The Origins of Famous Brands
Every day in our live we use lots of trademarked products with brand names. Although many brand names are simple acronyms(首字母缩略词)or come from their founders, some of the companies we are in favour of actually have fascinating and surprising back stories.
Starbucks
It seems fitting that the most famous coffee brand in the world would take its name from one of the world’s greatest works of literature. The inspiration for the name of the coffeehouse came from Herman Melville’s Moby Dick. The founders’ original idea was to name the company after the Captain Ahab’s ship—Pequot, but they eventually decided that Pequot wasn’t a great name for coffee, so they chose Ahab’s first mate, Starbucks, as the name instead.
Google was originally called BackRub, for it searched for links in every corner of the Web. In 1997, when the founders of the company were searching for a new name showing a huge amount of data for their rapidly improving search technology, a friend suggested the word “googol”. When a friend tried to register the new domain(域)name, he misspelled “googol” as “google”.
Nike
Originally founded as a distributor for Japanese running shoes, the company was originally named BRS, or Blue Ribbon Sports. In 1971, BRS introduced its own soccer shoe, a model called Nike, which is also the name for the Greek goddess of victory. In 1978, the company officially renamed itself as Nike, Inc.
The right name is essential to a company’s success, and a great origin story is just as significant as a great product. An attractive origin story is one more thing that keeps customers guessing, wondering, and buying its products.
1. Which book inspired the name of the coffeehouse?| A．Herman Melville | B．Starbucks. |
| C．Herman Melville’s Moby Dick | D．Pequot. |
| A．The company’s search technology was improving rapidly. |
| B．They wanted new customers. |
| C．The company’s original name was too long. |
| D．They mistook their name. |
| A．It can change the company’s image. |
| B．It makes customers imagine and purchase its goods. |
| C．It explains the development of the company to customers. |
| D．It can add myth to the company. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】When I was about twelve, I headed to a restaurant for dinner with my family. It was a windy winter night. As my mom and I headed towards the restaurant from our car, a girl about my age and her mother came up to us. They asked if we had any spare dollars. My mom immediately asked where they kept their things. They pointed to an old car in the parking across the street. The girl said there were six of them living in that car, the same size as my own family.
My mom said she had something to do after handing the people a few dollars. She sent me inside the restaurant with my dad and my three siblings(兄弟姐妹). But she didn’t come.
Later, I found out she had gone home and emptied our cupboards into a few bags. Then, she brought that food over to the car and handed the bags to the family. I wasn’t there when that part happened, but I could imagine the joy it brought to their faces.
A few days later, when I actually found out about what she had done, I asked her why she helped those people. She told me that they were not lucky. I remember the face of that girl who had asked us for dollars;she was the same age as me, yet our lives were so different.
Here I stood, dressed in almost new clothes, headed to a restaurant and then back home to the bedroom I shared with my younger sister. I remembered thinking that the girl didn’t have any food to eat and that she was heading back to a cold car shared with five other people.
After painting this picture in my mind, I understood my mom. I will never forget what she did that night. And that night I also learned one of the best lessons she taught me.
1. We learn from the passage that the girl about the writer’s age_____.| A．lived a hard life |
| B．had her own bedroom |
| C．received a good education |
| D．made friends with the writer |
a. My mom gave the girl a few dollars.
b. My family was on the way to a restaurant.
c. My mom went home and brought some food.
d. We met with a girl and her mother asking for dollars.
| A．b, d, a, c |
| B．b, a, c, d |
| C．d, a, c, b |
| D．d, c, b, a |
| A．Patient. |
| B．Strict. |
| C．Proud. |
| D．Kind. |
【推荐2】Life is filled with regrets.
Make better plans．
If you start to do something, you need to make a plan before doing it. The earlier, the better.
You can go around more often. More outdoor activities can keep you relaxed and active. You also need to be kind. “Thank you” can bring a smile to someone’s face. Learn to say “sorry” and don’t be angry with others.
Find the right friend.
A friend may make your life and can break your life as well.
Never fear failure．
Everybody fails. Even the greatest person failed. We should not fear failure, because failure is not the end of the road.
Life is good. We don’t have to live in our past, but we do hope that we can plan better, live better and work better when we have the chance to do so.
| A．Live a more active life. |
| B．Almost all of us have no difficulty telling our regrets. |
| C．We should take failure as a chance and improve ourselves. |
| D．We had many dreams when we were young children. |
| E．So you have to think twice when you choose a friend. |
| F．Build up your confidence. |
| G．You will know what comes first and what comes last. |
【推荐3】Saying no can be really tough. Maybe a friend is asking you for a favor, or a co-worker is asking you to cover their shift for the afternoon.
Keep your refusal simple. Refusing someone doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, experts suggest keeping your explanation short, sweet, and to the point. When you give a long, drawn-out explanation about why you can’t do something, the requester may keep prodding(促进、刺激) you. Give a short, brief explanation instead. You might say, “Sorry, I’m busy that day” or “I’d love to help, but my schedule is tied up at the moment.”
Get back to them if you feel nervous.
