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            • 1．

              The United States is already one year into a depression. That was the news this week from the National Bureau of Economic Research. The downturn is the longest since a depression that began in 1981 and lasted sixteen months.

              Economists generally wait for production to shrink for six months in a row before they declare a recession. But the bureau, a private group, uses a wider set of information to measure the economy. The news only confirmed what many people already knew: that the world’s largest economy is weak and may not recover soon.

              Worsening conditions have led to a big drop in spending, especially on costly products like new cars. Even Japanese automaker Toyota saw its sales fall thirty-four percent in the United States in November from a year ago.

              The heads of Chrysler, Ford and General Motors returned to Congress this week to again ask for federal aid. Congressional leaders blamed them two weeks ago after they came in private jets with no clear plans for saving their industry. This time, the chiefs drove to Washington in fuel-saving vehicles. And their companies presented detailed restructuring plans. The request for aid has risen from twenty-five billion dollars two weeks ago to thirty-four billion in loans and credit lines.

              GM wants almost half of that, and says it needs four billion dollars this month. It warned that without support it cannot continue to operate. Ford is in a better position. But the sharing of suppliers means it could be affected if GM or Chrysler fails. Ford is asking for a nine billion dollar credit line in case it needs it. Chrysler is the smallest and most troubled of America’s Big Three. It says it needs a seven billion dollar loan by the end of the month.

              Two days of congressional hearings began on Thursday. The chairman, Democrat Chris Dodd, said he would support helping the automakers for the good of the economy. But the committee’s top Republican, Richard Shelby, continued to express opposition to financial aid.

              A main root of the world financial crisis is the weak housing market in the United States. The Treasury Department has been under pressure to help troubled homeowners. Now comes news that the department is developing a plan aimed at reducing interest rates on mortgage loans (按揭贷款) for some buyers of homes. That could be good for homeowners trying to sell. That could be good for homeowners trying to sell.

              难度：难
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            • 2．

              It was just over five years ago that we were waiting with decreased breath for Apple’s table!computer(平板电脑)．The company delivered．released its new creation，and set about redefining what a “tablet”could be．Remember?Table computers used to be heavy，folding laptops that ran Microsoft Windows and much terrible sofeware．The release of the new creation helped redraw that too1 in consumers’minds．No．this wasn’t the weighty thick of steel powered by UPS(不间断电源)any more；this was the future of the computer．

                  I was always doubtful about them．Sure．they seemed wonderful and light and perfect for bed-based computing．But they weren’t the right type for a lot of the ways I used a computer．They were great for a meeting but less so for my desk．When I needed to finish a report carefully or design a page，I needed the accuracy of my otherwise anachronistic(过时的) mouse．And，most important of all，I already owned a laptop．like most people．Buying another computer seemed more of a“nice to have”than a“must have．”

                  New figures from IDC，the market research firm，suggest that we’ve reached an upper limit for the modem tablet computer．According to the firm，shipments(发货)of the tool in the second quarter of this year dropped 7％worldwide compared to the same time last year．Apple and Samsung，the market leaders(41％ combined market share),each experienced a drop year over year as competitors like LG and Huawei exploded．

                  But the overall market is minishing，just five years after it appeared．For good reason：Laptops continue to decrease—have you seen the latest Macbook?——and smartphones continue to grow,even as both get lighter and longer-lasting in terms of battery life．Tablets．stuck in the middle,still have their place．But the meaning of that place is decreasing.Not very encouraging for a young，new computing type．

                  Are tablets dead?I don’t think so．They remain important to specialized uses，from hospitals to delivery trucks to sales meetings．Hundreds of millions continue to be sold every year．And some of their best qualities have been absorbed by the latest generation of laptops．(What is the new Macbook if not a touchscreen-lacking iPad with a keyboard and IOS X，Apple’s desktop operating system?) But from the looks of these numbers．tablets have an identity problem that can’t be ignored．

