1 . I am always confused when reading statements like “Princeton University is the number one college in the United States.” Are those who attend Princeton inherently brighter than their peers?
I didn’t care about college rankings for years until I recently saw something different. This past October, Shanghai Ranking Consultancy unveiled the Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2023, which assesses universities worldwide across 55 subjects in five disciplines.
| A．The value of a university education goes beyond its ranking. |
| B．Is Princeton the most beautiful campus all around the world? |
| C．Is Princeton able to produce more geniuses upon graduation? |
| D．That being said, how much weight should be given to these rankings? |
| E．Actually, the concept of a “best” college is subjective and context-dependent. |
| F．These measures provide valuable insights into the academic strength of universities. |
| G．It is said to employ a more in-depth approach to evaluate the performance of universities. |
Short-form videos, which gained popularity on the Chinese platform Douyin, have given rise to a new trend in entertainment: ultra-short (超短) dramas.
Despite the initial success of ultra-short dramas, Chinese authorities
What’s equally concerning is
It’s natural for us to seek entertainment. But it’s also worth pausing to consider the consequences
3 . American families don’t save money like they used to. In 2018 the personal saving rate was somewhere around 7%, which is well below the rate of a few decades ago.
There are a lot of potential explanations for this. Wage growth has slowed while necessities such as housing and medical care have grown more expensive. The rise of easy credit has made overspending easier than ever. And the number of people who make a budget is decreasing.
Now, a team of U.S. and Canadian economists have proposed a new explanation for the declining savings rate, one rooted in individual psychology. At its heart lies a simple observation: Spending is a lot more visible than not spending. Humans are social creatures, and we have a tendency to evaluate our own standing in life relative to how our friends and neighbors are doing. We want to keep up with the Joneses, and stay ahead of the Smiths. Because of this, when we see other people spending money we have a tendency to believe that we can — or should — be spending too. Nowadays, changes in the media landscape have made other people’s spending more visible than ever. That, in turn, is making all of us spend even more — and save even less.
David Hirshleifer, one of the economists, said that “it’s easy to think that you’re saving enough because you are not throwing luxury parties or taking expensive journeys the way some people you know are.” But, he warned, “those journeys and parties may not really be typical of your acquaintances — they just stand out in memory.”
The economists imply that finding ways to make non-spending more visible might help individuals develop more realistic views of overall spending and saving behavior. “Make a special effort to notice when your friends are careful with money, such as holding on to their 15-year-old car,” Hirshleifer said.
1. Which of the following is a potential explanation for the low saving rate in America?| A．The reduction in the income. | B．The easy access to money. |
| C．The growing desire for housing. | D．The difficulty in sticking to a budget. |
| A．show off wealth | B．connect with others |
| C．compare oneself to others | D．adapt oneself to social change |
| A．It is improper to copy others’ spending habits. |
| B．It is unwise to spend more than one can afford. |
| C．One may spend too much on journeys and parties. |
| D．One may have misunderstanding of others’ spending habits. |
| A．Make good use of money. | B．Save as much money as possible. |
| C．Pay attention to non-spending behavior. | D．Change overall spending and saving behavior. |
4 . Going on a vacation might seem like a rather
In fact, interest
The global pandemic appears
But can short term sleep-focused travel experiences actually have a long term impact on a person’s overall sleep? According to Dr. Robbins, a sleep researcher and co-author of the book Sleep for Success, travel experiences centered around “healthy sleep strategies” that aim to supply guests with the tools they need to improve their sleep
“The concept of travel actually allowing you to return home
5 . China’s generation-Z is not “lying flat”, an expression forgiving upon hard work, as is often claimed, and making an effort is still the mainstream of a group who believes success should be achieved by solid effort, Chinese officials said at a press conference on Thursday, in response to a question on how younger generations should achieve balance between a lifestyle of “lying flat” in face of great pressure and “involution,” which refers to severe internal competition that does not lead to productivity gains.
“Most Chinese youth hold an optimistic view on the future, and the saying’ lying flat’ is more of a joke to release pressure and express their feelings,” He Junke, a government official said at a press conference on Thursday.
