题目内容
Among the four skills in learning English, which one of these is the “odd-man-out”? The answer is speaking. The other three you can do alone on your own. But you can’t really speak alone! Speaking to yourself can be “dangerous” because men in white coats may come and take you away!
Where can you find people to speak English? And how can you practise speaking when you are alone?
At school If you pay to go to a language school, you should use the opportunity to speak. If your teacher asks you to speak in pairs or groups with other students, try to say as much as possible. Don’t worry about your mistakes. Just speak!
Conversation Clubs Many cities around the world have conversation clubs where people can exchange one language for another. Look in your local newspaper to find a conversation club near you. They are usually free although some may charge a small entrance fee.
Shopping Even if you don’t want to buy anything, you can ask questions about products that interest you in a shop. “How much does this cost?” “Can I pay by cheque?” Often you can start a real conversation-and it costs you nothing!
Café and Bars There are often American,
Language is all around you Everywhere you go, you find language. Shop names, street names, advertisements, notices, and car numbers… When you walk down the street, practise reading the words and numbers that you see. Say them to yourself. It’s not exactly a conversation, but it will help you to “think” in English. But don’t speak too loud1
Songs and Video Repeat the words of an English-language song singing with the music until it becomes automatic. It’s good practice for your memory and for the mouth muscles that you need for English.
Above all, speak as much as possible! Make as many mistakes as possible! When you know that you have made a mistake, you know that you have made progress!
49．What might happen if you speak to yourself loudly in public?
A．The police will take you away and punish you.
B．The doctors will force you to stay in hospital.
C．You will have to pay to escape being punished.
D．You will be forbidden to be member of the club.
50．In which places can you learn English NOT free of charge?
A．At school, in conversation clubs and café and bars.
B．At school, in shops and café bars.
C．In conversation clubs, shops, songs and video.
D．In conversation clubs and in the streets.
51．Why does the writer say “Make as many mistakes as possible” Because _________.
A．everyone will make mistakes in learning English.
B．everyone will meet people speaking English with some mistakes.
C．making mistakes is a must in making progress in learning English.
D．making mistakes can make one realize the importance of speaking.
52．According to the passage, which way is NOT likely to be accepted by English beginners?
A．Recite poems loudly along the riverside.
B．Listen to some English fashion songs and video.
C．Find an Englishman to speak English with.
D．In class, try to practise in groups of pairs.
(The Guardian)： More UK universities should be profiting from ideas
A repeated criticism of the UK's university sector is its noticeable weakness in translating new knowledge into new products and services.
Recently, the UK National Stem Cell Network warned the UK could lose its place among the world leaders in stem cell research unless adequate funding and legislation could be assured, despite an annual £40m spent by the Department of Health on all kinds of research.
However, we do have to challenge the unthinking complaint that the sector does not do enough in taking ideas to market. The most recent comparative data on the performance of universities and research institutions in Australia, Canada, USA and UK shows that, from a relatively weak starting position, the UK now leads on many indicators of commercialization activity.
When viewed at the national level, the policy interventions (interference) of the past decade have helped transformed the performances of UK universities. Evidence suggests the UK's position is much stronger than in the recent past and is still showing improvement. But national data masks the very large variation in the performance of individual universities. The evidence shows that a large number of universities have fallen off the back of the pack, a few perform strongly and the rest chase the leaders.
This type of uneven distribution is not strange to the UK and is mirrored across other economies. In the UK, research is concentrated: less than 25% of universities are receiving 75% of the research funding. These same universities are also the institutions producing the greatest share of PhD graduates, science citations, patents and license income. The effect of policies generating long-term resource concentration has also created a distinctive set of universities which are research-led and commercially active. It seems clear that the concentration of research and commercialization work creates differences between universities.
The core objective for universities which are research-led must be to maximize the impact of their research efforts. Their purpose is not to generate funds to add to the bottom line of the university or to substitute other income streams. Rather, these universities should be generating the widest range of social, economic and environmental benefits. In return for the scale of investment, they should share their expertise (expert knowledge or skill) in order to build greater confidence in the sector.
Part of the economic recovery of the UK will be driven by the next generation of research commercialization spilling out of our universities. On the evidence presented in my report, there are three dozen universities in the UK which are actively engaged in advanced research training and commercialization work.
If there was a greater coordination（协调）of technology transfer offices within regions and a simultaneous (happening at the same time) investment in the scale and functions of our graduate schools, universities could, and should, play a key role in positioning the UK for the next growth cycle.
