Businesses are expected to cut spending dramatically through much of 2009. A number of economists, including those National City and Wachovia, don’t expect business investment, which make up about one – tenth of US economic activity, to decline through 2009. According to a survey of 679 chief financial officers by Duke University and CFO Magazine this month, US businesses expect to cut capital spending by more than 10% in the next 12 months, a sharp decrease from September, when the CFOs expected business investment to increase slightly.
John Graham, finance professor at Duke and director of the survey, says businesses are finding ways to repair existing machinery and buildings rather than replace equipment or move. They likely won’t increase their spending until they see concrete evidence that the economy is improving.
Those planning meeting for late winter and early spring are either buying fewer or less – expensive items, or they’re not buying at all. One client who usually spends about $ 80,000 on a conference each year is spending half that. Robert Coen, director of forecasting at media – analysis firm Magna, predicts a 4.5% drop in ad spending to $ 259 billion in 2009 on the heels of a 3.2% drop in 2008. “A recovery in US ad budgets will probably not get underway until 2010,” he says. Another negative for 2009: There aren’t any big ad – spending events such as the Olympics or national elections.
Declining business spending will hurt a number of industries but will be especially tough for the manufacturing sector. Nearly two – thirds of manufacturers expect revenue(税收) to be unchanged or lower in 2009 than 2008, a survey from the Institute for Supply Management found.
1.According to John Graham, how did businesses to deal with the economy crisis?
A. They are spending less.
B. By increasing their business spending sharply.
C. By replacing old equipment with the new equipment.
D. By moving into the cheaper offices.
2.Why are the managers buying less – expensive items for their meetings?
A. To save money themselves.
B. To cut down on expenses and save for the companies.
C. To see the concrete evidence that the economy is on the mend.
D. To save money so they spend more on advertisements.
3.It can be inferred that in a year Olympics are held, many companies _________.
A. contribute more money to the poor B. give the participants money
C. spend more money on advertising D. cut down on advertising budgets
4.The best title for the passage is ____________.
A. Predictions about Buying New Equipment in 2009
B. Predictions about Conference Planning in 2009
C. Predictions about Advertising Spending in 2009
D. Predictions for Business Spending in 2009
Listen carefully; we would like to tell you something that could save your precious time and money! Best of all, it is free! It’s “no”. What do you ask? We’ll say it again. “No”. Sweet and simple “no”.
Say “no” at your office and see how quickly that pile of work on your desk disappears. “Saying “no” to others means you are saying “yes” to yourself,” said Leslie Charles, a professional speaker from East Lansing, Michigan.
Susie Watson, a famous writer, said people who always say “yes” need to say “no” without guilt （内疚） or fear of punishment. “I would rather have someone give me a loving ‘no’ than an obligated （强制的）‘yes’”, she said.
Susie Watson says she feels “no” obligation to give an explanation when she says “no” either socially or professionally. Does she feel guilty about it? “Not at all,” said Watson, who is director of advertising and public relations at Timex Corp in Middle-bury. “Most people are afraid of saying “no”. My advice is to say “yes” only if you don’t mean ‘no’.”
Watson said “no” is the most effective weapon against wasting time. “Every year there are more demands on your time. Other people are happy to use up your time,” Watson said. Time saving appears to be “no’s” greatest friend. “No” can be your new friend, a powerful tool to take back your life. “No” may even take you further in the business world than “yes”. “No” is power and strength. “No” now seems completely correct. “Saying ‘no’ isn’t easy. But finally it’s greatly liberating,” Charles said. But, he added, a “no” project needs to be worked on every day because it is hard to change long-term habit.
But, he also warns: “Don’t go to extremes. Don’t find yourself saying “no” to everything. In return you should learn to hear “no”.”
1. The underlined part “saying ‘yes’ to yourself” in the second paragragh means ________.
A. you can have more time to play with others
B. you needn’t care about other’s feeling if you are happy
C. you are selfish and treat others rudely
D. you can deal with your business as you have planned
2. When you say “no” to others you should say it in a ________.
A. secret way B. polite way C. proud way D. guilty way
3 In Watson’s opinion, people can save much time on condition that ________.
A. they say “no” at a suitable time B. they say “no” as much as possible
C. they are afraid of saying “no” D. they make others angry at them
4. If a person says “no” to everything, the result he or she receives may be that he or she ________.
A. enjoys a wonderful life B. makes a lot of money
C. faces difficulty in life D. forgets to say “yes” in the end
The Chinese word “Shanzhai” means a small mountain village, but now it becomes an accepted name for fakes (假货) after “Shenzhen Cellphones” produced by small workshops in southern China became popular in the mainland market over the past two years.
