eating in restaurants or making more trips to the grocery store? New types of COVID-19 mean you should try to cut back on exposure. And where you can, double down on basic safety.     1    .     .

Wear masks

The N95 mask is the gold standard. It may cost too much or be hard to find. A cloth mask does a good job of filtering particles that cause infection.     2     — two cloth layers with a filter in the middle. Double masking is the best answer when you find yourself around strangers. The KF94 mask is a good bet.

    3    

If you go to the store two or three times a week, cut back to once a week. If you have been spending 30 to 45 minutes in the grocery store, cut down your time in the store.     4    . If you are waiting in line, be mindful of staying at least six feet apart from the people ahead and behind you. Try using delivery services or curbside pickup.

Spend less time indoors with people who are not from your household. If you must spend time with others, wear your best mask. Be sure any space is well ventilated (通风)(open windows and doors). Keep the visit as short as possible.     5    

The coronavirus vaccine may or may not be the solution. As of now, you are the best answer. Take care. Do not let your guard down!

A．Wash your hands frequently

B．Spend less time with others

C．The best mask has three layers

D．Don’t stay outdoors alone for a long time

E．If the market is crowded, come back later

F．It is still best to minimize your social activities

G．Here are two important ideas about how to stay safe

7 . With the trans-Tasman travel now in place, many of us are dreaming of afternoons watching sunsets fall over New Zealand’s dramatic mountains and lakes. After a long time of lockdown, it’s an appealing prospect. One great way to see the sights without breaking the bank is to rent a camper（野营车）.

“It’s amazing to see the smaller towns and learn about what happens on an orchard（果园）or a farm while staying in my camper, ” says Karen Nisbet, a 38-year-old New Zealander who has spent more than four years on the road.

If you’ve never taken a camper trip before, you might be wondering what it’s like. In New Zealand, you can camp at many places if you have the right vehicle. “To be able to camp better, your vehicle needs to be certified as self-contained, ” says Andy Ford, who runs a business renting campers in Auckland and Christchurch. “That basically means you have a portable toilet, and you’ve got water and food supply on board. ”

“There is something to check before booking, because if you camp outside a campground without the proper certification, you can be fined. Even with a self-contained vehicle, it doesn’t mean you can camp anywhere, ” Mr Ford adds. Many cities and popular tourist destinations like Queenstown often have restrictions, as do areas marked for conservation.

The good news is that it’s easy to find a place to stay. NZ’s Department of Conservation has a website you can use to search for camping sites around the country, or you could use an app.

If you’re camping, it’s important to make sure you deal with your waste properly. Many camp-grounds will have a dump（垃圾场）nearby for convenience, but you may need to plan ahead.

1. What can we know about Karen Nisbet from the text?

A．She owns a new camper.	B．She is from a small town.
C．She always stays in a farm.	D．She likes taking a camper trip.

2. What is Andy Ford’s advice on going camping?

A．To run a business renting campers.	B．To have a camper with full facilitie
C．To buy a portable toilet and water.	D．To spend enough time on the road.

3. Where can people camp in New Zealand?

A．In a mountain area.	B．In Queenstown.
C．In a conservation area.	D．In the zoo of Auckland.

4. What does the text mainly talk about?

A．New Zealanders’ habits of going camping.

B．The popularity of camping in New Zealand.

C．Different benefits of travelling in New Zealand.

D．The points for attention to camping in New Zealand.

8 . Basically, a phone interview is the first step in the hiring process, as it gives the employer a glance of your background, personality, and overall fit for the position.     1    

1. Tell Me About Yourself

More often than not, an interviewer will begin with “tell me about yourself.”    2     You don't want to sound too rehearsed, but putting down a few notes on your background can help make this a much easier question to respond to.

2. Prepare for Behavioral Questions

    3    While they aren't always asked on a phone interview, they can tell the interviewer a bit more about your personality without having to meet you in person.

These questions, such as "teil me about a time you demonstrated leadership" are fairly common, and also easy to prepare for in advance. Take a few minutes to write down bullet points on a time you were a leader or overcame a difficulty.    4    Therefore, writing down a few ideas in advance can only help get those creative juices flowing for when some unexpected questions are asked.

3. Prepare to Explain Employment Gaps

Some individuals have employment gaps in their resume. For most, this relates to college and school breaks, etc.    5    Thinking about these gaps beforehand gives you the advantage in terms of being prepared for the line of questioning.

Remember that a phone interview may be the most important part, as it's going to solidify a good first impression that will help carry you throughout the rest of the process.

A．Behavioral questions are huge.

B．However, these gaps should be avoided if possible.

C．You never know what type of question will be asked.

D．These questions need you to describe your preparation for the target job.

E．But sometimes this means explaining them to avoid making you look bad.

F．Preparing for it requires you to describe your goals that match the position.

G．With that in mind, you can prepare some well-thought-out answers for the commonly asked questions.