Unit 2 Text A1.Why won’t oil prices rise at all over the long time?Firstly, because producers need the cash from oil too much to let their supply be interrupted for long. Secondly，and more important, because demand growth can't push prices upward as long as it is balanced by supply growth.2.Why can’t the members of the OPEC raise oil prices?Because if they do，non-OPEC sources will grab market share by developing fields where technology has made production affordable.3.Why have most majors cut their costs on oil?Because technology lets the companies maintain healthy earnings at steadily lower oil prices.4.Who takes a lead in the oil companies?Those that master technology and efficiency, such as Shell, Exxon, and British Petroleum.1. In the first year of peace, Lebanon’s GDP soared by almost 40%.A. flewB. hovereed C increased D. decreased2. SAIC’s previous skirmishes with investigators had attracted little attention.A. conflictsB. strugglesC. skatesD. arguments3. The boy grabbed hold of my bag and disappeared quickly into the crowd.A. seizedB. snappedC. snatchedD. sneaked4. Although Chicago has fared better than some cities, unemployment remains a problem.A. got onB. chargedC. offered jobsD. provided welfare5. The dwarfs were devastated, because they could not figure out how to save Snow White this time.A. calculateB. rateC. considerD. decide6. His distrust of the power of critics made him ready to gibe at Divid Sylvester.A. laughB. ridiculeC. susceptibleD. harmful7. Children are most vulnerable to abuse within their own home.B. sensibleC. susceptibleD. harmfulmore persuasively.A. Rather thanB. Other thanC. Less thanD. Short forText B1. It snakes in and out of ports, along our busiest highways and through our most crowded cities.A. sneaksB. jerksC. crawlsD. travels2. She adjusted her glasses and peered at the man.A. gapedB. gazedC. glaredD. ogle3. Southeast winds nudged the oil slick onto the shore.A. pushedB. pokedC. promptedD. prodded4. My house had been tethered to a post, but somehow it escaped.A. corralledB. tiedC. ridD. confined5. The bridge is built to withstand an earthquake of 8.3 magnitudes.A. standB. persistC. resistD. consist6. An evaporation system is used to dissipate heat from the sun and protect the shuttle’s electronics.A. squanderB. wasteC. accumulateD. disperse7. Narcissus was a young man who spurned the nymph Echo and became enamoured of his own reflection.A. refusedB. scornedC. affectedD. restrained8. This disparity in social attitudes is certainly reflected in the ambivalent feelings held by retired people.A. ambiguousB. introvertC. conflictingD. elusive9. Commercial sauerkraut is very salty so there is no additional salt in the recipe.A. receiptB. prescriptionC. menuD. formula10. Ratail sales of the quintessential red meats are plummeting, whilst vegetarianism has become a fashionable norm.A. ascendingB. decreasingC. declinedD. weakeningUnit 61.What are the disadvantages of paper according to the author?Paper takes up precious space, can be in only one place at a time, is extremely hard to index or search through, and lacks all the interactivity and linking ability of hypertext.2.What are the major categories of files in an office?In the office, files can be mainly classified into hot files, documents to be acted on immediately; warm files, still active but of less urgency and cold files, documents that don't need immediate attention.3.Why is it unpleasant to read something on a computer screen?Because there are such annoyances/disadvantages as the relatively fuzzy type, glare, the need to scroll repeatedly, the screen's relatively fixed position and so forth.4.What are the essential problems in using computers in police departments?First, the police found they spent so much time dealing with the computer interface that they fell short in listening and talking to victims, an essential activity both for offering comfort and for picking up subtle clues to what exactly had happened. Second, the goal of prompt reporting was compromised by the fact that police kept revising their reports after filing them.5.What are the reason s for people’s chimera of going paperless according to theauthor?Firstly, people who can profit from the idea keep selling it to us. Secondly, all technologies come down to our trying to get what we want, what we desire. Andmuch of what we desire comes down to taking control of our lives, doing what we please without being overwhelmed by what we don't please.6.Why cannot computers replace paper in an office? (use your own words)First, paper has some hidden advantages over computers especially in the following three aspects — reading, writing and personal satisfaction in delivery.Furthermore, computers can't replace paper completely in some activities such as air-traffic control and writing up police reports.TEXT A task 2 ACABC BCDDA TEXT B task 3 CBACA CBCDATEXT A1，Advocates of organic foods frequently proclaim that such products are safer and more nutritious than others.A. announceB. denounceC. pronounceD. renounce2, If I may venture an opinion , I’d say the plan needs closer