Zoe Chambers was a successful PR (Public Relations) consultant and life was going well—she had a great job, a beautiful flat and a busy social life in London. Then one evening in June last year, she received a text message telling her she was out of work. The first two weeks were the most difficult to live through." she said. "After everything I'd done for the company, they dismissed me by text! I was so angry and I just didn't feel like looking for another job. I hated everything about the city and my life."
Then, Zoe received an invitation from an old school friend, Kathy, to come and stay. Kathy and her husband, Huw, had just bought a farm in north-west Wales. Zoe jumped at the chance to spend a weekend away from London, and now, ten months later, she is still on the farm.
"The moment I arrived at Kathy's farm, I loved it and I knew I wanted to stay." said Zoe. "Everything about my past life suddenly seemed meaningless."
Zoe has been working on the farm since October of last year and says she has no regrets. "It's a hard life, physically very tiring." she says. "In London 1 was stressed and often mentally exhausted. But this is a good, healthy tiredness. Here, all 1 need to put me in a good mood is a hot bath and one of Kathy's wonderful dinners."
Zoe says she has never felt bored on the farm. Every day brings a new experience. Kathy has been leaching her how to ride a horse and she has learnt to drive a tractor. Since Christmas, she has been helping with the lambing—watching a lamb being born is unbelievable, she says, "It's one of the most moving experiences I've ever had. I could never go back to city life now." （08上海卷）
【小題1】When working as a PR consultant in London, Zoe thought she lived a______life.

A．satisfying

B．tough

C．meaningless

D．boring

【小題2】The most important reason why Zoe went to visit Kathy's farm is that______.

A．Zoe lost her job as a PR consultant
B．Kathy persuaded her to do so
C．Zoe got tired of the city life	D．Zoe loved Wales more than London

【小題3】How docs Zoe feel about the country life according to the passage?

A．Tiresome and troublesome.

B．Romantic and peaceful

C．Mentally exhausting but healthy

D．Physically tiring but rewarding.

【小題4】Which of the following is closest to the main idea of the passage?

A．A friend in need is a friend indeed.

B．Where there is a will, there is a way.

C．A misfortune may turn out a blessing.

D．Kill two birds with one stone.

Zoe Chambers was a successful PR (Public Relations) consultant and life was going well—she had a great job, a beautiful flat and a busy social life in London. Then one evening in June last year, she received a text message telling her she was out of work. The first two weeks were the most difficult to live through." she said. "After everything I'd done for the company, they dismissed me by text! I was so angry and I just didn't feel like looking for another job. I hated everything about the city and my life."

Then, Zoe received an invitation from an old school friend, Kathy, to come and stay. Kathy and her husband, Huw, had just bought a farm in north-west Wales. Zoe jumped at the chance to spend a weekend away from London, and now, ten months later, she is still on the farm.

"The moment I arrived at Kathy's farm, I loved it and I knew I wanted to stay." said Zoe. "Everything about my past life suddenly seemed meaningless."

Zoe has been working on the farm since October of last year and says she has no regrets. "It's a hard life, physically very tiring." she says. "In London 1 was stressed and often mentally exhausted. But this is a good, healthy tiredness. Here, all 1 need to put me in a good mood is a hot bath and one of Kathy's wonderful dinners."

Zoe says she has never felt bored on the farm. Every day brings a new experience. Kathy has been leaching her how to ride a horse and she has learnt to drive a tractor. Since Christmas, she has been helping with the lambing—watching a lamb being born is unbelievable, she says, "It's one of the most moving experiences I've ever had. I could never go back to city life now." （08上海卷）

When working as a PR consultant in London, Zoe thought she lived a______life.

A. satisfying                B. tough                      C. meaningless                    D. boring

The most important reason why Zoe went to visit Kathy's farm is that______.

A. Zoe lost her job as a PR consultant                                                     

B. Kathy persuaded her to do so

C. Zoe got tired of the city life                                                                             D. Zoe loved Wales more than London

How docs Zoe feel about the country life according to the passage?

A. Tiresome and troublesome.                                                                 

B. Romantic and peaceful

C. Mentally exhausting but healthy                                                          

D. Physically tiring but rewarding.

Which of the following is closest to the main idea of the passage?

