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 tree. Individuals who use conventional wisdom are certain that they are right, and being fight 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（成问题的）. 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 （有线的）channel devoted 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, boom 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 consumers didn’t like its products
C. the leaders lacked the sense of security
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. watching news at the dinner hour is convenient
C. changing could contribute to business success
D. conventional wisdom influences 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. old methods are changing with time
B. opportunities lead to business success
C. successful companies need wise leaders
D. conventional wisdom limits innovation
It is named a kind of wooden Eiffel Tower, because of the fact that there was a large wooden platform far out in the lake on which stood an improbably high diving board. It was, I’m sure, the county’s tallest wooden structure and no one had ever been known to jump from it.
So it was quite a shock when our teacher, Mr. David, announced that he would dive off the high board that very afternoon.
Word of his questionable plan was already spreading through town as Mr. David swam out to the platform. He was just a tiny, stick figure when he got there but even from such a distance the high board seemed almost to touch the clouds. Once at the top, he paced the enormously long board, then took some deep breaths and finally stood at edge. He was going to do it.
Several hundred people had gathered at the shore to watch. Mr. David stood for quite a long time, then he raised his arms, took one massive bounce and launched himself into a perfect dive. It was beautiful. He fell with perfect style for what seemed minutes. The crowd fell silent. The only sound to be heard was the faint whistle of his body tearing through the air toward the water far, far below.
But about three quarters of the way down he seemed to have second thoughts and began suddenly to panic, waving his arms and legs like someone having a bad dream. When he was perhaps thirty feet above the water, he gave up on waving and spread his arms and legs wide, apparently hoping that it would somehow slow his fall.
It didn’t.
He hit the water at over six hundred miles an hour. The impact was so loud that it made birds fly out of their trees three miles away. I don’t think he entered the water at all. He just bounced off it, about fifteen feet back into the air. After that, he lay still on the surface, spinning like an autumn leaf.
He was brought to shore by two passing fishermen in a rowboat and placed on an old blanket where he spent the rest of the afternoon. Occasionally he accepted small sips of water, but otherwise was too shocked to speak. From head to toe, he was covered with deep red bruises.
…
It was the best day of my life.
1.How did the writer find Mr. David’s plan to jump from the diving board?
A. Heroic. B. Disappointing.
C. Crazy. D. Confused.
2.In Paragraph 3, Mr David is described as “a tiny, stick figure” because he was ________.
A. very far away B. very small and thin
C. tired after swimming D. sure to be broken
3.Why did Mr. David suddenly start swinging his arms and legs during the dive?
A. He thought it was the best way to slow his fall.
B. He wanted to show his courage.
C. He was signalling the crowd for help.
D. He lost his confidence and started to panic,
4.Which of the following sentences from the passage is an example of a fact?
A. He hit the water at over six hundred miles an hour.
B. He was brought to shore by two passing fishermen in a rowboat.
C. He just bounced off it, about fifteen feet back into the air.
D. The impact was so loud that it made birds fly out of trees up to three miles away.
A Guide
To use or protect all kinds of facilities in the library, follow the procedures given at the circulation desk.
Group Study Rooms（2F）
Students and teaching staff can use these rooms for group study. Students are advised to use unlocked rooms（4 rooms for 2 people, 3 rooms for 4 people） available for free. When you use locked rooms（2 rooms for 4 people, 2 rooms for 10 people）, you need to go through reservation procedures at the circulation desk. These rooms are available for group discussion.
Individual Reading Rooms（1-3F）
There are 4 single rooms available for use by teaching staff and visiting scholars. Each room is equipped with a computer together 1 printer and 6 scanners. Reservation of these rooms is available for a period up to seven days on end.
Meeting Rooms and Seminar Rooms（1-3F）
Only teaching staff and graduate students can apply to use these rooms and reserve them one day in advance. The total number of seats is 40. They are available for workshops and small seminars.
Computer Rooms（4F）
These rooms are available for classes or seminars and so on. The total number of seats is 88. Only teaching staff can apply to use the computer rooms and reserve them one day in advance.
1.How many locked rooms can students and teaching staff use?
A. Two B. Three C. Four D. Seven
2.If teachers want to print, they can go to ________.
A. an individual reading room B. a computer room
C. a group study room D. a seminar room
3.Who can apply to use the computer rooms?
A. Visiting scholars B. Teachers
C. Graduate students D. Teachers and students
阅读下面短文， 根据其内容写一篇60字左右的内容概要。
Over the past few years, there has been a big increase in the number of people sharing information online. In this article, we will learn about some positive reasons for people to share information online.
94% of those surveyed by The New York Times said they put a lot of thought into how the content they are sharing will be beneficial to others. We often share information with our friends in the office or at home to educate, entertain, or pleasantly surprise them. This is also true while sharing information online. If you look at the Facebook wall posts of your friends, you will realize that most of their updates are usually famous quotes(引述), entertaining videos, humorous images, funny jokes, etc.
A lot of people share information online to picture their true self to the outside world. Some people, especially those who are shy and not comfortable talking about their areas of interest in the presence of others, find it extremely convenient to share that information online with others.
According to the study, 78% of the people said they shared information online because it helps them develop better relationships. Today, people are so busy that they do not have the time to meet each other personally. A lot of people now “meet” each other online, rather than in places like restaurants and pubs.
Lastly, when we share our thoughts online, we are actively communicating with a large number of people who are a part of the World Wide Web. Sharing information will affect the viewpoint of others, or add to their understanding about the world.
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应用文写作
为了丰富校园生活，你校学生会将举办歌唱比赛，请根据以下信息用英语写一篇广播稿。
1. 参加对象：全体高一学生
2. 比赛要求：表演限时3分钟，自带伴奏录音（Karaoke）或乐器
3. 比赛时间：5月22日 下午2点
4. 比赛地点：学校礼堂（auditorium）
注意：1. 词数80左右（开头和结尾已给出，但不计入总词数）
2. 可以适当增加细节， 以使行文连贯。
Boys and girls,
Attention please!
In order to enrich our school life, the students’ union______________________________
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Wish you success!
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
Many animals have disappeared during the long history of the earth. Finless Porpoise (江豚) is one of these endangered 1._________ that are dying out. As a student, I am asking you to pay attention 2._________ the situation of Finless Porpoises. Finless porpoises in the Yangtze River are in danger of becoming extinct because they are seriously 3._________ (affect) by human activities. To our disappointment, only about 1,000 are still living at present. We sincerely hope that WWF can play a role in4.________ (protect) this endangered species. Firstly, we find 5._________ important to get sponsorship(赞助). If the government pays the farmers, they will allow tourists hunt only6.________ certain number of animals. But more importantly, we need information from experts in WWF to help us better understand the animal. In that case, we can take 7._________ (good) care of them than before. And prizes will be given to the organizations 8._________ can protect them well. What’s more, more workers should9._________ (employ) to help us. 10.________the task is challenging, we are confident that we will succeed sooner or later.
