1 . For a long time, comedy has been perceived as a profession for men only. But this has changed in recent years. Many female comics have made their mark on the stage not by ignoring the issues of gender inequality, but by bringing them to light.
Yang Li, 28, is one of them. Yang has done stand-up comedy for about three years and often focuses on the difficulties females face. For example, she recently made headlines with a biting joke about how women are portrayed in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
“In The Avengers (《复仇者联盟》), there are six heroes, and only one of them is a woman,” she said during a July episode of Rock & Roast (《脱口秀大会》). Yang was referring to Black Widow, whose superpower is the ability to slow down her aging. How exactly is she supposed to save the world by surviving until all the bad guys die?”
“What I said is not only a joke, but also something female comics are facing, as well as women in general.” Yang told Jiemian News.
Chinese comic twins Yan Yi and Yan Yue echoed this sentiment (观点). They once joked that “the only movie that doesn’t depict two women fighting with each other over a man is The Shining (《闪灵》) (an iconic horror movie from the US)”.
Despite getting more prominent roles, however, women still face challenges in the comedy industry, according to Sixth Tone, a publication based in Shanghai.
“I’ve found that audiences tend to be more judgmental about a female comedian’s appearance,” Yang Mengqi, who made the top 30 on Rock & Roast, said. To avoid unwelcome attention, female comics have to be especially prudent (精明的) in choosing what clothes they wear to perform.
The other challenge is that females are sometimes taken less seriously, despite abundant evidence of their talent and commitment in the male-dominated field.
Maple Zuo is a comic who performs in both English and Mandarin. “It’s hard to fit in when I’m the only female comedian (at a show),” said Zuo, who has toured internationally. “Every time there’s a comedy scene party, they always spontaneously (自然而然地) divide up into two groups: one for the male comics, another for their girlfriends, she said. “I always end up hanging out with the girlfriends.”
Even so, many Chinese female comics feel optimistic about their future. Yang told Sixth Tone, “When people ask what has motivated me to stick with stand-up comedy, my response is simple: I hope to use whatever influence I have to improve gender equality.”
1. What is the author’s main purpose in writing this article?| A．To explore challenges female comics face. |
| B．To explain what contributes to female comics’ success. |
| C．To inform us of the development of the comedy industry. |
| D．To describe how the roles of female comics have changed. |
| A．Black Widow is less brave than other male heroes. |
| B．She admired Black Widow’s ability to age slowly. |
| C．She doubted Black Widow’s ability to survive. |
| D．Black Widow reflects negative stereotypes about women in society. |
| A．questioned | B．repeated | C．announced | D．ignored |
| A．show female comics a way to fight cultural stereotypes |
| B．describe why female comics have to mind what they wear |
| C．illustrate that female comics are often left out by male comics |
| D．explain what it takes for female comics to succeed |
| A．Hopeful. | B．Worried. | C．Unconcerned. | D．Confused. |
2 . Whether an individual is considering starting a small business or changing career paths, passion must be taken into account. While characteristics such as strong values, talent, ambition, intellect, discipline, persistence (毅力), and luck all contribute to business and career success, following your passion can often make the most significant difference of all.
Before discussing passion and explaining its significance, we must first define the true meaning of success. Success is usually thought of as making large sums of wealth or achieving a certain level of fame, but true success that satisfies is not all about money.
Success is better defined as an achievement of a desired aim or purpose. More than money or fame, most people desire to combine their own passions with their work while making a sustainable income. The more you earn, the less money returns, making money an elusive (难以捉摸的) definition of success.
For most people, success means being proud of their achievements and being part of something that matters. This is particularly true when it comes to meaningful work. If an individual decides to follow their passion, there is a greater likelihood that money and traditional success will follow because the time and effort invested in the adventure come with enthusiasm and zeal (热情).
If enthusiasm and passion are present, people tend to be more resilient (有承受力) when encountering obstacles. People who are passionate about what they do, rather than just "in it for the money," tend to be people who have more positive outlooks and can overcome difficulty through problem-solving.
Also, the more passionate someone is about their job, the more inclined (倾向于) they are to work hard on self-improvement, increasing their chances of success.
