Directions:Read the following passages carefully and choose the best answer from the
four choices marked A, B, C and D.
Questions 76 to 80 are based on the same passage or dialog.
A little noticed change has been taking place in our time-world. The arrival of digital (数字的) time has been changing the way we act and think. I believe that it has put us to a higher level of anxiety, with greater expectations of efficiency.
The old, round, hand-moved time still kept a certain connection to the natural flow of things, to the roundness of the earth, and to the changes of light and seasons. Old, round time was outside ourselves, far enough removed from us so we could ignore it if we so chose.
It is not so with digital time, which is a beat. It beats instead of turning. It makes a sound like the sound of the heart and thus places itself smoothly into the body. More and more, we mistake its regular beat for our own, thus mistaking the demands of the world for our wishes.
Before wrist watches, time used to live in towers in the centers of towns. At that distance, it could be seen by everybody, but only if they so wished. It took an effort, an actual visit to \something happened. Time began to live with us, and now it is beginning to live in us.
I remember what it was like to be a child, absorbed in the endlessly changeable thing of time. For me there was only child time, divided meaninglessly and quite painfully by the orders of the parents into Bedtime, Wakeup Time, and School Time. But within each of those divisions (分割), Eternity still ruled. Later, of course, they managed to infect me with the anxious demands of clock time. Very soon, all that remained was the anxiety of that which was exact. The fast beats of the 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