高中英语信息词选择信息匹配

第二节：下面文章中有5处（第58~62题）需要添加小标题。请从以下选项（A、B、C、D、E和F）中选出符合各段意思的小标题。选项中有一项是多余选项。
A. Live in denial
B. Sell your iPhone
C. Stop making phone calls
D. Purchase a car rather than an iPhone
E. Move to a location with strong carrier signal
F. Return the phone and get one from a different manufacturer（制造商）
Apple’s so-called iPhone 4 “Death Grip” - where holding the phone in the left hand weakens the signal - may rank among the top marketing failures of the 2010s.
Frustrated iPhone 4 owners don’t need to wait around for Apple to handle the problem. They can solve the calling problems on their own. I’ve got five guaranteed solutions, but you probably won’t like them.
________________. In most US states, purchasers can return phones within 14 days - 30 days in states like California. It’s the “buyer’s regret” period, and for some people who can’t make clear calls there surely is some kind of regret. Apple’s newest handset may be the most fashionable phone on the planet, but it is by no means the only choice. Yes, you can use another smart phone and find happiness.
_______________. OK, so this might seem like an extreme choice, but, hey, aren’t all those phone calls annoying? I’ve dramatically reduced the number of phone calls and must say it feels good to be free of them. You text, tweet（推特） and Facebook anyway. The iPhone has a touchscreen for a reason. Use it.
But, please, don’t text and drive.
_______________. If you must make phone calls, change your location. Repeatedly test for the Death Grip, but don’t let the sellers know the real reason for moving. Surely they’ll think that anyone willing to wait all night in a line to buy a cell phone is some one who is easily tricked or taken in. Don’t let your iPhone 4 enthusiasm drive up the seller’s counter offer.
________________. Hey, why should Apple be the only one who makes money? The iPhone 4 eBay auctions（拍卖）are crazy. There are “buy it now” prices of $1,000 and auctions with bids（出价）starting above $800. While writing this post, I watched one auction count down 7 minutes to zero, where in the final seconds the winning bid was $1,300 for the 32GB black model, unopened.
_______________. It’s surprising how effectively some people can just ignore problems like they don’t exist. No matter what the situation, they ignore it. “Hey, Johnny, don’t you know Toyota recalled（召回） a bazillion cars for accelerator pedal defects?” You know his answer: “Toyota is the best company on the planet. There is no problem with my car.” I’ve seen this kind of denial behavior among some Mac enthusiasts, too. About Death Grip, Apple CEO Steve Jobs is on record firmly stating: “Just avoid holding it in that way.” Apple claims the problem really isn’t iPhone 4 but you. Hey, you can choose to believe that. Denial will fix your problem, because you’ll never admit to having one.

Make sure the respondent has enough information
Remember your survey’s purpose
Keep your questions simple
Include only one topic per question
If in doubt, throw it out
Avoid leading questions
Write more effective survey questions
Naturally, no question is “good” in all situations, but there are some general rules to follow. Using these rules and examples will help you write useful questions.
_______________
All other rules and guidelines are based on this one. There was a reason you decided to spend your time and money to do your survey, and you should ensure that every question you ask supports that reason. If you start to get lost while writing your questions, refer back to this rule.
_______________
This is another way of stating the first rule, but it is important enough to repeat. A question should never be included in a survey because you can’t think of a good reason to discard it. If you cannot come up with a concrete benefit that will result from the question, don’t use it.
________________
Compound sentences force respondents to keep a lot of information in their heads, and are likely to produce unpredictable results. Example: “Imagine a situation where the production supervisor is away from the line, a series of defective parts is being manufactured, and you just heard that a new client requires ten thousand of these parts in order to make their production schedule. How empowered do you feel by your organization to stop the line and make the repairs to the manufacturing equipment?” This question is too complex for a clear, usable answer. Try breaking it down into components parts.
_______________
How would you interpret the responses to “Please rate your satisfaction with the amount and kind of care you received while in the hospital.” or, a question asking about speed and accuracy? If you want to be able to come up with specific recommended actions, you need specific questions.
________________
Asking respondents “How effective has this company’s new distribution program been?” may not be as effective as “Recently, we used a new distribution system. Did you know this?” Followed by “Have you seen any positive benefits resulting from this change?” It can be beneficial to break down questions that require background information into two parts: a screening item describing the situation which asks if the respondent knows about it, and a follow-up question addressing attitudes the respondent has about the topic.

