Everyone knows that the French are romantic, the Italian are fashionable and the Germans are serious. Or do they? Are these just stereotypes or is there really such a thing as national character? And if there is, can it affect how a nation succeed or fail?
At least one group of people is certain that it can. A recent survey of the top 500 entrepreneurs (实业家) in the UK found that 70 percent felt that their efforts were not appreciated by the B
ritish public .
Britain is hostile to success, they said. It has a culture of jealousy (嫉妒) . As a result, the survey said, entrepreneurs were “unloved, unwanted and misunderstood”. Jealousy is sometimes known as the “green-eyed monster” and the UK is its home. Scientists at Warwich University in the UK recently tested this idea. They gathered a group of people together and gave each an imaginary amount of money. Some were given a little, others a great deal. Those given a little money were given the chance to destroy the large amounts of money given to others—but at the cost of losing their own. Two thirds of the people tested agreed to do this.
This seems to prove the entrepreneurs were right to complain. But there is also conflicting evidence. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) recently reported that the UK was now the world’s fourth largest economy .That is not bad for people who are supposed to hate success. People in the UK also work longer hours than anyone else in Europe. So the British people are not lazy , either .
“It’s not really success that the British dislike,” says Carey Cooper, a Professor of management at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology. “It’s people using their success in
a way that seems arrogant (傲慢) or unfair or which separates them from their roots .”
Perhaps it is the entrepreneurs who are the problem. They set out to do things in their way. They work long hours. By their own efforts they become millionaires. But instead of being happy they complain that nobody loves them. It hardly seems worth following their example. If they were more friendly, people would like them more. And more people want to be like them.What does the underlined “it” in the second paragraph refer to?
| A．One group of people | B．A great survey |
| C．National character | D．A nation |
Most entrepreneurs surveyed believe that
| A．they are not popular simply because they are successful |
| B．the British public are hardworking |
| C．love of success is Britain’s national character |
| D．they are considered as “green-eyed monsters” |
What does the result of the Warwich University test show?
| A．Two thirds of the people tested didn’t love money |
| B．Most people would rather fail than see others succeed |
| C．An imaginary amount of money does not attract people |
| D．Most people are willing to enjoy success with others |
The writer of the passage seems to suggest that .
A．Jealousy is Brit ain’s national character |
| B．British entrepreneurs are not fairly treated |
| C．the scientists are Warwich University did a successful test |
| D．the British dislike the entrepreneurs because they do not behave properly |
If you want to stay young, sit down and have a good think. This is the research finding of a team of Japanese doctors who say that most of our brains are not getting enough exercise and as a result, we are aging unnecessarily soon
Professor Taiju Matsuzawa wanted to find out why otherwise healthy farmers in northern Japan appeared to be losing their ability to think and reason at a relatively early age, and how the process of aging could be slowed down.With a team of colleagues at Tokyo National University, he set about measuring brain volumes of a thousand people of different ages and jobs.
Computer technology enabled the researchers to get right measurements of the volume of the front and side sections of the brain, which relate to intellect and emotion, and determine the human character. Contraction (收缩) of the front and side parts as cells died was observed in some subjects in their thirties, but it was still not clear in some sixty and seventy-year-olds.Matsuzawa concluded from his tests that there is a simple remedy (补救) to the contraction normally associated with age using the head.
The findings show in general terms that contraction of the brain begins sooner in people in the country than in towns. Those least at risk, says Matsuzawa, are lawyers, followed by university professors and doctors. White collar workers doing routine work in government offices are, however, as likely to have shrinking (萎缩) brains as farm workers, bus drivers and shop assistants.
Matsuzawa's findings show that thinking can prevent the brain from shrinking. Blood must circulate properly in the head to supply the fresh oxygen the brain cells need. "The best way to keep good blood circulation is through using the brain," he says, "Think hard and engage in conversation. Don't rely on pocket calculators.”
62.The team of doctors wanted to find out ______.
A. why certain people age sooner than others
B. how to make people live much longer
C. the size of certain people's brains
D. the people with more intelligence
63. On what are their research findings based?
A. A survey of farmers in northern Japan.
B. Tests performed on a thousand old people.
C. The study of brain volumes of different people.
D. The latest development of computer technology.
64.Matsuzawa thinks that _______.
A. our brains grow as we grow older
B. the front section of the brain does not shrink
C. sixty-year-old people have better brains than thirty-year-olds
D. the contraction of brains is connected with brain exercise
654.According to the passage, which people seem to age slower than others?
