Answer the following questions about the expressions in italics.1 If you follow someone's path when making career choices, do you (a) follow their example, or (b) do things according to your own preferences?2 If you set off on a new journey, do you (a) finish the journey, or (b) begin the journey?3 If you can't be bothered to cook dinner, are you (a) unwilling to cook dinner, or (b) willing to cook dinner?4 If you are brimming with creative ideas, are you (a) full of ideas, or (b) short of ideas?5 If you have figured out the reason for something, have you (a) just paid special attention to it, or (b) thought about and understood it?

The _1_ of an application is far more often the fault of the applicant, for many applicants do not set about their task in the right way. They do not study the job requirements _2_ enough and dispatch applications to all and sundry (所有的人) in the hope that one will bear fruit (奏效). The personnel manager of a textile's manufacturer for example _3_ for designers. He was willing to consider young people _4_ working experience provided they had good ideas. The replies contained many remarks like this, "At school I was good at art", "I like drawing things" and even "I write very interesting stories". Only one applicant was sensible enough to _5_ samples of her designs. She got the job.Personnel managers emphasize the need for a good letter of application. They do not look for the finest writing paper or perfect typing, but it is _6_ to expect legible writing on a clean sheet of paper, not a piece torn roughly from an exercise book.1. A. enclose B. that C. reasonable D. failure E. to F. acknowledge G. what H. deeply I. advertised J. with K. without L. should

Clothing is an important part of any culture.Chinese culture is more than 5，000 years old，so the traditional Chinese clothing also has a long history. Hanfu Hanfu is the traditional clothing of Han people.It first appeared in China more than 3，000 years ago.But it disappeared with the beginning of the Qing Dynasty.Now more and more young people start to enjoy wearing it. Zhongshan suit Zhongshan suit is the traditional clothing named after Sun Yat-sen.It is also known as Mao suit overseas because Chairman Mao liked to wear it.It first appeared in the 1920s. Tangzhuang Tangzhuang is a type of Chinese jacket rather than the clothing of the Tang Dynasty.It got the name from the overseas Chinese.The Tang Dynasty was famous in the world，so the overseas Chinese were called "Tang people"，and their clothes were called "Tangzhuang". Cheongsam（Qipao） The cheongsam（Qipao）is a traditional Chinese dress.It first appeared in China in the 1920s.Cheongsam is made of silk，and Chinese women like to wear it because it can show their beauty.（1）How did Tangzhuang get its name ？ ____ A.From Sun Yat-sen.B.From Chairman Mao.C.From the overseas Chinese.D.From the native China.（2）Which of the traditional Chinese clothes is first appeared in the 1920s？ ____ A.Zhongshan suit.B.Hanfu and Tangzhuang.C.heongsam.D.Zhongshan suit and Cheongsam.（3）Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage ？ ____ A.Chinese culture is more than 3，000 years old.B.Chairman Mao liked to wear Zhongshan suit.C.Now more and more old people start to enjoy wearing Hanfu.D.The cheongsam is made of silk，cotton and other materials.（4）Where can we probably read the passage ？ ____ A.In a magazine.B.in a science book.C.In a storybook.D.In a travel book.

Which of the following are core values of a critical thinker?A. Autonomy, curiosity, humility, and respect for reasoning.B. Cynicism, contrarianism, and stubbornness.C. Confidence, dominance, certainty, and efficiency.D. Speed, accuracy, and strict memorization.

Translate the following paragraph into English.近年来，underline(随着互联网技术的迅猛发展)，互联网经济已成为一个热门话题。以电子商务为代表的互联网经济已成为中国经济发展的重要的引擎（driving force）。我国政府提出了“互联网+”的概念，以推动互联网与医疗、交通、教育、金融、公共服务等领域的结合。这将为互联网经济的发展提供更多发展机遇和更广阔的发展空间。

The opening between the rocks was very narrow, but the boys managed to _______ through.A. pressB. squeezeC. stretchD. leap

Meares says her hobbies are just a "bit of occupational therapy".A According to Meares, her favorite activities have been turned into a job.B According to Meares, her hobbies take up too much of her time.C According to Meares, her interests help her use her leisure time productively.D According to Meares, her hobbies turned into a job and become a medical treatment of her disease.

What does the author say about working from home?A. It will become the norm sooner or later.B. It requires employees to adapt promptly.C. It benefits employers at the expense of employees.D. It will force cities to transform their infrastructure.

