Now, go through the text quickly and answer the question.
Willpower isnt some immutable trait were either born with or not. It is a skill that can be developed, strengthened and targeted to help us achieve our goals. "Fundamental among mans inner powers is the tremendous unrealized potency of mans own will," wrote Italian psychologist Roberto Assagioli 25 years ago. " The trained will is a masterful weapon," added Alan Marlatt of the University of Washington, a psychologist who is studying how willpower helps people break habits and change their lives. "The dictionary defines willpower as control of ones impulses and actions. The key words are power and control. The power is their , but you have to control it." Here, from Marlatt and other experts, is how to do that: Be positive. Dont confuse willpower with self-denial. Willpower is most dynamic when applied to positive, uplifting purposes. Positive willpower helps us overcome inertia and focus on the future. When the going gets tough, visualize yourself happily and busily engaged in your goal, and youll keep working toward it. Make up your mind. James Prochaska, professor of psychology at the University of Rhode Island, has identified four stages in making a change. He calls them precontemplation (resisting the change), contemplation (weighing the pros and cons of the change), action (exercising willpower to make the change), and maintenance (using willpower to sustain the change). Some people are "chronic contemplators," Prochaska says. They know they should reduce their drinking but will have one more cocktail while they consider the matter. They may never put contemplation into action. To focus and mobilize your efforts, set a deadline. Sharpen your will. In 1915, psychologist Boyd Barrett suggested a list of repetitive will-training activities-stepping up and down from a chair 30 times, spilling a box of matches and carefully replacing them one by one. These exercises, he maintained, strengthen the will so it can confront more consequential and difficult challenges. New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley was a basketball with the champion New York Knicks. On top of regular practice, he always went to the gym early and practised foul shots alone. He was determined to be the best form of the foul line. True to his goal, he developed the highest percentage of successful free throws on his team. Expect trouble. The saying "Where theres a will, theres a way" is not the whole truth. Given the will, you still have to anticipate obstacles and plan how to deal with them. When professor of psychology Saul Shiffman of the University of Pittsburgh worked with reformed smokers whos gone back to cigarettes, he found that many of them hadnt considered how theyd cope with the urge to smoke. They had summoned the strength to quit, but couldnt remain disciplined. The first time they were offered a cigarette, they went back to smoking. If youv given up alcohol, rehearse your answer for when youre offered a drink. If youre expecting to jog but wake up to a storm, have an indoor workout program ready. Be realistic. The strongest will may falter when the goal is to lose 50 pounds in three months or to exercise three hours a day. Add failure undercuts your desire to try again. Sometimes its best to set a series of small goals instead of a single big one. As in the Alcoholics Anonymous slogan "One day at a time," divide your objective into one-day segments, then renew your resolve the next day. At the end of a week, youll have a series of triumphs to look back on. Be patient. A strong will doesnt develop overnight. It takes shape in increments, and there can be setbacks. Figure out what caused you to backslide, and redouble your efforts. When a friend of ours tried to give up cigarettes the first time, she failed. Analyzing her relapse, she realized she needed to do something with her hands. On her second try, she took up knitting and brought out needles and yarn every time she was tempted to light up. Within months she had knitted a sweater for her husband —— and seemed to be off cigarettes for good. Keep it up. A strong will becomes stronger each time it succeeds. If youve successfully mustered the willpower to kick a bad habit or leave a dead-end job, you gain confidence to confront other challenges. A record of success fosters an inner voice of confidence that, in the words of Assagioli, gives you "a firm foot on the edge of the precipice." You may face more difficult tasks, but youve conquered before, and you can conquer again.
26. The main purpose of the passage is to ______
A) illustrate the features of willpower.
B) introduce ways to build up willpower.
C) explain the advantages of willpower.
D) define the essence of willpower.
TEXT F
First read the question.
27. The message of the passage is that shares can now be sold ______
A. through the computer.
B. in the shop.
C. at the bank.
D. through the mail.
Now, go through the text quickly and answer the question.
