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Preschool-aged children who can focus on a particular task for an extended period of time have a 50 percent greater chance of graduating from college, according to a new study from Oregon State University. Observing 430 preschoolers, researchers asked parents to rate their children based on social and behavioral skills, such as "plays with a single toy for long periods of time" or "child gives up easily when difficulties are encountered." Additionally, in order to find out the changes happening on them, the children's reading and math skills were assessed at age 7 and again at age 21. What researchers discovered was that the ability to pay attention and follow directions may be more critical than academic abilities to overall academic success. "There is a big push now to teach children early academic skills at the preschool level," said Megan McClelland, an early child development researcher at Oregon State and lead author of the study, in a news release. "Our study shows that the biggest predictor of college completion wasn't math or reading skills, but whether or not they were able to pay attention and finish tasks at age 4." Parents whose children rated higher on attention span and persistence at the age of 4 had a nearly 50 percent greater chance of completing their college degree by age 25, according to the study. Fortunately, as McClelland noted in the news release, these social and behavioral skills can be taught, and the earlier adults step in to guide the student, the greater chances a child has to succeed academically. "Academic ability carries you a long way, but these other skills are also important," McClelland said. "Increasingly, we see that the ability to listen, pay attention, and complete important tasks is _ for success later in life." Preschoolers observed in the research _ . Answer: In the United States, when one becomes rich, he wants people to know it.And even if he does not become very rich, he wants people to think that he is.That is what "Keeping up with the Joneses" is about.It is the story of someone who tries to look as rich as his neighbors. The expression was first used in 1913 by a young American called Arthur Momand.He told this story about himself.He began earning $125 a week at the age of 23.That was a lot of money in those days.He got married and moved with his wife to a very wealthy neighborhood outside New York City.When he saw that rich people rode horses, Momand went horseback riding every day.When he saw that rich people had servants, Momand and his wife also hired a servant and gave big parties for their new neighbors.It was like a race, but one could never finish this race because one was always trying to keep up.The race ended for Momand and his wife when they could no longer pay for their new way of life.They moved back to an apartment in New York City. Momand looked around him and noticed that many people do things just to keep up with rich lifestyle of their neighbors.He saw the funny side of it and started to write a series of short stories.He called it ''Keeping up with the Joneses", because "Jones" is a very common name in the United States. "Keeping up with the Joneses" came to mean keeping up with rich lifestyle of the people around you.Momand's series appeared in different newspapers across the country for over 28 years. People never seem to get tired of keeping up with the Joneses.And there are "Joneses" in every city of the world.But one must get tired of trying to keep up with the Joneses because no matter what one does, Mr.Jones always seems to be ahead. Some people want to keep up with the Joneses because they _ . Answer: Linda was kind of late. Linda, 25, had a lot to do at work, plus visitors on the way: her parents were coming in for Thanksgiving from her hometown. But as she hurried down the subway stairs, she started to feel uncomfortably warm. By the time she got to the platform, Linda felt weak and tired -- maybe it hadn't been a good idea to give blood the night before, she thought. She rested herself against a post close to the tracks. Several yards away, Frank, 43, and his girlfriend, Jennifer, found a spot close to where the front of the train would stop. They were deep in discussion about a house they were thinking of buying. But when he heard the scream, followed by someone yelling, "Oh, my God, she fell in!"Frank didn't hesitate. He jumped down to the tracks and ran some 40 feet toward the body lying on the rails. "No ! Not you ! "his girlfriend screamed after him. She was right to be alarmed. By the time Frank reached Linda, he could feel the tracks shaking and see the light coming. The train was about 20 seconds from the station. It was hard to lift her. She was just out. But he managed to raise her the four feet to the platform so that bystanders could hold her by the arms and drag her away from the edge. That was where Linda briefly regained consciousness, felt herself being pulled along the ground, and saw someone else holding her purse. Linda thought she'd been robbed. A woman held her hand and a man gave his shirt to help stop the blood pouring from her head. And she tried to talk but she couldn't, and that was when she realized how much pain she was in. Police and fire officials soon arrived, and Frank told the story to an officer. Jennifer said her boyfriend was calm on their 40minute train ride downtown--just as he had been seconds after the rescue, which made her think about her reaction at the time. "I saw the train coming and I was thinking he was going to die, " she explained. When did Linda become conscious again? Answer: In the Central Valley of California, famers are reducing crop size because they do not have enough water. Last year, California had the least amount of rain since officials began keeping records. And it may be just as bad this year. Reservoirs are areas where water is stored. In California, some reservoirs are empty. The amount of snow in the Sierra Mountains is 75 percent below normal. This mountain snow melts in the spring and fills rivers. The water is used by farmers. But now, farmers are warning of the possibility of another "Dust Bowl", like the one of 1930s. Severe droughts and dust storms covered American farmlands and few crops grew. Dan Errotabere is a third generation California farmer. He grows tomatoes, walnuts, garlic and other crops in Fresno County. He says the federal agency that controls the amount of water released from dams and rivers has stopped giving him water. He and other farmers say officials are not correctly administering the water system. "The last couple of years-dry years, along with severe environmental restrictions--has now presented us with a zero allocation year", said he. Farmer may not be able to plant crops on more than 200,000 hectares of farmland in the Central Valley this spring. Mr. Errotabere will plant crops on just 80 percent of this farmland. He has enough work for only 15 of his 25 workers. Federal and state officials sometimes reduce the amount of water to farmers even in years with normal rainfall levels. The officials must supply water to the Sacramento River Delta which is home to several endangered species. Long-term solutions include conservation, recycling waste water and, building "desalinization enters". These center remove salt from seawater so _ can be used on farms. Farmers say better administration of the state's water system could also help solve the crisis. There is no water in some reservoirs because _ . Answer: What separates me from everyone else? The difference is not what clothes I wear or the music I listen to, but what I feel inside. Ever since I was young, I have loved professional wrestling.I woke up every Saturday to watch my favorite "Superstars." As I grew older, I got a lot of flak for watching this "fake" sport.My peers would laugh at me for following what was called a "man's soap opera." So, _ .Like everyone else, I wanted to be associated with the cool clique.I yearned to be invited to the parties of the in-crowd and hang out with the popular kids.I became pretty successful.Although my Friday evenings were busy with parties, I would still wake up early Saturdays to watch wrestling.It wasn't until freshman year that I realized I wasn't being myself. That year, I tried many new things and activities and made new friends.In my town, football was the sport, so I decided to play football, thinking it might give me a head start in popularity.The team started with 48 athletes.At the end, there were 14 of us left.I stuck it out not because I liked it, but because I am not a quitter.That long season taught me a lesson: I wasn't a football player.More importantly, it taught me to be myself. After that season, I went back to being a wrestling fan.I watched it religiously, no matter what insults were thrown my way.I came across a quote: "Don't Dream It, Be It." When I read this, my friend Dan had the same idea I had. "What if we build a wrestling ring?" we asked.We acquired the necessary wood and equipment for its construction.The following weekend, we met at his house.We saw our dream in a pile in his backyard.We worked from dawn to dusk to build our great establishment.By Sunday night, our mission was complete.Our hard work (combined with a little creativity) had paid off.We had a real ring.We decided to hold an "event." We practiced for hours, trying to improve every aspect of our wrestling ability.The date was May 24th.Our show had a start time of 9: 00 p.m.To our surprise, about one hundred family, friends and fans showed up to support us.It was the most important night of my life and a complete success.Since that time, we have held five shows with as many as two hundred and fifty people turning out.We continue to live this dream.We accomplished what we set out to do.We are now well known throughout school.When I walk down the halls, I am respected by my peers.Some are the same peers who ridiculed me for watching wrestling when I was younger.When they approach me, they often say, "Good match, Chris." I humbly say, "Thank you," knowing I did something I believed in. As my senior year winds down, I'll remember all of my high school memories.But what will stick out most is the memory that I did something I loved, despite what everyone said or thought.I accomplished my goal ...I lived my dream. What makes the writer different from the others is _ . Answer:
"Beauty is only skin deep." This expression means that beauty is only a temporary surface quality. Some beauty products can cause lasting damage that goes far below the surface of the skin. In America,many people use sunlight and non-natural light to darken their skin. Health experts advise against what is called"tanning"because of its links to akin cancer. In the African country of Senegal ,some women take health risks trying to do just the opposite. An average beauty supply shop in Dakar has many kinds of skin-lightening creams and soaps. The World Health Organization says that 25%of Senegalese women use skin-lightening production a usual basis. These products can contain chemicals,like mercury ,hydroquinone ,etc. These are dangerous ingredients that can cause cancer and possibly other physical damage to the akin. They can actually burn the eyes and skin. Shop worker Adama Diagne advises her visitors to avoid the stronger products that promise fast results. She users a cream that is made from carrots,not the strong chemical,hydroquinone. She says that it is a personal choice and that no one pressures her. Some women want to be black every day,but for her,she likes to be a shade of brown. Women in Senegal say they lighten their skin for the same reason that women all over the world make changes to their appearance. They say they want to look beautiful,to find a husband, to stand out in a crowd or simply to look great for a special event. This thinking troubles Senegalese film-maker Khardiata Pouye Sall. So,she made"This Color That Bothers Me",a film about the subject of skin lightening. She said,"I used the most shocking images so that women would see the dangers. It is hard to understand why a woman says that dark skin is not beautiful. It is in their heads. They want to please a man,to he loved or they want to please society,to succeed." Ms. Sall says that the government needs to better control the marketing and the sale of skin-lightening products. But she adds that education is the best way to persuade people against using them. What is Sall's attitude towards skin-lightening products? Answer: Unsupportive. J.K. Rowling is the writer of Harry Potter, which is now one of the bestsellers in the world. J.K. Rowling was born in Bristol on July 31st, 1965. She has one sister who is two years younger than her. Both girls loved listening to their father reading bedtime stories to them. They especially loved stories about magical worlds. Rowling wrote her first story, called Rabbit, at the age of six. After she graduated from the university, Rowling worked as a translator in London. During this time, on a long train trip in the summer of 1990, the idea came to her of a boy who has magic but doesn't know it. In 1992 Rowling began to teach English. She lived with her baby daughter, Jessica, and spent much time finishing the first Harry Potter book for young readers. It appeared in June 1997. To her surprise, the book was greatly successful. The film came out in November 2001. Now Harry Potter series is popular with people of all ages and about 60 million books were sold in 200 countries. Why has the series been so successful? There are a few things. Many other magical stories take place in faraway lands or in past or future times. But Harry lives in modern England. He's also a very normal boy: polite, friendly, brave and clever. So when other children read about Harry, they can imagine being like him. J.K. Rowling is very happy with the success, and she is now busy finishing the whole series of seven books. She's writing full time and she's really enjoying life. She says she will go on living a normal life with her daughter and writing children's books. The Harry Potter series is _ . Answer: written for young people An animal will become thicker if it does all aside from Answer: refuse food Which statement about all living organisms is true? Answer: They have at least one cell. Felipe and his friends are planning a trip to London. They have decided their hotel, plane and when to get there, but haven't decided what they want to do. Felipe would like to go boating in the Thames River. All his friends like boat trips, so all of them will go boating in the Thames River. Felipe also loves the British Royal Family! He wants to visit Buckingham Palace and see the changes. But his friend Carmen doesn't want to visit Buckingham Palace. He would like to ride on the London Eye. Carmen would also like to visit the Houses of Parliament and Trafalgar Square. Carmen's boyfriend Leo likes shopping, and he thinks politics is boring and doesn't want to visit the Houses of Parliament. Felipe's friend Juliana likes visiting museums, and she would like to see Buckingham Palace too. Carmen and Leo would like to go shopping in Covent Garden, but Juliana would rather do some shopping in Oxford Street. What haven't Felipe and his friends decided? Answer: What to do.
Children can spend hours a day looking at computer screens and other digital devices . Some eye doctors say this leads to an increase in "computer vision syndrome ." Nathan Bonilla-Warford is an optometrist in Tampa, Florida. He has seen an increase in problems in children. "A lot more children come into the office either because their parents have noticed that they have headaches or red or watery eyes or discomfort, or because their nearsightedness appears to be increasing and they're worried," he says. Dr. Bonilla-Warford says part of the problem is that children may be more likely to pay no attention to early warning signs than adults. "Even if their eyes start to feel uncomfortable or they start to get a headache, they're less likely to tell their parents, because they don't want to have the game or the computer or whatever taken away," he explains. He says another part of the problem is that people blink less often when they use digital devices. He says, "A person who uses an electronic device blinks about one third as much as we normally do in everyday life. And so that can result in the front part of the eye drying and not staying protected like normal." Eye doctors offer suggestions like following which is known as the 20/20/20 rule. That means every twenty minutes look away twenty feet or more for at least twenty seconds from whatever device you're using. Other suggestions include putting more distance between you and the device and using good lighting. Of course, another way is to spend less time looking at screens. Many experts say children should spend no more than two hours a day using digital devices--with no screen time for children under two. But not all eye doctors have noticed an increase in problems in children. Dr. David Hunter, from Children's Hospital Boston, has not seen an increase in his practice. "While it is possible to develop _ looking at screens for a long period of time, there's certainly no proof that it actually causes any damage to the eyes." he says. Which of the following is true according to the passage? Answer: People keep their eyes protected against drying by blinking normally. Bob Butler lost his legs in a 1965 landmine explosion in Vietnam. He returned home as a war hero. Twenty years later,he proved once again that heroism comes from the heart. Butler was working in his garage in a small town in Arizona on a hot summer day when he heard a woman's screams coming from a nearby house. He rolled his wheelchair toward the house,but the dense bush wouldn't allow him to approach the back door. So he got out of his chair and crawled through the dirt and bushes. "I had to get there,"he says. "It didn't matter how much it hurt." When Butler arrived at the house,he traced the screams to the pool,where a three year old girl,Stephanie,was lying at the bottom. She had been born without arms and had fallen in the water and couldn't swim. Her mother stood over her baby screaming loudly. Butler dove to the bottom of the pool and brought little Stephanie up to the deck. Her face was blue,she had no pulse and she was not breathing. Butler immediately went to work performing CPR to revive her while Stephanie's mother telephoned the fire department. She was told the rescue team was already out on a call .Helplessly,she sobbed and hugged Butler's shoulders. As Butler continued with his CPR,he calmly reassured Stephanie's mother. "Don't worry,"he said. "I was her arms to get out of the pool. It'll be okay. I'm now her lungs. Together we can make it." Seconds later the little girl coughed,regained consciousness and began to cry. As they hugged and rejoiced together,the mother asked Butler how he knew it would be okay. "When my legs were blown off in the war,I was all alone in a field,"he told her." No one was there to help except a little Vietnamese girl. As she struggled to drag me into her village,she whispered in broken English,'It okay. You can live. I be your legs. Together we make it.'" "This was my chance,"he told Stephanie's mom,"to return the favor." Why was Butler so confident that the little girl would revive? _ . Answer: Because he remembered the Vietnamese girl's words all time long. If you watch British television on March 15, you might be surprised to see celebrities wearing funny red noses and joking; around. But don't worry. They're not mad. It's all part of a money raising event called Red Nose Day. Founded in 1985 by two British comedians, the aim of the event is to raise money to fight poverty and injustice in the UK and Africa. Celebrities and public figures support the event by making appearances on comic TV shows. For example, UK Prime Minister David Cameron once appeared in a music video by One Direction, which the band produced for the event. Britons don't just raise money for charitable causes on one day a year, but they do it all year round. One way of doing so is by shopping in charity shops. These small shops sell clothes, books and household goods just like any other shop except that it's all secondhand. There are nearly 10,000 charity shops in the UK. Their business model is simple: Anybody who has things they don't want anymore can donate them to a charity shop, where they are checked for damage, cleaned and priced. The money that is made by selling them is used for a charitable cause. The idea of buying used clothes may sound unpleasant, but for shoppers who have less spending money, it has been a welcome option. Now, shopping at charity shops is also becoming popular with young people looking for alternative fashion. "You can find very unique clothes for a very cheap price. It doesn't bother me that other people may have worn them. I simply wash them before I wear them." said Anne Marie, a 19-year-old from the US. So next time you spot a charity shop, why not go inside? Who knows, you might find a lovely dress for just a few pounds. Even better, you can enjoy wearing it in the knowledge tha t your money helped a good cause. Why did Cameron appear in One Direction's music video? Answer: To help raising money. I want to tell you the story of one of my old friends called Bob. His teachers called him A Troublemaker. They also said that he had no future and no hope. But now he owns a small second-hand bookstore store which makes him enough money to live on and also to support his mother. He told me that after he finished grade nine, he went to study at a technical college. He was a pretty bad student so he became one of the gang leaders there. Many of them got caught many times for fighting. It looked like nothing could change his life. That was until one sad day when his father died. That changed everything. After his father died, his mother had to work very hard to make enough money to support the family. He told me that he really pitied his mum after his dad died. He felt that he needed to earn some money rather than let his mum work alone. He loved reading cartoon books and had been collecting them for years. As his family was short of money, he decided that he should sell them. He did this by the side of the road where his mother was selling food. Soon he realized that his books were very popular. So he decided to set up his own business. He started his business by going around buying cartoon books from other people. He bought them for 25% and then sold them for half price. He could make enough money to help support the family. He was a troublemaker to his teachers but he is a hero to me. If you are judged as a bad student or as someone being stupid, I suggest you pay no attention to what they say. Just do your best in everything. Don't give up so easily. Believe in yourself. If you think that you can do it, then you can. Believe me, one day you could be more successful than those persons who looked down upon you. Bob felt that he should change his way of life mainly because he _ . Answer: pitied his mother The British people are among the world's greatest readers of newspapers.It's been the custom ever since most people could read. But why do people want to do nothing but read while traveling to work in a train? Perhaps they are tired, or else they sit behind a newspaper to shut themselves off from the world.All the same, most men would notice a woman struggling with a heavy case and jump up to help her and a pretty girl sitting opposite wouldn't escape their attention either.In this case a paper is useful because they can have a good look at her from behind it without her knowing.Perhaps they do nothing but read.There are stories of girls and young men who met in the rush hours, got married, and went on traveling in the same train hand in hand. A man might be reading a newspaper in a train for the following reasons except that _ . Answer: he hopes to escape the attention of a pretty girl
Some time ago, a friend of mine punished his three-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight , and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, "This is for you, Daddy." He was embarrassed by his earlier over-reaction, but his anger flared again when he found that the box was empty. He shouted at her loudly, "Don't you know that when you give someone a present, there's supposed to be something inside of it?" The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said, "Oh, Daddy, it's not empty. I blew kisses in the box. I filled it with my love. All for you, Daddy." The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged her for forgiveness . My friend told me that he kept that gold box by his bed for years. Whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there. In a very real sense, each of us as parents has been given a gold container filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold. How did the father feel after he listened to his daughter's explanation? A. Happy. B. Sorry. C. Crazy. D. Impatient. Answer: B. Sorry. Hello, everyone. My name is Tom . I'm a middle school student. I am a soccer fan . I play soccer after school every day. This is my father, His name is Mike Smith. He is a soccer fan, too. He plays soccer very well. I like playing soccer with my father very much. We have a great collection of 15 soccer balls. This is my mother . Her name is Linda Smith. And this my sister Mary .But my mother and my sister don't like soccer. They only watch TV at home. They say many TV programs are very interesting. ,. What's Tom's family name? A. Tom. B. Mike C. Tom Smith D. Smith Answer: D. Smith Pupils work harder in lessons if they are taught by a man, a study has claimed. Male teachers are more likely to improve pupils' self-esteem and are judged by pupils to be more fair, according to a study published by the Department for Education. But there is a significant shortage of male teachers, especially in primary schools, with reports last month indicating that almost one in three primaries has an all-female teaching staff. The latest figures heightened fears that schools are becoming dominated by women and children are being denied access to male role models in the classroom. Researchers at the London School of Economics and Westminster University conducted an experiment in which each of 1,200 pupils in 29 schools was given PS2. They could use the money to "buy" up to 10 questions at a cost of 20p each, which they then had to answer. If they were right they were given an extra 20p, but if they were wrong they lost 20p. Boys and girls who had a male teacher chose on average almost half a question more than those taught by women, indicating that they had a more positive outlook on the rewards of effort, the the study said. Researchers wrote: "One of the most significant results featured in this experiment is the positive effect of male teachers on effort. The experiment suggests that higher ability pupils either believed that the teacher would reward them more favorably or had a preference for working hard to please the teacher." According to the Good Teacher Training Guide, 86 per cent of new teachers entering primary schools are female, along with 62 per cent of those entering secondary schools. Professor Alan Smithers, of Buckingham University, said: "This is an interesting and somewhat surprising finding, but it does underline the importance of having a good mix of male and female teachers in classes." Where can we find the passage? A. It is from a PE section on the Internet. B. It is from an educational magazine. C. It comes from the social section of a newspaper. D. It comes from an English teaching book. Answer: B. It is from an educational magazine. Tom and Fred are talking about the year 2020. "What will our world be like in the year 2020?" "I don't know," says Fred. "What do you think?" "Well, no one knows, but it's interesting to guess." "In the year 2020 everyone will carry a pocket computer . The computer will give people the answers to all their problems. We shall all have telephones in our pockets, too, and we'll be able to talk to our friends all over the world. Perhaps we'll be able to see them at the same time. " "A lot of people will live and work under the sea. Perhaps there will be big towns, factories and farms under the sea, too. " "Machines will do most of the work, and so people will have more holidays, perhaps they'll work only two or three days a week. They'll be able to fly to the moon by spaceship and spend their holidays there. " "I'm looking forward to the year 2020. I hope to go to the moon! " "And 1 hope I'll be able to live under the sea." says Fred. "Won't that be very interesting? Just like a fish! " Tom and Fred talked about _ . A. their school life B. some interesting news C. their life in the past D. their life in the future Answer: D. their life in the future For nearly 250 years, Debrett's has advised the British public on suitable social manners. Now, it has listed modern guide to good manners, answering the questions that most trouble the British public in 2014. Using mobile phone in public More questions are asked about mobile use than any other case. According to Debrett's, it is always rude to pay more attention to a phone than the people around you, and they should always be put away when you're paying for something in a shop. They should be turned off in theatres, cinemas or any space where silence is required. Smoking e-cigarettes at work As electronic cigarettes become more popular, questions about whether they are acceptable in the workplace are asked more often. According to Debrett's, they should never be used in a work environment. Smoking e-cigarettes at work shows that you're not focused on your work and may also have a bad influence on your workmates. Giving up your seat on public transport In a recent university experiment only 20 per cent of London tube passengers are willing to give up their seat to people in need. According to Debrett's, passengers should always offer to give up their seat to any person that is pregnant, elderly, or clearly in need. It is important to remember, however, that it is just as impolite to rudely refuse the offer of a seat as it is to not offer a seat. Eating before everyone is served The final question is one that we've all asked ourselves: is it rude to start eating at the table before everyone else has been served? According to Debrett's, the simple answer is yes, unless the host or hostess _ dinners to start. British people are most interested in the guide to _ . A. using mobile phone in public B. smoking e-cigarettes at work C. giving up seats on public transport D. eating before everyone is served Answer: A. using mobile phone in public
Model Time A model is a small copy of a building, vehicle ,machine etc, especially one that can be put together from several parts. If you like models, then this will be the place for you . From model trains, planes and cars to rockets and boats, we've got them all! To find others who can share your interests, and to get more information, please call 88563219. Sports Club Sports Club offers you many different ways to keep healthy. You'll never get bored. Our Program & Service Department is always working in new ways to keep you strong and happy . For more of it , visit _ Keypals International Club KIC is a fun club started by kids, for kids aged 8 to 16. KIC tries to help kids understand different cultures through emails and other activities . KIC has members from 40 different countries. For more of it, visit _ Kids Art Club Kids Art Club offers drawing and painting classes to children aged 7 to 14. Classes are small and we have to have only six learners each class. All classes are taught by Jim Todd who has worked in the art field for over twenty years. For more information, please call 886766213. Which of the following is not mentioned in the four passages? A. You can do different kinds of sports at Sports Club. B. Model Time has members from 40 different countries. C. Keypals International Club is mainly for kids aged 8--16. D. Jim Todd has worked in the art field for more than 20 years. Answer: B. Model Time has members from 40 different countries. It is Jim's birthday today. He is five years old. He gets many nice birthday presents from his family and one of them is a big drum . "Who gives him the drum?" his father asks. "His grandfather does." answers Jim's mother. Jim likes his drum very much. He makes a noise with it, but his mother doesn't say anything about it. His father is not at home. He is working in a school. So he doesn't hear the noise. But one of the neighbors doesn't like the noise at all. So one morning she takes a knife and goes into Jim's room. Jim is making a noise with the drum. She says to him, "Hello, Jim. Do you know there is something very nice in your drum? Here's a knife. Open the drum and let's find it." The neighbor hates _ . A. Jim's presents B. the drum C. the knife D. the noise Answer: D. the noise If you need to relax and want to head overseas, you can think of these four off-peak travel destinations to visit. Portugal With rich culture and history, Portugal continues to be one of the most affordable European destinations. Head to this beautiful capital city of Lisbon to attend the festivals and fairs, visit some 12th-century buildings, and stay at one of the newer hotels in the main city district. The Hotel Teatro is a four-star restaurant, and average nightly rates are under $ 150 a night. Porto, Portugal +351 220 409 620 Aruba Set your sights on Aruba for an unforgettable Caribbean holiday. You can get special offers from one of the larger beach resorts here. Some of the chain hotels, including Marriott and Radisson, offer discounts on spa relaxations. The Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa is offering a Super Saver Spring Rate at just $309 per night. Palm Beach, Aruba 800-967-9033 Oaxaca Escape to southern Mexico to explore the historic colonial city and learn about the region's traditions, culture, and colorful history. Oaxaca plays host to several cultural festivals and is a great place to just relax. A seven-night stay at the Camino Real Oaxaca is just $207 per night for a deluxe single or double room. Centro, 68000 01 951 501 6100 Turkey Another place to have some local culture is Istanbul, Turkey. Stay at a destination that will put you within easy reach of famous sites like the Topkapi Palace. The Modern Sultan Hotel is a deluxe hotel located in the heart of the historic district. Average nightly rates for the bed and breakfast package are just under $ 120 per night. Istanbul, Turkey +90 212 520 00 53 How much should you pay if you have a seven-night stay in a deluxe single room at the Camino Real Oaxaca? A. 207 dollars. B. 735 dollars. C. 1, 449 dollars. D. 2, 163 dollars. Answer: C. 1, 449 dollars. Fabien Cousteau is a French ocean explorer and documentary filmmaker.who spent his early years aboard his grandfather's ships.Today, Fabien continues to protect the planet's endangered ocean life and tries to strike a balance between environmental problems and market economies. Fabien is well known for his study of sharks.During 2000--2002,he created a TV program aiming to change public ideas about sharks called"Attack of the Mystery Shark" based on the shark attacks that occurred along the New Jersey shoreline in the summer of 1916.Then during 2003--2006,with the help of a large crew,Fabien created a lifelike shark submarine ,providing people with a rare view of the mysterious and often misunderstood creatures. For the next four years(2006--2010),Fabien was part of a series called"Ocean Adventures",which provided viewers with a chance to look into some of the most fantastic ocean species and environments on the planet. In 2010,Fabien started Plant A Fish,a nonprofit project for children to help rebuild local water ecosystems through the healthy"replanting"of key ocean species.Its final goal is to plant l billion"fish"worldwide in 10 years. In June 2014,Fabien and his team _ Mission Mission 31,the longest underwater science research,the world's only underwater laboratory located nine miles off the coast ot the Florida Keys,and 63 feet beneath the sea.Fabien's Mission 31 broke new ground in ocean exploration,while broadcasting each moment live exposing the world to the adventure and mystique of what lies beneath. Fabien is currently working on a feature documentary film about the adventures of Mission 31,as well as building all Ocean Learning Center to afford children around the world the opportunity to learn about oceans and connect with ocean explorers directly through social media. We can learn from the text that _ . A. Fabien's"Plant A Fish"project has already achieved its final goal B. Fabien's Mission 31 broke the records of former ocean explorations C. Fabien's TV program about sharks is based on his childhood experiences D. it took Fabien four years to produce"Ocean Adventures"on his own Answer: B. Fabien's Mission 31 broke the records of former ocean explorations Dear Mum, I don't think you understand my life. You think I should be studying all the time. I know you want me to find a good job when I grow up, but I would like to have a wonderful time, too. You never think about fun things for me to do like music, sports. Two days ago, when I was watching a football game on TV, you asked me to stop and do my homework. After finishing my homework, still I wasn't allowed to read my football magazines. You said I had to go to bed early. That was bad enough, but yesterday was the worst day. I bought some computer games, and put them in my bag so that you wouldn't see them. I told you I had to do my homework first. I know it was wrong to lie to you, but you told me that Dad would talk to me later. Mum, I didn't quite like what you did to me! I really love you, mum, but I wish you could try not to be so hard on me. Love, Zhang Ning Why did Zhang Ning put the computer games in the bag? A. Because he didn't like them. B. Because he played them many times. C. Because he wouldn't like his mother to find them. D. Because there was something wrong with them. Answer: C. Because he wouldn't like his mother to find them.
French doctors and American scientists have reported doing an operation in which the doctor was outside the operating room. This kind of operation is known as robotic operation. Doctor Marescaux did the operation in an office in New York City last month, while a sixty-eight-year-old woman patient was in a hospital in Strasbourg, France. A doctor in Strasbourg got the patient ready. He placed medical tools and a small video camera in her stomach area. Doctor Marescaux in New York watched the patient on a video screen. Then he used the computer to send messages to the robot machine. The robot moved the tools that cut the woman's gallbladder away. The woman got well soon after the operation and left the hospital two days later. Experts say the main problem with such a robotic operation is based on high-speed telecommunications between the doctor and the robot. Technology must be able to send a doctor's order to a robot to move the tools quickly. Experts also say a successful robotic operation will improve an operation. For example, the robot can make much smaller movements than a person can. A robot machine can turn tools in ways that a doctor's hand cannot. Doctors say such a robotic operation will make possible safer and better operations in the future. They say it will improve doctor training. It will also mean that doctors could do an operation on people in dangerous places far away. And it could mean that people could have operations done by top doctors without having to travel to the city where doctors work. Robotic operation means " _ ". Answer: an operation done with the help of a robot Being outgoing is good for your life. Those who are more outgoing like to meet lots of people and have more fun in life. In fact, being outgoing is not as hard as you think. Even shy people can be outgoing. You can start becoming outgoing with your best friend or a group of friends. But the real challenge comes when you meet strange people or new friends. Smile more, and usually they will return your smile. In this way, you may have some talks. Start a talk. Just a smile "Hello" or "How is it going" is a good start. If you want to make interesting talks, you should read news in newspapers and prepare your views, or surf the Internet for new information and then keep that in mind. The easier way to become more outgoing is to go out. This is also the most important step . Go to a park, beach, club, party or any other place that you think can be fun, and you may make new friends there. Which is NOT the writer's view? Answer: Being outgoing is really difficult. Move over Psy. There's a new viral music video on the Internet that's getting millions of people dancing and laughing. Psy is a singer who created Gagnam Style, a music video which featured a catchy tune and interesting dance. The new music video called The Fox (What does the fox say?) has recently gone viral. At 123 000 000 views, it may even catch up to Gagnam Style. The video asks the question, "What does the fox say?" It's a good question. And it seems, at least according to the music video, there is no good answer. Actors in the video dress up like the animals they're singing about. One of the brothers dresses up like a fox. There is a surprising and silly dance in the video that takes the viewer a bit _ . The video's appeal is the song's simple rhythm and catchy chorus . The makers of the video never expected the video to do well or even to be taken seriously. In fact, it started out as a joke. The song was written by two brothers from Norway, Vegard and Bard Ylvis ker. The brothers have their own late-night talk show in Norway. They thought the video would be so bad that it would give them something to talk about on their show. On their website, they say the video was "supposed to entertain a few Norwegians for three minutes -- and that's all." But people started loving it. Some people say that once you listen to the delightfully silly song, you want to listen to it again and again. The brothers have been guests on some major North American talk shows. They say they're happy about the success of their video, but they know that tomorrow something else could come along and be even bigger. What can be learnt about the music video invented by Psy? Answer: It could make people relax a lot. Knots are the kind of stuff that even myths are made of.In the Greek legend of the Gordian knot, for example, Alexander the Great used his sword to slice through a knot that had failed all previous attempts to unite it. Knots, enjoy a long history of tales and fanciful names such as "Englishman's tie, " "and "cat's paw. " Knots became the subject of serious scientific investigation when in the 1860s the English physicist William Thomson (known today as Lord Kelvin) proposed that atoms were in fact knotted tubes of ether . In order to be able to develop the equivalent of a periodic table of the elements, Thomson had to be able to classify knots -- find out which different knots were possible. This sparked a great interest in the mathematical theory of knots. A mathematical knot looks very much like a familiar knot in a string, only with the string's ends joined. In Thomson's theory, knots could, in principle at least, model atoms of increasing complexity, such as the hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen atoms, respectively. For knots to be truly useful in a mathematical theory, however, mathematicians searched for some precise way of proving that what appeared to be different knots were really different -- the couldn't be transformed one into the other by some simple manipulation . Towards the end of the nineteenth century, the Scottish mathematician Peter Guthrie Tait and the University of Nebraska professor Charles Newton Little published complete tables of knots with up to ten crossings. Unfortunately, by the time that this heroic effort was completed, Kelvin's theory had already been totally discarded as a model for atomic structure. Nevertheless, even without any other application in sight, the mathematical interest in knot theory continued at _ point for its own sake. In fact, mathematical became even more fascinated by knots. The only difference was that, as the British mathematician Sir Michael Atiyah has put it, "the study of knots became a special branch of pure mathematics. " Two major breakthroughs in knot theory occurred in 1928 and in 1984. In 1928, the American mathematician James Waddell Alexander discovered an algebraic expression that uses the arrangement of crossings to label the knot. For example, t2-t+1 or t2-3t+1, or else. Decades of work in the theory of knots finally produced the second breakthrough in 1984. The New Zealander-American mathematician Vaughan Jones noticed an unexpected relation between knots and another abstract branch of mathematics, which led to the discovery of a more sensitive invariant known as the Jones polynomial. Which one would be the best title for this passage? Answer: To be or Knot to be Because sulfur cannot be decomposed by simple chemical methods into two or more different substances, it is classified as Answer: an element.
When we talk about intelligence,we do not mean the ability to get a good score on a certain kind of test,or even the ability to do well in school. These are at best only indicators of something larger,deeper,and far more important. By intelligence we mean a style of life,a way of behaving in various situations. The true test of intelligence is not how much we know to do,but how we behave when we don't know what to do. The intelligent person,young or old,meeting a new situation or problem,opens himself up to it. He tries to take in with mind and senses everything he can about it. He thinks about it,instead of about himself or what it might cause to happen to him. He grapples with it ly,imaginatively,resourcefully ,and if not confidently,at least hopefully;if he fails to master it,he looks without fear or shame at his mistakes and learns what he can from them. This is intelligence. Clearly its roots lie in a certain feeling about life,and one's self with respect to life. Just as clearly,unintelligence is not what most psychologists seem to suppose,the same thing as intelligence,only less of it. It is an entirely different set of attitudes. Years of watching and comparing bright children with the not-bright,or less bright,have shown that they are very different kinds of people. The bright child is curious about life and reality,eager to get in touch with it,embrace it,unite himself with it. There is no wall,no barrier,between himself and life. On the other hand,the dull child is far less curious,far less interested in what goes on and what is real,more inclined to live in a world of fantasy. The bright child likes to experiment,to try things out. He lives by the maxim that there is more than one way to skin a cat. If he can't do something one way,he'll try another. The dull child is usually afraid to try at a11. It takes a great deal of urging to get him to try even once;if that try fails,he is through. Nobody starts off stupid. Hardly an adult in a thousand,or ten thousand,could in any three years of his life learn as much. Grow as much in his understanding of the world around him,as every infant learns and grows in his first three years. But what happens,as we grow older,to this extraordinary capacity for learning and intellectual growth?What happens is that it is destroyed,and more than by any other one thing,it is destroyed by the process that we misname education--a process that goes on in most homes and schools. There is more than one way to skin a cat. Which of the following maxim has a similar meaning to this one? Answer: A ten-year-old boy from Howell, Michigan America is being hailed (...) a hero due to his persistence that led to saving the life of an elderly neighbor. The chain of events unfolded late in the evening on Sunday, January 26th, 2014 when Danny Dipietro was being driven home from hockey practice by his dad. That's when the young boy noticed an open garage and a figure that he believed was a dog outside an apartment near his house. Given the extremely cold weather, the young boy got a feeling that something was not right. But instead of dismissing it like most kids at his age would have, he insisted that his mother, Dawn, go to examine what was going on. Dawn tried to convince Danny that no one would leave a dog out in such cold weather, but he refused to take no for an answer. Dawn finally gave in and decided to take a walk to the area with the family dog and see if there was any truth to Danny's premonition . Sure enough, as she got closer to the apartment she noticed a garage that was wide open and a bent figure, waving madly. Upon getting there, she realized that it was not a dog that the young boy had seen, but Kathleen St. Onge, one of her neighbors. The 80-year-old had slipped on some ice in her garage and had been lying there for two hours, unable to get up. Dawn rushed home to get her husband for help and called 911. The two then returned with some blankets to cover Ms. St. Onge, while they waited for the ambulance to arrive. Though still in hospital, the elderly woman is recovering well and grateful to Danny for his premonition. Which of the following is TRUE? Answer: Because of the financial crisis in the [IS andprefix = st1 /UK, college students are beginning to struggle to find ways to pay their tuition fees and accommodations. Recently, two majorUSstudent loan lenders--Citibenk and JP Morgan Chase--announced they were leaving the student-loan industry altogether. Because banks Currently have a lack of credit , they are reluctant to offer students low-interest loans that need a several-year wait for any return of interest. In theUS, many undergraduates _ their financial needs with a private loan, although the majority can get government-funded loans. In flue 2005 -2006 academic year, $17 billion in private student leans was used to finance higher education, The short-fall in private-funding has yet to be covered and will hit many US students hard. Across the Atlantic,UKstudents have been less troubled by the crisis. Most undergraduates in the DK cover their university expenses with government-funded loans and grants . Their biggest concern is a sudden steep increase in student rent. Most young professionals now rent houses, since 80 percent of UK mortgage schemes have disappeared--a direct result of the credit crisis. This has boosted the house rent market. In large cities,UKstudents are paying almost 6.5 percent more in rent than the previous year. Figures from the DK organization Accommodation for Student show students in big cities such as London paying an average weekly rent of$ 103. Yet, despite students' suffering, the number of this year's university applications is expected to grow. During economic slumps, people regard further education as a way to survive tough job markets. According to the passage, banks are unwilling to offer students loans because Answer: Money management should be easy, right? You earn money. Then you use it to pay bills and taxes, donate some if you can and save some. I have paid out more than I earned in the past. I have been stingy occasionally and been sorry later. My biggest regret about money, however, is regarding savings. When I was 30 years old, I started saving money. Finally, I had a well-paid job with a salary that would grow with time and seniority. I purchased my home and moved in. The next logical step was to save money. So I did. In one year I put away $5,000. My goal was to build another $5,000 and start investing . I was pleased with my progress. Unfortunately, life stepped in. A family member became disabled and needed financial assistance. I could not seem to control my spending, and my checking account ran dry. My credit card bills rose. I carry no regret to any necessities that I bought for my family. However, as I look back, I realize that I did not research enough about balancing my budget before spending my savings account. I used the money to buy fast food just for convenience. I would go to the store for food when my cupboards were still not empty, because I wanted something special. I bought convenient items to save time, not considering that I was wasting money. I should have given up the name brand paper towels and used more dish rags. My $5,000 was gone quickly. That was just over 10 years ago. If I had kept the savings and restarted my savings after the emergency, I might have doubled that $5,000 by now. When I am a senior, I will still regret that $5,000. My credit card debt will be paid back soon. I will be as wise in my charity donations as possible. But I shall always mourn my savings account. What do we learn about the author before he was 30? Answer: There are creatures which, depending on species, have varying numbers of body parts. Arachnids have a certain number, while humans have a different number, and these numerous parts can be attributed to Answer:
The Rockford police chief and some city officials want to install video cameras in all 100 police cars. They think this will reduce the number of lawsuits against the city. In the last five years, Rockford has paid out more than five million dollars to settle about 40 lawsuits. The chief said, "If cameras had been in those cars, we wouldn't have had to pay one penny. We're always pulling over drunks or drug users who try to fight the policemen or shoot them. Then they always say that the police started beating them first or started shooting at them first. What nonsense!" The cost of installing cameras will be about $500 per car. The city council will vote on the plan next Monday. Ten of the 13 council members, when asked about the plan, said that they liked the idea. One member said that it made good financial sense and common sense. If the cameras are supported, they can be installed in all the cars within six weeks. The police officers gladly support camera use. One officer said that too many people thought the police were _ ; cameras would show citizens that the police told the truth. Citizen reaction to the idea of police car cameras is mixed. One person said that the police should have started doing this years ago when video cameras were invented. But an elderly man said that cameras were against privacy. "These police are trying to stick their nose into everything," he said. He was going to attend the council meeting to fight the plan. He hoped that other citizens would join him. What would be the best title for this passage? Cameras in Police Cars. We spend a quarter of our lives asleep. Sleep is necessary for the body to rest, yet our brains continue to process information. Studies have shown that students are more successful when they sleep after studying-instead of pulling all-nighters-because the brain reviews information learned. Similarly, dreaming is an opportunity to work out emotional problems and form thoughts and memories. About 25 percent of the time spent sleeping is spent in rapid eye movement, or REM, sleep. This type of sleep is known for when dreams occur, but it also helps energize the brain and body. Researchers have found two important factors regarding humans and sleep: basicsleep need and sleep debt. Basic sleep need is the amount of sleep we need to have regularly to perform at our best. Sleep debt is the loss of sleep. A few studies say that most adults function best with a basic sleep need of seven to eight hours a night. The problem is that sleep debt also factors in, just because that you meet your basic sleep needs a few nights of the week doesn't mean it cancels out the effects of one night's sleep debt. Of course, everyone is different and some people require more or less sleep than the standard basic sleep need. But the real problem lies in what lack of sleep does over the long period to people who either does not meet his or her body's needs or for one reason or another doesn't get enough regular sleep. It is more possible for these people to have motor vehicle accidents, weight gain and risk for heart disease or diabetes and may be at increased risk for psychological conditions such as depression or drug abuse. Sleeping too long also can be associated with depression and poor health. The best title for the passage is _ . Why We Need Sleep How is the stratosphere different from the troposphere? The temperature of the stratosphere warms at higher altitude. What takes place as a light wave enters a denser medium? it is refracted Diwali is perhaps the most well--known of the Hindu festivals. It is celebrated by Hindus in India and abroad. It is often called the Festival of Lights. For Hindus, Diwli is very important and it is also very exciting time for them. Normally , this holiday is celebrated in October or November and it falls on a different date each year. This year , it will be celebrated on October23. Diwali is usually celebrated for 5 days. To prepare for Diwali, Hindus spend several weeks cleaning their homes and preparing special food in order to welcome Laskhmi, the goodness of wealth into their lives. They will open the windows of their homes during this time to make sure that she can enter their home. One of other traditions of Dawali is to light up oil lamp in the homes. The oil lamps are used to make the goddess of wealth enter the homes. Hindus believe that she will not enter a home that is not lit up. During Diwali, the children in India do not have to go to school. They share gifts with one another and prepare special holiday meals to celebrate this event. Fireworks are also a big part of the Diwali festival. They are used to scare away bad spirits. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? Lakshmi is a kind of oil lamp.
Question: A certain plant is in a field and bees suddenly surround it and climb all over it and fly away. The next year A. there are fewer total plants B. that plant type rolls out C. there is an earthquake D. there is exactly two trees Answer: B. that plant type rolls out Question: If you want to get a new cell phone number, don't forget to bring your ID with you . As of September 1, people have to register with their ID to buy a new cell phone number. You can show your ID card orhukou, but student ID's won't work. If you already have a cell phone number, it is better to register it before 2013. The new rules are meant to prevent junk messages and fraud through cell phones. A cell phone user in China on average received 43.3 messages a week in the first half of this year. According to reports, about 12 of those were junk messages. In a survey, about 74.5 percent of users said they have received fraudulent messages. If all people register their cell phone number with ID information, it will be easier for police to find the people behind those messages. Situations in other countries Because cell phone are getting more and more popular, many countries have made stricter cell phone rules. Countries like India, Japan, Australia, and Singapore all ask users to register their ID information. Ulrich Mller is a German living in Beijing. "In Germany, you have to show your ID when you buy a cell phone card," he said. "The rules have been there for a long time. Most people know about it." Linda van der Horst is a student at Peking University. She said that in the Netherlands ,people have to show ID information and bank account information to buy a cell phone card. Which of the following can you use to buy a new cell phone number? A. Student ID card. B. Bank account. C. Driving license. D. ID card. Answer: D. ID card. Question: When you are traveling in Thailand,which means of transport is the best choice? You can rent a variety of motorbikes or bikes in Thailand.It seems to be very popular in most of the beaches and islands along the places in the north.The most popular bikes are the little 125 cc Honda Dream which you can get for about 150 baht a day or as little as 3,000 baht per month,making it the cheapest way to tour Thailand for the people from other countries. Sometimes you will have to go somewhere by taxi.When you are in cities in Thailand,especially in Bangkok,always remember to get a taxi that is going on the roads.Some drivers outside hotels refuse to use the milometer .They will ask a price which is several times the price when they use the meter! The quality of the roads in Thailand is generally pretty good,so renting cars is another way to get around.The big car rental companies may offer you slightly older cars at a very reasonable price.It is a little surprising considering that the cost of buying a car in Thailand is more than that in the West.Petrol is also reasonably priced in Thailand,more expensive than American prices,but much cheaper than what is paid in Europe.In the past,Bangkok could be a difficult place to drive in--signs were generally in Thai only,making it a hard job to find exactly where you were by looking around.But now,the situation is improved.In a lot of places,even the farthest corners of the country,street signs are in both Thai and English. What is the writer's advice about taking a taxi in Thailand? A. To take a taxi driving on the road. B. To take a taxi parked outside hotels. C. To make sure there is a meter in it. D. To bargain with the driver over the price. Answer: A. To take a taxi driving on the road. Question: House owns his home in City. On the lawn in front of his home and within five feet of the public sidewalk there was a large tree. The roots of the tree caused the sidewalk to buckle severely and become dangerous. An ordinance of City requires adjacent landowners to keep sidewalks in safe condition. House engaged Contractor to repair the sidewalk, leaving it to Contractor to decide how the repair should be made. Contractor dug up the sidewalk, cut back the roots of the tree, and laid a new sidewalk. Two days after House had paid Contractor the agreed price of the repair, the tree fell over onto the street and damaged a parked car belonging to Driver. Driver has asserted claims against House and Contractor, and both defendants admit that cutting the roots caused the tree to fall.If Driver recovers a judgment against House, does House have any recourse against Contractor? A. No, if payment by House was an acceptance of the work. B. No, because House selected Contractor to do the work. C. Yes, if the judgment against House was based on vicarious liability. D. Yes, because House's conduct was not a factual cause of the harm. Answer: C. Yes, if the judgment against House was based on vicarious liability. Question: Have you ever looked toward the sky on a fall day and witnessed a group of migrating birds? If so, you probably noted the V-shaped formation of the birds or the birds flying in a ball-like formation. Why do birds fly this way? Many theories have been developed to explain the formation patterns of different types of birds. One theory is that birds fly in certain formations to take advantage of the laws of nature. The birds know that flying in a V-shaped pattern will save energy. Like the lead cyclist in a race who decreases wind force for the cyclists who follow, the lead bird cuts wind force for the birds that follow. This decrease in wind force means that the birds use up to 70 percent less energy during their flight. When the lead bird becomes tired, a more rested bird takes over that position. But saving energy is important for more than one reason. Sometimes food is short during migration flights. Keeping energy enables the birds to fly longer distances between meals. When food is sighted, the birds guide one another in a different way. When a bird identifies a familiar feeding area, it might turn around in order to signal the group to change direction. Then, this bird becomes the new leader. It helps guarantee that other birds will know exactly where it is going. Then the whole group makes a change in direction, gently streaming from the sky down to the ground. This formation is like an arrow pointing to the location of food. Scientists have also studied the birds that sometimes fly in a ball-like formation. Researchers believe that the birds come together if a predator is spotted. The predator may then become impatient waiting for a single bird to fly away from the group. The birds will often dip and dive as a group, frustrating even the most persistent enemy. Scientists report that this is a very effective method of defense against an attack. The birds care for their fellow fliers through teamwork. As transportation expert Henry Ford once said, "If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself." When it comes to teamwork, these feathered fliers are a soaring success! According to the passage, we can learn that birds _ . A. move faster than cyclists B. prefer to fly in a V formation C. are smarter than other animals D. play different roles in a formation Answer: D. play different roles in a formation
A parent and a child share several characteristics. Both individuals are tall, have curly hair, are good cooks, and have freckles. Which of these characteristics is a learned behavior? A being tall B having curly hair C being a good cook D having freckles Answer: C. being a good cook Mrs Young was eighty. Her husband died when she was fifty - three and he left her an old car he had had for six years. She learned to drive and loved very much. She liked driving very fast, and was proud of the fact that she had never been caught for a driving offence . Then one day she nearly lost her record . A police car followed her, and the policeman in it saw her pass a red light without stopping and she was taken before a judge. The man looked at her and said that she was too old to drive a car, and the reason why she had not stopped at the red light was most probably that her eyes had become weak with old age, so that she had simply not seen it. When the judge had finished what he was saying, Mrs Young opened her handbag she was carrying and took out her sewing. Without saying a word, she chose a needle with a very small eye , and threaded it at her first try. When she had finished it, she took the thread out of the needle again and handed both the needle and the thread to the judge, saying, "Now it's your turn. I suppose you drive a car, and that your eyesight is good." The judge took the needle and tried to thread it. After trying six times, he had still not done it. At last he had to set the old woman free and her record remained unbroken. As _ , she was taken before the judge. A Mrs Young's car was too old B Mrs Young hadn't made way for the police car C Mrs Young was rude to the policemen D Mrs Young hadn't stopped at the red light Answer: D. Mrs Young hadn't stopped at the red light If the atomic mass number of an atom is 35, which statement is most accurate? A The atom is not an isotope. B The atomic number is less than 17. C The atom has an odd number of neutrons. D The number of protons does not equal the number of neutrons. Answer: D. The number of protons does not equal the number of neutrons. Australia -a huge island continent that lies to the south of Asia.Australia-more than two hundred years old, a nation that is still growing. Its big cities lie on the southeast coast, this is where most Australians live.Australians prefer to own their own houses, though some live in apartments.Australians are a suburban people.The suburbs surround the cities for many miles, and so efficient transport is of great importance.As the economy grows, so do its industries- a higher level of production, a wider range of products. The Australian works hard, but he likes his leisure.The climate makes outdoor activities the most popular. Canberra, the capital of Australia, is a planned modem city located inland.Australia is governed by a parliamentary democracy.The representatives of other countries have their embassies here.Australia wants to strengthen relations with her neighbors. Australia is a strange land, a land of vast expanses- fertile valleys, snow fields and deserts- also a land with unique animal, many that can not be found on any other continent in the world today. Much of the continent is dry, but man has utilized the land, made it productive, with its tools, with its technology.This is the driest continent of all, and water is a precious possession, more precious than all other natural resources.Large dams are built to collect the water, there to irrigate the fields of pastures and crops. But Australia is changing.The land of wool and wheat is now a land of large-scale industry and mining.The costs of developing the new mineral discoveries are enormous, but the rewards are great too. Australia -- a young and developing nation.Australia -- a nation that wants to communicate with its neighbors. Which of the following statements about Australia is wrong? A Australians are a suburban people B Australia is governed by a parliamentary democracy. C Australia prefers to live in the downtown of big cities. D Wool and wheat used to be the main products of Australia. Answer: C. Australia prefers to live in the downtown of big cities. In 1996 I wanted to buy a Honda Civic. I went to the local dealer. "Oh, you want a Civic, do you?" said the fellow. "And I suppose you'd also like us to throw in a couple of front-row Superbowl tickets? Haw! Haw! Haw! Haw!" When his laughter ended, he explained that the Civic was such a hit in Europe that Honda was getting an extra $ 2,000 per car there, making Civic practically unavailable in the States. But he did offer to let me add my name to the waiting list--if I agreed to pay $1,000 over the sticker price. When Honda dealerships No. 2 and No. 3 gave me the same story, I was ready to try anything. I carefully looked over to www.autobytel.com. For a _ like me, Auto-By-Tel's scheme is nearly irresistible. You indicate the car you want to buy, compete with the freedom to choose. The nearest participating car dealer mails you back with a cut rate offer. There's no charge for any of this -- and no obligation to accept the offer. It surely seemed no less to me. Sure enough, two days later, a dealer 30 minutes away wrote me. "Unfortunately, 96 Civics are in very short supply," his message said, "The best we can offer you is $1,200 under sticker price. "I was in happiness. Ah! Bliss! Ah, saving! Ah, revenge! When I picked up the car, it got better. Since there was no haggling , the dealership fellow was friendly and congratulatory instead of everything. Now this, I thought, is the way to buy a car. Auto-By-Tel makes money by charging a fee to each participating dealer. The dealers make money by receiving hundreds of ready-to-buy customer names off the Web. And you save money because your price doesn't reflect advertising, test drives, sales commissions, and so on. My only regret is that I didn't think up Auto-By-Tel first. What do you think of the Auto-By-Tel? A It makes money by not giving taxes. B It is good at advertising. C It is good at the business. D It makes money by cheating customers. Answer: C. It is good at the business.
Arriving in Sydney on his own from India, my husband, Rashid, stayed in a hotel for a short time while looking for a house for me and our children. During the first week of his stay, he went out one day to do some shopping. He came back in the late afternoon to discover that his suitcase was gone. He was extremely worried as the suitcase had all his important papers, including his passport . He reported the case to the police and then sat there, lost and lonely in strange city, thinking of the terrible troubles of getting all the paperwork organized again from a distant country while trying to settle down in a new one. Late in the evening, the phone rang. It was a stranger. He was trying to pronounce my husband's name and was asking him a lot of questions. Then he said they had found a pile of papers in their trash can that had been left out on the footpath. My husband rushed to their home to find a kind family holding all his papers and documents. Their young daughter had gone to the trash can and found a pile of unfamiliar papers. Her parents had carefully sorted them out, although they had found mainly foreign addresses on most of the documents. At last they had seen a half-written letter in the pile in which my husband had given his new telephone number to a friend. That family not only _ the important documents to us that day but also restored our faith and trust in people. We still remember their kindness and often send a warm wish to their way. What did Rashid plan to do after his arrival in Sydney? Join his family We often consider plants as the furniture of the natural world. They don't move; they don't make sounds;they don't seem to act on anything. But as is often the case, plants talk to each other all the time. And the language is a chemical . Over the years, scientists have reported that different types of plants, from trees to tomatoes, give out chemicals into the air to help neighbouring plants. These chemical warnings can spread information about one plant's disease or infestation ,so other plants can protect themselves. But how plants receive and act on the information exactly is still mysterious . In this week's Science Magazine, researchers in Japan offered some explanations. They have found out one chemical message and traced it all the way from beginning to end. The scientists looked at tomato plants infested by a common pest . To start out,they grew plants in two separate plastic spaces connected by a tube . One plant was infested and placed upwind and the other was uninfested and placed downwind. The downwind plants were later exposed to the pest. The results showed that plants near sick neighbours before were able to protect themselves better against the pest. They found one chemical appeared more often in the exposed plants. The chemical is called HexVic. The scientists discovered where HexVic came from, and put it over healthy plants. Those plants were then able to produce HexVic. Researchers made sure that uninfested plants could fight off bugs and diseases. How do they know when to protect themselves? They are warned first by their friendly plant neighbours. It is not a simple story , and it may be happening in many other plants besides tomatoes. It may also be happening with more chemical signals that are still unknown to us. In a word, we know that plants not only communicate, but also look out for one another. Which of the following can be the best title of this passage? Talking Plants and Friendly Warnings A neighbor of mine, while visiting his mother in Boston, took her to a shoe store to buy a new pair of shoes. While she was trying on different styles, my neighbor took the manager aside. "When she picks out a pair that she likes," he said, "Just tell her that the price is 12 dollars. I'll pay the regular price. I don't care how much it is." The following week, my neighbor was walking by the shoe store and the manager recognized him and called him in. "What's the problem?" asked my neighbor as he entered the store. "Wasn't my check any good?" "That's not it," answered the manager, "The problem is that your mother is bringing all her friends in for those 12-dollar shoes!" My neighbor went to Boston _ . to see his mother If you want to learn anything at school, you need to listen to your teachers. Unfortunately, millions of kids can't hear what their teachers are saying. And it's not because these students are _ . Often, it's the room's fault. Building architecture and building design can createecho -filled classrooms that make hearing difficult. Children with hearingimpairments suffer most from noisy classrooms. They sometimes can't hear questions that other students ask in class. Compared with kids with healthy hearing, they have a harder time picking up new vocabulary words by hearing them in talking. Even kids with normal hearing have a harder time in the classroom when there's too much noise. Younger children in particular have trouble separating important sounds - like a teacher's voice - from background noise. Kids with learning disabilities and speechimpediments and kids for whom English is a second language also have a harder time learning in noisy situations. In recent years, scientists who study sound have been asking schools to reduce background noise, which may include loud air-conditioners and pipes. They're also targeting outdoor noises, such as highway traffic. Noise reduction is a big deal. Why? Because quieter classrooms might make you smarter by letting you hear your lessons better. "It's so obvious that we should have quiet rooms that allow for access to the lesson," says Dan Ostergren, a hearing scientist. "Sometimes it surprises me that we spend so much time discussing this topic. I just want to go. Why is this hard for anyone to grasp?" Why should noise be reduced in classrooms? Kids can become smarter after hearing lessons better. MRIs can make fillings dance
Yang Yunjing is a tour guide volunteer in Tibet. She went there five times as tour guide . Her parents and friends couldn't understand why she chose the hard work. But facing all the confusion( ), Yang just smiled and said, "Tibet is full of charm ." When Yang finished her studies at the university three years ago, she had two choices: being an exchange student in Germany, or volunteering for Tibet. Finally, she chose the latter . Her father said, " I'll support( ) you. But no matter what happens, you have to face it on your own." When Yang went to Tibet for the first time, she got a " gift" -- altitude sickness( ). She had to be in hospital, but she didn't tell her parents about it. During her volunteer work, she did a great job because she worked very hard. One day when she returned to her room at night, she got a call from another tour guide volunteer. She told her that a woman of the group was badly hurt when climbing the mountains. Hearing that, Yang went to the hospital quickly and decided to stay there and look after the woman. Yang learnt a lot from the volunteer experience." As long as I think of the sky there, I can laugh it off, no matter what difficulties I may meet," she said. What happened to Yang Yunjing when she first went to Tibet? A She was badly hurt. B She missed her parents. C She got altitude sickness. D She didn't like the food in Tibet. Answer: C. She got altitude sickness. The largest campaign of killing rats in history is set to poison millions of rats on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia. Scientists say the campaign planned for 2013 and 2014 will restore beautiful South Georgia to the position it once held as the world's most important nesting sites for seabirds. It was sailors in the late 18th century who unintentionally introduced rats to what had been a fresh environment. "If we can destroy the rats, at least 100 million birds will return to their home on South Georgia," says Tony Martin, a biology professor at the University of Dundee who was invited to lead the project. South Georgia is by far the largest island to get rid of animals that destroy native wildlife after being introduced deliberately or accidentally by people. Though rats and mice have done the most damage, cats, foxes, goats, deer, rabbits and other species have been targeted in the campaigns around the world. South Georgia is seven times the size of New Zealand's Campbell Island, currently the largest area ever killing rats. The successful war against Campbell Island rats was carried out in 2001 with 132 tons of poison dropped from five helicopters. "New Zealand pioneered the techniques for ridding islands of rats and in fact our operation on South Georgia is based on New Zealand's technology." Says Martin. "Some New Zealanders will be helping our campaign, including our chief pilot, Peter Garden, who was also chief pilot for the projects at Campbell Island and Rat Island, in the Aleutian chain of the north Pacific." The second and third stages in 2013 and 2014 will involve dropping as much as 300 tons of poison from the air onto every part of the island where rats might live. It is a huge operation, carried out during the stormy southern autumn when the rats are hungry and the risks of poisoning native wildlife are less than in the spring and summer months. "Ideally we'd do in winter but the weather makes that too risky," Martin says. The ecological payback will be priceless. But Martin says, "The full benefits will take decades to arrive, because some of these birds are slow to hatch." According to the passage, how did the rats appear on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia? A They were attracted there by wildlife. B They escaped there from Campbell Island. C They were introduced there by sailors accidently. D They were brought in by people deliberately. Answer: C. They were introduced there by sailors accidently. First the ground shook in Haiti, then Chile and Turkey. The earthquakes keep coming hard and fast this year, causing people to wonder if something evil is happening underfoot. It's not. While it may seem as if there are more earthquakes occurring, there really aren't. The problem is what's happening above ground, not underground, experts say. More people are moving into big cities that happen to be built in quake zones, and they're rapidly putting up buildings that can't withstand earthquakes, scientists believe. And around-the-clock news coverage and better earthquake monitoring make it seem as if earthquakes are ever-present. "I can definitely tell you that the world is not coming to an end," said Bob Holdsworth, an expert in tectonics at Durharn University in the UK. A 7.0 magnitude quake in January killed more than 230,000 people in Haiti. Last month, an 8.8 magnitude quake--- the fifth-strongest since 1900--killed more than 900 people in Chile. And two weeks ago, a 6.0 magnitude quake struck rural eastern Turkey, killing at least 57 people. On average, there are 134 earthquakes a year that have a magnitude between 6.0 and 6.9, according to the US Geological Survey. This year is off to a fast start with 40 so far--more than in most years for that time period. But that's because the 8.8 quake in Chile generated a large number of strong aftershocks, and so many quakes early this year skews the picture, said Paul Earle, a US seismologist . Also, it's not the number of quakes, but their devastating impacts that gain attention, with the death tolls largely due to construction standards (building standard) and crowding, Earle added. "The standard mantra is earthquakes don't kill people, buildings do, " he said. Ks5u There have been more deaths over the past decades from earthquakes, said University of Colorado geologist Roger Bilham. In an opinion column last month in the journal Nature, Bilham called for better construction standards in the world's big cities. Of the 130 cities worldwide with populations of more than 1 million, more than half are prone to earthquakes, Bilham said. Developing nations, where populations are growing, don't pay attention to earthquake preparedness, Bilham said." If you have a problem feeding yourself, you're not really going to worry about earthquakes." Another reason quakes seem worse is that we're paying attention more. The Haiti earthquake quickly followed by the 8.8 in Chile made everyone start to think. But it won't last, said US disaster researcher Deniis Mileti. "People are paying attention to the violent planet we've always lived on," Mileti said." Come back in another six months if there has been no earthquakes, most people will have forgotten it again. " According to the article, the greater damage of earthquakes this year can be mainly caused by _ . A the occurrence of larger earthquakes B not enough warnings about earthquakes C poor construction standards and overcrowding D an increase in large cities Answer: C. poor construction standards and overcrowding One of the serious problems for today's society is who should be responsible for the old and how to improve their lives. It is not only a financial problem but also a question of the system we want for our society. I would like to suggest several possible solutions to this problem. First,employers should take the responsibility for their retired employees. To make this possible,a percentage of profits should be set aside for this purpose. But when a company must take lifelong responsibility for its employees,it may suffer from a commercial disadvantage due to higher employee costs. Another way of solving the problem is to return the responsibility to the individual. This means each person must save during his working years to pay for his years of retirement. This does not seem a very fair model since some people have enough trouble paying for their daily life without trying to earn extra to cover their retirement years. This means the government might have to step in to care for the poor. In addition,the government could take the responsibility for the care of the old. This could be financed through government taxes to increase the level of pensions. Furthermore,some institutions should be created for senior citizens,which can help provide a comfortable life for them. Unfortunately,as the present situation in our country shows,this is not a truly viable answer. The government can seldom afford to care for the old,particularly when it is busy trying to care for the young. One further solution is that the government or social organizations establish some workplaces especially for the old where they are independent. To sum up,all these options have advantages and disadvantages. Therefore,it is reasonable to expect that some combination of these options may be needed to provide the care we hope to give to the old generations. What can be concluded from the passage? A Taking care of the old is mainly an issue of money. B Employers should allow their workers to retire at a later age. C Becoming independent should be the goal of most old people. D There is no single solution to the problem of the old. Answer: D. There is no single solution to the problem of the old. Next Stop: Planet Mars Fly me to the moon? That's not far enough. On September 14, 2011, NASA released designs for a superrocket, the Space Launch System (SLS). This time the final destination will be Mars. The SLS is a huge, liquid-fuelled rocket. If it is fully developed, it will be the most powerful rocket ever built. Its lift capability will be much bigger than that of the space shuttle of Saturn 5, the rocket that sent the Apollo missions to the moon. NASA is planning to launch its first unmanned test flight in 2017. It is hoped that the first crew will fly in 2021 and astronauts will make it to a nearby asteroid in 2025. NASA hopes to send the rocket and astronauts to Mars from the asteroid by the 2030s, according to the Associated Press (AP). NASA used liquid rockets to send Apollo, Gemini and Mercury into space, but later changed to solid rockets boosters because they were cheaper. Tragically, however, a booster flaw caused the space shuttle Challenger to crash in 1986. The new project plans to return to liquid fuel. According to AP, the rockets will at first be able to carry 77 to 110 tons of payload . Eventually they will be able to carry 143 tons into space, maybe even as many as 165 tons, NASA officials said. By comparison, the Saturn 5 booster could lift 130 tons and the space shuttle just 27 tons. However, unlike reusable shuttles, these powerful rockets are mostly one use only. New ones have to be built for every launch. This will be very costly. NASA estimates that it will cost about $3 billion (19 billion yuan) per year, or $18 billion until the first test flight in 2017. NASA hopes to make money by allowing private companies to send astronauts to the International Space Station like giant taxi services, so that the program can be "sustainable". "This is perhaps the biggest thing for space exploration in decades," said Senator Bill Nelson, a former astronaut. "The goal is to fly humans safely beyond low-Earth orbit and deep into outer space where we cannot only survive, but one day also live." What is the outstanding feature of the SLS? A It's equipped with an advanced control system. B It's the first unmanned space shuttle in the world. C It's the only vehicle that can fly astronauts to the moon. D It can send a lot more goods and passengers into space. Answer: D. It can send a lot more goods and passengers into space.
