Odland remembers like it was yesterday working in an expensive French restaurant in Denver. The ice cream he was serving fell onto the white dress of a rich and important woman.
Thirty years have passed, but Odland can not get the memory out of his mind, nor the woman’s kind reaction. She was shocked, regained calmness and, in a kind voice, told the young Odland. “It is OK. It wasn’t your fault.” When she left the restaurant, she also left the future Fortune 500 CEO with a life lesson: You can tell a lot about a person by the way he or she treats the waiter.
Odland isn’t the only CEO to have made this discovery. Instead, it seems to be one of those few laws of the land that every CEO learns on the way up. It’s hard to get a dozen CEOs to agree about anything, but most agree with the Waiter Rule. They say how others treat the CEO says nothing. But how others treat the waiter is like a window into the soul.
Watch out for anyone who pulls out the power card to say something like, “I could buy this place and fire you,” or “I know the owner and I could have you fired.” Those who say such things have shown more about their character than about their wealth and power.
The CEO who came up with it, or at least first wrote it down, is Raytheon CEO Bill Swanson. He wrote a best-selling book called Swanson’s Unwritten Rules of Management. “A person who is nice to you but rude to the waiter, or to others, is not a nice person,” Swanson says. “I will never offer a job to the person who is sweet to the boss but turns rude to someone cleaning the tables.”
What happened after Odland dropped the ice cream onto the woman’s dress?
| A．He was fired. |
| B．He was blamed. |
| C．The woman comforted him. |
| D．The woman left the restaurant at once. |
Odland learned one of his life lessons from .
| A．his experience as a waiter |
| B．the advice given by the CEOs |
| C．an article in Fortune |
| D．an interesting best-selling book |
According to the text, most CEOs have the same opinion about ________.
| A．Fortune 500 companies | B．the Management Rules |
| C．Swanson’s book | D．the Waiter Rule |
From the text we can learn that ________.
| A．one should be nicer to important people |
| B．CEOs often show their power before others |
| C．one should respect others no matter who they are |
| D．CEOs often have meals in expensive restaurants |
Soup on my nose, a nearly spilled glass of wine and chocolate down my white blouse, as blind dates suggest, this was a really messy one. I have never made so much noise with plates and glasses, nor had I dined with a never-before-met companion. This blind date was quite different: we could see nothing. "Put your left hand on my shoulder, and then we'll take small steps forward," said Michael, the visually impaired(视力障碍的) server, in an East London accent. We three felt our way carefully bumping past heavy curtains before being arranged at the dining table, where we would eat and drink three completely secret and unseen courses.
Welcome to Alchemy in the Dark, Hong Kong's first full-time restaurant in total darkness. Upon arrival, diners briefly tell the chef on their allergies(过敏性反应), lock away their mobile phones and enter the windowless restaurant, which can seat 25. When the meal is over, the contents of the delicious menu are shown --- often to the diners' surprise. "This is definitely duck," my friend said, while eating chicken. "This soup," I declared, "is carrot and coriander." Even the too-close smell did not reveal the real tomato and cumin flavors. Dining in the dark changes everything: the sense of smell is heightened, manners go out of the window ----using your hands to feel around the plate becomes normal--- and there is a strange thrill in being able to ignore your facial expressions. Best of all? You don't have to spend hours beforehand(事先) wondering what to wear.
Alchemy in the Dark is at 16 Arbuthnot Road, Central, (tel: 6821 2801) and is open Monday to Saturday, from 7pm to 11pm. Reservations are required. A three-course meal with wine pairing costs HK$700 per person. Five per cent of all profits go to the Hong Kong Society for the Blind.
