E
71    It might understand more than you think．
A dog named Rico recognizes the names of about 200 objects, say researchers in Germany．   72   Its word-learning skills are as good as those of a parrot or chimpanzee．
In one experiment，the researchers took all 200 items that Rico is supposed to know and divided them into 20 groups of 10 objects．   73   In four tests，Rico got 37 out of 40 commands right．As the dog couldn’t see anyone to get clues，the scientists believe Rico must understand the meanings of certain words．
In another experiment，the scientists took one toy that Rico had never seen before and put it in a room with seven toys whose names the dog already knew．   74    
The correct object was chosen in seven out of 10 tests．suggesting that the dog had worked out the answer by process of removing．A month later，Rico remembered half of the new names，which is even more impressive．
75   Even if they do，they can’t talk back．Still，it wouldn't hurt to sweet-talk your dog
every now and then You might just get a big，wet kiss in return!

A．The owner then told Rico to fetch the object，using a word the dog had never heard before

B．Do dogs more understand us than some friends?

C．It’s hard to know if all dogs understand at least some of the words we say．

D．Be careful what you say around your dog．

E．The dog also appears to be able to learn new words
F．Then the owner told the dog to go and fetch one of the items and bring it back．
G．Rico is thought to be smarter than the average dog．

第二节   完形填空（共20小题，每小题1.5分，满分30分）
After winning a big game，athletes are often asked how they feel．Usually athletes say how  36 it is to win this big game．On the contrary，the fact is that losing a big game，or in my case，all the games，can be even harder．
From the spectators’ point of view，last year’s basketball  37  for my high school team was nothing  38 of an embarrassment．And  39  0 and 20 is certainly nothing to be proud of，that season had a bigger impact on me than any other．As a team captain，I knew it probably wouldn’t be the  40 year，but did I ever think we would lose every game？Of course not．Since six of our top players had graduated，it was clear that we were a (n)  41  team who would struggle．The struggle began earlier than expected，  42 ，as our team center was suspended (禁赛) for the season，and two key members decided to  43  for some reason．At this point，dropping out probably passed through every player’s mind，but in the end，we all stuck if out，  44 to work still harder．
Then there came a time when even our  45 and given up on us．Personally，I felt like it was  46 worthwhile giving my all．I thought，if even the coach doesn’t believe in us，whyshould I？But just as my hope began to  47 ，a teammate called a meeting．He said，“Nobody thinks we are going to win，but，as teammates and friends，we  48 it to each other to go all out every game．”
It was that moment that  49  me how to be a leader．It hit me that I certainly didn’t 50  the role．As a leader you can never quit  51  the team who looks up to you．It is one  52 to be named captain，feel great and go through the motions，but it is quite another to be a real captain and make sure everyone realizes their full  53 all the time．
I am sure it is great to go through without losing and bringing home awards．But in all honesty，I  54 the fact that my team lost every game last year．It may not help me to become a better basketball player，but it already has made me a better leader，and  55 ．
36．A．exciting                 B．pleasant                  C．tough                 D．significant
37．A．game                 B．event                  C．league             D．season
38．A．short                 B．full                        C．lacking            D．sufficient
39．A．as                         B．while                  C．since           D．now that
40．A．most interesting      B．dullest                    C．most difficult D．easiest
41．A．unique                   B．adventurous            C．young              D．untrained
42．A．meanwhile             B．though                    C．instead             D．somehow
43．A．quit                       B．stay                        C．resign              D．rest
44．A．hoping                  B．swearing                 C．claiming          D．wishing
45．A．fans                  B．classmates        C．sponsor            D．coach
46．A．only too                B．more than           C．not a little    D．no longer
47．A．fade                  B．gain                       C．destroy            D．grow
48．A．owe                      B．think                  C．demand           D．recommend
49．A．reminded           B．told                        C．taught              D．guided
50．A．act                       B．deserve                   C．play                D．take
51．A．with                      B．alongside            C．on                   D．for
52．A．matter                   B．aspect                     C．issue            D．thing
53．A．potential            B．goal                       C．enthusiasm       D．confidence
54．A．hate                  B．treasure                  C．admit                 D．recognize
55．A．character           B．captain                   C．person             D．figure

