1 . "While extroverts (性格外向者) often make great first impressions with their outgoing manner and lively personalities in interviews, that value and reputation at work diminish (削减) over time,” says Corinne Bendersky, an associate professor of management.
“Extroverts disappoint us over time when they're part of a team,” Bendersky says. “On a team you're expected to work hard and contribute a lot. But they're often poor listeners, and they don't collaborate.”
“On the other hand, introverts (性格内向者) work hard on a team because they care what others think of them. They don't want to be seen as not pulling their weight or contributing 100%,” Bendersky says.
So while companies may be attracted to hiring extroverts because they impress managers greatly in job interviews, bosses also may want to consider whether the extrovert they are considering will be a valuable team player, Bendersky says.
Amy Jen Su and Muriel Maignan Wilkins, two writers, agree and say managers should recognize the strengths of introverted employees, such as their ability to put themselves in someone else's shoes.
“These team members are often easygoing, which can make them exceptional mentors (良师益友) to more junior staff or particularly good sounding boards when you interact with them in one-on-one situations,” Su says.
“Managers must try to help introverts find their voice,” Wilkins says. “Help them see that speaking up is not about self-promotion or being in conflict but rather about offering the team key insights, making better decisions or increasing the efficiency for all.”
What about those extroverts who never seem to be at a loss for words? Should managers cut them off? Managers definitely should weigh in on how an extrovert is affecting others. Wilkins suggests saying something in private to make adjustments.
1. What do we know about outgoing people according to Bendersky?| A．They are good listeners. | B．They are good at cooperating. |
| C．They often make great contributions. | D．They tend to perform well in interviews. |
| A．Trusting others. | B．Making good choices. |
| C．Doing their full share of work. | D．Trying to share their thoughts. |
| A．Critical. | B．Tolerant. | C．Doubtful. | D．Approving. |
| A．Promote more introverts. | B．Learn to work more efficiently. |
| C．Encourage introverts to speak up. | D．Avoid conflict among employees. |
| A．By providing examples. | B．By making comparisons. |
| C．By following the order of time. | D．By following the order of importance. |
2 . Every country has its heroes. The heroes are the people the nation and especially the young people admire. If you get a list of the heroes of a nation, it will tell you the potential of that nation.
If today in America, you ask the high school students to list their heroes, their choice would probably fall into three groups. The first group of heroes would be the rock stars—the people connected with rock music. There is no doubt that such people do have talent but one wonders if one should hold up rock stars as a model. The rock stars too often are involved with drugs and their personal life is not all that good. The rock stars are rich and wear the latest fashion styles. However, one should seek more in a hero than such things as money and good clothes.
A second type of hero for the American youth is the sports star. Again you have a person who has a great ability in one area—SPORTS. However, too often the personal life of the sports star is a bit of a mess. Too frequently drugs and drinking are a part of life of the sports star.
A third type of hero is the TV or movie star. This person may have lots of acting talent and is quite handsome. However, the personal life of too many actors is quite sad and they should not be held up as a model for young people.
Today, the rock star, the athlete and the actor all have become the models of the youth in America. Really, do you hear a young person say that his hero is a doctor, a teacher, or a scientist? These people are not rich and do not wear fashionable clothes. However, they are talented people who work hard to make the world a better place for everyone.
What is really sad is that the young try to imitate their heroes. They like to wear the same clothes and follow their styles. If the heroes of today for the American youngsters are limited only to rock stars, athletes and actors, the future does not look too bright.
1. Why rock stars shouldn’t be regarded as a model according to this passage?| A．They cannot compose very good music. |
| B．Most of them are not honest persons. |
| C．They care more about themselves than others. |
| D．Often they don’t live a healthy and respectable life. |
| A．They are not clever but are good-looking. |
| B．They are rich but are strict with themselves. |
| C．They are talented in some area but lead a disordered life. |
| D．They are perfect in every way. |
| A．a university professor | B．a popular singer |
| C．a football player | D．a film actress |
| A．who are rich, famous and wear the latest fashionable clothes |
| B．Who are talented and do things that are beneficial to society. |
| C．who plays an important role in a play |
| D．who have a great ability in sports. |
| A．He is understanding. | B．He is critical. |
| C．He is neutral (中立的). | D．He is uninterested. |
3 . Americans often say that there are only two things a person can be sure of in life: death and taxes. Many people feel that the United States has the worst taxes in the world.
