Unit 1 suspensePassage ReadingThe Lady or the Tiger?by Frank Stockton1 Long ago there lived a semi-barbaric king who had a great imagination. One of his ideas was to build a big arena as an agent of justice where crime was punished or virtue rewarded. When a subject1 was accused of a crime of sufficient importance to interest the king, public notice was given that on an appointed day the fate of an accused person would be decided in the king’s arena.2 When all the people had assembled in the galleries, and the king, surrounded by the court, sat high up on his throne on one side of the arena, he gave a signal, a door beneath him opened, and the accused subject stepped out into the arena. Directly opposite him on the other side were two doors, exactly alike and side by side. It was the duty and the privilege of the person on trial to walk directly to these doors and open one of them. He could open either door he pleased. He was subject to no guidance or influence, only chance. If he opened one, there came out of it a cruel and hungry tiger, which immediately sprang upon him and tore him to pieces as punishment for his guilt. But, if the accused person opened the other door, there came forth a lady, the most suitable to his age and station2 that the king could select from among his fair3 subjects; and to this lady he was immediately married as a reward for his innocence. It didn’t matter that he might possess a wife and family or that his affections might be engaged upon a lady of his own selection. The wedding took place immediately and in the arena. Bells rang, people shouted glad hurrahs, and the innocent man led his bride home.3 This was the king’s method of administering justice, its fai rness was obvious. The accused person was instantly punished if he found himself guilty and, if innocent, he was rewarded on the spot. The institution4 was a very popular one. The element of uncertainty gave interest to the occasion which could not other wise have a happened.54 The king had a beautiful and willful daughter. She was the apple of his eye and he loved her above all humanity.6 Among his courtiers was a young man of a low station whom the princess loved because he was very handsome and brave. This love affair moved along happily for many months, until one day the king happened to find out about it. He immediately had the youth imprisoned and appointed a day for a trial in the arena. Never before had such a case occurred; never before had a subject dared to love the daughter of a king.5 The tiger-cages of the kingdom were searched for the most savage beast, from which the fiercest one could be selected for the arena. Young and beautiful maidens were carefully surveyed in order that the young man might have a suitable bride if fate did not determine him a different destiny. Of course, everybody knew that thedeed with which the accused was charged had been done. He loved the princess and did not deny it, but the king would take pleasure in watching the events which would determine whether or not the young man had done wrong in allowing himself to love the princess.6 The day of the trial arrived. From far and near the people gathered and crowded the galleries of the arena. The king and his court entered and sat in their places opposite the twin doors. All was ready. The signal was given. A door beneath the royal party opened and the lover of the princess walked into the arena. Tall and handsome, he was greeted by a hum of admiration. Half the audience had not known that so grand a youth had lived among them. No wonder the princess loved him! What a terrible thing for him to be there!7 as the youth advanced into the arena, he turned, as the custom was, to bow to the king, but he did not think at all of her father. Form the very moment that the decree had gone forth, that her lover should decide his fate in the arena, she had thought of nothing else.7 Possessed of more power and determination than anyone connected with a previous case, she found out the secret of the doors. She knew behind which door stood the tiger cage with its open front and behind which door waited the lady. She had used both gold and determination to find out the secret.8 The princess also knew who the lady was. It was one of the most beautiful of the ladies of the court, and the princess hated her. Often the princess had seen, or imagined that she had seen, this fair creature glancing with admiration at her lover, and sometimes the princess thought that these glances were returned. Now and then she had seen them talking together.9 When her lover looked at her, and his eye met hers, he knew that she knew behind which door crouched the tiger and behind which stood the lady. He had expected her to know it as he understood her nature and determination. Then it was that his quick and anxi ous glance asked the question: “Which?”8 It was as plain to her as if he had shouted it from where he stood.9 There was not an instant to be lost. The question was asked in a flash; it must be answered in another. She raised her hand and made a slight, quick movement to- ward the right. No one but her lover saw her. Every eye was fixed on the man in the arena. Every breath was held and every eye remained fixed on that man. Without the slightest hesitation, he went to the door on the right and opened it.10 Now, the point of the story is this: Did the tiger come out of the door, or did the lady? The more we think about this question, the harder it is to