问答题Suppose you are the personnel manager of a company and you've decided the applicant named Zhang Wei is the best candidate for the vacancy in your company. Write him an email to 1) inform him of your decision, and 2) tell him further information regarding the job, including payment, duration of trial period and so on. You should write about 100 words on the ANSWER SHEET. Do not use your own name. Use "Li Ming" instead. Do not write your address.

问答题Writeanessaybasedonthefollowingchart.Inyourwriting,youshould1)interpretthechart,and2)giveyourcomments.Youshouldwriteabout150wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

问答题Writeanessaybasedonthefollowingchart.Inyourwriting,youshould1)interpretthechart,and2)giveyourcomments.Youshouldwriteabout150wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

问答题Writeanessaybasedonthefollowingtable.Inyourwriting,youshould1)describethetableand2)stateyouropinionsdrawnfromit.Youshouldwriteatleast150wordsontheANSWERSHEET.(15points)

问答题Writeanessaybasedonthefollowingchart.Inyourwriting,youshould1)interpretthechart,and2)giveyourcomments.Youshouldwriteabout150wordsontheANSWERSHEET.

问答题Traffic in your city is worsening due to an increasing number of private cars. Write a letter to your local English newspaper to 1) make an appeal, and 2) give your opinion and suggestions. You should write about 100 words on the ANSWER SHEET. Do not use your own name. Use "Li Ming" instead. Do not write your address.

问答题Suppose you are offered a satisfactory job by a large company due to the kind and persuasive recommendation of your professor, John Smith. Write him a letter to 1) extend your gratitude, and 2) confirm that you will do your best You should write about 100 words on the ANSWER SHEET. Do not use your own name. Use "Li Ming" instead. Do not write your address.

问答题Suppose you have found something wrong with the mobile phone that you bought from a store early last month. Write an email to the customer service center to 1) make a complaint, and 2) demand a prompt solution. You should write about 100 words on the ANSWER SHEET. Do not use your own name. Use "Li Ming" instead. Do not write your address.

填空题A. Plan for the Financial Transition B. Examine Your Investment Portfolio C. Contribute to an IRA D. Save before You Spend E. Max out Your Retirement Plans F. Set a Retirement Savings Goal G. Review Your Own Retirement Plan One month into the new year, it's time to check in on your promises to yourself to start saving more for retirement. Fully 70 percent of Americans are concerned about not having enough money for a comfortable retirement, a recent Fidelity Investments study found. Here are strategies to boost your retirement savings this year. 【R1】______ "Pay yourself first, and find ways to invest automatically," says Heather Dzielak of Lincoln Financial Group. "Get in the discipline of setting aside money for your retirement" Many companies will let you automatically deposit part of your paycheck into savings or investment accounts. 【R2】______ Most Americans are counting on individual retirement accounts (IRA) to help fund their retirement. But as of 2004, only 29 percent of families owned an IRA or Keogh, with a median value of $30,000, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI). The deadline for making a 2006 contribution to a tax-advantaged IRA is April 17, the date your federal tax return is due. 【R3】______ Be sure to contribute enough to get your employer's full match. "The way to really do well," says Ed Slott, author of Your Complete Retirement Planning Road Map, "is to keep putting more money in as much as you can. I try to fund all the retirement accounts I can to the max." You should also account for all 401(k) plans you've had at previous employers and consolidate them in your current employer's plan or transfer them into a rollover IRA, says Dallas Salisbury, EBRI president. Rolling a 401 (k) over into an IRA allows you to avoid most fees and penalties. 【R4】______ Only 4 in 10 workers have actually calculated how much they need to save for retirement, according to EBRI. And many of those created their own estimate or guessed. It's a good idea to sit down with a financial adviser or use an online calculator or retirement worksheet. You should review your retirement accounts annually to make sure you are getting a good return on your investments. "Over the long term, diversified stocks and bonds should return you 7 percent," says Jonathan Pond, the author of You Can Do It! The Boomer's Guide to a Great Retirement. "The average investor makes about 4 percent." Pond recommends constructing a diversified portfolio and regularly monitoring it. 【R5】______ You'll need a plan to convert retirement savings into a stream of income. "It's the way you take it out that will determine how much you and your family keep and how much goes to the government," says Slott. "If you take it out the wrong way, it all goes back to the government." A financial adviser can help you determine the most tax-advantaged way to withdraw money from retirement accounts. You'll also want to double-check the beneficiary forms on all your retirement accounts. Says Slott: "Most people think that somebody else took care of this. ... The beneficiary form is the key document that's going to determine who gets all this money you've saved."

