Passage Three

Job sharing refers to the situation in which two people divide the responsibility of　one full-time job. The two people willingly act as part-time workers, enough hours　between them to fulfill the duties of a full-time worker. If they each work half the job,　for example, they each receive 50 per cent of the job’s wages, its holidays and its other　benefits. Of course, some job sharers take a smaller or larger share of the　responsibilities of the position, receiving a lesser or greater share of the benefits.

Job sharing differs from conventional part-time work in that it occurs mainly in the　more highly skilled and professional areas, which require higher levels of responsibility　and employee commitment.

Job sharing sh ould not be confused with the term work sharing, which refers to　increasing the number of jobs by reducing the number of hours of each existing job,　thus offering more positions to the growing number of unemployed people. Job sharing,　by contrast, is not designed to address unemployment problems; its focus, rather, is to　provide well-paid work for skilled workers and professionals who want more free time　for other activities.

As would be expected, women constitute the bulk of job sharers. A survey carried　out in 1988 by Britain’s Equal Oppor tunities Commission revealed that 78 per cent of

sharers were female, the majority of whom were between 20 and 40 years of age.　Subsequent studies have come up with similar results. Many of these women were　re-entering the job market after having had children, but they chose not to seek　part-time work because it would have meant lower status. Job sharing also offered an　acceptable shift back into full-time work after a long absence.

The necessity of close cooperation when sharing a job with another person makes　the actual work quite different from conventional one-position jobs. However, to ensure　a greater chance that the partnership will succeed, each person needs to know the　strengths, weaknesses and preferences of his or her partner before applying for a　position. Moreover, there must be a fair division of both routine tasks and interesting　ones. In sum, for a position to be job-shared well, the two individuals must be well　matched and must treat each other as equals.

41.“Employee commitment” in Paragraph 2 refers to the employee’s __ ______.

A.qualification B.loyalty　　C.experience D.achievement

42.Work sharing is different from job sharing in that ________.

A.it requires more working hours　B.it provides more work positions

C.it depends on the employer’s decision　　D.it offers a more satisfactory salary

43.Job sharing is popular with young mothers mainly because ________.

A.they can take care of both work and family　　B.they are over ideal working ages

C.they seek equal opportunities with men　D.they have difficulty finding full-time jobs

44.In job sharing the partners should ________.

A.be social equals　B.be intimate friends

C.know each other very well　　D.have similar working experience

45.The main purpose of the passage is to ________.

A.recommend job sharing to women　B.discuss a way to tackle unemployment

C.criticize job sharing as inefficient　D.describe job sharing in general

Passage Four

Americans have a great love for informality and nowhere is this better expressed　than in their love for nicknames (昵称、绰号). Upon greeting strangers for the first time　they will quickly introduce themselves by their nickname. These are shortened forms of　their given name at birth and reflect the casual relationships which exist among friends　and coworkers. Family names are hardly ever used in daily situations and the use of　one’s father’s last name is saved only for rare and formal occasions.

In many traditional cultures the use of the family name is seen as a sign of respect.　For Americans, however, it’s the nickname which creates an immediate intimacy　between two people upon which to build a relationship. By speaking to another on a　first name basis and using his nickname, walls are immediately torn down and equality　between two people is established.

At work bosses will refer to their employees by their nicknames. Should an　employer use a worker’s family name, you can be sure that some kind of correction or　serious business will follow.

This lov e for nicknames can create a sense of closeness between people who are　otherwise not related . Even the presidents of the United States have borne nicknames.　Abraham Lincoln was known as Honest Abe. John F. Kennedy was known as Jack or

JFK and William Clinton has no reservations in letting people know he prefers to b e　called Bill, but those who look upon him with disfavor may call him Slick Willy.　Not only people but cities often carry their own nicknames. Chicago is called the　“Windy City” because of the strong winds which come down from Canada throughou t　the year. New York City is considered the “Big Apple” for reasons which are still　obscure to most people including many New Yorkers.

