Task 1 Read for Useful Information
Pre-reading Activity 1 Listen and Read Aloud
（略）
Pre-reading Activity 2 Express Yourself
☛ This section aims at introducing some topics for students to express themselves.
Sentences like the following may be used:
◆ It is convenient to work in downtown area./I can enjoy a peaceful life in a quiet suburb.
◆ Friendly office environment can make work more productive.
◆ I need to release the pressure and tension after work in the staff lounge.
◆ My main concern is the on-job lunch.
Reading Activity 1 Read and Try to Understand
Passage 1
Language points
1. salary n. [C], [U] money that you receive as payment from the organization you work for, usually
paid to you every month 薪水(尤其指按月发放的)，薪金
e.g. What’s your monthly salary? 你的月薪是多少呢？We offer competitive salaries to graduates. 我们提供有竞争力的薪水。
Para 1
2. executive
1) n. [C] person who carries out what has been planned or decided 经理，主管领导，管理人员
e.g. The president of a company is an executive. 公司的经理是公司的管理者。
My father thinks he was the greatest executive. 我爸爸认为他是最伟大的经理。
2) adj. relating to the job of managing a business or organization and making decisions 实施的, 执行的；行政的
e.g. He has been full executive power in this matter. 他在这件事情上有着完全的执行权力。
The US Constitution vests the executive power of the President. 美国宪法将行政权赋予总统。
Para 2
3. over the same period 同时
e.g. The output value in the first quarter was 10 percent over the same period of last year.
第一季度产值比去年同期高出百分之十。
Over the same period, America’s economy probably shrank again.
同时，美国的经济很有可能再次萎缩。
4. typical adj. having the usual features or qualities of a particular group or thing 典型的，有代表性的
e.g. This painting is typical of his work. 这幅画是他的代表作。
The program can model a typical home page for you.这个程序可以帮你制作一份典型的主页。
5. modest adj.
1) not very great, big, or expensive 不太大的，不贵的（价格）
e.g. I bought the house at a modest price. 我以适中的价格买下了这所房子。
Prices tended to rise year by year, but at a modest rate. 物价年年上涨，但幅度不大。
2) someone who is modest does not want to talk about their abilities or achievements谦虚的,谦逊的
e.g. She is very modest about her success. 她对自己的成就很谦虚。
He is very modest and open to advice. 他很谦虚，乐于接受意见。modesty n. [U] a modest way of behaving or talking 谦虚, 虚心
e.g. Modesty is one of his good qualities. 谦虚是他的美德之一。
His modesty was all put on. 他的谦逊都是装出来的。
6. average adj.
1) having qualities that are typical of most people or things 普通的，平常的
e.g. The average American has not even thought about next year’s election.
普通的美国人甚至都没有想过明年的大选。
I was just an average sort of student. 我只是一个普通的学生。
2) the average amount is the amount you get when you add together several quantities and divide this by the total number of quantities 平均的
e.g. 400 people a year die of this disease on average. 平均每年有400人死于这种疾病。
The average weekly cinema attendance in February was 2.41 million.
2月份，平均每周的观影人数为241万。
Para 3
7. extreme
1) n. [C] a situation, quality, etc. which is as great as it can possibly be - used especially when talking
about two opposites 极端，完全相反的事物
e.g. The bacteria can bear extremes of heat and cold. 这种细菌能经受极端的冷热。
He used to be very shy, but now he’s gone to the opposite extreme.
他以前很腼腆，现在却走向了另一个极端。
2) adj. very great in degree 极度的, 极端的
e.g. His political ideas are rather extreme. 他的政治思想相当极端。
Don’t go doing anything extreme like leaving the country.
千万不要做出诸如离开国家之类的极端行为。extremely adv. to a very great degree 非常, 极其
e.g. This task is extremely difficult. 这项任务极其困难。
Professor Wu is extremely modest. 吴教授虚怀若谷。
Para 4
8. the bulk of 大部分，主要部分
e.g. The vast bulk of imports and exports are carried by sea.
