Frank Woolworth was born in Rodman, New York, in 1852. His family were very poor farmers, and there was never enough to eat. Frank decided he did not want to be a farmer. He took a short business course, and went to work as a salesman in a large city.
Woolworth realized he had a natural skill for showing goods to attract people’s interest, but he soon learned something more important. One day his boss told him to sell some odds and ends (小商品) for as much as he could get. Frank put all these things on one table with a sign which said FIVE CENTS EACH. People fought and pushed to buy the things and the table was soon cleared.
Soon afterwards, Woolworth opened his own store, selling goods at five and ten cents. But he had another lesson to learn before he became successful. That is, if you want to make money by selling low-price goods, you have to buy them in large quantities directly from the factories. Once, for example, Woolworth went to Germany and placed an order for knives. The order was so large that the factory had to keep running 24 hours a day for a whole year. In this way, the price of the knives was cut down by half.
By 1919, Woolworth had over 1000 stores in the US and Canada, and opened his first store in London. He made many millions and his name became famous throughout the world. He always run his business according to strict rules, of which the most important was: “ THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT.”Frank took a short business course in order to _________.
A.learn something from a salesman | B.get away from the farm |
C.earn more money for his family | D.get enough to eat. |
Frank sold the odds and ends quickly because _________.
A.he had put the goods on a table in a very nice way |
B.he cut down the price by half |
C.the sign he put on the table was well designed |
D.he knew how to get people to buy his goods. |
The price of the knives was cut down by half because ________.
A.knives were ordered in large quantities directly from the factory. |
B.the factory workers worked 24 hours a day |
C.the knives were made in Germany, where labour was cheap. |
D.the knives were produced in one factory. |
________ make Woolworth a world-famous man.
A.The low price of the goods he sold |
B.His business skills and his wealth |
C.His trip to Germany and his huge order of knives |
D.His natural skill for showing things |
The belief that “ The customer is always right” suggests that ________.
A.whenever there is a quarrel between the customer and shop assistant, the customers are always right.
B If you want to succeed, the rule is the only way.
C.stores should do their best to meet the customer’s needs if they want to be successful.
D.stores must always follow the customer’s orders if they want to make more money.
Human needs seem endless. When a hungry man gets a meal, he begins to think about an overcoat, when a manager gets a new sports car, a big house and pleasure boats dance into view.
The many needs of mankind might be regarded as making up several levels. When there is money enough to satisfy one level of needs, another level appears.
The first and most basic level of needs involves food. Once this level is satisfied, the second level of needs, clothing and some sort of shelter, appears. By the end of World War Ⅱ, these needs were satisfied for a great majority of Americans. Then a third level appeared. It included such items as automobiles and new houses.
By 1957 or 1958 this third level of needs was fairly well satisfied. Then, in the late 1950s, a fourth level of needs appeared; the “life-enriching” level. While the other levels involve physical satisfaction, that is, the need in comfort, safety, and transportation, this level stresses mental needs for recognition, achievement, and happiness. It includes a variety of goods and services, many of which could be called “luxury” items. Among them are vacation trips, the best medical and dental care, and recreation. Also included here are fancy goods and the latest styles in clothing.
On the fourth level, a lot of money is spent on services, while on the first three levels more is spent on goods. Will consumers raise their sights to a fifth level of needs as their inc
ome increases, or will they continue to demand luxuries and personal services on the fourth level?
A fifth level would probably involve needs that can be achieved best by community action. Consumers may be spending more on taxes to pay for government action against disease, ignorance, crime, and prejudice. After filling our stomachs, our clothes closets, our garages, our teeth, and our minds, we now may seek to ensure the hea
lth, safety, and leisure to enjoy more fully the good things on the first four levels.
According to the passage, man will begin to think about such needs as housing and clothing only when.
A.he has saved up enough money | B.he has grown dissatified with his simple shelter |
C.he has satisfied his hunger | D.he has learned to build houses |
It can be inferred from the passage that by the end of World War Ⅱ, most Americans.
A.were very rich | B.lived in poverty |
C.had the good things on the first three levels | D.did not own automobiles |
Which of the following is NOT related to “physical satisfaction” ?
