1 . Hiring processes can be thought of as a battle between integrity and dishonesty. You might imagine this is a simple fight between truth-seeking firms and self-promoting candidates, and to a certain extent it is. But companies themselves tend to bend reality out of shape in ways that are self-defeating.
Start with the obvious wrongdoers: job applicants. When it comes to writing the resume (简历) , they tend to massage reality into the most appealing shape possible. Everyone beyond a certain level of experience is a transformational leader personally responsible for generating millions income; the world economy would be about 15 times bigger than it actually is if all such claims were true. The average British spends four and a half hours a day watching TV and online videos. But each average job candidate is an enthusiast for public welfare, using their spare time only for worthy purposes, like volunteering in soup kitchens.
But the tendency to stretch the truth infects companies as well as applicants. The typical firm will write a job description that invariably describes the work environment as fast-paced and innovative, and then lays out a set of improbable requirements for the “ideal candidate”, someone who almost by definition does not exist. Sometimes, the requirements include an ability to go back and change the course of history.
Too few firms offer an accurate account of what a position actually involves in their job previews, which are supposed to give prospective employees a genuine sense of the negatives and positives of the job, as well as a clear idea of the company’s corporate culture. One effective strategy is to lay out in text or video, what a typical day in the role would look like.
Such honesty can be its own reward. Research has long suggested that realistic job previews lead to lower turnover and higher employee satisfaction. A paper in 2011 by David Eamest of Towson University and his co-authors concluded that favourable perceptions of the organization’s honesty are the best explanation for why. So a process designed to uncover the truth about job applicants would run a lot more smoothly if firms were also honest about themselves.
1. Why are “leader” and “enthusiast” mentioned in paragraph 2?| A．To present a rule. | B．To clarify a fact. |
| C．To make a comparison. | D．To explain a phenomenon. |
| A．Overstate. | B．Overturn. | C．Overlook. | D．Overestimate. |
| A．They show a position as it is. | B．They are made either in text or video. |
| C．They are favorable for bigger firms. | D．They mainly contain negatives of a job. |
| A．Pains and gains of employees and employers |
| B．How to get the lying out of hiring. |
| C．How to be more appealing in hiring. |
| D．A wrestle between applicants and companies. |
2 . Ask any business leader what big challenges they face and it’s likely that skills and labor shortages will be high on their list. They’re concerned about how to develop the skills they need for the jobs of tomorrow. According to the World Economic Forum’s latest Future of Jobs Report 2023, organizations across all industries identify skills gaps and an inability to attract talent as the key barriers preventing industry transformation.
There’s a potential solution to all of this: a “skills-first” approach. The new report, Putting Skills First: A Framework for Action, launched during the World Economic Forum’s Growth Summit, finds that switching to a skills-first mindset can directly benefit over 100 million people globally who’re currently under-utilizing their existing skills, because they’re under-employed in their current job or because they’re unemployed. The analysis, which covers 18 economies, finds workforce under-utilization ranges from 4% of the working population in Thailand, to 7% in the US, 13% in France, 27% in Brazil and 43% in South Africa.
A skills-first approach focuses on a person’s skills and competencies rather than on their qualifications or job history, so that what someone can do becomes far more important than which university they went to. Crucially, this focus on skills continues long after the worker has been hired, with an emphasis on continually developing their abilities right through their career.
Making skills a priority is fairly advantageous. For businesses, taking a skills-first approach dramatically increases the potential pool of talent from which they can draw on. For individuals, it provides access to good jobs that offer skills building, career progression and higher earning potential which they’d otherwise have been excluded from without the right qualifications.
Delivering such ground-breaking change requires more than simply the involvement of HR teams. It’ll require the commitment of CEOs and policy-makers at the highest level to drive it through. So far a company in UK has introduced a range of degree apprenticeship (学徒制) programs which enable applicants without a degree to gain one while working at the firm. The organization is also developing new career paths to ensure it has the right skills to meet the changing needs of the economy.
1. What plays a key role in industry transformation?| A．Working environment. | B．Employees’ job history. |
| C．Employees’ competence. | D．Business leaders’ management. |
| A．It was launched by 18 economies. |
| B．It focuses on a skills-first mindset. |
| C．It shows the decline of global economy. |
| D．It points out employment trends. |
| A．Further research needs to be done. |
| B．It depends on global cooperation. |
| C．Some measures are already underway. |
| D．It is well accepted around the world. |
| A．A skills-first approach. |
| B．A more inclusive society. |
| C．Developing new career paths. |
| D．Creating a framework for job markets. |
3 . 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. |
4 . If you are looking for part-time jobs at the Penn State University Park campus, you’ve come to the right place! Chances are that we have right jobs for you. So, where should you begin? Just look through the jobs below and you’ll immediately find the part-time jobs you like.
