American cities are similar to other cities around the world. In every country, cities reflect the values
of the culture. American cities are changing, just as American society is changing.
     After World War Ⅱ, the population of most large American cities decreased; however, the population
in many Sun Belt cities increased. Los Angles and Houston are cities where population shifts (转移) to
and from the city reflect the changing values of American society. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, city
residents became wealthier. They had more children so they needed more space. They moved out of their
apartments in the city to buy their own homes. They bought houses in the suburbs.
     Now things are changing. The children of the people who left the cities in the 1950s are now adults.
Many, unlike their parents, want to live in the cities. They continue to move to Sun Belt cities and older
ones of the Northeast and Midwest. Many young professionals are moving back into the city. They prefer
the city to the suburbs because their jobs are there; or they just enjoy the excitement and possibilities that
the city offers.
     This population shift is bringing problems as well as benefits. Countless poor people must leave their
apartments in the city because the owners want to sell the buildings or make apartments for sale instead
of for rent. In the 1950s, many poor people did not have enough money to move to the suburbs; now many
of these same people do not have enough money to stay in the cities.
     Only a few years ago, people thought that the older American cities were dying. Some city residents
now see a bright, new future. Others see only problems and conflicts. One thing is sure: many dying cities
are alive again.

1. What does the author think of cities all over the world?

A. They are similar.
B. They are hopeless.
C. They are alive.
D. They are different.

2. Why did American city residents want to live in the suburbs after World War Ⅱ?

A. Because older American cities were dying.
B. Because they were richer and needed more space.
C. Because they could hardly afford to live in the city.
D. Because cities contained the worst parts of society.

3. According to the 4th paragraph, a great many poor people in American cities ________.

A. are forced to move to the suburbs
B. are faced with housing problems
C. want to sell their buildings
D. need more money for daily expenses

4. We can conclude from the text that ________.

A. American cities are changing for the worse
B. the population is decreasing in older American cities
C. many people are now moving from American cities
D. people have different views on American cities

     Doctors' moonlighting is becoming popular in hospitals around China. It has not only raised a lot of heated
discussions in the media, but also caught the attention of the central government in Beijing.
     On December 26, a spokesman of the Ministry of Health stressed that the ministry was firmly against
doctors' moonlighting, while strict regulations should be applied to doctors taking part-time jobs, the Xinhua
News Agency reported.
     Last year, the Ministry sent out a notice to a variety of health organizations to speed up the reform of their
personnel (人事) system. According to the notice, medical organizations can hire medical experts as part-time
doctors but such activities should take place under the hospital's management and regulations (规定).
     As for moonlighting-meaning that the doctor provides medical service without the permission of the original
hospital-such activity goes against China's Practicing Doctor Law, Xinhua reported.
     In China, doctors used to be controlled by hospitals and they could work for only one hospital. However,
as China's medical personnel system reform developed, it has been recognized that medical human resources,
just like human resources in other areas, should be shared by the whole society. But on the other hand, doctors'
taking part-time jobs should follow the relative regulations applied in the medical field.
     First of all, they should follow relative government laws and regulations. They should also follow the rules
and regulations set by the medical organizations they work for. In addition, they should pay taxes for their
income from the part-time jobs. What matters most is that they should first finish their regular jobs as required
and be responsible for patients to ensure qualified and safe medical treatment.

1. What is the greatest difference between moonlighting and taking part-time jobs?

A. Doctors can earn more money by moonlighting than by taking part-time jobs.
B. Doctors pay fewer taxes for the money made by moonlighting than by taking part-time jobs.
C. Taking part-time jobs is permitted by hospitals while moonlighting is-against the present regulations.
D. Doctor's part-time jobs, instead of moonlighting, are encouraged by health organizations.