Mr. Hunt came from a poor family. He had three brothers and two sisters. His father worked hard but wasn't paid much. And his mother did all the housework at home. They were both able but they couldn't get enough money for their family. Mr. Hunt was in school for only three years and he had to stop to help his parents though he was good at his lessons. When he was sixteen, he came to the city and began to work in a small factory. He learned from an old worker and became a skilled worker. The old worker liked him and married his daughter to him. The young man did not have his own house and had to live with his parents-in-law. His mother-in-law always thought he was poor and often chattered. So the young man tried to save everything and hoped to have his own house. It was one fine Sunday. The old woman wanted to have a picnic on the top of the hill. She told Mr. Hunt to drive her car. But sometimes she told him to turn left and sometimes to turn right. The young man had to listen to her. At a crossing the lights were red but she made him turn left. The policeman stopped them and told the young man to give his license to him. "If I did wrong, sir," said Mr. Hunt, "It was my mother-in-law's fault . She was driving the car though she sat behind me!" _ , so the old man married his daughter to him. A. Mr. Hunt became a skilled worker B. Mr. Hunt was friendly to him C. Mr. Hunt was paid much in the factory D. Mr. Hunt worked for six years there Answer: A Once upon a time there was a wise man who used to go to the sea to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked down at the beach, he saw something moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought that someone would dance on the beach. So he began to walk faster to catch up.As he got close,he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn't dancing,instead he was reaching down to the shore,picking up something and very gently and throwing it into the ocean. As he got closer he called out,"Good morning!What are you doing?'' The young man paused ,looked up and replied,"Throwing starfishes into the ocean." "I guess I should have asked ,why are you throwing starfishes into the ocean?" "The sun is up and the tide is going out.And if I don't throw them in, they will die." "But ,young man ,don't you realize that there are miles of beach and starfishes all along it. You can't possibly make a difference!" "The young man listened politely.Then he bent down ,picked another starfish and threw it into the sea ,and said ,It made a difference for that one." The wise man was lost in thought when the young man kept trying. Yes, there is something very special in every one of us. We have all been gifted with the ability to make a difference. And if we can know that gift, we will gain the power to shape the future.Each of us can do something for the future,each of us must find our starfish. And if we throw our starfishes wisely and well,the world will be better. The wise man thought it was _ to throw starfishes in the ocean at first. A. relaxing B. intelligent C. foolish D. helpful Answer: C A mosquito is a type of flying insect that lays eggs in puddles or small pools of water. When larvae develop from eggs, the larvae come to the surface to get air through special breathing tubes. After one to two weeks, the larvae become pupae and then turn into adults. How would a dry summer affect a mosquito population? A. The mosquito larvae would take longer to become pupae. B. The adult mosquitoes would have fewer places to lay eggs. C. The adult mosquitoes would get fluids by feeding more often. D. The mosquito larvae would use their breathing tubes to live on land. Answer: B Shake Shack is a new kind of restaurant becoming more popular in the U S.The restaurants are not"fast food."They are known as"fast casual." Observers say Americans want more choices and fresh food when choosing where and what to eat.This trend is one reason why the fast food restaurant McDonald's has struggled financially.In the last quarter of 2014,McDonald's net income dropped by about$300 million.The January earnings report brought more bad news.Worldwide sales dropped for the eighth month in a row and even more than expected.While McDonald's is struggling to get their customers back,Shake Shack,is doing well in making money.The New York-based burger chain had a very successful IPO,or initial public offering,of shares at the end of January.On its first day of trading,Shake Shack went from$21 a share to just under$46 a share.Being part of the"fast casual"trend has helped Shake Shack.Other fast casual restaurants in the U.S.include Chipotle and Panera. Bonnie Riggs,a restaurant expert with NPD has studied Americans'restaurant habits for almost 30 years.She says one reason why Americans like fast casual food is that it's new.It is creative,it is something different and people like to try new things.Her study shows Americans made 61 billion visits to restaurants last year.Three out of four visits were to fast food restaurants,like McDonald's.Fast casual is still a small percentage of restaurant visits,but it has developed fast.Just as Ms.Riggs says,"It's growing by _ ,because they meet consumers'needs.They know it's being prepared while they wait,it's fresh,quality food,good tasting food at what they say are reasonable and affordable prices." Many Americans still like their fast food.They just are not going as often.They are finding other ways to have a meal. We can learn from Bonnie Riggs that Americans _ . A. 1ike to try something new B. care only about the quality C. don't like fast food any more D. pay more restaurant visits to fast casual Answer: A Do you have memories of being kidnapped by aliens and taken away rapidly in a spaceship? You wouldn't be alone. Several thousand people worldwide reported to have had such experiences, researchers say. But in a new study, a psychology expert at London's Goldsmiths College says these experiences are proof of the weakness of the human memory, rather than evidence of life in outer space. "Maybe what we're dealing with here is false memories, and not that people are actually being kidnapped and taken aboard spaceships," says Professor Chris French, who surveyed 19 so-called victims. Several of the victims reported being taken away from their beds or cars by alien creatures around four feet high, with long and lean arms and legs and oversized heads, French said. Some men said they were forced to take painful medical examinations by the aliens. Many of the alien experiences could be explained by sleep paralysis, a condition in which a person is awake and aware of the surroundings but is unable to move. Sleep paralysis often leads to hallucinations --the experience of seeing or feeling something that is not really there and 40 percent of people experience the state at least once in their lives, French said. A rich imagination was also at play. Several of the alien victims were more likely to _ and reported to have seen ghosts and have unnatural abilities. "People have very rich fantasy lives," said French, who is due to present his findings at a public seminar at London's Science Museum on Wednesday. "So much that they often mix up what's happening in their heads with what is going on in the real world." What is the author's attitude towards alien experiences? A. Puzzling. B. Supportive. C. Respectful. D. Objective. Answer: D
The New York Philharmonic came to an unexpected stop on Tuesday night when an audience member's cell phone started ringing and wouldn't stop. Conductor Alan Gilbert was nearing the end of Mahler's Ninth Symphony when the interruption began. As eh New York Times writes, the symphony, "contains some of the most spiritual and peaceful music ever written." As the cell phone continued to ring, the iPhone's signature ringtone, Gilbert stopped the entire performance. And yet shockingly the phone continued to ring. "Nothing happened," Gilbert told the Times, "Nobody was to blame for it. It was unbelievable." Gilbert said minor cell phone interruptions have become common and rarely _ a live performance. The Philharmonic does what it can to remind to audience to turn off their cell phones before the performance begins. But the audience and performers stood by in astonished silence as Gilbert asked the offender to silence the phone, only to hear it continue. Mr Gilbert said audience pointed out two people sitting where the sound was coming from. "They were staring at me firmly," he said of the couple. Eventually, the man put his hand in his pocket and the ringing stopped. The conductor said he asked the man if he was sure the phone was quieted. "Then he nodded his head," Mr Gilbert said. People in the hall had been shouting for the sound to stop. Mr Pelkonen reported that they yelled: "Thousand-dollar fine!" "Kick him out!" "Get out!" Once the phone was finally silenced, Gilbert apologized to the audience. They responded with cheers and applause . And the performance continued. What do we know about the offender? Answer: He quieted the phone after hearing people's angry shouts. (Ann goes to Jack's house for supper.) Jack: Would you like some dumplings, Ann? Ann: No, thanks. Jack: Do you like soup? Ann: Yes, I do. But I don't like fish. My favourite food is noodles. Jack: I like noodles, too. But my favourite food is dumplings. Jack's mother: Would you like some rice, Ann? Ann: Yes, please. Jack: We often eat rice for supper. I like to put sugar on it. Would you like some? Ann: Yes. Mmm...It's delicious! ,56-57 Where are they? Answer: In Jack's house. In the Middle Ages in Europe, theater was an important part of civic, economic and religious life. During this period after the fall of Roman civilization, many cities were destroyed. Southern and Western Europe, famous for its agriculture, became increasingly more agricultural. After several hundred years, many towns appeared again. The Roman Catholic Church took over religion, education and politics. What remained of theater was mostly on the Greek and Roman performing arts. Theater was reborn as liturgical dramas. It was written in Latin and dealing with biblical stories which would be performed by church members. Then there came local dramas spoken in common language not Latin. They were more wonderful one-act dramas taking place in town squares or other parts of the city. There were three types of local dramas. Mystery or cycle plays were short dramas based on biblical stories organized into historical cycles. Miracle plays dealt with the lives of the great. Morality plays taught a lesson through characters standing for good or bad qualities. Secular plays in this period existed, but religious drama in the Middle Ages is mostly remembered today. As the Middle Ages ended, the number of religious theatres became small as the church weakened and more secular qualities won over religious theaters. What would be the best title for the passage? Answer: Religious theatres in the Middle Ages Please excuse me if I'm a little sad today. Mark is leaving, and I'm feeling kind of sad. You probably don't know Mark, but you might be lucky enough to know someone just like him. He's been the heart and soul of the office for a couple of years combining great professional skills with a sweet nature. He just wants to do his job, and to do it superbly well. And now he's moving on to an exciting new professional opportunity. It sounds like it could be the chance of a lifetime, and we're genuinely, sincerely pleased for him. But that doesn't make it any easier to say goodbye to a dear friend and trusted colleague. Life has a way of throwing these curve balls at us. Just when we start to get comfortable with a person, a place or a situation. A terrific neighbor moves away. Someone in the family graduates. A child finds new love and loyalties through marriage. The family's principle bread-winner is laid off. But how do we do that? A friend of mine who works for the government once told me that the answer to life's problems can be summed up in four words: "Go with the flow." "It's like surfing," Chris explained. "You can't organize the ocean. Waves just happen. You ride them where they take you, then you paddle back out there and catch the next one. Sure, you're always hoping for the perfect wave where you can get. But mostly you just take them the way they come. I'm not exactly sure, but I think Chris was saying that life is a series of events--both good and bad. There will always be life-influencing factors over which you have no control. That doesn't mean you don't keep trying to make all your dreams come true. It just means that when things come up that aren't exactly in your plan, you work around them--and then you move on. Of course, some bumps along the road of life are easier to take than others. A rained-out picnic, for example, is easier to cope with than the sudden death of a loved one. But the principle is the same. We're going to miss Mark, just like you'll miss that graduate, that neighbor or that newlywed. But rather than drown ourselves in the sadness of our parting, we'll focus on our hopes for a brighter future--for him, and for us. And then we'll go out and do everything we can to make that future happen. Which is not an unexpected thing in life mentioned in the passage? Answer: A terrific neighbor's apology. Charlie works in a post office. His father lost his job five years ago and his mother is often ill. And he has two brothers and a sister. He works hard and tries his best to buy enough food for his family. Last month his family had to move to an old house outside the city. It's farther from the post office and he has to get up early in the morning in order to catch the 6:30 train. The head of his office is strict and everybody has to get there on time. He knows what it'll mean if he's late. A friend of his had pity on him and lent his old car to him. The young man was happy and from then on he could go to work by car. Last Saturday Charlie went to buy some medicine for his mother. Bad luck! When he came out of the shop, he couldn't find the car. He was quite worried and began to look for it in front of the shop but he didn't find it. Suddenly he saw a woman parked a car there and hurried into the shop. Charlie saw the car wasn't locked. He got on it and drove it at once. He was afraid the loser would run after him and drove fast. A truck hit it at a crossing and he lost consciousness. This morning the young man came back to life and saw there were a few policemen standing by his bed. He asked, "Where am I?" "In Room 103." "In hospital or in prison ?" There're _ people in Charlie's family. Answer: six
What best describes objects orbiting in the Kuiper Belt? Answer: "I drink caffeine to stay awake. It has positive effects on me. I'm healthy, and there's nothing wrong with me," said Sarah Green, a freshman, who consumes many caffeine drinks to stay awake in completing the many tasks in her busy schedule. Caffeine is known to have many positive and negative consequences, and now that there might be an additional positive effect may have been discovered. A study suggests that a skin lotion containing caffeine, which is also found in green tea, may reduce the risk of skin cancer. Two lotion tests were conducted on hairless mice that were exposed to high levels of ultraviolet radiation . As a result, the lotion reduced the number of tumors each mouse developed. Unlike sunscreen , the new lotion is applied after exposure to the ultraviolet rays. Rays from the sun can cause genetic changes in the skin that can lead to skin cancer. Caffeine obstructs this action and causes the diseased cells to kill themselves. "I know that caffeine has been found in certain drinks and it causes increased activity of the nervous system, and increased blood pressure on blood vessels . I don't know of any positive effects of caffeine," health teacher Montego Estes said. Caffeine, found commonly in tea, coffee and soft drinks, provides people with an increase in energy. Half of all American adults consume more than 300 milligrams of caffeine per day. Caffeine is addictive because it uses the same mechanisms as amphetamines , and cocaine and heroin to excite the brain. "This new cream doesn't sound to me as though it would work," junior David Bobbit said, "Caffeine seems to have more negative effects than positive ones." Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers in the US. About one million cases will be diagnosed in the country this year. There will be more than 88,000 new cases of melanoma , the disease's deadliest form of skin cancer. It can be inferred from this passage that _ . Answer: The Segway Human Transporter was invented by Dean Kamen.It is a two-wheeled vehicle designed for a single rider standing upright over its single axle and navigate using a set of handlebars resembling those on a bicycle.Electrically powered, it could travel over 15 miles on a single charge and reach speeds up to twelve miles per hour.Its speed and direction can be controlled by riders' changing their weights. A college dropout and self-taught engineer, Kamen already held over 100 patents for his inventions when he developed the one he hoped would revolutionize short-distance travel.While still in college, Kamen started developing the medical devices that made his name.Later, he changed focus to the challenges faced by wheelchair users.His robotic wheelchair known as IBOT could climb stairs.This robot ended up paving the way for the Segway. Before showing his most recent invention, Kamen had kept it a top secret for months.When it turned out to be little more than a motor scooter, many publicly expressed their disappointment.On closer examination, however, even his critics had to admit that the vehicle was an engineering achievement.It answered the prayers of anyone who is worn out when walking downtown.Not everyone welcomed the Segway's arrival, though.Some complained it was too expensive, while others said it would further weaken the average American ' s fitness.A Japanese inventor even accused Kamen of stealing the idea for the Segway from him. Despite the controversy, the U.S.postal service began using Kamen's invention a month after its appearance, and a factory was built with plans to produce about 40,000 Segways every month.The argument is still on whether the Segway will be remembered as the greatest invention since the light bulb, or just another forgettable electronic device.Anyway, trips to the local supermarket will never be the same again. Some people expressed dissatisfaction with the Segway because of its _ Answer: We all know what it is like to be unable to turn your head because of a cold in the muscles of your neck, or because an unexpected twist has made your neck ache and stiff. Your whole body feels tight. The slightest move makes you jump with pain.Nothing could be worse than a pain in the neck. That is why we use the phrase to describe some people who give you the same feeling. We have all met such people. One is the man who always seems to be clapping his hands--often at the wrong time--during a performance in the theater. He keeps you from hearing the actors. Even worse are those who can never arrive before the curtain goes up and the play begins. They come hurrying down to your row of seats. You are comfortably settled down, with your hat and heavy coat in your lap. You must stand up to let them pass. You are proud of your self-control after they have settled into their seats... Well, what now... Good God, one of them is up again.He forgot to go to the men's room, and once more you have to stand up, hanging on to your hat and coat to let him pass. Now, that is "a pain in the neck". Another, well-known to us all, is the person sitting behind you in the movies. His mouth is full of popcorn; he is chewing loudly, or talking between bites to friends next to him. None of them remain still. Up and down, back and forth, they go for another bag of popcorn, or something to drink. Then, there is the man sitting next to you at a lunch counter smoking a smelly cigar.He wants you to enjoy it too, and blows smoke across your food into your mouth. We must not forget the man who comes into a bus or subway car and sits down next to you, just as closes you will let him. You are reading the newspaper and he leans over and stretches his neck so that he can read the paper with you. He may even turn the paper to the next page before you are ready for it. We also call such a person a "rubber-neck", always stretching his neck to where it does not belong, like neighbors who watch all your visitors. They enjoy invading your privacy. People have a strong dislike for rubber-necks. They hate being spied upon. A "rubber-neck" often _ . Answer: For a while, I wrote a "Tuesday tip" on my blog Lyonsdenmom.com. It was about easy week-night dinners, organizing parties or perhaps finding time out for friends. About a year ago, I ran out of tips. The truth? As a busy working mom with five busy kids, I probably do have a few tips to share. But honestly, the bar is set pretty low---on a recent day when I was walking our dog, a stranger who knew I had five kids said, "Wow! You have a dog, too?! And it even looks like you showered today!" Yes, it's true, I shower. Not every day, but most days. See, I'm telling the truth. Honestly, in this cold winter, I'm probably taking a shower more to warm up than to clean up. Other funny truths? I'm tired. In fact, for the past year, I've been too tired to type up any update on our life here in Lyons Den. It's hard to arrange a career with all these kids. Although folks just believe that it must be so much easier now since all the kids are in school, I'm here to tell you, it's not. It's really not. When I get home from work, I'm often tearfully greeted by five kids and five homework folders filled with math facts, invitations, notices and artwork. All those happy smiling faces I share on Facebook are real. We are a happy family---thank God for that! But we're not always smiling, and even in those rare best times when I can get all five kids looking at the camera, the odds would be that one of them isn't wearing underwear, one is pinching someone behind the scenes and one is just perfectly pronouncing "Damn!" So, less perfectly-posed pictures, but more telling the truth. Even if only on Tuesday. It seems that the author's life used to be _ . Answer:
I was born in Brooklyn. My father was a small-business man and we never had much money. He supported the family, moved us to Merrick on Long Island, when I was 11. He just recently died at age 96. He was still driving and playing golf right to the end. He was the only guy I knew who at age 90 could shoot under his age. I guess that taught me something about perseverance. I went to the University of Michigan as an engineering student in 1960. I was standing outside the student union building when Senator John F. Kennedy made a campaign speech that essentially announced his plan for the Peace Corps. He talked about how students could provide service for the country. It was an important moment for me. After I graduated, I worked as a computer programmer for I.B.M. for two years. By then, the Vietnam War was in full swing and the draft had accelerated. I didn't agree with the war and was interested in finding alternatives. I.B.M. applied for a delay for me twice but the application failed. I went to work at M.I.T.'s Instrumentation Labs on a project designed to create a rescue vehicle for lost submarines . I thought this job would keep me out of the draft, but M.I.T. hadn't put in the proper paperwork and I got called in for my physical. The day before my physical, I broke my ankle playing tennis and, of course, my draft board didn't believe a word of it. I had to provide X-rays. I had tears in my eyes from the pain, but a smile on my face. I started John Snow Inc. in 1978 (Dr. Snow is considered the father of modern epidemiology because he traced the source of a cholera epidemic in the 1850s). We had a very clear vision of what we would be. It would not be about making the most money but having the most impact. My goal was to attract talented people who had that passion to focus on primary care, women's health, child health, and to do great work. I also run a nonprofit called World Education, which focuses on literacy. What motivates me is going to the field, either in the United States or overseas, and seeing the people whose lives we affect. I didn't grow up rich but had the advantage of growing up in the United States and getting a good education. I couldn't have started J.S.I. in many other places. And I believe there is a duty to try and assist people who are struggling against tough situations. According to the passage, we know that _ . A the author' father taught him to play golf B the author was disappointed to have failed physical examination C John Snow Inc. was started by the father of modern epidemiology D the author feels lucky to have grown up in the United States Answer: D. the author feels lucky to have grown up in the United States Sometimes people call each other "freaked-cat", but have you ever thought about this expression? When a cat is frightened, its heart starts beating faster, its muscles get tense, and there are changes in the chemicals in its bloodstream.Although the cat doesn't realize this, its body is getting ready for action.If the danger continues, the animal will do one of two things.It will defend itself, or it will run away as fast as it can. Something like this also happens to people.When we are excited, angry, scared, or aroused by other emotions (feelings), our bodies go through many physical changes.Our hearts beat faster, and our muscles get tense.All of these changes make us more alert and ready to react.We, too.get ready to defend ourselves or run. Human beings, however, have a problem that animals never face.If we give way to our feelings and let them take over, we can get into trouble.Have you ever said something in anger --or hit somebody--and regretted it later? Have you ever shouted at a teacher, told somebody you were lonely, or said you were in love, and then wished later you had kept your mouth shut? It isn't always clever to express your feelings freely. Does this mean that it's smarter always to hide our feelings? No! If you keep feelings of anger, sadness, and bitterness hidden away or bottled up inside, your body stays tense.Physical illness can develop.It can actually be bad for your health.(It isn't good to keep pleasant feelings inside either; all feelings need to be expressed.) Feelings that you keep all bottled up inside don't just go away.It's as if you bought some bananas and stuck them in a cupboard.You might not be able to see them.but before long you' d smell them.And if you opened the cupboard, chances are that you'd see little fruit flies flying all over them.They'd be rotten. You can try to treat emotions as if they were bananas in the cupboard.You can hide them and you can pretend they don't exist, but they'll still be around.And at last you'll have to deal with them.just like those bananas. The best title for this article is _ . A Emotions Affect Our Bodies B What Happens to A Frightened Cat C What Happens to An Excited Person D Feelings That People Have Answer: A. Emotions Affect Our Bodies Mrs Brown was very fat. Her husband thought she should go on a diet, and he made her eat no meat or cakes. One morning, Mrs Brown made a nice cake for her husband, and he ate half of it. After he went out, Mrs Brown cut a very small piece of the cake and ate it. It was very delicious. Then she cut a bigger piece and ate it, too. In a few minutes she finished up the cake. "My husband is going to be very angry," she thought. "What should I do?" She made another cake very quickly, ate half of it, and put the other half on the table. Mr. Brown came back later. When he saw the half of the cake on the table, he was very happy. ,. (5,2, 10) Mrs Brown's husband made her eat no meat or cakes because _ . A meat and cakes are junk food B meat and cakes could make her fatter C he liked eating them D meat and cakes could make her sick Answer: B. meat and cakes could make her fatter Despite the anxiety that Jones'Host-said by some to be the first digital novel-caused in 1993,publishers weren't too concerned that e-books would one day replace printed books.However,that attitude was changed suddenly in 2007 when Amazon's Kindle came onto the market,which led to e-book sales jumping up to 1,260%.Since then,e-books'popularity has continued to steadily rise.The publishing industry seemed to have lost all possible ability to regain its position.Will printed books eventually become a thing of the past? According to Mike Shatzkin,founder and CEO of the Idea Logical Company,printed books just for plain old reading will,in 10years from now,be unusual."Not so unusual that a kid will say,'Mommy,what's that?'but unusual enough that on the train you'll see one or two people reading something printed,while everyone else is reading off of a tablet."And Shatzkin believes that the demise of print is sure to happen,though such a day won't arrive for perhaps 50to 100or more years. Robert Stein,founder of the Institute for the Future of the Book,however,believes that books won't disappear entirely,at least not anytime soon."Print will exist,but it will be in a different field and will appeal to a very limited audience,as poetry does today.Like woodblock printing,hand-processed film and folk weaving ,printed pages may assume an artistic value,"he says.He imagines that future forms of books might be developed not by conventional publishers but by the gaming industry.He also predicts that the distinction between writer and reader will be made less obvious by a social reading experience in which authors and consumers can digitally interact with each other to discuss any passage,sentence or line. Is there anything we risk sacrificing,should print really disappear entirely?According to Maryanne Wolf,director of the Center for Reading and Language Research at Tufts University,electronic reading can negatively affect the way the brain responds to text,including reading comprehension,focus and the ability to maintain attention to details like plot and order of events."My worry is that we'll have a short-circuited reading brain,excellent for gathering information but not necessarily for forming critical,analytical deep reading skills,"Wolf says. The field,however,is in an early stage,and findings about the negative effects of e-reading are far from certain.In light of this,Wolf hopes that we continue to maintain a"bi-literate"society-one that values both the digital and printed word."A full reading brain circuit is a huge contribution to the intellectual development of our species.Anything that threatens that deserves our attention." How did publishers feel about the rising e-book sales inspired by the Kindle? A Worried. B Excited. C Curious. D Skeptical. Answer: A. Worried. We are always attracted by the sea. From it we can get food, minerals and treasures. For thousands of years, we just sailed on it but couldn't go far under its surface. We want to explore deep into the sea. However, we are not fish. We must breathe, so we can't stay underwater for long. To explore deep water, we face even more dangers and problems. A diver trying to stay underwater for a long time must breathe air or a special mixture of gases. He can wear a diving suit and have air pumped to him from above. He can carry a tank of air on his back and breathe through a special pipe. Water weighs 800 times as much as air. Tons of water pushes against a diver deep in the sea, so his body is under great pressure. When a diver is under great pressure, his blood takes in some of the gases he breathes. As he rises to the surface, the water pressure becomes less. If the diver rises too quickly, the gases in his blood form bubbles . The diver is then suffering from a kind of illness. This kind of illness can cause a diver great pains and even kill him. A diver's body in deep water _ . A is under great pressure B is just like a fish C suffers from illnesses D weighs very little Answer: A. is under great pressure
Question: Homework and stress are rarely reduced inside the classroom.Meanwhile,outside the classroom,the pressure is on to find scholarships for college. According to Braintrack,a higher education database with worldwide reach,more than 3 billion US dollars (18 billion yuan) in private scholarships are awarded to college students annually.Average awards range from $2,000 to $3,000. The scholarship application process is similar to the college application process: forms to be completed,test scores and transcripts to be sent,essays to be written and often interviews to be prepared for. A few great places to start looking for scholarships are: www.fastweb. com,www.Finaid. org and www.collegexpress.com.Check out the annual scholarship guidebooks Scholarships,Grants & Prizes by Peterson's and the Ultimate Scholarship Book: Billions of Dollars in Scholarships,Grants and Prizes by Gen Tanabe and Kelly Tanabe. Be selective.Thoroughly research the qualifications required by each of the scholarships.Don't waste your time applying for those that are need based if you can't produce the appropriate documents. Research past recipients .Check out the websites of the organizations sponsoring the scholarships.Many post the biographies of past recipients.You don't need to have cured cancer,but if you don't think your resume measures up to the past winners',you might be better served by moving onto the next scholarship on your list.Prepare for the interview. You'll want to dazzle them with your personality,but above all you'll want to be prepareD. Find someone you trust to conduct a similar interview with you - someone who will be honest with you and provide valuable suggestions. Let your personality shine through in your essays.The essays are the best way for students to share who they are,where they've come from,what they've overcome and so on.Tell your story in an interesting and persuasive way.And if you do have an interview,send a thank you note afterward. By Lee Bierer To increase your chance of winning a scholarship,you are advised to _ . A. apply for as many scholarships as you can B. tell an interesting story in your essay C. do a similar interview to help you prepare for the real one D. have a talk with past recipients and try to talk like they do Answer: C Question: The Rockford police chief and some city officials want to install video cameras in all 100 police cars. They think this will reduce the number of lawsuits . In the last five years, Rockford has paid out more than five million dollars to settle about 40 lawsuits. The chief said, "If cameras had been in those cars, we wouldn't have had to pay one cent. We're always pulling over drunks or drug users who try to fight the police or shoot them. Then they always claim that the police start beating them first or start shooting at them first." The cost of installing cameras will be about $500 each. The city council will vote on the proposal next Monday. Ten of the 13 council members said that they like the idea. One member said that it makes good sense. The police officers enthusiastically support camera use. One officer said that too many people think the police often lie; cameras would show citizens that police tell the truth. "The money that we've been spending on lawsuits will be better spent on more cameras," said one officer. Citizen opinions to the idea of police car cameras are mixed. One person said that the police should have started doing this years ago when video cameras were invented. But an elderly man strongly objected. "These police are trying to stick their nose into everything," he said. He was going to attend the council meeting to condemn the proposal. He hoped that other citizens would join him. Which group of people support camera use most? A. Council members. B. Police officers. C. Local people. D. Drug users. Answer: B Question: Dogs have an amazing sense of smell thanks to 300million smell receptors in their noses, compared to only five million in the human nose. Medical dogs are trained by smelling samples of people already diagnosed with cancer and those of people without the disease so they can learn to tell the difference. Dr Claire Guest began training her dog Daisy to smell out the killer disease in urine and breath samples when she was young. So far Daisy has found cancer in 551 patients, of which 93 per cent were accurate. And she discovered Dr Guest's breast cancer before it was diagnosed- the first time she has discovered the disease actually growing in someone's body, rather than by smelling a sample. Dr Guest, 50, chief executive of charity Medical Detection Dogs, said: "She pushed against my body with her nose repeatedly - I pushed her away, but she pushed against me again, clearly upset. She pushed me so hard that it hurt me. "Her behaviour was totally out of character - she was normally such a happy dog ... I felt the tender area where she'd pushed me, and over the next few days I discovered the tiniest lump . "If it wasn't for Daisy it would have gone hidden for much longer and could have been more serious," Dr Guest added. "My own pet labrador saved my life." Animal rescue charity Blue Cross presented Daisy with a medal for her achievements. She faced tough competition, including JJ, a bomb detection dog who has saved soldiers' lives in Afghanistan. Steve Goody, the charity's deputy chief executive, said: "Cancer affects the lives of thousands of people and Daisy has made a huge contribution to the diagnosis and early treatment of cancers - she's a very deserving medal _ t." Daisy is now helping to train a team of 12 dogs at Medical Detection Dogs and is a 'senior consultant' for the UK's first ever trial using dogs to discover breast cancer. How did Daisy discover Dr Guest's cancer? A. By smelling the urine sample. B. By smelling the breath sample. C. By smelling the hidden cancer. D. By pushing Dr Guest hard. Answer: C Question: Dear teachers, do you want to find pen pals for your students? Boys and girls, do you want to find your own e-pals ? Here is some advice on how to make e-pals. First, take a look at www.spoton.de community . Click on international pen pal sites to find some of our favorite international e-pal and pen pal web sites. Do not forget: some e-pal services are not free and some are safer than others. Remember to read a web site safety warning before you join! KidFu (www.kidfu.com) says it is the safest place online for kids to chat, play games and make friends. Get your parents to help you register and then you can write things about yourself or read what other kids have written. There are also chat monitors that make sure that the online chat rooms are safe and friendly. KidFu costs money, but the first month is free. If you join Epals (www.epals.com), you can choose a pen pal among 65,000 kids from 191 countries. You can also find information about how teachers can get pen pals for their pupils. Or if you want to start sending e-mails right now, go to Europa Pages (www.europapage.com/ penpal-form.html). Lots of young people have written their names, interests, home countries and their e-mail addresses. Just click on a name and start writing! Who is the passage written for? A. Teachers and parents. B. Parents and their children. C. Teachers and children D. Workers and doctors. Answer: C Question: Hadrian's Wall Hadrian's Wall was built, beginning in 122 AD, to keep Roman Britain safe from attacks from the Picts. The wall, starting from the North Sea to the Irish Sea (from the Tyne to the Solway), is about 73 miles long, 10 feet wide, and 15 feet high. In addition to the wall, the Romans built a system of small forts housing up to 60 men every Roman mile along its whole length, with e towers very 1/3 Roman mile. 16 larger forts holding from 500 to 1000 soldiers were built into the wall, with large gates on the north face. Israeli West Bank barrier The Israeli West Bank barrier is a barrier under construction by the State of Israel along and within the West Bank. Upon completion, the barrier's total length will be nearly 700 kilometers. The barrier is built mainly in the West Bank. The Berlin Wall The Berlin Wall was the physical boundary between West Germany and East Germany. The Berlin Wall was built in the dead of night in 1961 and for 28 years kept East Germans from escaping to the West. Its destruction (in 1989) was celebrated around the world. Conwy's Town Walls Conwy's Town Walls are an ancient defensive project around the town of Conwy in North Wales. The walls were built between 1283 and 1287. They are 1.3 kilometers long and include 21 towers and three gate houses. The project was completed by large quantities of workers and cost around PS15,000. Today the walls form part of the UNESCO world heritage site . What do Hadrian's Wall and Conwy's Town Walls have in common? A. They have the same length B. They were built in the same age C. They have towers on their walls. D. They cost a huge amount of money Answer: C
Hello, everyone! My name is Winnie. I'm a 15-year-old girl. I live in the beautiful city of Rizhao. I'm an active , lovely and clever girl. In the school my favourite subject is Math. Maybe someone thinks it's difficult to study well. But I like it. I believe that if you try your best, everything can be done well. I also like sports very much, such as running, volleyball and so on. I'm kind. If you need help, please come to me. I hope we can be good friends! OK. This is me, a sunny girl! What's Winnie like? Answer: Owning a personal island is a luxurious treat one can imagine. New Holland Island $400 million, 18 acres Roman Abramovich Investment Banker Located in Saint Petersburg Canal in Russia, the island takes its name after its resemblance to areas in Amsterdam. The owner plans to turn it into a cultural center. The new look of this island is expected to be revealed in another six years. Musha Cay Island $150 million, 700 acres David Copperfield Famous magician World-famous magician David Copperfield has developed the island located in the southern part of Bahamas into a magical resort with adventures, treasure hunts, luxurious apartments, and water sports. All these, for $32,250 a night! Mago Island $10 million, 5,400 acres Mel Gibson Actor Interestingly, this island is almost the size of a small country! Mel Gibson does not plan on developing it into a resort, thus keeping its natural beauty. Mosquito Island $15 million, 120 acres Richard Branson Investor This island is rich in eco-diversity and is also one of the rich rainforest places. Branson plans to make this island the most eco-friendly and develop the biodiversity of this island. James Island $19 million, 780 acres Craig McCaw Cell phone pioneer Craig McCaw plans to develop the island, but not at the cost of losing its natural beauty. Smoking is banned on the island, and only electric bikes or cars are used for transport. All power lines are laid underground. The island also has a golf course designed by the excellent golf champion Jack Nicklaus. Allan Island $13.5 million, 292 acres Paul Allen Investor The island is reportedly named after a hero, and Paul Allen plans on building a vacation home here. However, his vacation home was built on another island nearby. So, the Allan Island now has only a caretaker's small house without electricity. And it is up for sale. Hands anybody? If you want to buy a personal island, you should pay a visit to _ . Answer: As millions of playthings are recalled, doctors are reminded that the risks of lead exposure continue for young patients. Lead is such a well-known health - perhaps even contributing to the fall of the Roman Empire- that it came as a shock to discover that toys played by children could contain lead. Doctors are now dealing with the aftershocks. Just how dangerous is this exposure? That's the question physicians are being asked by parents who find a lead-polluted Elmo, of Dora. Millions of others toys, lunch boxes and pieces of jewelry manufactured in China have been recalled because they contain lead either in the paint that coats them or as a component of the plastic used to make the item more flexible. The lead content in some of the toys recalled this summer was 180 times the amount allowed by law. Some pieces of jewelry were almost 100% lead. Experts advise that the items do cause a risk and that doctors should urge parents to check the comprehensive lists of recalled products on the Consumer Product Safety Commission's Web site and return any appearing on those lists to the manufacturers. If exposure is suspected, a blood test is in order . Since there is no safe level of this universal element, the risk face by children for lead poisoning and its accompanying threat of learning disabilities and behavior problems is considerable. Doctors who have toys in their waiting rooms also are advised to see if any of them have been recalled and to check for chipped, flaking paint-even on those that haven't yet been recalled--since new announcements of toy risk continue. Why does the author mention "the fall of the Roman Empire"? Answer: As any homemaker who has tried to keep order at the dinner table knows, there is far more to a family meal than food. Sociologist Michael Lewis has been studying 50 families to find out just how much more. Lewis and his co-worker carried out their study by videotaping the families while they are having ordinary meals in their own homes. They found that parents with small families talk actively with each other and their children. But as the number of children gets larger,conversation gives way to the parents' efforts to control the loud noise they make. That can have an important effect on the children. "In general the more question-asking the parents do, the higher the children's IQ scores,"Lewis says. " And the more children there are, the less question-asking there is. " The study also provides an explanation for why middle children often seem to have a harder time in life than their siblings . Lewis found that in families with three or four children, dinner conversation is likely to center on the oldest child, who has the most to talk about, and the youngest, who needs the most attention. " _ "says Lewis. When you see someone get up from the table and walk around during dinner,chances are for the middle child. "There is, however,one thing that stops all conversation and prevents anyone from having attention: "When the TV is on,"Lewis says, "dinner is a non-event ". The writer's purpose in writing the text is to _ . Answer: Which biological process in mammals occurs largely due to cell division? Answer:
Longman Dictionary with CD-ROM The dictionary is unique because it has been written using the Longman Defining Vocabulary. Only this dictionary uses a defining vocabulary comprised of the 2,000 words that make up the intermediate-level student's most frequent vocabulary. This new edition has been completely updated using Longman's unique, comprehensive database of spoken and written American English. A must for all ESL classrooms. Pronunciation Power New technology to improve your English quickly! Pronunciation Power is a range of user-friendly, interactive CD programs for ESL learners to improve your English pronunciation quickly. It is easy to use for all levels and ages. * New technology that improves your English quickly * User-friendly, interactive program on CD-ROM * All ESL levels: Beginner-intermediate / Intermediate-Advanced * Learn the 52 sounds you need to speak English correctly * See the moving pictures of front and side mouth-views * Hear the instructor speak and record your own voice * FREE delivery worldwide * FREE e-book with all orders Game for ESL Quiz style board game designed for ESL learners. The game contains thousands of questions graded into five levels--from beginner to advanced--with answers included. Level: Beginner to Advanced What does it test and develop? * speaking, listening and reading skills * vocabulary and spelling (British and American) * phrasal verbs and collocation * idioms and proverbs * grammar and usage * general knowledge--history, geography, science, the arts, sports, etc. Talk Now! CD-ROM Course for ESL The "Talk Now!" series is for any language beginner who wants an entertaining self study course to learn basic phrases, such as color1s, numbers, food, shopping, and time. We have been selling this European-produced CD-ROM for a few years and find that it is highly praised by people from all over the world. Designed by language experts, interactive and fun, it is ideal for beginners and travelers. The purpose of the ads is to _ . Windmills dot the landscape,producing a renewable energy source.Our pioneer ancestors established windmills as a means of bringing water to the surface.To tell the truth,the history of wind energy is very long.Since early recorded history,people have been _ the energy of the wind.Wind energy drove boats along the Nile River as early as 5000 BC.By 200 BC,simple windmills in China were pumping water,while well-designed windmills were grinding grain in Persia and the Middle East. New innovations and curiosity helped spread interest in windmills and wind power.Middle Eastern citizens used them for food production by the 11th century.Merchants along trade routes returned to Europe and shared the idea.Windmills caught on,especially in Holland,and the Dutch improved their use.Here,windmills drained lakes and other bodies of water.In France,the windmill pumped irrigation water.Elsewhere in Europe,windmills were used to grind grain. By the 19th century,settlers in the United States realized the importance of the simple windmill.Pioneers pumped water for livestock and farming.As estimated six million windmills dotted America's landscape by the end of the 1880s.Charles Brush,the US inventor,invented a windmill capable of producing electricity in 1888.And now the machines are called wind turbines.As late as the 1920s,Americans used small windmills to provide electricity in rural areas without electric service.When power lines began to transport electricity to rural areas in the 1930s,local windmills were used less and less,though they can still be seen on some Western farms. In the 1970s,oil shortages pushed the development of alternative energy sources,paving the way for the re-entry of the windmill to produce electricity.In the early 1980s,wind energy really took off in California,partly because of State policies that encouraged renewable energy sources.In the 1990s,the push came from a renewed concern for the environment in response to scientific studies indicating potential changes to the global climate if the use of fossil fuels continues to increase.Wind energy is an economical power resource in many areas of the country. Wind energy isn't a new phenomenon,but using wind turbines to create and use electricity is a trend that continues to sweep across the globe. As for the application of windmills,Europe _ . 400-year-old plants from the Little Ice Age were brought back to life, which could help us understand how the Earth will deal with climate change. Moss found buried beneath the Teardrop glacier on Ellesmere Island in Canada has been brought back to life. Findings suggest that these plants could help repopulate regions exposed by melting ice caps. Plants that were buried beneath thick ice in Canada more than 400 years ago and were thought to have frozen to death have been brought back to life by Canadian scientists. Samples of the moss plant, covered by the glacier during the Little Ice Age of 1550 to 1850 AD, were replanted in a lab at the University of Alberta and grew new stems . Researchers now think these findings can give indication as to how regions can recover as the ice covering them melts. Biologist Dr. Catherine La Farge and her team at the University of Alberta were exploring the region around the Teardrop glacier on Ellesmere Island. Ice on Ellesmere Island region has been melting at around four meters each year for the past nine years. This means that many areas of land that were previously covered by ice have since been exposed. Many ecosystems that were thought to have been destroyed during the Little Ice Age between 1550 and 1850 AD can now be studied, including many species that have never been studied before. While examining an exposed area of land, La Farge and her team discovered a small area of moss called Aulacomnium turgidum. It is a type of bryophyte plant that mainly grows across Canada, the US and the Highlands of Scotland. Dr La Farge noticed that the moss had small patches of green stems, suggesting it is either growing again or can be encouraged to repopulate. Dr La Farge told the BBC, "When we looked at the samples in detail and brought them to the lab, I could see some of the stems actually had new growth of green branches, suggesting that these plants are growing again, and that _ When we think of thick areas of ice covering the landscape, we've always thought that plants have to come from refugia , never considering that land plants come from underneath a glacier. It's a whole world of what's coming out from underneath the glacier that really needs to be studied. The ice is disappearing pretty fast. We really have not examined all the biological systems that exist in the world; we don't know it all." Dr La Farge took samples of the moss and, using carbon-dating techniques, discovered that the plants date back to the Little Ice Age. Dr La Farge's team took the samples, planted them in dishes full of nutrient-rich potting soil and fed them with water. The samples were from four separate species including Aulacomnium turgidum, Distichium capillaceum, Encalypta procera and Syntrichia ruralis. The moss plants found by Dr La Farge are types of bryophytes. Bryophytes can survive long winters and regrow when the weather gets warmer. However, Dr La Farge was surprised that the plants buried under ice have survived into the twenty-first century. Her findings appear in proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. According to the passage, Aulacomnium turgidum _ . The law has a great many rules, showing when and how far a man is to be punished, or if he should be made to hand over money or property to his neighbors, and so on. These rules are contained in books. A lawyer learns them mainly by reading books. He begins by doing little else than reading, and after he has prepared himself by three years' study, still, he has to, almost every day, read more about some new questions which he has to answer. The power to use books, then, is a special skill which a would-be lawyer ought to possess. He ought to have enough flexibility to make it easy for him to collect ideas from printed words. He ought to have some readiness to find what a book contains, and something of an instinct for where to look for what he wants. But although this is the power which he will first feel in need of, it is not the most important. A lawyer does not study law to recite it; he studies it to use it and act upon the rules which he has learned in real life. His business is to try cases in court and to advise people what to do in order to keep out or get out of trouble. According to the passage, a good lawyer should know how to _ . Bill Gates has a nice house on a hill by Lake Washington. Inside the house there are seven bedrooms, 24 bathrooms, six kitchens and six fireplaces. It even has a theatre, a library, an exercise room and a swimming pool. You can say the house is very big. However, it doesn't look so big, because a large part of it is in the hills. The house is famous for many reasons. One is its large size, and another is its amazing electronic systems . Before a visitor goes into the house, he/she gets a chip at the gate. The chip sends information about the visitor to the electronic systems in the house. When the visitor goes into the house, lights are on automatically . When the visitor goes into a room, the temperature will change to make the visitor comfortable. When the visitor goes from one room to another, he/she can hear music. Bill Gates began to build his house in 1990. It took him about 7 years to build it. Bill Gates' house is very famous. The writer gives _ reasons.
Register in person, by phone 264-8833, or by mail. Use form given. 178 IN Winchester St, Chicago Basic Photography This is an eight-hour course for beginners who want to learn how to use a 35mm camera. The teacher will cover such areas as kinds of film, light, and lenses . Bring your own 35mm camera to class. Course charge: $50. Jan.10,12,17,19, Tues. & Thurs. 6:00~8:00 p.m. Marianne Adams is a professional photographer whose photographs appear in many magazines. Understanding Computers This twelve-hour course is for people who don't know very much about computers, but need to learn about them. You will learn what computers are, what they can and can't do, and how to use them. Course charge:$75. Equipment charge:$10. Jan.14,21,28, Sat. 6:00~10:00 p.m. Joseph Saimders is Professor of Computer Science at New Urban University. He has over twelve years of experience in the computer field. Typing This course on week-days is for typing. You are tested in the first class and practice at one of eight different skill levels. This allows you to learn at your own speed. Each program lasts 20 hours. Bring your own paper. Course charge:$125. Materials charge:$25. Two hours each evening for two weeks. New classes begin every two weeks. This course is taught by a number of business education teachers who have effectively taught typing courses before. Oil Painting Oil paint is easy to use once you learn the basics. When you enroll in this oil painting course, you will learn to draw and paint using many oil painting techniques under complete guidance and instruction. Together--with the teacher's knowledge and your passion--we'll unlock your creativity and develop your potential! Course charge: $35. Jan. 5,12,19,26, Thurs. 2:00---5:00pm. Ralf Ericssion has taught beginners to masters and he has learned that everything builds on just a few basic concepts that he will show you here. There are typing courses _ . A. from Monday to Friday B. on Saturdays and Sundays C. from Monday to Saturday D. on Tuesdays and Thursdays Answer: A The Internet began in the 1960s as a small network of academic and government computers primarily involved in research for the prefix = st1 /U.S.army. Originally limited to researchers at a handful of universities and government departments, the Internet has quickly become a worldwide network providing users with information on a range of subjects and allowing them to purchase goods directly from companies via computer. By 1999, 84 millionU.S.citizens had access to the Internet at home or work. More and more Americans arc paying bills, shopping, ordering airline tickets, and purchasing stocks via computer over the Internet. Internet banking is also becoming increasingly popular. With lower overhead costs in terms of staffing and office space, Internet banks are able to offer higher interest rates on deposits and charge lower rates on loans than traditional banks. "Brick and mortar" banks are increasingly offering online banking services via some special websites to enlarge their traditional services. At present, 14 percent of Internet households conduct their banking by means of the Internet, and the figure is expected to double during the next two or three years. Increasing commercial use of the Internet has heightened security and privacy concerns. With a credit card, an Internet user can order almost anything from an Internet site and have it delivered to their home or office. Companies doing business over the Internet need many security measures to protect credit card, bank account, and social security numbers from unauthorized access as they pass across the Internet. Any organization that connects its networks to the global Internet must carefully control the access point to ensure that out-siders cannot disturb the organization's internal networks or gain unauthorized access to the organization's computer systems and data. What is this text mainly about? A. Conveniences brought to consumers through use of the Internet. B. The effect, ct of increasing commercial use of the Internet. C. Security risks caused by commercial use of the Internet. D. Advantages of Internet banking over traditional banking. Answer: B "It was amazing, just impressive," Holly Budge, a 29-year-old British woman, said after making a safe landing at a spot 12,350 feet (3,765 meters) above sea level -- the highest "drop zone" achieved by a parachutist . "We had one minute of freefall and while we were above the clouds you could see Everest and the other high mountains popping out of the top," she said. Ms Budge and her two fellow daredevils, Wendy Smith, from New Zealand, and Neil Jones, from Canada, jumped out of an aircraft at about 29,500 feet, just higher than the peak of the world's highest mountain. They fell at speeds reaching 140mph, past the highest ridges of the snow-covering Himalayas, before each released a parachute . The jumpers wore oxygen masks to keep their lungs working as they fell. Wearing neoprene underwear was compulsory -- to prevent them from being frozen to death. The adventure, advertised by its organizers as "a feast for those who seek to stimulate all their senses to the full", appeared to have lived up to its billing. "I had never seen so many mountains before," Ms Smith said. "To be on top of the world was simply stunning ." The expedition also offered a way by which to celebrate her 30th birthday later this month, she said. Besides, her jump raised funds for charities in Britain and Nepal, including more than PS10,000 for the Hampshire Autistic Society. In the next few days the feat will be repeated by about 30 others, weather permitting. Each has paid at least PS12,675 to High and Wild, the British adventure travel company behind the project. Ms Budge said: "It was worth the money. It is something that has never been done before." It can be known from the passage that _ . A. High and Wild is a new British adventure travel company B. the aircraft took the jumpers to a height higher than the Himalayas C. Ms Budge used to be an extreme sports enthusiast. D. the three skydivers succeeded in landing at the top of the highest mountain. Answer: B CHANGSHA,Feb.14(Xinhua)----Areas of China affected by the recent severe weather have shifted from emergency work to reconstruction,with transport and power supplies returning to normal. The government of central Hunan Province.one of the areas hardest hit by the worst weather in half a century,said that it would offer a subsidy of 5,000 yuan(694 U. S. dollars)to each household whose residence was destroyed.Around 67,000 houses in prefix = st1 /Hunancollapsed in the snowy weather,which persisted from mid-January through late in the month. The provincial civil affairs authorities have started checking those in need of government help,pledging they could move to new houses by May. According to the latest official statistics,snow-related _ killed 107 people and caused 111.1 billion yuan in direct losses.In a11,21 provinces,autonomous regions and municipalities have been affected.A total of 354,000 houses collapsed and 1.5 million people were evacuated. Seven provinces--Hunan,Guizhou,Jiangxi,Anhui,Hubei,Zhejiang and Sichuan-and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region were the worst-hit areas,the Ministry of Civil Affairs said. In Guangxi,l,332 schools were damaged and more than l,200 classrooms became dangerous. Yu Yizhong,director of the region's education department,urged local education administration bureaus and schools to try to raise funds and launch repair and reconstruction work as soon as possible to ensure the spring term opens as scheduled. The extreme weather aim affected nearly 24.4 million hectares of farmland and 18.6 million ha of forests.Agricultural technicians have been organized to go to rural areas to help farmers with crop planting. On Thursday,nearly 30 agricultural experts in eastern Anhui Province set out for a week-long service journey to snow-stricken rural areas.They will check damage and help farmers replant vegetable fields? Similar technical teams have been organized in other provinces such as Jiangxi to help farmers restore agricultural production. Also in Jiangxi,rural credit cooperatives have provided farmers with loans totaling 3.5 bil1ion yuan. was/were hit hardest by the winter storm. A. Hunan Province B. 7 areas C. 21 areas D. 8 areas Answer: D Online Money Earning Yes, you can earn money online without any investment or without any time limit. I have many useful easy methods for earning easy money while we all spend our useful time on the Internet by surfing, chatting, downloading and other work. There is no need to stop any other work. We can earn with or without our daily routine. Here I tell you the complete method for online earning. First Method Earn money with "Bux. to". You can earn money through "Bux. to" by clicking on ads on "Bux. to" site. First you need to poen an account at "Bux. to". "Bux. to" is a new international and FREE English based service that allows advertisers to reach thousands of potential customers by displaying their ads on our "Surf Ads" page. An exact calculated percentage of all advertising income is paid to our members. "Bux. to" makes money through advertising. How you make money You view websites in 30 seconds through the "Surf Ads" page. Once the 30 seconds is up, you'll either get a green tick sign or a red "x". The green tick sign means you've earned $0.01 and the "x" means you have not earned money for the visit. You'll get redxs when you have more than one website from the "Surf Ads" page open. When this happens, you get no credit. Earnings example You click 10 ads per day=$ 0.10 20 referrals click 10 ads per day=$2.00 Your daily earnings=$ 2.10 Your weekly earnings=$14.70 Your monthly earnings= $63.00 How to get paid If you have at least $10.00 accumulated, you can click on your account balance within your state's area and it will meet your request. At present, it only makes payments through "AlertPay ". It will soon be using other methods of payment. AlertPay is the payment processing solution that we use to pay members. Your AlertPay address is the e-mail address you use to register with AlertPay. You can get a free AlertPay account at http://alertpay.com. Method 2 will publish soon... What can we know from the passage? A. You'll earn $ 0.10 if you click 1 ad. B. You'll get many green ticks if you have many websites open. C. You can get your payments through AlertPay. D. Your AlertPay account is not for free. Answer: C
Finding a friend doesn't seem like a difficult job. However, bad friends are easier to find than good friends these days. If you're sitting there and wondering if you have a bad friend, let me define it for you. A bad friend is someone whose jealousies and insecurities outweigh their love for someone. They night want to be a good friend but they're too messed up in their own head to ever actually do it. They wonder if their friends are going out without them or if they're being forgotten and left behind. People who are violently insecure don't have what it takes to be the quality of a friend. Bad friends are narcissistic .They look for any opportunity to bring the conversation back to them. Worse, they might not even be aware that they're doing it. In their mind, they might think they are the best friend ever, which is truly frightening. Bad friends are quick-change. They're by your side when you're fun and you have something to give them but as soon as you're going through a difficult time, they will become indifferent quickly. They won't bring you cold medicine. They won't give you a ride to the doctor, everything they do is self-serving. If you find a friend who has these same characteristics, send them to your bad friend list immediately. Your friends are supposed to be the solution to your problems, not the source. I believe your twenties are a time when you need positive and helpful friends. In such a time, friendships aren't easy to maintain like they once were in school. Now we actually have to put work into it, we have to make a conscious effort to keep the friendship going. You need to ask yourself, "Is this person worth it? Do they treat me like a fool or what?" if your have doubts, try to make them clear by considering the past experiences. Toxic friendships do nothing but drag you down. My point is that you have to take care of yourself and stop getting in touch with your bad friends. Only surround yourself with people who bring out the best qualities in you. It may sound cruel but it's true,. What is the purpose of the passage? A. To tell us finding a friend is not an easy job for everyone. B. To help us know about bad friends and get rid of them. C. To encourage us to make more friends in school. D. To advise us not to treat our close friends badly. Answer: B a wren building a home is an example of what type of behavior A. good B. inherited C. learned D. bad Answer: B Most American families like to have a vacation in summer. Summer is a good season for vacation. It is often hot in July and August. Children do not go to school in those two months. Some people like to stay at home, read books, or watch TV. Many families take their lunch to eat at a place with many trees or a nice lake. Some people have enough time and money to travel to other countries like France, Japan and Australia. They usually fly to these countries. Many families travel by car or train to see interesting places in their own countries. Their favorite cities are New York, Chicago, Miami, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Not everyone likes to go to busy cities. Some families travel to mountains or beautiful valleys. ,A, B, C, D,. (5,1,5) Many families like to have their lunch _ during their vacation. A. in the office B. near a cinema C. near a big factory D. near a nice lake Answer: D Have you ever seen a horse with toes ?Millions of years ago, horses had many toes. They had four toes on each front foot. They had three toes on each back foot. The horses were no bigger than the cats.These small horses lived in the forest. The toes helped the horses run on the soft, wet ground. At first, it was very hot in the forest. But the weather changed. It became very cold. Many trees could not live in cold weather. The trees died and fell. Open fields took the place of forests. The sun made the ground dry and hard. Horsed began to change, too. They began to get bigger. This took a long time. On the dry, hard land, horses needed only their middle toes for running. Their middle toes became hard. After a long time, horses had only one hard toe on each foot. Now we call this hard toe a The main idea of the passage is that _ . A. horses had three toes on each back foot. B. horses lived in the hot forest C. horses changed a lot over the years D. horses didn't like the cold weather Answer: C Nasreddin woke up in the middle of the night and saw something white in his garden. It seemed to be moving towards the house. That is a thief ! He thought, and he took his gun and shot at him. Then he went back to bed, because he was too frightened) to go out of the house in the dark. The next morning Nasreddin went out and saw one of his white shirts hanging on the clothes-line in the garden, his wife had washed it the day before and hung it out to dry. Now it had a bullet- hole right through middle of it. My God, said Nasreddin, I was lucky last night. If I had been wearing that shirt, the bullet would have killed me! And he called his neighbours together and asked them to thank God for saving him. He called his neighbors together in order to _ . A. make a speech B. tell the story C. thank God D. thank them Answer: C
Mr. Smith works in a factory. There he drives a truck. He's tired all the time. When he comes back, he's always busy and doesn't want to do any housework. His wife is a doctor and likes to keep all the things clean. So she has to do all at home. She usually goes to work from Monday to Friday and has to do all on weekends. All her friends know about it and sometimes they come to help her. It's Saturday today. Mrs Smith tells her husband to help her do some housework, but he says he has something to do and goes out early in the morning. He leaves a lot of dirty clothes at home. Mrs Smith doesn't go to work but she doesn't feel well. So she doesn't want to do any housework. After breakfast, Jo, one of her friends, comes to see her when she's sitting on a chair. The girl finds the rooms are dirty and she asks, "Don't you clean your rooms today, Mrs Smith?" "No, I don't."says the doctor. "Why don't you wear your glasses?" "Then I will think the rooms are still clean." After we read the story, we can know _ . A long-term American study shows the importance of early education for poor children. The study is known as the Abecedarian Project. It involved more than one-hundred young children from poor families in North Carolina. Half of the children attended an all-day program at a high-quality childcare center. The center offered educational, health and social programs. Children took part in games and activities to increase their thinking and language skills and social and emotional development. The program also included health foods for the children The children attended the program from when they were a few weeks old until the age of five years. The other group of children did not attend the childcare center. After the age of five, both groups attended public school. Researchers compared the two groups of children. When they were babies, both groups had similar results in tests for mental and physical skills. However, from the age of eighteen months, the children in the educational child care program did much better in tests. The researchers tested the children again when they were twelve and fifteen years old. The tests found that the children who had been in the childcare center continued to have higher average test results. These children did much better on tests of reading and mathematics. A few years ago, organizers of the Abecedarian Project tested the students again. At the time, each student was twenty-one years old. They were tested for thinking and educational ability, employment, parenting and social skills. The researchers found that the young adults who had the early education still did better in reading and mathematics tests. They were more than two times as likely to be attending college or to have completed college. In addition, the children who received early education were older on average, when their first child was born. The study offers more evidence that learning during the first months and years of life is important for all later development. The researchers of the Abecedarian Project believe their study shows a need for lawmakers to spend money on public early education. They believe these kinds of programs could reduce the number of children who do not complete school and are unemployed. Those who had been in the child-care center _ compared with those who hadn't. Nearly 600,000 Americans lost their jobs this past month, pushing the nation's unemployment rate to 7.6 percent. But not all of those fired workers are sitting at home, reading the job advertisements and waiting for the phone to ring. Thousands of people are returning to school, making public colleges and universities among the few bright places in the disappointing US economy. At a time when many Americans have had their work hours cut or have even lost their jobs, Sherian Huddleston is working overtime. She works at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) where she oversees the enrollment of new students. The university's population grew by 800 students this term --an increase of 4 percent over last spring's enrollment. Huddleston says seeing the enrollment rise in a failing economy is not unexpected. "When people are out of work," she points out, "they will ask 'What else can I do?' or 'What other careers can I follow?' They will often return to school if they have not completed a degree before." Older returning students aren't the only ones increasing the enrollment at MTSU. Huddleston says she's also seeing an increase in student transfers . "Students who went out of state, or even within the state, to more expensive schools are transferring to public schools to make use of the lower cost of going to school here," she explains. According to the passage, many students return to school _ . At a day care center in Taxes, children were playing outside. One of the children was Jessica McClure. She was 18 months old. Jessica's mother, who worked at the day care center, was watching the children. Suddenly Jessica fell and disappeared. Jessica's mother cried and ran to her. A well was in the yard of the center. The well was only eight inches across, and a rock always covered it. But children had moved the rock. When Jessica fell, and she fell right into the well. Jessica's mother reached inside the well, but she couldn't feel Jessica. She ran to the phone and called 911 for help. Men from the fire apartment arrived. They discovered that Jessica was about 20 feet down in the well. For the next hour, the men talked and planned Jessica's rescue . Then they told Jessica's parents their plan. "We can't go into the well. " they said "It's too narrow. So, we're going to drill a hole next to the well. Then we 'll drill a tunnel across Jessica. Then we'll bring her up through the hole. " The man began to drill the hole on a Wednesday morning. "We'll reach Jessica in a few hours ", they thought. The men were wrong. They had to drill through the solid rock. Two days later, on Friday morning, they were still drilling,. And Jessica McClure was still in the well. During her days in the well, Jessica sometimes called her mother. Sometimes she slept, sometimes she cried, and sometimes she sang. All over the world people waited for the news of Jessica. They read about her in the newspapers and watched her rescue on TV. Everyone worried about the little girl in the well. At 8 P. M. on Friday, the men finally reached Jessica and brought her up from the well. Jessica was dirty, hungry, thirsty and tired. Her foot and forehead was badly injured. But Jessica was alive. A doctor at the hospital said, "Jessica was lucky she was young. She's not going to remember this very well. " Maybe Jessica will not remember her days in the well. But her parents, her rescuers, ans many other people around the world will not forget them. After Jessica's rescue, one of the rescuers made a metal cover for the well. On the cover he wrote, "To Jessica, with love from all of us. " What the doctor said meant that _ . When your dream is to become a footballer, nothing should get in your way--even if you have no feet. Gabriel Muniz, an 11-year-old Brazil kid, was born without feet. Although his family thought he would have serious difficulties living a normal life, he started walking before he was one year old. His mother would go after him, expecting him to keep falling, but he never fell. It took him a while to make the jump from walking to playing football, but he did make it. And, in fact, there's nothing he loves more than playing football. In his school, the skillful youngster is not only the best player in his school team but also the captain of his gym team. He knows that his disability means he'll never be able to play for a professional football team. So Gabriel is hoping that football will one day become a Paralympics sport. He proved to everyone there he could go head to head with any other boy. Watching him play is unbelievable. He's fast and he's got a big bag of tricks--he's very skilled and he does everything he can to copy his hero, Messi so much that he is invited to go to Spain to meet his hero Messi and show his talent in the Barcelona Football Club. His coach says he is proving the disability only exists inside our heads and he is challenging the social . According to the passage we can know that Gabriel Muniz _ .
"Why should I care about the environment?" some people ask. There is a very simple reason: We live on the earth, and it is the only place we can live on right now, as we cannot live in space yet. If we treat the earth like a garbage dump, it will become dirty and unlivable. If we treat it well by being eco-conscious, the earth will stay clean and suitable for living, for ourselves and for our children. What is "being eco-conscious"? Being eco-conscious means being aware of your actions, and what you do to the environment. For example, you might think, "Using hairspray is great for fixing my hair." However, if you are eco-conscious, you would ask, "Does this hairspray have CFCs in it? Could I be destroying the earth by using hairspray?" How can I be eco-conscious? You can find many simple ways to help the environment in your everyday life. When you go shopping, bring a bag or a basket with you. Please try not to use plastic bags as much as you can. You can go to work by bike or on foot if it is not far from your home. You can put your rubbish into different bags, which makes it convenient for recycling. You can eat less chewing gum. You can use your own chopsticks instead of the disposable ones in your company or in restaurants. You can put batteries in a special box instead of in garbage bins. You can use the water which has been used for washing vegetables or fruits to clean the floor and the toilet or to water your garden. You can turn off the decorative lights in your room when watching TV. You can turn down your air conditioner by one degree, as this will cause a 10% reduction in energy use. You can use recycled paper. Every ton of recycled office paper saves 380 gallons of oil. You can also use recycled glass instead of glass made from raw materials. This will reduce the related air pollution by 20%, and the related water pollution by 50%. Please believe that. If you do a little, it will make a big difference. If you want to help the environment, you should do all the following EXCEPT _ . A. share a car with your colleagues B. use paper bags instead of plastic bags C. use hairspray containing CFCs D. use recycled glass instead of glass made from raw materials Answer: C. use hairspray containing CFCs ECO-friendly technology was the hottest trend at the 39thTokyo Motor Show, which opened last Friday. About 240 car manufacturers from 13 countries presented new models. Most were powered by hybrid ,fuel cell and electrical systems. Carmakers are championing more environmentally models amid increasing oil prices and environmental concerns. "It's now carmakers' social responsibility to protect the environment," said Mazda president Hisakazu Imaki. Seventy-nine cars and motorcycles are being presented to the public for the first time, according to the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association. The organizing association said the biennial show, due to end on November6,was sure to have a large impact on the automobile industry. Manufacturers are currently competing in the shift from gasoline-run engines to hybrid, fuel cell or electricity-powered systems. Mazda has a new sports vehicle, which runs on a hybrid electric-petrol system. It is also showing a gasoline-hydrogen run sports car. A member of the Ford family, Mazda plans to market a hybrid version of the Tribute sport utility vehicle (SUV) next spring and enhance its co-operation with Ford in hybrid systems development. Honda's fuel cell sedan on show uses a hydrogen-oxygen fuel. The system only sends water out its exhaust ,a better solution for the environment and less polluting than hybrids. At present, cars are generally powered by _ . A. electricity B. fuel cell C. gasoline or petrol D. solar cell Answer: C. gasoline or petrol Bob and Frank are good friends.They often go to the movies together on weekends.Bob's favorite actor is Jackie Chan.He has an action movie,Who Am I.It's very exciting.Frank likes the actor Rick Smith.He really likes his movie Black September.Frank thinks it's a very success ful thriller .Bob and Frank are Americans,but they both like Beijing Opera.They think they can learn about Chinese history from it. Bob's favorite actor is _ . A. Frank B. Jackie Chan C. Rick D. American Answer: B. Jackie Chan When I started my career in management, I was really green, but I always tried to stay positive on the job. I was working for a new company that was having a difficult time with its customers. Actually, at one point my General Manager told me he liked me and suggested I should start looking for a new job as we were about to lose our only order. Every day we faced people leaving the company, customers complaining, and upper management preparing to close the place. One night, I went home thinking about the problems. My wife told me to forget about work and see a movie. We went and saw Slumdog Millionaire. Jamal, an eighteen-year-old Indian young man, is from a poor family and becomes rich later. He tries his best to change his position. I realized what we needed to do was to correct the situation. The next day I called my customers to have a talk. I promised to do my best to solve the problems if they would give us some time. As a result, we were given one month to turn the situation around. This was our only chance to correct the situation. To achieve this, I worked day and night with my team. I can remember working from 6 a. m. and not going home until 2 a. m. the next day. To make a long story short, we succeeded in solving all of the problems and at the same time increased our productivity . The customers and management were very happy, and I knew at that moment we had saved our jobs. Actually things went so well that we ended up having our pay doubled. Through this experience I understand that you can achieve what you desire as long as you work at it and stay positive. The General Manager advised the author to look for a new job mainly because _ . A. he knew the author didn't want to stay there B. his company was too small to hire so many people C. he believed the author could get more pay that way D. the management was preparing to close the department Answer: D. the management was preparing to close the department When you are little, the whole world feels like a big playground. I was living in Conyers, Georgia the summer it all happened. I was a second grader, but my best friend Stephanie was only in the first grade. Both of our parents were at work and most of the time they let us go our own way. It was a hot afternoon and we decided to have an adventure in Stephanie's basement. As I opened the basement door, before us lay the biggest room, full of amazing things like guns, dolls, and old clothes. I ran downstairs, and spotted red steel can. It was paint. I looked beyond it and there lay even more paint in bright color1s like purple, orange, blue and green. "Stephanie, I just found us a project for the day. Get some paintbrushes. We are fixing to paint." She screamed with excitement as I told her of my secret plans and immediately we got to work. We gathered all the brushes we could find and moved all of our materials to my yard. There on the road in front of my house, we painted bit stripes of color1s across the pavement . Stripe by stripe, our color1s turned into a beautiful rainbow. It was fantastic! The sun was starting to sink. I saw a car in the distance and jumped up as I recognized the car. It was my mother. I couldn't wait to show her my masterpiece. The car pulled slowly into the driveway and from the look on my mother's face, I could tell that I was in deep trouble. My mother shut the car door and walked towards me. Her eyes glaring, she shouted, "What in the world were you thinking? I understood when you made castles out of leaves, and climbed the neighbors' trees, but this! Come inside right now!" I stood there glaring hack at her for a minute, angry because she had insulted my art. "Now go clean it up!" Mother and I began cleaning the road. Tears ran down my cheeks as I saw my beautiful rainbow turn into black cement. Though years have now passed, I still wonder where my rainbow has gone. I wonder if, maybe when I get older, I can find my rainbow and never have to brush it away. I guess we all need sort of rainbow to brighten our lives from time to time and to keep our hopes and dreams color1ful. What did the writer want to do when his mother came home? A. To introduce Stephanie to her. B. To show his artwork to her C. To put the materials back in the yard. D. . To prevent her from seeing his painting. Answer: B. To show his artwork to her
The World Health Organization and several other United Nations agencies are calling for a major new effort to fight malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS. These three infectious diseases killed almost 6 million people last year. That is about 10 percent of the total number of deaths around the world last year. The WHO and UN agencies released a new report at the World Economic Forum in New York City earlier this month. The document says that deaths around the world from malaria and tuberculosis could be cut in half by the year 2010. It also says the number of deaths from AIDS could be reduced 25 percent within that same time period. The report is called "Calling Up the Response to Infectious Diseases." It calls for huge new investments in methods to prevent and treat infectious diseases. Officials say money is needed for research and to purchase drugs. Money is also needed to devices to prevent diseases, such as bed nets. Bed nets prevent mosquitoes that carry malaria from biting people while they sleep. David Heymann, director of the infectious disease program at the World Health Organization, says that providing effective drug treatments is important for improving peoples' health and economic well - being. Reducing disease can also help improve economic growth in developing countries. The WHO report also describes successful health programs in developing countries. In Peru, for example, the number of tuberculosis cases was cut in half by increasing the treatment to control the disease. In Vietnam, malaria was reduced 97 percent through the use of bed nets. And in Uganda, cases of the virus that causes AIDS were cut in half among pregnant women and children through the use of anti - AIDS drugs. This new international health campaign is estimated to cost about 12,000 million dollars a year. So far, officials say the campaign has about 2,000 million dollars. The WHO says the campaign will need stronger relationships among government, private aid agencies, and drug companies to succeed. To prevent these diseases, a large amount of money is needed to _ . Answer: do research work, buy drugs and devices Ben Jones was walking home from school one day when he saw a black cat. It was walking across the srteet in front of him.Ben stopped, turned around, and walked down a different srteet to go home. Why did he do that? "It's unlucky when a black cat crossed the street in front of you," says Ben, "I did not want to walk down that street!" Many people think that some things bring bad luck or good luck. For example, some people think that 13 is an unlucky number. They never invite 13 people to a party. "I never walk under a ladder ," says Ben. "And I never open an umbrella inside the house. They both bring bad luck." And what brings good luck? "We have a horseshoe over the front door of our house for good luck," says Ben."And when I find a peney on the ground, I always pick it up. That brings me good luck all day!" In western countries,which number do some people think is unlucky? Answer: 13 You may know the song Happy Birthday very well.But do you know about its writer?It was written by an American girl.And she became very rich after that. When she was a child,she was poor.Once,she was invited to her friend's birthday party.She was pleased but sad because she didn't have enough money to buy a gift for her. "The party is coming soon,but now I have little money."Tears ran down her face. Later that night she was in bed,thinking about the gift when the door opened and her grandma came in."What happened?"her grandma asked.Hearing the girl'story,she said,"I think I can help you.How about singing a song together?Happy Birthday to...."What a beautiful song!They sang and sang.Suddenly she woke up.It was a dream!She decided to write it down at once and sing it to her friends at the party. When she sang the song at the party the nest day,her friends were very happy."How wonderful you sing!We haven't heared such a beautiful song before.Thank you for giving me the special gift."said her friend.And they learn to sing it together.Later the girl became well-known in America. The song Happy Birthday was written by _ . Answer: an American girl Pollution is caused by using what? Answer: chevy rides May 5 is Japanese Children's Day. In fact, it is usually called Boy's Day because it is mainly celebrated ( ) by boys. The celebration of Boy's Day has a long history. It is said that the festival comes from the Dragon Boat Festival in China. On Boy's Day, Japanese boys eat a special kind of rice cake. It is covered with a leaf and filled with bean paste ( ). Children love to eat it very much. On this day, children don't have to go to school. Each family with a boy hangs up huge carp-shaped flag ( ). The flags are usually three colors: black, red and blue. Black stands for the father, red stands for the mother and blue stands for the son. Japanese parents believe that the flags will bring their boys good luck and give them courage and power. On Boy's Day, _ . Answer: Japanese boys eat a special kind of rice cake.
