Owning a smartphone may not be as smart as you think. They may let you surf the Internet, listen to music and take photos wherever you are, but they also turn you into a workaholic(工作狂).
A study suggests that, by giving you access to emails at all times, the smartphone adds as much as two hours to your working day. Researchers found that Britons work an additional 460 hours a year on average as they are able to respond to emails on their mobiles. The study shows the average UK working day is between 9 and 10 hours, but a further 2 hours is spent responding to or sending work emails, or making work calls.
Almost one in ten admits spending up to three hours outside their normal working day checking work emails. Some workers say they are on call almost 24 hours a day. Nearly two-thirds say they often check work emails just before they go to bed and as soon as they wake up, while over a third have replied to one in the middle of the night. The average time for first checking emails is between 6 am and 7 am, with more than a third checking their first email in this period, and a quarter checking them between 11pm and midnight.
Ghadi Hobeika, marketing director of Pixmania, said: “The ability to access millions of applications has made smartphones invaluable for many people. However, there are disadvantages. Many companies expect their employees to be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and smartphones mean that people cannot get away from work. The more constantly in touch we become, the more is expected of us in work . ”
1.With a smartphone the average UK working day is _______.
A.2 hours B.9 to 10 hours C.11 to 12 hours D.24 hours
2.It could be inferred from the text that the British people _______.
A.prefer to check emails in the morning
B.are crazy about different smartphones
C.shorten their normal working hours
D.work extra hours with smartphones
3.What does Ghadi Hobeika feel about smartphones?
A.They are unimportant for most of people.
B.They have disadvantages for some companies.
C.They make it impossible for people to rest.
D.They are useful to improve a work ability.
4.Where can we most probably read this text?
A.In a science fiction. B.In a newspaper.
C.In a travel magazine. D.In a storybook.
The number of smokers in England is about 8 million. According to the Department of Health, smoking is the biggest cause of early death in the country. Smokers in England have been asked to give up smoking for 28 days this month, in an action backed by Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation.
Research shows people who manage not to light up for this length of time are 5 times more likely to kick the habit. Public health experts say campaigns that include a combination of hard-hitting ads and supportive messages work best.
Quitting smoking can be difficult. However, people are much more likely to succeed if other people are doing the same than if they try to do it alone and go cold turkey. Robert West, Director of Tobacco Studies at University College London, points out how pressure from people around can prevent a smoker going on smoking. “We are social animals,” he said.
The action has met some doubts among readers of the BBC News Online website. Some compared it to asking people to stop eating as a way of fighting overweight. Others doubt the action’s effectiveness. “Its weakness is that it fails to explain why a person smokes, and the reasons are as many as the number of smokers”, says someone who signed as BluesBerry.
Another reader, Cazz, has decided to give it some credit. He says:“ Campaigns like this won’t necessarily inspire the majority of smokers to quit, but may encourage those thinking about quitting to set a date and try. Surely it’s worth a shot. ”
1.What does the text mainly talk about?
A.A new action to quit smoking.
B.A way of fighting overweight.
C.A country with the most smokers.
D.The biggest cause of early death.
2.The underlined phrase “go cold turkey” in the third paragraph means “_______”.
A.buy a cold turkey B.eat too much food C.stop a bad habit D.get much support
3.Why is it easier to stop smoking when other people are doing the same?
A.Because people usually respect each other.
B.Because they’re faced with the same pressure.
C.Because people are influenced by each other.
D.Because they keep the same animals as pets.
4.What’s Cazz’ s attitude in the last paragraph?
A.Distant. B.Doubtful. C.Surprised. D.Approving
Built in 1794 for the 5th Duke of Bedford, this hotel in the heart of Bedford overlooks the River Ouse, which winds through the beautiful Bedfordshire countryside.
We offer a flexible approach to conferencing. With purpose-built meeting rooms offering a flexible and functional space, our hotel is designed for comfort and convenience. Day Delegate(代表/代表团), 24 Hour Delegate or room hire only can be arranged to meet your needs and we offer a range of food and drinks for all requirements.
The Bedford Swan Hotel provides an impressive range of conference, training and function rooms which are suitable for up to 250 delegates.
