London's newest skyscraper (摩天大楼)is called the Shard and it cost about 430 million pounds to build. At a height of almost 310 metres, it is the tallest building in Europe. The Shard has completely changed the appearance of London. However, not everyone thinks that it is a change for the better.

    The Shard was designed by the famous Italian architect Renzo Piano. When he began designing the Shard for London, Piano wanted a very tall building that looked like a spire (尖顶)• He wanted the glass surfaces to reflect the sky and the city. The sides of the building aren't regular. So the building has an unusual shape. It looks like a very thin，sharp piece of broken glass. And that is how the building got the name: the Shard. Piano says that the spire shape of the Shard is part of a great London tradition. The shape reminds him of the spires of the churches of London or the tall masts (桅杆）of the ships that were once on the river Thames.

    The Shard has 87 floors. At the top, there is an observatory. At the moment the building is empty, but eventually there will be a five-star hotel. There will also be top quality restaurants, apartments and offices.

    Before building work began, a lot of people didn't want the Shard though the plans were approved. Now they are still unhappy about the Shard. Some critics say that such a tall skyscraper might be good in a city like New York, but not in London. They say that the best thing about the Shard is its spire shape. But that is the only thing. There is no decoration, only flat surfaces. The Egyptians did that 4,500 years ago. They also think the Shard is too big for London. It destroys the beauty of the city.

    Other critics don't like what the Shard seems to represent. They say that the Shard shows how London is becoming more unequal. Only very rich people can afford to buy the expensive private apartments and stay in the hotel. But the people who live near the Shard are among the poorest in London. So the Shard seems a symbol of the division in society between the very rich and the poor.

    The Shard now dominates the London skyline. It is not certain, however, that ordinary London citizens will ever accept it as a valuable addition to the city.

    Here's an interesting fact: Every teenager American seems to have, at some point, appeared drunk or rude online. This generation didn't invent stupidity, of course; it's just the first to post the picture online the entire world to see. And that's the rub: Employers are getting clever at looking you up online. They look at what people post and wonder. Is that new salesperson, the one who made a strange face on collegehumor.com,likely to do the same at a conference?”

    Anything that you put online is public information. This should seem pretty obvious to the generation who grew up on these sites, right? But it's not. When it comes to the Net, young people tend to fell for two traps. One:“ Many of them believe it's truly private, and they'll determine who gets to sec what, and it will stop there.” Wrong! And two: “Their sense of what things will be like in the next stage of their life is not realistic.”

    So what do you do about that picture? Take it down! But what if it is now on other sites? After all, a friend can post your photo elsewhere, and from there, it can be posted on another site. This problem is so common that a new industry has appeared: identity management, which helps people remove embarrassing material.

    The new industry serves to remind us that we've got to be careful out there. Most of us have got drunk or done something we regret. But putting it online is another matter. And for some, it's even become an addiction, one with a nickname: Crackspace. Young or old, students and managers alike turn into exhibitions, putting every aspect of their lives on public display(展示).

    Yes, it can be great fun. But should those of us posting pictures of ourselves dancing in our underwear be given a good comment? In a forgiving, kindly environment, yes. But what about in a business environment? Well, you decide.

    I used to think education was the most important thing in my life. Recently my attitude has begun to change, although I still hold that it is essential for everyone in the world today. As a top junior student in my college, I was asked to make a speech on how to learn English well. Standing in front of the audience and facing so many freshmen, I was trembling. I didn't remember any word that I had prepared. I ran out of the conference room without finishing my speech, leaving everyone puzzled. I cried that night in my room, feeling that I was a loser. Studying takes up so much of my time that I feel unable to really develop myself. I am just storing knowledge, yet I fail to communicate with others. I have received many awards in school, but they don't necessarily reflect anything about me. I don't know how to socialize. When I leave school I fear I will be of no use to society.

    I realize that everyone has his own way of living. I want to change my lifestyle. Of course I will keep studying. Yet I plan to look for a part-time job, which might turn out to be a good chance to get to know society. I still believe that working my hardest makes me happy. I will still stay on in college. But I will not allow it to shelter me from the real world.

