1 . The start of the year is traditionally the time to make resolutions to change your behaviour. Here are some suggestions for what managers ought to resolve to do in the coming new year.
People don’t come to work just for the money. They like to feel they are making a valuable contribution. Pick something specific that a worker has done which shows extra skill or effort and single them out; ideally so that others can hear the compliment. This is particularly important for the most junior employees, who will feel anxious about their status.
Listen to your staff.
They are the people who are dealing with the bureaucracy of the organization. Their feedback is essential, beyond annual engagement surveys. You hired them for their skill and expertise: learn to rely on it.
Keep meetings short.
Drop the team-building exercises.
Paintballing in the woods, tackling an army attack course, constructing a model of the Empire State Building from matchsticks — no one wants to go to an awayday weekend. They would much rather be at home with their families. Why not build a team by introducing its members and explaining what you want them to do? It is a lot cheaper.
| A．Set a conversational tone. |
| B．Give out some praise. |
| C．It also wastes a lot less of everybody’s valuable time. |
| D．If you don’t trust their judgment, you have hired the wrong people. |
| E．If you don’t approve of their decisions, you can tell them what to do. |
| F．Ideally, a meeting should be the length of a sitcom episode (剧集) not a film. |
| G．If it is just to update people on progress, that can be done in an email or in a one-to-one conversation. |
2 . A foreign correspondent (驻外记者) is a journalist who reports and sends stories from a foreign country.
A foreign correspondent may be an on-the-scene reporter, sending news stories live as the events occur.
One who wants to become a foreign correspondent will need a degree in journalism or communications.
In addition, a foreign correspondent may be able to find additional work with a local news source in the country. Freelance foreign correspondents who have photography skills will have a major advantage.
| A．War and disaster reporting are often on-the-scene stories |
| B．People interested in writing may want to be a foreign correspondent |
| C．Foreign correspondents are sent overseas to cover stories as they develop |
| D．Typically, a foreign correspondent works for a newspaper or television station |
| E．Moreover, working in local newspapers can get experience and make contacts in the field |
| F．Other types of foreign correspondents will instead send their stories after the events take place |
| G．The job of a foreign correspondent is demanding and dangerous that often does not pay very well |
3 . Five years ago, David Smith wore an expensive suit to work every day. “I was a clothes addict.” he jokes. “I used to carry a fresh suit to work with me so I could change if my clothes got wrinkled.” Today David wears casual clothes—khaki pants and sports shirt—to the office. He hardly ever wears a necktie. “I’m working harder than ever,” David says, “and I need to feel comfortable.”
More and more companies are allowing their office workers to wear casual clothes to work in the United States. The change from formal to casual office wear has been gradual. In the early 1990s, many companies allowed their employees to wear casual clothes on Friday(but only on Friday). This became known as “dress-down Friday” or “casual Friday”. “What started out as an extra one-day-a-week benefit for employees has really become an everyday thing.” said business consultant Maisly Jones.
Why have so many companies started allowing their employees to wear casual clothes? One reason is that it’s easier for a company to attract new employees if it has a casual dress code. “A lot of young people don’t want to dress up for work,” says the owner of a software company, “so it’s hard to hire people if you have a conservative (保守的) dress code.” Another reason is that people seem happier and more productive when they are wearing comfortable clothes. In a study conducted by Levi Straus, and Company, 85 percent of employers said that they believe that casual dress improves employee’s morale (士气). Only 4 percent of employers said that casual dress has a negative impact on productivity.
Supporters of casual office wear also argue that a casual dress code helps them save money. “Suits are expensive, if you have to wear one every day,” one person said. “For the same amount of money, you can buy a lot more casual clothes.”