              难度：较难
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            • 3． 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 24hours 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 （茁壮成长） and maintain competitive advantage，companies must be flexible when reacting to change．
              难度：较易
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            • 4． Have you ever wondered where the chocolate in your favorite candy bar comes from？Chocolate comes from the cacao tree，which grows in warm，tropical areas of West Africa，Indonesia，Malaysia，Mexico，and South America．And who eats the delicious chocolate made from the cacao grown in these places？The majority of chocolate is consumed in Europe and North America．This probably sounds like a familiar story-developing countries produce inexpensive raw materials that are manufactured and sold as finished goods in developed countries，and generally， that is what happens with chocolate．Large chocolate companies buy cacao beans at a low price and produce cocoa and chocolate products to sell at a relatively high price．
              But the familiar story has a new chapter．Beginning in the 1980s，some consumers learned that cacao farmers were living difficult and uncertain lives．The farmers received money for their crops based on world markets，and the market price for cacao was sometimes so low that farmers received less for their crops than the crops had cost to produce．In response，groups of consumers in Europe and the United States developed"fair trade"organizations to guarantee that farmers of cacao，as well as coffee and tea，would receive fair and consistent prices for their crops．
              Fair trade organizations benefit farmers by buying cacao beans or other products from them directly at higher-than-market prices and eliminating （除去）"middle men"such as exporters．Fair trade organizations also encourage farming techniques that are not harmful to the environment or to farm workers，for example，growing cacao without chemical pesticides or fertilizers in the shade of rain forest trees．One organization，Equal Exchange，helps farmers set up farming cooperatives in which they can share resources and work on projects such as community schools．Another，Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International （FLO），guarantees that products bearing its label meet standards that improve the lives of growers and producers．
              The results of fair trade are a better standard of living for some farmers and nicer chocolate bars made with organically produced cocoa that consumers don't feel guilty about buying．And although fair trade chocolate is somewhat more expensive than other chocolate and now makes up only 1% of chocolate sold，the fair trade idea is spreading quickly．You may soon see fair trade chocolate right next to the more famous bars in your favorite store．
              难度：较易
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            • 5． The Chinese put up with a lot living in the world's most populous country：standing on over-crowded trains for 40hours； sleeping outside hospitals to secure a doctor's appointment； waiting more than a year to earn a driver's license．
              Add getting a U．S．entry visa to the list．Applicants here have waited as long as 60days to secure an appointment at one of five U．S．consular locations（领事馆）in China that process visas．There，they're often greeted by long lines，followed by a face-to-face interview that can end badly in a matter of seconds．
              Now there are only about 100U．S．visa officers in China，facing considerable challenges during the summer when tourists and students travel the most．"It's not easy work，"Charles Bennett，minister-counselor for Consular Affairs at the U．S．Embassy in Beijing，said to his staff．"You're making，in some cases，life-changing decisions many times a day，and that can cause great tiredness．"
              To adapt，US consular services expanded their hours，took on about a dozen additional staff and hope to have another 20officers by spring．More facilities are also being expanded．
              Despite the shocking numbers，the embassy remains dogged by charges that it rejects applicants unreasonably and that the process is unfairly burdensome．"I'm fed up，"said Wendy Liu，24．The single woman from Beijing said she was recently refused a visa and told to re-apply when her personal life and finances were more stable．"I'll go anywhere but the U．S．now，"she said．"I thought America was supposed to be a country of freedom．"
              To visit the US，Chinese nationals must prove that they have enough money and family or business ties that make it likely they'll return to China．The Department of Homeland Security said it did not keep records on how many Chinese overstay their visas．
              Student visas can be refused on grounds of national security．Beijing native Tan Ge，25，believes he was not accepted after he stated his interests in infrared（红外线的）technology and nanoelectronics（纳米电子学）on his application．He now studies in Canada after being forced to abandon a full scholarship to Arizona State University．
              By its very nature，the on-the-spot process at the U．S．Embassy can feel unbearable to Chinese applicants，who are asked to take their bank statements，property deeds（房产证），marriage licenses and HUKOU，a Chinese household ID．
              "It made me feel very uncomfortable，"said Xu Yong，28，a journalist who needed a business visa last month to cover a conference in New York．"They made me feel like someone from a Third World country up to no good．"
              After giving his fingerprints，Xu waited to be called for his interview，sitting in an area that was as quiet as a library．Each passing minute seemed to be as long as a century．
              After an hour，Xu was called with three other people to a window for their interview．Two were rejected before his turn．Then the American officer，speaking fluent Chinese，reached for Xu's paperwork，asked some simple questions and said，"Congratulations．"
              "I was so nervous．The first thing I did when I got out was to call my mom and tell her I passed，"Xu said．"She was the one who warned me it wasn't going to be easy．"

              难度：较易
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            • 6． Derek Wayne has obtained a 30-year，fixed-rate home loan of 100，000with an annual interest rate of 7.5percent．Because the loan extends for such a lengthy period，the mortgage（抵押） company calculates a monthly payment that ensures it will get most of its interest back first．Thus in the beginning months，Wayne's principal payment-the amount he pays toward his actual loan-increases extremely slowly．
              Payment Number Total Monthly
              Payment              		 Principal Portion of Payment Interest Portion of Payment Current Balance
              1 699.21 74.21 625.00 99，925.79
              2 699.21 74.68 624.54 99，854.11
              359 699.21 690.56 8.66 694.87
              360 699.21 694.87 4.34 0.00
              Let's analyze Wayne's early payments．Imagine that on December 15the Mauritanian Mortgage Corporation gives Wayne 100，000，and on January 15his initial payment is due．Throughout this first month，interest accumulates on the entire 100，000．On a yearly interest rate of 7.5%，Wayne's monthly rate is 0.625% or 7.5%divided by 12．Multiplying 100，000by 0.625% yields 625，the portion of Wayne's first monthly payment that is interest．So Wayne now owes 99，925.79 （ 100，625-699.21）．His February interest payment will be 0.625% of 99，925.79．
              By the time Wayne makes his last few payments，his monthly interest payment has decreased considerably．His balance following his 359th payment is 694.87，and 0.625% of that is about 4.34，his final interest payment．What was the total amount of interest Wayne paid？Multiplying 360months by 699.21equals 251，715.60，and subtracting 100，000（the loan amount） leaves 151，715.60-over 1.5times what he actually borrowed!
              难度：较易
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            • 7．