填空题Sugarposesenoughhealthrisksthatitshouldbeconsideredacontrolledsubstancejustlikealcoholandtobacco,argueateamofresearchersfromtheUniversityofCalifornia,SanFrancisco(UCSF).Inanopinionpiececalled"TheToxicTruthAboutSugar"publishedinNature,andtheauthorClaireBrindisarguesthatit'swrongtoconsidersugarjust"emptycalories."Shewrites:"Thereisnothingemptyaboutthesecalories.Agrowingbodyofscientificevidenceisshowingthatsugarcantriggerprocessesthatleadtolivertoxicityandahostofotherchronicdiseases.Alittleisnotaproblem,butalotkills—slowly."Almosteveryone'sheardof—orpersonallyexperienced—thewell-knownsugarhigh,soperhapsthecomparisonbetweensugarandalcoholortobaccoshouldn'tcomeasasurprise.Butit'sdoubtfulthatAmericanswilllookfavorablyuponregulatingtheirfavoritevice.We'reanationthat'ssweetonsugartheaverageU.S.adultdowns22teaspoonsofsugaraday,accordingtotheAmericanHeartAssociation,andsurveyshavefoundthatteensswallow34teaspoons.Tocounterourconsumption,theauthoradvocatestaxingsugaryfoodsandcontrollingsalestokidsunder17.Already,17%ofU.S.childrenandteensareobese,andacrosstheworldthesugarintakehasincreasedthreetimesinthepast50years.Theincreasehashelpedcreateaglobalobesityplaguethatcontributesto35millionannualdeathsworldwidefromnoninfectiousdiseasesincludingcancer,heartdiseaseanddiabetes.LindaMatzigkeit,aseniorvicepresidentatChildren'sHealthcare,said"Wehavetodosomethingaboutthisorourcountryisindanger.It'snotgoodifyourstatehasthesecond-highestobesityrate.Obesechildrenturnintoobeseadults.""Therearegoodcaloriesandbadcalories,justastherearegoodfatsandbadfats,"RobertLustig,directoroftheWeightAssessmentforTeenandChildHealthprogramatUCSF,saidinastatement."Butsugaristoxicbeyonditscalories."Thefoodindustrytriestoimplythat"acalorieisacalorie,"saysKellyBrownell,directoroftheRuddCenterforFoodPolicyandObesityatYaleUniversity."Butthisandotherresearchsuggeststhereissomethingdifferentaboutsugar,"saysBrownell.TheUCSFreportemphasizesthemetaboliceffectsofsugar.Excesssugarcanaltermetabolism,raisebloodpressure,affectthesignalingofhormonesanddamagetheliver—outcomesthatsoundsuspiciouslysimilartowhatcanhappenafterapersondrinkstoomuchalcohol.LauraSchmidt,co-chairofUCSF'sCommunityEngagementandHealthPolicyprogram,noted:"Whenyouthinkaboutit,thisactuallymakesalotofsense.Alcohol,afterall,issimplymadefromsugar.Wheredoesvodkacomefrom?Sugar."Buttherearealsootherareasofimpactthatresearchershaveinvestigated:theeffectofsugaronthebrainandhowliquidcaloriesareinterpreteddifferentlybythebodythansolids.Researchhassuggestedthatsugaractivatesthesamerewardpathwaysinthebrainastraditionaldrugsofabuselikemorphineorheroin.Nooneisclaimingtheeffectofsugarisquitethatstrong,but,saysBrownell,"ithelpsconfirmwhatpeopletellyousometimes,thattheyhungerforsugarandhavewithdrawalsymptomswhentheystopeatingit."There'salsosomethingparticularlytrickyaboutsugarydrinks."Whencaloriescomeinliquids,thebodydoesn'tfeelasfull,"saysLustig."Peoplearegettingmoreoftheircaloriesthaneverbeforefromsugareddrinks."

填空题RonaldP.RohneroftheUniversityofConnecticuthasspentsomeyearslookingattheconsequencesforchildrenandteenagersofbeingeitheracceptedorrejectedbytheirparents.Hethinksthatparentalacceptanceinfluencesimportantaspectsofpersonality.Childrenwhoareacceptedbytheirparentsareindependentandemotionallystable,havestrongself-esteemandholdapositiveworldview.Thosewhofeeltheywererejectedshowtheopposite—hostility,feelingsofinadequacy,instabilityandanegativeworldview.RohnerandhisassistantHillaryAllenanalyzeddatafrom36studiesonparentalacceptanceandrejectionandfoundthattheysupportedhistheory.Acceptancebothbymotherandfatherwasassociatedwiththesepersonalitycharacteristics:Afather'sloveandacceptanceare,inthisregard,atleastasimportantasamother'sloveandacceptance.Thatisnotnecessarilygoodnewsforfathers—itincreasesthedemandsonthemtogetthisright."ThegreatemphasisonmothersandmotheringinAmericahasledtoaninappropriatetendencytoblamemothersforchildren'sbehaviorproblemsandmaladjustmentwhen,infact,fathersareoftenmoreimplicatedthanmothersinthedevelopmentofproblemssuchasthese,"Allensays.Empathyisanothercharacteristicthatwehopeteenagerswilldevelop,andfathersseemtohaveasurprisinglyimportantrolehere,too.RichardKoestner,apsychologistatMcGillUniversity,lookedbackat75menandwomenwhohadbeenpartofastudyatYaleUniversityinthe1950s,whentheywerechildren.WhenKoestnerandhiscolleaguesexaminedallthefactorsinthechildren'slivesthatmighthaveaffectedhowempathetictheybecameasadults,onefactordwarfedallothers—howmuchtimetheirfathersspentwiththem."Wewereamazedtofindthathowaffectionateparentswerewiththeirchildrenmadenodifferenceinempathy,"Koestnersays."Andwewereastoundedathowstrongthefather'sinfluencewas."MelanieHornMailers,apsychologistatCaliforniaStateUniversity,alsofoundthatsonswhohavefondmemoriesoftheirfathersweremoreabletohandletheday-to-daystressesofadulthood.Aroundthesametime,ateamattheUniversityofTorontoputadultsinafunctionalMRIscannertoassesstheirreactionstotheirparents'faces.Mothers'facestriggeredoffmoreactivityinseveralpartsofthebrain,includingsomeassociatedwithfaceprocessing.Thefacesoffathers,incontrast,triggeredoffactivityinthecaudate,astructureassociatedwithfeelingsoflove.Theevidenceshowsthatfathersmakeuniquecontributionstotheirchildren.Itdefinitelydoesnotshowthatchildreninfamilieswithoutfathersinthehomearedoomedtofailureoranythingclosetothat.Althoughfathersmatter,otherscanhelpfillthatrole.Weallknowchildrenwhogrewupindifficultcircumstancesbutnowliverichandrewardinglives.NotallofthemgrowuptobethepresidentoftheUnitedStates,butBarackObamaisanexampleofwhatcanbeachievedbyachildwhogrewupwithoutafatherbutmanagedtoovercomeit.Fatherhoodisabouthelpingchildrenbecomehappyandhealthyadults,ateaseintheworld,andpreparedtobecomefathers(ormothers)themselves.Weoftensaythatdoingwhatisbestforourkidsisthemostimportantthingwedo.Thenewattentiontofathersshouldhelpallofusfindourway.

