Do you like shopping? Or does the thought of wandering round the shops fill you with terror? For some of us，shopping is an enjoyable way of spending our spare time and our money. For me．it's something I would rather avoid．Thank goodness for the Internet! It's more convenient to buy CDs，electrical items，even food，from the comfort of your sofa．But that’s not the only reason：price is an important factor．We can buy goods and services cheaper online. But sometimes the problem is knowing what to buy．This has led to a type of shopping called “show rooming”．
Show rooming is something I've done．I will go to a shop to see，touch and try out products but then go home and buy them online at a knock—down price．I'm not alone in doing this．Research by a company called Foolproof，found 24％of people show roomed while Christmas shopping in 2013．
Amy Cashman，Head of Technology at TNS UK，says the reasons for this new shopping habit are that“people are lacking time，lacking money and they want security about the products they are buying．”She explains that consumers are not only shopping online at home but they are using the Internet in store or on their smartphones to shop around．
But does this mean technology will kill shops? Certainly shops will change．They will have to offer more competitive prices or encourage people to buy more by giving in—store discounts or free girls．
We mustn’t forget that buying in a shop means you can get expert advice from the sales assistant and you can get good aftercare．It’s good to speak to a real human rather than look at a faceless computer screen but at least by show rooming，you get the best of both worlds!The two questions in Paragraph l are raised to _______.
| A．introduce the topic | B．give two examples |
| C．compare different opinions | D．get answers from readers |
What does show rooming mean in the text?
| A．Trying in shops and buying online． |
| B．Showing products in a room． |
| C．Buying something in a store． |
| D．Shopping on the Internet． |
According to Amy Cashman，which is not the reason for show rooming?
| A．The lack of time． | B．The comfort of the sofa． |
| C．The shortness of money． | D．The security of the product． |
What can be inferred from Paragraph 4 ?
| A．Online shops will disappear． |
| B．Free gifts will surely promote sales． |
| C．Shops need necessary changes． |
| D．Shops will be replaced by online shops． |
The author's attitude towards show rooming is _______
| A．critical | B．neutral | C．supportive | D．casual |
Decision-making can be extremely difficult. Decision-making styles are significantly different in different cultures.
In any approach to a problem and in any negotiations, the Western world turns to the“I to you” approach while Japan，the “you to you” approach. The former means both sides present their arguments openly from their own point of view. Naturally, often comes a conflict situation, which Westerners are very skillful in dealing with.The latter is based on each side trying to understand the other person’s point of view. Thus, the direction of the meeting is a mutual(相互的) attempt to reduce confrontation and achieve harmony.
Besides, Western decision-making goes mostly from top management and often does not consult middle management or the worker. However, in Japan great consideration is given to the thoughts and opinions of everyone at all levels. Based on “bottom-up direction”, ideas can be created at the lowest levels, travel upward through an organization and have an effect on the final decision.
Difference in decision-making also comes from different communication styles. The Japanese business person works to achieve harmony, even if the deal fallsthrough, and will spend whatever time is necessary to determine a “you to you” approach, communicating personal views only indirectly. They put a thorough job above the Western deadline approach. So the Japanese are thorough in their meetings. Thus Americans are often annoyed by the many meetings in many Japanese businesses. But where the American is pressingfor a specific decision, the Japanese is trying to think up a rather broad direction.
On the other hand, once a given agreement is made, it is the Japanese who sometimes wonderat the slow pace in which Westerners carry out the decision. The Japanese are eager to move forward and Westerners, perhaps, fall behind as they take the time for in-depth planning.A Japanese business bases its decision .
| A．on top-down direction | B．on nothing but its workers’ views |
| C．on bottom-up direction | D．only on its top leaders’ opinions |
The text mainly tells us that Japan and the Western world .
| A．face great difficulty in making decisions |
| B．are different in decision-making styles |
| C．have all members contribute to a decision |
| D．have two approaches: “I to you” and “you to I” |
The author’s attitude towards Japanese decision-making is .
| A．positive | B．critical | C．negative | D．casual |
With their weakening bodies, advanced age or increasing pressure of work or study, people have been advised and usually persuaded to have health care products. Do you remember your first time to take a nutritional supplement(营养补充品)? What was your first impression?
Posted by Amy, Dec. 23, 2010 8:05 PM
Madeline on Dec. 24, 2010 7:25 PM
Years ago, as a young mom with two small children, I struggled to keep up with the demands of a busy life. One day, I woke up feeling so tired that I knew something had to change!
