阅读理解

　　In today's world, insurance plays a vital role in the economic and social welfare of the entire population．The wish to guard against dangers to life and property is basic to human nature．By using various kinds of insurance, society has been able to reduce the effects of such hazards．

　　Nowhere is insurance more important than in the management of a business．In many instances, losses in a small firm can mean the difference between growth and failure, vitality and stagnation(停滞)．Very few small businesses have even a portion of the financial resources available to larger enterprises．Frequently, they must operate on a very slight margin(利润)if they hope to stay in business．And thus, they are particularly sensitive to unexpected losses．

　　Without enough insurance, what happens to such a firm when the owner dies or is suddenly disabled? When a fire breaks out and destroys the firm's building or stock? When an employee is found to have stolen company funds? When a customer is awarded a liability judgment for an accident? Too often, the business is forced to the wall, its future operations drastically limited; sometimes, it is damaged beyond repair, its ability to continue completely crushed．

　　Almost always, a small businessman would find it impossible to handle the full burden of his potential risk．The amount of money he would have to set aside to cover possible losses would leave him nothing, or almost nothing, to run his business with．If losses were to occur which he could repair by using his reserve fund, what assurance would he have that another loss-the same kind or different-might not occur next week, next month? But then he would have no reserve fund and little likelihood of staying in business at all．

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阅读理解

　　Deserts are found where there is little rainfall or where rain for a whole year falls in only a few weeks' time．Ten inches of rain may be enough for many plants to survive if the rain is spread throughout the year．If it rains, within one or two months and the rest of the year is dry, those plants may die and a desert may form．

　　Sand begins as tiny pieces of rock that get smaller and smaller as wind and weather wear them down．Sand dunes(沙丘)are formed as winds move the sand across the desert．Bit by bit, the dunes grow over the years, always moving with the winds and changing the shape．Most of them are only a few feet tall, but they can grow to be several hundred feet high．

　　There is, however, much more to a desert than sand．In the deserts of the Southwestern United States, cliffs and deep valleys were formed from thick mud that once lay beneath a sea more than millions of years ago．Over the centuries, the water dried up．Wind, sand, rain, heat and cold all wore away at the remaining rocks．The face of the desert mountains are always changing-very, very slowly… as these forces of nature continue to work on the rock．

　　Most deserts have a surprising variety of life．There are plants, animals and insects that have adapted to life in the desert．During the heat of the day, a visitor may see very few signs of living things, but as the air begins to cool in the evening, the desert comes to life．As the sun begins to rise again in the sky, the desert once again becomes quiet and lonely．

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阅读理解

　　A debate has been caused by a new book called Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother about Chinese-style tough parenting in the US by Amy Chua．She is also a mother of two．

　　Chua describes the child-rearing methods she used with her daughters．She said they would seem unimaginable to Westerners．

　　Chua set strict standards for her daughters．For example, in school they weren't allowed to make grades lower than As．They had to play piano or violin and practice hours a day．There were no sleepovers, play dates or TV．

　　There has been wide criticism of Chua's book in the US．“It is kind of extreme,” Jeffrey Seinfeld, a professor at New York University, told the Los Angles Times．“standards of parenting need to be realistic and tailored to each child．Children need parents who can guide them, not force them to do things they are probably not interested in．”

　　Now the criticism seems to have spread to China．Sun Yunxiao, an expert from the China Youth and Children Research Center spoke to The Beijing News about his concerns．He argued that Chua's method of parenting would limit children from reaching their full potential．

　　“Some Chinese parents do focus on test scores and good degrees,” Sun said．“but what gets sacrificed along the way is their kids' capacity fully to develop and to enjoy life．”

　　While critics might sympathize with kids who experience this parenting style, some young people quite appreciate it．“I think anyone can do well if they work hard enough,” said 17-year-old Li Ao, a Senior 3 student at Qingdao No2 High School．“A tiger mother is there to help her kids work hard．”

　　Others think that Chua has a point when it comes to setting challenging goals for kids．

　　“It's crucial for children,” according to Abigail Gewirtz, a professor of family science at the University of Minnesota．She told CNN：“Honestly, kids need to be pushed sometimes．If you push a kid to do well, and they're good at it, they benefit．It's good to have high expectations．”

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阅读理解

　　When a consumer finds that what she or he bought is faulty or in some other way does not live up to the manufacturer's claim for it, the first step is to present the warranty(保单), or any other records which might help, at the store of purchase．In most cases, this action will produce results．However, if it does not, there are various means the consumer may use to gain satisfaction．

　　A simple and common method used by many consumers is to complain directly to the store manager．In general, the "higher up" the consumer takes his or her complaint, the faster he or she can expect it to be settled．In such a case, it is usually settled in the consumer's favor, assuming he or she has a just claim．

