C
Lower Risk with the Potential for High Returns—NOW
You Can Have the Best of Both Worlds
in Investment Portfolio Fund!
To reduce the risk of exposing your money to the ups and downs of direct investment into shares，your money will be spread across a wide range of investments from all over the world with the aim of achieving steady long term growth．This has always been the aim of our long established and highly successful Investment Portfolio Fund，made up of a balanced selection of different investments as explained by the chart below．
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To manage these investments，we rely on no less than five leading fund managers with proven expert skill as specialist in their chosen investment fields. With their different approaches to investment, these five fund managers have been specially selected by Marks and Spencer Financial Services as we believe they will exchange their opinion with each other perfectly in meeting our overall aim for the fund of consistent growth. This balanced management approach, not only gives the potential to achieve better results than market averages in individual industry but also allows quick reactions to protect your interests in the event of market downturns.
So who are the fund managers selected to look after your Investment Portfolio Investment and what exactly will they be doing on your behalf?
BARCLAYS GLOBAL INVESTORS LTD
BGI have been chosen to track the FTSE A1l Share Index (指数)．For this，they have put together a portfolio of shares which closely resembles the UK equity market as a whole．
BAILLE GIFFORD
EBG will be looking for companies that can offer excellent growth chances．
GMO WOOLLEY LTD
Their expert skill is in finding companies which they believe are valued at less than they are worth．In this，they have developed advanced research methods to identify under-valued companies．
CLAY FlNLAY
By looking at global political and economic trends as well as individual companies，Clay Finlay can identify international market opportunities and especially select companies with strong growth chances．
ROTHSCHILD ASSET MANAGEMENT
Rothschild aims to add stability and income to the Fund by investing in government bonds(公债)and other fixed interest securities．
And with Marks&Spencer Financial Services, you'll also have the reassurance that your interests will be looked after by a name you know you can really trust for quality，honesty and value every step of the way．
It all adds up to a tremendous opportunity for savers looking for a lower risk way to make more of their money with the extra boost to their profit potential of saving tax free through an ISA，so what are you waiting for?
1．The text is most likely to be found in ．
A．a scientific research report B．a travel magazine
C．a weekly newspaper D．a geography textbook
2．Who will be most interested in reading the advertisement?
A．Accountants． B．Students．
C．Investors． D．Professors．
3．What is the function of Investment Portfolio Fund?
A．Exposing your money to the ups and downs of the direct investment into shares．
B．Helping lower risk with the potential for higher returns．
C．Hiring no less than five leading fund managers．
D．Giving a detailed description of balanced management requirement．
4．Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the text?
A．The five fund managers with different approaches to investment can cooperate with each other perfectly．
B．Marks&Spencer Financial Services reassure the investors that their interests will be well 1ooked after．
C．Clay Finlay can identify international market opportunities and especially select companies with strong growth chances．
D．Gmo Woolley will be looking for companies that can offer excellent growth chances.
When Christopher Columbus landed on the then unnamed Costa Rica in 1502, he saw many Indians wearing gold earrings. So he thought the land must be rich in gold. He named the place Costa Rica, which means “rich coast” in Spanish.
Though little gold was found, Costa Rica today is indeed rich with coffee and bananas. Coffee is the most important product in Costa Rica and most of it is exported (出口) to other countries like America and West Germany. Bananas are the country’s second most important export.
Costa Ricans also grow many other crops such as fruits, corn and beans for their own use. Costa Ricans love colors and their houses are painted in bright colors.
Education is very important to the Costa Ricans. Almost every village has a school and education is a must for children between seven and fourteen years of age. Boys and girls go to separate (单独的) schools. Classes begin in March and end in November. The other three months of the year are harvest time and the children have to help their parents to pick coffee beans. What’s the main idea of the first paragraph?
| A．How Columbus found Costa Rica. |
| B．How Costa Rica got its name. |
| C．What the Costa Ricans wore. |
| D．What language the Costa Ricans spoke. |
The Costa Ricans may NOT paint their houses ______.
| A．pink and red | B．grey and black |
| C．blue and green | D．yellow and orange |
In Costa Rica, boys and girls between seven and fourteen ______.
| A．must go to school |
| B．study in the same school |
| C．do not have to go to school at all |
| D．can choose to stop schooling at any time |
From December to February, school children in Costa Rica ______.
| A．have lessons every day |
| B．have their examinations |
| C．help their parents pick coffee beans |
| D．help their parents decorate their houses |
This passage is mainly about ______.
| A．Christopher Columbus |
| B．Costa Rica |
| C．some products from Costa Rica |
| D．the education of Costa Rica |
In England three foreign gentlemen came to a bus stop. They studied the information on the post sign and decided which bus to take. About five minutes later the bus they wanted came along. They prepared to get on. Suddenly people rushed onto the bus and tried to push them out of the way. Someone shouted insulting remarks about the foreigners. The bus conductor came rushing down the stairs to see what all the trouble was about. The three foreign gentlemen looked puzzled and ashamed. No one had told them about the British custom of lining up for a bus so that the first person who arrived at a bus-stop is the first person to get on the bus.
