填空题{{B}}Directions:{{/B}} In the following article, some sentences have been removed. For Questions 41-45, choose the most suitable one from the list A--G to fit into each of the numbered blank. There are two extra choices, which do not fit in any of the blanks. Mark your answers on Answer Sheet 1. The government panel that sets U. S. vaccine policy already has begun discussing "universal immunization" as a way to boost vaccination rates and reduce flu-linked sickness and death, Dr. Scott Harper of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said at a vaccine meeting this week. (41) ___________________ Harper acknowledged that the recent crisis momentarily upstaged universal immunization discussions, but said it remains a viable proposal. (42) ___________________ The vaccine meeting, held every year, seeks to set an agenda for the upcoming flu season. Participants many with a financial stake in getting more people vaccinated--said the universal vaccination push is likely to come within the next five years. (43) ___________________ Also, flu vaccine is altered every year because there are always different flu strains circulating. The unused vaccine is discarded at season's end, making flu shots financially unappealing for manufacturers. (44) ___________________ Sanofi Pasteur's Philip Hosbach said the company has two idle U. S. factories "because there's not the return on the investment." Universal vaccination could in the long term help stabilize supply if it increased demand, he said. (45) ___________________ Demand has historically been a problem, too. Millions of the at-risk patients routinely skip annual shots. Some people worry the vaccine isn't safe or they simply don't like shots, but many also underestimate the seriousness of flu, said Dr. Ann O'Malley, a researcher at the Center for Studying Health System Change. A. "Part of our job is to just keep this issue on the radar screen," Harper told vaccine providers, distributors and manufacturers at the national flu vaccine summit here. B. So far only one company, Sanofi Pasteur, is licensed to make U. S. flu vaccine for the upcoming season, though public health officials hope two others, including Chiron, will soon gain approval. C. Estimates suggest that in an average year, flu infects about 82 million people nationwide, hospitalizes 200,000 and kills 36,000. D. Dr. Herb Young of the American Academy of Family Physicians said recommending shots for everyone could ease the confusion--and that his group is moving toward supporting the idea. E. The hurdles, some observers say, are daunting. Unstable supply is one of the biggest. This year the best case scenario--having about 90 million shots available--isn't even enough for the 180 million high-risk people advised to get shots, let alone the total population of 280 million. F. The end of a chaotic season where many people seeking flu shots were turned away because of a shortage might seem an odd time to broach the idea of vaccinating even more people. G. But I'ra Longini, an Emory University biostatistician who specializes in vaccine analysis, said universal vaccination would be unworkable unless supply problems can be resolved.

填空题After its misadventures in 1993. when American marines were driven out of Somalia by skinny gunmen, America has used a long spoon in supping with Somalia's warlords. This. tike so much else, changed on September 11th. (41) Clandestine. up to a point: within hours of the arrival in Baidoa of nine closely cropped Americans sporting matching satellite phones and shades, their activities were broadcast. After meeting various warlords, the group inspected a compound that had apparently been offered to them as their future base. They also saw an old military depot. Neither can have been encouraging: the compound has been taken over by war-displaced families, and the depot by thorn-scrub. America was already convinced of al-Qaeda's presence in Somalia. It had listed a Somali Islamic group, al-ltihaad al-Islamiya (Islamic Unity), as a terrorist organisation. (42) . It fears that lawless Somalia could become a haven for escapes from Afghanistan. The American navy Is currently patrolling the country's long coastline, while spy planes are said to be crisscrossing the heavens. (43) . With a little bit of help, he told his American visitors, he would be ready "to liberate the country from these evil forces". America had already heard as much through its embassies in Nairobi and Addis Ababa, which maintain contact with the warlords, and from Ethiopia. The warlords are supported by Ethiopia. which has a historical fear of a strong Somalia. in a bid to oppose the government. But their differing views on where to strike at the "terrorists" reveal that their individual ambitions are even sharper than their dislike of the government. Mr. Ismail says that Merca. which is claimed by his Rahanwein clan. is the capital of terror. (44) . The UN says there is only an orphanage there now. But the island is close to Mr. Morgan's home town of Kismaayo, which he failed to capture from a pro- government militia in July, and he is determined not to fail again. None of this looks good for Somalia's official president, Abdiquassim Salad Hassan. whose government is in control of about half the capital, Mogadishu. He has formed his own anti-terrorism unit, and invited America to send investigators, or even troops. America. armed with stories about the presence of al-Itihaad members held back. but on December 18th sent an envoy to Mogadishu. Both Mr. Hassan and the UN say that al-Itihaad is not a terrorist organisation. It emerged as an armed force in 1991. battling for power in the aftermath of Siad Barre's fall. It had some early successes. briefly taking Kismaayo. But it was always dependent on the blessing of its members' clan elders. When the elders eventually called their fighters back. a hard core of Islamists fled to the Gedo border region where, in 1997, they were crushed by Ethiopian troops (45) . The Baidoa alliance plainly hopes to be supported as proxies in a fight against "terrorism" and the Mogadishu regime. But the latest intelligence leaks suggest that the first reports may have overestimated al-Qaeda's presence in Somalia. Nor would Mr. bin Laden and his henchmen find it easy to lie low in an oral culture that considers rumour-mongering to be a form of manners. Even so. the warlords seem to believe that they have won some promise of help. Soon after the arrival of the American group, they pulled out of the peace talks they had been holding with their government in Nairobi.