单选题 Back in 2000, inspired by a desire to help those in need, Megan and Dennis Doyle of Minneapolis decided they wanted to do more than just volunteer or write a check. Instead, they took $30,000 of their own money and started a nonprofit called Hope for the City. The organization collects corporate overstock and distributes it to nonprofits in the Twin Cities, nationwide, and internationally to 26 developing countries. Today the nonprofit has a $900, 000 operating budget and a 25,000 sq.ft. warehouse to store the donated items and has distributed nearly $380 million of in-kind merchandise since its inception. "This makes us feel like we're a part of something a lot bigger than just the two of us," says Dennis, 54, who is CEO of a local commercial real estate firm.
The Doyles are not alone in their desire to give back. There are more than 1 million 501 (c) (3) charities like theirs, up nearly 70% from the 614,000 that existed a decade ago, according to Tom Pollak, program director with the National Center for Charitable Statistics at the Urban Institute. Organizations dedicated to education, disaster relief, job development, the environment and AIDS are among today's "hot causes, " says Phyllis McGrath, president of Philanthropy Management, a Fairfield, Conn., consulting firm that works with nonprofits nationwide.
Fueling this growth are several factors: baby boomers with a social-entrepreneurship mind-set and added time in their lives to give back to their communities, such tragic events as Sept. 11 and Hurricane Katrina, and greater numbers of wealthy individuals with the funds to launch their own nonprofits. But starting a nonprofit is a Herculean effort, requiring patience and determination.
It may take at least six months to a year and as much as 30 to 40 hours a week to get an organization off the ground, McGrath says. Hiring an attorney experienced with nonprofits to handle statewide and federal applications is key. The 501 (c) (3) designation comes from the IRS (Internal Revenue Service), and nonprofits are expected to provide the government with such information as a mission statement, an idea of who will be assisted and by what methods, anticipated budget and board of directors, says Andrew Grumet, a lawyer representing nonprofits with the Manhattan firm Herrick, Feinstein, LLP. Accountants familiar with nonprofits can advise on how much of an investment can be made without affecting personal wealth. But even with the best of intentions, nonprofits have a high failure rate : only one-third survive beyond five years, says Stan Madden, director of the Center for Nonprofit Studies at the Hankamer School of Business at Baylor University in Waeo, Texas.
The best approach is to start with a business plan. Research other organizations in the field to make sure there is no other group addressing the same cause. Consult with other charities to determine that there are constituents who can really use your services. As McGrath notes, "Consider a realistic and doable niche that your organization can uniquely fill. "
That is just what Beth Shaw, 41, did. The owner of a $4 million company that trains yoga fitness instructors worldwide, Shaw used her knowledge of the market to launch Visionary Women in Fitness, which provides scholarships to underprivileged women so that they can train to become instructors. With a budget of just $30,000, the nonprofit, based in Hermosa Beach, Calif., is able to help 15 to 20 women a year learn a skill that can get them an entry-level job.
"I have two homes and a successful business, so many young women out there have nothing," says Shaw, who has donated $50,000 of her own money since she launched the charity in June 2004. "This was the time in my life to step up and start giving back. /

单选题 Which of the following is INCORRECT about Hope for the City?
[A] It's a nonprofit organization collecting corporate excessive supply.
[B] It's a nonprofit organization distributing donated items to other nonprofits.
[C] It was initiated by individuals desiring to do more than donating money.
[D] It's a nonprofit organization with few opportunities of secure investment.

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】细节题。文章第一段指出，Megan and Dennis Doyle of Minneapolis decided they wanted to do more than just volunteer or write a cheek. 由此可知，非营利性慈善机构“城市希望”的发起人，明尼苏达州的米根·道勒和丹尼斯·道勒构夫妇不想仅仅局限于参加志愿活动或捐赠钱财，[C]符合事实，故排除。在第一段中同时提到，The organization collects corporate overstock and distributes it to nonprofits in the Twin Cities，nationwide，and internationally to 26developing countries．由此可知，[A]、[B]符合事实，故排除。在第一段中，关于此慈善组织的发展情况，文章指出：Today the nonprofit has a $900,000 operating budget and a 25,000sq.ft. warehouse to store the donated items and has distributed nearly $380 million of in-kind merchandise since its inception．由此可知，“城市希望”已经发展为工作预算高达90万美元，储物仓库广至25,000平方英尺，货物总值几近3.8亿美元的大型慈善机构，因此[D]表述该组织获得慈善资金投入的机会很少，与事实不符，故[D]为答案。

单选题 Which of the following does NOT make for the growth of charities?
[A] Baby boomers who're willing to give back to their communities.
[B] Hot causes dedicated to education, job development, the environment, etc.
[C] Tragic events like Sept. 11 and Hurricane Katrina.
[D] Wealthy people with the funds to launch their own nonprofits.

