一、Part Ⅱ Listening Comprehension
1、Question 1 is based on the conversation you have just heard.
A、She advocates animal protection.
B、She sells a special kind of coffee.
C、She is going to start a café chain.
D、She is the owner of a special café.
解析：
Conversation One
M: Tonight we have a special guest from a local establishment, the Parisian Café. Welcome!
W: Hi, thanks for having me on your show.
M: Thank you for joining us. (1) So please tell us, why did you decide to open a café?
M: Well, we saw the opportunity to offer something a little special and different from other establishments. Cafés certainly are a very competitive market sector. (2) There are more than plenty in our city, and we felt they are all rather similar to each other. Wouldn’t you agree?
M: Certainly yes. So how is your establishment any different?
W: Well, simply put, we have rabbits wondering freely around the place. Our customers come in and enjoy their food and drinks while little rabbits play about and brush against their legs. There is no other place like it.
M: That’s amazing! How did you come up with the idea?
W: We saw other cafes with cats in them. So we thought, why not rabbits? People love rabbits. They are very cute animals.
M: But is it safe? Do the rabbits ever bite people? Or do any customers ever hurt the rabbits?
W: It’s perfectly safe for both the rabbits and our customers. Rabbits are very peaceful and certainly do not bite. (3) Furthermore, our rabbits are regularly cleaned and have all received the required shots. So there is no health risk whatsoever. (4) As for our customers, they are all animal lovers, so they would never try to hurt the rabbits. Sometimes a young child may get over-excited, and they are a little too rough, but it’s never a serious matter. On the contrary, the Parisian Café offers a great experience for children, a chance for them to learn about rabbits and how to take care of them.
M: Well, it’s certainly the first time I’ve heard a café like that.
1. What do we learn about the woman?
解析：D。本题目为细节题。问题为：关于这位女士，我们可以知道什么？根据原文可知，男士问女士为什么会决定开一家咖啡馆，之后女士有说明这家咖啡馆的独特之处，所以女士是一家特殊咖啡店的老板，故正确答案为D。
2、Question 2 is based on the conversation you have just heard.
A、They bear a lot of similarities.
B、They are a profitable business sector.
C、They cater to different customers.
D、They help take care of customers’ pets.
解析：
Conversation One
M: Tonight we have a special guest from a local establishment, the Parisian Café. Welcome!
W: Hi, thanks for having me on your show.
M: Thank you for joining us. (1) So please tell us, why did you decide to open a café?
M: Well, we saw the opportunity to offer something a little special and different from other establishments. Cafés certainly are a very competitive market sector. (2) There are more than plenty in our city, and we felt they are all rather similar to each other. Wouldn’t you agree?
M: Certainly yes. So how is your establishment any different?
W: Well, simply put, we have rabbits wondering freely around the place. Our customers come in and enjoy their food and drinks while little rabbits play about and brush against their legs. There is no other place like it.
M: That’s amazing! How did you come up with the idea?
W: We saw other cafes with cats in them. So we thought, why not rabbits? People love rabbits. They are very cute animals.
M: But is it safe? Do the rabbits ever bite people? Or do any customers ever hurt the rabbits?
W: It’s perfectly safe for both the rabbits and our customers. Rabbits are very peaceful and certainly do not bite. (3) Furthermore, our rabbits are regularly cleaned and have all received the required shots. So there is no health risk whatsoever. (4) As for our customers, they are all animal lovers, so they would never try to hurt the rabbits. Sometimes a young child may get over-excited, and they are a little too rough, but it’s never a serious matter. On the contrary, the Parisian Café offers a great experience for children, a chance for them to learn about rabbits and how to take care of them.
M: Well, it’s certainly the first time I’ve heard a café like that.
2. What does the woman say about cafés in her city?
解析：A。本题目为细节题。问题为：女士对她所在城市的咖啡馆有什么看法？根据原文可知，女士说城市里有许多咖啡馆，并且她觉得那些咖啡馆都很相似，故正确答案为A。原文中提到咖啡馆是一个极具竞争力的市场，所以B项和原文不符。C、D两项原文中并未提及。
3、Question 3 is based on the conversation you have just heard.
A、By giving them regular cleaning and injections.
B、By selecting breeds that are tame and peaceful.
C、By placing them at a safe distance from customers.
D、By briefing customers on how to get along with them.
解析：
Conversation One
M: Tonight we have a special guest from a local establishment, the Parisian Café. Welcome!
W: Hi, thanks for having me on your show.
M: Thank you for joining us. (1) So please tell us, why did you decide to open a café?
M: Well, we saw the opportunity to offer something a little special and different from other establishments. Cafés certainly are a very competitive market sector. (2) There are more than plenty in our city, and we felt they are all rather similar to each other. Wouldn’t you agree?
M: Certainly yes. So how is your establishment any different?
W: Well, simply put, we have rabbits wondering freely around the place. Our customers come in and enjoy their food and drinks while little rabbits play about and brush against their legs. There is no other place like it.
M: That’s amazing! How did you come up with the idea?
W: We saw other cafes with cats in them. So we thought, why not rabbits? People love rabbits. They are very cute animals.
M: But is it safe? Do the rabbits ever bite people? Or do any customers ever hurt the rabbits?
W: It’s perfectly safe for both the rabbits and our customers. Rabbits are very peaceful and certainly do not bite. (3) Furthermore, our rabbits are regularly cleaned and have all received the required shots. So there is no health risk whatsoever. (4) As for our customers, they are all animal lovers, so they would never try to hurt the rabbits. Sometimes a young child may get over-excited, and they are a little too rough, but it’s never a serious matter. On the contrary, the Parisian Café offers a great experience for children, a chance for them to learn about rabbits and how to take care of them.
M: Well, it’s certainly the first time I’ve heard a café like that.
3. How does the Parisian Café guarantee that its rabbits pose no health threat?
解析：A。本题目为细节题。问题为：巴黎咖啡馆如何保证它的兔子对健康没有威胁？根据原文可知，咖啡馆的兔子会定期做清洁，并且都得到了所需的免疫注射，所以没有任何健康风险。题干中的injections是原文required shots的同义替换，故正确答案为A。
4、Question 4 is based on the conversation you have just heard.
A、They want to learn about rabbits.
B、They like to bring in their children.
C、They love the animals in her café.
D、They give her café favorite reviews.
解析：
Conversation One
M: Tonight we have a special guest from a local establishment, the Parisian Café. Welcome!
W: Hi, thanks for having me on your show.
M: Thank you for joining us. (1) So please tell us, why did you decide to open a café?
M: Well, we saw the opportunity to offer something a little special and different from other establishments. Cafés certainly are a very competitive market sector. (2) There are more than plenty in our city, and we felt they are all rather similar to each other. Wouldn’t you agree?
M: Certainly yes. So how is your establishment any different?
W: Well, simply put, we have rabbits wondering freely around the place. Our customers come in and enjoy their food and drinks while little rabbits play about and brush against their legs. There is no other place like it.
M: That’s amazing! How did you come up with the idea?
W: We saw other cafes with cats in them. So we thought, why not rabbits? People love rabbits. They are very cute animals.
M: But is it safe? Do the rabbits ever bite people? Or do any customers ever hurt the rabbits?
W: It’s perfectly safe for both the rabbits and our customers. Rabbits are very peaceful and certainly do not bite. (3) Furthermore, our rabbits are regularly cleaned and have all received the required shots. So there is no health risk whatsoever. (4) As for our customers, they are all animal lovers, so they would never try to hurt the rabbits. Sometimes a young child may get over-excited, and they are a little too rough, but it’s never a serious matter. On the contrary, the Parisian Café offers a great experience for children, a chance for them to learn about rabbits and how to take care of them.