Learning the language of a country isn’t enough. If you want to ensure a pleasant visit, find out as much as possible about the manners and customs of your hosts. You will probably be surprised just how different they can be from your own. A visitor to India would do well to remember that people there consider it impolite to use the left hand for passing food at table. The left hand is supposed to be used for washing yourself. Also in India, you might see a man apparently（显然地）shaking his head at another and assume (认为) that he is disagreeing. But in many parts of India a rotating (旋转) movement of the head is a gesture that express agreement or acceptance. Nodding your head when offered a drink in Bulgaria is likely to leave you thirsty. In that country you shake your head to express “yes” — a nod means “no”.
In Europe it is quite usual to cross your legs when sitting talking to someone, even at an important meeting. Doing this when meeting an important person in Thailand, however, could cause offence (冒犯). It is considered too informal an attitude for such an occasion. Also when in Thailand avoid touching the head of an adult — it’s just not done.
Attitudes to women vary considerably（相当地）around the world. In Japan, for example, it is quite usual for men to plan evening entertainments for themselves and leave their wives at home.
Knowing about customs and attitudes is useful when you are travelling, but you also need to know the language used to express different degrees of formality (礼节).The three foreign gentlemen looked puzzled and ashamed because __________________.
| A．they didn’t know the English language |
| B．someone called their names |
| C．they didn’t know the custom of lining up for a bus |
| D．they knocked someone down while getting on the bus |
According to the passage, which attitude to women is usual in Japan?
| A．Men always go to parties with women. |
| B．Men plan evening entertainments for their wives. |
| C．Men and women have equal rights to go to parties. |
| D．Men plan evening entertainments for themselves, while their wives stay home. |
What’s the meaning of the underlined word “insulting” in Para. 1 ?
| A．善意的 | B．咨询的 | C．商量的 | D．无礼的 |
From the passage, we know that shaking head means Yes in ______________.
| A．India and Thailand | B．India and Bulgaria |
| C．Bulgaria and Thailand | D．Thailand and Japan |
The underlined sentence “Nodding your head when offered a drink in Bulgaria is likely to leave you thirsty.” means ____________.
| A．It’s probably that you are thirsty if you nod your head |
| B．You’re possibly eager to have a drink if you nod your head |
| C．You probably refuse to drink when you nod your head |
| D．You’d like to have a cup of tea because you nod your head |
"S. H.E. is going to sing at the CCTV annual Spring Festival Evening Party, is that true?" cried out Peng Weiye, a Senior 2 girl in Shanghai and die-hard S. H.E. fan.
After checking it on the Internet, Peng quickly phoned friends to spread the news. For fans like her, S. H. E. ’s performance is perhaps the only part of the old fashioned evening to get excited about.
The Taiwanese band is made up of Selina, Hebe and Ella. Their name comes from the first letter of each of the singers' English names.
Last week S. H. E. announced they would perform in Las Vegas, US, over Christmas and then in Guangzhou on January 15.
At their Shanghai show on October 30, hundreds of parents waited outside the Hongkou Stadium. Inside, thousands of teenagers sang, cried and shouted as the band performed.
"I love their music, healthy image and everything related to them. Thank God that, although my parents don't understand why I love them so much, they still bought me a ticket for that show," said Peng about the Shanghai performance.
It is not just on the mainland that the three girls have made audiences much excited. In the past year the band has passed through Taiwan, Hong Kong and even Singapore and Malaysia.
When the three high school girls entered a singing contest in Taiwan in 2000, none of them ever dreamed of being a superstar. "We had never met before, and we didn't talk at all at the beginning," recalled Ella.
When asked about the secret of their success, she said, "Our average looks and not-so-expensive clothes keep us close to our fans. We are happy to be the girls next door, your singing sisters."
"It's really a magical journey, from day-dreaming high school girls to singers performing on the same stage as our idols(偶像). Nothing but magical," she said.Why was Peng Weiye, a Senior 2 girl, so excited?
| A．S.H.E. band will get the old fashioned evening exciting. |
| B．S. H.E. will perform in Las Vegas over Christmas. |
| C．Her parents bought her a ticket for S. H. E.’s Shanghai show. |
| D．S. H.E. will perform on the CCTV Spring Festival Evening Party. |
How did the Taiwanese band get the name?
| A．Their fans gave the name to them. |
| B．Their idols had a deep influence on them. |
| C．A singing contest gave their idea of the band name. |
| D．The first letters of Selina, Hebe and Ella form the band name. |
What do you know about Peng Weiye?
| A．she stayed outside the Hongkou Stadium to listen to S. H. E. 's performance. |
| B．She will watch the performance in Guangzhou on January 15. |
| C．She pays close attention to everything about S. H. E. |
| D．She was grateful that her parents understood and supported her. |
Which is true about S. H. E. ?
