Here is some must-know information from a handbook on how people behave in doing business in some countries.
In Brazil
Brazilians are warm and friendly. They often stand close when talking and it is common for them to touch the person on the shoulder. People often greet each other (particularly women) with light cheek kisses. Schedules tend to be flexible, with business meetings sometimes starting later than planned. But to be safe, be on time. Meals can last for hours—there’s no such thing as rushing a meal in Brazil.
In Singapore
Singaporeans shake hands when they meet and often also greet each other with a small, polite bow. Arriving late is considered disrespectful. So be on time. Efficiency (效率) is the goal, so meetings are fast-paced. Singaporeans are direct in their discussions, even when the subject is about money. Rank is important and authority is respected. People avoid disagreeing outright with someone with a higher rank.
In the United Arab Emirates
In the UAE, status is important, so the most senior or oldest should be greeted first with their titles. The handshake seems to be longer than elsewhere. So, do not pull away the handshake. People do not avoid entertaining in their homes, but they also hold business meals at restaurants. Touching or passing food or eating with your left hand is to be avoided.
In Switzerland
The Swiss tend to be formal and address each other by last name. They also are respectful of private lives. You should be careful not to ask about personal topics. Punctuality (守时) is important, so arrive at any meeting or event a few minutes early to be safe. The Swiss follow formal table manners. They also keep their hands visible at the table and their elbows(肘部) off the table. It is polite to finish the food on your plate.The passage mainly deals with ________.
| A．various types of communication |
| B．the atmosphere in workplace |
| C．living conditions and standards |
| D．customs and social manners |
Why do Singaporeans avoid arguing with their boss?
| A．They regard efficiency as the most important. |
| B．They dislike face-to-face communication. |
| C．They are supposed to obey the person of a higher rank. |
| D．They are used to having a fast-paced and direct talk. |
In which country do people care about where to put their hands at the dinner table?
| A．In Brazil. | B．In Singapore. |
| C．In the United Arab Emirate. | D．In Switzerland. |
B
Below is a table which shows the melting(液化)and boiling points of common substances.Study the table.Then do Numbers 4—7.
| Substance |
Melting point(C) |
Boiling Point(C) |
| Water Alcohol Nitrogen Oxygen |
0 –117 –210 -218 |
100 78 –196 –183 |
4.The underlined word‘substances'means‘a type of'_________.
A.matter B.liquid C.solid D.gas
5.Which of the four should be a liquid at-90 degrees?
A.water B.alcohol C.nitrogen D.oxygen
6.Mixing alcohol and water is often used to wash windscreens of cars during the wintertime because _________.
A.it is easier for alcohol to change into gas
B.alcohol is not easily separated from water
C.alcohol freezes at lower temperature than water
D.the mixture is not expensive
7.In order to change water from a solid to a liquid energy must be _________.
A.removed B.added C.created D.destroyed
六、Reading comprehension.(阅读理解)20分
A
Air is an odorless(that cannot be smelled;smelless),invisible(that cannot be seen)gas that surrounds the planet earth.It is everywhere on the planet.An “empty” drinking glass and an “empty” room,to give two examples,are not really empty.Each is filled with air.When the glass is filled with water,the water pushes the air out of the glass.
Air,as a gas,has no definite(fixed,particular)shape,but,because it is matter,it takes up space.It is easy to prove that air is something that takes up space.Stuff a dry handkerchief into the bottom of a glass so that it will not fall out when the glass is turned upside-down.Push the upside-down glass,hold it straight into a jar of water till the glass is completely covered.When the glass is taken out of water,the handkerchief will be dry.The air inside the glass took up space and kept the water from coming in.
1.“Stuff a dry handkerchief into…”.The underlined word means.
A.Press tightly B.Take out C.Put down D.Turn fully
2.The writer tells us that _________.
A.the experiment was done in the laboratory
B.the experiment was done outside the room
C.the experiment is easily done
D.the experiment is carried out indoors
3.Which of the following pictures gives us the correct result?
(W—water;A—air;H—handkerchief)
On March 5, 2009, Michael Jackson stood in front of crowds of fans. Before screaming fans, he pronounced with pumping arms: “This is it!”
