Why Doesn’t Anybody Copy Apple?
Apple’s products are the envy of the world. They have been spectacularly successful and are widely imitated, if not copied. The minute Apple crystallizes a product, everyone knows how to compete. This idea that the basis of competition is set by Apple and then the race is on to climb the path of improvement is unquestionable. When Apple releases a product that defines a category or dramatically changes the structure of an industry, it becomes obvious what needs to be built. But what I wonder is why everyone wants to copy Apple’s products but nobody wants to copy being Apple?
I can think of two reasons. Firstly, Apple is not worth copying because it’s not successful; secondly, Apple’s success cannot be copied because it is a magical process.
There is a great deal of evidence for the first hypothesis. The idea of Apple being successful is not something reflected in its stock price. Being valued lower than the average company in the S&P（标准普尔）500 indicates that to whatever degree Apple was successful in the past, it’s not seen by the vast majority of observers as successful in the future. Why should one bother copying Apple if it results in being punished with a low valuation? If one works really hard at innovation and then that innovation becomes commoditized（商品化）very quickly, why should one bother?
When innovation practitioners are asked what makes Apple successful,the answers regarding the cause of this success border on the mythical.The climax of this hypothesis is the “chief-sorcerer”theory of success which places one magician,like Steve Jobs,in charge of casting all the right spells（符咒）
What about Apple’s own opinion of what makes it tick? Tim Cook refers to a great team and integration of hardware, software and services as unique Apple advantages. It’s a better explanation. Integration is something that can take a long time, but it is possible with great effort. A few companies are starting to make moves in that direction, but efforts are half-hearted. There is no “move the Earth” panic to become an integrated company from Samsung, Google or Microsoft.
My own suspicion is that Apple is more aware of what makes it special than it lets out. However, as Tim points out, it’s not a formula. It’s complex, it’s subtle, but it’s not magic. It’s a process that requires a degree of faith and courage. When a new product of Apple comes out, often it ______.
| A．starts a revolution of an industry |
| B．ruins an industry dramatically |
| C．puts itself in an unbeatable position |
| D．is soon overtaken by imitated products |
According to the passage, other companies don’t “copy being Apple” because ______.
| A．Apple is not a successful company |
| B．they have no access to relevant resources |
| C．it’s hard to find a magician like Steve Jobs |
| D．being Apple takes more than time and efforts |
We can infer from Para.5 that ______.
| A．other companies are dedicated to integration |
| B．Apple itself is fully aware of its unique advantages |
| C．Apple will hold the leading position in this industry |
| D．other companies don’t have a great team as Apple does |
What does the author think of Tim Cook’s statement?
| A．Doubtful | B．Acceptable |
| C．Unbelievable | D．Disappointing |
The Board Meeting had come to an end. Bob started to stand up and knocked into the table, spilling his coffee over his notes. “How embarrassing! I am getting so clumsy in my old age.”
Everyone had a good laugh, and soon we were all telling stories of our most embarrassing moments. It came around to Frank who sat quietly listening to the others. Someone said, “Come on, Frank. Tell us your most embarrassing moment.”
Frank laughed and began to tell us of his childhood. “I grew up in San Pedro. My Dad was a fisherman, and he loved the sea. He had his own boat, but it was hard making a living on the sea. He worked hard and would stay out until he caught enough to feed the family. Not just enough for our family, but also for his Mom and Dad and the other kids that were still at home.”
He looked at us and said, “I wish you could have met my Dad. He was a big man, and he was strong from pulling the nets and fighting the seas for his catch. When you got close to him, he smelled like the ocean. He would wear his old canvas, foul-weather coat and his bibbed overalls. His rain hat would be pulled down over his brow. No matter how much my mother washed them, they would still smell of the sea and of fish.”
Frank’s voice dropped a bit. “When the weather was bad he would drive me to school. He had this old truck that he used in his fishing business. That truck was older than he was. It would wheeze and rattle down the road. You could hear it coming for blocks. As he would drive toward the school, I would shrink (畏缩) down into the seat hoping to disappear. Half the time, he would slam to a stop and the old truck would belch (喷出) a cloud of smoke. He would pull right up in front, and it seemed like everybody would be standing around and watching. Then he would lean over and give me a big kiss on the cheek and tell me to be a good boy. It was so embarrassing for me. Here, I was twelve years old, and my Dad would lean over and kiss me goodbye!”
He paused and then went on, “I remember the day I decided I was too old for a goodbye kiss. When we got to the school and came to a stop, he had his usual big smile. He started to lean toward me, but I put my hand up and said, “No, Dad.” It was the first time I had ever talked to him that way, and he had this surprised look on his face. I said, “Dad, I’m too old for a goodbye kiss. I’m too old for any kind of kiss.” My Dad looked at me for the longest time, and his eyes started to tear up. Then he turned and looked out the windshield. “ You’re right,” he said. “ You are a big boy....a man. I won’t kiss you anymore.”
