1 . Socially, few things are more annoying than someone repeatedly checking their phone in the middle of your conversation with them. Soon enough, you’re having unhappy thoughts, thinking of their way like, I’m boring you; you’re more concerned with whoever’s on that phone than me; you don’t care about me. None of that is necessarily true, but this is: “If someone is engaged in a great conversation, they wouldn’t care about their phones,” says Leslie, a psychologist and researcher at NYU.
Do you sometimes wonder: What should I have said to a rude person like this? What if we have to talk to such maddening persons? Experts have advice about how to deal with this.
Whether you say something or not, remember that the cell-addict’s annoying habits aren’t about you. “It’s rude, for sure, but sometimes we mistake the behavior for more than what it is,” says Leslie. “It’s possible that they are facing something tough and merely experiencing nervousness or anxiety,” he adds. It’s also possible that their partner is stuck with a flat tyre (轮胎) or their kid is sick in hospital. The point is that you don’t know.
So before you become angry at the cell-addict’s open rudeness, focus instead on building a better conversation than whatever’s going down on Instagram. You might never be able to achieve this, given the power of today’s social media, so if you’re close enough to a person, Leslie advises you to directly ask them: “What’s on that thing that’s so interesting?” Chances are that they will apologise at once and quickly put the phone away. But if the answer is something real, talk about it. Better yet, you can avoid the situation in advance by saying something like, “I’m really interested in catching up properly, so how about we leave our phones in the car?” If they indeed have that flat tyre or sick kid, at least you won’t have to assume that it’s because your stories are boring.
1. Why do people often check their phones according to Leslie?| A．They are anxious about something. |
| B．They are enjoying the conversation. |
| C．They are bored with the conversation. |
| D．They are interested in what’s on the phone. |
| A．They may be nervous or anxious. |
| B．They are being rude intentionally. |
| C．They are avoiding the conversation. |
| D．They are disinterested in social interactions. |
| A．Talking about something real. |
| B．Asking the other person directly. |
| C．Avoiding the situation in advance. |
| D．Asking the other person for explanation. |
| A．What is a cell-addict. |
| B．How to deal with a cell-addict. |
| C．Why people repeatedly check their phones. |
| D．When to cut in appropriately during a conversation. |
2 . The change caused by increased scientific funding during the 20th century is remarkable. Thomas Edison electrified the world from his industrial lab at Menlo Park, and the Carnegie Foundation was the major supporter of Edwin Hubble. Advances in science during the Second World War—from the development of radar to the atom bomb — encouraged governments and companies to increase their funding.
However, a growing amount of work shows that the reward has fallen even as more money is spent on research. One explanation for this is that the way science is funded is out of date. The rate at which funding applications are approved has fallen. Two-fifths of a top scientist’s time is spent on things other than research, such as looking for money. Risky ideas are often put aside. It is time to make another change.
The first step is to try new things. More money could fund promising people rather than specific projects, encouraging researchers to take risks. Countries should also learn from the best practices of others. American funders give over three times more to science than the European funders do. Europeans might benefit from learning from others’ practices.
More important still is to find ways to measure what is working and what is not, and then adapt accordingly. Governments might consider appointing leading scientists or chief economists to do the data analysis in various scientific fields. One interesting idea is to keep a close eye on the projects that they do not fund, and track how they perform.
None of this will be easy. Scientific funders say they want to experiment, but they also face pressure to support research that can be easily explained, to keep politicians happy. In some cases more money may be the only solution. Still, the economic returns to research are so large — at least ten times the original investment — that fixing the system is well worth the effort. Like science itself, the way of funding it must also progress.
