Without most people realizing it, there has been revolution in office work over the last ten years. Before that time, large computers were only used by large rich companies that could afford the investment. With the advancement of technology, small computers have come onto the market which are capable of doing the work which used to be done by much larger and expensive computers, so now most smaller companies can use them.

The main development in small computers has been in the field of word processors, or WPS as they are often called. 40% of British offices are now estimated to have a word processor and this percentage is growing fast.

There are many advantages in using a word processor for both secretary and manager. The secretary is freed from a lot of daily work, such as re-typing letters and storing papers. He or she can use this time to do other more interesting work for the boss. From a manager’s point of view, secretarial time is being made better use of and money can be saved by doing daily jobs automatically outside office hours.

But is it all good? If a lot of daily secretarial work can be done automatically, surely this will mean that fewer secretaries will be needed. Another worry is the increasing medical problems related to work with visual display units（显示器）. The case of a slow loss of sight among people usingお word processors seems to have risen greatly. It is also feared that if a woman works at a VDU for long hours, the unborn child in her body might be killed. Safety screens to put over a VDU have been invented but few companies in England bother to buy them.

Whatever the arguments for and against word processors, they are a key feature of this revolution in office practice.

1. Ten years ago, large computers were only used by large companies because________.

A. small companies did not have enough money to buy such expensive computers

B. large computers could not do the work that small companies can do today

C. large computers did not come onto the market

D. small companies did not need to use this new technology

2. According to the writer, the main progress made in office work over the last ten years is______.

A. the saving of time and money

B. the use of computers in big companies

C. the wide use of word processors

D. the decreasing number of secretaries.

3. Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A. There are both advantages and disadvantages in using a word processor.

B. The British companies care much for the health of the people using word processors.

C. The technology in the field of computers has been greatly advanced over the last ten years.

D. Using word processors, secretaries can get more time to do more interesting work for their bosses.

阅读理解

Without most people realizing it, there has been revolution in office work over the last ten years. Before that time, large computers were only used by large rich companies that could afford the investment. With the advancement of technology, small computers have come onto the market which are capable of doing the work which used to be done by much larger and expensive computers, so now most smaller companies can use them.

The main development in small computers has been in the field of word processors, or WPS as they are often called. 40% of British offices are now estimated to have a word processor and this percentage is growing fast.

There are many advantages in using a word processor for both secretary and manager. The secretary is freed from a lot of daily work, such as re-typing letters and storing papers. He or she can use this time to do other more interesting work for the boss. From a manager’s point of view, secretarial time is being made better use of and money can be saved by doing daily jobs automatically outside office hours.

But is it all good? If a lot of daily secretarial work can be done automatically, surely this will mean that fewer secretaries will be needed. Another worry is the increasing medical problems related to work with visual display units（显示器）. The case of a slow loss of sight among people usingお word processors seems to have risen greatly. It is also feared that if a woman works at a VDU for long hours, the unborn child in her body might be killed. Safety screens to put over a VDU have been invented but few companies in England bother to buy them.

Whatever the arguments for and against word processors, they are a key feature of this revolution in office practice.

1. Ten years ago, large computers were only used by large companies because________.

A. small companies did not have enough money to buy such expensive computers

B. large computers could not do the work that small companies can do today

C. large computers did not come onto the market

D. small companies did not need to use this new technology

2. According to the writer, the main progress made in office work over the last ten years is______.

A. the saving of time and money

B. the use of computers in big companies

C. the wide use of word processors

D. the decreasing number of secretaries.

3. Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A. There are both advantages and disadvantages in using a word processor.

B. The British companies care much for the health of the people using word processors.

C. The technology in the field of computers has been greatly advanced over the last ten years.

D. Using word processors, secretaries can get more time to do more interesting work for their bosses.

A square is formed by four couples who stand facing the centre of the square. Each couple stands on one side of the square, the boy on the left and the girl on the right.

The caller is an important part of the dance since he tells the dancers which steps to do. If the dancers do not know the steps he teaches them. It takes time to learn to be a good caller, and good callers are always in demand.

These are the names of some of the steps the dancers do: Form a square; Circle; Honor your partner; Promenade(Walk about slowly); Wing your partner; Form a star. There are many more. As the caller tells the dancers what to do next, they move to form the pattern he calls.

Large or small numbers of people can dance at one time. Sometimes 800 or 1 000 people may be dancing at the same time. Or there may be only one square of eight people.

1. In the past people danced 　　　　　　   .

A. when they were doing their work

B. before they did their work

C. after they finished their work

D. before a big party

2. In the first paragraph, the word clap means 　　　　　　   .

A. hit the hands together to make a sound

B. a kind of thing like the radio

C. shout at the top of one’s voice

D. knock something to make a sound

3. If 1 000 people dance at the same time, how many squares can be formed?

A. Only one big square. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  B. 1 000 squares.

C. More than 100 squares. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  D. Less than 100 squares.

In the United States the most popular form of folk dancing since the earliest days has been square dancing. In early times, when men and women worked in groups to build a barn(building where animals are kept) or harvest crops, they danced when the work was done. The music came from a violin from the most part, but if there was no one to play the instrument, clapping was used to produce the rhythm(loud and soft sound made in a certain order)by which to dance. The early settlers danced in a store, in a barn or in a farm kitchen.

A square is formed by four couples who stand facing the centre of the square. Each couple stands on one side of the square, the boy on the left and the girl on the right.

The caller is an important part of the dance since he tells the dancers which steps to do. If the dancers do not know the steps he teaches them. It takes time to learn to be a good caller, and good callers are always in demand.

These are the names of some of the steps the dancers do: Form a square; Circle; Honor your partner; Promenade(Walk about slowly); Wing your partner; Form a star. There are many more. As the caller tells the dancers what to do next, they move to form the pattern he calls.

Large or small numbers of people can dance at one time. Sometimes 800 or 1 000 people may be dancing at the same time. Or there may be only one square of eight people.

1. In the past people danced 　　　　　　   .

A. when they were doing their work

B. before they did their work

C. after they finished their work

D. before a big party

2. In the first paragraph, the word clap means 　　　　　　   .

A. hit the hands together to make a sound

B. a kind of thing like the radio

C. shout at the top of one’s voice

D. knock something to make a sound

3. If 1 000 people dance at the same time, how many squares can be formed?

A. Only one big square. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  B. 1 000 squares.

C. More than 100 squares. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  D. Less than 100 squares.