Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad has been retired. But he didn’t go quietly. In his final speech, he blamed the Jewish people for the problems between Israel and the Palestinians.

“The Jews have taken land of the Muslims,” he said. “What if part of America was given to the Jews as Israel? Would the Americans let it happen? Of course not.”

His words angered many western governments, but Mahathir doesn’t care. “I like to speak my mind,” the 77-year-old explained. “Sometimes people don’t like it. But that is what leadership is all about.”

Loved by some and disliked by others, his 22 years in power have seen great changes in Malaysia. He has taken it from being one of Asia’s poorest countries to the world’s 18th largest trading nation. It is also a peaceful country with native Malaysians living alongside minority groups. Chinese make up a quarter of the population, while a further 7.4 percent are of Indian origin. Teenage girls wearing Muslim^① headscarves happily walk around large stores as ethnic Chinese play mah-jong^② in nearby cafes.

But Mahathir has made enemies at home and abroad and some people will be glad he has gone. The US was unhappy when he often blamed it for globalization. Meanwhile, critics say that he has limited the freedom of the Malaysian people in order to stay in control of the country. Despite this, he is a hero to leaders in Southeast Asia as well as those in the Islamic^③ world. “He marked out the path to success for developing nations in the region to follow,” said Thai President Thaksin Shinawatra.

Now he just wants to enjoy his retirement and insists that he will not take on a special role in government. “I’m a nobody,” he said. But many Malaysians do not agree with this.

Notes:

Muslim  adj. 穆斯林的

mah-jong  n. 麻将

Islamic  adj. 伊斯兰教的

Choose the best answers according to the above:

What does Mahathir probably mean by saying “But that is what leadership is all about.”?

A. The Jews have taken land of the Muslines by strong power of their leadership.

B. America should give part of its land to Israel though its leadership is powerful.

C. Leadership has the obligation to speak up what you think is right or wrong.

D. As a leader of a country, you have the right to teach those in other countries what to do and how.

Which is NOT true about the following?

A. Malaysia was no longer poor after Mahathir came into power.

B. Malaysia is a country with natives and other minorities like Jews living alongside

   peacefully.

C. Malaysia developed a lot within Mahathir’s power but freedom of Malaysians was

   limited.

D. Mahathir’s role in the world is both a hero to leaders in Southeast Asia but also a possible enemy of some countries.

The best title of this passage would be _________.

A. A Religion Enthusiast                            B. Mahathir’s Political Policy

C. Mahathir Is Malaysia D. Hero of the World

A typical① Chinese Internet user is a young male who prefers instant messaging to e-mail, seldom makes online purchases② and favors news, music and games sites. According to a study, about two-thirds of survey participants③ use the Internet for news — often entertainment-related — or for online games. About half download music and movies.

They also tend to prefer instant messaging to e-mail, and they are depending on the Internet more frequently than before to communicate with others who have the same professions, hobbies and political interests. Online purchases still remain unpopular in China. Three-quarters of users surveyed have never bought anything over the Internet, and only 10 percent make purchases even once a month. Among those who do buy online, most pay for entertainment while others buy phone cards, or computer hardware or software.

“Many people don’t trust the quality of goods bought online,” Guo said Wednesday. “If they buy it in a store and don’t like it, they can easily bring it back.”

The survey was done in five major cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Changsha. Results do not necessarily project countrywide because Internet use in rural areas is lower than in cities. Guo describes the typical netizen④ in the five cities surveyed as young, male, richer and more highly educated. Males make up two-thirds of the Internet community, and more than 80 percent of users are under 24. Among people ages 25 to 29, 60 percent to 80 percent go online.

China has more than 100 million people online, second in the world to the United States.

Notes:

① typical  adj.  典型的

② purchase   n. / v.  购买

③ participant  n. 参与者

④ netizen  n. 网民

Choose the best answers according to the above:

A typical Chinese Internet user will be the one who _________.

        A. likes to send e-mails                 B. likes to buy goods online

        C. likes to pay for entertainment          D. likes the games sites

Online purchases still remain unpopular in China mainly because _________.