    A good modern newspaper is an extraordinary piece of reading. It's great first for what it contains：the range of news from local crime to international politics, from sports to business, from fashion to science, and the range of comment and special feature(特写) as well, from editorial page to feature articles and interviews to criticism of books, art theatre and music.

    A newspaper is even greater for the way one reads it：never completely, never straight through, but always by jumping from here to there, in and out, glancing at one piece, reading another article all the way through, reading just a few paragraphs of the text.

    A good modern newspaper offers a variety(多样性) to attract many different readers, but far more than the reader is interested in. What brings this variety together in one place is its topicality(时事性), its immediate relation to what is happening in your world and your locality now. But immediacy and the speed of production that goes with it also mean that much of what appears in a newspaper has no more than transient(短暂的) value.

    For all these reasons, no two people really read the same paper：what each person does is to put together, out of the pages of that day's paper, his own selection and order, his own newspaper. For all these reasons, reading newspapers efficiently, which means getting what you want from them without missing things you need and without wasting time, demands skill and self-awareness as you change and apply the techniques of reading.

"What should I learn to stay excellent?" {#blank#}1{#/blank#} , but it is still worth thinking—both for the professional benefits and the complete joy of learning something new. Here is a look at sone skills that will surely benefit you. 

Self-management

Self-management is your ability to manage behaviors, thoughts and emotions. It is a way that better serves you and your work. Rules of self-management usually include: How to create and keep a calendar; {#blank#}2{#/blank#} ; How to do a weekly review; How to focus deeply. 

Logic and reasoning

Logical（逻辑） thinking can be extremely powerful for making better decisions and solving problems. However, most of us receive little training in this area in school. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} .

How to do exercise

You can just pick an activity you enjoy and do it regularly. Try different things and see what you enjoy. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} . The best program is the one you'll actually hold on to.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#} .

Knowing how to fix things around your house or apartment is wonderful. Instead of having to wait hours or days for others to fix it. you can do so immediately. And doing your own repairs can save you lots of money. You can buy a basic tool kit. And when you meet some kind of problem with your place, see if you can figure out how to fix it on the Internet.

A. It's a difficult question to answer

B. How to make and use a to-do list

C. How to perform basic home repairs

D. There's a bit more to it than that

E. So it's worth spending some time learning how to think logically

F. And remember that there's no such a thing as the "best" exercise program

G. But having logical thinking in your mental "toolbox" can be very useful

Traditionally, businesses use name badges(胸卡) for security and personal identity; the whole look also contributed to brand identity. But the use of name badges has so much more to offer: 

{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Name badges complete the overall look of an employee. Businesses who carry out this practice show that they pay attention to detail, no matter how small, giving the staff a professional look. Customers are more comfortable dealing with someone who looks professional and well trained. 

Name badges give employees identity. Name badges can make employees feel better about their jobs because they are not just nameless people. Name badges also promote a friendly environment, which leads to happier employees. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Furthermore, the knowledge of being easily identified also makes an employee perform better, lest(以免) they be reported for bad service.

Name badges promote communication. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} This allows for easier communication, and employees are able to assist customers better when they know exactly what the customer wants or needs. A name can certainly make a big difference, not just for overall customer experience, but for the business as well. 

Name badges lend an air of familiarity. Customers are more comfortable when they know who they are speaking to or who is assisting them. Employees may also be required to find out the customer's name, all in the spirit of providing personalized service. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

Name badges keep security in check. While name badges can keep businesses secure by identifying that the right people are where they should be, they also make customers feel secure by knowing who they are dealing with. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A．Name badges come in different colors and styles.

B．Name badges make employees look more professional.

C．Satisfied employees, in turn, deliver better customer service.

D．It's easier to talk to someone when you can address them by name.

E．In companies using name badges, the employees are more efficient.

F．Customers won't risk mistaking another customer for a member of the staff.

G．As a result, name badges make employees more approachable and business smoother.