1 . As restaurants, malls and movie theaters fill back up with people, the workplace has remained nearly empty. This is partly driven by how common remote work has become in society. People have invested in creating workspaces in their homes, relocated to smaller towns and even taken their work to vacation resorts. Now, with an easing pandemic and slowing economy, companies are increasingly trying to draw employees back into the office. But many just don’t want to go.
Though seen as a necessity during the pandemic, some business leaders doubt whether the current level of remote work is sustainable. And they’re right. A fully virtual workplace misses some of the key drivers for performance and productivity, which are top of mind right now for businesses facing the prospect of a potential recession(衰退). Understandably, they want workers back in the office because they’re preparing for a more competitive environment, which calls for maximizing efficiency. Fully remote work doesn’t cultivate the level of interpersonal relationships that business leaders see as vital to workplace innovation.
When companies are responding to market shifts and economic stresses, new ideas, problem solving and brainstorming all become essential. And brainstorming sessions are much easier to conduct in person, where workers can exchange their ideas in conference rooms or shared work spaces. Remote workers, meanwhile, are more prone to distractions at home that can disrupt their concentration and participation.
It’s not just what happens in formal meetings that adds value. It’s also the organic connections and culture-building that occurs when workers run into each other in the hallways or after a company gathering. It’s these spontaneous (自发的) opportunities to inquire into the details that are missed when one is working remotely.
Undoubtedly, there will be workers who don’t agree. But leaders owe it to all share holders, including workers, to make the best policy decisions. Policy can’t just make sense for workers. It must also make business sense in order to preserve opportunities for workers to work; it must make financial sense in order to protect opportunities for workers to earn a living.
1. What do we know about remote work?| A．It was popular in smaller towns. |
| B．It slowed down the economy. |
| C．It was necessary during the pandemic. |
| D．It brought people to public places. |
| A．To improve workers’ efficiency. |
| B．To create a relaxed atmosphere. |
| C．To cultivate friendlier relationships. |
| D．To explore workers’ potential. |
| A．The ambitions of the leaders. |
| B．The comfort of the employees. |
| C．The interests of the businesses. |
| D．The ability of the shareholders. |
| A．Fully Remote Work Likely to Disappear |
| B．Remote Workers Losing Their Jobs |
| C．Policymakers Caught in a Dilemma |
| D．Companies Struggling with Slowing Economy |
2 . Many people believe that working to the maximum is the secret to success, but research has found that moderation(适度) also gets results on the job.
In a study led by Ellen Langer of Harvard University, researchers asked people to translate sentences into a new made-up language. Subjects who practiced the language moderately beforehand made fewer errors than those who practiced extensively or not at all. High levels of knowledge can make people too attached to traditional ways of viewing problems across fields the arts, sciences, and politics. High conscientiousness is related to lower job performance, especially in simple jobs where it doesn’t pay to be a perfectionist.
How long we stay on the clock and how we spend that time are under careful examination in many workplaces. The young banker who eats lunch at his desk is probably seen as a go-getter, while his colleagues who chat over a relaxed conference-room meal get dirty looks from the corner office. “People from cultures that value relationships more than ours does are shocked by the thought of eating alone in front of a computer”, says Art Markman, a professor of psychology at the University of Texas, Austin. Social interaction has been shown to lift mood(情绪) and get people thinking in new directions and in ways that could help improve any post-lunch effort.
Markman also promotes off-task time. “Part of being a good thinker is experiencing things that are seemingly unrelated to what you are working on at the moment but give you fresh ideas about your work,” he says. “Also, there is a lot of research showing that a positive mood leads to higher levels of productivity and creativity. So, when people do things to increase their life satisfaction, they also make themselves more effective at work.”
1. What does Ellen Langer’s study show?| A．It is worthwhile to be a perfectionist | B．Translation makes people knowledgeable. |
| C．Simpler jobs require greater caution. | D．Moderate effort produces the best result. |
| A．is good at handling pressure | B．works hard to become successful |
| C．a has a natural talent for his job. | D．gets on well with his co-workers |
| A．A good thinker is able to inspire other people. |
| B．Experience unrelated to your job is useless. |
| C．A cheerful mood helps make a creative mind. |
| D．Focusing on what you do raises productivity. |
| A．Middle-of-the-road work habits. | B．Balance between work and family. |
| C．Long-standing cultural traditions. | D．Harmony in the work environment. |
3 . Generation Z is different. As a whole, Americans born between the late 1990s and early 2000s are less likely to have work or look for it: their labour- force-participation rate is 71%, compared with 75% for millennials (born between 1980 and the late 1990s) and 78% for Generation X (born in the decade or so to 1980) when each came of age. As a result, they make up a smaller share of the workforce. With graduation ceremonies behind them, the latest group of diploma-holders are entering the job market. What they want from employers is also not quite the same as in generations past.
