Most employers say that they wish to employ the right person for the right job. A recent report by Britain’s Independent Institute of Manpower Studies, however, disagrees with this. The report states that most employers wish to avoid employing the wrong person. Rather than looking for the right person they are looking for applicants to turn down.
The report also suggests that in Britain and in many other parts of the world the selection methods used to pick out the right person for the job certainly do not match up to those used to judge a piece of new equipment. Employers used three main selection methods: interviewing, checking resume or application forms and examining references. Most of the employers asked in this survey stated that these selection methods were used more for weeding out unsuitable applicants rather than for finding suitable ones.
Interviews were considered to be more reliable than either resume checks or references from past employers. Research, however, proves otherwise. Interviewers’ decisions are often strongly influenced by their earlier judgment of the written application. Also different employers view facts differently. One may consider applicants who have frequently changed jobs as people with broad and useful experience. Another will see such applicants as unreliable and unlikely to stay for long in the new job.
Some employers place great importance on academic qualifications whereas the link between this and success in management is not necessarily strong. Some employers use handwriting as a standard. The report states that there is little evidence to support the value of the latter for judging working ability. References, also, are sometimes unreliable as they are not very important while checks on credit and security records and applicants’ political opinions are often the opposite.
The report is more favorable towards trainability tests and those which test personality and personal and mental skills. The report concludes by suggesting that interviewing could become more reliable if the questions were arranged in a careful, organized system and focused on the needs of the employing organization.
| A．they will try to find suitable people |
| B．they will look for the right applicant |
| C．the wrong applicants are to be turned down |
| D．to turn down the wrong people is what they say they aim to do |
| A．to evaluate a right person is more difficult than to evaluate equipment |
| B．employers are more successful in selecting the right equipment than the right persons |
| C．criteria will be set up according to the real situation of the applicants |
| D．resumes means application forms |
| A．consult the applicants |
| B．can find suitable people |
| C．prefer resumes or references |
| D．use different ways to sort out the unsuitable applicants |
| A．Employers get different conclusions from the facts. |
| B．Changing jobs frequently will reduce the chance to be recruited. |
| C．Academic qualifications will guarantee the applicant managing ability. |
| D．Handwriting is a valid way to evaluate an applicant. |
| A．have outstanding references |
| B．are strong in emotional quotient |
| C．take interviewing seriously |
| D．have strong political leanings |
The question of whether our government should promote science and technology or the liberal arts（文科） in higher education isn’t an either/or proposition（命题），although the current emphasis on preparing young Americans for STEM（science, technology, engineering, maths）-related fields can make it seem that way．
The latest congressional report acknowledges the critical importance of technical training, but also states firmly that the study of the humanities and social sciences must remain central components of America’s educational system at all levels．Both are critical to producing citizens who can participate effectively in our democratic society, become creative leaders, and benefit from the spiritual enrichment that the reflection on the great ideas of mankind over time provides．
Parents and students who have invested heavily in higher education worry about graduates’ job prospects as technological advances and changes in domestic and global markets transform professions in ways that reduce wages and cut jobs．Under these circumstances, it’s natural to look for what may appear to be the most “practical” way out of the problem “Major in a subject designed to get you a job” seems the obvious answer to some, though this ignores the fact that many disciplines in the humanities characterized as “soft” often, in fact, lead to employment and success in the long run．Indeed, according to surveys, employers have expressed a preference for students who have received a broadly-based education that has taught them to write well, think critically, research creatively, and communicate easily．
Moreover, students should be prepared not just for their first job, but for their 4th and 5th jobs, as there’s little reason to doubt that people entering the workforce today will be called upon to play many different roles over the course of their careers．The ones who will do the best in this new environment will be those whose educations have prepared them to be flexible．The ability to draw upon every available tool and insight—picked up from science, arts, and technology—to solve the problems of the future, and take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves, will be helpful to them and the United States．What does the latest congressional report suggest?
| A．STEM-related subjects help students find jobs in the information society. |
| B．Higher education should be adjusted to the practical needs of society. |
| C．The liberal arts in higher education help enrich students’ spiritual life. |
| D．The humanities and STEM subjects should be given equal importance． |
What kind of job applicants do employers look for?
| A．Those who have a strong sense of responsibility. |
| B．Those who are good at solving practical problems. |
| C．Those who are likely to become innovative leaders. |
| D．Those who have received an all-round education. |
What advice does the author give to college students?
| A．Seize opportunities to explore their potential． |
| B．Try to take a variety of practical courses． |
| C．Adopt a flexible approach to solving problems． |
| D．catch as many chances as possible to change their jobs. |
Energy independence has a nice ring to it．Doesn’t it? If you think so, you’re not alone, because energy independence has been the dream of American president for decades, and never more so than in the past few years, when the most recent oil price shock has been partly responsible for kicking off the great recession.
