People are being lured (引诱)onto Facebook with the promise of a fun, free service without realizing they’re paying for it by giving up large amounts of personal information. Facebook then attempts to make money by selling their data to advertisers that want to send targeted messages.
Most Facebook users don’t realize this is happening. Even if they know what the company is up to, they still have no idea what they’re paying for Facebook because people don’t really know what their personal data is worth.
The biggest problem, however, is that the company keeps changing the rules. Early on, you keep everything private. That was the great thing about facebook—you could create your own little private network. Last year, the company changed its privacy rules so that many things— your city, your photo, your friends' names—were set, by default (默认)to be shared with everyone on the Internet.
According to Facebook’s vice-president Elliot Schrage, the company is simply making changes to improve its service, and if people don’t share information, they have a “less satisfying experience”.
Some critics think this is more about Facebook looking to make more money. Its original business model， which involved selling ads and putting them at the side of the page， totally failed. Who wants to look at ads when they’re online connecting with their friends?
The privacy issue has already landed Facebook in hot water in Washington. In April. Senator Charles Schumer called on Facebook to change its privacy policy. He also urged the Federal Trade Commission to set guidelines for social-networking sites.“I think the senator rightly communicated that we had not been clear about what the new products were and how people could choose to use them or not to use them,” Schrage admits.
I suspect that whatever Facebook has done so far to invade our privacy, it’s only the beginning, which is why I’m considering deactivating(撤销)my account. Facebook is a handy site, but I’m upset by the idea that my information is in the hands of people I don’t know. That’s too high a price to pay.
1.What do we learn about Facebook from the first paragraph?
A．It is a website that sends messages to targeted users.
B．It makes money by putting on advertisements.
C．It profits by selling its users’ personal data.
D．It provides loads of information to its users.
2.What does the author say about most Facebook users?
A．They are reluctant to give up their personal information.
B．They don’t know their personal data enriches Facebook.
C．They don’t identify themselves when using the website.
D．They care very little about their personal information.
3.Why does Senator Charles Schumer propose?
A．Setting guidelines for advertising on websites.
B．Banning the sharing of users’ personal information.
C．Working out regulations for social-networking sites.
D．Removing ads from all social-networking sites.
4.Why does the author plan to cancel his Facebook account?
A．He is dissatisfied with its current service.
B．He finds many of its users untrustworthy.
C．He doesn’t want his personal data to be used in a wrong way.
D．He is upset by its frequent rule changes.
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HOW TO BOOK
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Stating the performance and choice of seats ,enclosing（附寄）a cheque , postal order ,or your credit card details to The Palace Theatre Ticket Centre , Oxford Street , Manchester , Ml 6FT . Please enclose a stamped addressed envelope. |
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By getting together as a group of 10 or more you can save money on tickets for your favourite shows. Group bookers benefit from a direct free telephone booking line, and don’t pay booking fees .Invitations to parties and book-now-pay-later programmes are all part of our great service to group bookers. Join the hundreds of people already taking advantage of our group booking. Call 0800 587 5007 to talk to one of our group booking assistants about your group visit to the Palace Theatre or Opera House. For further information please call 0161 245 6609. |
1.If you want to join Live Card to save money on tickets, you can call________.
A．0844 847 2484 B．0800 587 5007
C．0844 499 6699 D．0161 245 6609
2.How can you pay for a ticket when you book by post?
A．By visiting the website of a post office.
B．By going to your local bank in person.
C．By enclosing your Live Card in an envelope.
D．By providing your credit card information.
3.What benefit can group bookers enjoy according to the text?
A．Delayed payment for tickets. B．Invitations to opening nights.
C．Reduced booking fees by phone D．Generous discounts on tickets.
Anne Whitney, a sophomore (大学二年级学生) at Colorado State University, first had a problem taking tests when she began college. "I was always well prepared for my tests. Sometimes I studied for weeks before a test. Yet I would go in to take the test, only to find I could not answer the questions correctly. I would blank out because of nervousness and fear. I couldn't think of the answer. My low grades on the tests did not show what I knew to the teacher. “Another student in biology had similar experiences. He said, "My first chemistry test was very difficult. Then, on the second test, I sat down to take it, and I was so nervous that I was shaking. My hands were moving up and down so quickly that it was hard to hold my pencil. I knew the material and I knew the answers. Yet I couldn't even write them down!"
These two young students were experiencing something called test anxiety. Because a student worries and is uneasy about a test, his or her mind does not work as well as it usually does. The student cannot write or think clearly because of the extreme tension and nervousness. Contrary to people’s common belief that poor grades are often a result of poor study habits, sometimes test anxiety plays a role in students’ achieving low grades. Recently, test anxiety has been recognized as a real problem, not just an excuse or a false explanation of lazy students.