第二部分阅读理解（共20小题，每小题2分，满分40分）
A
Theodore，the manager of the Paradise Hotel，told a middle-aged couple that that would have to leave the hotel after just one night．The couple，visiting from Texas，had booked a room for eight nights．
“They wanted a sterile (消毒了的) environment，”Theodore said，“They should have rented a room in a hospital，maybe an operating room．This hotel is clean，hut it isn't that clean．”
Theodore said that，on the very first day，the couple brought all the sheets，pilloweases，and bedspreads down to the main hall and just dropped them next to the front desk．They stood there next to this pile of bedding while other guests looked，pointed，and murmured．The hotel got three cancellations within the hour from people who witnessed this strange，event．
When Theodore asked the couple what the problem was，they said that their bedding was filthy and they wanted it replaced．The couple could not identify any specific“filth”on the bedding．The wife just said，“We’re paying good money to stay here．How dare you doubt us？We know the filth is there．That's all the proof you need，”Theodore called room service，and the bedding was replaced immediately．
Early the next evening，however，the couple marched to the front desk again and demanded seven cans of sterilizer，“We need a can for each night．We have to spray the phone，the TV，all the door handles，the toilet handle，the shower stall，the faucet，the sink，and any hotel staff entering our room．”
Worried，Theodore politely suggested that a hotel more suitable for them was just around the corner．He then called ahead to reserve a“very clean”room，and gave them free transportation in the hotel Rolls-Royce．Also，he told the couple that they wouldn’t he charged for the second day．
The couple were surprised but they really liked the idea of free room for a night and that expensive car service．
56．The underlined word “filthy” means     in this article．
A．clean               B．dirty                C．smelly                    D．old
57．Why was Theodore worried?
A．The couple might have more demands the following days．B．The hotel was not clean enough．
C．The hotel would run out of cleaning stuff．D．More guests would make the same requests．
58．What word could best describe the couple?
A．Narrow-minded.             B．Expensive        C．Particular         D．Easy-going

第三部分任务型阅读（满分10分）
Joseph Pulitzer(April 10，1847—October 29，1911)was a Hungarian—American publisher best known for establishing the Pulitzer Prizes after death．
Pulitzer was born in Makó，Hungary．At 17，Pulitzer attempted to join the Austrian army．but was turned down due to age，bad health and poor eyesight. Disappointed but still with hope，he traveled first to Paris and then to London, hoping to join the army there. And he was rejected for the same reasons. Finally , he moved to the United States in 1846 and served in the Lincoln Army when he was just 18 until the end of the American Civil War. After the war he settled in St. Louis Missouri, where in 1868 he started working as a reporter for a German-language daily newspaper, the Westliche Post fro $3,000. Then , in 1879, he bought the St. Louis Dispatch for $2,700 and merged (合作) the two papers as the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, which remained St. Louis’ daily newspaper. He bought the New York World in 1883, which turned out to be a successful decision, and which made Pulitzer wealthy. In 1885, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, but resigned after a few months’ service. In 1895 the New York World introduced the first newspaper comic printed with color. Under Pulitzer’s leadership circulation (发行量) grew from 15,000 to 600,000, making it the largest newspaper in the country . But unfortunately from 1890, Pulitzer’s already failing health worsened rapidly and he with drew from direct management of the newspaper, and simply gave some instructions from his vacation houses in Maine or in New York. At the ago of some instructions from his vacation houses in Maine or in New York. At the age of forty, he was struck blind, but he still continued to run his press empire for twenty-two more years.
In 1892, Pulitzer offered Columbia University’s president money to set up the world’s first school of journalism. But the university turned down the offer. In 1902, Columbia’s new president willingly accepted the plan for a school and prizes,  but it would not be until after Pulitzer’s death that this dream would come true．Pulitzer left the university$2 million in his will，which led to the creation in 1912 of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism．And up till now，Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism still remains one of the most famous in the world．
Joseph Pulitzer died aboard his sailing boat in 1911．He was buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx，New York．In 1917．the first Pulitzer Prizes were awarded，as Pulitzer wished to．
In 1989，in honor of his great achievements and contributions，Pulitzer was included in the St．Louis Walk of Fame．
Title：A biography of a famous person

