My first impression of Miss Vicki was a highly authoritative(权威的) person towering over me. She spoke in a loud voice and the earth shook whenever she marched. That was in the first year of high school. She was a knowledgeable literature teacher then. However, during my first year in school, she struck terror into my heart. And everyone else’s of course. Just the mention of her name made the most annoying classes silent.

However, the two years of junior high passed by rather quickly. Soon I went to senior high class. I had worked hard and got the subject combination that I wished for. Together with a group of old friends, I soon settled down in class comfortably.

To everyone’s surprise, she was fortunate enough to be my teacher that year. I was shocked when I heard the news. This time round, however, I decided not to hide in terror whenever she was near. I decided to face the fact. Instead of trying too hard to lick her boots , I tried my best to be my natural myself in front of her.

Still, I could not shake off the ice-cold impression that she put in my heart. True, her jokes sometimes sent me into fits of laughter, yet at other times these jokes simply fell flat the moment she told them . My lovely class, however, was always ready to laugh at the right time of her amusing stories. After all, we would not want to run the risk of making her angry.

Unluckily, life was not to remain boring. One day we received news that Miss Vicki was to leave Singapore for the Philippines where she would take part in a voluntary teaching program for the poor. We did not know what to say actually. All of us cried at the airport.

1. During the first year in school, the author thought Miss Vicki was __________.

A. proud but patient

B. beautiful but strict

C. scholarly but serious

D. humorous but single-minded

2. What does the underlined phrase “lick her boots” in paragraph 3 mean?

A. Win her favor B. Upset her

C. Shock her D. Follow her closely

3.What can we learn from paragraph 4?

A. Miss Vicki was a good joke teller.

B. Miss Vicki’s jokes were always boring.

C. Students liked Miss Vicki’s class very much.

D. Students pretended to laugh to please Vicki.

4.What can we infer about Miss Vicki from the last paragraph?

A. She was dismissed from the school.

B. She was not accepted by the students.

C. She was unwilling to leave her students.

D. She had a strong sense of social responsibility.

If a business wants to sell its products internationally, it had better do some market research first. This is a lesson that some large American corporations have learned the hard way.

What’s in the name?

Sometimes the problem is the name. When General Motors introduced its Chevy Nova into Latin America, it overlooked the fact that Nova in Spanish means “It doesn’t go”. Sure enough , the Chevy Nova never went anywhere in Latin America.

Translation problems

Sometimes it is the slogan that doesn’t work. No company knows this better than Pepsi-Cola, with its “Come alive with Pepsi!” campaign. The campaign was so successful in the United States , Pepsi translated its slogan literally for its international campaign. As it turned out , the translations weren’t quite right. Pepsi was begging Germans to “Come out of the grave(坟墓)” and telling the Chinese that “Pepsi brings your ancestors(老祖宗) back from the grave.”

A picture’s worth a thousand words

Other times, the problem involves packaging. A picture of a smiling baby has helped sell countless jars of Gerber baby food. When Gerber started selling baby food in Africa, they used the same packaging as in the US, with the smiling baby on the label. Later they learned that in African countries , the picture on the jar shows what the jar has in it, for many people there can’t read.

Twist of fate

Even the culture and religious factors and pure coincidence can be involved . Thorn McAn shoes have a Thorn McAn “signature” inside. To people in Bangladesh, which is a Muslim country , this signature looked like Arabic script for the word Allah. In that country , feet are considered unclean, and Muslims felt the company was offending God’s name by having people walk on it.

1.From the text we learned that _________.

A. Chevy Nova was brought in Latin America

B. General Motors did the best market research of all companies

C. Pepsi still sold well in China owing to the translation problems

D. the “Come alive with Pepsi” campaign worked well in the US

2.What was “Gerber’s problem”?

A. A translation problem

B. Cultural factor

C. Religious factor

D. The picture on the jar

3.For what reason were Thorn McAn shoes turned down in Bangladesh?

A. They are not designed attractively

B. Their advertisements are not persuasive

C. A signature looking like the word Allah was in the shoes

D. Problem for Thorn McAn was the company’s name

4.What does the text mainly tell us?

A. Lessons from some large corporations.

B. How to make use of advertisements

C. The importance of market research

D. The importance of packaging

Wanted,Someone for a Kiss

We’re looking for producers to join us on the sound of London Kiss 100 FM. You’ll work on the station’s music programs. Music production experience in radio is necessary, along with rich knowledge of modern dance music. Please apply in writing to Producer Vacancies, Kiss 100.

Father Christmas

We’re looking for a very special person, preferably over 40, to fill our Father Christmas suit.

Working days: Every Saturday from November 24 to December 15 and every day from December 17 to December 24 except Sundays, 10:30 -16:00.

Excellent pay.

Please contact the Enterprise Shopping Centre, Station Parade, Eastbourne.

Accountants Assistant

When you join the team in our Revenue Administration Unit, you will be providing assistance within all parts of the Revenue Division, dealing with post and other general duties. If you are educated to GCSE grade C level we would like to talk to you. This position is equally suitable for a school leaver or for somebody who has office experience.

Wealden District Council

Software Trainer

If you are aged 24-45 and have experience in teaching and training, you could be the person we are looking for. You should be good at the computer and have some experience in program writing. You will be allowed to make your own decisions, and to design courses as well as present them.Pay upwards of £15,000 for the right person. Please apply by sending your CV (简历)to Mrs. R. Oglivie, Palmlace Limited.

1.Who should you get in touch with if you hope to work in a radio station?

A. Producer Vacancies, Kiss 100.

B. Mrs. Oglivie, Palmlace Limited.

C. The Enterprise Shopping Centre.

D. Wealden District Council.

2.We learn from the ads that the Enterprise Shopping Centre needs a person who__________.

A. is aged between 24 and 40

B. may do some training work

C. should deal with general duties

D. can work for about a month

3.Which position is open to recent school graduates?

A. Producer, London Kiss. B. Father Christmas.

C. Accountants Assistant. D. Software Trainer.

4.What kind of person would probably apply to Palmlace Limited?

A. One with GCSE grade C level.

B. One with some office experience.

C. One having good computer knowledge.

D. One trained in producing music programmes.

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