Having a job is great, I have learned. It means I can afford things such as a place to live and daily meals. And with an above-average job, I can afford a car and occasional overseas vacations.
However, I also understand how difficult it is to have a below-average job, having had many of them before. It’s frankly pretty awful. Owning a car was out of the question – I could barely afford to ride the subway.
So, I decided to go to university and get a degree.
Later, I emailed my details to every company and government institution with an online careers page. I even printed my resume and handed it out in what seemed like hundreds of office buildings.
One summer during university, my cousin and I helped out at my uncle’s business, fixing roofs, although the only thing I got out of that was back problems.
That same year, I got a job at a plumbing(管道工程) company, which I was terrible at. It was no surprise when I was asked to leave that job after only four days.
A lot of people today believe the problem of unemployment in my generation is our fault. Some accuse us of being lazy or feeling too entitled(有资格的). At the same time, some people accuse members of my generation of having a sense of “specialness” that has led us to believe we can all be astronauts, movie stars or singers if we put our minds to it. Also, a few of them think that we would all be happily employed if we would only learn trades or become software engineers, because those people make the most money.
I realize that not everyone can go into space, star in Hollywood movies or fill stadiums with fans, however. I also think not everyone can make a good electrician or design advanced computer software – I know I can’t. Everyone is good at something, but no one is good at everything. It took me hundreds of rejection emails to realize that I had to focus on finding a job where I could actually be successful.
And now, I finally have that job. All it took was several years of desperation, failure and an honest assessment(评估) of my personal value in the job market.
It’s not the best start, but it’s not bad for a start too.
1.What was the author’s life like before he went to university?
A. He had always been looking forward to owning a car.
B. He found it hard to make ends meet.
C. He had taken above-average and below-average jobs.
D. He went on overseas vacations sometimes.
2.What happened when the author tried to find a good job?
A. It didn’t take long for him to land a great job.
B. He gained a lot of skills when working at his uncle’s business.
C. He got through a lot of difficulties in the process.
D. He quit the plumbing company because he disliked the job.
3.What did the author think was the main reason for his unemployment?
A. His laziness and arrogance.
B. His sense of “specialness”.
C. His high expectation of himself.
D. His failure to recognize his own strengths.
4.What does the author think of his current job?
A. It’s highly paid.
B. It’s a little bit boring.
C. It’s challenging for him.
D. It’s satisfying for him.
5.The author wrote this article mainly to ______.
A. share his reflections on finding a job
B. complain about the high unemployment rate
C. stress the importance of an above-average job
D. encourage readers to try to get a better degree
Even though it’s the 18th movie from the Marvel Universe, Black Panther is the first one to feature a black superhero with a primarily black cast(演员阵容).
The film tells the story of the Black Panther, a superhero who takes his father’s place as king of the fictional African country Wakanda. The film came out in Chinese mainland cinemas on March 9, passing the $1 billion (about 6 billion yuan) mark at the global box office and becoming the No. 2 superhero release of all time on March 10.
However, Black Panther means more than just the money it’s making. As the Guardian noted, the film is already being regarded as “a positive force for social change”.
The wild success of Black Panther lies in the fact that it gives voices to minorities who are rarely given room in popular culture. “It carries a weight that neither Thor nor Captain America could lift: serving a black audience that has long gone under-represented,” Time noted.
“It makes me feel proud and confident that we made it on screen in that way,” Rasheed Butler, 14, from a black community in California, US, told the Marin Independent Journal.
The superhero Black Panther is inspiring, but the movie also highlights brilliant black women. For example, Black Panther’s teenage sister is a tech genius. She designs gadgets for her brother and develops resources that make the isolated Wakanda wealthy scientifically and technologically advanced.
“What I love about the way this film represents women is that each and every one of us is an individual, unique,” Kenyan-Mexican actress Lupita Nyong’o, who plays a spy in the movie, told the Los Angeles Times. “I think that’s a very powerful message to send to children – both male and female.”
Powerful characters aside, the movie has social implications. While the Black Panther tries to keep his country and people away from the outside world, others want to make use of Wakanda’s advanced technology to fight injustice . “But neither option is truly tenable,” The Verge noted. “It suggests that these destructive cycles may only be broken through guidance, education, and global leadership.”
Instead of hiding away from current issues of race and economic differences, the movie explores what it means to be black in the US, in Africa and in the world. It deals “head-on with the issues affecting modern-day black life”, Time concluded.
1.What is the article mainly about?
A. The success and main plot of Black Panther.
B. The charm of the main characters in Black Panther.
C. The main characters and social impact of Black Panther.
D. How black women are represented in Black Panther.
2.According to the article, the movie Black Panther is successful mainly because _______.
A. it reflects social changes in African countries.
B. it makes the voices of black people heard.
C. it is the first movie to feature black women.
D. it explores the issues of race and economic differences.
3.According to Lupita Nyong’o, women in the movie are shown as _______.
A. isolated and uneducated.
B. brave and powerful.
C. having a gift for film.
D. having a unique personality.
4.The underlined word “tenable” in the second-to-last paragraph probably means _____.
A. wrong B. easy
C. reasonable D. interesting
5.What does The Verge think could be the solution to the injustice facing the people of Wakanda?
