An environmental group called the Food Commission is unhappy and disappointed because of the sale
of bottled water form Japan. The water is angrily argues in public, has traveled 10,000 "food miles "before
it reaches Western customers." transporting water halfway across the world is surely the extremely stupid
use of fuel when there is plenty of water in the OK." It is also worried that we are wasting our fuel by buying
praums( 對(duì)蝦) from Indonesia (7,000 food miles) and carrots from South Africa (5,900 food miles).
     Counting the number of miles traveled done by a product is a strange way of trying to tell the true situation
of the environmental damage done by an industry. Most food is transported around the world on container
ships that are extremely energy efficient (高能效的). It should be noted that a ton of butter transported 25
miles in a truck product transported hundreds of miles by sea. Besides,the idea of "of miles" ignores the
amount of fuel used in the production. It is possible to cut down your food miles by buying tomatoes grown
in Britain rather than those grown in Ghana; the difference is that the British one will have been raised in heated
greenhouses and the Ghanaian ones in the open sun.
      What the idea of "food miles "does provide, however, is the chance to cut out Third World Countries from
First World food markers. The number of miles traveled by our food should, as I see it, be regarded as a sign
of the success of the global (全球的) trade system, not a sign of damage to the environment.

1. The Food Commission is angry because it thinks that ____.

A. OK wastes a lot of money importing food products
B. some imported goods cause environmental damage
C. growing certain vegetables cause environmental damage
D. people waste energy buying food fro other countries

2. The phrase "food miles"in the passage refers to the distance _____.

A. that a food product travels to a market
B. that a food product travels from one market to another
C. between UK and other food producing countries
D. between a Third World country and a First World food market

3. By comparing tomatoes raised in Britain and in Ghana, the another tries to explain that _____.

A. British tomatoes are healthier than Ghanaian ones
B. Ghanaian tomatoes taste better than British ones
C. cutting down food miles may not necessarily save fuel
D. protecting the environment may cost a lot of money

4. From the passage we know that the author is most probably _____.

A. a supporter of free global trade
B. a member of the Food Commission
D. a supporter of First World food markets
D. a member of an energy development group

     There are millions of used cell phones in the world today, the most of them just lay in our houses without
any purpose. Everyday dozens of new cell phone models appeared. Today, you can find what was regarded
as a fantasy yesterday in a store and you will buy it tomorrow. But what to do with the old phones, which
work well enough and not so old?
     Just get some money! Simply Sellular is buying almost all models of cell phones: LG, Motorola, HP,
Siemens, Samsung, Sanyo, Nokia and many others cell phones. Also they accept phones produced in every
country, and in every condition. Simply Sellular can offer a good price for your old cell phone in cash. Their
mission is giving you a simple way to get money for an old phone, as simple and profitable (賺錢(qián)), as it's
possible. Also they offer a trade-in scheme (折價(jià)方案) to get another model instead of your phone, providing
a good service after the sale.
     Also Simply Sellular works with the so-called 911 cell phone program. So you can donate (捐贈(zèng)) your
cell phone to them to help some people who need it. They know what to do with your old phone! You can
be interested in their recycling programs, where every used cell phone could be easily recycled for a few
times. Some phones, which are good for refurbish (翻新), Simply Sellular donates to people who need it,
for example women or military personnel. If the refurbish is impossible they just recycle cell phones.
     Just think a minute: it's a good deal to get some money for your old cell phone, good deal to help
somebody with your phone and really important to recycle all techniques after use. Working with Simply
Sellular you get every possibility absolutely free. And they will pay to you! That's a really god deal!

