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问答题

问答题Explain the expression "the management horse pulling the IT cart" in the 9th paragraph.

问答题What does the author mean by the question "why should anyone applaud" in the last paragraph?

问答题维护世界和平，促进共同发展，是各国人民的共同心愿。中国人民愿与各国人民一道，推动建立公正合理的国际政治经济新秩序，提倡国际关系民主化，尊重世界多样性，促进树立新安全观，努力实现全球经济均衡可持续发展。中国人民对世界上仍陷于战火、冲突、饥饿、贫困等苦难的人民怀着深切同情，衷心祝愿他们早日走上和平发展之路，并愿为他们提供力所能及的帮助。我相信，只要各国人民和有远见的政治家，从人类的前途命运和共同利益出发，以合作谋和平，以合作促发展，携手克服前进道路上的困难，我们就一定能够共同创造人类的美好未来。

问答题Questions 4～6 They weren"t exactly Hollywood"s idea of a power couple: Disney CEO Robert Iger, once derided as a "suit", and studio chief Richard Cook, who got his start as a monorail operator at Disneyland. But last week Iger and Cook dropped a bomb bigger than any of the explosions you"ll see in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man"s Chest. Just weeks after the record-smashing release of the sequel—soon to be the highest-grossing film in Disney history—Cook fired studio president Nina Jacobson and announced Disney was slashing 20 percent of its studio staff and cutting the number of films it makes each year by a third. As usual, Hollywood thought it was all about them. "People are concerned that if Disney is cutting back on live-action movies, then what are other companies going to do," says Jim Wiatt, chief executive of the William Morris Agency. The unflappable Iger"s response: "We"re focused on our own issues and strategies. If it has an effect on the industry, so be it. But it really is about us. " Not bad for two guys who were considered perpetual bridesmaids. Iger and Cook both spent years toiling in the shadow of larger-than-life CEO Michael Eisner, who ran Disney like his personal kingdom. When Eisner"s reign came to a Shakespearean end after a shareholder revolt led by Walt Disney"s nephew, Iger found himself having to audition for his boss"s job. Cook, who came up through the marketing ranks, had to endure similar Tinseltown tongue-clucking from those who assumed the affable bear of a guy who didn"t have teeth. No one"s saying Iger and Cook aren"t "sexy" anymore. In short order, Iger made up with shareholders and Pixar honcho Steve Jobs, who"d had an epic battle with Eisner, even persuading Jobs to sell the animation company to Disney. Cook, meanwhile, had been turning theme-park rides into movies and getting Disney back to its family roots. "Dick and Bob go by their own beat," says Oren Aviv, who was promoted to president of production last week. "They"re not interested in fanfare or press or what other people think." (Mostly not interested: Iger did tell Newsweek once, "I hate being called a suit.") What people think now is that Disney is setting the pace for the industry. The film business has been on shaky ground: U.S. box office is flat, DVD sales have stalled and the cost of making movies is soaring. Family films seem like the only sure bets these days, and Disney is in a prime position to meet the demand. "Disney is the only real brand name in the movie business around the world," says Cook. In fact, Iger is taking the name "Disney World" quite literally. He spoke to Newsweek Friday after flying home from a five-day trip to Asia, where he attended the stage premiere of The Lion King in Shanghai. His immediate goal is to build the Disney brand in China and India. Iger has also aggressively embraced technological advances, podcasting and webcasting episodes of Lost and Desperate Housewives, hits on Disney"s ABC network. "I don"t see technology as a threat," he says. "Technology allows us to be in step with the consumer. " All of which sounds pretty good to Wall Street. Last week"s cuts will save the company between $ 90 million and $100 million a year, according to Cook, and while that wasn"t enough to boost its stock price, it sure doesn"t hurt investor relations. "Iger has stated his goals and stuck to [them]; investors like that predictability," says analyst Jason Helfstein of CIBC World Markets. "He"s widely regarded in a positive light." Ironic, since he wasn"t supposed to have the job in the first place.

