1 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Chinese netizens are passionately discussing the “Kong Yiji mindset,”     1     term inspired by an influential figure in modern Chinese literature and used to refer to college     2     (graduate) who consider themselves above manual labor.

    3    (set) a few years after the fall of the Qing Dynasty, the story starts with Kong Yiji being ridiculed by the working-class customers in the tavern he frequents for continuing to wear his long scholar’s gown, even though he never passed the imperial exam     4     could have landed him a decent job back in the past.

As The Paper, a Chinese media company based in Shanghai, writes, “Kong Yiji would rather steal than do     5     he considers a menial job(粗活)just to make money. This is relatable in the eyes of some, who think their academic qualifications didn’t lead to the job they wanted or deserved.”

The related term, “Kong Yiji mindset,” refers to those who see Kong in     6     (they) as they face the pressures of a job market that can’t keep up with the record-breaking number of college graduates. Kong is a     7     (sympathy) figure to some recent college graduates whose reality is not living up to expectations.

Some netizens are concerned that education itself may one day be seen as superfluous (多余的). “When we were young, we     8     (tell) to study hard, and when we grew up, we would become astronauts and scientists,” a Weibo user commented. “Now it has become study hard to screw screws, to be a cleaner, to collect junk. It’s not that I look down on those professions—every profession is respectable—     9     it is strange that the wind is blowing in this direction.”

In recent years, China has been pushing to expand vocational education as a means to solve the surplus of college graduates. However, the transition remains challenging as the prejudices     10    blue-collar jobs lingers.

3 .

Something odd is happening to the tired millennial (千禧年的) workers of America. After a year spent with their computers at home, they are turning over the carefully arranged chessboards of their lives and determining to take a risk. Some are giving jobs up to launch a new business, while others are stepping off the boring work totally. Their bank accounts (账户), fattened by a year’s stay-at-home saving, have increased their desire for risk.

If this movement has a battle cry, it is “YOLO” — “you only live once”. Stock (股票) traders use it when making irresponsible bets that sometimes pay off anyway. More broadly, it has come to refer to the attitude that has described a certain type of bored office worker in recent months.

“I didn’t feel like I knew how to do my job anyway,” said Ms. Messer, 28. So she announced her quitting. Since then, she has been writing and keeping time for hobbies like painting and skiing. She admitted that not all people could uproot themselves so easily. “I have this renewed creative sense about what my life could look like, and how satisfying it can be” she said.

“It feels like we have been so locked into careers for the past few years, and this is our opportunity to switch it up”, said Nate Moseley, 29, a buyer at a major clothing store. Mr Moseley recently decided to leave his $ 130,000-a-year job. He created an Excel file called “Late 20s Crisis(危机)”, which he filled with possible choices for his next move: join in a 2023 political campaign, move to Caribbean and open a tourism business. “The idea of going right back to the pre-COVID set-up sounds so unappealing after this past year,” he noted. “If not, when will I ever do this?”

Not everyone can afford to put carefulness behind them. But for a growing number of people with enough savings and practical skills, the fear and the anxiety of the past year are giving way to a new kind of professional fearlessness. COVID-19 changed their priorities, and they realized they didn’t have to live like this. Adventure is in the air.

1. What strange things are American millennial workers doing?

A．They are tending to work online.	B．They are taking more risks in work.
C．They are more willing to save money.	D．They are developing more hobbies than before.

2. What is the term “YOLO” probably used to do?

A．To describe some boring work.

B．To advise people to treasure time.

C．To persuade people to be careful about decisions.

D．To inspire people to take brave moves.

3. What is Nate Moseley’s “Late 20s Crisis” file mainly about?

A．His new plans for life.	B．His achievements for work.
C．His opinions on political events.	D．His memory of pre-COVID life.

4. What does the text mainly deal with?

A．How does COVID-19 affect Millennials’ career choices?

B．What is the YOLO Economy (经济)?

C．Why do Millennials tend to save rather than spend?

D．Who is responsible for the sudden adventure?

4 . Modern humans have only existed for a relatively short time, and maybe we’d like to stick around a lot longer. But how can we do that?

Figure out climate change.

