Peter loved to shop used articles. Almost a month ago, he bought a popular word game that used little pieces of wood with different letters on them. As he was purchasing it, the salesgirl said, “Uh, look, the game box hasn't even been opened yet. That might be worth some money. ”
Peter examined the box, and, sure enough, it was completely covered in factory-sealed plastic. And he saw a date of 1973 on the back of the box.
“You should put that up for auction (拍卖) on the Internet, and see what happens.” the salesgirl said.
“Yes, you're right. People like something rare.” Peter agreed, “I can't imagine there being very many unopened boxes of this game still around 40 years later.”
“Don't forget to tell me if you sell it.” the salesgirl smiled.
“No problem.” Peter said.
After he got home, Peter went online to several auction websites looking for his game. But he couldn't find it. Then he typed in the name of the word game and hit Search. The search result was 543 websites containing information about the changes of the game. Over the years, the game had been produced using letters in different sizes and game boards in different colors. He also found some lists of game fans looking for various versions of the game. Peter emailed some of them, telling them what he had.
Two weeks later, Peter went back to the shop.
“Hello. Do you still remember the unopened word game?”
The salesgirl looked at him for a second, then recognized him and said, “Oh, hi!”
“I've got something for you,” Peter said. “I sold the game and made $1,000. Thank you for your suggestion.” He handed her three $ 100 bills.
“Wow!” the salesgirl cried out. “Thank you, I never expected it.”
1.Which of the following best describes Peter's word game?
A. It was made around 40 years ago.
B. It had game boards in different sizes.
C. It was kept in a plastic bag with a seal.
D. It had little pieces of wood in different colors.
2.What did the salesgirl probably think of Peter's word game?
A. Old and handy.
B. Rare and valuable.
C. Classic and attractive.
D. Colorful and interesting.
3.What happened at the end of the story?
A. Peter gave the girl $300 as a reward.
B. The salesgirl became Peter's friend.
C. Peter returned the word game for $ 1,000.
D. The salesgirl felt confused to see Peter again.
Digital technology ─ email and smart phones especially ─ have vastly improved workers' ability to be productive outside of a traditional office. Even so, most white-collar work still happens in an office. One reason is that, according to findings of a new survey of office workers conducted by Wakefield Research for the IT company Citrix, most bosses are doubtful about remote working. Half of the workers say their boss doesn't accept it, and only 35 percent say it's tolerated.
Skeptical bosses will likely have their doubts reinforced (加深) by the same survey, which shows that 43 percent of workers say they've watched TV or a movie while ‘working’ remotely, while 35 percent have done housework, and 28 percent have cooked dinner.
It is true, however, that working at home makes people much more efficient, because it allows workers to take care of annoying housework while still getting their jobs done. It's much faster, for example, to shop for groceries at a quarter to three than to stand in line during the after-work rush.
The fact that such practices remain officially unaccepted reflects how far we haven't come as a society from the days when we expected every full-time worker to be supported by a full-time homemaker.
More broadly the Wakefield survey suggests that employers may be missing a low-cost way to give workers something of value. Sixty-four percent of those survey participants who haven't worked remotely would rather give up some bonus in order to get even one day a week working from home. Under such circumstances, smart firms need to find ways to let their employees have enough flexibility to manage their time efficiently.
1.Why do some employers hesitate to allow remote working?
A. They have little trust in modern technology.
B. They want to stick to their routine practice.
C. They fear losing control of their workers.
D. They are used to face-to-face communication.
2.What seems to be most workers' attitude toward remote working?
A. Favorable.
B. Doubtful.
C. Reserved.
D. Disapproving.
3.What does the author suggest smart firms do?
A. Shorten their office hours.
B. Give employees a pay rise.
C. Reduce their staff’s workload.
D. Adopt flexible work patterns.
I used to find notes left in the collection basket of the church, beautiful notes about my homilies(讲道) and about the writer’s thoughts on the daily readings. The _______ fascinated(吸引)me. But it was a long time ______ I met the author of the notes.
