C is for the conscientious(勤勤恳恳的)way you do your job．
You may be all these things at the office, and more．But when it comes to getting ahead, experts say, the ABCs of business should include a P, for politics, as in office politics．
Dale Carnegie suggested as much more than 50 years ago：Hard work alone doesn’t ensure career advancement．You have to be able to sell yourself and your ideas, both publicly and behind the scenes．Yet, despite the obvious rewards of engaging in office politics－a better job, a raise, praise－many people are still unable or unwilling－to “play the game”．
“People assume that office politics involves some manipulative(工于心计的)behavior,” says Deborah Comer, an assistant professor of management at Hofstra University．“But politics derives from the word ‘polite’．It can mean lobbying(游说)and forming associations．It can mean being kind and helpful, or even trying, to please your superior, and then expecting something in return．”
In fact, today, experts define office politics as proper behaviors used to pursue one’s own self-interest in the workplace．In many cases, this involves some forms of socializing within the office environment－not just in large companies, but in small workplaces as well．
“The first thing people are usually judged on is their ability to perform well on a consistent basis,” says Neil P．Lewis, a management psychologist．“But if two or three candidates are up for a promotion, each of whom has reasonably similar ability, a manager is going to promote the person he or she likes best．It’ s simple human nature．”
Yet, psychologists say, many employees and employers have trouble with the concept of politics in the office．Some people, they say, have an idealistic vision of work and what it takes to succeed．Still others associate politics with flattery, fearful that, if they speak up for themselves, they may appear to be flattering their boss for favors．
Experts suggest altering this negative picture by recognizing the need for some self-promotion．
(1)
“Office politics”(Line 2,Para．4)is used in the passage to refer to ________．
[ ]
A．
the political views and beliefs of office workers
B．
the interpersonal relationships within a company
C．
the various qualities required for a successful career
D．
the code of behavior for company staff
(2)
To get promoted, one must not only be competent but ________．
[ ]
A．
avoid being too outstanding
B．
get along well with his colleagues
C．
honest and loyal to his company
D．
give his boss a good impression
(3)
The author considers office politics to be ________．
[ ]
A．
unwelcome at the workplace
B．
bad for interpersonal relationships
C．
an important factor for personal advancement
D．
indispensable to the development of company culture
(4)
It is the author’ s view that ________．
[ ]
A．
self-promotion does not necessarily mean flattery
B．
hard work contributes very little to one’ s promotion
C．
many employees fail to recognize the need of flattery
Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel．Green said,“Clearly I am the most important．I am the sign of life and hope．I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves．Without me, all animals would 1 ．”
Blue interrupted,“You only think about the 2 , but consider the sky and the sea． 3 the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea．Without my peace, you would all be 4 ．”
Yellow chuckled(笑道),“You are all so serious．I bring laughter, fun, and 5 into the world．”
Orange started next to blow her trumpet,“I am the color of health and strength．I may be 6 , but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life．When I fill the sky 7 , my beauty is so striking that no one gives another 8 to any of you．”
Red could stand it 9 and he shouted out,“I am the ruler of all of you．I am the color of danger and of bravery．I am willing to 10 truth．I am also the color of passion and of love．”
Then came Purple and Indigo(深蓝)…．
The colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own 11 ．Their quarreling became louder and louder．Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening thunder．Rain started to pour down 12 ．The colors crouched(蜷缩)down 13 , drawing close to one another for comfort．
In the midst of the clamor(叫嚷), rain began to speak,“You foolish colors, fighting 14 yourselves, each trying to dominate 15 ．Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, 16 ?Join hands with 17 and come to me．”
Doing as they were told, the colors 18 and joined hands．They formed a colorful rainbow．From then on, whenever a good rain 19 the world, a rainbow appears in the sky．They remember to 20 one another．
