Secret codes (密码)keep messages private。Banks, companies, and government agencies use secret codes in doing business, especially when information is sent by computer.
People have used secret codes for thousands of years. 36 Code breaking never lags(落后) far behind code making. The science of creating and reading coded messages is called cryptography.
There are three main types of cryptography. 37 For example, the first letters of "My elephant eats too many eels" Spell out the hidden message "Meet me."
38 You might represent each letter with a number, For example, Let's number the letters of the alphabet, in order, from 1 to 26. If we substitute a number for each letter, the message "Meet me" would read "13 5 20 13 5."
A code uses symbols to replace words, phrases, or sentences. To read the message of a real code, you must have a code book. 39 For example "bridge" might stand for "meet" and "out" might stand for "me." The message "bridge out" would actually mean "Meet me." 40 However, it is also hard to keep a code book secret for long. So codes must be changed frequently.
A. |
It is very hard to break a code without the code book. |
B. |
In any language, some letters are used more than others. |
C. |
Only people who know the keyword can read the message. |
D. |
As long as there have been codes, people have tried to break them. |
E. |
You can hide a message by having the first letters of each word spell it out. |
F. |
With a code book, you might write down words that would stand for other words. |
G. |
Another way to hide a message is to use symbols to stand for specific letters of the alphabet. |
An Extension of the Human Brain
Other people can help us compensate for our mental and emotional deficiencies (欠缺),much as a wooden leg can compensate for a physical deficiency. To be exact, other people can extend our intelligence and help us understand and adjust our emotions. When another person helps us in such ways, he or she is participating in what I've called a "social prosthetic (义肢的)system." Such systems do not need to operate face-to-face, and it's clear to me that the Internet is expanding the range of my own social prosthetic systems. It's already a big bank of many minds. Even in its current state, the Internet has extended my memory and judgment.
Regarding memory: Once I look up something on the Internet, I don't need to keep all the details for future use-I know where to find that information again and can quickly and easily do so. More generally, the Internet functions as if it were my memory. This function of the Internet is particularly striking when I'm writing; I'm no longer comfortable writing if I'm not connected to the Internet. It's become natural to check facts as I write, taking a minute or two to dip into PubMed, Wikipedia, or other websites.
Regarding judgment: The Internet has made me smarter in matters small and large. For example, when I'm writing a textbook, it has become second nature to check a dozen definitions of a key term, which helps me dig into the core and understand its meaning. But more than that, I now regularly compare my views with those of many others. If I have a " new idea," I now quickly look to see whether somebody else has already thought of it, or something similar-and I then compare what I think with what others have thought. This certainly makes my own views clearer. Moreover, I can find out whether my reactions to an event are reasonable enough by reading about those of others on the Internet.
These effects of the Internet have become even more striking since I've begun using a smartphone. I now regularly pull out my phone to check a fact, watch a video, read weibo. Such activities fill the spaces that used to be dead time (such as waiting for somebody to arrive for a lunch meeting).
But that's the upside (好处).The downside is that in those dead periods I often would let my thoughts flow and sometimes would have an unexpected insight or idea. Those opportunities are now fewer and farther between.
An Extension of the Human Brain |
|
A prosthetic nature |
荫 ●The (71) ▲can help make up for our mental and emotional deficiencies as a wooden leg can compensate for a bodily deficiency. • ●It (72) ▲in our daily events, extending our intelligence, comprehending our feelings, and expanding the range of social activities. |
Wonderful aspects: memory and judgment |
• ●On the Internet, we could quickly and easily locate the details, and check facts, without (73) ▲them in mind. |
• ●The Internet makes us smarter over (74) ▲kinds of things. It provides a dozen definitions of a key term for us to find the (75) ▲of the matter. • ●The Internet enables us to exchange ideas with many others to (76) ▲our claims, and to (77) ▲our actions. |
|
The (78) ▲sides of smartphones |
• ●Smartphones make it easier and more (79) ▲to check reality, watch video clips, read weibo. |
• ●Smartphones (80) ▲the possibility for new and insightful minds, and steal away our dead time. |
Enough"meaningless drivel".That's the message from a group of members of the UK government who have been examining how social media firms like LinkedIn gather and use social media data.