M: Well, it’s certainly the first time I’ve heard a café like that.
4. What does the woman say about their customers?
解析：C。本题目为细节题。问题为：女士对客户的评价是什么？根据原文可知，女士说到她的客人们都是动物爱好者，他们绝对不会去伤害兔子，故正确答案为C。女士在最后提到咖啡馆为孩子们提供了一个很好的体验机会，能让他们了解兔子以及如何照顾它们，但并不是说的所有客人都想要了解兔子，所以A项与原文不符。文中提到了会有孩子来的情况，但并没有说明客人喜欢带着孩子来，故排除B。D项在文中并未提及。
5、Question 5 is based on the conversation you have just heard.
A、It contains too many additives.
B、It lacks the essential vitamins.
C、It can cause obesity.
D、It is mostly garbage.
解析：
Conversation Two
M: Hi, there! How are you?
W: Oh, hi. I’m great! Thanks. You look great, too.
M: Thank you. It’s good to see you shopping at the organic section. I see you’ve got a lot of healthy stuff. (5) I wish I could buy more organic produce from here, but I find the kids don’t like it. I don’t know about yours, but mine are all about junk food.
W: Oh, trust me! I know exactly how you feel. (5) My children are the same. What is it with kids these days and all that junk food they eat? (6) I think it’s all that advertising on TV. That’s where they get it.
M: Yes, it must be. (6) My children see something on TV and they immediately want it. It’s like they don’t realize it’s just an advertisement.
W: Right. And practically everything that’s advertised for children is unhealthy processed foods. No surprise then it becomes a battle for us parents to feed our children ordinary fruit and vegetables.
M: That’s just the thing. One never sees ordinary ingredients being advertised on TV. It’s never a carrot or a peach. It’s always some garbage, like chocolate-covered sweets. So unhealthy.
W: Exactly. (7) And these big food corporations have so much money to spend on clever tactics designed to make young children want to buy their products. Children never stand a chance. It’s really not fair.
M: (7) You are so right. (8) When we were children, we barely had any junk food available, and we turned out just fine.
W: Yes. My parents don’t understand any of it. Both the TV commercials and the supermarkets are alien to them. Their world were so different back when they were young.
M: I don’t know what will happen to the next generation.
W: The world is going crazy.
M: You bet.
5. What do the speakers say about the food their children like?
解析：D。本题目为细节题。问题为：讲话者说他们的孩子喜欢什么食物？根据原文可知，男士说到他希望他能购买更多的有机产品，但他发现孩子们不喜欢这些健康食品，他们很喜欢那些垃圾食品。之后女士表示理解，并说她的孩子也是这样。所以讲话者的孩子都喜欢垃圾食品，故正确答案为D。
6、Question 6 is based on the conversation you have just heard.
A、Its fancy design.
B、TV commercials.
C、Its taste and texture.
D、Peer influence.
解析：
Conversation Two
M: Hi, there! How are you?
W: Oh, hi. I’m great! Thanks. You look great, too.
M: Thank you. It’s good to see you shopping at the organic section. I see you’ve got a lot of healthy stuff. (5) I wish I could buy more organic produce from here, but I find the kids don’t like it. I don’t know about yours, but mine are all about junk food.
W: Oh, trust me! I know exactly how you feel. (5) My children are the same. What is it with kids these days and all that junk food they eat? (6) I think it’s all that advertising on TV. That’s where they get it.
M: Yes, it must be. (6) My children see something on TV and they immediately want it. It’s like they don’t realize it’s just an advertisement.
W: Right. And practically everything that’s advertised for children is unhealthy processed foods. No surprise then it becomes a battle for us parents to feed our children ordinary fruit and vegetables.
M: That’s just the thing. One never sees ordinary ingredients being advertised on TV. It’s never a carrot or a peach. It’s always some garbage, like chocolate-covered sweets. So unhealthy.
W: Exactly. (7) And these big food corporations have so much money to spend on clever tactics designed to make young children want to buy their products. Children never stand a chance. It’s really not fair.
M: (7) You are so right. (8) When we were children, we barely had any junk food available, and we turned out just fine.
W: Yes. My parents don’t understand any of it. Both the TV commercials and the supermarkets are alien to them. Their world were so different back when they were young.
M: I don’t know what will happen to the next generation.
W: The world is going crazy.
M: You bet.
6. According to the speakers, what affects children’s choice of food most?
解析：B。本题目为细节题。问题为：根据讲话人的说法，什么因素会影响儿童对食物的选择？根据原文可知，女士认为孩子们对于垃圾食品的喜爱都是因为受到电视广告的影响，之后男士也表示认同，并说他的孩子在电视上看到什么就会想要什么。所以电视广告会影响儿童对食物的选择，故正确答案为B。
7、Question 7 is based on the conversation you have just heard.
A、Investing heavily in the production of sweet foods.
B、Marketing their products with ordinary ingredients.
C、Trying to trick children into buying their products.
D、Offering children more varieties to choose from.
解析：
Conversation Two
M: Hi, there! How are you?
W: Oh, hi. I’m great! Thanks. You look great, too.
M: Thank you. It’s good to see you shopping at the organic section. I see you’ve got a lot of healthy stuff. (5) I wish I could buy more organic produce from here, but I find the kids don’t like it. I don’t know about yours, but mine are all about junk food.
W: Oh, trust me! I know exactly how you feel. (5) My children are the same. What is it with kids these days and all that junk food they eat? (6) I think it’s all that advertising on TV. That’s where they get it.
M: Yes, it must be. (6) My children see something on TV and they immediately want it. It’s like they don’t realize it’s just an advertisement.
W: Right. And practically everything that’s advertised for children is unhealthy processed foods. No surprise then it becomes a battle for us parents to feed our children ordinary fruit and vegetables.
M: That’s just the thing. One never sees ordinary ingredients being advertised on TV. It’s never a carrot or a peach. It’s always some garbage, like chocolate-covered sweets. So unhealthy.
W: Exactly. (7) And these big food corporations have so much money to spend on clever tactics designed to make young children want to buy their products. Children never stand a chance. It’s really not fair.
M: (7) You are so right. (8) When we were children, we barely had any junk food available, and we turned out just fine.
W: Yes. My parents don’t understand any of it. Both the TV commercials and the supermarkets are alien to them. Their world were so different back when they were young.
M: I don’t know what will happen to the next generation.
W: The world is going crazy.
M: You bet.
7. What do the speakers believe big food corporations are doing?
解析：C。本题目为细节题。问题为：讲话者认为大型食品公司在做什么？根据原文可知，女士说到大型食品公司会花很多钱去想一些巧妙的策略，目的是让孩子们想购买他们的产品，男士也表示赞同。故正确答案为C。
8、Question 8 is based on the conversation you have just heard.
A、They hardly ate vegetables.
B、They seldom had junk food.
C、They favored chocolate-coated sweets.
D、They liked the food advertised on TV.
解析：
Conversation Two
M: Hi, there! How are you?
W: Oh, hi. I’m great! Thanks. You look great, too.
M: Thank you. It’s good to see you shopping at the organic section. I see you’ve got a lot of healthy stuff. (5) I wish I could buy more organic produce from here, but I find the kids don’t like it. I don’t know about yours, but mine are all about junk food.
W: Oh, trust me! I know exactly how you feel. (5) My children are the same. What is it with kids these days and all that junk food they eat? (6) I think it’s all that advertising on TV. That’s where they get it.
M: Yes, it must be. (6) My children see something on TV and they immediately want it. It’s like they don’t realize it’s just an advertisement.
W: Right. And practically everything that’s advertised for children is unhealthy processed foods. No surprise then it becomes a battle for us parents to feed our children ordinary fruit and vegetables.