Investors seeking a cheap, no-frills way to sell privatisation shares need look no further than the post box. Most stockbrokers offer bargain-basement deals on postal trades. They are ideal for selling a small holding for the lowest possible commission. But the arrangements leave investors at the mercy of the Royal Mail and a seller will not know in advance how much a sale will produce. Data processing engineer Mark Stanistreet of Bradford sold by post after buying a few National Power and PowerGen shares when they were privatised. He says: "I didnt really know where to go to for help. An information slip with the shares gave details of Yorkshire Building Societys share shop service, which offered to sell for a flat fee of ?. "It was an ideal first step that showed me how easy and cheap it is to sell shares. I have been investing in a small way since then. "I use Yorkshires telephone service, which has a ? minimum fee." Many stock brokers offer postal deals as part of their usual dealing services, but clients may normally sell only big company or privatisation shares this way. ShareLinks minimum postal commission is 7.50, Skipton Building Societys is 9 and Nat Wests is 9.95.
27. The message of the passage is that shares can now be sold ______
A) through the computer.
B) in the shop.
C) at the bank.
D) through the mail.
TEXT G
First read the question.
28. In the passage the authors attitude towards the subject under discussion is ______
A. factual.
B. critical.
C. favourable.
D. ambiguous.
Now, go through the text quickly and answer the question.
With increasing prosperity, Western European youth is having a fling that is creating distinctive consumer and cultural patterns. The result has been the increasing emergence in Europe of that phenomenon well known in America as the "youth market." This is a market in which enterprising businesses cater to the demands of teenagers and older youths in all their rock mania and pop-art forms. In Western Europe, the youth market ma y appropriately be said to be in its infancy. In some countries such as Britain, West Germany and France, it is more advanced than in others. Some manifestations of the subject of organized consumer research and promotion. Characteristics of the evolving European youth market indicate dissimilarities as well as similarities to the American youth market. The similarities: The markets basis is essentially the same —— more spending power and freedom to use it in the hands of teenagers and older youth. Young consumers also make up an increasingly high proportion of the population. As in the United States, youthful tastes in Europe extend over a similar range of products —— records and record players, transistor radios, leather jackets and "way out." extravagantly styled clothing, cosmetics and soft drinks. Generally it now is difficult to tell in which direction trans-Atlantic teenage influences are flowing. Also, a pattern of conformity dominates European youth as in this country, though in Britain the object is to wear clothes that "make the wearer stand out." but also make him "in," such as tight trousers and precisely tailored jackets. Worship and emulation of "idols" in the entertainment field, especially the "pop" singers and other performers is pervasive. There is also the same exuberance and unpredictability in sudden fad switches. In Paris, buyers of stores catering to the youth market carefully watch what dress is being worn by a popular television teenage singer to be ready for a sudden demand for copies. In Stockholm other followers of teenage fads call the youth market "attractive but irrational." The most obvious differences between the youth market in Europe and that in the United States is in size. in terms of volume and variety of sales, the market in Europe is only a shadow of its American counterpart, but it is a growing shadow. But there are also these important dissimilarities generally with American youth market: In the European youth market, unlike that of that United States, it is the working youth who provides the bulk of purchasing power. On the average, the school-finishing age still tends to be 14 years. This is the maximum age to which compulsory education extends, and with Europes industrial manpower shortage, thousands of teenage youths may soon attain incomes equal in many cases to that of their fathers. Although, because of general prosperity, European youths are beginning to continue school studies beyond the compulsory maximum age, they do not receive anything like the pocket money or "allowances" of American teenagers. The European average is about 5 to 10 a month. Working youth, consequently, are the big spenders in the European youth market, but they also have less leisure than those staying on at school. who in turn have less buying power.
28. In the passage the author's attitude towards the subject under discussion is ______
A) factual.
B) critical.
C) favourable.
D) ambiguous.
TEXT H
First read the question.
