1 . To build a prosperous (繁荣的) society, a fundamental understanding of the modern economy as a driving force in today’s world is essential.
What kind of prosperity have we achieved so far? The widespread definition of prosperity focuses on economic power and growth as measures of success. Let’s take a look at history. The Second Industrial Revolution enabled mass production and created a sufficient supply of goods. This has greatly increased the importance of money in its role as “a store of value, ” and “a medium of exchange. ”As a result, we have pursued economic power as the only indicator of prosperity, such as GDP. Waves of globalization and technological evolution have promoted overall economic growth, but have allowed the few who are strong to achieve greater power while exploiting the many who are weak. Consequently, inequality has worsened, and disunity has intensified.
The path to a truly prosperous world requires a shift in focus towards the most suitable happiness for all, in addition to economic power. Defining happiness, however, is a complex task. What makes people happy? The degree to which the same thing creates happiness differs from person to person. Happiness is subjective and complicated. This is a world of “multiple values” where each of us determines worth as opposed to “one fixed price” based merely on an economic perspective. Individuals shouldn’t be defined by a single identity or role but by multidimensional nature as well as multiple roles making independent choices and taking actions for their happiness in different aspects.
Businesses must be pioneers in pursuing not only economic growth but also the happiness of all citizens of society. Companies can contribute through the pursuit of social value as well as economic profit. At the heart of this lies “purpose”. A company’s purpose defines the value it brings to society. The true worth of a company should be determined not just by the return s it creates for shareholders but by the value it creates for society as a whole.
1. What is the author’s attitude to the widely accepted standard of prosperity?A.Indifferent. | B.Critical. | C.Uncertain. | D.Approving. |
A.The slower economic growth speed. |
B.The sharp reduction of job opportunities. |
C.The enlarged gap between the rich and the poor. |
D.The increasing conflict between different nations. |
A.Happiness is changeable and beyond control. |
B.Happiness largely depends on economic power. |
C.The pursuit of profit determines a company’s true worth. |
D.A prosperous world should be measured by multiple values. |
A.Social psychologists. | B.Enterprise administrators. |
C.School educators. | D.Technological researchers. |
2 . You hate me. You don’t even know me and you hate me. Before we’ve even spoken, you hate me. At least that’s how it feels on my end of the call as a female collections officer at a call center.
I dread the moment when I have to log on to our phone system first thing in the morning because I never know who is going to be on the other end of that call.
Sometimes it’s an easy task. The caller is pleasant and has accepted personal responsibility for their debts, and we get through the phone call with ease. Then there are the ones who call in looking for a fight, or looking for someone to blame. Through the luck of the phone system, that person is me.
I’ve had people who shout at me, call me horrible names, accuse me personally of taking their money and threaten me. Why? I think it’s because I am invisible. I think I would be treated with the same level of disrespect if we were face to face. Fortunately for me, I have had years of experience in customer service, so I’m fairly rich in not letting the negative encounters bother me.
The biggest and most effective skill when it comes to the job is empathy (同理心). I can appreciate the situation which the caller is in because I’ve been there. That’s why I’m good at my job — I understand what you’re going through, and I’m here to help.
Some days though, no matter how much I try to leave the stress behind when I hang up the phone, it stays with me. I may do some deep breathing, go for a quick walk or simply stick my head outside for a burst of fresh air. I do this so I don’t carry that negativity on to my next call. That next call may be a person having the worst day of their life, but I don’t want to ever be the one who makes it worse. We are all humans just trying to get by in life, which makes you and me equal. So please, the next time we talk, remember that.
1. What does the underlined word “dread” in paragraph 2 probably mean?A.Enjoy. | B.Fear. | C.Expect. | D.Avoid. |
A.They get angry too easily. | B.They blame her for their debts. |
C.They do not see her as a real person. | D.They accuse her of taking their money. |
A.She can offer callers best advice. | B.She is always respected by callers. |
C.She can put herself in others’ shoes. | D.She isn’t easily influenced by negativity. |
A.To call for understanding of her job. | B.To explain why she is good at her job. |
C.To introduce what she is responsible for. | D.To complain about her being treated badly. |
3 . It was at the midnight. I had just gone to bed, a bit drunk after
Our town was on the bank of the Ahr River, and it had been raining heavily that week; there were flood warnings for nearby areas, but not where I was. I
As I drifted off to sleep, I was
Any
The following day, the
A.congratulating | B.celebrating | C.broadcasting | D.applauding |
A.even | B.already | C.yet | D.still |
A.laughed at | B.approved of | C.stared at | D.accused of |
A.take a risk | B.make a fortune | C.make a bet | D.take a guess |
A.annoyed | B.awakened | C.affected | D.attacked |
A.bent | B.sought | C.swung | D.hung |
A.feet | B.knees | C.waist | D.chest |
A.slid | B.wandered | C.hurried | D.skipped |
A.wall | B.fence | C.sandbags | D.barriers |
A.excuses | B.causes | C.consequences | D.effects |
A.escape | B.direction | C.help | D.passion |
A.forwards | B.backwards | C.downstairs | D.upstairs |
A.before long | B.every time | C.as soon as | D.any time |
A.observed | B.experienced | C.searched | D.examined |
A.gap | B.glimpse | C.blank | D.distance |
A.jump | B.ride | C.squeeze | D.pull |
A.safety | B.health | C.actuality | D.motivation |
A.Since | B.If | C.After | D.Before |
A.harmful | B.fearful | C.stressful | D.powerful |
A.What’s more | B.Worst of all | C.In contrast | D.In any case |
4 . Occasionally, misfortune will happen in our life and no one can avoid it. If you choose only to complain and escape from the misfortune, it will constantly follow you no matter where you go.
