Everyone knows that the Frenchmen are romantic, the Italians are fashionable and the Germans are serious. Are these just stereotypes or is there really such a thing as national character? And if there is, can it affect how a nation succeed or fail?

    At least one group of people is certain that it can. A recent survey of the top 500 entrepreneurs (企业家) in the UK found that 70% felt that their efforts were not appreciated by the British public. Britain is hostile (敌意的) to success, they said. It has a culture of jealousy(嫉妒). {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Jealousy is sometimes known as the “green – eyed monster” and the UK is its home.

    Scientists at War wich University in the UK recently tested this idea. They gathered a group of people together and gave each an imaginary amount of money.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Those given a little were given the chance to destroy the large amount of money given to others – but at the cost of losing their own. Two thirds of the people tested agreed to do this.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} . But there is also opposite evidence. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development recently reported that the UK is now the world's fourth largest economy. That is not bad for people who are supposed to hate success. People in the UK also work longer hours than anyone else in Europe. So the British people are not lazy, either.

    “It is not really success that the British dislike,” says Carey Cooper, a professor of management at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology. “It's people using their success in a way that seems proud or unfair or which separates them from their roots.”

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} They set out to do things in their way. They work long hours. By their own efforts they become millionaires. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}It hardly seems worth following their example. If they were more friendly, people would like them more. And more people want to be like them.

A. This seems to prove that the entrepreneurs were right to complain.

B. The one who owns most money in the end is the winner.

C. As a result, the survey said, entrepreneurs were “unloved, unwanted and misunderstood.”

D. It is not true that British people are born jealous of others' success.

E. Some were given a little, others a great deal.

F. But instead of being happy they complain that nobody loves them.

G. Perhaps it is the entrepreneurs who are the problem.

How to Do Man-on-the Street Interviews

    The man-on-the-street interview is an interview in which a reporter hits the streets with a cameraman to interview people on the spot.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} But with these tips, your first man-on-the-street interview experience can be easy.

    When your boss or professor sends you out to do man-on-the –street interviews for a story, think about the topic and develop a list of about ten general questions relating to it. For example, if your topic is about environmental problems in America, you might ask, “Why do you think environmental protection is important in America?”{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Hit the streets with confidence.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Say, “Excuse me, I work for XYZ News, and I was wondering if you could share your opinion about this topic,” This is a quick way to get people to warm up to you.

    Move on to the next person if someone tells you she is not interested in talking on camera. Don't get discouraged.

     {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Each interview that you get on the street shouldn't be longer than ten minutes. As soon as you get the answer you need, move on to the next person. Make sure that as you go from interview to interview, you are getting a variety of answers. If everyone is giving you the same answer, you won't be able to use it. A safe number of interviews to conduct is about six to ten.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    If your news station or school requires interviewees to sign release forms to appear on the air, don't leave work without them.

A. Limit your time.

B. As you approach people, be polite.

C. If you don't own a camera, you can buy one.

D. For new reporters, this can seem like a challenging task.

E. To get good and useful results, ask them the same question.

F. That number of interviews should give you all the answers you need.

G. With a question like this, you will get more than a ‘Yes” or “No” reply.

                                                                            Master Your Deadlines

    The struggle begins in high school, sometimes earlier. Deadlines, and lots of them, start to pile up. At college, the pressure sometimes leads to last-minute rush and unsatisfactory work. At work, failing to meet deadlines can easily get you fired.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are a few best practices.

    Assign deadlines to what matters.

    If the task isn't of high importance, don't set a specific deadline. In this way, you are able to keep it on your radar for a while without feeling pressured.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} This will provide just enough pressure to ensure you get it done.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Set a personal deadline for yourself a day or two before the actual deadline.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} If you're working with a group of people, add in even more time to account for potential follow-ups and the need for approvals.

    Keep communicating.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} This means letting others know when something is taking longer than expected, when a delivery didn't come in, when a client is not providing the necessary information, etc. Although it may feel embarrassing to admit that something is not on schedule, being honest is much better for relieving your stress.

