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Dearest Clare, As I write this, I am sitting at my desk in the back bedroom looking out at your studio across the backyard full of blue evening snow, everything is smooth and crusty with ice, and it is very still. It's one of those winter evenings when the coldness of every single thing seems to slow down time, like the narrow center of an hourglass which time itself flows through, but slowly, slowly. I had a sudden urge, tonight, here in the house by myself to write you a letter. I suddenly wanted to leave something, for after. I think that time is short, now. I feel as though all my reserves, of energy, of pleasure, of duration, are thin, small. I don't feel capable of continuing very much longer. I know you know. If you are reading this, I am probably dead. But you know: you know that if I could have stayed, if I could have gone on, that I would have seized every second: whatever it was, this death, you know that it came and took me, like a child carried away by goblins . Clare, I want to tell you, again, I love you. But I hate to think of you waiting. I know that you have been waiting for me all your life, always uncertain of how long this patch of waiting would be. Ten minutes, ten days. A month. What an uncertain husband I have been, Clare, like a sailor. Please, Clare. When I am dead, stop waiting and be free. Of me--put me deep inside you and then go out in the world and live. Love the world and yourself in it, move through it as though the world is your natural element. After my mom died she ate my father up completely. She would have hated it. Every minute of his life since then has been marked by her absence, every action has lacked dimension because she is not there to measure against. And when I was young I didn't understand, but now, I know, how absence can be present. If I had to live on without you I know I could not do it. But I hope, I have this vision of you walking, with your shining hair in the sun. I have not seen this with my eyes, but only with my imagination, that makes pictures, that always wanted to paint you, shining; but I hope that this vision will be true, anyway. Clare, there is one last thing, and I have hesitated to tell you, because I'm afraid that telling might cause it to not happen and also because I have just been going on about not waiting and this might cause you to wait longer than you have ever waited before. But I will tell you in case you need something, after. Last summer, I was sitting in Kendrick's waiting room when I suddenly found myself in a dark hallway in a house I don't know. At the end of the hall I could see a rim of light around a door, and so I went very slowly and very quietly to the door and looked in. The room was white, and lit with morning sun. At the window, with her back to me, sat a woman, wearing a coral-color1ed cardigan sweater, with long white hair all down her back. She had a cup of tea beside her, on a table. I must have made some little noise, or she sensed me behind her...she turned and saw me, and I saw her, and it was you, Clare, this was you as an old woman, in the future. It was sweet, Clare, it was sweet beyond telling. I won't tell you any more, so you can imagine it. We will see each other again, Clare. Until then, live, fully, present in the world, which is so beautiful. It's dark, now, and I am very tired. I love you, always. Time is nothing. Henry By describing what he found in Kendrick's waiting room, Henry intended to tell Clare that _ . A he hoped she would wait for him forever B his health was worsening step by step C she should stop waiting and be free to live D she would be more beautiful when she was old Answer: C. she should stop waiting and be free to live If you are interested in animals, you probably heard about the tragedy at Seaworld Orlando. On February 24, Tillicum, a six-ton orca ,was performing with his trainer, Dawn Brancheau, who stood on a platform by his pool. They had done the same show together many times before, without incident. This time, though, events took a terrible turn. Without warning, Tillicum leaped from the water, took hold of Branchcheau by her hair, and dragged her deep below the water's surface. Before other trainers could react, Brancheau drowned. Although known as killer whales, orcas are the largest member of the dolphin family. They are easy to train, and performances like Tillicum's have been done safely thousands of times. Yet Dawn Brancheau's death was a shocking reminder of what can happen when human being act together with wild animals. People began to ask, "Should orcas be kept in captivity " Yes Worldwide, only 42 orcas are being kept by humans. Scientists know very little about these huge sea animals, which are difficult to study in the wild. However, they do know that orcas are easily harmed by pollution. As our oceans become ever more damaged by human activity, observing orcas up close helps us understand them and do a better job of protecting them in nature. "I think that some dangerous animals, such as killer whales, should be kept in captivity because it raises awareness about them and educates people about wild animals," says Lauren, 12, a 6-grader from Colorado. "Keeping some in captivity will help protect their species." No Enclosed habitats can be painful to wild animals, and make them act in unpredictable even harmful ways. "It is wrong to keep these animals in captivity", says Prathm, 12. The 7th-grader from New Jersey, adds, "They should live in their own habitats, not be used as entertainment slaves." Richard Ellis, a marine conservationist in New York, agrees. "It is part of human nature to keep wild animals in small spaces and train them to do tricks," he says. "I' m against it because I think it _ the animals." What can we infer from the text? A It is hard to train orcas. B Orcas are rare sea animals. C Orcas' habitat is being destroyed. D Many orcas are hunted each year. Answer: C. Orcas' habitat is being destroyed. When was the last time you laughed a lot? Most people are the victim of an uncontrollable fit of laughter at least once in their lives. But when it happens in front of the television cameras, it can become an internet sensation. Do you think there's anything funny about spicy meat? Swiss finance minister Hans-Rudolf Merz seemed to think it was hilarious. Mr. Merz was making a speech in the Swiss parliament on meat imports when he started laughing and couldn't stop. The meat in question is known as "bundnerfleisch"-- a type of air-dried beef product. Herr Merz later admitted that he was amused by the bureaucratic language in which the bill was written. Since then, Mr. Merz has become an internet hit. A video of the incident shows a grey-suited minister giggling away, accompanied by applause from his parliamentary colleagues. So far, the video has been seen by more than 500,000 people on YouYube and other websites. "I don't understand what he's talking about," said one viewer, "but it's just so funny." The recent publicity will be good news for the minister, too. Mr. Merz had been criticized recently for signing away much of Switzerland's banking secrecy, and for failing to do enough to help two Swiss citizens who were detained by Libya. But now, with retirement a few months away, Mr. Merz may leave on a high note. Some even suggest he may have a future career as a comedian. Of course, Mr. Merz isn't the first person to _ on air. BBC Radio 4 newsreader Charlotte Green lost control on the programmeTodaynot so long ago. It all happened after a clip of the oldest known recording of the human voice was played. A studio member remarked that the 1860 recording of a woman singing the French song "Au Clair de la Lune" sounded like a "bee buzzing in a bottle". That seemed to set Ms. Green off as she broke down into a fit of the giggles. Later, the editor of the show, Ceri Thomas, said most listeners who contacted the show had commented on "how much they had enjoyed the moment". He added, "When Charlotte loses it, she really loses it." So, why do we get these fits of laughter? Experts say it's a form of release. Nervous tension often builds up inside us, especially in those who have got high-pressure, stressful jobs. When stressed out, the body constricts blood vessels, elevates the production of potentially damaging stress hormones, and raises blood pressure. Short periods of stress are normal and not dangerous, but over long periods of time stress weakens the immune system and makes heart problems more likely. Under the control ofself-protecting mechanisms of human body, this pressure needs an outlet, usually manifesting itself through tears, anger or laughter-- uncontrollable fits of laughter! So, beware! That uncontrollable laughing fit could strike at any moment. [(<<>> 201102 "Laugh Away")] It can be inferred from the passage that _ .[ ] A uncontrollable fits of laughter is very common among people. B Mr. Merz will be a comedian after retirement. C Charlotte Green will be dismissed due to this incident. D most of the listeners who contacted the show thought it inappropriate for a newsreader to laugh away on the programme. Answer: A. uncontrollable fits of laughter is very common among people. Hello! I'm Alex. I often get up at 6:30 am. Half an hour later , I have my breakfast. At 7:30 am, I take a bus to school. We have Math, Chinese and English classes from 8:00 am to 11: 30 am. I have lunch and talk with my classmates at school. We have three classes from 1:40 to 4:10 in the afternoon. After school, I often play with my classmates. We often play soccer, tennis and ping-pong. I go home at about 5:00 pm. I usually have dinner at 6:00 pm. Then I do my homework and watch TV. At about 10:30 pm, I go to bed. Alex usually _ before he goes to bed. A plays computer games B takes a shower C play soccer D watch TV Answer: D. watch TV A jobless man wanted very much to have the position of "office boy" at Microsoft. The HR manager interviewed him and then watched him cleaning the floor as a test. "You have passed the test," he said. "Give me your e-mail address and I'll send you the form to fill in and the date when you may start." The man replied, "But I don't have a computer, neither an e-mail." "I'm sorry," said the HR manager. "If you don't have an e-mail, that means you are not living. And anyone who isn't living cannot have the job." The man left with no hope at all. He didn't know what to do with only $10 in his pocket. He thought and thought. Then he went to the supermarket and bought 10 kilos of tomatoes. He sold the tomatoes from door to door. In less than two hours, he had 20 dollars. He repeated the operation three times, and started to go early every day, and returned home late. Shortly, he bought a cart , then a truck, then he had his own fleet of delivery vehicles . Five years later, the man was one of the biggest food retailers in the US. One day, one of his friends asked him for his e-mail. He said, "I haven't got one." His friend couldn't believe his ears. "Can you imagine what you could have been if you had an e-mail?" The man thought for a while and replied, "Yes, I'd be an office boy at Microsoft!" ,. What did the man do for the test? A He sent e-mails. B He did the cleaning C He sold computers. D He filled in forms. Answer: B. He did the cleaning
Luke takes his dog for a walk. Luke has many pets. He has a turtle named Bob. He has a cat named Freckles. He has a bird named squeaky. The dog is named Sparky. Sparky loves to go on walks with Luke. Sparky jumps around in front of the doorway. Luke puts on his hat, coat, and gloves because it is chilly outside. Luke puts a leash around Sparky's neck. Luke opens the door and they are ready to go. Luke walks up Vine Street to the stop sign. The stop sign is red. Luke looks both ways and then walks across Willow street with Sparky. Luke and Sparky walk up the hill. At the top of the hill, Luke and Sparky turn left. They walk downhill on First Street. At the bottom of the hill, they see a small pond. The pond is on Elm Street. Sparky is very happy. Swimming in the pond are ducks. There are white ducks and brown ducks. There are baby ducks, too. Sparky walks all around the pond. Luke watches the ducks as they swim around the pond. When it is time to go, Luke leads Sparky back to the sidewalk. It is warmer and Luke takes off his hat and coat. They walk home. The pond is on which street? Answer: Elm Homelessness is a huge problem all over the world. It's said that each day there are about 1 million people living on the streets in the US. It is a serious problem which should be dealt with effectively. There are two main reasons for people leaving their homes: poverty and less affordable houses due to bad economic conditions. Other reasons include: domestic violence, divorce, and mental illness. Living without a home makes people main targets of violence activities and besides, these homeless people have to face the following difficulties on a daily basis. They have to move about, carrying their belongings, which makes it difficult for the charity and the government to help them. They have limited access to bathrooms and restrooms and are forced to live in dirty conditions, making them easy to be attacked by diseases. They have limited access to health-care facilities in case of emergency, and almost no access to education as they have no money. They are often ill-treated by society, which makes them unfriendly, often ending up being involved in activities connected with crime like selling drugs or guns. Homelessness is not something that happened overnight --- it has been in the country for decades. The society usually believes those living on the street to be mentally unstable. This belief is partially true. Most of them are normal people just like you and me. The federal government is doing all it can to help but it is not enough, so the ordinary citizens have to stand up and try to help whenever it's possible. There are various organizations, such as charity organizations that are working constantly to make sure that homeless people find a shelter to live in. the united efforts have helped millions of people return to their normal lifestyle. However, there is still a long way to go before a better situation is created for all the homeless. The homeless are usually treated as _ . Answer: having mental problems Do you know Pretty Little Liars ? It is one of the most popular American TV series right now. It is about the life of four girls after their best friend was killed. Lucy, one of the four girls, has more than a few secrets. Lucy knew from a very young age that she would be a star, and she loved singing most. At the age of eight, she started to take singing and acting lessons. She was born on June 14 ,1989 .She has dark brown hair and brome eyes. She is afraid of flying, snakes and spiders. It makes her happy to go shopping, dance and hang out with friends in her free time. Lucy joined a talent show for teenagers when she was 14 .She was among the top five. Quickly, Lucy began to act on different TV shows. All of these small roles led up to the biggest role for her in 2010 _ she got a lead part in Pretty Little Liars, She has won the Teen Choice Award for her role as Aria for three years, from 2010 to 2012 . So what's nest for Lucy ? She is recording an album because music is always her "first love" Which of the following is NOT her hobby ? Answer: Flying Bicycle Tour and Race A bike tour and race will be held on August 26 and 27(Sat. & Sun.) at 5:30 a.m. The riders will leave Tiananmen Square and ride the first 35 kilometers as a training leg. Then the next 55 kilometers leg, from Yanjiao to Jixian, will be the first competitive part of the tour. The riders and their bikes will then be taken from Jixian to Changli. The second racing leg of the tour will be from Changli to the seaside of Nandaihe, covering a distance of 20 kilometres. Saturday night the riders will stay at Nandaihe for supper. Sunday morning is free for playing at the seaside. At noon all the people and their bikes will be taken back to Beijing. Cost: 200 yuan Telephone: 4675027 Ticket price: Y=60, Y=100, Y=150 Time/Date: 4:30 p.m., August 26(Sat.) Telephone: 5012372 Rock Climbing The Third National Rock Climbing Competition will be held on August 26-27 at the Huairou Mountain Climbing Training Center. More than 10 teams from Beijing, Wuhan, Dalian, Jilin and other places will join in it. A Japanese team will give an exhibition climbing free for audience . Take a bus from Dongzhimen to Huairou. Time/Date: 9:00~12:00, August 26 and 27 Telephone: 7143177, 7144850 What is special about the rock climbing competition? Answer: You can watch an exhibition climbing without paying. Everyone worries. But how do you deal with your worries? Whether your worries are big or small, you can take these three steps to deal with your worries: 1. Try to find out what you're worried about Sometimes, you will know what you're worried about. Other times, you might not. Try to find it out first; if you can't, you can ask for help. 2. Think of ways to make it better There is always something you can do to help you feel less worried. Sitting there worrying is no fun and it won't solve your problem. Grades at school are often top worries for kids. If you're worried about grades, ask yourself these questions: Why are grades important? What do grades mean to me? How do I get ready for class? Do I my notes even when there isn't a test? Do I have a good place to do my homework? Have I tried different ways of studying? If your worry is about a fight you had, you might write down all the things you could do: write a note to him or her, invite him or her to a basketball game, say sorry to him or her, etc. Once you have a list of things you could do, you can choose the one that gets your friend back. 3. Ask for help When you're worried, it can help to find someone to talk to. You can ask your parents, friends, or teachers for help. ,. (5) When can you ask "What do grades mean to me"? Answer: When we're worried about grades.
Morten was the general manager and chief executive officer of the Woolen Company, a knitting mill. Morten delegated all operational decision making to Grouse, the supervising manager of the mill. The child labor laws in the jurisdiction provide, "It is a violation of the law for one to employ a person under the age of 17 years for full-time labor." Without Morten's knowledge, Grouse hired a number of 15- and 16- year-olds to work at the mill full time. He did not ask their ages and they did not disclose them. Grouse could have discovered their ages easily by asking for identification, but he did not do so because he was not aware of the law and believed that company policy was to hire young people.If the statute is interpreted to create strict liability and Grouse is charged with violating it, Grouse is Answer: Blue whales are the largest animals ever known to have existed on the planet, and they can grow to a length of 100 feet and weigh more than 330,000 pounds. But recently researchers have found that these whales are on the move and they have migrated (moved) from California waters to areas off Canada and Alaska for the first time since commercial whaling ended in 1965. The researchers identified 15 blue whales that have appeared off the coast of British Columbia and the Gulf of Alaska since 1997. Four of these whales were recognized as ones that were once sighted off California shores, suggesting that the whales are returning to an old migration pattern between the coasts. Before commercial whaling began in the early 1900s, blue whales were found widely throughout the North Pacific and California waters. But from the 1920s to the 1960s, whaling severely reduced the whale populations. Blue whales never recovered in the Northern Pacific, making sightings in this area rare. However, much larger groups of whales have been observed close to California since the 1970s. The scientists had previously thought that the California population was separate from the population that had historically lived in North Pacific waters. But the current study shows that whales off the coast of British Columbia and the Gulf of Alaska are likely part of the California population.[:] To identify the blue whales, the researchers looked at photos of _ taken in the North Pacific Ocean and compared them with a library of blue whale pictures taken along the West Coast of the United States and Southern Pacific. Up to now, the researchers are not quite sure why the whales are changing their migration patterns, but they suspect that the whales may be following their food moving farther north by the changes in ocean conditions. What might make blue whales migrate according to the researchers? Answer: Our new foreign students are going to arrive very soon, and here are some ways to communicate with them politely. How close do you stand when you talk to a friend? You can stand close to people in the Middle East but don't stand too close to North Americans! Give them more personal space. Do you know How to _ people correctly? Chinese girls often walk arm in arm with their friends. South Americans sometimes hold your arm when they talk to you, so you can't move away! But in Britain many people don't like other people to touch them at all. Do you look at people when you talk? In some places, it isn't polite to look at people when you talk, but in other countries it isn't polite to look somewhere else. In Britain and the US, people usually look at each other when they talk. And how do you say goodbye? That's easy, wave to say goodbye. But be careful! In Greece, it's not at all polite! In fact, it's very rude! From the passage, we should give _ more personal space. Answer: Mr Brown is our English teacher at school. He is a popular teacher and I like him very much. There are many other foreign teachers in our school. Some are from English-speaking countries and some from Asian countries. I like Mr Brown best. He is a very interesting teacher and he teaches us very well. Mr Brown comes from Australia. Though he is the oldest teacher of our school. he is very strong. All the students like him very much. During his class, no one sleeps. After class, he often tells jokes to us or does sports with us. Mr Brown likes music very much. We learn a lot of English songs from him. He is also fond of sports. He takes exercises at least three times a week. He is good at swimming, so you know why he looks so strong. Which sport is Mr Brown good at? Answer: Two-thirds of the world's major rivers have now been disrupted with more than 50,000 dams in an attempt to stole water and provide power. In the US,there are more than 85,000 dams,disrupting large and small rives, and in most cases transforming natural flow.The most famous of these,the Hoover Dam, constructed in the l930's,is mainly responsible for the fact that the Colorado River no longer reaches the ocean. Dams, besides all their attractive benefits, also have negative impacts. Creating a reservoir means a large area must be flooded. Communities may lose their land, houses and culturally impotent sites. Environmentally, the new reservoir can be a paradise for wildlife, especially birds. However, it can cause greenhouse gas emissions and poison the water for fish. Also, the dramatic rise and fall of water levels during dam releases is too extreme for plains and animals to cope with, resulting in dead zones around the shores of reservoirs. Fish that lay their eggs in the shallows, for example, may find a few hours later that those sites are high and dry. Dams don't just block water flow. They also prevent fish migrations, and are a barrier to sediment flows. Instead of rushing downriver, sediments get backed up against the dam wall, which cause the reservoir level to increase over time.However, sediments which are rich in nutrients have become a problem. The fertility of the entire system can be influenced, with soils lost during seasonal rains not being replaced. Perhaps the biggest problem can be seen in deltas , often host to large cities,which are sinking into the oceans. Groundwater is being extracted to feed the city, causing the urban weight to sink and sediments washed away by the ocean are no longer being replaced. The result is that sea level rise in cities from Shanghai to Alexandria. With many dams built across rivers, fish will _ Answer:
Join the Family Read-Aloud Celebration, held by the Gonda Family Library and the Family School Alliance at UCLA Lab School, from February 21 to March 14,2014. We ask you to spend time reading aloud to your children at least 20 minutes each day.We hope to help families develop a habit of reading aloud every day throughout and beyond primary school. We'll finish the celebration with a party on March 14 for the whole school. Ways to join: * Visit Book Corner for reading aloud suggestions. Come to the start of the activity on Friday, Feb, 21. * Add books to our list of favorite read aloud * Send us a photo of your family reading together (jkan,tor@ucta. edu). We will share it at the party. * Record your family's reading journey! . * Join us for th< party on March 14,57 p. rn. Go on a reading journey! Books can introduce your family to interesting people, exciting places, adventures and information. Let your journeys take you through these categories: Fiction Picture books * Poetry Science History * Sports Arts other Non-Fiction * Benefits of Reading Aloud Reading aloud helps a cloud to read with pleasure, create background knowledge, and build vocabulary. It also provides children with a reading model. Reading aloud doesn't just benefit young children. Parents should continue reading aloud as their children grow because listening comprehension is more important than reading skills in middle school. Jim Trelease, in his Read-Aloud Handbook, has noted that almost as big a mistake as not reading to children at all is stopping too soon Until about the eighth grade, children listen and comprehend on a higher level than their reading skills allow them to read independently, This means children can hear and understand stories that are more difficult and more interesting than anything they can read on their own What's the purpose of the Family Read-Aloud Celebration? Answer: To get families into the habit of reading aloud. Monkeys That Lend a Hand Have you ever dropped something while both your hands were full and wished you had another hand to pick it up? Some people cannot use their arms or hands to do simple jobs because they have been hurt or are sick. Usually they depend on other people to help them. This problem made two women think about how they could help people who cannot do everyday things for themselves. In 1979 Dr. M. J. Willard and Judi Zazula began looking at some small, friendly monkeys called capuchin monkeys. These monkeys have hands like people's hands, and they like to be around people. Could the monkeys be trained to do things that people could not do for themselves? The women wanted to find out if their idea would work. So they spent a long time training some capuchin monkeys, and they found that these animals made great helpers. Today the first step in training a young capuchin monkey is to have it stay home with people and watch how they live. The monkeys learn how to _ around people. Then the monkeys go to a special school in Boston. There they learn how to do many easy chores. They are taught how to carry food and pick up dropped objects. They learn how to open doors and turn light switches on and off. They even learn how to use CD players and VCRs. After a monkey finishes its training, it goes to live with a person who needs help. If the person wants a light turned on, the monkey does it. If the person needs a glass of water, the monkey brings it. If the person wants to watch TV, the monkey turns it on. The monkey becomes a very important part of that person's life. In fact, the monkey often becomes the person's good friend. Capuchin monkeys are people's great helpers because _ . Answer: they have hands like people's hands For hundreds of years, textbooks have put a world of knowledge in the hands of students. Paper textbooks are expensive to produce and expensive for schools to buy. Nowadays information changes so quickly that some textbooks are out of date almost before they're published. And as books are passed along from one student to the next, they get more highlighted, dog-eared, tattered, and worn. It's no secret that paper textbooks are heavy. But what you may not know is that backpack weight is an increasing problem among kids. Studies show that heavy backpacks can lead to both chronic back pain and poor posture -- and many kids are carrying a quarter of their body weight in textbooks. Today's students have grown up completely immersed in technology. iPod, iPad, computer -- these are the ways they interact with their world. They need a textbook made for the way they learn. iBooks textbooks on iPad offer a gorgeous, full-screen experience full of interactive diagrams, photos, and videos. No longer limited to static pictures to illustrate the text, now students can dive into an image with interactive captions, rotate a 3D object, or have the answer spring to life in a chapter review. They can flip through a book by simply sliding a finger along the bottom of the screen. Highlighting text, taking notes, searching for content, and finding definitions in the glossary are just as easy. And with all their books on a single iPad, students will have no problem carrying them wherever they go. McGraw-Hill, Pearson Education, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt -- the publishers responsible for the majority of K-12 content in the US -- have created Multi-Touch textbooks available now from the iBookstore Which is the closed meaning of the word "tattered" ? Answer: ragged Everyone needs friends.We all like to feel close to someone.It is nice to have a friend to talk,laugh and do things with.Surely,there are times when we need to be alone.We don't always want people around.But we would feel lonely if we never had a friend. No two people are just the same.Sometimes friends don't get along well.That doesn't mean that they no longer like each other.Most of the time they will make up and go on being friends. Sometimes friends move away.Then we feel very sad.We miss them very much.But we call them and write to them.It could be that we would neven see them again.And we can make new friends.It is surprising to find out how much we like new people when we get to know them. Families sometimes name their children after a close friend.Many people are named after men or women who have been friendly to people in a town.Some libraries are named this way.So are some schools.We think of these people when we go to these places. There is more good news for people who have friends.They live longer than people who don't.Why?It could be that they are happier.Being happy helps you stay well.Or it could be just knowing that someone cares.If someone cares about you,you take better care of yourself. The main idea of this passage is _ . Answer: that people need friends Dear Lee, As I told you, I'll be gone until Wednesday morning. Thank you so much for taking on my "children" while I'm away. Like real children, they can be kind of irritating sometimes, but I'm going to enjoy myself so much more knowing they're getting some kind human attention. Remember that Regina (the "queen" in Latin, and she acts like one) is teething. If you don't watch her, she'll chew anything, including her sister, the cat. There are plenty of chew toys around the house. Whenever she starts gnawing on anything illegal, just give her one of those. She generally settles right down to a good hour-long chew. Then you'll see her wandering around whimpering with the remains of the toy in her mouth. She gets really frustrated because what she wants is to bury the thing. She'll try to dig a hole between the cushions of the couch. Finding that unsatisfactory, she'll wander some more, discontent, until you solve her problem for her. I usually show her the laundry basket, moving a few clothes so she can bury her toy beneath them. I do sound like a parent, don't I? You have to understand, my own son is practically grown up. Regina's food is the Puppy Chow in the utility room, where the other pet food is stored. Give her a bowl once in the morning and once in the evening. No more than that, no matter how much she begs. Beagles are notorious overeaters, according to her breeder, and I don't want her to lose her girlish figure. She can share Rex (the King's) water, but be sure it's changed daily. She needs to go out several times a day, especially last thing at night and first thing in the morning. Let her stay out for about ten minutes each time, so she can do all her business. She also needs a walk in the afternoon, after which it's important to romp with her for a while in the yard. The game she loves most is fetch, but be sure to make her drop the ball. She'd rather play tug of war with it. Tell her, "Sit!" Then, when she does, say, "Drop it!" Be sure to tell her "good girl," and then throw the ball for her. I hope you'll enjoy these sessions as much as I do. Now, for the other two, Rex and Paws... (letter continues) The tone of this letter is best described as _ . Answer: chatty and humorous
A funny thing about mums is that they always want what is best for their children. Many parents still find themselves worrying when they can't be there to watch over their children, which in turn leads them to be overprotective. Of course, the funny thing about teenagers is that they often feel _ by overprotective parents, but powerless to make their parents believe that they are really fine and can care for themselves. ks5u In your situation, it might do a world of good to simply sit down with your mum and thank her for caring enough about you. Then let her know that she is worrying needlessly because you aren't involved in any dangerous activities like drinking, using drugs and smoking. Then it is possible to arrive at conclusions that you both feel comfortable with. If you and your mum cannot reach any conclusion, then you might suggest having someone else become involved in your discussions. That will let your mother know that you are serious about this subject. However, you should recognize that you will probably have to compromise on something, so don't expect to be able to tell your mother how you'd like the future to be and expect her to go along with it without question! Finally, you might also consider asking your friends how they deal with overprotective parents. There might be something specific in your school or neighborhood that is making parents feel worried about their teenagers. The more you can understand your environment, the more you will know how to prove to your mum that you are safe within it. Try to remember that this is the key to the issue--your mum just wants you to be safe. If you can keep that in mind, you will solve the problem properly. According to the text, if your mum is overprotective, you'd better _ . Answer: Manhattan Island is surrounded on the east by the East and Harlem Rivers and on the west by the North and Hudson Rivers.It links with the other four towns which make up New York City and with New Jersey are by means of subways,underground tunnels and bridges which lead into Manhanttan from the surrounding area. The Brooklyn Bridge was the first suspension bridge to link Brooklyn to Manhanttan.It is also the second oldest bridge in New York.The architect was John Augustus Roebling,who was the chief engineer of the suspended Railroad Bridge at Niagara Falls. Misfortune accompanied the building of the bridge,which took place from 1869 to 1883.The architect died as a result of an accident early during the construction.His son,Washington Roebling,carried on his father's work,using the most advanced engineering techniques of the day.He also fell ill during the construction of the bridge and was obliged to direct the work on it from an apartment window overlooking the site. Since its construction the Brooklyn Bridge has remained a busy and important passage in New York. The Brooklyn Bridge is 6775 feet long and 1595 feet wide.The suspended part is 3450 feet long and 85 feet wide.It has a clearance of 133 feet above water level.Four huge cables extend across the bridge,supported by two towers,each 272 feet high.Each of these cables is made up of 5700 wires. The Brooklyn Bridge is _ . Answer: If you have a brother or sister, you already know you are different from each other. You live together in the same house and the same parents, but you have different personalities . Why is this? One possible reason is the way your parent treat you. First -born children receive all the attention from their parents. Most families have twice as many photos of a first-born than any other child. Parents usually give first-born more responsibility and depend on them to take care of younger brothers and sisters. As a result, first -born are often responsible, hard-working, and jealous . They often want to do well at school and work. There are more first-born American Presidents, for example, George Bush, George Washington, and Lyndon Baines Johnson than second or last-born children. When a second child arrives, parents are more relaxed. The second child has to compete with the first-born for the parents' attention and love. Their children often choose different sports and hobbies to do well at school and work, but have to be creative to get their family's attention. They are often friendly and cool. Many famous talk-show hosts were born last. The passage is mainly about _ . Answer: When cutting down rain forests, it is important to keep in mind air quality. When too many trees are cut down in a given area, there may be decrease in the air's Answer: YOU probably think you know about London's problems. The people are unfriendly, it's way too expensive, and the food is terrible - so why do so many tourists flock there? London was named the world's most popular city between July and September 2013. It _ other world-famous cities such as New York and Paris, welcoming 4.9 million visitors, according to the UK Office for National Statistics. Amazingly, this was an increase of almost 19.5 percent on 2012 - the year when the Olympics happened in summer. So can London's success be explained? Well, maybe. As the English writer Samuel Johnson once said, "when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life". London life is often crazy and expensive, but if you can think of something, you can probably do it there. Anywhere in the city, you can often look around a great museum such as the British Museum, watch a concert at a historic venue like the Royal Albert Hall, or dance the night away in a cool nightclub such as Fabric. And it's not just about culture - there are also world-famous sporting venues around the city. Many tourists like to watch soccer matches at stadiums such as Chelsea's Stamford Bridge, Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, or Tottenham's White Hart Lane. Tourists even came to watch British tennis player Andy Murray's famous victory at the Wimbledon tennis tournament in 2013. Yes, but what about the food? Well, even if you don't like British food - and if you've never had real fish and chips, or a summer pudding, then perhaps you should wait until you've tried them - there is plenty of great food from all over the world available in London's many restaurants. London, like many of its buildings, has a long history, but also never lacks a vibrant pulse . All over the city, history and modernity come together to make it an essential place for tourists to discover. What is the author's main purpose in writing the article? Answer:
There are 67 counties in the state of Alabama.Each county is rich with history and its own unique stories.Colbert County, located in the northwest corner of the state, has its share of exciting stories and claims to statewide fame.The county was created on February 6, 1867, and Tuscumbia became the county seat (the town in which the offices of the county government are located). One of the most famous residents of Tuscumbia was Helen Keller.Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1880.Her home was a white frame cottage built by her grandparents.Since ivy grew everywhere, the house was called Ivy Green.It was here, at the water pump in the backyard, that Keller learned the word "w-a-t-e-r" with the help of her teacher, Anne Sullivan.Visitors to Ivy Green can walk under boxwood trees that are 150 years old.The home has furniture that the Keller family used.It also has Keller's Braille books and her original Braille typewriter. Spring Park is Tuscumbia's most popular park and favorite tourist attraction.This park has the world's largest manufactured waterfall called Coldwater Falls.The Spring Park Light and Water Show is an amazing sight to see.It takes place every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at sundown.The water appears to dance to music and colored lights.The music played during the show is recorded by singers and musicians from Alabama. Fame Recording Studios is in the city of Muscle Shoals in Colbert County.The studio is the first successful recording studio in Alabama.It is best known for creating "Southern rock," "Southern soul," and "county soul." Well-known performers like Aretha Franklin and musical groups such as Alabama and Lynyrd have made recordings at this studio. Visitors can continue to explore music in Alabama by visiting the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in Tuscumbia.Built in 1990, this site recognizes the musical talents of more than 500 Alabama residents in a wide variety of musical styles, including country and rhythm and blues. Truly, Colbert County has a lot of wonderful locations to visit.Guests will not be disappointed in a visit to this delightful place. The author writes the text mainly to persuade the reader _ . to stop for a visit in Colbert County 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. 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Even if you have no experience before, you can get valuable job skills in today's hottest fields! Step-by-step lessons make learning easy. Prepare for promotions , pay raises, even start a business of your own! Send today for FREE information about Harcourt at home training! 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, 7 days a week. www. Harcourt-learning. com E-mail:Harcourt@learning. com. What does the writer of this ad intend to say by naming General Electric, IBM, Ford, etc.? To prove the value of their training in every area. 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 According to the passage, what should the students not do? they should not smoke, because smoking is dangerous to them If English means endless new words,difficult gramrnar and sometimes strange pronunciation,you are wrong.Haven't you noticed that you have become smarter since you started to learn a language? According to a new study by a British university,learning a second language can lead to an increase in your brain power,Researchers found that learning other languages changes grey matter.This is the area of the brain which processes information.It is similar to the way that exercise builds muscles. The study also found the effect is greater,the younger people learn a second language. A team led by Dr Andrea Mechelli,from University College London,took a group of Britons who only spoke English.They were compared with a goup of " _ .''who had learnt a second language before the age of five,as well as a number of later learners. Scans showed that grey matter density in the brain was greater in bilinguals than in people without a second language.But the longer a person waited before mastering a new language,the smaller the difference. "Our findings suggest that the structure of the brain is changed by the experience of learning a second language,"said the scientists. It means that the change itself increases the ability to learn. Professor Dylan Vaughan Jones of the University of Wales has researched the link between bilingualism and maths skills. ''Having two languages gives you two windows on the world and makes the brain more flexible,"he said."You are actually going beyond language and have a better understanding of different ideas." The findings were matched in a study of native Italian speakers who had learned English as a second language between the ages of 2 and 34. Reading,writing,and comprehension were all tested.The results showed,that the younger they started to learn,the better."Studying a language means you get an entrance to another world,''explained the scientists. The main subject talked about in this passage is _ language can help brain power Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third WheelBy Jeff Kinney A dance at Greg Heffley's middle school is going to be held, but he can't find someone to go with him. Finally he finds a girl from his class to go with him. That is when The Third Wheel story begins. The Third Wheel is full of jokes and interesting drawings. Ivy and Bean Make the RulesBy Annie Barrows Bean's older sister Jessie goes to a summer camp called Girl Power 4-Ever, but Bean can't join her because she is too young. So Bean and her best friend, Ivy, decide to create their own camp. At Camp Flaming Arrow, Ivy and Bean come up with all the activities and, of course, they make the rules. Their happiness and kindness will make you want to keep reading. Stick DogBy Tom Watson Stick Dog is a dog that lives in an empty pipe. He has four dog friends named Poo-Poo, Stripes, Karen and Mutt. When Stick Dog smells some delicious hamburgers, he and his friends decide to steal the food from a human family that is having a picnic in Picas-so Park. Along the way, they face a lot of funny challenges. White Fur FlyingBy Patricia Maclachlan Zoo and Alice's mother might just have the coolest job ever. She rescues Great Pyrenees dogs! But dogs aren't the only things that need to be saved. The family's new neighbour, Philfip, doesn't speak, and no one knows why. White Fur Flying is all about understanding that love can come from both inside and outside. Although it is a little sad, the book is good to read. Kids who love animals and a good story will really like it, too. In which section of a newspaper can we see the text? Literature.
Biomass energy , often forgotten as promising alternative to oil, received its day in the sun with the gathering of the Bio-Energy World Congress and Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia, late in April, 2007. Nearly 1700 scientists, businessmen and policy-makers, one-quarter from the foreign nations, gathered for a week to discuss various means of squeezing usable energy out of trees, crops, sea plants and urban waste. Biomass energy in the prefix = st1 /United Statescontributes 2.5 percent of the total supply, but this amount can be doubled by 2017 and then doubled again by the year 2027. Eight percent of Sweden's energy supply, for example, is presently coming from wood and pulp remaining. Swedenintends to raise this percentage by more intensive harvesting of waste food lying around in forests, and through the planting of so-called energy forests of fast-growing trees such as willow. Brazilis frequently pointed to as a nation with a major successful investment in energy coming from grains: it presently runs 330,000 automobiles on a water and alcohol mixture, replacing 10 percent of its previous oil supply. Brazilian representatives at the conference said they wish to double this in five years, with a final goal of total replacement. Most of the cars are built at the factory to use the mixture, while older models are changed through low-cost government programs. A suitable title for this passage would be _ . A An Energy Conference B Approval of Biomass Energy C Bio-Energy for Automobiles D Keys to Energy Crisis Answer: B Social media is one of the fastest-growing industries in today's world. A study conducted by the US think tank Pew Research Center showed that 92 percent of teenagers go online daily. The wide spread of social media has changed nearly all parts of teenagers' lives. Changing relationships High school student Elly Cooper from Illinois said social media often reduces face-to-face communication. "It makes in-person relationships harder because people give attention to their phones instead of their boyfriends or girlfriends," Cooper said. There's also a greater possibility of things getting lost in translation over social media. "If half of your relationship is over social media, you don't really know how the other person is reacting," Sienna Schulte, a junior student from Illinois, said. Yet, some people believe social media has made it easier to start relationships with anyone from anywhere. Beth Kaplan from Illinois met her long-distance friend through social media. He currently lives in Scotland, but they're still able to frequently communicate with one another. "I can feel close to someone that I'm talking to via FaceTime," Kaplan said. Wanting to be "liked" The rise of social media has changed the way teenagers see themselves. The 19-year-old Essena O'Neill announced on the social networking service Instagram that she was quitting social media because it made her obsessed with appearing perfect online. Negative comments also can do great damage to a teenager's self-esteem . In particular, anonymous social media apps such as Yik Yak may provide opportunities for cyber bullying . The app allows users within 5 miles (8 km) to create and add comments to everything. Teenagers who get negative comments on these sites can't help but feel hurt. Opening new doors However, Armin Korsos, a student from Illinois, takes advantage of the comments he receives over social media to improve his videos on the social networking site Youtube. "Social media can help people show themselves and their talents to the world in a way that was never possible before," Korsos said. But Korsos recognizes that social media has become a distraction . "Social media, though it helps people connect with their friends and stay updated, is not all necessary." Essena O'Neill decided to disconnect herself from social media because _ . A she couldn't put up with cyberbullying on social media B she wanted to spend more time with her friends in reality C she was bothered by her desire to look perfect on social media D she wanted to reduce her exposure to negative information online Answer: C Minimalism is a term that describes movements in various forms of art and design, especially visual art and music, where the work is reduced to its most basic features. As for me, minimalism functions well not in art or design, but in my daily life. When I was packing for university, I found it extremely difficult to let go of some of the things I owned. I knew I couldn't take everything with me, but I kept asking myself "how could I possibly throw this away?", "what if I need it one day?", and "what about all of the memories?" Now that I've moved, and left that stuff behind, I don't even miss it. Whether or not I got rid of it, it barely makes a bit of difference to me now. I've learned that over time people forget, or their need for a particular object eventually disappears. Either they store it away or they get rid of it. You might think nostalgically about the toys you cared about when you were a child, but what is making you smile now is not the thing itself but the memory of it. 1've heard it a hundred times, "you don't need things to make you happy." It takes something life-changing like moving across the country to realize how true this is. Speaking of which, for a lot of people, minimalism is about able to move. It's about being able to go almost anywhere at any time because you don't have many possessions to carry. When you keep things you don't need they become a burden that ties you to a place. Moving to university was a good time to let go of a lot of stuff. And when I visit for the holidays, I'll probably get rid of even more, to lighten the burden. _ There are some things that are irreplaceable, very rare or expensive or we simply love and cherish for some reason or another, since we are humans. But after we keep those, how much is left that we don't really need? Hence, minimalism. And why does minimalism bring happiness? That was a bit of a roundabout way of saying that, it's because what really makes me happy is freedom. And the key to freedom is minimalism because minimalism reduces our attachment to things. Attachment to too many objects creates a great mess and can severely hold back our freedom to do whatever we want, while minimalism helps us start new projects, move, travel, learn new things, work, expand, be debt-free, be healthy - really living life to our full potential. I left the nest to fly onwards and upwards, I can't do it with old things weighing me down. And that is why I have adopted minimalism with open arms. What's the main idea of the passage? A Minimalism brings happiness. B Minimalism is applied in many fields. C Minimalism makes people think nostalgically. D Minimalism is about able to move. Answer: A The moon is bright in the night sky, especially when full because A Earth shines B stars absorb it C sunlight brightens it D batteries power it Answer: C 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. What can be the best title for the passage? A Looking at Screen: Two Hours or More B How Can Children Use Their Eyes Properly C Using Digital Devices: Advantages and Disadvantages D How Much Screen Time Is Too Much for Children Answer: D
Question: I wish there would be a way to describe China in simple terms but that's impossible. For the most part Chinese people are friendly, easy-going and optimistic. They are curious and unusually patient and they are also the hardest-working people I have ever met. In China, family is everything. In my English classes when the students were asked what they would do if they only had a few hours to live, most students told me how they would spend their last few hours with their families and parents. Many times the subjects in the classes center on families and friends. I teach many students a year, talking to them freely. The cost of living here is very low compared with that of the US. The city of Xiang Fan I live in isn't large and I live better. Non-imported foods are very cheap, so are clothing and articles of everyday use. The cost of public transportation is very low, too. Chinese value education. However, it is reported that many children can't afford the expenses of schooling and are forced to leave school in some poor area in China. But they organized Project Hope many years age. It creates conditions for the poor children to go back to school. In my opinion, Project Hope is of great importance to the development of the rural education. When we read news of China in the west, rarely, if ever, will we see anything mentioned of the positive changes China has gone through. While it is true that economic miracles have not reached many areas of China, but we also have the same problems. When I am asked which country I consider better. China or the US, my answer has always been the same, "We are not worse or better than each other, we are only different." What is the author doing in China? A. He is visiting the places of interest. B. He is teaching English in a school. C. He is studying in a college. D. He is on business. Answer: B Question: First,you ought to know that I'm "only" fourteen.My mother points this out often.I can make my own decisions when I'm old enough to vote,she says.Second,I should tell you that she's right -- I'm not always responsible.I sometimes take the prize for grade-A dork .Take last weekend for instance.I was staying at Dad's,and I decided it was time I learned to drive.It was Sunday morning,7 A.M.,and I hadn't slept well.I'd been up thinking about an argument,which I'll tell you about in a minute.Well,nobody was up yet in the neighborhood,so I thought it couldn't hurt to back the car out of the garage and drive around the block.But Dad has a clutch car.The "R" on the shift handle was up on the left side,right next to first gear .I guess you can guess the rest. Dad's always been understanding.He didn't say,"Okay,little Miss Know-It-All,you can just spend the rest of the year paying this off," which is what Mom would have said.Instead,Dad worried about what might have happened to me.And that made me feel more guilty than anything.I think he'd be a better number-one caregiver,but I can't say things like that to Mom.To her,I have to say,"But Mom,Dad's place is closer to school.I could ride my bike," to which she replies,"Amy Lynn,you don't own a bike.Remember? You left it in the yard,and it was stolen.And you haven't got the patience to earn the money to replace it." The main conflict between the writer and her mother is about whether she _ . A. can make her own decisions B. should live with her mom or her dad C. should be allowed to drive D. should pay for things she loses or breaks Answer: A Question: By November 30, 2015, the comedy Goodbye, Mr. Loser had got more than 1,400 million yuan in ticket sales. It was amazing that a film with common actors who had their first shows in the film got such great success. What's more, the actors were all stage performers and they improved their acting skills by making this film. The comedy tells about a common middle-aged man who has no job but problems. He seems to be a loser in life and never gets any success. He causes many jokes and is laughed at a lot. And because of his bad luck, he feels upset most of the time. Later, a sudden accident changes his life and he starts to realize how important the family to him. Goodbye, Mr. Loser was the first movie made by Happy Mahua Pictures. The film came out on September 30, 2015. Because of its great success, the film company became famous overnight. During the seven-day holiday for National Day in 2015, the ticket sales were just behind the most popular film being shown at the same time-Lost in Hong Kong. The passage mainly talks about _ . A. a popular movie B. a poor loser C. a great man D. a film company Answer: A Question: At a supermarket in County Durham, England, the workers are getting ready for some lessons in sign language . They are excited to meet their teacher -- two-year-old Diana Graham. The little girl will teach them how to communicate with deaf customers . Diana is a wonder child. She began to use sign language to "speak" to her deaf mother before she said her first word. So whenever the phone rings or there's a knock at the door, her mother can be quickly told by her. Diana understands the sign language well. Her mother even reads story books to her in sign language. Her grandmother said, "Diana started signing at about five months. She is so clever for her age."The supermarket officials couldn't think of a better sign language teacher for their workers. So they asked Diana to give some lessons to the workers. They hoped that her lessons would help the workers communicate better with deaf customers during their shopping. Who will teach the workers to learn sign language? A. Diana B. Diana's mother C. The supermarket offices D. the worker themselves Answer: A Question: None of our early ancestors could digest milk as adults because their bodies never had to -milk drinking simply wasn't an option.As people began to extract milk from animals, though, some people developed the ability to keep drinking it throughout their lives. Scientists mow know of a milk-related mutation in our genes--the chemical instructions for life that we carry in almost every cell in our bodies.People who have a mutated form of one particular gene can drink milk just fine.People without the mutation tend to get sick from milk. To figure out where, and possibly why, milk drinking started, some scientists have been looking at who has the milk-digesting mutation to day Pattems are striking. Most adults in Northern and Central Europe are able to digest milk--and they do.Cheese, butter and other dairy products are popular in countries such as Sweden, Denmark, Germany and England.Because European settlers dominated North America, most people here can handle milk just fine, as well.That may explain why ice cream is such a popular dessert in the United States. In much of Africa, Asia and South America, on the other hand, people tend to avoid dairy products because they lead to diarrhea and other stomach problems.(That's why you won't typically find cheese on the menu at a Chinese, Japanese or Ethiopian restaurant.) Native Americans are also unable to digest milk. Based on these genetic patterns, scientists have long thought that milk drinking started in Northern Europe, where dairy is an institution and the milk-digesting mutation is everywhere. A recent study painted a different picture.With a computer model, Thomas and colleagues looked at the spread of the milk-drinking mutation, farming and other related factors.Working backward, the scientists concluded that the first milk-drinkers lived in Central Europe around what's now Hungary about 7500 years ago.The practice didn't start farther north, as scientists had thought before. Which of the following is the author most likely to agree with? A. Milk drinking first started in Northern Europe. B. Milk drinking first started in Central Europe. C. North American Indians were able to digest milk. D. Dairy products are very popular in North Korea. Answer: B
One windy spring day, I observed young people having fun using the wind to fly their kites. Multicolored creations of varying shapes and sizes filled the skies like beautiful birds dashing and dancing in the exciting atmosphere above the earth. As the strong winds gusted against the kites, a string kept them in check. Instead of blowing away with the wind, they arose against it to achieve great heights. They shook and pulled, but the controlling string and the clumsy tail kept them in tow , facing upward and against the wind. As the kites struggled and trembled against the string, they seemed to say, "Let me go! Let me go! I want to be free!" They flew beautifully even as they fought the forced restriction of the string. Finally, one of the kites succeeded in breaking loose. "Free at last," it seemed to say. "Free to fly with the wind." Yet freedom from control simply put it at the mercy of an unsympathetic gentle wind. It flew ungracefully to the ground and landed in a twisted mass of weeds and string against a dead bush. "Free at last". Free to lie powerless in the dirt, to be blown helplessly along the ground, and to settle down lifeless against the first roadblock. How much like kites we sometimes are. There always exist misfortunes and restrictions, rules to follow from which we can grow and gain strength. Prohibition is a necessary counterpart to the winds of opposition. Some of us pulled at the rules so hard that we never fly fast to reach the heights we might have obtained. If we keep all the commandment , we will never rise high enough to get our tails off the ground. Let us each rise to the great heights, recognizing that some of the prohibitions are actually the steady force that helps us climb and achieve. In the passage the writer watched _ . Answer: many young people flying multicolored kites The stars have come together for the 2014 QUT Classic fun run on Sunday, May 4! This year's fun run around central Brisbane not only promises a fantastic family day out--it also happens to be International Star Wars Day. Hundreds of seriousand not so seriousparticipants will contest a choice of scenic l km , 5km or l0km routes around QUT (Queensland University of Technology), South Bank and the CBD on Sunday, May 4. May 4 has become Star Wars Day for fans around the globethe date being chosen as a play on "May the Force (fourth) be with you" To celebrate, Yoda will make a special guest appearance at the QUT Classic at 7:20am to help kids warm up for the l km event while the Indie Chamber Orchestra does a live performance of the Star Wars theme. The special visit has been organized by Healthstream QUT, who operate the university's pools and gyms. Classic organizer Cheryl Goodwin from QUT Student Engagement said the second annual event would also be combined with a buskers festival, ensuring plenty of entertainment around Gardens Point and along the route. "The Classic Buskers Festival is being organized by the QUT Music Society and will Feature some of Brisbane's best buskers and bands as well as QUT talent.There's going to be a mix of music,dance,circus and comedy."she said. The QUT Classic will also raise funds for QUT's Learning Potential Fund,which provides scholarships for low income students.About 1200 people registered for last year's event and organizers are hoping for a similar--if not bigger-turnout in 2014. The race will begin and end at QUT Gardens Point,where breakfast will be available for purchase.Both the 5km and 1 0km events will begin at 8:00 am,with the l km event starting at 7:30 am. QUT Classic registration costs$25 for the l km event,$30 for 5km and$35 for 10km. People can register as individuals or in teams.One of the biggest teams is expected to be the Learning Potential Fund team,which is open to QUT staff ,students and the general public. Participants who register before 30 April will receive a race pack.The first 1 000 participants will also receive a free 1imited edition QUT Classic T-shirt. QUT Running is offering all registrants free training sessions in the six weeks leading up to this event. For more information on the QUT Classic,contact Cheryl Goodwin on 07 3138 9447 orc.goodwin@qut.edu.au. Media contact:Mechelle McMahon,QUT media,media@qut.edu.au If you want to know more about QUT Classic,you can contact _ Answer: Cheryl Goodwin A gastroenterologist is a doctor who treats problems of the esophagus, stomach, and intestines. Which organ system is cared for by this type of doctor? Answer: digestive system Swearing can provide effective relief from pain - but not if you swear all the time, researchers have found. A study found releasing the strange expletive (=swearing) helped people cope with discomfort in the short-term but the frequency of swearing played an important role. Researchers at Keele University's School of Psychology employed 71 undergraduates who were asked to carry out a cold-water challenge while either repeating a swear word or a non-swear word. The students put their hand in room temperature water for three minutes to act as a control before diving it into cold 5degC water for as long as they could while repeating their word. The level of sensed pain together with a change in heart rate were compared while people swore or said their non-swear word. The group was also asked about how much they swore in daily life and this was analyzed together with their level of pain tolerance. Writing in the Journal of Pain, the authors concluded: "Swearing increased pain tolerance and heart rate compared with not swearing." "Moreover, the higher the daily swearing frequency, the less was the benefit for pain tolerance when swearing, compared with when not swearing." Dr Richard Stephens, a senior lecturer in psychology at Keele, said: "Swearing is a very emotive form of language and our findings suggest that using swear words moderation (, ) can be an effective and readily available short-term pain reliever." "However, if you're used to swearing all the time, our research suggests you won't get the same effect." The purpose of this research mentioned in the passage is _ . Answer: to indicate the relation between swearing and pain tolerance. In China, parents often tell their kids not to waste food. However, it's reported that a lot of food is wasted in restaurants every day. Many people say when they eat out, they usually order a lot of dishes and they can't eat them up. One person in Chengdu, Sichuan Province says he takes away the _ . "Usually we'll have some leftovers after meals, because when I invite friends to eat out, I don't know how much they can eat, so I order lots of dishes to make sure everybody has enough food." While another person in Fuzhou, Fujian Province says she never packs what is left on the dining table. "What I usually experience during eating out is a big meal. I seldom take away the leftovers because we often have other activities after the meals, and it's not convenient to take the leftovers. And when no one suggests taking away leftovers, I won't do so." Some people say they only take away leftovers when they eat out with family, but not if they eat with friends or colleagues . Food waste means washing money as well as wasting precious resources . When food is thrown away, it becomes rubbish and can be harmful to the environment. We should realize how important it is to save food. It's wise to order proper food for our meals. If there're leftovers, it's better to take home. To save food, we should start with ourselves and start from now. From the passage, it's necessary for us to _ when we eat out. Answer: order proper food for our meal and finish all on our plates
Question: Let Baby Cry The parents with their three-year-old son went to see a film. When they walked into the cinema, the attendant said to them, "you'll have to go out if your son cries. But we'll refund you the tickets." About half an hour later, the husband asked his wife, "What do you think of the film?" "I've never seen such a boring film." His wife answered. "It's not worth seeing." "I don't think much of it, either." The husband said. "Wake the child up and let him cry." Blindfold Them Stan: I won 92 goldfish. Fred: Where are you going to keep them? Stan: In the bathroom. Fred: But what will you do when you want to take a bath? Stan: Blindfold them! Einstein and God Einstein climbs to the top of Mt. Sinai to get close enough to talk to God. Looking up, he asks the Lord... "God, what does a million years mean to you?" The Lord replies, "A minute." Einstein asks, "And what does a million dollars mean to you?" The Lord replies, "A penny." Einstein asks, "Can I have a penny?" The Lord replies, " _ ." From the last sentence of story II, we learn that Stan _ . A. played a joke on Fred. B. misunderstood Fred's question. C. used to treat the goldfish rudely. D. seldom took a bath at home. Answer: B. misunderstood Fred's question. Question: You wake up in the morning, the day is beautiful and the plans for the day are what you have been looking forward to for a long time. Then the telephone rings, you say hello, and the drama starts. The person on the other end has a depressing ( )tone in his voice as he starts to tell you how terrible his morning is and that there is nothing to look forward to. You are still in a wonderful mood? Impossible! Communicating with negative ( ) people can wash your happiness. It may not change what you think, but communicating long enough with them will make you feel depressed for a moment or a long time. Life brings ups and downs, but some people are stuck in the wrong idea that life has no happiness to offer. They only feel glad when they make others feel bad. No wonder they can hardly win other's pity or respect. When you communicate with positive people, your spirits stay happy and therefore more positive things are attracted. When the dagger of a negative person is put in you, you feel the heavy feeling that all in all, brings you down. Sometimes we have no choice but to communicate with negative people. This could be a co-worker, or relative. In this case, say what needs to be said as little as possible. Sometimes it feels good to let out your anger back to negative person, but all this is to lower you to that same negative level and they won't feel ashamed of themselves about that. Negativity often affects happiness without even being realized. The negative words of another at the start of the day can cling to you throughout the rest of your day, which makes you feel bad and steals your happiness. Life is too short to feel negative. Stay positive and avoid negativity as much as possible. Some negative people base their happiness on _ . A. other people's pity for them B. making other people unhappy C. building up a positive attitude D. other people's respect for them Answer: B. making other people unhappy Question: Tigers are the largest wild cats in the world. They usually go out to hunt for food when it is dark. When a tiger sees an animal, it moves quickly and then jumps on the animals to kill it. Sometimes it can take the tiger several days to finish eating its food. When the tiger is full, it will cover the dead animal with leaves. Later, when the tiger is hungry again, it comes back to eat some more. Tigers are different from others in the cat family: they like water and often jump into rivers to swim. Some tigers live in very cold places in North Korea, Russia and China. Other tigers live in warmer places--in India and parts of Southeast Asia. But now all tigers are in danger. Some people kill tigers to use their skins for clothes, and their bodies for medicine. There is also less and less land for tigers to live in. ,. Tigers like _ , which is different from others in the cat family. A. eating meat B. drinking water C. swimming D. climbing trees Answer: C. swimming 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. Rockford should pay about $ _ dollars for the plan. A. 5,000,000 B. 50,000 C. 40,000 D. 1,300 Answer: B. 50,000 Question: Many Americans concerned about pollution are demanding cleaner supplies of energy. The demand has resulted in increased research about ethanol fuel. Ethanol is an alcohol that can be mixed with gas. It burns up most of the pollutants in gas. It replaces some of the chemicals that are known to cause cancer, and it can be produced in the United States. Some experts say that in the future ethanol will replace some of the oil imported into America. Today ethanol is less than one percent of total American fuel supply. The head of the National Corn Growers Association, Kieve Hard, says ethanol will provide twenty-five percent of the fuel supply by 2030. The organization is involved in the production of ethanol because it can be made from corn. One company in the American Midwest says it is starting to produce ethanol because of demands from people and from the government. The Congress approved the Clean Air Act in 1990. The company says this means the market for ethanol will expand. The company is a major producer of corn starch that can be used to make ethanol. At Texas A and M University Professor Mark Holzapple produces ethanol from materials found in solid waste. He has developed a way to turn materials like paper into simple sugar. He then uses yeast to turn the sugar into ethanol. Professor Holzapple says two hundred liters of ethanol fuel can be produced from one ton of solid waste. A professor at the University of Arkansas, John Geddie, is exploring another way to make ethanol. He is using acids on paper material. He says a large factory could produce ethanol from waste paper at a cost about the same as the cost of producing gasoline. Environmentalists support the use of ethanol because it turns solid waste into a useful product. Professor Holzapple says law makers in industrial nations need to support the development of this clean, less expensive fuel of the future. The author mentions all of the following resources for making ethanol except _ . A. corn starch B. natural gas C. waste paper D. solid waste Answer: B. natural gas
Question: Guo Liqin, 24, works as a primary school teacher in a distant area in Yunnan Province. The Internet offers him the latest news and entertainment from the outside world. And many people like him also depends on the online libraries for the free literature reading. A survey in China last year found the online literature is the biggest growth area of Internet entertainment. Reading for free is also popular in other countries. See what solutions other countries are taking. Public Libraries In countries such as Germany, Canada, and the UK, governments pay the authors to have their books in public libraries. The pay is different from country to country. Some pay according to how many times a book has been borrowed; others pay according to whether the library has bought the book or not. Google Books Google Books allow users to see some free parts before buying them. The author can choose to make from 20% to 100% of the book's content for free reading . But you can see a full view of books that are out of copyright . E-magazines E-magazines are usually about pop culture, and make money through advertisements. The writers are usually paid by the numbers of words they write. Digital Library There are many free online libraries of books which are no longer in copyright. American and European websites offer classic literature and non-fiction texts like dictionaries for download in different languages. Google Books and Digital Library allow users to read the full books _ . A. which are out of copyright B. which are in copyright C. which are about pop culture D. which have some free parts Answer: A Question: On May 28th, 1998 I was driving my 13-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son to school. Unfortunately my car crashed with a truck. All three of us were critically injured. Stacey's brain injury was the most severe. Despite all attempts to save her, she died two days later. When I became conscious, I heard my husband talking to the organ donor coordinator . We knew that Stacey would want that because that's the kind of person she was. She always wanted to assist people. She was always smiling and brought so much joy to others. She was friendly and enjoyed writing stories and poetry. It has been a comfort to know that Stacey lives on in the lives of others. I have even met the family of one of Stacey's kidney recipients . This little girl was 6 years old at the time of the transplant. She was suffering from Nephrotic Syndrome. I saw pictures showing the effects of the Nephrotic Syndrome and the pictures of her after the transplant. _ already showed an amazing difference. We correspond every year through letters, cards and pictures. The girl is doing really well at school and will be graduating from high school next year. I am so grateful that we have this relationship. I also feel relieved that my daughter has made so great a difference to a person's life. Over the years, I have had some kind of contact with all of the recipients except the heart recipient. I'm very sorry for that. I would love to hear something from the heart recipient's family. There are so many things that I wonder about her. I wonder if she is anything like Stacey. Does she smile all the time? Does she enjoy writing stories and poetry? I do hope that they can contact us! I feel guilty because I was the one driving in the accident which caused Stacey's death. I also feel proud that my daughter has helped so many people. What is the writer's attitude towards her daughter's organ donation? A. Grateful B. Dissatisfied C. Proud D. Guilty Answer: C Question: Did you know that Albert Einstein could not speak until he was four years old, and did not read until he was seven? His parents and teachers worried about his rnenta1ability. Beethoven's music teacher said about him,"As a composer he is hopeless." What if this young boy believed it? When Thomas Edison was a young boy,his teachers said he was so stupid that he could never learn anything.He once said,''I remember I used to never be able to get along at schoo1.I was always at the foot of my class...My father thought I was stupid,and I almost decided that l was a stupid person."What if young Thomas believed what may said about him? When the sculptor Auguste Rodin was young; he had difficulty learning to read and write.:. Today, we may say he had a learning disability. His father said of him, "I have an idiot for a son. "His uncle agreed. "He's uneducable," he said. What if Rodin had doubted his ability? Walt Disney was once fired by a newspaper editor because he was thought to have no "good ideas". Enrico Caruso was told by one music teacher, "you can't sing. You have no voice at all. " And an editor told Louisa May Alcott that she was unable to write anything that would have popular appeal. What if these people had listened and become discouraged? Where would our world be without the music of Beethoven, the art of Rodin or the ideas of Albert Einstein and Walt Disney? As Oscar Levant once said, "It's not what you are but what you don't become that hurts. " You have great potential.When you believe in all you can be, rather than all you cannot become, you will find your place on earth. What is the best title of the passage? A. Working Hard for Success B. Having Dreams C. Believing in Yourself D. Self-challenging Answer: C Question: Attitude is an internal state that influences the choices of personal action made by the individual. Some researchers consider that attitudes come from differences between beliefs and ideas; others believe that attitudes come from emotional states. Here, we focus on the effects of attitudes upon behavior, that is, upon the choices of action made by the individual. The kinds of actions taken by human beings are obviously influenced greatly by attitudes. Whether one listens to classical music or rock, whether one obeys the speed limit while driving, whether one encourages one's husband or wife to express his or her own ideas--all are influenced by attitudes. These internal states are acquired throughout life from situations one is faced with in the home, in the streets, and in the school. Of course, the course of action chosen by an individual in any situation will be largely determined by the particulars of that situation. An individual who has a strong attitude of obeying laws may drive too fast when he is in a hurry and no police cars in sight. A child who has a strong attitude of honesty may steal a penny when she thinks no one will notice. But the internal state which remains unchanged over a period of time, and which makes the individual behave regularly in a variety of situations, is what is meant by an attitude. Attitudes are learned in a variety of ways. They can result from single incidents, as when an attitude toward snakes is acquired by an experience in childhood at the sudden movement of a snake. They can result from the individual's experiences of success and pleasure, as when someone acquires a positive attitude toward doing crossword puzzles by being able to complete some of them. And frequently, they are learned by copying other people's behavior, as when a child learns how to behave toward foreigners by observing the actions of his parents. Regardless of these differences, there is something in common in the learning and modification of attitudes. What would be the best title for the passage? A. Differences of Attitudes. B. Nature of Attitude. C. Choices of Attitudes. D. Modification of Attitude. Answer: B Question: One afternoon Mrs.Green's husband wanted to catch the 3:30 flight to London to have an important meeting. She was very surprised when he telephoned her at 5 o'clock and said that he was still at the airport. "What happened to you?"asked Mrs Green. "Well," said Mr. Green, "Everything was going fine. I got my ticket, checked my luggage and waited in line at the gate. I walked across the runway to the airplane and I saw my friend Jack Scott, who was an airplane engineer. I shouted to him and a policeman caught me." "Why did he catch you?" "I don't know,"said Mr.Green, "As soon as he heard my shout, he ran towards me and caught me." "What did you shout to your friend?" "All I said was 'Hi, Jack'. You know that's the usual way we say hello to our friends." "But you don't know the sentence 'Hi,Jack' also means to take control of a plane by force." Why was Mrs. Green surprised? Because her husband _ A. didn't arrive the airport in time B. was still at the airport at 5 o'clock C. didn't want to go to London D. was in London at 5 o'clock Answer: B
It's time to take a spring trip. Do you know how the kids in different countries spend their holidays? Children in China When spring comes, children want to be outside, so some schools usually organize a spring trip for them. It could be a trip to a mountain. There, children can climb mountains, fly kites, enjoy flowers and so on. Sometimes their teachers take them to the Martyrs' Park. Students can put some flowers on the graves . Children in Japan In April, while the Chinese enjoy winter jasmines, the Japanese are enjoying cherry blossoms. This is the best time of the year for children to take a trip. They take picnic lunches, sing and dance under the trees. Children in the UK They have many great choices when it comes to the school trip. They can visit the seaside or a theme park. One of the most special places to go is the bird center. These children can see ducks and other birds. The people at the center are scientists. This means they can teach children about habitat of the birds. The kids spend time in a beautiful place and also learn something about the natural world there without textbooks. What do the children in China do when spring comes? A. They usually enjoy cherry blossoms. B. They usually go to the bird center. C. They usually visit the seaside. D. They sometimes go to the Martyr's Park. Answer: D A poor boy was selling goods from one door to another to pay for his studies. One day he found that he had almost no money, and he was hungry. So he decided to ask for a meal. But when a woman opened the door, he only dared to ask for a glass of water. To his surprise, she gave him a large glass of milk. He drank it and then asked how much he should pay her. She said, "You don't have to pay me anything. Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness" He was deeply moved and was determined to help those in need. The boy's name was Howard Kelly. Many years had passed. One day that woman became seriously ill. The local doctors could not help her. So they sent her to a big city where her rare disease would be studied by specialists . Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for advice. When he entered her room in the hospital, he immediately spotted the woman. Howard Kelly was determined to do his best to help her. The struggle was long, but together they succeeded in the end. After some time the woman received a bill for her treatment. She was worried that the amount would be so large that it would take the rest of her life to pay for it. However, when she looked at the bill, she found words on the side of the bill. They were, "Paid in full with a glass of milk." The woman came to a big city because _ . A. she was ill and no local doctors could help her B. she was invited by a group of specialists to a study C. she wanted to visit the poor boy whom she had helped D. her rare disease could only be dealt with by Dr. Howard Kelly Answer: A An emperor was almost eighty years old and knew it was time to choose his successor . Instead of choosing one of his children, he decided on something different. He called all of the young people in the kingdom together one day. He said, "It is time for me to choose the next emperor. I have decided to choose one of you." The kids were shocked! But the emperor continued, "I am going to give each one of you a seed today. One special seed. I want you to plant it and come back one year later with what you have grown from this seed. I will then judge the plants, and the one I choose will be the next emperor!" One boy named Ling received a seed like the others. He went home and planted the seed in a pot, watering it carefully. Every day he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other youths began to talk about their plants that were beginning to grow. Ling kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. A year finally went by and all the youths brought their plants to the emperor. Ling thought he should be honest about what had happened. So he took his empty pot to the palace. When Ling arrived, he was amazed at the plants grown by other youths. They were beautiful, in all shapes and sizes. When the emperor arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted the young people. Ling just tried to hide in the back. Suddenly, the emperor spotted Ling at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered his guards to bring him to the front. Ling was terrified. When Ling got to the front, the Emperor asked his name. "My name is Ling," he replied. All the kids were laughing and making fun of him. The emperor asked everyone to quiet down. He looked at Ling, and then announced to the crowd, "Behold your new emperor! His name is Ling!" Then the emperor said, "One year ago today, I gave you all boiled seeds which would not grow." Why did the emperor decide to choose his successor? A. He was growing old. B. He was tired of his position. C. He wanted to do different things. D. He wanted to do some tests. Answer: A A person who has a job of making discoveries also A. watches B. fights C. slaughters D. explodes Answer: A Many students in China are learning English. Some of these students are small children Others are teenagers . Many are adults . Some learn at school, others _ . A few learn English language over the radio, on television or in films. One must work hard to learn another language. Why do all these people want to learn English? _ . Many boys and girls learn English at school because it is one of their subjects. They study their own language, Maths and English. Some people learn English because it is useful for their work. Many people often learn English for their further studies, because at college or university some of their books are in English. Other people learn English because they want to read newspapers and magazines in English Many students in China _ English A. are learning B. aren't learning C. learning D. learn Answer: A