“Energy independence” and its rhetorical （修辞的） companion “energy security” are, however, slippery concepts that are rarely though through．What is it we want independence from, exactly?
Most people would probably say that they want to be independent from imported oil．But there are reasons that we buy all that old from elsewhere.
The first reason is that we need it to keep our economy running．Yes, there is a trickle（涓涓细流）of biofuel（生物燃料）available, and more may become available, but most biofuels cause economic waste and environmental destruction.
Second, Americans have basically decided that they don’t really want to produce all their own oil．They value the environmental quality they preserve over their oil imports from abroad．Vast areas of the United States are off-limits to oil exploration and production in the name of environmental protection．To what extent are Americans really willing to endure the environmental impacts of domestic energy production in order to cut back imports?
Third, there are benefits to trade．It allows for economic efficiency, and when we buy things from places that have lower production costs than we do, we benefit．And although you don’t read about this much, the United States is also a large exporter of oil products, selling about 2 million barrels of petroleum products per day to about 90 countries.
There is no question that the United States imports a great deal of energy and, in fact, relies on that steady flow to maintain its economy．When that flow is interrupted, we feel the pain in short supplies and higher prices．At the same time, we obtain massive economic benefits when we buy the most affordable energy on the world market and when we engage in energy trade around the world.What does the author say about energy independence for America?
| A．It sounds very attractive． |
| B．It ensures national security． |
| C．It will bring oil prices down |
| D．It has long been everyone’s dream. |
Why does America rely heavily on oil imports?
| A．It wants to expand its storage of crude oil（原油）. |
| B．Its own oil reserves are quickly running out. |
| C．It wants to keep its own environment undamaged. |
| D．Its own oil production falls short of demand． |
What does the author say about oil trade?
| A．It proves profitable to both sides． |
| B．It improves economic efficiency． |
| C．It makes for economic prosperity． |
| D．It saves the cost of oil exploration． |
Chimpanzees, long considered reluctant to share, apparently can display selfless tendencies, revealing one more key way our closest living relatives are like humans, scientists find．These findings could shed light on the evolution of altruism in humans．
Previously, a belief was widely held that human altruism evolved only after humans split from their ape cousins about 6 million years ago．In recent years, however, research has revealed just how much chimpanzees have in common with us．They can hunt with spears, play with dolls and mourn their partners’ death.
"Most of the earlier studies had presented the apes with a complex implement that helped them deliver food to themselves or others, often so complicated that the experiments tested tool skills rather than social tendencies," De Waal told Live Science．"Ours is the first study that uses no such implement at all."
In addition to using complex food-delivery systems, past experiments often placed the chimpanzees so far apart that they might not have realized how their actions benefited others．In these new, simplified experiments, two apes were housed next to each other with a screen through which they could see each other．Then, one chimpanzee had to choose between two differently colored tokens （币） from a bin, one of which represented a pro-social （亲社会的） option, the other a selfish option．The pro-social option would cause both chimpanzees to receive a piece of banana wrapped in paper．The selfish option only rewarded the ape who made the choice.
In a study with seven adult female chimps placed into various pairs, the scientists found all the apes showed a definite preference for the pro-social option．"For me, the most important finding is that like us, chimpanzees take into account the needs and wishes of others," researcher Victoria Horner, said.
The chimpanzees behaved especially altruistically toward partners who either patiently waited or gently reminded them that they were there by drawing attention to themselves．They were less likely to reward partners who pressured through making a fuss, begging persistently or spitting water at them．This is opposite to a long-standing view that the chimpanzees only share food under pressure.The word " altruism " （paragraph 1） is closest in meaning to ______.
| A．selfishness | B．selflessness |
| C．willingness | D．reluctance |
Recent researches are performed with less complicated implements mainly to ______.
| A．show that chimps are only good at using implements |
| B．see whether chimps are willing to share food with others |
| C．find out if chimps are likely to reward partners |
| D．test chimps’ social tendencies instead of tool skills |
Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?
| A．Evolution History of Altruism in Humans |
| B．Similarities between Chimps and Mankind |
| C．Chimps Do Show Selfless Behavior |
| D．Chimps Only Share Food under Pressure |
People in the United states honor their parents with two special days: Mother’s Day, on the second Sunday in May, and Father’s Day, on the third Sunday in June.