A. Improving their economic situations.
B. Staying away from the outside world.
C. Making use of their advanced technology to fight it.
D. Advancing their education, guidance and leadership.
Shakespeare’s Globe Exhibition & Tour is a unique international resource to explore Shakespeare’s work. Open all year round, it gives you an opportunity to learn more about the most famous playwright, Shakespeare, and helps you seek to further the experience and international understanding of him.
Group Visits to the Exhibition & Tour Opening Hours
Theatre Tours:
Monday to Sunday 9:30 am – 5:00 pm
Exhibition:
Monday to Sunday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Groups of 15 people or more are required to pre-book their visit, and each group will have its own tour guide. To make a reservation, please fill in a Group Request Form and return it to us via email.
Exhibition and Tour Prices
Exhibition & Globe Theatre Tour
Adult: £15.00
Senior (60+): £13.50
Student (with valid ID): £11.50
Children (5–15): £8.00
Complimentary: Every 16th person free
Getting Here
Shakespeare’s Globe 21 New Globe Walk, London SE1 9DT, UK
We currently have enhanced security, with all bags being checked. Please arrive in good time, do not bring any large bags and check the Calendar before your visit or call +44 (0)20 7902 1500 to find out about our latest opening times.
By car and taxi
Where possible, visitors are advised to arrive by public transport or by taxi.
There is a car park on Thames Exchange on the north side of Southwark Bridge (open 24 hours, seven days a week).
Black cabs may be found all year round on Southwark Bridge. It may also be possible to pick one up from outside the main foyer(大厅) on New Globe Walk.
Where to eat
Swan at Shakespeare’s Globe serves modern British seasonal food for dinner, afternoon tea or drinks in our beautiful bar and restaurant set over two floors. Available for pre and post-theatre dining.
Swan Restaurant
Monday – Friday:12 noon – 2:30 pm & 6:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Saturday:12 noon – 3:30 pm & 6:00 pm – 10:30 pm.
Sunday:12 noon – 9:00 pm
1.When can you pay a visit to the exhibition?
A. 8:00 am on Monday. B. 2:00 pm on Friday.
C. 5:30 pm on Saturday. D. 7:00 pm on Sunday.
2.If a group of 20 children visit the Exhibition & Tour, _________.
A. they will get a tour guide of their own
B. it will cost them £160 for tickets in total
C. they must be accompanied by an adult
D. they need to call for a reservation in advance
3.Which of the following applies to visitors?
A. They are required to deposit their bags before entering.
B. They can park on the south side of Southwark Bridge.
C. They’re able to get a taxi near Southwark Bridge.
D. It’s more convenient to drive there than taking public transport.
4.What can we know about Swan Restaurant?
A. Afternoon tea is not served on Sunday.
B. It serves three meals, drinks and afternoon tea.
C. It has a beautiful two-storey bar.
D. It is closed from 3 pm to 5 pm on workdays.
5.Where does this text probably come from?
A. A travel guide. B. A tour lecture.
C. An official document. D. A book review.
It impressed me a lot. I never thought that little help would ______ out to be the most satisfying thing I have ever done. He was tired, and ______ to climb further. With a broad ____, he asked if I could help him with some money. He was paralyzed in both legs and was ______ funds for some operation. He said that if operated successfully, he could ______ training guaranteeing him a job. I was full of ______ and even asked him to show his legs. I gave him the ______ money. After a few days, he again came at my doorstep asking for more money for accommodation. This time I was more or less ______ he is not cheating me. I gave him some and said this is all I had.
A year went by and I had moved to a(n) ______ place. One fine day I got a call from an unknown number. The caller called out his name but I didn’t ______ him. Then he said he is the very paralyzed person I helped a year ago.
I asked him how he is doing. He said, “ What sir? you recognize me not by my name but by my ______ state.”
“With your kind help I am now able to ______ on my legs without support. I was operated ______. I am married to a beautiful lady and have a stable ______.”
I don’t ______ remember if I gave him my phone number. ______, what he said next was touching. He said he wanted to return my money so that I didn’t feel cheated and continued to help people ______ in the future. I don’t know whether he read my facial expression the day I helped him but tears were ______ down my face. That day I promised him I will continue to help people as I see a(n) ______—small or big. ______ that changed my life.
1.A. send B. bring C. turn D. break
2.A. playing B. substituting C. struggling D. walking
3.A. look B. whisper C. view D. smile
4.A. raising B. finding C. seeking D. earning
5.A. pretend B. attend C. intend D. tend
6.A. doubts B. minds C. worries D. depression
7.A. remaining B. left C. hiding D. forgotten
8.A. informed B. outspoken C. convinced D. prepared
9.A. bad B. old C. systematic D. new
10.A. remind B. recognize C. replace D. repeat
11.A. disabled B. messed C. excited D. stressed
12.A. live B. stand C. focus D. base
13.A. surprisingly B. successfully C. hopefully D. naturally
14.A. reason B. promise C. character D. job
15.A. also B. even C. already D. only
16.A. Therefore B. Otherwise C. However D. Meanwhile
17.A. in favor B. in place C. in advance D. in need
18.A. running B. putting C. bringing D. pulling
19.A. behavior B. case C. accident D. opportunity
20.A. Strangely B. Truly C. Generally D. Originally
________ the morning train, he would not have been late for the meeting.
A. Did he catch B. should be catch C. has he caught D. Had he caught
Fortunately I _______ a seat belt, otherwise I would have been injured.
A. am wearing B. was wearing
C. have been wearing D. have worn