answer. It involves a study of the human heart which leads us through devious mazes of passion out of which it is difficult to fine our way.10 the soul of the princess beat with a white heat beneath the combined fires of despair and jealousy.11 she had lost him, but who should have him? How often in her waling hours and in her dreams had she thoughtof her lover opening the door on the other side of which waited the cruel fangs of the tiger! But how much oftener had she seen him at the other door and she could see his delight as he opened the door of the lady! Her soul had burned with agony as she imagined him rushing to meet that woman with her sparkling eyes of triumph. She further imagined the glad shouts of the crowd as the two handsome people were married and walked away showered with flowers.12 Her one despairing shriek was lost in the noise.11 Would it not be better for him to die at once? And yet, that awful tiger, those shrieks, that blood! Her decision had been indicated in an instant, but it had been made after days and nights of anguished thought. She had known she would be asked, she had decided what she would answer, and, without the slightest hesitation, she had moved her hand to the right.12 The question of her decision is not to be lightly considered, and it is not for me to presume to set myself up as the one person able to answer it.13 And so I leave it with all of you: Which came out of the opened door, — the lady, or the tiger? (1,307 words)Time taken:____________minutesUNIT 2 MannersIN-CLASS READINGNo One Stops to Say "Thank You" Anymore1 I am sitting in a local restaurant offering takeout homestyle meals, surrounded by exhausted but happy shoppers, families out for Friday night dinner, and students taking a break from college exams. The warm room buzzes with conversation. A well-known local homeless man very untidy but clean comes in, places an order, pays for it, then sits quietly waiting for his dinner. All talk stops. No one looks at him and several diners leave. He is aware of the general discomfort his presence has caused. When his takeout is ready, he gathers up his numerous bags and his dinner and, laden down, advances to the door to go back to the streets. Just as he reaches the door and begins to shift bundles to free a hand, a well-dressed man coming to the restaurant steps aside and holds the door for him. The homeless man stops and says, "Thank you very much."2 What struck me about this encounter was not the wealthier man helping out the less fortunate one. It was the homeless man stopping to thank him despite being desperate to escape a room full of disapproving people. No doubt he also thanked whoever had given him the money to buy dinner. In line buying my own meal, no one had thanked the young people behind the counter who dished up mashed potatoes for them. Had I taken a poll of the room, though, I bet everyone there would have considered themselves as having more manners than a person who lives on the streets.3 But how many of us are truly well-mannered? Some observations have been surprising.4 When I let someone into my lane of traffic, men almost always acknowledge this courtesy with a wave of the hand; women (the "polite" sex) hardly ever do. More women than men (the "chivalrous" sex) hold open doors for those behind them; teenage boys commit this nicety the least. And I no longer see mothers instructing a child, boy or girl, to hold open a door when several people are approaching something expected of all boys when I was growing up.5 Manners are a tool to remind us of others around us. Our actions affect each other; there is always give and take. However, if youth today are any indication, we are truly destined to become a society of people who think only of themselves. Maybe it sounds cliché, but my parents would have killed me had I done some of the things I endure from today's youth.6 I never ran in public, much less between and around the legs of people in stores. One scream and I would have been taken to the car and lectured on my behavior. Whenever I was rude in public, I was made to apologize; my parents didn't do it for me. These embarrassing moments didn't harm me; rather, they caused me to become aware that there were others inhabiting this world besides myself and my actions affected them.7 I have yet to receive an apology from a child who just ran over my foot while chasing a sibling, and only half the time have the parents apologized. Often they simply gather upthe children, making no eye contact, and take them to another part of the store to run around. If a child isn't made to deal with a minor situation, how will one ever handle a major faux pa& (which we all inevitably commit at some point)?8 I have noticed that children are not even being schooled in social graces. At a Sunday brunch, a clown was making balloon animals for the children. My friend's daughter, Sarah, stood by me waiting her turn'. One by one the children grabbed their balloons and yes ran.I was the only adult present who prompted "What do you say?" when the clown handed Sarah her balloon. The clown beamed at us, grateful he had actually been acknowledged.9 I don't blame the children, however. They emulate what they see. And what they are seeing is a society focused solely on acquisition be it the dream house or another drink in a restaurant or a space on a crowded freeway without ever stopping to thank the source.10 Rude language is now so commonplace that it is accepted