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Section D
Even if you get work done and generally get along with co-workers, you could
have habits that bug your boss (not to mention your officemates). While these
quirks may not necessarily get you fired, they certainly can keep you from
climbing the corporate ladder. We’ve uncovered a number of habits that bug your
boss and offer tips on how to avoid them.
According to LaRhonda Edwards, a human resources manager with thirteen years
of HR experience, tardiness is one of the biggest concerns for managers. “If the
normal work day starts at 8 o’clock, then the expectation is that you’re in the
office ready to start your day,” she explains. Her advice to the chronically
late? “Plan ahead,” she urges. “If you live 50 minutes away, you don’t leave 50
minutes early. Tag on extra time and anticipate road blocks.” Some people even
set their clocks a few minutes early to ensure that they’re on time. Different
bosses prefer different modes of communication. Lindsey Pollak, a workplace
expert and author of Getting from College to Career, says if you text your boss
and she prefers in-person meetings, “either your information won’t get across or
you’ll irritate [her].” Fortunately, there’s a simple fix: ask your boss how and
when to send updates. If you’re too shy to ask outright, then Pollak suggests
observing how they communicate with you. “If you have a boss who communicates
once a day by email, that’s the boss’ preferred frequency and method of
communication,” explains Pollak.
A cluttered, messy work space can give your boss the impression that you’re
lazy or disorganized, so try to keep your desk neat. “Never put more on your
desk than you’re going to work on for the day,” recommends Edwards. “At the end
of the day, make sure you set up for the next day. I may be working on five
things at once, but at the end of the day, they’re gone, and I set up for the
next day.” Most managers would rather you ask a question than make a mistake,
but many questions can be answered on your own. “Is this something you could
Google or ask a colleague?” wonders Pollak. “The internet is so vast that a lot
of information you can get yourself.” If you must approach your boss with a
question or issue, then Pollak recommends brainstorming beforehand. “Rather than
saying ‘This client is terrible. What should I do?’ think about potential
solutions,” she says.
Cell phones are practically ubiquitous in the workplace these days, but it’s
still disruptive and disrespectful when they go off during a meeting. Edwards
says that you should, “put your cell phone on vibrate or leave it in your own
office so it’s not a distraction.” That way you won’t be tempted to text
either
( )6.According to the article, how many pieces of advice are offered here?
.
A. Two B. Three C. Four D. Five(B)
( )7.What is this article about? .
A. How to be successful in the workplace.
B. How to communicate with your boss.
C. How to avoid quirks that annoy your boss.
D. How to utilize your mobile phones at work.
( )8.What does the phrase “to get across” in the sentence “…she prefers
in-person meetings, “either your information won’t get across or you’ll irritate
…” of the second paragraph mean? .
A. To be communicated B. To be passed
C. To be promoted D. To be anticipated(A)
( )9.According to the article, which of the following modes of communication
is the best when communicating with your boss? .
A. Any ways you think are appropriate.
B. In-person meetings.
C. Correspondence.
D. The way your boss communicates with you.(D)
( )10.Which of the following statements is not mentioned?
A. Employees should pay respect to their bosses anytime.
B. Employees should plan beforehand so as to show up at work on time.
C. Employees should not let their mobile phones go off during meetings.
D. Employees should keep their desks neat and organized.
Selling Digital Music without Copy-protection Makes Sense
A. It was uncharacteristically low-key for the industry’s greatest showman.
But the essay published this week by Steve Jobs, the boss of Apple, on his
firm’s website under the unassuming title “Thoughts on Music” has nonetheless
provoked a vigorous debate about the future of digital music, which Apple
dominates with its iPod music-player and iTunes music-store. At issue is
“digital rights management” (DRM)—the technology guarding downloaded music
against theft. Since there is no common standard for DRM, it also has the
side-effect that songs purchased for one type of music-player may not work on
another. Apple’s DRM system, called FairPlay, is the most widespread. So it came
as a surprise when Mr. Jobs called for DRM for digital music to be
abolished.
B. This is a change of tack for Apple. It has come under fire from European
regulators who claim that its refusal to license FairPlay to other firms has
“locked in” customers. Since music from the iTunes store cannot be played on
non-iPod music-players (at least not without a lot of fiddling), any iTunes
buyer will be deterred from switching to a device made by a rival firm, such as
Sony or Microsoft. When French lawmakers drafted a bill last year compelling
Apple to open up FairPlay to rivals, the company warned of “state-sponsored
piracy”. Only DRM, it implied, could keep the pirates at bay.
