Why we all tend to struggle with tasks that promise future upside in return for effor

l(鸡尾酒)party , say , that they are “in computers,” or “in electronic funds transfer”. the implication is that they are part of the high-tech world, Just between us, they usually aren’t. The researchers who made fundamental breakthroughs in those areas are in high-tech business. The rest of us are__(71)__of their work. We use computers and other new technology components to develop our products or to organize our affairs. Because we go about this work in teams and projects and other tightly knit working groups(紧密联系在一起的工作小组),we are mostly in the human communication business. Our successes stem from good human interactions by all participants in the effort, and our failures stem from poor human interactions. The main reason we tend to focus on the __(72)__rather than the human side of the work is not because it’s more__(73)__, but because it’s easier to do .Getting the new disk drive installed is positively trivial compared to figuring out why Horace is in a blue funk(恐惧)or why Susan is dissatisfied with the company after only a few months. Human interactions are complicated and never very crisp(干脆的，干净利落的)and clean in their effects, but they matter more than any other aspect of the work. If you find yourself concentrating on the __(74)__rather than the __(75)__,you’re like the vaudeville character(杂耍人物) who loses his keys on a dark street and looks for them on the adjacent street because, as he explains, “The light is better there!”. (71)

A.creators

B.innovators

C.appliers

D.inventors

People are indulging in an illusion whenever they find themselves explaining at a cocktail(鸡尾酒)party，say, that the are “in computers，”or“ in telecommunications，”or “in electronic funds transfer”. The implication is that they are part of the high-tech world. Just between us，they usually aren't. The researchers who made fundamental breakthroughs in those areas are in a high-tech business. The rest of us are （71）of their work. We use computers and other new technology components to develop our products or to

organize our affairs. Because we go about this work in teams and projects and other tightly knit working

group（紧密联系在一起的工作小组），we are mostly in the human communication business. Our successes stem from good human

interactions by all participants in the effort，and our failures stem from poor human interactions.

The main reason we tend to focus on the（72）rather than the human side of work is not

because it’s more (73)，but because it's easier to do. Getting the new disk drive installed

is positively trivial compared to

figurine out why Horace is in a blue funk(恐惧）or why Susan is dissatisfied with the company aver only a few months. Human interactions are complicated

and never very crisp（干脆的，干净利落的）and clean in their effects, but they matter more than any other aspect of the work.

If you find yourself concentrating on the（74）rather than the（75）．you're like the vaudeville character （杂耍人物）who loses his Keys on a dark street and looks for them on the adjacent street because，as he explains，“The light is better there!”

(71)

A. creators

B. innovators

C.appliers

D. inventors

Thank You, Volunteers!

By the end of each year, we'd try to show our appreciation to those volunteers who have helped to make life more beautiful. Therefore, it’s in December that we tend to think of a way in which we could show our thanks to them. Here are some posts online to thank those who have volunteered to offer all kinds of help.

Potlucks for Staff and Volunteers

(1) I like to hold potlucks at the office and invite volunteers to make them feel like part of the team. The volunteers are asked to bring with them a big appetite. (Posted on 29 December, 2018 by Nazia Anderson)

Giving Cards to Volunteers

This year I sent out thank-you cards to the volunteers. It’s a great way to show our thanks toward the end of the year, and (2) this makes our volunteers know we’re grateful to them for what they’ve done in the busy year. (Posted on 1 December, 2018 by Traci Lato)

Hats Off to Volunteers

Our library volunteers received various baskets of goodies, boxes of chocolates, flowers and plants, etc. The staff wore hats all week and tipped them toward the volunteers as we saw them. The volunteers here seemed to appreciate the silent effort to recognize them. (Posted on 20 December, 2018 by Aimee Hepler)

Afternoon at the Movies

During National Volunteer Week we recognized our volunteers by taking them to the movies. (3) We had our recognition awards program before the movie started, followed by a 15-minute coffee break. The volunteers had a bag of popcorn and a drink waiting for them. They also had their choice of 2 movies. It was very well received and we will do it again next year. (Posted on 23 December, 2018 by Linda Bacon)

Pat on the Back

Here’s a very inexpensive idea that should work for any type of organization. I simply draw around my hand on a piece of paper, print “Here’s a pat on the back for You, Mr. / Ms. for all the hard work and effort you’ve made here”, then copy it onto colored paper. The teens at our community help me cut them out. (Posted on 20 December, 2018 by Wu Qing)

(1)、What is the main idea of this passage？

A、Different ways to show thanks to volunteers.

B、We should to be volunteers.

C、Volunteers are important for us.

(2)、Why is it in December that we tend to think of a way to thank volunteers？

A、Because it is by the end of a year.

B、Because it is the beginning of the year.

C、Because it is important in a year.

