问答题"An Air-conditioner Price Battle"

问答题Henri Matisse originally trained as a lawyer, turning to art whilst recovering from appendicitis. (46) Initially seduced by the Impressionists and, in particular, by Cezanne, Matisse brought together a circle of like-minded artists who became known as the Fauves (the Beasts) after their sensational exhibition of. 1905. These early paintings revealed an intuitive and explosive colour sense which was to become the defining feature of Matisse's long career. (47) Believing art to be'" something like a good armchair in which one rests from physical fatigue", he was dedicated to producing work that expressed a harmony close to a musical composition. (48) There are two versions of La Danse, originally produced with another enormous panel entitled Musique for a Russian collector. Dance was a popular topic at the time as Diaghilev and the Russian Ballet had just visited Paris. (49) Despite, or because of, the simplification of colour, form, and line, the figures appear to be full of life. Matisse made sculptures, designed sets and costumes and illustrated books. (50) He was also an important graphic artist who, in his bed-ridden final years, evolved his own method of arranging cut-out paper shapes. He is indisputably the greatest decorative artist of the twentieth century.

问答题Once the exclusive domain of executives with expense accounts, mobile phones are set to become one of the central technologies of the 21st century. (46) Within a few years, the mobile phone will evolve from a voice-only device to a multi-functional communicator capable of transmitting and receiving not only sound, but video, still images, data and text. A whole new era of personal communication is on the way. Thanks in part to the growth of wireless networks, the telephone is converging with the personal computer and the television. (47) Soon light-weight phones outfitted with high-resolution screens--which can be embedded in everything from wristwatches to palm-held units will be connected to series of low orbit satellites enabling people to talk, send and receive E-mail, or take part in video conferences anytime, anywhere. These phones might also absorb many of the key functions of the desktop computer. Mobile devices are expected to be ideal for some of the new personalized services that are becoming available via the Internet. The communications revolution is already taking shape around the globe. In Europe, mall-scale trials are under way using mobile phones for electronic commerce. For example, most phones contain a subscriber identification module (SIM) card that serves primarily to identify a user to the phone network. Some manufacturers plan to upgrade the SIM card to an all-in-one personal identification and credit card. Another approach is to add a slot to mobile phones for a second smart card designed specifically for mobile ecommerce. (48)These cards could be used to make payments over the Internet or removed from the phone for use in point- of-sale terminals to pay for things like public transportation, movie tickets or a round of drinks at the bar. In France, Motorola is currently testing a dual slot phone, the Star TACD, in a trial with France Telecom while in Finland Nokia is testing a phone that uses a special plug in reader for a tiny smart card. Siemens is pursuing a different approach. (49) Since it is not very clear whether it's best to do everything with a single device, Siemens is developing dual slot phones and Einstein, a device equipped with a smart card reader and keypad that can be linked to the phone via infrared wireless technology. (50)For those who want to, though, it will be possible to receive almost all forms of electronic communication through a single device, most likely a three-in-one phone that serves as a cordless at home, a cell phone on the road and an intercom at work. "The mobile phone will become increasingly multifunctional," says Burghardt Schallenherger, vice president for technology and innovation at Siemens Information and Consumer Products.

问答题 With the rapid growth of China's economy in recent years, China's foreign trade has begun a number of new pragmatic and flexible practices in foreign trade policy, open door policy and foreign trade system. 46){{U}}In the first place, China's foreign trade policy is coupled with China's domestic economic reform program.{{/U}} 47){{U}}Import policy is aimed at acquiring capital that embodies the modern technology needed to develop China's economy.{{/U}} 48){{U}}China's export capability is expanding due to the improvement of the importation of foreign capital, technology and management skills.{{/U}} According to the figures issued by China's Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade(MOFERT), the total value of imports and exports is increasing steadily. Next, the rapid growth of China's economy needs "Open Door Policy". The key to this policy is to open China to inflows of foreign technology and foreign investment. Toward this end, the Chinese established "special economic zones" in 1979, where special incentives are being used to attract foreign capital and technology. Four such zones were set up, three in Guangdong Province, and one in Fujian Province. 49){{U}}With the establishment of four special economic zones, "economic and technical development zones" were set up in 14 coastal cities in 1980, and as the next step, the Chinese have announced that they will open up several river delta regions, including the Changjiang River delta and the Pearl River delta.{{/U}} Thirdly, China's foreign trade system has undergone significant changes in the last few years. Although foreign trade is still carried out by the Foreign Trade Corporation (FTC), supervised by the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade, China's industrial departments and provincial and local enterprises have taken a more active role in China's foreign trade. Many of these organizations have established import and export corporations of their own, with the authority to conduct technical and commercial negotiations with foreign firms. Industrial corporations are responsible for their own profits and losses. Certain plants and factories are also permitted to have more contact with foreign firms and authority to negotiate sales contracts by themselves. 50){{U}}The decentralizatoin of China's foreign trade has benefited foreign trade organizations at different levels, cities, provinces and autonomous regions where the foreign trade has therefore been better handled.{{/U}}

