阅读理解课后测试练习
本测试练习满分100分，成绩仅用于考查阅读理解题型掌握情况并可作学位英语考试反复练习之用，不影响课程形考及终考成绩。因涉及到对自身现有英语能力的评估，请勿借助任何工具，并在12周之前独立完成。
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Reading Comprehension (1’*100=100’)
Directions: In this part of the test, there are twenty passages. Each passage is followed by five
questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. You are required to choose the best answer.
Passage 1
As many people hit middle age, they often start to notice that their memory and mental clarity are not what they used to be. We suddenly can’t remember where we put the keys just a moment ago, or an old acquaintance’s name, or the name of an old band we used to love. As the brain fades, we refer to these occurrences as “senior moments.” While seemingly innocent, this loss of mental focus can potentially have a harmful impact on our professional, social, and personal well-being.
It happens to most of us, but is it inevitable? Neuroscientists（神经学家） are increasingly showing that there’s actually a lot that can be done. It turns out that the brain needs exercise in much the same way our muscles do, and the right mental workouts can significantly improve our basic cognitive（认知） functions. Thinking is essentially a process of making connections in the brain. To a certain extent, our ability to excel in making the connections that drive intelligence is inherited. However, because these connections are made through effort and practice, scientists believe that intelligence can expand and fluctuate according to mental effort.
Now, a new San Francisco Web-based company has taken it a step further and developed the first “brain training program” designed to actually help people improve and regain their mental sharpness. Called Lumosity, it was designed by some of the leading experts in neuroscience and cognitive psychology from Stanford University.
Lumosity is far more than an online place to exercise your mental skills. That’s because they have integrated these exercises into a web-based program that allows you to systematically improve your memory and attention skills. The program keeps track of your progress and provides detailed feedback on your performance and improvement. Most importantly, it constantly modifies and enhances the games you play to build on the strengths you are developing–much like an effective exercise routine requires you to increase resistance and vary your muscle use.
1. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. “Senior moments” are innocent.
B. “Senior moments” are harmful.
C. Brain training is helpful.
D. Brain training is useless.
2. From the first sentence, we can learn that middle-aged people . .
A. have a better memory than before
B. are smarter than before
C. have a weaker memory than before
D. have better mental clarity than before
3. Lumosity is designed by . .
A. scientists in a company
B. professors in a university
C. trainers in a club
D. experts in a factory
4. What can improve our basic cognitive functions?
A. More muscles exercises.
B. More brain exercises.
C. More “senior moments”.
D. More professional skills.
5. Which of the following is TRUE about “brain training program”?
A. It is web-based.
B. It is just for fun.
C. It is a muscle exercise.
D. It enhances all strengths of the brain.
Passage 2
A question that often troubles food companies is how to control problems like rats and insects without harming the food. Pest control experts say poisons should never be used where they may enter food. They say the first line of defense against pests is to clean the places where the food is handled or stored.
Floors, food preparation surfaces and tools can be disinfected with chemicals like chlorine（氯）, iodine（碘） or bromine（溴）. Food containers should be stored about half a meter off the ground and about half a meter away from any walls. Storage areas should be kept dry and clean.
Containers for raw materials such as rice, wheat, etc. should be kept closed and clean. Any foodstuff split during delivery or handling should be cleared up both inside and outside the building. Pests enter a building from the outside, so pay attention to outer walls. Small stones can be used to cover the ground and block the growth of plants and the grass should be kept short to deny pests a place to live.
Check that doors and windows are completely closed. Also any hole that might allow pests to enter a building should be filled. Rats can enter through a hole the size of a coin. A mouse can pass through a hole half that size.
Supervisors should make a list of pest control measures to be taken by employees. This will aid the efforts and also help prepare for any inspections. In most countries, there is a food and drug administration bureau, or some agency with a similar name, which enforces rules nationwide, responsible for rules about the use of pesticides, etc. However, businesses where food is stored, prepared or sold must also follow state and local health laws. Most of these governmental departments or bureaus have their websites with information about food safety policies and other issues. People can easily access the information.
6. According to pest control experts. Poisons should never be used where . .
A. there are few rats
B. food may be contaminated
C. children may get hands on them
D. there are containers for raw materials
7. From the text, we know that things like chlorine, iodine or bromine are all . .
A. food
B. fruits
C. chemicals
D. food containers
8. Outer walls are built . .
A. to block the growth of plants
B. to prevent animals from going outside
C. to protect rice and wheat from rain and wind
D. to prevent pests from entering a building from outside
9. Why is it necessary for supervisors to make a list of pest control measures?
A. To be carried out by employees.
B. To follow state and local health laws.
C. To be put on government departments’ websites.
D. To help control pests and help prepare for any inspection.
10. One of the responsibilities of a food and drug administration bureau is . . .
A. to check doors and windows
B. to set up rules about the use of pesticides
C. to prevent plants and grass from growing tall
D. to fill holes from which pests to enter a building
Passage 3
I have developed a habit of collecting trash. I leave my house around midnight a few times a week and walk around the city gathering what I find: old toys, used appliances broken furniture, the list goes on. I usually have no problem filling the two bags I bring with me. The next day, I sort through what I collected and make two piles: a useable one and an unusable one. I take the useable pile to my studio and start creating art.
What other people see as garbage, I see as potential art. Of course, it’s not art in the state I find it. Through creativity and trial-and-error, it becomes art. The pieces I create are mostly animals and robot sculptures. The process I go through from the raw materials to a finished piece is not complex at all. First, I take the materials I have collected and play around with different combinations and configurations to see if I can find some inspiration. I typically do this for a few days or a week before something “clicks” and I have an idea about what I want to create. After that, it is only a matter of realizing my vision.