根据短文内容，从下框的A-F选项中选出能概括每一段主题的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该选项涂黑。选项中有一项为多余选项。

A. Try to eat much more to keep health. B. Healthy eating makes teenagers look good. C. Healthy eating makes teenagers full of energy. D. Healthy eating keeps teenagers in a good mood. E. Healthy eating helps teenagers keep proper weight. F. Healthy eating ensures teenagers necessary nutrients.

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There can be many benefits of healthy eating for teenagers to eat proper well-balanced meals each day. Weight is often a sensitive issue for teens. At this point in their lives they become conscious of their self-appearance and fads (风尚) can make them want to look as good as possible. In order to cope with things like this many teens turn to dieting, thinking that it will give them a better body. The truth is that dieting will only deprive the body of the needed nutrients during these growth years. Healthy eating for teenagers on the other hand will help maintain a healthier weight.
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Eating the right foods means that your teen’s body receives all the vitamins and nutrients it needs. During the teenager years the body tends to absorb more calcium, iron and other vitamins and minerals than usual. By providing what the body of your teen needs it will be easier for it to reach its full physical potential for growth.
【 小题3】
Teenagers often have a lot of extracurricular activities — sports, drama or just hanging out with friends. Without the proper nutrition, your teen will easily get drained and feel tired leaving him or her slow and without any more energy to do anything. The body will need calories to burn to burn in order to create energy. So eating healthy is a must if you want your teen to cope with everyday activities.
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Notice how your teenager can be so moody at times? Studies show that healthy eating can help reduce mood swings and bring about a more pleasant disposition (性情). The food that your teen eats can affect the chemical composition within the brain. This happens since food can affect the production and release of neurotransmitters (神经传递素) to the brain. Carbohydrates can help with stress reduction while a lack of selenium in the body which is found in nuts can lead to bad moods.
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Have you ever heard of the saying that you are what you eat? By having them eat healthily they will have healthier bodies. This may include better skin, healthier teeth, hair and a better body in general. Having a teenager who looks good can really help boost their self-confidence and self-esteem.

Many people are stuck in a life they don’t want, held in place by everything from financial restrictions to societal pressures. If you are looking to pursue your dreams, it can be discouraging to change everything at once.  ____
Write down your goals to get them out of your head and into reality. Be honest with yourself about what you want, no matter how impossible it seems and ignore what you “should” do based on the views of your friends, family or society. ____ Don’t leave anything out, no matter how small or silly it sounds. Look at the themes of your list to get an idea of what your dream life will look like.
____ Choose one that is relatively easy to accomplish, one that is doable but will require work and one that seems impossible based on your current circumstances and lifestyle. List the steps you will need to take to get to each goal, getting down to the little details.
____ Each time you complete one of the steps, cross it off so you can celebrate the process in addition to the end result. When you achieve the goal, find a way to continue integrating(使成为一体) it into your life.
Figure out how you can work your second two goals into your life. ___. If your big dream is to quit your job and travel the world, start a savings account that is dedicated to travel money and set aside a small amount each week for three years. Plan your steps like this and they will be doable and fit smoothly into your life.

A．Seek support from your friends and family.

B．You will need to have courage to make changes

C．Identify the top three things that will get you closer to your dream life.

D．Start with your smallest goal and work through the steps until you achieve it.

E.Choose a deadline for each goal, whether it is one year down the road or five.
F.List the things you want to accomplish in your life, both personal and professional.
G.Instead, make small, gradual changes to prepare the way to a dream life to make the process easier.

下面文章中有5处 (第61～65) 需要添加小标题。请从（A、B、C、D、E和F）中选出符合各段意思的小标题，并在答题纸上将相应选项的标号涂黑。选项中有一项是多余选项。
A. Explore All Your Talents
B. Be Ready for the Up-coming Competition
C. Set a Down-to-Earth Goal
D. Prepare Yourself Emotionally
E. Look for a competitive college
F. Consider Talent Search Programs in Junior High
Many aspects of college planning are the same for most college-bound students. However, if you’re in any academically gifted and talented program, you have additional things to think about. Here are some actions you should consider.
.______
Talent search programs provide educational opportunities for seventh-and eighth-graders who are mathematically or verbally talented. Some of these programs use SAT scores to identify academically gifted students. Although most students take the SAT in junior or senior year of high school, gifted and talented student often take it earlier.
______
Many gifted students have the potential to succeed in multiple academic areas. Don't miss opportunities by focusing too early on one that you excel in; carefully examine all your strengths and interests. Discover what you really like to study and the topics you may want to pursue in college. Pursue your interest and passion for learning to the fullest extent possible while you’re still in high school.
______
Gifted students often feel that they have to be accepted by very competitive colleges to be considered successful. And while a competitive college may be the right place for you, don’t let selectivity be the only factor. The most important aspect of college planning is finding a college that’s a good fit.
______
Many gifted students are used to being at the top of their junior high and high school classes. Be prepared to meet other gifted students in college — students who do just as well as you, or better, in the classroom. It can be unsettling. Handle it by staying focused on your own studies and skills and aiming to do your personal best.
______
Although your academic qualifications and abilities may exceed those of your high school classmates, your age is the same as theirs. High school is a time for adolescence, while college requires emotional maturity. A 15-year-old high school graduate may not be prepared to live on a campus 1,000 miles from home with other students who are 18 and older. Think about what you are ready for emotionally, as well as academically, when you’re narrowing down your college list.

