Finding the Real You
Psychometric testing—personality testing—has been very popular nowadays as studies show their results to be three times more accurate in predicting your job performance. These tests are now included in almost all graduate recruitment (招聘) and are widely used in the selection of managers.
The most popular of these personality tests is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). It is based on the theory that we are born with a tendency to one personality type which stays more or less fixed throughout life. You answer 88 questions and are then given your “type”, such as Outgoing or Quiet, Feeling or Thinking.
Critics of personality testing raise doubts about “social engineering”. Psychologist Dr. Colin Gill warns that the “popular” personality traits (特性) have their disadvantages. “People who are extremely open to new experiences can be butterflies, going from one idea to the next without mastering any of them.” However, the psychometric test is here to stay, which may be why a whole sub-industry on cheating personality tests has sprung up. “It’s possible to cheat,” admits Gill, “but having to pretend to be the person you are at work will be tiring and unhappy and probably short-lived.”
So can we change our personality? “Your basic personalities fixed by the time you’re 21,”says Gill, “but it can be affected by motivation and intelligence. If you didn’t have the personality type to be a doctor but desperately wanted to be one and were intelligent enough to master the skills, you could still go ahead. But trying to go too much against type for too long requires much energy and is actually to be suffered for long. I think it’s why we’re seeing this trend for downshifting—too many people trying to fit into a type that they aren’t really suited for.”
Our interest in personality now exists in every part of our lives. If you ask an expert for advice on anything, you’ll probably be quizzed about your personality. But if personality tests have any value to us, perhaps it is to free us from the idea that all of us are full of potential, and remind us of what we are. As they say in one test when they ask for your age: pick the one you are, not the one you wish you were.
1.The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is based on the belief that ________.
A. certain personality traits are common
B. personality is largely decided from birth
C. some personality types are better than others
D. personality traits are various from time to time
2.According to Dr. Gill, what is the problem with personality tests?
A. Employers often find the results unclear.
B. They may have a negative effect on takers.
C. People can easily lie about their true abilities.
D. The results could be opposite to what employers want.
3.What’s Dr. Gill’s view about changing our personality?
A. It’s worthwhile trying in your adult life.
B. It’s easy if you have great motivation.
C. It’s difficult before the age of 21.
D. It’s unlikely because it requires much energy.
4.What final conclusion does the author reach about the value of personality tests?
A. They are not really worth doing.
B. They may encourage greater realism.
C. They are of doubtful value to employers.
D. They can strengthen the idea we have of our abilities.
NANJING, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) — Xi Jinping and Ma Ying-jeou will shake hands in their historic meeting scheduled in Singapore on Saturday, head of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council said on Wednesday.
The two-part meeting includes one session open to the media and another behind closed doors, said Zhang Zhijun, who is also head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, when interviewed at the Zijinshan Summit for Entrepreneurs across the Taiwan Strait.
According to Zhang, Xi and Ma, as "leaders of the two sides" of the Taiwan Strait, will exchange views during the closed-door meeting.
After the meeting, press conferences will be held by both sides. Later, the two leaders are expected to attend a dinner, said Zhang.
Zhang said the meeting will lift cross-Strait communication to a new high.
The landmark meeting is a breakthrough in face-to-face exchange and communication between the leaders across the Taiwan Strait after the relationship became strained following the events of 1949.
Zhang said the meeting will improve mutual trust and allow for an exchange of opinions on handling the cross-Strait ties.
In addition, the meeting will help strengthen the 1992 Consensus(共识), which was reached in talks between the two sides in 1992 and recognizes the one-China principle, and safeguards the peaceful development of cross-Strait ties, according to Zhang.
Zhang added that the scheduled meeting will also benefit regional peace and stability.
Also at Wednesday's summit, Chiang Pin-kung, former chairman of the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation, hailed the upcoming meeting between the two leaders as a milestone for cross-Strait ties.
Chiang told the media that he believed the meeting will give a boost to the peaceful development of cross-Strait ties.
1.According to the article, the meeting of the two leaders will ________.
A. be held at the Zijinshan Summit for Entrepreneurs across the Taiwan Strait
B. be the first face-to-face communication between people across the Taiwan Strait
C. improve mutual trust and benefit regional peace and development
D. be all open to the media
2.Which of the following statements about the 1992 Consensus is not true?
A. It was reached in 1992.
B. It recognizes the one-China principle.
C. It safeguards the peaceful development of cross-Strait ties.
D. It is an agreement between China and Japan.
3.Which of the following can best substitute the word “hailed” in the last paragraph but one?
A. sang high praise for
B. was concerned about
C. was impressed with
D. got well prepared for
4.Which might be the right sequence of the following events?
a. The two leaders shake hands in front of the media.
b. The two leaders hold press conferences.
c. The two leaders exchange views during the closed-door meeting.
d. The two leaders have dinner together.
A. a; b; c; dB. a; c; b; dC. a; d; b; cD. b; a; c; d
A man walked into a small Irish pub and ordered three beers. Bartender was surprised, but he served that man three beers. One hour later the man ordered three beers again. The very next day that man ordered three beers again and drank quietly at a table. This repeated several times and shortly after the people of the town were whispering about the man, who was ordering three beers at once.