One of the most successful companies in the world is Apple. Apple's founder and most remarkable leader was the late Steve Jobs. In an article titled “The Seven Success Principles of Steve Jobs”, writer Carmine Gallo outlines seven factors responsible for Jobs’ success. The article is based on interviews with Apple employees and Steve Jobs himself. The first principle? “Do what you love.” Steve Jobs believed in the power of passion and once said, “People with passion can change the world for the better.” Jobs claimed that his passion for his work made all the difference.
1. In writing Paragraph 1, the author aims to ________.| A．introduce the topic | B．make a comparison |
| C．present an argument | D．propose a definition |
| A．sometimes you don’t get much reward for your hard work |
| B．money doesn't always define success |
| C．if you want to be successful, you need a steady income |
| D．the more you earn, the less money returns, which is not a sign of success |
| A．Most people intend to choose meaningful jobs. |
| B．If you follow most people's course, success is just around the corner. |
| C．Working with enthusiasm is more likely to succeed. |
| D．If you are always proud of yourself, you will succeed easily. |
| A．situations | B．risks | C．threats | D．difficulties |
| A．Steve Jobs and His Success Principles |
| B．Follow Your Passions, and Success Will Follow |
| C．Secrets to Success |
| D．Passion and Your Career |
3 . In 1910, the Los Angeles Times ran a story about a boy who was charged with opening a valve (阀门) on a water pump powered by a steam engine to release the built-up pressure. His whole job consisted of staring at these machines all day, which was incredibly boring. The “ lazy ” boy then invented a release for the pump to run just as it should and won his freedom. The first automatic steam engine was born.
This story may be fictional, but the boy’s behavior reflects a deeper truth. When we are feeling lazy, we often search for an easier way, trying to update the process and save time and effort. In other words, laziness can drive innovation.
In recent years, some psychologists and business leaders have wised up to this insight, changing our perspective of what laziness really means. Both Bill Gates and Walter Chrysler have been credited with a quote: “ I always choose a lazy person to do a hard job because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it. ”
Our brains are born for laziness. Compared with our ancestors who had to conserve energy to compete for food, flee from predators, and fight, we now don’t take survival as a daily issue. It seems natural that we would choose to be “lazier” , but the opposite has occurred. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Americans sleep less and work more than we used to; productivity per worker has gone up 400 percent since 1950. Our culture teaches us that our worth depends on how industrious we are, so we work even harder to produce even more.
But there’s one big paradox (悖论), sad but true: The harder we work, the less productive we are. When demand increases, we tend to push harder. Yet the trouble is that, without any refresh and recharge, we are less efficient, make more mistakes, and get less engaged with what we’re doing.
Therefore, how can we make our labor more meaningful and our lives more fulfilling? Current research in psychology and neuroscience points to a new understanding of the value of the wandering mind. Taking breaks and allowing your thoughts to drift can help your brain retain information, refocus, and gain fresh perspective.
Here’s the core problem: When the time finally comes to put our feet up, we often don’t know how. We have little training in how to be idle. But at least give it a shot. Maybe this week, notice some downtime in your day, some white space in your calendar. Instead of filling the space with more work, just sit in the sofa, and be, in the words of poet Mary Oliver, “ idle and blessed. ”
1. The author tells the story in paragraph 1 to prove ______.| A．the kid needs punishing | B．boredom enhances productivity |
| C．creativity contributes to laziness | D．laziness inspires new ideas |
| A．By listing some numbers of being lazy. |
| B．By quoting some great figures’ words. |
| C．By making a comparison between two great figures. |
| D．By giving examples of how to be creative. |
| A．People nowadays don’t have to face poverty. | B．Modern society honors creativity. |
| C．Americans lives a poorer life than before. | D．Ancestors consider industry as a value. |
| A．Working 24 -7 with a tight schedule. |
| B．Taking three part-time jobs to fill weekends. |
| C．Watching a stand-up comedy after a busy weekday. |
| D．Attending a formal dinner with business purpose. |
| A．compare the previous understanding of idleness to the new |
| B．persuade people to give up the value of hard work |
| C．criticize the irresponsible attitude towards life |
| D．encourage people to keep refreshed for better work and life |
4 . It is an ancient Chinese tradition to cherish grain. In ancient China, farming promoted the development of civilization so people regarded grain as a God. The ancient people firmly believed that “food is the most important thing for the people”. The earth God “She” and the grain God “Ji” were the earliest gods worshipped by our ancestors and the country was called “Sheji”.
