阅读理解 A is for always getting to work on time. B is for being extremely busy. C is for the conscientious (勤勤恳恳的) way you do your job. You may be all these things at the office, and more. But when it comes to getting ahead, experts say, the ABCs of business should include a P, for politics, as in office politics. Dale Carnegie suggested as much more than 50 years ago: Hard work alone doesn''t ensure career advancement. You have to be able to sell yourself and your ideas, both publicly and behind the scenes. Yet, despite the obvious rewards of engaging in office politics -- a better job, a raise, praise -- many people are still unable -- or unwilling -- to "play the game." "People assume that office politics involves some manipulative (工于心计的) behavior," says Deborah Comer, an assistant professor of management at Hofstra University. " But politics derives from the word "polite". It can mean lobbying and forming associations. It can mean being kind and helpful, or even trying to please your superior, and then expecting something in return." In fact, today, experts define office politics as proper behavior used to pursue one''s own self-interest in the workplace. In many cases, this involves some form of socializing within the office environment -- not just in large companies, but in small workplaces as well. "The first thing people are usually judged on is their ability to perform well on a consistent basis," says Neil P. Lewis, a management psychologist. "But if two or three candidates are up for a promotion, each of whom has reasonably similar ability, a manager is going to promote the person he or she likes best. It''s simple human nature." Yet, psychologists say, many employees and employers have trouble with the concept of politics in the office. Some people, they say, have an idealistic vision of work and what it takes to succeed. Still others associate politics with flattery (奉承), fearful that, if they speak up for themselves, they may appear to be flattering their boss for favors. Experts suggest altering this negative picture by recognizing the need for some self-promotion.

单选题 "Office politics'' ( Line 2, Para. 4) is used in the passage to refer to ________.

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】文中多次提到“office politics”,但最直接给它下定义的是在倒数第4段，不过不能被behavior 这个词误导而选A项，因为第2句In many cases，this involves some form of socializing within the office environment更清楚地对应了C项中的the interpersonal relationships within a company。此外，A项是对文章开头所列的A、B、C的概括，而根据第4段的最后一句，office politics显然与这三者不属于一类性质。B项将politics解释为“政治”，一般阅读理解中不考查简单词汇的字面意思。D项是“各种各样的素质”，而office politics只是一种quality。

单选题 To get promoted, one must not only be competent but ________.

单选题 Why are many people unwilling to "play the game" (Line 4, Para. 5)?

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】此题最好采用排除法。根据第5段的最后一句中的obvious rewards可知，engaging in office politics是有回报的，可以排除A项和D项；而下一段的第一句话就解释到：人们认为office politics意味着采取一些工于心计的行为，可以推断他们觉得这样做正如B项所说的，是unprincipled“无原则的，无节操的，无耻的，无道德的”；C项则只是挪用了下文的manipulate“巧妙地操纵”，但文章并未提及这些人是否善于巧妙地操纵他们的同事。