Besides “Shanzhai” has electronic products, there are “Shanzhai” movies, “Shanzhai” stars and even a “Shanzhai” Spring Festival Gala, a copy of the 25-year-old traditional show presented by CCTV on Chinese Lunar New Year’s Eve.
“Shanzhai” has become a culture of its own, symbolizing anything that imitates something famous.
The phenomenon has caused a public debate over whether it is healthy or sick being a copycat.
In southwestern China’s Chongqing Municipality, a “Shanzhai” version “Bird’s Nest” woven by farmers with bamboo attracts wide attention and the “Shanzhai” version “Water Cube” is popular with tourists too. Both are copies of the famous Olympics buildings in Beijing.
Xie Xizhang, a literature critic, said that taking the “Shanzhai” Gala as an example, when the traditional CCTV program becomes less and less attractive to the audience, the “Shanzhai” version appears naturally to attract people.
“In spite of its poor techniques and operation, ‘Shanzhai’culture meets the psychological demands of common people and could be a comfort to their minds,” Xie said.
Tian Huiqun, a professor at Beijing Normal University, said that “Shanzhai” culture never copies classic things, only trendy products. In that sense, it’s like a computer virus, multiplying without meaning.
Though controversial, “Shanzhai” culture is becoming a widely accepted phenomenon.
To the mainstream culture, the rise of “Shanzhai” culture is a challenge as well as a motivation, said Xie.
Tian said different kinds of cultures developing together is an ideal situation and it is for the public to choose.
1. The Chinese Word“Shanzhai”may have its origin in _________.
A. fake cellphones B. electronic products
C. Spring Festival Gala D. Olympics buildings
2. A. The underlined word “imitates” is closest in meaning to _______.
A. steals B. copies C. advertises D. cheats
3. A. According to the passage, “Shanzhai” culture refers to ________.
A. The action that a person imitates famous people
B. anything that imitates something famous
C. those similar names to famous brand
D. products with poor techniques and quality
4. A. We can infer that the mainstream culture ________.
A. Will be held back by “Shanzhai” culture
B. will sooner or later be replaced by “Shanzhai”culture
C. may develop faster because of the challenging of “Shanzhai”culture
D. thinks nothing of the challenge of “Shanzhai”culture
5. Which of the following might be the best title of passage?
A.“Shanzhai”culture will definitely fade out
B.“Shanzhai”culture –the mountain village culture
C.“Shanzhai”culture – the mainstream culture
D.“Shanzhai”culture takes on life of its own
Do you know the cold?
Everybody knows what happens when you catch a cold. First you sniffle(抽鼻涕) or get a more throat. Then you sneeze. After coughing and blowing your way through the next few days it’s over---until next time
Do you know what causes a cold, how it is spread or how to help prevent it? And which of the many medicines is best for your cold?
There is no known cure for the common cold. Once you catch a cold, your body usually produces antibodies(抗体) to the virus which caused the cold. These antibodies help the body develop resistance（抵抗力) to the virus if you catch it again. Unfortunately, over 200 different viruses cause the common cold. These viruses may change over time, so your resistance to them reduces. The large number of viruses and the fact that they change help explain why there is no cure for the common cold and why you will suffer colds in the future.
The colds increase in winter(usually between Septenber and March) but Not because of the cold! Cold weather has not been shown to increase the number of colds. People spend more time indoors in winter. They are therefore more likely to come into physical contact with each other and spread the disease. All these ideas remain to be proven. No one has been able to discover what really causes these colds
Common colds are spread by sneezes or by direct contact with a cold sufferer, usually when two people’ hands touch or an object is passed from one person to another. Sneezing spreads colds when someone sneezes near other people, or sneezes on objects which others later touch. A cold virus can survive up to three hours on hard surfaces.
The simplest and most effective way to lower the risk of catching a cold is to wash your hands frequently. Another important step in cold prevention is for cold sufferers to get rid of used tissues immediately after use.
1.From the passage, we can know____________.
A. a cold virus can survive up to four hours
B. most of people know how to cure a cold
C. there are more colds in November than in May
D. all of us catch more than one cold a year
2.According to the passage, people tend to catch a cold___________.
A. because they don’t take exercise in winter
B.if they stay outdoors in freezinf cold winter
C. if they stay indoors more often in winter
D.because the viruses of colds usually exist in winter
3.We can know colds sre spread through____________.