填空题TheMaristpollfoundthatwhile65%ofpeoplewhomadearesolutionintheNewYearkepttheirpromiseforatleastpartoftheyear,35%neverevenmadeitoutofthegate.Indeed,whenyouwakeuponthefirstdayofanewyear—ordecade—resolutionsto"cutback"and"moderate"seembothanexcellentideaandanimpossiblyvaguedream.Butconsiderthis:ifhard-coreaddictscanbreakbadhabits,there'sstillhopeforyou.There'salotyoucanlearnfrompeoplewhohavesuccessfullymoderatedtheirhabitstohelpkeepyouofftheresolutionmerry-go-round."Themostimportantthingistobehonestwithyourself,"saysHowardJosepher,aformerheroinaddictandpresidentofExponentsInc."Youneedtoknowthedifferencebetweenenjoyingyourselfandself-deceiving.It'snotthatself-deceivingisnecessarilybad—butyoushouldgiveyourselfparameters.Ifyouareadheringtothem,OK.Ifnot,youneedtocheckyourself."Successfulcontrollersdecideinadvancehowmuchis"toomuch"—andsticktotheirlimit,nomatterwhat.Haveacookieaday,ifthat'swhatyou'vedeemedacceptable.Butifyou"cheat"byhaving"justonemore,"knowthatyouareonlycheatingyourselfandaggravatingtheproblem,hesays.Thepointistolearnhowtoholdyourselfaccountable."Theoretically,thereareverygoodreasonstotakeabreakfromabehavior,totally,"saysReidHester,directorofresearchatBehaviorTherapyAssociates,explainingthataninitialperiodofcompleteprohibitioncanmakeiteasierforpeopletomoderatebehavior,byeliminatingthehabitual,automaticaspectoftheunwantedactivity.Takeacuefromtheself-helpgroupModerationManagement,whichadvisesproblemdrinkerstogiveupcompletelyforamonthbeforeattemptingmoderatedrinking.Thebestwaytostayoncourseisfrequentself-monitoring;useasmanybehavior-modificationtools,supportgroupsandprogramsasyoucan."Betweenstimulusandresponse,there'saspace,andinthatspaceisourpowertochooseourresponse,andinourresponseliesourgrowthandfreedom,"saysAlanMarlatt,directoroftheAddictiveBehaviorsResearchCenterattheUniversityofWashington,quotingauthorandHolocaustsurvivorVictorFrankl.Marlattsays,"Mindfulnessgetsyouintothatspace."Beingmindfulmayinvolvetraditionalmeditation,inwhichyousitquietlyandobserveyourthoughtsandbreathingwithoutjudgment.Buthere,itisalsousedtofocusawarenessonthoughtsandfeelingsthatleadtounwantedbehavior.Simplyrecognizingthetriggerstoreturncanhelpyouchoosenottogiveintothem.Researchshowsthatinthelongterm,thepleasureofvictoryisabetterincentivethanthepainofdefeat."Punishmentisapoormotivator,"saysHester."Itsetspeopleupforfailure.Ifallyoudoispunishyourselfforfailure,youwon'tstaymotivatedtochangeforverylong."Instead,rewardyourselfforstickingtoyourlimitsandfocusonthebenefitsofchanging.Consciouslyandunconsciously,peopletendtoimitatethosearoundthem.That'swhythelatestresearchshowsthatthingslikehappiness,quittingsmokingandobesitycanspreadlikeacontagiousdiseasethroughsocialnetworks.So,surroundyourselfwithfriendswhocanalsoberolemodels."Makesurethatpeopleyouhangoutwitharepeoplewholookandactthewayyouwouldliketo.Socialimitationistheeasiestformnotonlyofflatterybutofself-improvement,"saysStantonPeele,authorofSevenToolstoBeatAddiction.