The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee's report,released last week,has blamed firms for making people sign up to long incomprehensible legal contracts and calls for an international standard or kitemark (认证标记) to identify sites that have clear terms and conditions.
"The term and conditions statement that we all carelessly agree to is meaningless drivel to anyone,"says Andrew Miller,the chair of the committee.Instead,he says,firms should provide a plain﹣English version of their terms.The simplified version would be checked by a third party and awarded a kitemark if it is an accurate reflection of the original.
It is not yet clear who would administer the scheme,but the UK government is looking at introducing it on a voluntary basis."we need to think through how we make that work in practice,"says Miller.
Would we pay any more attention to a kitemark?"I think if you went and did the survey,people would like to think they would,"says Nigel Shadbolt at the University of Southampton,UK,who studies open data."We do know people worry a lot about the inappropriate use of their information."But what would happen in practice is another matter,he says.
Other organisations such as banks ask customers to sign long contracts they may not read or understand,but Miller believes social media requires special attention because it is so new."We still don't know how significant the long﹣term impact is going to be of unwise things that kids put on social media that come back and bite them in 20years'time,"he says.
Shadbolt,who gave evidence to the committee,says the problem is that we don't know how companies will use our data because their business models and uses of data are still evolving.Large collections of personal information have become valuable only recently,he says.
The shock and anger when a social media firm does something with data that people don't expect,even if users have apparently permission,show that the current situation isn't working.If properly administered,a kitemark on terms and conditions could help people know what exactly they are signing up to.Although they would still have to actually read them.
73.What does the phrase"meaningless drivel"in paragraphs 1and 3 refer to?
A.Legal contracts that social media firms make people sign up to.
B.Warnings from the UK government against unsafe websites.
C.Guidelines on how to use social media websites properly.
D.Insignificant data collected by social media firms.
74.It can be inferred from the passage that Nigel Shadbolt doubts whether .
A.social media firms would conduct a survey on the kitemark scheme
B.people would pay as much attention to a kitemark as they think
C.a kitemark scheme would be workable on a nationwide scale
D.the kitemark would help companies develop their business models
75.Andrew Miller thinks social media needs more attention than banks mainly because .
A.their users consist largely of kids under 20years old
B.the language in their contracts is usually harder to understand
C.the information they collected could become more valuable in future
D.it remains unknown how users'data will be taken advantage of
76.The writer advises users of social media to .
A.think carefully before posting anything onto such websites
B.read the terms and conditions even if there is a kitemark
C.take no further action if they can find a kitemark
D.avoid providing too much personal information
77.Which of the following is the best title of the passage?
A.Say no to social media?
B.New security rules in operation?
C.Accept without reading?
D.Administration matters!
Is there link between humans and climate change or not?This question was first studied in the early 1900s.Since then,many scientists have thought that our actions do make a difference.In 1997,the Kyoto Protocol explained our role in the Earth's changing atmosphere and set international limits for gas emissions(排放) from 2008 to 2012.Some countries have decided to continue these reductions until 2020.More recently,the Paris Agreement,stuck by nearly 200 countries,also aims to limit global warming.But just now how much warmer it will get depends on how deeply countries cut carbon emissions.
70.It can be concluded from paragraph 1that .
A.the problem of global warming will have been quite solved by 2020
B.gas emissions have been effectively reduced in developed countries
C.the Paris Agreements is more influential than the Kyoto Protocol
D.humans have made continuous efforts to slow down global warming
71.If nations could only keep the initial promises of the Paris Agreement,what would happen by the year 2100?
A.The human population would increase by one third.
B.Little over 50% of all species would still exist.
C.Nations would not need to tighten their emissions targets.
