When Joshua Blue, a head teacher at the Kennedy, hosts a lecture for his students, he wears a light violet-colored tie. "You don't want so many bright colors that the kids will get distracted," said Blue. Colors give off very specific signals, and different tie colors stand for very different impacts. Wondering what color tie to wear to your next meeting? Here's how to choose the perfect color tie for every occasion:
All powerful reds
It's not a coincidence（巧合）that many politicians wear red-colored ties with light shirts and darker suits. "Red is the powerful color," said Mark Woodman, a trend analyst who studies color in Laurel, Maryland. "There’s something about red that always comes back to strength and passion.” But the tone of your reds matters, too. Darker reds can help build trust, while lighter red and pink ties can be more of a statement about your personal style and be associated with creativity. When you want to convey a sense of ambition, consider a shiny red.
Royal purples
Ross Znavor, an executive in financial services in New York, wears purple ties rather than red to business meetings because the color shows a bit of self-confidence and helps him create lasting first impressions. Purple, traditionally a sign of royalty and wealth is becoming more acceptable in the workplace.
Black affairs
"While you might not wear them to meetings on a regular basis, wearing black ties to a cocktail party or even a dinner is unique and attractive," said Zyla. But remember: the formal black color can feel aggressive in many situations. "Avoid it if you are a green-hand at work," Zyla said.
Right blues
Afraid of sending the wrong message with your tie color? Consider blue as the all-purpose tie. Blue ties are a good investment because the color reminds people of the sky and ocean. "Blue is the safest color to wear," Lindsay said.
【小题1】Why do many politicians prefer red-colored ties?

A．Because they often wear light shirts and darker suits.

B．Because they want to get promoted.

C．Because red is related to strength and passion.

D．Because red gets their message across easily.

【小题2】Who will probably choose the purple ties?

A．Politicians.	B．Businessmen.
C．Artists.	D．Head teachers.

【小题3】What color tie will you consider if you are a green-hand at work?

A．Red.	B．Purple.
C．Black.	D．Blue.

   We live in a world where we want everything instantly. In this instant world it is hard to succeed in anything. To achieve your goal you first have to change your life from instantly to persistently(坚持地).
Persistence is the course you need to set. When you change your expectancy from instantly to persistently you will gain an advantage of time that many do not have. Time works against those who live instantly. Opportunities are never seen because when something doesn't happen instantly people move on to the next thing on their list and consider the current goal a failure.
Persistent people have the advantage of time. It allows them to step back, observe and assess the progress of the goal they are pursuing(追求). Some things take longer to develop; some just need to be left there for a while to find their own way.
When you live instantly you gain and lose instantly. Many times you do not know how you got there or how to get back because it is not repeatable.
When you live persistently you learn how things work, how to correct a plan and how to guide it to make it successful. You do not panic because you know you have more than enough time.
Slow down and take time to enjoy the journey. If what you are doing is not fun then stop doing it and do something else.
Everything you do should be in pursuit of a better tomorrow than you had yesterday. You should take time to develop your abilities to reach your goals. Do not get discouraged just because your success is not instant.
Celebrate each step along the way. People who live instantly don't take time to appreciate what they have accomplished. They are just looking for the next thing that they can get instantly.
You must be grateful for the time it takes to reach your goal. Persistence will get you there if you really want to get there.
【小题1】People who want things instantly will fail in many things because _______.

A．they want greater efficiency

B．they don't stick to their goal

C．they often change their lifestyle

D．they tend to pursue a higher target

【小题2】The main advantage persistent people have over instant people is ______.

A．the willpower	B．a target
C．a plan	D．an opportunity

【小题3】According to the text, persistent people ______.

A．focus more on the result

B．work slower than instant people

C．will get rewarded for their efforts

D．look for the next thing to do immediately when finishing one target

【小题4】The writer's main purpose of writing the text is _______.

A．to blame those who live instantly

B．to persuade people to live happily

C．to praise those who have succeeded.

D．to suggest learning the art of persistence

   For some people,music is no fun at all. About four percent of the population is what scientists call “amusic.” People who are amusic are born without the ability to recognize or reproduce musical notes(音调). Amusic people often cannot tell the difference between two songs. Amusics can only hear the difference between two notes if they are very far apart on the musical scale.

As a result, songs sound like noise to an amusic. Many amusics compare the sound of music to pieces of metal hitting each other. Life can be hard for amusics. Their inability to enjoy music sets them apart from others. It can be difficult for other people to identify with their condition. In fact, most people cannot begin to grasp what it feels like to be amusic. Just going to a restaurant or a shopping mall can be uncomfortable or even painful. That is why many amusics intentionally stay away from places where there is music. However, this can result in withdrawal and social isolation. “I used to hate parties,” says Margaret,a seventy-year-old woman who only recently discovered that she was amusic. By studying people like Margaret, scientists are finally learning how to identify this unusual condition.

Scientists say that the brains of amusics are different from the brains of people who can appreciate music. The difference is complex, and it doesn't involve defective hearing. Amusics can understand other nonmusical sounds well. They also have no problems understanding ordinary speech. Scientists compare amusics to people who just can't see. certain colors.

