While you may think that being smart and talented would logically make someone successful in running a business, unfortunately, this is often not the case.
This problem starts back in school when the stressful “group projects” are first assigned .The smartest don’t want to risk their grade in the class by dividing the work equally and hoping that an average student does his part well. They just take over and do the whole project themselves.
And thus begins the smart-people work cycle. The smartest people do just about everything better than most everyone else until it comes to running a business. They are not better. A smart person who can’t stand someone else doing a job badly does everything himself. Then, he is stuck with the one-man band “job-business” and ends up not being able to grow. However, it is quite interesting and strange that some “slackers” ( a person who is lazy and avoids work) are better suited to be a business leader than the “smart” people.
Smart and talented people often have a gift for the unusual, complicated or different. They don’t like to follow the KISS principle (keep it simple, stupid), which is required to make a business succeed. Maybe you think the global presence of McDonald’s complex, but in reality, in the company, every single task is broken down into easy-to-follow steps and everything has been standardized. These successful companies have just a few smart enough people to run the majority of the tasks in a way that can’t be screwed up by their average employees. So, being smart or talented isn’t going to help you unless you can use those smarts to figure out a way to simplify those tasks that will make a business successful.
Another issue with the smart people starting businesses is that they often have the most to lose. The smarter you are, the more options you have available to you. You will be able to make a lot of money in various fields and have room in your career to become promoted. This means that when you start a business, you have a lot more to risk than those who are not equally smart. This is often referred to as the “golden handcuffs” dilemma.
So, don’t be surprised when the person “MOST Likely to Succeed” from high school ends up as an employee and it is one average student that finds success in his or her own business.In group work, smart students often take over the whole project because they believe ____.
| A．the work is not divided equally |
| B．they can perform better than others |
| C．the group projects are too stressful |
| D．average students are unwilling to participate |
McDonald’s is used as an example to prove that ____.
| A．a business calls for smart people’s talent |
| B．average employees can perform complex tasks |
| C．smart people are important for a successful business |
| D．simplified tasks are required for the success of a business |
The underlined expression in Paragraph 5 refers to the situation where smart people ____.
| A．have fewer options in a company |
| B．risk more when starting business |
| C．are unwilling to put money to a business |
| D．can have a good income in many different fields |
What is the best title for the passage?
| A．Potentials for Success |
| B．Bases for Business |
| C．The Ordinary Achieve Bigger Success? |
| D．Talent Means Successful Business? |
Earlier this month, California police cleared what was said to be the largest homeless encampment in the United States. About 200 homeless people were living at the camp in San Jose, California. Officials said police officers and city workers acted because the area was unclean.
The homeless people were living near Silicon Valley, the country's high technology center. Some people there have made millions, even billions of dollars from high-tech devices and services. But others have no money and no place to live.
Federal officials believe there are hundreds of thousands of homeless people nationwide on any given day. Each one lacks a permanent place to live. Reasons for homelessness can include the high cost of housing, poverty and unemployment. Other reasons are mental health problems and just plain bad luck.
In Los Angeles, a group called PATH searches along flood channels and major roads for homeless camps.. Its workers look for people who have no permanent shelter.
Jorge Guzman was one of the people hoping to help the homeless. He says they make their camps where they are not seen -- behind buildings or in forests or parks.
"They just don't want to be noticed. They're doing their thing out here and, you know, they're just trying to survive."
City workers periodically clear away small trees and plants, uncovering homeless campers. Workers in Whittier try to move people out of homeless camps and into a home of their own. But housing is costly. Still, worker Tomasz says he has been able to help some people.
"It's really good to see the steps when people are leaving their encampments and they're transitioning to either transitional housing, and after when they obtain their own housing."
