Reading skills are very important. Experts estimate that it is possible for any normal adult English speaker to read 1,000 words a minute and more, with special training. Yet most students read only about 300 words per minute. The following principles might be helpful for foreign students who wish to increase their reading skills. Always read faster than is comfortable. The faster your normal rate of reading becomes, the better your understanding will be. Keep reading ahead. Do not allow yourself to regress while reading, even when you come across a new word. If some word, term or phrase has clouded your understanding, you should reread it only after you have read the entire paragraph through once. Read selectively. As you read make a conscious effort to screen the nouns, pronouns, and verbs from the other words, since these are the words that give meaning to what you have read. In effect, you should really read the nouns, pronouns and verbs and merely see the rest of the words in the sentence. Read beyond the lines. As a good reader, you should see ideas implied through the words, and bridge the gap between the obvious and the suggested, thus obtaining much more information. Because the reading assignments in most college courses are very long, students should plan to read every day. If, however, they find that they cannot complete all the assigned readings in the beginning, they should not panic. Instead, they should ask their classmates how much they are reading and attempt to learn from them what to read first and what to postpone until a later date. Because much of the past learning experience of foreign students may have been for the purpose of passing examinations, they might be inclined to put off studying until late in the term. Such behavior can result in failure in the US system, where assignments must be completed on time and done regularly each day.

The market is a concept. If you are growing tomatoes in your backyard for sale you are producing for the market. You might sell some to your neighbor and some to the manager of the local supermarket. But in either case, you are producing for the market. Your efforts are being directed by the market. If people stop buying tomatoes, you will stop producing them. If you take care of a sick person to earn money, you are producing for the market. If your father is a steelworker or a truck driver or a doctor or a grocer, he is producing goods or service for the market. When you spend your income, you are buying things from the market. You may spend money in stores, supermarkets, gas stations, and restaurants. Still you are buying from the market. When the local grocer hires you to drive the delivery truck, he is buying your labor in the labor market. The market may seem to be something abstract. But for each person or business who is making and selling something, it’s very real. If nobody buys your tomatoes, it won’t be long before you get the message. The market is telling you something. It’s telling you that you are using energies and resources in doing something the market doesn’t want you to do.

There are two basic differences between the large and the small enterprises. In the small enterprise you operate primarily through personal contacts. In the large enterprise you have established “policies“, “channels“ of organization, and fairly rigid procedures. In the small enterprise you have, moreover, immediate effectiveness in a very small area. You can see the effect of your work and of your decisions right away,once you are a little above the ground floor. In the large enterprise even the man at the top is only part of a big machine. To be sure,his actions affect a much greater area than the actions and decisions of the man in the small organization, but his effectiveness is remote, indirect, and difficult to see at first sight. In a small and even in a middle-sized business you are normally exposed to all kinds of experiences, and expected to do a great many things without too much help or guidance. In the large organization you are normally taught one thing thoroughly. In the small one the danger is of becoming a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. In the large one it is of becoming the man who knows more and more about less and less. There is one other important thing to consider : do you get a deep sense of satisfaction from being a member of a well-known organization—General Motors, the Bell Telephone System, the government? Or is it more important to you to be a well-known and important figure within your own small pond? There is a basic difference between the satisfaction that comes from being a member of a large, powerful, and generally known organization, and the one that comes from being a member of a family; between impersonal grandeur and personal often much too personal intimacy; between life in a small office on the top floor of a skyscraper and life in a crossroads gas station.

(plead) The lawyer gave the ______ to the judge.

(ready) But neither of them was armed in ______for the Second World War.

Is a second language necessary in international business? Why?

