If your boss asks you to work in Moscow this year, he’d better offer you more money to do so — or even double that depending on where you live now. That’s because Moscow has just been found to be the world’s most expensive city for the second year in a row by Mercer Human Resources Consulting.
Using the cost of living in New York as a base, Mercer determined Moscow is 34.4 percent more expensive including the cost of housing, transportation, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment(娛樂).
A two-bedroom flat in Moscow now costs $4,000 a month; a CD $24.83, and an international newspaper $6.30, according to Mercer. By comparison, a fast food meal with a hamburger (漢堡包) is a steal at $4.80.
London takes the No.2 place, up from No.5 a year ago, thanks to higher cost of housing and a stronger British pound relative to the dollar. Mercer estimates (估算) London is 26 percent more expensive than New York these days. Following London closely are Seoul and Tokyo, both of which are 22 percent more expensive than New York, while No.5 Hong Kong is 19 percent more costly.
Among North American cities, New York and Los Angeles are the most expensive and are the only two listed in the top 50 of the world’s most expensive cities. But both have fallen since last year’s study — New York came in 15th, down from 10th place, while Los Angeles fell to 42nd from 29th place a year ago. San Francisco came in a distant third at No. 54, down 20 places from a year earlier.
Toronto, meanwhile, is Canada’s most expensive city but fell 35 places to take 82nd place worldwide. In Australia, Sydney is the priciest place to live in and No. 21 worldwide.
小題1: What do the underlined words “a steal” in Paragraph 3 mean?
A．a(chǎn)n act of stealingB．something very cheap
C．something deliciousD．a(chǎn)n act of buying
小題2:London has become the second most expensive city because of ______.
A．the high cost of clothing
B．its expensive transportation
C．the stronger pound against the dollar
D．the high prices of fast food meals
小題3: Which city is the third most expensive on the list?
A．Sydney.B．Hong Kong.C．Moscow.D．Tokyo.
小題4:Which city has dropped most on the list in North America?
A．Toronto.B．Los Angeles.C．San Francisco.D．New York.

小題1:B
小題2:C
小題3:D
小題4:A

試題分析：文章講述的是世界上幾個日常生活費(fèi)用最高的城市的情況，和他們消費(fèi)水平名詞的排名及其變化。
小題1:猜測詞義題，根據(jù)上文的物價比較可知，漢堡的價格非常便宜，所以選擇B
小題2:事實(shí)細(xì)節(jié)題，根據(jù)第四段的thanks to higher cost of housing and a stronger British pound relative to the dollar可知倫敦現(xiàn)在是第二貴的城市，因?yàn)橛㈡^相比美元更穩(wěn)固。選C。
小題3:事實(shí)細(xì)節(jié)題，根據(jù)第四段Following London closely are Seoul and Tokyo可知，漢城和東京名列第三，選D。
小題4:推理判斷題，根據(jù)前面幾個城市的名詞的變化和最后一段的Toronto, meanwhile, is Canada’s most expensive city but fell 35 places to take 82nd place worldwide可知，多倫多的下降的最多。選A。
練習(xí)冊系列答案
相關(guān)習(xí)題