Erik rang his grandparents’ doorbell and silently wished the next four hours would go by quickly. He didn’t want to give up his entire Saturday afternoon at his grandparents’ house where there were no kids in the neighborhood.
“_______ There’s tea and cake in the dining room, ” Grandma Bethany said, opening the door.
Cake? At least the first ten minutes would go by quickly. Suddenly Erik found a strange-looking key on the dining table. “_________”
“It opens the best room in this house,” Grandpa Bill whispered. “It’s the room I go to when your grandmother tries to make me help with the dishes.”
“__________” Erik asked.
“It’s a game room,” Grandpa Bill said. “Take the key and see if you can find the room.”
Erik stared at the key which looked old. Erik decided the oldest things in the house were probably upstairs in the attic(阁楼). He headed past the dining room and to the stairs.
Grandpa Bill shook his head._________
Erik thought about the oldest part of a house. “The basement! __________” He rushed to the basement door and opened it.
The basement was one giant room with a pool table(台球桌) in the middle.
“Wow!” Erik said.
“Ever learn to play pool?” Grandpa Bill asked, coming down the stairs.
“No,” Erik said.
“Well then, take a cue(球杆) and I’ll teach you. ”
Erik smiled. The next four hours were going to fly by.
A: You’re right on time.
B: It’s the first part that’s built.
C: What’s so special about the room?
D: What are you doing there, Erik ?
E: Grandpa Bill, what’s this funny key for?
F: Erik knew that meant he was going the wrong way.
G: Erik turned on the light and walked up the stairs.

Ms Robson’s students are studying French and German. She would like them to speak both the languages at some point while they’re away.
Hilary’s students are fourteen years old. Some of them learn French, so she wants to find a holiday course which can offer personal language lessons for those who would like to improve their French.
Rose has a small group of students. They all want to sail but unfortunately some of them are unable to swim, although they’re eager to learn.
Mr. Pearson’s class have just started to learn German and he wants a holiday which mixes studying the language with plenty of free time to explore the foreign country.
John has a class of eleven-year-olds who are crazy about sports. He’d like a course which organizes a complete program including all kinds of sports, meals and entertainments.

A Summer Schools in the Czech Republic Spend a week in a sports center 15 minutes south of Prague. Each day’s program is organized by our professional trainers for children aged 10-14. Prices include breakfast, lunch and dinners as well as sightseeing tours.	B Summer in France All our courses take place at the university in Marsellie. Morning classes are held in German, evening lectures on France history are in French. We offer an exciting program of evening activities including music, dance and theatre.
C Greek Sailing Holidays Arrive by air and then hire one of our new boats with all the latest equipment to sail around the Greek islands. These boats sleep up to twenty students and two teachers. Trained sailing staff are available but you must be able to swim.	D Summer Courses in Finland If you love water sports you’ll love our one-week sports holiday on the Finnish lakes. There are opportunities to swim, sail and water-ski. Lessons are available if you need them. There is also a chance to learn Finnish at no extra cost! Everyone is welcome!
E Holiday Programs in Germany We offer morning classes in the German language at all levels from beginners upwards. In the afternoon you are free to join in our mountain walks or to go shopping in the nearby town. In the evening we organize a full program of entertainments. All ages are welcome!	F Summer Schools in France Opportunities to speak French. We offer summer schools for students between the ages of 12 and 16. Live with a French family and choose from a range of different activities including horse-riding, indoor hockey, football, swimming and dry skiing. Private language lessons are planed if requested.

