Sometimes doing something for yourself - even shopping--can give others a lift. That's the case at charity shops and non-profit stores such as Ten Thousand Villages which helps provide skilled workmen with money in developing countries.
Their handicrafts(手工艺品) are sold throughout North America in 180 stores, 95 of them operated by Ten Thousand Villages.
"People come into the store because we have a lot of interesting things, but then they're drawn to us by the mission(慈善的行动) ," says organization spokeswoman Juanita Fox.
"It just feels good to be making a difference when you're buying something."
In the Alexandria, Virginia shop, generals display windows draw you in. They are filled with practical, attractive home furnishings in blue and white, all international in mood.
Once inside though, it's clear that this isn't just another import store. On the wall behind the cash register is the following note:
"Ten Thousand Villagers provides necessary, fair income to Third World people by marketing their handicrafts and telling their stories in North America. Your Buying Makes a Difference. "
The store was opened in 1994 as part of a network of shops across the USA run by the Mennonite Church, which is based in Akron, Pennsylvania.
Currently, 60,000 skilled workmen from 32 countries provide goods to the stores, with all proceeds (收益) re-invested in the organization.
Management of the Alexandria shop is overseen by an all-volunteer board of directors. More than 40 additional volunteers help doing everything from working the register to unpacking stock.
Maria Yannopoulos got involved after visiting a store and getting to know another volunteer. "Since we are non-profit, we are really looking for value because the more we sell, the more jobs we can create. Giving someone job rather than charity helps in so many ways. "

  1. 1.

    The underlined part "give others a lift" in the first paragraph means ______.

    1. A.
      offer other a ride in a car
    2. B.
      take others up and down in another floor
    3. C.
      make others think of plans
    4. D.
      make others more pleased
  2. 2.

    A large number of people visit Ten Thousand Villagers because _______.

    1. A.
      they are fond of traveling around
    2. B.
      they can find something interesting
    3. C.
      they can enjoy the wonderful foods
    4. D.
      they want to learn how to farm in the fields
  3. 3.

    What can we learn from the note mentioned in this passage?

    1. A.
      Goods sold at Ten Thousand Villages are expensive.
    2. B.
      Stories about Ten Thousand Villages are interesting.
    3. C.
      What the purpose of the shop is.
    4. D.
      Goods from the Third World are better than those from the US
  4. 4.

    From the last paragraph we can learn that ________.

    1. A.
      American volunteers like to run shops
    2. B.
      American shops are mostly operated by volunteers
    3. C.
      Volunteers often offer goods to their friends as presents
    4. D.
      Shopping can also be a kind of charity

How many coins nave you got in your pocket right now? Three? Two？ A bent one？
With a phonecard you can make up to 200 calls without any change at all.
（1） What do you do with it?
Go to a telephone box marked（you guessed it）“phonecard”.Put in your card, make your call and when you’ve finished, a screen tells you how much is left on your card.
（2） Now appear in a shop near you.
Near each Cardphone place you’ll find a shop where you can buy one. They’re at bus, train and city tube stations（地铁）.
Many universities, hospitals and clubs. Restaurants and gas stations on the highway and shopping centres. At airports and seaports.
（3） No more broken payphones.
Most broken payphones are like that because they’ve been vandalized（故意破坏）. There are no coins in Cardphone to excite thieves’ interest in it. So you’re not probably to find a vandalized one.
Get a phonecard yourself and try it out ,or get a bigger wallet.

  1. 1.

    The passage is most probably ________ .

    1. A.
      a warning
    2. B.
      a note
    3. C.
      an advertisement（广告）
    4. D.
      an announcement
  2. 2.

    There are three sections（部分） in the passage. Which section do you think is about why phonecards are good?

    1. A.
      Section 1.
    2. B.
      Section 2.
    3. C.
      Section 3.
    4. D.
      None.
  3. 3.

    Choose the right order or the steps under“How do you use a phonecard”.
    a. Put in your phonecard.
    b. Look at the screen to find out how many calls you can still make.
    c. Go to a telephone box marked “Phonecard”.
    d. Make your call.

