When we worry about who might be spying on our private lives, we usually think about the Federal agents. But the private sector outdoes the government every time. It’s Linda Tripp, not the FBI, who is facing charges under Maryland’s laws against secret telephone taping. It’s our banks, not the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), that pass our private financial data to telemarketing firms.
Consumer activists are pressing Congress for better privacy laws without much result so far. The legislators lean toward letting business people track our financial habits virtually at will.
As an example of what’s going on, consider U.S. Bancorp, which was recently sued for deceptive practices by the state of Minnesota. According to the lawsuit, the bank supplied a telemarketer called Member Works with sensitive customer data such as names, phone numbers, bank-account and credit-card numbers, social security numbers, account balances and credit limits.
With these customer lists in hand, Member Works started dialing for dollars-selling dental plans, videogames, computer software and other products and services. Customers who accepted a “free trial offer” had 30 days to cancel. If the deadline passed, they were charged automatically through their bank or credit-card accounts. U.S. Bancorp collected a share of the revenues.
Customers were doubly deceived, the lawsuit claims. They didn’t know that the bank was giving account numbers to Member Works. And if customers asked, they were led to think the answer was no.
The state sued Member Works separately for deceptive selling. The company denies that it did anything wrong. For its part, U.S. Bancorp settled without admitting any mistakes. But it agreed to stop exposing its customers to nonfinancial products sold by outside firms. A few top banks decided to do the same. Many other banks will still do business with Member Works and similar firms.
And banks will still be mining data from your account in order to sell you financial products, including things of little value, such as credit insurance and credit-card protection plans.
You have almost no protection from businesses that use your personal accounts for profit. For example, no federal law shields “transaction and experience” information-mainly the details of your bank and credit-card accounts. Social Security numbers are for sale by private firms. They’ve generally agreed not to sell to the public. But to businesses, the numbers are an open book. Self-regulation doesn’t work. A firm might publish a privacy-protection policy, but who enforces it?
Take U.S. Bancorp again. Customers were told, in writing, that “all personal information you supply to us will be considered confidential.” Then it sold your data to Member Works. The bank even claims that it doesn’t “sell” your data at all. It merely “shares” it and reaps a profit. Now you know.
1.Contrary to popular belief, the author finds that spying on people’s privacy ________.
A. is practiced exclusively by the FBI
B. is more common in business circles
C. has been intensified with the help of the IRS
D. is mainly carried out by means of secret taping
2.We know from the passage that ________.
A. the state of Minnesota is considering drawing up laws to protect private information
B. most states are turning a blind eye to the deceptive practices of private businesses
C. legislators are acting to pass a law to provide better privacy protection
D. lawmakers tend to give a free hand to businesses to inquire into customers’ buying habits
3.When the “free trial” deadline is over, you’ll be charged without notice for a product or service if ________.
A. you happen to reveal your credit card number
B. you fail to cancel it within the specified period
C. you fail to apply for extension of the deadline
D. you find the product or service unsatisfactory
4.Businesses do not regard information concerning personal bank accounts as private because ________.
A. it is considered “transaction and experience” information is not protected by law
B. it has always been considered an open secret by the general public
C. its sale can be brought under control through self-regulation
D. its revelation will do no harm to consumers under the current protection policy
It is love that makes the world go round. And it is also love that has such power to overcome all difficulties. So we say: “Love will find a way.” As smile is a facial expression showing pleasure, affection, and friendliness, it is the commonest way to show our good will perfectly without saying anything. A Chinese saying runs: “never hit a person who is smiling at you.” It is a time-proven fact that the smile is a language all its own— a universal language—understood by the people of every nation in the world. We may not speak the same tongue as our foreign neighbors, but we smile in the same tongue. We need no interpreter for thus expressing love, happiness, or good will.
One day while shopping in a small town in southern California, it was my misfortune to be approached by a clerk whose personality contradicted mine. He seemed most unfriendly and not at all concerned about my intended purchase. I bought nothing, and marched angrily out of the store. My anger toward that grew with each step. Outside, standing at the corner, was a dark-complexion young man in his early twenties. His expressive brown eyes met and held mine, and in the next instant a beautiful, dazzling smile covered his face. I gave in immediately. The magnetic power of that shining smile drove away all bitterness within me, and I found the muscles in my own face happily responding. “Beautiful day, isn’t it?” I remarked, in passing. Then, suddenly something inside me sent me turning back. “I really owe you a debt of gratitude,” I said softly. His smile deepened, but he made no attempt to answer. A Mexican woman and two men were standing nearby. The woman stepped forward and eyed me inquiringly. “Carlos, he no speak English,” she volunteered. “You want I should tell him something?” In that moment I felt transformed. Carlos’ smile had made a big person of me. My friendliness and good will toward all mankind stood ten feet tall. “Yes,” my reply was enthusiastic and sincere, “tell him I said ‘Thank you!’” “Thank you?” The woman seemed slightly puzzled. I gave her arm a friendly pat as I turned to leave. “Just tell him that,” I insisted. “He’ll understand. I am sure!” Oh, what a smile can do! Although I have never seen that young man again, I shall never forget the lesson he taught me that morning.
From that day on, I became smile – conscious, and I practice that diligently, anywhere and everywhere, with everybody. When I got excited in traffic, taking the right–of–way (公路用地) from the other car with my stupid mistake, I’d smile and shrug my shoulders apologetically. This action on my part would always draw a good–natured smile in return. If the other fellow was at fault – and if I could remember my resolution in time! – he’d get a broad smile of understanding. This took a bit of doing at first. I’ll admit it wasn’t always easy, but it was fun. The results were sometimes amazing. Many times, a broad, friendly smile would completely turn aside ill–feeling and tension. I’m wondering now how many tragic accidents could be avoided on our overcrowded highways, if every driver remembered to smile!
