With the passing of Steve Jobs, the tech industry has lost one of its most respected heroes. So where will the industry turn for inspiration, now that Jobs is gone?
New Apple CEO, Tim Cook, will keep the business going, but he is unlikely to inspire the same kind of devotion as Jobs. Facebook owner, Mark Zuckerberg, has star power, but he and his company are still too young and untested. At Google, Larry Page is too awkward, and Eric Schmidt too clever, and a lot of the company’s recent products are unfinished. But there’s one tech leader who just might fill the gap: Amazon’s Jeff Bezos.
Bezos runs his business the same way as Steve Jobs ran his, with a focus on long-term value over short-term profits and a willingness to invest in seemingly unrelated new areas. Steve Jobs converted Apple from personal computers into music with the iPod, and then into cellphones with the iPhone. It worked, and made Apple into the biggest and richest tech company in the world. Jeff Bezos is doing the same thing at Amazon.
In 2006, Amazon noticed it had a lot of spare capacity (容量) in its data centers. So it started renting out some of that capacity to some companies. Now, hundreds of newly-established Internet companies, including big names like Foursquare and Yelp, run their businesses on Amazon Web Services. Somehow, an outline bookseller became the most important provider of “cloud computing”.
In 2007, Amazon introduced its e-reader, the Kindle. The product developed slowly for a couple of years, and then started to take off in 2010 with the third generation. It sells for US$199, which is hundreds of dollars less than Apple’s iPad, but it has similar functions to the iPad. No wonder Amazon has to build millions more than it expected to meet demand.What do Jeff Bezos and Steve Jobs have in common?
A.They seek after short-term profits. |
B.They tend to invest in unrelated areas. |
C.They run their business creatively. |
D.They show interest in personal computers |
The second paragraph is mainly developed by ______.
A.giving examples |
B.making comparisons |
C.following the order of time |
D.analyzing causes and effects |
Why does Amazon have to produce more Kindles?
A.The product Kindle once developed slowly. |
B.Amazon noticed it had a lot of spare capacity. |
C.Kindle has powerful functions and lower price. |
D.Amazon took off with Kindle’s third generation. |
What might be the best title for the passage?
A.Amazon’s Jeff Bezo and his talents |
B.The Unknown Truth about Amazon |
C.Apple and Amazon---Which Is the Legend? |
D.Amazon’s Jeff Bezos---the Next Steve Jobs |
PART FOUR WRITING
SECTION A
Directions: Read the following passage. Fill in the numbered blanks by using the information for the passage. Write NO MORE THAN 3 WORDS for each answer.
On 3 March 2009, a package of reforms about ATM charge designed to improve competition in the Australian ATM system came into effect. Specifically, the reforms have made it easier for new providers of ATM services to enter the market and have provided ATM owners with the freedom to charge customers for the use of ATMs. Furthermore, the reforms have increased the transparency of ATM fees by ensuring that the fee charged by the ATM owner is displayed prior(在…之前) to the transaction(交易) being finished, with the customer given the opportunity to cancel the transaction at no cost.
One element of the reforms is the removal of interchange fees that card issuers paid to ATM owners when cardholders used ATMs that did not belong to their financial institution. These fees were often passed on, with a huge profit, by card issuers to cardholders in the form of a “foreign fee”. With the removal of interchange fees, the cost to card issuers when their customers use an ATM belonging to another unit has fallen, reducing the need to charge “foreign fees”.
Following the reforms, an ATM owner can charge a cardholder directly for an ATM transaction. When the ATM owner charges such a fee, it must be disclosed before the cardholder withdraws the cash or makes a balance enquiry, and it doesn’t apply if the transaction is cancelled before completion. And an ATM owner could impose direct charges on all customers, including its own if it’s also a financial institution.
Before the reforms, an interchange fee was paid by the cardholder’s financial institution to the ATM owner whenever a “foreign” ATM transaction was undertaken. And now the interchange fee paid has been cancelled and, in line with this, foreign fees have also fallen. In some cases, including two of the major banks, foreign fees were reduced to zero.