1. Why does the author mention Thomas Edison in Paragraph 1?| A．To praise the inventor’s achievement. | B．To explain the change with examples. |
| C．To compare scientific breakthroughs. | D．To transform the funding for science. |
| A．Most scientists are devoted to research. | B．Funding for research is less rewarding. |
| C．Funding applications get fast approved. | D．Scientists should look for more money. |
| A．Support people with risky ideas. | B．Invest money in specific projects. |
| C．Analyse the data to earn money. | D．Let go of the unfunded projects. |
| A．Unclear. | B．Negative. | C．Doubtful. | D．Approving. |
3 . A worldwide shift from fossil fuel-powered cars to electric vehicles (EV) could significantly reduce the amount of carbon dioxide that humans emit to the atmosphere. But the vehicle electrification can also shift some pollution to communities already suffering under higher economic, health and environmental burdens, researchers warn.
California is seeking to reduce its carbon footprint and has made great increases in the promotion of electric vehicle purchases. One tool the state has launched is the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, or CVRP, which offers consumers money back for the purchase of new EVs.
Now, an analysis of the CVRP’s impact on the state’s air quality from 2010 to 2021 reveals both good and bad news, researchers report May 3 in PLOS Climate.
The good news is that the CVRP is responsible for reducing the amount of the state’s overall CO2 emissions, reducing them by about 560,000 tons per year on average, says environmental scientist Jaye Mejia-Duwan at the University of California. In 2020, transportation in California produced about 160 million tons of CO2, about 40 percent of the total emitted by the state that year.
The bad news is that the most disadvantaged communities in the state didn’t see the same overall improvement in air quality. Those communities didn’t have the same decreases in CO2 — and in fact saw an increase in one type of air pollution, tiny particulates (颗粒) known as PM2.5. “These particulates are small enough to go deep into the lungs, increasing the risk of cancer, heart problems and cognitive decline,” Mejia-Duwan says.
“Electric vehicles are often referred to as ‘zero-emission vehicles,’ but in fact, they’re only as clean as the underlying electric grid (电网) from which the energy is sourced,” Mejia-Duwan says. EVs tend to be relatively heavy due to their batteries. And “heavier vehicles can produce more particulate matter than equally sized fossil fuel-powered cars, due to brake, tire or road wear,” Mejia-Duwan says.
1. California launched CVRP to ________.| A．save money for consumers | B．encourage the purchase of EVs |
| C．promote selling traditional cars | D．add to the profit of car industry |
| A．The seriousness of CO2 emissions. | B．The increasing popularity of EVs. |
| C．The present situation of environment. | D．The positive effect of CVRP. |
| A．Fuel-powered cars are relatively environment friendly. |
| B．There are more EVs in disadvantaged communities. |
| C．Electric vehicles can reduce the amount of emission. |
| D．Heavier vehicles do less damage to the environment. |
| A．Objective. | B．Supportive. | C．Opposed. | D．Indifferent. |
4 . Of the endless troubles that come with being driven from one’s home country, losing educational certificates may seem small. But it isn’t. Refugees who settle in other countries often find themselves unable to continue on their previous career path due to a new set of employer standards or skills requirements. To solve this problem, the U.S. State Department is posing a solution: online learning.
The State Department will announce a partnership with an online education platform called Coursera. The platform will allow refugees worldwide to take thousands of online courses for free. “Coursera for Refugees” will be available for any non-profit group that supports refugees in any country, as well as individual refugees. They can apply for fully funded access to Coursera’s course catalog, which means they can take all of the platform’s classes and obtain professional certificates for free. The platform currently offers professor-led lectures on a broad range of topics, from data science to fashion design.
As the world migrant crisis worsens, employment is becoming a global concern. The new program aims to aid refugees by offering “important kills that will help them in the global economy,” Evan Ryan, U. S. assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs, said on a press call last week. “What we don’t want to do is not act,” added Coursera chief operations officer Lila Ibrahim.
The idea isn’t without problems. For one, starting a new career path isn’t as simple as watching a few videos and obtaining an online certificate; even those looking to continue previous careers can’t simply rely on an online lecture to get them up-to-date on standards, policies, and practices. For another, most of the classes on Coursera are in English, and though there are plans to add translations, language barriers can be a big problem. Then there are the questions over the value of massive open online courses (MOOCs) themselves — both for refugees and for average learners.
