INTERNATIONAL TRADE OF PANLAND
 
小題1:Considering all imports and exports, what statement can be made about Panland’s trade?

A．Panland imports food and exports raw materials（原材料）.

B．Panland imports manufactured goods（加工品） and exports food.

C．Panland imports manufactured goods and exports raw materials.

D．Panland imports raw materials and exports manufactured goods.

小題2: With which of the following does Panland carry on the most trade?

A．Asia.

B．Africa.

C．Middle East.

D．United States.

小題3:What is probably Panland’s largest import from the Middle East?

A．oil

B．food

C．wood

D．cotton

小題4:Judging from its economy, it could be concluded that most of Panland’s working people are _____

A．farmers	B．fishing people
C．unskilled laborers	D．skilled factory workers

Special Bridges Help Animals Cross the Road
----- Reported by Sheila Carrick
Why did the chicken cross the road？ To get to the other side. Most people know this joke. But recently, some people have been much more concerned with how the grizzly bear and mountain lion can cross the road. Millions of animals die each year on U.S. roads， the Federal Highway Administration reports. In fact， only about 80 ocelots, an endangered wild cat, exist in the U.S. today. The main reason？ Road kill. "Ecopassages" may help animals cross the road without being hit by cars. They are paths both over and under roads. "These ecopassages can be extremely useful, so that wildlife can avoid human conflicts, " said Jodi Hilty of the Wildlife Conservation Society. But do animals actually use the ecopassages？The answer is yes. Paul Beier of Northern Arizona University found foot marks left by mountain lions on an ecopassage that went under a highway. This showed that the lion used the passage. Builders of some ecopassages try to make them look like a natural part of an area by planting trees on and around them. Animals seem to be catching on. Animals as different as salamanders and grizzly bears are using the bridges and underpasses. The next time you visit a park or drive through an area with a lot of wildlife, look around. You might see an animal overpass！
小題1:The writer uses the example of “ocelots” to show that_________.

A．wild animals have become more dangerous

B．the driving conditions have improved greatly

C．the measure for protecting wildlife fails to work

D．a(chǎn)n increasing number of animals are killed in road accidents

小題2:When the writer says that animals seem “to be catching on”， he means_________.

A．a(chǎn)nimals begin to realize the dangers on the road

B．a(chǎn)nimals begin to learn to use ecopassages

C．a(chǎn)nimals are crossing the road in groups

D．a(chǎn)nimals are increasing in number

小題3:The writer asks visitors and drivers to look around when traveling because_________.

A．wild animals may attack cars

B．wild animals may jam the road

C．they may see wild animals in the park

D．they may see wild animals on ecopassages

Understanding the process of making career choices and managing your career is a basic life skill that everyone should understand.
Your career decisions have such a profound effect on all aspects of your life. It’s important to have the knowledge and resources needed to make smart, informed decisions. Whether you are looking for a new job, aiming to take the next step at your current job or planning your retirement options, you are making career decisions. Using good resources and the guidance of a career counselor can help you to make those decisions well.
Many people mistakenly believe that choosing a career is a one-time event that happens some time in early adulthood. However, career management is actually a life-long process, and we continue to make consequential (重大的) career choices over the years. When people want to take action in their career, career management and job search are about so much more than writing a good resume. If you learn about and act on the following areas of career management, you’ll be rewarded throughout your career.
Your interests, abilities, values, personal needs and realities should all be taken into account in any career decision making process. You spend countless hours at work, and it impacts your life in so many ways; it makes sense that you should be fully informed before making such profound decisions.
Do you know how many different career choices are available to you? Both The Dictionary of Occupational Titles (American) and The National Occupational Classification (Canadian) list well over 20,000 different job titles. So unless you’ve actively explored a variety of career options, there’s a very good chance that there are great possibilities available to you, and you don’t even realize they exist.
Match your understanding of yourself with your understanding of possible career options. Once you have developed a good understanding of yourself, you will be able to combine that self-knowledge with your career and labor market research to determine potential careers that are a great fit for you.
When you’ve made a well informed decision, then you’re ready to make it happen. Making use of good career guidance and resources will help you to acquire the education, skills, and experience needed to get the job and learn and implement (實(shí)施) effective job search strategies.
Time spent understanding your needs, researching your career options and developing outstanding job search skills, guided by great career resources, is a powerful investment in your future.
小題1:What’s the main idea of the passage?