D.The Agreement's minimum goal would not be reached.
72.If those island nations not far above sea level are to survive,the maximum temperature rise,since the start of the industrial age,should be .
A.0.8℃
B.1.5℃
C.2℃
D.3.5℃
One early morning,I went into the living room to find my mother reading a thick book called Best Loved Poems to Read Again and Again.My interest was aroused only by the fact that the word"Poems"appeared in big,hot pink letters.
"Is it good?"I asked her.
"Yeah,"she answered."There's one I really like and you'll like it,too."I leaned forward.
"‘Patty Poem,'"she read the title.Who is Patty?I wondered.The poem began:
She never puts her toys away,
Just leaves them scattered①where they lay,…①散乱的
The poem was just three short sections.The final one came quickly:
When she grows and gathers poise②,②稳重
I'll miss her harum﹣scarum③ noise,③莽撞的
And look in vain④ for scattered toys.④徒劳地
And I'll be sad.
A terrible sorrow washed over me.Whoever Patty was,she was a mean girl.Then,the shock.
"It's you,honey,"My mother said sadly.
To my mother,the poem revealed a parent's affection when her child grows up and leaves.To me,the"she"in the poem was horror.It was my mama who would be sad.It was so terrible I burst out crying.
"What's wrong?"my mother asked.
"Oh Mama,"I cried."I don't want to grow up ever!"
She smiled."Honey,it's okay.You're not growing up anytime soon.And when you do,I'll still love you,okay?"
"Okay,"I was still weeping.My panic has gone.But I could not help thinking about that silly poem.After what seemed like a safe amount of time,I read the poem again and was confused.It all fit so well together,like a puzzle.The language was simple,so simple I could plainly understand its meaning,yet it was still beautiful.I was now fascinated by the idea of poetry,words that had the power to make or break a person's world.
I have since fallen in love with other poems,but"Patty Poem"remains my poem.After all,"Patty Poem"gave me my love for poetry not because it was the poem that lifted my spirits,but because it was the one that hurt me the most.
66.Why was the writer attracted by the book Best Loved Poems to Read Again and Again?
A.It was a thick enough book.
B.Something on its cover caught her eye.
C.Her mother was reading it with interest.
D.It has a meaningful title.
67.After her mother read the poem to her,the writer felt at first.
A.sad
B.excited
C.horrified
D.confused
68.The writer's mother liked to read"Patty Poem"probably because .
A.it reflected her own childhood
B.it was written in simple language
C.it was composed by a famous poet
D.it gave her a hint of what would happen
69.It can be concluded from the passage that"Patty Poem"leads the writer to .
A.discover the power of poetry
B.recognize her love for puzzles
C.find her eagerness to grow up
D.experience great homesickness.
Stress:Good or Bad?
Stress used to be an almost unknown word,but now that we are used to talking about it,I have found that people are beginning to get stressed about being stressed.
In recent years,stress(33) (regard) as a cause of a whole range of medical problems,from high blood pressure to mental illness.But like so many other things,it is only too much stress(34) does you harm.It is time you considered that if there were no stress in your life,you would achieve a little.If you are stuck at home with no stress,then your level of performance will be low.Up to a certain point,the more stress you are under,the (35) (good) your performance will be.Beyond a certain point,though,further stress will only lead to exhaustion,illness and finally a breakdown.You can tell when you are over the top and on the downward slope,by asking yourself (36) number of questions.Do you,for instance,feel that too much is being expected of (37) ,and yet find it impossible to say no?Do you find yourself getting impatient or (38) (annoy) with people over unimportant things?…If the answer to all those questions is yes,you had better(39) (control ) your stress,as you probably are under more stress than is good for you.
To some extent you can control the amount of stress in your life.Doctors have worked out a chart showing how much stress is involved in various events.Getting married is 50,pregnancy 40,moving house 20,Christmas 12,etc.If the total stress in your life is over 150,you are twice as likely (40) (get)ill.
