Why Doesn’t Anybody Copy Apple?
Apple’s products are the envy of the world. They have been spectacularly successful and are widely imitated, if not copied. The minute Apple crystallizes a product, everyone knows how to compete. This idea that the basis of competition is set by Apple and then the race is on to climb the path of improvement is unquestionable. When Apple releases a product that defines a category or dramatically changes the structure of an industry, it becomes obvious what needs to be built. But what I wonder is why everyone wants to copy Apple’s products but nobody wants to copy being Apple?
I can think of two reasons. Firstly, Apple is not worth copying because it’s not successful; secondly, Apple’s success cannot be copied because it is a magical process.
There is a great deal of evidence for the first hypothesis. The idea of Apple being successful is not something reflected in its stock price. Being valued lower than the average company in the S&P(标准普尔)500 indicates that to whatever degree Apple was successful in the past, it’s not seen by the vast majority of observers as successful in the future. Why should one bother copying Apple if it results in being punished with a low valuation? If one works really hard at innovation and then that innovation becomes commoditized(商品化)very quickly, why should one bother?
When innovation practitioners are asked what makes Apple successful,the answers regarding the cause of this success border on the mythical.The climax of this hypothesis is the “chief-sorcerer”theory of success which places one magician,like Steve Jobs,in charge of casting all the right spells(符咒)
What about Apple’s own opinion of what makes it tick? Tim Cook refers to a great team and integration of hardware, software and services as unique Apple advantages. It’s a better explanation. Integration is something that can take a long time, but it is possible with great effort. A few companies are starting to make moves in that direction, but efforts are half-hearted. There is no “move the Earth” panic to become an integrated company from Samsung, Google or Microsoft.
My own suspicion is that Apple is more aware of what makes it special than it lets out. However, as Tim points out, it’s not a formula. It’s complex, it’s subtle, but it’s not magic. It’s a process that requires a degree of faith and courage.
【小题1】When a new product of Apple comes out, often it ______.
| A.starts a revolution of an industry |
| B.ruins an industry dramatically |
| C.puts itself in an unbeatable position |
| D.is soon overtaken by imitated products |
| A.Apple is not a successful company |
| B.they have no access to relevant resources |
| C.it’s hard to find a magician like Steve Jobs |
| D.being Apple takes more than time and efforts |
| A.other companies are dedicated to integration |
| B.Apple itself is fully aware of its unique advantages |
| C.Apple will hold the leading position in this industry |
| D.other companies don’t have a great team as Apple does |
| A.Doubtful | B.Acceptable |
| C.Unbelievable | D.Disappointing |
【小题1】A
【小题2】D
【小题3】C
【小题4】B
解析试题分析:文章介绍现在苹果的新产品一出现,就会开始一场行业的革命。很多公司模仿苹果,但是没有人想做苹果,因为这需要时间精力,Tim Cook认为苹果在这个行业中会处于领导的地位。
【小题1】细节题:从第一段的句子:When Apple releases a product that defines a category or dramatically changes the structure of an industry, it becomes obvious what needs to be built.可知一款苹果的新产品一出现,就会开始一场行业的革命。选A
【小题2】细节题:从第五段的句子:Integration is something that can take a long time, but it is possible with great effort.可知没有人愿意做苹果是因为做苹果手机要花费太多时间精力。选D
【小题3】推理题:从第五段的句子:There is no “move the Earth” panic to become an integrated company from Samsung, Google or Microsoft.可知苹果在这个行业中处于领导的地位。选C
【小题4】推理题:从最后一段的句子:However, as Tim points out, it’s not a formula. It’s complex, it’s subtle, but it’s not magic. It’s a process that requires a degree of faith and courage. 可知作者是赞同Tim Cook的说法的。选B
考点:考查社会现象类短文
科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
“A very disruptive(调皮捣蛋的) six-year-old child kicked my legs and clawed at my hand,” said one teacher. “ I broke up a fight and was kicked between my legs,” said another. Many people have heard stories like this. But the situation is more worrying still and it involves parents.
Every child, regardless of the circumstances into which they are born, has the right to achieve their potential, regardless of their parents’ wealth and class. And we recognize that, as a nation, it is a long way to achieve this goal. But with rights come responsibilities and what worries people is that we are in danger of ignoring the latter.
Far too many children are behaving badly at school, even to the point of being violent to staff. This is terrible enough, but it is hard to be surprised since many children are just mirroring the behaviour of their parents.
My members tell me that parents also come into school often and threaten staff and some staff have been attacked by a pupil’s parents. One father encouraged his child to start a fight on the playground before school started. A primary teacher reported that a parent shouted at him. We need to have a serious and sensible debate about the roles and responsibilities of parents and the support that they can reasonably expect of schools and teachers.