I also create more practical, useable art out of the trash I find. Some examples include vases made from glass bottles, lamps made from old appliances like irons or blow dryers, and pencil boxes made from plastic containers. I take these items to the local market and sell them. A few times a year, I get invited to display my favorite sculptures at exhibitions. Overall, I couldn’t be happier. I am doing something I love, making a good amount of money, and showing others both useful and artistic possibilities of trash.
11. The author often walks around the city at night to_________.
A. find something lost B. look for something valuable
C. collect garbage D. stroll only
12. Collecting trash becomes art after a process of___________.
A. collection B. trial-and-error
C. combination D. sorting
13. According to the passage, the author creates mostly___________.
A. vases made from glass bottles
B. animals and robot sculptures made from the trash
C. lamps made from old appliances
D. pencil boxes made from plastic containers
14. The author is invited to the exhibition to __________his art work.
A. sell B. visit
C. show D. realize
15. The author is very happy because he____________.
A. loves trash collecting
B. has set up a studio for the garbage
C. has great potential in his studio
D. can make good use of the potential of trash
Passage 4
Being an effective manager means knowing when to use the right management style.
Some styles, for instance, are more people-oriented, while others tend to focus on a project or product. The management style you select will depend on your people’s skills and knowledge, available resources (like time and money), desired results, and, of course, the task before you. The common management styles can be summarized into three categories
The participatory style is the first of its kind. Here, it is critical to give each employee an entire task to complete. If that’s not possible, make sure the individual knows and understands his or her part as it relates to the project or task. When people in your team know where they fit in the big picture, they’re more likely to be motivated to complete the task.
Following that, we have the directing style. Sometimes a situation will call for a directing style of management. Perhaps a tight deadline looms, or the project involves numerous employees and requires a top-down management approach. Here, a manager answers five questions for the employees: What? Where? How? Why? and When? Let employees know what they need to do, how they’re going to do it, and when the questions must be dealt with.
The last one is the teamwork style. If you want to speed up a project and choose the best process for completing that project, managing by teamwork is the way to go. When you motivate people to pool their knowledge, the results may exceed your expectations. Often, teams can tackle problems more quickly than what you can accomplish on your own. The give-and-take can create a process that you can repeat in other projects.
16. Which of the following is NOT included in choosing a management style?
A. The skills and knowledge of employees
B. The time, money and other available resources
C. The target customers
D. The expected outcomes
17. The word tackle in the last paragraph is closest in meaning to “__________”.
A. discuss B. solve C. review D. design
18. The teamwork style is suitable for__________.
A. asking people to contribute their knowledge
B. helping an individual employee know about his part in a project
C. adopting a top-down management method
D. motivating employees to complete the task on their own
19. What can we learn from the passage?
A. All management styles are people-oriented.
B. An effective manager needs to know when to use the right management style
C. For a situation with a tight deadline, the participatory style is often used
D. Only the directing management style can be accepted by managers
20. Which of the following is the best title probably for the passage?
A. Three Effective Managers
B. Three Effective Employees
C. Three Effective Projects
D. Three Effective Management Styles
Passage 5
The 2014 Ebola outbreak is the largest in history and the first one in West Africa. Although the current epidemic does not cause a significant risk to other nations, many countries, including China and the United States of America, have actually been working closely with the Ebola hit states. For example, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is taking precautions at home besides its activities abroad.
CDC’s team of “virus hunters” is supported by specialized public health teams both in West Africa and at the CDC Atlanta headquarters. Together, they offer continuous support to save lives and protect people. CDC works closely with a number of Us government agencies, national and international partners.
On Sept. 2, 2014, CDC Director, Tom Frieden called for more international partners to Join this effort. “The sooner the world comes together to help West Africa, the safer we all will be. We know how to stop this outbreak. There is a window of opportunity to do so the challenge is to scale up the huge response needed to stop this outbreak.”
CDC’s response to Ebola is the largest international outbreak response in CDC’s history with over 100 disease specialists in West Africa, supported by hundreds of public health emergency response experts stateside, activated at Level 1, its highest level, because significance of this outbreak.
The CDC supports affected countries to establish Emergency Operations Centers at national and local levels and helps countries track the epidemic including using real-time data to improve real-time response.
21. The 2014 Ebola outbreak is __________in the history of West Africa.
A. the first, but not the largest one
B. the largest, but not the first one
C. not only the first, but also the largest one
D. neither the first nor the largest one
22. “Virus hunters” is supported by the specialists from___________.
A. South Africa and China
B. West Africa and the US
C. China and the US
D. South Africa and China
23. CDC’s response to Ebola can be described as ___________.
A. a significant risk B. a big challenge
C. a large reaction D. a big improvement
24. _____________are established in affected countries supported by CDC.
A. Health Care Centers
B. Disease Control and Prevention Centers
C. Public Health Emergency Centers
D. Emergency Operations Centers
25. The passage mainly talks about____________.
A. CDC’s efforts to help West Africa fight against the 2014 Ebola outbreak
B. CDC headquarters’ response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak
C. West Africans’ efforts to fight against the epidemic
D. US Government’s help to stop the epidemic
Passage 6
A foreigner’s first impression of the U.S. is likely to be that everyone is in a rush-often under pressure. City people appear always to be hurrying to get where they are going restlessly, seeking attention in a store, and elbowing others as they try to complete their errands. Racing through daytime meals is part of the pace of life in this country.
