We all know that the normal human daily cycle of activity is of some 7-8 hours' sleep alternating(交替) with some 16-17 hours' wakefulness and that the sleep normally coincides with the hours of darkness. Our present concern is with how easily and to what extent this cycle can be modified.
　　The question is no mere academic one. The ease, for example, with which people can change from working in the day to working at night is a question of growing importance in industry where automation calls for round-the-clock working of machines. It normally takes from five days to one week for a person to adapt to a reversed（颠倒的） routine of sleep and wakefulness, sleeping during the day and working at night. Unfortunately, it is often the case in industry that shifts(轮班) are changed every week; a person may work from 12 midnight to 8 a.m. one week, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. the next, and 4 p.m. to 12 midnight the third and so on. This means that no sooner has he got used to one routine than he has to change to another, so that much of his time is spent neither working nor sleeping very efficiently.
　　The only real solution appears to be to hand over the night shift to a number of permanent night workers. An interesting study of the domestic life and health of night-shift workers was carried out by Brown in 1957. She found a high incidence (发生率) of disturbed sleep and other disorders among those on alternating day and night shifts, but no abnormal occurrence of these phenomena among those on permanent night work.
　　This latter system then appears to be the best long-term policy, but meanwhile something may be done to relieve the pressure of alternate day and night work by selecting those people who can adapt most quickly to the changes of routine. One way of knowing when a person has adapted is by measuring his body temperature. People occupied in normal daytime work will have a high temperature during the hours of wakefulness and a low one at night; when they change to night work the pattern will only gradually go back to match the new routine and the speed with which it does so parallels, broadly speaking, the adaptation of the body as a whole, particularly in terms of performance. Therefore, by taking body temperature at two-hour intervals(间隔时间) throughout the period of wakefulness, it can be seen how quickly a person can adapt to a reversed routine, and this could be used as a basis for selection. So far, however, such a form of selection does not seem to have been applied in practice.
小题1:The main problem of the round-the-clock working system lies in       .

A．the inconveniences brought about to the workers by the introduction of automation

B．the disturbance of the daily life cycle of workers who have to change shifts too frequently

C．the fact that people working at night are often less effective

D．the fact that it is difficult to find a number of good night workers

小题2:The best solution for implementing the 24-hour working system seems to be       .

A．to change shifts at longer intervals.

B．to have longer shifts

C．to arrange for some people to work on night shifts only

D．to create better living conditions for night workers

小题3:It is possible to find out if a person has adapted to the changes of routine by measuring his body temperature because       .

A．body temperature is higher when the cycle of sleep and wakefulness alternates

B．body temperature changes when he changes to night shift or back

C．the temperature reverses when the routine is changed

D．people have higher temperatures when they are working efficiently

小题4:Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE?

A．Body temperature may serve as an indication of a worker's performance.

B．The selection of a number of permanent night shift workers has proved to be the best solution to problems of the round-the- clock working system.

C．Taking body temperature at regular intervals can show how a person adapts to the changes of routine.

D．Disturbed sleep occurs less frequently among those on permanent night or day shifts.

Four out of ten parents in the UK spend between ￡100 and ￡500 on their children’s birthday parties, according to a survey. Four in ten parents of children under 18, who were questioned in a survey, admitted that they felt pressured into organizing more expensive birthday parties for their children than they would like to.
How much parents spend on their children’s birthday parties is one of the most frequently discussed topics on parenting websites. Here is one comment on Mumsnet summing up the thoughts of many parents: “Where we live everyone hires places, entertainers and so on. I don’t want to compare with my rich neighbors, but I want my son to have what all his classmates have.”
The research was carried out on behalf of the children’s charity, Lumos, set up by the author JK Rowling. Just 13 percent of parents spent ￡50 or less in the past year on their children’s parties.
Many children’s clowns(小丑) or entertainers charge ￡150 or more for an hour, and parents often feel it necessary to book a special place. Even without these, the cost of plates, the cake and party bags can mount up. Party Pieces, a company set up by Carole and Michael Middleton, charge about ￡16 for a birthday cake for a party with 16 guests, ￡22 for table decorations and up to ￡48 for party bags.
Many children of famous people have increasingly expensive parties, often seen in famous magazines. Suri Cruise, the daughter of actor Tom Cruise and actress Katie Holmes, enjoyed a ￡100,000 birthday party according to a report.
Georgette Mulheir of Lumos, said,“Parents in the UK are under increasing pressure to spend more and more money on birthday parties for their children and their children’s friends.”
小题1:What’s the main idea of this passage?

