Do you sometimes argue about what seems to you to be simple fact? Do you argue whether it’s cold outdoors or whether the car in front of you is going faster than the speed limit?
If you get into such arguments, try to think about the story about the six blind men and the elephant. The first blind man who felt the elephant’s trunk said it was like a snake. The second who felt the elephant’s side said it was like a wall, while the third said it was like a spear as he touched the animal’s tusk. The fourth, who got hold of the elephant’s tail insisted that it was like a rope. The fifth man said it looked like a tree as he put his arms around one of the elephant’s legs. The sixth, who was tall and got hold of the elephant’s ears, said it was like a huge fan.
Each man’s idea of the animal came from his own experience. So if someone disagrees with you about a “simple fact”, it’s often because his experience in the matter is different from yours.
To see how hard it is for even one person to make up his mind about a “simple fact”, try this simple experiment. Get three large bowls. Put ice water in one. Put hot water in the second. Put lukewarm water in the third. Now put your left hand in the ice water. Put your right hand in the hot water. After thirty seconds, put both hands in the lukewarm water. Your right hand will tell you the water is cold. Your left hand will tell you it’s hot!
1. What makes people think about simple facts differently?
A. The fact that simple facts differ from one another.
B. The fact that people have different experience in the same simple fact.
C. The fact that people often disagree with one another.
D. The fact that it’s hard to make up one’s mind about simple facts.
2.Which of the following temperatures can the word “lukewarm” be applied to?
A. Around 1℃ B. Above 60℃ C. Around 25℃ D. Below 0℃
3.After reading the last paragraph, we may think of .
A. Newton’s law B. Gallileo’s theory of falling objects
C. Einstein’s theory of relativity D. Marx’s On Capital
4.The main idea of this passage is .
A. people often judge something according to his own experience
B. people often agree about simple facts
C. it’s hard for a person to make up his mind about a simple fact
D. don’t care too much about simple facts
Five years ago, David Smith wore an expensive suit to work every day. “I was a clothes addict,” he jokes. “I used to carry a fresh suit to work with me so I could change if my clothes got wrinkled.” Today David wears casual clothes—khaki pants and sports shirt—to the office. He hardly ever wears necktie. “I’m working harder than ever,” David says, “and I need to feel comfortable.”
More and more companies are allowing their office workers to wear casual clothes to work in the United States. The change from formal to casual office wear has been gradual. In the early 1990s, many companies allowed their employees to wear casual clothes on Friday(but only on Friday). This became known as “dress-down Friday” or “casual Friday.” “What started out as an extra one-day-a-week benefit for employees has really become an everyday thing,” said business consultant Maisly Jones.
Why have so many companies started allowing their employees to wear casual clothes? One reason is that it’s easier for a company to attract new employees if it has a casual dress code. “A lot of young people don’t want to dress up for work,” says the owner of a software company, “so it’s hard to hire people if you have a conservative dress code.” Another reason is that people seem happier and more productive when they are wearing comfortable clothes. In a study conducted by Levi Strauss and Company, 85 percent of employers said that they believe that casual dress improves employee morale(士气). Only 4 percent of employers said that casual dress has a negative impact on productive. Supporters of casual office wear also argue that a casual dress code helps them save money. “Suits are expensive, if you have to wear one every day,” one person said. “For the same amount of money, you can buy a lot more casual clothes.”
1. David Smith refers to himself as having been “a clothes addict” because .
A. he often wore khaki pants and a sports shirt
B. he couldn’t stand a clean appearance
C. he wanted his clothes to look neat all the time
D. he didn’t want to spend much money on clothes
2. David Smith wears casual clothes now, because .
A. they make him feel at ease when working
B. he cannot afford to buy expensive clothes
C. he looks handsome in casual clothes
D. he no longer works for any company
3.According to this passage, which of the following statements is FALSE?
A. Many employees don’t like a conservative dress code.
B. Comfortable clothes make employees more productive.
C. A casual clothes code is welcomed by young employees.
D. All the employers in the US are for casual office wear.
4. In this passage, the following advantages of casual office wear are mentioned EXCEPT .
A. saving employees’ money
B. making employees more attractive
C. improving employees’ motivation
D. making employees happier
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。
One day last month after I received my salary, I went shopping with my little son. __41_in the crowded store, I had my money __42_ and my whole salary was gone with it. I was so angry that I almost lost __43_ of myself. What could I do? We were not very __44_. The money was really not a small sum for my family. It would __45_ our life greatly. How could I tell my wife?
I felt very sad and even _46_for losing the money when I got home. To make up for my __47__ mistake, I gathered all my strength to give our house a thorough cleaning and then __48__ a wonderful meal and cooked a special dish my wife loved to ___49__ her.
When she came home, I __50__ a smile to greet her. She was __51__ to see the neat house and the __52__ meal. We sat at the table and began to eat. I told my story __53__. She did not respond. It was as if she had not heard my words.
“ I’ve __54__ my salary,” I murmured to her again.
“ I see,” she did not shout at me as I had __55__. She didn’t lose her __56__. So I was afraid she was trying hard to __57__ her anger.
A moment later, my wife was still __58__ and seemed to be enjoying her favorite dish. At last I could not help asking, “ I’ve lost my money. Why not shout at me?” she __59__ her eyes, looking at me and said, “ Oh, on the contrary, I am thinking about how to comfort you. It’s the __60__ who is to blame.”
1.A. Luckily B. Unfortunately C. Surprisingly D. Secretly
2.A. robbed B. stolen C. caught D. gone
3.A. control B. heart C. interest D. habit
4.A. happy B. poor C. healthy D. wealthy
5.A. enrich B. improve C. affect D. please
6.A. guilty B. ashamed C. frightened D. worried
7.A. careless B. unforgivable C. unforgettable D. unbelievable
8.A. prepared B. served C. provided D. chose
9.A. comfort B. meet C. surprise D. please
10.A. gave B. pretended C. forced D. made
11.A. satisfied B. surprised C. pleased D. interested
12.A. delicious B. excellent C. cool D. attractive
13.A. gladly B. calmly C. excitedly D. nervously
14.A. spent B. wasted C. donated D. lost
15.A. hoped B. desired C. expected D. wished
16.A. way B. temper C. interest D. control
17.A. hide B. express C. maintain D. show
18.A. unhappy B. silent C. worried D. surprised
19.A. moved B. shut C. raised D. opened
20.A. store B. policeman C. society D. thief
—I’ll be travelling back from London so I can’t come to your party on Friday.
— .Come round for a drink next week!
A. I’m terribly sorry B. What a pity!
C. I don’t really mind D. Please yourself
—Where shall we go to spend the weekend?
—No where , anywhere you like.
A. in all B. in particular C. in general D. in response
He offered to drive me to the airport, I felt so grateful.
A. to whom B. to which C. for which D. for whom