How did the author and her companion arrive at their dining table?
| A．By using a map |
| B．By being led |
| C．By feeling their way. |
| D．By finding it by themselves |
According to passage, which of the following is true?
| A．The diners might eat what they are allergic to. |
| B．The author enjoyed a special lunch at Alchemy in the Dark. |
| C．The restaurant donated some money to the H. K Society for the Blind. |
| D．The diners aren’t allowed to take phones to the restaurant at any time. |
From the passage we can learn that the author ___________.
| A．had the table booked |
| B．shared the meal with a friend. |
| C．practiced how to eat in total darkness. |
| D．chose her clothes in advance for the meal. |
The last paragraph is intended to ____________.
| A．present some facts about eating in the dark. |
| B．inform what to do at Alchemy in the Dark |
| C．conclude the experience of eating at Alchemy in the Dark. |
| D．provide some information about Alchemy in the Dark. |
My roommate Lily was well organized, while I was not. Each of her objects had its place, but mine always hid somewhere. She even labeled (贴标签) everything. I always looked for everything. Over time, Lily got neater and I got messier. She would push my dirty clothing over, and I would lay my books on her tidy desk. We both got tired of each other.
War broke out one evening. Lily came into the room. Soon, I heard her screaming. “Take your shoes away! Why under my bed!” Deafened, I saw my shoes flying at me. I jumped to my feet and started yelling. She yelled back louder.
The room was filled with anger. We could not have stayed together for a single minute but for a phone call. Lily answered it. From her end of the conversation, I could tell right away her grandma was seriously ill. When she hung up, she quickly crawled (爬) under her covers, sobbing. Obviously, that was something she should not go through alone. All of a sudden, a warm feeling of sympathy rose up in my heart.
Slowly, I collected the pencils, took back the books, made my bed, cleaned the socks and swept the floor, even on her side. I got so into my work that I even didn’t notice Lily had sat up. She was watching, her tears dried and her expression one of disbelief. Then, she reached out her hands to grasp mine. I looked up into her eyes. She smiled at me, “Thanks.”
Lily and I stayed roommates for the rest of the year. We didn’t always agree, but we learned the key to living together: giving in, cleaning up and holding on.What made Lily so angry one evening?
| A．She heard the author shouting loud. |
| B．She saw the author’s shoes beneath her bed. |
| C．She got the news that her grandma was ill. |
| D．She couldn’t find her books. |
How is Paragraph 1 mainly developed?
| A．By analyzing causes. | B．By following time order. |
| C．By showing differences. | D．By describing a process. |
The author tidied up the room most probably because _______.
| A．she wanted to show her care |
| B．she hated herself for being so messy |
| C．she was asked by Lily to do so |
| D．she was scared by Lily’s anger |
What might be the best title for the story?
| A．Hard Work Pays Off | B．Learning to Be Roommates |
| C．My Friend Lily | D．How to Be Organized |
You always have to understand what you are good at, and what you are not good at. Or if you are interested in something you always have to master it first.
When I was ten, I came over to my cousin’s house, and that was pain because he lived in New York and I lived in Miami. So I came over every summer break by myself, of course I had my parents’ permission to go that far.
One day, We decided to head to the forest. I was looking forward to this trip because I knew that my cousin was an expert on tree climbing while I was not. So, as we walked closer and closer to the forest, I became jealous because I did not possess the ability to climb trees. When he started climbing a tree I was upset but I joined him hoping not to break my neck. Last Summer break he invited me to his house. I was afraid of climbing to the tree so I gave up. But this time I tried climbing the tree. While I was climbing I was so scared like I was about to die at any moment. But when I was about to climb on the other branch I lost my balance. Luckily I got hold on one of the bottom branches. My cousin suddenly started climbing down and tried to help me. After he put me on the ground, he ran to get some help. The pain was just killing me, I lost a lot of blood and I knew that I have to be awake to survive.
Finally, my cousin brought the help. When I waked up I was happy that I did not die. It was pretty insane what happened to me. ( 295 words )
The text is mainly about______.
| A．My cousin |
| B．How to learn to climb a tree |
| C．An impressive experience |
| D．How to avoid being hurt when climbing |
Which of the following statements was NOT mentioned in the passage?
| A．The author’s cousin was skillful at tree climbing. |
| B．After falling off, the author lay on the ground. |
| C．The author would see his cousin every summer vacation. |
| D．It was the first time for the author to climb the tree. |
The underlined word “jealous” in paragraph 3 means _____.
| A．嫉妒的 | B．害怕的 | C．激动的 | D．紧张的 |
We can learn from the passage that _____.
| A．The author would learn how to climb the tree after recovering. |
| B．You can do anything well if you are interested in it. |
| C．You should know yourself well first and do what you can. |
| D．The author could go out without his parents’ permission. |
Decision-thinking is not unlike poker—it often matters not only what you think, but also what others think you think what you think they think you think. The mental process(过程) is similar. Naturally, this card game has often been of considerable interest to people who are, by any standards, good thinkers.
