A young woman sits alone in a café sipping tea and reading a book. She pauses briefly to write in a nearby notepad before showing her words to a passing café waiter: “Where are the toilets please?” This is a familiar scene in Tokyo’s so-called “silent cafés”, where customers are not allowed to speak, and only communicate by writing in notepads.
The concept rises from a desire to be alone among young Japanese, a situation brought by economic uncertainty, a shift in traditional family support structures and the growing social isolation. The phenomenon is not limited to coffee shops but covers everything from silent discos, where participants dance alone wearing wireless headphones connected to the DJ, to products such as small desk tents designed for conversation-free privacy in the office. One Kyoto company even offers single women the opportunity to have a “one woman wedding” — a full bridal affair, complete with white dress and ceremony, and the only thing missing is the groom. The trend has its own media expression — “botchi-zoku”, referring to individuals who consciously choose to do things completely on their own.
One recent weekday afternoon, Chihiro Higashikokubaru, a 23-year-old nurse, travelled 90 minutes from her home, to Tokyo on her day off in order to enjoy some solo time. Speaking quietly at the entrance of the cafe, Miss Higashikokubaru said: “I heard about this place via Twitter and I like the idea of coming here. I work as a nurse and it's always very busy. There are very few quiet places in Tokyo, and it's a big busy city. I just want to come and sit somewhere quietly on my own. I’m going to drink a cup of tea and maybe do some drawings. I like the idea of a quiet, calm atmosphere.”
The desire to be isolated is not a new concept in Japan, home to an estimated 3.6 million “hikikomori” — a more extreme example of social recluses (隐士) who withdraw completely from society.
1.What is special about the “silent cafes”?
A.It provides various tea and books. B.People are not allowed to communicate.
C.It offers service by writing not by speaking. D.It has attracted many popular young people.
2.Which of the following brings about the idea of being alone in Japan?
A.The stable economic situation. B.The increasing social isolation.
C.The rapid development of the Internet. D.The rising demand for privacy.
3.What do we know about Higashikokubaru?
A.She doesn’t like to be a nurse. B.She doesn’t like the life in big cities.
C.She enjoys her solo time in a quiet place. D.She travelled to Tokyo on her work days.
4.What is the best title of the passage?
A.A new concept in Japan B.Social recluses in Japan
C.Silent cafes D.Lonely Japanese
Everyone could feel a sudden impulse(冲动) and buy something unnecessary. Then how to avoid it? The best way is to just keep your hands away from tempting products. According to new research, individuals who touch possible items in stores are more likely to have an increased desire to purchase them than those who keep their hand off the products.
Suzanne Shu and Joann Peck, marketing professors at the University of Wisconsin’s business school conducted studies on the connection between touch and feelings of ownership and the effect of perceived(感觉)ownership on the value placed on an object. For one of the experiments, the experts placed two products, a Slinky toy and a coffee mug in front of the volunteers who were undergraduate students. About half of the participants were allowed to touch the products, while the other half were asked not to touch them. The volunteers then were asked to express their sense of ownership of the products and to report how much money they were willing to pay for each. The results showed that those students who were allowed to touch the objects reported significant increased level of perceived ownership. They also expressed a desire to pay more money to obtain the products.
The investigators also discovered that a sense of very pleasant feelings when touching products, determined how much money consumers were willing to pay. However, if the object did not feel pleasant to the touch, it significantly decreased the amount the buyers were willing to pay.
Researchers said that many stores have already followed the right path. But what can be done while shopping online, when touching of an item is not possible? In this case, the experts say, just picturing in mind that they are touching it and then owning it, will cause greater feelings of ownership, and thus the consumers will be more likely to make a purchase.
When you touch an object, you immediately feel some kind of a connection to it, according to the researchers. That connection stirs up(唤起) an emotional reaction. And that emotion can make people buy something they would never even consider buying if they had not touched it.
1.How does the author develop the text?
A.By providing typical examples.
B.By drawing a conclusion through research.
C.By comparing opinions from different fields.
D.By presenting a cause and analyzing its effects.
2.Which of the following was found in the research?
A.Touching a product affects the customer’s feelings of desire for it.
B.If you are not to spend money, it’s less possible for you to touch the product.
C.The longer you touch the goods, the more desire you have to own them.
D.Shoppers cannot resist the temptation when they meet things they like.
3.What would happen to them when people do online shopping?
A.They immediately feel a connection to it.
B.They will particularly want to touch the products advertised on the Internet.
C.They desire to possess it and do not care how much money they would pay.
D.People’s imaginable ownership led to a greater possibility of purchasing products.
4.What led the researchers to conduct this study?
A.To figure out the connection between touch and feelings of ownership.
B.To satisfy customers’ social needs when shopping.
C.To share the good ideas about avoid impulsive consumption.