A．Children’s birthday parties put their parents under financial pressure in the UK.

B．Many parents are willing to spend more on their children’s birthday parties.

C．Parents pay more and more attention to their children’s birthday parties.

D．Children in the UK hope for more and more expensive birthday parties.

小题2: What does the underlined part “mount up” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．Increase.

B．Change.

C．Exist.

D．Count.

小题3:By the example of the birthday party for Suri Cruise, the writer probably wants to show that________.

A．famous people love their children very much

B．children of famous people can get whatever they want

C．some children of famous people have really expensive birthday parties

D．holding expensive birthday parties is common nowadays

小题4:In which of the following sections would you most probably read this passage?

A．Business

B．Education

C．Science

D．Family

America’s Beauty Is in Its Diversity
America is built on the idea of freedom, and there is no exception for Muslim women. I ______the freedom of religion and speech. But mostly, I believe it’s OK to be______, and to stand up for who and what you are. So I believe in wearing the hijab.
The hijab is a religious head covering, like a scarf. I am Muslim, and keeping my head covered is a ______ of maturity(成熟) and respect toward my ______and to Allah’s will. ______, I also like to wear it to be different. I don’t usually like to do what everyone else is doing. I want to be a(n) ______, not just part of the crowd. But when I first wore it, I was also afraid of the______ that I’d get at school.
I ______ on my own that sixth grade was the______ I should start wearing the hijab. I was ______ about what the kids would say or even do to me. I thought they might make fun of me, or ____ be scared of me and ______ my headscarf. Kids at that age usually like to be all the same, and there’s little or no ______of differences.
On the first day of school, I put all those ______ thoughts behind my back and walked in with my head held high. I was holding my breath a little, but ______ I was also proud to be a Muslim, proud to be wearing the hijab, proud to be different.
I was______ about everything I thought the kids would say or even do to me. I actually met a lot of people because of wearing my head covering. Most of the kids would come and ask me questions--______--about the hijab and why I wore it.
I did hear some kids were making fun of me, ______there was one girl-- she wasn’t even in my class, and we never really talked much-- and she spoke______ me, and I wasn’t even there! I made a lot of new friends that year, friends that I still have until this very day, five years later.
Yes, I’m different, but everyone is different here, in one way or another. This is the______of America.

小题1:	A．believe in B．stick to C．carry out D．push for

小题2:	A．dependent B．free C．sensitive D．different

小题3:	A．signal B．sign C．reminder D．cause

小题4:	A．religion B．country C．parents D．status

小题5:	A．In a word B．In general C．To be exact D．To be honest

小题6:	A．princess B．heroine C．individual D．adult

小题7:	A．praise B．punishment C．reaction D．reflection

小题8:	A．hoped B．expected C．realized D．decided

小题9:	A．time B．chance C．case D．occasion

小题10:

A．disappointed B．scared C．enthusiastic D．angry

小题11:

A．still B．already C．even D．ever

小题12:

A．show off B．pull off C．pick up D．put up

小题13:

A．rejection B．ignorance C．awareness D．acceptance

小题14:

A．negative B．optimistic C．serious D．strange

小题15:

A．often B．inside C．only D．outside

小题16:

A．concerned B．particular C．wrong D．convinced

小题17:

A．respectfully B．cautiously C．suspiciously D．critically

小题18:

A．and B．so C．but D．or

小题19:

A．in terms of B．in front of C．in charge of D．in favor of

小题20:

A．significance B．beauty C．value D．power

A few years ago, my younger brother and I went to Norfolk, Virginian by plane.       , before we took off, we heard the pilot’s voice throughout the plane, “sorry, ladies and gentlemen. We have no       on the plane. We have a generator(发电机), and we are going to        the engines with it. We will        in the air and head to Norfolk, and see what happens. ”
See what happens? We are going to get up in the air, and see what happens? At this point, one woman started crying. “Oh, no! We are going to       ！” There were sighs of desperation and       spreading throughout the plane, and we hadn’t even        yet. Thirty minutes passed and we were still        there. Then the voice of the pilot came over again,“ Ladies and gentlemen, I know you are       , so we are. We only have one engine going right now, and it is working double time. ”
There was crying       we had walked into grave. But, the pilot told us our one engine was working double time, and his        was to get up in the air and see what happens! Then we did. We got up in the air and         happened. We arrived in Norfolk and everyone        for still being alive.
Although I do sincerely like to have a plan        “see what happens”, which really isn’t such a bad life strategy, all too often, I would see people pursuing their goals        with inaction just because they don’t have        success. Actually, success will never be guaranteed. The       thing that you can do is just get up in the air, and see what hap­pens.
If you are planning to learn a new skill, get up in the air, and see what happens! It might not be as       as you thought. You might be smarter than you thought. It could be        ! So don’t stay there trying nothing just because there is no        of guaran­teed success.

小题1:	A．Hopefully B．Excitedly C．Unfortunately D．Thankfully

小题2:	A．service B．power C．water D．fuel

小题3:	A．shut B．fix C．change D．start

小题4:	A．get up B．pack up C．light up D．speed up

小题5:	A．wait B．delay C．crash D．suffer

小题6:	A．rumor B．anxiety C．disease D．smoke

小题7:	A．looked over B．gone out C．got across D．taken off

小题8:	A．sitting B．checking C．watching D．boarding

小题9:	A．puzzled B．patient C．desperate D．embarrassed

小题10:

A．even if B．as if C．what if D．only if

小题11:

A．comment B．complaint C．promise D．plan

小题12:

A．everything B．something C．nothing D．anything

小题13:

A．escaped B．cheered C．sighed D．praised

小题14:

A．less than B．other than C．better than D．more than

小题15:

A．frozen B．annoyed C．concerned D．satisfied

小题16:

A．realistic B．organized C．potential D．guaranteed

小题17:

A．same B．common C．best D．last

小题18:

A．interesting B．challenging C．surprising D．encouraging

小题19:

A．fun B．pain C．sorrow D．trouble

小题20:

A．meaning B．sigh C．action D．reward

In December 2008, Caroline Kennedy — daughter of the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy—sat down, as a frontrunner for the Senate seat in New York, for a televised interview that helped decide the future of her campaign. The result was a disaster.
Her performance wasn’t well received, in part because her speech was full of filler words—“ums,” “ahs” and “you knows.” One listener counted 27 “ums” and 38 “you knows” in the space of five minutes. A few weeks after the interview, Kennedy ended her Senate campaign.
Filler words may seem natural in everyday speech, but they can be deadly in formal presentations. “Using excessive fillers is the most annoying speech habit,” said Susan Ward, a speech specialist. “They take your listener’s attention away often to the point that he doesn’t hear anything you say. Your message is entirely lost.”
Many speakers are afraid of pause. They believe their audience will think they are inarticulate (不善于表达) if they pause to think of what to say next, so they use filler words to avoid the silence. However, a pause is actually more impressive than a filler word. Listeners know that the speaker is thinking, trying to find the right word. Sometimes a pause can actually improve a speech, as when an actor uses a dramatic pause to hold the attention of his audience. A speaker shouldn’t be afraid to pause occasionally during a speech; it shows self-confidence.
It takes some work to cut out filler words. You can begin by taking a few seconds to think about what you want to say the next time you are asked a question. This pause will help you begin powerfully, and it will help you avoid using a filler word.
The same public speaking technique applies when you are shifting from one idea to another. While you may be tempted to fill the silence between ideas with a filler word, remember to allow yourself to pause and think about what you want to say next.
If you need help overcoming your “um” problem, consider asking a family member or a friend to point out when you use filler words. You also could record an upcoming presentation and then watch yourself in action. You may be amazed at how often you say “um” or “uh”!
Although we live in a fast-paced society that seemingly demands instant answers, we must use the pause to our advantage. Finally, we should only speak when we are ready.
小题1:In the first two paragraphs of the article the writer intends to ______.

A．introduce Caroline Kennedy to readers

B．illustrate how deadly filler words can be in the public speech

C．explain what filler words are

D．remind readers that they should count filler words used in public speeches

小题2:The reason why filler words are considered annoying by speech specialist is that   ______.