The great mathematician John von Neumann was one of the founders of game theory. In particular, he showed that all games fall into two classes; there are what he called games of 'perfect information', games like chess where the players can't hide anything or play tricks; they don't win by chance, but by means of logic and skills. Then there are games of 'imperfect information', like poker, in which it is impossible to know in advance that one course of action is better than another.
One mistaken idea about business is that it can be treated as a game of perfect information. Quite the reverse Business, life itself are games which we must normally play with very imperfect information. Business decisions are often made with many unknown and unknowable factors(因素), which would even puzzle (困惑)best poker players. But few business people find it comfortable to admit that they are taking a chance, and many still prefer to believe that they are playing chess, not poker.The subject discussed in this text is _________.
| A．the process of reaching decisions |
| B．the difference between poker and chess. |
| C．the secret of making good business plans |
| D．the value of information in winning games |
An important factor in a game of imperfect information is ___________.
| A．rules | B．luck | C．time | D．ideas |
Which of the following can be used in place of "Quite the reverse" in paragraph 3?
| A．Quite right. | B．True enough. |
| C．Most unlikely. | D．Just the opposite. |
In the writer's opinion, when making business decisions one should ___________ .
| A．put perfect information before imperfect information |
| B．accept the existence of unknown factors |
| C．regard business as a game of chess |
| D．mix known and unknown factors |
Some time ago I discovered that one of my chairs had a broken leg. I didn't think there would be any difficulty in getting it mended, as there are a lot of antique (古董) shops near my home. So I left home one morning carrying the chair with me. I went into the first shop expecting a friendly reception. I was quite wrong. The man wouldn't even look at my chair.
The second shop, though slightly more polite, was just the same, and the third and the fourth...So I decided that my approach must be wrong.
I entered the fifth shop with a plan in my mind. I placed the chair on the floor and said to the shopkeeper, “Would you like to buy a chair?” He looked it over carefully and said, “Yes. How much do you want for it, sir?” “Twenty pounds,”I said, “OK,”he said. “I'll give you twenty pounds.” “It's got a slightly broken leg,”I said. “Yes, I saw that, it's nothing.”
Everything was going according to plan and I was getting excited. “What will you do with it?” I asked. “Oh, it will be easy to sell once the repair is done.” “I'11 buy it.” I said. “What do you mean?” “You've just sold it to me.” he said. “Yes, I know but I've changed my mind. I am sorry. I'll give you twenty-seven pounds for it.”“You must be crazy. ”he said. Then, suddenly the penny dropped. “I know what you want. You want me to repair your chair.” “You're right.”I said. “And what would you have done if I had walked in and said, ‘Would you mend this chair for me?’” “I wouldn't have agreed to do it,” he said. “We don't do repairs, not enough money in it and too much trouble. But I'll mend this for you, shall we say for a fiver?" He was a very nice man and was greatly amused(感到有趣) by the whole thing.We can learn from the text that in the first shop the writer ________.
| A．was rather impolite |
| B．asked the shopkeeper to repair his chair |
| C．was warmly received |
| D．asked the shopkeeper to buy his chair |
Why didn’t the shops want to repair the chair?
| A．It’s too difficult to repair. |
| B．The writer didn’t want to offer enough money. |
| C．No one in the shops could mend it. |
| D．There was too much trouble and too few profits in mending a chair. |
From the text, we can learn that the writer was ________.
| A．honest | B．careful | C．smart | D．funny |
Which is the best title of the passage?
| A．A chair with a broken leg |
| B．It was hard to mend a chair |
| C．My experience of mending a chair |
| D．A kind shopkeeper |
Countless people long to make a difference this holiday season, yet they don’t realize that opportunities to make a difference are everywhere. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Organize a blank drive
It is cold outside, but imagine how thousands of homeless people may feel without a home of their own, or even a blanket to keep them from the cold. Organize a blank drive for your local homeless, and ask around for donations!
