Americans are buying more products and services than ever before through the Internet, and the popularity of online sales is likely to spread to other countries. Online sales now represent as much as one-tenth of all retail(零售) sales in the United States，which has led traditional stores to seek new ways to keep their customers loyal.

Lynne Shaner used the Internet to buy everything she needed for her wedding and holiday gifts for her husband. Other than food, 90 percent of her purchases(購(gòu)買的東西) were made on her home computer. “I find that, by being able to go online and opt for the things that I need to select and have them delivered to me right at my doorstep, I’m free from all the driving, all the crowds, all the noise, and I usually get a better selection.”

There are a lot of people like her. Experts say American online shopping hit records in both November and December. Fifty-seven percent of Americans have bought something electronically. Store owners worry that this growing amount of online sales will hurt their business. Cornell University marketing professor Ed McLaughlin says, “They should be worried. Anything that can move online will be sold online. And it's just a matter of time. However, traditional stores can keep their customers by selling goods like clothing, which buyers may want to see and try on before purchasing. The stores could also offer things that are difficult to ship. ”

Bill Martin, whose business helps stores learn about their customers, says, “Traditional stores offer a social experience that some people enjoy. There is still a lot of emotion in the buying decision that takes place, and you can't always get that on-line. It's a rather cold process. Traditional stores can provide goods for buyers more quickly than online stores. And some retailers are using websites to persuade people to visit their stores. ”

While online shopping worries some business owners, the only worry for delivery services like FedEx and UPS is keeping up with the number of packages. UPS Manager Dana Kline says her company is very busy at this time of year. UPS is so busy that it has filled 55,000 temporary worker positions during the holiday season.

1.According to Lynne Shaner, shopping online ________.

A. helps choose things she needs most

B. will replace traditional shopping soon

C. offer many benefits to customers

D. seldom provides a better selection

2.What does the underlined phrase “opt for” in the second paragraph mean?

A. choose           B. sell           C. design         D. purchase

3.Professor Ed McLaughlin thinks that _________.

A. online shopping has little effect on traditional stores

B. it is time for store owners to be anxious about their business

C. traditional stores can do nothing to stop challenges from online shopping

D. traditional stores should sell more things that are difficult to ship

4.What can we know from the fourth paragraph?

A. Online sales fail to offer customers sense of emotion.

B. Customers enjoy social experience when shopping online.

C. Traditional stores can help customers decide what to buy.

D. Customers can buy goods more quickly after visiting websites.

5.From the passage we can infer _______.

A. UPS has filled more worker positions than FedEx

B. business owners are concerned about delivery services

C. FedEx is keeping up with UPS on the number of packages

D. delivery services are facing more and more pressure from online sales

 

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1.The voucher mentioned in the passage _______.

A. includes shipping fees            

B. will be mailed to buyers

C. can’t be used to pay taxes         

D. needs to be cashed at banks

2.What is the main advantage of the service from TextbookRental.ca?

A. It helps students limit school expenses.

B. It sells new textbooks at a low price.

C. It sends interesting gifts to students.

D. It helps students who are poor at studies.

3.What can be learned about the activity of renting textbooks launched by TextbookRental.ca?

A. It can be enjoyed all over Canada.         

B. It deals with orders 24 hours a day.

C. The books can be returned in any condition.

D. The buyers can keep the books for 15 days.

 

Today, people all over the world are moving out of small villages in the country to go and live in big noisy cities . They are moving from the peaceful hills, mountains, fields, rivers and streams of the countryside to the busy world of streets, buildings, traffic and crowds. This movement from rural areas to urban areas has been going on for over two hundred years.

In many countries, the main reason people come to live in towns and cities is work. After one or two large factories have been built in or near a town, people come to find a work, and soon an industrial area begins to grow. There is usually a residential area nearby, where the factory workers can live. The families of these workers need schools, hospitals and shops, so more people come to live in the area to provide these services—and a city grows.

　　In every major city in the world, there is a business district where the big companies have their main offices. In the United States, this area is usually in the city center downtown. It is here that you can see the huge skyscraper office blocks. The people who work here often travel a long way to work each day.

　　Many of them live in the suburbs of the city, far away from the industrial area and the city center. Some suburbs are very pleasant, with nice houses and big gardens. There are usually parks for children to play in and large department stores where you can buy all you need.

　　But what is the future of the big cities? Will they continue to get bigger and bigger? Perhaps not. Some major cities have actually become smaller in the last ten years, and it is quite possible that one day we will see people moving out of the major cities and back into smaller towns and villages.

We can easily know that the underlined phrase “urban areas” means._____

　A. areas of the countryside  

B. areas of a town or city

C. areas near the countryside 　

D. areas near a town or a city

Why do people move to live in cities or towns?

A. Because they can live more comfortable there

B. Because they prefer noisy life to peaceful life

C. They do so mainly to find work

D. They don’t like small villages

We can infer that this movement from rural areas to urban areas_______.　

A. has been going on for more than 2,000 years

B. will continue in the future

C. may not continue in the future           　

D. is sure to stop

He deserves to gain a high score in the coming exam, as he _________ preparations for it.

A. is making                B. will be making                 C. made                                D. has been making

 

Robert was a life insurance(人壽保險(xiǎn)) salesman. Try 36 he might, he was still unable to get a couple to sign up for a policy(保單). “I certainly don’t want to frighten you into a 37,” he announced, standing up to 38. “Please sleep on it tonight, and 39 you wake up in the morning, let me know what you think.”

People can be motivated by many different 40. Fear is the common one. 41 many people find that other kinds of motivation are usually 42 effective in getting more out of those with whom we live and work.

A twelve-year-old girl took her younger brother, who 43 from a mental disability, Christmas shopping. As they went into a department store, the 44 accidentally hit a display, knocking shoes in every 45. at that 46 a(n) angry clerk grabbed the boy by the arm and 47, “Pick them up.”

“No,” the boy screamed in defiance(反抗).

“Pick them up,” the clerk 48.

“No,” the boy shouted back.

His older sister began picking up the 49. Then the boy started to 50. Before long, the boy, his sister and the clerk were 51 together to put the shoes back in 52.

When they finished, the girl taught the clerk a(n) 53 lesson with these words: “You have to encourage my brother to do it in action.”

If you live or work with other people, you may benefit from the older sister’s advice. If you want people to respond to you, try encouraging them in action. People prefer 54. When you fill people with what they want, you’re 55 to get what you want out of them.

1.A. however  B. as C. since           D. in spite of 

2.A. trouble B. sale                   C. bargain           D. decision

3.A. defend          B. fight           C. leave             D. argue

4.A. should          B. will            C. shall             D. may 

5.A. feelings        B. plans           C. means             D. results

6.A. Thus            B. But             C. Plus              D. Since

7.A. less            B. more            C. half              D. just

8.A. arose   B. contributed            C. benefited         D. suffered

9.A. boy             B. girl            C. clerk             D. salesman

10.A. section        B. direction       C. shelf             D. course

11.A. occasion B. stage                C. situation         D. point 

12.A. demanded B. conflicted           C. reminded          D. arranged

13.A. expected  B. commented           C. shouted           D. acquired

14.A. shoes          B. books           C. toys              D. bottles

15.A. cry            B. help            C. complain          D. worry

16.A. walking B. organizing            C. working           D. assisting 

17.A. process B. silence               C. detail            D. order

18.A. thoughtful B. instant            C. cautious          D. complex 

19.A. gift           B. stick           C. honey             D. tears 

20.A. positive  B. likely              C. confident         D. probable