11. The study of sign language is thought to be        .

        A) an approach to simplifying the grammatical structure of a language

        B) an attempt to clarify misunderstanding about the origin of language

        C) a challenge to traditional views on the nature of language

        D) a new way to look at the learning of language

12.The present growing interest in sign language was stimulated by       .

        A) a leading specialist in the study of liberal arts

        B) an English teacher in a university for the deaf

        C) some senior experts in American Sign Language

        D) a famous scholar in the study of the human brain

13. According to Stokoe, sign language is        .

         A) an international language           C) an artificial language

         B) a substandard language            D) a genuine language

14. Most educators objected to Stokoe's idea because they thought       .

         A) a language should be easy to use and understand

         B) sign language was too artificial to be widely accepted

         C) a language could only exist in the form of speech sounds

         D) sign language was not extensively used even by deaf people

15. Stokoe's argument is based on his belief that       .

          A) language is a product of the brain

          B) language is a system of meaningful codes

          C) sign language is derived from natural language

          D) sign language is as efficient as any other language

Passage Two

Questions 16 to 20 are based on the following passage.

A is for always getting to work on time.

B is for being extremely busy.

C is for the conscientious ( 勤勤恳恳的 ) way you do your job.

You may be all these things at the office, and more. But when it comes to getting ahead, experts say, the ABCs of business should include a P, for politics, as in office politics.

Dale Carnegie suggested as much more than 50 years ago: Hard work alone doesn't ensure career advancement. You have to be able to sell yourself and your ideas, both publicly and behind the scenes. Yet, despite the obvious rewards of engaging in office politics - a better job, a raise, praise- many people are still unable or unwilling - to "play the game."

"People assume that office politics involves some manipulative (工于心计的) behavior," says Deborah Comer, an assistant professor of management at Hofstra University. "But politics derives from the word 'polite'. It can mean lobbying and forming associations. It can mean being kind and helpful, or even trying, to please your superior, and then expecting something in return."

In fact, today, experts define office politics as proper behavior used to pursue one's own self-interest in the workplace. In many cases, this involves some form of socializing within the office environment - not just in large companies, but in small workplaces as well.

"The first thing people are usually judged on is their ability to perform well on a consistent basis," says Neil P. Lewis, a management psychologist. "But if two or three candidates are up for a promotion, each of whom has reasonably similar ability, a manager is going to promote the person he or she likes best. It's simple human nature."

Yet, psychologists say, many employees and employers have trouble with the concept of politics in the office. Some people, they say, have an idealistic vision of work and what it takes to succeed. Still others associate politics with flattery 奉承), fearful that, if they speak up for themselves, they may appear to be flattering their boss for favors.

Experts suggest altering this negative picture by recognizing the need for some self-promotion.

16. "Office politics" (Line 2, Para. 4) is used in the passage to refer to       .

        A) the political views and beliefs of office workers

        B) the interpersonal relationships within a company

        C) the various qualities required for a successful career

        D) the code of behavior for company staff

17. To get promoted, one must not only be competent but       .

        A) avoid being too outstanding

        B) get along well with his colleagues

        C) honest and loyal to his company

        D) give his boss a good impression

18. Why are many people unwilling to "play the game" (Line 4, Para. 5)?

         A) They are not good at manipulating colleagues.

         B) They feel that such behavior is unprincipled.

         C) They think the effort will get them nowhere.

         D) They believe that doing so is impractical.

19. The author considers office politics to be       .

         A) unwelcome at the workplace

         B) bad for interpersonal relationships

         C) an important factor for personal advancement

         D) indispensable to the development of company culture

20. It is the author's view that       .

         A) self-promotion does not necessarily mean flattery

         B) hard work contributes very little to one's promotion

         C) many employees fail to recognize the need of flattery

         D) speaking up for oneself is part of human nature

Passage Three

Questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage.

It came as something of a surprise when Diana, Princess of Wales, made a trip co Angola in 1997, to support the Red Cross's campaign for a total ban on all anti-personnel landmines. Within hours of arriving in Angola, television screens around the world were filled with images of her comforting victims injured in explosions caused by landmines. "I knew the statistics," she said. "But putting a face to those figures brought the reality home to me; like when I met Sandra, a 13- year-old girl who had lost her leg, and people like her."

The Princess concluded with a simple message: "We must stop landmines". And she used every opportunity during her visit to repeat this message.

But, back in London, her views were not shared by some members of the British government, which refused to support a ban on these weapons. Angry politicians launched an attack on the Princess in the press. They described her as "very ill-informed" and a "loose cannon (乱放炮的人) .”

The Princess responded by brushing aside the Criticisms: "This is a distraction ( 干扰) we do not need. All I'm trying to do is help."