D. The use of We or I will give speakers themselves quite different senses?

28. In which section of a magazine can yoread the passage?

A. Nature and Art B. Sport and Health

C. Science and Technology D. Culture and SocietyC

The modern open office was originally designed for team building but now it is mostly distinguished by its high noise levels and lack of privacy.?

The noise of the open office is one of employees’ chief complaints, and research shows that the constant noise can actually destroy our motivation. In a study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, 40 female workers suffered from open - plan office noise for three hours. Another group experienced three hours of blessed quiet. Afterwards, both groups were given puzzles which had no

solution. The participants who’ d been treated to a quiet work setting kept working hard at the puzzles, while the participants who’ d stood the noisy conditions gave up after fewer attempts.?

Look around any open - plan office today and yowill see that many workers deal with this problem by wearing earplugs or headphones. Although it might seem that importing one’ s own noise wouldn’ t be much of a solution, experts say that this approach could be effective in at least one aspect.

Another frequent complaint is the lack of privacy in an open office. Designers and managers believed that workers would be more likely to have casual conversations that can inspire new ideas. However, research shows conversations among employees in open offices tend to be short and skin - deep.?

The original promoters also hoped that the setting would make co - workers available to help one other. That’ s great for the help seeker; not so great for the help giver who has her own work to do.?

29. What was the original purpose of open - plan offices?

A. To spare more room. B. To promote cooperation?

C. To reduce work stress. D. To save office expenses?

30. What’ s experts’ opinion about wearing earplugs?

A. It will make more noise. B. It destroy workers’ motivation?

C. It is helpful in a way. D. It will fix the problem completely?

31. What can we learn about open offices?

A. Conversations seldom lead to creativity?

B. They create more sincere communicating opportunities?

C. Help seekers are disturbed too much?

D. Help givers enjoy more respect?D

Up to 60 Shanghai maths teachers are to be brought to England to raise the UK maths teachers’ standards, in an exchange arranged by the Department for Education. The announcement comes as a campaign that is launched to raise adult maths skills. A survey of 2, 300 adults for the numeracy campaign found that over a third thought their level of maths had held them back. An accompanying economic analysis said that a lack of maths skills cost the UK 20 billion pounds per year.?

The plan to bring 60 English - speaking maths teachers from Shanghai is an attempt to learn from a city that has been the top performance in the OECD’ s Pisa tests. The OECD says that children of poor families in Shanghai are on average better at maths than middle class children in the UK. The Shanghai teachers, expected to arrive from the autumn, will help share their teaching methods, support pupils who are struggling and help to train other teachers.?

“ We have some smart maths teachers in this country but what I saw in Shanghai - and other Chinese cities - has only strengthened my belief that we can learn from them, ” said education minister, Elizabeth Truss, who has recently visited Shanghai, accompanied by head teachers from England. “ They have a can - do attitude to maths - and I want us to match that, and their performance. ” She stressed the economic significance of raising maths standards, for individuals and the country. “ As part of our long term economic plan, we are determined to drive up standards in our schools and give our young people the skills they need to succeed in the global race. Good maths qualifications have the greatest earning potential and provide the strongest protection against unemployment, ” said Elizabeth Truss.?

32. Poor maths skills have caused serious consequences in England.?

A. academic B. economic C. culture D. political

33. What is the main reason for Shanghai teachers’ success in maths teaching?

A. Their students are from poor families?

B. Their students have a talent for maths?

C. They have a positive attitude to teaching?

D. They teach in a highly developed city?

34. According to Elizabeth Truss, raising standards can be helpful in ?

A. equipping young people with global competitiveness

B. promoting the students’ international test performance

C. teaching how to earn money in the global market

D. discovering one’ s maths talents at an early age

35. What can be the best title for the passage?

A. Good Maths Skills Are about Hard Work

B. Why Are English Maths Standards Left Behind?

C. Why Are Shanghai Maths Teachers Getting Popular?