What should you think about when you try to find your career? You are probably better at some school subjects than others, These may show strengths that you can use in your work. A boy who is good at mathematics can use that in engineering career. A girl who spells well and likes English may be good at office work. So it is important to know the subjects you do well in at school. On the other hand, you may not have any specially strong or weak subjects but your records show a general satisfactory standard. Although not all subjects can be used directly in a job, they may have indirect value.

　　Your school may have taught you skills, such as typing or technical drawing, which you can use in your work. You may be good at mental work or cookery（烹调术） and look for a job where you can improve these skills.

　　If you have had a part - time job on Saturday or in the summer, think what you gained from it. If nothing else, you may have learned how to get to work on time, to follow instructions and to get on with older workers. You may have learned to give correct change in a shop, for example. Just as important, you may become interested in a particular industry or career you see from the inside in a part - time job.

　　Facing your weak points is also part of knowing yourself. You may be all thumbs when you handle tools; perhaps you are a poor speller or cannot add up a column of figures. It is bitter to face any weaknesses than to pretend they do not exist. Your school record, for instance, may not be too good, yet it is an important part of your background. You should not feel sorry about it but instead recognize that you will have a chance of a fresh start at work.

The first paragraph of the passage is mainly about ________.

　A. the indirect value of school work              　

B. the importance of being good at all subjects

　C. knowing one’s strong or weak subjects at school

　D. using school performance to help to choose a career

In the writer’s opinion, for a student to have a part - time job is probably ________.

　A. a good way to find out his weak points         　

B. one of the best ways of earning extra money

　C. of great use for his work in the future        　

D. a waste of time he could have spent on study

If a student’s school record is not good, according to the passage, he________ .

　A. may do well in his future work           　

B. won’t be able to find a suitable job

　C. may be a complete failure in the future  　

D. will regret not having worked harder at school

The whole passage centers around ________.

　A. knowing oneself in looking for a job           　

B. developing one’s abilities useful in school

　C. gaining much knowledge by working hard at school

　D. choosing a career according to what one is skilled in

Not so long ago almost any student who successfully completed a university degree could find a good career quite easily．Companies toured the academic institutions, competing with each other to select graduates．However, those days are gone, even in Hong Kong, and nowadays graduates often face strong competition in the search for jobs．

Most careers organizations highlight three stages for graduates to follow in the process of securing a suitable career：recognizing abilities, matching these to available jobs and presenting them well to possible employers．

Job seekers have to make a careful assessment of their own abilities．One area of assessment should be of their academic qualifications, which would include special skills within their subject area．Graduates should also consider their own personal values and attitudes．An honest assessment of personal interests and abilities such as creative skills, or skills acquired from work experience, should also be given careful thought．

The second stage is to study the opportunities available for employment and to think about how the general employment situation is likely to develop in the future．To do this, graduates can study job and position information in newspapers, or they can visit a careers office, write to possible employers for information or contact friends or relatives who may already be involved in a particular profession．After studying all the various options, they should be in a position to make informed comparisons between various careers．

Good personal presentation is essential in the search for a good career．Job application forms and letters should, of course, be filled in carefully and correctly, without grammar or spelling errors．Where additional information is asked for, job seekers should describe their abilities and work experience in more depth, with examples if possible．They should try to balance their own abilities with the employer’s needs, explain why they are interested in a career with the particular company and try to show that they already know something about the company and its activities．

When graduates go to an interview, they should prepare properly by finding out all they can about the possible employer．Dressing suitably and arriving for the interview on time are also important．Interviewees should try to give positive and helpful answers and should not be afraid to ask questions about anything they are unsure about．This is much better than pretending to understand a question and giving an unsuitable answer．

1.“Those days are gone, even in Hong Kong” in Paragraph 1 suggests that__________．

       A．finding a good career used to be easier in Hong Kong than elsewhere

    B．now everyone in Hong Kong has an equal chance of finding a good job

　　C．graduates now face stronger competition in Hong Kong than elsewhere

    D．even in Hong Kong companies tour universities trying to select graduates

2.It is implied in Paragraph 3 that graduates should_____________．

    A．aim to give a balanced account of what the employer needs

    B．consider careers which suit their values, interests and abilities

    C．stress their personal attitudes and values in job applications

    D．recognize their own abilities regardless of what the employer looks for

3.According to Paragraph 4, graduates should______________．

    A．find a good position and then compare it with other careers

    B．ask friends or relatives to secure them a good job

    C．get information about a number of careers before making comparisons

    D．study the opportunities and the kinds of training that will be available

4.In the last paragraph, the writer seems to suggest that ________________．

    A．interviewees should appear humble if they can’t give an answer

    B．dressing properly is more important than being able to give an answer

    C．it is better for interviewees to be honest than to pretend to understand

D．it is a good idea for interviewees to be boastful in their answers

 

　A few months ago, it wasn't unusual for 47-year-old Carla Toebe to spend 15 hours per day online. She'd wake up early, turn on her laptop and chat on Internet dating sites and instant-messaging programs – leaving her bed for only brief breaks. Her household bills piled up, along with the dishes and dirty laundry, but it took constant complaints from her four daughters before she realized she had a problem.

