1 . “Nobody else knows what they are doing either.” I read this quote about six years ago when I was in college．

I lived through college life without any _________. When professors said it was time to hand in my homework, I handed it in. When I was told that I hadn’t enough _________ to get my degree, I studied hard to _________ examinations to complete several courses．

One day, I was having dinner with some classmates. One said suddenly, “I plan to buy a _________ within three years after graduation.”

I almost _________, “Really? Do you know how _________ it is to buy one house?”

He said leisurely, “Mortgage (抵押贷款).”

Another added, “Great! I _________ to pass the examination of Chartered Financial Analyst and get the certificate within five years after graduation.”

I just seemed to hear something _________.

I _________ like this way. I worked at a bar. Unhappily! Every day, I got up hurriedly and got on the bus to work. After work, I slept, again and again. I didn’t know why I led such a __________ life that I had __________ wanted, and where my life would __________.

Like 90% of my peers, I still had no __________ what I wanted to do with my life or who I wanted to become. At the exact same time Instagram (一款社交软件) was becoming really big. I started __________ bloggers and world travelers who seemed to have it all together. How had they __________ it out? What had they been given that I hadn’t?

We were totally __________; the only thing __________ us was that they had plans or __________, and they had taken action. All of a sudden, I came down to earth, __________ that if I took things into my own hands, I would figure it out. I began to think my __________ and just do something. Then three years later, I became a freelance writer.

1.

A．experiences

B．concerns

C．failures

D．tests

2.

A．grades

B．credits

C．achievements

D．missions

3.

A．prepare

B．sit

C．pass

D．read

4.

A．car

B．school

C．pet

D．house

5.

A．approved

B．denied

C．quieted

D．choked

6.

A．hard

B．fantastic

C．realistic

D．important

7.

A．manage

B．expect

C．learn

D．rush

8.

A．funny

B．normal

C．real

D．inspiring

9.

A．moved

B．succeeded

C．graduated

D．dreamed

10.

A．meaningful

B．fruitful

C．economical

D．miserable

11.

A．never

B．formally

C．clearly

D．always

12.

A．end

B．begin

C．change

D．lead

13.

A．direction

B．trip

C．idea

D．effort

14.

A．questioning

B．following

C．understanding

D．contacting

15.

A．figured

B．shown

C．thought

D．printed

16.

A．different

B．calm

C．unique

D．equal

17.

A．separating

B．freeing

C．connecting

D．warning

18.

A．sponsors

B．aims

C．courses

D．faults

19.

A．searching

B．remembering

C．realizing

D．doubting

20.

A．misfortunes

B．friends

C．advantages

D．stories

3 . When you were at school, the last thing you probably wanted to do was to spend your weekends going to work. There was homework to do, sport to play and fun to have. But our parents probably persuaded us to find a job to earn some money and get some life experience. When I was a teenager I had a paper round: delivering newspapers to people’s homes.

Today in the UK you are allowed to work from the age of 13, and many children do take up part-time jobs. It’s one of those things that are seen almost as a rite of passage (成人仪式) .It’s a taste of independence and sometimes a useful thing to put on your CV (简历). Teenagers agree that it teaches valuable lessons about working with adults and also about managing their own money.

Some research has shown that not taking up a Saturday or holiday job could be deleterious to a person later on. A 2015 study by the UK Commission on Employment and Skills found that not participating in part-time work at school age had been blamed by employers’ organizations for young adults being ill-prepared for full-time employment, but despite this, recent statistics have shown that the number of schoolchildren in the UK with a part-time job has fallen by a fifth in the past five years.

So does this mean that British teenagers are now afraid of hard work? Probably not. Some experts feel that young people feel going out to work will affect their performance at school and they are under some pressure now to study hard and get good exam result and a good job in the long term. However, Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, told BBC News that “Properly regulated part-time work is a good way of helping young people learn skills that they will need in their working lives.” In reality, it’s all about getting the right balance between doing part-time work and having enough time to study and rest.

Many young people actually want to work because it gives them a sense of freedom. One 13-year-old girl called Rachel, who has a Saturday job in a shop, told the BBC that “I enjoy my job because I’m earning money and it helps me socialize with people I work with.” That seems like something worth getting up for a Saturday morning. Did you do a part-time job when you were at school?

1. What can we conclude from Para 2?

A．Students taking up part-time jobs are more independent.

B．Taking up part-time jobs can help students save money.

C．Taking up part-time jobs is good for students in many ways.

D．Children over 13 in the UK must take up part-time jobs.

