Here is some mustknow information from a handbook on how people behave in doing business in some countries.
In Brazil
Brazilians are warm and friendly. They often stand close when talking and it is common for them to touch the person on the shoulder. People often greet each other (particularly women) with light cheek kisses. Schedules tend to be flexible，with business meetings sometimes starting later than planned. But to be safe，be on time. Meals can stretch for hours—there’s no such thing as rushing a meal in Brazil. Lunches also can start in the mid to late afternoon. Brazilians are social，preferring facetoface communication over emails or phone calls.
In Singapore
Singaporeans shake hands when they meet and often also greet each other with a small，polite bow. Business cards should be offered and received with two hands. Arriving late is considered disrespectful. So be on time. Efficiency(效率) is the goal，so meetings and dealings often are fastpaced. Singaporeans are direct in their discussions，even when the subject is about money. Rank is important and authority is respected. This determines how people interact in meetings. For example，people avoid disagreeing outright with someone of a higher rank.
In the United Arab Emirates
In the UAE，status is important，so the most senior or oldest should be greeted first with their titles. The handshake seems to be longer than elsewhere. So do not pull away from the handshake. Women should cover themselves when it comes to dress. Men also tend to be covered from neck to elbows(肘部) and down to the knees. People do not avoid entertaining in their homes，but they also hold business meals at restaurants. Touching or passing food or eating with your left hand is to be avoided. When meetings are onetoone，if your host offers you coffee，you should refuse. It might seem odd，but it is a cultural tradition. Coffee should only be accepted if it is already set out or presented.
In Switzerland
The Swiss tend to be formal and address each other by last name. They also are respectful of private lives. You should be careful not to ask about personal topics. Punctuality(守时) is vital，something that comes from a deep respect for others’ time. Arrive at any meeting or event a few minutes early to be safe. They also have clear structure in their companies. Higherups make the final decisions，even if others might disagree. Neat，clean dress is expected. The Swiss follow formal table manners. They also keep their hands visible at the table and their elbows off the table. It is polite to finish the food on your plate.
The passage is mainly about___________
| A．communication types |
| B．the workplace atmosphere |
| C．customs and social manners |
| D．living conditions and standards |
Why do Singaporeans avoid arguing with their boss?
| A．They put efficiency in the first place. |
| B．They dislike facetoface communication. |
| C．They want to finish meetings as quickly as possible. |
| D．They are supposed to obey the person of a higher rank. |
In the UAE，when should you refuse the coffee if it is offered?
| A．When greeting seniors. |
| B．When meeting the host alone. |
| C．When attending a presentation. |
| D．When dining with business partners. |
In which country do people care about where to put their hands at the dinner table?
| A．In Brazil. |
| B．In Singapore. |
| C．In the United Arab Emirates. |
| D．In Switzerland. |
The United Nations and the World Meteorological Organization created the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 1988. The panel is a committee made up of hundreds of scientists. Last week, an IPCC working group released a report about climatic conditions around the world.
Scientists are surer than ever before that the Earth is warming and that human activity is to blame. That is the message of the new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. As we hear from Christopher Cruise, the report's findings will help inform policy makers and the public as they consider action to fight climate change.
One-hundred-ten governments approved this scientific agreement:
"It is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of observed warming since the mid-20th century."
The head of the World Meteorological Organization, Michael Jarraud, spoke at a press conference about the new report.
"It should serve as yet another wake-up call that our activities today will have a profound impact on society, not only for us, but for many generations to come."
Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have been losing mass and glaciers continue to shrink, the report says. It calls the decrease of Artic sea ice, "unprecedented," meaning nothing like this has been noted before. The report also examines the mean rate of sea level rise. It says that since the middle of the 19th century, the rate is higher than at any time in the past 2000 years.
The working group also examined the connection between extreme weather events and climate. Brenda Ekwurzel is a climate scientist with the Union of Concerned Scientists, a non-profit group. She has worked with the scientists who prepared the IPCC report.
"The most we can say is that extreme events dealing with coastal flooding and extreme heat, (we have) very, very high confidence with these events being highly linked to climate change."
She says the report blames human activity for half of the increased warming over the past fifty or so years. One such activity is the burning of fossil fuels in factories, buildings and cars. This produces heat-trapping gasses.