Taxes are money that people pay to support their government. There are generally three levels of government in the United States: federal (联邦的), state, and city; therefore, there are three types of taxes.
Salaried people who earn more than four to five thousand dollars per year must pay a certain part of their salaries to the federal government. The percentage varies for different people. It depends on their salaries. The federal government has a two-level income tax, that is, 15 or 28 percent. $17,850 is the cutoff. The tax rate is 15 percent below 17,850 and 28 percent above.
The second tax is for the state government: New York, California, or any of the other forty-eight states. Some states have an income tax similar to that of the federal government. Of course, the percentage for the state tax is lower. Other states have a sales tax, which is a percentage charged to any item which people buy in the state. Some states use income tax and sales tax to raise their revenues (税收).
The third tax is for the city. This tax comes in two forms: property tax (residents who own a home have to pay taxes on it) and excise tax, which is collected on vehicles such as cars and trucks in a city. The cities use this money for education, police, public works, etc.
Since Americans pay such high taxes, they often feel that they are working one day each week just to pay their taxes. People always complain about taxes. They often say that the government misuses their tax dollars. They all believe that taxes are too high in this country.
1. In the United States, taxes are collected to provide revenues for ______.| A．the federal government | B．the state government |
| C．the city government | D．the three levels of government |
| A．28% of his income | B．15% of his income |
| C．$17,850 | D．$5,000 |
| A．They have to pay more than what the item costs. |
| B．They can pay less than what the item costs. |
| C．They have to pay exactly what the item costs. |
| D．They will all give up buying the item. |
| A．Property Tax. | B．Excise Tax. |
| C．Income Tax. | D．Sales Tax. |
| A．satisfied with their taxes | B．proud of their taxes |
| C．unhappy about their taxes | D．very angry at their taxes |
4 . Over the last 25 years, British society has changed a great deal. In some ways, however, very little has changed. Ideas about social class whether a person is “working-class” or “middle-class” are one area in which changes have been extremely slow.
In the past, the working-class tended to be paid less than middle-class people, such as teachers and doctors. As a result of this and also of the fact that workers’ jobs were generally much less secure, distinct differences in life-styles and attitudes came into existence. The typical working man would collect his wages on Friday evening and then give them to his wife, leaving a little for drinking or betting.
The type of what a middle-class man did with his money was perhaps nearer the truth. He was and still is likely to take a longer-term view. Not only did he regard buying a house to provide him and his family with security. Only in very few cases did workers have the opportunity (or the education and training) to make such long-term plans.
Nowadays, much has changed. In a large number of cases factory workers earn as much. Social security and laws have made it less necessary than before to worry about “tomorrow”. Working-class people seem slowly to be losing the feeling of inferiority (自卑感) they had in the past. In fact there has been a growing tendency in the past few years for the middle-classes to feel slightly ashamed of their position.
The changes in both life-styles and attitudes are probably most easily seen among younger people. They generally tend to share very similar tastes in music and clothes. They spend their money enjoying themselves, and save for holidays or longer-term plans when necessary. There seems to be much less difference than in previous generations. Nevertheless, we still have a wide gap between the well-paid and the low-paid. As long as this gap exists, there will always be a possibility that new problems will appear between different groups.