Not every nickname, however, is positive and some can be rather rude and　insulting. If someone sho uld demonstrate a certain negative characteristic, a label will　soon be attached to describe that person in an unpleasant way.

Likewise a person’s physical traits which are very dominant may lead to　nicknames but not necessarily to one’s liking or choice. A n ickname, therefore, is a way　of identifying or describing someone or something for better or worse.

46.Why do Americans prefer to use nicknames when addressing one another?

A.Nicknames are easy to remember.　　B.Americans are a friendly people.

C.Nicknames are convenient to use in daily life.　　D.Nicknames help build a closer relationship.

47.Americans tend to use others’ family names ________.

A.in the work place B.when writing letters　C.on formal occasions D.when making phone calls

48.Many traditional societies see the use of one’s family name as a sign of ________.

A.distance B.respect　　C.importance D.gratitude

49.An American employer is likely to use a worker ’s family name when ________.

A.the worker is to get a promotion　　B.he speaks to the worker at a gathering

C.the worker has done something wrong　D.he is being friendly with the worker

50.In Paragraph 5, the word “obscure” is closest in meaning to “________”.

A.unclear B.sound　C.funny D.popular

Part IV Cloze Test (15 minutes, 10 points)

Directions: There are 10 blanks in the following passage. For each numbered　blank, there are 4 choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the best one and mark your　answer on the ANSWER SHEET with a single line through the center.

For years we have believed we were either healthy or sick. 51 , during the mid-90s,　scientists developed a new concept called “sub-health”, a status 52 health and illness.

The concept of sub-health has become 53 because it has helped to explain many health　problems. 54 one study, only 5.6% of people in the overall population are actually sick,　55 the sub-healthy group consists of about 60%, and the 56 population is considered　healthy. 57 of one’s sub-health will help one to be alert to the underlying disease and　remain healthy. Sub-Health is a state in which the body is 58 turning fro m health to　illness or from illness to health. Our bodies are actively 59 the conditions of health,　sub-health and disease. Factors 60 aging, internal or external toxicity (毒性), and body　or mind exhaustion may cause sub-health, but taking good care of the body can change　a sub-healthy status to a healthy one.

51.A.Besides B.However C.Meantime D.Therefore

52.A.between B.within C.beyond D.toward

53.A.global B.controversial C.commo n D.popular

54.A.Due to B.Thanks to C.Prior to D.According to

55.A.though B.since C.whereas D.for

56.A.retaining B.remaining C.reserving D.relating

57.A.Awareness B.Causes C.Treatment D.Doubts

58.A.still B.already C.either D.neither

59.A.comparing B.choosing C.balancing D.improving

60.A.as B.like C.up to D.along with

Part V Translation (30 minutes, 10 points)

Directions: Translate the following passage into Chinese and put your translation　on the ANSWER SHEET.

The office desk, as we know it, may have had its day. A large study on the future of　work in the UK predicts the rise of the “mobile worker” moving with notebook　computer and mobile phone between office, home, hotel, airport or highway service　station as the needs of a job demand. Today, more than five million people already　spend some time working at home or on the move, according to a recent report. That　number will rise dramatically ov er the coming decades, with mobile work becoming　one of the fastest-growing types of employment.

According to the study “Working in the Twenty-First Century”, individuals will not　necessarily see themselves as working from home. They could equally be working from　the office, but they will be on the move from place to place, working at various times of　the day, for much of the week. For a large proportion of workers, work in twenty years’　time will be more about movement than staying in one place.

Part VI Writing (30 minutes, 15 points)

Directions: You are to write in no less than 120 words on the topic of “A Threat　(Threats) to Endangered Animals”. You may base your composition on the clues given　below:

Many animals are now in danger of becoming extinct....

Amon g the threats to endangered animals is (are) ....

The way to cope with the threat (threats)....

Conclusion.

(Note: endangered—濒危)