Working time is considered precious. Others in public eating places are waiting for you to finish so that they too can be served and get back to work within the time allowed. Each person hurries to make room for the next person. If you don’t, waiters will hurry you.
You also find drivers will be abrupt and that people will push past you. You will miss smiles, brief conversations, and small courtesies with strangers. Don’t take it personally. This is because people value time highly, and they resent someone else “wasting” it beyond a certain courtesy point.
The view of time affects the importance we attach to patience. In the American system of values, patience is not a high priority. Many of us have what might be called “a short fuse.” We begin to move restlessly about if we feel time is slipping away without some return to this in terms of pleasure, work value, or rest. Those coming from lands where time is looked upon differently may find this matter of pace to be one of their most difficult adjustments in both business and daily life.
Many newcomers to the States will miss the opening courtesy of a business call, for example, they will miss the ritual socializing that goes with a welcoming cup of tea or coffee they may be traditional in their own country. They may miss leisurely business chats in a cafe or coffeehouse. Normally, Americans do not assess their visitors in such relaxed surroundings over prolonged small talks. We seek out evidence of past performance rather than evaluate a business colleague through social courtesies. Since we generally assess and probe professionally rather than socially, we start talking business very quickly.
26. Which of the following statements is wrong?
A. Americans seem to be always under pressure.
B. Americans attach less importance to patience.
C. Americans don’t care much about ritual socializing.
D. Americans are impolite to their business colleagues.
27. In the fourth paragraph, “a high priority” means _______________.
A. a less important thing B. a first concern
C. a good business D. an attractive gift
28. Americans evaluate a business colleague ________________.
A. through social courtesy
B. through prolonged business talks
C. by establishing business relations
D. by learning about their past performance
29. This passage mainly talks about _________________.
A. how Americans treasure their time
B. how busy Americans are every day
C. how Americans do business with foreigners
D. what American way of life is like
30. We can infer from the passage that the author’s tone in writing is ________________.
A. critical B. ironical C. appreciative D. objective
Passage 7
Britain and France are separated by the English Channel, a body of water that can be crossed in as few as 20 minutes. But the cultures of the two countries sometimes seem to be miles apart.
Last Thursday Britain and France celebrated the 100th anniversary of the signing of a friendship agreement called the Entente Cordiality. The agreement marked a new beginning for the countries following centuries of wars and love-hate partnership.
But their relationship has been ups and downs over the past century. Just last year, there were fierce disagreements over the Iraq war – which British Prime Minister Tony Blair supported despite French President Jacques Chirac speaking out against it. This discomfort is expressed in Blair and Chirac’s body language at international meetings. While the French leader often greets German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder with a hug, Blair just receives a handshake. However, some political experts say the war in Iraq could in fact have helped ties.
The history of divisions may well be because of the very different ways in which the two sides see the world. But this doesn’t stop 12 million Britons taking holidays in France each year. However, only 3 million French come in the opposite direction. Surveys show that most French people feel closer to the Germans than they do to the British. And the re- search carried out in Britain has found that only a third of the population believes the French can be trusted. Perhaps this bad feeling comes because the British dislike France’s close relationship with Germany, or because the French are not happy with Britain’s close links with the US.
Whatever the answer is, as both sides celebrate 100 years of “doubtful friendship”, they are at least able to make jokes about each other. Here’s one: What’s the best thing about Britain’s relationship with France? The English Channel.
31. For centuries, the relationship between Britain and France is __________.
A. friendly B. impolite
C. brotherly D. a mixture of love and hate
32. The war in Iraq does ___________ to the relationship between France and Britain.
A. good B. harm
C. neither good nor harm D. both good and harm
33. The British are not so friendly to ___________ and the French are not so friendly to__________.
A. Germany; America B. America; Germany
C. Germany; Germany D. America; America
34. ____________ are more interested in having holidays in __________.
A. American people; Britain
B. British people; Germany
C. French people; Britain
D. British people; France
35. What does the last sentence mean?
A. As long as the English Channel exists, no further disagreement will form between France and Britain.
B. The English Channel can prevent anything unfriendly happening in both France and Britain.
C. France and Britain are near neighbors, and this will help balance the relationship between them.
D. The English Channel is the largest enemy between France and Britain.
Passage 8
Many people who work in London prefer to live outside it, and to go in to their offices or schools every day by train, car or bus, even though this means they have to get up early in the morning and reach home late in the evening.
One advantage of living outside London is that houses are cheaper. Even a small flat in London without a garden costs quite a lot to rent. With the same money, one can get a little house in the country with a garden of one’s own.
Then, in the country one can really get away from the noise and hurry of busy working lives. Even though one has to get up earlier and spend more time in trains or buses, one can sleep better at night and during weekends and on summer evenings, one can enjoy the fresh, clean air of the country. If one likes gardens, one can spend one’s free time digging, planting, watering and doing the hundred and one other jobs which are needed in a garden. Then, when the flowers and vegetables come up, one has got the reward together with those who have shared the secret of Nature.
Some people, however, take no interest in country things: for them, happiness lies in the town, with its cinemas and theatres, beautiful shops and busy streets, dance-halls and restaurants. Such people would feel that their life was not worth living if they had to live it outside London. An occasional walk in one of the parks and a fortnight’s (two weeks) visit to the sea every summer is all the country they want: the rest they are quite prepared to leave to those who are glad to get away from London every night.
36. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A. People who love Nature prefer to live outside the city.