    1. A.
      a, b, c, d
    2. B.
      c, a, d, b
    3. C.
      a, d, c, b
    4. D.
      c, d, a, b

Her point is that blind luck is very rare. You may have to be lucky to find a good job these days but that does not mean you should sit at home waiting for the opportunity to come to you. If you’re a Chinese, you may already be familiar with the tale of a farmer waiting by a tree stump(树桩) for a rabbit to run out and break its neck.
A book by the UK psychologist Richard Wiseman, called The Luck Factor, argues we can all make ourselves luckier. It’s not about going to a temple to burn some incense(香) hopes that the gods will give you good fortune; it’s practical advice you can follow each day.
Wiseman conducted an experiment as part of his studies. First he divided volunteers into two groups; those who said they were lucky in life and those who said they were not. He gave everyone a newspaper and asked them to look through it to count how many photographs it had inside. On average, the unlucky people took about two minutes to count the photographs while the lucky people took just seconds. Why? On the second page of the newspaper, a command, “Stop counting. There are 43 photographs in this newspaper,” was written in big letters. The unlucky people mostly did not spot the message.
It’s easy to compare this situation to a young person looking for jobs in a local paper. They might search so hard for one type of position that they miss an even better opportunity. People who are “lucky”, in fact, keep an open mind and don’t go through the same routine every day.
I first came to China in 2002 when it was considered a rather strange thing to do. Like many foreigners, my plan was to teach English for one year. Seven years later, and still here, I’ve had many great opportunities such as writing for newspapers and magazines. I did not dream these would have been possible. I’ve also never been sick, had an accident, got into a fight or had problems with the police. Coincidence? After reading about Professor Wiseman’s studies I think not.
As Wiseman advises, I usually trust my own judgment. Your friends and parents may give you advice based on rational thinking, but it’s important to consider how you feel about each choice you make. Your feeling acts as a warning for a potential problem.
Finally, try to turn bad luck into good. Even if you do fall down and break a leg, the time spent at home can be used wisely to study English.

  1. 1.

    Which of the following proverbs most agrees with the writer’s point?

    1. A.
      Make the best of a bad job.
    2. B.
      Rome was not built in a day.
    3. C.
      All is not gold that glitters.
    4. D.
      A good heart conquers ill fortune.
  2. 2.

    What do you know about Oprah Winfrey?

    1. A.
      She became famous through her family background.
    2. B.
      She is a British talk show host.
    3. C.
      She became successful by her own effort.
    4. D.
      She was very lucky and seldom suffered setbacks in her life.
  3. 3.

    The writer quoted the Chinese tale of a farmer in order to show __________.

    1. A.
      man can conquer nature
    2. B.
      luck is in your own hand
    3. C.
      bad luck can turn into good
    4. D.
      you should not sit at home waiting for the opportunity to come to you

Before the widespread use of computers, managers could not make full use of large amounts of valuable information about a company’s activities. The information either reached managers too late or was too expensive to be used. Today, managers are facing a wide range of data processing and information instruments. In place of a few financial controls, managers can draw on computer-based information systems to control activities in every area of their company. On any kinds at performance measures, the information provided by these systems helps managers compare standards with actual results, find out problems, and take corrective action before it is too late to make changes.
The introduction of computerized information systems has sharply changed management control in many companies. Even a neighborhood shopkeeper may now use computers to control sales and other activities. In large companies, electronic data processing systems monitor entire projects and sets of operations.
Now, there are about 24 million microcomputers in use in the United States, one for every 10 citizens. It is estimated that by 1996, 61 percent of American managers will be using some sort of electronic workstation. In order for managers to be sure that the computer-based information they are receiving is accurate, they need to understand how computers work. However, in most cases they do not need to learn how to program computers. Rather, managers should understand how computerized information systems work; how they are developed; their limitations and costs; and the manner in which information system may be used. Such an understanding is not difficult to achieve.
One research found that business firms were more successful in teaching basic information about computers to business graduates than they were in teaching business subjects to computer science graduates.

