Why Doesn't Anybody Copy Apple?
Apple’s products are the envy of the world. They have been amazingly successful and are widely imitated, if not copied. The minute Apple launches 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 assumption. 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, and 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（革新）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 fabulous part of this assumption is the " chief-sorcerer" theory of success which places one magician, like Steve Jobs, in charge of casting all the right spells．
What about Apple's own opinion of what makes it tick? Tim Cook refers to a great team and integration（一体）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" feeling 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．ruins an industry dramatically |
| B．puts itself in an unbeatable position |
| C．starts a revolution of an industry |
| 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 an extraordinary team as Apple does |
What does the author think of Tim Cook's statement?
| A．Neutral. | B．Disappointing. | C．Indifferent. | D．Acceptable. |
When next year’s crop of high-school graduates arrive at Oxford University in the fall, they will be joined by a new face: Andrew Hamilton, the 55-year-old provost (教务长) of Yale, who will become Oxford’s vice-chancellor –– a position equal to university president in America.
Hamilton isn’t the only educator crossing the Atlantic. Schools in France, Egypt, Singapore, etc. have also recently made top-level hires from abroad. Yet the talent flow isn’t universal. High-level personnel (人员) tend to head in only one direction: Outward from America.
The chief reason is that American schools don’t tend to seriously consider looking abroad. For example, when the board of the University of Colorado searched for a new president, it wanted a leader familiar with the state government, a major source of the university’s budget. “We didn’t do any global consideration,” says Patricia Hayes, the board’s chair. The board finally picked Bruce Benson, a 69-year-old Colorado businessman and political activist who is likely to do well in the main task of modern university presidents: fund-raising. Fund-raising is a particularly American thing, since U.S. schools rely heavily on donations. The fund-raising ability is largely a product of experience and necessity.
Many European universities, meanwhile, are still mostly dependent on government funding. But government support has failed to keep pace with rising student numbers. The decline in government support has made fund-raising an increasingly necessary ability among administrators (管理人员), and has made hiring committees hungry for Americans.
In the past few years, well-known schools around the world have joined the trend. In 2011, when Cambridge University appointed Alison Richard, another former Yale provost, as its vice-chancellor, the university publicly stressed that in her previous job she had overseen (监督) “ a major strengthening of Yale’s financial position”.
Of course, fund-raising isn’t the only skill outsiders offer. The globalization of education means more universities will be seeking heads with international experience of some kind to promote international programs and attract a global student body. Foreigners can offer a fresh perspective (视角) on established practices. What is the current trend in higher education discussed in the text?
| A．Institutions worldwide are hiring administrators from the U.S. |
| B．More international students are being admitted to American universities. |
| C．University presidents are paying more attention to fund-raising. |
| D．A lot of activists are being hired as administrators. |
What do we learn about European universities from the text?
| A．The tuition they charge has been rising considerably. |
| B．They are strengthening their position by globalization. |
| C．Their operation is under strict government control. |
| D．Most of their money comes from the government. |
In what way do top-level administrators from abroad contribute to university development?
| A．They can improve the university’s image. |
| B．They will bring with them more international personnel. |
| C．They will view a lot of things from a new angle. |
| D．They can set up new academic subjects. |
Which of the following would make the best title of the text?
| A．High Education Globalization |
| B．Global Headhunting in Higher Education |
| C．Global Higher Education Cooperation |
| D．Universal Higher Education Development |
A father with Parkinson’s disease was arrested as he watched the Olympic cycling road race because he failed to smile or look as if he was enjoying himself.
Mark Worsfold, a martial arts trainer and former soldier, claims that he was thrown to the floor and handcuffed just as cyclists passed by. His worried wife Nicola only found out he was being held after she reported him missing when he did not turn up for their daughter’s ninth birthday party. The 54-year-old man had his fingerprints, DNA and mugshot taken before being questioned about why he did not appear to be enjoying the event on July 28. Police said Mr. Worsfold, who was held for over five hours, was arrested because of his manner, his state of dress and his being too near to the course. A spokesman added that the arrest was necessary to avoid a breach (破坏) of the peace because he was standing near a group of protesters (抗议者).
But Mr. Worsfold, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2010, said that one of the symptoms of the disease is muscle rigidity, which can cause his face to become expressionless. “I was sitting minding my own business”, he told a local newspaper. “Before I knew anything the police grabbed me off this seven-foot wall, threw me to the floor and handcuffed me, so all I saw of the cycle race was between the feet of people from the pavement. It could have been done better. I was arrested for not smiling. I have Parkinson’s disease. ”
Mr. Worsfold has since asked for a letter of not being guilty from police. The officers who made the arrest have apologized to him. Which word can be used to replace the underlined word “mugshot” in the second paragraph?
| A．clothes | B．photos | C．measures | D．tools |
Which statement is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Worsfold’s wife was immediately informed of his being arrested by the police. |
| B．Worsfold was arrested because he was extremely dangerous. |
| C．Worsfold enjoyed the cycle race though he saw it between the feet of people from the pavement. |
| D．Worsfold was arrested because of his clothes as well as his facial expression. |
What can we infer from the passage?
| A．The officers must have been punished for Worsfold’ arrest. |
| B．Worsfold has an expressionless face and probably looks strong. |
| C．The officers apologized to Worsfold after one day’s arrest. |
| D．Worsfold was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease four years ago. |
Have you felt annoyed when a cellphone rings during the class? Something must be done to stop this．Now in New York City, USA，a rule is carried out in schools．Students can’t even bring cellphones to schoo1．Is it a good thing or not?