1.The author got angry while shopping one day because .
A. of the clerk’s unfriendliness and lack of concern
B. of her misfortune
C. she failed to purchase what she intended
D. a dark–complexion young man laughed at her
2.From the conversation between the author and the Mexican woman, we can infer that the woman .
A. was well–educated but unwilling to help others
B. was able to speak English
C. knew some English and was ready to help others
D. was familiar with the young man
3.In the author’s opinion, if all people remembered to smile when driving, .
A. many traffic accidents could be avoided
B. they would receive a good natural smile in return
C. they could get a broad smile of understanding
D. they wouldn’t feel any tension
4.The best title for this passage could be .
A. The Art of SmilingB. The Universal Language
C. The Power of LoveD. The Magic Power of Friendship
A Sydney Pass gives you unlimited and flexible travel on the Explorer Buses: the 'red' Sydney Explorer shows you around our exciting city sights while the 'blue' Bondi Explorer visits Sydney Harbor bays and famous beaches. Take to the water on one of three magnificent daily harbor cruises(游船). You can also travel free on regular Sydney Buses, Sydney Ferries or City Rail services (limited area), so you can go to every corner of this beautiful city.
Imagine browsing at Darling Harbor, sampling the famous seafood at Watsons Bay or enjoying the city lights on an evening ferry cruise. The possibilities and plans are endless with a Sydney Pass. Wherever you decide to go, remember that bookings are not required on any of our services so tickets are treated on a first in, first seated basis.
Sydney Passes are available for 3, 5 or 7 days for use over a 7 calendar day period. With a 3 or 5 day pass you choose on which days out of the 7 you want to use it. All Sydney Passes include a free Airport Express inward trip before starting your 3, 5 or 7 days, and the return trip is valid (有效的) for 2 months from the first day your ticket was used.
Sydney Pass Fares
*A child is defined as anyone from the ages of 4 years to under 16 years. Children under 4 years travel free.
**A family is defined as 2 adults and any number of children from 4 to under 16 years of age from the same family.
1. A Sydney Pass doesn’t offer unlimited rides on ______
A. the Explorer Buses B. the harbor cruises
C. regular Sydney Buses D. City Rail services
2.With a Sydney Pass, a traveler can ______.
A. save fares from and to the airport
B. take the Sydney Explorer to beaches
C. enjoy the famous seafood for free
D. reserve seats easily in a restaurant
3. If 5-day tickets were to be recommended to a mother who travelled with her colleague and her children, aged 3, 6 and 10, what would the lowest cost be?
A. $225 B. $300
C. $360 D. $420
Comparisons were drawn between the development of television in the 20th century and the diffusion of printing in the 15th and 16th centuries. Yet much had happened _____. As was discussed before, it was not _____ the 19th century that the newspaper became the dominant pre-electronic _____, following in the wake of the pamphlet and the book and in the _____ of the periodical. It was during the same time that the communications revolution _____ up, beginning with transport, the railway, and leading _____ through the telegraph, the telephone, radio, and motion pictures _____ the 20th-century world of the motor car and the air plane. Not everyone sees that process in a right way. Nevertheless, it is _____ to do so.
It is generally recognized, _____, that the introduction of the computer in the early 20th century, _____ by the invention of the integrated circuit during the 1960s, radically changed the process, _____ its impact on the media was not immediately _____. As time went by, computers became smaller and more powerful, and they became “personal” too, as well as institutional, with display becoming _____ and storage capacity _____. They were thought of, like people, _____ generations, with the distance between generations much _____.
It was within the computer age that the term “information society” began to be widely used to describe the _____ within which we now live. The communications revolution has _____ both work and leisure and how we think and feel both about place and time, but there have been _____ views about its economic, political, social and cultural implications. “Benefits” have been weighed _____ “harmful” outcomes. And generalizations have proved difficult.
1.A. betweenB. beforeC. sinceD. later
2.A. afterB. byC. duringD. until
3.A. meansB. methodC. mediumD. measure
4.A. processB. companyC. lightD. form
5.A. gatheredB. speededC. worked D. picked
6.A. onB. outC. overD. off
7.A. ofB. forC. beyond D. into
8.A. importantB. difficultC. honestD. concrete
9.A. indeedB. henceC. howeverD. therefore
10.A. broughtB. followedC. stimulated. D. characterized
11.A. unlessB. sinceC. lestD. although
12.A. apparentB. desirableC. negativeD. believable
13.A. sharperB. darkerC. heavierD. higher
14.A. decreasingB. increasingC. decliningD. flowing
15.A. by means ofB. in terms ofC. with regard toD. in line with
16.A. deeperB. fewerC. nearerD. smaller
17.A. environmentB. distanceC. skyD. state
18.A. regardedB. impressedC. influencedD. effected
19.A. competitiveB. controversialC. conditionalD. clumsy
20.A. aboveB. uponC. againstD. with
—It is said that the film Kungfu Panda2 is a great success. Shall we go to watch it this Sunday?
—Sorry. I have to finish my homework.
—Come on. Don’t be _______.
A. a piece of cakeB. a wet blanket
C. pulling my legD. all ears
The accident that happened at an oilfield ______ the southeast coast of the USA has caused great damage to the environment.
A. away B. from
C. off D. beyond