Name	Joseph Pulitzer	Dates of birth and death	April 10, 1947—October 29， 1911
Birth place	Makó, Hungary	71  place	The Woodlawn Cemetery, The Bronx, NY
72	Hungarian-American	Profession	Reporter, publisher
73	Military career ·at 17, made several   74  to join the army , but failed for his age, bad health and poor eyesight. ·at 18 , eventually served in the Lincoln’s Army in the USA
	Newspaper career Newspaper career ·in 1868．began working as a reporter for the Westliche Post，a daily newspaper ·from 1872 to 1882，succeeded in  75  three newspapers ·in 1895，introduced the first newspaper comic printed with color ·from 1890，managed the newspaper  76  for health reason
Achievements & contributions	77 career ·joined the Republican Party and in 1869 was elected to the Missouri State Assembly ·in 1885，was elected to the U．S．House of Representatives．but  78 for only a short time．
	made the New York World the largest newspaper in the country，with it。 circulation(发行量)growing from 15，000 to 600，000 ·in 1912，helped to  79  the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism，which remains one of the most famous in the world ·established the Pulitzer Prizes through his will
80	·In 1989, was included in the St. Louis Walk of Fame.

第二节   完形填空（共20小题，每小题1.5分，满分30分）
Freda Bright says, "Only in opera do people die of love." It's true. You really can't love somebody to death.
A heart-warming story tells of a woman who finally decided to ___36____ her boss for a raise in salary. All day she felt ___37____ and apprehensive（惴惴不安）. Late in the afternoon she ___38____ the courage to approach her employer. To her delight, the boss agreed to a raise.
The woman arrived home that evening to a beautiful table ___39____ with their best dishes. Candles were softly glowing. Her husband had come home early and prepared a festive meal. She ___40____ if someone from the office had ___41____ him off, or... did he just ___42____ know that she would not get turned down? She found him in the kitchen and told him the good ___43____. They embraced and kissed, then ___44____ down to the wonderful meal. Next to her plate the woman found a beautifully lettered note. It ___45___: "Congratulations, darling! I knew you'd get the raise! These things will tell you how much I love you."
___46___ the supper, her husband went into the kitchen to clean up. She ___47___ that a second card had fallen from his pocket. Picking it off the ___48___, she read: "Don't worry about not getting the raise! You ___49___ it anyway! These things will tell you how much I love you."
Someone has said that the ___50___ of love is when you love without measure. What this man feels for his spouse（配偶）is total ___51___ and love, ___52___ she succeeds or fails. His love ___53___ her victories and comforts her wounds. He stands with her, no matter what life throws in their ___54___.
Upon receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, Mother Teresa said: "What can you do to ___55___ world peace? Go home and love your family." And love your friends. Love them without measure.
36.   A. inform       B. require       C. ask     D. advise
37.   A. nervous      B. excited       C. embarrassed       D. relaxed
38.   A. called B. lifted  C. scattered     D. gathered
39.   A. laid    B. set      C. made  D. brought
40.   A. realized      B. knew  C. mattered     D. wondered
41.   A. tipped B. cut      C. put     D. broke
42.   A. somewhat   B. somehow    C. anyhow      D. anyway
43.   A. decision     B. salary  C. news   D. employer
44.   A. got     B. looked       C. sat      D. lay
45.   A. read    B. wrote  C. went   D. told
46.   A. Preparing   B. Following  C. Arranging   D. Cooking
47.   A. watched     B. observed    C. stared  D. noticed
48.   A. table   B. bed     C. floor   D. pocket
49.   A. deserve      B. suppose      C. answer       D. honor
50.   A. depth  B. measure     C. length D. width
51.   A. preference  B. absence      C. assistance   D. acceptance
52.   A. whether     B. what   C. why    D. where
53.   A. shows B. supports     C. celebrates   D. approves
54.   A. condition   B. direction    C. surroundings      D. scenery
55.   A. enjoy  B. achieve      C. settle   D. promote