Although Gen-Z employees felt more lonely and isolated than their older colleagues at the start of the pandemic, the ability to work remotely has brought new possibilities. The benefits go beyond working in your pyjamas. Many are taking calls from beach chairs and hammocks (吊床) in more comfortable places or fleeing big cities in search for cheaper or larger homes.
This has big implications. Industries with jobs that cannot be done from home are falling out of favour with recent graduates. A study by ManpowerGroup, an employment company, suggests an inverse relationship (反比关系) between talent shortages and flexible working policies. The sectors which are either less able to offer remote work or have been slower to embrace it- including construction, finance and manufacturing-have faced some of the biggest skills gaps for all types of job.
That in turn has accelerated a pre-existing trend of young employees trading Wall Street for Silicon Valley. Now technology bosses are more willing than their opposite numbers in finance to let employees work from home (or anywhere else). Annual rankings of employer desirability by Universum, a graduate-staffing consultancy, bear this out. In 2008 the list of best employers graded by American graduates was dominated by big banks and the Big Four consulting firms. By 2021 seven of the ten highest spots were occupied by tech and media giants.
1. What does the underlined word “diploma-holders" in the first paragraph refer to?| A．Employees. | B．Students. |
| C．Graduates. | D．Shareholders. |
| A．They want more holidays on the beach. |
| B．They love wearing pyjamas while working. |
| C．They want to work in a more flexible way. |
| D．They can’t afford the residents in big cities. |
| A．All walks of life are facing some of the biggest skills gaps. |
| B．Construction, finance and manufacturing can’t offer remote work. |
| C．Industries with flexible working policies may suffer talent shortages. |
| D．Industries with jobs that cannot be done from home are less popular. |
| A．To weigh up the pros and cons of the two industries. |
| B．To prove industries in technology are more appealing. |
| C．To predict the change of preference among employees. |
| D．To show Silicon Valley is a better place to settle down. |
4 . Recently, I had lunch with a young Chinese student who studies at a college in New York. He is very bright and ambitious and I enjoyed our conversation. Still I felt upset and useless afterwards because I was not able to provide him with any good news. Graduating at the end of this year, he asked me how he could find a job in this country and fulfill his career dreams.
In recent years, students who found a job here after graduation have had to go through a cruel lottery system to obtain their HIB working visa. And the success rates have been declining year after year because of the ever growing number of applicants. Last year, there were 233,000 applicants, and only 30 percent of them were lucky, less than half of the rate in 2013.
And it can only become worse. US President Donald Trump’s immigration (移民) policies in this country are tightening up and this trend will continue for at least the next few years. In this case, foreign students studying social sciences, a field in which starting salaries are rarely above the required amount, can kiss their visa hopes goodbye.
Compared to the older generation of Chinese students, today’s young people no longer consider the US as the only option. Many start to think China offers better opportunities in the longer term.
This is not to say that Chinese students in the US are not interested in job opportunities here any more. A few years of work experience in the US can give themleveragewhen they finally land back in their home country. But if the job opportunities are largely reduced by the tightening of immigration policy, I expect there will be a decline. And if that happens, it is the American economy that will suffer from the loss of those educated, hard-working and talented immigrants.
1. The author felt upset because ________ .| A．he was not interested in the talk | B．he didn’t fulfill his career dreams |
| C．he couldn’t provide helpful advice | D．he thought the student was useless |
| A．The lottery system for HIB working visa is too tough. |
| B．Chinese students have no choice but to return to China. |
| C．President Obama is tightening up the immigration policies. |
| D．Fewer and fewer students are applying for the working visa. |
| A．Advantage. | B．Language. | C．Ability. | D．Education. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Supportive. | C．Indifferent. | D．Worried. |
5 . Of all the buildings situated within Vatican City, few hold as much significance as the Sistine Chapel (西斯廷教堂). It is the pope’s private chapel and the site of papal ceremonies. It also acts as the election headquarters whenever a new pope is being selected. An architect by the name of Giovanni dei Dolci worked for eight years from 1473 to 1481 to have the building for Pope Sixtus Ⅳ erected. The structure contains an incredible amount of Renaissance (文艺复兴) artwork, including frescoes (湿壁画) by Michelangelo. Given the significance of such a place, the key to the Sistine Chapel is closely guarded. One man alone bears this immense responsibility, the clavigero or “key-keeper.”