Practice random acts of kindness
I’ll never forget the time when I went to pay for my Dr. Pepper, but the server resisted, saying my bill was paid by an anonymous (匿名的) guest. It’s this random act of kindness that restores my faith in humanity. Bless someone by paying for their drink at Starbucks, or praising them! If you live somewhere where it snows, shovel your neighbor’s snow out of their driveway for them! Whether it is as simple as praise or as complex as paying the bill, you’ll never know how far your impact will reach.
Say thank you
Just a simple thank-you can make somebody’s day, especially if they feel like their work is never noticed. Cultivate（培养）a smile on their face by being sincere and grateful for all that they do.
Use your talents to help the community
The best way to show your appreciation for people is by using the talents and skills you have to bless others. For me, I love to coordinate（协调）events and write , and so my way of reaching out to the community is through writing articles and creating awareness about problems we face today. If you can bake, make some delicious cookies for people to enjoy! If you can knit, put your talents to use by making clothes for children in foster care. Any talent can be used to help the community in meaningful ways.
Wish you a happy, healthy and helpful holiday season.If you join a blank drive, you can _________.
| A．collect donations for the homeless people |
| B．bring a blanket to go on a trip |
| C．buy a home for homeless people |
| D．keep yourself from the cold |
How did the author restore his faith in humanity?
| A．He helps others | B．He often blessed others |
| C．He got help from others | D．He got praised by others |
The underlined phrase “make somebody’s day” is to_________.
| A．make someone feel grateful all day |
| B．do something unnoticed by people |
| C．make someone feel good all day |
| D．help someone to solve problems |
What is the author’s talent?
| A．Sewing | B．Writing |
| C．Baking | D．Knitting |
Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
| A．Make a Difference in Your Holiday Season |
| B．Make the Best of Talent |
| C．Enjoy Your Holiday Season |
| D．Help Others in Need |
阅读理解
When I was growing up, I had an old neighbor named Doctor Gibbs. He didn’t look like any doctor I’d ever known. He never yelled at us for playing in his yard, but was always very kind.
When Doctor Gibbs wasn’t saving lives, he was planting trees. His house sat on ten acres, and his life’s goal was to make it a forest. He had some interesting theories about planting trees. He hardly watered his new trees, which flew in the face of conventional wisdom. Once I asked why and he told me that watering plants spoiled them because it made them grow weaker. He said you had to make things tough for the trees so that only the strongest could survive. He talked about how watering trees made them develop shallow roots and how, if they were not watered, trees would grow deep roots in search of water. So, instead of watering his trees every morning, he’d beat them with a rolled-up newspaper. I asked him why he did that, and he said it was to get the tree’s attention.
Doctor Gibbs died a couple of years after I left home. Every now and then, I walked by his house and looked at the trees that I’d watched him plant some twenty five years ago. They were all tall, big and robust since they have deep roots now.
I planted a couple of trees myself a few years ago. Two years of attending these trees meant they grew up weak. Whenever a cold wind blew, their branches trembled. Adversity(逆境) seemed to benefit Doctor Gibb’s trees in ways comfort and ease never could.