Some good news for online holiday shoppers: bargain-hunting binges will drive prices down as web-based retailers compete to offer bigger discounts, marketing researchers predict. A recent survey by Shopzilla found that nearly 84 percent of online retailers would offer Cyber Monday discounts, up 12 percent from last year. Cyber Monday, the first Monday after Thanksgiving, is the online response to Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving when stores are traditionally flooded with customers, some of whom camp at the entrances overnight to take advantage of discounts. However, in the current economic climate, online retailers have felt pressure to offer sales and discounts even before Black Friday. But how online retailers decide to offer those big savings isn't a simple matter of trying to attract the consumers who are watching their wallets, Bohlmann of Sabanci University in Istanbul says. Online stores will also pay attention to the deals their competitors are offering, potentially leading to price wars between certain retailers to attract all those potential bargain-hunting customers. Online shoppers can be divided into two types, Bohlmann said, --switchers and --loyals. Switchers compare prices between retailers and go for the cheapest one, while loyals stick to one brand or store. It almost doesn't matter what price you charge. Online retailers will look at the percentage of switchers and loyals they have in order to decide whether to offer discounts. The more switchers they have, the more likely they will offer discounts. But retailers don't just look at the percentage of their own customers; they also look at the competition. If one online store has a higher percentage of loyals than the competitor, it can afford to keep prices higher. On the contrary, if it has a higher percentage of switchers than the competitor, it might want to lower prices. According to the text, "loyals" should refer to online shoppers who _ Answer: matter little what price you charge When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: "If you live each day as if it were your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself, "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choice in life. About a year ago I was diagnosed with cancer. The doctors told me this was almost certainly a type of cancer that was incurable, and that I would live no longer than three to six months. My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is my doctors' code for preparing yourself to die. I lived with that diagnosis all day. I was completely in despair. Later that evening, I had another examination and my wife told me that tumor turned to be curable with surgery. I had the surgery and I' m fine now. This was the closest I've been to facing death. To tell the truth, no one wants to die. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. It clears out the old to make room for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Your time is so limited that you shouldn't waste it repeating someone else's life. Don' t be trapped by dogma -- which is living with the results of other people' s thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart. It somehow already knows what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary. Ks5u What does the author think of death? Answer: He thinks it is impossible to avoid. On Friday, Japanese researchers announced a population clock that showed a dangerous situation that the Japanese nation would disappear in 1,000 years if the falling birth rate kept the present level. Researchers in the northern city of Sendai said that Japan's population of children aged up to 14, which now stands at 16.6 million, was falling at the rate of one child per 100 seconds. It would lead to a terrible result that there would be no children left in Japan in 1,000 years. "If the rate keeps falling at that rate in our country, there will only be one child who is able to enjoy the following Children's Day left on May 5th, 3011," said Hiroshi Yoshida, a professor at Toholu University. "But 100 seconds later, a national disaster that there are no children left in Japan will happen," he added, "The nation's people will disappear for the birth rate has fallen to the level that every woman has no more than two children, which started in 1975." Yoshida said they created the population clock to make Japanese people pay close attention to that problem for their nation's future. Another study showed that Japan's population was expected to fall to one third of the present population amount: 127.7 million in the next century. The Japanese government predicted that the birth rate would just become 1.35 children per parents within 50 years. At the same time, Japanese life expectancy which is expected to ascend from 86.93 years in 2010 to 90.93 years in 2060 for women and from 79.64 years to 84.19 years for men has already been one of the highest in the world. More than 20 percent of the Japanese are aged 65 or over. It means that Japan has become one of the countries with aging populations in the world. The problem of aging populations is a headache for the government and the Japanese economy because there are fewer and fewer workers who can make money for the country. However, the government has to face the terrible situation that it needs to offer a growing number of pensions. According to Hiroshi Yoshida, on June 1st, 3011 _ . Answer: Japan will become a country without children Among various programs, TV talk shows have covered every inch of space on daytime television. And anyone who watches them regularly knows that each one is different in style . But no two shows are more opposite in content, while at the same time standing out above the rest, than the Jerry Springer and the Oprah Winfrey shows. Jerry Springer could easily be considered the king of "rubbish talk". The contents on his show are as surprising as can be. For example, the show takes the ever-common talk show titles of love, sex, cheating, and hate, to a different level. Clearly, the Jerry Springer show is about the dark side of society, yet people are willing to eat up the troubles of other people's lives. Like Jerry Springer, Oprah Winfrey takes TV talk show to its top. But Oprah goes in the opposite direction. The show is mainly about the improvement of society and different quality of life. Contents are from teaching your children lessons, managing your work week, to getting to know your neighbors. Compared to Oprah, the Jerry Springer show looks like poisonous waste being poured into society. Jerry ends every show with a "final word". He makes a small speech about the entire idea of the show. Hopefully, this is the part where most people will learn something very valuable. Clean as it is, the Oprah show is not for everyone. The show's main viewers are middleclass Americans. Most of these people have the time, money, and ability to deal with life's tough problems. Jerry Springer, on the other hand, has more of a connection with the young adults of society. These are 18-to-21-year-olds whose main troubles in life include love, relationship, sex, money and drug. They are the ones who see some value and lessons to be learned through the show's exploitation. Compared with other TV talk shows, both the Jerry Springer and the Oprah Winfrey are _ . Answer: very popular. I received a call today asking if I would be willing to bring food to a family in need. The mother was having a major operation and would be lying down for several weeks. Of course, I responded with an immediate "Yes!". As I planned the meal in my head, I reflected on how many times over the years I had been asked to prepare food. I have done so countless times with a very open heart. But the truly amazing thing is that I have received double over the course of my life. When my mother passed away, our house was filled with fresh dinners for weeks. A woman from the church of our community stopped by each evening with some food. The gift of food was her small way of trying to ease our pain. Later in my life, when I was on bed rest during my pregnancy with twins, women of the church again stepped in to help. They arranged babysitting for my twoyearold daughter, and brought lovely dinners to our house. Even when I was put in the hospital, my husband would bring cooked meals to my hospital room. How we relied on these dinners to feed my tired husband and young daughter. Food is all about comfort. It feeds our bodies, but it can also feed our souls. When you hear people talking about their favourite holidays, it usually includes their feelings connected with sharing food. I know that I will have many more opportunities in my lifetime to prepare food for others. It is truly a gift I want to prepare and deliver to someone in need. The author has given lots of food to others because _ . Answer: she has received others' food
I was in a charity shop looking at the second hand books. It just so happened that the book shelves were next to the toy section. After a few minutes I became aware of a group of women standing behind me. They were poorly dressed and spoke in what sounded like an eastern European language. As they looked through the clothes rails a little girl, about three years old, came over to the toy section. Immediately her attention was caught by a toy pram . What is it about little girls and toy prams? I don't know, but whatever it is its incredibly cute! She spoke to her mother and, in halting English her mother asked the shop assistant how much it cost. Three pounds was the answer---about five dollars. The mum looked down at her child, perhaps calculating what she still had to buy and how much money she would have left. Then she simply shook her head. The child didn't react badly as some might. Being told "no" was obviously not a new experience for her. But she couldn't keep the disappointment from her face. I had the grand total of four pounds in my pocket, two two-pound coins. A moment later I tapped the mother on the shoulder, pointed to the coins which I had left in the pram and said, "Buy her a dolly too." I didn't hang about to see the end result. After all, it's not about being thanked. I made my way out of the shop and into the sunshine. The money was an investment in the happiness of the world. Was there any better way, I wondered, to get so much happiness for so little money than to buy a little girl a toy pram? And a dolly to sit in it! What words can be used to describe the author? A. Optimistic and energetic. B. Pleasant and grateful C. Wealthy and healthy. D. Sympathetic and helpful Answer: D. Sympathetic and helpful David comes from the train station and he doesn't know where to go. This is the first time he comes to this town. He comes to see his good friend, Peter. Peter is a doctor. He works in a hospital. But David doesn't know where the hospital is. He walks in the street. He passes a bank, a post office, a hotel and at last he goes to a school. Some students are coming out, so he asks one of the students, "Excuse me. Which is the way to People's Hospital?" "Well, I know, you can go along this street, take the second turning on the right, and then take the third turning on your left. It's next to a museum." "I'm sorry I can't follow you." "Well, I just live near there, and my mother works in that hospital, too. I'm going home now. Will you go with me? I'll take you there." "That's great! Thank you very much!" "Then, let's go to the bus stop. And we'll take the No.12 bus there." The student's mother works in _ . A. hospital B. the hospital C. a school D. post office Answer: B. the hospital SAN FRANCISCO -- Sales for Apple's third generation iPad has hit record in the first days after it was on the market, Apple and carrier AT&T said on Monday. The new iPad went on sale on March 16 in the United States along with nine additional countries and areas. "We had a record weekend, and we are thrilled with it," Apple's CEO Tim Cook said Monday at a conference. Shortly after the conference call, AT&T said the launch of the new iPad set a new single-day record for its sales. "On Friday, March 16 AT&T set a new single-day record for its iPad sales, showing strong demand for the new iPad on the nation's largest 4G network," said the mobile carrier in a brief announcement. The new iPad is Apple's first 4G-capable product, featuring retina display, HD camera and faster processor. Before hitting stores, the new iPad pre-sales were sold out worldwide in two days. BEIJING -- A Chinese farmer was sentenced to 13 years in prison Monday for stealing art pieces from the Forbidden City last year, court authorities said. Shi Baikui, 27, was fined 13,000 yuan ($2,059) and was deprived of his political rights for 3 years, according to the ruling announced by the Second Intermediate People's Court in Beijing Monday morning. Shi, from East China's Shandong Province, broke into the heavily guarded former home of Chinese emperors in the heart of Beijing, and stole nine art pieces made of gold and jewels, on May 8, 2011, the court said in a statement. While hurriedly escaping, Shi left behind five of the pieces in the Forbidden City's compound . Failing to immediately sell the treasures, he threw the other four pieces away the next day, the document said. Six pieces were recovered and the three missing were worth about 150,000 yuan ($23,760) in total. Shi was arrested by police at an Internet cafe in Beijing's Fengtai district 58 hours after the theft. The new iPad is so popular because _ . A. it's better equipped B. it's made in the United States C. it is Apple's first product D. it depends on the nation's largest 4G network Answer: A. it's better equipped Is traditional fairytales good all the time? Recent research found one in five parents have abandoned those old classics such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and Hansel and Gretel and they're in favor of more modern books. One third of parents said their children have been left in tears after hearing the terrible details of Little Red Riding Hood. The survey of 2,000 adults was carried out to mark the launch of the hit US drama GRIMM, which starts tonight at 9:00 pm on Watch, and sees six series based on traditional fairytales. The research found a quarter of parents wouldn't consider reading a fairytale to their child until they had reached the age of five, as they cause too many awkward questions. And 52 percent of the parents said Cinderella didn't send a good message to their children as it portrays a young woman doing housework all day. Similarly, Goldilocks and the Three Bears was also a tale likely to be left on the book shelf as parents felt it condones stealing. Steve Hornsey, General Manager of Watch, said: "Bedtime stories are supposed to relax the children and send them off to sleep soundly. But as we see in GRIMM, fairytales can be dark and dramatic tales so it's understandable that parents worry about reading them to young children. As adults we can see the innocence in fairytales, but a five year old with an over active imagination could think they are true. Despite the dark nature of classic fairytales, as we see in GRIMM, good will defeat evil and there is always a moral to the story." Though half of parents said traditional tales are more likely to have a strong moral message than a lot of modern kids' books, two thirds of mums and dads said they were no longer appropriate to soothe youngsters before bed. On the contrary, they might give their children nightmares. Which of the traditional fairytales tells one can get away with stealing? A. Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. B. Little Red Riding Hood. C. Goldilocks and the Three Bears. D. Hansel and Gretel. Answer: C. Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Robert was born in a small town in England. His father has a farm and can supply him enough money to finish university where he's studying law. The young man studies hard and hopes to be a famous lawyer. Last Monday their term was over. Robert said to his father on the telephone that he was going to travel in a small country during his summer holiday. His father agreed to his plan and posted some money to him. So he started four days ago. Their plane landed at the only airport of the country safely. He took a taxi and got to a hotel in the centre of the capital. He felt hungry and tired. So he had a dinner and then a good sleep. This morning he was all right and was going to visit some places of interest. He met an English visitor while he was having breakfast and the man told him to be careful of thieves. Robert thanked the man and left. But he thought he was smart and strong and he decided to have a try. He brought out a piece of paper and wrote on it, "A pig has stolen my wallet !"Then he put the note into his empty wallet. After that he put the wallet into a pocket and set off. He did all carefully and hoped to find out who would steal it. "Everything went well, "Robert thought to himself after he had returned to the hotel. He brought out his wallet and put his money into it again. He had a look at the note. To his surprise, it was rewritten. It said, "Your uncle has touched your wallet!" Robert went to the small country to _ . [ ] A. make fun of the thieves B. catch some thieves C. visit the places of interest D. have a nice meal and a good sleep there Answer: C. visit the places of interest
An out-of-body experience? It's just your brain playing tricks on you. Some report feeling as if they are floating above their own bodies, while others find themselves drawn towards a blinding light. But out-of-body experiences are nothing more than a trick of the mind, scientists claim. They say that common spooky scenarios, such as floating above a hospital bed or walking towards the light at the end of a tunnel, can be explained by the brain trying to make sense of the process of death. Scientists from the universities of Edinburgh and Cambridge reviewed studies into changes in the brain that cause certain strong feelings associated with near-death experiences. Researcher Caroline Watt said one common vision -- that of people seeing a bright light which seems to be drawing them into the afterlife -- is probably produced by the death of the cells we use to process the light picked up by our eyes and turn it into pictures. "It is simply your brain trying to make sense of the unusual experiences you are having," Dr Watt said. Feelings of being out of the body can also be explained by the brain's behavior, the journal Trends in Cognitive Science reports. "If you put on a virtual reality headset showing an image of yourself three feet in front, you can trick your brain into thinking that is you over there, and get the sense you are outside your body," Dr Watt added. The scientific evidence suggests that all aspects of the near-death experience have a biological basis. In another example, the hormone noradrenalin, which is released when we suffer from stress and injuries, could be behind the feelings of love and peace that many experience when they seem to be approaching death. However, other scientists say we should not be so quick to dismiss (stop considering) people's accounts (descriptions). Sam Parnia, of the University of Southampton, stressed that being able to trace something back to the brain does not mean it is not real. Dr Parnia, who is close to completing a three-year study of hospital patients' recollections of their near-death experiences, said, "Every experience, whether near-death or otherwise -- such as depression, happiness and love -- is mediated by the brain." According to the passage, which of the following statements is true? Sam Parnia hasn't finished the study of people's near-death experiences. One day, when old Jacob and little Jacoble were walking home, the sun began to go down. Old Jacob was thinking of his house and little Jacoble didn't know what to think. Then he thought of a wonderful idea, and he cried, "Jacob! Do you know what I saw yesterday? I saw a green rabbit. It was flying in the air and it was so big, even bigger than an elephant!" "You saw that with your own eyes?" asked old Jacob. "Of course I did," said Jacoble proudly. "It's a good thing that you really saw that big, flying, green rabbit," said old Jacob, "because that old bridge we are going to walk over is a very strange one. As soon as anyone who hasn't told the truth comes on it, the bridge breaks in two." They continued walking. "Jacob," said Jacoble a little later, "you know that big, green, flying rabbit I saw yesterday ... Well, it wasn't really flying, and ... it wasn't quite as big as an elephant ... but it was very big, about the size of a horse!" "Big as a horse?" asked Jacob as they got closer to the bridge and little Jacoble began not to feel so well. "Jacob," said Jacoble. "That big, green rabbit I saw yesterday, well, I had something in my eye and so I couldn't see that well. It wasn't a very big rabbit but it was green. Yes, that's what it was -- all green!" Old Jacob didn't say a word. He just walked over the bridge. But Jacoble didn't go after him because he was afraid and he knew why he was afraid. He stood at the bridge and said, "Oh, Jacob! You know that rabbit I saw yesterday. It wasn't green. No. It was just a little, brown rabbit." Then he was not afraid of anything any more and he ran happily over the bridge. Jacob considered Jacoble's story _ . unbelievable * Membership Hostelling International (HI) is a membership organization, and HI membership gives you much more than a comfy bed! It puts you at the heart of a huge international family, where you can share experiences, travel and friendship with people of all nations. * Membership Savings Program Your National Association or Hostelling International Membership card not only opens the door to the world's largest network of safe, clean and welcoming hostels, but in many HI hostels, being a member now gives you at least a 10 percent saving on the cost of your accommodation - just one of the great reasons to become a member! In some countries, membership is compulsory if you wish to stay in HI hostels listed on this site. To find out what is applicable in the country you wish to visit, please check the Membership Savings Program. Apart from cheaper accommodation in many of our 4,000 hostels worldwide, membership also gives you access to thousands of travel-related savings at home and abroad. Please check locally with your HI hostel on arrival for details of these great benefits which can include: reduced-price admission to attractions and museums, discounts on meals, transportation and lots more. Whatever your budget, membership helps you to explore and "Say HI to the world", backpack across Europe, discover Down Under, dance to Latin rhythms, chill out on an idyllic Asian beach or simply "Discover the real hostel experience" in one of our unique hostels worldwide. * How to become a member Purchase a membership from your nearest HI Youth Hostel Association office or membership selling outlet before you start your journey. Purchase an international membership when you arrive at an HI hostel outside your country of residence. To check the price and availability of membership on arrival, please contact the hostel directly. Alternatively, you can purchase a 12-month e-Membership during the booking process with your hostel stay. The e-Membership entitles you to stay in any HI hostel and receive at least 10 percent discount on accommodation charges compared to a non-member. Please note: when you select your country from the list below you will be given full contact details plus a link to the national HI Youth Hostel Association website. Please select the Membership section on the site. Which of the following is NOT promised by Hostelling International? Opportunities to meet local people. Goats are amazing animals. They can survive just about anywhere. Altogether there are nine species of goats in the world. Goats have more uses than you could ever imagine. Goat's meat can be eaten and goat's milk is becoming popular as a healthy choice to drink milk. Goat's milk is easier to take in than cow's milk and it is called universal milk as it can be used to bottle-feed most animals. In nutrition, it is also good. Goat's skins are still used today to make gloves and other items of clothing. The initial reasons for domesticating goats were to get goat's hair, meat and milk. Goat's skins were used up until the Middle Ages for making bottles to hold water and wine for people who were traveling or camping. Just like sheep, goats are considered to be the first domesticated animal. The domestication process began over 10,000 years ago in a North Iranian town. A lot of people keep goats as pets nowadays. Goats are easily trained and you can teach them to pull carts and walk on ropes. Goats are also known for escaping their pens . If you have unsecured fencing, your goats will be interested in it and test it out and soon you will know where the openings are. Goats are also widely known for their ability to climb trees, although the tree generally has to be at a slight angle . If goats are raised correctly and trained from an early age, they never develop any bad habits. Goats will attack each other. However, if they're corrected from an early age they never attack humans or other animals. Which of the following words can best describe goats? Curious and clever. Organic food, once considered something that only health fanatics desired, is now a regular feature at most supermarkets. And that has created a bit of a dilemma. On the one hand, you have a conventionally grown apple. On the other, you have one that's organic. Both apples are firm, shiny and red. Both provide vitamins and fiber, and both are free of fat, sodium and cholesterol. Conventionally grown food generally costs less, but is organic food a better choice? The advantages claimed for such foods over conventionally grown and sold food products are now being debated on a large scale. Supporters of organic foods -- a term whose meaning varies greatly --are frequently telling the world that such products are safer and more nutritious than others. The growing interest of consumers in the safety and nutritional quality of daily foods is a welcome development. However, much of this interest has been aroused by sweeping claims that the conventional food supply is unsafe or inadequate in meeting nutritional needs. Almost daily, the public is surrounded by claims for "no-aging" diets, new vitamins and other wonder foods. There are numerous unsubstantiated reports that natural vitamins are superior to man-made ones, that fertilized eggs are nutritionally superior to unfertilized eggs, that untreated grains are better than those treated with insect spray and the like. Although most of these claims are not supported by scientific evidence, large amounts of written material about the benefits of organic foods makes it difficult for people to separate fact from fiction. As a result, claims that eating a diet consisting of organically grown foods prevents or cures disease or provides other benefits to health have become widely advertised and form the basis for people's opinion. One thing that most organically grown food products seem to have in common is that they cost more than conventionally grown foods. But in many cases consumers are misled if they believe organic foods can maintain health and provide better nutritional quality than conventionally grown foods. So there is real cause for concern if consumers, particularly those with limited incomes, distrust the conventional food supply and buy only expensive organic foods instead. What is the author's attitude towards the claims of organic foods? Doubtful.
Annealing is a way of making metal softer by heating it and then letting it cool very slowly. If metal is heated and then cooled very quickly , for example by dipping it in water , it will be very hard but also very brittle ---that is , It will break easily. Metal that has been annealed is soft but does not break as easily . It is possible to make metal as hard or as soft as is wished, by annealing it. The metal is heated, and allowed to cool slowly , for a certain length of time. The longer the heated metal takes to cool slowly , the softer it becomes . Annealing can also be used on other materials, such as glass. Annealing can make metal _ . Answer: Sam and two of his friends were members of a teenage street gang. While they were returning from a dance late one evening, their car collided with a car driven by an elderly woman. After an argument, Sam attacked the elderly woman with his fists and beat her to death. Sam's two friends watched, and when they saw the woman fall to the ground they urged Sam to flee. Sam was eventually apprehended and tried for manslaughter, but the jury could not decide on a verdict. If Sam's companions are subsequently tried as accomplices to manslaughter, they should be Answer: A research found that people shown silent videos of piano competitions could pick out the winners more often than those who could also hear the music. It underlines the importance of our sense of vision, say scientists. Their study concludes that the best predictor of a winner's musical performance was the visible passion they displayed, followed closely by their uniqueness and creativity. Chia-Jung Tsay, from University College London, UK, is the study's author and herself a concert pianist. She was interested in how music was judged and found that even professional musicians were unaware of how much they were using visual information over sound. "For the last two decades, I've taken part in various competitions. Through this experience, I found that depending on what type of evaluations were used, the results might vary widely. This led me to wonder about how much visual information really affects these important decisions," she explained. More than 1,000 participants in the study were given samples of either audio, silent video or video with sound, and asked to rate the top three finalists from 10 international classical music competitions. The actual competition winners were only correctly identified by those who were randomly assigned the silent videos. Dr Tasy said the findings were quite surprising, especially because both trained musicians and those without training had stated that sound was most important for their evaluation. "Regardless of levels of expertise, we still seem to be led primarily by visual information, even in this field of music," she said. "Classical music training is often focused on improving the quality of the sound, but this research is about getting to the bottom of what is really being evaluated at the highest levels of competitive performance. She added, "We must be more mindful of our inclination to depend on visual information at the expense of the content that we actually value as more relevant to our decisions." The participates in the study were asked to _ . Answer: Students who work during term time to support themselves at university are far more likely to graduate with a poor degree, according to a government-funded study published yesterday. Undergraduates with part-time jobs are a third less likely to get a first or upper second-class degree than other students, harming their career chances. Students from the poorest backgrounds were most likely to take jobs during term because they could not depend on help from their parents. The report, commissioned by the Department for Education and Skills, also found a clear relation between fear of debt and employment in non-graduate jobs. Students from poorer backgrounds are known to be more unwilling to be in debt than those from middle class families. The study of 8,600 people who graduated in 1999 was made by Peter Elias, of Warwick University, and Kate Purcell, from Bristol Business School. They found that twice as many first-class degrees were awarded to students who did not work during term compared with those who did. Between 35 and 38 percent who worked during term achieved a lower second, compared with about 28 percent of those who did not. Professor Elias said that the increase in school fees next year to PS3,000 would have to be monitored carefully for its effect on poorer students. "Higher education is going to be a harder struggle for those who do not come with all the advantages," he said. He suggested that universities could get in touch with employers to provide work experience on good salaries to choose students during holidays, so that they did not have to work during term. Students who took term-jobs at university _ . Answer: A report on a new software that enables eyes to do the typing appears in Wednesday's edition of the journal Nature. Replacing a keyboard or mouse, eye-scanning-cameras mounted on computers have become necessary tools for people without limbs or those affected with paralysis. The camera tracks the movement of the eye, allowing users to "type" on a virtual keyboard as they look at the screen. And now, researchers from the Cavendish Laboratory at prefix = st1 /CambridgeUniversitysay they have developed software that replaces the standard QWERTY keyboard layout with one that is nearly twice as efficient, more accurate and easier on the eyes. Called Dasher, the prototype program looks into the natural gaze of the eye and makes predictable words and phrases simpler to write. Any off-the-shelf camera capable of scanning eye movement can be used with Dasher, though the person must sit fairly still during the interaction. The letters of the alphabet appear in a single column on the right of the screen, with an underline symbol to represent a space. Each letter is framed by a color1ed box. As the user looks at a particular letter on the right side of the screen and drags it to the left with their eye, another sub-alphabet column begins to emerge inside the box on the right-hand side, along with more letters framed in color1ed boxes. Dasher is designed to anticipate which letter will be needed, so although the successive sub-alphabet columns are initially very small, the letters or combination of letters that appear are most likely to be used next in that sequence. For example, if a person starts with the letter "h", the language models in Dasher will bring up "a" "e" "i" "o" and "u" in the sub-alphabet box, along with a few other possible combinations like "ello" to form the word "hello". Each box has a complete alphabet within it, though the first letters to appear have the highest probability of usage. The letters are then placed together to form a sentence on the left side of the screen. Researchers say people will be able to write up to 25 words per minute with Dasher compared to on-screen keyboards, which they say average about 15 words per minute. With a bit of practice, MacKay said, Dasher offers an easier and more satisfying way for disabled people to communicate, providing them with better tools to write e-mail or create word processor files. Mackay said Dasher could work in most languages. With the new software Dasher, people can type with their eyes through _ . Answer:
Question: People who speak or perform before the public sometimes may suffer from "Stage Fright. " Stage fright makes a person nervous. In the worst case it can make one's mind go back and forget what one ought to say, or to act. Actors, musicians, dancers, lawyers, even radio show hosts have suffered from stage fright at one time or another. Diana Nichols is an expert in helping people free from stage fright at a medical centre in New York City. She helps actors learn to control themselves. Miss Nichols says some people have always been afraid to perform before the audience. Others, she says, develop stage fright after a fearful experience. She offers them ways to control the fear. One way is to smile before going onto the stage. Taking two deep breaths also helps. Deep breathing helps you get control of your body. Miss Nichols persuades her patients to tell themselves that their speech or performance does not have to the perfect. It's all right to make a mistake. She tells them they should not be too cautious while they are performing. It is important that they should continue to perform while she is helping them. After each performance, they discuss what happened and find out what advice helped and what did not. As they perform more and more, they will fear less and less as much as 50%. Miss Nichols says the aim is only to reduce stage fright, not to _ it completely. This is because a little stage fright makes a person more cautious, and improves the performance. One who is suffering stage fright may _ . A. forget one's part before the audience B. smile all the time on the stage C. make a speech faster than ever D. be cautious to improve his performance Answer: A. forget one's part before the audience Question: In the 1600s, Galileo Galilei studied the moons of Jupiter. What did Galileo do to make better observations? A. invented the microscope B. wrote a book about the planets C. created a model of the solar system D. made improvements to the telescope Answer: D. made improvements to the telescope Question: A reader from Brazil recently wrote to us asking for some advice. He's planning a trip to the United States, and wanted to know about the best places to travel in America. Today, we are going to give you some information which may help you when choosing your destination. Each of the 50 states in America has interesting things to offer visitors, but some are more popular than others. Washington, D.C. is famous for its historical places, like the White House and the Lincoln Memorial. Visitors to Los Angeles, California can see the Hollywood Walk of Fame or shop the stores on Rodeo Drive where they may see a star or two. The Grand Canyon in Arizona appeals to hikers, climbers and nature lovers, as does Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. TripAdvisor is a website where people can write reviews about their travel experiences. Every year, TripAdvisor makes a list of the top 25 cities to visit in the United States. The results are based on the opinions of visitors to the website. Brooke Ferencsik of TripAdvisor said the top picks on the list were not surprising. And it's no secret why New York City was named the number one destination. New York City is sometimes called "the city that never sleeps" because it can be very busy. It is an exciting place for many people because there is so much to do. But the city might be too busy for travelers looking for rest and calm. They might want something more like Myrtle Beach, in the state of South Carolina, which made it to number 21 on Trip Advisor's list. "A lot of people come to Myrtle Beach for great weather, it's a wonderful family vacation spot, the beaches - got the wonderful Atlantic beaches there - there's a lot of family-friendly parks and water parks." Many people take time off from their jobs in the summer to travel. Because there are many tourists visiting other places, June until August is known as "high season." Traveling during the high season can be crowded. Hotels, restaurants, and transportation might also be very expensive. If you want to save money on a trip, it is a good idea to plan to leave before or after the summer months. These times are known as "shoulder seasons" for travel. "If you're looking for value, try and think about traveling through the shoulder season if it's possible - the shoulder season being the fall or the spring. The weather is still very good in some of these destinations, and you can get better prices." America's major cities are still the most popular destinations for visitors. Ferencsik says this is because of the good quality of services they provide tourists. "They do a great job of giving travelers what they want when they're on vacation. I think they kind of cater to every type of traveler need. So whether you're traveling alone, you're traveling for business, you're traveling with your family - whatever it is, those destinations are really tuned in to delivering amazing experiences and just a lot of different opportunities when you're there." This passage may probably be taken from _ . A. a travel journal B. a magazine C. News Weekly D. a website Answer: B. a magazine Question: Lulu is a little dog. She likes to play with her toys. She really likes her little lamb. She likes when Lauren throws her lamb. Lulu likes to chases the lamb. Lulu doesn't like to bring the lamb back to Lauren. Lauren gets mad. Lulu likes to bark. She barks at the children outside. She barks when the mailman comes to the door. Lulu barks at everything. Lulu barks all the time. Daddy gets mad. Lulu likes to eat. She likes her dog food. Her dog food has a picture of dog that looks like her on the bag. Lulu likes her food, but she likes the cat's food better. The cat gets mad. Lulu likes to drink water. Her favorite water bowl is in her cage. Lulu likes that water bowl because it's the right height. Lulu likes her water bowl, but she likes Heather's glass of water better. Heather gets mad. Lulu likes her bed. She goes there to rest. She likes to sleep on the blanket there. Her favorite blanket is from Grandma. Lulu likes Grandma's blanket, but she likes Alan's better. Alan gets mad. Lulu curls up on the blanket on the couch. Lauren gives Lulu her lamb to sleep with. Daddy pets Lulu. The cat licks Lulu. Heather thinks Lulu looks sweet. Alan lets Lulu use his blanket. No one gets mad at Lulu. Where is Lulu's favorite water bowl? A. her favorite water bowl is the fish bowl B. her favorite water bowl is on the kitchen floor C. her favorite water bowl is in her cage D. her favorite water bowl is the cat's water bowl Answer: C. her favorite water bowl is in her cage Question: Make a five-minute film and win! Do you love the winter holidays but hate being bored? Then why don't you enter the Film Street Summer Shorts Competition by making a short film this winter with your family and friends? What you have to do To enter the competition, you have to make a short film that is around 5 minutes long (It can be shorter but not longer!) on a digital camera, or mobile phone. Awards The best short film entered into our competition will be shown in Film Street's Cinema and you'll win a Cineworld Cinema pass for yourself and three more for other members of your filmmaking crew . If you have a Cineworld Cinema pass, you can watch as many films as you like for a year, for free, at any Cineworld Cinema. Rules We can't show films that tell others about either your or any other kids' names or addresses. We can't show films that hurt, harm or insult other people. We can't show films that have bad languages. Copyright Checklist Getting permission to use someone else's work in your film can be expensive, so check your film to make sure that: Your film is _ and you haven't copied anyone else's. There are no scenes of branding on shop signs, books, magazines or CDs. There are no scenes of anyone else's artwork. Address and Date Post your finished film on tape, CD or DVD by Monday, October 1st, 2011 to: Film Street Summer Short Competition First Light Movies Unit 6, Third Floor, The Bond 180-182 Fazeley Street Birmingham So what's stopping you? Start making your Film Street Summer Short now! Who is the passage mainly written for? A. Students B. Parents C. Teachers D. Actors Answer: A. Students
Question: Hi, I'm Sam from New York. I have a brother called Tim. We are twins. We are both eleven this year. I am ten minutes older than him. In some ways, we look the same and in some ways, we look different. However, he is taller than me. I am shy, but he is outgoing. We both like playing sports and we often play football together after class. We are in the same school but we are not in the same class. I am in Class One and he is in Class Three. Last Monday, Tim was ill and couldn't go to school. The next day, when I was in the hallway, his English teacher, Miss White saw me and asked, "Tim, are you feeling better now?" Haha...she and she couldn't tell Tim from me. Which of the following is TRUE? A. Tim is ten minutes older than Sam. B. Tim is more outgoing than Sam. C. Sam and Tim are in the same class. D. Sam is taller than Tim. Answer: B. Tim is more outgoing than Sam. Question: Q: My problem is computer gaming. I do it day and night, averaging four hours of sleep. I can't control of this, and I don't know where to go for help. Do you? --Player A: Dear Player, You have an addiction. For some people playing video games releases dopamine, a powerful brain chemical that makes you feel good. You'd toss your cigarettes if you were ready to quit, right? To kick the habit, get help from a health professional. And don't look for help on line; that would be like an alcoholic going to the bar for advice. Q: My brother's wife just had triplets . This is such a joy! Yet every time I share the news with co-workers, they ask me if she was on fertility pills. I think this is rude--or has society just become so talk-show numbed that you can ask anyone anything? --No Show Host A: Dear Host, Yes. Our society has become increasingly disrespectful of privacy. But don't blame it all on the talk-shows. Continue to celebrate and greet impolite questions with stony silence. Their fertility history is nobody's business but their own. Q: I work at an amusement park, and my manager steals supplies. She has a catering business on the side, and we've seen her load up her van at the back gates. The big bosses think she is the best thing since buttered bread, and we're all afraid that if we say anything, we'll lose our jobs. What can we do? --Righteous A: Dear Righteous, Be sure you're right. You must have evidence about what and why things are going out the back gates. Once you know for certain, it's time to go to the bosses and report what you have seen. Q: My stepson's wife sometimes leaves their eight-year-old home alone for "a short run to the store." That may be an hour or so. I believe by law we should report it. What do you think? --The In-laws A: Dear Laws, I don't know what the child-protection laws in your state are, but I do know that children need care and attention. This child may be able and unafraid, but kids aren't always careful. It also sounds like there is stress in your family relationship. One thing you can do to help this situation is offer to baby-sit when Mom needs to step out. Which of the following statements is true? A. Dopamine is a powerful brain chemical good to our health. B. Looking for help on line is like getting help from a health professional. C. Player is a video game addict who smokes and sleeps few hours. D. Player is advised to stay clear of the screen. Answer: D. Player is advised to stay clear of the screen. Question: Look at the clothes line in the twins' bedroom. There are some clothes on it. You can see a green blouse, a yellow skirt and a pair of trousers. The trousers on the clothes line are black. They are not new but clean. Are they Lily's clothes? No, they are Lucy's. Lily's clothes are on a clothes tree near the window. Her trousers are brown. Her blouse is white and her skirt is blue. There is a new hat on the clothes tree, but it's not Lily's, it's Lucy's. Lucy's jacket s are on her bed. There are no clothes on Lily's bed. Where is Lucy's hat? A. On the clothes tree. B. On the clothes line. C. On Lily's bed. D. On her own bed. Answer: A. On the clothes tree. Question: One morning, a blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said, "I am blind. Please help me." There were only a few coins in the hat. A man was walking by. He took out a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote something on it. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by could see the new words. Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, "Are you the one who changed my sign this morning? May I know what you wrote?" The man said, "I only wrote the truth, I said what you said but in a different way." What he had written was, "Today is a beautiful day but I cannot see it." Of course both signs told people the boy was blind. But the first sign simply said the boy was a blind. The second sign told people they were so lucky that they were not blind. It reminded you to be thankful for what you have. When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1,000 reasons to smile. Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear. Keep the faith and drop the fear. The most beautiful thing is to see a person smiling. What is the main idea of the text? A. We should help those who are in trouble. B. We should value what we have in life. C. We should respect people with disabilities. D. We should use a wise way when helping others Answer: B. We should value what we have in life. Question: While reading a story on 20-somethings complaining about how the economy is ruining their life plans, I couldn't help but think the 20-somethings sound like a bunch of spoiled children who grow up expecting everything to be easy for them. As a 20-something myself, I certainly share their disappointment -my husband and I probably won't be able to buy a house until we're in our forties, and we two are burdened by student loans. But why should it be different? Being young people in America, shouldn't they take up all of the challenges and opportunities that this country offers? Consider some of these views shared in the story: Jennifer, 29, owner of a two-bedroom apartment with her husband, worries that she won't be able to have children for at least a decade because they can't afford to buy a house yet. I read that, and I thought what planet she is living on where you need to own a house in order to have kids? Has she ever visited a developing country, or even downtown areas in this one? Home ownership is a luxury, not a fertility requirement. A 26-year-old man in the story is disappointed that he can't afford to get a Ph. D. in literature. Well, that sounds a bit like expressing disappointment that no one will pay you to write poetry on the beach in Thailand for five years. Yes, it's sad that these young people feel so lost. But I think the problem is their extremely high expectations, not economic reality. Beth Kobliner, author of Get a Financial Life: Personal Finance in Your Twenties and Thirties, says that she thinks people's expectations grow up when their wealth appears to be increasing. Their parents probably see their home values rise along with their investments. "So we have people who have grown up in an environment where people have great expectations of what living well means," says Kobliner. This recession will certainly play a role in forcing those expectations into more realistic group. In the meantime, it seems much better for our mental health to focus on being grateful--for our one-bedroom apartments, for living in modern cities, or perhaps just for being able to eat three meals a day--than on longing for some kind of luxurious life. What is the best title for this passage? A. Young people afford to continue their education B. Young people can't afford to buy a house C. Young people's high expectations lead to despair D. The 20-somethings' high expectations Answer: C. Young people's high expectations lead to despair
Walking across the campus of Pittsburgh's prefix = st1 /CarnegieMellonUniversityone delightful spring day, I came upon a table filled with young people chatting and enjoying the fine weather. Several had identical blue T-shirts with "Trilogy @ CMU" written across them--Trilogy being an Austin, Texasbased software company with a reputation of recruiting our top students. I walked over to the table. "Are you guys here to recruit?" I asked. "No, ly not," they replied firmly. "We're not recruiters. We're just hanging out, playing a little frisbee with our friends." How interesting, I thought. They've come to campus on a workday, all the way from Austin, just to hang out with some new friends. As I later learned, they were gifted students who had inked the highest-paying deal in the history of their departments. I asked one young man why he was going to a smaller city in Taxas. The company is excellent, he told me. There are also terrific people and the work is challenging. Though he had several good job offers fromPittsburgh's high-tech firms and knew the city well, he said he felt the city lacked the life-styles options, cultural diversity, and tolerant attitude that would make it attractive to him. As he summed it up: "How would I fit in here?" What a change from my own college days, just a little more than 20 years ago, when students would put on their dressiest clothes and carefully hide any counterculture tendencies to prove that they could fit in with the company. Today, apparently, it's the company trying to fit in with the students. These young men and their lifestyles represent a lively new force in the enonomy and life ofAmerica. They are members of what I call the creative class: a fast-growing, highly educated, and well-paid part of the workforce on whose efforts corporate profits and economic growth increasingly depend. They do not consciously think of themselves as a class. Yet they share a common belief that values creativity, individuality, difference, and advantage. Which of he following best describes the author's attitude towards the young people? Answer: Approving. In the United States,boys and girls start school when they are five years old.In some states they must stay in school until they are sixteen.Most students are seventeen or eighteen years old when they graduate from secondary school.another name for high school.Most children go to public elementary and secondary schools .The parents of public pupils do not have to pay for their children's education because taxes support the public schools.If a child goes to a private school ,his parents have to pay for the child's education.Today about half of the high school students go on to colleges and universities .Some colleges and universities receive money support from the government .A student at a state university does not have to pay very much if his parents live in that state.Private schools are expensive,however.Almost half of the college students in the USA work while studying.If a student's family is not rich,he has to make money for part of his college expenses . Children who go to public school _ . Answer: don't have to pay Cat has bright future By day he is just a normal cat but when the lights go out, he glows in the dark. Scientists have genetically modified a cat as part of an experiment that could lead to treatments for diseases. Named Mr. Green Genes, he looks like a sixmonthold cat but, under ultraviolet light, his eyes, gums and tongue glow green. That is the result of a genetic experiment at the Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species in New Orleans, US. Mr. Green Genes is the first fluorescent cat in the US and probably the world, said Betsy Dresser, the center's director. The researchers made him so they could learn whether a gene could be introduced harmlessly into a cat's genetic sequence. If so, it would be the first step in a process that could lead to the development of ways to treat diseases via gene therapy. The gene, which was added to Mr. Green Genes'DNA, has no effect on his health, Ms Dresser said. Cats are ideal for this project because their genetic makeup is similar to that of humans, said Dr Martha Gomez, a scientist at the center. To show that the gene went where it was supposed to go, the researchers settled on one that would glow. The gene"is just a marker", said Leslie Lyons, an assistant professor at the University of California, Davis. Lyons is familiar with the center's work. "The glowing part is the fun part,"she said. Glowing creatures made international news earlier this month when the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to three scientists who had discovered the gene through their work with jellyfish . What can we conclude from the passage? Answer: Scientists have managed to introduce a gene into a cat's genetic sequence. While I was in my 4th month of pregnancy with my second child, we were preparing for a trip to Louisiana, where Marshall's family live, to celebrate Jane's 2nd birthday. Two days before we were to leave, we got the shocking news that I was going to lose the baby. Not knowing when this would happen, we decided to continue with our trip. Since Marshall's family lives on a 600-acre cattle farm, you often find that you have a lot of time to yourself to think when you are there. That is precisely what I did not want to do at this time. I told Marshall that I needed to get a good book to get lost in while I was there. I told him I heard the Harry Potter books were good, so he went out and got the first one for me. During that trip, I totally got lost in the book, which was of great help during a time when I needed a distraction to forget about the sadness. In the book, I noticed the name "Seamus". I vaguely remembered it was pronounced "Shamus" and I liked the sound of that. I mentioned it to Marshall and he liked it too. Toward the end of the trip, I had just 5 chapters left and I knew I was about to finish the first book, which I was pretty excited about. Soon after we put Jane down to bed, I had started labor , so I was unable to read. The labor lasted 5 and 1/2 hours, but Marshall stayed there with me, sitting beside me and reading aloud the last 5 chapters of Harry Potter. I can never fully explain how much that helped me through the experience. And ever since then, Marshall and I both have been fans of the Harry Potter books. We remember how they helped us get through that time of our lives. We were sad to have lost the baby, but the name Seamus started our journey toward adoption. And we gave this name to our adopted son. Though our Seamus doesn't have a drop of Irish blood in him, the name fits him perfectly. Which of the following is TRUE about the couple? Answer: They liked reading Harry Porter very much after the trip. Stars are often classified by their apparent brightness in the nighttime sky. Stars can also be classified in many other ways. Which of these is least useful in classifying stars? Answer: surface texture
The centenary of the birth of William Faulkner, one of the great modern novelists, was celebrated in September 1997. Faulkner wrote about the southern states of the United States of America where he grew up, and where his family had an important part to play in the history of that region. His work became a touchstone for insights into the troubled issues of southern American identity, race relations, and the family interrelationships of the old time southern gentry . Faulkner was born in New Albany, Mississippi on September 25, 1897. Despite his interest in writing, he left Oxford High School, Mississippi, without graduating. After World War I, he entered the University of Mississippi as a special student, a right to study which was granted to retired soldiers, although Faulkner had only finished training with the Air Force in Canada, and not entered combat . Faulkner began to write poems, a verse play, short stories and finished his first novel Sartoris in 1928. His fiction was centered for 14 of the 19 novels published during his lifetime in a fictional region called Yoknapatawpha County. The name is said to come from the Indian Chickasaw word meaning split land. In December 1950, Faulkner was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. When he accepted it in Stockholm, his speech emphasized that he wished to continue writing, but in a positive way that affirmed the power of humanity to prevail over adverse circumstances. As he said in his speech, he still felt that, despite the threat of nuclear war then hanging over the world, the central concern of the writer should be "the problems of the human heart in conflict with itself". He wanted the tensions and problems that he had cast the spotlight on in the southern states of America to be resolved by the life-affirming attitudes and action of his characters. Like playwright Tennessee Williams, Faulkner was a major voice who spoke for the troubled heart of the southern states of America. His achievement is all the more remarkable because, as a schoolboy, he was not only a frequent absentee but also reportedly failed to reach pass grades in English class. His collected short stories, novels, poems, and other writings form a legacy( ) of literature which casts profound illumination on the special culture of the South, a culture which developed from a history and social circumstances that were always unique. From the focus on a fictional county, and by remaining true to his view of a close-knit but real society that reflected the greater world around him, Faulkner in the end fashioned a legend of the Deep South that is one of the major achievements of the 20th century literature. What was William Faulkner's attitude toward the troubled issues of southern America? He advocated resolving them in positive attitudes and actions. "Few things help an individual more than to place responsibility upon him,and let him know that you trust him." These words are from the black American educator,Booker Washington. He was saying that,"If you want people to grow up,you have to stop treating them like children." In America,families are close but children are encouraged to be independent,to make their own decisions,even at a very early age. It's not unusual for a child of seven to be given an allowance every week. The child is encouraged to save some of the money but he or she can spend it on whatever they choose,for example,buying clothes,school supplies or CDs. Some teenagers even have their own credit cards! That's a big responsibility since even adults are tempted to overspend when they have credit cards. From an early age,American children are asked for their opinions and they are included in family decision making. At the dinner table,teenagers will be listened to on any topic,from politics to buying a new family car or where the family will go on vacation. In this way, teenagers are getting practice in becoming individuals:they are learning how to stand on their own two feet. Many Chinese young people are becoming almost as interested as American teens in searching for independence. They want to express those qualities that make them unique human beings. You can see this in the way they dress, the music they listen to and the friends they choose. "Super Girl" Li Yuchun caught the imagination of Chinese teenagers on the "Super Girl" television contest. She was not the traditional "nice,young Chinese girl". With her short,spiky hair and boy-like clothes, she was telling everyone that she was different. She had the courage to be her own person and to stand on her own two feet...and she won! There is an old saying,"Everyone should carefully observe which way his heart draws him and then choose that way with all his strength." If you do this, step by step, over a period of time, you may find that you have become the person you always wanted to be. A child of seven is given an allowance so that he can _ . learn to decide how to use money Which animals live part of their lives in water and part on land, and go through metamorphosis? amphibians My Family Is Very Poor A little boy comes to a new city. His name is Peter. Of course ,he lives with his mother and father. His family is very rich . They have a driver and a lot of servants . Peter is going to a new school. On the first day his parents say to him," peter,be modest at your new school. Don't say we are rich. "And Peter says," Yes,Dad,mom. " So Peter goes to school. He sees his new teacher. And he sits down with the other children. The teacher says. "Good morning,children. The first exercise today is a composition . The topic of the composition is 'My Family'."So every child writes a composition. This is Peter's composition: "My name is Peter. My family is very poor . Both my father and my mother are very poor. Our driver is very poor and all the servants are poor..." ,. Which of the following is right? Peter tells a lie in his composition. Mum gives little Jerry twenty yuan. Then little Jerry goes shopping. He gets on a bus and sits down next to an old woman. Then he sees the old woman's bag is open. There is twenty yuan in it. He quickly looks into his pocket. The money isn't there now! Little Jerry is sure that the old woman is a thief . He wants to take back the money from the old woman's bag. He carefully puts his hands into the old woman's bag, takes the money and says nothing. Then, the old woman shouts, "Where is my money? I can't find it. There is a thief on the bus." Little Jerry feels strange . Then he sees twenty yuan under his seat. Little Jerry is thinking a question now, "Am I a thief?" Little Jerry sees _ under his seat. his money
A long weekend is a great opportunity to do something a little different. Many people use a long weekend for a getaway, a short trip to leave the stress of their everyday lives behind and explore, learn, or relax. Hotel Romance Many hotels and resorts feature something special to start the getaway, such as champagnes , flowers, or a fruit basket in the room on arrival. Getaway packages usually include a room with something special, a heart shaped bed, for example. Additional benefits could be room service meals or other private dining, plus tickets or discounts for local attractions. Visit a Spa Spa getaways can take place at a location that focuses only on spa services or at a hotel that offers a spa as one of its features. Some spas emphasize treatments fit for their geographic area or a local attraction. A spa in a grape growing region might provide grape juice masks, or a hotel near a hot spring could offer mineral baths. Most spas offer a range of massage , health and beauty treatments, so a spa getaway can be relaxing with other benefits. Learn a Skill A long weekend may not be enough time to become an expert at something new, but it provides a way for people to begin their explorations. Some organizations offer intensive courses that last two or three days. People with special interests can get away from their routines while learning such things as how to make beer, speak a new language, or take better photos. Help Others Some organizations cooperate with businesses to have accommodations and activities for short-term volunteers. Most volunteer vacations involve ecology friendly or charity activities. A volunteer getaway is a way to relieve stress and help others at the stone time. Stay in a National Park For those who want to relax in a rural environment, a national park fits the bill. Most national parks provide camping areas for tents and trailers. Several have cabins within the parks available to rent. A getaway to a national park provides privacy, stress relief, and the time to get to know some important natural resources. It can be learned from the text that _ . A. spas are offered in the tourist attractions all over the country B. intensive courses of some organizations help people get away from home C. helping others at weekend makes people feel more stressful D. people may get close to nature in a national park Answer: D DENGZHOU: Five children seriously injured Tuesday in a kindergarten bus accident in Dengzhou City, in central China's Henan Province, have died after emergency hospital treatment failed, hospital sources said Wednesday. The NO. 1 People's Hospital and No. 3 People's Hospital in Dengzhou admitted eight injured children after the accident, which took place at 6:40 a. m. Tuesday. According to initial investigation , 11 children aged between two and five were on the bus owned by a village kindergarten in Gengzhuang Village of Dengzhou. It was taking children from neighboring villages to the kindergarten when it suddenly lost control and plunged into a river by the roadside. Three of the children on the bus were not injured. The hospitals said the three remaining injured were in stable condition and they would be out of hospital. The driver of the bus has been put into custody by the police. What's the title of the passage? A. Five children died in a kindergarten bus accident. B. A bus accident in Deng zhou. C. All primary school and kindergarten vehicles in Dengzhou. D. The driver of the bus has been put into custody by the police. Answer: A Life on earth depends on water, and there is no substitute for it. The current assumption is that our basic needs for water--whether for drinking, agriculture, industry or the raising of fish--will always have to be met. Given this premise , there are two basic routes we can go; more equal access to water or better engineering solutions. Look at the engineering solutions first. A lot of my research concentrates on what happens to wetlands when you build dams in river basins, particularly in Africa. The ecology of such areas is almost entirely driven by the seasonal changes of the river--the pulse of the water. And the fact is that if you build a dam, you generally spoil the downstream ecology. In the past, such problems have been hidden by a lack of information. But in the near future, governments will have no excuses for their ignorance. The engineers' ability to control water flows has created new kinds of unpredictability, too. Dams in Africa have meant fewer fish, less grazing and less floodplain agriculture, none of which were expected. And there average economic life is assumed to be thirty years. Dams don't exist forever, but what will replace them is not clear. The challenge for the future is to find new means of controlling water. Although GM technology will allow us to breed better dry-land crops, there is no market for companies to develop crops suitable for the micro-climates of the Sahel and elsewhere in Africa. Who is going to pay for research on locally appropriate crops in the Third World? The author suggests that governments will have no excuse for their careless ignorance in the future because _ . A. The ecological destruction will be known to the public by researchers B. The ecological destruction will no longer be a problem in the future C. The future is an information age D. Governments will face greater challenge in the future Answer: C Will it matter if you don't take your breakfast? A short time ago, a test was given in the United States. People of different ages, from 12 to 83, were asked to have a test. During the test, these people were given all kinds of breakfasts, and sometimes they got no breakfast at all. Scientists wanted to see how well their bodies worked when they had eaten different kinds of breakfasts. The results show that if a person eats a right breakfast, he or she will work better than if he or she has no breakfast. If a student has fruit, egg, bread and milk before going to school, he will learn more quickly and listen more carefully. The result is opposite to what some people think. Having no breakfast will not help you lose weight. This is because people become so hungry at noon that they eat too much for lunch. They will gain weight instead of losing it. You will lose more weight if you your other meals. The results show that _ . A. breakfast has great effect on work and studies B. breakfast has little to do with a person's work C. a person will work better if he only has fruit and milk D. girl students should have little for breakfast Answer: A There are four seasons in China.March, April and May make the spring.June, July and August make the summer season.September, October and November make the autumn season.The rest of months make the winter season. The Australia seasons are the opposite of ours.When it's spring in China, it is autumn in Australia. Australia is in the south of the earth.June, July and August are the winter months.The summer is in December, January and February.It's very hot there, too. Near the North Pole there are two seasons.The winter nights are long.For more than two months you can't see the sun, even at noon.The summer days are long.For more that two months, the sun never sets , and there's no night. Near the North Pole, there's no night in summer for more than _ months. A. one B. two C. three D. four Answer: B
A letter of reply is sometimes a most treasured thing. Here is a story that tells about this common and natural human feeling. The busiest woman in Labrador during one bitter cold Christmas not very long ago, was an Australian nurse named Kate Austen. But Nurse Austen was not too busy to write with a long, friendly letter for every gift of food or clothing received for poor villagers in the north of Australian. Among the gifts was a box of knittings for children, knitted and sent by a woman in Toronto. Nurse Austen, was busy, and not feeling too well that winter. She could have written just ordinary routine notes of acknowledgement. But that was not her way. She sat down and wrote the woman in Toronto a real letter telling all about the village, and the names of the children who were wearing the knitted gloves and caps, and what they said when they got them, and how they looked when they wore them. She wanted the woman who had knitted and sent all those lovely knittings "to see how much happiness and warmth she had created." Not long after, she received the following answer from Canada. Dear Miss Austen, Your letter made me happy. I did not expect such a full return, I am eighty years old, and I am blind. There is little I can do expect knit, and that is why I knit so many caps and sweaters scarves. For sixty years I have been making up missionary packages of such clothing or food or medicine or book as I could collect. But never before in all that time have I had a personal letter picturing the village and telling me who is wearing the clothing and what they said. I did not suppose that ever in my lifetime I should receive a letter like that. My God bless you. Sincerely yours, Laura N. Russell ,. What do you think of the letter from Nurse Austen? Answer: Prayer for My Mother Dear God, Now that I am no longer young, I have friends whose mothers have passed away.I have heard these sons and daughters say they never fully appreciated their mothers until it was too late to tell them. I am blessed with the dear mother who is still alive.I appreciate her more each day. My mother does not change, but I do.As I grow older and wiser, I realize what an extraordinary person she is.How sad that I am unable to speak these words in her presence, but they flow easily from my pen. How does a daughter begin to thank her mother for life itself? For the love, patience and just plain hard work that go into raising a child? For running after a toddler , for understanding a moody teenager, for tolerating a college student who knows everything? For waiting for the day when a daughter realizes what her mother really is? How does a grown woman thank for a mother for continuing to be a mother? For being ready with advice when asked or remaining silent when it is most appreciated? For not saying:"! told you so", when she could have voiced these words dozens of times? For being essentially herself-loving, thoughtful, patient, and forgiving? I don't know how, dear God, except to bless her as richly as she deserves and to help me live up to the example she has set.I pray that I will look as good in the eyes of my children as my mother looks in mine A daughter The author's mother has all the following fine qualities except _ . Answer: I was in the park with my elder sister, Cathy, on Friday. My sister left her jacket on a chair while we talked to some friends. When we went back to the chair, a girl in a red T-shirt was sitting there. She had some money in her hand. When she saw us, she stood up and walked away. I asked my sister, "Did you have any money in your jacket?" She said, "Yes, Anna, I did." I said, "Look in your jacket quickly." Cathy looked in her jacket, but her money was not there. "That girl stole it!" I said, and we both ran after her. We caught her quickly. My sister was very angry and she said, "Give me the money." The girl gave the money to Cathy and ran away. We both ran after her, but we lost her. Then we went home. But before we could tell our parents, my mother said to Cathy, "You left your money at home. It's on the table in the sitting room. You must be more careful with money." So the girl in the red T-shirt was not a thief! She probably thought we were thieves! We felt terrible. Please telephone us if you know this girl! We are very sorry for our mistake. We would like to say sorry to her and give the money back to her. Our number is 512667. My name is Anna. The girl gave the money to Cathy because _ . Answer: William Butler Yeats, a most famous Irish writer, was born in Dublin on June 13, 1865. His childhood lacked the harmony that was typical of a happy family. Later, Yeats shocked his family by saying that he remembered "little of childhood but its pain". In fact, he inherited excellent taste in art from his family--both his father and his brother were painters. But he finally settled on literature, particularly drama and poetry. Yeats had strong faith in the coming of new artistic movements. He set himself the fresh task in founding an Irish national theatre in the late 1890s. His early theatrical experiments, however, were not received favorably at beginning. He didn't lose heart, and finally enjoyed success in his poetical drama. Compared with his dramatic works, Yeats's poems attract much admiring notice. The subject matter includes love, nature, history, time and aging. Though Yeats generally relied on very traditional forms, he brought modern sensibility to them. As his literary life progressed, his poetry grew finer and richer, which led him to worldwide recognition. He had not enjoyed a major public life since winning the Nobel Price in 1923. Yet, he continued writing almost to the end of his life. Had Yeats stopped writing at age 40, he would probably now be valued as a minor poet, for there is no other example in literary history of a poet who produces his greatest works between the ages of 50 and 75. After Yeats' death in 1939, W. H. Auden wrote, among others, the following lines: Earth, receive an honored guest: William Yeats is laid to rest. Let the Irish vessel lie Emptied of its poetry. Which of the following can describe Yeats's family? Answer: My 13-year-old daughter Lisa remembers birthdays, makes people cards when they are sick, and sends encouraging notes written in colored pens in her neat, artistic hand. One day I got a call from her principal, "I called to tell you that in 20 years of teaching I have seen nothing like what Lisa did today", he said I held my breath again as I thought, my Lisa? My sweet daughter? She must be the wrong kid. What could she have done? My silence made him go on. "I've never seen a student do anything so nice for anyone who needed it more." "What did she do?" I asked. He explained to me about the cupcakes . When Lisa came home from school that afternoon, I told her the principal from her school had phoned me. "Yeah", she answered, "I got called out of math class to go to his office. Everyone thought I was in trouble, but he just wanted to know what was going on at lunch." Lisa and Ashley had sat with Jordan, a boy who is in special classes. They talked about birthdays, and Lisa asked Jordan when his birthday was. He told her it was coming up but that he lives in a group home and they don't celebrate birthdays there. "I remembered his birthday was today, so I made the cupcakes yesterday," Lisa explained. "Ashley bought a two-liter bottle of soda and some birthday cups, plates, and napkins left over from her little brother's party, and we got some other kids together at lunch today to sing 'Happy Birthday' to Jordan." "The principal wanted to know why they were having a birthday party for Jordan at school. When they told him, he just shook his head, took off his glasses, and rubbed his eyes," Lisa told me. "Finally, he said he was going to tell my parents that I wasn't in trouble, he was proud of what I did, and I could go back to math class." How different my daughter was from me. Better, in fact! I wouldn't have ever known how to help out disadvantaged kids like that. But my wise daughter knew how-- all it took was cupcakes and adventurous , independent , kind spirit. The writer wrote this article to _ . Answer:
What looks like an angry old man and lives at the bottom of the ocean? It's the world's ugliest animal---the blobfish . Its strange skin is shaped by its habitat. It lives 800 meters below the ocean's surface, a depth where very few other creatures can survive. Most fishes have a swim bladder , which is filled with gas and helps them stay afloat. At the depth that the blobfish live, water pressure is 80 times higher than that at higher sea levels and any swim bladder wouldn't be able to serve its purpose. The blobfish don't have a swim bladder because their skin works the same way. It helps them stay afloat without having to use any energy. The blobfish have a pretty relaxed attitude towards eating. All they do is stay and wait for crabs or lobsters to come by. Since the blobfish like to eat crabs and lobsters, they often get caught in nets that are used to catch lobsters or crabs and end up dying or being killed. They are not suitable for eating so they are useless for fishermen. There's a purpose behind the blobfish's new title; it has become the new mascot for the Ugly Animal Preservation Society, an organization whose purpose is to preserve endangered ugly animals. "We've needed an ugly face for endangered ugly animals for a long time and I've been amazed by the public reaction," said the Society's Simon Watt. "For too long cute animals have taken the limelight but now the blobfish will be a voice for those who always get forgotten."They hope this new face will help the world know that we need to help preserve the populations of ugly animals too. The biggest difference between the blobfish and most other fishes is that the blobfish _ . Answer: don't have a swim bladder Family life is being disrupted because parents and children are overwhelmed by the huge volumes of emails and social messaging updates they are handling each day, according to a new study.As a result one in three of us are now desperate to cut down our use of Twitter and Face book as well as emails. Surprisingly the study, by Cambridge University, found children as well as adults preferred to communicate face to face.More than half of all families said a "technology-free" time is important and a third of parents said technology had disrupted family life.The findings led family groups to warn that if parents end up spending more time checking emails and social networks than with their children, it could have a detrimental effect on the home. Amongst children aged 10 to 18, who have grown up with new technology, 38% admitted feeling overwhelmed by the volume of messages.Similar numbers of adults felt the same way, with 34 per cent of 25 to 34 year olds agreeing. Justine Roberts, founder of parenting website Mums net, warned: "Social media is something we have to keep a watch on because it can eat into your life." "We encourage our members to switch off because otherwise you can't give your kids and husband the time they need." She added: "Websites like Face book and Twitter can be enjoyable and addictive but, like with everything, it needs to be taken in moderation." The survey also discovered that 43 percent of children and 33 percent of adults are taking steps to reduce their reliance on messaging, text and networking.But only one in five said they would be reducing the number of text messages they are sending and even less said they will be writing fewer emails.Nearly 43 percent said they have had a cull of their Face book "friends" and followers on Twitter in an attempt to cut down on the amount of time spent on the websites. As part of the research, 63 families were asked to keep a diary of their use of communications technology.More than 1,250 adults were questioned in the research which was paid for by BT - the biggest broadband provider in the country. It can be inferred that _ benefits from the using of Twitter, Face book and email. Answer: BT Animals you see on the way to work or school, every animal on Earth does what? Answer: intakes air Amos Dudley, a 24-year-old boy who studies digital design at New Jersey University of Technology, felt ashamed about his teeth. But being a student, Dudley didn't have the money to get braces . So, he decided to 3-D print his own and marked down the DIY project in a recent blog post. His braces totaled less than $60, and after wearing them for 16 weeks, his teeth are also getting straighter. Months ago, he mentioned on his blog that he avoided smiling for a while because he was unhappy with his teeth. However, clear braces can get pricey, costing up to $8,000. But after studying some images of these expensive clear braces, something comes up on him--they looked like that one which can come from a 3-D printer. So he decided to hit up his school's 3-D printing equipment and scanned and printed models of his teeth. He then made non-harmful plastic molds around them to make 12 sets of braces. Dudley, who does not recommend attempting any of this at home said that he didn't ask a dentist for his project. But the student did get information from journal articles and textbooks. And though this was a perfectly friendly choice to buy braces. He didn't accept the project just to save money--he was also up for the challenge. "When I realized that I could do something that was a little bit special, while proving my skills as a designer and a maker, and fixing something that was making me self-conscious for actually free, I felt it was more than worth the risk." he said. According to the page, Dudley _ . Answer: made each set of braces cost less than 5 dollars All students need to have good study habits . When you have good study habits, you can learn things quickly. You also remember them easily. Do you like to study in the living-room? This is not a good place because it is usually too noisy. You need to study in a quiet place, like your bedroom. A quiet place will help you only think about one thing, and you will learn better. Before you begin to study, do not forget to clean your desk. A good desk light is important, too. You are feeling tired easily if there is not enough light. When you have good study habits, you will _ . Answer: all of above.
