seconds went slowly by. Did I say something wrong? Does this person hate me? Am I going to get fired? But it's worth remembering that if you don't know what to say or do, there is always the choice to do nothing. Uncomfortable silences aren't necessarily a bad thing, depending on how you use them.

For example, Katie Donovan is a supporter of the awkward-silence negotiating technique. As she said, "The first step is to be silent or shut up!"If ,for example, you are offered a starting salary of $40,000 when you know that the median salary for this position is $48,000, you can say something like this," Thank you for the offer. I'm a little surprised about the salary, though. Based on my research I would have expected it to be in the $50,000 range."

It's a good start; there is no phrase more quietly deadly in the business world than "I'm a little surprised". But it only works if you say this-and then say nothing. During this pause, Donovan explains, the hiring manager is likely trying to work out how serious you are and how much more to offer. "Remember," Donovan writes, " the hiring manager most likely will increase the salary during the meeting."

28. What would the employees often do when they met with the boss's silence?

A. Keep silent. B. Fight back. C. Get angry. D. Give in.

29. What does the author say about silence in Paragraph 2?

A. It is a basic part of communication. B. It gives people time for themselves.

C. You don't have to break it all the time. D. The meaning of it varies among people.

30. What does the underlined word "median" mean in Paragraph 3?

A. Average B Highest. C. Final D. Starting

31 What should you do after saying "I'm a little surprised"?

A. Give up your request. B. Keep silent for a while

C. Avoid making eye contact D. Continue to give your reasons

Researchers say they have developed technology that could predict heart attacks years before they happen. They report using mathematical systems to examine CT images of a patient's heart. A CT scan uses X-rays and a computer to make detailed pictures of bones, organs and other tissue inside the body.

The new method was developed by researchers at the University of Oxford in England. A report on their study was published in the medical journal The Lancet. Also taking part in the study were teams from Germany and the US.

Most heart attacks result from a build-up of fatty tissue inside arteries（动脉）that carry blood from the heart to other areas of the body, thus blocking this flow of blood and causing a heart attack.

Currently, doctors use CT scans to learn when a sticky substance called plaque has already built up inside an artery. The new technology is designed to predict which arteries are at risk for future buildup.

The researchers reported using computers to examine CT scans to measure how much fat is present around heart arteries. That fat changes when an artery becomes affected, serving as an early warning system for heart attacks.

Charalambos, a professor at Oxford University, said he believes the research shows this