In today's world of cell phones, mini laptops and MP3 players, most people have at least one time-telling tool with them．Since these devices are so common, is time running out for the 500-year-old watch? According to some consumers, yes．New Jersey teenager Charlie Wollman says a watch is "an extra piece of equipment with no necessary function．" Many young adults agree－and use their cell phones to tell time．Louis Galie, a senior vice president at Timex, said that fewer young people wear watches today than five years ago．As a result, some people claim that the watch industry is at a crossroads．
However, watchmakers optimistically say that watches regain popularity when consumers reach their 20s and 30s．By then, they are willing to spend money on a quality timepiece that doesn't just keep good time．Fifty years ago, watchmakers boasted(自夸)about their products' accuracy．But in recent years, the watch industry has transformed itself into an accessory(附件，配件)business．And for many today, the image(外形)a watch communicates has become more important than the time it tells．
"Complications"－features that go beyond simple timekeeping－are an important part of a watch's image．Today's watches offer a host of features that suit almost any personality．These features include altitude trackers(追踪器), compasses(指南针), lunar calendars, USB drives, and even devices that measure the effectiveness of golf swings!
Creativity is also a key element in today's watches．For example, Japanese watchmaker Tokyoflash makes watches that don't even look like watches．The company's popular Shinshoku model uses different color lights to tell the time．It looks more like a futuristic bracelet(手镯)than a watch．Another Japanese watchmaker, EleeNo, makes a "handless" watch．Using a ring of circles to keep time, this watch makes an excellent conversation piece．
Whether a watch communicates fashion sense, creative flair or a love of sports, consumers want their timepieces to stand out．Nowadays, everyone has the same kind of gadget in their bags, so people want to make a statement with what's on their wrists(手腕)．Will this interest in wrist fashion last? Only time will tell!
(1)
Why aren’t watches popular with young people as before?
[ ]
A．
Because watches cannot keep good time as cell phones, mini laptops and MP3 players．
B．
Because watches are featured by the disadvantages of simple function
C．
Because watches are too expensive to afford．
D．
Because watches don’t have beautiful appearance as other modern time telling tools．
(2)
What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 1 mean?
[ ]
A．
Watching-making is facing a survival crisis challenge．
B．
Watching-making is faced with the developing opportunity．
C．
Watching-making becomes the sun rising industry．
D．
Watching-making has a specific development target．
(3)
It can be implied that _________．
[ ]
A．
people will gradually lose interest in watches as they grow older
B．
watchmakers hardly change the development strategy for watches
C．
today’s watches are better than those in the past in quality
D．
customers used to be more concerned with the quality of a watch than with its image．
(4)
The following qualities can make a watch popular EXCEPT _________．
Student Date of Birth：19/08/1988 Department of Education and Training
International Students Centre
Hong Xue 827-839 George Street PO Box 707
60 Waratah Street Broadway NSW 21007
Croydon Park NSW 2133 Phone：(612)9217 4801 1300 302 456
Fax：(612)9212 6721
http：//www.tafensw.edu.au/international/
WARNING LETTER
Dear Hong Xue,
As you are aware, your student visa regulations set out a number of conditions applying to your visa．It has come to our attention that you are failing to meet the following conditions：You must maintain accommodation, support and general welfare arrangements that have been approved by your education provider if you：
●have not turned 18; and
●are not staying in Australia with：
－a parent
－a custodian(监护人); or
－a relative who has been nominated(指定)by your parent or a custodian, is aged at least 21 and is of good character．
Note：You must not change those arrangements without the written approval of your education provider．
You must obey the following rules：
1．During term time you must：
a)remain in your homestay during the school term;
b)come home every night; and
c)inform your guardian at all times of your whereabouts．
2．On weekends you must：
a)have your guardian's permission to stay with friends; and
b)inform your guardian of the name, address and phone numbers of people you are visiting．
3．You must return your guardian's telephone calls．
This will be your only warning．If you continue to breach(违反)your student visa regulations we will report you to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs．Such action may lead to the cancellation(取消)of your student visa．Please contact me on(612)9217 4801 or fax(612)9212 6721 if you have questions about your enrolment．
Yours sincerely
Tracey Carlon
Student Advisor
International Students Centre
NSW Department of Education and Training
(1)
What's the purpose of writing this letter?
[ ]
A．
To remind the recipient of the conditions for applying for a student visa．
B．
To warn the recipient not to do anything against his student visa regulations again．
C．
To tell the recipient how to contact his student advisor．
D．
To inform the recipient of the student visa regulations．
(2)
What can be learned about the recipient from this letter?
[ ]
A．
He is under 18 and studies in Australia with his parents．
B．
He is required to come home every night according to the rules．
C．
He can stay with his friends on weekends if permitted．
D．
His student Visa has been cancelled．
(3)
To which address should the recipient reply if he feels like answering the letter?
[ ]
A．
Hong Xue at 60 Waratah Street, Croydon Park NSW 2133．
B．
Tracey Carlon at the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs．
C．
Hong Xue at NSW Department of Education and Training．
D．
Tracey Carlon at 827-839 George Street, PO Box 707, Broadway NSW 21007．
阅读理解
Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel．Green said,“Clearly I am the most important．I am the sign of life and hope．I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves．Without me, all animals would 1 ．”
Blue interrupted,“You only think about the 2 , but consider the sky and the sea． 3 the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea．Without my peace, you would all be 4 ．”
Yellow chuckled(笑道),“You are all so serious．I bring laughter, fun, and 5 into the world．”
Orange started next to blow her trumpet,“I am the color of health and strength．I may be 6 , but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life．When I fill the sky 7 , my beauty is so striking that no one gives another 8 to any of you．”
Red could stand it 9 and he shouted out,“I am the ruler of all of you．I am the color of danger and of bravery．I am willing to 10 truth．I am also the color of passion and of love．”
Then came Purple and Indigo(深蓝)…．
The colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own 11 ．Their quarreling became louder and louder．Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening thunder．Rain started to pour down 12 ．The colors crouched(蜷缩)down 13 , drawing close to one another for comfort．
In the midst of the clamor(叫嚷), rain began to speak,“You foolish colors, fighting 14 yourselves, each trying to dominate 15 ．Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, 16 ?Join hands with 17 and come to me．”
Doing as they were told, the colors 18 and joined hands．They formed a colorful rainbow．From then on, whenever a good rain 19 the world, a rainbow appears in the sky．They remember to 20 one another．
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