PART-TIME LIBRARY STAFF ASSISTANT
Date Announced: 04/03/2019 Job Number: 84944
Work Unit: University Libraries and Scholarly Communications
Department: Common Services
DESCRIPTION: process library materials and staff service desks in the Pattee/ Paterno Library. Responsibilities include circulation of course reserves and computers; processing, sorting and shelving materials; and assisting with opening and closing areas. Service desk responsibilities include checking out materials, assisting users with accessing various types of library resources, providing users reference services and securing the entrances to the equipment. Successful applicants must be dependable, flexible, and devoted to providing excellent customer service for library visitors. Weekend and evening availability preferred. Your cover letter and CV listing scheduling availability (days and times) should accompany your completed online job application.
PART-TIME STUDENT SERVICES SUPPORT
Date Announced: 03/31/2019 Job Number: 84218
Work Unit: College of Engineering
Department: SEDTAPP
DESCRIPTION: The College of Engineering, School of Engineering Design, Technology, and Professional Programs (SEDTAPP) seeks to hire numerous Penn State students at University Park to fill part-time positions in each of its programs, which include Engineering Design programs, Engineering Leadership Development programs, and Entrepreneurship (企业家精神) programs. These positions may include undergraduate teaching assistants, graduate teaching assistants, SEDTAPP Make Space assistants, or staff assistants. Hours and payments for these positions will vary and working time will not be over 20 hours per work week. Positions open until filled.
1. What is required for the library staff assistant?| A．Working experience. | B．Available working time. |
| C．Having various hobbies. | D．Professional competence. |
| A．They work mostly at weekends. |
| B．They are likely to get different wages. |
| C．They work for at least 20 hours per week. |
| D．They are required to be good at engineering. |
| A．To provide job information. | B．To compare different jobs. |
| C．To offer advice to job seeker. | D．To encourage students to do part-time jobs. |
5 . Step aside, blue collar. And white collar, pink collar and green collar. There’s a new collar in town. “New collar” jobs are those that require advanced skills but not necessarily advanced degrees, especially in emerging high-tech fields like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity (网络安全), electric vehicles and robotics.
There are real fears that workers will lose jobs to technology, especially artificial intelligence, in the coming years. But “new collar” optimists think in a more positive way: There are also real opportunities ahead for skilled workers who know how to handle machines.
“Somebody has to program, monitor and maintain those robots,” said Sarah Boisvert, the founder of the New-Collar Network.
Even if millions of high-tech jobs are created in the coming years, the impact on workers who lose jobs may be significant. For many Americans without four-year college degrees, according to census (人口普查) data, the new job market will require training.
Ginni Rometty, a former chief executive of IBM, is believed to have created a “new collar” in 2016. At the time, she said, IBM was having trouble filling cybersecurity jobs, partly because outdated criteria required that candidates have college degrees.
“Due to our high qualifications in these online jobs, we overlooked a large number of qualified and available candidates,” she wrote in an email. “Unless millions of people are trained in the skills employers need now,” she added, “they risk being unemployed even as millions of good-paying jobs go unfilled.”
Christopher M. Cox, a researcher who has written about the new-collar economy, said, “The alternative model of four-year universities is really great.” However, he added that “new collar” may also be a clever term that relieves the anxiety of workers by defining the constantly changing labor market and technology companies as more ideal rather than “terminators (终结者).”
1. What does “new collar” mean?| A．People engaged in cybersecurity. |
| B．People working at electric vehicles. |
| C．People closely connected with artificial intelligence. |
| D．People with advanced skills regardless of degrees. |
| A．Much stress. | B．Low salaries. |
| C．High qualifications. | D．Few candidates. |
| A．It gives more opportunities to the workers. |
| B．It helps artificial intelligence develop better. |
| C．It rebuilds the confidence of the white collar. |
| D．It changes the system of technology companies. |
| A．To explain the anxiety of workers. | B．To state the electric vehicle industry. |
| C．To emphasise the college education. | D．To introduce the new-collar phenomenon. |
6 . Today’s workers are suffering from a burnout. The danger of this is that burnout is linked to under performance and feelings of hopelessness. Would you know how to fight burnout?
Find out the cause.
To fight burnout, you may have to get rid of anything that weighs you down. Remember, the less you have on your plate, the better you may feel.
Separate work from home life.
When you stop working at the end of the day, leave your “office hat” in the office. And while we’re talking about balance and relaxation, make sure you schedule real days off from work. No work emails, no work text messages, and no wok phone calls—a day devoted entirely to you, your family and rest.