D
He was 11 years old and went fishing every chance he got from the dock at his family's cabin on an island in the middle of a New Hampshire lake.
On the day before the bass season opened, he and his father were fishing early in the evening, catching sunfish and perch（鲈鱼）with worms. Then he tied on a small silver lure（鱼饵）and practiced casting. The lure struck the water and caused colored ripples in the sunset, then silver ripples as the moon rose over the lake.
When his pole doubled over, he knew something huge was on the other end. His father watched with admiration as the boy skillfully worked the fish alongside the dock.
Finally, he very gingerly lifted the exhausted fish from the water. It was the largest one he had ever seen, but it was a bass. The boy and his father looked at the handsome fish, gills playing back and forth in the moonlight. The father lit a match and looked at his watch. It was 10 P.M.--- two hours before the season opened. He looked at the fish, then at the boy.
"You'll have to put it back, son," he said.
"Dad!" cried the boy.
"There will be other fish," said his father.
"Not as big as this one," cried the boy.
He looked around the lake. No other fishermen or boats were anywhere around in the moonlight. He looked again at his father. Even though no one had seen them, nor could anyone ever know what time he caught the fish, the boy could tell by the clarity of his father's voice that the decision was not negotiable. He slowly worked the hook out of the lip of the huge bass and lowered it into the black water.
The creature swished its powerful body and disappeared. The boy suspected that he would never again see such a great fish.
That was 34 years ago. Today, the boy is a successful architect in New York City. His father's cabin is still there on the island in the middle of the lake. He takes his own son and daughters fishing from the same dock.
He was right. He has never again caught such a magnificent fish as the one he landed that night long ago. But he does see that same fish---again and again---every time he comes up against a question of ethics（道德规范）.
66. Why did the father ask his son to put the perch back?
A. Because the father disliked the perch.  B. Because the father was afraid of being fined.
C. Because the ethics must be observed.
D. Because the son was more experience in fishing than his father.
67. The underlined word “negotiable” in the passage refers to _________.
A. reasonable     B. transferable     C. acceptable    D. reliable
68. When does the architect (the father’s son) think of that perch put back?
A. When he takes his own son and daughters fishing from the same dock.
B. When he builds many famous buildings.
C. When he pays a visit to his old father.
D. When he faces some problems about ethics.
69. Which word can not be used to describe the boy’s father?
A. honest    B. noble-minded      C. caring        D. generous
70. From the passage, we can learn _________.
A. how we do the right thing and are strengthened
B. how we have a chance to beat the system and take it
C. how we master some skills of going fishing
D. how we understand our parents’ words is very important

There was once a beautiful nymph called Echo. But Echo had one failing; she was fond of talking, and whether in chat or argument, would have the last word. As she was good company , she and Zeus became good friends. However，Zeus’ wife, Hera, became jealous. She followed Zeus to the earth to find out what he was doing and Zeus asked Echo to distract Hera until he could escape. Later when Hera discovered she had been tricked, she became very angry. She turned on Echo and said, “You shall lose the use of your tongue because you cheated me. You’ll have the last word, bur no longer have the power to speak first.” So from that moment on, Beautiful Echo was hardly able to hold a conversation because she could only repeat the last words of those around her. She became very embarrassed and hid herself deep in the woods.
One day a handsome young man called Narcissus came into the woods. He had been hunting deer and lost his way. However, the moment Echo saw him, she fell in love with him. She followed him, wishing to tell him but unable o begin a conversation. Oh, how she wished she could speak first. Unfortunately, Narcissus was far too busy worrying about where his companions might be and how he could find his way home.
Eventually Narcissus, with Echo following behind along, came to a pool of water in the middle of the woods. Feeling thirsty, Narcissus bent down to drink. As he did so, he saw a beautiful creature in the water staring up at him. . He immediately bent over and said to him, “I love you!” Echo, nearby, and seeing her chance, immediately responded “…. I love you!” But it was too late. Narcissus was already in love, with himself.
`      The stranger seemed to rise up closer to Narcissus who was so involved that he entirely failed to notice Echo. “I want to stay and look at this beautiful sight forever,” he whispered dreamily to himself.”… Forever,” repeated Echo sadly. “Come her,” called Narcissus to his reflection as he moved his head and the creature seemed to move away. “…Here.” responded Echo. Narcissus bent back down to see his reflection more clearly. “So beautiful! I’ve never seen anything so beautiful!” “….So beautiful!” responded Echo truthfully.
Narcissus remained by the water refusing all Echo’s silent offers of food and drink until he died. Where he had been, a flower grew in his place, as beautiful as Narcissus himself. As for Echo, from that time forward, she also didn’t eat or drink till she turned to rocks and all that was left was her voice. Even now you can still hear Echo trying to attract Narcissus’ attention by repeating his words and still see Narcissus as a beautiful flower growing near a pool.
63. Why was Echo unable to  let Narcissus know she loved him?
A. Because she had lost the ability to speak.        B. Because she was too shy to speak first.
C. Because Hera had taken away her ability to speak first.
D.  Because Narcissus took no notice of her.
64. “The stranger” in paragraph 4 refers to ______.
A. Echo         B. A fairy in the woods.        C. Hera.         D. Narcissus himself.
65. Which of the following kinds of person can be described as a “Narcissus”?
A. A person who loves and admires himself or herself.
B. A person who’s afraid of being separated from companions.
C. A person who is too shy to have a chat with other people.
D. A person who loves to admire beautiful water flowers.
66. Which of the following is the correct order of the events?
a) Hera wouldn’t let Echo start a conversation.
b) Narcissus fell in love with his reflection in the water.
c) Echo saw Narcissus and fell in love at the first sight.
d) Echo distracted Hera to help Zeus escape.
e) Narcissus became a flower and Echo a rock.
A. a-b-c-d-e           B. d-a-c-b-e           C. d-a-b-c-e           D. c-d-a-b-e
67. What’s the best title of this passage?
A. Echo’s sacrifice.                                   B. Echo and Hera.
C. Echo and Narcissus.                       D. Narcissus’s self-love.

