For most people,shopping is still a matter of wandering down the street or loading a cart in a shopping mall.Soon,that will change. Electronic commerce (trade) is growing fast and will soon bring people more
choices.There will, however, be a cost:protecting the consumer from being cheated will be harder. Many
governments therefore want to apply strict regulations to the electronic world. But  politicians would be
wiser to see cyberspace as a basis for a new era of corporate selfregulation.
    Consumers in rich countries have grown used to the idea that the government takes responsibility for
everything from the stability of the banks to the safety of the drugs or their rights to refund when goods are
faulty.But governments cannot enforce national laws on businesses whose only presence is on the screen.
Even in a country where a clear right to compensation exists,the online customer in Tokyo,say,can hardly
go to New York to get a refund for a clothes purchase.
    One answer is for government to cooperate more:to recognize each other's rules.But that requires years
of work and volumes of detailed rules.And plenty of countries have rules too fanciful for sober countries to
accept.There is,however,another choice.Let the electronic businesses do the regulation themselves.They
do,after all,have a selfinterest in doing so.
   In electronic commerce,a reputation for honest dealing will be a valuable competitive asset.Governments,
too,may compete to be trusted.For instance,customers ordering medicines online may prefer to buy from
the United States because they trust the rigorous screening of the Food and Drug Administration；or they
may decide that the FDA's rules are too strict,and buy from Switzerland instead.
   Customers will still need to use their judgment.But precisely because the technology is new,electronic
shoppers are likely for a while to be a lot more cautious than customers of the normal sort.And the new
technology will also make it easier for them to complain when a company lets them down.In this way,at l
east,the advent of cyberspace may argue for fewer consumer protection laws,not more.

1．According to the author,what will be the best policy for electronic commerce?

A．Selfregulation by the businesses.
B．Strict consumer protection laws.
C．Close international cooperation.
D．Government protection

2．In case an electronic shopper bought faulty goods from a foreign country,what could he do?

A．Refuse to pay for the purchase.
B．Go to the seller and ask for a refund.
C．Appeal to consumer protection law.
D．Complain about it on the Internet.

3．In the author's view,businesses would place a high emphasis on honest dealing because in the
electronic world________.

A．international cooperation would be much more frequent
B．consumers could easily seek government protection
C．a(chǎn) good reputation is a great advantage in competition
D．it would be easy for consumers to complain

4．We can infer from the passage that in licensing new drugs the FDA in the United States is________.

A．very quick  
B．very cautious
C．very slow  
D．rather careless

5．If a customer buys something that does not meet his expectation,what is the advantage of dealing
through electronic commerce over the present normal one?

A．It will be easier for him to return the goods he is not satisfied with.
B．It will be easier for him to attain the refund from the seller.
C．It will be easier for him to get his complaints heard by other consumers.
D．It will be easier for him to complain about this to the government.

     There is nothing else but economy that occupies the minds of Americans at present times of economic
crisis (經(jīng)濟(jì)危機(jī)). The statistics on unemployment, housing costs and consumer confidence keep coming
and coming, leaving people not just scared to spend money but also very stressed and emotionally
exhausted. This stress (壓力) has an effect on everything, starting with our sleep, moods, physical health,
relationships and eating habits.
     "Time of economic stress leads to increase rates of depression (憂郁)," says Dr Christopher Palmer,
director of continuing education at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts. "It worsens illness in
people who have been constantly depressed. But it also causes new cases of depression. Just the fear of
losing one's job can put people over the edge."
     And, without any doubt,just depression alone can create a variety of bad health effects.
     ● Sleep
     33 percent of Americans reported that they have lost sleep due to the economic crisis.
     26 percent say they are sleeping less than 6 hours per night, which is considered to be at least one hour less than the most favorable 7 to 8 hours recommended by sleep experts.
     ● Mental health,stress and heart attack
     80 percent of Americans reported that last year the economy is a huge source of stress; 49 percent said the situation make them feel nervous or anxious; 48 percent reported that they feel very sad and have
developed depression.
     Nearly twice the risk of heart attack or death was found in patients with the highest levels of depression or anxiety. Among those individuals, a 10 percent higher rise of heart attack or death was found in those
whose anxiety rose over time.
     ● Relationships
     The chances of violent (暴力的) behavior are nearly 6 times higher for individuals who are left without a job.
     Workplace stress can lead to domestic violence.

1. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Now Americans don't dare to spend money.
B. Now all Americans have problems in sleeping.
C. Economy is the most troubling problem for Americans now.
D. Economic crisis has destroyed many American families.

2. How does the economic crisis affect most Americans according to the passage?

A. They sleep less than six hours.
B. They sleep less than the proper amount.
C. Diseases caused by economy make them sleepless.
D. They lose sleep at night.

3. If a person is out of work, he might _____.

A. become more violent  
B. get divorced (離婚)
C. get rid of workplace stress  
D. go mad

4. The best title of this passage is probably "_____".

A. The World Economic Crisis is Getting Worse
B. Economic Crisis Affects Americans' Health
C. Economic Crisis Causes Trouble to Sleep
D. Ordinary People Suffer Greatly in Economic Crisis

     In recent years many countries have been faced with the problem of how to make their workers more
productive. Some experts believe that the answer is to make jobs more varied. Do more varied jobs lead
to greater productivity? There is something to suggest that while variety certainly makes the worker's life
more enjoyable, it does not make him work harder. So variety is not important.
     Other experts feel that giving the worker freedom to do his job in his own way is important and there is no doubt that this is true. The problem is that this kind of freedom cannot easily be given in the modern factory with its complicated machinery which must be used in a fixed way. Thus while freedom of choice may be important, there is very little that can be done to achieve this.
     Another important consideration is how much each worker contributes to the product he is making. In most factories the worker sees only one small part of the product. Some car factories are said to be
experimenting with having many small production lines rather than a large one, so that each worker
contributes more to the production of the cars on his line.It would seem then that the degree of workers'
contribution is important.
     To what extent does more money lead to greater productivity? The workers themselves cartainly think
this is important, but perhaps they want more money only because the work they do is so boring. Money
just lets them enjoy their spare time more. A similar argument may explain demands for shorter working
hours. Perhaps if companies succeed in making workers' jobs more interesting, they will neither want more money, nor will shorter working hours be so important to them.

1. Which of the following things will not increase productivity?

A. Making jobs more varied.
B. Giving workers freedom to do their jobs in their own way.
C. Increasing workers' contribution to production.
D. Longer working hours.

2. The last sentence in this passage means that if companies manage to make workers' jobs more
interesting, _____.

A. they will want more money
B. they will demand shorter working hours
C. more money and shorter working hours are important
D. more money and shorter working hours will not be so important to them

3. In this passage, the writer tells us _____.

A. how to make workers more productive
B. possible factors leading to greater productivity
C. more money leads to greater productivity
D. how to make workers' jobs more interesting