[A] Al-Itihaad subsequently infiltrated Somalia's business class, and now runs Islamic schools, courts and clinics with the money it has accumulated.[B] According to Abdullahi Sheikh Ismait, the acting chairman of the loose alliance of warlords who control most of Somalia and are based in Baidoa. there are "approximately 20.480 armed extremists" in Somalia and "85% of the government is al-Itihaad".[C] Muhammad Hersi Morgan, known as the "butcher of Hargeisa" because he once razed that town to the ground, says an al-Itihaad camp on Ras Kamboni island, is still active.[D] But since September 11th 2001. western governments, anxious to prevent al-Qaeda from using Somalia as a base. have pressed the warlords to make peace.[E] American intelligence officers are working with two warlords to gather information about suspected at-Qaeda people in Somalia.[F] On December 9th America sent a clandestine mission to talk to a collection of Somali warlords. who like to claim that their country, in particular their UN-sponsored government, is overrun with terrorists[G] It had also forced the closure of Barakaat, Somalia's biggest banking and telecoms company, which handles most of the remittances that Somalis working abroad send back to their families.

填空题{{B}}Directions:{{/B}}In the following article, some sentences have been removed. For Questions 41～45, choose the most suitable one from the list A～G to fit into each of the numbered blanks. There are two extra choices which do not fit in any of the gaps. Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET 1. The job of raising children is a tough one. Children don't come with an instruction manual. And each child is different.41)__________. To Americans, the goal of parents is to help children stand on their own two feet. From infancy, each child may get his or her own room. As children grow, they gain more freedom to make their own choices. Teenagers choose their own forms of entertainment, as well as the friends to share them with.42)__________. But once they "leave the nest" at around 18 to 21 years old, they want to be on their own, not "tied to their mother's apron strings." 43)__________. When children become adults, their relationship with their parents becomes more like a friendship among equals. But contrary to popular belief, most adult Americans don't make their parents pay for room and board when they come to visit. Even as adults, they respect and honor their parents. 44)__________.Many Americans have strong feelings about which type of arrangement is best. Some argue that attending a day care center can be a positive experience for children. Others insist that mothers are the best caregivers for children. A number of women are now leaving the work force to become full-time homemakers. 45)__________.Many parents feel that an old-fashioned spanking helps youngsters learn what "No!" means. Others prefer alternate forms of discipline. For example, "time outs" have become popular in recent years. Children in "time out' have to sit in a corner or by a wall. They can get up only when they are ready to act nicely. Older children and teenagers who break the rules may be grounded, or not allowed to go out with friends. Some of their privileges at home--like TV or telephone use—may also be taken away for a while. Although discipline can' t fun for parents or children, it's a necessary part of training. Being a parent is a tall order. It takes patience, love, wisdom, courage and a good sense of humor to raise children (and not lose your sanity). Some people are just deciding not to have children at all, since they're not sure it's worth it, But raising children means training the next generation and preserving our culture. What could be worth more than that? A. The relationship between parents and children in America is very informal. American parents try to treat their children as individuals--not as extensions of them- selves. They allow them to fulfill their own dreams. Americans praise and encourage their children to give them the confidence to succeed. B. So parents sometimes pull their hair out in frustration, not knowing what to do. But in raising children—as in all of life—what we do is influenced by our culture. Naturally then, American parents teach their children basic American values. C. Disciplining children is another area that American parents have differing opinions about. D. Naturally, every parent wants their child to be safe, whether the child is online or on the school bus. And certainly if you suspect your child is involved in drugs, inappropriate relationships, or other dangerous situations, it' s your responsibility to step in and intervene using whatever tools are necessary. E. When they reach young adulthood, they choose their own careers and marriage partners. Of course, many young adults still seek their parents' advice and approval for the choices they make. F. Most young couples with children struggle with the issue of childcare. Mothers have traditionally stayed home with their children, In recent years, though, a growing trend is to put preschoolers in a day care center so Mom can work. G. Keep the family PC in an accessible part of the house where you can easily keep an eye on your children's activity, and limit the amount of time your kids spend online. Discuss some of the dangers of the Internet with older children, and make sure they understand that they should not provide personal information such as their name, address, or school to people they meet online, and they should never agree to meet an online acquaintance face to face without your permission.

