What should you think about when trying to find your career? You are probably better at some school subjects than others. These may show strengths that you can use in your work. A boy who is good at mathematics can use that in an engineering career. A girl who spells well and likes English may be good at office work. So it is important to know the subjects you do well in at school. On the other hand, you may not have any specially strong subjects but your records show a general satisfactory standard. Although not all subjects can be used directly in a job, they may have indirect value. A knowledge of history is not required for most jobs but if history is one of your good subjects you will have learned to remember facts and details. This is an ability that can be useful in many jobs.
Your school may have taught you skills, such as typing or technical drawing, which you can use in your work. 
You may be good at metalwork or cookery and look for a job where you can improve these skills. If you have had a part-time job on Saturdays or in the summer, think what you gained from it. If nothing else, you may have learned how to get to work on time, to follow instructions and to get on with older workers. You may have learned to give correct change in a shop, for example. Just as important, you may become interested in a particular industry or career you see from the inside in a part-time job.
Facing your weak points is also part of knowing yourself. You may be all thumbs when you handle tools; perhaps you are a poor speller or cannot add up a column of fi
gures. It is better to face any weakness than to pretend they do not exist. Your school record, for example, may not be too good, yet it is an important part of your background. You should not be apologetic (认错的) about it but instead recognize that you will have a chance of a fresh start at work.. What is the passage mainly about?
| A．The importance of working hard at school. |
| B．Choosing a career according to one’s strengths. |
| C．How to face one’s weakness. |
| D．The value of school work. |
. The writer thinks that a student with a part-time job is probably _________.
| A．a good way to find out his weak points |
| B．one of the best ways of earning extra money |
| C．of great use for his work in the future |
| D．a waste of time he could have spent on study |
. From the passage we learn that if a student’s school performance is not good, he _________.
| A．should pay more attention to learning skills and developing abilities |
| B．will be regretful about his bad results |
C．may also do well in his future work |
| D．should restart his study in school |
. The underlined phrase “be all thumbs” (in Para. 3) probably means “_________”.
| A．be clumsy (笨拙) at doing things | B．be skillful in doing things |
| C．be not interested in certain things | D．be easily bored in doing things |
. From the last paragraph we know one should _________.
| A．make full use of one’s own weak points | B．study harder for a new school record |
| C．apologize for one’s own school record | D．face one’s own weak points bravely |
We can see how the product life cycle works by looking at the introduction of instant（速溶） coffee. When it was introduced, most people did not like it as well as "regular" coffee, and it took several years to gain general acceptance（introduction stage）.At one point, though, instant coffee grew rapidly in popularity, and many brands were introduced（stage of rapid growth）. After a while, people became attached to one brand and sales leveled off（stage of maturity）. Sales went into a slight decrease when freeze-dried coffees were introduced（stage of decline）.
The importance of the product life cycle to marketers is this: Different stages in the product life cycle call for different strategies. The goal is to extend product life so that sales and profits do not drop. One strategy is called market modification. It means that marketing managers look for new users and market sections. Did you know, for example, that the backpacks that so many students carry today were originally designed for the soldiers？
Market modification also means searching for increased usage among present customers or going for a different market, such as senior citizens. A marketer may re-position the product to appeal to new market sections.
Another product extension strategy is called product modification. It involves changing product quality, features, or style to attract new users or more usage from present users. American auto manufacturers are using quality improvement as one way to regain world markets. Note, also, how auto manufacturers once changed styles eagerly from year to year to keep demand from falling.The first paragraph tells us that a new product is ________.
| A．not easily accepted by the public |
| B．often of poorer quality compared with old ones |
| C．often more expensive than old ones |
| D．usually introduced to satisfy different tastes |
Marketers need to know which of the four stages a product is in so as to________.
| A．promote its production |
| B．work out marketing plans |
| C．speed up its life cycle |
| D．increase its popularity |
The author mentions the example of "backpacks" （Para.2） to show the importance of________.
| A．pleasing the young as well as the old |
| B．increasing usage among students |
| C．exploring new market sections |
| D．finding creative product designers |
In order to attract more consumers, U.S. auto makers are ________.
| A．modernizing product style |
| B．increasing product features |
| C．developing products of better quality |
| D．re-positioning their product in the market |
There was great excitement on the planet of Venus(金星) this week. For the first time Venusian scientists managed to land a satellite on the planet Earth, and it has been sending back signals as well as photographs ever since.
The satellite was directed into an area known as Manhattan (named after the great Venusian astronomer Prof. Manhattan, who first discovered it with his telescope 20000 light years ago).