One Sunday morning, I was ______ that someone was waiting for me in the office, a young woman who said she ______ all the notes. When I saw her I was ______, since I had no idea that it was she who wrote the notes. She was sitting in a chair in the office. Her ______ was bowed and when she raised it to look at me, she could barely ______ without pain. Her face was disfigured(畸形), so smiling was very ______ for her.
We ______ for a while that Sunday morning and agreed to meet for lunch after that week.
As it ______, we went to lunch several times, and we shared things about our ______. We spoke of authors we were both ______, and it was easy to tell that ______ are a great love of hers.
She suffered from a disfigurement that cannot be made to look ______. I know that her condition ______ her deeply. Yet there was a beauty to her that had nothing to do with her ______. She was one to be listened to, whose words came from a wounded ______ loving heart. She possessed a fine tuned sense of beauty. Her only ______ in life was the loss of a friend.
The truth of her life was a desire to see beyond the _______ for a glimpse of what it is that matters. She found beauty and grace, ________ befriended her and showed her what is real.
1.A. questions B. ideas C. notes D. basket
2.A. since B. after C. when D. before
3.A. told B. warned C. suggested D. showed
4.A. lost B. left C. dropped D. collected
5.A. shocked B. satisfied C. frightened D. disappointed
6.A. hand B. arm C. head D. neck
7.A. stand B. smile C. speak D. sit
8.A. pleasant B. bitter C. ugly D. difficult
9.A. chatted B. discussed C. drank D. greeted
10.A. turned out B. turned up C. came out D. came up
11.A. families B. beliefs C. hobbies D. lives
12.A. popular with B. fond of C. familiar to D. concerned with
13.A. friends B. churches C. writings D. books
14.A. friendly B. happy C. attractive D. usual
15.A. hurt B. impressed C. changed D. defeated
16.A. reputation B. wealth C. interest D. appearance
17.A. and B. or C. but D. also
18.A. fear B. wonder C. expectation D. anger
19.A. dream B. surface C. imagination D. time
20.A. it B. they C. which D. that
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first.
1.It is said that there is a cursed well in the village. (be said to )
____________________________________________________ in the village.
2.Henry is the most famous amnesiac in medical history. (no other…than)
____________________________________________________ in medical history.
3.Although he suffered from total color blindness, Neil could experience color to its fullest with the help of the Eyeborg. (in spite of )
_________________________________, Neil could experience color to its fullest with the help of the Eyeborg.
4.As soon as we entered the room, Hugh hurriedly hid a large parcel under his desk. (no sooner…than)
____________________________________________ under his desk.
5.When I recognized the voice of Helen Bates, I was rather dismayed. (use a participle as an adverbial modifier)
_____________________________________, I was rather dismayed.
Each of the following sentences contains one mistake. Find them out and correct them.
1.My friend couldn’t face leave the villa because he knew that the paparazzi were waiting outside.
2.A short time before, the water damaged the sound equipment due to the heavy rain.
3.Tom was jealous at Adam because Adam’s parents got him everything he wanted.
4.On the bottom right-hand corner of the photo, a man with a large watch is smiling.
5.When asking how he knew where they were, Henry laughed and pointed to a student who was wearing an MIT sweatshirt.
6.It was on April 20, 1990 when the Hubble was launched into space by NASA.
7.By the time we reached the Main Stage, the live show started.
8.The man used to sleep on the floor, but now he is used to sleep on the bed.
9.After the fire had at last put out, a special type of grass-seed was ordered.
10.The search party considered use ‘The Revealer’ to find something of great value.
Complete the words in the blanks in the sentences. The first letters are given.
1.He has the p___________ to become a world-class musician.
2.Grandfather can s____________ the Times crossword puzzle in a few minutes.
3.The directions she had given us were c____________ , so we got lost.
4.Don’t go to a job interview in s____________ clothes. Wear something smart but comfortable.
5.The police are keeping the suspects under constant s____________.
6.The bomb caused serious damage to the building, but there were no c__________.
7.I've always told my kids to treat every obstacle as an opportunity in d___________.
8.She wasn't moving or responding, but the doctor d___________ a slow heartbeat.
9.We looked out over a d__________ landscape of bare trees and stony fields.
10.He was slightly i__________ by her forgetfulness.