填空题Northern Europeans will not forget the name Eyjafjallajokull (埃亚菲亚德拉冰盖) in a hurry, even if they may have trouble pronouncing it. Monday April 19th marked a fifth day of jet-free skies over a huge swathe of the continent as a result of the eruption of the Icelandic volcano, which began pumping large quantities of ash into the sky last Wednesday. {{U}} 1 {{/U}}______. Demonstrating the unpredictability of volcanic eruptions, Britain's National Air Traffic Service said on Monday afternoon that airspace in Scotland and parts of northern England would reopen on Tuesday morning, and sounded optimistic that the rest of Britain would be cleared for flying later in the day; hut later switched to a more cautious tone as a new ash cloud began spreading. Earlier, Norway, Sweden and Finland had allowed a few mainly domestic flights to operate. The civil-aviation authorities had come under strong pressure from European airlines, several of whom had conducted successful test flights in the supposed danger zone. However, the engines of a Finnish military jet did suffer considerable damage as a result of breathing in the ash. By late on Monday night there was still no clear answer as to how long the disruption might last. {{U}} 2 {{/U}}______ Furthermore, there is no way of telling what concentration of ash the test aircraft were flying through. The best source of information for the moment is a theoretical model of where the cloud might be, taking into account the prevailing wind and other weather conditions. One interesting wrinkle is that studies of natural disasters tend to be paid for by insurance companies. As volcano eruption is deemed to be an uninsurable (不可予以保险的) risk, there are few studies to turn to. {{U}} 3 {{/U}}______ The industry body reckons that its members have been losing $ 200m a day as a result of the shut-down. On Monday British Airways said that it and other European airlines had asked for cash from the EU in compensation for the losses suffered because of the closure of airspace, citing the bailout offered to American airlines in the wake of the September 11th 2001 terror attacks. IATA reckons the situation for Europe's airlines is even worse than then. {{U}} 4 {{/U}}______ If meteorologists and vulcanologists developed a dynamic model of the ash cloud's progress, it might be possible to keep more airports open, and to reroute planes to get passengers moving again. Wind patterns could change at any time and some reckon that they might do so by the end of the week. If the ash cloud were to drift in another direction flights could be sent around or above it. But when it sits over Europe's biggest airports, that is all but impossible. And while there remains any uncertainty, passengers may decide not to make trips in case the temporary respite reverses along with the wind. stranding them far from home. {{U}} 5 {{/U}}______ Some fear that they could be in for a long wait. Icelandic volcanic activity has been low for some time. Eyjafjallajokull is particularly prone to producing the fine ash that has caused the current mayhem. So far, aside from airlines and air travellers, the impact has been limited. But as the shutdown continues Europe's fragile economies will suffer as tourists fail to arrive, meetings are cancelled and businesses with supply chains that rely on air freight nervously watch stocks running down. [A] This uncertainty has led the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to plead on behalf of its members for Europe's government to rethink policy on shutting airspace. [B] If the eruption were to worsen again, there are several ways that the damage wrought by the volcano might be mitigated. [C] That fine volcanic ash could pose a risk to jet engines, which have broken down in the past' after exposure to similar volcanic material. Many of Europe's busiest airports remained out of action. [D] Some air freight might take to the road or water—98% of the world's trade is already carried by ship. And plenty of the world's container vessels are sitting idly waiting for the world economy to pick up after the recent recession in the rich world. [E] For one thing, the European Aviation Safety Agency says that there is currently no consensus as to what is an acceptable level of ash in the atmosphere. [F] Some airlines were offering little compensation, leaving cash-strapped travelers to turn a number of international airports into impromptu emergency shelters. Across Europe, meanwhile, authorities were weighing cancellations of championship soccer matches and heads of state were altering travel plans. [G] Even if the volcano stopped emitting ash immediately, it might take two or more weeks before airlines could restore their schedules, with planes and crew stuck around the globe along with their passengers.

