I am one of those people who are terrible at saying no. I take on too many projects at once, and
spend too much of my time doing things I'd rather not be doing. I get stuff done, but it's not always the
best I can do, or the best way I could spend my time.
    That's why my newest goal, both as a professional and a person, is to be a quitter.
    Being a quitter isn't being someone who gives up, who doesn't see important things through to the end.
I desire to be the opposite of that. The quitter I want to be is someone who gets out when there's no
value in what he's doing, or when that value comes at the expense of something more important.
    We get involved in something, realize we don't want to be a part of it, but keep on going. We say
"Well, I've already invested so much time in this, I might as well stick it out." A friend of mine once told
me, "I knew I was an adult when I could stop reading a book, even after getting 500 pages into it."
Odd though it sounds, we all tend to do this.
    I propose the opposite: quit as often as possible, regardless of project status or time invested. If
you're reading a book, and don't like it, stop reading. Cut your losses, realize that the smartest thing to
do is stop before your losses grow even more, and quit. Instead of reading an entire book you hate,
read half of a bad one and half of a good one. Isn't that a better use of your time?
    Step back for a second. Let's learn how to say "no" at the beginning, or in the middle, and free up
more of our time to do the things we'd like to be doing, and the things actually worth doing.
    Saying no is hard, and admitting a mistaken yes is even harder. But if we do both, we'll start to make
sure that we're spending our time creating value, rather than increasing our losses. Let's be quitters
together.

1. The author wants to be a quitter, because he/she         .

A. wishes to have more time for relaxation
B. hopes to improve his/her personality
C. expects to make more efficient use of his/her time
D. has found it hard to do several things at one time

2. In what circumstances does the author suggest quitting is a good idea? 

A. When you know a task cannot be finished.
B. When you feel tired and need a rest.
C. When you meet with difficulties along the way.
D. When you realize what you are doing is not worth the time.

3. The message the author tries to convey is to         .

A. learn to say noB. create more value
C. live your life to the fullest    
D. stop doing many things at a time    

     What is your favorite color? Do you like yellow, orange, and red? If you do, you must be an
optimist(樂(lè)觀者), a leader, an active person who enjoys life, people and excitement. Do you prefer
grays and blues? Then you are probably quiet, shy and you would rather follow than lead. If you love
green, you are strong-minded and determined. You wish to succeed and want other people to see
you are successful. At least this is what psychologists tell us, and they should know, because they have
been seriously studying the meaning of color preference(愛(ài)好), and the effect that colors have on human
beings. They tell us that we don't choose our favorite color as we grow up. If you happen to love brown,
you did so as soon as you opened your eyes, or at least as soon as you could see clearly.
      A yellow room makes us feel more cheerful and more comfortable than a dark green one, and a red
dress rings warmth and cheer to the saddest winter day. On the other hand, black is depressing(壓抑).
Light and bright colors make people not only happier but more active. It is a fact that factory workers
work better, harder, and have fewer accidents when their machines are painted orange rather than black
or dark gray.
     Remember, then, that if you feel low, you can always brighten your day or your life with a new shirt
or a few colorful things. Remember also that you will know your friends and your enemies better when
you find out what colors they like and dislike. And don't forget that anyone can guess a lot about your
character when you choose a piece of handkerchief.

1. According to this passage,            .

A. one can choose his color preference
B. one is born with his color preference
C. one's color preference is changeable
D. one has to choose his favorite color as soon as he can see clearly

2. The main idea of this passage is            .

A. one's color preference shows one's character
B. you can brighten your life with wonderful colors
C. psychologists have been studying the meaning of color preference
D. one's color preference has something to do with his character and colors have effects on human beings

3. The writer believes that in realizing the four modernizations of country, we need more
     people who love           .

A. yellow
B. red
C. green
D. black

    We can see how the product life cycle works by looking at the introduction of instant coffee.When
it was introduced,most people did not like it as well as "regular" coffee and it took several years to gain
general acceptance (introduction stage). At one point,though,instant coffee grew rapidly in popularity
and many brands were introduced (stage of rapid growth)．. After a while people became attached to
one brand,sales leveled off (stage of maturity). Sales went into a slight decline (衰退) when freeze
dried coffees were introduced (stage of decline).
     The importance of the product life cycle to marketers is this:Different stages in the product life cycle
call for different strategies.The goal is to extend product life so that sales and profits do not decline.One
strategy is called market modification.It means that marketing managers look for new users and market
sections.Did you know,for example,that the backpacks that so many students carry today were originally
designed for the military?
    Market modification also means searching for increased usage among present customers or going for
a different market,such as senior citizens.A marketer may re－position the product to appeal to new