Quartz 4

cet4_2025_12_1

27 min read

Writing

Directions: Suppose the student union of your university is collecting opinions on improving its work for the coming year. You are now to write a response by suggesting how it can better enrich student life. You will have 30 minutes to write the essay. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.

There are no better things than studying in university. So the main task on campus is learning for students. In this aspect, I reckon that we can actually improve the environment of the college. By cleaning the litter all cross the campus, we can create a better studying environment for students.

In order to let more and more students love the process of studying, arranging some of the interesting events in library is also a good option. By applying that, the number of the students in library will certainly increase so that the possibility of learning can be increased.

Another good choice I think is to establish a group of people for students. They can ask the students to improve the situation on campus. Since, students are the main subject of this topic, only they can understand themselves.

“There is nothing better than studying at university, which means the main task for students on campus is learning. In this aspect, I reckon that we can actually improve the college environment. By cleaning up the litter all across the campus, we can create a better studying environment for students.

In order to encourage more students to enjoy studying, arranging some interesting events in the library is also a good option. By doing so, the number of students in the library will certainly increase, which will in turn boost the likelihood of them studying.

Another good choice, I think, is to establish a student committee/organization. They can mobilize students to improve the situation on campus. Since students are the main focus of this topic, only they can truly understand themselves.”

Listening

A

A terrified cat has survived a five-mile round trip under the engine cover of a car on a school run.[1]The black cat was found curled up under the engine cover of David King’s car when he decided to do an oil check after dropping his grandson off at school in Kent. Mr.King’s wife said her husband had come “running in” and was “shouting for me to come have a look”. “We weren’t even sure it was alive. So I gently pushed it with a stick to check it was breathing and saw it was a terrified little cat. It reversed even further into the engine and was stuck. I tried to reach it but it was too far down and there wasn’t any way I could get it out.”[2]Following a rescue by UK charity Cats Protection, the 4-year-old cat was later reunited with its owner, Mr.King’s neighbour.

run: [C] a trip by car, plane, boat, etc., especially a short one or one that is made regularly （尤指短程或定期，乘交通工具的）旅程，航程
They took the car out for a run.
他们开车出去旅行。

[3] In less than a month, the Special Olympic Spring Games will make a return to Fayetteville. The games are coming back for the first time in 5 years. The event will take place at Methodist University. Event organizer Benjamin Kowalczyk says he’s excited that athletes will get a chance to come back and demonstrate their abilities.

Organizers expect about 100 athletes will come out to compete in Fayetteville. They will have a variety of events to choose from including running, throwing and jumping. There will also be a fun tent for children. [4] Kowalczyk said it’s rewarding to see athletes with special needs triumph in the games.

For anyone who wants to help make this year’s games a massive success, there are still opportunities to volunteer for Fayetteville’s Special Olympics. Organizers encourage them to visit the Games’ website to sign up.

[5] A German supermarket has been ordered to destroy its chocolate rabbits after it lost a court battle with the Swiss chocolate manufacturer. The Swiss firm had argued its gold-wrapped chocolate rabbit deserved copyright protection from a similar product sold by the budget supermarket.

Switzerland’s highest court agreed and overturned a ruling last year by the country’s commercial court that had sided with the supermarket.

ruling: ~ (on sth)an official decision made by sb in a position of authority, especially a judge 裁决；裁定；判决
The court will make its ruling on the case next week.
法庭下周将对本案作出裁决。

It ordered that all the imitation rabbits be destroyed, [6] but suggested the chocolate needn’t be wasted. It could be melted for use in other products. [7] It said even though there are some differences between the two products, there was still the possibility of confusion for consumers. The Swiss manufacturer’s rabbit has a red bow and bell, while the German supermarket’s has a green bow and bell. The color of the wrapper is similar as are the illustrations of the features.

The chocolate company has been to court before to protect its popular chocolate treat. Last year, a German federal court said the shade of the gold wrapping was also protected.

B

M: [8] Can you please hand me that book over there? It has instructions for making a winter bean salad. My sister’s boyfriend is coming over for dinner. He’s vegetarian, so I need to make a lot of vegetable dishes.

W: He only eats vegetables? No meat? [9] That doesn’t sound like a very balanced diet. How can he get enough protein? What does he do to strengthen his muscles and all that?

M: Apparently that’s no problem. He’s explained this to me when we first met. He eats a variety of different vegetables and nuts, especially those with high amounts of protein.

W: It sounds a bit difficult, but he’s done his research, I suppose. What’s his reasoning for being vegetarian? Is it his religion, health condition or lifestyle?

