Being considered a leader in our society is indeed of high praise. Leadership means power, commands respect and, most important, encourages achievement. Unlike vitamin C, leadership skills can't be easily swallowed down. They must be carefully cultivated.

    Different from popular belief, most good leaders are made, not born. They learn their skills in their everyday lives. But which do they develop? How do they (and how can you) get others to follow?

    Always give credit. Many leaders note that the most efficient way to get a good performance from others is to treat them like heroes. Giving public credit to someone who has earned it is the best leadership technique in the world. It is also an act of generosity (慷慨) that's never forgotten.

    Giving credit is more effective than even the most constructive criticism (批评), which often hurts rather than helps.  Kenneth Blanchard, the author of The One-Minute Manager, agrees. "Catch people doing something right!" he says. Then tell everyone about it.

    Take informed risks. "The best leaders know that taking a risk is not a thoughtless exercise," says management adviser Marilyn Machlowitz. "Sky divers don't go up in an airplane without checking the parachutes (降落伞) beforehand."

    Because the idea of risk also carries with it the possibility of failure, many of us usually wait for others to take charge. But if you want to be a leader, you must learn to fail and not die a thousand deaths. Pick yourself up and start all over again.

    Encourage enthusiasm. (热情) "When people understand the importance of work, they lend their mental strengths," says Lee Ducat. But when they get excited about the work, all their energy gets poured into the job. That's a great force ! Is this the best way to create excitement? Be enthusiastic yourself - You will be followed by everyone.

1. The underlined word "cultivated" (Paragraph 1 ) roughly means ______.

   A. encouraged       B. compared            C. examined         D. developed

2. The part Always give credit tells us that a leader should ______.

   A. give helpful criticism                      B. regard others as real heroes

   C. praise people for their good performances      D. praise everyone

3. To be a good leader, you should ______.

   A. not be afraid of any risks

   B. think twice before taking risks

   C. try to avoid any possible failures

   D. know what a thoughtless exercise is

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?

   A. Leadership Is of Skills and Techniques      B. Leadership Is Very Important

   C. Not Many Can Be Leaders                                  D. How to Be a Leader

For the second time in three years, Norway's Robert Sorlie delivered a brave performance to win sled-dog racing's toughest contest—the Iditarod. The 47-year-old firefighter crossed the finish line in Nome, Alaska, at 8:39 a.m. local time Wednesday morning.

"It feels good to be here," he declared, after passing the finish line. "I'm ready for breakfast."

Frosty temperatures, rough land, and exhaustion couldn't break the musher （赶狗拉雪撬的人）, who completed the race in 9 days, 18 hours, 39 minutes, and 31 seconds. Runner-up Ed Iten finished 34 minutes later, and defending champ Mitch Seavey finished third.

Sorlie took his first lead at the 365-mile mark, but fell into second place halfway through the race. With 500 miles to go, he regained the lead for good.

Iditarod officials rewarded Sorlie with a generous prize of $72,066 and a new truck. But even more exciting for the winner was the historic nature of his ride. By winning this year's race, Sorlie joins a best group of mushers, becoming only the sixth person to win the Iditarod more than once.

After winning several major long-distance races in Europe, Sorlie made his Iditarod first appearance in 2002, finishing in ninth place. A year later, he returned to take on the Alaskan wilderness once again, and won.

Iditarod: A Quick History

Since 1973, the world's top competitors have gathered in Alaska to undertake the Iditarod's 1,150-mile trail, which stretches from Anchorage to Nome.

The race commemorates（纪念）a group of courageous mushers and dogs. In 1925, they traveled across part of the Idit trail to deliver serum（血清）to save sick children in Nome.

How many times has Robert Sorlie won the Iditarod?

       A．Once.     B．Twice.     C．Three times.          D．Several times.

How long did it take Ed Iten to finish the race?

       A．9 days, 19 hours, 13 minutes, and 31 seconds.