A. Farmers. B. Lawyers. C. Government workers. D. Shop assistants.
Our “Mommy and Me” time began two years ago. My next-door neighbor and fellow mother, Christie, and I were out in our front yards, watching seven children of age 6 and under ride their bikes up and down. “I wish I could take one of my children out alone,”said Christie.
Then we worked out a plan: When Christie takes one of her children out, I'll watch her other three. And when she watches two of mine, I'll take someone out.
The children were extremely quick to accept the idea of “Mommy and Me” time. Christie's daughter, McKenzie, went first. When she returned, the other children showered her with tons of questions. McKenzie was smiling broadly. Christie looked refreshed and happy. “she's like a different child when there's no one else around,” Christie shared with me quietly. With her mother all to herself, McKenzie didn't have to make an effort to gain attention.
Just as Christie had noticed changes in McKenzie, I also discovered something different in each of my children during our alone times. For example, I am always surprised when my daughter, who is seldom close to me, holds my hand frequently. My stuttering（口吃的） son, Tom, doesn't stutter once during our activities since he doesn't have to struggle for a chance to speak. And the other son, Sam who's always follower when around other children shines as a leader during our times together.
The “Mommy and Me” time allows us to be simply alone and away with each child--talking, sharing, and laughing, which has been the biggest gain. Every child deserves（应得到） to be an only child at least once in a while.
58.What is the text mainly about?
A. The basic needs of children.
B. The advantage of spending time with one child at a time.
C. The happy life of two families.
D. The experience of the only child being with mother.
59.Right after McKenzie came back, the other children were ________.
A. happy B. curious C. regretful D. friendly
60.What is one of the changes the author finds in her children?
A. Tom has less difficulty in speaking. B. Sam holds her hand more often.
C. The boys become better followers. D. The daughter acts like a leader.
61.The author seems to believe that ________
A. having brothers and sisters is fun B. it's tiring to look after three children
C. every child needs parents' full attention D. parents should watch others' children
When I worked as a waitress in Chicago, US, my coworkers and I would groan (叹息) whenever we heard someone with a foreign accent coming into our restaurant. We knew what it meant to serve a non–American: no tip. We would work just as hard as we always did, but we might not get paid
Americans have an unspoken rule about tipping: they give tips to almost everyone who offers them a service of some kind. Americans tip their waiters, barbers and taxi drivers. An appropriate (合适的) tip is between 15 and 20 percent of the amount charged for the service, but the charge for the tip doesn’t appear on the bill. The customer is expected to add it on himself/herself.
So if you order $100 worth of food, you are expected to pay your waiter at least $15, making your total payment $115. Tipping less than this sends a message to your waiter that you think they’ve done a bad job serving you. And to leave no tip at all is simply unacceptable.
It’s not that American waiters are greedy. In many countries, waiters are paid a salary for their work. They’ll earn money even if no one comes into the restaurant. This system offers much more safety for waiters than the American version. In the US, waiters know that a night without customers means a night without pay.
Some countries include a tip for waiters – a “service charge” – on the bill itself. Since the tip is included with the other charges, waiters don’t need to worry about people forgetting to tip. But in the US, waiters do not receive a salary, and service charges only appear on bills when there are six or more customers at the table.
Since almost all American customers are familiar with the system, they know to add a tip without being told. But visitors to the US may expect waiters to be paid a salary, or think that the tip is included on the bill. So as much as we waiters loved hearing stories about other places from our foreign customers, we were always nervous when they got ready to leave the restaurant. We were never sure what to expect.
55. Why would the author and her coworkers groan when they had to serve a non-American?
A. They would have difficulty understanding the customer.
B. They had to work harder to get tips from the customer.
C. They might not get any payment from the customer.
D. They thought a non-American customer would be hard to please.
56. If you order $550 worth of food, you are supposed to pay your waiter at least ______.
A. $55 B. $82.5 C. $100 D.$110
57. Why would it be thought unacceptable not to tip a waiter in the US？
A. They enjoy getting tips from their customers.
B. They work harder than waiters in other countries.
C. They are greedier than waiters in other countries.
D. They earn most of their money from diners’ tips.
第三部分：阅读理解（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）
How to Make a Budget
Most likely, you aren’t the family breadwinner. But doing a small job or getting a weekly allowance (零花钱) would put some money in your pocket. For kids and grown-ups alike, money is easy to spend. If you aren’t careful, it can be gone in no time.
