Question

A is for always getting to work on time.

B is for being extremely busy.

C is for the conscientious（勤勤恳恳的） way you do your job.

You may be all these things at the office, and more. But when it comes to getting ahead, experts say, the ABCs of business should include a P, for politics, as in office politics.

Dale Carnegie suggested as much more than 50 years ago: Hard work alone doesn’t ensure career advancement. You have to be able to sell yourself and your ideas, both publicly and behind the scenes. Yet, despite the obvious rewards of engaging in office politics—a better job, a raise, praise—many people are still unable or unwilling—to “play the game”.

“People assume that office politics involves some manipulative（工于心计的） behavior,” says Deborah Comer, an assistant professor of management at Hofstra University, “But politics derives from the word ‘polite’. It can mean lobbying（游说）and forming associations. It can mean being kind and helpful, or even trying to please your superior, and then expecting something in return.”

In fact, today, experts define office politics as proper behaviors used to pursue one’s own self-interest in the workplace. In many cases, this involves some forms of socializing within the office environment—not just in large companies, but in small workplaces as well.

“The first thing people are usually judged on is their ability to perform well on a consistent basis,” says Neil P.Lewis, a management psychologist. “But if two or three candidates are up for a promotion, each of whom has reasonably similar ability, a manager is going to promote the person he or she likes best. It’ s simple human nature.”

Yet, psychologists say, many employees and employers have trouble with the concept of politics in the office. Some people, they say, have an idealistic vision of work and what it takes to succeed. Still others associate politics with flattery(奉承), fearful that, if they speak up for themselves, they may appear to be flattering their boss for favors.

Experts suggest altering（改变） this negative picture by recognizing the need for some self-promotion.

1.“Office politics” （Line 2,Para.4） is used in the passage to refer to____.

 A. the political views and beliefs of office workers

 B. the interpersonal relationships within a company

 C. the various qualities required for a successful career

D. the code of behavior for company staff

2.Why are many people unwilling to "play the game" (Line 4, Para. 5) ?

A. They believe that doing so is impractical.

B. They feel that such behavior is unprincipled(不道德的). 

C. They are not good at manipulating colleagues. 

D. They think the effort will get them nowhere.

3.To get promoted, one must not only be competent but____.

A. avoid being too outstanding

B. get along well with his colleagues

C. honest and loyal to his company

D. give his boss a good impression

4.It is the author’ s view that____.

 A. self-promotion does not necessarily mean flattery

 B. hard work contributes very little to one’ s promotion

 C. many employees fail to recognize the need of flattery

 D. speaking up for oneself is part of human nature

Answer

1.B

2.B

3.D

4.A

【解析】

试题分析：一个人想要出人头地仅仅靠准时上班、勤奋工作、忙忙碌碌是不够的，人们还要学会推销自己。在文中作者提出了“office politics”，即在办公环境中要对别人友善、乐于助人、获得别人的喜欢，尤其是上司的青睐，当然这不同与阿谀奉承，溜须拍马。

1.B推理判断题。根据专家给的定义experts define office politics as proper behaviors used to pursue one’s own self-interest in the workplace. In many cases, this involves some forms of socializing within the office environment可知“office politics”办公室政治是指一种人际关系。所以B选项正确。

2.B推理判断题。从文可知“play the game”指的是offcie politics。再由文中“People assume that office politics involves some manipulative（工于心计的） behavior,”；others associate politics with flattery(奉承),可知人们对“office politics”存在错误的理解，认为offcie politics和阿谀奉承一样，所以B选项正确。

3.D推理判断题。从文章倒数第三段作者举得例子“But if two or three candidates are up for a promotion, each of whom has reasonably similar ability, a manager is going to promote the person he or she likes best.可以推断给上司留下好的印象也是得以提升的关键，所以D选项正确。

4.A推理判断题。文章开头作者提出话题即作者的观点But when it comes to getting ahead, experts say, the ABCs of business should include a P, for politics, as in office politics.所以正确选项是A。

考点：考查社会生活类短文阅读。