(The Guardian)More UK universities should be profiting from ideas
A repeated criticism of the UK's university sector is its noticeable weakness in translating new knowledge into new products and services.
Recently, the UK National Stem Cell Network warned the UK could lose its place among the world leaders in stem cell research unless adequate funding and legislation could be assured, despite an annual £40m spent by the Department of Health on all kinds of research.
However, we do have to challenge the unthinking complaint that the sector does not do enough in taking ideas to market. The most recent comparative data on the performance of universities and research institutions in Australia, Canada, USA and UK shows that, from a relatively weak starting position, the UK now leads on many indicators of commercialization activity.
When viewed at the national level, the policy interventions (interference) of the past decade have helped transformed the performances of UK universities. Evidence suggests the UK's position is much stronger than in the recent past and is still showing improvement. But national data masks the very large variation in the performance of individual universities. The evidence shows that a large number of universities have fallen off the back of the pack, a few perform strongly and the rest chase the leaders.
This type of uneven distribution is not strange to the UK and is mirrored across other economies. In the UK, research is concentrated: less than 25% of universities are receiving 75% of the research funding. These same universities are also the institutions producing the greatest share of PhD graduates, science citations, patents and license income. The effect of policies generating long-term resource concentration has also created a distinctive set of universities which are research-led and commercially active. It seems clear that the concentration of research and commercialization work creates differences between universities.
The core objective for universities which are research-led must be to maximize the impact of their research efforts. Their purpose is not to generate funds to add to the bottom line of the university or to substitute other income streams. Rather, these universities should be generating the widest range of social, economic and environmental benefits. In return for the scale of investment, they should share their expertise (expert knowledge or skill) in order to build greater confidence in the sector.
Part of the economic recovery of the UK will be driven by the next generation of research commercialization spilling out of our universities. On the evidence presented in my report, there are three dozen universities in the UK which are actively engaged in advanced research training and commercialization work.
If there was a greater coordination（协调）of technology transfer offices within regions and a simultaneous (happening at the same time) investment in the scale and functions of our graduate schools, universities could, and should, play a key role in positioning the UK for the next growth cycle.
What does the author think of UK universities in terms of commercialization?
| A．They have lost their leading position in many ways. |
| B．They still have a place among the world leaders. |
| C．They do not regard it as their responsibility. |
| D．They fail to change knowledge into money. |
What does the author say about the national data on UK universities’ performance in
commercialization?
| A．It masks the fatal weaknesses of government policy. |
| B．It indicates their ineffective use of government resources. |
| C．It does not rank UK universities in a scientific way. |
| D．It does not reflect the differences among universities. |
We can infer from Paragraph 5 that “policy interventions (in Paragraph 4)” refers to _____.
| A．concentration of resources in a limited number of universities |
| B．compulsory cooperation between universities and industries |
| C．government aid to non-research-oriented universities |
| D．fair distribution of funding for universities and research institutions |
What dose the author suggest research-led universities do?
| A．Fully use their research to benefit all sectors of society. |
| B．Generously share their facilities with those short of funds. |
| C．Advertise their research to win international recognition. |
| D．Spread their influence among top research institutions. |
Since we are social beings，the quality of our lives depends in a large measure on our interpersonal relationships．One strength of the human condition is our possibility to give and receive support from one another under stressful(有压力的)conditions．Social support makes up of the exchange of resources among people based on their interpersonal ties．Those of us with strong support systems appear better able to deal with major life changes and daily problems．People with strong social ties live longer and have better health than those without such ties．Studies over types of illnesses，from depression to heart disease，show that the presence of social support helps people defend themselves against illness，and the absence of such support makes poor health more likely．
Social support cushions stress in a number of ways．First，friends，relatives and co-workers may let us know that they value us．Our self-respect is stengthened when we feel accepted by others in spite of our faults and difficulties．Second，other people often provide us with informational support．They help us to define and understand our problems and find solutions to them．Third．we typically find social companionship supportive．Taking part in free-time activities with others helps us to meet our social needs while at the same time distracting(转移注意力)us f rom our worries and troubles．Finally，other people may give us instrumental support--money aid，material resources，and needed services--that reduces stress by helping us resolve and deal with our problems．What does the word“cushions”mean?
| A．gets rid of | B．makes up of | C．takes place of | D．lessens the effect of |
The researches show that people’s physical and mental health_____.
| A．depends on their ability to deal with daily werries and troubles |
| B．is related to their courage for dealing with major life changes |
| C．lies in the social medical care systems which support them |
| D．has much to do with the amount of support they get from others |
Helping a sick neighbor with some repair work in spare time is an example of_____.
| A．informational support | B．social companionship |
| C．the strengthening of self-respect | D．instrumental support |
Why are interpersonal relationships important?
| A．They can cure types of illnesses． | B．They can deal with life changes． |
| C．they can smooth away daily problems． | D．They can make people live more easily． |
Perhaps the most astonishing theory to come out of kinetics，the study of body movement,was suggested by Professor Ray Birdwhistell.He believes that physical appearance Is often culturally programmed.In other words,we learn our looks;we are not born with them.