任务型阅读（共两节，满分35分）
All That noise is damaging Children’s Hearing
Michel become hooked on headphones in his early teens. He walked in the streets of Brooklyn day after day with his favorite music blasting directly into his ears. By his early 20s, Michel had lost much of his upper-range hearing.
The Children’s Hearing Institute reports that hearing loss among children and young adults is rising in the United States, and that one third of the damage is caused by noise.
Surrounded By Noise
We live in a noisy world. Young and old alike are beset by sounds over which we may have little or no control: power mowers, leaf blowers, snow blowers, cars and house alarms, sirens, motorcycles, Jet Skis, loudspeakers, even movie previews.
We attend rock concerts, weddings, parties and sports events at which the music is so loud you can hardly hear the person sitting next to you. At home, televisions, stereos and computer games are often turned up so loud that listeners can not hear a doorbell or telephone. Many “modern ” restaurants have chosen noise enhancement instead of abatement(减轻). Any time you need to shout to be heard by someone near you, your hearing is most likely to be in a decibel(分贝) danger zone.
As if environmental noise were not enough, now we surround children with noisy toys and personal listening devices that can permanently damage their hearing. Toys that meet the safety standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials can produce sound up to 138 decibels, as loud as a jet plane taking off. Yet workplace rules require hearing protection for those exposed to noise above 85 decibels.
Protecting Young Ears
Before buying noisemaking toys, parents would do well to listen to how loud they are. If the toy comes with a volume control, monitor its use to make sure it is kept near the lowest level. Consider returning gifts that make loud noises, disable the noise-making function. Or limit the use of noisy toys to outside play areas.
Children who play computer games and stereo equipment should be warned to keep the volume down. Time spent in video arcades, where the noise level can be over 110 decibels, should be strictly limited. Most iPods have a control that allow parents to set a maximum volume.
Don’t take children to loud action movies. If you do go and the sound seems deafening, ask the manager to turn down the volume or insist on you money back. Children who play in bands and teenagers who use power tools, gardening equipment or guns should be made to wear hearing protection, available at sporting goods stores.
The League for the Hard of Hearing urges parents to encourage participation in quiet activities, like reading, watching family-oriented films, doing puzzles, making thins with construction toys, playing educational computer games, drawing and painting, and visiting librarians and museums.
All That noise is damaging Children’s Hearing

Introduction	A boy lost much of his hearing due to being ___71___ to headphones.
Problem	More and more children have suffered from hearing ___72___ loss.
Causes of the problems	★___73___ noise from: a) power mowers, leaf blowers, snow blowers, and etc. b) the music at rock concerts, weddings, parties and sports events which ___74___ us hearing someone nearby; c) televisions, stereos and computer games ___75___ than doorbells or telephones d) “modern ” restaurants ★Noise from: toys and listening devices which cause ___76___ damage to hearing.
___77___ to the problem	★Monitor the volume of toys ★___78___ gifts making loud noise ★Limit children's time spent in video arcades ★___79___ taking children to loud action movies ★Make children wear hearing protection when around loud noise ★Encourage children to ___80___ in quiet activities

