Attitudes toward new technologies often fall along generational lines. That is, generally, younger people tend to outnumber older people on the front end of a technological shift. It is not always the case, though. When you look at attitudes toward driverless cars, there doesn’ t seem to be a clear generational divide. The public overall is split on whether they’ d like to use a driverless car. In a study last year, of all people surveyed, 48 percent said they wanted to ride in one, while 50 percent did not. The fact that attitudes toward self-driving cars appear to be so steady across generations suggests how transformative the shift to driverless cars could be. Not everyone wants a driverless car now—and no one can get one yet—but among those who are open to them, every age group is similarly engaged. Actually, this isn’ t surprising. Whereas older generations are sometimes reluctant to adopt new technologies, driverless cars promise real value to these age groups in particular. Older adults, especially those with limited mobility or difficulty driving on their own, are one of the classic use-cases for driverless cars. This is especially interesting when you consider that younger people are generally more interested in travel-related technologies than older ones. When it comes to driverless cars, differences in attitude are more pronounced based on factors not related to age. College graduates, for example, are particularly interested in driverless cars compared with those who have less education: 59 percent of college graduates said they would like to use a driverless car compared with 38 percent of those with a high-school diploma or less. Where a person lives matters, too. More people who lived in cities and suburbs said they wanted to try driverless cars than those who lived in rural areas. While there’ s reason to believe that interest in self-driving cars is going up across the board, a person’ s age will have little to do with how self-driving cars can become mainstream. Once driverless cars are actually available for sale, the early adopters will be the people who can afford to buy them.

What would the man probably do?W: The mechanic said it would cost 300 dollars to have the car repaired. M: We might as well spend 300 dollars more to buy a new one then. To save $300. To have the mechanic repair the car. To repair the car himself. To buy a new car.

What are the two speakers talking about?M: And where do you recommend I shall stay? What’ s the Holiday Inn like? W: It’ s nice there. It’ s in the city centre and has all the usual business facilities you’ll need.The service is first class. M: Oh, good. So I’ll get a room there. Now, what’ s the best way to get into the hotel from the airport? Should I take a taxi? W: Well, you can, but you don’t have to. The subway system is very convenient. M: Mmm... Can you tell me something about the business hours? I mean, what time are the banks open? W: The banks? They open at half past eight and close at four thirty. M: I see. And are they open on Saturday too? W: I’m afraid not. And I’ d better warn you, the shops close early on Saturday. During the week they’ re open until half past six, but on Saturdays they close at four. M: At four! Right. Now, what’ s the weather like at this time of year? W: Well, it’ s usually warm. But sometimes it turns very cold and wet. So don’t forget to take what you may need with you. By the way, when are you going on this trip? M: Oh, not until the middle of the month. The fifteenth, I think. Anything else you want to advise me? W: No, nothing I can see. It’ s a nice country, peaceful and calm, and people are friendly. I’m sure you’ll enjoy your stay there. How to arrange for a trip. How to book a satisfactory room. When the shop will be closed. What the weather is like.

What does the woman want to buy?M: Good morning, can I help you? W: How much does this microwave oven cost? M: $280. W: Can you give a discount for it? M: Sorry, I can’t. The price is fixed. W: Come on. Cut down the price just a little bit. I can buy it in another store, but I choose to buy it here as your store is nearer to my place. M: Well, because I have to meet a quota in order to get my commission. OK. I’ll take off, let say, fifty dollars. How does that sound? W: Oh, no. I was thinking maybe more in three digits. Something like one hundred? M: Please. That’s too much. Seventy-five, no more no less. W: Give it two zeros like a hundred. I feel luckier with zeros. M: Alright, eighty is the bottom line, we can’ t make any profit if the price is lower than $ 200. W: OK, I’ll take it. Be sure to have it securely packaged. A sweater. An expensive pen. A microwave oven. A dishwasher.

For most people, shopping is still a matter of wandering down the street for loading a cart in a shopping mall. Soon, that will change. Electronic commerce is growing fast and will soon bring people more choice. There will, however, be a cost: protecting the consumer from cheating will be harder. Many governments therefore want to extend strict regulations to the electronic world. But politicians would be wiser to see cyberspace as a basis for a new era of corporate self-regulation. Consumers in rich countries have grown used to the idea that the government takes responsibility for everything from the stability of the banks to the safety of the drugs or their rights to refund when goods are faulty. But governments cannot enforce national laws on businesses whose only presence is on the screen. Even in a country where a clear right to compensation exists, the on-line customer in Tokyo, say, can hardly go to New York to extract a refund for a clothes purchase. One answer is for governments to cooperate more: to recognize each other’ s rules. But that requires years of work and volumes of detailed rules. And plenty of countries have rules too fanciful for sober states to accept. There is, however, another choice. Let the electronic businesses do the regulation themselves. They do, after all, have a self-interest in doing so. In electronic commerce, a reputation for honest dealing will be a valuable competitive asset. Governments, too, may compete to be trusted. For instance, customers ordering medicines on-line may prefer to buy from the United States because they trust the strict screening of the Food and Drug Administration: or they may decide that the FDA’ s rules are too strict, and buy from Switzerland instead. Consumers will still need to use their judgment. But precisely because the technology is new, electronic shoppers are likely for a while to be a lot more cautious than consumers of the normal sort— and the new technology will also make it easier for them to complain when a company lets them down. In this way, at least, the arrival of cyberspace may argue for fewer consumer protection laws, not more.