A. A friend in need is a friend indeed.                                                  

B. Where there is a will, there is a way.

C. A misfortune may turn out a blessing.                                         

 D. Kill two birds with one stone.

（2011·上海卷）Section A

Directions: For each blank in the following passage there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that fits the context.

       Everyone in business has been told that success is all about attracting and retaining(留住) customers. It sounds simple and achievable. But, ___50__, words of wisdom are soon forgotten. Once companies have attracted customers they often __51___ the second half of the story. In the excitement of beating off the competition, negotiating prices, securing orders, and delivering the product, managers tend to become carried away. They forget what they regard as the boring side of business ---___52___ that the customer remains a customer.

      ___53__ to concentrate on retaining as well as attracting customers costs business huge amounts of money annually. It has been estimated that the average company loses between 10 and 30 per cent of its customers every years. In constantly changing __54___ , this is not surprising. What is surprising is the fact that few companies have any idea how many customers they have lost.

       Only now are organizations beginning to wake up to those lost opportunities and calculate the __55___ implications. Cutting down the number of customers a company loses can make a big ___56___ in its performance. Research in the US found that a five per cent decrease in the number of defecting(流失的) customers led to __57__ increases of between 25 and 85 per cent.

       In the US, Domino’s Pizza estimates that a regular customer is worth more than $5,000 over ten years. A customer who receives a poor quality product or service on their first visit and __58__ never returns, is losing the company thousands of dollars in __59__ profits (more if you consider how many people they are likely to tell about their bad experience).

       The logic behind cultivating customer ___60___ is impossible to deny. “In practice most companies’ marketing effort is focused on getting customers, with little attention paid to __61__ them”, says Adrian Payne of Cornfield University’ School of Management. “Research suggests that there is a close relationship between retaining customers and making profits. __62__ customers tend to buy more, are predictable and usually cost less to service than new customers. Furthermore, they tend to be less price __63__ , and may provide free word-of –mouth advertising. Retaining customers also makes it __64__ for competitors to enter a market or increase their share of a market.

50. A. in particular     B. in reality            C. at least           D. first of all

51. A. emphasize     B. doubt                 C. overlook                D. believe

52. A. denying                    B. ensuring            C. arguing          D. proving

53. A. Moving                  B. Hoping               C. Starting          D. Failing

54. A. markets                 B. tastes                       C. prices             D. expenses

55. A. culture                  B. social                 C. financial                D. economical

56. A. promise                 B. plan                   C. mistake          D. difference

57. A. cost                B. opportunity               C. profit              D. budget

58. A. as a result       B. on the whole         C. in conclusion         D. on the contrary

59. A. huge              B. potential            C. extra              D. reasonable

60. A. beliefs               B. loyalty                       C. habits             D. interest

61. A. altering                 B. understanding   C. keeping          D. attracting

62. A. Assumed        B. Respected                C. Established    D. Unexpected

63. A. agreeable      B. flexible               C. friendly           D. sensitive

64. A. unfair             B. difficult               C. essential            D. convenient

  

（2011·上海卷）(C)

       Human remains of ancient settlements will be reburied and lost to science under a law that threatens research into the history of humans in Britain, a group of leading archaeologists(考古學家) says. I a letter addressed to the justice secretary, Ken Clarke, 40 archaeologists write of their “deep and widespread concern” about the issue. It centers on the law introduced by the Ministry of Justice in 2008 which requires all human remains unearthed in England and Wales to be reburied within two years, regardless of their age. The decision means scientists have too little time to study bones and other human remains of national and cultural significance.

       “Your current requirement that all archaeologically unearthed human remains should be reburied, whether after a standard period of two years or further special extension, is contrary to basic principles of archaeological and scientific research and of museum practice,” they write.

       The law applies to any pieces of bone uncovered at around 400 dig sites, including the remains of 60 or so bodies found at Stonehenge in 2008 that date back to 3,000 BC. Archaeologists have been granted a temporary extension to give them more time, but eventually the bones will have to be returned to the ground.