Thank the person instead of feeling annoyed. Try to view their request in a positive light.
| A．Suggest an alternative. |
| B．Give an excuse for an easy out. |
| C．There’s no rule saying you have to answer right away. |
| D．If your first refusal doesn’t get the message across, stand strong. |
| E．How can you stand your ground without feeling guilty? |
| F．The fact that they reached out means that they probably think you’re responsible and trustworthy, which is definitely a kind of praise. |
| G．You could also say, “No, I’ve got a lot on my plate this weekend” or “Sorry, that doesn’t really interest me.” |
【推荐1】Where to Volunteer Your Time
If you have extra time, why not consider community service and putting extra shine on your resume (简历)? Check out the following projects for excellent volunteer chances that are open to everyone, even if you are a green hand and know little about it.
National Parks
Volunteering at a national park means more than just cleaning up. If you love history and nature, you can work at attractive historical sites. If you’re in New York, consider Alcatraz Island, which is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in California. It would be a forever talking point at parties.
YMCA
At the YMCA, you can volunteer to help both children and adults, improve your leadership skills by coaching a sports team, or pick up some valuable teaching experience by giving literacy (文学) courses. Check your local YMCA’s website, or simply walk in and introduce yourself to find if there are any needed positions.
Retirement (退休) Homes
People after retirement love exciting new lectures to teach them something fun, so always be sure to be creative and develop a program that shows off your skills to make them laugh. If you are good at public speaking, or want to get better at it, ask to recite some famous historical speeches or poems.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity offers different kinds of local volunteer opportunities. If you want to develop experience in home repair and building maintenance (维修) and fixing, check out its A Brush With Kindness campaign or Let Women Build program, designed to help women learn construction and building skills. Your experience can also help to develop team-building and leadership ability — plus, you might finally find yourself able to remodel your own home.
1. What is the same thing that the four projects all share?| A．You only need to serve kids. | B．You don’t need any experience. |
| C．You need to have a gift for speeches. | D．You must have some history knowledge. |
| A．Be a patient teacher. | B．Follow the program and behave well. |
| C．Be a devoted listener. | D．Use your skills to create more fun. |
| A．To teach how to work with others. | B．To help with home-building skills. |
| C．To teach how to show kindness. | D．To help remodel their homes. |
【推荐2】Need a fall fix? Try one from these great places.
Mackinac Island, Michigan
The only way to reach this famed car-free island is by boat and ferry, and once visitors arrive, they are attracted by the history, scenery and fall colors, a throwback to years past, a little town, and there's a big state park as well," Blackwell says. "You're allowed to have boats all around the island."
Tellico Lake, Tennessee
With nearly 400 miles of shoreline, this waterway flowing out of the Great Smoky Mountains is largely unexploited, well-protected in its natural state. Fall visitors find a range of colors reflecting in the clean waters, says Blackwell, who vacationed in the area with his family as a child. "The thick forest there just allows you to see more greenery and wildlife."
Dillon Reservoir, Colorado
With an hour from Denver, this lake is home to what claims to be the nation's highest sailing club, at an altitude of more than 9,000 feet. Marinas in the towns of Dillon and Frisco make it easy to get out on the water and to see the bright yellows and golds of fall leaves. "People are surprised that there's boating in- Colorado, and you can see the mountains just before the snowfall," Blackwell says.
Lake Monroe, Indiana
The state's largest lake is surrounded by more than 13,000 acres of protected forest and three recreation areas, making it an ideal place to see fall colors, particularly from oaks and the tulip poplar, the state tree. "It's a gem (宝石)in southern Indiana," says Blackwell, who grew up in the area. "There are lots of different activities: canoeing, kayaking and fishing."
1. What is special about Mackinac Island?| A．It's like a modern city. | B．Visitors can take a car around for free. |
| C．Visitors can see various wildlife there. | D．Limited means of transport are offered. |
| A．Mackinac Island, Michigan. | B．Tellico Lake, Tennessee. |
| C．Dillon Reservoir, Colorado. | D．Lake Monroe, Indiana. |
| A．Blackwell once travelled there. |
| B．They are all famous tourist destinations. |
| C．They are surrounded by thick forests. |
| D．Visitors can enjoy fall colors there. |
【推荐3】The 2024 “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreigners across the Globe—Calligraphy and Painting Challenge has been officially announced.
This competition invites painting, calligraphy, and Chinese language enthusiasts from all around the world to take part in this exciting event.
Participants are encouraged to submit their creative themes for the contest, with the theme selection process being determined through public nominations.
If you’re interested, feel free to submit the theme that you believe fits best with the requirements of the competition.
Here are the requirements:
Who Can Apply
The call for creative themes for the Calligraphy and Painting Challenge is open to any Chinese language enthusiasts worldwide, with no limit to age or nationality.
Submission Dates
Submissions will be accepted from June 15, 2024, to 12:00 PM on June 30, 2024(Beijing Time.)
Announcement Date
The selected theme for the Calligraphy and Painting Challenge will be announced on July 1, 2024, which also marks the official start date of the submission period for works under the selected theme.
Submission Methods
Participants can send their theme and related information to chinesebridge@chineseplus.net. “Chinese Bridge” also accepts direct messages on its official account on Facebook, Instagram, WeChat, and Weibo.
1. Who can be invited to the competition?| A．Tom who is crazy about Spanish. |
| B．Sandy who is creative in writing. |
| C．Lucy whose nationality is Chinese. |
| D．Bill who loves Chinese and calligraphy. |
| A．June 12, 2024. | B．July 1, 2024. |
| C．June 20, 2024. | D．July 15, 2024. |
| A．To build a competition organization. |
| B．To provide information about a competition. |
| C．To announce the opening of a competition. |
| D．To collect creative themes for a competition. |