______You probably think you will never be a top student. This is not necessarily so. however. Anyone can become a better student if he or she wants to. Here is how：
Plan your time carefully. When planning your work, you should make a list of things that you have to do. After making this list. you should make a schedule of your time. First your time for eating, sleeping, dressing, etc. Then decide a good, regular time for studying. ______ A weekly schedule may not solve all your problems, but it will force you realize what is happening to your time.
Find a good place to study. Look around the house for a good study area. Keep this space, which may be a desk or simply a corner of your room, free of eeverything but study materials. No games, radios, or television. When you sit down to study, concentrate on the subject.
Make good use of your time in class. _______ Listening carefully in class means less work later. Taking notes will help you remember what the teacher says.
Study regularly. When you get home from school, go over your notes, review the important points that your teacher is going to discuss the next day, read that material. _______ If you do these things regularly, the material will become more meaningful, and you’ll remember it longer.
Develop a good attitude towards tests. The purpose of a test is to show what you have learned about a subject. They help you remember your new knowledge. The world won’t end if you don’t pass a test,so don, t be over worried.
_______ You will probably discover many others after you have tried these.

A．There are other methods that might help you with your studying.

B．Don’t forget to set aside enough time for entertainment.

C．Take advantage of class time to listen to everything the teacher says.

D．No one can become a top student unless he or she works hard.

E. Maybe you are an average student.
F. Make full use of class time to take notes of what the teacher asys in class.
G. This will help you understand the next class.

What is your favourite colour? Do you like yellow, orange, red? ____. Do you prefer greys and blues? Then you are probably quiet, shy, and you would rather follow than lead. You tend to be a pessimist (悲观主义者). At least, this is what psychologists tell us, and they should know, because they have been seriously studying the meaning of colour preference, as well as the effect that colours have on human beings. ______ . If you happen to love brown, you did so as soon as you opened your eyes, or at least as soon as you could see clearly.
_____. A yellow room makes most people feel more cheerful and more relaxed than a dark green one; and a red dress brings warmth and cheer to the saddest winter day. _____ . A black bridge over the Thames River, near London, used to be the scene of more suicides (自杀) than any other bridge in the area---until it was repainted green. The number of suicide attempts immediately fell sharply. Perhaps it would have fallen even more if the bridge had been done in pink or baby blue.
_____. It is an established fact that factory workers work better, harder, and have fewer accidents when their machines are painted orange rather than black or grey.

A．On the other hand, black is depressing.

B．They tell us, among other facts, that we do not choose our favourite colour as we grow up --- we are born with our preference.

C．The rooms are painted in different colours as you like.

D．If you do, you must be an optimist, a leader, an active person who enjoys life, people and excitement.

E. Light and bright colours make people not only happier but more active.
F. Life is like a picture or a poem, full of different colours.
G. Colours do influence our moods---there is no doubt about it.

请认真阅读下列短文，并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入最恰当的单词。 注意：每个空格只填一个单词。
We all know that money can't make us happy, but many times we act as if we'd be happier with a bit more money. We are conditioned to want to be richer; we are trained to want the latest style that television tells us; we want to earn more money because then we'll have a good life.
But none of that will make us happier. And the sad thing is that it can take us decades of pursuing(追求)wealth and expensive things before we realize that. So what will bring ushappiness? Luckily, there are three things that don't cost anything. Here they are:
Good relationships. We have a human need to be close with other human beings. Having good, supportive friendships, a strong marriage or loving relationships with our family members will make us much more likely to be happy. Therefore, take time, today, to stay with your loved ones, to tell them what they mean to you, to listen to them, and to develop your relationships with them.
Positive thinking. Optimism is one of the best indicators of people who lead a happy life. Happy people feel empowered, in control of their lives. So why not make positive thinking a habit? In fact, this should be one of the first habits you develop.
Flow. This is a popular concept on the Internet these days 一 the state we enter when we are completely focused on the work or tas^. Having work and leisure(休闲）that gets you in this state of flow will almost undoubtedly lead to happiness. People find the greatest enjoyment not when they're passively mindless, but when they're absorbed in a mindful challenge.
If you are interested in some kind of work and keen on some kind of hobbies, it is not a bad idea. Turn off the TV 一 this is the opposite of flow 一 and then go outside and do something that truly makes you active.