填空题A. Set a Good Example for Your Kids B. Build Your Kids' Work Skills C. Place Time Limits on Leisure Activities D. Talk about the Future on a Regular Basis E. Help Kids Develop Coping Strategies F. Help Your Kids Figure Out Who They Are G. BuildYour Kids' Sense of Responsibility How Can a Parent Help?Mothers and fathers can do a lot to ensure a safe landing in early adulthood for their kids. Even if a job's starting salary seems too small to satisfy an emerging adult' s need for rapid content, the transition from school to work can be less of a setback if the start-up adult is ready for the move. Here are a few measures, drawn from my bookReady or Not, Here Life Comes, that parents can take to prevent what I call "work-life unreadiness": 41．_________________.You can start this process when they are 11 or 12. Periodically review their emerging strengths and weak- nesses with them, and work together on any shortcomings, like difficulty in communicating well or collaborating. Also, identify the kinds of interests they keep coming back to, as these offer clues to the careers that will fit them best 42．_________________.Kids need a range of authentic role models -- as opposed to members of their clique, pop stars and vaunted athletes. Have regular dinner-table discussions about people the family knows and how they got where they are. Discuss the joys and downsides of your own career and encourage your kids to form some ideas about their own future. When asked what they want to do, they should be discouraged from saying "I have no idea." They can change their minds 200 times, but having only a foggy view of the future is of little good. 43．_________________. Teachers are responsible for teaching kids how to learn; parents should be responsible for teaching them how to work. Assign responsibilities around the house and make sure homework deadlines are met. Encourage teenagers to take a part-time job. Kids need plenty of practice delaying gratification and deploying effective organizational skills, such as managing time and setting priorities.44．___________________. Playing video games encourages immediate content. And hours of watching TV shows with canned laughter only teaches kids to process information in a passive way. At the same time, listening through earphones to the same monotonous beats for long stretches encourages kids to stay inside their bubble instead of pursuing other endeavors. All these activities can prevent the growth of important communication and thinking skills and make in difficult for kids to develop the kinds of sustained concentration they will need for most jobs.45．___________________. They should know how to deal with setbacks, stresses and feelings of inadequacy. They should also learn how to solve problems and resolve conflicts, ways to brainstorm and think critically. Discussions at home can help kids practice doing these things and help them apply these skills to everyday life situations. What about the son or daughter who is grown but seems to be struggling and wandering aimlessly through early adulthood? Parents still have a major role to play, but now it is more delicate. They have to be careful not to come across as disappointed in their child. They should exhibit strong interest and respect for whatever currently interests their fledging adult (as naive or ill-conceived as it may seem) while becoming a partner in exploring options for the future. Most of all, these new adults must feel that they are respected and supported by a family that appreciates them.