examination.A. exposeB. eliminationC. expressD. export3. These photograghs capture the essence of working-class life at the turn of the century.A. describeB. prescribeC. inscribeD. ascribe4. There was a preponderance of female teachers in the English department.A. dominationB. dominanceC. occupationD. regime5. Clarence had only a few fuzzy memories of his grandparents.A. ambiguousB. brightC. obscureD. blur6. What he has achieved is an extraordinary feat that would be impossible to duplicate.A. photocopyB. equalC. praiseD. describe7. He’s stopped taking drugs now, but he may rever t to taking them again.A. resortB. reduceC. restoreD. recover8. As often as not, people tend to scream under such circumstances.A. Not oftenB. VirtuallyC. RarelyD. Quite often9. What is even more important is the fact that the as tronauts’ photographs have uncovered many things not evident at close range.A. venturedB. uploadedC. declaredD. revealed10. The disposition of the troops on the battlefield id of paramount importance.A. arrangementB. characterC. dismissalD. recruitingText B1. In particular, the relationship is becoming increasingly bedeviled by the issue of anti-missile defence.A. endangeredB. bewilderedC. plaguedD. offended2. The universe offers no such categories or simplifications; only flux and infinite variety.A. ambiguityB. changeC. vibrationD. sophistication3. The news of the wedding was plastered all over the morning papers.A. coveredB. crowdedC. attractedD. imposed4. Perhaps you should tweak that line or paragraph that throws the structure off before sending in the report.A. cutB. twistC. reviseD. evaluate5. The daily news stories of the worsening economy unnerved the nation.A. discouragedB. threatedC. irritatedD. enlightened6. She allowed her steady gaze to flicker from the glass which she had been holding for hours.A. shine brightlyB. shine dimlyC. shine unsteadilyD. shine pleasantly7. Self-awareness of roles and of the feelings evoked in interpersonal encounters is increasingly critical for the nimble entrepreneur.A. confidentB. agileC. courageousD. open-minded8. I have always tried to live by my faith but it’s som etimes unexpectedly difficult to achieve.A. rely onB. be confident inC. act onD. adjust to9. What we’ve got here is a half-baked proposal that still needs a great deal of work.A. mediumB. uncreativeC. unclearD. unthoughtful10. For the next four years they defied convention by living as man and wife when they were not.A. traditionB. commitmentC. relationD. realityUnit7 Text A1. Why is competition destructive according to the author? (para. 3)According to the author, competition is destructive because it undermines self-esteem ，poisons relationships and holds us back from doing our best.2. What are the purposes of the games devised or collected by Orlick and others? (para. 6)The idea of the games devised or collected by Orlick and others is for each person on the field to make a specified contribution to the goal, or for all the players to reach a certain score, or for everyone to work with their partners against a time limit.3. What is the difference between teamwork and team competition? (para. 8)The difference between teamwork and team competition is that in teamwork everyone on the field is working together for a common goal, while in team competition a given player works with and is encouraged to feel warmly toward only half of those present.4. Why do most kinds of fun require competition? (para. 10, 11, 12)a) First of all, people don't know any other way or people have never tasted the alternative.b) Secondly, we overlook the psychological costs of competition:it causes self-doubt and feelings of self-worth become dependent on external sources of evaluation.5. Who is to blame for competition?It is the structure of the game itself that is to blame rather than the individuals,since it sets competition at the very beginning.1. She has been eliminated from the swimming race because she did not win any of the practice races.A. got outB. taking awayC. got rid ofD. driving away2. One of the major flaws in the existing system is that the prosecutor has immunity from law suits claiming malicious prosecution.A. usefulB. spitefulC. harmlessD. cheerful3. They define a good patient as one who accepts their statements and their actions uncritically and unquestioningly.A. characterizeB. confineC. fixD. limit4. Roberts’ poor physical condition combined with nagging injuries prevented him from playing more than 51 games in the past four seasons.A. troublingB. followingC. complainingD. accompanying5. Constant correction by a teacher is often counterproductive, as the student may become afraid to speak at all.A. evilB. not productiveC. unfavorableD. hurting6. For centuries we women have gloated over the one negative aspect of aging more evident in men than women: balding.A. praisedB. felt maliciously satisfied withC. felt sorry forD. expressed great pleasure7. In the conductive atmosphere around the fort, General Bradley immediately found out about the plot.A. goodB. suitableC. fitD. favorable8. It’s a story of a harmful dynamic between white prejudice and