With the theme "Cherishing the earth's resources, transforming the mode of development and living a low-carbon lifestyle," China's Ministry of Land and Resources held a ceremony this Thursday to mark the 41st World Earth Day, aims to generate new ideas of resource-saving, especially among the younger generation. In fact, Chinese young urbanities are turning to the seemingly trendy low-carbon lifestyle.

But for the country as a whole to achieve a low-carbon economy, it could mean ordinary people paying more for electricity, water, gas or simply every purchase. Of necessity, a low-carbon economy would be the basis of China's economic growth, yet it comes with a high price tag. Everybody longs for fresh air, clean water and healthy surroundings. But, who is going to pay for that?

For those who are still working hard for the basic necessities of life, sharing the cost of a greener environment can be taxing. For those who are already victimized by environmental pollution, additional expenditure for saving the environment is hard to bear. Behind all the lofty goals and loaded phrases of climate change negotiations, in everyday terms, the Chinese want to know whether companies will make them pay the cost of saving energy or whether government would come up with new levels.

They have reasons to worry. The recent hike in the charges of utilities, such as natural gas, water and electricity, have led to widespread public grievance(抱怨,牢骚), for the increases were imposed without proper public hearing. Besides the practice of monopoly State-owned enterprises raising prices at will does not seem to bode well for a low-carbon economy.

The government has a responsibility to strengthen regulation of utility charges and make the pricing mechanism more transparent. In the age of the low-carbon economy, the Chinese government needs to strike a new balance between public welfare and business competitiveness.

How far the initiatives toward a low-carbon economy succeed depends on whether they truly benefit ordinary people and is accepted by them. The majority cannot sacrifice their life to build a greener world for the few.

1.The author probably agrees to call on ____________.

A. more and more citizens to devote themselves to the “Low-carbon economy” for the sake of our earth immediately

B. the rich to generally pay for the bill, which aims at saving our planet.

C. our government to take proper measures to make the “Low-carbon economy” benefit more people

D. all the big enterprises to reduce their prices to build a greener world

2.According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT TRUE?

A. Some people can’t afford their everyday expenses, let alone pay for a better environment.

B. Putting forward the “Low-carbon economy” costs much.

C. The balance between public welfare and business competitiveness in China now is not that good for the “Low-carbon economy”.

D. Now that it’s hard for us to make the “Low-carbon economy” into practice, our government should put it to an end.

3.The “Low-carbon economy” __________.

A. is beneficial only to the rich people

B. has led to widespread public grievance

C. can be realized when pigs fly in the sky

D. cannot be called success before it has been fully considered

4.What’s the best title of the passage?

A. China reaches out for younger generation to promote low-carbon lifestyle.

B. Low-carbon economy, acceptable or not?

C. Who will get the most benefit from the Low-carbon economy?

D. Put forward the new policy and save the world.

One hundred and thirteen million Americans have at least one bank-issued credit card. They give their owners automatic credit in stores, restaurants, and hotels, at home, across the country, and even abroad, and they make many banking services available as well. More and more of these credit cards can be read automatically, making it possible to withdraw or deposit money in scattered locations, whether or not the local branch bank is open. For many of us the “cashless society” is not on the horizon---it’s already here.

While computer offer these conveniences to consumers, they have many advantages for sellers too. Electronic cash registers can do much more than simply ring up sales. They can keep a wide range of records, including who sold what, when and to whom. This information allows businessmen to keep track of their list of goods by showing which items are being sold and how far they are moving. Decisions to reorder or return goods to suppliers can then be made. At the same time these computers record which hours are busiest and which employees are the most efficient, allowing personnel and staffing assignments to be made accordingly. And they also identify preferred customer for promotional campaigns. Computers are relied on by manufacturers for similar reasons. Computer analyzed marketing reports can help to decide which products to emphasize now, which to develop for the future and which to drop. Computers keep track of goods in stock, of raw materials on hand, and even of the production process itself.

