As Apple tries to maintain its growth and success in China, the world's largest smart-phone market is becoming even more critical. Apple's shares(股份) fell sharply as the company's earnings for the holiday quarter through December disappointed investors.
The sales of the iPhone, which include both the iPhone 5 and older models, came in at the low end of analysts' expectations, while the company's income plan for the second quarter was below analysts' forecasts, though Apple is known to give conservative (保守的) forecasts.
Some analysts have said that for Apple to regain its growth, the company needs a more aggressive strategy(进攻型策略) for markets, or more specifically for China, where the market for smart phones has been expanding more rapidly than anywhere else. In China, demand is particularly great for inexpensive phones that run on Android(安卓) operating system, sold by many Chinese phone makers as well as South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co.
But Apple says it's already enjoying strong growth in China. "We saw big growth in iPhones," Chief Executive Tim Cook said. He said that the company has been quickly expanding its sales channels in China, including the number of Apple stores. "This isn't nearly what we need, we're not even close to that, but we're making great progress.” he said.
In China, a big missing piece for Apple is China Mobile Ltd. , the biggest local telecom carrier that doesn't yet sell the iPhone. Earlier this month, Mr. Cook met China Mobile Chairman Xi Guohua in Beijing and discussed cooperation, stirring hopes that the world's largest mobile carrier may soon start offering the iPhone.
Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported that Apple is working on a lower-end iPhone that could launch as early as this year. But one possible challenge for Apple in China is that low-priced Android-based phones are getting better in terms of quality. A report from CLSA in late November showed that many smart-phones sold at about1,000 yuan ($160) came with higher- resolution screens, better cameras and more powerful processors than phones at that price did a year earlier.Apple's shares dropped sharply because in December______________.
| A．the iPhone wasn't popular in China |
| B．its product quality was widely criticized |
| C．the earnings for the holiday quarter was disappointing |
| D．the investors were not satisfied with Apple's management |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A．Apple tends to offer a lower sales forecast. |
| B．China Mobile Ltd began to team up with Apple. |
| C．Cook is pessimistic about what Apple did in China. |
| D．Apple didn't take measures to develop Chinese market. |
The author uses the report from CLSA to prove _____.
| A．their prices are actually lower than a year earlier |
| B．Apple in China has ability to deal with any problem |
| C．low-ended Android-based phones are progressing fast |
| D．the promotion of lower-end iPhone will face a challenge |
The main purpose of the passage is to show the readers ______________.
| A．Apple's high popularity in China |
| B．the challenge Apple faces in China |
| C．the approaching failure Apple will suffer in China |
| D．Apple's aggressive strategy in its market expansion |
Sometimes doing something for yourself - even shopping--can give others a lift. That's the case at charity shops and non-profit stores such as Ten Thousand Villages which helps provide skilled workmen with money in developing countries.
Their handicrafts(手工艺品) are sold throughout North America in 180 stores, 95 of them operated by Ten Thousand Villages.
"People come into the store because we have a lot of interesting things, but then they're drawn to us by the mission(慈善的行动) ," says organization spokeswoman Juanita Fox.
"It just feels good to be making a difference when you're buying something."
In the Alexandria, Virginia shop, generals display windows draw you in. They are filled with practical, attractive home furnishings in blue and white, all international in mood.
Once inside though, it's clear that this isn't just another import store. On the wall behind the cash register is the following note:
"Ten Thousand Villagers provides necessary, fair income to Third World people by marketing their handicrafts and telling their stories in North America. Your Buying Makes a Difference. "
The store was opened in 1994 as part of a network of shops across the USA run by the Mennonite Church, which is based in Akron, Pennsylvania.
Currently, 60,000 skilled workmen from 32 countries provide goods to the stores, with all proceeds (收益) re-invested in the organization.
Management of the Alexandria shop is overseen by an all-volunteer board of directors. More than 40 additional volunteers help doing everything from working the register to unpacking stock.
Maria Yannopoulos got involved after visiting a store and getting to know another volunteer. "Since we are non-profit, we are really looking for value because the more we sell, the more jobs we can create. Giving someone job rather than charity helps in so many ways. "The underlined part "give others a lift" in the first paragraph means ______.
| A．offer other a ride in a car |
| B．take others up and down in another floor |
| C．make others think of plans |
| D．make others more pleased |
A large number of people visit Ten Thousand Villagers because _______.
| A．they are fond of traveling around |
| B．they can find something interesting |
| C．they can enjoy the wonderful foods |
| D．they want to learn how to farm in the fields |
What can we learn from the note mentioned in this passage?
