“Heaven is where the police are English,the cooks are French the mechanics are German,the lovers are Italian and everything is organized by the Swiss.Hell is where the.police are German,the cooks are English,the mechanics are French,the lovers are Swiss,and everything is organized by the Italians.”
Obviously the national stereotypes（模式化的思想）in this,old joke are generalizations,but such stereotypes are often said to "exist for a reason".Is there actually a sliver of truth in them?Not likely,an international research team now says.
"National and cultural stereotypes do play an important role in how people see themselves and others,and being aware that these are not dependable is a useful thing,"said study author Robert McCrae of the National Institute on Aging."These are in fact unfounded stereotypes.They don't come from looking around you,"McCrae said.
If national stereotypes aren't rooted in real experiences,then where do they come from?One possibility is that they reflect national values,which may become known from historical events.For example,many historians have argued that the spirit of American individualism has its origins in the experiences of the pioneers on the Old West.
Social scientists such as psychologist Richard Robins have given several other possible explanations for stereotypes and why they may be incorrect.Robins notes that some stereotypes may have been correct at one point in history and then remained unchanged while the culture changed.
We may be "hard-wired",to some degree,to keep incorrect stereotypes,since we are less likely to notice and remember information that is different from our stereotypes.Generally,according to Robins,when we meet people who are different from our stereotypes,we see them as unique individuals rather than typical national or cultural groups.
1.What is the function of the first paragraph?
A. To introduce the topic of national stereotypes.
B. To make a comparison between the characters of different countries.
C. To exemplify the argument against stereotyping.
D. To analyze the strengths and weaknesses of people in different countries.
2.Which of the following best describes McCrae's attitude towards national stereotypes?
A. Supportive. B. Indifferent.
C. Critical. D. Uncertain.
3.According to social scientists,why aren’t national stereotypes always correct?
A. Because they are formed by individual historians.
B. Because people tend to have false idea about other cultures.
C. Because generalizations are made through personal experience.
D. Because what was true in the past may not be true at present.
4.What does the underlined word "hard-wired" in the last paragraph probably mean?
A. Forgetful. B. Fixed.
C. Anxious. D. Helpless.
When it's five o'clock,people leave their office.The length of the workday,for many workers,is defined by time. They leave when the clock tells them they're done.
These days,the time is everywhere: not just on clocks or watches,but on cell-phones and computers.That may be a bad thing,particularly at work.New research shows on that clock-based work schedules hinder morale and creativity.
Clock-timers organize their day by blocks of minutes and hours.For example: a meeting from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., research from 10 a.m.to noon,etc.On the other hand,task-timers have a list of things they want to accomplish.They work down the list,each task starts when the previous task is completed.It is said that all of us employ a mix of both these types of planning.
What,then,are the effects of thinking about time in these different ways? Does one make us more productive? Better at the tasks at hand? Happier? In experiments conducted by Tamar Avnet and Anne-Laure Sellier,they had participints organize different activities-from project planning,holiday shopping,to yoga-by time or to-do list to measure how they performed under "clock time" vs "task time".They found clock timers to be more efficient but less happy because they felt little control over their lives.Task timers are happier and more creative,but less productive. They tend to enjoy the moment when something good is happening,and seize opportunities that come up.
The researchers argue that task-based organizing tends to be undervalued and under-supported in the business culture.Smart companies,they believe,will try to bake more task-based planning into their strategies.
This might be a small change to the way we view work and the office,but the researchers argue that it challenges a widespread characteristic of the economy: work organized by clock time.While most people will still probably need,and be,to some extent,clock-timers,task-based timing should be used when performing a job that requires more creativity.It'll make those tasks easier,and the task-doers will be happier.
1.What does the author think of time displayed everywhere?
A. It makes everybody aware of time.
B. It is a convenience for work and life.
C. It may have a negative effect on creative work.
D. It clearly indicates the fast pace of modern life.
2.What did Tamar Avnet and Anne-Laure Sellier find in their experiments about clock-timers ?
A. They seize opportunities as they come up.
B. They always get their work done in time.
C. They have more control over their lives.
D. They tend to be more productive.
3.What do the researchers say about today's business culture?
A. It does not support the strategies adopted by smart companies.
B. It does not attach enough importance to task-based practice.
C. It places more emphasis on work efficiency than on workers’ lives.
D. It aims to bring employees' potential and creativity into full play.
4.What do the researchers suggest?
A. Task-based timing is preferred for doing creative work.
B. It is important to keep a balance between work and life.
C. Performing creative jobs tends to make workers happier.
D. A scientific standard should be adopted in job evaluation.
Big messaging apps abroad
While WeChat is China's biggest mobile messaging app,there are many equivalent apps in other countries that offer similar features.
WhatsApp (US)
Users: more than 300 million
Platforms: Android,iOS,Windows Phone,BlackBerry
Features: Text chat,push-to-talk,file sharing,location sharing
With more than 300 million active users,WhatsApp is one of WeChat's biggest competitors.Developed by two ex-Yahoo employees in 2009,WhatsApp originally focused on text chat,but on Aug.6 it also started push-to-talk service.It's noted for its accessibility,ease of use and the absence of adverts.The service is free for the first year,after which $0.99 (6.06 yuan) is charged for a one-year subscription.
Kakao Talk (South Korea)
Users: more than 100 million
Platforms: Android,iOS,Windows Phone,BlackBerry and Bada (an operating system developed by Samsung)
Features: Text chat,group chat,push-to-talk,group calls,file sharing
With more than 100 million users in more than 230 countries,Kakao Talk is a multi-platform texting applicbtion that allows users to send and receive messages for free.With Kakao Talk,users can message each other one-on-one or in group chats with unlimited numbers of friends.You can also choose from more than 250 animated emoticons and share them with friends.