1. Why does David Smith wear casual clothes now?| A．They make him feel relaxed when working. |
| B．He cannot afford to buy expensive clothes. |
| C．He looks handsome in casual clothes. |
| D．He no longer works for any company. |
| A．Company workers started to dress down about twenty years ago. |
| B．Dress-down has become an everyday phenomenon since the early 1990s. |
| C．“Dress-down Friday” was first given as a favor from employers. |
| D．Many workers want to wear casual clothes to impress people. |
| A．Many employees don’t like a conservative dress code. |
| B．Comfortable clothes make employees more productive. |
| C．A casual clothes code is welcomed by young employees. |
| D．All the employers in the US are for casual office wear. |
| A．Subjective | B．Favorable |
| C．Objective | D．Indifferent |
4 . Many questions can be expected in advance and it’s wise to have some well-constructed answers that you can tailor more closely in an interview. Remember to always try and make your answers positive.
Q1: Tell me about yourself.
A1: This is just to get things started, but it is a very common question. Write a script, and practice it so that it sounds natural. Spend a maximum of four minutes describing your qualifications, career history and your range of skills.
Q2: What have been your achievements to date?
A2: Again, this is a common question, so be prepared. Select an achievement that is experience-related and fairly recent.
Q3: What do you like about your present job?
A3: This is a straightforward question. All you have to make sure is that your ‘likes’ correspond to the skills etc. required for the job on offer.
Q4: What are your strengths?
A4: This is the one question that you are definitely going to get.
Q5: Tell me about the most difficult situation you’ve had to face and how you handled it.
A5: This can be a trap!
| A．So, there is no excuse for being unprepared. |
| B．Be careful not to mention anything about it. |
| C．Emphasize those skills that are relevant to the job on offer. |
| D．Therefore, you should describe all your strengths in details. |
| E．To avoid it, select a difficult work situation that was not caused by you. |
| F．Identify skills you used in this achievement and say what the results were. |
| G．Be positive, describe your job as interesting and diverse, but do not overdo it. |
5 . Enjoying the beauty of the sky at night is a rare thing for people in cities since light pollution ruins everything. However, photos taken by astrophotographers (天文摄影师) give people opportunities to still admire the stars.
Being a full-time astrophotographer, Zhang Jingyi, 27, grew up being an astronomy enthusiast. When asked why she chose this career, Zhang said, “We all dream of what it is like to live on planets so far from us. Isn’t it cool?”
Due to the fast development of China’s space industry, Zhang recently started to shoot rocket launches. “I basically followed the construction of the Tiangong space station with my camera,” she said, adding that every launch has given her a strong sense of achievement.
Zhang believes that her photos are artworks that money cannot buy. “Some photographers may sell their works ‑ some photos even reach six digits (六位数),” Zhang said. “For me, I would be satisfied if people liked my work.” As an influencer on Sina Weibo with more than 2.5 million followers, Zhang also shares videos that she’s filmed, giving her audience a more authentic impression of her work.
Zhang said that an astrophotographer needs to be devoted to their career. For example, when taking photos of the stars, they have to film them on plateaus which are freezing at night. When shooting rockets, they may get sunburned working under the burning sun. “These hardships are nothing if you truly love what you do,” Zhang said.
Gaining experience is also important. “There isn’t a detailed guidebook for creating art,” Zhang said. “You have to learn from your own work. Gradually, you can add personal thoughts into the filming process and witness your work improving.”
1. What inspired Zhang to become an astrophotographer?| A．A beautiful photo she saw on Weibo. |
| B．Her curiosity about space. |
| C．Fewer chances for citizens to admire the stars. |
| D．The development of China’s space industry. |
| A．People. | B．Scenery. | C．Wildlife. | D．Rocket launching. |
| A．How much they can sell for. | B．The media’s comments on them. |
| C．The public’s recognition of them. | D．The social impact they have. |
| A．Expensive equipment. | B．A detailed guidebook. |
| C．Devotion and learning ability. | D．A formal education in photography. |
6 . The Forbidden City, widely regarded as one of the most popular destinations at home and abroad, houses amazing Chinese cultural and historical relics, for which the Forbidden City is always well-known. But Masters in the Forbidden City does not just focus on the stories of the past.
