Zoe Chambers was a successful PR (Public Relations) consultant and life was going well—she had a great job, a beautiful flat and a busy social life in London. Then one evening in June last year, she received a text message telling her she was out of work. The first two weeks were the most difficult to live through." she said. "After everything I'd done for the company, they dismissed me by text! I was so angry and I just didn't feel like looking for another job. I hated everything about the city and my life."

Then, Zoe received an invitation from an old school friend, Kathy, to come and stay. Kathy and her husband, Huw, had just bought a farm in north-west Wales. Zoe jumped at the chance to spend a weekend away from London, and now, ten months later, she is still on the farm.

"The moment I arrived at Kathy's farm, I loved it and I knew I wanted to stay." said Zoe. "Everything about my past life suddenly seemed meaningless."

Zoe has been working on the farm since October of last year and says she has no regrets. "It's a hard life, physically very tiring." she says. "In London 1 was stressed and often mentally exhausted. But this is a good, healthy tiredness. Here, all 1 need to put me in a good mood is a hot bath and one of Kathy's wonderful dinners."

Zoe says she has never felt bored on the farm. Every day brings a new experience. Kathy has been leaching her how to ride a horse and she has learnt to drive a tractor. Since Christmas, she has been helping with the lambing—watching a lamb being born is unbelievable, she says, "It's one of the most moving experiences I've ever had. I could never go back to city life now." （08上海卷）

When working as a PR consultant in London, Zoe thought she lived a______life.

A. satisfying                B. tough                      C. meaningless                    D. boring

The most important reason why Zoe went to visit Kathy's farm is that______.

A. Zoe lost her job as a PR consultant                                                     

B. Kathy persuaded her to do so

C. Zoe got tired of the city life                                                                             D. Zoe loved Wales more than London

How docs Zoe feel about the country life according to the passage?

A. Tiresome and troublesome.                                                                 

B. Romantic and peaceful

C. Mentally exhausting but healthy                                                          

D. Physically tiring but rewarding.

Which of the following is closest to the main idea of the passage?

A. A friend in need is a friend indeed.                                                  

B. Where there is a will, there is a way.

C. A misfortune may turn out a blessing.                                         

 D. Kill two birds with one stone.

Zoe Chambers was a successful PR (Public Relations) consultant and life was going well—she had a great job, a beautiful flat and a busy social life in London. Then one evening in June last year, she received a text message telling her she was out of work. The first two weeks were the most difficult to live through." she said. "After everything I'd done for the company, they dismissed me by text! I was so angry and I just didn't feel like looking for another job. I hated everything about the city and my life."
Then, Zoe received an invitation from an old school friend, Kathy, to come and stay. Kathy and her husband, Huw, had just bought a farm in north-west Wales. Zoe jumped at the chance to spend a weekend away from London, and now, ten months later, she is still on the farm.
"The moment I arrived at Kathy's farm, I loved it and I knew I wanted to stay." said Zoe. "Everything about my past life suddenly seemed meaningless."
Zoe has been working on the farm since October of last year and says she has no regrets. "It's a hard life, physically very tiring." she says. "In London 1 was stressed and often mentally exhausted. But this is a good, healthy tiredness. Here, all 1 need to put me in a good mood is a hot bath and one of Kathy's wonderful dinners."
Zoe says she has never felt bored on the farm. Every day brings a new experience. Kathy has been leaching her how to ride a horse and she has learnt to drive a tractor. Since Christmas, she has been helping with the lambing—watching a lamb being born is unbelievable, she says, "It's one of the most moving experiences I've ever had. I could never go back to city life now." （08上海卷）
【小题1】When working as a PR consultant in London, Zoe thought she lived a______life.

（2011·上海卷）Section A

Directions: For each blank in the following passage there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that fits the context.

       Everyone in business has been told that success is all about attracting and retaining(留住) customers. It sounds simple and achievable. But, ___50__, words of wisdom are soon forgotten. Once companies have attracted customers they often __51___ the second half of the story. In the excitement of beating off the competition, negotiating prices, securing orders, and delivering the product, managers tend to become carried away. They forget what they regard as the boring side of business ---___52___ that the customer remains a customer.

      ___53__ to concentrate on retaining as well as attracting customers costs business huge amounts of money annually. It has been estimated that the average company loses between 10 and 30 per cent of its customers every years. In constantly changing __54___ , this is not surprising. What is surprising is the fact that few companies have any idea how many customers they have lost.

       Only now are organizations beginning to wake up to those lost opportunities and calculate the __55___ implications. Cutting down the number of customers a company loses can make a big ___56___ in its performance. Research in the US found that a five per cent decrease in the number of defecting(流失的) customers led to __57__ increases of between 25 and 85 per cent.

       In the US, Domino’s Pizza estimates that a regular customer is worth more than $5,000 over ten years. A customer who receives a poor quality product or service on their first visit and __58__ never returns, is losing the company thousands of dollars in __59__ profits (more if you consider how many people they are likely to tell about their bad experience).

       The logic behind cultivating customer ___60___ is impossible to deny. “In practice most companies’ marketing effort is focused on getting customers, with little attention paid to __61__ them”, says Adrian Payne of Cornfield University’ School of Management. “Research suggests that there is a close relationship between retaining customers and making profits. __62__ customers tend to buy more, are predictable and usually cost less to service than new customers. Furthermore, they tend to be less price __63__ , and may provide free word-of –mouth advertising. Retaining customers also makes it __64__ for competitors to enter a market or increase their share of a market.

50. A. in particular     B. in reality            C. at least           D. first of all

51. A. emphasize     B. doubt                 C. overlook                D. believe

52. A. denying                    B. ensuring            C. arguing          D. proving

53. A. Moving                  B. Hoping               C. Starting          D. Failing

54. A. markets                 B. tastes                       C. prices             D. expenses

55. A. culture                  B. social                 C. financial                D. economical

56. A. promise                 B. plan                   C. mistake          D. difference

57. A. cost                B. opportunity               C. profit              D. budget

58. A. as a result       B. on the whole         C. in conclusion         D. on the contrary

59. A. huge              B. potential            C. extra              D. reasonable

60. A. beliefs               B. loyalty                       C. habits             D. interest

61. A. altering                 B. understanding   C. keeping          D. attracting

62. A. Assumed        B. Respected                C. Established    D. Unexpected

63. A. agreeable      B. flexible               C. friendly           D. sensitive

64. A. unfair             B. difficult               C. essential            D. convenient