For years and years people have been saying that the railways are dead．“We can do without railways” people say，as if motorcars and planes made the railways unnecessary．We all keep hearing that trains are slow，that they lose money，that they’re dying．But this is far from the truth．In these days of expensive oil，the railways have become highly competitive with motorcars and planes．If you want to carry people or goods from place to place，they’re cheaper than planes．And they have much in common with planes．A plane goes in a strange line and so does a railway．What is more，it takes you from the heart of a city into the heart of another．It doesn’t 1eave you as a plane does，miles and miles from the city center．It doesn’t hold you up as a car does，in endless traffic jams．And a single train can carry goods which no plane or motorcar could ever do．Far from being dead，the railways are very much alive．Modern railway lines give you a smooth，untroubled journey．Where else can you eat well，sleep in comfort，feel safe and enjoy the scene while you are traveling at speed at the same time? And we are only at the beginning．For we have just entered the age of super-fast trains, traveling at 1 50 miles an hour and more．Soon we will be wondering why we spent so much on motorways we can't use because we have not enough money to buy the oil and planes we can't fly in for the same reason.Some people think the railways are dead for many reasons except that ______ ．
| A．planes and motorcars will take the place of trains | B．oil is expensive today |
| C．trains are slow | D．railways lose money |
The writer’s idea seems to be that ______ ．
| A．we can do without railways | B．trains have much in common with motorcars and planes |
| C．motorcars and planes are not as good as trains | D．trains are as good as motorcars and planes |
According to the writer，which of the following is NOT true?
| A．It is cheaper to travel by train than by plane． |
| B．The railway station is usually at the center of a city． |
| C．When you get off the plane you will find yourself right in the city center． |
| D．No motorcar or plane can carry as many goods as a train does． |
From the underlined sentence at the end of the passage，we can infer that ．
| A．1ess and less people will take planes and motorways in the future |
| B．the people have known that the train is better than planes and motorways |
| C．trains will be more popular in the future |
| D．nobody likes spending much money on motorways |
第三部分：阅读理解（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）
Gloria is a famous hostess of a TV station. When she was 15, she happened to walk into a bookstore in her hometown and began looking at the books on the shelves. The man behind the counter, John Smith, asked if she'd like a job. She needed to start saving for college, so she said yes.
Gloria worked after school and during summer vacations, and the job helped pay for her first year of college. During college she would do many other jobs: she served coffee in the student union, was a hotel cleaner and even made maps for the Forest Service. But selling books was one of the most satisfying jobs.
One day a woman came into the bookstore and asked Gloria for books on cancer. The woman seemed anxious. Gloria showed her practically everything they had and found other books they could order. The woman left the store less worried, and Gloria has always remembered the pride she felt in having helped her customer.
Years later, as a television hostess, Gloria heard about a child who was born with problems with his fingers and hand. His family could not afford an operation, and the boy lived in shame, hiding his hand in his pocket all the time.
Gloria persuaded her boss to agree to let her do the story. After the story was broadcast, some doctors called, offering to perform the operation for free.
Gloria visited the boy in the hospital after the operation. The first thing he did was to hold up his repaired hand and say, "Thank you. " What a sweet sense of satisfaction Gloria felt!
At Smith's bookstore, Gloria always realized she was working for the customers, not the store. Today it's the same. The TV station pays her, but she feels that she should work for the people who watch the programmes, helping them understand the world better.
56. When did Gloria get her first job?
A. A few years before college. B. Several years after college.
C When she was studying at college. D. When she was working in the TV station.
57. In which part-time job did Gloria feel the happiest?
A. Cleaning in the hotel. B. Selling books in the bookstore.
C. Serving coffee in the student union. D. Making maps for the Forest Service.
58. How did Gloria help the child get the operation he needed?
A. Her boss agreed to raise money. B. She paid for the operation herself.
C She allowed the boy to show on TV. D. Her news report affected some doctors.
59. What particularly gives her the feeling of pride?
A. Helping people through her work. B. Reporting interesting stories.
C Being able to do different jobs well. D. Paying for her college education herself.
The $ 11 billion self – help industry is built on the idea that you should turn negative thoughts like “ I never do anything right” into positive ones like “I can succeed.” But was positive thinking advocate Norman Vincent Peale right? Is there power in positive thinking?
Researchers in Canada just published a study in the journal Psychological Science that says trying to get people to think more positively can actually have the opposite effect: it can simply highlight how unhappy they are.
The study's authors, Joanne Wood and John Lee of the University of Waterloo and Elaine Perunovic of the University of New Brunswick, begin by citing older research showing that when people get feedback which they believe is overly positive, they actually feel worse, not better. If you tell your dim friend that he has the potential of an Einstein, you're just underlining his faults. In one 1990s experiment, a team including psychologist Joel Cooper of Princeton asked participants to write essays opposing funding for the disabled. When the essayists were later praised for their sympathy, they felt even worse about what they had written.
