Muzak
The next time you go into a bank, a store, or a supermarket, stop and listen. What do you hear? 1. It's similar to the music you listen to, but it's not exactly the same. That's because this music was especially designed to relax you, or to give you extra energy. Sometimes you don't even realize the music is playing, but you react to the music anyway.
Quiet background music used to be called "elevator (电梯) music" because we often heard it in elevators. But lately we hear it in more and more places, and it has a new name "Muzak". About one-third of the people in America listen to "Muzak" everyday. The music plays for 15 minutes at a time, with short pauses in between. It is always more lively between ten and eleven in the morning, and between three and four in the afternoon, when people are more tired. 2.
If you listen to Muzak carefully, you will probably recognize the names of many of the songs. Some musicians or songwriters don't want their songs to be used as Muzak, but others are happy when their songs are chosen. Why? 3.
Music is often played in public places because it is designed to make people feel less lonely when they are in an airport or a hotel. It has been proven that Muzak does what it is designed to do. Tired office workers suddenly have more energy when they hear the pleasant sound of Muzak in the background. 4. Supermarket shoppers buy 38 percent more groceries.
5. . They say it's boring to hear the same songs all the time. But other people enjoy hearing Muzak in public places. They say it helps them relax and feel calm. One way or another, Muzak affects everyone. Some farmers even say their cows give more milk when they hear Muzak!
A. Some people don't like Muzak.
B. The music gives them extra energy.
C. Music is playing in the background.
D. Factory workers produce 13 percent more.
E. Muzak tends to help people understand music better.
F. They get as much as $4 million a year if their songs are used.
G. Muzak is played in most of the big supermarkets in the world.
As the global financial crisis hits the economy, it’s tough finding a job — especially if you’re competing with thousands of other hopeful students. Sometimes you get the interview, but don’t quite seem to land the job because you don’t have related experience. Don’t despair! Here are a few tips that might give you an edge.
1. Get connected to your network and try to expand it. Talk to friends, family and acquaintances. Let everyone know you are looking for a job.
2. Prepare your resume (个人简历) carefully and be sure it’s perfect. Have someone else read it over for typos (打字错误) and grammatical errors. Get professional help. It’s worth the money to present yourself well. If money is tight, read books on resume writing from your public library or search for free help on the Internet.
3. When you apply for a job, be sure you have the skills listed on the posting. If you get an interview, be sure to describe those skills thoroughly. Just having the skills is not enough. Expressing your abilities well can make all the difference in getting the job.
4. Research typical interview questions and practice interviewing. Be well prepared for every interview.
5. Don’t be afraid to accept a position for which you are overqualified — if there’s room for advancements. Many great job advancements come from first doing well at an entry-level position. If you have the right skills and attitude, it won’t be long before you’re in the job you want.
6. Volunteer for a few weeks in your field of study to gain experience if you feel your resume needs an improvement.
7. When deciding what to wear for an interview, think about the position level and the dress code of the organization.
8. Use every tool available to you. For example, this site has many job links for your use.
Good luck!
1.What’s the author’s advice on preparing a resume?
A. To read it over several times by yourself.
B. To get professional help even if it costs money.
C. To copy something from books.
D. To publish it on the Internet.
2. If you lack related experience you can ____.
A. make up some in your resume
B. read books to get second-hand experience
C. do some related voluntary work
D. get some training at schools
3. The purpose of the text is to ____.
A. show how to prepare for an interview
B. wish people good luck
C. encourage people not to despair
D. give advice on how to find a job
Alexander Richard Pettyfer (born on April 10, 1990) is an English actor. The son of an actor and a former fashion model, he began his career as a child fashion model at the age of seven, modeling for labels such as GAP, after meeting Ralph Lauren in a toy store in New York City. He attended Twickenham Preparatory School in Hampton and later the Mall, a small private school in Twickenham and as a schoolboy, performed in plays, including Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.
“When you go through such a long process of auditioning you kind of forget about getting it. It’s more like you keep going up and having a little bit of fun,” Pettyfer said.
The film became a hot topic for film critics. One review of Pettyfer’s performance described him as playing the role with an “earnest seriousness”, although another noted that he “isn’t quite at ease as an actor”. Media reports have specified that the film is expected to make Pettyfer a “teen idol”.
After Pettyfer completed filming on Stormbreaker, he did not discuss the film with anyone at his school, and decided to leave school and concentrate on his film career, as well as study drama full time at college. Now he is studying at Shiplake College boarding school. Pettyfer likes skiing, dancing, and hockey when not working.
1.What’s the CORRECT time order of these events in Pettyfer’s career?
① He made his first appearance in a film.
② He made his first appearance in a play.
③ He made his first appearance on television.
④ He made his first appearance as a model.
A. ①②③④ B. ①②④③ C. ④③①② D. ④②③①
2.Anthony Horowitz chose Pettyfer as the main character in Stormbreaker because ____.
A. Pettyfer was born in a family of actors and models
B. Pettyfer made his first public appearance at an early age
C. Pettyfer performed well in Tom Brown’s Schooldays
D. Pettyfer performed best among the 500 boys who auditioned
3.What can be inferred about the film version of Stormbreaker?
A. It was a hit film.
B. All the reviews of this film are positive.
C. Pettyfer didn’t want to play in the film.
D. Pettyfer wasn’t satisfied with his performance in it.
4.Which of the following statements best describes Pettyfer?
A. He’s always ready to help others.
B. He’s too confident of his ability.
C. He prefers drama to films.
D. He likes doing sports in spare time.
By the year 1869 when the first transcontinental railroad was finished, over 350,000 pioneers had taken the Oregon Trail to head west and start a new life, which is known as the Gold Rush Period in American history. Many of these were women and most were accompanied by children.