大部分的进出口货物都是通过海路运输的。
The bulk of the population gathers in the cities. 大部分人口集中在城市里。
9. steady adj. continuing or developing gradually or without stopping, and not likely to change 稳定的，不变的
e.g. The country is experiencing slow but steady economic growth.
国家经济正在缓慢但稳步地增长。
We are making slow but steady progress. 我们虽然缓慢但是在稳步前进。
10. necessarily adv. in a way that cannot be different or be avoided 必然地，必定地
e.g. A good book does not necessarily sell well. 好书未必畅销。
You don’t necessarily have to go. 你不一定要去。
necessary adj. something that is necessary is what you need to have or need to do 必要的, 必需的
e.g. Is it necessary for me to attend the meeting? 我有必要参加这个会议吗？She hasn’t the experience necessary for the job. 她没有做那份工作事所必需的经验。
necessary，essential “必要的, 必需的”
necessary强调“必须”或“必要”但并非绝对不可或缺；
essential表示“基本的”，如果缺少了，某事物就无法存在或无法形成其应有的状态。
necessity n. [C] (plural necessities) something that you need to have in order to live 必需品
e.g. Food is a necessity, but wine is an extravagance. 食物是必需品,而酒则是奢侈品。
She cannot buy daily necessities, much fewer luxuries.
她连生活必需品都不能买，更不用说奢侈品。
11. point to 指出
e.g. Willan was able to point to the progressive changes he had already introduce.
维兰能够指出他已经采用的一些革新。
Everything points to a bright future for us all. 种种迹象表明我们都有光明的前途。
12. trend n.[C] a general tendency in the way a situation is changing or developing 趋势，倾向
e.g. There is a growing trend towards earlier retirement. 提早退休者有增加的趋势。
Interior designers spend their working lives keeping up with the latest trends.
室内设计师的整个职业生涯都是紧跟时尚潮流的。
13. particular adj. special or great 特别的，独有的
e.g. I have nothing particular to do this evening. 今晚我没有什么特殊的事要做。
She is very particular over what she wears. 她对穿着特别讲究。
particular, special, specific, peculiar, especial “特殊的, 特别的”
particular 指从众多同类中选出一个特别的，强调同类中某一个事物所具有的特殊性质；
special 指与众不同的，与同类事物相异的性质或为某种需要而专门设计的；
specific 指某类事物具有与众不同的、本身所固有的、特定的功能；
peculiar 指某一个体与同类事物具有不同的特性，特别暗示其异乎寻常以致奇异的独立性；
especial 是special的异体字，意思一样；
in particular 特别, 尤其
e.g. She stressed that point in particular. 她特别强调了那一点。
The whole meal was good but the wine in particular was excellent.
整顿饭都很好，尤其是葡萄酒更好。
particularly adv. more than usual or more than others 特别，尤其
e.g. This effect is particularly noticeable in younger patients.
这种作用在年轻一些的病人身上尤为明显。
Traffic is bad, particularly in the city centre. 交通状况很差，尤其是在市中心。
Para 5
14. In general, the idea behind compensating with company shares, which rise and fall with the projected value of the business, is to tie CEO’s pay to performance.
Translation: 一般来说，公司股份的价值会随着公司生意预估利润的增减而涨跌, 用公司股票补充薪水的目的是使行政主管的收入与业绩挂钩。
Explanation: behind compensating with company shares介词短语作为定语修饰the idea; which引导的非限定性从句修饰的是company shares
compensate with 补偿
e.g. They tried to compensate their defects with super skills. 他们试图用超能力弥补自身缺陷。
Do you want us to compensate you with a new one or with money?
你要赔一件新的呢，还是赔钱？
performance n.[C, U] how well or badly a person, company, etc. does a particular job or activity 业绩，工作情况
e.g. The company needs to improve performance in all these areas.
