The company is engaged in an epic struggle for survival.n. 史诗；叙事诗a. 抒情的a. 双边的a. 艰巨的；史诗般的

Satellite communications are so up-to-date that even when ________ in the middle of the Pacific, businessmen can contact their offices as if they were next door.A. glidingB. cruisingC. pilotingD. patrolling

patrolvt. 宣称;断言v. 割;修剪v. 巡查;巡逻v. 首次登台;初次露面

Which of the following statements is NOT true?A. When a "knock-out" is arranged, the real auction does not take place among the dealers until the "knock-out" comes off.B. A clever auctioneer encourages rivals to compete in high bidding.C. An auctioneer prefers to get high prices for the goods because he then earns more himself.D. Auctions can sell anything that will make money.

While there are almost as many definitions of history as there are historians, modern practice most closely conforms to one that sees history as the attempt to recreate and explain the significant events of the past.结构分析: 本句while引导的是个让步状语从句,翻译成“虽然,尽管”,状语从句里用了as…as(与…一样)这个词组,主句的主语是most practice,谓语是动词短语conform to(符合),宾语是代词one,指代前面的名词definition,that引导的是个定语从句,修饰前面的one。定语从句里用了动词短语see…as(把…看作是),因此后面的attempt应该是个名词,后面又接了两个不定式做其后置定语。核心词汇:While(虽然,尽管;当…时候;而);as…as(与…一样);conform to(服从,遵守);modern practice(现代实践);see…as…(把…看作是);recreate(再现,重现)

Life really should be one long journey of joy for children who are born with a world of wealth at their tiny feet. But experts on psychological research now believe that silver spoons can leave a bitter taste. If suicide (自杀)statistics are a sign of happiness, then the rich are a miserable lot. Figures show that it is the rich who most often do away with themselves. Dr. Robert Coles, an internationally famous doctor, is the word's top expert on the influence of money on children. He has written a well-received book on the subject, The Privileged Ones, and his research shows that too much money in the family can cause as many problems as too little. “Obviously there are certain advantages to being rich,” says the 53-year-old doctor, “such as better health, education and future work expectation. But most important is the quality of family-life. Money can't buy love.” It can buy a lot of other things, though, and that's where the trouble starts. Rich kids have so much to choose from that they often become confused. Their parents' over favoring can make them spoiled. They tend to travel more than other children, from home to home and country to country, which often makes them feel restless. “But privileged children do have a better sense of their positions in the world,” adds Mr. Coles, “and they are more self-confident.” Today's rich parents perhaps have realized that their riches can be more of a burden than a favor to their children. So they do their best to ensure that their families are as rich in love as they are in money. 12. What does the underlined word “silver spoons” in Paragraph 1 refer to? A. Long journeys B. Tiny feet C. Great wealth D. Kitchen tools 13. Which of the following is true according to Paragraph 1? A. Life is one long journey of joy for rich children B. Many rich people often suffer from unhappiness C. Poor people never feel miserable in life D. Rich people are happier than poor people 14. What is the book The Privileged Ones most probably about? A. How money affects the wealthy people... B. How rich people deal with their money C. Why the rich should help the poor D. What are the advantages to being rich 15. According to Dr. Robert Coles, what is the most important to guarantee a happy life? A. Good health B. Good education C. Good jobs D. Good family-life

For decades, Canadians have strived to work hard and save diligently to retire early. At least, that's been the goal. However, those times may be changing as Generation Z (Gen Z)enters the workforce. Some members of Gen Z, particularly those now in their late teens and early-to-mid-20s, seem to be taking a more measured (慎重的)approach to work and money, given the rapidly rising cost of living and an unstable economic environment. They may also be the first generation to normalize people working into their 70s and 80s, as people are living longer and requiring more retirement savings. Still, Gen Z appears to be coping well by embracing a trend known as "soft saving". Soft saving is an offshoot (分支)of the "soft life" trend, driven by Gen Zers who prefer to focus on the quality of life with less stress. The renewed culture of thrifting (淘旧货)is a prime example. Gen Z may see things like thrifting as a way to improve their quality of life in the future by making spending decisions that help the environment today. In some ways, this lifestyle could be a by-product of the socioeconomic shifts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which changed how most people work and live. Gen Zers seek a balance between the two. You can see how this same philosophy is shaping how this generation approaches work. Many embrace the blending of in-office and remote work as a way to improve their quality of life. However, prioritizing the quality of life over work and savings doesn't mean they aren't thinking about tomorrow. As they save money and find effective new ways to lower their spending, they are considering using those funds wisely. Setting up a pre-authorized transfer to their investment account, for example, could help them put aside extra money each month to help them enjoy more financial freedom over the long term. As their goals shift over time, a soft saving strategy and the financial habits they're developing today can become the foundation to manage their financial needs in the future. (1) According to the passage, what does the concept of "soft saving" refer to?() A Balancing life quality and financial goals. B Saving a large amount of money for retirement. C Saving money by second-hand shopping. D Working in retirement age to make more money.