C. This week Mr. Jobs gave another explanation for his former defence of DRM:
the record companies made him do it. They would make their music available to
the iTunes store only if Apple agreed to protect it using DRM. They can still
withdraw their catalogues if the DRM system is compromised. Apple cannot license
FairPlay to others, says Mr Jobs, because it would depend on them to produce
security fixes promptly. All DRM does is restrict consumer choice and provide a
barrier to entry, says Mr Jobs; without it there would be far more stores and
players, and far more innovation. So, he suggests, why not do away with DRM and
sell music unprotected? “This is clearly the best alternative for consumers,” he
declares, “and Apple would embrace it in a heartbeat.”
D. Why the sudden change of heart? Mr Jobs seems chiefly concerned with
getting Europe’s regulators off his back. Rather than complaining to Apple about
its use of DRM, he suggests, “those unhappy with the current situation should
redirect their energies towards persuading the music companies to sell their
music DRM-free.” Two and a half of the four big record companies, he helpfully
points out, are European-owned. Mr Jobs also hopes to paint himself as a
consumer champion. Apple resents accusations that it has become the Microsoft of
digital music.
E. Apple can afford to embrace open competition in music players and online
stores. Consumers would gravitate to the best player and the best store, and at
the moment that still means Apple’s. Mr Jobs is evidently unfazed by rivals to
the iPod. Since only 3% of the music in a typical iTunes library is protected,
most of it can already be used on other players today, he notes. (And even the
protected tracks can be burned onto a CD and then re-ripped.) So Apple’s
dominance evidently depends far more on branding and ease of use than
DRM-related “lock in”.
F. The music giants are trying DRM-free downloads. Lots of smaller labels
already sell music that way. Having seen which way the wind is blowing, Mr Jobs
now wants to be seen not as DRM’s defender, but as a consumer champion who
helped in its downfall. Wouldn’t it lead to a surge in piracy? No, because most
music is still sold unprotected on CDs, people wishing to steal music already
can do so. Indeed, scrapping DRM would probably increase online-music sales by
reducing confusion and incompatibility. With the leading online store, Apple
would benefit most. Mr Jobs’s argument, in short, is transparently self-serving.
It also happens to be right.
Notes to Reading Passage 1
1. low-key:
抑制的，受约束的，屈服的
2. showman:
开展览会的人, 出风头的人物
3. unassuming:
谦逊的, 不夸耀的, 不装腔作势的
4. iPod：
(苹果公司出产的)音乐播放器
5. iTunes store：
(苹果公司出产的)在线音乐商店
6. get off person’s back:
不再找某人的麻烦，摆脱某人的纠缠
7. gravitate:
受吸引，倾向于
8. unfazed:
不再担忧，不被打扰
Questions 1-7
Do the following statemets reflect the claims of the writer in Reading
Passage 1?
Write your answer in Boxes 1-7 on your answer sheet.
TRUE if the statement reflets the claims of the writer
FALSE if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossbile to say what the writer thinks about this
1. Apple enjoys a controlling position in digital music market with its iPod
music-player and iTunes music-store.
2. DRM is a government decree issued with a purpose to protect downloaded
music from theft by consumers.
3. Lack of standardization in DRM makes songs bought for one kind of music
player may not function on another.
4. Apple has been criticized by European regulators since it has refused to
grant a license FairPlay to other firms.
5. All music can be easily played on non-iPod music devices from Sony or
Microsoft without too much fiddling.
6. Apple depends far more on DRM rather than branding for its dominance of
the digital music devices.
7. If DRM was cancelled, Sony would certainly dominate the international
digital music market.
Questions 8-10
Choose the appropriate letters A-D and write them in boxes 8-10 on your answe
sheet.
8. Which of the following statements about Mr. Jobs’ idea of DRM is NOT
TRUE?
A. DRM places restrictions on consumer’ choice of digital music products
available.
B. DRM comples iTunes buyers to switch to a device made by Sony or
Microsoft.
C. DRM constitutes a barrier for potential consumers to enter digital music
markets.
D. DRM hinders development of more stores and players and technical
innovation.
