Conventional wisdom is a major barrier to innovation(创新) that threatens the survival of companies everywhere. It’s based on the assumption that old ideas will always work, so they shouldn’t be challenged. While this may be a valid assumption in situations that don’t change, it’s unlikely to hold true in a changing situation. In today’s rapid changing global environment, old methods often don't work, and stubbornly using them can lead to major problems.
Most people seem to agree with conventional wisdom because it gives one a false sense of security. If everyone else believes it, then it must be true. Individuals who use conventional wisdom are certain that they are right, and being right is good. They want to continue using old ideas rather than take risks with changes that might not work. In 1977, Ken Olsen, co-founder and CEO of Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), stated “There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in his home.” Despite being a dominant leader in the computer industry, DEC no longer exists.
People seem to forget that since innovation is a change, there can be no innovation without change. Unfortunately, conventional wisdom prevents leaders, followers and companies from changing and therefore innovating. If companies don’t innovate, but their competitors do, the future is likely to be problematic. Breaking from conventional wisdom has led to many of the most innovative companies and products in history across many industries, so it has a powerful effect on business success.
Ted Turner (founder of CNN) knew little, if anything, about the news business, but he knew it was inconvenient to watch news only at the dinner hour, as was common before CNN. Turner’s solution was to create a cable channel dedicated to news 24 hours a day. The news establishment reflected conventional wisdom at the time, and predicted his idea would fail because no one wanted to watch the news all day. However, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that viewers don’t have to watch the news all day for the CNN to work. Viewers just have to watch when they want to get information. Due to conventional thinking, the critics failed to recognize the opportunity that was clear to Ted. They assumed that only what was familiar to them could work in the future.
Conventional wisdom prevents creativity, flexibility and risk-taking, so unconventional leaders enthusiastically break from it. To survive, thrive and maintain competitive advantage, companies must be flexible when reacting to change.
1.DEC has disappeared probably because ___________.
A. the CEO stuck to the conventional ideas
B. the leaders lacked the sense of security
C. the consumers didn’t like its products
D. the employees took many risks with changes
2. The founding of CNN is used as an example to prove _________.
A. missing opportunities could lead to failure
B. conventional wisdom influences business success
C. watching news at the dinner hour is convenient
D. changing could contribute to business success
3. What does the underlined part probably mean?
A. Rocket scientists can ensure the CNN works properly.
B. It’s easy to know people needn’t watch the news all the time
C. It’s necessary to understand when people watch the news.
D. Most of the viewers don’t like to watch the news at work.
4.The passage is mainly written to tell us that ______.
A. conventional wisdom limits innovation
B. opportunities lead to business success
C. old methods are changing with time
D. successful companies need wise leaders
Does happiness have a scent?
When someone is happy, can you smell it?
You can usually tell when someone is happy based on seeing them smile, hearing them laugh or perhaps from receiving a big hug. But can you also smell their happiness? Surprising new research suggests that happiness does indeed have a scent, and that the experience of happiness can be transmitted through smell, reports Phys.org.
For the study, 12 young men were shown videos meant to bring about a variety of emotions while researchers gathered sweat samples from them. All of the men were healthy and none of them were drug users or smokers, and all were asked to abstain from drinking or eating smelly foods during the study period.
Those sweat samples were then given to 36 equally healthy young women to smell, while researchers monitored their reactions. Only women were selected to smell the samples, apparently because previous research has shown that women have a better sense of smell than men and are also more sensitive to emotional signaling—though it's unclear why only men were chosen to produce the scents.
Researchers found that the behavior of the women after smelling the scents—particularly their facial expressions—indicated a relationship between the emotional states of the men who produced the sweat and the women who sniffed them.
“Human sweat produced when a person is happy brings about a state similar to happiness in somebody who breathes this smell,” said study co-author Gun Semin, a professor at Koc University in Turkey.
This is a fascinating finding because it not only means that happiness does have a scent, but that the scent is capable of transmitting the emotion to others. The study also found that other emotions, such as fear, seem to carry a scent too. This ensures previous research suggesting that some negative emotions have a smell, but it is the first time this has proved to be true of positive feelings.
Researchers have yet to isolate(分离) exactly what the chemical compound for the happiness smell is, but you might imagine what the potential applications for such a finding could be. Happiness perfumes, for instance, could be invented. Scent therapies（香味疗法）could also be developed to help people through depression or anxiety.
Perhaps the most surprising result of the study, however, is our broadened understanding of how emotions get communicated, and also how our own emotions are potentially managed through our social context and the emotional states of those around us.
1.What is the main finding of the new research?
A. Pleasant feelings can be smelt out.
B. Negative emotions have a smell.
C. Men produce more sweats.
D. Women have a better sense of smell.
2.The underlined part “abstain from” in Paragraph 3 probably means _________.
A. continue B. practice C. avoid D. try
3.What is the application value of the new research?