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

I was appreciating my family photos on my computer, admiring my two beautiful babies, when I found a disturbing trend: my laptop was in almost all the pictures. There was my daughter, 8 months old, playing at my feet while I was typing away on the couch. There was me and my son, with the laptop at my side as I held him in my arms.
I’d heard about the Internet addiction before, but always assumed I was something limited to socially challenged guys who played too much World of Warcraft (a computer game). Now it seemed my Internet “habit” is slowly but surely crossing the line. Sometimes I find myself up at midnight, surfing the Web while my family are sleeping. I read news, keep up with friends and write my blog … just for something to do.
It turns out that I’m not the only mama who is addicted to the computer. These moms are contributing to a growing global addiction. There’s a movement among psychiatrists (doctors who specialize in mental diseases) to recognize the Internet addiction as an official mental disorder. And a recent Stanford University national survey found that 14 percent of Internet users find it hard to stay away from it for several days at a time; 9 percent try to hide their “unnecessary Internet use” from their loved ones; 8 percent admit they use the Web as a way to escape problems.
You’re likely not the kind of addict who doesn’t bathe and abuses drugs to help her stay “up” for more online time. You may have noticed, though, that going online has become a necessary part of your life, which, at least, means a load of clothes go unwashed.
It may also mean you’re missing much time with you baby – something you probably do care about.
小題1:From Paragraph 1, we can conclude that _______.
A．the author was busy taking care of her babies
B．the author’s job had something to do with computers
C．the author was not good at taking photos of her babies
D．the author looked after her babies while using the computer.
小題2:The author used to think that the Internet addiction is  ________.
A．using the web at midnightB．keeping up with friends online
C．spending too much time onlineD．being addicted to computer games
小題3:In medical terms, the Internet addiction is ________.
A．a(chǎn) personal life habitB．a(chǎn) way to escape problems
C．a(chǎn)n official mental disorderD．the unnecessary use of the Internet
小題4:What does the author want to express in the last but one paragraph?
A．Many women still can control their online time.
B．The Internet addiction influences housewives’ lives a lot.
C．Going online has become a necessary part of women’s lives.
D．Many people don’t realize that they are addicted to the Internet.

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

If you're like a lot of married guys, you don't need to be reminded about men being from Mars or women from Venus. Chances are that you're all too familiar with the feeling that you and your wife are from different worlds. When married people start noticing their fundamental differences, it can lead to a breakdown in communication. The way to have a successful marriage is through communication, common ground and understanding. Here are some pointers to guide you in the right direction.
Rather than ending up in an endless back and forth, forget about the issue for a minute. Instead, think about how you feel she's acting toward you and ask her if that's how she feels about you. If you think she's being unfair, ask her if she thinks you're being unfair. Switching the focus to that shared feeling can help your wife see things from your point of view.
It's important to accept the fact that there's a two-way street between you and your wife. If you think she doesn't make enough of an effort to see things from your point of view, you have to ask yourself if you're making an effort to see it her way.
Realize nobody can wave a magic wand to make you and your wife completely understand each other all the time. Many couples have an extremely close friendship and do almost everything together before they're married. Once you've tied the knot, you may begin to notice that you're not as alike as you once thought.
It seems obvious, but some guys get fooled into thinking their wife will be as excited about all of their interests and hobbies as they are. Don't be surprised when you find out that she's not just like "one of the guys." Sooner or later you'll realize that she might be going along with some of your interests just to make you happy.
Rather than feel offended if you find out she's not as into your favorite hobby as you thought, appreciate the effort she put into making you happy. Swallow your pride and try to take part in some of her hobbies, too, even if you might be a little put off at first. While you're not going to be trying on makeup with her, you could try baking a recipe together.
If either of you is always giving everything and getting nothing in return, there's going to be bitterness. The best marriages are built on compromise. You knew you were going to have to give and take for your marriage to work; now it's time to make it happen.
小題1:What is the best title of the text?
A．How to manage your marriage.
B．How to make a good husband
C．How to make a good wife.
D．How to get her to speak your language.
小題2: The best subtitle of the 6th paragraph is ________.
A．Swallow your pride (at least sometimes) B．Find out her hobbies
C．Don’t get offendedD．Try to make up
小題3:Which of the following is not good for keeping a successful marriage?
A．Focus on the feeling to get past the disagreement.
B．Don't play the blame game.
C．She won't always understand you (but that's OK).
D．Try to understand each other all the way.
小題4: According to the last paragraph, it’s important for the husband and wife to__________.
A．forgive and forgetB．give and take
C．live and let liveD．get everything and return nothing
小題5:The underlined phrase in the 6th paragraph probably mean________.
A．delay sthB．a(chǎn)rrange sthC．dislike sthD．worsen sth