4. The writer of this passage is probably a _____.

A. teacher  
B. worker  
C. manager  
D. physicist

     BELIEVE it or not, the color of the tie Barack Obama wore to the inauguration (就職典禮) is now
a hotly debated topic.The level of public interest in Obama’s tie might seem strange but many people
believe his choice will symbolize the type of government he plans to run, as the color of a politician’s tie
is thought to convey ideas of power, trustworthiness and more.
     Polities of ties
     It may be the least practical item of male dress, but it is arguably the most expressive.In the UK and
many other countries around the world, conservative (保守的) politicians may wear a blue tie and their
liberal opponents a red one.In America, the colors go the other way round.The Republicans have in
recent years become associated with the color red, and the Democrats with blue.But in spite of this,
Bush wears blue ties more often than any other color.
     What they mean
     According to Sharon Haver, editor of focusonstyle.com, in America the feelings associated with
colors overrule their political significance.“A guy who wants to be regarded as strong and in charge
would wear red, ” Haver says.Unsurprisingly, the business tycoon Donald Trump is known for wearing
red ties.But what about blue？According to Haver, “Blue is a softer color...Look at the sky.It’s peaceful
and calm and trustworthy.”
     Selecting the right tie for the right occasion
     Perfect job interview tie
     Perhaps no other tiewearing occasion is as important as the job interview.Gilchrist, the fashion expert,
advises playing it safe and choosing a conservative one.Best choices are solids, stripes or small patterns.
An excellent color is burgundy (深紅色) or another serious color.Avoid pink or yellow, which suggests
that the wearer lacks gravity.
     Pattern ties, Gilchrist suggests, should be limited to a maximum of three colors.A striped tie is a safe
choice as this is acceptable to everyone.Last, Gilchrist recommends saving the expensive “hip” tie for
those applying for glamorous creative jobs.
     Datenight tie
     When picking out the right tie for taking a girl out on a date, spend more time considering color than
pattern.According to studies, women are attracted to men wearing the color blue, because blue gives the
image of a “stable, faithful, constant, always there” person.So what is the worst color to wear on a date？“Flattened caterpillar (毛蟲) yellowgreen, ” according  to Gilchrist, “it will repel both sexes equally.”

1. Why are people interested in the tie that Obama wore to the inauguration?

A. Because they think the tie he wore will enable them to know about his personalities and policies.
B. Because they want to advise him how to select an appropriate tie for such a big occasion.
C. Because they think the tie will tell if he is trustworthy as they expected when he assumes office.
D. Because they believe the tie is an essential part of dressing to a mature politician like Obama.

2. What can we infer about Bush, the former president, from the passage?

A. He was probably liberal in his policies when he was in power.
B. He was a Republican when he served as president.
C. He wore only blue ties and had no ties of alternative colors.
D. He wanted to make himself unique by the tie that he wore.

3. The example of “the business tycoon Donald Trump” is given to________.

A. prove that color reflects people’s feelings to a certain degree
B. show that Donald is so wealthy that he can afford expensive ties
C. tell that Donald is physically strong and can handle everything
D. explain that red is a popular color, especially with businessmen

4. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the text?

A. Ties can be ignored by politicians since they are the least practical item of male dress.
B. Do choose ties carefully before dating, because it is the most important occasion.
C. Why to avoid pink or yellow ties in job interviews is that they don’t match the atmosphere.
D. The more colorful the tie is, the more likely you’ll get the job you want.

                                    United Nations Climate Change Conference
     The UN Climate Change conference opened in Copenhagen,Denmark on Dec,7th with some 15,000
delegates and observers from nearly 200 countries attending what is called the last best chance for an agreement to combat (與……戰(zhàn)斗) global warming.
     Their aim is to find common ground,including on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions,promotion and
transfer of new more ecofriendly technology and the necessary funding to make this possible,especially for the less developed and poorer nations.It also means coming up with long term vision and cooperation for
the future.
     Most scientists believe the warming trend is mainly caused by human activity,especially the use of
fossil fuels and the cutting down of forests.Skeptics (懷疑論者) say global warming is part of a natural
cycle of climate change.
      In Copenhagen,experts and officials alike are putting the emphasis on what people and governments
can do to cut the emission of greenhouse gases.
     Scientists say a 25 to 40 percent cut in carbondioxide emissions is needed to control global warming.
The European Union,China,and India have already promised reductions.The United States is waiting for
Congressional (國會(huì)的) approval for a proposal put forward by the Obama administration.
     Barack Obama,President of the United States said,"Each of us must do what,we can when we can to
grow our economies without endangering our planet-and we must all do it together.We must seize the
opportunity to make Copenhagen a significant step forward in the global fight against climate change."
    Desmond Tutu,Archbishop of South Africa said,"Worldwide,we have the chance to start turning the
tide of climate change,but only if all governments commit themselves to a fair,binding(有約束力的) and
sustainable climate agreement in Copenhagen."