behavior. And I'm not talking about the obviously blue vocabulary in books and movies, or that damn is considered harmless compared to what else has become acceptable. I'm referring to inconsiderate word choice. For example, while discussing a story idea with an editor, a very young staff member asked if I was the "chick" who had called for information. I said nothing, knowing that a show of displeasure would have labeled me oversensitive rather than him rude.11 Most people today feel proud to have built a society that treats the races, sexes, and economic classes more equally than ever before. And, yes, we have made real strides in these areas. But isn't it ironic that these same people don't find it necessary to say "Excuse me" to an older couple walking very slowly in front of them, before zooming around the couple?12 It's not necessary to provide yet another analysis of the disintegration of the family or the breakdown of the social fabric or the price of democracy to explain what hashappened to our society. The matter at hand is simply to thank the next person who provides a helping hand when needed.13 In a crowded world, manners are of vital importance. Small, friendly human interactions help ease the everyday stress of having to hurry, trying to squeeze onto a crowded thoroughfare, standing in one more line to deal with a clerk of some kind, or calling a customer service representative for the third time about a mistake on a bill. Manners make us aware that everything we have derives from a source. Are we really so pressured that we cannot stop to observe simple courtesy?(991 words)Time taken: ______ minutesProper NameSarah(女子名)萨拉New Wordsacknowledgev. show thanks for 就……表示谢意，致谢e.g. He acknowledged the applause with a small bow.acquisitionn. the act of getting land, power, money, etc. 获取e.g. The acquisition of the property took months.anymoreadv. any longer (一般只用于表示否定意义的上下文中）而今再也e.g. I don't like being called Theresa anymore. It's old-fashioned.brunchn. a meal that serves as both breakfast and lunch 早午餐bundlen. a group of things such as papers, clothes, or sticks that are fastened or tied together 捆，束，包e.g. He gathered the bundles of clothing into his arms.buzzv.1) be filled with a lot of excitement or activity 充满了激动或活动的声音e.g. The narrow streets in the area buzzed with stories of the killers.2) talk quietly at the same time 发出低沉、嘈杂的声音e.g. The audience buzzed throughout the performance.chasev. quickly follow someone or something trying to catch them 追逐，追赶e.g. Outside in the yard, kids were yelling and chasing each other.chickn. American slang for a young woman (偶)少女，少妇chivalrousadj. (esp. of men) marked by bravery, honor, generosity, and good manners (esp. toward women) (男人) 有骑士风度的clichén. an expression that is used too often and has lost most of its meaning陈词滥调clownn. a performer, especially in the circus, who dresses strangely and tries to make peoplelaugh by his jokes, tricks or actions 小丑commonplaceadj. ordinary; not regarded as special or unusual 普通的，不足为奇的e.g. A few years ago it was quite rare to see women unaccompanied by men in a pub, now it's commonplace.courtesyn. polite behavior; a polite or kind action or expression 有礼的举止或言辞e.g. The student replied with promptness and courtesy.democracyn. social equality and the right to take part in decision-making 民主e.g. Democracy is spreading around the world in various forms.destinedadj. certain to happen at some time in the future 命中注定的e.g. He feels that he was destined to become a musician.disintegration*n. the state of becoming weaker or less united and being gradually destroyed 解体，瓦解emulatev. try to be like someone else, because you admire them 仿效e.g. People often try to emulate their favorite pop singers or movie stars.fabricn.1) a framework or structure 组构，组织e.g. He said the fabric of society was threatened by groups of criminals involved withdrugs, violence and robbery.2) material or cloth made by weaving threads together 织物,（纺）织品e.g. My shirt is made of cotton fabric.freewayn. (AmE) a very wide road built for fast long-distance travel 高速公路，高速干道indicationn. a sign of something; something that is suggested 象征，迹象e. g. This was a clear indication that they were in financial difficulty.inevitably*adv. unavoidably 不可避免地e.g. An organization of this size inevitably has problems.ironic*adj. full of irony 讽刺的，有讽刺意味的e.g. How ironic that he should have been invited to play for the English team on the very day that he broke his leg.ladenadj. heavily loaded with something 装满的，充满的e.g. She arrived back home laden with shopping bags.oversensitive*adj. too easily influenced or offended 过分敏感的，神经过敏的siblingn. a brother or sister 兄弟（或姐妹）, 同胞squeezev.1) fit by forcing, pressing or crowding挤人，挤过，塞e.g. Anne squeezed herself into the crowded elevator.2) press firmly together, especially from opposite sides 压，挤，榨e.g. She squeezed the tube hard and the last of the tooth paste came out.striden.1) an improvement in a situation or in the development of something 进展，进步e.g. We've made great strides in medical technology this century.2) a long step 大步，步幅e.g. With every stride, runners hit the ground with up to five times their body-weight.v. walk quickly with long steps 阔步行进，大踏步走e. g. He came striding along the path, with his gun over his shoulder.takeout(AmE)adj. intended to be taken from the point of sale and consumed elsewhere 供顾客带出外吃的.n. food made to be taken out 外卖的食物thoroughfaren. the main road through place such as a city or town 大街，大道Phrases and Expressionsat handnear