B. All the people who work in London prefer to live in the country.
C. Some people enjoying city life prefer to work and live inside London.
D. Many nature lovers, though working in London, prefer to live outside the city.
37. With the same money needed for ___________, one can buy a little house with a garden in the country.
A. getting a small flat with a garden
B. having a small flat with a garden
C. renting a small flat without a garden
D. buying a small flat without a garden
38. When the garden is in blossom, the one ___________ has been rewarded.
A. living in the country
B. having spent time working in the garden.
C. having a garden of his own
D. having been digging, planting and watering
39. People who think happiness lies in the city life would feel that ___________ if they had to live outside London.
A. their life was meaningless.
B. their life was invaluable
C. they didn’t deserve ha happy life.
D. they were not worthy of their happy life.
40. The underlined phrase get away from in the 3rd paragraph refers to ___________.
A. deal with
B. do away with
C. escape from
D. prevent from
Passage 9
Shyness is the cause of much unhappiness for a great many people. Shy people are anxious and self-conscious; that is, they are excessively concerned with their own appearance and actions. Worrisome thoughts are constantly occurring in their minds: what kind of impression am I making? Do they like me? Do I sound stupid? Am I wearing unattractive clothes?
It is obvious that such uncomfortable feelings must negatively affect people. A person’s conception of himself or herself is reflected in the way he or she behaves, and the way a person behaves affects other people’s reactions. In general, the way people think about themselves has a profound effect on all areas of their lives.
Shy people, having low self-esteem, are likely to be passive and easily influenced by others. They need reassurance that they are doing “the right thing”. Shy people are very sensitive to criticism; they feel it confirms their feelings of inferiority. They also find it difficult to be pleased by compliment with a statement like this one, “You’re just saying that to make me feel good. I know it’s not true.” It is clear that while self-awareness is a healthy quality, overdoing it is harmful.
Can shyness be completely eliminated, or at least reduced? Fortunately, people can overcome shyness with determined and patient efforts in building self-confidence. Since shyness goes hand in hand with a lack of self-esteem, it is important for people to accept their weaknesses as well as their strengths.
Each one of us is a unique, worthwhile individual, interested in our own personal ways. The better we understand ourselves, the easier it becomes to live up to our full potential. Let’s not allow shyness to block our chances for a rich and fulfilling life.
41. What does the author try to prove by citing “what kind of impression am I making?” (Para. 1)
A. Shy people benefit from their caring about their appearance.
B. People’s shyness made them care too much about their appearance and actions.
C. It’s natural that shy people don’t believe other’s compliments.
D. Shy people think they are different from others.
42. According to the writer, self-awareness is ____________.
A. a good quality B. the cause of unhappiness
C. harmful to people D. a weak point of shy people
43. When being praised, shy people feel that it is ____________.
A. good B. unreal
C. very reasonable D. harmful
44. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A. Shyness helps us to develop our potential
B. Shyness enables us to understand ourselves better
C. Shyness can block our chances for a rich life
D. Shyness has nothing to do with lack of self-esteem
45. It can be inferred from the passage that shy people ____________.
A. should find more of their weakness
B. should understand themselves in the right way
C. had better ignore their weakness
D. can get rid of their shyness while maintaining low self-esteem
Passage 10
Places to stay in Britain are as varied as the places you visit. Whatever your budget is the choice from basic barn to small hotel, from tiny cottage to grand castle is all part of fun.
Hostels
Cheap, good-value hostels are aimed at all types of like-minded travelers, who prefer value over luxury and you don’t have to be young or single to use them. Britain’s independent hostels and backpackers hostels also offer a great welcome. Facilities and prices vary, especially in rural areas, where some hostels are a little more than a bunkhouse (临时住房) while others are remarkably comfortable – almost like bargain hotels.
Youth Hotels
Founded many years ago to “help all, especially young people of limited means, to a greater knowledge, love and care of the countryside”, the Youth Hotels Association is still going strong in the 21st century. The network of 230 hotels is a perfect gateway for exploring Britain’s towns and countryside.
B&Bs
The B&B (bed and breakfast) is a great British institution. In essence you get a room in somebody’s house, and small B&Bs may only have one guest room, so you’ll really feel like part of the family. Larger B&Bs may have four or five rooms and more facilities, but just as warm as a welcome.
In country areas your B&B might be in a village or an isolated farm surrounded by fields. Prices reflect facilities: and usually run from around ￡12 to ￡20 per person. City B&Bs charge about ￡25 to ￡30 per person, although they’re often cheaper as you go further out to the suburbs.
Pubs & Inns
As well as selling drinks and meals, Britain’s pubs and inns sometimes offer B&B, particularly in country areas. Staying a night or two can be great fun and puts you at the heart of the local community.
Rates range from around ￡15 to ￡25 per person. Pubs are more likely to have single rooms.
46. In this passage the author mainly ____________.
A. tells us where to stay while visiting Britain
B. advises readers to pay a visit to Britain
C. introduces the wonderful public services in Britain
D. gives us some information about British life
47. ___________ are mainly built for young visitors.
A. Pubs & Inns B. Youth Hotels
C. Hostels D. B&Bs
48. If you travel alone and want to know better about family life in Britain, you’d better stay in ____________.
A. Pubs & Inns B. Youth Hotels
C. Hostels D. B&Bs
49. If you are interested in traveling with your friends but only with limited means, where is the better place for you to stay?