29. The passage mainly ______
A. discusses patterns in company car use.
B. advertises famous British company cars.
C. recommends inexpensive company cars.
D. introduces different models of cars.
Willpower isnt some immutable trait were either born with or not. It is a skill that can be developed, strengthened and targeted to help us achieve our goals. "Fundamental among mans inner powers is the tremendous unrealized potency of mans own will," wrote Italian psychologist Roberto Assagioli 25 years ago. " The trained will is a masterful weapon," added Alan Marlatt of the University of Washington, a psychologist who is studying how willpower helps people break habits and change their lives. "The dictionary defines willpower as control of ones impulses and actions. The key words are power and control. The power is their , but you have to control it." Here, from Marlatt and other experts, is how to do that: Be positive. Dont confuse willpower with self-denial. Willpower is most dynamic when applied to positive, uplifting purposes. Positive willpower helps us overcome inertia and focus on the future. When the going gets tough, visualize yourself happily and busily engaged in your goal, and youll keep working toward it. Make up your mind. James Prochaska, professor of psychology at the University of Rhode Island, has identified four stages in making a change. He calls them precontemplation (resisting the change), contemplation (weighing the pros and cons of the change), action (exercising willpower to make the change), and maintenance (using willpower to sustain the change). Some people are "chronic contemplators," Prochaska says. They know they should reduce their drinking but will have one more cocktail while they consider the matter. They may never put contemplation into action. To focus and mobilize your efforts, set a deadline. Sharpen your will. In 1915, psychologist Boyd Barrett suggested a list of repetitive will-training activities-stepping up and down from a chair 30 times, spilling a box of matches and carefully replacing them one by one. These exercises, he maintained, strengthen the will so it can confront more consequential and difficult challenges. New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley was a basketball with the champion New York Knicks. On top of regular practice, he always went to the gym early and practised foul shots alone. He was determined to be the best form of the foul line. True to his goal, he developed the highest percentage of successful free throws on his team. Expect trouble. The saying "Where theres a will, theres a way" is not the whole truth. Given the will, you still have to anticipate obstacles and plan how to deal with them. When professor of psychology Saul Shiffman of the University of Pittsburgh worked with reformed smokers whos gone back to cigarettes, he found that many of them hadnt considered how theyd cope with the urge to smoke. They had summoned the strength to quit, but couldnt remain disciplined. The first time they were offered a cigarette, they went back to smoking. If youv given up alcohol, rehearse your answer for when youre offered a drink. If youre expecting to jog but wake up to a storm, have an indoor workout program ready. Be realistic. The strongest will may falter when the goal is to lose 50 pounds in three months or to exercise three hours a day. Add failure undercuts your desire to try again. Sometimes its best to set a series of small goals instead of a single big one. As in the Alcoholics Anonymous slogan "One day at a time," divide your objective into one-day segments, then renew your resolve the next day. At the end of a week, youll have a series of triumphs to look back on. Be patient. A strong will doesnt develop overnight. It takes shape in increments, and there can be setbacks. Figure out what caused you to backslide, and redouble your efforts. When a friend of ours tried to give up cigarettes the first time, she failed. Analyzing her relapse, she realized she needed to do something with her hands. On her second try, she took up knitting and brought out needles and yarn every time she was tempted to light up. Within months she had knitted a sweater for her husband —— and seemed to be off cigarettes for good. Keep it up. A strong will becomes stronger each time it succeeds. If youve successfully mustered the willpower to kick a bad habit or leave a dead-end job, you gain confidence to confront other challenges. A record of success fosters an inner voice of confidence that, in the words of Assagioli, gives you "a firm foot on the edge of the precipice." You may face more difficult tasks, but youve conquered before, and you can conquer again.
26. The main purpose of the passage is to ______
A) illustrate the features of willpower.
B) introduce ways to build up willpower.
C) explain the advantages of willpower.
D) define the essence of willpower.
TEXT F
First read the question.
27. The message of the passage is that shares can now be sold ______
A. through the computer.
B. in the shop.
C. at the bank.
D. through the mail.
Now, go through the text quickly and answer the question.
