Television will turn 86 years old on September 7, 2013, and it has never looked better. In its youth, television was a piece of furniture with a tiny, round screen showing unclear pictures of lowbudget programs. In spite of its shortcomings, it became well-received. Between 1950 and 1963, the number of American families with a television jumped from 9% to 92% of the population.
As the audience got larger, the technology got better. Television sets became more reliable through the 1960s. Both of the reception and the picture improved. The major networks started broadcasting programs in color.
Even greater improvements were coming according to Sanford Brown, who wrote an article for the Post in 1967. Surprisingly, just about every prediction he made in the article became a reality. For example: All sets in the notdistant future will be color instruments. He also predicted that TV sets would become smaller, simpler, more reliable and less expensive and may forever put the TV repairman out of work. Smaller sets do not, of course, mean smaller screens. TV engineers expect screens to get much bigger. However, today's 3D TV is even farther away, if it's coming at all. There is some doubt whether the public would be eager to pay for it, in view of people's cold reception given to 3D movies.
But the technology with the greatest potential, according to Brown, was cable television (有线电视), which was still in its early stages then. As he predicted, the future of cable television was highly interactive. It wasn't cable television that gave Americans their electronic connection to the world, however. It was the Internet. He even foresaw the future office: using picture phones, bigscreen televisions for conferences, and computers providing information, at the touch of a button.
Brown ever said, “The future of television is no longer a question of what we can invent. It's a question of what we want.”What can we infer about television sets in the 1960s?
| A．They were very popular with Americans. |
| B．Their appearance remained unchangeable. |
| C．They showed blackandwhite pictures. |
| D．Their pictures were of poor quality. |
Which of the followings did Sanford Brown fail to predict?
| A．Television's good quality. |
| B．The invention of 3D TV. |
| C．The more functions of TV. |
| D．The potential of cable TV. |
From the passage we know _________.
| A．TV will certainly take the place of computers |
| B．There won’t be further improvement on TV |
| C．TV repairmen will be out of work in the future |
| D．3D movies don’t appeal to people very much |
What is the text mainly about?
| A．The shortcomings of television. |
| B．The advantages of television. |
| C．The development of television. |
| D．The invention of television. |
Part-time Front Desk Position
Fuse Fitness is looking for a part-time front desk receptionist (接待员) at our new Carlsbad location.
Job duties include:
lWelcoming and greeting members;
lAnswering phone calls;
lSigning up new members;
lCleaning and performing other various duties.
You should have great communication skills and be dependable. More importantly, you should have a positive spirit in stressful situations. You are expected to work five days a week (including weekends).
Please, no phone calls about this job in the morning!
Tel: (760) 434-7704
E-mail: info@fusefitness.com
Apply (申请) in person at: 2502 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, CA 92008
______________________________________________________________________________
The first impression you make in a job interview is very important. The first judgment an interviewer makes is based on how you look and what you are wearing. That’s why it’s always important to dress professionally for a job interview, even if the work environment is casual.
lBefore you even think about going to an interview, make sure you have suitable interview clothes and that everything fits correctly.
lGet you clothes ready the night before, so you don’t have to spend time getting them ready on the day of the interview.
lPolish (擦亮) your shoes.
lBring a breath mint (薄荷糖) and use it before you enter the building.
For more information:
Visit: Jobsearch. monster. com
Or Tel: (800) 421-7250 or (760) 603-4000 Carlsbad, CaliforniaHow should you contact Fuse Fitness about the front desk position in the morning if you can’t go in person?
| A．Call (760) 603-4000 |
| B．Call (760) 434-7704 |
| C．Visit Jobsearch. monster. com |
| D．Send an e-mail to info@fusefitness.com. |
What does Fuse Fitness think is the biggest challenge for a receptionist?
| A．Working five days a week including weekends. |
| B．Having good communication skills. |
| C．Keeping cheerful even in difficult situations. |
| D．Welcoming guests and answering phone calls. |
What would be the best title for the second piece of information?
| A．What to Bring to a Job Interview |
| B．How to Find a Desired Job |
| C．The First Impression in a Job Interview |
| D．Interview Dressing Suggestions |
Which is TRUE according to the second piece of information?
| A．The first judgment is made based on how you behave. |
| B．What to wear should be taken into consideration before an interview. |
| C．It is OK to dress informally for an interview if the work environment is casual. |
| D．You don’t need to pay attention to your shoes because nobody will notice them. |
Everybody has had at least one experience from which he knows the meaning of life. This time, which took place several years ago, but seems as if it just happened.