A. Goods sold at Ten Thousand Villages are expensive.
B. Stories about Ten Thousand Villages are interesting.
C. What the purpose of the shop is.
D. Goods from the Third World are better than those from the USA.From the last paragraph we can learn that ________.
| A．American volunteers like to run shops |
| B．American shops are mostly operated by volunteers |
| C．Volunteers often offer goods to their friends as presents |
| D．Shopping can also be a kind of charity |
Want a glance of the future of health care? Take a look at the way the various networks of people about patient care are being connected to one another, and how this new connectivity is being exploited to deliver medicine to the patient —no matter where he or she may be.
Online doctors offering advice based on normal symptoms(症状) are the most obvious example. Increasingly, however, remote diagnosis(远程诊断) will be based on real physiological data(生理数据) from the actual patient. A group from the University of Kentucky has shown that by using personal data assistance plus a mobile phone, it is perfectly practical to send a patient’s important signs over the telephone. With this kind of equipment, the cry asking whether there was a doctor in the house could well be a thing of the past.
Other medical technology groups are working on applying telemedicine to rural (countryside) care. And at least one team wants to use telemedicine as a tool for disaster need—especially after earthquakes. On the whole, the trend is towards providing global access to medical data and experts’ opinions.
But there is one problem. Bandwidth(宽带) is the limiting factor for sending complex(复杂的) medical pictures around the world — CT photos being one of the biggest bandwidth users. Communication satellites may be able to deal with the short-term needs during disasters such as earthquakes or wars. But medicine is looking towards both the second-generation Internet and third-generation mobile phones for the future of remote medical service.
Doctors have met to discuss computer-based tools for medical diagnosis, training and telemedicine. With the falling price of broadband communications, the new technologies should start a new time when telemedicine and the sharing of medical information, experts’ opinions and diagnosis are common. The writer chiefly talks about _______.
| A．the use of telemedicine | B．the on-lined doctors |
| C．medical care and treatment | D．communication improvement |
The basis of remote diagnosis will be _______.
| A．personal data assistance |
| B．some words of a patient |
| C．real physiological information |
| D．medical pictures from the Internet |
Which of the following statements is true according to the text？
| A．Patients don’t need doctors in hospitals any more. |
| B．It is impossible to send a patient’s signs over the telephone. |
| C．Many teams use telemedicine dealing with disasters now. |
| D．Broadband communications will become cheaper in the future. |
The “problem” in the fourth paragraph refers to the fact that _______.
| A．bandwidth isn’t big enough to send complex medical pictures |
| B．the second-generation of Internet has not become popular yet |
| C．communication satellites can only deal with short-term needs |
| D．there is not enough equipment for spreading the medical care |
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
HONG KONG
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL PERSONS
ARRIVING IN HONG KONG
During your stay outside Hong Kong, you may have been exposed to certain infectious(感染) diseases without your knowledge.
In case you develop any symptom(症状) such as fever, chills, skin rash, diarrhea or vomiting within 14 days of your arrival in Hong Kong, you should consult a doctor or attend an accident & emergency department or general outpatient clinic. Please bring along this card.
CHIEF PORT HEALTH OFFICE
The Port Health Office
Their staff is glad to answer your questions about travel health.
Please inquire at:
--Hong Kong Island
18 F, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Rd. East, Wanchai.
Tel: 2961 8840
-- Kowloon
Room 905, Government Offices, Canton Road
Tel: 2368 3361According to the passage, you may get some infectious diseases _______.
| A．when arriving in Hong Kong |
| B．before you understand them |
| C．within 2 weeks of your arriving in Hong Kong |
| D．before arriving in Hong Kong |
If you find any symptom, which of the following places is not the place where you should go?
| A．The hospital. | B．The accident & emergency department. |
| C．The Port Health Office. | D．The clinic. |
Where can a foreigner read this kind of notice?
| A．At the Customs. |
| B．At hospital. |
| C．On 18 F, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Rd. East, Wanchai |
| D．In Room 905, Government Offices, Canton Road, Kowloon. |
Which of the following is NOT true?
| A．Skin rash is an infectious disease. |
| B．There are two Departments of Health, one in Hong Kong Island and the other in Kowloon. |
| C．You may have some trouble without this card when you go to hospital. |
| D．It is very possible that you get some infectious disease but you don't know it. |
Lawmakers in the United States have expanded an investigation into the use of location-tracking systems on mobile devices. The action follows recent reports about the storing of information on the Apple iPhone. Some people consider location tracking to be a threat to personal privacy and security.
