Why doesn’t the unemployment rate ever reach zero? Economists, who generally believe that supply tends to meet demand, have long thought about this question. Even in good times, i.e. not now, there are people who can’t find work. And even in bad times, i.e. now, there are job openings. With over 14 million people out of work and looking for a job, you would think every available job would be filled. But that’s not the case. Not now and not ever.
On Monday, the Nobel Prize committee awarded the prize for economics to the three scholars who have done the most to explain this phenomenon. Two of the winners are Americans, Peter Diamond of MIT and Dale Mortensen of Northwestern. The third winner is Christopher Pissarides, who teaches at the London School of Economics and was born on Cyprus.
Like most of economics, what they have found about why the jobless and ready-employers don’t find each other seems obvious. You have to find out there is job opening you are interested in. Employers need to get resumes （简历）. It takes a while for both employers and employees to make the decision that this is what they want. And these guys came up with a frame-work to study the problem of why people stay unemployed longer than they should and what can be done about it.
So what would today’s Nobel Prize winners do to solve the current problem of the unemployed? And does the awarding of the prize contribute to the politicians’ lowering joblessness?
Speaking from his north London home, Pissarides told The Associated Press the announcement came as “a complete surprise” though his work had already helped shape thinking on both sides of the Atlantic.
For example, the New Deal for Young People, a British government policy aimed at getting 18-24-year-olds back on the job market after long periods of unemployment, “is very much based on our work,” he said.
“One of the key things we found is that it is important to make sure that people do not stay unemployed too long so they don’t lose their feel for the labor force,” Pissarides told reporters in London. “The ways of dealing with this need not be expensive training – it could be as simple as providing work experience.”According to the writer, which is true about finding jobs?
| A．It is always difficult to find a job. |
| B．Everyone can find a job in good times. |
| C．Contrary to popular belief, it is easier to find a job in bad times. |
| D．It is possible to find a job even in times as bad as now. |
What is it that leads to their winning the prize?
| A．They have found the reason for unemployment. |
| B．They have put forward a set of ideas to deal with unemployment. |
| C．They have found out why people don’t want to be employed. |
| D．They have long studied the problem of unemployment. |
Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
| A．Pissarides thinks his work surprising. |
| B．The work of Pissarides has influenced many economists. |
| C．Some of the winners’ ideas have been put into practice. |
| D．It is probable that unemployed young people in Britain benefit from Pissarides’ work. |
According to Pissarides, _________ is effective in dealing with unemployment.
| A．spending large sums of money on training |
| B．teaching some knowledge of economics |
| C．providing work experience |
| D．keeping people unemployed for some time |
China news, Beijing, Feb. 9 – Housing price in China has always aroused heated discussions among property developers and ordinary Chinese. To many property developers and local government officials, housing price in China is still low compared with many developed countries. However, the average housing price in the United States is only 8,000yuan per square meter, while in China, it is even higher than in the United States. This shows that there are some bubbles(泡沫) in Chinese real estate (房地产) market, the International Finance News reported.
Although the average price of residential houses in the United States, after converted to RMB, is about 8,000yuan per square meter, the houses in US are not sold in terms of building area, as most Chinese property developers do when they sell their houses. If US property developers sell their houses according to the building area, then the housing price will be even lower than 8,000yuan per square meter. In most big Chinese cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, houses are sold at a price even higher than those in the US.
The high housing sales price in large cities in China proves that Chinese real estate market does have some bubbles. Moreover, Chinese houses can not be compared with houses in US in terms of building quality, environment and supporting facilities. Furthermore, it should be noted that American people’s average income is several dozen times higher than that of Chinese people. How can the Chinese afford to buy a house which is even more expensive than that sold in the US?
At the beginning of 2007, Chinese government issued a set of policies that aimed to benefit the public. Now in order to reduce the high housing prices, the government can regulate (控制) the real estate market by raising tax on property industry and controlling the release of loans to property developers. At the same time, the government should allow people to build more houses through various fund-raising channels, such as funds collected from buyers or raised by working units. By applying these multiple means, it is expected that the high housing prices can be lowered.
63. Which of the following is NOT true from the passage?
A．Compared with many developed countries, housing price in China is still low.
B．Housing price in China is even higher than that in the United States.
C．The houses in US are not sold in terms of building area, as in China
D Chinese houses can not be compared with houses in US in terms of building quality, environment and supporting facilities.
64. Why did they say that there are some bubbles in Chinese real estate market?
A. Most Chinese property developers sell their houses according to the building area.
B. In large cities in China such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, houses are sold at a price even higher than those in the US.
