Commencement (毕业典礼) is a time for idealism.

But economic reality is cruel everywhere; especially for new graduate. They have been told repeatedly that a college degree is an open sesame(芝麻) to the global economy. But that’s not necessarily so, according to new research by two economists at he Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Frank Levy and Peter Temin.

It is true that people with college degrees make more money than people without degrees. The gap has narrowed somewhat in recent years, which is disturbing. But the earning power of college graduates still far outpaces that of less-educated workers.

The bad news, though, is that a college degree does not ensure a bigger share of the economics pie for many graduates. In recent decades Mr. Levy and Mr. Temin show, only college-educated women have seen their income grow in line with economy wide gains in productivity. The earnings of male college graduates have failed to keep pace with productivity gains.

Instead, a huge share of productivity growth, which expands the nation’s income, is going to Americans on the top of the income scale. In 2005, the latest year with available data, the top of 1 percent of Americans---whose average annual income was $ 1.1 million--- took in 21.8 percent of the nation’s income, their largest share since 1929.

Administration officials, and other politicians and economists, often, believe that income inequality, reflects an education gap. But Mr. Levy and Mr. Temin show that in the case of men, the average bachelor’s degree is not enough to catch the rising tide of the global economy.

They argue that the real reason that inequality is worsening is the lack of strong policies that broadly distribute economic gains. In the past, for example, a more progressive income tax and unions promote equality. Positive measures have been eroding and new ones have not yet emerged, making the income gap even greater.

Mr. Levy and Mr. Temin conclude that only a new government policy can restore general prosperity. That’s a challenge to the nation’s leader and today’s graduates. America needs them to contribute to the development of the nation in global economy.

1.The passage is mainly about that _______.

A．there is a big income gap between female and male college graduates in America.

B．college graduates find it hard to find an ideal job after graduation in America.

C．research shows that American government should take measures to ensure income equality for college graduates

D．college degrees are losing value in America.

2.What is the main idea of paragraph 5?

A．The whole nation has enjoyed a big income growth with the growth of productivity.

B．Much of the total income in America has been gained by a few very rich people.

C．A small part of people in America have income increase.

D．Upper class Americans contribute most to productivity growth.

3.The underlined word “eroding” in paragraph 7 probably means _______.

A．being gradually destroyed by wind or rain

B．gradually reducing power

C．gradually disappearing

D．gradually not suitable

4.We can infer from the passage that _______.

A．female college graduates have higher income than male ones.

B．female college graduates have benefited from some governmental measures to ensure their income growth.

C．income tax can grantee income equality.

D．new measures and policies have been taken to promote income equality.

5.From the passage, some economists believe that the worsening income inequality is caused by ______.

A．lower college degree of college graduates

B．lack of proper governmental policies

C．gender discrimination

D．underdevelopment of economy and productivity.

When you are in another country, it is important to know the language, but it is equally important to know how to communicate nonverbally(非语言地), before saying anything by making gestures. According to a pioneer in nonverbal communication, only 30 to 35 percent of our communication is verbal. When people don't know the language, the most common way to communicate is through gestures. However, many gestures have different meanings, or no meaning at all, in different parts of the world.

In the United States, for example, nodding your head up and down means “yes”. In some parts of Greece and Turkey, however, this motion can mean “no”. In Southeast Asia, nodding your head is a polite way of saying “I've heard you”.

In ancient Rome, when the emperor wanted to spare someone's life, he would put his thumb up. Today in the United States, when someone puts his / her thumb up, it means “Everything is all right”. However, in Sardinia and Greece, the gesture is insulting and should not be used there.

In the United States, raising your clasped hands above your head means “I’m the champion” or “I’m the winner”. It is the sign prizefighters make when they win a fight. When a leading Russian statesman(政治家) made this gesture after a White House meeting, Americans misunderstood and thought he meant he was a winner. In Russia, however, it is a sign of friendship.

In the United States, holding your hand up with the thumb and index finger in a circle and the other three fingers spread out means “Everything is O.K.” and is frequently used by astronauts and politicians. In France and Belgium, it can mean “You’re worth nothing.”

There are other nonverbal signals that people should be aware of when they go to another country, such as the distance to maintain between speakers. Americans usually feel comfortable when speaking with someone if the distance between them is about eighteen inches to arm’s length. Anything closer makes them feel uncomfortable.

