Communications technologies are far from equal when it comes to conveying the truth.The first study to compare honesty across a range of communication media has found that people are twice as likely to tell lies in phone conversations as they are in emails.The fact that emails are automatically recorded—and can come back to puzzle you---appears to be the key to the finding.
Jeff Hancock of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, asked 30 students to keep a communications diary for a week.In it they noted the number of conversations or email exchanges they had lasting more than 10 minutes, and confessed to how many lies they told.Hancock then worked out the number of lies per conversation for each medium.He found that lies made up 14 per cent of emails, 21 percent of instant messages, 27 per cent of face-to-face interactions and an astonishing 37 percent of phone calls.
His results to be presented at the conference on human-computer interaction in Vienna, Austria, in April, have surprised psychologists.Some expected emailers to be the biggest liars, reasoning that because deception makes people uncomfortable, the indirect contact of emailing would make it easier to lie.Others expected people to lie more in face-to-face exchanges because we are most practiced at that form of communication.
But Hancock says it is also crucial whether a conversation is being recorded and could be reread, and whether it occurs in real time.People appear to be afraid to lie when they know the communication could later be used to hold them to account, he says.This is why fewer lies appear in email than on the phone.
People are also more likely to lie in real time---in an instant message or phone call, say---than if they have time to think of a response, says Hancock.He found many lies are spontaneous(脱口而出) responses to an unexpected demand, such as: “Do you like my dress?”
Hancock hopes his research will help companies work out the best ways for their employees to communicate.For instance, the phone might be the best medium for sales where employees are encouraged to stretch the truth.But, given his result, work assessment where honesty is a priority, might be best done using email.
【小题1】Hancock’s study focuses on _______.

A.the consequences of lying in various communications media
B.the success of communications technologies in conveying ideas
C.people are less likely to lie in instant messages
D.people’s honesty levels across a range of communications media
【小题2】Hancock’s research finding surprised those who believed that _____.
A.people are less likely to lie instant messages
B.people are unlikely to lie in face-to-face interactions
C.people are most likely to lie in email communication
D.people are twice as likely to lie in phone conversations
【小题3】According to the passage, why are people more likely to tell the truth through certain media of communication?
A.They are afraid of leaving behind traces of their lies
B.They believe that honesty is the best policy
C.They tend to be relaxed wh en using those media
D.They are most practised at those forms of communication
【小题4】It can be inferred from the passage that ________.
A.honesty should be encouraged in interpersonal communications
B.suitable media should be chosen for different communication purposes
C.more employers will use emails to communicate with their employees
D.email is now the dominant medium of communication within a company

There is a common belief among parents that schools are no longer interested in spelling. No school I have taught in has ever considered spelling unimportant as a basic skill. There are, however, quite different ideas about how to teach it, or how much priority (优先) it must be given over general language development and writing ability. The problem is, how to en­courage a child to express himself freely in writing without holding him back with spelling.
If spelling becomes the only point of his teacher’s interest, clearly a bright child will be likely to “play safe”. He will write only words within his spelling range (范围). That’s why teachers often encourage the early use of dictionaries and pay attention to content rather than technical ability.
I was once shocked to read on the bottom of a sensitive piece of writing about a personal experience:“This work is terrible! There are far too many spelling mistakes.” It may have been a sharp criticism(批评) of the pupils technical abilities in writing, but it was also a sad thing for the teacher who had omitted (略过) to read the composition, which contained some beautiful expressions of the child’s deep feelings. The teacher was not wrong to draw atten­tion to the mistakes, but if his priority had centered on the child's ideas, an expression of his disappointment with the presentation would have given the pupil more hope to seek improve­ment.
【小题1】The expression “play safe” probably means ____.

A.to write carefullyB.to do as teachers say
C.to use dictionaries frequentlyD.to avoid using words one is not sure of
【小题2】Teachers encourage the use of dictionaries so that____.
A.students will be able to express their ideas more freely
B.teachers will have less trouble in correcting mistakes
C.students will have more trust in writing
D.students will learn to spell words correctly
【小题3】The writer seems to think that the teacher’s judgement on that sensitive piece of writing is____.
A.reasonableB.unfairC.foolishD.careless
【小题4】The major point discussed in the passage is _______.
A.the importance of developing writing skills
B.the importance of spelling
C.the correct way of marking composition
D.the relationship between spelling and the content of a composition

Below is a web page from Google.