Line (Japan)
Users: more than 200 million
Platforms: Android,iOS,Windows Phone,BlackBerry and PC
Features: Text chat,group chat,push-to-talk,file sharing,location sharing,gaming,stickers
Line tops the list of the most downloaded free apps in 52 countries.Apart from text and voice messaging,Line provides its users with more than 250 original stickers and emoticons to buy from its own shop.In the first quarter of 2013 alone,it made $17 million just from stickers.The popular app also allows friends to battle each other in the LINE Game.
1.Compared with the other two apps,which of the following features makes Line stand out?
A. Group mobile games. B. Free emoticons.
C. Free download of the app. D. Text and group chat.
2.Which of the statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Users can always send and receive messages for free with WhatsApp.
B. Users can share files with any of the three apps.
C. Kakao Talk frees users from unwanted advertisjments.
D. Line ranks first in the list of the most downloaded apps in 52 countries.
3.In which part of the newspaper may this article be found?
A. Advertisement. B. Economy and Finance.
C. Entertainment. D. Science and Technology.
We are what we eat because what we eat every day has 1.great impact on our health. Therefore, we should make every effort to change our bad eating habits. 2.we all know, baked or fried foods may be 3.（taste）, but eating too much of them will4.（probable）result in some illnesses. Moreover, some food that costs us a great deal of money and is not healthy is junk food.
5.(compare) with people in the West, Chinese people used to eat more grain and vegetables, but 6.(little) meat, which is a good eating habit. However, things are quite different now. With the rapid economic 7.(grow) of our country, we are now also eating a lot of food that is high in sugar and fat. We 8.(run) the risk of eating out without 9.(consider) the balance of our diet .The food we choose affects our health, so we suggest that the food we choose 10.give us the nutrients we need.
All languages change over time, but some change at a faster rate than others. 1. The most important factors are the number of people who speak a language, where they live and whether they move around, the importance of the language for world trade and communication, and changes in technology.
2. However, today English is the most widely used language in the world. English is spoken by about 350 million people as a first language in countries such as Great Britain, the United States. In addition, about a billion more people speak English as a second language.
English started to take over French as an international language during the period of British colonialism (殖民主义) when the English ruled many countries in Africa and Asia. 3. The colonial period came to an end at the same time that several other changes occurred. For example, the U.S. started to play a greater part in global affairs and the international economy. 
New means of communication technology such as television and the Internet spread English worldwide. 4. In addition, they could use the Internet for information, business, or e-mail communication, all in English. Just as the use of English spread, other languages changed English by contact or by new inventions and technology.
In contrast, Icelandic is a language that has changed very slowly. Icelandic speakers today can understand poetry written in a slightly different dialect over 1,000 years ago! Why has Icelandic changed so slowly? The main reason is the isolated (孤立的) location of the island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. 5. Compared to England, Iceland had no history of colonialism. Iceland’s small population has not played a major role in international trade or communication. Today, most Icelanders speak English in addition to their native language. With outside influences, Icelandic is changing more rapidly now.
A. People everywhere could watch the news or sports events in English.
B. These changes have a great influence on the development of society.
C. Isolation meant that for hundreds of years, Icelanders had little contact with speakers of other languages.
D. What are some of the factors that influence how quickly a language changes?
E. The language communication brings about the communication of technology.
F. In the past, other languages such as Latin or French were more important than English.
G. English was the primary means of communication in these colonies.
It is good to get in touch with your inner child from time to time，and obviously some people are willing to pay big money for the chance to do so in a proper environment．A Brooklyn-based adult preschool is charging customers between $333 and $999 for the chance to act like a kid again．
At Preschool Mastermind in New York adults get to participate in show—and—tell，arts—and—crafts such as finger paint，games like musical chairs and even take naps．The month-long course also has class picture day where the adults are expected to have a field trip and a parent day．
30-year-old Michelle Joni Lapidos，the brain behind the adult preschool，studied childhood education and has always wanted to be a preschool teacher．She’s always on the lookout for new ways to get people in touch with the freedom of childhood．A friend encouraged her to start the mastermind course instead．
According to Candice，her blogger friend，Preschool Mastermind gives adults a chance to relearn and master the things that they failed to understand as children．“I realized all the significances of what we learn in preschool，”said founder Michelle Joni，“People come here and get in touch with their inner child．It’s magical．We are bringing ourselves back to another place，another time with ourselves when we are more believing in ourselves，more confident and ready to take on the world.”
“One person’s here because they want to learn not to be so serious．”Michelle said．“Another's here to learn to be more confident.” She explained that most of the classes were planned．However，Joni added that while the planned activities were fun，it was often the spontaneous(自发的)moments that attracted students．“It’s the things you don’t plan for，the sharing between friends and learning from each other.’’
1.What is the purpose of Preschool Mastermind?
A. To give adults a chance to return to childhood．
B. To help parents understand their children better．
C. To provide practical training courses for teachers．
D. To introduce some ways of playing with children．
2.What is mainly discussed about Preschool Mastermind in Paragraph 2 ?
A. Its customers． B. Its activities．
C. Its environment． D. Its schedule.
3.According to Candice，people come to this program to________.
A. enjoy freedom of thinking B. realize their childhood dreams
C. discover their inner abilities D. figure out childhood puzzles
4.What do we know about Michelle Joni?
A. She used to be a preschool teacher．
B. She likes to make plans in advance．
C. She founded Preschool Mastermind．
D. She gained confidence by sharing．