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】细节题。由文章第三段可知，慈善组织迅猛发展的原因包括：baby boomers with a social-en-trepreneurship mind-set and added time in their lives to give back to their communities，[A]符合事实，故排除；such tragic events as Sept. 11 and Hurricane Katrina，[C]符合事实，故排除；and greater numbers of wealthy individuals with the funds to launch their own nonprofits，[D]符合事实，故排除。在文章第二段中介绍非营利性慈善组织时指出：Organizations dedicated to education，disaster relief，job development，the environment and AIDS are among today's“hotcauses，”表明其服务范围大多集中于教育、赈灾、就业、环保以及艾滋等热门领域，而这并非是慈善组织快速发展的原因，故[B]为答案。

单选题 "Herculean" in the third paragraph is closest in meaning to
[A] of or relating to Hercules.
[B] characterized by requiring skill.
[C] characterized by requiring great strength.
[D] having a high degree of intelligence.

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】语义题。文章第三段最后一句话(But starting a nonprofit is a Herculean effort，requiring patience and determination.)为过渡句，作者在第四段中说明了创立一个慈善组织所需要付出的种种努力，如：It may take at least six months to a year and as much as 30 to 40 hours a week to get an organization off the ground(要使组织初具规模，至少需要半年至一年时间，且在此期间，必须保证每周30至40小时的工作量。)Nonprofits are expected to provide the government with such information as a mission statement，an idea of who will be assisted and by what methods，anticipated budget and board of directors(需向政府提供项目说明、受助对象、施助途径、预算数额及董事会成员等信息)；Accountants familiar with nonprofits can advise on how much of an investment can be made without affecting personal wealth. (一个熟悉非营利组织运营的会汁师可以为组织提供专业建议，以确定适当的投资数额，而不致侵损私人财富。)第四段末指出：But even with the best of intentions，nonprofits have a high failure rate：only one-third survive beyond five years…由此可见开创此事业的艰难，需要付出巨大的努力，故[C]为答案。Herculean一词的词根为Hercules(海格立斯)，是希腊神话中最著名的英雄之一。他不畏艰险，创下了12项英雄业绩。后来，人们用a Herculean task(海格立斯的任务)来指“极为艰巨的任务”，the Herculean efforts(海格立斯的努力)指“十分巨大的努力”——相当于中国成语中的“九牛二虎之力”。

单选题 It can be concluded from the passage that
[A] hard work and good intentions don't guarantee the success of nonprofits.
[B] an experienced lawyer is the determining factor of the success of nonprofits.
[C] accountants will be helpful in deciding whether to invest in nonprofits.
[D] investing in nonprofits means a high risk of losing one's wealth.

【正确答案】 A

【答案解析】推断题。从文章第四段来看，成功启动一个非营利性慈善组织的关键因素是雇佣一个熟悉非营利组织州级和国家级申请程序的律师(Hiring an attorney experienced with nonprofits to handle statewide and federal applications is key)。因为需要向政府提供项目说明、受助对象、施助途径、预算数额及董事会成员等信息(…nonprofits are expected to provide the government with shell information as a mission statement，an idea of who will be assisted and by what methods，anticipated budget and board of directors)，由此可知，在慈善组织的创始阶段，律师的确起到关键的作用，但并不意味着有经验的律师就能确保慈善组织的成功运作，故排除[B]；而第四段指出：Accountants familiar with nonprofits can advise on how much of an investment call be made without reflecting personal wealth. 表明熟悉慈善组织运作的会计师可以为组织提供专业建议，以确定适当的投资数额，而不致侵损私人财富，而不是帮助决定是否要投资于慈善事业，排除[C]；而[D]项内容指出投资慈善事业意味着面临着极高的失去个人财富的风险，与文章内容不符，故排除[D]。第四段中指出，…even with the best of intentions，nonprofits have a high failure rate：only one-third survive beyond five years，由此段可见，即使有着很好的出发点，付出了巨大的努力，在各个方面做好准备，也并不意味着可以成功运营慈善组织。故[A]为答案。