(A)

　　Our sense of smell, which we normally take for granted, is nowadays being increasingly used for purposes which might surprise us if we realized them.

　　One area in which smells are created to achieve particular results is marketing. For some time producers have taken advantage of our sense of smell with regard to household goods.

　　When pleasant, smells are passed through a store's air conditioning system, people tend to spend more time in the store and buy more. For example, the smell of chocolate is used in sweet stores, while the smell of leather and perfume are used in clothes stores.

　　In a test, people looked at the same types of shoes in two rooms-one filled with purified air, the other with a smell of mixed flowers. Eighty-four percent of the people preferred the shoes in the room with the smell of flowers. In fact, many said they would have paid up to US $10 more for a pair.

　　Smells also have other uses. Research has shown that certain smells can help to calm anxious people and increase their feeling of safety. Smells such as that of flowers and pine forests might therefore be used to relax patients in doctors' and dentists' waiting rooms, and to make the environment more pleasant and less stressful to them.

　　Some companies are experimenting with different smells to produce different effects on their workers according to the time of day.

　　For example, early in the morning they might put the smell of lemon in the air conditioning system to wake people up. In the middle of the morning, when the atmosphere tends to become more tense, the smell of wood could be used to calm people down. Before lunchtime the smell of melting butter would encourage people to go to lunch on time. After lunch, when people often begin to lose attention, the smell of mint would increase their watchfulness.

　　While some of these uses of smells may be helpful and effective, not everyone would agree with their use to control customers in stores. It has been suggested by consumers' organizations that one way to avoid this new subconscious (无意识) pressure to buy is to go shopping when people are less likely to be influenced by smells.

　　(Words:384; Time:6′30″)

　　1. We can conclude from the text that ______.

　　A. smells are widely used in different shops

　　B. different smells can keep people feel happy

　　C. smells are effective if used in suitable cases

　　D. hospitals take advantages of the sense of smell

　　2. What kind of smell is effective when the students are having a lesson according to the text?

　　A. Butter.B. Leather. C. Wood. D. Mint.

　　3. The 4th paragraph proves that________.

　　A. pleasant smells attract people's attention to stores

　　B. people prefer the shoes with the smell of different flowers

　　C. right smells increase people's view of the value of a product

　　D. people want to pay more money because of good smells

　　4. What does the underlined word "them" in paragraph 5 refer to?

　　A. patients B. doctors C. smells D. waiting rooms

　　(B)

　　Everywhere you will always find "the white-haired boy", sometimes called "the fair haired boy". He gets special treatment, as if he were above everybody else. You will find him in school , in college, at home, or where you work.

　　In school, he is the teacher's pet, her darling who can do nothing wrong. Sometimes she lets him do little jobs for her. He comes to class in the morning, all shiny and clean. He is always raising his hand, ready with an answer to the teacher's questions. And he knows all the answers. He "gets into your hair", especially if you are at the bottom of the class and the teacher thinks you are stupid. How you hate the white- haired boy!

　　In college, he walks-more often strides-across the school grounds as if he owned them. Sometimes he wears a colorful football or basketball shirt or sweater, with a bright red, or green or yellow college letter proudly worn on the front of it-such as a big B, for Bullfinch University.

　　What broad shoulders, what muscles he has! He makes the girls happy by just smiling at them. He has the mark of success on him.

　　At home, "the fair-haired boy" is mother's choice, her favorite. Sometimes, he is the oldest son-at times, the youngest. If you are in between, you are out of luck.

　　On the job, you might meet another of these "white-haired boys"; you cannot escape him.

　　For some strange reason, he is the man who always moves ahead. He gets better and better jobs, with more and more money. But you stand still, wondering why, and trying to explain to yourself why you hate him so much.

　　Then, you discover that there are others who share your feelings-ready to "let their hair down"-to tell you their private thoughts. One of them asks: "What does he have that I haven't got?" You ask yourself the same question.

　　Finally, there comes a day when you decide to stop hating him. Is it perhaps because he has been made boss and you find yourself working for him?

　　(Words:362; Time:6′)

　　5. From the passage we learn that "the white-haired boy" refers to________.

　　A. a child who is mother's favorite

　　B. a student who is always the best

　　C. a pet who is hated by everybody

　　D. a person who is lucky all the time

　　6. What does the underlined sentence in paragraph 2 mean?

　　A. He sets a shining example to you.

　　B. He makes you a little angry.

　　C. He cuts your hair too short.

　　D. He does up your hair.

　　7. In the author's opinion, the reason why you finally stop hating the "white-haired boy" is that________.

　　A. you have no choice but to face the facts

　　B. you decide to try your best to be better than him

　　C. you have been made boss by him

　　D. you are beginning to admire him

　　8. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

　　A. Try to Be Attractive

　　B. Let Your Hair Down

　　C. The White-haired Boy

　　D. The Top Student

　　(文/张贵福；英语通高三版2004年第3期；版权归英语辅导报社所有，独家网络合作伙伴新浪教育，未经许可，不得以任何形式进行转载。)