But there are many other homeless people still living on the streets or in camps, moving when their campsites are taken down.Why did California police clear the homeless encampment?
| A．Because the area was unclean. |
| B．Because the homeless people often fight. |
| C．Because the government has built new houses for them. |
| D．Because they badly affected the image of the city. |
Which is NOT the reason causing homelessness?
| A．Mental health problems | B．Plain bad luck |
| C．Being abandoned. | D．The high cost of housing, |
According to the passage ,where may the homeless live?
| A．In buildings behind parks. |
| B．In camps in forests. |
| C．In apartments near Silicon Valley |
| D．In permanent shelters. |
We can describe Tomasz as ____.
| A．generous | B．honest |
| C． grateful | D．helpful |
Which of the following can replace the underlined phrase “take down”?
| A．Write down. | B．Break down. |
| C．Pull down. | D．Set down. |
第三部分 阅读理解（共20小题;每小题2分,满分40分）
A
North Georgia Water Planning District
2015 High School Video Contest
Here’s the Scoop on Pet Waste!
Submission Deadline March 27, 2015.
| Eligibility Ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth grade students that attend schools located in Bartow, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Paulding and Rockdale counties are invited to participate in the video contest. Entries can be a team or individual effort. Guidelines » Each video must be uploaded to YouTube. The video’s YouTube link must be included in the entry/release form. » Team members must be from the same school. » The video must be between 30-60 seconds in length. » No professional assistance or use of copyright material is allowed, including background music. » Each student participating in the contest or appearing in the video must fill out a form. For teams, submit an entry/release form for each team member. » One video per team or individual. » All entry/release forms must be postmarked or received by Friday, March 27, 2015. Email: kvaIlianos@atlantaregional.com OR Mail: 2015 Water Video Contest Metro Water District 40 Courtland Street, NE Atlanta, GA 30303 |
Judging Submissions will be judged based on the following criteria: » incorporation of the “Here’s the Scoop on Pet Waste’’ message. Use the "Here's the Scoop on Pet Waste’’ messaging fact sheet for background information on the issue. » Composition (length, technical construction, audio quality). » Entertainment value. » Accuracy of information. » Creativity. Prizes » 1st Place $1500 » 2nd Place $1000 »3rd Place $500 50% of the prize money will go to the individual or team who submits the video and 50% to the high school they attend. Winners will be notified directly.  |
| Page 1 of 3 www.northgeorgiawater.org |
What does the underlined word “criteria” probably mean?
| A．Standards. | B．Qualifications. |
| C．Suggestions. | D．Grades. |
When entering the contest, ________.
| A．one must ask his or her teacher to sign the entry form |
| B．winners can earn at least $750 as a prize |
| C．one can invite friends from other schools to act in the video |
| D．participants had better add some humor and fun to the video |
Which of the following videos can be involved in the contest?
| A．A video that is submitted on March 30, 2015. |
| B．A video that is made with the help of the teacher. |
| C．A video that is downloaded from YouTube. |
| D．A video that is produced by Class Two, Grade Twelve in DeKalb. |
What is purpose of the passage?
| A．To inform the readers of the Scoop on Pet Waste. |
| B．To give the readers some suggestions on raising pets. |
| C．To advertise the 2015 High School Video Contest. |
| D．To give some advice on how to win the prize. |
E
An old man in a faded yellow shirt sat in a windowless room on a raised concrete form. The only source of heat came from somewhere beneath the plastic mattress and the rough blanket the blank-faced police woman had handed him after taking his thumb prints. He heard voices and metallic clang as the cell door swung open.
At the front desk a tired looking policeman handed the old man back his belongings, his worn-out cap and the Seiko watch that had stopped working the day his beloved Evelyn left. The policeman dramatically held the blue plastic bag at an arm’s length to the old man who took it and made sure its contents were undamaged: the goat meat, palm oil, leaves and spices. He ignored the confused expression on the officer’s face and signed the document declaring he had been returned the possessions they had taken off him the night before.
No one spoke to him as he walked slowly towards the exit. “Mr. Easy-nwa?” He stopped and prayed to the God who now took care of Evelyn to please take him far away from this unhappy place of expressionless faces, clipped accents and people who did not even attempt to pronounce his name right.
“Ezenwa,” He said and looked at a woman with tangerine lips, her name tag said Jessica Harlow, Social Services. “A bit far from home，，，she said as she drove fast and with confidence the way Evelyn used to. He wondered if she meant the 50 miles from Liverpool or the 50,000 miles from Enugu，a city in Nigeria. He did not bother replying as this woman had plenty to say about the weather, bad drivers, her daughter’s school play...