But it’s still early days and there are signs of hope. In 2015, a joint study found 72% of people taking the MOOCs saw career benefits afterwards.
1. Why is the US State Department launching an online learning program for refugees?| A．To enable them to settle down in host countries. |
| B．To help them to meet new employment standards. |
| C．To offer them a platform to pursue advanced degree. |
| D．To allow them to learn as many job skills as possible. |
| A．It supplies refugees with many job opportunities. |
| B．It offers free online data services for all refugees. |
| C．It allows refugees to obtain degrees in various fields. |
| D．It gives refugees a wide range of courses free of charge. |
| A．Increased instability. | B．More deaths of refugees. |
| C．Difficulty in getting a job. | D．Worsening economic crisis. |
| A．Cultural environment. | B．Lack of language skills. |
| C．Changed academic requirements. | D．Difference in teaching platforms. |
5 . Sam Shepler was not surprised the first time he was asked to make a video resume (简历) in 2021. The 32-year-old had noticed the trend growing in the previous year, and was applying for a video-editing role. The role did not require any public speaking, and Shepler had no experience talking about himself on camera. Even though he got the job, the process felt more burdensome than usual. “I honestly prefer the old-fashioned resume and interview, ” he says.
A recent survey showed that 79% of hiring managers thought that video resumes had become “more important” than before for vetting (审查) candidates, and 61% of job seekers thought “ a recorded video could be the next version of the traditional cover letter”. As remote work has made video an increasingly common part of life at work, are video resumes the future—whether candidates want them to be or not?
Chloe Chioy, 22, believes a video resume was crucial in helping her secure her first job after university. “It was a decision on my part to submit a video resume,” says the Taipei-based digital marketing coordinator, who works remotely for a UK-based company. The job advertisement only stated that a resume was required. “Being a fresh graduate, I knew experience was my major disadvantage. I think showing my personality and attitude in the video helped my application.” She also made sure to emphasise skills relevant to the role, including screenshots of articles she had written, clips (片段) of her public speaking, and showing off her video-editing abilities.
Chioy’s approach made use of some of the distinct benefits of video resumes, says recruitment (招聘) specialist Jan Tegze. This can be particularly helpful for applicants with little experience applying in competitive fields who need an extra edge to secure a role. He also mentions that he cannot see the video resume replacing its written counterpart (相对物) any time soon. “Recruitment really hasn’t changed for decades. We are using different tools that are a little bit faster, but it’s still about human interaction,” he says.
1. What does paragraph 1 tell us about Sam Shepler?| A．He felt awkward in front of a camera. |
| B．He was inexperienced in editing videos. |
| C．He liked the traditional hiring process better. |
| D．He applied for a job that valued public speaking. |
| A．Most candidates no longer use cover letters. |
| B．There is a growing demand for video resumes. |
| C．Most hiring managers screen candidates via video. |
| D．Video becomes a common part of remote working. |
| A．Brave and optimistic. |
| B．Selfless and polite. |
| C．Honest and independent. |
| D．Creative and smart. |
| A．Written resumes won’t be replaced in the short term. |
| B．Using different tools can speed up the selection of talents. |
| C．Virtual hiring is particularly popular in competitive fields. |
| D．Sending a video resume isn’t very helpful for fresh graduates. |
6 . “Creativity is the key to a brighter future,” say education and business experts. Here is how schools and parents can encourage this important skill in children.
If Dick Drew had listened to his boss in 1925, we might not have the product that we now think greatly important: a new type of tape. Drew worked for the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company. At work he developed a kind of material strong enough to hold things together. But his boss told him not to think more about the idea. Finally, using his own time, Drew improved the tape, which now is used everywhere by many people. And his former company learned from its mistake. Now it encourages people to spend 15 percent of their working time just thinking about and developing new ideas.
Creativity is not something one is just born with, nor is it necessarily a character of high intelligence. The fact that a person is highly intelligent does not mean that he uses it creatively. Creativity is the matter of using the resources one has to produce new ideas that are good for something.
