Everyone needs a break, and vacations are not meant for serious study. Instead, they’re a great way to take a break and enjoy a good book. The Spring Festival is coming up so this is the perfect time to discuss some great English language literature to take on a long train journey or while you’re hanging out with the family.

Before getting into the recommendations, we need to determine your English reading comprehension level so you don’t pick a book which is so challenging that it’s stressful or so simple that it’s boring.

If you’re at the beginner level, there are two options: reading a children’s book or reading a book that you’ve read in Chinese translation. This will help you get over any unfamiliar words or phrases, since you’re already familiar with the story. If you’re at the intermediate level, popular books like pop fiction, mysteries and thrillers are good options, as they’ll be guaranteed page turners and that will increase the possibility of your getting all the way through the book. For advanced readers, science fiction, classic works of literature or contemporary prize winners （Booker, Nobel, Pulitzer） are good options.

The most important thing is to pick a book that you’re really interested in. When I pick up a new book in Chinese, the first few chapters are always really hard to get through, as I have to get accustomed to the way the individual author uses the language. But after the first few chapters, things get a lot easier, especially if I get involved in the story. Some of my favorite Chinese-language eye candy are books that are series like Brothers by Yu Hua or The Dancer by Hai Yan. I like them because there’s always a lot of action and story development to keep me involved, which helps me make it through those first few chapters.

Another great way to keep yourself motivated over the holiday is to find a friend who’s interested in reading the same book. You can make goals that you both want to achieve and discuss plot lines or vocabulary issues with each other by SMS or e-mail. I’m currently doing that with my friend Laura. We’ve been doing this since we were classmates in Chinese at college.

Some quick recommendations: Harry Potter, start with the first book and go on from there; the Narnia series; anything by US writer Michael Crichton or British writer Agatha Christie; and if you like horror, US writer Stephen King is always unusual and fun. But really you should just find a topic or author that you’re interested in, and the rest will go from there. Happy reading!

－from 21st Century （January 21, 2009）

While it is impossible to live completely free of stress, it is possible to prevent stress as well as reduce its effect when it can’t be avoided．  【小题1】
●    【小题2】    When you are nervous，angry or upset, try releasing the pressure through exercise or physical activity．Running, walking, playing tennis, and working in your garden are just some of the activities you might try．
●Take care of yourself
   【小题3】   If you easily get angry and can’t sleep well enough, or if you’re not eating properly, it will be more likely that you will fall into stressful situations．If stress repeatedly keeps you from sleeping, you should consult a doctor．
●Make time for yourself
Schedule time for both work and entertainment．Don't forget, play can be just as important to your overall well-being as work．   【小题4】   Go window-shopping or work on a hobby．Allow yourself at least a half hour each day to do something you enjoy．
●   【小题5】   
Stress can result from disorganization and a feeling that “there’s so much to do, and not enough time”．Trying to take care of everything at once can be too much for you and as a result, you may not achieve anything．Instead, make a list of everything you have to do, then do one thing at a time, checking off each task as it is completed．Set out to do the most important task first．

Hoffman, 40, a former senior vice president of a financial company, had what she describes as “one of those extreme jobs.” “I loved working,” she says. But her career path reached a crossroad when her second child was born, and she left her job in February 2007. Hoffman is one of many people who have left the work force to take a break, but she has a position as consultant. she has described this type of career detour（绕路）—— which is more common for women than for men —— as “off-ramping.” Typically it occurs when the balancing act of parenting and work becomes too tough.

A study by the center found that more than 90 percent of women who off-ramp want to on-ramp back into the work force eventually. But making the transition back to work is rarely easy, and it is even harder in this economic climate of layoffs and hiring freezes.

Considering some of the obstacles faced by on-rampers, a three-day program called “Greater Returns: Restarting Your Career” was held at Columbia University. The goal of the three days was to have them walk away with a big shot of confidence.”

According to one school of thought women looking to make a comeback might even have an advantage in the current economy, especially if they are looking for part-time or consultant positions that do not offer benefits. And a majority of on-rampers are women with extensive working experiences that could give them a slight advantage over less-experienced competition.

“You absolutely cannot be defensive about why you off-ramped,” Ms Hoffman says, “defensive” would have put her into a hard situation if the Greater Returns program had not taught her how to describe the years she spent at home. “I now feel confident talking to an employer and saying, ‘Yes, I have been out of the work force, but here is where I can make significant contributions.’”

1. What is the best title for the passage?

A. Off-ramp: it is common

B. Off-ramp: it is easy

C. Off-ramp to on-ramp: it can be a hard journey

D. Off-ramp to on-ramp: it depends on confidence

2. According to the passage, Greater Returns                    .

A. is intended to relieve the pressure of the jobless women

B. has all the jobless women restart their career

C. is to last all the year around for the jobless women

D. will build up the confidence of those in search of jobs

3. The main reason for the women’s off-ramping is that                          .

A. they have to suffer the sexual discrimination

B. they reach a crossroad of career

C. they have to parent their children

D. they have great work pressure

4. Which job is easier to get for a woman off-ramper?

A. Regular workers.             B. Casual workers.       

C. Company managers.           D. Band clerks.

5. From what Ms. Hoffman says in the last paragraph, we can conclude                        .

A. she didn't get advice from the Greater Returns program

B. she was defensive about her off-ramping

C. she didn’t get the job because she lied about her experience

D. she is on-ramp partly due to her straightforward manner

With your workload growing, you may be telling yourself a vacation is one luxury you can’t afford.  1. A vacation allows you the opportunity to recharge your physical and motional batteries, disconnect from everyday concerns, and return to work rested and refreshed. Some facts have proved employees are more productive after a vacation than before one. Here are some tips for you to plan your vacation to make sure that your time away from the office is worry free.

Time is right. A Robert Half survey shows that July and August are the most favorable months for employees to take a break because these months offer ideal beach weather and many businesses slow down during this time.  2. For instance, if a big task is planned for the summer, you may consider postponing your trip until the fall.

Ask others for assistance.  3. Your supervisor can help you determine who is the most qualified for a particular task.

Let your contacts know. Give colleagues and customers you frequently work with a few weeks’ notice before you start off.  4.

Conduct a technical review. Before you leave, make sure there is plenty of room in your e-mail inbox so you don’t exceed (超越) your storage limit while you’re out of the office, which might prevent you from sending messages when you return.  5.

In short, taking vacation is necessary and beneficial for your job. But you must plan your vacation properly in order to work free and worry free on holiday.

A．Ask trusted colleagues to handle your projects while you’re away.

B．A summertime beach vacation includes so much more than what you desire these days.

C．But the truth is that you can’t afford not to take one.

D．This will give them enough time to plan for your absence.

E. Also make sure passwords won’t expire(期满) while you are away.

F. What’s more, find your pet a temporary home when you are on vacation.

G. When planning your vacation, remember to take into account any activity that your department will be focused on during that time.

第二节：下面采访中有5处（第61 – 65题）需要添加信息。请从以下选项中（A, B, C, D, E和F）中选出符合各段意思的选项，并在答题纸上将相应选项的标号涂黑。选项中有一项是多余选项。