He took the shirt and put it on bed, with the other clothes we were taking to the funeral. Then he closed the drawer and turned to me, “Don’t ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you’re alive is a special occasion.”
I’m thinking about his words, and they’ve changed the way I live my life. I’m spending more time with my family and friends and less time in committee meetings. Whenever possible, life should be a kind of experience to enjoy, not to suffer. “Someday”and “one of these days”are losing their importance on my vocabulary. If it’s worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now.
Ever since that day, I have been trying very hard not to put off, hold back or save anything that would add laughter and color to our lives. Every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that every day, every minute, every breath, truly is a gift. So cherish every day and find the true meaning of your life.Why did Jan buy the beautiful skirt but didn’t wear it?
| A．She waited for a special occasion to wear it on. |
| B．She wanted to keep it for someone else. |
| C．She saved it till she grew up. |
| D．She would give it to herself as a gift some day. |
What does the underlined word “cherish” mean?
| A．Treasure. | B．Waste. | C．Own. | D．Save |
What does the author write this passage for?
| A．To show how to make good use of everyday in life. |
| B．To explain the true meaning of his brother-in-law’s words. |
| C．To tell people to cherish every day and find the meaning of life. |
| D．To encourage people to waste time and enjoy themselves in life. |
What’s the best title for this passage?
| A．Every Day IS a Gift |
| B．My Sister Jan |
| C．What Is the Meaningful Life like |
| D．The Most Important Time in Your Life |
The consumer(消费者) plays a very important role in the global efforts to reduce C02 emissions(排放). Households use one third of the final energy and produce around two thirds of city waste in the European Union. Besides，housing, food，and private transport make up almost 80％ of environmental pressures. Therefore there’s no doubt that consumers can make a real difference in fighting climate change．
To direct consumers towards more environmentally-friendly decisions，we need clear and simple instructions to guide consumption behavior. Actually, two thirds of consumers find it hard to figure out which products are better for the environment, for 58% Europeans think that many businesses just pretend to be green so as to charge higher prices. Thus industry should work harder to give consumers more information about the carbon footprint of their product. For example, inform customers of products made from materials that are recycled，renewable, and／or less carbon-intensive.
People prefer high-quality products that will last long and won’t go out of style, though they might sometimes cost more, especially in time of crisis. Firms that make durable（持久耐用的） or recyclable products cause people to behave more responsibly, which may help put an end to our “throw-way” culture．
However, it is not enough to remind people of green products. It’s more important to direct people to follow a practical lifestyle model. Regulations alone cannot achieve this purpose. We call for good business communities to create a loyal group of “sustainable(可持续的) consumers”. According to the passage, the key to going greener globally is．
| A．to provide enough information about sustainable products |
| B．to get the government involved in protecting the environment |
| C．to encourage consumers to make their efforts to live a green way |
| D．to direct companies to provide environmentally-friendly products |
The second paragraph tried to tell us that ．
| A．people are buying sustainable products to have a lighter carbon footprint |
| B．most European consumers lack confidence in making responsible choices |
| C．companies have done enough to allow consumers to make greener choices |
| D．companies can make more money by making less carbon-intensive products |
It’s advised that companies had betterespecially in the time of crisis.
| A．throw away old materials |
| B．reduce the cost of production |
| C．make more durable products |
| D．replace their products frequently |
The last paragraph puts emphasis on ___________.
| A．the quality of products. |
| B．the honesty of companies. |
| C．the government regulations. |
| D．the importance of lifestyle. |
United States and Canada are multicultural countries with many national, religious and cultural differences, where people attach great importance to individualism—the uniqueness among people. Teachers value the qualities that make each student special and different. You can see such values through their educational systems. For example, students needn’t memorize lots of information. Instead, they work independently and find answers on their own. There are discussions for children to show their own ideas and opinions.
By contrast, people have the same language, history, and culture in most Asian societies. As a result, Asia’s educational system reflects society’s belief in group goals and purposes rather than individualism. Children in China, Japan, and Korea learn to work together and help one another in assignments. And the teaching methods are often very formal and serious. In class, teachers give lectures while students listen and take notes. Discussion is replaced by reciting rules of information that have been memorized.
