The benefits of being an independent business are truly great. Beyond the rewarding nature of owning something truly unique, small businesses have the edge over their big business counterparts in many areas. Consider the importance of being independent and how that independence can help drive your business.
To some, having fewer customers simply means less cash flow; however, having a smaller base also allows you to focus more on customer satisfaction.
Companies are always searching for ways to improve customer service and have more of their business. Whether through paying special attention to who comes through your door or monitoring your customers through the social network, it’s less of trouble to make sure your customers’ needs are being met when there’s a smaller sample to deal with. In addition, it becomes much easier to create a personal connection with buyers when you have enough time and attention to show them some love.
Small businesses have an inherent advantage over their big box competitors in the sense that they can offer something different. People want to see the independent businesses that offer unique products and flavor to their communities. Your business can be the difference when it comes to what customers want.
Of course, big box companies will almost always beat you down when it comes to price. Consider, however, that if you can offer a truly unique product or experience, price becomes much less of an issue.
People like the idea of supporting local independent businesses versus “the big guys”. So, what businesses are booming due to the rise of independence?
Craft Beer(精酿啤酒) — The craft beer movement in the United States is supported so widely that big breweries have taken to creating their own competing “craft beer” brands in an attempt to follow the trend. While Anheuser Busch represents nearly half of America’s breweries, craft beer has seen a huge jump in sales in recent years.
Video Games — Whether through PCs, traditional consoles or mobile games, independent developers are supported by enthusiastic fans and micro-transactions in an industry that was formerly dominated by bigger developers.
Musicians — The modern web offers immense opportunities to musicians, resulting in more economic and artistic freedom. A surprising number of mainstream artists have seen great success from their independent releases, such as Macklemore’s The Heist, which has sold over one million copies in the United States alone.
Some small businesses don’t want to be small businesses forever. Regardless, consider what independence does for you and your company. If you offer something out of the ordinary, you can build an audience that respects your individuality and supports your cause.
The necessity of being an independent business | |
A focus on customer 1.______________ | A smaller sample of customers makes it easy to 2.________ to customers’ needs. |
With enough time and attention to show customers some love, an independent business person finds it easier to connect with them 3._________. | |
An offer of something completely different | Small businesses can offer something 4.________ the ordinary to their communities. |
Being different can 5._________ a large number of active consumer groups. | |
A really unique product or experience can make customers take 6.__________ less seriously. | |
An appeal to an independent business | In the USA, craft beer is very popular with people, having 7.________ well in recent years. |
Independent game developers gain the support of crazy fans in an industry that 8.__________ to be in the control of bigger developers. | |
A surprising number of mainstream artists 9.________ great success to their independent releases. | |
A chance to 10._____ for some small businesses | For some small businesses, independence can attract a group of people that respect their individuality and support their development. |
高三英语任务型阅读中等难度题
The benefits of being an independent business are truly great. Beyond the rewarding nature of owning something truly unique, small businesses have the edge over their big business counterparts in many areas. Consider the importance of being independent and how that independence can help drive your business.
To some, having fewer customers simply means less cash flow; however, having a smaller base also allows you to focus more on customer satisfaction.
Companies are always searching for ways to improve customer service and have more of their business. Whether through paying special attention to who comes through your door or monitoring your customers through the social network, it’s less of trouble to make sure your customers’ needs are being met when there’s a smaller sample to deal with. In addition, it becomes much easier to create a personal connection with buyers when you have enough time and attention to show them some love.
Small businesses have an inherent advantage over their big box competitors in the sense that they can offer something different. People want to see the independent businesses that offer unique products and flavor to their communities. Your business can be the difference when it comes to what customers want.
Of course, big box companies will almost always beat you down when it comes to price. Consider, however, that if you can offer a truly unique product or experience, price becomes much less of an issue.
People like the idea of supporting local independent businesses versus “the big guys”. So, what businesses are booming due to the rise of independence?
Craft Beer(精酿啤酒) — The craft beer movement in the United States is supported so widely that big breweries have taken to creating their own competing “craft beer” brands in an attempt to follow the trend. While Anheuser Busch represents nearly half of America’s breweries, craft beer has seen a huge jump in sales in recent years.
Video Games — Whether through PCs, traditional consoles or mobile games, independent developers are supported by enthusiastic fans and micro-transactions in an industry that was formerly dominated by bigger developers.
Musicians — The modern web offers immense opportunities to musicians, resulting in more economic and artistic freedom. A surprising number of mainstream artists have seen great success from their independent releases, such as Macklemore’s The Heist, which has sold over one million copies in the United States alone.