Anxious parents say that cellphones are an important tool in holding New York city’s families together．
“I worry about it，” said Elizabeth Lorris Ritter, a mother of a middle school kid． It’s necessary in our everyday life．We have a washing machine. We have running water, and We have cellphones．”
Many American parents think cellphones connect them to their children on buses，getting out from subways, walking through unknown places．
“I have her call me when she gets out of school，”said Lindsay Walt, a schoolgirl’s mother． “No one in New York is going to let their child go to school without a cellphone”
What about the cellphone owners, the students? Most of the students said cellphones were essential and the cellphone was like all extra(额外的)hand or foot for them．
“I feel so empty，”said May Chom，1 4．There is also no way to listen to music on the way to school without my phone．It will be a really, really boring trip．”You can use a cellphone___________．
| A．to enjoy listening to music |
| B．to work as running water |
| C．to work as a washing machine |
| D．to send children to school |
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A． Many American parents don’t think cellphones are necessary for the students． |
| B．Cellphones only bring troubles to the school life． |
| C． Cellphones connect children with their families when they are outside． |
| D． All the school children agreed not to use cellphones at school. |
What does the underlined word “essential” mean in Chinese?
| A．时髦的． | B．必要的． | C．昂贵的． | D．浪费的 |
The article is about the____ in carrying out the rule not to use a cellphone in schoo1．
| A．happiness | B．interest | C．problem | D．satisfaction |
A businessman lost his wallet. There was plenty of money in it. So he made a promise, "If someone finds my wallet and returns it to me, I'll give half the money to him."
A dustman found the wallet in a dustbin. He sent it back to the loser. But the businessman changed his mind.
"There was still a diamond ring in my wallet," said the loser, "I won't give half the money in my wallet to you until you return it to me!"
"I've never seen a diamond ring in the wallet," said the dustman.
They began to quarrel. The businessman refused to do what he had said. The dustman became angry and took him before a judge.
After the judge heard what had happened to them, he said to the businessman, "I'm sure you are an honest man. It's true that you have lost a wallet in which there was a diamond ring. But it's also clear that there is only a lot of money in this wallet. I don't think it's yours. Wait for some time. Perhaps someone will be able to return your wallet to you!"
Then the judge turned to the dustman and said, "Take the wallet home. If the loser doesn't go to get it back in three days, it will belong to you!"The wallet the businessman lost ________.
| A．was found in a shop |
| B．was sent to the judge |
| C．was found in a dustbin |
| D．was never to be found |
The businessman was eager to get back the wallet because _________.
| A．there was the address of an important judge in it |
| B．there was a lot of money in it |
| C．he put in it a diamond ring he had just bought |
| D．it was a very expensive one |
Having heard what had happened, the judge _________ .
| A．took the side of the businessman |
| B．made a wise decision |
| C．took pity on the loser |
| D．did not know what to do |
Where do you think was the diamond ring?
| A．The businessman hid it. |
| B．The dustman kept it |
| C．The judge stole it. |
| D．The story of the ring was nothing but a lie. |
Victor’s hobby was collecting stamps. He had stamps from many countries, like England, Canada and China. On his birthday, can you guess what people gave him? That’s right---stamps.
Victor’s favourite stamps came from France. He had almost every stamp from 1954 to 2004. He only needed one. That was a 1974 special edition*. It was very hard to find.
He looked for it everywhere. He asked his friends and relatives to help him. But nobody could find the stamp. It made Victor very sad.
“Don’t worry. Never give up,” his father said to him. “If you have enough patience, you’ll find it one day.”
“I hope so,” Victor said.
Victor also liked writing. He had a penfriend in France. They wrote to each other every month. Victor’s penfriend, Phillip, usually used new stamps to send letters. Sometimes, his mother gave him stamps to use. Once Phillip’s mother gave him a big, green stamp. It looked old. When Victor received the letter, he was very surprised. On the envelope, he looked carefully at the stamp. It was the 1974 special edition stamp. Victor was so happy. He told his sister, his mother and his father.
“ You see,” his father said. “ You did find your stamp. So, it’s good to have two things in life.”
“What are they?” Victor asked.
“ Friends and patience.” He answered.It was very difficult for Victor to find a special French stamp of _________.
| A．1954 | B．1974 | C．1994 | D．2004 |
What does the underlined word “patience” mean?
| A．勇气 | B．知识 | C．耐心 | D．目标 |
Who owned the special edition stamp at the very beginning?
| A．Phillip. | B．Phillip’s mother. | C．Victor. | D．Victor’s father. |
The passage mainly tells us that ________ is(are) important to people.
| A．a happy family | B．a good hobby |
| C．relatives and friendship | D．friends and patience |