1. When you want a new cell phone, you are advised to _____.

A. keep the old one in house to add your collections
B. throw the old one into the dustbin to protect your health
C. return the old one to the producer to get some money
D. sell the old one to Simply Selluar on a reasonable price

2. Selling a used cell phone to Simply Sellular, you will get _____.

A. a good price for the phone in cash
B. another new model without any pay
C. a cost-free service provided by it
D. a profitable plan after the sale

3. The cell phone donated by you is probably _____.

A. still in use by others
B. refurbished and sold again
C. collected and on show
D. sent to a poorer country

4. This passage is written aiming to _____.

A. warn people of the risks by using cell phones
B. introduce to us what to do with old cell phones
C. advise people not to change cell phones frequently
D. encourage us to keep up with new technologies

     Intellectual property (IP) is a product of the mind that has commercial value. The concept dates back
to 1623 when the first patent law to protect IP sights was passed. IP rights protect the artist from having
his/her creative ideas copied by another. For example, if somebody generated an idea for a novel, that idea
is protected by IP rights. If someone else wishes to represent the idea or develop it further, he/ she must
consult the original artists, who will normally be rewarded financially for its use. Back in the 17th century,
IP rights were primarily carried out to protect newly developed manufacturing processes against stealing.
But today, intellectual property rights, are also enjoyed by those who creative music, art and literature.
     In recent years, IP rights have been the focus of a great deal of discussion because of a technology
which looks set to weaken them altogether; the Internet. Many years ago, if you wanted a recording of a
song, you would have to purchase it from a music store; if a novel, form a book store. In those days, IP
rights were easily protected since it was very difficult to obtain intellectual property without paying for it.
However, a lot of IP, including songs, films, books and artwork, can be downloaded today free of charge
using the Internet. This practice has now taken the world by storm, dramatically affecting the way in which
we view IP rights.

1. According to the writer, in the beginning, If rights were mainly of use to ______.

A. those creating music, art and literature
B. novelists
C. engineers and inventors
D. those not receiving financial reward for their work

2. What do we know about the internet according to the passage?

A. It makes IP rights harder to protect.
B. It sells songs and films.
C. It does not affect the way we understand IP rights.
D. It prevents the production of artwork.

3. According to paragraph 2, what has "taken the world by storm"?

A. Intellectual property rights.
B. The Internet.
C. Free downloading.
D. The large number of songs, films and books.

4. A possible title for this passage could be ______.

A. A History of IP Rights
B. Ways to Protect Your IP Rights.
C. The Present and the Future Of IP
D. IP Rights and Our Attitudes

     When I was seven, my father gave me a Timex, my first watch. I loved it, wore it for years, and haven't
had another one since it stopped ticking a decade ago. Why? Because I don't need one. I have a mobile phone
and I'm always near someone with an iPod or something like that. All these devices (裝置) tell the time-which
is why, if you look around, you'll see lots of empty wrists; sales of watches to young adults have been going
down since 2007.
     But while the wise have realized that they don't need them, others-apparently including some distinguished
men of our time-are spending total fortunes on them. Brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe and Breitling
command shocking prices, up to ￡250.000 for a piece.
     This is ridiculous. Expensive cars go faster than cheap cars. Expensive clothes hang better than cheap
clothes. But these days all watches tell the time as well as all other watches. Expensive watches come with
extra functions-but who needs them? How often do you dive to 300 metres into the sea or need to find your
direction in the area around the South Pole? So why pay that much of five years' school fees for watches
that allow you to do these things?
     If justice were done, the Swiss watch industry should have closed down when the Japanese discovered
how to make accurate watches for a five-pound note. Instead the Swiss reinvented the watch, with the aid
of millions of pounds' worth of advertising, as a message about the man wearing it. Rolexes are for those
who spend their weekends climbing icy mountains; a Patek Philippe is for one from a rich or noble family;
a Breitling suggests you like to pilot planes across the world.
     Watches are now classified as "investments" (投資). A 1994 Philippe recently sold for nearly ￡350, 000,
while 1960s Rolexes have gone from 15, 000 to 30, 000 plus in a year. But a watch is not an investment. It's
a toy for self-satisfaction, a matter of fashion. Prices may keep going up-they've been rising for 15 years.
But when fashion moves on, the owner of that? ￡350, 000 beauty will suddenly find his pride and joy is no
more a good investment than my childhood Times.