M: [10] He’s an animal activist. He’s always been very sensitive and sympathizes with animals. He’s even written to his state senator about the torture of dolphins in sea parks. He says that keeping animals in zoos and parks causes them great distress.

W: That’s a little gloomy, but I can understand that to a point. Not all zoos and animal parks have the most favorable conditions, but [11] without them, it just wouldn’t be feasible to learn about animals and their environments. Besides, I don’t think I could ever give up a good hot dog at a baseball game.

M: [11] Honestly, I agree, but just don’t let him hear you say that. He’s the spokesperson for his local animal rights group.

C

[16] The most common question I’m asked always centers around how to get started in user experience design, to which my response is always that nothing can substitute real-world experience. Building the skills required of a user experience designer takes time, patience and commitment. Higher education is a great way to equip yourself with some core skills, but it will not prepare you for actual challenges you’ll face with clients’ work. In other words, being proficient with a design tool and a few methods doesn’t make you a user experience designer. There simply isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. [17] Being effective requires adaptability—something you don’t really learn in school, much less in a 6-month training camp. It’s gained through experience on the job and learning what’s appropriate given the needs of the project.

I found my way to user experience through graphic design, and slowly over many different roles and experiences that led me to become a user experience designer. It took time and commitment to continue to pursue roles within teams that I knew could teach and challenge me. That’s not to say that I think my path is the only one—but once again, nothing can substitute real-world experience. [18] You can start anywhere as long as you know your end goal and you commit to actively pursuing opportunities to learn and grow along the way.

commit: [I] ~ (to sb/sth)to be completely loyal to one person, organization, etc. or give all your time and effort to your work, an activity, etc. 忠于（某个人、机构等）；全心全意投入（工作、活动等）
Why are so many men scared to commit?(= say they will be loyal to one person)
为什么有这么多的男人害怕许诺忠诚于人？

[19] When planning for this year, our principal asked what needed to change to engage students more in their learning. I responded in a whisper “flexible seating”, thinking about our then-current classroom. It had rows of desks with blue chairs and nameplates reminding each student where they should be sitting.

This began a journey to transform our practice and challenge the ways of learning for a group of Year 6 students used to sitting in desks and rows for years. Flexible seating has been defined as movable furniture to create an engaging learning environment. It is a shift in practice from being teacher-focused to student-focused learning. [20] For us, flexible seating has meant removing most of the traditional chairs and desks and introducing a variety of different seating options to promote student engagement. The use of rows and their minimal adaptations to “U” shape were traditionally intended to maximize on-task behavior and reduce distraction from the teacher. Teachers tend to still use this format because of either the need to control students or the belief that the teacher is the most important person in the room. Now our students have a range of different seating options, including a floor desk, couches, stools, bean bags, and the traditional desk-and-chair.

From our experience so far, flexible seating enhances student ownership of space and engagement in learning, while reducing rates of student disengagement and disciplinary actions. [21] It is a win for all concerned.

21.What has flexible seating brought about at the speaker’s school?

[22] Dozens of British students arriving for their first day of school on Tuesday were sent home over their shoes.

About 30 students were turned away from tavern High School in Norfolk, England. Headteacher Dr. Roger Harris confirmed that this was due to a change in the school’s uniform policy. Harris, who became headteacher this year, said he notified parents of the updated rules in an email in June. [23] The price of school uniforms can spark panic among families struggling with a high cost of living. Nearly all British schools have uniforms. They cost parents an average of £337 per year for each secondary school child. According to the new rules, students of tavern are required to wear smart black shoes appropriate for the workplace. [24] Harris held that strengthened rules around school uniforms improved student outcomes and behavior.

hold: [T] (formal) to consider that sth is true 认为；相信

~ that…
I still hold that the government’s economic policies are mistaken.
我仍然认为政府的经济政策是错误的。
~ sb/sth + adj.
Parents will be held responsible for their children’s behaviour.
父母将要对孩子的行为负责。
be held to be sth
These vases are held to be the finest examples of Greek art.
这些花瓶被视为希腊艺术的最佳典范。

But for some parents, the school’s restrictions are an unnecessary burden. As annual inflation climbs over 10 percent, many households are on tight budgets. Private rental prices in Britain rose 3.2 percent over the 12 months since July 2022—the largest jump since 2016, soaring energy bills have made things worse. [25] Lucinda May, mom of a tavern student said that she had to ask her parents for £65 to buy her child the correct pair of shoes. May said that the school’s uniform policy showed the lack of regard for parents dealing with the high cost of living.

soare: [I] if the value, amount or level of sth soars, it rises very quickly 急升；猛增 SYN rocket
soaring costs/prices/temperatures
猛增的成本；飞涨的物价；骤升的温度
Unemployment has soared to 18%.
失业率猛升到了 18%。

READING

完型填空

People tend to want as many choices as possible. They believe this will maximize their 26 chance of making the best decision. But research shows that, when it comes to actually making a 27 from all of these choices, people can become 28 and avoid making a decision altogether. Even worse, when people finally do decide, they are generally less satisfied with their decision and feel more regretful over whatever choice they made.

