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Why 2012 was the best year ever
It may not feel like it, but 2012 has been the greatest year in the history of the world. Never has there been less hunger, less disease or more prosperity (繁荣). The West remains in the economic depression, but most developing countries are charging ahead, and people are being lifted out of poverty at the fastest rate ever recorded. The number of deaths caused by war and natural disasters is also mercifully low. We are living in a golden age.
Take global poverty as an example. In 1990, the UN announced Millennium Development Goals, the first of which was to halve the number of people in extreme poverty by 2015. It turned out this year that the target was met in 2008.
The doom-mongers (末世论者) will tell you that we cannot maintain worldwide economic growth without ruining our environment. But while the rich world’s economies grew by 6 per cent over the last seven years, fossil fuel (矿物燃料) consumption in those countries fell by 4 per cent. This remarkable achievement has nothing to do with green taxes or wind-farms. It is down to consumer demand for more efficient cars.
Advances in medicine and technology mean that people across the world are living longer. The average life span in Africa reached 55 this year. Ten years ago, it was 50. The number of people dying from Aids has been in decline for the last eight years. Deaths from malaria have fallen by a fifth in half a decade.
War has historically been human’s biggest killer. But in most of the world today, a generation is growing up that knows little of it. The Peace Research Institute in Oslo says there have been fewer war deaths in the last decade than any time in the last century.
Fifty years ago, the world was breathing a sigh of relief after the Cuban missile crisis. Young couples would discuss whether it was responsible to have children when the future seemed so dark. But now, it’s worth remembering that, in spite of all our problems, the forces of peace, progress and prosperity are prevailing (占优势).
1.What has caused the decrease in the fossil fuel consumption?
A. People have to pay heavier taxes on fossil fuel.
B. There are more and more renewable resources now.
C. There is a sharp decline in the number of cars.
D. People are purchasing more energy-saving cars.
2. Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. People don’t suffer from malaria any more.
B. There were many more war deaths in the last century.
C. The young generation shows little interest in war.
D. The number of Aids-affected people is declining.
3. Which one does NOT help prove that 2012 was the best year ever?
A. Fewer natural disasters occurred. B. Global poverty relieved.
C. Cuban missile crisis ended. D. Technology and medicine advanced.
4. The author tries to inform people that _______.
A. 2012 witnessed more advances in developed countries
B. 2012 brought us less starvation and more prosperity
C. 2012 saw economic growth as well as environmental destruction
D. 2012 provided us with a peaceful world free from conflicts
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No matter what type of business you run, it has to deal with situations in which things go wrong from your customer’s point of view. Complaints can be a great source of information for the organizations. So it’s important to learn to deal with customer complaints efficiently.
Firstly, listen actively to what the customer has to say by keeping comfortable eye contact and giving full attention with no interrupting. You should also show your customer that you do understand him.
Secondly, when receiving a complaint you should apologize for the failure the customer has identified. It’s important for you to know that your apology must appear authentic to the customer, and not an empty exercise. And also you should show the customer you’ve accepted the responsibility and provide him with choices if you have some in hand or otherwise assure the customer you’ll do something about his complaint.
Thirdly, talk with the consumer and discover the best means to resolve his problem. There will be times when, after gathering the facts of a situation, you’ll be unable to resolve the problem immediately. In this case it’s important to let your customer know how long it’ll take to take action on his complaint.
Fourthly, a simple “Thank you” is one way to let the customer know you appreciate the time and effort he has taken to inform you about a problem with your company’s service or product you need to know about.
Lastly, give your customer something that shows your appreciation for him giving the feedback to you. And let him know you’re sorry for the mistake that was made. It isn’t necessary to give something that is costly; but a coupon(赠券) for a free drink or movie is fine.
Your professional and well-organized method of dealing with your customer complaints is one more way that will make you stay ahead of your competitors.
1.What does the passage mainly talk about?
A. Importance of dealing with customer complaints.
B. Effects of customer complaints on business.
C. Tips for handling complaints from customers.
D. Several factors resulting in customer complaints.
2.The author thinks that customer complaints _____________.
A. are easy to deal with B. are really quite annoying
C. can actually be avoided D. are sometimes beneficial
3.The underlined word “authentic” in Paragraph 3 most probably means _______.
A. touching B. believable C. attractive D. clever
4.According to the passage, what is the first thing you should do when facing the customer complaints?
A. Showing sincere attitude.
B. Making an honest apology.
C. Making an absolute promise.
D. Listening to the complaint attentively.
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Scientists have transformed men’s minds into a virtual（虚拟的）woman’s body in an experiment that could throw light upon how humans distinguish themselves form others.
In a study at Barcelona University, men wore a virtual reality headset that allowed them to see and hear the world as a female character. When they looked down, they could even see their new body and clothes.
The “body－swapping” effect was so convincing that the men’s sense of self was transferred into the virtual woman, causing them to react to events in the virtual world they were immersed（沉浸）. “This work opens up another avenue for virtual reality, which is not just to transform your sense of place, but also your sense of self,” said Mel Slater, “If you can temporarily give people the illusion that their bodies are different, then the evidence suggests it also affects their behavior and the way they think. They can have new experiences: a person who is thin can know what it is like to be fat. A man can have an experience of what it’s like to be a woman.”
During the experiment, a “female” approached and hit the face of the character another man was playing. “Their reaction was immediate,” said Slate. “They would take in a quick breath and maybe flinch（退缩）. The more people reported being in the girl’s body, the stronger physical reaction they had.” But in all cases, the feeling was temporary and lasted only as long as the study.