填空题A. Uniqueness B. Attentiveness C. Communication D. Personalization E. Appreciation F. Recognition G. Consideration It is often the little details that customers recall even more than the product they purchased or the service they received. Little details that customers notice, and that makes them feel good about not only making the purchase, but making the purchase from you, is a significant part of the overall customer experience. Here are several ways to go above and beyond good customer service and boost customer loyalty. 【R1】______ New York restaurant owner Danny Meyer is a master of detail, and his employees are trained to notice, and when appropriate act on, even the tiniest scraps of information they observe or discover about a guest. If you happen to mention when making a reservation that it's a birthday dinner, the manager will make it a point to come to the table and extend Danny's birthday wishes to the appropriate person. 【R2】______ Greeting your customer by name is a very meaningful and treasured detail that adds greatly to the way they experience doing business with you. If your office works by appointment, the receptionist should make sure she knows just who will be walking in the door next, and immediately greet them with eye contact, a smile and "Good morning, are you Mr. Morgan?" if she isn't sure if it's Mr. Morgan, or simply, "Good morning Mr. Morgan" if he is. 【R3】______ Don't we all have a story about the coffee shop waitress who doesn't ever need to be told how we like our iced tea, or the diner where the cook starts to make the same thing you always order the minute he sees you walk in the door? The salesperson who sends gifts in pink because she remembers that's your favorite color. These experiences add value, and they also instill an enormous amount of loyalty. Is there anything you and your staff can do to ensure your customers know that you not only pay attention to their preferences, but remember them and cater to them for each and every transaction? 【R4】______ When customers buy something that includes an outside component that's integral to its use or makes it more user-friendly, do you ask if they have that thing or if they still have enough of it left? For example, if you sell birthday cakes, do you have candles to go with it? If you have a pediatric dental practice, do you have a little stepstool in the bathroom so the child can reach the sink? 【R5】______ What do you do to show your customers, your clients or your patients that you appreciate them? After all, there are probably several other businesses that do what you do. Feeling appreciated is an experience that is universally meaningful. Always be sure to let your customers know that you are extending this extra to them because they are a valued customer and you want to show them that you appreciate them. Meaningful, memorable, fun, unusual and unexpected experiences influence the way customers perceive you in general and feel about you in particular. These little details are so easy to overlook, so tempting to brush off as unimportant But add a number of seemingly minor details together, and you end up with something of far more value than you would without them.

填空题LastmonthSherylSandberg,chiefoperatingofficeratFacebook,published"LeanIn",acontroversialdeclarationonwhywomenhavenotascendedtothemostseniorpositionsatcompanies.Sheconcludesthatitispartlywomen'sownfault:theydonot"leanin"andaskforpromotions,pipeupatmeetingsandinsistontakingaseatatthetable.Someofitisdowntosimplemiscommunication.BarbaraAnnisandJohnGrayarguein"WorkWithMe"thatmenandwomenarebiologicallywiredtothinkandreactdifferentlytosituations,andhave"genderblindspots"whenitcomestounderstandingtheirco-workers'behaviour.MsAnnis,wholeadsworkshopsongenderforbigcompaniesandgovernments,andMrGray,authorof"MenarefromMars,WomenarefromVenus",abestsellingbookin1992aboutrelationshipproblems,havecollaboratedtoproduceaneasy-to-readguidetoworkplacecommunications.Womenaskmorequestions,gathermorepeople'sopinionsandseekcollaborationwithco-workersmorefrequentlythanmen.Menviewthesepreferencesassignsofweakness,andwomen,inturn,growannoyedbyhowcompetitivelymenwork,andhowquicklyandsubjectivelytheyarriveatconclusions.Ifbothfemaleandmaleemployeesbecamemore"genderintelligent"abouthowtheirworkandbehaviouralpreferencesarehard-wired,itwouldcontributetoamoreharmoniousworkforce.Womenhavebeenchoosingtoleavecompaniesattwicetherateofmen,andmorethanhalfthewomenwhomtheauthorsmetinworkshopswereconsideringleavingtheirfirms.Womenoftentelltheirbossesthattheyarequittingforpersonalreasons,butthemajorityactuallyleavebecausetheyfeelexcludedfromteamsandnotvaluedfortheircontributions.Communicationandgenderequalityarenotjustproblemsatlargefirms.In"ARisingTide"SusanColemanandAliciaRobblookbeyondwomen'sexperienceatbigcompanies.Theyfocusinsteadonwomenentrepreneurs,whohavethepotentialtobecomeleadersintheirfield,earnahighincomeandhiremorewomen.Inapositiveshift,womenhavebeenstartingmorefirmsinthepastdecade.However,thesetendtobeintheserviceandretailindustries(asopposedtofast-growthindustriesliketechnology).Theyalsoremainsmallerthanmen'sfirms.MsColemanandMsRobbpointoutthatpartofthismaybebydesign;womensometimeswanttokeeptheirbusinessessmallinordertobalancetheirfamilyresponsibilities.However,womenalsooftenlackthefinancingthatmaleentrepreneursenjoy.Theyhavefewersavings,sousuallylaunchtheirbusinesseswithlesscapitalthanmen,andarelesslikelytoapplyforaloanforfearofbeingdenied.Howhasthesuccessofhigh-achieversdifferentiatedthemfromotherwomen?In"TheXXFactor",AlisonWolf,thedirectorofpublicpolicyandmanagementatKingsCollegeLondon,arguesthattherearenowaround70millionhighlyeducated,high-earningwomenaroundtheworld.Theyhavemoreincommonwithelitementhanwithotherwomen.Theseelitewomentendtomarrymoreoftenandhavefewerchildrenthanless-educatedwomen.Theyspendmoretimeworking,and,unexpectedly,moretimeparenting.MsSandbergalsomakesthispoint.Asthedemandsonwomenintheworkplacehaveincreased,sotoohavethestandardsforbeingagood,involvedmother—whichaddstothechallengesforwomenatthetop.

