Cara Lang is 13. She lives in Boston, Massachusetts, in the US. Last Thursday, she didn’t go to school. She went to work with her father instead. Every year, on the fourth Thursday in April, millions of young girls go to work. This is Take Our Daughters to Work Day. The girls are between the ages of 9 to 15. They spend the day at work with an adult, usually a mother, aunt, or uncle. They go to offices, police stations, laboratories, and other places where their parents or other family members work. Next year, the day will include sons, too.
The Ms. Foundation, an organization for women, started the program about ten years ago. In the US, many women work outside the home. The Ms. Foundation wanted girls to find out about many different kinds of jobs. Then, when the girls grow up, they can choose a job they like.
Cara’s father is a film director. Cara says, “It was very exciting for me to go to the studio with my dad. I saw a lot of people doing different jobs.” Many businesses have special activities for girls on this day. Last year, Cara went to work with her aunt at the University of Massachusetts. In the engineering department, the girls learned to build a bridge with toothpicks and candy. In the chemistry department, they learned to use scales. They learned about many other kinds of jobs, too.
Right now, Cara does not know what jobs she will have when she grows up. But because of Take Our Daughters to Work Day, she knows she has many choices. What is Cara’s father?
A.An engineer. | B.An official. |
C.A moviemaker. | D.A professor. |
According to the passage, Take Our Daughters to Work Day is __________.
A.on every Thursday in April |
B.a holiday for girls of all ages |
C.a day for girls to know about jobs |
D.a day for girls to get a job easily |
On this special day, Cara has done all the following EXCEPT that __________.
A.she learned to use scales |
B.she worked as an actress |
C.she went to work with her aunt |
D.she used toothpicks and candy to build a bridge |
What is probably the best title for the passage?
A.Cara Lang, a Fortunate Girl |
B.Take Our Daughters to Work Day |
C.Children’s Day and Work Day |
D.Ms. Foundation, an Organization for Women |
Leadership is the art of getting someone to do something you want done because he wants to do it. People naturally want to follow a good leader. After meeting with an effective leader it is not unusual to feel uplifted(情绪高涨), inspired, and motivated to work towards a common goal.
An effective leader makes others feel good about themselves, as well as the work they are doing. The leader has a vision(幻想)of what he or she wants to achieve, and can communicate that vision to others in a way that makes people want to be part of it. One thing a good leader typically does is to communicate the big picture, so that each employee can see how the particular role he or she plays makes a contribution to the final result.
Good leaders are positive and optimistic when they speak about the future. Their enthusiasm wins them plenty of supporters who help make their vision a reality.
Good leaders also understand that different people are motivated by different things. For employees motivated by a need for achievement, a leader explains how the task offers an opportunity to take on a challenge with an achievable goal. And employees are motivated by hearing how they will be part of a team of people working together.
Good leaders will introduce employees by name first, rather than job titles. They refer to employees as team members, companions, or colleagues, never as “servants”. Words have power, including the power to make people feel whether or not they are important to the success of an organization.
Good leaders believe that every team member matters and set up environments that make everyone feel important. It is no wonder they can attract the support they need to help them achieve their goals.What’s the author’s purpose of writing this passage?
A.To tell us how to be a good leader at work. |
B.To describe the proper relationship between leaders and employees. |
C.To inform us of how leaders and employees should communicate. |
D.To show the optimism of a leader. |
What is the most important to be a good leader?
A.A good leader learns art very well. |
B.A good leader can promote employees. |
C.A good leader can satisfy all his or her employees. |
D.A good leader can make employees happy and willing in their work. |
What should a good leader do for an employee who wants to succeed at work?
A.To promote the employee to a leadership role. |
B.To draw a beautiful picture of the employee’s future. |
C.To encourage the employee to meet the challenges of his work. |
D.To let the staff know the important role the employee plays. |
We can infer from the passage that_________.
A.a good leader is always good at creating comfortable working conditions |
B.the support of employees is necessary for a leader to reach his goal |
C.names are much easier to remember than job titles |
D.the motivation of the employees all comes from the leader |
Busy senior managers need no longer waste time in showering themselves-an Australian company has invented a suit that can be worn while they wash.
The suit has been specially designed so that it can be cleaned under the showerhead. There is no need for soaking (浸泡),dry cleaning-or even soap.