A few months later, Jackson was dead. With the late pop star’s return to radio, television and the cultural events, Forbes judges that Jackson has made $90 million since his death June 25. This figure is based on his royalties（版税） from album sales, radio play, rights to his name and royalties from his stock in the Sony/ATV music catalog (编目权).
Jackson’s music was his most easily-seen source in the last months. “Nothing increases the value of an artist than death ... an untimely death,” says Barry Massarsky, a music industry economist.
The music’s immediate value was clear. Since June, Jackson has sold more than 5.9 million albums in the U.S. and another 4.5 million overseas. In the first weeks after his death, there were 5.6 million single downloads across North America, Europe and Australia. Jackson recently has three of the top 20 best-selling albums of the year in the US, according to Nielsen SoundScan. His 2003 hits album Number Ones is the best seller of the year, beating Taylor Swift’s Fearless.
More than 500,000 Jackson ringtones and 100,000 music videos were sold. In the week following his death, songs by The Jackson 5, The Jacksons and Michael were played over 100,000 times on the radio, according to Nielsen BDS.
Jackson’s estate（遗产）will likely see more money by the end of this year, as it has rights to some of the profits from This Is It as well as the two-disc album of the same name. The estate will share 90% of the film profits with AEG.
Ticket sales from an exhibit opening in London will also contribute a likely profit. Hundreds of Jackson’s personal belongings－his L.A. Rolls Royce etc－will remain on show for three months at the O2 for fans willing to shell out $25 for a view.
The pop singer bought ATV Publishing, for $47.5 million in 1985. Ten years later, he sold the catalog to Sony for $95 million and took a 50% stock in Sony/ATV, which is now worth about $1.7 to $2 billion. So he still owned half the Sony/ATV catalog at his death.
Jackson’s future earning potential is based on his stock in valuable music and as well as the value of his image（肖像）. As many musicians, actors and artists before him, Jackson’s fame could have a long tail on the market with allowable products, advertising and entertainment events.What do Barry Massarsky’s words in Paragraph 3 imply?
| A．Jackson died at the time as expected. |
| B．Only at death can an artist become famous. |
| C．Jackson became more famous at death than when he was alive. |
| D．Jackson’s unexpected death raised his value as an artist immediately. |
All the following is true EXCEPT that _____.
A. “This is it” is the last concert that Jackson gave
B. Jackson has sold 10.4 million albums since June
C. Jackson’s L.A. Rolls Royce is now for show and will finally be sold
D. Jackson’s stock in music and his image will keep on earning money in the futureWhat can be inferred from the passage?
| A．Jackson’s album Number Ones beat Taylor Swift’s Fearless in 2003. |
| B．Taylor Swift’s Fearless is the second best seller of music albums of 2009. |
| C．AEG takes in more film profits from “This is it” than Jackson’s estate. |
| D．More Jackson’s music videos were sold than his ringtones right after his death. |
What can we know about the Sony/ATV catalog?
| A．Jackson sold ATV catalog to Sony in 1985. |
| B．Jackson had half right of ATV Publishing at his death. |
| C．Jackson sold ATV catalog to Sony for $ 47.5 million in 1995. |
| D．Jackson’s stock in Sony/ATV now has a value of about $ 1.7 billion to 2 billion. |
What is the main idea of the passage?
| A．Why Michael Jackson’s music is so popular all over the world. |
| B．How Michael Jackson has earned $90 million in the months since his death. |
| C．What Michael Jackson’s future earning potential is based on. |
| D．How much Michael Jackson earned in the first few months after his death. |
A robot is a computer-controlled machine that is programmed to move and handle objects. Robots are able to perform repetitive tasks more quickly, cheaply, and accurately (精确的) than humans. In 1995, about 700,000 robots were used－including over 500,000 in Japan, about 120,000 in Western Europe, and about 60,000 in the United States－all in the industrialized world. Many robots applications are designed for tasks that are either dangerous or unpleasant for human beings. Now, robotic technology can be used in more and more fields. Experts say in the future robots will be able to make new highways, constructsteel frameworks of buildings, clean sewage (污水系统), and such physical work. Besides, another possibility is the development of robotic technology in medical surgery operations.