Numerous other commercial enterprises, from theaters to magazine publishers, from gas and electric utilities to milk processors, bring better and more efficient services to consumers through the use of computers.

49.According to the passage, the credit card enables its owner to     .

A. withdraw as much money from the bank as he wishes

B. obtain more convenient services than other people do

C. enjoy great trust from the storekeeper

D. cash money where he wished to

50. From the last sentence of the first paragraph we learn that     .

A. in the future all the Americans will use credit cads

B. credit cards are mainly used in the United States today

C. nowadays many Americans do not pay in cash

D. it is now more convenient to use credit cards than before

51. The phrase“ring up sales”most probably means     .

A. make an order of goods            B. record sales on a cash register

C. call the sales manager             D. keep track of the goods in stock

BEIJING——China will further open its financial sector in “an active and safe” way, the country’s central bank vowed on Friday.

“China will gradually broaden the chance for the participation of foreign capital in the domestic financial market,” said the People’s Bank of China in a report. “We will strengthen the connections between China’s financial market and international ones by attracting more foreign capital in Renminbi-denominated financial products,” the report said.

Meanwhile, channels will also be expanded to allow Chinese investment in foreign financial markets.

The bank said it would ease restrictions on enterprises and individuals possessing and using foreign currencies and increase the number of qualified foreign institutional investors and the value of their investment quotas(份额). “We will make use of the financial market to achieve balanced international payments,” said the bank.

Last year, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) raised the annual quota for individuals buying foreign currency from US $ 20,000 to US $ 50,000.

“China will work hard for a more efficient and vigorous financial market that can better serve international needs,” the bank said.

The country will adjust its financial market rules so they are accepted around the world, encourage reforms and promote more flexible, diversified ways of trading, according to the bank.

China fully opened its financial market to foreign capital on December 11 last year, ending a five-year transitional (过渡的) period after entering WTO.

1.The passage is    

A. a piece of news    B. an advertisement    C. a poster             D. an explanation

2.China is working hard to    

A. reduce the interest rate of foreign currencies  B. increase the interest rate of foreign currencies

C. bring in more foreign investment by promising to further open its financial sector

D. adjust its financial markets to resist the invasion of foreign investment

3.To further open financial sector, China has taken many measures EXCEPT

A. Giving more chances to the participation of foreign capital

B. Strengthening the connections between China and other countries by the leaders’ paying visits to each other’s countries

C. Broadening the quotas of enterprises and individuals possessing and using foreign currencies

D. Opening its domestic financial market step by step

4.We can draw a conclusion that    

A. China’s financial market will be conquered by foreign one

B. China will create a more active and various way of trading and its market will become stronger

C. China will end the transitional period of opening financial sector in five years

D. China will be blind to the foreign investment

第二节: Bryan、Olga、Scott、Anna 和David正在进行一项“企业家成功秘诀调查”。他们将采访几位企业家。第61-65题是他们拟定的采访话题。阅读下面刊登在Entrepreneur（《企业家》）杂志上6位企业家的成功感言（A.B.C.D.E和F），为每位采访者选定最佳采访对象，并在答题纸上将该选项标号涂黑。选项中有一项是多余选项。

1.Bryan: What comes first, the customer or the profit?

2.Olga: How important is an entrepreneur’s ambition to his/her company’s growth?

3.Scott: How does an entrepreneur make use of his/her advantages?

4.Anna: Why do successful entrepreneurs seem to enjoy their work?

5.David: What attitude should an entrepreneur have toward his/her social responsibilities?

A

Sheri Poe

Ryka Inc.

Since I started this company in my kitchen seven years ago. I always dreamt of what it would be some day. Focusing on that goal helps me get through tough times .To get the kind of success that you want, you need to dream big .That’s the starting point, Every success story begins with big dreams. You need to have big dreams for yourself, like being somebody rich, famous or fulfilled .You need to have a clear goal of what you want to achieve.

Also, I think it’s really important that the people you’re working with are as committed to the same goal as you are, so you can support each other and keep each other energetic.