填空题Theaveragepriceofallgoodsandserviceshasrisenabout50percent.Butthepriceofacollegeeducationhasnearlydoubledinthattime.Istheeducationthattoday'sstudentsaregettingtwiceasgood?Arenewworkerstwiceassmart?Havetheybecomesomehowmassivelymoreexpensivetoeducate?Perhapsabit.RichardVedder,anOhioUniversityeconomicsprofessor,says,"Ilookatthedata,andIseecollegecostsrisingfasterthaninflationuptothemid-1980sby1percentayear.NowIseethemrising3to4percentayearoverinflation.Whathashappened?Thefederalgovernmenthasstarteddroppingmoneyoutofairplanes."Aidhasincreased,subsidizedloanshavebecomeavailable,and"theuniversitieshavegottenthemoney.It'sagiantwasteofresourcesthatwillcontinueaslongasthesubsidiescontinue."JamesHeckman,theNobelPrize-winningeconomist,hasexaminedhowthereturnsoneducationbreakdownforindividualswithdifferentbackgroundsandlevelsofability."Evenwiththesehighprices,you'restillfindingahighreturnforindividualswhoarebrightandmotivated,"hesays.Ontheotherhand,"ifyou'renotcollegeready,thentheanswerisno,it'snotworthit,"sayseconomicexpertDr.Kaminwhotendstoagreethatfortheaveragestudent,collegeisstillworthittoday,buthealsoagreesthattherapidincreaseinpriceiseatingupmoreandmoreofthepotentialreturn.Forborderlinestudents,tuitionrisecanpushthosereturnsintonegativeterritory.EducatorEliseBouldingseemstoagreethatthegovernment,andparents,shouldberethinkinghowweinvestinhighereducation—andthatemployersneedtorethinktheincreasinguseofcollegedegreesascrudescreeningtoolsforjobsthatdon'treallyrequirecollegeskills."Employersseeingasurplusofcollegegraduatesandlookingtofilljobsarejustaddingthatrequirement,"saysVedder."Infact,acollegedegreebecomesajobrequirementforbecomingabar-tender."Wehavestartedtoseesomechangeonthefinanceside.Alawpassedin2007allowsmanystudentstocaptheirloanpaymentat10percentoftheirincomeandforgivesanybalanceafter25years.Butofcourse,thatdoesn'tcontrolthecostofeducation;itjustshiftsittotaxpayers.Italsoencouragesgraduatestochooselower-payingcareers,whichreducesthefinancialreturntoeducationstillfurther."You'resubsidizingpeopletobecomepriestsandpoetsandsoforth,"saysHeckman."Youmaythinkthat'sagoodthing,oryoumaynot."Eitherwayitwillbeexpensiveforthegovernment.Whatmightbealotcheaperisputtingmorekidstowork.EconomistBryanCaplannotesthatworkalsobuildsvaluableskills—probablymorevaluableforkidswhodon'tnaturallylovesittinginaclassroom.Heckmanagreeswholeheartedly:"Peoplearedifferent,andthoseabilitiescanbeshaped.That'swhatwe'velearned,andpublicpolicyshouldrecognizethat."Heckmanwouldliketoseemoreapprenticeship-styleprograms,wherekidscanlearnintheworkplace—learnnotjustspecificjobskills,butthekindof"softskills,"likegettingtoworkontimeandgettingalongwithateam,thatarecrucialforcareersuccess."It'sabouthavingtutorsandhavingworkplace-basededucation,"hesays."TimeandagainI'veseenexamplesofthiskindofprogramworking."

