Ques: Read the article and select the best answer. Article: Ten years ago, Dalla-Camina worked 16 to 18 hours a day and"literally lived on a plane". A senior executive at IBM, Dalla-Camina gave up her job handling a $ 50 million budget as head of marketing to figure out a lifestyle that didn't make her feel like she was drowning. Forget the ideal of"having it all". Despite working for a company that gave her flexibility with her schedule, the single mother was barely surviving. Dalla-Camina had a sense that she wasn't alone. Her new study now proves it. The Australian native polled 1,000 American working women aged 18 to 55 and the results are discouraging. Roughly 70% of women don't believe they have the support to make themselves happy inside and outside of work and 75% don't believe they can"have it all". In fact, over half of respondents described their life in the past year as"hanging on by a thread". What's more is that the results are hardly affected by age or whether a woman had children or not. "The fact that we are having discussions about leaning in when women are saying they are barely surviving is astonishing,"Dalla-Camina says."There are so many women who think that if they keep their head down and continue working hard, someone will notice and opportunities will come to them." Dalla-Camina's study points to a severe gap between what working professionals need from their employers and what employers are providing. A recent Boston College study discovered that workplace flexibility is decreasing and less than one-third of employers felt they gave options for employees to have alternative work models. Even if a company offers flexible work arrangements to employees, 70% of women think it's not possible to be successful in work and home. Too many companies are stuck in a face-to-face employee model as opposed to an outcome-based model, says Dalla-Camina. Until alternative work plans like working part-time or working from home become rooted in the DNA of corporate America -- as opposed to being viewed as special treatment -- nothing will change, she... Question: The expectations of women professionals are hard to meet in that . Options: A: the life-work balance is difficult to achieve B: most employers have prejudice against them C: the old work model is rooted in many companies D: many employers can't spot the great potential of them
Ans: C

Ques: Read the article and select the best answer. Article: We all need a vacation, whether with the entire family or your significant other. Unfortunately, many of us will not be able to follow through with vacation plans. But now, there is an alternative that is catching on rather quickly and it is called a "Staycation". A staycation is just what it sounds like, a vacation but you stay at home. It might not sound interesting, but you can turn it into a fun and relaxing getaway. Tell family and friends your plans. In their eyes you are truly on vacation and they only need to contact you in case of an emergency. Go outside; don't let the kids sleep all day. Go out and birdwatch, go fishing, explore the parks and nature, take in all you can of the outside world. You can even have a relaxing day at the beach, soak in some sun, and let the kids go swimming. Go on a picnic; have the kids fly kites. Bring some bubbles, and have a nice day with the wind blowing in your hair. Watch as the kids run and play and enjoy the beautiful outdoors. Camping is another fun way to have a staycation. If you have a camping ground in your area, you can go camping for a day or two and show the kids how it is to live right in the heart of Mother Nature. Just remember, it really doesn't matter where you decide to go, whether home or away. As long as you create quality time with your family you can strengthen the _ that may have been pushed aside during all the long stressful work hours. Time is the most important thing you can give to your husband, wife and kids, enjoying every moment together, and you will have lasting memories in your hearts. Question: You should tell family and friends your plans so that _ . Options: A: they will fully support you B: they will take care of your house C: they will contact you only when necessary D: they can help you make preparations
Ans: C

Ques: Read the article and select the best answer. Article: Anne Nelson has no doubts when she's arguing with a salesman over the price of a car. She first checks car prices and does some research and then adopts a take-it-or-leave-it attitude. That helped her get 15 percent knocked off the price of a used BMW. But what about asking for a discount on vegetables at the grocery store? Or bargaining for a better rate for a hotel room? To some, maybe the very thought of doing these is terrifying. Bargaining was once considered an old art only done in old world markets. But, this ancient form is spreading rapidly in modern day America, experts say. This is thanks to a weakened economy, a decrease in consumer spending, and most of all, plenty of choices of products and sellers. Experts say that a growing number of people are starting to realize once again that a price tag is merely just a starting point for negotiations. "People want better deals. As economic times have got more difficult, they're no longer afraid to ask for _ , "says Britt Beemer, chairman of the Charleston, South Carolina travel information and planning office. Experts say that spend-thrift sensibility shouldn't be limited to big ticket items such as homes and cars. Rick Doble, editor of savvy-discounts.com, says he bargains over everything: hotel rooms, electronics, and even food. "Nine times out of 10, when you ask, you'll get a better deal, " Doble says. "Companies know they have to be prepared to offer the best deal these days, "says Steven Cohen, founder of the Negotiation Skills Co. in Massachusetts. "Because consumers have a huge amount of choice, bargaining is becoming more experienced and clever, especially over the Internet. " Question: Experts think that people should bargain over _ . Options: A: almost everything they want to buy or use B: some big ticket items C: second-hand cars or old houses D: very expensive things
Ans:
A