公司需要在所有这些方面改善业绩。
How did you monitor the performance of your department?
你是怎样检查你们部门的工作情况的？
perform vt. to do something, especially something difficult or useful 做，工作
e.g. This operation has never been performed in this country. 这个国家从未做过这种手术。
A computer can perform many tasks at once. 电脑能同时做多项工作。
15. reward
1) vt. to give something to someone because they have done something good or helpful or have worked for it 奖励，奖赏
e.g. She was richly rewarded for all her hard work. 她一向勤劳苦干，得到了丰厚的奖赏。
He rewarded us generously for helping him. 对于我们的帮助，他大加酬谢。
2) n. [C] [U] something that you get because you have done something good or helpful or have worked hard 奖励，奖赏
e.g. You deserve a reward for being so helpful. 你帮了这么大的忙，理应受到奖励。
Parents often give their children rewards for passing exams. 父母经常给通过考试的孩子奖励。
16. account n. [C] an arrangement in which a bank keeps your money safe so that you can pay more in or take money out （银行）账户
e.g. I’d like to pay some money into my account. 我想在我的账户里存一些钱。
You need just one pound to open a bank account with us.
你只需一英镑就可在我行开立一个账户。
17. take a hit 受到影响
e.g. Investor confidence would take a hit. 投资者的信心将会遭受重重一击。
As a result, enterprise earnings could take a big hit if the market turns down.
因此，如果股市下行，企业收入可能会受到严重影响。
18. These CEOs’ stock-based earnings are typically taxed more favorably than regular income,which shows another reason they’ve gained such popularity.
Translation: 和固定收入相比，股票收益能更好规避税收，所以股票也因此大受欢迎。
Explanation: more favorably than 相比更有利；which指代these CEOs’ stock-based earnings are typically taxed more favorably than regular income这句阐述的事实；which引导的状语从句中的they指代stock。
regular adj. lasting or happening over a long period 稳定的，固定的
e.g. She couldn’t find any regular employment. 她找不到任何固定工作。
You want a regular income but don’t want to work. 你既想有稳定的收入，又不想工作。
popularity n. [U] when something or someone is liked or supported by a lot of people普及, 流行
e.g. Her books have been in popularity recently. 她的书近来大受欢迎。
Our product enjoys popularity throughout the world. 我们的产品饮誉全球。popular adj. liked by a lot of people 流行的, 普遍的, 大众的
e.g. The square dance is popular in our country. 广场舞在我国很流行。
In China, the concept of e-government enjoys popular support gradually.
在我国，电子政务的概念逐步深入人心。
Para 6
19. Instead of valuing the long-term success of your company, an executive whose earnings based on quarterly and annual numbers may focus on short-term goals, ignoring concerns about a company’s long-term health, continuous development or drive toward innovation.
Translation: 一位高管收入的多少不是依据公司长远的成功来评估，而是依据公司季度或年度这样的短期目标的数据来评估。这样高管们可能会着力于短期目标，而忽略了公司长期健康持续的发展，以及创新的动力。
Explanation: whose earnings based on quarterly and annual numbers作为定语从句修饰an executive; ignoring为现在分词作伴随状语
instead of 代替
e.g. He put a plus instead of a minus. 他填了个加号而不是减号。
They raised prices and cut production, instead of cutting costs.
他们没有降低成本，而是抬高价格、削减产量。
annual
1) adj. based on or calculated over a period of one year 年度的，一年的
e.g. The chairman of the company presented the annual report. 公司董事长提交了年度报告。
The market has shown annual growth of 20% for several years.
这几年的市场年增长率都保持在20%。
2) n.[C] a book, especially for children, that is produced once a year with the same title but different stories, pictures, etc. 年刊，年报
e.g. The Football Annual for 2001 kept his picture in it. 2001年的《足球年刊》把他的相片登在上面。
Most high schools publish an annual, with pictures of all the graduates of the year.