What are these people planning to do?W: I can’ t make it now. Is tomorrow evening all right? M: I guess so. The movie will be here through next week. To see a movie. To make some coffee. To borrow money. To prepare a dinner party.

At 21, Ricardo Semler became boss of his father’ s business in Brazil, Semco, which sold parts for ships. Semler Junior worked like a madman, from 7: 30 a. m. , until midnight every day. One afternoon, while touring a factory in New York, he collapsed. The doctor who treated him said, “There’ s nothing wrong with you. But if you continue like this, you’ll find a new home in our hospital. “Semler got the message. He changed the way he worked. In fact, he changed the ways his employees worked too. He let his workers take more responsibility so that they would be the ones worrying when things went wrong. He allowed them to set their own salaries, and he cut all the jobs he thought were unnecessary , like receptionists and secretaries. 【C1】______“ Everyone at Semco, even top managers, meets guests in reception, does the photocopying, sends faxes, types letters and dials the phone. “ He completely reorganized the office: instead of walls, they have plants at Semco, so bosses can’t shut themselves away from everyone else.【C2】______As for uniforms, some people wear suits and others wear T-shirts. Semler says, “ We have a sales manager named Rubin Agater who sits there reading the newspaper hour after hour. He doesn’ t even pretend to be busy. But when a Semco pump on the other side of the world fails millions of gallons of oil are about to spill into the sea. Rubin springs into action 【C3】______That’ s when he earns his salary. No one cares if he doesn’ t look busy the rest of the time. Semco has flexible working hours: the employees decide when they need to arrive at work. 【C4】______ It sounds perfect, but does it work? The answer is in the numbers: in the last six years, Semco’ s revenues have gone from $35 million to $212 million. The company has grown from eight hundred employees to 3 , 000. Why? Semler says it’ s because of “peer pressure“. Peer pressure makes employees work hard for everyone else.【C5】______In other words, Ricardo Semler treats his workers like adults and expects them to act like adults. And they do. [A]This saved money and brought more equality to the company. [B] He knows everything there is to know about our pumps and how to fix them. [C] And the workers are free to decorate their workspace as they want. [D]Most managers spend their time making it difficult for workers to work. [E] If someone isn’ t doing his job well, the other workers will not allow the situation to continue. [F] Also, Semco lets its workers use the company’ s machines for their own projects, and makes them take holidays for at least thirty days a year. [G] After years of hard-working, he tired.

Mike: Praise often and sincerely—it’ s as simple as that. Employees want to feel needed and appreciated. By offering sincere praise with examples about what they did right, you’ll go far in creating an energetic team. Meanwhile, I don’t agree with the assertion that“to focus on what needs improving isn’ t good management. “ In fact, it’ s the balance of praise along with constructive criticism that drives employees to work smarter and reach higher. Frank: This article makes a valid point that needs to be understood, especially for the new generation of workers, my generation. We don’ t see ourselves as parts in the machine to be put in the dark to work. My generation needs respect in return from our employer, we need to feel appreciated beyond just a pay check, it’ s the difference between being fulfilled at our career and being sad at our job. Joyce: One skill missing in today’ s workplace is the ability to build effective business relationships. At the core of that relationship is the need for consistent feedback. “How am I doing?“is a question that should be answered consistently. When you tell an employee once a year what is needed to improve, you have not done your job as a leader—build skills, provide feedback and help the employee grow and develop. Ellen: I don’ t see a problem with praising employees when it’ s truly deserved (insincere praise is an entirely different story) . It’ s a cost-free“benefit“ , if you will, in that it allows employees to see that their efforts are both noticed and valued. In the work world there are always people available to tell that you are doing something wrong and far too few occasions when employees are told that they’ ve done something right! Diana: Praise what the employee did. Be specific about why it was helpful. An employee who continually earns your praise also deserves your attention as to how else to reward their behavior. Meaningful praise encourages people beyond anything else. Written comments are available for later review. They give them confidence that they can“ do it again. “ I never regretted praising an employee who deserved it but often kicked myself for missing an opportunity. Now match the name of each person (36 - 40) to the appropriate statement. Note: there are two extra statements. Statements [A] Praise combined with criticism is helpful. [B]Praise can bring about many kinds of desired behavior. [C] Employees may feel it hard to accept insincere praise. [D]Let employees know exactly for what they are praised. [E]In my opinion, we are not generous enough to give praise. [F] Employees need helpful advice on a regular basis. [G] Money alone cannot guarantee a sense of career fulfillment for me.