1. The sales of watches to young people have fallen because they _____.

A. have other devices to tell the time
B. think watches too expensive
C. prefer to wear an iPod
D. have no sense of time

2. It seems ridiculous to the writer that _____.

A. people dive 300 metres into the sea
B. expensive clothes sell better than cheap ones
C. cheap cars don't run as fast as expensive ones
D. expensive watches with unnecessary functions still sell

3. What can be learnt about Swiss watch industry from the passage?

A. It targets rich people as its potential customers.
B. It's hard for the industry to beat its competitors.
C. It wastes a huge amount of money in advertising.
D. It's easy for the industry to reinvent cheap watches.

4. Which would be the best title for the passage?

A. Timex or Rolex?
B. My Childhood Timex.
C. Watches? Not for Me!
D. Watches-a Valuable Collection.

     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 (騙人的), 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.

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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

     The Friday after the American holiday of Thanksgiving is called Black Friday. It's said that it's the day that
store ledgers (分類(lèi)賬) move into the black and companies become profitable. On that day, retailers slash prices
to get consumers to buy. It is also a time when many Americans start their Christmas shopping. VOA's
Elizabeth Lee tells us how the economy may affect consumers on that bargain day.
     "It's just the deals, the sales and everything you can get for a lesser price," said Sandy Thomas, a shopper.
But it's a nightmare for others. "I think it's crazy. I've done all of my shopping throughout the week so I don't
have to go out on Friday," she said. It's called Black Friday, the start of the traditional Christmas shopping
season in the United States. Every year it's the day after the Thanksgiving holiday. Stores open before sunrise
and there are deep discounts everywhere you look.
     While the lead up to Christmas is known as the season of giving, Black Friday can get ugly.
     Last year a crowd of bargain-hunters killed a Wall-mart worker in a New York suburb. This year, many
stores are increasing security while they slash prices. "This is a huge time for the retail stores," said Fred Joutz
from George Washington University. "This is when they begin making their profits for the year."
     Economics professor Fred Joutz says how Americans spend the weekend after Thanksgiving is a good
indication of how consumers feel about the future.
     With the unemployment rate above 10 percent, Joutz says Americans are saving more and spending less.
"Credit is still strictly controlled whether through credit cards or through borrowing from banks," he said.
Some retailers are attracting consumers by opening on Thanksgiving Day, when shops are traditionally closed.
Other stores open their doors anywhere from midnight to four in the morning.
     And shoppers will be lining up in front of the doors in order to be one of the first ones to walk through and
get a big discount. Electronics like flat screen TVs are usually the first items to go. Sandy Thomas says it's an
annual family tradition and well worth it. "I just save maybe half of what I would have spent on a regular, you
know, shopping trip," she said.
     Economists say U.S. consumers will spend money this Black Friday, but they will spend it more carefully.

1. The underlined word "slash" in the first paragraph probably means ____.

A. reduce
B. raise
C. increase
D. change

2. The sentence "This day should be a shopper's dream." should be placed between ____.

A. paragraph two and paragraph three
B. paragraph one and paragraph two
C. paragraph three and paragraph four
D. paragraph five and paragraph six

3. Why are many stores increasing security according to the passage?

A. Because there are too many people saving more and spending less.
B. Because it's a time when they begin making their profits for the year.
C. Because last year a crowd of bargain-hunters caused an accident.
D. Because many stores open their doors from midnight to four a.m.

4. What can we learn from the passage?

A. Christmas shopping is traditional time and this year it is no exception.
B. Electronics like flat screen TVs are usually least discounted.
C. The economy only affects consumers on that bargain day.
D. Thanksgiving is a good indication of how consumers feel about the future.