A. Pubs & Inns B. Youth Hotels
C. Hostels D. B&Bs
50. Which of the following is NOT true according to the last part of the passage?
A. Pubs and inns usually provide visitors bed and breakfast.
B. All pubs and inns offer visitors bed and breakfast.
C. Pubs and inns charge a visitor ￡25 at the most.
D. If you want a single room, you are more likely to get one in pubs.
Passage 11
A characteristic of American culture that has become almost a tradition is to respect the self-made man — the man who has risen to the top through his own efforts, usually beginning by working with his hands. While the leader in business or industry or the college professor occupies a higher social position and commands greater respect in the community than the common laborer or even the skilled factory worker, he may take pains to point out that his father started life in America as a farmer or laborer of some sort.
This attitude toward manual labor is now still seen in many aspects of American life. One is invited to dinner at a home that is not only comfortably but even luxuriously furnished and in which there is every evidence of the fact that the family has been able to afford foreign travel, expensive hobbies, and college education for the children; yet the hostess probably will cook the dinner herself, will serve it herself and will wash dishes afterward, furthermore the dinner will not consist merely of something quickly and easily assembled from contents of various cans and a cake or a pie bought at the nearby bakery. On the contrary, the hostess usually takes pride in careful preparation of special dishes. A professional may talk about washing the car, digging in his flowerbeds, painting the house. His wife may even help with these things, just as he often helps her with the dishwashing. The son who is away at college may wait on table and wash dishes for his living, or during the summer he may work with a construction gang on a highway in order to pay for his education.
51. From paragraph I, we know that in America ___________.
A. people tend to have a high opinion of the self-made man
B. people can always rise to the top through their own efforts
C. college professors win great respect from common workers
D. people feel painful to mention their fathers as labors
52. According to the passage, the hostess cooks dinner herself mainly because ___________.
A. servants in American are hard to get
B. she takes pride in what she can do herself
C. she can hardly afford servants
D. It is easy to prepare a meal with canned food
53. The expression “wait on table” in the second paragraph means “_________”.
A. work in a furniture shop
B. keep accounts for a bar
C. wait to lay the table
D. serve customers in a restaurant
54. The author’s attitude towards manual labor is ______.
A. positive B. negative
C. humorous D. critical
55. Which of the following may serve as the best title of the passage?
A. A Respectable Self-made Family.
B. American Attitude toward Manual Labor.
C. Characteristics of American Culture.
D. The Development of Manual Labor.
Passage 12
Human Resources Management
Human Resources Management (HRM) is the process of managing people and their relationships in an organization. These two processes are important in the success and growth of a business.
In managing people, staffing is the most important component of HRM. It needs to make guidelines and procedures for hiring and placement. Staffing also involves the management of employees on matters like monitoring of holidays, absences, health and safety, disciplinary action, and dismissal.
Another important element of HRM in managing people is keeping the employees in the company. The training of employees to enable them to improve their career development is very important. Good HRM policies ensure that there are clear regulations which show the pay levels for the different positions in an organization. It is important for the staff to know the career path, pay, training and other opportunities that are available to them. Performance management is another important component of HRM. The reason for this is that many employers use it to evaluate career improvement and to determine pay increases.
The secondary role of HRM is the management of the relationships among people in an organization. This includes staff within departments as well as across the whole organization. The relationship between staff and management is an important factor in the success of an organization. It decides how fast an organization will realize their goals.
The focus of HRM is the people within an organization. Regular planning, monitoring and evaluation are important for the success of HRM. Successful management ensures that all employees know their role, career development and also feel part of an organization.
56. _______ is / are important in the success of a business.
A. Teamwork spirit and high salary
B. The process of managing people and their relationships
C. Talents and their goals
D. The growth of a business
57. The most important component of HRM is _______.
A. staffing B. planning C. monitoring D. hiring
58. According to the passage, it is important for the employees to know the career path, pay, training and other opportunities through _______.
A. notices B. policies C. advertisements D. regulations
59. We can use _______ to evaluate career improvement and to determine pay increases.
A. staffing B. HRM policies C. performance management D. relationships
60. _______ is NOT mentioned in the text about the success of HRM.
A. Regular planning B. Evaluation C. Training D. Monitoring
Passage 13
Three Steps to a Good Marketing Budget
Without good budget management, you are likely to overspend on marketing accidentally. Here are three steps that help to make a good marketing budget.
Step 1: Organize financial information
The first step is to be clear of your current financial situation. You need to know how much money your company makes monthly and the changes that might arise in the future. Although income flows change throughout the year, you must organize the information based on reliable revenue -the minimum amount of money your company makes each month.
A realistic budget plan will always focus on the income that exceeds the expenses, not the total revenue that comes in. When you have determined the amount of disposable income available for the company, you should determine where the money will go.
Step 2: Determine where you want to spend marketing funds
After you know the total amount available to spend on marketing, the next step is how you plan to spend that money. Three main factors decide how you spend marketing funds: the budget amount, your past experiences, and where you can reach the right audience.
You will start organizing how to spend the funds based on the amount. Besides, you need to consider the strategies that have worked in the past. Also, you need consider which marketing channels will allow you to reach the right audience.
Step 3: Assess data and make appropriate changes
The final step in building a good marketing budget is the analysis of the plan and any changes that may improve revenue. Ultimately, marketing is designed to bring in extra revenue. If the activity does not bring in any additional revenue over its cost, then it is better to change strategy and try something else.
Assessing the data is a vital part of creating an effective marketing strategy. Evaluation begins with comparing past performance to the performance after marketing the product or services.
However, a good budget alone is not enough. You have to take action and remain committed to following through your plan. By keeping the budget in mind when you make decisions, you will have the opportunity to work out different strategies to find the best solutions for your business goals and prevent overspending on marketing.