Perhaps the greatest changes in future robots will improve from their increasing ability to reason. The field of artificial intelligence is moving rapidly from university labs to practical application in industry, and machines of a new kind of robots are being developed, which can perform something involved in the process of understanding and planning, such as the management of a battlefield. Even the control of a large factory will be performed by intelligent computers. And there might be a possibility that these computers can design and make robots of their own.
Is there anything dangerous involved in this artificial intelligence progress then? Robot technology has been making people nervous ever since it was invented. Is it unreasonable to worry that robots will someday become too clever? Is it impossible that these human-like robots will start to think and plan for themselves? Will robots take over the world and force humans to give them energy to survive? In 1995, about 700,000 robots were working in _____________.
| A．Japan | B．the United States | C．Western Europe | D．the industrialized world |
Which of the following do experts say robots won’t be able to do in the future?
| A．Take care of roads. | B．Be used as medicine. |
| C．Used as underground pipeline cleaner. | D．Take up jobs of building construction. |
What does the underlined word “which” in Paragraph 2 refer to?
| A．Greatest changes in future robots. | B．The field of artificial intelligence. |
| C．Machines of a new kind of robots. | D．Practical application in industry. |
What can we know from the 2nd paragraph？
| A．It is possible that robots will be able to think like human beings. |
| B．It is sure that robots might be able to manage battlefields. |
| C．There is no doubt that computers can design and make robots of their own. |
| D．It is proved that computers can’t reason like human beings. |
Which of the following makes people worried most?
| A．Future robotic technology might cause dangers. |
| B．Future robotic technology might make people too clever. |
| C．Future robotic technology might help to do all dangerous jobs. |
| D．Future robotic technology might not survive because of its shortage of energy. |
Many people influenced various aspects of my life, based on their personal characteristics, accomplishments (才艺）, and values. I have been fortunate to have had numerous teachers and professors who I respect for their patienceand intelligence. There are artists that have inspired me by their natural talents and original creativity. I value many political leaders, who have inspired me by their contributions to society, and their ability to change our future. But of all the people I have known in my life, the person I admire most is my father.
As the youngest girl in my family, I always considered myself to be “Daddy’s little girl.” While growing up, it always made me sad to see so many of my friends and neighbours without a father or father-like figure around. This helped me appreciate how my father always takes an interest in his children’s lives. In my early life my father continuously pushes me to excel, so I could accomplish my work outstandingly among my people. Whenever I feel like giving up, or having a question or a concern, I know I can always call on him for advice. From him I have also learned that sometimes you have to put others’ needs ahead of your own, but not to the point they will begin to take advantage of you. His strength seems to be unbreakable during hard times, and he is extremely determined to accomplish anything he sets his mind on, no matter how tiny it is. I highly respect him for how he stands up for what he believes in, and will never back down. I have always admired his open mind, enthusiasm for work and people around, and sense of understanding. He is a very reserved man, but to everybody’s surprise, he has a great sense of humor, and always knows how to put a smile on the faces of his wife, his children and his friends.
Living in his affection and instruction, I am very proud of my father. He also professes how proud he is of his children, and is still there to support us in whatever we are involved in.What is the best title for the passage?
| A．How my father loved me as “Daddy’s little girl”. |
| B．My father – the person I admire most. |
| C．I am the apple on my father’s palm. |
| D．My father – the person who loved me most. |
Which of the following could NOT be used to describe the writer’s father?
| A．Considerate and humourous. | B．Affectionate and open-minded. |
| C．Energetic and helpful. | D．Knowledgeable and sociable. |
Which of the following can best explain the underlined word “excel” in Paragraph 2?
| A．Be more powerful than others. | B．Be richer than others. |
| C．Do better than others. | D．Be more charming than others. |
By saying “you have to put others’ needs ahead of your own, but not to the point they will begin to take advantage of you” in Paragraph 2, the father was telling the writer to ______.
| A．think for others and help them, but not to be made use of in negative ways |
| B．think for others and help them, so that you can make use of them to serve you |
| C．try to make use of those who want to do so to you |
| D．try to be good to those who are worth making friends with |
What can we infer about the writer?
| A．She appreciated her father because he solved all the problems for her. |
| B．She was outstanding in work because her father pushed her too hard. |
| C．She considered her father silly and often laughed at him. |
| D．She has a strong sense of sympathy towards other people. |