填空题IfyouthinkJapan'shard-drinkingbusinesscultureisasdeadastheSonyBetamax,thinkagain.AftermorethanadecadeofeconomyduringJapan'slengthyeconomicrecession,manyJapanesecompaniesarethrivingtoday—andthey'rerevivingsomeofthebusinesscustomsthatwerehallmarksofJapanInc.duringthebooming1980s.Notonlyarecompany-sponsoreddrinkingmarathonsback,sotooaresubsidizeddormsforsingleemployeesaswellascorporateoutingssuchashot-springretreatsandannualvisitstothecompanyfounder'sancestralgrave."Werealizedthatworkplacecommunicationwasbecomingnonexistent,"explainshuman-resourcesmanagerShinjiMatsuyama,whosecompany,AlpsElectric,spentseveralmilliondollarslastyeartobringtogetherabout3,000workersforitsfirstcompany-wideundokai,ormini-Olympics,in14years.AccordingtoMatsuyama,thesharedexperienceofplayingdodgeballandskippingrope"helpedunitepeopleunderacommongoal."It'sthatsenseofteamspiritandtogethernessthatmanyJapanesecorporationsaretryingtorevive.Agenerationago,collegegraduatesenteredcompaniestogether,livedtogether,dranktogether,quiteoftenmarriedeachother,andretiredtogether.Thisclose-knitcorporatecultureallendedwhenthecountrywentintoeconomicrecessioninthe1990s.Threatenedbycheaplaborandmoreefficientbusinessmodels,JapanesecompaniesbeganadoptingAmericanmanagementconceptssuchasmerit-basedpayandcompetitionamongemployees."TheJapaneseequatedglobalismwithnotjusttheAmericanwayofbusiness,butwithrejectingtheirpast,"saysJunIshida,CEOofTokyo-basedbusinessconsultancyWillPM."Nomoredrinkingsessions,nomorecompanyevents.Suddenlyitwasabouttheindividualoutforhimselfandonlyhimself."Butastheeconomybecamebetterinthepastseveralyears,manyexecutivesbegantowonderiftheyhadgonetoofar.Tryingtorebuildcompanyloyaltyanddecreaseturnover,majorcompaniesincludingCanon,KintetsuandFujitsuhaveinrecentyearsalteredorscrappedtheirperformance-basedpayandrestoredseniorityasadeterminantofsalaries.Meanwhile,tradinghouseMitsuilastyearreopenedfivedormsforsingleemployees—aprogramthatcoststhecompanynearly$1millionayear.Employeeshaverespondedenthusiastically.Despitethecrowdedspaceandsharedbathrooms,24-year-oldMikiMasegimovedfromherparents'houseincentralTokyotolivewith105femaleco-workers.Thoughhercommutingtimedoubled,shesaysthemovewasworthit."Itreallyhelpstohavepeoplearoundthatyoucantalktoaboutyourproblems,"Masegisays.Companiesaretryingtofosterfriendshipandloyaltyinotherwaysaswell.EverynewemployeeofTokyoPRfirmBilcom,forexample,mustspendaweekendmakingathree-minutedigitalslideshowsharingtheirmostmovingpersonalexperiences.CompanypresidentShigeruOtasaysthepresentationsaredesignedto"createanewtypeoffamilycompanybysharinglifehistory...delight,anger,sorrowandpleasure."Despitesuchexperiments,JapanesecompaniesmayfindithardtorestoretheglorydaysofJapanInc.That'sbecausetoday,oneinthreeJapaneseworkspart-time;youngeremployeesinparticulartendtovaluemobilityoverthesecurityoflifetimeemployment.Indeed,duringNoboruKoyama'sSaturday-nightdrinkingsession,employeeEriShimodaacknowledgesthathisco-workers"feellikefamily."Yetmostofthosewhoattendedthepartyalsosaythat,warmsentimentaside,theyplantoleavethecleaningcompanywithinafewyears."Workisjustwork,"saysoneofthem.

填空题Allmenarecreatedequal,orsoreckonedThomasJeffersonashedraftedAmerica'sDeclarationofIndependencein1776.SubsequentAmericanshavehadreasontoquestionthefoundingfather.Sotoohavepeopleinthelandfromwhichthenewnationgaineditsfreedom.AmericaandBritainareamongthemostunequalcountriesintherichworldandBritain,atanyrate,ismoreunequalnowthanitwasagenerationago.ThatistheconclusionofastudycommissionedbyHarrietHarman,theequalitiesminister.ClassandmoneyhavealwaysstronglyaffectedhowpeopledoinlifeinBritain,withwell-heeledfamiliesbreedingaffluentchildrenjustastheoffspringofthedesperatelypoortendtoremainpoor.AllthatwassupposedtohaveceasedattheendoftheSecondWorldWar,withthebirthofawelfarestatedesignedtomeetbasicneedsandpromotesocialmobility.Butdespitedevotingmuchthoughtandmoremoneytoimprovingthelotofthepoor,governmentshavefailedtoboostthoseatthebottomofthepileasmuchasthoseatthetophaveboostedthemselves.Thenewstudy,ledbyJohnHillsoftheLondonSchoolofEconomics,found,forexample,thattherichesttenthofhouseholdsreceivedincomemorethanfourtimesthatofthepooresttenth;justagenerationago,itwasthreetimesasmuch.Internationally,onlysixofthe30membersoftheOECD,aclubofmainlyrichcountries,showgreaterinequality.Wealthisdistributedfarmoreunequallythanincome,withtherichesttenthinBritainholdingassetsworthalmost100timesthoseofthepoorest.Althoughthestudyfoundthatsomeofthewidestgapsbetweensocialgroupshavediminishedovertime,deep-seateddifferencesbetweenhavesandhave-notspersist,ruiningthelifechancesofthelessfortunate.Politiciansofallstripestalkupequalityofopportunity,arguingthatitmakesforafairerandmoremobilesociety,andamoreprosperousone.Thegoalofgreaterequalityofoutcomesalsohasitsboosters.In"TheSpiritLevel",epidemicdiseaseexpertsKatePickettandRichardWilkinsonclaimthatmoreequalsocietiesarehealthierthanunequalones,aswellashappier.Notallagree,butinacountrywheretheNationalHealthServiceaccountsforalmostafifthofpublicspending,itisworthconsidering.Thedifficultyarisesinputtingthesenotionsintopractice,throughseveretaxincreasesforthemiddle-classandwealthy,orexpandinggovernmentintervention.Thesehavenotrecentlybeenvote-winningpropositions,buttherecessionthatBritainisnowlimpingawayfrommayhavechangedthings.SoGordonBrown,atanyrate,mustbehoping.Recentlytheprimeministersaidhewouldputsocialmobilityattheheartofhiscampaignforre-election.Thetroubleisthathehashad13yearstoworkonitalready.Despitehispledgetoinvestineducationto"makearealityofgenuineequalityofopportunityforall",opinionpollssuggestthathisprospectsarepoor.

