Workplaces all over the UK are preparing for Christmas and all the traditions and customs that come with it. But will Christmas be a cause for happiness and celebration or embarrassment and disappointment? One way that colleagues in Britain show their appreciation of each other at this time of year is by doing "Secret Santa" present giving. At that time, people who work together buy each other gifts without saying whom they are from. Co-workers all write their names on a piece of paper and then organize a lottery in which each workmate takes another colleague's name at random . Each person then has to buy a present for the colleague whose name they have picked, usually with an agreed price set at a small amount of money such as five or ten pounds. As the gifts are given without knowing the names of the gift givers, the quality of the presents can be very different; gifts that people received are from tickets to the opera to an air-freshener for a car. Another common seasonal workplace tradition is the office Christmas party, when workmates put on their most attractive clothes and enjoy lots of free wine. Although most parties are held _ , sometimes the effects of alcohol cause party goers to regret their drunken antics . The BBC invited people to share their most embarrassing Christmas office party stories, and received hundreds of funny stories, such as the man who split his trousers back to front with his strange dance moves or the drunken lady who spent the entire night with back of her dress tucked into her pants and saw the photos that proved it later at work. But the worst story must surely come from Stuart Vaines, who got so drunk that he put his boss's head into the toilet. Unsurprisingly, he lost his job the very next day. Which of the following might be the best title for the text? A) Office Parties at Christmas B) Happiness from Office Parties C) Celebrations in Workplaces at Christmas D) Funny Stories from Office Parties
C
(Question)
Disneyland may look like a straightforward theme park. But there's a secret world hidden behind the balloons, castles and cotton candy -- a place where wild cats wander at midnight, Mickey Mouse hides in the wallpaper, and movie stars drink martinis behind closed doors. Cat security -- It's not easy keeping the ground of Disneyland spotless, as well as free of unwanted pests. Every night after closing time, 200 wild cats were freed into the park to help keep the rodent population under control. Though Disney doesn't comment on the matter, rumor has it that the cat taskforce dates back to 1957. After unsuccessful attempts to chase them out of the park, Disney decided to put the cats to work instead. Hidden Mickeys--At Disneyland the round-eared Mickey Mouse image is everywhere. But you can also see hundreds of "Hidden Mickeys" across the park, which are very difficult to spot: they're camouflage in the architecture and landscaping as well as in the smallest stylistic details. Cocktail behind closed doors-- _ unless you can manage to get your name on the list at Club 33. The secret cocktail club has a limited membership of just 487 and a waiting list of approximately 14 years. Walt Disney designed the club as a special space to entertain possible investors; since then, it has hosted US presidents, film stars and foreign guests. Always on stage--At Disneyland, a doorman isn't a doorman, he is a "cast member". So are the large numbers of cashiers, painters, ride operators, gardeners and performers. All "cast members" are trained to follow a specific rule that helps preserve the Disney magic. On the list of dos and don'ts? Never break character. If wearing a costume that belongs in Fantasyland, don't set foot in Tomorrowland--it might Confuse visitors or break the park's orderly image. Cast members have a Disney "look book" that details the fresh-faced ideal--no long fingernails, beards, or unnaturally colored hair allowed. It's a return to Walt Disney's All-American standards: when the park opened even guests... From the passage we can know that in Disneyland "Hidden Mickeys" are _ . A) small B) obvious C) everywhere D) dishonest
(Answer)
C
Ques: lt's a dog's life for the nation's mutts - who are becoming anxious and aggressive through lack of play, experts fear. A study of 4,000 dog owners has found a clear link between limited playtime and behaviour problems, such as being nervous when left alone, disobedience and snapping at other animals. And while researchers can't be sure that playing less is directly to blame, they say that games provide vital intellectual stimulation and exercise. The Bristol University study showed that only one in five owners play with their dogs six times a day. Half play two or three times a day and 10 per cent have just one play session. Mark Evans, former chief vet for the RSPCA, said that dogs are one of the few animals to play into adulthood. He told the Sunday Times: 'There is a clear association in the results. Owners report more potential behaviour problems in dogs that play less.' Emily Blackwell -- who conducted the research uncovered tonight on Channel 4's Dogs: Their Secret Lives - said dogs often enjoy playing so much that they slow down or change strategy to make the fun last longer. The lecturer in canine welfare hopes that 10,000 people will eventually fill out the survey. This will enable her to firmly establish whether lack of play is affecting dogs' moods - or if their emotional problems put their owners off spending time with them. For instance,they may slow down when playing 'chase', allowing their owner to catch up with them and the game to continue. Favourite games include wrestling, chase and tugging at toys, and perhaps unsurprisingly,'fetch' topped the list. Tennis balls were the favourite toys, followed by soft, squeaky toys, rubber balls and rope toys. The research comes just days after an animal charity warned that millions of dogs are becoming fat. aggressive and destructive because their owners are clueless about basic animal care.The PDSA said that treats including beer, chips and leftover takeaways are making dogs fat and unwell - and wamed that almost a million are never taken for a walk. If the dogs are not looked after carefully, _ . A) they may become rebelling and damaging B) they may get hurt and run away from home C) they may become less active and dislike playing with the owners D) they are more likely to fight with other animals
Ans: A
Ques: Being that I worked in a grocery store for 7 years, I know quite a bit about impulsive purchases. In fact, I helped (sadly to say) push certain products by placing them in a certain fashion. Through said experience, I tend to know some of the best ways to counter the impulsive nature of buying things that are unnecessary. The following is a 3- point list to counter the need to buy something shoved in your face... Don't bring the kids. You wouldn't believe (or maybe you parents would) how much more junk parents buy for their kids that is completely impulsive. Working as a checker at a grocery store, I quickly learned that most of the time kids were with their parents, the parents would buy something else within 10 feet of the check stand. Bring exact cash. I like to use my debit card because I am able to track every penny better, but holding and letting go of cash is much tougher for me personally. So, if I am going through a tough time budgeting properly, I will bring the allotted amount of cash to the place of business and only allow that to be used. Ignore salesman. If you are at a department store and someone asks if you need help, try to ignore their push as much as possible. Sure, if you know nothing about laptops, get their advice, but even then I suggest doing your research pre-shop. Salesman could care less what you want. It's all about what their quota or commission is. Ignore them. Which statement about the passage is WRONG? A) Parents always bring something else for their children. B) The author will bring the exact cash to buy things when going through a tough time. C) Salesmen care much about what you want, so you can follow their advice. D) The author worked in a grocery store for 7 years.
Ans:
C