At last she drew up outside the block of flats where he lived.
“Got here in the end”，said she seriously, “Really Mr. Easy-nwa, if you keep getting lost, we will have to consider moving you into a home”.
“No need, I was not lost，，，he answered. He carefully rolled up the sleeves of the oversize bomber jacket he wore and turned on the tap to wash his hands, relieved the pipes were not frozen. In a clean pan he placed the chopped pieces of goat meat. The herbs and spices that had taken him three months to track down, the uziza seeds had taken him into the heart of Granby Market in Liverpool, his uchanwu leaves down a shady back alley in Manchester, and yesterday, among other food items, the finest goat meat from a Sierra Leonean Butcher in Birmingham. That had taken some time, so much he missed the last train and when the police found him shivering outside the locked up station, so cold he couldn’t answer loudly enough the pink-faced big copper who yelled in his face, “What’s your name sir?” spraying his face with spittle (吐沫）as he did so, leaving them with no choice but to search an exhausted, frozen old black man and finding him in possession of mysterious condiments (调味品）including a bag of dried bitter-leaf which could of course be mistaken for anything that resulted in him getting read his rights and charged with ...possession???
He lifted the lid of the bubbling soup, the room was filled with the rich and spicy scent of his culinary (烹饪的）effort. He served two bowls, taking the chipped one and placing the other opposite where Evelyn would have sat. He would tell her about his adventure, it was their anniversary and this was the perfect pepper soup to celebrate.
Ken Onyia, UK (Nigeria) Commonwealth Sport Short Story PrizeMr. Ezenwa was taken to the prison for a night because________________.
| A．he was too weak to move |
| B．he couldn’t find his way back home |
| C．he then had nowhere else to go |
| D．he was suspected of possessing drugs |
Which is the right order of the following events?
a. Ezenwa cooked the buddling soup.
b. Ezenwa searched for all kinds of condiments.
c. A social worker drove him back home
d. Ezenwa was sent to prison.
e.Evelyn passed away.
| A．b, e, c,a ,d | B．d, e, c, b, a |
| C．e, b, d,c,a | D．e, d, b, a, c |
Why did Mr. Ezenwa cook the buddling soup?
| A．To give his wife a present. |
| B．To give a surprise to his wife. |
| C．To entertain himself. |
| D．To celebrate their wedding anniversary. |
What words can be used to describe Mr. Ezenwa?
| A．Hopeless and pessimistic. |
| B．Mysterious and troublesome. |
| C．Affectionate and persistent. |
| D．Energetic and sympathetic. |
D
With America's national debt continuing to climb, Congress is constantly debating ways to save money. The Dollar Coin Alliance, a lobbying group, says billions could be saved if dollar coins were used instead of paper bills.
But many people won't use them. The U.S. government tried to push dollar coins again in recent years, but then suspended almost all production in 2011.
American likes paper dollars, but Jim Kolbe, co-chairman of the Dollar Coin Alliance, thinks switching to the coin is worth it.
“The coin does cost more to produce, roughly on the neighborhood of 17 cents versus the 5 or 6 cents that a paper dollar costs to produce," he said. "However, the coin lasts 35 years, and it’s made of mostly recycled metals, and the paper has to be produced from new materials, and we shred 3 billion of those every year because they wear out.”
For years, the former Arizona congressman has been pushing legislation that would prop up the dollar coin by phasing out the greenback — a move that has met resistance from both politicians and the public. But today, he said, the climate has changed, and a recent poll indicates 61 percent of Americans like the idea.
“When they learn of the savings that can be involved with this, they will support the idea of substituting the coin for the paper dollar,” he said.
Major savings
Kolbe points to a study by the Government Accountability Office, which investigates how the government spends taxpayer dollars. The GAO estimates taxpayers would save more than $4 billion over 30 years, and that figure could be much higher. That appeals to taxpayer Christy Thompson, who said, “I’d probably say, yes, we need to do it.”
But plenty of people aren't convinced, including Kim Doering of Alexandria, Virginia. “It’s easier to carry the paper bill than a bunch of coins. They’re louder; they’re heavier in your pocket,” she said.