Because of excellent weather conditions and extremely strong signals, Venusian scientists were able to get valuable information as to feasibility (可行性) of a manned flying saucer (碟) landing on Earth. A press conference was held at the Venus Institute of Technology.
“We have come to the conclusion, based on last week’s satellite landing,” Prof. Zog said, “that there is no life on Earth.”
“How do you know this?” the science reporter of the Venus Evening Star asked.
“For one thing, Earth’s surface in the area of Manhattan is made up of solid concrete and nothing can grow there. For another, the atmosphere is filled with carbon monoxide (一氧化碳) and other deadly gases and nobody could possibly breathe this air and survive.” “What does this mean as far as our flying saucer program is concerned?”
“We shall have to take our own oxygen with us, which means a much heavier flying saucer than originally planned.”
“Are there any other dangers that you discovered in your studies?”
“Take a look at this photo. You see this dark black cloud hovering(盘旋) over the surface of Earth? We don’t know what it is made of, but it could give us a lot of trouble and we shall have further tests before we send a Venus Being there.”
“Over here you will notice what seems to be a river, but the satellite findings indicates it is polluted and the water is unfit to drink. This means we shall have to carry our own water, which will add even greater weight to the saucer.”
“If all you say is true, won’t this set back the flying saucer program several years?”
“Yes, but we shall continue as soon as the Grubstart gives us the added funds.” Prof. Zog replied.During the week of great excitement the Venusian scientists succeeded in getting important information as to ____.
| A．the feasibility of landing a satellite on Earth |
| B．the possibility of making a first-rate flying saucer |
| C．the feasibility of sending a Venus Being to Earth |
| D．the possibility of directing a flying saucer into Manhattan |
According to Prof. Zog, the Venusians will have to take their own oxygen with them when they carry out their flying saucer program because ____.
| A．they need it in their way to the planet of Earth |
| B．the Earth’s atmosphere is filled with deadly gases |
| C．there is a low level of oxygen for Venusians |
| D．there is no air on the planet of Earth |
The “dark black cloud” on the photo refers to ____.
| A．the polluted air hovering over the surface of Earth |
| B．the mass of tiny drops of water floating above Earth |
| C．the mass of small things moving through the air |
| D．the dark clouds gathering before a storm breaks |
The author wishes to call our attention to the fact that ____.
| A．that modern man has polluted his environment to such an extend that he might destroy himself if he went on like this |
| B．that there is a point in spending billions to land a flying saucer on Earth |
| C．that pollution has become so serous a problem on Earth that even Venusians find life there unbearable. |
| D．that it is difficult if not altogether impossible, to land a manned flying saucer on Earth |
Federal regulators Wednesday approved (批准a plan to create a nationwide emergence alert（警报）system using text messages delivered to cell phones.
Text messages have exploded in popularity in recent years, particularly among young people. The wireless industry's trade association, CTIA, estimates（估计）more than 48billion text messages are sent each month.
The plan comes from the Warning Alert and Response Network Act, a 2006 federal law that requires improvements to the nation's emergency alert system. The act tasked the Federal Communications Commission（FCC）with coming up with new ways to alert the public about emergencies.
"The ability to deliver accurate and timely warnings and alerts through cell phones and other mobile services is an important next step in our efforts to help ensure that the American public has the information they need to take action to protect themselves and their families before, and during, disasters and other emergencies," FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said following approval of the plan.
Participation in the alert system by carriers -telecommunications companies is voluntary, but it has received solid support from the wireless industry.
The program would be optional for cell phone users. They also may not be charged for receiving alerts.
There would be three different types of messages, according to the rules.
The first would be a national alert from the president, likely involving a terrorist attack or natural disaster. The second would involve "approaching threats," which could include natural disasters like hurricanes or storms or even university shootings. The third would be reserved for child abduction（绑架）emergencies, or so-called Amber Alerts.
The service could be in place by 2010.What is the purpose of the approved plan?
| A．To warn people of emergencies via messages. |
| B．To popularize the use of cell phones. |
| C．To estimate the monthly number of messages. |
| D．To promote the wireless industry. |
The improvement to the present system is in the charge of________.
A．CTIA B the Warning Alert and Response Network
C．FCC D．federal regulatorsAn alert message will NOT be sent if________.
| A．a child loses his way |
| B．a university shooting happens |
| C．a natural disaster happens |
| D．a terrorist attack occurs |
Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
| A．Cell Phone Alerts Protecting Students |
| B．Cell Phone Alerts by Wireless Industry |
| C．Cell Phone Alerts of National Disasters |
| D．Cell Phone Alerts Coming Soon |
“Dad! He took a book without paying!” I yelled .