       B．9 days, 18 hours, 5 minutes, and 31 seconds.

       C．9 days, 18 hours, 39 minutes, and 31 seconds.

       D．9 days, 18 hours, 13 minutes, and 31 seconds.

This win was very important for Sorlie because he could _____.

       A．get the generous prize of $72,066 and a new truck

       B．get a chance to race in Europe

       C．join a best group of mushers

       D．save sick children in Nome

How long has the Iditarod been held?

       A．Only 3 years.   B．Over 100 years.       C．About 80 years.       D．Over 20 years.

Five years ago, David Smith wore an expensive suit to work every day． "I was a clothes addict, "he jokes．" I used to carry a fresh suit to work with me so I could change if my clothes got wrinkled．" Today David wears casual clothes – khaki pants and sports shirt – to the office． He hardly ever wears a necktie． "I'm working harder than ever," David says, "and I need to feel comfortable．"

    More and more companies are allowing their office workers to wear casual clothes to work． In the United States, the change from formal to casual office wear has been gradual． In the early 1990s, many companies allowed their employees to wear casual clothes on Friday, but only on Friday． This became known as "dress-down Friday" or "casual Friday．" "What started out as an extra one-day-a-week benefit for employees has really become an everyday thing．" said business consultant Maisly Jones．

    Why have so many companies started allowing their employees to wear casual clothes? One reason is that it's easier for a company to attract new employees if it has a casual dress code． "A lot of young people don't want to dress up for work," says the owner of a software company, "so it's hard to hire people if you have a conservative dress code．" Another reason is that people seem happier and more productive when they are wearing comfortable clothes． In a study conducted by Levi Strauss and Company, 85 percent of employers said that they believe that casual dress improves employee morale （士气）． Only 4 percent of employers said that casual dress has a negative effect on productivity． Supporters of casual office wear also argue that a casual dress code helps them save money． "Suits are expensive, if you have to wear one every day," one person said． "For the same amount of money, you can buy a lot more casual clothes．"

David Smith refers to himself as having been "a clothes addict," because         ．  

    A． he often wore khaki pants and a sports shirt

    B． he couldn't stand a clean appearance

    C． he wanted his clothes to look neat all the time

    D． he didn't want to spend much money on clothes

David Smith wears casual clothes now, because         ．  

    A． they make him feel at ease when working

    B． he cannot afford to buy expensive clothes

    C． he looks handsome in casual clothes

    D． he no longer works for any company

According to this passage, which of the following statements is FALSE? 

    A． Many employees don't like a conservative dress code．

    B． Comfortable clothes make employees more productive．

    C． A casual clothes code is welcomed by young employees．

    D． All the employers in the U．S． are for casual office wear．

According to this passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?   

    A． Company workers started to dress down about twenty years ago．

    B． Dress-down has become an everyday phenomenon since the early 1990s．

    C． "Dress-down Friday" was first given as a favor from employers．

    D． Many workers want to wear casual clothes to impress people．

In this passage, the following advantages of casual office wear are mentioned except         ．    

    A． saving employees' money B． making employees more attractive

    C． improving employees' motivation D． making employees happier

Ⅲ阅读(共两节，满分40分)

第一节阅读理解(共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分)

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

Learning English is a great challenge, but with a little help from technology it can be as easy as a piece of cake.

As well as the classroom, teachers and textbooks, the Internet, TV and radio programs can play an active role in helping learn English. The Internet is full of rich and up-to-date information. English learners might wish to try http://www.in2english.com.cn.  This website is co-established by the British Council, the BBC World Service and Central Radio and TV University. It provides cultural information about Britain and has an example of the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) that students can use for practice. Different levels of grammar tests can also be found.

Make friends online

Another useful website for middle school students and teachers is. Besides reading 21st Century School Edition online, students are also invited to put their views on different topics up on the website.

Users have the opportunity to make friends with people who share their interests.