Instead, the documentary movie, which came out in Chinese cinemas on Dec. 16, focuses on ordinary people—the restorers of relics and antiquities.
The stories are told at a slow and relaxed pace, reflecting the restorers’ work. Restoration of cultural relics and antiques can be time-consuming, and sometimes boring. Yet these restorers’ patience and peace of mind are especially precious in a society where everything is changing so fast.
“If you choose this job, you have to put up with hours of work sitting on a chair. You need to be quiet and get used to being quiet,” says Wang Jin, an ancient clock repair expert.
A touching part of the documentary is the spirit of craftsmanship (工艺)in the restorers. “Years of humdrum work requires not only skill, but also faith and spirit,” China Daily commented, “Looking for preciseness and perfection, devoting yourself to work, patience, endurance, loneliness... All these qualities come from the craftsman spirit.”
But unlike the popular idea of serious experts who sit around being serious, the documentary shows off the enthusiasm of the restorers. They play their guitars and make jokes about each other after a long day of restoration work.
One scene that has been very popular with Internet users features a young female restorer riding a bicycle through the empty Forbidden City on a Monday. While she is doing this, a narrator says, “The last person to do this was Puyi, the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty.”
Masters in the Forbidden City has proved wrong many people’s ideas about antique restorers, allowing them to realize that they are not old, dull professors, but people in their 40s, 30s and even 20s who can be quite pleasing to the eye.
1. According to the text, what’s the main purpose of the documentary Masters in the Forbidden City?| A．To draw attention to Chinese antique restorers lives. |
| B．To display relics seldom seen by ordinary people. |
| C．To show people how antiques are restored. |
| D．To praise the craftsmanship of Chinese antique restorers. |
| A．Masters in the Forbidden focuses on the story of the past. |
| B．The inspiration of the documentary came out on Dec. 16. |
| C．Masters in the Forbidden shows the passion of the restorers. |
| D．Masters in the Forbidden involves the story of serious experts. |
| A．he often gets tired with his work |
| B．antique restorers need to be patient and peaceful |
| C．there is no need to do restoration work fast |
| D．it takes years of hard work to adapt to antique restoration |
| A．remind the audience of the last Qing emperor |
| B．show the strange hobbies of young antique restorers |
| C．encourage the young to consider a career in antique restoration in the future |
| D．show that the documentary breaks from the old, dull image of antique restorers |
7 . The following jobs are expected to be in high demand in 2023. Clicking on the “Find jobs” link will take you to the list of current job postings and help you make career choices.
Nurse Practitioner
Average hourly wage: $56. 00
Nurse practitioners can perform many of the tasks that doctors do, such as creating treatment plans for patients and managing medical records. The big difference is that nurse practitioners cannot prescribe medications in most states. To become a nurse practitioner, you will need a graduate degree in nursing along with the appropriate licenses for the states in which you work.
Data Scientist
Average hourly wage: $52. 00
From car rental companies to telecommunication businesses, data scientists analyze the information to figure out the best ways for their businesses to be more successful. The job duties include identifying what types of business and customer data are worth gathering, then checking whether the information is accurate. It’s a big job that generally requires eight working hours a day and professional skills in mathematics.
Web Developer
Average hourly wage: $38. 00
Most people rely on the Internet to stay informed and connected with our communities. Web developers make sure those sites function properly while also updating them to include new functions that make them easier to use. Most of the work can be done remotely, which is favored by young people.
Choreographer(编舞师)
Average hourly wage: $20. 00
Maybe it’s the popularity of viral dance videos on TikTok that brings about the increasing demand in recent years. In addition to instructing trainees and performing on the stage and in the film, they work on smaller events such as weddings and other family gatherings. No degree is necessary to work in this field, but you will need some training and rhythm.