I learned about life from an ant farm. When I was seven years old, my family created one. First, we put clean sand in a thin glass box and put the ants into it. Soon they got to work making tunnels. I was amazed that each one knew exactly what to do. With my mom's help, I kept a record of what happened each day and named the ants. One day when I had put my face close to the structure (building), accidentally I knocked it over, and all the tunnels fell in. Although the ants survived their earthquake, one by one they began to die. I was frightened as I watched them give up their tunnel-building to carry the bodies to a corner of the farm. My mother reported that the ants were dying of "frustration ". They simply could not stand the reality that their tunnels had been destroyed. Although much time has passed, I still think of that ant farm. Over the years, I came to realize the ants have the spirit of teamwork. Working together, they were able to create an amazing world for themselves. I also learned that they should be admired for their hard work. Day in and day out, each worked at their task. The ant farm showed that teamwork and perseverance are indeed the keys to success. But there was an even larger lesson that I did not realize until recently --Adversity is a natural part of life, and must be accepted. Unlike the ants, humans cannot give up when they face disappointment. So I try to live my life like those hardworking ants. But, unlike them, I try not to let frustration defeat me. I will have to keep building my tunnels. The family created an ant farm in a glass box because it was easy _ . A for the ants to live in B to get sunlight in C to keep the sand clean D for the boy to watch Answer: D. for the boy to watch Two Chinese living in South Africa were killed in a robbery on February 5, bringing the total number of Chinese killed in the country to four in less than a month. Chen Jianqing, 35, from Southeast China's Fujian Province who ran a shop with her husband in a small town 45 kilometers away from South African capital prefix = st1 /Johannesburgwas shot dead. "One of her business partners died later in the hospital, "the Chinese consulate officials in Johannesburg said yesterday."Local police are trying to find more information about the case.And we have told the victims' s and are helping them come to Johannnesburg," consul Wu Gang told China Daily. Chen's husband was injured during the robbery but did not suffer seriously ,said Wu. The robbery happened at about 5:45pm local time and the armed robbers ran away after taking more than 50,000 South Afican rand (US$8,200)and some jewellery,Xinhua News Agncy reported. The killing happened just three days after Chen Jingmin, a 23-year-old man from Qingdao, Shandong province, was shot dead north outside Johannesburg by armed robbers .On January 10, a Hong Kong businessman was attacked and robbed at his home in Johannesburg and died the next day in the hospital.All these happened just in less than a month. According to records, there were more than 40 robberies attacking Chinese in South Africalast year ,in which eight were killed .More than 100,000 Chinese are doing various kinds of businesses inSouth Africa,according to a Chinese official in the country. An increasing number of them are becoming targers of robbers after buying big houses or expensive cars, the official said. Who were killed on February 5 in a small town near Johannesburg? A Chen Jianqing and her husband B Chen Jianqing and one of her partners C Chen Jingmin and a Hong Kong businessman D Chen Jingmin and one of his s Answer: B. Chen Jianqing and one of her partners (The Daily Mail) David Thomas failed all his maths exams and left school with no qualifications, yet this 30 - year - old fire - fighter has just gone into the Guinness Book of Records by reciting from memory 22,500 digits of the mathematical constant, pi(p). After five months of training, in which he spent ten hours a day memorizing a quarter of a million digits, David Thomas took part in a 16 - hour mental battle.Witnesses watched in awe as Thomas set a new European record, earning the title 'Most Powerful Memory in the Western Hemisphere'. David says, "When I was at school I was hopeless.I could' t remember anything, but now I can remember more facts than anyone in Europe." So how does Thomas do it? "One night I was watching a TV programme about an interview with a man called Dominic O'Brien, who had been the world memory champion five times.He used to be a gambler, and he wasn't particularly successful until he developed his own mnemonics, or mental memory aid, for each card in order to remember which cards had already been dealt and which ones hadn't." Thomas became fascinated by O'Brien's theory that anyone can improve their memory by using specialized techniques.These techniques involve linking everything to familiar people or objects. "If you want to remember a phone number for example, you have to give the numbers life.Sometimes I associate a number with a person.Number 10 for me is always the Prime Minister (who lives at number 10 Downing Street) ," explained David.If David is trying to remember facts he also links them to an image."For instance, if I was trying to memorize the name 'Tom Cruise' , I would think of his film Top Cun, and that leads me to images of guns and cruise missiles." is soon going to appear on TV's Record Breakers, and this week he is teaching memory training and speed - writing at Huddersfield University.His fees are PS600 a day.He is sure that the future holds a lot more for him than a job as a fire - fighter. We learn that before setting a new European record, Thomas A liked playing cards B trained hard in memory C believed he could succeed D received a good school education Answer: B. trained hard in memory Rabindranath Tagore was an Indian writer and poet, who was the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913. Composed of 326 short verses, Stray Birds is a collection of short verses translated from Bengali into English by the poet himself, where Tagore spiritualizes nature into the experiences of human existence while demonstrating his love for nature and simplicity through poetic words. Now read the following verses taken from Stray Birds(1916) and try to answer the questions. Man does not reveal himself in his history, he struggles up through it. (verse 52) The cloud stood humbly in a corner of the sky. The Morning crowned it with splendour . (verse 100) Man is worse than an animal when he is an animal. (verse 248) Bees sip honey from flowers and hum their thanks when they leave. The gaudy butterfly is sure that the flowers owe thanks to him. (verse 127) The stream of truth flows through its channels of mistakes. (verse 243) Let him only see the thorns who has eyes to see the rose. (verse 230) Set bird's wings with gold and it will never again soar in the sky. (verse 231) Men are cruel, but Man is kind. (verse 219) Let me not put myself wrongly to my world and set it against me. (verse 206) Wrong cannot afford defeat but right can. (verse 68) "I give my whole water in joy," sings the waterfall. "though little of it is enough for the thirsty." (verse 69) The woodcutter's axe begged for its handle from the tree. The tree gave it. (verse 71) *Thank the flame for its light, but do not forget the lampholder standing in the shade with constancy of patience. (verse 64) Which of the verse makes strong comparison and contrast between two opposite types of persons? A verse 68 B verse 248 C verse 127 D verse 243 Answer: C. verse 127 When do you think of a forest, what do you see? Just trees? Or do you see many other things, such as singing birds, colorful plants and wild flowers? The forest is a whole world of its own. It is full of many different living things . But even though they are all different, they have one thing in common: they all need each other in order to live on .The trees feed the forest "people" by making food in their leaves; by using sunlight to join water and minerals from the soil and air. Their deep network of roots joins the soil together and stops it from dying out, making it possible for living things to live in it. Human beings are like the living things in the forest. We need one another in order to live. We need the farmers to grow our food, railroad and truck drivers to bring it to our shops and clerks to sell it to us. We need people to prepare our food and cook it and others to take our waste things away. Then, of course, we need doctors, nurses, government leaders, mailmen, telephone operators, and many others. We also need other human beings in another way. We need people for friendship, to talk over our problems, exchange ideas. Think how lonely and unhappy you would be if you lived all alone. Life is a matter of giving and taking. We need to help other people as much as we need other people to help us. Think what a good feeling you have when you have done something for someone else. You know, being a volunteer is so great! ,. How do the water and minerals join from the soil and air?. A By using sunlight B By making food C By the deep network of roots D By working together Answer: A. By using sunlight
Mary Jean Price Walls graduated second in her class in 1950.She had high hopes when she applied to a local college,Southwest Missouri State College.But after sending off her application,she spent months waiting for a reply.It never came. Worse than simply being denied admission ,the school didn't reply to her at all.It wasn't a matter of her school records,but of her skin color:Wallsis African American,and in those days,that fact alone closed a lot of doors. "I was sad and I was hurt,"Walls toldABCNews."I did not expect the skin color would affect my application.I thought I could go to university like other students." Four years later,the government declared that all schools should not discriminate against African Americans-- but it was too late for Walls.She'd moved on with her life, becoming a wife and a mother,and working as an elevator operator.She retired last year,at the age of 77. She stayed quiet about the unfairness she'd faced in Missouri State.Her son,Terry,went through school records and found that she'd been the first black student to ever apply to the college.Today,four percent of the Southwest Missouri State College body is African American--including Terry. Although it's too late for Missouri State to change the past,the school is awarding Walls with an honorary degree from the school.While she knows it's too late for herto change the course of her own life with the degree,it's a chance for her to show her family that Missouri State has changed in the last 60 years,and there's not a single door closed to them anymore. What can we know about Walls's son? A. He helped his mother get the honorary degree. B. He is a good student who teachers like best. C. He was admitted by the college once his mother applied to. D. He wants to be a government official who can help his mother. Answer: C My grandfather is eighty years old.He always complains about how fast things have changed,and he often says that life used to be better. "Families aren't families the way they used to be."A 1ot of families have broken up.If husband and wife have problems with their _ ,they no longer stay together.And mothers used to stay at home and take care of their children,but now everyone is busy working.No one has time to 1ook after children at home. And the cars! No one walks any more;more and more people drive.We used to walk five miles to school on schooldays,even in winter.But now we don't.And in school children don't have to think any more.In math class.for example,we used to add,subtract, multiply and divide in our heads.Kids don't use their heads any more;instead,they use calculators . Most families have computers now.In the past we didn't have computers.We didn't even have lights.My mother used to spend all day cooking in the kitchen.But now we don't often eat homecooked food. And people don't talk to each other any more.They are too busy to talk,too busy to eat,to busy to think... Life used to be simple,but it isn't any more. My grandfather thinks the life now is _ . A. very good B. worse than it used to be C. better than it used to be D. the same as it used to be Answer: B Almost everyone has seen someone speed read.They appear to skim the text and still have read and absorbed the content.The people who have studied speed reading techniques will still read at different speeds;however they will undoubtedly beat those without experience. The best and most efficient way to learn to read fast is to join in classes,where speed reading skills will be explained clearly. The advantage of courses is that students will be shown several different strategies showing them to choose the ones they find easiest to understand the material they are reading. Students should try to learn all the strategies presented during their courses as, once these are mastered,they will see a dramatic improvement in their reading rate,after which they can choose their preferred style. Students will see the benefits of speed reading as soon as the techniques are applied to their main field of study. A traditional education builds habits in reading which a good speed reading course will push aside,replacing with new techniques. A comprehensive course will also advise students how to become more efficient readers;hopefully this will also encourage the desire for self improvement as well as the desire to read. Lecturers in speed reading will usually take the time to teach students the importance of preparing the environment they work in before they read a single work remember reading at speed is all about increasing the speed of comprehension not just the speed of reading! The satisfaction of reading faster and with better comprehension skills cannot be ignored;the techniques of speed reading increase the enjoyment of reading.Speed reading is a skill to be encouraged in each and every generation of new readers. How does the writer suggest readers learn the strategies provided by the class? A. They should choose one suitable strategy to improve speed reading. B. They should choose the method suitable to their main field of study. C. They must follow the instructions of their teachers. D. They should try all of them in order to choose the suitable one. Answer: D It has been said that Lincoln was always ready to join in a laugh at himself. There is one particular story that he always told with great delight. In his early days as a lawyer, Lincoln went from town to town to hear and judge legal cases. During one of these trips, he was sitting in a train when a strange man came up to him. The stranger looked at the tall clumsy lawyer and said that he had something he believed belonging to Lincoln. Lincoln was a bit puzzled. He had never seen the man before. He didn't see how a total stranger could have something of his. Lincoln asked how this could be. The stranger pulled out a penknife and began to explain. Many years before, he had been given the pocketknife. He had been told to keep it until he was able to find a man uglier than himself. Lincoln's eyes always _ when he reached this part of the story. The story always brought smiles to the faces of those who heard it. The tale itself was funny. But even more delightful was the fact that a man as great as Lincoln could still laugh at himself. Lincoln was given the pocketknife for _ A. his appearance B. a good laugh C. being a lawyer D. being good-humored Answer: A He may not have an "S" across his chest but this dog is most certainly a hero. Harley, who was rescued from a puppy mill four years ago, was named the American Humane Association's 2015 American Hero Dog. Harley, who is missing an eye and has other medical issues from his time at the mill, is now a "spokes-dog" against puppy mills. He serves as the adorable furry face of the"Harley to the Rescue"campaign, which raises funds for the National Dog Mill Rescue, according to a press release. The pup was rescued back in 2011 and adopted by Rudi and her husband, Dan. "It was just four years ago that he was pulled from the cage in the puppy mill and left to die," Harley's owner, Rudi, said during the awards show at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles this past weekend, according to Today. com. "We never would have ever thought he would live this long and make such a difference for so many puppies. " The dog was one of eight finalists up for the American Hero Dog and was chosen as the winner through public votes. The finalists all won $ 1,500 to be donated to one of American Humane Association' s charity partners, with Harley receiving another $ 5 ,000 to go toward his charity partner, New Leash On Life. According to the release, Harley spent 10 years at the puppy mill, and endured rough treatment there, which led to his many medical issues. He lost his eye as a result of his cage being power-washed with him inside. The dog isn't just the face of his campaign, he also goes on rescue missions and makes public appearances at events and schools to raise awareness for puppy mills. This incredible work is all due to the dog' s fighting spirit. That spirit is allowing him now to be the voice for dogs who cannot speak for themselves and give everybody hope that tomorrow's going to be a better day. What was the author' s attitude to the puppy mill according to the text? A. Unsatisfied. B. Sympathetic. C. Doubtful. D. Tolerant. Answer: A
Daniel: Hi, Simon. How are you these days? Simon: Not bad. But I just feel a little sad. Daniel: What's wrong? Simon: You see, I bought some goldfish last week. But now they all die. Daniel: I'm afraid you forgot to change water for them. Simon: No. I just gave them a lot to eat. I think they like eating. Daniel: Oh,I see. It's the food that killed your goldfish. You know goldfish can only remember things for 3 seconds. Simon: So what? Daniel: So they always forget they have already eaten food. They just keep eating if you feed them. Simon: You mean my goldfish die of eating too much? Daniel: That's right. Simon: Oh,my poor goldfish. Daniel: Don't be sad. Why not have a cat or a dog as your pet? Simon: Oh, no. I don't like them. Cats and dogs always make much noise and they will make my room dirty. Besides that I should take good care of them. Daniel: Well,why don't you try an e-pet? It's modern and cute. And it's easy to look after because they don't need food and water. The most important thing is that you can control it freely. Simon: That's good! I want to have an e-pet. Daniel: That will cost you a lot of money. Simon: Oh, my God! I think I will just have it in my dream. What kind of pet will Simon keep? A. Cats. B. Dogs. C. E-pets. D. None of the above. Answer: D Traveling is one of the most important things and people have been interested in it for many years. Modern traffic develops fast. So traveling to different places has become much easier than before. Staying healthy while traveling can make your trip happier. But do you know how to keep healthy during a trip? The following information may be useful for you. Before traveling: Wear comfortable shoes, a hat and sunglasses. Take some necessary medicine with you. They can be used when you get sick or have other problems. If you do lots of sports like walking or climbing during your trip, you should do some exercise for weeks or months before you leave. While traveling: Be sure not to eat dirty food or bad fruit. Have enough time to take a rest during your trip. Tap water is not safe, so drink bottled water and always clean the cover of the bottle. You should _ before you leave your home for a trip. A. take some medicine with you B. clean the cover C. drink much water D. wear warm clothes Answer: A Colin walked slowly home from school. He looked across the hills at the little Irish fishing village. It did not seem like Christmas Eve. Perhaps this was because it still had not snowed. But Colin knew there was another reason--a reason he did not dare whisper even in his heart. He looked toward the sea. There was no ship. And seven days ago his father's fishing boat hadn't gone home in time. "I'll bring you a small sheep dog from the Shetland Isles," Colin's father told him the morning he left. But now it was Christmas Eve. Colin looked toward the lighthouse, high on the hill. For seven days, there had been no light to guide his father's ship. Colin pushed open the door of his cottage. "We'll need more peat for the fire, Colin," said his mother as he entered. "It has burned itself out. And it's near time to light the Christmas candle. Everybody in Ireland lights a candle on Christmas Eve, even when there's sadness in the house. It shows that your house and heart are open to strangers. I've two candles, one for each of us. If you gather some peat, we'll be ready for supper soon." Colin nodded and went outside. He led their donkey up the hill. But while he was staring at the lighthouse, Colin had an idea. He came to the lighthouse and knocked on the door. Mr. Duffy, the keeper, opened the door. "What's up, young man?" "Mr. Duffy," said Colin, "what did you use to light the lighthouse?" "Well, we used an oil lamp. But we've no oil to burn." "Maybe kerosene would do," suggested Colin. "Well, I suppose," Mr. Duffy thought. "But you wouldn't find even a little spare kerosene in this village. Everyone is so poor ..." Colin was gone before Mr. Duffy could finish his sentence. He ran back to the cottage. Then he ran out with four buckets. Colin could see candles glowing in nearly every cottage in the valley. A candle on Christmas Eve meant that a stranger would be welcome and given whatever he asked. He didn't stop running until he came to the first house. "Could you spare me just a half cup of kerosene from your lamp?" he asked. Colin went to every house where a candle was shining . In one hour he had filled two buckets. Slowly and painfully he carried them up to the lighthouse door. "What's this?" Mr. Duffy asked. "This won't keep the lamp burning for more than an hour or so." "I'll get more!" Colin shouted as he started down the hill. After three more long hours, Colin had gathered five more buckets of kerosene. He was on his way with the sixth pail, when the tower suddenly shone with light. The light spread toward the dark heart of the sea like a finger pointing home. Mr. Duffy had lighted the lamp! It was very late when Colin reached home. His mother jumped from her seat near the fire. "Colin, where have you been? You've had no supper, nor lighted your candle!" "Oh, mom! I've lighted a candle, and it's a big one!" Colin slept soundly that night, dreaming of candles. Suddenly, a loud shout aroused him from his sleep. "The boat! The boat was just different in the fog, lost." Colin rushed to the window. His mother was running toward the harbor. It was true! There floated his father's boat. Colin ran across the yard and raced to the harbor. He felt a wet wind on his face. It was beginning to snow. Oh, it was Christmas morning all right, falling right from heaven and into his heart! How did Mr. Duffy react to Colin's suggestion? A. He thought it was rather wasteful. B. He thought it was quite impractical. C. He thought it was well worth trying. D. He thought it was far too dangerous. Answer: B People who eat chocolate regularly tend to be thinner, new research suggests. The findings come from a study of nearly 1,000 US people that looked at diet, calorie intake and body mass index(BMI)----a measure of obesity. It found those who ate chocolate a few times a week were, on average, slimmer than those who ate it occasionally. Even though chocolate is loaded with calories, it contains ingredients that may favour weight loss rather than fat synthesis , scientists believe. Despite boosting calorie intake, regular chocolate consumption was related to lower BMI in the study. The link remained even when other factors, like how much exercise individuals did, were taken into account. And it appears it is how often you eat chocolate that is important, rather than how much of it you eat. The study found no link with quantity consumed. Lead author Dr. Beatrice Golomb, from the University of California at San Diego, said, "Our findings appear to add to a body of information suggesting that the composition of calories, not just the number of them, matters for determining their ultimate impact on weight." This is not the first time scientists have suggested that chocolate may be healthy for us. Other studies have claimed chocolate may be good for the heart. Consumption of certain types of chocolate has been linked to some favourable changes in blood pressure and insulin sensitivity. And chocolate does contain antioxidants which can help to absorb free radicals----unstable chemicals that can damage our cells. Mice fed for 15 days with epicatechin (present in chocolate) had improved exercise performance and observable changes to their muscle composition. They say clinical trials are now needed in humans to see if this is the case. But before you reach for a chocolate bar, there are still lots of unanswered questions. And in the absence of conclusive evidence, experts advise caution. While there's no harm in allowing yourself a treat like chocolate now and then, eating too much might be harmful because it often contains a lot of sugar and fat too. What is the experts' attitude towards eating chocolate in a chocolate bar? A. Cautious. B. Supportive. C. Unclear. D. Opposed. Answer: A Bit by bit, the sand dust that fills the sky is dying down. The blue sky and the burning sun once again hang over the desert. He is on the road, driving his beat-up yellow cab. The sides of the road are littered with damaged vehicles. Masses of smoke in the distance tell him that a war is being dragged on throughout his country. It's a fine day despite the choking heat. Not a breath of wind is blowing. A group of vehicles are traveling towards him, carrying many passengers. The scene reminds him of the market days in this country when crowds of trucks transport folks to the markets; the only difference is, this time, they are not trucks, but tanks, carrying foreigners, guns in hand. He stares at them. They stare back. So they pass by one another. "The damned war!" he whispers bitterly. Two days ago, a bomb fell on the market in front of his house, destroying nearly everything in sight. He survived by luck. He decided then and there that he would give up this cab business. This will be his final run. After this, he will leave this place together with his wife and children. "Shala and my children, we'll soon meet each other again, after I'm done here." He turns his head to take a glance at a photo of his wife and children. The glass on the frame is broken, but their smiles in the picture do not fail to provide him with the only comfort that he has. Shortly he arrives at a checkpoint. Tanks sit by the side of the road, the sight of which sends a marked coldness through his backbone. A bunch of soldiers armed to the teeth stand by. A foreign soldier signals him to stop. He calms himself down and pulls over. During the past few days, nearly no civilian vehicles come out of the capital city, his car being the only one on roads. A few foreign soldiers come up to him, one, two, three, four, five. The leader bends over to have a look at the old car, then at him. "Where do you come from and where are you going?" With a smile on his face, he answers with a broken speech in the tongue that the soldier can understand, "Sir, I come from the capital. I'm leaving that place because it is a very dangerous place to be, with the war and everything." While talking, he hands a cigarette over to the soldier, then lights it up for him. "When will the war end?" he asks. "It won't take long. We'll soon give all of you in the capital the true freedom." The soldier breathes a deep mouthful. He seems to have spotted the photo in the car, "The cigarette is not bad at all. Are those your wife and kids? I have two of my own, roughly the same age." "Oh, yes, they are mine and they are constantly on my mind. They left the city a bit earlier, and I'm on my way to be reunited with them. Perhaps I'm never coming back. Driving a cab around during war times is too dangerous. I'm giving up the business." He looks at the soldier, still smiling. "After we overthrow your dictator , you won't have that to worry about. You can come back and pick up your life again." The soldier is leaning on the door of the car. It is perhaps the first time in many days that he has seen a happy face among the local people. It cheers him up. "Maybe, but I have to go to see my family. If you would pay us a visit, my wife will prepare a good meal for all of you. _ " "Can't make it. We're on duty. Give our regards to your wife and kids." The soldier is a bit excited, thinking maybe quite some locals have open arms for them after all. "Oh, yes, I almost forgot. The south is battle-infected. Where is your family?" Still smiling, he picks up the broken picture frame, presses a kiss on the photo, then turns around, staring into the eyes of that soldier, not quite himself from excitement, and the other foreign soldiers holding guns. Words drop out of his lips slowly but firmly: "Paradise." Perhaps the last thing he sees is the confused, fearful, twisted expression on the face of that soldier, and the cigarette end dropping from his fingers. Then he pushes the button. According to the passage, the man's wife _ . A. has already been killed by the bomb B. must be the only comfort to the man C. is really good at cooking local food D. has managed to escape to another city Answer: A
Nearly 300 miles long, up to 18 miles across and 4000 vertical feet down, the 8th new wonder: the splendid Grand Canyon . Viewing its glory, President Theodore Roosevelt called the Grand Canyon "a natural wonder, ly unparalleled throughout the rest of the world". He urged Americans to preserve what he described as the "wonderful greatness, the nobleness, the great loneliness and the beauty of the canyon". More than a hundred years later, it's still easy to see why almost 5 million annual visitors call the Grand Canyon a wonder. The canyon stretches as far as the eye can see. Some 5 or 6 million years ago, the Colorado River rushed through this land, carving out the massive canyon we see today, exposing even older layers of rock previously buried. Geologists say some are 2,000 million years old. Native Americans were the first people to make these rocky walls as their homes about 12,000 years ago. Today the Hualapi and Havasupai Indians live deep in the canyon, balancing age-old traditions with modernity. There are no roads to this village; mules carry the mail here. But at the same time, the tribes are designing a skywalk that promises an excellent view over the canyon early next year. The bald eagle, wild and endangered American icon is another longtime resident of the Grand Canyon. The passage mainly introduces _ . A the Arizona plains B the bald eagle C the Colorado River D the 8th new wonder of the world : the Grand Canyon Answer: D For 11 months of every year, I am without doubt, a dedicated lover of shopping. During my lunch breaks, you'll often find me wandering through a nearby department store, sandwich in hand. On the weekends, I'll likely be searching the stores of my local markets and fairs. Come December however, it's an entirely different story. The time of year generally connected with joy and cheer can be unbelievably stressful. From buying Christmas presents to ransacking grocery stores in preparation for family gatherings, December is a month that traditionally includes spending a lot of time and money in overcrowded shopping centers and supermarkets. What's worse than this pre-Christmas rush are the sales that happen in its wake. Every year in Britain, Canada and Australia, Boxing Day sales bring thousands of shoppers to malls and department stores. Attracted by the promise of impressive price reductions, some people start lining up outside stores the night before sales even begin. This year, during the US' post-Thanksgiving "Black Friday" sales, 20 were injured after a woman, too eager for a discounted Xbox video game, squirted pepper spray inside a Walmart. It's madness like this that has now driven me to the world of online shopping. Not only can I avoid having my personal space invaded by crowds of crazy shoppers, but nowadays, most brands and online stores offer their own sales and special deals. Say goodbye to human rushes and bad department store music. While websites like eBay are great for general items and secondhand goods, the Internet now offers a huge variety of specialty stores . For clothes and accessories, ASOS.com (UK) and Shopbop.com (US) are personal favorites. Both of these offer a range of great designers, discounted prices and free worldwide shipping. In terms of brand-name makeup and beauty products, strawberrynet.com (US) is my go-to site, with its large collection and heavily reduced prices. When shopping online, it's important to stick to safe websites, so be sure to read the privacy and safety policies before making any buying. When paying, I prefer using third party services, like those provided by PayPal, to make sure my financial details remain secret. Also, if you're looking to buy your Christmas presents online, it's best to keep in mind the shipping time needed. The last thing you want is for your brother's jacket to arrive a week into January. Ks5u The main reason why the author starts online shopping in December is that _ ? A she has to spend more money shopping in stores B the stores are often overcrowded in this month C she cannot buy what she needs in stores D people may get injured while shopping in stores Answer: B Our eating habits are very important for good health and a strong body. There are times when most of us would have sweet and ice-cream rather than eat meat and rice. Sweets and ice-cream are not bad for the stomach if we eat at the end of a meal. If we drink beer at meals, it may take away your appetite . It is important for us to eat our meal at the same time each day. When we feel hungry, it is a sign that our body needs food. When we feel angry or excited, we may not want to eat. A long time ago, in England, some judges often decided whether a man was telling the truth by giving him some dry bread. If the man could not swallow the bread, it was a sign that he was not telling the truth. Although this seems very strange and rather foolish , it is really a good way of finding out the truth. A man who is worried has difficulty in swallowing anything dry. Because of his worriment, he loses his appetite and doesn't want to eat. What could a man do if he told a lie according to some judges in old England? A He could eat a lot of food. B He could hardly need any food. C He could swallow some dry bread easily. D He could not swallow any dry bread. Answer: D In 2002, the Beijing Municipal government led the nation in issuing an order banning electric bicycles from January 1, 2006. Since then a number of local governments have followed this. In May, the Legislature of Zhuhai in South China's prefix = st1 /GuangdongProvincebecame the first law-making body in the country to pass a regulation to keep electric bicycles off the roads. They claim environmental disadvantage and concerns over public safety justify their ban. Local government officials and law makers have argued their leading concern is the threat of pollution from spent lead-acid batteries. The ly high speed of electric bicycles --- faster than most common bikes at about 20 kilometers per hour --- is just too dangerous in the eyes of some policy-makers. They also mention interference with automobiles, common bikes and passers-by that results in accidents or slowed traffic. But none of these arguments justify the ban. In the first place, it should be made clear that while operating, the battery driving an electric bike sends out almost no polluting gas. They are much cleaner than cars. If the batteries, which can be used for one or two years, are thrown away without proper treatment or recycling, environmental damage is highly likely. It is required that electric bike producers and store sellers sign recycling contracts to ensure consumers can sell used batteries back to producers. In practice, some small producers neglect their recycling responsibility, causing concern for environmental pollution. It is clear the authorities can solve the problem through strengthening management. Although it will require some extra efforts from the government, it does not go beyond government officials' call of duty. Regarding the speed, there are technical standards governing the production of electric bikes. According to the standards, the designed speed should be limited to a maximum of 20 kilometers per hour. This is slower than the top speed of some mountain bikes. To _ the consumer desire for higher speed, some manufacturers have made it easy to remove speed-limiting devices after purchase, which is potentially very dangerous. To make the bicycles safer, local governments should draft regulations specifying severe punishments for rule-breakers. The black sheep should be picked up and punished, but violations by a small number of manufacturers or riders should not be an excuse to spoil the fun for everyone. What is the author's attitude towards banning electric bicycles? A . Positive B Negative C Neutral D Not mentioned Answer: B When American soldiers return home from war with disabilities, they often suffer twice -- first from their combat injuries, next from the humiliation of government dependency. Wounded veterans learn they have two basic choices: They can receive almost $3,000 a month in disability benefits along with medical care and access to other various welfare programs, or they can try to find a job. Especially in this economy, it's no wonder that many find that first option hard to turn down. Mark Duggan, an economics professor at Stanford University, reports that enrollment in U.S.veterans' disability programs rose from 2.3 million in 2001 to 3.9 million in 2014. The percentage of veterans receiving benefits doubled, from 8.9% in 2001 to 18% in 2014. Disability services for veterans now consume $59 billion. In the 1980s and 1990s, male veterans were more likely to be in the labor force than nonveterans. But since 2000, that has changed dramatically. Now there is a 4% gap between veteran and nonveteran labor participation, with veteran participation lower. Navy SEAL Eric Greitens, founder of The Mission Continues, explains how soldiers who served their country are transformed into welfare receivers who live off their country. "When veterans come home from war they are going through a tremendous change in identity,"he says."Then the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and others, encourage them to view themselves as disabled."By the time they come to Greitens' non-profit organization,"We meet a number of veterans who see themselves as charity cases and are not sure anymore what they have to contribute." There are also more practical factors driving the disability boom. One is the expansion of qualification criteria. In 2000, for instance, type 2 diabetes was added as a disability because of evidence linking exposure to Agent Orange with the onset of the disease. Heart disease has also been added to the list. Another possible factor is that younger veterans seem less against welfare than their parents' generation. Veterans who have served since the 1990s are much more likely to sign up for disability than their older counterparts; 1 in 4 younger veterans is on disability versus just 1 in 7 of those over age 54. We shouldn't go back to the bad old days when veterans were afraid to admit weakness. But Lt.Col.Daniel Gade is one of many veterans who think our disability system is harmful, psychologically, to former soldiers. Gade lost his leg in combat in 2005 and now teaches at West Point. He recently gave a talk to disabled veterans at Ft. Carson, in which he urged them to rejoin the workforce. "People who stay home because they are getting paid enough to get by on disability are worse off,"he warned."They are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol. They are more likely to live alone." What a waste of human potential, especially since most veterans on disability still have their prime working years ahead of them when they're discharged . We could solve this problem by changing the way we view -- and label -- veterans with disabilities. As Gade noted in a recent article,"Veterans should be viewed as resources, not as damaged goods."He recommended that"efforts to help veterans should begin by recognizing their abilities rather than focusing only on their disabilities, and should serve the ultimate aim of moving wounded soldiers to real self-sufficiency." On a more practical note, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs could reallocate resources to spend more on job training and less on disability. Current placement programs are sadly inadequate. We are good at sending soldiers off to war. Yet when these young men and women return home, they are essentially told,"We'll give you enough for a reasonably comfortable life, but we won't help you find a job." It is unreasonable that we are condemning thousands of young veterans who served their country to life on the dole rather than enabling them to reenter the workforce with the necessary accommodations. One of the factors why there are more disabled veterans is that . A damage from the war is greater than ever B the scale of disabilities has been broadened C veterans have suffered much more than ever D older veterans aren't afraid to admit their disability Answer: B
Question: Once a man was shipwrecked on a small, lonely island. There was no one living on this island, so he hoped that someone could come to save him. Every day he watched the sea, but no ships ever appeared. He thought he should do something to save himself. He built a little house out of wood. But one day, he arrived home to find his little house on fire. The smoke rose to the sky. He cried,"God, how could you do this to me?" Early the next day, however, a ship was coming to the island. It came to save him. "How did you know I was here?"The man asked these people."We saw your smoke signal ,"they answered. It is easy to get _ when things are going badly. But we shouldn't lose heart, because hope is at work in our lives. Remember, next time your little house is burning to the ground, it just may bring you better luck. What did the man do on this island? A. He did nothing but worry every day. B. He tried every means possible to call for help. C. He built a house to save himself first. D. He did something to enjoy himself there. Answer: C Question: Timmy liked to play games and play sports but more than anything he liked to collect things. He collected bottle caps. He collected sea shells. He collected baseball cards. He has collected baseball cards the longest. He likes to collect the thing that he has collected the longest the most. He once thought about collecting stamps but never did. His most expensive collection was not his favorite collection. Timmy spent the most money on his bottle cap collection. Which is Timmy's most expensive collection? A. Sea Shells B. Baseball Cards C. Stamps D. Bottle Cap Answer: D Question: Kool-aid is a mix of what items as a solution? A. water fluid within a sugar casing B. soda pop within a can C. sucrose crystals and flavors dissolved in liquid base of water D. sugar candy from store Answer: C Question: A forest is flooded when a natural dam breaks, leaving the forest floor under two meters of water. Which animal is most affected by the flooding? A. a crow B. a rabbit C. a squirrel D. a butterfly Answer: B Question: I have a big family. In my family,there are 6 people--my father,my mother,my two sisters,my brother and me. My mother is Linda. My father is Mike. And our family name is Hand. My sisters are Gina and Sonia. They like baseball very much. My brother,David,is a lovely boy. He likes computer games. My name is Bob. I my family. My brother likes _ . A. baseball B. computer game C. pictures D. basketball Answer: B
A boy couldn't speak when he was 3 years old. A lot of people thought he was a foolish boy. When the boy was 9 years old, he could speak but he still couldn't speak well. His teacher didn't like him at all and his classmates laughed at him. He felt very sad, One day his father had a walk with him. They went to a wood and there were a lot of trees there. Then his father took him to two trees and said to him."Boy, this tree is sabal (,)and this tree is fir . Sabal grows very quickly at first but a few years later, it will stop growing, so the tallest Sabal can't reach ten meters. But the fir is different, it grows very slowly at first but it never stops growing so it can grow very tall." Then his father took him to another fir. It was so tall, so strong. It can reach the sky. The father said to his son, "Son, you are the fir."The boy understood his father's words. The boy became a very great scientist. Do you know who he is? He is the world-famous scientist. His name is Einstein. Why did his classmates laugh at the boy? Answer: Because the couldn't speak well. Beach volleyball is one of those sports that can be an exciting game to play and watch, or, can just be about some friends getting together to have a great time. It's really easy, and all you need is sand, a net and a group of people, of any age or fitness level, who want to have fun. Beach volleyball can be played with as few as two people on each team, making a total of four people. However, if you are less skilled and experienced in the game, it will be easier to play with a larger team. The more players you have, the less ground each person will be responsible for covering and the more time they will have to recover in between shots. If you only have a few players, each of you will get quite a workout running for the ball after each volley. If you are looking for that relaxing, fun, low-key experience, choose larger teams. Beach volleyball is similar to regular volleyball in its rules. However, even experienced volleyball players do not realize how much more difficult it is to run and jump on sand. Since it is harder to move quickly on sand than a hard ground, play will be much slower than regular volleyball on a playground. When a player trains for beach volleyball, he will focus on building lower body strength as well as upper body. While he needs to be able to hit the ball with a great deal of power and accuracy , strengthening his legs is extremely important. Whether you are in it for the competition, or just to have a great time with your friends, beach volleyball can be very exciting and fun. You may even start out with friends and fall in love with the sport. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? Answer: You can run more quickly when you are playing regular volleyball. Animal moms are great moms. You might be surprised at some of these moms. Octopuses The octopus mother lays about 50,000 eggs. For about 300 days, she stays with the eggs, cleans them and protects them. She does not leave to feed. However, this animal mom dies as soon as the eggs are hatched . Crocodiles A crocodile mother puts a lot of time and effort into raising her babies. She starts by building a nest which she guards for over two months! When the eggs are ready to hatch, the young crocs call out to their mother, who digs them out and helps them hatch. She then carries them in her mouth down to the water, where she will guard them for several more weeks or months until thy learn to hunt on their own. Bats Bats become moms by hanging head up in a cave, giving birth. Catching the youngsters before it can fall to the ground below, she puts it in a pouch .Bat moms may carry babies with them when feeding for the first few days. As the little bats get bigger and heavier, moms help them hang on the wall of their caves and return to feed them. It continues for about three weeks, until the babies are grown up and able to fly on their own. Koalas The animal mom gives birth after pregnancy of only 35 days. The hairless baby climbs into its mother's pouch and lives there for another five months. When the little koala is between five and eight months old, it leaves the pouch for short periods of time but returns for safety. Once it is too big to return to the pouch, it will climb onto its mother's back and ride there until it is about 12 moths old. How long does a young koala usually stay in its mother's pouch at least? Answer: 5months If the rose can be said to be a special flower, then the apple can be said to be a special fruit. It is very important in American culture. American stories speak of Johnny Appleseed, who went throughout America collecting apple seeds and planting apple trees. He had a great love for nature and went through fields and farms adding richness and beauty to the country. One of the first sayings taught to school children is, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." This short saying encourages children to eat fresh fruit to keep healthy. If someone always says good words to a person, people will call him an _ . This, however, is not a good name. If someone is very dear to us, we say that he or she is the "apple of our eye". Most people believe that the fruit which Eve gave to Adam was an apple, even though the Bible never says so. The apple, therefore, is a deep part of the language and stories of America. An apple is also delicious. Apples can be cooked in many ways, used as a dessert , and made into sweet juice. In many parts of the country during the harvest season, a popular activity is to go into an apple garden to pick apples. Washington, D. C. and New York are both famous for their apples. Finally, when it's time to take a vacation to American cities, one can always visit New York, which is "the biggest apple" of all the American cities. Why was Johnny Appleseed so famous? Answer: He collected apple seeds and planted apple trees. The one-child policy in our country has made most families much smaller than before. That is to say, there are fewer children in a family. But the population of China is still growing faster. Why? In fact, it's a serious problem not only in China, but also in the whole world. It's reported that the world population is _ to reach 9,200,000,000 by 2050. There are two important reasons. First, there are still more and more babies born every year. Next, people in the world can live much longer than before. The earth is too tired, but it has to burden more in the future. Who can save her? ,. Which is the best title for the passage? Answer: The Population Problem
As a high school dropout myself, I often feel it is my duty to defend my fellow non-scholars. Common wisdom would have you believe we are the "bad kids", the future criminals, the worst sort of people. But not all dropouts will deal drugs, shoplift, or even shoot pool all day. My own favorite hooky hangout was always the public library. My early retirement meant that at last I had the time to read everything I wanted to. Best of all was the time I finally had to myself. I felt uncontrolled and free. I had been in school nearly my whole life. I wanted to find out for myself who I was, and until I did, everything else felt like a waste of time. To be honest, though, my daily life as a dropout consisted mostly of long hot baths, afternoon naps, and microwave food. After nearly three years of such self-centered pleasure, a series of strange thoughts began to enter my mind continuously. Images of myself at the age of 35-still living at home, collecting dust balls on the couch, reading the same book over and over-began to bother me in my sleep. And a voice in my head began asking over and over, "Who is paying the hot water bills? Who buys the microwave pizza?" The answer, of course, was my poor old parents. Sure, I was having a wonderful time doing plenty of nothing, discovering myself and all, but they were getting a raw deal. What parents long to see their child drop out of school, with no plans for the future? Could they be expected to support me forever? Certainly not. I had been visited by Our Lady of Perpetual Responsibility, and there was no looking back. I immediately moved out of the house and out of town, in search of a future for myself. And it is here, in my new home of San Francisco, that I have decided to do what was once unthinkable: go back to school. I plan to take adult education classes and get me GED (General Educational Development), and then enroll in City College. So next time you see a dropout, that unchangeable anti-student, be understanding. And please don't push him to do something he doesn't want to do. It never works. He'll come around when he's ready. What do we know about the writer from the article? Answer: Every morning, kids from a local high school are working hard. They are making and selling special coffee at a coffee cafe. They are also making a lot of money. These students can make up to twelve hundred dollars a day. They are selling their special coffee to airplane passengers. After the students get paid, the rest of the money goes to helping a local youth project. These high school students use a space in the Oakland airport. It is usually very crowded. Many people who fly on the planes like to drink the special coffee. One customer thinks that the coffee costs a lot but it is good and worth it. Most customers are pleasant but some are unhappy. They do not like it if the coffee cafe is not open for business. The students earn $6.10 an hour plus tips. They also get school credit while they learn how to run a business. Many of the students enjoy the work although it took some time to learn how to do it. They have to learn how to steam milk, load the pots, and add flavor. It takes some skill and sometimes mistakes are made. The most common mistake is forgetting to add the coffee. But many students enjoy the job, because they learn a lot experience by serving people. This will benefit them a lot when they enter into society after they finish their school education. How do students think of their job? Answer: Britain Today Food British people like good food,and more than half of them go to a restaurant every month. Fast food is also very popular-- 30% of all adults have a hamburger every three months, but46% have fish and chips! Sports British people don't do a lot of sports. Only 17% of people go swimming every week,about 9% go cycling and 8% play golf--and only 6% of people play football( but 32% go to watch it ). Cinema and TV Films are very popular in Britain,and about 60% of people between 15 and 24 go to the cinema every month. At home, men watch TV for about three hours every day -- two quarters more than women. Holidays British people love going on holiday,and have 56 million holidays every year. Most of these holidays aren't in the UK--27% are in Spain,10% are in the USA,and 9% are in France. Maybe this is because the weather in Britain isn't very good! , British people's favorite country for a holiday is _ . Answer: Every day,it is easy to see advertisements in English all around us.Look at your own bags and clothes,and at the bags and clothes of your classmates.How many different advertisements can you see which use English words? Often bags and clothes show the name of the company that made them. This is a popular form.A special picture or symbol called a logo is sometimes used.Logos appear on many different products .They are popular because when you see a logo,it is hard to forget that product or company. It is common to see advertisements on TV and hear them on the radio.Most advertisements are very short.Sometimes the advertisers use a short sentence which is easy for people to say and remember. Nike,for example,has a simple English sentence which is used all around the world:"Just do it."Advertisements often use funny situations as well.It is simple to remember it. All advertisements are designed to make people buy a product.An advertisement for a soft drink,for example,might show a group of young people who are having fun.The young people are al1 drinking the soft drink.Advertisers are saying to you,"Why don't you buy this drink and be like these people? You can be young and modern." You might think that advertisements are not after you,but the next time you buy a soft drink,ask yourself this question:Why am I buying this particular product? A good logo is _ . Answer: Meet Jeff Wilson AKA Professor Dumpster , an environmental scientist and the Dean of Huston Tillotson University in Austin, Texas. The reason for his unusual nickname? He has decided to live in a dumpster for the next year. Yes, the kind that you might find filled with trash behind a restaurant. Wilson says the inspiration to do something first hit him two years ago, when he was working on an article at a neighborhood coffee shop and caught sight of an eight-yard dumpster. Now that he has found one, Professor Dumpster is putting his students to work. After all, the point of this project isn't just to spend his life living out of a garbage can: there is, a much greater purpose involved. As an environmental scientist, the professor constantly thinks about sustainable living and how every person should try to minimize his/her impact on our already stretched resources. That, is the challenge Wilson wanted his students to step up to, this entire year. Using their math, science, engineering and technology skills, he wants them to retrofit his 33 square-foot dumpster into a modern space that includes a shower, a toilet, a kitchen and a bed and is fitted with conveniences like air-conditioning and even WiFi. The demand? It all has to be green and sustainable. www.ks5u.com So why is Wilson planning to go through such hardship? That is because he wants to equip his students with the tools to survive in a world that is rapidly heading towards a population of 10 billion people. A large majority of the population adjust to living in tighter spaces in the world where resources and space should be limited to be used. By promoting awareness and education on these subjects, Wilson is helping students everywhere see that living "small" and sustainably is certainly possible. And while the dumpster project may seem a little crazy to some, the professor thinks of it as a "playful and imaginative" educational experiment and conversation-starter to discuss the fact that all of us can do with less as we move into the future. What requirements does Jeff Wilson ask his students to meet? Answer:
An example of hunting is an otter cracking open clams with a rock, another is Answer: I have a good friend at home. Her name is Mimi. She is white and yellow. She is very cute. I play with her when(......) I have time. She likes fish very much. When she is behind (......) the sofa or in her box, you can't see her. When I sit on the sofa, she sits with me. In the evening I do my homework at my desk, and she is on the desk. At that time I put her down . Then she sits next to me. Is she a good friend of me? I do my homework _ . Answer: The Winners Club is a bank account specially designed for teenagers.It has been made to help you better manage your money.The Winners Club is a transaction account where you receive a key-card so you can get to your money 24/7 --that's 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! It's a club with impressive features for teenagers: No account keeping fees! You're no millionaire so we don't expect you to pay large fees.In fact, there are no accounts keeping or transaction fees! Excellent interest rates! You want your money to grow.The Winners Club has a good rate of interest which gets even better if you make at least two deposits without taking them out in a month. Convenient Teenagers are busy --we get that.You may never need to come to a bank at all.With the Winners Club you can choose to use handy tellers and to bank from home using the phone and the Internet.You can have money directly deposited into your Winners Club account.This could be your pocket money or your pay from your part-time job! Mega magazine included Along with your regular report, you will receive a FREE magazine full of good ideas to make even more of your money.There are also fantastic offers and competitions only for Winners Club members. The Winners Club is a great choice for teenagers.And it is so easy to join.Simply fill in an application form.You will have to get permission from your parent or guardian (so we can organize that cool key-card) but it is easy.We can't wait to hear from you.It's the best way to choose to be a winner! The Winners Club provides magazines which _ . Answer: I am Bill Jones. I am a teacher of English. My wife is Linda Jones. She is a nurse. We have a daughter and a son. We have many friends. Look! These are my friends. This is Mr. Black. He is a worker. He works in a shoe factory He makes shoes there. That's Mrs. Black. She is a worker on a farm near here. The girl is their daughter. She is a student. She is thirteen. The boy is their son. He is a young soldier . His name is Carl Black. Who is Carl? Answer: Every four years, the greatest athletes from all over the world get together in one city to take part in the world sports meeting--the Olympic Games. The holy flame is carried from one place to the next. In 2008, the holy flame was carried to Beijing, the capital of China. When Beijing was chosen as the host city to hold the Olympic Games in 2008, all the Chinese people were very happy, excited and proud. They showed their excitement in different ways when they heard the news. Some people cheered, jumped and shouted. In Beijing we built a new Olympic village with hotels for athletes and stadiums for matches. "One World, One Dream" is our slogan for the 29th Olympics. It expresses the wishes of 1.3 billion Chinese people for a peaceful and better world tomorrow. Beijing hosted the 29th Olympics in _ . Answer:
My decision to travel around China lay merely with my curiosity about the place. Before coming here, China seemed _ to me ----a place that expected to be hugely dissimilar from my own British culture. After travelling from Beijing up to Xi'an, I wanted to challenge myself by choosing a smaller town----Xiahe in Gansu Province. I arrived in Lanzhou at around 5 am, but there were no buses to Xiahe. I managed to spot a policeman and attempted to explain my destination to him in simple English, praying that he would understand. I wasn't sure that he did but I just followed him anyway as I had no choice. He took me on a bus and I didn't know where I was going. Luckily, I met a student who explained to me in English that the policeman was taking me to another bus station where I could take a bus to Xiahe. During this conversation a third man said he was also a policeman and would help me buy tickets. But as he was not in uniform, I was a little doubtful. The uniformed policeman told me it was OK to go with the third man, so I got off the bus with the so-called policeman who at this point, disappeared and I was left in the middle of nowhere. I stood panicking. Around one minute later a police car came and stopped right by me. It was the un-uniformed policeman. I got into the car and he dropped me directly at the bus station, and helped me buy the ticket. This is one of many experiences that I have had in China. I realized that however different this culture was, there was one thing that would always stand out--kindness. In the west we seem to lack the foundation of trust, yet in China it seems that there will always be someone to answer your questions and lead you the right way. According to the text, what impressed the author deeply in China? On the coast of Brazil lies its most famous city Rio de Janeiro. Rio is a beautiful place to visit. It is full of exciting parades, historical architecture and natural beauty. The most famous time of year in Rio is the spring when the samba schools organize a giant parade of dance, music and costumes. Samba is a type of fast Brazilian music, which is perfect for dancing. The carnival lasts two days and over 20 samba schools perform, a total of 70,000 people in brightly coloured costumes, all dancing and singing! It is a magnificent spectacle and millions of people watch the carnival on television around the world. Rio de Janeiro is a religious city and it is full of churches. Some, like the former Imperial Church, were built over 400 years ago while others, like the Metropolitan Cathedral, are very modern. The Metropolitan Cathedral was built in 1976 and is so large that 20,000 people can stand inside at one time! Another important religious site in Rio is the Corcovado hill. On the top of the hill, along with a small church, stands a 30-metre high statue of Jesus with his arms stretched out. From this point you can see every part of the city. The Corcovado Hill is famous for _ . A year ago August, Dave Fuss lost his job driving a truck for a small company in west Michigan. His wife, Gerrie, was still working in the local school cafeteria , but work for Dave was scarce (,), and the price of everything was rising. The Fusses were at risk of joining the millions of Americans who have lost their homes in recent years. Then Dave and Gerrie received a timely gift--$7,000,a legacy from their neighbors Ish and Arlene Hatch, who died in an accident . " It really made a difference when we were going under financially, " says Dave. But the Fusses weren't the only folks in Alto and the neighboring town of Lowell to receive unexpected legacy from the Hatches. Dozens of other families were touched by the Hatches' generosity. In some cases, it was a few thousand dollars ; in others, it was more than $100,000. It surprised nearly everyone that the Hatches had so much money, more than $3 million--they were an elderly couple who lived in an old house on what was left of the family farm . Children of the Great Depression, Ish and Arlene were known for their habit of saving, They thrived on comparison shopping and would routinely go from store to store, checking prices before making a new purchase . Through the years, the Hatches paid for local children to attend summer camp when their parents couldn't afford it. "Ish and Arlene never asked if you needed anything," says their friend Sand Van Weelden, "They could see things they could do to make you happier, and they would do them. Even more extraordinary was that the Hatches had their farmland distributed (;). It was the Hatches' wish that their legacy--a legacy of kindness as much as one of dollars and cents should enrich the whole community and last for generations to come. Neighbors helping neighbors ----that was Ish and Arlene Hatch's story. Why would the Hatches routinely go from store? Life in the 2100s will be very different from life today. Between then and now many changes will take place. What will the changes be? The population is growing fast. There will be more people in the world and most of them will live longer than people do now. Computers will be much smaller and more useful, and there will be at least one in every home. And computer studies will be one of the important subjects in schools then. People will work fewer hours than they do now and they will have more free time for sports, watching TV and traveling. Traveling will be much easier and cheaper. More people will go to other countries on holiday. There will be changes in our food, too. Maybe no one will eat meat every day. Instead, they eat more fruit and vegetables. Maybe people will be healthier. Work in the future will be different, too. Dangerous and hard work canl be done by robots, because of this, many people will not have work to do. This will be a problem. The robots will _ in the future. We can make mistakes at any age. Some mistakes we make are about money. But most mistakes are about people. Why do we go wrong about our friends? Sometimes people hide their real meanings when they say something. And if we don't really listen, we miss the feeling behind the words. Suppose someone tells you, "You're a lucky dog." That's being friendly. But "lucky dog"? There's a bit of envy in those words. Maybe he doesn't see himself. But "lucky dog" puts you down a little. He may mean you don't deserve your luck. How can you tell the real meaning behind someone's words? One way is to take a good look at the person talking. Do his words fit the way he looks? Do his words agree with the tone of voice? His posture ? The look in his eyes? Stop and think. If you spend the minute thinking about the real meaning behind one's words, it may save another mistake. According to the passage, the writer most probably is a _ .
