一、QuickServe 2.0
appliance
英 [əˈplaɪəns] 美 [əˈplaɪəns]
n.(家用)电器，器具
dedication
英 [ˌdedɪˈkeɪʃn] 美 [ˌdedɪˈkeɪʃn]
n.献身;奉献;(建筑物等的)奉献典礼，落成典礼;(书、音乐或作品前部的)献词
word-of-mouth
英 [wɜːd ɒv maʊθ] 美 [wɜːrd əv maʊθ]
adj.口头的；口述的
QuickServe is a successful home repair company.
It provides quick, reliable repair services to homes.
It was established 5 years ago, and has been expanding rapidly.
In the last 2 years, it has opened offices in 3 new cities.
Q：What services does he provide?
A：It provides home repair services.
Because of its rapid growth, it has to hire many new employees.
In the last 6 months, it has hired 50 new employees.
The total number of employees in the company is now over 500.
And the number of customers has increased to more than 5000.
Q：How many people has the company hired in the last 6 months?
A：It has hired 50 new employees.
Q：How many customers does the company have?
A：It has more than 5000 customers.
The company has also improved its business model.
Instead of offering only repair services, it can now help customers upgrade their appliances.
QuickServe does this by giving a choice.
Customers can choose to repair an appliance or upgrade it by buying a new one.
If they choose to buy a new one, they'll get a discounted price.
So a customer can either repair a broken refrigerator for a small fee or buy a new one.
If they choose to buy a new one,they will get a discounted price.
A fee is a charge for a service.
If they buy a new one, they'll get a discounted price along with a free installation.
This is possible because several appliance manufacturers have agreed to give QuickServe big discounts.
QuickServe then installs the new appliance and removes the old one.
Feedback from customers has been positive.
Q：How have customer reactive to this new service?
A：Their feedback has been positive.
A high percentage of its customers have taken advantage of this new service.
As a result QuickServe has developed a great reputation.
Its dedication to high quality service has proven to be successful.
Its word-of-mouth approach to advertising has been cost effective.
The appliance manufacturers have also been happy with the results.
Their growing relationship with QuickServe has helped to increase their sales.
Q：What have many customers taking advantage of?
A：the new service.
二、The World's Population
The world's population is growing.
There are now over 7 billion people in the world.
During the 20th century, the population grow from 1.65 billion to 6 billion.
It's now growing at a rate of around 1.1 percent per year.
That means an increase about 80 million per year.
By 2024, the population is expected to be around 8 billion people.
Q：How fast is the world population growing?
A：The grow's rate is about 1.1 percent per year.
The growth rate used to be higher.
In the late 1960s, the rate of growth was about 2%.
Since then the growth rate has declined.
It is estimated that the growth rate will be less than 1% by 2020.
By the year 2050, the growth rate should be even less.
Even with a declining growth rate, the population will continue to grow.
But it will grow at a slower rate.
In the past 50 years, the world's population has more than doubled.
It has doubled from around 3 billion in 1960 to more than 7 billion in 2011.
Q：What is slowing down?
A：the growth rate.
The rate of growth varies by country.
The growth rate in India is more than twice that of China.
And the grow rate in Nigeria, which is in Africa, is more than twice India's growth rate.
Russia on the other hand, has had a negative growth rate in some years.
When a country has a negative growth rate, its population is decreasing.
Q：How do the growth of India and China compare?
A：India's growth rate is higher.
