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Section B
Directions: In this section, you will hear3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear aquestion, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B),C), and D).Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a singleline through the centre.
Passage One
What makes a person famous? This is a mystery that many people have carefully thought about.
All kinds of myths surround the lives of well-known people.
Most people are familiar with the works of William Shakespeare, one of the greatest English writers of the 16th and 17th centuries.
Yet how many know Shakespeare, the person, the man behind the works?
After centuries of research, scholars are still trying to discover Shakespeare's personal history. It is not easily found in his writings.
Authors of the time could not protect their works. An acting company, for example, could change a play if they wanted to. Nowadays, writers have copyrights that protect their work.
Many myths arose about Shakespeare. Some said he had no formal education. Others believed that he began his career by tending the horses of wealthy men.
All of these myths are interesting, but are they true? Probably not.
Shakespeare's father was a respected man in Stratford-on-Avon, a member of the town council. He sent young William to grammar school.
Most people of Elizabethan times did not continue beyond grammar school; so, Shakespeare did have, at least, an average education.
Some parts of Shakespeare's life will always remain unknown.
The Great London Fire of 1666 burned many important documents that could have been a source of clues.
We will always be left with many questions and few facts.
16. What does the speaker say about William Shakespeare?
17. What do we learn about Shakespeare's father?
18. Why does the speaker say parts of Shakespeare's life will remain a mystery?
Passage Two
Wherever you go and for whatever reason, its important to be safe.
While the majority of people you will meet when travelling are sure to be friendly and welcoming, there are dangers. Theft being the most common.
Just as in your home country, do not expect everyone you meet to be friendly and helpful.
It's important to prepare for your trip in advance and to take precautions while you are travelling.
As you prepare for your trip, make sure you have the right paperwork.
You don't want to get to your destination, only to find you have the wrong visa, or worse, that your passport isn't valid anymore.
Also, make sure you travel with proper medical insurance, so that if you are sick or injured during your travels, you will be able to get treatment.
If you want to drive while you are abroad, make sure you have an international drivers license.
When you get to your destination, use official transport. Always go to bus and taxi stands.
Don't accept rides from strangers who offer you a lift. If there is no meter in the taxi, agree on a price before you get in.
If you prefer to stay in cheap hotels while travelling, make sure you can lock the door of your room from the inside.
Finally, remember to smile. It's the friendliest and most sincere form of communication, and is sure to be understood in any part of the world!
19. What is mentioned as a most common danger when people go travelling abroad?
20. What is the most important thing to do when you prepare for your trip abroad?
21. What does the speaker suggest you do when you arrive at your destination?
Passage Three
The British are supposed to be famous for laughing at themselves, but even their sense of humour has a limit, as the British retailer Gerald Ratner found out to his cost.
When Ratner took over his father's chain of 130 jewelry shops in 1984, he introduced a very clear company policy.
He decided that his shops should sell down market products at the lowest possible prices.
It was a great success. The British public loved his cheap gold earrings and his tasteless silver ornaments.
By 1991, Ratner's company had 2 400 shops and it was worth over 680 million pounds.
But in April of that year, Gerald Ratner made a big mistake.
At a big meeting of top British business people, he suited up and explained the secret of his success.
People say，How can we sell our goods for such a low price? I say， Because they are absolute rubbish.
His audience roared with laughter. But the British newspapers and the British public were not so amused. People felt insulted and stayed away from Ratner's shops.
Sales fell and six months after his speech, Ratner's share price had fallen by 42%. The following year, things got worse and Gerald Ratner was forced to resign.
By the end of 1992, he lost his company, his career and his house.
Even worse, 25 000 of his employees had lost their jobs. It had been a very expensive joke.
22. What did Gerald Ratner decide to do when he took over his father's shops?
23. On what occasion did Gerald Ratner explain the secret of his success?
24. How did people feel when they learned of Gerald Ratner's remarks?
25. What does the story of Gerald Ratner suggest?