Some small businesses don’t want to be small businesses forever. Regardless, consider what independence does for you and your company. If you offer something out of the ordinary, you can build an audience that respects your individuality and supports your cause.
The necessity of being an independent business | |
A focus on customer 1.______________ | A smaller sample of customers makes it easy to 2.________ to customers’ needs. |
With enough time and attention to show customers some love, an independent business person finds it easier to connect with them 3._________. | |
An offer of something completely different | Small businesses can offer something 4.________ the ordinary to their communities. |
Being different can 5._________ a large number of active consumer groups. | |
A really unique product or experience can make customers take 6.__________ less seriously. | |
An appeal to an independent business | In the USA, craft beer is very popular with people, having 7.________ well in recent years. |
Independent game developers gain the support of crazy fans in an industry that 8.__________ to be in the control of bigger developers. | |
A surprising number of mainstream artists 9.________ great success to their independent releases. | |
A chance to 10._____ for some small businesses | For some small businesses, independence can attract a group of people that respect their individuality and support their development. |
高三英语任务型阅读中等难度题查看答案及解析
Some students are now busy preparing for the “Independent Recruitment(自主招生)” contest, in hopes of getting a “Pass” card at their first _______.
A. purpose B. performance C. desire D. attempt
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
There are only a few truly pleasant smells to wake up to in the morning. It might be the aroma of freshly baked bread, or the scent of your partner’s freshly brushed teeth - but for me, it’s the smell of freshly cooked coffee. Just a sniff of it makes me jump out of bed and rush to the kitchen for a gulp(大口) of the hot black liquid.
I also know the experience when I walk into a cafe for my double espresso(浓缩咖啡) or flat white, my mouth begins to water in advance. Although it’s really the caffeine hit I’m after, it’s the smell that makes me feel good.
However, this feeling sometimes turns to disappointment when I actually start drinking my hot coffee - the taste just doesn’t match the smell. This is particularly the case when I order a coffee to go in a tall paper cup and sip the liquid through a hole in the lid. Yes, it’s convenient, but is it really the right way to appreciate it?
Tim Hayward, a food writer and coffee shop owner,describes this process as “strange”. He says, “You walk into the coffee shop, you get the smell, but when you actually take the drink out, you are drinking it from something that is designed to deliver the hot liquid directly past your tongue, but stop any smell coming up to your nose.”
As well as removing the smell, takeaway coffee cups create a lot of waste and a vast majority of them still don’t get recycled. In 2011, it was estimated that 2.5 billion coffee cups were thrown away each year in the UK, and that figure is likely to be higher now. So maybe now is the time to really wake up and smell the coffee by drinking from a cup or mug in a cafe, chatting with friends and saving the planet!
1.From the first two paragraphs we know ________.
A.the author loves coffee alone
B.the smell of coffee is pleasant
C.people smell one scent at a time
D.smells are used to wake up people
2.What sometimes disappoints the author when drinking coffee?
A.The way to enjoy coffee.
B.Coffee doesn’t taste tasty.
C.No partner shares coffee with him.
D.The type of coffee he likes isn’t available.
3.What made Tim Hayward feel strange?
A.The smell of coffee.
B.Hot coffee without smell.
C.Treating coffee just as hot liquid.
D.Drinking coffee in the coffee shop.
4.What can be implied in the last paragraph?
A.People recycle coffee regularly.
B.Takeaway coffee is of high quality.
C.Pollution caused by coffee cups is growing.
D.A cup or mug is widely used for drinking coffee.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The King's School, Canterbury is an independent, co-educational secondary school. There are currently 791 pupils on the school roll(名单). The School has a long and distinguished history, and it is also one of the oldest charities in the country, providing scholarships to pupils and organizing a Charity of the Term.
The curriculum(课程)at King’s is based on strong academic roots. It emphasizes and relies upon what is best in traditional independent school education: scholarly excellence supported by a caring and tutorial system, and a wide-ranging co-curricular programme. However, it is continually adapting and reacting to the changing demands of modern education: new subjects are added, new teaching techniques adopted, and there is an increasing awareness of the need to provide programmes of study that match individual needs and skills.
The curriculum is divided into three units: the Lower School (Year 9), an introductory year; the Middle School (Years 10 and 11), working to GCSEs; and the Sixth Form ( Years 12 and 13), taking AS and A levels.
Full details can be found in: Shell Guide and Handbook; Middle School Academic Guide 2009-11; Middle School Academic Guide 2010-12; Sixth Form Guide 2009-11 and Sixth Form Guide 2010-12.
