One of the executives gathered at the Aspen Institute for a day-long leadership workshop using the works of Shakespeare was discussing the role of Brutus in the death of Julius Caesar. “Brutus was not an honorable man,” he said. “He was a traitor（叛徒）. And he murdered someone in cold blood.” The agreement was that Brutus had acted with cruelty when other options were available to him. He made a bad decision, they said—at least as it was presented by Shakespeare—to take the lead in murdering Julius Caesar. And though one of the executives acknowledged that Brutus had the good of the republic in mind, Caesar was nevertheless his superior. “You have to endeavor,” the executives said, “our policy is to obey the chain of command.”
During the last few years, business executives and book writers looking for a new way to advise corporate America have been exploiting Shakespeare’s wisdom for profitable ends. None more so than husband and wife team Kenneth and Carol Adelman, well-known advisers to the White House, who started up a training company called “Movers and Shakespeares”. They are amateur Shakespeare scholars and Shakespeare lovers, and they have combined their passion and their high level contacts into a management training business. They conduct between 30 and 40 workshops annually, focusing on half a dozen different plays, mostly for corporations, but also for government agencies.
The workshops all take the same form, focusing on a single play as a kind of case study, and using individual scenes as specific lessons. In Julius Caesar , sly provocation（狡诈的挑唆） of Brutus to take up arms against the what was a basis for a discussion of methods of team building and grass roots organism.
Although neither of the Adelmans is academically trained in literature, the programmes, contain plenty of Shakespeare tradition and background. Their workshop on Henry V, for example, includes a helpful explanation of Henry’s winning strategy at the Battle of Agincourt. But they do come to the text with a few biases (偏向): their reading of Henry V minimizes his misuse of power. Instead, they emphasize the story of the youth who seizes opportunity and becomes a masterful leader. And at the workshop on Caesar, Mr. Adelmans had little good to say about Brutus, saying “the noblest Roman of them all” couldn’t make his mind up about things.
Many of the participants pointed to very specific elements in the play that they felt related Caesar’s pride, which led to his murder, and Brutus’s mistakes in leading the after the murder, they said, raise vital questions for anyone serving as a business when and how do you resist the boss?According to paragraph 1, what did all the executives think of Brutus?
| A．Cruel. | B．Superior. |
| C．Honorable. | D．Bade |
According to the passage, the Adelmans set up “Movers and Shakespeares” to ________.
| A．help executives to understand Shakespeare’s plays better |
| B．give advice on leadership by analyzing Shakespeare’s plays |
| C．provide case studies of Shakespeare’s plays in literature workshops |
| D．guide government agencies to follow the characters in Shakespeare’s plays. |
Why do the Adelmans conduct a workshop on Henry V?
| A．To highlight the importance of catching opportunities. |
| B．To encourage masterful leaders to plan strategies to win. |
| C．To illustrate the harm of prejudices in management. |
| D．To warn executives against power misuse. |
It can be inferred from the passage that ____.
| A．the Adelmans’ programme proves biased as the roles of characters are maximized. |
| B．executives feel bored with too many specific elements of Shakespeare’s plays. |
| C．the Adelmans will make more profits if they are professional scholars. |
| D．Shakespeare has played an important role in the management field. |
The best title for the passage is _____.
| A．Shakespeare’s plays: Executives reconsider corporate culture |
| B．Shakespeare’s plays: An essential key to business success |
| C．Shakespeare’s plays: a lesson for business motivation |
| D．Shakespeare’s plays: Dramatic training brings dramatic results |
The small unframed painting called “Fisherman” was signed by a little-known Italian artist, Maveleone (1669-1740). When it was sold recently in New York for $ 27000, the seller, Mr. Oliver Pitt, was asked to explain how the picture had come into his possession.
Pitt said, “I didn’t know it was so valuable. I’m not an art expert. Photography is my hobby. I bought ‘Fisherman’ in Italy in 1970 for $140．the picture was dirty, and I couldn’t see the artist’s signature. But anyway it wasn’t the picture that I like. I bought it because of the frame.”
“It’s most unusual frame, made of tiny, silvery sea-shells. They are set in such a way that they reflect perfect light onto the surface of a picture. I now have a photograph of my wife in that frame, and I’ll never part with it.”
“When I returned to New York I showed the painting in its frame to a customs officer. I told him that I had paid $140 for it but admitted I didn’t know its actual worth. The customs man valued it at $ 140, and I was asked to pay duty on that value. I did so, there and then.”
“Later, I took off the frame, and that uncovered Maveleone’s signature. My wife suggested in fun that the painting might be a valuable one, so I cleaned it and put it up for sale.”
As a result of his explanation, Oliver Pitt had to appear in court. He was accused of (指控) knowingly making a false statement of the value of a picture so as to cheat the Customs Department.
Pitt was not happy. “I told the truth as I knew it then,” he said, “What else could I say?”