M: That’s just the thing. One never sees ordinary ingredients being advertised on TV. It’s never a carrot or a peach. It’s always some garbage, like chocolate-covered sweets. So unhealthy.
W: Exactly. (7) And these big food corporations have so much money to spend on clever tactics designed to make young children want to buy their products. Children never stand a chance. It’s really not fair.
M: (7) You are so right. (8) When we were children, we barely had any junk food available, and we turned out just fine.
W: Yes. My parents don’t understand any of it. Both the TV commercials and the supermarkets are alien to them. Their world were so different back when they were young.
M: I don’t know what will happen to the next generation.
W: The world is going crazy.
M: You bet.
8. What do we know about the speakers when they were children?
解析：B。本题目为细节题。问题为：当讲话者是孩子的时候，我们对他们有什么了解？根据原文可知，当讲话者是孩子的时候，他们很少可以吃到垃圾食品，结果成长的也很好。故正确答案为B。
9、Question 9 is based on the passage you have just heard.
A、Stretches of farmland.
B、Typical Egyptian animal farms.
C、Tombs of ancient rulers.
D、Ruins left by devastating floods.
解析：
Passage One
As some 2,320 miles in length, the Mississippi is the longest river in the Unites States. At some 1,000 miles, the Mackenzie is the longest river in Canada. But these waterways seem minute in comparison to the world’s two longest rivers—the Nile and the Amazon.
The Nile, which begins in central Africa and flows over 4,100 miles north into the Mediterranean, hosted one of the world’s great ancient civilizations along its shores. Calm and peaceful for most of the year, the Nile used to flood annually, thereby creating, irrigating and carrying new topsoil to the nearby farmland on which Egypt depended for livelihood. As a means of transportation, the river carried various vessels up and down its length. (9) A journey through the unobstructed part of this waterway today would pass by the splendid Valley of the Kings, where the tombs of many of these ancient monarchs have stood for over 3,000 years.
(10) Great civilizations and intensive settlement are hardly associated with the Amazon, (11) yet this 4,000-mile-long South American river carries about 20% of the world’s fresh water—more than the Mississippi, Nile and Yangtze combined. Other statistics are equally astonishing. The Amazon is so wide at some points that from its center neither shore can be seen. Each second, the Amazon pours some 55 million gallons of water into the Atlantic; there, at its mouth, stands one island larger than Switzerland. Most important of all, the Amazon irrigates the largest tropical rain forest on Earth.
9. What can be found in the Valley of the Kings?
解析：C。本题目为细节题。问题为：在帝王谷里可以找到什么？根据原文可知，如今只要穿过这条畅通无阻的水道，就会经过壮丽的帝王谷，在那里，许多古代帝王的陵墓已经矗立了3000多年。故正确答案为C。
10、Question 10 is based on the passage you have just heard.
A、It provides habitats for more primitive tribes.
B、It is hardly associated with great civilizations.
C、It has not yet been fully explored and exploited.
D、It gathers water from many tropical rain forests.
解析：
Passage One
As some 2,320 miles in length, the Mississippi is the longest river in the Unites States. At some 1,000 miles, the Mackenzie is the longest river in Canada. But these waterways seem minute in comparison to the world’s two longest rivers—the Nile and the Amazon.
The Nile, which begins in central Africa and flows over 4,100 miles north into the Mediterranean, hosted one of the world’s great ancient civilizations along its shores. Calm and peaceful for most of the year, the Nile used to flood annually, thereby creating, irrigating and carrying new topsoil to the nearby farmland on which Egypt depended for livelihood. As a means of transportation, the river carried various vessels up and down its length. (9) A journey through the unobstructed part of this waterway today would pass by the splendid Valley of the Kings, where the tombs of many of these ancient monarchs have stood for over 3,000 years.
(10) Great civilizations and intensive settlement are hardly associated with the Amazon, (11) yet this 4,000-mile-long South American river carries about 20% of the world’s fresh water—more than the Mississippi, Nile and Yangtze combined. Other statistics are equally astonishing. The Amazon is so wide at some points that from its center neither shore can be seen. Each second, the Amazon pours some 55 million gallons of water into the Atlantic; there, at its mouth, stands one island larger than Switzerland. Most important of all, the Amazon irrigates the largest tropical rain forest on Earth.
10. In what way is the Amazon different from other big rivers?
解析：B。本题目为细节题。问题为：亚马逊河与其他大河流有什么区别？根据原文可知，伟大的文明和密集的定居区与亚马逊河几乎没有联系。故正确答案为B。
11、Question 11 is based on the passage you have just heard.
A、It carries about one fifth of the world’s fresh water.
B、It has numerous human settlements along its banks.
C、It is second only to the Mississippi River in width.
D、It is as long as the Nile and the Yangtze combined.
解析：
Passage One
As some 2,320 miles in length, the Mississippi is the longest river in the Unites States. At some 1,000 miles, the Mackenzie is the longest river in Canada. But these waterways seem minute in comparison to the world’s two longest rivers—the Nile and the Amazon.
The Nile, which begins in central Africa and flows over 4,100 miles north into the Mediterranean, hosted one of the world’s great ancient civilizations along its shores. Calm and peaceful for most of the year, the Nile used to flood annually, thereby creating, irrigating and carrying new topsoil to the nearby farmland on which Egypt depended for livelihood. As a means of transportation, the river carried various vessels up and down its length. (9) A journey through the unobstructed part of this waterway today would pass by the splendid Valley of the Kings, where the tombs of many of these ancient monarchs have stood for over 3,000 years.
(10) Great civilizations and intensive settlement are hardly associated with the Amazon, (11) yet this 4,000-mile-long South American river carries about 20% of the world’s fresh water—more than the Mississippi, Nile and Yangtze combined. Other statistics are equally astonishing. The Amazon is so wide at some points that from its center neither shore can be seen. Each second, the Amazon pours some 55 million gallons of water into the Atlantic; there, at its mouth, stands one island larger than Switzerland. Most important of all, the Amazon irrigates the largest tropical rain forest on Earth.
11. What does the speaker say about the Amazon?
解析：A。本题目为细节题。问题为：关于亚马逊河，讲话人说了些什么？根据原文可知，这条4000英里长的南美洲河流承载着世界上20%的淡水，比密西西比河、尼罗河和长江的总和还要多。故正确答案为A。
12、Question 12 is based on the passage you have just heard.
A、Living a life in the fast lane leads to success.
B、We are always in a rush to do various things.
C、The search for tranquility has become a trend.
D、All of us actually yearn for a slow and calm life.
解析：
Passage Two
How often do you say to people “I’m busy” or “I haven’t got time for that”. (12) It is an inevitable truth that all of us live a life in a fast lane, even though we know that being busy is not always particularly healthy.
Growing up in New Zealand, everything was always calm and slow. People enjoyed the tranquility of a slower pace of life. But after I moved to Tokyo and lived there for a number of years, (13) I got used to having a pile of to-do list, and my calendar always looked like a mess, with loads of things to do written across it. I found myself filling my time up with endless work and social events, rushing along as busy as a bee.
Then, one day, (14) I came across a book called In Praise of Slowness and realized that being busy is not only detrimental, but also has the danger of turning life into an endless race. So I started practicing the various practical steps mentioned by the author in the book, and begun to revolt against the very idea of being too busy. (15) It doesn’t mean that my to-do lists no longer exist, but I’ve become more aware of the important of slowing down and making sure that I enjoy the daily activities as I carry them out.
From now on, when someone ask you how your life is, try responding with words like “exciting and fun” instead of the culture norm that says “busy”. See if you experience the tranquility that follows.