摘录信息
注意：每空不超过3个单词。
You’re listening to Radio Five. Regular listeners know that every Thursday I give a list of places in the city that are looking for volunteers(自愿者). Perhaps you’d like to get a pencil and write down the ones that interest you.
Tiny Tot Preschool is looking for someone who will sing songs to the children on Tuesday mornings. The best person for the job would be someone who can play the piano or guitar.
Primary School 39 needs volunteers to tutor students in English after school on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. If you are good at English, that is a great chance.
The Parks Department needs volunteers to help clean up the parks before National Day. If you like to work outdoors and help the environment, this job is for you.
Lastly, the Community Center is looking for people to work with the older on weekends. You can help read and write letters for seniors with bad eyesight. The Center also needs a few students to do fix-up work on houses. If you often help your grandfather repair his house, perhaps this is the perfect job for you.
If you are interested in any of the jobs, you can call us at 5488-2377. People need your help. Volunteer today!
Let’s be volunteers!

A list of 53________	People wanted
Tiny Tot Preschool	People who can play the  54____________
55 ______________	People who are good at English
The Parks Department	People who like to 56_______ and help the environment
The Community Center	People who like to work with the older 57____________

根据短文内容，从下框的A-F选项中选出能概括一段主题的最佳选项。选项中有一项为多余项。
Nowadays more and more foreign enterprises and companies are no longer relying on interviews for recruitment(招募). Years of studying interviewing has made it clear that it is not a very objective process. Personnel officers often hire the person they like best or even the one they think most physically attractive. Looking good is no guarantee of doing the job well.
To get a more objective view，many companies are also using psychological tests，to hire both for relatively routine job and for positions at senior levels of management. It is impossible to say how many employers use tests，but estimates of test sales in the U．K.for 2001 were over one million.
Recruitment can involve steps in two ways. Step 1 is always the same：job application. The company decides whether you might be suitable based on your qualifications and your previous job experience. Step 2 can be screening. A specific test is given at this stage to rule out those who might not be worth interviewing. Some large employers use tests—especially IQ based tests precisely to eliminate the unsuitable. Only those who pass Step 2 go to the interview. Step 2 can also be testing and interview combined. If the company thinks you might be suitable after looking at your application，they ask you to come to be tested and to be interviewed. It is seen very much as part of the same step.
Tests claim to be scientific and objective. A large body of research has shown that interviews by themselves are not very reliable as a method of selection. People's judgments are often very subjective：whether they like the look of someone counts for more than almost anything else. But reliable and valid tests can offer rapid and more objective information about wouldbe employees. If a candidate talks well in an interview but his test results suggest that he is a careless person who cannot concentrate，and employer is likely to think twice about hiring him.
Taking a serious test for a job is rather different from taking a gamelike test. You can spend just a little time answering questions of that kind of test，and you can deny the answers and say they are not accurate. But you can not go to a serious test without enough preparation since you can not afford to be denied and eliminated again and again. What can you do to do justice to yourself in tests？Here are three tips：Understand，Analyze，Practice.

A. Busy parents? Bored children? Do you want something educational to entertain your children while you do something else? This is the most popular book for the under-fives. Wonderful stories and beautiful pictures. They are promised to be quiet when they open the book. What’s more, it is cheap.

B. Written by Bill Poole, CEO, president, and founder of Life Lead International, it is a good choice for your children. With an animated fable, the Journey to Newland storybook provides readers with a cast of memorable characters, a captivating story, and a common language to deal with difficult and often emotionally sensitive issues in negotiating change within their organizations.

C. Sorts out some misunderstandings and common confusions of the English language with practical savvy and occasional sass. The Word Book from Writers.com answers simple questions succinctly (is it discreet? or discrete? sensual or sensuous?). Other answers go a step further—with entertaining forays into the quirks and fascinations of English.

D. IELTS consists of four parts: listening, reading, writing and speaking. Listening is very important. Are you confident? Have you made well preparation? IELTS Listening is helpful for your preparation for IELTS, which is supposed to enable you to obtain an overall score.

E. As the world's most popular automotive magazine, Car and Driver informs and entertains people who like cars. It offers the highest quality vehicle tests in the business by applying a discerning eye to every car, pickup truck, van, and sport-utility vehicle that is marketed for consumers. The magazine also covers the latest developments in technology, which affect automobiles and driving.
F. Susan Weinschenk’s excellent ideas on making a perfect speech are so effective that once you own the book, you will become a good speaker. How to organize, how to present, how to conquer your audience become so easy. Speakers will become confident with the guidance of the book.