    1    There have been times in the past when it’s been hotter than it is today, and times when it’s been cooler. But there is something different about the past century. As far as we can tell from the record, there has been no time in Earth’s entire history when the climate has warmed so much in such a short amount of time.     2    There are: more frequent and more severe extreme weather events like tornadoes and hurricanes; droughts increasing; more changeable weather, with seasons beginning to lack regularity; and sea level rises. While climate change doesn’t necessarily pose an existential threat to human existence, it surely poses a threat to how we like to live our lives in modern society.

Figure out nuclear weapons.

A single nuclear weapon doesn’t pose a threat to all of humanity, but the thousands of them in the world right now certainly do.     3    Just consider all the “near misses” in recent history, where nuclear war was avoided thanks only to the quick thinking of individuals. We can only try our luck for so long. And one accident can lead to larger scale nuclear conflict.     4    

Figure out asteroids(小行星).

If you want to know the terrible consequences for ignoring space borne threats, just ask the dinosaurs how well it worked out for them. Asteroids have the ability to cause massive extinction events, wiping out vast numbers of entire species.     5     For humanity to make it to the long-term, we need to equip ourselves with asteroid detection and reduction strategies

A．The consequences can’t be avoided.

B．Countries are joining hands to solve it.

C．Now the chances of one nuclear explosion increase.

D．The earth’s climate has changed for millions of years.

E．While these kinds of events are rare, the risks are severe.

F．And we can see the effects of climate change everywhere.

G．We need to disarm as much as possible to reduce the risk of disaster.

6 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Ever since February, the public concern over the giant panda Ya Ya in the US has grown into a “campaign” among Chinese people all around the world to check how our cute and     1     (innocence) pandas are surviving in overseas zoos.

Enthusiastic Chinese netizens (网民) around the world     2     (respective) visited nearby zoos and posted on Chinese social media platforms videos that showed pandas’ living conditions.

In a video, a panda was showed     3     (eat) bamboos in the yard of the Beauval Zoo in France while another panda was sleeping on the grass and a third one climbing a tree.

Among all the overseas zoos “surprisingly     4     (inspect)”, Moscow Zoo and the Panda World of Everland Resort in South Korea gained Chinese netizens’     5     (recognize). They stood out as Chinese netizens     6    (praise) their efforts in taking good care of two lovely pandas,     7     names are Ding Ding and Ru Yi.

“They are real kungfu pandas.” Chinese commented     8     the videos of Ding Ding and Ru Yi.

The life of these energetic     9     lovely pandas revealed a sharp contrast to that of Ya Ya at the Memphis Zoo. We hope the issue of Ya Ya could raise public attention on the living conditions of pandas, animals that     10    (refer) to as “living fossils”.

7 . Carlos Slim’s proposal that we work a three - day week sounds crazy. But many, in 1922, thought Henry Ford crazy when he announced that his staff would work a five - day week.

Our working week seems normal to us because it is what we all always do. He certainly could be for those he was most concerned about when he made his three - day - week statement at a business conference in Paraguay: the workers who are not ready to retire. As Mr. Slim said, it no longer makes sense for people to stop working in their fifties or sixties when they may still have up to a third of their lives ahead of them. “People are going to have to work for more years, until they are 70 or 75, and just work three days a week - perhaps 11 hours a day.” he said.

Keeping older employees at work makes sense for societies, especially those with a diminishing number of young people who are expected to support long - living retirees.

He appeared to be suggesting that these short - week workers earn the same as they did full - time. That is what happens at Telmex, his Mexican fixed - line phone company, where those qualified for retirement can choose to work four - day weeks on full pay.

Older workers elsewhere might prefer shorter weeks on reduced pay - and eight or nine - hour days rather than 11. Their companies might value keeping their experience while saving money on their salaries. What about everyone else? There are those who are unemployed, or in unstable jobs, who would be delighted to have three secure, well - paid days of work a week.

Shorter weeks don’t work in every job, but they work in more jobs than most tradition - bound managers think. Agreeing to them requires two shifts in management thinking. The first is the realization that much of the time spent in offices is wasted anyway. Second, senior executives need ro understand that the best way to measure people is by the work they produce - not by how much time they spend at their desks.

People living longer, in better health, are changing working life too. Mr. Slim’s idea is in tune with the times.