Formal and structured educational support, for those who need it, is available at all levels. The well-stocked Library is open 7 days and 6 evenings per week. ICT facilities (including the Internet) are available for all and the whole school (studies within the Houses as well as classrooms) is extensively networked.
Pupils are offered extensive careers advice throughout their time at King’s. Almost all go to university, either immediately or following a GAP year. The most popular university destinations are Cambridge, Bristol, Nottingham, Durham, Leeds, Oxford, Edinburgh, Manchester, and University College, London.
Director of Studies: Geoff Cocksworth: grc@kings-school.co.uk
Examinations Officer: Elaine McDowell: eam@kings-school.co.uk
1.The passage serves as a brief introduction to __________.
A. the King's School B. the curriculum
C. the teaching plan D. British education
2. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage ?
A. The King's School, Canterbury is a famous high school in Britain.
B. The curriculum at King’s is best in traditional and modern education.
C. All pupils of the school go to university immediately after they graduate.
D. pupils’ dormitories as well as classrooms are provided with network
3.The following can be inferred from the passage EXCEPT that __________.
A. The King's School focuses on pupils’ individual development
B. pupils in the King's School who pass GCSEs will go to university
C. pupils in the King's School have an easy access to the school library
D. pupils in the King's School receive good education
4.The passage is probably taken from a ___________.
A. handbook B. website C. guide D. teaching plan
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
LONDON: What could possibly be wrong with planting trees? The benefits are obvious; they firm the soil, soak up (摄取) extra water and take carbon dioxide (二氧化碳) out of the atmosphere.
However, it now turns out that planting trees could add to global warming.
Tree roots do a great job of keeping soil firmly on the ground and out of the wind’s power. The problem is that some of those dust clouds play an important part in taking in carbon dioxide.
Huge dust storms blow out over the oceans from dry parts of North Africa and central Asia. Tons of dust are lifted and left as a thin film over the ocean surface. The dust fuels oceanic life.
Dust from China is carried east and left in the Pacific Ocean. If a tree-planting programme there is successful and the dust supply reduced, the final result may be that less carbon dioxide gets locked away in the ocean.
Andy Ridgwell, an environmental scientist from the University of East Anglia, has spent the past few years studying dust and says his work “shows clearly the complexity of the system and the importance of not tinkering(粗劣地修补) with it without understanding the results. For this reason the need is to focus(集中) on cutting carbon dioxide giving off rather than monkeying (瞎弄) about with the land surface.”
An American scientist, Robert Jackson, has shown that when native grassland areas are invaded(侵入) by trees, carbon is lost from the soil. “We are studying why the soil carbon disappears, but one theory is that trees do a lot more of their growing above ground compared to grasses, so less carbon goes directly into the soil from trees, ” says Jackson.
In wet areas of the world, the gain from trees absorbing carbon dioxide above ground seems to be outweighed(超过) by the loss of carbon from the soil below ground. Countries that plan to combat global warming by planting trees may have to think again.
Solutions to environmental problems are often more complex than they first appear, and understanding the Earth’s climate is a very great challenge.
1.People usually hold the opinion that_____________.
A. huge dust storms can destroy carbon dioxide
B. huge dust storms can destroy the oceans on the earth
C. huge dust storms can’t do anything beneficial for man
D. planting trees is the only way to control huge dust storms
2. Andy Ridgwell, the environmental scientist, believes that_____________.
A. dust plays a more important part than trees
B. trees shouldn’t have been planted in dry places
C. carbon dioxide is harmful to everything on the earth
D. environmental problems are more complex than expected
3. Robert Jackson’s experiment proves that_____________.
A. grassland areas should be covered by forests
B. trees hold more carbon than grasses
C. carbon can turn grass into dust
D. less carbon can make trees grow faster
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Americans believe in the ideal, as ______ in their Declaration of Independence, that all men are created equal.
A. stated B. assumed C. held D. possessed
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
There are only a few truly pleasant smells to wake up to in the morning. For me, it's the smell of freshly brewed coffee. Just a sniff of it makes me jump out of bed and rush to the kitchen for a gulp of the hot black liquid.
If you're a big fan of coffee, you'll understand that opening a new packet of coffee releases an amazing smell-fresh, roasted coffee beans. And you'll be able to identify the beans' origin-Colombia, Vietnam or Brazil. Tim Hayward is a food writer and coffee shop owner; he believes the smell "is absolutely vital. When you walk into the coffee shop in the morning and that smell hits you, you're getting physiological(生理上的) responses. "
I know from experience when I walk into a cafe, my mouth begins to water and it's the smell that makes me feel good. However, this feeling sometimes turns to disappointment. This is particularly the case when I order a coffee to go in a tall paper cup and sip the liquid through a hole in the lid. Yes, it's convenient, but is it really the right way to appreciate it?