问答题The effect of governmental expenditures on the total economy varies with both the level of utilization of labor and capital in the economy at the time of the expenditure, and the segment of the economy which receives the expenditure. If the economy as a whole or the segment of the economy which is the focus of the expenditure is operating at capacity or close to capacity, then the expenditure"s major effects will tend to be inflationary, and will not generate much employment of capital and labor. If the economy or sector is operating at much less than full employment, the expenditure will produce a genuine (non-inflationary) rise in the GNP. A true measure of the effect of governmental increase in the amount of money made available, then, is not the simple dollar value of the initial injection but the cumulative effect of this injection through spending and re-spending. In the optimum case the initial expansion of income flow could be great enough to produce tax revenues in excess of the original "deficit spending" or the "tax cut", so that deficits are not only smaller than the increased GNP but are recouped. In Keynesian economics the fundamental point of government policy clearly is not budget-balancing but spending in the event of unused productive capacity and unemployment. Spending increases productivity. This productivity resulting from federal spending has overwhelmed the older economic myths of the balanced budget where government is conceived of as just another business firm.

问答题These days, getting answers to most questions seems like a no-brainer. For everything from who won an Olympic speed skating race to when to plant tomatoes, most people turn to Google or one of its rivals. Not John W. Rogers Jr. The CEO of Ariel Capital Management LLC doesn"t use the Internet at work or at home. The 47-year-old Princeton University grad thinks the Net is largely a waste of time. Assistants print out e-mails for him and researchers give him paper copies of Wall Street analysts reports from the Web. He prefers to spend his time reading, talking directly with his staff, working out at the gym, or spending time with his teenage daughter. "I listen and read; e-mail is a huge distraction." says Rogers. It"s a sentiment that many Americans find hard to imagine. Plowing through e-mail has become part of the daily routine, like brushing your teeth or walking the dog. But Rogers isn"t as much of an oddity as it might seem. Despite its popularity among teens and techies, and its use in most offices, the Internet is far from ubiquitous. In fact, 39 million American households still do not have Internet access. That means only 64% of households are connected, according to a recent survey of 1,000 people by Dallas researcher Parks Associates. An even bigger surprise is that the growth of the Internet in the U. S. has stalled. Many people are non-Netizens for obvious reasons. They can"t afford service or live in remote areas without hope of affordable connections. And some are past the age when they want to adopt new technology. But the spectrum of naysayers also includes millions of well-off, educated, and younger professionals. Of the survey respondents who say they don"t use the Web, 24% make more than $ 50,000. Some 39% of the Netphobes attended or graduated college or have at least some associate degree training. And 29% are 44 years old or younger. "It"s not just everyone"s grandmother who is avoiding the Internet," says John C. Barrett, director of research at Parks Associates. Why are people saying no? Some worry, after hearing about online seams and digital viruses, that the Net isn"t safe. Others swear that, for all the brouhaha about the Net"s ability to enhance communication, e-mail and instant-message chats break down social interaction. But the broader issue is that—despite innovations that make it possible for people to call up their bank accounts with a few clicks of the mouse, watch the latest episode of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart on a PC, and play online games against competitors in Korea, France, and South Africa—the Internet remains too complicated and costly for a huge swath of American society. Other consumer electronics gear is much more widely adopted: Nearly 100% of U. S. households have a TV, 83% have a DVD player, and 78% have a cell phone. Despite their particular drawbacks, all these technologies are easier to use than an Internet-connected computer. Yet, while the tech industry has vowed to make its products simpler, companies keep stuffing online services, PCs, and other devices with. complicated new features. That"s why predictions of a few years ago that 75% of American households would be online by now have fallen short. It"s little wonder that millions of people don"t like or trust the Internet. Take Sylvia Goodwin, a 57-year-old assistant attorney general in Tucson. She has a PC at home but no Net service. That puts her among the 31% of households that say they will not subscribe to an Internet service because access at work is sufficient. To Goodwin, the Web is a 21st century manifestation of the world depicted in George Orwell"s 1984. As a prosecutor, Goodwin knows how easy it is for Big Brother to gain access to personal information. To her, giving out addresses, telephone numbers, and credit-card information online seems like a surefire way to lose control of your privacy. "If you do everything on the Internet, someone can go in and pick it up," she says. For others, the Internet is an example of what author Nell Postman called "the surrender of culture to technology." From Silicon Valley engineers to teenage geeks, tech enthusiasts see only what the Net can do, not what it might undo. But James J. Mitchell, a retired banking executive from suburban Chicago, believes the Web dismantles face-to-face communication. He"s part of the 18% of households that, according to the Parks survey, have a computer but aren"t interested in "anything" on the Internet.