Mother’s Day was proclaimed （宣告） a day for national observance by President Woodrow Wilson in 1915. Ann Jarvis from Grafton, West Virginia, had started the idea to have a day to honor mothers. She was the one who chose the second Sunday in May and also began the custom of wearing a carnation （康乃馨）.
In 1909, Mrs. Dodd from Spokane, Washington, thought of the idea of a day to honor fathers. She wanted to honor her own father, William Smart. After her mother died, he had the responsibility of raising a family of five sons and a daughter. In 1910, the first Father’s Day was observed in Spokane. Senator Margaret Chase Smith helped to establish Father’s day as a national commemorative day, in 1972.
These days are set aside to show love and respect for parents. They raise their children and educate them to be responsible citizens. They give love and care.
These two special days are celebrated in many different ways. On Mother’s Day people wear carnations. A red one symbolizes (象征) a living mother. A white one shows that the mother is dead. Many people attend religious services to honor parents. It is also a day when people whose parents are dead visit the cemetery (墓地). On these days families get together at home, as well as in restaurants. They often have outdoor barbecues( 烧烤) for Father’s Day. These are days of fun and good feelings and memories.According to the passage, which of the following about the second Sunday in May is NOT true?
| A．It is a day to show love to mothers. |
| B．It is a day to wea carnations. |
| C．It is a day for people to visit the cemetery. |
| D．It is a day for many people to attend religious services. |
Choose the right time order of the following events.
a. The first Father’s Day was observed.
b. Mother’s Day was proclaimed a day for national observance.
c. Father’s Day was proclaimed a day for national observance.
d. The idea of honoring fathers was 1909.
| A．a,b,c,d | B．d,a,b,c |
| C．b,a,c,d | D．d,a,c,b |
Who plays the most important role in Father’s Day becoming a national commemorative day?
| A．Mrs. Dodd. | B．Margaret Chase Smith. |
| C．Ann Jarvis. | D．Woodrow Wilson. |
From the passage, we know in the US .
| A．one should wear a red carnation if one’s mother pass away |
| B．on Mother’s Day, families often go out to have barbecues |
| C．on Father’s Day, people often stay at home to celebrate the special day |
| D．the purpose to have these two special days is to show love to parents. |
The author’s purpose of writing this passage is to .
| A．call on people to love and respect their parents |
| B．introduce Mother’s Day and Fathers’ Day |
| C．tell the difference between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day |
| D．show how important fathers and mothers are |
Now, it is winter and as you have probably noticed, virus (病毒) are everywhere—runny noses, sore throats, nothing quite like the common cold to make you feel so uncomfortable. But experts believe that there is no link between cold weather and catching colds. So why are we particularly easy to catch colds this season?
Internal Medicine expert, Dr Meenakshi Jain of Max Hospital says, “One reason could be because people are likely to stay indoors, so the virus can spread easily. Also the virus grows strong and healthy under wet conditions.”
The common cold can be caused by any of up to 250 kinds of virus. The most common group of them is the kind of virus that hits the nose, which is called rhinovirus （鼻病毒）. Rhinoviruses cause a third and half of all common colds.
“The kind of virus is spread through the nose and respiratory passages(呼吸道), by touch, and by contact with particles(微粒) in the air that are created by sneezing or coughing,” says Dr Jain.
There is no way to treat the common cold. However, there are some tips that can help. Wash your hands regularly, so that germs get killed. Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth, which can limit your chances of infection(传染)。 Don’t share drinking glasses with anyone as this will prevent the spread of the virus. Drink lots of water. Make sure to eat enough fruits to boost your immune system(免疫系统). Get enough sleep and you’ll certainly become stronger. A third and half of all common colds are caused by .
| A．the cold weather in the winter |
| B．the virus that hits people’s nose |
| C．the condition of the human body |
| D．the warm temperature in the room |
The underlined word “boost” in the last paragraph probably means .
| A．improve | B．treat | C．change | D．damage |
In the last paragraph, the writer mainly wants to tell us .
| A．some ways for the virus to spread |
| B．the common cold can not be treated |
| C．some tips on how to keep the cold away |
| D．exercise is important to people’s health |