多数中学出版年刊，其中刊登当年全体毕业生的照片。
annually adv. once every year 一年一次地
e.g. The exhibition is held annually. 这个展览每年举行一次。
These trees fruit annually. 这些树每年结果子。
concern n. [C], [U] something that is important to you or that involves you 关心，忧虑
e.g. His main concern is to be able to provide for his family. 他主要关心的是能不能养家糊口。
Quite rightly, the environment is of great concern. 当然，环境问题人们极为关注。
Para 7
20. unfortunately adv. used when you are mentioning a fact that you wish were not true可惜地, 遗憾地
e.g. Unfortunately, I missed the last train. 我遗憾地错过了末班火车。
Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend the meeting. 真可惜我不能参加这次会议。
unfortunate adj. someone who is unfortunate has something bad happen to them 不幸的, 倒霉的
e.g. I was unfortunate to lose my keys. 我很倒霉，丢了钥匙。
Don’t laugh at unfortunate people. 不要嘲笑不幸的人。
fortunately adv. happening because of good luck 幸运地
e.g. Fortunately for him, he was very soon offered another job.
他运气好，很快就有人聘请他做另一个工作。
Fortunately for us, the weather is getting better. 我们运气好，天气变好了。
21. knock down 减少
e.g. I managed to knock him down to $ 400. 我设法让他把价格降到了400元。
It manages to knock rents down to$ 1 per square foot. 成功地将租金降到每平方英尺1美元。
22. vote with one’s feet 用离开或逃离来表示不赞成; 用脚投票
e.g. Since he came to power, many people voted with their feet. 他当权之后，很多人愤然离去。
Shoppers voted with their feet and avoided the store. 购物者对那家商店避而远之。
23. available adj. something that is available is able to be used or can easily be bought or found 可获得的，可找到的
e.g. This dictionary is also available in electronic form. 这部词典也有电子版本的。
The information is available on the Internet. 从互联网上可得到这个信息。
24. investigate vt.to try to find out the truth about something such as a crime, accident, or scientific problem调查
e.g. The crime is presently being investigated by the police. 警方目前正在调查这起案件。
It is only fairly recently that historians have begun to investigate the question.
只是到最近历史学家才开始探究这个问题。
investigation n. [C] an official attempt to find out the truth about or the cause of something such as
a crime, accident, or scientific problem 调查
e.g. She is still under investigation. 她仍在接受调查。
Are there further developments in the investigation? 调查有新的进展吗？
参考译文
为什么首席执行官的薪水是你的300倍？
自20世纪70年代以来，美国企业的运营已经发生了许多变化。打字机过时了，社交媒体风头正劲。而最高行政官赚得盆满钵满—很多很多很多的钱。
从1978年到2014年，首席执行官报酬的涨幅为惊人的997%。在同一时期，普通职员的薪水涨幅是微小的10.9%。1978年，首席执行官赚到的薪水是一般职员的30倍。而在2014年，他们挣到的钱已经是普通员工的300倍之多。
不管你是最顶端的首席执行官还是最底端的普通员工，或是介于两者之间的中层员工，以下的内容可以帮你搞清楚为什么你老板的老板的老板赚得比你多百倍，而这对你又意味着什么。
首席执行官的薪水构成可能不同于你的。假设你是一个普通员工，你每个月的收入可能就是你的固定薪水。但首席执行官的收入远不止于此，他的收入可能包括薪水、奖金和股票收益。专家指出了其中最特别的一项：随股票上涨而增多的薪酬。
一般来说，公司股份的价值会随着公司生意预估利润的增减而涨跌, 用公司股票补充薪水的目的是使行政主管的收入与业绩挂钩。从逻辑上来讲，公司发展得好，首席执行官会得到奖励。反之，如果公司的年收益很差，首席执行官的银行账户也会很不好看。然而，由公司股票补充薪水的做法让行政主管们有无限的优势。即使是公司处境艰难的时候，首席执行官们也会过得很好。因此他们甚至可能通过裁减员工或降低薪水来确保公司看起来还不错。和固定收入相比，股票收益能更好规避税收，所以股票也因此大受欢迎。
首席执行官目光可能非常短浅。一位高管收入的多少不是依据公司长远的成功来评估，而是依据公司季度或年度这样的短期目标的数据来评估。这样高管们可能会着力于短期目标，而忽略了公司长期健康持续的发展，以及创新的动力。
那你能做什么呢？作为一名员工，你不太可能让首席执行官的薪酬降低到和你差不多的水平。你可以用脚投票，选择去一个高管薪酬更接地气的小公司。按照法律规定，上市公司的信息是公开的，你可以在提交你的纳税清单之前调查一下这些公司高管的薪资。或者你可以创办你自己的企业，成为自己的首席执行官。
☛ Fill in each blank with one word according to the passage you have just read.