Unfortunately, schools have not tried to encourage creativity. With strong attention to test results and the development of reading, writing and mathematical skills, many educators give up creativity for correct answers. The result is that children can gain information but can’t recognize ways to use it in new situations. They may know the rules correctly but they are unable to use them to work out practical problems.
It is important to give children choices. From the earliest age, children should be allowed to make decisions and understand their results. Even if it’s choosing between two food items for lunch, decision-making helps thinking skills. As children grow older, parents should try to let them decide how to use their time or spend their money. This is because the most important character of creative people is a very strong desire to find a way out of trouble.
1. What did the company where Drew once worked learn from its mistake?| A．It should encourage people to work a longer time. |
| B．People should be discouraged to think freely. |
| C．People will do better if they pay all attention to their work. |
| D．It is necessary for people to spend some of their working time developing new ideas. |
| A．It is something that most people are born with. |
| B．It is something that has nothing to do with intelligence at all. |
| C．It is a way of using what one has learned to work out new problems. |
| D．It is something that is not important to the life in the future at all. |
| A．They don’t attach importance to creativity education. |
| B．They don’t want their students to make mistakes. |
| C．They pay no attention to examination marks. |
| D．They think it impossible to develop creativity in class. |
| A．Allow them to have a try. |
| B．Try to help them as much as possible. |
| C．Take no notice of whatever they do. |
| D．Order them to spend the least money. |
Chinese shoppers flooded to e-commerce platforms and rushed to purchase discounted items worth hundreds of billions of yuan during this year’s Double 11,
2023 marks the first post-pandemic Singles Day, whose consumption returns to normal levels. We are seeing stronger spending, evidenced by the 18 percent increase in total spending
Chinese shoppers are also willing to devote their attention to more novel platforms that blur the boundaries between entertainment and retail, particularly in livestreaming e-commerce provided by short-video platforms such as Douyin and Kuaishou. Domestic brands, especially those
8 . Even before the Internet brought unlimited consumer options directly into our homes, choice had long been seen as the driving force of capitalism (资本主义). The possibility of consumers to choose between competing providers of products and services decides which businesses will grow rapidly and which will bite the dust. The competitive environment caused by consumers’ free choice supposedly drives innovation and efficiency, delivering a better overall consumer experience.
However, recent experiments on consumer behaviour have suggested that too many options can lead to a range of anxieties in consumers—from the fear of missing out (FOMO) on a better opportunity, to the loss of pleasure in a chosen activity (thinking “why am I doing this when I could have been doing something else?”) and regret from choosing poorly. The raised expectations presented by a broad range of choices can lead some consumers to feel ill-informed and indecisive when making a purchasing decision.
Fortunately, randomness offers us a simple way to overcome the choice-related anxieties. When faced with a multitude of choices, many of which you would be happy to accept, throwing a coin may be the better option. This “randomized” strategy can help us to focus on our true preference and sometimes making a quick good choice is better than making a slow perfect one, or indeed making no decision at all.
It’s important to remember that you are not required to follow the randomized decision blindly. The suggested choice is just designed to put you in the position of having to seriously consider accepting the specified option, but doesn't force your hand one way or the other.
For those of us who struggle to make decisions, it’s comforting to know that when struggling with a selection, we can get out a coin and allow it to help. Even if we resolve to reject the outcome, being forced to see both sides of the argument can often kickstart or speed up our decision-making process.
1. Which is closest in meaning to “bite the dust” in paragraph 1?| A．Survive. | B．Fail. | C．Adapt. | D．Benefit. |
| A．too many options could make consumers more anxious |
| B．more choices usually led to better consumer experiences |
| C．companies are more innovative in a competitive environment |
| D．customers could make better decisions with enough information |
| A．Focus on our true preference. | B．Delay the decision indefinitely. |
| C．Accept the randomized strategy. | D．Throw the coins more than once. |
| A．Economy. | B．Politics. | C．Health. | D．Psychology. |
9 . Many families stick to the belief that some schools offer golden tickets for their children’s futures. Whether it’s an Ivy League college or a high-price “dream school,” too many people believe certain schools are worth endless effort, stress and debt. They believe these are magical schools.
