In the first year or so of Web business, most of the action has revolved around efforts to

Nonetheless, many companies still hesitate to use the Web because of doubts about its reliability. "Businesses need to feel they can trust the pathway between them and the supplier", says senior analyst Blanc Erwin of Forrester Research. Some companies are limiting the risk by conducting online transactions only with established business partners who are given access to the company's private intranet.

Another major shift in the model for Internet commerce concerns the technology available for marketing. Until recently, Internet marketing activities have focused on strategies to "pull" customers into sites. In the past year, however, software companies have developed tools that allow companies to "push" information directly out to consumers, transmitting marketing messages directly to targeted customers. Most notably, the Pointcast Network uses a screen saver to deliver a continually updated stream of news and advertisements to subscribers' computer monitors. Subscribers can customize the information they want to receive and proceed directly to a company's Web site. Companies such as Virtual Vineyards are already starting to use similar technologies to push messages to customers about special sales, product offerings, or other events. But push technology has earned the contempt of many Web users. Online culture thinks highly of the notion that the information flowing onto the screen comes there by specific request. Once commercial promotion begins to fill the screen uninvited, the distinction between the Web and television fades. That's a prospect that horrifies Net purists.

But it is hardly inevitable that companies on the Web will need to resort to push strategies to make money. The examples of Virtual Vineyards, Amazon.com, and other pioneers show that a Web site selling the right kind of products with the fight mix of interactivity, hospitality, and security, will attract online customers. And the cost of computing power continues to free fall, which is a good sign for any enterprise setting up shop in silicon. People looking back 5 or 10 years from now may well wonder why so few companies took the online plunge.

We learn from the beginning of the passage that Web business ______.

A．has been striving to expand its market

B．intended to follow a fanciful fashion

C．tried but in vain to control the market

D．has been booming for one year or so

The BBC ______.

A．was first choice in most categories.

B．was unpopular with business students.

C．employs more graduates than most other organizations and companies.

Section B

Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. You should decide on the best choice.

In the first year or so of Web business, most of the action has revolved around efforts to tap the consumer market. More recently, as the Web proved to be more than a profession, companies have started to buy and sell products and services with one another. Such business-to- business sales make sense because business people typically know what product they are looking for.

Nonetheless, many companies still hesitate to use the Web because of doubts about its reliability. "Businesses need to feel they can trust the pathway between them and the supplier," says senior analyst Blame Erwin of Forrester Research. Some companies are limiting the risk by conducting online transactions only with established business partners who are given access to the company's private intranet.

Another major shift in the model for Internet commerce concerns the technology available for marketing. Until recently, Internet marketing activities have focused on strategies to "pull" customers into sites. In the past year, however, software companies have developed tools that allow companies to "push" information directly out to consumers, transmitting marketing messages directly to targeted customers. Most notable, the Pointcast Network uses a screen saver to deliver a continually updated steam of news and advertisements to subscribers computer monitors. Subscribers can customize the information they want to receive and proceed directly to a company's Web site. Companies such as Virtual Vineyards are already starting to use similar technologies to push messages to customers about special sales, product offerings, or other events. But push technology has earned the contempt of many Web users. Online culture thinks highly of the notion that the information flowing onto the screen comes there by specific request. Once commercial promotion begins to fill the screen uninvited, the distinction between the Web and television fades. That's a prospect that horrifies Net purists.

But it is hardly inevitable that companies on the Web will need to resort to push strategies to make money. The examples of Virtual Vineyards, Amazon. with the right mix of interactivity, hospitality, and security will attract online customers. And the cost of computing power continues to free fall, which is a good sign for any enterprise setting up shops in silicon. People looking back 5 or 10 years from now may well wonder why so few companies took the online plunge.

We learn from the beginning of the passage that Web business ______.

A．has been striving to expand its market

B．intended to follow a fanciful fashion

C．tried but in vain to control the market

D．has been booming for one year or so

Most of us schedule our lives by the Gregorian【23】. Our years are measured from the【24】of Christ. The first year of the first century is 1, or 1 A.D. The last year of that century is the year 100. Simple？ Yes! A century is 100【25】long. A millennium is 1,000 years long, which is【26】ten centuries.

Since the last year of the first century is the year 100, the first year of the【27】century is 101. Follow that pattern, century by century and you'll get my【28】. The year 2000 is the last year of the twentieth century. After all,【29】thousand means twenty hundreds. Twenty hundred years means twenty centuries. The year 2000 is the【30】, the final, the one that's still here, year of the twentieth century!!!!

I know, I'm getting too【31】. But it isn't fair, While most people will really be enjoying this coming【32】celebration, those of us in the know will be yawning. Everyone else will be【33】for the new millennium and we'll be saying, "It's not until next year."

I don't agree with the【34】, "Ignorance is bliss." But in this case, perhaps it's【35】.

(41)

A．get

B．bring

C．celebrate

D．cheer

About a business operating cycle, which of the followings is the most accurate？

A．12 months

B．half a year

C．the time span during which cash is used to acquire goods and services

D．always longer than a year

First Night 2003, Boston's New Year's Eve

Celebration

Come one, come all to Boston's most celebrated party of the year! It's never too early to start thinking about New Year's plans. First Night 2003 offers many new and exciting performances and activities for the entire family. In addition to over 250 performances and exhibits around Boston, popular attractions include gigantic ice sculptures, and two glittering fireworks displays.

Calling all Volunteers for First Night! Sign up to volunteer at this year's New Year's celebration. More information.

Hotel rooms go fast in Boston so book reservations today{ The official hotel of First Night Boston, The Boston Park Plaza Hotel, is situated in the middle of all of the First Night festivities, and offers special discounts for First Night revelers. For a complete list of hotels in the Boston area, please contact the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-888-SEE-BOSTON.

Which hotel is the official hotel for the celebration of First Night 2003, Boston？

A．The Greater Boston Hotel.

B．The First Night Boston Hotel.

C．The Official Hotel.

D．The Boston Park Plaza Hotel.

A．To ask for help with anthropology assignment.

B．To see what progress he's made on his paper.

C．To discuss his trip to Mexico.

D．To bring him a message from Professor Grant.

A) depressed

B) immersed

C) oppressed

D) cursed