A.A successful career. | B.A comfortable home. |
C.A good m![]() |
D.A family car. |
What is the main concern of man on the fourth level?
A.The more goods the better. | B.The more mental satisfaction the better. |
C.The more “luxury” items the better. | D.The more earnings the better. |
The story goes that some time ago, a man punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became infuriated(愤怒的) when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, "This is for you, Daddy."
The man was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found out the box was empty. He yelled at her, stating, "Don't you know, when you give someone a present, there is supposed to be something inside? The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and cried, "Oh, Daddy, it's not empty at all. I blew kisses into the box. They're all for you, Daddy."
The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged for her forgiveness.
Only a short time later, an accident took the life of the child. It is also told that her father kept that gold box by his bed for many years and, whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.
In a very real sense, each one of us, as humans beings, have been given a gold container filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, family members, friends, and God. There is simply no other possession, anyone could hold, more precious than this. The 3-year-old girl was punished by her father for ________.
A.wasting gold | B.wasting wrapping paper |
C.putting the box under the Christmas tree | D.bringing the gi![]() |
What’s inside the box according to the little girl?
A.nothing | B.air | C.kisses | D.gold wrapping paper |
Choose the best title for the passage.
A.The kisses in the box. | B.A girl and his father |
C.A love story | D.The box under the Christmas tree. |
Do you sometimes argue about what seems to you to be simple fact? Do you argue whether it’s cold outdoors or whether the car in front of you is going faster than the speed limit?
If you get into such arguments, try to think about the story about the six blind men and the elephant. The first blind man who felt the elephant’s trunk said it was like a snake. The second who felt the elephant’s side said it was like a wall, while the third said it was like a spear as he touched the animal’s tusk. The fourth, who got hold of the elephant’s tail insisted that it was like a rope. The fifth man said it looked like a tree as he put his arms a
round one of the elephant’s legs. The sixth, who was tall and got hold of the elephant’s ears, said it was like a huge fan.
Each man’s idea of the animal came from his own experience. So if someone disagrees with you about a“simple fact”, it’s often because his experience in the matter is different from yours.
To see how hard it is for even one person to make up his mind about a“simple fact”, try this simple experiment. Get three large bowls. Put ice water in one. Put hot water in the second. Put lukewarm water in the third. Now put your left hand in the ice water. Put your right hand in the hot water. After thirty seconds, put both hands in the lukewarm water. Your right hand will tell you the water is cold. Your left hand will tell you it’s hot!
What makes people think about simple facts differently?
A.The fact that simple facts differ from one another. |
B.The fact that people have different experience in the same simple fact. |
C.The fact that people often disagree with one another. |
D.The fact that it’s hard to make up one’s mind about simple facts. |
Which of the following temperatures can the word“lukewarm”be applied to?
A.Around 1℃ | B.Above 60℃ | C.Around 25℃ | D.Below 0℃ |
After reading the last paragraph, we may think of.
A.Newton’s law | B.Gallileo’s theory of falling objects |
C.Einstein’s theory of relativity | D.Marx’s On Capital |
The main idea of this passage is.
A.people often judge something according to his own experience |
B.people often agree about simple facts |
C.it’s hard for a person to make up his mind about a simple fact |
D.don’t care too much about simple facts |
Five years ago, David Smith wore an expensive suit to work every day. “I was a clothes addict,” he jokes. “I used to carry a fresh suit to work with me so I could change if my clothes got wrinkled.
” Today David wears casual clothes—khaki pants and sports shirt—to the office. He hardly ever wears necktie. “I’m working harder than ever,” David says, “and I need to feel comfortable.”
More and more companies are allowing their office workers to wear casual clothes to work in the United States. The change from formal to casual office wear has been gradual. In the early 1990s, many companies allowed their employees to wear casual clothes on Friday(but only on Friday). This became known as “dress-down Friday” or “casual Friday.” “What started out as an extra one-day-a-week benefit for employees has really
become an everyday thing,” said business consultant Maisly Jones.