       The arrangements may result in the waste of future discoveries at sites such as Happisburgh in Norfolk, where digging is continuing after the discovery of stone tools made by early humans 950,000 years ago. If human remains were found at Happisburgh, they would be the oldest in northern Europe and the first indication of what this species was. Under the current practice of the law those remains would have to be reburied and effectively destroyed.

       Before 2008, guidelines allowed for the proper preservation and study of bones of sufficient age and historical interest, while the Burial Act 1857 applied to more recent remains. The Ministry of Justice assured archaeologists two years ago that the law was temporary, but has so far failed to revise it.

       Mike Parker Pearson, an archaeologist at Sheffield University, said: “Archaeologists have been extremely patient because we wee led to believe the ministry was sorting out this problem, but we feel that we cannot wait any longer.”

       The ministry has no guidelines on where or how remains should be reburied, or on what records should be kept.

72. According to the passage, scientists are unhappy with the law mainly because _________.

       A. it is only a temporary measure on the human remains

       B. it is unreasonable and thus destructive to scientific research

       C. it was introduced by the government without their knowledge

       D. it is vague about where and how to rebury human remains

73. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

       A. Temporary extension of two years will guarantee scientists enough time.

       B. Human remains of the oldest species wee dug out at Happisburgh.

       C. Human remains will have to be reburied despite the extension of time.

       D. Scientists have been warned that the law can hardly be changed.

74. What can be inferred about the British law governing human remains?

       A. The Ministry of Justice did not intend it to protect human remains.

       B. The Burial Act 1857 only applied to remains uncovered before 1857.

       C. The law on human remains hasn’t changed in recent decades.

       D. The Ministry of Justice has not done enough about the law.

75. Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?

       A. New discoveries should be reburied, the government demands.

       B. Research time should be extended, scientists require.

       C. Law on human remains needs thorough discussion, authorities say.

       D. Law could bury ancient secrets for ever, archaeologists warn.

（2011·上海卷）(A)

       The teacher who did the most to encourage me was, as it happened, my aunt. She was Myrtle C. Manigault, the wife of my mother’s brother Bill. She taught in second grade at all-black Summer School in Camden, New Jersey.

       During my childhood and youth, Aunt Myrtle encouraged me to develop every aspect of my potential, without regard for what was considered practical or possible for black females. I liked to sing; she listened to my voice and pronounced it good. I couldn’t dance; she taught me the basic dancing steps. She took me to the theatre ____ not just children’s theatre but adult comedies and dramas --- and her faith that I could appreciate adult plays was not disappointed.

       My aunt also took down books from her extensive library and shared them with me. I had books at home, but they were all serious classics. Even as a child I had a strong liking for humor, and I’ll never forget the joy of discovering Don Marquis’s Archy & Mehitabel through her.

       Most important, perhaps, Aunt Myrtle provided my first opportunity to write for publication. A writer herself for one of the black newspapers, she suggested my name to the editor as a “youth columnist”. My column, begun when I was fourteen, was supposed to cover teenage social activities---and it did---but it also gave me the freedom to write on many other subjects as well as the habit of gathering material, the discipline of meeting deadlines, and, after graduation from college six years later, a solid collection of published material that carried my name and was my passport to a series of writing jobs.

       Today Aunt Myrtle is still an enthusiastic supporter of her “favorite niece”. Like a diamond, she has reflected a bright, multifaceted(多面的) image of possibilities to every pupil who has crossed her path.

65. Which of the following did Aunt Myrtle do to the author during her childhood and youth?

       A. She lent her some serious classics.          B. She cultivated her taste for music.

       C. She discovered her talent for dancing.     D. She introduced her to adult plays.

66. What does Archy & Mehitabel in Paragraph 3 probably refer to?

       A. A book of great fun.                              B. A writer of high fame.

       C. A serious masterpiece.                           D. A heartbreaking play.

67. Aunt Myrtle recommended the author to a newspaper editor mainly to ____.

       A. develop her capabilities for writing.         B. give her a chance to collect material

C. involve her in teenage social activities      D. offer her a series of writing jobs.

68. We can conclude from the passage that Aunt Myrtle was a teacher who _____.

       A. trained pupils to be diligent and well-disciplined

       B. gave pupils confidence in exploiting their potential

       C. emphasized what was practical or possible for pupils

       D. helped pupils overcome difficulties in learning