2. The underlined word “deleterious” in Para 3 means _________.

A．important	B．harmful
C．threatening	D．beneficial

3. Which of the following might Geoff Barton agree with?

A．Students with good grades and no study pressure can do part-time jobs.

B．Students should put all their energies into their studies.

C．The more part-time jobs they do, the more beneficial it is for students.

D．It is good for students to do part-time jobs as long as they are proper.

4. Which of the following can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Should schoolchildren have part-time jobs?

B．What kind of part-time job should schoolchildren do?

C．What benefits can part-time jobs bring to schoolchildren?

D．Why do British schoolchildren show less interest in part-time jobs?

4 . Latest research provides some good news for those who hope to someday live in a world where women coders and surgeons are as plentiful as their male workmates: Today s elementary school girls are actually more interested in pursuing a STEM（science, tech, engineering, math）career than their male classmates are.

What’s more, while young boys’ ideal jobs have stayed relatively unfluctuating over the past 20 years of the century, young girls’ career dreams have grown more ambitious. Back in 1998, a study found that 11-year-old boys were most interested in becoming an athlete, a service member, or an engineer. Now, a new survey of children 10 and younger found that boys` career dreams have stayed relatively stable. In this study, girls said they aspired（渴望）to be teachers, nurses and hairdressers.

Also notable: Overall, girls are more likely to say they are interested in a STEM job than their male workmates. Indeed, 41% of girls express interest in technical careers, vs. 32% of boys.

"Yet while girls’ increased interest in scientific careers is clearly something to celebrate, there is still progress to be made to make it a reality," said Simon Isaacs, a researcher. "We can celebrate the girls’ focus on STEM, but if we look at children aged 1 through 10 right now, we still have a long way to go with regard to getting girls involved in engineering, computer programming and other tech fields." Other recent studies have similarly found that despite their great interest in STEM careers, most American girls believe they are relatively unlikely to end up in a job that requires computer science or engineering skills simply because they don’t think these jobs belong to girls. "Even as we talk about being a generation that is growing up more gender-non-conformist（无性别意识的）than any other generation, we aren`t necessarily seeing that translate into what kids want to be," said Isaacs.

Isaacs said that he decided to pursue this research to better understand how today’s culture of role models—who are as diverse as Mark Zuckerberg and Malala Yousafzai—are hugely shaping the next generation of students’ career ambitions.

"What we find at the elementary level is that kids are often basing their aspirations on whatever they’ve been exposed to in the media," said Tony Wagner, an expert. Wagner says that gender standards described in the media have begun to change, specifically with regard to female characters in medicine and science. Wagner has found that girls are more interested in careers that are described as having a direct human connection, like medicine and education. "What they don’t understand is that much of engineering and other STEM work, is profoundly human-centered. The problem lies in how it’s taught," he said.

1. According to the latest study________.

A．there will be more female engineers and doctors than males in the future

B．more girls show interest in having a job in STEM related areas than boys.

C．boys’ career choices have greatly changed compared with those of 20 years ago.

D．most girls would like to become teachers, nurses and hairdressers in the future.

2. The underlined word "unfluctuating" can be replaced by________.

A．necessary

B．unchanging

C．wider

D．impossible

3. Simon Isaacs and other recent surveys tend to indicate that________.

A．more boys under 10 years old prefer STEM

B．there are more girls in tech fields than boys

C．girls who will really work on STEM are not as many as imagined

D．many boys can’t end up with STEM careers, either

4. It can be inferred that________.

A．we can’t see the change in careers between girls and boys

B．gender difference still exists in career tendency

C．there is no sex difference in career choices for kids

D．we can’t expect that all children like STEM

5. What is the main influence on kids’ tendency of the career choice?

A．Social culture.	B．School education.
C．Family influence.	D．Economic development.

5 . When I re-entered the full-time workforce a few years ago after a decade of lonely self-employment, there was one thing I was looking forward to the most: the opportunity to have work friends once again. It wasn't until I entered the corporate world that I realized, for me at least, being friends with colleagues didn't emerge as a(n) _______ at all. This is surprising when you consider the prevailing emphasis by scholars and trainers and managers on the importance of cultivating close _______ relationships at work. So much research has explored the way in which collegial（同事的）ties can help overcome a range of workplace issues _______ productivity and the quality of work output such as team-based conflict, jealousy, undermining anger, and more.

Perhaps my expectations of lunches, water-cooler gossip and caring, deep-and-meaningful conversations were a _______ of the last time I was in that kind of office environment. Whereas now, as I near the end of my fourth decade, I realize work can be fully functional and entirely fulfilling without _______ to be best mates with the people sitting next to you.