Special university advising courses try to help students. In these courses, advisors try to help students by teaching them how to manage test anxiety. At some universities, students take tests to measure their anxiety. If the tests show their anxiety is high, the students can take short courses to help them deal with their tensions. These courses teach students how to relax their bodies. Students are trained to become calm in very tense situations. By controlling their nervousness, they can let their minds work at ease. Learned information then comes out without difficulty on a test.
An expert at the University of California explains, " With almost all students, relaxation and less stress are felt after taking our program. Most of them experience better control during their tests. Almost all have some improvement. With some, the improvement is very great. "
1.To "blank out" is probably______.
A．to be like a blanket B．to be sure of an answer
C．to be unable to think clearly D．to show knowledge to the teacher
2.Poor grades are usually believed to be the result of______.
A．poor sleeping habit B．laziness
C．test anxiety D．inability to form good study habits
3.Test anxiety has been recognized as______.
A．an excuse for laziness B．the result of poor study habits
C．a real problem D．something that cannot be changed
4.A University of California advisor said______.
A．all students could overcome the anxiety after taking a special test anxiety program
B．almost all students felt less stress after taking a University of California advising course
C．students found it difficult to improve even though they had taken a special test anxiety course
D．students found it easy to relax as soon as they entered a University of California advising course
Because conflict and disagreements are part of all close relationships, couples need to learn strategies for managing conflict in a healthy and constructive way. Some couples just__50__ and deny the presence of any conflict in a relationship. __51__ ,denying the existence of conflict results in couples _52___ to solve their problems at early__53__ ,which can then lead to even greater problems later on .Not surprisingly, expressing anger and disagreement leads to lower marital (婚姻的)satisfaction at the beginning. However, this pattern of behavior _54___ increases in marital satisfaction over time. Research suggests that working through conflicts is an important predictor of marital satisfaction.
So, what can you do to manage conflict in your own relationships? First, try to understand the other person’s point of view__55__ put yourself in his of her place. People who are _56___ to what their partner thinks and feels _57___ greater relationship satisfaction. For example, researchers found that among people in dating relationships 58____ marriages, those who can adopt their partner’s perspective show more positive emotions, more relationship-enhancing attributes and more constructive responses _59___ conflict.
Second, because conflict and disagreements are an __60__ part of close relationships，people need to be able to apologize to their partner for wrongdoing and __61__ forgiveness from their partners for their own acts. Apologies minimize conflict, lead to forgiveness, and serve to restore relationship closeness. In line with this view, spouses（配偶） who are more forgiving show higher mental quality over time. Increasingly, apologizing can even have _62___ health benefits. For example, when people reflect on hurtful __63__ and grudges(怨恨)，they show negative physiological(生理的) effects, including __64__ heart rate and blood pressure, compared to when they reflect on sympathetic perspective-taking and forgiving.
1. A．resolve B．regret C．abandon D．avoid
2. A．Besides B．Therefore C．Moreover D．However
3. A．trying B．declining C．failing D．striving
4. A．ages B．years C．stages D．intervals
5. A．prescribes B．protests C．proves D．predicts
6. A．so B．while C．but D．and
7. A．sensitive B．superior C．exclusive D．efficient
8. A．expose B．experience C．explore D．exploit
9. A．as long as B．as far as C．as well as D．as soon as
10. A．to B．against C．at D．toward
11. A．absolute B．inevitable C．essential D．obvious
12. A．require B．inquire C．receive D．achieve
13. A．creative B．positive C．objective D．competitive
14. A．prospects B．concepts C．memories D．outlooks
15. A．added B．toughened C．strengthened D．increased
A. stable B. solutions C. considerable D. role E. included
F. task G. compose H. impact I. challenges J. certainly
With the world's population growing from six to nine billion by 2050, researchers, businesses and governments are already dealing with the ___1.___ this increase will have on everything from food and water to infrastructure (基础设施) and jobs. The demand for energy will keep growing, and is expected to double over the next 40 years.
Finding the resources to meet this demand in a ___2.___, sustainable way is the basis of our nation's energy security, and will be one of the major ___3.___of the 21st century. Alternative forms of energy- bio-fuels, wind and solar are ___4.____ being funded and developed, and will play a growing___5.___ in the world's energy supply. But experts say that even when combined, alternative energy sources will likely meet only about 30% of the world's energy needs by 2050.
For example, even with ___6.___ investments, such as the $93 million for wind energy development ___7.___ in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, important alternative energy sources such as wind and bio-fuels __8.___ only about 1% of the market today.
Energy and sustainability experts say the answer to our future energy needs will likely come from a lot of ___9.___ both traditional and alternative.
It was announced that only when the fire was under control_______to return to their homes.
A．the residents would be permitted B．had the residents been permitted
C．would the residents be permitted D．the residents had been permitted
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