“A very disruptive(調(diào)皮搗蛋的) six-year-old child kicked my legs and clawed at my hand,” said one teacher. “ I broke up a fight and was kicked between my legs,” said another. Many people have heard stories like this. But the situation is more worrying still and it involves parents.
Every child, regardless of the circumstances into which they are born, has the right to achieve their potential, regardless of their parents’ wealth and class. And we recognize that, as a nation, it is a long way to achieve this goal. But with rights come responsibilities and what worries people is that we are in danger of ignoring the latter.
Far too many children are behaving badly at school, even to the point of being violent to staff. This is terrible enough, but it is hard to be surprised since many children are just mirroring the behaviour of their parents.
My members tell me that parents also come into school often and threaten staff and some staff have been attacked by a pupil’s parents. One father encouraged his child to start a fight on the playground before school started. A primary teacher reported that a parent shouted at him. We need to have a serious and sensible debate about the roles and responsibilities of parents and the support that they can reasonably expect of schools and teachers.
Children will not learn how to behave as social beings if they are stuck in front of the TV for hours every day. They need their parents to show an interest in them and to spend time with them, helping them to play with their peers(同齡人) and to learn the rules of social behavior.
Children are now arriving at school socially undeveloped, increasingly unable to dress themselves, unable to use the toilet properly, unable to hold a knife and fork and unused to eating at a table, Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, writes in today’s Observer. Instead of taking responsibility themselves, too many parents expect teachers to control their children’s behaviour and wellbeing, she adds. Bousted says one mother blamed staff when she discovered that her 16-year-old son was smoking.
We are in danger of becoming a nation of families living separate lives under one roof. The bedroom, once a place to sleep, has become the living space for the young. Spending hours in front of computer screens, on social networking sites or being immersed(沉迷于) in computer games, children and young people spend little time with their parents. Parents are unable to monitor just what their children are watching.
Schools cannot right the wrongs of society and teachers cannot become substitute parents. Both parties need to work together. Parents must be helped and given confidence to take back control. They are responsible for setting boundaries for their children's behaviour and sticking to those boundaries. They are responsible for setting a good example to their children and for devoting that most precious of resources — time — so that children come to school ready and willing to learn.
【小題1】In the opinion of the writer, what problem do people ignore?

A．The violence in the school

B．The study pressure of students.

C．The responsibilities of the students

D．The right to achieve students’ potential.

【小題2】The underlined part in Paragraph 7 means _____.

A．parents care little about children’s life at home

B．parents and children live in their separate rooms

C．children don’t live with their parents in the same house

D．children live a different life from that of parents at home

【小題3】The author’s attitude to the behaviour of parents may be ______.

A．dissatisfied	B．indifferent
C．understanding	D．tolerant

【小題4】From the last paragraph, we can infer that ______.

A．teachers have no responsibility for playing the role of parents

B．schools can’t correct the wrongs that society does to teachers

C．students are responsible for making themselves known in society

D．parents should spend time with children to make them ready to learn

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（標準普爾）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.

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(裝飾) and household goods, sometimes even in clothes.
The furniture may often be “antique（古時制造的，古董的）”, 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（精致的）wood of chests（箱子）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 trade.
There are also much more humble（卑微的）shops, sometimes simply called “junk shops”, where you can buy small house-hold pieces very cheaply. Sometimes the profits from these shops go to charity(慈善事業(yè)). 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（崇拜，敬仰）their ancestors（祖先）, 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】What is the small town on the border between England and Wales famous for?

A．Its sheep.

B．Its books.

C．Its cinema.

D．Its castles.

【小題3】Second-hand goods sometimes fill you with sadness because       .

A．they are too expensive for average buyers

B．they remind you of the original owners

C．they are now neglected（忽視，忽略）

D．they are sold for charity

【小題4】 The average British person      .

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

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

C．likes to buy new things because they are fashionable

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

【小題5】What does the underlined word “them”(Para.4) refer to?

A．Junk shops.	B．Profits from shops.
C．Old things.	D．Old houses.

Writer Jean Stafford scoffed, “Happy  people don't need to have fun,” but studies show that the absence of feeling bad isn’t enough to make you feel good；you must try hard to find sources of feeling good. Research shows that regularly having fun is a key factor in having a happy life；people who have fun are 20 times more likely to feel happy.
Recently, I noticed a pattern among activities that people find fun：Have a mission. There’s something about having a playful purpose，of trying to achieve something that makes an activity more fun.
For example a friend told that she loved visiting flea markets（舊貨市場）and antique stores to look for old globes-not fancy ones，but cheap ones. She has a rule that she'll never pay more than＄20. She’s the kind of person who loves wandering around in those kinds of shops in any case，but having a mission makes it more fun, less aimless.
For that matter，having a collection of any sort is a very popular way to have a mission. You get satisfaction whenever you find another piece of blue sea glass on the beach or another out-of-print book by Charlotte Yonge in an old bookstore.
Taking photos is a common way to incorporate(使并入) a mission into traveling. Not only does this help keep memories vivid, it also makes you more attuned（協(xié)調(diào)一致）to your environment while traveling. For example，during my most recent visit to New Haven，I had a lot more fun wandering around once I set myself the mission of taking tourist photos of my own romance.
Why is this true? The First Splendid Truth holds that to be happier，you have to think about feeling good and feeling right，in an atmosphere of growth. The more I’ve thought about happiness，the more surprised I’ve been at the importance of the “atmosphere of growth.” I think this is a huge engine of happiness, and when you have a mission, you create an atmosphere of growth whenever you pursue that mission.
Have you found a way to have a mission? What is it and does it boost your happiness?
【小題1】. According to the author, happy people____

A．don't need to have fun

B．don't have to be occupied with work

C．can have 20 times more fun than others

D．a(chǎn)re always finding sources of feeling good

【小題2】. What does the underlined phrase “Having a mission" mean in paragraph 2？
A. Have fun.                               B. Join in an activity.
C. Find something interesting to do.           D: Hunting for a job.
【小題3】 The author explains the key factor in having a happy life by____.