Women, as all research suggests, are far more critical of their appearance than men. Most of them are likely to feel dissatisfied with their reflection in the mirror. It is quite possible that men looking in the mirror are either pleased with what they see or indifferent. Research shows that men generally have a much more positive body-image than women---if anything, they may tend to over-estimate their attractiveness. Some men looking in the mirror may literally not see the flaws in their appearance. Why are women so much more self-critical than men? Because women are judged more on their appearance than men, and standards of female beauty are considerably higher and more inflexible. Women are continually bombarded with images of the "ideal" face. And constant exposure to idealized images of female beauty on TV, magazines and billboards makes exceptional good looks seem normal and anything short of perfection seem abnormal and ugly. It has been estimated that young women now see more images of outstandingly beautiful women in one day than our mothers saw throughout their entire adolescence. Also, most women trying to achieve the impossible standards of female beauty have in fact become progressively more unrealistic during the last century. In 1917, the physically perfect woman was about 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighed nearly 10 stone. Even 25 years ago, top models and beauty queens weighed only 8% less than the average women, now they weigh 23% less. The current media ideal for women is achievable by less than 5% of the female population---and that's just in terms of weight and size. If you want the ideal shape, face etc., it's probably more like 1%. Which of the following is NOT the reason why women are more critical of their appearance? A People pay more attention to their appearance than men's. B The criterion (;) used to judge women's beauty is more critical and less changeable. C Idealized images of female beauty are constantly shown in different media. D Women tend to pursue perfection by nature. Answer: D. Women tend to pursue perfection by nature. I'm a blind teenager girl, but I am ashamed of it if it is known. I refuse to use a white stick and hate asking for help, and I couldn't bear people to look at me and think I am not like them. I must be a terrible danger on the roads. Coming across me wandering through the traffic, motorists probably would have to step rapidly on their brakes. Apart from that, there are all sorts of disasters that used to occur on the way to and from work. One evening, I got off the bus about halfway home where I had to change buses, and as usual I ran into something. "I'm awfully sorry," I said and stepped forward only to run into it again. When it happened a third time, I realized I had been apologizing to a lamppost. This was just one of the stupid things that constantly happened to me. So I carried on and found the bus stop, which was a request stop, where the bus wouldn't stop unless passengers wanted to get on or off. No one else was there and I had to try to guess if the bus had arrived. Generally in this situation, because I hated showing I was blind by asking for help, I tried to guess at the sound. Sometimes I would stop a big lorry and stand there feeling stupid as it drew away. In the end, I usually managed to swallow my pride and ask someone at the stop for help. But on this particular evening no one joined me at the stop; it seemed that everyone had suddenly decided not to travel by bus. Of course I heard plenty of buses pass, or I thought I did. But because I had given up stopping them for fear of making a fool of myself, I let them all go by. I stood there alone for half an hour without stopping one. Then I gave up. I decided to walk on to the next stop. At last the girl decided to walk to the next stop, hoping _ A to find people there B to hear more buses there C to find the bus by herself there D to hear his parents waiting for her Answer: A. to find people there Once upon a time, there lived a rich man. He had a servant . He and the servant loved wine and good food very much. Each time the rich man left his home, the servant would drink the wine and eat up all the nice food in the house. The rich man knew what his servant did, but he had never caught his servant doing that. One morning, when he left home, he said to the servant, "Here are two bottles of poison and some nice food in the house. You must take good care of them." With these words, he went out. But the servant knew that the rich man had said was untrue. After the rich man was away from his home, he enjoyed a nice meal. Because he drank too much, he was drunk and fell to the ground. When the rich man came back, he couldn't find his food and his wine. He became very angry. He woke the servant up. But the servant told his story very well. He said a cat had eaten up everything. He was afraid to be punished , so he drank the poison to kill himself. In fact, _ ate all the nice food and drank the wine. A the servant B cat C the rich man D nobody Answer: A. the servant The baby elephant, Sheila, was moved out of Belfast Zoo because of fears she might be hit by bombers during the Belfast Blitz of 1941. She was one of the lucky ones. A lot of the animals were killed because of fears they might escape during the bombing and attack people. They included a tiger, a black bear, a wolf, a penguin, and two polar bears. But Sheila was walked down the road by zoo-keepers to a nearby house where a woman took her in and kept her in her backyard for several months until the bombing was over. The woman has never been identified and the zoo knows her only as "the elephant angel". As the zoo celebrates its 75thbirthday, people have decided to try to find the elephant's saver. Mark Challis is the manager of Belfast Zoo. He explained a bit more about Sheila's story. "Well, we know that Sheila, the elephant that was in the zoo at that time spent some time living with a lady relatively near to the zoo and we have one sweet photo, you can see it on our zoo website." "In the photo you can see the elephant with the lady in her back garden and that's almost all we know. So we're just trying to find a little bit more information and we are not even sure if the lady is alive today, but maybe her relatives or somebody will recognize the back of that house and we can fill in some detail on this story." Once the bombing was over, Sheila went back to the zoo and lived for another quarter of a century. She died of a skin disease in 1966. What information do people have about "the elephant angel"? A She owned a zoo website. B She used to live close to the zoo. C She is still alive. D Her relatives live in her old house. Answer: B. She used to live close to the zoo. 57-year-old Mo Yan has become the first Chinese to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. "I grew up in an environment immersed with folk culture, which inevitably comes in to my novels when I pick up a pen to write. This has definitely affected, even decided, my works' artistic style," Mo told a group of reporters in his hometown of Gaomi, Shandong Province, shortly after he won the award. Gaomi county is where most of Mo's stories happen. It's a place that has inspired him throughout his 31-year writing career. "I really didn't see this coming," Lu Jiande, director of the Institute of Literature at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told 21st Century. "I know Mo Yan pretty well and one thing a lot of people don't know is how good he is with words." "His calligraphy is surprisingly beautiful. In his writing, he can make words live and breathe," Lu said. Mo created a cast of colorful characters and said that if there was a prototype , it would be the abandoned "black boy" who first appeared in the 1985 novel Red Transparent Radish, which bears imprints of the author's childhood. Mo dropped out of school during the Cultural Revolution when he was 12 and began to work, first in agriculture, later in a factory. At 20, he joined the People's Liberation Army and during this time he began to study literature and write. His first short story was published in a literary journal in 1981. His breakthrough came a few years later with the novel Red Transparent Radish. Many got to know of Mo through director Zhang Yimou's film, Red Sorghum. It was adapted from his 1986 novel of the same name, bringing to life a visual landscape of red sorghum fields and a fiery setting sun. Mo left the army in 1997 and gradually developed a writing style all of his own. History, family sagas, blood and violence are frequent elements in his most famous works, such as Big Breasts and Wide Hips or Sandalwood Penalty. On August 20, 2011, Mo's full-length novel The Frog won the eighth Mao Dun Literature Prize. Some critics point out that Mo's works have a tendency toward vulgarity(, . In an interview with South China Morning Post, Professor Xiao Ying of Tsinghua University said the award was "outside of my expectations, as Mo Yan's works are still short on the idealism of pursuing humanity, which marks previous Nobel literature prize winners". What's Professor Xiao Ying's attitude toward Mo's works? A Supportive B Negative C Doubtful D Uninterested Answer: B. Negative
This is What a REAL Silver Dollar Looks Like If you trust in the yen, the euro, and the dollar... stop reading. Because this is a story about the silver coin EVERYBODY wants. You read the headlines. You know that troubled economic times have put global currency on a rollercoasterride. But millions have found a smarter way to build long-term value with high-grade collectable silver. And right now, those people are lining up to secure some of the last 2012 U. S. Mint Silver Eagles, America's Newest Silver Eagle Dollars. Today, you can graduate to the front of that line. Buy now and you can own these brilliant uncirculated Silver Dollars for only $38.95! You Can't Afford to Lose Why are we releasing this silver dollar for such a remarkable price? Because we want to introduce you to what hundreds of thousands of smart collectors and satisfied customers have known since 1984--New York Mint is the place to find the world's finest hige-grade coins. 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New York Mint 14101 Southcross Drive W.,Dept. ASE177-04 Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www. NewYorkMint. com If you buy six 2012 U. S. Mint Silver Eagles by post, you should pay at least _ . Answer: One advantage of the Internet is shopping conveniently online for clothes; one disadvantage of the Internet is also shopping conveniently online for clothes. "Nothing fits," said Lam Yuk Wong, a senior in electrical and computer engineering at Rice University. "Everyone says this. They order clothes and they don't fit. People get very unhappy." Wong and her design partner, Xuaner "Cecilia" Zhang, are Team White Mirror, creators of what they call a "virtual fitting room". Their goal is simple and consumer-friendly: to let online clothing shoppers have a perfect fit and a perfect look when shopping every time. Both women are from China, Wong from Hong Kong and Zhang from Beijing. They both order most of their clothing online. They got the idea from their own experience as consumers and from listening to the complaints of friends and relatives. "They say, 'The color is wrong' or 'I got the right size but it still does not fit.' We want to make it like you're in the store trying on the clothes," Zhang said. Using a Kinect developed by Microsoft for use with its Xbox 360 video game player, Zhang scans Wong and turns her image into, in effect, a virtual model, keeping Wong's dimensions , and even her skin and hair color. "We put the clothes on the shopper's 3-D body models and show how they look when they are dressed," Wong said. So far, Wong and Zhang have adapted the software to show dresses and shirts, and they are now working on shorts. Asked if she thought men as well as women might be interested in using their virtual fitting room, Wong said, "I think their wives will care about this, so it will also be important to men." Why is shopping conveniently online for clothes a disadvantage? Answer: Dear March - Come in - How glad I am - I hoped for you before ... Who knocks? That April - Lock the Door - I will not be pursued - He stayed away a year to call - When I am occupied - But trifles look so trivial - As soon as you have come ... This lovely poem was written by Emily Dickinson, who is considered a major American poet, though she was not accorded this honor until well after her death. Emily Dickinson was born on December 10, 1830, in Amherst, Massachusetts. She attended school for only one year. Throughout her life, she seldom left her home and visitors were few. She lived in almost complete isolation from the outside world. She admired the poetry of Robert and Elizabeth Barren Browning, as well as John Keats. Though she was dissuaded from reading the poetry of her contemporary Walt Whitman by rumors of its disgracefulness, the two poets are now connected by the distinguished place they hold as the founders of a uniquely American poetic voice. While Dickinson was extremely prolific as a poet, she was not publicly recognized during her lifetime. Upon her death, Dickinson's family discovered forty hand-bound volumes of nearly 1,800 poems. Her younger sister began to share the enormous body of work that Emily left behind. Emily's odd punctuation, capitalization , and formatting did not meet with standard publishing "approval" for earlier editions. There is a whimsical nature to many other poems, as the subject of death was the most frequent theme. What is a feature of Emily Dickinson's poems? Answer: Michael Jordan is one of the most famous basketball players in the world. He was born in Brooklyn, New York. He didn't like to talk to other people about himself. He was very short and he didn't play basketball very well when he joined the basketball team in his high school at first. But the next year, things changed greatly as he grew much taller. Michal Jordan became famous when he joined the university basketball team in North Carolina. Michael used his quickness and strength to reach the basketball. He played so well that people called him "Air Jordan". After college, Michael became a basketball team member in the Chicago Bulls. The NBA was very surprised at this high--flying player. He was named "Rookie "of the year in 1985 and "the Most Valuable Player" in 1987. He once set a record by getting 63 points in one game. ,,. At first he was very short, so he _ . Answer: My favorite physicist is Qian Xuesen. He was born in Shanghai on December 11, 1911. He was a little fat and of medium height. And his eyes were wise. He liked music, art and science . He studied the important implementation plan for the Chinese rocket and the missile . He worked very hard for our country. I liked him very much. Qian Xuesen had famous words: I am very tiny . It is the Chinese people that are truly great! Qian Xuesen died on October 31, 2009. I'm very sad to hear the news, and Chinese people are the same as me. He is our hero. We should learn from him and I think I won't forget the great scientist for ever. What did Qian Xuesan work as? Answer:
Question: Hello Sandy, We have just returned from our holiday. We went with our friends Edward Smith and his wife Tina to the Yorkshire Moors. This is a beautiful place. It is a natural park. There are lots of places to walk on the tops of the hills, miles of grassland with no people, just sheep and birds. Edward, who had just come out of hospital, could not walk as far as be used to. However this meant that we walked in the mornings, and then stopped at a cafe for lunch each day, before returning to the place we live. Edward and I slept in front of the fire all afternoon, while the ladies went for another walk. Very pleasant! I have taken lots of photos from the place we live, across the valley below us, of the morning sunrise, and the mist in the valley. Also, in England, the old steam powered trains are very popular. I have taken many photos of the train and from it. Yesterday we had the first snow of this winter. It is very early (we usually expect snow in January). It rained all day, then snowed in the evening. Today we have bright sunshine! Both Jenny and I are well I don't know if I told you, in the last e-mail, that Jenny is now working in a hotel. Although she has to work hard, people there are nice and she is enjoying the work. Please write to us to tell us your news. Yours, Victor What kind of place is the Yorkshire Moors? A. A hotel. B. A natural park. C. A hospital. D. A cafe. Answer: B Question: Dear David, My daughter will be five years old. She is happy, well-mannered, loving and pretty. She has attended a Montessori school since she was 16 months old and has made two friends. The three girls are always together, or talking with each other. But recently the girls told my daughter that they would not play with her if she kept playing with the boy who was disliked by most of the class. My daughter always finds good things in others and insisted they play with him, too. Then one of the friends told my daughter she didn't have straight hair and shouldn't play with them. Then she started ignoring my daughter. My mother-in-law decided to iron my girl's beautiful curly hair . With her birthday coming, my child decided to invite her friends to her party. When I asked her why, she said because they were always together, but I know one of the girls will not attend her party. I'm concerned about her. I feel lost, not knowing how to help my child. Jenny Dear Jenny, It's always painful to a mother when someone hurts her child. Your daughter's friends weren't nice to her, but little kids are still learning how to get along with others. As a result, young friendships are often fleeting, even changing from day to day. Your daughter seems to be remarkably loving, outgoing and mature beyond her years. Perhaps you need to be proud of the way she treats people. Ironing your daughter's hair won't send your daughter or the other girls a good message. It implies that there is something wrong with the way she is. You have no choice but to let your daughter know that one of the girls won't be attending her birthday party. If she seems upset, remind her that other friends will be there. My guess is that she will rise to the occasion. Hope this helps. David What's the mother's problem? A. Her daughter doesn't respect other kids B. Her daughter seems to be loosing her friends C. Her daughter cares too much about her friends D. Her daughter doesn't know how to deal with others Answer: B Question: I Have to See Another Doctor Mr. Clarke lives at the foot of the mountain. He keeps the forest for a rich farmer there. The only road to the forest is just in front of his house. He can easily see the people who want to enter the forest. Sometimes he has to be on duty at night. When he hears some sound, he has to get up to see if someone cuts the trees. One day he bought something in the town. He found a strong dog and bought it. He loves it very much and often gives some meat or bread to it. And when a strange man walks close to his house, it barks loudly. So he can soon know about it and goes out to find out who it is. But last week something was wrong with Mr. Clarke. He didn't feel well and couldn't fall asleep in the evening. He had to go to a hospital in the town. The doctor looked him over and then asked, "Have you got a dog, sir " "Yes, I have got one." "You have got a skin disease ," said the doctor. "I am sure your dog infected it to you. You can't come in touch with it any longer." When he came out of the hospital, he met a friend and told him about it. The man asked, "What are you going to do, to sell your dog or to give it to another man " "Neither," answered Mr. Clarke, "I have decided to see another doctor. It's much easier to find a doctor than to buy a good dog!" _ , so Mr. Clarke loves it. A. The dog can help him keep the forest B. Everyone is afraid of the dog C. The dog can stop people coming in the room D. He can play with the strong dog Answer: A Question: Most Chinese people don't understand why some westerners don't eat meat. In China, to eat meat is a sign of wealth. If a westerner doesn't take a bite of their Peking duck, there is something wrong. But many people in Europe and America choose not to eat meat or fish -- they are known as vegetarians. In the US alone there are 12 million vegetarians and 19,000 more people stop eating meat every week. People often become vegetarians in order to lose weight or eat more healthily. A lot of research has shown that vegetarian diets are healthier than the average western diet. Fried chicken may be delicious to eat, but all that extra fat can damage your heart. There are many other reasons for "turning veggie". It could be that you cannot afford to buy meat. Or maybe you just don't like the taste of it. A large number of vegetarians choose to give up meat because they believe it is cruel to kill animals for food. They believe many animals are not allowed to live in comfort and, when they are killed, it is carried out in a very painful way. While some vegetarians are happy not to eat animals, others take it one step further and refuse to eat any animal product. They are known as vegans and will not eat cheese, yoghurt and eggs, or drink milk. Neither will they wear clothes or shoes made from animal skin, such as leather. They say that if it is wrong to kill an animal for food, it is worse to kill it for clothing. But there are some groups that go even further. Fruitarians believe it is wrong to kill any living plant or animal. Besides refusing to eat meat, they will only eat fruit and vegetables that have not been killed when harvested. This means they cannot take an apple from a tree: they must wait until the apple falls to the ground. Only then can it be considered dead. There are many other reasons for "turning veggie". "veggie" refers to _ . A. vegetable B. vegan C. vegetarian D. fruitarian Answer: D Question: I liked most of my teachers in college. They were, for the most part, friendly and competent, willing to help students. I liked them--but I don't remember them very well, except for Mr. Jones, my senior English teacher. He was an enthusiastic, sensitive man, who knew his subject and was determined that we would learn it and love it, too. Mr. Jones was a tall, slim man in his midforties. Put precariously on his nose, his glasses gave him a serious look. But they didn't remain there long, for he was always taking them off and polishing them and putting them in his mouth when he thought over a response to a student's question. When he walked into class, he was always carrying two or three books with strips of paper sticking out of them, marking passages he planned to read. I remember, too, the cardigan sweaters--he must have had a dozen of them. On rainy days he substituted a blue raincoat for the sweater. But what I remember best was his smile. When he smiled, his whole face lit up. His smile made you feel good, at ease. Yet though he was friendly with people, he was a bit formal in class, and he could be firm on occasion. He never called us by our first names. He obviously loved his work and liked his students, but he kept his distance. He never deliberately embarrassed a student in front of the class with an ironic remark, but he could communicate his displeasure all right. He'd look steadily at the offending student for a few seconds. That was usually enough, but if it didn't work, he'd say something to the student in a lowered tone of voice. He didn't do this often, though. Mr. Jones' personality and passion made him popular, but what I liked most about him was that he was a fine teacher. Yes, he cared about students, but he cared more about teaching them his subject. And that meant homework, lots of it, and pop quizzes now and then to keep them reading. He lectured occasionally to provide background information whenever we moved on to a new literary period. After a brief glance at his notes, he'd begin to move around as he talked--to the blackboard, to the window, back to the platform. But he preferred discussions. He'd write several questions on the board for the next day's discussion, and he'd expect you to be prepared to discuss them. He directed the discussion, but he didn't control it; he was a good listener and made sure we all had a chance to respond, whether we wanted to or not. If he was pleased with a response, he'd nod his head and smile. Occasionally he'd read a student's essay, praising its good points. But he was toughminded, too, as I suggested before. He really nailed you for careless work or inattention. When you got an A from him, you really felt good, for he wasn't an easy grader. We used to complain about his grading standards, usually in vain, though he would change a grade if he thought the had been unfair. We had many interesting discussions about Twain, Crane, and Dreiser, as I recall, but his favorite period was the 1920's. He loved the expatriates : Anderson, Cummings, Hemingway, Fitzgerald. He was always bringing in books for us to read, but when he got to this period, he was a walking library, I think he'd read every book ever written by or about Hemingway and Fitzgerald in the twenties. Yes, Mr. Jones was a fine teacher all right: he knew his subject. But more than that, he made us want to continue to read it and study it on our own. What does the author mean by saying "he was a walking library"? A. Mr. Jones launched a lot of discussions on foreign literature. B. Mr. Jones had unique views about literature in the twenties. C. Mr. Jones brought in a lot of literature books for students to read. D. Mr. Jones had covered almost every work of expatriates in the twenties. Answer: D
Question: Several different stories are told about the origin of Saint Valentine's Day. One legend dates as far back as the days of Roman Empire . According to the story, Claudius, the Emperor of Rome, wanted to increase the size of the army. He knew that it would be easier to get young men who were not married to join the army. Therefore, he made a rule that no young men could marry until he had served in the army for a certain number of years. A priest named Valentine broke the rule and secretly married a great number of young people. Finally, Claudius found out about Valentine and put the priest in prison, where he remained until his death on February 14. After his death, Valentine was made a saint and the day of his death was named Saint Valentine's Day. It became the custom for lovers to send each other message on this day. Now Saint Valentine's Day is a time for people to send one another their greeting of many kinds. February 14, Valentine's Day, is sweetheart's day, on which people in love with each other express their tender emotions . People sometimes put their love message in a heart-shaped box of chocolates or a bunch of flowers tied with red ribbons . Words of letters may be written on the flower-covered card, or something else. Whatever the form may be, the message is almost the same "Will you be my Valentine?" February 14 is chosen as Valentine's Day because _ . A. people want to remember Valentine B. lovers express their tender emotions on this day C. people send one another greeting of many kinds on this day D. people want to fix a date for lovers to express their emotion Answer: A Question: A recent scientific study funded by a medical corporation concluded that its product is not as harmful as consumers have reported. Identify a possible problem with this study. A. Corporate scientists have less training than other scientists. B. The results of the study may be influenced by bias. C. Privately funded science is not verified by other scientists. D. The study cannot be repeated with the same results. Answer: B Question: The Earth spins around and around, and in order to finish one cycle of this spinning A. two days must pass B. a week must go by C. the Earth must slow down D. a seventh of a week must pass Answer: D Question: When it comes to social behaviour,mammals are in a league of their own.Some birds may form pairs,or even cooperate to hunt,but the complexity of their relationships can hardly compare to those within a school of dolphins,a herd of elephants or a group of humans.What makes mammalian social groups different from a flock of starlings or a shoal of fish,is that in many cases the individuals could recognize each other.Although we may think that all elephants look pretty much the same,we can easily tell individuals of our own species apart and it has become clear through studies that the same is true of other species.Dolphins have their own signature whistles that act like "names",and elephants can recognize and greet other individuals they have known but not seen for many years.This is something that only a few species of birds appear to be able to do. Mammals in complex social groups not only recognize each other as individuals,but also they remember a lot of information about that individual.Social groups often rely on this memory--such as knowing who is dominant to whom,who is related to whom,and who has done what to whom in the past.It's like remembering who you have lent money to or done a favour for,and who hasn't repaid that money or has talked about you behind your back.You have to learn who to trust,who your friends are,and who to watch out for. All this remembering goes on in a particular part of the brain called the neocortex .If you compare the size of a mammal's social group with the size of this part of the brain,you will find they are remarkably closely related.This area seems to take a long time to develop fully and animals in which it is very large take a very long time to grow up to adulthood.During this time,the youngster has to learn all the rules of social behaviour in their group and to piece together all the relationships between the group members:Knowledge that will be needed to avoid getting into trouble. If the neocortex is larger,the animals _ . A. can live a longer life B. have a smaller social group C. have a larger social group D. have a greater body size Answer: C Question: Success does not belong to a select group of individuals . Success belongs to those who are willing to go after it and try their best to do what they have to do. Here are some useful practical ways for you if you want to be a success. Desire. Desire is the strong wish to achieve a goal. Without desire you have nothing. Before you can run with desire, your goal must be plain, clear, and it must also be exciting. Show up. Seventy percent of success in life is showing up. You can't have a best seller, if you have never written a book. You can't get your dream job, if you're afraid to turn in an application. Showing up doesn't guarantee success, but if you don't show up, you won't succeed. Fail. Unless you're willing to have a try, fail unhappily, and have another try, success won't happen. To have success you have to do things the right way, but often the only way to do something right is to first fail at it. As Thomas J. Watson said, a simple formula for success is to double your rate of failure . So welcome failure, become a student of failure, learn from failure, and soon you will succeed. Work Harder. _ Success is not about doing what the common person can't do. It's about doing what the common person is unwilling to do. And on a deeper level, it's about creating habits that the common person is unwilling to create. It's the habit of doing things with excellence that causes success. Enjoy the Journey. Success is a journey, not a destination . Success is not a certain car or a certain house or a certain happy marriage. Success is the enjoyment of the journey. You have to enjoy the journey. Someone once said, "Unless you change how you are, you will always have what you've got." You have to change, you will change, and you will succeed. What does the writer really mean by saying " _ " ? A. It's not easy for people to develop their health. B. You are sure to meet with some difficulty in your life. C. Keeping working harder is necessary when you go after success. D. Most people don't want to spend too much time running. Answer: C
Following the success of S. H. E and Twins, another girl band . has arrived on the music scene. Eighteen-year-old Singaporean twin sisters Yumi and Miko Bai create the magic in the band BY2. The pair recently released their second album, Twins. With great voices and dance moves to match, the cute sisters have won the hearts of many fans since their first album NC-16 came out last year. At a young age,the sisters began to learn ballet dancing and the violin. When a music company wanted to work with them, the girls had to leave their home and parents to go to Taiwan for training. Miko and Yumi dropped out of school to focus on their music. This decision caused a hot debate in Singapore. Some people said that their mother was using her daughters to make money. But their father, who died of cancer when they were 15 years old, had encouraged the girls to work hard to make their dreams come true. The girls felt lonely in Taiwan when they first arrived. " We celebrated our birthday in Taiwan without any family and friends," Yumi said. " We cut our birthday cake ourselves. " The girls faced many challenges. "We had to learn Mandarin. Also, it was a killer to dance in high heels, " said the twins,who had to do so in their music videos. However,they are glad that they entered the entertainment scene at an early age. " When we are younger, we learn things faster and can gain more experience, " Yumi said. The pair went to Taiwan to _ . A. start a new life B. work for a music company C. practice ballet dancing D. learn more music and dancing Answer: D Pocket money means that you have money in your pocket that you can spend. You may get a regular amount of money from your parents or grandparents , for example , every week or once a month. How much pocket money should you get ? That depends on what your parents or grandparents can afford, how many kids there are in your family and how old you are . A little primary school kid may get one yuan , but older children would get more . Each family is different. Many parents or grandparents give kids pocket money so that their kids can : use the money to buy things that they want . learn to find out how much things cost . learn to look after money well . learn to shop around for the best price learn to save their pocket money for the future. learn what is worth buying. It is difficult to _ money . If you spend all of your money too quickly ,you will not be able to buy the necessary things that you will need in the future life . If you always save money , you will not get many nice things that you really like . Try to use your pocket money in the right way and you will always get something good. Usually kids can get their pocket money from their _ . A. parents B. friends C. parents or grandparents D. Teachers Answer: C Why do we play sports?You might say "to get exercise"and you'd be right.To have fun? That's true,too.But there's more.In fact,there are at least 5 more reasons.According to the Women's Sports Foundation,girls who play sports get a lot more than just fit. Girls who play sports do better in school.You might think that playing sports will take up all your study time.But research shows that gilrs who play sports do better in school than those who don't.Exercise improves learning,memory,and concentration,which can give active girls an advantage in the classroom. Girls who play sports learn teamwork and goalsetting skills.Sports teach valuable life skills.When you work with coaches,trainers,and teammates to win games and achieve goals,you're learning how to be successful.Those skills will serve you well at work and in family life. Sports are good for a girl's health.In addition to being fit and keeping a healthy weight,girls who play sports are also less likely to smoke.And later in life,gilrs who exercise are less likely to get osteoporosis . Playing sports improves self-confidence.Girls who play sports feel better about themselves.Why?It builds confidence when you know you can practice,improve,and achieve your goals.Sports are also a feel-good activity because they help girls get in shape,keep a healthy weight,and make new friends. Exercise cuts the pressure.Playing sports can reduce stress and help you feel a little happier.How?The brain chemicals released during exercise improve a person's mood.Friends are another mood-lifter.And being on a team creates tight bonds between friends.It's good to know your teammates will support you--both on and off the field! It can be inferred from the passage that _ . A. most people play sports just for fun B. top students hardly play and spors C. playing sports makes us confident and happy D. boys like making friends with gilrs playing sports Answer: C President Barack Obama rode a bicycle at the White House Science Fair on April 22. But it wasn't an ordinary bike. As he pedaled, the President stayed in place, while the energy from his pedaling powered a water filtration system. He was testing an invention created by a team of 14 students from Northeast High School, in Oakland Park, Florida. Payton Karr, 16, and Kiona Elliot, 18, attended the fair as representatives of the project."We were hoping President Obama would ride the bike, but we didn't actually expect him to," Payton told TFK. " It really meant a lot." Kiona agreed. "It was pretty awesome to see the invention, which was invented by a group of 14 high school students and one teacher, along with the help of community members, got the interest of the leader of our nation," she said. The project was an idea that came about after one of the Northeast students, Kalie Hoke, visited Haiti after the terrible 2010 earthquake and saw how difficult it was to find clean water. The students invented a portable , bicycle-powered emergency water filtration system, which can provide 20-30 people with drinking water in a 15-hour period. The teens hope their invention will one day be used by relief organizations like the Red Cross. " They can take it to places after natural disasters so that water can be clean for the people there," said Payton. Payton and Kiona were among the 100 students from more than 40 states invited to the third annual White House Science Fair, in Washington, D.C., which is also attended by leaders in science and education. President Obama started the event in 2010 to _ students interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths)."Well, if you're a young person and you produce the best experiment or design, you ought to be recognized for that achievement," Obama said when he first announced the fair. President Obama praised the projects during a speech to attendees after the fair. "The science fair projects of today could become the products and businesses of tomorrow," he said. "If you're inventing things in the third grade, what are you going to do by the time you get to college?" What is special about the bicycle President Obama rode? A. It can move very fast. B. It is extremely beautiful. C. It is used to make water clean. D. It is made of eco-friendly materials. Answer: C This is a true story that happened in Japan. In order to _ the house, a Japanese tore open the walls. Japanese houses normally have a empty space between the wooden walls. When tearing down the walls, he found that there was a lizard stuck there because a nail from outside was hammered into one of its feet. He saw this, feeling pity and curious. When he checked the nail, he found it was nailed 10 years ago when the house was first built. What happened? The lizard had survived in such a position for 10 years! It has been in a dark wall partition for 10 years without moving! Then he wondered how this lizard survived for 10 years without moving a single step--since its foot was nailed! So he stopped his work and observed the lizard: What has it been doing? What and how has it been eating? Later, he didn't know from where another lizard appeared, with food in its mouth. Ah! He was astonished and touched deeply. The free lizard had been feeding the stuck one for the past 10 years. Such love, a beautiful love! Such love happened with this tiny creature... What can love do? It can do wonders! Just think about it: one lizard had been feeding the other one untiringly for 10 long years, without giving up hope on its partner. If a small creature like a lizard can love like this, just imagine how we can love if we try. What can we learn from the free lizard? A. It teaches us never to abandon our loved ones. B. It teaches us to give more help to our loved ones. C. It tells us to take pity on the stuck lizard. D. It encourages us to live even longer. Answer: A
Generations of children grew up reading comic books secretly, hiding out from parents and teachers who saw them as a waste of time and a risk to young minds. Comics are now gaining a new respectability at school. That is thanks to an increasingly popular and creative program, often aimed at struggling readers, that encourages children to plot, write and draw comic books, in many cases using themes from their own lives. The Comic Book Project was started in 2001 by Michael Bitz at an elementary school in Queens. Since its creation, the program, which is mainly conducted after school, has spread to more than 850 schools across the country. It has gotten a big push from the craze among teenagers for comic book clubs and for Manga, a wildly popular variety of comic from Japan. The point is not to drop a comic book on a child's desk and say "read this". Rather, the workshops give groups of students the opportunity to work together on stories and characters that they then revise, publish and share with others in their communities. Teachers are finding it easier to teach writing and grammar with material that students are fully invested in . And it turns out that comic books have other built-in advantages. The pairing of visual and written plotlines that they rely on appear to be especially helpful to struggling readers. No one is suggesting that comic books should take the place of traditional books or for standard reading and composition lessons. Teachers who would once have dismissed comics out of hand are learning to use a style that clearly has a powerful hold on young minds. They are using what works. It can be inferred that _ . A comic books were first used in Japanese schools B parents have different opinions about their children reading comic books C more and more teachers will realize the advantages of comic books D comic books will be allowed to enter all the schools in the country Answer: C. more and more teachers will realize the advantages of comic books Mr. Lee was in bed and was trying to go to sleep when he heard the bell ring. He turned on the light and looked at his clock. It was twelve o'clock. "Who can it be at this time of night?" He thought. He decided to go and find out. So he got of bed, put on his dressing gown and went to the door. When he opened the door, there was nobody there. "That is very strange." Then he went back to his bedroom, took off his dressing gown, got back into bed, turned off the light and tried to go to sleep. A few minutes later he heard the bell again. Mr. Lee jumped out of bed very quickly and rushed to the door. He opened it, but again he found no one there. He closed the door and tried not to feel angry. Then he saw a piece of paper on the floor. He picked it up. There were some words on it: "It is now after midnight, so it is April Fool's Day. April Fool to you!" "Oh, it was the English boy next door!" Mr. Lee exclaimed and almost smiled. He went back to bed and felt asleep at once. The bell did not ring again. Why did he rush to the door when he heard the bell ring the second time? A He wanted to open the door for the visitor B He wanted to find out who the visitor was. C He was afraid of the ring D He was waiting for someone. Answer: B. He wanted to find out who the visitor was. Chocolate is one of the most popular foods in the world. Many people choose it as a birthday gift. When a child gets a box of chocolate as a gift, he may feel happy. It is popular among people, especially among children. Chocolate tastes nice. People eat chocolate candy, chocolate cake and chocolate cookies. They also drink hot chocolate. Chocolate is made from cocoa beans. Here are some interesting things about cocoa beans. In the past, the Mayas and the Aztecs used cocoa beans as money because they were small, easy to carry, and not easy to find. A turkey cost ninety cocoa beans and a small rabbit cost thirty cocoa beans. They also cooked the beans and mixed them with water. Sometimes they added corn or hot pepper. They did not add sugar. The drink was very expensive. Only rich people could buy it. If a person wanted to buy two turkeys and three rabbits, he needed to pay _ for them. A 120 cocoa beans B 240 cocoa beans C 270 cocoa beans D 360 cocoa beans Answer: C. 270 cocoa beans The fighting against youth smoking since I took office I've done everything in my power to protect our children from harm. We've worked to make their streets and their schools safer, and to give them something positive to do after school before their parents get home. We've worked to teach our children that drugs are dangerous, illegal and wrong. Today, I want to talk to you about the historic opportunity we now have to protect our nation's children form an even more deadly threat: smoking. Smoking kills more people every day than AIDS, alcohol, car accidents, murders, suicides, drugs and fires combined. Nearly 90 percent of those smokers lit their first cigarette before they turned 18. Consider this: 3,000 children start to smoke every day illegally, and 1,000 of them will die sooner because of it. This is a national tragedy that every American should be honor-bound to help prevent. For more than five years we've worked to stop our children from smoking before they start, launching a nationwide campaign to educate them about the dangers of smoking, to reduce their access to tobacco products, and to severely restrict tobacco companies from advertising to young people. If we do these, we'll cut teen smoking by almost half over the next five years. That means if we act now, we have it in our power to stop 3 million children from smoking and to save a million lives as a result. How many children will be stopped from smoking if we act now? A 1 million B 1.5 million C 3 million D 3,000 Answer: C. 3 million Scientists are making new studies of color and its effects on our health. They have known for a long time that the color of a room or the color of the light in it can affect our feelings and emotions. Many prisons and hospitals have at least one room that is painted pink. Officials have found that light and color can produce physical changes in our bodies. Professor Falfan worked with a group of 9 disabled children at school in Albert. Two of the children were blind. The other seven had normal sight. The scientists changed the color of the school room, then looked for changes in blood pressure, heart beat and breathing rate. The effects of color changes were the same for the blind children as for those with normal sight. Their blood pressure dropped from about 120 to 100. Similar changes were reported in heart-beat and the breathing. The children also were calmer and less excited. Then the colors of the room were returned to orange and white. Blood pressure, heart-beat and breathing rate went up and the children became excited again. Professor Falfan said different colors produce different levels of light energy. He said the differences seem to affect chemicals in the brain that carry messages from nerve to nerve and from nerve to muscle. The color of pink had a calming effect, that is to say, the color affects _ . A the chemicals in the brain B the eyes C the skin D the muscle Answer: A. the chemicals in the brain
When I lived in Spain,some Spanish friends of mine decided to visit England by car,before they left,they asked me about how to find accommodation .I suggested that they should stay at "bed and breakfast" houses,because this kind of accommodation gives a foreign visitor a good chance to speak English with the family.My friends listened to my advice,but they came back with some funny stories. "We didn't stay at bed and breakfast houses,"they said."Because we found that most families were away on holiday." I thought this was strange.Finally I understood what had happened My friends spoke little English,and they thought "VACANCIES" meant "holidays" because Spanish word for "holiday" is "vacaciones".So they did not go to houses where the sign outside said "VACANCIES",which in English meant there are free rooms.Then my friends went to houses where the sign said "NO VACANCIES",because they thought this meant the people who owned the house were not away on holiday.But they found that these houses were all full.As a result,they stayed at hotels! We laughed about this and about mistakes my friends made in reading other signs.In Spanish,a word very similar to "DIVERSION" means fun.In English it means that workman is repairing the road,and that you must take a different road when my friends saw the word "DIVERSION" on a road sign,they thought they were going to have fun.Instead, the road ended in a large hole. English people have problems too when they learn foreign languages.Once in Paris,when someone offered me some more coffee,I said "Thank you" in French.I meant that I would like some more.However,to my surprise the coffee pot was taken away! Later I found out that "Thank you" in French means "No,thank you". No vacancies in English means _ . A no free rooms B free rooms C not away on holiday D holidays Answer: A Over several years, a scientist successfully isolates a species of flower for white color. This year, when the new generation of flowers blooms, one yellow flower is found in the population. Which is the best reason for the appearance of a new flower color within the species? A adaptation B replication C genetic mutation D homologous recombination Answer: C There was once a rich old _ ) in England who lived a very rich life. When King John, who was the worst king that England ever had, heard of the way in which the abbot lived, he decided to stop it. So he sent for the old man and said, "Your fault is clear, and unless you can answer me three questions within two weeks, your head shall be cut off, and all your money shall be mine. Firstly, you must tell me just how long I shall live. Secondly, you must tell me how long I shall ride round the whole world, and lastly, you shall tell me what I think." The abbot went to Oxford and Cambridge for help but not one of the teachers in the great schools could. At last, sad and sorrowful, he rode towards home. Then he met his shepherd and told him all that had happened. "Cheer up, good master. I think I can help you out of your trouble." The shepherd dressed himself up with great care and looked just like the abbot. Then he went to the king. "How long shall I live?" "You will live until the day that you die, and not one day longer." "How long shall I ride round the world?" "You must rise with the sun, and you must ride with the sun until it rises again the next morning. As soon as you do that, you will find that you have ridden round the world in twenty-four hours." "What do I think?" "You think that I am the abbot. But, to tell you the truth, I am only his poor shepherd, and I come to beg your pardon for him and for me." The king laughed long. "Very well then, you have won the old abbot a free pardon from King John for this joke." How long did the shepherd think the king could ride round the world? A In a single day. B Within two weeks. C Not until he died. D The king could never make it. Answer: A People say, you can not change the environment, but can change their own; you can not change the facts, but can change attitudes; you can not change the past, but can be changed now; you can not control other people, but can be masters of our own; you can not do everything well, but can be conscientious in everything; you can not about the weather, but you can change the mood; you can not choose looks, but it can show a smile. Indeed, one key to the success lies in his (her) mind. The difference between successful people and the losers are: winners will be setbacks and difficulties due to personal ability, experience, imperfect, to emphasize the inherent, they are willing to continuously improve and develop the right direction; and the losers will blame on the opportunity, and the environment injustice, emphasizing external and uncontrollable factors that created the position of their life, they always complain, wait and give up! In many cases, is a _ person who is looked down upon his own. Person's appearance, his family, and so a priori condition that can not be changed, but at least inner state, the spirit of the will is entirely their own control. Mentality, the final decision of life high. There is no absolute bad thing, only the mentality of the absolute poor people. If even the state of mind will not adjust, how they deal with things more complicated than the mentality of it! No matter what the situation, a person's attitude is very important. Passion put to work, and numbness sluggish to work completely different. Emerson said: "A move toward their goals is always people who gave him the whole world to give way." On the contrary, failure is not because we do not have the strength, but because we are susceptible to all around us, used to go along with the lack of assertive, attitude unstable, easily frustrated reason. As long as we believe that the strength of mind, change their attitude and courage to face a number of disappointments in life, do not despair, brave go on. I believe the power of mind, mind you're in the height of the final decision. Which of the following can be the best title for the passage? A You can change nothing. B The Power of Mind. C The secret of success. D The difference between successful people and the losers Answer: B Sharks are the most frightening animals in the sea. Sometimes we can see sharks swimming in the sea around Hong Kong. People put nets around some beaches to protect swimmers. When there is a "shark's flag", people must slay on the beach. It will be too late if a shark can swim sixty kilometers an hour to you. There are 30 kinds of sharks and 25 kinds of them are dangerous. The whale sharks are very big. They can grow to 18 meters long, but they are not dangerous to people. The jaws and the tiger sharks are the most dangerous kinds of sharks. Do you know all sharks must keep swimming, or they will go down? All sharks can feel everything that happens around them. We must keep _ and don't make any noise when a shark is swimming near you. If a shark loses a tooth, a new one will grow out very quickly. So sharks always have many sharp teeth. What are the most dangerous kinds of sharks? A The jaws and the tiger sharks. B The whale sharks and the tiger sharks. C The jaws and the whale sharks. D The whale sharks and the blue sharks. Answer: A
A UN report said that around 60 million people across the world are drinking polluted water. Some 4,500 children die every day because of polluted water. A report showed that environmental problems kill 3 million children under five years old each year, making them one of the key contributors in more than 10 million child deaths each year. Dangerous factors include indoor and outdoor air pollution, water pollution. Another study showed that parents and scientists from seven countries including the United States and India think pollution is the biggest threat to children's living environment. Mrs Green tries to teach her daughter Susan by setting a personal example. She picks out recyclable waste and uses the water from the washing machine to wash the toilet. Chinese children mostly learn about environmental protection in school. Some non-governmental organizations and child centres also teach kids to protect the environment. "More parents have known about it. Family is now playing a more important role," says a Chinese official. Vera Lehmann, a German scientist says many Chinese now think more of pollution. "I was surprised to find many schools in China are willing to educate the children on environment," Lehmann said. "There has been a big change between now and ten years ago when I first travelled here." How many dangerous factors are talked about in the article? Answer: Two. Passage 3 A smile will tell people around you that you are a kind and friendly person. However, many people don't smile because they think they have ugly teeth. For example, one of my classmates, Mike, doesn't have very nice teeth, so that is why he seldom opens his mouth. He even says that he has lost confidence because of his teeth. So it is very important for us to look after our teeth. In fact, a lot of people have this problem. Some people inherit teeth problems from their parents, while others' teeth are damaged because of bad habits, like heavy smoking, eating too much sugar or not brushing teeth often. If your teeth are in bad shape, you should see a dentist and ask for help. They can help improve your teeth and tell you how to take care of them. Smiling can help you to feel more confidence and make people think of you as a more friendly person. If you want to keep healthy, you should not only smile but also laugh. An Indian doctor called Kataria said that young children should laugh about 30 times a day, while adults should laugh between 7 and 15 times a day. So please take this chance to smile and laugh now. How many times should a child laugh every day in doctor Kataria's opinion Answer: Around 30 times a day Four out of ten women who diet end up heavier than when they started watching their waistline, a study revealed today. The research also showed that a large percentage of women start noticing the pounds creeping back on just 21 days after reaching their ideal weight. Yesterday, Dr Ian Campbell of the Jenny Craig weight management program said, 'In the UK 61.4 percent of adults are overweight or obese. Successful weight management requires a long-term commitment in order to lose weight successfully and for good. Dieting can be a real challenge so setting realistic goals and remaining focused on them is important. Otherwise as this research shows, women could end up heavier than when they started.' The "Food, Body, Mind" report was publicized by Jenny Craig who quizzed 2000 women aged between 18 and 65 who diet regularly on their attitudes, beliefs and behaviors around weight loss. Six in ten said they were currently on a diet and one in five women said they were on a continuous diet. It found the most common triggers to start dieting was seeing their reflection in the mirror, preparing for a summer holiday or unflattering photos posted on social networking sites. Other popular reasons include comments by friends or relatives or their other half. However, the study showed that one in ten give up within one day, while almost a fifth manage to make it to a week or more. The average is ten days. Many blamed pressure they put on themselves to lose weight too quickly for the weight gain, which leaves them with a bigger appetite than normal. Others blamed colleagues, who tuck into fatty lunches and snacks unaware of the effect it has on the dieter, while mothers' polishing off their children's leftovers was another common cause of weight gain. Which of the following is NOT the reason why many people stop dieting very soon? Answer: Reflections they see in the mirror. In the latest romance-drama, Descendants of the Sun (<<>> ), a handsome soldier Yoo Shi-jin (Song Joong-ki) meets the pretty doctor Kang Mo-yeon (Song Hye-kyo) in a hospital, and he doesn't hesitate to hit on her. The dialogue, which takes place early in the first episode, immediately indicates that this is no ordinary South Korean drama. There's no family feud, or secret crush, or love tangles, or guesses and misunderstandings. The 16-episode show is set in the fictional war-torn country of Uruk . Song Joong-ki is the leader of a special warfare command unit, while Song Hye-kyo plays a doctor who works for a humanitarian medical organization. Both are sent in the midst of disaster and disease as part of their work with UN peacekeeping troops. Both know and show clearly what they want and what they hate. But what stands out the most are Song's skills as a pick-up artist . Boldness and creativity are the key weapons in his arsenal. When Kang invites Yoo to drink wine with her, Yoo, who is not allowed to drink alcohol as a soldier, says, "There is a way" before kissing her. Forget about the "eighth-episode rule". This kiss happens in the fourth. Humor also does the trick. On their first date in a cinema, Yoo says, "This is the most exciting moment of my life. The moment I am with a beautiful woman before the theater lights go out." When Kang tries to give Yoo a hard time, Yoo jokes, "I mistook you for a beautiful woman because it's dark." And actor Song Joong-ki, who just came back from two years of military service last May, makes sure he delivers his pick-up lines just right. "In Deep Rooted Tree (<<>> ) and The Innocent Man (<<>> ), he [Song Joong-ki] showed he had the steel to play fearless and heartless men - that he could be taken seriously as an actor, despite his pretty face. In Descendants, he hits the emotional core of every scene, whether he has to be bold and amorous, guarded and mysterious, or sad," said critic Foong Woei Wan in The Straits Times. What is the relationship between Song Joong-ki and Song hye-hyo? Answer: colleague Your chair is your enemy. That is the conclusion of several recent studies. Among people who sit in front of the television for more than three hours each day, those who exercise are as fat as those who don't. So what's wrong with sitting? The answer seems to have two parts. The first is that sitting is one of the most passive things you can do. Compared to sitting, standing in one place is hard work. To stand, you have to tense your leg muscles, and engage the muscles of your back and shoulders; while standing, you often shift from leg to leg. All of this burns energy. You may think you have no choice about how much you sit. But this isn't true. Suppose you sleep for eight hours each day, and exercise for one. That still leaves 15 hours of activities. Even if you exercise, most of the energy you burn will be burnt during these 15 hours, so weight gain is often the cumulative effect of a series of small decisions: Do you take the stairs or the elevator? Do you walk to the corner store, or drive? But it looks as though there's a more sinister aspect to sitting. Some evidence suggests that when you spend long periods sitting, your body actually does things that are bad for you. Lipoprotein lipase is a molecule that plays a central role in how the body processes fats. Low levels of lipoprotein lipase are associated with a variety of health problems. Studies in rats show that leg muscles only produce this molecule when they are actively being moved. The result is that when you sit, an important part of your metabolism slows down. You may also have a higher risk of suffering from diabetes . Some people have advanced radical solutions to the sitting syndrome : replace your sit-down desk with a stand-up desk, or watch television in a rocking chair. But whatever you choose, know this. The data is clear; look out for your chair. Which of the following is the best advice on how to control our weight? Answer: Using our energy actively in daily life.
Question: First,I want to tell you how proud we are.Getting into Columbia is a real testament of what a great wellrounded student you are.Your academic,artistic,and social skills have truly blossomed in the last few years.You should be as proud of yourself as we are. College will be the most important years in your life.It is in college that you will truly discover what learning is about.You often question"what good is this course".I encourage you to be inquisitive,but I also want to tell you:"Education is what you have left after all that is taught is forgotten."What I mean by that is the material taught isn't as important as you gaining the ability to learn a new subject,and the ability to analyze a new problem.That is really what learning in college is about-this will be the period where you go from teachertaught to masterinspired,after which you must become selflearner. Do not fall into the trap of dogma .There is no single simple answer to any question.Remember during your high school debate class,I always asked you to take on the side that you don't believe in?I did that for a reason-things rarely"black and white",and there are always many ways to look at a problem.You will become a better problem solver if you recognized that.This is called"critical thinking",and it is the most important thinking skill you need for your life.This also means you need to become tolerant and supportive of others.I will always remember when I went to my Ph.D.advisor and proposed a new thesis topic,he said"I don't agree with you,but I'll support you." Follow your passion in college.Take courses you think you will enjoy.Don't be trapped in what others think or say.Steve Jobs says when you are in college,your passion will create many dots,and later in your life you will connect them.Enjoy picking your dots,and be assured one day you will find your calling,and connect a beautiful curve through the dots. Most importantly,make friends and be happy.College friends are often the best in life,because during college you are closer to them physically than to your family.Also,going through independence and adulthood is a natural bonding experience. Bonne chance,my angel and princess.May Columbia become the happiest four years in your life. What can be inferred from the passage? A. It's a parent's letter intended for a college student. B. Parents are proud but worried about unpredictable future of children. C. Learning skills are the top priority in Columbia. D. Though uneducated,the writer offers practical college guidance. Answer: A Question: Here are some advertisements taken from a newspaper. (1) Dear Drew Carter, Your first year on this earth has been a pleasure ride for all of us. We love you! Dad and Mom and many friends (2) Lawlis---Clarke The Doctor Virgil and Marjorie Lawlis are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter Diane Susan to Mr. Robert Brent Clarks, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Clarks of Herford, Texas. A spring wedding is planned in House. (3) Isbell---Foss Mr. and Mrs. Davis K. Isbell announce the marriage of their daughter Dang to Mr. Stanley Foss, son of Mrs. John Sipe of Ada, Minnessota. The wedding will be early April at Abiding Love Lutheran Church. (4) Story-Kurio Miss Stephanie Story and Mr. Todd Warren Kurio were married on February 5, at half past seven o'clock in the evening in Highland Park Prebytefian Church in Dallas, Texas. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Brue Story Jr. of Dallas. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Stanley Kurio of Austin. Who are now married couple? A. Lawlis and Clarke B. Dang Isbell and Foss C. Story and Kurio D. The text doesn't say. Answer: C Question: In prefix = st1 /America, drivers' education is part of high school. Every student in his or her second year of high school is required to take a course in drivers' education. However, unlike other courses, it isn't given during the regular school year. Instead, it is a summer course. The course is divided into two parts: class time for learning the laws and regulations, and driving time for practice. The students study the basic traffic laws they must know to pass the written driving test, which is given to anyone who wants to get a driver's license. Driving time is a chance for the students to sit behind the steering wheel and practice all kinds of skills that are required to drive a car. Each student is required to drive for a total of six hours. The students are divided into groups of four. The students and the instructor go out driving for two hours. Thus, each student gets half an hour of driving time per outing. The instructor and the "driver" sit in the front seats and the other three students sit in the back. The cars for drivers' education are different from other ears. In this kind of car there are two sets of brakes, one on the driver's side and the other on the instructor; s side. Thus, if the student driver runs into difficulties, the instructor can take over. This kind of car also has another special feature. On the rear window of the car is a sign that reads: STUDENT DRIVER. That lets nearby drivers know that they should be more careful because the student driver isn't very experienced. After the student has passed the drivers' education course and reached the proper age to drive, they can go to a designated state office to take the driving test, which is made up of an eye examination, a written test, and a road test. The student must pass all the three tests in order to get a driver's license. If the student does well in the drivers' education class, he or she will have no problem passing the test with flying color1s and getting licensed. In America, the driver's course mentioned above A. is carried on at the same time as other courses B. is given to anyone wanting to get a driver's license C. is offered to all the students of Grade Two in high school D. is considered as par of the advanced education Answer: C Question: Sharing cars to work is not unusual.But what about sharing time to raise children together? In Ningbo city of Zhejiang province in East China, young mothers in the same neighborhood pool their children together, and share the responsibility of being parents. Spending every day together, but not families - in this coastal city of East China, three mothers are trying a new way of raising their kids, by pooling them together. Among the mothers are both office workers and housewives.They say they do so not just because of the tight schedule. Jiujiu's mother said, "By kids pooling, we mean to create an opportunity for the kids to spend time together so that we can observe our kids, learn more about them.And then we can discuss how to better bring them up." The three families have been doing so for two years, in school days and holidays.Their children have grown used to each other's company, Chichi's mother said, "My son was a bit shy.We've been talking him to be more active, but he hardly changed.After joining the kids pool, suddenly we found him willing to communicate with others now.When we are not there, he has to rely on himself to get along with his pals." Generally, mothers speak highly about the pooling.The mothers describe the pooling as bringing the running water into a closed pond.It opens a window to a different world for both kids and parents.But there are moments when opinions differ.Xiaoxiao's mother said, "Sex education for example.Kids will be curious about it when they reach a certain age.Personally I want to talk with my child about it, frankly and sincerely.But the other two moms think it better not to bring it up." Xiaoxiao's mother says her solution is to share some parenting guidebooks with other mothers and let them make the decision. The headmaster of the kindergarten believes such pooling activities test not only children, but also the parents.Jin Hongqing, kindergarten headmaster said, "Parents need to be tolerant and patient.They shouldn't play the blame game when kids fight with each other.It's better to let the kids solve the issue by themselves.What they can do as parents is to communicate." What's the writer's attitude towards kids pooling? A. Favorable. B. Negative. C. Unclear. D. Doubtful. Answer: C Question: The Rockford police chief and some city officials want to install video cameras in all 100 police cars. They think this will reduce the number of lawsuits against the city. In the last five years, Rockford has paid out more than five million dollars to settle about 40 lawsuits. The chief said, "If cameras had been in those cars, we wouldn't have had to pay one penny. We're always pulling over drunks or drug users who try to fight the policemen or shoot them. Then they always say that the police started beating them first or started shooting at them first. What nonsense!" The cost of installing cameras will be about $500 per car. The city council will vote on the plan next Monday. Ten of the 13 council members, when asked about the plan, said that they liked the idea. One member said that it made good financial sense and common sense. If the cameras are supported, they can be installed in all the cars within six weeks. The police officers gladly support camera use. One officer said that too many people thought the police were _ ; cameras would show citizens that the police told the truth. Citizen reaction to the idea of police car cameras is mixed. One person said that the police should have started doing this years ago when video cameras were invented. But an elderly man said that cameras were against privacy. "These police are trying to stick their nose into everything," he said. He was going to attend the council meeting to fight the plan. He hoped that other citizens would join him. What are the public's attitudes towards the plan? A. They will attend the council meeting. B. They strongly support the elderly man. C. They hold different opinions about it. D. They think highly of video cameras. Answer: C
Chinese college students have graduated to find the job market vary from when they entered school and those so-called "hot courses" might fail to land them good jobs. Graduates with different majors have very different experiences in the job market. But degrees in finance, economics and a few other fields often guarantee good jobs. "I have applied to 15 companies online, and most of them show interest in hiring me," said WangLi, a postgraduate of labor Economics at Southwest University of Finance and Economics in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. He said that all the students of economics, finance and accounting in his university had received at least two job offers. Students of mining and materials science that were not popular before, however, have observed more employment opportunities than before. The employment rate of graduates from the courses was 100 percent at Guizhou University. On the contrary, some so-called "hot courses" including law, journalism and computer science that have received large groups of students, failed them in the job market. Experts said high tuition fee of those courses led to blind enrollment expansion. Another problem which makes it difficult for graduates to find jobs is the gap between school- learned- knowledge and requirements of real career. In 2007, merely 60percent of computer science graduates were employed. Meanwhile, job vacancies in IT industry exceeded one million. IT companies complained about the large amount of money they spend on pre-career training of new employees. They hope universities adjust their courses to better prepare students for their future work. In addition to academic background, employers are looking for college graduates with a good sense of responsibility. This merit is followed by a sense of team work, ambition, flexibility, eloquence, independence, confidence, pressure-bearing ability, communication skills and so on. The author seems to agree that _ . A. middle school graduates should choose good universities as well as good majors B. besides academic background, sense of responsibility is also very important C. university students shouldn't work hard at their lessons D. middle school graduates should not choose these "hot courses" Answer: B. besides academic background, sense of responsibility is also very important We're all connected. You can send an e-mail message to a friend, and your friend can pass it on to one of his or her friends, and that friend can do the same, continuing the chain. Eventually, your message could reach just about anyone in the world, and it might take only five to seven e-mails for the message to get there. Scientists recently tested that idea in a study involving 24,000 people. Participants had to try to get a message forwarded to one of 18 randomly chosen people. Each participant started by sending one e-mail to someone they knew. Recipients could then forward the e-mail once to someone they knew, and so on. Targets, who were randomly assigned by researchers from Columbia University in New York, lived in 13 countries. They included an Australian police officer, a Norwegian veterinarian, and a college professor. Out of 24,000 chains, only 384 reached their goal. The rest petered out, usually because one of the recipients was either too busy to forward the message or thought it was junk mail. The links that reached their goal made it in an average of 4.05 e-mails. Based on the lengths of the failed chains, the researchers estimated that two strangers could generally make contact in five to seven e-mails. The most successful chains relied on casual acquaintances rather than close friends. That's because your close friends know each other whereas your acquaintances tend to know people you don't know. The phenomenon, known as the strength of weak ties, explains why people tend to get jobs through people they know casually but aren't that close to. So, start networking and instant messaging now. As they say in show business: It's all about who you know. In which part of a newspaper will readers read this passage? A. Culture B. Entertainment C. Information and Technology D. Health Answer: C. Information and Technology Scientists have proved that sleeping and learning go hand in hand. Even a short nap can boost our memory and sharpen our thinking. But the relationship goes deeper than that. "The brain is not passive while you sleep," scientist Anat Arzi said. "It's quite active. You can do many things while you are asleep." Arzi and her coworkers didn't try to teach the sleeping volunteers any complex information, like new words or facts. Instead, the scientists taught volunteers to make new connections between smells and sounds. When we smell something good, like a flower, we take deep breaths. When we smell something bad, we take short breaths. Arzi and her co-workers based their experiment on these reactions. Once the volunteers fell asleep in the lab, the scientists went to work. They gave them a whiff of something pleasant and meanwhile played a particular musical note. They didn't wake up, but they heard--and sniffed deeply. Then the scientists gave the volunteers a whiff of something terrible and played a different musical note. Again, the volunteers heard and smelled--a short snort this time--but didn't wake up. The researchers repeated the experiment. After just four repetitions, volunteers made a connection between the musical notes and their paired smells. When the scientists played the musical tone that went with good smells, the sleepers breathed deeply. And when the scientists played the musical tone that went with bad smells, the sleepers breathed briefly--despite there being no bad smell. The next day, the volunteers woke up with the sound-smell connection. They breathed deeply when hearing one tone and cut their breaths short when hearing the other, which must have been unusual for them. Imagine walking down the street and taking a deep breath upon hearing a particular sound! Which of the following is NOT true? A. A short sleep can improve our memory and sharpen our thinking. B. Arzi and her coworkers didn't try to teach the sleeping volunteer some simple information. C. When the volunteer smelt something terrible, they didn't wake up. D. After four repetitions, volunteers made a connection between the musical notes and their pared smells. Answer: B. Arzi and her coworkers didn't try to teach the sleeping volunteer some simple information. Although cats may be one of the most popular pets today, little is known about how and when humans and cats set up their close relationship. The earliest evidence for human-cat interaction dates back to prehistoric Cyprus , where the remains of a wild cat and a human -- dated 9,500 years old -- were found buried together. A new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has confirmed the first direct evidence of a human-domestic cat relationship among Chinese farmers 5,300 years ago. Researchers studied the bones of cats, dogs, deer and other animals unearthed in an excavation near a village in Central China. By using some ways, scientists showed that the cats were living on a mostly millet -based diet, just like the domesticated dogs and pigs from the site. "The most reasonable explanation for a high consumption of millet-based food is that the cats had formed a stable and mutual relationship with humans and could easily feed on rodents around human villages, find leftover food or even have been fed by people intentionally," said Hu Yaowu from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, whose research focuses on the relationship between humans and domesticated animals. "It is very interesting for us to find the consumption of millet-based foods by the cats, since this kind of evidence had long been missing." Hu explains. Since cats usually eat meat, such a diet would be unexpected, unless the cats were being fed by people, the study argues. The researchers also found that one of the cats survived to reach old age, implying that it had a safe place to live and enough to eat. Why the farmers wanted to keep cats nearby or make them "pets" could be answered by other evidence. Chinese archaeologists found some storage containers were specifically designed to keep out rodents -- a vermin that cats could certainly have helped with. The simplified theory is that rats were attracted to the food of farmers, and so were harmful to farmers. Cats were attracted to the rats, and so farmers formed a mutually beneficial relationship with cats, taking care of them in return for pest control. Which of the following is NOT the evidence of Chinese farms' keeping cats? A. Cats didn't feed on meat. B. The cats consumed large amounts of millet-based foods. C. One of the cats survived to reach old age. D. Some storage containers were specifically designed to keep out rodents. Answer: A. Cats didn't feed on meat. Sales Executive Pindan Labor Solutions is expanding and we require a sales executive. Working hours from Monday to Friday,12 months a year. However,some weekend work may be required. You will be assisting our team of consultants with business development. You can get a monthly income of $5,200.Essential requirements include previous sales experience,strong communication skills,high level of computer competency ,WA driver's license. For more information,please email stefan@tigerhospitality.com or phone 0452 236 541. Martial Arts Trainer GoKanRyu Karate has a number of positions available for people who have an interest in the martial arts. The position will involve training new students on working days. An expected first year income of $45,000.Excellent people skills and previous experience are essential. Own car and license required. Please contact Tim Hort on 0285 371 464 or kyle@hospitalio.com for further information. Workshop Manager Located in Wongan Hills WA,Beckman Machinery wants a service/workshop manager to join our successful team. Your role will be to provide the best possible service to customers,Monday to Friday. You must have trade certificate,excellent communication and computer skills. Knowledge of agricultural products is essential. You can get at least $50,000 in your first year. Please call Stuart 0427 777 105 or email stuart@boekemans.com.au if any further information is needed. Farmhand A general farmhand is required to work on a farm located 40kms from Condobolin.A driver's license is essential. Duties include:sheep,cattle work;cropping & irrigation .Weekends off,except during sowing and harvest periods.$39,000 a year. If you are interested in farm work,please email diane.moisis@cwcc.nsw.edu.au or call 0167 327 047 for detailed information. If you want to apply for the position as a farmhand,you must have _ . A. sales experience B. a driver's license C. a trade certificate D. your own car Answer: B. a driver's license
An Englishman, a Frenchman and a Russian were discussing happiness. "Happiness," said the Englishman, "Happiness is when you return home tired after work, yet find your slippers warming by the fire." "You English have no romance," said the Frenchman. "Happiness is when you go on a business trip, find a pretty girl who entertains you -then afterwards you part without regrets ." "You are both wrong," said the Russian. "True happiness is when you are at home in bed and at 4 a.m., you hear a ring at the door and outside stand the secret police, who say to you, 'Ivanovitch, you are under arrest', and you say, 'Sorry, Ivanovitch lives next door.'" The Englishman's happiness suggests that _ . A. he should have no time to warm his slippers B. he enjoys the warmth of the family C. he thinks it the most important to have slippers D. he wants someone to warm his slippers Answer: B Tony and Anna are brother and sister. They are Americans. Tony likes sports very much. He can play football, basketball and volleyball. Anna likes music very much. She can't play ball games. But they both like playing games on computers. They like eggs, bread and milk for breakfast. For lunch, Anna likes eating vegetables and fruit, but Tony likes chicken and fish. They both like hamburgers. But they don't like ice cream or cheese. Anna is Tony's _ and they are _ . A. sister; Chinese B. sister; Americans C. friend; Americans D. brother; Americans Answer: B A person can know if they need a down vest by checking the A. thermograph B. tunnels C. graveyard shift D. sidewalk Answer: A Su Hua is studying at Cambridge, UK. She has bought a bicycle and is worried about security. Her friend, Kate, found this article and sent it to her. www.zxxk.com Introduction A lot of crime is against bicycles. About 150,000 bicycles are stolen every year and most are never found. You can prevent this happening by following a few careful steps. Basic Security Do not leave your bicycle in out-of-the-way places. Always lock your bicycle when you leave. Secure it to lampposts or trees. Take off smaller parts and take them with you, for example lights and saddles . Locks Get a good lock. There are many different types in the shop. Buy one that has been tested against attack. Ask for a recommendation from a bike shop. Marking Security marking your bike can act as a deterrent to a thief. It can also help the police find your bicycle. It should be clearly written and include your postcode and your house or flat number. This will provide a simple way to identify your bicycle. Registration There are a number of companies who will mark your bicycle for you. They will then put your registration number and personal details on their computer database. Then if your bicycle is found it will be easy to contact you. Finally Keep a record of the bicycle yourself: its make, model and registration number. You can even take a photograph of it, this will prove the bicycle belongs to you. Which part of the article gives you information on how to lock up your bicycle when you leave it? A. Locks B. Marking C. Registration D. Basic Security Answer: D When you need a job very much, you may end up taking one for which you are over qualified. Although you were initially grateful just to have the work, you now feel bored and depressed. Is there any way to change that? Start by changing your opinion, says Caitlin Kelly, the author of Malled, a book based on her experience as a sales clerk after losing her job in journalism. "Don't focus on what you're not getting but what you are getting," she says. "Be patient and work attentively with a wide range of people. It doesn't matter what the job is -there are always things you can learn and skills you can develop." Hilary Pearl, the founder of a coaching firm, says, "Tell yourself the current situation isn't the end of your career. Don't overdramatize the negative aspects but try to view the situation more philosophically: life has a series of stages, and this is one of them. Don't forget to study even in the worst stage." Consider that because you're overqualified, you may be able to learn or do things on the job that might not have been possible in a more demanding position, says Sarah Hathorn, the chief executive of Illustra Consulting. "You could spend your extra time in learning different aspects of the business and teaching others in the organization," she says. Is it possible to make your work more challenging, even if your job responsibilities aren't likely to change? Of course, you may seek tasks and responsibilities that force you to learn something new or to work harder. "You may be operating on autopilot right now, but chances are that people above you are stressed," Sarah Hathorn says. " _ and let him know which projects or tasks you want to learn more about." Always express your request positively, saying that you love new challenges, rather than complaining that you're bored and underused, says Ethun, the president of the Park Avenue Group. In your down time, educate yourself about the company and its industry. "Read corporate information, analyst reports and related news articles," she says. "If your boss accepts your suggestions, it will make you a more valuable employee." What Hilary Pearl intends to express is that _ . A. work is just a stage of our whole life B. the present job doesn't matter to us in a long run C. one should be satisfied with his present situation D. one should look forward instead of complaining about the present situation Answer: D
So there you are on the phone, you ask a question, and suddenly there's silence. What is this, the phone's gone dead, the person you're talking to is dead? Possibly. But there could be another reason -- the other person could be Finnish, or Japanese. According to a handy new booklet from British Telecom (BT) for business people, in countries such as Britain and Italy "conversation is a form of entertainment. There is a continuous flow of talk...". But in other countries especially Finland and Japan, "it is not only impolite to break in, but listeners will think over what has been said in silence". It also points out that English, when spoken by foreigners, is likely to include plenty of "false friends", where word-for-word translation fails. If a Frenchman says something is "interesting", he probably means it's profitable.If he "demands" something, he's actually just asking. If an American says your proposal is "quite good", you should be pleased, because "quite" means "very". But if he tells you to "table" a proposal, then things are not good at all. Whereas an English person would understand tabling a proposal as putting an idea forward, to an American it means shelves it. According to the booklet, British people are not "explicit" like the Americans, the Dutch, the Germans or the French. "If a Dutchman says an idea is interesting, he means that it is interesting. If an Englishman says it is interesting, you have to deduce from the way he says it whether he means it is a good or a bad idea." The Japanese, the Russians and the Arabs on the other hand, live in the land of true dioplomatic subtlety ."If they say an idea is interesting, it may simply be out of politeness". It is safest to stick with plain speaking whenever possible, BT advises its British readers. And whatever you do, be careful to limit the use of the famous British sense of humor. While speaking in English, a foreigner seems _ . Answer: to have difficulty in expressing himself clearly Lavigne,who married in July 2006,set foot in film with Fast Food NationandThe Flock,before releaseing her chart-toppong third album The Best Damn Thing.Despite her punk rock pose and her occasionally impolite public behavior,singer Avril Lavigne is sure sensitive about one thing--her reputation . In an open letter on her official web site,Lavigne responds to public views that her hit single"girlfriend,"from her 1atest album The Best Damn Thing,was copied form a 1979 song called"I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend"by a new wave group called the Rubinoos.The group's songwrieers,Tommy Dunbar and James Gangwer,have gone to 1aw against the singer."I had never heard this song in my life and their claim is based on 5 words,"Lavigne blogs."A11 songs share similar song words and emotions.As humans we speak one language."In fact,Lavigne 1ists several songs,which are similar in words."Simply,I have been falsely accused of copying their song.I have done nothing wrong and there is no sense of their claim,"she writes. The Rubinoos'accusation is not the first time that Lavigne's song writing practices have been called into question.In a recent interview with Performing Song-writing Magazine, Canasian singer--songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk discusses cooperating with Lavigne.And she te11s the magazine that she gave Lavignc the song "contagious",which.she claims,appears on The Best Damn Thing.On the album,however.The song is owned only by Lavigne and the song writing partner Evan Tauenfeld. "I was going to be a bigger person and not reply when I read Chantal Kreviazuk's article," Lavigne writes."Our songs have no similarities or opposites meanings,i.e.different wods,different tunes,different styles.There are hundreds of songs out there with the title'Contagious'." Lavigne adds:"I am not going to sit here and defend my writing skil1s.I don't have to prove anything to anyone.I know who I am and what I have done and succeeded in and no one can take that away from me." According to the writer of the passage,Lavigne seems to be a 1itlle bit _ . Answer: proud For readers interested in contributing to help victims of the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan and the Pacific region on March 11, 2011, here is a list of contact information and links for some agencies that plan to provide relief. Locating Loved Ones If you are looking for information on people in the quake zone, Google has opened a Person Finder page. Ushahidi, a crowd sourcing mapping tool, has set up a local platform for Japan that allows people in the area affected by the earthquake to _ the location of people who may be trapped in damaged buildings. Inquiries concerning U.S citizens living or traveling in Japan should be referred to the U.S Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services at 1 - 888 - 407 - 4747 or 202 647 -5225. Aid and Charitable Organizations Each of the following groups has set up fundraising sites specifically for the victims of Friday' s earthquake and tsunami. AMERICAN RED CROSS Red Cross officials say donors can text REDCROSS to 90999 and a $ 10 donation will automatically be charged to donor's phone bill, or donations can be made directly on its Web site GLOBALGIVING.ORG. Global Giving is working with International Medical Corps, Save the Children, and other organizations on the ground to disburse funds to organizations providing relief and emergency services to victims of the earthquake and tsunami.Donors can text JAPAN to 50555 to give $ 10, and larger increases can be submitted on Global Giving' s Web site. THE SALVATION ARMY The Salvation Army has been providing food and shelter to Tokyo commuters who were stranded when public transportation was interrupted by the earthquake.They are to send a team to Sendai, a city about 250 miles from Tokyo, to assess the situation there.Text JAPAN or QUAKE to 80888 to make a $ 10 donation.(Make sure to respond "YES" to the Thank You message you receive.) Donations can also be made on the organization' s Web site or by calling 1 - 800 - SAL - ARMY. SAVE THE CHILDREN To make a donation, visit Save the Children's Web site, call 1 - 800 - 728 - 3843 , or text JAPAN to 20222 to donate $ 10. SHELTERBOX.ORG Shelterbox. org is a disaster-relief organization that focuses on providing survival materials such as tents and cooking equipment to families displaced by disasters. UJA-FEDERATION OF NEW YORK Information is available on the organization's Web site or by calling (212) 836-1486. If you want to make a donation of $ 10000 or more, you should get in touch with _ . Answer: GLOBALGIVING.ORG A few years ago, Paul Gerner began to gather a group of architects in Las Vegas to ask them what it would take to design a public school that used 50 percent less energy, cost much less to build and obviously improved student learning. "I think half of them fell off their chairs," Gerner says. Gerner manages school facilities for Clark County, Nevada, a district roughly the size of Massachusetts. By 2018, 143,000 additional students will enter the already crowded public-education system. Gerner needs 73 new schools to house them. Four architecture teams have nearly finished designing primary school prototypes ; they plan to construct their schools starting in 2009. The district will then assess how well the schools perform, and three winners will copy those designs in 50 to 70 new buildings. Green schools are appearing all over, but in Clark County, which stands out for its vastness, such aggressive targets are difficult because design requirements like more natural light for students go against the realities of a desert climate. "One of the biggest challenges is getting the right site orientation ," Mark. McGinty, a director at SH Architecture, says. His firm recently completed a high school in Las Vegas. "You have the same building, same set of windows, but if its orientation is incorrect and it faces the sun, it will be really expensive to cool." Surprisingly, the man responsible for one of re most progressive green-design competitions has doubts about ideas of eco-friendly buildings. "I don't believe in the new green religion," Gerner says. "Some of the building technologies that you get are impractical. I'm interested in those that work." But he wouldn't mind if some green features inspire students. He says he hopes to set up green energy systems that allow them to learn about the process of harvesting wind and solar power. "You never know what's going to start the interest of a child to study math and science," he says. Which order of steps is followed in carrying out the project? Answer: Design-Prototype-Assessment-Construction. Bob comes out of the station and at once he doesn't know where to go. He comes to see his good friend, Peter. Peter is a worker. He works in a factory, but Bob doesn't know where the factory is. He walks along the street. He passes a hospital, a post office, a bookshop and at last he gets to a school. Some students are coming out, so he asks one of them," Excuse me. Do you know where the Red Star Factory is?" "Of course, I know. I live near there. My father works in that factory. It's outside this town," answers the boy. "Is it far from here? Can you show me the way, please?" Bob asks again. "I'm going home now. Will you come with me? We can go there by bus. " Who comes to the town to see a friend? Answer: Bob.