Why have so many companies started allowing their employees to wear casual clothes? One reason is that it’s easier for a company to attract new employees if it has a casual dress code. “A lot of young people don’t want to dress up for work,” says the owner of a software company, “so it’s hard to hire people if you have a conservative dress code.” Another reason is that people seem happier and more productive when they are wearing comfortable clothes. In a study conducted by Levi Strauss and Company, 85 percent of employers said that they believe that casual dress improves employee morale(士气). Only 4 percent of employers said that casual dress has a negative impact on productive. Supporters of casual office wear also argue that a casual dress code helps them save money. “Suits are expensive, if you have to wear one every day,” one person said. “For the same amount of money, you can buy a lot more casual clothes.”
David Smith refers to himself as having been “a clothes addict” because.
A.he often wore khaki pants and a sports shirt |
B.he couldn’t stand a clean appearance |
C.he wanted his clothes to look neat all the time |
D.he didn’t want to spend much money on clothes |
David Smith wears casual clothes now, because.
A.they make him feel at ease when working | B.he cannot afford to buy expensive clothes |
C.he looks handsome in casual clothes | D.he no longer w![]() |
According to this passage, which of the following statements is FALSE?
A.Many employees don’t like a conservative dress code. |
B.Comfortable clothes make employees more productive. |
C.A casual clothes code is welcomed by young employees. |
D.All the employers in the US are for casual office wear. |
In this passage, the following advantages of casual office wear are mentio
ned EXCEPT.
A.saving employees’ ![]() |
B.making employees more attractive |
C.improving employees’ motivation | D.making employees happier |
London Summer School in Classics
Dates
The London Summer School in Classics 2008 will be held at King’s College London. It will run from 8th July until 17th July. Applications close on 2nd June, 2008.
For an application form, please download either the 2-page PDF or the word format document from the foot of the page.
If you have any problems downloading the application form or any questions, please contact: London Summer School in Classics, King’s College London.
Tel: 020 7848 2299
Fax: 020 7848 2545
Organization
The school is organized by the colleges of the University of London. The summer school offers eight days of intensive teaching in Greek and Latin. There are four language classes each day as well as lectures and a debate, between 10:30 am and 4:30 pm. The course is not residential (提供住宿的), and there is no teaching during the weekend of 12th to 13th July.
The fee is £85.00. Travel grants (旅行补助金) are available as a contribution to your travel costs, but may not cover all your expenses. The travel grants are arranged during the summer school.
Teaching is generally in groups of 12-15 people and it, as far as possible, comprises (包含) of students of roughly the same level of experience. The style of teaching is friendly, but demanding: a lot of work is expected from students during the school, but they usually find the whole experience both stimulating and valuable. Some classes concentrate chiefly on reading, while others offer a mixture of grammar and translation practice. Our tutors include some of the most experienced and talented teachers of Classics in the London area and beyond.
The Summer School in Classics caters for a wide range of interests and for both school & university students as well as those who wish to learn Greek or Latin, or to revive their knowledge of the languages. Our principal concern is to provide a thorough program of language learning in a lively university environment. To join in the school, you have to apply before ________.
A.8th July, 2008 | B.2nd June, 2008 | C.17th July, 2008 | D.13th July, 2008 |
As a student of the school, you are probably asked to _______.
A.do a lot of reading in Greek and Latin |
B.learn the grammar of Greek and Latin only |
C.do some translation work only |
D.speak Greek and Latin with experienced teachers |
What is the London Summer School in Classics most concerned about?
A.Providing a stimulating experience for students. |
B.Promoting students to develop a wide range of interests. |
C.Teaching students languages in a lively environment. |
D.Improving students’ level of debating in the argument. |
Which is one of the teaching ways of the school?
A.Student groups consist of the same level students strictly. |
B.Students needn’t do any work in the class. |
C.Students learn Greek and Latin by listening to teachers all day. |
D.Students are generally divided into groups of 12-15. |
Which of the following can we know from the passage?
A.The fee is £85, including the travel costs. |
B.Students needn’t go to class on 12th and 13th July. |
C.People should fill in two application forms. |
D.People can contact the school by phone or email. |