Set realistic goals.
Maybe you have short-term and long-term goals for your life. Goals are an excellent motivator.
The best solution to burnout is seeking out rich interpersonal communications, and continual personal and professional development. Find coaches and mentors who can help you identify positive relationships and learning opportunities.
Take short breaks during the day.
When you’re working throughout the day, schedule short 10-minute breaks every hour or every hour and a half.
| A．Seek out social connections. |
| B．Social support can be beneficial. |
| C．Maybe the problem is not your job itself, but rather a specific task or project. |
| D．But If you reach too high too fast, burnout is unavoidable. |
| E．Close your eyes for a few minutes, leave your computer, grab something drink, or simply sit in your quiet office and clear your mind. |
| F．Here are some methods you can follow to solve the problem. |
| G．If you are overwhelmed with work, you probably don’t have a lot of time to sleep |
7 . Starting a new job is exciting for lots of reasons. You meet new people, learn new skills, and become part of a team. But there are several things you need to get under your belt before you can really show your new workmates and bosses what you’re made of.
Listen and Learn. Listen actively and learn quietly during team meetings, one-on-ones with your manager, or even casual conversations by the coffee machine. This is not just about understanding your role, it’s about absorbing the company culture, team dynamics, and business objectives. Too many to remember?
Get to know your boss. His or her leadership and communication style can offer invaluable insights for your long-term success. For example, does your boss prefer weekly email updates or quick daily stand-ups? Do they like to be consulted on every decision, or do they give you more leeway (余地)?
Accept constructive feedback. Always ask for feedback and take it wisely. Constructive criticism can be challenging to hear, but it offers valuable lessons for improvement.
| A．Ask for help and offer it too |
| B．Understand your goals in detail |
| C．Take notes while in these situations |
| D．Being on time shows you respect other people |
| E．It’s important to know how your performance will be measured |
| F．When you get it, take a moment to understand its implications fully |
| G．Understanding him or her well is beneficial for getting your work done more effectively |
8 . It all began in Everett, Washington, where my project team was in the process of conducting one of our business systems. So tough was the project that we often stayed up completing the tasks assigned. All of us were worn out. One night, as I walked through the parking lot with one of my employees. I found a cent and picked it up. Glancing at my exhausted employee. I suddenly had an idea to delight him. Playfully, I presented the cent to the employee and said, “This is an informal award for your efforts.” He put the cent in his pocket. “Thank you,” he said, a wave of joy sweeping across his face.
About six months later, I was walking with the same employee、this time in Los Alamitos, California, when I again found a cent and gave it to him with the same words.
Later, I got into his office and there, taped on a piece of paper were the two cents, which made me surprised. He said he was displaying them as his recognition for a job well done.
Other employees noticed the cents proudly displayed and began asking why they hadn’t received any. They were also longing for the “reward”. It was then that I started handing out cents, explaining that they were for recognition, not for reward. Soon, so many people wanted them that I designed a cent holder. The front features a place for a cent and beside it the phrase, “Your work is recognized!” The back has room for 30 more cents and the phrase, “Your achievements count!”
One time, I spotted an employee, Mia, doing something right and wanted to recognize her, but I didn’t have a cent, so I gave her a quarter. Later the same day she stopped by and returned 24 cents.
That’s how the “One Cent Award” was born. It’s become a significant source of recognition in our organization.
1. Why did the author give a cent to the employee initially?| A．To praise him. | B．To amuse him. |
| C．To reward him. | D．To surprise him. |
| A．The design of a cent holder. | B．The shared beliefs in his team. |
| C．The eagerness of fellow employees. | D．The expectation for better achievements. |
| A．One cent stood for recognition. | B．She was advised to do so. |
| C．The author was mean with money. | D．It is the company’s strict regulation. |
| A．Greedy. | B．Motivated. | C．Aggressive. | D．Talented. |
9 . Hartley got to Central Station nearly an hour before his train was due to leave. A lifetime in the theatre had given him a healthy sense of punctuality (守时); a lifetime of unwanted cups of coffee, constant checking of the time, yet another turn around the block before that all too often pointless, tiresome audition (试镜).
Hartley was 75— pretty fit for his age, legs holding up, memory still ticking over nicely — though the occasions for punctuality were now rather fewer. But he was a creature of habit and couldn’t change now.
He went to the restaurant, and then bought a coffee and a blueberry muffin, tired and failed to find a litter-free table. The coffee was awful, the muffin was stale — but the coffee was always awful, the muffin always stale. Hartley refused to let himself be annoyed. His visit to the city had not been without its pleasures. Lunch with an old friend, then a film—regrettably not using his own talents —had rounded out a pleasant day.