For example, if you are interested in pursuing a career in engineering, it is important to choose a college that has a strong engineering program.
Furthermore, practical skills and experience are important in today’s job market. Therefore,
choosing a major that provides hands-on experience and opportunities for internships (实习) is more likely to lead to employment opportunities than simply attending a reputable college.
Another important factor to consider is the cost of attendance. Attending a reputable college may come with a high price.
In conclusion, when choosing a college, it is important to prioritize your major over the reputation of the college you attend.
| A．That can lead to significant student loan debt. |
| B．The cost is what matters, not the name of the school. |
| C．If their child gets in, their life’s road will be surfaced with gold. |
| D．Dream schools don’t produce happier or more successful people. |
| E．Your major choice can also have an impact on your earning potential. |
| F．Similarly, choose a college with a reputable journalism program for a journalism career. |
| G．Your major plays a significant role in shaping your career prospects and earning potential. |
10 . Huang Yang is a native(本地人)of Zibo city in Shandong Province who works outside his hometown. He recently returned home for a visit and wanted to have some barbecue(烧烤). But he failed to find seats in four different restaurants.
“A barbecue restaurant owner told me to come back on Monday, so as to leave the weekends to out-of-town visitors. Another restaurant owner told me that they had run out of meat. I’ve been eating barbecue for over 20 years and this is the first time I’ve heard something like that,”Huang said.
Thanks to social media recommendations, Zibo barbecue has become popular overnight. The small city was crowded with visitors on weekends for a taste of the mouth-watering dishes. Most visitors are young people, who share online their experience of traveling to Zibo to experience the city’s barbecue culture, drawing even more visitors.
Behind Zibo’s sudden fame(名声)are the efforts and services of the local government. To promote Zibo-style barbecue, Zibo has provided two dozen “special barbecue trains,” where local officials would serve tourists themselves. Zibo’s tourism officials have been promoting the city’s food and attractions and sending gifts to tourists on the barbecue-themed trains.
At the city’s train station, volunteers have been working at train stations to offer help. Buses are ready to take visitors from train stations straight to barbecue restaurants.
Another key to the success, according to Peng Han, director of the Center for Strategic Studies at the Ctrip Research Institute, is that before Zibo became popular on the internet, the city had developed mature(成熟的)tourism products and service standards. For example, the barbecue-themed train services, bus services, barbecue map, the youth hostels that offer discounts for college students and the strict requirements for local tourism businesses were not achieved overnight, Peng noted.
Although Zibo is still enjoying the great fame, the local government has begun to make longer-term plans.
As the home of the Shandong businessmen and having origins(源头)in the Silk Road, Zibo will work to develop its historical and cultural resources into cultural brands, noted Wang Shenghua, a senior tourism official in Zibo.
1. Why did the barbecue restaurant owner tell Huang Yang to come back on Monday?| A．Because there would be a barbecue festival on Monday. |
| B．Because the restaurant was open only on Monday. |
| C．Because there were too many visitors on weekends. |
| D．Because the restaurants ran out of meat on weekends. |
| A．Young people share their happy experience in Zibo. |
| B．Zibo offered free barbecue and hotels to the visitors. |
| C．Zibo had already improved their tourism service. |
| D．Zibo spared no effort to provide visitors with a happy experience. |
| A．Zibo will open more barbecue restaurants. | B．Zibo will develop its silk business. |
| C．Zibo will develop its own cultural brands. | D．Zibo will provide better service for businessmen. |
| A．Big on barbecue, Zibo’s star shines | B．Zibo, a historical and cultural city |
| C．Top barbecue restaurants in Zibo | D．Tips for traveling in Zibo |