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

If a business wants to sell its products internationally, it had better do some market research first. This is a lesson that some large American corporations have learned the hard way.
What’s in the name?
Sometimes the problem is the name. When General Motors introduced its Chevy Nova into Latin America, it overlooked the fact that Nova in Spanish means “It doesn’t go”. Sure enough, the Chevy Nova never went anywhere in Latin America.
Translation problems
Sometimes it is the slogan that doesn’t work. No company knows this better than Pepsi-Cola, with its “Come alive with Pepsi!” campaign. The campaign was so successful in the United States , Pepsi translated its slogan literally for its international campaign. As it turned out , the translations weren’t quite right. Pepsi was begging Germans to “Come out of the grave(墳?zāi)?” and telling the Chinese that “Pepsi brings your ancestors(老祖宗) back from the grave.”
A picture’s worth a thousand words
Other times, the problem involves packaging . A picture of a smiling baby has helped sell countless jars of Gerber baby food. When Gerber started selling baby food in Africa, they used the same packaging as in the US, with the smiling baby on the label. Later they learned that in African countries, the picture on the jar shows what the jar has in it, for many people there can’t read.
Twist of fate
Even the culture and religious factors and pure coincidence can be involved. Thorn McAn shoes have a Thorn McAn “signature” inside. To people in Bangladesh, which is a Muslim country, this signature looked like Arabic script for the word Allah. In that country, feet are considered unclean, and Muslims felt the company was offending God’s name by having people walk on it.
小題1:From the text we learned that _________.
A．Chevy Nova was brought in Latin America
B．General Motors did the best market research of all companies
C．Pepsi still sold well in China owing to the translation problems
D．the “Come alive with Pepsi” campaign worked well in the US
小題2:What was “Gerber’s problem”?
A．A translation problemB．Cultural factor
C．Religious factorD．The picture on the jar
小題3:For what reason were Thorn McAn shoes turned down in Bangladesh?
A．They are not designed attractively
B．Their advertisements are not persuasive
C．A signature looking like the word Allah was in the shoes
D．Problem for Thorn McAn was the company’s name
小題4:What does the text mainly tell us?
A．Lessons from some large corporations.
B．How to make use of advertisements
C．The importance of market research
D．The importance of packaging

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Don’t drive your kids to school. Let them ride a bike to school.
In England 8.3 million children travel to school every day. It is reported that only a small number of pupils cycle to school (under 2%), although one in three children would actually like to.
Experts say that to stay healthy, children need at least one hour of moderate (適度的) exercise every day. But only six out of ten boys and four out of ten girls get that. One of the reasons is that parents have developed a habit of driving their children to school when they could just walk or ride a bike to school.
Teachers often say that children who walk or ride a bike to school are more ready to listen to their classes, ask and answer questions in class than those driven by car, and the school journey is a good chance for children to learn about road safety and other life skills. Also, for many children, riding a bike is more fun than going to school by car.
Most parents know the benefits (益處). Then what’s stopping them from letting their kids ride a bike? Safety is the number one worry for them. But actually riding a bike is not as dangerous as parents think it is.
When you decide to buy a bike, you should be aware（意識到） that a bike that is too big or too small is dangerous. Don’t try to get a bike that your child will “grow into”. Get the right size in good working order. Generally, 20-inch wheels are on bikes for 5-8 year olds; 24-inch wheels are for 9-11 year olds; 26-inch wheels are suitable for those over 11, and some older children should even take bikes with 28-inch wheels, but the main thing is that the bike fits your child.
小題1:This passage is mainly written for ________.
A．teachers whose students have asked their parents to drive them to school
B．children who have asked their parents to drive them to school
C．parents who drive their children to school
D．parents who drive to work
小題2:Which of the following benefits of cycling to school is NOT mentioned in the passage?
A．It will help children keep healthy
B． It will make children more active in class.
C．It will make children feel freer
D．It will be more fun for children.
小題3:Parents don’t allow their children to ride a bike to school mainly because ________.
A．their children don’t want to.
B．they are worried about their children’s safety.
C．they don’t know what size bike to choose
D．They haven’t enough money to buy a bike.
小題4:Generally, what size bike is suitable for a 10-year-old child？
A．A bike with 20-inch wheelsB．A bike with 24-inch wheels
C．A bike with 26-inch D．A bike with 28-inch wheels