Bags of Love
Last year,I was assigned to work at an office near my mother's house,so I stayed with her for a month.During that time,I helped out with the housework and contributed to the groceries.
After less than a week,I started noticing that the groceries were running out pretty quickly﹣we were always suddenly out of something.(25) (wonder) how my mum could consume them so quickly,I began observing her daily routine for two weeks.To my surprise,I found that she would pack a paper bag full of canned goods and head out every morning at about nine.Eventually,I decided to follow her and (26) happened truly amazed me.She was taking the food to the refugee camp,in (27) she distributed it to children.
I asked around and found out that my mum was very well known in the area.The kids were very friendly with her and even looked up to her as if she were their own mother.Then it hit me﹣shy would she mot want to tell me about what she (28) (do)?Was she worried about how I would react or that I would stop (29) (buy) the groceries if I found out?
When she got home,I told her about my discovery.(30) she could react,I gave her a big hug and told her she didn't need to keep it a secret (31) me.She told me that some of the children lived with an older lady in a shelter while others slept on the streets.For years,my mum has been helping out by giving them whatever food she could spare.I was so impressed by (32) selfless she was.
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一个最恰当的单词。注意:每个空格只填1个单词。请将答案写在答题纸上相应题号的横线上。
Disability aids are vital to those who suffer problems with executing work with two hands.These are people who have been disabled due to some major sickness or some other problems.In order to help them carry on their work in the normal way, disability aids are manufactured.This helps them make their life a lot easier than what it would have been without these aids.The kind of disability aids that an individual might require depends on the person only.It is the problem that a person faces that decides the aids that he/she will use for carrying out their respective jobs.The following is the list of a few disability aids that come of significant use.
The first and foremost aid is the stocking aid, aiding the individuals suffering from the problem of bending down to reach the foot and wear their own socks.These stocking aids have a gutter(槽) that is made up of plastic material.These gutters are shaped in a certain way along with the attachment of cotton tapes in it.The sock is then put over the gutter.The foot is placed inside the gutter.The cotton tapes help in pulling the socks up the leg and subsequently the sock.In this manner, the sock is worn by a person who has problems wearing it by bending one’s back and reaching the foot.
There are openers that help the people who have problems with their hands or wrists to open bottles of ketchup, jam and other such bottles and jars that necessitates the use of hands and fingers.
The third type of disability aids that comes to our minds are lifts.Now what are lifts? Lifts are certain machines that help in lifting people from specific areas, such as a bathtub or a set of stairs.These lifts are of varied types and come for numerous applications.It is for the individual to decide the type that he/she requires to use.
For people, who have problems in balancing their upper bodies in a stable manner, there is something known as grab rails.These grab rails are installed for those who have mobility problems in their upper bodies.These rails come in varieties of shapes, sizes and angles.These grab rails are available to home users as well, in their different variations.One can purchase and fix one to their homes according to one’s specificities.These grab rails require the act of screwing and drilling in order to fix them to their appropriate place.The prices of these rails also vary according to the variation of their shapes and sizes.
A portable book holder is a much sought-after disability aid.It can be used by anybody for that matter, not just the disabled.These portable book holders are light-weight and can be easily moved about.These holders relieve the strains on one’s hands, necks and shoulders that might occur due to the handling of a book.The holders are provided with extended legs that help in placing the reading material at suitable distance.
Thus with the help of these disability aids, the old and disabled people can make their lives much more convenient and comfortable that would otherwise have been a cumbersome and complex one.