Why does this happen? Research shows that when people choose from many options, they 29 invest more in the decision, but feel less confident in their ability to decide well. In other words, when we are 30 with more choices, making the “right” or “correct” decision begins to feel more 31 and, at the same time, more difficult to do. This may contribute to the deep fear that we will make the wrong decision.

How can we solve this problem? I believe this fear could be tempered by putting decisions into perspective. It might help to remember that many of the choices you make, such as what to have for lunch, will not 32 much in the future and that, even more important choices, like accepting a new job, can 33 be changed. It could also help to 34 these situations with clear guidelines and ideas of what you want from the 35 of options, which can narrow the possible choices, and also make you more confident about your ability to make the right decision.

A) approximately I) matter
B) case J) presented
C) chance K) range
D) confused L) regular
E) crucial M) seize
F) deposited N) selection
G) enter O) ultimately
H) invest

The battle over bike lanes needs a mindset shift

A) Five years ago, the city of Queens, New York, announced that it would be putting bike lanes onto a stretch of Skillman Ave — and removing 116 parking spots. Cyclists loved the plan, but local business owners got very angry. Taking out those parking spots, as they argued at protests and in letters to the city council, would ruin stores and restaurants along Skillman. “Parking here is already a nightmare,” one shouted at a protest rally.
B) But the bike lanes were a done deal, and soon they were in place. Early this year, Jesse Coburn — an investigative writer with Streetsblog New York — wondered whether those predictions of economic collapse came true. So he asked the city’s Department of Finance to give him a few years’ worth of sales figures for that stretch of Skillman Ave. How had the businesses on that street fared?
C) Quite well, it turns out. In the year after the bike lanes arrived, businesses on Skillman saw sales rise by 12 percent, compared to 3 percent for Queens in general. What’s more, that section of road saw new businesses open, while Queens overall had a net loss.

net: [only before noun] the net weight of sth is the weight without its container or the material it is wrapped in 净的
450 gms net weight
净重 450 克