A. Perfumes could help people understand each other.
B. Some smells could be created to improve our appearance.
C. Perfumes could be produced to cure physical diseases.
D. Some smells could be developed to better our mood.
4.We can learn from the last paragraph that .
A. happiness comes from a scent of sweat
B. social surroundings can influence our emotions
C. people need more emotional communication
D. positive energy can deepen understanding
City College Union Inc
Secretary/Typist
The Union is a student-run organization with a permanent staff of 20.Typing speed:at least 60 wpm.
The ability to take shorthand dictation and a working knowledge of filling procedures are essential requirements.
The basic salary for the position is $ 18,500 per year.
Enquires to R.Barbar 387-5075.
Emu Airline
Secretary
Emu Airline is now offering a part-time position for a secretary.
The position offers at least 20 hours’ work a week, with a view to full-time work in the future. Monthly salary is about $ 1,400.
Phone 899-3264 for an appointment.
Word Processor
Operator (full-time)
We need an operator to work in an office associated with the building industry.Only experienced operators are expected to apply.
Starting salary:$ 17,950 yearly.
Apply in writing to:
The Personnel Officer Hill Morgan Pty Ltd 38 Green Hill Rd.Kensington 2033.
Sewing Machinist Wanted
Jeans Industry
We are an expanding clothing company located south of the city.Our products include jeans,skirts,shorts and so on.We are looking for sewing machine operators.
The factory works a 38-hour week over 4-5 days.Wages for this are $ 18,050 per year.Wages and conditions are in line with the current industrial award.
If you are interested, come over and pick up an application form from Ripper Jeans,23 North Ave,Beaudesert.
1.What do these four advertisements have in common?
A. Each of them is commented by their manager.
B. They are located in the south of the same city.
C. Their companies are introduced in detail.
D. They all want people in the proper position.
2.The applicants for the post of a secretary in City College Union Inc should have the following qualities except .
A. ability of organization
B. knowledge about filling the form
C. typing skill
D. writing rapidly
3.The attractiveness of the post in Emu Airline is .
A. its promising future
B. its free flying
C. its good salary
D. its nice working conditions
4.If you want to be a sewing machine operator, you may contact this company by .
A. visit B. fax C. phone D. Email
假如你是红星中学高三1 班的李华。请按以下四幅图的顺序，给你校“英语园地”投稿，介绍上学期你们班参加学校组织的“2015，中国”的主题板报的比赛过程。
注意： 1.词数不少于60；
2.开头已给出，不计入总词数。
3.提示词：阅兵式military parade
Last term, our school held a blackboard newspaper contest on
“Unforgettable 2015 in China”._____________________________________
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书面表达
美国友好校学生来你校参加为期一周的艺术交流活动，你负责接待并致辞。
发言内容包括：
1.表示欢迎；
2.简要介绍学校的某艺术社团的基本情况（例如：合唱团、戏剧社、舞蹈队、书画社等）；
3.表示美好祝愿。
注意：1.词数不少于50；
2.开头已给出，不计入总词数。
Dear friends,
_______________________________________________________________________________
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根据短文内容，从短文后的七个选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
What Is Emotional Eating?
Emotional eating is when people use food as a way to deal with feelings instead of satisfying hunger. __1.__ Have you ever finished a whole bag of chips out of boredom or downed cookie after cookie while preparing for a big test? But when done a lot — especially without realizing it — emotional eating can affect weight, health, and overall well-being.
Not many of us make the connection between eating and our feelings.
__2. One of the biggest myths about emotional eating is that it’s caused by negative feelings. Yes, people often turn to food when they’re stressed out, lonely, sad, anxious, or bored. But emotional eating can be linked to positive feelings too, like the romance of sharing dessert on Valentine’s Day or the celebration of a holiday feast. Sometimes emotional eating is tied to major life events, like a death or a divorce. _3._
Emotional eating patterns can be learned: A child who is given candy after a big achievement may grow up using candy as a reward for a job well done. _4.__ It’s not easy to “unlearn” patterns of emotional eating. But it is possible. And it starts with an awareness of what’s going on.
We’re all emotional eaters to a degree. But for some people emotional eating can be a real problem, causing serious weight gain or other problems. The trouble with emotional eating is that once the pleasure of eating is gone, the feelings that cause it remain. __5.__ That’s why it helps to know the difference between physical hunger and emotional hunger.
Next time you reach for a snack, wait and think about which type of hunger
is driving it.
A. Believe it or not, we’ve all been there.
B. If a crying boy gets some cookies, he may link cookies with comfort.
C. One study found that people who eat food like pizza become happy afterwards.
D. And you often may feel worse about eating the amount or type of food you like.
E. Understanding what drives emotional eating can help people take steps to change it.
F. Boys seem to prefer hot, homemade comfort meals, while girls go for chocolate and ice cream.
G. More often, though, it’s the countless little daily stresses that cause someone to seek comfort in food.