A．In the process of making career decisions, people should consider interests, abilities, values, personal needs and realities.

B．All the people should have a good knowledge of how to make career choices and manage their career.

C．Career decisions have a great impact on people’s life.

D．There are various possibilities available to you of making career decisions.

小題2:How many tips does the author give on career management?

A．1.

B．2.

C．3.

D．4.

小題3:It can be inferred that _______.

A．career decision is misunderstood by many people because they don’t take it as a life-long process

B．your career will be definitely successful if you make a well informed decision

C．making yourself understood can help you make a final choice

D．writing a good resume can find a good job

小題4:Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE according to the passage?

A．Your interests in the occupation you choose are vital.

B．Good career guidance and resources can help you gain the skills and experience.

C．You are to make significant decisions without good resources and the guidance of a career adviser.

D．Planning your retirement options is related to career management.

Many drivers say the large digital billboards flashing ads every few seconds along Bay Area freeways are just too bright and too distracting. And they may be right.
A Swedish study published in the journal Traffic Injury Prevention concludes that digital billboards hold the gazes of drivers longer than two seconds. Previous studies have shown that anything that takes a driver’s eyes off the road for that length of time increases the risks of a crash. “This study proves what is common sense when it comes to digital billboards,” says Mary Tracy, president of Scenic America, a national nonprofit group that seeks to limit billboards. “Bright, constantly changing signs on the sides of roads are meant to attract and keep the attention of drivers, and this study confirms that this is exactly what they do.”
The Federal Highway Administration allowed digital signs for the first time in 2007 after concluding they did not pose a significant danger. But a follow-up report is pending (待定的) and could be released this year. California has no law banning the billboards, and is one of 39 states that allows them. “We would need to review more research, so it’s too early to call for a ban,” says Jonathan Adkins, executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association. “There is a role for digital messaging, such as conveying urgent information and other safety messages.”
There are more than 1,800 digital billboards nationwide, more than double the number five years ago. While no data indicate an increase in accidents due to the Bay Area signs, many drivers are opposed to them.
“Monstrosities” is what Merlin Dorfman of San Jose calls them, while insurance agent David Whitlock says he has found them a major distraction. “They’re much too bright at night,” he says. “When the advertisement switches from a bright color to a darker one, your eyes cannot adjust fast enough, and you end up losing sight of the roadway.”
Officials with sign companies could not be reached for comment, but Bryan Parker, an executive vice president for Clear Channel Outdoor, told USA Today last year that “there’s no doubt in my mind that they are not a driving distraction.”
小題1:Which of the following is TRUE?

A．The brightness of digital billboards is harmful to people’s eyes.

B．The Federal Highway Administration banned digital signs in 2013.

C．There is evidence indicating an increase in accidents duo to digital billboards.

D．Digital billboards are used to convey messages.

小題2:What do we learn from the text?

A．Scenic America is an organization that is in favor of digital billboards.

B．Drivers in the Bay Area are against the digital billboards.

C．California has banned digital billboards.

D．There were about 1,800 digital billboards nationwide five years ago.

小題3:What is Bryan Parker’s attitude towards digital billboards?

A．Supportive.	B．Indifferent.
C．Opposed.	D．Uncertain.

小題4:What is the main idea of the text?

A．Studies have shown digital billboards pose a danger to drivers.

B．People’s eyes cannot adjust fast enough to the brightness of digital billboards.

C．A study says flashing digital billboards are too distracting.

D．Experts doubt it is necessary to limit digital billboards.

小題5:We are most likely to find the text in the ________ section of a magazine.