　　Consumers should complain in person whenever possible, but if they cannot get to the place of purchase, it is acceptable to phone or write the complaint in a letter．

　　Complaining is usually most effective when it is done politely but firmly, and especially when the consumer can demonstrate what is wrong with the item in question．If this cannot be done, the consumer will succeed best by presenting specific information as to what is wrong, rather than by making general statements．For example, "The left speaker does not work at all and the sound coming out of the right one is unclear" is better than "This stereo(立体声音响)does not work．"

　　The store manager may advise the consumer to write to the manufacturer．If so, the consumer should do this, stating the complaint as politely and as firmly as possible．But if a polite complaint does not achieve the desired result, the consumer can go a step further．She or he can threaten to take the seller to court or report the seller to a private or public organization responsible for protecting consumers' rights．

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阅读理解

　　One morning more than thirty years ago, I enter the Track Kitchen, a restaurant where everyone from the humblest(卑微的)to the most powerful came for breakfast．I noticed an empty chair next to an elderly, unshaven man, who looked somewhat disheveled．He was wearing a worn-out hat and was alone．I asked if I might join him．He agreed quietly and I sat down to have my breakfast．

　　We cautiously began a conversation and spoke about a wide range of things．We never introduced ourselves．I was concerned that he might have no money and not be able to afford something to eat．So as I rose to go back to the counter and buy a second cup of coffee, I asked,

　　“May I get you something?”

　　“A coffee would be nice．”

　　Then I bought him a cup of coffee．We talked more, and he accepted another cup of coffee．Finally I rose to leave, wished him well, and headed for the exit．At the door I met one of my friends．He asked,

　　“How did you get to know Mr．Galbreath?”

　　“Who?”

　　“The man you were sitting with．He is chairman of the Board of Churchill Downs．”

　　I could hardly believe it．I was buying, offering a free breakfast, and feeling pity for one of the world's richest and most powerful men!

　　My few minutes with Mr．Galbreath changed my life．Now I treat everyone with respect, no matter who I think they are, and no matter another human being with kind and sincerity．

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阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项。

　　The man sitting opposite Robert was the Financial Controller．Everybody called him “the FC” for short．He made all the decisions about money．Robert needed some more．That was why he had to see him．The two men did not get on very well．In fact, they had always disliked each other．

　　“Your request is out of the question, ” the FC said．Robert had difficulty in controlling himself, but he managed somehow．He explained that he wanted the money in order to make more programmes．

　　“And why do you want to do that? ” the FC asked sharply．Again, Robert almost lost his temper．“Because more and more people are listening to my department's programmes．There's great demand for them, ” he answered．

　　The FC did not seem to believe him．But Robert had a report on the numbers of listeners to all EBC programmes．The FC became less confident(自信)．Robert threw the report down on the table and told him to read it．

　　The FC looked at it in silence．The figures(数字)proved that he had been wrong, but he did not want to admit it．“Well, ”he finally said, “I may have made a small mistake．”Robert noticed the word “may．” He got up to leave．But he had the feeling that he would get the money after all．

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阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项。

　　There are two types of people in the world．Although they have equal degree of health and wealth and other comforts of life, one becomes happy and the other becomes unhappy．This arises from the different ways in which they consider things, persons, events and the resulting effects upon their minds．

　　People who are to be happy fix their attention on the convenience of things： the pleasant parts of conversation, the well prepared dishes, the goodness of the wine and the fine weather．They enjoy all the cheerful things．Those who are to be unhappy think and speak only of the opposite things．Therefore, they are continually dissatisfied．By their remarks, they sour the pleasure of society, offend(hurt)many people, and make themselves disagreeable everywhere．If this turn of mind was founded in nature, such unhappy persons would be the more to be pitied．The intention of criticizing(批评)and being disliked is perhaps taken up by imitation(模仿)．It grows into a habit, unknown to its possessors．The habit may be strong, but it may be cured when those who have it realize its bad effects on their interests and tastes．I hope this little warning may be of service to them, and help them change this habit．

　　Although in fact it is chiefly an act of the imagination, it has serious results in life since it brings on deep sorrow and bad luck．Those people offend many others; nobody loves them, and no one treats them with more than the most common politeness and respect．This frequently puts them in bad temper and draws them into arguments．If they aim at getting some advantages in social position or fortune, nobody wishes them success．Nor will anyone start a step or speak a word to favor their hopes．If they bring on themselves public objections, no one will defend or excuse them, and many will join to criticize their wrongdoings．These should change this bad habit and be pleased with what is pleasing, without worrying needlessly about themselves and others．If they do not, it will be good for others to avoid any contact(接触)with them．Otherwise, it can be disagreeable and sometimes very inconvenient, especially when one becomes mixed up in their quarrels．