12. What does the speaker think is an inevitable truth?
解析：B。本题目为细节题。问题为：讲话者认为什么是不可逃避的事实？根据原文可知，讲话者说到尽管我们知道忙碌并不总是特别健康，但我们所有人都生活在快节奏中，这是不可避免的事实。也就是我们总是忙于做各种事情，故正确答案为B。
13、Question 13 is based on the passage you have just heard.
A、She had trouble balancing family and work.
B、She enjoyed the various social events.
C、She was accustomed to tight schedules.
D、She spent all her leisure time writing books.
解析：
Passage Two
How often do you say to people “I’m busy” or “I haven’t got time for that”. (12) It is an inevitable truth that all of us live a life in a fast lane, even though we know that being busy is not always particularly healthy.
Growing up in New Zealand, everything was always calm and slow. People enjoyed the tranquility of a slower pace of life. But after I moved to Tokyo and lived there for a number of years, (13) I got used to having a pile of to-do list, and my calendar always looked like a mess, with loads of things to do written across it. I found myself filling my time up with endless work and social events, rushing along as busy as a bee.
Then, one day, (14) I came across a book called In Praise of Slowness and realized that being busy is not only detrimental, but also has the danger of turning life into an endless race. So I started practicing the various practical steps mentioned by the author in the book, and begun to revolt against the very idea of being too busy. (15) It doesn’t mean that my to-do lists no longer exist, but I’ve become more aware of the important of slowing down and making sure that I enjoy the daily activities as I carry them out.
From now on, when someone ask you how your life is, try responding with words like “exciting and fun” instead of the culture norm that says “busy”. See if you experience the tranquility that follows.
13. What does the speaker say about her life in Tokyo?
解析：C。本题目为细节题。问题为：讲话者怎样评价她在东京的生活？根据原文可知，讲话者提到她习惯了有一堆要做的事情，她的日程表看起来总是一团糟，上面写满了需要做的事情。故正确答案为C。
14、Question 14 is based on the passage you have just heard.
A、The possibility of ruining her family.
B、Becoming aware of her declining health.
C、The fatigue from living a fast-paced life.
D、Reading a book about slowing down.
解析：
Passage Two
How often do you say to people “I’m busy” or “I haven’t got time for that”. (12) It is an inevitable truth that all of us live a life in a fast lane, even though we know that being busy is not always particularly healthy.
Growing up in New Zealand, everything was always calm and slow. People enjoyed the tranquility of a slower pace of life. But after I moved to Tokyo and lived there for a number of years, (13) I got used to having a pile of to-do list, and my calendar always looked like a mess, with loads of things to do written across it. I found myself filling my time up with endless work and social events, rushing along as busy as a bee.
Then, one day, (14) I came across a book called In Praise of Slowness and realized that being busy is not only detrimental, but also has the danger of turning life into an endless race. So I started practicing the various practical steps mentioned by the author in the book, and begun to revolt against the very idea of being too busy. (15) It doesn’t mean that my to-do lists no longer exist, but I’ve become more aware of the important of slowing down and making sure that I enjoy the daily activities as I carry them out.
From now on, when someone ask you how your life is, try responding with words like “exciting and fun” instead of the culture norm that says “busy”. See if you experience the tranquility that follows.
14. What made the speaker change her lifestyle?
解析：D。本题目为细节题。问题为：是什么让讲话者改变了她的生活方式？根据原文可知，讲话者偶然读了一本书，叫做《对慢的赞美》，她意识到忙碌不仅有害，而且很有可能把生活变成一种无休止的竞赛。于是讲话者开始练习作者在书中提到的各种实践步骤，并开始反抗那种太忙碌的想法。故正确答案为D。
15、Question 15 is based on the passage you have just heard.
A、She started to follow the cultural norms.
B、She came to enjoy doing everyday tasks.
C、She learned to use more polite expressions.
D、She stopped using to-do lists and calendars.
解析：
Passage Two
How often do you say to people “I’m busy” or “I haven’t got time for that”. (12) It is an inevitable truth that all of us live a life in a fast lane, even though we know that being busy is not always particularly healthy.
Growing up in New Zealand, everything was always calm and slow. People enjoyed the tranquility of a slower pace of life. But after I moved to Tokyo and lived there for a number of years, (13) I got used to having a pile of to-do list, and my calendar always looked like a mess, with loads of things to do written across it. I found myself filling my time up with endless work and social events, rushing along as busy as a bee.
Then, one day, (14) I came across a book called In Praise of Slowness and realized that being busy is not only detrimental, but also has the danger of turning life into an endless race. So I started practicing the various practical steps mentioned by the author in the book, and begun to revolt against the very idea of being too busy. (15) It doesn’t mean that my to-do lists no longer exist, but I’ve become more aware of the important of slowing down and making sure that I enjoy the daily activities as I carry them out.
From now on, when someone ask you how your life is, try responding with words like “exciting and fun” instead of the culture norm that says “busy”. See if you experience the tranquility that follows.
15. What happened after the speaker changed her lifestyle?
解析：B。本题目为细节题。问题为：讲话者改变了她的生活方式后发生了什么?根据原文可知，讲话者在改变她的生活方式后并不意味着她的任务清单已经不存在了，而她已经越来越意识到放慢脚步的重要性，并且在做日常活动的时候能够享受其中。故正确答案为B。
16、Question 16 is based on the recording you have just heard.
A、They will root out native species altogether.
B、They contribute to a region’s biodiversity.
C、They pose a threat to the local ecosystem.
D、They will crossbreed with native species.
解析：
Recording One
(16) Governments, private groups, and individuals spend billions of dollars a year trying to root out non-native organisms that are considered dangerous to ecosystems, and to prevent the introduction of new intruders. But a number of scientists question the assumption that the presence of alien species can never be acceptable in a natural ecosystem. They say that portraying introduced species as inherently bad is an unscientific approach. (17) “Distinctions between the exotic and native species are artificial,” said Dr. Micheal Rosenzweig, a professor of evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona, “because they depend on picking a date and calling the plants and animals that show up after that date ‘exotic’.” Ecosystems free of species defined as exotic are, by default, considered the most natural. “You can’t roll back the clock and remove all exotics or fix habitats,” Dr. Rosenzweig said. “Both native and exotic species can become invasive, and so they all have to be monitored and controlled when they begin to get out of hand.”
At its core, the debate is about how to manage the world’s remaining natural ecosystems and about how, and how much, to restore other habitats. Species that invade a territory can harm ecosystems, agriculture, and human health. They can threaten some native species or even destroy and replace others. Next to habitat loss, these invasive species represent the greatest threat to biodiversity worldwide, many ecologists say. Ecologists generally define an alien species as one that people, accidentally or deliberately, carried to its new location. Across the American continents, exotic species are those introduced after the first European contact. That date, rounded off to 1500 AD, represents what ecologists consider to have been a major shift in the spread of species, including crops and livestock, as they began to migrate with humans from continent to continent.
(18) “Only a small percentage of alien species cause problems in their new habitats,” said Don Smith, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Tennessee. “Of the 7,000 alien species in the United States—out of a total of 150,000 species—only about 10 percent are invasive,” he pointed out. The other 90 percent have fit into their environments and are considered naturalized. Yet appearances can deceive, ecologists caution, and many of these exotics may be considered acceptable only because no one has documented there harmful effects. What is more, non-native species can appear harmless for decades, then turn invasive.
16. What assumption about introduced species is challenged by a number of scientists?
解析：C。本题目为细节题。问题为：关于引进物种的什么假设受到了许多科学家的质疑？根据原文可知，政府、私人团体和个人每年花很多钱试图根除被认为对生态系统有危害的非本土生物，并防止引入新入侵者。但是许多科学家质疑这样一种假设，即在自然生态系统中外来物种的存在是不可能被接受的。他们说，将引入外来物种说成是有害的观点是不科学的。故正确答案为C。
17、Question 17 is based on the recording you have just heard.