1. According to paragraph 2 why did Mr. Slim think it unwise for people in their fifties or sixties to retire ?

A．Because they have longer life to live in their future.

B．Because they have children and old parents to support

C．Because they have much interest in their present work.

D．Because they have more experience than young workers.

2. What can we infer from the passage ?

A．The decision of working five days a week by Ford was considered normal in the past.

B．Old people continuing working can reduce young people’s pressure to support their old parents

C．Some companies don’t want their old workers to go on working because they can save money.

D．Much time spent at work is wasted if managers don’t agree to reduce old employees’working time.

3. What does the underlined phrase “in tune with” mean in the last paragraph ?

A．Different from.	B．Superior to.
C．Far from.	D．Consistent with.

4. What is the best title for this passage ?

A．Retire Or Not, This Is A Question!

B．Shorter Weeks Is Welcome By All

C．Working Three Days A Week: A Great Idea

D．Carlos Slim - Crazy For More Resting Time

8 . Be it sugar or social media, the response in our brain is the same: It produces a “feel-good” chemical called dopamine. It first brings about pleasure, but it doesn’t last very long. It is then followed by pain so that we have to search for the pleasurable things again.

“This cycle of pleasure and pain made sense in the time of early humans when we had to constantly search for our basic needs-food, water, shelter,” says Dr. Anna Lembke, a Stanford Medical School researcher. “But our brains weren’t adjusted to put out the ‘fire of dopamine’ caused by pleasurable things that are so easily available in modern life.”

In addition, when we’re repeatedly exposed to pleasure-producing things, we’re not able to take joy in the same rewards. Instead, we need stronger and stronger stimulus (刺激) just to feel good. Otherwise, the cycle will lead us to anxiety, depression and many other problems.

“This is a universal problem—not one limited to those struggling with the disease of addiction. If we want to stay mentally healthy, we must rethink how to break the cycle in a dopamine-overloaded world,” says Lembke.

Her suggestions for the addicts?

Take a 30-day break from anything that we rely on for pleasure. This doesn’t mean going cold turkey forever. But this first month is key to breaking the pleasure-pain cycle and it’s a lot easier to cut out an addictive behavior entirely at first. Then re-introduce the pleasurable things little by little, like just a few bites of ice cream at a time or just one hour online a night.

Another strategy is to create physical distance between us and our addiction. That could mean just removing the addictive thing from our personal space. For someone who’s addicted to video games, that could mean a separate laptop for work and one for play.

“In a time of abundance, we have to strike a pleasure-pain balance, which means intentionally avoiding pleasure and seeking the kind of purposeful pain that keeps us healthy, such as exercise,” Lembke says. “By doing so, we will reset reward pathways and eventually be a lot happier. It’s not easy, but it’s well worth doing in the long term.”

1. What can we learn about dopamine from the text?

A．It has always been harmful to humans.

B．It gives us less joy for the same rewards.

C．It can be caused by anything available.

D．It can lead to a lasting good feeling.

2. What do the underlined words “going cold turkey” probably mean?

A．Abandoning.

B．Waiting.

C．Cooking.

D．Repeating.

3. What does Dr. Anna Lembke suggest we do in the long term?

A．Avoid pleasure in life.

B．Set a strict limit on pleasurable things.

C．Change reward pathways.

D．Expose ourselves to repeated rewards.

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

A．Ways to Live With Dopamine in Peace

B．Tips on Getting Rid of Social Media Addiction

C．Strategies for Making Most of the Modern Life

D．The Need to Strike a Pleasure-pain Balance

9 . Although we’re often told that procrastinating (拖延) in college is harmful and that leaving our assignments to the last minute can lead us to feel more stressed, I like to wait before starting any assignment, since I tend to overthink and want to make it perfect. When I procrastinate, it’s not out of laziness, but rather, a desire to be efficient.

In an op-ed, Adam Grant, a professor of management and psychology, explored the connection between performance and procrastination habits, and cited an experiment conducted by one of his former students. In the study, procrastinators’ ideas were found to be 28% more creative than the ideas of those who didn’t procrastinate. As it turns out, procrastination might help generate creative ideas — which may explain why some students perform well at the last minute.