　　"I was starting to feel like my whole world was falling apart – kind of slipping into a depression," said Carla. "I knew that if I didn't get off the dating sites, I'd just keep going," detaching (使脱离) herself further from the outside world.

　　Toebe's conclusion: She felt like she was "addicted" to the Internet. She's not alone.

　　Concern about excessive Internet use isn't new. As far back as 1995, articles in medical journals and the establishment of a Pennsylvania treatment center for overusers aroused interest in the subject. But as reliance on the Web grows, there are signs that the question is getting more serious attention: Last month, a study published in CNS Spectrums claimed to be the first large-scale look at Internet overuse. The American Psychiatric Association may also consider listing Internet addiction in the next edition. And scores of online discussion boards have popped up, on which people discuss negative experiences tied to too much time on the Web.

    The new CNS Spectrums study was based on results of a nationwide telephone survey of more than 2,500 adults. Like the latest survey, this one was conducted by Stanford University researchers. About 6% of respondents reported that "their relationships suffered because of excessive Internet use." About 9% attempted to conceal "nonessential Internet use," and nearly 4% reported feeling " still occupied by the Internet when offline."

　　"The Internet problem is still in its early stage," said Maressa Orzack, a Harvard University professor. No single online activity is to blame for excessive use, he said. "They're online in chat rooms, checking e-mail, or writing blogs. The problem is not limited to porn (色情) or gambling websites.”

　　“Excessive Internet use should be defined not by the number of hours spent online but in terms of losses.”said Maressa Orzack. "If it's a loss where you're not getting to work, and family relationships are breaking down as a result, then it's too much."

　　Since the early 1990s, several clinics have been established in the U. S. to treat heavy Internet users. They include the Center for Internet Addiction Recovery and the Center for Internet Behavior.

　　The website for Orzack's center lists the following among the psychological symptoms of computer addiction:

　　● Having a sense of happiness or excitement while at the computer.

　　● Longing for more and more time at the computer.

　　● Neglect of family and friends.

　　● Feeling empty, depremssed or irritable when not at the computer.

　　● Lying to employers and family about activities.

　　● Inability to stop the activity.

　　● Problems with school or job.

　　Physical symptoms listed include dry eyes, backaches, skipping meals, poor personal hygiene (卫生) and sleep disturbances.

　　“People who struggle with Internet overuse maybe depressed or have other mood disorders.” Orzack said. When she discusses Internet habits with her patients, they often report that being online offers a "sense of belonging, and escape, excitement and fun," she said. “Some people say relief…because they find themselves so relaxed.”

　　Some parts of the Internet seem to draw people in more than others. Internet gamers spend countless hours competing in games against people from all over the world. One such game, called World of Warcraft, is cited on many sites by posters complaining of a "gaming addiction."

　　Andrew Heidrich, an education network administrator from Sacramento, plays World of Warcraft for about two to four hours every other night, but that's nothing compared with the 40 to 60 hours a week he spent playing online games when he was in college. He cut back only after a full-scale family intervention (干预), in which relatives told him he'd gained weight.

　　“There's this whole culture of competition that sucks people in with online gaming, ”said Heidrich, now a father of two. People do it at the expense of everything that was a constant in their lives." Heidrich now visits websites that discuss gaming addiction regularly “to remind myself to keep my love for online games in check”.

　　Toebe also regularly visits a site where posters discuss Internet overuse. In August, when she first realized she had a problem, she posted a message on a Yahoo Internet addiction group with the subject line:“I have an Internet Addiction.”

　　“I'm self-employed and need the Internet for my work, but I'm failing to accomplish my work, to take care of my home, to give attention to my children,”she wrote in a message sent to the group. “I have no money or insurance to get professional help; I can't even pay my loan and face losing everything.”

　　Since then, Toebe said, she has kept her promise to herself to cut back on her Internet use. "I have a boyfriend now, and I'm not interested in online dating," she said by phone last week. "It's a lot better now."