  1. 1.

    In the second paragraph the author mentions a neighborhood shopkeeper to show that _____.

    1. A.
      few people could afford a computer
    2. B.
      computer is now becoming more and more widely used in business
    3. C.
      only shopkeepers are wealthy enough to buy computers
    4. D.
      computer is far more intelligent than man as far as business is concerned
  2. 2.

    From the third paragraph we learn that ________.

    1. A.
      it is essential that managers know how to program computers
    2. B.
      managers may sometimes receive inaccurate information from computers
    3. C.
      in most companies, an employee has to share a computer with at least 9 other employees
    4. D.
      computerized information system is perfect in every way
  3. 3.

    All of the following statements are true EXCEPT that _________.

    1. A.
      computer science graduates are quick to learn business subjects because of their professional knowledge about computers
    2. B.
      with the help of computers, company mangers are now more informed of what’s going on in their companies
    3. C.
      computer is a great help for business management
    4. D.
      computerized information enables managers to take timely measures to prevent possible mistakes
  4. 4.

    According to the passage, which of the following statements is right?

    1. A.
      It’s a difficult task for the managers to deal with a wide range of computer-based information daily.
    2. B.
      The introduction of computerized information system is a revolution in management
    3. C.
      In order to perform good management, managers need to have much knowledge about computer.
    4. D.
      A good knowledge of computer leads managers to success
  5. 5.

    What is the passage mainly about?

    1. A.
      How to teach information about computers to business graduates.
    2. B.
      Computer’s growing popularity nationwide.
    3. C.
      Application of computer in business management.
    4. D.
      Computer training program for mangers.

The word’s largest aircraft made its public debut last week at Europe’s biggest factory, a purpose built assembly line in Toulouse, souther, n France.The Airbus A380 will have 50 per cent more floor space than American rival Boeing’s 747 Jumbo, with room for duty-free shops, restaurants and even a sauna.This new arrival is expected to change the face of air travel.
The A380 will enter service in early 2006 with Singapore Airlines.
Airbus claims the A380 will burn less fuel, make less noise, create less pollution and cost 17 per cent less per seat than the 747.It will also reduce traffic problems in the skies.
The aircraft, which cost between ￡140 million(US$250m) and ￡157 million (US$280m) each compared with ￡84 million (US$150m) for Boeing’s new Dreamliner jet, is being built at 16 factories in Germany, France, Spain and the UK.
But activists have warned of more noise and pollution from the Superjumbo, while Boeing believes huge aircraft will not be in great demand over the next decade.
As a result, it is putting faith in the much smaller 7E7 Dreamliner.But Airbus is pinning its hopes on the “big is beautiful” theory, gambling on size being the key factor in the US-European battle for the skies.
Airbus said it was in talks with half a dozen global airlines about buying the A380. China Eastern Airlines, already an Airbus customer, is said to be targeted, while executives made it plain that they wanted to fight for the Japanese market, which had traditionally been controlled by Boeing.
Over the next 20 years, Airbus hopes to sell 750 of the new planes into a market worth ￡185billion (US$330bn).The company already has129 firm orders for the A380, with 52 options.

  1. 1.

    According to Airbus, which of the following is not the advantage of A380 compared to Boeing 747?

    1. A.
      Making less noise, causing less traffic problems
    2. B.
      Using less fuel, costing less money
    3. C.
      Creating less pollution, having less weight
    4. D.
      Having more floor space, creating less pollution
  2. 2.

    From the passage, we can infer that _________

    1. A.
      Airbus is not aiming at the Japanese market.
    2. B.
      Boeing is not a rival of Airbus.
    3. C.
      A380 hasn’t been used yet.
    4. D.
      Boeing is better than Airbus.
  3. 3.

    In the Airbus A380, passengers cannot find ___________.

    1. A.
      duty-free shops
    2. B.
      restaurants
    3. C.
      banks
    4. D.
      a sauna
  4. 4.

    According to the news, the prospect of A380 may be ___________.