black autonomy.A .state of movement B. political forceC. competing or conflicting systemD. social system9. Gandhi rejects outright claims made concerning the superior or inferior status of religions.A. overallB. directC. obscureD. ambiguous10. My first boss was a really nasty person, who seemed to enjoy making life difficult for everyone.A. graveB. sorrowfulC. uglyD. pitifulText B1. To put a kid like Delia in eight-hour isolation for accepting a cigarette from a friend is bizarre and outrageous.A. ridiculousB. violentC. troublesomeD. controversial2. Depression remains one of the most prevalent health disorders in the US.A. commonB. seriousC. evidentD. urgent3. The next version of the software will have the edge over its competitors.A. marginB. fringeC. advantageD. progression4. He's managed to create a niche for himself in local politics.A. secret cornerB. right positionC. easy stageD. impressive circumstance5. There is nothing in the intrinsic nature of the work that makes it more suitable for women.A. respectiveB. hiddenC. essentialD. particular6. She addressed her young guest with civilities suitable for a personage of advanced years and uncertain appetite.A. educationB. conductC. modestyD. politeness7.That cannot be promised here, though a holistic perspective is taken on literary stylistics in addressing science fiction.A. fragmentalB. criticalC. overallD. insightful8.Many observers suggest that this transfer has had mainly adverse effects on the population concerned.A. insupportableB. horribleC. advancedD. unfavorable9. Instead, justice is a commodity designed by a hierarchy of judges still dedicated to the interests of Power.A. attributedB. devotedC. attachedD. spent10.The university suspended the club for two years, during which it could not hold social or athletic activities.A. stoppedB. hungC. hamstrungD. controlledUint10 Text A1. What is the writer's attitude in the sentence "The drive for dominance skews our perception, colors our friendships, shapes our moods and affects our health"? (para. 2)The author takes a negative attitude. Usually, the verbs color, shape and affect are neutral in indicating meanings, but in this context they express negative meanings.2. How do you understand the sentence "If the tendency showed up only in certain societies, it would be easier to dismiss as something we learn"? (para. 4) If the relentless one-upmanship was only limited within very few sample groups, it could be easily neglected because we could only regard that as an exception.3. In which way do zoologists support the anthropological point on the biologically endowed one-upmanship?Anthropologists point out that the same pattern can be seen everywhere while the zoologists show a wide variety of animals inferior and superior which illustrate the same pattern too.4. What are the differences between men being powerful and powerless?Men who achieve high status enjoy more sex with more partners whereas men who are just unemployed may lose their marriages as well as self-esteem.5. In which ways are modern men the same as, and also different from Genghis Khan?Modern men are the same as Genghis Khan in that they all strive for high status, but different in that modern men tend to rule by consent and try to avoid fighting.6. Do males always have to fight for power? Why or why not?Not necessarily,for the most durable leaders are the ones who govern by consen t and try to avoid fighting.1. The man amassed a great fortune during the war, but later lost all of it almost overnight. (ansSheet1)A. collectedB. obtainedC. madeD. got2. Ten federal researchers were listed as contributors, but seven of them quickly disavowed any connection with it.A. refusedB. refutedC. confusedD. denied3. Industrial labor was at last being regulated，water supplies purified, hospitals sanitized and prisons reformed.A. changedB. consideredC. fixedD. controlled4. The investment remains beyond reach for many, but the choices today are much broader and more viable than 10 years ago.A. controversialB. dirtyC. flexibleD. feasible5. There is no resolution to this conflict and two sides seem to go to war.A. decisionB. disagreementC. actionD. condition6. The small island is now visited by millions of tourists for its natural endowments of white sandy beaches and clean water.A. donationsB. qualificationsC. giftsD. quantities7. Indeed, the logic of commercialism may lead the enterprise to pursue activities at odds with other government objectives.A. go intoB. run afterC. strive forD. carry out8. First introduced in 1989, Adopt-a-Pet aims to highlight the plight of abandoned animals and encourage more responsible pet ownership.A. brokenB. desertedC. run-downD. stolen9. As the King got older, he became convinced that his family were scheming against him.A. plottingB. planningC. orderingD. arguing10. The Chinese football team outscored its opponent by two balls.A. overcameB. outsetC. succeededD. wonText B1. Clinton also asked Glickman to report back within 30 days with recommendations to help alleviate debt problems afflicting cattle producers.A. easeB. reduceC. releaseD. issue2. There