Children will not learn how to behave as social beings if they are stuck in front of the TV for hours every day. They need their parents to show an interest in them and to spend time with them, helping them to play with their peers(同龄人) and to learn the rules of social behavior.
Children are now arriving at school socially undeveloped, increasingly unable to dress themselves, unable to use the toilet properly, unable to hold a knife and fork and unused to eating at a table, Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, writes in today’s Observer. Instead of taking responsibility themselves, too many parents expect teachers to control their children’s behavior and wellbeing, she adds. Bousted says one mother blamed staff when she discovered that her 16-year-old son was smoking.
We are in danger of becoming a nation of families living separate lives under one roof. The bedroom, once a place to sleep, has become the living space for the young. Spending hours in front of computer screens, on social networking sites or being immersed(沉迷于) in computer games, children and young people spend little time with their parents. Parents are unable to monitor just what their children are watching.
Schools cannot right the wrongs of society and teachers cannot become substitute parents. Both parties need to work together. Parents must be helped and given confidence to take bake control. They are responsible for setting boundaries for their children’s behaviour and sticking to those boundaries. They are responsible for setting a good example to their children and for devoting that most precious of resource------time------- so that children come to school ready and willing to learn.
【小题1】In the opinion of the writer, what problem do people ignore?
| A.The violence in the school. |
| B.The study pressure of students. |
| C.The responsibilities of the students. |
| D.The right to achieve students’ potential. |
| A.parents care little about children’s life at home |
| B.parents and children live in their separate rooms |
| C.children don’t live with their parents in the same house |
| D.children live a different life from that of parents at home |
| A.dissatisfied | B.indifferent | C.understanding | D.tolerant |
| A.teachers have no responsibility for playing the role of parents |
| B.schools can’t correct the wrongs that society does to teachers |
| C.students are responsible for making themselves known in society |
| D.parents should spend time with children to make them ready to learn |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
People are being lured (引诱)onto Facebook with the promise of a fun, free service without realizing they're paying for it by giving up their personal information. Facebook then attempts to make money by selling their data to advertisers that want to send targeted messages.
Most Facebook users don't realize this is happening. Even if they know what the company is up to, they still have no idea what they're paying for Face book because people don't reallyknow what their personal data is worth.
The biggest problem, however, is that the company keeps changing the rules. Early on, you keep everything private. That was the great thing about facebook-you could create your own little private network. Last year, the company changed its privacy rules so that many things— your city, your photo, your friends' names—were set, by default(默认)to be shared with every one on the Internet.
According to Facebook's vice-president Elliot Schrage, the company is simply making changes to improve its service, and if people don't share information, they have a "less satisfying experience".
Some critics think this is more about Facebook looking to make more money. In original business model, which involved selling ads and putting them at the side of the pages totally. Who wants to look at ads when they're online connecting with their friends?
The privacy issue has already landed Facebook in hot water in Washington. In April. Senator Charles Schumer called on Facebook to change its privacy policy. He also urged the Federal Trade Commission to set guidelines for social-networking sites. "I think the senator rightly communicated that we had not been clear about what the new products were and how people could choose to use them or not to use them," Schrage admits.
I think that whatever Facebook has done so far to invade our privacy, it's only the beginning. That is why I'm considering deactivating(撤销)my account. Facebook is a handy site, but I'm upset by the idea that my information is in the hands of people I don't trust. That's too high a price to pay.
【小题1】Why do people give their personal information to Facebook according to Paragraph 1?
| A.Because they can get some money from Facebook. |
| B.Because their information is not important. |
| C.Because they are promised to have a fun and free service. |
| D.Because they can also get other people's information. |
| A.They are unwilling to give up their personal information. |
| B.They don't know their personal data enriches Facebook. |
| C.They don't identify themselves when using the website. |
| D.They care very much about their personal information. |
| A.To give better service to its users. | B.To obey to the Federal guidelines. |
| C.To improve its users' connection. | D.To expand its business. |
| A.Setting guidelines for advertising on websites. |
| B.Banning the sharing of users' personal information. |
| C.Making regulations for social-networking sites. |
| D.Removing ads from all social-networking sites. |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Turns out we aren’t good at walking and talking at the same time, according to a study of pedestrians (行人) on their cell phones.
Nearly one-third of pedestrians (29.8% ) were distracted (分散注意力) by their mobile devices while crossing the street, say researchers of a study published online in the journal Injury Prevention.
Just as drivers who text, talk on cell phones, or adjust MP3 players increase their risk of losing control of their vehicles, pedestrians distracted by their conversations or their devices also put themselves at higher risk of getting into an accident.
During the summer of 2012, scientists in Seattle, Wash. , studied 1,102 pedestrians at 20 crossroads seeing the city * s highest number of pedestrian injuries over the past few years.