Every night before I go to bed, I check on my two sons. I often pray that their lives will be easy. But lately I’ve been thinking that it’s time to change my prayer. I know my children are going to meet with hardship. There’s always a cold wind blowing somewhere. What we need to do is to pray for deep roots, so when the rains fall and the winds blow, we won’t be torn apart.With the trees planted, Doctor Gibbs __________
| A．kept watering them every morning |
| B．paid little attention to them |
| C．talked to them to get their attention |
| D．beat them to make them grow deep roots |
The underlined word “robust” in para.3 probably means _________?
| A．strange | B．deep | C．strong | D．old |
Which of the following will be the author’s prayer on the days ahead?
| A．Have an easy life, without too much to worry about. |
| B．Meet people like Dr. Gibbs in the future. |
| C．Have good luck, encountering less hardship in their life. |
| D．Be able to stand the rain and wind in their lives. |
Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?
| A．Growing roots |
| B．Doctor Gibbs and his trees |
| C．Prayers for my sons |
| D．Watering trees |
Sometimes it is difficult to talk to taxi drivers. They must give all their attention to the road as they work out the shortest way to the place where you are going. However, passengers from Wangfujing were in surprise when they took a taxi. The driver just would not stop talking ―in English.
Organized by the Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy, “Dare to Speak” examines if Chinese people will speak English in “real-life” situations. Matthew Knowles, an acting student from South Carolina at Beijing Film Academy, acted the part as the “driver”. He collected six passengers on Saturday morning, most of whom were female white-collar workers.
“Of course they were surprised at first, wondering why I’m driving a taxi, and wondering whether this is a real taxi, but then most of them were pretty willing to speak,” he said. Knowles said he was also surprised by his “passengers”. “Apart from my first ‘passenger’, who could speak very little English, all the rest spoke English very well, and it was fun to communicate with them,” he said, adding that some “passengers” were quite talkative.
The “foreign taxi driver” project was just one of the “Dare to Speak” activities, which have been going on since the end of October. Other projects included a foreign store owner near a high school in Beijing, a cook in a Shanghai university canteen. They were testing the willingness of Chinese people, especially students and white-collar workers, to speak to foreigners in English. Rong Xin, senior manager of IELTS (雅思) with the British Embassy, said they hoped to let IELTS takers in China know that communication is the most important goal of IELTS.
“We hope that more and more IELTS takers in China can realize the importance of communicating in English in real life, instead of just getting high test scores,” she said. Why did Matthew Knowles drive a taxi?
| A．He enjoyed chatting with people in English. |
| B．He played the role of a taxi driver in a film. |
| C．He took part in the project “Dare to speak” |
| D．He wanted to improve his Chinese while driving. |
The Chinese may meet and talk to _______ in “Dare to speak” projects.
| A．a white-collar worker |
| B．a high school student |
| C．a restaurant manager |
| D．a foreign store owner |
The purpose of the project “Dare to Speak” is to _______ .
| A．draw Chinese people’s attention to IELTS |
| B．remind language learners of the goal of learning |
| C．attract more foreigners to start business in China |
| D．give more chances for English learners in China |
We all need a vacation, whether with the entire family or your significant other. Unfortunately, many of us will not be able to follow through with vacation plans. But now, there is an alternative that is catching on (流行起来) rather quickly and it is called a “Staycation”. A staycation is just what it sounds like, a vacation but you stay at home. It might not sound interesting, but you can turn it into a fun and relaxing getaway.
Tell family and friends your plans. In their eyes you are truly on vacation and they only need to contact you in case of an emergency.
Go outside; don’t let the kids sleep all day. Go out and birdwatch, go fishing, explore the parks and nature, take in all you can of the outside world. You can even have a relaxing day at the beach, soak in some sun, and let the kids go swimming.
Go on a picnic; have the kids fly kites. Bring some bubbles, and have a nice day with the wind blowing in your hair. Watch as the kids run and play and enjoy the beautiful outdoors.
Camping is another fun way to have a staycation. If you have a camping ground in your area, you can go camping for a day or two and show the kids how it is to live right in the heart of Mother Nature.
Just remember, it really doesn’t matter where you decide to go, whether home or away. As long as you create quality time with your family you can strengthen the bonds that may have been pushed aside during all the long stressful work hours. Time is the most important thing you can give to your husband, wife and kids, enjoying every moment together, and you will have lasting memories in your hearts.