These amazing animals prove that love lives on four legs. A little girl's lifeline Three-year-old Alida Knobloch and her 27kg golden dog, Mr. Gibbs, are almost together all the time There is a special love between them. Alida, who suffered from serious lung disease when she was 10 months old, is unable to breathe on her own for about 45 minutes. So Mr. Gibbs has been with her everywhere, carrying 4.5kg of oxygen tanks for her . A pig that calms kids When Lois Brady, a famous doctor in America, visits special-needs students in San Francisco schools, she often brings along Buttercup, a black pig from Vietnam. The pig is very calm and friendly and has been trained to offer comfort to patients as well. A Lion's big heart With paws the size of dinner plates, bright black eyes and a golden mane , Jupiter, a 13-year-old 250kg lion, was brought to the rescue center by Anna. In the past two years, Anna has developed a very close relationship with Jupiter. How long has Mr,Gibbs been with Alida? Answer: For over 2 years The uninvolved dad, turning up his nose at diapering and too busy to bathe, dress and play with his kids, is mostly a myth , a big government survey suggests. Most American fathers say they are heavily involved in hands-on parenting, the researchers found. The results are encouraging and important " because others have found the more involved dads are, the better the outcomes for their children. " said researcher Jo Jones of the National Center for Health Statistics, part of the Centers for Disease Control Prevention. She co-authored the report released Friday. "Times have changed," said Robert Loftus, 34, of Yonkers, NY. He quit a six-figure sales job a year ago to care for his two young children while his wife works full time. "We are trying to rethink our priorities and family seem to be N0 1 priority while in the past maybe people were more focused on career. " The study involved nearly 4.000 fathers who were interviewed in person between 2009 and 2013. Key findings among fathers living with children younger than 5 : 9 in 10 bathed, diapered, helped them use the toilet or get dressed at least several times weekly . * Even higher numbers played with them and ate meals with them that often * Almost 2 0ut of 3 read to them at least several times weekly. Among dads living with kids aged 5-18. More than 9 0ut of 10 ate meals with them at least several times weekly and talked with them about what happened during the kids' day that often. * Almost 2 0ut of 3 helped with homework several times weekly. * About half took their kids to or from activities that often. Dr. David Hill, a Wilmington, N. C. pediatrician said the survey reflects what he's seen among his patients' fathers. Increasingly, fathers rather than mothers take their kids to the doctor. Some "are anxious about changing a diaper, " he said. Census numbers show that there were almost 190,000 stay-at-home dads nationwide last year versus 93,000 in 2010. Loftus, the New York stay-at-home dad, said, "I feel fortunate to be able to be such a hands-on father. I'm doing the most significant occupation in the world. " Dr David Hill seems to consider the findings of the report _ . Answer: convincing The only survivor of one of the two Sandy Hook Elementary School first-grade classrooms where Adam Lanza shot and killed 20 children tricked the gunman by playing dead,the girl's pastor said. "She ran out of the school building covered from head to toe with blood and the first thing she said to her mom was,"Mommy,I'm OK but all my friends are dead" Pastor Jim Solomon told ABC News' Lara Spencer this weekend "Somehow,at that moment, by God's grace,she was able to act as she was already dead."he said. The girl, a 6-year-old whose name is not being announced for privacy reasons,was the first student to appear from the lockdown at Sandy Hook,Solomon said.He said the young girl described the shooter to her mom in a way that only a young child can. "Well, she saw someone who she felt was angry and someone she felt was very mad,"Solomon said. "I think it's impossible without the help of God. She has wisdom beyond her years, for sure'' Of the 20 children killed on Friday in the Newtown,Conn., school, eight were boys and l2 were girls Six staff members,all female, were also killed. The gunman,whose mother was also killed by him before he went to the schoo1 classrooms, was found dead at the present spot. "The mom told me--and I thought this was very insightful --that she was suffering from what she felt was survivor's guilt because so many of her friends no longer have their children but she has hers," Solomon said how the girl's mother and father are handling the trauma ."I don't know whether l would have the type of faith that they have if the same thing happened to me." How did the girl manage to avoid being shot? Answer: She pretended to be dead I am John.. I always get up late at the weekend. At about 9:30 am, I have breakfast. After breakfast, I start doing my homework. We have lunch at about 12:00, and then I watch TV or have a rest . I like reading and I often read some interesting books in the afternoon. I like sports, too. Sometimes I play football or basketball with my friends at school. My school is near my home, so I can walk there. Every weekend, my father takes me to a restaurant for a big dinner. I can enjoy lots of nice food. I like my weekend. Which is NOT true ? Answer: John likes cooking. Humans are social animals. They live in groups all over the world. As these groups of people live apart from other groups, over the years and centuries they develop their own habits and ideas, which form different cultures. One important particular side of every culture is how its people deal with time. Time is not very important in nonindustrial societies. The Nuer people of East Africa, for example, do not even have a word TIME that is in agreement with the abstract thing we call time. The daily lives of the people of such nonindustrial societies are likely to be patterned around their physical needs and natural events rather than around a time schedule based on the clock. They cook and eat when they are hungry and sleep when the sun goes down. They plant crops during the growing seasons and harvest them when the crops are ripe. They measure time not by a clock or calendar ,but by saying that an event takes place before or after some other event . Frequently such a society measures day in terms of"sleeps"of longer periods in terms of"moons".Some cultures, such as the Eakinos of Greenland measure seasons according to the migration of certain animals. Some cultures which do not have a written language or keep written records have developed interesting ways of"telling time".For example, when several Australian aborigines want to plan an event for a future time, one of them places a stone on a cliff or in a tree. Each day the angle of the sun changes slightly. In a few days, the rays of the sun strike the stone in a certain way. When this happens, the people see that the agreed-upon time has arrived and the event can take place. In contrast ,exactly correct measurement of time is very important in modern, industrialized societies. This is because industrialized societies require the helpful efforts of many people in order to work. For a factory to work efficiently(well, quickly and without waste),for example, all of the workers must work at the same time. YCTherefore, they must know what time to start work in the morning and what time they may go home in the afternoon. Passengers must know the exact time that an airplane will arrive or depart. Students and teachers need to know when a class starts and ends. Stores must open on time in order to serve their customers. Complicated . societies need clocks and calendars. Thus, we can see that if each person worked according to his or her own schedule, a complicated society could hardly work at all. The Australian aborgines' way of"telling time"is based on_. Answer: the change of the sun rays
Have you ever seen people dance? Some dances are fast and others are slow. People's feet always move when they dance. They keep on moving until the music stops. People have enjoyed dancing for a very long time. This story is of a different kind of dance. It is a dance without people or music. Yet this dance is one of the oldest in the world. It is the dance of bees. If you have ever watched bees, you know that they are very clever. They also work hard looking for food and bringing it back to their home. The home of the bees is called a bee hive. Here hundreds even thousand of bees live. They work day and night building small walls. There they make their honey. This is the same honey that we eat. Where does the honey come from? Bees live on food from flowers. Have you seen bees flying around a flower garden? When a bee rests on a flower, it tries to go to the centre of it. There it takes in as much food as its body can hold. Then it flies to take the food back to the hive. At the hive, bees change flower food into honey. Then they fly away for more food. How do the bees know where to find the best food in the sweetest flowers? One bee acts as a guide. When it discovers good flowers, it flies back to the hive and tells the others. It does this by dancing for them. The bee dances on one side. This tells the other bees which way to go to find the flowers. But that is not all. The bee dances for some time. And the length of its dance tells the other bees how far they must fly to reach the flowers. When the bees see the dance, they know where the flowers are. They fly away and return with more food for the hive. Sometimes we hear the music of the bees as they fly around. But few people have ever seen them dance. Yet without that dance we might never have sweet honey to eat. The writer believes that _ . A. people dance better than bees B. people learned dance from bees C. bees dance more often than people D. bees don't like music Answer: C. bees dance more often than people Here are some famous romantic places in the world that you can't miss. Paris The ranking for the "most romantic city" quite rightly leads to Paris. The city of light has long been famous as a city of love. This is definitely the best place for love, wine and food. Paris is rich with history; you can take a walk through the Louvre, go to a cafe across the Champs Elysees, have dinner at the Eiffel Tower or visit the Palace of Versailles. Venice Undoubtedly, Venice is the most romantic city of Italy. From the amazing architecture of San Marco Square to the gondolas there, Venice talks about love, romance and passion. The best time to visit Venice is during the annual carnival . A gondola trip through the most magical city in Europe remains unforgettable for everyone. Vienna Vienna may well be called the cradle of European culture. The baroque architecture, the historic city opera and typical restaurants create a romantic mood and memorable atmosphere. During the ball season in Vienna, one can enjoy the city's past, the masked waltz and romance. Prague Prague is called the heart of Europe. The city, dating from the 9thcentury, is indeed a real architectural wonder. Prague's famous castle is the largest ancient castle in the world, built early in 1257. For a more romantic experience, take your loved ones to the top of the 60-foot observatory and watch the slow sunset over Prague. Maldives There are quiet islands, warm, clear water with excellent visibility, a huge amount of reefs and an incredible diversity of marine life. The Maldives is the place to shoot all those beautiful postcard pictures of couples on a desert beach. Most islands are not more than 1 km in area, with makes them particularly suitable for privacy, honeymoons and love. Which of the following is TRUE? A. Vienna is known as the heart of Europe. B. Prague has the largest ancient castle in the world. C. Paris is called the cradle of European culture. D. Most of the islands of the Maldives are more than 1 km in area. Answer: B. Prague has the largest ancient castle in the world. Zach Linsky, 11, watches TV for 3 and a half hours a day and plays video games every other day. Zach, a sixth grader in Washington, D. C., is an American. But unlike many kids, he doesn't have a TV, VCR, or computer in his bedroom. He only has a boom box . The survey of 3,155 kids, aged 2 to 18, shows that they spend 5 hours and 29 minutes on average a day using some types of media outside of school, including 2 hours and 46 minutes watching TV, 21 minutes on the computer, 20 minutes playing video games, and 8 minutes on the Internet. The good news: The total includes 44 minutes spent reading. The survey also shows that those aged 2 to 7 spend 3 hours and 9 minutes watching TV every day and shows that 32 percent in that age group have TV sets in their rooms. Among those aged 8 to 18, 21 percent have computers in their rooms, 65 percent have TV sets, and 61 percent say their parents don't stop them from watching TV. Nearly 1 in 4 say they watch more than 5 hours a day. "Kids are living much more lonely lives than ever before," says Kay S. Hytnowitz. "They just disappear into their rooms and spend all of their time with these media." How long do kids aged 2 to 18 spend reading? A. 46 minutes. B. 21 minutes. C. 20 minutes. D. 44 minutes. Answer: D. 44 minutes. Being considered a leader in our society is indeed of high praise.Leadership means power, commands respect and, most important, encourages achievement.Unlike vitamin C, leadership skills can't be easily swallowed down.They must be carefully cultivated. Different from popular belief, most good leaders are made, not born.They learn their skills in their everyday lives.But which do they develop? How do they (and how can you) get others to follow? Always give credit.Many leaders note that the most efficient way to get a good performance from others is to treat them like heroes.Giving public credit to someone who has earned it is the best leadership technique in the world.It is also an act of generosity that's never forgotten. Giving credit is more effective than even the most constructive criticism , which often hurts rather than helps.Kenneth Blanchard, the author of The One-Minute Manager, agrees. "Catch people doing something right!" he says.Then tell everyone about it. Take informed risks." The best leaders know that taking a risk is not a thoughtless exercise," says management adviser Marilyn Machlowitz."Sky divers don't go up in an airplane without checking the parachutes beforehand." Because the idea of risk also carries with it the possibility of failure, many of us usually wait for others to take charge.But if you want to be a leader, you must learn to fail - and not die a thousand deaths.Pick yourself up and start all over again. Encourage enthusiasm ."When people understand the importance of work, they lend their mental strengths," says Lee Ducat.But when they get excited about the work, all their energy gets poured into the job.That's a great force! Is this the best way to create excitement? Be enthusiastic your-self - You will be followed by everyone. The part Always give credit tells us that a leader should _ . A. give helpful criticism B. regard others as real heroes C. praise people for their good performances D. praise everyone Answer: C. praise people for their good performances Which of these is an example of an adaptation for defense from predators? A. giraffe's long neck B. baby deer's spots C. otter's oily fur D. fish's gills Answer: B. baby deer's spots
"If you want to see a thing well,reach out and touch it!" That may seem a strange thing to say.But touching things can help you to see them better. Your eyes can tell you that glass ball is round.But by holding it in your hands,you can feel how smooth and cool the ball is.You can feel how heavy the glass is. When you feel all these about the ball,you really see it. With your skin,you can feel better.For example,your fingers can tell the difference between two coins in your pocket.You can feel a little drop of water on the back of your hand,too. You can even feel sounds against your skin.Have you ever wanted to know why some people like very loud music? They must like to feel the sounds of music. All children soon learn what "Don't touch!" means.They hear it often.Yet most of us keep on touching things as we grow up.In shops,we touch things we might buy,such as food,clothes and so on.To see something well,we have to touch it. The bottoms of our feet can feel things,too.You know this when you walk on warm sand,cool grass or a bad floor.All feel different under your feet. There are ways of learning to see well by feeling. One way is to close your eyes and try to feel everything that is touching your skin.Feel the shoes on your feet,the clothes on your body,the air on your skin.At first,it is not easy to feel these things.You are too used to them! Most museums are just for looking.But today some museums have some things to touch.Their signs say,"Do touch! There you can feel everything on show.If you want to see better,reach out and touch.Then you'll really see!" When people buy things in shops,they often _ . Answer: feel and touch them If a day goes by and night falls surprisingly quickly Answer: it is likely freezing There are many kinds of cars in this world. My grandfather thinks this is because cars are like their drivers. He says, "Rich people have expensive cars, big people have large cars, and old people drive old cars." But I don't agree with him. My neighbor, Mrs. Hill, is 82 years old. She drives only on Tuesday, and then she drives only to the bank. She never drives more than 30 kilometers an hour. Do you think Mrs. Hill has a very old and small car? No! Her car is new. It's very large, and it can go 200 kilometers an hour! My friend Mike is an artist. He paints beautiful pictures with lots of colors. But his car is black. Mrs. Bates has a very, very old car. It often has some trouble. Does she drive that kind of car because she is poor? No, she has four restaurants and two million dollars in the bank. My uncle Joe has a very small car. Every Sunday, he drives to the country with his wife, his three children, his mother and his dog. Now, you have read about my friends and their cars. Do you agree with my grandfather? Maybe you have a car. Does it say something about you? Mrs. Bates has an old car _ . Answer: and the passage doesn't tell us why Last week,Bill Gates retired from full-time work at the world's biggest computer software company, Microsoft.He will remain chairman of the company he established with Paul Allen in nineteen seventy-five. Mister Gates leaves Microsoft at a time of change in the computing industry.Microsoft grew at a time when personal computers,or PCs,were replacing big mainframe computers as the main computing tools.He showed that huge profits could be made in software as PCs increasingly were found "on every desk and in every home." Early on,Microsoft understood the importance of the "network effect." That is, software is the kind of product that increases in value as more people buy and use it. Now,free Internet software threatens to replace PC-based software.Devices like "smart phones" connect people to the Internet.Google has become a 1eader in Internet Web searching and advertising.Microsoft has struggled to change with the new computer environment.Its efforts to sell music and its latest operating system,Vista,have not been big successes.And an attempt this year to buy Yahoo for over forty-seven billion dollars failed. In the last several years,Bill Gates has slowly given control of Microsoft to others.In two thousand,he gave the job of chief executive officer to Steve Ballmer, a friend of his since their years at Harvard University.Mister Ballmer has been with Microsoft since nineteen eighty.Still,it is hard to overestimate the influence of Bill Gates on computing.He developed the business model that put the Windows operating system on about ninety percent of the world's one billion PCs.Microsoft now has almost ninety thousand employees. At fifty--two years old,Bill Gates is currently the third richest man in the world.He is worth about fifty-eight billion dollars.He remains Microsoft's biggest shareholder. Mister Gates will now spend most of his time working at his charity organization, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.The foundation is the world's largest charity with over thirty-seven billion dollars.It provides money for health, education and other projects,mostly in developing countries. Microsoft's "network effect" probably means_. Answer: the more people use PCs,the more software they will buy Liz had been bleeding for a long time! She was my closest professional colleague and good friend at the time when we worked in an IT company. It was her first day back at work after an operation and I thought she should have taken a few more days to recover. Realizing that we couldn't stop the bleeding, we headed to the emergency room and spent hours there waiting to be seen. After the treatment, I drove her to my apartment. I had to leave her in my apartment while I dashed off to take a final exam for a very important course I was taking. Upon my return, we decided Liz was in a good enough condition to sustain a trip back from my Northern Virginia apartment to her home in Maryland. Although it was nearly midnight and we were both exhausted, we still decided to set off. Unfortunately, in a not particularly safe part of town, we heard my car make a strange noise, and then ti was shaking violently as we drove along. Quickly, I stopped the car in the road and found a tire had blown out. Not knowing how to change a tire and feeling scared, I was trying out to figure out what to do next. Liz, weak from losing all that blood all day and weighing only about eighty pounds to begin with, came out and tried to help me. I had to scream at her to get back in the car and relax. Within seconds, a taxi pulled up behind us. A huge man appeared and began walking toward us. I felt that the blood drained out of my face and I nearly fainted in fear. "Got a flat tire, girls?" he asked. "Yes," I answered in a trembling voice. In no time at all, the man changed the tire for us and rushed off back to his taxi. He refused any payment and did not even tell me his name. He would never know how badly we needed his services that particular evening. And I, with a grateful heart, will never forget his kindness. The passage is intended to _ . Answer: tell us about a midnight assistance
Question: Alice was twenty-three years old, and she was a nurse at a big hospital . She was very kind and all of her patients likes her very much . One day she was out shopping. She saw an old woman. The woman was waiting to cross a busy street . Alice wanted to cross the street, too. So she went over to help the woman cross the street. When Alice was near her, she suddenly laughed and said, " Mrs Green ! You were my patient in the hospital last year." Mrs Green was very happy to see her. "I will help you cross the street, Mrs Green," Alice said. "Oh, thank you very much , Alice , " Mrs Green said and stepped forward . "No, no, Mrs Green," Alice said quickly . "Wait! The light is still red." "Oh," Mrs Green answered when she stepped back. "I can easily cross the street by myself when the light is green ." Did Alice know Mrs Green? A. No, she didn't remember. B. Yes, she did. C. No, she didn't. D. Sorry, I don't know. Answer: B Question: Wake Up,Sleep Gene Some people can stay up all night and still get work done the next day.I'm not one of them.After a night without enough sleep,I feel bad-tempered.I have trouble remembering things.And all I want to do is crawl back into bed and sleep. How do you feel after you've stayed up late to finish schoolwork? Or the day after an overnight party? Scientists now say that your answers to these questions may depend on your genes. New research suggests that a gene called period 3 affects how well you function without sleep.The period 3 gene comes in two forms: short and long.Everyone has two copies of the gene.So,you may have two longs,two shorts,or one of each.Your particular combination depends on what your parents passed on to you. Scientists from the University of Surrey in England studied 24 people who had either two short or two long copies of period 3.Study participants had to stay awake for 40 hours straight.Then,they took tests that measured how quickly they pushed a button when number flashed on a screen and how well they could remember lists of numbers. Results showed that the people with the short form of period 3 performed much better on these tests than the people with the long form did.In both groups,people performed worst in the early morning.That's the time when truck drivers and other night-shift workers say they have the most trouble concentrating. After the first round of experiments,participants were finally allowed to sleep.People in the group that performed well on the tests took about 18 minutes to nod off. People with the long period 3 genes,by contrast,fell asleep in just 8 minutes.They also spent more time in dip sleep.That suggests that people with the long form of the gene need more and deeper sleep to keep their brains working at top form. I think I must have the long form of period 3.What about you? What kind of people need less sleep according to the research? A. Those with two short copies of the gene B. Those with two long copies of the gene C. Those with one short and one long copies of the gene D. Those with three short copies of the gene. Answer: A Question: One of Britain's bravest women told yesterday how she helped to catch suspected police killer David Bieber-and was thanked with flowers by the police. It was also said that she could be in line for a share of up to PS 30,000 reward money. Vicki Brown, 30, played a very important role in ending the nationwide manhunt. Vicki, who has worked at the Royal Hotel for four years, told of her terrible experience when she had to steal into Bieber's bedroom and to watch him secretly. Then she waited alone for the hours while armed police prepared to storm into the building. She said: "I was very nervous. But when I opened the hotel door and saw 20 armed policemen lined up in the car park I was so glad they were there." The alarm had been raised because Vicki became suspicious of the guest who checked in at 3 pm the day before New year's Eve with little luggage and wearing sunglasses and a hat pulled down over his face. She said: "He didn't seem to want to talk too much and make any eye contact ." Vicki, the only employee on duty, called her bosses Margaret, 64, and husband Stall McKale, 65, who phoned the police at 11 pm. Officers from Northumbria Police called Vicki at the hotel in Dunston, Gatesheed, at about 11:30 pm to make sure that this was the wanted man. Then they kept in touch by phoning Vicki every 15 minutes. "It was about ten past two in the morning when the phone went again and a policeman said 'Would you go and make yourself known to the armed officers outside?' My heart missed a beat." Vicki quietly showed eight armed officers through passages and staircases to the top floor room and handed over the key. "I realized that my bedroom window overlooks that part of the hotel, so I went to watch. I could not see into the man's room, but I could see the passage. The police kept shouting at the man to come out with his hands showing. Then suddenly he must have come out because they shouted for him to lie down while he was handcuffed . Vicki became suspicious of David Bieber because _ . A. the police called her B. he looked very strange C. he came to the hotel with little luggage D. he came to the hotel the day before New Year's Eve Answer: B Question: Tiny transmitters fixed on the backs of the blue-green bees have allowed scientists to follow the insects as they fly for miles in search of rare flowers. Working in Panama, scientists caught 17 bees of the common species and fixed a 300 milligram radio light onto the back of each. The signals they sent out were used to follow their movements in and around the forest where they lived. Professor Martin, from Princeton University, US, and the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Germany, said, "By following the radio signals, we discovered that male bees spent most of their time in small centre areas, but could take off and visit areas farther away. One male even crossed over the shipping lanes in the Panama Canal, flying at least 5km, and returned a few days later." Researchers have struggled to follow the movements of bees before, following bees marked with paint or using radar which doesn't work well in forests. "Carrying the transmitter could reduce the distance that the bees travel, but even if the flight distances we record are the shortest distances that these bees can fly, they are impressive, long-distance movements," said Dr. Roland Kays, from New York State Museum, a co-author of the research published today in the on-line journal. "This result helps to explain how these bees' pollination can be so rare." Pollination by bees and other insects is the key to the diversity and continued growth of flowers and trees in some forests. The new study is the first to use radio transmitters to follow bees in a forest. Similar research may now be carried in temperate forests, where bees also play a vital role. What Dr. Roland Kays said implied that _ A. he didn't expect bees could fly so long a distance B. The transmitter didn't have any effects on bees at all C. He wanted to know how far bees could travel badly D. The record was in fact as exact as he had thought Answer: A Question: Connecticut College senior Paul Dryden has known for years that he'd have lots of competition for an entry--level promotions job inprefix = st1 /New York's music industry. So in a bid to get an advantage last summer, he invented a job for himself. The job, as an intern in Universal MusiCs Buenos Aires office, had never existed before Dryden proposed it. Yet because he was willing to work without pay, he got his foot in the door and was soon translating interviews with American rock stars for his boss, who didn't speak English. "In theU.S., lye done a lot of internships where interns do all the busywork -- copying, stapling, the boring stuff," Dryden says. "But in this position (inArgentina), I felt very valuable to the company." International internships have been around since the 1950s, but they've become much more popular lately. Over the past three years, colleges have on average seen a 6% increase in the number of students doing international internships, according to a 39--college survey in March by the National Society for Experiential Education, an association of campus internship organizers. And the Institute for the International Education of Students says 25% of its 5, 000 annual study--abroad participants now do an internship component, up from 17% in the 1980s and 21% in the 1990s. National data aren't available on the total number of students doing internships overseas, but career--planning experts say such experience is an increasingly popular way to get" resume radiance ." Because 84 % of college students say they'll do at least one internship before graduating, many now aim to distinguish themselves with experience _ to a global economy. International internships, according to Dryden, _ A. have nothing to do with the companies B. were more popular among college students C. are more useful to enrich the students' experiences D. mean merely a series of busywork to deal with Answer: C
On August 5 at 10:31 p.m. PST, a rover named Curiosity touched down safely on the surface of Mars, and I was lucky enough to have a front-row seat. My name is Clara, and when I was in Grade 6, I won the essay contest NASA held to name its next Mars rover. The essay I wrote was not even 250 words long, but somehow it was enough to change my life. I still remember that cold December day, sitting in a science class. I'd finished a worksheet early and decided to get a Time for Kids magazine off Mrs. Estevez's bookshelf. It was the 2008 Invention Issue, but that wasn't the only thing that caught my eye. In the magazine, there was an article about a girl who named the Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. The article also talked about the essay contest NASA was holding to name its next Mars rover. Before I even knew anything else about it, a single word flooded my 11-year-old mind: Curiosity. I couldn't wait for the bell to ring so I could get started on my essay. That afternoon, I raced home from the bus stop, sat down at the computer and typed until my fingers ached. It turned out that I was just in time. A few days later, and the contest would have closed. Five months later, shortly after I had turned 12, I was watching a National Geographic special on mammoths when the phone rang. My mom answered, and immediately, a wide smile spread across her face. When she told me that I had won, I was happier than I could ever remember being, I screamed and ran up and down the stairs and all around the house. I completely forgot about the mammoths and did not even remember to turn off the TV until it was really late. Curiosity is such an important part of who I am. I have always been fascinated by the stars, the planets, the sky and the universe. I remember as a little girl, my grandfather and I would sit together in the backyard for hours. He'd tell me stories and point out the stars. My grandfather lived in China, thousands of miles away from my home in Kansas. I loved the stars because they kept us together even when we were apart. They were always there, yet there was so much I didn't know about them. That's what I love so much about space. No matter how much we learn, it will always possess some mystery. In the past, space exploration may have been a competition to see who got somewhere first or the fastest. But now, it is one of the few things that bring people together. Science is a language that needs no translation. It doesn't matter where you're from or what you look like - you just have to have a thirst for knowledge and a passion for learning in order to succeed. People often ask me why we go to faraway places like Mars. Why do we explore? My answer to that is simple: because we can; because we're curious; because we as human beings do not just stay holed up in one place. We are constantly wondering and trying to find out what's over the hill and beyond the horizon. The curiosity rover is more than just a robot. It is more than just a titanium body and aluminum wheels. Curiosity represents the hard work, passion, love and commitment of thousands of people from all over the world who were brought together by science. Science is so awesome. It is breathtaking and mind-blowing; and sometimes, it's just a little bit crazy. The discoveries we make about our world are incredibly humbling. They move us forward and have the potential to benefit all of mankind. This December it will be four years of my life that have been tied to Curiosity in some way. I've met so many amazing people through this experience, from scientists to engineers to administrators to volunteers. Their devotion and enthusiasm inspire me greatly. My journey with Curiosity and the MSL mission team has shaped the person that I am today, as well as the person I would one day like to become. I am deeply grateful to everyone who made it possible for me to have this amazing adventure. And to you, I hope your curiosity takes you far. Which best describes the writer's tone in the passage? Answer: Proud. A survey by baidu.com showed there were 16 million bloggers . Xu Jinglei was one of the first famous people that the website sina .com. invited to open blogs. The web log written by Xu Jinglei is now the world's most popular . Xu , an actress-turned -director, became famous overseas when she won a Best Director Award for the film. A Letter From an Unknown Woman in 2004. Her blog has broken the domestic record with more than 10 million visits . Xu updates her blog every other day . But if she feels very good she sometimes posts two or three articles in a day . Visitors leave thousands of messages about each of her articles , praising her open, free writing style, commenting on films. How many visitors does Xu's blog have ? Answer: over 10 million Sandra Cisneros was born in Chicago in 1954 to a Mexican American family. As the only girl in a family of seven children, she often felt like she had "seven fathers," because her six brothers, as well as her father, tried to control her. Feeling shy and unimportant, she retreated into books. Despite her love of reading, she did not do well in elementary school because she was too shy to participate. In high school, with the encouragement of one particular teacher, Cisneros improved her grades and worked for the school literary magazine. Her father encouraged her to go to college because he thought it would be a good way for her to find a husband. Cisneros did attend college, but instead of searching for a husband, she found a teacher who helped her join the famous graduate writing program at the University of Iowa. At the university's Writers' Workshop, however, she felt lonely----a Mexican American from a poor neighborhood among students from wealthy families. The feeling of being so different helped Cisneros find her "Creative voice." "It was not until this moment when I considered myself truly different that my writing acquired a voice. I knew I was a Mexican woman, but I didn't think it had anything to do with why I felt so much imbalance in my life, but it had everything to do with it! That's when I decided I would write about something my classmates couldn't write about." Cisneros published her first work,The House on Mango Street, when she was twenty-nine. The book tells about a young Mexican American girl growing up in a Spanish-speaking area in Chicago, much like the neighborhoods in which Cisneros lived as a child. The book won an award in 1985 and has been used in classes from high school through graduate school level. Since then, Cisneros has published several books of poetry, a children's book, and a short-story collection. According to Cisneros, what played the decisive role in her success? Answer: Her feeling of being different. Anne is thirteen years old. She has long hair and black eyes. She is tall. She is a student at Beijing Sunshine Secondary School. She loves listening to music and dancing. She studies hard. She does well in English. But she doesn't like doing sports. Anne has a cousin. His name is Daniel. He is tall and he has short black hair. He is a student at Beijing Sunshine Secondary School,too. He and Anne are in the same class. He isn't good at English,but he does well in Maths. He doesn't like listening to music. He likes playing basketball. His favourite basketball player is Michael Jordan. He thinks Jordan plays basketball very well. He says he wants to be a basketball player like Michael Jordan some day. Daniel hopes to be a _ . Answer: basketball player Even after centuries of exploration , the ocean still holds its mysteries. Although we know more today about the world's oceans and creatures living in them than ever before, every once in a while the sea brings up something so strange, so unexpected, that makes the world wonder what it could be. Such was the case when the currents of the Mediterranean Ocean recently washed a 13-foot-long, smelly body onto the shores of the village of Villaricos in Andalusia, Spain. An early report in the Spanish publication Lavante described the strange, horned body as what might seem like a big fish, but _ was already in pieces. Locals joked that it was some kind of Loch Ness Monster. The media jumped right on the creature, of course. Some sites called it a horned sea monster. The popular newspaper Boing Boing called it a dragon. Some people guessed that it might be an oarfish , which is actually a rarely seen kind of big fish that can grow up to 55 feet long. But now the experts have weighed in and we're sorry to report that it's not a dragon, a Loch Ness Monster, or even an oarfish. "That is actually a shark skeleton ," Professor Grubbs from Florida State University told NBC News. "The parts toward the back were confusing me, but those are the lower caudal fin supports. The "horns" are the scapulocoracoids which support the pectoral fins ." Scapulocoracoids are backbones common to many animals. So there we go, another mystery solved. Well, the ancient maps that once described areas of the ocean as places of dragons have yet to be proven true. But it's good to know that the ocean still has a few surprises for us, even in cases where they're just dead, smelly bodies. The creature mentioned in the text _ . Answer: was found on the shores of a village in Spain
You may never connect the words "good" and "eco-friendly"with plastic.It's time to do a rethink on that as we say hello to hemp plastic.Traditionally,plastics have been made from petrochemicals,which are mainly poisonous.Plants,on the other hand,are also a source of cellulose ,which can be used to make biodegradable plastic.As hemp happens to be one of the richest sources of cellulose,it is only natural that scientists will support its use,considering its ecological benefits. Hemp plastic is biodegradable and recyclable.If you thought being eco-friendly reduced its solidity,you couldn't be more wrong.The hard level of hemp plastic can match that of regular plastic.Hemp plastic is resistant to heat;however,the most outstanding feature of a few varieties of hemp plastic is that they are flame resistant too.Finally,if Henry Ford could imagine creating a car with this material,we can perhaps believe that it indeed is"ten times stronger than steel". It is a pity that with so many useful qualities,we don't see hemp plastic being used in our everyday life,the way it ought to be.Hemp plastic can easily take the place of the exiting plastic in products like cell phone chargers ,laptop covers,etc.Currently,hemp plastic is being used to produce audio ,video,toys,automobile parts and packaging materials. Hemp fiber is one of the strongest natural fibers known to us.As scientists keep looking for ways to solve the ecological damage that traditional plastics have caused,here is a material that can be produced to be 100% biodegradable.Hemp plastic is known to be several times _ as compared to polypropylene plastic,and it comes without all the health and safety threats,It really has long useful life. Plastics keep reminding us of the damage that we have done to our planet,all under the excuse of convenience.As hemp products have become a new choice into our daily life,Please take a green plan now and make your effort to protect the environment. What can we know from the passage? Answer: Many scientists are now exploring the idea of going to live on Mars. Some other scientists from the MASA AMES Center have already started the creation of a "Mars town" and many others are in fact already experimenting with it. Of course, these experiments are done on Earth itself but this "Mars town" has an environment practically like that of Mars. The astronauts working in these towns wear their space suit and also do everything they would really have to carry out if they ever go to Mars in the future. But Mars would be like Earth, a temporary place for humans. When the Sun starts swallowing up the planets, Mars will disappear only hours after Earth. So Mars only seems to be the ideal place to spread the human beings. It is also a good location to send humans if ever there is a disaster on Earth. By saying disaster, I mean asteroids hitting and things like that. If we humans do not want to disappear when Earth or Mars gets swallowed up, we will have to go and live beyond the solar system. But are there any planets outside our solar system prepared to support life? Astronomers' answer is: "If Earth can support life, why can't other planets do the same too? Astronomers have already discovered a Jupiter - like planet _ a Sun-like star, so why not an Earth-like planet orbiting a Sun-like star? To achieve this goal though, many other problems have to be taken into consideration. How do we transform a dusty planet like Mars into one more or less like our Earth? How should we go on? There is still a long way to go. Which of the following would be the best title for this passage? Answer: In choosing a friend,one should be very careful.A good friend can help you study.You can have fun together and make each other happy.Sometimes you will meet fair weather friends.They will be with you as long as you have money or luck,but when you are down,they will run away.How do I know when I have found a good friend?I look for certain qualities of character,especially understanding,honesty and reliability . Above all,I look for understanding in a friend.A good friend tries to understand how another person is feeling.He is not quick to judge.Instead,he tries to learn from others.He puts himself in the other person's place,and he tries to think of ways to be helpful.He is also a good listener. At the same time,however,a good friend is honest.He does not look for faults in others.He notices their good points.In short,a friend will try to understand me and accept me. Another quality of a friend is reliability.I can always depend on a good friend.If he tells me he will meet me somewhere at a certain time,I can be sure that he will be there.If I need a favor,he will do his best to help me.If I am in trouble,he will not run away from me. There is a fourth quality that makes a friend special.A special friend is someone with whom we can have fun.We should enjoy our lives,and we would enjoy our friendship.That is why I especially like friends who are fun to be with.A good friend likes the same things I like.We share experience and learn from each other.A good friend has a good sense of humor ,too.He likes to laugh with me.That is how we share in the joy of being friends.And I know that he is looking for the same quality in me. When I meet someone who is reliable,honest,and understanding,I know I've found a friend! If you have fair weather friends, _ . Answer: According lo a new survey . Students' safety has become a big problem .Nearly 50% of students say they are worried about robbery on the way to and from school.Now in main big cities.in China some schools have taught all unusual lesson: self-protection. Students like this lesson because there are no exams or boring classes. And they can learn how to save lives and know how to stop danger before it really happens. Chen Haoyu, a teacher at Beijing No 25 Middle School .give young students advice on how to deal with danger If you are robbed Keep calm.lf youcan not cry for help or run away.Give the robber your money.Try to remember what the robber looks like and tell the police later. If you are in a traffic accident. It a car hitsyou. You should remember the car number.If it is a bicycle. Try to call your parents before you let the rider go. This is because you don't know how seriously you are hurt If it is raining hard and there is lighting. Don't stay in high places and stayaway from trees. When there is a fire.Get away as fast as yon can.Put wet things on your body and try to find an exit.Do not lake the lift. If someone is drowning If you can't swim. don't get into the water. Cry out for help. Remember that danger is never as far away as you think.Take care of yourself at alI times! There _ ways of self-protection mentioned in the passage. Answer: When Taylor Swift first came to the attention of the public,she was a 17yearold newcomer who loved singing to her guitar.She seemed far more enthusiastic than skillful. Four years later,Swift became a multiaward winner.This month,she was crowned "Woman of the Year" by Billboard magazine,the youngest singersongwriter ever to receive the honor."Aged only 21,Taylor has already made a maior impact on music and has been an unbelievable role model for hopeful artists and young women everywhere," said Bill Werde,Billboard's director. _ Unlike many pop singers,especially those who do not write their own material,Swift has the power of turning her ideas into lyrics that will set people thinking."Hidden beneath Taylor Swift's notagirl,notyetawoman sweetness is a very skillful songwriting technique," wrote Leah Greenblatt in an American magazine. Songwriting,as Swift explains,is to cope with issues."I tend to write about things that really impact me most." There certainly seems to be something true and honest running through every one of the 14 songs on her album,Speak Now,about "the lessons and confusion and heartbreak and all the different things that go along with being 18,19 and 20." "For the audience too young to have experienced real passion or heartbreak,Swift's songs are like a potential road map,promising things will work out OK," commented Dorian ynskey in a British newspaper. Now Swift is getting ready to go further and has so far written about 10 songs for her 2012 album,which is about feelings of growing up and becoming an adult."They're sad,if I'm being honest.""They're about my heartbreaks and my moving on.But more importantly,they are about achieving contentment.You're not always going to be perfectly happy as you grow up." Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage? Answer:
Playing basketball isn't ladylike. That's what Jewell Chapman's high school headmaster told her in 1961 when he was against the girls' basketball program. "We were very discouraged, " said Chapman, a forward for her high school team of Des Moines. Nearly 50 years later, Chapman is back on the playground. She's 62 and plays for "Hot Pink Grannies", joining about 10 other women on a team whose uniforms are black trousers and hot pink socks. They play in the Iowa Granny Basketball League. It's one of dozens of basketball leagues for women over 50 that have arisen across the country. For some, it's a chance to exercise and meet people; for others, _ "You see more and more elderly women's teams taking part in state and national competitions," said Michael Rogers, a professor in sports studies at Wichita State University. "In the future it will be something common to have leagues like this." Yearly surveys by the National Sporting Goods Association show the number of women aged 55 and older who play basketball at least 50 times a year has grown from 16,000 in 1995 to nearly 131,000 ten years later. The women on the Hot Pink Grannies are good - natured but competitive when game time comes. "I think I'm tough" says Colleen Pulliam, 69, showing off her strong arms at her challengers in a game against "Strutters", known for their bright yellow socks. Granny Basketball Leagues and similar groups spread quickly through much of the country, including California, Louisiana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. From the passage we can infer _ . A. in the 1960s, playing basketball wasn't considered as a girls' sport B. the color of the socks is of great importance to granny players C. more and more granny players are confident about getting higher scores D. Jewell Chapman's high school headmaster has already changed his attitude Answer: A. in the 1960s, playing basketball wasn't considered as a girls' sport Hi! My name is Lisa. I'm a student in Shanghai. I'm in Class Nine, Grade Five. Wang Tao and Li Fang are my friends. They are in Grade Five, too. They are not in my class. They are in Class Seven. I'm 12. They are 12, too. Mr. Cheng is my teacher. His telephone number is 8869254. How old is Lisa? A. twelve. B. thirteen. C. fourteen. D. fifteen Answer: A. twelve. Everybody knows that colors are connected with certain feelings. For example, why do some people paint the walls of their rooms yellow and others pink? The same is true in stores. They want us to feel something when we look at their products. Green, for example, tries to show the quality of a product: how good it is for us or for our environment. It also suggests that the product is healthier, has less fat and maybe fewer calories. Red, on the other hand is an aggressive color that is often used for packaging food. Red wants us to become hungry or thirsty. Purple is a kind of color that is often seen as royal. It indicates that it is something special. Producers use purple to show that something is of good quality. Blue is not very often found in food packaging because there are not very many foods that have a blue color. Colors can also have different meaning in different cultures and countries. For example, while the color white is used in many Western countries to represent purity and innocence, it is seen as a symbol of mourning in many Eastern countries. The Egyptian pharaohs wore white crowns. A white sale is a sale of sheets, towels, and other bed and bath items. A white flag is the universal symbol for truce . A white elephant is a rare, pale elephant sacred to the people of India, Thailand, Burma, and Sri Lanka. In these countries, something that is a white elephant is either a possession that costs more than it is worth to keep or an item that the owner doesn't want but can't get rid of. Consumers are aware that certain foods must have certain colors. When Pepsi brought out a crystal clear cola in 1992, it thought that consumers would buy it because clear meant pure and healthy. After a few months Pepsi found out that a cola had to be dark-colored. Crystal Pepsi failed and the company pulled it off the market. Advertising professionals often need to look at a product through the consumers' eyes when choosing a color. The right packaging colors can truly improve the sales of a product but choosing a wrong color could end in failure. Pepsi's example is used to show _ . A. Pepsi's success comes from failures B. health is the main concern in drink making C. crystal clear drinks can't attract consumers D. people have fixed ideas about products and colors Answer: D. people have fixed ideas about products and colors How could we have thought so wrongly of as banana peel that it always hits the garbage? Utility of anything seems to be in the eyes of the beholder. The banana peel hasn't been an exception. What most of us looked at as waste was converted to a thing of utility by Prithwis Mukhopadlyay, a 14-year-old prodigy. This Bengali boy, nourished in the US, Lake Junior High in Woodbury, Minnesota, has come up with an idea to convert banana peels to biogas. . It's well known that almost any organic waste can be converted to biogas. But why biogas from banana peel has hit the news is because it produced five times as much biogas as manure , a commonly used source for producing biogas, in the experiments Prithwis conducted. He filled two airtight containers, one with manure and the other with banana peels. Then he mixed each content with water and connected them to empty jars via pipes to collect the gas produced. He placed a heater next to each jar and measured the gas collected for 60 days. His studies proved that banana peels produced five times more biogas than manure. This project titled 'Comparison analysis: Eco-friendly source of energy for the future,' earned him a spot in Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge. This weekend, the young whiz is to showcase his research work along with 40 other finalists at Washington. "Initially, I thought of doing a project that would reduce global warming. Things changed after I visited a biogas plant in a village in India during my summer vacations. It was an amazing experience," Prithwis says. This article probably appeared in a _ magazine. A. gourmet B. science C. computer D. fashion Answer: B. science My interest in Chinese food started years a90, when l was a young reporter for the Washington Post. Our office wasn't far from Chinatown, where I found some very good Chinese restaurants. The first time I ever ate Chinese food I loved it. I noticed the fresh taste of the meat and vegetables. When I learned more about the food, I began to understand why it has this special feature. Many years ago, China had an energy crisis because it lost much of its wood due to over population and poor management of its forests. This loss was very bad for the country, of course, but it turned out to be very good for the food. Wood became very expensive and hard to get,so the Chinese had to either find a substitute for their valuable wood,or learn how to use it better. There weren't any substitutes so people found ways to economize. In order to economize in cookin9, they had to use very little wood. So they started cutting their meat and vegetables into small pieces before they put them in the hot oil.That way,the food cooked faster and they saved their fuel. The food prepared in this way kept its fresh flavorand it's this flavor that attracts people from other countries to the art of Chinese cooking. This text is mainly about _ . A. what caused Chinese food to taste fresh B. how Chinese food is cooked in the US C. when the author started to make Chinese food D. why most foreigners like cooking Chinese food Answer: A. what caused Chinese food to taste fresh
If a thing is up and then is down then it is Answer: Humans: It's time to abandon the earth or face extinction. This prediction isn't science fiction. It's a glimpse of the future, according to famed British scientist Stephen Hawking. "I see great dangers for the human race," he said in an interview with global forum Big Think. "There have been a number of times in the past when its survival has been a question of touch and go ." Hawking says humans must _ our home planet within the next two centuries and expand into space to survive. "I believe that the long-term future of the human race must be in space," he said. "It will be difficult to avoid disaster on our planet Earth in the next hundred years, let alone the next thousand, or million." He also voiced some concerns about the future of life on the earth. In April, he spoke about his fear of aliens in an interview for the Discovery Channel. "If aliens visit us, the outcome would be much as when Columbus landed in America, which didn't turn out well for the Native Americans," he said. "Such advanced aliens would perhaps become wanderers, looking to conquer and colonize whatever planets they can reach." But Hawking says he is still hopeful for the future of humanity. "I'm an optimist," he told Big Think. "We have made remarkable progress in the last hundred years. But if we want to continue beyond the next hundred years, our future is in space." Getting to another planet will prove a challenge, not to mention colonizing it for humanity. University of Michigan astrophysicist Katherine Freese told Big Think that "the nearest star to Earth is Proxima Centauri which is 4.2 light years away. That means, if you were traveling at the speed of light the whole time, it would take 4.2 years to get there" --- or about 50,000 years using current rocket science. According to the passage, which is NOT a reason why humans need to abandon the earth? Answer: Now, it's time for some brief news items. Teens Go Online Some 13 million European children under 18 use the Internet for schoolwork, games and music according to research done by Nielsen's "Net-rating". The study covered Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Spain. Experts advised parents to limit the time their kids spend on line and keep them away from chat rooms. Chat to the magic Mum British author J. K. Rowling, mother of magic boy Harry Potter, will do an Internet interview about her new book "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" on June 26. Before the event, children are invited to send their questions about Harry to the website. The book will hit stores in the US and UK on June 21 and will arrive in China in August. School Soldiers Russian school students will have to do basic military training in their final year of school, the government has decided. The lesson will include learning to fire guns, marching drills and how to deal with a chemical, nuclear or biological attack. The activity is seen as part of a drive toward the education of their love for their country. Is it hard for you to get up early and get ready for classes? Some students at Winter Park High School just roll out of bed in their pajamas and go to class in their own bedrooms, Of course, their teachers and classmates do not see them because all their class work is on the computer. The Florida High School, the state's only online school, has 250 students who are taking classes at home by computer. Students in this first online program take classes in algebra , American government, chemistry, computer, economics, and web-page design. They also have to go to regular school to attend other classes. In the first news item, which country is NOT covered in the research? Answer: One is never too old to learn. Life learning (sometimes called un-schooling or self-directed learning) is one of those concepts that are almost easier to explain by saying what it isn't than what it is. And that's probably because our own schooled backgrounds have convinced us that learning happens only in a fine building on certain days, between certain hours, and managed by a specially trained professional. Within that schooling framestudy, no matter how hard teachers try and no matter how good their textbooks, many bright students get bored, many slower students struggle and give up or lose their self-respect, and most of them reach the end of the process unprepared to enter into society. They have memorized a certain body of knowledge long enough to rush back the information on tests, but they haven't really learnt much, at least of the official curriculum. Life learners, on the other hand, know that learning is not difficult, that people learn things quite easily if they're not compelled and forced, if they see a need to learn something, and if they are trusted and respected enough to learn it on their own timetable, at their own speed, in their own way--no matter what age and no matter whether we're at school or at home. Life learning is independent of time, location or the presence of teacher. It does not require mom or dad to teach, or kids to work in workbooks at the table from 9 to noon. Life learning is learner-driven. It involves living and learning--in and from the real world. It is about exploring, questioning, experimenting, making messes, taking risks without fear of making mistakes, being laughed at and trying again. Furthermore, life learning is about trusting kids to learn what they need to know and about helping them to learn and grow in their own ways. It is about providing positive experiences that enable children to understand the world and their culture and to interact with it. According to the author, life learning _ . Answer: "BANG!" the door caused a reverberation .It was just standing there, with Father standing on one side, and I on the other side. We were both in great anger."Never set foot in this house again!" stormed Father.With tears welling up in my eyes, I rushed out of the flat and ran along the street. The street lights were shining rather desolately .I wandered aimlessly. A young father who held a child in his arms walked past me.I felt as if I saw my childhood from another space: happy and harmonious. But now... I don't know whether it is because I have grown up or because dad is getting old.We differ in our ways of thinking.He always imposes his opinions and codes of behavior on me.Whenever I do something wrong, he never admits it.We are just like two people coming from two different worlds.It feels like there is an iron door between us that can never be opened. I wandered the streets, without a destination in mind.My heart was frozen on this hot summer night.As I walked on there were fewer and fewer people on the streets, until I had only the street lights to keep me company.When I finally reached the high-rise apartment block in which I lived, I saw that the light was still on. In fact, it was nothing.Perhaps, dad was throwing away some of his old stamps.Perhaps he thought they were useless.I never had the courage to tell him that I liked collecting stamps.I can't stand his outrageous words: " I can throw you away, let alone these old papers." All the lights were off except father's. Dad was always like this.Maybe he didn't know how to express himself.After shouting at me, he never showed any mercy or any moments of regret.After an argument he has the habit of creeping up in my sleep and then tucking me underneath the covers. This was how he always was.He has been a leader for so long that telling everyone else what to do has become his second nature. The light was still on."Am I wrong?" I whispered, maybe... With the key in hand, I was as nervous as I had ever been.At last, I decided to open the door.As soon as I opened the door, tears ran down my cheeks.I suddenly realized that the iron door that I had imagined between us did not exist at all.Love - is second to none. Why do you think the father often shouts at his son? Answer:
My sister has a nice room, There is a bed near (......) the desk. A bookcase is between (......) the bed and the desk. There is a jacket and a ring on the bed. A baseball is under the bed. There is a chair under the desk. There is a computer on the desk. Her hat and keys are under the chair. Her schoolbag is on the chair. Some books and CDs are in the bookcase. She has a photo on the wall. You can see some plants in the photo. Our family photo is on the wall , too. You can see my father, my mother, my sister and me in the photo. It is a nice photo. What is in the middle of(......) the bed and the desk? Answer: Learning a second language can improve brain power, scientists believe. US researchers from Northwestern University say bilingualism is a form of brain training -- a mental "work out" that adjusts the mind finely. Speaking two languages well affects the brain and changes how the nervous system reacts to sound, lab tests showed. Experts say the experiment performed by the National Academy of Sciences provides "biological" evidence of this. In an attempt to prove the guess that speaking two languages is good for one's mind, the team monitored how the brain of 48 healthy student volunteers reacted to different sounds. Twenty three of these volunteers were bilingual. The scientists used special equipment to trace the pattern of brainwaves. Under quiet, laboratory conditions, the bilingual students responded in a similar way to the English-only-speaking students, who formed the control group. But the bilingual group were far superior at processing sounds even when there were a lot of people talking in the room. They were better able to focus on to the important information -- the speaker's voice -- and block out other _ noises. Prof Nina Kraus, who led the research, said: "The bilingual's better experience with sound results in a hearing system that is highly efficient, flexible and focused in its automatic sound processing, especially in challenging or novel listening conditions." Co-author Viorica Marian said: "People do crossword puzzles and other activities to keep their minds sharp. But the advantages we've discovered in double language speakers come automatically simply from knowing and using two languages.'' Musicians appear to gain a similar benefit when rehearsing , say the researchers. According to some theories, being bilingual might help avoid dementia . What conclusion could be drawn from the passage? Answer: Whether you live in Seattle or the Sahara desert, the time has come to invest in a good raincoat or umbrella, a new study suggests. As global temperatures continue to rise, more "extreme rain" events--intense, cats-and-dogs downpours--can be expected, said thestudy, published Monday in the journalNature Climate Change. And that, scientists said, means an increased flood risk, particularly for the world's driest areas. The study challenges the idea that global warming is causingdry areas to become drierand wet areas wetter. "In both wet and dry regions, we see these great increases in heavy precipitation ," lead author Markus Donat, a climate scientist at the University of New South Wales, told Nature. Donat and his team collected data from 1951 to 2010 on extreme precipitation events from 11, 000 weather stations around the world, Nature reported. In that time, the number of days with "extreme precipitation" increased 1 percent to 2 percent per decade. "We found a strong relationship between global warming and an increase in rainfall, particularly in areas outside of the tropics," Donatsaid in a statement. "Importantly, this research suggests we will see these extreme rainfall events increases at regional levels in dry areas, not just as an average across the globe," Donat added. Peter Stott, a senior climate scientist at Met Office, told Climate Central that the study's findings are important, because more violent rainfall and flooding will "challenge our capability to adaptto a rapidly changing climate." As Nature reported, the research aligns witha 2015 study that found global warming has led to a sharp increase in record-breaking precipitation events. Donat told Nature that his study should come as a warning to world governments. The purpose of the study is to _ . Answer: Mrs. King: Oh,Bill, where are my gloves ? They aren't here. Mr. King: Maybe they're in the dining-room. Mrs. King: No, they aren't in our dining-room. Are they there? Mr. King: No, they aren't here. Mrs. King: Are they on the table? Mr. King: No. Oh, here is a glove under the chair. It's black. Mrs. King: No, that isn't my glove. My gloves are white . Oh ,Bill ,are they in the car? Mr. King: No, they aren't there. But are they in your bag? Mrs. King: No,they aren't. Mr. King: Are you sure? Mrs. King:Yes... oh,Bill, they are here. Yes , they're my gloves. They're in my bag,Bill, I'm very sorry. Mrs.King is looking for her _ . Answer: Jane Austen, a famous English writer, was bom at Steventon, Hampshire, on December 16, 1775, and died on July 18, 1817. She began writing early in life, although the prejudices of her times forced her to have her books published anonymously . But Jane Austen is perhaps the best known and best loved of prefix = st1 /Bath's many famous local people and visitors. She paid two long visits here during the last five years of the eighteenth century and from 1801 to 1806,Bathwas her home. Her deep knowledge of the city is fully seen in two of her novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, which are largely set inBath. The city is still very much as Jane Austen knew it, keeping in its streets and public buildings the well-ordered world that she described so well in her novels. Now the pleasure of learning Jane Austen's Bath can be enhanced by visiting the Jane Austen Centre in Gay Street. Here, in a Georgian town house in the heart of the city, you can find out more about Bath in Jane Austen's time and the importance of Bathin her life and work. The Centre has been set up with the help and guidance of members of the Jane Austen Society. After your visit to the Centre, you can look round the attractive shop, which offers a huge collection of Jane Austen related books, cards and many specially designed gifts. Jane Austen quizzes are offered to keep the children busy. You can also have walking tours of Jane Austen'sBath, which is a great way to find out more about Jane Austen and discover the wonderful Georgian city of Bath. The tour lasts about one and a half hours. The experienced guides will take you to the places where Jane lived, walked and shopped. The author writes this passage in order to _ . Answer:
Scientists say there are seven kinds of food that people should eat every day. They are: (1) green and yellow vegetables of all kind; (2) citrus fruits and tomatoes; (3) potatoes and other fruits and vegetables; (4) meat of all kinds, fish and eggs; (5) milk and foods made of milk, like cheese and ice-cream; (6) bread or cereal , rice is also in this kind of foods; (7) butter, or something like butter, with fat . People in different countries in the world eat different kinds of things. They also eat in different kinds the day. In some place people eat once or twice a day; in other countries, people eat three or four times a day. Scientists say that these differences are not important. It doesn't matter if a person eats dinner at 4 o'clock in the afternoon or at eleven o'clock at night. The important thing is that every day a person must eat something from each of the seven kind of food. The most important thing is that we must find some way to help the hungry people and make the people have right kinds of food , make them and healthy It is important that people should _ . Answer: eat something from each of the seven kinds of food every day Jodie Foster was born on Nobember 19,1962,in Los Angeles, Carlif., US. She is an American film actress who began her career as a mature child actress. Jodie began her performing career as a very young child in television, appearing first in commercials . She starred in her own short-lived series, Paper Moon (1974), based on the 1973 film of the same name. She appeared in a number of Disney films, beginning with Napoleon and Samantha (1972). Director Martin Scorsese cast Jodie in a bit part in Alice Doesn't live Here Anymore (1974) before giving her the role of Iris in Taxi Driver (1976). Her mature performance in Taxi Driver earned her an Academy Award nomination as best supporting actress. Her later films as child actress were less impressive, but her performances were always admired. Jodie graduated from Yale University in 1985. Perhaps because of her screen image of early maturity, Foster was abler to make a relatively smooth transition to adult roles. In The Accused (1988), she gave a perfect performance as Sarah Tobias. In The Silence of the Lames (1991), she tracks a killer as FBI agent Clarice Starling. Both performances won her Academy Awards as best actress. In 1990s, Jodie went into other areas of filmmaking. She directed her best film, Little Man Tate, in 1991,in which she also co-starred. In 1994, she co-produced Nell, for which she also received an Oscar nomination for best actress. In 1997, Foster starred in Contact. Her later films included Panic Room (2002), Inside Man (2006), and The Brave One (2007). We can learn from the passage that _ . Answer: Jodie became famous at a young age because of her mature performance. It was the end-of-year party. I had asked my mother to make us cookies. Mom's chocolate chips were the best. But two o'clock passed, and there was no sign of her. Most of the other mothers had come and gone, dropping off their cakes and chips. The party went on, but I wouldn't leave the window. The three o'clock bell soon took me away from my thoughts . I took my bag and walked out for home. The house was empty when I arrived. My heart was filled with anger . For the first time in my life, my mother had _ . I was lying on my bed when I heard her coming. "Robbie," she called out. "Where are you?" She was looking for me from room to room, but I kept silent. When she came into my room, I didn't move, "I'm so sorry," she said. "I got busy and forgot." She began to laugh. I couldn't believe it. I turned over and found that she wasn't laughing but crying. "I'm so sorry. I let my boy down." she cried like a little girl. I had never seen my mother cry. "It's OK, Mom," I said, "We didn't need those cookies. There was plenty of food to eat. Don't cry. It's all right." We held each other in a long hug . I lay down on my bed and kept silent because I was _ . Answer: angry Imagine you are standing on the 70thfloor of the Empire State Building, staring at the cityscape. Suddenly a man pushes past you, opens the window and announces his intention to jump. You yell out, "Stop! Don't do it!" the six-foot-five figure turns to you and menacingly says, "Try to stop me and I'll take you with me!" "Umm... No problem, sir. have a good trip. any last words?" "Let me tell you my troubles," he says, "my wife left me, my kids won't talk to me, I lost my job and my pet turtle died, so why should I go on living?" Suddenly you have a flash of inspiration. "Sir, close your eyes for a minute and imagine that you are blind. No colors, no sights of children playing, no fields of flowers, no sunset. Now imagine that suddenly there's a miracle. You open your eyes and your vision is restored! Are you going to jump? Or will you stick around for a week to enjoy the sights?" "I'll stay for a week." "But what happened to all the troubles?" "I guess they're not so bad. I can see!" " _ " If you really appreciate your eyesight, the other pains are insignificant. But if you take it all for granted, then nothing in life will ever truly give you joy. Actually, there are misconceptions on the road to happiness. misconception1: "Once I know the tools for being happy, then it will work like magic." Don't expect the results to come automatically. It is possible to understand how to achieve happiness, yet not put it into practice. In fact, many people actually prefer to be comfortable and unhappy, rather than bear the discomfort of changing their habits. Just as learning any new skill requires effort, you have to be willing to invest serious effort to achieve real happiness. Misconception 2: "if I become content and satisfied with what I have, I'll lose my motivation to achieve more." Now ask someone who is depressed, "Let's go fishing!" "I'm tired. Maybe tomorrow. And anyway, I might rain..." in reality, happy people are energetic and ambitious. There's never enough time to do everything they want to do. Misconception 3: A beautiful Sunday afternoon, you're in the park having a picnic with friends. Suddenly one person complains: "who forgot the forks? It's too hot for volleyball. I want to go home already." When our mood negatively affects others, we recognize we have duty to be happy and not spoil the fun. But what about when we're at home with our family? Or when we go into the office on Monday morning? like an open pit in the middle of the road, a sourpuss is a public danger. Being happy is part of being considerate to the people around us. What is right about happy? Answer: Happy is contagious . Henry was born in a small town. His father has a factory. One night the man drank too much and drove his car home. On his way he drove fast and suddenly his car fell into the river and he died in the accident. The old man left his son much money and the factory. But the man spent all the money in nearly three years and at last he had to sell the factory for food and clothes. Another three years passed and he wanted to find work but he couldn't do anything. Nobody would use a man like him. The young man thought and thought. At last he found a way. He began to beg from door to door. Most people in the town knew him well and few of them had a pity on him. So he was often hungry. He had to leave the town and came to Toronto. In the city he began to pretend that he couldn't speak. So he could beg some money and food. One day Henry was begging by the station when he met Mr. Cook, one of his father's friends. The man asked, "How long have you been dumb , Henry?" The sudden question made the young man burst out , "since I was born!" The car fell into the river because _ . Answer: the old man was drunk that night
Some people are pessimistic when they think about the future. They say that a hundred years from now, we will have used most of the earth's resources. We will have polluted our seas badly, and be unable to eat fish from them. We will have made the air so dirty that we will need to wear masks. The world's population will have doubled, and we will have used all the countryside for housing; there will be no farmland left. Other people believe that Man adapts very easily. They have a different idea of the future. How, in their views, will people be living in a hundred years' time? One architect believes that Man will move off the land. He suggests that the city of the future will be a huge, pyramid-shaped building, which will be floating on the surface of the sea. About 5,000 families will be living there, and the building will contain shops and schools as well as homes. By living on the sea, we will give the farmers more land to grow crops. As for oil, people will no longer need it: we will be heating our homes with power from the sun. And we will not be short of minerals, because there are plenty under our oceans. At the moment, we do not have the technology to get them out. But, in a hundred years' time, the optimists say, the new sea cities will be using these resources. What will be in the shops in the year 3000? What will people be wearing? How will people be traveling? Scientists who make predictions about the future suggest that, by the year 3000, shops will no longer exist. Computers will have replaced them, and people will order goods from home. People will be wearing very light, thin clothes. By this time, scientists will have invented a fabric that keeps us cool in hot weather and warm in cold weather. As for travel, the experts say that most people will be using public transport. Electric cars will be traveling through the streets day and night. Anybody will be able to stop one and use it. An interesting picture. Unfortunately, we will not be there to see if these predictions come true. Pessimists believe that in the future _ . A the seas and oceans will be full of houses B we'll have used up all the resources C we will not have enough fish to eat from the seas D we'll have polluted the air so badly that it'll be impossible for us to breathe without masks. Answer: D. we'll have polluted the air so badly that it'll be impossible for us to breathe without masks. (BEIJING, August 10)--The Beijing Dailyhas put together a number of tips for cost-efficient travel in Beijing. Subway transfer "Transfer" is a word frequently used by volunteers helping visitors choose the best way of transport during the ongoing Beijing Olympics to save time. On the seven subway lines now in operation, the transport authorities have set up a total of 16 transfer stations: Transfer between Line 2 and Line 1 at Jianguomen and Fuxingmen stations; Transfer between Line 2 and Line 5 at Chongwenmen and Yonghegong stations; Transfer between Line 2 and Line 13 at Dongzhimen and Xizhimen stations; Dongzhimen station can also bring you to Beijing Capital International Airport via the Airport Line; Transfer between Line 1 and Line Batong at Sihui and Sihuidong stations; Transfer from Line 1 to Line 10 at Guomao station to reach Zhongguancun, the north Third Ring Road (going north and west) or Jinsong (going south). Via Line 10, transfer to Line 8 at Beitucheng station to reach the Olympic central zone, where the "Bird's Nest" and other venues are located; transfer to Line 5 at Huixinxijie Nankou; transfer to Line 13 at Zhichunlu and Shaoyaoju stations; Sanyuanqiao station takes you to the airport via the Airport Line. From subway to bus Beijing's subway system is thoroughly linked with bus routes. The Beijing Railway Station, which can be reached via the Line 2 subway, has bus lines going north, southeast and to the West Railway Station, covering Chaoyang, Tongzhou, Daxing and other districts. Xizhimen station is linked to many bus routes that go south and northeast. The long-distance bus routes near Dongzhimen station pass through Shunyi, Pinggu and other outskirts. Park and ride Park and ride facilities allow commuters to leave their personal vehicles in a parking lot and transfer to a bus or rail system. In Beijing, because of city planning and other factors, park and ride is limited to bus and subway stations beyond the Fourth Ring Road. Since the Line 5 subway began operating, a low-fare parking lot, the largest in Beijing, was created at Tiantongyuan Beizhan station. Drivers are encouraged to spend just two yuan per day parking their vehicles and take the subway into the city. Which of the following is TRUE? A You can get to the Beijing Railway Station via the Line 5 subway. B Park and ride is limited to bus and subway stations beyond the Third Ring Road. C Drivers can spend a little money in parking their vehicles in the largest parking lot. D Drivers must park their cars in the largest parking lot and transfer to a bus or rail system. Answer: C. Drivers can spend a little money in parking their vehicles in the largest parking lot. Pessimistic,anxious and depressed people may have a higher risk of dementia ,US researchers reported on Thursday. A study of a group of 3,500 people showed that those who scored high for pessimism on a standardized personality test had a 30 percent increased risk of developing dementia 30 to 40 years later. Those scoring very high on both anxiety and pessimism scales had a 40 percent higher risk,the study showed. "There appears to be a doseresponse pattern.That is,the higher the scores,the higher the risk of dementia,"Dr Yonas Geda,a neuropsychiatrist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester,Minnesota who led the study,said in a statement. Geda and his colleagues looked at the medical records of 3,500 men and women who lived near the clinic between 1962 and 1965. They all took the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory,a standard personality and life experience test,Geda's team told a meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in Miami. In 2004,the team interviewed the participants or family members. Those who scored higher for anxiety and pessimism on the test were more likely,as a group,to have developed dementia by 2004,including Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. This did not mean a person who is pessimistic could assume he or she has a higher risk of developing dementia. "One has to be cautious in interpreting a study like this,"Geda said. "One cannot make a leap from group level data to the individual.Certainly the last thing you want to do is to say,'Well,I am a pessimist;thus,I am doomed to develop dementia 20 or 30 years later,'because this may end up becoming a selffulfilling prophecy ." And there is NOT any specific way to prevent dementia,although many studies have shown that a healthy diet,exercise,keeping active in other ways,doing puzzles and other activities lower the risk. According to the passage,which of the following is TRUE? A There are many ways to prevent dementia effectively. B A person who is pessimistic is sure to get dementia. C Those who lead a happy life will not get dementia when they are old. D Those who scored high for pessimism might have a higher risk of dementia. Answer: D. Those who scored high for pessimism might have a higher risk of dementia. Most Westerners--particularly most Americans--are not nearly as concerned about protocol in social matters as Chinese people are. America is a nation of immigrants. It's made up of people from all over the world, all of whom bring their own traditions and habits with them. Thus you needn't worry much about "proper" behavior :who sits next to whom at the dinner table, what is the suitable dress for the occasion, etc. , unless you receive a formal invitation to a dinner or party. Americans are very direct people. When you want something you say "Yes" and when you don't, you say "No". If you want something different from what is offered, you ask for it. Westerners will not ask you again and again or try to press something on you after you have said you don't want it. In fact, if you say "No" when you really want something to drink or to eat, you may find yourself very thirsty or hungry. But there are a few Western customs which are very important and you should try at all times to observe.A Westerner doesn't leave his paper or cloth on the table. He puts it on his lap where it's supposed to protect his clothes from spilled food or uses it to wipe his hand or mouth when necessary. A Westerner doesn't put his own fork, knife or spoon into a serving bowl. He uses it in the bowl to put some of the food on his own plate, and then returns the serving fork(knife or spoon) to the bowl. A Westerner doesn't spit food anywhere. If he has bones in his mouth, he takes them out with his fingers and places them on the edge of his plate, never on the table or floor. A Westerner doesn't belch out loud. If he does, he says "Excuse me" quietly and goes on with the conversation. According to the passage, Westerners _ . A care what they wear very much B care who offers the first toast at dinner C do the same things as Chinese do D don't care what you wear, who sits next to whom Answer: D. don't care what you wear, who sits next to whom Marjorie Baer used to joke about her retirement plans.She wasn't married and had no kids, but she didn't intend to be alone--she and all her single friends would move into a fictional home she called Casa de Biddies.Instead, Baer developed terminal brain cancer when she was 52.But just as she'd hoped, her friends and family provided her with love and care to the end. Ballance was only the first of Baer's friends who became her unofficial caregivers.With her brother Phil Baer from Los Angeles, they worked out a system to watch over their friend and allow her to keep some of the privacy and independence she cherished. Baer's good friend Ruth Henrich took Baer to doctors' appointments and helped her deal with all the aspects of life --answering machines, TV controls, and even phone numbers.After Henrich sent out an e-mail request, a group of volunteers signed up to ferry Baer back and forth to radiation therapy .Others in Baer's circle offered up particular talents: A nurse friend helped Baer figure out how to get what she was due from Social Security and her disability insurance; a lawyer pal helped Baer with her will; a partner who was an accountant took over her bills when she could no longer manage them."There was this odd sense that the right person always showed up," says Ballance.Their arrangement worked remarkably well. Unmarried women are one of the fastest-growing groups in America; experts are concerned about how care-giving will be managed for them as they age.If the experience of Baer's friends is a guide, _ .It's already making it possible to create communities of caregivers who may have only one thing in common: the person who needs their help.On personal "care pages" set up through services such as Lotsa Helping Hands, friends and family members can post a list of tasks that need to be done, volunteer to do them, and keep updated on the person's condition.As Baer's cancer progressed, for example, her friends set up a page on Yahoo! where people could sign up to deliver meals or do errands . Catherine Fox, one of the friends who were present when Baer died, was deeply affected."It was so comforting to know that if you're willing to ask for help, the generosity of family and friends can be phenomenal .It makes me feel secure and hopeful to know that help is there when you need it." The writer tells us the story of Marjorie Baer for the purpose of _ . A reminding us to be kind and make as many friends as we can B informing that there will be a new trend of care-giving for the single elderly C persuading us that we can enjoy our retirement even if we don't have a child D introducing the convenience that will be brought by the Internet after we retire Answer: B. informing that there will be a new trend of care-giving for the single elderly
With smart phones taking the world by Storm, a phone that can only send and receive voice calls and text messages may seem like a relic from a bygone age. Yet in East Africa,simple phones like these are changing the face of the economy, thanks to the mobile money services that are spreading across the region. Using the text-messaging function built into the GSM system used by most cell phone networks, these services allow people without a bank account or credit card to use their phone as an electronic wallet that can be used to store. send or receive cash. It works like this: you pay cash to your local agent who then tops up your mobile money account using a secure form of text messaging. That money can be transferred to another person by sending a message to their cell phone account. For some the system is a lifeline. "If I didn't have my mobile phone. I would be very poor, "says Neyasse Neemur, a mother of four children who lives in northern Kenya. "Now I can sell fish." Neemur took up fishing in July last year, but making money from it was a little tricky, especially as Turkana people do not usually eat fish. A truck from Ethiopia to Tanzania passes through her village once a week, and she arranged to have the driver transport the fish several hundred kilometres south to market in Kisumu, where her s sell the fish. "I get the money transfer immediately." says Neemur. "Then I can pay for my children to go to school and for vegetables and beans," she adds, "so I don't need to eat fish." According to the Central Bank of Kenya, payments worth around l billion Kenyan shillings($13 million)per day were transferred through Kenya's mobile money systems in 2009, equaling the country's credit card transactions . The bank expects mobile money transfers to overtake credit cards in 2011. The story of Neyasse Neemur suggests that _ . A. the mobile money service plays a key role in the locals' life B. Neemur uses her mobile phone to contact her customers C. her s tricks Turkana people to eat the fish they sell D. the Bank of Kenya helps her improve her living condition Answer: A Attention STARBUCKS Owners of Stainless Steel Travel Mug Mug lid Recall---16 oz Stainless Steel Travel Mug We've recognized a fault at the cup. The fault might cause some lids to lift slightly from the body of the mug, and could possibly result in injury from hot liquid leaking. So, we have given a lid recall notice immediately. The notice is only related to STARBUCKS 16 oz Stainless Steel Travel Mugs which were sold between November 2012 and February 2013. The bottom of the mug is stamped with "ThermoSServ", the distributor's name. There is not any printing on the mug handle. At STARBUCKS, customers' safety is valued above anything else. Therefore, no matter whether your lid is leaking , in the interest of your safety, we request you bring your mug to your nearest STARBUCKS (excluding Esso STARBUCKS), where they are sure exchange the lid for a new lid that fits well and safely. The new lids are going to be available March 1, 2013. Don't use your mug until you exchange the lid, please. Here's what you do: * Please do not use your mug until you have exchanged the lid for a new one. * New lids will be available March 1, 2013. * Return your travel mug to a STARBUCKS store. * Your lid will be exchanged for a new lid. If you'd like to return the entire mug, bring it back at any time for a full repayment. If you have any questions regarding this recall, please don't hesitate to us at: Toll Free Number: 1-999-701-1717 9:30 am - 6:00 pm Eastern Standard Time STARBUCKS According to the advertisement, which of the following statements is NOT true? A. People should stop using the mug immediately. B. People can get the money back if they return the mug. C. People with questions can call the company free of charge. D. People can return the lid between October 2012 and January 2013. Answer: D This large flat is on the top floor of a five-story modern building in a quiet part of the city. There are two schools, a restaurant and several shopping centres nearby. A bus stop is only one hundred metres away. The flat has got a large living room , a dining room,a modern kitchen, one large bedroom and two small bedrooms. There is a bedroom with a shower, a sink and a toilet. The flat has also got a small storeroom and there is a large doorway. The price of it is $245,600 without the garage . The price of the garage is $34,560. Doing shopping is easy because _ nearby if you live in the flat. A. there are two schools B. there is a bus stop C. there is a restaurant D. there are several shopping centres Answer: D Apple Inc co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs, counted among the greatest American CEOs of his generation, died on Wednesday at the age of 56, after a-year-long and highly public battle with cancer. Jobs' death was announced by Apple in a statement late on Wednesday. The Apple.com homepage featured a black-and-white picture of him with the words "Steve Jobs, 1955-2011". A message on the site read, "Apple has lost an imaginary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring leader." "His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts." "Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple." The Silicon Valley hero who gave the world the iPod and the iPhone had resigned as CEO of the world's largest technology corporation in August, handing the position to current chief executive Tim Cook. Two years before the iPhone that forever transformed the way people around the world access and use the Internet, Jobs talked about how a sense of his death was a major driver behind that vision. "Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever got to help me make the big choices in life," Jobs said during a Stanford commencement ceremony in 2005. "Because almost everything-all others' expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure-these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important." "Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart." What can we learn about iPhone from the passage? A. People can use it to do anything they want. B. It can teach people how to surf the Internet. C. People can learn the spirit of Apple from it. D. It can change the way people use the Internet. Answer: D You'll know that the sun has set if A. a baby is sleeping B. all the birds are silent C. the temperature has gone down D. the brightest thing in the sky is a satellite Answer: D
The United States government wants to know what the public thinks about its findings on the safety of cloned animals. The Food and Drug Administration says meat and milk from clones of adult cattle, pigs and goats are safe to eat. An F.D.A. official called them "as safe to eat as the food we eat every day." And when those clones reproduce sexually , the agency says, their offspring are safe to eat as well. But research on cloned sheep is limited. So the F.D.A. proposes that sheep clones not be used for human food. The United States this year could become the first country to approve the sale of foods from cloned animals. First, however, the public will have ninety days to comment on three proposed documents. On December 28th the F.D.A. released a long report, called a draft risk assessment, along with two policy documents. The agency says it must receive comments by April second. The F.D.A. seemed ready to act several years ago, but an advisory committee called for more research. For now, the government will continue to ask producers to honor a request that they not sell foods from cloned animals. Clones are still rare. They cost a lot and are difficult to produce. The F.D.A. says most food from cloning is expected to come not from clones themselves, but from their sexually reproduced offspring. It says clones are expected to be used mostly as breeding animals to spread good qualities. Public opinion studies show most Americans do not like the idea of food from cloned animals. But this research also shows the public knows little about cloning. Cloning differs from genetic engineering. A cell taken from a so-called donor animals is grown into an embryo in the laboratory. Next, the embryo is placed into the uterus of a female animal. If the process is successful, the pregnancy reaches full term and a genetic copy of the donor animal is born. The main purpose of the text is to_. A tell a interesting story B give some advice on foods C give a report D compare different opinions Answer: C. give a report Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are now a part of everyday driving in many counties.These satellite-based systems provide turn-by-turn directions to help people get to where they want to go. But, they can also cause a lot of problems, send you to the wrong place or leave you completely lost. Many times, the driver is to blame. Sometimes a GPS error is responsible. Most often, says Barry Brown, it is a combination of the two. Barry Brown is with the Mobile Life Centre in Stockholm, Sweden. The center studies human-computer interaction, or HCI, especially communications involving wireless devices. He told us about an incident involving a friend who had flown to an airport in the eastern United States. There he borrowed a GPS-equipped car to use during his stay. "And they just plugged in an address and then set off to their destination. And, then it wasn't until they were driving for thirty minutes until they realized they actually put in a destination back on the West Coast where they lived. They actually put their home address in. So again, the GPS is kind of 'garbage in garbage out'." Mr. Brown says this is a common human error. But, he says, what makes the problem worse has to do with some of the shortcomings, or failures, of GPS equipment. "One problem with a lot of the GPS units is they have a very small screen and they just tell you the next turn. Because they just give you the next turn, sometimes that means that it is not really giving you the overview that you would need to know that it's going to the wrong place." In most cases, driving to wrong places or being lost is caused by _ . A the driver B GPS C the driver and GPS D strange places Answer: C. the driver and GPS An old man was fishing by a river. A child was watching him. The old man was really good at fishing and it didn't take him much time to catch a basket of fish. The old man saw that the child was very cute, and he wanted to give her a whole basket of fish. But the child shook her head. The old man was surprised and asked "Why don't you want the fish?" The child replied,"I want the fishing rod in your hands." The old man asked, "Why do you want the rod?" "It won't take long to eat all the fish in the basket. But if I have the fishing rod, I can go fishing by myself and I won't be afraid of not having any fish to eat." I think you will certainly say that the girl is very smart. Wrong! If she doesn't know how to fish, she cannot have fish to eat, even though she has the fishing rod. It's useless to only have a fishing rod. Fishing skills are the most important, not the fishing rod. Too many people think that if they have a "fishing rod" in their life, they will no longer fear the difficulties in life. They are just like the child, who thought that if she had a fishing rod, she would have fish to eat. Why did the child refuse to get the fish? A Because she wanted the old man's fishing rod. B Because the fish was not enough. C Because she didn't like eating fish. D Because the fish was too small. Answer: A. Because she wanted the old man's fishing rod. Writer: Amy Gillett Price:$24.95Fare :$3.99(Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.) INTRODUCTION .................................9 Lesson 1: Bob's Day at Work...........................11 Lesson 2: Bob Returns Home with Bad News.........17 Lesson 3: Ted's Day at School........................23 Lesson 4: Nicole's Day at School.....................27 Lesson 5: Ted Goes Out for the Evening...............33 REVIEW: Lessons 1-5 .................................37 : You can probably read this passage _ . A in a textbook B on the Internet C in a storybook D in a report Answer: B. on the Internet Mice A abandon their offspring B hatch their young C lay eggs D nurse their offspring Answer: D. nurse their offspring
Six chimps were introduced to a slot machine called the Chimp- O- Mat, which would give out one grape when a white coin was insert into the slot. When Dr Wolf showed a young chimp named Moos how he could win himself a grape by inserting a coin, Moos immediately picked up another coin, pushed it into the slot, then stuck out his paw and waited for a grape to drop out.. Besides white coins, the chimps were given yellow coins to insert into the slot, but nothing came out because they were worthless. The chimps soon learned this fact. When a handful of white and yellow coins were thrown into the cage housing, Bula, Bimba and Alpha, the three chimps rushed for the white coins and never touched the yellow ones. Now the chimps were madly in love with money. Would the six chimps value money enough to work for it? To find the answer, Dr Wolfe designed a work machine. The chimps were shown that when a large handle was lifted, they could pick one grape. When they had learned the skill of lifting the handle to get the grape, Dr Wolf made a change to the machines so that instead of the grape they would find a white coin. This coin would still buy them one grape at the Chimp- O- Mat. Thus the complexity of getting a grape was not only doubled, but also the money to buy the grape could be achieved only by honest work. The handle they had to lift to get the coin weighed eighty pounds. Great effort is needed for a young chimp to raise that weight, yet the formerly lazy chimps not only quickly mastered the new operation, but also showed great eagerness to work for money. In the first part of the experiment the chimps learned to _ . Answer: tell the difference between the useful and the worthless coins Dear Mr. Smith, I currently rent APT#832 in the Canyon Crossing apartments. Overall, I am happy with the location. At the beginning I had planned to live here for at least two years. I like here. However, I am very disappointed in that there seems to be a terrible roach problem. I can't invite any guest over because of this problem and I cannot recommend Canyon Crossing to any of my classmates either. I have left two voice mails for you which are concerned with this problem. You have not returned either one. Therefore, this letter is my next step in hoping to solve the problem. I am kindly asking you to ask an exterminator by July 15th. If you fail to do so, I will have no choice but to make a complaint to the BBB (Better Business Bureau). You are welcome to text me anytime at (435) 234-3452. I hope this problem will be solved soon. Thank you. Yours sincerely, Unhappy Ursula Dear Sir, I am a new resident at Sunning Court. I have seen the condition of the building becoming worse and worse since I moved here last year. First of all, the management of the building is really terrible. Sometimes, there is a bad smell when I walk on the road. I see much rubbish there. No cleaners clean the rubbish. Many roaches and rats run around the building. My second problem is about the security . I always see the guards reading newspapers or smoking when they are on duty. The security room is very dusty too. When I want to use the phone, they say, "We can't help." I am therefore writing to demand your company's action to improve the situation. Thank you for your consideration. Yours faithfully, Chris Wong The first letter is most probably written by _ . Answer: a student A tall figure appeared from the dark door of the tent. It was a smoking young man about twenty three or four. He had an almost black face, though smooth. His moustache was black with curled points. There was an unusual force in his face, and in his daring rolling eyes. cef Rebecca still stood hesitating like a swimmer about to make his dive, hardly knowing whether to return or move forward. "Hi, my beauty, what can I do for you?" said he, approaching. Realizing that she was quite at a loss, the man spoke in a gentle voice, "Never mind. I am Mr. Thackeray. Have you come to see me or my mother?" This scene differed greatly from what Rebecca had expected. She had dreamed of an aged and dignified face. She told herself to be calm and answered "I came to see your mother, sir." "I am afraid you cannot see her-she is ill in bed," replied the representative of the house; for this was Mr. Alee Thackeray, the only son of the noble family. "What is the business you wish to see her about?" "It isn't business-it is-I can hardly say what!" "Pleasure?" "Oh no. Why, sir, if I tell you, it will seem..." Rebecca's sense of a certain ridicule(,) was now so obvious and strong that, despite her general discomfort at being here, her rosy lips curved towards a smile, much to the attraction of the young man. "It is so foolish", she murmured. "I fear I can't tell you!" "Never mind; I like foolish things. Try again, my dear," said he kindly. "Mother told me to come," Rebecca continued; "and, indeed, I was in the mind to do so myself. But I did not expect it would turn out like this. I came...sir, I came to tell you that we are of the same family as you." "Ho Ho! Poor relations?" "Yes." "Rossetti?" "No. Thackeray." "Ay, ay; I mean Thackeray." "Our names are worn away to Durbeyfield; but we have several proofs that we are Thackeray. The local scholars hold the view that we are, and...and we have an old seal and a silver spoon marked with the same castle as yours. So mother said we ought to make ourselves known to you, as we've lost our horse by a bad accident. We can hardly make a living." "It's very kind of your mother, I'm sure." Alec looked at Rebecca as he spoke, in a way that made her uneasy. "And so, my pretty girl, you've come on a friendly visit to us, as relations?" "I suppose I have," looking less confident and uncomfortable again. "Well, there's no harm in it. I mean it doesn't hurt to come and make yourself known to me. Where do you live? What are you?" ... While meeting with Alec, Rebecca feels _ during the whole course. Answer: nervous and uneasy The largest animal ever to live on Earth is the blue whale . It weighs about 80 tons-more than 24 big elephants. It is more than 30 metres long. A new baby whale weighs as much as a big elephant. Cats won't die if they fall off very high places because they can turn themselves up the right way so as to keep their bodies safe. One cat fell off 32 floors onto the street, but it was just hurt a little. A bear can run as fast as a horse. A new-born panda is smaller than a mouse and weighs about 100 grams. Elephants are the most careful animals in their love. A male elephant may show his lady love for up to three years until the female elephant takes his love. They often show their love by touching each other's body. Usually, wolves do not hurt people. For years a Canadian newspaper says that they would give anyone a lot of money if he or she could show that a wolf could hurt a person. But nobody could do that. Wolves do not usually go together though they may do this in winter and they only hurt people at an unusual time. A bear can run _ people think they can. Answer: faster than Everybody is happy as his pay rises. Yet pleasure at your own can disappear if you learn that a fellow worker has been given a bigger one. Indeed, if he is known as being lazy, you might even be quite cross. Such behavior is regarded as "all too human", with the underlying belief that other animals would not be able to have this finely developed sense of sadness. But a study by Sarah Brosnan of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, which has just been published in Nature, suggests that _ , as well. The researchers studied the behaviors of some kind of female brown monkeys. They look smart. They are good-natured, co-operative creatures, and they share their food happily. Above all, like female human beings, they tend to pay much closer attention to the value of "goods and services" than males. Such characteristics make them perfect subjects for Doctor Brosnan's study. The researchers spent two years teaching their monkeys to exchange tokens for food. Normally, the monkeys were happy enough to exchange pieces of rock for pieces of cucumber. However, when two monkeys were placed in separate and connected rooms, so that each other could observe what the other is getting in return for its rock, they became quite different. In the world of monkeys,grapes are excellent goods (and much preferable to cucumbers). So when one monkey was handed a grape in exchange for her token, the second was not willing to hand hers over for a mere piece of cucumber. And if one received a grape without having to provide her token in exchange at all, the other either shook her own token at the researcher, or refused to accept the cucumber. Indeed, the mere presence of a grape in the other room (without an actual monkey to eat it) was enough to bring about dissatisfaction in a female monkey. The researches suggest that these monkeys, like humans, are guided by social senses. In the wild, they are co-operative and group-living. Such co-operation is likely to be firm only when each animal feels it is not being cheated. Feelings of anger when unfairly treated, it seems, are not the nature of human beings alone. Refusing a smaller reward completely makes these feelings clear to other animals of the group. However, whether such a sense of fairness developed independently in monkeys and humans, or whether it comes from the common roots that they had 35 million years ago, is, as yet, an unanswered question. According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE? Answer: Women will show more dissatisfaction than men when unfairly treated.