My father looked surprised. Before the boy could say anything, his mother grabbed his arm and shook it. “Is it true? You stole? Tell me!”
Everyone was quiet. The boy began to cry, and he nodded his head. He pulled out the comic book (漫画书) from under his shirt.
“Oh, Mr. Kim. I am sorry! My Ted made a big mistake!” Mrs. Diaz told my father. She tried to take the comic book, but Ted wouldn’t let go.
“It’s OK. He can keep it,” my father said with a smile.
“Oh no,” Mrs. Diaz said. “Let me pay right now ...” She dug in her purse. “How much?”
“Three seventy-five.”
Mrs. Diaz’s eyes widened, and she dug deeper. I saw her mouth make a small line. “Three seventy-five?” she asked.
“It’s OK. You can pay later,” my father said.
“No,” Mrs. Diaz said. She kept looking in her purse. “I have money here.”
I felt bad for yelling, for I realized that Ted had tried to steal the comic book because he didn’t have the money. Maybe the boy could have a job, I thought.
I had an idea.
“What if he worked with me?” I asked. They turned to me.
I said, “He can work with me to pay for the comic book.”
“Good,” my father said smiling at me. Mrs. Diaz nodded. She turned to her son, “You hear? You will work and buy the comic book!”
“Yes, Mama,” Ted said, hanging his head.
As they left, Ted looked back, and though he still seemed sad, he stuck out (伸出) his tongue at me.
Ted has been working here for two weeks. He has paid for the comic book, but my father says he is such a good worker that he can work with me as long as he wants. We are friends now.Where did the story most probably take place?
| A．In a classroom. | B．In a supermarket. |
| C．At a bookstore. | D．At a library. |
By saying “but Ted wouldn’t let go” in Paragraph 4, the author means Ted ______.
| A．took the book by mistake | B．wanted to keep the book |
| C．didn’t want to go home | D．didn’t think he was wrong |
From the underlined sentences in the eighth paragraph, we may infer that Mrs. Diaz ______.
| A．didn’t think her son stole the book |
| B．had been out of work for a long time |
| C．forgot to take money with her that day |
| D．couldn’t afford to pay for the book |
In the last paragraph, what does the author mainly tell?
| A．His idea was successful. | B．Ted didn’t like the job. |
| C．He liked Ted very much. | D．Ted was a naughty boy. |
Little Brother
By Cory Doctorow, 382 pages, $19.95
In the very near future, Marcus Yallow is walking with his friends in San Francisco when a 9/11-sized terrorist attack occurs blocks away. Everyone around is secretly taken away by the Department of Homeland Security to see whether they're terrorists. However, during the investigation, one of his friends dies mysteriously. The friends try to find out the truth. If you read only one science-fiction novel this year, make it this one.
The Flying Troutmans
By Miriam Toews, 274 pages, $32
The heart of the book is a road journey in Canada made by Hattie，Thebes and Logan to find Cherkis, the kids' dad. It's rich in dialogue, sometimes funny, sometimes surprisingly sad, always character-true. Toews is an extraordinarily gifted writer, with tough-minded compassion (同情) for her characters.
Reading By Lightning
By Joan Thomas, 388 pages, $22.95
We're in 1930s Canada, where Lily's father arrived three decades earlier to be promised fertile agricultural land. But they had been cheated and thrown in the middle of Manitoba. Now William Piper and his wife farm their land and place little hope in this life.
What They Wanted
By Donna Morrissey, 325 pages, $32
A father has a heart attack; a brother and a sister leave Newfoundland and go to Alberta, Canada to work； a tragedy brings reconciliation (和解), but also terrible loss. Primarily a novel of character, it's also a novel of Canada, of two very specific and vividly drawn places. Donna Morrissey's characters are troubled, sensitive, quick to be moved to anger or pain, and just as quick to laughter and affection.If Jim only has 20 dollars, which book could he buy?
| A．The Flying Troutmans. | B．What They Wanted. |
| C．Little Brother. | D．Reading By Lightning. |
According to the text, we know that The Flying Troutmans is .
| A．full of dialogue | B．a sad story |
| C．about tourism | D．a real story |
In Reading By Lightning, why did William Piper arrive in Canada?
| A．To carry out his promise. | B．To` work in a big city. |
| C．To get work experience. | D．To seek his fortune. |
If you want to know about two different places of Canada, whose novel is the best choice?
| A．Cory Doctorow's. | B．Miriam Toews's. |
| C．Joan Thomas's. | D．Donna Morrissey's. |