9. The word “unfazed” in line 3 of paragraph E, means___________.
A. refused
B. welcomed
C. not bothered
D. not well received
10. Which of the following statements is TRUE if DRM was scapped?
A. Sony would gain the most profit.
B. More customers would be “locked in”.
C. A sudden increase in piracy would occur.
D. Online-music sales would probably decrease.
Questions 11-14
Complete the notes below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from Reading Passage 1 for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 11-14 on your answer sheet.
Mr. Steve Jobs, the boss of Apple, explains the reason why he used to defend
DRM, saying that the company was forced to do so: the record companies would
make their music accessible to …11...only if they agreed to protect it using
DRM; they can still…12…if the DRM system is compromised. He also provides the
reason why Apple did not license FairPlay to others: the company relies on them
to …13….But now he changes his mind with a possible expectation that Europe’s
regulators would not trouble him any more in the future. He proposes that those
who are unsatisfactory with the current situation in digital music market should
…14… towards persuade the music companies to sell their music DRM-free.
Section C
What a lovely place Xerox is to work Kim Moloney, a client services
executive, can’t say enough nice things about her employer. ‘It’s a very special
environment,’ she says. ‘People describe Xerox as a family and I was amazed at
the number of people who have worked here for so long.’ It’s tempting to take
Moloney’s comments with a pinch of salt, especially considering that when you’ve
been working somewhere for only two years, as she has at Xerox, everyone seems
old and established. But there’s truth behind her enthusiasm.
Take Carole Palmer, the group resources director. She joined Xerox in 1978 as
a temp and has been in her present role for seven years. ‘Xerox has been good to
me over the years,’ she says. ‘It has supported me through qualifications … and
last year I took part in the vice-president incumbent program.’ Human resources
is taken seriously at Xerox, Palmer says, and the company has a policy of
promoting from within (which would explain Moloney’s amazement at her
colleagues’ longevity). The company takes on only fifteen to twenty graduates
each year and Moloney was part of an intake who joined having already acquired a
couple of years’ work experience. She started as a project manager for Xerox
Global Services before moving into sales. Now her responsibility is to ‘grow and
maintain customer relationships’.
Moloney is based at the head office in Uxbridge. ‘It’s great in terms of
working environment,’ she says. ‘We’ve just got a new provider in the canteen
and … we have brainstorming rooms and breakout areas.’ Much of Moloney’s role is
visiting clients, so she doesn’t have a permanent desk at head office. ‘I’m a
hot-desker, which is good because you get to sit with different people in the
hot-desk areas. And you’re given a place to store your things.’ Head office
staff numbers between 1,200 and 1,500 people, Palmer says. The company has four
other main offices in the UK. The nature of the organization, which encompasses
sales and marketing, global services (the biggest division), developing markets,
research and development and manufacturing, means that the opportunities at the
company vary from service engineers to sales roles and consultants.
Perks include a final-salary pension scheme and various discount schemes. The
reward and recognition scheme is a little different, and rather nice: ‘Each
manager has a budget every year to recognize and reward staff,’ Palmer says. ‘It
can be in the form of a meal for two, or a bottle of wine. It can be up to
£1,000. There’s the recognition, and then there’s putting money behind it.’
Moloney, however, likes the non-cash rewards. ‘Xerox takes care of all its staff
but it also recognizes the people who put in the added effort,’ she says. ‘It
offers once-in-a-lifetime incentive trips, and recently I organized a sailing
trip for my team.’
The idea of working abroad with the company appeals to her, and she says that
her career goal is to be part of the senior management team. Here’s another
employee, it would seem, who is in it for the long haul.
( )1.The journalist of this article thinks that .
A. staff at Xerox are not telling the truth abut the company.
B. Xerox offers great benefits to staff.
C. Xerox is the best company in the world.
D. Xerox has the best working environment.
( )2.The company tends to find its new manager .
A. only form graduates B. on training courses
C. from existing staff D. from job markets
( )3.What does the phrase “to take on” in the sentence “The company takes on
only fifteen to twenty graduates each year and …” of the second paragraph mean?
.
A. To train B. To employ
C. To interview D. To maintain(A)
( )4.As well as recognizing its staff through promotion, Xerox .
A. gives cash bonuses
B. gives unpaid leave to take trips of a lifetime.
C. provides a number of perks.
D. provides huge end-of-year bonuses.
( )5.One common feature of Xerox staff is that they tend .
A. to work hard B. to get promoted
C. work longer hours each day D. not to change employer