A．they prevent the listener from focusing on what the speaker is saying.

B．they convey the speaker’s superiority to the listener.

C．they mean the speaker is not articulate at all.

D．they make the speaker appear self-confident.

小题3:When used properly, pauses in speeches can actually ______.

A．give the speaker more credibility

B．hold the attention of the audience

C．show the speaker’s deep insight

D．help the audience relax

小题4:Which of the following is NOT suggested as a way to get rid of filler words?

A．To have mental training in order to think faster.

B．To ask someone else to point out when you use filler words.

C．To watch a recording of your own speech.

D．To practice thinking for a moment before answering a question.

The popular US drama series “House of Cards”, which has already started its second season, features Chinese elements in its storyline. Traditional heroes are no longer sought after anymore. Today, it’s unconventional leading figure -like Francis J. Underwood from “House of Cards” who are winning audiences’ hearts.
The political drama, which airs on the Internet service Netflix, has won the applauses of viewers around the world since its debut(首次亮相) on February 1, 2013. And it has caught the attention of real politicians, including US President Barack Obama.
Kevin Spacey plays Francis J. Underwood, a cold-blooded Democrat who moves his way up the political ladder by any means necessary. He often uses his under-exposure in media to carry out misdeeds that will later benefit him.
The revenge(报仇) theme plays a heavy role throughout the storyline, Underwood, who had high hopes for an appointment as Secretary of State in the first season, was betrayed by the US President and his former colleagues. He and his wife then conducted a plan of revenge and swore to unseat those who turned their backs against him. Through their plan, Underwood’s own hunger for power grew and empowered him to get rid of whoever stood in his Way.
The release of the trailer(预告片) of the second season excited millions of viewers around the world, including US President Barack Obama, who has been a loyal fan since the series debuted. Obama expressed his admiration for Underwood. “This guy’s getting a lot of stuff done,” he said. Although the President is anxious to watch the story unfold, he’d like to do it at his own pace. After the release of the second season on February 14, 2014, Obama sent words on his Twitter account, “Tomorrow: @HouseOfCards. No spoilers , please.”
The second season has promised to be darker, with more unexpected turnouts, and is to include more Chinese elements. “Perhaps the team, including myself, has realized that in the next decade, Asia will be an extensively important region, and China will play an active role in its transition and change,” says Spacey.
小题1:The second season is different in that _____.

A．it is a political drama

B．more Chinese elements are involved

C．it has caught the attention of US President Barack Obama

D．Kevin Spacey, a cold-blooded Democrat, plays Francis’J. Underwood

小题2:The 3rd and 4th paragraph mainly deal with ______.

A．the plot of the drama series

B．the background of the drama series

C．the characters of the drama series

D．the popularity of the drama series

小题3:The author may agree that ______.

A．the second season is expected to be darker with more deaths

B．audiences lose their heart to traditional heroes in the drama

C．the drama is the reflection of politics of America in real life

D．the drama has won the recognition of viewers since its first season

小题4:The message sent by Obama on his Twitter account proves that he_______.

A．doesn’t wish to be told what to do as a drama fan

B．adores the drama so much that he wants to watch it in advance

C．doesn’t want to be disturbed while watching the drama

D．hopes nobody will inform him of the plot of the drama in advance

Dealing with conflict in the workplace is rarely easy. Hurt feelings and anger can lead to lower employee morale (士气) as well as a loss of productivity and a poor work environment. As a manager. you should find some ways yourself to solve the conflict. The goal is to build a team-centered workforce.
You can use role-reversal (角色转换) methods to help each employee understand how the other feels. This model works best when there are only two parties involved. You can hold a meeting with annoyed workers in your office. You might say. "Jane, explain to me how you would feel if Nancy went to lunch with your clients (客户 ) without telling you?" Or. "Nancy, how would you respond if Jane came to me with complaints about you, but hadn't tried to talk to you about them first? "
Workers often respond better to praise than criticism. By publicly drawing attention to employees who have healthy work relationships. you can increase the awareness for those who encourage any conflict. Avoid mentioning teams or departments that are being troubled by conflict. Instead. focus on the teams that work well together You might say. "I want to express thanks to the design team for working together to meet the deadline this week," or -Special thanks to the finance department for their teamwork in making sure that the quarterly reports were accurate"
And help your employees see that differences can be good and don't necessarily lead to anger or disagreement This is one of the best ways to settle workplace conflicts. You can meet with employees and try to stress the value of different techniques. This lets all parties know that their own styles can be effective. You might say. " I know you disagree on how to market our services. but when you combine Jim's email marketing with Joe's personal one-on-one phone calls, you can increase sales. The two of you go well together. " Or. "I know you have different styles for interacting with clients. but Sally's take-them-out-for-coffee approach works well together with Ann's formal business meeting style Both are necessary for building relationships and getting work done. "
小题1:To build a team-centered workforce, employers_________.