You walk into the coffee shop, you get the smell, but when you actually take the drink out, you are drinking it from something that is designed to deliver the hot liquid directly past your tongue, but prevent any smell coming up to your nose. As well as eliminating the smell, takeaway coffee cups create a lot of waste and a vast majority of them still don't get recycled. So maybe now is the time to really wake up and smell the coffee by drinking from a cup in a cafe, chatting with friends and saving the planet!
1.In which aspect does the author agree with Tim Hayward?
A. People drink coffee first thing in the morning.
B. Coffee beans' origin makes all the differences.
C. Some people are addicted to drinking coffee
D. It's the smell of coffee that really matters.
2.What does the author complain about?
A. The process of making coffee.
B. The high temperature of coffee
C. The design of the paper coffee cup.
D. The inconvenience of buying coffee.
3.What can replace the word "eliminating" underlined in Paragraph 4?
A. Creating. B. Removing. C. Increasing. D. Changing.
4.What can be the best title of the text?
A. Wake up and smell the coffee
B. Try to be a real lover of coffee
C. Drink coffee to save the planet
D. Choose takeaway coffee for convenience
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
High school students are supposed to be about public services,which will benefit them in the long run.
A. curious B.anxious C. particular D. enthusiastic
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
听下面一段较长对话,回答以下小题。
1.What are the speakers talking about?
A.Methods of learning language.
B.Benefits of learning language.
C.Progress made in learning language.
2.What progress did the man make in learning English?
A.Better listening.
B.Improved grammar.
C.Knowledge applying skills.
3.How did the man feel about the learning?
A.Satisfied. B.Puzzled. C.Disappointed.
高三英语长对话中等难度题查看答案及解析
Dublin has the benefit of being a home to unequaled beaches. They can be especially attractive during the summer season.Experience this scenery for yourself and see what these beaches have to offer you.
Finding yourself at Dollymont makes you a fortunate tourist especially if you find beaches irresistible.Here you can swim away your worries through the Dollymont Blue Flag Beach,The beach provides a wonderful view which is perfect for some relaxing moments.Its shoreline is well recommended for a few quiet and unworried walks along the beach.
For some beach adventure,you can drive your way down the M50 and M 1 motorways to Donabate.This village in North County Dublin offers an attractive Blue Flag beach which is perfect for your swimming addictions.Lifeguards are on call during bathing period.The water is as overpowering as the surrounding.
For a double purpose beach,check out Killiney.This beach is a top off destination for a swimming adventure and it is equally grand for relaxing walks.The shoreline is covered with pebbles and rocks.This may seem averred with ordinary stony beach for some but for those who have strong interest in geological(地质的)processes,Killiney is a best spot to discover part of Dublin’s history and Killiney’s formation.
Another accessible Blue Flag Beach lies on Malahide in Fingal. You can enjoy the distinctive attraction of the water while still getting yourself amazed with the wonderful sights around;Malahide.Beach is sandy and holds a harbor designed for pleasure boats at the Northern end.
For a bit of challenge and thrill,consider a swim at Sea point Beach in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown.You can have the pleasure of an exciting surf adventure here apart from the usual swimming activity.This is often visited by tourists due to its various appeals:swimming on the north part of the beach while surfing,.boating and jet skiing at the south.
Need to:beat the heat off your summer vacation? There is nothing as satisfying as a visit to some of these outstanding beaches.
71.How many beaches are mentioned in this article?
A.Five B.Four C.Three D.Two
72.If you are visiting Killiney, which of the following activities can’t.you do?
A.Having a swimming adventure.
B.Having some relaxing walks.
C.Discovering some Dublin’s history.
D.Practising operating boats for pleasure.
73.Some tourists choose a swim at Seapoint Beach probably because they can . .
A.get themselves interested in the sights around
B.have a wonderful surf on the north of the beach
C.enjoy several unusual and exciting activities‘
D.call the lifeguards during bathing period
74.If you want to。be quiet and have some relaxing walks,you may pay a visit to——.
A.Dollymont and Donabate B. Donabate and Malahide
C.Dollymont and Killiney D.Killinev and Malahide
75.The best title of this article should be——.
A.Where to go swimming in summer B.Beating off the heat in Dublin
C.Benifits of staying at beaches D.Geological researches in vacation
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析