A friend gave me some Royal Jelly—an amazing matter from the beehive(蜂房). I was doubtful, but desperate…so I tried it! In time, I began to experience renewed energy and vitality like never before! Now, over two decades later, I travel all round the country, sharing my life-changing experience. I’m grateful for the energy to keep up and love to share this wonderful discovery with others.
Blanca on Dec. 25, 2010 7:02 PM
Ten years ago, when I was 73, my mind wanted to be busy and useful, but my body didn’t. I became tired and in low spirits. That’s when my daughter Madeline tried to persuade me to try her special Royal Jelly. It made such a dramatic difference in her life, so she was sure it could help me too! Hesitating for 2 days, I gave in. She was right! I no longer felt worn out. I had a new, youthful enthusiam for life and I’ve been OK — thanks to Royal Jelly!
Lori on Dec. 25, 2010 10:27 PM
When my mom Madeline was introduced to Royal Jelly, it affected my life, too! Mom gave me some of her fantastic Royal Jelly. Boy, things did turn around! I had more energy and stamina and was finally able to keep up with high school and, eventually, college activities. Today, I’m a busy mom in my mid-thirties with two active boys and a new business! I have enough energy to do it all! I’m glad I took my Mom’s advice. From the text, we learn that .
| A．Madeline became more than willing to take Royal Jelly at the very beginning |
| B．Lori was grateful partly because Royal Jelly helped him to improve his studies |
| C．Royal Jelly is a product that can help renew a person’s energy and vitality |
| D．Amy has benefited from Royal Jelly so she posted a topic about the product |
Which of the following is true of Blanca?
| A．She replied to the topic on Christmas Eve. | B．She tried Royal Jelly without hesitation. |
| C．She is now supposed to be in her seventies. | D．She was the second one to reply to the topic. |
What’s the relationship between the Royal Jelly takers?
| A．Lori and Blanca are Madeline’s grandchildren. |
| B．Madeline is Blanca’s daughter and Lori’s mother. |
| C．Blanca is Lori and Madeline’s great grandmother. |
| D．They have no blood relationship but friendship. |
Where can we most probably read this text?
| A．In a sports club. | B．On an Internet page. | C．In a fiction. | D．In a travel magazine. |
Wednesday，October fifteenth，is the first Global Hand Washing Day. Activities are planned in more than twenty countries to get millions of people in the developing world to wash their hands with soap（肥皂）. Experts say people around the world wash their hands but very few use soap at so-called critical(至关重要的) moments. These include after using the toilet，after cleaning a baby and before touching food.
Global Hand Washing Day is the idea of the Public-Private Partnership for Hand Washing with Soap. Partners include the United Nations Children’s Fund, and soap makers Unilever and Procter and Gamble. The goal，they say，is to create a culture of hand washing with soap.
The organizers say all soaps are equally effective at removing disease-causing germs(病菌). They say the correct way to wash hands is to wet your hands with a small amount of water and cover them with soap. Rub it into all areas，including under the fingernails. Then，rinse（用清水冲洗） well under running water. Finally，dry your hands with a clean cloth.
The Partnership says soap is important because it increases the time that people spend washing. Soap also helps to break up the grease（油脂）and dirt that holds most of the germs. And it usually leaves a pleasant smell，which increases the possibility that people will wash again. It also says washing with soap before eating and after using the toilet could save more lives than any vaccine（疫苗）or medicine. When people get germs on their hands, they can infect themselves by touching their eyes, nose or mouth. Then they can infect others.Global Handwashing Day is set to ______________.
| A．create a culture of hand washing with soap | B．force people to wash their hands |
| C．teach people how to wash their hands | D．protect people from being hurt by germs |
Which one shows the advantages of washing hands with soap?
① increasing the washing time ② preventing any infection
③ removing disease-causing germs ④ helping people to wash more
⑤ keeping vaccine away
| A．①②③ | B．①②④ | C．②③⑤ | D．①③④ |
The main idea of this passage is to ______________.
| A．introduce Global Handwashing Day | B．remind people to care about their health |
| C．criticize people who don't use soap to wash hands | D．help soap makers to sell more soap |
Everybody hates rats．But in the earthquake capitals of the world-Japan，Los Angeles，Turkey-rats will soon be man's new best friends．
What happens after an earthquake? We send in rescue（救援） dogs. Why? Because they can smell people．Dogs save lives．They help rescuers to find living people．But dogs are big and they can't get into small spaces．So now a new research project is using a smaller animal to save lives：the rat．
How does it work? First，the rat is trained to smell people．When this happens，the rat's brain gives a signal（信号）．This is sent to a small radio on its back，and then the rescuers follow the radio signals．When the rat's brain activity jumps，the rescuers know that someone is alive．The rat has smelled that person．
Although there are already robots which can do this job，rats are better．Christian Linster at Cornell University—New York says，“Robots' noses don't work well when there are other smells around．Rats are good at that．” Rats can also see in the dark．They are cheaper and quicker to train than dogs，and unlike robots，they don't need electricity!