What is mainly talked about in the passage?
| A．The popularity of a staycation. |
| B．The importance of a vacation. |
| C．Where to spend your vacation this year. |
| D．How to plan a staycation. |
You should tell family and friends your plans so that .
| A．they will fully support you |
| B．they will take care of your house |
| C．they will contact you only when necessary |
| D．they can help you make preparations |
Which of the following is NOT a good way to have a good staycation?
| A．To sleep at home all day. |
| B．To go out to watch birds. |
| C．To go to the parks. |
| D．To relax on the beach. |
What is the most important thing of taking a staycation?
| A．Spending quality time with your family. |
| B．Letting your kids learn about nature. |
| C．Giving your family relaxing time. |
| D．Getting away from stressful work hours. |
The underlined word “bonds” in the last paragraph can be best replaced by “ ”.
| A．friendship | B．health | C．links | D．circles |
My students often tell me they don’t have “enough time” to do all their schoolwork. My reply is often brief –You have as much time as the president. I usually carry on a bit about there being 24 hours per day for everyone, and suggest that “not enough time” is not an acceptable explanation of not getting something done.
Once in graduate school, I tried to justify myself to one of my professors by saying that I was working. His answer to me was, “That’s irrelevant. What’s important is the quality of your work.” Since then I have had time to reflect on the “hard worker” dodge(伎俩), and I have come to some conclusions – all relevant to the issue of how much time we have.
If you look at the matter analytically, you can identify two parts of the problem. There is, of course, the matter of “time”, which we can think of as fixed. Then there is the issue of “work” during that time, which can vary in intensity. But, as my professor suggested, it’s not diligence but the quality of the product that is important.
That led me to a new idea, the quality of work. That concept is perhaps best explained by a sign I once saw on the wall in someone’s office – Don’t work harder but work smarter! There’s a lot of sense in that idea.
If you can’t get more time, and few of us can, the only solution is to improve the quality of work. That means thinking of ways of getting more out of the same time than we might otherwise get. That should lead us to an analysis of our work habits. Since “work” for students usually means “homework”, the expression “work habits” should be read as “learning habits”.
Then, as a smart student, you will seek to improve those skills that you use in study, chiefly reading and writing. If you learn to read better and write better, there are big benefits that pay off across the board in all your studies.From the passage, we know that the author is _____.
| A．a poet | B．an educator |
| C．an editor | D．a director |
We can infer from the first two paragraph that we students _____.
| A．have enough time |
| B．can meet the president |
| C．get something done well |
| D．should accept the explanation |
The underlined sentence in Paragraph 2 means _____.
| A．That is impossible | B．That is not important |
| C．That is unbearable | D．That is not acceptable |
The main purpose of writing the passage is to give _____.
| A．information | B．encouragement |
| C．criticism | D．advice |
By today's standards, my mobile phone is pretty rubbish. It's a Nokia 1616. If that doesn't mean much to you (it's not the kind of phone you see advertised on television), all you need to know is that it's a small, not very heavy device with which you can send and receive telephone calls and text messages. It also has a very handy torch on the top for when you can't find your keys, or when you drop something on the floor in the cinema. Other than that, my phone doesn't do much. Well, it has an alarm, and it probably has a calculator and things like that, but it's nothing compared to a smartphone. Why would I want one of those?
I have often been told that the big advantage of having a smartphone is that "you can do everything with them!" But when was the last time you saw someone doing "everything" with a smartphone? Okay, so they may have an endless list of functions, but generally they are used for checking social networking sites, playing games, and receiving and replying to emails. I'm happy just doing all of those things at home on my laptop.
As far as I can tell, the best thing about having a smartphone is that you can be connected to the Internet all the time. Don't get me wrong, I love the internet, but I just don't see the point of constantly being online. I can't remember the last time I received a Facebook update which was so very urgent that I had to read it as soon as it appeared, and I can't imagine ever having a job which was so important that I would need to read work-related emails immediately. I would think that if someone needed me urgently, they would just ring me rather than send an email. And my trusty Nokia can manage that.
