Walking down any of Shanghai’s main shopping streets this week, newcomers might think the locals have been celebrating Christmas for centuries. Christmas may not be a customary holiday in China, but businessmen in Shanghai know it will bring something more valuable than tradition: people are willing to spend money. Most Chinese may feel little connection with the Christmas celebration, but with most shops offering discount (折扣), the message couldn’t be clearer-- it is the season to part with one’s hard-earned cash.
Much of that marketing drive is directed towards thousands of foreigners and foreign companies that call Shanghai home. But for Shanghai’s 13 million locals, regardless of personal interest, there seems no avoiding the season’s commercial greetings. Along some major roads, nearly every shop window displays some symbols to the holiday: a man-made fir tree(杉树) with lights, or a snowman.
With an increasing number of westerners arriving in the city for work, young Shanghainese, eager to keep pace with the latest western fashions, have begun to show their interest in Christmas. But some people still don’t think Christmas is an important festival in China. At least it is less important than the New Year and China’s Spring Festival.
1.Why are people willing to spend money during Christmas?
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A．They have earned a lot of money. |
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B．Goods are much cheaper during this period of time. |
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C．It is time for shops to sell goods. |
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D．Businessmen like Christmas. |
2.Which of the following statements is TRUE?
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A．Christmas is the season people will hold their hard-earned money tightly. |
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B．Most Chinese people think they have something to do with Christmas. |
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C．Christmas is the season for common people to earn money. |
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D．Few Chinese people feel they are connected with Christmas celebrations. |
3.Why do some young Shanghainese show great interest in Christmas?
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A．They think themselves connected with Christmas celebrations. |
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B．They think Christmas is more important than New Year’s Day. |
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C．They want to follow the up-to-date western fashions. |
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D．They want to part with their hard-earned cash during Christmas. |
4.From the first paragraph we know that _______.
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A．It is difficult for most people to earn money. |
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B．It is easy for most people to earn money. |
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C．Only foreigners in Shanghai celebrate Christmas. |
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D．Christmas will be as important as China’s Spring Festival. |
When someone gives you advice, listen without judgment, try to find value in what you’re hearing, and say “Thank you”．This wise advice is easy to understand yet hard to practice．I’ll give you an example from my life when I totally blew it in terms of practicing what I teach．
In my work I travel constantly．I always put off going to the airport until the last second．My wife, Lynda, was sitting next to me in the front seat．I was racing along and not paying much attention．Lynda cried out, “Look out! There is a red light up ahead．”
Being a trained behavioral science professional --- who teaches others the value of encouraging advice --- I naturally screamed at her, “I know there is a red light up ahead! Don’t you think I can see?” When we arrived at the airport, Lynda didn’t speak to me．I wondered why she seemed mad at me．
During the flight to New York, I did a cost-benefit analysis．I asked myself, “What was the cost of just listening when Lynda called out the warning? Zero．” I then reasoned, “What was the potential benefit? What could have been saved?” Several potential benefits came to mind, including her life, my life, and the lives of other people．
I landed in New York feeling ashamed of myself．I immediately called Lynda and told her my cost-benefit story．I convinced her, “The next time you help me with my driving, I am just going to say, ‘Thank you．’”
A few months passed, and I had long forgotten the incident．Again, I was racing off to the airport, when Lynda cried out, “Look out for the red light!” I was embarrassed, and then shouted, “Thank you!”
I’m a long way from perfect, but I’m getting better．My suggestion is that you get in the habit of asking the important people in your life how you can do things better．And be ready for an answer．Some people may tell you things like “Look out for the red light．” When this happens, remember that there is possibly some potential benefit．Then just say, “Thank you．”
1.What do we know about the author?
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A．He is expert at behavioral science． |
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B．He is gifted in cost-benefit analysis． |
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C．He always takes his wife’s advice． |
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D．He often runs the red traffic light． |
2.The underlined part “blew it” in Paragraph 1 probably means “__________”．
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A．lost personal judgment |
B．forgot the practical method |
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C．became annoyed with the adviser |
D．failed to say “Thank you” |
3.It can be inferred from the passage that people __________．
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A．should give their opinions patiently |
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B．tend to be defensive when given advice |
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C．had better study behavioral science |
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D．intend to follow others’ suggestions |
4.The purpose of the passage is to advise people to __________．
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A．do a cost-benefit analysis in daily life |
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B．discover potential benefits |
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C．learn from the author’s experiences |
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D．treasure others’ suggestions |
----Why are you smiling at me?
---- You look _______ in that hat.
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A．absent-minded |
B．absurd |
C．gifted |
D．wise |
---Could I have a word with you, mum?
----Oh, dear, if you ______.
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A．can |
B．must |
C．may |
D．should |
_____ worries the doctor most was _______ they could find the cause of the disease.
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A．What; how |
B．That; that |
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C．What; what |
D．How; what |
----Silly me ! I forgot what my luggage looks like.
----What do you think of _____ over there?
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A．the one |
B．this |
C．it |
D．that |