In an academic analysis just published in the profoundly-respected Journal of Management, researchers have looked at the concept of "indifferent relationships", a simple term that summarizes the fact that relationships at work can _______ be non-interpersonal, inconsequential, unimportant and even, dare I say it, disposable or substitutable.

Indifferent relationships are neither positive nor negative. The limited research conducted thus far indicates they're especially _______ among those who value independence over cooperation, and harmony over confrontation. Indifference is also the _______ option among those who are socially lazy. Maintaining relationships over the long term takes effort, which, for some of us, is much too _______.

As noted above, indifferent relationships may not always be the most ________ approach in resolving some of the issues that pop up at work. But there are nevertheless several apparently proven benefits. One of those is ________. Less time chatting and socializing means more time working and churning(产出).

The other is ________. As human beings, we're programmed to compare ourselves to each other in what is an anxiety-causing phenomenon. Apparently, we look down on acquaintances(泛泛之交)more so than friends. Since the former is very common among those ________ to indifferent relationships, their predominance can promote individuals' sense of self-worth.

Ego aside, a third advantage is that the emotional ________ of indifferent relationships has been found to enhance critical evaluation, to strengthen one's focus on task resolution, and to gain greater access to valuable information. None of that might be as ________ as after-work socializing but, hey, I'll take it anyway.

1.

A．burden

B．priority

C．obligation

D．coincidence

2.

A．short-term

B．contractual

C．shallow

D．interpersonal

3.

A．affecting

B．enhancing

C．measuring

D．restoring

4.

A．cause

B．credit

C．consequence

D．realization

5.

A．tending

B．needing

C．promising

D．hesitating

6.

A．peculiarly

B．interestingly

C．reasonably

D．decisively

7.

A．dominant

B．rare

C．constructive

D．intense

8.

A．preferred

B．compulsory

C．available

D．likely

9.

A．engaging

B．casual

C．demanding

D．effortless

10.

A．traditional

B．cautious

C．flexible

D．helpful

11.

A．image

B．efficiency

C．profit

D．expansion

12.

A．self-respect

B．self-improvement

C．self-evaluation

D．self-control

13.

A．resistant

B．unique

C．open

D．essential

14.

A．feature

B．neutrality

C．reaction

D．conflict

15.

A．exhausting

B．meaningful

C．fun

D．popular

6 . Born in New York in 1918, scientist Gertrude B. Elion had an impressive career, during which she developed medicines to cure many major diseases. Elion spent her early youth in Manhattan. She attended senior high school and had, in her words, an unbelievable thirst for knowledge.

Influenced by the death of her grandfather, who died of cancer, Elion entered Hunter College at the age of 15 and graduated in chemistry at the age of 19. She had difficulty finding employment after graduation because many laboratories refused to hire women chemists. She found a part-time job as a lab assistant and went back to school at New York University. Elion worked as a high school teacher for a few years after finishing work on her master’s degree.

The start of World War II created more opportunities for women. At the age of 26, Elion was able to get a job at Burroughs Welcome, where she began a 40-year partnership with Dr. George H. Hitchings. Her thirst for knowledge impressed Dr. Hitchings, and he permitted her to take on more responsibility.

Elion and Hitchings set out on a course of creating medicines by studying the chemical composition of diseased cells. Rather than relying on old trial-and-error methods, they used the differences in biochemistry between normal human cells and pathogens(病原体)to design medicines. In all, Elion obtained 45 patents on medicine and was awarded 23 honorary degrees.

In 1988, Elion received the Nobel Prize for Medicine, together with George H. Hlitchings and Sir James Black. She received other awards for her work, including the National Medal of Science in 1991, and that same year, she became the first woman to be absorbed into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. In 1997, she was awarded the Lemelson-MIT Lifetime Achievement Award.

1. What can we say about Elion as a high school student?

A．She had a satisfying part-time job.

B．She had a strong desire for learning.

C．She had a gift for chemistry at high school.

D．She made great achievements in chemistry.

2. Why did Elion choose to study chemistry at college?

A．To meet her grandfather’s wish.

B．To find a good job after graduation.

C．To create medicines to cure diseases.

D．To be a chemistry teacher in the future.

3. When did Elion started working for Burroughs Welcome?

A．In 1944.

B．In 1937.

C．In 1933.

D．In 1984.

4. What does the author mainly tell us about Elion in the last paragraph?

A．Her later life.	B．Her contributions.
C．Her interest in chemistry.	D．Her honors.

7 . Welcome to Fresh Start February! This week Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that I would transition to the private sector. Today, my last official day as the Director of the Mayor's Office of Community Affairs. After serving 6 years in the Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser and 2 of those years as Director, of the Mayor's Office of Community Affairs, I am very excited and look forward to starting this next phase in my career.