Chinese believe in food conservation. Scholars have strongly advocated that “every single grain is fruit of hard work” and nothing should be wasted. Strong daily practices are associated with “respecting” the grain. Families that run out of rice never leave their container completely empty. There is always a little rice left in it. Parts of the poultry (家禽) and livestock that are unsuitable to be the main dishes are always deliciously cooked.
Food also helps bring people together. In Chinese culture, “Ju” (get together)is a very particular word. There are many ways to get together, but the word “Can” is usually added to it in case of festivals, birthday celebrations, moving to new houses, weddings and funeral. “Ju Can”(get together and have dinner)is an important way for Chinese families to bond.
But these ordinarily frugal (节俭的) people often end up wasting food during “Ju Can”. Some reports show that the annual waste of grain in China is close to 6% of the total grain output, of which, the waste rate of a large party is as high as 38%. The food waste is driven by people’s flamboyant nature-they think the plates must be full and taking away packed food from a party is “disgraceful”. The dishes at a dinner party have become a symbol of a person’s wealth and having too many dishes at the menu has become fashionable, thus promoting waste.
Small to a person, a family, big to a country, the whole human race, to survive, to develop, we have to be frugal. Being frugal does not mean being mean, it simply means one is wise enough not to waste food. If the culture of diligence and frugality is more widespread in all countries, it would provide for a stronger foundation for national security and family happiness.
1. Why does the author mention “Sheji” in Paragraph 1?| A．To prove China enjoys a long history. |
| B．To explain Chinese tradition of cherishing food. |
| C．To show farming promoted Chinese civilization. |
| D．To clarify who is the earliest god in China. |
| A．Chinese cuisine is diverse. |
| B．Chinese don’t waste food. |
| C．The ancient Chinese lived a difficult life. |
| D．Chinese are skillful at cooking delicious food. |
| A．The disgraceful behaviour in “Ju Can”. |
| B．The human nature revealed in food waste. |
| C．How much food Chinese people waste in “Ju Can”. |
| D．The food waste in “Ju Can” and the reason behind it. |
| A．showy | B．generous | C．unique | D．hardworking |
| A．Farming is crucial to China’s development. |
| B．Food plays a vital role in bringing people together. |
| C．We should cherish food and form the habit of frugality. |
| D．We mustn’t leave the container completely empty in case of tunning out of food. |
5 . Many of us seem to have lives that follow a certain way. From kindergarten all the way to when we get married, every stage of our lives seems to be preset. And although this works well for a lot of people, according to British scholar Jay Shetty, there is no “right” schedule to live our lives by.
A few months ago, a video of Shetty’s speech “Before You Feel Pressure” became popular on the Internet across the world. In the video, he sends an important message that we should think “outside of the way” and have the courage to follow our hearts. As Shetty says in the video, we don’t have to get stressed and put ourselves in a race with our peers or judge our lives based on others’. “Everything in life happens according to our time, our clocks,” he says.
In his inspiring speech, Shetty points out that UK author J. K. Rowling got her famous “Harry Potter” series published at age 32, after being turned down by 12 publishers. Shetty also mentions that US actor Morgan Freeman didn’t get his big break until he was 52 years old. So we shouldn’t let anyone rush us.
