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

　Passage Three

　　Questions 31 to 35 are based on the following passage.

　　When families gather for Christmas dinner, some will stick to formal traditions dating back to Grandma's generation. Their tables will be set with the good dishes and silver, and the dress code will be Sunday-best.

　　But in many other homes, this china-and-silver elegance has given way to a stoneware ( 粗陶) -and-stainless informality, with dresses assuming an equally casual-Friday look. For hosts and guests, the change means greater simplicity and comfort. For makers of fine china in Britain, it spells economic hard times.

　　Last week Royal Doulton, the largest employer in Stoke-on-Trent, announced that it is eliminating 1,000jobs —— one-fifth of its total workforce. That brings to more than 4,000 the number of positions lost in 18 months in the pottery (陶瓷) region. Wedgwood and other pottery factories made cuts earlier. Although a strong pound and weak markets in Asia play a role in the downsizing, the layoffs in Stoke have their roots in earthshaking social shifts. A spokesman for Royal Doulton admitted that the company has been somewhat slow in catching up with the trend toward casual dining. Families eat together less often, he explained, and more people eat alone, either because they are single or they eat in front of television; Even dinner parties, if they happen at all, have gone casual. In a time of long work hours and demanding family schedules, busy hosts insist, rightly, that it's better to share a takeout pizza on paper plates in the family room than to wait for the perfect moment or a real dinner party. Too often, the perfect moment never comes. Iron a fine-patterned tablecloth? Forget it. Polish the silver? Who has time?

　　Yet the loss of formality has its down side. The fine points of etiquette ( 礼节 ) that children might once have learned at the table by observation or instruction from parents and grandparents (Chew with your mouth closed. Keep your elbows off the table.) must be picked up elsewhere. Some companies now offer etiquette seminars for employees who may be competent professionally but clueless socially.

　　31. The trend toward casual dining has resulted in_____.

　　A) bankruptcy of fine china manufacturers

　　B) shrinking of the pottery industry

　　C) restructuring of large enterprises

　　D) economic recession in Great Britain

　　32. Which of the following may be the best reason for casual dining?

　　A) Family members need more time to relax.

　　B) Busy schedules leave people no time for formality.

　　C) People want to practice economy in times of scarcity.

　　D) Young people won't follow the etiquette of the older generation.

　　33. It can be learned from the passage that Royal Doulton is_____.

　　A) a retailer of stainless steel tableware B) a dealer in stoneware

　　C) a pottery chain store D) a producer of fine china

　　34. The main cause of the layoffs in the pottery industry is_____.

　　A) the increased value of the pound

　　B) the economic recession in Asia

　　C) the change in people's way of life

　　D) the fierce competition at home and abroad

　　35. Refined table manners, though less popular than before in current social life_____.

　　A) are still a must on certain occasions

　　B) axe bound to return sooner or later

　　C) are still being taught by parents at home

　　D) can help improve personal relationships