Investors seeking a cheap, no-frills way to sell privatisation shares need look no further than the post box. Most stockbrokers offer bargain-basement deals on postal trades. They are ideal for selling a small holding for the lowest possible commission. But the arrangements leave investors at the mercy of the Royal Mail and a seller will not know in advance how much a sale will produce. Data processing engineer Mark Stanistreet of Bradford sold by post after buying a few National Power and PowerGen shares when they were privatised. He says: "I didnt really know where to go to for help. An information slip with the shares gave details of Yorkshire Building Societys share shop service, which offered to sell for a flat fee of ?. "It was an ideal first step that showed me how easy and cheap it is to sell shares. I have been investing in a small way since then. "I use Yorkshires telephone service, which has a ? minimum fee." Many stock brokers offer postal deals as part of their usual dealing services, but clients may normally sell only big company or privatisation shares this way. ShareLinks minimum postal commission is 7.50, Skipton Building Societys is 9 and Nat Wests is 9.95.
27. The message of the passage is that shares can now be sold ______
A) through the computer.
B) in the shop.
C) at the bank.
D) through the mail.
TEXT G
First read the question.
28. In the passage the authors attitude towards the subject under discussion is ______
A. factual.
B. critical.
C. favourable.
D. ambiguous.
Now, go through the text quickly and answer the question.
With increasing prosperity, Western European youth is having a fling that is creating distinctive consumer and cultural patterns. The result has been the increasing emergence in Europe of that phenomenon well known in America as the "youth market." This is a market in which enterprising businesses cater to the demands of teenagers and older youths in all their rock mania and pop-art forms. In Western Europe, the youth market ma y appropriately be said to be in its infancy. In some countries such as Britain, West Germany and France, it is more advanced than in others. Some manifestations of the subject of organized consumer research and promotion. Characteristics of the evolving European youth market indicate dissimilarities as well as similarities to the American youth market. The similarities: The markets basis is essentially the same —— more spending power and freedom to use it in the hands of teenagers and older youth. Young consumers also make up an increasingly high proportion of the population. As in the United States, youthful tastes in Europe extend over a similar range of products —— records and record players, transistor radios, leather jackets and "way out." extravagantly styled clothing, cosmetics and soft drinks. Generally it now is difficult to tell in which direction trans-Atlantic teenage influences are flowing. Also, a pattern of conformity dominates European youth as in this country, though in Britain the object is to wear clothes that "make the wearer stand out." but also make him "in," such as tight trousers and precisely tailored jackets. Worship and emulation of "idols" in the entertainment field, especially the "pop" singers and other performers is pervasive. There is also the same exuberance and unpredictability in sudden fad switches. In Paris, buyers of stores catering to the youth market carefully watch what dress is being worn by a popular television teenage singer to be ready for a sudden demand for copies. In Stockholm other followers of teenage fads call the youth market "attractive but irrational." The most obvious differences between the youth market in Europe and that in the United States is in size. in terms of volume and variety of sales, the market in Europe is only a shadow of its American counterpart, but it is a growing shadow. But there are also these important dissimilarities generally with American youth market: In the European youth market, unlike that of that United States, it is the working youth who provides the bulk of purchasing power. On the average, the school-finishing age still tends to be 14 years. This is the maximum age to which compulsory education extends, and with Europes industrial manpower shortage, thousands of teenage youths may soon attain incomes equal in many cases to that of their fathers. Although, because of general prosperity, European youths are beginning to continue school studies beyond the compulsory maximum age, they do not receive anything like the pocket money or "allowances" of American teenagers. The European average is about 5 to 10 a month. Working youth, consequently, are the big spenders in the European youth market, but they also have less leisure than those staying on at school. who in turn have less buying power.
28. In the passage the author's attitude towards the subject under discussion is ______
A) factual.
B) critical.
C) favourable.
D) ambiguous.
TEXT H
First read the question.
29. The passage mainly ______
A. discusses patterns in company car use.
B. advertises famous British company cars.
C. recommends inexpensive company cars.
D. introduces different models of cars.