1. How much will a data scientist get per day on average?| A．$52. | B．$56. | C．$416. | D．$448. |
| A．Data scientist. | B．Web developer. |
| C．Choreographer. | D．Nurse practitioner. |
| A．They can earn at least $20 per hour. |
| B．They need to get a degree before work. |
| C．They make money by making dance videos. |
| D．They are gaining popularity owing to social media. |
8 . Jenn Larson was just 14 years old when she took over the bookkeeping for her family’s dairy farm near Firth, Idaho. She soon saw firsthand how challenging it was for her parents, who lacked any college education, to properly manage the unpredictable earnings of farming. This started a lifelong passion for finance, and it led her down an unexpected path to becoming a role model she never had.
Yet, such ambitions ran in obvious contrast to everything familiar to her. “I didn’t have any advisors,” Larson says. “I didn’t have anyone to look up to for a professional example. All the women I associated with were stay-at-home moms.” Despite having parents who couldn’t fully understand her ambitions, Larson went to the BYU Marriott School, where she earned a business degree and focused much of her coursework on international finance.
Larson worked for seven years as a financial representative with Northwestern Mutual, advising clients on important financial decisions. Larson returned to BYU Marriott in 2008 to earn an MBA, and accepted a position in the school as an assistant professor following her graduation. For more than a decade, Larson has taught finance classes to undergraduate and MBA students. While she teaches finance, Larson tries to help her students see how mastering finance principles can also impact their personal lives.
Constantly balancing motherhood and work, Larson makes adjustments to the way she teaches. She gave birth to her first three children in three years while teaching at BYU Marriott, wondering at times if labor might start while in front of a class full of students. During the pandemic, Larson taught online classes from her dining room table while taking care of a newborn and other young children at home.
As a female instructor in the often male-dominated finance industry, Larson works to inspire other women who seek a similar path to hers. Larson became the role model that she never had — the example that a 14-year-old girl staring at a farming expense sheet couldn’t find. Now, Labor on’s children and students will always have that example.
1. What motivated Larson to major in finance?| A．Her experience of managing accounts. |
| B．Her strong desire for college education. |
| C．The high expectations from her parents. |
| D．The challenging labor on her dairy farm. |
| A．She had no one to ask for advice. |
| B．She was unsure about the coursework. |
| C．She was misunderstood by her neighbours. |
| D．She was unfamiliar with everything at school. |
| A．The work of looking after a baby. |
| B．The process of dealing with students. |
| C．The process of giving birth to a baby. |
| D．The work of adjusting teaching methods. |
| A．Following Your Interest |
| B．Balancing Work and Family |
| C．Becoming Your Own Role Model |
| D．Seeking a Way to Become a Role Model |
9 . All across America, students are anxiously finishing their “What I Want To Be …” college application essays, advised to focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) by experts and parents who insist that’s the only way to become workforce ready. But two recent studies of workplace success contradict the traditional wisdom about “hard skills”.
Google originally set its hiring systems to sort for computer science students with top grades from top science universities. In 2013, Google decided to test its hiring theory by quickly dealing with large amounts hiring, firing, and promotion data collected since the company’s establishment.
Project Oxygen shocked everyone by concluding that, among the eight most important qualities of Google’s top employees, STEM capability comes in dead last. The seven top characteristics of success at Google are all soft skills: being a good coach; communicating and listening well; possessing comprehension into others; being supportive of one’s colleagues; being a good critical thinker and problem solver; and being able to make connections across complex ideas.
Those characteristics sound more like what one gains as an English or theater major than as a programmer. Could it be that top Google employees were succeeding despite their technical training, not because of it? After bringing in more experts to dive even deeper into the data, the company enlarged its previous hiring practices to include humanities majors, artists, and even the MBAs (Master of Business Administration).
Project Aristotle, a study released by Google this past spring, further supports the importance of soft skills even in high-tech environments. Project Aristotle analyzes data on inventive and productive teams. Google takes pride in its A-teams, assembled with top scientists, each with the most specialized knowledge and able to throw down one creative idea after another. Its data analysis revealed, however, that the company’s most important and productive new ideas come from B-teams comprised of employees who don’t always have to be the smartest people in the room.