A job is more than a job,especially to the old. "It's not the money that matters,but the sense of self-worth."56-year-old Cbeng Wonlan said. So,every day Ms Cheng carries a bag of parcels,letters and documents and does her rounds in North Point. She's a courier Five years ago.Ms Cheng was a nurse at a private clinic. She had worked there for 30 years but was Jobless when the doctor migrated. It was difficult for her to find another job as a nurse. "People do not trust my ability when they learn how old I am,"she said. After two years of searching, she eventually found another nursing job. But then after two years,she quit Why? 'My colleagues were young and they didn't understand me because of my age. They often asked me 'You are so old what are you working for? I was very unhappy" She said. So while the rest of her family left for work,she was left to lonely boredom at home .Then her neighbours told her about Employee's Retraining Board(ERB)offering retraining courses for older people. These courses are specifically designed to encourage the older people back to work. "I was interested in courier work. I didn't think my age was a barrier because I was fit." She said .Upon graduating,Ms Cheng was offered a job by the Speeding Shuttle Courier Service Company. But then Ms Cheng was faced with a conflict:she was caught between honour and employment"I felt embarrassed about carrying and delivering letters and parcels." she said. It took Ms Cheng 24 hours to make up her mind:there was nothing wrong or embarrassing about doing the job. So she went off to work as a courier. Ms Cheng's employer is delighted with her responsible attitude and said."I hired older people because they were able and reliable .Age is not an important factor but attitude is Many old people will not run from difficulties but the young ones will" Employee Retraining Board is a plan for _ . A. finding jobs for older people B. teaching new skills to older people C. training older people to be healthier D. providing older people with chances to earn money Answer: B Rubbing calcium on a streak plate A. describes a white mineral B. leaves behind bits of white C. tells a lot about calcium D. breaks the calcium into chunks Answer: B American researchers have found that variations in a single gene can be used to predict if someone is likely to take their own life. Researchers at John Hopkins University, in Baltimore, Maryland, found that the gene SKA2 stopped functioning correctly in people at risk of suicide. The SKA2 gene is found in the prefrontal cortex of the brain, and is involved in preventing negative thoughts and controlling abnormal behavior. If there isn't enough SKA2, or it is changed in some way, the body cannot control levels of cortisol . Previous research has shown that people who attempt suicide or who take their own lives have large amounts of cortisol in their systems. A test could allow doctors or psychologists to place patients on "suicide watch" and disable their access to drugs or equipment which they could use to end their own life. The research was reported in The American Journal of Psychology. "We need to study this in a larger sample but we believe that we might be able to monitor the blood to identify those at risk of suicide. After all, suicide is a major preventable public health problem, but we have been stymied in our prevention efforts because we have no steady way to predict those who are at increased risk of killing themselves," says study leader Dr Zachary Kaminsky, an assistant professor of psychological and behavioral sciences. "With a test like ours, we may be able to cut down suicide rates by identifying those people and intervening early enough to head off a catastrophe ." The blood test managed to predict those with the most severe risk of suicide with 90 per cent accuracy. They could also spot if someone had already attempted suicide with 96 per cent accuracy, simply by looking at the levels of SKA2. According to the text, those who attempt suicide _ . A. have variations in the gene SKA2 B. have too much SKA2 C. have fewer abnormal behaviors than others D. have fewer amounts of cortisol in their systems Answer: A Which boy hasn't dreamed of being a cool secret agent ? The wonderful fighting abilities and the world-saving adventures are much more colourful than most people's everyday lives. Well, Cody Banks is just like any other boy,except that he is not just dreaming. He has a big secret his friends never know about. He was trained to be a spy by a special CIA programme,which was made to look like a summer camp. He learned high-speed driving,hand-to-hand fighting and the use of high-tech tools. After proving he could become a young hero by saving a baby from a runaway car,Banks gets his first real task. He must make friends with a popular girl at school,Natalie Connors. Then,he must spy on her father,a scientist who has developed a dangerous technology .Banks must stop a group of bad people from forcing Natalie's father into using the technology to endanger the world. The CIA may have taught him first-class self-defence moves,but they didn't show him how to talk to girls. Banks has zero ability when it comes to dealing with girls. How can he get around his problem and get an invitation to the girl's upcoming birthday party? Will he finally become Natalie's boyfriend and find out whatever he can about her father's work? Agent Cody Banks has everything that young people are interested in: big explosions, breath-taking performances and funny girl-dating experiences. It was listed No.2 in the American box office last week. "This story is interesting and fun for the whole family to enjoy,and especially cool for young boys," said Paul Perkins, a film reviewer in theUS. Banks wanted to go to Natalie's birthday party to _ . A. meet her father B. know more people C. make friends with her D. steal some information Answer: C Mr. Johnson worked in a hospital. Three years ago, when he was sixty-eight, he retired. But a lot of people come to ask him to look them over. He's very busy in the daytime and he wants to have a good rest at night. Half a year ago a young man moved in the room upstairs. At first he was quiet. The old man was satisfied with him. But now he has several friends. They often came to see him in the evening. They talked loudly, sang and danced. Mr Johnson was unhappy, but he didn't say anything. It was the young man's birthday yesterday. All his friends came at seven in the evening. They drank too much and made a lot of noise. The old man couldn't fall asleep the whole night. This morning, as soon as he got up, he went upstairs and began to knock at the door. The young man opened for him and asked him to come in. "Did you hear me beat the ceiling last night, young man?" asked Mr Johnson. "It doesn't matter, sir," said the young man, " I don't mind it. It was very noisy in my room, too." A lot of people come to ask Mr Johnson to look them over because _ . A. he's kind to them B. he's very polite C. they don't pay him for it D. his medical skill is good Answer: D
A family living in an apartment house in the suburbs of a large city had a cat of which they were very much fond. One day the cat got sick and finally dies. As there was no back yard to their home in which to bury the cat. Father was forced to wrap the cat up in a newspaper and take it with him, being carefully reminded by Mother to throw the package from the train window when on the way to his work. Father placed his bag upon the package shelf over his seat, but started to have a conversation with a traveler and forgot to throw the bag out of the window. He took the package on to his office, thinking that he would deal with it on his way home that evening. But again he got to talking to someone on the train, forgot about the cat, and still had the package under his arm when he arrived home. His wife scolded him about it and Father promised to take care of the matter the next day. But once more his memory failed him. When for the third time he arrived home still carrying the package, the poor Mother became quite angry. "You've got to deal with that cat right now," she said. "Put it in the stove right now as the fireman is seldom there at this hour." Well, Father decided perhaps he'd better take it to the room and put it in the stove, but as he lifted the bag from a table, it fell open, and to their surprise there was a boiled ham! (2,6) What's your opinion about the result? A It was Mother who boiled the cat. B Father took a wrong package from the train. C Father had put another package on the table. D Somebody changed the cat into a boiled ham. Answer: C. Father had put another package on the table. The barks of dogs surrounded me as I got off the bus. They ran around their cages jumping up and down. My heart became soft at the sight of these poor creatures. I entered the building and discovered more unwanted animals. A white rabbit jumped around in its cage. I walked around the shelter,screaming "oh" and "ah" at every animal,as they looked out of their cages,waiting for love and help. A pit bull particularly interested me. She was as gentle as a baby. I slightly touched her head with affection as she sat on the floor. The pit bull licked my hand with appreciation as she cried. A litter of puppies were in the cage opposite the pit bull. They snuggled together for warmth as one of the puppies let out a weak bark,as if calling to its mother. Recognizing my love and willingness to help these puppies,the director suggested I give them a bath. I lifted one of the puppies,Yukie,from his brothers and sisters. His black fur was as soft as cotton candy. I held him tightly. The sweet smell of liquid soap surrounded the wash area. The puppy seemed like a tiny fish,swimming delightedly in a pool. Water dropped down his black,soft ears as he tried to shake off the heavy water. I wrapped Yukie in a towel as he licked my hand. After all the cleaning and drying,he looked as if he'd come from an expensive pet shop. I kissed his little face as I unwillingly placed him back. Next,I walked some dogs around the shelter. They jumped out of their cages,unable to hold back their urge for exercise. I ran around with them,while touching them gently and talking to them. They moved back when the time came to put them back. The time came to leave. I silently promised these creatures to come and again provide them with love. The sad eyes and the faces of these creatures will always be impressed on my memory. Which of the following is TRUE about Yukie? A It enjoyed the bath very much. B The author decided to adopt it. C It had black fur with white spots. D Yukie could be sold at a high price. Answer: A. It enjoyed the bath very much. How to Memorize Things Quicker Than Other People? The following is my advice for you. Step 1: Preparation To improve your memorization, pay close attention to which environment you choose. For most people, this means choosing an area with few distractions, though some people do advance greatly by learning in public areas. Figure out what is most conducive to your learning so that you can get started. Next, start drinking some tea. I could link you to many scientific studies that confirm green tea as a natural catalyst for improving memory. Mechanically speaking, our ability to recall information comes down to the strength between neurons in our mind. The more you exercise the repetition, the stronger it is, resulting in the ability to memorize. As we get older, poisonous chemicals will damage our neurons, leading to memory loss. Green tea contains compounds, however, that block this poison and keep your brain cells working properly a lot longer. Step 2: Record what you're memorizing This is especially useful if you're trying to memorize information from a lecture. Use a tape recorder to track all of the acquired facts being spoken and listen to it. If you're trying to memorize a speech, record your reading of the speech and listen to the record. Obviously, this is most helpful for auditory learners, and it's also useful because it ensures that you're getting more context from a lecture that will help you learn the information faster. Step 3: Write everything down Before you start trying to recall everything from memory, write and re-write the information. This will help you become more familiar with what you're trying to memorize. Doing this while listening to your tape recorder can also help you keep a lot of the data. This is most useful for experiential learners. Step 4: Section your notes. Now that you have everything written down in one set of notes, separate them into sections. This is ideal for visual learners, especially if you use color1 coding to distinguish between subjects. This will help you break everything down and start classing the information being recorded in your brain. Step 5: Apply repetition to cumulative memorization For each line of text, repeat it a few times and try to recall it without looking. As you memorize each set of text, be cumulative by adding the new information to what you've just learned. This will keep everything within your short-term memory from fading. Keep doing this until you have memorized that section and you are able to recall the entire thing. Do not move on to another section until you have memorized that one completely. This is mostly visual learning, but if you are speaking aloud, then you are also applying auditory. Step 6: Teach it to someone (or yourself) The most effective method for me when I was in school was to teach the information to someone else. You can do this in a variety of ways. You can lecture the knowledge to someone sitting right in front of you (or the mirror, if you can't convince anyone to sit through it) and explain everything from your memory. If what you've learned needs to be recited word by word, then do this in front of someone as well in order to get a feel for what it will be like to recite the text to the intended audience. For auditory learners, to memorize better and faster, what is the most important? A To record themselves reading aloud and listen to themselves speaking. B To track all of the acquired facts being spoken and listen to it. C To get more contexts from a lecture and learn the information faster. D To record and listen to what they're to memorize. Answer: D. To record and listen to what they're to memorize. What are the specific traits that will assist executives to climb the ladder of success? Opinions vary widely. Given almost equal qualifications and circumstances, some claim the success factor is largely a matter of luck--being in the right place at the right time. Others speak of an almost crazy devotion to work, combined with a degree of ruthlessness. One"expert" believes that it's undoubtedly a matter of how much education your mother had. To make it big, executives must possess four basic skills: First, drive . Business success takes an unusual amount of energy. A successful executive -- almost by definition--is a striver. He will get tense when he is not striving. Second, people sense. Some say being able to judge people is more important than a high IQ. The skill can be instinctual , but in most cases it is painstakingly learned. Third, communications ability. Different executives make themselves understood in different ways, Some transmit ideas best face to face; others are masters of the telephone call; still others are persuasive writers. One way or another, they all communicate clearly. Fourth, calm under pressure. No businessman will get very far if he chokes up. According to the passage, a high IQ is_. A instinctual B painstakingly learnt C in existence by nature D more trivial than people sense Answer: D. more trivial than people sense In a survey of 1,500 European hotel managers, Americans were ranked second, behind the Japanese, as the world's best tourists. In the survey, conducted in April by the online travel site Expedia's German branch, Americans were seen as the most likely to try to speak a foreign language and the most interested in tasting local food. Americans came in third, behind the Japanese and British, as the "most polite" tourists, and third, behind the Japanese and Germans, as "best behaved". And ---- Americans were ranked far and away as the world's most generous tippers and biggest spenders. On the other hand, Americans were seen as the shabbiest dressers, the most likely to complain and the second noisiest. Who is louder? Only the Italians. Some of the other findings: Russians were as the least polite travelers, followed by the Israelis and French. The stingiest tippers: the Germans, followed by the French and Israelis. Italians, by far, were ranked as the best dressers, followed by the French and Spanish. In terms of bad dressing, the British were a distant second to Americans, followed by the Germans. Who's the most unwilling to try speaking in a foreign language? The French, the British and the Italians, in that order. The Chinese are the most reluctant to taste foreign food, followed closely by ---- this is strange ---- the British, whose home _ is probably the world's most seriously laughed at ( a little unfairly, perhaps). And, finally, the overall award for "worst tourist in the world" goes to the French, with the Indians and Chinese. Considering the best behavior, the tourists ranking second are from _ . A Britain B America C Japan D Germany Answer: D. Germany
A generation of parents raised according to the permissive principles of postwar childcare experts is rediscovering the importance of saying "No" to their children.They are beginning to reclaim the house as their own.Even spanking is back. While today's parents do not want to return to the Victorian era --when children were seen, spanked, but not heard--there is a growing acknowledgement that the _ approach produced a generation of children running rings around puzzled parents struggling to restore order. Janthea Brigden, a trainer with Parent Network, says: " The problem is that parents don't want all that controlling things.What they want is to be able to discipline their children through teaching and encouraging." According to Steve Biddulph, the author of More Secrets of Happy Children, the permissive era was often just an excuse to ignore children.He believes discipline involves firm but friendly teaching and does not need to involve punishment.He teaches a method called "stand and think" , where a child is helped to figure out what is wrong and how to get it right.Mr.Biddulph understands parents using spanking, but lie is against it."The happiest children are those who know Mum and Dad are in charge.As children grow into their teens, more negotiation can take place, such as: Prove you can be home safely by 1l pm, and we might let you stay out till midnight." " There is no good evidence that an occasional, properly administered spanking is harmful in any way." says John Rosemond, an American who has won a huge following by calling for "parent power".It is pure nonsense to believe that restricting children to their room as a punishment could make them have negative feelings about the room and cause sleep problems. Mr.Rosemond tracks the overturning of traditional family values to the end of the Second World War.He blames the change of the American family into a child-centered, self-respect-oriented (...) unit on psychologists and social workers, who for 30 years have weakened traditional approaches.Previous generations of American parents raised children not by the book, but by self-evident truth, he says. _ He says that those phrases contain time-honored understanding and principles that helped children to develop what we refer to as the "three Rs" of parenting: respect, responsibility and resourcefulness. What does the passage mainly talk about? A The causes of discipline problems. B The best way to discipline children. C Different opinions on ways of parenting. D Differences between parents of different times Answer: C. Different opinions on ways of parenting. Many leaves appear green because the leaves A resist green light. B bend all colors except green. C reflect green light. D reflect all colors except green. Answer: C. reflect green light. John: Here's a good shop. Shall we buy mother's birthday present here? Mary: Yes, that's a good idea. Shall we go inside? Tom: No. Let's look in the window. Shall we buy her a sweater? Anne: Er, no. It'll soon be summer. Let's buy her a blouse to wear. There's a nice one in the window. John: No, she has two blouses. Let's buy a ring. Mary: Oh, no! They're diamond rings. Look at the price. The cheapest is $15. John: A real diamond ring is at least $500.They only look like diamonds. Tom: Shall we buy a table? It's only $15. Anne: It doesn't look good, just like a big box. Mum likes chairs. Tom: But they haven't any here. Mary: What about a pen? So cheap! Only $10. John: She has a lot of pens and pencils. All of them are new. Tom: Oh, look here. These flowers are beautiful. Mary: They aren't real and will never die. John: And they're the cheapest of all these things. Yes, let's buy them. Anne: All right. How much are the flowers? A At least $10. B Less than $10. C About $15. D Only $15. Answer: B. Less than $10. Hello! The University of Hawaii is located just outside of downtown Honolulu in green Manoa valley.We invite you to visit and want to let you know about our learning programs, the richness of our culture, the beauty of our environment, the spirit of our students and teachers, advanced equipment and modern buildings.We look forward to seeing you come.The following information is given so that your visit will be as easy as possible. You should get in touch with us ahead of time.You may directly contact the office of the College to schedule appointment service at 1--877-447-3233. To arrange a campus tour, please hand in a request through our Online Campus Visit Request Form. Tours are on weekdays: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 9:00a.m.--9:30a.m.: Meet with a University Representative 9:30a.m.--11:30a.m.: General Campus Tour with a UHM (The University of Hawaii Manoa ) student Tuesday & Thursday 1:00p.m.--l:30p.m.: Meet with a University Representative l:30p.m.--3:30p.m.: General Campus Tour with a UHM student You also can get in touch with us by: Phone Number: 1 (877) 447-3233, or 1 (808) 956-6524 E-mail: visituhm@hawaii.edu How do you get to UHM? It is in Honolulu less than 3 miles away from Waikiki and about 9 miles from Honolul International Airport. By car: From Waikiki and from Honolulu International Airport Taxi: Taxi fare to UHM is about $25.00, except baggage charges and a tip of 10 to 15percent. Public bus: Luggage is allowed on city buses. Bus stops are on the second floor of the airport.A one-way fare is $2.00(in exact change). About the University of Hawaii, all is true except _ . A It has advanced equipment and modern buildings. B It offers visitors thoughtful campus tour. C It is located in the center of Honolulu. D Your visit there can be accompanied by a UHM student. Answer: C. It is located in the center of Honolulu. Who says Americans worship the almighty dollar? It's not true. Having enough free time is more important to most Americans than being rich, according to a new survey. Only 13 percent of more than 2,400 people questioned in the telephone survey ranked being wealthy as most important to them, while 67 percent ranked free time as their top priority , higher than having a successful career, getting married, and having children. "Everyone wants free time to do the things they want to do, young, middle-aged or old," said Richard Morin, of the Pew Social ~ Demographic Trends Project, which conducted the survey. "So our desire to play unites us." The survey also showed that people who were educated in university valued career success over wealth, so did middle-aged people. Not surprisingly, those who didn't have money, ranked wealth very highly. This included minorities, first generation Americans and less educated people. The survey also revealed that a disproportionate number of people under the age of 30 and retired people in the group made $ 20,000 or less a year. But the emphasis on wealth lessens with age, with younger people putting value on it but hardly any seniors. "It just diminishes with time as the reality sets in that you would never be rich," Morin said. "But also, as for old people the reality sets in that you don't have to be rich to lead a very comfortable and fulfilling life. " While wealth was not at the top of people's list of priorities, 43 percent still said it was somewhat important. The survey showed that the majority of American people ranked _ as the most important. A wealth B a successful career C marriage D free time Answer: D. free time
Some animals may use coloration for Robert Todd Duncan was born in 1903 in the southern city of Danville,Kentucky. His mother was his first music teacher. As a young man,he continued his music study in Indianapolis,Indiana. In 1930,he completed more musical education at Columbia University in New York City. Then he moved to Washington. For fifteen years, he taught music at Howard University in Washington. At that time, not many black musicians were known for writing or performing classical music. Teaching at Howard gave Duncan the chance to share his knowledge of classical European music with a mainly black student population. He taught special ways to present the music.These special ways became known as the Duncan Technique. Besides teaching,Duncan sang in several operas with performers who were all black. But it seemed that he always would be known mainly as a concert artist. However,his life took a different turn in the middle 1930s. At that time, the famous American music writer George Gershwin was looking for someone to play a leading part in his new work Porgy and Bess. The music critic of the New York Times newspaper suggested Todd Duncan. Duncan had almost decided not to try for the part as he knew it would not be easy to get it. But he changed his mind. He sang a piece from an Italian opera for Gershwin. He had sung only a few minutes when Gershwin offered him the part. He became famous because of the part in Porgy and Bess. Todd Duncan gained fame as an opera singer and concert artist. But his greatest love in music was teaching. When he stopped teaching at Howard,he continued giving singing lessons in his Washington home until the week before his death. We can infer that Robert Todd Duncan didn't at first want to try for the part mainly because _ . Learning to drive is important to the independence of teenagers, but it is also a great responsibility.Although having a law that keeps 16-year-old drivers from having more than one teenager in the car with them at first seems unfair, there are convincing reasons for this requirement. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that teens are four times more likely than older drivers to be involved in an automobile accident.It also reports that 16-and 17-year-old drivers are twice as likely to have an accident if they have two teenage friends in the car and four times as likely to have one if they have three or more teenage friends in the car with them.Fatal ( ) crashes of 16-year-old drivers involve the highest percentage of speeding, driver error, and number of passengers.This information is enough to cause any reasonable person to wonder about the wisdom of allowing new teen drivers to take a carload of friends anywhere, even if the law permits it. A study at the National Institutes of Health indicates that the part of the human brain that controls judgment and evaluates the consequences of our actions might not be fully formed until the age of 25.Until this study, researchers had placed the age at 18.If this is true, it could explain the reckless behavior of many teens, behavior that often extends into their twenties.It also could be a strong reason for being cautious about the driving circumstances of young people. This is not the only study that indicates such caution is necessary.One study at Temple University in Philadelphia examines the results of peer pressure in risky driving situations.The study, which uses a driving game, has an individual guide a car through a course, both alone and in the presence of friends.Three different age groups participated in the study: 13-16, 18-22, and 24 and older.Members of the oldest group showed caution whether driving alone or with friends present, but the two younger groups took more chances when they were with their friends.Furthermore, because these drivers were accustomed to the noise and distraction of many passengers, they were unable to see their own mistakes.Once again, this is a good indication that a law restricting the number of teenagers in the car with a young driver is a good idea. With which statement would the author most likely disagree? Great Sale at Jenny's Come to Jenny's great sale on clothes, things for your room and things for school. We have jackets in black and brown for thirty-five dollars, sweaters in blue and red for fifteen dollars and bags in green and yellow for five dollars. See our great tables, beds and chairs. Get a new bookcase in brown and white for all your books. At Jenny's sale, they are only twenty dollars! Tomorrow is New Year's Day. Come to Jenny's store today! One day only! Everything is at the lowest price. Mike wants to buy two sweaters and a bookcase for his room, he will pay _ . One day, Anna was about to walk into her office, when the headmaster, Mr. Henry stopped her. "Now," he said, "I want you to tell me the truth, my dear." "Naturally," said Anna shortly, fearing that something terrible had happened. "I have had a most serious accusation made against you by Mrs. Bond." "Mrs. Bond?" said Anna, not understanding. Janet Bond was a quiet, little mouse of a child. As far as Anna could remember,she had never had cause to speak an angry word to the girl. "Mrs. Bond," went on Mr. Henry, "tells me that you scolded her daughter yesterday afternoon." "Scolded?" cried Anna. "I don't scold. At least not in school," she added honestly. "Mrs. Bond's story is that Janet was a little late back to school in the afternoon. She said that the child had to spend some time in the bathroom, which meant she set out from home a little late." "Just a minute," said Anna, beginning to understand. "She did come late, very late. I had marked her absent, of course. Then she wandered in, when we'd started our paper--cutting, and I believe I said she was a nuisance . She didn't appear to hear, and was certainly quite cheerful." "Ah, a nuisance." Mr. Henry jumped on the word. "You're sure you only said a nuisance." "I may not even have said that," Anna replied. "It was no more than slight displeasure that I felt and I certainly didn't scold."? "Mrs. Bond said that you called her child a blasted nuisance. Is that true?" "Indeed it isn't," said Anna, "The child or the mother has made it up!" Mr. Henry was satisfied with Anna's explanation. "Just as I thought, my dear, but of course I had to make sure." Mr. Henry considered Anna a _ teacher.
Question: Derrius Quarles, 19, had an unhappy childhood. But the Chicago teen didn't give up. He tried his best and won $1 million in college scholarships ! Now Derrius is a successful college student with a bright future. When Derrius was 4, his father was killed. His mother couldn't take care of him because of taking drugs. Derrius and his 9-year-old brother sometimes had to steal food to eat. Derrius felt different from other kids. In seventh grade, Derrius went to live in a foster home . His foster parents weren't nice to him. They told him that he'd never be anything in life. Derrius didn't do his best in school. The summer after ninth grade, that changed. Derrius had signed up for a biology class. He didn't go to class the first day. On the second day, he showed up late. His teacher took him outside. She told him he was smart, but that he was wasting his potential . The talk inspired him and he planned to prove that he could be anything if he worked hard enough. Adults at a summer program helped Derrius find out about scholarships he could earn to pay for college. In his senior year, Derrius filled out lots of applications. He told his friends, "You're not going to see me for a long time." Derrius's hard work paid off. He won more than $1 million in scholarships! He has a lot to be proud of. But he's most proud of helping others. Derrius gives speeches to teens, telling them how to find scholarships. In high school, Derrius got help buying a computer. He wanted to help others who needed them. Last year, he gave two laptops to high school students. There's a lot of work in his future. Derrius doesn't mind -- hard work has got him where he is today. He knows can take him anywhere. What does the author want to tell us? A. The way to win a scholarship to a college. B. The importance of family background. C. Never forget people who have helped you. D. Hard work pays off sooner or later. Answer: D Question: Whenever you buy something, it is possible that someone has already worn, eaten, or tested it to make sure it is safe and do what is supposed to do. But what if you wanted a special suit to keep a shark from hurting you? Who wants to test a product like it? "I do! " says Jeremiah Sullwan, a scientist in California "You have to believe in what you sell, right?" Sullivan. owns SharkArmor Tech, a company that makes a $ 49400 sharksuit that even a great white shark can' t bite through. Before Sullivan could sell his sharksuits, he needed to make sure his design would work. Sullivan put on the sharksuit and jumped into a shark feeding ground. "I need to know exactly what a human body could expect to go through," he says. Sharks moved all around him and then attacked his arm. Sullivan felt the bite but no teeth. He was uncomfortable at times, but not painful. The suit works! " "I've now been bitten thousands of times but. never badly," says Sullivan, who now works with shows like Wild Kingdom, and programs for the Discovery Channel's Shark Week. So,are you all set to buy a sharksuit? Before you do, you should know that the suit weighs 20 pounds and makes swimming almost impossible-- _ . And in fact, Sullivan wants only professionals, such as filmmakers, scientists and drivers, to have sharksuits. Why? Because even if someone is wearing a sharksuit, they could get seriously hurt if they treat diving with a 4,OOO-pound shark as a game. During sharksuit testing, sharks have thrown Sullivan to a bottom o/ reefs and tried to take him off into the deepest part of the ocean. "However," Sullivan says," you don't need to be afraid of sharks. It's actually pretty hard to get a shark to bite you, " We can learn from the text that the sharksuit _ A. works well for swimmers B. is light but uncomfortable C. keeps sharks away from humans D. is designed for special purpose Answer: D Question: A lamb was on her way home. Suddenly a wolf came up and stopped her. The lamb said, "I know you are going to eat me. But before you eat me, I would like to hear you play the flute . You can play the flute better than anyone else, even the shepherd himself." The wolf was so happy. And he took out his flute and began to play. The wolf finished one piece. Then the lamb said some good words and asked him to play another piece again. The shepherd and the dogs heard the sound. Then _ ran to the lamb and the wolf. They caught the wolf and saved the lamb. The lamb asked the wolf to _ . A. run with her B. sing a song C. play the flute D. say good words Answer: C Question: Mark Twain was a great writer. He was from the USA. He was born in 1835. He was also a famous speaker. He was famous for his sense of humour. Many people liked to listen to him talk because he liked to tell some interesting stories to make people laugh all the time. One day Mark Twain was going to a small town because of his writing. Before he was going to leave, one of his friends said to him that there were always a lot of mosquitoes in the town and told him that he'd better not go there. Mark Twain waved his hand and said, "It doesn't matter. The mosquitoes are no relatives of mine. I don't think they will come to visit me." After he arrived at the town, Mark Twain stayed in a small hotel near the station. He went into his room, but when he was just about to have a rest, quite a few mosquitoes flew about him. The waiters felt very sorry about that. "I'm very sorry, Mr. Mark Twain. There are too many mosquitoes in our town." One of them said to him. Mark Twain, however, made a joke, saying to the waiter, "The mosquitoes are very clever. They know my room number. They didn't come into the wrong room." What he said made all the people present laugh heartily. But that night Mark Twain slept well. Do you know why? That was because all the waiters in the hotel were driving the mosquitoes away for him during the whole night. The waiters felt sorry because _ . A. they did something wrong to Mark Twain B. their hotel was too small C. the room was not very clean D. there were quite a few mosquitoes in Mark Twain's room Answer: D Question: " Yeah! Auntie is here! " screamed my husband's niece and nephew together. " Let me get the door!" " No, let me !" Each one's goal was to get there first and open the door for their Auntie, Me! I couldn't get enough of them, of their youthful love of life, and their excitement every time I visited! To be honest, it was partially because of the Surprise Travel Bag that I carried in. It was a tradition that I started when they were young. Each time I went to see them, I would take a large bag filled with toys, coloring books, candy, magic markers and "games". The contents were different but the rules were not. They included: one may get a turn to choose what activity we would do; another may take a turn to go first when we played a game; ..... We shared the treats after the games and cleaned up after we played . Then, sadly, they watched the Surprise Travel Bag go away with their Auntie. Now my niece and nephew have grown into young adults. They spend most of their visits listening to their iPods, messaging on their phones.... I completely forgot that I had put my two Surprise Travel Bags in the basement until my husband found them this weekend. I held the bags tightly in my arms, remembering our laughter and fun-filled get-togethers. My big decision now is to whom I will pass the Surprise Travel Bags so that the fun that the bags help to create can continue. The author's purpose in writing the passage is to _ . A. sell her Surprise Travel Bags B. show us how to travel happily C. share her good memories D. teach us how to play with children Answer: C
Question: The amazing image shows the world's largest ever cruise ship, complete with beach pool, shopping mall, rock-climbing walls, outdoor amphitheater and New York-style loft suites .The "traveling city" is being built on dry-docks in Finland by Royal Caribbean International, and she is named Oasis of the Seas. Almost 1,200 feet long, 154 feet wide and rising 213 feet above the water line, the Oasis of the Seas will be able to host 3,000 crew to service every passenger's need.In addition to the size, the Oasis of the Seas will also be the first ship that attracts people by the cruise line's new neighborhood concept: 7 distinct themed areas, including Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone.Of all these areas, the excellent zone will be "Central Park". Protected from the weather by a clear screen to let in the light, the Central Park area will be themed on Caribbean plants and leaves reflecting the area which the ship will eventually cruise in.And the park zone will have different restaurants, bars and boutique shops, bringing the idea of "floating city" to reality. In addition, Oasis of the Seas will also include a rock wall, over 15 restaurants and bars, a casino , a theatre, two night-clubs and the largest freshwater pool on any cruise liner. "Royal Caribbean is proud to introduce a number of 'firsts' that the world has never seen before," said Adam Goldstein, "Oasis of the Seas is the ultimate expression of the creativity and imagination found on all of our ships, providing guests with a collection of experiences that will offer an incredible cruise vacation." It can be inferred from the passage that _ . A. the Oasis of the Seas hasn't been built well so far B. 7 distinct themed areas are being built on dry-docks C. the "traveling city" can hold 3,000 passengers D. the "traveling city" is a beauty spot Answer: A Question: When it rains, do your shoes get wet? Of course they do! But you can buy these pretty red and white "Umbrella for Shoes". They keep the rain off wet. Who sweeps the floor at your home? Do you do it yourself? Perhaps your mother does it. Well, now you just need a cat. Get a cat and buy these four "Dusters for Cats ". You talk too long on the phone, don't you? Most teenagers do! Save time - buy the "Telephone Dumb-bell "! It weighs five kilos. Then your calls will be less than five minutes. Do your friends sometimes come up behind you and make you jump? Do cars come around the corner when you try to cross the road? Well, you can solve that problem with these modern "Forward - backward Glasses." Look forward with the right eye and back with the left. The text seems to tell us that we can solve some problems with the four _ . A. drawings B. inventions C. animals D. shoes Answer: B Question: Everyone knows that chickens lay eggs . Most people know that all the other birds do as well. But have you ever thought about other animals that lay eggs? They include bees, snakes and some sea animals. When a mother lays eggs, many more babies can be born at once, or in a few days, because there is very little development inside the parent. Animals that do not lay eggs often have fewer babies. Animals lay many eggs because other animals may eat the babies. However, even though some of their babies are eaten, they will still have some more to continue their family. Some animals that lay eggs do not take care of their young. Turtles come onto the beach and dig holes. Then they put their eggs in the sand and leave. A turtle mother can lay as many as 150 eggs. When the babies come out of the eggs, they must find their own way to the ocean. They must learn how to live on their own. Many young turtles get eaten by other animals. Most eggs have an outside shell that keeps the growing animal inside safe. The egg shell also keeps the young animal from drying out. After the animal is fully developed, it comes out of the egg. The animal grows bigger and bigger. Then it can have its own young. Egg shells can be used to _ . A. make eggs more beautiful B. make eggs more tasty C. let the young animals dry D. protect the young animals Answer: D Question: In China, people usually set off firecrackers to celebrate Spring Festival. But this year seemed very quiet. It was really different. A man called Zhang Wei was asked by a reporter in an interview. He said that his friends and he hadn't set off a single firecracker. "We all suffered from last month's smog . If we don't call an end to the firecracker, the environment will get worse and worse during the holiday." said Zhang Wei. He put up a notice in his community in Jinan, the capital of Shandong Province. In the notice, he called on more people to set off fewer firecrackers during this year's Spring Festival holiday. Lots of parents agreed with Zhang Wei's idea. They said that they hated the noise of firecrackers. The noise used to wake up their babies too early. The babies really needed quiet mornings, More Chinese looked forward to celebrating the holiday in a greener way. They decided not to set off firecrackers. They also decided not to waste food. They said that the new celebrations sounded fashionable. "My family didn't buy any fireworks this year. Instead, we donated the money to charity. It's good for the environment and charity as well." Internet user "Fighter" wrote on Sina Weibo. ,A, B, C, D,. (10) .Lots of parents hated the noise of firecrackers because _ . A. they couldn't afford to buy them. B. firecrackers were too expensive. C. firecrackers might cause fire D. the noise might wake up their babies. Answer: D Question: Statistically, air travel is by far the safest way to travel, and you can make flying even safer, just by following these simple rules. As your chances of being involved in an air accident are practically nil , many of these tips concern what you should and shouldn't do to make your journey safer when you are airborne . Fly on non-stop routes Most accidents occur during the takeoff, climb, descent and landing phases of a flight, so flying non-stop reduces your exposure to these complex procedures. Choose larger aircraft. w.w.w.k.s.5.u.c.o.m Although small aircrafts have very good safety records, _ with more than 30 passenger seats are designed to comply with much stricter regulations and are tested more regularly to make sure they still comply. Also, in the unlikely event of a serious accident, larger aircraft provide a better opportunity for passenger survival. Pay attention to the pre-flight safety briefing The information may seem repetitious , but it's worth listening to the flight attendants. And even if you've flown before, it doesn't mean you know everything about the aircraft you're on, such as the location of the closest emergency exit. Store things safely Never put very heavy articles in the overhead storage bins. They may fall out when someone opens the bin and cause injury. Also, the bin may not be able to hold heavier objects during turbulence . Keep our seat belt fastened while you are seated Cabin crew always tell you this, but it's important. You would be seriously injured if the plane hits unexpected turbulence. Always fasten your seat belt if you are told to. _ of flying is this: If you are told to do something, do it first and ask questions later. Let the flight attendant pour your hot drinks Flight attendants are trained to handle hot drinks like coffee or tea in a crowded aisle on a moving aircraft, so allow them to pour the drink and hand it to you. Never ask to take a coffee pot from one of them. Which of the following is NOT true? A. Larger planes have more safety checks and are safer in an accident. B. Take-offs are safer on non-stop flights than landings. C. Every aircraft is different, so the safety procedures may be different. D. Seat belts should be worn to protect against turbulence. Answer: B
Science Daily--Kids may roll their eyes when their mothers asks them about their school day, but answering her may actually help them learn. New research from Vanderbilt University reveals that children learn the solution to a problem best when they explain it to their mom. "We knew that children learn well with their moms or with a peer, but we did not know if that was because they were getting feedback and help," Bethany Rittle-Johnson, the study's lead author and assistant professor of psychology at Vanderbilt's Peabody College of education and human development, said. "In this study, we just had the children's mothers listen, without providing any assistance. We've found that by simply listening, a mother helps her child learn." Rittle-Johnson believes the new finding can help parents better assist their children with their schoolwork, even when they are not sure of the answer themselves. Although the researchers used children and their mothers in the study, they believe the same results will hold true whether the person is the child's father, grandparent, or other familiar persons. "The basic idea is that it is really effective to try to get kids to explain things themselves instead of just telling them the answer," she said. "Explaining their reasoning, to a parent or perhaps to other people they know, will help them understand the problem and apply what they have learned to other situations. We saw that this simple act of listening by mom made a difference in the quality of the child's explanations and how well they could solve more difficult problems later on. Which of the following best gives the main idea of the passage? A. Children learn better when their mom is hearing their explaining. B. Children learn better if they find the solution to a problem themselves. C. Parents should not provide any assistance to their children's schoolwork. D. A mom should listen more to their children when they have problems at school. Answer: A. Children learn better when their mom is hearing their explaining. Credit cards let people buy things now and pay for them over months or even years.But some people get deep into debt:Some banks have terms and charges that can make it harder for people to pay off that debt.In the United States,there are calls for stronger government supervision of the credit card industry. _ In 2004,Americans had about $800 billion in credit card debt.Now they own about $968 billion. Critics say banks made it too easy to get credit cards.But that may be changing.The crisis in the housing and credit they call markets is beginning to affect the credit card industry.More payments are late.Charges for late payments are a growing source of profit for banks.But late payments can also signal bad debts. The central bank,the Federal Reserve,says twothirds of American banks have recently reported tighter lending requirements.Many people report having their credit limits reduced without warning. Some lawmakers are concerned that cardholders do not have enough protections from what abusive policies.These include actions like raising interest rates because of an unrelated event.Also,banks may raise the chances of a late payment by changing monthly payment dates for credit cards. According to a survey,82% of Americans think credit cards provide a valuable service.But a majority,58%,say they do not trust credit card companies.And three out of four think the government should regulate the industry more closely.Three out of four people feel there is always some condition that makes a card less appealing than the company made in scared.And a little more than half say they have had a card that was not as good as they expected.But close to 80% say no one really reads the terms and conditions when they sign up for a credit card. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the text? A. Banks are making it harder for people to get credit cards. B. Some people's credit limits have been reduced. C. It is more difficult to borrow money from some banks. D. Banks are receiving more charges from late payments. Answer: A. Banks are making it harder for people to get credit cards. A person needing to cook up a burger, but lacking a grill or fire, can heat burger meat on A. a tree branch B. a puddle C. a fish pond D. a vehicle engine Answer: D. a vehicle engine Every morning Molly gave her father the lunch bag before he set off for work. One morning,besides his usual lunch bag.Molly handed him a second paper bag. "Why two bags?"her father asked. "The other is something else, "Molly answered. "What's in it?"asked her father. "Just some stuff.Take it with you."Molly replied. Not wanting to discuss the matter, put both bags into his briefcase, he kissed Molly and rushed off.At midday he opened Molly's bag and took out the contents:three small stones, a plastic dinosaur,a tiny seashell,a small doll,and 13 pennies...The busy lather smiled,finished eating, and swept the desk clean into the wastebasket.Molly's stuff included. That evening,Molly ran up behind him as he was reading a newspaper. "Where's my bag,Daddy?"asked Molly. "What bag?"her father responded. "The one I gave you this morning, "said Molly. "I left it at the office.Why?"said her father. "I forgot to put this note in it, "Molly said. "and besides,Daddy,the things in the sack are those I really like-I thought you might like to play with them.You didn't lose the bag,did you, Daddy?" "Oh,no, "he said,lying."I just forgot to bring it home.I'll bring it tomorrow." While Molly hugged her father' neck, unfolded the note that read, love you. s he "I Daddy. " Molly had given him her treasures--all that a 7-year-old girl held dear. Love in a paper bag,but he missed it--not only missed it,but had thrown it in the wastebasket. So back he went to the office.Just ahead of the night guard,he picked up the paper bag. He put the treasures inside and carried it home carefully.The bag didn't look SO good,but the stuff was all there and that was of great importance. After dinner,he asked Molly to tell him about the stuff in the sack. It took a long time to tell.Everything had a story or a memory. "Sometimes I think of all the great times in this sweet life, "he thought. We should all cherish the moment with the people we love.That's what really matters. It's so simple and so easily forgotten. Which of the following can be the best tide of this passage? A. Stories behind treasures B. A special present C. Father and daughter D. Love in a paper bag Answer: D. Love in a paper bag Family traditions were important in our house, and one was more appreciated than our annual trip to the woods for the perfect Christmas tree. "Dad, can we watch when you trim it?" my eldest son ,John ,asked on the way home. "I won't be cutting this year," my husband said." You and your brother Dan are old enough to measure things, fit the tree to the stand and do it by yourselves. Think you boys can handle it?" They seemed to _ in their chairs at the thought of such an amazing responsibility. "We can handle it," Dan promised. We won't let you down." A few days before Christmas, Dan and John rushed in after school. They gathered the tools they'd need and brought them out of yard, where the tree waited. I left the older boys to their work and brought David inside for his early supper. A moment later I heard the happy sounds as the boys carried the trees into the living room. Then I heard the sound become dead silence. I hurried out to them. The tree was too short. John crossed his arm tight across his chest. His eyes were filled with angry tears. The tree was central to our holiday, but it was not what I worried about. I didn't want the boys to feel ashamed every time they looked at it. We had a terrible problem on our hands. I couldn't lower the ceiling, and I couldn't raise the floor either. There was no way to repair the damage. If I couldn't fix the problem, maybe I could get creative with it. A thought came to my mind, which turned to the solution. I followed them back into the living room.. "We can't make the tree taller," I said. "But we can put it on a higher position." Dan turned his head sideways, measuring the distance with his eyes . "We can put it on the coffee table and put the lights and decorations on before we lift it up . Thus, we won't need a ladder. It just might work! Let's try it!" When my husband got home and looked at the big tree on top of the coffee table, Dan and John held their breath. "What a good idea!" he declared, as if the boys had gone beyond all his expectations. "Why didn't I ever think of such a thing ?" John broke into a grin. Dan's chest swelled with pride. David squealed. How was the short tree turned into a perfect one? A. By making it taller B. By lowering the ceiling C. By placing it on a table D. By raising the floor Answer: C. By placing it on a table
With a busy life and job, pressure can make you look tired and aged.Kissi Health-Beauty Center gives classes, makes training plans according to your physical conditions, and sets up an individual file .All these things will help you to get to know your body and the way to keep it fit. 1)BODY-BUILDING Imported gym equipment that will help you build up your body's muscle, making you look full of energy and strength. 2)GYMNASTIC EXERCISE A bright and large exercise room with excellent equipment and music will give your body a chance to enjoy movement with rhythm. 3)SPECIAL "LAZY-BONE" FITNESS CENTER 'Lazy-bone' fitness equipment is the first body shaping set of seven beds in Beijing, which helps you to exercise your waist, abdomen, hips or legs.In the relaxing hours you may try them to strengthen your muscles and lose weight. Tuition: 'Lazy-bone' fitness card, 1,200 yuan/ month (gymnastic classes included) Class Time: Gymnastic Class, 18:30-19:30 every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Tel: 5918570 Address: 16 Dongsanhuan Beilu, Chaoyang District, Beijing The purpose of this passage is to _ . A give advice B introduce new ways of body-building C ask you to go to the center D introduce ways to lose weight Answer: C Spring is a good time for kite flying -- a popular activity in China. On a sunny day with a good breeze , you'll see hundreds of colorful kites flying in the sky. They have all kinds of shapes like swallows and peaches. Some of the shapes have special meanings. For example, swallows mean good luck and peaches bring you a long life. The city of Weifang in Shandong is the home of the kite. The city holds an international kite festival in April every year. There are competitions for kite-flying skills and new styles of kites. The most famous is the competition for the "Kite King ". Thousands of kite fans from more than 30 countries visit the city to take part in the competitions, or to just enjoy this colorful event . The largest kite in the world is a big "octopus ". It's about 1,100 square meters, twice as big as a basketball court. Li Jingyang, a kite fanin Jilin, spent eight months making it in 2008. The kite was invented by Chinese people over 2,000 years ago. According to historical record, kites were first used by soldiers to send news to their friends. In the Tang Dynasty, flying kites became a popular game played by everyone. As it was introduced to the West in the ll00s, the kite brought a great influence on Western life. In 1782, the lightning rod was invented with the help of a kite. Modern aircraft came from kites, too. At the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC, a board reads: "The earliest man-made aircrafts were the kites and missiles of ancient China." Which of the following sentences is TRUE? A The largest kite is three times as big as a basketball court. B In the Qing Dynasty, flying kites became a popular game played by everyone. C People invented kites to help swallows fly. D People got the idea of inventing the lightning rod from kites. Answer: D This is Bruce's Noodle House. We have different kinds of noodles. A large bowl of noodles with mutton is only 4 dollars, and 3 dollars for a medium bowl. Each bowl of beef noodles is just 3.5 dollars. And a large bowl of chicken noodles is 2 dollars. Each bowl of pork noodles is just 3.5 dollars. One dollar is for a large bowl of vegetable noodles. Come and enjoy the delicious noodles here! If you order any meat noodles, fruit is free . If you are too busy to come. Please call us at 2888998, and you will get the food in half an hour. Our Noodle House is open for 24 hours a day, from Monday afternoon to Sunday. Tom's family would like two large bowls of chicken noodles and a medium bowl of mutton noodles. They will pay _ for the food. A $6 B $7 C $5 D $8 Answer: B Barack Obama, Lady Gaga and Steve Jobs--what do they have in common? They are, of course, all Americans. And according to a survey by social networking site badoo. com, they all best illustrate the word "cool". But just what does it mean to say someone is "cool"? Most would answer that it is something to do with being independent-minded and not following the crowd. Yale University art professor Robert Farris Thompson says that the term "cool" goes back to 15th century West African philosophy . "Cool" relates to ideas of grace under pressure. "In Africa, " he writes, "coolness is a positive quality which combines calmness, silence, and life. " The modern idea of "cool" developed largely in the US in the period after World War II. "Post-war 'cool' was in part an expression of war-weariness . . . it went against the strict social rules of the time, " write sociologists Dick Pountain and David Robins in Cool Rules: Anatomy of an Attitude. But it was the American actor James Dean who became the symbol for "cool" in the hugely successful 1955 movie Rebel without a Cause. Dean plays a tough guy who disobeys his parents and the authorities . He always gets the girl, smokes cigarettes, wears a leather jacket and beats up bullies . In the movie, Dean showed what "cool" would mean to American young people for the next 60 years. Today the focus of "cool" has changed to athletics stars. Often in movies about schools, students gain popularity on the athletics field more than in the classroom. This can be seen quite clearly in movies like Varsity Blues and John Tucker Must Die. But many teenagers also think being smart is cool. Chess and other thinking games have been becoming more popular in schools. "Call it the Harry Potterization of America --a time when being smart is the new cool, " writes journalist Joe Sunnen. If you were considered "cool" in Africa in the 15th century, you _ . A thought and acted differently from the majority B had a calm and quiet attitude towards life C didn't observe rules and authorities D had all kinds of "bad" manners Answer: B Marie Claire Magazine is one of the top women's health, beauty and fashion magazines in the world It has over 14 million readers all over the world.Maire Magazine is published in 32 countries including France, the Untied States ,Australia, China, the United Kingdom, Russia ,Spain Italy and many other nations. Marie Claire Magazine has stood by its motto"More than a Pretty Face" since Jean Prouvost created it in France in1937. It was soon released every Wednesday and was an immediate success. Unfortunately, because of World War n, it stopped printing in 1940. But it b began in again in 1954 as a monthly publication instead of a weekly one. The magazine has provided women throughout the world with information on health ,struggles and life stories of women. The magazine also focuses on current affairs all women would be interested in .It also has a part that specifically answers readers' questions. The magazine discusses all of the latest and hottest things in clothing and accessories .It also provides its readers with shopping information to help find the best deals for the latest fashions. The cover of Marie Claire Magazine has been graced by many famous faces ,Although it is aimed at women, it broke new ground in 2003. The US publication featured a manTom Cruise on its cover for the first time.Marie Claire Magazine has continued to be a pioneer in the magazine industry. When was Marie Claire Magazine created? A In 1937. B In 1940. C In 1954. D In 2003. Answer: A
Paris Passengers carried per day: 4.4m Cost of ticket: 80p flat fare Length: 131 miles Lines: 14 Stations: 297 In Paris there are pleasures for those who use the Metro -- many of them artistic. The graceful Art Nouveau dragon-fly entrances are just the most noticeable on a Metro system which celebrated its 100thanniversary by spending 30 million francs (PS2.9million) on making its stations works of art. On my way home I pass Bonne Nouvelle station in the heart of Paris's cinema district. There, during the cinema festival this summer, special lighting effects dot the platforms and films are projected onto the large advertising boards. More than anything the metro is efficient. "When I worked on line 4", says a retired driver, "we had exactly 30 minutes and 15 seconds to complete the journey. If it took any longer, they cut our pay." But there are problems. Many Metro stations have too many stairs, and changing lines at big interchanges can be tiresome. Moscow Passengers carried per day: 9m Cost of ticket: 12p Length: 164 miles Lines: 11 Stations: 162 The first underground passage for the Moscow Metropolitan started in 1932. Three years later the trains started running. They haven't stopped since-- every 90 seconds or two minutes during rush hour, every five minutes the rest of the time, from 6 a.m. till 1 a. m. There may be a crowd of people but there is seldom a wait. The trains take you through spacious and spotless stations. For tourists it's a major sightseeing attraction: from Russian Art Deco to neo-classical, the Metro stations are not to be missed. Tokyo Passengers carried per day: 7m Cost of ticket: 90p ~ PS1.68 Length: 177 miles Lines: 12 Stations: 209 Trains do not just arrive on time in Tokyo. They stop right on the platform mark so that passengers can line up knowing exactly where the doors will open. Train driving is a respectful job for life, for which the applicants must pass a strict screening of health checks, interviews and written exams before they can put on the enviable uniform, cap and white gloves. However, overcrowding means it is far from perfect. At rush hours, some stations employ part-time platform staff to push in passengers. Carriages can be filled to 184% of capacity . The main reason for such conditions is that the Tokyo subway station system has only 15 miles of track for every 1 million people, compared to 36 on the London Underground. New lines are under construction, but at a cost of PS500,000 per meter of rail. Progress has been slow. Mexico City Passengers carried per day: 4.2m Cost of ticket: 11p flat fare Length: 99 miles Lines: 11 Stations: 175 Fast, relatively safe, and very cheap, Mexico City's underground is an ideal place of order and efficiency compared to the disorders above. The Mexican capital's underground system is the biggest in the continent and one of the most subsidized networks in the world. The first trains leave the station at 5 a.m. and the last after midnight as the crowd move from the outskirts of the 20 million-strong megacity . Mexico City's Metro also attracts a sizeable group of passengers who are unwilling to spend hours in traffic jams. There is a master plan to build new lines and extend existing one, but financial constraints complicated by the fact that the system runs through different jurisdicitons mean progress is slow. In which two cities can travelling by underground be a sightseeing experience? Paris and Moscow It's a nightmare for Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST): within a week, two students committed suicide by jumping off dorm buildings. Officials from the university are reluctant to give interviews. "We had a hard time calming down students who were shocked at the suicides," said Zhang Jingyuan, head of HUST's center for research and guidance for students' development. "Media coverage may arouse some students' negative emotions again. Suicide can be contagious ," Zhang said. The university reacted promptly to the first suicide on October 23. Advisors and class leaders conducted dorm-to-dorm checks to find students suffering depression. Then psychologists offered one-on-one counseling to them. Notice boards publicizing tips for identifying peers' mental problems and offering help were set up in front of dorm buildings. Leaflets carrying similar information were handed out to each dorm. However, the second suicide came seven days later. Both students were described as men of few words. Their schoolmates didn't see anything to indicate suicide. Zhang revealed that the two students had been bothered by mental disorders. But the school didn't know this until the students' close friends outside school and their parents unveiled the truth after the suicides. According to Zhang, there are only three full-time counselors working in the university's counseling center for its 60,000 students. He complained: "It's unrealistic to rely only on counselors to detect students' mental problems." Some universities in the US may be able to offer solutions to Zhang's worries. They have established programs to train students to be the bridge between troubled friends and counselors. At Worcester Polytechnic Institute, at Worcester, Massachusetts, US, young people in the Student Support Network role play to learn how to detect SOS signals from their schoolmates. They also practice how to gently persuade emotionally troubled students to go for professional help. To develop such empathy , many universities in China have organized campus events to popularize knowledge about mental health. But these are not that attractive to students. Ke Juanjuan, 24, is pursuing a master's degree in English translation at HUST. Ke has found that few of her peers will pay attention to activities about mental health when they are not troubled by it. Rather than bombard students with the words "mental health", Ke suggested the school organize lectures and workshops concerning study, job-hunting and relationships. She explained: "Students care about these topics. They tend to have problems in these areas and may thus get stuck in depression. "By helping students better deal with these problems, the school can effectively prevent self-inflicted injury and suicide among students." Effective prevention comes from long-term education for life instead of temporary intervention to meet an emergency, said Hu Yi'an. Hu delivers a course of lectures on life and death at Guangzhou University. He worries that universities have paid little attention to education for life. "Education for life helps students respect and love life so they won't resort to ending their lives when they have difficulties," said Hu. According to Hu, the principles can be incorporated into everyday teaching. In which column of a newspaper would you most probably read this passage? Campus News that Microsoft was making a $44.6 billion bid to buy Yahoo was greeted with heated discussion by many Internet users on Friday. Here are some responses: Mark Galeassi of Kansas City, Missouri This is the best move for both parties. Yahoo has the ideas and Microsoft has the money to finally market these ideas correctly. Microsoft and Yahoo are a perfect fit and the deal will be good for consumers. Scott G of New Jersey I was a Yahoo user for years along with Hotmail from Microsoft. Then Google came along: Google Earth, Google Toolbar and Gmail. Google is so innovative with everything they do. Yahoo and Microsoft... same old story... I don't think the merger will do anything for either company except improve the Yahoo shareholders' bank accounts. Michael Glosser of Estero, Florida Right now, Yahoo offers a lot of features and tools at no cost for all different levels of Internet users. Microsoft seeks nothing but profit. Undoubtedly, they'll do nothing other than find ways to start removing Yahoo's formerly non-priced features. Microsoft's greed will ruin the great thing that Yahoo currently is. Toni Suarez of Hacienda Heights, California Perhaps it would bring better high technology innovations to e-mail and help in researching and developing a better Internet! Antonio Simmons of Parkville, Maryland Microsoft purchasing Yahoo would be nothing more than an attempt from Microsoft to further impose upon the users their poor-quality software and obtain more wealth for the company. In my opinion, they will never be able to compete with Google because Yahoo and Microsoft's current search engines are too inferior to compete. Even if combined, they still lack. In the opinion of Scott G , _ . Yahoo and Microsoft are lacking in innovation What's the most important thing for you to have in your life? Somebody thinks it's hard work, others think it's knowledge , love and luck... If you arrange the 26 English letters in order and use numbers to represent each of them, for example, 1 for a, 2 for b, 3 for c ......26 for z, you can change an English word into a number. So hard work becomes 8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11="98," meaning 98 is its mark ;Z-X-X-K]knowledge: 11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5="96;" love: 12+15+22+5="54," and luck: 12+21+3+11="47," a smallmark. None of these words can give one a full mark. What about money? It can't, either. Then what else? Don't be worried. You can always find an answer to a problem in your life, when you change your way of looking at things or doing things, or your attitude . Yes, attitude is the word. See for yourself; attitude: 1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5="100," a full mark. Different attitudes lead to different kinds of life. Most time people hope for a better life. They will have a better life if they change their attitudes. When you become friendly towards others, you will meet more smiling faces. In the same way, if you take a positive attitude towards failure, you'll find it's also helpful though it has made you lose lots of things. From the passage we can learn that _ . sometimes failure can bring you good if you take a positive attitude One of the world's richest men has taken a close interest in one of man's most basic functions: visiting the toilet.Bill Gates's charitable organization, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is looking for inventors to design the loo of the future, which, they hope, would improve sanitation for millions of people around the world. So, what's wrong with the traditional flush toilet? Firstly, it wastes a huge amount, of potential drinking water.Secondly, they are more likely to cause pollution.This is a real problem in many areas of the developing world, where, according to United Nations estimates, unsafe sanitation causes half of all hospitalizations.Younger people are particularly at risk.Illnesses which cause diarrhea are responsible for the deaths of about 1.5 million children a year.Finally, standard lavatories simply aren't practical in remote areas. The challenge set by Bill Gates was to come up with a _ which works without running water, electricity or aseptic tank.It also needed to operate for less than 5 cents.28 designs were displayed at the recent Reinvent the Toilet Fair.in Seattle, USA.Among them was one which turned human waste into electricity using microwaves, another which converted human waste into charcoal, and yet another which used urine for flushing. But the winner was a solar-powered design which generated hydrogen gas and electricity.The team from the California Institute of Technology(CIT)picked up a prize of $ 100,000. But clearly Bill Gates doesn't feel he's _ .After the Seattle event he said, "We, couldn't be happier with the response we've gotten," Gates has even pledged $370 million more to the future toilet project.They hope to field test more, prototypes over the next three years. The team from CIT won the prize because their design _ . can produce power with solar energy
At the Presbyterian Church in downtown Harare, Zimbabwe, 15-year-old Lovemore and other children crowd around tables in a small room, answering questions in their workbooks. Their uniforms are clean and worn with pride, and in many ways it would be difficult to distinguish this classroom from any other. These children, like Lovemore, live at the Mbare bus station, a crowded, dirty and dangerous place for anyone, especially at night. Lovemore said that he started to face problems once his mother died and his father stopped paying school fees. When Lovemore's father remarried, Lovemore was forced onto the street, no longer welcome at home. After meeting a worker from the Presbyterian Children's Club (PCC), Lovemore felt encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to get an education. Since joining the program, he is always at the top of his class. He spends his mornings at the PCC, where he receives his only meals for the day. At night, he sleeps on the ground at the bus station. The few clothes he owns are hidden in secret places around town so that no one will steal them. At the end of each day, Lovemore and his classmates take their books with them to study at night in the market square. "We read by the street lights, but sometimes the guards drive us away." Each year, the top three students are given a chance to go to formal school. Those who successfully complete their grade-seven exams will be given a PCC scholarship to attend a boarding school , proving there is hope for forgotten children like Lovemore. Started in 1996, the program provides free education, basic meals, health care and clothing to more than 70 children. "There are people who care here, and other kids like me," Lovemore said. "It feels like this is my family." What can be inferred from the passage? Lovemore is eager to learn. Mr. Green is quiet and doesn't like talking with people .He likes reading newspapers and using the Internet.He hardly ever exercises. Sometimes he watches soccer or basketball games on TV. He likes coffee very much and drinks it three times a day . Mr. Green is a bank clerk . It's a busy but boring job. He works with people and money every day .So he always feels tired after work. He likes to get enough rest and goes to bed early after dinner.Usually he goes to bed at 8:30 in the evening and get up at 6:30 in the morning. Mr. Green is very happy with that .But Mrs. Green isn't ,because Mr. Green always talks in his sleep. One morning , Mr. Green sat at table and had breakfast. Mrs. Green asked him, "Why do you always talk in your sleep?" Mr. Green said, "Because I have few chances to talk in the day time." The next morning after their children all went to school, Mrs. Green asked Mr. Green angrily , Why did you scold me in your sleep last night ? "Because I don't have the courage to do it when I'm awake ." Mr. Green usually sleeps _ hours every night.. ten He has lived through various dangers but time may be running out for the Palestinian leader , Yasser Arafat . On September 11, Israel announced its decision to remove him , following several Palestinian suicide bomb attacks on Israel . "He should be punished for the killings ," an Israeli official said , "He has done nothing to stop the terrorist groups ." But the decision has angered many other countries . China said that Arafat is the true leader , elected by the Palestinian people , and removing him would harm the peace in the Middle East . This idea is shared by other governments . Arafat himself said : "They can kill me , but never get me out of my country ." He has spent most of his life in danger as the most important aim of Israel .But , just like a cat with nine lives , Arafat escaped every time . For years he has made a practice of sleeping in a different bed each night , thinking a moving person is harder to hit . In 1985 , Israel sent fighter planes to kill Arafat . The wild bombing destroyed his office in Tunis but Arafat himself was unhurt . In 1992 , the aircraft in which he was flying over north Africa broke in two during a crash landing . The pilot was killed but he managed to remain alive . What is so unbelievable is that he always remains calm in great danger . Israeli tanks and planes attacked his office building in Ramallah in December , 2001 . When they saw the attackers coming , Arafat's bodyguards ignored his orders to stay still and carried him to safety underground . Seconds later , several bombs were dropped nearby . Though safe , his bodyguards were so frightened that they were wet in sweat . But , Arafat , with Israeli tanks only 200 meters away , showed no fear at all . He stayed in the damaged office , talking by phone with foreign leaders in hope of preventing further attacks from Israel . All these experiences have made him a beloved leader to his people and an enemy to some others . But has he used up the last of his nine lives ? Only time will tell . According to the passage, which statement is true? Being Palestinian leader, Arafat would rather die in his own country than be driven away from his people. Perkins and Morton were passengers sitting in adjoining seats on a flight on Delval Airline. There were many empty seats on the aircraft. During the flight, a flight attendant served Morton nine drinks. As Morton became more and more obviously intoxicated and attempted to engage Perkins in a conversation, Perkins chose to ignore Morton. This angered Morton, who suddenly struck Morton. This angered Morton, who suddenly struck Perkins in the face, giving her a black eye. If Perkins asserts a claim for damages against Delval Airline based on battery, she will not prevail, because Morton was not acting as an agent or employee of Delval Airline. Five Booming Careers in Health Care Loving what you do is great,but knowing your career will be there tomorrow is even better. And when it comes to booming fields,the health care industry is one that's primed for growth. Want to prepare to take your place in the health care field?Check out these five indemand health care careers. Career 1 Medical and Health Services Manager If you want to take your leadership skills into the growing health care field,consider pursuing a career as a medical and health services manager. As a medical and health services manager you might plan,direct,and organize health services in an entire health care facility,or a specific department or clinical area,says U.S. Department of Labor. Daily duties could include handling a facility's finances,creating work schedules,and making sure that health care services are delivered efficiently. Career 2 Medical Assistant If you are interested in working in a doctor's office,consider preparing for a career in the indemand field of medical assisting. As a medical assistant,you could play a role in helping patients' visits go smoothly from when they first walk in the door. Your duties might include measuring vital signs,assisting the physician with examinations,recording health information,and scheduling appointments,according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Career 3 Registered Nurse Ready to put your helpful nature to use in the largest health care field?Look into prepping to pursue a career in registered nursing. As a registered nurse,you could work closely with patients by providing care,education,and emotional support. You might give patients medicines and treatments,observe their conditions,or perform diagnostic tests,says the U.S. Department of Labor. Career 4 Physical Therapist Assistant Want to enter an indemand health care field where you could really play a handson role in helping patients restore their physical functionality?If so,a career as a physical therapist assistant could be a good fit. Under the supervision of a physical therapist,you could help patients regain movement as they recover from injuries,illnesses, or surgery. Your role in the rehabilitation process could include assisting patients with techniques(massage[],stretching)and therapeutic methods like electrical stimulation and mechanical traction,says the U.S. Department of Labor. Career 5 Pharmacy Technician Prefer a health care career that is less handson?Consider pursuing a career in the growing pharmacy technician field. Pharmacy technicians can be responsible for counting pills,filling prescriptions,providing customer service,and fulfilling administrative tasks under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist,according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Which of the following is TRUE about a physical therapist assistant? He/She could play a practical role in helping patients restore their physical functionality.