A．international culture	B．traffic and safety
C．fashion and travel	D．personal health

You may have seen a lot of frogs, but if you haven't, you must have heard about frogs. However, have you heard about a frog that can kill a person?
These small brightly colored amphibians (兩棲動(dòng)物) live in the tropical  rain forests of Central and South America. They are best known for their ability to kill persons even though they are no more than 2 inches long. If we touch their poisonous skin without proper protection (such as gloves), we may die! For animals of this size that can be so deadly, they are certainly one of the world's most poisonous animals! Who are they? They are poison arrow frogs or, simply, poison frogs.
Poison frogs acquired their name from the Indians. The Indians catch and kill many of these frogs before hanging them upside down over a campfire. As the frogs get hot, the poison drips out of their skin. The Indians collect the poisonous liquid in a bottle and dip(蘸) the tips of their arrows into the bottle. Once the tips are dried, they are ready to be used for their arrows for hunting.
There are about 170 different types of poison arrow frogs in the world. Though most species have bright markings, either in stripes or patches, on their black bodies, some just wear noticeable single-colored coats. Their shocking skin colors-usually in yellow, red, green, blue or orange-serve as a warning sign to other animals. The sign simply says,” Stay away or pay with your life!” They certainly do not bluff.
小題1:We can infer that the Indians may kill poison frogs in order to______.

A．treat diseases	B．a(chǎn)void being bitten
C．hunt animals	D．eat their meat

小題2:According to the passage,  poison frogs______.
A can grow to several meters long                   B. like to change colors on the back
C. have bright-colored skin or markings            D. are on the edge of dying out
小題3:Which of the following best explains the last sentence of the passage?

A．Poison frogs don't want to kill others.

B．Poison frogs do not just scare others.

C．Poison frogs want to stop others from coming near.

D．Poison frogs just pretend to be dangerous animals.

In every British town, large and small, you will find shops that sell second-hand goods. Sometimes such shops deal mostly in furniture, sometimes in books, sometimes in ornaments and household goods, sometimes even in clothes.
The furniture may often be “antique”, and it may well have changed hands many times. It may also be very valuable, although the most valuable piece will usually go to the London salerooms, where one piece might well be sold for hundreds of thousands of pounds. As you look around these shops and see the polished wood of chests and tables, you cannot help thinking of those long-dead hands which polished that wood, of those now-closed eyes which once looked at these pieces with love.
The books, too, may be antique and  very precious; some may be rare first printings. Often when someone dies or has to move house, his books may all be sold, so that sometimes you may find whole libraries in one shop. On the border between England and Wales, there is a town which has become a huge bookshop as well.Even the cinema and castle have been taken over, and now books have replaced sheep as the town’s main trsde.
There are also much more humble shops, sometimes simply called “junk shops”, where you can buy small household pieces very cheaply. Sometimes the profits from these shops go to charity. Even these pieces, though, can make you feel sad; you think of those people who once treasured them, but who have moved on, to another country or to death.
Although the British do not worship their ancestors, they do treasure the past and the things of the past. This is true of houses as well. These days no one knocks them down; they are restored until they are often better than new. In Britain, people do not buy something just because it is new. Old things are treasured for their proven worth; new things have to prove themselves before they are accepted.
小題1:Books found in second-hand book shops may _____.

A．be copies of the earliest printing	B．be on sale for the first time
C．never be worth very much	D．never be rare

小題2:Second-hand goods sometimes fill you with sadness because_____.

A．they are too expensive for average buyers

B．they remind you of the original owner

C．they are now neglected

D．they are sold for charity

小題3:Which of the following word can best take the place of the word “antique” in the second paragraph?

A．invention

B．possession

C．material

D．relic

小題4:According to the passage, the British people_____.

A．do not respect old things because they are not fashionable

B．like to build new houses simply because it is fashionable to do so

C．like to buy new things because they are fashionable

D．do not like to buy things simply because they are fashionable

High-quality customer service is preached（宣揚(yáng)）by many, but actually keeping customers happy is easier said than done.
Shoppers seldom complain to the manager or owner of a retail store（零售店）, but instead will warn their friends, relatives, co-workers, strangers and anyone who will listen. Store managers are often the last to hear complaints. “Storytelling hurts retailers(零售商) and entertains consumers,” said Paula Courtney, President of the Verde group. “The store loses the customer, but the shopper must also find a replacement.”
The most common complaints include filled parking lots, cluttered（塞滿了的）shelves, overloaded racks, out-of-stock items, long check-out lines, and rude sales people.
During peak shopping hours, some retailers solved the parking problems by getting moonlighting(業(yè)余兼職的) local police to work as parking attendants to direct customers to empty parking spaces. Retailers can relieve the headaches by redesigning store display, pre-stocking sales items, hiring speedy and experienced cashiers, and having sales representatives on hand to answer questions. Most importantly, sales people should be skillful and polite with angry customers.
“Retailers who’re enthusiastic and friendly are more likely to smooth over issues than those who aren't so friendly.” said Professor Stephen Hoch. “Maybe something as a greeter at the store entrance would help.”
Customers can also improve future shopping experiences by filling complaints to the retailer, instead of complaining to the rest of the world. Retailers are hard-pressed to improve when they have no idea what is wrong.
小題1:Why are store managers often the last to hear complaints?