Project Aristotle shows that the best teams at Google exhibit a range of soft skills: equality, generosity, curiosity toward the ideas of your teammates, understanding, and emotional intelligence. And topping the list: emotional safety. To succeed, each and every team member must feel confident speaking up and making mistakes. They must know they are being heard.
STEM skills are vital to the world we live in today, but technology alone, as Steve Jobs famously insisted, is not enough. We desperately need those who are educated to the human, cultural, and social as well as the computational.
1. Google conducted the studies of workplace success in order to ________.| A．determine what makes a workplace-ready student |
| B．check whether its hiring system serves the purpose |
| C．prove soft skills are more important than hard ones |
| D．impress its competitors with the employees’ excellence |
| A．add to | B．back up | C．bring about | D．conflict with |
| A．Emotional safety enables people to express themselves freely. |
| B．Listening and hearing helps develop problem-solving abilities. |
| C．Learning from mistakes doesn’t necessarily mean improvement. |
| D．Those without specialized knowledge can also make inventions. |
| A．STEM skills our society needs for better education |
| B．The principal focus students have on application essays |
| C．The surprising thing Google learned about its employees |
| D．The soft skills Google programmers lack for career growth |
10 . As we enter a period of profound economic uncertainty, shown by recent well-known layoffs and a culture of “quiet quitting”, thinking about the future of work might well seem a scary prospect.
Indeed, an ever-increasing digital skills gap threatens to stop businesses adopting the game-changing technologies that will help to power growth in the months and years ahead. For instance, with each exciting new technology comes a growing concern about whether we have a digitally skilled workforce ready to take advantage of it. After all, keeping the workforce up to speed with the latest advances is a key element of the digital transformation process, which will prove essential if we hope to improve business productivity and efficiency alongside our efforts to achieve sustained growth.
Likewise, at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, the cybersecurity skills gap was named as one particular area of concern. There’s good reason for this focus: if businesses can’t protect themselves against external threats, they risk going backwards. And that’s before they even start thinking about achieving growth. This is why we need to address the digital skills gap urgently.
Well, we should change in order to help attract and keep a more diverse pool of talent, giving businesses a far better chance of finding the up-to-date digital skills they need. And, when it comes to engaging and empowering the current workforce, learning and development opportunities will be key, helping employees to enhance their skills for the benefit of both themselves and their employers.
To make this all happen, leaders and employers must demonstrate a commitment to teaching their workforces digital skills by setting clear expectations and providing all the resources required. One approach, for example, would be to focus on the potential in the existing talent pool by identifying those already skilled in digital capabilities and supporting them to upskill their colleagues. Creating a culture of learning, with an emphasis on personal growth, can be an impressive motivator in the workplace.
Of course, it’s all well and good saying that digital skills are paramount, but a workforce with purely hard skills will not future-proof a business. There’s a need for soft skills that support the broader goal, so as not to ignore the other competencies required in a digital transformation: communication, critical thinking, creative design skills, and leadership. To exploit the technology to its full potential, such qualities are equally important.
Fundamentally, getting the interaction right between humans and technology will be vital if businesses are to succeed. As a result, human skills must not be underestimated. Every business will need a range of people with a variety of skills — not only those experts in math, engineering, and science, but also those with creative minds and leadership qualities.
1. What is the writer’s main concern in the digital transformation process?| A．The threats from technology. | B．The challenge of upskilling workforces. |
| C．The culture of “quiet quitting”. | D．The shortage of experienced workers. |
| A．Replacing current workforces with digital talents is the key. |
| B．High requirements of recruitment ensure a sound workforce. |
| C．Employers should develop a learning culture inside their workforces. |
| D．Business leaders should focus on the training of the existing talent pool. |
| A．Important. | B．Beneficial. |
| C．Challenging. | D．Inspiring. |
| A．To advocate the necessity of improving digital skills. |
| B．To warn humans of the potential problems with technology. |
| C．To stress the importance of combining hard skills with soft skills. |
| D．To draw people’s attention to the ever-increasing digital skills gap. |