Washington, D.C. restaurant owner Sue Fouladi doesn’t like the idea of having more dollar coins in her cash register.
"It’s very inconvenient," she said. "If I don’t have a choice, then I’ll do it, but I’ll be a very unhappy person.”
Adding to the problem is that the gold- and silver-colored metal coins are about the same size as the 25-cent quarter. Robert Blecker, an economics professor at American University in Washington, says the dollar coins should be a different size and thickness.
“And if we can design a dollar coin that’s not so big and bulky, probably Americans would like it better,” he added.
But that doesn’t bother college student Emily Sturgill.
“Sometimes they fit into your pocket easily and you don’t have to worry about them slipping out, like a dollar bill would if you brought your keys or your phone out,” she said.Which of the following is the advantage of dollar coins according to the passage?
| A．They cost less than paper bills . |
| B．They are convenient to carry. |
| C．They are not easy to wear out. |
| D．They are produced from new materials. |
What does the underlined sentence” the climate has changed” in paragraph 4 mean?
| A．America's national economy has changed. |
| B．Most of Americans support using dollar coins. |
| C．Only small percentage of Americans subscribe to using dollar coins. |
| D．The majority of Americans are for paper bills. |
Which of the following is in favor of using dollar coins?
| A．Kim Doering | B．Emily Sturgill. |
| C．Sue Fouladi | D．Robert Blecke |
What’s the best title of the passage?
| A．Dollar Coins or Paper Bills |
| B．Different Opinions about Coins |
| C．Ways to Solve America's National Debt |
| D．The Advantages of Dollar Coins. |
C
Burning less calories while walking seems like a bad idea, but making the walk easier may actually keep people on their feet longer, and that scientists say, has substantial health benefits.
Analyzing the human walk, biomedical engineers Steven Collins and Greg Sawicki concluded that our ankles and calves perform motions similar to a spring coupled with a clutch that intermittently stores and releases energy.
Sawicki, from the University of North Carolina, explained what’s involved.
“We found in basic science experiments that that system, your calf and Achilles tendon, works a lot like a catapult. So, the muscle holds on to the tendon and your body actually stretches your Achilles tendon quite a bit and then stores the energy in the tissue and then it’s given back to propel you forward in the world,” he said.
Sawicki said he and his colleague Steven Collins at Carnegie Mellon University designed a mechanical device, made of carbon fiber and metal, that performs the same sequence of energy give-and-take outside the body. The system takes over part of the work of walking, and reduces the amount of required energy by as much as seven percent.
Wearing the unpowered ankle exoskeleton can help people either walk farther with the same amount of energy, or restore the normal movement pattern for people who have trouble walking.
Sawicki said it takes only a few minutes to get used to the exoskeleton but the wearer quickly learns to tone down the muscle energy as the device takes over part of the load.
“You really don’t notice it until when you take it off. And when you take it off you realize that it was there and giving you the boost,” he said.
Sawicki added that the device is primarily intended for people recovering from surgery or a stroke. But all persons who spend a lot of time walking, such as police officers or hospital personnel, could benefit from it.
At the moment there are no plans to develop the ankle exoskeleton for the market, but the inventors say some manufacturers have expressed interest.What’s the main idea of the passage?
| A．How to reduce energy whiling walking. |
| B．Ways to make walking easy. |
| C．Introduction to a mechanical device to make walk easier |
| D．Guidelines for people recovering from surgery. |
What is true according to the passage ?
| A．The device can only benefit people with walking problems. |
| B．All people could benefit from it. |
| C．With the device, the walkers need seven percent as much as the energy otherwise. |
| D．The device can benefit people in the long term. |
What does the underlined word ” propel” mean in paragraph 3?
| A．put | B．keep | C．help | D．push |
What can we learn from the last paragraph?
| A．The ankle exoskeleton will have a bright future. |
| B．The ankle exoskeleton hasn’t appeal to manufacturers. |
| C．The ankle exoskeleton will be launched in the market soon. |
| D．The ankle exoskeleton will never be produced. |
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