请阅读以下的人员资料，依据不同人员的需求，进行匹配。
Susan comes from China. As a middle school student, she wrote quite a lot of short stories, some of which were published in the newspaper. But sometimes she is confused when she comes across some words and phrases. She wants to find something to help her to sort out the misunderstandings and common confusions of the English language.
Arthur has been working in China for about two years. Now he needs a car, for he has to send his daughter to school before he goes to work. Before that he has to collect all kinds of information about cars so as to make a good choice.
Ron’s wife is in hospital. He has to take care of the four-year-old John and do all the housework. But John follows him all the time. Ron feels tired and he wants to find something suitable for John, which should be educational and cheap.
Li Ming tends to enter the training for IELTS for immigration purpose next term. But he is afraid that his listening is not good enough. He needs more special training on his listening to make well preparations for the IELTS.
Alice is now studying in China and she is especially interested in making a speech. She is invited to make a speech to introduce IELTS for her new classmates next week. She needs a book to help her improve her speech.

Albert Einstein offered us more than just the amazing theory of relativity andmc². Through his persistence in his discoveries in science, Einstein shined a light on how each of us can do the impossible by working hard, experiencing failure, and valuing people.  
● Simplify Your Work
“ If you can’t explain it to a six years old, you don’t understand it yourself.” --Albert Einstein
The more complicated you have to make something seem, the more you do not understand the inner workings of it.      Did they make even the most complicated topics full of vocabulary that you did not understand or did they make it easier to understand by simplifying?
● Live in the Present
“ I never think of the future - it comes soon enough.” --Albert Einstein
You can try to get yourself worried about the future and make plans that may not work out according to plans. What matters most is living now, today. Do your best right now and do not worry about tomorrow.
● Work Towards the Impossible
“Only those who attempt the absurd can achieve the impossible” --Albert Einstein
If it seems ridiculous to others and you are willing to take the risk, then you are able to achieve the impossible.    You complete what was once an obstacle.
● Value People
“Life isn’t worth living; unless it is lived for someone else.” --Albert Einstein
If you put people first, they will value you and consider you a person who genuinely cares about others.     Show them that you value them. Thank them and send compliments their way. It will not only make their day better, but they will appreciate it and remember what you have done for them.

A．Spend at least a few minutes out of your busy day talking with people without any distraction.

B．Scientists in different fields are interested in the unique theory of relativity.

C．When you go beyond what others think is reasonable, an amazing thing starts to happen.

D．Think differently, and you may find your answer.

E.Even if you are not a scientist, you can apply these life lessons to your own life.
F.You are only guaranteed the moment that you have right now, at this moment.
G.Think about the best teachers that you have had in your life.

第二节：下面文章中有5个段落需要添加小标题（第1—5题）。请从以下选项（A、B、C、D、E和F）中选出适合各段落的小标题，并在答题纸上将相应选项的标号涂黑。选项中有一项是多余选项。
A. Who does freelancing?
B. The advantages and disadvantages of freelance
C. The definition of freelance
D. Key to freelance success
E. What is freelancing really like?
F. The best way to develop a career
______________________ 
Freelance is a word that goes back to medieval times when it was used to describe soldiers who sold their skills to those prepared to pay their market rate. Today it’s an increasingly common way of working for people in a range of occupations and appeals to many who feel constrained by corporate culture.
______________________ 
What you gain is freedom of movement, what you can lose is a sense of belonging. You can end up feeling isolated from normal support networks, because suddenly you are responsible for your own welfare, training, safety, career development, equipment, professional updating and a thousand other things. It is easy to remain unaware of these things in the relatively cosseted existence of full-time employment. So before you leap up into this exciting and potentially rewarding way of working, stand back and take a look at the risks.
______________________ 
Freelancing has always been a common way of working for writers, artists and performers, but the range of occupations with a substantial number of freelancers is growing steadily. Anyone with a marketable skill can choose to go it alone. Websites offer a free directory listing for those with skills to sell. Their categories include accountants, healthcare consultants, landscape architects and computer trainers. Areas of work that have problems recruiting staff are always keen to employ freelancers.
______________________ 
Being a freelance is different from other forms of self-employment—you still work for an employer or several employers but have to develop a completely different set of relationships with them. Employers are now your customers, you are their supplier. You have to become indispensable to them, providing solutions to their problems, some of which they may not even realize they have. In many ways you have to behave like their dream employee, being more willing and available than you may have got used to while in a “proper job”.
______________________ 
You also have to be aware of, and sensitive to ,the fact that you can be seen as a threat by your customer’s conventional employees, who may regard you as taking work they can do. Successful freelancing relies on the co-operation of everyone you come into contact with. Work that brings you into conflict with an existing workforce can be more trouble than it’s worth.