There are more than 300 million of us in the United States, and sometimes it seems like we’re all friends on Facebook. But the sad truth is that Americans are lonelier than ever. Between 1985 and 2004, the number of people who said there was no one with whelm they discussed important matters tripled, to 25 percent, according to Duke University researchers. Unfortunately, as a new study linking women to increased risk of heart disease shows, all this loneliness can be detrimental to our health. The bad news doesn’t just affect women. Social isolation in all adults has been linked to a raft of physical and mental ailments, including sleep disorders, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of depression and suicide. How lonely you feel today actually predicts how well you’ll sleep tonight and how depressed you’ll feel a year from now, says John T. Cacioppo, a neuroscientist at the University of Chicago and coauthor of Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection . Studies have shown that loneliness can cause stress levels to rise and can weaken the immune system. Lonely people also tend to have less healthy lifestyles, drinking more alcohol, eating more fattening food, and exercising less than those who are not lonely. Though more Americans than ever are living alone (25 percent of U.S. households, up from 7 percent in 1940), the connection between single-living and loneliness is in fact quite weak. "Some of the most profound loneliness can happen when other people are present," says Harry Reis, professor of psychology at the University of Rochester. Take college freshmen: even though they’re surrounded by people almost all the time, many feel incredibly isolated during the first quarter of the school year with their friends and family members far away, Cacioppo says. Studies have shown that how lonely freshmen will feel can be predicted by how many miles they are from home. By the second quarter, however, most freshmen have found social replacements for their high-school friends. Unfortunately, as we age, it becomes more difficult to recreate those social relationships. And that can be a big problem as America becomes a more transient society, with an increasing number of Americans who say that they’re willing to move away from home for a job. Loneliness can be relative: it has been defined as an aversive emotional response to a perceived discrepancy between a person’s desired levels of social interaction and the contact they’re actually receiving. People tend to measure themselves against others, feeling particularly alone in communities where social connection is the norm. That’s why collectivist cultures, like those in Southern Europe, have higher levels of loneliness than individualist cultures, Cacioppo says. For the same reason, isolated individuals feel most acutely alone on holidays like Christmas Eve or Thanksgiving, when most people are surrounded by family and friends. Still, loneliness is a natural biological signal that we all have. Indeed, loneliness serves an adaptive purpose, making us protect and care for one another. Loneliness essentially puts the brain on high alert, encouraging us not to eat leftovers from the refrigerator but to call a friend and eat out. Certain situational factors can trigger loneliness, but long-term feelings of emptiness and isolation are partly genetic, Cacioppo says. What’s inherited is not loneliness itself, but rather sensitivity to disconnection. Social-networking sites like Facebook and MySpace may provide people with a false sense of connection that ultimately increases loneliness in people who feel alone. These sites should serve as a supplement, but not replacement for, face-to-face interaction, Cacioppo says. He compares connecting on a Web site to eating celery: "It feels good immediately, but it doesn’t give you the same sustenance," he says. For people who feel satisfied and loved in their day-to-day life, social media can be a reassuring extension. For those who are already lonely, Facebook status updates are just a reminder of how much better everyone else is at making friends and having fun. So how many friends do you need to avoid loneliness There’s no magic number, according to Cacioppo. An introvert might need one confidante not to feel lonely, whereas an extrovert might require two, three, or four bosom buddies. Experts say it’s not the quantity of social relationships but the quality that really matters. "The most popular kid in school may still feel lonely," Cacioppo says. "There axe a lot of stars who have been idols and lived lonely lives." The author’s main purpose of mentioning Facebook is toA. compare Facebook with face-to-face communication. B. emphasize the supplementary function of Facebook to daily communication. C. illustrate the importance of Facebook in helping people to relieve loneliness. D. introduce the ways to make friends on Facebook.

ctions:Fill in the blanks in the following passage by selecting sultable words from the word bank.Each word can be used only once.-|||-A) crisis B) vertical C) salvation D) piecing-|||-E hug F)permanent G)deemed H] weary-|||-l) cash-strapped J) scramble K) plight L)aborting-|||-M) monitoning N short-term O)proximity-|||-This 5250 000 papeine(水管)project will hning water from a rock quarry(采石场)seven miles away to Groesbeck In a peaceful state park in central Texas workers are busily 16)-|||-__ together masswe yollow pipes that spell 17) __ for this caty The pipes run along a park road,wind their ways belween trees cross a-|||-street to avoid an anoent graveyard, 18) __ a hill and then land at a treatment plant-|||-Without it what everyone fears most would come true The water would stop running By Tuesday - the date that state officals 19) __ the drought (干旱)-|||-said the town would run out of water, finally sucked dry by drought But it is only a sx-month supply That s enough time The mayor hopes to find a 20) __-|||-soluton-|||-"We will do anything, anything short of hauling water,"He sand-|||-The towns in danger across Texas are finding 21) __ solutions to water supply problems brought on by the drought, some just in time to avord a 22)-|||-__ But tinding a pemanent solution is tnicky and in many cases,expensive That makes the 23) __ of finding water doubly difficult Even if they-|||-could find a fix they also have to 24) __ to find the cash to pay for it-|||-They hope that is long enough to find and complete longer-tarm projects, many of which these 25) __ communites had delayed for years

What does the woman say about the Taj Mahal? 女士介绍了泰姬陵的什么信息？A. It looks older than expected.B. It is built of wood and bricks.C. It stores lots of priceless antiques.D. It has walls decorated with jewels.