Surfing the Internet for fun will make you a better employee, according to an Australian study.
The University of Melbourne study shows that people who use the Internet for their own reasons at work are about 9 percent more productive than those who do not. Study author Brent Coker said, “Surfing the Internet at times helps increase an employee’s attention.”
“People need to relax for a bit to get back their attention,” Coker said on the university’s website. “Having a short break, such as a quick surfing of the Internet, helps the mind to rest itself, leading to a higher total Internet attention for a day’s work, and as a result, increases productivity(生产效率),”he said.
According to the study of 300 workers, 70 percent of people who use the Internet at work surf the Internet for their own reasons during office hours. Among the most popular surfing activities are searching for information about products, reading online news, playing online games and watching videos. “Firms spend a lot of money on software to block their employees from watching video, using social networking sites or shopping online,” said Coker. “That’s not always a good idea.”
However, Coker said the study looked at people who surfed the Internet in moderation (适度), or were on the Internet for less than 20 percent of their total time in the office. “Those who spend too much time surfing the Internet will have a lower productivity than those without,” he said.
1.What does the University of Melbourne study mainly show?
A. People who surf the Internet are good employees.
B. Not everyone surfs the Internet for fun during office hours.
C. Surfing the Internet for fun during office hours increases productivity.
D. The Internet is becoming more and more important in people’s life.
2. According to Paragraph 3, Brent Coker would most probably agree that______.
A. the longer a person’s mind rests ,the better attention he will have
B. surfing the Internet is the best way to increase productivity
C. workers should have a long break during office hours
D. Workers should let their minds rest now and then
3.Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as one of the most popular surfing activities?
A. Watching videos. B. Reading online news.
C. Reading online novels D. Playing online games.
4.The underlined word “block” in Paragrap4 means “_____”.
A. prevent B. cycle C. burst D. breathe
5.What can we infer form the last paragraph?
A. Spending too much time surfing the Internet reduces productivity.
B. Those who never surf the Internet have the lowest productivity.
C. Most people don’t surf the Internet in moderation during office hours.
D. People should spend as little time as possible surfing the Internet.
If you’re planning on traveling, there are a few simple rules about how to make life easier both before and after your journey.
First of all, always check and double-check departure (起程) time. It is amazing how few people really do this carefully. Once I arrived at the airport a few minutes after ten. My secretary had got the ticket for me and I thought she had said that the plane left at 10:50. When I arrived at the airport, the clerk at the departure desk told me that my flight was closed. Therefore, I had to wait three hours for the next one and missed an important meeting.
The second rule is to remember that even in this age of credit cards, it is still important to have at least a little of the local currency(货币) with you when you arrive in a country. This can be necessary if you are flying to a place few tourists normally visit. A few years ago I was sent to Tulsa, Oklahoma. I flew there from London via(经由)Dallas, with very little time to change planes in between. I arrived there at midnight and the bank at the airport was closed. The only way to get to my hotel was by taxi and because I had no dollars, I offered to pay in pounds instead.
“Listen! I only take real money!” the driver said angrily. Luckily I was able to borrow a few dollars from a clerk at the hotel, but it was embarrassing (令人难堪的).
The third and last rule is to find out as much as you can about the weather at your destination before you leave. I feel sorry for some of my workmates who travel in heavy suit and raincoats in May, when it is still fairly cool in London or Manchester, to places like Athens, Rome or Madrid, where it is already beginning to get quite warm during the day.
1. According to the passage, it’s obvious that______
A. The author learns some rules of traveling from his own experience.
B. The author doesn’t plan his trips or journeys carefully.
C. Englishmen like to wear heavy suits wherever they travel
D. The America taxi driver never travels to England.
2.What should you make sure first before setting off?
A. When you will leave. B. Where you will go.
C. How you will travel D. Whom you will go with.
3.According to the passage, the driver was angry because_______
A. the author gave him false money
B. the author did not give him the local currency
C. the author did not give him money
D. the author had no enough change
4.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. The author tells people to choose warm places as their travel destinations.
B. You don’t have to take credit cards when traveling.
C. You should know more about the weather of the place you’ll visit.
D. You should take enough change when you travel to other countries.
5.What is the main idea of the passage?
A. A few simple rules about how to make life easier both before and after your journey.
B. Always check and double-check departure time.
C. It is important to have the local currency with you when you arrive in a country.
D. To find out as much as you can about the weather at your destination before you leave.
Everyday, 340 million people speak it. One billion people are learning it and it is said that by 2050, half of the world’s population will be using it. What are we talking about? That is the global language—English.
The English language started in Britain in the 5th century. It is a mixed language. It was built up when German. Scandinavian and French invaders settled in England and created a common language for communication.
Today it is the official language of the UK, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and Ireland as well as many islands in the Caribbean. Many other countries and regions use it for politics and business, for example, India. Pakistan, Nigeria and the Philippines. English is also one of the official languages of Hong Kong.
But global advertising and pop music mean that in most countries, you will see or hear some English. Thanks to McDonalds, we all know about “burgers”. “fries” and “milkshakes”. Songs by Madonna, Britney Spears and Celine Dion are in English. We can sing along, even if we do not understand what we are singing!
English is a messy (杂乱的) language. Every year, dictionaries include new words that talk about popular culture, for example, computer-related words such as "blogging", "download" and "chartroom". Also included are words that teenagers use. Who does not know “cool”, “OK” and “hello”?