Hartley was a good actor, although the calls on his talents were now infrequent. But really, he thought draining (饮尽) his awful coffee, he’d had a reasonably good career. Something to be proud of. But he’d never had that break-through part.
He headed for his platform. Just as the train was about to pull out a man ran down the platform, jumped aboard as the door slammed shut and sank into the seat next to Hartley.
“Cutting it a bit fine”, he said.
“Indeed”, Hartley replied. “A close run thing”.
The man —fortyish, amiable looking — gave him an amused glance.
This brief exchange served as an ice-breaker and they chatted their way through the outer suburbs and into the countryside. His neighbour asked Hartley what he did — or had done — for a living.
Hartley hated telling people he was an actor. He was not ashamed of his job. Not at all, but he had long tired of reactions ranging from “what have I seen you in” to “how do you learn all those lines”.
So in situations like this he simply picked a job from a former role. Bit risky, of course. You say you’re a doctor and find yourself meeting the quizzical (疑问的) gaze of a heart surgeon. But he’d never been caught out and it was harmless enough game, Hartley felt. It amused him, and he’d given some damn good performances too.
“I’m a lawyer”, he replied. “Retired several years ago. Property law. Bit of criminal stuff”.
The train was slowing down. The man glanced out of the window.
“My station. I had you quite wrong then”.
He stood and took down his briefcase from the overhead rack.
“Yes, I’d have said you were an actor. The voice especially. Still, lawyers are actors in a way, don’t you think? Plenty of drama in a courtroom.”
The train drew into the station.
“I’m a film director. Choosing a leading actor at the moment. You study faces. On the train. Everywhere. Always on the lookout. Anyway, enjoyed our chat. Bye.”
1. What can we learn about Hartley?| A．He is quite forgetful. | B．He lacks a sense of time. |
| C．He has less job opportunities now. | D．He’s achieved great success in his acting career. |
| A．Amusing despite the risk. | B．Upsetting when caught out. |
| C．Harmful to his acting career. | D．Helpful to protect his identity. |
| A．He thought Hartley did a different job. |
| B．He mistook Hartley for another person. |
| C．He understood Hartley’s profession was acting. |
| D．He assumed Hartley had given another answer. |
| A．describes Hartley’s shock to find the man is a director |
| B．shows the readers how unexpectedly Harley’s career ends |
| C．confirms Hartley’s lack of luck in spite of his acting skills |
| D．proves the man will reconsider giving Hartley a chance to act |
10 . On a recent visit to her family home in Atlanta, Stella came across some papers from her tenth- grade English class. Looking at her essays and the notes, Stella was struck by how the work she did in that class informed her work now as an editor. Her teacher, Mr. Newman, always encouraged his students to dig deeper. Stella learned that the best way to understand literature is by asking, “What is this work trying to accomplish?” Now, when she sits down to edit a manuscript (手稿) that’s one of two guiding questions Stella asks herself, followed by, “How can I help the author fully realize that vision?”
Those questions were at the top of Stella’s mind when Freewater by Amina landed on her desk. As Stella made editorial suggestions, she was mindful of the balancing act involved in writing about a topic as painful as slavery and doing so through the eyes of a child. Stella kept a kid reader in mind-someone who might have learned only a part of this history. Stella and Amina went back and forth in phone calls, e-mails, editorial letters, and notes directly in the manuscript, until they agreed that Freewater was exactly where it needed to be.
The novel hit bookshelves on February 1, 2022, and nearly a year later was awarded the John Newbery Medal. Amina became only the third Black woman to be awarded that medal in the award’s one-hundred-and-one-year history, and Stella became the first Black editor to edit a Newbery-winning book.
Stella’s strategic approach to editing, personal warmth, and keen editorial insight have won her universal admiration from authors and colleagues, who also enjoy her sense of humor and infectious laugh. She is a powerful advocate for all the authors in her orbit, which recently came to include her mother, Wanda M. Morris, whose novel All Her Little Secrets has been widely acclaimed and even optioned for TV.
1. What’s Stella’s tenth-grade English teacher like?| A．Humorous. | B．Determined. | C．Inspiring. | D．Cautious. |
| A．The novelty of the manuscript. |
| B．The writer’s purpose of writing. |
| C．The writer’s understanding of literature. |
| D．The practical significance of the work. |
| A．Why Amina created Freewater. | B．Who Freewater is intended for. |
| C．What message Freewater conveys. | D．How Stella helped improve Freewater. |
| A．Applied. | B．Adapted. | C．Praised. | D．Shared. |