1. From the first paragraph we can infer that________.

A. people think that this conference is of no use
B. this conference is the last one to be held about the climate change
C. before this conference nothing could be done with the climate
D. people expect a final agreement will be achieved

2. Which is NOT included in the aim of this conference?

A. To reduce the emission of the greenhouse gases.
B. To develop the agriculture of the developed countries.
C. To cooperate with each other for the future.
D. To transfer new more ecofriendly technology.

3. Which statement is TRUE according to the passage?

A. The USA refuses to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.
B. The European Union is waiting for all its members'approval.
C. China and India have agreed to cut carbondioxide emissions.
D. South Africa doesn't think much of this conference.

4. What is Obama's attitude according to his words?

A. Doubtful.  
B. Positive.  
C. Negative.  
D. Regretful.

5. ________is the reason of global warming according to the skeptics.

A. Human activity  
B. Fossil fuels
C. The cutting down of trees
D. Natural climate change

     Malls are popular places for Americans to go. Some people spend so much time at malls that they are
called mall rats. Mall rats shop until they drop in the hundreds of stores under one roof.
     People like malls for many reasons. They feel safe because malls have police stations or private security guards. Parking is usually free, and the weather inside is always fine. The newest malls have beautiful rest
area with waterfalls and large green trees.
     The largest mall in the United States is the Mall of America in Minnesota. It covers 4.2 million square
feet. It has 350 stores, eight night clubs, and a seven-acre park! There are parking spaces for 12,750 cars. About 750,000 people shop every week.
     The first indoor mall in the United States was built in 1965 in Edina, Minnesota. People loved doing all
their shopping in one place. More malls were built all over the country. Now, malls are like town centres
where people come to do many things. They shop, of course. They also eat in food houses that have food
from all over the world. They see movies at theatres. Some people even get their daily exercise by doing
the new sport of mall walking. Others go to malls to meet friends.
     In some malls, people can see a doctor or a dentist and even attend church. In other words, people can do just about everything in malls. Now residents can actually live in their favourite shopping centre.

1. Nowadays, malls are __________.

A. large shopping centres which also act as town centres
B. large parks with shops
C. the most popular place Americans go to
D. town centres

2. Why have malls become so popular?

A. Because people can do everything there.
B. Because people can do many other things besides shopping for all they need.
C. Because people believe that malls are much safer places.
D. Because people enjoy the fresh air and can have a good rest there.

3. Malls have to be large places because __________.

A. many people drive their cars to go to malls
B. there have to be some restaurants, clinics and theatres
C. many people hope to do sports in the malls
D. they have to meet different needs of so many people

4. Those __________ are called mall rats.

A. who are busy stealing in the mall
B. who have visited the biggest malls
C. who are often found busy shopping in malls
D. who live under the roof of the mall

5. According to the passage, people CANNOT find __________ in a mall in America.

A. a police station
B. a church
C. a restaurant
D. a sports centre

Dear Reader,
     Today I am going to ask you to support Wikipedia with a donation.
     Wikipedia is built differently from almost every other top 50 website.We have a small number of paid
staff,just twentythree.Wikipedia content is free to use by anyone for any purpose.Our annual expenses are less than six million dollars.Wikipedia is run by the nonprofit Wikimedia Foundation,which I founded in
2003.
     Wikipedia is driven by a global community of more than 150,000 volunteers-all devoted to sharing
knowledge freely.Over almost eight years,these volunteers  have  contributed  more  than 11 million articles in 265 languages.More than 275 million people come to our website every month to access information,
free of charge and free of advertising.
     But Wikipedia is more than a website.We share a common cause:Imagine a world in which every single person on the planet is given free access to the sum of all human knowledge.That's our commitment.
     Your donation helps us in several ways.Most importantly,you will help us cover the increasing cost of
managing global traffic to one of the most popular websites on the Internet.Funds also help us improve the software that runs Wikipedia-making it easier to search,easier to read,and easier to write for.We are
committed to increasing the free knowledge movement worldwide,by taking on new volunteers,and
building strategic partnerships with institutions of culture and learning.
     Wikipedia is different.It's the largest encyclopedia (百科全書)  in history,written by volunteers.Like a
national park or a school,we don't believe advertising should have a place in Wikipedia.We want to keep it free and strong,but we need the support of thousands of people like you.
                                                                                                                              Thank you,
                                                                                                                            Jimmy Wales