Disability Aids
Theme |
Disability aids are important to people with disabilities from some major sickness or other problems. |
|
Different of aids |
Stocking aids |
They can be used to help individuals whose bodies are not enough to reach their feet to put on socks by themselves. |
Openers |
They can be used to aid the disabled to open the bottles when the use of hands or wrists is a |
|
Lifts |
They can be used to lift people from specific areas.They come in of types and are numerously. |
|
Grab rails |
They can be used to keep their balance in a stable manner after proper |
|
Book holders |
They can be used to help with the of strains on one’s hands necks and shoulders when reading. |
|
these disability aids,the life of the old and disabled would become cumbersome and complex |
任务型阅读,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一个最恰当的单词。
注意:每个空格只填1个单词。请将答案写在答题卡上相应题号的横线上。
ID systems are used as a means for people to prove their identity, as a means of access control, or for many other situations. ID cards also contain a lot more information than simply the name of the holder. All ID cards contain information that is relevant to the institution that released them, so there is no single model that applies to all ID cards.
Different institutions have different rules when it comes to ID cards, and ID cards used by students, in universities, will not have the same security features as those used in the military, for example. The more important the institution is, the more important the security is, and the more security features will be used to prevent duplication(复制) of an ID card.
Anyone with a printer that can print ID cards can duplicate in ID card, if it does not have any security measures. There have been lots of cases, especially in low security institutions, where ID cards have been duplicated and this was not noticed, since the person holding the card usually flashed it when it was requested, and that was not enough to notice that it is a fake.
That may not be extremely important when it is simply a case of a student trying to enter the campus of another university, but it can be of vital importance if it happens in a military institution. Checks in military institutions are much stricter and the personnel checking the card are always trained to spot fakes in a short amount of time.
Some may think that creating an ID card is extremely difficult, but it is not. All it takes is a special printer that can print ID cards, a model and a photo ID. The fact that such printers can be freely ordered online has raised security issues with lots of companies and institutions, and most have decided to either create their own ID cards, or simply use more advanced security features that regular home-users do not have access to. This includes magnetic stripes(磁条), chips, barcodes(条形码),and other methods. This does increase the cost of the card per person, so the total cost of the cards increases based on the number of employees the company has, but it also reduces security risks to a minimum.
So ID systems, as basic as they seem, are an excellent security measure for any institution. To ensure that the IDs look good and function properly, the company that handles the card printing services should be top-class. Trying to save some money by choosing a cheaper provider is not really wise. While some companies offer bonuses for large orders, if the quality provided is not of the highest standard, it is not worth it.
ID systems |
|
Passage outline |
Supporting details |
______ to ID system |
There is not a single model _____ to all ID cards because of different information contained in different ID cards. Different security features are decided by the degree of the ____ of the institutions |
Security features of ID cards |
With no security measures quite a lot of ______ of ID card duplication have happened. In a military institution ID cards are _____ more strictly |
_______ of ID cards |
It is not______ to make ID cards with special printers. Using magnetic stripes, chips and barcodes______ the safety of ID cards. |
The author’s advice |
_______ basic and simple, ID systems are an excellent security measure. It’s wise to _____ top-class providers or services to ensure ID cards of a fine quality. |
It is not easy to find true friends.Even if you’ve connected with someone,how do you really know he is a true friend?And often you will find that someone who you thought you could trust may have let you down.There are ways you can know if a friendship is true and how you can hold onto that friend.
Generally speaking,a true friend is someone who will be there for you no matter what happens.They will stand by you through bad and good times.They will accept you for who you are without trying to change you,and they will be there to help you grow in new ways.
A true friend will keep you secrets for you trust him.They will be honest and be someone you can depend on.They will listen and be someone you can talk things over with,even if they may not have advice to share with you.
However,friendship is a two-way street.To find true friends and keep them,you must in turn be the same as well.Be there for them in their hard times and share the good times with them.Be someone your friends can depend on as well and offer them the same thing they give to you.A friendship will fall apart fast if only one person is giving and putting all the effort.If you are the only one making an effort,be honest and it works.
Actually,there will be barriers in the road but that is the test of true friendship.If it can survive those barriers,it will be stronger and better than ever.Just as St Thomas Aquinas put it,“There is nothing on this earth more prized than friendship.”