The Yanomami are a people living in villages between 40 and 250 people in the Venezuelan rain forest. Since the 1960s, Napoleon Chagnon has studied several Yanomami villages, written a widely-read book called The Fierce People about the Yanomami and helped to produce several films about them. Chagnon’s writings and films have promoted a long standing view of the Yanomami as exceptionally violent and war-loving. According to Chagnon, about one third of adult Yanomami males die violently, about two thirds of all adults had lost at least one close relative through violence, and over 50 percent had lost two or more close relatives. He has reported that one village was raided 25 times during his first 15 months there. Chagnon provides a sociobological explanation for the fierceness of the Yanomami. He explains that village raids and warfare are carried to obtain wives. Although the Yanomami prefer to marry within their village, there is a shortage of potential brides because the Yanomami practice the killing of female infants, which creates a scarcity of women. While the Yanomami prefer to marry within their own group, taking a wife from another group is preferable to remaining a bachelor. Men in other groups, however, are unwilling to give up their women; hence the necessity for raids. Chagnon also argues that, as successful warriors will be able to gain a wife or more than one wife, they often have more children than unsuccessful ones. Successful warriors, Chagnon suggests, carry a genetic advantage for fierceness, which they pass on to their sons, leading to a high growth rate of groups with violent males through genetic selection for fierceness. Male fierceness, in this view, is biologically determined. Marvin Harris, who has a cultural materialist perspective, says that food scarcity and population in the area are the underlying causes of warfare. The Yanomami lack plentiful sources of meat, which is highly valued. Harris suggests that when hunting in an area was exhausted, the Yanomami would venture into territories of neighboring groups, thus giving rise to conflicts. Such conflicts in turn resulted in high rate of adult male deaths. Combined with the effects of female infant killing, this meat warfare complex kept population growth rate down to a level that the environment could support. In contrast, Patrick Tierney, a journalist, points the finger of blame to a large extent at Chagnon himself. Tierney presents evidence that it was the presence of Chagnon and his team of core-searchers and many boxes of trade goods that triggered a series of deadly raids, for the Yanomami competed with other groups for his trade goods. In addition, Tierney argues that Chagnon intentionally prompted the Yanomami to act fiercely for his films and to stage raids that actually led to bad feelings where they had not existed before.

For the most part, rapid economic development has been a boon. But there is a down side to development—health problems such as overweight are all becoming more prevalent, as more people take taxis to work instead of riding their bicycles, and other labor saving devices become more popular. An increasingly fast pace of life makes it difficult for people to spend time working out or playing sports. “I know exercise is good for your health, “a young lady said “But after a busy work week,the only thing I want to do is to watch some TV and go to sleep. “That attitude may explain the results of a recent nationwide study,which suggested 15 percent of urban adults in China are overweight,a large number of people over the age of 40 suffer from high blood pressure and cardiac ailments(心脏病). Local researchers found that 31. 2 percent of elderly respondents were getting enough exercise,but less than 9 percent of youngsters and the middle aged got an adequate amount of physical activity Elderly people understand the importance of protecting their health. The young people, however, are busy working and use this as an excuse to avoid exercise. In fact, physical exercise doesn’t require much time,money or a special gymnasium. People can make use of any time and any place at their convenience to take part in sports. Walking quickly,cycling,climbing the stairs and dancing are all helpful methods to enhance one’s health. The benefits of adding a little more activity to your life are priceless. “There is no need to be an athlete, however,“ a local doctor said people should walk for 30 minutes a day and take part in some other physical activity three to five times a week. He warns, however, that people in poor physical shape should start slowly,and build up over time.