And then the judge agreed with him. “The Customs Department is to be responsible (blame),” he said, “for making a true valuation of goods bought into the country, so that the correct amount of duty may be charged. Mr Pitt did not cause or try to cause the mistake that was made. He paid the duty that was demanded. If now, the Customs Department finds that its valuation was not correct, it cannot be allowed to have another try. Pitt is not guilty.Pitt met the customs officer __________, where the officer was employed to ________.
| A．at the railway station or airport; examine people’s baggage |
| B．at the airport or port; examine people’s baggage |
| C．at the bus-stop; help people enter the USA |
| D．at the airport or port; help people enter the USA |
From the passage we can infer that if Maveleone had been a well-know artist _________.
| A．the painting would have cost much more than $ 140 |
| B．he wouldn’t have sold his painting at such a low price |
| C．the customs officer wouldn’t have valued the painting at $ 140 |
| D．Pitt wouldn’t have had the intention to buy any of his paintings |
Pitt took off the frame in order to ____________.
| A．clean the painting to put it up for sale |
| B．look for the artist’s signature |
| C．use if for his wife’s photograph |
| D．find the painting’s true value |
Which is true according to the passage?
| A．Pitt knew the true value of the picture. |
| B．Pitt’s wife knew the true value of the picture. |
| C．When Pitt’s wife suggested keeping the picture, she was kind of joking. |
| D．Pitt didn’t pay any duty at all. |
Which of the following statements is true to the story? In the end __________.
| A．Pitt was asked to pay the correct amount of duty. |
| B．Pitt sold the frame of the painting at an even higher price. |
| C．The Customs Department had no right to revalue the painting. |
| D．Pitt’s wife was regarded as an expert because of her wise suggestion. |
This is the age of the quick action. We have instant satisfaction, fast food, speed reading, mobile phones; even the stress management books have titles like “Stress Management in 60 Seconds”.
Canadian Classics Professor Margaret Visser points out that the perception that we have “no time” is one of the most strict concepts of Western culture. Visser says that “no time” is used as an excuse and also as a spur(刺激); it both stimulates us and forces us, just as a concept such as ‘honour’ did for the ancient Greeks. According to Visser, the feeling that Westerners have “no time” is abstract, quantitative, amoral(非道德性的), unarguable, bringing pressure on each person as an individual. At the same time, the “no time” excuse escapes censure by claiming to be a condition created entirely out of our good fortune.
Life offers “so many pleasures, so many choices”.
The fact that women now work outside the home has contributed to the “no time” trend. But more important, Visser says, is the fact that feeling rushed has become an important component(成分) of our economy. Marketing of “time-saving” products causes people to buy more and work longer. So we eat out or buy prepared food to save time. The fax-it-to-my-car technology only contributes to the constant hurry. In our rushed and exhausted state, even the obligation(义务) to sit down to casual meal with family seems like a pressure. In comparison with the decision to act on a sudden whimz (一时的兴致) to consume a microwave mug of soup， the act of eating together and not getting up from the table until everyone else has finished seems an incredibly time-consuming event. Being in one’s own personal hurry in the West is somehow “free and preferable”The word “censure” in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to “”
| A．examination | B．force | C．blame | D．pressure |
Which of the following doesn’t contribute to feeling rushed?
| A．Marketing of time-saving products. |
| B．The fax-it-to-me-car technology. |
| C．Eating together and not getting up until everybody has finished |
| D．Longer working hours. |
We can learn from the passage that “no time” trend ___________.
| A．brings pressure on the individual |
| B．is very desirable to the individual |
| C．is not harmful if you have no control of events |
| D．has caused heart diseases and psychological problems |
“Dad! He took a book without paying!” I yelled (大叫). My father looked surprised. Before the boy could say anything, his mother grabbed his arm and shook it. “Is it true? You stole? Tell me!” Everyone was quiet. The boy began to cry, and he nodded (点头) his head. He pulled out the comic book (漫画书) from under his shirt. “Oh, Mr Kim. I am sorry! My Ted made a big mistake!” Mrs Diaz told my father. She tried to take the comic book, but Ted wouldn’t let go. “It’s OK. He can keep it,” my father said with a smile. “Oh, no,” Mrs Diaz said. “Let me pay right now…” She dug in her purse. “How much?” “Three seventy-five.”
Mrs Diaz’s eyes widened, and she dug deeper. I saw her mouth make a small line. “Three seventy-five?” she asked.
“It’s OK. You can pay later,” my father said. “No,” Mrs Diaz said. She kept looking in her purse. “I have money here.” I felt bad for yelling, for I realized that Ted had tried to steal the comic book because he didn’t have the money. Maybe the boy could have a job, I thought. I had an idea. “What if he worked with me?” I asked. They turned to me. I said, “He can work with me to pay for the comic book.” “Good,” my father said smiling at me. Mrs Diaz nodded. She turned to her son, “You hear? You will work and buy the comic book!” “ Yes, Mama,” Ted said, hanging his head.