They watched how pedestrians crossed the street @ whether they looked both ways or obeyed the crossroad signal @ and also recorded how long it took pedestrians to do so.Distractions included listening to music with headphones, using a cell phone or earpiece to talk on a cell phone, text messaging, and talking with another person.
Overall, researchers found the most common distraction among pedestrians was listening to music (11.2%), followed by text messaging (7.3%), and using a handheld phone(6.2%). But the most absorbing distraction was texting. Compared to pedestrians who were not distracted, those who were texting took 1.87 seconds longer to cross and were four times more likely to not look where they were going, disobey traffic lights, or cross outside of the crosswalk. While the study did not track injuries related to these trends, previous studies have linked such activities to a higher risk of being injured while crossing the street.
Combined with the rise in the use of mobile devices, especially smart phones, the results raise concerns that multi-tasking while walking may be a rising concern for pedestrians. And that danger may only climb, as the number of wireless devices has already exceeded the population of the United States. Last year, roughly 1,152 people wound up in the emergency room to treat injuries caused by using a cell phone or electronic device, the Consumer Product Safety Commission told the Associated Press in July. Those numbers may be underestimated, however, because patients may not always admit that they were using their phones along with other activities such as walking or driving when they were hurt.
【小题1】The scientists did their study at the 20 crossroads in order to _____.
| A.attract more attention | B.see more injuries |
| C.record more samples | D.find more pedestrians |
| A.talking on a phone | B.texting messages |
| C.listening to music | D.disobeying traffic lights |
| A.gone beyond | B.greatly influenced |
| C.accelerated the increase of | D.drawn the attention of |
| A.Walk and don't Talk |
| B.Prevention of Distraction |
| C.Look both ways while crossing the street |
| D.Cell phones lead to injuries |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
People used to say, “The hand that rocks (摇) the cradle (摇篮) rules the world.” and “Behind every successful man there is a woman.”
Both these sayings mean the same thing. Men rule the world, but their mothers and wives rule them.
Most American women wish to make their husbands and sons successful, but some of them want more for themselves. They want good jobs. When they work they want to be better paid. They want to be as successful as men.
The American women’s liberation movement was started by women who didn’t want to stand behind successful men. They wanted to stand beside men, with the same chance for success. They refused to work side by side with men who do the same work for a higher pay.
A liberated woman must be proud of being a woman and have confidence in herself. If somebody says to her, “You have come a long way, baby.” she will smile and answer, “Not nearly as far as I’m going to go, baby!”
This movement is quite new, and many American women don’t agree yet. But it has already made some important changes in women’s lives--- in men’s lives, too.
【小题1】“Behind every successful man there is a woman:” means______.
| A.men are always successful but not women |
| B.women are not willing to stand in front of men |
| C.women do play an important part in men’s lives and work |
| D.women can be as successful as men |
| A.Some American women want to work side by side with men and get the same pay for the same work. |
| B.Most American women want to be more successful than men. |
| C.Not every American woman wants to get a job. |
| D.The American women’s liberation movement did make some changes in women’s lives. |
| A.I’m still going to work farther away from home |
| B.I’m not going to work far away from home |
| C.I’m not satisfied with what I’ve done |
| D.What I have done is not far from success |
| A.has still a long way to go |
| B.is a failure |
| C.was started by many successful women |
| D.is a new thing not accepted by the writer |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
We’ve considered several ways of paying to cut in line: hiring line standers, buying tickets from scalpers (票贩子), or purchasing line-cutting privileges directly from, say, an airline or an amusement park. Each of these deals replaces the morals of the queue (waiting your turn) with the morals of the market (paying a price for faster service).
Markets and queues — paying and waiting — are two different ways of allocating things, and each is appropriate to different activities. The morals of the queue, “First come, first served, have an egalitarian (平等主义的) appeal. They tell us to ignore privilege, power, and deep pockets.
The principle seems right on playgrounds and at bus stops. But the morals of the queue do not govern all occasions. If I put my house up for sale, I have no duty to accept the first offer that comes along, simply because it’s the first. Selling my house and waiting for a bus are different activities, properly governed by different standards.
Sometimes standards change, and it is unclear which principle should apply. Think of the recorded message you hear, played over and over, as you wait on hold when calling your bank: “Your call will be answered in the order in which it was received.” This is essential for the morals of the queue. It’s as if the company is trying to ease our impatience with fairness.
But don’t take the recorded message too seriously. Today, some people’s calls are answered faster than others. Call center technology enables companies to “score” incoming calls and to give faster service to those that come from rich places. You might call this telephonic queue jumping.
Of course, markets and queues are not the only ways of allocating things. Some goods we distribute by merit, others by need, still others by chance. However, the tendency of markets to replace queues, and other non-market ways of allocating goods is so common in modern life that we scarcely notice it anymore. It is striking that most of the paid queue-jumping schemes we’ve considered — at airports and amusement parks, in call centers, doctors’ offices, and national parks — are recent developments, scarcely imaginable three decades ago. The disappearance of the queues in these places may seem an unusual concern, but these are not the only places that markets have entered.