     Commodities (日用品) are basic materials that are used and traded worldwide. The price of
commodities helps determine how much a business can charge for a product and the profit it can
make. Commodity prices have reached a two-year high since falling sharply during the world financial
crisis.
     Hard commodities are materials like iron ore, oil and gold. Agricultural products are soft
commodities. These include wheat, cotton and rice.
     Economic measures show the world economy is recovering. China and India, for example, have
reported strong growth in manufacturing (制造業(yè)). Developed nations have had slower growth.
John James, a business professor at Pace University, says demand in developing economies can push
up prices for commodities like oil and iron ore used for making steel. But, he says, changing currency
values can also influence prices.
     Gold prices have reached record levels in recent months. That means gold dealers must pay more
for the commodity now than they did only a year ago. That affects current prices.
     Not surprisingly, manufacturers want some control over the prices they pay for commodities.
Futures (期貨) contracts are agreements between a buyer and a seller to exchange something at a
set price at some time in the future. These contracts let buyers lock in a price for basic materials. But
some traders in futures markets only want to make a profit. They buy or sell contracts depending on
the direction they believe prices will go. These speculators (投機(jī)者) get condemned when prices rise,
or fall, too quickly. The United States, Germany and France are looking into ways to limit this kind of
trading.
     Some experts say exporting commodities is not a good path to long-term economic growth. The
United Nations recently reported that the least developed countries must change their economies to
provide good incomes for their citizens. A UN official says the least developed countries need to cut
dependence on commodities and manufacture products for export. He says only this will let them gain
from world trade.

1. How many of the following are soft commodities?
① gold  ②corn  ③ cotton  ④ iron  ⑤ education  
⑥ oil  ⑦ fruits  ⑧ rice⑨ salt  ⑩ vegetables

A. Three.      
B. Four.      
C. Five.          
D. Six.

2. What is the leading factor for this round of growth of commodity prices?

A. The growth of gold prices.  
B. The speculators' seeking higher profits.
C. Growth of demands in developed economies.      
D. Growth in manufacturing in developing nations.

3. The underlined word "condemned" in the last but one paragraph probably means ______.

A. blamed    
B. killed      
C. limited        
D. tolerated

4. What is mainly discussed in the last paragraph?

A. Measures to be taken by the United Nations.
B. Solutions to this problem for developing nations.
C. The disadvantages of high prices of commodities.
D. How to bring down the high prices of commodities.

     Cleveland has won the distinction of being the worst city in the United States, according to a new
survey. The city has high unemployment, terrible weather, heavy taxes, and ordinary sports teams, all of
which have pushed it to the No. 1 position in the Forbes.com list.
     "Cleveland was the only city that fell in the bottom half of rankings in all nine categories. And it has been entitled with a less than endearing nickname: the Mistake by the lake," Forbes said on its website,
     The economic downturn hit cities across the United States last year particularly in the mid-west section of the country. Crime and unemployment secured the No. 2 spot for Stockton, which held the top position in last year's ranking. Memphis got third place thanks to its violent crime rate and the number of officials who are guilty, while the poor auto industry drove the Michigan cities of Detroit and Flint into the top five.
     "A lot of the cities that showed up on our list are going through hard times fight now, dealing with high
unemployment, with declining producing bases. Many have experienced strong movement out of the city
over the last 20 and 30 years."
     Despite (盡管) its fine weather, Miami scored in the bottom 10 percent in commuting (上下班往返)
time, and violent crime which sent it into sixth place.
     "One of the biggest surprises is Miami. The good weather and no state income taxes blur some of the
severe problems that Miami has related to crime as well as long commutes," Badenhausen added.
     Florida was followed in the poor ranking by St Louis, Buffalo, Canton, Ohio and Chicago, which has the country's highest sales tax at 10.25 percent. New York, the nation's biggest city, is rich in culture but its
lengthy commuting time and high income taxes pushed it into 16th place.

1. From the text we can learn that ______.

A. Cleveland has been entitled a lovely nickname
B. the economic downturn hit cities in the mid-east section
C. Miami scored in the bottom 10 percent in all nine categories
D. commuting time in New York is too long

2. What information can be inferred according to the text?

A. The number of officials who are guilty is large in Memphis.
B. Stockton got second place in last year's ranking.
C. High income taxes made New York get 16th place.
D. Ohio has the country's highest sales tax.

3. The word "blur" underlined in the last paragraph but one probably means ______.

A. make it possible  
B. make it unclear  
C. make if obvious  
D. make it important

4. Which of the following is the correct ranking order?

A. Cleveland, Detroit, Miami, Buffalo, Florida.
B. Stockton, Miami, Flint, Florida, Canton.
C. Cleveland, Stockton, Miami, Chicago, Florida.
D. Stockton, Detroit, Miami, Florida, St Louis.