Title: 71___________
I. Time of 72. : on 3 March 2009
II. 73.: to improve competition in the Australian ATM system
III. 74. :
uMaking it easier for new 75.to enter the market
uOffering ATM owners the freedom to charge customers for 76.
u77. ________________ of ATM fees
u78.____________that card issuers paid to ATM owners when cardholders used ATMs not belonging to their financial institution
uA cardholder: being charged directly for an ATM transaction
uAn ATM owner: being able to 79.on all customers
IV. 80.of interchange fee:
uBefore the reforms: often being charged by the cardholder’s financial institution
uAfter the reforms: having fallen and some being reduced to zero
There is one difference between the sexes on which every expert and study agrees: men are more aggressive than women. It shows up in 2-year-olds. It continues through school days and persists into adulthood. It is even constant across cultures. And there is little doubt that it is rooted in biology.
If there's a woman’s trait(特点) which is the same as men’s aggressiveness, it's what social scientists refer to as the result of "education". Feminists have argued that the caring nature of women is not biological in origin, but rather has been forced into women by a society that wanted to keep them in the home. But the signs that it is at least partly inborn are too numerous to ignore. Just as tiny infant girls respond more readily to human faces, female toddlers(学步者) learn much faster than males how to pick up nonverbal cues(非言语暗示) from others. And grown women are far more skilful than men at interpreting facial expressions: A recent study by University of Pennsylvania brain researcher Ruben Gur showed that they easily read emotions such as anger, sadness and fear. The only such emotion men could pick up was disgust.
What difference do such differences make in the real world? Among other things, womenappear to be somewhat less competitive--or at least competitive in different ways--than men. At the Harvard Law School, for instance, female students enter with qualities just as outstanding as those of their male peers. But they don' t qualify for the well-known Law Review in proper numbers, a fact some school officials owe to women' s discomfort in the incredibly competitive atmosphere.
Students of management styles have found fewer differences than they expected between men and women who reach leadership positions, perhaps because many successful women deliberately imitate men. But an analysis by Purdue social psychologist Alice Eagly of 166 studies of leadership style did find one difference: Men tend to be more “autocratic”-making decisions on their own--while women tend to consult colleagues more often.Studies of behavior in small groups turn up even more differences. Men will typically dominate the discussion, says University of Toronto psychologist Kenneth Dion, spending more time talking and less time listening.The passage mainly discusses__________.
A.how sex differences are demonstrated in social relations |
B.how hormone determines sex differences |
C.why there are differences between males and females |
D.why men and women have different social roles |
Which of the following is true of women's nurturing nature according to the passage?
A.It is not inborn in any sense. |
B.It is inspired by women’s families. |
C.It is caused by social prejudice. |
D.It is partly biological in origin. |
The Harvard Law School example in paragraph 3 suggests that_________.
A.women are not as competitive as men |
B.law is not the fight profession for women |
C.women are as excellent as men when they are young |
D.academic qualities are not equal to performance |
Which of the following statement is true according to paragraph 4?
A.Men leaders should consult colleagues and subordinates more often. |
B.Female leaders' success is due to their imitating male leaders. |
C.Men and women are different in their leadership style. |
D.Decisiveness is an important quality for a successful politician. |
It can be inferred from the passage that the writer_________.
A.denies the difference sexes make in real life |
B.is prejudiced against men |
C.discourages women to be competitive |
D.treats sex difference objectively |
Brittnie Pemberton listened attentively as Jim Herrick took her and her mother, Tanya, on a brief tour of San Diego State University on Thursday. Her dream is much closer to reality after she received a promise from the university. The university promised that she would get a full four-year scholarship to the school as long as she met the entrance requirements.
Brittnie, 10, laughed. Her mom cried.