填空题A. Make arrangement before you pursue B. Watch your body language at a job interview C. Put your interviewer at ease D. Don't be careless—watch the small stuff E. Prove you are the one the employers are looking for F. Do volunteer job to keep practicing your skill G. Never leave a gap between jobs in your resume While searching for jobs, one of the best things you can do is to examine your job search with a critical eye: Is your resume really a good advertisement for your skills? Does your nail-biting habit turn off prospective employers? Do you tend to make your interviewers a little nervous? Some of the most important elements of a successful job search are details. Here are some tips to follow and details to consider. 【R1】______ Developing and following a plan at the beginning of a job search has a significant impact on its success. Setting "process goals" to keep you on track toward your larger career goals. Process goals aren't big-picture objectives. They're "roll up your sleeves and make it happen" objectives. Maybe you set a goal of making 10 phone calls a day or writing for two hours each day. 【R2】______ Many job seekers may have gaping holes in their resumes through no fault of their own—they wanted work but just couldn't find it. One possible solution: volunteering part time. Volunteering tells potential employers that you are an energetic, compassionate person who, even when faced with problems of your own, never missed any opportunities. Volunteering also says that you didn't let your skills go to waste. 【R3】______ Employers are looking for the candidate with the best knowledge and experience, but rarely do they hire for work skills at the expense of social skills. If you lack self-awareness, it shows. And it doesn't look good. Even in the critical small talk before the interview, make eye contact when you're speaking, smile when it's appropriate, and look alert. Most of all, don't kick the desk, check your cell phone, play with your pen, stare off into space, or bite your nails. 【R4】______ Most job seekers are prepared to follow the tone set by their interviewer. But that may not be your best plan. In fact, a great many interviewers hate interviewing. They know they're not good at it, and they are dealing with strangers and asking questions to fill a job with which they are unfamiliar. A job seeker can gain an edge by staying friendly, listening carefully, using body language to indicate amiability, and stressing that he or she gets along with colleagues. 【R5】______ The small stuff is not always a deal-breaker in other areas of life, but it often is when it comes to hiring. When you're on a job search, a small blunder can take on far greater importance than it would in most contexts. Here's what can happen in a hiring manager's head when a job candidate makes a noticeable mistake: "She told me she would send me this writing sample Monday, but then she sent it on Tuesday without acknowledging the delay. This might be out of character for her, everyone screws up occasionally. But if I ignore this possible red flag and hire her, and then she turns out to be scattered and bad with deadlines, I'm going to be kicking myself for not having paid attention to this sign now."