三、Contemporary People
David Beckham
英 [ˈdeɪvɪd ˈbɛkəm] 美 [ˈdeɪvɪd ˈbɛkˌhæm]
n.戴维·贝克汉姆（球星名字）
athlete
英 [ˈæθliːt] 美 [ˈæθliːt]
n.运动员;田径运动员;擅长运动的人;健儿
Pakistan
英 [ˌpɑ:kisˈtɑ:n] 美 [ˈpækɪˌstæn]
n.巴基斯坦;巴基斯坦伊斯兰共和国;南亚国家
injury
英 [ˈɪndʒəri] 美 [ˈɪndʒəri]
n.(对躯体的)伤害，损伤;(对感情的)伤害，挫伤
diagnose
英 [ˈdaɪəɡnəʊz] 美 [ˌdaɪəɡˈnoʊs]
v.诊断(疾病);判断(问题的原因)
ALS
肌萎缩性脊髓侧索硬化症
nerve
英 [nɜːv] 美 [nɜːrv]
n.神经;神经质;神经紧张;勇气;气魄
v.鼓足勇气;振作精神
Co-founder of Apple, Steve Jobs was a major figure in the computer industry.
He was self-centered and difficult to work for, but he led the development of many great products.
He died of cancer when he was just 56 years old.
Jack Ma, is one of the richest and most famous man in China.
He comes from a poor family and failed his college entrance exams twice.
Despite his many failures he has built one of the world's largest internet companies.
David Beckham is one of the world's richest and most famous athletes.
He started playing professional football when he was just 17.
Much of his success as an athlete, is because he practiced harder than many other players.
As a young girl in Pakistan, Mlala became famous for her writings on women's education.
In 2012, She was shot in the head and nearly killed.
She survived the injury, and became the world's most famous teenager.
Born in 1942, Stephen Hawking is one of the world's most famous scientist.
When he was 23, he was diagnosed with ALS, a rare disease of the nerves.
Because of his disease, he is unable to walk and talk.
四、Personality Types
Shy people are usually quiet and uncomfortable around other people.
They generally dislike going to social events such as parties.
It's often difficult to make friends with a shy person because they won't open up.
Outgoing people enjoy being with others and are comfortable in social situations.
They are friendly and pleasant to be with, though sometimes they can't be trusted.
Self-centered people like to be the center of attention
They like people to look at them, and pay attention to them.
Self-centered people often talk too much, and don't listen enough.
Selfish and greedy people don't share things with others.
They keep things for themselves and always want more.
People who are responsible and trustworthy are important in almost any situation.
They can be depended on to get things done.
These people can be trusted.
Some people really dislike being around Self-centered people.
五、Relationship Advice
Hey, Steven, you know I’m your friend, right?
Sure, I know that.。
What are you trying to say?
I’m sorry to say this, but I think you are making a fool of yourself.
How am I making a fool of myself?
Your girlfriend is taking advantage of you.
Taking advantage of me?
Yes, I think so.
She's just using you.
To make a fool of someone means to make them look stupid.
So, maybe she is.
But I don’t mind.
Even if she is using me, it’s ok.
I’m using her too.
What do you mean?
Aren’t you in love with her?
Yes, I’m in love with her.
But that doesn’t mean that I’m not using her too.
Steven doesn't mind if his girlfriend is using him.
I don’t understand.
What do you mean?
Maybe I’m using her because I enjoy being in love.
I can’t imagine life without her.
Even if she hurts me sometimes, I love her.
Q：What can't imagine?
A：life without his girlfriend
Do you trust her?
Yes, I trust her.
She tells me what’s important to her.
She’s honest with me.
She has never lied to me about anything important.
To trust someone means you can believe what they say or promise to do.
Are you honest with her?
Yes, we are honest with each other, even when it hurts.
And because we’re honest with each other, we trust each other.
OK, so you don’t think you’re being taken advantage of.
No, I don’t, as long as she is honest with me.
The day she isn’t honest with me, will be the end of our relationship.
And when that happens, my heart will break.
But until then, I’m her man.
Q：What would happened if she isn't honest with him?
A： Their relationship will end.
OK, I think I understand.
I didn’t think you knew what was going on.
I’m not as stupid as my look, my friend.
Being in love with her, makes my life exciting.
Well, I hope you’re right.
Q：What makes his life exciting?
A：being in love with her
Their relationship will end when she is no longer honest with him.