A．making a comparison	B．presenting numbers
C．stating common sense	D．using examples

【小題4】. What will be probably the best title?

A．How to live happily

B．Where to look for fun

C．The importance of feeling good

D．Having a mission can make you 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.

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

If you haven’t heard or seen anything about Road Rage in the last few months, you’ve probably been avoiding the media. There have been countless stories about this new and scary phenomenon, considered a type of aggressive driving. You have most likely encountered aggressive driving or Road Rage recently if you drive at all.
While drunk driving remains a critical problem, the facts about aggressive driving are surely as disturbing. For instance, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Association, 41,907 people died on the highway last year. Of those deaths, the agency estimates that about two-thirds were caused at least in part by aggressive driving behavior.
Why is this phenomenon occurring more than ever now, and why is it something that seemed almost nonexistent a few short years ago? Experts have several theories, and all are probably partially correct. One suggestion is extreme overcrowding. In the last decade, the number of cars on the roads has increased by more than 11 percent, and the number of miles driven has increased by 35 percent. However, the number of new road miles has only increased by 1 percent. That means more cars in the same amount of space; and the problem is severe in urban areas. Also, people have less time and more things to do. With people working and trying to fit extra chores and activities into the day, stress levels have never been higher. Stress creates anxiety, which leads to short tempers. These factors, when combined in certain situations, can spell Road Rage.
You may think you are the last person who would drive aggressively, but you might be surprised. For instance, have you ever yelled out loud at a slower driver, sounded the horn long and hard an another car, or sped up to keep another driver from passing? If you recognize yourself in any of these situations, watch out!
Whether you are getting angry at other drivers, or another driver is visibly upset with you, there are things you can do to avoid any major conflict. If you are easily influenced by Road Rage, the key is to release your emotion in a healthy way. If you are the target of another driver’s rage, do everything possible to get away from the other driver safely, including avoiding eye contact and getting out of their way.
【小題1】The first sentence in Para. 1 implies that ______.

A．RoadRagehasreceivedmuchmediacoverageinthelastfewmonths
B．themediacreatedtheterm“RoadRage”onlyafewmonthsago	C．onemaybeangeredbymediareportsandwantstoavoidthem
D．peoplenotinterestedinthemediaknowlittleaboutrecenthappenings

【小題2】 The underlined word “spell” in Para. 3 means ________.

A．relieve

B．cause

C．spread

D．prevent

【小題3】Which of the following characterizes aggressive driving?

A．Talking while driving.

B．Driving at high speed.

C．Shouting at another driver.

D．Sounding the horn when passing

【小題4】The last paragraph is intended to _________.

A．tellpeoplehowtodealwithRoadRage

B．informpeoplehowaggressivedriverscouldbe

C．showpeoplehowtocontrolthemselveswhenangry

D．warnpeopleagainsteyecontactwithanotherdriver

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（標準普爾）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.

High-quality customer service is preached（宣揚）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

Nobody Benefits
NEW YORK—America has been experiencing the longest economic increase in its history．Incomes have risen, unemployment has fallen, and cities such as New York are bursting with new office buildings．
But just a short walk from Manhattan's skyscrapers, George Brown sits on the side-walk, cooking a lunch of rice and bits of fish over a can of cooking fuel．
Brown is homeless — one of the 2.3 million people in the US who end up on the street．
During the day, Brown collects aluminium cans and sells them for five cents a piece．At night, he sleeps on the street．
"I have been on the street about eight or nine years, something like that," said the 62-year-old former construction worker．
Brown admits he's had problems with alcohol and has smoked cocaine．But he said he still wants a more stable housing arrangement．He could afford it just with the money he earns by collecting cans and small pieces of metal, if only truly low-income housing were available．
However, he sees no hope of finding affordable housing in New York．
With the strong economy and unemployment down, beautiful housing is being built to meet demand．
A US report shows rents in New York city rose more than 27 percent between 1984 and 1999, from US $549 to US $700 a month．
One of the side effects of the strong economy is that rents have been going up．
The majority of people who experience homelessness really just need some affordable housing help．
But few housing companies have been built for the poor．Many small apartments in the city now rent for US $1,500 a month or more．
Brown, the homeless New Yorker, said he has a daughter who lives in the city but he rarely sees her．She is angry about his drinking and won't allow it in her house．
Smiling, he said he also has seven grandchildren whom he'd like to see more often．
"All I've got to do is clean up my act," he said．
【小題1】What kind of life does George Brown lead?

A．Homeless and dangerous

B．Homeless and childish

C．Homeless and miserable （痛苦的）

D．Homeless and sleepless

【小題2】From George Brown's life we can find that ______.

A．old Americans lead a hard life

B．old Americans want to live alone

C．American cities are crowded with poor people

D．bad habits play a role in some poor people's Life

【小題3】It can be inferred from this passage that ______.

A．America is short of housing companies

B．the poor can't benefit from the increasing economy

C．poor people in America will become rich

D．housing companies will build more houses for the poor

【小題4】If this passage comes from a paper, on which page would it be?

A．Society．

B．Science．

C．Economy．

D．Business