2. From this passage we know that doctors are allowed to _____ nowadays.

A. only work for one hospital
B. work for more than one hospital
C. work any time when they are free
D. be out of control of hospitals

3. The passage is taken most probably from _____.

A. a notice sent out by the Ministry of Health
B. regulations made by health organizations
C. China's Practicing Doctor Law
D. a magazine or a newspaper

4. According to the passage, we have got to know that _____.

A. all doctors around China prefer moonlighting to part-time jobs
B. moonlighting has been permitted by China's practicing Doctor Law
C. taxes should be paid for the money doctors get from their part-time jobs
D. strict management policies have been adopted to direct the moonlighting

     The cost of rice is expected to go up in the coming months, as an improving global economy raises
demand, and drought (旱灾) cuts production in countries such as India. Some economists say prices for
rice, the Precision Castingstaple food for much of the world's population, could be returning to levels that
sparked inflation (通货膨胀) fears in much of Asia last year.
     Charuk Singhapreecha is dean of the faculty (系)of economics at Thailand's Kasetsart University. He
says prices-especially for Thai rice-are being pushed higher by new customers coming into the market
after the economic slowdown of the past year."They expect that the world demand will increase andCast
steel we expect that the price of rice will increase next year, " Charuk said."There are many new markets
for the Thai rice and also we still have for our old customer-China, some Arab countries-they will increase
the demand."
     Prices on the global market could again near the record above $1,000 a ton set in the middle of 2008.
This month, export prices for Southeast Asian rice have jumped from about $550 a ton or less to more
than $650.
     Vichai Sriprasert, president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, says further weakness in the US
dollar and concerns over drought add to pressure on prices. Market experts say next year India is likely
to try to import three million tons of rice - entering the world market for the first time in 21 years-because
of a drought.
     Vichai also warns that increasing demand for bio-fuels (生物燃料) from grain could reduce food crops,
forcing the price of food grains higher. "This is very serious. That's why the price of rice will not go back
to the level that we used to see," Vichai said. "It will have to be elevated at a higher level, but I don't know
where." 
     The Philippines this week said it is cutting rice imports because of high prices, even though the country
lost more than a million tons of grain to typhoons this year. Officials from Vietnam, a leading export
competitor with Thailand, predict prices will reach about $800 a ton by the middle of 2010. This week
the Philippines' National Food Authority offered almost $665 a ton for 600,000 tons of Vietnamese rice.
     Economists say higher food prices will only increase the problems faced by the region's poor, who are
highly dependent on rice as a staple food.

1. Which of the following is NOT true according to paragraph 1?

A. Drought reduces production of rice in India.
B. Prices for rice were lower all the time in 2008.
C. Rice is a major food for the world's population.
D. The improving global economy increases the need for rice.

2. How many reasons did Vichai mention about rice price's going up?

A. 1.
B. 2.
C. 3.
D. 4.

3. Why does the Philippines plan to cut rice imports?

A. Because of high prices.
B. Because of typhoons.
C. Because of civil war.
D. Because of drought.

4. What's the best title of the passage?

A. Higher food prices will increase problems
B. There are many new markets for the Thai rice
C. The global economy is improving
D. Prices for rice are expected to rise

     "Who made your T-shirt?" A Geo letown University student raised that question. Pietra Rivoli, a professor
of business, wanted to find the answer. A few weeks later, she bought a T-shirt and began to follow its path
from Texas cotton. rim to Chinese factory to charity bin (慈善捐赠箱). The result is an interesting new book.
The trat ' s of a T-shirt in the Global Economy (经济).
      Following a T-shirt around the world in a way to make her point more interesting, but it also frees Rivoli
from the usual arguments over global trade. She goes wherever the T-shirt goes, and there are surprises
around every corner. In China, Rivoli shows why a clothing factory, even with its poor conditions, means a
step toward a better are for the people who word there. In the colorful used-clothing markets of Tanzania, she
realizes that "it is only in this final stage of life that the T-shirt will meet a real market," where the price of a
shirt changes by the hour and is different by its size and even color.
     Rivoli ' s book is full of me able people and scenes, like the noise, the bad air and the"muddy-sweet smell
(泥土香味) of the cotton." She says, "Here in the factory, Shanghai smells like Shallo water Texas." Rivoli is
her best when making those sorts of unexpected connections, She even finds one between the free traders and
those who are against globalization. The chances opened up by trade are vast, she argues, but free markets
need the correcting force of politics to keep them in check. True economic progress needs them both.