Frank got a funny look on his face, and the tears began to well up in his eyes, as he spoke. “It wasn’t long after that when my Dad went to sea and never came back. It was a day when most of the fleet (船队) stayed in, but not Dad. He had a big family to feed. They found his boat adrift with its nets half in and half out. He must have gotten into a strong wind and was trying to save the nets and the floats.”
I looked at Frank and saw that tears were running down his cheeks. Frank spoke again. “Guys, you don’t know what I would give to have my Dad give me just one more kiss on the cheek…to feel his rough old face… to smell the ocean on him… to feel his arm around my neck. I wish I had been a man then. If I had been a man, I would never have told my Dad I was too old for a goodbye kiss.”When his father drove him to the school, Frank would shrink down into the seat hoping to disappear because ________.
| A．he was ashamed of his father’s old truck |
| B．he thought he was old enough to go to school alone |
| C．he didn’t want his schoolmates to see his father |
| D．he hated the way his schoolmates stared at his father |
In Frank’s eyes, when his father said “You are a big boy… a man.”, he probably felt ________.
| A．disappointed | B．hurt | C．excited | D．proud |
According to the story we can conclude that Frank’s father ________.
| A．was quite confident in his skills in fishing |
| B．loved his children but hardly expressed it |
| C．seldom gave up faced with challenges |
| D．was full of devotion to his family |
Which of the following may be the best title for this passage?
| A．The Smell of the Ocean | B．We All Need Love |
| C．A Goodbye Kiss | D．Father’s Embarrassment |
The world’s biggest Internet search engine, Google, has proven once again to be King of the Web. Users can download “Google Wi-Fi” software and then enjoy free Wi-Fi service available in some US cities since last Tuesday.
Wi-Fi is short for “Wireless Fidelity”(无线上网). It allows laptop computers and personal digital assistants to the Internet at high speed by radio signal.
A person with a Wi-Fi enabled computer can connect to the Internet when near one of the network’s access points. The place covered by one or several access points is called a hotspot. Google has already set up two “hotspots” in the US city of San Francisco which provide a free Wi-Fi service.
The Wi-Fi technology even allows users to enjoy a free Internet phone service. Some scientists argue that Wi-Fi may replace mobile phone networks.
Wi-Fi is still limited to a few cities, where there are “hotspots”. But its capability(容量)of sending information has already done better than that of the mobile phone network, even that of 3G(Third Generation Telecommunication Technology). Some scientists have started to call Wi-Fi 4G.
In addition to a high speed Internet connection, Wi-Fi has other advantages compared to mobile phones. Wi-Fi is global. The same Wi-Fi system works in different countries around the world. Different from using cell phones, you don’t need to change computers to use Internet phones when you go to other places and most importantly, many Internet phones cost you nothing at all. Wi-Fi is not available in cities without _______.
| A．a computer | B．a radio | C．a cell phone | D．a hotspot |
Which of the following is NOT true of Wi-Fi?
| A．The high speed Internet connection. |
| B．Many free Internet phones. |
| C．Being used in all the US cities. |
| D．Using the same computers for Internet phones when you go to other places. |
Some scientists started to call Wi-Fi 4G, because _______.
| A．it is the product of the Google’s 4th generation |
| B．it has been used by more than four generations |
| C．Wi-Fi will surely take the place of the mobile phone network |
| D．it is more capable of sending information than the mobile phone network |
Which of the following is the best title?
| A．Google Launches Free Wi-Fi Service |
| B．Free Call Service |
| C．Third Generation Telecommunication Technology |
| D．Google, King of the Web |
A survey reveals that employees in China say they are not engaged in their jobs. Judging by the survey data, many Chinese workplaces are black holes of misery and despair.
Only 6% of Chinese employees said they are "engaged" in their jobs, according to a global Gallup survey released this month. China's numbers equal the numbers out of war-weary（厌战的） Iraq.
Workers across all income levels and industries were surveyed by Gallup in China, defined by Gallup to mean they were "psychologically committed to their jobs and likely to be making positive contributions to their organizations".
Out of 94 countries polled, only six countries scored lower rates of job engagement than China, including Tunisia, Israel and Syria. Unsurprisingly, 0% of Syrians admitted to being engaged at work.
In a related survey, China ranked near the bottom in a poll measuring job satisfaction among 22 Asian countries. Only 49% of Chinese respondents said they were happy in their jobs.
Part of the problem, I suspect, is that very few in China have the luxury to pursue a career that truly interests them.
Even university graduates often feel they have no choice but to choose the positions with the government or state-run enterprises, since those jobs are thought to be stable.
That makes those who are happy at work in China a rare find indeed.What can we infer from Paragraph 4?
| A．The people in Israel are not engaged in their jobs. |
| B．People in Syria are more engaged at work than the Chinese. |
| C．Most Chinese people are happy in work. |
| D．China ranked the top in the job engagement. |
What is the meaning of the underlined word “luxury” in Paragraph 6?
| A．happiness | B．dream | C．willing | D．courage |
According to the author, why most Chinese dislike their jobs?
| A．Because they don’t take the jobs they really like |
| B．Because many Chinese workplaces are full of misery and despair. |
| C．Because they have no choice but to choose the stable jobs. |
| D．Because they are not psychologically committed to their jobs. |
Which of the following jobs are the university graduates nowadays more likely to choose?
| A．Lawyers | B．Civil Servants (公务员) |
| C．self-made men | D．Doctors |
FORBES CHINA’s annual celebrity list is based on income and appearances in magazines, newspapers, TV shows and online. Stars from the mainland, Taiwan and Hong Kong are included. And here are some of the winners:
Jay Chou
Taiwan singer, actor and director unveiled his 12th studio album, Opus 12, last December (Another “12″). New flick in the works: The Rooftop, being filmed in Taiwan and the mainland, which he stars in and also directs.