A、Their classifications are meaningful.
B、Their interactions are hard to define.
C、Their definitions are changeable.
D、Their distinctions are artificial.
解析：
Recording One
(16) Governments, private groups, and individuals spend billions of dollars a year trying to root out non-native organisms that are considered dangerous to ecosystems, and to prevent the introduction of new intruders. But a number of scientists question the assumption that the presence of alien species can never be acceptable in a natural ecosystem. They say that portraying introduced species as inherently bad is an unscientific approach. (17) “Distinctions between the exotic and native species are artificial,” said Dr. Micheal Rosenzweig, a professor of evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona, “because they depend on picking a date and calling the plants and animals that show up after that date ‘exotic’.” Ecosystems free of species defined as exotic are, by default, considered the most natural. “You can’t roll back the clock and remove all exotics or fix habitats,” Dr. Rosenzweig said. “Both native and exotic species can become invasive, and so they all have to be monitored and controlled when they begin to get out of hand.”
At its core, the debate is about how to manage the world’s remaining natural ecosystems and about how, and how much, to restore other habitats. Species that invade a territory can harm ecosystems, agriculture, and human health. They can threaten some native species or even destroy and replace others. Next to habitat loss, these invasive species represent the greatest threat to biodiversity worldwide, many ecologists say. Ecologists generally define an alien species as one that people, accidentally or deliberately, carried to its new location. Across the American continents, exotic species are those introduced after the first European contact. That date, rounded off to 1500 AD, represents what ecologists consider to have been a major shift in the spread of species, including crops and livestock, as they began to migrate with humans from continent to continent.
(18) “Only a small percentage of alien species cause problems in their new habitats,” said Don Smith, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Tennessee. “Of the 7,000 alien species in the United States—out of a total of 150,000 species—only about 10 percent are invasive,” he pointed out. The other 90 percent have fit into their environments and are considered naturalized. Yet appearances can deceive, ecologists caution, and many of these exotics may be considered acceptable only because no one has documented there harmful effects. What is more, non-native species can appear harmless for decades, then turn invasive.
17. What dose Dr. Micheal Rosenzweig think of exotic and native species?
解析：D。本题目为细节题。问题为：Micheal Rosenzweig博士对外来物种和本土物种的看法是什么？根据原文可知，Micheal Rosenzweig博士说，外来物种和本地物种之间的区别是人为的。故正确答案为D。
18、Question 18 is based on the recording you have just heard.
A、Only a few of them cause problems to native species.
B、They may turn out to benefit the local environment.
C、Few of them can survive in their new habitats.
D、Only 10 percent of them can be naturalized.
解析：
Recording One
(16) Governments, private groups, and individuals spend billions of dollars a year trying to root out non-native organisms that are considered dangerous to ecosystems, and to prevent the introduction of new intruders. But a number of scientists question the assumption that the presence of alien species can never be acceptable in a natural ecosystem. They say that portraying introduced species as inherently bad is an unscientific approach. (17) “Distinctions between the exotic and native species are artificial,” said Dr. Micheal Rosenzweig, a professor of evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona, “because they depend on picking a date and calling the plants and animals that show up after that date ‘exotic’.” Ecosystems free of species defined as exotic are, by default, considered the most natural. “You can’t roll back the clock and remove all exotics or fix habitats,” Dr. Rosenzweig said. “Both native and exotic species can become invasive, and so they all have to be monitored and controlled when they begin to get out of hand.”
At its core, the debate is about how to manage the world’s remaining natural ecosystems and about how, and how much, to restore other habitats. Species that invade a territory can harm ecosystems, agriculture, and human health. They can threaten some native species or even destroy and replace others. Next to habitat loss, these invasive species represent the greatest threat to biodiversity worldwide, many ecologists say. Ecologists generally define an alien species as one that people, accidentally or deliberately, carried to its new location. Across the American continents, exotic species are those introduced after the first European contact. That date, rounded off to 1500 AD, represents what ecologists consider to have been a major shift in the spread of species, including crops and livestock, as they began to migrate with humans from continent to continent.
(18) “Only a small percentage of alien species cause problems in their new habitats,” said Don Smith, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Tennessee. “Of the 7,000 alien species in the United States—out of a total of 150,000 species—only about 10 percent are invasive,” he pointed out. The other 90 percent have fit into their environments and are considered naturalized. Yet appearances can deceive, ecologists caution, and many of these exotics may be considered acceptable only because no one has documented there harmful effects. What is more, non-native species can appear harmless for decades, then turn invasive.
18. What does Professor Don Smith say about alien species?
解析：A。本题目为细节题。问题为：Don Smith教授对外来物种的看法是什么？根据原文可知，Don Smith博士说只有少量的外来物种在它们的新栖息地会造成问题。故正确答案为A。
19、Question 19 is based on the recording you have just heard.
A、Respect their traditional culture.
B、Attend their business seminars.
C、Research their specific demands.
D、Adopt the right business strategies.
解析：
Recording Two
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen! And welcome to the third in our series of business seminars in the program—Doing Business Abroad. Today we are going to look at intercultural awareness, that is, the fact that not everyone is British, not everyone speaks English, and not everyone does business in the British way. And why should they? (19) If overseas business people are selling to us, then they will make every effort to speak English and to respect our traditions and methods. It is only polite for us to do the same when we visit them. It is not only polite. It is essential if we want to sell British products overseas.
First, a short quiz. Let’s see how inter culturally aware you are.
Question one: Where must you not drink alcohol on the first and seventh of every month?
Question two: Where should you never admire your host’s possessions?
Question three: How should you attract the waiter during a business lunch in Bangkok?
And Question four: Where should you try to make all your appointments either before 2:00 or after 5:30 p.m.?
Ok. Everyone had a chance to make some notes? Right. Here are the answers—although I am sure that the information could equally apply to countries other than those I have chosen.
So, number 1, (20) you must not drink alcohol on the first and seventh of the month in India. In international hotels you may find it served, but if you are having a meal with an Indian colleague, remember to avoid asking for a beer if your arrival coincides with one of those dates. 2. In Arab countries, the politeness and generosity of the people is without parallel. If you admire your colleague’s beautiful golden bowls, you may well find yourself being presented with them as a present. This is not a cheap way to do your shopping, however, as your host will, quite correctly, expect you to respond by presenting him with a gift of equal worth and beauty. In Thailand, clicking the fingers, clapping your hand, or just shouting “Waiter!” will embarrass your hosts, fellow diners, the waiter himself and, most of all, you! Place your palm downward and make an inconspicuous waving gesture, which will produce instant and satisfying results. (21) And finally, in Spain, some businesses maintain the pattern of working until about two o’clock and then returning to the office from 5:30 to 8:00, 9:00 or 10:00 in the evening.
19. What should you do when doing business with foreigners?
解析：A。本题目为细节题。问题为：与外国人做生意应该怎么做？根据原文可知，讲话者说到如果海外商人向英国推销产品，他们会尽一切努力说英语，并尊重英国的传统文化和做事方法。当英国人去其他国家做生意时，他们也会礼貌地做同样的事情。故正确答案为A。
20、Question 20 is based on the recording you have just heard.
A、Showing them your palm.
B、Giving them gifts of great value.
C、Drinking alcohol on certain days of a month.
D、Clicking your fingers loudly in their presence.
解析：
Recording Two
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen! And welcome to the third in our series of business seminars in the program—Doing Business Abroad. Today we are going to look at intercultural awareness, that is, the fact that not everyone is British, not everyone speaks English, and not everyone does business in the British way. And why should they? (19) If overseas business people are selling to us, then they will make every effort to speak English and to respect our traditions and methods. It is only polite for us to do the same when we visit them. It is not only polite. It is essential if we want to sell British products overseas.
