Try this little test. A man dressed completely in black is sitting at a bar in a country pub. He is drinking one whisky after another. After three hours, the man in black leaves the pub and walks drunkenly down a small country road. There are no lights, and there is no moon. A car without headlights approaches. The driver notices the man, however, and is able to brake in time to avoid an accident. How could the driver see the man in black? Think about this.
The reason we can get stuck with this – and other problems in life—is that we make assumptions. If we assume that the man in black is out for an evening drink, then the problem is a hard one to solve.
The dictionary describes an assumption as something we take for granted or suppose to be true. Assumptions are essential to logical thinking and decision-making, but what happens if they are false?
Sometimes false assumptions can lead to disaster. On 8 January 1989, a British Midland Airways Boeing took off from Heathrow for Belfast. The number-two (right) engine, which had caused trouble on the previous flight, had been cleared. Twenty minutes after take-off, the plane began to shake violently. The flight recorder later showed what had happened. The captain asked the co-pilot what the problem was. “It’s the f-ing right engine again!” he replied. The captain ordered no.2 engine to be shut down, and the lefthand (no.1) engine to be turned on for an emergency landing. The 737 crashed on the edge of the M1 motorway. The cause of the crash? The captain and copilot made a false assumption and shut down the wrong engine. Of the 118 passengers, 39 died and 74 suffered serious injury.
The more risky or the more expensive the decision, the more important it is to check assumptions. There is a nice way to remember the importance of assumption checking. Look at the letters in the word ASSUME, and note that taking things for granted can make an ASS（傻瓜） of U and ME.
1. What purpose does Paragraph 1 serve in the passage?
A. To provide background information of the topic.
B. To attract readers attention to the topic.
C. To use an example to support the topic.
D. To offer basic knowledge of the topic.
2. The main purpose of the passage is to remind the readers _________.
A. of the importance of making assumptions
B. of the danger of making assumptions
C. to make assumptions before dealing with problems
D. to check assumptions before dealing with problems
3. The best title for this passage may probably be __________.
A. Assumptions Lead To Disaster
B. Ways of Avoiding False Assumption
C. When Things Are Not as They First Seem
D. Assumptions and Decision-making
4. The most probable reason that the driver can see the man in black is that .
A. there were bright stars in the sky when the accident happened.
B. the driver had very good eyesight.
C. the accident happened where the lights were bright.
D. the accident happened during the afternoon, in daylight.
No Mobile Means You’re Not in Touch
My household now has four mobile phones: one for me; one each for my eldest children, the twin boys; and one for my 15-year-old daughter. Only my 12-year-old son does not (yet) have his own mobile. In other words, we’re now in line with national figures, which show that Australia has 19 million mobile phones for a population of just over 20 million people. Among 15-to 17-year-olds, nearly nine out of 10.
The reality is that a mobile phone is the coolest thing of all for a teenager to own. It’s even more important than a television, a DVD player or access to the internet. If you don’t have a mobile you are, quite literally, out of touch.
Of course, there are good and bad sides to mobiles. In my global media world, I’ve lived with a mobile switched on 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the past ten years. At the same time, here in Perth, I started a movement on talkback radio called CAMPIR (Campaign Against Mobile Phones in Restaurants). Nothing annoys me more than people who feel that an incoming mobile call is more important than the company they are with at a restaurant or even at their dining table at home, but I believe that in the long term, we will have a revolt against the intrusion of mobiles into our personal lives.
There was a study in New Zealand last year among young teenagers that showed a quarter have used text messaging to end a relationship. Here in Australia, I’ve read of people being fired by text. That’s cold. On the other hand, lots of parents---myself included---feel their children are safer if they have their mobile with them when they are away from home.
I’ve even read that the use of mobiles among kids may mean that they smoke less. Phones are a stronger status symbol than cigarettes among children and also give them something to do with their hands.
Psychologists, though, argue that mobiles are actually a way for kids to bypass their parents. They can communicate constantly with their friends without their parents knowing anything of the conversations. No matter what the future brings, I don’t expect ever to have fewer mobiles in the house. On the contrary, the next challenge is to see if I can get through the rest of this year without having to buy a mobile phone for my youngest child.
1.According to the passage, a mobile phone is the coolest thing for a teenager to possess because _________.
A.In their opinion, the mobile phone is the most fashionable possession
B.A mobile phone is the most useful tool in the life.
C.The teenager keeps in contact with others exactly by using a mobile phone.
D.The Internet is less important than the mobile phone.
2.,Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A.In New Zealand most young teenagers have used text messaging to end a relationship.
B.The writer doesn’t think his children can avoid danger if they have their mobile with them .
C.The use of mobiles among kids may contribute to their less smoking.
D.Cigarettes are the strongest status symbol among children.
3.The underlined word “bypass” in the fifth paragraph probably means __________.
A. contact B. avoid C. inform D. oppose
4. It can be inferred from the passage that __________.
A. The children in the family each have a mobile phone.
B. About 60% of the children aged 15-17 have phones in Australia.
C. The writer is likely to buy a mobile phone for his youngest child this year.
D. The writer doesn’t agree that children should own a mobile phone.
Most of us would say that the older we get, the less we look forward to celebrating another birthday. For children, though, a birthday is that one occasion each year when they are the center of attention all day long.