A．Most shoppers won’t complain even if they have had unhappy experiences.

B．It is difficult for customers to have easy access to store mangers.

C．Few customers believe the service will be improved after their complaints.

D．Shoppers would rather tell their unhappy experiences to people around them.

小題2:What does Paula Courtney imply by saying the underlined sentence in paragraph 2?

A．The same products can be bought in other retail stores.

B．It is not likely the shopper can find the same products in other stores.

C．New customers are sure to replace old ones.

D．Not complaining to the manager causes the shopper some trouble too.

小題3:What contributes most to smoothing over issues with customers?

A．Hiring of efficient employees.

B．Manners of the salespeople.

C．Huge supply of goods for sale.

D．Design of the store display.

小題4:To achieve better shopping experiences, customers are advised to ______.

A．voice their dissatisfaction to store managers directly

B．settle their disagreements with stores in a friendly way

C．put pressure on stores to improve their service

D．shop around and make comparisons between stores

Why Doesn't Anybody Copy Apple?
Apple’s products are the envy of the world. They have been amazingly successful and are widely imitated, if not copied. The minute Apple launches a product, everyone knows how to compete．This idea that the basis of competition is set by Apple and then the race is on to climb the path of improvement is unquestionable. When Apple releases a product that defines a category or dramatically changes the structure of an industry, it becomes obvious what needs to be built. But what I wonder is why everyone wants to copy Apple's products but nobody wants to copy being Apple?
I can think of two reasons. Firstly, Apple is not worth copying because it's not successful; secondly, Apple's success cannot be copied because it is a magical process.
There is a great deal of evidence for the first assumption. The idea of Apple being successful is not something reflected in its stock price. Being valued lower than the average company in the S&P（標(biāo)準(zhǔn)普爾）500 indicates that to whatever degree Apple was successful in the past, and it's not seen by the vast majority of observers as successful in the future. Why should one bother copying Apple if it results in being punished with a low valuation? If one works really hard at innovation（革新）and then that innovation becomes commoditized（商品化）very quickly, why should one bother?
When innovation practitioners are asked what makes Apple successful, the answers regarding the cause of this success border on the mythical. The fabulous part of this assumption is the " chief-sorcerer" theory of success which places one magician, like Steve Jobs, in charge of casting all the right spells．
What about Apple's own opinion of what makes it tick? Tim Cook refers to a great team and integration（一體）of hardware, software and services as unique Apple advantages. It's a better explanation. Integration is something that can take a long time, but it is possible with great effort. A few companies are starting to make moves in that direction, but efforts are half-hearted. There is no "move the Earth" feeling to become an integrated company from Samsung, Google or Microsoft.
My own suspicion is that Apple is more aware of what makes it special than it lets out. However, as Tim points out, it's not a formula. It's complex, it's subtle, but it's not magic. It's a process that requires a degree of faith and courage.
小題1:When a new product of Apple comes out, often it _________.

A．ruins an industry dramatically

B．puts itself in an unbeatable position

C．starts a revolution of an industry

D．is soon overtaken by imitated products

小題2:According to the passage, other companies don't "copy being Apple" because_________.

A．Apple is not a successful company

B．they have no access to relevant resources

C．it's hard to find a magician like Steve Jobs

D．being Apple takes more than time and efforts

小題3:We can infer from Para. 5 that _________.

A．other companies are dedicated to integration

B．Apple itself is fully aware of its unique advantages

C．Apple will hold the leading position in this industry

D．other companies don't have an extraordinary team as Apple does

小題4:What does the author think of Tim Cook's statement?

A．Neutral.

B．Disappointing.

C．Indifferent.

D．Acceptable.