    1. A.
      not so good
    2. B.
      cheerful
    3. C.
      undesirable
    4. D.
      gloomy

Women turn to online shopping
Women have jumped ahead of men for the first time in using the Internet to do their holiday shopping, according to a study published last week in the US.
For years men have been more likely to shop on the Internet than women, but during the 2004 holiday season, 58 percent of those making online purchases were women.
“It shows how mainstream the Internet is becoming,” said Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Internet and American Life Project group, which carried out the study.
Rainie said it was only a matter of time before women shoppers caught up with men. This is because women traditionally make decisions about spending.
Users were more likely to shop online to save time. Internet users between the ages 18 and 29 were responsible for some of the most dramatic increase in the online gift-buying population this time around.
However, three- quarters of the US Internet users did not buy holiday gifts online in 2004. They worried about credit card security, or just compared online prices with off-line prices, then dashed off to the shops to get the best deals.
“ But even if shoppers don’t buy online , websites are becoming promotion tools for stores,” said Dan Hess, vice president of ComScore Networks Inc. Hess said that actually most stores’ websites can make customers fully believe the security of their credit card numbers. And most are able to ensure that gifts arrive on time.
“ It’s all about making the shopping experience more efficient, more reliable and more comfortable.” Hess said.

  1. 1.

    Which of the following statements is true?

    1. A.
      There were fewer women online shoppers than men in 2004
    2. B.
      Most of the Internet users between the ages of 18 and 29 are women.
    3. C.
      People in the US were more likely to buy gifts online.
    4. D.
      More women shopped online than men in 2004
  2. 2.

    From the passage we can infer that______.

    1. A.
      Men usually decide how to spend money in the family
    2. B.
      Women usually decide what to buy in the family
    3. C.
      The Internet is used in all the shops
    4. D.
      More and more shops will sell their goods online
  3. 3.

    According to Dan Hess, shopping online_______.

    1. A.
      is unsafe
    2. B.
      is convenient
    3. C.
      is a waste of money
    4. D.
      is cheaper
  4. 4.

    What can we know from the passage?

    1. A.
      American people only gift in holidays
    2. B.
      Shopping online is fun for women.
    3. C.
      Shopping off-line provides better service.
    4. D.
      Young people like to do gift-shopping online.

Paul, the oracle octopus (神算章鱼), was given a replica (复制品) of the World Cup as a reward for his perfect eight-for-eight record in predicting the results of matches.
The two-year-old octopus with possible supernatural powers turned into a worldwide celebrity for accurately predicting the German team’s five World Cup wins as well as their two defeats. Paul also tipped Spain to beat Netherlands in the final.
“We have had a lot of offers for Paul but he will definitely be staying with us and returning to his usual job-making children smile,” Sea Life spokeswoman Tanja Munzig in Oberhausen said after presenting Pual with the World Cup replica.
There’s no rational(合理的)reasons why Paul always got it right. Bettors around the world made small fortunes based on Paul’s guess, said Graham Sharpe, media relations director at William Hill in London. “I’ve seen a lot of things in my lifetime but this is the first time I’ve ever seen people making their picks based on what an octopus tells them. We had people coming in saying they didn’t know how to place a bet but heard about this German octopus and wanted to bet with him. It’s funny. But he kept getting it right.” said Sharpe.
Sharpe said that anyone who had placed a 10-pound accumulator bet(累计下注)on Paul’s prediction from the start of the World Cup would have won 3,000 pounds($4,500)by the end of the tournament.
Paul’s home at Sea Life aquarium(水族馆)in Oberhausen has been crowded with visitors and media from across Europe. Many networks broadcast his predicting live. Many networks broadcast his picks live. Hundreds were on hand to watch the World Cup replica lowered into his tank on Monday, 12 July, 2010.

  1. 1.

    Paul was rewarded a replica of the Word Cup because he          .

    1. A.
      will celebrate his birthday soon
    2. B.
      predicted the results of matches accurately
    3. C.
      helped beat Netherlands in the final
    4. D.
      helped many fans earn much money
  2. 2.