A baby generally unformed facial features.A baby,according to Birdwhistell,learns where to set the eyebrows by looking at those around family and friends．This helps explain why the people of some regions of the United States look so much lilke．New Englanders or Southerners have certain common facial characteristics that cannot be explained by genetics(遗传学)．The exact shape of the mouth is not set at birth,it is learned later．In fact，the final mouth shape is not formed until well after permanent(永久的)teeth are set．For many，this can be well into adolescence(青春期)．A husband and wife together for a long time often come to look somewhat alike．We learn our looks from those around us. This is perhaps why in a single country there are areas where people smile more than those in other areas．In the United States，for example，the South is the part of the country where the people smile most frequently．In New England they smile less，and in the western part of New York State still less．Many Southerners find cities such as New York cold and unfriendly，partly because people on Madison Avenue smile less than people on Peach Tree Street jn Atlanta，Georgia．People in densely(稠密地)populated urban areas also tend to smile and greet each other in public less than people in rural areas and small towns．The passage might be taken out of a book dealing with______
| A．physics | B．health | C．chemistry | D．body movement |
Ray Birdwhistell believes that physical appearance_______．
| A．has little to do with culture | B．is decided by our parents |
| C．can be infiuenced by culture | D．varies from place to place |
Ray Birdwhistell can tell what region of the United States a person is from by .
| A．the way he or she talks | B．how he or she raises his or her eyebrows |
| C．what he or she likes best | D．how much he or she laughs |
According to the passage，people who live_______are more friendly.
| A．in the north | B．in the country |
| C．in New York City | D．in densely populated areas |
Very old people do raise moral problems for almost everyone who comes into touch with them.Their values---this can not be repeated too often--aren’t necessarily our values.Physical comfort,cleanness and order are not necessarily the most important things.The social services from time to time find themselves faced with a room with rotten food covered by small worms,and an old person lying alone on bed,taking no notice of the worms.But is it interrupting personal freedom to insist that they go to live with some of their relatives so that they might be taken better care of? Some social workers,the ones who clear up the worms,think we’re in danger of carrying this idea of personal freedom to the point where serious risks(冒险)are being taken with the health and safety of the old.
Indeed,the old can be easily hurt or harmed.The old is like a car: it needs more mechanical repair as it gets older.You can carry this comparison right through to provision of spare parts.But never forget that such operations are painful experiences,however good the results are.And at what point should you stop to treat the old body?Is it morally right to try to push off death by continuing the development of medicine to excite the forgetful old mind and to make the old body active,knowing that it is designed to die?You cannot ask doctors or scientists to decide,because so long as they can see the technical chances,they will feel it necessary to give them a try,by the rule that while there’s life,there’s hope.
Talking to the old,however,you’re forced to the conclusion that whether age is happy or unpleasant depends less on money or health than it does on your ability to have fun.After reading Paragraph 1，we learn that____.
| A．very old people are able to keep their living places very clean |
| B．old people enjoy living alone so as to have more personal freedom |
| C．every old people enjoy living with their relatives |
| D．social services have nothing to do with very old people |
Some social workers think that_____．
| A．old people should keep their living places clean |
| B．one should not take risk dealing with old people |
| C．health and safety are more important than personal freedom |
| D．personal freedom is more important than health and safety |
In Paragraph 3，the underlined word“it”refers to____．
| A．one’s memory or health |
| B．the conclusion you have come to |
| C．whether age is happy or unpleasant |
| D．your talk to the old people |
The writer of this passage thinks that_______．
| A．it is always morally right to treat old people and push off death |
| B．the opinion that we should try every means possible to save old people is uncertain |
| C．old people can enjoy a happy life only if they are very rich |
| D．medical decisions for old people should be left to the doctors |
Transportation and communication networks bring people together．Yet sometimes people themselves create barriers(障碍)to transportation and communication．
In some countries，laws stop people from moving freely from place to place．Over the centuries，many groups of people have been denied the freedom to travel because of their race，religion，or nationality．In the Middle Ages，for example，Jews were often forbidden to move about freely within certain cities．South Africa’s government used to require black Africans to carry passes when they travel within the country．Some governments require all citizens to carry identification papers and to report to government officials whenever they move．
Countries set up customs posts at their borders．Foreign travellers must go through a customs inspection before they are allowed to travel in the country．Usually travellers have to carry special papers such as passports and visas(签证)．Some countries even limit the number of visitors to their country each year．Others allow tourists to visit only certain areas of the country，or they may require that travellers be with an official guide at all times during their stay．
Many of those barriers to travel also act as barriers to communication．When two governments disagree with each other on important matters，they usually do not want their citizens to exchange news or ideas freely．Countries often try to keep military or lndustrial information secret．
Today，people have the ability to travel，to communicate，and to transport goods more quickly and easily than ever before．Natural barriers that were difficult or dangerous to cross a hundred years ago can now be crossed easily．The barriers that people themselves make are not so easy to overcome．But in spite of all the different kinds of barriers，people continue to enjoy travel and the exchange of goods and ideas.Choose the best title for the passage．
| A．Progress of Human Society |
| B．Restrictions on Transportation |
| C．Functions of Communication |
| D．Barriers Made by People |
The author uses the examples in the second paragraph to tell people that_______.