A. Plan for flexible hours.

B. Finish your project as early as possible.

C. But if an activity is urgent, set a deadline immediately.

D. In this way, you'll never have to stay up late and feel stressed.

E. But handled properly, deadlines can actually improve productivity.

F. Whenever you feel challenged to finish work on time, communicate.

G. So if anything takes longer than expected, you can still wrap it up and submit it on time.

    Anyone studying a foreign language knows the importance of memorizing words and expressions. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} We still also tell you ways about developing a large vocabulary.

    You have probably faced a situation in which you can't remember new words. Perhaps you haven't heard the word enough times or you haven't used it for a very long time. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    The easiest way to enlarge your vocabulary is to create flashcards. The word in English can appear on one side of the card. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} By repeatedly using flashcards, you can remember more words. The important point is that you should not try cramming (突击学习) unfamiliar words if you want to have long-term learning. This method can help students on some exams. But a couple of days later you're not going to remember any of that information. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} There are several websites that can help with testing. English learners can be helped by taking free language tests, which can be of great help to show you where you need to improve.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} However, with effort, a little sacrifice, and training, you can increase your number of vocabulary words.

A. You can also try using some free online tests.

B. Building a large vocabulary is not an easy task.

C. The difficulty in remembering and using words counts.

D. A large vocabulary improves our powers of expression.

E. You need to develop a large vocabulary for language tests.

F. We will explore the reasons for developing a large vocabulary.

G. The meaning in your native language can appear on the back.

    Moving abroad cab be a challenging experience. You leave your family, friends and everything you know behind. You enter a new culture where the customs and sometimes the language are different.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} It's a time to discover new things, make new friends and begin a new adventure.

    So what are the best ways to involve yourself in the new culture while living abroad?

    Live with a native speaker

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} First, you have a friend! Living alone can be a lonely experience, especially if you're far from home. I've also had the opportunity to meet my housemate's friends and socialize with them. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} In addition, you have someone to tell you about the cultural customs and interesting places in this area.

    Volunteer

    Volunteering is a great way to meet people of different ages in your local area. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} This is a insightful(具有洞察力的)experience and speaking with homeless people about their life stories is improving my French vocabulary and understanding. I am also able to form relationships with people that I may not have met otherwise.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    The food in France is amazing and discovering new food is a fun experience. I've tried things that I've never tried before. My knowledge of the different bread and cheese types has grown greatly.

A.Try the local food

B.But it's also exciting

C. I currently cook French food for myself

D.You can speak the local language every day

E.Improve my French vocabularyand understanding

F.There are many advantages to living with a native speaker

G.I currently volunteer with homeless people through my local church

    Britons are well known for the amount of tea that they drink. The average person in the UK consumes around 1.9 kg of tea annually. That's around 876 cups of tea. Tea is drunk by all sections of society. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}The fast majority of tea is grown in India and China. So, how did it become an important part of British culture?

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}At this time, British ships were exploring the world and came across the drink in China. It was not long before green tea was available to buy. However, this was only available to the richer sections of society.

    At the beginning of the 1700s，the amount of tea arriving in Britain increased gradually. Black tea arrived at this time. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}They soon discovered that it makes really well with a little milk and sugar, giving the drink a special British characteristic.

    In the 1800s Tea was still a product enjoyed only by people with money. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}This involves drinking tea with a snack around 4 p.m. to avoid feeling hungry between lunch and dinner. It is a tradition that is still going today, but has become less popular in recent times.

In the late 1800s, the price of tea decreased sharply as more tea began to arrive on ships from India and China. It was no longer a drink just for rich people. Tearooms—shops where you could buy and drink tea —started to appear across the country. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}At the start of the 20th century, Britons began to make tea in their homes whenever they felt like it. Kettles became essential in every kitchen.

A. At this time, they begin to have afternoon tea.

B. People in lower classes could not afford it.

C. Let's have a look at its history.

D. People enjoy drinking tea and socializing in these places.

E. But tea does not grow in Britain.

F. Tea arrived in London in the 1600s.

G. At first, people drank this tea exactly as it was in China.