Reading Activity 2 Read and Think Critically
（略）
After-reading Activity 1 Develop Your Vocabulary
☛ Complete each sentence with the proper form of the word given in brackets.
1. Large companies often pay better salaries (salary).
2. She found it extremely (extreme) difficult to get a job.
3. A good diet is necessary (necessarily) for maintaining a healthy body.
4. He did not particularly (particular) want to take up a competitive sport.
5. She was fired for not performing (performance) the duties outlined in her contract.
6. The children were rewarded (reward) with some chocolate for behaving well yesterday.
7. The government has little popular (popularity) support among women voters.
8. It makes no difference whether these interest payments are paid quarterly or annually (annual).
9. We were late getting to the airport, but fortunately (unfortunately) our plane was delayed.
10. Following a major police investigation (investigate), two men were arrested.
After-reading Activity 2 Know More Expressions
☛ Tell the meaning of each expression after the given example.
e.g. the bulk of your earnings 你收入的大部分
the bulk of the population 大多数人口
the bulk of HIV transmissions 大多数艾滋病毒的传播
the bulk of the text 正文的大部分
e.g. point to one trend 指出一个趋势
point to the positive changes 指出有进步意义的变化
point to a poor heating system 指出供暖系统差
point to an increase in technology use 指出对科技使用的增加
e.g. compensate with company shares 用公司股票作为补偿
compensate with money 用钱作补偿
compensate with an expensive bottle of wine 补偿一瓶昂贵的葡萄酒
compensate with a smart strategy 采取一个明智的策略作为补偿
e.g. stock instead of material benefits 股票代替物质福利
walk to work instead of going by car 步行上班代替开车上班
cheaper drugs without trademark instead of 便宜的无商标的药品代替比较昂
more expensive brand names 贵的品牌药
running down stocks instead of making 减少库存而不是生产新的产品
new products
e.g. knock your own CEO’s pay down from sky-level 减少你（公司的）总裁的天价薪酬
knock the price down from $800 to $550 价格从800美元减少到550美元
knock down to ₤ 100 降价到100英镑
knock down to rock-bottom price 降到底价
After-reading Activity 3 Listen and Write
☛ Listen to the following sentences and fill in the missing letters of each word. Check whether you really understand their meanings and can spell them correctly.
1. We were visited by a young execu t i v e (经理) from a small computer company.
2. This advertisement is a t y p i cal (典型的) example of their marketing strategy.
3. He charged a relatively m o d e st (不贵的) fee.
4. The cars were being sold at an aver a g e（平均的）price of $11,000.
5. Keep the camera st e a dy (稳定的) while you are taking a picture.
6. Lately there has been a t r end (趋势) towards hiring younger, cheaper employees.
7. I opened a savings acc o u nt (账户) at my local bank.
8. It is widely accepted that smiling and r e g u lar (固定的) exercise can take years off a person.
9. The shortage of water is beginning to cause widespread conc e r n (担心).
10. This program will take up a lot of your av a i lable (可获得的) disk space.