Connie Lau hates smoking. "It smells awful, and it's so bad for you. It breaks my heart to see my friends smoking. I try to get them to give up smoking." She says. So why does Connie walk into convenience stores and try to buy cigarettes? She is testing to see if stores will sell cigarettes to a kid who is younger than 18. "You have to be 18 to purchase cigarettes, and I'm 16, so if they sell to me, they're breaking the law," Connie says. Connie isn't a vigilante ; She works with local police in her town of Castro Valley, California. Officers drive her to stores, and she goes in alone to try to buy cigarettes. If the person behind the counter sells her a pack, an officer comes in and writes the business a ticket for breaking the law. Most stores obey the law and don't sell her cigarettes. The law requires that customers show ID if store employees ask them to. "When they ask your age, you can't lie," Connie says. "Most stores don't sell to me. In a year, we've visited almost 150 stores and had only 15 sales." Working undercover can be scary, even with police nearby. Connie said one cashier refused to sell her cigarettes and then got angry when he found out her age. He threatened to call the authorities. "To calm him down, the police went in to explain that I was undercover," she says. Most teens wouldn't think of going undercover for the police. What's Connie's motivation ? For starters, she can't stand smoking. But she also believes it's important for young people like her to try to make a real impact in their communities. In her view, teens can do more than get good grades in school, do chores at home, and do well in out-of-class activities. Every time she stops the sale of cigarettes to children, she's helping to uphold the law. "A single teenager can make a big difference," Connie says. "For the most part, when stores get caught, they learn their lesson and don't do it again." Which of the following might be the main idea of the text? Answer: Connie Lau goes undercover to stop stores from selling cigarettes to kids. In every little girl's toy box. there might be a Barbie Doll. Barbie is 50 years old this, year. It was designed in 1959 by an American businesswoman named Ruth Handler. She and her husband Elliott started the toy company Mattel. She named the new doll after their daughter Barbara. The first Barbie Doll appeared at the toy fair New York on March 9th, 1959. This date is used as Barbie's birthday. Mattel sold three hundred thousand Barbie Dolls in the first year at a price of three dollars. Today, a fifty-year-old Barbie in good condition might cost more than twenty-seven thousand dollars. Mattel says 90% of the girls in the United States aged from three to ten own at least one Barbie Doll. And girls aged three to six own an average of about twelve. When Mattel created Barbie Dolls half a century ago, they never thought this doll would become a legend. Now Barbie Dolls are famous all over the world. They are sold in one hundred and fifty countries, and every second three Barbie Dolls are sold around the world. What's the best title of the passage? _ . Answer: Barbie Dolls A crust is a portion of Answer: a world Which of the following is a correct food chain? Answer: corn -> cow -> human As global warming continues to be a major concern for the future of our planet,people are starting to turn to green living practices to help save it for future generations.Green living involves every aspect of our daily life from driving to work to mowing our lawns. Making the switch to green living all at once might scare most people away from carrying out those earth-friendly changes.There are many ways to ease into this practice and still help save the earth's environment. Air pollution is a major problem for some cities.A lot of it comes from the factories, but that's not the only way contributing to global warming.Automobiles give off a fair amount of pollutant into the air.When you have a lot of cars driving around on the city streets, you're multiplying the amounts of pollutant being emitted by each car that's destroying our ozone .If you want to save the environment,you can start by either car pooling,walking more instead of driving or even purchasing hybrid models that don't do as much damage. Then let's take a look at your home.What kinds of bulbs are you using? The standard bulbs we use only contribute to higher electricity bills and more carbon dioxide.If you switch at least some of your standard bulbs with the compact fluorescent bulbs,you can save the environment while saving on your electric bill. Recycling is also an excellent way to save our environment.Try to buy as many products as you can that can be recycled.The less trash that has to be burned or buried into our soil,the better off our planet will be. These small changes may seem that they couldn't help much for the environment,but they can help tremendously.Every little bit we do is a much-needed step toward reserving natural resources for our future generations. Most people will be frightened if_. Answer: they are required to turn to green living completely at once
Hi, everybody. Over the past couple months, most of the political headlines you've read have probably been about the government shutdown and the launch of the Affordable Care Act . And I know that many of you have rightly never been more frustrated with Washington. But if you look beyond those headlines, there are some good things happening in our economy. And that's been my top priority since the day I walked into the Oval Office. After decades in which the middle class was working harder and harder just to keep up, and a punishing recession that made it worse, we made the tough choices required not just to recover from crisis, but to rebuild on a new foundation for stronger, more durable economic growth. Five years later, we have fought our way back. Our businesses have created 7.8 million new jobs in the past 44 months. Another 200,000 Americans went back to work last month. The American auto industry has come back with more than 350,000 new jobs --- jobs putting out and selling the high-tech, fuel-efficient cars the world wants to buy. And they're leading the charge in a business that has added jobs for the first time since the 1990s --- a big reason why our businesses sell more goods and services "Made in America" than ever before. We decided to stop our addiction to foreign oil. And today, we produce more renewable energy than ever, more natural gas than anybody, and for the first time in nearly 20 years, America now produces more oil than we buy from other countries. We decided to fix a broken health care system. And even though the task has been rough, so far, about 500,000 Americans gain health coverage starting January 1st. And by the way, health care costs are growing at the slowest rate in 50 years. And one more thing: since I took office, we've cut our deficits by more than half. And that makes it easier to invest in the things that create jobs --- education, research, and so on. Imagine how much farther along we could be if both parties were working together. Think about what we could do if the few didn't hold the economy hostage every few months, or waste time on dozens of votes to _ the Affordable Care Act rather than try to help us fix it. In the weeks ahead, I'll keep talking about my plan to build a better bargain for the middle class. Good jobs. A good education. A chance to buy a home, save, and retire. And yes, the financial security of affordable health care. And I'll look for any willing partners who want to help. Because of your hard work and tough sacrifices over the past five years, we're pointed in the right direction. But we've got more work to do to keep moving that way. And as long as I'm President, I'll keep doing everything I can to create jobs, grow the economy, and make sure that everyone who works hard has a chance to get ahead. Thanks, and have a great weekend. According to the speech, which of the following can be implied? Answer: Reducing the amount of sleep students get at night has a direct impact on their performance at school during the day. According to classroom teachers, elementary and middle school students who stay up late exhibit more learning and attention problems. This has been shown by Brown Medical School and prefix = st1 /BradleyHospitalresearch. In the study, teachers were not told the amount of sleep students received when completing weekly performance reports, yet they rated the students who had received eight hours or less as having the most trouble recalling all the material, learning new lessons and completing high - quality work. Teachers also reported that these students had more difficulty paying attention. The experiment is the first to ask teachers to report on the effects of sleep deficiency in children. Just staying up late can cause increased academic difficulty and attention problems for otherwise healthy, well - functioning kids, said Garharn Forlone, the study's lead author. So the results provide professionals and parents with a clear message: when a child is having learning and attention problems, the issue of sleep has to be taken into consideration. "If we don't ask about sleep, and try to improve sleep patterns in kids' struggling academically, then we aren't doing our job", Forlone said. For parents, he said, the message is simple, "getting kids to bed on time is as important as getting them to school on time." What were teachers told to do in the experiment? Answer: I learned my first lesson from my grandparents when I was young. They both grew up in very large families and lived through the Great Depression. Saving for a rainy day was their life philosophy. Rather than seeking fulfillment through material items, they chose to spend really simple life together with their family. Over the years my grandparents notice dramatic changes in their community. Every year more farmland was destroyed to build larger and larger homes. As real estate prices rose, many of their neighbors sold their little homes and land. Soon theirs was the only small house surrounded by a sea of mansions. My grandparents built and lived in a small 600-square-foot cottage for most of their adult lives. Lots of family members encouraged my grandparents to expand their little old house. But they didn't want a bigger one. They loved their little house and were content with what they had. My grandparents avoided a consumptive ( ) lifestyle by painting and repairing the house themselves. They lived in a small home, but had a huge garden. They loved gardening and planting because it reduced their grocery bill, improved their health, and gave them an excuse to be outside. They also reused and recycled many things. For in- stance. they had driven the same car for over 15 years and didn't buy a new one until the old Chevrolet was worn out. From my grandparents, I learned an important lesson: it is possible to live a simple life. My grandparents taught me that living a simple life isn't about self-deprivation . Instead ,it's about giving yourself the time, freedom, and money to pursue your dreams. Becoming debt free, downsizing to a smaller home, and going out on foot instead of by car are good ways to take control of your life and start pursuing your dreams. The community's changes include all the following EXCEPT that _ . Answer: Word Power Author(s): Kaplan $13.95 You'll never be at a loss for words again. Energize your vocabulary with must-know everyday words that are the essentials of a good vocabulary, engaging lessons to help you use words in text, hot words often found on tests, tips to help you figure out new words, roots, and more. Grades: 8 & up Ages: 13 & up Word Smart Junior Author(s): Russell Stauffer $ 17.95 Now this is the way to add new words to your vocabulary! Word Smart Junior will make you laugh so much. You'll be amazed that you've just learned more than 120 fascinating and very useful words! Parents, teachers, and friends will marvel at your eloquence ! Grades: 3-5 Ages: 8-10 Grammar Smart Junior Author(s): Marcia Reynolds $ 16.85 Do you quake when your teacher says, "Now it's time for grammar"? Do your verbs agree with your subjects? Fear no more! A big Hollywood producer and a famous movie star will help you learn all those nasty elements of grammar. You'll be amazed at how quickly you learn, and how much fun it can be. You'll finally know your grammar backwards and forwards, and you'll never have to worry about it again. Grades: 7-9 Ages: 12-14 Grammar Smart: An Audio Guide to Perfect Usage Author(s): Julian Fleisher $ 12.68 The words you use say a lot about you ... but the way you put them together says even more. Your grammar makes an immediate and lasting impression on your teachers, and even your friends. So don't make the mistake of thinking that grammar is too complicated. We've created Grammar Smart to help you write and speak with clarity and confidence. Grades: 6-8 Ages: 11-13 The four books are all about _ . Answer: Health & Social Care Teacher Our client, an 11-18 mixed comprehensive school in Ealing, West London, is currently seeking a teacher for Health & Social Care. The position will be a full-time post until July 2014. We require an energetic teacher to develop the learning potential of students. We are seeking someone with excellent subject knowledge who can combine academic strictness and achievement with enjoyment of teaching Health & Social Care. Receptionist Administration Full Time A receptionist is required from 1stJune 2014 at Dartford Science & Technology College. The position is only from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Thursday and 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Friday, with an hour's break for lunch every day. The successful applicant must have a good telephone manner, good interpersonal skills and proficient IT skills. Cleaner Part Time, Term Time We are seeking to appoint a hardworking person to join our cleaning team. Previous experience would be an advantage but it is not essential. 10 hours per week are required during term time and the extra 3 weeks are added in the summer holidays or as directed by the Business Manager to ensure the needs of the school are met. Closing date: 12thMay 2014, 12 noon. Please return the completed application forms to the school. Science Technician Term time plus 10 days, 37 hours per week We are looking for a technician to provide a technical support service for science teaching staff. Applications are to be received no later than midnight on 10thJune 2014. If you are keen to work, visit our website via the button below. The receptionist to be employed will work _ . Answer:
Most people feel lonely sometimes,but it usually only lasts between a few minutes and a few hours,This kind of loneliness is not serious.In fact,it is quite normal.For some people,though,loneliness can last for years.Now researchers say loneliness comes in three different types. The first kind of loneliness is temporary.This is the most common type.It usually disappears quickly and does not require any special attention.The second kind is situation,for example,family problem,the death of a loved one,or moving to a new place.Although this kind of loneliness can cause physical problems,such as headaches and sleeplessness,it usually does not last for more than a year.The third kind of loneliness is the most serious.Unlike the second type, chronic (the opposite of'temporary') usually lasts more than two years and has no specific cause.People who experience habitual loneliness have problems socializing and becoming close to others.Unfortunately,many chronically lonely people think there is little or nothing they can do to improve their condition. Psychologists agree that one important factor in loneliness is a person's social contacts,for example,friends,family members,co-workers,etc.We depend on various people for different reasons.For instance.our family give us emotional support,our parents and teachers give us guidance, and our fiends share similar interests and activities. However,psychologists have found that, though lonely people may have many social contacts,they sometimes feel they should have more.They question their popularity. Psychologists are trying to find ways to help habitually lonely people for two reasons:they are unhappy and unable to socialize arid there is a connection between chronic loneliness and serious illness such as heart disease,while temporary and situational loneliness can be a sad,and sometimes dangerous condition. How would you treat temporary loneliness according to the passage? Answer: Just ignore it. Many people would interpret "The American dream" as "living like an American"--a two-story house with a white picket fence; a family with two cars; and two children. However, the economic situation is now affecting the American way of life for 4.4 million people living in the US, according to new census data. "It's going to have a long-term impact and to say it's going to end is optimistic, " says Cheryl Russell, former editor-in- chief of American Demographics magazine. "I'm more pessimistic that this is the new normal." So what is the new normal? Marrying later. The average age of the first marriage has increased to 28.7 for men and 26.7 for women, up from 27.5 and 25.9 respectively in 2006. At the same time, fewer people are getting married. If the marriage rate had stayed the same as in 2006, there would have been about 4 million more married people in 2010. Fewer babies. There were 200,000 fewer births among women aged 20 to 34 in 2010 compared with two years before. This was despite the fact that the number of women of childbearing age had gone up by more than 1 million. "The recession is the likely cause ," says Kenneth Johnson, demographer at the University of New Hampshire's Carsey Institue, "Economic fertility " because women delay ...in uncertain times. Breaking up is harder. The number of divorces has been falling for 25 years as people wait longer or choose to live together before they get married. There were about 65,000 fewer divorces in 2010 than in 2008, a 7 percent decrease. Crowd living. Unemployment is forcing more people to live together. The number of households where people lived with "other s" climbed from 6.7 percent in 2006 to 7.2 percent in 2010. Going public. Private school enrollment decreased from 13.6 percent in 2006 to 12.8 percent in 2010. Fewer cars. The percentage of households without a car rose to 9.1 percent against 8.8 percent in 2006. The percent-age of households with two or more cars fell from 58 percent to 57.1 percent. *Driving solo. When people are not working, they don't carpool. The proportion of people aged 16 to 64 in employment dropped greatly in all but one of the 50 largest metropolitan areas. That has helped push the share of people driving to work alone from 76 percent in 2006 to 76.6 percent in 2010. Ride-sharing is down a full percentage point, to 9.7 percent. Which of the following statements is TRUE? Answer: A growing number of people are forced to share their homes with other s in the US. For about three years now, I have been writing poetry. It was not until my junior year in high school that I developed an interest, love, and skill for writing poetry. Back in elementary school, I love to write stories. I would write stories on post-it notes and anywhere I could. Yet when I had to write a limerick for an assignment, I could not wrap my head around poetry. I had a very hard time figuring out how to rhyme words and have the words make sense. I eventually tossed the paper with the attempted limerick in the trash. I did not try my hand at poetry again until several years later. Many years later in my freshman year of high school, my English teacher gave my class a poetry project as an assignment. I still remember my limerick assignment and was afraid of doing the poetry. For the project, we had to analyze a poem and write a response to it. I choose to respond to Robert Frost's poem Fire and Ice. I also wrote my own poem first. I become really excited when writing the poem. Two years later, I started writing poetry, as a hobby and for fun. To learn how good or bad my poems were, I handed them in to some magazines and contests. I won second place in the North Carolina Poetry Society's Sherry Pruitt Award Contest with a poem called The Ocean, and had my two poems published as high merit poems. I have continued to write poetry, and have even self-published three collections of poetry in both print and e-book formats, which can be found at my store on Lulu. Now, I love writing poetry, but I don't hate writing short stories. I just find it more difficult and not my style of writing, even though I still write short stories occasionally. The author took up writing poetry as a hobby when he _ . Answer: was in Grade Three in high school Each team has three players and a coach . The basketball players are running and jumping in the hot sun. Music is all around. In just twelve minutes, the game is over. But a new one starts right away. How exciting! This is street-ball. It's much like basketball. But it's faster. People play it outside and it's interesting. Usually, children play street-ball on an open court. They use only half of the court. What they need is a basketball goal . Children love lots of things about the game. "It's very nice to be outside in the sun. And the music is great", said Jane, fourteen, a girl in Beijing. Some say street-ball was from Europe , others say it came from America. But now, boys and girls in many countries like to play it. Street-ball is a game for all. What's the best title of this passage? Answer: Street-ball: An Exciting Game Mr.Brown got up late this morning. He was going to be late for work. Lt was raining hard and the streets were wet. He drove so fast that he didin't see the red lights. He couldn't stop his car and hit a car. An old man got out of the car and called out angrily, "What are you doing? How can you drive so fast?" "l'm sorry,sir," said Mr.brown, "l didn't see the lights turn red." Then he brought out a bottle of wine and gave it to the old man. "It's cold today, sir," said Mr.Brown. "Please drink a little, and then you'll get warm." The old man drank some wine and became happy. He asked, "l'm felling much better now. Why don't you drink any?" "l can't drink anything now ,sir, "answered Mr. Brown ,"l'm waiting for the policeman. Only drunkards cause accidents, you kown !" Why did Mr.Brown give a bottle of wine to the old man? Answer: To make him drunk
A film was at the Circle Five Ranch to film a Marlboro commercial. This is in 1868, before they prohibited cigarette ads from American television. Darrell Winfield was watching the crew set up the equipment. The scene included an actor crossing a river on horseback, but when the time came to shoot, the man was too drunk to ride. Someone from the crews saw Winfield and asked him if he would ride the horse for 50. "Hell, " said Winfield, "for 50 bucks, I'll jump that damn horse over the moon!" To people in many countries, Winfield is just a familiar but nameless face, a simple cowboy with an advertising message about a connection between the West and a brand of cigarettes. Few people know that he is advertising message about a connection between the West and a brand of cigarettes. Few people know that he is 55, a family man who's been married to the same woman for 37 years and has 5 children and 7 grandchildren. Most surprisingly, he's a real, working cowboy who raises horses in his ranch in Wyoming. One of the most striking things about the Marlboro Man is that success hasn't changed him much. He says that complete strangers sometimes come up to him and say, "I've met you. know you from somewhere. "Whenever it happens, he says that he gets embarrassed. From the passage, we know that Winfield was _ . Answer: Petroleumis a very important mineral. It gives us heat and light. It gives us power for our cars, planes, and ships. Also, it gives us power for machines of all kinds. How is petroleum formed? Scientists believe petroleum comes from the remains of plants and animals (Remains are what is left after a plant or animal has died.) What exactly is petroleum? Petroleum is a mineral that is a mixture of hydrocarbons. It is an oily liquid, which may be brown, green, or black in colors. The word "petroleum" comes from Greek. It means "rock oil". Crude (, ) oil is petroleum that comes directly from deep in the ground. It is then taken to a refinery. a refinery is a kind of factory to refine oil. At a refinery the crude oil is separated into many parts. From the refined petroleum we get important things, such as gasoline, kerosene, fertilizer, detergents and a lot of other useful things. In fact, there are thousands of such things that we can get. Petroleum really is of great value! Which of the following might be the best title for the passage? Answer: People become quite illogical when they try to decide what can be eaten and what cannot be eaten. If you lived in the Mediterranean, for instance, you would consider octopus a great delicacy. You would not be able to understand why some people find it _ . On the other hand, your stomach would turn at the idea of frying potatoes in animal fat --the normally accepted practice in many northern countries. The sad truth is that most of us have been brought up to eat certain foods and we stick to them all our lives. No creature has received more praise and abuse than the common garden snail . Cooked in wine, snails are a great luxury in various parts of the world. There are countless people who, ever since their early years, have learned to associate snails with food. My friend, Robert, lives in a country where snails are not liked. As his flat is in a large town, he has no garden of his own. For years he has been asking me to collect snails from my garden and take them to him. The idea never appealed to me very much, but one day, after heavy shower, I happened to be walking in my garden when I noticed a huge number of snails taking a stroll on some of my prized plants. Acting on a sudden impulse, I collected several dozen, put them in a paperbag,and took them to Robert. Robert was delighted to see me and equally pleased with my little gift. I left the bag in the hall and Robert and I went into the living room where we talked for a couple of hours. 1 had forgotten all about the snails when Robert suddenly said that I must stay to dinner. Snails would, of course, be the main dish. I did not fancy the idea and I reluctantly followed Robert out of the room. To our dismay, we saw that there were snails everywhere: they had escaped from the paper bag and had taken complete possession of the hall! I have never been able to look at a snail since then. The best title for the passage might be " _ " Answer: Some beach creatures are wonderful ----- like dolphins, but others are dangerous. Find out more about the dangerous ones -----the blue ringed octopus, puffer fish, the Blue Bottle, and stingrays. The blue ringed octopus The blue ringed octopus is not a very big creature but it is very dangerous. These octopuses are found all around Australian coast. They often lie in rock pools close to shore. The blue ringed octopus is usually a dull color1 but it shows its bright blue rings when it is in danger. If it is taken out of the water, it is able to bite a person and poison them. If this creature bites someone, they will feel numbness around the mouth, face and neck. Puffer Fish Puffer Fish are found in all Australian seas. They are very easy to catch but must not be eaten because their flesh and internal organs contain a poison. Anyone who does eat the flesh can become sick very quickly. They may even stop breathing. The Blue Bottle The Blue Bottle is found in most Australian waters. Blue Bottles float lightly on the surface of the water but their tentacles can be as long as 10 metres. Blue Bottles are much less dangerous than some other jellyfish but they can give a swimmer a bad sting if the swimmer accidentally touches them. Stingrays There are many different kinds of stingrays in Australian waters. They usually swim and feed on the bottom of the sea. Accidents can happen if people stand on them or try to pick them up. Stingrays have a sting on their tail. These stings have poison on them. If someone is stung the wound can easily become infected. Which is TRUE according to the passage? Answer: The World Health Organization (WHO) said that processed meat may be carcipogenic . Do you still dare eat cancer-linked processed meat ? Here are some comments on the website. Bill (Australia) I'd rather live a short, pleasant life than a long, unhappy one, denying myself tasty food just because some experts say it's not healthy. We should all enjoy the one life we have ---if I had listened to every piece of health advice I would never go anywhere, eat anything or enjoy life in any way. So, I won't change my habit. I am going to have bacon sandwich, glass of wine, burger, can of coke whenever I fell like it. Tim (America) Is meat really as bad as smoking: I don't think so. According to the WHO 34,000 people die worldwide per year because they eat processed meat. In 2012, 8.2 million people died of cancer worldwide. That means if you eat a lot of processed meat you have a chance of being among the 0.41 percent of people dying of cancer because of processed meat. I'll take the chance. Helen (Switzerland) The WHO doesn't say that just one bite of meat causes cancer, it is rather saying that people should vary their diet. People who eat more meat often have other unhealthy habits. They usually eat fewer fruits and vegetables and they also often exercise less. Van (China) Perhaps this report will make people consider becoming vegetarians ( ). So for your health, the environment and future generations, it is not difficult; it just needs a change of attitude. There is a vast variety of other delicious food available to enjoy. Who have the most similar viewpoints ? Answer:
Can you make a telephone call? Of course you can make it in Chinese. But a call in English is quite different from one from one in Chinese. If you want to ask somebody to answer the telephone, you can not say, "Please ask Mr. XX to answer the telephone." Instead ,you must say,"May I speak to Mr. XX?" If you want to ask who is answering the phone, you should say,"Who is that?""Is that Mr. XX ( speaking)?"Instead of "Who are you?" If you want to tell the other one who you are, you should say,"This is XX (speaking)"instead of "I am XX" If you want to ask someone to answer the call, you can say, " _ ". Answer: April Fool's Day is on April 1st. On this day, strange things may happen. Our friends will play jokes on us and try to fool us. People don't know the origin of April Fool's Day clearly. Some say April Fool's Day began many years ago in France. Long ago in France, the old New Year's festival was celebrated from March 25th to April 1st and ended with exchange of presents. Later the King changed the New Year to January 1st. some people still celebrated the New year in April. They were called April Fish and were given presents as a joke. But in many countries, April Fool's Day is not celebrated on April 1st but on other days. In Mexico( ), April Fool's Day is on the 28th of December. In ancient Rome , the day was on the 25th of March. In India, the day is on the 31st of March. In America, the day is mostly decided by young people and jokes who want to make fun of other people. But it is important to remember that your friends and you will be both happy. One must remember the difference between a good joke and a bad one. People know the origin of April Fool's Day clearly, don't they? Answer: Mr. Clinton and his 13-year-old son Tony are baseball fans. Last October 10th was Tony's birthday, so Mr. Clinton decided to drive him to New York, for the first game of the World Series . They had no ticket but hoped to buy a pair from others. After they arrived, they walked in the street for two hours, carrying a sign, "We need two tickets." Then they found the cheapest ticket was $200. They were about to leave when suddenly a man stopped them. He took out two tickets and handed them to Mr. Clinton. "How much do you want?" "Just a present." said the man, "Enjoy the game." Mr. Clinton wouldn't accept, so the man explained, "I'm Jackson. Hans is my boss. He and his wife haven't missed a World Series in 18 years. But he is ill and can't watch the game this time. So he told me to give the two tickets to people who would actually enjoy the game. Then I saw you and I followed you for a while. You seemed very sad. You made me think of my dad and me when I was a child. I dreamed of going to a World Series game with my father. But my dream never came true." How do you suppose this made Mr. Clinton and his son feel? Here is what Mr. Clinton said: "This is the most wonderful thing that ever happened to us. My boy and I must have turned to each other over 30 times and said, 'I can't believe this.' We still never forget Jackson and Hans." From the passage we can know that Hans and his wife often _ . Answer: Visiting Joshua Tree National Park, California Joshua Tree National Park is nearly 800,000 acres large and surrounds parts of the Mojave and Colorado Deserts in South-central California. Although _ at first glance, the park is full of wildlife and provides a variety of entertainment activities from hiking to climbing. Within a 3-hour drive, Joshua Tree National Park takes at least a full day to visit. Things to do Hiking opportunities within the park include several choices, from 12 self-guided nature trails to all-day back-country hikes. Joshua Tree National Park has nine camping grounds, and back-country camping is also allowed. Rock-climbing is a popular activity in the park, which has 10 mountains greater than 5,000 feet in height. When to visit Joshua Tree National Park is open 365 days a year, although the best time to visit is October through April, when temperature is milder. The peak season is when the wild flowers bloom, and summer months are the least crowded. What to bring In addition to your camera and telescope, be sure to carry lots of water. Park and trail maps can be picked up at any of the three visitor centres. Fees Parking fees: You can buy a 7-day vehicle permit for $15, a single entry permit for $5, or Joshua Tree National Park annual pass for $60. Camping fees: They vary by camping ground. If one goes to Joshua Tree National Park by car and stay there for 9 days, how much at least he should pay for the parking fees? Answer: Which of these causes the atmosphere to change? Answer:
If you are planning a visit to Chicago, make sure you see the city best before you head back home. Architecture Chicago is home to some of the most fascinating architecture in the country. One of the oldest buildings in the city is the Water Tower, which was built in 1869. It is one of the structures to survive the Chicago Fire in 1871. It is a fascinating builging to see, and is nearby the Water Tower Place, which has great shopping. It's a paradise for the young. Another stop must be the Willes Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower. Go to the top and walk out on the clear walkway to take a look straight down on the city. If you have the time, be sure to have dinner or a cocktail in the Signature Room on the 95th floor. Not only is the food great, but the views are breathtaking. Boat Tours If architecture is your thing, Wendella Boats offers a great architecture tour of Chicago. You can see some of the beautiful buildings from the Chicago River, which is a side of the buildings you don't usually get to see. There are several other boat tours that are just great, too, and many will even take you from the river out to Lake Michigan where you can see the Chicago skyline at any time of day. These tours are great ways to gain knowledge of this spectacular city, and it's also a funny way to rest your legs between walking tips. Famous Pizza You cannot come to Chicago without trying some famous, deepdish pizza. There are many places to get this delicious, thick pizza, but three stores stand out from the rest. Gino's East, Giordano's, and Lou Malnati's are the best places to get authentic, Chicago-style, deep-dish pizza. Try it with all the toppings or just cheese, but be sure you try it at some point. Many think that much pizza and cheese seems disgusting, but don't knock it till you try it. You might find a new favorite way of eating this Italian classic. Water Tower Place is so popular among young people most probably because of _ . Traveling can be a very fun and exciting way to vacation with your family, but it does not always turn out as expected. I have traveled a lot with my family over the years, but some experiences are worth forgetting altogether. I remember a particular traveling experience which sticks out in my mind for the wrong reasons. My dad and stepmom had decided to drive to California for our family vacation. This was supposed to provide educational value, since we would be able to stop along the way and look at various sites in each state. Everything was going as planned until we decided to take a break and stop at the Grand Canyon . I had always wanted to see this exciting place and had decided to write a report on it for my eight-grade English class. We got out of the car and were walking on one of the paths to get to a cliff so we could take a family photo when I slipped and fell down. I fell on a piece of rock, and felt great pain run up my leg at once. My dad took me to the nearest hospital and, after an eight-hour wait in the emergency room , found out that I broke two bones in my foot. Needless to say, our vacation was no fun for me because I was in pain during the whole two-week trip. I ended up making an appointment the day we got home to see a doctor for a check-up. That was definitely not what I consider fun or a great vacation, and it really _ our sightseeing plans. The author slipped and fell down when he was _ . The celestial object closest to Earth is New Library Rules 1. Open time: 8:30am.-4:30pm. From Monday to Friday. 2. No talking. 3. No eating any food. 4. No listening to music. 5. No taking photos. 6. No taking books out if you don't ask the people here. 7. Keep the library books for only one week. 8. Give the books back on time. 9. Renew books on time. 10. Pay for the lost books. What do you have to do if we lose the library books? Everyone needs friends. As the old saying goes, " No man is an island" . In other words, no one can survive without the help and friendship of others. One can hardly live without a friend. Society is made up of people , and making friends is a very important part in our life. Friends can give you a lot. Firstly, if you have trouble with some problems, you can talk to your good friends and exchanged opinions . Thus you will feel comfortable and encouraged.Secondly, if you wish to do some physical exercises, such as playing table tennis, you can play with friends and have a good time, In short, we need friends. But what is true friendship ? Some people think friends are people whom they can play with, others believe true friendship lies in similar interests . However, in my opinion, "A friend in need is a friend indeed". True friendship can encourage you when you are in difficulties . True friends can give you warnings against danger. True friends not only share with you your joy and happiness but also your trouble and anxiety.When you need him he will give you a hand and _ . Of course, these principles are the same to you when you treat your friends. What kind of friends are true friends ?
Hello! My name is Emma. My favorite day is Friday. Do you know why? We have four classes in the morning. We have a music lesson on Friday morning. It is my favorite subject. I also like other three lessons in the morning. They are English, Chinese and math. In the afternoon we usually have three classes, but on Friday afternoon we only have two classes P.E. and oral English. P.E. teacher is my favorite teacher because her lessons are very interesting. Emma's favorite subject is _ . A. English B. music C. Chinese D. math Answer: B. music The pomegranate is one of the oldest known fruits. Pomegranates are found in ancient writings and pictured in the ancient art of many cultures and religions. The pomegranate is also a symbol of health, fertility and long life. Experts think the pomegranate is native to northern India, Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. Today it also grows in Southeast Asia, the western U.S., Armenia and parts of Africa, among other places. The skin of a pomegranate is strong. It can be red, purple or orange-yellow. The inside is filled with beautiful dark red seeds that shine like rubies. It is not easy to get them out. But the reward is great. Health benefits The pomegranate grows on trees. Parts of the pomegranate tree and fruit are used to make medicine. The pomegranate is used for many conditions. However, the U.S National Institutes of Health says there is not enough scientific evidence to rate pomegranates as effective for any of them. Still, in traditional medicine, the pomegranate is used for conditions of the heart and blood vessels, including high blood pressure and "hardening of the arteries." The jewel-like seeds of the pomegranate are loaded with many nutrients and chemicals called antioxidants . These antioxidants remove poisons from the body. The antioxidants found in pomegranates may help remove build-up of damage in blood vessels. So, it is a very heart-healthy fruit. Antioxidants slow the progression of age-related sickness and may slow the growth of cancer cells. Men who have prostate cancer may benefit from a daily serving of pomegranate juice. Pomegranates are used for weight loss and used as a treatment for sore throat. Pomegranates are also high in vitamin K, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, zinc and iron. Let's just say pomegranates are loaded with great things for the inside of your body. Beauty benefits But let's not forget the outside, too! Pomegranates are great for the skin. They protect the skin by encouraging new skin growth, healing wounds and repairing tissue. Pomegranates protect the skin against sun damage as well. They may help skin look younger by providing moisture and elasticity. Recipes for pomegranates But how does one eat a pomegranate? Pomegranates seeds are both sweet and tart. A thick liquid, or syrup, from the pomegranate tastes great with lamb, pork or chicken dishes. Pomegranate seeds provide extra flavor to salads and other vegetable dishes. The seeds are also delicious in rice and grain dishes. And, of course pomegranates make great desserts. In the U.S., pomegranate juice is often added to sparkling drinks, drinks called smoothies and alcoholic drinks. Fresh pomegranates are only available in the United States from September to January. They can keep, or remain good to eat, in the refrigerator for about two months if kept in a plastic bag. Where does the pomegranate not grow? A. Pakistan B. The northern Asia C. Afghanistan D. The western U.S. Answer: B. The northern Asia The National Geographic Channel has unearthed a time capsule buried by late Apple chairman and co-founder Steve Jobs thirty years ago. The time capsule was buried in Aspen .Colorado .in 1983, shortly after Jobs attended the International Design Conference being held in that city. Organizers called the device the Aspen Time Tube and contributed items like Rubik's cubes and some iconic music. Jobs added his own items to the capsule ,including the " Lisa" ( also known as an "Apple" )"mouse he used for his presentation at the conference. ' Younger readers may not recognize the name but the Lisa Apple mouse was one of the first commercial mice released to consumers. The mouse was specially designed for the Apple Lisa computer. It's also the first personal computer to offer users a graphical user interface Initially ,the plan was to dig up the time capsule in the year2000,but organizers forgot its exact location. Recently .they brought in researchers working with the National Geographic Channel show Diggers to find the device. Eventually they came across the 13-foot-long.1. 5-foot-diameter tube. inside they found a lot of 1980s artifacts that are still being catalogued. "When the end came off .literally things just poured out ."noted Diggers host Tim Saylor "There must be literally thousands of things in there." "They had the foresight to put a bunch of stuff in plastic bags." Saylor said ."I could see at least a dozen plastic bags and other items. But I know for sure there got to be photographs in there. People had hand-written things on the back of the photographs ,so there will be some really interesting things inside." Among the artifacts researchers expect to discover inside :a Steve Jobs speech in which the Apple visionary outlines his predictions for future technologies. We should know more about the researchers ,discoveries once the Diggers program airs this fall. The best title for the passage might be _ . A. The "Lost" Steve Jobs Time Capsule B. The Mystery of Steve Jobs Speech Solved C. Steve Jobs' 1983 Time Capsule Recovered D. Co-founder & Former Apple CEO Steve Jobs Answer: C. Steve Jobs' 1983 Time Capsule Recovered Allan is eight this year and he's in Grade Two. The boy is clever and can answer all the questions in class. But he hates to stay in the classroom for more than half an hour. He would not listen to the teachers when class is soon going to be over. Or he touches his deskmate's head, or he makes faces. He often makes the whole Class laugh. His teachers tell his parents about it. He has to make a promise that he won't do that again. But soon he will forget it. The teachers think he does well in his lessons and don't mind it. One Saturday evening Allan finished his homework as soon as he had supper. He turned on the television, but there was no football match on TV. He found all the programmes were not interesting and turned it off. He saw his sister Mabel doing her homework in her bedroom. He decided to play a joke on her. He found an earthworm in the garden and put it in her clothes. The girl was so frightened that she cried out for help. Their mother heard this and went in to find out what had happened there. Of course, the boy was punished for it. The next morning Mabel gave her mother a card and said, "Merry Mother's Day. Mum!" The woman was happy and thanked her daughter. But Allan had nothing to give his mother as a present. He felt sorry and said, "Don't be angry with me Mummy. I've forgotten it. " "It doesn't matter, dear," said his mother. "The best present is to be a good boy. Don't be naughty , my son, or your child will be naughty, too! " Hearing this, the boy began to laugh and said. "You've told me the truth today, Mummy!" _ , so she cried out. A. Mabel wanted Allan to be punished B. Mabel hoped to frighten Allan away C. Mabel wanted Allan to help her D. Mabel was afraid of the earthworm Answer: D. Mabel was afraid of the earthworm Walking down a path through some woods in Georgia, I saw a small pool of water ahead on the path. I angled my direction to go around it on the part of the path that wasn't covered by water or mud. As I reached the pool, I was suddenly attacked! Yet I did nothing for the attack. It was so unpredictable and from somewhere totally unexpected. I was surprised as well as unhurt though I had been struck four or five times. I backed up a foot and my attacker stopped attacking me. Had I been hurt I wouldn't have found it amusing. And I was laughing. After all, I was being attacked by a butterfly! Having stopped, laughing, I took a step forward. My attacker rushed me again. He charged towards me at full speed, attempting to hurt me but in vain. For a second time, I took a step backwards while my attacker paused. I wasn't sure what to do. After all, it's just not everyday that one is attacked by a butterfly. I stepped back to look the situation over. My attacker moved back to land on the ground. That's when I discovered why my attacker was charging me only moments earlier. He had a mate and she was dying. Sitting close beside her, he opened and closed his wings as if to fan her. I could only admire the love and courage of that butterfly in his concern for his mate. He had taken it up on himself to attack me for his mate's sake , even though she was clearly dying and I was so large. He did so just to give her those extra few precious moments of life, should I have been careless enough to step on her. His courage in attacking something thousands of times larger and heavier than himself just for his mate's safety seemed admirable. I couldn't do anything other than reward him by walking on the more difficult side of the pool. He had truly earned those moments to be with her, undisturbed. Since then, I've always tried to remember the courage of that butterfly whenever I see huge barriers facing me. Which of the following words can best describe the butterfly? A. Careless. B. Amusing. C. Courageous. D. Aggressive. Answer: C. Courageous.
The morning for our snowmobiling adventure finally arrived, and we set off on the hour-and-a-half drive to the resort . A fresh powder had fallen the night before, and everything was frosted white. We couldn't have asked for more perfect conditions. The sun sparkled on the snow, and the trails were completely empty - not another person or snowmobile in sight. We were thrilled at being the only people for miles around until we got going. As we drove through the deserted wilderness, my excitement became stone-cold fear. I had no idea what I was afraid of, or why I was afraid, but suddenly every turn, every hill, every steep side of the mountain frightened me to death. I kept imagine us crashing headlong into a tree or falling off the side of a drop. But after lunch things changed. We were the only humans who had been there since the snowfall. The peaceful place, the incredible beauty of the landscape, and the almost sacred experience of sharing a mountain with the wildlife touched my very core . My mind cleared and quieted and my muscles relaxed. As we drove the last leg of the run, I began to _ being afraid to drive. Deep down, I wanted to be in charge of the thing that scared me. It made me angry that fear was keeping me from something I really wanted to do. The day was coming to an end, and the resort was only a few miles away. I knew that if I didn't take my chance now, I would regret it. I signaled for my husband to pull over. I wanted to drive, although my heart pounded . I started off slowly and felt the wind in my face. I smiled and sped up a little. With a "Yee-haw!" I went full out, taking my husband on the best ride of the day. We ended the day on that breathless, carefree note, and I felt proud of myself - proud of overcoming my fear. What is the story mainly about? A. What the author loves about snowmobiling. B. What difficulties the couple faced during their adventure. C. What interested the author during her time snowmobiling. D. How the author overcame her fear during her adventure. Answer: D. How the author overcame her fear during her adventure. Why do our eyes open wide when we feel fear? And why do our eyes become narrow when we express disgust ? According to a new research, it has something to do with survival. In a recently published paper, researchers concluded that expressions of fear and disgust changed the way human eyes gather and focus light. They argued that these changes were the result of evolutionary development and were intended to help humans survive, or at least discover, very different dangers. In order to test their hypothesis ,researchers examined two dozen volunteer college students with standard eye-exam equipment, and asked them to show expressions of fear and dislike. It was found that when the students widened their eyes, more light was admitted and their field of vision was expanded. When they wrinkled their noses in disgust, their eyes narrowed. This had the effect of blocking out more light but focusing on a specific point. Although some scientists have admitted that emotional expressions are intended primarily to communicate information, expressions of fear and disgust seem to perform different visual functions. "Eye widening may help to find a potential danger that requires much attention. And this would agree with the hypothesized function of fear," said researchers. "On the other hand, eye narrowing may help to distinguish and avoid different kinds of dangers, such as disease carriers and dirty foods. And this would agree with the hypothesized function of disgust." These findings supported naturalist Charles Darwin's view that expressions are not necessarily for communication and are not arbitrary ."If our expressions were arbitrary, they would show little cross-cultural relationship." researchers said. "But actually, our expressions probably have some universal functional principles." The main idea of the text is that _ . A. emotional expressions change with cultures B. expressions of fear and disgust aid human survival C. evolutionary development causes changes of human eyes D. evolutionary development results in emotional expressions Answer: B. expressions of fear and disgust aid human survival Findley Lake, New York is a small beautiful village that sells itself as a holiday place for all seasons. The Findley Lake Area Chamber of Commerce supports a number of events all the year round that begin in March. At Findley Lake during the summer, there is boating, fishing and water sport activities. You can watch a boat parade and a fireworks display at the Findley Lake 4thof July boat parade. The "Harvest Festival" and October's "Autumn at the Lake" show that fall season is coming. In November, Findley Lake's "Christmas through the Village" starts off the holiday shopping season. Shopping at Findley Lake is a wonderful experience. It is easy to walk along Main Street and visit all the shops. There are over twenty shops that sell different kinds of gifts. Some of the special shops are the candle making factory, the year-round Christmas shop, and the Victorian shop. At the center of Findley Lake is the Blue Heron Inn which is a pleasant place to stay in. Breakfasts, lunches and dinners are open to the public and the meals are delicious. Dine outside on the porch looking down the lake or inside the comfortable dining rooms. Take time to shop at their store, Nostalgia, for unique items. As you walk around town, you can see a working waterwheel. If you have an interest in history, stop and visit the World War II Museum as well. The Village of Findley Lake offers something for everyone. It is a fantastic way to spend an afternoon. With year-round shopping and delicious dining at the Blue Heron Inn while looking down at the beautiful view of the lake, it is certain to please the visitors to this attractive village. The author mentions the activities in Para.1 mainly to show _ . A. the wonderful sights in Findley Lake B. Findley Lake is a good place to hold kinds of activities C. the holiday shopping season in Findley Lake D. Findley Lake is a good place for tourists to travel at any time Answer: D. Findley Lake is a good place for tourists to travel at any time Laura Brent is a manager in an important company. She has three children--the eldest is 10, and youngest is three. "My job was only possible because my husband David was prepared to take my place and become a house husband," she says. More and more couples are finding this arrangement suits them better in today's world, where women are rising to the top of their careers faster and more easily than they did in the past. Many men, on the other hand, like the idea of staying at home and looking after the children. "My children see a lot more of me than I saw of my father when I was young, and I think it's better for them, especially for the boys," says David. "It works just as well for Laura." "Now I can come home from a hard day at work, and immediately relax with the children, instead of having to do the housework and the cooking," she says. Is there anything David misses about going out to work? "Not really. I suppose the worst thing about looking after children and doing the housework is not having a lunch break! It's a lot harder than most men think." What does Laura usually do after coming back from work? A. Cook for the family. B. Take children from school. C. Take a good rest with the children. D. Wash dishes and sweep the floor. Answer: C. Take a good rest with the children. Do women's minds work the same as men's? Absolutely not. At least, that is what most men are convinced of. Psychologists view the subject either as a matter or frustration or a joke. Now the biologists have moved into this minefield, and some of them have found that there are real differences between the brains of men and women. But being different, they point out hurriedly, is not the same as being better or worse. There is, however, a definite structural variation between the male and female brain. The difference is in a part of the brain that is used in the most complex intellectual processes-the link between the two halves of the brain. The two halves are linked by a trunkline of between 200 and 300 million nerves, the corpus callosum. Scientists have found quite recently that the corpus callosum in women is always larger and probably richer in nerve fibres than it is in men. This is the first time that a structural difference has been found between the brains of women and men and it must have some significance. The question is "What?", and, if this difference exists, are there others? Research shows that present-day women think differently and behave differently from men. Are some of these differences biological and inborn, a result of evolution? We tend to think that is the influence of society that produces these differences. But could we be wrong? Research showed that these two halves of the brain had different functions, and that the corpus callosum enabled them to work together. For most people, the left half is used for word handing, analytical and logical activities; the right half works on pictures, patterns and forms. We need both halves working together. And the better the connections, the more harmoniously the two halves work. And, according to research findings, women have the better connections. But it isn't all that easy to explain the actual differences between skills of men and women on this basis. In schools throughout the world girls tend to be better than boys at "language subjects" and boys better at maths and physics. If these differences correspond with the differences in the hemispheric trunkline, here is an unalterable distinction between the sexes. We shan't know for a while, partly because we don't know of any precise relationship between abilities in school subject and the functioning of the two halves of the brain, and we cannot understand how the two halves interact via the corpus callosum. But this striking difference must have some effect and, because the difference is in the parts of the brain involved in intellect, we should be looking for differences in intellectual processing. At the end of the passage the author proposes more work on _ . A. the brain structure as a whole B. the functioning of part of the brain C. the distinction between the sexes D. the effects of the corpus callosum Answer: D. the effects of the corpus callosum
Three Japanese tourists taking a holiday in Australia got stuck when their GPS told them they could drive from the mainland to an island, failing to mention the 15 kilometres of water and mud in between. As they drove their hired car from Moreton Bay in Queensland to nearby North Stradbroke Island, they started to notice the firm gravel surface they were driving on giving way to the renowned bay mud.However, being confident that their GPS would direct them to a road soon, they decided to plough on, managing to travel around 500 metres before their Hyundai Getz was up to its axles tires in mud.To make matters worse, the tide started to come in and soon forced them to seek help and abandon the vehicle.Just four hours later the car was trapped in two metres of water ---- to the great amusement of onlookers on the shore and passengers on passing boats and ferries. Yuzu Noda, 21, said she was listening to the GPS and "it told us we could drive down there.It kept saying it would navigate us to a road.But we got stuck...there's lots of mud." She and her travel companions Tomonari Saeki, 22, and Keita Osada, 21, instead had to give up their plans for a day trip to the island and headed back to the Gold Coast of a lift from the RACQ tow truck driver who was called to the trapped car.No such luck for the hired car though - after assessing the situation, no attempt was made to recover it.The students from Tokyo, who are due to return home tomorrow, said the experience would not put them off returning to Australia for another visit."We want to come back to Australia again.Everyone is very nice, even today." Ms Yuzu said. Remaining excited, Mr. Tomonari joked that the car may have got stuck because it was built in Korea."Maybe if it was Japanese it would be okay," he said.He added, "It has rained every day on our six day holiday.Hopefully next time we come back it will be sunny." The car was covered by insurance, but the tourists will have to pay up to about $1500 in extra charges. How did these Japanese students get back? We humans live in different parts of the world, but we have the same "mother". She gives us everything we need in our daily life. She is our Mother Earth. April 22 is Earth Day. The theme of this year is "Green Cities". A green city is a healthy and pleasant place for people to live, according to the United Nations. A green city can get its energy from renewable sources like solar and wind power. Also, it is connected by clean public transportation. Moreover, a green city is made up of facilities that can save energy and reduce waste. Around the world, many cities and countries have done well to build themselves in a green way. Chicago is well known for its green roof program. These roofs are covered with plants. The plants get a great amount of rainwater. Later, the water evaporates to help make the air cool and clean. So far, there are about 360 green roofs in Chicago, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. Curitiba, Brazil, has great transportation. It opened the world's first bus rapid transit (BRT) system in 1974. BRT runs on special lanes. This makes sure that buses are on time even in traffic jams. With the help of BRT, the city has the lowest level of air pollution in Brazil. Today, many other countries have copied BRT, including China and Mexico. Singapore is home to the first zero-energy building in Southeast Asia. Zero energy means a building is able to create more energy than it uses. Zero-energy buildings work with solar panels mainly on roofs. These panels can make electricity which powers the buildings. By 2030, Singapore plans to build 80 percent of its buildings like this. The article mentions that there is BRT in the following countries EXCEPT _ . World Health Day is celebrated on 7 April to mark the anniversary of the founding of WHO in 1948. Each year a theme is selected for World Health Day that highlights a priority area of public health concern in the world. The theme for 2013 is high blood pressure. High blood pressure increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes . If left uncontrolled, high blood pressure can also cause blindness, irregularities of the heartbeat and heart failure. The risk of developing these complications is higher in the presence of other risk factors such as diabetes . One in three adults worldwide has high blood pressure and this increases with age, from 1 in 10 people in their 20s and 30s to 5 in 10 people in their 50s. High blood pressure is most common in some low-income countries in Africa, with over 40% of adults in many African countries thought to be affected. However, high blood pressure is both preventable and treatable. In some developed countries, prevention and treatment of it has brought about a reduction in deaths from heart disease. The risk of developing high blood pressure can be reduced by: reducing salt intake; eating a balanced diet; avoiding harmful use of alcohol; taking regular physical activity; keeping a healthy body weight; and avoiding tobacco use. The final and most important goal of World Health Day 2013 is to reduce heart attacks and strokes, which includes as follows: 1.to raise awareness of the causes and consequences of high blood pressure; 2.to provide information on how to prevent high blood pressure 3.to encourage adults to check their blood pressure and to follow the advice of health-care professionals. Which of the following can NOT reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure? BEIJING - A research team led by Chinese scientists have discovered dietary modulation of gut microbiota can alleviate both genetic and simple obesity in children. The findings of the team, led by Zhao Liping with Shanghai Jiaotong University, Yin Aihua with the Guangdong province children's hospital, and Tang Huiru with Chinese Academy of Sciences, have been published on EBioMedicine, a renowned medical journal co-sponsored by Cell and The Lancet in July. The team identified bacterial genomes specifically for producing obesity-related metabolites , and said an improved gut microbiota can significantly help to treat genetic obesity such as Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). Beginning in childhood, PWS affected kids develop an insatiable appetite, leading to chronic overeating and obesity. The scientists used a diet therapy with beneficial gut bacteria on trial patients and found considerable _ appetite, weight loss and improved health conditions on the patients. The paper concluded dysbiosis of gut microbiota is highly related with both genetic and simple obesity in children, implicating dietary modulation of gut microbiota a potentially effective treatment method. Which might be the best title for the passage? SPECIAL EVENTS! Long March exhibit The Shanghai History Museum is putting on an exhibition to remember the Long March . On show are more than 220 photos and 40 other things that explain with pictures how the Red Army went through all the difficulties in Jiangxi Province and fought its way to northern Shanxi province in the mid-1930s. The show will end on November 20. Time: 10:00 am--4:00 pm. Address: 1286 Hongqiao Road Admission: 20 yuan each and half price for students Thai elephants Eight elephants from Thailand are entertaining visitors at Changfeng Park by riding bikes, playing basketball, balancing on a beam, dancing and blowing a mouth-organ. People are encouraged to have a tug-of-war with the animals or lie on the ground and have the elephants walk over them, The elephants give three shows a day at 9:30 am,3:30 pm and 8:00 pm and there is an additional show at l:30 pm at weekends.The show will end on November 15. Address: 189 Daduhe Road Admission: 10 yuan Dancing dolphins Dolphins jumping from the water to touch a ball, swaying their bodies to music, kissing people and doing maths by tapping their tails have made the dolphinarium in Peace Park an attraction for children. Seals and sea lions also perform. Hours: 10:30 am, 4:00 pm, and 7:30 prn Admission: 10 on weekdays 20 yuan on weekends If your parents want to enjoy all these events with you on Saturday, how much will you pay?
Most of the sandstorms that had swept China last year came from foreign land,a Chinese official in charge of desertification control said on Monday. And the invasions could partly explain the frequent sandstorms in the country in recent years despite its achievements in desertification control. Since the start of last spring,the north and northwestern Chinese regions had been hit by 17 sandstorms,of which,a dozen came from foreign land. Situated in the centralAsia sandstorm region,one of the world's four largest sandstorm sources,China also suffers from sandstorms from outside the country while being blamed as a sand source to northeast Asia. The other three major sources are in Africa,North America and Australia. The land suffering from desertification has been _ by 7,585 square kilometres annually in China,and the area of sandy land has also been falling by 1,284 square kilometres a year. The shrinkage forms a clear contrast to the fact that the land suffering from desertification and sandy feature was added by 10,400 square kilometres and 3,436 square kilometres late last century,respectively. Currently,the desertification land in China makes up 2.64 million square kilometres,accounting for 27.46 percent of the nation's land,and its sandy land totals 1.74 million square kilometres,accounting for 18.1 percent of the country's total. What can we infer from this passage? A The land in China suffering from desertification has been increasing greatly. B China has made achievements in its own desertification control. C The desertification land makes up nearly half of China's territory. D Little progress has been made in controlling desertification in China. Answer: B. China has made achievements in its own desertification control. Imagine landing in a foreign country where you cannot speak the language, understand the culture and don't know anybody. Wouldn't it be nice to have a friend who could help you out? John Smith, an English explorer who landed in America in 1607, found the best friend ever. She was a Native American named Pocahontas (1595-1617). And she did more than teach Smith the language: she saved his life, twice. Smith was captured by members of Pocahontas's tribe and was going to be killed. But for some reason, the Chief's daughter, Pocahontas, felt sorry for Smith (who was probably the first white man she had ever seen) and threw her body over his to protect him. Smith returned safely to the small village he was living in. During the winter the English settlers did not know how to get food from nature. Pocahontas often brought food for Smith and his friends. A year later Pocahontas's father tried to kill Smith again because the Native Americans were very scared the English would try to take over their land. Pocahontas warned him and he was able to escape. Later she became a Christian and eventually married an Englishman named John Rolfe. She spent the last year of her life in London. Pocahontas has become an American legend. Her life story has been re-created in many books and films, including Disney's 1995 film, Pocahontas. One of the reasons she is so popular is that many Europeans look at Pocahontas as an excellent example of how a minority can adjust into the majority. Pocahontas is also respected because of her selfless love. She proved that people can be kind and loving even to people of a different race or culture. John Smith was very different from Pocahontas but she could see he was a good man and that was all that mattered. No race or country owns goodness, love and loyalty. Pocahontas saved John Smith twice because _ . A she believed in general kindness even to people of a different race B she wanted to become a Christian and marry an English C he was the first white man she had ever seen in her life D she was on the settlers' side and against her cruel father Answer: A. she believed in general kindness even to people of a different race For several years, Americans have enjoyed teleshopping -- watching TV and buying things by phone. Now teleshopping is starting in Europe. In a number of European countries, people can turn on their TVs and shop for clothes, jewelry, food, toys and many other things. Teleshopping is becoming popular in Sweden, for example. The biggest Swedish company sells different kinds of things on TV in 15 European countries, and in one year it made$100 million. In France there are two teleshopping channels, and the French spend about$20 million a year to buy things through those channels. In Germany, until last year teleshopping was only possible on one channel for 1 hour every day. Then the government allowed more teleshopping. Other channels can open for telebusiness, including the largest American teleshopping company and a 24-hour teleshopping company. German businesses are hoping this new teleshopping will help them sell more things. Some people like teleshopping because it allows them to do their shopping without leaving their homes. With all the problems of traffic in the cities, this is an important reason. But at the same time, other Europeans do not like this new way of shopping. They call teleshopping "junk on the air". Many Europeans usually worry about the quality of the things for sale on TV. Good quality is important to them, and they believe they cannot be sure about the quality of the things on TV. The need for high quality means that European teleshopping companies will have to be different from the American companies. They will have to be more careful about the quality of the things they sell. They will also have to work harder to sell things that the buyers cannot touch or see in person. Some Europeans don't like teleshopping because they _ . A don't like to buy things B don't watch TV C believe the things sold on TV are expensive D think the things sold on TV are bad quality Answer: D. think the things sold on TV are bad quality We all need to exercise.Doctors say it is good for us.It makes our heart and body strong.It also gives you more energy .And you will feel better about yourself.It's good to exercise twice a week.Twenty minutes each time is enough. There are many ways to exercise.You can walk,run,play sports or swim.Many people go to special places to exercise.They are called "fitness centers ".These places have a lot of equipments .People can do different sports there.Some people buy equipments for their homes.But it is very expensive. Exercising can be fun.Friends can exercise together at a fitness center,or they can play sports together.How do you exercise? How often do you exercise? What is the main idea of this passage? _ . A Exercise equipment is expensive. B Playing sports is the only way to exercise. C Everyone should exercise. D Fitness centers are popular. Answer: C. Everyone should exercise. For one tired out from work, autumn is one of the best times to step into the open air to _ and enjoy some great music. And that's what many Beijingers have done this past weekend. Family, friends, laughter; beautiful grass, fresh air and live music echoing off the forest and the Great Wall that surround this place. A weekend in this music paradise just seems too short. Besides, a brand new world-class outdoor theater has just been open at this year's festival, which will surely make the festival a better and more permanent experience. A full house is before the new outdoor amphitheater . Even the thunderstorm couldn't break up the crowd completely absorbed in the music. Thanks to the new theater, this year's Great Wall Forest Festival offers even more superb acoustics and an overall outdoor theatrical experience, even though the project is still half complete. The festival is now in its fourth year. Since its first show in 2010, the festival has seen a steady increase in festival-goers and has expanded its length from two days to four days, divided over two weekends. It has also been experimenting with a variety of styles, from classical to pop, with this year's theme "Celebrating 20 Years of Chinese Folk Song." Folk Song legend Lao Lang explains how folk songs have helped encourage more amateur folks to express themselves through music. "Before music was reserved for the professionals. But folk songs made young people realize that they can express themselves through music as well. And that's what characterizes folk songs. It's popular music and it always has a story." said Lao Lang. Unlike some of the other outdoor festivals, the Great Wall Forest Festival appeals to a wide range of audiences. It's a rare place where teens, parents and families can all enjoy the outdoors and have a great time. Great music and scenery aside, many children's workshops, master music classes, and interactive art activities have also been introduced this year. If music is the reason to come to the festivals, you'll find even more reasons not to leave. The 2014 Great Wall Forest Festival has got improved in the following aspects except that _ . A it has included different types of music B it has attracted a wide range of audiences C it has introduced more activities besides music D it has been expanded from 2 days to 4 days in a week Answer: D. it has been expanded from 2 days to 4 days in a week
I have a younger brother. To me , he is a fourteen-year-old kid named Joe, with blond hair and blue eyes. To others, he is different. Where I see a kid who just needs a lot more attention, others see a mentally disabled boy, a kid who cannot walk or talk or think for himself. I see someone who just makes daily routine a bit less routine. Others see an annoyance, a bother. This is not to say that I have never felt resentful toward Joe. He is my brother, and with that comes responsibility. "Gina, could you stay in tonight and watch your brother?" "Gina, do me a favor and feed him dinner and change his diaper later, please?""Could you come home right after school today and get Joe off the bus?" These are phrases that I have heard since I was twelve. And sure, they have made me resent my brother to a certain extent. I would think: that's not fair! Everyone else can stay after and be a member of this club, or get extra help from that teacher. Or, all my friends are going out tonight, why can't I? And, how come I have to feed him? He is not my son! However, the small amount of resentment I feel toward my brother is erased a thousand times over by what I have learned from him. Besides making me responsible from a young age, and helping me be more accepting of all kinds of people, he has taught me to be thankful for what I have. I know that there are moment in my life that I should cherish and that Joe will never experience. He will never laugh so hard that he cries. He will never feel the glory of a straight-A report card. He will never comfort a best friend crying on his shoulder. And he will never know how much his family love him. Because he will never know, it is up to me to know, every second , how lucky I am. It is up to me to realize that life should be lived to its fullest, and that you should always, always be grateful that God, or whoever are the powers that be, gave you the ability to live your life the way you were meant to live it. The passage intends to tell us that we should _ . Among rich countries , people in the United States work the longest hours. They work much longer than in Europe. This difference is quite surprising because productivity per hour worked is the same in the United States as it is in France, Spain and Germany, and it is growing at a similar speed. In most countries and at most times in history, as people have become richer they have chosen to work less. In other words they have decided to "spend"a part of their extra income on a fuller personal life. Over the last fifty years Europeans have continued this pattern, and hours of work have fallen sharply. But not in the United States. We do not fully know why this is. One reason may be more satisfying work,or less satisfying personal lives. Longer hours do of course increase the GDP . So the United States has produced more per worker than, say,France.The United States also has more of its people at work,while in France many more mothers and older workers have decided to stay at home.The overall result is that American GDP per head is 40% higher than in France,even though productivity per hour worked is the same. It is not clear which of the two situations is better.As we have seen, work has to be compared with other values like family life, _ often get lost in interest.It is too early to explain the different trends in happiness over time in different countries. But it is a disappointing idea that in the United States happiness has made no progress since 1975, while it has risen in Europe. Could this have anything to do with trends in the work-life balance ? What message can we get from the text? Here is some news of the future. March 20. 2035 There was a lot of news around the life extension drugs that hit the market a decade ago. They didn't promise that you would live forever. but they gave you a chance to extend your life an extra five to ten years. Even though the life expectancy rate at birth has increased greatly. the life expectancy for seniors hasn't improved that much. Basically. you have a greater chance to become a senior, but you will not have a much longer lifespan, and this is where the anti-aging drugs intend to kick in. So ,do the anti-aging drugs work? Well. it is too early to tell. But the sales so far are very good. April 19, 2035 Of the total US population of 378 million, people over 65 years of age now make up 20% for the first time. The senior ratio was only 4.1% by year 1900. and l2.4% 30 years ago. The number of people above 65 compared to those of what is considered working ages. between 15 and 64. is currently 33.7%. This is up from l85% since year 2005. which means that for every retired person there are now two workers. compared to four workers 30 years ago. The number of people above the age of 80 has grown t0 23.8 million; making them 6.3% of the total population compared t0 3.6% in 2005. April 12. 2040 Although introduced in the market only five years ago, 10% of all hydrogen fuel now sold in the US is of the environmentally friendly Re-Hydro label, produced through. eletrolysis based on a source of 1OO% renewable energy. Several producers have turned to producing Re-Hydro. mainly because of lower tax. which also keeps the price of. Re-Hydro on the same level as regular hydrogen. Most analysts believe that Re-Hydro will be the .dominating fuel in the future What can we learn from News 2? Emily and Zach are confused! Their parents told them they could choose between Massachusetts and Arizona for their vacation this summer. Emily has always wanted to visit Boston, the capital of Massachusetts. Zach and she both agree that walking along the Freedom Trail would enable them to see Boston's most famous places of historic interest, like the site of the school Ben Franklin attended and the Old State House. If Emily and Zach go to Massachusetts, they could spend a few days at the beaches on Cape Cod. Emily loves body boarding, and Zach is great at body surfing. They both enjoy building sandcastles with their mom and dad. Zach finds learning about Native Americans wonderful and has always wanted to travel along the Apache Trail in Arizona. This mountain highway passes Native American ruins in Tonto National Forest. Emily is not as interested in traveling along this trail as Zach, but they both would like to visit Phoenix, the capital, and then travel to Grand Canyon National Park and Meteor Crater .Zach learned in science class that Meteor Crater is a hole over 4,000 feet wide and 520 feet deep that was created when a huge object from space fell to Earth. The object went so deep that it has never been found. Zach would really like to try to discover it. But Emily thinks if experienced scientists and researchers cannot find it, Zach might as well not even bother to try. The only drawback for Zach and Emily if they choose Arizona would be the heat. It is very hot and dry in this southwestern state. Massachusetts, on the other hand, is in northeastern United States. Here Zach and Emily and their parents could enjoy mild temperatures. Their parents love hot weather, but Zach and Emily do not really like to sweat. How will they ever decide to which state they should travel? If only they could take two trips! Emily and Zach will spend their summer vacation . Eight years ago, my 13-year-old son, Dustin, became very ill with a heart enlarged. For several months, he lived on life support as we were forced to stand by and watch him wither away. ks5u While his friends were out playing baseball, and sleeping in their own beds, my son was in a hospital bed, attached to a machine that kept his heart beating. As a mother, my first reaction after crying was anger, and then I played the bargaining game: "Take my life for his, Lord. I've lived my life but he still has so much to do." People all around me were praying for a heart to become available, but it made me so angry and confused because I knew for that to happen, someone else's child would have to die. How could anyone pray for that? I still remember so clearly the morning we got the call that there was a heart. As we stood in Dustin's hospital room watching them prepare him for surgery, we experienced the true definition of bittersweet. His dad and I realized that at the precise moment we were standing there with so much hope and so much love, another family somewhere was saying goodbye. We knelt down together and cried, and we prayed for them and we thanked them for giving such a selfless gift. To our amazement, just 10 days later, Dustin got to come home for the first time in many months. He had received a second chance at life. Over the next two years, he got to go to high school, learn to drive and put his brand new heart to good use volunteering at the homeless shelter and helping the elderly. Dustin's new heart failed him when he was 16. A tragedy, yes, but we have to see it as the miracle it was. We received two precious years with him that we would never have had without organ donation. We have more pictures, more memories and a great satisfaction in knowing that he was able to experience some of the most exciting times and milestones in a teenager's life. When he died, difficult as it was for us, we knew that it would be Dustin's wish to give back. His eyes went to someone who wanted to see. Someone who, perhaps, had never seen the faces of the family he loved so dearly. I believe that one day I will look into the face of someone else's son or daughter, and I will see those sky blue eyes looking back at me -- the evidence of selfless giving. The text mainly wants to tell us that _ .