任务型阅读(共10小题,每小题1分,满分10分)
Blood donation, also called blood banking, is a wonderful thing to do. It is an easy and direct way to contribute to social work and help the community. It helps to save lives and helps those who are in need of blood due to bad condition or the heavy loss of blood during operations or in accidents.
You are able to give or donate blood every three or four month, and it is a great way to make a huge difference to someone’s life and you can always be proud of it after making valuable contributions to society. Blood donation is not a big problem, but you need to keep a few points in mind.
Before donating blood, make sure that the ferrum (铁) level in your body is high enough and for that you should take a healthy diet. Do not go for blood donation on an empty stomach. You should follow the correct process so that everything goes well. After having a balanced diet you will feel strong and comfortable to donate blood. Afterwards, you will not feel faint or weak.
For required hemoglobin (血红蛋白) in your body, drink lots of juice and other drinks. Fruit juice, such as apple juice is very good for increasing the blood level in your body.
For a good blood flow in your body, drink at least 6-7 glasses of water every day. Completely avoid a day before and after giving blood, taking alcohol (酒). Do not smoke half an hour before giving blood.
When you are going for blood donation, be relaxed, which helps keep the right blood pressure. During the blood donation activity, take a deep breath and try to calm yourself. Don’t join in some other activities.
When you donate blood, you are making the effort to save someone’s life. Blood donation is a very simple and fast process, but you need to take care of yourself after donating blood. Proper care helps to reduce side effects. The following are a few tips that will help you out.
Take a rest for 15 minutes after the donation. It helps you to feel relaxed.
Eat something and drink juice before leaving the blood donation centre. Make sure that you have meals after donating blood. Smoking should be avoided for one hour after the process. Avoid some activities right away, for example, driving.
Finally, be proud of yourself because you have done a great thing in helping to save someone’s life. Blood donation is a very important activity.
Title |
Blood donation — an important activity |
The of blood donation |
• to social work and the community • Helping those people who suffer the loss of • Giving yourself a sense of pride |
the donation |
• Take a healthy for a high ferrum level. • Drink fruit juice for enough hemoglobin. • Drink at least 6-7 glasses of water daily for a good of blood. • taking alcohol and smoking cigarettes. |
During the donation |
• Relax and breathe deeply • Never take in other activities. |
After the donation |
• Take a rest. • Don’t skip . • Don’t smoke until one hour later. • Don’t join in some activities like driving |
任务型阅读(共 10 小题,每小题 1 分,满分 10 分)
阅读下面短文,根据所读内容在文后第1至第10小题的空格里填上适当的单词。注意:每空1个单词。
The back-to-school season is upon us, and once again, parents across the country have loaded their kids’ backpacks up with snack packs and school supplies. It’s a good moment to reflect on what else we should be giving our kids as they head off to school.
American parents are feeling particularly anxious about that question this year. The educational process feels more than ever like a race, one that starts in pre-school and doesn’t end until your child is admitted to the perfect college. Most parents are more worried than they need to be about their children’s grades, test scores and IQ. And what we don’t think about enough is how to help our children build their character—how to help them develop skills like perseverance, optimism, responsibility, and self-control, which together do more to determine success than S.A.T. scores or I.Q.
There is growing evidence that our anxiety about our children’s school performance may actually be holding them back from learning some of these valuable skills. If you’re concerned only with a child’s G.P.A., then you will likely choose to minimize the challenges the child faces in school. With real challenge comes the risk of real failure. And in a competitive academic environment, the idea of failure can be very scary, to students and parents alike.
But experiencing failure is a critical part of building character. Recent research by a team of psychologists found that adults who had experienced little or no failure growing up were actually less happy and confident than those who had experienced a few significant setbacks in childhood. “Overcoming those obstacles,” the researchers assumed, “could teach effective coping skills, help engage social support networks, create a sense of mastery over past adversity, and foster beliefs in the ability to cope successfully in the future.”