As physicist Albert Einstein once said, “Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that’s counted truly counts. The key to staying on our own tracks is to be patient and keep our own interest. ” In Australian nurse Bronnie Ware’s best-selling book “The Top Five Regrets of the Dying”, she recorded the dying regrets of her patients, and the top one on the list was: “I wish I had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the one others expected of me. ”
Indeed, we are all unique in our personalities and gifts, and there’s no perfect fit for all. We should listen to our inner voices and ignore what the world has taught us, and what we’ve picked up from people around us. “It is important to allow people to go back to being self-aware of their own interests, needs and concerns,” Shetty told the magazine. “It’s disconnecting from what ‘makes sense’ to what actually moves you and what makes sense internally (内在地). ”
1. What does Jay Shetty agree to?| A．The stages of our lives should be preset. |
| B．Few people have lives that follow a certain way. |
| C．All people live their lives according to schedules. |
| D．We can live our lives not according to the given way. |
| A．put more pressure on themselves |
| B．adjust their lives based on others’ |
| C．decide their lives in terms of actual cases |
| D．compete with those who are better than themselves |
| A．everyone can be a winner | B．hard work is the key to success |
| C．great new life can begin anytime | D．success does not happen in one’s youth |
| A．Everything that’s counted truly counts. |
| B．One should live a life as expected by others. |
| C．We should count and analyze everything in life. |
| D．The top dying regret was not living in the way one wanted. |
| A．people should never listen to others’ advice |
| B．we should follow the heart and do what we want to do |
| C．what makes sense should not be about what people care internally |
| D．being self-aware of interests, needs and concerns is not acceptable |
6 . A few years ago, Charles Barkley got into a lot of trouble for making the observation that sports figures didn’t need to be role models. Thousands of fans and professional journalists were cross at this attack on the fundamental principle that the person who jumps highest must aim highest and the person who handles the running back must also be able to deal with life’s problems with grace as well.
The problem is not that we look to these people for perfection when they take off their uniforms. It’s that we expect anyone to be our representatives for perfection. That’s stupid and it makes the rest of us down here lazy.
I get the importance of having heroes, the people who inspire us to cultivate the best potential within us and nurture our better angels. I personally have many heroes. from my mother, Lucy, to my favorite law professor, Howard. But these are personal contacts, people who have actually touched my hand and my heart, and who occupy a pedestal (基座) built of my own experiences and aspirations. To look at an athlete or an actress with high salary and demand that he or she match our dreams is not only a waste of time, but it’s dangerous. The danger comes in how this type of hero worship dehumanizes both the object of affection and the person who blindly adores. That was Barkley’s point, not that we should give public figures a pass for being faulty but that we shouldn’t abandon our own moral compasses and look to them for true north.
Recently on a television program I participated in, the discussion turned to Kathleen Kane. Someone suggested that the fact that the first female attorney general (首席检察官) in Pennsylvania was really messing things up could have unfortunate consequences for women seeking elected office. I offered the opinion that Kane was unquestionably criticized and that it was not hatred towards woman but incompetence at the root of the attacks. After the show aired, I had people emailing to tell me that I was either a traitor (叛徒) for publicly attacking a fellow female when we need to stand together behind this “role model”, or a fool for not going a step further to say that this incompetent lawyer had made it harder for all women to move to the next level.
How depressing! Why should the inferior performance of one woman lead to such diverse but passionate views in people? The answer is obvious: Kane has stopped being an attorney general but has instead become The First Female Attorney General. She can’t just make a mistake and pay the normal consequences.
If we stopped trying to live our lives through the accomplishments of public figures, many of whom look and sound like us, we’d learn how to recognize the heroic character of those we might actually know, and the heroic potential within ourselves. Or, perhaps, the honesty to accept our ordinary humanity.
1. Many people were angry with Charles Barkley mainly because ________.| A．he was not good enough to be a role model |
| B．he broke fundamental principles in life |
| C．he doubted the perfection of some sports figures |
| D．he thought sports figures could have weaknesses |
| A．Because we shouldn’t waste time imitating public figures. |
| B．Because an athlete or actress cannot match our dreams. |
| C．Because we blindly admire public figures for their faults. |
| D．Because we may let go of our own moral standards. |
| A．unfairly criticized due to being female |
| B．the first female attorney general in the US |
| C．less qualified than the public had expected |
| D．a role model for women seeking elected office |
| A．It’s foolish for us to expect anyone to be our representatives for perfection. |
| B．It is a waste of time having heroes. |
| C．Kathleen Kane had to resign office because of messing things up. |
| D．Public figures have the heroic character that ordinary people don’t have. |
| A．Be Our Representatives for Perfection |
| B．Exploration of Our Own Heroic Potential |
| C．Our Unrealistic Expectation of Public Figures |
| D．Our Conventional Views of Female Politician |
7 . Why are so many people unhappy in their jobs? There are two primary reasons. First, some people are convinced that earning a living is wasting time that they could spend enjoying themselves or uncovering their true talents.