Getting a new PC is one thing, Keeping it running smoothly is quite another. While a personal computer should continue to perform well for years, users know that system unsteadiness does exist Yet you can reduce it to the smallest amount by following the tips below . First, put in as little software as possible. You'11 have fewer software -related problems and a system that is easier to manage. Second, you should ensure that you have as much memory (RAM) in your PC as you need If you run Windows 98,your computer should have as least 128 megabytes (MB)of RAM and more You can also get by with 128 MB of RAM if you use Windows NT or Windows2000,but these operating systems will run much more smoothly if you have 256 MB of RAM or more. Third, make sure you buy good hardware. Noname products may be cheaper and sometimes just as good as named-brand products, but name-brand products usually became well-known because of famous companies because Windows will more often support the hardware that you buy ,If you are starting out with to have been tested thoroughly with your operating system, and you will generally experience fewer problems. Fourth, do prepare for disaster .No matter how well your system runs when you get it ,the day will come when it will need to be replaced .Hopefully, you will replace it because technology has become outdated, but you may need to replace it also because the hard drive crashes or you begin experiencing problems that no one can figure out .That's why it 's important to you're your important to copy your important information regularly. Whether you use a tape backup device or a CD-RW drive, it's important to make a regular backup plan and stick to it . If you want to use Windows2000,but your computer only has 64MB.What will you have to do? Answer: The "Neighborhood Watch" scheme all started a few years ago in the quiet village of Mollington after a number of burglaries in the village and the surrounding area. The villagers came up with the idea that they themselves could keep an eye on their neighbors' possessions while they were away on holiday. Since then, and with the support of the government and police, more than 50,000 "Neighborhood Watch" schemes have been set up all over the country. The object of each "Watch" group is to reduce the opportunities that criminals have in any particular street or area. Each villager who is a member of the scheme will call the police whenever they see something suspicious. It is the police who actually check out each report and look into what is happening. Villagers who are part of the "Watch" are not supposed to act as police or put themselves in danger. When a new "Neighborhood Watch" scheme is set up in an area, one benefit is that most burglars dare not take a chance on breaking into someone's house because they know that there is a high risk of being seen by neighbors keeping a lookout. Burglars also know that people are more likely to have fitted good locks to their doors and windows. Another benefit is that, since the "Neighborhood Watch" schemes came into existence, there is growing evidence of a new community spirit. It is bringing people together as never before, and encouraging people to care for each other. New friendships are being made, and contact is often established with old people living on their own, who are often the most frightened and the most at risk. The "Neighborhood Watch" scheme in Mollington started _ . Answer: Angry survivors demanded answers on Sunday after a terrible accident at "Love Parade 2010", a music festival in Germany, killed 19 people and left hundreds hurt. The German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her shock over Saturday's tragedy in the western city of Duisburg., "This was a very sad day," Merkel said. Witnesses said that people pushed into the narrow tunnel, the only entrance to the Love Parade festival, from both sides until it was dangerously overcrowded. The panic began as festival-goers began to lose consciousness as they were crushed against the walls and each other. The dead included eight foreigners, from Australia, Italy, the Netherlands, China, Bosnia and Spain. More than 340 people were injured. After the panic, a lot of emergency vehicles , including helicopters, could be seen carrying away the injured people. The festival itself, however, went on. Police were afraid that ending the music altogether could cause further unrest among the crowd. "The event was a real mess," Patrick Guenter, a 22-year-old baker, said. "Although the festival was full, they kept letting people in," he added. "It seems the organizers didn't plan the route. And no one knew what was going on." said Taggart Bowen-Gaddy, 20, an American from Philadelphia. Officials said 4,000 police officers and 1,000 security guards provided security for the event, which attracted up to 1.4 million people. "I warned one year ago that Duisburg was not a suitable place for the Love Parade. The city is too small and narrow for such events. It is a pity that..." German police union chief Rainer Wendt said. The chief organizer, Rainer Schaller, said the popular event would never be held again, "out of respect for the victims and their families". How many Germans were killed in the stampede at "Love Parade 2010"? Answer: San Francisco has its cable cars. Seattle has its Space Needle. And, Longview has its squirrel bridge. The bridge, which has attracted international attention, is now a local landmark. The Nutty Narrows Bridge was built in 1963 by a local builder, Amos Peters, to give squirrels a way to cross the busy road without getting flattened by passing cars. The original bridge was built over Olympia Way on the west edge of the library grounds. Before the bridge was built, squirrels had to avoid traffic to and from the Park Plaza office building where office staff put out a nutty feast for the squirrels. Many times, Peters and others who worked in and near Park Plaza witnessed squirrels being run over. One day Peters found a dead squirrel with a nut still in its mouth, and that day's coffee break discussion turned into squirrel safety. The group of businessmen cooked up the squirrel bridge idea and formed a committee to ask the blessing of the City Council .The Council approved, and Councilwoman Bess LaRiviere named the bridge "Nutty Narrows." After architects designed the bridge, Amos Peters and Bill Hutch started Construction, They built the 60-foot bridge from aluminum and lengths of fire hose . It cost 1,000. It didn't take long before reports of squirrels using the bridge started. Squirrels were even seen guiding their young and teaching them the ropes. The story was picked up by the media, and Nutty Narrows became know in newspapers all over the world. In 1983, after 20 years of use, Peters took down the worn-out bridge. Repairs were made and crosspieces were replaced. The faded sign was repainted and in July 1983, hundreds of animal lovers attended the completion ceremony of the new bridge. Peters died in 1984, and a ten-foot wooden squirrel sculpture was placed near the bridge in memory of its builder and his devotion to the project. What can we learn about Amos Peters? Answer: Researchers at San Diego Zoo have been studying what has been described as the "secret language" of elephants. They have been monitoring communications between animals that cannot be heard by human ears. The elephant's call will be familiar to most people, but the animals also give out growls . Their growls, however, are only partly audible ; two-thirds of the call is at frequencies that are too low to be picked up by our hearing. To learn more about the inaudible part of the growl, the team attached (......) a microphone sensitive to these low frequencies and a GPS tracking system to eight of the zoo's female elephants. The researchers could then relate the noises the animals were making to what they were doing. Matt Anderson, who led the project, told BBC News, "We're excited to learn how they interact and contact with one another." The team has already learned that pregnant females use this low frequency communication to announce to the rest of their long gestation of over two years, in the last 12 days we see the low part of the growl, which we can't hear. This we believe is to announce to the rest of the herd that the baby is upcoming," said Dr Anderson. The researchers believe that this also warns the elephants to look out for coming danger. "You may think that a baby calf of about 300 pounds would not be as open to predation as other species," he says. "But packs of hyenas are a big threat in the wild." Female elephants are only in season for around four days every four years and these calls can be heard by males more than two miles away. A pregnant elephant uses inaudible growls to _ . Answer:
When I walked into the house after school, I found my dad at home. "What are you doing home already?" I asked casually. "Andrew, I was laid off today," he answered quietly. I was sure he was joking. "No, you weren't. Why are you really home?" Then I noticed his expression and realized he was telling the truth. My father has always been a hard worker and prided himself on his career. My father's unemployment created many changes in our lives. He was home all day, which meant my bed had to be made, my room cleaned up, and my homework done right after school. I would come home every day to find him at the computer searching for jobs. I began to notice how down he seemed, and how losing his job had affected his self-esteem , though he tried to be optimistic. He asked my brother and me to spend less money. I gave up my allowance , which even though it wasn't much, felt like the right thing to do. I also found a part-time job. After several difficult months of searching, my dad decided to go in a totally different direction. He explained that he never wanted to be laid off again, so he was going to start his own business. Day by day, I watched him build it, and I admired how much time and energy he devoted to it. One evening I asked if he needed help. "Only if it doesn't interfere(,) with school," he said, which sounded like a yes. I showed up at his office the next afternoon, and most afternoons after that for two months. I always knew he was a hard worker, but watching him in action really influenced me. Although this was one of the worst experiences for our family, it taught me a lot about dealing with _ . Now I know that through creative problem-solving, I can always find Plans, ask for help, and take risks. What has Andrew learned from his father? The spirit of creative problem-solving. Tight-lipped elders used to say, "It's not what you want in this world, but what you get." Psychology teaches that you do get what you want if you know what you want and want the right things. You can make a mental blueprint of a desire as you would make a blueprint of a house, and each of us is continually making these blueprints in the general routine of everyday living.If we intend to have friends to dinner, we plan the menu, make a shopping list, decide which food to cook first, and such planning is an essential for any type of meal to be served. Similarly, If you want to find a job, take a sheet of paper, and write a brief account of yourself.In making a blueprint for a job, begin with yourself, for when you know exactly what you have to offer, you can intelligently plan where to sell your services. This account of yourself is actually a general description of your working life and should include education, experience and references.Such an account is valuable.It can be referred to in filling out standard application blanks and is extremely helpful in personal interviews.While talking to you, your could-be employer is deciding whether your education, your experience, and other qualifications will pay him to employ you and your abilities must be displayed in an orderly and reasonably connected manner. When you have carefully prepared a blueprint of your abilities and desires, you have something _ to sell.Then you are ready to look for a job.Get all the possible information about your could-be job.Make inquiries about the details concerning the job and the firm.Keep your eyes and ears open, and use your own judgment.Spend a certain amount of time each day seeking the position you wish for, and keep in mind: Obtaining a job is your job now. What do the elders mean when they say, "It's not what you want in this world, but what you get."? It's no use dreaming. Chloe Lang is a fifteen-year-old American girl. She loves cooking a lot. When she was a little girl, she helped her grandma make meals at home. A year ago, Chloe wrote a letter to Rachel Ray, a famous host of a TV cookery show. She asked for a ticket to be one of the audience, but she got nothing. One day in June, Chloe got a phone call from Rachel Ray luckily. One of his programmes is called Cafe One Night and it needed five teen cooks to help in a restaurant for a night. In mid-July Chloe went to meet Rachel Ray and the other teen cooks. "During our stay with Rachel Ray, we were happy and excited. We were working so hard when they made the records." Chloe says. "We made some wonderful food that night." Guess who came to eat! When Chloe and her friends saw their guests, they all held their breath, and then they screamed and clapped! In addition to some famous singer stars, the former US President Bill Clinton was also there! ,. How did Chloe Lang learn to cook? She learnt it by helping her grandma at home. Since I started working part-time at a grocery store, I have learned that a customer is more than someone who buys things. To me, a customer is a person whose memory fails entirely once he or she starts to push a shopping cart. One of the first things customers forget is how to count. There is no other way to explain how so many people get in their express line, which is clearly marked 15 items or less, with 20, 25 or even a cart load of items. Customers also forget why they came to the store in the first place. Just as I finish ringing up an order, a customer will say, "Oops, I forgot to pick up a fresh loaf of bread. I hope you don't mind waiting, while I go to get it."Five minutes later, he's back with the bread, a bottle of milk, and three rolls of paper towels. What is strange is that customers also seem to forget that they have to pay for their groceries. Instead of writing a check or looking for a credit card while I am ringing up the groceries, a customer will wait until I announce the total. Then, in surprise, she says, " Oh no, what did I do with my check book?" After 5 minutes of digging through her purse, she borrows my pen because she has forgotten hers. But I have to tolerate customers because they pay my salary, and that's something I can't afford to forget. When customers arrive at the check-out counter, they _ go back and get more items After a while, Tommy's parents, who had recently separated, would arrive for a meeting on his failing schoolwork and bad behavior. Neither parent knew that I had called the other. Tommy, an only child, had always been a happy, cooperative and top student. How could I make his father and mother believe that his recent failing grades meant a broken-hearted child's reaction to his parents' separation and divorce ? Tommy's mother entered and took one of the chairs. Soon the father arrived. Good! At least they were enough to be here in time. They ignored each other. As I gave a detailed introduction of Tommy's behavior and schoolwork, I waited for the right words to bring these two together to help them see what they were doing to their son. But somehow the words wouldn't come. Perhaps if they saw one of his dirty, carelessly done papers? I found a sheet in the back of his desk. Writing covered both sides: not the exercises, but a single sentence scribbled over and over. Silently I gave it to Tommy's mother. She read it and then handed it to her husband. Then his face softened. At last he folded the paper carefully, placed it in his pocket, and reached for his wife's hand. She wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled up at him. He helped with her coat and they left together. In his own way God had given me the words to reunite that family. He had guided me to the sheet of yellow copy paper covered with the pain outpouring of a small boy's troubled heart. The words are "Dear Mom... Dear Daddy... I love..." How did Tommy's parents feel after seeing the words? Moved.
Yesterday was my first day of school. I had to wake up at 6 am and I had a bit of breakfast and got dressed in my school clothes. I got a service car to the Nile and crossed the Nile in a motor boat. Then it dropped me off at the Luxor museum and I walked to school which is at the back of the Luxor museum. By the time I got to school, it was 7 am. My mum came with me the first day. I got my school tie wrong. My tie was grey and everyone else's was red. The shop had sold me the wrong one. So I had to change it that evening. Everyone has mobile phones but theirs are better than mine. In the morning we did a stupid dance and sang the Egyptian national song. We had to hold on to each other's bag as we marched to class. We had English class and boring literature and then we had math. After math the teacher gave out the books we would need for all our lessons, all 22 of them. My bag was so heavy. We had a break at 12 and we could buy food and drink. It lasted for half an hour. I enjoyed English and science. Yesterday we finished at 2:15 pm and my dad picked me up. I finished my homework soon after school and I felt happy about that. Today, I had to go to school by myself. This morning I got there at 7:15 am. After school, I came back by myself in the motor boat again and got myself an ice cream while I was waiting for it. Today I had no homework to do. So, when I got home, I helped my mother with cooking. How long did it take the writer to go to school after getting up yesterday ? Answer: One hour. Which action is an example of good water management? Answer: turning off the faucet when brushing teeth If you come to Beijing, there are many interesting places to go. Lao She Teahouse is one of them. People built Lao She Teahouse in 1988. It is a special place in Beijing to show the life of old Beijing people in old times. It got its name from the famous writer ----Lao She. 'Remembering the past' is the idea of the teahouse and 'showing traditional folk arts' is its style, so here is a nice place in Beijing for foreigners to come as a guest and know about Chinese culture today. Many people like Chinese old cultures and arts. Every day visitors from different places around the world come here to enjoy programs such as traditional opera, cross talk and story-telling in Beijing. By watching these, they can know much about Chinese folk arts. Why is Lao She Teahouse a special place? Answer: It shows the life of old Beijing people. Beijing today, first published in May, 2001, is the capital's only English weekly newspaper and is published with the help of the Information Office of the Beijing Municipal Government and run by Beijing Youth Daily. Its readers include English-speaking foreigners living in Beijing and local Chinese who have great interest in English or take English as a working language. The paper's main content deals with metropolitan life, explaining the differences and similarities between Eastern and Western culture. Its culture and lifestyle part is regarded as a guide to metropolitan life in Beijing. The paper has 24 pages in four main sections: NEWS: Select stories that discuss cultural differences. COMMUNITY: Reports on developments related to foreigners in the city and a platform by which they can communicate with a bigger audience. CULTURE and LIFESTYLE: Highlights from international lifestyle and fashion trends in Beijing STUDY: Cheerful and humorous pieces to help English-language students improve their skills Beijing Today circulates 50,000 copies published every Friday. It is one of Beijing's most authoritative English media sources, and is sold at post newsstands and distributed in hotels, apartment complexes, etc. Price: 2 yuan per issue What CANNOT you read in Beijing Today? Answer: fashion trends in Paris. The English test will be removed from China's college entrance exam by 2020, according to details of exam and admission reform revealed by the Ministry of Education. The national college exam, known as the "Gaokao" has been used to evaluate Chinese students for three decades. The Ministry of Education has worked out a plan for reforming exams and enrollment. The Ministry will solicit public opinions before its release. Instead, tests will be held several times a year to allow students to choose when and how often they sit the exam so as to ease study pressure and change China's once-in-a-lifetime exam system. The plan and suggestion for its implementation will be announced in the first half of next year. It will be piloted in selected provinces and cities and promoted nationwide from 2017. A new exam and admission system will be established by 2020, according to the education ministry. The decision has aroused a heated discussion among Shanghai educators and parents who doubted the reform would reduce the burden of learning English or if the substitute test could reflect a student's English skills and help students learn English better. "The reform shows China is learning from the West to give students more test-taking chances. But more chances might become more of a burden since Chinese students are likely to repeat the test until they get the highest score," said Cai Jigang, a professor at Fudan University's College of Foreign Languages and Literature and chairman of the Shanghai Advisory Committee for College English Teaching at Tertiary level. Yu Lizhong, chancellor of New York University Shanghai, where classes are in English and students are required to have a high standard of English, said the most important aspect of the reform lay in what to test and how to test. "As far as I see, the reform doesn't mean English is no longer important for Chinese students after it will be excluded from the college entrance exam," Yu said. "In a way, English is even more important than before since the test would only serve as reference, while every college and university, even every major, can have different requirements of a student's English skills under a diverse evaluation system." _ . The education ministry said the reform would not affect students attending the college entrance exam over the next three years. According to the passage, Shanghai educators and parents argue that _ . Answer: the reform may accomplish the very opposite.
The Iceberg Was Only Part of _ What doomed the Titanic is well known, at least in outline. On a moonless night of April 15, 1912, the ship hit an iceberg in the North Atlantic ,with 1,500 lives lost. A century later many people presented new theories to explain the real reason for the disaster. Now two new studies argue that rare states of nature played major roles in the disaster. The first says Earth's nearness to the Moon and the Sun -- a proximity not matched in more than 1,000 years -- resulted in record tides that help explain why the Titanic met with so much ice, including the fatal iceberg. Recently, a team of researchers found an apparent explanation in the heavens. They discovered that Earth had come unusually close to the Sun and Moon that winter, enhancing their gravitational pulls on the ocean and producing record tides. The rare orbits took place between December 1911 and February 1912 -- about two months before the disaster came about. The researchers suggest that the high tides refloated masses of icebergs traditionally stuck along the coastlines of Labrador and Newfoundland and sent them adrift into the North Atlantic shipping lanes. And a second, put forward by a Titanic historian from Britain, contends that the icy waters created ideal conditions for an unusual type of mirage that hid icebergs from lookouts whose duty was to watch carefully for danger ahead and confused a nearby ship as to the liner's identity, delaying rescue efforts for hours. Most people know mirages as natural phenomena caused when hot air near the Earth's surface bends light rays upward. In a desert, the effect prompts lost travelers to mistake patches of blue sky for pools of water. But another kind of mirage occurs when cold air bends light rays downward. In that case, observers can see objects and settings far over the horizon. The images often undergo quick distortions -- not unlike the wavy reflections in a funhouse mirror. Now, scholars of the Titanic are debating these new theories. Some have different opinions on it. Over all, though, many experts are applauding the fresh perspectives. This passage is organized generally in the pattern of _ . Answer: conclusion and proof Londoners are great readers. They buy vast numbers of newspapers and magazines and of books -- especially paperbacks , which are still comparatively cheap in spite of ever-increasing rises in the costs of printing. They still continue to buy "proper" books, too, printed on good paper and bound between hard covers. There are many streets in London containing shops which specialize in book-selling. Perhaps the best known of these is Charring Cross Road in the very heart of London. Here bookshops of all sorts and sizes are to be found, from the celebrated one which boasts of being "the biggest bookshop in the world" to the tiny, dusty little places which seem to have been left over from Dickens' time. Some of these shops stock , or will obtain, any kind of book, but many of them specialize in second-hand books, in art books, in foreign books, in books on philosophy, politics or any other of the myriad subjects about which books may be written. One shop in this area specializes only in books about ballet! Although it may be the most convenient place for Londoners to buy books, Charring Cross Road is not the cheapest. For the really cheap second-hand volumes, the collector must venture off the beaten track, to Farringdon Road, for example, in the East Central district of London. Here there is nothing so impressive as bookshops. Instead, the booksellers come along each morning and pour out their sacks of books onto small barrows which line the gutters . And the collectors, some professionals and some amateurs , have been waiting for them. In places like this one can still, occasionally, pick up for a few pence an old volume that may be worth many pounds. If you want to buy really cheap second-hand books, you must _ . Answer: take the risk of wasting time to hunt them in less noticeable streets Drew was tried for the July 21 murder of Victor.In his case in chief, Drew called his first witness, Wilma, to testify to Drew's reputation in his community as a "peaceable man." The testimony is Answer: admissible as trying to prove that Drew is innocent. Which rock is a fingernail harder than? Answer: Graphite Mylonoa Island in autumn and winter is peaceful and beautiful. It is perfect for a relaxing stay or a brief visit. One can see and enjoy the blue skies, the wide beaches, and also have wonderful walks in the hills, perhaps not every day, but usually until the beginning of January. Visitors and winter tourists often come to Mykonos to discover the traditional Greek island. They can escape busy Athens after business, or calm down after a long European tour before traveling on further to Egypt, Israel, or Asia. Apart from the more usual tourists, you will find various hikers, walkers, readers, writers, bikers, and so on in this island. You can also visit the beautiful Delos, hike through mountains walk on beaches, explore another side of the island life with some monasteries , horse ride, or take part in local gatherings and meet some friendly Mykonians, Mykonos' climate is Mediterranean and mild. Autumn is always blue skied and sunny, where the temperature only drops very gradually. The nice days for beach going and swimming last until early January. The real winter months are also mild. Even in January, the temperature never drops very to be on. The island has a great percentage of _ because of the south-easterly winds and rainfall between mid-January and each- March; there is also a possibility of storms and colder northerly winds at this period. Snow is rare, perhaps one every ten years. The clear blue sky still exists for most of the winter. What's the main purpose of this passage? Answer: To introduce a beautiful island to people.
Question: After I made it to the city center, I started to feel it might be easy for a foreigner to deal with the great size of Beijing. With growing confidence, I decided to take the subway to the hotel, not realizing that the network didn't go that far. Impressed with the cleanliness of the station, I bought a ticket and boarded the first train that came along. After a few minutes I asked in English of course a young man seated next to me where I should get off closest to the Friendship Hotel. Wearing a smart business suit and tie, he would surely speak English, wouldn't he? Unfortunately, he couldn't understand me but seemed very friendly. I showed him the room card with all the information of the Friendship Hotel in Chinese characters. He looked at it, and then his eyes moved quickly to the carriage subway map. Next, he raised three fingers of his right hand. In Australia, raising fingers at someone is not usually nice, but this man wasn't smiling. At the next station he showed me two fingers. Now in Australia, that's really rude, but I got the message. When we stopped at the third station, he didn't just point to the door, but got up, took me out of the train, and led me to the top of the stairs, and out onto the street. Then he stopped a taxi and told the driver where to take me. All this came from a man who couldn't speak my language, and I couldn't speak his. I was now speechless, especially when he refused my offer of money. I felt a little embarrassed having even thought he would accept a tip. This experience made it clear I had to learn some Chinese quickly or my adventures might start turning into bad luck. The author decided to take the subway because _ . A. he lived near the city center B. the network covered most of the stops C. he believed in his ability to deal with the trip D. he had a good impression of its cleanliness Answer: C. he believed in his ability to deal with the trip Question: Devlin was the owner of a large subdivision. Parnell became interested in purchasing a lot but could not decide between Lot 40 and Lot 41. The price and fair market value of each of those two lots was $5,000. Parnell paid Devlin $5,000, which Devlin accepted, and Devlin delivered to Parnell a deed which was properly executed, complete, and ready for recording in every detail except that the space in the deed for the lot number was left blank. Devlin told Parnell to fill in either Lot 40 or Lot 41 according to his decision and then to record the deed. Parnell visited the development the next day and completely changed his mind, selecting Lot 25. He filled in Lot 25 and duly recorded the deed. The price of Lot 25 and its fair market value was $7,500.Assume the following facts for this question only. Before Devlin had time to learn of Parnell's actions, Parnell sold Lot 25 to Caruso for $6,000 by a duly and properly executed, delivered, and recorded warranty deed. Caruso knew that Devlin had put a price of $7,500 on 14 Lot 25, but he knew no other facts regarding the Devlin-Parnell transaction. Caruso's attorney accurately reported Parnell's record title to be good, marketable, and free of encumbrances. Neither Caruso nor his attorney made any further investigation outside the record. Devlin brought an appropriate action against Caruso to recover title to Lot 25. If Devlin loses, the most likely basis for the judgment is that A. the Statute of Frauds prevents the introduction of any evidence of Devlin's and Parnell's agreement B. recording of the deed from Devlin to Parnell precludes any question of its genuineness. C. as between Devlin and a bona fide purchaser, Devlin is estopped. D. the clean hands doctrine bars Devlin from relief Answer: C. as between Devlin and a bona fide purchaser, Devlin is estopped. Question: In Xinjiang, most people knew the stories of Avanti. Avanti was a very clever man. People liked him because he not only spoke for the poor but also was always ready to help them. One day Avanti walked on the street and saw two men arguing with each other. A lot of people stood around them. One of the two men was the owner of the eating house in the town and the other was a young man. The young man just passed by the eating house. The owner of the eating house told the young man to pay him money. The young man explained that he hadn't taken anything from the eating house. But the owner said that the young man had taken the smell of the nice food from the eating house, and he must pay for it. So Avanti went up to the owner and said, " I'll pay you the money." Avanti took out some coins from his pocket and put them into his bags. He shook his bag, and people heard the sound of the coins. Then Avanti said to the owner, " Take away the sound of the coins. That's what I pay for the smell of your food." People liked Avanti because _ . A. he was clever and disliked helping the poor B. he was rich and liked helping the poor C. he was wise and liked to help the poor D. he was too poor to help the rich Answer: C. he was wise and liked to help the poor Question: All boys and girls like good stories. I am sure that all children who read The Ugly Duckling will be glad to know something about the 'King of Story Tellers', who wrote it for them. Thousands and thousands of children have read this story, only to ask for it again and again. It has travelled the wide world over, and has been told in every country. Hans Christian Andersen, the author of "The Ugly Duckling," was born in Denmark. If you look on a map, you will see this little country in northern Europe. There, in the little village of Odense, he spent his boyhood. His father and mother were very poor. The family lived in two little rooms near the top of a house, where his father worked as a shoemaker. On the roof was a box filled with earth. In this box his mother planted her vegetables. Little Hans loved to walk with his father in the woods, where he could pick wild flowers and hear the birds sing. His father read to him when his work was done, or told him stories. What his father did helped him open up a new world. Once, when Hans was still a child, he went into a wheat field with his mother and a number of children, to pick the rest wheat which the reapers had left in the field. While they were busy picking only a small amount of wheat for each of them, an angry bailiff came rushing into the field, armed with a whip . All ran, as fast as they could, away from the angry man. _ and the sharp stalks of the wheat plants which had been cut down, cut his feet so that he could not get away. Unafraid, the boy faced the angry man and his upraised whip. "How dare you hit me when you know God sees you?" he cried, looking fearlessly into the face of the angry bailiff. The whip came down, but not on little Hans. The bailiff admired the boy's courage, and praised him for it. He sent him home with gifts, rather than punishments.[:] While Hans was still a boy, his kind father died. Then Hans and his mother were left alone, to care for each other. "What will you do, Hans?" the mother asked "Would you like to become a tailor?" "No, mother," the boy answered; "I will go to Copenhagen and study. One day I shall write books." "But where will the money be found to pay your way?" asked the mother. "I will work, and God will take care of me," Hans replied. So the boy left his native village and walked all the way to Copenhagen, which was very far. What do you think Hans' life would be like in Copenhagen? A. Hard. B. Relaxing. C. Colourful. D. Lonely Answer: A. Hard. Question: You would use a seismometer if A. A mysterious rumble off the coast of Japan B. Someone farted in class C. Kids were stomping on the floor D. to track the buzz of a bee Answer: A. A mysterious rumble off the coast of Japan
In June 2013 a five-year-old boy, Toby, was walking home from school thinking about the long summer ahead. Money was tight that year and Toby's parents had told him they would not be able to afford a holiday. Instead of dreaming about foreign travel, he had been reading a book, Letter to New Zealand, where the author explains what happens in an envelope's journey from England to the other side of the world. As they neared their house, Toby asked his mum, Sabine, if he could write a letter to New Zealand. After a few more steps he was struck by an even better idea. "Can I write a letter to every country in the world?" Sabine says she often wonders what would have happened if she had replied differently that day. "It was just one of those typical questions that five-year-olds have," she says. " If he had asked me in the evening when I was tired, I might have refused. But as parents you realize there's a lot of power in just allowing kids to have a go. Also, it seemed a nice way to do some armchair exploration. So I told him" Let's see how far you get." The answer was very far indeed. Toby has since written and posted letters to all 193 UN mumber states, as well as numerous other bad-conditioned areas with comforting ones. To date he has written 681 letters- the best of which have been selected to appear in a new book called Dear World, How Are You?- although so productive is Toby' pen that the number will have risen by the time you read this. "Writing these letters has made me realize that the world isn't actually all that big," he says with a grin. In the future, part of him would like to be a musical director to turn his beloved Star Wars into a ballet. Of course, he also hopes to travel the globe in person to see some of the countries where his letters have ended up. "We're so lucky to have this wonderful world, and I hope we can live on planet Earth in peace." From Toby's mother's words, we know that at first _ . A. she thought her son's idea was of no value B. she got tired of her son's request C. she believed her son would succeed D. she thought she should give her son a try Answer: D On September 22, 1986, Jay Brunkella, a police-officer in the Rogers Park district in Chicago, was shot during a drug arrest and died. Shortly afterwards, fellow officer Ken Knapcik, a 20-year veteran of the force, returned home after work to find a note from his 15-year-old daughter on the dining table. Dad---This poem came directly from my heart. I love you so much! It scares and amazes me that you go out every day and risk everything to provide us with all that we have. I wrote this to express how much I love you and how much lost I'd be without you-Laura. P.S.: Hey, let's be careful out there. Titled "The Ultimate Cop", Laura's poem was dedicated "To all the cops in the world who have daughters who love them with all their hearts. And especially to my dad." It was about a police-officer's daughter who sees on the night time news that her father has been shot. Part of poem: "Daddy, my Daddy, can you hear me cry? Oh, God, I need my Daddy, please don't let him die." Ken Knapcik stood alone as he read the poem. "It took me several minutes," he said. "I'd get through part of it and have to stop before I could go on. I was weeping. She had never told me she was scared." He took the poem to work the next day and showed it to his fellow officers. "I've never seen so many grown men cry. Some couldn't finish it." Knapcik keeps Laura's poem in the pocket of his police jacket. He takes it with him every time he leaves the house for a new shift. "I don't want to be out there without it." he said, "I'll probably carry it with me forever." Knapcik keeps Laura's poem in his pocket _ . A. to treasure her daughter's love and to value his own life B. to keep it from missing C. because he can't go out without it D. to mourn over the death of officer Jay Brunkella Answer: A When Mr. David retired , he bought a small house in a village near the sea. He liked it and hoped to live a quiet life in it. But to his surprise, many visitors came to see his house in summer holidays, for _ was the most interesting building in the village. From morning to night, there were visitors outside the house. They kept looking into the rooms through the windows and many of them even went into the house. He decided to drive the visitors away. So he put a notice on the window. The notice said,"If you want to satisfy your curiosity ,come in and look around. Price: twenty dollars."Mr. David was sure that the visitors would stop coming, but he was wrong. More and more visitors came and Mr. David had to spend every day showing them around his house. "I came here to retire, not to work as a guide ", he said angrily. In the end, he sold the house and moved away. Mr. David put a notice on the window in order _ . A. to drive the visitors away B. to satisfy the visitors curiosity C. to let visitors come in and look around D. to get some money out of the visitors Answer: A In many English homes people eat four meals a day: breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner. People have breakfast at any time from seven to nine in the morning. They eat porridge, eggs or bread, English people drink tea or coffee at breakfast. Lunch comes at one o'clock. Afternoon tea is from four to five in the afternoon and dinner is at about half past seven. First they have soup, and then they have meat or fish with vegetables. After that they eat some other things, like bananas, apples or oranges. But not all English people eat like that. Some of them have their dinner in the middle of the day. Their meals are breakfast, dinner, tea and supper and all these meals are very simple. . People don't have _ for their dinner. A. porridge B. bananas and apples C. soup and meat D. meat and fish Answer: A Once upon a time, there was a lovely vegetable field, on which grew a very thick tree. Both the vegetables and the tree gave the place a wonderful appearance, which was the joy of the garden's owner. What no one knew was that the vegetables in the field and the tree couldn't stand each other. The vegetables hated the tree's shadow, because it left them only just enough light to survive. The tree, on the other hand, hated the vegetables because they drank nearly all the water before it could get to him, leaving him with just enough to survive. The situation became so extreme that the vegetables got totally fed up and decided to use up all the water in the ground so that the tree would dry up. The tree answered back by refusing to give the vegetables shadow from the hot midday sun, so they both began to dry up. Before long, the vegetables were really thin and the tree's branches were drying up. Neither of them thought that the gardener, on seeing his vegetable field becoming worse, would stop watering it. When he did that, both the tree and the vegetables really learned what thirst was. There seemed to be no solution, but one of the vegetables, a small courgette , understood what was going on, and decided to deal with it. Despite the little water and the unbearable heat, the little courgette did all he could to grow, grow...He managed to grow so big that the gardener started watering the field again. The gardener wanted to enter that beautiful big courgette in some gardening contest. And so the vegetables and the tree realized that it was better to help each other than to fight. They should really learn how to live in harmony with those around them, doing the best they could. So they decided to work together, using both the shadow and the water in the best combination to grow good vegetables. Seeing how well they were doing, the gardener now gave the best of care to his vegetable field, watering it better than any other field for miles around. What can we learn from this passage? A. We ought to live in harmony with others. B. We ought to save as much water as possible. C. We ought to learn from each other in some ways. D. We ought to learn to respect each other. Answer: A
This is a talk by a London taxi driver. "I've been a taxi driver for nearly ten years. Most London taxi drivers have their own taxis." "It's a nice job most of time. You meet a lot of people. I always work at night, because there is too much traffic during the day. I live twenty miles outside London and I go to work at 5:30 in the afternoon." "I usually go home between 2 and 3 in the morning." "Some very strange things happened late at night .The other day I was taking a woman home from a party .She had her little dog with her. When we got to her house, she found that she had lost her key. So I waited in the car with the dog while she climbed in through the windows." "I waited and waited. After half an hour of ringing the bell I decided to find out what was going on .I tied the dog to a tree and started to climb in through the window. The next thing I knew was that the police came. They thought I was a thief. Luckily the woman came downstairs.She must have gone to sleep and forgotten about me and the dog!" The driver always worked at night because it was easier to _ . Answer: All students need to have good study habits .When you have good study habits, you will learn things quickly and also remember them easily. Do you like to study in the living room? This is not a good place because it is usually too noisy. You need to study in a quiet place, like your bedroom. A quiet place will help you only think about one thing. When you study, don,t think about other things at the same time. Only think about your homework. If you do so, you will do your homework more quickly , and you will make fewer mistakes. Good study habits are very important. If you do not have them, try to learn them. If your study habits are already good, try to make them better. According to the writer, which can be a good study habit? Answer: Finding true happiness is a universal aspiration . We all want it, but can we all have it? Genuine happiness is written all over our faces when we are truly contented, and, likewise, a forced smile does nothing to hide underlying sadness. Believing that everyone can create their own lasting joy, Matthieu Richard has been declared the Happiest Man in the World. Richard earned his "happiest man" status after a series of laboratory tests in 2004. Richard has shared his thoughts on happiness with a worldwide audience. As an experienced speaker, he has explained his insights into happiness to everyone, from students to corporate groups. Looking inwards to find joy rather than relying on outer conditions, he believes, is the way to achieve well-being. "It's quite clear that the outer conditions are not enough. The way we interpret those outer conditions in our inner experience is what determines either a sense of well-being or misery. We love to go jogging for fitness and we do all kinds of things to remain beautiful, yet we spend surprisingly little time taking care of what matters most: the way our minds function. It's the essential thing that determines the quality of our experience." Besides this, Richard stresses that it is not what's happening around us that makes us unhappy, but rather the way we choose to react to it. The pursuit of happiness is becoming a modern obsession . As life becomes more complex, our ability to process our reactions to various outside influences comes under strain. "Genuine happiness" he says, "doesn't mean pleasant feelings one after the other. It's more like a series of qualities that we can develop as skills -- like openness, genuine love, compassion, inner strength and inner peace." Richard has been declared the Happiest Man in the World _ . Answer: The formation of diamonds requires tremendous pressure that is generated Answer: We were driving on the right road when, all of a sudden, a black car pulled out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver stepped on his brake, skidded , and missed the black car's back end by just inches! The driver of the black car, who almost caused a major accident, turned his head angrily and started shouting bad words at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. I mean, my taxi driver was friendly. So, I said, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to hospital!" And the following is what my taxi driver told me, which I now call "the law of the Garbage Truck". "Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish him well, and move on. Believe me. You'll be happier." So this is "The Law of the Garbage Truck". I started thinking: How often do I let "Garbage Trucks" run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets? It was then that I said, "I'm not going to do it any more." I began to see "Garbage Trucks". I see _ they're carrying. I see them coming to drop it off. And like my taxi driver, I don't make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, and move on. Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting. Good parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school with hugs and kisses. What about you? The mark of a successful person is how quickly he can get back his focus on what's important. The reason why the taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy is that _ . Answer:
A Frenchman went to a small Italian town and was staying with his wife at the best hotel there. One night, he went out for a walk alone. It was late and the small street was dark and quiet. Suddenly he felt someone behind him. He turned his head and saw an Italian young man who quickly walked past him. The man was nearly out of sight when the Frenchman suddenly found that his watch was gone. He thought that it must be the Italian who had taken his watch. He decided to follow him and get back the watch. Soon the Frenchman caught up with the Italian. Neither of them understood the other's language. The Frenchman frightened the Italian with his fist and pointed at the Italian's watch. In the end the Italian gave up his watch to the Frenchman. When he returned to the hotel, the Frenchman told his wife what had happened. He was greatly surprised when his wife pointed to the watch on the table. Now he realized that by mistake he had robbed the watch and it was the Italian's. Who was robbed of the watch on earth? A The Frenchman was. B The Italian was. C Both of them was. D Neither of them was. Answer: B. The Italian was. He has vowed that he will not stop building his business until it is worth PS100 million.But hard-working Owens can stop for at least a moment's celebration after making his first PS1 million at the age of 16.Owens,who has used a computer since the age of seven,began teaching himself basic web design at the age of ten when he was given his first Mac computer.He used his pocket money to fund his first business project,website Mac Box Bundle at just 14 which has made PS700 000 since its establishment in 2008.Mac Box Bundle sells a combination of popular Mac applications which are worth up to $400 together for under just $100 and donates 10 percent of the money to charities. He then established an advertising company Branchr a year later and worked on the business after school and at weekends.Branchr made a surprising PS500 000 in its first year.Branchr works as a platform for website owners to sell advertising. Owens,from Northampton,currently employs eight staff--all adults--around the UK and America as sales and technical assistants.The young man lives with his parents.His mother who is a company secretary said he was inspired to go into business after observing the huge success achieved by Apple's chief executive officers Steve Jobs. Owens said,"I think everyone has business sense in them,and they just need to gain experience and be determined to make it.There is no magical formula for business.It takes hard work,determination and the drive to do something great.My aim is to become a leading name in the world of Internet and mobile advertising and push myself right to the top of the game. The teenager insists his professional success has not affected his personal life,and says his interests include photography and playing the guitar."My friends and I don't really talk about my success.To them I'm just a normal teenager and it doesn't change anything between us." What do Ownes' friends think about him? A He sets a good example. B He does quite well in music. C He is a common school boy. D He puts friendship above anything else. Answer: C. He is a common school boy. Why is setting goals important? Because goals can help you do, be, and experience everything you want in life.Instead of just letting life happen to you, goals allow yourself to make your life happen. Successful and happy people have a vision of how their life should be and they set lots of goals(both short-term and long-range)to help them reach their vision.By setting goals you are taking control of your life.It's like having a map to show you where you want to go.Think of it in this way.There are two drivers.One has a destination in mind(her goal) which is laid out for her on a map.She can drive straight there without any wasted time or wrong turns.The other driver has no goal or destination or map.She starts off at the same time from the same place as the first driver.But she drivers aimlessly around, never getting anywhere , just using up gas and oil.Which driver do you want to be? Winners in life set goals and follow through on them.They decide what they want in life and then get there by making plans and setting goals.Unsuccessful people just let life happen by accident.Goals aren't difficult to set, and they aren't difficult to reach.It's up to you to find out what your goals,ideals and visions really are.You are the one who must decide what to pursue and in what direction to aim your life. Research tells us that when we write a goal down we are more likely to achieve it.Written goals can be reviewed regularly, and have more power.Like a contract with yourself, they are harder to neglect or forget. Also when you write your goals in a particular way you are able to make yourself continuously aware of situations that will bring you nearer to your goals. The author gave the example of two drivers to show _ . A the foolishness of the first driver B the importance of having a map and right direction C the foolishness of the second driver D the importance of setting goals Answer: B. the importance of having a map and right direction A 15-year-old American has become the youngest person to climb the highest mountains on each of the seven continents, completing the feat by summiting Antarctica's Mount Vinson over the weekend. Jordan Romero, who last year at age 13 became the youngest person to climb the world's tallest peak Mt Everest, was descending to base camp on Sunday after reaching the summit of Vinson Massif with a team that included his father and stepmother, according to his team's website. "We're at the roof of Antarctica," a member of Team Jordan said in a webcast from near the 4897-metre peak on a frigid but "legendary day". Romero beat the record previously held by Britain's George Atkinson, who in May completed the seven ascents at the age of 16. The junior mountaineer from Big Bear Lake, California has been hooked on climbing from an early age. When he was just 10, he became the youngest person to climb Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak at 5895 meters. Before his 11th birthday, he had another world record under his belt, summiting Europe's Mt Elbrus, in Russia's Caucasus mountains, in July 2007. Five months later, it was the 6962-metre Mt Aconcagua in Argentina, followed by Alaska's Mt McKinley at 6194 meters. In September 2009 at age 13, he climbed Indonesia's Carstensz Pyramid, at 6194 meters the tallest island peak in the world, breaking another record. Eight months later in May 2010, he climbed Everest, and ever since he and his team had been preparing for his Antarctic expedition. "Looking forward to tomorrow, and we'll make you guys proud and promise we'll come back home safe and sound," Romero said in a webcast on Saturday, hours before he began the final ascent to Mt Vinson's summit. The team had intended to reach the top on Christmas Day, but ideal weather and good progress allowed them to summit a day ahead of schedule. Among the following mountains, which is the highest? A Mt McKinley. B Mt. Aconcagua. C Mt. Kilimanjaro. D Mt. Vinson. Answer: B. Mt. Aconcagua. Maria collected the gas given off by a glowing piece of charcoal. The gas was then bubbled through a small amount of colorless limewater. Part of Maria's report stated, "After the gas was put into the jar, the limewater gradually changed to a milky white color." This statement is A an observation B a conclusion C a generalization D an assumption of the investigation (E) a hypothesis Answer: A. an observation
Ten people became sick with the flu after attending a school dance. What is the scenario that could best explain how the people got sick? A. contact with environmental sources B. contact with an infected animal C. contact with a contaminated object D. contact with an infected person Answer: D. contact with an infected person Every morning, kids from a local high school are working hard. They are making and selling special coffee at a coffee cafe. They are also making a lot of money. These students can make up to twelve hundred dollars a day. They are selling their special coffee to airplane passengers. After the students get paid, the rest of the money goes to helping a local youth project. These high school students use a space in the Oakland airport. It is usually very crowded. Many people who fly on the planes like to drink the special coffee. One customer thinks that the coffee costs a lot but it is good and worth it. Most customers are pleasant but some are unhappy. They do not like it if the coffee cafe is not open for business. The students earn $6.10 an hour plus tips. They also get school credit while they learn how to run a business. Many of the students enjoy the work although it took some time to learn how to do it. They have to learn how to steam milk, load the pots, and add flavor. It takes some skill and sometimes mistakes are made. The most common mistake is forgetting to add the coffee. But many students enjoy the job, because they learn a lot experience by serving people. This will benefit them a lot when they enter into society after they finish their school education. The students in the coffee cafe _ . A. are volunteers without being paid B. work in the morning five days a week. C. send coffee on the planes for the passengers. D. contribute some of the earnings to a youth program. Answer: D. contribute some of the earnings to a youth program. Trip 1 Black Bear Count There have been fires in this area in the last few years and the Office of the National Park is not sure how many black bears are still living. Some bears have been seen since the fires, and the Office has asked for young people to help count them. The entire trip will last three hours. Bookings necessary. Cost: Free When: May 8 Trip 2 Garland Valley Bring your drink and lunch for this walk in a beautiful area of the Blue Mountains. Garland Valley is close to the town of Garland but is part of the National Park. Many wild animals live in this area, including many rare birds. This is a great walk for bird-lovers. The trip lasts four hours. Bookings necessary. Cost: $ 15 When: May 8, May 15 Trip 3 Flashlight Adventure Put on your warm clothes, bring a flashlight and a pair of glasses, and come for a night walk along the Dungog Valley. A guide will lead the tour. Many of the animals you will see on this trip can only be seen at night. The guide will tell you about the lives of the animals you see. Numbers are strictly limited on night trips, so be sure to book early. This walk lasts two and a half hours. Cost: $ 12 When: May 8, May 15, May 22 Equipment to be needed: Please bring enough water and food for all walks. Wear good walking shoes--no high heels. Wear a hat for day walks. Dress warmly for night walks. Children must be with an adult. Make sure your flashlight works well and bring extra batteries for night walks. Follow all instructions from guides during the walks. The mountains are a dangerous place. Bookings: Bookings for the above trips can be done by telephone (893 - 4847) or on the Internet at (www. bluemountaintour, com) What is the best title for the passage? A. Adventure Travel in America B. Hunting around the Great Mountains C. Discovery Trips in the Blue Mountains D. Interesting Trips in the East of the USA Answer: C. Discovery Trips in the Blue Mountains Transportation and communication networks bring people together. Yet sometimes people themselves create barriers to transportation and communication. In some countries, laws stop people from moving freely from place to place. Over the centuries, many groups of people have been denied the freedom to travel because of their race, religion, or nationality. In the Middle Ages, for example, Jews were often forbidden to move about freely within certain cities. South Africa's government used to require black Africans to carry passes when they travel within the country. Some governments require all citizens to carry identification papers and to report to government officials whenever they move. Countries set up Customs posts at their borders. Foreign travellers must go through a Customs inspection before they are allowed to travel in the country. Usually travellers have to carry special papers such as passports and visas . Some countries even limit the number of visitors to their country each year. Others allow tourists to visit only certain areas of the country, or they may require that travellers be with an official guide at all times during their stay. Many of those barriers to travel also act as barriers to communication. When two governments disagree with each other on important matters, they usually do not want their citizens to exchange news or ideas freely. Countries often try to keep military or industrial information secret. Today, people have the ability to travel, to communicate, and to transport goods more quickly and easily than ever before. Natural barriers that were difficult or dangerous to cross a hundred years ago can now be crossed easily. The barriers that people themselves make are not so easy to overcome. But in spite of all the different kinds of barriers, people continue to enjoy travel and the exchange of goods and ideas. Some governments limit the freedom of communication because _ A. they think such freedom will lead to wars B. they more often than not agree with each other on important matters C. they intend to keep their national secrets unknown to others D. they want to show their authority over communication Answer: C. they intend to keep their national secrets unknown to others Just the mention of the TOEFL, GRE and GAMT exams brings a thought of long hours of dull paper work. But that idea is becoming increasingly out of date. As planned, computerized tests will begin next year which will bring a series of changes from test psychology to scoring techniques. From computer - equipped rooms, examinees will answer the questions on a computer. If they are sure about their choices, they can pass to the next question by pressing the entry "next". Then another question will be randomly selected from a vast test item bank and appear on the screen. After answering all the questions, examinees can choose the entry "quit" if they are not satisfied with their performance, or "score" if they want to see the result. Scores will be calculated immediately and appear on the screen. By that point, student's marks are official--there is no going back. Since they greatly shorten the painful waiting process-which used to be two or three months, computerized tests have won worldwide popularity. Besides, there will be no rushing to the registration offices( )for these exams. Computerized tests will be given every workday in an exam center with all three kinds of tests being held in the same room. All test takers need to do is to call the exam center and book their seats for a particular day. In addition it will become technically possible to apply new testing procedures. In the past,each examinee had the same set of test items despite differences in their ability. Under a computerized system, however, if the computer judges an answer is right, a question of a relatively difficult nature will follow. But if an examinee continues to give wrong answers and is judged as un-qualified by the computer system, he will be automatically _ the chance to go further in the test. The word "denied" in the last sentence most probably means _ A. refused B. allowed C. lost D. passed Answer: A. refused
The Cave of Lascaux It was Thursday, September 12,1940.Four French teens were out exploring in the woods off the northern slopes of the Pyrenees.Many years before, an old pine tree fell and left a large hole in the ground.The teenagers were curious and they started to explore the area and fell into one of the most important archeological finds of the twentieth century! There are over a hundred limestone caves in this region of France.Some were _ by humans thousands and thousands of years ago.Between 15,000 and 17,000 years ago, humans painted lively creatures such as cows, bulls, horses, and even cats on the walls of the caves. Why did they mark these walls? Was it to tell a story? Was it to record a famous battle? There are many mysteries and ancient secrets still waiting to be discovered in the cave of Lascaux.There were dots in many of the paintings.What do these dots mean? Were they meant to record time, a calendar? Deep in the cave, there is a drawing of a "birdman".What does this mean? Was it a place for sacred ceremonies? No one knows for sure. The actual cave of Lascaux was closed in 1963 due to the overabundance of tourists visiting the site.The carbon dioxide that people were breathing out was causing damage to the fragile cave paintings.Up till now the Lascaux cave is still closed for tourists.Only a specialist can visit the cave by a special order that must be made out almost a year in advance.Not more than six persons can enter the cave per day.Two days a week, the cave is completely closed.Due to the great interest of numerous tourists, in 1983 Lascaux IIwas opened for tourism.It is an exact replica of the cave of Lascaux. In the author's opinion, the cave paintings are _ . interesting Looking for a new weight loss plan? Try living on top of a mountain. Mountain air contains less oxygen than air at lower altitudes, so breathing it causes the heart to beat faster and the body to burn more energy. A handful of studies have found that athletes training at high altitudes tend to lose weight. Doctor Florian Lippl of the University Hospital Of Ludwig-Maximilians-university Munich wondered how the mountain air would affect overweight individuals if they weren't doing any more physical activity than usual. Lippl and his colleagues invited 20 overweight men to an environmental research station about 300 meters below the summit of Zugspitze, a mountain around 2,970 meters near the Austrian border. They were allowed to eat as much as they liked. The men also gave blood so that researchers could test for hormones linked to appetite and fatness. At the end of the week, the men, whose mean weight starting out was 105kg, had lost on average about l.5kg. The men's blood pressure also dropped, which the researchers believed was due to weight lost. Exactly what caused the weight loss is uncertain. Loss of appetite is common at higher altitudes, and indeed the men ate significantly less than usual--about 700 calories fewer per day. Lippl also notes that because their consumption was being recorded, they may have been more self-conscious about what they ate. Regardless, eating less accounts for just l kg of the l.5 kg lost, says Lippl. He thinks the increased metabolic rate, which was measured, also contributed to weight loss but cannot separate the different effects with the given data. Appetite loss at high altitudes could certainly be key, notes Damian Bailey, a physiologist at the University of Glamorgan, UK, who recently lost 11 kg during a 3-month expedition to the Andes in Chile. Unfortunately, for the average person there is no treatment that can resemble living at high altitude, says Lippl. The only alternative is hypobaric chamber, which exposes subjects to low oxygen and isn't practical as a treatment. He says, half- jokingly, "If fat people plan their holidays, they might not go to the sea, but maybe to the mountain." Why does Damian Bailey agree with the idea of appetite loss at high altitudes? He lost much weight in the high altitude Andes. China Daily Classified Page Advertising Rates Published every Wednesday and Friday. 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After this deadline, additional charges will be incurred (brought upon oneself). Tel : (86 - 10)64941104, 64924488 ext. 2117 Fax: (86 - 10)64941104 E- mail: cads @ chinadaily. com. cn If someone wants to advertise his trade goods in the newspaper, the least fee he'll pay is RMB _ Yuan. 170 Your best friend is possibly the most important person in your life. But sometimes friendship's road is not always smooth, or it's a total dead end. What do you do when this happens? Scenario 1: Drifting Apart You've found that your friend no longer wants to jog with you. She'd rather hit the chat rooms, or she's become crazy about hanging with her new interest. It's a _ when old friends start having less in common. But it might still be worth trying to get into your friend's new interest, trying something new on your own, or meet some new folks who like doing the things you enjoy. Another thing to try is talking to your friend about it- in a non-this-is-your-fault way. The goal is telling how you feel, not "winning". Scenario 2: Fights "Yes, he is." "No, he isn't." the argument could continue forever. No matter how sure you are that you're right, friendship is based on RESPECT. Since you and your friend aren't clones , you will disagree sometimes! Is it worth fighting over? If it is trivial , why not give it up? Agree to disagree and get on well with life. Even if you'll never agree, try to see the other person's viewpoint. At least honor his right to have his own opinions. Never get physical. Violence can make a small problem into a disaster. Scenario 3: End of the Road Is the friendship over? If you are not the one ending it, it feels as if a knife cut your heart into pieces. But the thing is that you can't force someone to be your friend. Give yourself time. But don't freeze in a looking-back, holding pattern . Be open to new friendship. You never know when the "best friend forever" will come along. The purpose of the passage is to teach you _ . what to do when a friendship changes Of course, the main difference on the Chinese dinner table is chopsticks instead of knife and fork, but that's only superficial. Besides, in decent restaurants, you can always ask for a pair of knife and fork, if you find the chopsticks not helpful enough. The real difference is that in the West, you have your own plate of food, while in China the dishes are placed on the table and everyone shares. If you are being treated to a formal dinner and particularly if the host thinks you're in the country for the first time, he will do the best to give you a taste of many different types of dishes. The meal usually begins with a set of at least four cold dishes, to be followed by the main courses of hot meat and vegetable dishes. Soup then will be served (unless in Guangdong style restaurants) to be followed by staple food ranging from rice, noodles to dumplings. If you wish to have your rice to go with other dishes, you should say so in good time, for most of the Chinese choose to have the staple food at last or have none of them at all. Perhaps one of the things that surprise a western visitor most is that some of the Chinese hosts like to put food into the plates of their guests. In formal dinners, there are always "public" chopsticks and spoons for this purpose, but some hosts may use their own chopsticks. This is a sign of genuine friendship and politeness. It is always polite to eat the food. If you do not eat it, just leave the food in the plate. People in China tend to over-order food, for they will find it embarrassing if all the food is consumed. When you have had enough, just say so. Or you will always overeat! The "public chopsticks and spoons" are used to _ . put food into the plates of their guests
A blind baby is doubly handicapped. Not only is it unable to see, but because it cannot receive the visual stimulus from its environment that a sighted child does, it is likely to be slow in intellectual development. Now the ten-month old son of Dr. and Mrs. Dennis Daughters is the subject of an unusual psychological experiment designed to prevent a lag in the learning process. With the aid of a sonar-type electronic that he wears on his head, infant Dennis is learning to identify the people and objects in the world around him by means of echoes . The device is an improvement of the "Sonicguide", an instrument produced by Telesensory Systems, Inc., of Palo Alto, Calif, and used by blind adults in addition to a smart or guide dog. As adapted for Dennis, it consists of a battery-powered system about the size of a half dollar that is on a headgear. A transmitter sends out an ultrasonic pulse that creates an 80 degree cone of sound at 6 feet. Echoes from objects within the cone are perceived (felt) as sounds that vary in pitch and volume with the size and distance of the object. The closer an object is, the lower the pitch, and the larger the object, the louder the signal. Hard surfaces produce a sharp ping, while soft ones send back signals with a slightly fuzzy quality. An object slightly to the right of Denny's sends back a louder sound to his right ear than to the left. Thus , by simply moving his head right and left and up and down, he can not only locate an object but also get some notion of its shape and size, thanks to the varying qualities of sounds reaching his ears as the cone of ultrasound passes _ . Dennis likes to use the device to play a kind of peek-a-boo with his mother. Standing on her knee and facing her directly, he receives a strong signal in both ears. By turning his head away, he makes her seem to disappear. "From the first time he wore it," says Mrs. Daughters, "it was like a light going on in his head." What remains to be determined is how well the device will help Dennis cope with his surroundings as he begins to walk and venture further into his environment. Meanwhile, Telesensory, Inc, is working on the development of sonar device with somewhat the same sensitivity as Dennis's for use by school-age children. Dr. and Mrs. Daughters' research is directed to _ . Speaking in his first National Day Rally speech on 15 August, Prime Minister Lee Hsien said Singapore's education system was set for more reforms in the years ahead, particularly for the primary and secondary education.Read the summary of his thoughts on education below. For a start, the Government is prepared to send and additional 3,000 teachers to Singapore schools, cut the courses of study even further and change the way the mother tongue, especially Chinese, is taught.But, for the changes to be successful, parents need to help. Singapore has a devoted group of teachers and principals and quite a few of them are outstanding, but the Republic's schools can be even better.To help the schools make a jump in quality, the Government plans that within the next 6 years, it will send 1,000 more teachers to primary schools, 1,400 to secondary schools and 550 more to junior colleges.Each school would decide how to use its extra teachers.Some may want to make classes smaller so students get more individual attentions while others may have new teachers assist more senior teachers, but the overall goal is to give teachers the time and space to come up with ways to bring out the best in their students. More teachers must not mean more homework, however.In fact, the Prime Minister wants to see the courses cut down so that there is less pressure on the students.Good grades are important but they should not be the only goal students have.PM Lee is convinced that "we must teach less so that our children can learn more." Another change will be in the teaching of the mother tongue so that students can become more fluent.The key is to teach Chinese as a living language not just an academic subject like Latin.Therefore, the focus should be on speaking and reading the language.To do this, there must be an environment outside the classroom that is contributing to strengthening the Chinese lessons. PM Lee holds that the students should _ . Last year more than one million Filipinos worked abroad as servants,nurses,sailors and in other difficult but low-paid jobs.Southeast Asians leave their poorer countries for their richer neighbours. Many of these wage-earners return in the end.In the meantime,they send home huge amounts of money--in the Philippines' case,over 10% of its GDP.Between January and November,the amount was up 18% on the same period of 2005.Poverty and unemployment are still high in the Philippines and other labour-exporting countries.They would be far worse but for this outflow of bodies and inflow of dollars.As for those Asian countries that import labour,as in Europe,falling birth rates mean they are going to need more foreign workers. On January 13th leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) signed an agreement to help migrant workers--with the realization that the flow of labour between their countries is a growing problem that they cannot blame on outsiders.A 2005 study showed that 8.4 million Southeast Asians worked outside their home countries,but this did not include the huge numbers of Indonesians doing so without papers.So the true total is probably rather higher. Of the ten ASEAN countries,the Philippines,Indonesia,Myanmar,Cambodia,Vietnam and Laos export labour,Singapore and Brunei import it,and Thailand and Malaysia do both.Sziraczki of the UN's International Labour Organization points out that,in the next ten years,the total labour force of the worker-exporting countries should grow by about a third.It makes sense to work on the problem before it gets out of control. People in the receiving countries seem to be worried about competition for their jobs.Most Thais said their government should admit no more foreign workers,and a few thought otherwise.Even in Singapore,just over half of people are against admitting more foreign workers.Malaysians think that the increase in foreign workers has worsened crime rates . The writer of the text seems to _ . Driving in Canada is similar to driving in many parts of the United States.Distances and speeds,however,are posted in kilometres per hour and some signs,particularly in Quebec,may only be in French. Unless otherwise posted,the maximum speed limit in Canada is 50km/hr in cities and 80km/hr on highways.On rural highways,the posted speed limit may be 100km/hr.It is not allowed to take automobile radar detectors into Quebec,Ontario,Manitoba,and the Yukon.Seat belt use is required by law for all passengers,and child car seats must be used by children under 40 pounds.Some provinces require drivers to keep their vehicles' headlights on during the day and some have banned driving while using a hand-held cell phone.Motorcycles cannot share a lane ,and safety helmets for motorcycle riders and passengers are necessary.Running a red light is a serious crime throughout Canada and drivers are advised to stop before starting when a light turns green. Winter travel can be dangerous due to heavy snowfalls and icy conditions.Some roads and bridges are often closed in winter.Snow tires are required in some provinces.Travelers should also be careful about animals while driving at night in rural areas. Highway 401,from Detroit to Montreal,is one of the busiest highways in North America.It has been the scene of many deadly traffic accidents due to sudden and severe weather changes,high rates of speed,and heavy truck traffic.Thus drivers should be _ while travelling here. Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information and tips.Also,we suggest that you visit the website of Canada's national authority responsible for road safety. Which of the following is NOT mentioned that have led to deadly accidents on Highway 401? For decades,the San Francisco Bay area has been the heart of the computer technology industry.Many of the biggest technology companies have their headquarters in the area called Silicon Valley.But the area has not always been associated with charity . Now,a new generation of entrepreneurs appears to be changing Silicon Valley.One example is Marc Benioff,a donor ,who has called on wealthy donors to give more to their communities.He also is the founder of Salesforce.com,a computer services company in San Francisco who has helped build a children's hospital and given millions of dollars to non-profit organizations in the city. Money from the technology industry has also started to change the face of charity.Benjamin Soskis writes about the history and ideas behind charity in America.His articles have appeared in The Atlantic magazine and a number of major publications.He says,traditionally,donors have given after they spent much of their lives building up wealth.Usually donors are in their 70s.But an increasing number of people appearing on the list of top donors are younger than 40 years of age.Benjamin Soskis says that is something new."There's a whole new model that's appearing in which people give and accumulate at the same time." Some of the young donors on this year's top 50 list have started to change in the way people see charity.That is especially the case in the San Francisco area,where giving money and making money appear to be coming together."I think it's fair to say that charity is now a part of the Silicon Valley identity." Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
Welcome to the Ambassador Hotel. To make your stay as enjoyable as possible, we hope you can make full use of our facilities . Dining Room Breakfast is served in the dining room from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. The room staff will bring a breakfast tray to your room at any time after 7 a.m. Please fill out a card and hang it outside your door when you go to bed. Lunch: 12:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dinner: 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Room Service This operates 24 hours a day; phone the Reception Desk, and your message will be passed on to the room staff. Telephones To make a phone call, dial 0 for Reception and ask to be connected. We apologize for delays in putting calls through when the staffs are very busy. There are also public telephone boxes near the Reception Desk. Early calls should be booked with Reception. Laundry We have a laundry in the hotel, and will wash, iron and return your clothes within 24 hours. Ask the room staff to collect them. Bar The hotel bar is open from 12 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. You would see this notice _ . Answer: The first visit to a foreign country that I can remember was when I was about seven years old. We live about 5 miles away from the Canadian border . My family and I went to Parc Safari, Quebec, a wonderful place that has animals and rides. We drove down a nice long road. My sister and I sat in the back of the car, and it was a hatchback so we opened it up. I remember feeding the animals snacks we had bought for ourselves. The time we went we were told there would not be monkeys because they had escaped and had not been found. I remember thinking to myself, how cool it would be to see a monkey in our backyard. Even though the monkeys were not there it was still so much fun. When we reached the area that had camels, giraffes and other animals, I remember one of the camels reached into the car to get our snacks. However, we were a little _ because the camels seemed to froth at the mouth and we had camel slobber all over the car and us. It was one of the best family vacations that I can remember. It was not too far from home, it was in a different country and it was with my family. I cannot remember if we went on the rides or not but seeing many animals was a great time. Now I am grown up and have a son, and I am planning to go there again. He is 7 years old and I think he is at a great age to enjoy a trip like this. I am sure it has changed a lot over the years but it will still be a great family trip. We fed the animals something _ . Answer: The Panama Canal opened almost 100 years ago.It connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and reduces travel by about 13,000 kilometers and avoids the need for ships to sail around Cape Horn at the bottom of South America. Built from 1904 to 1914,the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 ships in 2008.In total,over 815,000 ships have passed through the canal.It has been named one of the seven modern wonders of the world.More than forty ships pass through the canal each day. Now,a major expansion project will permit more ships and bigger ships to pass through the canal.Jorge Quijano,the Panama Canal's executive vice president of engineering,says,"The present canal has a total capacity of about 340 million tons a year.With the expansion we expect to double that." For years,shipbuilders limited the size of many ships so that they could pass through the Panama Canal.But now many shipping companies use bigger ships to transport more goods as a way to reduce costs.Mr.Quijano says the expansion project will allow many of these larger ships to use the canal. Workers are building the new locks alongside the old ones,which will remain in use.The existing locks are 305 meters long and 33.5 meters wide.The new ones will be 427 meters long and 55 meters wide.They will be able to handle ships with drafts of more than 15 meters.At present,ships can ride only 12 meters deep in the canal. Engineers could not make the new locks too big.Mr.Quijano says the plans have to balance the size of the locks with the cost for ships to use the canal. The cost of the expansion is estimated at more than five billion dollars.The new locks are set to open in time to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Panama Canal. What is the author's main purpose in writing the text? Answer: Mistrust _ Zhengzhou Ride-share Effort More than 300 private car owners from a central Chinese city volunteered to offer free rides to citizens to ease crowded public transportation, but many local people didn't accept the offer for fear of being cheated. The ride-share program was begun in October in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan Province, when Ye Zhantong, a private car driver, started to gather volunteers to offer the free service. The drivers tied a green silk ribbon on the car to differentiate themselves from unlicensed taxi drivers. But the free rides haven't been popular among the public as increasing reports of dishonesty have dried up many local citizens' trust towards strangers. Ye said some of the volunteers have dropped out after they felt their kind intention was being questioned. Passersby walking in heavy rainfall or passengers who missed a bus would remain silent and walk away when the volunteers would stop and offer a ride. "It's so common that people give us the cold shoulder, and sometimes, take our kindness as ill will," said one of Ye's volunteers, identified as Binge. "Many would even say: 'Let's get out of here quickly to avoid being cheated by him.'" Some commenters on Weibo explained why they hesitated to participate in a ride-share program. "Trusting a stranger might bring huge risks. I can't take the risk," one Internet user wrote. Some said Ye's group wasn't authorized, and cheaters pretending to be kind drivers might volunteer. They suggested traffic authorities issue rules to regulate, protect and promote ride-share programs. The free rides haven't been popular among the public because _ . Answer: Worried about how many calories you will get in that piece of pizza, chocolate cake or bag of chips? A new iphone application Mealsnap may help. Users just need to take a picture of the meal with the phone, and it will give a calorie read-out almost immediately. Mealsnap was developed by DailyBurn, a health social network that focuses on helping its users lead healthier lifestyles. It has created several other health and diet-related iphone applications. The applications gives users a quick reply. To do that, it matches the taken picture to a databank containing the calorie information of nearly 500,000 kinds of food. Users then get the range of calories for the meal that is photographed. We started with something simple -- an apple. A couple of minutes later the application replied that it was an apple and between 64 and 96 calories. More impressive was the reply we received after sending a photo of mixed salad bowl. Mealsnap replied that the bowl contained "yellow rice with corn, boiled eggs and beans" and that the food was between 532 and 798 calories. Mr. Smith, director of DailyBurn, said that usual calorie counting needed a long time, but that the application made it easier to know the calories in food. That's why it is so popular among those who are trying hard to lose weight. In addition, Mealsnap can serve as a food diary. No need to write down what they've eaten, the photos will be stored. Then users can keep a visual log . Mr. Smith said: "It's like a food journal, but easier. All you do is to take the picture. The simple act of recording something can cause a psychological change that can help people on their health journey. Knowing the calorie range makes me think more about what I'm eating. 63. Which would be the best title for the passage? Answer:
Nowroz: Iranian New Year or Nowroz is celebrated on the first day of spring sometime in March. People sing, dance and parade as in a carnival through the streets with drums and trumpets to spread the news of the coming new year. Rosh Hashanah: The Jewish New Year is called "Rosh Hashanah", and is celebrated in the month of September. It is a holy time when people think of the things they have done wrong in the past, and promise to do better in the future. Special prayers are held, and an instrument called a Shofar is played. Children are given new clothes, and New Year loaves are baked and fruits are served to remind people of harvest time. Shogatsu: In Japan, the New Year (Shogatsu) celebrations are from January 1 to January 3 and most Japanese don't work during these days. In Japan, the New Year is a fresh start. This means that in December all duties should be completed. Parties are held to forget the worries and troubles of the old year. Homes and cars are decorated. On New Year's Eve, most people spend their time with their families. Bahai New Year: The Bahai people have their own calendar consisting of nineteen months of nineteen days plus a couple of extra days between the eighteenth and nineteenth months. They have, however, adopted the Iranian custom of beginning the New Year in the spring equinox . The New Year celebrations are held on the evening of March 20th. Which of the following festivals are celebrated in the same month? A. Nowroz and Shogatsu. B. Rosh Hashanah and Shogatsu. C. Nowroz and Rosh Hashanah. D. Nowroz and the Bahai New Year. Answer: D Not being the best but touching the limits of your ability. This belief came from my third grade teacher, the most trusted and loved person in my life. Mr. Myrus was always perfectly dressed and spoke with the conviction that talking to small kids didn't mean that he had to sacrifice proper pronunciation or grammar. And he was demanding. Oh, he wasn't unreasonable or cruel; he simply felt that no matter what your best was, you should achieve it. As luck would have it, I met him again as my eighth grade math teacher. I was not, nor ever will be, gifted in math. And thirteen-year-old girls do not have the energy to devote to something like square roots . I remember our struggles, "I don't know the answer. I can't do it.!" "Perhaps you don't know the answer," he would say quietly. "Do you think we might figure it out together? How do you know what you can do until you try?" Mr. Myrus lived around the corner, and I would often stop by to talk while he worked in his wood shop. In this room of sawdust, wood chips, and the smoke from the woodburning stove, I felt respected and valued as a person. I knew there was someone who liked me for who I was, someone who, while he always wanted me to do my best, let me know that if I had really tried, that was enough. Mr. Myrus was my teacher and my friend. He taught me to be kind. He taught me my own value. He taught me about honor, about truth, and about doing my best--and that all feelings and beliefs have dignity and deserve respect. And of all the things I know, this I believe: We can't all be "the" best, but we can, each of us, be our best, and I know that's true because Mr. Myrus told me. How did the author feel when she began studying math at thirteen? A. She was devoted to math. B. Math was difficult to learn. C. She could improve her math soon. D. The math teacher was unreasonable. Answer: B It is pretty much a one-way street.While it may"be common for university researchers to try their luck in the commercial world,there is very little traffic in the opposite direction.Pay has always been the biggest _ ,as people with families often feel they cannot afford the drop in salary when moving to a university job.For some industrial scientists,however, the attractions of academia outweigh any financial considerations. Helen Lee took a 70%cut in salary when she moved from a senior post in Abbott Laboratories to a medical department at the University of Cambridge.Her main reason for returning to academia halfway was to take advantage of the greater freedom to choose research questions.Some areas of research have few chances of a commercial return,and Lee's is one of them. The powerful effect of a salary cut is probably less severe for a scientist in the early stages of an occupation.Guy Grant,now a research associate at the Unilever Centre for Molecular Informatics at the University of Cambridge,spent two years working for a medicine company before returning to university as a post-doctoral researcher.He took a 30%salary cut but felt it worthwhile for the greater intellectual opportunities. Higher up the ladder,where a pay cut is usually more significant,the demand for scientists with a wealth of experience in industry is forcing universities to make the transition to academia more attractive,according to Lee.Industrial scientists tend to receive training that academics do not,such as how to build a multidisciplinary team,manage budgets and negotiate contracts .They are also well placed to bring something extra to the teaching side of an academic role that will help students get a job when they graduate,says Lee,perhaps experience in manufacturing practice or product development."Only a small number of undergraduates will continue in an academic occupation.So someone leaving university who already has the skills needed to work in an industrial lab has far more potential in the job market than someone who has spent a11 their time on a narrow research project." Why did Guy Grant choose to work as a researcher at Cambridge? A. To do financially more rewarding work. B. To raise his status in the academic world. C. To enjoy better intellectual opportunities. D. To gain more experience in medical research. Answer: C Ralph the bee wanted to go visit his friend George the fly. George lived very far away, it would a long trip for Ralph. Ralph first flew over a jungle, in the jungle he met a nice tiger by the name of Benny. Benny wanted to play but Ralph had no time, he still had a long way to go. Then Ralph flew by a lake. At the lake he met a cowboy. The cowboy was named Walter. Walter was letting his horse get a drink of water from the lake. The horse drank a lot and when he was done he let out a huge burp. Ralph waved goodbye to Walter and his horse. Ralph then stopped for lunch, he had some bread he brought with him from home. While he was sitting when all of the sudden a pig walked up to him. He did not get the pigs name, because the pig could only say oink. Finally, after a long trip, Ralph finally got to the house of George the fly. George wanted to play, but Ralph was too tired. So Ralph went to sleep. What animal did Ralph not see on his way to see Ralph? A. A pig who said oink B. A fly named John C. A tiger named Benny D. A horse with no name Answer: B The heart, blood vessels, kidneys, and bladder working together are best described as A. a cell. B. a tissue. C. an organism. D. a system. Answer: D
In your body, what two organs work together to make sure that oxygen gets to all the other organs of your body? Answer: This is Scott. He has an interesting job. He works at a radio station. His radio show is from twelve o'clock at night to six o'clock in the morning. He sings well. He usually gets up at seven thirty at night. He brushes his teeth and takes a shower at ten past eight. Then he eats breakfast at nine. That's a funny time for breakfast! After that , he usually exercise at about ten twenty. He goes to work by car at eleven o'clock. It takes ten minutes to get the radio station. So he is never late for work. He takes a shower at _ . Answer: Where is the best place to shoot animals? Answer: Rain and cold weather this summer saw honey yields from hives fall by almost three-quarters, the British Beekeepers Association(BBKA)said today. The average crop per hive was down 72% compared to last year, with just 3.6kg (81b) of honey produced compared to an annual average, the annual honey survey by the BBKA revealed. The survey of 2,712 beekeepers in England, Northern Ireland and Wales found that 88% said this summer's bad weather caused the _ in honey yields. The bad weather made it difficult for bees to excrete ,which led to disease easily, and the bad weather also increased the risk of keeping bees for heavy rain caused the places which bees regularly visited to meet natural disasters. The bad weather also influenced the plants flowering which increased the cost of keeping bees. The BBKA issued a midsummer warning to feed bees if necessary to avoid dying from hunger. But in London, which recorded the worst results with just 2.5kg (5.61b)of honey harvested on average, beekeeping experts said that in addition to the bad weather there was a lack of food for bees in the city. Angela Woods, secretary of the London Beekeepers Association, said, "Rather than putting beehives on office roofs, we encourage companies in London that want to help to look at different ways of supporting bees and beekeepers. We need more food for the bees and better-educated beekeepers." Elsewhere, the weather was the main problem. Peter Hutton, a beekeeper in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, said, "It has been the most difficult year I have known in my 53 years of beekeeping. Bad weather in spring prevented bees in many areas from collecting nectar from early-flowering crops such as oilseed rape ,and the rain continued in many places throughout June and July, preventing honeybees from searching for food on later crops." The BBKA warned that as well as reducing the honey harvest, the bad weather is likely to have a longer-term influence as it will have affected the normal process of breeding for the queens, which mate on the wing on fine, still summer days. As a result they may have mated poorly and be unable to produce enough new babies to see groups through the winter. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage? Answer: How many times have you gotten upset because someone wasn't doing their job, because your child isn't behaving?How many times have you been annoyed when you've planned something carefully and things didn't go as you'd hoped? This kind of anger and irritation happens to all of us -- it's part of the human experience. One thing that annoys me is when people talk during a movie. Or cut me off in traffic. Actually, I have a lot of these little annoyances -- don't we all? And it isn't always easy to find peace when you've become upset or annoyed. Let me tell you a little secret to finding peace of mind: _ See, the cause of our stress, anger and irritation is that things don't go the way we like, the way we expect them to. Think of how many times this has been true for you. And so the solution is simple: expect things to go wrong, expect things to be different than we hoped or planned, expect the unexpected to happen. And accept it. One quick example: on our recent trip to Japan, I told my kids to expect things to go wrong -- they always do on a trip. I told them, "See it as part of the adventure." And this worked like a charm. When we took the wrong train on a foreign-language subway system, or when it rained on the day we went to Disney Sea, or when we took three trains and walked 10 blocks only to find the National Children's Castle closed on Mondays ... they said, "It's part of the adventure!" And it was all OK -- we didn't get too bothered. So when the nice glass you bought inevitably falls and breaks, someday, you might get upset. But not if you see the glass as already broken, from the day you get it. You know it'll break someday, so from the beginning, see it as already broken. Be a time-traveler, or someone with time-traveling vision, and see the future of this glass, from this moment until it inevitably breaks. And when it breaks, you won't be upset or sad -- because it was already broken, from the day you got it. And you'll realize that every moment you have with it is precious. The author would probably agree that _ . Answer:
Which technology used to generate electrical power involves a trade-off between economical electricity and long-term waste disposal problems? Answer: nuclear reactor Have you felt annoyed when a mobile phone rings during the class? Something must be done to stop this. Now in New York City, USA, a rule is carried out* in schools. Students can't even bring mobile phones to school. Is it a good thing or not? Anxious* parents say that mobile phones are an important tool* in holding New York City's families together. "I worry about it," said Elizabeth Lorris Ritter, a mother of a middle school kid. "It's necessary in our everyday life. We have a washing machine, we have running water, and we have mobile phones. A number of Americans think mobile phones connect them to children on buses, getting out from subways, walking through unknown* places. "I have her call me when she gets out school," said Lindsay Walt, a schoolgirl's mother. "No one in New York is going to let their children go to school without a mobile phone. What about the mobile phone owners, the students? Most of the students said that mobile phones were necessary and the mobile phone was like an extra* hand or foot for them. "I feel so bored," said May Chom, 14. "There is also no way to listen to music on the way to school without my phone. It will be a really, really boring trip. _ American parents disagree with the rule that students can't bring mobile phones to school. Answer: Many Roast is very famous in Brazil. Customs just sit , waiting for waiters to send them all kinds of meat. If you like , you take one ; if you don't , the waiters pass you . If you don't give any messages of stopping , they will go on. One day when I was in Brazil , I went to a restaurant to try the roast . After I took my seat, the waiter gave me a sign with the color "red" on the side and "green" on the other . I said "thank you", then the waiters began to serve me .My plate was already full, but the waiters still kept on serving me more. I thought I had to eat more quickly . But to my surprise, the waiters still kept on serving more. Then a waiter found out the reason. He helped me turn the sign over, with red outside . When I finished , I found the waiter didn't take a look at me . Do you know Why? It's just like the traffic lights in the street . How wonderful ! When I began the meal , the color red was _ . Answer: inside If you are a fruit grower--or would like to become one--take advantage of Apple Day to see what's around. It's called Apple Day but in practice it's more like Apple Month. The day itself is on October 21, but sinceit has caught on, events now spread out over most of October around Britain. Visiting an apple event is a good chance to see, and often taste, a wide variety of apples. To people who are used to the limited choice of apples such as Golden Delicious and Royal Gala in supermarkets, it can be quite an eye opener to see the range of classical apples still in existence, such as Decio which was grown by the Romans. Although it doesn't taste of anything special, it's still worth a try, as is the knobbly Cat's Head which is more of a curiosity than anything else. There are also varieties developed to suit specific local conditions. One of the very best varieties for eating quality is Orleans Reinette, but you'll need a warm, sheltered place with perfect soil to grow it, so it's _ for most apple lovers who fall for it. At the events, you can meet expert growers and discuss which ones will best suit your conditions, and because these are family affairs, children are well catered for with apple-themed fun and games. Apple Days are being held at all sorts of places with an interest in fruit, including stately gardens and commercial orchards .If you want to have a real orchard experience, try visiting the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale, near Faversham in Kent. What can we learn about Decio? Answer: It is rarely seen now. Although they are an inexpensive supplier of vitamins,minerals,and high--quality protein,eggs also contain a high level of blood cholesterol ,one of the major causes of heart disease.One egg yolk,in fact,contains a little more than two--thirds of the suggested daily cholesterol limit. This knowledge has caused egg sales to drop in recent years,which in turn has brought about the development of several alternatives to eating regular eggs.One alternative is to eat substitute eggs. These egg substitutes are not real eggs, but they look somewhat like eggs when they are cooked.They have the advantage of having lower cholesterol rates,and they can be scrambled or used in baking.One disadvantage, however,is that they are not good for frying,poaching,or boiling.A second alternative to regular eggs is a new type of eggs,sometimes called"designer''eggs.These eggs are produced by hens that are fed low-fat diets consisting of ingredients such as canola oil,flax,and rice bran.In spite of their diets,however,these hens produce eggs that contain the same amount of cholesterol as regular eggs.Yet,producers of these eggs claim that eating their eggs will not raise the blood cholesterol in humans. Egg producers claim that their product has been described unfairly.They use scientific studies to back up their claim.And in tact studies on the relationship between eggs and human cholesterol levels have brought mixed results.It may be that it is not the type of egg that is the main determinant of cholesterol but the person who is eating the eggs.Some people may be more sensitive to cholesterol from food than other people.In fact,there is evidence that certain dietary fats stimulate the body's production of blood cholesterol.Consequently,while it still makes sense to limit one's intake of eggs,even designer eggs,it seems that doing this without regulating dietary fat will probably not help reduce the blood cholesterol level. Which of the following statements is NOT true? Answer: It is the type of egg that determines the level of cholesterol in one's body.