A girl, called Selina, lost her arms in a traffic accident that caused her father’s death — who was the main source of support for the whole family.
One day, the girl and the boy were both interviewed on a television program. The girl complained to the TV host about her uncertain future at being left on her own, but the boy was full of enthusiasm for his life.
A.A similar misfortune happened to a boy named Jerry, too. |
B.Since then, she had had to depend on her elder brother’s arms. |
C.So his father went out looking for his mother, leaving him alone at home. |
D.One night her mother, who suffered from chronic mental illness disappeared. |
E.They both were invited to write something on a piece of paper with their toes. |
F.They had both encountered the same misfortune, but had completely different attitudes towards lives. |
G.But if you decide to be will-powered, the sufferings will turn out to be a fortune where new hopes will arise. |
5 . Growing up, I heard the word "genius" a lot.
It was always my dad who
I wasn't the
Two years ago, I was
I was surprised and grateful for being thought of doing
The morning the MacArthur was
I knew that my dad was proud of me. Still, part of me wanted to
I would say, "Dad, you think I'm no genius. I won't
"But let me tell you something. I'm going to grow up to love my work as much as you love yours. I'll challenge myself every day. When I get
A.brought | B.took | C.got | D.grew |
A.played | B.suggested | C.responded | D.hid |
A.difficult | B.only | C.real | D.final |
A.added | B.stood | C.faced | D.measured |
A.satisfaction | B.disappointment | C.relief | D.surprise |
A.fortunate | B.careful | C.healthy | D.precious |
A.given | B.accepted | C.passed | D.shared |
A.generous | B.local | C.top | D.young |
A.mysterious | B.complex | C.free | D.important |
A.especially | B.loudly | C.repeatedly | D.frankly |
A.deciding | B.recognizing | C.naming | D.winning |
A.set | B.live | C.achieve | D.agree |
A.appearance | B.talent | C.character | D.leadership |
A.found | B.announced | C.invented | D.considered |
A.besides | B.instead | C.somewhat | D.therefore |
A.date | B.look | C.travel | D.throw |
A.vary | B.deal | C.discuss | D.argue |
A.kinder | B.older | C.weaker | D.smarter |
A.agreement | B.return | C.disapproval | D.delight |
A.mocked | B.closed | C.cut | D.settled |
6 . When I was young, I had a wrong understanding of being great. I believed I was special and different and should be rich and famous because of my talent. I was going to live my dream rather than being a “normal” person. But as time passed, reality set in and my perspective changed.
I am a teacher, married to a salesman with a baby and a mortgage(按揭贷款). Could my life be more normal? Yet, I am okay with this.
Were I to have a conversation with my twenty-year-old self, she wouldn't understand why I'm not going to NYC to get an audition (试演). In four years my coworkers have never heard me sing. If I'd bought a house, it should have been in an interesting neighborhood with coffee houses at every corner. She would laugh at the corner house in the neighborhood I now call home.
But I know things she didn't know. Life is so much more complicated, wonderful and terrible. I know what it means to work for love, not just sitting back and letting it happen the way it can when you're young. I know about bringing life into the world, and the complexity of emotions.
My life is simple. It is small, and may seem interchangeable with so many other lives there. I may never make an impact outside my house. But I've learned it is important to be relative. To my little girl, I am irreplaceable. When she cries, she calls for “Mama”. When she reaches out, it's for me alone. So, is it a small life? It's perfectly fine to me. In fact, I think it's what I've wanted all along.
1. What was the author like when she was young?A.She was honest. | B.She was brave. |
C.She was proud. | D.She was cautious. |
A.To show she has become mature. | B.To prove her dream has come true. |
C.To reveal the key to her success. | D.To introduce her present unhappiness. |
A.Learning the complexity of emotions. | B.Opening her heart to the world. |
C.Living with her daughter specially. | D.Caring for her family. |
A.We can achieve our dreams if we work hard. |
B.We will come back to a normal life some day. |
C.We should keep in contact with our families. |
D.We can be the one we feel satisfied with. |