Read the text below. Write an essay in about 120 words, in which you should summarize the key points of the text and make comments on them. Try to use you own words. Computer is playing vital role in modern life. Computer education has great importance because use of computer has reached almost all spheres of life. The modern life of today includes information and contacts with people all over the world. Computer has helped considerably to achieve this. This is possible through computer education when a person knows the use of computer, he can employ in his business, for planning and chalking out programmed calculations and statical works. The Internet helps to have contact with any one in any part of the world. Today, by the help of Internet, business has progressed very much. This is also possible with the knowledge of computer. Today computer education is must for the job of even an ordinary clerk in the office. The knowledge and use of computer is essential for him. In modern countries the running of trains, machines , the flight of planes, the work in the bank and progress of business, all these are controlled by computer. This is possible only by the knowledge and use of computer. Computer education enables the artist in creating the realistic images. In the field of entertainment too, musicians, having computer education, create multiple voice composition and the play back music with hundreds of variations. Not only this, the knowledge of computer helps in domestic work likes making the home budget doing calculations, and playing with confidence.

Where do you think does the dialogue take place?W: John, do you realize that Christmas is only a month away? We’ ve got to think about Christmas gifts. M: Yes, and what a lot we have to think about! W: Shall we decide what to send them all now? M: All right. Let’ s make a list of names and then decide what to give them all. W: The children first, I think. What about Anne? Do you have any suggestions? M: She’ s getting too grown-up for toys. We can let her choose a book. W: Do you have any idea what kind of book to choose? M: Girls in her age are fond of cartoon books or other books with a lot of pictures. W: Very well. We can find one in a bookshop. Now what about Dick? He thinks about nothing but space travel nowadays. M: Oh, that makes it easy. Shall we give him one of those space travel suits the toyshop has? You know what I mean: There is a big round plastic thing that goes over the head. W: That’ s an excellent idea. He’ll be quite excited. M: What about your father? Does he have any hobbies? W: He’ s fond of music. Perhaps we can get him some records. M: That sounds wonderful. Do you know what kind of music does he like? W: Light music, I think. M: Does he have any favorite composers? W: I don’t know about that. Just get him a new released one. In a shop. At home. In the street. In a car.

How long will the adults and teenagers in this program live together?Younger people and older people do not always agree with each other. They sometimes have different ideas about life, work and play. But in one special program in New York State, adults and teenagers live together in peace. Each summer, 200 teenagers and 50 adults live together for eight weeks as members of a special work group. Everyone works several hours each day. The aim is not only to keep busy but to find meaning and enjoyment in work. Some teenagers work in the woods or on the farms near the village. Some learn to make furniture and to build houses. The adults teach them these skills. There are several free hours every day. And people are free on weekends, too. During the free hours some teenagers learn photography or painting. Others sit around talking or singing. Each teenager has his own way to spend the free time. It is necessary to make rules when people live together. In this program the teenagers and the adults make the rules together. When someone breaks the rule, the group will discuss the problem. They will ask “Why did it happen?“ , “What should we do about it?“ After the program, one of the teenagers told us that, “ You stop thinking only about yourself. You begin to think about the whole group. That’ s what I’ ve learnt from this program. Five weeks. Six weeks. Seven weeks. Eight weeks.

America’ s Internet is faster than ever before, but people still complain about their Internet being too slow. New York’ s Attorney General’ s office【C6】______an investigation in the fall into whether or not Verizon, Cablevision and Time Warner are delivering broadband that’ s as fast as the providers 【C7】______it is. Earlier this month, the office asked for the public’ s help to measure their speed results, saying consumers【C8】______to get the speeds they were promised. “Too many of us may be paying for one thing, and getting another, “the Attorney General said. If the investigation uncovers anything, it wouldn’ t be the first time a telecom provider got into 【C9】______over the broadband speeds it promised and delivered customers. Back in June, the Fed- eral Communications Commission fined AT&T $ 100 million over【C10】______that the carrier secretly reduced wireless speeds after customers consumed a certain amount of【C11】______. Even when they stay on the right side of the law, Internet providers arouse customers’ anger over bandwidth speed and cost. Just this week, an investigation found that media and telecom giant Comcast is the most【C12】______provider. Over 10 months, Comcast received nearly 12, 000 customer complaints, many【C13】______to its monthly data cap and overage charges. Some Americans are getting so【C14】______with Internet providers they’ re just giving up. A re- cent study found that the number of Americans with high-speed Internet at home today【C15】______fell during the last two years, and 15% of people now consider themselves to be“ cord-cutters“. [A] accusations [B] actually [C] claim [D] communicating [E] complain [F] data [G] deserved [H] frustrated [I] hated [J] launched [K] relating [L] times [M] trouble [N] usually [O] worried

Write a letter to Andy and tell her about your situation. The letter must include: 1) your family: 2) your school or work: 3) Your hobby. You should write about 100 words. Do not sign your own name at the end of the letter. Use“ Wang Lin “ instead.

What happens when a new technology emerges?

What does the author say about the driverless car?

Why does the driverless car appeal to some old people?

What is likely to affect one’ s attitude toward the driverless car?

Who are likely to be the first to buy the driverless car?