One of the most peculiar（独特的）effects of the smartphone is, in my opinion, the newly-found addiction to maps and navigation (导航) systems. Is there anything more boring than knowing exactly where you are all of the time?! How do you get to know an area if you don't get lost there a few times? And if you are dependent on online maps, what happens to those great places you find just by chance? You can't exactly find out from Google maps the journey from "here" to" that hidden cafe with the tasty-looking cakes" , or to "that pond next to the church which looks really pretty in the evening sun. " It is, of course, true that we all occasionally need to be pointed in the right direction, but I find that there are often real life humans you can ask.
There are many benefits of having a very basic mobile phone, like the fact that it cost me about twenty pounds, and that I don't have to worry too much about it being stolen .But the main benefit has to be the fact that it provides me with the word 'greatest excuse for my bad habits’. Whether it's turning up late to events ,or getting lost on a trip, or missing buses or trains ,or forgetting about an appointment at work ,I'm pretty sure I'm covered with the following explanation: “I’m really sorry, I don't have a smartphone."
The writer uses his Nokia 1616 mainly to _______.
| A．play online games |
| B．do calculating work |
| C．check social network sites |
| D．make calls and text messages |
It can be inferred from the above passage that_______.
| A．work-related emails should be answered immediately |
| B．a laptop and a smartphone share many functions |
| C．smartphones should always be connected to the net |
| D．a Facebook update is usually very important |
According to the passage, if you use navigation systems, you may _____
| A．miss some really wonderful places |
| B．find a boring trip actually exciting |
| C．be persuaded to eat in a certain café |
| D．be misled to a totally wrong place |
The writer’s purpose for writing this article is to______
| A．explain why he doesn’t want a smartphone |
| B．warn readers of the risks of using smartphones |
| C．complain about the troubles caused by smartphones |
| D．inform readers of the latest development of mobile phones |
Our oldest daughter is having trouble letting go of an old red sofA．
It’s not the sofa she’s having trouble letting go of as much as the memories．It was their first sofA． It has been loaded and unloaded onto moving trucks seven times．Three kids have eaten on it，dripped on it，and jumped on it．
Yet she’s having a hard time letting go and asked if I thought that was strange．
“Completely，” I saiD． “You get it from me．”
When we were ready to get rid of our baby things，I sold our crib (婴儿床) at the neighborhood garage sale．I had pieces of it in the garage and the other pieces of it still in the house．A young woman said she wanted to buy it．
My throat tightened and the tears began to well．She pulled out cash and I cheered up．
But by the time I returned with the other pieces to the crib，I was all sobbing．“Have you considered that maybe you’re not ready to sell it?” the woman askeD．
“No-o-o-o，” I crieD． “It’s fine，really，” I saiD． “Take it．”
Our attachment to stuff grows in direct relationship to the amount of time it has sat in one place．The longer it sits，the harder it is to get rid of it．You think: “Hey，we’ve hung onto it this long – it must be valuable!” As though yellowing and a layer of dust increase value．
People who find it extremely hard to part with things have been made into entertainment in a television show called Hoarders．If an episode (集) of that isn’t depressing enough for you，producers now offer Extreme Hoarders．Both of which are not to be outdone by Storage Wars，a show about aggressive people who bid on other people’s storage units．
Let the sofa go，I told my daughter．It served its purpose．You can get a new one．Give the kids some crackers (饼干) and juice and it will be like the old one in six weeks．What does the author mean by saying the underlined sentence “You get it from me”?
| A．“You can get another sofa from me．” |
| B．“You can get mental support from me．” |
| C．“You behave just the same way I do．” |
| D．“You are asking the right person to help you．” |
When the writer was selling the crib，_____．
| A．she felt relieved that there was someone willing to buy it |
| B．she showed a strong attachment to the old item |
| C．she couldn’t decide whether or not to sell it in the end |
| D．she changed her mind in hopes of keeping it and increasing its value |
The writer refers to the television shows to _____．
| A．prove that it’s depressing to get attached to old stuff |
| B．explain what contributes to people’s attachment to old stuff |
| C．show that people in TV shows live the same lives as ordinary people do |
| D．prove that it’s actually common for people to find it hard to get rid of old stuff |
Which opinion might the writer agree with according to the article?
| A．If you give away old stuff regularly，you are wasteful． |
| B．If the old stuff has done what it was supposed to，then let it go． |
| C．Nothing is more valuable than your love for your old stuff． |
| D．The older your stuff is，the less trouble you have getting rid of it． |
Listening, really listening, can improve communication and build respect with others. Communication begins by listening and then suggesting that you hear what the person is saying.