While procrastination might work well for some students, it may lead to increased levels of anxiety for others. One college student, Amanda, says, “If I procrastinate or struggle with assignments, it affects my mental health by making me feel trapped and anxious.” Not only can procrastination cause anxiety for students, but trying to finish an assignment in a hurry can also negatively impact their grades — and lead them to make small, careless mistakes — which can lead to even more anxiety.

It’s important to point out that there’s a difference between casual procrastination and chronic (长期的) procrastination. Chronic procrastination, distress over academics, or lack of motivation can often lead to more serious mental health outcomes such as anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. If you struggle with managing schoolwork to the point where it affects your grades and interpersonal relationships over a long time, you might have to visit your school counselor or the academic resource center.

Everyone has different styles of working and managing their time, and when it comes to procrastinating in college, it’s always good to reflect on whether it’s helping or hurting. Figuring this part out can take a while, so make a note of how you’re completing your assignments and start writing down how you feel. Prioritize self-care whether you start your assignment the week before its due date or the day before.

1. How does the author bring up the topic of the text?

A．By citing a fact.	B．By offering a piece of news.
C．By describing her experiences.	D．By showing research findings.

2. What does the study mentioned in Paragraph 2 show us?

A．Procrastinators are good time planners.

B．Procrastinators usually work efficiently.

C．Procrastination encourages creative thinking.

D．Procrastination affects people’s mental health.

3. What are heavy chronic procrastinators advised to do?

A．To seek support from professionals.

B．To talk about the problems with friends.

C．To reflect on their way of managing time.

D．To break their habit of delaying doing things.

4. What’s the author’s attitude towards procrastination?

A．Favorable.

B．Contradictory.

C．Opposed.

D．Objective

10 . “A library card was the first thing that I had ever owned here,” says Razmyar, who arrived in Finland as a refugee (难民). Unable to speak the language, and trying to make sense of the new city, she was surprised to be given a library card that would let her read books for free. “I still have that library card in my wallet today in honor of the privilege(特殊待遇)presented to a refugee by a foreign land,” she says.

Today, Razmyar is a key official of Finland, and plans to build a new central library called Oodi. She is not alone in her love for libraries. The country’s 5.5 million people borrow about 68 million books a year.

While libraries worldwide are facing budget(预算)cuts, a decline in users and closing down, Finland is bucking the trend. The UK spends just £14.40 per head on libraries. But Finland spends £50.50 per head to satisfy citizens’ needs. While more than 478 libraries have closed in the UK since 2010, Helsinki, a city in Finland, is spending €98 million creating a huge new one.

Why are Finland’s city libraries growing? 84% of the country’s population is urban, and libraries are vital places for socializing. Besides, while many libraries worldwide provide Internet access and other services, libraries here have expanded to lending e-publications, sports equipment, and other things of occasional use.

And Oodi will offer more since people need places to meet, work, and develop their digital skills. It has been designed to give citizens a free space to actively do what they want to do. Its design is certainly exciting. However, the most impressive thing is that the project is such a costly one that it will cost the citizens a huge sum of money, but it has not been controversial(有争议的). “They’re excited about it across the board,” says architect director Harris. “It will be important to daily life here in Helsinki.”

Oodi is more than a monument to citizens’ pride. As part of Finland’s celebration of a century of independence, the library is not merely a place to store books. “I think Finland could not have given a better gift to the people. It symbolizes the significance of learning and education, which have been fundamental reasons for Finland’s development and success,” says Razmyar.

1. Why has Razmyar kept the library card with her for so long?

A．To show her loyalty to her motherland.

B．To remind her of the importance of libraries.

C．To remind her to help more refugees from abroad.

D．To show her appreciation for Finland’s kindness.

2. What does the underlined word “bucking” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Explaining.

B．Considering.

C．Going against.

D．Setting aside.

3. About the library Oodi, what amazes the author most?

A．Its success in earning Finnish citizens’ support.

B．Its unusual architecture designed by Harris.

C．Its important role in people’s future life.

D．Its huge construction costs.

4. Which of the following statements might Razmyar agree with?

A．Finland should pick up better gifts for people.

B．Finland tries hard to promote its public education.

C．Libraries play an important role in Finland’s development.

D．Libraries make Finland a much more independent country.