As they left, Ted looked back, and though he still seemed sad, he stuck out (伸出) tongue at me.
Ted has been working here for two weeks. He has paid for the comic book, but my father says he is such a good worker that he can work with me as long as he wants. We are friends now. Where did the story most probably take place?
| A．In a classroom. | B．In a supermarket. |
| C．At a bookstore. | D．At a library. |
By saying “but Ted wouldn’t let go”(the underlined part), the author means __________.
| A．Ted took the book by mistake | B．Ted wanted to keep the book |
| C．Ted didn’t want to go home | D．Ted didn’t think he was wrong |
From the second paragraph, we may infer (推断) that Mrs Diaz __________.
| A．didn’t think her son stole the book |
| B．had been out of work for a long time |
| C．forgot to take money with her that day |
| D．couldn’t afford to pay for the book |
In the last paragraph, what does the author mainly tell?
| A．His idea was successful. |
| B．Ted didn’t like the job. |
| C．He liked Ted very much. |
| D．Ted was a naughty boy. |
A youth lay in a bath of tomato juice during the “Tomatina” Tomato Fight in the town of Bunol, near Valencia, eastern Spain.
Tens of thousands of people took off their shorts and threw tons of juicy tomatoes at each other in the Tomatina food fight, creating knee-deep rivers of tomato sauce (酱) on the streets of this Spanish town.
Five trucks carried 130 tons of the fruit for the hour-long fight which attracted foreign tourists. Among them are British, French, Argentineans and Japanese, as well as locals.
On the bell of noon the signal was given and for the next 60 minutes participants (参加人) hurled tomatoes at each other until a gunshot signalled the end of the festival.
The clean-up followed, with fighters washing the signs of battle away in the local river or under hundreds of temporary (临时的) showers. While the front of buildings were watered, they seemed brighter than ever after their bath.
The Tomatina, held on the last Wednesday in August, is said to be the world’s largest tomato fight. In the past people have been hurt during the tomato fight but no one was killed or injured this year.
The origin (起源) of the festival is unknown, but everyone in Bunol seems to have a favorite story. However, most agree it started around 1940.The passage shows that the tomato fight this year is __________.
| A．frightening | B．boring |
| C．popular | D．harmful |
The underlined word “hurled” means “__________”.
| A．presented (赠送) | B．threw |
| C．gave | D．picked |
According to the passage, we can learn that __________.
| A．participants can have a good rest after the fight ends |
| B．the festival came from a favorite story |
| C．only adults are permitted to attend the festival |
| D．no one was hurt in this year’s tomato fight |
What is the best title for the passage?
| A．A Youth Lay in a Bath of Tomato Juice |
| B．Tomato-hurling Festival in Spain |
| C．The History of “Tomatina” Tomato Fight |
| D．Festivals in Spain |
Pingyao, in the center of Shanxi Province, is a famous historic cultural city of China and a world cultural heritage site (世界文化遗址). It’s 90 kilometers south of Taiyuan on the Fen River.
People lived in Pingyao during the New Stone Age. Its long period as a country government seat has left Pingyao with lots of historic buildings and sites, with a 2,700-year history. Ninety-nine of them are under government protection, including Zhengguo Temple, Shuanglin Temple and Pingyao Ancient City.
During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, businessmen organized commercial (商业的) groups that did business nationwide. Shanxi Province had some of the most important ones and Pingyao was their center. In 1823, a store, known as Rishengchang(Sunrise Prosperity), traded in bank checks rather than in silver or gold coins. It was the beginning of modern Chinese banking. Branch banks were soon set up in major cities in China and other parts of Asia, leading to great development in Pingyao. Its Lacquer ware (漆器) became well known.
In Pingyao Ancient City are many traditional houses and commercial buildings, 3,797 of which are protected and more than 400 of which are in good condition. Not only do the houses in Pingyao show Shanxi’s history and culture, but this large number is valuable for studying its history, customs, and ancient buildings and art. Most of these houses are still used as homes and shops of local people.
In 1997, Ancient Pingyao City was listed in World Heritage List as “ World Culture Heritage Site”. What does the underlined word “them”(in the 2nd paragraph) refer to?
| A．Historic buildings and sites. | B．The three temples. |
| C．The country government seats. | D．The 2,700-year history. |
Which of the following about Pingyao is NOT mentioned in the passage?
| A．Its location (位置). | B．Its tourism. |
| C．Its business. | D．Its history. |
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Pingyao was a leading center in __________.
| A．agriculture | B．raising cattle |
| C．commercial trade | D．making gold coins |
If you want to know about the history of banking in China, you’ll visit __________.
| A．Sunrise Prosperity | B．Zhengguo Temple |
| C．A lacquer ware store | D．A commercial house |