These two systems both have advantages and disadvantages. One advantage in Japan is that there is much more math and science than American students learn by the end of high school. In addition, students study more hours each day and more days each year than North Americans do. The difficult system also prepares students for a society that place emphasis on discipline and self-control. However, while memorization is an important learning method in Japanese schools, yet many students admit forgetting much of the information that they have memorized after exams.
On the other hand, the educational system in North American has an advantage that students learn to think for themselves, which prepares them for a society that values creativity. The disadvantage is that when they graduate from high school, they haven’t recited as many basic rules and facts as students in other countries have.People in multicultural countries such as the US or Canada lay more stress on __________.
| A．team work | B．self-control | C．discipline | D．individualism |
What is the advantage of the educational system in North America？
| A．There is not much discussion. |
| B．Learning to think for themselves |
| C．Learning much less math and science |
| D．They haven’t memorized basic rules and facts. |
Which words is most suitable to describe the author's attitude in writing this passage?
| A．Supportive | B．Opposite | C．Objective | D．Subjective |
The main idea of this passage is___________.
| A．cultural differences in countries such as the United States or Canada |
| B．comparisons of educational system between North America and Asia |
| C．there are more advantages of Asian education system of than that of North American |
| D．there are more disadvantages of Asian education system than that of North American |
One of my most unforgettable experiences is the day I finished my tough rowing and keep myself free of loneliness.
As the youngest female ever to row alone across the Atlantic Ocean, I was often asked the same question: How did you, a only 20-year old youngster row a 18-foot boat for 70 days through those strong winds and violent waves and survive?
Frankly speaking, for me, the physical challenge was not the greatest one. Before I made my mind to row across the Atlantic, I had already cycled 3,300 miles, run all by myself across the Mojave Desert, and swum the 325-mile length of the Allegheny River. No, the hardest part would be mental: How would I cope with the terrible loneliness and the boredom on the vast sea for such a long time?
I set out on January 1 and my first object was to swim past the quarter-way mark, which would take about 20 days. I made it on January 20, a gray and cloudy day. I had thought to do something to celebrate my first goal such as treating myself to a chocolate bar or something else. But I didn’t. I was suffering from unbearable boredom and loneliness of the long sea journey. I hadn’t seen any landing at least more than two weeks. It seemed to feel the same every day. Eating, rowing, sleeping, staring at the sky, watching the ocean.
Then that day came! It was around dusk, I noticed something move on the horizon. Yes, some dolphins! They approached me and circled my boat. Suddenly I felt so blessed. They had arrived to accompany me and helped to celebrate, just when I needed them so badly! For the next 15 minutes, I did row at full speed with all my strength with those lovely dolphins around. By the time they were to leave me and we went our separate ways, I was no longer lonely.
After 70 days and five hours at sea, I finally reached my final destination. I was proud that I made it, all 2,817 miles, which helped to raise $70,000 for the Blue Planet Run Foundation, an organization for funding drinking water. I’ve been told some athletes struggled to get through just by imagining the end during the whole process. But for me, what makes miracle is to focus your mind on the moment, where you experience the personal growth—those moments of awareness of being connected to the sun, the weather, and the waves. And, on the best day of my life, I had to admit those dolphins really freed myself from terrible loneliness.Which of the following belongs to part of preparation for the row?
| A．Answering the same question raised by people |
| B．Swimming the 325-mile length of the river |
| C．Running 3,300 miles cross-country |
| D．Biking across the Mojave Desert |
The underlined part means ___________.
| A．I wasn’t in the mood to celebrate my first goal |
| B．I didn’t have any chocolate bar for energy |
| C．It’s a pity not to celebrate my passing the quarter |
| D．It’s a pity not to treat myself to a chocolate bar |
What can be implied from the last two paragraphs?
| A．The Blue Planet Run Foundation helped me a lot. |
| B．The dolphins accompanied me to reach my destination |
| C．The unexpected dolphins swept away my loneliness |
| D．Imagination was a useful way to help me get through |
Which can be the best title of the passage?
| A．The only challenge for a 20-year old |
| B．Tips on handling loneliness at sea. |
| C．How to row alone across the Atlantic |
| D．The day I stopped being lonely |