A．should learn to be considerate

B．should be divided into two parties

C．shouldn't go out with clients alone

D．should learn to accept public criticism

小题2:By saying the underlined sentence "I want to express thanks ...this week". the author tries to

A．differences are not all bad

B．role reversals are necessary

C．the importance of working together

D．the importance of focusing on the positive

小题3:The author's purpose of writing the text is most likely to ________.

A．inform

B．persuade

C．instruct

D．eutertain

The Festival of Cultures is an annual event to celebrate the wide range of cultures found in our great state. People representing 40 cultural groups will share their traditions and customs. Here are just a few of the festival's many activities.
Crafts: See the fine art of basket weaving from Vietnam and Zimbabewe. Watch the delicate art of making paper umbrellas from Thailand and the decorative craft of paper picado, or paper cutting, from Mexico. All craft demonstrations provide a firsthand view of how things are made. You will appreciate the process involved in making these products.
Music and Dance: Experience musical instruments that you have never heard before. Listen to the music of a sho from Japan, a bull-roarer from Australia, a sitar from India, and a chakay from Tailand. You will also be entertained by folk dances from around the world, such as the troika from Russia and the mayim mayim from Israel. From 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. on August 14, special folk-dancing classes for children will be offered. Children ranging in age from 6 – 8 can learn the kinderpolka from Germany. Children ranging in age from 9 – 12 can learn the raspa from Mexico.
Storytelling: Listen for hours as professional storytellers charm you with captivating tales. Fables, folktales, and ballads from various countries will be told. By popular demand, Gwendolyn Washington, a famous African American storyteller, is back.
Food: Enjoy irresistible foods from other countries, such as gyros from Greece, seafood paella from Spain, crepes from France, and tandoori chicken from India. These tasty dishes will be difficult to pass up.

The festival of Cultures is sponsored by the World Marketplace. For more information about the festival, call (800) 555 – 0199.
小题1:In the festival, you are most likely to see the art of making _______.

A．paper.

B．umbrellas.

C．bamboo beds.

D．flower vases.

小题2:Which of these is a dance from Germany?

A．The troika.

B．The raspa.

C．The kinderpolka.

D．The mayim mayim

小题3:The underlined word “irresistible” means ________.

A．in large quantities	B．with natural tastes
C．not able to be refused	D．hot but delicious

小题4:For a family with children aged 6—12, which day would be the best bargain for visiting the festival?

A．August 11

B．August 12

C．August 13

D．August 14

Consumer electronics once again topped the list of the most wanted gifts this holiday season. “Seventy-six percent of consumers who plan to buy holiday gifts say that they will spend money buying at least one technology product; definitely a solid vote of confidence for technology.” Steve Koenig is with the Consumer Electronics Association. He says the group’s latest research also shows that Americans this year are spending more on technology products.
“Here in 2012, $252 on average–the technology spend for consumers this year.” From tablet computers to smartphones, American shoppers have been lining up to get the newest and coolest electronic devices on the market. There are more choices today than ever before. “It’s kind of hard to make a decision.”
Tablet computers are one of the best-selling products this year. Brian Tong is Senior Editor of CNET.com. The website reports on tech news and examines the latest electronic products. He says the Apple iPad Mini is one of the most popular tablets. Its starting price is $329. One of Apple’s biggest competitors is the Google Nexus 7. It starts at $199.
“The hardware inside is more powerful than what’s in the iPad Mini, but also it offers you a lot of things like maps that work better than Apple’s maps.” Brian Tong says there is one reason why people may like the iPad Mini more than the Nexus 7. “If you just want to read books and surf the Internet, you don’t really need to get an iPad Mini, but if you want the largest group of apps that’s where the iPad and Apple’s ecosystem shines the most.”
Elman Chacon is with the electronics store Best Buy. He says another hot product this season is smart cameras. They connect to the Internet through Wi-Fi. This makes it easy for users to email or upload photographs directly from the camera. “You can literally take a picture, upload it into your Facebook in a matter of seconds. These things are pretty cool because they do a lot of things.”
Streaming media boxes also connect to the Internet. People are able to watch web content such as movies and YouTube videos on their televisions. Another popular item is wireless speaker systems. The newest ones work with any device that has Bluetooth technology, including smartphones, laptops and tablets.
With the growing popularity of Internet shopping, many consumers will visit a store first to look at a product, and then go online to find it at a lower price. Stores like Best Buy understand that and they want to stay competitive.
“We have something called the perfect match promise which means if you buy a certain device and you find it cheaper within 30 days we’ll go ahead and price match that for you.” Elman Chacon said.           
小题1:According to Brain Tong, ________.