When talking to Americans, it is also important to make eye contact. If you look down when talking to an American, he / she may feel that you are embarrassed, afraid, or trying to hide something.

In addition to knowing how to communicate nonverbally in a country, it is important to know what you and he cannot discuss. In the United States, there are certain topics to avoid when you first meet someone, For example, don’t ask people their age, weight, religion, marital status(婚姻状况), how much money they earn, or how much something costs. You can talk about work, the weather, traffic problems, sports, food, news of the day, where one lives, consumer subjects (computers, car repairs, and so forth), and travel or vacation plans.

These few examples illustrate that your actions can speak louder than your words. In a particular cultural contest, what you say and what you don’t say are equally important.

Which of the following is true?

A. People all over the world only communicate verbally.

B. Most of our gestures have no meaning at all.

C. Some people think that 65 to 70 percent of our communication is nonverbal.

D. Gestures are the most common way to common way to communicate.

As we can see from the passage there are ______ kinds of nonverbal communication signals. 

A. four                B. five                  C. six                    D. seven

Please paraphrase the clause“…your actions can speak louder than your words. 

A. Your deeds are better than your words

B. What you do is better than what you say

C. You try to show your best manners

D. you are better understood by your gestures than through your words

The main idea of the passage is that when you are in another country, ______.

A. it is unimportant to know the language

B. it is important to know what you can talk about to a foreigner

C. to know how to communicate nonverbally is as important as to know the language

D. to communicate the rough gestures is more important than to know the language

Never in the history of Sierra Leone’s elections have women so actively engaged in politics or competed for parliamentary seats. In the past, women did the dancing and cooking for elections campaigning. In the May 14th elections, we saw over 168 women candidates competitive for President, Vice President and Parliamentary seats.

One would think that about 60% of these women would have emerged as winners. But it was not so, because of our cultural perception of women. We need to change our culture. Women could be active politicians. The Christians in their own way encouraged women to be preachers(传教士) but the Muslim leaders say women should not head for officiating(主持) prayers.

The same happens in certain parts of the country where women are not part of decision taken in male secret societies. This prevents them from achieving some of their goals. A senior head in one of the ministries told me that she was getting problems with some of her staff members especially the male staff. Most women that come from the Northern part of country experience such problems. Some men are saying that a woman cannot be their leader.

Some women are also prejudiced against their women folks. In the last elections, most woman did not support their colleagues. In some parts of the country, because they are not members of secret societies they were not allowed to contest for chieftaincies (酋长或首领的位置). However, Sierra Leones not withstanding the cultural prejudice against women has witnessed women occupying high public offices. They have been appointed to head certain areas.

Sierra Leone is moving from its past culture. We need a change in our culture. Women all over the world are recognized one way or the other as they are now involved in the use of technology. We now see women as air pilots, and they even attempt to go to travel in space.

In the past, women in Sierra Leone _______.

A.took active part in politics                     B.contested for parliamentary seats

C.danced and cooked for the election campaigning  D.shared the equal rights with men

About 60% of the women engaged in election would have succeeded if .       .

A.there were less prejudice against women          B.less Muslim leaders had objected

C.more women had been engaged in the election     D.more preachers had supported them

The author concludes that the women candidates can’t win the competitive vote because .      

A.women is more suitable for the dancing and cooking job

B.women candidates can’t get the support of their folks

C.women prejudice still exists in today’s society

D.women are not capable enough to be a chieftain

The main idea of the passage is .

A.the prejudice against women in various fields

B.women in Sierra Leone, striving for their political rights

C.women in Sierra Leone, challenge for men’s status

D.women in Sierra Leone, being involved in politics

As the semester(学期) ended, students had a chance to turn the tables on their teachers.

They got to grade me anonymously(匿名地), assessing the ability of my thinking, my organizational skills and the depth of my knowledge. Such evaluations keep me alert to what works and what doesn’t. Students reflect my performance back to me, and I’m glad to learn what they think of my teaching so that I might try to improve.

This system reflects many aspects of my work. There is, of course, nothing wrong with it. But this system assumes that what students need is the same as what they want. Reading my evaluations every semester has taught me otherwise. Actually many students’ expectations for their courses have already changed, reflecting, in part, the business model many universities are following: classes are considered services, and parents are eager to get their money’s worth from their children’s education. Students feel pressure from their parents to get practical use from their courses.

