For a long time, a boy wondered why his next-desk-pal was always the first in the class, whereas he could only rank the 21st. At home, he asked his mom, “Am I more stupid than other kids? How come I always lag behind? I just can’t come up with an answer.” Mom was aware that her son’s self-respect had been damaged by the ranking system, but she didn’t know what to say to help.
　 She was tempted (想要) to say that intelligence differs and that yes, her son’s friend really was the smarter boy. But that would have so upset her son. Thank goodness she resisted the temptation to say it.

Her son and his friend went on to high school that year, but despite trying as hard as he could, her son’s friend still outdid him. But she was proud of her boy for his hard work, sincerely proud. It was around this time she decided to take him on a trip to the seaside. On the trip, she at last found an answer for him.
　 Today her son no longer cares about rankings. He doesn’t have to, for he himself is now the top of the class – at the top national university he attends. Invited to speak to his old high school, he mentioned a valuable childhood experience: “Once, on a trip to the sea, my mother and I were lying on the beach. She pointed to the sea and said to me: ‘Do you see the seabirds fighting for food out there? When a wave comes near, the little birds rise quickly. The “clumsy” seagulls (海鸥) are far less agile (灵活的) and have to struggle to get away from the wave. But these “clumsy” birds prove to have the biggest, strongest wings, which open the widest and allow the bird to travel the furthest. When the season changes, they leave for foreign shores, leaving the little birds behind. Son, I have a feeling that you are one of those seagulls.”

56. From the first paragraph, we could conclude the mother ______.
A. knew her son was not bright enough
B. saw the negative effects of the ranking system

C. decided to help with her son’s school work

D. was troubled by her son’s low rankings

57. The mom was glad she didn’t give an answer at first because ______.
　 A. she knew her son would forget his rankings soon
　 B. she felt intelligence doesn’t mean everything
　 C. she knew he was not strong enough for the truth
　 D. she wanted to avoid another blow to her son’s self-respect
58. The story conveys the message that ______.
　 a. only rankings show intelligence
　 b. hard work and confidence can lead to a change in rankings
　 c. parents should see children’s strengths and encourage them
　 d. competition between students is good for society
　 A. bc 　　　　　　 B. cd 　　　　　

C. abc 　　　　　 D. bcd
59. Which of the following would be the best title for the story?
　 A. How important are rankings?
　 B. Little birds and seagulls
　 C. The answer Mom gave
　 D. Hard work pays off!

    Managers of most businesses want high profits in order to pay high dividends(红利)to their investors．For this reason，they aim to keep costs as low as possible .They also want to set high prices to gain high returns．But competition within the industry often prevents them from doing so．Generally；a business will not increase the price of its output if its competitors will not increase their prices．If a business sets its prices higher than those of its competitors，many of its customers will buy the output of its competitors．

    An important decision managers make is their choice of the input-mix in what combination of capital(资本)，labor．and raw materials to use in production．The goal is to keep production costs as low as possible．If labor costs are high，for example，a firm may spend money in automatic machinery so that fewer workers are needed to complete the same task．If labor is cheap，the company may decide to employ extra workers instead of buying a machine to do the job．The combination of inputs that permits a firm to produce its goods or services at the lowest possible cost without reducing quality is called the most productive input-mix

    The goal of keeping production costs low also affects a company’s choice of location．The resources an industry needs and the customers it serves are rarely close to each other．As a result，a business must transport inputs，outputs，or both．A business also tries to keep transportation costs as low as possible．

    Transportation costs are based on weight as well as on distance．The location a company selects may thus depend on whether the company’s product is heavier or lighter than the materials used to make it．The soft drink industry，which adds water to other ingredients to make its products，is an example of an industry that produces weight-gaining products．Soft drink companies choose locations near their customers．The paper industry is an example of industries that produce weight losing products．Many such industries are near sources of rataT materials．

57．What do businesses choose to do about the prices of their products in competition?

    A．To set higher prices．       B．To leave the prices unchanged．

    C．To offer lower prices．     D  To keep the prices adjustable．

58．The underlined phrase “the most productive input-mix” means mixing inputs       ．

    A．with goods or services sold at the lowest possible prices

    B．by selling goods or services at the lowest possible prices

    C．to produce goods or services at the lowest possible cost

    D  to produce quality goods or services at the lowest possible cost

 59．Why is a company usually very careful about choosing its location?