By contrast, when we protect our children from every possible failure—when we call their teachers to get an extension on a paper; when we urge them to choose only those subjects they’re good at—we are denying them those same character-building experiences. As the psychologists Madeline Levine and Dan Kindlon have written, that can lead to difficulties in adolescence and young adulthood, when overprotected young people finally confront real problems on their own and don’t know how to overcome them.
In the classroom and outside of it, American parents need to encourage children to take chances, to challenge themselves, to risk failure. In the meantime, giving our kids room to fail may be one of the best ways we can help them succeed.
Back to School: Why Perseverance Is More Important than Good Grades? |
|
Common phenomena |
☺Parents throughout America _______ their kids’ backpacks up with snacks and school supplies. |
☺Many American parents don’t _______ enough importance to their kids’ character building. |
|
The writer’s __________ |
Parents should pay more attention to their kids’ character building. |
Evidence and ______ findings |
☺Parents’ anxiety about their kids’ performance may them from learning some valuable skills. |
☺Parents concerned only with a kid’s G.P.A. have a to minimize the challenges the child faces. |
|
☺Adults who have experienced a few significant setbacks in childhood are and more confident than those who haven’t. |
|
☺Denying kids character-building experiences can in difficulties in adolescence and young adulthood. |
|
The writer’s suggestions |
☺ _________ kids to be risk-takers. |
☺Give kids room to experience ___________.. |
Section B (10 marks)
Directions: Read the following passage. Complete the diagram by using the information for the passage. Write NO MORE THAN 3 WORDS for each answer.
When Should a Leader Apologize and When Not?
Why Difficult?
When we wrong someone we know,even not intentionally,we are generally expected to apologize so as to improve the situation. But when we’re acting as leaders,the circumstances are different. The act of apology is carried out not only at the level of the individual but also at the level of the institution. It is a performance in which every expression matters and every word becomes part of the public record. Refusing to apologize can be smart,or it can be stupid. So,readiness to apologize can be seen as a sign of strong character or as a sign of weakness. A successful apology can turn hate into personal and organizational harmony—while an apology that is too little,too late,or too obviously strategic can bring on individual and institutional ruin. What,then,is to be done?How can leaders decide if and when to apologize publicly?
Why Now?
The question of whether leaders should apologize publicly has never been more urgent. During the last decade or so,the United States in particular has developed an apology culture—apologies of all kinds and for all sorts of wrongdoings are made far more frequently than before. More newspaper writers have written about the growing importance of public apologies. More articles,cartoons,advice columns,and radio and television programs have similarly dealt with the subject of private apologies.
Why Bother?
Why do we apologize?Why do we ever put ourselves in situations likely to be difficult,embarrassing,and even risky?Leaders who apologize publicly could be an easy target. They are expected to appear strong and capable. And whenever they make public statements of any kind,their individual and institutional reputations are in danger. Clearly,then,leaders should not apologize often or lightly. For a leader to express apology,there needs to be a good,strong reason. Leaders will publicly apologize if and when they think the costs of doing so are lower than the costs of not doing so.
Why Refuse?
Why is it that leaders so often refuse to apologize,even when a public apology seems to be in order?Their reasons can be individual or institutional. Because leaders are public figures,their apologies are likely to be personally uncomfortable and even professionally risky. Leaders may also be afraid that the admission of a mistake will damage or destroy the organization for which they are responsible. There can be good reasons for hanging tough in tough situations,as we shall see,but it is a high-risk strategy.
―→·Public apology is much more than a(an) act.
·It’s no job to strike a balance between apologizing or not.
·Apologies not offered can bring on individual and institutional ruin.
Why has the issue of public apology been so now in USA?―→ ·In an , admission of all sorts of wrongdoings is more required than before.
·The of public apologies has been widely reported in the mass media.
―→ ·Being public figures, leaders are supposed to appear .
·There needs to be a sufficient reason for a leader to in public.―→ ·Making apologies is likely to be personally uncomfortable and .
·Admission of a mistake or wrongdoing will probably do to their organization.