The study shows that our minds have a very fluid picture of our bodies. The research is expected to shed light on the puzzle of how our brain tells the difference between a part of our own body and something else in the wider world. Thus the work might improve the conditions for those who have experienced strokes by placing them in a world that helps them to use their bodies to the full again.
1.How can a man’s mind get into a woman’s body?
A．by distinguishing themselves from women
B．by taking part in an activity actively
C．by wearing a special device（设备）
D．by transforming his sense of place
2.Of the following statements, which we can’t infer from the passage?
A．Men in the experiment can temporarily have the wrong feeling that they are women.
B．When hit, the men in the virtual world will react angrily to it.
C．As soon as the experiment is finished, the men will return to the normal state
D．Probably, this study can be applied to medical fields and benefit humans.
3.What is the author’s intention of writing this passage?
A．to introduce an interesting and advanced study
B．to inform us of the latest development of virtual reality
C．to illustrate the importance of virtual reality
D．to build up our confidence to fight stroke
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The consumer(消费者) plays a very important role in the global efforts to reduce C02 emissions(排放). Households use one third of the final energy and produce around two thirds of city waste in the European Union. Besides，housing, food，and private transport make up almost 80％ of environmental pressures. Therefore there’s no doubt that consumers can make a real difference in fighting climate change．
To direct consumers towards more environmentally-friendly decisions，we need clear and simple instructions to guide consumption behavior. Actually, two thirds of consumers find it hard to figure out which products are better for the environment, for 58% Europeans think that many businesses just pretend to be green so as to charge higher prices. Thus industry should work harder to give consumers more information about the carbon footprint of their product. For example, inform customers of products made from materials that are recycled，renewable, and／or less carbon-intensive.
People prefer high-quality products that will last long and won’t go out of style, though they might sometimes cost more, especially in time of crisis. Firms that make durable（持久耐用的） or recyclable products cause people to behave more responsibly, which may help put an end to our “throw-way” culture．
However, it is not enough to remind people of green products. It’s more important to direct people to follow a practical lifestyle model. Regulations(规则) alone cannot achieve this purpose. We call for good business communities to create a loyal group of “sustainable(可持续的) consumers”.
1.According to the passage, the key to going greener globally is ．
A．to provide enough information about sustainable products
B．to get the government involved in protecting the environment
C．to encourage consumers to make their efforts to live a green way
D．to direct companies to provide environmentally-friendly products
2.The second paragraph tried to tell us that ．
A．people are buying sustainable products to have a lighter carbon footprint
B．most European consumers lack confidence in making responsible choices
C．companies have done enough to allow consumers to make greener choices
D．companies can make more money by making less carbon-intensive products
3.It’s advised that companies had better especially in the time of crisis.
A．throw away old materials
B．reduce the cost of production
C．make more durable products
D．replace their products frequently
4.The last paragraph puts emphasis on ___________.
A．the quality of products.
B．the honesty of companies.
C．the government regulations.
D．the importance of lifestyle.
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Why are people interested in eating raw foods or whole foods? One reason is that eating these types of food reduces the risk of acid accumulation in your body.
Raw and whole foods are usually digested more efficiently than cooked and refined foods. When we cook foods, we destroy the natural enzymes (酶) that are part of the food in its raw form. These enzymes were intended by nature to help us digest the food. When we consume food without these natural enzymes, our bodies either digest the food improperly or allow too many nutrients to be absorbed into the bloodstream. In both instances, the result is obesity. When too many nutrients are absorbed at once, the body grows fat. Improperly digested food moves slowly through the digestive tract, where it becomes increasingly acidic. To protect its vital organs from this acidic waste, the body changes the acid into fat and stores it safely away from the organs.
Processed foods contain chemical elements, which might confuse the appetite mechanism (新陈代谢) that tells us when we’ve had enough to eat; as a result, people often overeat. Processed foods also upset the digestive cycle. The body will either identify these foods as allergens and then store them safely away from the organs as fat, or the remains of undigested food will become acidic and enter the bloodstream as acid waste, which will stick to the blood vessel walls and block the passage of vital oxygen and nutrients heading for the body’s cells. The body’s metabolism becomes inactive, and the result is weight gain and obesity.
The accumulation of acid in the digestive tract makes digestion increasingly inefficient. When that happens, even healthy foods can become acidic and the food allergies will become more common.
To stop this vicious（恶性的）circle in its tracks, people need to consume food and supplements that will neutralize (使…中和) the acid already accumulated in body. Eating the right types of raw and whole foods can help. It’s also important to restore your enzyme balance. You need to identify and avoid the foods that cause acid accumulation and consume the foods that increase enzyme production. If you truly want to change and help your body heal itself, you need to take an active approach.
1.What is the main purpose of this passage?
A. To advocate eating more raw and whole foods.
B. To tell the differences between raw and processed foods.
C. To inform people of the harm of processed foods.
D. To warn people of the problem of obesity.
2.It can be inferred from Para. 2 that __________.
A. it is essential for people to protect their vital organs
B. foods with natural enzymes help people keep fit
C. we’d better be cautious about raw and whole foods
D. giving up cooked and refined foods is a new lifestyle
3. Processed foods are unhealthy because they __________.
A. destroy body’s cells B. are difficult to digest
C. may lead to obesity D. stop body’s metabolism
4.What is likely to be talked about following the last paragraph?
A. Active approaches to avoid acid.
B. Different causes of acid accumulation.
C. Correct ways to cook raw foods.
D. Suitable types of raw and whole foods.
5.What can we learn from the text?
A. Processed foods are good for our appetite mechanism.
B. Eating the right types of raw and whole foods does good to our body.
C. The accumulation of acid in the digestive tract makes digestion more effective.
D. Processed foods also comfort the digestive tract.
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