Olympic—Modern Olympic Games
The complete results archive of summer and winter Olympic games,with winners lists,statistics,national anthems and flags of all countries since 1896.
www.olympic.it/english/home-16k
Environment
Beijing steel plants to run at the lowest level of cost during 2008 Olympics[2007-03-11]Beijing able to treat 90 pct of waste water [2007-02-05]·Air quality in Beijing has improved over the past six years[2007-02-01]·Green Olympics dream coming true...
en.beijing2008.com/80/67/column211716780.shtml-52k
Beijing announces planned route of Olympic torch relay
Beijing announced the 2008 Olympics Games torch relay route and set off the Olympic Games torch on Thursday. ...Green Olympics is one of the three concepts of the Beijing Games,...
english.china.com/zh-cn/news/sports/11059227/14069663.html-26k
Environmental Symbol of Beijing Olympics—‘Green Olympics’
 
Environmental Symbol of Beijing Olympics—‘Green Olympics’,officially annouced on Saturday,24 September 2005.The symbol,created using a calligraphic art form,is composed of human and tree-like shapes,...
my.opera.com/green_head/blog/show.dml/92155-18k
Green Olympics Forum In Beijing 2004
On behalf of BOCOG,Wang Wei,executive vice president of BOCOG,gave a presentation about Green Olympics,introduced the environment protection work of BMG and BOCOG,and answered several questions such as protection of cultural relics...
en.beijing2008.com/84/91/article211929184.shtml-36k
Olympic Games Quizzes and Olympic Games Trivia
Who was the founder of the Modern Olympics?In which cities were the modern Olympic Games due to be held/scheduled during the ‘war years’,i.e.,1916,1940,and 1944?...In which three years of the Modern Olympic Games were...More questions...
www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/sports/olympic_games.html-12k
OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT
...aimed at young researchers engaged in scholarly research on the Olympic Movement,its history and values,and the impact of the...[Full story]SPORT ACCORD[2005-01-23]...
www.olympic.org/
Ancient Olympic Heritage and Modern Olympic Games in Athens 2004
As put forward in the various official texts,the Olympic symbols of ancient Olympia,the Olympic flame and the Marathon race and bridges between the ancient and the modern Olympic Games,...
www.c2008.org/rendanews/knowledge_detail.asp?id=911-106k
【小题1】When was the environmental symbol of Beijing Olympics made public?
A.On January 23,2005.
B.On September 24,2005.
C.On February 5,2007.
D.On March 11,2007.
【小题2】Which of the following websites is designed for young researchers interested in the Olympics?
A.Environment
B.Green Olympics Forum In Beijing 2004
C.Olympic Games Quizzes and Olympic Games Trivia
D.OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT
【小题3】Which website provides a complete list of the winners in the Olympic Games?
A.Olympic—Modern Olympic Games
B.Green Olympics Forum In Beijing 2004
C.Environmental Symbol of Beijing Olympics—‘Green Olympics’
D.Ancient Olympic Heritage and Modern Olympic Games in Athens 2004
【小题4】What do we learn from the above web page?
A.Beijing has made efforts to improve its air quality.
B.The Olympic torch relay route has not been planned.
C.The Olympic flags will be on display in Athens.
D.A quiz on the Olympics will be held in Beijing.

New friends. Fresh lifestyle. Better career opportunities… Those are attractions of overseas study for young people in China. “Start early, finish strong,” some of them say.
More than 300 universities from 27 countries and regions were represented at last weekend’s international education exposition.

