【推荐1】Finding the Real You
Psychometric testing—personality testing—has been very popular nowadays as studies show their results to be three times more accurate in predicting your job performance. These tests are now included in almost all graduate recruitment (招聘) and are widely used in the selection of managers.
The most popular of these personality tests is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). It is based on the theory that we are born with a tendency to one personality type which stays more or less fixed throughout life. You answer 88 questions and are then given your “type”, such as Outgoing or Quiet, Feeling or Thinking.
Critics of personality testing raise doubts about “social engineering”. Psychologist Dr. Colin Gill warns that the “popular” personality traits (特性) have their disadvantages. “People who are extremely open to new experiences can be butterflies, going from one idea to the next without mastering any of them.” However, the psychometric test is here to stay, which may be why a whole sub-industry on cheating personality tests has sprung up. “It’s possible to cheat,” admits Gill, “but having to pretend to be the person you are at work will be tiring and unhappy and probably short-lived.”
So can we change our personality? “Your basic personality is fixed by the time you’re 21,”says Gill,“ but it can be affected by motivation and intelligence. If you didn’t have the personality type to be a doctor but desperately wanted to be one and were intelligent enough to master the skills, you could still go ahead. But trying to go too much against type for too long requires much energy and is actually to be suffered for long. I think it’s why we’re seeing this trend for downshifting—too many people trying to fit in to a type that they aren’t really suited for.”
Our interest in personality now exists in every part of our lives. If you ask an expert for advice on anything, you’ll probably be quizzed about your personality. But if personality tests have any value to us, perhaps it is to free us from the idea that all of us are full of potential, and remind us of what we are. As they say in one test when they ask for your age: pick the one you are, not the one you wish you were.
1. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is based on the belief that ______.

A．certain personality traits are common

B．personality is largely decided from birth

C．some personality types are better than others

D．personality traits are various from time to time

2. According to Dr. Gill, what is the problem with personality tests?

A．Employers often find the results unclear.

B．They may have a negative effect on takers.

C．People can easily lie about their true abilities.

D．The results could be opposite to what employers want.

3. In Dr. Gill’s view, how easy is it to change your personality?

A．It’s possible in your adult life.

B．It’s easy if you have great motivation.

C．It’s difficult before the age of 21.

D．It’s unlikely because it requires much energy.

4. What final conclusion does the author reach about the value of personality tests?

A．They are not really worth doing.

B．They may encourage greater realism.

C．They are of doubtful value to employers.

D．They can strengthen the idea we have of our abilities.

【推荐3】In developed cities, public transport will be less popular than it used to be. To those who have to push themselves onto the number 25 bus in London, or the A train in New York, the change might not be noticeable. But public transport is becoming less busy in those places, and passenger numbers are flat or falling in almost every American city regardless of healthy growth in urban populations and employment.

Although transport agencies blame their unpopularity on things like roadworks and broken signals, it seems more likely that they ate being outcompeted. App-based taxi services like Uber and Lyft are more comfortable and convenient than trains or buses. Cycling is nicer than it was, and rental bikes are more widely available. Cars ate cheap to buy, and ever cheaper to run Online shopping, home working and office-sharing mean more people can avoid travelling altogether.

The competition is only likely to grow. More than one laboratory is developing new transport technologies and applications Silicon Valley invented Uber and, more recently, apps that let people rent electric scooters and then abandon them on the sidewalk. China created sharing-bicycles and battery-powered "e-bikes", both of which are spreading.

Transport agencies should accept the upstarts, and copy them. Cities tend either to ignore app-based services or to try to push them off the streets. That is understandable, considering the rules-are-for-losers attitude of firms like Uber. But it is an error.

It is doubtful that most people can tell the differences between public and private transport. They just want to get somewhere, and there is a cost in time, money and comfort. An ideal system would let them move across a city for a single payment, transferring from trains to taxis to bicycles as needed. Building a platform to allow that is hard, and requires much sweet-talking of traditional networks as well as technology firms. It is probably the secret to keeping cities moving.