The “rat project” is not finished，but Julie Ryan of International Rescue Corps in Scotland says，“It would be fantastic．A rat could get into spaces we couldn't get to and a rat would get out if it wasn't safe．” Perhaps for the first time in history，people will be happy to see a rat in a building（but only after an earthquake，of course）．In the world earthquake capitals，rats will become man's best friends because they can _________．
| A．take the place of man's rescue jobs |
| B．find the position of people alive who are trapped in buildings |
| C．serve as food for people alive who are trapped in buildings |
| D．get into small spaces |
From the third paragraph we know the rescuers can judge a person is alive by_________．
| A．the noise made by the rat | B．the rat's unusual behavior |
| C．the signal sent by the radio on the rat's back | D．the smell given off by the person |
In doing rescue jobs，_________．
| A．rats smell better than dogs |
| B．dogs don't need to be trained to smell people |
| C．robots' sense of smell can be affected by other smells around |
| D．rats can see in the dark and smaller than robots |
Rats have all the following advantages except that_________．
| A．they are more fantastic than other animals | B．they are less expensive to train than dogs |
| C．they don't need electricity | D．they are small and can get into small places |
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u GONE WITH THE WIND Author: Margaret Mitchell ￥25 (in bookstores) ￥18 (online) Gone With the Wind is a best-seller, which tells a story that happened in the American Civil War. Scarlett O’Hara is a woman in the story who is full of energy. She is strong and saves her family but is very selfish at the same time. |
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| u A LITTLE PRINCESS Author: Frances Hodgson Burnett ￥18.3 (online) Motherless Sara Crewe was sent home from India to school at Miss Minchin’s. Her father was very rich and she lived a rich and comfortable life. Then her father died and Sara lost everything. She had to learn to do with her changed life. Her strong character made her able to fight successfully against her poverty (贫穷) and the scorn (嘲笑) of her fellows. It’s an excellent book with 4 tapes for children. |
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u PETER PAN Author: J.M Barrie ￥15 (in bookstores) ￥12 (online) It is a children’s story full of imagination and adventures, which is about Wendy, John, and Michael Darling’s adventures in Never—Never Land with Peter Pan, the boy who would not grow up. The children are happy and lovely. (with 2 tapes) |
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u  UNCLE TOM’S CABIN Author: Harriet Beecher Stowe ￥20 (in bookstores) The most famous novel in American history, Uncle Tom’s Cabin talked about the struggle (斗争) between free states and slave states during the American Civil War and is as powerful today as when it first came out 150 years ago. |
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| u THE SECRET GARDEN Author: Frances Hodgson Burnett ￥35 (in bookstores) ￥30 (online) Mary Lennox, a sickly orphan (孤儿), finds herself in her uncle’s dark house. Why are so many rooms locked? Why is one of the gardens locked? And what is that crying she hears at night? Through the power of hope, friendship, and the magic (魔法) of nature, the brave girl brings the house and a long-lost garden back to life. |
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All of the following books have children as their main characters (主角) except _________.
| A．PETER PAN | B．GONE WITH THE WIND |
| C．A LITTLE PRINCESS | D．THE SECRET GARDEN |
We can know from the passage that _________.
| A．there are only three books with tapes |
| B．we can buy 5 kinds of the above books in bookstores |
| C．two of the above books are written by Frances Hodgson Burnett |
| D．THE SECRET GARDEN is ￥5 cheaper in bookstores than online |
Mary in THE SECRET GARDEN brings the house and a long-lost garden back to life with the help of _________.
a. the power of hope b. friendship c. her uncle d. nature’s magic
| A．abc | B．acd | C．bcd | D．abd |
This article may appear ___________.
| A．as an advertisement | B．as an introduction to the western literature (文化) |
| C．in a Chinese film | D．only to middle school students |
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