Before heading west, many women often spent their day doing nothing more than visiting, needlework, and the occasional gardening of flowers. Others were not from as wealthy families and had to work alongside their men as laborers. Neither type was in most cases prepared for the hardships that lay ahead.
Once they did reach their destination, the work was far from over. A house would need to be built. Women quickly learned to use all kinds of tools right alongside their husbands. At the first sign of spring, a garden would need to be planted. Pioneer women also had to deal with dangerous wild animals, including bears and lions. Indians were also a concern, and some did fall to their deaths by the Indians’ hand. Where were the men when all this was being done? Working the fields and mining were the two most usual occupations. Their remaining work, which there was plenty of, fell to the women and the oldest children if there were any.
Women who headed west learned quickly that there was much more to life than teas and visiting. They had no choice but to struggle for survival. This was their life.
1.What is the passage mainly about?
A. Changes in the Gold Rush Period.
B. New life in the West.
C. Great people in American history.
D. Pioneer women to the West.
2.By mentioning women’s life before heading west in paragraph 2, the author implies (暗示) that .
A. it was a real struggle for women to adapt to the hard life in the West
B. it was not reasonable for women to give up their comfortable life
C. it was a better choice for women to experience a new and hard life
D. it was necessary for women to change their lifestyle completely
3.According to the passage, which was NOT the problem women faced when heading west?
A. They had no choice but to throw away many of their beloved things.
B. They could not take their children along because of the hard journey.
C. It was common that they lost their husbands in some accidents.
D. They suffered from diseases or even lost their lives.
4.Women were kept busy with all the following work EXCEPT _________.
A. building a house
B. planting a garden
C. driving wild animals away
D. caring for the Indians
In the car, I secretly had a look at him through the rearview mirror (后视镜). He looked sad. “What’s the matter, honey?” “I’m nervous. I don’t know if I’ll be able to learn everything in the first grade. What if I can’t pay attention in class?”
My heart melted. I remembered being nervous on the first day of school and I thought I was the only student who felt that way. I was a nervous kid full of self-doubt. Seth behaved much better than I did.
We walked into his school together. He remembered where his new classroom was and recognized his teacher from the ice cream social party they had the day before. He sat down at his desk and chatted with a few of his classmates. He took a few photos of them (with a camera phone because I didn’t allow him to bring the real camera) and then he said in a very serious manner, “Mom, you can go home now. I’ll be OK.” And so he was.
1.Seth asked his mother to take him to school probably because _______.
A. he was afraid to be late for class
B. he wanted to share his joy with his mother
C. he felt worried about his school life
D. he was frightened of his new teacher
2.What did the writer mean by saying “My heart melted” in Paragraph 4?
A. She was very angry with her son.
B. She felt sad because of her son’s words.
C. She was too weak in the mind to face it.
D. She became more understanding of her son.
3.From the last paragraph we learn that ________.
A. Seth had never seen his new classroom
B. the ice cream social party was to be held soon
C. Seth got along well with his classmates
D. Seth took some photos using a real camera
4.It can be inferred that in the end Seth felt ______.
A. relaxed B. frightened C. serious D. worried
I am a team leader in an insurance company. We are going through a lot of changes right now, which is 36 much stress for all of us.
A few weeks ago I was having a day so 37 that I even doubted if I had the ability to do this challenging work, and was about ready to change to a less stressful job 38 . Something happened that day to change my way of 39 and I am so appreciative of this young lady. I want to let her know that the small act 40 .
On the top of my cubicle (工作隔间) I have a small collection of lighthouses (灯塔) to let people know where I am sitting 41 my team members have to find me for emergencies.
That day I came into the office and was about to get the day 42 when Crystal came over. I asked if she needed anything. And she said, “I 43 you something.” I looked at her with a 44 look and said, “Well, thank you, but why 45 you buy me anything?” I had never spoke to this young lady 46 . She said, “Every day I stand up and look across the 47 and see your lighthouses. Then I feel I am not alone and I encourage myself that there are always 48 things in life. I saw this on the way to work and thought 49 would like it. I wish it would have the same 50 as your lighthouses do.” In her hand she had a small globe with a lighthouse and a ship on it. I gave her a hug and 51 her. I don’t think she knows how much that small act of 52 changed my day: I remained 53 the rest of the day.
For anyone that reads this, I hope you remember, no matter what the 54 is, you could change someone’s day, 55 even his views on life.
1.A. preventing B. reducing C. causing D. suffering
2.A. funny B. nice C. bad D. dull
3.A. everywhere B. elsewhere C. anywhere D. nowhere
4.A. working B. behaving C. speaking D. thinking
5.A. broke my heart B. touched my heart C. lost my heart D. tore my heart
6.A. in case B. so that C. as if D. even though
7. A. ended B. started C. changed D. avoided
8.A. borrowed B. lent C. sold D. bought
9.A. delighted B. puzzled C. thankful D. worried
10.A. might B. dare C. could D. would
11.A. before B. then C. since D. after
12.A. dorm B. office C. ship D. tower
13.A. bright B. challenging C. bad D. stressful
14.A. colleagues B. leaders C. you D. I
15.A. opinion B. cause C. expectation D. effect
16.A. praised B. thanked C. scolded D. refused
17. A. justice B. courage C. kindness D. tolerance
18.A. careful B. encouraged C. tired D. alone
19. A. present B. work C. act D. intention
20.A. so B. for C. or D. nor