1. In the author's opinion, the reason for the decline of public transport is that         .

A．cars and bikes are everywhere	B．there are roadworks and broken signals
C．people are becoming healthier and employed	D．public transport is not competitive enough

2. How does the author develop his idea in Paragraph 3?

A．By giving examples.	B．By providing data.
C．By stating arguments.	D．By making contrasts.

3. It can be inferred from the text that         .

A．the No. 25 bus in London is becoming less popular

B．transport agencies support the rules-are-for-losers attitude

C．public transport is still the cheapest way to get around

D．traditional networks and technology firms need cooperate

【推荐1】Many of us mistakenly believe that it’s wrong to think we have any good qualities. We may spend a lot of time blaming ourselves for our negative qualities, thinking that self-criticism is the key to improving our performance. However, a constant focus on our supposed shortcomings can stop our efforts to make friends with other people. How can we believe that others could like us if we believe our inner being is flawed(有缺陷)?

If someone seems to dislike you, the reason for that dislike might have little or nothing to do with you. The person who doesn’t like you might be fearful, or shallow, or busy or shy. Perhaps you and that person are simply a mismatch for each other at this particular time.

Don’t take yourself out of the game by deciding that your flaws are bigger than your good qualities. In fact, some of the very qualities you consider to be flaws may be irresistible to someone else. For all the factors that might cause one person to reject you, there are at least as many factors that will work in your favor with someone else.

You might be thirty pounds over your ideal weight, but you may have a wonderful laugh and a real enthusiasm for life. There are many people who don’t mind your extra pounds. You may drive a shabby car, but you might be a great dancer and a loyal friend. There are people out there looking for loyalty, or fun, or sweetness, or wisdom, and the package it comes in is not important. If you are worried that you are not beautiful enough to attract friends, keep in mind that not everyone is looking for physical beauty in their friends. You can decide to feel inferior(自卑) because you don’t have much money and you don’t drive a nice car. You can believe that this is the reason that you don’t have many friends in your life. On the other hand, if you are very wealthy you may be suspicious that everyone is after your money and that nobody really likes you as a person.

The point is that you can focus on just about anything and believe it’s the reason why you do not have friends and cannot make any.

1. According to the author, ________ plays an important role in making friends.

A．possessing good qualities	B．confidence
C．admitting your shortcomings	D．self-criticism

2. If you are not liked by a person, ________.

A．you may not be the one to be blamed

B．you and that person misunderstand each other

C．you should find the reason in yourself

D．you’d better talk with the person face to face

3. We can learn from the third paragraph that ________.

A．your good qualities may turn out to be your flaws

B．your negative qualities cause a person to reject you

C．your weaknesses may also be your strengths in some way

D．you’ll have few friends if your flaws are bigger than your good qualities

4. What do you think the author is most likely to suggest if he continues to write?

A．How to lose weight.	B．How to make friends.
C．How to make self-criticism.	D．How to find your good qualities.

【推荐2】Some people say global English is no longer just controlled by British or American English,but is running free and developing uniquely local forms.Can you figure out the following terms?

“I like your smile,but unlike you put your shoes on my face.”This is a way of saying“Keep off the grass.”Or“people mountain,people sea”,which means“very crowded”.

These examples are what we call Chinglish.When it comes to Chinglish,if all you know is“good good study,day day up”,you will be considered“out man”.

Nowadays,more Chinglish words have been created,for example,a Chinese idiom is translated as“smilence”,a combination by the English word smile and silence.

Chinglish usually offers a humorous look at misuses of the English language in Chinese street signs,products,and advertising.They are favoured by some English speaking tourists and visitors.Dominic Swire has been living in Beijing for a couple of years.“I think many Chinese people complain about the Chinglish and badly translated English.But you know,sometimes for us foreigners,it’s actually quite charming to see them.I think if the translations of English in China were all perfect,then something would be lost from Chinese culture.”