The Japanese market has taken a liking to the “shower suit”,described as “revolutionary” by its owner Australian Wool Innovation (AWI),which is the research and marketing body that represents Australian wool-growers. Orders have been placed for 170,000 of the woolen suits.
The suit could be worn in the shower,although it was probably better to hang it on a clothes hanger and carry it instead,AWI corporate affairs spokesman Stephen Feighan said.“The idea is that you hang it up and then...you give it a spray (喷雾),and it’s dry the next morning,” Mr Feighan said.
A Japanese researcher working for AWI invented the suit by combining three technologies. The secret is the best lining (内衬),which allows the suit to dry quickly.The shower suit attracted busy corporate people,particularly those who often traveled or stayed up late,Mr Feighan said.The airline industry was also interested.
Mr Feighan confessed he had not worn one of the suits yet,or tried to wash it in the shower,because they cut to fit Japanese figures.AWI believes that the shower suit will spread from the Japanese market through Europe and India. Mr Feighan hoped the suit,made from local wool,would be available in Australia in 12 to 18 months’ time.What is the writing purpose of the article?
A.To introduce a newly-designed shower suit. |
B.To help the white collars arrange their life more sensibly. |
C.To provide suggestions on saving time in bath. |
D.To praise AWI for its important achievement. |
Which is true about the suit according to the passage?
A.It can spare the owner’s trouble of soaking,dry cleaning and applying soap. |
B.It is of the quality of fast dry for its best cloth. |
C.It is not suitable for hanging. |
D.It has attracted more orders than any other suit. |
The suit draws the attention from all the following groups EXCEPT________.
A.corporate people who are always on the go |
B.people on occasional business trips |
C.the airline industry |
D.people burning the midnight oil |
Which of the following has much to do with Mr Feighan?
A.The invention of the suit. |
B.The try-on of the suit. |
C.The combination of the three technologies on the suit. |
D.The popularization of the suit and best wishes for it. |
When I was struggling with cancer a few years ago,my wife and I formed our own “couple caution circle”.Anytime a doctor came with news of my progress,my wife would give me a big hug. The reports were seldom good during the early stages of my illness,and one day a doctor brought particularly frightening news.Staring at my reports,he said in a low voice,“It doesn’t look like you’re going to make it.”
Before I could ask him a question,my wife stood up,handed me my clothes,adjusted the tubes fastened to my body and said,“Let’s get out of here.This man is a risk to your health.” As she helped me struggle to the door,the doctor came near us.“Stay back,” demanded my wife.“Stay away from us.”
As we walked together down the hall,the doctor attempted to catch up with us.“Keep going,” said my wife,pushing the intravenous (静脉注射的) stand.“We’re going to talk to someone who really knows what is going on.” Then she held up her hand to the doctor.“Don’t come any closer to us.”
The two of us moved as one.We escaped to the safety and hope of a doctor who did not confuse diagnosis with conclusion. I could never have made that walk toward wellness alone.From the passage we know ________.
A.hearing that the husband was not going to make it,the wife went out of her mind |
B.the wife’s decision in crisis (危机) contributed to the husband’s wellness |
C.the husband was diagnosed with cancer by mistake |
D.the husband became weaker and weaker as a result of the treatment conducted by the doctor |
What’s the author’s feeling when writing the passage?
A.Angry. | B.Thankful. | C.Excited. | D.Sad. |
What can be inferred from the passage ?
A.The wife was a woman hard to get along with. |
B.The doctor was a dangerous man. |
C.The wife loved her husband very much. |
D.The husband was a man who believed everything would be OK. |
What would be the best title for the passage ?
A.A Happy Couple In Crisis | B.Struggle With Cancer |
C.In Crisis,Become As One | D.Don’t Believe The Doctor |
What will man be like in the future — in 5,000 or even 50,000 years from now? We can only make guesses, of course, but we can be sure that he will be different from what he is today, for man is slowly changing all the time.
Let us take an obvious example. Man, even five hundred years ago, was shorter than he is today. Now, on average, men are about three inches taller. Five hundred years is relatively a short period of time, so we may suppose that man will continue to grow taller. Again, in the modern world we use our brains a great deal. Even so, we still make use of only about 20% of the brain’s capacity(容量). As time goes on, however, we shall have to use our brains more and more, and finally we shall need our brains more and more, and finally we shall need larger ones! This is likely to bring a physical change too: the head, in particular the forehead, will grow larger.