    A．Because the materials it needs are rather far away．

    B．Because the customers it serves are not so close．

    C．Because transportation costs and the distance are closely related．

    D  Because both production and transportation costs are very high．

60．The soft drink industry and the paper making industry are used as examples because      

    A．they share a lot of things in common

    B  they are both only making lower profits

    C．the transportation costs of their products are the same

    D  they are quite different when considering the locations

完形填空

　　Building a house costs quite a lot of money. 1 you plan to build a house , your first step will be to find a right piece of land. Your 2 will depend on many different things. You will probably try to find a sunny place, with 3 surroundings （环境） near shops and bus stops, not too far from your friends and the 4 where you work.

　　Next you will find an excellent 5 , and together with the builder you will work out a plan. The builder will draw the plan. It will 6 the number or rooms , their position and size , and other 7 which must be noticed, 8 windows, doors, and electric outlets. The 9 will work out how much money is 10 to build your house. He will work out the 11 of the wood, bricks, the glass, and 12 else that must be used in building the house. Later on, when he starts to build , this estimate （预算） must he corrected and revised （修正） . His estimate is based on existing 13 , but prices of such things may 14 , and many other things may happen between the time when he 15 the estimate and the time when he builds the house.

　　When the builder gives his estimate , you may wish to 16 your plan. （ You may also wish to change your builder, if his estimate is too 17 !） You may find that some of the features （特征） you wanted at first 18 too much , or that you can spend a little more and 19 something to your plan. The builder's estimate depends on the plan, 20 the final plan depends on the builder's estimate.

1．

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2．

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3．

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完形填空

　　Building a house costs quite a lot of money. (1) you plan to build a house. Your first (2) will be to find a right piece of land. Your choice will depend on many different things. You will probably try to (3) a sunny place, with (4) surroundings near shops and bus stops, not too far from your friends and the place where you work.

　　Next you will find an excellent (5) , and together with the builder you will work out a (6) . The builder will draw the plan. It will (7) the number of rooms, their position and size, and other parts which must be noticed, (8) windows, doors and electric outlets. The builder will work out (9) is needed to (10) your house. He will (11) the cost of the wood, bricks, the glass, and (12) else that must be used in building the house. Later on, when he starts to build, this estimate (预算) must be corrected and revised. His estimate is based on existing (13) , but prices of such things may (14) , and many other things may happen (15) the time when he makes the estimate and the time when he builds the house.

　　When the builder gives his estimate, you may wish to (16) your plan. (You may also wish to change your builder, if his estimate is too (17) !) You may find that some of the features you wanted at first (18) too much, or that you can spend a little more and (19) something to your plan. The builder's estimate depends on the plan, (20) the final plan depends on the builder's estimate.

(1)

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(2)

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(3)

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(4)

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A．how many builders

B．how much money

C．the days

D．the bricks

(10)

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(12)

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(13)

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(19)

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(20)

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完形填空

　　Building a house costs quite a lot of money. (1) you plan to build a house. Your first (2) will be to find a right piece of land. Your choice will depend on many different things. You will probably try to (3) a sunny place, with (4) surroundings near shops and bus stops, not too far from your friends and the place where you work.

　　Next you will find an excellent (5) , and together with the builder you will work out a (6) . The builder will draw the plan. It will (7) the number of rooms, their position and size, and other parts which must be noticed, (8) windows, doors and electric outlets. The builder will work out (9) is needed to (10) your house. He will (11) the cost of the wood, bricks, the glass, and (12) else that must be used in building the house. Later on, when he starts to build, this estimate (预算) must be corrected and revised. His estimate is based on existing (13) , but prices of such things may (14) , and many other things may happen (15) the time when he makes the estimate and the time when he builds the house.

　　When the builder gives his estimate, you may wish to (16) your plan. (You may also wish to change your builder, if his estimate is too (17) !) You may find that some of the features you wanted at first (18) too much, or that you can spend a little more and (19) something to your plan. The builder's estimate depends on the plan, (20) the final plan depends on the builder's estimate.

(1)

[　　]

(2)

[　　]

(3)

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(4)

[　　]

(5)

[　　]

(6)

[　　]

(7)

[　　]

(8)

[　　]

(9)

[　　]

A．how many builders

B．how much money

C．the days

D．the bricks

(10)

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(11)

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(12)

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(13)

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