President Coolidge’s statement, “The business of America is business,” still points to a very important truth today — that business organizations have more prestige (威望) in American society than any other kind of organization, including the government. Why do business institutions still possess this great prestige?
One reason is that Americans view business as being more firmly based on the idea of competition than other organizations in society. Since competition is seen as the main source of progress and development by most Americans, competitive business organizations are respected. Competition is not only good in itself; it is the means by which other basic American values, such as individual freedom, equality of opportunity, and hard work are protected.
Competition protects the individual freedom by making sure that there is no monopoly (垄断) of power. Compared with one and all-powerful government, many businesses compete against each other for benefit. If one business tries to take unfair advantage of its customers, it will lose to the competing business which treats its customers more fairly. Since there are many businesses competing for the customers’ dollars, they cannot afford to treat them unfairly and the customers would lose nothing.A contrast is often made between business, which is competitive, and government, which is a monopoly. Because business is competitive, many Americans believe that it gives more support for freedom than government, even though government leaders are elected by the people while business leaders are not. Many Americans believe that competition is as important, or even more important, as democracy in protecting freedom.
Competition in business is also believed to strengthen the idea of equal opportunities. Competition is seen as an open and fair race where success goes to any person regardless of his or her social class background. Competitive success is commonly seen as the American choice of the higher social position which is not based on one’s family background. Business is therefore viewed as an expression of the idea of equal opportunities.
1.Which of the following is discussed as the main topic in the passage?
A．Competition in America’s business. B．Freedom in America’s business.
C．Americans’ different values. D．Business against government.
2.Americans believe that they can realize their personal values ______.
A．when given equal opportunities
B．through doing business
C．by protecting their individual freedom
D．by means of competition
3.Who can benefit from business competition?
A．Businessmen who compete.
B．Customers of those businesses.
C．People with the idea of equality and freedom.
D．Both business organizations and government.
4.It could be inferred from the passage that the author believes ______.
A．business in other countries are not as competitive as those in the USA
B．business problems are very important to the American government
C．the competition in business plays a very important role in America
D．American business is the most powerful one in the whole world
Shyness is the cause of much unhappiness for a great many people. Shy people are anxious and self-conscious; that is, they are over concerned with their own appearance and actions. Worrisome thoughts are constantly occurring in their minds: what kind of impression am I making? Do they like me? Do I sound stupid? Am I wearing unattractive clothes?
It is obvious that such uncomfortable feelings must affect people unfavorably. Adperson’s self concept is reflected in the way he or she behaves and the way a person behaves affects other people's reactions. In general, the way people think about themselves has a deep effect on all areas of their lives. Shy people ,have low self-esteem(自尊), are likely to be passive and easily influenced by others. They need reassurance（再保证，放心） that they are doing “the right thing”. Shy people are very sensitive to criticism. It makes them feel inferior(自卑).They also find it difficult to be pleased by praises because they believe they are unworthy of praise . A shy person may respond to a praise with a statement like this one:” You’re just saying that to make me feel good .I know it's not true.” It is clear that, while self-awareness is a healthy quality, overdoing it is harmful. Can shyness be completely got rid of ,or at least reduced? Fortunately, people can overcome shyness with determination. It is important for people to accept their weaknesses as well as their strengths, for example, not fair for them to label themselves inferior because they have to be realistic. Living on the impossible leads to absence of inferiority. Each one of us has his or her own characteristics. We are interested in our own personal ways. The better we understand ourselves. the easier it becomes to live up to our chances for a rich and fulfilling life.
1.The first paragraph is mainly about ________.
A．the thoughts of shy people
B．the cause of shyness
C．the effect of shyness on people
D．the questions in the minds of shy people
2.According to the wirter, self-awareness is _________.
A．harmful to people B．a weak point of shy people
C．the cause of unhappiness D．a good characteristic
3.What is the shy people's reaction to praise?
A．They are pleased by it B．They feel it is not true
C．They are very sensitive to it D．They feel they are worthy of it
4.We can learn from the passage that shyness can _________.
A．help us to live up to our full development
B．enable us to understand ourselves better
C．block our chances for a successful life
D．have nothing to do with lack of self esteem
I made a promise to myself on the way down to the vacation beach cottage. For two weeks I would try to be a loving husband and father. Totally loving. No ifs, ands or buts.
The idea had come to me as I listened to a talk on my car radio. The speaker was quoting a Biblical passage about husbands and their wives. Then he went on to say, “Love is an act of will. A person can choose to love.” To myself, I had to admit that I had been a selfish husband. Well, for two weeks that would change.