1. What do we learn about Professor Rivoli?

A. She used to work on a cotton farm.
B. She wrote a book about world trade.
C. She wants to give up her teaching job.
D. She wears a T-shirt wherever she goes.

2. By saying T-shirts "meet a real market", Rivoli means in Tanzania _____.

A. cheaper T-shirts are needed
B. used T-shirts are hard to sell
C. prices of T-shirts rise and fall frequently
D. prices of T-shirts are usually reasonable

3. What does the word"them" underlined in the last paragraph refer to?

A. Free markets.
B. Price changes.
C. Unexpected connections.
D. Chances opened up by trade.

4. What would be the best title for the text?

A. What T-shirts Can Do to Help Cotton Farms
B. How T-shirts Are Made in Shanghai
C. How T-shirts Are Sold in Tanzania
D. What T-shirts Can Teach Us

     As societies develop, their members start to see things not so much according to what they need, but
according to what they want. When people have enough money, these wants become demands.
     Now, it' s important for the managers in a company to understand what their customers want if they
are going to develop effective marketing strategies (策略). There are various ways of doing this. One way
at supermarkets (超市), for example, is to interview (采访) customers while they' re doing their shopping.
They can be asked what they prefer to buy and then the results of the research can be studied. This provides
information on which to base future marketing strategies. It's also quite normal for top managers from
department stores to spend a day or two each month visiting stores and mixing freely with the public, as if
they were ordinary customers, to get an idea of how customers act.
     Another way to get information from customers is to give them something. For example, some fast food
restaurants give away tickets in magazines or on the street that permit customers to get part of their meal for
nothing. As well as being a good way of attracting customers into the restaurants to spend their money, it
also allows the managers to get a feel for where to attract customers and which age-groups to attract. Another
strategy used at some well-known parks such as Disneyland is for top managers to spend at least one day in
their work, touting the park dressed as Mickey Mouse or something like that. This provides them with a
perfect chance to examine the scene and watch the customers without being noticed.

1. The text is designed for _____.

A. mangers
B. salesmen
C. researchers
D. customers

2. Which of the following can help managers get useful information?

A. Visiting customers themselves.
B. Giving customers free food on the street.
C. Visiting parks as ordinary customers.
D. Asking customers questions at supermarkets.

3. What does the word "this" underlined in the last sentence refer to?

A. Visiting Disneyland.
B. Wearing attractive clothes.
C. Acting Mickey Mouse.
D. Dressing up and walking around.

4. The main idea of the text is _____.

A. how to do market research
B. how to develop marketing strategies
C. how to find out customers' social needs
D. how to encourage customers to spend more money

     Last year more than one million Filipinos worked abroad as servants, nurses, sailors and in other difficult
but low-paid jobs. Southeast Asians leave their poorer countries for their richer neighbours.
     Many of these wage-earners return in the end. In the meantime, they send home huge amounts of money-
in the Philippines' case, over 10% of its GDP. Between January and November, the amount was up 18% on
the same period of 2005, Poverty and unemployment are still high in the Philippines and other labour-exporting
(劳务输出) countries. They would be far worse but for this outflow of bodies and inflow of dollars. As for
those Asian countries that import (输入) labour, as in Europe, falling birth rates mean they are going to need
more foreign workers.
     On January 13th leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) signed an agreement to
help migrant (流动的) workers-with the realization that the flow of labour between their countries is a growing
problem that they cannot blame on outsiders. A 2005 study showed that 8.4 million Southeast Asians worked
outside their home countries, but this did not include the huge numbers of Indonesians doing so without papers.
So the true total is probably rather higher.
     Of the ten ASEAN countries, the Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos export
labour, Singapore and Brunei import it, and Thailand and Malaysia do both. Sziraczki of the UN's International
Labour Organization points out that, in the next ten years, the total labour force of the worker exporting
countries should grow by about a third. It makes sense to work on the problem before it gets out of control.
     People in the receiving countries seem to be worried about competition for their jobs. Most Thais said their
government should admit (准入) no more foreign workers, and a few thought otherwise. Even in Singapore,
just over ball of people are against admitting more foreign workers. Malaysians think that the increase in foreign
workers has worsened crime rates (犯罪率).