                 

              难度：易
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            • 8． After having worked in the University of Maryland for three years，I got a job offer from another university---Lynn University．I left my letter of offer on my present boss's desk，turned around，and closed the door quietly．I was expecting a call from my boss saying congratulations，which would show her approval of my leaving．
              In the afternoon，my boss called me，saying，"Can we meet tomorrow？"That was a good signal．The next day，I met with my boss．She said，'Nicholas，we want you．What do you want？"I said，"Boss，I deserve a significant pay raise this year due to my outstanding performance．I think I need a 10% pay raise next year as a condition for me to stay here．"My boss said，"No problem．''
              When I left her office，I called Lynn University and told them that I was going to get a 10% pay raise．They had to give me 10% more than their original pay offer in order for me to accept the job．The new boss told me that he was willing to give me more，but I would feel very bad working at this university with such a high pay．I would win a battle，but I would lose a war．He said，"The problem is that your colleague will earn less than you，so you will feel guilty（内疚）and uncomfortable．But，I can still give you 5% more than the original offer．"
              I delivered this massage to my present boss，and she told me that she would give me another 5% pay raise if I promised to refuse this new job offer．On top of that，she would strongly support my early promotion（晋升）from assistant professor to associate professor．According to the university policy，you must take at least 6years to get promoted．That was my third year of employment at this university．After refusing the new job offer，I finally enjoyed both a pay raise and early promotion．
              24．In paragraph 2，what does Nicholas mean by"That was a good signal"？    
              A．His boss would approve his leaving the University of Maryland．
              B．He would leave his present job and work for Lynn University．
              C．His boss would talk with him about a possible pay offer．
              D．His friends would congratulate him on getting a new job offer．
              25．Why did the new boss agree to another 5% raise when Nicholas asked for 10% the next day？    
              A．He did not have the right to make such a big pay offer．
              B．he did not want Nicholas to earn more than he did．
              C．Nicholas was not experienced enough to get such a raise．
              D．Nicholas would not feel good for earning too much more than others．
              26．How much pay raise did the author finally get as a result of refusing the new job offer？    
              A.5%      B.10%     C.15%     D.20%
              27．In the text，the author mainly tells his experience of    ．
              A．earning a pay raise            B．refusing a job offer
              C．applying for a new position      D．making decisions in the workplace．
              难度：中等
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            • 9． The disabled tend to survive in a world that is largely made for the able-bodied．Evidently，the disabled still want to lead a （76）     which is no more different from that of normal people．Unfortunately，things in the reality are（77）h       on them．What I have come to know so far is（78）     it's our common thought to laugh at people looking different from us．But being physically or（79）     disabled does not determine their character or insights．In fact，they have the same（80）     （权利） as everybody else and also want to live with（81）     （尊严）．Personally，the disabled are just the same （82）e     for some disability．Therefore，it doesn't（83）          sense to show prejudice for somebody just because he cannot walk or has one arm alone．Now，think for a while．What if somebody stares at you or points out fingers at you（84）c     your names？Ah!Such an annoying feeling，isn't it？You never know how others feel until you yourself are（85）p     in their shoes．
              难度：中等
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            • 10． Travelling by subway can be quite an adventure，especially during rush hours．You have to fight your （76）     into the carriage，and that's not the end．You also have to protect yourself from big backpacks and fight for space with （77）     who sit and stretch their legs．
              To deal with this problem，New YorkC ity has （78）    （启动） a campaign making people take off their backpacks on the subway．The movement is also （79）    （针对） at male riders who like spreading their legs to take up two，or even three seats．
              Some people say that the campaign （80）    （限制） everyone's freedom．Male travelers even feel it is unfair，saying that women who cross their legs also take up too much space．（81）     the campaign has been supported by people who are concerned abou （82）    （个人的）behavior in public spaces．
              In fact，all countries have written or unwritten （83）    （规则） that travelers are expected to follow．For example，eating and drinking on the subway are banned in many cities，（84）     WashingtonD C in the US andB russels inB elgium．
              So （85）     time you take public transportation，avoid bad behavior．
              难度：中等
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