Last summer, two nineteenth-century cottages were rescued from remote farm fields in Montana, to be moved to an Art Deco building in San Francisco. The houses were made of wood. These cottages once housed early settlers as they worked the dry Montana soil; now they hold Twitter engineers.
The cottages could be an example of the industry’s odd love affair with “low technology,” a concept associated with the natural world, and with old-school craftsmanship ( 手 艺 ) that exists long before the Internet era. Low technology is not virtual (虚拟的) --- so, to take advantage of it, Internet companies have had to get creative. The rescued wood cottages, fitted by hand in the late eighteen-hundreds, are an obvious example, but Twitter’s designs lie on the extreme end. Other companies are using a broader interpretation (阐释) of low technology that focuseson nature.
Amazon is building three glass spheres filled with trees, so that employees can “work and socialize in a more natural, park-like setting.” At Google’s office, an entire floor is carpeted in glass. Facebook’s second Menlo Park campus will have a rooftop park with a walking trail.
Olle Lundberg, the founder of Lundberg Design, has worked with many tech companies over the years. “We have lost the connection to the maker in our lives, and our tech engineers are the ones who feel impoverished (贫乏的) , because they’re surrounded by the digital world,” he says. “They’re looking for a way to regain their individual identity, and we’ve found that introducing real crafts is one way to do that.”
This craft based theory is rooted in history, William Morris, the English artist and writer, turned back to pre-industrial arts in the eighteen-sixties, just after the Industrial Revolution. The Arts and Crafts movement defined itself against machines. “Without creative human occupation, people became disconnected from life,” Morris said.
Research has shown that natural environments can restore (恢复) our mental capacities. In Japan, patients are encouraged to “forest-bathe,” taking walks through woods to lower their blood pressure.
These health benefits apply to the workplace as well. Rachel Kaplvin, a professor of environmental psychology, has spent years researching the restorative effects of natural environment. Her research found that workers with access to nature at the office --- even simple views of trees and flowers --- felt their jobs were less stressful and more satisfying. If low-tech offices can potentially nourish the brains and improve the mental health of employees then, fine, bring on the cottages.
1.Low technology is regarded as something that _____.
A.is related to nature B.is out of date today
C.consumes too much energy D.exists in the virtual world
2.The writer’s attitude to “low technology” can best be described as _____.
A.positive B.defensive
C.cautious D.doubtful
3.What might be the best title for the passage?
A.Past Glories, Future Dreams
B.The Virtual World, the Real Challenge
C.High-tech Companies, Low-tech Offices
D.The More Craftsmanship, the Less Creativity
Here is some must-know information from a handbook on how people behave in doing business in some countries.
In Brazil
Brazilians are warm and friendly. They often stand close when talking and it is common for them to touch the person on the shoulder. People often greet each other (particularly women) with light cheek kisses. Schedules tend to be flexible, with business meetings sometimes starting later than planned. But to be safe, be on time. Meals can stretch for hours — there’s no such thing as rushing a meal in Brazil. Lunches also can start in the mid to late afternoon. Brazilians are social, preferring face-to-face communication over mails or phone calls.
In Singapore
Singaporeans shake hands when they meet and often also greet each other with a small, polite bow. Business cards should be offered and received with two hands. Arriving late is considered disrespectful. So be on time. Efficiency(效率) is the goal, so meetings and dealings often are fast-paced. Singaporeans are direct in their discussions, even when the subject is about money. Rank is important and authority is respected. This determines both people interact in meetings. For example, people avoid disagreeing outright with someone with a higher rank.
In the United Arab Emirates
In the UAE, status is important, so the most senior or oldest should be greeted first with their titles. The handshake seems to be longer than elsewhere. So, do not pull away the handshake. Women should cover themselves when it comes to dress. Men also tend to be covered from neck to elbows(肘部) and down to the knees. People do not avoid entertaining in their homes, but they also hold business meals at restaurants. Touching or passing food or eating with your left hand is to be avoided. When meetings are one-to-one, if your host offers you coffee, you should refuse. It might seem odd, but it is a cultural tradition. Coffee should only be accepted if it is always set out or presented.
In Switzerland
The Swiss tend to be formal and address each other by last name. They also are respectful of private lives. You should be careful not to ask about personal topics. Punctuality (守时) is vital, something that comes from a deep respect for others’ time. Arrive at any meeting or event a few minutes early to be safe. They also have clear structure in their companies. Higher-ups make the final decisions, even if others might disagree. Neat, clean dress is expected. The Swiss follow formal table manners. They also keep their hands visible at the table and their elbows off the table. It is polite to finish the food on your plate.
1.The passage is mainly about _____________.
A.communication types
B.the workplace atmosphere
C.customs and social manners
D.living conditions and standards
2.Why do Singaporeans avoid arguing with their boss?
A.They put efficiency in the first place.
B.They dislike face-to-face communication.
C.They want to finish meetings as quickly as possible.
D.They are supposed to obey the person of a higher rank.
3.In the UAE, when should you refuse the coffee if it is offered?
A.When greeting seniors.
B.When meeting the host alone.
C.When attending a presentation.
D.When dining with business partners.
4.In which country do people care about where to put their hands at the dinner table?
A.In Brazil. B.In Singapore.
C.In the United Arab Emirate. D.In Switzerland.
Wealth starts with a goal saving a dollar at a time. Call it the piggy bank strategy ( 策 略 ). There are lessons in that time-honored coin-saving container.