"Everything happens for the best," my mother said whenever I was disappointed. "Don't worry. One day your luck will change." I didn't pay attention to her words. After finishing my college education, I decided to look for a job in a radio station. I wanted to host a sports programme. I went to Chicago and knocked on the door of every station. ButI got turned down every time. In one station, a kind lady said to me that I hadn't got enough experience. "Get to a small station and work for some time," she said. When I went back home, my dad told me that a businessman had opened a store and needed someone to help him. But again, I didn't get the job. I felt really down. "Your luck will change," Mum said to me. Later, I tried another radio station in Iowa. But the owner, a nice man, told me he had already had someone to work for him. As I left his office, I asked, "How can someone be a sportsannouncer if he can't get a job in a radio station?" I was waiting for the lift when I heard the man call, "What did you mean? Do you know anything about football?" He let me sit in front of a microphone and asked me to try to imagine that I was giving my opinion on a football game, and finally I succeeded. On my way home, Mum's words came back to me, "One day your luck will change, Son." What was the writer's ideal job? A sports announcer. We've used the wind as an energy source for a long time. The Babylonians and Chinese were using wind power to pump water for irrigating crops 4,000 years ago, and sailing boats were around long before that. Wind power was used in the Middle Ages, in Europe, to grind corn, which is where the term "windmill" comes from. We can use the energy in the wind by building a tall tower, with a large propeller on the top. The wind blows the propellor round, which turns a generator to produce electricity. We tend to build many of these towers together, to make a "wind farm" and produce more electricity. The more towers, the more wind, and the larger the propellors, the more electricity we can make. It's only worth building wind farms in places that have strong, steady winds, although boats and caravans increasingly have small wind generators to help keep their batteries charged. The best places for wind farms are in coastal areas, at the tops of rounded hills, open plains and gaps in mountains - places where the wind is strong and reliable. Some are offshore. To be worthwhile, you need an average wind speed of around 25 km/h. Most wind farms in the UK are in Cornwall or Wales. Isolated places such as farms may have their own wind generators. In California, several "wind farms" supply electricity to homes around Los Angeles. The propellors are large, to obtain energy from the largest possible volume of air. The blades can be angled to cope with varying wind speeds. Some designs use vertical turbines , which don't need to be turned to face the wind. The towers are tall, to get the propellors as high as possible, up to where the wind is stronger. This means that the land beneath can still be used for farming. What can be a suitable title for the passage? ABC of the using of wind energy. The first newspapers were written by hand and put up on walls in public place. The earliest daily newspaper was started in Rome in 59 BC. In the 700's the world's first printed newspaper was published. Europe didn't have a regularly published newspaper until 1609, when one was started in Germany. The first regularly published newspaper in the English language was printed in Amsterdam in 1620. In 1621, an English newspaper was started in London and was published once a week. The first daily English newspaper was the Daily Courant . It came out in March 1702. In 1690, Benjamin Harris printed the first American newspaper in Boston. But not long after it was first published, the government stopped the paper. In 1704, John Campbell started The Boston Newsletter , the first newspaper published in the American colonies. By 1760, the colonies had more than thirty daily newspapers. There are now about 1,800 daily papers in the United States. Today, as a group, English language newspapers have the largest circulation in the world. But the largest circulation for a newspaper is that of the Japanese newspaper Asahi Dhimbun . It sells more than eleven million copies every day. The first regular published newspaper in Europe was printed in _ . Germany Hello! I'm Susan. Look at this picture. You can see a big sofa next to(...) the wall. My parents like to sit on it to read books , and sometimes they meet some friends there. There are two plants near the sofa. They're nice. What's that on the wall? Oh, it's a new TV. I often watch TV on weekends . Can you see some fishes in that big box? I like to play with them after school . Where's my dog Billy? Is it on the floor? No, it's under a chair! Do you like it? _ are near the sofa. Two plants During an ice age, enormous ice sheets called glaciers increase in size on Earth's surface, resulting in decreased ocean depths. Due to global cooling, the water cycle is disrupted between which two stages to cause an increase in glacier size? precipitation and runoff
Question: Leave a camera on a mountaintop, and chances are, you'll never see it again. But 24-year-old Paul Bellis, a university student from Wales, believed that most people were better than that, and set up a creative experiment to test out his theory. "I was speaking to a friend who said you can't trust anyone, anywhere these days," Bellis toldthe Daily Mail. "I didn't want to believe _ so I set up this experiment to find out what might happen and prove you can trust people." Billis decided to do an experiment by hiking up a mountain called Snowdonia, taking a photo, and leaving his camera behind. He also attached a note to the camera, asking other hikers to take photos of themselves and then leave the camera there until the roll of film was empty. He also included his address, in case someone would be nice enough to return the camera to his home after the roll of film was finished. Four days later, Bellis got a visit from a Snowdonia park manager, who came to return his camera. After Bellis got the film developed, he saw that his fellow hikers and followed his instructions. Thirty people had each taken photos of themselves at the mountain. From viewing the collection, it was clear that all the hikers had enjoyed the experiment. As for the park manager, Brian, "I found the camera and thought it had been lost until I saw the note," he said. "I was passing his home and just dropped it off. I' m glad that the photos came out very well." What can we know from the note Bellis attached to his camera? A. The camera wasn't a missing one. B. The roll of film had been used up. C. Bellis was very kind to other hikers. D. Bellis asked others to take pictures of him. Answer: A. The camera wasn't a missing one. Question: Reading is good for you. There is increasing evidence to show that reading isn't merely a way of improving literacy and knowledge, but that it might actually be good for one's mental and physical health, too. In the age of Twitter and short attention spans, reading novels, which requires intense concentration over a long period of time, could be the antidote . Neuroscientists Baroness Susan Greenfield says that reading helps to lengthen attention spans in children and improve their ability to think clearly. "Stories have a structure that encourages our brain to think in sequence, to link cause, effect and significance," she says "It is essential to learn this skill as a small child." "In a computer game, you might rescue a princess, but you don't care about her, you just want to win," she explains, "But a princess in a book has a past, present and future. You can relate to her. You see the world through her eyes" According to professor John Stein, Oxford university, reading is far from a passive activity. "Reading exercises the whole brain," he explains. " When we get lost in a good book, we are doing more than following a story, Imaging what is happening is as good as activating the brain as doing it. In other words, our brains simulate real experiences, and it is just as if we were experiencing them ourselves. This doesn't happen when we are watching a TV or playing computer games." Getting stuck in a good novel appears to be good for one's mental health. Reading helps one not only fights loneliness, but also forget one's own problems for a while. Researchers found that just six minutes of reading could reduce stress levels by more than two-thirds, more than listening to music or going out for a walk. The concentration required to read distracts the mind, easing muscle's tension and slowing the heart rate. Reading may be good for physical health, too, by preventing brain aging and disease. According to John Stein, reading _ A. is simply following a story B. is a passive activity C. can active the brain D. has the same results as watching TV Answer: C. can active the brain Question: Mini Book Excerpts Biography When Salinger learned that a car park was to be built on the land, the middle-aged writer was shocked and quickly bought the neighboring area to protect it ... The towns-people never forgot the rescue and came to help their most famous neighbor. J.D. Sulinger : A Life by Kenneth Slawenski (Random House, $27) Mystery " You' re a smart boy. Benny's death was no accident, and you 're the only one who saw it happen. Do you think the murderer should get away with it?" The boy was staring stubbornly at his lap again. A thought suddenly occurred to Annika, " Did you... You recognized the man in the car, didn't you?" The boy hesitated, twisting his fingers, " Maybe," he said quietly. Red wolf by Liza Marklund (Atria books, $25.99) Short stories She wants to say to him what she has learned, none of it in class. Some women are born stupid, and some women are too smart for their own good. Some women are born to give, and some women only know how to take. Some women learn who they want to be from their mothers, some who they don't want to be. Some mothers suffer so their daughters won't. Some mothers love so their daughters won't. You Are Free by Danzy Senna ( Riverhead Books, $15) Humor Do your kids like to have fun? Come to Fun Times! Do you like to watch your kids having fun? Bring them to Fun Times! Fun Times! 's " amusement cycling" is the most fun you can have, legally, in the United States right now. Why spend thousands of dollars flying to Disney World when you can spend less than half of that within a day's drive of most cities? Happy: And Other Bad Thoughts by Larry Doyle (Ecco, $14.99) The book Happy : And Other Bad Thoughts is intended for _ . A. young children B. Disney World workers C. middle school teachers D. Parents with young children Answer: D. Parents with young children Question: High childcare costs are putting British mothers off going out to work. It really is that simple. Eurostat figures show that 66 per cent of mothers in the UK work, less than France (72 per cent), Denmark (86 per cent), the Netherlands (78 per cent) or Germany (69 per cent). This not only damages Britain's economic prosperity--it limits women's careers and squeezes family incomes. It would be fine if this is the choice parents want to make, but it isn't. Half of those surveyed want to go to work and the expense of childcare is one of the key reasons they couldn't. Despite claims made by Labour about childcare, a forthcoming report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) confirms the true legacy of their time in government. They left behind a childcare system with high costs to parents, variable quality and patchy coverage, despite soaring government spending. British parents now face the highest childcare bills in the world after Switzerland. In the Eighties and Nineties under Mrs Thatcher and John Major, the picture was very different. Mothers in England were more likely to go out to work than their Dutch or German counterparts. But the position has reversed, despite a huge rise in public spending. So why does the British Government spend more on childcare than France or Germany, even though the costs given to parents are sky-high? As always, under the previous government, money was frittered away without adequate focus on improving quality. Instead of clear and transparent funding, four separate funding streams were created, skewing the market and confusing parents and providers alike. The majority of the money was given away in cash benefits; so much of it did not get through to the front line. The IPPR report points out that continental systems, in countries such as Germany, France, Denmark and the Netherlands, manage to deliver better value for money. What all of these systems have in common is a focus on quality, with greater flexibility and autonomy given to local providers. They also see a much higher proportion of government money getting to the front line. Which of the following doesn't belong to the disadvantages caused by the mothers prevented from going to work? A. Damaging Britain's economic development. B. Causing damage to women's careers. C. Decreasing the family incomes. D. Causing childcare costs to go up. Answer: D. Causing childcare costs to go up. Question: In learning a foreign language, one should first pay attention to speaking. It is the groundwork of reading and writing. You'd better try your best to speak. Don't be afraid of making mistakes. But be careful not to let them keep you from improving the language. While you are doing this, a good exercise is to write - keep a diary, write notes, letters or articles, then if you can, ask someone to go through what you have written and tell you where is wrong . Many mistakes in your speaking will be easily found when you write. Through correcting the mistakes, you can do better in learning a language. If you are slow in speaking, don't worry. One of the helpful ways is by reading, either aloud or to yourself. The important thing is to choose something interesting to read. It can't be too difficult for you. When you are reading in this way, don't stop to look up the words if you can guess their meanings or if they have nothing important to do with the sentence. You can do that some other time . To improve the language, one has to _ A. pay attention to speaking only B. try not to make mistakes C. to keep a diary and write notes, letters or articles D. correct mistakes only Answer: C. to keep a diary and write notes, letters or articles
Question: Are you feeling stressed out? Anxious? Is your mind racing in circles? Are you worried about all the things you have to get done? Here's a quick--acting trick that can make you feel better. If you are sitting at a desk, place the palm of your hand on the desk, and take a moment to focus on what the surface of the desk feels like. Is it hot or cold, rough or smooth? Put all of your attention on the sensations in your palm, on how the desk feels underneath your hand. If you are not at a desk, do the same exercise by placing your palm on any nearby object--a wall, a chair, even your opposite arm. When you are feeling stressed, your thoughts tend to take on a life of their own. You may be thinking about things you wish you had done differently in the past or worrying about things that you have to do in the future. These thoughts will make you feel anxious. The anxiety, in turn, increases the number of anxious thoughts. If you can ground yourself even for a moment in the present, you will break the cycle and feel instant relief. Paying attention to what objects in your environment feel like forces you to pay more attention to the present moment than to negative, anxiety--provoking (,)thoughts about the past or about the future. Try using your other senses too: Try closing your eyes for a second(don't try this while driving!) and breathe deeply through your nose. What do you smell? When eating, put all your attention on how your food tastes. What do you hear? What little noises are there around you that you didn't notice before? Look closely at an ordinary object. Do you see anything you haven't noticed before? The writer mentioned some senses that could be used to reduce stress except the _ . A. sense of touching B. sense of smell C. sense of humour D. sense of listening Answer: C Question: For those who study the development of intelligence in the animal world, self-awareness is an important measurement. An animal that is aware of itself has a high level of intelligence. Awareness can be tested by studying whether the animal recognizes itself in the mirror, that is, its own reflected image .Many animals fail this exercise bitterly, paying very little attention to the reflected image. Only humans, and some intelligent animals like apes and dolphins, have been shown to recognize the image in the mirror is of themselves. Now another animal has joined the club . In the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , researchers report an Asian elephant has passed the mirror self-reflection test. "We thought elephants were the next important animal" said Diana Reiss of the Wildlife Conservation Society ,an author of the study with Joshua M.Plotnik and Fans B.M..de Waal of Emory University. With their large brains, Reiss said elephants "seemed like cousins to apes and dolphins" The researchers tested Happy, Maxine and Patty, three elephants at the Bronx Zoo. They put an 8-foot-square mirror on a wall of the animals' play area (out of the sight of zoo visitors and recorded what happened with cameras, including one built in the mirror. The elephants used their long noses to find what was behind it, and to examine parts of their bodies. Of the three, Happy then passed their test, in which a clear mark was painted on one side of her face. She could tell the mark was there by looking in the mirror and she used the mirror to touch the mark with her long nose. Diana Reiss said, " We knew elephants were intelligent, but now we can talk about their intelligence in a better way". What made Happy different from Maxine and Patty? A. She used her nose to search behind the mirror. B. She recognized her own image in the mirror. C. She painted a mark on her own face. D. She found the hidden camera. Answer: B Question: When you are learning English, listening, speaking and writing are important, but reading can also be very helpful. When you read, you can not only learn some new words, but also learn how to use these English words. When you read, it gives you a good example for writing. Good reading tips: Try to read at the right level . Read something that you can (more or less) understand. If you need to stop every three words to use a dictionary, it is not interesting. Try to increase the number of your new words. If there are four or five new words on a page, write them in your notebook. But you don't have to write them while you read. Instead, try to guess their meanings as you read: mark them with a pen. Then come back when you have finished reading to look them up in a dictionary and write them in your own vocabulary book. Then try to remember them. Try to read regularly. For example, read for a short time once a day. Fifteen minutes every day is better than two hours every Sunday. Fix a time to read and keep to it. You could read for fifteen minutes when you go to bed, or when you get up or at lunchtime. Read what interests you. Choose a book or a magazine about a subject that you like, because you are going to spend time and money reading it. So, choose an interesting book. You can also read newspapers. There are many English newspapers in China. For example, 21st Century Teens. It is easy enough for you to understand. There is something interesting in it. The passage is mainly about _ . A. what to read B. reading is very helpful C. when to read D. how to make reading better Answer: D Question: Dog owners now have a little help understanding their furry friends . A new device called Bow-Lingual "translates" dog barks into English , Korea or Japanese. Bow-Lingual's Japanese inventors spent much time and money analyzing dog barks . They found that dog noises can be broken down into six different emotions : happiness , sadness , frustration , anger , assertion and desire . Part of the Bow-Lingual device hangs on the dog's collar . The other part is a handle-held unit for the owner . When the dogs barks , the unit displays translated phrases . Some people have scoffed at Bow-Lingual. "Who would pay US$ 120 to read a dog's mind?" they ask . But those who have purchased Bow-Lingual praise the device . Pet owner Keiko Egawa , of Japan , says it helps her empathize with her dog , Harry . "Before we go to the park , he always says he wants to play," says Egawa , "and after a walk , he always says he is hungry." Bow -Lingual is not yet available in Chinese . So you'd better keep studying Studio Classroom , or soon your dog may know more English than you do ! The writer of this passage is most likely to be _ . A. a dog owner B. a reporter C. an advertiser D. an expert on dog barks Answer: B Question: What picture do you have of the future? Will life in the future be better, worse of the same as now? What do you hope about the future? Futurologists predict that life will probably be very different in 2050 in all the fields of activity, from entertainment to technology. First of all, it seems that TV channels will have disappeared by 2050. Instead, people will choose a programme from a menu and a computer will send the programme directly to the television. Today, we can use the World Wide Web to read newspaper stories and see pictures on a computer thousands of kilometers away. By 2050, music, films, programmes, newspapers and books will come to us by computer. In what concerns the environment, water will have become one of our most serious problems. In many places, agriculture is changing and they are growing fruit and vegetables to export. This uses a lot of water. Demand for water will increase ten times between now and 2050 and there could be serious shortages. Some futurologists predict that water could be the cause of war if we don't act now. In transport, cars will run on new, clean fuels and they will go very fast. Cars will have computers to control the speed of the car and there won't be any accidents. Today, many cars have computers that tell the drivers exactly where they are. By 2050, the computer will control the car and drive it to your destination. On the other hand, space planes will take people half way around the world in two hours. Nowadays, the United States Shuttle can go into space and land on Earth again. By 2050, space planes will fly all over the world and people will fly from Los Angels to Tokyo in just two hours. In the field of technology, robots will have replaced people in factories. Many factories already use robots. Big companies prefer robots -- they do not ask for pay rises or go on strike, and they work 24 hours a day. By 2050, we will see robots everywhere -- in factories, schools, offices, hospitals, shops and homes. In particular, medicine technology will have conquered many diseases. Today, there are electronic devices that connect directly to the brain to help people hear. By 2050, we will be able to help blind and deaf people see again and hear again and scientists will be able to produce clones of people and decide how they look, how they behave and how much intelligence they have. Scientists will be able to do these things -- but should they? . After reading Paragraph 3, we can know _ . A. we should take measures to save water from now on B. fruits will be more and more expensive C. people will be short of supplies of vegetables D. planting will need much less water in the future Answer: A
Question: Drunken driving--sometimes called America's socially accepted form of murder--has become a national epidemic . Every hour of every day about three Americans on average are killed by drunken drivers, adding up to an incredible 250,000 over the past ten years. A drunken driver is usually defined as one with a 0.10 blood alcohol content or roughly three beers, glasses of wine or several glasses of whisky drunk within two hours. Heavy drinking used to be an acceptable part of the American manly image and judges were serious in most courts, but the drunken slaughter has recently caused so many well-publicized tragedies, especially involving young children, that public opinion is no longer so tolerant. Twenty states have raised the legal drinking age to 21, reversing a trend in the 1960s to reduce it to 18. After New Jersey lowered it to 18, the number of people killed by 18-20-year-old drivers more than doubled, so the state recently upped it back to 21. Reformers, however, fear raising the drinking age will have little effect unless accompanied by educational programs to help young people to develop "responsible attitudes" about drinking and teach them to resist peer pressure to drink. Though new laws have led to increased arrests and tests and, in many areas already, to a marked decline in accidents, some states are also punishing bars for serving customers too many drinks. A bar in Massachusetts was fined for serving six or more double brandies to a customer who "obviously drunk" and later drove off the road, killing a nine-year-old boy. As the accidents continue to occur daily in every state, some Americans are even beginning to speak well of the 13 years of national prohibition of alcohol that began in 1919, what President Hoover called the "noble experiment". They forgot that legal prohibition didn't stop drinking, but encouraged political corruption and organized crime. As with the booming drug trade generally, there is no easy solution. In America, public opinion about drunken driving has changed because _ . A. judges are no longer serious B. new laws are introduced in some states C. the problem has attracted public attention D. drivers do not appreciate their manly image Answer: C. the problem has attracted public attention Question: Dear Mr. Wolfson, The purpose of this letter is to inform you of one of our citizens who I believe should receive some special recognition for dedicated community service. The person I recommend is Elizabeth Samuelson. I believe you know her in your position as volunteer coordinator . I have known Elizabeth for more than 20 years as both a friend and a neighbor. During that time I have seen her work tirelessly on scores of community projects and committees. As far as I know, she has never received any kind of recognition from the community for her work. I believe she should be given some sort of special recognition. Just last year alone, she worked on at least six different community projects including the Park Renewal Project and the Heritage Homes FundRaising Banquet. In addition, she is a weekly driver for the MealsonWheels program and she visits patients in the care unit on a regular basis. Whenever a project or committee needs her, she will put herself into the work wholeheartedly. I'm sure that if you check with a few of your staff members who have been there over the years, they will confirm Elizabeth's community service record and probably be able to add many examples to the few I have given here. By the way, Elizabeth has no idea that I am writing this. She is a humble person, and if she were aware of it, she would not allow me to send it. I thought about writing such a letter about her a number of times in the past but just never took action. Then last week, I noticed in the paper that you sponsor an annual dinner at which dozens of awards are given out to people with much less community service than Elizabeth. In fact, I checked with her and she has never even been invited to that annual event! I urge you to correct that omission now and take action to see that Elizabeth is properly recognized for her many years of silent but outstanding service to this community. Sincerely, Linda Sullivan What can we learn about Mr.Wolfson from the letter? A. He knows Linda quite well. B. He is a careless person. C. He tries something to reward those who have done much community service. D. He tries his best to find Elizabeth and do something to reward her. Answer: C. He tries something to reward those who have done much community service. Question: When people hear that I'm the youngest person to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean, they all have the same question: How did a 22-year old woman row a 19-foot boat for 70 days through high winds and crashing waves? Well, the biggest difficulty for me wasn't physical. By the time I decided to do the ocean row, I had already biked 3,300 miles cross-country, run across the Mojave Desert, and swum the 325-mile length of the Allegheny River. No, the tough part would be mental: How would I handle the loneliness, the boredom of the vast sea? I set off on January 3, 2010. I set my sights on getting past the quarter-way mark, which would take about 20 days. Day 20, January 22, was gray and cloudy. _ I was suffering from terrible loneliness. I hadn't seen landing over two weeks. Every day was beginning to feel the same. Eating, rowing, sleeping, watch the sky, watch the ocean. Then, around sunset, I saw something move on the horizon. They were dolphins! They circled my boat. Suddenly I felt so grateful. They had come to help me celebrate, just when I needed them. I rowed at full strength for the next 20 minutes with the dolphins around. By the time we went our separate ways, I was no longer lonely. Better yet, I knew I would be okay. I did make it, all 2,817 miles. I hit the coast of Guyana, South America, on March 14, after 70 days and five hours at sea. My ocean row raised $70,000 for the Blue Planet Run Foundation, which funds drinking water programs around the world. I know some athletes spend the entire journey imagining the end, and that helps them get through. But for me, the secret is to focus on the moment, where you experience the personal growth -- those moments of awareness of being connected to the sun, the weather, and the waves. And, on the best day of my life, those dolphins, which freed myself from terrible loneliness. Which is the step taken as part of preparation for the tough row? A. swimming the 325-mile length of the river B. answering the same question raised by people C. running 3,300 miles cross-country D. biking across the Mojave Desert Answer: A. swimming the 325-mile length of the river Question: All over the world mothers and fathers teach their children manners. Other children may have manners that are not like yours. There are all kinds of manners. Many years ago, children who had good manners were seen and not heard. They kept quite quiet if grown-ups were talking. Today, well-mannered children have more freedom. Sometimes good manners in one place are bad manners in other places. Suppose you are a visitor in the land of Mongolia. Some friends ask you to eat with them. What kind of manners do they want you to have? They want you to give a loud "burp" after you finish eating. Burping would show that you liked your food. In some countries, if you give a loud burp, you are told to say "excuse me, please." In many places people like to eat together. But in some parts of Polynesia it is bad manners to be seen eating at all. People show good manners by turning their backs on others while they eat. What are manners like in an East African town? The people try not to see you. They are being polite. You may see a friend. He may not see you at all. If you are polite, you will sit down beside him. You will wait until he finishes what he is doing. Then he will talk to you. Suppose you visit a friend in Arabia. You should walk behind the other tents until you come to his tent. If you pass in front of the other tents, you will be asked into each one. The people will ask you to eat with them. And it is bad manners if you say no. Manners are different all over the world. But it is good to know that all manners begin in the same way. People needed ways to show that they wanted to be friends. Which of the following statements is True? A. In Mongolia, you should say "excuse me" when you give a burp after dinner. B. Children with good manners are quiet. C. You should not walk behind the tents in Arabia. D. Manners are different all over the world. Answer: D. Manners are different all over the world. Question: "Get out of the plane!" Justin shouted.Teddy and he dropped to the ground,... When Kathy and Victor reached the edge of the meadow flames of the fire were shooting more than five meters into the air. Kathy couldn't believe what she was seeing.One glance told her they needed medical attention immediately.She questioned Victor, "Are you able to find someone nearby for help?" "There are no farmers, nor villagers nearby," he replied. "I'm a distance runner, and I'll go for help." Looking at the seriously injured men, Kathy said to Victor, "It may take me several hours to get out." She started out. When she was 23, Kathy set a women's record in a Marathon of 42 kilometers. _ She had nearly 30 kilometers of hard wilderness to cover to get help. Kathy had been running for two hours.This was far back into the wilderness.The country path was growing vague .She stopped to take a quick compass reading.Yes, she had run almost for more than 20 kilometers.Her heart fell, her muscle aching.And finally she saw her car in the distance. She jumped into the car and sped away.She reached a holiday house and called the police. During the wait, she walked around, relaxing her legs and drinking water.It took almost two hours for a police helicopter to reach her at the trail end.They needed her for one more task. Kathy stopped to have a look at her compass because _ . A. the country path was getting vague B. she had completely lost her way C. she wasn't sure of her own memory D. there was only the wilderness Answer: A. the country path was getting vague
London is one of the most expensive cities in the world to stay in, but there are many budget hotels that offer accommodation at a reasonable cost. Please take careful note of the facilities described for each budget hotel; the very cheapest accommodation may offer good budget deals but a minimum of facilities. The higher the price per room, the greater the number and quality of facilities you can expect. Arriva Hotel This 2-star Arriva Hotel lies at the heart of the city centre--just a short walk from King's Cross Tube station London's famous attractions are all easily accessible by foot or public transport. A short stroll will bring you to the British Museum and the fashionable area of Bloomsbury. With 75 en-suite rooms available, the Arriva Hotel is a large budget hotel that offers accommodation for tourists at a very reasonable price. Also, Wi-Fi Internet connection is available in most rooms and a Continental breakfast is included in the rates. From: $ 50.00 Accommodation Rating: Beaconsfield Hotel The Beaconsfield Hotel is situated on Green Lanes, North London, famous for its Turkish community. The Beaconsfield Hotel is housed in an attractive Victorian building, which is also home to a traditional pub(, )--if you want to experience real British culture, an afternoon in the pub is the place to do it! Manor House Station is just a short walk to Beaconsfield Hotel, so you will find traveling around the city quick and easy. The Beaconsfield Hotel offers ten comfortable rooms, each with a television, fridge and kettle. There is a shared kitchen where you can prepare your meals. Bathroom facilities at Beaconsfield Hotel are also shared, but there are enough facilities for all guests to use. From: $ 30.00 Accommodation Rating: unrated Compared to the Arriva Hotel, the Beaconsfield Hotel _ . A is smaller B is rated higher C is more expensive D is nearer to the city center Answer: A. is smaller Dear Jenny, Please take these things to your brother: his math book, baseball, notebook, CDs, and video tape. The math book is on the dresser. The baseball is under the bed. The notebook is on the bed. The CDs are in the drawer. The video tape is on the table. Thanks! Mom Where is the math book? A It's on the dresser. B It's under the bed. C It's on the bed. D It's in the drawer. Answer: A. It's on the dresser. As a lake increases in size, there are more A English Premier Leagues B catfish C airplanes D volcanoes Answer: B. catfish A landslide may bring immense problems to A living regions B Jupiter C space D time travel Answer: A. living regions Which physical structure would best help a bear to survive a winter in New York State? A big ears B black nose C thick fur D brown eyes Answer: C. thick fur
,. Three-year-old Teddy Lasry was sleeping in his cowboy outfit yesterday at his family's Fifth Ave.apartment when he shot up in bed screaming.A 3-foot-long black-and-white snake twisted around his left arm and had just bitten his little finger. "The babysitter (a person taking care of children while their parents are away for a short time) was frightened to death," said Teddy's father, David Lasry, who, along with his wife, Evelyn, was at work when the snake appeared about 4:00 pm. The horrified babysitter called 911 and the building's doorman.The doorman and two cable TV workers helped take the snake off the boy's arm and put it in a garbage bag.Police rushed Teddy to Mount Sinai Medical Center, where he spent two hours attached to a heart monitor as a precaution in case the snake was poisonous.It wasn't.Experts at the snakebite treatment center at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx, where policemen took the snake, found out it was a non-poisonous California king snake. But how did it end up in Teddy's bed? A little detective work determined that the snake had escaped two weeks ago from its cage in the apartment of a doctor whose family lives four floors below the Lasrys.The apologetic owner said his son's pet snake likely traveled up the water pipes and into his neighbor's apartment."It's a very gentle, very harmless snake," he said."It's handled by our family all the time." David Lasry believed the pet was simply hungry after two weeks of wandering.Evelyn said her son seems to have overcome his fright by thinking of himself as a hero cowboy as he rode in the back of the police car to the hospital. "I told Teddy he's a pretty snake, a nice pet snake who got out of his cage," Evelyn said."But he asked, 'Why did he bite my finger, Mamma?' And I said, 'Because he saw that you are a big boy, Teddy, in your cowboy outfit and he got scared.'" We can learn from the passage that the snake _ . A. was poisonous B. was kept in a cage by its owner C. was deserted by its owner D. escaped to the apartment Answer: B Health insurance can be very expensive. Some working people do not make enough money to pay for it. In the US there is a program called Healthy Families. This program offers people health insurance at a low cost. Families are charged about Y=7.00 a month for every child, and Y=10.00 for every adult. It costs much less than any other kind of health insurance. Having health insurance is very important. With this insurance, people can see a doctor when they are sick or hurt. The program is not expensive at all, but many people are still not enrolling in it. People say that it still costs too much money. They need all of their money to pay for things like food and rent. It would be great if everyone could have health insurance. People are working hard to come up with ways to make this happen. One idea is to make the Healthy Families Program free for some people. It is important for people to see a doctor when they need to. The Healthy Families Program makes it possible for more people to do this. Many ideas are being considered. Hopefully some of them will allow even more families to get health insurance. The Healthy Families Program is made to help those who don't have welfare and cannot earn enough to pay for private health insurance. It is an important program, but officials say that too many people are signing up for it and then dropping out because of the Healthy Families Program's cost. If a couple has two children, how much would health insurance cost every month in the family? A. Y=24. B. Y=28. C. Y=34. D. Y=40. Answer: C Dear Editor: While a new school term is about to begin, perhaps we should reconsider the matter of examinations. In July, two writers(letters to the editor) praised the cancellation of exams because they believe "Tests don't tell the whole story". As a teacher who has worked in four countries, I have had the experience that a student who earns good marks is generally a good student, and a student's final mark in a subject is usually a grade average of the year's work. Of course there are expectations, but they do not have the frequency that would give an unfair picture of a student's ability. The simple fact is that proper class work; diligent exam studies and good marks are almost certain indicators of a student's future performance. The opposite is, almost certainly, incompetence. There is no acceptable substitute for competition of quality. How can teachers and future officials determine what a student has learned and remembered? Should we simply take the student's mark for it? Any institution that "liberates" students from fair and formal exams is misguided, if not ignorant and surely the "graduates " of such institutions will lack trustworthiness , not to mention being rejected by foreign universities for graduate or other studies. When all is said and done, I sense that a fear of failure and a fear of unpleasant comparison with others are at the bottom of most ban-exam talks. Excellence and quality fear nothing. On the contrary, they seek competition and desire the satisfaction of being the best. According to the writer of the letter, those who oppose exams _ . A. are incompetent teachers B. fear failure C. have no confident in competition D. both B and C Answer: D The Blacks are American tourists. They visits now in Beijing. This is their first visit to China. They are going to stay in China for three months. They want to visit some big cities and villages. They hope to learn some Chinese, too. Mr Black is a taxi driver. He likes to drive in Beijing. Mrs Black is a school teacher. She is visiting a city school today and a village school tomorrow. Their daughter is a middle school student. She is going to meet some Chinese students. They are taking a lot of pictures in China. When they return to America, they are going to show the pictures to their friends. They want the American people to know more about China. Why are they going to show the pictures to their friends when they go back to America? A. Because the pictures are very beautiful. B. Because they like China. C. Because they want the American people to know more about China. D. Because they want the American people to come to China. Answer: C There lived a king who liked art. One day an artist offered to paint the most beautiful picture in the world on the wall of his palace. So the king said, "All right, you may work on one of the walls in the new hall." Just then, another artist said, " Please allow me to work on the opposite wall. I shall make exactly what that man will make on the opposite wall. Moreover, I shall do so without looking at his work. I would even request you to have a thick curtain put up between the two walls so the either of us cann't see the other." Everyone in the king's court, including the king and the first artist was surprised. So the king decided to give the man a chance. The following day a thick curtain was put into place and both the artists got to work. The first artist brought in a regular supply of paint, oil and water. But the second one would come with a cloth and a bucket of water every day. A month later the first artist said that his work was completed and invited the king to come. So the king sent the message to the second artist, saying he was coming to see their works that evening. After seeing the first artist's wall, the king was very impressed with the painting and gave him a huge sum of money as a reward. He then asked for the curtain to be opened up. The same painting was seen on the opposite wall too! It was exactly like the one on the first wall. But this man had not seen what was going on, on the other side of the curtain. The man said simply, "It's very easy I just polished the wall every day!" It was a wall made of white marble. The fellow polished it till it shone like a mirror. The reflection of the painting across the room showed up in it! How was the king feeling when he saw second wall? A. Surprised and excited. B. Fascinated and doubtful. C. Satisfied and curious. D. The paintings on the wall. Answer: C
One day,I noticed the most beautiful Cadillac pull in the lot while waiting for my husband.A pretty female driver pulled into the spot beside our car.There was a striking resemblance to Liz Taylor.Her eyes were as blue as the sea,and teeth like an even row of pearls.A few minutes 1ater,a nice looking man entered her car,leaned over and kissed her and she drove away. Sitting there,I wanted to cry.How could some people have it all? Then it became almost routine to see her about once a week.She seemed friendly and always waved,flashing a big smile.My envy continued to exist long after she drove away. A couple of weeks later,sitting in our usual parking lot,I was holding a book,watching her over the top of it.Her husband came to the car,took her arm and helped her out of the car.I could see very well as she moved to get out.She unsteadily walked around to the passenger side very slowly, leaning on a walking cane.Sitting sideways.she lifted one leg with her hands and then the other.The beautiful lady had a prosthesis on the left Ieg and a brace on the right leg. I couldn't watch them drive away as the tears were blinding me.Through my tears,I told my husband about the beautiful lady.He said he knew her husband and the story.The lady and her parents were in a car that got caught on the railroad tracks and was hit by a train.Both parents were killed and she was severely injured.She was only 12 years old.The railroad made a large settlement with her because the crossing had no signals.He explained her car was specially built for her needs as well as the home. I prayed for forgiveness all the way home.The lady I thought had everything I didn't.I realized how lucky I was to have my parents,the ability to walk,run or dance through life and many wonderful things money can't buy.I would not have traded places with the beautiful lady for anything. When you meet a person who seems to be much better off than you,don't be fooled. Why did the author want to cry when noticing the beautiful lady? A She thought of Liz Taylor. B She had no such expensive car. C She disliked her own eyes and teeth. D She envied what the lady owned. Answer: D. She envied what the lady owned. A Bite of China, featuring delicious Chinese food, has attracted countless viewers, and moved many to tears. A Bite of China is a serious documentary providing a unique view of Chinese as well as the relations between people and food and between people and society from the view of food. The touching documentary reminds some people of their mother, and makes some realize that every grain comes from hard and laborious work. Some people see patriotism in the documentary, and some consider it a great cultural export. How did this documentary achieve a great influence beyond its subject matter in such a short time? "It is not empty propaganda about China's splendid food culture. Instead, it shows the techniques used in making food and their production process as well as the lives of ordinary people, thus striking a chord with the audience," an Internet user said. The success of the documentary should be owed to sincerity and reality. Nowadays, many works of art that have high investment, high technology, and magnificent scenes lack nothing but sincerity and reality. A Bite of China shows that a commercial documentary promoting patriotism can be full of touching details, that the emotions of ordinary Chinese people should be exhibited even in publicizing China overseas, and that even a completely commercial program can achieve both artistic and commercial success. "We made this documentary with our respect and love for food," said director Chen Xiaoqing. Being sincere is the most important thing for artists because they cannot move others unless they themselves are first moved, and cannot convince others unless they themselves are first convinced. Sincerity is the "secret" for making this documentary so popular, and every cultural creator should learn from its success. According to the passage, A Bite of China is _ . A a book B a film C a newspaper D a TV program Answer: D. a TV program I really hadn't meant to yell at them. But that grey afternoon saw it just as my son and daughter were making a terrible mess on the floor in the kitchen. With a tiresome report to write, I felt bothered at my desk. Suddenly, it occurred to me that my kids were at fault. A voice inside me insisted that I do something quickly. "Ok, you two here, but what an awful thing you are attempting!" I was shouting angrily. I made for them, while it became evident that _ "Get away from us!" he shouted back, there being an expression of support from his sister. All of a sudden, I found the fault in myself. Quickly I shaped my hands into pincers and crawled towards them, "Crabby Daddy is here. Ha, Ha, Ha, he likes to yell at children, and then eat them!" My son continued to keep me away, but now he was laughing and crying at the same time. My mission to repair the damage caused by my yelling seemed to work well. Still, I regretted not having controlled myself first in a right way. Need I let them know how badly they were acting by blaming? This is a lesson that serves myself. It only shows just how to get rid of something (ill-feelings, responsibility...) by blaming others. It's not my "best self". We have to search for our "best self" when with our children. They don't need perfect parents, but they do need parents who are always trying to get better. Here, I am reminded of the words of a great thinker. "When a man lives with God, his voice shall be as sweet as the murmur of the book..." Then, in our lifetime, couldn't we always speak to our kids in such a sweet voice since most of us consider them as the most precious in the world? And before we reach this level, what should we do when we come across various difficult cases with our children? Which of the following made the author aware of his fault? A No obvious reason. B The boy's yelling back. C His self-awareness. D The girl's shouting back. Answer: B. The boy's yelling back. Confucius is the greatest teacher in Chinese history. He was born on September 28, 551BC in the Kingdom of Lu, in today's Shandong Province. When he was young, he and his mother had a hard life. At the age of fifteen, he began to learn music, and he did well in it. Then he went on learning other subjects. When he was thirty, he became a teacher. He started his own school. He believed everyone should have a chance to get education whether they were rich or poor. He had about 3, 000 students and many of them became famous. Chinese see Confucius as the greatest thinker and also the greatest teacher. His most important ideas are kindness and good manners. He said young people should take care of the old. People should stop thinking of themselves and work for others. His ideas are around in people's everyday life. Today people can still hear them, and _ go far into east and south Asia. Confucius was good at _ when he was fifteen. A music B Chinese C math D other subjects Answer: A. music Which stimulus causes a porcupine to extend its quills? A lunar effect on Earth B seasonal temperature changes C threatening behavior by predators D environmental encroachment by humans Answer: C. threatening behavior by predators
It happened in one of those color1ful Danish inns which offer service specially for tourists and where English is spoken. I was with my father on a business-and-pleasure trip, and in our leisure hours we were having a wonderful time. "I wish Mother were here, " I said. "If your mother had come with us, " said Father, "it would have been wonderful to show her around." He had visited Denmark when he was a young man. I asked him, "How long is it since you were here?" "Oh, about thirty years. I remember being in this very inn, by the way." He looked around, remembering. "Those were pleasant and enjoyable days..." He stopped suddenly, and I saw that his face was pale. I followed his eyes and looked across the room to a woman who was setting drinks before some customers. She might have been pretty once but now she was fat and her hair was untidy. "Do you know her?" I asked. "I did once," he said. The woman came to our table. "Drinks?" she asked. "We'll have beer," I said. She nodded and went away. "I couldn't believe it! How she has changed! Thank heaven she didn't recognize me," father said in a low voice, mopping his face with a handkerchief. "I knew her before I met your mother," he went on. "I was a student, on a tour. She was a lovely young girl, very graceful. I fell madly in love with her, and she with me." "Does Mother know about her?" I said suddenly, without thinking. "Of course," Father said gently. He looked at me a little anxiously. I felt embarrassed for him. I said, "Dad, you don't have to..." "Your mother would tell you if she were here. I don't want you wondering about this. I was a foreigner to her family. I was dependent on my father. If she had married me, she wouldn't have had any prospects . So her father objected to our romance. When I wrote to my father that I wanted to get married he cut off my allowance . And I had to go home. But I met the girl once more, and told her I would return to America, borrow enough money to get married and come back for her in a few months." "We know," he continued, "that her father might stop and seize our letter, so we agreed that I would simply mail her a slip of paper with a date on it, the time she was to meet me at a certain place; then we'd get married. Well, I went home, got the loan and sent her the date. She received the note. She wrote me: 'I'll be there.' But she wasn't. Then I found that she had been married about two weeks before, to a local innkeeper. She hadn't waited." Then my father said, "Thank God she didn't. I went home, met your mother, and we've been completely happy. We often joke about that youthful love romance. I suggest that one day you write a story about it." The woman appeared with our beer. "You are from America? "she asked me. "Yes," I said. She smiled happily, "A wonderful country, America." "Yes, a lot of your countrymen have gone there. Did you ever think of it?" "Not me. Not now," she said. "I thought so one time, a long time ago. But I stayed here. It's much better here." We drank our beer and left. Outside I said, "Father, just how did you write that date on which she was to meet you." He stopped, took out an envelope and wrote on it. "Like this," he said. "12/11/13, which was, of course, December 11, 1913." "No!" I _ . "It isn't in Denmark or any European country. Over here they write the day first, then the month. So that date wouldn't be December 11 but the 12thof November!" Father passed his hand over his face. "So she was there!" he sighed, "and it was because I didn't show up that she got married." He was silent a while. "Well," he said, "I hope she's happy. She seems to be." As we continued walking I said, "It's a lucky thing it happened that way. You wouldn't have met Mother." He put his arm around my shoulders, looked at me with a heartwarming smile, and said, "I was doubly lucky, young fellow, for otherwise I wouldn't have met you, either!" When Father recognized the waitress as his old love, he was _ . A. very excited B. really shocked C. deeply regretful D. quite joyful Answer: B. really shocked Danger-junkie orangutans in Borneo climb dead trees and shake then until they begin to fall. They scream with excitement as they cling to the falling tree. Just before the tree hits the ground the orangutans leap to another tree or vine, narrowly escaping death. While no one cab ask orangutans if they enjoy it as a person playing an extreme sport, one animal behaviorist sees this monkey fun as a bit of harmless thrill-seeking. A growing number of scientists agree that animals are conscious and capable of experiencing basic emotions , such as happiness, sadness, boredom or depression. A few scientists even see the possibility for higher animal emotions like love, jealousy and spite. Five years ago, behaviorist and animal-rights activist Dr. Jonathan Balcombe stood on a Virginia hotel balcony watching two crows intimately groom each other in the comfort of an abandoned billboard. He felt that the birds liked what they were doing, even if engaged in a natural, beneficial act, such as picking parasites off the other's feathers. That moment changed the way he would view animals forever and led to a book, "Pleasurable Kingdom: Animals and the Nature of Feeling Good", which is filled with hundreds of examples of animals living it up thanks to developed senses of touch, taste, sight, sound and smell. Balcombe recounts a favorite example of Kenyan hippos having high-end spa treatment in a fresh water spring. They splay their toes, open their mouths wide and wait for a school of cleaner fish to remove parasites and slough off dead skin, he recalls. Balcombe knows that the hippos and the fish both benefit from this arrangement. "My interpretation is that it is also enjoyable for them ," he says. We can conclude from the passage that _ . A. only a few animals have emotions B. Balcombe's theory is not supported by other scientists C. Balcombe has watched a lot of animals showing emotions D. Balcombe can understand animal language Answer: C. Balcombe has watched a lot of animals showing emotions A couple from Minneapolis decided to go to Florida for a long weekend to warm themselves up during one particularly icy cold winter. They planned to stay at the very same hotel where they spent their honeymoon 20 years ago. They both had jobs, so it was decided that the husband would fly to Florida on a Thursday, and his wife would follow him the next day. Upon arriving as planned, the husband checked into the hotel. There he decided to open his laptop and send his wife an e-mail back in Minneapolis. However, he accidentally left off one letter in her address and sent the e-mail without noticing his error. In the same time: In Houston, a woman had just returned from her husband's funeral . He was a minister of many years who had been "called home to glory" following a heart attack. The woman checked her e-mail, expecting message from family and friends. Upon reading the first message, she fainted and fell to the floor. Her son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor and saw the computer screen which read: To: My Loving Wife From: Your Departed Husband Subject: I've arrived! I've just arrived and have been checked in. I see that everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing you then. Hope your journey is as uneventful as mine was. P.S. Sure is hot down here. Which of the following is true according to the text? A. The woman's husband died of a heart attack B. The woman liked to chat with her friends by e-mail C. The couple held their wedding in Florida 20 years ago. D. His wife wouldn't go to Florida for his error. Answer: A. The woman's husband died of a heart attack Once I complained to my husband that he wasn't helping enough with our daughter, and I gave him a long list of the parenting chores I was shouldering on my own. "But you like doing all that stuff," he said. I thought about that while reading a new study about the responsibilities of parenting. Researchers asked 191 college professors, both men and women, who had children 2 or younger, the pleasure they experienced from childcare. On 16 out of 25 childcare tasks--like taking a child to the doctor or buying clothes for a child--women reported statistically higher levels of enjoyment than men. The only parenting issue that gave women less pleasure than it gave men was having to manage who does what for the child. On the whole, women's scores were 10 percent higher than men's. Women are also far more likely to take advantage of family-leave benefits to care for children. In the study, all the universities offered paid family leave, and 69 percent of the women took it, while only 12 percent of the men did. In Sweden, where family leave for both parents is particularly generous, men use about 20 percent of the 480-day benefit. Women use nearly all of it. It's difficult to know how cultural and economic pressures or biological functions influence parenting. Plenty of men change diapers , and studies show that mothers and fathers alike spend more time with children than they used to. Men have more than doubled the time they spend on childcare since 1985. Yet women still spend twice as much time with the kids as men, says the University of Maryland sociologist John Robinson. Notably in the study, the parenting activity that gave men the most pleasure (and women, too) was playing and talking with their kids. But when men were asked to rate how often they actually did those things, their scores were about 10 and 40 percent lower than women's. In the end, perhaps the issue is not that mothers are doing too many childcare tasks--my husband was right when he said I liked being a mother--but that men, for all their progress as fathers, are still missing out. What is the main idea of the passage? A. Fathers should take more responsibility in childcare. B. Mothers gain more pleasure from childcare than men. C. Fathers are playing a more important part in childcare. D. Mothers should give fathers more chances to look after children. Answer: A. Fathers should take more responsibility in childcare. In most animals, combinations of various tissues make up functional units called A. epithelial cells. B. organs. C. organ systems. D. populations. Answer: B. organs.
Boris Worm of Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia ,prefix = st1 /Canada, led the international team that did the study . Professor Worm says species have recently been disappearing from oceans at increasing speed . At this rate , he says , all seafood species could collapse could collapse by 2048 . Other studies have also warned about the dangers of overfishing and the effects on ocean environments . But not everyone thinks the oceans are likely to be empty in fifty tears . Some scientists said parts of the world do have problems , but others are doing a good job of protecting fish populations . Government officals in several countries with large fishing industries also questioned the research . The study appeared earlier this month in Science magazine . The researchers say damage to oceans affects not only fish populations but also the productivity of ecosystems . These complex systems help control water quality . The scientists say the loss of different kinds of sea life appeared to increase the f fish kills and beach closures from harmful algae growth . The scientist examined the results of thirty-two experiments and observed forty-eight protected areas . They also looked at records of catches worldwide . They studied records from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization from nineteen fifty to two thousand three . And they examined archeological information and other historical records for twelve coastal areas . That research back over a thousand years . Boris Worm says the findings were , in his words , " beyond anything we suspected . " But he also said the situation is not too late to correct . He said that with good fisheries management , some species could completely recover in three to ten years . Which statement of the following is NOT TRUE about the research led by Boris Worm ? A It was conducted by scientists from different countries B It referred to information of many countries C It lasted from 1950 to 2003 D It referred to records dating back to over 1000 years ago Answer: C. It lasted from 1950 to 2003 When we look at the moon through a telescope , we can see lines and circles . People used to think that this was the moon's face and that there was a man in the moon! This is not true. There is no man in the moon. What do we know about the moon? First of all, the moon is much smaller than the earth. Days and nights on the moon are very long. One day on the moon is as long as two weeks on the earth. One night is also as long as two weeks on the earth. In the daytime the moon is very hot and at night is very cold. On the moon _ . A there is a man B there is a woman C there are a lot of people D there is no man Answer: D. there is no man Carrots are grown all over the world. They are easy to plant and easy to _ . They have a good taste. When people think about carrots, they usually think they are a kind of long, thin, orange-colored vegetable. In fact, carrots are in many different sizes and shapes. And not all carrots are orange. Carrots should be grown in a field that does not have water for a long time. The earth also should not be too hard. To prepare your carrot garden, dig up the earth and turn it over . Weather, soil condition , and time affect the taste of carrots. Warm days and cool nights are the best time to grow great delicious carrots. The best way to decide if a carrot is ready to be harvested is by its color. Usually, the brighter the color is, the better the taste is. Most people do not know that carrots can be grown during the winter months. If the winter is not cold enough to freeze the ground, you can grow carrots the same way as you do during the summer months. Carrots are prepared and eaten in many different ways. They are cut into thin pieces and cooked with other vegetables or meat. Or, they are washed, and eaten just as they come out of the ground. What can affect the taste of carrots? A Weather and tome B Weather and soil condition C Soil condition and time D Weather, time and soil condition Answer: D. Weather, time and soil condition Like all big cities, Paris has a traffic problem: lots of cars, lots of traffic jams and lots of pollution from exhaust fumes . So the city began a scheme to improve the situation. Under the Velib scheme('Velib' comes from velo liberte, or 'bicycle freedom') , people can take a bicycle, use it for as long as they want, and then leave it at the same or another bicycle station. The first half-hour on the bike is free, but if you don't return it after 30 minutes, you have to pay. But it's only [?]1 a day or [?]29 a year! The bicycles are heavy (25 kg), and they are all grey and have baskets. There are about 20,000 of them in the city, and around 1,450 bicycle stations. So there are a lot more Velib stations than the 298 subway stations! Paris is not the first city to have a scheme like this. But not everybody thinks it's a great idea. One Parisian said, "These bicycles are only for short journeys. If people want to travel across the city, they won't use a bicycle -- they'll still use their cars." A city spokesman said, "The bicycle scheme won't solve all our traffic problems, of course. But it might help reduce air pollution. Traffic, together with factory fumes, is a big problem. There aren't any simple answers to traffic problems and pollution in cities. But unless we do something now, there will be more traffic jams and temperatures will continue to rise, so the problems in our environment will get worse. The bikes might help people to lead a healthier life, too." Why do some people disagree with the Velib scheme? A The cost is rather high. B It's hard to find a Velib station. C It's not suitable for a long journey. D The distance between two Velib stations is long. Answer: C. It's not suitable for a long journey. Do you start your work by making a list of all you have to complete, from walking the dog and washing the clothes, to phoning a or checking your emails? Do you always take a list with you to the supermarket? Do you write down all the steps you need to see a big project through? If you're a natural list maker you can consider this habit as a good thing to do. Here are some reasons: Gives your memory a kick: Even if you pride yourself on remembering all you need to complete, it's only human to forget every once in a while. A to-do list is a handy reminder. Helps you stay in the moment: It sounds surprising, but true. Trying to mentally keep track of the things weighing on your mind can make it tougher to concentrate on the activity at hand. _ : Instead of carrying around a nagging nervousness that you've forgotten to take care of a chore, keeping an up-to-date list can help relieve that kind of stress. Helps planning: Most of us are likely to put off until tomorrow what we can do today, but keeping a list helps to keep this natural impulse at bay. Thinking about what has to be done in advance is a good way to prevent us from falling behind schedule. Prioritizes : Seeing everything we want to take care of allows us to prioritize and give the most time to the more important tasks. On the other hand, not having a to-do list makes it possible for us to spend too much time on unimportant items. Boosts happiness: You will feel very happy each time you check off a task you have completed on your list. Studies show that reaching your goal actually releases feel-good chemical in your brain that boosts happiness. The author introduces the topic to be discussed by _ . A asking a series of questions B presenting some simple facts C stating his own point of view D listing the benefits of a to-do list Answer: A. asking a series of questions
What do Napoleon, Clinton and Wang Nan have in common? They are all left-handed. Today about 15% of the people are left-handed. But why are people left-handed? The answer is the way the brain works. The brain has two halves---the right half and the left half. The right half controls the left side of the body, and the left half controls the right side of the body. So right-handed people have a strong left brain, and the left -handed people have a strong right brain. The two halves of the brain are about the same size. But each side controls different things. The left side controls language, Maths and logic . When you remember new words, or when you put things in order, you use your left side. The right side of the brain controls colour and music. It is also good at recognizing faces. This does not mean that all artists are left-handed and all accountants are right-handed. Some right-handers have a strong right brain, and some left-handers have a strong left brain. Which part of the body does the right half of the brain control? A The right side of the body. B The left side of the body. C The heart. D The language. Answer: B. The left side of the body. .British people are famous for drinking tea. But brother and sister, Sarah and Bobby Green, became young millionaires when they opened a chain of American-style coffee shops in the UK. Having the idea: It started when Sarah took a weekend trip to New York to visit her brother Bobby. One evening, in a Thai restaurant, Sarah told Bobby how much she wished she could buy American-style coffee in London. Bobby suggested they started their own coffee shop. Sarah fell in love with the idea. Doing the Research: Back in London, she spent a whole day on the London subway, getting off the train at different stations to taste the coffee. "It was terrible, and I knew there was a gap in the market." In 1995, they opened their first Coffee Republic shop in central London. Making it work: The first year was very difficult. British people were not used to the names of American coffees, like latte and macchiato. But being successful was their dream and they were not going to give up. Today, there are over 100 Coffee Republic shops all over the country and the company has PS30 million a year. Advice for others: Sarah has now written a best-selling book about their experience, calledAnyone Can Do It ! She hopes it will help other young people to start their own businesses. She says, "If you think you have the energy, then get out and follow your dream." Where are their Coffee Republic shops? A All over the UK. B All over the US. C In central London. D In New York. Answer: A. All over the UK. Believe it or not, optical illusion can cut highway crashes. Japan is a case in point. It has reduced automobile crashes on some roads by nearly 75 percent using a simple optical illusion. Bent strips, called chevrons , painted on the roads make drivers think that they are driving faster than they really are, and thus drivers slow down. Now the American Automobile Association Foundations For Traffic Safety in Washington D.C. is planning to repeat Japan's success. Starting next year, the foundation will paint chevrons and other patterns of stripes on selected roads around the country to test how well the patterns reduce highway crashes. Excessive speed plays a major role in as much as one fifty of all fatal traffic accidents, according to the foundation. To help reduce those accidents, the foundation will conduct its tests in areas where speed-related hazards are the greatest-curves, exit slopes, traffic circles, and bridges. Some studies suggest that straight, horizontal bars painted across roads can initially cut the average speed of drivers in half. However, traffic often returns to full speed within months as drivers become used to seeing the painted bars. Chevrons, scientists say, not only give drivers the impression that they are driving faster than they really are but also make a lane appear to be narrower. The result is a longer lasting reduction of highway speed and the number of traffic accidents. On roads painted with chevrons, drivers tend to feel that _ . A they should avoid speed-related hazards B they are driving in the wrong lane C they should slow down their speed D they are coming near to the speed limit Answer: C. they should slow down their speed I'm Dale.I'm a green and yellow pencil ease.What's this? Oh, it's Helen, a pen.And that's Frank, a ruler.Helen is black and Frank is blue.What's this in English? It's a jacket, a white jacket.Its name is Alice.What color is the key? Oh, it's black. ,. The jacket is _ . A Frank B Eric C Helen D Alice Answer: D. Alice I know that for many of you, today is the first day of school. Some of you are probably wishing it were still summer and you could have stayed in bed just a little bit longer this morning. But I'm here because I want to talk with you about your education and what's expected of all of you in this new school year. Every single one of you has something that you're good at. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That's the opportunity an education can provide. Maybe you could be a great writer, but you might not know it until you write that English paper that's assigned to you. Maybe you could be an inventor, but you might not know it until you do your project for your science class. I know it's not always easy to do well in school. I know a lot of you have challenges in your lives right now that can make it hard to focus on your schoolwork. But the circumstances of your life---what you look like, where you come form, how much money you have---none of these is an excuses for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude in school. I know that sometimes you get that sense form TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work---that your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star. Chances are you're not going to be any of those things. The truth is, being successful is hard. You won't lose every subject that you study. Not every homework assignment will seem completely relevant to your life right at this minute. And you won't necessarily succeed in everything the first time you try. Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who have had the most failure. J. K. Rowling's first Harry potter book was rejected 12 times before it was finally published. So I expect all of you to get serious this year. I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do. Which of the following statements is TRUE? A All people can become famous overnight. B You will be a great writer as long as you write English papers. C Whatever the circumstances, you should focus on study. D Every homework assignment is related to your life at this moment. Answer: C. Whatever the circumstances, you should focus on study.
It's a natural phenomenon. The minute you think you want to buy something new, you go online to read reviews about it. Not only is this done with shopping, it's also done for movies to see , restaurants to go to and almost everything that is worth having an opinion on. The concept of writing down a review for all to see is something that has caused the birth of reviews sites. These are sites where people post reviews on other people, services, businesses, products and more. In some cases you have professionals do the review and in some other cases you will have the average person write it up. Review sites have a number of ways in which they can gain _ for themselves in the form of advertising. In some cases, a business can pay his way through to a better listing spot. This does not mean that a positive review will be promoted where it is not warranted . Review sites are largely a public forum and it is not necessary for people to reveal their identity. Since people are anonymous and sign up access is open to all, there are chances that reviews will be planted or will be negatively written simply to discredit a particular product or service. There is a lot of criticism towards these websites since they do nothing to control the kind of entries made or the source of these entries. On the other hand, there are professional review sites. These people are accountable for each of their reviews. Any doubts you have will be addressed personally by the one writing the review. Such sites work on much better principles allowing for a fair opinion. Considering they have a better reputation, they are aware of some the latest products that are released worldwide. This gives you a better chance of finding reviews of the latest product. While a review site will help you narrow down your choice, it by no means should influence your final decision. That is based entirely on the way you see fit. This passage was written mainly to tell us _ . A to make good use of review sites B to consult something with reviewers C not to make a decision before reading reviews D not to believe some review sites Answer: A. to make good use of review sites We know the mosquito very well. Mosquitoes fly everywhere. They can be found almost all over the world, and there are more than 2,500 kinds of them. No one likes the mosquito. But the mosquito may decide that she loves you. She? Yes,she. It's true that male mosquito doesn't bite and only the female mosquito bites because she needs blood to lay eggs. She is always looking for things or people she wants to bite. If she likes what she finds, she bites. But if she doesn't like your blood,she will turn to someone else for more delicious blood. Next time a mosquito bites you,just remember you are chosen. You're different from the others! If the mosquito likes you,she lands on your body without letting you know. She bites you so quickly and quietly that you may not feel anything different. After she bites,you will have an itch on your body because she puts something from her mouth together with your blood. By the time the itching begins,and she has flown away. And then what happens? Well,after her delicious dinner,the mosquito feels tired. She just wants to find a place to have a good rest. There,on a leaf or a wall, she begins to lay eggs,hundreds of eggs. Which of the following sentences is wrong? A The itching begins after the mosquito bites you. B You feel terrible when the mosquito bites you. C Mosquitoes use blood to lay eggs. D All the mosquitoes don't like to bite people for blood. Answer: B. You feel terrible when the mosquito bites you. As Rosalie Warren stood at the mailbox in the lobby of her apartment building in May 1980, she shared the anxiety of many other college seniors. In her hand was an envelope containing her final grades. As she nervously opened it, Warren wondered whether her hundreds of hours of studying had paid off. They had. "I got five 'A's," she still recalls with elation. "I almost fell on the floor!" Warren would graduate from Suffolk University with a bachelor of science degree in philosophy and history at age 80.Three years later, at age 83, she would receive her second degree from Suffolk, a master's in education. Now, with both diplomas proudly displayed in her apartment, Warren is not finished with learning. "That's what I love." Warren was born Rosalie Levey on Aug.29, 1900. Two years after she entered high school, her father died. Warren had to leave school for factory work to help support her family's 10 children. Warren describes herself as a "person who always liked school," and she says the move "broke my heart completely because I couldn't finish high school." In the end, however, "I went to school nights," she recalls. "Any place I could find an outlet of learning and teaching, I was there." A short time later, her mother became ill, and Warren had to care for her, once again putting her education on hold. Finally, in 1921, her mother, now recovered, drew from her saving to send Warren to Boston University for two years to study typing, stenography, and office procedures. Those courses helped Warren gain several long-term office positions over the next 60 years, but her great desire "to be in the academic field" continued. In 1924, she married Eugene Warren, and seven years later, her daughter, Corinne, was born. In 1955, by then a widow and a grandmother, Warren took a bus tour across the United States that was to last nine months. She said she wanted to see "things you never see in the West End." When she returned home, she took a bookkeeping position and also enrolled in courses in philosophy, sociology And Chinese history. free program for senior citizens." I was at the registrar's office the very next day."she recalls. At first ,she took one or two courses at a time , but encouraged by her professors , she enrolled as a In 1975, when she was 75, Warren learned from a neighbor about Suffolk University's tuition- degree candidate. "I had not studied for so many years," she says, "but I was determined." For the next four years, Warren, who calls herself a "student of philosophy," worked toward her degree. Nancy Stoll, dean of students at Suffolk, says Warren is "an interesting role model for our younger students---that learning is a lifetime activity....She is genuinely enthusiastic about being here, and that permeates her activities and is contagious to students and faculty." What kind of work did she do for 60 years? A Studying B Factory work C Typing D Office work Answer: D. Office work Mr Smith likes to be exact . One day when he is walking in the street ,a woman comes and asks him, "Excuse me, where's the nearest bookshop?" "The nearest bookshop? You have to cross a bridge and then turn to the right. When you see a post office, turn left. You can see a shop between a bank and a school on your right." "Is it far?" "No, it is not far. You can go there on foot." "Is the bridge long?" "Yes, it's about thirty metres." The woman thanks him and goes towards(, ) the bridge. Suddenly she hears someone running after her."Stop!" Mr Smith shouts."I'm sorry. I just remember the bridge is forty metres long. If you go thirty metres and then turn to the right as I told you, you will fall into the river." Where does the woman want to go? A A bookshop. B A bank. C A post office. D A school. Answer: A. A bookshop. If you do not use your arms or your legs for some time, they become weak; when you start using them again, they slowly become strong again. Everybody knows that. Yet many people do not seem to know that memory works in the same way. When someone says that he has a good memory, he really means that he keeps his memory in practice by using it. When someone else says that his memory is poor, he really means that he does not give it enough chance to become strong. If a friend says that his arms and legs are weak, we know that it is his fault. But if he tells us that he has a poor memory, many of us think that his parents are to blame, and few of us know that it is just his own fault. Have you ever found that some people can't read or write but they have better memories? This is because they cannot read or write and they have to remember things; they cannot write them down in a little notebook. They have to remember days, names, songs and stories; so their memory is the whole time being exercised. So if you want to have a good memory, learn from the people: practise remembering. If you do not use your arms or legs for some time, _ . A you can't use them any more B they will become stronger C they become weak but they slowly become strong again D they become weak and won't become strong until you use them again Answer: D. they become weak and won't become strong until you use them again
A 12-year old boy who donated bone marrow to his dying sister and has raised more thanPS10,000 for charity has been named the UK's Family Hero of the Year. Adam Kerr, 12, from Armagh, Northern Ireland, also helps his mother care for his younger brother Brian, 9, who suffers from the genetic disease Fanconi's anaemia . But it is not the first hardship that has affected young Adam. When he was just six, he donated his own bone marrow to his younger sister Helen who suffered from a rare blood disorder. Sadly she developed complications and died a few months after the operation in 2005. Adam found it very difficult to be happy after Helen's death. So he decided to start raising money in memory of Helen to help local poor children and families with bereavement . Overall he has raised PS10,000 and he has no intentions of giving up. He organised a Fun Day to provide the money for a brother and sister from Northern Ireland to visit their sick brother having a bone marrow transplant in a London hospital. He received his award and a cheque forPS2,000 at an "Oscar's style" ceremony in London. Ms Phillips said: "Adam is an incredible young man. In his relatively short life he has faced real sadness and bad luck and yet he works tirelessly to make life better for others." The Awards were sponsored by the charity 4Children and Take a Break Magazine. Anne Longfield OBE, Chief Executive of 4Children said:"It's an honour to recognise Adam's devotion and self-sacrifice, and his bravery shows there is always reason for hope and optimism. There is so much unrecognized goodwill out there of people who do so much for others, and the inspiring winners of the Family Heroes Awards remind us how important it is for us all to do our best to make a difference in the lives of others." Which of the following is probably a name of an activity? Answer: A Fun Day It was a very different school from those in China. You're not met by imposing doors and concrete walls, and the buildings were inviting. On the front of the main building was inscribed "Lee Elementary School, 1904." Wow! I knew it was an old school. Surrounding the main building were five trailers . One of them was my classroom, 5T. The "T" stood for Mrs. Toalson, my 5th grade teacher. Mrs Toalson showed me to my seat. A girl sitting at my table greeted me. Her name was Regina, and she was a blonde girl from Ukraine. Her eyes were like diamonds, and we had met at a party two days before. During my first morning, we had math class, PE and science. We didn't even have a break! I wondered why? Mrs Toalson said to us: "Guys, line up for the bathroom break please!" All the kids stood up and went outside. I didn't know what "bathroom break" meant. Was it break time? Lunch time? I was confused. Nevertheless, we followed Mrs. Toalson to the main building. We sat in the hallway across from the bathroom. In Chinese, "bathroom" means the WC, and a "break" means having a rest! Gosh, I thought that was weird and why did we have to go to the bathroom together? "Mary and Regina, you may go." When we heard Mrs. Toalson, we went into the bathroom. The bathroom was clean, and it smelled like perfume. I asked Regina what if someone wanted to go to the bathroom during class time. She told me that there was a special pass called a "bathroom pass." All you had to do was raise your hand with the pass to let Mrs. Toalson know you need to go to the bathroom. Then you would be permitted to go. At 3:30pm, school ended for the day. Students put their textbooks in their cabinets and lined up in front of the change room, where they collected their backpacks and coats. As they walked out of the door, each student said "Good bye" and gave Mrs. Toalson a high five. "Did you have a good day today?" Mrs. Toalson asked me as she hugged me goodbye. "Sure!" I nodded. What does the author think of the first day in her new school? Answer: Satisfying. It is not just humans that get stuck in their ways. Scientists have discovered that old bees have trouble finding their way to new hives as their learning behavior becomes increasingly inflexible. Bees are typically impressive navigators, able to wind their way home through complex landscapes after visits to flowers far removed from their nests. But researchers from Arizona State University and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences found that aging damages the bees' ability to extinguish the memory of an unsuitable nest site even after the group has settled in a new home. To test how old bees adapt to a changed home location, researchers trained bees to a new nest box while their former nest was closed off. Groups composed of mature and old bees were given several days in which to learn the new home location and to extinguish the bees' memory of their unusable former nest box. The scientists then tore down the bees' new home and forced groups of mixed-age bees to choose between three alternative nest locations, including the former nest box. Old bees began flying toward the former nest site, despite the experience that should have told them that it was unusable. "Although many old bees fail in learning tasks, we also discovered that a few still perform with excellence," explains Daniel Minch, lead author of the study and a senior life sciences researcher in Norway. The scientists believe that their findings with bees offer a new means to model and understand the variability found in brain function between individuals, where some individuals' memories remain complete, while others' learning behavior becomes inflexible with age. Judging from the test ,which of the following is true? Answer: The test result offers a new means to understand the variability in brain function between individuals. Spring is a wonderful season to celebrate rebirth and new life. The long, cold winter is over. The weather is warmer and sunnier. The trees again have leaves and the flowers are blooming. The season represents hope, joy and beauty. At this time, many people think of this classical music piece -- Spring, which shows happiness. Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi wrote it in the seventeen hundred. However, not all songs about spring are happy. This song written and sung by K.D. Lang is about dreaming of spring in cold dark places. She recorded I Dream of Spring in 2008. Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein wrote It Might as Well Be Spring for the movie State Fair in 1945. Frank Sinatra sings it. It is a feeling of restlessness or excitement brought on by the coming of spring. Richard Rodgers also wrote Spring Is Here, this time with Lorenz Hart. Ella Fitzgerald sings this song about feeling lonely during this season. Frank Loesser wrote the sad song, Spring Will be a Little Late This Year. Why has the season been delayed? Because the singer's lover has left her. Sarah Vaughn released her version of the song in 1953. By now you may be thinking, "Enough with the sad songs, already!" Ok, then how about a cowboy song? Gene Autry was one of America's most famous singing cowboys. He recorded When It's Springtime in the Rockies in 1937. And finally, we'll leave you with a sunny song called Up Jumped Spring. Freddie Hubbard wrote this jazz song in 1977 and Billy Taylor Trio performs it. According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE? Answer: Lang. Ecoworld Discovery Centre The future is here at Ecoworld Discovery Centre! Class for children! Hands-on games, challenging and fun! Discover the environmental world in an exciting and educational way. Special activities for different ages. Organic gardens! Find out how to protect the environment in your own back garden! Learn practical and exciting tips to follow at home. Find out what live under the grass and in the trees! Wind turbine tower! Climb the 500 steps to the top of the 85-metre wind turbine tower and see the amazing view of Carlstown and the river beyond. For a little more charge, go on a special tour of the machine room(children under 12 not allowed without an adult). Gift shop and restaurant! Amazing gifts for all the family, each one specially chosen by our team of eco experts! The restaurant has a great choice of food and drinks, with a wide selection of vegetarian dishes available. There is access for wheelchair users to both the gift shop and the restaurant, and large print food menus for visitors with poor eyesight. Picnic area and free parking every day. KIDS-Special meals at reduced prices! Opening time: April 1st--- September 30th. Monday-Friday 10 am-6pm, Weekends 10am-7pm. October 1st---March 31st. Monday-Friday 10am-2pm, Weekends 10am-4pm. Tel: 01882-7092, Fax:01882-7093 At what time does the centre close on Monday in April? Answer: 6pm.
Question: Hello! I am Tommy. This is my classroom . 33 desks and 32 chairs are in it. These are my desk and chair. They are yellow. What's on the desk? It's my backpack. It's green. What's on the chair? It's my jacket. It's blue. What's under the desk? It's a white school ID card. Is it my school ID card? No, it's David's. His name is on it. Is it a hat under the chair? Yes, it is. It's my new hat. It's black. My mother buys it for me. ,. _ chairs are in Tommy's classroom. A. 34 B. 33 C. 32 D. 31 Answer: C. 32 Question: A California man who was feeling sick almost died recently from a shocking cause. 26-year-old Luis Ortiz went to a hospital because of a headache and nausea(,). When doctors examined him, they were shocked to find a tapeworm larva in his brain. The story gets stranger. The larva was still alive. The creature had caused a cyst to form inside his head. The cyst was restricting the flow of liquids to different areas of his brain. The situation was so serious that doctors said they had to perform an emergency operation to remove the larva. A doctor who operated on Ortiz told him he had only 30 minutes to live. When the doctor pulled the worm out of his head, it was still moving. Luis Ortiz was a student at California State University in Sacramento. He began experiencing headaches in late August. But Ortiz said he did not think the headaches were serious. In September, he visited a friend and his parents in another city. That is when the pain got worse. His mother saw Ortiz throwing up and took him to a hospital emergency room. The doctors saved Ortiz's life. However, the surgery also affected him. Ortiz had to drop out of school and move back home. For now, he is not permitted to work or drive a vehicle. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the U.S. has about 1,000 reported cases of tapeworms each year. The CDC adds that tapeworms are more common in developing countries with poor public health systems. The best way to avoid a tapeworm infection is to wash fruits and vegetables. Also, make sure meat is cooked thoroughly. The CDC suggests cooking all meats to an internal temperature of at least 63 degrees Celsius. What caused Luis Ortiz to feel sick and headaches? A. Dirty food eaten in August. B. Travelling for a long way, C. A living creature in his brain. D. Uncooked meat eaten by him. Answer: C. A living creature in his brain. Question: An allowance is an important tool for teaching kids how to budget, save and make their own decisions. Children remember and learn from mistakes when their own dollars are lost or spent foolishly. How large an allowance is appropriate? Experts say there is not right amount. Actual amounts differ from region to region, and from family to family. To set an appropriate allowance for your child, work up a weekly budget. Allow for entertainment expenditures such as movies and snacks. Next, include everyday expenses such as lunch money, bus fare, school supplies. "If you make the child responsible for these ' ills'," says Josephine Swanson, a consumer specialist, " he or she will learn to budget for necessary expenditures." Finally, add some extra money to make saving possible. If you can, keep your child's allowance in line with that of his friends. A child whose purchasing power falls away below his peers' can feel left out. It can be tough, but avoid excusing your children when they make a mistake with their allowance. When Brooke Stephens was ten and growing up in Jacksonville, her mother gave her $5 a week, $1.75 of which was for bus fare and lunch." If you lose your money," Brooke's mother told her, "you walk home." One week the girl spent all her allowance in a candy store, then she called home for a ride. " Mom made me walk home," recalls Stephens, now a financial planner in Brooklyn. " At first I was angry. But I finally realized that she was trying to teach me an important lesson. " Experts advise that an allowance should not be tied directly to a child's daily chores. Kids should help around the house not because they get paid for it but because they share responsibilities as members of a family. You might, however, pay a child for doing extra jobs at home, which can develop his or her initiative. The author implies in the passage that _ . A. paying children for their housework is no good B. a child's initiative can be developed if he or she is paid for all the housework C. children may feel lost and lonely if they have no pocket money D. children may learn to put aside some money if they are given a great amount of pocket money Answer: A. paying children for their housework is no good Question: It is important that you make a good impression at work. If you make a good impression on your boss, he or she is more likely to give you more responsibilities which can lead to promotions and raises. Here are some ways to make a good impression at work. Use Proper Office Etiquette Using proper manners will help you make a good impression on your boss and also your co-workers. Office etiquette includes everything from the proper way to e-mails to knowing when, where, and how to use your cell phone at work. Face up to Your Mistakes When you make a mistake at work, which everyone inevitably does at some points, face up to it. Don't ignore your error or place the blame on others. Take responsibility and come up with a solution to fix your mistake. Your boss may not be too happy about it, but she will at least be impressed with your response. Know to Call in Sick Do you think coming to work when you are sick instead of staying at home will impress your boss? Reasonable bosses know that a sick employee not only is unproductive but also he or she can spread an illness around the office. Call in sick when you are ill. Come Through in a Crisis When the unexpected happens at work, who will make a better impression on the boss? Of course it's the employee who deals with the crisis quickly and effectively. What should you do if you make a mistake at work? A. Try to ignore the mistake. B. Put the blame on others. C. Think out a solution to your mistake. D. Leave the company as soon as possible. Answer: C. Think out a solution to your mistake. Question: From the very beginning, Martin felt that he was bound up with(......)his lovely little patient. One day, following some tests , Betty gave the doctor a big hug . A few months later the doctor removed not only the tumour , but also the entire lower left side of Betty's gum and jawbone. Because Betty was so young, Martin was hopeful that her jawbone might regenerate. Within three months, Betty's tumour grew as large as an orange, changing the natural appearance of the left side of her small, delicate ( =" thin;" not strong)face. Soon she couldn't even close her mouth, and as her eating problems worsened, Betty 's weight dropped from 20 kilos to 15. Martin knew from experience that it might invade the brain. The only other possibility was thorough radiation therapy . Night after night, Betty's father gave her injection, but the tumour remained as big as ever. Then one evening. Morgan noticed that the tumour had begun to change. It was actually becoming smaller! For two months her tumour appeared to be going away for ever. In the coming months, Betty's tumour continued to appear. She was able to eat solid food once again. Her jawbone was regenerating. The tumour was gone. What did the doctors do two months later? A. They continued their observations. B. They gave up the operation on Betty. C. They found out what caused Betty's strange disease. D. They declared that Betty's strange disease was cured. Answer: B. They gave up the operation on Betty.