1. Which of the following is seen as the main cause of class differences in the past?| A．Life style and occupation. | B．Attitude and income. |
| C．Income and job security. | D．Job security and hobbies. |
| A．the description of middle-class ways of spending money is quite real |
| B．working-class ways of spending the weekend remain the same |
| C．working-class drinking habits differ from the past |
| D．middle-class attitudes towards their positions have changed greatly |
| A．They had to save money for security. |
| B．They couldn’t make long-term plans. |
| C．They could make as much money as they do now. |
| D．They didn’t have the sense of inferiority. |
| A．they are provided with social security |
| B．they can get much income |
| C．better jobs are available for all of them |
| D．the government offers legal protection |
| A．Changes are slowly taking place in all aspects of the British society. |
| B．The difference between working-class and middle-class young people is narrowing. |
| C．The gap in income between the two classes will still remain. |
| D．Middle-class people may sometimes feel a little inferior. |
1. Where does the man know about homeless population?
| A．From an article. | B．From the radio. | C．From TV. |
| A．One million. | B．Two million. | C．Three million. |
| A．France. | B．America. | C．Germany. |
1. How many librarians are in charge of the library?
| A．Only one. | B．A single man. | C．We both. |
| A．The duties of the librarian. |
| B．The rules of the library. |
| C．The length of the student’s borrowing books. |
| A．Two books. | B．Three books. | C．Four books. |
| A．The students ought to keep quiet in the library. |
| B．The students should keep the books in good condition. |
| C．The students can keep the books as long as they like. |
1. What happened when the man was climbing mountains?
| A．He got trapped in a cave. |
| B．He got lost in bad weather. |
| C．He lost his equipment and food. |
| A．Low temperature. |
| B．A bad fall in the mountain. |
| C．An unsuccessful operation. |
| A．Design new climbing shoes. |
| B．Set up a club for the disabled. |
| C．Use technology to fight his disability. |
When something goes wrong,it can be very satisfying to say,"Well，it's so-and-so's fault." or "I know I'm late,but it's not my fault;the car broke down." It is probably not your fault,but once you form the habit of blaming somebody or something else for a bad situation,you are a loser. You have no power and could do nothing that helps change the bad situation.
However, you can have great power over what happens to you if you stop focusing on whom to blame and start focusing on how to improve the situation. This is the winner's key to success.
Winners are great at overcoming problems. For example, if you were late because your car broke down, maybe you need to have your car examined more regularly. Or, you might start to carry along with you the useful phone numbers, so you could call for help when in need.
Actually, cases of this kind are common occurrence. If your colleague causes you problems on the job for lack of responsibility or ability, find ways of dealing with his irresponsibility or inability rather than simply blame the person. Ask to work with a different person, or don't rely on this person. You should accept that the person is not reliable and find creative ways to work successfully regardless of how your colleague fails to do his job well.
This is what being a winner is all about-creatively using your skills and talents so that you are successful no matter what happens. Winners don't have fewer problems in their lives; they have just as many difficult situations to face as anybody else. They are just better at seeing those problems as challenges and opportunities to develop their own talents. So, stop focusing on "whose fault it is". Once you are confident about your power over bad situations, problems are just stepping stones for success.
1. How will a person end up if he always blames somebody else for a bad situation?(no more than 10 words)2. What is the winner's key to success according to the passage? (no more than 15 words)
3. What do problems really mean to a winner? (no more than 6 words)
4. What does the phrase "stepping stones" mean in the passage? (no more than 5 words)
5. Suppose you have difficulty communicating with your parents, how will you deal with this problem and why? (no more than 25 words).
9 . Why are so many people unhappy in their jobs? There are two primary reasons. First, some people are convinced that earning a living is wasting time that they could spend enjoying themselves or uncovering their true talents.
If this is the case with you, recall your last long vacation. Was it two weeks of complete enjoyment? More likely it was a week and a half of fun in the sun, with another half a week of “Boy, I can’t wait to get back to work.”If you didn’t feel such vacation blues, then imagine taking a leave of absence. You could use it to work on a novel, attend classes or just sit around watching TV. At the end of three months, in all likelihood, your self-respect would be at an all-time low. While all work and no play are not good, all play and no work are disastrous. We need to feel we are accomplishing something. We also need some form of order in our lives.
The second and perhaps more common reason for people not to like their work is that they feel trapped. Once you’ve been at a company for five years and get married, have a mortgage(抵押贷款)and a child, you often feel you have very little choice about jumping ship if things aren’t turning out as you’d planned. A steady paycheck can be the biggest restrict of all. People hate having to do something because they have no other choice.