| A．The secret to their success is their pretty faces and lovely clothes. |
| B．They were close friends when they entered a singing contest. |
| C．They caused a storm of excitement in Southeast Asia. |
| D．They have well prepared to perform with their idols. |
Which do you think is NOT the reason for S. H. E’s popularity among their fans?
| A．Their music and their healthy image. |
| B．They can make audience much excited. |
| C．Their success meets their fans’ day dream of becoming others’ idols. |
| D．Their average looks and not-so-expensive clothes keep them close to their fans. |
Most Americans believe that someone isn’t grown-up until the age of 26 and they should complete their education, have a full-time job, have a family to support and be financially independent. They also believe that becoming a real grown-up is a process which begins at about the age of 20 and takes about five years, according to the report from the University of Chicago’s National Opinion Research Center.
The findings are based on a representative sample of 1,398 people over the age of 18 who were surveyed in person. The survey found that people expect the transitions to grown-up status to be completed at the following ages: age 20.9 self-supporting; age 21.1 no longer living with parents; age 21.2 having a full-time job; age 22.3 education completed; age 24.5 being able to support a family financially; age 25.7 getting married; and age 26.2 having a child.
“There is a large degree of agreement across social groups on the relative importance of the seven transitions,” said Tom Smith, director of the survey. The only obvious pattern of differences is on views about supporting a family, having children and getting married. Older adults consider these more important than younger adults do. This probably shows in large part a change in values across generations away from traditional family values. The most valued step toward reaching adulthood, the survey found, is completing education, followed by full-time employment, supporting a family, financial independence, living independently, and marriage. According to the first paragraph, someone is a grown-up when he _______.
| A．has found a full-time job |
| B．has finished his study in university |
| C．can make money and support himself after completing his education |
| D．can support a family and be financially independent after graduation |
A young man of 24 may be busy ________.
| A．finding a job | B．finding a girl friend |
| C．making money | D．preparing for his wedding |
The underlined word “status” in the second paragraph probably means “________”.
| A．position | B．rank | C．level | D．situation |
From the passage, we learn that _________.
| A．being grown-up is just a matter of age |
| B．being grown-up is a process which takes some time |
| C．all people think completing education means being grown-up |
| D．the survey found everyone had a different view about being grown-up |
The best title for the passage should be “________”
| A．It takes a long time to grown up. |
| B．Are we grown-up yet? |
| C．Getting married means being grown-up. |
| D．Completing education means being grown-up. |
Hank Viscardi was 26 years old when he put on his first pair of long trousers and his first pair of shoes. For the first time he saw himself as he had always wanted to be a full five feet eight inches tall.
Hank had been born without legs. Until he was seven, his world was a world of repeated operations. At last he had not legs, but stumps（残肢）that could be fitted with a kind of special boots.
Out of the hospital, Hank often found people staring at him with cruel interest. Children laughed at him and called him “Ape Man” because his arms dragged（拖）on the ground.
He went to school like other boys. His grades were good and he needed only eight years instead of the usual twelve.
After graduation, Hank worked his way through college. He swept floors, waited on table, or worked in one of the college offices. During all this busy life, Hank had been moving around on his stumps. But one day the doctor told him even the stumps were not going to last much longer. Hank would soon have to use a wheel chair.
Hank felt himself go cold all over. However, the doctor said there was a chance that he could be fitted with artificial（人造的）legs.
Finally a leg maker was found and the day came when Hank stood up before the mirror and saw himself for the first time, five feet eight inches tall.
But this was not the end yet. He had to learn to use his new legs. Again and again he marched the length of the room, and marched back again. There were times when he fell down on the floor, but he pulled himself up and went back to the endless marching. He went out on the street. He climbed the stairs and learned to dance. He built a boat and learned to sail it.
When World War Ⅱ came, he talked the Red Cross into giving him a job. He took the regular training. He marched and drilled along with the other soldiers. Few knew that he was legless. This was the true story of Hank Viscardi, the man without legs.It can be inferred from the story that five feet eight inches tall is .
| A．an average height for an adult（成人） |
| B．too tall for an average person |
| C．too short for an average person |
| D．none of the above |
Children laughed at Hank and called him “Ape Man” because .
| A．he didn’t talk to them |
| B．he kept away from them |
| C．when he moved his arms touched the ground |
| D．his arms were too long |
The writer implies in the story that .
| A．the Red Cross was only too glad to give him a job |
| B．the Red Cross gave him a job because he was a good soldier. |
| C．the Red Cross gave him a job after he talked to somebody he knew in the organization |
| D．the Red Cross was not willing to give him a job at first |
When Hank marched and drilled along with the other soldiers .
| A．he did everything the other soldiers did |
| B．he did most of the things the other soldiers did |
| C．he did some of the things the other soldiers did |
| D．he took some special training |
The writer suggests that Hank Viscardi .
| A．had no friends at all |
| B．was a man with a strong will |
| C．had lost his legs in an accident |
| D．was not satisfied with his artificial legs |