1. It can be inferred from the case of the Philippines that _____. 

A. the country is Asia's main source of migrant workers
B. labour exports lead to a 10% growth of its GDP
C. the outflow of labour helps solve its social problems
D. the country both exports and imports labour force

2. The flow of labour is a growing problem because _____.

A. there is a greater flow of labour than reported
B. more Indonesians work abroad without papers
C. some countries suffer from low birth rates
D. the ASEAN is against admitting foreign workers

3. For the labour-importing countries, the flow of labour may lead to _____.

A. higher birth rates
B. lower crime rates
C. greater money inflows
D. stronger job competition

4. The writer of the text seems to _____.

A. support the flow of labour between countries
B. report fairly on the question of labour flow
C. express his worries over the ASEAN's decision
D. regard the outflow of labour as a serious problem

     Mail carriers will be delivering some good news and some bad news this week.
     The bad news: Stamp prices are expected to rise 2 cents in May to 41 cents, the Postal Regulatory
Commission announced yesterday. The good news: With the introduction of a "forever stamp", it may
be the last time Americans have to use annoying 2-or 3-cent stamps to make up postage differences.
     Beginning in May, people would be able to purchase the stamps in booklets of 20 at the regular rate
of a first-class stamp. As the name implies, "forever stamps" will keep their first-class mailing value
forever, even when the postage rate goes up.
     The new "forever stamp" is the United States Postal Service's (USPS) answer to the complaints about
frequent rate increases. The May increase will be the fifth in a decade. Postal rates have risen because
of inflation (通货膨胀), competition from online bill paying, and the rising costs of employee benefits,
including healthcare, says Mark Saunders, a spokesman for USPS.
     The USPS expects some financial gain from sales of the "forever stamp" and the savings from not
printing as many 2-or 3-cent stamps. "It's not your grandfather's stamp," says Mr. Saunders. "It could
be your great-grandchildren's stamp."
     Other countries, including Canada, England, and Finland use similar stamps.
     Don Schilling, who has collected stamps for 50 years, says he's interested in the public's reaction.
"This is an entirely new class of stamps," Mr. Schilling says. He adds that he will buy the stamps because
he will be able to use them for a long period of time, not because they could make him rich-the volume
printed will be too large for collectors. "We won't be able to send our kids to college on these," he says,
laughing.
     The USPS board of governors has yet to accept the Postal Regulatory Commission's decision, but
tends to follow its recommendations. No plans have been announced yet for the design of the stamps.

1. The main purpose of introducing a "forever stamp" is _____.

A. to reduce the cost of printing 2-or 3-cent stamps
B. to help save the consumers' cost on first-class mailing
C. to respond to the complaints about rising postal rates
D. to compete with online bill paying

2. By saying "It could be your great-grandchildren's stamp", Mr. Saunders means that forever stamps _____.

A. could be collected by one's great-grandchildren
B. might be very precious in great-grandchildren's hands
C. might have been inherited from one's great-grandfathers
D. could be used by one's great-grandchildren even decades later

3. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. The investment in forever stamps will bring adequate reward.
B. America will be the first country to issue forever stamps.
C. The design of the "forever stamps" remains to be revealed.
D. 2-or 3-cent stamps will no longer be printed in the future.

4. What can be concluded from the passage?

A. With forever stamps, there will be no need to worry about rate changes.
B. Postal workers will benefit most from the sales of forever stamps.
C. The inflation has become a threat to the sales of first-class stamps.
D. New interest will be aroused in collecting forever stamps.