Nowadays our eyes are in constant use. In fact, we use them so much that very often they become weaker and we have to wear glasses. But over long period of time it is likely that man’s eyes will grow stronger.
On the other hand, we tend to make less use of our arms and legs. These, as a result, are likely to grow weaker. At the same time, however, our fingers will grow more sensitive because they are used a great deal in modern life.
But what about hair? This will probably disappear from the body altogether in course of time because it does not serve a useful purpose any longer. In the future, then, both sexes are likely to be bald.
Perhaps all this gives the impression that future man will not be a very attractive creature to look at! This may well be true. All the same, in spite of all these changes, future man will still have a lot in common with us. He will still be a human being, with thoughts and motions similar to our own.The passage mainly tells us that __________.
A.Man’s life will be different in the future |
B.Future man will look quite different from us |
C.Man is growing taller and uglier as time passes |
D.Man’s organs’ functions will change |
What serves as the evidence that man is changing?
A.Man has got stronger eyes now than he ever had. |
B.Man’s hair is getting thinner and thinner. |
C.Man’s arms and legs have become lighter and weaker. |
D.Man has been growing taller over the past 500 years. |
The change in man’s size of the forehead is probably because __________.
A.he makes use of only 20% of the brain’s capacity |
B.his brain has grown larger over the past centuries |
C.he will use his brain more and more as time goes on |
D.the other 80% of his brain will grow in due time |
Which of the following is TRUE about a human being in the future?
A.He is hairless because hair is no longer useful. |
B.He has smaller eyes and wears better glasses. |
C.His fingers grow weaker because he doesn’t have to make use of them. |
D.He thinks and feels in a different way. |
It is implied that __________.
A.human beings will become less attractive in the future |
B.body organs will become poorer if they are not used often |
C.human beings hope for a change in the future life |
D.future life is always predictable |
When doctors urge overweight kids to pick up more activities,reading probably isn’t what they have in mind. Yet a new study by fatness researchers at Duke University finds that the simple act of reading—depending on the choice of material—can cause weight loss in teenage girls.
The study’s experimental group included 31 fat girls aged 9 to 13,who took part in the Healthy Lifestyles Program at Duke Children’s Hospital. The girls read a novel called Lake Rescue,whose protagonist (主人公) is an overweight teenager who struggles with low selfesteem,feelings of loneliness and teasing because of her size. A group of 33 girls read a different book called Charlotte in Paris,which did not have an overweight character,and another group of 17 girls read neither book.
At the end of the sixmonth experiment,all the girls who read books had lost weight,but the girls who read Lake Rescue lost more. They lowered their body mass index (BMI) by 0.71,compared with 0.33 in the Charlotte group,an average 0.05 increase among the nonreaders.
The idea behind the study,says Dr Sarah Armstrong,director of Healthy Lifestyles,was to find a way to encourage the girls without adopting the restrictive and often authoritative voice of so many other nutrition and diet programs. Lake Rescue was the perfect instrument,says Armstrong;it presents a likable character to whom the girls could relate and whom they could learn from. As the book progresses,its protagonist learns to make healthier lifestyle choices and finds an adviser to help keep her on track. Armstrong says,“She learns that she can become healthier,and the ‘I can do it’ feeling resonates (产生共鸣) with the teenage girls.”What’s the main idea of the passage?
A.There are different ways to help overweight kids lose weight. |
B.Lifestyle is important for kids. |
C.Lake Rescue is the perfect weightlosing instrument. |
D.Reading can help kids lose weight. |
How many girls took part in the experiment?
A.31. | B.33. | C.64. | D.81. |
What does the underlined word “She” in the last paragraph refer to?
A.Armstrong. | B.The protagonist in Lake Rescue. |
C.A character in Charlotte in Paris. | D.A girl in the first group. |
According to the passage we can know that ________.
A.overweight girls are living unhappily |
B.reading is the best way to lose weight |
C.different reading materials play different roles in losing weight |
D.people will become fat if they don’t read |
In which part of a newspaper can we read the above passage?
A.Education. | B.Entertainment. | C.Health. | D.Advertisement. |