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问答题 It isn't just an urban myth: life in a city really is getting more dangerous, and the sources of peril are not just human ones like muggers and reckless motorists. A report by UN-Habitat, an agency responsible for human settlements, says the number of natural disasters affecting urban populations has risen four-fold since 1975. Some of the reasons are obvious, others less so. As the world's population grows, people are crowding into mega-metropolises, where life's risks are horribly concentrated. The after-effects of a natural disaster can be especially dire in a vast, densely-packed area where sewers fail and disease spreads. At a pace that no urban planner can control, slums spring up in disaster-prone areas—such as steep slopes, which are prone to floods, mudslides or particularly severe damage in an earthquake. Many of the world's cities are located on coasts or rivers where the effects of climate change and extreme weather events, from cyclones to heatwaves to droughts, are brutally and increasingly felt. Economic dislocation and human pain are also caused by events (like recent floods in the Indian city of Kolkata, see above) that are too small to grab global headlines. But there is no reason for the sort of fatalism that regards disasters, and their disproportionate effects on the urban poor, as something that has "always been with us" and will inexorably get worse. Intelligent planning and regulation make a huge difference to the number of people who die when disaster strikes, says Anna Tibaijuka, UN-Habita's executive director. In 1995 an earthquake in the Japanese city of Kobe killed 6,400 people; in 1999 a quake of similar magnitude in Turkey claimed over 17,000 lives. Corrupt local bureaucracies and slapdash building pushed up the Turkish toll. The Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004, which killed at least 230,000 people, would have been a tragedy whatever the level of preparedness; but even when disaster strikes on a titanic scale, there are many factors within human control—a knowledgeable population, a good early-warning system and settlements built with disasters in mind—that can help to minimize the number of casualties. In some places, says Saroj Jha, a disaster specialist at the World Bank, tragic events have been a spur to serious national efforts to learn lessons and make buildings and infrastructure more robust. Often this has benefits that go far beyond the disaster-stricken area. He cites Turkey, India, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Indonesia as countries that have learned from catastrophes. For example, after a quake in Gujarat which killed 20,000, India trained a small army of engineers, architects and builders to raise the quality of construction. The World Bank has recently started to focus more on avoiding disasters, rather than just helping to respond to them. There is more awareness that disaster-prone projects—such as clams which could burst—are worse than a waste of money. Given that events like earthquakes and tsunamis cannot be escaped, the bank is also doing more to help poor countries prepare for the worst. There are economic reasons for this, as well as humanitarian ones. Many vulnerable cities are big contributors to the surrounding country's GDP—so an urban disaster could wreck an entire national economy. These include Tehran (which produces 40% of national GDP), Dhaka (60%), Mexico City (40%), Seoul (SOX) and Cairo (50%). And some of these urban spaces are disasters waiting to occur. The Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka (with a population of 11. 6m and rising) is built on alluvial terraces, exposed to flooding, earthquakes and rising seas. Tehran is in such an earthquake-prone area that some have suggested moving the entire city of 12m people. That will hardly happen; but better foundations could save countless lives if—or when—an earthquake strikes.

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问答题Why are some retailers more confident about yearend shopping?

问答题Questions 4～6 Marriage really is good for you, with a major international study finding it reduces the risks of depression and anxiety, but these disorders are more likely to plague people once the relationship is over. The study of 34,493 people across 15 countries was led by clinical psychologist Kate Scott from New Zealand's University of Otago, and is based on the WHO World Mental Health (WMH) surveys conducted over the past decade. It found that ending marriage through separation, divorce or death is linked to an increased risk of mental health disorders, with women more likely to resort to substance abuse and men more likely to become depressed. "What makes this investigation unique and more robust is the sample that is so large and across so many countries and the fact that we have data not only on depression... but also on anxiety and substance use disorders," Scott said in a statement. "In addition, we were able to look at what happens to mental health in marriage, both in comparison with never getting married, and with ending marriage." Scott said that the study found that getting married, compared to not getting married, was good for the mental health of both genders, not just women, as previous studies had found. The study, however, did find that men are less likely to become depressed in their first marriage than women, a factor Scott said was probably linked to the traditional gender roles at home, as other WMH surveys have shown that as women get better educated, depression rates tend to fall. The other gender difference the study found is that getting married reduces risk of substance use disorders more for women than for men Scott said this may be explained by the fact that women are usually the primary caregiver for young children. However, the downside of marriage, the University of Otago study shows, is that ending it has a negative impact on both genders. "What our study points to is that the marital relationship offers a lot of mental health benefits for both men and women, and that the distress and disruption associated with ending marriage can make people vulnerable to developing mental disorders," Scott said. The study was recently published in the British journal Psychological Medicine. It was conducted in association with the World Health Organization, Harvard University and a number of other international organizations.1.What might be the different reactions of men and women towards the ending of marriage?