(3)、Why does Nazia hold potlucks at the office and invite volunteers？

A、To fulfill her wish to be a volunteer

B、To show thanks to them and make them feel like part of the team.

C、To organise an activity to show the importance of the volunteers.

(4)、What is the purpose for Traci to send out thank-you cards to the volunteers？

A、She wants to tell the people how important the volunteers are.

B、She wants to show her ability to make cards

C、She wants to make the volunteers know people are grateful to them for what they’ve done in the busy year.

(5)、Why does Linda want to do her award program again next year？

A、Because it is fresh and interesting.

B、Because she likes.

C、Because it seems to be well received.

il(鸡尾酒) party, say, that they are "in computers," or "in telecommunications," or "in electronic funds transfer". The implication is that they are part of the high-tech world. Just between us, they usually aren't. The researchers who made fundamental breakthroughs in those areas are in a high-tech business. The rest of us are （71） of their work. We use computers and other new technology components to develop our products or to organize our affairs. Because we go about this work in teams and projects and other tightly knit working groups(紧密联系在一起的工作小组), we are mostly in the human communication business. Our successes stem from good human interactions by all participants in the effort, and our failures stem from poor human interactions.

The main reason we tend to focus on the （72） rather than the human side of the work is not because it's more （73） , but because it's easier to do. Getting the new disk drive installed is positively trivial compared to figuring out why Horace is in a blue funk(恐惧) or why Susan is dissatisfied with the company after only a few months. Human interactions are complicated and never very crisp(干脆的,干净利落的) and clean in their effects, but they matter more than any other aspect of the work.

If you find yourself concentrating on the （74） rather than the （75）, you're like the vaudeville character(杂耍人物) who loses his keys on a dark street and looks for them on the adjacent street because, as he explains, "The light is better there!".

（71）

A. creators

B. innovators

C. appliers

D. inventors

（72）

A. technical

B. classical

C. social

D. societal

（73）

A. trivial

B. crucial

C. minor

D. insignificant

（74）

A. technology

B. sociology

C. physiology

D. astronomy

（75）

A. technology

B. sociology

C. physiology

D. astronomy

ail(鸡尾酒) party, say, that they are "in computers," or "in telecommunications," or "in electronic funds transfer". The implication is that they are part of the high-tech world. Just between us, they usually aren't. The researchers who made fundamental breakthroughs in those areas are in a high-tech business. The rest of us are （71） of their work. We use computers and other new technology components to develop our products or to organize our affairs. Because we go about this work in teams and projects and other tightly knit working groups(紧密联系在一起的工作小组), we are mostly in the human communication business. Our successes stem from good human interactions by all participants in the effort, and our failures stem from poor human interactions.

The main reason we tend to focus on the （72） rather than the human side of the work is not because it's more （73） , but because it's easier to do. Getting the new disk drive installed is positively trivial compared to figuring out why Horace is in a blue funk(恐惧) or why Susan is dissatisfied with the company after only a few months. Human interactions are complicated and never very crisp(干脆的,干净利落的) and clean in their effects, but they matter more than any other aspect of the work.

If you find yourself concentrating on the （74） rather than the （75）, you're like the vaudeville character(杂耍人物) who loses his keys on a dark street and looks for them on the adjacent street because, as he explains, "The light is better there!".

（71）

A. creators

B. innovators

C. appliers

D. inventors

（72）

A. technical

B. classical

C. social

D. societal

（73）

A. trivial

B. crucial

C. minor

D. insignificant

（74）

A. technology

B. sociology

C. physiology

D. astronomy

（75）

A. technology

B. sociology

C. physiology

D. astronomy

English language with skill and gift. Nor do they aspire to such command themselves. In his latest book, Doing Our Own Thing: The Degradation of Language and Music and Why We Should, Like, Care, John McWhorter, a linguist and controversialist of mixed liberal and conservative views, sees the triumph of 1960s counter-culture as responsible for the decline of formal English.

Blaming the permissive 1960s is nothing new, but this is not yet another criticism against the decline in education. Mr. McWhorter's speciality is language history and change, and he sees the gradual disappearance of "whom", for example, to be natural and no more regrettable than the loss of the case-endings of Old English.

But the cult of the authentic and the personal, "doing our own thing", has spelt the death of formal speech, writing, poetry and music. While even the modestly educated sought an elevated tone when they put pen to paper before the 1960s, even the most well regarded writing since then has sought to capture spoken English on the page. Equally, in poetry, the highly personal, performative genre is the only form. that could claim real liveliness. In both oral and written English, talking is triumphing over speaking, spontaneity over craft.

Illustrated with an entertaining array of examples from both high and low culture, the trend that Mr. McWhorter documents is unmistakable. But it is less clear, to take the question of his subtitle, why we should, like, care. As a linguist, he acknowledges that all varieties of human language, including non-standard ones like Black English, can be powerfully expressive—there exists no language or dialect in the world that cannot convey complex ideas, He is not arguing, as many do, that we can no longer think straight because we do not talk proper.