问答题{{B}}Directions:{{/B}} Read the following text carefully and then translate the underlined segments into Chinese. Your translation should be written clearly on ANSWER SHEET 2. (10 points) Many people are concerned about the economic condition of developing countries — countries whose average per capita GNP is a fraction of that in more industrialized countries. However, for the developing countries, there exist many obstacles to their economic development. One major obstacle to economic development is population growth. (46) {{U}}The populations of most developing countries grow at a rate much faster than those of industrialized countries, and the population of some of them is so large that there is barely enough fertile land and other resources to support it.{{/U}} Many less developed countries depend extensively on agriculture, adding to the problem. In these countries, an incentive to have many children exists. (47) {{U}}Most farms are worked by families, and children can work in the fields at an early age because most farmers believe that more children means more workers.{{/U}} In addition, having many children ensures the parents that someone will look after them in their old age. Another problem for developing countries is increasing average life expectancy—the average remaining lifetime for persons who reach a certain age. Better education, international aid, and emphasis on health-care facilities help people live longer. A high life expectancy coupled with a high crude birthrate makes it difficult to increase per capita GNP. Another obstacle to economic growth is limited natural resources. No country can develop beyond its resource potential. Unproductive land or a harsh climate can limit economic growth. (48) {{U}}Some countries may be fortunate enough to discover a valuable mineral to finance their economic development, but most focus on agriculture and, as a result, their economic growth is hindered by the shortage of natural resources or energy sources needed for industry.{{/U}} Still another obstacle to economic development is a lack of appropriate education and technology. Any developing countries do not have a highly literate population or the high level of technical skills needed to build an industrial society. In addition, most do not have money to train engineers and scientists. (49) {{U}}Many developing countries cannot even afford to provide free public education for school-age children, and in those that can, not every child is able to take advantage of it because most of them have to work to help feed their families.{{/U}} As a result, much of the population may not have the basic skills needed to continue with higher education when it is offered. Government also can be an obstacle to economic development. A country whose government often changes will have a hard time developing economically. Such constant changes impede long-term planning. (50) {{U}}Economic development is made even more difficult if the political changes occur through violent revolution where industrial facilities may be destroyed.{{/U}}

问答题 Directions: Study the two; pictures above carefully and write an essay entitled "On the Relationship between Environment and Economy". In the essay, you should (1) describe the pictures and interpret their meaning; (2) give your opinion With some proof; (3) give your conclusion. You should write about 200 words neatly on ANSWER SHEET 2.

问答题{{B}}Directions{{/B}} You are going to take a very important English test in a few months and are in bad need of some reference books. Write a letter to the sales department of a bookshop to ask for 1) detailed information about the books you want; 2) methods of payment; 3) time and way of delivery. You should write about 100 words on ANSWER SHEET 2. Do not sign your own name at the end of the letter. Use "Li Ming" instead. You do not have to write the address.

问答题Since the 19th century, Nathan Hale has been widely viewed as an American hero. He was the first American executed for spying for his country. Statues of him stand in New York City, at Yale University, and at the Central Intelligence Agency"s headquarters. (46) His last words, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country" indicate his deep devotion to his nation and have been an inspiration to subsequent generations of Americans. In September of 1776, Nathan Hale was a 21-year old captain in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. (47) When there was a need for intelligence gathering following the American loss of Long Island, Hale volunteered to cross enemy lines and gather as much information about the British army in New Work as he could. To do that, he disguised himself as a Dutch schoolteacher and made his way to New York from Norwalk, Connecticut. His activities upon arriving at New York remain something of a mystery. It is known that he took notes and made some drawings before attempting to leave the island. Before he could do that, however, he was betrayed. How he was betrayed remains a mystery as well. There are two main accounts of how this happened. One says that one of Hale"s relatives, Samuel Hale, turned him in after recognizing him in a tavern. (48) The other says that Robert Rogers, a British Major, did not believe that Hale was a schoolteacher and that he got Hale to admit he was a spy by pretending to be a spy himself. However it happened, Hale was captured on September 21, 1776. When he was captured, the British found the notes and drawings that Hale had produced. (49) Armed with this evidence, they easily obtained his confession that he was indeed a member of the Continental Army . This made him an uninformed enemy combatant behind enemy lines. Given the rules of war at the time, the British were perfectly justified in hanging him the next morning without a trial. Hale was executed at the tender age of 21. (50) Although Hale"s spying mission ended in failure, his display of patriotism made him a hero among the colonists fighting for independence.

问答题Directions: Suppose you are an English teacher and you intend to work part-time during your vocation. Write a letter of application for a post you would like. Your letter should include: 1) Telling how you learned the news and show your desire to get the position. 2) Describe your education background and working experience. 3) Express your wish to have an interview opportunity. You should write about 100 words. Do not sign your own name at the end of the letter. Use "Li Ming" instead. You do not need to write the address.