B

Anita Roddick

The Body Shop Inc.

In America, we have a shop in Harlem where 50 percent of the profits go into the community development, and the other 50 percent go toward the funding of a similar shop elsewhere in the United States. The pride that shop brings to the staff and local people inspired me.

What The Body Shop does successfully is use our facilities in the street and shopping centers to talk about real human issues like AIDS. recycling, human rights, and community service or to encourage people to speak out against anything they consider to be unjust. Knowing our products are symbols of social change is really encouraging.

C

Ben Cohen

Ben &Jerry’s Homemade Inc.

I’m energized by the people I work with. I’m very relationship-driven, which a think is different from most entrepreneurs. I’m inspired by doing things that are not normal and that most people think don’t fit into the business world or don’t make any sense.

In business, you are judged by the company you keep—from your management team, board of directors, and strategic partners. Maybe the lady you met in a trade association meeting can help you secure funding, or the gentleman at a conference can provide you with management advice.

D

Richard Melman

Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises

A. number of years ago, I was interviewed by someone who was writing a book on enterprises. He asked me. ”What’s the opposite of work?” I answered. ”Lazy” He started laughing and said, ” Believe it or not, a lot of entrepreneurs say the same thing.”

The average person thinks the opposite of work is play, but to an entrepreneur, work is play. I think it all adds up to having fun. it’s fun to create; it’s fun to entertain, and it’s fun to make people happy with our service. When it stops being fun. I’ll stop doing it.

E

Frank Toskan

Make-Up Art Cosmetics（M.A.C）

One of the nicest things anyone ever said to me was, “I hate makeup, but I love M.A.C.” That’s what moves me on. Even people who don’t wear makeup can appreciate our company, what it stands for, its values, and the way we do business.

We work from an inverted pyramid, where the customers are always at the top, Our customers inspire me and keep me going. They and our staff, not money, make me enthusiastic. If I had stayed in this business just for the money, I would have closed down years ago.

F

Kenneth Cole

Kenneth Cole Productions Inc.

You can’t be everything to everybody. Each of us has our own strengths and weaknesses. To be effective, you need to identify your strengths and concentrate on them, you’ll become more successful if you are able to channel your efforts to areas that you do best. In business, for example, if you know you are good at marketing, then give, I full play. Seek help or assistance in areas that you may be poor at, such as accounting or bookkeeping. To turn your weakness into strength, consider taking hands-on learning or training.

I once had my Chinese MBA students brainstorming on “two-hour business plans”. I separated them into six groups and gave them an example: a restaurant chain. The more original their idea, the better, I said. Finally, five of the six groups presented plans for restaurant chains. The sixth proposed a catering（饮食）service. Though I admitted the time limit had been difficult, I expressed my disappointment.
My students were middle managers, financial analysts and financiers from state owned enterprises and global companies. They were not without talent or opinions, but they had been shaped by an educational system that rarely stressed or rewarded critical thinking or inventiveness. The scene I just described came in different forms during my two years’ teaching at the school. Papers were often copied from the Web and the Harvard Business Review. Case study debates were written up and just memorized. Students frequently said that copying is a superior business strategy, better than inventing and creating.
In China, every product you can imagine has been made and sold. But so few well developed marketing and management minds have been raised that it will be a long time before most people in the world can name a Chinese brand.
With this problem in mind, partnerships with institutions like Yale and MIT have been established. And then there’s the “thousand talent scheme”: this new government program is intended to improve technological modernization by attracting top foreign trained scientists to the mainland with big money. But there are worries about China’s research environment. It’s hardly known for producing independent thinking and openness, and even big salary offers may not be attractive enough to overcome this.
At last, for China, becoming a major world creator is not just about setting up partnerships with top Western universities. Nor is it about gathering a group of well-educated people and telling them to think creatively. It’s about establishing a rich learning environment for young minds. It’s not that simple.
【小题1】Why does the author feel disappointed at his students?