Gianni Crea is the chief key-keeper of the Vatican Museums and carries the weight of 2,797 keys on his shoulders—well, mostly on his wrist. Before dawn—at 5:00 a.m. to be precise—Gianni begins his day by going into the “bunker” where the keys are kept overnight in wall safes. As he walks the seven kilometers of his route through the museums, the mass of metal keys hangs and makes noises from the giant key rings he carries on his wrist. He unlocks the doors, one by one, turning on all the lights along the way. The last door he opens on his journey is a tiny wooden one leading to the Sistine Chapel’s inner sanctum (内殿).
The silvery-brass key to the Sistine Chapel is not kept on the key ring with the others but in a white envelope. It also comes with rigorous (严格的) protocol. After the chapel is opened for the day, the key is put in a fresh white envelope, sealed, stamped, and placed back in its corresponding wall safe. A thick book is used to maintain careful records of all of its movements. Gianni discharges his duty with pride and has done so for the last 23 years.
1. What is mentioned as being significant about the Sistine Chapel?| A．New popes are chosen within its walls. |
| B．It took eight years of construction to complete. |
| C．It was built specially for Pope Sixtus V. |
| D．Renaissance artist Michelangelo visited once. |
| A．He begins his workday every day at sunset. |
| B．He personally unlocks the door for the Pope. |
| C．He has been the clavigero for over two decades. |
| D．He carries the Sistine Chapel key on his wrist. |
| A．To detail what Gianni Crea thinks of his job as a keyholder. |
| B．To describe what a key-keeper at the Vatican Museums does. |
| C．To state why a key-keeper is needed in the Vatican Museums. |
| D．To provide information about how to apply to become a keyholder. |
(a) Every workday, I start out by entering a bunker that holds 2,767 keys.
(b) Then I take out lots of keys from the wall safes.
(c) After closing the door to the Sistine Chapel.
(d) I admire stunning artwork from the prehistoric 12 ages.
| A．a. | B．b. | C．c. | D．d. |
6 . Essential first job tips for graduates
Graduates may be anxious as they enter the workplace. And most bosses won’t teach you how to be a good employee.
Speak clearly. Many graduates mumble (嘟哝) or talk too quickly. It is common that people have to ask them to repeat themselves. Perhaps it is because they often speak to their peers who have super sharp hearing. But the customers you encounter in your new job may not. Good verbal communication skills are essential for most jobs. Practice speaking slowly and clearly.
Listen carefully. This is an important skill no matter what career you hope to have.
Don’t interrupt unless it’s urgent. When a co-worker or boss is talking to a customer, don’t cut in unless what you have to share absolutely can’t wait. Use good judgment to determine the urgency of the situation.
| A．Dress formally. |
| B．Dress in a proper way. |
| C．If it is urgent, interrupt without judgement. |
| D．Avoid shouting, but speak loudly enough to be heard. |
| E．That is something new workers must learn on their own. |
| F．When it is necessary to interrupt a conversation, do so carefully. |
| G．It requires being able to pay attention to the information another person is conveying. |
7 . Nowadays in a prosperous world, we don’t only expect to obtain money through our labor.
Accept that being confused about careers is perfectly normal
Nowadays there are about half a million varieties of work. The result? We can become so anxious about making the wrong choice that we end up making no choice at all. Psychologists call this “the paradox of choice”, a problem caused by too many options. So we should acknowledge that confusion is natural.
Know yourself
Start by writing down everything you’ve ever enjoyed doing or making, which might include building a tree house, or sorting out the winter clothes. Then there will, somewhere, be the shape of an ideal future working self, but it’ll be in need of being analyzed thoroughly. That’s where philosophy comes in. Philosophy is the art of clearing up, and demanding logic of our first thoughts.
