Directions: There are 4 passages in this part. Each passage is followed by
some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices
marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the
corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the
centre.
Passage One
Questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage.
I'm usually fairly skeptical about any research that concludes that people
are either happier or unhappier or more or less certain of themselves than they
were 50 years ago. While any of these statements might be true, they are
practically impossible to prove scientifically. Still, I was struck by a report
which concluded that today's children are significantly more anxious than
children in the 1950s. In fact, the analysis showed, normal children ages 9 to
17 exhibit a higher level of anxiety today than children who were treated for
mental illness 50 years ago.
Why are America's kids so stressed? The report cites two main causes:
increasing physical isolation -- brought on by high divorce rates and less
involvement in community, among other things -- and a growing perception that
the world is a more dangerous place.
Given that we can't turn the clock back, adults can still do plenty to help
the next generation cope.
At the top of the list is nurturing ( 培育 ) a better appreciation of the
limits of individualism. No child is an island. Strengthening social ties helps
build communities and protect individuals against stress.
To help kids build stronger connections with others, you can pull the plug
on TVs and computers. Your family will thank you later. They will have more time
for face-to-face relationships, and they will get more sleep.
Limit the amount of virtual (虚拟的) violence your children are exposed to.
It's not just video games and movies; children see a lot of murder and crime on
the local news.
Keep your expectations for your children reasonable. Many highly successful
people never attended Harvard or Yale.
Make exercise part of your daily routine. It will help you cope with your
own anxieties and provide a good model for your kids. Sometimes anxiety is
unavoidable. But it doesn't have to ruin your life.
21. The author thinks that the conclusions of any research about people's
state of mind are______.
A) surprising B) confusing C) illogical D) questionable
22. What does the author mean when he says, "we can't turn the clock back"
(Line 1, Para. 3)?
A) It's impossible to slow down the pace of change.
B) The social reality children are facing cannot be changed.
C) Lessons learned from the past should not be forgotten.
D) It's impossible to forget the past.
23. According to an analysis, compared with normal children today, children
treated as mentally ill 50 years ago____.
A) were less isolated physically
B) were probably less self-centered
C) probably suffered less from anxiety
D) were considered less individualistic
24. The first and most important thing parents should do to help their
children is ____.
A) to provide them with a safer environment
B) to lower their expectations for them
C) to get them more involved socially
D) to set a good model for them to follow
25. What conclusion can be drawn from the passage?
A) Anxiety, though unavoidable, can be coped with.
B) Children's anxiety has been enormously exaggerated.
C) Children's anxiety can be eliminated with more parental care.
D) Anxiety, if properly controlled, may help children become mature.
Passage Two
Questions 26 to 30 are based on the following passage.
It is easier to negotiate initial salary requirement because once you are
inside, the organizational constraints ( 约束 ) influence wage increases. One
thing, however, is certain: your chances of getting the raise you feel you
deserve are less if you don't at least ask for it. Men tend to ask for more, and
they get more, and this holds true with other resources, not just pay increases.
Consider Beth's story:
I did not get what I wanted when I did not ask for it. We had cubicle ( 小隔间
) offices and window offices. I sat in the cubicles with several male
colleagues. One by one they were moved into window offices, while I remained in
the cubicles, several males who were hired after me also went to offices. One in
particular told me he was next in line for an office and that it had been part
of his negotiations for the job. I guess they thought me content to stay in the
cubicles since I did not voice my opinion either way.
It would be nice if we all received automatic pay increases equal to our
merit, but "nice" isn't a quality attributed to most organizations. If you feel
you deserve a significant raise in pay, you'll probably have to ask for it.
Performance is your best bargaining chip ( 筹码 ) when you are seeking a
raise. You must be able to demonstrate that you deserve a raise. Timing is also
a good bargaining chip. If you can give your boss something he or she needs (a
new client or a sizable contract, for example) just before merit pay decisions
are being made, you are more likely to get the raise you want.
Use information as a bargaining chip too. Find out what you are worth on
the open market.
What will someone else pay for your services?
Go into the negotiations prepared to place your chips on the table at the
appropriate time and prepared to use communication style to guide the direction
of the interaction.
26. According to the passage, before taking a job, a person should
_____.
A) demonstrate his capability B) give his boss a good impression
C) ask for as much money as he can D) ask for the salary he hopes to
get
27. What can be inferred from Beth's story?
A) Prejudice against women still exists in some organizations.
B) If people want what they deserve, they have to ask for it.
C) People should not be content with what they have got.
D) People should be careful when negotiating for a job.
28. We can learn from the passage that ____.
A) unfairness exists in salary increases
B) most people are overworked and underpaid
C) one should avoid overstating one's performance
D) most organizations give their staff automatic pay raises
29. To get a pay raise, a person should______.
A) advertise himself on the job market
B) persuade his boss to sign a long-term contract
C) try to get inside information about the organization
D) do something to impress his boss just before merit pay decisions
30. To be successful in negotiations, one must_____.
A) meet his boss at the appropriate time
B) arrive at the negotiation table punctually
C) be good at influencing the outcome of the interaction
D) be familiar with what the boss likes and
dislikes
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