If you find yourself hating your job, your option takes the form of an up-to-date resume(简历). You might also take a weekly glance through the help-wanted section, and make some visits to industry functions where low-key networking can take place. You’re not giving up on your current job. Rather, you are providing yourself with an option. If things get unbearable at work, you could jump ship.
At the core of adopting a positive attitude to your workplace is, above all, assuming responsibility for your own situation. Most people feel controlled by their environment, but they really aren’t. They have to learn to manage that environment so they can get from it what they need.
1. Why do some people believe that working is wasting time?| A．They think it can’t make them happy and display their natural abilities. |
| B．They think it prevents them from accompanying their families. |
| C．It can’t guarantee they can get the payoff satisfying their needs. |
| D．It makes them have no time to do their private things at will. |
| A．they have been working in a company for too long | B．they have no other way out but to keep working |
| C．they have to work to pay off their debts | D．they are not permitted to change a job |
| A．you have made a decision on your own |
| B．you have done wonders in your current job |
| C．you have chance to choose between two alternatives |
| D．you have chance to glance through the help-wanted section |
| A．thinks holding an “up-to-date resume” is the best way to remove the unhappiness in one’s job |
| B．can hardly tolerate one’s complete enjoyment of life |
| C．believes that one cannot change his/her environment |
| D．will support the idea that one should make a balance between working and enjoying life |
| A．Cautious. | B．Negative. | C．Supportive. | D．Unconcerned. |
10 . In times of economic crisis, Americans turn to their families for support. If the Great Depression is any guide, we may see a drop in our skyhigh divorce rate. But this won’t necessarily represent an increase in happy marriages. In the long run, the Depression weakened American families, and the current crisis will probably do the same.
We tend to think of the Depression as a time when families pulled together to survive huge job losses. By 1932, when nearly one-quarter of the workforce was unemployed, the divorce rate had declined by around 25% from 1929. But this doesn’t mean people were suddenly happier with their marriages. Rather, with incomes decreasing and insecure jobs, unhappy couples often couldn’t afford to divorce. They feared neither spouse (配偶) could manage alone.
Today, given the job losses of the past year, fewer unhappy couples will risk starting separate households. Furthermore, the housing market meltdown (暴跌) will make it more difficult for them to finance their separations by selling their homes.
After financial disasters family members also tend to do whatever they can to help each other and their communities. A 1940 book “The Unemployed Man and His Family”, described a family in which the husband initially reacted to losing his job “with tireless search for work”. He was always active, looking for odd jobs to do.
The problem is that such an impulse (冲动, 推动力) is hard to sustain (维持). Across the country, many similar families were unable to maintain the initial boost in morale (士气). For some, the hardships of life without steady work eventually overwhelmed (压垮, 击溃) their attempts to keep their families together. The divorce rate rose again during the rest of the decade as the recovery took hold.
Millions of American families may now be in the initial stage of their responses to the current crisis, working together and supporting one another through the early months of unemployment.
Today’s economic crisis could well generate (产生) a similar number of couples whose relationships have been irreparably (无法弥补地) ruined. So it’s only when the economy is healthy again that we’ll begin to see just how many broken families have been created.
1. In the initial stage, the current economic crisis is likely to ________.| A．tear many troubled families apart |
| B．bring about a drop in the divorce rate |
| C．contribute to enduring family ties |
| D．cause a lot of conflicts in the family |
| A．starting a new family would be hard |
| B．they expected things would turn better |
| C．they wanted to better protect their kids |
| D．living separately would be too costly |
| A．Mounting family debts. | B．A sense of insecurity. |
| C．Falling housing prices. | D．Difficulty in getting a loan. |
| A．It will irreparably damage their relationship. |
| B．It will undermine (逐渐削弱) their mutual understanding. |
| C．It will help strengthen their emotional bonds. |
| D．It will force them to pull their efforts together. |
| A．The economic recovery will see a higher divorce rate. |
| B．Few couples can stand the test of economic hardships. |
| C．A stable family is the best protection against poverty. |
| D．Money is the foundation of many a happy marriage. |