61. What should the budget plan be based on?
A. The company’s reliable expense.
B. The company’s reliable marketing.
C. The company’s reliable cost.
D. The company’s reliable income.
62. What does “disposable income” mean in paragraph 3?
A. Total income.
B. Previous income.
C. Net income.
D. Maximum income.
63. You have to be clear of _________ when organizing financial information.
A. the income and expenses
B. the marketing fund
C. the budget management
D. the minimum amount of money
64. The three main factors that decide how you spend marketing funds are _________.
A. the money you have earned, the actual expenses and the money you will expend
B. the budget amount, your past experiences and where you can reach the right audience
C. the assets you have, the product and the income
D. the budget amount, the assets you have and the actual expenses
65. Keeping the budget in mind when making marketing decisions will avoid _________.
A. using less than you earn
B. using money unnecessarily
C. using more than you earn
D. using the least money
Passage 14
The History of Quality Control
Quality control is a series of activities that ensure and improve the quality of products and service.
The term ‘quality control’ came into common use in the 1950s because of W. Edward Deming. His ‘Fourteen Points’ have become the bible for quality control specialists. When the post-war world returned to regular manufacturing, Deming said that inspecting product quality after they were made was unacceptable. Instead, he proposed a process known as ‘statistical quality control’. It would use closely monitored performance measures to control quality while a product was being made. The goal of statistical quality control was to gather data that would allow for the constant improvement of manufacturing processes. This would in turn improve quality control.
Another important principle of Deming’s beliefs was that upper management should be responsible for quality failures. He strongly believed that it was possible for the workers to work hard to produce the highest quality products if they were given the right tools and working environment. In Deming’s own words, ‘the basic cause of sickness in American industry and the resulting unemployment is a failure of top management to manage.’ He believed that strong leadership led to a motivated work force.
If strong leadership is the term for managers in a quality environment, then empowerment is the key concept for workers in Deming’s system. Improved education and training are key factors in reaching employees and making them believe that their increased participation in the work process is an essential part of improving quality. Involvement, participation, and teamwork are seen as absolute ‘must haves’ if a quality workplace is to be created.
The Japanese were the first to use Deming’s Fourteen Points, and made great success. As an example, one Japanese factory doubled production in just one year and was expecting to gain an additional 25 percent improvement the following year, with no increase in the amount of working hours. All this happened as a result of simply improving quality. It was in the late 1970s that American manufacturing factories realized that quality control was a significant issue. By that time, Japanese firms such as Honda and Sony were taking over large portions of the American consumer market while it took most American firms until the 1990s to put quality control practices in place.
66. According to W. Edward Deming, what is the best time to control product quality?
A. Before a product is made.
B. After a product is made.
C. During the production process.
D. At any time.
67. When there are quality failures, where does W. Edward Deming think the blame lies?
A. In the workforce.
B. In the upper management.
C. In the tools.
D. In the environment.
68. Which of the following will not help to create a quality workplace?
A. Involvement.
B. Group participation.
C. Training programs.
D. Working alone
69. During which period were some Japanese firms winning American consumer markets over American firms?
A. 1990s. B. 2000s. C. 1970s. D. 1980s.
70. According to the passage, which of the following statements about quality control is NOT correct?
A. Quality control can lead to great success for a company.
B. Quality control can be done within one department.
C. Quality control requires constant improvement.
D. quality control is a significant issue.
Passage 15
African cities are forecast to urbanize（城市化） at a rate of 3.65% annually, adding nearly 350 million new city-dwellers by 2030, according to The Brookings Institution. A billion more people are expected to be living in African cities by 2063.
Population growth is the engine of urbanization for the continent. Most of the expansion in urban populations comes from natural growth, not rural-to-urban migration. Already, big cities like Lagos and Kinshasa are growing rapidly—and with that growth comes many challenges.
Most of Africa’s worst problems are most obvious in its cities. The huge numbers of people, the unemployed everywhere, the endless traffic jams, the bad road networks, the absence of meaningful infrastructure（基础设施）—it goes on.
Yet, there are three recurring difficulties with Africa’s rapid urbanization, according to a World Bank report out this month. First, the cities are crowded. That might seem obvious to a visitor. Both commercial and industrial and housing infrastructure investment has been unable to keep up with the rise in urban population.
Then there’s the poor transport network of these cities. Residents are unable to easily move from one part of the city to another due to unreliable and inefficient transport networks made up of minibuses, matatus which travel across these cities.
Finally, it’s expensive to live, invest, or run a business in an African city. The World Bank says African cities are 29% more expensive than cities in countries at similar income levels. Families in African cities have to spend 55% more on housing than other regions. The high transport, housing, and food costs make labor more expensive.
71. Which of the following could be the best title for the passage?
A. Difficulties in Africa’s Urbanization
B. Population Growth in Africa
C. Transportation in Africa
D. Business in Africa
72. The main reason for the growth of Africa’s population is that .
A. more people move from countryside to the city.
B. more people give birth to more children.
C. more people come from other countries.
D. more people come to Africa to run a business.
73. According to the passage, which one is the most common transport system in African cities?
A. Bikes.
B. Cars.
C. Trains.
D. Minibuses.
74. The word Matatus in Paragraph 5 probably means . .
A. a kind of infrastructure
B. a kind of vehicle
C. a kind of network
D. a kind of food
75. According to the passage, which of the following statements about transport in African cities is TRUE?
A. It is easy to move from one part of the city to the other.
B. The transport networks are reliable and efficient.
C. Families in African cities pay less on housing than other regions.
D. The rise in urban population needs more infrastructure.
Passage 16
If you were like most children, you probably got upset when your mother called you by a sibling’s name. How could she not know you? Did it mean she loved you less?