If this is the case with you, recall your last long vacation. Was it two weeks of complete enjoyment? More likely it was a week and a half of fun in the sun, with another half a week of “Boy, I can’t wait to get back to work.”If you didn’t feel such vacation blues, then imagine taking a leave of absence. You could use it to work on a novel, attend classes or just sit around watching TV. At the end of three months, in all likelihood, your self-respect would be at an all-time low. While all work and no play are not good, all play and no work are disastrous. We need to feel we are accomplishing something. We also need some form of order in our lives.
The second and perhaps more common reason for people not to like their work is that they feel trapped. Once you’ve been at a company for five years and get married, have a mortgage(抵押贷款)and a child, you often feel you have very little choice about jumping ship if things aren’t turning out as you’d planned. A steady paycheck can be the biggest restrict of all. People hate having to do something because they have no other choice.
If you find yourself hating your job, your option takes the form of an up-to-date resume(简历). You might also take a weekly glance through the help-wanted section, and make some visits to industry functions where low-key networking can take place. You’re not giving up on your current job. Rather, you are providing yourself with an option. If things get unbearable at work, you could jump ship.
At the core of adopting a positive attitude to your workplace is, above all, assuming responsibility for your own situation. Most people feel controlled by their environment, but they really aren’t. They have to learn to manage that environment so they can get from it what they need.
1. Why do some people believe that working is wasting time?| A．They think it can’t make them happy and display their natural abilities. |
| B．They think it prevents them from accompanying their families. |
| C．It can’t guarantee they can get the payoff satisfying their needs. |
| D．It makes them have no time to do their private things at will. |
| A．they have been working in a company for too long | B．they have no other way out but to keep working |
| C．they have to work to pay off their debts | D．they are not permitted to change a job |
| A．you have made a decision on your own |
| B．you have done wonders in your current job |
| C．you have chance to choose between two alternatives |
| D．you have chance to glance through the help-wanted section |
| A．thinks holding an “up-to-date resume” is the best way to remove the unhappiness in one’s job |
| B．can hardly tolerate one’s complete enjoyment of life |
| C．believes that one cannot change his/her environment |
| D．will support the idea that one should make a balance between working and enjoying life |
| A．Cautious. | B．Negative. | C．Supportive. | D．Unconcerned. |
8 . The Silver Line, created in 2013, is a free, 24 hours telephone helpline. It offers information, friendship and advice to
“It’s often easier to speak to a
New figures show that August was the charity’s
84 percent of older people say it is very difficult to
A recent study found that almost three-quarters of older people in the UK are
Seniors can call the Silver Line
“For a community, trying to solve the problems of seniors is a
| A．disabled | B．homeless | C．poor | D．older |
| A．neighbor | B．stranger | C．friend | D．doctor |
| A．come | B．say | C．call | D．visit |
| A．mentioned | B．disposed | C．ignored | D．blamed |
| A．happiest | B．busiest | C．hottest | D．worst |
| A．difficult | B．meaningful | C．unforgettable | D．relaxing |
| A．if | B．or | C．because | D．though |
| A．missed | B．paid | C．canceled | D．received |
| A．standard | B．official | C．useful | D．available |
| A．avoid | B．recover | C．admit | D．value |
| A．family | B．hospital | C．charity | D．team |
| A．healthy | B．wealthy | C．lonely | D．unfortunate |
| A．ever | B．never | C．often | D．sometimes |
| A．early | B．freely | C．directly | D．frequently |
| A．needs | B．ages | C．jobs | D．habits |
| A．private | B．widespread | C．local | D．international |
| A．simple | B．hard | C．dangerous | D．pleasant |
| A．change | B．support | C．know | D．find |
| A．suggestions | B．examinations | C．plans | D．experiences |
| A．doubted | B．developed | C．proved | D．reduced |
9 . A short while ago, I lost access to my WeChat account. I am not sure why it wouldn’t let me log in; perhaps it was my ancient, out-of-date phone. But I wasn’t too upset because it offered me an opportunity to take a break from social media---something more and more people are doing.
In the United States, Twitter is losing millions of users each month and Facebook has seen a 44 percent decline among its younger users. Some of these users may have deserted Twitter and Facebook for other social media platforms, while many others have quit because they felt that social media was having a negative effect on their happiness and overall quality of life.
Stars such as Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeren have taken a break from social media because they were tired of so many Internet trolls(网络喷子) leaving negative comments. Ordinary people(like me) are turning away from it because of the feeling that they were spending more time online and enjoying less.