第二节 完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，从短文所给各题的四个选项（A、B、C、D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Growing up on a remote Michigan farm, Henry Ford, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, knew little of farming. Like most pioneer farmers, his father, William, hoped that his eldest son would   36  him on the farm, enable it to expand, and eventually take it  37  . But Henry proved a   38  . He hated farm work and did everything he could to   39   it. It was not that he was lazy.   40   from it! Give him a mechanical job to do, from mending a gate to sharpening tools,  41  he would set to work eagerly. It was the daily life of the farm, with its dull tasks, 42  upset him.
Henry was excited by the development in technology that could __43  farmers like his father from wasteful and   44  labor. But these developments, in Henry’s boyhood, had touched farming   45  at all and farmers went on doing things in the way they had always done. So Henry   46   his attention elsewhere. When he was twelve, he became 47  in clocks and watches. Soon he was repairing them for friends, working at a bench he built in his bedroom.
In 1876, Henry suffered a serious   48 . His mother died in childbirth.  49   was no reason for him to stay on the farm, and he 50   to get away as soon as he could. Three years later, he took a job as a mechanic in Detroit.  51 this time steam engines had joined clocks and watches as objects of Henry’s fascination. Making and installing them was the business of the Detroit workshop that he joined at the age of sixteen.
A chance meeting with an old co-worker    52   a job for Henry as an engineer at the Edison Detroit Electricity Company. When he quickly learned the ropes of his new job, his interest in fuel engines had come to control his life.
Henry learned  53   a slow, painstaking business it was to build an engine by hand. Every piece of every part had to be made individually, checked and rechecked, and tested.  54   the burden, he joined forces with another mechanic, Jim Bishop. Even so, it was two years  55   they succeeded in building a working car. Henry called it “Quadricycle.”(四轮驱动脚踏车)
36. A. learn                       B. find                               C. Work        D. join
37. A. away                        B. down                             C. Over        D. off
38. A. success                     B. discouragement               C. Surprise     D. disappointment
39. A. do                         B. avoid                             C. Work        D. make
40. A. Apart                        B. Far                                C. Free         D. Aside
41. A. and                       B. or                                  C. Otherwise    D. so
42. A. that                        B. which                            C. what        D. where
43. A. prevent                     B. free                               C. Take         D. bring
44. A. boring                      B. exciting                          C. Funny        D. inspiring
45. A. almost                      B. sometimes                      C. Hardly        D. always
46. A. drew                        B. caught                            C. turned       D. attracted
47. A. worried                    B. interested                       C. Upset        D. bored
48. A. disease                      B. blow                           C. Beat          D. defeat
49. A. It                             B. There                             C. This          D. That
50. A. decided                     B. avoided                          C. Stuck         D. took
51. A. At                            B. After                              C. In           D. By
52. A.attended to                 B. related to                        C. turned to       D. led to
53. A. how                         B. what                        C. why          D. where
54. A. To reduce                 B.To bear                         C. To carry        D. To place
55. A. when                        B. before                            C. After           D. unless

第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分）
阅读下面短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C、D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A
You're in a department store and you see a couple of attractive young women looking at a sweater. You listen to their conversation:
“I can't believe it--a Lorenzo Bertolla! They are almost impossible to find. Isn't it beautiful? And it's a lot cheaper than the one Sara bought in Rome.”
They leave and you go over to see this incredible sweater. It's nice and the price is right. You've never heard of Lorenzo Bertolla, but those girls looked really stylish. They must know. So, you buy it. You never realize that those young women are employees of an advertising agency. They are actually paid to go from store to store, talking loudly about Lorenzo Bertolla clothes.
Every day we notice what people are wearing, driving and eating. If the person looks cool, the product seems cool, too. This is the secret of undercover marketing. Companies from Ford to Nike are starting to use it.
Undercover marketing is important because it reaches people that don't pay attention to traditional advertising. This is particularly true of the MTV generation----consumers between the age of 18 and 34. It is a golden group. They have a lot of money to spend, but they don't trust ads.
So advertising agencies hire young actors to “perform” in bars and other places where young adults go. Some people might call this practice deceptive(骗人的), but marketing executive Jonathan Ressler calls it creative. “Look at traditional advertising. Its effectiveness is decreasing.”
However, one might ask what exactly is “real” about of young women pretending to be enthusiastic about a sweater? Advertising executives would say it's no less real than an ad. The difference is that you know an ad is trying to persuade you to buy something. You don' t know when a conversation you overhear is just a performance.
56. The two attractive young women were talking so that they could ________.
A. get the sweater at a lower price    B. be heard by people around
C. be admired by other shoppers    D. decide on buying the sweater
57. Lorenzo Bertolla is __________.
A. a very popular male singer         B. an advertising agency
C. a clothing company in Rome      D. the brand name of a sweater
58. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage? 
A. The two girls are in fact employed by the Lorenzo Bertolla Company.
B. The MTV generation tend to be more easily influenced by ads.
C. Traditional advertising is becoming less effective because it's too direct.
D. Undercover marketing will surely be banned soon by the government.
59. Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
A. Two Attractive Shoppers            B. Lorenzo Bertolla Sweaters
C. Ways of Advertising                   D. Undercover Marketing