    If a fan had placed a 200-pound accumulator bet on Paul’s prediction, he would have won
              during the tournament.

    1. A.
      $30,000
    2. B.
      $45,000
    3. C.
      $60,000
    4. D.
      $90,000
  3. 3.

    The underlined word “tipped” in the 2nd paragraph probably means          .

    1. A.
      ordered
    2. B.
      announced
    3. C.
      predicted
    4. D.
      helped
  4. 4.

    From what Sharpe said we can learn that          .

    1. A.
      it’s amazing for Paul to make more exact prediction than people
    2. B.
      octopus like Paul may all have the ability to predict exactly
    3. C.
      it’s common for people to believe in sea life for prediction
    4. D.
      we’d better not bet with animals when we have trouble making our picks
  5. 5.

    We can learn from this passage that          .

    1. A.
      Paul used to be children’s favorite sea life
    2. B.
      it’s useless to bet with the oracle octopus
    3. C.
      Paul was born with the ability to predict World Cup results
    4. D.
      Germany will never be beaten if Paul stays with them

Toyota Motor Corp, Japan’s biggest carmaker, said on Friday it will recall 1,489 Lexus sedans (高级轿车) sold in China. "It will take us some time to ship the fuel tanks and vent pipes to China to change those in these Lexus sedans for customers free of charge, if problems are found," said Yang Hongjian, a spokes- woman of Toyota’s China representative office.
The expected recall will affect Lexus LS430 sedans made in Japan from July 29, 2003 to January 14, 2004, the repre­sentative office said in a statement. Toyota has not received complaints from Chinese customers, according to the state­ment. The move will be part of Toyota’s global recall of 18,200 Lexus LS430s. It will be the third car recall in China in two weeks. Although automobile recall is a common prac­tice in developed markets, it remains new to Chinese customers. The Chinese government published long-awaited automo­bile recall rules on March 15, which will be officially carried out at the beginning of October.
China’s auto market is forecast to reach 10 million units by 2010. Automakers, especially Chinese producers, will face greater pressure from automobile recalls, which could be very costly sometimes, and should be in full preparations, accord­ing to the expert. The Japanese carmaker sold 1, 549 Lexus vehicles on the Chinese mainland during the first five months of this year, according to Yang. Lexus sales on the mainland reached 4,000 units last year, up from 1,600 units in 2002. (China Daily July 3, 2004)

  1. 1.

    What can we learn from the text?

    1. A.
      Chinese customers are not satisfied with Toyota Lexus LS430 sedans.
    2. B.
      Chinese car market has seen car recalls three times so far.
    3. C.
      Toyota will have a worldwide recall of Lexus LS430 sedans.
    4. D.
      Toyota Motor start to recall Lexus Sedans due to the problems with fuel tanks.
  2. 2.

    The carmakers were unwilling to recall their cars in the past mainly because ______.

    1. A.
      they were not fully prepared
    2. B.
      they couldn’t afford the cost for their car recalls
    3. C.
      their products could not meet the required standard
    4. D.
      there were no related rules and little pressure
  3. 3.

    It is implied in the passage that ______.

    1. A.
      sales of homemade automobiles will grow even faster
    2. B.
      automobile recalls will take place in China more fre­quently
    3. C.
      China’s car market is forecast to be the biggest by 2010 in the world
    4. D.
      Toyota is likely to sell the most Lexus Sedans in China in the future
  4. 4.

    Which of the following is the best tide of this passage?