In the teaching and learning section, there are reading and vocabulary tips for students.

Compared with the Internet, TV programs have their own advantages: one does not have to sit at a computer and the audio and visual effects can even be relaxing.

One popular English-learning program is called "Modern English". This focuses on oral English in practical situations such as taking photos and shopping.

The short dialogues and useful phrases may help students to express themselves if they go abroad or meet foreigners in China. More than 50 TV stations in about 300 cities have aired the program.

Word to World

If you watch Beijing Television Channel 8, you might see a program titled "Study Abroad". On this show Professor Wang Qiang from New Oriental School hosts "From Word to World".

He selects words with a deep cultural background and teaches useful phrases related to that word. Cartoons are also used to explain how to use the word in daily life. Listening to the radio may not be a new way to learn English but it is easy.

China Radio International airs a program called "Studio Classroom" at 6:30 a.m. every day. This 25-minute program is aimed at middle school students and covers subjects from current news to travel and history, all in simple language.

41. This passage ______.

A. introduces some new websites and TV and radio programs

B. focuses on advantages and disadvantages of different medium forms

C. recommends technological help in learning English

D. aims at advertising various English courses

42. If you want to read an English newspaper and make comments on different topics, you try_____.

A. www.in2english.com.cn.                            B. www.21se.com.cn.

C. Modern English                                         D. Studio Classroom

43. One can practise oral English in everyday situations in _____.

A. Studio Classroom                               B. From Word to World

C. Study Abroad                                     D. Modern English

44. According to the author, one superiority of TV programs over the Internet is that they ____.

A. offer more English learning resources                

B. cost you nothing

C. have better audio and visual effects                 

D. have English courses available whenever you need them

45. The author wants the readers to know that learning English ______.

A. is difficult       

B. is easy                

C. is neither easy nor difficult

D. can be made much easier with a little help of modern technology

第二部分阅读理解（共两节，满分40分）

第一节(共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分)                        

Coca Cola is an American icon – and sometimes seen as a symbol of the country’s economic right. But one of the world’s famous companies will play a different role during the 2008 Olympic Games: promoting Oriental (东方的) culture to the world.

The man who is in charge of the project couldn’t be more suited for the job. The American has lived in the country for about 15 years, speaks fluent Chinese, and considers Beijing his hometown. David Brooks, vice-president and general manager of the Olympics Project Group of Coca Cola China, who has lived in the country for more than a decade, said: "We are working very hard to create a lot of special different kinds of items that are very Oriental in character and have a strong Oriental identity. "There is a lot of curiosity around the world about the country and about Oriental culture. So, we think we also have a role and opportunity to show people so many things."

Coca Cola has launched its logo(标识) with the Beijing Games, featuring kites and lucky clouds, traditional elements in the Oriental culture. Brooks considers it a good start. "We are doing a lot of similar programs, and in the next 570 days or so, as we count down to the Games, you will see more examples with strong Oriental spirit and identity."

He certainly has a sense of history. "The Olympic spirit, which is an ancient spirit from over 2,000 years ago, is alive. It still lives through the Olympic Games in the idea of balancing the body and mind, and doing the best," said Brooks, who has been to three Games. "It's like a big family celebrating together. I think all the members of my team and I feel it is a special honor to be involved in the Games."

1．The underlined word “icon” in the first sentence can be replaced by “       ”.

A．sign  B．image       C．portrait     D．picture

2．What can we know about David Brooks from the passage?

A．He is vice – president and general manager of Coca Cola Corporation.

B．He is living in Beijing with his family.

C．He has mastered at least two languages.

D．He is especially curious about oriental culture.

3．Why will Coca Cola cooperate (合作) with the 2008 Olympic Games?

A．Because it is a good chance to let the world understand Oriental culture.

B．Because there is a lot of curiosity around the world about China and Oriental culture.

C．Because it contains a lot of enormous business opportunities.

D．Because it will promote Oriental culture to the world.