Probably not. According to the first research to tackle this topic head-on, misnaming the most familiar people in our life is a common cognitive error that has to do with how our memories classify and store familiar names.
The study, published online in April in the journal Memory and Cognition, found that the “wrong” name is not random but is invariably fished out from the same relationship pond: children, siblings, friends. The study did not examine the possibility of deep psychological significance to the mistake, says psychologist David Rubin, “but it does tell us who’s in and who’s out of the group.”
The study also found that within that group, misnamings occurred where the names shared initial or internal sounds, like Jimmy and Joanie or John and Bob. Physical resemblance between people was not a factor. Nor was gender.
The researchers conducted five separate surveys of more than 1,700 people. Some of the surveys included only college students; others were done with a mixed-age population. Some asked subjects about incidents where someone close to them—family or friend—had called them by another person’s name. The other surveys asked subjects had themselves called someone close to them by the wrong name. All the surveys found that people mixed up names within relationship groups such as grandchildren, friends and siblings but hardly ever crossed these boundaries.
In general, the study found that undergraduates were almost as likely as old people to make this mistake and men as likely as women. Older people and women made the mistake slightly more often, but that may be because grandparents have more grandchildren to mix up than parents have children. Also, mothers may call on their children more often than fathers, given traditional gender norms. There was no evidence that errors occurred more when the misnamer was frustrated, tired or angry.
76. How might people often feel when they were misnamed?
A. Unwanted.
B. Unhappy.
C. Confused.
D. Indifferent.
77. What did David Rubin’s research find about misnaming?
A. It is related to the way our memories work.
B. It is a possible indicator of a faulty memory.
C. It occurs mostly between kids and their friends.
D. It often causes misunderstandings among people.
78. What is most likely the cause of misnaming?
A. Similar personality traits.
B. Similar spellings of names.
C. Similar physical appearance.
D. Similar pronunciation of names.
79. What did the surveys of more than 1,700 subjects find about misnaming?
A. It more often than not hurts relationships.
B. It hardly occurs across gender boundaries.
C. It is most frequently found in extended families.
D. It most often occurs within a relationship group.
80. Why do mothers misname their children more often than fathers?
A. They suffer more frustrations.
B. They become worn out more often.
C. They communicate more with their children.
D. They generally take on more work at home.
Passage 17
By definition, heroes and heroines are men and women distinguished by uncommon courage, achievements, and self-sacrifice made most for the benefits of others-they are people against whom we measure others. They are men and women recognized for shaping our nation’s consciousness and development as well as the lives of those who admire them. Yet, some people say that ours is an age where true heroes and heroines are hard to come by, where the very idea of heroism is something beyond us – an artifact of the past. Some maintain, that because the Cold War is over and because America is at peace, our age is essentially an unheroic one. Furthermore, the overall crime rate is down, poverty has been eased by a strong and growing economy, and advances continue to be made in medical science.
Cultural icons are hard to define, but we know them when we see them. They are people who manage to go beyond celebrity, who are legendary, who somehow manage to become mythic. But what makes some figures icons and others mere celebrities? That’s hard to answer. In part, their lives have the quality of a story to tell. For instance, the beautiful young Diana Spencer who at 19 married a prince, renounced marriage and the throne, and died at the moment she found true love. Good looks certainly help. So does a special indefinable charm, with the help of the media. But nothing confirms an icon more than a tragic death – such as Martin Luther King, Jr., John F. Kennedy, and Princess Diana.
81. The passage mainly deals with _______.
A. life and death B. heroes and heroines
C. heroes and icons D. icons and celebrities
82. Heroes and heroines are usually _______.
A. courageous B. good example to follow
C. self-sacrificing D. all of the above
83. Which of the following statements is wrong?
A. Poverty in America has been eased with the economic growth.
B. Superstars are famous for being famous.
C. One’s look can contribute to being famous.
D. Heroes and heroines can only emerge in war times.
84. Beautiful young Diana Spencer found her genuine love ________.
A. when she was 19 B. when she became a princess
C. just before her death D. after she gave birth to a prince
85. What is more likely to set an icon’s status?
A. Good looks. B. Tragic and early death.
C. Personal attraction. D. The quality of one’s story.
Passage 18
What makes a person a scientist? Does he have ways or tools of learning that are different from those of others? The answer is “no”. It is not the tools a scientist uses but how he uses these tools that makes him a scientist. You will probably agree that knowing how to use a power is important to a carpenter. You will probably agree, too, that knowing how to investigate, how to discover information, is important to everyone. The scientist, however, goes one step further, he must be sure that he has a reasonable answer to his questions and that his answer can be confirmed by other persons. He also works to fit the answers he gets to many questions into a large set of ideas about how the world works.
The scientist’s knowledge must be exact. There is no room for half right or right just half the time. He must be as nearly right as the conditions permit. What works under one set of conditions at one time must work under the same conditions at other times. If the conditions are different, any changes the scientist observes in a demonstration must be explained by the changes in the conditions. This is one reason that investigations are important in science. Albert Einstein, who developed the theory of relativity, arrived at this theory through mathematics. The accuracy of his mathematics was later tested through investigations, Einstein’s ideas were shown to be correct. A scientist uses many tools for measurements. Then the measurements are used to make mathematical calculations that may test his investigations.
86. What makes a scientist according to the passage?
A. The tools he uses.
B. The way he uses his tools.
C. His ways of learning.
D. The various tools he uses.
87. “The scientist, however, goes one step further…”. The author says this to show___________.