Many amusics are happy when their condition is finally diagnosed(诊断). For years, Margaret felt embarrassed about her problem with music. Now she knows that she is not alone. There is a name for her condition. That makes it easier for her to explain. “When people invite me to a concert, I just say,” No thanks, I'm amusic,'“says Margaret. “I just wish I had learned to say that when I was seventeen and not seventy.”

【小题1】Which of the following is true of amusic?

A．Listening to music is far from enjoyable for them.

B．They love places where they are likely to hear music.

C．They can easily tell two different songs apart.

D．Their situation is well understood by musicians.

【小题2】According to Paragraph 3, a person with “defective hearing” is probably one who ___________.

A．dislikes listening to speeches

B．can hear anything nonmusical

C．has a hearing problem

D．lacks a complex hearing system

【小题3】In the last paragraph, Margaret expressed her wish that __________.

A．her problem with music had been diagnosed earlier

B．she were seventeen years old rather than seventy

C．her problem could be easily explained

D．she were able to meet other amusics

【小题4】What is the passage mainly concerned with?

A．Amusics' strange behaviours.

B．Some people's inability to enjoy music.

C．Musical talent and brain structure.

D．Identification and treatment of amusics.

   Across Britain, burnt toast will be served to mothers in bed this morning as older sons and daughters rush to deliver their supermarket bunches of flowers. But, according to a new study, we should be placing a higher value on motherhood all year.
Mothers have long known that their home workload was just as heavy as paid work. Now, the new study has shown that if they were paid for their parental labours, they would earn as much as $ 172,000 a year.
The study looked at the range of jobs mothers do, as well as the hours they are working, to determine the figure. This would make their yearly income $ 30,000 more than the Prime Minister earns.
By analysing the numbers, it found the average mother works 119 hours a week, 40 of which would usually be paid at a standard rate and 79 hours as overtime. After questioning 1,000 mothers with children under 18, it found that, on most days, mums started their routine work at 7am and finished at around 11pm.
To calculate just how much mothers would earn from that labour, it suggested some of the roles that mums could take on, including housekeeper, part-time lawyer, personal trainer and entertainer. Being a part-time lawyer, at £ 48.98 an hour, would prove to be the most profitable of the “mum jobs”, with psychologist (心理学家) a close second.
It also asked mothers about the challenges they face, with 80 percent making emotional demand as the hardest thing about motherhood.
Over a third of .mums felt they needed more training and around half said they missed going out with friends.
The study shows mothers matter all year long and not just on Mother’s Day. The emotional, physical and mental energy mothers devote to their, children can be never-ending, but children are also sources of great joy and happiness. Investing (投入) in time for parenting and raising relationships is money well spent.
【小题1】How much would a mother earn a year if working as the Prime Minister?

A．£ 30,000.	B．£ 142,000.
C．£ 172,000.	D．£ 202,000.

【小题2】The biggest challenge for most mothers is from .

A．emotional demand	B．low pay for work
C．heavy workload	D．lack of training

【小题3】What is stressed in the last paragraph?

A．Mothers’ importance shows in family all year long.

B．The sacrifices mothers make are huge but worthwhile.

C．Mothers’ devotion to children can hardly be calculated.

D．Investing time in parenting would bring a financial return.

【小题4】What can we conclude from the study?

A．Mothers，working hours should be largely reduced.

B．Mothers should balance their time for work and rest.

C．Mothers’ labour is of a higher value than it is realised.

D．Mothers should be freed from housework for social life.

Dyslexia is a problem that restricts the ability to recognize words and connect sounds with letters when people read. People with this learning disorder may also have problems when they write. Dyslexia is not related to eyesight or intelligence. The problem involves areas of the brain that process language. Brain scientists are studying whether they can predict which young children may struggle with reading to provide them with early help. John Gabrieli at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is leading the study of five-year-olds in about twenty schools in the Boston area.
They studied in the schools with kindergartens. And for all the children joining in the study, they give them a brief set of paper-and-pencil tests to look at which children appear to be at some risk for struggling to read. So far, fifty of them have been examined in a scanner, a special machine, to show brain activity. Written tests are not always able to identify dyslexia or other problems, while brain scans may offer a more scientific way to identify problems. And with reading problems, early identification is important. When it comes to helping children overcome reading difficulties, the younger the child, the more effective they are.
Reading problems are not usually identified until a child is in the third or fourth grade. The later children are recognized as poor readers, the less treatment can help. And, as Professor Gabrieli points out, poor reading can make education a struggle. Reading is everything. Even math and science have textbooks.
While the children are given tasks related to reading, the brain scans measure the extent to which certain parts of the brain become active while the children do the work. The scientists say they are pleased with early results from the study, but have a long way to go.
【小题1】Dyslexia affects the part of brain concerning ________.

A．eyesight

B．intelligence

C．language

D．emotion

【小题2】Dyslexia problems are more likely to be identified through ________.

A．speech contests	B．reading efficiency
C．listening comprehension	D．brain scans

【小题3】According to the passage, which of the followings has the best time to overcome reading difficulties?

A．Tom, a boy in the kindergarten.

B．Kate, a high school leaver.

C．Jane, a primary school student.

D．Steve, a man in his thirties.

【小题4】What is the passage mainly about?

A．An effective way to identity Dyslexia at an early stage.

B．A learning disorder involving one’s intelligence.

C．Dyslexia — a problem affecting one’s reading and writing.

D．A possible solution to the problems related to Dyslexia.