C. the government raised tax on property industry and controlled the release of loans to property developers.
D. The Chinese government issued a set of policies that aimed to benefit the public.
65. How many measures are mentioned in the last paragraph in order to reduce the high housing prices?
A．Four B．Three C．Five D．Two
66. It can be inferred from the passage that ______
A. Housing price in China has lowered since 2007.
B. There will be no bubbles in Chinese real estate after the government raises tax on property industry.
C. Ordinary Chinese are looking forward to seeing that the high housing prices will be lowered.
D. More ordinary Chinese will buy a house in America instead of in China.
Volunteers, as an essential part of a successful world exposition, are a major channel for the public to participate in, serve and share the world exposition and a means to showcase the image of the host country and city. The following information is about the volunteer for the World Exposition 2010 Shanghai China.
I. Basic Requirements for Volunteers
Be willing to participate in voluntary services of Expo 2010;
Age limit: Expo Site volunteers must be born before April 30, 1992 and Expo City Voluntary Service Station volunteers before April 30, 1994;
Obey the laws and regulations of the PRC;
Be able to participate in training and relevant activities before the opening of Expo 2010;
Possess necessary knowledge and skills needed by the position;
Be in good health to meet the requirements of corresponding voluntary positions.
II. Further Information for Volunteers
Source
Residents of Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, as well as overseas Chinese, and foreigners can all apply to be the volunteers.
Signup methods
Applicants may log in onto the official websites for online signup. They may also consult or connect with the Expo Volunteer Stations.
Time
May 1 – December 31, 2009
III. Volunteer Training
Volunteer training includes general training, special training and position training. General training is carried out through internet, while special training and position training are provided through classroom lectures and field practice.
IV. Volunteer Types
Expo Site volunteers refer to those offering voluntary services to visitors and the Organizer in the Expo Site, mainly including information, visitor flow management, reception, translation and interpretation, assistance for the disabled, and assistance in media service, event and conference organization and volunteer management.
Information booth volunteers are stationed in the Expo’s information booths at key transportation centers, commercial outlets, tourist attractions, restaurants, hotels and cultural event places outside the Expo Site. They offer services including information, translation, interpretation and even first aid.
60. According to the passage, which one is NOT true?
A. If you were born in April 1993, you can be a volunteer in Expo City
B. If you were born in April 1991, you can be a volunteer in Expo Site.
C. Volunteers of the World Exposition should obey the laws and regulations of the PRC.
D. Applicants may log in onto the official websites for online signup.
61. Volunteers of the World Exposition 2010 Shanghai China have been trained well. Which of the following doesn’t belong to the Volunteer training ?
A. Position training. B. General training.
C. Internet training. D. Special training.
62. Which of the following services is offered by information booth volunteers?
A. Visitor flow management. B. Helping the disabled.
C. Assistance in media service. D. Emergency First aid.
第三部分：阅读理解（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。
“Can I see my baby?” asked the happy new mother. The bundle was placed in her arms and when she moved the fold of cloth to look upon his tiny face, she gasped-the baby had been born without ears. Time, however, proved that the baby’s hearing was perfect except his appearance．
One day when he rushed home from school and threw himself into his mother’s arms，he cried out bitterly，“A boy, a big boy…called me－a f—…freak．”She sighed, knowing that his life was to be endless of heartbreaks．
He grew up，handsome for his misfortune．A favorite with his fellow students, he might have been class president, but for that．He developed a gift for literature and music．
The boy’s father had a talk with the family doctor．Could nothing be done? “I believe we could graft on a pair of outer ears，if they could be donated，”the doctor decided．So the search began for a person who would make such a sacrifice for a young man．Two years went by．Then, “You’re going to the hospital，son．Mother and I have someone who will donate the ears you need．But it’s a secret,” said the father．
The operation was a brilliant success．His talents blossomed into genius．School and college became a series of successes．Later he married and entered the diplomatic service．“But I must know!” he urged his father．“Who gave so much for me? I could never do enough for him．”
“I do not believe you could,” said the father，“but the agreement was that you are not to know…not yet．”The years kept the secret, but the day did come …one of the darkest days that ever passed through a son．He stood with his father over his mother’s casket(棺材)．Slowly and tenderly，the father stretched forth a hand and raised the thick，reddish-brown hair to let out the secret．
56．When the mother unfolded the cloth and looked upon the tiny face we know that the mother________．
A．suddenly decided to make a sacrifice for the baby
B．kept the baby’s situation unknown to others
C．felt shocked and disappointed to see her new baby
D．complained of her bad luck and regretted having a disabled child
57.Give the closest meaning to the underlined word “freak” in Paragraph 2．
A．slow—acting person B．ugly—looking child
C．badly—behaved student D．strangely—shaped creature
58．At last, we may infer from the passage that_________.