It’s not surprising, then, that children’s birthday parties have turned into big business in America. Kids—or more likely their parents—often try to outdo one another in putting on the most extravagant birthday party. In the past, you might have hired a man with a horse to come by and give everyone horse rides. Today, you can hire an entire petting zoo’s or a truck filled with animals from abroad.
Barb Hill, a mother of two girls, doesn’t hold extravagant (奢侈的) parties, but she says she does feel pressure to come up with new ideas each year. Her daughter Fiona celebrated her most recent birthday, her eighth, at a sporting-goods store. The kids enjoyed the climbing wall, as well as the pizza and cupcakes. “They always want to do something that nobody else has done yet,” Barb says. You also have to decide how many guests to invite, and if you’re celebrating at a place other than home, that means figuring out how to transport everyone.
William Doherty, a professor at the University of Minnesota, recently started a project called Birthdays without Pressure. Its website (www. birthdayswithoutpressure.org) gives parents the resources to make kids’ birthday parties less stressful and more fun for all. “Our goal was to start a local and national conversation about what’s happened to birthday parties,” Doherty told me. “We’ve succeeded beyond our expectations—tens of thousands of parents are viewing our website, contacting us and taking our online quizzes.”
In the end, most parents would agree that the best parties are usually the ones where the kids have time to hang out and play with each other. After all, isn’t what being a kid is all about?
1. The purpose of this passage is to tell us_________.
A.all the children look forward to celebrating their birthday
B.the children’s birthday parties have turned into big business in America
C.parents would like to make children’s birthday parties less stressful and more fun for all
D.parents don’t know how to hold children’s birthday parties
2. Which of the following sentences is TRUE ______.
A.The girl didn’t enjoy the party held by her mother.
B.The project called Birthdays without Pressure is popular with parents.
C.Children look forward to their birthday parties because they like extravagant parties.
D.Parents feel like hiring an entire petting zoo for their children.
3. The aim of the project called Birthdays without Pressure is to______.
A.attract parents to view the website
B.provide resources for making kids’ birthday parties
C.release parents’ stress of organizing children’s birthday parties
D.hold conversation about what’s happened to birthday parties
4. The best title for this passage may probably be ______.
A project called Birthdays without Pressure
B.Children enjoy their birthday parties
C. How to hold children’s birthday parties
D. How children feel about their birthday parties
I. Associate Product Manager -- New Grad-- Beijing
Responsibilities include working with engineers to define products, understanding user needs, researching markets and competitors, and planning future product directions. As you gain more experience, there’s an opportunity for promotion within the organization.
Requirements:
☆Bachelors degree and more than one year of job experience.
☆Strong organizational and analytical skills.
II. Director of Education -- Sylvan Learning Centers -- Long Beach, California
Job description:
As a successful director of education, your primary responsibility will be to champion the Sylvan developed course, ensure the quality of the education standards and teachings staff as well as grow the business in your center.
We require:
☆Bachelors degree and at least 2 years of teaching experience.
☆Managerial experience.
III. Area Export Manager -- Beijing Import＆Export Corporation -- Beijing
Highly developing company is looking for bright, experienced salesperson who will be responsible for the export of frozen seafood and other goods between China and the USA, Australia, and Canada.
Qualifications：
☆Excellent level of English，spoken and written.
☆Excellent communication and organizational skills.
☆Experienced salesperson with proven results in fast-moving consumer goods essential，preferable in frozen seafood market.
IV. Subeditor---Media Contacts----London
Working in the amazing world of law and enforcement（执法）, you will be making sure that you are meeting the exceptionally high standards of copy for this company. As part of a team of six, you will be meeting tight deadlines on a daily basis and ensuring regular flow of articles onto the website. Must have a keen eye for detail and confidence in working with challenging copy. Experience in subediting, and a practical knowledge of publishing law are required.
V. Casual trainer---Medilife --- Sydney，NSW Australia
Medilife requires able, reliable trainers who can demonstrate the qualities of flexibility and loyalty and join their young, fun-living team. Successful applicants will receive excellent hourly rates. Suitable training provided to the right applicant．
1. Which of the following are specially required to most of the positions in the ads？
A. Experience and responsibilities B. Experience and good English.
C. Special skills and English D. Responsibilities and bachelor’s degree
2. The positions are offered in _____ different countries.
A. three B. four C. five D. six
3. Which position is possible for a fresh university graduate to apply to？
A. Education director B. Associate product manager C. Casual trainer D. Export manager.
4. From Passage IV we can infer that a subeditor’s work is to _____.
A. write articles for website B. copy information from the Internet
C. enforce publishing laws D. examine other people’s writing
第二节：阅读下列材料, 从所给的六个选项(A、Ｂ、Ｃ、Ｄ、Ｅ、和F) 中，选出符合各小题要求的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。选项中有一项是多余选项。
It was coming up on Mother’s Day, and John usually tried to make it “back home”, but this year he was just too tired. He was in a small town just outside of Little Rock when he drove by a flower shop. He said to himself. “I know what I will do, I’ll send Mom some roses.”