D) The thing is, the actual merchants along Skillman? They didn’t believe it. When Coburn spoke to them and described what
he’d found, only a few store owners admitted the lanes had helped. Many still insisted the lanes were killing their part of the city. And emotions ran hot: Someone scattered tacks (大头钉) on the bike lane.
E) This little story turns out to be a fascinating glimpse at the challenges cities face as they try to update their urban infrastructure — to clean up the air, reduce greenhouse emissions, and speed up travel by making towns more bike-friendly. There’s a rising amount of data showing that installing bike lanes and making streets more pedestrian-friendly boosts the economic fortunes of a place. Removing cars and parking spots works. But the folks who run local businesses simply aren’t convinced, even when their own street performs. Given that sort of mess, can political fights over bike lanes ever end?
F) In 2013, researchers at New York City’s Department of Transportation studied seven stretches of road that had installed bike lanes or created pedestrian-friendly areas. The city analyzed the data for businesses along those routes and found that by the third year sales grew faster on five of the streets than in the district overall, on average — up to five times faster, in fact.
G) Beyond New York, a survey of research from 23 cities found that bike lanes and pedestrian-friendly design didn’t hurt local retail and food stores. (“Fears of disastrous consequences for local businesses are unfounded,” the researchers concluded.) More recent work has shown roughly the same.
H) The truth is that in fairly dense areas, bikes are more efficient at moving people around. You might lose one car driver’s business — but you gain shoppers who now can arrive more easily on bikes. “Cyclists and pedestrians are consumers too,” notes Professor Susan Handy. Plus, streets redesigned for bikes and pedestrians tend to become more pleasant places to hang around, so “in a lot of cases, that’s created much nicer environments that are really good for those businesses.”
I) Mom-and-pop shops are usually pretty quick at recognizing situations that will help their bottom lines. So why the blind spot here? Perhaps it’s that attention focuses on horror stories — and some merchants do get hit when bike lanes come in.
J) I spoke to Cindy Hughes, a hairdresser (理发师) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She said business fell by at least 40 percent when the city removed nearby parking to put in a bike lane. The majority of her customers drive, with many coming from nearby towns. Only a very few have shifted to cycling, and even those almost certainly won’t cycle in Boston’s snowy winters. So while Hughes supports bike lanes — “cyclists deserve to be safe” — she sees the parking loss as an existential risk. “Look, 90 percent of my customers drive,” she told me. “For our business, the bike lanes are way worse than Covid was.”
K) For others, the pushback is cultural, says Henry Grabar, a writer for the Slate Magazine. Small business owners are frequently drivers who commute from other parts of the city by car, Grabar points out. They’re also often longtime locals. “They tend to be people with deep roots in the city, who have hung around since before the neighborhood became what it is today,” he adds. Driving around town in a car is so normal to them that cycling seems weird and unusual — despite its boost from Covid, when bike sales exploded by 75 percent.
L) Psychology beats all! Who knew, right? The fierce divide between store owners and bike-lane advocates seems similar to our larger culture wars over climate change. If we’ve learned anything about culture wars, it’s that data isn’t much good at changing minds.
M) When Janette Sadik-Khan was the head of New York City’s Transportation Department back in the early 2000s, she oversaw a rollout (推出) of bike lanes — and got angry blowback from residents and business owners who claimed there weren’t enough cyclists to justify installing lanes. Now, she notes ironically, the lanes are so full of activity that opponents have turned to claiming the problem is the opposite: There are too many cyclists getting in the way of cars.
N) Maybe bike lanes will always be charged with emotion, until enough of the public is finally concerned about climate change — and it seems reckless (鲁莽的) to not have them.
O) Crises, after all, have a way of opening people’s eyes to possibilities. During Covid, restaurants and cafes lost so much business that cities nationwide began allowing them to build curbside seating areas where people could sit, safely, in the open air. It greatly reduced parking — but because, well, shop owners didn’t see any way around it. Customers loved the outdoor seating so much that cities are making it permanent: A New York City study of several streets closed during Covid found storeowners making more than before, and diners enjoying the outdoor lifestyle. If data won’t change minds, customers might.
36. An increasing amount of data indicates that installing bike lanes raises local business revenues. E
37. According to a magazine writer, some small business owners’ resistance to bike lanes arises from cultural factors. K
38. A stretch of Skillman Ave witnessed not only a big increase in sales but also the opening of new businesses. C
39. When people have no way out in crises, they are more likely to embrace changes.
40. According to one survey, city design with bike lanes and pedestrian space did not negatively impact local businesses.
41. Despite increased business activity on Skillman Ave, many store owners insisted the bike lanes were destroying their area.
42. In a war of culture, data does not help much in changing people’s minds.
43. A businesswoman said her business dropped sharply when parking space gave way to a bike lane, because most of her
customers came by car.
44. Local business owners on Skillman Ave argued that their businesses would be ruined when parking spots were replaced
by bike lanes.
45. People may find it more pleasant to wander around streets redesigned for cycling and walking.

All living organisms on Earth are exposed to a 24-hour day-night cycle.

All living organisms on Earth are exposed to a 24-hour day-night cycle. This cycle is the reason why people rest at night and are active during the day. Consequently, all human body functions also follow this daily rhythm, and the timing of behaviors like exercise or food intake can significantly influence your health. For example, eating at night can lead to weight gain over time because food intake at night leads to increased fat storage.

Many drug targets in the body follow a 24-hour cycle, too. This means that the specific proteins a drug is designed to modify can react differently to the medicine over the course of a 24-hour time period. Because how the body responds to a drug can differ depending on the time it is taken, it logically follows that taking medicines at specific times could help increase their effectiveness and reduce unwanted side effects.

When doctors prescribe medicine for people, they rarely consider the best time to take it. There are two main reasons for that oversight. First, many physicians are not aware that some drugs work better during a specific time of the day. And second, most drugs have not been studied for possible different effects during a 24-hour cycle. Therefore, patients are directed to take most drugs during the morning or evening primarily to ensure compliance.

Over 50 years ago, researchers found that the cholesterol drug simvastatin is more effective at lowering cholesterol levels when taken at night rather than during the day. This is because the liver enzyme (酶) these drugs target is more active at night.

Taking medicine at the wrong time can even cause harm. My colleagues and I wondered whether midazolam, the most common sedative (镇静剂) used in surgical procedures worldwide, might interfere with the internal clock that protects the heart at night. Currently, there are no guidelines regarding when midazolam should be administered.