They live at the Salvation Army Door of Hope, a living center for homeless women and their children. Photojournalist Linda Solomon met them in August when she came to the facility and taught boys and girls, ages three-and-a-half to 13, how to take pictures. She gave them all disposable cameras and told them to capture images that reflected their dreams. The children's images - a big house, a church, a playground, a backyard and more - are kept. This is a project called“Pictures of Hope" organized by the Salvation Army
"I wish to go to college, so I took a picture of the sign out in front of San Diego State University," Brittnie said last month. The Fletcher Elementary School fifth-grader was pointing to the Christmas card bearing her photograph.
Adrienne Finley, development director at the Salvation Army, hosted a reception for Solomon, who told Finley about the president of a small university who gave a child the scholarship she dreamed of last year.
Finley called his old friend, Herrick, who serves as the SDSU President. "We have a wonderful opportunity here to make a difference in a little girl's life," Finley said. Soon her mom and Brittnie were face to face with SDSU President Jim Herrick.
"You must be Brittnie," he said, reaching out to shake her hand. She quickly pulled her hands out of the pockets of the new SDSU sweatshirt she had been given that morning.
They sat down at a table in his office and talked about college, about science, about her love of math and his hope that she and other girls wouldn't lose interest in those subjects, as happens to many girls as they grow older.
Then they talked about how much discipline she would need over the next eight years to make her dream come true. Both signed the paper outlining their agreement to the terms of the scholarship. Back outside on the sunny campus, Brittnie admitted she's tempted sometimes not to do her homework. "But not anymore," she said.According to the first paragraph, we can know that________.
A.it is certain that Brittnie will be admitted into SDSU |
B.Brittnie will not need to pay for her university education if she can study in SDSU. |
C.Jim Herrick promised Brittnie’s mother to offer her a job in SDSU. |
D.Brittnie made a promise that she would never give up her dream. . |
The Salvation Army Door of Hope is intended to ______.
A.recruit young men and young women to help others |
B.provide shelters for homeless moms and their children |
C.carry out some projects to help those who are in trouble |
D.help homeless people no matter who they are |
According to the passage, the following statements are true EXCEPT_______.
A. Linda Solomon taught children photography to inspire them.
B. Children told people about their dreams through their pictures.
C. Brittnie took a picture standing at the gate of SDSC.
D. Brittnie’s picture was so good that it was printed on a Christmas card.From what Ferrick said to Brittnie, we can infer that_______.
A.Ferrick has a strong belief that Brittnie will be a scientist in the future. |
B.Brittnie, as well as some other girls, is interested in both science and math. |
C.some girls would not be so good in science and math as boys as they grow older. |
D.Brittnie will never lose interest in science because of her deep love |
Which of the following words can best describe Brittnie’s feelings when she signed
the agreement about the scholarship ?
A.Encouraged | B.Calm | C.Nervous | D.Proud |
Hannah Oyler
21 Balsom St Ventura, CA 94120 (613) 555 – 7236
Objective To obtain a position as a photographer for a major metropolitan newspaper.
Notable Achievements Time Magazine, Top Photos of the Year 1999 for California Wildfire Banaker Excellence in Photography Fellowship, 1995.
Experience
Ventura County Times Staff photographer, 1996 --- Present , Regular coverage included: Sports, Lifestyle, & Metro. Successfully met tight deadlines.
Los Angeles Times Summer Intern, 1995 & 1996 Assisted lead sports photographer. Gained valuable knowledge of function and limitations of various types of cameras, lenses, and films.
Education University of Southern California B.A., Photography, 1996
Thomas Stanley
817 Park Ave Seattle, WA 98023 (614) 555 – 0283
Objective Legal Aid Practitioner.
Experience Johnson Industries International Legal Counsel, 1998 to Present
Acted as the in-house lawyer for the company, and was responsible for providing legal support for all company operations. Instrumental in establishing written company policies and training materials with respect to international trading laws and regulations, and general commercial practices. Provided prompt, efficient and practical legal advice to support to a busy, demanding clientele of traders.