China is a country with a large number of disabled persons. Almost 60 million people have vision, hearing, speech, limb, intellectual or mental disabilities. There is one disabled person in every 20 Chinese, and one out of every five households on average has a disabled family member. According to nationwide surveys of the disabled children under 14 account for 16 percent of the total disabled population, and they display the greatest need for rehabilitative training as they display the highest recovery rates after early treatment. Those disabled between the ages of 15 and 59 account for 44 percent, but often their disabilities are not very serious. Although they are more or less able to work, they require vocational training, cultural education and special employment. The disabled over 60 years of age account for 40 percent. Many of them become disabled due to illness or loss of various functions. Some live alone without any income, and therefore their insurance, rehabilitation, and medical needs have become a social issue. The illiterate and semi-illiterate suffer from limited employment opportunities, and often they become socially disabled as well. These people, often neglected , pose another social problem. Which group makes up the largest percentage of disabled people in China. Answer: FOOD, football, and fashion - Milan has it all. The city is perhaps most famous for its annual Milan Fashion Week and its world-class soccer teams AC Milan and Inter Milan. And May will see it host the six-month Milan Expo , the theme of which is food and nutrition . Milan may not be the first place tourists think of when they think of Italy. Rome is the most famous city in Italian history, Venice draws visitors who want to travel along its canals and Florence is popular with the art lovers. Yet Milan can often be let off tourists' lists. But although some see Milan as the "Ugly Sister" of these cities, in 2015, the city is "Suddenly back in fashion in a big way". The delicious Milan Expo will look at the future of food, trying to answer the question of how Earth's fast-growing population can be fed in the future. According to the Lonely Planet website, "144 countries will set up shops in northwest of central Milan, forming a mini city-within-a-city". Milan's famous opera house, La Scala, normally closed in the summer, will also host daily performances during the Expo, reported Fox News. Not interested in opera? Don't worry. Visitors who prefer sports may want to visit the San Siro Stadium , home of the soccer teams AC Milan and Inter Milan. The stadium is one of the most famous in Europe and has seen many important games over the years, both in Series A and the European Champions league . So even if all of its fashion and beautiful people can make Milan seem "Soulless " as Lonely Planet said, it still has "a serious sense of history and place". Many people will be discovering it this year, and eating great food from all over the world to help solve world problems. Will you? Which of the following statements is TRUE about the city of Milan? Answer: I told my friend Graham, "I often walk two miles from my house to the town centre. Unfortunately, there is a big hill on the way." He replied, "You should say 'fortunately'." He explained that I should be glad for the extra exercise that the hill gave. I thought he was right. My attitude to the hill has now changed. As I _ the foot of the hill and prepare to climb, I tell myself that this hill will help me lose weight and get fit. This hill is my friend. I have a smile of satisfaction as I reach the top of the hill. Problems are to be faced. We cannot achieve anything with an easy life. Helen Keller once wrote that "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened ..." Our attitude towards difficulties is of importance in life. From time to time, we all face problems, accidents and difficulties. We cannot choose the situation but we can choose our attitude toward the situation. How can you change your attitude towards difficulties? Try these steps:1. Face the problem. Do not avoid it. 2. Take a positive attitude. 3. Imagine how you will feel when you solve the problem. 4. Develop an action plan for how to deal with it. 5. Smile. Many great people like Helen Keller, took these steps to deal with their problems. They chose their attitude. They chose to be positive. They accepted the challenge. They won. The author tries to prove his idea by _ . Answer: Vitas 2008 Beijing Concert Venue: Capital Gymnasium Time: 2008-01-24 19:30 Price: TBD(Booking) Tel.: 86-10-64177845 God Blessed Boy Extremely Beautiful Voice Unforgettable Hot Live First appeared on the Russian stage in December 2000, this show became an extreme classic in Vitas' music history.Since then, moreover, more fans from other countries were caught by him from this video especially in China.The lack of Russian language was not in the way for dozen thousands of admirers from China, Taiwan, Singapore and Japan first to pay attention and then to love Vitas' creative work, his voice and songs.Undoubtedly his 2008 concert will also be considered as the yearly expectable concert in Chinese music scene and the most important event among his fans.Let's expect it! Lang Lang Piano Solo Concert Venue: National Grand Theater-Concert Hall Time: 2008-01-03 19:30:00/2008-01-04 19:30:00 Price: TBD(Booking) Tel: 800-810-1887 Acclaimed in the major concert halls of North America, Europe and Asia, Lang Lang - at the age of 20s - has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to connect with audiences on a deeply personal level and has established himself as one of the most exciting pianists of our time.Lang Lang's talent and personality make him an ideal ambassador for classical music and a role model for young people.He is the first Chinese pianist to be engaged by the Berlin Philharmonic and all "Big Five" American orchestras. Li Yun Di Piano Recital Venue: National Grand Theater-Concert Hall Time: 2008-3-27 19:30:00 Price: TBD(Booking) Tel: 010-64177845 Remarks: The tickets for Li Yun Di Piano Recital will be available soon! Called "extravagantly gifted and highly accomplished" by the Los Angeles Times, China pianist Li Yundi was born in 1982 in Chongqing and first gained worldwide attention after winning first prize at the 2000 Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw.He was the first person in 15 years to be awarded a first prize. Soprano Te Kanawa Solo Concert Venue: National Grand Theater-Concert Hall Time: 2008-01-02 19:30:00 Price: 180(Out)280(Selling)480(Selling)680(Selling)880(Selling)1680(Out) Tel: 400-810-1887 Dame Kiri Janette Te Kanawa is an internationally famous New Zealand opera singer.In 1981, she was seen and heard around the world by an estimated 600 million people when she sang Handel's "Let the Bright Seraphim" at the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer. What can you know from the advertisement? Answer: Animals do many different, amazing things to get through the winter. Some of them migrate .Many birds migrate in autumn. Because the trip can be dangerous, some travel in large groups. For example, geese fly in noisy, "V"-shaped groups. Other kinds of birds fly alone. Some animals stay active in winter. They must change themselves as weather changes. For example, a kind of rabbits grow white fur to help them hide in the snow. It's hard to find food in winter for animals. Some animals, like mice, collect lots of food in autumn. Some animals eat different kinds of food as the seasons change. The red fox eats fruit and insects in spring, summer and autumn. In winter, it cannot find these things, so it eats small animals instead. Some animals hibernate for part or all of the winter. This is a special, very deep sleep. The animal uses very little energy. In autumn, these animals get ready for winter by eating much more food than in summer and storing it as body fat. Squirrels store food like nuts to eat later in winter. Bears and some bats hibernate. Cold-blooded animals like fish, frogs and snakes have no way to keep warm during the winter. Snakes find protection in holes, and spend the winter without moving during the whole season. Some animals like squirrels _ . Answer:
We people have homes.Animals have homes,too. Some animals live under the ground.The woodchuck lives in the holes under the ground.His home has two doors.If someone comes in through one door,he will go out through the other door.Some birds live in the holes in the trees.They come out for food during the day and go back to sleep at night.But most birds live iust in the trees.It's very interesting that turtles usually carry their homes on their backs.Bees always work hard to make their homes.Cats,dogs and some other pets live in people's homes.And we can see many kinds of animals in the zoo,so the zoo is also a big home for animals. The woodchuck's home usually has _ door(s) under the ground. A. one B. two C. three D. four Answer: B. two Nobody likes to do chores, especially kids. How can you make your kids get into a good habit of doing their chores? Try making chores fun for them. Play some music:Music makes everything seem like a party, doesn't it? Play your kids' favorite music and let them dance around while they are doing their chores. Make it a treasure hunt : It's a good way when you would like them to clean the house. Let them know that you hide a $5 bill someplace. If they find it, they can keep it. Change often:If your kids keep doing the same chores for months, they may feel bored. Teaching them a new task is fun for both you and the kids. They will feel more grown up when they get a new task. Do it together:It's never fun to be the only one working and watching everyone else relaxing. If everyone takes part in doing chores, you will finish them faster and have more fun. ,. Which is the best title of the article? A. Doing chores is good for kids B. Help kids set a good habit C. Make chores fun for kids D. Everyone should do chores Answer: C. Make chores fun for kids Earth Day is day that is meat to inspire awareness for the Earth's natural environment. It is the day to highlight the fact that we all have a responsibility to the environment and need to change our behavior to improve the quality of our air, earth and water. Global awareness of the need to protect the environment has grown greatly since 20 million people in the United States marked the first Earth Day on April 22,1970.That was started at the time of the destruction caused by an oil spill along the coast of southern California, which killed marine life and about 10000 birds. The incident was a wake-up call for the need to protect the Earth. But similar disasters have continued to happen. Having one day to protect the Earth's resources is clearly more than necessary. However, efforts need to be made by individual of a country instead of just the government. Solving environmental problems is a personal responsibility. Some of us don't think that reusing grocery bags and recycling water bottles can help improve the quality of our air, land and water. But this is an easy place to start to make a difference when we celebrate Earth Day. ,A.B.C.D . (3;1.5,4.5) The first Earth Day started _ A. when 20 million Americans to clean the ocean B. when the US government realized the importance of environmental protection C. when a great many marine life and birds died of disease D. when the coast of Southern California was polluted Answer: D. when the coast of Southern California was polluted Women work harder than men at university and get better degrees as a result, according to a study at Brunel University. The research, which followed 200 students for four years, found that women consistently outperformed men in their studies even though they had started their courses with almost identical A-level grades. An analysis of the results showed that while 65 percent of female graduates were awarded, only 35 percent of male graduates did as well. Girls are known to outperform boys at school, but this research showed that trend continued at university. Fiona Smith, who led the research, said, "The research shows that the difference has something to do with schools in general." "It also shows something about the inequality for working women in terms of pay and promotion. Women work harder at school, harder at university, and do better at both, but they still receive less pay." The research found that female students were more faithful, less likely to miss lectures, and more likely to believe that their marks reflected their abilities than male students. Female students were also more likely to ask for and receive support from their professors. Women were also more likely to choose their universities because they liked the courses offered. In contrast, men were more likely than women to miss lectures due to "other affairs" and "laziness", and to believe that playing sports was an important part of university life. Generally, people think that women's success comes from more emphasis on coursework, but the research showed that female geographers at Brunel did better in their exams than in their coursework. Dr Smith said, "Most women feel that getting good grades is the most important part of university life. They believe that they need to work harder in order to compete in the male-dominated environment they will encounter at work. Good grades are viewed as an 'insurance policy' for success. Men, on the other hand, prefer going out and playing sports to academic work." "This research shows how important it is to get all young people working hard and teach them the value of higher education," he said. We can infer from the results of the research that _ . A. women do better both at school and at university B. female students are more likely to ask for and receive support from their professors C. compared with men, women are in an unfavorable condition in the male-dominated world D. it's easier for women to get rises in pay and promotion Answer: C. compared with men, women are in an unfavorable condition in the male-dominated world Classical philosophers called humans "the rational animal". Clearly, they never looked closely at ants. A new study suggests that ant colonies avoid irrational decisions that people and other animals often make. Consider the following scenario: You want to buy a house with a big kitchen and a big yard, but there are only two homes on the market---one with a big kitchen and a small yard and the other with a small kitchen and a big yard. Studies show you'd be about 50% likely to choose either house---and either one would be a rational choice. But now, a new home comes on the market, this one with a large kitchen and no yard. This time, studies show, you'll make an irrational decision: Even though nothing has changed with the first two houses, you'll now favor the house with the big kitchen and small yard over the one with the small kitchen and big yard. Overall, scientists have found, people and other animals will often change their original preferences when presented with a third choice. Not so with ants. These insects also shop for homes but not quite in the way that humans do. Solitary worker ants spread out, looking for two main features: a small entrance and a dark inside. If an ant finds an outstanding hole---such as the inside of an acorn or a rock crevice---it brings another worker ant to check it out. As more ants like the site, the number of workers in the new hole grows. Once the crowd reaches a critical mass, the ants race back to the old nest and start carrying the queen and larvae to move the entire colony. To test ant rationality, Stephen Pratt, a behavioral ecologist at Arizona State University in Tempe, and a colleague designed a series of possible nests for 26 ant colonies. The duo cut rectangular holes in balsa wood and covered them with glass microscope slides. The researchers then drilled holes of various sizes into the glass slides and slipped plastic light filters under the glass to vary the features ants care about most. At first, the colonies only had two options, A and B. A was dark but had a large opening, whereas B was bright with a small opening. As with humans, the ants preferred both options equally: The researchers found no difference between the number of colonies that picked A versus B. Then the scientists added a third option, called a decoy , that was similar to either A or B in one characteristic but clearly worse than both in the other (a very bright nest with a small opening, for example). Unlike humans, the ants were not tricked by the decoy, the team reports online today in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Although a few colonies picked the third nest, the other colonies did not start favoring A or B and still split evenly between the two. Pratt speculates that ant colonies avoid making the irrational decision because, unlike humans, each ant doesn't evaluate all options before making a choice. When the scouts find a nest, they're unaware of what else is out there, and either they pick the nest or they don't. "The group may do better precisely because the individuals are ignorant," Pratt says. Melissa Bateson, an ethnologist at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom, believes the findings could have "really interesting implications for the benefits of collective decision-making, which we could learn something from." Many grant-review boards, for example, behave like ants: Reviewers see only a subset of the total grant applications and thus have to make a decision without seeing every option. According to Stephen Pratt, why are the ant colonies able to make the rational choice in comparison with humans? A. They are not aware of more optional places. B. They have clever worker ants to make the discoveries. C. They are not well educated and intelligent as humans. D. Ants are better at making collective choices with their ignorant partners. Answer: A. They are not aware of more optional places.
People in Shanghai can quench their thirst with high quality water if the Shanghai Water Authority (SWA) is able to make good on its word. It has vowed to make the city's water match its status as a world class city. "The current tap water quality meets national standards, but, compared with that of the European Union and the United States, it still needs to be improved." said the SWA's director general, Hang Jiayi. In other developed countries, water fountains can be found almost everywhere--people do not bother with bottled drinking water. By 2020, the water of the Huangpu River will be treated to reduce the amount of organic waste in it. Major water works that draw water from the Huangpu will need more treatment facilities to improve the colour, texture, ammonia and nitrogen content before 2010. These treatment facilities are expected to cost 4 billion yuan, something that could affect the price of water, according to Chen Yin, SWA's deputy director general. Chen said that replacing water pipes was also a key project. The city's aged pipes are mostly to blame for the bad water quality. The SWA has started the water facilities renovation work, including the more than 14,000 kilometres of indoor piping, 107,000 tanks on top of the buildings, and more than 6,000 underground facilities. World Water Day came on March 22, and this year's theme is "Water for the future". Beijing is also drawing up plans during China's Water Week, which runs until March 28. By 2010, the water for the Shanghai EXPO is to be above World Health Organization standards. And, the people of Beijing will be able to drink their tap water as well. What step need not be taken in order to improve the tap water? A The water of the Huangpu River will be treated. B Aged water pipes will be treated. C Water facilities must be renovated. D Water fountains must be found. Answer: D Children in the United States are exposed to many influences other than that of their families.Television is the most significant of these influences,because the habit of watching television usually begins before children start attending school. Parents are concerned about the lack of quality in television programs for children.The degree of violence in many of these shows also worries them.Studies indicate that,when children are exposed to violence,they many become aggressive or insecure. Parents are also concerned at,out the commercials that their children see on television. Many parents would like to see fewer commercials during programs for children.And some parents feel that these shows should not have any commercials at all because young minds are not mature enough to deal with the claims made by advertisers. Educational television has no commercials and has programs for children that many parents approve of The most famous of these is Sesame Street,which tries to give preschool children a head start in learning the alphabet and numbers.It also flies to teach children useful things about the world in which they live. Even though most parents and educators give Sesame Street and shows like it high marks for quality,some critics argue that all television,whether educational or not,is harmful to children.These critics feel that the habit of watching hours of television every day turns children into bored and passive consumers of their world rather than encouraging them to become active explorers of it. Parents would not like their children to see commercials because _ A they think that their children ore not old enough to handle advertising B commercials teach children alphabet and numbers C commercials help to sell products D they don't like commercials Answer: A Until the twentieth century cigarettes were not an important threat to public health. Men used tobacco mainly in the form of cigars. They chewed tobacco, piped tobacco, and snuffed. Most women did not use tobacco at all. The cigarette industry began in 1870s with the development of the cigarette manufacturing machine. This made it possible to produce great numbers of cigarettes very quickly, and it reduced the price. Today cigarette smoking is a widespread habit. About forty-three percent of the adult men and thirty-one percent of the adult women in the United States smoke cigarettes regularly. It is encouraging to note, however, that millions of people have quit smoking. Seventy-five percent of the male population and forty-six percent of the female population have smoked cigarettes for some time during their lives, but twenty-six percent of these men and eleven percent of the women have stopped smoking. The number of persons who have given up smoking is increasing. Men as a group smoke more than women. Among both men and women the age group with the highest proportion of smokers is the age group 24--44. Income, education, and occupation all play a part in determining a person's smoking habit. City people smoke more than people living on farms. Well-educated men with high incomes are less likely to smoke cigarettes than men with fewer years of schooling and lower incomes. On the other hand, if a well-educated man with a higher income smokes, he's likely to smoke more packs of cigarettes per day. The situation is somewhat different for women. There are slightly more smokers among women with higher family incomes and higher education than among the lower income and lower educational groups. These more highly educated women tend to smoke more heavily. Among teenagers the _ is similar. There are fewer teenager smokers from upper-income, well-educated families, and also fewer from families living in farm areas. High school students who are preparing for college are less likely to smoke than those who don't plan to continue their education after high school. Children are most likely to start smoking if one or both of their parents smoke. Which of the following factors will be likely to decide whether a person smokes or not? A Income and sex. B Education and occupation C Sex and age. D All the above. Answer: D Everybody is familiar with Christmas music; its played everywhere. Whether it's the music from a grocery store or random songs on the radio, holiday music remains to flood in the air from the day after Thanksgiving to the beginning of December. Christmas music gets extremely over- played through the Holiday season. "'I think the common seasonal Christmas music is annoying because it keeps being played over and over."said junior Devin McFarland. The Christmas music still played today is what she heard in her childhood. Some famous Christmas songs have never been changed. The original music is played so much that in some cases people dream about or even sing Christmas music in their sleep. She wishes that there was a wider variety of songs. She likes the newer Christmas songs that bands either re- make or write themselves. "They have a fresher sound to Christmas songs, and they add their own characteristics to them so that they are more like their own songs. " McFarland explained. Christmas is known as a happy and homecoming festival, so the holiday season is meant to be spent happily with your family. It is recognized that the music media wants to get the point across and add to the festival atmosphere. But isn't the music being pushed to the public too much? Most grocery stores play the music non-stop ,Christmas song after Christmas song, disgusting the customers who don't like that kind of music. You can walk through stores and attempt turning off the music, but sometimes it's impossible to do so. On the other hand, almost everyone has witnessed random persons walking along happily and either singing or whistling to the tune of the song that's played throughout the store. According to the writer ,Christmas music or songs need _ . A reforming B repeating C replaying D reserving Answer: A Trains have long been an important form of transportation. Yet they have changed a lot since 1804, when the first train moved at 8 km/hr. Today's high speed trains can go 300 km/hr or faster. Besides their speed, they have many advantages over other transportation types. Japan built the world's first high speed railway. In 1964, Japan's "Shinkansen" trains started traveling between Osaka and Tokyo at 200 km/hr. Over time, more lines, as well as faster trains, were built. Korea, England, and the USA, now have their own high speed systems. Taiwan Province's started running in 2007. Its trains are based on two types of Shinkansen trains. They can carry 989 people and travel from Taipei to Kaohsiung in less than two hours. These systems are expensive to build, but they have many advantages. For example, they are good for the environment. Trains on the London to Paris line create 1/10 the pollution that planes create. High speed trains are also safer and cleaner than cars. Super fast trains can even help a country's economy . They make it easier to travel to faraway places. That helps businesses and land values in those areas. It's no wonder so many countries are building their own high speed railways. The world's first high speed trains started traveling at _ . A 8 km/hr B 200 km/hr C 300 km/hr D 500 km/hr Answer: B
If two scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory are correct, people will still be driving gasoline powered cars 50 years from now, giving out heat-trapping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere--and yet that carbon dioxide will not contribute to global warming. In a proposal by two scientists, vehicle emissions would no longer contribute to global warming. The scientists, F. Jeffrey Martin and William L. Kubic Jr., are proposing a concept, which they have named Green Freedom, for removing carbon dioxide from the air and turning it back into gasoline. The idea is simple. Air would be blown over a liquid solution of potassium carbonate, which would absorb the carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide would then be put to chemical reactions that would turn it into fuel : gasoline or jet fuel. This process could change carbon dioxide from an unwanted, climate-changing pollutant into a vast resource for renewable fuels. The cycle--equal amounts of carbon dioxide produced and removed--would mean that cars, trucks and airplanes using the synthetic fuels would no longer be contributing to global warming. Although they have not yet built a synthetic fuel factory, or even a small model, the scientists say it is all based on existing technology. "Everything in the concept has been built, is operating or has a close cousin that is operating." Dr. Martin said. The Los Alamos proposal does not go against any laws of physics, and other scientists who have independently suggested similar ideas. Dr. Martin said he and Dr. Kubic had worked out their concept in more detail than former proposals. There is, however, a major fact that explains why no one has built a carbon-dioxide-to-gasoline factory: it requires a great deal of energy. According to their analysis, their concept, which would cost about $5 billion to build, could produce gasoline at an operating cost of $1.40 a gallon and would turn economically practical when the price at the pump hits $4.60 a gallon. Other scientists said the Los Alamos proposal perhaps looked promising but could not evaluate it fully because the details has not been published. "It's definitely worth pursuing," said Martin I. Hoffert, a professor of physics at New York University. "It's not that new an idea. It has a couple of pieces to it that are interesting." What is the value of the scientists' proposal? A It increases the productivity of a fuel factory. B It decreases the cost of producing gasoline. C It reduces the pollution caused by car driving. D It promotes a new idea of environmental protection. Answer: C Center Stage Center Stage is a music and drama group for ages 12--16.Our aim is to build confidence Through movement and music.A11 ages work together to perform at the end of each term for families and friends. Working with our bodies and vices helps develop awareness of ourselves, physical and emotional intelligence and builds confidence in our relationships with others. Having fun, learning new skills,meeting friends--that is Center Stage. For further information please contact 01454851938 or see our website at www.centerstagebristol.co.uk. The Therapy Space "Inattentive.""Poor handwriting.""Lazy.""Can't sit still"."Dull." Some of these terms may be how your parents and teachers or other people view you. You may wonder why you seem slow at schoo1 and have difficulty with organization,handwriting,sitting still and concentrating. The Therapy Space can help you understand yourself from a new angle. We help you understand and deal with the root causes behind your behaviors. At The Therapy Space in South Bristol the specialist will assess and treat you in a fantastic,fun --filled environment. Teens beg to return to schools! Parents have told us it is the best present they have given to their child and themselves. "We have seen such a difference since coming to see you,and school is now being much more understanding after reading your very helpful report. We can't thank yon enough." Call Linda & Annie for friendly advice on telephone:01179079189. The prefix = st1 /ActionCenterski race team is looking for more keen and enthusiastic and experienced skiers to join their team. Having three highly experienced coaches to develop the potential of members of the team, we are currently looking into arranging races against other race teams.Whoever wants to join us must be able to ski to an intermediate level and know how to have fun While skiing.The Center is situated in Churchill A38 south of Bristol Airport.Contact 01934852335 Which is the best place for school dropouts to go? A The ActionCenter. B The Therapy Space. C Center Stage. D Skiers Wanted. Answer: B A study suggests that although most students at UK universities are happy with their courses, dissatisfaction has grown as fees rise.The study highlights a big variation in teaching time, and lists different ideas about the value of getting university degrees. Katharine Collins, a second-year college student The course has been very interesting, but I was expecting a little more one-to-one time with my teacher. We do about four assignments each term, each of which is about 3,000 words.However, sometimes they are not that helpful.We hope to be given the right to write feedback after every assignment, but we had no feedback at all throughout the first year.We are given grades about three weeks after we hand the assignments in.There is no feedback on where we have gone wrong or how we might improve. Lee Millington, a creative-writing student I choose the courses because of its reputation.There is a lack of one-to-one teaching.I would like personalized feedback from an expert in my field of writing.Some of the lectures have been quite helpful but they try to use too many different styles of writing.For example, if you want to be a poet, you might find that the lectures focus too much on novels. I think there is too much attention paid to sharing our work in workshops and giving each other feedback.I think there should be more time given to actual teaching, rather than to feedback from people who are at a similar level to me. Reporters from Hounsdown Secondary School, Ella, 16 When I work independently, I feel I have more freedom to develop my ideas and come up with more original viewpoints.The price of university will still be worth it to get the qualifications necessary for better jobs. Tyier, 16 Although the cost of university is very high now, I think university is required for gaining a good and well-paid job. Agencies What does the author mainly tell us at UK in this passage? A The value for university degrees. B The higher pay for courses at university. C The terrible assignments at university. D The puzzle of the students at university. Answer: A A lawyer and a young lady were sitting next to each other on a long flight. The lawyer asked if she would like to play a fun game. The lady just wanted to take a nap, so she politely refused. The lawyer explained that the game was actually very easy. He explained "I ask you a question, and if you don't know the answer, you pay me, and vice versa ." Again, the lady politely refused and tried to get some sleep. The lawyer added eagerly, "Okay, if you don't know the answer, you pay me $5, and if I don't know the answer, I will pay you $50!" Considering that there would be no end to this suffering unless she played, the lady agreed. The lawyer asked the first question, "What is the distance from the earth to the moon?" The young lady didn't say a word, pulled out five dollars from her purse and handed it to the lawyer. Now, it was the lady's turn. She asked the lawyer, "What goes up a hill with three legs, and comes down with four?" The lawyer was greatly puzzled. He took out his computer and searched all of his references. He searched the Net and sent e-mails to all of his friends, but it was all _ . After over an hour, he woke up the lady and handed her $50. The lady politely took the money and turned away to get back to sleep. The lawyer, very puzzled now, woke the lady up again and asked, "Well, what on earth is the answer?" Without a word, the lady reached into her purse, handed the lawyer another $5 and went back to sleep. The author's purpose for writing the story is to _ . A tell us how clever the lady is B describe the rules of playing games C show that it is interesting to play games D make fun of the lawyer Answer: B Katy Johnson hit her forehead into a tree branch while walking and texting on her cell phone a couple of weeks ago. "I'm pretty sure I was replying to two texts at a time," the 18-year-old girl said, recalling one text was from her dad and one from a friend. "I was just so devoted to the texts that I just walked right into it." There appear to be a growing number of serious injuries that occur when people use their cell phones to send text messages while also doing something else, such as walking. Bill Haselow, an emergency physician, said the risks are real. He treated two serious texting-while-walking injuries at the Mequon hospital in the past few months. Both teens suffered a broken nose after falling face first on a sidewalk. If you're over 25 or so, it might be hard to appreciate the popularity of exchanging word messages that you compose and read on the screen of your cell phone. But there's no doubt they have an attraction. Perez, a new college graduate, said the number of text messages she sends and receives easily exceeds the number of calls she makes and receives on her cell. Perez said her bills show she typically sends 3,000 texts per month, or an average of 100 per day.www.ks5u.com Perez said she favors texting because it's less formal than calling someone and because it's easier to communicate while doing another activity -- although she is aware now that texting and walking aren't always easy to do together. "I only talk on the phone if I really have to," Perez said. The popularity of cell phones has led to efforts to limit their use. Illinois is considering a ban on walkers using wireless devices while crossing streets. And Wisconsin passed a bill to forbid text messaging by drivers. But don't expect laws to change addiction -- er, habits. According to the author, _ . A it's nothing serious to text while walking B texting and walking are easy to do together C laws won't help much to change the present situation D it's crazy that so many people get injured while texting Answer: A
BEIJING--Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has visited the "left-behind" children whose parents are working in cities before Children's Day. During a visit to northwest China's Shanxi Province, Wen visited the home of Yang Saike, a primary school boy in a village of Xingping City. Yang, whose parents were working in Fujian, thousands of kilometers away, was cared for by his grandparents. His parents fail to go home even once a year. Wen talked with many children and asked them many questions about their schooling and life. "You are so pretty," Wen said to Liu Mengqi, a seven-year-old girl living with her grandmother. Liu's parents were also working in the city. "Have you been to school yet?" Wen asked two other girls. "We are going to the pre-school class," said one. "Mom and dad at home?" Wen asked. The children shook their heads. "Children cannot see their parents very often, which is a new problem in the country-side. We should give them more care and love," said the premier. The premier asked local governments to do something to protect and care for such children at home and freeing their parents in cities from worries about their children. The proper title for this passage is "Give _ more love". 'left-behind' children Healthy eating doesn't just mean what you eat, but how you eat. Here is some advice on healthy eating. Eat with others. It can help you to see others' healthy eating habits. If you usually eat with your parents, you will find that the food you eat is more delicious. Listen to your body. Ask yourself if you are really hungry. Have a glass of water to see if you are thirsty, sometimes you are just thirsty, you need no food. Stop eating before you feel full. Eat breakfast. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. After you don't eat for the past ten hours, your body needs food to get you going. You will be smarter after eating breakfast. Eat healthy snacks like fruit, yogurt or cheese. We all need snacks sometimes. In fact, it's a good idea to eat two healthy snacks between your three meals. This doesn't mean that you can eat a bag of chips instead of a meal. Don't eat dinner late. With our busy life, we always put off eating dinner until the last minute. Try to eat dinner at least 3 hours before you go to bed. This will give your body a chance to _ most of the food before you rest for the next 8-10 hours. What's the passage about? How to eat. Although the 2008 US presidential elections are still a long way off, candidates are already getting ready for the campaigns ahead. For the Democrats , the two leading candidates are a surprising pair. The first is Hillary Clinton, 60, the wife of former President Bill Clinton. The second is Barack Obama, 45, a Harvard educated senator . It is the first time that the leading presidential candidates for a political party are either a woman or black. The energetic pair has certainly gotten people's attention. But the question remains, is America ready for either one? It's not a simple question to answer. For the past 220 years, Americans have elected only white males to the nation's highest office. That can hardly be called a tradition of diversity. However, many people believe that 2008 will be the year that this changes. "The white men that have been running the country recently have done such a bad job, at home and abroad, that maybe now is the time for a change," said Dorian Cool of San Francisco, California. The polling numbers seem to back up his opinion: 86 percent of Americans say they would vote for a qualified woman. An impressive 93 percent say they would vote for a black man if he seemed right for the job. These numbers are much higher than they were just 20 years ago. They may suggest that Americans are ready to be led by a different type of person. Still, there is a lot to overcome. Although women represent 51 percent of the American population, there are only nine female governors out of 50. Out of 100 senators, only 16 are women. The numbers are significantly lower for blacks in office. Since the American Civil War, only two blacks have been elected governor and only three have been elected to the Senate. Surely both candidates face difficult odds, but never before has there been so much support for either a female or a black candidate. As Barack Obama himself said, "There is not a black America and a white America, a Latino America and an Asian America -- there's the United States of America." If others share his vision, maybe the United States will end up with a new type of leader. We can infer from the passage that _ . Barack Obama is well educated . After a storm, a glass vial with markings on it can tell how wet an area got You can hear a electric viola
The London Pass is the final sightseeing package that has been specially tailor-made for visitors to the city. It allows holders to make the most out of their trip ,saving them both time and money .With the London Pass you will get the following : Free entry to your choice of over 60 popular attractions, tours, sights and museums A useful 160' page Guidebook about the attractions plus helpful tips about the city Ability to skip the lines at the selected attractions to save time Optional Travel card to cover all of your transport needs The London Pass Saves You Money London can be an expensive city , and its tourist attractions are no exception .However, go sightseeing with a London Pass you could make some great savings. Take a look at the normal gate price for some popular London attractions: Tower of London x19.00; Thames River Cruise x19.00; Windsor Castle x17.00; London Bridge Experience x23.00 ; St Paul's Cathedralx15.00. Visiting those five attractions will cost well overx89. With a London Pass , these and many more attractions won't cost you a penny . The London Pass Saves You Time London is a popular destination, therefore ,attractions and sights do get very busy . Waiting in line can sometimes take hours from your sightseeing experience--that's why London Pass holders get to skip the queue at key attractions such as Tower of London, Windsor Castle and London Bridge Experience . Also, the map of London and the information about the city's public transportation system available in our Guidebook help plan the perfect sightseeing itinerary to maximize your time in the city. Practical Information Adult ticket: From x43.00 Address: Charing Crous Road, London ,WC2H OEP THL ; 01664 485020 You will most probably find the passage in_. A an English textbook B . a newspaper C a travel brochure D an encyclopaedia Answer: C My friend John has got a restaurant in a big city. It is near a supermarket. He gets ten robots for the restaurant. Each robot costs 20,000 yuan. The restaurant is not big, but very popular. Now more and more people come here for dinner. The robots have different jobs in the restaurant. Two robots cook different kinds of food; one washes the dishes; one cleans the floor and the others give food to the guests . Although robots do most of the jobs in the restaurant, John is still very busy. He must do many things to keep the robots working well. Luckily, John is good at studying robots and he knows robots very well. I think in the future, there will be a lot of robot themed restaurants around the world. What is John good at? A Playing games. B Studying robots. C Cooking food. D Making robots. Answer: B Pumice is formed when lava from a volcano cools. Which rock type is pumice? A Gaseous rock B Igneous rock C Sedimentary rock D Metamorphic rock Answer: B There are only 24 hours in a day,but people can use the time wisely. In other words,effective time management is important if you want to succeed. Knowing the importance of daily matters is the first step towards good time management. Write down the things that you want to do and organize them according to their level of importance. The important thing should be done first. If there are too many things that have to be done in one day, then you have to give up doing something that is less important on your list. Besides this,you need to spend a specific amount of time doing all the activities you have written down and make sure you finish them on time. People often slow down in their work even though they know that time will never wait for them. Make sure you keep to your plan and finish the tasks one by one. Do not try to do too many things at once. Also,you can group similar activities together and do them one by one. For example, you can group all the tasks you need to do in the office together and do them while you're in office. Do all the tasks that have to be done in one place first, and then move to the next place to do the other tasks. "The bad news is that time flies. The good news is that you're the pilot, "said Michael Althsuler. Your future is in your hands,so remember to invest your time wisely from today on. The text is mainly about _ . A the importance of time management B ways to manage time effectively C ways to organize daily activities D the importance of doing tasks on time Answer: B Those who are used to looking through thousands of books in big bookstores may find Japan's Morioka Shoten a little strange. That's because this tiny bookstore that is located in Ginza, Tokyo sells only a single book at a time. Opened in May 2015, Morioka Shoten is the brainchild of Yoshiyuki Morioka. The experienced bookseller began his career as a bookstore clerk in Tokyo's Kanda district before branching out to open his own store. It was here while organizing book readings that he realized that customers usually came into the store with one title in mind. Morioka began to wonder if a store could exist by selling many copies of just one single book. In November 2014, he partnered with his two friends, to establish a unique bookstore with the idea of "A Single Room, A Single Book." Like its offering, the bookstore is simple. The selections that are picked by Morioka change weekly and vary widely to attract customers with different interests. Recent choices include The True Deceiver, an award-winning Swedish novel by Tove Jansson, Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales, and a collection of artist Karl Blossfeldt's photography of plants. Morioka has also chosen books written by famous Japanese authors Mimei Ogawa and Akito Akagi. To highlight his only offering, Morioka often uses clever methods. For example,when selling a book about flowers, he decorated his shop with the ones that had been mentioned in the book. He also encourages authors to hold talks and discussions so they can connect with customers. Morioka says his goal is for the customers to experience being inside a book, not just a bookstore! Risky as the idea might seem, things appear to be going well. Morioka says he has sold over 2,100 books since he opened it. Things can get better considering that his bookstore is becoming increasingly popular not just among the locals but also visitors from other countries. What inspired Morioka to open such a bookstore? A A Swedish novel B His present partner C A bookstore clerk D His working experience Answer: D
One day I walked down to get to my car, thinking about what I had to accomplish and scolding myself for being late for work, but surprisingly the car was nowhere to be found. This was at 8 a.m. in the morning. I made trips to all the towing places and police stations, all the time thinking that it was towed by cops .By around 10 a.m., the cops decided that it was actually stolen. After filing a report with them, I finally got to work thinking how my day was completely messed up. Later in the day I went to pick up a rental car at Enterprise only to realize that my license was missing, too, along with my car. I told the enterprise guy the whole story and he offered to take me to the closest DMV and get a duplicate license. 1 was totally shocked. I did not know why this complete stranger would want to take some time off his day to help me. He actually took me to DMV, got a duplicate and then rented me a car. I was upset the whole day because of the events happening to me but somehow this simple act of kindness from a complete stranger made it all worth it. It cheered me up and made me forget all the troubles of the day. I was so moved by this kind act that the next day I made sure someone else got a similar surprise. I took some smiley shaped chocolates and left them on some of my colleagues' desks. There is still a lot of goodness out there in the world. We just need to take the time to notice it. I hope that this story would inspire many others like me to do more acts of kindness. The author writes about his experience _ . Answer: to encourage people to do acts of kindness We can't help but grow older physically, but we can stay young in other ways. Do you want to stay young? If yes is the answer, here is what you can do: 1. _ . This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctor worry about them. That is why you pay him/her. 2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. 3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." 4.Enjoy the simple things. When the children are young, that is all that you can afford. When they are in college, that is all you can afford. When you are on retirement, that is all you can afford! 5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. Laugh so much that you can be tracked in the store by your distinctive laughter. 6. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it is family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, or hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge. 7. Value your health. If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help. 8. The tears happen. Endure sorrow, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be alive while you are alive. 9. At every opportunity, tell the people you love that you love them. What is the fourth advice meant to tell us? Answer: We needn't worry about the children and our late life. Children form opinions about drugs and alcohol at a very early age. Even four and five year olds have definite opinions about alcohol. Preschoolers, because of the commercials they see on TV, often think that alcohol helps people have more fun and be better athletes! Images of alcohol are everywhere in out society--consumption of alcohol is represented twice per hour in daytime shows, and three times in an average evening program. Despite the wide spread of alcohol in our society, and the problems that can be connected with it, many parents feel uncomfortable when talking about alcohol with their children, or are not sure when and how to start. Many parents believe that teenage drinking is something that their children would never be involved in. Unfortunately, teenage drinking is very common in North Dakota. In a state wide survey of adolescents in junior and senior high school. Only 24% claimed to have never consumed alcohol. When asked about their drinking in the past 30 days: 61% adolescents reported drinking 42% drank five or more drinks in a row 17% reported binge drinking 4.2% reported driving and drinking Other research on rural youth in North Dakota has found that about 10% of a sample of fifth and sixth graders were engaged in frequent drinking. Teenagers who reported alcohol use (especially those who began use in late elementary school and junior high school) were more likely to be depressed, feel less positive about both their family and friends, and have poorer grades. Research has found that children and even teenagers look to their parents in making decisions about important things in their life. Decisions about using alcohol are undoubtedly something that parents will want to provide guidance about. Here are some suggestions about talking to children about alcohol. The author's attitude towards images of alcohol is _ . Answer: negative Coca-Cola is probably the most famous brand in the world, and in some areasyou can even access it easier than clean drinkable water. Although the company is trying to present itself as a health-conscious company, you can't really say that drinking cola is healthy for you. Still, we all drink cola, some more and some less, and we tell ourselves that it's all okay as long as we don't overdo it. However, Coca-Cola has other functions besides drinking. Cola removes the tarnish from old pennies. Got some old rusty pennies? Not to worry! Put them inside a glass of cola and let them rest for a while. When you get them out, you'll have shiny pennies that will look as if they were coined a couple of days ago. If you couldn't clean those pennies with industrial acids, just buy a can of cola and let it do its magic! You can remove gum from your hair with cola. If you've got gum stuck in your hair and don't know a better way to get it out, don't worry, you won't have to cut it. Just pour some cola into a bowl and dip the part of your hair with gum on it inside. Leave it for a couple of minutes and then simply wipe off the gum. You can make an exploding fountain. You probably know about this one. You can make an exploding fountain by putting a mint inside a two-liter bottle. Then move away from the bottle and get ready for a Coca-Cola explosion. This is a fun thing to do, but it is also a warning -- don't eat a mint and drink cola at the same time, because a similar thing could happen to your stomach. Why can't we eat a mint and drink cola at the same time? Answer: It can cause harm to our stomach. There were times it was only schoolchildren who felt sick before they got their grades. But now teachers in Germany are scared, too, as they are being graded by their students. Many teachers are opposed to it. They don't mind being evaluated . But they are upset because the results are then being posted on the Internet and accessible to millions of Internet users. On the websitewww.spickmich.deduring the past four months students have posted evaluation of 100,000 teachers. The teachers are graded on categories such as "motivated", "good instruction", "easy examinations", or even "sexy". Many teachers think that their privacy has been violated. The creators of the website say that the students are only being offered the chance to provide teachers with some feedback about their classroom instruction. Bernd Dicks, who founded the website with three friends, says that the students are largely quite satisfied with their teachers. On a grading scale of one to six, the teachers' average grade is 2.7 and it has been improving lately. He often says the impression is that students are bullying their teachers. But there is also bullying of the students by teachers. "Teachers must also learn to live with criticism," he added. But still, the website is not totally immune from manipulation , as one teacher near the northern city of Hanover recently proved. He registered himself on the website as a student and then rated his own teaching colleagues highly. Within a few days, seven of his colleagues were listed in the top 10 ranking of Germany's best teachers. We can infer that the founder of the website intended to _ . Answer: help the teachers to improve their teaching
A new University of Graz study concludes that vegetarians are more often ill and have a lower quality of living than meat-eaters. According to the German press release, vegetarians "have cancer and heart attacks more often". The release also says that they show more psychological disorders than meat eaters. Consequently, the report writes, they are a greater burden on the health care system. According to the press release the scientists evaluated data from the Austrian Health Interview Survey (AT-HIS), which is also part of an important and valuable EU survey (European Health Interview Survey). The scientists examined a total of 1320 persons who were divided up into 4 groups . All groups were comparable with respect to gender, age, and socio-economic status. The study also accounted for smoking and physical activity. Also the BMI was within the normal range for all four groups. The only thing that really was different among the four groups was the diet. The four groups were: vegetarians, meat-eaters with lots of fruit and veggies, little meat-eaters and big meat-eaters. The press release states that the results contradict _ that meat-free diets are healthier. Vegetarians have twice as many allergies as big meat-eaters, and they showed 166% higher cancer rates . Moreover, the scientists found that vegans had a 150% higher rate of heart attacks. In total the scientists looked at 18 different chronic illnesses. Compared to the big meat-eaters, vegetarians were hit harder in 14 of the 18 illnesses. In the analysis, the University of Graz found that vegetarians were also twice as likely to suffer for anxiety or depressions than big meat-eaters. That result was confirmed by the University of Hildesheim, which found that vegetarians suffered significantly more from depressions, anxiety, psychosomatic complaints and eating disorders. The University of Graz scientists also found that vegetarians are impacted more by ilnessses and visit the doctor more frequently. Big meat-eaters were also found to have a "significantly better quality of life in all categories", the study found. The four categories examined were: physical and psychological health, social relationships and environment-related life quality. What would be be the best title for the passage? A. Are Vegetarians Healthier B. A Better Quality of Life Is Important C. Take Care of the Health Care System D. Are You Impacted More by Illnesses Answer: A ESP, Extra Sensory Perception, is a catch-all expression for the so-called ability of certain people to receive transmitted thoughts from others, to transmit their own thoughts, to see what will happen in the future or to be able to move objects from one place to another without physically touching them. These special people are called psychics. Some believe that we all have this ability to some degree but that most of us choose not to develop it. Many people are skeptical about ESP. Alongside the existence of documented evidence, there are plenty of claims that have turned out to be cheating. For most people, it is difficult to accept such claims without having had first hand experience. The lack of scientific evidence is another factor to take into account. On the other hand, most of us have, at some time, experienced a seemingly unexplainable occurrence; hearing the telephone ring and knowing who will be on the other end of the line or cases of coincidence that seem to be too extreme to be accidental. Over the years there have been numerous ESP experiments conducted by serious scientists in serious institutions. Joseph Banks Rhine, a botanist at Duke University published a famous book in 1934 called "Extra-Sensory Perception" in which he claimed to have enormous evidence of ESP. However, other scientists have been unable to copy his results since, which has resulted in the book losing much of its original credibility and fame. The Ganzfield Experiments are considered to have been the most carefully examined ESP experiments. So-called psychics had their eyes covered and ears blocked while a "sender" attempted to transmit messages. Later the psychics would compare the messages received to the original messages sent out. There was a great deal of excitement and interest at the time, but the research failed to produce convincing results. One of the strongest criticisms against ESP is that in order for it to exist, the fundamental laws of physics would necessarily have to be broken. Human beings are attracted to the whole range of supernatural phenomena. ESP will always continue to fascinate. This becomes clear when we see how much of the media is dedicated to the topic: magazines, journals, web sites, television and radio programs. Some of the most successful films in recent years have fuelled interest among the younger generations who are starting to ask the same questions and to look for explanations for the same phenomena as their parents and grandparents before them. Who knows? One day we might just find these answers because one thing is certain: "The truth is out there! " What does the passage mainly talk about? A. Whether ESP exists. B. How ESP works. C. Who ESP attracts. D. Why ESP fails. Answer: A Inventors Can you patent and profit from your idea? We have been assisting inventors since 1975. Full range of patenting and marketing services. Confidentiality guaranteed American Inventors Corp. Call for free information: 1-800=338-5656 or visit www.aic.com Parents Can you afford to raise your hearing impaired child without the insights this highly valued book has to offer? Make life easier for you and your child! Bradford Publications For information: 1-800-354-2760 or visit www.bpublications.com Earn up to$25,000 a year as a Medical Transcriptionist! No experience is needed, Work the hours you choose. Train at home in your spare time. The medical profession needs skilled transcriptionists. So if you can type, or are willing to learn, we can train you to work at home doing medical transeriptions from tapes dictated by doctors. Get free information! At-Home Profession Corp. Call Toll Free 1-800-475-0100 or visit www. athome. Com Globe Insurance Company Since 1951, Globe has grown in financial strength and reputation With over 2.8 million policies in force. Globe is committed to providing affordable life, health and accident insurance for the entire family. It only costs$1 to start your Long Life coverage. Globe Insurance Company Call Toll Free, Seven Days A Week, 24-hours A Day. 1-800-358-1945 or visit www.globeic.com According to the information above, if your child has hearing problems, you can turn to . A. At-Home Profession Corp. B. Globe Insurance Company C. Bradford Publications D. American Inventors Corp Answer: C Dear Zhou Lan, Thank you very much for your mail. I want to go to China. I know something about China from your e-mails. Your English is very good. But I don't know much Chinese. Now I'm learning it from my parents. They know much about China. They tell me many things about China. I'm happy to know you like your school and your family. You want to know my family and my school. I have a big family. My grandparents and my parents are all very fine. My father has a brother. He is my uncle, John. He and my aunt have their children. They're Bill, Linda, Mary and Lily. My brother Dick is a boy of eighteen. I like my family very much. I'll go to China next year with my mother. She is going to teach English in a middle school in Beijing. Yours, Annie This is an e-mail from _ to _ . A. Zhou Lan; Annie B. Annie; Zhou Lan's family C. Zhou Lan; Annie's family D. Annie; Zhou Lan Answer: D I had always had fun playing in the dirt growing up, digging, throwing, building, smashing, everything, so this year for my birthday my mom and dad had bought me a gardening kit to grow my own vegetables. It came with a watering pot, a shovel, a rake and seeds! The next morning we all went out to the backyard to start our garden. We dug a bunch of small holes with my new shovel, put a seed or two in each hole, and covered them up with dirt and raked over them. Our dog was very confused because he's the one that digs the holes. Every day I would get so excited to water them and see how big they'd gotten. Every day they would get even bigger. That was the most exciting part! Then they started making little tomatoes, and they sort of looked like grapes. And those too got bigger and bigger and started turning red. This was all very exciting and finally by Christmas my dad and I picked our fresh tomatoes and washed them to be eaten in a salad with dinner. what did he grow? A. tomatoes B. grapes C. watermelon D. salad Answer: A
A piece of paper is a different shape when it Ever since man began to use the telephone, there have been new problems arising from the carrying of messages. At first, each message was carried by a pair of overhead wires. As a result, telephone exchanges were soon surrounded by thousands of wires. The wires were then replaced by cables ,each containing many pairs of wires. Each cable is capable of carrying many messages. These cables, laid underground, replaced the overhead wires. The more _ telephone services have become, the more demand for these services has increased, particularly the demand for long-distance services. In China, for example, this growth is now over 30% every year. Long-distance telephone exchanges are usually in crowded cities, where is not easy to lay new labels for expanding services. The use of radio to send telephone message and to link all telephone exchanges makes it possible to get rid of overhead wires and some underground cables. Now man has invented the microwave system ( ). In a microwave system messages from various places can be brought together, and then they are sent out and received by radio. After that, the messages are split into their original form. Finally, they are sent to the places where they are going to be sent. What does the word _ mean? A baby carrier is like a backpack for carrying a baby. Ann Moore introduced the idea of a baby carrier to American people nearly 50 years ago. Ann spent two years in Africa in the early 1960s. She worked as a nurse there. Ann saw babies wrapped in bright cloth tied to their mothers' backs. The babies snuggled close to their mothers, and the mothers could use their hands to do other things. In 1964, Ann had her own baby. She tried making a carrier like the one African mothers used. The carrier was like a backpack. Everywhere Ann went with her baby in the carrier, people asked, "Where can I buy one?" In 1965, Ann and her mother began to sell handmade carriers. Ann received a patent for the baby carrier in 1969. By that time, the baby carrier had leg holes and straps that could be made longer or shorter. It could also be worn on the back or front. By 1979, the baby carriers were made in a factory. These baby carriers cost less to make and more than 25,000 were sold every month. When Ann made her first baby carrier, she just wanted to keep her baby close and still have her hands free to do other things. Now all over the world babies ride in baby carriers, close to their parents, safe and happy. ,. Ann Moore made her first baby carrier in _ . Chinese writer Mo Yan has won the 2012 Nobel Prize in Literature, announced Peter, the Secretary of the Swedish Academy in Stockholm on Thursday. The awarding ceremony will be held on December 10. The winner will win a medal, a personal diploma and a cash award of 8 million Swedish Kronor (about 1 million U.S. dollars). Mo Yan was born in 1955 and grew up in Gaomi in Shandong province in eastern China. As a 12-year-old during that very unordinary time, he left school to work, first as a farmer like his parents, later as a worker in a factory. He didn't begin to study literature or write until he joined the People's Liberation Army in 1976. His first short story was published in 1981. In his writing, Mo Yan draws the readers' attention to his youthful experiences and the cultures in the province of his birth. His novel Hong Gaoliang Jiazu (1987, in English Red Sorghum 1993), which consists of five stories was successfully filmed in 1987, directed by famous Chinese director Zhang Yimou. In addition to his novels, Mo Yan has published many short stories and essays on many different topics. his stories have been translated into English, French , Japanese and many other languages. Mo Yan not only brings a great shot to the world but also a great joy to China. Mo Yan will go to Stockholm for the ceremony _ . Before you argue with your boss, check with the boss's secretary to determine his mood. If he ate nails for breakfast, it is not a good idea to ask him for something. Even without the boss's secretary, there are keys to timing: don't approach the boss when he's on deadline; don't go in right before lunch, when he is apt to be distracted and rushed; don't go in just before or after he has taken a vacation. If you're mad, that will only make your boss mad. Calm down first. And don't let a particular concern open the floodgates for all your accumulated frustration. The boss will feel that you think negatively about the company and it is hopeless trying to change your mind. Then, maybe he will dismiss you. Terrible disputes can result when neither the employer nor the employee knows what is the problem the other wants to discuss. Sometimes the fight will go away when the issues are made clear. The employee has to get his point across clearly in order to make the boss understand it. Your boss has enough on his mind without your adding more. If you can't put forward an immediate solution, at least suggest how to approach the problem. People who frequently present problems without solutions to their boss may soon find they can't get past the secretary. To deal effectively with a boss, it's important to consider his goals and pressures. If you can put yourself in the position of being a partner to the boss, then he will be naturally more inclined to work with you to achieve your goals. If you want to ask the boss for anything, it is important to find out first _ .