It is not unusual for people to spend two or three hours a day posting or reading posts, to the point where it becomes an addiction. And it is an addiction. There is a chemical in your brain known as dopamine(多巴胺) which is sometimes called the "reward molecule" and its release gives you a feeling of pleasure. For instance, when you post a photo on WeChat and get a hundred likes, you feel happy. That’s dopamine at work.
In my case, being off WeChat left me with a feeling of anxiety for a few days. No doubt I missed my dopamine. And I got e-mails from friends wondering if I was fine or if I was just being anti-social(不喜欢社交的). But I soon began to feel quite peaceful and started to worry less about what other people were doing and concentrate more on my personal life. And it is an added bonus that I’m getting better sleep at night.
I’m not advocating that all of you quit social media, but spending less time on these platforms does bring you advantages. You could start by leaving your phone at home when you go to school(For some, that’s already a school rule). And it is also a good idea to charge your phone outside of your bedroom at night, as you are unlikely to get a good night’s sleep when the notification(通知) bell keeps ringing.
Someday I may reconnect with my WeChat account, but I’m not in a hurry. Life can be more relaxing and just as interesting without it.
1. The author mentions his/her disconnection with WeChat at the beginning of the passage to________.| A．introduce the disadvantages of social media |
| B．explain why he lost access to his WeChat account |
| C．illustrate the function of dopamine |
| D．prove how WeChat makes life easier |
| A．Twitter and Facebook dominate all the social media. |
| B．Famous people have deserted Twitter and Facebook for other social media. |
| C．An increasing number of people are losing interest in social media. |
| D．Social media add to people’s happiness and life convenience. |
| A．How dopamine works when you are posting or reading posts. |
| B．The reason behind people’s addiction to social media. |
| C．Why WeChat is so popular among ordinary people. |
| D．What you can do if you want to get many likes on WeChat. |
| A．To turn away from them as soon as possible. |
| B．To choose a social media platform that suits you. |
| C．To connect with them is acceptable if you aren’t addicted to it. |
| D．To quit them will make your life more relaxing and interesting. |
10 . Not long ago, British entrepreneur(企业家) Richard Branson announced that he had bought an island off the coast of Australia for all his 30,000 staff and their families to use. For employees of his company, this must be one of the most attractive perks(额外待遇) of the job!
Most company perks are more practical than this, but they do appear to be an increasingly important consideration when choosing a job. Typical of these perks are reductions in the price of lunch or company goods, childcare services and investments(投资) in the company. Particularly popular with employees is membership of a health club and private health care. However, the appeal of perks such as cars, laptops or mobiles is declining. Material possessions are not the most important consideration these days.
Survey show that pay isn't the be-all and end-all once a person is settled in a job. Job satisfaction and personal achievement were named of managers recently. Christine Garner at the Industrial Society, believes that giving staff a choice of benefits showed that a firm was "forward thinking". "Parents may want to take extra holidays to be with their children. Older people may want to more medical benefits and younger staff may prefer additional money."
Richard Prior, spokesperson for the publishing house Redwood, thinks it's the little things that count and they are most appreciated by staff. Last year he announced that all staff could take the day off on their birthday, as well as leave early on Fridays in the summer. He also gives staff a choice of benefits. These include the chance to work at home sometimes, extra leave after a child is born, and a day's holiday without notice in advance.
Recent research has found the twice as many UK professional would rather work fewer hours than win financial rewards(报酬). Being able to choose when they work and what perks are most proper allows employees to balance work and home life. It's fast becoming the number one perk.
1. Why does the author mention Richard Branson?| A．To praise his generosity to his staff. | B．To show his good relationship with his staff. |
| C．To appreciate his contribution to his company. | D．To give an example of unusual company benefits. |
| A．By analyzing cause and effect. | B．By stating present situations. |
| C．By describing processes. | D．By giving instructions. |
| A．Pay is as important as company perks |
| B．People have little time to stay with their families. |
| C．Companies pay little attention to their staff's needs. |
| D．Job satisfaction is considered more important than money. |
| A．Uncaring. | B．Doubtful. | C．Favorable. | D．Dissatisfied |
| A．Financial rewards. | B．Medical benefits | C．Less work time. | D．Material possessions. |