A．the Apple’s iPad Mini is more suitable for enthusiastic readers

B．the hardware in iPad Mini is more advanced than that in Nexus 7

C．Nexus 7 has fewer apps than iPad Mini

D．iPad mini is more eco-friendly

小题2:If you’ve discovered that a certain device you bought at Best Buy is more expensive than one at another store, ________.

A．you are sure to get double the amount you paid

B．you can return the device and get your money back

C．the store will return the price differences

D．the store will lower the price within 30 days

小题3:Which of the following would be the best gift for a cab driver?

A．Smart cameras.	B．Streaming media boxes.
C．Wireless speaker systems.	D．Tablet computers.

What could be cuter than your puppy giving his doggy friend a kiss on the nose? Nothing, really. But is your dog actual-fly planting a kiss on his friend? Yes, but that’s only one of the reasons your dog may lick another dog’s nose. Here are some other reasons why your dog may lick another dog’s nose.    
During an introduction, a shy and lower-ranking dog will lower his head, avoid direct eye contact and gently extend his tongue to lick the nose of a more confident and high-ranking dog. The first dog licks the nose of the second dog to simply make it know that：he comes in peace.
Dogs who are already friends will also trade kisses. Two strongly bonded dog pals will lick and clean each other. They give each other “dog kisses” showing friendship.
Puppies also “kiss” their mothers, but it's not a gesture of love. When puppies stop suckling(吸吮)their mothers’ tits for milk and start to eat semisolid(半固体)food instead；they lick their mothers’ mouths and noses in the hope of getting the mother to regurgitate(反哺) some semi-digested food.
So how to help your bashful dog make friends with other dogs? You can carefully select confident-but-friendly and good-tempered dogs to play with your shy dog, to help him develop his social skills. Also consider taking him to a special training class that focuses on socialization and positive training technique.
Do not disturb them when your two dogs play “kiss” briefly with each other. Sit back and enjoy this display of friendship. Then call them over and have them do a command such as “sit’’ or “shake paws”. Offer them treats as a reward for being good to each other.
If you foster(收养)a dog and have three or more resident dogs, introduce the foster dog to your brood dog one at a time and let muzzle licking between them happen naturally. Start with your least reactive or most friendly dog. Never force an in production between the dogs because this can deepen the foster dog’s submissiveness or spark a fight.
小题1:We know a shy and lower—ranking dog licks the nose of a higher-ranking dog to        .

A．ask the dog for help	B．show he is friendly
C．show his anger	D．show his respect for him

小题2:What can we know about two dogs who are already friends?

A．They seldom give each other kisses.

B．They usually avoid direct eye contact.

C．They like keeping their friendship a secret.

D．They show their friendship by “dog kisses”.

小题3:What does the underlined word “bashful” in Paragraphs 5 mean?

A．Shy.

B．Honest.

C．Lovely.

D．Little.

小题4:What should you do if your two dogs play “kiss” briefly with each other?

A．Ask them to stay away from each other immediately.

B．Ask them to shake tails.

C．Ask them to have a fight.

D．Give them a reward for being friends.

小题5:The writer wrote this passage to_________.

A．tell us about a study he did recently

B．explain why a dog kisses other dogs

C．tell us how to raise dogs

D．help us to make friends with dogs.