American scientists predict a major ______ within six months.

Part II Reading Comprehension Section A Directions: Fill in the blanks with a word or a phrase that best completes the passage. You may choose a suitable one from the list given. means hired or succeeded fill in future biggest if surprised with A jobless man applied for the position of “office boy” at Microsoft. The HR manager interviewed him and said “You’re ___16___. Give me your e-mail address and I’ll send you the application to ___17___.” The man replied, “But I don’t have a computer ___18___ an email.” “I’m sorry,” said the HR manager. “If you don’t have email, that ___19___ you don’t exist. And whoever doesn’t exist, can’t have the job.” The man left with no hope at all. ___20___ only $10 in his pocket, he didn’t know what to do. Eventually he decided to go to the supermarket and buy a 10kg tomato crate. He then sold the tomatoes from door to door. In less than two hours, he ___21___ in doubling his capital. Realizing that he could survive in this way, he started to double or triple his money every day. Five years later, he is one of the ___22___ food retailers in the US. He started to plan his family’s ___23___, and called an insurance broker to choose a protection plan. When the conversation was concluded, the broker asked him for his email. The man replied, “I don’t have an email.” ___24___, the broker answered “You don’t have an email, and yet you have succeeded in building an empire. Can you imagine what you could be now ___25___ you had had an e-mail?!” The man thought for a while and replied, “Yes, I’d be an office boy at Microsoft!” 16. __________

Section C Directions: Read the following text about E-commerce. Five sentences have been removed from the text. Choose the best sentence from the list A-F on the next page to fill in each of the gaps (36-40). There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use. How E-commerce is Changing People’s Shopping Habits Even though e-commerce has been around for a long time, only 5% of all goods produced are bought online. (36)_______________. It is breaking into traditional markets more than ever before. Not just books, CDs and holiday trips are bought online, but all sort of other products and services that were unimaginable in the past. Today, more and more online shops get their customers from social networks like Facebook and mobile phones. In the past going shopping was fun, something that you did with your friends or relatives. (37)_______________.Today, Facebook and other social media networks are the driving force behind online shopping. Companies target potential customers and online communities. If they advertise their brands and products in the right way people will talk about them, and news spreads throughout the online world much quicker than in the real world. Over 75% of all customers buy products after they have read reviews about them on the Internet. (38)_______________. An American-based cosmetics company, for example, has asked female customers to exchange beauty tips via the Internet. (39)_______________. A British based firm lets users play a game with play money in which they can go and buy virtual versions of products and have their friends comment on them. The new smartphone generation is likely to have an even greater impact on online shopping. While in a real store, customers often get reviews and price comparisons directly on their mobile. (40)_______________. Even some wise purchasers would go to a nearby place where they get it for a lower price. There are even apps which show you if there is a certain product on sale within a short distance of your location. A. But e-commerce is still growing. B. Customers prefer to order products online and wait for delivery at home. C. It was once a social event. D. They ask their net friends via the Internet about quality and design of certain products. E. In many cases, they would leave the shop and buy online later. F. Companies also encourage online shoppers to play games that focus around their products. 请填入正确答案相应的大写字母！ 36. __________