The Invisible Tapestry：How Immigrants Weave Bicultural Identities into Society Every year，over 281 million people worldwide leave their home countries — equivalent to the entire population of Brazil — seeking safety，opportunity，or a better life.Yet beyond the statistical headlines lies a quieter，more profound reality：for many immigrants，the greatest challenge is not crossing borders，but navigating the fragile space between two cultures.This "bicultural identity"—the ability to move between one's heritage culture and the adopted society — has long been misunderstood as a "split" or "conflict，" but emerging research reveals it as a strength that reshapes both individuals and the communities they join. A 2023 Stanford University study tracking 1，200 Latinx immigrant families in the U.S.offers striking insights.Researchers found that families who maintained "selective assimilation" — preserving core traditions like weekly tamal-making or Spanish-language storytelling while embracing American norms such as community volunteering — reported 47% higher life satisfaction than those who fully abandoned their heritage to "fit in." More surprisingly，the children of these families showed greater academic resilience：62% graduated high school with honors，compared to 38% of peers from families that prioritized complete cultural absorption. "Biculturalism isn't about choosing one culture over the other，" explains Dr.Elena Marquez，lead researcher. "It's about building a third space — one where a teenager can explain Día de los Muertos to their classmates while also cheering for their school's football team." This third space，however，is not without friction.For first-generation immigrants，the tension often arises from "cultural guilt"：a Nigerian mother working double shifts to afford her daughter's ballet lessons may feel she's failing to pass down Yoruba values；a Vietnamese father teaching his son to fix cars in their garage may worry the boy is losing touch with his roots.Meanwhile，second-generation immigrants face their own battle：labeled "too foreign" by peers in their adopted country and "too Americanized" by relatives back home.A 2024 survey of 500 Asian American young adults found that 73% had been asked， "Where are you really from？" — a question that erases their sense of belonging in the only country they've ever known. Critics of immigration often frame cultural diversity as a threat to social cohesion，arguing that immigrants "dilute" national identity.But economic data tells a different story.The Migration Policy Institute reports that immigrant-owned small businesses in the U.S.generate ＄885 billion annually，and in Europe，skilled immigrants fill 30% of jobs in healthcare and engineering — fields facing severe labor shortages.More importantly，bicultural individuals act as "cultural bridges"：a Mexican American nurse translating for elderly Spanish-speaking patients，a Somali American community organizer connecting refugee families to local resources.These acts of translation，both linguistic and cultural，strengthen social bonds rather than weaken them. At its core，the debate over immigration misses a fundamental truth：cultures have never been static.The U.S. "melting pot" was never just about assimilation — it was about German beer halls blending with Irish pubs，African rhythms shaping jazz，and Chinese dumplings becoming a staple of American takeout.Today's bicultural immigrants are continuing that tradition，not as outsiders，but as weavers adding new threads to the tapestry of society.Their identities are not a problem to solve，but a resource to celebrate — proof that belonging doesn't require choosing one culture，but creating space for both.（1）What did the Stanford University study reveal about "selective assimilation" among Latinx immigrant families？ ____ A.It leads to lower academic performance compared to complete cultural absorption.B.It helps families achieve higher life satisfaction and children build academic resilience.C.It causes significant conflict between parents and children over cultural values.D.It requires families to abandon most heritage traditions to adapt to American society.（2）What can be inferred from the survey of Asian American young adults？ ____ A.Most second-generation Asian Americans feel a strong sense of belonging in the U.S.B.Peers in the U.S.often recognize and respect the cultural heritage of Asian Americans.C.Relatives back home fully accept the "Americanized" lifestyle of second-generation immigrants.D.Second-generation immigrants frequently face questions that challenge their national identity.（3）What is the main argument of the fourth paragraph？ ____ A.Immigrant-owned businesses are more profitable than those owned by native citizens.B.Critics of immigration are correct to worry about the dilution of national identity.C.Bicultural individuals and immigrants make important economic and social contributions.D.Skilled immigrants in Europe are primarily employed in the healthcare industry.（4）What is the author's attitude toward bicultural identity among immigrants？ ____ A.SupportiveB.NeutralC.riticalD.Skeptical

Why does social media trigger feelings of loneliness and inadequacy? Because instead of being real life, it is, for the most part, impression management, a way of marketing yourself, carefully choosing and filtering the picture and words to put your best face forward.Online “friends” made through social media do not follow the normal psychological progression of a interpersonal relationship. You share neither physical time nor emotional conversations over the Internet. You simply communicate photographs and catchy posts to a diverse group of people whom you have “friended” or “followed” based on an accidental interaction. This is not to say that your social media friends can't be real friends. They absolutely can, but the two are not the same. Generally speaking, there are no unfiltered comments and casually taken photos on our social media pages. And, rightfully so, because it wouldn't feel safe to be completely authentic and vulnerable with some of our “friends” whom we don't actually know or with whom trust has yet to be built.Social media can certainly be an escape from the daily routines, but we must be cautioned against the negative effects, such as addiction, on a person's overall psychological well-being.As humans，we are eager for social connection. Scrolling (滚动) through pages of pictures and comments, however, does not provide the same degree of fulfillment as face to face interactions do. Also, we tend to idealize others' lives and compare our downfalls to their greatest accomplishments, ending in feelings of loneliness and inadequacy.Social media can lead people on the unhealthy quest for perfection. Some people begin to attend certain events or travel to different places so that they can snap that “perfect” photo. They begin to seek validation through the number of people who “like” their posts. In order for it to play a psychologically healthy role in your social life, social media should supplement an already healthy social network. Pictures and posts should be byproducts of life's treasured moments and fun times, not the planned and calculated image that one is putting out into cyberspace in an attempt to fill insecurities or unmet needs.Ultimately, social media has increased our ability to connect with various types of people all over the globe. It has opened doors for business and allowed us to stay connected to people whom we may not otherwise get to follow. However, social media should feel like a fun experience, not one that contributes to negative thoughts and feelings. If the latter is the case, increasing face to face time with trusted friends, and minimizing time scrolling online, will prove to be a reminder that your social network is much more rewarding than any “like”, “follow” or “share” can be.【小题1】What does the author imply social media may do to our life?A．It may facilitate our interpersonal relationships.B．It may filter our negative impressions of others.C．It may make us feel isolated and incompetent.D．It may render us vulnerable and inauthentic.【小题2】Why do people post comments selectively on social media?A．They do not find all their online friends trustworthy.B．They do not want to lose their followers.C．They want to avoid offending any of their audience.D．They are eager to boost their popularity.【小题3】What are humans inclined to do according to the passage?A．Exaggerate their life's accomplishments.B．Strive for perfection regardless of the cost.C．Paint a rosy picture of other people's lives.D．Learn lessons from other people's downfalls.【小题4】What does the author advise people to do when they find their online experience unconstructive?A．Use social media to increase their ability to connect with various types of people.B．Stay connected to those whom they may not otherwise get to know and befriend.C．Try to prevent negative thoughts and feelings from getting into the online pages.D．Strengthen ties with real-life friends instead of caring about their online image.