American society is much more informal than that of many other countries and,in some ways,is characterized by less social distinction. Yet in spite of all the informality, America is not completely without customs that show consciousness of social distinction. For example, 【C1】______. While the informal “Hello“ is an acceptable greeting from employee to employer, the employee is more apt to say, “Hello,Mr. Ferguson,“ whereas the employer may reply, “Hello, Jinx. “ Southerners make a point of saying “Yes, sir,“ or “Yes, ma’am,“ or “No, sir,“ or “No, ma’am,“ when talking to an older person or a person in position of authority. Although this is a good form all over the United States, “Yes, Mr. Western“ or “No,Mrs. Baker“ is somewhat more common in a similar situation in the North or West 【C2】______ . Though people wear hats less now than in the past, women still occasionally wear hats in church and at public social functions (except those that are in the evening). 【C3】______. He opens the door for her and lets her precede him through it. He walks on the side of the walk nearest the street He takes her arm when crossing a street or descending a stairway. 【C4】______ , by helping the older person in things requiring physical exertion or involving possible accident American surface informality often confuses the foreigner because he interprets it to mean no formality at all. 【C5】______ .A teacher, though friendly, pleasant, and informal in class, expects students to study hard, and he grades each student’ s work critically and carefully. He also expects to be treated with respect. Although students are free to ask questions about statements made by the teacher, and may say that they disagree with what he says, 【C6】______ Similarly, in boy-girl relationships a foreign student should not mistake the easy relationship and flattery that are part of the dating pattern in the United States, nor presume that it means more than it does. Also, because an American is perhaps more likely to admit and laugh at his own mistakes than one who stands more on his dignity,【C7】______. The American is quite ready to admit certain weaknesses such as“I never was good at mathematics. “ “I’ m a rotten tennis player.“ or “I’m the world’s worst bridge player. “ However, the stranger must not be too quick to agree with him. Americans think it is all right, even sporting, to admit a defect in themselves, 【C8】______. A part of American idea of good sportsmanship is the point of being generous to a loser. This attitude is carried over into matters that have nothing to do with competition. If a man talks about his weak points, the listener says something in the way of encouragement, or points to other qualities in which the speaker excels. An American student reports that when he was in a foreign country he was completely stunned when he said to a native, “I don’t speak your language very well. “ and the native replied,“I should say you don’ t. “ In a similar situation an American would have commented, “Well, you have only been here two months. “ or “【C9】______. “ Although Americans are quite informal, it is best for a foreigner, in case of doubt, to be too formal rather than not formal enough. 【C10】______. (From American Social Relation) A. it is their custom to show certain modesty in reply to compliments B. In America there are still customs by which a man may show respect for a woman C. one is likely to use somewhat more formal language when talking to superiors D. He does not understand the point at which informality stops E. But you’re making progress F. but they feel that it is almost an insult to have someone else agree G. Certain other forms of politeness are observed on social occasions H. they are not expected to contradict him I. I’m glad you like it J. a foreigner sometimes does not know how to handle the American’s apparent modesty K. Consideration for others is the basis of all courtesy L. A younger person also shows respect for an older one in much the same fashion

(broad) The interpretation of the provisions of the Constitution protecting individual rights has been ______ by court decisions during recent years.

(rise) The federal courts try all cases______ under the Constitution and under federal laws and treaties.

(compatibility) It is important to maintain______ family relationships.

(scarce) She talked on cheerfully about the shooting and the ______ of birds, and the hopes of shooting in the winter.

(fruit) That can assure a more ______ life for all mankind.

Next, the Constitution provides for a federal government based on the principle of the separation of powers. (63) It provides for three distinct departments of government: legislative, executive and judicial. All legislative power granted by the Constitution is given to Congress; the executive power is given to the President; and the judicial power is given to the Supreme Court and other federal courts. (64) The Constitution has many provisions intended to keep each department independent and strong. Each department has ways of exerting some control over the others. In this way no department can become all powerful. (65) The President is Commander-in-Chief of the army and navy, but all the money for supporting an army and navy must be appropriated by Congress. The Supreme Court has power to declare a law passed by Congress and approved by the President unconstitutional and without effect, but the President appoints Supreme Court justices with the consent of the Senate, and they may be removed from office by Congress if they do not behave as they should. (66) The powers granted to the federal government by the Constitution are great enough to make it strong and able to act vigorously in matters relating to the nation as a whole. Congress has the power to levy taxes, maintain an army and navy, declare war, regulate commerce among the states and with foreign nations, admit new states into the Union, and to do many other things. (67)The President’s powers include the making of treaties with foreign nations with the consent of the Senate. The federal courts try all cases arising under the Constitution and under federal laws and treaties. If any state constitution or state law is in conflict with the federal Constitution or with any laws or treaties made in accordance with it, the state constitution or law must give way. The United States Constitution and the laws and treaties made under it are the Supreme Law of the Land. (From The Constitution of The United States)