A．The agreement was between the donator and the family
B．Finally the boy came to know the donator was a stranger
C．The mother may never let her hair be cut to keep her ears from being seen
D．The mother donated her ears to her son after she died
59．What moral lesson can we draw from this reading?
A．Real love lies in what is done unknown rather than what is done known．
B．It is up to parents to help their children heart and soul．
C．True beauty lies only in the heart not in appearance．
D．It is a virtue for young generations to learn to be grateful．
James Cleveland Owens was the son of a farmer and the grandson of black slaves. His family moved to Cleveland when he was 9. There, a school teacher asked the youth his name.
“J. C.,” he replied.
She thought he had said “Jesse”, and he had a new name.
Owens ran his first race at age 13. After high school, he went to Ohio State University. He had to work part time so as to pay for his education. As a second-year student, in the Big Ten games in 1935, he set even more records than he would in the Olympic Games a year later.
A week before the Big Ten meet, Owens accidentally fell down a flight of stairs. His back hurt so much that he could not exercise all week, and he had to be helped in and out of the car that drove him to the meet. He refused to listen to the suggestions that he give up and said he would try, event by event. He did try, and the results are in the record book.
The stage was set for Owens’ victory at the Olympic Games in Berlin the next year, and his success would come to be regarded as not only athletic(体育的) but also political. Hitler did not congratulate any of the African and American winners.
“It was all right with me,” he said years later. “I didn’t go to Berlin to shake hands with him, anyway.”
Having returned from Berlin, he received no telephone call from the president of his own country, either. In fact, he was not honored by the United States until 1976, four years before his death.
Owens’ Olympic victories made little difference to him. He earned his living by looking after a school playground, and accepted money to race against cars, trucks, motorcycles, and dogs.
“Sure, it bothered(烦扰) me,” he said later. “But at least it was an honest living. I had to eat.”
In time, however, his gold medals changed his life. “They have kept me alive over the years,” he once said. “Time has stood still for me. That golden moment dies hard.”
66. Owens got his other name “Jesse” when.
A. he went to Ohio State University B. his teacher made fun of him
C. his teacher took “J. C.” for “Jesse”
D. he won gold medals in the Big Ten meet.
67. In the Big Ten meet, Owens.
A. hurt himself in the back B. succeeded in setting many records
C. tried every sports event but failed D. had to give up some events
68. We can infer from the text that Owens was treated unfairly in the US at that time because .
A. he was not of the right race(种族)
B. he was the son of a poor farmer
C. he didn’t shake hands with Hitler
D. he didn’t talk to the US president on the phone
69. When Owens says “They have kept me alive over the years,” he means that the medals.
A. have been changed for money to help him live on
B. have made him famous in the US
C. have encouraged him to overcome difficulties in life
D. have kept him busy with all kinds of jobs
70. Which of the following is a suitable title for the text?
A. Jesse Owens, a Great American Athlete
B. Golden Moment － a Life-time Struggle
C. Making a Living as a Sportsman
D. How to Be a Successful Athlete
Sometimes teens need to have some time away from their families. They may want to move out of the family for a while. Many parents will say no to this demand. But experts say it might be a good idea to let your teens live with a friend or relative.
“It was the break I need at the time,” said Richard Lerner. He is talking about the time he spent living with his grandmother when he was 15.
“It allowed me to be a different person than I was with my parents,” Lerner said. He now heads the Institute for Children, Youth and Families at Michigan State University.
Experts say teens living away from their families can test new ways of thinking and getting along with people. They may see new solutions to problems.
This is different from running away , the experts stress. Runaways are often fleeing（逃避） serious problems.
If there is conflict（冲突） at home, having a teen live elsewhere can benefit other family members. It gives everyone space to develop better relationships.
Some teens who wants some time away from family to attend a structured summer program. Others live for a while with a relative or with the family of a friend.
Joseph Kett teaches history at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. He says living at home until the late ten years has become the norm（标准、规范） only in recent times.
“In the 17th century, children were often sent to live in other people’s home when they were about 10 or 11,” he said.
Peter Sheras teaches education at the University of Virginia. He said parents should listen when a child wants to move out. They should try to find out why the child wants some time away. Often, parents can help the child find a safe place to stay during that time. In other cases, they can meet the child’s needs at home.
71．According to this passage, many parents think it for their children to live away from them.
A．right B．happy C．unsafe D．reasonable
72．When children seriously disagree with their parents, experts suggest that parents should .
A．punish them B．let them live away from their parents
C．send for a teacher D．keep them in the house
73．In this passage “structured” means .
A．built B．stuck C．organized D．drunk
74．In history, .
A．teens never left their families B．teens often left their parents
C．teens never went to school D．teens never make friends with each other
75．Nowadays living away and running away from home.
A．never happen B．often worry parents and teachers
C．are popular D．are accepted by people