2010/12/15 10:09:00 浏览：2040 来源：武汉家教网
A
Nothing says love like a dozen long?stemmed roses on Valentine’s Day. More than a million roses will be sold during this festival for lovers, the biggest day of the year for the nation’s rose industry. It’s going to remain the most popular flower because love never goes out of style.
Yes, a rose is a rose. But selling them is no longer a beautiful experience for traditional flower shops. Supermarkets now offer convenience to the busy and discount(打折) rose shops help those hopelessly in love save money. Roses only is a good example of a discount rose retailer(零售商、零售店) that was transformed from a traditional shop to answer the challenge in the 90s.
Inside this store on Sixth Avenue near 40th Street, contemporary white furniture and wall?to ?wall mirrors give it an expensive look. Customers move about freely among the counters, looking eagerly at the roses in more than 50 colors from shelf to shelf. Some customers say it’s the high quality of the roses that attracts them there. “I spent $ 20 but the flowers looked like I paid 60 or 70 dollars,” says one customer.
Studies show more people are buying roses in ones, two and threes these days. In fact, more than half of all roses are sold in bunches of fewer than a dozen. But Roses Only’s low prices encourage people to spend. Even on Valentine’s Day, when the price of a dozen roses and delivery can soar as high as $150, 12 of Roses Only’s most expensive flowers sell for just $35. The company’s key to success is to hold prices down by controlling every link in the rose chain. It grows its own roses in the sunshine of the Andes Mountains. In addition, the company also sells other items such as balloons and stuffed animals.
While discount rose retailers are witnessing their business bloom, U.S. rose growers aren’t able to compete with the fierce foreign competition. More than 57% of roses sold in the USA are grown in other countries. The biggest foreign producers are Colombia and Ecuador, which accounted for almost 90% of the total imported last year. The trend has hurt domestic rose growers such as Johnson Flowers of California, considered to be this country‘s leading producer.
Now, instead of fighting overseas rivals, the Johnsons are trying to work with them. “We have a few big fighting overseas rivals, the Johnsons are trying to work with them. “We may also widen our business to include the service area and be a representative for overseas flower producers.”
As a result of severe competition, those in the rose business long for the good old days, whereas ordinary people benefit from the low price.
1. What is the central theme of this text?
A. The US rose business is going from bad to worse in spite of the efforts made.
B. The rose will remain the most popular flower as love never goes out of date.
C. The rose business is trying to meet the challenges in the market to succeed.
D. The rose industry plays an important role in American economy.
2. How does Roses Only obtain success in the discount rose retailing field?
A. By setting up more chain stores across the country.
B. By selling roses in supermarkets.
C. By selling high quality roses at a low price.
D. By selling roses by the dozen.
3. Which of the following shows the structure of the passage? ( ① to ⑦ represent paragraphs 1 to 7)
4. After reading the passage, we learn all of the following EXCEPT ________.
A. Selling roses is no longer as easy for traditional flower shops as it was.
B. Almost 90% of roses sold in US are imported from Colombia and Ecuador.
C. US rose growers are faced with intense foreign competition.
D. the Johnsons are trying to co-operate with foreign competitors instead of fighting them.
B
With a loud “Hem!” and a long breath, Jo began to read very fast. The girls listened with interest, for the tale was romantic, and somewhat sad, as most of the characters died in the end. “I like that about the splendid picture,” was Amy’s approving remark, as Jo paused.
“I prefer the romance part. Viola and Angelo are two of our favorite names, isn’t that odd?” said Meg, wiping her eyes, for the romance part was tragical.
“Who wrote it?” asked Beth, who had caught a glimpse of Jo’s face.
The reader suddenly sat up, cast away the paper, displaying a reddened face, and with a funny mixture of seriousness and excitement replied in a loud voice, “Your sister.”
“You?” cried Meg, dropping her work.
“It’s very good,” said Amy critically.
“I knew it! I knew it! Oh, my Jo, I am so proud!” And Beth ran to hug her sister over this splendid success.
Dear me, how delighted they all were, to be sure! How Meg wouldn’t believe it till she saw the words. “Miss Josephine March,” actually printed in the paper. How graciously Amy criticized the artistic parts of the story, and offered hints for the series, which unfortunately couldn’t be carried out, as the hero and heroine were dead. How Beth got excited and skipped and sang with joy. How proud Mrs. March was when she knew it. How Jo laughed, with tears in her eyes, as she declared she might as well be a peacock and done with it and how the ‘Spread Eagle’ might be said to beat his wings triumphantly over the House of March, as the paper passed from hand to hand.
