timepiece (时钟) cut Eternity to pieces.

Occasionally, I stop long enough to recall the times of childhood, but not often enough. Like everybody else, I am helpless before the new technologies. Time is a virus, and it is growing stronger.

76. Digital time has changed how we act and think by ____________________.

A. allowing us to work with more efficiency

B. giving us more time to do what we like

C. causing us to be more anxious

D. having us expect more of others

77. The author thinks that the old clocks ____________________.

A. are somehow linked with the seasonal changes

B. stay closer to people than a digital watch

C. are connected with human's hands

D. work better than a wrist watch

78. Before watches, clocks were located __________________.

A. everywhere for everyone to see

B. wherever a person wished

C. on the wrist

D. in the center of town

79. In the author's early childhood memory, _________________.

A. time was a concrete thing

B. time seemed to have no end

C. he fought against his parents' idea of time

D. he enjoyed the anxiety of precision (精确)

80. The author's attitude towards time in the modern world is ____________.

A. positive

B. unclear

C. negative

D. in the middle

Questions 81 to 85 are based on the same passage or dialog.

The University of London is one of Britain's largest centers for higher education, with a name for international education. Located in one of the world's most dynamic(有活力有生气的) cities, we can offer international students a wide and exciting cultural life, as well as the very best course choice and teaching. We offer our international students the ability to study and improve their command of English, to ensure they get the best from the course of their choice.

International students are assured of a successful and happy time while studying at the University of London. We have a Student Service office to help you at all times, and first year students are ensured a place in halls of residence if desired. Your teacher will give you personal instruction if required. Students can enjoy themselves in the free health center at any time.

As a final point, we offer religious service rooms for those of all faiths and as London is an international city, we can put students in touch with many religious groups in this area. Finally, with excellent air, rail, and road links to the rest of Britain, Europe, and the world, getting here is easy.

81. The University of London is located in a city __________________.

A. well known for producing excellent professors

B. full of activity and energy

C. where you can enjoy everything free of charge

D. that is quiet and peaceful all the time

82. The University of London is famous for __________________.

A. the largest number of students

B. being located on the Thames

C. excellent transportation

D. international education

83. Whenever international students have any difficulty in life, they can go to _______________

for help.

A. the health center

B. the hall of residence

C. the Student Service office

D. their teacher

84. The university assures the first year students that _________________.

A. they can have a place in halls of residence if they wish to

B. they don't have to pay for their first-year education

C. they will all be put into some religious groups

D. they can get houses at Newcastle for a very low price

85. The main purpose of this passage is to __________________.

A. attract more travelers to London

B. show that the University offers religious service

C. draw more international students

D. show how students enjoy their study

Questions 86 to 90 are based on the same passage or dialog. Stare at the clock. Make silly drawings. Stare at the clock again. Complain about the weather.

The clock? It's still there, ticking even more slowly. No, none of this was planned for the meeting.

You'd love to get your work done, but instead you spend half your day in a meeting room. Office workers spend an average of 23 hours a week in meetings, according to the Wharton Center for Applied Research in the US. And, these workers consider only 58 percent of that time useful.

It doesn't have to be this way. Here are a few guidelines for you to use meetings effectively, not eat up your productivity.

1) Know what you want. \what you intend to accomplish,\cannot write these two things down, the meeting should not take place.\

2) Figure out whether a face-to-face meeting is necessary. Would a group email be enough? A couple of phone calls? These ways would probably be more efficient with fellow workers you know well.

3) Pick the right times. If possible, avoid planning meetings during your most productive hours. If everyone runs to the break room for coffee at 10:30 am, that would be an excellent time to have informal staff meetings.

4) Be prepared. Read the plan for what needs to be done. Study the numbers on the project you're putting forward. If there are papers to be discussed, hand them out the day before to those who will attend the meeting.

5) Keep track of the time for them. Set apart a certain amount of time each week for the meetings, and keep to it.

If you still find yourself caught in meeting after meeting, don't feel bad. At least your organization obviously thinks your physical presence is valuable.

86. A worker who is in a meeting that he doesn't want to take part in is likely to ___________.

A. draw funny pictures

B. change the clock

C. check the weather

D. plan another meeting

87. Office workers think that _________ the time used in meetings is wasted.

A. more than half of

B. almost all of

C. less than half of

D. none of

88. In this passage, we are advised to follow some principles in order to __________.

A. learn guidelines

B. eat up productivity

C. make the most of meetings

D. increase production

89. To decide whether a meeting is necessary, we may ask the following questions except

\

A. Can I solve the problem by email or phone call?

B. Will my fellow workers like to have this meeting?

C. What is the purpose of this meeting?