"Listen carefully to what I say," the time traveler said, "I shall tell you something that you will not agree." "Why will we not agree?" I asked. "Because the science and mathematics you know are not correct," he said. "You believe there are only three dimensions -length, breadth and thickness." "There is nothing to argue with that, " the youngest member of our little group said. "Exactly!" the time traveler answered, "But there is also a fourth dimension - time." "We all know about time, " another member of the group said. "Time passed." "I do not agree," the time traveler said, "Length, breadth and thickness do not pass. They stay in the same place in space. We move about them. I can prove that time is the same. It does not pass. We move in time the same way that we move in breadth, length and thickness." None of us believed the time traveler, and we argued with him for many hours. "If we could travel back in time," the scientist said, "We could do things to change the future." "If we could travel forward in time," the doctor said, "we could do things that change our present." The time traveler smiled, "It is clear," he said, "that there is only one way I can show you that I am right. We must do an experiment. Please wait here." He left the room and soon returned, carrying what looked like a clock. "This is a model of a time machine. It took me two years to make it," the time traveler said. "I want all of you to understand that when I start the machine, it will immediately travel in time and disappear from the present." He turned to the youngest of all. "Give me your hand," he said. The young man put out his hand. The time traveler took it and placed it on the machine. Immediately, there was a sudden wind, and the little machine disappeared. I was certain this was not a trick, but the doctor was not so sure. "Are you asking us to believe," he said, "that the machine is now in a different time?" "Certainly! In my laboratory, a full-size machine is almost complete. As soon as it is complete, I shall send myself on a journey through time. Would you like to see my machine?" "Are you serious about this?" the doctor asked. "I have never been more serious about anything," the time traveler said, "Come." We followed him to his laboratory. There, we saw the actual machine, not quite complete, but large enough for a man to sit in. How many dimensions did the time traveler say there are? Answer: Four. Which statement is a description of weather? Answer: The temperature is 55° F in Winslow today. The change in the use of one model of the solar system to the use of another model resulted in major changes in science and society. Which two scientists produced the earlier and later models, respectively? Answer: Ptolemy and Copernicus If you want to be a better reader,what should you know about the speed of reading? Some people read very quickly,when others read very slowly. But which one is better? The quick reader may be a good reader when he reads a story-book for fun. But he may not be able to slow down to read instructions carefully. The slow reader may be a good reader. But he may spend too much time reading a story for fun. So the reader who reads everything quickly or the one who reads everything slowly isn't really a good reader. Here are four things to remember about the speed of reading. Knowing why you are reading will help you to know whether to read quickly or slowly. Some things should be read slowly _ . Examples are instructions for making or doing something. Math books,science and story-books are full of important information. You must read these things slowly to understand and remember every important idea. Some things should be read quickly throughout. Examples are stories for enjoyment,letters from friends,and some news from newspapers. In some of your reading,you must change your speed from fast to slow and slow to fast. You will need to read some pages quickly and then slow down and do more careful reading when you come to important ideas. What should you read slowly when you read? Answer: Important information from story-books. Recent developments in astronomy have made it possible to detect planets in our own Milky Way and in other galaxies. This is a major achievement because,in terms,planets are very small and do not give out light. Finding planets is proving hard enough, but finding life on them will prove _ more difficult. The first question to answer is whether a planet can actually support life. In our own solar system,for example,Venus is far too hot and Mars is far too cold to support life. Only the Earth provides ideal conditions,and even here it has taken more than four billion years for plant and animal life to evolve . Whether a planet can support life depends on the size and brightness of its star, that is its "sun". Imagine a star up to twenty times larger, brighter and hotter than our own sun. A planet would have to be a very long way from it to be capable of supporting life. On the contrary, if the star were small,the life--supporting planet would have to have a close orbit round it and also provide the perfect conditions for life forms to develop. But how would we fund such a planet? At present, there is no telescope in existence that is capable of detecting the presence of life. _ . It is impossible to look for life on another planet using earth--based telescopes. Our own warm atmosphere and the heat generated by the telescope would make it impossible to detect objects as small as planets. Even a telescope in orbit round the earth like the very successful Hubble telescope,would not be suitable because of the dust particles in our solar system. A telescope would have to be as far away as the planet Jupiter to look for life in outer space because the dust becomes thinner the further we travel towards the outer edges of our own solar system. Once we detected a planet,we would have to find a way of blocking out the light from its star, so that we would be able to "see" the planet properly and analyze its atmosphere. In the first instance, we would be looking for plant life,rather than "little green men" . The life forms most likely to develop on a planet would be bacteria. It is bacteria that have generated the oxygen we breathe on earth. For most of the earth's history they have been the only form of life on our planet. As Earth-dwellers,we always cherish the hope that we will be visited by little green men and that we will be able to communicate with them. But this hope only exists in science fiction. If we were able to discover lowly forms of life like bacteria on another planet,it would completely change our view of ourselves. As Daniel Goldin of NASA observed,"Finding life elsewhere would change everything. No human efforts or thought would be unchanged by it." A telescope capable of finding life on other planets would have to be _ . Answer: far enough from the center of our solar system not to be affected by dust
I noticed that the little boy was paying mostly with change . It seemed that he had broken his pig bank to do this shopping. However, the cashier told him he was $ 8.00 short after counting his money. It was clear that the boy had already used all the money. The lady in front of me said, "Well, I could pay half of that." I told the boy that I could pay the other half. We searched our handbags. However, both of us only had ten-dollar bills . Other customers behind began searching their pockets to find some change. It was amazing and moving that all these strangers seemed to have the same idea. All of us wanted to help the boy. Within minutes the cashier said, "I have too much money." The cashier didn't need our ten-dollar bills. Then the lady in front of me said, "Wait! I didn't get a chance to give anything!" I smiled at her and said, "You did your share, because it was your idea and you started all this." The little boy smiled and thanked us. I was left with a good feeling. I saw the love and goodness of others all around me. The woman in front of me smiled and said, "It feels good to give, doesn't it?" I smiled back and said, "Yes!" ,. How much were the clothes that the boy wanted to buy? Answer: All his money and another $ 8.00. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Greenpeace are two famous organizations in the world. They both aim at making our planet a better place to live. World Wildlife Fund works to protect wild animals and plants. It began in Switzerland on September 11, 1961. Now, it has offices in 100 countries and nearly 5 million members all over the world. The members are from different groups, including government officials, businessmen, scientists and farmers. They have played an active role in saving animals and rainforests. One recent WWF project is protecting the Amazon rainforest. WWF has done plenty of research to find creative ways that meet the need of both people and nature. Greenpeace was set up in 1971, with an idea of working for world peace at the very beginning. Now it is active in protecting oceans, forests, and animals as well. It also calls for the use of clean energy, like wind power and solar power. Greenpeace has offices in 45 countries such as America and Canada. Its head office is in Netherlands. Greenpeace has about 3 million members at present. Small steps lead to big changes. It has encouraged more and more people to take action. WFF has nearly _ million members. Answer: 5 Unemployment in the United States is still high at 6.7 percent. But for job seekers,especially those with college educations,researchers say finding a job can be as easy as logging on to a computer.It used to be that looking for a job meant hurrying around,knocking on doors and turning to ads.But that's changing,thanks to the Internet.A new report says,for college graduates,looking for a job is getting easier.More than 80 percent of the jobs are available online. At the height of the depression ,when U.S.unemployment peaked at 10 percent,just a little more than two million jobs were being posted each month.But as the recovery takes hold,the job picture looks increasingly bright. That's great news for Hamilton.Only once has he ever applied in person for a job at a shopping mall. He said,"I think my generation--the idea of going door to door, out knocking and saying,hey are you hiring? --like that--doesn't exist anymore...those days are gone, Just go online.'' Kim Dancy recently graduated with a master's degree in Public Policy.She found her dream job as an education policy researcher.But she says finding the perfect job online takes a lot of perseverance.He said,"It can be really frustrating and it takes a long time,but if you applied for enough positions and really do your homework you will get somewhere. The report's findings suggest careers in Science,Technology,Engineering and Math provide the greatest opportunities,with salaries that range between $30 to $45 an hour.But for maximum income and satisfaction,workers must be prepared to move and change jobs at least every five years. The highest unemployment rate in the depression in the U.S.was _ . Answer: 10% Did you turn off your lights from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm on March 28? Perhaps you invited your parents and neighbors to join the worldwide event--Earth Hour? Liao Mingyu,17,from Shenzhen Experimental School,is glad that she and a group of other students from eight high schools in the city jointly made the event even bigger by inviting more citizens to take part. It all started with an idea to design ways of saving energy after Tree-Planting Day.The students,who are all members of the Environmental Protection Union in their own schools,decided to help raise people's awareness of global warming as the Earth Hour campaign approached. They worked out a detailed plan to make their idea come true.They wrote to local newspapers,residents,companies and even sent an open letter of proposal to the mayor in order to get support from the government. "From 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm on March 28,please turn off your lights to save energy and protect our Mother Earth,"the letters said. To their great encouragement,a local newspaper published their plan and asked people to get involved .The mayor even replied to them via the city's environmental bureau to show his support."It was a surprise recognition,"said the receiver Lu WaIllin,17,from Shenzhen No 2 High Schoo1."The government's support may help our idea be heard by the public." During the Earth Hour,the green activists saw the rewards of their work when they held a night party in a big local communtiy,Meilinyicun in Futian District.A round 1,000 residents turned off their lights and joined the party.At the party,the green activists shared advice about living eco-friendly lives. These students have now come up with an even more ambitious plan. "We've learned from the Internet that so far only four Chinese cities--Beijing,Shanghai,Hong Kong and Baoding in Hebei--have officially joined in Earth Hour,"Liao said."We hope that Shenzhen will become the fifth Chinese city to participate next year." Which of the following statements about Earth Hour is Not true? Answer: Earth Hour is held on March 28 every year. The Red Sea is parting again, but this time no one can help. Satellite pictures show that the Arabian plate and the African plate are moving away from each other, stretching the Earth's crust and widening the southern end of the Red Sea. Last September, series of earthquakes started splitting the planet's surface in Ethiopia. Over a period of three weeks, the sides on the rift separated by 26 feet. "We think that the crust is melted slowly at depths greater than 10 kilometers, where it is hotter, forming molten rock," said Tim J Wright. "This molten rock rises through the crust because it is less dense than the surrounding rock." The molten rock collects at depths of 3 to 5 kilometers. Wright explained, "Slowly, the pressure has been building up until last September when it finally cracked, breaking the crust." The entry of molten rock into the gap between continents, rather than the cracking of the crust, is responsible for separation of continent drifts. For the past 30 million years Africa and Arabia have been going through the continental rifting process, the same one that made the Red Sea part again. "The ground is continually moving---much more rapidly now than before," Wright said. "On average, the two sides move apart at about 2 centimeters per year." This latest split, added to the long-term rifting process could eventually create a huge new sea. Although such processes could take millions of years to occur, this event has given scientists an opportunity to examine the break in real time. According to the passage, what caused Arabia separate from Africa? Answer: Molten rock flowing into the continental gap.
How much pocket money do you get from your parents every month? Maybe 200 yuan? But for Li Beibei, 30 yuan each month is enough. The only thing she buys is lunch--1.5 yuan each day. "Meat is too expensive for me," said Li. Li, 14, is a Junior 1 student at Beijing's Xingzhi Experimental School. Her parents are migrant workers . They came to Beijing from a village in Luohe, He'nan two years ago. Her father now works as a cleaner and gets 500 yuan every month. Her mother has no job. Li Beibei has 460 friends at Xingzhi. Every day, Li gets up at 5:30 am and rides her bike for 20 minutes to get to school. Like many teens, Li has a lot of homework--usually at least one hour every day. But that is not all her work. During the weekdays she helps her mum cook. On weekends, she helps wash clothes. "I could cook when I was eight. Dad said sometimes I cook better than Mum!" Li said she wanted to be a doctor. "I watch TV and find out there are many people with AIDS in He'nan. Some are kids. They need help," said Li. But she is afraid to leave school. "I hope I will always be in school," said Li. "Dad works hard to get money. I promise him I will study hard to be a good student and a good doctor in the future." Li Beibei came from _ . Answer: My daughter finally lost her first tooth. She waited for this moment for more than a year. Most of the kids in the first grade lost not only one tooth, but several. But my daughter kept waiting impatiently. Then, she finally got a loose tooth. I never saw her so happy -- except on Christmas, Children's Day or her birthday. Last Friday night, she was eating an apple, and the tooth started to become loose. Minutes later, my daughter shouted happily. The tooth was out! I cleaned it off and put it under her pillow . When she went to bed that night, my daughter wondered, "Will the tooth fairy let me keep the tooth?" I told her _ might and _ 'd have to wait and see. The tooth fairy comes from an old story. It's believed that when a kid loses his first tooth and puts it under his pillow, the tooth fairy will come to visit him when he is sleeping. If the tooth fairy sees the kid and loves him, she will leave some money under his pillow without taking away the tooth. If she doesn't think the kid lovely enough, she will still leave some money but take the tooth away. And then I put a dollar in my bag so that I'd remember to put it under my daughter's pillow. However, I forgot. Luckily, her dear dad remembered. Which of the following is TRUE? Answer: Salt concentration, water temperature, plankton, and the whale shark might all be used in a description of an ocean Answer: It is reported by Chinese Xinhua News that students waste more food than the national average. So the campaign on school food waste is getting popular across the country. The move is part of a national campaign started by students at different schools. At East China University of Science, students who finish their food in the school dining hall get a special card when they return their plates after meals. Students can collect cards and exchange them for small gifts, such as books, schoolbags, magazines and umbrellas. "It's been such a surprise," said Liang Zhaoyun, 19, a student in Shanghai. "It has given us one more motivation to eat up our food." "The purpose of the campaign is not only to encourage students to finish their food. We hope it can also teach students to choose a more environment-friendly and healthy lifestyle," said Tao Siliang from University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Other schools also pay attention to the quantity of food. At Nanjing No.9 Middle School, rice is divided into three different-sized bowls that students can choose from according to their own need. "It's great because I can try different dishes at half price and don't waste so much food," said Fan Peng, 15, a student from this middle school. What if you really can't finish all your food? At Changchun Normal College, they provide a take-away service. "If you can't finish all your food, you can get a box to take the left food home. Even if you feed the cat, it's not wasted," said Zhou Zeyong, a student who learns Chinese education. "I'm happy that we've cut down waste since joining the school 'eat-up' meeting. But some food is poorly cooked, meaning that students are not willing to finish it all. Some schools have taken note of this. So if we hope students try to waste less food, we should also improve the service and keep an eye on the meal quality on weekdays at school. If not, you can't complain students for throwing away much food," said Wang Guangji, the head-teacher of Beijing No. 29 Middle School. The passage is probably from _ . Answer: Jerry was a unique manager because he had several waiters who had followed him around from restaurant to restaurant. The reason the waiters followed Jerry was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation. Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?" Jerry replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, 'Jerry, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.' I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live life." I reflected on what Jerry said. Later, I left the restaurant industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life. Several years later, I heard that Jerry did something you are never supposed to do in a restaurant business: he left the back door open one morning and was held up at gun point by three armed robbers. While trying to open the safe, he forgot the password, nervous. The robbers panicked and shot him. Luckily, Jerry was found relatively quickly and rushed to the local hospital. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body. I saw Jerry about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door," Jerry replied. "Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live, or I could choose to die. I chose to live." "Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked. Jerry continued, "The doctors and nurses were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the emergency room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. I knew I needed to take action." "What did you do?" I asked. "Well, there was a big, strong nurse shouting questions at me," said Jerry. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. "Yes," I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, "Bullets!" Over their laughter, I told them. "I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead." Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully. From the passage we can learn that Jerry was _ . Answer:
Want to travel as cheaply as possible while enjoying the great scenery as much as you like? Backpacking is the way. As the most popular traveling choice among young western people, backpacking allows you to travel at your own free will. Carrying a tent, sleeping bag and clothes, . It is a thrill to put our ability to test and challenge ourselves with sorts of difficulties we might come across. So, backpacking is something young people can hardly deny. Young people in Europe often travel around by train. Now, with plane tickets dropping in price, more are traveling to distant countries, such as Australia and China. And some just travel within their own countries. But no matter where a backpacker travels, planning in advance is important if he or she wants to enjoy the trip. Clothing In summer, light, clothes are best. Backpackers must remember to travel lightly and not pack too many clothes. Medicine There are many medicines, especially for summer, such as those for sunstroke, snake bites and mosquitoes. Others are useful in every season, such as those for common colds, poisoning and diarrhea. Cards Three types of cards are of great value for backpacks: student Identity Card, personal ID and a credit card. A student ID card can be helpful for saving money. It often gets train tickets and entrance tickets for cheaper prices in many Western countries. Personal ID card can, not only get you out of trouble with local police, but also prove useful in all sorts of other situations. Carrying a credit card can be a safe way of carrying money, as cash can easily get lost, stolen or wet. And of course, don't forget to enjoy your trip! What is the author's purpose to write this passage? A To give some ideas about traveling. B To encourage the young to travel. C To tell people how to avoid something unpleasant. D To offer some useful advice for traveling. Answer: D A programmer and an engineer are sitting next to each other on a long flight from Los Angeles to New York.The programmer leans over to the engineer and asks if he would like to play a fun game.The engineer just wants to take a nap, so he politely declines and rolls over to the window to catch a few winks. The programmer persists and explains that the game is really easy and has a lot of fun.He explains, "I ask you a question, and if you don't know the answer, you pay me $5.Then you ask me a question, and if I don't know the answer, I'll pay you $5." Again, the engineer politely refuses and tries to get to sleep. The programmer, now somewhat anxious, says, "OK, if you don't know the answer you pay me $5, and if I don't know the answer, I'll pay you $50!" This catches the engineer's attention, and he sees no end to this torment unless he plays, so he agrees to the game. The programmer asks the first question."What's the distance from the earth to the moon?'' The engineer doesn't say a word, but reaches into his wallet, pulls out a five dollar bill and hands it to the programmer.Now, it's the engineer's turn.He asks the programmer, "What goes up a hill with three legs, and comes down on four?" The programmer looks up at him with a puzzled look.He takes out his laptop computer and searches all of his references.After about an hour, he wakes the engineer and hands him $50.The engineer politely takes the $50 and turns away to try to get back to sleep.The programmer, more than a little angry, shakes the engineer and asks, "Well, so what's the answer?" Without a word, the engineer reaches into his wallet, hands the programmer $5, and turns away and goes back to sleep. What can we infer according to the last sentence? A The engineer has little money with him. B Actually the engineer doesn't know the answer, either. C The engineer is bored with programmer. D The engineer beats the programmer at last. Answer: B A young couple that had received many valuable wedding presents built their house in a suburb. One morning they received in the post two tickets for a popular show in the city, with a single line: "Guess who sent them." The couple had much amusement in trying to find out the kind person who gave them the tickets, but failed in the effort. They attended the theatre, and had a pleasant time. On their returning home late at night, still trying to guess who in the world had sent them the tickets, they found their house rid of everything valuable. And on the table in the kitchen was a piece of paper on which was written in the same hand as the note with the tickets. "Now you know!" The couple went to the show _ . A early in the morning that day B to look for the person who sent them the tickets C to enjoy themselves in the evening D and found the person who sent them the tickets also attended the show. Answer: C Thank you for your interest in helping animals! Volunteering is a wonderful way to learn, have fun and give back to yourcommunity . There are many ways to care for the animals at PAWS. Youth Work Party If you are ten years or older, you can join the Youth Work Party Team with a parent to work on different projects around PAWS in Lynnwood, WA. For example, you can build boxes for frightened, injured wildlife to hide in. Ask your parent to sign up to join a work party. If you are eighteen years or older, you can join the Youth Work Party Team independently. PAWSwalk PAWSwalk is our biggestfundraising event of the year, held at the end of the summer to raise money to care for the animals. You can collect money with the help of your family, friends and school, and then walk in the event. Cookie Sale Selling homemade dog cookies is a wonderful way to help the animals. PAWS can providebrochures to give out when you sell the cookies prepared by you and your parents, so people can learn about PAWS at the same time. You can find homemade dog cookie cooking instructions on the Internet or by checking out cookbooks for dogs at the library. Movie Night Invite friends, family, neighbors and classmates to watch your favorite animal movie, likeBabe or Charlotte's Web. Ask them to bring an "entrance fee" of donations or supplies for the animals. Thanks again for your interest in PAWS and helping animals. Share your ideas with your parents and invite a few friends to join you in helping make a difference for animals. If you have any questions, call 425-787-2500-261. Who may work in the Youth Work Party Team by himself/herself ? A A ten-year-old student. B A thirteen-year-old student. C A sixteen-year-old student. D A nineteen-year-old student. Answer: D "Good Time" is a program on ABC Radio. Jim Green is an announcer for the program. Most of the girls and boys like the program. They also like Jim Green. Some of them often make phone calls to him and thank him for his work. There are lots of letters to him every day, too. Jim Green gets up at 6:00 every morning. He has bread and a glass of milk for breakfast. He leaves home at 6:30 and gets to his office at 7:15. The program begins at 7:30. He plays the new records of the pop songs and modern music for his listeners. At 8:00, it's time for the news. Jim finishes work at 10:30. He goes home in his car. He reads newspapers and listens to music after supper in the evening. He thinks Announcers' job is very interesting and helpful. What time does the program begin? A At 6:00 B At 7:30 C At 8:30 D At 9:30 Answer: B
A new study links heavy air pollution from coal burning to shorter lives in northern China.Researchers guess that the half-billion people alive there in the 1990s will live an average of 5 years less than the southerners because they breathed dirtier air. China itself made the comparison possible for decades, a then government policy provided free coal for heating, but only in the colder north. Researchers found great differences in both air pollution and the length of life in the two areas. "This study provides a unique basis for the question about the life span in northern China because the heating policy dramatically changes pollution concentrations ," Michael Greenstone, a professor of environmental economics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said in an email, "Further,due to the low rates of migration in China in this period, we can know people's exposure over long periods". The policy gave free coal for fuel boilers to heat homes and offices to cities north of the Huai River which divides China into north and south. It was in effect for much of the 1950-1980 period, of central planning,and though such policy was stopped after 1980, the practice of heavy coal burning in the north goes on, which releases heavy pollutants into the air that can harm human health.Researchers found no other government policies that treated China's north differently from the south. The researchers collected data for 90 cities, from 1981 to 2000, on the annual daily average concentration of total particulates sent out from power stations,construction sites and vehicles. Among them, PM2.5 is of especially great health concern because it can go deep into the lungs. The researchers estimated the impact on the length of life using death data from 1991-2000.They found that in the north, the concentration of pollutants was 184 micrograms per cubic meter, 55 percent higher than in the south, and life length is 55 years lower on average. Where can you most probably read this passage? Answer: In a health magazine. "The world has never been a better place to live in" says science writer Matt Ridley, "and it will keep on getting better." Read on to see how Ridley makes his case. Right or wrong? You decide. Compared with 50 years ago, when I was just four years old, people now make nearly three times as much money, eat one third more food and expect to live one third longer. In fact, it's hard to find any areas of the world that's worse off now than it was then, even though the world population has more than doubled over that period. One reason we are richer, healthier, taller, cleverer, longer-lived and freer than ever before is that the four most basic human needs--food, clothing, fuel and shelter--have grown much cheaper. Take one example: In 1800, a candle providing one hour's light cost six hours' work. In the 1880s, the same light from a lamp took 15 minutes' work to pay for. In 1950, it was eight seconds. Today, it's half a second. In these terms, we are 43,200 times better off than in1800. In the United States, rivers, lakes, seas and air are getting cleaner all the time. A car today produces less pollution traveling at full speed than a parked car did from leaks in 1970. Although the world population is growing, the rate of increase has been falling for 50 years. Across the world, national birth rates are lower now than in 1960, and in the less developed world, the birth rate has almost halved. According to a research report from the United Nations, population will start falling once it reaches 9.2 billion in 2075. After all, there are already seven billion people on earth, and they are eating better and better. In 1970s, there were 550 billion barrels of oil reserves in the world, and in the 20 years that followed the world used up 600 billion. So by 1990, reserves should have been overused by 50 billion barrels. Instead, it is reported there are 900 billion today. They will last for many years and people will find something in place of oil long before they run out. The more we develop, the more we can develop. The more we invent, the more inventions become possible. For 200 years, pessimists (people who believe that terrible things will happen in future) have had all the headlines--even though _ have far more often been right. There are some reasons for pessimists. No charity ever raised money by saying things are getting better. No journalist ever got the front page writing a story about how terrible things won't happen. Don't be a pessimist--dare to be an optimist! Which of the following can be the best title for the passage? Answer: Cheer Up STARBUCKS China yesterday renamed a newlyopened outlet near one of Buddhism's most famous temples after a wave of controversy over what critics called a "cultural invasion". The coffee shop in Hangzhou had opened as the Lingyin Temple Starbucks, leading some people to believe it was located inside the renowned temple. However, the company said in a statement yesterday that the coffee shop was actually in the Lingyin scenic area, about 20 minutes' walk from the temple's entrance.It was said the outlet would now be known as the Lingyin Starbucks. Wang Shan, deputy director of the Lingyin office of the West Lake Administration in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province, said, "Actually, the coffee house is a long distance from the temple.It is located in the tourist service area on Lingyin Road outside of the temple, as part of the supporting facilities." The temple's administration urged the cafe to change its name to make it clear that it was not located inside the temple. In a heated online debate, critics said the U.S.chain's commercial style would spoil the serenity that an oriental Buddhism temple should embrace. Supporters, however, said that the talk of an "invasion" was misplaced as the outlet was not inside the temple but on a nearby commercial street where a KFC restaurant and a shopping mall had been open for more than six months. The incident follows calls in 2009 to stop an earlier "cultural invasion" when the Seattlebased coffee chain had to move its outlet out of Beijing's Forbidden City seven years after it opened. Critics urged closure of the outlet, which they said was a "humiliation" for a culture exemplified by the ancient buildings. What's the best title of this passage? Answer: Coffee shop's new outlet deletes the word "temple". "Would you tell me which way I should go from here?" asked Alice. "That depends a good deal on where you want to get," said the Cat. "I really don't care where" replied Alice. "Then it doesn't much matter which way you go," said the Cat. --- from " Alice in Wonderland " My name is David. And I have a brother called Mike. One day, my brother called me and asked me for some advice. He was trying to decide between two job offers: Job 1 - The first job was your typical 40 hour a week "office" job. Job 2 - The second job was more of a career in the insurance industry , where he would start at the bottom, and after many years and many long hours eventually rise to the top (if he was good). The second job did not pay as well as the first job (at the beginning), but the pay-off of the second job (in the future) was much greater than the first job. So which job should my brother take? Well the answer is...it depends. Just like the Cat was trying to tell Alice, which road you take depends a great deal on where you want to end up. Begin with the End in Mind I asked my brother what was his life's purpose. He said his purpose was to "teach," but he wanted to make a lot of money first. I told my brother to forget about the money, and I advised him to focus on his purpose. I then asked him which job best supported his end result of "teaching." He said the first job best supported his goal because he would only have to work 40 hours a week, which would give him spare time to teach. He continued on to say, "but if I take job number two, I can work hard and make more money, then I can retire early and "teach" later in life." I again advised him to "focus" on his purpose, not money. Things don't end wrong, they begin wrong! You Can't Ride Two Horses Well It would be very difficult to have a successful teaching career while you're working 70-80 hours a week in the insurance business; no one can ride two horses well. As they say, you can do anything, but not everything. I advised him to get started today by choosing the job that best supported that decision. Tomorrow Never Comes My brother was thinking that he could always start teaching later in life, but the reality is, tomorrow never comes. Unless you decide right now to follow your feelings, they will probably never be completed. You only live once, don't go to the end of your life with one regret. The Money Will Come My brother seemed to be overly concerned with making money. I told him not to be anxious about making money. You will always have greater money when you're doing what you love. In a word, whenever you're at a cross-road, be sure to make the decision that best supports the goal of your life. If you do, then you will be well on your way. As for the life's purpose, Mike _ . Answer: wanted to make a lot of money first What's the meaning of "dark horse"? It's someone who wins when no one expects it. Han Xiaopeng took China's first gold on snow. He became an Olympic "dark horse" by winning the gold medal in men's freestyle aerial skiing at Turin in Italy. He made two almost perfect jumps for the highest score. Han had never won a world gold medal before, let alone in the Olympics! "I never thought this would happen," said the 23-year-old. "I feel like I'm in a dream." It's China's second gold medal at the Turin Olympics. But more important, Han's gold was the country's first ever in a snow sport. In 2002, China's Yang Yang won the gold for speed skating at the winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, US. That Han's win was unexpected doesn't mean that he didn't work hard. Han grew up in Jiangsu Province. Before he started his training on snow, he used to be an acrobat at a circus. In 1995, a coach found his talent . The coach, Yang Er'qi, said Han had the agility and courage to be a ski jumper. When Yang first took the 12-year-old to northern China, the boy couldn't swim, skate or ski. But he wasn't afraid of the high platform and kept on training. Han almost left the sport after hurting his knee months before the Salt Lake Games. In that Olympics he only got 24th. "I was hopeless at that time, but my family and the coach stood firmly behind me, helping me through," he recalled. Han Xiaopeng worked so hard that he won the gold medal in the Olympics at last. Because of his success, more and more people in China are becoming interested in skiing. We are proud of him and we hope he will have another big success in the next winter Olympics. What made the coach, Yang Er'qi, choose Han Xiaopeng to be a ski jumper? Answer: He had the agility and wasn't afraid of the high platform.
Question: Coke is the most popular drink and many people enjoy it. But they don't know it has many other uses. * Cleaning. You can use it to clean your hands, your bathroom or your clothes. When you do some washing and you can put some Coke into the water. And Coke can make them cleaner. * Cooking. Put Coke on beef or pork while it's cooking. And we can also cook chicken with Coke, it's very nice. * Health &beauty. Coke can make you more beautiful. Use it on your hair or your skin to make them brighter and smoother. * Housework help. Watering flowers with Coke can make them more lovely and beautiful. So give Coke a try next time. How many other uses of Coke are there in the passage? A. 3. B. 4. C. 5. D. 6. Answer: B. 4. Question: When many people are worried that there are no more heroes in the modern era,two university students who lost their lives to rescue drowning children have shown that heroes still exist . According to the Inner Mongolia Morning Post,the tragedy occurred on the afternoon of December 14,2002 when three school students skating on a frozen lake in Qingcheng Park in Hohhot fell through the ice into the freezing water. More than 20 university students who happened to be near the spot immediately went to the rescue of the children. Two children were quickly rescued,but the third died.The child's body was not found for three hours.Two of the rescuers,Liu Ye and Hao Longbiao,also died of cold and exhaustion . The body of Hao who took the lead in jumping into the lake was not found until the next day. A student who was unwilling to tell his name said he and his classmates from the local college were taking photos at the lake.When they heard the children's cries for help,they went to the ice hole hand in hand to rescue the children.But the ice kept breaking,causing most of them to fall into the icy water. Local residents held mourning ceremonies at the lake. Eight of the students were seriously affected by the freezing water and were being kept in hospital for further observation,but their lives were no longer in danger. It can be inferred that _ . A. people think little of the two university students'death B. the ice on the lake wasn't strong enough to skate on C. some students regretted for what they had done D. heroes don't agree with the steps of modern times Answer: B. the ice on the lake wasn't strong enough to skate on Question: Hello, everyone! I am Zhang Xin. Do you know what I see in America? Well, it is really an interesting trip. Now, 1et me tell you what I find in this trip. In China, I have five English classes every week. When I study English,my teacher teaches me to say "I am fine" when people ask me "How are you?" But in the US., I find people say "I am good," or "I' m not so good." One day, someone says to me with "What's up?" But I don't know what to say. All the girls want to be nice. US girls like to get at a _ in the sun. But in China, girls only want to get white. In China, study comes first, so we study hard and that's it. But in the US, a "good" student also does much for others , and they play sports or music after school. After I come back from the US, I think for a long time. I can't forget this trip! A good American student _ . A. only does homework B. only plays sports or music C. only studies D. also helps others, play sports and music Answer: D. also helps others, play sports and music Question: The moon orbits an object that orbits the A. Earth B. moon C. sun D. Mars Answer: C. sun Question: Music is an international language. Popular music in America is what every student likes. Students carry small radios with earphones and listen to music before class, after class, and at lunch. Students with cars buy large speakers and play the music loudly when they drive streets. Adult drivers listen to music on the car radio when they drive to work. They also listen to the News about sports, the weather, politics , and activities of the American people. Most of the radio broadcast is music. Pop or popular music singers make much money. They make a CD or tape which radio stations use in every state . Once the popular singer is heard all over the country, young people buy his or her tape. Some of the money from these tapes comes to the singer. Whenever the singer goes, all the young people want to meet him or her. Now the singer has become a national star. There are other kinds of music that are important to Americans. One is called folk music. It has stories about the common life of Americans. Another is called western or country music. This was started by cowboys who would sing at night to the cows they were watching. Today, any music about country boy and his girl is called western or country music. Serious music for the concert halls is called classical music. Music for instruments is called orchestra music, such as the symphonies of Beethoven. _ was started by cowboys. A. Popular music B. Classical music C. Western music D. Serious music Answer: C. Western music
"Good morning!" said a woman as she walked up to an old man sitting on the ground. The man slowly looked up. He was Jack, who had been begging around here for a couple of years. "See thatcafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get you something to eat and get you out of the cold for a while." She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently. "Jack, do you remember me?" Old Jack thought hard and said, "I think so--I mean you do look familiar." "I was thin and hungry," she said. "Maybe I've _ now more than when you worked here. That was when I was just out of college. I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked in the streets for days, cold and hungry. I saw this place and walked in hoping that I could satisfy my hunger." Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said it was against company's policy." The woman continued, "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble. Then, I saw you put the price of my food in the cash register." "So you started your own business?" old Jack said. "I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God,prospered." She opened her purse and pulled out a business card. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons, the personnel director of my company. He'll find something for you to do around the office." She smiled, "If you ever need anything, my door is always open to you." There were tears in the old man's eyes, "How can I ever thank you?" he said. "Don't thank me;" the woman answered, "thank yourself. It was your kindness that let me know you." What conclusion can you draw from this passage? Kindness is an investment that never fails. There is a new park near Andy's home. It's fine today. Andy and his family are in the park now. On their left, there is a cafe. On their right, there is a big lake. There are many flowers and trees around the lake. There's a small hill behind the lake. Near the lake, there are two signs. One says, "Don't swim in the lake!" The other says, "No fishing!" But you can go boating on the lake. There is a beautiful garden in the middle of the park. There are green grass and beautiful flowers in it. There are some small shops between the lake and the garden. The park is so nice. Andy and his family like it very much. Is there a cafe in the park? Yes, there is. A couple from Miami, Bill and Simone Butler, spent sixty-six days in a life-raft in the seas of Central America after their boat sank. Twenty-one days after they left Panama in their boat, Simony, they met some whales. "They started to hit the side of the boat," said Bill, "and then suddenly we heard water." Two minutes later, the boat was sinking. They jumped into the life-raft and watched the boat go under the water. For twenty days they had tins of food, biscuits, and bottles of water. They also had a fishing-line and a machine to make salt water into drinking water -- two things which saved their lives. They caught eight to ten fish a day and ate them raw . Then the line broke. "So we had no more fish until something very strange happened. Some sharks came to feed, and the fish under the raft were afraid and came to the surface. I caught them with my hands." About twenty ships passed them, but no one saw them. After fifty days at sea their life-raft was beginning to break up. Then suddenly it was all over. A fishing boat saw them and picked them up. They couldn't stand up. So the captain carried them onto his boat and took them to Costa Rica. Their two months at sea was over. Bill and Simone were traveling _ when they met some whales. in Simony A patient on the brink of death has received the world's first self--contained artificial heart--a battery--powered device about the size of a softball that runs without the need for wires,tubes sticking out of the chest.It is powered by a small battery pack worn outside the body that transmits current through the skin. Two surgeons from the University of Louisville implanted the titanium and plastic pump during a seven-hour operation at Jewish Hospital Monday.The hospital said the patient was''awake and responsive''Tuesday and resting comibrtably.It refused to eve personal details. The patient had been expected to die within a month without the operation, and doctors said they expected the artificial heart to extend the person's life by only a month.But the device is considered a major step toward inlproving the patient's quality of life. The new pump,called AbioCor,is also a technological leap from the mechanical hearts used in the l980s, which were attached by wires and tubes to large machinery outside the body.The most famous of those, the Jarvic-7,used air as a pumping device and was attached to an apparatus about the size of a washing machine. ''I think it's potentially a major step forward in the artificial heart development,''said Dr.David Faxon,president of the American heart Association.However,he said the dream of an implantable,permanent artificial heart is not yet a reality:''This is obviously an experimental device whose long--term success has to be demonstrated."Only about half of the 4,200 Americans on a waiting list for donor hearts received them last year,and most of the rest died. Some doctors,including Robert Higgins,chairman of cardiology at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond,said artificial hearts are unlikely to replace donor hearts."A donor heart in a good transplant can last l5 to 30 years.''he said.''It's going be hard replace that with a machine.'' From the text we can know . the patient got better after the operation Have you ever been to the following places? If not, try to find a chance to visit them. Fez, Morocco Fez, about 240 miles northeast from Marrakesh,a wonderful scene is taking root slowly. It started with immigrants building castles, and continues as hotels and restaurants. The biggest news is that the Hotel Sahrai is completed with a bar and 50 rooms, many overlooking a pool. Catskills, New York The region that welcomed Jewish families in the 50s,hippies in the 60s, and soon, casino gamblers . Many stylish B&Bs have opened. Among them are the Hotel Dylan in Woodstock, the Arnold House in Livingston Manor,with its bar and diminutive spa . So now is the time to enjoy fly-fishing, hiking and other peaceful experiences. Rotterdam, Netherlands The constantly unfolding city center in Rotterdam has become one amazing explosion of style, which surprised the tourists greatly. The latest attraction, and reason enough to visit, is the MVRDV-designed Markthal, an igloo -like horseshoe that houses 20 shops, nine restaurants, and 228 apartments. It also happens to be Holland' s largest artwork. Chengdu, China Famous for its 1,600 pandas, most of which still live in the wild, Chengdu has introduced a 72-hour no-visa policy that makes it easier for Americans to drop in on one of the city' s three major panda research facilities. But it' s worth sticking around longer to experience what' s doing in Chengdu, a city on the rise. One of the shiniest attractions is New Century Global Centre, the world' s largest building, complete with an artificial beach. Which is Holland's largest artwork? The Hotel Sahrai.
What can a moving magnet in a coil of copper wire cause? A an electric current B friction on wheels C an increase in gravity D a decrease in heat Answer: A. an electric current 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." The best title of the passage should be _ . A I Never Steal Music B I Defed My Ski1ls C I Never Give Up D I Know WhO 1 am Answer: A. I Never Steal Music "Good morning!" said a woman as she walked up to an old man sitting on the ground. The man slowly looked up. He was Jack, who had been begging around here for a couple of years. "See thatcafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get you something to eat and get you out of the cold for a while." She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently. "Jack, do you remember me?" Old Jack thought hard and said, "I think so--I mean you do look familiar." "I was thin and hungry," she said. "Maybe I've _ now more than when you worked here. That was when I was just out of college. I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked in the streets for days, cold and hungry. I saw this place and walked in hoping that I could satisfy my hunger." Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said it was against company's policy." The woman continued, "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble. Then, I saw you put the price of my food in the cash register." "So you started your own business?" old Jack said. "I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God,prospered." She opened her purse and pulled out a business card. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons, the personnel director of my company. He'll find something for you to do around the office." She smiled, "If you ever need anything, my door is always open to you." There were tears in the old man's eyes, "How can I ever thank you?" he said. "Don't thank me;" the woman answered, "thank yourself. It was your kindness that let me know you." Years ago the woman walked into the place she caught sight of to _ . A find a job there B get herself out of cold C get something to eat D meet with the man Answer: C. get something to eat Left unfettered , Anthony Konieczka, 9 years old, would happily play his Game Boy Advance or PlayStation 2 from the minute he gets up to the moment he goes to bed, 14 bleary-eyed hours later. Anthony's box is stocked with traditional toys--board games, puzzles, art supplies--and as far as he is concerned, they are relics of Christmases past. His sister Michaely, 6 years old, still likes dressing her Barbies. But once she starts playing Game Boy, it's hard to get her away. Play patterns like this could take up another Christmas for the toy department. Through September, toy sales were down 5% compared with the first nine months of last year, according to the NDP Group. Meanwhile, the video-game industry is heading for another record year. Thanks to hot new games like Halo 2 for the Xbox, the industry is light-years ahead of the toy business when it comes out. While some new toys emerge every holiday season, toymakers are heading into this one without a monster hit . Indeed, there has not been a Furby-style frenzy in years. Of 10 toy segments only two, arts and crafts and dolls, have generated sales growth over a recent 12-month period. Some of the weakest categories like construction sets and action figures are the ones aimed at boys, who suffer the most from the video games. Analysts expect one of the top stocking stuffers this season to be not a traditional toy but the new generation of Nintendo's Game Boy, the DS, which hit stores last week. The deeper issue is that shifts in play patterns are forcing toymakers to fight for shelf space in a tightening market. Boys in particular seem to be abandoning traditional toys at earlier ages in favor of consumer electronics, video games, PC software and the Internet. The fact that kids are growing more tech-savvy , a trend called "age compression ", has troubled toy companies for at least a decade. Action figures, for instance, used to be considered healthy for boys up to age 12. Now the items are mainly marketed to boys 4 to 6. A recent study found that nearly half of the US children start on video games at 4 to 5 years old--and 20% at age 3 or younger. Toy companies, of course, have long seen this trend. Several of the toys expected to sell well this season are, in fact, those that involve video gaming and DVD technologies. Mattel's Fisher-Price introduced a game system called InteracTV this year, featuring DVDs with characters like Dora the explorer. Hasbro came out with a portable color1 video player called VideoNow and has been putting classic games like Battleship and Yahtzee into hand-held electronic format. What has been bothering toymakers for almost ten years? A The Internet addiction. B The trend of age compression. C The sales of action figures. D The new generation of Game Boy. Answer: B. The trend of age compression. Judy had very bad luck yesterday. In the morning, she came to school late, because her alarm clock didn't _ . Usually she goes to school at 7:20 am. But yesterday, it was already 8:00 am when she got up. The teacher was angry and asked her to stay in the classroom after school. At 5:00 pm, it was time for students to go home. But Judy couldn't. She stayed until 5:30 pm. When she just went out of the classroom, it began to rain. She didn't have an umbrella. On her way home, she fell off her bicycle. When she got home, she was wet all through. How did Judy go home? A By bus. B By car. C By bike. D By train. Answer: C. By bike.