| A．travellers have to carry special papers such as visas |
| B．customs posts are necessary at the borders of the countries |
| C．people have been allowed to travel freely within the country |
| D．people have not been permitted to travel freely for various reasons |
Why do some governments limit the freedom of communication?Because they______.
| A．intend to keep their national secrets unknown to others |
| B．think such freedom will lead to wars |
| C．often disagree with each other on important matters |
| D．want to show their authority over communication |
We may learn from the passage that_______.
| A．people do not care about the removal of barriers between countries |
| B．people can not remove the obstacles made by themselves |
| C．man-made barriers are sometimes harder to overcome than natural ones |
| D．barriers should be taken for granted as they always exist |
London Thursday July 26(Reuters)--Ian Johnstone missed his girlfriend so much that he flew back to Britain from Australia to propose to her．The problem is that she flew in the opposite direction．
He and Amy Dolby even managed to miss each other when they sat in the same airport waiting-room in Singapore at the same time to wait for connecting flights.
Dolby，heartbroken when she arrived at Johnstone’s Sydney apartment to find he had flown to London，told the Times：“It was as though someone was playing a cruel joke on us.He is the most romantic person I have ever known．I think our problem is that we are both quite impulsive(冲动的)people.We are always trying to surprise each other．”
After an 11，000-mile flight across the globe，she was greeted by Johnstone’s astonished flatmate asking what she was doing there.
“The terrible truth dawned when I found that Lan’s rucksack and most of his clothes were missing.I sat on the end of his bed and cried my eyes out．And that really annoyed me，”she said．
Johnstone，a 27-year-old bricklayer，had taken a year off to travel round Australia．But he was missing Dolby，a 26-year-old secretary，so much he got a job on a Sydney building site and started saving for a surprise.
He then flew home to Britain and went to her apartment armed with an engagement ring，champagne and flowers．
“I really missed Amy and I’d been thinking about her all the time．I thought she was winding me up when she phoned me from Australia．”he said．
Johnstone then asked Dolby to marry him on the phone．“I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry but I accepted，”she said．
Dolby was given a short tour of Sydney by Johnstone’s friends and Johnstone had to stay in Britain for two weeks because he could not change his ticket．According to the text，it seemed that .
| A．Johnstone and Dolby could have seen each other in the same airport waiting-room in Singapore |
| B．the couple pretended not to see each other in the same airport waiting-room in Singapore |
| C．the young lovestruck couple had both intended to propose to each other |
| D．Dolby stayed longer in Sydney than Johnstone stayed in Britain |
We can learn from the text that .
| A．Johnstone was not as impulsive as Dolby |
| B．Johnstone got a job in Sydney in order to start saving money for a surprise to Dolby |
| C．Dolby was heartbroken because someone was playing a cruel joke on her |
| D．Dolby was greeted by Johnstone’s flatmate at the airport |
When Johnstone asked her to marry him on the phone，Dolby didn’t know whether to laugh or cry because she had a mixed feeling of .
| A．excitement，anger and shyness |
| B．sadness，happiness and surprise |
| C．love,hatred and nevousness |
| D．cheer，regret and annoyance |
Which of the following shows the right order of what happened in the story?
a.Johnstone flew back to Britain to propose to his girlfriend，Amy Dolby．
b.Johnstone started working at a Sydney building site．
c.Johnstone went to Amy’s apartment in Britain with an engagement ring．
d.Johnstone proposed to Dolby over the phone．
e.They were waiting for their connecting flight in the airport in Singapore．
f.Dolby called Johnstone from Australia．
| A．b—a—d—e—c—f | B．c—a—b—e—f—d |
| C．b—a—e—c—f—d | D．b—a—f—e—c—d |
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