A couple of weeks later, the bartender decided to clear this out and inquired: “I do not want to pry, but could you explain, why do you order three beers all the time?” The man replied: “It seems strange, isn’t it? You see, my two brothers live abroad at the moment, one – in France and another – in Italy. We have made an agreement, that every time we go to pub each of us will order extra two beers and it will help keeping up the family bond”.
Soon all the town have heard about the man’s answer and liked it a lot. The man became a local celebrity. Residents of the town were telling this story to newcomers or tourists and even invited them to that pub to look at Three Beer Man.
However, one day the man came to pub and ordered only two beers, not three as usual. The bartender served him with bad feeling. All that evening the man ordered and drank only two beers. The very next day all the town was talking about this news, some people pray for the soul of one of the brothers, others quietly grieve.
When the man came to pub the next time and ordered two beers again, the bartender asked him: “I would like to offer condolences to you, due to the death of your dear brother”. The man considered this for a moment and then replied: “Oh, you are probably surprised that I order only two beers now? Well, my two brothers are alive and well. It’s just because of my decision. I promised myself to give up drinking.”
1.The man ordered three beers all the time because ________.
A. people were fond of drinking beers in this pub
B. he missed his two brothers living abroad very much
C. it was an agreement with his brothers to keep up the family bond
D. this would help him become a local celebrity
2.We can infer from the passage that ________.
A. news traveled fast in the town
B. the man became famous in the town because he was a heavy drinker
C. the man’s brothers liked drinking beer very much
D. the man was strong-minded to give up drinking
3.The bartender served the man with bad feeling because ________.
A. he would earn less money
B. he thought the man should order three beers
C. he thought one of the man’s brothers had passed away
D. the man decided to drink two beers
4.The underlined word “condolences” in the last paragraph can be replaced by ________.
A. gratitudeB. appreciationC. surpriseD. sympathy
What’s On?
Electric Underground
7:30pm－1:00am Free at the Cyclops Theatre
Do you know who’s playing in your area? We’re bringing you an exciting evening of live rock and pop music from the best local bands. Are you interested in becoming a musician and getting a recording contract (合同)? If so, come early to the talk at 7:30pm by Jules Skye, a successful record producer. He’s going to talk about how you can find the right person to produce your music.
Gee Whizz
8:30pm-10:30pm Comedy at Kaleidoscope
Come and see Gee Whizz perform. He’s the funniest stand-up comedian on the comedy scene. This joyful show will please everyone, from the youngest to the oldest. Gee Whizz really knows how to make you laugh! Our bar is open from 7:00pm for drinks and snacks (快餐).
Simon’s Workshop
5:00pm-7:30pm Wednesdays at Victoria Stage
This is a good chance for anyone who wants to learn how to do comedy. The workshop looks at every kind of comedy, and practices many different ways of making people laugh. Simon is a comedian and actor who has 10 years’ experience of teaching comedy. His workshops are exciting and fun. An evening with Simon will give you the confidence to be funny.
Charlotte Stone
8:00pm-11:00pm Pizza World
Fine food with beautiful jazz music; this is a great evening out. Charlotte Stone will perform songs from her new best-selling CD, with James Pickering on the piano. The menu is Italian, with excellent meat and fresh fish, pizzas and pasta (面食). Book early to get a table. Our bar is open all day, and serves cocktails, coffee, beer, and white wine.
1.Who can help you if you want to have your music produced?
A. Jules Skye.B. Gee Whizz.
C. Charlotte Stone.D. James Pickering.
2.At which place can people of different ages enjoy a good laugh?
A. The Cyclops Theatre.B. Kaleidoscope.
C. Victoria Stage.D. Pizza World.
3.What do we know about Simon’s Workshop?
A. It requires membership status.
B. It lasts three hours each time.
C. It is run by a comedy club.
D. It is held every Wednesday.
根据所给中文，在空格内填入适当的句子，注意语法是否正确及上下文是否连贯。
During the next Summer Olympics, 1.__________________________(比以往任何时候都多的运动员将作为竞赛者被接纳). This may cause problems for the host city. Only by taking special measures 2.__________________________(主办城市才能避免这些问题). 3.____________________(所有的赛事将提前被广而告之) so visitors can buy the tickets for the events they want to see earlier. The old rules and regulations(规则) for the athletes will be replaced with new ones. Many trips and visits will be organized for 4.__________________(希望参加的那些竞争者). We know that the athletes deserve to have all the care and attention we can offer them. 5.__________________(毫无疑问，他们将向我们展示他们的技术和友谊).
Frederick William I, the King of Prussia, 1.____________ that his greatest gift to the Russian people would have 2.______________. This gift was the Amber room, which was given this name because several tons of amber were used to make it. The amber 3.___________ had a beautiful yellow-brown colour like honey. The design of the room was 4.___________ popular in those days. It was also a treasure5.________, which took the country’s artists about ten years to make.