More research is needed to determine the best times to administer treatments for different diseases. I believe taking drug timing into account could help make treatments more effective and help more people worldwide.

Katharine Abraham, an economics professor, was chatting with her hairdresser (理发师) about retirement plans. The economist said she plans to continue working because she wants to. The hairdresser agreed but for a different reason: She needs the money.

Both scenarios (情况) are contributing to a big increase in the number of people in the US working into their 70s. Over the past 20 years, the share of Americans working in their 70s has risen from less than 10% to nearly 15%.

share:

a part or portion of a larger amount which is divided among a number of people, or to which a number of people contribute份, 份额：
under the proposals, investors would pay a greater share of the annual fees required根据这些提议, 投资者将缴更大份额的年费
we gave them all the chance to have a share in the profits.我们向他们提供了所有分享利润的机会。

In addition to people being healthier and living much longer, economists say that a combination of financial considerations such as years of slow rise in real wages and a shift away from traditional pensions in the private sector are some of the reasons people delay retirement. The decline of manufacturing and the increase in the number of people working in less labor-intensive occupations also has contributed to the trend, says Abraham, who researches work and retirement decisions of older Americans.

“Which matters more depends on what your history up until that point has been in the type of work you’re doing,” Abraham says.

The overall trend is hitting Americans of all different levels of educational attainment, although the percentages vary by category. The share of Americans with bachelor’s degrees who were working into their 70s reached nearly 20% in 2018. For those with a high school degree or less, the proportion of those working in their 70s had risen to around 10%, while those with some college education were in the middle at around 15%.

Martin Neil Baily, an economist who is leading a research project on retirement security, notes that quitting a career can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness, particularly for men. He suggests that many college-educated workers are choosing to stay in the labor force more for social benefits than for financial reasons. They’re also more likely to be in professional occupations where they tend to enjoy their work more.

Workers in more physical jobs, meanwhile, may be more likely to look forward to retiring, Baily says, suggesting those who stay on are more likely doing so for financial reasons.

Translation

近年来，中国政府高度重视民营经济(private economy)的发展，出台了一系列政策支持民营企业。截至 2025 年 3 月底，全国民营企业数量超过 5700 万家，占企业总量的 92.3%。民营企业不仅数量稳步增长，质量和结构也在不 断提升。民营企业的研发投入不断增加，在新一代信息技术、人工智能等领域发展迅速。民营企业核心竞争力的增强为中国经济的高质量发展提供了有力支撑。

In recent years, the Chinese government has focused highly on the development of private economy by implementing a series of policies to support the private enterprises. By the end of March in 2025, the number of the private firms has increased to 570 thousands, which taken up to 92.3 percent in the whole number of enterprises. About private enterprises, not only do they have increasing numbers, but also their quality and construction was improved.

fixed:
In recent years, the Chinese government has focused highly on the development of private economy by adopting a series of policies to support the private enterprises. By the end of March in 2025, the number of the private firms has increased to 57 million, which made up to 92.3 percent of the whole number of enterprises nationwide. About private enterprises, not only do they have increasing numbers, but also their quality and construction was improved.

As the investment on the development of the private enterprises, it is improving rapidly in the newly information technology and artificial intelligence.

The enhancement of the core competitiveness of private enterprises has provided strong support for the high-quality development of China’s economy.

ai:

In recent years, the Chinese government has attached great importance to the development of the private economy and introduced a series of policies to support private enterprises. By the end of March 2025, the number of private enterprises in China had exceeded 57 million, accounting for 92.3 percent of the total number of enterprises nationwide.

Private enterprises have not only grown steadily in number, but also continuously improved in quality and structure. Their investment in research and development has kept increasing, enabling them to make rapid progress in fields such as next-generation information technology and artificial intelligence.

The enhancement of the core competitiveness of private enterprises has provided strong support for the high-quality development of China’s economy.

In recent years, the Chinese government has attached great importance to the development of the private economy and introduced a series of policies to support private enterprises. As of the end of March 2025,the number of private enterprises nationwide has exceeded 57 million, accounting for 92.3%of the total number. Private enterprises have achieved not only steady growth in quantity but also continuous improvement in quality and structure. With increasing investment in research and development, private enterprises have expanded rapidly in fields such as new-generation information technology and artificial intelligence. The enhanced core competitiveness of private enterprises has provided strong support for China’s high-quality economic development.

Graph View