3. Andy Lau
Now in his 50s, the evergreen Hong Kong star of song and film stayed popular last year with the movie Blind Detective. Lau’s sixth film with Hong Kong actress Sammi Cheng is in the works.
Jackie Chan
Hong Kong movie industry icon last year released what may be his last action film CZ12, or Chinese Zodiac, which he wrote and directed.
5. Zhang Ziyi
Popular actress had hit romantic comedy last year with My Lucky Star, which she also produced. Appears in this year’s star-laden The Grandmaster kung fu movie, directed by Hong Kong’s Wong Kar-Wai and also starring Tony Leung.
7. Yang Mi
Actress was named most popular female singer in mainland China last year in a joint CCTV-MTV event. Last year’s flicks included Love in the Buff, Beijing Love Story and Wu Dang. Has endorsement deals with Pepsi and cosmetics brand Wetcode.
8. Huang Xiaoming
Actor turned up in several successful films last year, including Love in the Buff, An Inaccurate Memoir and White-Haired Witch. Promotes Baleno, Tissot, Olay.
10. Lin Chi-ling
Taiwan TV hostess, model and actress. Most recent success: romantic comedy Say Yes, which took in more than $30 million in China.Who is the director of the Grandmaster ?
| A．Tony Leung | B．Wong Kar-Wai | C．Zhang Ziyi | D．Jackie Chan |
Who has starred in three films last year?
① Jay Chou ② Yang Mi ③ Huang Xiaoming ④Zhang Ziyi
| A．①② | B．②④ | C．②③ | D．①③ |
Which film is romantic comedy?
| A．Chinese Zodiac | B．My Lucky Star | C．Beijing Love Story | D．Love in the Buff |
Which of the following about the text is TRUE?
| A．Chinese Zodiac is Jackie Chan’s last action film |
| B．Andy Lau has cooperated with Sammi Cheng in the film six times |
| C．Lin Chi-ling has earned more than $30 million through the film Say Yes |
| D．Jay Chou stars in and also directs in the film Another “12″ |
Joanne was stuck in a traffic jam in central Birmingham at 5：30 and at 6：30 she was expected to be chairing a meeting of the tennis club．At last，the traffic was moving．She swung quickly racing to her house. As she opened the door，she nearly tripped over Sheba．
“Hey，Sheba，”she said，“I've got no time for you now，but I'll take you out as soon as I get back from tennis club．”Then she noticed Sheba seemed to be coughing or choking .Obviously，she could hardly breathe．Immediately Joanne realized she would have to take her to the vet(兽医).
When she got there，the vet was just about to close for the day. Seeing the state of Sheba，Dr．Sterne brought her quickly into his office．
“Listen，doctor，I'm really in a rush to get to a meeting can I leave her with you，and go and get changed? I'll be back in ten minutes to pick her up，and then I'll take her on to the meeting with me. Is that OK?”
“Sure．”said the doctor
Joanne made the quick trip back to her house in a couple of minutes．As she was entering the hallway，the phone by the door began to ring．
“This is Dr．Sterne,” said an anxious voice,“I want you to get out of that house immediately，”said the doctor's voice．“I'm coming round fight away，and the police will be there any time now．Wait outside!”
At that moment，a police car screeched to a stop outside the house．Two policemen got out and ran into the house．Joanne was by now completely confused and very frightened．Then the doctor arrived．
“Where’s Sheba? Is she OK?”shouted Joanne．
“She’s fine，Joanne．I took out the thing which was choking her，and she’s OK now．”
Just then，the two policemen reappeared from the house，half-carrying a white—faced man，who could hardly walk．There was blood all over him．
“My God，”said Joanne，“how did he get in there? And how did you know he was there?”
“I think he must be a burglar．”said the doctor．“I knew he was there because when I finally removed what was stuck in Sheba’s throat：it turned out to be three human fingers”What was Joanne supposed to do at 6：30？
| A．To attend a club meeting． | B．To walk her dog |
| C．To see her doctor． | D．To play tennis with her friends． |
Joanne wanted to get back to her home again．
| A．to phone the police station | B．to catch the badly hurt burglar |
| C．to dress up for the meeting | D．to wait for her dog to be cured |
From the passage，we can infer that．
| A．Sheba fought against the burglar |
| B．Joanne had planned to take her dog to the meeting |
| C．the police found the burglar had broken in |
| D．the doctor performed a difficult operation on the dog |
In this passage，the writer intends to tell us that the dog is．
| A．clever | B．devoted | C．friendly | D．frightening |