A. the importance of information
B. the importance of thinking
C. the difference between scientists and ordinary people
D. the difference between carpenters and people with other jobs
88. A sound scientific theory should be one that ___________.
A. works not only under one set of conditions at one time, but also under the same conditions at other times
B. does not allow any changes even under different conditions
C. can be used for many purposes
D. leave no room for improvement
89. The author quotes the case of Albert Einstein to illustrate __________.
A. that measurements are keys to success in science
B. that accuracy of mathematics
C. that the investigations are important in science
D. that the mathematical calculations may test his investigations
90. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. The theory of relativity.
B. Exactness is the core of science.
C. Scientists are different from ordinary people.
D. Exactness and ways of using tools are the keys to the making of a scientist.
Passage 19
A Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic disorder caused by an extra chromosome. Human normally have 23 pairs of chromosome, or 46; however, people with DC have 47. These infants typically have a wide face, short neck, slanted eyes, and are mentally retarded, that is, with low intelligence. They are likely to have kidney or heart problems, and adults rarely live beyond 50 years, but they are generally happy people with optimistic personalities.
It is possible for a woman of any age to have a baby with DS, but it occurs more often in older women. For all women, the rate is one baby with DS out of 800 born, but this increases to one out of 80 for women over 35. So doctors suggest that women in this age group get tested for the condition if they become pregnant. Besides DS, there are several other disabilities that are caused by “mistakes” in our genes.
Years ago, children with disabilities couldn’t attend public schools or get jobs. They usually went to institutions where they were kept for the rest of their lives. However, attitudes have changed in recent decades, thanks to parents with disabled children. In 1975 a law called Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was passed in the United Stated. This law stated that all children with physical and mental disabilities had the right to an education, so schools were required to offer classes to meet their needs. Colleges began offering courses in “special education” to train teachers in new method.
This change in attitude made it possible for children with disabilities to get an education. Parents formed support groups, helping each other find good schools, recreation activities, and sports centers for their children. No longer were these children kept at home or in institutions. They could go to school with normal children and learn-and later be trained to do simple work and earn money. They could then live in group homes and support themselves like other people.
In 1968, the Special Olympics, a competition for children and adults with disabilities, were held for the first time in Chicago, Illinois, with 1,000 participants. Today they are held every other year, with 2.25 million athletes participating in 150 countries around the world. People with disabilities are no longer ignored or institutionalized; they are part of a lively community of special people who are now able to contribute to society.
91. People with Down syndrome ___________.
A. have a narrow face
B. have a long neck
C. have red eyes
D. are mentally retarded
92. More babies with DS are born to ___________.
A. women of any age
B. women over 35
C. women over 25
D. over 800 women
93. IDEA, the law passed in 1975, stated that ___________.
A. all children with disabilities had the right to an education
B. some schools were required to offer special classes
C. colleges had to offer special education
D. teachers had to learn new methods
94. Thanks to special education, children with disabilities could ___________.
A. support themselves
B. be kept at home
C. live alone
D. help other people
95. Which of the following statements is TRUE about the Special Olympics in 1968?
A. It was held in New York.
B. It has millions of participants.
C. It had 1,000 participants.
D. It was only for adults with disabilities.
Desirable Personalities in a Teacher
What personal qualities are desirable in a teacher? Certainly expert knowledge and pedagogical training are important. However, the most important qualities in a teacher are not academic. First, teachers should have an agreeable personality. This does not rule out people who are plain or even ugly because many have great charisma. However, it does rule out those who are distant or have a short temper.
Secondly, it is not merely desirable but essential for a teacher to have a genuine capacity for sympathy. He must have a capacity to understand feelings, especially those of children. Likewise, he should be tolerant. He should not tolerate wickedness, but the weakness and frailty which induce people to make mistakes.
Thirdly, it is essential for a teacher to be both intellectually and morally honest. This means that he will be aware of his intellectual strengths and limitations. He will have thought about and decided upon moral principles which guide his life. Despite the importance of integrity, a teacher should also be a bit of actor. Teaching demands that every now and then, a teacher enliven a lesson, correct a fault, or praise a student. Children, especially young children, live in a world that is larger than life.
A teacher must be capable of infinite patience. This is largely a matter of self-discipline and self-training, for more are born that way.
Finally, the teacher should have the kind of mind which always wants to go on learning. Teachings a skill which one will never perfect; there is always something more to learn about it. There are three principal objects of study: academic subjects, the methods by which the subjects can best be taught the particular pupils classes he is teaching; and by far, the most important, the children, young people, or adults to whom the subjects are to be taught. The two fundamental principles of British Education today are that education is the education of the whole person, and that it is best required through full and active cooperation between two persons, the teacher and the learner.
96. Which of the following is NOT desirable about a good teacher?
A. Plain-looking or ugly.
B. Pedagogical training.
C. Expert knowledge.
D. A hot temper.
97. A teacher can make his or her lessons more lively, if he or she ___________.
A. has a capacity for sympathy
B. knows a little about how to act
C. is aware of his or her own weaknesses
D. knows more about the children’s world
98. What is patience according to the author?
A. Something that teachers are both with.
B. Something that can be acquired.
C. Part of human nature.
D. A moral principle guiding people’s lives.
99. What is the most important object of study for teachers?
A. The people they teach.
B. The technique of teaching.
C. The subject they teach.
D. The principles of education.
100. What is the purpose of the passage?
A. To persuade readers to be teachers.
B. To advise readers to respect teaching.
C. To tell readers what makes a good teacher.
D. To inform readers of the hardship of teaching.
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