“Tell us about it.” “When did it come?” “How much did you get for it?” “What will Father say?” “Won’t Laurie laugh?” cried the family, all in one breath as they surrounded Jo, for these foolish, affectionate people made a jubilee(狂欢) of every little household joy.
“Be quiet, girls, and I’ll tell you everything,” said Jo, wondering if Miss Burney felt any grander over her Evilina than she did over her ‘Rival Painters’. Having told how she disposed(处理) of her tales, Jo added, “And when I went to get my answer, the man said he liked them both, but didn’t pay beginners, only let them print in his paper, and noticed the stories. It was good practice, he said, and when the beginners improved, anyone would pay. So I let him have the two stories, and today this was sent to me, and Laurie caught me with it and insisted on seeing it, so I let him. And he said it was good, and I shall write more, and he’s going to get the next paid for, and I am so happy, for in time I may be able to support myself and help the girls.”
Jo’s breath gave out here, and wrapping her head in the paper, she wetted her little story with a few natural tears, for to be independent and earn the praise of those she loved were the dearest wishes of her heart, and this seemed to be the first step toward that happy end.
5. Why did Meg wipe her eyes after Jo read the story?
A. Because the story was quite an interesting one.
B. Because she was excited at her sister's success.
C. Because of her favorite names Viola and Angelo.
D. Because the story was tragically romance.
6. Who is Miss Josephine March according to the passage?
A. Meg. B. Beth. C. Jo. D. Amy.
7. The underlined word "triumphantly" probably means ________.
A. joyfully with great success or victory
B. bravely against difficulties or hardships
C. vigorously with great strength and courage
D. confidently with support from others
8. How much did the paper pay her according to the passage?
A. None. B. Much. C. A little. D. Unknown.
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Public schools are different from private schools. Public schools receive most of their funds from the state or federal (联邦的) government, while private schools rely on private sources, such as donations (捐款) and organizations for their funding. Most public schools are managed by local governments, but private schools are under the control of a private body or a charitable trust (慈善基金.).
In the United States, public school education is more common than private school education, and about 90 percent of children attend public schools. Basically, there are three stages in a public school, namely, primary or elementary school (kindergarten to 5th grade), middle school or junior high school (6th to 8th grade) and high school or secondary school (9th to 12th grade).
Compared with private schools, public schools have certain educational problems, one of which is the larger school size and student population. According to a study, public schools have an average of 16 students per teacher, but private schools have an average of 13 students per teacher. So students of public schools receive less individual attention than private school students.
Public schools cannot refuse any student who has applied for admission. Sometimes, this may result in a slow learning pace for the talented students. However, private schools have full authority to reject (拒绝) a student who isn’t up to the mark. Therefore, many a time, private schools perform better in standardized achievement tests.
Despite some educational problems, there are certain advantages of public school education. The student populace (大众) is more in public schools. The students are exposed to various kinds of people from different socio-economic backgrounds, and they are taught how to get along with people. Also a study has shown that students of public schools get better grades in college than those in private schools.
Therefore, before sending your child to any of the schools, it’s always better to compare private schools and public schools. You can choose a school which will best meet your child’s interests and suit his or her abilities.
(1) ________
Public schools
● Receive most of their (2) _______ from the state or federal government.
● Be managed by local governments.
Private schools
● Rely on (3) ________ sources like donations and
organizations, for their funding.
● Be controlled by a private body or a charitable trust.
Stages Primary or elementary school-- (4) ________ to 5th grade
Middle school or junior high school --- 6th to 8th grade
High school or secondary school --- 9th to 12th grade
Problems
of public
schools
● Make the students receive (5) ________ individual attention due to the larger school size and student population.
● Result in a slow learning pace for the (6) ________ students due to accepting all the students regardless of their talent.
● Perform (7) ________ in standardized achievement tests than private schools.
Advantages
of public
schools
● (8) ________ the students to various kinds of people from different socio-economic backgrounds.
● Teach the students how to get along with people.
● Enable the students to (9) ________ better in college.
Conclusion (10) ________ private schools with public schools can help you choose a proper school for your child.