However,Chinglish will probably become a“cultural relic”in the near future.Beijing has made a comprehensive plan to improve foreign language services and correct Chinglish within five years.“It is very ridiculous to see Chinglish on the signs in some scenic spots.And they are a kind of barrier for communication between Chinese and people from other countries,”a Beijinger said.

Some Chinese university experts side with Chinglish.They argue that English has absorbed elements from other languages such as French and Spanish in its growth,and now it’s Chinese’s turn.

1. What can we call Chinglish?

A．English words which get new Chinese meanings.

B．The Chinese words which are difficult to translate.

C．The words combining English vocabulary and Chinese grammar.

D．The local words preventing foreigners from learning Chinese well.

2. What does“smilence”most probably mean?

A．Saying nothing but to smile.	B．Smiling without being noticed.
C．Laughing at somebody.	D．Knowing little about speech.

3. What is Swire’s attitude to Chinglish?

A．It can show the humour of Chinese.	B．It will attract more foreign tourists.
C．It helps him to learn Chinese well.	D．It seems part of Chinese culture.

4. Why Chinglish is likely to become a“cultural relic”in Beijing?

A．Because it has become a unique bridge between Chinese and English.

B．Because Chinglish is a chance to enrich Chinese and English.

C．Because it improves the understanding between Chinese and foreigners.

D．Because Beijing is determined to get rid of Chinglish signs.

【推荐1】Texting walkers aren’t just an annoyance to other walkers, Australian researchers armed with movie special-effects technology have determined scientifically that they’re threats to themselves. Using motion-capture technology similar to that used for films, researchers concluded that texting while walking not only affects balance but also the ability to walk in straight line.

“Some people like checking emails while walking to work in the morning,” said the study co-author Hoorn,“but they may not know it has a serious effect on the safety of themselves.” Other facts have also proved this. A tourist walked off a pier(长堤)near Melbourne last month while texting，bringing a sudden and icy end to a penguin-watching visit. Another person who was too wrapped up in his phone to notice dangers walked straight into the fountain in front of a shopping mall.

The Australian study involved 27 volunteers, a third of whom admitted having knocked into objects while texting. They were asked to walk 8.5 meters three times-once without phones, once while reading text and once while writing text, when eight cameras recorded their actions.

They found the volunteers using the phone walked slower, and, more seriously, they locked their arms and elbows in like “robots”, which forced their heads to move more, throwing themselves off balance.“In a pedestrian environment, inability to maintain a straight path would be likely to increase potential for traffic accidents,”said Mr Hoorn. “The best thing to do is to step aside and stop, or keep off the phone.”

Authorities worldwide have taken note. Signs on Hong Kong’s subway system advise passengers in three languages to keep their eyes off their phones. Police and transport authorities have highlighted the danger in Singapore, where the Straits Times newspaper recently declared cell phone-distracted road crossing as “bad habit No.2” contributing to the rising number of road deaths. Some US states, including New York and Arkansas, are considering bans on what they’re calling phone jaywalking.

1. Which of the following words has the closest meaning to “wrapped up” in paragraph 2?

A．Annoyed.

B．Absorbed.

C．Confused.

D．Absent-minded.

2. What can we learn from the Australian study?

A．Ten volunteers admitted knocking into things while texting.

B．The volunteers using phones while walking moved normally.

C．The volunteers were divided into three groups during the study.

D．Texting walkers are exposed to greater possibility of traffic accidents.

3. What’s the official attitude to people texting while walking in most countries?

A．Neutral.

B．Negative.

C．Unclear.

D．Supportive.

4. What’s the main idea of the passage?

A．Various walkers will get different social evaluations.

B．Communication device greatly improves people’s lives.

C．Texting regardless of time and occasion brings huge risks.

D．Texting has become the preferred communication method