He went into the small shop and saw a young boy talking to the clerk. “How many roses can I get for six dollars, ma’am?” The boy asked. The clerk was trying to explain that roses were expensive. Maybe the young man would be happy with carnations.
“No. I have to have roses,” he said. “My Mom was sick so much last year and I didn’t get to spend much time with her. I want to get something special. It has to be red roses, because that’s her favourite.”
The clerk looked up at John and was just shaking her head. Something inside of John was touched by the boy’s voice. He wanted to get those roses so bad. John had been blessed in his business, and he looked at the clerk and silently mouthed that he would pay for the boy’s roses.
The clerk looked at the young man and said, “Okay, I will give you a dozen red roses for your six dollars.” The young man almost jumped into the air. He took the flowers and ran from the store. It was worth the extra thirty-five dollars just to see that kind of excitement.
John ordered his own flowers and had the clerk to be sure that delivery would include a note telling his mother how much he loved her. As he drove away from the shop, he was feeling very good. He caught a light about two blocks from the shop. As he waited at the light, he saw the young boy walking down the sidewalk. He watched him cross the street and enter a park through two huge gates. Suddenly, he realized it wasn't a park. It was a cemetery(墓地). He saw the young man stop by a small monument and go to his knees. He carefully laid the roses on the grave and began to cry.
As he cried, John heard the young man speak, “Mommy, oh Mommy, why didn’t I tell you how much I love you. Why didn’t I tell you one more time? Jesus, please, find my Mommy. Tell my Mommy I love her."
John turned, tears in his eyes, and walked back to his car. He drove quickly to the flower shop and told her he would take the flowers personally. He wanted to be sure and tell his Mother one more time just how much he loved her.
1. How much money did the young man’s flowers altogether cost?
A. 41 dollars B. 6 dollars C. 35 dollars D.29 dollars
2. What’s the main reason that John helped the young man pay the roses?
A. Because he had a lot of money.
B. Because they are good friends.
C. Because he was moved by what the young man said.
D. Because he likes to help others.
3. According to the passage, which sentence is true?
A. The young man’s mother has passed away.
B. The young man often tells his mother that he loves her.
C. John often goes home to visit his mother.
D. John doesn’t love his mother.
4. What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A. He will have the flowers delivered to his mother.
B. He will send the flowers to his mother himself.
He decided to buy more flowers.
He will not buy the flowers.
第二节：完形填空（共20小题; 每小题1分，满分20分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从21～40各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题纸上将该选项标号涂黑。
I have a friend named Monty Roberts who possesses a horse ranch (大牧场). He was the son of a horse trainer who would go from ranch to ranch, training horses. As a result, the boy’s high school career was continually 21 . When he was a senior, he was 22 to write a paper about what he wanted to be and do when he 23 .
“That night he wrote a seven –page paper, describing his goal of someday 24 a horse ranch. He wrote about his dream in great detail. He put his 25 into the project and the next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later he 26 his paper back. On the front page was a large F with a 27 that read, “See me after class.” The boy went to see the teacher after class.
The teacher said, “This is a(n) 28 dream for a young boy like you. You have no money. Owning a horse ranch 29 a lot of money. There’s no way you could ever do it.” Then the teacher added, “ 30 you will rewrite this paper with a more realistic goal, I will
31 your grade.”
The boy went home and thought about it 32 and hard. He asked his father what he should do. His father said, “Look, son, you have to make up your own mind on this. However, I think it is very important 33 for you.” Finally, after sitting with it for a week, the boy turned in the 34 paper. He stated, “You can keep the F and I’ll keep my 35 .”
Sitting in the middle of his 200-acre horse ranch, he told me he 36 had that school paper. He added, “Two summers ago that same schoolteacher 37 30 kids to camp out on my ranch for a week.” When the teacher was leaving, he said, “Look, Monty, I can tell you this now. When I was your teacher, I was 38 of a dream stealer. During those years I stole a lot of kids’ dream. Fortunately you had 39 enough not give up yours.”
Don’t let anyone 40 your dreams. Follow your heart, no matter what.
21. A. started B. interrupted C. made D. ended
22. A. taught B. guided C. asked D. forced
23. A. grew up B. brought up C. took up D. went up
24. A. working B. making C. owing D. owning
25. A. action B. heart C. explanation D. words
26. A. received B. accepted C. returned D. offered
27. A. note B. letter C. saying D. information
28. A. unusual B. unique C. unnatural D. unrealistic
29. A. raises B. makes C. requires D. saves
30. A. Although B. If C. When D. While
31. A. reconsider B. award C. recover D. acknowledge
32. A. soon B. wide C. long D. enough
33. A. composition B. decision C. lesson D. grade
34. A. rewritten B. vivid C. same D. printed
35. A. dream B. word C. promise D. impression
36. A. even B. rather C. ever D. still
37. A. fetched B. brought C. assess D. recite
38. A. something B. anything C. nothing D. everything
39. A. opportunity B. occasion C. courage D. intelligence
40. A. starve B. accuse C. submit D. steal