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阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项。

　　As students across the country have their yearly flu shots(打流感疫苗), doctors across the world are preparing against a possible outbreak of bird flu that few current vaccines(疫苗)will guard against．The likelihood of a bird flu spreading among humans is very high, the World Health Organization warned recently．European countries worry about bird flu very much, since many migratory birds(候鸟)start to fly back from the North．

　　There are at least 15 different types of bird flu virus around the world．The possible outbreak may be caused by a virus known as H5N1．It was first found to have spread from a bird to a human in Hong Kong in 1997．In addition to Asia, this bird flu has been found among birds in Romania, Turkey, Russia and Kazakhstan．

　　The outbreak in 1997 in Hong Kong was quickly controlled at a cost of 18 people ill and six dead．About 1.5 million chickens were collected in an effort to remove the source of the virus．But scientists say that the virus can change itself rapidly．Also, if the virus mixes with the human flu virus, it could be spread through person-to-person contact in the same way as ordinary human flu is spread．Bird flu can cause fever, coughing, sore throats and muscle aches in humans．With the introduction of vaccines, flu is not as deadly as it used to be．But throughout history it was a huge cause of death around the world．The outbreak of Spanish flu in 1918-19 killed about 40 to 50 million people worldwide．

　　Currently there is no vaccine against bird flu that can be used on humans．Scientists are working to develop one．This will probably take several months to complete and may not be ready in time to stop a widespread outbreak of the disease．

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阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项。

　　Queen Elizabeth II is not only the queen of the United Kingdom, but she is also the queen of other 16 countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Jamaica．Her face is seen on stamps and coins all around the world．

　　Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born in London on April 21st 1926．Her parents were George, the Duke of York, and Elizabeth, the daughter of the Earl and Count-ness of Strathmore．As a child, Princess Elizabeth lived with her parents and younger sister in London and Windsor．Every summer, she traveled to Scotland to visit her mother's parents．She was interested in all sorts of sports, but her favorites were horse riding and swimming．She was also fond of acting, art and music．

　　As princess Elizabeth grew older, she started to play a part in British public life．When she was 14, she broadcast a radio message to all the children of Britain and the Common-wealth(共和国)．Two years later, she carried out her first public engagement, and started to go on official tours shortly after that．After a tour to South Africa in 1946, she married Philip Mountbatten．The couple had four children： Prince Charles, born in 1948, Princess Anne, born in 1950, Prince Andrew, born in 1960 and Prince Edward, born in 1964．

　　After her father died, Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth II in a ceremony held in London in 1953．As a queen, she has many duties, and leads a very busy life．She travels throughout the world, meeting the leaders of other countries, and attends a large number of official functions．She also holds a meeting every week with the British Prime Minister．Every year, on Christmas Day, she broadcast a message to the people of British and the Commonwealth, talking about her hopes for the future．

　　Queen Elizabeth has been on the throne for more than 40 years and has become one of the most famous women in the world．Lots of people in British believe that she tries hard to understand her people and be a good queen．More than her title, this quality has earned her much love and respect．

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阅读下面短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。

　　Would you like to be a king or queen? To have people waiting on your hand and foot? Many Americans experience this royal treatment every day．How? By being customers．The American idea of customer service is to make each customer the center of attention．Need proof? Just listen to the commercials．Most of them sound like the McDonald's ad：“We do it all for you．” Actually, not all stores in America roll out the red carpet for their customers．But wherever you go, good customer service means making customers feel special．

　　People going shopping in America can expect to be treated with respect from the very beginning．Most places don't have a “furniture street” or a “computer road” which allow you to compare prices easily．Instead, people often “let their fingers do the walking” through the store hot lines．From the first “hello”, customers receive a satisfying response to their questions．This initial contact can help them decide where to shop．

　　When customers get to the store, they are treated as honored guests．Customers don't usually find store clerks sitting around watching TV or playing cards．Instead, the clerks greet them warmly and offer to help them find what they want．In most stores, the clear signs that label each department make shopping a breeze．Customers usually don't have to ask how much items cost, since prices are clearly marked．And unless they’re at a flea market or a yard sale, they don't bother trying to bargain．

　　When customers are ready to check out, they find the nearest and shortest checkout lane．But as Murphy's Law would have it, whichever lane they get in, all the other lanes will move faster．Good stores open new checkout lanes when the lanes get too long．Some even offer express lanes for customers with 10 items or less．After they pay for their purchases, customers receive a smile and a warm “thank you” from the clerk．Many stores even allow customers to take their shopping carts out to the parking lot．That way, they don't have to carry heavy bags out to the car．

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