A college education is completely necessary for each of us, but we have to ask what it 41 to get into college? High school grades and standardized tests arestill the most common measurements.42 this information is often considered alongside other sources of information, other indicators of college potential are typically not considered if high school grades and standardized test scores don't reach a certain 43.Even though standardized test scores do predict 44 performance and job performance, relying so heavily on these scores is problematic 45 a number of reasons. For one, studies have found that the SAT is a better predictor of college performance for white students.46 reason is that other key skills are neglectedthat contribute to life success, defined more 47 than merely the capacity for academic learning, including active learning 48, natural motivation, social-emotional intelligence, imagination, and creativity.Creativity and imagination are particularly important skills in this century, 49 how quickly this world is changing. This world needs people who are notonly quick learners, but also reflective learners as well as 50 of new knowledge.41. A. means B.takes C. seems D. likes42. A. But B. However C. While D. Yet43. A. standard B. destination C. aspect D.perspective44. A. physical B. artistic C. mechanical D. academic45. A. because of B. due to C. for D. owing to46. A. The second B. A second C. Second D. The other47. A. broadly B. narrowly C. usually D. strictly48. A. outcomes B. advantages C. qualifications D. strategies49. A. concerning B. regarding C. considering D. involving50. A. applicants B. creators C. witnesses D. successorsPassage OneA year ago, my boss announced that our large New York ad agency would be moving to an open office. After nine years as a senior writer, I was forced to trade in my private office for a seat at a long, shared table. It felt like my boss had ripped off my clothes and left me standing in my underwear.However, about 70 percent of U.S. offices now have no or low partitions. Silicon Valley has been the leader in bringing down the dividers. Google, Yahoo and American Express are all adherents• Facebook designed the largest open floor plan in the world, housing nearly 3,000 engineers.These new floor plans are ideal for maximizing a company's space while minimizing costs. Bosses love the ability to keep a closer eye on their employees, ensuring movie-watching, constant social media-browsing and unlimited personal cellphone use isn't occupying billing hours-While employees feel like they're part of a relaxed, innovative enterprise, the environment ultimately damages workers' attention spans, creativity and satisfaction. Furthermore, a sense of privacy boosts job performance, while the opposite can cause feelings of helplessness. In addition to the distractions, my colleagues and I have been more vulnerable to illness. Last flu season took down a succession of my co-workers like dominoes.As the new space intended, Fve formed interesting, unexpected bonds with my colleagues. But my personal performance at work has hit an all-time low. Each day, my associates and I are seated at a table staring at each other, having an ongoing 12-person conversation from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Those who have worked in private offices for decades have proven to be the most noisy and tough. They haven't had to consider how their loud habits affect others, so I can only work effectively during times when no one else is around, or if I isolate myself in one of the small, constantly sought-after, glass-windowed meeting rooms.To make the open-office model work, employers have to take measures to improve work efficiency. For one, they should create more private areas —ones without open windows. Also, they should implement rules on when interaction should be limited. And please, let's eliminate the music that blankets our workspaces. Companies could simply join another trend 一allowing employees to work from home. That model boosts productivity, with employees working more hours and taking fewer breaks. There are fewer interruptions when employees work remotely. At home, my greatest distraction is the refrigerator.51.Which of the following is true according to the first two paragraphs?A.The author enjoyed working in an open office.B.This open-office model has gained popularity.panies are compelled to shift to an open office.D.Google and Yahoo refuse to go along with the trend.rge open floor plans can help bosses to.A.reduce investment in researchB.show movies to workers in the officeC.supervise co-workersconversationsD.restrict the use of personal cell phones53.According to Paragraph 4, an open office•A.can benefit workers' mental healthB.brings no relaxation to workers at allC.adversely affects productivity and healthD.contributes to better productivity54.It can be concluded from Paragraph 5 that in an open officeA.fellow workers are likely to spend a long time talkingB.one's personal performance can be improved easilyC.work efficiency can be ensured amid frequent interactionD.most of the workers can easily become close friends55.The last sentence of this passage suggests that the authorA.can hardly concentrate on his work at homeB.often suffers from the noise of the refrigeratorC.works more efficiently at home than in the open officeD.has nobody to talk to while working at home56.The central idea of this passage is that the open-office modelA.should be highly recommendedB.is destroying the workplaceC.is more of a blessing than a curseD.proves to be quite innovativePassage TwoThe mosquito-borne Zika virus, which has spread to 22 countries in the Americas, is terrifying to pregnant women and their partners. The virus may cause birth defects in babies whose mothers were infected during pregnancy. In Brazil more than 4,000 have been born with abnormally small heads since last October, compared with fewer than 200 in a typical year. The response of several governments has triggered a debate about abortion and birth control which may outlast the outbreak itself.It started after some governments advised women to delay getting pregnant. Colombia, which has the second-highest number of infections after Brazil, advised women to wait six to eight months. Jamaica issued a similar recommendation, even though no cases of Zika have yet been reported there. El Salvador's government suggested that women should delay pregnancy until 2018. Panama warned women from vulnerable communities not to conceive.Some women find this advice rather bossy. Others say that governments have done little to help women control their fertility. A lobby group in New York notes that rates of teenage pregnancy in Latin America are among the world's highest, as 56% of pregnancies in Latin America and the Caribbean are unintended.Rates of accidental pregnancy are high because sex education is inadequate and birth control is hard to come by. Health workers are reluctant to prescribe contraceptives to teenagers or to women who have not yet given birth. If women are to avoid pregnancy, governments must inform them better and provide more access to contraception for both men and women.Some argue that the Zika crisis should prompt countries to liberalize policies that severely restrict abortion. In El Salvador, which does not allow abortion even if a woman's life is at risk, activists are stepping up their campaign for a change in the law.A Brazilian newspaper argued that Brazil should end its ban on most abortions.Rather than calling on women to delay pregnancy, Brazil is sensibly concentrating its efforts on the mosquito responsible, which also carries dengue and yellow fever. The country had stamped out the threat by 1958 but let down its guard and allowed it to return. The health minister announced that insect repellent will be distributed to 400,000 expectant mothers. Some 310,000 health workers are teaching people how to keep mosquitoes at bay. Following WHO guidelines, Brazil advises women contemplating pregnancy on how to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes. Women need facts, not fertility targets.57.The first paragraph is primarily concerned with.A.the harm done by the Zika virusB.abortion and birth controlC.the response of some countriesD.the origin of the Zika virus58.The rate of infections with the Zika virus is the highest in•A.ColombiaB. BrazilC. JamaicaD. Panama59.Rates of accidental pregnancy are high in Latin America because of the followingexcept.A.insufficient sex education or information on pregnancyB.the reluctance to prescribe contraceptives to teenagersC.poor accessibility of birth control for men and womenD.the extremely low rate of marriage in some countries60.Which of the following is true according to this passage?A.Abortion is strictly prohibited in the whole of Latin America.B.Activists in El Salvador are fighting for the right to abortion.C.Brazil has managed to eliminate the mosquito responsible.D.Most women have been convinced of the advice by governments.61.The underlined words in the last paragraph probably mean.A.stay away from mosquitoesB.try to make mosquitoes extinctC.confine mosquitoes to the beachD.culture some new mosquitoes62.Which of the following can best serve as the title of this passage?A.How to Contain the Zika Virus?B.Health during Pregnancy.C.To Breed, or not to Breed.D.Measures of Birth Control.。