 

 
The US

       The US has always been oft the top destination list for Chinese students, with its high education standards and enough scholarships.
Good news: It's easier to get a US student visa nowadays.Last year, the refusal rate was only 20 to 30 percent, much lower than a few years before, according to US embassy.                                  
Concerns: There're a lot to prepare The TOFEL, GRE… It's longer time to apply to US universities than schools in the UK or Australia.
Useful link: www.Usemhassy.org.cn                 

The UK

 
 


Easier access to visas and international environment are the UK's great attractions for Chinese students.
Good news: There are many new scholarships this year, both from the government and universities, such as the Scotland International Scholarship.
Concerns: Money.Money.Money.It's expensive to study in the UK, with an average cost of 200, 000 to 300, 000 yuan a year.
Useful link; www.educationuk.org.en

 

 
Canada

       Canada's multicultural environment is good for students' studies and careers.
Good news: Students are allowed to take off-campus part-tim'e job's during their studies from last year.It'll help pay living expenses.
Students can get two-year work permits after graduation.
Concerns: Only a limited number of scholarships are available.
They rarely cover the full cost of a study program.
Useful link; www.studycanada.en

 

 
Australia

       Good climate, high quality education and favorable immigration policy—these make Australia one of the most popular choices among Chinese students.
Good news: A new E-visa policy ensures a quick application process (four weeks compared with 12 weeks before).                                
Concerns: Tuition fees have risen in past years.The total cost is about 200, 000 yuan to attend a university located in big cities like sydney or Melbourne.
Useful link; www.students, idp.corn
【小题1】If you want to have more chances of getting scholarship to study in a foreign country, you'd better choose_____.
A.CanadaB.the UKC.the USD.Australia
【小题2】Many young people go to study in the US because _____.
A.it is very difficult for them to get a student visa
B.it is easier for them to pass the TOFEL or GRE
C.they don't spend much time applying to US universities
D.they think they can receive good university education
【小题3】If you want to go on staying in the country after you finish studying there, you will choose ______.
A.Australia or the UKB.Canada or Australia
C.the US or the UKD.Canada or the UK
【小题4】In which of the following countries may money be the most concern while studying abroad?
A.The US &- the UK.B.The UK &- Canada.
C.The UK &- Australia.D.Canada &- the US.
【小题5】The passage is intended to give _____.
A.information for foreign study
B.advice on job seeking
C.suggestions on traveling abroad
D.tips on getting-visas

If you’d like to go sightseeing, the following World Heritage Sites may be your best choices.
Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area
The Jiuzhaigou Valley, which lies in the northern part of Sichuan Province, reaches a height of more than 4,800 meters, with a series of different forest ecosystems(生态系统). There you can enjoy watching excellent waterfalls. Some 140 kinds of birds also live in the valley, as well as a number of endangered plants and animals, including the giant panda. For more information, please visit http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/637.
Khami Ruins National Monument
The city of Khami, which developed after the capital of Great Zimbabwe had been given up in the mid-16th century, is of great archaeological(考古的)interest. The discovery of objects from Europe and China shows that Khami was a major centre for trade over a long period of time. For more information, please visit http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/365.
Henderson Island
Henderson Island, which lies in the eastern South Pacific, is one of the few atolls(环礁)in the world whose ecology(生态)has not been touched by human beings. It is especially famous for the ten plants and four land birds that can only be seen on the island. For more information, please visit http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/487.
The Old City of Jerusalem
As a holy city for three different religions in the Middle East, Jerusalem has always been of great religious importance. It was given a World Heritage Status in 1981 and placed on the “List of World Heritage in Danger” the following year. For more information, please visit http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/148.
【小题1】What can we know about the Jiuzhaigou Valley?

A.It sits at the foot of a 4,800-meter-high mountain.
B.It has different forest ecosystems.
C.Most of China’s endangered plants can be found there.
D.In all about 140 kinds of birds and animals live there.
【小题2】The discovery of some of the objects in Khami shows that the city              .
A.had a very short history
B.was ruined in the mid-16th century
C.was once Great Zimbabwe’s largest city
D.once played a great role as a trade center
【小题3】From the passage we can learn that Henderson Island              .
A.hasn’t been greatly influenced by human activities
B.isn’t suitable for humans to live on
C.has been open to visitors for years
D.is made up of a few large atolls
【小题4】If you are interested in religion, you should visit              .
A.http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/148
B.http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/365
C.http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/487
D.http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/637

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