Past IPCC reports have led the way to international agreements like the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. It ended in 2012. The United Nation's top climate official, Christiana Figueres, says the new report will help move new climate talks forward.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is sometimes criticized as appearing to be too conservative in its predictions. But, Ms. Figueres says this report is right on the mark.
"Everything that we thought we knew about climate change has been underestimated, that we will have much faster and much more intense effects from the growing concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. So, it's a very sobering message that calls for a more invigorated and more accelerated policy response to address that."
Government leaders and climate experts will get a chance to do that at the climate negotiations next month. The talks will take place in the Polish capital, Warsaw.505
What does the underlined word “sobering”mean in the last paragraph?
| A．satisfactory |
| B．serious |
| C．disappointing |
| D．unbelievable |
According to the passage, the Earth is warming due to_______.
| A．human activity |
| B．the burning of fossil fuels |
| C．heat-trapping gasses |
| D．the burning of fossil fuels in cars |
Which of the following statements is true according to the passage？
| A．Christopher Cruise says that our activities today will have a profound impact on society. |
| B．Ms. Figueres says that climate change calls for a more invigorated and more accelerated policy response to address that. |
| C．Michael Jarraud says that the report blames human activity for half of the increased warming over the past fifty or so years. |
| D．Brenda Ekwurzel says that It is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of observed warming since the mid-20thcentury. |
A new study finds that more than 13 million deaths could be prevented in China over the next 40 years if the country had stronger anti-smoking measures. But the study's authors say China has not taken many steps to control the use of tobacco. The study was published in the British Medical Journal.
China signed the World Health Organization's international treaty on tobacco control in 2003. But it has not put in place many of the WHO ideas to help people stop smoking. Experts say following these ideas could cut smoking by 40 percent before the year 2050. Without stronger anti-smoking measures, there could be 50 million tobacco-related deaths in the country over that time.The authors of the study used a computer program called "SimSmoke" to make their predictions.
David Levy works at Georgetown University's Lombardi Cancer Center in Washington, DC. He says China has one third of the world's cigarette smokers. More than half of the men in China smoke. Mr. Levy says people often begin smoking without knowing it will harm their health. He says people in some countries smoke because it makes them feel important.
"Smoking, you know, once it gets established and in many of the low- and middle income countries, you know there's a kind of a prestige initially to smoking."
The WHO plan calls for a ban on smoking in all public places. It also calls for countries to place health warnings on cigarette containers and offer programs to help people stop smoking. And, it says, there should be high taxes on tobacco.
Experts say a 75 percent increase in cigarette taxes could save about 3.5 million lives. They say an end to cigarette advertising could save two million lives. After signing the WHO agreement, China placed a 12 percent tax on cigarettes. But the government did not force Chinese smokers to pay the tax.
One of the authors of the new study is Teh-we Hu. He is a professor of public policy economics at the University of California Berkeley. Professor Hu says China's culture and society are changing. He says President Hu Jintao supports a ban on smoking in public. The president also wants people to stop giving cigarettes as gifts to officials and employers. Mr. Hu says the most effective anti-smoking measure in China would be a large increase in the cigarette tax. But he does not expect that to happen soon.To prevent people from smoking，which is wrong about the WHO plan？
| A．The WHO plan calls for a ban on smoking in all public places. |
| B．The WHO plan calls for countries to place health warnings on cigarette containers. |
| C．The WHO plan calls for offering programs to help people stop smoking. |
| D．The WHO plan calls for there should be low taxes on tobacco. |
If China has stronger anti-smoking measures, about ________ lives could be saved over the next 40 years.
| A．3.5 million | B．more than 13 million | C．50 million | D．40 million |
What does the underlined phrase “put in place” mean in Chinese?
| A．carry out | B．put something in the correct place | C．stop | D．begin |
According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?
| A．After signing the WHO agreement, China placed a 75 percent tax on cigarettes. |
| B．Experts say a 12 percent increase in cigarette taxes could save about 3.5 million lives. |
| C．Experts say using stronger anti-smoking measures could cut smoking by 40 percent before the year 2050. |
| D．After signing the WHO agreement, China has taken many steps to control the use of tobacco. |
The speech by President Obama in Shanghai
Good afternoon. It is a great honor for me to be here in Shanghai, and to have this opportunity to speak with all of you. What I’d like to do is to make some opening comments, and then what I’m really looking forward to doing is taking questions, not only from students who are in the audience, but also we’ve received questions online, which will be asked by some of the students who are here in the audience, as well as by Ambassador Huntsman. And I am very sorry that my Chinese is not as good as your English, but I am looking forward to this chance to have a dialogue.