In ancient Japan, if you saved someone's life, they would make it their duty to spend the rest of their life serving you. Nowadays, if you rescue someone's story, he or she will feel the same kind of gratitude . It happens all the time. Someone in a group is telling a story and, just before their big point, BOOM! There's an interruption. Someone new joins the group, a waiter with a plate of biscuits comes over, or a baby starts crying. Suddenly everyone's attention turns to the new arrival, the food on the plate, or the "charming" little child. Nobody is aware of the interruption -- except the speaker. They forget all about the fact that the speaker hasn't made his or her point. Or you're all sitting around the living room and someone is telling a joke. Suddenly, just before his big punch line , little Johnny drops a dish or the phone rings. After the crash, everyone talks about little Johnny's carelessness. After the call, the subject turns to the upcoming marriage or medical operation of the caller. Nobody remembers the great punch line got unfinished -- except the joke teller. When it's you entertaining everyone at a restaurant, have you ever noticed how you can almost set your clock by the waiter coming to take everyone's order just before your funny punch line? Most joke and story tellers are too shy to say, after the interruption, "Now, as I was saying..." Instead, they'll spend the rest of the evening feeling bad they didn't get to finish. Here's where you come in. Rescue them with the technique I call "Lend a Helping Tongue." Watch the gratitude in the storyteller's eyes as he stabilizes where his story sunk and he sails off again toward the center of attention. His expression and the appreciation of your consideration by the rest of the group are often reward enough. You are even more fortunate if you can rescue the story of someone who can hire you, promote you, buy from you, or otherwise lift your life. Big winners have excellent memories. When you do them subtle favors like Lend a Helping Tongue, they find a way to pay you back. Very often, a storyteller cannot make his point because _ . Answer: he is interrupted by something unexpected Life on Mars could become a reality and it could happen in your lifetime. A welcoming planet Scientists say Earth's neighbor Mars, a bright red planet about half Earth's size, is the most likely to support human life. Mars even has frozen water on its surface. Since the late 1990s, NASA has been exploring Mars using remote-controlled vehicles . Most recently Curiosity, a car-size vehicle, traveled through space on an unpiloted spacecraft and landed on Mars in August 2012. Directed by NASA scientists , the vehicles move on the surface, taking pictures , collecting and analyzing soil, and looking for signs of life. But what about human explorers? Plans are already in the works to send astronauts to Mars as soon as the mid-2030s. _ But before you start packing your bags, let's consider the challenges. For starters, Mars is far away. Just getting there could take up to 10 months. Scientists already know that time away from Earth's gravity harms the human body. Bones and muscles get weaker. The body produces less blood. What damage would months and months of living in space do? And then there is the matter of water, oxygen, food and fuel. Scientists will have to find solutions to these problems, or the first humans on Mars won't survive very long in their new home. Tiny Dangers There's another tinier risk. It's so tiny that you can't even see it: germs. Some scientists believe that our germs could pollute the whole planet of Mars. Potentially killing Martian life before we have the chance to discover it. Worse, there is a small but terrifying chance that any microscopic life already there might be harmful to us . Worse still, if any of those Martian germs were brought back to Earth, the result could be disastrous. Animals, plants, and people could be wiped out. Worth the $$$? A more practical concern is the cost. The price could approach $ 1 trillion . How can we justify spending that much when so many problems--poverty, disease--could use the cash here on Earth? By "Tiny dangers" the author means _ . Answer: the danger may be caused by very small things How do moose use a learned behavior to protect themselves? Answer: They roll in a pool of muddy water to avoid fly bites. How do you feel when you stay in hospital alone? Jenny, 13, a US student, feels bored. She knows the feeling because she has been in hospital many times herself. One day, she thought of an idea--if patients could get some books to read, they would feel better. So, from May, she and many of her friends began to collect books for hospital patients. In six months the students collected 1,250 books at school. They decided to donate the books to the North Shore Medical Centre, a children's hospital next door to their school. "There are books for kids of all ages, from babies up to high school level." said Jenny. The students put the books into "early readers", "middle readers" and "advanced readers". Then they wrote their best wishes to patients on bookmarks and letters, put the books in big boxes and donated them to the hospital. "We wrote things like, "Keep on reading!' and 'Hope you feel better!," said John, 14, Jenny's brother. "And we also wrote some funny things to make them laugh." Frank, 12, and Steven, 14, helped carry 16 large boxes of books into a car. "I think these books will make me a lot of patients feel happy." said Frank. Steven shared his opinion. "It is really the most meaningful thing that I have ever done in my life." From the article, we can learn that _ . Answer: Jenny and her friends were willing to help bored patients what could it be indicative of, if an animal's fur has grown thicker? Answer: the hemisphere could be facing away from the sun
The way we get about has a deep influence on the way we live-affecting where we set up home, work and holiday. So what changes might come in the way we get around? What big ideas are out there, and do they have any chance of coming true? Personal Air Travel The idea: flying cars Developments in light small plane technology will make it possible for everyone to own what are, in fact, flying cars. They will have closed cabins, heating, stereos and room for two people. You will take off from a field near your home and fly to towns and cities. After landing, you will take off the fixed wing and continue your journey by road just as if you were traveling by car. Fuel efficient engines and the advantage of being able to travel in the sky will keep costs and the environmental influence down. Flying for Fun The idea: Jet Packs The idea was a hit when a stuntman flew around on one during the opening ceremony of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, which was very successful. You'll be able to use the equipment-roughly the size of two scuba tanks fastened to your back-for short journeys. They will be handy for cleaning hard-to-reach windows, arriving in style at a party and shopping. Taxis The idea: driverless taxis These computer-controlled taxis will take you wherever you want along a fixed route, whenever you want to go. For the price of one person's bus fare, several people can ride at speeds of up to 25 mph, and there will be fences to guard against accidents. There will be little, if any, wait for the use of the taxis, which will leave from stations and will be used by prepaid cards. The taxis, which will travel on a 1.5 m-wide track, will use 75% less energy per passenger than a car and 50% less than a bus. With Jet Packs, we can do all the following EXCEPT _ . A attend a party B clean high windows C go shopping D have a long journey Answer: D ONE day my 5-year-old daughter, Mini, ran to the window crying: "A Cabuliwallah ! A Cabuliwallah!" In the street below was a Cabuliwallah, passing slowly along. Mini called him loudly but when he looked at her she ran away scared. Shortly after this, the two became friends. They started to hang out together, laughing and talking. Mini's new friend would give her raisins and almonds , spending the little money he had on her. The two of them enjoyed joking together. The Cabuliwallah, who was called Rahmun, would say: "Well, little one, when are you going to the father-in-law's house?" Mini did not understand this and was puzzled. One morning, I heard uproar in the street, and saw Rahmun being led away by the police. There were bloodstains on his clothes. I gathered that a neighbor had owed Rahmun money for a shawl but had falsely denied having bought it, and that in the course of the quarrel Rahmun had struck him. On a charge of murderous assault , Rahmun was sentenced to jail. Time passed, and he was not remembered. Mini grew up and we were making arrangements for her wedding. I was sitting in my study when someone entered. It was Rahmun, the Cabuliwallah, released from prison. Barely recognizable now, he asked to see Mini and said that all those years ago she had reminded him of his own daughter in Kabul. It was his belief that Mini was still the same. He had pictured her running to him calling "Cabuliwallah!". He had imagined that they would laugh and talk together. In fact, he had brought her, wrapped up in paper, a few almonds and grapes. The two were reunited but Mini had grown up. She now understood the meaning of the word "father-in-law," and when he made this joke once more she flushed up at the question. He could not revive their old friendship. When Rahmun left, I gave him a bank note, saying: "Go back to your own daughter, and may the happiness of your meeting bring good fortune to my child!" Having made this present, I had to give up the electric lights and the military band I had intended for the wedding and the ladies in the house were disappointed. But to me the wedding feast was all the brighter for the thought that in a distant land a long-lost father met again with his child. Adapted from Tagore's short novel The Cabuliwallah Why was Rahmun put into prison? A He hurt a man. B He stole a shawl. C He cheated his neighbor. D He was dishonest in his business. Answer: A What makes a house a home? Not size, of course. I've been in some of the grandest houses in prefix = st1 /America, and it's clear no one lives there. Earlier this year, I had dinner in a mud hut inEthiopia, where we sat on chairs next to the hostess' bed -- a home that had more warmth than any house I've been in since. Now John Edwards is exploring what makes a house a home in his just-released Home: The Blueprints of Our Lives. There Edwards writes, "This isn't a book about houses; it's a book about homes. About the values they rest on, the dreams they are filled with, and the people they have shaped," Edwards writes. "The houses and circumstances are different, but much of what you find inside will be familiar." Whether you're sitting in an airport flight now, waiting to fly to your childhood home for Thanksgiving, or in your own home waiting for the s to arrive, you know what he's talking about. We've lived in our townhouse for 21 years. It's home now. The loose windows that shake in the wind. The fireplace so shallow it holds only one log. The kitchen window that offers a view of the world passing by. It's where friends sit on the kitchen counter drinking wine while dinner is being fixed. I lived there for only 18, but it will always be my true home. Even the lamp in the west living room window, which I could see far down the road when driving home late at night, still shines. While all this talk about childhood memories can be warm and comforting, home is whom you're with, not where you are. As Edwards writes, "Home is family. Home is safety. Home is faith." Happy homecoming. What did the author mean when he mentioned the loose windows and the shallow fireplace? A His house was too old to live in. B He missed the feelings of home. C He hated living there. D He missed his old friends too much. Answer: B Recently I went to the Tsavo National Park in northern Kenya for a film. We set off early for a distant water hole. A huge elephant,covered with dry mud,drank calmly and deeply. He might have traveled 50 km to reach the water. He wasn-t going to hurry now. He-d drink a while and then rest in the shade, and then drink again-or so we thought. What actually happened was that he drank deeply and stepped away. Then he suddenly fell down. Within minutes he was dead. We called animal doctor Jeremiah Poghon immediately. He removed the head of a poisoned arrow from the eLephant s body,and let out over 100 litters of pus -the result of the elephants meeting with a poacher months before. Today's poacher shoots from a blind. He fires an arrow,covered with poison,into the body of an elephant. If the poacher is lucky,the elephant might die in an hour or two; if not,he might have to follow the elephant for days before it dies. Often the arrow head fails to kill the elephant at once-it doesn't mean the poison won't finally kill the elephant,but it will be a slow death. Living in Tsavo through these times,l could see the results of poaching from time to time. When I think about the death of that elephant,what stays with me is the extraordinary silence after the shocking sound of his body hitting the ground. I took some comfort from the knowledge that as the dead body returned to the soil,some animals would benefit-but I couldn't escape the feeling that with the death of such a large animal,the world seemed a poorer and emptier place. How does the author feel when thinking about the elephant s death? A Embarrassed. B Funny. C Upset. D Relieved. Answer: C King's College Summer School is an annual training program for high school students at all levels who want to improve their English. Courses are given by the teachers of King's College and other colleges in New York. Trips to museums and culture centers are also organized. This year's summer school will be from July 25 to August 15. M ore information is as follows: Application date Students in New York should send their applications before July 18, 2007. Students of other cities should send their applications before July 16, 2007. Foreign students should send their applications before July 10, 2007. Courses English Language Spoken English: 22 hours Reading and Writing: 10 hours American History: 16 hours American Culture: 16 hours Steps A letter of self-introduction A letter of recommendation The letters should be written in English with all the necessary information. Cost Daily lessons: $200 Sports and activities: $100 Travels: $200 Hotel service: $400 You may choose to live with your friends or relatives in the same city. Please write to: Thompson, Sanders 1026 King' s Street New York, NY 10016, USA E-mail: KC-Summer-School@yahoo.com You can most probably read the text in _ . A a textbook B a newspaper C a travel guide D a science report Answer: B
Each of us would like to be trusted by parents, because we all want to get freedom. Parents are more likely to give us our freedom if they trust us. If you want your parents to trust you more, you have to show them through your actions. Let your parents know what's going on at school and with your friends. If you truly can be trusted, then you have nothing to hide, right? Keep your bedroom door open when you are back. Do not be crazy when they see what you are looking at on the Internet. Invite your friends to your house to meet your parents. When you do something wrong, it can break trust. Broken trust takes a long time to rebuild. It's not easy dealing with your parents when you've broken their trust. But, it can be done. It's not talking about groveling and sweet-talking them into trust. I'm talking about getting them to respect you again. I find it easy to make the mistake of no telling my parents things I've done wrong, hoping they won't find out. There are lots of reasons: I don't want to get into trouble; I don't want them to be disappointed or get mad at me; I don't want to lose their trust; I don't think they will ever find out. And the list goes on and on. But they find out somehow, and then you're in hot water. Of course, even if Mom and Dad never find out, you still know about. Most parents will respect you more for coming to them and telling them yourself. Doing so shows honesty, responsibility and maturity . If you can't tell them face to face, you can try writing a note. Trust can't be built in a day or even a week, but you can gradually do things to help your parents build trust in you. What should you do if your parents don't trust you according to the passage? A Talk to them in a sweet voice. B Tell them not to be disappointed. C Introduce your friends to them. D Get their respect and trust by actions. Answer: D Everyone has an ambition to travel. But those who cannot do so themselves might find it interesting to work in a travel agency, arranging journeys for other people. Brian Lawtey does this, working in a small travel agency in an industrial city. Most of his work is concerned with holiday, both at home and abroad. Every autumn, the agency sends out hundreds of booklets full of attractive, color1ed photographs, describing the holidays that their customers will be able to have the next year. Soon, people begin to come into the office to book their holidays: perhaps a week's skiing in prefix = st1 /Austriain January, perhaps a cruise to the Caribbean in February, perhaps a seaside holiday inSpainin May, or a tour of Africa. Brian often has to advise people on what holidays will be suitable for them, and they always have a lot of questions. Last year, for example, a lady of eighty-two wanted to book for a mountaineering holiday in the Alps, and Brian had great difficulty in persuading her that it would not be suitable. In the end, she decided to go for a Mediterranean cruise instead. Arranging journeys for people who have to travel abroad on business is often very complicated, but Brian enjoys this work. For example, last spring Mr. Perry,a director of chemical firm, went on a business trip, and Brian arranged it all for him. First, Mr. Perry traveled to Londonby trainband stayed overnight in a hotel near the airport, because his plane left early the next morning. He flew to Frankfurt inGermany, where he spent the morning discussing business. Then he went on by train toZurich, where he stayed the night. After a meeting the next morning, he caught a plane for Tokyo, and spent three days there before going toAmerica. He had business in Seattle, Chicago andNew York, and stayed some time in each of those places. From New York, he flew back toLondon,and then got home by train. The next day he telephoned the agency to thank Brian for arranging everything so well for him. Who would like to work in a travel agency? A People who live in an industrial city. B People who would like to travel but cannot. C Ambitious people. D People who go on holidays abroad. Answer: B Americans plan parties for many reasons. As in other cultures, many Americans attend parties for weddings and religious or national holidays. But some parties are especially American. For example, a group of neighbors may gather on their street to eat food, play music and visit with one another. This is called a block party. A woman might invite a group of women to a party called a baby shower for a friend who is about to give birth. Guests bring presents for the new baby. Americans also attend tailgate parties. A tailgate is the back end of a truck or other vehicle that opens down. The tailgate parties are a big part of sports culture in the United States. Friends bring food and drink to a sports event. They eat together in the parking area of the sports stadium. Birthday parties are also very popular. Many parents organize a party for their child around a theme. Birthday parties usually include gifts and a birthday cake with candles. In many parts of the United States, cupcakes have become a popular replacement for cakes. Birthday parties can be low cost or very costly. Some parents take their children's birthday parties very seriously, even when the child is too young to fully understand the celebration. One group of parents started a website called Birthdays Without Pressure. They decided that some parents were under too much social pressure to plan costly parties for their children. The group sees this movement as an example of America's culture of "too much stuff". The group's website gives suggestions on how to keep birthday celebrations simple, meaningful and fun without spending a lot of money. Their advice may be very helpful during this period of economic recession . How many kinds of parties does the passage mention? A 5. B 6. C 7. D 8. Answer: C I could fill a book with embarrassing situations I've been in over the years. These moments used to haunt me and my face would turn as red as a big tomato. It wasn't until I was in my late teens, working at a hotel that things changed for me. I took a year off in between high school and university, because like many people my age I had ly no idea what I wanted to do, and I didn't want to waste $ 5,000 on a university tuition . I tried to keep silent at my new job, avoiding the other employees. All of them didn't care about me except for one girl. She kept at me, telling me stories of her weekend and how she loved snowboarding, something I was interested in as well. She was the type of warm personality where people were immediately drawn to her, and soon enough I found myself looking forward to our coffee breaks and snowboarding after work. The more I hung out with her, the more I realized that this girl, who seemed to have it all together, was in fact just like me, except for one major difference. She laughed at herself. One night after work we were snowboarding and she fell down carelessly resulting in a mouth full of snow. Instead of getting embarrassed she jumped right up laughing loudly at how ridiculous she must have looked. As time went on, her warm personality began to wear off on me and soon enough I had a mini-breakthrough. I'm not saying that I no longer find myself in embarrassing situations; I've just learned how to handle them differently. Just a few months ago I walked out of a bathroom unaware of the fact that my skirt was tucked in my underwear. But instead of rushing back to the bathroom I calmly pulled it out and continued on my way shaking my head and smiling. Why did the author work at a hotel before going to university? A She wanted to make enough money for her higher education. B She wanted to change her personality before going to university. C She wanted to get some work experience. D She wanted to find a clear aim for her higher education. Answer: D Long long ago, there was a man who lived in a village. One day, he went to a market and did some shopping. He suddenly found two boxes. Both the two boxes were very beautiful and the man fell in love with them at the first sight. So he bought them. After he got home, he didn't know how to use the boxes. He thought it over and decided to do something special. He decided to put all of his happiness in the yellow box and all of his sadness in the black box. He thought that it was funny to do that. A few days later, the yellow box was very heavy, but the black box was still light. He didn't know why. He decided to open the two boxes and found out the truth. He opened the yellow box and found nothing. Then he opened the black box and saw a hole at the bottom. Then he smiled to himself and said, "Happiness is for me. Let sadness go." What's the best title for the passage? A The Yellow Box B A good Market C A Silly Man D Two Boxes Answer: D
Expand your knowledge of natural history! The University of Michigan Exhibit Museum is located on central campus in the historic Alexander B.Ruthven Museums Building.With over 300displays on four floors,the museum offers unlimited opportunities for discovery.Exhibits,artifacts and habitat scenes help you expand your knowledge of prehistoric life,wildlife,geology,astronomy and more. Hours and Admission Fees The museum is open 9am to 5pm Tuesday through Saturday and 1pm to 5pm on Sunday.The museum is closed on Mondays and major holidays.There is no general admission fee for individuals. Groups All groups of more than 10must make reservations to visit the museum at least two weeks in advance,even if the group is only planning to browse in the museum on an"unguided visit".Unguided visits can be arranged for any day the museum is open.Groups may schedule guided tours,multimedia shows,and planetarium shows for any day Tuesday through Friday.Call the reservation desk at 313-555-1234between 9am to 4pm to make group reservations. Parking Parking is available in many of the nearby public parking structures for a $5.00daily fee.Buses may park in the museum lot only on weekends.Parking is free in the museum lot. Museum Shop The Exhibit Museum Shop is located on the basement level of the museum.The shop carries items for children and adults,including rocks,minerals,fossils,books,a variety of dinosaur merchandise,T-shirts and posters.A subscription to the quarterly Newsletter of the Exhibit Museum is also available there. Planetarium Shows The planetarium is located on the fourth floor of the Exhibit Museum.On weekends,regularly scheduled planetarium shows are open to the general public.Show topics change seasonally.Currently showing:"The Brightest Stars"(no age limits) Sat.at 10:30and 11:30;"The New Solar System"(for age 8 up) Sat.at 12:30and 3:30; Sun.at 2:30.Tickets are 2.5per person.Planetarium shows are free for members of the Exhibit Museum Club. When could you and your 7-year-old son see a planetarium show together? Have you ever heard of blogs ? If you haven't, you should have. It's here, it's growing and it's having an influence on our life. Surf the Internet and you'll find blogs everywhere. A blog, shortened from "weblog", is a public Internet journal written by one person or a group of people. It is a website in which a person or a group can place news, personal thoughts, text, photos, video or audio files, or links upon which visitors can comment. A blog lets you post on the Internet without having to know web design or be technical. You are given an environment to make dated entries on the topic of your choice which are "published", so other people can read them. Authoring a blog, maintaining a blog or adding an article to an existing blog is called "blogging". Blogging has revolutionized Internet publishing in the last several years because it gives everyone with Internet access the opportunity to become an online writer. Objects, such as "text and photos" in a blog can be called "blog posts", "posts", or "entries". The person who posts these entries is called a "blogger". Now, somewhere around the world, a blog is created almost every 6 seconds. Because it's great potential, Bill Gates views it as important as e-mail, BBS, and MSN. He's trying to make blogs the important tools for future business communications. According to the passage, the reason why blogs are so popular is that they _ . Which is true about the Sun and Earth? You may have heard the popular saying, "there are always more fish in the sea". But as many new studies show, fish populations are changing, and not necessarily for the better. Consider the case of big, predatory fish. These giants, like sharks and cod , eat other smaller fish. Big fish are an important part of the marine ecosystem because they keep down the numbers of smaller fish. Without fish that eat other fish, populations of smaller swimmers would increase, eating more plants, and leaving less vegetation for other creatures, including future fish. As fierce as predators can be, they're no match for fishing technology. Many people love to catch predatory fish like sharks, cod and tuna, and new studies suggest that over-fishing is threatening these creatures near the top of the marine food chain. In one study, Villy Christensen and his colleagues looked at 200 past studies of marine life to learn how fish populations have changed over time. Christensen reported that between 1910 and 1970, the numbers of big predators decreased slowly, and that in 1970 their populations really started to drop. Around that time, fishing ships began using new tools that led to more fish being caught. The numbers have been falling quickly ever since. Reg Watson looked at the problem from the perspective of the fishermen. In the middle of the 20thcentury, Watson reported, fishing boats didn't go far from home, and most fish were caught near the shore. That was no longer true by the 1980s. By then, fishing had moved farther from shore, into the open oceans, and was helped by the development of new technologies. But since the 1990s, something has changed. Despite new technologies and more efforts, fishing operations have not continued to develop. Scientists study historical data to understand the present, and this research is needed to forecast the future of fish and fishing. And the forecast doesn't look good: large predator fish are becoming harder to find, and soon may disappear. Which of the following would scientists most probably agree with? The 92-year-old, thin, calm and proud lady, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, even though she is nearly blind, moved to a nursing home today. Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the hall of the nursing home, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready. As she walked slowly to the elevator, I provided a true description of her tiny room, including the old sheets that had been hung on her window. "I love it," she said with the happiness of an eight-year-old girl having just been presented with a new puppy. "Mrs. Jones, you haven't seen the room...just wait." "That doesn't matter," she replied. "Happiness is something you decide ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged. It's how I arranged my mind. I have already decided to love it. It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away." She went on to explain, "Old age is like a bank account. You take what you've put in. So, my advice to you would be to put in a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories. Thank you for your part in filling my memory bank." And with a smile, she said, "All my memories are happy ones." Mrs. Jones was always happy in the nursing home and she died at the age of 108. Mrs. Jones was very happy when told about her room because she _ .
My students often tell me that they do not have "enough time" to do all their homework. My response often is "You have as much time as the president." I usually carry on a bit about there being twenty-four hours in the day for everyone, and suggest that "not enough time" is not an acceptable explanation of not getting something done. Once in graduate school, I tried to prove to my professor that I was working hard. His answer was "That's irrelevant .What's important is the quality of your work." That led me to a new idea: the quality of the work, which is perhaps best explained in a sign: "Don't work harder. Work smarter." If you can't get more time, as few of us can, the only solution is to improve the quality of your work. That means improving ways to get more out of the same time. That should lead us to an analysis of our work habits, which for students should be read as "study habits". Then as a smart student, you will seek to improve those skills that you use in study, chiefly reading and writing. If you can, it will pay off in all your subjects. As to improving reading, one suggestion is to take a quick nap when you feel reading puts you to sleep, which later helps you read better. The second solution is to speed up. But there are other issues. First, you need to find a place where you can work without unnecessary disturbances. Second, you need to take control. Success depends on realizing that you have to take active control over what you are doing. Third, you might as well get hold of a good book on reading and master the reading skills that pay off in all your classes. Talking about advice on good writing habits, you simply have to master the writing skills. Increasing your efficiency in both reading and writing will pay off immediately in terms of the quality of your work and in terms of the time spent doing it. Then you will be able to do better work in less time. And maybe you will find time to play golf with the president. According to the passage, "Don't work harder" means that _ . A. one should not be more devoted to one's work B. one should not spend more time in working C. working harder is not allowed in our daily life D. working harder is not the key point in work Answer: D National parks have rules A. that curtail the growth of fragile animal species B. that open the parks to mining of natural resources C. that allow for littering D. that protect vulnerable animal inhabitants int he parks Answer: D Why can some people sleep through noises like a honking car or flushing toilet, while others are awakened by the lightest sound? To find the answer, sleep researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital conducted an unusual study of 12 self-described deep sleepers. After tests confirmed that the healthy volunteers were solid sleepers, they took part in a three-night study in the university's sleep laboratory. The participants spent the night in a big and comfortable room. But the room also included four speakers positioned near the top of the bed. During the night, the deep sleepers were subjected to 14 different recorded sounds, like street traffic, toilets flushing, an ice machine dispensing and an airplane flying overhead. Next door, the researchers monitored their sleep patterns and brain waves. As expected, all of the participants slept ly well, but there were differences in how they responded to the noisy interruptions. Some of the sleepers didn't wake up even when a sound was blasted at 70 decibels ; others were awakened by sounds at 40 or 50 decibels. The researchers discovered that the difference in a sleeper's reaction to noise could be predicted by the level of brain activity called "sleep spindles''. A sleep spindle is a burst of high-frequency brain activity coming from deep inside the brain during sleep. The source of the spindles is the thalamus, a part of the brain that sends sensory information to the rest of the cortex . Before the study, the Massachusetts researchers theorized that the spindles are the brain's way of preventing sensory information from passing through the thalamus and waking the rest of the brain during sleep. They found that the sleepers who experienced the most sleep spindles during the night were also the soundest sleepers and were least likely to be awakened by noise. Scientists already know that most people become lighter sleepers with age, most likely because older people experience less "slow wave sleep'', which is the deepest stage of sleep. People also produce fewer sleep spindles as they age. But even when controlling for the stage of sleep a person was in, the number of sleep spindles still predicted their risk for awakening because of noise. More research is needed, but the findings suggest that a better understanding of sleep spindles could lead to new behavioral or drug therapies for people with sleep disorders. For instance, future studies may try to determine whether diet, exercise or other behaviors may influence the number of sleep spindles a person produces during the night. It can be learned from the passage that _ . A. the older a deep sleeper becomes, the lighter his sleep must be B. the more "slow wave sleep" one experiences, the deeper sleep one has C. the more frequently a sleeper's brain works, the less information it sends D. the deeper sleep people have, the more likely they will be awakened by noise Answer: B Mary is twenty-three years old. She is a nurse at a big hospital. She is very kind, and all of her patients like her very much. One day she was out shopping when she saw an old woman waiting to cross a busy street. Mary wanted to cross the street, too, so she went over to help the woman cross. When Mary was near her, she shouted happily, "Mrs Herman! You were my patient last year." "Oh, thank you very much, Mary," Mrs Herman said, and stepped forward. "No, no, Mrs Herman," Mary said quickly, "the light's still red.""Oh," Mrs Herman answered as she stepped back. "I can easily cross the street alone when the light's green." Mary _ before she met her in the street. A. knew Mrs Herman B. didn't know Mrs Herman C. lived with Mrs Herman D. didn't see Mrs Herman Answer: A Captain Henry,a 98"year--old American retired fisherman,has become a first--time author.having written and published his autobiography In a Fisherman's Language after learning to read at the age of 91. Mr.Henry spent most of his life without even his closest family members knowing he wasilliterate .Forced to quit school in the third grade to take odd jobs,he kept the secret close to his chest,only telling his late wife.Henry's granddaughter,Marlisa,told reporters how he used tricks,like waiting for others to order at restaurants first,to avoid the issue. A family dispute in his 90s,she said,aroused his desire for education."He signed a document he could not read about where he was going to live, Marlisa said.Starting with his name,he eventually moved on to the ABC's and children's books.He put them down since his wife fell ill.After the tragic loss of his wife,, he went back to reading and began to log his life.He wrote about his family's voyage from Portugal to the US,how he went on to captain a boat,and his many journeys at sea. His life stories have become so popular that nearly 800 copies were sold in the first two weeks after the book's release.One thousand more have since been printed as requests for the book flood in from as far as Germany.And now even Hollywood producers have approached Mr.Henry about buying the rights to his life story for a big screen adaptation. The family also now has a book agent and a deal in the works to publish a second edition.Meanwhile,the family says they are reconnecting and closer than ever as a result of Henry's.1ate--life efforts.."Everyone has a story,"Marlisa said."It teaches that when you're down and out. never give up." What message can Henry's story give us? A. Great minds think alike. B. Every coin has two sides. C. Practice makes perfect. D. One is never too old to learn. Answer: D
Which of these industries is most likely to effect an ecosystem? Taking a picture of your tongue with a mobile phone could soon instantly tell you how healthy you are. Researchers believe the images can reveal important information about a patient's health and even give them early warning of serious illness. A team at the University of Missouri is developing a system that can analyze pictures using a 5,000-year-old Chinese principle, which is based on the flow and balance of positive and negative energies in the body, and uses the tongue as a key to learning about a person's physical health, or "zheng" according to Chinese medicine. "Within a year, our goal is to create an application for smart phones that will allow anyone to take a photo of their tongue and learn the status of their zheng," said Dong Xu, chair of MU's Computer Science Department in the College of Engineering and the co-author of the latest study. The software analyzes images based on the tongue's color and coating to distinguish between tongues showing signs of "hot" or "cold" zheng. Shades of red and yellow are associated with hot zheng, whereas a white coating on the tongue is a sign of cold zheng. "Hot and cold zheng doesn't refer directly to body temperature," said Xu, "Rather, it refers to a series of symptoms associated with the state of the body as a whole." For the study, 263 gastritis patients and 48 healthy volunteers had their tongues analyzed. The gastritis patients were classified by whether they showed infection by a certain bacteria as well as the intensity of their gastritis symptoms. In addition, most of the gastritis patients had been previously classified with either hot or cold zheng. This allowed the researchers to test the accuracy of the software's analysis. "Our software is able to classify people based on their zheng status. And as we continue to work on the software we hope to improve its ability," said another co-author Ye Duan, "Eventually everyone will be able to use this tool at home using webcams or smart phone applications, which will allow them to monitor their zheng and get an early warning about possible _ ." The study led by Dong Xu proves _ . This year's lunar New Year holiday season is likely to see the fierce competitions at the country's box office among three movies that come from reality TV programs instead of legends, novels and original stories. The Chinese movies Running Man, Where are We Going, Dad? II and Emperor's Holidays are all based on South Korean TV shows. Where are We Going, Dad? hit an amazing box-office run of 700 million yuan in 2014, and it was one of the most popular Chinese-language movies last year. And this year's Where are We Going, Dad? II shows four famous fathers trying to "survive" with their children on an island of the Republic of Fiji . Running Man was also one of the most well-known shows from last October to this January. It has got 227 million yuan at the box office in the first three days after it was on in the cinema. It's reported that people laughed 86 times while watching the 88-minute movie. Emperor's Holidays is directed by Wang Yuelun, who was a celebrity father in the fatherhood series' first season. The movie was screened in Chinese theaters on Feb 19, the same day as Dad II and also the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year. For these kinds of movies, different people have different opinions. Some may think it is not worth spending money watching them, because the producers just want to make money. However, others may think whatever the producers' aim is, these movies can inspire people to live more healthily and make them keep laughing and happy. So they choose to enjoy them in the cinema. The three movies are from _ . A great-grandfather has put up his Christmas tree for the 85thtime after his father first bought it from a toy shop. Douglas Hewitt, 85, has celebrated every Christmas with the artificial tree since he was born. His father bought the tree from a toy shop in Sheffield just months after Douglas was born. The four-foot tree remains the centre point of the Hewitt family household during every festive season. Mr. Hewitt, of South Anston, South Yorkshire, said, "It reminds us of my childhood, our children's childhood and our grandchildren and great-grandchildren's after that. They all come and look at it and smile; it's become part of the furniture. If we didn't put that Christmas tree up, it wouldn't feel like Christmas." The tree was passed down to Mr. Hewitt when he married Mavis. Mrs. Hewitt said, "Year after year we have just carried on using that one. You have to be a bit more careful with it now, as it's _ ." Their daughter, June Murphy, also has fond memories of the Christmas tree. She said, "It was in my grandparents' home and then it was given to us. It looks a little thin now, as each time you get it out something else falls off. It's become a bit of a family joke. Each year someone has to comment 'not again!' But it's a Christmas tradition of getting the tree out that we all love. We'd all be sad to see it go, as I think it would be hard to find such a loved replacement." Mr. Hewitt said, "There were a lot more branches on it, and it's lost its feathers that were all along the edge. There were little candle holders on the ends and little legs on it, but unfortunately they've been lost over the years." Where did Douglas Hewitt get the Christmas tree? You have some great ideas. But they don't come out because of what your friends say or because you think that only a few people can be creative geniuses . And, you, of course, think that you couldn't be one of them. But actually, this is not true at all. Anyone who is a creative genius will tell you that creativity is very much like a muscle that needs to be developed. If you don't learn how to develop creative thinking, this skill, just like a muscle, will become poor and useless. On the other hand, keep working at _ , and this skill will soon be ready for action whenever you need it. So how do you develop your own personal style of creative thinking? You should realize that your brain has a greater capacity and a higher speed than the world's biggest and fastest computer. So it's important to get as much information as you can every day. Read, watch and listen to everything around you --good and bad. The more you know, the more you'll want to know, and the more your brain will be exercised. Try something new every day and let your experiences show you more about the world and people around you. You need to step out of your comfort zone more and more each day. Follow these suggestions, and begin thinking beyond your "limits" from today. You'll soon have a life full of interesting and exciting adventures. Who knows, your idea might be the next great idea to change the world. The passage is intended to tell readers _ .
New research suggests that cutting daily sitting time to less than three hours might extend your life by two years. "Humans were designed to move. But modern lifestyles and office jobs rarely encourage us to walk around," says Peter Katzmarzyk, an expert at the University of Louisiana. "Sitting is common in our lives today. We sit while we're driving, eating and watching TV. And many of us sit for many hours at work." Katzmarzyk said. "We can't throw away physical activity. It's extremely important. We have 60 years of researchers showing us that." Katzmarzyk said. Katzmarzyk and other researchers are trying to discover how sitting all day affext our lifespans . "This is a relatively new area of study...Studies that have assessed the relationship between sitting and death or television viewing and death have been very rare in the last four or five years," said Katzmarzyk. Katzmarzyk and his colleagues analyzed data from these studies, which involved almost 167,000 adults. Then they turned to a government-run survey of Americans to find out exactly how much time people spend sitting and watching. Not only did the team find that U.S. citizens could live longer by sitting less, they found that cutting TV time to less than two hours a day could add an extra 1.4 years to their lives. People who've spent half their waking lives sitting down might well ask, "Is it ever too late to make a change?" "We would say 'No. It's never too late.' Physical activity is good for you at every age." Katzmarzyk said. Katzmarzyk says studying this problem has inspired his team to make a few changes in their own lives. They recommend a few simple changes: frequently getting up from your desk, taking walks at lunch time, and instead of e-mailing colleagues, walking over to their offices and talking face-to-face----all activities that can be enjoyable as well as life-extending. The best title of the text would be _ . Answer: Study Suggests Sitting Less Can Extend Life Most American children eat potatoes every day, but they don't know which part of potato is most nourishing .Take a sharp knife and cut a very thin slice from it and hold it to the light, and you will see that the potato has skin, an outside rim and the inner part. The outside rim which is right under the skin is most nutritious.But this part is often thrown away with the skin. Even the skin itself is better for food than the inside. When eating a cooked potato, if you choose the inside and leave the outside, you are wasting the best part of it. If you can't eat the whole potato, it is better to eat the outside rim and leave the inner part. What does this reading tell about potatoes? It tells us _ . Answer: how to eat them There are many ways to find a job. It can be as easy as walking into a neighborhood store to look at its announcement board. Local stores often have areas where people can put small signs telling what kind of service they need or can provide. Such services include caring for children or cleaning houses. Or, job searchers can look in the newspaper. Local newspapers have employment announcements placed by companies seeking (looking for ) workers. Another popular tool for finding jobs is the Internet. For example, people in four hundred and fifty cities around the world can use the Craigslist Web site to buy objects, meet people or find a job. Craigslist says that it receives two million new job listings each month. Another useful way to find a job is through a college or university. For example, students at the University of Texas in Austin can go to the Career Exploration Center to get help in finding a job. Of course, looking for a job requires knowing what kind of work you want to do. For example, there is a book called "What Color is Your Parachute ?"by Richard Bolles. This book has been helping people choose a career since it was first published in nineteen seventy. Some experts also help people find jobs. Susan W. Miller owns a company called California Career Services in Los Angeles. She says her company helps people find jobs by first helping them understand their strengths, goals and interests. Then she provides them with methods and resources to help them find the right job. It can be learned from the passage that _ . Answer: Susan W. Miller's company is helping people choose careers Josh was going on an adventure. He was going to float down the river with his friends, Dennis and Connor. They had been building a boat out of wood Connor's father had given them for the last week. The boys wanted to paint the boat because the brown wood did not look very good. Josh wanted green, Dennis liked purple and Connor said it would look good if it was red. They had to call their friend, Tonya, to help choose. Tonya thought the same as Josh on the color so that is what they painted the boat. To thank Tonya for helping them choose the color, the boys invited her to come with them. All four of them carried the boat through the vegetable garden in the back yard. They were very careful not to step on any of the carrots, potatoes or green beans. Josh's mother had packed some food for them to eat as they floated down the river. Everything was in a big basket. There were peanut butter sandwiches, potato chips and cupcakes with strawberry frosting. Each person had a job on the boat. Josh was the captain. Dennis made sure the snacks did not get wet. Tonya watched for rocks ahead. Connor had to steer the boat. What color did the boys paint the boat? Answer: Green. There are about fifteen hundred languages in the world. But only a few of them are very important.English is one of these.Many people use it,not only in England and the USA,but also in other parts of the world.About 200,000,000 people speak it as their own language.It is difficult to say how many peopie are learning it as a foreign language.Many millions of people are trying to do so.Is it easy or difficult to learn English?Different people may have different answers.Have you ever noticed ads of this kind in the newspapers or magazines?"Learn English in six weeks,or give your money back...","easy and funny...","Our records and tapes help you master English in a month".Of course,it never happened quite like this. The only language that seems easy to learn is t11e mother tongue.We should remember that we all learned our own language well when we were children.If we could 1ea m English in the same way,it would not seem so difficult.Think of what a small child does.He 1istens lo what people say.He tries what he hears. So,it is hard to say that learning English is easy.We must do a Iot ofpractice.And practice needs great effort and takes much time.Good teachers,records,tapes,books,and dictionaries will be helpful,but they cannot do the student's work for him. How does the writer like the ads in the newspapers or magazines? Answer: It never happened quite like what the ads said.
A young woman was driving through the country far away from the town. It was dark and raining. Suddenly she saw an old woman by the side of the road, holding her hand out as if she wanted a lift. "I can't leave her out in this weather," the woman said to herself, so she stopped the car and opened the door. "Do you want a lift?" she asked. The old woman nodded and climbed into the car. After a while, she said to the old woman, "Have you been waiting for a long time?" The old woman moved her head from side to side. "Strange," thought the young woman. She tried again. "Bad weather for the time of year," she said. The old woman nodded. No matter what the young woman said, the hitchhiker gave no answer except for a nod of the head. Then the young woman noticed the hitchhiker's hands, which were large and hairy. Suddenly she realized the hitchhiker was in fact a man! She stopped the car. "There is something wrong with the car," she said, "Would you mind getting off and helping me?" The hitchhiker nodded and opened the door. As soon as the hitchhiker was out of the car, the frightened young woman raced off. When she got to the next village she stopped her car. She noticed that the hitchhiker had left his handbag behind. She picked it up and opened it. To her surprise, there was a gun inside the bag. The young woman asked the hitchhiker to get off the car because _ . Answer: With the passing of Steve Jobs, the tech industry has lost one of its most respected heroes. So where will the industry turn for inspiration, now that Jobs is gone? New Apple CEO, Tim Cook, will keep the business going, but he is unlikely to inspire the same kind of devotion as Jobs. Facebook owner, Mark Zuckerberg, has star power, but he and his company are still too young and untested. At Google, Larry Page is too awkward, and Eric Schmidt too clever, and a lot of the company's recent products are unfinished. But there's one tech leader who just might fill the gap: Amazon's Jeff Bezos. Bezos runs his business the same way as Steve Jobs ran his, with a focus on long-term value over short-term profits and a willingness to invest in seemingly unrelated new areas. Steve Jobs converted Apple from personal computers into music with the iPod, and then into cellphones with the iPhone. It worked, and made Apple into the biggest and richest tech company in the world. Jeff Bezos is doing the same thing at Amazon. In 2006, Amazon noticed it had a lot of spare capacity in its data centers. So it started renting out some of that capacity to some companies. Now, hundreds of newly-established Internet companies, including big names like Foursquare and Yelp, run their businesses on Amazon Web Services. Somehow, an outline bookseller became the most important provider of "cloud computing". In 2007, Amazon introduced its e-reader, the Kindle. The product developed slowly for a couple of years, and then started to take off in 2010 with the third generation. It sells for US$199, which is hundreds of dollars less than Apple's iPad, but it has similar functions to the iPad. No wonder Amazon has to build millions more than it expected to meet demand. Why does Amazon have to produce more Kindles? Answer: With the start of the new term, students around the country exchange their fun and fashionable clothes for boring school uniforms. But not all campuses are fashion deserts. Colorful sports shoes, school bags, T-shirts and even drink containers are breathing life into campuses. _ especially when we are doing morning exercises on the playground," and Qing Pei, a Senior 2 students from Shanghai Qibao High School. "But boys wear different sports shoes and girls have different decorations in their hair. These are the areas where you can express yourself," said Qing. Although it might be strange for boys to talk about fashion, they do care about what they wear in school, especially shoes, according to Qing. "Nike and Adidas basketball shoes, although they are still the must-have items for many of my friends, are becoming out-of-date," Qing added. He explained, "Since Liu Xiang ran so fast in Athens, running shoes are becoming popular in this autumn." "Still in fashion are the various baseball caps and American-style T-shirts with some English words printed on them," said Qing. Besides sports shoes and T-shirts, styles and colors of schoolbags are another chance for students to express their taste in fashion. Some bags are made more eye-catching by decorating them with small dolls. Other fashionable items are colorful drink containers, which are now popular with girls this term. "Some teachers are surprised to see a teenager sucking a bottle like this at school and criticize it as childish regression . But some girls just love it," said Yang Rui, a Senior 3 student. The writer wants to _ . Answer: As the saying goes, man struggles upwards; water flows downwards. Water runs downhill from mountaintops to streams to rivers to oceans. But downhill isn't the only way that water moves .A new study measures how water travels from country to country for human consumption. This flow isn't the type we usually think about .These scientists looked at the water used to grow and make the products which get shipped from nation to nation as imports or exports. They call this a flow of "virtual water ". We typically think about water as the liquid that flows from a tap. However,92%of the water used by people goes into growing crops,according to water researcher Arjen Hoekstra. He recently studied the hidden travels of virtual water used in products made from things like crops and meats .These products are shipped around the world. For example, consider a sugary soft drink. Hoekstra estimated that to produce one half-liter of the drink requires between 170 and 310liters of the water--about 95%--is used to grow and process the ingredients .Another 4%goes into the packaging and labeling. In Hoekstra's calculation, when one country produces a half-liter of soda and sells it abroad,it exports as much virtual water as would fill a large refrigerator. According to Hoekstra's new report,dry countries like Israel and Kuwait,both in the Middle East,get the majority of their virtual water from other countries,through imported products. More surprisingly, some wetter countries,like the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, also get the majority of their virtual water from other places. That means that most of the water used to grow or produce the products and food consumed in those countries came from other countries. In the United States most of the virtual water used comes from American sources .In China even less of the water associated with its products. The example of a sugary soft drink in Paragraph 3 is given to show _ . Answer: Imagine having an idea, drawing it on paper, bringing it to a store and seeing it turned into a physical object.This is now possible with the help of 3D printers.Such machines were once used just by universities and big companies.But now, stores with 3D printing services are appearing around the United States. Bryan Jaycox and his wife opened The Build Shop LLC in Los Angeles two years ago.The store is filled with tools like a laser cutter, an industrial sewing machine and 3D printers.Bryan Jaycox requires $ 15 an hour to print an object.He also charges a fee depending on the size of the object and up to $ 50 an hour for design and labor services. The Jaycoxs also offer 3D printing classes for anyone who is interested.One of the students in a recent class was Ki Chong Tran.He plans to open a 3D printing business in Cambodia."The demand has been amazing.It's been much more than I would have imagined," said Ki Chong Tran. "I think 3D printing is going to be huge. It's going to make a huge impact on society as a whole," he added. Mr Jaycox predicts that within five years, 3D printing technology could become more consumer friendly. But Ki Chong Tran says even current technology can make a difference in a developing country like Cambodia."With 3D printing you can give them tools, and you put it in their hands so they are responsible more for their own development. They learn skills beyond just learning English and becoming a tour guide or something like that or working at a bank.You can actually create things that give value to the world," said Ki Chong Tran. He says it's not just Cambodia but anywhere where there is a 3D printer, it can turn a good idea into reality. How will 3D printing technology benefit developing countries according to the text? Answer:
Before Christmas Mr Smith broke his right leg and had to stay in hospital. When he was there, he always asked his doctor when he could go home. He didn't like to spend Christmas in hospital. Though the doctor did his best, Mr Smith didn't get better. So on Christmas Day he was still in hospital. He spent a bad day in bed thinking that he missed a lot of fun on such a happy day. The next day the doctor told him that he might be well enough to leave hospital in time for the New Year. Mr Smith was very happy to think that he would spend New Year's Day outside hospital. Soon Mr Smith left hospital and on New Year's Eve he went to a party. He enjoyed himself there. But he drank too much. On his way home that night, he had a fall and broke his left leg. What a unlucky man he was! Mr. Smith felt _ on Christmas Day. A. happy B. sad C. better D. well Answer: B Thirty-two people watched kitty Genovese being killed right beneath their windows. She was their neighbor. Yet none of the 32 helped her. Not one even called the police. Was this in gunman cruelty? Was it lack of feeling about one's fellow man? Not so, say scientists John Barley and Bib Fatane. These men went beyond the headlines to probe the reasons why people didn't act. They found that a person has to go through two steps before he can help. First he has to notice that is an emergency . Suppose you see a middle-aged man fall to the side-walk. Is he having a heart attack? Is he in a coma from diabetes ? Or is he about to sleep off a drunk? Is the smoke coming into the room from a leak in the air conditioning? Is it steam pipes? Or is it really smoke from a fire? It's not always easy to tell if you are faced with a real emergency. Second, and more important, the person faced with an emergency must feel personally responsible. He must feel that he must help, or the person won't get the help he needs. The researchers found that a lot depends on how many people are around. They had college students in to be tested. Some came alone. Some came with one or two others. And some came in large groups. The receptionist started them off on the tests. Then she went into the next room. A curtain divided the testing room and the room into which she went. Soon the students heard a scream, the noise of file cabinets falling and a cry for help. All of this had been pre-recorded on a tape-recorder. Eight out of ten of the students taking the test alone acted to help. Of the students in pairs, only two out of ten helped. Of the students in groups, none helped. In other words, in a group, Americans often fail to act. They feel that others will act. They, themselves, needn't. They do not feel any direct responsibility. Are people bothered by situations where people are in trouble? Yes. Scientists found that the people were emotional, they sweated, they had trembling hands. They felt the other person's trouble. But they did not act. They were in a group. Their actions were shaped by the actions of those they were with. Which of the following is NOT true? A. When a person tries to help others, he must be clear that there is a real emergency. B. When a person tries to help others, he should know whether hey are worth his help. C. A person must take the full responsibility for the safety of those in emergencies if he wants to help. D. A person with a heart attack needs the most. Answer: C You're finishing up your history homework when your cell phone rings. You've got 30 minutes to reach head-quarters, get your equipment packed and receive your task. There's a lost hiker in the mountains near the edge of town. Your task: find the missing person; provide emergency medical treatment, if necessary; and be prepared to operate 48 hours on your own with only the supplies you carry. Sounds like some kind of film's plot? Not if you're a member of the Arapahoe teen rescue patrol in the suburbs of Denver. About 25 teen guys and girls are active members of this search, rescue and emergency organization, and they know firsthand that you don't have to be an adult to save lives. These 9th-through-12th graders are the real deal when it comes to emergency services. In fact, they're the only teen-commanded patrol in the nation. Sure they have adult advisers to turn to if necessary, but in the field it's a teen patrol officer calling the shots -- sometimes even giving direction to adults. Members are trained in rock-high-angle,swift-water and avalanche rescue , winter and alpine operation , wilderness life support and emergency care, among other skills. They also regularly ride along with the local fire and police departments, providing support such as security details and evidence searching. When asked what qualities make a good patrol member, founder and president Stan Bush named good physical conditioning and an interest in helping people. "We put in lots and lots of hours helping people in trouble," he says. "So if a person is not really interested in doing that kind of thing, he won't last as a member." If you want to become a good rescue patrol member, you must _ . A. be strong and interested in offering help B. be a 9th-through-12th grader C. finish your history homework first D. spend many hours helping people first Answer: A A student used the dimmest setting on a light microscope to observe a euglena and an amoeba. The student shined a narrow beam of light at the top of the cover slip. She observed that the euglena swam up toward the light but the amoeba did not. She knew the amoeba was alive because it slowly changed shape while she watched. What inference should the student draw from her observation? A. An amoeba can only move side to side. B. An amoeba is unable to respond to light. C. An amoeba moves too slowly to observe. D. An amoeba only moves when it is hungry. Answer: B About five hundred years ago, an earthquake happened in a small village. Luckily for them, it didn't destroy anything and no one was hurt. But a large stone fell from a nearby mountain and stopped in the middle of the road. When the earthquake stopped, many people came to the road and saw the stone. Some of the strongest men wanted to move it away, they tried again and again but at last they failed. "Well," they said sadly ,"there's nothing we can do about it, we'll have to change the way." At this time a boy of 12 years old said , " I think I can move the stone away." "You?" all the strong men laughed at the boy, "What are you talking about ?" The next morning people were all surprised to see that the stone was gone. It wasn't on the road any longer and it wasn't even near the road. The boy smiled and said "I _ it." The people looked rather surprised. "You see," he said , "I dug a deep hole next to the stone and I dug a small incline up to the stone and the stone rolled down into the hole itself. Then I covered it with earth. "The villagers shouted "Clever boy! Clever boy!" and some of them said, " Why didn't we think out this good idea ?" Finally, the large stone was _ . A. in the earth B. in the house C. in the river D. on the road side Answer: A
The earthquake that shook Japan with historic strength on March 11th, 2011 created a _ wave ten meters high. The water washed away boats, cars and houses in coastal areas north of Tokyo. It also led to tsunami warnings across the Pacific. Scientists recorded the magnitude of the earthquake at 8.9.The United States Geological Survey says it was the fifth largest earthquake since nineteen hundred. The largest, with a 9.5 magnitude, shook Chile in nineteen sixty. The quake struck near the east coast of Honshu, Japan's main island. It was centered under the sea about one hundred thirty kilometers east of Sendai.The tsunami washed away whole neighborhoods in Sendai. So far (April 4th), the tsunami has taken 12, 0009 people's life away. Now Japanese are all trying to rebuild their hometown, but there are too many difficulties. The first, Japan is the world's third largest importer of oil. The shortage of oil makes it almost impossible to carry the food, medicine and water to the quake area by cars. The second, the Fukushima nuclear power station was damaged by the March eleventh earthquake and tsunami. The extent of the problems is still not clear. Japan's nuclear crisis may mean greater need of imported food. The largest earthquake happened in _ . We spent a day in the country, picking wild flowers. With the car full of flowers we were going home. On our way back my wife noticed a cupboard outside a furniture shop. It was tall and narrow. "Buy it," my wife said at once. "We'll carry it home on the roof rack . I've always wanted one like that." What could I do? Ten minutes later I was PS20 poorer; and the cupboard was tied on the roof rack. It was six feet long and eighteen inches square, quite heavy too. In the gathering darkness I drove slowly. Other drivers seemed unusually polite that evening. The police even stopped traffic to let us through. Carrying furniture was a good idea. After a time my wife said, "There's a long line of cars behind. Why don't they overtake, I wonder?" In fact a police car did overtake. The two officers inside looked at us seriously as they passed. But then, with great kindness, they led us through the rush-hour traffic. The police car stopped at our village church. One of the officers came to me. "Right, sir," he said."Do you need any more help?" I was a bit puzzled. "Thanks, officer," I said. "You have been very kind. I live just on the road." He was staring at our car, first at the flowers, then at the cupboard. "Well, well," he said, laughing. "It's a cupboard you've got there! We thought it was something else." My wife began to laugh. The truth hit me like a stone between the eyes. I smiled at the officer. " Yes, it's a cupboard, but thanks again."I drove home as fast as I could. In fact the husband _ the cupboard. Can you believe everything that you read? It seems as if every day, some new articles come out about a new discovery about this or that. For example, water is bad for you, or good for you. The answer depends on which scientific study has just come out. People cannot decide which food items are healthy, how pyramids were constructed, and why dinosaurs disappeared. When we look for answers we sometimes can believe persuasive researches and scientists. But how trustworthy are they really? Here are two examples of scientific hoaxes . As far back as 1726, Johann Beringer was fooled by his fellow scientists into thinking he had made an amazing discovery. The fossils of spiders, lizards, and even birds with the name of God written on them in Hebrew were unlike anything that had been found before. He wrote several papers on them and was famous for those only to have it revealed that they were planted by jealous colleagues to ruin his reputation. When an early human being was discovered in 1912, scientists at this time were wild with excitement over the meaning it had for the theory of evolution. There were hundreds of papers about this Piltdown man over the next fifty years until it was finally discovered to be a complex hoax. The skull of a man had been mixed with the jawbone of an orangutan to make the ape man. The next time you read the exciting new findings of a study of the best scientist, do not automatically assume that it is true. Even qualified people can get it wrong. While we certainly should not ignore scientific research, we do need to take it _ . Just because it is accepted as the truth today does not mean it will still be trustworthy tomorrow. What is the reason why Johann Beringer was fooled? Have you ever wanted to enjoy the world's wonderful gifts? This earth is a beautiful place. If you look at nature, and see just trees, and grass, do you realize what incredible things you are missing? Go outside. If you want to feel more connected to the earth, the first step is to experience it for yourself. Choose a place that you think that you could thoroughly enjoy. A quiet place set away from civilization is best. One of the key things is that it must be calm and quiet. Any natural setting will do, whether it is a forest or grassland, lake or mountain. Sit down on a rock, some dry leaves, or simply on the ground. Get comfortable with your surroundings, and really take in the sounds and the feel of everything around you. Try not to focus on "the big picture"--stead, notice the little details of things; for example: how many ridges are there on a leaf? Do you see any animals around you? If so, pay attention to kinds of things that happen lower to the ground. Next, close your eyes, and picture in your mind the nature that surrounds you. The point is to sense that you are in a beautiful place. Do something peaceful, such as fishing or meditating in the woods. You will be amazed at how relaxing it is to just sit back and enjoy the natural sounds of the woods and birds. Go on a hike. Walking is great exercise and the pace of it will allow you to see and hear the little things. Don't let time or distance scare you. There are hikes of all lengths and difficulties. Go camping or backpacking. Don't forget to look at the stars, whether you know anything about them yet or not. Often, they will appear brighter and more numerous when you are away from the light and smog of cities. Practice primitive skills while in the woods to share a connection with our ancestors, if you want to go further. See the external links for suggestions. Doing these kinds of things will bring about an appreciation of nature, and make you realize how beautiful it is, and that we too, are creatures of this earth. Which might be the title of the passage? Shyness equals losing opportunities, less pleasure and fewer social connections, but there are ways to make it a thing of the past. When I was fifteen, I was shy. I remember an attractive girl trying to talk with me. My shyness made me focus on me instead of her. I heard my own voice but not hers and I thought about what I was trying to say instead of what she was trying to say. To overcome shyness you need to learn to relax. This gives you the space to practice certain conversational skills. Relaxed socializing is so pleasurable. To start reducing your own shyness, I want you to absorb the following tips and ideas and start to put them into practice. Focus your attention away from yourself. Notice what other people are wearing and make a mental note, listen to their conversation, imagine where they might live, and make a point of remembering names. Not only does this give you more to talk about, it also reduces social anxiety, leaving you feeling calmer. Ask people open questions. Many people like to talk about themselves and will find you interesting if you find them interesting. Ask questions that require more than a "yes" or "no" response such as "What do you like about this place?' rather than "Do you like this place?" Once they have answered, you can use add-on questions connected with the first such as "What other places do you like in this city?" Next you can express your views. This is a great way to get the conversation going. Now I love meeting new people and suspect that my current social confidence would be unrecognizable to my fifteen-year-old self. It can be inferred from the text that _ .
Which statement best describes the energy transformations that occur when a candle burns? Answer: Chemical energy from the wax is converted into light and heat energy. In today's world, we rely on computers as never before.They are used for everything from ordering a pizza to running hospitals and military defense systems.Banking and credit card information is stored and accessed by computers.So what happens when a computer gets infected with a virus? One effect is that people's access to their e-mail accounts is cut off.A more serious possible consequence is that billions of dollars could be lost. A virus is a computer program that copies itself onto other programs and infects them. Similar to an easily spread disease, a computer virus goes from computer to computer, either adding to or changing the tasks a program is designed to do. The first computer viruses were created in the mid '80s and had varying effects.Some caused files to be deleted, or made the letters on the screen appear to fall off.Others displayed a specific message once the computer was turned on. Viruses today are much more widespread and dangerous than ever before.Perhaps the most damaging to date has been the "I Love You" virus."I Love You" appeared in May 2000 and has possibly been the most destructive virus in terms of monetary loss. The virus is released when an attachment to a fake e-mail message is opened.By changing the names of files on computers, "I Love You" makes them difficult to access.It also searches for important personal information, including passwords, which it sends to a web site for others to see. It is estimated that more than 45 million people in 20 countries have had their computers infected by the "I Love You" virus.Some say the cost of repair and lost business has been more than US$10 billion. If you own a computer, it is important to keep it in good health by installing an anti-virus program.If updated frequently, it will protect your e-mail access-not to mention your wallet. How does "I Love You" virus spread? Answer: It is spread through e-mail. Get a FREE YEAR! Order NOW and get a FREE YEAR of Parents(r) magazine! That's 2 full years (24 issues) for the regular 1-year rate - just $12. But HURRY, this offer won't last! (U.S. orders only, please.) Every issue of PARENTS is filled with practical advice from leading doctors and child experts ... toys and games that develop reader-tested products and more! 100% Money-Back Guarantee: You must be pleased, or you may cancel any time during the life of your subscription and get all your money back - no questions asked. Parents(r) Magazine is published 12 times per year. Savings are based on $12.00 annual subscription rate. State taxes may apply to your order. E-mail address required to access your account and member benefits online. We will not share your e-mail address with anyone. Click here: www.parents.com/privacy to view our privacy policy. The purpose of the passage is _ . Answer: to attract more subscribers We each have a memory. That's why we can still remember things after a long time. Some people have very good memories and they can easily learn many things by heart, but some people can only remember things when they say or do them again and again. Many of the great men of the world have got surprising memories. A good memory is a great help in learning languages. Everybody learns his mother language when he is a small child. He hears the sounds, remembers them and then he learns to speak. Some children are living with their parents in foreign countries. They can learn two languages as easily as one because they hear, remember and speak two languages every day. In school it is not so easy to learn a foreign language because the pupils have so little time for it, and they are busy with other subjects, too. But your memory will become better and better when you do more and more exercises Some people can easily learn many things by heart because _ . Answer: they have very good memories Many presidents have exhibited senses of humor throughout our nation's history. None, however, is any better known for his humour than Lincoln. No matter the situation, it always reminded him of a story, and more often than not, the story was amusing. It seemed that his passion for humor appeared early in life and his humor never seemed to fade, even under the most difficult situations. Following are some favorite Lincoln stories. All are fun to read. Abe Needs His Hair Combed President Lincoln had the ability to laugh at himself and he greatly enjoyed telling stories in which he was the object of the joke. He especially liked this one: when I was nominated at Chicago, I had never before sat for a photograph. One fellow thought that many people might like to see what I looked like, so he immediately bought the camera and began selling photographs of me all over the country. I happened to be in Springfield when I heard a boy selling them on the streets. "Here's your likeness of "Abe" Lincoln!",he shouted to Lincoln. "Only two shillifigs!He'll look a lot better once he gets his hair combed!" Nobody Ever Died in Here! A man was complaining to the President that a friend of his had been driven away from New Orleans because he was a Union supporter. When the man asked to see the paper by which he was driven away, he was simply told that the Confederate Government would do nothing illegal, and so they had issued no papers. They were simply hoping to make him go on his own free will. Naturally, that reminded Lincoln of a story, and he remarked that he had known of a hotel keeper in St. Louis who boasted that nobody ever died in his hotel. "Of course," Lincoln said with a twinkle in his eye, "anytime a guest appeared to be in danger of dying he was carried out to die outside." Let the Elephant Run Assistant Secretary of War Charles A. Dana had learned that a man named Jacob Thompson, who had been causing the government many problems, was about to escape to Liverpool. Dana approached Lincoln with the news. Lincoln asked Dana what Secretary of War Edwin Stanton thought about it. Dana answered, "He thinks we should arrest him." Lincoln replied, "I disagree. If you have an elephant on your hands that wants to run away, you'd better let him run." What was the idea of Lincoln about the man named Jacob Thompson? Answer: .He should be allowed to go away.
Last Friday, I was coming home late after spending time with friends and thought I'd go down to the $99 cent pizza place. On the way, I saw a man sitting on the stairs alone there. I'd seen him before every day I run late to work, but this time I had no place to rush off to. There was something about him, a quiet manner, different from many of other homeless people I had seen in New York City. I walked past him, went to the pizza place, and those 10 seconds waiting in line was enough to practice stepping outside of my usual, familiar flow. So with a few slices in hand, I went back to join him. I asked him if he was hungry. He said yes, but not for pizza because it made him uncomfortable. He'd rather have a few bucks for chicken and rice since it was easier on his stomach. It's funny, in that moment, he became more real to me. This man I had seen almost every day was someone with specific conditions, needs, and experiences. We exchanged names and ended up talking for a little over an hour that night as Kevin told me stories from his life, how he had done things when "he was younger and didn't know any better" and how he tried to make amends but too much time had passed. He shared his views on the value for young adults to learn the history of other people. He talked about his one wish being in his 60's before he leaves this earth, which is to share his story with the teenagers and young adults so they could avoid the mistakes he went through. Throughout the conversation, he eventually got his chicken and rice and gifted me a rose he had been carrying. Shortly afterwards, I made my way home, thinking to myself, "I met an amazing homeless person". The writer's purpose in writing the passage is to _ . A. share his experience B. show his generosity C. express his thoughts D. exchange his opinions Answer: A Accidents often happen. It's necessary for us to remember these tips. On your way home or to school: Wait for the green traffic light, and look left and right before you cross the road. If you see a car coming, don't cross until it really stops. At school: Never run around too fast at school. When students around you begin to push, try to hold something. If you fall down in a crowed place, cover your head with both hands. When there's a fire: Keep quiet and leave quickly. Use a piece of wet cloth to cover your mouth and nose so that you don't breathe in smoke. If your clothes catch fire, drop to the ground and roll from side to side to put out the fire. For eating: Wash fruit like apples or pears carefully before you eat it. And if your food looks or smells bad, don't eat it. About strange invitations: If an Internet friend asks to meet you, tell your parents about it. Don't go alone. The passage mainly tells that _ . A. what we should do in life B. what kind of safe places we can find C. why accidents often happen to us D. how we can keep ourselves safe Answer: C Several years ago Robert knew a girl at a party. He loved her at once. But he hadn't enough money to marry her. He went to another village and wanted to borrow five thousand dollars from Peter, one of his classmates. He said he was going to return the money in two years. Peter Black believed him and lent the money to him. And Robert thanked the young man very much. In the past four years Robert married the girl and she had a baby. They lived a happy life, but he didn't give the money back to Peter. One day Peter's mother was ill and needed an operation. He looked for Robert for a few times, but he never met him. One day Peter heard that the young man was in. He hurried there. He knocked at the door for a long time and Robert's wife came out to meet him. "I'm sorry, Mr. Black." said the woman. "My husband has just gone out." Peter thought for a while and said, "Yes, I met him on my way here. He told me that he had left all his money at home and let you return it to me." "Don't believe him, dear!" Robert came out in a hurry and called out. "I've never told him about it!" Robert came out in a hurry because _ . A. he was afraid Peter would beat his wife B. he was afraid Peter would take his wife to the police C. he decided to give the money back to Peter D. he was afraid his wife would give the money to Peter Answer: D About 30 years ago, I left Cuba for the United States with my son. After getting settled finally in Brunswick, New Jersey, I enrolled my son in kindergarten. Several weeks later, my son's teacher asked me to meet him at his office. In the teacher's office, and exchange of greetings was followed by his questions: " Is your son mentally retarded ? Does he suffer from any kind of mental disability?" Was he talking about my wonderful Scola? No, no, it can't be. What a helpless, lonely moment! I told him that Scola was a quiet, sweet little boy, instead. I asked him why he was asking me all these questions. My son could not follow the teacher's directions, he told me, and thus, Scola was _ the class. Didn't he know my son did not speak English yet? He was angry: " Why hasn't your son been taught to speak English? Don't you speak English at home?" No, I didn't speak English at home, I replied. I was sure my son would learn English in a couple of months, and I didn't want him to forget his native language. Well, wrong answer! What kind of person would not speak in English to her son at home and at all times? " Are you one of those people who come to this country to save dollars and sent them back to their country, never wanting to be a part of this society?" Needless to say, I tried to tell him I was not one of " those people." Then he told me the meeting was over, and I left. As I had expected, my son learned to speak English fluently before the school year was over. He went on to graduate from college and got a job, earning close to six figures. He travels widely and leads a well-adjusted, contented life. And he has benefited from being bilingual . Speaking more than one language allows people to communicate with others; it teaches people about other cultures and other places- something very basic and obviously lacking in the "educator" I met in New Jersey. The teacher asked the author to his office _ . A. to work out a study plan for Scola B. to get Scola enrolled in kindergarten C. to discuss Scola's in-class performance D. to find a language partner for Scola Answer: C We've all experienced a "good cry". Shedding some tears can often make us feel better and help us put things in perspective. But why is crying beneficial? And is there such a thing as a "bad cry"? The researchers analyzed the detailed accounts of more than 3,000 recent crying experiences and found that the benefits of crying depend entirely on the what, where and when of a particular crying episode . The majority of persons reported improvements in their mood following a short period of crying. However, one third reported no improvement in mood and a tenth felt worse after crying. Criers who received social support during their crying episode were the most likely to report improvements in mood. Research to date has not always produced a clear picture of the benefits of crying, in part because the results often seem to depend on how crying is studied. The researchers note several challenges in accurately studying crying behavior in a laboratory setting. Volunteers who cry in a laboratory setting often do not describe their experiences as making them feel better. Rather, crying in a laboratory setting often results in the study participants feeling worse; this may be due to the stressful conditions of the study itself, such as being videotaped or watched by researchers. This may produce negative emotions, which neutralize the positive benefits usually connected with crying. However, these laboratory studies have provided interesting findings about the physical effects of crying. Criers do show calming effects such as slower breathing, but they also experience a lot of unpleasant stress, including increased heart rate and sweating. What is interesting is that bodily calming usually lasts longer than the unpleasant. The calming effects may occur later and overcome the stress reaction, which would account for why people tend to remember mostly the pleasant side of crying. Research has shown that the effects of crying also depend on who is shedding the tears. For example, individuals with anxiety or mood disorders are least likely to experience the positive effects of crying. In addition, the researchers report that people who lack insight into their emotional lives actually feel worse after crying. The beneficial effects of crying can be shown when _ . A. your breath becomes slow B. you sweat a lot. C. your face turns pale D. you are being watched Answer: A
Question: Flowers provide substance for many animals like A. Whales B. Seals C. Dolphins D. squirrels Answer: D Question: Tile Spring Festival is almost over,but the celebrations are continuing.The Chinese embassy in Sydney have devoted a day to celebrating the Spring Festival and Chinese culture. Tile carnival features a series of cultural performances and demonstrations,bringing the Spring Festival fun to Sydney.Over the past four years,the annual event has become popular not only with tile Chinese community but also with locals.And some have even set up their own stalls to allow more people to learn about China and the country's culture. This is my second time to have a stand here,but I've been here many times before."said Carole Kyle from Sydney.Carole has brought along some brochures about Project Hope which supports Chinese students who drop out of school due to poverty. China's Ambassador to Australia Ma Zhao xu hopes that this kind of event will facilitate a dialogue between people from the two countries. "In Chinese culture,we appreciate unity without uniformity,and harmony in diversity. Australian culture welcomes cultural diversity,so that is a good foundation for Sino-Australian relations,to further our understandings and strengthen our friendship."Ma said. Sydney's mayor Clover Moore was also present and echoed Ma's view. "In fact we have Chinese living in Australia since the middle of the 19th century,so it goes way back and there has been a strong link between China and Australia for many many years.We have a very ancient culture here,the aboriginal culture.You have a very ancient culture in China.We'd like to marry those two and celebrate them."Moore said. A centre about Chinese culture in Sydney is also set to have a test run in March,and will be the biggest of its kind in the Oceania region. We can learn from the text that _ . A. people will have a running race in March B. the Chinese culture is popular with the local people C. the Chinese culture has no effect on the local people D. the Spring Festival is celebrated only one day in Australia Answer: B Question: The holiday season is the time of magic moments. Our hearts are waiting for something special to happen. Children dream of meeting Santa Claus and receive desirable presents. I'm sure that grandparents are waiting for their kids' and grandchildren's visit. If your holiday schedule is tightly packed, then you should find at least two hours to pay a visit to your grandparents. We often forget about three magic words "l love you". Love is not a sign of weakness and our grandparents deserve to hear these pleasant and healing words. Don't feel shy of showing and proving your love. Your hug and a frank smile can be the best cure for different diseases to your dear grandparents. Old people are very sensible creatures. They need both physical and mental supports. Younger people should be patient enough to pay attention, hear out and don't let their grandparents feel too old, lonely and useless. There're hundreds of ideas on how to make something good and useful for your grandparents. The best one is to bring a fresh and bushy Christmas tree to their house. Do your best to decorate it with lights and ribbons. Encourage your grandparents to do it together. Unfortunately, people are like candles. The light of their eyes can die out in a moment. Chances are high that their hearts will stop one day. Why don't we begin to value things before we lose them? I know that not everyone can answer this challenging question. I hope this week will bring a lot of joy to children, parents and their grandparents. Don't forget to treat grandparents with respect because they're an essential part of your family. Why does the author compare human beings to candles? A. Because people won't have good eyesight. B. Because few people can live a long time. C. Because everyone will be in the aging group. D. Because life on the earth is ly short. Answer: D Question: Census data show that the human population doubled from 2.65 billion in 1953 to 5.3 billion in 1990. If it continues to double at this rate, the human population could reach 10 billion by the year 2020. Which best explains how this rate of human growth can harm the environment on which humans depend? A. by gradually making up more available energy B. by using resources faster than they can be replaced C. by changing how matter cycles through an ecosystem D. by increasing the variety of ecosystems that are supported Answer: B Question: If 1 kg of the compound toluene melts at -95°C, then 500 g of toluene will A. melt at -47.5°C. B. melt at -95°C. C. boil at 95°C. D. boil at 47.5°C. Answer: B
Natural processes cause rapid and slow changes to Earth's surface. Which event causes changes to Earth's surface most rapidly? A. an earthquake shaking the ground B. sediment washing into a bay C. a rainstorm weathering rock D. water flowing in stream Answer: A What should you think about in trying to find your career? You are probably better at some school subjects than others. These may show strengths that you can use in your work. A boy who is good at mathematics can use that in an engineering career. A girl who spells well and likes English may be good at office work .So it is important to do well at school. On the other hand, you may not have any specially strong or weak subjects but your records show a general satisfactory standard. Although not all subjects can be used directly in a job, they may have indirect value. Knowledge of history is not required for most jobs but if history is one of your good subjects you will have learned to remember facts and details. This is an ability that can be useful in many jobs. Your school may have taught you skills, such as typing or technical drawing, which you can use in your work. You may be good at metal work or cookery and look for a job where you can improve these skills. If you have had a part-time job on Saturdays or in the summer, think what you gained from it. If nothing else, you may have learned how to get to work on time, to follow instructions and to get on with older workers. You may have learned to give correct change in a shop, for example. Just as important, you may become interested in a particular industry or career you see from the inside in a part-time job. Facing your weak points is also part of knowing yourself. You may be all thumbs when you handle tools; perhaps you are a poor speller or cannot add up a column of figures. It is bitter to face any weaknesses than to pretend they do not exist. Your school record, for instance, may not be too good, yet it is an important part of your background. You should not be apologetic about it but instead recognize that you will have a chance of a fresh start at work.. Which subject is supposed to have no direct value for job hunting? A. Mathematics. B. English. C. Technical drawing. D. History. Answer: D Forty years ago, I was in Grade One. One day,I was asked to go to the principal's office . I was really nervous. When I pushed the heavy door open. I found my parents were sitting in the office,too. My father walked to me,with some of my drawings in his hand. "Why do you only use a black crayon when you draw?" he asked. I said nothing. "Show me to your desk," said my father. So we returned to my classroom. My father pulled out my crayon box. There was only one black crayon in it. "Where are the rest of your crayons?" I quietly explained that I'd given all the other crayons to my friends. I shared my things with others as my parents had taught me. Then I looked at my father, then at the principal--both their faces were red. Years later, I learned that my father's face was red because of anger and the principal was red because he was embarrassed . When the principal saw all my pictures, he thought that I had a deep emotional problem. So he had called my parents in to discuss "my problem". In fact, I was too shy to ask for my "shared" crayons back. I didn't stand up for myself! That night, my father told me about the difference between sharing and giving. He also gave me a new box of crayons. He said, "These crayons are for you. I don't want you to share or give these crayons to anyone else. " At the beginning of the text, the father wondered _ A. why his daughter was so shy B. why his daughter loved drawing C. if his daughter had an emotional problem D. where his daughter had put her crayons Answer: D To become a doctor in the United States, students usually attend four years of medical school after they complete college. Then these young doctors work in hospitals for several years to complete a training program called a residency . These medical residents provide hospitals with needed services in return for not much pay. They work under the supervision of medical professors and more experienced doctors. Medical residents treat patients . they carry out tests. They perform operations. They complete records. In hospitals with few nurses, residents also do work formerly done by nurses. Some medical residents work one-hundred or more hours in a single week. _ Critics of this system say medical residents work too long and do not get enough res. They say these young doctors may be too tired to perform their medical duties effectively. Now, the government will limit the number of hours of work that residents can work. Most doctors in training will be limited to eighty-four hours of work each week. They will have work periods of no more than twenty-four hours at one time. They will have ten hours of rest between work periods. Medical residents will have one day each week when they do not have to work. Any work they accept outside their hospitals will be limited.Experienced doctors and medical professors will closely supervise the residents to make sure they are not too tired to work. Many medical residents welcomed the work limits. Others, however, said the new policy may interfere with patient care and their own medical education. Why does the government limit the number of hours that residents work? A. medical residents get too much money. B. Medical residents should go back to school to study C. There are not enough work for nurses D. medical residents may make mistakes if they work too long. Answer: D Hi, I'm Nick. I am very busy from Monday to Friday. In the morning, I always get up and take a shower at six ten. After half an hour, I have breakfast. After I finish eating, I get dressed and go to school by bike. It takes me about twenty minutes to get to school. After school, I go to the English club. Because my English is not very good, I join the English club at school. The students in the club get together to practice speaking English at half past five. We can talk in English and we can tell English stories in the club. It is good for us to improve our English. What do students get together to do? A. To talk with each other. B. To do homework. C. To practice English. D. To listen to the stories. Answer: C
The disadvantage you usually find about MP3 players like the iPod is that they are too big. But get ready for the MP3 player in your hand to get much smaller--the size of a Band-Aid . It's called the Skinny Player, and it's being designed by industrial designers Chih-Wei Wang and Shou-His Fu. Unlike the current types of iPod Shuffles and iPod Nanos, the Skinny Player does not need to be fixed onto your clothes or put into your pocket. It could stick to your skin like you would attach a Band-Aid. But unlike Band-Aids, this tiny MP3 player will not lose its stickiness as you pull it off for the hundredth time. The Skinny Player features flexible speakers allowing the user to enjoy music conveniently. When it gets dirty, the user can simply clean it using a damp cloth. No batteries either. The Skinny Player's designers say it will be powered by body heat, using a flexible battery charging device that is in contact with skin whenever the player is being used. The design only include an on/off button and flexible speakers, no word yet on arranging the volume. Besides, the memory capacity won't be the best, as it is designed to only store one album. The small size and the ability to stick it onto your skin like a Band-Aid should make the Skinny Player perfect for runners who now depend on their iPod to keep them energized on the running path. The best title for this passage can be _ . Answer: Skinny Player--new type of MP3 player When Christie Andrews was born, she weighed less that half of one kilogram. Her heart was the size of a large coin. Her mother said Christie was so small that she could hold her in the palm of one hand. Christie couldn't breathe without a machine to give her oxygen. If she had been born 20 years earlier, she would probably have died at once. She needed two operations, but she survived without serious damage. Twenty years ago , 90% of all premature babies died. Today, doctors manage to save four out of every five, because they have better machines for breathing and better ways to feed the babies. But saving Christie's life cost more than $ 400,000. In some cases, doctors spend 1 million dollars saving a single child. The parents usually don't have enough money to pay. The government, an insurance company or the hospital picks up the bill. Even after a baby goes home from the hospital, it may require medical care. Some people think it makes more sense to spend money saving 10 adults who have cancer or other diseases than saving one small baby. But nobody wants to be the doctor who has to tell parents to their faces, "Sorry, I won't save your new child." The true cost of saving a baby may be even more than 1 million because _ . Answer: the baby may require medical care after it leaves the hospital Some children are talking about their favourite subjects and activities at school. Lucy: I think music is my favourite. I like listening to many beautiful English songs. I need to _ after a day's work, so I often listen to music after supper. Kate: I like music, too. But I only listen to Chinese songs, especially Jay Chow's songs. I also like drawing. I want to be a great painter. I also like reading. Reading makes me clever. Peter: I don't like music or drawing. I like playing basketball. I am a good basketball player. Don't you think it's cool? Jacky: I am not a good basketball player, but I play football well. It makes me strong. I feel great when I am on the football field. I play football for half an hour every day. Andy: I am not like many other boys I don't like sports. I think reading is my favourite. I can learn a lot from books. I read books for an hour every day. What does peter think is cool? Answer: Playing basketball. Over thirty thousand years ago,people from northern Asia went to America.Today, we call these people Indians . The Indians went to America because the weather began to change.Northern Asia became very cold. Everything froze. They had to move or die. How did the first Indians go to America? They walked! Later Columbus found the New World in 1492.At first,only a few Europeans followed .They travelled to America in boats. For the next three hundred years, about 500,000 people went there. Then the number grew very quickly. From 1815 to 1915,over thirty-two million Europeans left their countries and went to the United States. The biggest groups were from Germany and Italy .These Europeans spoke many different languages.Most of them took almost no money.They went to America so that they could find a better life. The New World was _ . Answer: America March 5 is "Lei Feng Day". Fifty years ago on this day, Chairman Mao Zedong called on people to "learn from Lei Feng". Now half a century has passed. Is the spirit of Lei Feng outdated? Some people have shown us that it's not. But people have also changed the ways in which they help others. Li Yulin, who works in a hospital in Hang Zhou, Zhejiang, has been a volunteer for 15 years. He still remembers his experience in an old people's home several years ago. An old woman held his hand and said, "You don't need to do anything for us. Seeing young people like you here is all we need." Those words made Li think: in what ways can we help people better? "Every person does what they can, no matter how small it is, to give out positive energy. And before we lend a helping hand, we should find out what they want," Li said to the Qianjiang Evening News. As well as Li, other people have shown their understanding of the spirit of Lei Feng. A "noodle fever" swept Zhengzhou, Henan in January. It started with an online post. Li Gang, a 42-year-old local man, said in the post that he has got cancer. He needed a lot of money for an operation. He was not asking for donations, but hoped people would come to eat at his restaurant. Li's post spread quickly. Soon his restaurant was filled with people every day. Li had an operation on Feb. 2 and now he is getting better. "It is good to help Li and his family like this for it shows them respect and doesn't hurt their pride," Qianjiang Evening News said. From this passage, what does the name of Lei Feng stand for? Answer: A symbol of selflessness and modesty .