Try something
So many bad self-help books are about confidence. But in a strange way, it truly does seem as if the difference between success and failure is sometimes just the courage to give it a go.
| A．Be confident. |
| B．Read books about confidence. |
| C．It’s easy to imagine the work we want. |
| D．But don’t let it ruin our chances forever. |
| E．We often find information about jobs on the Internet. |
| F．Usually, we also expect to find meaning and satisfaction. |
| G．A lack of confidence is a misunderstanding of the way the world works. |
8 . It feels like every time my mother and I start to have a conversation, it turns into an argument. We talk about something as simple as dinner plans and suddenly my mother will push the conversation into the Third World War. She’ll talk about my lack of (缺乏) bright future because I don’t plan to be a doctor. And much to her disappointment, I don’t want to do any job related to science, either. In fact, when I was pushed to say that I planned to major (主修) in English, she nearly had a heart attack.
“Why can’t you be like my co-worker’s son?” she shouts all the time. Her co-worker’s son received a four-year scholarship and is now earning 70,000 dollars a year as an engineer. I don’t know what to say except that I simply can’t be like Mr. Perfect as I’ve called the unnamed co-worker’s son. I can’t be like him. I am the type of the person who loves to help out in the community, write until the sun goes down, and most of all, wants to achieve something because of loving it, not because of fame or salary.
I understand why my mother is worried about my future major. I’ve seen my mother struggle to raise me on her small salary and work long hours. She leaves the house around 6:30 am and usually comes back home around 5:00 pm or even 6:00 pm.
However, I want her to know that by becoming a doctor, it doesn’t mean I’ll be successful. I’d rather follow my dreams and create my own future.
1. What does the underlined word “push” in Paragraph 1 mean?| A．to increase or decrease an amount, value, or number |
| B．to encourage or force someone to do something or to work hard |
| C．to make someone or something move by pressing them with arms |
| D．to press a button to make a piece of equipment start or stop working |
| A．To persuade the author to become a doctor. |
| B．To tell the author to learn as hard as he can. |
| C．To encourage the author to receive a scholarship. |
| D．To ask the author to earn much more money. |
| A．Her plans for future. | B．Her need to control. |
| C．Her poor knowledge. | D．Her struggle with life. |
| A．The author will become an engineer as his mother wishes. |
| B．Being a scientist is sure to earn high fame and salary. |
| C．The author may choose major according to his interest. |
| D．The author shows little interest in learning English. |
9 . Looking for a well-paid part-time/ student job? Enjoy working with animals? Like helping busy pet owners? If so, then keep reading! On Care.com We have a lot of pet care jobs looking for people like you.
What are you going to do:
Find local pet care job On Care.com and help pet owners with their pets.
To do this job, you will be responsible for a lot of tasks and have flexible( 灵活的 ) working hours to meet the pet’s needs. Make sure you are familiar with the role’s responsibilities before making a final decision.
Task include:
For dogs-walking and sitting
For cats-sitting and litter box cleaning
Playing
Feeding and cleaning
Training
If necessary, vet visits
What we offer:
Flexible working hours
Working in a family environment
Taking part in different kinds of activities
Earning between ₤25 and ₤60 per hour
Being paid weekly or monthly
What we ask:
Enjoying working with pets
Experience in pet care is an advantage
Patience and good communication skills
Extra information
Education Level: Secondary Schools,College University
Location: Northern Ireland, East Midlands, East Anglia, North, South East, London, North Wales, Scotland, South Wales, West Midlands, Yorkshire
Working hours per week: 4-32 hours
Type of contact: Part-Time Jobs, Evening Job, Weekend, Summer/Holiday Jobs, Full- Time
Responsible for: Pet care
Published on: 10-03-2020
Type of job: Home Care
Language: English
1. If you take this job, you should________.| A．Have experience in keeping a pet yourself |
| B．Design different kinds of activities for pets |
| C．Clean the bedroom of the pet owner |
| D．Take a cat to pet hospital if it is ill. |
| A．Short working hours. |
| B．Getting paid every week. |
| C．Changeable working environment |
| D．Taking part in various activities |
| A．₤500 | B．₤750 |
| C．₤1200 | D．₤1500 |
10 . Volunteering offers great help to people in need, but the benefits(好处) can be even greater for you.
Volunteering connects you to others.
Volunteering is good for your mind and body.
If you’re considering a new job, volunteering can help you get experience in your area of interest and meet people in the field.
| A．Volunteering increases self-confidence |
| B．Being a volunteer helps you make new friends and improve your social skills |
| C．Even if you’re not planning on changing your job |
| D．While some people are naturally outgoing |
| E．It provides many benefits to both mental and physical health |
| F．Many people volunteer in order to make time for hobbies outside of work |
| G．Volunteering can also reduce the risk of heart disease |