     Holiday Inns and McDonald's, both saw unmatched growth in the 1960s. Their growth opened another
direct business operation-franchising (特许经营).
     These operations have the same general pattern. The franchisor, the parent company, first establishes a
successful retail (零售) business. At it expands, it sees a profit potential in offering others the right to open
similar business under its name. The parent company's methods and means of identification with consumers
are included in this right. The parent company supplies skill, and may build and rent stores to franchisees.
For these advantages the franchisee pays the franchisor a considerable fee. However, some of the advantages
and disadvantages are different.
     By extending a "proven" marketing method, a parent can profit in several ways. First, the franchisee's
purchase price gives the parent an immediate return on the plan. Then the sale of supplies to the franchisee
provides a continuing source of profits. As new businesses are added and the company's reputation spreads,
the value of the franchise increases and sales of franchises become easier. The snowballing effect can be
dramatic. Such growth, too, brings into play the economies of scale (规模经济). Regional or national
advertising that might be financially impossible for a franchisor with 20 franchises could be profitable for one
with 40.
     The parent, then, finds immediate gains from the opportunity to expand markets on the basis of reputation
alone, without having to put up capital or take the risk of owning retail stores. Added to this advantage is a less
obvious but material one. Skilled, responsible retail managers are rare. People who invest their capital in
franchises, through, probably come closer to the ideal than do paid managers. In fact, the franchisee is an
independent store operator working for the franchisor, but without an independent's freedom to drop supplies
at will. Of course the factory's costs of selling supplies are less. But also certainly the franchisee buying goods
that have had broad consumer acceptance will not casually change supplies, even when the contract permits.
If the hamburger is not what the customer expected, they may not return. Having paid for the goodwill, the
franchisee won't thoughtlessly destroy it.
     Franchising may give you the idea that as a franchisor, you need only relax in the rocking chair. Franchising,
however, has problems to be solved.

1. Franchising refers to a business operation in which a successful parent company _____.

A. sells name-brand goods to a private investor
B. rents proven ideas and techniques for investment
C. sells the right, the guidance to a business under its name
D. takes no advertising responsibility for individual investors

2. The advantages of franchising to the parent company are all the following EXCEPT _____.

A. an immediate investment return
B. the ownership of additional retail stores
C. the profit from the sale of supplies
D. the possibility of profitable advertising

3. The passage mainly tells the reader _____.

A. the advantages and disadvantages of franchising
B. the benefits of franchising to the franchisor
C. the unmatched economic growth in the 1960's
D. some regional and national business operation

4. What will the author probably discuss after the last paragraph?

A. More advantages of franchising.
B. Risks of investment besides franchising.
C. The standard of consumer acceptance.
D. Negative aspects related to franchising

     You're in a department store and you see a couple of attractive young women looking at a sweater. You
listen to their conversation:
     "I can't believe it-Lorenzo Bertolla! They are almost impossible to find. Isn't it beautiful? And it's a lot
cheaper than the one Sara bought in Rome."
     They leave and you go over to see this incredible sweater. It's nice and the price is right. You've never
heard of Lorenzo Bertolla, but those girls looked really stylish. They must know. So, you buy it. You never
realize that those young women are employees of an advertising agency. They are actually paid to go from
store to store, talking loudly about Lorenzo Bertolla clothes.
     Every day we notice what people are wearing, driving and eating. If the person looks cool, the product
seems cool, too. This is the secret of undercover marketing. Companies from Ford to Nike are starting to
use it.
     Undercover marketing is important because it reaches people that don't pay attention to traditional
advertising. This is particularly true of the MTV generation-consumers between the age of 18 and 34. It's
a golden group. They have a lot of money to spend, but they don't trust ads.
     So advertising agencies hire young actors to "perform" in bars and other places where young adults go.
Some people might call this practice misleading, but marketing executive Jonathan Ressler calls it creative.
"Look at traditional advertising. Its effectiveness is decreasing." It is true, because everyone knows an ad
is trying to persuade you to buy something. However, you don't know when a conversation you overhear
is just a performance.

1. The two attractive young women were talking so as to _____.

A. get the sweater at a lower price
B. be heard by people around
C. be admired by other shoppers
D. decide on buying the sweater

2. Lorenzo Bertolla is _____.

A. a very popular male singer
B. an advertising agency
C. a clothing company in Rome
D. the brand name of clothes

3. What can we infer from the passage?

A. Traditional advertising will soon disappear in the market.
B. The MTV generation tends to be more easily influenced by all kinds of ads.
C. That traditional advertising is too direct may lead to its decreasing effectiveness.
D. Undercover marketing will surely be banned soon by the government.

4. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A. Two Attractive Shoppers
B. Lorenzo Bertolla Sweaters
C. Ways of Advertising
D. Undercover Marketing