In this experiment, Wood, Lee and Perunovic measured 68 students' self-esteem. The participants were then asked to write down their thoughts and feelings for four minutes. Every 15 seconds, one group of students heard a bell. When it rang, they were supposed to tell themselves, "I am lovable."
Those with low self-esteem didn't feel better after the forced self-affirmation. In fact, their moods turned significantly darker than those of members of the control group, who weren't urged to think positive thoughts.
The paper provides support for newer forms of psychotherapy (心理治疗) that urge people to accept their negative thoughts and feelings rather than fight them. In the fighting, we not only often fail but can make things worse. Meditation (静思) techniques, in contrast, can teach people to put their shortcomings into a larger, more realistic perspective. Call it the power of negative thinking.What do we learn from the first paragraph about the self-help industry?
| A．It is a highly profitable industry. |
| B．It is based on the concept of positive thinking. |
| C．It was established by Norman Vincent Peale. |
| D．It has yielded positive results. |
What is the finding of the Canadian researchers?
| A．Encouraging positive thinking many do more harm than good. |
| B．There can be no simple therapy for psychological problems. |
| C．Unhappy people cannot think positively. |
| D．The power of positive thinking is limited. |
What does the author mean by "you're just underlining his faults" in the third paragraph?
| A．You are not taking his mistakes seriously enough. |
| B．You are pointing out the errors he has committed. |
| C．You are emphasizing the fact that he is not intelligent. |
| D．You are trying to make him feel better about his faults. |
It can be inferred from the experiment of Wood, Lee and Perunovic that .
| A．it is important for people to continually keep their self - esteem |
| B．self – affirmation can bring a positive change to one’s mood |
| C．forcing a person to think positive thoughts may lower their self - esteem |
| D．people with low self – esteem seldom write down their true feelings |
MOSCOW(Reuters) – Russia hopes the United States will extend the deadline to retire its space shuttles beyond 2011 and has heard unofficially it is possible, the head of Russia"s space agency was quoted as saying on Friday.
The U.S. space agency NASA(美国宇航局) plans six more missions by its fleet of aging space shuttles by late next year or early 2011 after the construction of the $100 billion International Space Station (ISS) is completed. The shuttles will then be retired. But the head of Roscosmos, Russia"s space agency, said he would prefer to see further shuttle missions to the Space Station, now in orbit 360 km (225 miles) above Earth. "From some sources we have learned that it is possible to extend the life of the shuttle beyond 2011," Roscosmos chief Anatoly Perminov was quoted by RIA news agency as saying. Reuters was not invited to the briefing(简报会). "Then the situation would change substantially and it would be possible to work jointly with the Americans, unlike now, when the main burden (for the ISS) lies with the Russian side," Perminov was quoted as saying by Interfax. Perminov said he had not been told this through official channels, Interfax news agency reported. He added that NASA"s new chief and former astronaut Charles Bolden would visit Russia"s Baikonur cosmodrome on September 30 in his first foreign trip.
NASA"s future strategy is currently under review with the main focus on possible flights to Mars. It is also encouraging a private space taxi project to the ISS. NASA"s current plan, conceived under former President George Bush after the Columbia accident, is to complete the space station, retire the shuttles and build new spaceships. A new rocket and capsule to transport astronauts to the ISS is also being dev
eloped but will not be operational until about 2015. Until then, NASA will rely on Roscosmos and must pay $50 million per seat for flights to the ISS by Soyuz capsules.
The U.S., Russian and Chinese governments are the only entities currently capable of human orbital space flight, although several U.S. companies are developing vehicles and support services to do so.What does the underlined word “this” in Paragraph 2 refer to?
| A．NASA agrees to extend the life of the shuttles beyond 2011. |
| B．Reuters was not invited to the briefing. |
| C．The US would work jointly with Russia. |
| D．NASA’s new chief would visit Russia’s Baikonur cosmodrome. |
NASA’s current plan includes all the following EXCEPT .
| A．completing International Space Station |
| B．flights to Mars |
| C．retiring the current space shuttles |
| D．building new spaceships |
If the US doesn’t extend the life of the shuttles beyond 2011, .
| A．International Space Station will be quit |
| B．Roscosmos will have to build more spaceships |
| C．NASA will have to quicken the development of the new rocket and capsule |
| D．Roscosmos will be burdened with the transportation to ISS |
We can infer from the passage that .
| A．China has already been involved in the project of flights to Mars |
| B．it is certain the NASA will retire the current space shuttles as planned |
| C．NASA is considering Russia’s suggestion |
| D．NASA will be able to provide a private space taxi project to the ISS by 2015. |
We are seeking for qualified and experienced candidates to join our fast growing team for the following positions at Ratchathewi (Head Office), Pracha – Uthit (site), Pantai Norasing (site), Thepharak (site), and a few other incoming projects in Bangkok.