    1. A.
      Toyota to Recall Its Lexus Sedans Sold in China
    2. B.
      China Prepares to Recall Cars
    3. C.
      The Problems in China’s Car Market
    4. D.
      Costly Japanese Car Recalls

Who are these people rushing by you in the street? More than 215 million people now call America “home”, but most of them can trace their families back to other parts of the world. If you look at the names on shop windows, you will see that Americans come from many different lands. The idea that these people, who once were strangers to the United States, have lost the customs and cultures of their original countries and have become “American” is really not true. In fact, what exists in America is more often a kind of “side-by-side” living in which groups of people from other countries often have kept many of their customs and habits. They join the general American society only in certain areas of their lives—such as in schools, business, and sports—but they keep many of their own native customs and manners socially and at home. This living “side-by-side” has both advantages and disadvantages. Sometimes it may cause disagreements to develop between groups whose ways of life are very different from one another. however, there are also great advantages that come from the variety of cultures brought by settlers from other lands. There is great freedom of choice among ideas and dress, food, and social customs in America. Everyone can find some part of his or her familiar world in the United States, in churches, music, food, national groups, or newspapers.

  1. 1.

    More than 215 million people call America “home” because_______.

    1. A.
      they have their houses there
    2. B.
      they settle there now
    3. C.
      they want to make their home there
    4. D.
      they like that land very much
  2. 2.

    “Side-by-side” living style means _______.

    1. A.
      to make friends with native people
    2. B.
      to keep their own customs while sharing American ones in certain areas
    3. C.
      the groups of people who live nearby
    4. D.
      that they get closer to American society
  3. 3.

    according to the passage, people in the USA ________.

    1. A.
      share American customs and culture
    2. B.
      live in a kind of “side-by-side” society
    3. C.
      keep their own customs and habits firmly
    4. D.
      make no choice to accept American customs
  4. 4.

    Which of the following statements is true?

    1. A.
      They always stick to their own customs and habits.
    2. B.
      “Side-by-side” living style is not suitable.
    3. C.
      They face the society they are not familiar with.
    4. D.
      The advantages coming from the variety of cultures make life in America colorful.
  5. 5.

    Which is the best title for this passage?

    1. A.
      Advantages and Disadvantages.
    2. B.
      Different Customs and Habits.
    3. C.
      Home for the People.
    4. D.
      “Side-by-side” Living Style in America.

What does it mean to say that we live in a world of persuasion? It means that we live among competing interests. Your roommate’s need to study for an exam may take priority（优先）over pizza. Your instructor may have good reasons not to change your grade. And the object of your romantic interest may have other choices.
　　In such a world, persuasion is the art of getting others to give fair and favorable consideration to our point of view. When we persuade, we want to influence how others believe and behave. We may not always prevail— other points of view may be more persuasive, depending on the listener, the situation, and the merits of the case. But when we practice the art of persuasion, we try to ensure that our position receives the attention it deserves.
　　Some people, however, object to the very idea of persuasion. They may regard it as an unwelcome interruption into their lives. Just the opposite, we believe that persuasion is unavoidable — to live is to persuade. Persuasion may be ethical（合乎道义的）or unethical, selfless or selfish, inspiring or degrading. Persuaders may enlighten our minds or catch our vulnerability(弱点). Ethical persuasion, however, calls on sound reasoning and is sensitive to the feelings and needs of listeners. Such persuasion can help us apply the wisdom of the past to the decisions we now must make. Therefore, the most basic part of education is learning to resist the one kind of persuasion and to encourage and practice the other.
　　Beyond its personal importance to us, persuasion is necessary to society. The right to persuade and be persuaded is the bedrock of the American political system, guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution（美国宪法）

  1. 1.

    According to the passage, persuasion means ________

    1. A.
      changing others’ point of view
    2. B.
      exercising power over other people
    3. C.
      getting other people to consider your point of view
    4. D.
      getting people to agree with you and do what you want
  2. 2.

    The underlined word in the second paragraph “prevail” means“________”

    1. A.
      win
    2. B.
      fail
    3. C.
      speak
    4. D.
      listen
  3. 3.

    The passage states that some people object to persuasion because they think it is ________

    1. A.
      a danger to society
    2. B.
      difficult to do well
    3. C.
      unwelcome behavior
    4. D.
      never successful
  4. 4.

    The passage mainly discusses ________

    1. A.
      people’s different opinions towards persuasion
    2. B.
      the reasons why people persuade
    3. C.
      that persuasion is both good and bad
    4. D.
      that persuasion is important and it is all around us
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