I am humbled and grateful to Mayor Bowser for trusting in me to be a leader in her administration and to serve as the primary liaison between you-the members of the community, and 13 community affairs offices to foster relationships across all 8 Wards. What can I say, other than it has been an amazing journey and I am grateful!

This journey has been the very foundation of our work in partnership and collaboration between District of Columbia residents and the Executive Office of the Mayor. We have established partnerships with communities, conducted and coordinated several events, town halls, forums, and projects in support of carrying forward mayoral initiatives at the community level.

We have built stronger ties between the Mayor and community organizations civic groups, and Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs) while attending to the intersectional needs of the community.

Also, thank you to the 90+ MOCA staff members that have helped me up to provide support to our office directors and District residents throughout the years. Interacting with you all and having the opportunity to work with such dedicared individuals is something I have and will never take for granted. I have often been inspired by the creativity and innovation that they bring to the respective offices. Our work has left a lasting impression on my life.

Again, thank you to our first female two-term Mayor, Muriel Bowser for her leadership and for allowing me to be a part of this great work! I want to thank you for your support throughout this journey, and I am excited about the great work that will continue to go forward. I leave with fond memories of my 8 years total in the John A. Wilson Building.

2 years in the office or Councilmember Anita Bonds and with memories that I will forever cherish. I also know that MOCA is well-positioned to go to the NEXT LEVEL! It has been one of my greatest privileges to serve with you. Until we meet again.

1. А_______________ is a person whose job is to make sure there is a good relationship between two groups or organizations.

A．mayor

B．resident

C．director

D．liaison

2. How many years altogether has the author worked in MOCA?

A．2

B．6.

C．8.

D．10.

3. Who is the author of the speech most likely to address?

A．Muriel Bowser.	B．The private sector.
C．Local residents.	D．MOCA staff members.

8 . The dream of becoming a professional speaker took hold many years ago. I had a_________in the advertisement department in a small radio station.

Within a short time I realized I could_________serve my customers by not only selling them the air time, but also _________their ads on radio.

The year was 1995, when one of my customers, Scott, and his office manager Mary,_________me into the office. Mary asked me if I had ever_________Tony Robbins. I said I hadn’t. They showed me an_________to his work. Then I knew he was a speaker. Putting the full set of_________named Unlimited Power in my hands, Mary said, "Take these tapes home and listen to the tapes two hours every day._________you listen for 30 days, your life will never be the same. After that we want you to_________what you have learned to our team."

For the next whole__________I listened religiously. I noticed my thoughts shifting in a really__________way. When the evening for my presentation arrived, I was__________prepared. I had so much fun with the preparation for the evening. The evening went off__________. I did great! The group loved my presentation and Scott couldn’t have been__________. As I was preparing to leave, a silver haired gentleman approached me. "I’m Scott’s father. I really__________what you said," he smiled and__________his hand to shake mine.

"I have a group of people I would like you to speak to tomorrow night. You can do the__________presentation because what you said today is inspiring."

Nearly three decades has passed and I have hundreds of presentations. I've__________in many cities of Canada and some European countries apart from the U.S.. I've heard the applause(掌声)of highly inspired__________, autographed my books for those who wanted to "take me home" with them.

Besides six figures of dollars by speaking every year, I've also learned an important life__________that what is important to success is interest and constant efforts.

1.

A．program

B．class

C．friend

D．job

2.

A．fully

B．eagerly

C．anxiously

D．carefully

3.

A．repeating

B．broadcasting

C．reflecting

D．informing

4.

A．forced

B．pulled

C．invited

D．pushed

5.

A．made out

B．met with

C．cared about

D．heard of

6.

A．invitation

B．introduction

C．order

D．arrangement

7.

A．solutions

B．documents

C．tapes

D．books

8.

A．If

B．Since

C．Though

D．During

9.

A．explain

B．add

C．keep

D．present

10.

A．day

B．week

C．month

D．year

11.

A．tiring

B．amazing

C．inspiring

D．puzzling

12.

A．adequately

B．mainly

C．fairly

D．hardly

13.

A．finally

B．suddenly

C．correctly

D．smoothly

14.

A．crazier

B．smarter

C．happier

D．busier

15.

A．support

B．appreciate

C．believe

D．admire

16.

A．extended

B．lent

C．touched

D．raised

17.

A．strange

B．simple

C．free

D．same

18.

A．appeared

B．spoken

C．come

D．joined

19.

A．customers

B．students

C．audiences

D．workers

20.

A．lesson

B．situation

C．subject

D．dream