        A. it is more difficult for sales returns       

B. people haven’t computers

        C. people can’t have a look at the goods     

D. goods bought online are of low quality

Which of the following words fails to describe the typical netizens in the five cities?

        A. well educated     B. richer     C. female     D. young

According to the text, which of the following shows the right relation between online people and their ages?

        A.       B.

C.       D.

Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad has been retired. But he didn’t go quietly. In his final speech, he blamed the Jewish people for the problems between Israel and the Palestinians.
“The Jews have taken land of the Muslims,” he said. “What if part of America was given to the Jews as Israel? Would the Americans let it happen? Of course not.”
His words angered many western governments, but Mahathir doesn’t care. “I like to speak my mind,” the 77-year-old explained. “Sometimes people don’t like it. But that is what leadership is all about.”
Loved by some and disliked by others, his 22 years in power have seen great changes in Malaysia. He has taken it from being one of Asia’s poorest countries to the world’s 18th largest trading nation. It is also a peaceful country with native Malaysians living alongside minority groups. Chinese make up a quarter of the population, while a further 7.4 percent are of Indian origin. Teenage girls wearing Muslim^① headscarves happily walk around large stores as ethnic Chinese play mah-jong^② in nearby cafes.
But Mahathir has made enemies at home and abroad and some people will be glad he has gone. The US was unhappy when he often blamed it for globalization. Meanwhile, critics say that he has limited the freedom of the Malaysian people in order to stay in control of the country. Despite this, he is a hero to leaders in Southeast Asia as well as those in the Islamic^③ world. “He marked out the path to success for developing nations in the region to follow,” said Thai President Thaksin Shinawatra.
Now he just wants to enjoy his retirement and insists that he will not take on a special role in government. “I’m a nobody,” he said. But many Malaysians do not agree with this.
Notes:
①    Muslim  adj. 穆斯林的
②    mah-jong  n. 麻将
③    Islamic  adj. 伊斯兰教的
Choose the best answers according to the above:

1. 1.

   What does Mahathir probably mean by saying “But that is what leadership is all about.”?

   1. A.
      The Jews have taken land of the Muslines by strong power of their leadership.
   2. B.
      America should give part of its land to Israel though its leadership is powerful.
   3. C.
      Leadership has the obligation to speak up what you think is right or wrong.
   4. D.
      As a leader of a country, you have the right to teach those in other countries what to do and how.
2. 2.

   Which is NOT true about the following?

   1. A.
      Malaysia was no longer poor after Mahathir came into power.
   2. B.
      Malaysia is a country with natives and other minorities like Jews living alongside
      peacefully.
   3. C.
      Malaysia developed a lot within Mahathir’s power but freedom of Malaysians was
      limited.
   4. D.
      Mahathir’s role in the world is both a hero to leaders in Southeast Asia but also a possible enemy of some countries.
3. 3.

   The best title of this passage would be _________.

   1. A.
      A Religion Enthusiast
   2. B.
      Mahathir’s Political Policy
   3. C.
      Mahathir Is Malaysia
   4. D.
      Hero of the World

　　  Voluntary, or free unions, leave the choice of membership up to individuals. Not everyone must join the union, but enough people do join so that the union keeps power in the workplace. The purpose of this type of union is to establish a good living standard for employees and also to protect this standard during times of economic difficulty. Countries where this type of union is popular include most of Western Europe, Britain, Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.

　　  Membership in bureaucratic unions is also voluntary, but because these unions are closely connected to political parties in the countries where these unions operate, members of the party include themselves as members of the union. This type of union's main purpose is to set up good relations between the ruling government and members of the union. Political and social reforms おare the main goals of this type of union. Bureaucratic unions are found in Latin America, and some Asian and African countries.

　　  When unions and employers do not see eye to eye on an issue, the union sends some of its workers to meet with the employers and try to reach an agreement. However, collective bargaining does not always sufficiently influence policy makers. When this technique fails to meet the union goals, a strike may be called. Strikes may take several different forms including pickets, sit-down strikes, and also general strikes in which labor for an entire region may stop. Unions have found that strikes are the most effective in times when unemployment is low and economic conditions are good.