●Project Managers
－Degree in Civil / Structural Engineering
－Minimum 7 years’ working experience in similar capacity, preferably in building construction.
－Ability to plan and execute works, keep deadlines, control cost and implement continual quality improvement
－Possess leadership attributes, good interpersonal and follow-up skill to motivate subordinates and develop team spirit
－Possess a valid driving license
●Accounting Officer
—Degree in Accounting
—Minimum 1~2 years accounting experience
—Knowledge of accounting packages & spreadsheets
●Account Executive / Finance Executive
—Degree in Accounting
—Preferably 3 years’ accounting experience VAT, Withholding tax compliance & submission
—Knowledge of accounting packages & spreadsheets
—Expert at English and Thai (泰国语) spoken or written
—Ability to handle full set accounts
●Senior Admin. Asst.
—Minimum 5 years experience in Building Construction company is preferable.
—Computer literate with knowledge in Microsoft Office
—Good command of both written and oral English compulsory.
—Female preferred
●Site Supervisor
—Diploma / Certificate in Building or Civil Engineering
—Minimum 5 years’ working experience in building construction or precast (预制的) concrete manufacturing
—Able to work independently and co – ordinate work effectively
All positions mention above requires candidates with good command of both written and oral English. Interested candidate, please send your application stating full qualification, work experience and expected salary together with a copy of transcript and a recent photograph to the address below:
ASCE Construction Limited.
503/19E K.S.L. Tower (11TH Floor), Sri-Ayudthaya Rd., Thanon Phayathai,
Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400
TEL: - 02642-6272 , 02642-6120
FAX: - 02642-6273
E-MAIL: asce_construction@hotmail.comIf you want to apply for the position
of a project manager, you must have .
| A．the ability to work independently | B．a degree in accounting |
| C．six years of experience at least | D．the qualification to drive |
Most of the positions require the following EXCEPT .
| A．a suitable degree | B．certain working experience |
| C．professional computer knowledge | D．a good command of English |
Which position prefers a woman candidate?
| A．A ccounting Officer. | B．Senior Admin. Asst. |
| C．professional computer knowledge | D．a good command of English |
What can we infer from the passage?
| A．Candidates can only apply by mail. |
| B．More companies will be founded in Bangkok. |
| C．Candidates must be able to speak both English and Thai. |
| D．You will benefit from your work experience. |
Hikosaburo Yasuda of Nakano, Japan, plans to buy an iPad to keep up with junior members in his computer club．"It's
important to always try new things, otherwise you get left behind," he says．
Yasuda is 95 years old．He and his colleagues, looking for easier ways to search the Web and send e-mail, represent a potential market for Apple （AAPL）'s iPad．The company has sold 3．27 million iPads since its launch in April, 
but doesn't break down sales figures by customer age, making it impossible to know with certainty how many seniors are buying them．However, anecdotal evidence suggests it's a hit with the elderly．
The iPad's intuitive interface （直观界面） makes it appealing to senior citizens around the world, says Takahiro Miura, a researcher at the University of Tokyo: "The iPad is a good tool for the elderly because it's very forgiving of mistakes．" Miura's team uses computers to help train senior citizens to rejoin the workforce．"Unlike the PC, it doesn't require previous knowledge," he says．
James Cordwell, a technology analyst at Atlantic-Equities in London, says the iPad's popularity with the elderly is helping Apple reach beyond its traditional base of younger customer. “The world’s population, especially in developed markets, is getting older, and it’s probably a market where Apple has least entered,” Cordwell says. Elderly users are “a key source of growth for them in the future.”
The elderly in Japan, who make up an estimated 22 percent of the population, may prove particularly receptive to the iPad. They spend more than any other group in the country except for those under 30, according to a report by Japan's Cabinet Office. Motoo Kitamura, 78, a former gas salesman, bought an iPad to help him communicate with his 2-year-old grandson and stave off dementia. "Trying new things like that is a good mental exercise," he says. The underlined part “a hit” in Paragraph 2 may probably mean “”.
| A．a hard strike | B．a heavy burden | C．quite popular | D．very familiar |
Which of the following is NOT an advantage of the iPad over the PC?
| A．It has intuitive interface. | B．It is easier to operate. |
| C．It is more accessible to beginners. | D．It is a good mental exercise. |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A．The people under thirty are the largest consumers in Japan except for the elderly. |
| B．The traditional customers of AAPL’s products are usually the yong. |
| C．The elderly will soon grow into the largest customer group in place of the young. |
| D．The elderly in Japan have great enthusiasm for latest hi – tech products. |
What could be the best title for the passage?
| A．The iPad leads Apple to the elderly |
| B．Ipad hits Japan’s store shelves |
| C．Ipad’s arrival in Tokyo causes Uapanese to reflect |
| D．AAPL attempts to balance the old and the yong |