填空题[A] The impotence of creationism.[B] Natural selection acts by competition.[C] The role of natural selection in this colorful world[D] The delicate hierarchy of the natural system.[E] The agency of selection can account for more cases.[F] No leaps in natural evolution. As each species tends by its geometrical rate of reproduction to increase excessively in number; and as the modified descendants of each species will be enabled to increase by as much as they become more diversified in habits and structure, so as to be able to seize on many and widely different places in natural selection to preserve the most divergent offspring of any one species. Hence, during a long-continued course of modification, the slight differences characteristic of varieties of the same species, tend to be augmented into the greater differences characteristic of the species of the same genus. 41. __________ New and improved varieties will inevitably displace and destroy the older, less improved, and intermediate varieties; and thus species are rendered to a large extent defined and distinct objects. Dominant species belonging to the larger groups within each class tend to give birth to new and dominant forms; so that each large group tends to become still larger, and at the same time more divergent in character. But as all groups cannot thus go on increasing in size, for the world would not hold them, the more dominant groups beat the less dominant. 42. __________ This tendency in the large groups to go on increasing in size and diverging in character, together with the inevitability of much extinction, explains the arrangement of all the forms of life in groups subordinate to groups, all within a few great classes, which has prevailed throughout all time. This grand fact of the grouping of all organic beings under what is called the Natural System, is utterly unexplainable on the theory of creation. 43. __________ As natural selection acts solely by accumulating slight, successive, favorable variations, it can produce no great or sudden modifications; it can act only by short and slow steps. We can see why throughout nature the same general end is gained by an almost infinite diversity of means, for every peculiarity when once acquired in long inherited, and structures already modified in many different ways have to be adapted for the same general purpose. We can, in short, see why nature is extravagant in variety, though not generous in innovation. But why this should be a law of nature if each species has been independently created no man can explain. 44. __________ Many other facts are, as it seems to me, explicable on this theory. How strange it is that a bird, under the form of a woodpecker, should prey on insects on the ground and that upland geese which rarely or never swim, should possess webbed feet, and so in endless other cases. But on the view of each species constantly trying to increase in number, with natural selection always ready to adapt the slowly varying descendants of each to any unoccupied or ill-occupied place in nature, these facts cease to be strange, or might even have been anticipated. 45. __________ We can to a certain extent understand how it is that there is so much beauty throughout nature; for this may be largely attributed to the agency of selection. That beauty, according to our sense of it, is not universal, must be admitted by every one who will look at some hideous bats with a distorted resemblance to the human face. Sexual selection has given the most brilliant colors, elegant patterns, and other ornaments to the males. With birds it has often rendered the voice of the male musical to the female, as well as to our ears. Flowers and fruit have been rendered conspicuous by brilliant colors in contrast with the green foliage, in order that the flowers may be readily seen, visited and fertilized by insects. As natural selection acts by competition, it adapts and improves the inhabitants of each country only in relation to their co-inhabitants; so that we need feel no surprise at the species of any one country being beaten and supplanted by the naturalized productions from another land. The wonder indeed is, on the theory of natural selection, that more cases of the want of absolute perfection have not been detected.

填空题It has often been remarked that the saddest thing about youth is that it is wasted on the young. Reading a recent newspaper report on a survey conducted among college freshmen, I recalled the regret, "If only I knew then what I know now." The survey disclosed what I had already suspected from informal polls of students. According to the survey, which was based on the responses of over 188,000 students, today's traditional-age college freshmen are" more materialistic and less altruistic". 41. ______. It follows then that today the most popular course is not literature or history but accounting. Interest in teaching, social service and the" altruistic" fields is at a low, along with ethnic and women's studies. On the other hand, enrollment in business programs, engineering and computer science is way up. 42. ______. Frankly, I'm proud of the young lady (not her attitude but her success). But why can't we have it both ways? Can't we educate people for life as well as for a career? I believe we can. If we're not, then that is a fault of our educational system--elementary, secondary and higher. In a time of increasing specialization, a time when 90 percent of all the scientists who have ever lived are currently alive, more than ever we need to know what is truly important in life. 43. ______. Most of us finally come to realize that quality of life is not entirely determined by how much we earn. Sure, everyone wants to be financially comfortable, but we also want to feel that we have a perspective on the world beyond the confines of our occupation; we want to be able to render service to our fellow man and to the world. 44. ______. It is equally true that, in studying the diverse wisdom of others, we learn how to think. More important, perhaps, education teaches us to see the connections between things, as well as to see beyond our immediate needs. 45. ______. In the long run that's what education really ought to be about. And I think it can be. That's the way it should be. Oscar Wilde had it right when he said that we ought to give our ability to our work but our genius to our lives. Let's hope our educators answer the students cries for career education, but at the same time, let's ensure that the students are prepared for the day when they realize their folly. There's a lot more to life than a job.[A] Academic emphasis on competition, rationality and externals acknowledges only one kind of knowing. It makes students devalue their inner selves or larger social purposes.[B] Not surprising in these hard times, the student's major objective" is to be financially well off." Less important than ever is developing a meaningful philosophy of life.[C] Education must meet the needs of the human spirit. It must assist students to develop a satisfactory personal philosophy and sense of values; to cultivate tastes for literature, music and the arts; to grow in ability to analyze problems and arrive at thoughtful conclusions.[D] That's no surprise either. A friend of mine (a sales representative for a chemical company)was making twice the salary of her college instructors during her first year on the job. And that was four years ago; She must be earning much more now.[E] Most people, somewhere between the ages of 30 and 50, finally arrive at the inevitable conclusion that they could do more than serving a corporation, a government agency, or whatever.[F] But the most important argument for a broad education is that in studying the accumulated wisdom of the ages, we improve our moral sense.[G] While it's true that we all need a career, preferably a profitable one, it is equally true that our civilization has accumulated an incredible amount of knowledge -- be it scientific or artistic.

