These feelings of insecurity and self-doubt are both unavoidable and necessary if we are to change and grow. We will 39 to grow, if we do not confront and overcome these internal fears and doubts, and if we protect ourselves too much. We become 40 inside a shell of our own making.

III. Reading Comprehension

Section A

Directions: For each blank in the following passage there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context.

To Apologize or Not to Apologize

Why difficult?

When we do wrong to someone we know, even not 41 , we are generally expected to apologize so as to improve the situation. But when we’re acting as leaders, the circumstances are 42 . The act of apology is carried out not merely at the level of the

43 but also at the level of the institution. It is a performance in which every word or expression 44 , as they become part of the public record. Refusing to apologize can be smart, or it can be stupid. So, readiness to apologize can be seen as a sign of strong character or as a sign of weakness.

Why now?

The question of whether leaders should apologize publicly has never been more 45 . During the last decade or so, the United States in particular has developed an apology culture—apologies of all kinds and for all sorts of wrongdoings are made far more 46 than before. More newspaper writers have written about the growing importance of 47 apologies. Meanwhile, more and more articles, advice columns, and radio and television programs have similarly dealt with the subject of 48 apologies. Although they are not carried out in the public place, we can’t neglect the importance of this performance.

Why 49 ?

Why do we apologize? Why do we ever put ourselves in situations likely to be difficult, embarrassing, and even risky? Leaders who apologize publicly could be an easy target for

50 . They are expected to appear strong and capable. And whenever they make public statements of any kind, their individual and institutional reputations are in danger. Clearly, then, leaders should not apologize often. For a leader to express apology, there needs to be a strong 51 . Leaders will publicly apologize if and when they think the costs of doing so are lower than the costs of not doing so.

Why refuse?

Why is it that leaders so often try every means to 52 apologies, even when a public apology seems to be in order? Their reasons can be individual or institutional. Because leaders are public figures, their apologies are likely to be personally uncomfortable and even 53 risky. Apologies can be signals for admitting mistakes and mistakes can be indication of job insecurity. Leaders may also be afraid that 54 of a mistake will damage or destroy the organization for which they are responsible. There can be good reasons for hanging tough (硬撑) in tough situations, as we shall see, but it is a high-risk 55 .

41. A. immediately B. intentionally C. occasionally D. accidentally

42. A. simple B. ridiculous C. abnormal D. different

43. A. individual B. company C. family D. society

44. A. conflicts B. matters C. appeals D. deceives

45. A. urgent B. possible C. necessary D. simple

46. A. interestedly B. patiently C. frequently D. hopefully

47. A. faithful B. trusty C. immediate D. public

48. A. sincere B. acceptable C. private D. positive

49. A. bother B. reduce C. regret D. ignore

50. A. promotion B. criticism C. appreciation D. identification

51. A. personality B. will C. reason D. desire

52. A. attempt B. involve C. commit D. avoid

53. A. financially B. professionally C. academically D. physically

54. A. avoidance B. admission C. involvement D. elimination

55. A. fulfillment B. statement C. occupation D. strategy

Section B

Directions: Read the following passages. Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage yohave just read.

(A)

If your in-box is currently reporting unread messages in the hundreds or thousands, yomight have a hard time believing the news: e-mail is on the decline.

At first thought, that might seem to be the case. The incoming generation, after all, doesn’t do e-mail. Oh, they might have an account. They use it only as we would use a fax machine: as a means to communicate with old-school folks like their parents or to fulfill the sign-up requirements of Web sites. They rarely check it, though.

Today’s instant electronic memos—such as texting and Facebook and Twitter messages—are more direct, more concentrated, more efficient. They go without the salutation (称呼语) and the signoff (签收); we already know the “to” and “from.” Many corporations are moving to messaging networks for exactly that reason: more signal, less noise and less time. This trend is further evidence that store-and-forward systems such as e-mail and voicemail are outdated. Instead of my leaving yoa lengthy message that yopick up later, I can now send yoan easily-read message that yocan read—and respond to—on the go.

The coming of the mobile era is responsible for the decline of e-mail. Instant written messages bring great convince to people. They can deal with them at about any time: before a movie, in a taxi, waiting for lunch. And because these messages are very brief, they’re suitable for smart phone typing.

Does this mean e-mail is on its way to the dustbin of digital history? Not necessarily. E-mail still has certain advantages. On the other hand, tweets and texts feel ephemeral—yoread them, then they’re gone, into an endless string, e-mail still feels like something yohave and that yocan file, search and return to later. It’s easy to imagine that it will continue to feel more appropriate for formal communications: agreements, important news, longer explanations.

So, e-mail won’t go away completely. Remember, we’ve been through a transition (过度) like this not so long ago: when e-mail was on the rise, people said that postal mail was dead. That’s not how it works. Postal mail found its smaller market, and so will e-mail. New technology rarely replaces old one completely; it just adds new alternatives.

56. What would the incoming generation like to do with their e-mail accounts?