问答题Directions: In this part of the test, you will hear 5 sentences in English. You will hear the sentences ONLY ONCE. After you have heard each sentence, translate it into Chinese and write your version in the corresponding space in your ANSWER BOOKLET.

问答题The greatest danger to our future is apathy. We cannot expect those living in poverty and ignorance to worry about saving the world. For those of us able to read this magazine, it is different. We can do something to preserve our planet. You may be overcome, however, by feelings of helplessness. You are just one person in a world of 6 billion. How can your actions make a difference? Best, you say, to leave it to decision makers. And so you do nothing. Can we overcome apathy? Yes, but only if we have hope. One reason for hope lies in the extraordinary nature of human intellectual accomplishment. A hundred years ago, the idea of a 747, of a man on the moon, of the Internet remained in the realm of science fiction. Yet we have seen those things and much, much more. So, now that we have finally faced up to the terrible damage we have inflicted on our environment, our ingenuity is working overtime to find technological solutions. But technology alone is not enough. We must engage with our hearts also. And it"s happening around the world. Even companies once known only for profits and pollution are having a change of heart. Conoco, the energy company, worked with the Jane Goodall Institute (J. G. I. ) in Congo to build a sanctuary for orphaned chimpanzees. I formed this partnership when I realized that Conoco, during its exploration, used state-of-the-art practices designed to have the least possible impact on the environment. Many other companies are working on clean forms of energy, organic farming methods, less wasteful irrigation and so on. Another reason for hope is the resilience of nature—if it is given a helping hand. Fifteen years ago, the forests outside Gombe National Park in Tanzania had been virtually eliminated. More people lived there than the land could support. J. G. I. initiated the Lake Tanganyika Catchment Reforestation and Education Project (TACARE), a program active in 33 villages around the park. Today people improve their lives through environmentally sustainable projects, such as tree nurseries and wood lots. We provide health care, family-planning and education programs, especially for women. As their education increases, their family size tends to drop. While pollution still plagues much of the world, progress is being made. This May in Sudbury, Ont., I saw new forests that were recolonizing hills destroyed by 100 years of nickel mining. The community raised the money and worked for months spreading lime and planting vegetation on the blackened rock. I released the first brook trout into a once poisoned creek there. Animal species on the brink of extinction can be given a second chance through protection and captive breeding—even if preserving a habitat conflicts with economic interests. A company in Taiwan, China planned to build a rapid-transit line right through the only major remaining breeding ground of the rare pheasant-tailed jacana. There was an outcry, but it was the only economically viable route. Environmentalists worked with the company to come up with a solution—moving the breeding ground. Water was diverted back into nearby wetlands that had been drained by farmers, and suitable vegetation was replanted. In 2000 five birds hatched in their new home, and when I visited there the next year, even more birds had moved to the site. I derive the most hope from the energy and hard work of young people. Roots & Shoots, J. G. I. "s program for youth from preschool through university, is now active in 70 countries. The name is symbolic: roots and shoots together can break up brick walls, just as citizens of Earth together can overcome our problems. The more than 4,000 groups of young people are cleaning creeks, restoring prairies and wetlands, planting trees, clearing trash, recycling—and making their voices heard. We have huge power, we of the affluent societies, we who are causing the most environmental damage. For we are the consumers. We do not have to buy products from companies with bad environmental policies. To help us, the Internet is linking small grassroots movements so that people who once felt they were on their own can contact others with the same concerns. I feel deep shame when I look into the eyes of my grandchildren and think how much damage has been done to Planet Earth since I was their age. Each of us must work as hard as we can now to heal the hurts and save what is left.