This is my first time traveling to China, and I’m excited to see this great country. Here, in Shanghai, we see the growth that has caught the attention of the world—the high skyscrapers (摩天大楼), the busy streets and entrepreneurial(创业) activity. And just as I’m impressed by these signs of China’s journey to the 21st century, I’m eager to see those ancient places that speak to us from China’s distant past.
Tomorrow and the next day I hope to have a chance when I’m in Beijing to see the Forbidden City and the wonder of the Great Wall. Truly, this is a nation that has both a rich history and a belief in the promise of the future.
The same can be said of the relationship between our two countries. Shanghai, of course, is a city that has great meaning in the history of the relationship between the United States and China. It was here, 37 years ago, that the Shanghai Communique opened the door to a new chapter（新篇章） of engagement between our governments and among our people. However, America’s ties to this city—and to this country—date back further, to the earliest days of America’s independence.
How many times does President Obama has come to China?
| A．one | B．two | C．three | D．four |
What can we infer from the the passage?
| A．the Shanghai Communique plays an important role in maintaining(维持) the relationship between the two countries |
| B．China has a long history |
| C．Shanghai has great meaning in the history of the relationship between the United States and China. |
| D．President Obama is eager to see those ancient places |
Put the following statements in the right order.
a. President Obama will see the Forbidden City and the wonder of the Great Wall.
b. President Obama is in Shanghai.
c. The Shanghai Communique opened the door to a new chapter（新篇章） of engagement between our governments and among our people.
| A．abc | B．cba | C．bca | D．bac |
What can be inferred after the last passage?
| A．It is about the earliest history of the relationship between the United States and China. |
| B．It is about America’s independence. |
| C．It is about the earliest days of America’s independence. |
| D．It is about the earliest history of Shanghai. |
Can't wait for the opening of the Shanghai Disney Resort in 2015? Meet Mickey and Minnie Mouse and all their friends at the city's largest Disney exhibition at the Shanghai Super Brand Mall.
The exhibition invites visitors to have a taste of the Disneyland under construction, according to the organizer. Many of the exhibits have been transported from the Walt Disney Family Museum in Los Angeles, like the manuscripts of early animation producers.
The center of the mall's third floor has been transformed into a magic house with a giant Mickey above, greeting visitors. Classic cartoon figures, created by the company and its sub-companies over the past 90 years, are presented, including Winnie the Pooh.
Visitors can enjoy one of Disney's earliest film, Steamboat Willie. The film, which was screened in New York city in 1928, was considered the first fully synchronized sound cartoon. It was also the first time that Mickey and Minnie first appeared.
Visual and audio technologies have been applied to make the exhibition interactive.
In the Snow White section, a magic mirror on the wall astonishes visitors. Like the evil queen in the fairytale, visitors can stand before the mirror and ask: "Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?" One can see images of Snow White appear in the mirror.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, produced by the company, was considered the world's first full-length animated featured film.
In the Lion King section, stand at a designated position and enjoy the songs from the film in surround sound. The Lion King, Disney's 32nd full-length animated film, was one of the most successful Disney films and was turned into a Broadway opera.
Still the most charming star of the exhibition is Mickey Mouse, while the brightest of all is a Mickey Mouse model inlaid with more than 20,000 Swarovski crystals.
Four young artists, Yan Wei and Guan Chun from the Chinese mainland, and Dorophy Tang and Kenny Wang from Hong Kong, created different series of Mickey Mouse models with their personal styles.