A. air and touching B. coughs and objects C.two people D. a person and his hands
第二部分：阅读理解（第一节20小题，第二节5小题；每小题2分，满分50分）
第一节：阅读下列短文, 从每题所给的四个选项 (A、B、C和D) 中, 选出最佳选项。
Being interested in a theme park since the time that I was a child, I have learned a thing or two over the years about packing for a day of fun. A trip to a theme park is always a adventure, but if you’re not prepared, your day of fun could easily turn into a tiny little nightmare(噩梦). It is important to pack long sleeved(带袖的) shirts or jackets for all members of your family. I is also a good idea to pack an extra pair of socks for each member of the family, especially the children, as those wonderful water rides can be fun, but wet socks that won’t dry aren’t so much fun.
You don’t want to pack too much food, as you will probably want to experience at least some of the food offered at the theme park of your choice(that’s half of the fun), but it’s always a good idea to bring some energy increasing snacks, such as fruit,trail mix,etc. This can mean the difference between spending a lot of money on snacks or a little money on one or two good meals.
Theme parks,while fun and exciting, can wear a person out,especially a child, so it’s important to keep hydrated(含水的). I would suggest packing one bottle of water per person, and possibly a couple of cans of soda or bottles of juice as well.
It’s a good idea to have at least two cell phones or even a set of “walkie-talkies” in the event that your family gets,separated in the park. It’s a good idea to give one of these things to the children and one to the parents and make sure that each of them knows how to use it. This could be the difference between trouble and a happy ending,
1.You should get well prepared before going to a theme park__________.
A. because the trip always costs much money
B.because there are always too many people in a theme park.
C. so as not to suffer from bad dreams when going back
D.so as to cut down your trip expenses and have more fun
2.From the passage, we can know_______________.
A.the author was fond of visiting theme parks when he was a child
B.wearing wet socks in a theme park will bring children much fun
C.it is terrible to have a taste of the food offered in a theme park.
D. we’d better bring enough food, clothing and water when going to a theme park
3.What does th underlined part”walkie-talkies” in the last paragraph probably refer to?
A. A kind of transportation tool B.A kind of musical instrument
C.A kind of CDplayer D.A kind of phone
4.How many types of things does the author advise us to pack for day trips to a theme park?
A Three B.Five C.Six D. Eight
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、D）中，选出最佳选项.
It was the night of the full moon, a time which always drives Java’s young people mad with excitement.
Fireworks were lit long before the moon 21___.The big noise brought people out22 __the warm night to enjoy the interesting scene. Everywhere, there were the paper remains of 23 __fireworks lying on the ground. Little boys 24___more and covered their ears as they waited 25___ for the explosions.
The moon appeared above the horizon:huge, 26 _______ball high above the city,and the 27______ filled with people,as Java began to enjoy one of the year’s greatest 28 ___: ‘ the Night of the Full Moon’, a festival that is especially popular 29 ___young people.
More and more young Javanese 30____ together and walked slowly through the 31_____. Joking and chatting, they moved towards the mountain 32___the city. They continued to climb 33 ___they reached the old temple at the 34____ of the mountain.
After they were 35____ the temple, they drank their water and ate their mooncakes-----delicious home—made ones, 36____ of dried fruit and nuts. Outside, on the mountain, young people 37 ___cross-legged in circles, chatting and telling each other jokes. And 38____, in their hundreds, more young people continued to make their way up the mountain to 39_____ the brightly shining moon.
By midnight, the fireworks had stopped shooting up from the 40___ city in the valley below them. But during the night, the sound continued to be heard from the distance.
21.A. let out B.gave out C.came out D.set out
22.A.into B.at C. of D.from
23.A.burning B.used C.exploding D.broken
24.A.lit B.bought C. piled D.removed
25.A.patiently B.calmly C.worriedly D.excitedly
26.A.silver B.new. C.colorful D.gold
27.A. mountains B.valleys C.streets D.shops
28.A.games B.meetings C.sports D.events
29.A. for B.to C.with D.in
30.A.danced B.gathered C.drank D.shouted
31.A.village B.scene C.night D.ground
32.A.on the edge of B.on the way to C.in the center of D.in the direction of
33.A.while B.until C.unless D.though
34.A.tip B.back C.top D.bottom
35.A.inside B.near C.off D.across
36.A.found B.little C.full D.free
37.A.jumped B.sat C.stood D.bent
38.A. so B.even C.yet D.still
39.A.follow B.show C.notice D.admire
40.A.clean B.gray C.peaceful D.empty