First, a short quiz. Let’s see how inter culturally aware you are.
Question one: Where must you not drink alcohol on the first and seventh of every month?
Question two: Where should you never admire your host’s possessions?
Question three: How should you attract the waiter during a business lunch in Bangkok?
And Question four: Where should you try to make all your appointments either before 2:00 or after 5:30 p.m.?
Ok. Everyone had a chance to make some notes? Right. Here are the answers—although I am sure that the information could equally apply to countries other than those I have chosen.
So, number 1, (20) you must not drink alcohol on the first and seventh of the month in India. In international hotels you may find it served, but if you are having a meal with an Indian colleague, remember to avoid asking for a beer if your arrival coincides with one of those dates. 2. In Arab countries, the politeness and generosity of the people is without parallel. If you admire your colleague’s beautiful golden bowls, you may well find yourself being presented with them as a present. This is not a cheap way to do your shopping, however, as your host will, quite correctly, expect you to respond by presenting him with a gift of equal worth and beauty. In Thailand, clicking the fingers, clapping your hand, or just shouting “Waiter!” will embarrass your hosts, fellow diners, the waiter himself and, most of all, you! Place your palm downward and make an inconspicuous waving gesture, which will produce instant and satisfying results. (21) And finally, in Spain, some businesses maintain the pattern of working until about two o’clock and then returning to the office from 5:30 to 8:00, 9:00 or 10:00 in the evening.
20. What must you avoid doing with your Indian colleague?
解析：C。本题目为细节题。问题为：你必须避免与印度同事一起做什么？根据原文可知，在印度，每个月的第一天和第七个月不能喝酒。在国际酒店里，你可能会发现这里提供了啤酒，但如果你和一位印度同事一起吃饭的时间恰好是这个日期，那就不要再点啤酒了。故正确答案为C。
21、Question 21 is based on the recording you have just heard.
A、They are very easy to satisfy.
B、They have a strong sense of worth.
C、They tend to be friendly and enthusiastic.
D、They have a break from 2:00 to 5:30 p.m.
解析：
Recording Two
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen! And welcome to the third in our series of business seminars in the program—Doing Business Abroad. Today we are going to look at intercultural awareness, that is, the fact that not everyone is British, not everyone speaks English, and not everyone does business in the British way. And why should they? (19) If overseas business people are selling to us, then they will make every effort to speak English and to respect our traditions and methods. It is only polite for us to do the same when we visit them. It is not only polite. It is essential if we want to sell British products overseas.
First, a short quiz. Let’s see how inter culturally aware you are.
Question one: Where must you not drink alcohol on the first and seventh of every month?
Question two: Where should you never admire your host’s possessions?
Question three: How should you attract the waiter during a business lunch in Bangkok?
And Question four: Where should you try to make all your appointments either before 2:00 or after 5:30 p.m.?
Ok. Everyone had a chance to make some notes? Right. Here are the answers—although I am sure that the information could equally apply to countries other than those I have chosen.
So, number 1, (20) you must not drink alcohol on the first and seventh of the month in India. In international hotels you may find it served, but if you are having a meal with an Indian colleague, remember to avoid asking for a beer if your arrival coincides with one of those dates. 2. In Arab countries, the politeness and generosity of the people is without parallel. If you admire your colleague’s beautiful golden bowls, you may well find yourself being presented with them as a present. This is not a cheap way to do your shopping, however, as your host will, quite correctly, expect you to respond by presenting him with a gift of equal worth and beauty. In Thailand, clicking the fingers, clapping your hand, or just shouting “Waiter!” will embarrass your hosts, fellow diners, the waiter himself and, most of all, you! Place your palm downward and make an inconspicuous waving gesture, which will produce instant and satisfying results. (21) And finally, in Spain, some businesses maintain the pattern of working until about two o’clock and then returning to the office from 5:30 to 8:00, 9:00 or 10:00 in the evening.
21. What do we learn about some Spanish business people?
解析：D。本题目为细节题。问题为：关于西班牙商人，我们能了解到什么？根据讲话者在最后提到的西班牙企业的上班模式可知，西班牙人通常会工作到下午两点下班，然后在晚上5:30的时候再回到办公室上班，一直到八点、九点或十点。所以西班牙人会在下午2点到下午5点半休息，故正确答案为D。
22、Question 22 is based on the recording you have just heard.
A、He completely changed the company’s culture.
B、He collected paintings by world-famous artists.
C、He took over the sales department of Reader’s Digest.
D、He had the company’s boardroom extensively renovated.
解析：
Recording Three
(22) Shortly after he took over the Reader's Digest Association in 1984, George Grune unlocked the company's boardroom and announced that the room was now open to the employees. It was a symbolic act, indicating that under Grune's leadership Reader's Digest was going to be different. True to his word, Grune has shaken up the culture here.
To get an idea of the culture we're talking about, consider the boardroom Grune opened up. It has artworks that any museum in the world would want to collect, paintings by many world-famous artists like Monet and Picasso. Its headquarters houses some 3,000 works of art. The main building is topped with a Georgian Tower with four sculptures of mythical winged horse, the magazine's corporate logo. It sits on 127 acres of well-trimmed lawns. The editor's office used to be occupied by founder Dewitt Wallace, who, along with his wife, Lila Acheson. Wallace, launched Reader's Digest in 1922 with condensed articles from other publications. It has become the world's most widely read magazine, selling 28 million copies each month in 17 languages and 41 different editions. (23) The Wallaces, both children of church ministers, had a clearly defined formula for their “little magazine” as the Reader's Digest was originally subtitled. Articles were to be short, readable and uplifting. Subjects were picked to inspire or entertain. The Wallaces didn't accept advertising in the US edition until 1955 and even then they didn't allow any ads for cigarette, liquor or drugs.
(24) The Wallaces also had a clear sense of the kind of workplace they wanted. It started as a mom-and-pop operation, and the childless Wallaces always considered employees to be part of their family. Employees still tell stories of how the Wallaces would take care of their employees who had met with misfortunes and they showered their employees with unusual benefits, like a turkey at Thanksgiving and Fridays off in May. This cozy workplace no longer exists here. The Wallaces both dead in their nineties in the early 1980s. George Grune, a former ad salesman who joint Reader's Digest in 1960 has his eye focused on the bottom line. In a few short years, he turned the magazine on his head. (25) He laid off several hundred workers. Especially hard hit were the blue- and pink-collar departments, such as subscription fulfillment.
22. What did George Grune do in 1984?
解析：A。本题目为细节题。问题为：George Grune在1984做了什么？根据原文可知，在1984年接手《读者文摘》之后不久，George Grune打开了公司董事会的大门，并宣布该公司现在对员工开放。一如他所说，Grune动摇了这里的文化。故正确答案为A。
23、Question 23 is based on the recordinh you have just heard.
A、It should be sold at a reasonable price.
B、Its articles should be short and inspiring.
C、It should be published in the world’s leading languages.
D、Its articles should entertain blue- and pink-collar workers.
解析：
Recording Three
(22) Shortly after he took over the Reader's Digest Association in 1984, George Grune unlocked the company's boardroom and announced that the room was now open to the employees. It was a symbolic act, indicating that under Grune's leadership Reader's Digest was going to be different. True to his word, Grune has shaken up the culture here.