And it did. On arriving at the beach cottage, I kissed Evelyn meeting me at the door and said, “That new yellow sweater looks great on you.” “Oh, Tom, you noticed”, she said, surprised and pleased. Maybe a little puzzled. After the long drive, I wanted to sit and read. Evelyn suggested a walk on the beach. I started to refuse, but then I thought, “Evelyn’s been alone here with the kids all week and now she wants to be alone with me.” We walked on the beach while the children flew their kites.
So it went. Two weeks of not calling the Wall Street firm where I am a director; a visit to the shell museum though I usually hate museums. Relaxed and happy, that’s how the whole vacation passed. I made a new promise to keep on remembering to choose love.
There was one thing that went wrong with my experiment, however. Evelyn and I still laugh about it today. On the last night at our cottage, preparing for bed, Evelyn stared at me with the saddest expression.
“What’s the matter?” I asked her.
“Tom,” she said in a voice filled with distress, “I don’t?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well…that checkup I had several weeks ago…our doctor…did he tell you something about me? Tom, you’ve been so good to me…am I dying?”
It took a moment for it all to be understood. Then I burst out laughing.
“No, honey,” I said, wrapping her in my arms. “You’re not dying; I’m just starting to live.”
1.From the story we may infer that Tom drove to the beach cottage ______.
A．with his family B．with Evelyn C．alone D．with his children
2.During the two weeks on the beach, Tom showed more love to his wife because ______.
A．he was determined to be a good husband
B．he had made a lot of money in his Wall Street firm
C．she looked lovely in her new clothes
D．the doctor said his wife was seriously ill
3.The author says, “There was one thing that went wrong with my experiment.” What does “one thing” refer to?
A．He praised her sweater, which puzzled her.
B．She insisted on visiting a museum, which he hated.
C．He knew something about her illness but didn’t tell her.
D．He was so good to her that she thought she must be dying.
The world always makes way for the dreamer.
When I was twelve years old, my father took me to see Zig Zigler. I remember sitting in that dark hall listening to Mr. Zigler 1 everyone’s spirits up to the ceiling. I ___2___there feeling like I could do anything. When we got to the car, I turned to my father and said, “Dad, I want to 3 people feel like that.” My father asked me 4 I meant. “I want to be a motivational(激发积极性的)speaker just like Mr. Zigler,” I replied. A（An） 5 was born.
Recently, I began seeking my dream of motivating others. 6 a four-year relationship with Fortune 100 Company 7 as a sales-trainer and ending as a regional(地区的) sales manager, I left the company at the height of my 8 . Many people were 9 that I would leave after earning a six-figure income(收入). And they wondered__10 I would risk everything for a dream.
I made my 11 to start my own company and leave my worryingless position(职位)after _12__ a regional sales meeting. The vice-president of our company made a 13 that changed my life. He asked us, “If a god would offer you three wishes, what would they be?” After giving us a 14 to write down the three wishes, he then asked us, “Why do you need a 15 ?” I would never forget the power I felt at that moment. I realized that 16 I had accomplished in the past had prepared me for this moment. I was ready and didn’t need a god’s help to become a motivational speaker. A motivational speaker was 17 .
Having made that decision, I was immediately 18 ___. One week after I gave notice, my husband was laid off (下岗) from his job, and now we had no 19 . But I held fast to my dream. The wonder really began to happen. In a short time my husband found a better job. And I was able to book several 20 engagements（业务）with new customers. I discovered the unbelievable power of dreams.
1. A．rise B．do C．put D．raise
2. A．left B．came C．arrived D．reached
3. A．get B．hope C．make D．cheer
4. A．that B．what C．which D．if
5. A．dream B．idea C．girl D．speaker
6. A．After B．Before C．Because D．While
7. A．beginning B．working C．acting D．regarding
8. A．life B．love C．money D．career
9. A．disappointed B．moved C．surprised D．delighted
10. A．when B．why C．if D．how
11. A．plan B．promise C．decision D．mind
12. A．attending B．joining C．entering D．holding
13. A．newspaper B．book C．report D．speech
14. A．day B．instant C．week D．moment
15. A．love B．worker C．god D．company
16. A．everything B．anything C．nothing D．something
17. A．alive B．dead C．missing D．born
18. A．examined B．searched C．found D．tested
19. A．help B．harm C．income D．money
20. A．selling B．speaking C．writing D．listening
I think you should complain, _____, of course, you are happy with the way things are.
A．until B．although C．when D．unless
Rescuers had to _____ the search because of worsening weather conditions.
A．call off B．take off C．come off D．cut off