was plenty to do on your own doorstep-to look further was a cop-out.A. taking a riskB. avoiding responsibilityC. interferenceD.over-enthusiasm3. Then, too, repeated visits to cultural monuments doubtless palled in time, natural curiosity withered by sheer surfeit.A. over-provisionB. over-arrangementsC. over-doingD.over-invitation4. For example, Wilson wanted new recipients to be eligible for aid for only one year, but Democrats wanted two years.A. carefully chosenB. qualified to be chosenC. elected by Party membersD. promoted by Party leaders5. It's up to him to show some grit in an uncertain world.A. resolute determinationB. broad smileC. firm graspD. firm courage6. You can tell me if there's anything that's worrying you or getting you down.A. letting you swallow your tearsB. recording you in writingC. making you depressedD. telling you to leave the dinner table7. Farmers still have the problem of overcoming the stigma which all too often young people attach to working on the land.A. deep feeling of losing faceB. deep feeling of being humiliatedC. part of flower in their cropD. technique to treat the part of flower8. At decision-making time these consequences are simply left unmentioned, allowing organizational leaders to feign surprise when qualitative costs finally assert themselves.A. give a false appearance ofB. to show a false impression onC. pretend a false appearance ofD.deliver a false speech of9. Anything less than this is a measure of the extent to which the research falls short of scientific standards.A. fails inB. is less thanC. collapses inD. declines in10. The second was that its atoms of uranium were transmuting themselves into atoms of a different element whose atomic mass was lower.A. changing in their formB. changing in their characterC. changing themselves betterD. changing themselves completelyUnit 13 Text A1.How many credit cards does the average American have?4.2.What is a "sub-prime" borrower?People who have a bad credit history.3.What were the spending habits of people in the nineteenth and earlytwentieth centuries?People regarded debt in a very negative way. They always tried to pay off their debts in a timely manner.4.How has credit card spending changed in the United States since the 1960s?In the 1960s most borrowers paid off their credit card balances monthly.Since then, many people have amassed credit card debt.1. For these the primary schools provided a gentle haven before they transferred to the local secondary modern school.A. harborB. heavenC. oasisD. sanctuary2. It also makes specialty parts and accessories, which can be used to spruce up the performance and appearance of existing automobiles.A. polish upB. smarten upC. mark upD. prop up3. I knew that faking the tears would make her get a sense of gratification and end the punishment, but I refused.A. satisfactionB. emotionC. qualificationD. indulgence4. The stigma may not result from associating her language with ignorance, but the unkindness is just as real.A. situationB. disagreementC. disgraceD. distrust5. Her eyebrow had received the blow from the torch and had begun to throb; she could feel a trickle of blood.A. stickB. movementC. releaseD. leak6. You should not tell your client to expect that they will automatically experience an aversion response to the imagery of drinking.A. avertingB. avoidanceC. advertenceD. antipathy7. Some economists are now predicting the danger of runaway inflation and they see it as a force that human can no longer control.A. fugitiveB. violentC. uncontrolledD. overwhelming8. Anyone who studied at the college joined an elite band of well-connected lawyers, doctors and businessmen.A. excellentB. selectedC. efficientD. powerful9. Liz had a more robust notion of the self, and took another line on the individual's place in the structure.A. fierceB. vigorousC. energeticD. potent10. His friendship with Fujimori gives him unusual access to a president with a tiny circle of advisers and a penchant for secrecy.A. desireB. preferenceC. hopeD. wishText B1. Firstly, we need to ease the problems of cash shortage and credit crunch to maintaina stable banking system.A. crushB. deficiencyC. crackleD. noise2. Wholesale markets for agricultural products shall have transaction regulations.A. operationB. commerceC. dealingD. action3. The board has decided to withhold part of their grant money from certain students.A. bearB. reserveC. beholdD. observe4. The remainder of their school time is devoted to music theory, instrumental lessons and practice.A. balanceB. distributionC. spendingD. residue5. We will reimburse the expenses of the advertising for the representative.A. recoupB. contributeC. maintainD. impose6. Any application for such extension of contract period shall be made six months before the expiration of the contract.A. departureB. exhalationC. terminationD. inspiration7. If you work in a company, you usually don't have to go to the tax bureau because your company will deduct it from your salary.A. subtractB. deduceC. deriveD. discount8. What he said and did involved the bystanders in his dispute with the