1. What eventually made Carla Toebe realize she was spending too much time on the Internet?

　A. Her daughter's repeated complaints.

　B. Tiredness resulting from lack of sleep.

　C. The poorly managed state of her house.

　D. The high financial costs adding up.

2.What is the main idea of para4?

A. A study claimed to be the first large-scale look at Internet overuse.

B. The American Psychiatric Association plans to list Internet addiction in its edition.

C. There are heated discussions about negative experiences over internet overuse.

D. There is a growing concern towards internet addiction.

3. According to Professor Maressa Orzack, Internet use would be considered excessive if ______.

　A. it seriously affected family relationships

　B. one visited porn websites frequently

　C. too much time was spent in chat rooms

　D. people got involved in online gambling

4. According to Orzack, people who struggle with heavy dependence on    

the Internet may feel ______.

　A. discouraged   B. pressured    C. depressed    D. puzzled

5. Andrew Heidrich now visits websites that discuss online gaming addiction to _____.

　A. improve his online gaming skills

　B. control his desire for online gaming

　C. show how good he is at online gaming

　D. exchange online gaming experience

6.Which of the following best describes the tone(口吻) of the passage ?

 A. Humorous      B. Ironic       C. Objective      D. Casual

 

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项中选出最佳选项。

Dear Doctor，

　　My husband and I got married in 1995 and for the first ten years of our marriage I was very happy to stay home and raise our three children．Then four years ago，our youngest child went to school and I thought I might go back to work．

　　My husband was very supportive and helped me to make my decision．He emphasized all of the things l can do around the house，and said he thought I could be a great success in business．

　　After several weeks of job-hunting，l found my present job，which is working for a small public relations firm．At first，my husband was very proud of me and would tell his friends，“My clever little wife can run that company she's working for．”

　　But as his joking remark was close to reality，my husband stopped talking to me about my job．I have received several promotions and pay increases，and I am now making more money than he is．I can buy my own clothes and a new car．Because of our combined incomes，my husband and I can do many things that we had always dreamed of doing，but we don't do these things because he is very unhappy．

　　We fight about little things and my husband is very critical of me in front of our friends．For the first time in our marriage，l think there is a possibility that our marriage may come to an end．

　　I hove my husband very much，and I do not want him to feel inferior，but I also love my job．I think I can be a good wife and a working woman，but I don't know how．Can you give me some advice？Will I have to choose one or the other or can I keep both my husband and my new career？

　　Please help．

“DISTRESSED”

1．What do you think shows her husband was supportive？

[　　]

A．He took up all the work she used to do．

B．He made all the decisions for her．

C．He gave her encouragement．

D．All of the above．

2．Her husband ________when she first found her present job．

[　　]

A．was very critical of her

B．felt disappointed

C．was proud of her

D．was happy but critical

3．Her husband stopped talking to her about her job when________．

[　　]

A．she received promotions

B．she earned more money

C．her husband was unhappy

D．both A and B

4．The woman has a hard choice between________．

[　　]

A．husband and children

B．children and work

C．career and money

D．job and marriage

“Everything happens for the best,” my mother said whenever I was disappointed. “Don’t worry. One day your luck will change.”

I didn’t pay attention to her words. After finishing my college education, I decided to look for a job in a radio station. I wanted to host a sports programme. I went to Chicago and knocked on the door of every station. But I got turned down every time.

In one station, a kind lady said to me that I hadn’t got enough experience. “Get to a small station and work for some time,” she said.

When I went back home, my dad told me that a businessman had opened a store and needed someone to help him. But again, I didn’t get the job.

I felt really down. “Your luck will change,” Mum said to me. Later, I tried another radio station in Iowa. But the owner, a nice man, told me he had already had someone to work for him. As I left his office, I asked, “How can someone be a sports announcer (播音员) if he can’t get a job in a radio station?”

I was waiting for the lift when I heard the man call, “What did you mean? Do you know anything about football?” He let me sit in front of a microphone and asked me to try to imagine that I was giving my opinion on a football game, and finally I succeeded.

On my way home, Mum’s words came back to me, “One day your luck will change, Son.”

1.What was the writer’s ideal（理想的） job?

A．A sportsman.	B．A shop assistant.
C．A sports announcer.	D．A businessman.

2.Why didn’t the writer get the job in Chicago? 

A．Because he was too young.

B．Because he didn’t get a college education.

C．Because he was not a good-looking person.

D．Because he hadn’t got enough experience.

3.The sentence “I got turned down every time” means “　　　”.

A．I was refused every time	B．I was successful every time
C．I lost my way every time	D．The door of every station was closed

4.The writer got a job 　　　 in the end.

A．in Chicago	B．in his home town
C．in a college	D．in Iowa