【小题1】63.According to the author, which of the following seems governed by the principle “First come, first served”?
| A.Flying with an airline | B.Buying houses |
| C.Taking buses | D.Visiting amusement parks |
| A.the necessity of patience in queuing |
| B.the advantage of modern technology |
| C.the uncertainty of allocation principle |
| D.the fairness of telephonic services |
| A.discuss the morals of allocating things |
| B.justify paying for faster services |
| C.analyze the reason for standing in line |
| D.criticize the behavior of queue jumping |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
We observe today not a victory of party but a celebration of freedom, symbolizing an end as well as a beginning, signifying renewal as well as change for I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forbears (ancestors) prescribed nearly a century and three-quarters ago.
The world is very different now, for man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forbears fought are still at issue around the globe, the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God. We dare not forget today that we are the heirs(继承人)of that first revolution.
Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe (enemy) alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage and unwilling to disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage and unwilling to disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.
Let every nation know whether it wishes us well or ill that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty. This much we pledge (promise solemny) and more.
In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility. I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.
And so, my fellow Americans ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the Freedom of Man.
Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.
【小题1】What should friends and foes know?
| A.That the United States is powerful. |
| B.That a new generation of Americans are responsible for their government. |
| C.That the United States is governed by liberals. |
| D.The rights of man come from the hand of God. |
| A.To support liberty. |
| B.To abolish all forms of human poverty. |
| C.To visit each country at least once. |
| D.To support and friend. |
| A.How America can help them. |
| B.If America plans to invade their country. |
| C.What they can do for freedom. |
| D.What they can do for America. |
| A.Human beings have the power to put an end to all forms of poverty. |
| B.We should remember we are the first revolution. |
| C.Our nation has always been committed to human rights. |
| D.We should assure the survival and the success of liberty. |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Mark Thompson, the BBC’s director general, is expected to announce on Thursday that the BBC will quit its entire west London home -- possibly selling the land to Chelsea football club -- as part of main plans that will see more staff moved out of the capital to Salford and elsewhere.
The move is at the heart of the BBC’s long-awaiting cost-cutting strategy(策略)which will see nearly 2,000 more jobs going at the public broadcaster, and some original programming,such as daytime shows on BBC2, eliminated to save money.
Several thousand people are employed at the west London sites,including Thompson himself and the bosses of all the BBC’s television channels.The employees are expected to be relocated(重新安排)to Broadcasting House in central London, Salford, or elsewhere.
The BBC has been broadcasting at various locations in the Shepherd’s Bush area since moving into Lime Grove in 1949.It then switched to the Television Centre in 1960,and more modern offices at nearby White City.But it is now open to selling the site, and the broadcaster has had talks about attracting Premier League clubs Chelsea or Queen’s Park Rangers as buyers.Both clubs are looking for new homes.
Earlier leaks(透露)suggest that the BBC will seek to cut spending on sports where the corporation has already decided to share coverage of Formula 1 with Sky TV -- and imports,such as Mad Men and The Killing.BBC4 is expected to focus on “arts and archive(档案)”, but Thompson has long ruled out closing any channels or radio stations.BBC1 and Radio 4 will be protected,but there are expected to be some cuts to local radio programs, which will see stations share shows outside breakfast and drive-time hours.
The corporation is already committed to remove TV Centre by 2015, but because parts of the building are listed, the football clubs have expressed an interest in the BBC’s White City offices instead,which could be knocked down. The White City building is where Thompson and the broadcaster's commercial division, BBC Worldwide, are based.
BBC sources say the 2,500 job losses being proposed(提议)include the 650 cuts to the World Service already announced, with up to l,000 coming from BBC News.It is understood that some staff who have only just made the move to Salford could see their jobs at risk. Salford is now home to Radio5 Live, children’s programs such as Blue Peter, and sports output including Match of the Day.
【小题1】Why is the BBC planning to quit its west London home?
| A.The BBC wants to earn more money. |
| B.The BBC would like to support British football sport. |
| C.The BBC is planning to save money for new programs. |
| D.The BBC has to cut down its cost. |
| A.set aside | B.cut out | C.sold out | D.put on |
| A.Some original programmes will be adjusted. |
| B.All the BBC staff will have to work outside London. |
| C.More people will be employed for new programs. |
| D.Some TV channels or radio stations will be closed. |
| A.the BBC will cover Formula 1 on its own as usual |
| B.the football clubs are likely to buy some of the BBC’s offices |
| C.the BBC’s commercial division will be open to selling the sites |
| D.the BBC’s offices are all in the White City of London |
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