The International Labor Organization says the number of people without jobs is increasing. In its latest update on global employment trends, the agency says projections of the number of unemployed people this year range from 210 million to nearly 240 million people. The
report warns that 200 million poor workers are at risk of joining the ranks of people living on less than 2 dollars per day in the past three years. The director general of the International Labor Organization Juan Somavia notes that some countries have taken measures to address the effects of the global crisis.
However, he points out that many countries have not done so. And based on past experiences, it takes four to five years after economic recovery for unemployment to return to pre-crisis levels. Mr. Somavia says the International Labor Organization is proposing a global jobs' agreement to deal with unemployment. 'It's key objective is to play so the center of recovery efforts, measures that would generate high levels of employment and provide basic social protection for the most vulnerable.'
Q1. What is the news report mainly about?
Q2. What does, Juan Somavia, the director general of the International Labor Organization say?
News Report 2
Big fast food chains in New York City have started to obey a
first of its kind rule, requiring them to post calorie counts right on the menu. Cathy Nurses is with the New York City department of health, 'We wanted to give people an opportunity to actually see the calories before they purchased the food and make a decision and inform decision. That if they want to make their healthier choice, if they want to eat fewer calories they can. And we expect this will have a huge impact on obesity. And of course, if it has an impact on obesity, it will have an impact on diabetes and heart disease and high blood pressure. 'The new rules will introduce as a part of anti-obesity campaign. That also includes a recent citywide ban and artificial trans-fats in restaurant
food. The menu roll only applies to restaurants that serve standardized potion sizes and have fifty more locations nationwide. Starting last Saturday, chains big enough to fall under the rule will face penalties about 2000 dollars for not showing calorie information in a prominent spot on their menus preferably next to the price.
Q3. What are big fast food chains in New York City require to do according to the new rule?
Q4. What would happen to big restaurant chains that violate the new rule?
News Report 3
Almost all companies recognize the importance of innovation today. But not many are able to integrate innovation into their business.
A commentary in the Shanghai Daily points out that innovation doesn't mean piles of documents. It is something more practical. The article says many people tend to assume that innovation just means creating something new, but actually it's more than that. It's an
attitude of doing things. A company should find ways to innovate not
just in products but also in functions, business models and processes.
The article cites the global giant Procter & Gamble as an example, saying a real innovative company should develop an innovation culture and use it as a primary tool for success. Procter & Gamble has a “Corporate Innovation Fund” which offers big rewards for high-risk ideas that succeed. It also has a special innovation facility for its employees. Sometimes its employees are released from their daily jobs
for weeks and spend their time interacting in the innovation facility instead. In conclusion, the article sa
ys innovative ideas alone do not ensure success. It's pointless unless there is a repeatable process in place to turn inspiration into financial performance.
Q5. What is the problem with many companies according to the news report?
Q6. What do many people tend to think of innovation?
Q7. What does the company Procter & Gamble owe its success to?
Conversation One
M: So, Linzy, do you like to text message on your cell phone?
W: Yeah, I text message a lot.
四级听力M: I don't do it so much. I prefer to make a call if I'm in a hurry.
W: Yeah, I go both ways. Sometimes I don’t really want to talk to the person. I just want to ask them one question, so it's much easier for me just to text message. If I call them, I'll have to have a long conversation.
M: Yeah, I can see what you mean. But I get off the phone pretty quickly when I call. I'm not a big talker.
W: Yeah, that's true. You don't talk a lot.
M: So are you fast at writing the messages with your thumb?
W: Well, when I first got a cell phone, I was so slow. I thought I would never text message. But then people kept text messaging me, so I felt obliged to learn how to text message. So now I'm pretty fast. What about you?
M: Actually I have the opposite problem. When I first got my
cell phone, I thought it was so cool to text message all my friends who have one, and I was pretty fast with my thumb then. But it seems like now I don't use it so much, I've got slower actually.
W: Yeah, I think text messaging actually is what you have to do with your age. For example, people in high school, they text message a lot. But I ask my father if he texted messages, and guess what he said?
M: What?
W: He said he'd never text message. He thinks it's very childish and unprofessional to text message.
M: Yeah, I can see what he means. It's considered pretty informal to text message to someone.
Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you've just heard.
Q8: What does the man say about himself?
Q9: What does the woman tend to do while she is on the phone?
Q10: Why did the man text message all his friends when he first got his cell phone?
Q11: What does the woman's father think of text messaging?
Conversation Two
W: Good morning, Mr. Johnson. How can I help you?
M: Well, I'd like to talk to you about Tim Bond, the department manager.
W: What seems to be the problem?
M: Well, ever since Sandra left the department, I feel like I've been targeted to do all her work as well as mine. I'm expected to attend too many meetings and I seem to be spending a lot of my time doing unnecessary paper work.
W: I'm sorry to hear that.
M: And, on top of that, I'd specifically asked if I could leave early last Friday as I done a lot of overtime during the week. But that afternoon, even though I'd finished my assigned work, I was told to help other colleagues finish their work, too.
W: But surely that's a positive sign showing that Mr. Bond has a lot of trust in you.
M: Yes, but other colleagues get to leave early, and they don't have such a lot of work to do.
W: So you feel he's really making unrealistic demands on you?
M: Yes, absolutely.
W: Have you approached Mr. Bond about this particular problem?
M: I've tried, but it seems like he just has no time for me.
W: Well, at this stage, it would be better if you approached him directly. If nothing else showing that you've tried to solve the problem yourself before you take it further. Makes it clear that you're just not a complainer. Why don't you send an email requesting a meeting with him in private?
M: Hmm, I've been a bit worried about his reaction. But anyway
I'll send him an email to request a meeting, and I'll see what happens from there. Thanks for your advice.
W: Good luck. And let us know the outcome.
Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you've just heard.
Q12. What do we learn about the man from the conversation?
Q13. What is the man's chief complaint?
Q14. How does the woman interpret the fact that the man was asked to help his colleagues with their work?
Q15. What did the woman advise the man to do?
Passages
Passage One
The massive decline in sleep happened so slowly and quietly that few seemed to notice the trend. Was it because of the growing attraction of the Internet, video games and endless TV channels? Never disconnecting from work? No matter how it happened, millions of Americans are putting their health, quality of life and even length of life in danger.
New evidence shows why getting enough sleep is a top priority. Some 40% of Americans get less than 7 hours of shut-eye on week nights. "The link between sleep and health, and bad sleep and disease is becoming clearer and clearer." says Lawrence Alberstaine, a sleep expert at Harvard University. For example, sleep duration has declined from some 8 hours in the 1950s to 7 in recent years. At the same time, high blood pressure has become an increasing problem. Blood pressure and heart rate are typically at their lowest levels during sleep. People who
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