填空题A common problem in human relations is the lack of assertiveness in other words, the inability to express yourself and claim your rights without violating the fights of others. Do not confuse assertiveness with aggressiveness.41)__________. Learning to communicate assertively involves learning to be honest, open and direct. You can learn to speak up, make requests, ask for favors and accept compliments, and also to express negative thoughts (complaints, resentment, criticism, disagreement), reject intimidation, refuse requests, and demand to be left alone.42)__________. In most cultures higher status has traditionally been given to the masculine gender. Over the centuries, women in many societies learned to remain non-assertive, to stay out of the public eye, to keep their voices down, to be discreet and indirect, not to push, and in the end not even to dare to desire. The vast majority of opportunities for public influence—the ability to forge useful relationships other than friendship, speak up in public, create organizations, use force, and hold important positions in government, business, academia, and in the medical and legal field—were long recognized as men's privilege and right. 43)__________. Back in the 1960s modem feminists noted that most American women (and also a fair number of men) were unable to speak up for themselves in the workplace or in personal relationships; they needed help in learning to be assertive. To fill this gap in communication skills, certain colleges, mental health centers and private consultants began to hold "assertiveness training workshops". These early programs were often part of employer-sponsored professional development training that aimed, among other things, to make employees more effective in communicating with customers, with representatives of other firms and with each other. What does assertiveness training inculcate? The idea at its core is to stop being, or sounding, "wishy-washy". Do not apologize needlessly, make excuses, give long explanations or generally beat around the bush. Very often these weak communicative strategies cause the listener to receive a mixed, unclear or sometimes .just plain wrong message. Assertiveness trainers teach you to identify what is really important for you. Then you must work out in advance (if possible) the point you need to make and how best to make it. Deliver the message dearly and directly (but without memorizing sentences, never a good tactic). 44)__________. Remember also that you axe entitled to your feelings. Your true feelings need no justification. However, at the same time, be a good listener listen more often than you speak. Also pay attention to your listener when you are speaking. Be positive. Notice and appreciate the efforts of others. Give credit where credit is due. You are being legitimately assertive when you stand up for your rights in such a way that the rights of others are not violated. Beyond just demanding your fights, you must learn that you can talk about yourself, your feelings, opinions and interests, without being self-conscious. You can accept compliments without embarrassment. You can ask for clarification.45)__________. After all, how does letting bad decisions go unchallenged contribute to making anything better?A. Some people think that assertiveness training turns nice, accommodating people into complainers or calculating manipulators. Not so: it's your right to protect yourself when something seems unfair. Only you know your true discomfort level and emotional needs. No one should be allowed to get away with presuming to think or feel for you.B. Being aggressive is acting in a self-centered, inconsiderate, arrogantly demanding and hostile manner; this is often counterproductive, since many people react by shutting their minds to your ideas.C. You can disagree with someone openly and say no to requests without feeling guilty. You can ask why and question authority, not in order to rebel, but to assume responsibility for your share in controlling a situation.D. This situation began to change significantly in the West about two hundred years ago. Over the past 40 years, the US Congress has made numerous laws forbidding discrimination based on gender.E. The fewer words you use, the greater will be the impact of what you say. Powerful people communicate succinctly and in measured tones, not stridently. Raising your voice makes you sound defensive and angry, not strong.F. Underlying assertiveness training, obviously, is the belief that we are all created equal and should treat each other as equals. If you were taught as a child to assume that your perceptions, opinions, feelings and wants were less important than those of others, you can either go on behaving according to those assumptions or become an assertive adult.G. Many people have difficulty saying "no" to requests or demands. Assertiveness training provides an antidote to fear, shyness, passivity and—ironically even anger, so there is a wide range of situations in which this training can be helpful.