in time or space 近在手边，附近；即将到来e.g. I picked up a book that happened to lie at hand and read a few pages.disk upput into and/ or serve in a dish as food 把（食物）装盘，盛在盘中端上（饭菜）e.g. I will dish up the first course.gather upbring together into one group, collection, or place 使聚集，收拢，集拢e.g. She watched Willie gather up the papers and stuff them carelessly in his pocket.give-and-takethe practice of making mutual concessions; willingness to compromise 互相让步，互相迁就e.g. You can't always insist on your own way—there has to be some give-and-take.help (someone) outgive help and support to someone who has problems 帮助某人（尢指摆脱困境或危难）e.g. I) I helped out with the secretarial work.II) I think her colleagues did help her out on that occasion.lecture onscold or warn, especially at some length 训斥，告诫e.g. She lectured her children on good table manners.much lesseven less likely 更谈不上e.g. Jack can hardly understand arithmetic, much less geometry.no doubtalmost certainly; very probably 肯定地，想必e.g. 1 ) You've all no doubt heard the news.II) No doubt I learned a lot from that lecture.run aroundrun excitedly and randomly within a particular area 在……四处奔跑e.g. We need a large garden, where the kids can run around freely.run overmake one's way quickly over 在……上跑过，撞倒e.g. We almost ran over a fox that was crossing the road.step asidewalk to one side 走开一点，让开一点e.g. The crowd stepped aside to let the chairman pass.UNIT 3 Business StrategiesIN-CLASS READINGBusiness Lessons from the Rain ForestTakashi Kiuchi1 The environment and the emerging information economy are two issues most vital to the future of my business, and perhaps the world. To me, these topics seem intimately linked. Perhaps this is partly because I work for Mitsubishi Electric, an electronics company, and I see our impacts on the environment. But my most important lessons about the link among business, the environment, and the economy did not come from my company. I learned them in the forest.2 On my trip to Asia, I visited the Malaysian rain forest. What I learned changed my life asa corporate executive.3 I learned that saving the rain forests in fact, saving the environment is more than an environmental necessity. It is a business opportunity. In our case, it is an opportunity to pursue business opportunities that use creativity and technology to substitute for trees, for resources of any kind.4 I learned something else in the rain forest, too, something more profound. I learned how we might operate our company not just to save the rain forest, but to be more like the rain forest.5 To be agile and creative, we must structure our company so that we are a learning organization. Not top-down, but bottom-up. Not centralized, but decentralized. Not limited by rules, but motivated by objectives. Not structured like a machine which cannot learn but like a living system, which can.6 When I visited the rain forest, I realized that it was a model of the perfect learning organization, a place that excels by learning to adapt to what it doesn't have. A rain forest has almost no resources. The soil is thin. There are few nutrients. It consumes almost nothing. Wastes are food. Design is capital. So my model for Mitsubishi Electric is an organization that is like a rain forest in those respects.7 Rain forests have no productive assets, yet they are incredibly productive. They are home to millions of types of plants and animals more than two-thirds of all biodiversity in the world. Those plants and animals are so perfectly mixed that the system is more efficient, and more creative, than any business in the world.8 If we ran our companies like the rain forest, imagine how creative, how productive, how ecologically benign we could be. We can begin by operating less like a machine and more like a living system. At Mitsubishi Electric, we have begun to adopt an environmental management system founded on principles of industrial ecology. For us, this means twothings: First, we must have our eyes wide open and see the environmental costs and benefits of our business. Second, based on what we see, we must take action:See costs and reduce them. See benefits and increase them. See needs and fill them.9 When I visited the rain forest, I realized that, as business people, we have been looking at the rain forest all wrong. What is valuable about the rain forest is not the trees, which we can take out. What is valuable is the design, the relationships, from which comes the real value of the forest. When we take trees from the forest, we can ruin its design. But when we take lessons from the forest, we further its purpose. We can develop the human ecosystem into as intricate and creative a system as we find in the rain forest. We can do more with less; grow without shrinking.10 While the rain forest has many design principles, let's discuss three:11 Differentiate. Be yourself, be unique. In the rain forest, conformity leads to extinction. If two organisms have the same niche, only one survives. The other adapts or dies. 12 The same thing happens in today's economy. If two businesses have the same niche, making exactly the same product, only one survives. The other adapts or dies. Most companies today are trying to be the one that survives by cutting costs, radically downsizing, desperately seeking the lowest cost.13 It's smarter to differentiate. Create unique products, different from any others. Fill unique niches. Don't kill our competitors or be killed by them sidestep them instead. Only then is it time