短文填空,从方框中选择正确的选项,将其字母标号填在文后横线上,完成短文。(选项中有两个是多余选项)(每空1分,计10分)
A. usually B. mistakes C. rest D. hundred E. what F. making G. although H. under I. They J. thinks K. fly L. how |
Every morning, kids from a high school are working hard. They are and selling special coffee at a coffee shop. They are also making a lot of money.
These students can make up to nine dollars a day. They are selling their special coffee to airplane passengers. After the students get paid, the of the money goes to a local youth project.
These high school students use a space in the Oakland airport. It is very crowded(拥挤的). Many people who on the planes like to drink the special coffee.
One customer(顾客) that the coffee costs a lot but it is good and worth it. Most customers are pleasant but some are unhappy. do not like it if the coffee shop is not open for business.
The students earn $ 6.10 an hour. They also get school credit(学分) while they learn to run a business. Many of the students enjoy the work it took some time to learn how to do it.
They have to learn how to heat milk, load the pots, and add flavor. It takes some skill and sometimes are made. The most common mistake is forgetting to add the coffee.
“We see lots of adults being diagnosed as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (多动症) around age 38,” says Timothy Widens, MD, an professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. “That’s right around the time people start doing more-tasks, juggling jobs, families, a home, and other personal duties,” he says.
But not everyone who slacks on work or forgets appointments has ADHD; there are plenty of other reasons you may be losing attentions. Here are five things that could be sucking your attention span dry.
1. Technology overload
Your computer, cell phone, and iPod all compete for your attention—no wonder you're distracted(心烦意乱)! To a certain point, your brain can act as secretary, keeping you organized and helping with time management. But the more tasks you try to do, the harder it is for you to stay focused on any single task, research shows. Learning basic organizational skills, like writing down responsibilities and maintaining a day planner, can help reduce these problems. So take a break from constant television, Internet, and email floods
2. Lack of sleep
If you’re missing out on enough shut-eye—most likely seven to eight hours a night—you’re probably easy-angry, dealing with mind fog, and have difficulty addressing daily tasks. That’s a normal reaction, says Dr. Widens.
3. Poor job satisfaction
Sure, everyone’s unhappy at work from time to time—maybe your customer presentation failed or your boss gave you a poor performance review. And if a disorganized working environment or a boring project make it difficult to focus, that's completely normal. But if you find that you often can't complete projects,you probably need medical attention, or a new job.
4. Too much stress
Stress takes side affects on concentration. Researchers at the University of Madison found that the relaxation technique can add to your ability to focus on your mind. Another study, from researchers at UCLA, suggests that in adults with ADHD, meditation improves attention and eases symptoms of anxiety and depression.
5. Too little exercise
Mounting evidence suggests that regular exercise can keep your mind sharp and increase learning and memory ability. It’s even more important in adults with ADHD. ” My patients who exercise all report that they see improvement in attention,” says Dr. Widens. Working up a sweat can also help you burn off the extra energy that causes you to feel uncomfortable, and it can help you sleep better at night.
Hopefully after you understand these helpful methods, you become more attentive on what you are doing.
Reasons that You Lose |
|
Passage outline |
Supporting details |
The of the passage |
To tell us we can improve our concentration by following the five things. |
Technology overload |
Your computer, cell phone, and iPod all compete for your attention—no wonder you're distracted! So yourself away from constant television, Internet, and email inundation— just for a break. |
Lack of sleep |
If you’re missing out on enough shut-eye, you are to be easy-angry, dealing with mind fog, and have difficulty solving daily tasks. |
Poor job |
Everyone’s unhappy at work from time to time. When in a disorganized environment or on a boring project, you find it difficult for you to complete projects. |
Too much stress |
Stress takes side effects on concentration. Relaxing yourself can your ability to focus on your mind. |
Too little exercise |
Mounting evidence suggests that regular exercise can keep your mind sharp and increase learning and memory . |
After these helpful methods, you are wished to be more attentive on what you are doing. |
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