Other languages also influence English. Many English words come from French. Words like “café” and expressions like “c'est la vie” (that is life) are all part of the English language. On the other hand, the French language includes English words like "le weekend" and "le camping". German words are also part of English. Words like "kindergarten" come from the German language.
Recently, British people have become interested in “yoga”. But the word comes from an ancient Hindu language in India.
1. The English language has a history of ______.
A. over 2000 years B. over 500 years
C. over 1500 years D. over 1000 years
2.The underlined expression “thanks to” can be replaced by ______.
A. because of B. in order to C. as usual D. as if.
3.Which of the following statements is true about the language of English?
A. It has been changing all the time.
B. It has borrowed words from all the other languages.
C. French words are used by the English because dictionaries have French words.
D. Singers and film stars have the greatest influence on language.
4. How many people in the world are using English now?
A. One billion people B. 340 million
C. almost all the people in the world.
D. not mentioned above, but the number is growing rapidly.
5. Many countries and regions use it for politics and business except______.
A. the USA B. Nigeria C. the Philippines D. Norway
Everyone needs friends. We all like to feel close to someone. It is nice to have a friend to talk, laugh and do things with. Sure, there are times when we need to be alone. We don’t always want people around. But we would feel lonely if we never had a friend.
No two people are the same. Sometimes friends don’t get along well. That doesn’t mean they no longer like each other. Most of the time they will go on being friends. Sometimes friends move away. Then we feel very sad. We miss them very much. But we can call them and write to them. Maybe we wound never see them again. And we can make new friends. It is surprising to find out how much we like new people when we get to know them. Families sometimes name their children after a close friend. Many places are named after men and women, if they are friendly to people in a town. Some libraries are named in this way. So are some schools. We think of these people when we go to these places.
There is more good news for people, if they have friends. These people live longer than those people who don’t have friends. Why? It could be that they are happier. Being happy helps you stay well. Or it could be just knowing that someone cares. If someone cares about you, you take better care of yourself.
1. The first paragraph tells us_______
A.what is the feeling of having no friends
B.how to communicate with friends
C.making friends is a need in people’s life
D.we need to be alone in our life
2.According to the author, why sometimes friends don’t get along well? Because________
A.friends move away
B.we don’t call them and write to them
C.we have made new friends
D.no two people are the same
3. Which of the following places people name after their friendly people is NOT mentioned in the passage?
A. A town B. A room C.A school D.A library
4.Why do people who have friends live longer?
A.They feel happier and healthier.
B.They know more about friendship.
C.They take less care of themselves.
D.They care more about their friends.
5.This passage mainly tells us ______
A.that people are all friends B. that people need friends
C. how to get to know friends D.how to name a place
One day Mary was busy working in her office in London when she received an E-mail from her friend Joan .In Joan’s e-mail, she persuaded Mary 1.______( look) for a flat in London for her. As she had 2._____ (little) money at her command than before, the flat had to be cheap, but it had to be modern, with elevators, gas lines. It had to be in the 3.______ (east) part of London, with petrol and subway stations nearby. Though Mary found 4.______difficult to find such a flat, she still went from one block to another, looking for a flat 5._______would meet Joan’s requirements. Having tried too many times, Mary came up 6.______her boss and politely asked him 7._____advice. It was the first time that she 8.___________ (talk) with his boss about her personal problems. It happened that the boss just had such a flat for rent, so they quickly reached 9.____agreement. But to her surprise, when she e-mailed Joan, telling her the good news, Joan said that she had changed 10.____ mind--- she was not returning to London.
Earthquakes strike suddenly at any time of the day or night, but there’s no way to tell them. If an earthquake happens, it may 11.____ many deaths and injuries and great damage. Decide how and where your family will get together if 12.____ . Choose an out-of-state friend or relative that the family members can 13.____ after the quake to report where they are and how they are. Know the 14.____ places in each room: under the 15.____ tables, desks, or against inside walls. Keep enough food, water and other things, 16.____ a flashlight, a radio medicines and clothing.
During the earthquake, you should 17.____ a clear head and never be too nervous to know what to do. Protect your 18._ ___ and neck with your arms. If possible, take a book, a pillow or any other things to 19.____ yourself from falling glass and ruins. If you are 20.____, you must immediately lie under any strong furniture. If outdoors, move to an open area away form tress, buildings, walls and power poles. If you are in a narrow valley, move to the center of it and look up for falling 21.____. If you are in a car, move to the side of the road and stop the car. Do not stop near buildings, power lines or on or under bridges. Stay in your car until the shaking stops.
Do not move a badly 22.____ person unless he is in great danger after the earthquake. Do not use the telephone 23.____ unless there is a serious injury or fire. Turn on your radio for instructions and news reports. Be prepared for aftershocks. If you want to 24.____ your home, post a message inside your home 25.____ family members where you can be found.
1.A. affect B. develop C. cause D. bury
2.A. recover B. separated C. lost D. divided
3.A. call B. recognize C. go D. help
4.A. loose B. safe C. dangerous D. wide
5.A. old B. new C. strong D. weak
6.A. ignoring B. holding C. including D. carrying
7.A. make B. protect C. use D. keep
8.A. hand B. head C. leg D. back
9. A. let B. prevent C. stop D. protect
10.A. indoors B. outdoors C. away D. out
11. A. bricks B. flowers C. stones D. walls
12. A. wounded B. injured C. harmed D. hurt
13. A. slowly B. extremely C. actually D. immediately
14.A. reach B. leave C. take D. pack
15.A. telling B. speaking C. saying D. talking