This can be recognized by focus or eye contact, body language, and reflective listening.
Focus (Eye Contact)—Focus means that you are looking directly at the person speaking and not looking off to one side or continuing to do something else. You are focused on what is being said; the speaker is the center of attention. Listening attentively is essential for positive communication.
Listening Without Interrupting—Does your body acknowledge(承认) that you are listening? Use smiles, nods, and expressions of understanding to communicate to the speaker that you are listening. It is not necessary that you agree or disagree at this time. It is more important for the person speaking to know that his or her words are respected. This strengthens communication.
Reflective Listening—Reflective listening involves hearing the feelings and meanings of the speaker. It is a re-statement (in different words) of what the speaker said. You, in essence, mirror the words of the speaker and rephrase them back to the speaker, checking for accuracy(准确)of understanding. This process affirms the speaker, indicates a respect of the person, and shows that you understand the speaker’s message. Through careful reflection of the speaker’s words, you can make clear the message and build mutual(相互的) understanding. Through reflective listening and the careful exchange of words, we learn that other people have important feelings and opinions which we need to consider. Learning to understand the importance of all ideas, not just our own, can lead to successful resolution of problems and mutual respect.The best way to build respect with others is _____.
| A．to look directly at the person speaking |
| B．to listen to the speaker attentively |
| C．to interrupt the speaker when necessary |
| D．to use expressions of understanding |
What strengthens communication with the person speaking?
| A．Making him or her know that his or her words are respected. |
| B．Expressing agreement or disagreement in time when listening. |
| C．Repeating his or her words from time to time. |
| D．Listening instead of saying anything. |
Reflective Listening is aimed to _____.
| A．show you are not absent in mind |
| B．make sure the speaker’s words are correct |
| C．checking for accuracy of understanding |
| D．express your own ideas without delay |
Hi, everybody !
Welcome to our newly-opened Richards Cinema Bookstore!
Now let me introduce to you some of the new film books in our store.
Are you Chinese film fans? OK, here comes the latest 25 New Takes about Chinese films. It is a collection of 25 fresh readings of different Chinese films from the 1930s to the present. In recent years, Chinese films are very popular in the States, such as Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon, Hero, and Flowers of Shanghai.
Do you like French films? Well, here is The French Cinema Book. It covers French films from the 1890s to the beginning of the 21st century. It is written for all lovers of French cinema: students and teachers, specialists and fans, and so on.
Maybe you are Indian film fans and star-chasers. Then here is Encyclopedia ( 百科全书 ) of Indian Cinema. The book is a complete introduction to all the best Indian films. It also offers a full list of names of the famous and successful film stars in the past ten years. You know, the Indian film industry is the largest in the world after our Hollywood.
If you like British films, we have The British Cinema Book. It is a good review of British cinema. This book contains a good many nice pictures.
In our bookstore, you can also find books about Mexican, Japanese, Australian, German and Italian films.
Well, please help yourselves to some coffee or tea, and have a good time here!The speaker of the passage is most probably _______
| A．the author of 25 New Takes |
| B．a tourist in the cinema bookstore |
| C．the manager of the cinema bookstore |
| D．a reader of Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema |
How many Asian countries does the speaker refer to when he talks about the film books?
| A．Two. | B．Three. | C．Four. | D．Nine. |
Which of the following statements is NOT mentioned in the passage？
| A．Indian cinema is second only to Hollywood. |
| B．The British Cinema Book includes a complete list of names of stars. |
| C．Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon is well received in the States. |
| D．The French Cinema Book covers over a century's French films. |
The purpose of the speaker is_______.
| A．to satisfy the customers' various tastes |
| B．to keep the authors in the cinema bookstore |
| C．to offer the tourists chances to meet the film stars |
| D．to take the readers into film producers |
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