This could make sense for an engineering course, but in my field, creative writing, which rarely trains up excellent 21-year-old writers, it is more difficult to provide the results that the career-minded students desire. Then I tried some teaching techniques to change the criticism of those unhappy students to the opposite and improve my student evaluations. My record would accurately reflect a smart, attentive, encouraging teacher. However, I would admit that they loved me simply because I agreed writing should be easy.

I know other teachers have done the same thing: teach your heart out to the teachable but be sure to please the unteachable; keep your ratings high, like a politician trying to improve his poll(民意调查) results. I believe in the struggle. But I still can’t help wincing(退缩) when I read, “The instructor is mean.” “Marcus is not committed to my work.” “This class sucks.” The business model has taught me that customers are always right. And maybe a few more dissatisfied customers would mean a better learning experience.

1.What can we know from the underlined phrase “turn the tables on their teachers”？

A．Students get a chance to have dinner with their teachers.

B．Students begin to criticize and punish their teachers.

C．Students judge and grade their teachers.

D．Students take action to praise their teachers.

2.Why have the students’ expectations for their courses changed?

A．Because students want to improve other abilities.

B．Because students feel great pressure from universities.

C．Because the business model has changed.

D．Because students have to satisfy their parents.

3.What can we infer from the passage?

A．Parents don’t care about their money spent on their children’s education.

B．The writer adopted some teaching methods so that he improved his student evaluations.

C．Similar to other teachers, the writer struggled to work as politicians.

D．The students intended to punish their teachers by giving comments.

4.What is the author’s attitude towards being graded by his students?

A．Satisfied.          B．Negative.          C．Positive.          D．Scared.

An “apple polisher” is one who gives gifts to win friendship or special treatment. It is not exactly a bribe(贿赂), but is close to it.

All sorts of people are apple polishers, including politicians and people in high offices—just about everybody. Oliver Cromwell, the great English leader, offered many gifts to win the support of George Fox and his party, but failed.

There are other phrases meaning the same thing as “apple-polishing”—“soft-soaping” or “buttering-up”. A gift is just one way to “soft-soap” somebody, or to “butter him up”. Another that is just as effective is flattery, giving someone high praise—telling him how good he looks, or how well he speaks, or how talented and wise he is.

Endless are the ways of flattery. Who does not love to hear it? Only an unusual man can resist the thrill of being told how wonderful he is. In truth, flattery is good medicine for most of us, who get so little of it.

We need it to be more sure of ourselves. It cannot hurt unless we get carried away by it. But if we just lap it up for its food value and nourishment, as a cat laps up milk, then we can still remain true to ourselves.

Sometimes, however, flattery will get you nothing from one who has had too much of it. A good example is the famous 12th century legend of King Canute of Denmark and England. The king got tired of listening to endless sickening flattery of his courtiers(朝臣). They overpraised him to the skies, as a man of limitless might.

He decided to teach them a lesson. He took them to the seashore and sat down. Then he ordered the waves to stop coming in. The tide was too busy to listen to him. The king was satisfied. This might show his followers how weak his power was and how empty their flattery.

1.Which of the following activities has nothing to do with “apple-polishing”?

A．A boy tells his girlfriend how pretty she looks.

B．An employee tells her boss how good he is at management.

C．A knight is said to be of limitless power by his followers.

D．A teacher praises her students for their talent and wisdom.

2.What does the writer want to prove with Cromwell’s example?

A．Everybody can be an apple-polisher.

B．Cromwell was not a good apple-polisher.

C．George Fox and his party were not apple-polishers.

D．There are people who don’t like being apple-polished.

3.Which of the following statements about flattery is true according to the author?

A．Too much flattery can carry us away.

B．Flattery is too empty to do people any good.

C．Flattery can get you nothing but excessive(过度的) pride.

D．Flattery is one of the ways to apple-polish people.

4.Why did King Canute of Denmark and England take his followers to the seashore?

A．Because he was sick of his normal life.

B．Because he disliked being overpraised any more.

C．Because he wanted them to realize how wise he was.

D．Because he wanted them to see how weak he was as a king.

5.Who does the author think that flattery can do good to ?

A．Those who are politicians or in high offices.

B．Those who lack confidence.

C．Those who are really excellent.

D．Those who think highly of themselves.