问答题Just outside its wooded headquarters campus, McDonald's Corp. is offering sneak previews of its fast-food future. Now playing at its new flagship restaurant: Digital-media kiosks for burning CDs, downloading cell-phone ring tones and printing photos. Dozens of plasma-screen TVs. Wi-Fi Internet access. New chicken sandwiches. Double-lane drivethrus. And an adjoining McCafe with gourmet coffees, fancy pastries and a fireplace. Coming soon: Other menu items and concepts not yet released to a general audience. Don't expect Starbucks-like makeovers like this one at the 13,600 U. S. McDonald's, or 30,000-plus worldwide; the Oak Brook restaurant, which opened late last month, doubles as public restaurant and test site. But the world's largest restaurant chain is tinkering with various possibilities in technology and design to try to ensure it is a hangout of choice in the future. McDonald's has undergone an image change in more ways than one since a time 2 1/2 years ago when its sales and reputation were sagging amid complaints about its service and food. Despite inconsistent results in some large European countries, that McSlump is no longer: Same-store sales have increased for 25 straight months in the key U. S. market.

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问答题 Companies say it's nice for business travelers to have a desk, fax machine and coffee maker in their hotel rooms. But don't make them pay extra for it. An informal USA TODAT survey of 152 corporate-travel managers finds 68% would not pay a premium for so-called business-class rooms that hotel chains are creating to attract business travelers. The rooms typically are equipped with a large desk, better fighting, fax machine, data ports for laptops and other features that can turn a hotel room into a mini-office. Rates are often $ 20 higher than for regular rooms. As companies work harder to trim travel budgets, many managers say the amenities aren't worth the money. "I think I travel as much as anyone in this company, but as far as what I need to do on the road is concerned, it isn't worth another $ 30," says Mike Caravello, travel manager for American Family, an insurance company. Hotel chain after hotel chain has launched some version of the business-class room since Radisson introduced its Business Class concept several years ago. The business-class trend caught fire soon after the recession ended as hotel marketers focused on companies' desire to make employees more efficient and productive on business trips. In fact, many hoteliers say the rooms are as popular as ever with travelers. ITT Sheraton, which charges a $15 premium for its business rooms, says research shows travelers expect to pay $ 40 more for them. "If I'm a traveler and I have to do a lot more on the road for me to be more productive, it may be worthwhile for me to expense it against my expense account. And if I can prove to my employer that I am more productive, then it was a good move," says Bob Dirks, Hilton's senior vice president of marketing. Still, Dirks concedes that for business-class rooms to be successful, hoteliers will have to strike the right price chord with corporate clients. That's why Hilton is testing its Smart Desk concept, which has a portable desk, better lighting and data ports, at nightly premiums of $ 20 to $ 35 a night. "Research will determine whether companies are entirely right or entirely wrong," he says. Hyatt charges an extra $15 per night for its Business Plan room, which comes with a continental breakfast, fax machine, 24-hour access to printers, photocopying machines, office supplies, a coffee maker, ironing board, free newspapers, complimentary local calls and no access charges for 800 numbers and credit-card calls. Radisson's Business Class rooms are in 216 hotels in 29 countries. The rooms come with complimentary newspapers, free in-room movies, free phone access, no fax surcharges, data ports and an in-room coffee maker. The chain booked more than 180,000 Business Class rooms in 1995, spokeswoman Karen Waters says. Hyatt officials say its Business Plan also has been a hit with travelers. "Business Plan has been so successful that we plan to increase our inventory," says Don Henderson, general manager of the Hyatt Regency Houston. Marriott plans to expand its "Room that works" concept to 20% of its rooms by Dec. 31. Travelers do manage to get into business rooms even if the premium isn't included in the corporate travel policy. That's because hotels really pitch the rooms when travelers check in, says hotel consultant Bjorn Hanson, of Coopers ＆ Lybrand. "When someone arrives at the hotel desk, they'll say they have the corporate rate but that they can also get a free breakfast and newspaper and other perks for an additional $15 a night," he says. Linda Mancini, national sales manager for Ritten-house in San Jose, Calif, uses upgrades she earns as a reward for frequent stays to move up to business-class rooms. Occasionally, she'll pay the extra premium for the room, which she likes for the convenience. "I've found that most of those rooms aren't that expensive," she says. "If you're there one night, it's no big deal. But if you're there three or four nights, it adds up. " And using the fax machine can be very expensive. "You can end up paying a ton to fax anything. I had a fax bill that totaled $ 70 because of surcharges. I ended up talking to the manager and I got it reversed," Mancini says. Mancini also makes a point that employers won't want to hear. "There're a lot of people who don't work once they get in the room. They use it so sleep and watch TV," she says. DuPont travel manager Joyce Bembry says hotels who want business travelers shouldn't charge extra. "If they are going to cater to the business traveler, these are the things they are going to need," she says. "I think it's going to be a way of life and a way of doing business. It will be just a room. "

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