To get an idea of the culture we're talking about, consider the boardroom Grune opened up. It has artworks that any museum in the world would want to collect, paintings by many world-famous artists like Monet and Picasso. Its headquarters houses some 3,000 works of art. The main building is topped with a Georgian Tower with four sculptures of mythical winged horse, the magazine's corporate logo. It sits on 127 acres of well-trimmed lawns. The editor's office used to be occupied by founder Dewitt Wallace, who, along with his wife, Lila Acheson. Wallace, launched Reader's Digest in 1922 with condensed articles from other publications. It has become the world's most widely read magazine, selling 28 million copies each month in 17 languages and 41 different editions. (23) The Wallaces, both children of church ministers, had a clearly defined formula for their “little magazine” as the Reader's Digest was originally subtitled. Articles were to be short, readable and uplifting. Subjects were picked to inspire or entertain. The Wallaces didn't accept advertising in the US edition until 1955 and even then they didn't allow any ads for cigarette, liquor or drugs.
(24) The Wallaces also had a clear sense of the kind of workplace they wanted. It started as a mom-and-pop operation, and the childless Wallaces always considered employees to be part of their family. Employees still tell stories of how the Wallaces would take care of their employees who had met with misfortunes and they showered their employees with unusual benefits, like a turkey at Thanksgiving and Fridays off in May. This cozy workplace no longer exists here. The Wallaces both dead in their nineties in the early 1980s. George Grune, a former ad salesman who joint Reader's Digest in 1960 has his eye focused on the bottom line. In a few short years, he turned the magazine on his head. (25) He laid off several hundred workers. Especially hard hit were the blue- and pink-collar departments, such as subscription fulfillment.
23. How did the Wallaces define the formula for Reader’s Digest?
解析：B。本题目为细节题。问题为：Wallace夫妇是如何定义《读者文摘》的准则要求的?根据原文可知，Wallace夫妇都是教会牧师的孩子，他们对杂志的文章有一个明确的准则要求，文章要短小，可读性强，令人振奋。故正确答案为B。
24、Question 24 is based on the recording you have just heard.
A、He knew how to make the magazine profitable.
B、He served as a church minister for many years.
C、He suffered many setbacks and misfortunes in his life.
D、He treated the employees like members of his family.
解析：
Recording Three
(22) Shortly after he took over the Reader's Digest Association in 1984, George Grune unlocked the company's boardroom and announced that the room was now open to the employees. It was a symbolic act, indicating that under Grune's leadership Reader's Digest was going to be different. True to his word, Grune has shaken up the culture here.
To get an idea of the culture we're talking about, consider the boardroom Grune opened up. It has artworks that any museum in the world would want to collect, paintings by many world-famous artists like Monet and Picasso. Its headquarters houses some 3,000 works of art. The main building is topped with a Georgian Tower with four sculptures of mythical winged horse, the magazine's corporate logo. It sits on 127 acres of well-trimmed lawns. The editor's office used to be occupied by founder Dewitt Wallace, who, along with his wife, Lila Acheson. Wallace, launched Reader's Digest in 1922 with condensed articles from other publications. It has become the world's most widely read magazine, selling 28 million copies each month in 17 languages and 41 different editions. (23) The Wallaces, both children of church ministers, had a clearly defined formula for their “little magazine” as the Reader's Digest was originally subtitled. Articles were to be short, readable and uplifting. Subjects were picked to inspire or entertain. The Wallaces didn't accept advertising in the US edition until 1955 and even then they didn't allow any ads for cigarette, liquor or drugs.
(24) The Wallaces also had a clear sense of the kind of workplace they wanted. It started as a mom-and-pop operation, and the childless Wallaces always considered employees to be part of their family. Employees still tell stories of how the Wallaces would take care of their employees who had met with misfortunes and they showered their employees with unusual benefits, like a turkey at Thanksgiving and Fridays off in May. This cozy workplace no longer exists here. The Wallaces both dead in their nineties in the early 1980s. George Grune, a former ad salesman who joint Reader's Digest in 1960 has his eye focused on the bottom line. In a few short years, he turned the magazine on his head. (25) He laid off several hundred workers. Especially hard hit were the blue- and pink-collar departments, such as subscription fulfillment.
24. What do we learn about the founder of Reader’s Digest to Dewitt Wallace?
解析：D。本题目为细节题。问题为：我们对《读者文摘》的创始人Dewitt Wallace有何了解？根据原文可知，《读者文摘》的创始人清楚地意识到自己想要的工作环境和企业文化。这家公司最初是一家夫妻店，他们没有孩子，Wallace夫妇一直认为员工是他们家庭的一部分。故正确答案为D。
25、Question 25 is based on the recording you have just heard.
A、It carried many more advertisements.
B、George Grune joined it as an ad salesman.
C、Several hundreds of its employees got fired.
D、Its subscriptions increased considerably.
解析：
Recording Three
(22) Shortly after he took over the Reader's Digest Association in 1984, George Grune unlocked the company's boardroom and announced that the room was now open to the employees. It was a symbolic act, indicating that under Grune's leadership Reader's Digest was going to be different. True to his word, Grune has shaken up the culture here.
To get an idea of the culture we're talking about, consider the boardroom Grune opened up. It has artworks that any museum in the world would want to collect, paintings by many world-famous artists like Monet and Picasso. Its headquarters houses some 3,000 works of art. The main building is topped with a Georgian Tower with four sculptures of mythical winged horse, the magazine's corporate logo. It sits on 127 acres of well-trimmed lawns. The editor's office used to be occupied by founder Dewitt Wallace, who, along with his wife, Lila Acheson. Wallace, launched Reader's Digest in 1922 with condensed articles from other publications. It has become the world's most widely read magazine, selling 28 million copies each month in 17 languages and 41 different editions. (23) The Wallaces, both children of church ministers, had a clearly defined formula for their “little magazine” as the Reader's Digest was originally subtitled. Articles were to be short, readable and uplifting. Subjects were picked to inspire or entertain. The Wallaces didn't accept advertising in the US edition until 1955 and even then they didn't allow any ads for cigarette, liquor or drugs.
(24) The Wallaces also had a clear sense of the kind of workplace they wanted. It started as a mom-and-pop operation, and the childless Wallaces always considered employees to be part of their family. Employees still tell stories of how the Wallaces would take care of their employees who had met with misfortunes and they showered their employees with unusual benefits, like a turkey at Thanksgiving and Fridays off in May. This cozy workplace no longer exists here. The Wallaces both dead in their nineties in the early 1980s. George Grune, a former ad salesman who joint Reader's Digest in 1960 has his eye focused on the bottom line. In a few short years, he turned the magazine on his head. (25) He laid off several hundred workers. Especially hard hit were the blue- and pink-collar departments, such as subscription fulfillment.
25. What change took place in Reader’s Digest after the Wallaces’ death?
解析：C。本题目为细节题。问题为：Wallace夫妇去世后《读者文摘》发生了什么变化？根据原文可知，Wallace夫妇去世后，George Grune并解雇了几百名工人。故正确答案为C。
二、Part III Reading Comprehension
When Elon Musk says that his new priority is using artificial intelligence to build domestic robots, we should look forward to the day in admiration.
Mr. Musk is a guy who gets things done. The founder of two tech companies, Tesla Motors and SpaceX, is bringing electric vehicles to mass market and (26)_____ humans to live on other planets. This sounds like so much hot air, but the near $13 billion fortune this entrepreneur has (27)_____ comes from practical achievements rather than hypothetical ones.
A lot of clever people are (28)_____ about artificial intelligence, fearing that robots will one day become so (29)_____ that they’ll murder all of us. These fears are mostly (30)_____: as with hysteria about genetic modification, we humans are generally wise enough to manage these problems with speed and care.
And just think of how wonderful it would be if you had a live-in robot. It could, (31)_____, be like having a babysitter and a nurse rolled into one—or, if that required (32)_____ intelligence beyond the power of Mr. Musk’s imagined machine, at least someone to chop the carrots, wash the car and mow the lawn. Once purchased and trained, this would allow the (33)_____ user to save money and time, freeing up (34)_____ space in our busy lives to read a good book.