Our hotel is located 30 minutes drive from Luton Airport and a 20-minute walk from Bedford Train Station with regular trains to and from Central London.
What to expect:
? A professional service from the beginning
? Your own event consultant
? A great location with car parking
? Well equipped rooms perfect for your meeting or event
? Various Day Delegate packages
? Personalised dining and refreshment breaks
? Accurate billing
Discounted Day Delegate Rates from £35 per person
* Hold your meeting before 30th November 2013 and benefit from our special day delegate rates
* Day Delegate Rate from £35.00 per person
* Minimum numbers of 8 apply
Call us on 01234 346565 or e-mail us on info@bedfordswanhotel.co.uk
1.Bedford Swan Hotel is more suitable for _______.
A.busy sightseers B.conference travelers
C.fresh trainees D.event consultants
2.Which of the following is true according to the text?
A.It takes you 20 minutes to walk here from Central London.
B.The Bedford Swan Hotel was built in the late 18th century.
C.The hotel is located sixty kilometres from Luton Airport.
D.Guests can get professional service by offering extra tips.
3.From the advertisement above we can learn that Bedford Swan Hotel _______.
A.can serve up to 250 delegates B.winds through Bedfordshire
C.can provide personalised billing D.offers no car parking service
4.The special discount will be given if _______.
A.a delegate of 8 apply for 24-hour-meeting rooms
B.guests pay £35.00 per person for the rooms they live in
C.you book a purpose-built meeting room on a special day
D.8 delegates hold a day meeting on November 2, 2013
One day, a kind woman happened to say something that hurt her best friend of many years. She 1 immediately and would do anything to take the words back. What she said hurt the friend so 2 that this good woman was herself hurt for the 3 she caused. In an effort to undo what she had done, she went to an older, wiser woman in the village, explained her 4 , and asked for advice.
Listening to her, the older woman sensedthe younger woman’s worry and knew she must 5 her. She also knew she could never 6 her pain, but she could teach. She knew the outcome would only 7 the character of the younger woman. She said, “Tonight, 8 your best feather pillowsand put a single feather on the 9 of each house in town before the sun rises.”
The young woman hurried home to prepare for it, 10 the feather pillows were very dear to her. 11 , she labored alone in the cold. Finally the sky was getting 12 . She placed the last feather on the steps of the last house. Just as the sun rose, she 13 to the older woman.
“Now,” said the wise woman, “Go back and 14 your pillows with the feather you have put on the steps. 15 everything will be as it was before.”
“You know that’s impossible! The wind 16 away each feather as fast as I placed them on the doorsteps!” The young woman was surprised.
“That’s 17 ,” said the older woman. “Never forget. Each of your 18 is like a feather in the wind. Once spoken, no amount of 19 , no matter how heartfelt or sincere, can return them to your 20 . Choose your words well and, most of all, guard them in the presence of those you love.”
1. A.replied B.forgot C.laughed D.regretted
2. A.deeply B.slightly C.little D.straight
3. A.blank B.intention C.pain D.mess
4. A.lecture B.situation C.shortcomings D.position
5. A.help B.scold C.praise D.punish
6. A.feel B.resist C.remove D.find
7. A.contribute to B.focus on C.depend on D.recover from
8. A.show B.hide C.throw D.take
9. A.roof B.step C.wall D.mailbox
10. A.as though B.even though C.in case D.so long as
11. A.Worse still B.As a matter of fact C.The following day D.All night long
12. A.light B.dark C.snowy D.cloudy
13. A.appealed B.returned C.waved D.nodded
14. A.sew B.decorate C.refill D.preserve
15. A.Besides B.Or C.Instead D.Then
16. A.blew B.gave C.put D.drove
17. A.awesome B.elegant C.wonderful D.true
18. A.words B.friends C.promises D.expectations
19. A.appetite B.effort C.idea D.joke
20. A.ears B.eyes C.mouth D.face
— Can I have a look at the menu, please?
— _______, sir, just a minute.
A.If you like B.You are welcome C.It’s up to you D.Of course
Before going for an interview, it is important to ________ as much information as possible about the company.
A.take out B.bring away C.look up D.turn down