Being responsible with your money is an important skill to learn ----and the sooner you start the better. Whether you are tracking your spending or saving for something special, creating a budget can help you deal with your expenses and plan for the future. All you need are paper and a pencil --- and some self-control.
First, take a look at our sample monthly budget. Then, use a separate sheet of paper to plan your own. In the first two columns (栏), list your sources (来源) of income and how much you expect to earn from them. In the third and fourth columns, list what you expect to spend your money on and the amount.
The left-hand total should be more than or equal to the right-hand total. If it is, you have an effective budget.
Sample Monthly Budget
| Monthly Income |
Amount |
Monthly Expenses |
Amount |
| Allowance |
$20.00 |
Snacks |
$26.00 |
| Money earned selling drinks |
$25.00 |
Music downloads |
$12.00 |
| Money earned babysitting |
$12.50 |
Movies |
$18.00 |
| Money earned delivering newspapers |
$30.00 |
Video rentals |
$10.00 |
| Total: |
$87.50 |
Total |
$66.00 |
Budgets are not complex, but sticking to them can be tough. When planning your budget, be realistic about your expenses. If you know that you drop $18 at a movie, don’t write $12 in that space simply because you wish you were spending less
If you are eyeing a big purchase, such as a $150 skateboard, spend less and save more until you have the total amount. No matter how attractive it may be, avoid spending your savings. One day, you will thank yourself!
51. Who is the passage written for？
A. Children. B. Parents. C. Breadwinners. D. Bank managers.
52. The purpose of making a budget is to help people _________.
A. learn to be realistic B. increase their saving
C. manage their money well D. test their power-control
53. What should people do when planning a budget？
A. Fill in the expenses as they really are.
B. Avoid spending money on expensive things.
C. Set aside a fixed amount of money as savings.
D. List income and expenses on two pieces of paper.
54. Which of the following budgets is effective?
A.
| Monthly Income |
Amount |
Monthly Expenses |
Amount |
| Allowance |
$20.00 |
Money earned walking dogs |
$20.00 |
| Bus fares |
$40.00 |
Movies |
$28.00 |
| Total: |
$60 |
Total |
$48.00 |
B.
| Monthly Income |
Amount |
Monthly Expenses |
Amount |
| Allowance |
$20.00 |
Movies |
$30.00 |
| Money earned washing cars |
$10.00 |
Bus fares |
$10.00 |
| Total: |
$30.00 |
Total: |
$40.00 |
C.
| Monthly Income |
Amount |
Monthly Expenses |
Amount |
| Allowance |
$27.50 |
Money earned selling drinks |
$22.00 |
| Money earned babysitting |
$22.50 |
Birthday gifts |
$28.00 |
| Total: |
$50.00 |
Total: |
$50.00 |
D.
| Monthly Income |
Amount |
Monthly Expenses |
Amount |
| Allowance |
$26.00 |
Video rentals |
$22.00 |
| Money earned doing yard work |
$24.00 |
Birthday gifts |
$28.00 |
| Total: |
$50.00 |
Total: |
$50.00 |
One day not too long ago the employees of a large company in St. Louis, Missouri returned from their lunch break and were greeted with a sign on the front door. The sign said: “Yesterday the person who has been hindering（阻止）your growth in this company passed away . We invite you to join the funeral（葬礼）in the room that has been prepared in the gym . ”
At first everyone was sad to hear that one of their colleagues had died, but after a while they started getting curious about who this person might be. The excitement grew as the employees arrived at the gym to pay their last respects. Everyone wondered: “Who is this person who was hindering my progress? Well, at least he’s no longer here!”
One by one the employees got closer to the coffin（棺材） and when then they looked inside it they suddenly became speechless. They stood over the coffin, shocked and in silence, as if someone had touched the deepest part of their soul. There was a mirror inside the coffin: everyone who looked inside it could see himself. There was also a sign next to the mirror that said: “There is only one who is capable to set limits to your growth: it is YOU.”
You are the only person who can revolutionize your life. You are the only person who can influence your happiness, your realization and your success. You are the only person who can help yourself. Your life does not change when your boss changes, when your friends change, when your parents change, when your partner changes, when your company changes. Your life changes when YOU change, when you go beyond your limiting beliefs, when you realize that you are the only one responsible for your life.
53. Who has ever hindered the employees of the large company in St. Louis, Missouri?
A. The boss B. The leader of their group
C. The signD. The employees themselves
54. Who passed away in the large company?
A. No one B. The boss C. One of the employees D. One of the colleagues
55. What’s the best title of this paragraph?
A. Independent B. Hard Working C. Team Work D. Last Respects