That is why we welcome Mr. Musk’s latest (35)_____, and wish him well. As long as robots add to the sum of human happiness, reduce suffering, and create time to read world-class journalism, we should be their fans. Especially since journalism is one job robots will never do.
26、(1)
A、exaggerated
B、sphere
C、misleading
D、emotional
E、precious
F、extravagant
G、generously
H、casual
I、reward
J、venture
K、eventually
L、enabling
M、smart
N、terrified
O、amassed
解析：
名词： reward 奖励，回报；sphere 领域；venture 风险项目
动词：amassed 积聚，积累； enabling 使能够；允许； exaggerated 夸大；misleading 误导；reward 回报；terrified 恐吓；使害怕； venture 冒险
形容词： casual 放松的；临时的； emotional 情感的；exaggerated 夸张的； extravagant 奢侈的；过分的； misleading 误导性的； precious 珍贵的；smart 聪明的，机智的； terrified 害怕的
副词：eventually 最终；generously 慷慨地
26. enabling。动词辨析题。空格前面为连词and，and表并列关系，故空格处所填词应与前面bringing形式一致，因此应填入动词现在分词。备选项有enabling 使能够；允许；misleading 误导。根据句意：特斯拉汽车和SpaceX的创建者正将电动汽车引入大众市场，并____人们在其他星球上生活。显然应该是使人们能在其他星球生活，故此处应填入enabling。
27. amassed。动词辨析题。空格前为助动词has，故空格处应该填入动词过去分词构成完成时态。备选项有 amassed 积聚，积累；exaggerated 夸大；terrified 恐吓；使害怕。由于空格处所填名词的宾语是定语从句的先行词near $13 billion fortune（近130亿财富），只有amassed可与之搭配，故此处应填入amassed。
28. terrified。形容词辨析题。空格前为系动词are，空格后为介词about，故空格处应填入形容词或动词过去分词。备选项有casual 放松的；临时的；emotional 情感的；exaggerated 夸张的；extravagant 奢侈的；过分的；misleading 误导性的；precious 珍贵的；smart 聪明的，机智的；terrified 害怕的。结合后面的fearing（害怕，担忧）以及fears，可知此处应该填入terrified。
29. smart。形容词辨析题。空格前为so，空格后为that，显然此处考查“so+adj.+that从句”的结构，故空格处应该填入形容词。备选项有casual 放松的；临时的；emotional 情感的；exaggerated 夸张的；extravagant 奢侈的；过分的；misleading 误导性的；precious 珍贵的；smart 聪明的，机智的。根据句意：一些“聪明”人害怕人工智能，担心机器人太过____会使他们消灭全人类。根据逻辑应该是担心机器人太过智能，故此处应该填入smart。
30. exaggerated。空格前是副词mostly，mostly之前是系动词are，空格处应该填入形容词作表语或动词过去分词构成被动语态。备选项有casual 放松的；临时的；emotional 情感的； exaggerated 夸张的；extravagant 奢侈的；过分的；misleading 误导性的；precious 珍贵的。从后文中“我们人类拥有足够智慧，可以掌控这些问题”，可见这些担忧是夸大了的，故此处应该填入exaggerated。
31. eventually。副词辨析题。空格前后均为逗号，句子不缺少主干成分，故空格处应该填入副词作插入语。备选项有eventually 最终；generously 慷慨地。结合句意：这就好像____把保姆和护士合二为一了。显然“慷慨地”不符合句意，故此处应该填入eventually。
32. emotional。形容词辨析题。空格前为动词required，空格后为名词intelligence，空额处应该填入形容词作定语，修饰intelligence。备选项有casual 放松的；临时的；emotional 情感的；extravagant 奢侈的；过分的；misleading 误导性的；precious 珍贵的。根据句意：如果将保姆和护士合二为一的机器人要求的____智能超出马斯克设想的机器人，最起码可以做到切胡萝卜、洗车或者修草坪。护士和保姆的工作比切胡萝卜，洗车和修草坪需要更多的情商，故此处应该填入emotional。emotional intelligence表示“情商”。
33. casual。形容词辨析题。空格前为定冠词the，空格后为名词user，空格处应该填入形容词作定语，修饰user。备选项有casual 放松的；临时的；extravagant 奢侈的；过分的；misleading 误导性的；precious 珍贵的。修饰user，只有casual可以与之搭配，表示“临时用户”。
34. precious。形容词辨析题。空格前为介词up，空格后为名词space，故空格处应该填入形容词作定语，修饰space。备选项有extravagant 奢侈的；过分的；misleading 误导性的；precious 珍贵的。结合句意：这将使临时用户节省时间和金钱，在繁忙的生活中空出____时间来读一本好书。应该是空出“宝贵的时间”，故填入precious。
35. venture。名词辨析题。空格前为形容词最高级latest，故空格处应该填入名词。备选项有reward 奖励，回报；sphere 领域；venture 风险项目。从文章第一段可以看出马斯克在开辟新的冒险项目——家用机器人，后文都在讲他的新尝试，故此处应该填入venture。
27、(2)
A、exaggerated
B、sphere
C、misleading
D、emotional
E、precious
F、extravagant
G、generously
H、casual
I、reward
J、venture
K、eventually
L、enabling
M、smart
N、terrified
O、amassed
解析：见上一题！
28、(3)
A、exaggerated
B、sphere
C、misleading
D、emotional
E、precious
F、extravagant
G、generously
H、casual
I、reward
J、venture
K、eventually
L、enabling
M、smart
N、terrified
O、amassed
解析：见上一题！
29、(4)
A、exaggerated
B、sphere
C、misleading
D、emotional
E、precious
F、extravagant
G、generously
H、casual
I、reward
J、venture
K、eventually
L、enabling
M、smart
N、terrified
O、amassed
解析：见上一题！
30、(5)
A、exaggerated
B、sphere
C、misleading
D、emotional
E、precious
F、extravagant
G、generously
H、casual
I、reward
J、venture
K、eventually
L、enabling
M、smart
N、terrified
O、amassed
解析：见上一题！
31、(6)
A、exaggerated
B、sphere
C、misleading
D、emotional
E、precious
F、extravagant
G、generously
H、casual
I、reward
J、venture
K、eventually
L、enabling
M、smart
N、terrified
O、amassed
解析：见上一题！
32、(7)
A、exaggerated
B、sphere
C、misleading
D、emotional
E、precious
F、extravagant
G、generously
H、casual
I、reward
J、venture
K、eventually
L、enabling
M、smart
N、terrified
O、amassed
解析：见上一题！
33、(8)
A、exaggerated
B、sphere
C、misleading
D、emotional
E、precious
F、extravagant
G、generously
H、casual
I、reward
J、venture
K、eventually
L、enabling
M、smart
N、terrified
O、amassed
解析：见上一题！
34、(9)
A、exaggerated
B、sphere
C、misleading
D、emotional
E、precious
F、extravagant
G、generously
H、casual
I、reward
J、venture
K、eventually
L、enabling
M、smart
N、terrified
O、amassed
解析：见上一题！
35、(10)
A、exaggerated
B、sphere
C、misleading
D、emotional
E、precious
F、extravagant
G、generously
H、casual
I、reward
J、venture
K、eventually
L、enabling
M、smart
N、terrified
O、amassed
解析：见上一题！
In the real world, nobody cares that you went to an Ivy League school
36、36. Modest institutions can also have successful graduates and strong alumni networks.
A、A
B、B
C、C
D、D
E、E
F、F
G、G
H、H
I、I
J、J
K、K
L、L
M、M
N、N
解析：36. Modest institutions can also have successful graduates and strong alumni networks.