Any huge task seems easier when reduced to baby steps. If you wished to climb a 12,000-foot mountain, and could do it a day at a time, you would only have to climb 33 feet daily to reach the top in a year. If you want to take a really nice trip in 10 years for a special occasion, to collect the $15,000 cost, you have to save $3.93 a day. If you drop that into a piggy bank and then once a year put $1,434 in a savings account at 1% interest rate after-tax,you will have your trip money.
When I was a child, my parents gave me a piggy bank to teach me that, if I wanted something, I should save money to buy it. We associate piggy banks with children, but in many countries, the little containers are also popular with adults. Europeans see a piggy bank as a sign of good fortune and wealth. Around the world, many believe a gift of a piggy bank on New Year’s Day brings good luck and financial success. Ah, but you have to put something in it.
Why is a pig used as a symbol of saving? Why not an elephant bank, which is bigger and holds more coins? In the Middle Ages, before modern banking and credit instruments, people saved money at home, a few coins at a time dropped into a jar or dish. Potters ( 制 陶 工 ) made these inexpensive containers from an orange-colored clay (黏土) called “pygg,” and folks saved coins in pygg jars. The Middle English word for pig was “pigge”. While the Saxons pronounced pygg, referring to the clay, as “pug”, eventually the two words changed into the same pronunciation, sounding the “i” as in pig or piggy. As the word became less associated with the orange clay and more with the animal, a clever potter fashioned a pygg jar in the shape of a pig, delighting children and adults. The piggy bank was born.
Originally you had to break the bank to get to the money, bringing in a sense of seriousness into savings. While piggy banks teach children the wisdom of saving, adults often need to relearn childhood lessons. Think about the things in life that require large amounts of money --- college education, weddings, cars, medical care, starting a business, buying a home, and fun stuff like great trips. So when you have money, take off the top 10%, put it aside, save and invest wisely.
1.What is the piggy bank strategy?
A.Paying 1% income tax at a time.
B.Setting a goal before making a travel plan.
C.Aiming high even when doing small things.
D.Putting aside a little money regularly for future use.
2.Why did the writer’s parents give him a piggy bank as a gift?
A.To delight him with the latest fashion.
B.To encourage him to climb mountains.
C.To help him form the habit of saving.
D.To teach him English pronunciation.
3.What does then underlined word “something” (Paragraph 3) most probably refer to?
A.Money B.Gifts
C.Financial success D.Good luck
4.The piggy ban originally was _____.
A.a potter’s instrument B.a cheap clay container
C.an animal-shaped dish D.a pig-like toy for children
Something that happens in our daily life often impresses us deeply and makes us think a lot. About six years ago I was eating lunch in a restaurant in New York city _____ a woman and a young boy sat down at the next table. I couldn’t help _____ parts of their conversations. At one point the woman asked, “So, _____ have you been?” And the boy, who could not have been more than seven or eight years, replied, “Frankly, I’ve been feeling a little _____ lately.”
This incident stuck in my mind because it confirmed my growing _____ that children are _____. As far as I can remember, my friends and I didn’t find out we were “depressed”, that is, in low spirits, _____ we were in high school.
The evidence of a change in children has _____ steadily in recent years. Children don’t seem _____ anymore. Children speak more like adults, dress more like adults and _____ more like adults than they used to. Whether this is good or bad is difficult to say, but it certainly is _____. Children as it once was _____ exists. Why?
Human development has depended not only on born _____ states, but also on patterns of gaining _____ knowledge. Movement from one social role to another usually _____ learning the secrets of the new social positions. Children have always been taught adult secrets, but slowly and in stages; traditionally, we tell sixth graders things we keep hidden from _____ graders.
In the last 30 years, however, a secret-revelation (揭示) machine has been equipped in 98 percent of American homes. It is called television. Television passes information to all _____ alike, whether they are children or adults. Unable to resist the temptation ( 诱 惑 ), many children turn their attention from _____ texts to the less challenging, more attractive moving pictures.
Communication through print, _____, allows for a great deal of control over the social information which children will gain. Children must read simple books before they can read _____ materials.
1.A.before B.while C.when D.since
2.A.learning B.watching C.overcoming D.overhearing
3.A.where B.how C.what D.who
4.A.depressed B.impressed C.tired D.upset
5.A.mind B.belief C.proof D.idea
6.A.changing B.missing C.disappointing D.promising
7.A.as B.after C.since D.until
8.A.decreased B.increased C.disappeared D.improved
9.A.grow-up B.honest C.lovely D.childlike
10.A.think B.smile C.behave D.walk
11.A.similar B.enjoyable C.different D.probable
12.A.always B.still C.no longer D.again
13.A.logical B.physical C.mental D.biological
14.A.social B.scientific C.natural D.common
15.A.needs B.seeks C.includes D.engages
16.A.fifth B.fourth C.seventh D.third
17.A.customers B.listeners C.viewers D.fans
18.A.divided B.spoken C.collected D.printed
19.A.for example B.as a matter of fact C.even worse D.what’s more
20.A.basic B.complex C.instructive D.important
--- I just can’t stop worrying about the result of my medical examination as I’ve been feeling out of shape for several months.
--- _____. There is nothing you can do now but wait.
A.Sit back and relax B.Watch out for it
C.Wait a moment D.Take your time
In lesson 3, “An unknown goddess”, the interesting discovery made by the archaeologists was _____
A.that the city had once been prosperous
B.that the temple had been used as a place of worship
C.that they were not the first to have found the head of the goddess
D.that they found the fifteen statues had been painted