填空题You'vefinallyfinishedthebookyourco-workerrecommended,sowhattoreadnext?Ifitis5a.m.,chancesarethatyou'rereachingforaromancenovel—especiallyifyou'reinTexasorGeorgia.Byearlymorning,thrillersmightstarttolookmoreappealing.ThesearesomeoftheinsightsfromScribdInc.andOyster,twostartupsthatofferunlimitede-bookrentalsforamonthlysubscriptionfee.Scribd,OysterandEntitleBooks—whichjustlaunchedinDecember—aretrackingreaderbehaviorinhopesoffiguringoutrecommendationsofexactlywhatyou'llwanttopickupnext.Subscriptionservicesarepopularbecausethey"reducetheemotionalburden"ofpurchasing,saysJulieHaddon,Scribdvicepresidentofmarketing.Buyingabookcreatespressuretofinishandgetyourmoney'sworth,sheadds.Inaddition,peoplemighttrytosavemoneybybuyingacheaperbookinsteadoftheonetheyreallywant.Anall-accesssubscription"lowerstheactivationenergyforreading,"saysOysterCEOEricStromberg.Readingoftenhasahigh"activationenergy"becausethere'satimegapbetweenwantingtoreadabookandthenactuallygettingyourhandsonit,hesays."Whenyoucanorderabookandinstantlygetitonyourtablet,youcanhearaboutthebookandthenreaditrightthere,"saysWillemvanLancker,Oyster'schiefproductofficer."Fromthepublishingperspective,thebiggestproblemishowtogetpeopletocareaboutanewbook,"saysOtisChandler,CEOofGoodreads,asitewherepeoplesharewhatthey'rereadingandpostrecommendations.Goodreads,whichwasacquiredbyAmazoninMarch,usesanalgorithmthatrecommendsbooksthatuserswithsimilartastehaveenjoyed.OysterandScribdaskreaderstoratebooks,whattheycallan"activesignal."Theyalsotrack"passivesignals,"suchasthepercentageofabookthatareaderfinishesandtheclickrate,orhowmanypeoplewhoareshownabookclickthroughtolearnmore.Thecompaniesusethatinformationamongotherfactorstorecommendbooks.Activesignalsrepresentwhatwewishweread,whilepassivesignalsaremorehonest,saysJaredFriedman,Scribdchieftechnologyofficer.Alotofpeoplegivea5-starratingto"TheGreatGatsby,"whiletheyreadgreedily,butdon'tnecessarilyrate,thrillerslike"TheDaVinciCode,"forexample.Personalizedrecommendationsdrive10timesmorebrowsingtrafficthanlistsbasedonthemessuchas"globe-trottingmemoirs"or"badrolemodels"thatcopyracksatthefrontofbookstores,Scribd'sMr.Friedmansays.Thecompanyisinterestedincombiningalgorithmswithliststocreatealistofbestsellersthatsomeonewould,basedonpastreadingbehavior,findinteresting.Anotherpossibleapproachistosuggestdifferentbooksorgenresdependingontimeofdaytotakeadvantageofwhatthecompanyknowsabouttime-basedpreferences.Theseservices,ofcourse,competewiththelibrary.Butlibrarieshavehadlimitede-bookofferingsandthereareoftenwaitsforthebooks.Whilelibraries'budgetfore-bookshasbeengrowing,licensingrestrictionsmeanthatpopulartitlesoftenaren'tavailable,saysLauraGirmscheid,researchmanagerforthetradepublicationLibraryJournal.This,combinedwithholdsone-books,isthelargesthurdlepreventingpeoplefromusinglibrarye-booksmore."It'sjustnotconvenientforinstantaccess,"Ms.Girmscheidsays.

填空题A. Gender differentiator B. Mark of Personality C. Adoption of foreign drinks D. Statement of affiliation E. Situation definer F. Classification of drinking pattern G. Status indicator It is clear that in all cultures where more than one type of alcoholic beverage is available, drinks are classified in terms of their social meaning, and the classification of drinks is used to define the social world. Few, if any, alcoholic beverages are "socially neutral": every drink is loaded with symbolic meaning, every drink conveys a message. Alcohol is a symbolic vehicle for identifying, describing, constructing and manipulating cultural systems, values, interpersonal relationships, behavioral norms and expectations. Choice of beverage is rarely a matter of personal taste. 【R1】______ At the simplest level, drinks are used to define the nature of the occasion. The type of drink served defines both the nature of the event and the social relationship between the drinkers. The choice of drink also dictates behavior. In many Western cultures, champagne is synonymous with celebration, such that if champagne is ordered or served at an otherwise "ordinary" occasion, someone will invariably ask "What are we celebrating?" 【R2】______ Choice of beverage is also a significant indicator of social status. In Poland, for example, wine is regarded as a high-status, middle-class drink, while native beers and vodkas are "ordinary" or working-class. 【R3】______ Choice of beverage may also be a statement of affiliation, a declaration of membership in a particular group, generation, class, "tribe", sub-culture or nation and its associated values, attitudes and beliefs. Certain drinks, for example, have become symbols of national identity: Guinness for the Irish, tequila for Mexicans, whisky for Scots, ouzo for Greeks etc. One's national beverage can be a powerful expression of one's loyalties and cultural identity. 【R4】______ While differences in age, class, status, aspirations and affiliations are frequently expressed through beverage choice, the most consistent and widespread use of alcohol as a social "differentiator" is in the gender-based classification of drinks. Almost all societies make some distinction between "masculine" and "feminine" beverages: even where no other differentiation is found, this primary division is likely to be evident, and, often, to be rigidly observed. Even in societies where only one alcoholic beverage is available, such as palm wine among the Lele of Zaire, a weaker, sweeter version, Mana ma piya, is considered suitable for women, while Mana ma kobo, described as "strong" and "fierce", is a man's drink. 【R5】______ It appears that the adoption of foreign drinks also involves the adoption of the drinking patterns, attitudes and behavior associated with the alien culture, while other societies absorb foreign drinks without "taking in" any of the associated cultural approaches. When the British go to France, they exhibit a tendency to drink wine in beer quantities and display all of the behavioral excesses associated with their native drinking patterns, with the result that young British tourists "are now renowned in France and elsewhere in Europe for their drinking and drunkenness". In Spain, by contrast, the young males appear more sensitive to alien cultural influences. In spite of many areas covered, information on the symbolic meanings of different types of alcoholic drink is still incomplete. Therefore, further and more precise research on the symbolic functions of alcoholic beverages is needed.