Flying over a desert area in an airplane, two scientists looked down with trained eyes at trees and bushes. After an hour's flight one of the scientists wrote in his book, "Look here for probable metal." Walking across hilly ground, four scientists reported, "This ground should be searched for metals." From an airplane over a hilly wasteland a scientist sent back by radio one word "Uranium." None of the scientists had X-ray eyes: they had no magic powers for looking down below the earth's surface. They were merely putting to use one of the newest methods of locating minerals in the ground---using trees and plants as signs that certain minerals may lie beneath the ground on which the trees and plants are growing. This newest method of searching for minerals is based on the fact that minerals deep in the earth may affect the kind of bushes and trees that grow on the surface. At Watson Bar Creek, a mineral search group gathered bags of tree seeds. Boxes were filled with small branches from the trees. Roots were dug and put into boxes. Each bag and box was carefully marked. In a scientific laboratory the parts of the forest trees were burned to ashes and tested. Each small part was examined to learn whether there were minerals in it. Study of the roots, branches, and seeds showed no silver. But there were small amounts of gold in the roots and a little less gold in the branches and seeds. The seeds growing nearest to the tree trunk had more gold than those growing on the ends of the branches. If the trees had not indicated that there was gold in the ground, the scientists would not have spent money to pay for digging into the ground. They did dig and found more gold below. They dug deeper. They found large quantities of gold. Which might be the best title of the passage? A Searching for Metals with Special Power B New Methods of Doing Geological Study C A New Method of Searching for Minerals D Gold Could Be Found by Trees and Plants Answer: C Have you ever wondered what a Degree might be worth to you in your job or career? It means a lot of Americans with an Associate Degree average nearly $10,000 more in yearly earnings than those with just a High School Diploma Harcourt Learning Direct offers you a way to get a Specialized Associate Degree in 11 of today's growing fields-without having to go to college full time. With Harcourt, you study at home, in your spare time - so you don't have to give up your present job while you train for a better one , Choose from exciting majors like Business Management ,Accounting , Dressmaking &Design, Book keeping, Photography, Computer Science, Engincering, and more! Your training includes everything you need! 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Simply fill in your name and address on the coupon above , Then, write in the name and number of the one program you're most interested in ,and mail it today,. We'll rush your free information about how you can take advantage of the opportunities in the field you've chosen, Act today! Mail coupon today! Or call the number below 1-800-372-1589 Call any time , 24 hours a day, 7days a week www.Harcourt-learning.com E-mail:Haroutt@learning.com it seems to the writer that the greatest attraction for people to take their training is_. A its convenience B the degree's nation-wide recognition C the economic benefit it will bring about D the lowest tuition price people will pay Answer: C Two thirds of women prefer working for male bosses because they are better managers and less likely to lose their temper, a study has suggested. Many female employees also like having a man in charge because they can "more authoritative " and "more straight-forward" than _ . Women consider men "tougher", "better at delegation " and also more likely to regularly dish out praise. And men were also rated as being better decision-makers and having more grasp of the business overall than women do. It also shows that four out of ten women who have female bosses believe they could do a better job than their immediate superior. The study of 2,000 women in full or part-time employment asked whether they would prefer to have a man or woman as their immediate line manager. About 63 percent expressed a male preference, while only 37 percent choose a woman. The results also revealed one in six women who currently work under a woman is experiencing "underlying tension" between themselves and their boss. There are a number of reasons for the male preference including a feeling that female managers felt threatened by other women at work. A failure to leave personal problems at home was also cited . Other issues included a lack of flexibility over leaving early or starting late. But despite the worries, female bosses did score highly on the more personal side of the manager-employee relationship. They were thought of as being approachable, more trustworthy and more compassionate in a member of staff's time of need. In which aspect did female bosses score more points? A They were more flexible in working hours. B They didn't feel a tension from other women at work. C They were more considerate towards their employees. D They didn't allow personal problems to affect their mood. Answer: C A cat and a snake are both predators for several of the same animals. If there are only seven mice in a habitat shared by a cat and a snake, there will be A a shared meal between them B a war between mice and cats C pressure on them to get the mice before the other does D enough for each of them to have ten mice Answer: C There are many special hotels around the world. In Greenland, there is a hotel made out of ice. In Turkey, there is a cave hotel. And in Bolivia, there is the Salt Palace Hotel. Thousands of years ago, the area around the Salt Palace Hotel was a large lake. But over time, all the water disappeared. Today, the area has only two small lakes and two salt deserts. In the early 1990s, a man named Juan Quesada built the hotel. He cut big blocks of salt from the desert and used the blocks to build it. Everything in the hotel is made out of salt: the walls, the roof, the tables, the chairs and the beds. The sun heats the walls and roof during the day. So the rooms stay warm at night, though it's cold outside in the desert. The hotel has twelve rooms. A single room costs $40 a night, and a double room $60. A sign on the hotel's wall tells guests, "Please don't lick the walls." Where did the salt for the hotel come from? A A cave. B The lake. C The salt desert. D A salt field. Answer: C
Charlie was spending his summer holidays by the sea. One day he climbed over some rocks. He was looking for some crabs for supper. He took off his shorts and put them on a rock. The afternoon went quickly. Time was flying by. Look! The sea was coming in fast. It was over some of the rocks now. Charlie looked up. "It's getting late. Oh dear! Look at the sea. Where are my shorts now?" he thought. He saw them on a rock. Oh dear! The rock was an island! Now he must swim and got them. Charlie jumped into the sea and started swimming. He reached the rock and put his shorts on his head. Then he started swimming back. Oh no! The sea was too strong for Charlie. It was pulling him away from the beach. "Help!" he called. "I can't get back. " Luckily, a boat was coming by. The people in the boat saw Charlie and heard his call for help. "Are you all right?" asked the woman in the boat. "No! I can't swim back. The sea is too strong. " The woman stopped the boat and she and a girl pulled Charlie into the boat. He threw his shorts into the boat too. Then they turned the boat Bound and took Charlie back to the beach. "That was lucky," said the woman. "Thank you very much," said Charlie. "Be careful next time," said the woman. "The sea is usually very strong near these rocks. " "Next time, I'm going to keep my shorts in my bag," said Charlie. "Better safe than sorry!" Before looking for crabs, Charlie put _ . A. his shirts in a bag B. his shoes on a rock C. his shorts in a bag D. his shorts on a rock Answer: D Parents whose children think the latest Nike or Adidas shoes may be better than buying old-fashioned plimsolls because they encourage a healthier style of running, researchers said. Big companies, like Nike and Adidas, make millions of dollars from selling highly-cushioned shoes both as fashion and sports shoes. The researchers warn that wearing such shoes from an early age can make it difficult to run in a healthy way. Once we have grown used to running in this kind of shoes, it is very difficult to change our technique, even if we remove our shoes, it can raise the risk of injury. Children should be encouraged to wear shoes with thin soles such as plimsolls from a young age to help them develop a natural "barefoot" running style, experts said. Dr Mick Wilknson, who did the research, told the British Science Festival in Newcastle, "If I would advise someone on what to give their child, I would say don't go and buy them expensive Adidas or Nike, just get them a pair of flexible, flat shoes. Give them basic foot-ware, nothing fancy, nothing particularly cushioned." Running in flat shoes, barefoot, encourages the runner to use the front of their foot which is a better technique for running, especially long distances as the human was designed to do. Around the world, and in particular in the US, running barefoot is becoming more and more popular with many long distance runners training without shoes. Dr Mick Wilknson believes that training and running barefoot or in flat running shoes can help reduce injuries to runners, he said: "Injury rates in running have not changed since the 1970s, despite claims of improvements in running shoes. That has led some to conclude that barefoot running is better." Who is the passage written mainly for? A. The boss of shoes shop B. The runner of long distance C. The boss of producing shoes D. The parents of young children Answer: D While watching the Olympics the other night, I came across an unbelievable sight. It was not a gold medal, or a world record broken, but a show of courage. The event was swimming and started with only three men on the blocks. For one reason or another, two of them false started, so they were disqualified. That left only one to compete. It would have been difficult enough, not having anyone to race against, even though the time on the clock is important. I watched the man dive off the block and knew right away that something was wrong. I'm not an expert swimmer, but I can tell a good dive from a poor one, and this was not exactly medal quality. When he resurfaced, it was evident that the man was not out for gold - his arms were waving in an attempt at freestyle. The crowd started to laugh. Clearly this man was not a medal competitor. I listened to the crowd begin to laugh at this poor man who was clearly having a hard time. Finally he made his turn to start back. It was pitiful. He made a few desperate strokes and you could tell he was worn out. But in those few awful strokes, the crowd had changed. No longer were they laughing, but beginning to cheer. Some even began to stand and shout "Come on, you can do it!" and he did. A clear minute past the average swimmer, this young man finally finished his race. The crowd went wild. You would have thought that he had won the gold, and he should have. Even though he recorded one of the slowest times in Olympic history, this man gave more heart than any of the other competitors. Just a short year ago, he had never even swum, let alone race. His country had been invited to Sydney. In a competition where athletes remove their silver medals feeling they have somehow been cheated out of gold, or when they act so proudly in front of their competitirs, _ . What's the best title for the passage? A. Compete for Gold! B. Try again! C. Break a Record! D. Go for it! Answer: D Who doesn't have a clingy friend? You know, that person who often calls,texts, and e-mails. He often needs your attention, your feedback,or your help.Worse yet, he often gets _ when you don't reply immediately. Is there ever a moment when you just want to turn off your phone and be alone? But you won't do that to a friend. Actually there are better ways to deal with a clingy friend. Give Yourself Some Time If you really need some time for yourself, or you're just tired of being the listener, just explain to your friend honestly that you want or need some time of your own.Even the most determined friends will understand and give you some space. Of course, those extremely clingy friends will still call, text, and e-mail. If that happens, just reply gently that you need some time for yourself. Suggest an Activity for Your Friend If you 're tired of different get-togethers and outings, then you should advise your friend to do something alone. If you both like sports, you could tell your friend to have a try at the new gym. If your friend likes your suggestion, but insists that you go along, just explain that you've already visited the gym. Mention that you enjoy the gym. If you're lucky , he'll try it, and like it. Introduce Your Clingy Friend to Others. Your clingy friend may just be lonely or have trouble meeting new people. If that's the case , introduce him to others with similar interests. He may just make some new friends. _ There's no reason for you to rudely tell your clingy friend that he's a pain in the neck. Just follow the above advice to take your time back. After a while, your clingy friend should learn to value your time and your friendship. If a clingy friend calls you to play badminton with him but you want to be alone, you should NOT _ A. reply gently that you want to be alone B. introduce a new friend to him to play with C. advise him to try another new game D. tell him that you will meet an old friend soon Answer: D Dear Mom and Dad, I'm afraid I have some very bad news for you. I have been very naughty and the school master is very angry with me. She is going to write to you. You must come and take me away from here. She does not want me in the school any longer. The trouble started last night when I was smoking a cigarette in bed. As I was smoking, I heard footsteps coming towards the room .I did not want a teacher to catch me smoking, so I threw the cigarette away. Unfortunately, the cigarette fell into the waste--paper basket. It caught fire. There was a curtain near the waste --paper basket. It caught fire too. Soon the whole room was burning. The master phoned the fire brigade . The school is a long way from the town and before the fire brigade arrived, the whole school was on fire. The master said that the fire was all my fault and I must pay for the damage. She will send you a bill for about a million dollars. I'm very sorry for this. Much love Sarah Why was the school master angry with him? A. Because he was too naughty to study. B. Because he caused a big fire. C. Because he was too lazy. D. Because he stole something from the school. Answer: B
IQUIQUE, Chile (Reuters) -- Rescue workers at the San Jose gold and copper mine in northern Chile had reason to sing this week. A small hole drilled into the earth became a passage to freedom for 33 trapped miners, who spent 69 days underground. "Never have people been trapped for so long so deeply," says a doctor at NASA, the American space agency, which helped in the rescue. But the chief medical officer for the miners said most are in good enough health to leave the hospital within a day or so. The first three recovered and went home Thursday night. For much of the day the miners relaxed with Chilean President Sebastian Pinera. The 32 Chileans and 1 Bolivian still wore special sunglasses to protect their eyes. A partial mine collapse on 5th August trapped them more than half a kilometer underground. They had to stretch a two-day food supply. For two weeks no one knew if they were alive or dead. Later, they received supplies. The first miner rescued on Wednesday was Florencio Avalos. The second was Mario Sepulveda, who talked about how the experience tested his faith. The last miner up was Luis Urzua, who was the shift leader when his crew became trapped. Rescuers used a metal cage to pull the miners to safety in less than 24 hours -- faster than expected. The rescue capsule was a half-meter wide and known as the Phoenix, an imaginary bird from ancient stories. It bursts into flames but is continually reborn and rises from the ashes. Chile's Navy built the capsule with advice from mining experts and NASA engineers. It worked like an elevator, traveling up and down on a cable through a shaft drilled 622 meters into the rocks. Millions of people around the world watched the rescue. More than one thousand journalists traveled to the mine in the Atacama Desert to report on the rescue. They joined family members of the miners and rescue crews housed in an area of tents known as Camp Hope. What would be the best title for the passage? Answer: What are created during the pupa stage in a life cycle? Answer: Polar Ice Melting As spring arrives in the Arctic, new research suggests average temperatures are rising and ice caps are quickly melting. The melting ice threatens to shrink glaciers. The shrinking could raise sea levels around the world. Rising Waters What happens at the polar ice caps could affect the entire globe, said Bette Otto-Bliesner of the National Center for Atmospheric Research. A large amount of polluting gases is produced when people burn fossil fuels such as coal and oil to produce power for cities, factories and cars and to heat homes. According to the studies, an increase in the release of these gases could raise Arctic temperatures by 5 to 8 degrees within the next 100 years. That warmth could melt ice caps. The melting ice could then raise sea levels one to three feet over the next 100 to 150 years. Melting Glaciers Another study reports an increase in earthquakes caused by melting glaciers. The number of glacial earthquakes in Greenland's polar region has more than doubled since 2002. "People often think of glaciers as . . . slow moving, but in fact they can also move rather quickly," researcher Goeran Ekstroem of Harvard University said. Some glaciers are as large as Manhattan, New York, and as tall as the Empire State Building! How do warming temperatures contribute to earthquakes? As glaciers melt, flowing water eases their path. This can cause sudden movement, which makes the ground shake. How would polar ice melting most likely affect people in Maryland? Answer: Marbles in the right light make Answer: As many as 4 out of every 1,000 infants born today have permanent hearing loss. When parents learn that their child has hearing loss, they are faced with many difficult decisions. These decisions can include choosing therapies and schools, as well as finding financial help for hearing aids or cochlear implants . Help Me Hear Foundation is a public charity that gives the gift of hearing to deaf children from families existing on very low incomes around the world. Help Me Hear Foundation believes that a child's first years of development are critical. Being able to hear is vital to human, and Help Me Hear Foundation seeks to provide a positive lasting impression on society through its programs. Recipients of Help Me Hear Foundation's benefits receive state-of-the-art hearing devices that otherwise would cost thousands of dollars per child over the course of their lifetime. The Foundation raises money through donations for hearing aids and cochlear implants, which saves recipients and their families on average over $50,000 on related expenses. The Foundation tries to be a transparent charity, and wants to be a catalyst for allowing deaf and hearing-impaired children to develop in a typical fashion alongside their peers. Needy families can obtain information on specific services, and find out about deafness education by visiting the Help Me Hear Foundation's website. The website offers helpful information on how hearing aids work, and how hearing aids ease many of the learning and language challenges that hearing-impaired children deal with on a daily basis. . The author writes the text mainly to _ . Answer:
I had a lot of teachers that I loved. However, the teacher that I remember most was Mrs. Green from Marianna, Florida. She was my 5thgrade teacher. Since I was a new student, not only in her class, but at the school, she made my time there much more pleasant. I immediately began to like her. She was really funny and I knew that she liked me. She made learning fun. I remember one day for Christmas holidays, she taught us how to make ornaments from eggs. My parents still have some of the ornaments I made. She made me leader for many group projects and that made me feel special. I think that would make any child feel special, especially when a child is in a new place with no friends. She made me want to be like that. Not to pick a "favorite" student, but to make every student feel that they are special. That year, I received the Presidential Academic Award . I was really proud and so were my parents. Looking back at it, I think the reason why I did so well was that I felt important. Students do better when they feel like they are important or loved. Mrs. Green always gets to know her students and forms personal relationships with them, which I will try to do some day. I just hope that there will be a student who finds me to be their favorite teacher as I found her to be mine. How does the author feel about Mrs. Green's help? Scientists in Canada say big ocean fish have almost disappeared from the world since the start of industrial fishing in the nineteen-fifties. The scientists found that population of large fish like tuna; swordfish and cod have dropped by ninety percent in the past fifty years. The study took ten years. The researchers gathered records from fishing businesses and governments around the world. The magazineNaturepublished the findings. The scientists say the common method called longline fishing is especially damaging to populations of large fish. This method involves many fishing lines connected to one boat. These wires can be close to one-hundred kilometers long. They hold thousands of sharp metal hooks to catch fish. Longline fishing is especially common in the Japanese fishing industry. Records showed that Japanese boats used to catch about ten fish for every one-hundred hooks. The study says longline fishing boats now might catch one fish per hundred hooks. The scientists say industrial fishing can destroy groups of fish much faster than in the past. The study suggests that whole populations can disappear almost completely from new fishing areas within ten to fifteen years. Ransom Myers of Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia led the study with Boris Worm of Dalhousie and the University of Kiel in Germany. Mister Worm says the destruction could lead to a complete re-organization of ocean life systems. Mister Meyers says the decreased number of large fish is not the only worry. He says even populations that are able to reproduce do not get the chance to live long enough to grow as big as their ancestors . He says not only are there fewer big fish, they are smaller than those of the past. American government scientists say even with the best efforts to protect fish populations, decreases are to be expected. Which of the following shows the fact that the populations of large fish have dropped? Alice Walker makes her living by writing, and her poems, short stories, and novels have won many awards and fellowships for her. She was born in Eatonton, Georgia. She went to public schools there, and then to Spelman college in Atlanta before coming to New York to attend Sarah Lawrence college, from which she graduated in 1966. For a time she lived in Jackson, Mississippi, with her lawyer husband and a small daughter. About , , here first book for children, she says, "After my first meeting with Langston Hughes I vowed I would write a book about him for children someday. Why? Because I, at 22, knew next to nothing of his work , and he didn't scold me; he just gave me a stack of his books. And he was kind to me; I will always be grateful that in his absolute warmth and generosity he fulfilled my deepest dream ( and need) of what a poet should be.?" "To me he is not dead at all. Hardly a day goes by that I don't think of him or speak of him. Once, just before he died, when he was sick with the flu, I took him a sack full of oranges. The joy I felt in giving that simple gift is undiminished by time. He said he liked oranges, too." What is the main topic of the passage? It is easiest for a rose to grow Many overseas Chinese make their kids learn the Chinese language because they don't want them to lose their mother language. In the city of Portland in the USA, there is a weekend Chinese school in a church. In the school, there are Chinese kids and American kids. They study Chinese on Saturdays and Sundays. Teachers at the school are usually some overseas Chinese women. Miss Tian is one of them. She is from Beijing. She teaches her students many Chinese characters, sentences and Chinese songs. Most of these kids speak English better than Chinese, because they spend most of their time at the local school, and their classmates are American.Their teachers teach them in English. When the overseas Chinese children get home after school, their parents often speak Chinese to them. Only at that time do they think they are at home. Where do the kids learn Chinese?
Tomorrow would be Christmas Day, and Della had only one dollar and eighty-seven cents to buy her husband Jim a gift. She had been saving every penny she could for months, with this result. Now, Mister and Missus James Dillingham Young had two possessions which they valued. One was Jim's gold time piece, the watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's. The other was Della's hair. She put on her coat and her old brown hat. With a quick motion and brightness still in her eyes, she danced out the door and down the street. Where she stopped the sign read: "Madame Sofronie. Hair Goods of All Kinds." Della ran up the steps to the shop, out of breath. "Will you buy my hair?" asked Della. "Twenty dollars," said Madame, lifting the hair with an experienced hand. "Give it to me quick," said Della. The next two hours went by as if they had wings. Della found it at last. It surely had been made for Jim and no one else. It was a chain--- simple round rings of silver. She gave the shopkeeper twenty-one dollars and she hurried home with the remaining eighty-seven cents. ...... Jim was never late coming home from work. Della held the silver chain in her hand and sat near the door. Then she heard his step and she turned white for just a minute. She had a way of saying a little silent prayer about the simplest everyday things, and now she whispered: "Please God, make him think I am still pretty." The door opened and Jim stepped in. He stopped inside the door, as immovable as a dog smelling a bird. His eyes were fixed upon Della. There was an expression in them that she could not read, and it frightened her. It was not anger, nor surprise, nor fear, nor any of the feelings that she had been prepared for. He simply looked at her with a strange expression on his face. Della went to him. "Jim, my love," she cried, "do not look at me that way. I had my hair cut and sold because I could not have lived through Christmas without giving you a gift. My hair will grow out again. I just had to do it. My hair grows very fast. Say 'Merry Christmas!' Jim, and let us be happy. You do not know what a nice-- what a beautiful, nice gift I have for you." "You have cut off your hair?" asked Jim, slowly, as if he had not accepted the information even after his mind worked very hard. "Cut it off and sold it," said Della. " I tell you--sold and gone, too. It is Christmas Eve, boy. Be good to me, for it was cut for you. Maybe the hairs of my head were numbered," she went on with sudden serious sweetness, "but nobody could ever count my love for you. Shall I put the meat on, Jim?" Jim seemed to awaken quickly and put his arms around Della. Then he took a package from his coat and threw it on the table. "Do not make any mistake about me, Dell," he said. "I do not think there is any haircut that could make me like my girl any less. But if you will open that package you may see why you had me frightened at first." There were the beautiful combs, made of shells, with jewels at the edge ----just the color1 to wear in the beautiful hair that was no longer hers. She held the combs to herself, and soon she was able to look up with a smile and say, "My hair grows so fast, Jim!" Then Della happily held the silver chain out to him in her open hands. It seemed so bright. "Dell," said Jim, smiling, "let us put our Christmas gifts away and keep them a while. They are too nice to use just right now. I sold my gold watch to get the money to buy the set of combs for your hair. And now, why not put the meat on." Why had Jim been unable to speak when he entered the room? Answer: Because he knew that Della would now have no use for the combs. In America, drivers' education is part of the regular high school curriculum. Every student in his or her second year of high school is required to take a class in driver's education. However, unlike other courses, it is not given during the regular school year. Instead it is a summer course. The course is divided up into two parts: class time for learning laws and regulations and driving time to practice driving. Class time is not unlike any other class. The students have a text from which they study the basic laws they must know to pass the written driving test that is given to anyone wanting to get a driver's license. Driving time is a chance for the students to get behind the wheel (steering wheel) and practice starting steering, backing up, parking, switching lanes, turning corners, and all the other maneuvers required to drive a car. Each student is required to drive a total of six hours. The students are divided up into groups of four. The students and the instructor go out driving for two hour blocks of time. Thus, each student gets half an hour driving time per outing. The instructor and "driver" sit in the front seats and the other three students sit in the back. Drivers Ed cars are unlike other cars in which they have two sets of brakes, one on the driver's side and one on the other side where the instructor sits. Thus, if the student driver should run into difficulties the instructor can take over. The car also has another special feature. On the top of the car is a sign that reads: STUDENT DRIVER. That lets nearby drivers know that they should use extra caution because the student driver is a beginning driver, not very experienced and prone to driving slowly. After the student has passed the driver's education course and reached the appropriate age to drive (this age differs in every state but in most cases the person must be 16 years old), they can go to a designated state office to take their driver's test, which is made up of an eye examination, a written test, and a road test. The person must pass all three tests in order to be given a driver's license. If the person did well in his or her driver's education class, he or she will pass the test with flying colors and get a driver's license. In America, the driver's course mentioned above _ . Answer: is given to any student wanting to get a driver's license A group of frogs were travelling through the woods. Two of them, Nick and Jack, fell into a deep pit . All the other frogs gathered around the pit. When they saw how deep the pit was, they told Nick and Jack that they were as good as dead. Nick and Jack ignored what the other frogs said and tried to jump up out of the pit with all of their strength. The other frogs went on telling them to stop, and that they were as good as dead. Nick listened to them and gave up. Finally, he fell down and died. Jack continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the frogs around the pit shouted at him to stop the pain and just die. Jack jumped even harder and finally got out. When he was out, the other frogs asked, "Did not you hear us?" Jack explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him all the time. When the other frogs shouted at Jack to stop the pain and just die, he _ . Answer: jumped harder Long long ago, a young man found a spring of delicious clean water while he was going through the desert. He brought some back to the oldest man in his village, who had been his teacher before. After a four-day journey he sent the water to the old man who took a deep drink, smiled warmly and thanked his student for the sweet water. The young man returned to his village happily. The next day, the teacher let another student taste the water. He spat it out, saying it was awful. It went bad because it had stayed in the old leather container for so many days in such hot weather. The student asked his teacher why he pretended to like the awful water. The teacher _ , "You only tasted the water. I tasted the gift. The water was simply the container for love and kindness. And nothing could be sweeter than these." I think we understand this lesson best when we receive small gifts of love from very young kids. Whether it's a slice of bread or a piece of colored paper, the natural and right response is to show our thanks and happiness because we get love from the gift. To show our thanks doesn't always come naturally. Unfortunately, most children and many adults only see the thing itself. They never feel the meaning of the thing. We should tell ourselves and teach our children about showing thanks and happiness to the persons who give the gifts from their hearts because gifts from the heart are really gifts of the heart. What does the word "replied" mean? Answer: answered Every year, the French town of Menton hosts an event called the Lemon Festival in the world. The Lemon Festival usually takes place between mid-February until March. During the festival, around 145 tons of oranges and lemons are sent into the town. Over 300 workers work together to make giant sculptures out of fruits. Menton became the first producer of lemons in 1929. The lemons are loved by the world's best cooks. In the late 19th century, a town parade was held to encourage Menton's winter tourism. Kings, princes and artists filled the great and comfortable hotels or their own fantastic houses. Because of its great success, the streets were beautifully planted with oranges and lemons in the following years. In order to develop tourism, in 1934 the Lemon Festival was officially born. Sleepy Menton becomes a world of color during the festival time. People find it very exciting and full of fun. The festival is enjoyed for three whole weeks. Along with a daily Lemon and Orange Exhibition, parades on Sundays, fireworks on Thursday nights. Every year there will be a special theme for the Lemon festival. This year the theme of the Lemon Festival is: "The regions of France". Some of the events are free, but you need to buy tickets to see the parades. In which part of a newspaper can you find the passage? Answer: Travel
His parents were out and dropped him at the babysitter's house at 12 o'clock. Lunchtime had past, but later the babysitter fixed him a dinner of some kind of brown meat. Under the meat was a slice of dry toast. Timmy didn't like the dinner and wished he had spaghetti or pizza. Even if it wasn't what he wanted, the meal filled his tummy and stopped the hunger pains. Timmy was bored and wanted something to do, but he didn't have any toys. All he had was some paper, his toothbrush and toothpaste. He wished he was home where he had left his favorite toy race car and train. The house was quiet and nighttime was near. He pretended he was camping. It was 8 o'clock and the streetlight came on and shined through the curtain, making scary shadows on the wall. He looked through the trash in the babysitter's extra room but couldn't find anything useful. If he at least had some markers or crayons he could draw some pictures, but he didn't even have a pencil. Timmy thought for a bit and found he could make a toy boat. He folded the paper into a mighty ship. In his imagination the little boat was in a storm on a dark sea. Danger was all around. The imaginary men on his paper boat were facing the storm bravely and sailed into safety as he was falling asleep. What time of day was it when Timmy got bored? A lunchtime B morning C 8 o'clock D midnight Answer: C. 8 o'clock He has climbed a high mountain, raced the 24-hour motorcycle track in France and even, walked from Tokyo to Kyoto, a distance of 500 km. Now Evolta, Panasonic's 7-inch Humanoid Robot is getting ready for his biggest challenge -- the Ironman Triathlon Championship in Hawaii. To compete in this exhausting contest, the green & white robot which is small enough to fit on a human palm, will have to swim 2.4 miles in the rough ocean, bike 112 miles across the hot Hawaiian desert and, run a full marathon distance of 26.2 miles in the painfully hot weather. Given that he is so tiny and powered by rechargeable batteries of Panasonic, he will be allowed some freedom in the way he competes. For one, he will be starting the race on October 23rd, 2011, three weeks following the real event and, while human competitors have at most 17 hours to complete the triathlon, Evolta will be given 7 days, during which his only "breaks" will be to recharge his batteries. The biggest difference however, will be that unlike a single human body doing all three races, there will be three different "Evolta" robot bodies competing -- each built for the specific race. Evolta the swimmer will be equipped with special arms to swim forward. Evolta the biker, will be on a little two-wheeler with training wheels, while Evolta the runner, will be fixed on what looks like a wheel. In spite of all these advantages, the robot's creator Tomotaka Takahashi believes that the race will be a huge challenge -- not only will Evolta have to battle the wind and sun, but also, small road obstacles that humans just step over. The water will be even worse thanks to the strong waves, tides and ocean winds. But if he does complete it, Evolta will add another feather in his cap and just prove the already well-known fact that Panasonic's rechargeable Evolta batteries are indeed the "world's longest-lasting batteries"! By saying "Evolta will add another feather in his cap", the author means _ . A Evolta will celebrate the victory with a feather cap B Evolta will become very famous and attractive C Evolta will be awarded with another feather cap D Evolta will have another thing to be proud of Answer: D. Evolta will have another thing to be proud of LONDON (Reuters) Ecotourism is causing a lot of damage to wildlife and may be endangering the survival of the very animals people are flocking to see, according to researchers. Biologists and conservationists are worried because polar bears, dolphins, penguins and other creatures are getting stressed and losing weight and some are dying. "Evidence is growing that many animals do not react well to tourists in their backyard," New Scientist magazine said. The immediate effects "researchers have noticed are changes in behavior, heart rates. or stress hormone levels but they fear it could get much worse and over the long term " could endanger the survival of the very wildlife they want to see. " Although money produced through ecotourism, which has been growing at about 10-30 percent a year, has major benefits for poor countries and people living in rural areas, the Swiss-based World Conservation Union (IUCN) and some governments fear not all projects are audited and based on environmentally friendly policies,according to the magazine. Transmission of disease to wildlife,or small changes to wildlife health through disturbance of daily life or increased stress levels, while not obvious to the casual observer, may translate to lower survival and breeding," said Philip Seddon , of the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. Scientists have noticed that bottleneck dolphins along the northeastern coast of New Zealand become nervously excited when tourist boats arrive. Similar changes in behavior have been observed in polar bears and yellow-eyed penguins in areas visited by colorists are producing smaller babies. Conservationists are now calling for more research into the effect of ecotourism on animals and say the industry must be developed carefully. They also want studies done before new ecotourism projects are started. _ said Rochelle Constantine of the University of Auckland in New Zealand We may learn from the text that _ . A ecotourism must be developed properly B polar bears are losing weight without enough food C all the poor countries have stopped ecotourism D money produced through ecotourism should be spent on wildlife Answer: A. ecotourism must be developed properly Tom was three years old. He liked to watch TV with his parents after supper, but his parents never let him stay long. Mother would say, "It's eight o'clock now. It's time for you to go to bed, Tom." "But why don't you go to bed, too?" Tom always asked. "We are adults ," mother would say, "And adults go to bed late." One evening Tom asked his mother for an apple. "But it's too late," his mother didn't want to give him anything to eat at bedtime. "The apples are already asleep." "But not all of them, Mom." Tom said, "The baby apples are perhaps asleep, but their parents are surely awake." From the story we know _ . A Tom was a quiet boy B Tom was a bad boy C Tom was a lazy boy D Tom was a clever boy Answer: D. Tom was a clever boy To protect yourself from blisters you may try A a bandaid B fur C a rainbow D a chicken Answer: A. a bandaid
Question: China's Ministry of Culture has recommended 10 cyber games that are suitable for minors to play as part of its drive to purify the on-line environment for the young. The 10 cyber games were selected by the ministry's on-line games censorship committee from scores of games recommended by the Chinese public.l The games are all domestic products. They include five role playing games (RPG), four recreation and chess games, and one educational game, such as "Warring States II Online," "Rainbow Island Online," and "Wonderlands of learning and games." These games have made their way into the final recommendation list because they are considered "healthy" and can "enhance intelligence," according to the ministry. The ministry hoped the list could serve a a guidance for parents to better direct their children in the winter vacation, which usually lasts nearly two months from January to February each year. This was the third time for the ministry to publish recommended cyber games list. The previous two were made public respectively in January 2006 and August 2005 with a total of 25 games inlisted. In the past few years, on- line games have become the favorite pastime of young people. However, it is argued that such social problems as game addiction, juvenile delinquency and perversion among minors by on-line violence and pornography have come from an inadequately regulated Internet. About 9.72 percent of Chinese netizens between the ages of 13 and 30 suffer Internet addiction, said a report issued last month by the China Youth Association for Network Development (CYAND). According to the China Internet Network Information Center (CINIC), the main Internet watchdog, China had 210million Internet users at the end of 2007 and its online population is on course to become the world's largest at the beginning of this year. Net users between 18 and 30 accounted for 49.9percent of the total users. Although the CINIC did not give the figure of those below 18, teenagers and youths have obviously taken up more than half of the total number of net users. And the number of users under age 18 increased rapidly last year, the CINIC noted. According to the passage, how many teenagers and youths become net users at the end of 2007? A. Mor than 105 million. B. Less than 105 million. C. About 210 million. D. 104.79 million. Answer: A. Mor than 105 million. Question: Where would you most likely find a full-grown Thorius adelos? A. water B. forest C. ocean D. sky Answer: B. forest Question: On May 23,1989, Stefania Follini came out from a cave at Carlsbad , New Mexico.She hadn't seen the sun for eighteen and a half weeks .Stefania was in a research program, and the scientists in the program were studying body rhythms . In this experiment Stefania had spent 130 days in a cave ,30 feet in depth. During her time in the cave, Stefania had been completely alone except for two white mice.Her living place had been very comfortable ,but there had been nothing to feel her the time .She'd had no clock or watches , no television or radio.There had been no natural light and the temperature had always been kept at 21degC What is a cause for the change of Stefania's body clock? A. Eating fewer hours B. Having more hours of sleep C. Lacking physical exercise. D. Getting no natural light. Answer: D. Getting no natural light. Question: The new high-speed railway line between Urumqi,capital of the Xinjiang Uygur self-governing region,and Lanzhou,capital of Gansu province,has cut train travel time by half to less than 12 hours. The dramatic improvement will benefit many families planning reunions for Spring Festival. "For the first time,I feel home is not that far away after all,"said Liang Shaofu as he boarded a high-speed train in Urumqi with six members of his family. The 35-year-old left Lanzhou to set up a dry fruit business in Xinjiang eight years ago,and he has now settled in Urumqi. The 1,776-km line,which passes through Qinghai province and is the country's first high-speed railway to be built in a high-altitude region,came into service on Dec 26. "We normally drive home for Spring Festival to avoid the difficulties of buying seven train tickets for the whole family during the peak season,"Liang said."Driving can be very tiring and dangerous sometimes,so one year we even decided not to go back to Lanzhou simply to avoid the trip." More than 600,000 passengers traveled on the line during its first month,and the Urumqi Railway Bureau said the introduction of high-speed services will ease transport pressure during the Spring Festival peak season. The existing usual railway line could no longer support Xinjiang's development.All passenger trains will gradually shift to the new link,leaving the old one to be used for goods.As a result,Xinjiang's annual goods ability could reach 200 million metric tons from the current 70 million. The line passes through areas that experience high winds,and it also crosses parts of the deserted Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the bone-dry sands of the Gobi Desert. The project could help China to promote its high-speed railway technology abroad,said Ma Xi zhang,director of the Lanzhou-Xinjiang railway project's _ management department in Xinjiang. Which of the following is true according to the passage? A. The new high-speed railway line is good for all people to go home. B. The new high-speed railway line benefits businessmen to carry goods. C. Taking the new train is safer than driving home from Urumqi to Lanzhou. D. Businessmen seldom went home for Spring Festival before. Answer: C. Taking the new train is safer than driving home from Urumqi to Lanzhou. Question: Quick and Quack were two brave little ducks who lived with their mother. Both were really fast and were always competing against each other. One day, after visiting their uncle Ducklass, Quack shouted, "Last one home is a goose!" and both ducks swam quickly down the river. They both knew the way well, but Quack had been preparing a trick for some time. He had realized that the current in the middle of the river was stronger, and would help him. So, even though Mother Duck had told them never to swim in the middle of the river, Quack paddled over to it. "I'm old enough now to swim here," he thought to himself. It wasn't long before he realized his mother had been right. He was going much faster than Quick, and was developing a big lead. Quick was not amused. He never disobeyed his mother, and now he was going to lose the race! As they went on, the current got stronger. Quack proudly crossed the finishing line, without realizing he headed straight for a big whirlpool in the middle of the river. Before he could react, he was turning around in it, unable to escape. No duck was strong enough to swim in those waters, and poor Quack kept swallowing water. The fact that he was struggling hard didn't help matters much either. Fortunately, a cow from a nearby farm came by, and seeing Quack, he jumped in and rescued him. When he was on dry ground, he remained uncomfortable for quite some time. That provided quite a laugh for different animals that had been watching. When Quack was in the whirlpool, _ . A. many animals were watching anxiously nearby B. Quick was a long distance ahead of him C. many animals were laughing at him nearby D. the cow was working on a farm nearby Answer: A. many animals were watching anxiously nearby
Some years ago,writing in my diary used to be a usual activity.I would return from school and spend the expected half hour recording the day's events,feelings,and impressions in my little blue diary.I did not really need to express my emotions by way of words,but I gained a certain satisfaction from seeing my experiences forever recorded on paper.After all,isn't accumulating memories a way of preserving the past? When I was thirteen years old,I went on a long journey on foot in a great valley,wellequipped with pens,a diary,and a camera.During the trip,I was busy recording every incident,name and place I came across.I felt proud to be spending my time productively,dutifully preserving for future generations a detailed description of my travels.On my last night there,I wandered out of my tent,diary in hand.The sky was clear and lit by the glare of the moon,and the walls of the valley looked threatening behind their screen of shadows.I automatically took out my pen... At that point,I understood that nothing I wrote could ever match or replace the few seconds I allowed myself to experience the dramatic beauty of the valley.All I remembered of the previous few days were the dull characterizations I had set down in my diary. Now,I only write in my diary when I need to write down a special thought or feeling.I still love to record ideas and quotations that strike me in books,or observations that are particularly meaningful.I take pictures,but not very often-only of objects I find really beautiful.I'm no longer blindly satisfied with having something to remember when I grow old.I realize that life will simply pass me by if I stay behind the camera,busy preserving the present so as to live it in the future. I don't want to wake up one day and have nothing but a pile of pictures and notes.Maybe I won't have as many exact representations of people and places;maybe I'll forget certain facts,but at least the experiences will always remain inside me.I don't live to make memories-I just live,and the memories form themselves. What caused a change in the author's understanding of keeping a diary? A. A dull night on the journey. B. The beauty of the great valley. C. A striking quotation from a book. D. Her concerns for future generations. Answer: B. The beauty of the great valley. Welcome to the Little Rock Zoo! The little Rock Zoo is open every day of the week, all year round, EXCEPT Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year`s Day. Opening Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and the last admission is at 4:00 pm. Admission price: Adults: $10 Children( 12 and under) : $8 ( only children 12 months of age are admitted free.) Cafe: Currently open every day from 9:30 am -4:00 pm Opening hours may change according to the weather and special hours. Zoo Train: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday :9:00 am--4:00 pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday , : 9:30 am--4:00 pm Run every half an hour The Little Rock Zoo is closed on _ . A. Halloween B. Valentine`s Day C. Labor Day D. Thanksgiving Answer: D. Thanksgiving Going to college and living away from home for the first time can be terribie.Students tend to have higher academic achievements in college when they enjoy living in the dormitory.Most colleges and universities have many programs that help first-year students adjust to studying and living in a new community.Take advantage of these programs and make new friends as you adjust to your college life. _ .Greet and meet everyone in the dorm.Find out their class schedules and hobbies.You may be able to find study partners this way.Most students are just like you being away from their home the first time.Don't be afraid toknock on your neighbors'doors and introduce yourself.The residence staff will also help you in adjusting tocollege iife.Get to know them as soon as possible. Get along with your roommate.Your roommates can be eitherr your lifelong friends or enemies.Try to be friends to them.Respect each other, including their space.Do not use your roommates' belongings without permission.Communicate among each other regarding your daily schedule, study or sleep habits and off campus guest visits. Always say hello. Get involved.To adjust to college life away from home,you need to got involved in college activities.Join clubs.Attend events that are hosted by your residence life and academic departments.Attend those events with your new friends. Most colleges have many events throughout the semester.Student union is a great place to meet new friends and learn about the upcoming events. Call home when you need to.College life can be very exciting in the beginning. Most students get lonely and homesick during the middle of the semester or during festivals,It is normal to feel sad.Call home or even visit home when you need to. Talk to your friends back home.Understand that many people love and support you and they are very proud of you. In which part of a website might the text appear? A. Style and fashion. B. Science and technology. C. Sports and health. D. Culture and education. Answer: D. Culture and education. At first all films were in black and white, but in 1932 the first color film was made. It proved as unpopular as making films had done in the late 1920's. It was not until 1938 that a full length color film was made, and the success of this film made producers everywhere change from black and white to color. This first full-length color film was translated into ten different languages and made Hollywood the main center( )of film industry In the early days of the cinema, other countries had also film industries. Very good films were made in Sweden, Britain, Russia and France. However, because Holleywood had so much money to spend, it kept its position as the world's most important film center. Film actors went to America because they knew they could get a lot of money for every film they made. In 1918 Charlie Chaplin (*)received $5 each day. However, life was not always easy for the film actors. Newspapermen followed them everywhere, and after Charlie Chapine married for the fourth time he became so unpopular with the American public that he had to leave the country and live in Europe. .. The first full-length color film was made _ A. in Holleywood B. in Sweden C. by Charlie Chapine D. in Britain Answer: A. in Holleywood Five-year-old Susie loved to listen to her older sister, Emma, play the piano. Susie wanted to play it, too. But every time Susie asked to play, her mother would tell her how much work it needed to learn to play the piano well. Susie was sure she could learn to play it. She decided to make her mother believe that she was ready to learn to play the piano, so Susie helped her mom do the dishes and clean the house. "Mom, can I start taking the piano lesson?" asked Susie. "Susie, if you take the piano lesson, you must practice every day," said her mom. Susie was so excited. She could not wait to learn how to play her favorite songs! Susie was excited for her first piano lesson. When she was finally in class, she was surprised: her teacher had flashcards and a book for her. Susie didn't know there were so many other things to know about the piano first. During that first lesson, the teacher didn't let Susie play the piano. The next day, after Susie got home from school, she ran outside. "Where are you going?" asked her mom. "Outside to play volleyball," said Susie. "Bye, Mom!" "You must study your piano flashcards," said her mom. "Susie, this is what you wanted, now you have to do it." What can we learn about Susie's first piano lesson? A. Her lesson was very easy. B. She did not play the piano. C. She had the same teacher as Emma. D. Her piano flashcards were interesting. Answer: B. She did not play the piano.
Question: Defendant was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. He had been stopped while driving a car and several pounds of cocaine were found in the trunk. In his opening statement, defendant's counsel asserted that his client had no key to the trunk and no knowledge of its contents. The prosecutor offers the state motor vehicle registration, shown to have been found in the glove compartment of the car, listing Defendant as the owner. The registration should be A. admitted, as a statement against interest. B. admitted, as evidence of Defendant's close connection with the car and, therefore, knowledge of its contents. C. excluded, unless authenticated by (C) excluded, unless authenticated by testimony of or certification by a state official charged with custody of vehicle registration records. D. excluded, as hearsay not within any exception. Answer: B. admitted, as evidence of Defendant's close connection with the car and, therefore, knowledge of its contents. Question: Enjoy an unforgettable day in the French capital on this luxury day trip from London to Paris,with an included Champagne lunch at the Eiffel Tower! Travel on Eurostar from St Pancras International and enjoy a panoramic sightseeing tour taking in Paris'top sights. Highlights /Romantic experience,perfect for couples /Round--trip fares /Travel by boat and see the sights from the water /Lunch included Make your own way to St Pancras International station and meet your professional guide.The departure time is 6 am.Board the Eurostar and relax as it takes you to Paris in Just over 2 hours.If you wish,upgrade to 1st Class and enjoy breakfast served on board and dinner on your return journey. Once you arrive in Paris ,join your guide on an air-conditioned coach for a patioramic sightseeing tour.See top Paris attractions such as the Champs-Elysees,Arc de Triomphe and Opera House as you hear fascinating facts about the city. Next,arrive at the Eiffel Tower for your Champagne lunch.Skip the possible long admission lines with your fast-aecess ticket and ride the elevator to the stylish 58 Tour Eiffel restaurant on the first floor.Take your seat and enjoy a glass of Champagne and delicious 2-course lunch with the full views of the city providing a truly magical baekdrop! Afterward,enjoy a 1-hour sightseeing tour along the Seine River.Take photos and listen to the helpful commentary as you pass sights, such as soaring Notre Dame Cathedral and the island,Ile de la Cite Next,either choose to use some free time to shop or sightsee,or take a guided visit to the magnificent Louvre Museum(own expense)to see Leonardo da Vinci's exquisite Mone Lisa and other masterpieces. In the late afternoon,return to Gard du Nord,station and catch the Eurostar back to St.Pancras.Your tour ends when you arrive at around 8:30pm. Who are most likely to show interest in the tour? A. College students. B. Champagne lovers. C. Loving couples. D. Professional photographers. Answer: C. Loving couples. Question: Babies understand what their mothers say, even when they speak a language their children have never heard before, scientists claim. The researchers found that one-year-olds reacted in exactly same way to their mothers' voices regardless of whether they were speaking English or Greek, showing what mothers have long known - that babies pick up on tone of voice rather than the words themselves. The researchers, from Cardiff University's School of Psychology, observed babies as they watched their mothers perform actions with toys using the English words "whoops" and "there". The scientists studied reactions from one-year-old babies to their mums' voices even when they were speaking both English and Greek, and keeping the same tone of voice. The academics found that babies reproduced the same reactions regardless of whether they knew the language. Study leader Dr Merideth Gattis of Cardiff University's School of Psychology says, "What this work showed was that children could have access to understanding simply through tone of voice. We did 'whoops' and 'there' in two languages and got exactly the same results." The research, published in the journal Cognitive Development, was conducted on 84 babies aged between 14 and 18 months, over the course of a year, with none of the babies having any previous exposure to Greek. Dr Gattis says that children respond to tone clues in their parents' voices from an early age. She says, "Tone of voice is a really useful signal of what someone is thinking. We never have direct access to other people's minds, except the signals in language that they give out." She says the study shows that it is less important what parents say than how they say it. Dr Gattis adds, "A child may ask if you like his / her drawing, for example. You might say yes, but if you don't sound enthusiastic, the meaning may not get across." Before children begin to speak, parents should use exaggerated tone when speaking to them. According to the text, what have mothers long-known? A. Babies have a better understanding of English. B. Babies pick up on tone of voice. C. Babies like their mothers' performances. D. Babies like drawing from an early age. Answer: B. Babies pick up on tone of voice. Question: When my brother Joey was 6 months old, my mother brought him home from the hospital and told me to watch him while she fixed supper. We started playing a game I called "dogs", rolling on the floor like pups . Then I looked up and saw my mother watching us. She was crying. "He's blind," she said. "The doctor told me today." I looked at Joey. He was laughing. "He can't be blind," I said. "He smiles at my face." "He smiles at your voice," she said. "He'll never see your face." That was that. Joey was blind. Mama went back to cooking. I went back to playing a dog. From the age of 8, Joey boarded at a school for the deaf and the blind, learning to read Braille . When he was 16, the school said he'd learned enough and sent him home with a Braille typewriter. At 21, Joey moved out to live on his own, he said, "like a man," in an apartment 30 miles (48 km) away. He learned to cook, clean, do his own laundry, and do almost anything else he needed. Then he met the love of his life. She, too, was blind. When Joey called to tell me, he said: "Even a blind man can fall in love at first sight." They shared 10 good years before he lost her to cancer. Painfully soon after, he also lost our mother, who was his champion, and our stepfather, who was Joey's best friend. What is left when you lose the loves of your life? My brother clung with an iron fist to three gifts: Faith, hope and love. His faith grew stronger. He always had hope. And his love for his family has never gotten weaker, despite death or disappointment. Loved ones leave, but love remains. The years ahead may prove to be his hardest. His legs are growing weaker, threatening to take away the independence he's fought so hard to keep. My sister and I often wonder what will happen if Joey can't live on his own. It's not up to us. We'll do what we can, but it's his life. He won't have it any other way. You don't find strength to do something until it's time to do it. Joey has found _ whenever he has needed it. I believe he will again. When the author's mother brought her little brother Joey back from the hospital, the author _ . A. was sad because he couldn't see things clearly B. immediately introduced him to the family dog C. worried that he might steal her mother's love from her D. had great fun playing a game with him Answer: D. had great fun playing a game with him Question: Alone in the wilderness. Nothing but jungle. A world of shadow with the rays of light falling like blonde hair from the crowns of the giant trees. Jungle in the midday sun. Everything motionless. Not a sound from sky or earth. Complete silence. Only some coconuts falling, at long intervals, very far away. The world reduced to the soft touch of cool grass along my naked back, and a sweet smell of rich soil and vegetation. Stretched out with closed eyes beside my heavy burden of fruit and firewood, I enjoyed the feeling of fresh blood streaming through every part of my body and fresh jungle air filling every corner of my lungs. Resting motionless, I could see the sun through my closed eyelids, alone in the sky, as lonely as I, and as motionless and silent as everything else. The earth had surely stopped turning and somewhere on this planet there was supposed to be roaring traffic in busy streets. What a crazy, unbelievable thought! Another coconut fell, to make the world come to a complete standstill. I had to roll over onto my stomach to feel that at least I could move and make noises. Then I found company. A little brown ant was struggling to find its way with a bit of dry straw through the jungle of leaves and grass below my nose. I wondered if I could give the little fellow a lift with its burden, but it showed not the slightest sign of tiredness and struggled on with all six legs, head first or head last, waving its feelers energetically as if the trip had just started. Who ever saw a tired ant? Tiredness, disagreeable tiredness, is restricted to hunted animals, slaves and modern man. It is as great an effort for an office clerk to walk five blocks with a loaded brief-case as it is for a jungle-dweller to cross a valley with a goat on his back. It is as hard to get up and climb or run when you have been seated for years as it is to get up and walk when you have been in bed for months. The body is strange. Spare it, and you get really tired for almost nothing; use it, and almost nothing makes you really tired. I rose to my feet. I had heard a horse neighing down in the valley. Above me, on the open highland plains, there were wild horses. But down in the valley there was never a horse unless there was a man on it. Somebody was making his way up the valley and my wife was alone. We can learn from the passage that the author _ . A. enjoyed being alone B. experienced a world of quietness C. missed his busy life in the city D. had an unforgettable adventure Answer: B. experienced a world of quietness
Question: There is a river at the base of Mount Tom. In the spring the water level is usually very high. In the summer it is lower. The higher level of water during the spring comes from A. hurricanes. B. melting snow. C. tornadoes. D. evaporating water. Answer: B Question: Are you afraid of sharks? You shouldn't be! Below we cleared up the main _ about one of the world's most perfectly formed creatures ... All sharks are the same. This is ly not true. There are nearly four hundred species of sharks and they vary widely in habitat, size, features, diet and lifestyle. They range from the cigar shark, which is about 15 centimetres long, to the whale shark, which can be up to about nine meters long. More than 50 percent of sharks are less than a metre long and more than 90 percent are less than two metres long. And their habitat ranges from shallow to deep water and from the Arctic to the Tropic. _ This is not true, either. In fact, many shark populations are decreasing. The chief reason for this is that hundreds of thousands of them are caught in fishing nets. Depending on where they are caught. They are either killed for their fins , which are used in shark's fin soup, or they are tossed back into the sea because they are unwanted. Almost all sharks which are discarded in this way die. Also, sharks mature late in life and produce very few young. If the current reduction in numbers continues, the ecological balance of the oceans will be severely threatened. Sharks will always attack you This is nonsense. The chances of being attacked by a shark are minimal. You are 250 times more likely to be killed by lightning than by a shark, and your chances of being killed by lightning are practically zero. However, if you are planning to take a swim in shark territory, then follow these simple rules: Avoid swimming at dawn or duck when visibility decreases. Avoid areas where there are breaking waves. Turbulent water makes it difficult for sharks to see and determine whether you are prey . Do not wear jewellery in the water. Sharks are attracted to shiny fishes, and jewellery may resemble their scales . Do not swim near schools of small fish, which are the favorite food of some sharks. Which of the following rules should you follow when you're going to swim in shark areas? A. Don't swim before day breaks. B. Choose areas where there are big waves. C. Wear something shiny when swimming. D. Choose areas where there are many small fish. Answer: A Question: Whenever there's a terrible storm, there are many sad stories. Many people lost their houses, their cars and their pets. But sometimes these stories have happy endings, too. A family in New Jersey, US, had a cat named Vivian. She was very smart. She could even draw with her wet paws on the floor. They all loved her very much. When hurricane Sandy hit America in October, they moved to a safer place 13km away from home. Unluckily, Vivian was missing . All the nine family members were worried about her. They put up posters to find her. They looked for her everywhere they thought she could stay, but they didn't find it. The family thought Vivian was gone forever. But six months later, Vivian showed up at their house, according to Yahoo News. They considered her return as a _ . No one can be sure where Vivian was for all that time. Many animals are good at finding their way home. People usually say that dogs and cats find their way home through using their sense of smell . But that doesn't explain how Vivian found her way back. Hurricane Sandy blew away the normal smell of home. "I wish she could talk," said her owner. What can be the best title for the passage? A. A Terrible Storm B. A Clever Pet C. A Smart Owner D. Sandy Hit America Answer: B Question: "When your mother scolds you, you can look elsewhere and think about other things. Just ignore her words. But remember: such a tough attitude cannot be used often." These words are from a series of cartoons which outline skills for children to fight against their mothers. The images have created heated debate among Chinese netizens. Regarded as "a book for children aged 6 to 12 who are always scolded by their parents", the cartoons, drawn by two 10yearold Beijing girls, list over 20 skills which children can use to deal with their mothers' anger such as crying, pretending to be ashamed, fleeing into the toilet and pleasing her afterwards. Each skill is described with vivid pictures and humorous notes. The creativity of the young girls has amazed netizens, the Yangtse Evening Post reported on Thursday. According to one of the girls' mothers, her daughter once received a poor mark in an exam, and the mother blamed her and compared her performance with another classmate. The daughter's feelings led to her creating the cartoons. The girl's father, who first posted the pictures on his Sohu Microblog on Monday, said he hopes parents pay close attention to the pictures, allow children to feel free to develop their own characteristics and try not to criticize them so often. The father said the cartoons aren't finished yet; his daughter will continue with them when she has time. "The cartoons, although an individual case, reflect a modern phenomenon and some of the problems within Chinese family education," said Yu Qinfang, an expert on family education. According to a survey of 104 children and their parents, Yu discovered that as many as 51.9 percent of primary school students hate being urged to do things by their mothers. "Not giving children enough time and hurrying them to do things seems to be a very tiny detail within family life, but it is potentially a huge problem which can easily be ignored by parents. A mother's blame may lead to negative feelings within her child's heart," Yu said. "Parents should learn to blame less and be more patient." By posting the cartoons on his microblog, the father wanted to _ . A. show off his daughter's cleverness B. blame his daughter for drawing these cartoons C. encourage his daughter to make greater progress D. get other parents to draw a lesson from the cartoons Answer: D Question: Sir Nicholas Winton, rescuer of children, died on July 1st,2015,aged 106. When the letters and the honor came knocking on the door of his house in Maidenhead, and the filmmakers came calling, Nicholas Winton always protested that he was no hero. Heroes faced danger; he never had. They put their lives on the line; he had just worked at home in Hampstead, after a day being a stockbroker in the City. They avoided bullets and the secret police; he wrote letters, made telephone calls,and composed lists. The fact that he had rescued 669 children from Czechoslovakia just as the Nazis invaded did not, in his mind, constitute heroism. He hadn't gone out there in 1938 with any burning urge to do good; just for a holiday, in fact. Nor had he gone looking for children to rescue. Instead they and their parents had come to him, as soon as word got round that he might be able to help them leave Prague and get to the West. From 6.00 a.m. the knocks would come at the door of his room in the Europa Hotel, and he would open it to find some shivering, starving, desperate figure. When faced with a problem, his instinct was to solve it. So he made lists of the children, took their photographs, got them Home Office entry permits, found them foster families and organised their departure on trains, via the Netherlands, to Liverpool Street. After just three weeks in Prague, he went back to Britain and carried on the work from there. The British Committee for Refugees from Czechoslovakia gave him almost no help, so he took sole charge himself. The Home Office was slow with entry permits, so he copied some illegally. In search of foster-parents for the children he put their photos in Picture Post; in the hope of farther havens for them he wrote to governors and senators in America and even to President Roosevelt, to no avail. He could have rescued at least 2,000 more, he said later, if America had been willing to take any. A hero might have got involved in the stress and distress of individual cases. He avoided that by treating them like a commercial transaction: like the world he knew, in fact. A market was created, takers were sought and any likely bidder would do. Siblings were separated, if necessary. Jewish children they were almost all Jewish were often placed with Gentile families. Mr Winton did not care and he just had to get the children out alive and fast. When they arrived, exhausted, at Liverpool Street he seldom greeted them himself, preferring to stay calmly at a distance. Only one event traumatised him: the disappearance of 250 children on the last transport of September 1st 1939,as war was declared. But this awful thing too he stored at the back of his mind, realising that he had done all he could and his part was over. The scrapbook of lists, photographs and begging letters went up to the attic; he said nothing about it, and moved on. He liked it that way. The silent background suited him very well. For 50 years he sat on the Czech story, not supposing anyone would want to know, until in 1988 the scrapbook came to light and, with it, a blaze of publicity, culminating in an evening on Esther Rantzen's "That's Life" TV show when the whole audience suddenly stood up round him, applauding him,and every one was a child he had saved. It was " ly awftil",he thought; and wept with long-suppressed joy. He was still no hero, though, in his own book. He had had no desire to improve the world: indeed, not even much idea which job he was best suited for. At his father's suggestion he had tried banking first, having left Stowe with nothing much to show for it. After the war he dabbled in business,but it didn't take. In later years he worked for a mental-health charity and helped to set up homes for the elderly; and wondered why saving the Czech children was deemed more heroic than those things. He had simply done what needed doing at that time, in that place. Surely any decent person would have done the same? What is the best title for the passage? A. A job well done B. A risky rescue C. A group of lucky children D. A living legend Answer: A
Question: The National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC has thousands of objects on display, including the 1903 Wright Flyer, Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis, the Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia, and a lunar rock you can touch. In addition to our exhibition galleries, you may want to visit the Albert Einstein Planetarium, Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater, and the Public Observatory on the east end. There are many things to do at the Museum in DC. We offer daily tours and educational activities for both children and adults. We also have scheduled lectures and events throughout the year. Hours and Admission:Open every day except December 25. Admission is free. Regular Hours:1000 am to 5:30pm Extended Hours: 10:00 am to 7:30pm December 26----30,2014 March 30----April 20, 2015 Fridays and Saturdays, April 24----May 16,2015 May 17----September 7, 2015 VISITING TIPS: Limit the number of bags: All visitors are screened through metal detectors upon entry. The fewer items you bring inside the Museum, the faster your entry. Before you visit, please review the list of prohibited items,which include pocket knives and tripods . Visitors carrying prohibited items will not be allowed inside the Museum, so please leave them at home or in your car. No Food or Drink: Only bottled water is permitted in the Museum. You may only consume food and other drinks in the Food Court, not in the Museum. Groups who bring food are encouraged to picnic on the National Mall. Please Take Photos: You are welcome to take photos for personal use. However, tripods and monopods are not permitted without approval. First Aid: The Museum has a First Aid office and a nurse on duty. Please contact the nearest security officer or the Welcome Center for assistance. Visit the Welcome Center: At our Welcome Center in the South Lobby, staff and volunteers can answer any questions you have during your visit. Open:10:00 am to 5:30 pm Phone: 202-633-2214 E-mail: NASM-visitorservice@si.edu The purpose of this passage is to_. A. make an advertisement for the museum B. attract people to explore the universe C. encourage adults to bring their children there D. show what is on display in the museum Answer: A Question: You can't always predict a heavy rain or remember your umbrella. But designer Mikhail Belvacv doesn't think that forgetting to check the weather forecast before heading out should result in you getting wet. That's why he created lampbrella, a lamp post with its own rain sensing umbrella. The designer says he come up with the idea after watching people get wet on streets in Russia. "once, I was driving on a central Saint Petersburg street and saw the street lamps lighting up people trying to hide from the rain. I thought it would be appropriate to have a canopy built into a street lamp." he said. The lampbrella is a standard-looking street lamp fitted with an umbrella canopy. It has a built-in electric motor which can open or close the umbrella on demand. Sensors then ensure that the umbrella offers pedestrians shelter whenever it starts raining. In addition to the rain sensor, there's also a 360degmotion sensor on the biberglass street lamp which detects whether anyone's using the lampbrella. After three minutes of not being used the canopy is closed. According to the designer, the lampbrella would move at a relatively low speed, so as not to cause harm to the pedestrians. Besides, it would be grounded to protect from possible lighting strike. Each lampbrella would offer enough shelter for several people. Being installed at 2 meters off the ground, it would only be a danger for the tallest of pedestrians. While there are no plans to take lampbrella into production, Belyacv says he recently introduced his creation one Moscow Department, and insists this creation could be installed on any street where a lot of people walk but there are no canopies to provide shelter. For what purpose did Belyacv create the lampbrella? A. To predict a heavy rain B. To check the weather forecast C. To protect people from the rain D. To remind people to take an umbrella Answer: C Question: Do parents owe their children anything? Yes, they owe them a great deal. One of their chief duties is to give their children a sense of personal worth, for self-esteem is the basis of a good mental health. A youngster who is often made to feel stupid, often compared to brighter brothers, sisters, or cousins, will not feel confident and become so afraid of failing, that he (or she) won't try at all. Of course, they should be corrected when they do wrong; this is the way children learn. But the criticisms should be balanced with praises. Parents owe their children firm guidance and consistent discipline. It is frightening for a youngster to feel that he is in charge of himself; it's like being in a car without brakes. The parent who says "Yes" sends a double message. He is also saying "I love you, and I am ready to risk your anger, because I don't want you to get in trouble." Parents owe their children a comfortable feeling about their body, and enough information about sex to balance the wrong information that they will surely receive from their friends. Parents owe their children privacy and respect for their personal things. This means not borrowing things without being permitted, not reading diaries and mail, not looking through pockets. If a mother feels that she must read her daughter's dairies to know what is gong on, the communication between them must be pretty bad. Parents owe their children a set of solid values around which to build their lives. This means teaching them to respect the rights and opinions of others; it means respecting elders, teachers, and the law. The best way to teach such values is by example. A child who is lied to will lie. A child who sees his parents steal tools from the factory or towels from a hotel will think that it is all right to steal. A youngster who sees no laughter and no love in the home will have a difficult time laughing and loving. No child asks to be born. If you bring a life into the world, you owe the child something. And if you give him his _ he'll have something of value to pass along to your grandchildren. According to the passage, parents owe their children the following things except _ A. cars. B. privacy C. respect of self D. information about their body Answer: A Question: Tu Youyou, aged 85, is a medical scientist at the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine.she has just become the first Chinese woman to win a Nobel prize, for helping discover artemisinin,a new kind of medicine known as "Qing-hao-su" in Chinese in 1971 and dihydroartemisinin, used also to treat malaria . The discovery of "Qing-hao-su" and its use in treating malaria are regarded as the most important breakthrough in tropical medicine in the 20th century. It is also a major health improvement for people in developing tropical countries in south Asia, Africa, and South America. This is the first time her work has been widely recognized in China, and it also marks the first time China has won a Nobel prize in the sciences.The last time a Chinese national won a Nobel Prize was in 2012, when Mo Yan got the literature award. Tu also received several medical awards in the past including the 2011 Lasker Award in Clinical Medicine for the same achievements.Tu was the first native Chinese who was educated and works in China to win the Lasker award, too. Tu's discovery is mainly used in _ A. Africa, Asia or South America B. Africa,South Europe or South America C. Africa,South Asia or South America D. Africa,South Europe or America Answer: C Question: Some say the Internet will kill off papers. Others say not so fast. Are newspapers dying? That's the heated debate these days. Many say the disappearance of the daily paper is just a matter of time. The future of journalism is in news websites, not newsprint. However, others say, newspapers have been with us for hundreds of years, and while all news may be online some day, papers can exist for some time. So who's right? I'll outline the arguments on both sides, and then you can decide. Newspapers Are Dead Newspapers are in trouble. Circulation is dropping, display and classified ad income is drying up, and the industry has experienced a hard time. Big metro papers like the Rocky Mountain News have stopped operating, and even bigger newspaper companies like the Tribune Co. go bankrupt . And where are newspaper readers going? To the Web. A recent study has found that Internet users read online newspapers for an average of 53 minutes per week in 2008. That's highest level recorded in the eight years when the study has been done. The study found that 22 percent of users said they stopped their subscription to a printed paper or magazine because they could access the same content online. Some people say the Internet is just a better place to get the news. "On the Web, newspapers are live, and they can supplement their coverage with audio, video, and the valuable resources of their vast contents," says Geffrey I. Cole, director of the Center for the Digital Future. How does the author present the topic to be discussed? A. By presenting others' prediction B. By asking a question C. By providing opposite opinions D. By talking about the background Answer: C

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