1. What do the second and third paragraphs mainly talk about?

A. Why you should donate to Wikipedia.
B. How much the workers are paid.
C. How Wikipedia is run.
D. How many people contribute to Wikipedia.

2. All the following are the reasons for the need of your donation EXCEPT________.

A. to keep Wikipedia free for people all over the world
B. to update the software that runs Wikipedia
C. to raise the salaries of the staff
D. to pay the cost of running the website

3. What does the underlined word "That" in Paragraph 4 refer to?

A. Free access to all human knowledge.
B. Human knowledge.
C. Every single person.
D. A common cause.

4. Which of the following is TRUE about Wikipedia?

A. It only has 23 workers at present.
B. It will run a national park or a school.
C. It has got much help from other people.
D. It may put some advertisements to earn money.

5. What's the author's purpose of writing this text?

A. To introduce the differences between Wikipedia and other websites.
B. To improve the software that runs Wikipedia.
C. To make Wikipedia more popular.
D. To call on people to donate to Wikipedia.

     Kids love color,cartoons and different sounds.Combine all these in one product and you will
have their attention.However,it is equally important to advertise your products in the same way
if you want the kids to appreciate them.In order to ensure that your products are sold and that
the kids do not forget them,it is necessary to apply a combination of color and sound to your
advertisements.Mentioned below are several advertisement ideas for targeting kids.
      Billboards(廣告牌)
     When you want to advertise products to children,ensure that you use plenty of colors on
the billboards and that you draw the children's attention to the products.It might be an idea to
use cartoon characters in billboard advertising as they can attract kids' attention.
      Comic books
     If you have to introduce a new product to children,ensure that your product is featured in
all the leading comic books.This will attract kids to your product.If possible,you can show
some of their favorite cartoon characters using your product.
     TV advertisements
     TV advertisements are always best when it comes to advertising a product.However,when
you try to advertise to children,the one thing that always hits the nail right on the head is the
use of popular characters.Again,cartoon characters or online game characters using the
product will increase your sales.
     Others
     A great advertising technique is making Tshirts,watches,water bottles,school bags,bed
sheets and caps on which the products are printed.Kid's movies are always shown in theaters
and while children go to the theaters to watch movies,they are very much interested in the
food,too.Operating a stall near the cinema will make kids flock to you.Do some promotional
advertising by distributing some free samples of the products.

1．Which of the following advertising ideas is NOT mentioned in the text?

A．Publishing comic books.
B．Making TV advertisements.
C．Printing products on school bags.
D．Making billboards using cartoon characters.

2．The underlined word "distribute"is close in meaning to"________"

A．hand in
B．give away
C．put away
D．put aside

3．The purpose of keeping a stall near the cinema is to ____________.

A．sell tickets for movies
B．a(chǎn)ttract kids to buy the products
C．a(chǎn)ttract kids to perform in the cinema
D．exhibit samples of the products

4．Which of the following can BEST describe advertisements for kids?

A．Modern and creative.
B．Cool and traditional.
C．Silent and traditional.
D．Colorful and cartoonish.

5．What is the main idea of this text?

A．It aims to persuade kids to watch more advertisements.
B．It lists some of the types of advertisements targeted at kids.
C．It introduces some techniques you can use in advertising to kids.
D．It introduces some advertisements which target kids.