Allan Friedman, the research director, says, “All wireless companies do some location tracking as part of their networks. This information is usually stored by the companies, not the devices, and there are laws to protect it. Law enforcement(执法) agencies, for example, have to have a fairly high standard before it can access that data. And the phone company is also prohibited from selling that information.
Now, two researchers report that location tracking information is being stored directly on Apple devices. They said Apple’s newest operating systems gather global positioning system and timestamp information. The information is stored on the device in a file that is also uploaded (上传) to any computer that the device is connected to. The researchers say the information is available to anyone who has access to the device or computer.
Allan Friedman says, “This raises additional concerns. There’s the idea that because it’s on my phone and on my computer, rogue applications(恶意程序) that I pay for or that I’m tricked into downloading may be able to access this data and somehow misuse it.”
Apple says it is “not tracking the location of your iPhone”. It is simply keeping a database of Wi-Fi hotspots and cell phone towers near the user’s location. This information is meant to help the iPhone quickly find its location when needed.
Letters have been sent to some of the leading mobile device developers, including Apple and Google. The letters asked for more information about their location tracking systems. Allan Friedman calls this an important start to strengthening privacy laws. He says, “There aren’t strong controls over things like location information, what they are doing with it, how long they are keeping it. And perhaps the most important question is, is my location data with other facts about me?”Why did American lawmakers investigate the use of location-tracking systems on cell-phones?
| A．Because the systems can store users’ information |
| B．Because many users have suffered loss after using them. |
| C．Because it is thought to threaten users’ privacy. |
| D．Because many reporters have shown the problem of the systems. |
Allan Friedman believes that ________.
| A．wireless companies focus on personal privacy. |
| B．people are forbidden to get access to private data at will |
| C．phone companies may sell private information secretly |
| D．customers may ask wireless companies to locate their tracking |
What do we know from Paragraph 3?
| A．Location tracking information is stored online. |
| B．Apple’s newest operating systems collect all kinds of information. |
| C．Location tracking information may be uploaded to any iPhone. |
| D．Apple’s newest operating systems may reveal the private information of users. |
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Apple denies that it tracks the location of users. |
| B．The researchers may misunderstand the Apple’s systems. |
| C．The global positioning system is to blame for rogue applications. |
| D．The iPhone can quickly find its location by using its user’s information. |
The booking notes of the play “the Age of Innocence”:
Price: ＄10
BOOKING : There are four easy ways to book seats for performance:
★in person
The Box Office is open Monday to Saturday, 10 a. m. -8 p. m.
★by telephone
Ring 01324976 to reserve your tickets or to pay by credit card（Visa, MasterCard and Amex accepted）
★by post
Simply complete the booking form and return it to Global Theatre Box Office.
★on line
Complete the on-line booking form at www. Satanfied theatre.com
DISCOUNTS:
Saver: ＄2 off any seat booked any time in advance for performances from Monday to Thursday. Savers are available for children up to 16 years old, and full-time students.
Supersaver: half-price seats are available for people with disabilities and one companion. It is advisable to book in advance. There is a maximum of eight wheelchair spaces available and one wheelchair space will be held until an hour before the show.
Standby: best available seats are on sale for ＄6 from one hour before the performance for people eligible（suitable）for Saver and Supersaver discounts and thirty minutes before for all other customers.
Group Bookings: there is a ten per cent discount for parties of twelve or more.
School: school parties of ten or more can book ＄6 standby tickets in advance and will get every tenth ticket free.
Please note: we are unable to exchange tickets or refund money unless a performance is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. If you want to book a ticket, you CANNOT _____
| A．go to the Box Office on Sundays. |
| B．ring the booking number and pay for the tickets by credit card. |
| C．use the Internet. |
| D．complete a booking form and post it to the Box Office. |
According to the notes, who can get ＄2 off?
| A．The people who book the tickets on Fridays. | B．An 18-year-old teenager. |
| C．A 55-year-old woman. | D．A 20-year-old full-time college student. |
If you make a group booking for a group of 14 adults, how much should you pay?
| A．＄120 | B．＄126 | C．＄140 | D．＄150 |