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

No matter what type of business you run, it has to deal with situations in which things go wrong from your customer’s point of view. Complaints can be a great source of information for the organizations. So it’s important to learn to deal with customer complaints efficiently.
Firstly, listen actively to what the customer has to say by keeping comfortable eye contact and giving full attention with no interrupting. You should also show your customer that you do understand him.
Secondly, when receiving a complaint you should apologize for the failure the customer has identified. It’s important for you to know that your apology must appear authentic to the customer, and not an empty exercise. And also you should show the customer you’ve accepted the responsibility and provide him with choices if you have some in hand or otherwise assure the customer you’ll do something about his complaint.
Thirdly, talk with the consumer and discover the best means to resolve his problem. There will be times when, after gathering the facts of a situation, you’ll be unable to resolve the problem immediately. In this case it’s important to let your customer know how long it’ll take to take action on his complaint.
Fourthly, a simple “Thank you” is one way to let the customer know you appreciate the time and effort he has taken to inform you about a problem with your company’s service or product you need to know about.
Lastly, give your customer something that shows your appreciation for him giving the feedback to you. And let him know you’re sorry for the mistake that was made. It isn’t necessary to give something that is costly; but a coupon(贈券) for a free drink or movie is fine.
Your professional and well-organized method of dealing with your customer complaints is one more way that will make you stay ahead of your competitors.
小題1:What does the passage mainly talk about?
A．Importance of dealing with customer complaints.
B．Effects of customer complaints on business.
C．Tips for handling complaints from customers.
D．Several factors resulting in customer complaints.
小題2:The author thinks that customer complaints _____________.
A．a(chǎn)re easy to deal withB．a(chǎn)re really quite annoying
C．can actually be avoidedD．a(chǎn)re sometimes beneficial
小題3:The underlined word “authentic” in Paragraph 3 most probably means _______.
A．touchingB．believableC．a(chǎn)ttractiveD．clever
小題4:According to the passage, what is the first thing you should do when facing the customer complaints?
A．Showing sincere attitude.
B．Making an honest apology.
C．Making an absolute promise.
D．Listening to the complaint attentively.