Russians have a deep love for their own language and carry large chunks of memorized poetry in their heads, while Italian politicians tend to elaborate speech that would seem old-fashioned to most English-speakers. Mr. McWhorter acknowledges that formal language is not strictly necessary, and proposes no radical education reforms—he is really grieving over the loss of something beautiful more than useful. We now take our English "on paper plates instead of china". A shame, perhaps, but probably an inevitable one.

According to McWhorter, the decline of formal English ______.

A．is inevitable in radical education reforms

B．is but all too natural in language development

C．has caused the controversy over the counter-culture

D．brought about changes in public attitudes in the 1960s

de from generation to generation and it is always true. It has never been truer than it is today. The young are better educated. They have a lot more money to spend and enjoy more freedom. They grow up more quickly and are not so dependent on their parents. They think more for themselves and do not blindly accept the ideals of their elders. Events which the older generation remembers vividly are nothing more than past history. This is as it should be. Every new generation is different from the one that preceded it. Today the difference is very marked indeed.

The old always assume that they know best for the simple reason that they have been around a bit longer. They don't like to feel that their values are being questioned or threatened. And this is precisely what the young are doing. They are questioning the assumptions of their elders and disturbing their complacency. Office hours, for instance, are nothing more than enforced slavery. Wouldn't people work best if they were given complete freedom and responsibility？ And what about clothing？ Who said that all the men in the world should wear drab grey suits and convict haircuts？ If we ruin our minds to more serious matters, who said that human differences can best be solved through conventional politics or by violent means？ Why have the older generation so often used violence to solve their problems？ Why are they so unhappy and guilt-ridden in their personal lives, so obsessed with mean ambitions and the desire to amass more and more material possessions？ Haven't the old lost touch with all that is important in life？

These are not questions the older generation can shrug off lightly. Their record over the past forty years or so hasn't been exactly spotless. Traditionally, the young have turned to their elders for guidance. Today, the situation might be reversed. The old—if they are prepared to admit it—could learn a thing or two from their children. One of the biggest lessons they could learn is that enjoyment is not "sinful". Enjoyment is a principle one could apply to all aspects of life. It is surely not wrong to enjoy your work and enjoy your leisure, to shed restricting inhibitions. It is surely not wrong to live in the present rather than in the past or future.

What's the old generation's comment on the young？

A．The young are more knowledgeable than they are about the world around.

B．The young treat historical events as seriously as they do.

C．The young do not behave the way they did when they were young.

D．The young tend to ruin their minds to more serious matters.

Text 4

American no longer expect public figures, whether in speech or in writing, to command the English language with skill and gift. Nor do they aspire to such command themselves. In his latest book, Doing Our Own Thing: The Degradation of Language and Music and Why We Should, Like, Care, John McWhorter, a linguist and controversialist of mixed liberal and conservative views, sees the triumph of 1960s counter-culture as responsible for the decline of formal English.

Blaming the permissive 1960s is nothing new, but this is not yet another criticism against the decline in education. Mr. McWhorter’s academic speciality is language history and change, and he sees the gradual disappearance of “whom,” for example, to be natural and no more regrettable than the loss of the case-endings of Old English.

But the cult of the authentic and the personal, “doing our own thing,” has spelt the death of formal speech, writing, poetry and music. While even the modestly educated sought an elevated tone when they put pen to paper before the 1960s, even the most well regarded writing since then has sought to capture spoken English on the page. Equally, in poetry, the highly personal, performative genre is the only form. that could claim real liveliness. In both oral and written English, talking is triumphing over speaking, spontaneity over craft.

Illustrated with an entertaining array of examples from both high and low culture, the trend that Mr. McWhorter documents is unmistakable. But it is less clear, to take the question of his subtitle, why we should, like, care. As a linguist, he acknowledges that all varieties of human language, including non-standard ones like Black English, can be powerfully expressive -- there exists no language or dialect in the world that cannot convey complex ideas. He is not arguing, as many do, that we can no longer think straight because we do not talk proper.

Russians have a deep love for their own language and carry large chunks of memorized poetry in their heads, while Italian politicians tend to elaborate speech that would seem old-fashioned to most English-speakers. Mr. McWhorter acknowledges that formal language is not strictly necessary, and proposes no radical education reforms -- he is really grieving over the loss of something beautiful more than useful. We now take our English “on paper plates instead of china.” A shame, perhaps, but probably an inevitable one.

36. According to McWhorter, the decline of formal English ________.

[A] is inevitable in radical education reforms

[B] is but all too natural in language development

[C] has caused the controversy over the counter-culture

[D] brought about changes in public attitudes in the 1960s