【小题1】What does the author think of UK universities in terms of commercialization?
| A．They have lost their leading position in many ways. |
| B．They still have a place among the world leaders. |
| C．They do not regard it as their responsibility. |
| D．They fail to change knowledge into money. |
| A．It masks the fatal weaknesses of government policy. |
| B．It indicates their ineffective use of government resources. |
| C．It does not rank UK universities in a scientific way. |
| D．It does not reflect the differences among universities. |
| A．concentration of resources in a limited number of universities |
| B．compulsory cooperation between universities and industries |
| C．government aid to non-research-oriented universities |
| D．fair distribution of funding for universities and research institutions |
| A．Fully use their research to benefit all sectors of society. |
| B．Generously share their facilities with those short of funds. |
| C．Advertise their research to win international recognition. |
| D．Spread their influence among top research institutions. |
They are among the 250, 000 people under the age of 25 who are out of work in the Netherlands, a group that makes up 40 percent of the nation’s unemployed．A storm of anger boils up at the government-sponsored （政府资助的） youth center, even among those who are continuing their studies．
“We study for jobs that don’t exist,” Nicollets Steggerda, 23, said．
After thirty years of prosperity, unemployment among 10 member nations of the European Community has reached as much as 11 percent, affecting a total of 12．3 million people, and the number is climbing．
The bitter disappointment long expressed by British youths is spreading across the Continent．The title of a rock song “No Future” can now be seen written on the brick walls of closed factories in Belgium and France．
One form of protest（抗议） tends to put the responsibility for a country’s economic troubles on the large numbers of “guest workers” from Third World nations, people welcomed in Western Europe in the years of prosperity．
Young Europeans, brought up in an extended period of economic success and general stability, seem to be similar to Americans more than they do their own parents．Material enjoyment has given them a sense of expectation, even the right to a standard of living that they see around them．
“And so we pass the days at the discos, or meet people at the café, and sit and stare,” said Isabella Cault．"There is usually not much conversation．You look for happiness．Sometimes you even find it．”
【小题1】Unemployment in the Netherlands has affected
| A．about 0．6 million people | B．250,000 people |
| C．1ess than half of the population | D．one million people |
| A．what the students learn is more than necessary |
| B．the students cannot get work after graduation |
| C．the students’ aim in study is not clear |
| D．school education is not sufficient |
| A．material enjoyment | B．a sense of expectation |
| C．a job | D．happiness |
| A．British youths have pity on the unemployed on the Continent． |
B．British youths care about unemployment in France and  Belgium． |
| C．British youths show their disappointment over joblessness． |
| D．British youths have confidence to find work on the Continent． |
Surfing the Internet for fun will make you a better employee, according to an Australian study.
The University of Melbourne study shows that people who use the Internet for their own reasons at work are about 9 percent more productive 
than those who do not. Study author Brent Coker said, “Surfing the Internet at times helps increase an employee’s attention.”
“People need to relax for a bit to get back their attention,” Coker said on the university’s websit
e. “Having a short break, such as a quick surfing of the Internet, helps the mind to rest itself, leading to a higher total Internet attention for a day’s work, and as a result, increases productivity(生产效率),”he said.
According to the study of 300 workers, 70 percent of people who use the Internet at work surf the Internet for their own reasons during office hours. Among the most popular surfing activities are searching for information about products, reading online news, playing online games and watching videos. “Firms spend a lot of money on software to block their employees from watching video, using social networking sites or shopping online,” said Coker. “That’s not always a good idea
.”
However, Coker said the study looked at people who surfed the Internet in moderation (适度), or were on the Internet for less than 20 percent of their total time in the office. “Those who spend too much time surfing the Internet will have a lower productivity than those without,” he said.
【小题1】 What does the University of Melbourne study mainly show?
| A．People who surf the Internet are good employees. |
| B．Not everyone surfs the Internet for fun during office hours. |
| C．Surfing the Internet for fun during office hours increases productivity. |
D．The Internet is becoming more and more impo rtant in people’s life. |
| A．the longer a person’s mind rests ,the better attention he will have |
B．surfing the Internet is the best way to increase productivit y |
| C．workers should have a long break during office hours |
| D．Workers should let their minds rest now and then |
| A．Watching videos. | B．Reading online news. |
| C．Reading online novels | D．Playing online games. |
ap4 means “_____”.| A．prevent | B．cycle | C．burst | D．breathe |
| A．Spending too much time surfing the Internet reduces productivity. |
| B．Those who never surf the Internet have the lowest productivity. |
| C．Most people don’t surf the Internet in moderation during office hours. |
| D．People should spend as little time as possible surfing the Internet. |