【正文】 ooked richer. He wondered: Might deaf people actually have a genuine language? And could that language be unlike any other on Earth? It was 1955, when even deaf people dismissed their signing as substandard. Stokoe39。s idea was academic heresy (異端邪說 ). It is 37 years later. Stokoe now devoting his time to writing and editing books and journals and to producing video materials on ASL and the deaf culture is having lunch at a caf233。 near the Gallaudet campus and explaining how he started a revolution. For decades educators fought his idea that signed languages are natural languages like English, French and Japanese. They assumed language must be based on speech, the modulation (調(diào)節(jié) ) of sound. But sign language is based on the movement of hands, the modulation of space. What I said, Stokoe explains, is that language is not mouth stuff it39。s brain stuff. 11. The study of sign language is thought to be . A) an approach to simplifying the grammatical structure of a language B) an attempt to clarify misunderstanding about the origin of language C) a challenge to traditional views on the nature of language D) a new way to look at the learning of language present growing interest in sign language was stimulated by . A) a leading specialist in the study of liberal arts B) an English teacher in a university for the deaf C) some senior experts in American Sign Language D) a famous scholar in the study of the human brain 13. According to Stokoe, sign language is . A) an international language C) an artificial language B) a substandard language D) a genuine language 14. Most educators objected to Stokoe39。s idea because they thought . A) a language should be easy to use and understand B) sign language was too artificial to be widely accepted C) a language could only exist in the form of speech sounds D) sign language was not extensively used even by deaf people 15. Stokoe39。s argument is based on his belief that . A) language is a product of the brain B) language is a system of meaningful codes C) sign language is derived from natural language D) sign language is as efficient as any other language Passage Two Questions 16 to 20 are based on the following passage. A is for always getting to work on time. B is for being extremely busy. C is for the conscientious ( 勤勤懇懇的 ) way you do your job. You may be all these things at the office, and more. But when it es to getting ahead, experts say, the ABCs of business should include a P, for politics, as in office politics. Dale Carnegie suggested as much more than 50 years ago: Hard work alone doesn39。t ensure career advancement. You have to be able to sell yourself and your ideas, both publicly and behind the scenes. Yet, despite the obvious rewards of engaging in office politics a better job, a raise, praise many people are still unable or unwilling to play the game. People assume that office politics involves some manipulative (工于心計的 ) behavior, says Deborah Comer, an assistant professor of management at Hofstra University. But politics derives from the word 39。polite39。. It can mean lobbying and forming associations. It can mean being kind and helpful, or even trying, to please your superior, and then expecting something in return. In fact, today, experts define office politics as proper behavior used to pursue one39。s own selfinterest in the workplace. In many cases, this involves some form of socializing within the office environment not just in large panies, but in small workplaces as well. The first thing people are usually judged on is their ability to perform well on a consistent basis, says Neil P. Lewis, a management psychologist. But if two or three candidates are up for a promotion, each of whom has reasonably similar ability, a manager is going to promote the person he or she likes best. It39。s simple human nature. Yet, psychologists say, many employees and employers have trouble with the concept of politics in the office. Some people, they say, have an idealistic vision of work and what it takes to succeed. Still others associate politics with flattery 奉承 ), fearful that, if they speak up for themselves, they may appear to be flattering their boss for favors. Experts suggest altering this negative picture by recognizing the need for some selfpromotion. 16. Office politics (Line 2, Para. 4) is used in the passage to refer to . A) the political views and beliefs of office workers B) the interpersonal relationships within a pany C) the various qualities required for a successful career D) the code of behavior for pany staff 17. To get promoted, one must not only be petent but . A) avoid being too outstanding B) get along well with his colleagues C) honest and loyal to his pany D) give his boss a good impression 18. Why are many people unwilling to play the game (Line 4, Para. 5)? A) They are not good at manipulating colleagues. B) They feel that such behavior is unprincipled. C) They think the effort will get them nowhere. D) They believe that doing so is impractical. 19. The author considers office politics to be . A) unwele at the workplace B) bad for interpersonal relationships C) an important factor for personal advancement D) indispensable to the development of pany culture 20. It is the author39。s view that . A) selfpromotion does not necessarily mean flattery B) hard work contributes very little to one39。s promotion C) many employees fail to recognize the need of flattery