to reduce costs and grow more efficient.14 Cooperate. Today, many people think competitiveness is the key to business success, but such thinking is out of date. Today, as we grow different, we learn that none of us is whole. We need each other to fill in our gaps. For example, at my company, we no longer look to grow bigger simply by acquiring more and more companies as subsidiaries. Instead, we are engaging in cooperative joint ventures with many others. Each companyretains its independence, its specialty, and its core competence. Together we benefit from our diversity.15 Be a good fit. We used to say only the fittest survives; only one can be the winner. But the rain forest has many winners.16 The same can be true in our economy. In this new, diverse, rain-forest economy, it is not a question of who is most fit. It is a question of where we best fit. If we fit if we solve a social problem, fulfill a social need we will survive and excel. If we only create problems, we will not.17 I am often asked whether the needs of the corporation and the needs of the environment are in conflict. I do not believe they are. In the long run, they cannot be.18 Conventional wisdom is that the highest mission of a corporation is to maximize profits and return to shareholders. That is a myth. It has never been true. Profit is just money a medium of exchange. You always trade it for something else. So profits are not an end; they are a means to an end.19 My philosophy is this: We don't run our business to earn profits. We earn profits to run our business. Our business has meaning and purpose a reason to be here.20 People talk today about business needing to be socially responsible, as if this is something new we need to do, on top of everything else we do. But social responsibility is not something that one should do as an extra benefit of the business. The whole essence of the business should be social responsibility. It must live for a purpose. Otherwise, why should it live at all?21 What I learned from the rain forest is easy to understand. We can use less and have more. It is the only way, for the interests of business and the interests of the environment are not incompatible.(1102 words)Time taken: _______ minutesProper NamesMalaysianadj. 马来西亚的Mitsubishi Electric日本三菱电气公司Takashi Kiuchi(日本男子名)木内孝New Wordsagileadj. active, lively, think quickly 灵活的，（才思）敏捷的e.g. The agile monkey swung from branch to branch.biodiversityn. biological diversity in an environment as indicated by numbers of different species of plants and animals 生物品种competencen. the ability and skill to do what is needed 能力，技能e.g. I'm only worried about his attitude to the job: his competence is not in question.conformity *n. agreement with established rules, customs, etc. 一致，顺从e.g. Excessive conformity is usually caused by fear of disapproval . conventionaladj. following what is traditional or considered to be normal 传统的，符合习俗的e.g. The house was built with conventional materials but in a totally new style.cooperatev. work with somebody else to achieve something 合作，协作，配合e.g. I ) Our company is cooperating with a Danish firm on this project. II) The art department cooperated with the editorial department to produce the book.coren.1) the central or most important part of something 核心，要点e.g. The basic lack of government funding is at the core of the problem.2) the hard center of certain fruits, containing seeds 果心，核e.g. She finished her apple and threw the core away.differentiatev.1) make or become different in the process of growth or development （使）变异e.g. The cells differentiate into a wide variety of cell types.2) to see or express a difference (between) 区分，区别e.g. A child may not differentiate between his imagination and the real world.diversity *n. the condition of being different or having differences 差异，多样性e.g. Newspapers were obliged to allow a diversity of views to be printed.downsize *v. to make a business or industry smaller 缩减，削减e.g. I ) The company will have to downsize to cut costs.II) American manufacturing organizations have been downsizing their factories.ecologically *adv. from the point of view of ecology 从生态学的观点看e.g. Ecologically, the new dam (大坝) has been a disaster.ecologyn. the pattern and balance of relationships between plants, animals, people, and the environment in that place 生态e.g. The oil spill caused terrible damage to the fragile （脆弱的）ecology of the coastline.ecosystem *n. all the plants and animals that live in a particular area together with the complex relationship that exists between them and their environment 生态系统electronicsn.1) electronic devices and equipment 电子器件e.g. All the electronics are housed in a waterproof box.2) a branch of physics that deals with the emission, behavior and effects of electrons and with electronic devices 电子学，电子技术e.g. The field of modern electronics has grown rapidly.extinction *n. a situation in which a particular kind of animal, plant, etc. no longer exists 消灭；灭绝e.g. There are many animals in danger of extinction.incompatible *adj. unable to exist together in harmony 不相容的，不协调的，不相配的e.g. I ) I don't think either of them was to blame: they were just incompatible.II) His behavior has been incompatible with his role as head of the state.objectiven. an aim that you are trying to achieve 目的，目标e.g. The main objective of this policy is to reduce unemployment, adj. not influenced by one's own personal feelings, based only on facts 客观的，不带偏见的e.g. I ) Please try to give an objective report of what happened.。