问答题You are a manager of Administrative Office named J. S. Sanford. The board of directors have decided to refurbish the offices of Financial Department. Write a memo to tell all the employees that: 1) How long will this project last? 2) Where shall be the temporary offices for the Financial Department during this period'? 3) Which kind of affairs might be influenced during this period, and what will be the corresponding solutions? You should write about 100 words.

问答题Directions:Thechartbelowshowsthechangesofconsumerindexinacertaincountryfrom1930to1980.Studythechartcarefullyandwriteanessayof160-200wordsto1)describethetrendofconsumptionasrevealedinthechart,2)explainthepossiblereasonunderliningthistrend,and3)giveyourcomment.YoushouldwriteneatlyonAnswerSheet2.

问答题Directions: Write a letter to Mr. Terry Thompson, recommending a Chinese university for him to study in China. You should write about 100 words on ANSWER SHEET 2. Do not sign your own name at the end of the letter; use "LiMing" instead. Do not write the address.

问答题 Directions: Write a letter to the personnel department of a foreign company, applying for the position of sales manager. You should write about 100 words. Do not sign your own name at the end of the letter; use 'Li Ming' instead. Do not write the address.

问答题Long before the new economy made catchwords of speed, customization, supply chain management, and information sharing, Spanish clothing retailer Zara was carrying out a revolution of its own. (46) By translating the latest trends into designs that are manufactured in less than 15 days — and delivering them to its stores twice a week—Zara pioneered a new kind of quick, custom-made retailing that has transformed the relatively low profile retailer into a global powerhouse. Nobody else can get new designs to stores as quickly, says Keith Wills, European retail analyst at Goldman Sachs. "Unless you can do that, you won"t be in business in ten years. " (47) Not only has Zara—the flagship store of private textile company Inditex— distinguished itself by tightly integrating its design and manufacturing systems, but its clothing has filled an untapped niche. "Armani at moderate prices, " says one Goldman Sachs analyst. The formula seems to be paying off: Zara, which is responsible for nearly 80% of Inditex"s revenues, opened its first store in 1975 and has since expanded to more than 400 stores in 25 countries. Though it doesn"t generate as much in revenues as the Gap ($11.6 billion) or Swedish clothier H it has just six stores in the New York City area. But don"t underestimate this Spanish giant. Inditex recently announced it was exploring a public offering, and it"s probably just a matter a time before it dispatches Zara to conquer the New World.

问答题It is hard to get a grip on food. The UN's World Health Organisation worries about diminishing supplies and increased prices in poor countries; recent riots and near-riots in Haiti, Bangladesh and Egypt were sparked by the growing cost of wheat and rice. But, as Paul Roberts observes in "The End of Food", the developed world has lived through "a near miraculous period during which the things we ate seemed to grow only more plentiful, more secure, more nutritious, and simply better. " 46． In the second half of the 20th century, world output of corn, wheat and cereal crops more than tripled. Yet there is not enough to feed the rich, the aspirational and the poor in the world. A golden age has been transformed quite suddenly into a global crisis. Mr Roberts insists that modern agribusiness is unsustainable and becoming more so. "Precisely at the moment in history when we need to shift our system of food production into overdrive, our agricultural engine is breaking down," he says. The industry has taken cheap oil for granted. Oil fuels transportation and farm machinery, and natural gas is the basis of synthetic nitrogen production ( prices have tripled since 2002). Agriculture accounts for three- quarters of freshwater use, and water is becoming an increasingly scarce and expensive resource. Climate change makes some old assumptions about farming redundant. 47．A combination of these factors, he says, will ultimately force a complete rethinking of the way we make food. For years government subsidies held down grain prices, making food cheaper. 48．Water was also plentiful-it takes 1,000 tonnes of water to produce a tonne of grain-and an ingenious process known as Haber-Bosch makes synthetic nitrogen fertiliser easily available to grain farmers. Ruthless price-cutting at supermarkets means consumers have grown accustomed to eating too much. (In the late 19th century, Europeans already thought Americans ate three or four times more than was necessary. ) The most damaging consequence is that by 2000 31% of American adults were obese, with another 16% defined as overweight. American airlines spend $ 275 million a year more on fuel simply to lift the heavier passengers. Mr Roberts claims that every year obesity causes 400,000 premature deaths in America. Food has become as deadly as tobacco. A fruitful start would be to halve the size of portions in all American restaurants, but most consumers are reluctant rethinkers. 49．Eating organic product could be a partial solution, although one study suggests that the cost of avoiding intensive farm chemicals would mean a 31% increase in food prices. Government scientists believe that genetically modified crops might be the only way out of the crisis, but a majority of consumers are reluctant to listen. Is there a model for the future? 50．Fashionably, Mr. Roberts believes that a local system based on easily obtainable seasonal foods that do not need to be transported huge distances would form part of a solution. The economics and greenery of this are far from proven. Mr Roberts can find only one country that has made "serious efforts" in this direction: Cuba, hardly a comforting example. The coming food crisis, warns the author, is as intractable as global warming, and no less urgent.