Education Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
Kathy Lorentz
608 Lincoln Ave Mobile, AL 36513 (623) 555 – 8237
Objective To obtain a managerial position that will allow me to utilize my knowledge and experience to increase profit margins, productivity and quality.
SummaryAccomplished Project Manager with more than ten years experience. Proven ability to design and implement effective strategies, develop new products, and manage resources to produce profit. Proven ability to streamline processes and increase productivity.
Experience In Tech Corporation, Mobile, AL Project Manager, 1995 to Present
Worked with customers / potentials on development of product designs, tooling concepts, manufacturing methods, and costing for custom molded component applications. Directly supervised technical team of 3-5 project engineers responsible for new mold and molding systems implementation.
Education Jackson University, Tampa, FL ;M.B.A., Business Administration, 1992
Gary Wilson
809 West Cayuga St Philadelphia, PA 19037 (813) 555 – 6026
Objective Position as a Nurse of Health Care Provider.
Employment History St. Mark's Hospital, Philadelphia, PA;Surgical Nurse, 1994 to Present ;
Served as a staff surgical nurse. Provided health care checks for a diverse population. Performed blood pressure tests for community health outreach programs, provided a wide range of services including women's health clinic services and care for elderly patients.
LicensesR.N. - American Medical Association .
EducationB.S., Nursing, 1994; University of Scranton, Scranton, PA
Professional AffiliationsMonroe County Medical Society; Pennsylvania Nursing Association From the first resume, we can know that Hannah Oyler _______.
A.is an excellent journalist of New York Times |
B.knows much about different photographic equipment |
C.graduated from Stanford University |
D.wants to get a job as a photographer no matter where he will work. |
According to Thomas Stanley’s experience, he is most likely to be hired by_____.
A.a hospital | B.a supermarket | C.a company | D.a school |
The underlined word “implement ” most probably means______.
A.complete | B.help | C.value | D.transform |
Which of the following statements about Gary Wilson is NOT TRUE?
A.She is an experienced surgical nurse. |
B.She carried out blood pressure for many people. |
C.She has the experience of operating on patients. |
D.She is a member of some profess![]() |
Besides the personal information of the four people, what we can also get from the passage is______.
A.how to achieve success in our career |
B.how to express your desire for a job |
C.how to make yourself different from others |
D.how to write a standard resume |
Sunday is more like Monday than it used to be. Places of business that used to keep daytime "business hours" are now open late into the night. And on the Internet, the hour of the day and the day of the week have become irrelevant (不相关的). A half century ago in the United States, most people experienced strong and precise dividing lines between days of rest and days of work, school time and summer time. Today the boundaries still exist, but they seem not clear.
The law in almost all states used to require stores to close on Sunday; in most, it no longer does. It used to keep the schools open in all seasons except summer; in most, it still does. And whether the work week should strengthen its legal limits, or whether it should become more "flexible," is often debated. How should we, as a society, organize our time? Should we go even further in relaxing the boundaries of time until we live in a world in which every minute is much like every other?
These are not easy questions even to ask. Part of the difficulty is that we rarely recognize the "law of time" even when we meet it face to face. We know as children that we have to attend school a certain number of hours, a certain number of days, a certain number of years-but unless we meet the truant officer (学监), we may well think that we should go to school due to social custom and parents' demand rather than to the law. As adults we are familiar with "extra pay for overtime working," but less familiar with the fact that what constitutes (构成)"overtime" is a matter of legal definition. When we turn the clock forward to start daylight-saving time, have we ever thought to ourselves: "Here is the law in action"? As we shall see, there is a lot of law that has great influence on how we organize and use time: compulsory education law, overtime law, and daylight-saving law - as well as law about Sunday closing, holidays, being late to work, time zones, and so on. Once we begin to look for it, we will have no trouble finding a law of time to examine and assess.
1. |
By saying "Sunday is more like Monday than it used to be", the writer means that.
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2. |
The author raises the questions in Paragraph 2 to introduce the fact that people
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3. |
According to the passage, most children tend to believe that they go to school because they.
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4. |
What is the main idea of the passage?
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