At the press conference, China released the first nationwide whitepaper on youth development titled “Youth of China in the New Era,” which showcased achievements linked to the country’s youth development in the new era and reflected the spirit of younger generation. The whitepaper was also released ahead of the 100th anniversary of the founding of CYLC (共青团).
He said China has attached great importance to deeper issues reflected by talk of “lying flat”, which emerged as young generation is subject to increasing pressure across work, study and life amid China’s unique demographic (人口统计学的，人口学的) structure and highly competitive labor market.
“Some in the younger generation feel confused or lost. In response, authorities have scaled up the amount of support available to help solve their issues in education, employment, marriage and child raising,” He noted, while urging the whole society to support the mental development and psychology of generation-Z.
He pointed out that it is also important for certain young people to realize that it is unrealistic to build a career without taking responsibility and making endeavor. “All happiness is achieved through devoted effort, and making endeavor itself is also a kind of happiness,” He stressed.
1. What is He Junke’s attitude towards “lying flat”?| A．Objective. | B．Subjective. | C．Opposed. | D．Favorable. |
| A．More and more young people choose to lie flat in China, |
| B．Young people face great pressure in their study, work and life. |
| C．China’s population structure affects the supply of labor market. |
| D．The government needs to celebrate the 100th anniversary of CYLC. |
| A．Young people should take responsibility and make efforts to achieve success. |
| B．The whole society should care about young people’s physical and mental health. |
| C．Authorities should help young people and give them support in many aspects of life. |
| D．All of the above. |
| A．To call on a low carbon lifestyle. |
| B．To inform the latest research on the social development. |
| C．To set a goal for the young people who are under pressure on study. |
| D．To address a social problem among young generations in the newer era. |
6 . “When I think of England, I think of the queen taking her dogs for walk in the countryside,” says Carsten Haferkamp, a dog-owning German working in London. Data from Tractive, a firm that provides GPS tracking for pets, show that Britons walk their dogs more than their European neighbors do.
The British love for dog-walking may have more to do with the walking than the dogs. Britons are big walkers –they came fifth in the world in a study in 2017, the highest in Europe. Dogs provide walkers with company and a purpose, so it may be that walking encourages dog-ownership.
But Julien Dugnoille, an expert at Exeter University, suspects dog-walking has a deeper significance. Dogs, he suggests, are a useful aid to a socially awkward nation. “Britons tend to have a chat with strangers and exchange a few jokes and comments about the weather without putting themselves in danger.”
A tradition among the British nobles of owning and training dogs also leads Dr Dugnoille to assume that dog-walking is a way to keep ancient honor. “When people in the park say Max is very well-behaved,” says Dr Dugnoille, “that is a way to show their authority in the art of dog training compared to those dog owners who are not in control of their own dog.”
But it’s not just about showing off, in his view. He believes walking with one’s best friend creates a time and space where dogs and humans meet as species and connect as individuals.
Still, Britons should not congratulate themselves too much on their behavior towards their dog companions. According to Dr Carri Westgarth of Liverpool University, “People say that a dog needs a walk every day, but they will find reasons why their dog doesn’t need a walk. They’ll say: he’s got company indoors, he’s nervous or he doesn’t like the rain.”
1. The queen is mentioned in paragraph 1 to show _______.| A．the queen’s love for dogs | B．a foreigner’s impression of England |
| C．the British devotion to walking dogs | D．the importance of dog-walking for Europeans |
| A．Britons see dogs as protectors from danger. |
| B．Dog-walking is related to the British traditional culture. |
| C．Britons prefer to walk rather than walk the dog. |
| D．Dog-walking is a close link between the British and nature. |
| A．Britons are proud of dog-walking | B．dogs are a good companion for Britons |
| C．he is doubtful of the British love for dogs | D．weather is a popular topic among Britons |
| A．Love Your Dog, Walk Your Dog | B．How Do Britons Walk Their Dogs? |
| C．Opinions on Dog-Walking in Britain | D．Why Do Britons Love to Walk Dogs? |