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Work-life balance: Ways to restore harmony and reduce stress
Finding work-life balance in today’s frenetically paced world is no simple task.
Spend more time at work than at home, and you miss out on a rewarding personal life. Then again, when you face challenges in your personal life, such as caring for an aging parent or coping with marital problems, concentrating on your job can be difficult.
Whether the problem is too much focus on work or too little, when your work life and your personal life feel out of balance, stress — along with its harmful effects — is the result.
The good news is that you can take control of your work-life balance — and give yourself the time to do the things that are most important to you. The first step is to recognize how the world of work has changed. Then you can evaluate your relationship to work and apply some specific strategies for striking a healthier balance.
How work invades your personal life
There was a time when employees showed up for work Monday through Friday and worked eight- to nine-hour days. The boundaries between work and home were fairly clear then. But the world has changed and, unfortunately, the boundaries have blurred for many workers. Here’s why:
●Global economy. As more skilled workers enter the global labor market and companies outsource or move more jobs to reduce labor costs, people feel pressured to work longer and produce more just to protect their jobs.
●International business. Work continues around the world 24 hours a day for some people. If you work in an international organization, you might be on call around the clock for troubleshooting or consulting.
●Advanced communication technology. Many people now have the ability to work anywhere — from their home, from their car and even on vacation. And some managers expect this.
●Longer hours. Employers commonly ask employees to work longer hours than they’re scheduled. Often, overtime is mandatory. If you hope to move up the career ladder, you may find yourself regularly working more than 40 hours a week to achieve and exceed expectations.
●Changes in family roles. Today’s married worker is typically part of a dual-career couple, which makes it difficult to find time to meet commitments to family, friends and community.
Married to your work
It can be tempting to rack up the hours at work — especially if you’re trying to earn a promotion or some extra money for a child’s education or a dream vacation. For others, working more hours feels necessary in order to manage the workload.
But if you’re spending most of your time at work, your home life will likely pay the price. Consider the pros and cons of working extra hours on your work-life balance:
●Fatigue. Your ability to think and your eye-hand coordination decrease when you’re tired. This means you’re less productive and may make more mistakes. These mistakes can lead to injury or rework and negatively impact your professional reputation.
●Family. You may miss out on important events, such as your child’s first bike ride, your father’s 60th birthday or your high-school reunion. Missing out on important milestones may harm relationships with your loved ones.
●Friends. Trusted friends are a key part of your support system. But if you’re spending time at the office instead of with them, you’ll find it difficult to nurture those friendships.
●Expectations. If you regularly work extra hours, you may be given more responsibility. This could create a never-ending and increasing cycle, causing more concerns and challenges.
Sometimes working overtime is important. If you work for a company that requires mandatory overtime, you won’t be able to avoid it, but you can learn to manage it. Most importantly, say no when you’re too tired, when it’s affecting your health or when you have crucial family obligations.
Striking the best work-life balance
For most people, juggling the demands of career and personal life is an ongoing challenge. With so many demands on your time — from overtime to family obligations — it can feel difficult to strike this balance. The goal is to make time for the activities that are the most important to you.
Here are some ideas to help you find the balance that’s best for you:
●Learn to say no. Whether it’s a co-worker asking you to spearhead an extra project or your child’s teacher asking you to manage the class play, remember that it’s OK to respectfully say no. When you quit doing the things you only do out of guilt or a false sense of obligation, you’ll make more room in your life for the activities that are meaningful to you and bring you joy.
●Leave work at work. Make a conscious decision to separate work time from personal time. When with your family, for instance, turn off your cell phone and put away your laptop computer.
●Manage your time. Organize household tasks efficiently. Do one or two loads of laundry every day, rather than saving it all for your day off. A weekly family calendar of important dates and a daily list of to-dos will help you avoid deadline panic. If your employer offers a course in time management, sign up for it.
●Get enough sleep. There’s nothing as stressful and potentially dangerous as working when you’re sleep-deprived. Not only is your productivity affected, but also you can make costly mistakes. You may then have to work even more hours to make up for these mistakes.
●Communicate clearly. Limit time-consuming misunderstandings by communicating clearly and listening carefully. Take notes if necessary.
●Nurture yourself. Set aside time each day for an activity that you enjoy, such as walking, working out or listening to music.
●Set aside one night each week for recreation. Take the phone off the hook, power down the computer and turn off the TV. Discover activities you can do with your partner, family or friends, such as playing golf, fishing or canoeing. Making time for activities you enjoy will rejuvenate you.
Remember, striking a work-life balance isn’t a one-shot deal. Creating balance in your life is a continuous process. Balance doesn’t mean doing everything. Examine your priorities and set boundaries. Be firm in what you can and cannot do. Only you can restore harmony to your lifestyle.
小題1:What will happen if you’re spending most of your time at work?
A．You might lose all your friends.
B．You will lose both health and wealth.
C．You perhaps be given more responsibility.
D．You may be misunderstood by your loved ones.
小題2:According to the passage, you’d better say no to mandatory overtime when ___________.
A．you get bored with the work
B．you are not interested in the work
C．you can’t get additional allowance
D．you have crucial family obligations
小題3:What does the underlined sentence mean?
A．To do things people ask you to do can bring you a lot of joy.
B．You should do the things people ask you to do without feeling guilty.
C．You shouldn’t do the things people ask you to do if you don’t want to.
D．To do things for yourself is more meaningful than to do things for others.
小題4:What will not happen if you don’t get enough sleep?
A．You can make costly mistakes.
B．You will have low productivity.
C．You will feel stressed while working.
D．You will have no sense of exhaustion.
小題5:What does the real balance mean according to the author?
A．Being firm that working overtime will strike a work-life balance.
B．Examining priorities and deciding what is the most important to you.
C．Trying to carrying out everything you want to do whether you can do it or not.
D．Being cautious when saying no to somebody in a bid to maintain fine relationships.