D.To develop marketing strategies for trade companies.
Poet William Stafford once said that we are defined more by the detours in life than by the narrow road toward goals. I like this image. But it was quite by accident that I discovered the deep meaning of his words.
For years we made the long drive from our home in Seattle to my parents’ home in Boise in nine hours. We traveled the way most people do: the fastest, shortest, easiest road, especially when I was alone with four noisy, restless kids who hate confinement(限制) and have strong opinions about everything.
Road trips felt risky, so I would drive fast, stopping only when I had to. We would stick to the freeways and arrive tired.
But then Banner, our lamb was born. He was rejected by his mama days before our planned trip to Boise. I had two choices: leave Banner with my husband, or take him with me. My husband made the decision for me.
That is how I found myself on the road with four kids, a baby lamb and nothing but my everlasting optimism to see me through. We took the country roads out of necessity. We had to stop every hour, let Banner shake out his legs and feed him. The kids chased him and one another. They’d get back in the car breathless and energized, smelling fresh from the cold air.
We explored side roads, catching grasshoppers in waist-high grass. Even if we simply looked out of the car windows at baby pigs following their mother, or fish leaping out of the water, it was better than the best ride down the freeway. Here was life. And new horizons.
We eventually arrived at my parents' doorstep astonishingly fresh and full of stories.
I grew brave with the trip back home and creative with my disciplining technique. On an empty section of road, everyone started quarreling. I stopped the car, ordered all kids out and told them to meet me up ahead. I parked my car half a mile away and read my book in sweet silence.
Some road trips are by necessity fast and straight. But that trip with Banner opened our eyes to a world available to anyone adventurous enough to wander around and made me realize that a detour may uncover the best part of a journey — and the best part of yourself.
1.Why did the author use to take freeways to her parents' home?
A.It was less tiring. B.It would be faster and safer.
C.Her kids would feel less confined. D.She felt better with other drivers nearby.
2.The author stopped regularly on the country roads to _____.
A.relax in the fresh air B.take a deep breath
C.let the kids play with Banner D.take care of the lamb
3.What does the author discover from the trip according to Paragraph 6?
A.Freeways are where beauty hides.
B.One should follow side roads to watch wild animals.
C.Enjoying the beauty of nature benefits one's health.
D.Getting close to nature adds to the joy of life.
4.What does the underlined word “detour” mean ?
A.A fast and straight road trip. B.A route which is long and not direct.
C.A pleasant and meaningful tour. D.An unpleasant road trip.
City College
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
All high school graduates and anyone 18 years of age or older, with or without a high school diploma, are suitable for admission. Individuals under the age of 18 who possess a high school diploma are also suitable for admission.
HOW TO ENROLL IN CREDIT COURSES
New and readmitted students must complete and hand in a credit admissions application form available online at www.ccsf.edu.
BEFORE YOU REGISTER:
● Learn about your skill level in English and Math through our assessment service;
● Attend an orientation (新生报到会) to hear about support services;
● Meet with a counselor (adviser) to select your courses;
● Find out if you are required for attending the entrance examinations.
HOW TO ENROLL IN NONCREDIT COURSES
Courses in Noncredit Programs are free of charge (no enrollment fee). For information on how to enroll in noncredit courses, click here.
PARKING
Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to use public transit. Click here for Parking Regulations.
SERVICES
City College services include a bookstore, cafeteria, health center, tutoring center, career and transfer center, counseling, financial aid, library, learning resource center, student government offices, campus police, disabled students programs and more.
1.Which kind of the following people could not be admitted into City College?
A.A high school graduate.
B.An adult without a high school diploma.
C.A sixteen boy without a high school diploma.
D.Anyone who possesses a high school diploma.
2.What do we know about the entrance examinations from the passage?
A.All new and readmitted students must take the examinations.
B.Those who are poor in English and Math must take the entrance examinations.
C.Not all the new students are required to take the entrance examinations.
D.The entrance examinations are free of charge.
3.Where can this passage be found?
A.On an education website. B.In a newspaper advertisement.
C.In a tour guide. D.In a college news report.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.What do we know about the speaker's job?
A.It has long working hours. B.It's well-paid. C.It's easy.
2.What does the speaker say about hiring a cleaner?
A.It's expensive. B.It's unnecessary. C.It's worthwhile.
3.How often did the speaker go to the supermarket before?
A.Once a week. B.Twice a week. C.Three times a week.
4.What is more important to the speaker?
A.Doing facial treatments. B.Having a clean house. C.Buying clothes.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What is the woman?
A.A teacher. B.A student. C.A nurse.
2.What does the woman want to do?
A.Work in a library. B.Tutor some children. C.Work as a volunteer.
3.What can the woman probably do?
A.Buy medicine for the aged. B.Tidy up all the novels. C.Entertain the elderly.