Glenn Gould was perhaps the greatest and most unusual musician ever to come from Canada. Thousands of people throughout the world knew about Glenn Gould and loved his music. But one night,after playing a concert in Chicago,Gould made an announcement that shocked all his fans. Although he was only 33 years old,he said he would never give another concert or play the piano on stage again. But Glenn Gould did not stop playing the piano completely. Instead,he made records. He loved being able to work on a recording until the music was perfect. He never went back to play on stage,where his music might not be perfect. Glenn Gould’s recordings are unusual because he had a curious habit of singing and humming along with the music he played. Anyone who listens closely can hear this singing on many of his records. Singing while he played was not his only unusual habit. He often walked around Toronto on the hottest August days with an overcoat, scarf, and gloves on. He never cared what people said about his behavior. He often wanted to stay alone with his music,and at times he simply refused to see people at all. In spite of his unusual habits, or maybe because of them, music lovers everywhere prize Glenn Gould’s recordings. When he died suddenly at age fifty, Canada and the world lost one of their musical treasures.

Reading skills are very important. Experts estimate that it is possible for any normal adult English speaker to read 1,000 words a minute and more, with special training. Yet most students read only about 300 words per minute. The following principles might be helpful for foreign students who wish to increase their reading skills. Always read faster than is comfortable. The faster your normal rate of reading becomes, the better your understanding will be. Keep reading ahead. Do not allow yourself to regress while reading, even when you come across a new word. If some word, term or phrase has clouded your understanding, you should reread it only after you have read the entire paragraph through once. Read selectively. As you read make a conscious effort to screen the nouns, pronouns, and verbs from the other words, since these are the words that give meaning to what you have read. In effect, you should really read the nouns, pronouns and verbs and merely see the rest of the words in the sentence. Read beyond the lines. As a good reader, you should see ideas implied through the words, and bridge the gap between the obvious and the suggested, thus obtaining much more information. Because the reading assignments in most college courses are very long, students should plan to read every day. If, however, they find that they cannot complete all the assigned readings in the beginning, they should not panic. Instead, they should ask their classmates how much they are reading and attempt to learn from them what to read first and what to postpone until a later date. Because much of the past learning experience of foreign students may have been for the purpose of passing examinations, they might be inclined to put off studying until late in the term. Such behavior can result in failure in the US system, where assignments must be completed on time and done regularly each day.

(idyll) In accents of dread, Ben’s______music starts up.

(population) The whole world had to be______, not just one little valley.

(attract) The audience didn’t know that someone so had lived among them.

ashamed of another all over what steal lose living howafter as if even alive against Jim also had a fighting dog which he named【G1】______ the President, Andrew Jackson. That was the ugliest dog on earth, and he looked 【G2】______ he were about to die any minute, and when he didn’t look that way, he looked as if he wanted to 【G3】______ something like a common thief. But when the time came to fight another dog, Jim’s pup was 【G4】______ .dog. At first, Jim’s dog appeared ready to 【G5】______ to the other dog. The other dog would run him around and tackle him, bite him, and throw him 【G6】______ the ring. People would start to increase their bets 【G7】______ Andrew Jackson. Then, all of a sudden, Jim’s pup would come 【G8】______. He’d grab the other dog by the hind legs and freeze to them. He wouldn’t chew, you understand,he would just hold on until the other dog had to give up. Smiley always won money on that dog. Always except once,that is. The dog had to fight another dog, as usual, but this time the other dog had no hind legs. Well, old Andrew Jackson didn’t know 【G9】______to make of it and he lost that fight. Afterwards,he just shook his head,slinked off past Smiley as though he were 【G10】______what had happened, and then lay down and died. (From The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County)

In the United States, the foreign students must do their reading assignments . ( )

According to the passage, who should the student turn to for advice if he cannot complete all the assigned readings in the beginning? ( )

What principle should foreign students follow when they come across a new word while reading? ( )

According to the author, what is the type of vocabulary the reader should not spend much time on while reading? ( )

With special training, a normal adult English speaker may read words per minute. ( )