police.A. differenceB. challengeC. collisionD. disagreement9.You are advised to deposit your valuables in the hotel safe.A. wedgeB. withdrawC. lodgeD. fasten10.She fumbled her purse which contained the address slip.A. stalkB. shimmyC. elusionD. paperUnit2 The New Economics of OilThe article aims at establishing the idea that oil price will not rise even as demand soars. To begin with, the author shows the increasing consumption of oil around the world and the impact of technology on oil industry. By giving several examples, he draws the conclusion that the need for cash and dependence on technology leads to the fact that oil prices will even fall. Furthermore, technological updating, slashing the costs of finding, producing, and refining oil, is also a reason to support the author's point. There is evidence that technology lets the world companies maintain healthy earnings at lower oil prices. In conclusion, cheap oil accelerates the world economy, and a downside price scenario is increasingly likely.Unit6 The myth of the paperless officeThe author states at the beginning of the article that despite the emergence of technologies and the prediction of paperless office by many people for several decades, we still rely heavily on paper in our daily lives. Then he uses his own analysis and what Sellen and Harper have discovered as his proof to illustrate why human beings still cannot stop using paper. By citing Sellen and Harper’s des cription of the layout of files on a typical desk in an office , the author illustrates that paper has some hidden advantages over computers , especially in the following three aspects — reading, writing an d personal satisfaction in delivery . Furthermore, he analyzes two activities — air-traffic control and writing up police reports studied by Sellen and Harper, in which computers can’t re place paper completely. Then he suggests two reasons for such a chimera as paperless office, and finally, states that at least for now paperless office lo oks both unlikely and pointless.Unit7 Competition Is DestructiveBy using the game of musical chairs, the author illustrates that competition is destructive not only in our daily work but also in entertainments. It is important and possible to change the form of the game by way of turning an opponent into a partner: Everyone on the field can work together for a common goal (teamwork) instead of competing with each other (team competition). Cooperative games and sports providesatisfaction and challenge without competition. The reason that a large number of people insist that we can't do without win/lose activities are that they don't know any other way and that they overlook the psychological costs of competition and the toxic effect of competition on our relations. Competition is not conducive to trust and it may lead one to look at others through narrowed eyes and even invite outright aggression. We are inclined to blame individuals for all this, but it is the structure of the game itself which causes competition. To solve the problem of competition, we need to be teaching our children how to enjoy themselves without competition.Unit10 Why We Strive for StatusBy citing the example of Genghis Khan, the writer states that males are persistent status seekers. The drive for sex and power is biologically rooted in male’s nervous system, so that males are more competitive than females at any age and in all societies. But the evolutionists believe that natural selection pushes males to strive for dominance. The writer also points out that powerlessness usually leads to both psychological and physical problems for men as well as male animals. However, men are not so much anguished over the hierarchies. They tend to settle down to a certain stratified society and look for other satisfactions. The writer finally warns that power cannot be abused and dominance must be balanced by consent.Unit 13 Giving Credit Where Debt Is DueBy citing the film It’s a Wonderful Life, the writer introduces the topic and the thesis statement: misplacing bank funds may plunge a family into debt. However, being in debt is no longer a scandal or puts one into prison, but is a very cool thing. Then the author explains the reasons for the popularity of credit card debt: Consumers are involved in the annual rite of the holiday spending binge; People don’t have to worry about debt because banks are now relentlessly encouraging the use of credit cards so that even bankruptcy doesn’t stop the borrowing of money from ba nks; Debt makes people unconscious of the purchasing process and makes them into debt for small things like a bottle of champagne or a new wardrobe; Americans are ready to take a new look at debt: debt is no longer something to be ashamed of as it was for the generation that came of age during the Great Depression. Lastly the author points out that several credit card companies have taken a financial beating because of the sharply rising charge-offs for bad credit card debt. The solution to the problem is to make consumers think it wise to lighten their debt loads and try to rid themselves of personal debt.。