Five years ago, David Smith wore an expensive suit to work every day. “I was a clothes addict.” he jokes. “I used to carry a fresh suit to work with me so I could change if my clothes got wrinkled.” Today David wears casual clothes—khaki pants and a sports shirt—to the office. He hardly ever wears a necktie. “I am working harder than ever.” David says, “and I need to feel comfortable.”
More and more companies are allowing their office workers to wear casual clothes to work. In the United States, the change from formal to casual office wear has been gradual. In the early 1990s, many companies allowed their employees to wear casual clothes on Friday（but only on Friday）.This became known as “dress-down Friday” or “casual Friday”. “What started out as an extra one-day-a-week benefit for employees has really become an everyday thing.” said business consultant Maisly Jones.
Why have so many companies started allowing their employees to wear casual clothes? One reason is that it’s easier for a company to attract new employees if it has a casual dress code.” “A lot of young people don’t want to dress up for work,” says the owner of a software company, “so it’s hard to hire people if you have a conservative（保守的）dress code.” Another reason is that people seem happier and more productive when they are wearing comfortable clothes. In a study conducted by Levi Strauss and Company, 85 percent of employers said that they believe that casual dress improves employee morale（心境，士氣）. Only 4 percent of employers said that casual dress has a negative influence on productivity. Supporters of casual office wear also argue that a casual dress code helps them save money. “Suits are expensive, if you have to wear one every day,” one person said. “For the same amount of money, you can buy a lot more casual clothes.”
小題1:David Smith refers to himself as having been “a clothes addict,” because     .

A．he often wore khaki pants and a sports shirt

B．he couldn’t stand a clean appearance

C．he wanted his clothes to look neat all the time

D．he didn’t want to spend much money on clothes

小題2:David Smith wears casual clothes now, because     .

A．they make him feel at ease when working

B．he cannot afford to buy expensive clothes

C．he looks handsome in casual clothes

D．he no longer works for any company

小題3:According to this passage, which of the following statements is FALSE?

A．Many employees don’t like a conservative dress code.

B．Comfortable clothes make employees more productive.

C．A casual clothes code is welcomed by young employees.

D．All the employers in the U. S. are for casual office wear.

小題4:According to this passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?

A．Company workers started to dress down about fifty years ago.

B．Dress-down has become an everyday phenomenon since the early 90s.

C．“Dress-down Friday” was first given as a favor from employers.

D．Many workers want to wear casual clothes to impress people.

小題5:In this passage, the following advantages of casual office wear are mentioned EXCEPT     .

A．saving employees’ money

B．making employees more attractive

C．improving employees’ motivation

D．making employees happier

A new generation addiction is quickly spreading all over the world. Weboholism（網(wǎng)癮）, a twentieth century disease, affects people from different ages. They surf the net, use e-mail and speak in chat rooms. They spend many hours on the computer, and it becomes a compulsive habit.  They cannot stop, and it affects their lives.
Ten years ago, no one thought that using computers could become compulsive behavior that could affect the social and physical life of computer users. Such behavior has seriously affected teenagers and college students. They are likely to log(寫日志) on computers and spend long hours at different websites.
They become hooked（著迷） on computers and gradually their social and school life is affected by this situation. They spend all free time surfing and don’t concentrate on homework, so this addiction influences their grades and success at school. Because they can find everything on the websites, they hang out there. Moreover, this addiction to websites influences their social life.
They spend more time in front of computers than with their friends. The relation with their friends changes. The virtual life becomes more important than their real life. They have a new language that they speak in the chat rooms and it causes cultural changes in society.
Because of the change in their behavior, they begin to isolate themselves from society and live with their virtual friends. They share their emotions and feelings with friends who they have never met in their life. Although they feel confident on the computer, they are not confident with real live friends they have known all their life. It is a problem for the future. This addictive behavior is beginning to affect all the world.
小題1:.The main idea of the passage is about__________.

A．the cause of weboholism	B．the advantage of weboholism
C．the popularity of weboholism	D．the effect of weboholism

小題2:. We can infer from the passage that_______.

A．weboholism has the greatest effect on teenagers

B．students can hardly balance real and virtual life

C．people are addicted to games on the Internet

D．virtual life is more vivid and attractive than real life.

小題3:. Which of the following is NOT true of weboholism?

A．It contributes to the development of the web.

B．The chat room language may change social culture.

C．The problem will be getting more and more serious later.

D．People addicted to the web often become inactive in real life.