第三部：阅读理解 （共两节，满分40分）
第一节：阅读短文（共15小题，每小题2分，满分30分）
About 4 years ago, as a newly appointed general manager for a chemical plant near Toronto, I was faced with several leadership challenges. When I was first appointed as acting general manager, the plant was not eve
n covering its costs and I was told that it would either be turned around or else!
I met with all employees and explained the severity(严峻)of the situation and that we would all need to do what we could to increse sales and improve performance or reduce operating expenses. They all appreciated my honesty although they were very nervous about their futures.
I then started working with each department head to determine how I could support their efforts. At first, they thought that I was looking to fix the blame for inefficiencies(无效率), but over time, they realized that I only wanted to help them find solutions.
They learned to trust me; as when things sometimes went poorly, I told my boss that I was the person in charge rather than pointing my finger at one of my members of staff. When we gained new busuness and it directly improved our bottom line, I praised the efforts of the entire team.
The plant workers became more and more motivated and now they all seem to really enjoy their jobs and I feel honored to be their leader. Do we still have challenges? Yes, but the strength of the team is such that we all pull toghter to face them “as one”, kind of like a family facing life’s ups and downs.
56. When the author bacame the general manager, the plant _____.
A. could only make ends meet
B. had a strong management team
C. was really in bad situation
D. was planning to enter other fields
57. When the author came to the plant the firs time, he impressed the employees with his _____.
A. practical attitude B. Intelligence C. diligence D. politeness
58. Every time things didn’t go well, the auth
or would _____.
A. take the blame himself
B. ask his staff to take responsibility
C. get very depressed
D. think of ways to increase sales.
59. The passage offers a good example of _____.
A. being a good employee
B. being a good leader
C. reducing operating expenses
D. The importance of honesty.