Besides Disneyland, in 2015, the Walt Disney Company China will open the world's largest Disney Store, which will cover about 5,000 sq m in Lujiazui, Shanghai's financial hub.Which of the following is not true?
| A．Many of the exhibits have been transported from the Walt Disney Family Museum in Los Angeles |
| B．in 2015, the Walt Disney Company China will open the world's largest Disney Store, |
| C．One can see images of Winnie the Pooh appear in the mirror. |
| D．In the Lion King section, stand at a designated position and enjoy the songs from the film in surround sound. |
You will not see_____ in the Disney exhibition.
| A．one of Disney's earliest film, Steamboat Willie.. |
| B．a Mickey Mouse model inlaid with more than 20,000 Swarovski crystals.. |
| C．Chinese Classic cartoon figures |
| D．a magic mirror on the wall. |
What type of writing is the article likely to be?
| A．Science fiction | B．A medical report | C．A news report | D．Advertisement |
The purpose of writing this passage is to ________.
| A．compare some Classic cartoon figures and its sub-companies over the past 90 years and decide which one is the best. |
| B．introduce some exhibits for visitors. |
| C．the Shanghai Disney Resort will open in 2015. |
| D．introduce the city's largest Disney exhibition and encourage parents to visit them with their children. |
The city of Taipei, Taiwan is offering its 2.6 million people a fast, low-cost way to travel around the city. City officials have launched a bicycle rental program called YouBike. Many Taiwanese are now using bicycles to go to work and other places. But the growing popularity of the program has led to new traffic problems.
Five years ago, motor scooters competed with taxis and buses for space on Taipei's narrow streets. Then the city supported a plan to start loaning bicycles to people who pay for their temporary use. Taipei followed the examples of places like Kyoto, Japan; the Chinese city of Hangzhou; and Daejeon in South Korea.
Since then, Taipei has loaned bicycles 11 million times, mostly during the past year. Bikers do not pay for the first half-hour of use. Each 30 minutes after that costs less than half of an American dollar.
Hsu Tsai-tung is a 37-year-old office worker. She rides a rented bicycle to parks, a university and her workplace.
She says one good thing about renting is that the first 30 minutes are free. And, she says biking is good because she does not move around much in her office job during the day. Waiting for a bus would mean spending time, which she saves by riding a bike. She calls biking a natural choice.
Ms. Hsu is not alone. Using the one-speed bicycles works well for many Taiwanese. The bikes can be left at any of more than 100 rental stations. The vehicles could also ease air pollution, which is a health problem in many Asian cities.
In China, for example, the city of Shanghai reported record pollution levels in December. The levels were nearly 20 times above the level considered safe by the World Health Organization.
Shen Shu-hung is with Taiwan's Environmental Protection Agency. He wants to know whether bikes have reduced Taipei's pollution. Bad air has been found to endanger commuters and people living on low building floors.
Mr. Shen says Taiwan is studying whether the rental program has reduced air pollution. He is not discussing its effectiveness at present, in case the study finds that bike renters walked or rode public transportation in the past.
And, it appears that the 5,350 bikes on the streets of Taipei today have begun to cause new problems for city traffic. People who bike through the streets have to worry about cars making illegal sudden stops and fast right turns.
Some bikers have stopped riding on the streets and started riding their bikes on sidewalks. But this has angered or frightened many walkers.
Huang Huang-chia works at the Taipei Department of Transportation. He says no one single kind of incident has happened repeatedly. But he says riders need to be better educated.
He says the city's way of dealing with such incidents will be to educate people about every kind of bicycle safety needed in Taipei.
Taipei plans to complete its program with a total of 162 rental stations by the end of this year.The following cities applied a plan to start loaning bikes to people EXCEPT________.
| A．Taipei | B．Kyoto | C．Daejeon | D．Shanghai |
According to the passage，we know that__________.
| A．If you borrow a bike less than 30 minutes, you needn’t pay for it. |
| B．Each day costs less than half of an American dollar. |
| C．Taipei has a total of 162 rental stations or so now. |
| D．You must return your bike where you borrowed it. |
Which of the following problems is caused by bicycle riders?
| A．Waiting for a bus would mean spending time. |
| B．The rental program has reduced air pollution. |
| C．Some bikers have started riding their bikes on sidewalks. |
| D．Bad air has been found to endanger commuters |
What is the main idea of the passage？
| A．Bicycles riding can reduce air pollution. |
| B．Bicycles solve some problems in Taipei but create others. |
| C．Rental stations appears in Taipei. |
| D．City officials have launched a bicycle rental program. |
Where does this text probably come from ?
| A．A news report | B．Science fiction |
| C．An advertisement | D．A health report |
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