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

I’ve spent over a year in India, and in those 365 plus days, I’ve learned a lot about getting around Indian cities. My biggest lessons have been learned through being cheated, particularly by taxi and rickshaw (人力車) drivers, but that doesn’t mean those are bad ways to travel, as long as you know what you’re doing. Below are the best ways to get around the city of Delhi, India, and tips for how to keep from being the victim of scams (欺騙).
Taking taxis is a great way to get around the city of Delhi and chances are, if you arrive in Delhi by plane, as soon as you make it through customs, you’ll be swarmed by Indian taxi drivers. At the Delhi airport, be sure to arrange for a taxi to your hotel at one of the two Delhi Traffic Police Taxi Booths. One is inside the airport, and one is outside. The key is to make sure to go to a booth run by the police, rather than by independent taxi drivers.
Rickshaws are one of my favorite ways to get around Indian cities, partly because it’s how the locals often travel. Auto-rickshaws are more common, but bicycle rickshaws are still used in Old Delhi. If you do have a chance to take a bicycle rickshaw, you should do it at least once for a unique experience that should only set you back about 15 rupees. Auto-rickshaw rates around Delhi range between 30 and 80 rupees, depending on distance.
If you really want to travel around Delhi like the locals, take a public bus. Indian buses become very crowded and most do not have air conditioning. They are, however, very cheap. A bus trip won’t set you back any more than 15 rupees, as long as you stay within the city limits. Since Indian buses get so crowded, try to board the bus at the start of the route so you can get a seat.
The train is a great way to get around within the city of Delhi. Fares are reasonable, between six and 22 rupees. All departure announcements are in both Hindi and English, and tokens can be purchased for between six and 22 rupees.
小題1: What is the author trying to do through this text?
A．Expect us to travel around Delhi.
B．Show his/her experiences in Delhi.
C．Give some advice of traveling in Delhi.
D．Explain the difficulties of traveling in Delhi.
小題2:What should you do to avoid being cheated when taking a taxi at the Delhi airport?
A．Go to a police-run booth.
B．Go out of the airport.
C．Show your ticket to the driver.
D．Pay more to the drivers to keep safe.
小題3:The author suggests taking a rickshaw in order to ______.
A．save some money
B．gain some unique experience
C．enjoy the comfortable trip
D．help the local rickshaw drivers
小題4:Which may be the topic that follows?
A．Car rentals in Delhi
B．Food and drink in Delhi
C．Weather conditions in Delhi
D．Hotel recommendations in Delhi

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Dear Michelle,
My Dad hates my Mom. He tells me that she is a liar and that I should not trust her. Of course, they are divorced but they have “joint custody” (共同監(jiān)護(hù)). What a joke! I am 15, my brother is nine, and we have a life of hell, frankly.
We live one week on and one week off. This was the brilliant idea of both of my parents, which was fair to them but ruining my life. I cannot get away from his voice and his putting my mom down. Sometimes I think about running away.
A Hopeless Ant
Dear Hopeless Ant,
First, thank you for trusting me with your problem. If all you said is correct, then there are several things that you can and should do to help yourself, your brother, and oddly enough, your parents.
You need a family counselor. Such a person could listen to each family member alone and then meet together to talk about the situation.
If refused, you need to talk to a counselor in your school. You need to be heard, and you need an adult who will listen. A school counselor can organize a meeting with your parents.
Perhaps you need to write to your mother. Writing things down allows people to go over it more than one time.
I cannot imagine that she will stand passively by and do nothing at all to help once she reads how you feel. Your father needs a letter as well. He may not realize the destructive effect that it has on his children.
Lastly, have a plan in mind when all else fails that is not self-destructive. Life passes very quickly, sweetheart, and you will grow up and have your own life.
Until then, you need to keep yourself safe. Never doubt that it will get better. Write back and let me know how everything is going.
Michelle
小題1:The Hopeless Ant wrote the letter to ________.
A．express dissatisfaction with his parents
B．a(chǎn)sk for advice seriously
C．make his father punished
D．just make a joke
小題2:The Hopeless Ant hated his father because ________.
A．his father always told a lie
B．his father wasn’t friendly to his mother
C．his father divorced his mother
D．the Hopeless Ant couldn’t stay with his parents
小題3:According to the text, which of the following is the Hopeless Ant in need of at present?
A．Keep himself/herself away from danger
B．Have a talk with his/her parents.
C．Have his/her own family plan
D．Write letters to families.
小題4:In which part of a magazine will the text probably appear?
A．EntertainmentB．AdvertisementC．LifeD．Education

查看答案和解析>>

同步練習(xí)冊答案