The train I was traveling on was already half an hour late. I had to arrive in Vienna at 7:15 to catch it. He advised me to get off two stops before Vienna station and take a taxi. When the time came, the conductor even helped me with my bags. He wished me good luck as I jumped off. And a few minutes later, I was racing towards the centre of the city in a taxi. It was almost 7:25 when we stopped outside the station. I paid the driver quickly, took hold of my bags quickly and hurried inside. "Pairs train" was all I had time to say to the official I saw. You can guess how I feel when he pointed to a man that the train was just moving out of the station. The writer arrived at Vienna station at _ . Answer: Henry is a little fatter than he wants to be.He wants to lose some weight .He tries not to eat too much and he eats very little sugar because it will make him fat.He also does exercise every day.He swims,and he runs about two miles a day.Now he is stronger than before.Henry's sister,Susan, is healthier than Henry.She is also younger and thinner than he is.She does exercise every day.She doesn't eat much meat.She eats a lot of fruit and vegetables, because she thinks they are better for her health. Which will make people fat? Answer: The Green Magic Tree House, in India, is the perfect hotel for anybody who likes adventure . Guests must drive for miles through the jungle to find it in the middle of tea and coffeeplantation . There are two tree houses to choose from, one 30 meters and the other 35 meters above the ground. Both houses have two floors. The bedrooms are above the living area and there are bathrooms and showers. You can get up to rooms and move between floors byusing ladders . You can go from one tree house to the other on a rope bridge. The houses sometimes move about in the wind but the views are fantastic. Guests can enjoy moving through the jungle, climbing in the mountains, and watching wildlife. There are many unusual plants, birds, and insects in the area. The Ice Hotel is in Jukkasjarvi, a village in Sweden 200 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. Every winter, a team of architects , designers and snow builders build the hotel. This year there are 80 rooms. Everything is made of ice. The walls, the floors, the ceilings , and even the furniture are made of ice. The beds are made of ice, too, but guests sleep on warm deer skins. Outside it can be -37degC, so inside it feels quite comfortable. The hotel has a bar, where guests can drink vodka from glasses made of ice. It's very popular -- because there isn't much else to do. To spend a night at Jules Underwater Lodge in Florida, guests need to scuba dive seven meters under the sea. They enter a small house through a door at the bottom of the building. Inside, the kitchen is stored with food and there is a fridge and a microwave oven . There is a hot shower and comfortable beds and lots of books, DVDs and video games. Most guests, however, spend their time at one of the large windows watching different fishes swimming by. The Green Magic Tree House is in _ . Answer: Thank you for trusting me. I enjoy exchanging my ideas with yours The first thing I want to tell you is that if the boys are calling you names it is their fault, not yours. Boys, at your age, are different from girls. They are trying to prove that they are manly and then often do this by picking on someone who can't really fight back. This is, of course, wrong but it happens. In general, the boys know they are bigger and stronger than you are, so they can make fun of you and make you cry and then laugh about it. If you let them see that they are hurting you, they will only do it more. It isn't that they want to hurt you; they simply want to make themselves feel superior . It's stupid, but it is common. In English we say " sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me." Canadian children learn this from their mothers because the same thing that is happening to you in China also happens here. The best ways of getting the boys to stop calling your names is to simply ignore them, knowing that the names can't hurt you and that the boys are being stupid. If you can laugh at them they will get tired of trying to make you cry and they'll give up. It won't be easy, but, trust me, it will work. There is also something else working in your favor and that is that you are growing up and the boys are beginning to notice you as a young woman. I suspect some of them actually like you and are making fun of you just to get your attention. Again, it's stupid but it happens. In reality, you can control this situation by not letting them see you getting hurt. Laugh at them, tell them they're acting like children and they should grow up and then walk away with your head held high. One more thing, Nancy. It is very important that you stop hurting yourself. If someone else hurts you, it is bad enough but you should't make it worse by then hurting yourself. Even sticking a pen into your finger can cause an infection and give you a lot of trouble and besides, it hurts. The next time you are disturbed by a group of stupid boys, write to me. You and I can talk about anything you like; about China, about Canada, about travel, anything. Having a conversation with me is better than sticking holes in your fingers, at least I hope it is. The best way for Nancy to stop being called names is to _ . Answer: "Have a nice day!" may be a pleasant gesture or a meaningless. When my friend Maxie says "Have a nice day" with a smile, I know she sincerely cares about what happens to me. I feel loved and secure since another person cares about me and wishes me well. "Have a nice day. Next!"This version of the expression is spoken by a salesgirl at the supermarket who is rushing me and my groceries out the door. The words come out in the same tone with a fixed procedure. They are spoken at me, not to me. Obviously, the concern for my day and everyone else's is the management's attempt to increase business. The expression is one of those behaviors that help people get along with each other. Sometimes it indicates the end of a meeting. As soon as you hear it, you know the meeting is at an end. Sometimes the expression saves us when we don't know what to say "oh, you may have a tooth out? I'm terribly sorry, but have a nice day." The expression can be pleasant. If a stranger says "Have a nice day" to you, you may find it heart-warming because someone you don't know has tried to be nice to you. Although the use of the expression is an insincere, meaningless social custom at times, there is nothing wrong with the sentence except that it is a little uninteresting. The salesgirl, the waitress, the teacher, and all the countless others who speak it without thinking may not really care about my day. But in a strange and comfortable way, it's nice to know they care enough to pretend they care when they really don't care all that much. While the expression may not often be sincere, it is always spoken. The point is that people say it all the time when they like. By saying "Have a nice day," a stranger may _ . Answer:
This is Linda's room. It's a nice room. It's very clean . I can see a brown bed. A photo of a boy is on the wall . Can you see a brown desk? Yes, it's in the room, on the left . A green chair is on the floor. Some books and blue pens are on the desk. Linda's lamp is on the desk, too. It's a pink lamp. Where is Linda? Is she in the room? No, she isn't. She is at school. .Linda's room is _ . nice and clean Monty Roberts was the son of a poor family. He liked horses. He had a dream to own a horse ranch ever since he was a little child. One day when he was at high school, he was asked to write a paper. It was about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up. He worked hard on it, and wrote a seven-page paper. In the paper he described his dream of owning a big horse ranch someday. The next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front page was a large red F(fail) with a note that read, "See me after class." He went to see the teacher after class and asked, "Why did I receive an F?" The teacher answered, "This is an unrealistic dream for a young boy like you. You come from a poor family. You have no money. Owning a horse ranch needs a lot of money. You have to buy the land. _ " Then he added, "Write this paper again. If you write it with a realistic plan, you may receive a better grade." After sitting with it for a week, he turned in the same paper, making no changes at all. He said to the teacher, "You can keep the F and I'll keep my dream." Monty kept his dream and worked very hard. Today he owns a large horse ranch with a big house on it, and he keeps that school paper he wrote on the wall of his sitting room. Last summer the same school teacher came to visit him. When the teacher was leaving, he said, "Look, Monty, when I was your teacher, I was something of a dream stealer. During those years I stole a lot of children's dreams. It was lucky that you hadn't given up yours." Don't let anyone steal your dream. Follow your dream, no matter what. Why does Monty Roberts keep that school paper on the wall of his sitting room? To tell himself never to give up a dream. Here, a reporter is interviewing the 12-year-old singer, Mara Justine, who's one of the youngest contestants of America's Got Talent. Reporter: Why did you choose to compete on America's Got Talent instead of one of the other singing competitions? Mara: Well, America's Got Talent actually called me because I had auditioned before, when I was 9 or 10 . I guess they looked over those videos. They asked me to audition again. Reporter: How does it feel to be one of the youngest people on the show? Mara: There are a lot of other people with more experience .,but I just try to do my best .I always go on to the stage thinking good thoughts, never bad thoughts. Reporter: Who is your role model or idol ? What inspires you? Mara: For singing, my idols are Aretha Franklin and Christina Aguilera, but a role model to me would be my mom. I love her with all my heart--she encourages me to believe in my dreams. Reporter: What are your other hobbies? Mara: I love playing video games, and I usually go to the park with my family. We usually play basketball. We also like to play tennis! Who encourages Mara to make the dream come true? Her mom Chinese writer Mo Yan has won the 2012 Nobel Prize in Literature . He is the first Chinese who lives and works in China to win the prize. Mo Yan, the pen-name for Guan Moye, was bom in 1955 and grew up in Gaomi in Shandong province in eastern China. His parents were farmers. He left school to work at the age of 12, first on the farm, later in a factory. In 1976 he joined the PLA and during this time he began to study literature and writing. His first short story was published in 1981. He has written many famous books about his childhood and his hometown. The novel Honggaoliang jiazu is one of them. It tells five stories that took place in Gaomi during the 1930s and 1940s. The book was published in 1987 and translated into English in 1993. It was made into a popular movie in 1987 by the well-known director Zhang Yimou. Besides his novels, Mo Yan has published many short stories and essays . He is regarded as one of the greatest writers in China. Many of his books have been translated into English, French and many other languages. The Nobel Prizes were set up by Alfred Nobel, a great Swedish inventor, in 1895. The winner will win a medal, a diploma and a cash award of 8 million Swedish Kronor (about 7 million yuan). What was Alfred Nobel? He was an inventor. Beauty has always been regarded as something praiseworthy. Almost everyone thinks attractive people are happier and healthier,have better marriages and have more respectable occupations. Personal consultants give them better advice for finding jobs. Even judges are softer on attractive defendants .But in the executive circle,beauty can become a _ . While attractiveness is a positive factor for a man on his way up the executive ladder,it is harmful to a woman. Handsome male executives were thought as having more integrity than plainer men;effort and ability were thought to account for their success. Attractive female executives were considered to have less integrity than unattractive ones;their success was attributed not to ability but to factors such as luck. All unattractive women executives were thought to have more integrity and to be more capable than the attractive female executives. Interestingly,though,the rise of the unattractive overnight successes was attributed more to personal relationships and less to ability than that of attractive overnight successes. Why are attractive women not thought to be able?An attractive woman is thought to be more feminine and an attractive man more masculine than the less attractive ones. Thus,an attractive woman has an advantage in traditionally female jobs,but an attractive woman in a traditionally masculine position appears to lack the "masculine" qualities required. This is true even in politics. "When the only clue is how he or she looks,people treat men and women differently,"says Anne Bowman,who recently published a study on the effects of attractiveness on political candidates. She asked 125 undergraduate students to rank two groups of photographs,one of men and one of women,in order of attractiveness. The students were told the photographs were of candidates for political offices. They were asked to rank them again,in the order they would vote for them. The results showed that attractive males utterly defeated unattractive men,but the women who had been ranked most attractive invariably received the fewest votes. The author writes this passage to _ . discuss the negative aspects of being attractive
Question: Today there are more fires than in the past . Over 100,000 wildfires burn each year in America . Russia has 20,000 to 35,000 wildfires and Australia has about 60,000 each year. These fires destroy huge areas of forests and burn hundreds of homes . Many experts believe there are several reasons for this sudden increase in fires. The first reason is climate change . In 2010, Russia had the hottest and driest summer with strong winds in a century. In just one month, 500 fires destroyed over 2,000 homes. Some people lost their lives . Traditional fire-fighting practices are another reason for the increase in fires. In America, firefighters used to quickly put out every fire as quickly as they could. They didn't allow the grass and trees to burn. As a result , today many forests have thicker vegetation which provides more fuel for fires . So surprisingly, America has many more fires today partly because of its past fire-fighting practices. Scientists now understand that a fire can be a natural part of a healthy forest. As a result, countries like Australia allow some fires to burn naturally. The fire makes old trees thinner. This allows sunlight to reach the ground. As a result, fires help new trees to grow. Therefore , if a fire is not a serious threat to people , firefighters may let it burn naturally . Russia had so many fires in one month in 2010 because _ . A. lightening spread the fire B. there was much fuel for fires C. there were not enough firefighters D. it was very hot , dry and windy Answer: D Question: The United States: Fliers may want to have their tickets in hand before catching their planes, but the airline companies are doing everything they can to bring forward cost-saving ticketless flight--no paper needed, just a ticket number and a photo ID. Anyone who buys a Northwest E-ticket through the airline's computer service by June 16 will get an award. Next time you fly, you can buy another ticket for a friend for $99, good anywhere in the US or Canada, along with the lowest ticket prices. Some airlines offer extra frequent-flier miles for the ticketless crowd. And there are rising punishments for paper lovers. American, Northwest, United, and US Airways have raised the cost for lost-ticket replacement to $70 from either $60 or $50. The airlines insist that the increase in price is not meant to push travelers toward E-tickets but only covers the increasing cost of replacing and tracking a missing ticket. To encourage people to take ticketless flights, the airlines _ . A. sell their tickets for $99 from June to the following year B. let travelers go to both the US and Canada with the same tickets C. allow each traveler to have an extra $99 ticket for a friend of theirs D. offer ticketless travelers free miles to fly in the US Answer: C Question: We recycle rubbish, so why not language? Recycling language means using vocabulary that you have learnt before again and again. However, unlike rubbish that piles up in our environment, if we do not recycle language, we simply forget it. So how do you recycle language? There are basically three ways to do it. The first is through reading. Go back to your favourite articles and read them once more. Just reread them and do not worry about each vocabulary item. If there are some that you are not sure about, make a guess and you will probably guess right. The second way to recycle is through writing. Look at some of your favourite articles and write either a short paragraph or a few sentences in your own words. After you have done this a few times, go back and read through what you have written, checking vocabulary functions. Don't worry if you have made mistakes. That's how you learn. The third way to recycle language is by having an imaginary chat with yourself about your favourite articles at home. You can pretend there is someone with you who speaks English and tell him what you are thinking about or how you feel. The second way to recycle language tells us to _ . A. rewrite our favourite articles. B. pay more attention to mistakes C. practise spoken English with someone D. pay no attention to vocabulary functions Answer: A Question: Teenagers at one German school are learning how to achieve happiness alongside subjects like maths and languages. The class sit in a circle with their eyes shut and count from one to ten: one begins, the next voice comes from the far right, a third from the other side. The aim is to listen for an opportunity to shout the number without clashing with another voice or leaving a pause. On the first try, most of the young Germans try to be first, while a few are too shy to join in. But by the fifth round, they develop a rhythm. The message: giving other people space but also confidently claiming your own space is a requirement for social well-being. While the game suggests a soft course for the less bright, the school says it is trying to make it affect even clever pupils. The Willy Hellpach School is the first in the nation to develop a happiness course, intended for 17-19-year-olds preparing for university-entrance exams. "The course isn't there to make you happy," Ernst Fritz-Schubert, the school principal, warned the pupils who were taking the course, "but rather to help you discover the ways to become happy." Cooking a meal together will be one of the class exercises, along with improving body language under the guidance of two professional actresses. "In the first period, we had to each say something positive about another member of the class and about ourselves. No laughing at people or teasing," said Fanny, 17. The message: self-esteem improves happiness too. The course is taught for three periods a week and will be graded as a part of overall assessment. Despite the happy subject, the pupils themselves insist it is no laughing matter. Max, 18, says he is happy when he finds people who share his interests. Janina, 18, says she needs to be fit to feel happy. "We want to show how proper food or exercise can help in becoming happy," the principal said. He hopes other schools in Germany will copy the idea. The school has attracted national interest since it announced its new course. Why is the happiness course compared with maths and languages? A. It has been developed as a school subject. B. It is more important than traditional courses. C. It is part of the research. D. It arouses the students' interest. Answer: A Question: WHERE TO STAY IN BOSWELL YOUR GUIDE TO OUR BEST HOTEL The number of the rooms in the best hotels in Boswell is _ . A. 120 B. 470 C. 450 D. 240 Answer: B
Question: What could be a conductor of energy? A. a nickel B. carrots C. wood D. cotton Answer: A. a nickel Question: You're rushing to get out of the door for a meeting, but you just can't seem to find your car keys. Or you've got tickets booked for a Caribbean cruise , but your passport disappeared. Or maybe you've just come back from a grocery store tour and realized...Hey, did I leave my baby in the checkout line? Ok, you've probably never gone to the extremes of our last example (we hope), but most of us experience slip - ups like these on a daily basis. No matter how smart you may be, it doesn't mean your brain won't turn to Swiss cheese every so often, and no amount of e-mail reminders can help you remember where you left your TV remote or lucky penny. But now, there is a new pair of eyeglasses that can help to find all those little things you know must be around somewhere : Let's call it Vision 2.0. The new glasses, which are being developed in a Japanese lab under the code name Smart Goggles,are similar to a Google search engine for your eyes. The high - tech glasses come with a camera that records everything you see on a daily basis, and boast built - in object recognition software that allows them to keep track of whatever comes across their field of vision. If you've got a collection of art sculptures that the camera can't recognize immediately, no problem : Just say the name of each item, and the glasses will memorize them right away. The Smart Goggles' superb tracking abilities mean that whenever you're looking for your keys, your overdue library book, or yes, even your baby, all you have to do is to say the word and the Goggles' camera will show you the last time your desired object appeared on screen, telling exactly where you'll be able to find it. Though the glasses are still too big for general use, the research team in Japan believes that they'll be able to make the modem glasses smaller to the size of normal glasses in the near future, making them the perfect new accessory for yourself or any other absent - minded Professor you know. With these intelligent designs, you'll never lose anything again. Except maybe your glasses. Which of the following statement is true about Smart Goggles? A. They're a search engine used on the Internet. B. They're a camera with recognition software. C. They're software used in computers. D. They're sunglasses protecting our eyes. Answer: B. They're a camera with recognition software. Question: Here's a story about a very interesting family. A young man once went into town and bought himself a pair of trousers. When he got home, he went upstairs to his bedroom and put them on. He found that they were about two inches too long. He came downstairs, where his mother and his two sisters were washing up tea things in the kitchen. "These new trousers are too long." He said. " They need shortening by about two inches. Would one of you mind doing this for me, please?" His mother and sisters were busy and they said nothing. But as soon as his mother had finished washing up, she went quietly upstairs to her son's bedroom and shortened the trousers by two inches. She came downstairs without saying anything to her daughters. Later on, after supper, the elder sister remembered her brother's trousers. She was a kind-hearted girl, so she went quietly upstairs without saying anything to anyone and shortened the trousers by two inches. The younger sister went to the cinema, but when she came back, she, too, remembered what her brother had said. So she ran upstairs and took two inches off the legs of the new trousers. The young man bought the new trousers _ his size. A. as long as B. two inches longer than C. as big as D. two inches shorter than Answer: B. two inches longer than Question: Agnes Miller was one of the earliest leaders of the Women's Liberation Movement in the United States. She was born on a farm in Missouri in 1892. Strangely enough she had a very happy life as a child. She was the only daughter and the youngest child of five. Her parents and her brothers always treated her as their favorite. In 1896 the family moved to Chicago. Three years later they moved back to St. Louis where Agnes spent the rest of her childhood. She enjoyed her years in school and was an excellent student of mathematics. She also was quite skillful as a painter. It was when Agnes went off to college that she first learned that women were not treated as equals. She didn't like being treated unequally but she tried not to notice it. After graduating from college she tried to get a job in her major field--physics. She soon found it was almost impossible for a woman. Agnes spent a full year looking for a job. Finally she gave up in anger. She began writing letters of anger to various newspapers. An editor in New York liked her ideas very much. He specially liked her style. He asked her to do a series of stories on the difficulties that women had in finding a job. And there she began her great fight for equal rights for women. What happened in Agnes's life when she was in college? A. She learned to accept the fact that men and women were unequal. B. She learned that it was impossible for a woman to be a scientist. C. She came to know of the inequality between men and women. D. She developed her personal way of writing. Answer: C. She came to know of the inequality between men and women. Question: More and more advertisements appear on the Web. You have to be careful not to be fooled or tricked by the advertisements on the Internet. Something is said to be a bargain,but it isn't always cheap. And some socalled new things just have a new outside. However,shopping online is a kind of fashionable thing today. I love to buy things of everyday use,so I often get lots of information about them on Websites online. For example,if I want an MP3,I can choose my favorite one,and look for what the users like or don't like about it,and then decide whether to buy or not. And at the same time,you don't have to go to a shop or walk around a crowded shopping area,so you don't have to waste much time. The Internet is really useful for shopping,but be careful not to spend too much. If you want to shop online, you should _ . A. spend too much B. always believe the advertisements C. never believe the advertisements D. be careful not to be fooled Answer: D. be careful not to be fooled
Hello! I'm Mark Smith. I'm an American boy. I'm 12 years old. This is my little sister, Ann . She is five. My family are in China now. Because my father and my mother work in China. They are English teachers. They work hard. The students all like them. Now I'm a middle school student. I have a friend at school. He's a Chinese boy. He's very good. His name is Huang Long. His English name is Bill. But I don't know his family name. Can you tell me? Where is Mark now? Answer: I arrived in the UK last weekend to learn English. So far I have already made a few friends and had some traditional English food there. But after having three days of hamburgers, sandwiches and potatoes, I thought none could be more delicious than Chinese food, especially my favorite --huo guo. You can't imagine how excited I was when I got to know that there was going to be a free meal of hotpot to welcome the new students. On the way to the canteen, I seemed to smell huo guo in the air. To my surprise, when I stepped into the room, I didn't see any sign of huo guo. Where was it? With many questions in my head, I sat down to have the free meal. After talking with an English girl, I got to know that Chinese huo guo is completely different from hotpot. Chinese huo guo is written in two words-hot pot; and hotpot, one word, is a traditional English dish. Hotpot is made from mutton and onion. On the top are pieces of potatoes. People put it in the oven all day in a heavy pot on a low heat. It takes very little effort to prepare. You can often see it at parties in the UK because it's easy to prepare for a large number of people and is not expensive. Hotpot doesn't taste bad. However, I still miss huo guo-hot pot, two words! The writer felt excited when she learnt she would _ . Answer: After lots of hype, the new iPhone 3GS has arrived, boasting an improved camera, better battery life, and speedier performance. But is it a must? The iPhone 3GS is available in two versions: 16GB and 32GB. The 16GB version costs $199, while the 32GB version costs $299. From the outside, the iPhone 3GS looks exactly like the iPhone 3G. Like the iPhone 3G, the new model comes in black and white versions, and sports a 3.5-inch touch screen. Most of the changes to the iPhone 3GS have been made on the inside. Apple says that battery life is better, but the biggest boost is in the iPhone's speed: The iPhone 3GS runs twice as fast as the iPhone 3G. Instead of a lot of software installed on it, the iPhone 3GS comes with the most recent version of the iPhone Software --version 3.0- installed, but it does come with easy access to Apple's App Store. The speedier performance of the iPhone 3GS extends to surfing the Web, too. You can see entire Web pages, and can zoom in and out with ease. The notable new messaging feature on the iPhone 3GS is support for MMS. You can send pictures and videos by SMS, rather than having to send them via e-mail. Other new and very-handy e-mail features include the ability to search through your e-mail messages and contacts, as well as the option to use a landscape-oriented keyboard when composing messages. The camera has been upgraded from 2 megapixels to 3 megapxiels, and adds auto-focus. If you already own an iPhone 3G, the iPhone 3GS may not be worth the additional cost, since you can get many of its cool features for free with the iPhone 3.0 software upgrade. But if you've been using an older iPhone or smart phone, or are new to the smart phone world, the iPhone 3GS will amaze you with its speed and plentiful features. According to the text, what is the notable advantage 3GS has in messaging? Answer: Plants are unable to grow without soil because soil is where the plants get their Answer: It's important to do this if you want your lab experiment to be performed correctly. Answer:
prefix = st1 /China Coal mines claim more lives. A COAl mine blast in Jixi, Heilongjiang, left more than 100 miners dead on Thursday. Ten mines in Jixiwere ordered to stop production. The government has tried to shut down thousands of small, illegal mines in the country that do not meet safety standards. MIDDLE EAST Bombers continue to kill. PALESTINISANS killed 32 Israeli in three major attacks between Tuesday and Thursday. There were two suicide bombings and a militant attack on a Jewish settlement. They yielded one of the highest Israeli death tolls in such a short period over the last two years. CHINA Young people stand tall. THE average height of Chinese young people has risen by 6 centimeters compared to that of 20 years ago. This far exceeds the word's average growth speed. A survey on health conducted by a panel of Chinese students found the results. According to the world average level, youths get taller by 1 cm every 10 years. CANADA Talking about world issues. The Group if Eight(G8)--the US, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Canada and Russia - will hold a summit on June 26 and 27 in Kananaskis, Canada. The G8 are the richest and most powerful countries in the world. G8 leaders and some African presidents will discuss strengthening global economic growth and helping Africa. United Nations Secretary - General, will also attend. Thousands of mines have been shut because_. Answer: they don't meet the safety standards Chris Jones recently finished a very unusual journey. Our reporter Mary Owen met him at his home in south prefix = st1 /Londonand he told her all about the trip. Reporter: What gave you the idea to travel around Indiaon an elephant, Chris? Chris: Well, it all started 2 years ago when I was planning a trip to India. I visited a photographic exhibition of elephants and I realized that the only way to travel is on an elephant. Reporter: What did you do next? Chris: I flew to New Delhiand started looking for an elephant. I needed an elephant trained to carry people. I didn't know anything about elephants, so I asked an expert for help. He taught me how to ride an elephant. He also helped me find an elephant. Reporter: Can you tell me about the journey? Chris: Well. I bought a female elephant called Tara for about $ 6000. We set off from New Delhia week later. We were heading to Sonepur in northernIndiawhere there is a big elephant market and I could sell Tara easily. And what a ride! Elephants can travel at about 6 miles an hour and Sonepur was more than 1,200 kim away. The journey took us 64 days! Reporter: Did you have any problems on your journey? Chris: Yes, a few. But nothing serious. On the third day, Tara hurt her foot. But that got better quickly. Also there was a log of heavy rain during the first week and we got very wet! Reporter: What happened when you reached Sonepur? Chris: My plan was to sell Tara. But by now I was very fond of her. I couldn't take her back to Britainand I didn't want to sell her at the market. By chance,I met some people who wanted an elephant for their national park. I knew that Tara would be safe with them, so I gave her to them. I was very sad to say goodbye. Chris got the idea to travel around Indiaon an elephant from _ . Answer: some photos of elephants Many teenagers feel that the most important people in their lives are their friends. They believe that their family members don't know them as well as their friends do. In large families, it is quite often for brothers and sisters to fight with each other and then they will go to their friends for some ideas. It is very important for teenagers to have one good friend or a group of friends. Even when they are not with their friends, they usually spend a lot of time talking to them on the phone. This communication is very important in children's growing up, because friends can discuss special things. These things are difficult to say to their family members. However, parents often try to choose friends for their children. Some parents may even stop their children from meeting their friends. Have you ever thought of the following questions? Who choose your friends? Do you choose your friends or your friends choose you? Have you got a good friend your parents don't like? Your answers are welcome? When teenagers have something difficult to say, they usually _ . Answer: discuss it with their friends US President Barack Obama is asking Democrats and Republicans in Congress to work together on efforts to create jobs. The president hosted a meeting with top lawmakers from both parties at the White House on Tuesday. President Obama says Republicans and Democrats can work together to improve the economy, even though they disagree on many issues. "And although the parties are not going to agree on every single item, there should be some areas where we can agree." He said. With the US unemployment rate at 9.7 percent, President Obama hopes Congress will agree to incentives for small business to add workers. "A good place to start, and what I hope to spend a lot of time on these discussions today is how we can move forward on the job issue." President Obama said. Mr. Obama also said he hoped for an agreement on ways to reduce the US debt and budget deficit, which are at record highs. He met with House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the top House Republican, House Minority Leader John Boehner, as well as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other lawmakers. The president said he looked forward to having more such meetings in the future. "My hope is that this is not going to be a rare situation," he said. "And I'm very thankful that everybody here has taken the time to come. I'm confident that if we keep in mind what's best for the American people, we should be able to achieve a lot." Mr. Obama's approval ratings average just below 50 percent in recent polls, down sharply from this time last year. Approval ratings for Congress are much lower, averaging just over 22 percent. Compared with last year, we can infer that _ . Answer: Barack Obama is much less popular with the American public. Forty-two of the fifty American states offered some kind of public online learning this past school year.One state,Michigan,now requires all students to have an online learning experience before they finish high school.Even the idea of a school has changed since the rise ofthe Internet in the 1990s. A new report from the Center for Evaluation and Education Policy at Indiana University says eighteen states have full-time virtual schools.There are no buildings.All classes are online. Florida started the first statewide public virtual school in the United States in 1997.Today,the Florida Virtual School offers more man ninety courses.56,000 students were enrolled as of December.Almost sixty percent were female.The school's website says each student was enrolled in an average of two classes. Florida Virtual School has now opened the Florida Virtual Global School.Students in other countries pay for classes.Janet Heiking teaches an English class.She lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.Her students live as far away as Africa and Japan.She says they are taking her Advanced Placement class to prepare for attending an American college.They can earn college credits by passing the AP test. So how good are virtual schools? Studies have shown mixed results, as a new report from Indiana University notes.For example, students at Florida Virtual School earned higher grades than those taking the same courses the traditional way.And they scored higher on a statewide test.But virtual school students in Kansas and Colorado had lower test scores or performed at a lower level than traditional learners.Studies also find that virtual schools may not save much in operating costs. Education experts say the mixed results suggest the need for more research to find the best ways to teach in virtual schools.A1so, they say schools of education need to train more teachers to work in both real and virtual classrooms. Florida Virtual School is open to _ . Answer: students across the world
Baron Pierre de Coubertin was a Frenchman. At his time sports were not taught in French schools. De Coubertin believed that sports should go hand in hand with studies. He had an idea. His idea was to begin the Olympics all over again. Sports teachers of other countries liked de Coubertion's ideas. So in 1896, the modern Olympic Games were held in Athens , Greece. Since then the Olympics have been held once every four years, except three times, when there were wars. Before the start of the Olympic Games, runners carry lighted torch through many nations towards the stadium where the games will be held. These sportsmen are from different countries. Yet they work together to carry the Olympic torch. It is passed from runner to runner. When the last runner enters the stadium, he or she places the torch in a special basin filled with oil. It catches fire. It is then, only then, that the Olympic Games can begin. The Olympic flame burns throughout the games. It is the flame of peace. According to this passage, the third modern Olympic Games should have been held in_. Answer: 1904 We all love our children and we all know how competitive the world is these days. What's it going to be like when our children leave school? Will they have the skills they need to stay ahead of the competition? All children need two basic skills to succeed. They must be able to read and they must be able to write. And with so much information available to them these days, they must be able to read quickly and accurately. That's why your children need to be able to speed-read. It'sironic that at this time of space-age technology, we've gone back to one of the earliest forms of mass communication--the written word. The Internet has introduced arevival of writing, and if you can't keep up, you'll be left behind. You certainly don't want your children to be left behind. You can help to make sure that your children are excellent writers--you can help them to learn how to use their language. Better still, you can learn with them! You and your children can spend time together in a worthwhilepursuit --learning how to write. Forget the theme parks, the computer games, the expensive movies and interesting sports. If you want your children to have treasured memories of time spent with you, learn together. For less than you would pay for tickets to a theme park, you can invest in your children's future--help them learn to write well with my six-part writing course. Don't stand by while your child is left further and further behind. What's the advantage of children's learning together with their parents? Answer: They will have good memories of time spent with parents. At least once a month one of my little kind kids and I try to have a father and daughter date night. Last night we were out for diner together after doing some fun things. We talked about some of her kind activities she did at school for their 100 Acts of Kindness challenge her class had. It was great to listen to the little things she and her classmates did to spread kindness. Many times on our date night we try to do an act of our own, as she is often my sidekick on our kindness adventures. My later smile card is one about anonymously buying a stranger's meal so I asked Rachel if we should find someone in the restaurant and buy their dinner. She loved the idea so we chose an older couple sitting behind us. I had a few Smile Cards on me (as always!) so we separately told our server our plan. He was new and wasn't sure how to do it but said he would go and find out. When he dropped off the checks, she smiled at us and told us he would give them the Smile Cards and that the world needed more people like us. Rachel got the biggest smile on her face when he said that to her and I love that he helped remind her that kindness matters. My daughter normally likes to stay and watch the reactions of our kindness "victims" but we had to get going. When we got home she was so excited to tell her Mom about what we did. My wife told Rachel how nice that was and how it would spread many smiles with the server, his manager, the couple and anyone else they told about the experience. We love any ripple of kindness we can send out into the world and I'm sure we made the couple smile with that one last night! What's the main idea of the passage? Answer: Spreading Smiles on a Father-Daughter Date Night MIT ( Massachusetts Institute of Technology) is a world-class university mainly in math, science and technology, but you may be surprised to learn that MIT sets arts courses. MIT believe in the passion of learning, the value of working and teaching methods. MIT's teaching power is quite strong. There are eight Nobel winners and many other national and international winners in the teacher group of MIT. MIT is proud of these top scholars and thinkers. The ratio of teachers and students in MIT is about 1 to 7.5. About 63 percent of the classes have fewer than 20 students each. Only 4 percent of the classes have more than 100 students each. Most MIT students can learn courses that they like. The students in MIT have many activities when they finish their lessons, for example: Student Life And Culture Student Organizations Music & The Arts @ MIT Athletics Most students in famous universities feel serious pressure both in life and study. In MIT the students have the same pressure which encourages them to have to study hard. But MIT usually gives one year for the new students to adjust to the transition (;). In their first term all the new students are graded by a test. In this test if he or she receives a C or the level better than C, his or her result will be kept forever. If she or he receives a D or an F, no record will be kept. What's the policy for the new students in MIT? Answer: They are given a chance to get used to the study style in MIT. 1970 was "World Conservation Year". The United Nations wanted everyone to know that the world was in danger. They hoped that the governments would act quickly in order to conserve nature. Here is one example of the problem. At one time there were 1300 different plants, trees and flowers in Holland, but now only 860 remain. The others have been destroyed by modern man and his technology. We are changing the earth, the air and the water, and everything that grows and lives. We can't live without these things. If we continue like this, we shall destroy ourselves. What will happen in the future? Perhaps it is more important to ask "What must we do now?" The people who will be living in the world of tomorrow are the young of today. A lot of them know that conservation is necessary. Many are hoping to save our world. They plant trees, build bridges across rivers in forests and so on. In a small town in the United States a large group of girls cleaned the banks of eleven kilometres of their river. Young people may hear about conservation through a record called "No, One's Going to Change our World. " It was made by Scatles, Cliff Richard and other singers. The money from it will help to conserve wild animals. There are few plants, trees and flowers in Holland now because _ . Answer: many plants, trees and flowers don't grow there any more
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and other big cities are exciting places to live. There are many interesting things to see and to do. You can go to different kinds of museums, plays and movies. You can also go to supermarkets to buy things from all over the world. But there are serious problems in big cities, too. The cost of living is high, and there are too many people in some big cities. Every year many people move to the cities because there are more chances to find jobs, to study at good schools, and to receive good medical care. But sometimes these people cannot find work or a good place to live. Also, too many people in a small space make it hard to keep the cities safe and clean. Some people enjoy living in big cities. Others do not. Before people move to big cities, they should think about the problems of living there. According to the passage, big cities _ are not always clean and safe enough In a few years,you might be able to speak Chinese,Korean,Japanese,French,and English-and all at the same time. This sounds incredible,but Alex Waibel,a computer science professor at US's Car-negie Mellon University (CMU) and Germany's University of Karlsruhe,announced last week that it may soon be reality. He and his team have invented software and hardware that could make it far easier for people who speak different languages to understand each other. One application,called Lecture Translation,can easily translate a speech from one language into an-other. Current translation technologies typically limit speakers to certain topics or a limited vocabulary. Us-ers also have to be trained how to use the programme. Another machine can send translations of a speech to different listeners depending on what languagethey speak. "It is like having a s _ translator right next to you but without disturbing the person next to you,"Waibel said Prefer to read? So- called Translation Glasses transcribe the translations on a tiny liquid-crystal display(LCD) screen. Then there's the Muscle Translator. Electrodes capture the electrical signals from facial muscle movements made naturally when a person is mouthing words. The signals are then translated into speech.The electrodes could be replaced with wireless chips implanted in a person's face,according to research-ers. During a demonstration held last Thursday in CMU's Pittsburgh campus,a Chinese student named Sang Jun had 11 tiny electrodes attached to the muscles of his cheeks,neck and throat. Then he mouthed-without speaking aloud- a few words in Mandarin to the audience. A few seconds later,the phrase was displayed on a computer screen and spoken out by the computer in English and Spanish: "Let me introduce our new prototype." This particular instrument,when fully developed,might allow anyone to speak in any number of lan-guages or,as Waibel put it,"to switch your mouth to a foreign language". "The idea behind the universi-ty's prototypes is to create'good enough' bridges for cross- cultural exchanges that are becoming more common in the world,"Waibel said. With spontaneous translators,foreign drivers in Germany could listen to traffic warnings on the radio; tourists in China could read all the signs and talk with local people;leaders of different coun-tries could have secret talks without any interpreters there. What can't be learned from the text? Muscle Translators can translate what you think into speech if you just move your mouth. Madame de Stael says that only the people who can play with children are able to educate them. For success in training children, the first condition is to become a child oneself. It means to treat the child as really one's equal, that is, to show him the same consideration, the same kind of confidence one shows to an adult. It means not to affect the child to be what we ourselves want him to become, but to be affected by the impression of what the child himself is; not to treat the child with cheating, or by force, but with the seriousness and true love suitable to his own character. Not leaving the child in peace is the greatest problem of present methods of training children. Parents do not see that during the whole life, the need of peace is never greater than in the years of childhood, an inner peace under all outside liveliness. But what does a child experience? Corrections, orders, interference , the whole livelong day. The child is always required to leave something alone, or to do something different, to find something different, or want something different from what he does, or finds, or wants. He is always guided in another direction from the true inner will that is leading him. All of this is caused by our so-called enthusiasm in directing, advising, and helping the child to become the same model produced in one assembly line . Understanding, the deepest characteristic of love, is almost always absent. To bring up a child means carrying one's soul in one's hand; it means never placing ourselves in danger of meeting the cold look on the face of the child. It means the truth that the ways of injuring the child are limitless while the ways of being useful to him are few. How seldom does the educator remember that the child, even at four or five years of age, has already had a sharp feeling! The smallest mistrust and unkindness, the least act of injustice, leave wounds that last for life in the heart of the child. While, on the other hand, unexpected friendliness and kindness make quite as deep an impression on those soft senses. We may conclude that the author believes people should _ . regard their children as an equal to them and have understanding of the inner peace of them It's getting hotter and hotter outside. Summer is already here! Summer means high temperature, more outdoor activities and all kinds of fruit and vegetables. How can we stay fit in this exciting season? Here are some good suggestions: Eat and drink properly What is healthy to eat in summer? Fresh and light food. Fish can be a good choice. It can keep your body energetic and help fight against the burning sun. Another good choice is colorful fruit and vegetables.They not only _ our eyes, but are full of healthy chemicals ( ) .Tomatoes can help protect your skin against sunburn. Blueberries are good for your brain and eyes. The more color,the better! With all those summertime activities you will be thirsty. What to drink ? Water. Water has zero calories ( ) and is the perfect drink to stop your thirst ( ) . Try not to drink too many energy drinks, sports drinks and soda drinks which have lots of sugar and caffeine ( ) in them. Stay active and cool Summer is a great season to enjoy outdoor activities and play. It s also a goodtime to lose weight. If you are lucky enough to be near a body of water, try water sports like swimming, surfing, water skiing and so on. These sports keep you cool and active at the same time. You'll have no problem beating the heat and keeping fit as well. Be careful of the sunshine. Summer allows us more chances to get outside, but it also means more possibilities to get burnt by the sunshine. If you are going outside, keep away from the sun when it's the strongest--usually between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. If you have to stay in the sun for a long time, sun cream ( ) ,a big hat and a long - sleeve jacket will be necessary. The following things can help fight against the burning sun EXCEPT _ . sports drinks Spending just a few hours a week online may make people feel more socially isolated , lonely and downhearted , according to a two-year study of nearly 100 families with the Internet. "We were surprised to find that social technology has such bad effects on social communications," the lead author, Dr. Robert Kraut of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, said in a statement to the news. The findings suggest that "Rather than encourage students to use the Internet alone for research, teachers might give pupils online group homework to complete with classmates. Local groups might build websites that allow neighbors to discuss local affairs ." "Before the technology develops and can be really more _ , people shouldcontrol their wishes to use much of the Internet," Dr. Kraut and other experts advise. In order to control their children and encourage family activities, parents might think of putting the computer in the living room rather than in a child's room, they suggest. Dr. Kraut also suggests that when surfing on the net, especially when chatting with strangers on the net, children should not use their real names, and that they should not tell the addresses, telephone numbers to the strangers. According to the research, surfing on the Internet can make people feel more . lonely
Question: Health is important for us.But how can we keep healthy?First,you should eat vegetables and fruit four or five times a week.Then you should eat some tofu products every day because they are good for people,both the young and the old.Milk is also necessary, _ for women.So you should have milk twice a day.It can help you to be healthy.Next,doing morning exercises is better.You can do morning exercises or evening exercises.After dinner,you should take a walk. Tofu products are good for _ . A. young people B. old people C. the young and the old D. only students Answer: C Question: I WAS BORN and raised in the shadow of the Capitol, in prefix = st1 /Washington,D.C., as were my parents and my mother's parents. Our row house was on a tree-lined street just blocks from the building that was the heart of the federal legislative branch. When I was a child, in the 1940s, friends and I would pack a lunch or ride a streetcar to the Capitol. If we roller-skated, we hid the skates in the bushes in the park across the street before entering the building. I knew every corner of the Capitol. We'd play hide-and-seek and pretend we saw ghosts in the halls and stairways. I don't know how we got away with it.I remember the beautiful ladies' rooms, with their marble floors and sinks. I pretended that I was a fine lady in them. In those days, you could walk around the Capitol dome , which was a little scary for me. I loved the wonderful paintings and statues and the subway rides to the SenateOfficeBuilding. It was like an amusement ride. I even used to sit in the gallery of the U.S. House of Representatives--until I became bored with all the talk and went on another adventure. Whenever I ran up the steps to the huge bronze doors of the Rotunda, I would look back to the world below like a hero. As soon as the doors were opened, the sense of history surrounded me, and I knew it was someplace special. Those were lucky days, when an American citizen could wander in the Capitol and be a part of history. Once war was declared, some things changed in the nation's capital. Because of concerns that Washington might be attacked, as Londonhad been, everyone prepared. Kids at my elementary school wore dog tags, and each of us was fingerprinted. My father, a pipe worker, became a civil defense warden . During an air raid, his job was to turn off any leaking gas. Since he always had a cigarette in his mouth, maybe that was not a good choice, but he had a gas mask and flashlight hanging in the rafters of our basement...the mask looked like a monster in the ceiling. My 15-year-old brother was a junior civil defense warden. During air- raid drills, he knocked on doors and asked people to put out their lights. I remember huge searchlights that crisscrossed the skies during the drills, looking for enemy planes. By telling the childhood experience, the passage suggests that _ . A. the writer is a daughter of a member of Representatives. B. the Capitol used to be open to the public in history. C. London was attacked during the war, as well as Washington. D. the writer's father and brother joined the army during the war. Answer: B Question: Jane 09:45:10 Hi, Jim. Nice to meet you! I'm a girl. My name is Jane Green. My favorite color is red. I have a red bike. My bike number is 67582. My telephone number is 873-3516. Jim 09:46:05 Hi, Jane . Nice to meet you, too! I'm a boy. My name's Jim Hand. My favorite color is blue. I have a blue car. My car number is ZA9Z78. And my telephone number is 894-2015. The two kids are on line _ . A. in the morning B. in the afternoon C. in the evening D. at night Answer: A Question: Interest in pursuing international careers has risen in recent years strengthened by permanent personnel shortages that are causing companies to search beyond their home borders for talent. Professionals seek career experience outside of their home countries for a variety of reasons. They may feel the need to recharge their batteries with a new challenge. They may want a position with more responsibility that encourages creativity. Or they may wish to expose their children to another culture, and the opportunity to learn a second language. When applying for a job, one usually has to submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV). The two terms generally mean the same thing: a one--or two--page document describing one's educational qualifications and professional experience. However, guidelines for preparing a resume are constantly changing. The best advice is to find out what is appropriate regarding the company culture, the country culture, and the culture of the person making the hiring decision. The challenge will be to include two or more cultures in one document. The following list is a good place to start. "Educational requirements differ from country to country. In almost every case of 'cross--border' job hunting, just stating the title of your degree will not be an adequate description. Provide the reader with details about your studies and any related experience. " Pay attention to the resume format you use-chronological or reverse-chronological order. Chronological order means listing your 'oldest' work experience first. Reverse-chronological order means listing your current or most recent experience first. Most countries have preferences about which format is most acceptable. If you find no specific guidelines, the general preference is for the reverse-chronological format. " If you are submitting your resume in English, find out if the receiver uses British English or American English because there are changes between the two versions. For example, university education is often referred to as 'tertiary education' in the United Kingdom, but this term is almost never used in the United States. A reader who is unfamiliar with these changes may assume that your resume contains errors. According to the author's last piece of advice, the applicants should be aware of _ . A. the different educational systems in the US and the UK B. the differences between the changes of English C. the receiver's preference with regard to the format D. the special characteristics of American and British cultures Answer: B Question: In 11 states across the United States, school buses are now doing more than just sending students. They also carry advertisements on the outside. Restaurants, companies, banks, and other businesses pay for the ads, hoping to attract more customers. Anci it's a way for the schools to make money. "We've seen a lot of income produced by the advertisements," said Devra Ash, who is the spokesperson for School District 11 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She is also the mother of a third grader. Last year, District 11 made more than $ 15,000 from school-bus ads.Besides Colorado, states such as Arizona, New Jersey, and Texas allow ads on the outside of their school buses. The idea appears to be spreading. In Georgia, some school district leaders are suggesting putting ads on their buses ioo. School districts need to make sure that the ads are proper for kids, according to Michael Beauchamp, an officer of Alpha Media. This company works with businesses in several states to create ads for school buses. "The districts won't allow ads for things like beer, cigarettes,or politics," Beauchamp said. But not everyone is in favor of school buse.s having ads on the outside. That includes Georgia's Department of Education. Spokeswoman Dorie Nolt said, "We strongly believe that advertising on the outside of school buses distracts drivers and children. " Parents also hold different opinions about this. "If the advertisements can bring in money for the schools and help save some programs, that is great. " said Glenn Herdling of River Vale, New Jersey. His son is in second grade. Cindy Tomarchio of East Windsor, New Jersey, feels differently. "I know the schools can use the money, but kids already see enough advertising every which way they turn," she said. Why are advertisements put on the outside of the school buses:l A. To draw the attention of the public. B. To make some income for schools. C. To win the support of other organizations. D. To make students learn about advertisements. Answer: B
Question: The average temperature around the world is rising. People living in the US Midwest might find this fact hard to believe, though. Two new studies show that in America's heartland, summers are now cooler and wetter than they were in years past. The scientists suggest that the change in the Midwest climate may have happened because of farming. The first study was led by David Changnon, a climatologist at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. A climatologist studies the climate of an area, which includes measuring rainfall, temperature and wind. Climatologists want to know how these factors have changed in the past, and how they'll change in the future. Changnon and his team studied temperature records from Chicago and 13 other sites in the Midwest. "These two changes--lower temperatures and more rainfall--may be connected by humidity," Changnon says. Humidity is the measure of how much moisture is in the air. Humid air, which contains a lot of moisture, takes longer to heat up than dry air. So where did the extra _ in the air come from? Changnon points to farms in the region. As plants grow, they pull moisture from the ground and release it into the air. And among plants, soybean and corn plants release a lot of moisture. Midwestern farms now plant more soybeans and corn than in the past, with 97 percent of farmland today planted with these two crops. He also notes that the plants are planted closer together now than they used to be, so there are more plants per acre than in the past. The second study was led by famous scientists from the US. The researchers studied a vast area of the United States that stretches from South DaKota to Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle. They found that in 1930, farmers in that region irrigated only about 1.8 million acres of farmland, an amount roughly half the size of Connecticut. In 1980, however, farmers irrigated nearly 15 million acres--more land than Vermont and New Hampshire combined. According to the passage, which factors will you refer to if you want to study the climate of an area? A. Sunlight and rainfall. B. Rainfall and longitude. C. Rainfall and altitude. D. Rainfall and wind. Answer: D. Rainfall and wind. Question: Googlefight is a simple service available on the Internet which offers you the chance to compare two different items and see how many hits they get on the Google search engine. The seemingly simple device has proved invaluable to users, especially to help win arguments. For example, imagine that you and your friends are arguing about who are the most popular music or movie stars, you can decide the argument by writing the names in the Googlefight boxes. Let's say that you are arguing about Jackie Chan and Jet Li. You will quickly discover that Jet Li is mentioned 16 million times on Google pages, whereas Jackie Chan is mentioned a mere 12 million times! In this unscientific way, you can claim victory for one Star over another. But teachers have come up with ways of using Googlefight which are much more useful from an academic point of view, particularly when it comes to studying languages. You can, for example, find out the frequency of two words with the same meaning, and deduce from the answers which one is more common. For example, let's take the words "buy" and "purchase", which mean the same thing (although "buy" is only a verb and "purchase" is both a verb and a noun). It is immediately clear from Googlefight that "buy" is much more commonly used, with a massive three and a half billion hits, compared to only one billion occurrences for the more formal word. But the real value of Googlefight to the language learner is in determining which is the more common of two phrases. For example, "raining cats and dogs" is an old-fashioned English expression about the weather. Do English speakers still use it? Or are they more likely to say "pouring down"? Googlefight suggests the latter. "Pouring down" has 898,000 Google hits, whereas "raining cats and dogs" only has 326,000. With phrases, it's important to remember that you need to use quote marks to make the search more accurate. For example, if you type in the similar phrases "look after" and "take care of " without quote marks, the second phrase seems to be more common, but with quote marks, the result is reversed. What must you remember to do if you are checking phrases by Googlefight? A. Make sure they mean be same thing. B. Make sure they are different. C. Remember to put quote marks round the phrase. D. Don't put quote marks round the phrase. Answer: C. Remember to put quote marks round the phrase. Question: You have heard of Webster Toys. Websters have made good safe and interesting toys for more than a hundred years. Now we sell them, and children play with them, in countries from New Zealand to Norway , and from Japan to Brazil . We are looking for someone to sell our toys in the Far East. He(She) will be between the ages of thirty and forty. He will already have some years of selling in world markets behind him. He will speak good English and at least one other language of the Far East. The person we are looking for will live in Singapore, and work in our office there but he will travel for up to six months in other countries in one year. He will know the Far East well. He should know how to sell in established markets and where to find new ones. He will know to make more money than ever, for himself and for Webster Toys. Websters want someone who can stand on his own feet. If you think you are the person we are looking for, write to Mr.J.Sloman at our office. Webster Toys Company Church Mill Watford. . What are Webster Toys? A. An old kind of toys. B. Factories where good, safe and interesting toys are made. C. People who are famous for making toys for children. D. A company that has been making and selling toys. Answer: A. An old kind of toys. Question: New York, 10 November -- 5:27 pm, yesterday. Biggest power failure in the city's history. * Thousands of people got stuck in lifts. Martin Saltzman spent three hours between the 21st and 22nd floors of the Empire State Building. "There were twelve of us. But no one panicked. We passed the time telling stories and playing word games. One man wanted to smoke but we didn't let him. Firemen finally got us out." * "It was the best night we've ever had," said Angela Carraro, who runs an Italian restaurant on 42nd Street. "We had lots of candles on the tables and the waiters were carrying candles on their trays. The place was full -- and all night, in fact, for after we had closed, we let the people stay on and spend the night here." * The zoos had their problems like everyone else. Keepers worked through the night. They used blankets to keep flying squirrels and small monkeys warm. While zoos had problem keeping warm, supermarkets had problems keeping cool. "All of our ice cream and frozen foods melted," said the manager of a store in downtown Manhattan. "They were worth $ 50,000." * The big electric clock in the lobby of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in downtown Manhattan started ticking again at 5:25 this morning. It was almost on time. How long did the power failure last? A. Nearly 12 hours. B. More than 12 hours. C. Nearly 24 hours. D. More than 24 hours. Answer: A. Nearly 12 hours. Question: My father has a great sports collection .he love sports very much. And he loves all balls. he likes playing basketball and volleyball. And he likes playing baseball and tennis. he also likes watching ball games. how many balls does he have? He has 15 basketballs,12 baseballs ,10 tennis bats.8 volleyballs and 14 baseball bats. and many other balls. He likes playing _ and A. volleyball, baseball. B. soccer baseball C. ping-pong baseball. D. soccer ping--pong Answer: A. volleyball, baseball.
Hundreds of years ago, life was much harder than it is today. People didn't have modern machines. Life today has brought new problems. One of the biggest is pollution. Water pollution has made our rivers and lakes dirty. It kills our fish and pollutes our drinking water. Noise pollution makes us talk louder and become angry more easily. Air pollution is the most serious kind of pollution. It's bad to all living things in the world. Polluted air from cars, planes and factories is so thick that it is like a quilt over a city. This kind of quilt is called smog . Many countries are making rules to fight pollution. Factories must now clean their water before it is thrown away. And they mustn't blow dirty smoke into the air. We need to do many other things. We can put waste things in the dustbin and not throw it on the ground. We can go to work by bus or with our friends in the same car. If there are fewer people driving, there will be less pollution. Factories must clean their water _ . A. before they use it B. when they use it C. before it is thrown away D. whenever they use it Answer: C Every year there is a Spring Festival in China. Usually it is in January or February. It is the most important festival in China. So before it comes, everyone has to prepare things. They buy pork, beef, chicken, fruits and many other things. And they often make a special kind of food--"dumplings". It means "come together". On the day before the festival, parents buy new clothes for their children. Children also buy presents for their parents. On the Spring Festival Eve , all the family members come back to their hometown. This is a happy moment. Some sing and dance, some play cards and others get the dinner ready. When they enjoy the meal, they give each other the best wishes for the coming year. They all have a good time. ,,. (5 ,2,10) When is the Chinese Spring Festival usually celebrated ? A. In March or April. B. In May or June. C. In January. D. In January or February Answer: D The panda is one of the animals most in danger. There are about 1,000 pandas living in nature reserves today. Zoos and research centers look after about 160 pandas. Scientists are studying how they live and more baby pandas are born in the zoos. Pandas live in the forests and mountains of Southwest China. They mainly live on bamboo, and each panda needs to eat a lot of bamboo every day. The area of bamboo is becoming smaller for many different reasons, so pandas have less and less land to live on. Pandas don't have many babies, and baby pandas often die. The situation is becoming very serious. Our government is working hard to save pandas. There are more than 30 nature reserves to protect pandas but these are not enough. The government has made a new plan to help pandas. The nature reserves will be bigger and the bamboo will grow better. Then the pandas will have enough food to eat and enough places to live in. Pandas born in the zoos may go back to live in the nature reserves. Most people love pandas. The panda is one of the best-known animals in the world. It is the symbol for the World Wide Fund for Nature. The WWF works to protect all animals in danger, so the panda has become the symbol of all animals in danger. There is still a long way to go to save the panda. Think of other animals in danger such as tigers ,whales, turtles and elephant--we need to save the panda, and we need to save them, too. The government is trying _ to help the pandas. A. to build more zoos B. to send more scientists C. to make bigger nature reserves D. to ask the WWF to work in China. Answer: C Penn sued Duke's Bar for injuries suffered in an automobile accident caused by Chase, who had been a patron of Duke's Bar. Penn claimed that Chase was permitted to drink too much liquor at Duke's Bar before the accidentDuke's Bar called Chase to testify and expected him to say that he was sober when he left Duke's Bar; however, on direct examination Chase testified that he may have had a little too much to drink at Duke's Bar. Duke's Bar now seeks to confront Chase with his statement made on deposition that he was sober when he left Duke's Bar. Which of the following is true concerning this statement? A. It may be used only to refresh Chase's recollection. B. It is admissible for impeachment and as substantive evidence that Chase was sober. C. It is inadmissible, because Duke's Bar cannot impeach its own witness. D. It is inadmissible, because it is hearsay, not within any exception Answer: B "Grandma, Grandma, tell us a story ! "Four darling children sat by my feet, looking up at me expectantly. Suddenly, we were interrupted clapping."Terrific, " the director said, stepping up the stage from the aisle ."Except, could you kids face the audience a bit more? " The kids shifted to face the empty seats, which would be filled in a few days for the church play."Perfect," the director said. "Now, Grandma, read to your grandchildren." hit me. If' only I could read to my real grandchild! I had a granddaughter, but I'd never met her. Sixteen years earlier my son was involved in a relationship that ended badly. But out of' it came a blessing: a baby girl named Lena. I hoped to be a grandmother to her-but shortly after the birth, the mother moved without any address left. Over the years, I asked around town to try and find my son's ex-wife ,but it seemed that she didn't want to be found. I'd just joined this new church a week earlier and was at once offered the part of Grandma in the play. At least now I could pretend to be a grandma. The rehearsals went well, and finally the day of' the show arrived. The performance was great. "You all looked so natural up there, "one of' my friends said. Afterward, we went to the church basement for refreshments .I walked over to one of the girls in the play. Rehearsals had been such a whirlwind that we never really got to talk. "How's my granddaughter? " I joked. "Fine !" she answered. Just then, someone else walked up and asked the girl her name. I wasn't sure I heard the girl's answer correctly. But it made me ask her another question."What's your mother's name? " She told me, I was still in shock."And what's your father's name? "I asked. She told me.It was my son. She'd only started going to that church a week before I did. Since that day of 'the play, we've stayed close. Not long ago, she even made me a great grandma. Why did the author feel "a pang of' sadness" at the words of' the director'? A. The director's words reminded her of 'her lost granddaughter. B. The director's words hurt her so badly. C. She wished that she had a real grandchild. D. The director wasn't content with her performance. Answer: A
Gina's sister lives in England. She knows something about China on TV. But she wants to know more. So she is looking forward to visiting China. She will have a holiday next week. She is going to visit Beijing because she likes Chinese culture. She is going there by plane and then stay in a hotel. In Beijing she is going to do sightseeing, and visit the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace and walk up the Great Wall. Gina's sister also likes animals. She likes Chinese pandas very much. So she is going to visit Beijing Zoo to see the pandas there and take some photos of them. On the last day in Beijing she is going shopping. She wants to buy Gina a present. She knows that Gina likes Chinese silk and Chinese paintings. Gina's sister is going to _ to China. Answer: This is the VOA Special English News Report. Single - handed Zhou Yang, 18, China Against three strong Republic of Korea competitors, Zhou single - handed took the 1,500 - meter short speed skating gold to become Chinas' youngest winter Olympics gold medallist. According to coach Li Yan, Zhou, who is usually a gentle girl, took some risks and skated fiercely to take the gold. This is the third gold the Chinese have won at the Vancouver Olympics. Unobtrusive Liu Xiang, 26, China The Olympic gold medallist said on Friday that he's not the same old him, after setting his worst record in years - 8.08 seconds for 60 - meter hurdles. Liu said he still had some way to go before he's back to his best. Many fans have been expecting his taking - off in the 2010 Doha, but Liu said unobtrusively "Robles is still the best in the 60 - meter and 110 - meter hurdles. I'm no match now". He added the performances of Terrence Trammell (US) and Robles would be the highlight of the Doha meet. Coveted Michael Jackson, 1958 - 2009, US Thanks to a whopping $ 350,000 bid, Michael Jackson's rhinestone - encrusted glove has gone to a Macao company. Jackson wore the sparking glove when he did his first "moonwalk" dance in 1983, so it was a really coveted piece of equipment. The pre - auction estimate put its value at $ 40, 000 - 60,000 , _ . The glove and nine other items from the auction will be on display in a Macao hotel. From the first news we can learn that Zhou Yang _ . Answer: Hi, I'm Harry. I'm fourteen years old. I live in Taipei, Taiwan. I am a second grader in a junior high school. I'm interested in playing computer games and watching TV. My favorite food is pizza. Hello, my name is Dolly. I was born on January 12th. There are four people in my family -- my mother, my father, my sister and me. My favorite food is green tea. Now, I am a junior high school student. My hobbies are watching TV and climbing mountains. My best friend Tom lives in Canada. Maybe some day, you will be her friends, too! My name is Eric. My hobbies are fishing, reading books and playing computer games. My favorite subject is History, because my dad is a History teacher and I read a lot of books about history. I'm very bad at English, because it's hard for me. My favorite sport is ping-pong. I play ping-pong with my dad and my cousins every weekend. When is Dolly'sbirthday? Answer: Beijing today, first published in May, 2001, is the capital's only English weekly newspaper and is published with the help of the Information Office of the Beijing Municipal Government and run by Beijing Youth Daily. Its readers include English-speaking foreigners living in Beijing and local Chinese who have great interest in English or take English as a working language. The paper's main content deals with metropolitan life, explaining the differences and similarities between Eastern and Western culture. Its culture and lifestyle part is regarded as a guide to metropolitan life in Beijing. The paper has 24 pages in four main sections: NEWS: Select stories that discuss cultural differences. COMMUNITY: Reports on developments related to foreigners in the city and a platform by which they can communicate with a bigger audience. CULTURE and LIFESTYLE: Highlights from international lifestyle and fashion trends in Beijing STUDY: Cheerful and humorous pieces to help English-language students improve their skills Beijing Today circulates 50,000 copies published every Friday. It is one of Beijing's most authoritative English media sources, and is sold at post newsstands and distributed in hotels, apartment complexes, etc. Price: 2 yuan per issue If you want to subscribe to Beijing Today for half a year, you need to pay _ . Answer: Studies have shown that the fewer medicines a person has to take the more likely he or she will take them. Last week, a study was released about a new treatment that combines 5 medicines for heart disease in one pill. Salim Yusuf of McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada was the lead investigator. He presented the findings at the American College of Cardiology Conference in Orlando, Florida. The experimental drug is known as Polycap. It contains aspirin, a drug to lower cholesterol and three medicines to lower blood pressure. The study was carried out at 50 health centers across India. More than two thousand people between the ages of 45 and 80 took part in the study. All had at least one risk factor for heart disease. These include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or being severely overweight. The people were divided into 9 groups of about 200 people each. One group took Polycap. The other groups took either a single drug or different combinations of the medicines in the Polycap pill. The study showed that Polycap lowered blood pressure and cholesterol without many side effects. Doctor Yusuf said the single pill, taken once a day, could reduce the average person's risk of heart disease and stroke by about half. The maker of Polycap, Cadila Pharmaceuticals of India, paid for the study. Cardiovascular diseases of the heart and blood vessels are the number one cause of death around the world. These diseases kill more than seventeen million people every year. 80 percent of them are in low and middle income countries. Doctor Yusuf said the single pill treatment could revolutionize heart disease prevention. People would be more likely to take one pill a day than many pills. And one pill would cost less than several pills. Other heart doctors say heart disease prevention is important but not necessarily with pills. They say patients might be able to get the same results with changes in diet and exercise. Doctors say that more research on Polycap is needed. They say the drug should be tested on thousands more people, including those in different risk, age and ethnic groups. From the passage, we can infer that Polycap _ . Answer:
How many times do you have to fail at something in order to succeed? Did you know that Thomas Edison failed 10,000 times while trying to invent the light bulb? He certainly had a "learn and do" attitude! He was able to turn each failed experiment into a successful way to invent the light bulb. So what can we learn from this? You can adopt the "fail forward" strategy too. In reality, none of us are failures. It's true that we will experience times of defeat, problems, and disasters, but remember, each one of us is meant to succeed in life. However, we must choose our fate. Henry David Thoreau said, "Men are born to succeed, not to fail." We can never be forced into having a happy and successful life. Whether or not you experience success or failure is completely controlled by what you think and do. You are the only one who can choose the thoughts that will keep you from achieving the abundant life and joy that you are meant to have. No matter how difficult things may seem, say to yourself, "I choose to be a happy and successful person." Why do some people get what they want and others fail? I believe that getting what you desire in life takes planning, and it doesn't just happen by luck. So how do we plan for success? It has been proven that successful people do things more differently than unsuccessful people. They recognize the patterns of success and follow them; one of those patterns is planning. They plan what they think and do, which sets them apart. They know exactly what they desire, have an intelligent plan for getting it, and then work their plan. They know what success will cost them in terms of time, energy, and results, and they devote the right resources toward making their plans happen. What Henry David Thoreau said implies that _ . A. everyone is able to be a success B. most people lack the confidence to succeed C. everyone can do nothing but succeed in his life D. no one can succeed without difficulty and suffering Answer: A. everyone is able to be a success 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. The Abecedarian Project has lasted _ . A. almost one year B. about five years C. no more than 15 years D. more than 20 years Answer: D. more than 20 years Bluebirds looking secretly from nest boxes. Tadpoles swimming in a pond. Tiger swallowtails flying quickly around a butterfly bush. And over here, a class of students watching it all. A field trip to a nature center? No, it's a schoolyard. With some work on your part, it could even be your schoolyard. Interested in building a schoolyard habitat? Here's how to get started. Gather a Team Students can do a lot on their own, but you'll need adults for a project this big. Get teachers, parents, and even the headmaster interested. Don't forget the maintenance staff--they know more about your school's yard than anyone else and can give you lots of help. Also, ask around your neighborhood for gardeners, naturalists, and others willing to give advice. Map Your Site Which part of the schoolyard can you turn into a habitat? Is there an unused corner of the playground? Part of a lawn or field you could let go wild? You'll need to make a map of the area showing what's there now. Then you can figure out how you want to change it. For that, you need a plan. Plan a Habitat Here's what you'll need to make your area attractive to wildlife. Food: Plant flowers, bushes, and trees. These provide seeds, berries, leaves, flowers, and sweet liquids. And all of these feed birds, and insects. You can also add some feeders for squirrels and birds. Where possible, stick with native plants--wild plants that grow naturally in your area. They need less care, which means less work for you. Water: A small pond, birdbath, or even a shallow dish of clean water in the ground will attract birds. Other small animals like insects may visit as well. Shelter: Bushes and trees make great escapes for birds. Tall grass and "weeds" are home to grasshoppers, garter snakes, and some ground-nesting birds. You can also add stone piles and brush piles. Places to Raise Young: Butterflies need special plants to lay their eggs on. Frogs and toads lay eggs only in shallow water. Many birds use birdhouses; others nest in trees and bushes. In fact, nearly all your shelters may become homes for wild young. Put It on Paper Using the map you made of your area, draw in the changes you want to make. Mark where the plants, nest boxes, and other items will go. Remember, this is a long-term plan--you don't have to do everything this spring. Maybe you could put up a few birdhouses and plant some butterfly bushes now and save the trees and bushes for next year. Even a small start is a big step for wildlife. Reach for Resources To make the habitat happen, you'll need lots of plants, seeds, and other supplies. You'll also need to buy or borrow tools and maybe even some heavy equipment. Now's the time to reach out for donations. Start by asking your parent-teacher organization. Then go to garden clubs, garden stores (they might give you a discount), local government agencies, and businesses. If they can't donate supplies or money, ask if they can donate workers! The workers can help build the habitat. You'll also need people to help maintain it. Some schools ask their students' families to take turns during the summer. Each family maintains the habitat for a couple of weeks. Build Your Design Now you can dig in. Set a date, and get growing! What is this article mostly about? A. How to start a wildlife habitat. B. Making a place where animals can hide. C. How to gather food for a wildlife habitat. D. Creating places for people to plant gardens. Answer: A. How to start a wildlife habitat. It is always hard for a small fish to live in a big pond. Pluto's recent departure from the classical planet family clearly proves that size really matters. Astronomers voted on August 24 to create the first scientific definition of the word planet, and Pluto obviously didn't make the cut. It turned out to be only a "dwarf planet" . After weeks of heated debate, over 2,500 astronomers from 73 countries voted on the definition of a "planet" at a conference of the international Astronomical Union (IAU). According to the definition, a planet must have a clear neighborhood around its orbit. Pluto has widely been considered a planet since its discovery in 1930. Unfortunately, it has a special orbit which overlaps with Neptune's. It is all because, compared with Neptune, Pluto is very small. It is attracted by Neptune's gravity when the two planets get closer. According to IAU, a "dwarf planet" should have an orbit around the Sun. It will not have a clear neighborhood around its orbit, and must not be a satellite. The new classification means that the science textbooks will have to be updated. The solar system is now made up of the eight "classical planets," together with a number of dwarf planets. The classical planets are: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The debate over Pluto's status started in 1992. After an advanced telescope was sent into space, astronomers started find a belt of objects, which lies beyond Neptune. The belt contains nearly 1,000 objects, including Pluto. As they continued the exploration, scientists recently discovered at least 41 dwarf planets at the edges of the solar system. There are at least two objects of a similar size to Pluto. It seems that even if the IAU had kept Pluto's status as a planet, the classical theory of nine planets in the solar system would have had to be changed, but the other way around. More dwarf, planets of a similar size to Pluto would join the family of planets. Scientists will probably find many more dwarf planets. Which of the following statements is NOT true aceording to the passage? A. According to definition of a "planet", if Pluto were bigger it would not have left the classic planet family. B. It's quite possible for dwarfs to lose if they compete with big men C. Pluto has a special orbit which overlap with Neptune's, because it is so small as to be attraeted by Neptune's gravity when the two planets get closer D. A "dwarf planet", which can not be a satellite without a clear neighborhood around its orbit, should have an orbit around the Sun. Answer: B. It's quite possible for dwarfs to lose if they compete with big men The freezing Northeast hasn't been a terribly fun place to spend time this winter, so when the chance came for a weekend to Sarasota, Florida, my bags were packed before you could say "sunshine". I left for the land of warmth and vitamin C(C), thinking of beaches and orange trees. When we touched down to blue skies and warm air, I sent up a small prayer of gratefulness. Swimming pools, wine tasting, and pink sunsets(at normal evening hours, not 4 in the afternoon) filled the weekend, but the best part- particularly to my taste, dulled by months of cold- weather root vegetables- was a 7 a.m. adventure to the Sarasota farmers' market that proved to be more than worth the early wake-up call. The market, which was founded in 1979, sets up its tents every Saturday from 7:00 am to 1 p.m, rain or shine, along North Lemon and State streets. Baskets of perfect red strawberries, the red-painted sides of the Java Dawg coffee truck; and most of all, the tomatoes: amazing, large, soft and round red tomatoes. Disappointed by many a broken, vine-ripened promise, I've refused to buy winter tomatoes for years. No matter how attractive they look in the store, once I get them home they're unfailingly dry, hard, and tasteless. But I homed in, with uncertainty, on one particular table at the Brown's Grove Farm's stand, full of fresh and soft tomatoes the size of my fist. These were the real deal- and at that moment, I realized that the best part of Sarasota in winter was going to be eating things that back home in New York I wouldn't be experiencing again for months. Delighted as I was by the tomatoes in sight, my happiness deepened when I learned that Brown's Grove Farm is one of the suppliers for Jack Dusty, a newly opened restaurant at the Sarasota Ritz Carlton, where- luckily for me- I was planning to have dinner that very night. Without even seeing the menu, I knew I'd be ordering every tomato on it. What can we learn about tomatoes sold in New York in winter? A. They are soft. B. They look nice. C. They taste great. D. They are juicy. Answer: B. They look nice.
Six days before the 63rd birthday of New China, our country received a great gift. The country's first aircraft carrier , Liaoning, has made China become the l0th country in the world to have an aircraft camer. An aircraft carrier is a kind of ship that planes can fly from and land on--like an airport on the sea. It stands for a country's military strength . It plays an important role in modern wars. In August last year, the air craft carrier began its trial run at Dalian Port in Liaoning. The carrier was at first called the Varyag. It was built in the former Soviet Union. However, the Soviets failed to finish the ship. China bought the Varyag in 1998. Now after 10 trial runs, the aircraft carrier, renamed Liaoning, is in active service. Liaoning is about 300 meters long and 70 meters wide. It can take 30 planes and hold 2,000 soldiers. According to Xinhua News, Liaoning will be used for scientific research and military training. The aircraft carrier will help protect our country and promote world peace. The BBC said that Liaoning coming into service " marks China as a rising power". ,. How many countries in the world had had aircraft carriers before China did? Answer: 9. It was a winter morning, just a couple of weeks before Christmas 2005. While most people were warming up their cars, Trevor, my husband, had to get up early to ride his bike four kilometers away from home to work. On arrival, he parked his bike outside the back door as he usually does. After putting in 10 hours of work, he returned to find his bike gone. The bike, a black Kona 18 speed, was our only transport. Trevor used it to get to work, putting in 60-hour weeks to support his young family. And the bike was also used to get groceries ,saving us from having to walk long distances from where we live. I was so sad that someone would steal our bike that I wrote to the newspaper and told them our story. Shortly after that, several people in our city offered to help. One wonderful stranger even bought a bike, then called my husband to pick it up. Once again my husband had a way to get to and from his job. It really is an honor that a complete stranger would go out of their way for someone they have never met before. People say that a smile can be passed from one person to another, but acts of kindness from strangers are even more so. This experience has had a spreading effect in our lives because it made our confidence in humanity stronger as a whole. And it has also influenced us to be more mindful of ways we can share with others. No matter how big or how small, an act of kindness shows that someone cares. And the results can be continuing for ever. We can learn from the text that _ . Answer: life was hard for the young family. Elephants are the largest land animals and they need plenty of living space. They have seasonal migration routes. As human populations rise, elephant land is being cleared for agriculture and other kinds of development. When animals are effectively trapped on small areas of land, it restricts the gene pool and also results in a shortage of food. Where elephant reserves border agricultural areas, elephants are often attracted to leave parks to attack crops and barns. Only the strongest walls will stop an adult elephant (males can weigh 6,000kg), so farmers have great difficulty protecting their fields. In prefix = st1 /India, elephants don't only attack for food. Some even have developed a taste for rice beer. InAssam, elephant-human conflict has resulted in the death of more than 150 people and 200 elephants in the space of two years. Poverty leads to the killing of elephants for meat. If people don't have enough food and their governments cannot afford to enforce poaching bans, it's not difficult to predict the outcome. Ivory comes form elephant tusks , which can grow to be 3 meters long. Both male and female African elephants have large tusks. Most new ivory comes from Africa and is sold as a high status material in Asian countries such as Thailand, mainlandChinaandJapan. It can fetch $150 an pound and is carved to make decorations, chopsticks and ink stamps. The conservation priority here is to change public attitudes. In some countries in southern Africa, where conservation efforts have been successful, there is not enough room for a growing elephant population and animals have to be killed. A CITES meeting in November 2002 ruled that Botswana,NamibiaandSouth Africamay sell stock-piled ivory, starting in2004. Many conservationists are convinced that _ will fuel the demand for ivory and lead to more illegal poaching, they say it is almost impossible to tell legal from poached ivory. The governments argue that the sales will be used to fund conservation work. According to the passage, we can infer that _ . Answer: if the government could help solve poverty, there would be less killing of elephants. As the sun rose, a dewdrop woke up. There it sat on a leaf, catching the sunlight. Proud of its simple beauty, it was very happy. Around it were other dewdrops, some on the same leaf and some on other leaves. The dewdrop was sure that it was the best, the most special dewdrop of them all. Ah, it was good to be a dewdrop. The wind blew and the plant began to shake, tipping the leaf. The dewdrop became frightened as it started to move towards the edge of the leaf. Why was this happening? Things were comfortable. Things were safe. Why did they have to change? Why? Why? The dewdrop reached the edge of the leaf. It was sure that this was the end. The day had only just begun and the end had come so quickly. It seemed so unfair. It seemed so meaningless. It tried hard to do whatever it could to stay on the leaf, but it was no use. Finally, it fell. Below there was a mirror. A reflection of the dewdrop seemed to be coming up to meet it. Closer and closer they came together until finally.., the small dewdrop became a part of the great pond . Now the dewdrop was no more, but it was not destroyed. It had become one with the whole. The story mainly tells us that _ . Answer: it's good to become one with the whole New Yorkers and visitors to the Big Apple will get to ring in the Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year in the U.S., in style with a fireworks display on the Hudson River set to music written by Academy Award-winning composer Tan Dun. The display is part of the second annual "Happy Chinese New Year: Fantastic Art China" festival held in New York on February 5-10, 2016. The China Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA), the U.S.-China Cultural Institute and the Cultural Associate of the Committee of 100 announced this year's events on November 18 at a press conference at the Lincoln Center. The "Fantastic Art China" festival will feature a larger and more diverse series of artistic and cultural events across New York's top cultural venues and landmarks, including the Lincoln Center, Empire State Building and Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. This year's theme focuses on exploring the complicated relationship between sound and image, said Professor Yu Ding from CAFA, who is also president of Fantastic Art China and in charge of the festival's design. Lunar New Year, which celebrates the "Year of the Monkey" in 2016, is an opportunity to bring China's modern art to mainstream America, and the festival serves as an innovative approach to establishing cultural exchange between China and New York City, Yu said. UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Tan Dun's music is a new edition that will be featured at several venues, including a major art exhibition at the Javits Center, events at the Lincoln Center and the fireworks display on the Hudson, which will take place on the evening of February 6. Five barges on the river will launch the fireworks designed by CAFA that will tell a story about celebration and conservation. "We Chinese are fond of nature, so the best way to celebrate the Lunar New Year is to salute with the sounds of nature, such as sounds of water, stone and bamboo," said Tan Dun at the press conference, "And it will be fun to use the music of water during the firework display." In addition to the fireworks, a special lighting show at the Empire State Building will _ New York City during the holiday. Chinese New Year is being recognized as a public school holiday for the first time in New York. Children from the National Dance Institute, which represents 75 schools, will perform traditional Chinese dances at the Lincoln Center and the Javits Center. And, in celebration of the "Year of the Monkey" events will feature a conservation message about the endangered golden monkey in China. The coming "Year of the Monkey" is to be celebrated in New York by _ . Answer: setting off fireworks and holding a special lighting show
Bookie's, the campus bookstore is located at the Campus Activity Centre, main floor. Bookie's is the only place in Kamloops to buy your course textbooks. There is a booklist in the bookstore listing the books required for each course. If you need help in finding your course textbooks, ask any of the staff in the bookstore. There are more than just textbooks at bookie's. They carry a wide variety of stationary, art supplies and gift items. You can also buy telephone cards, postage stamps and bus passes. You must show your student card to get a discount for the bus passes. TEXTBOOK RETURNS 1) Do I need my receipt to return books? Yes. 2) How long do I have to return books? Books purchased must be returned within ten working days of the date of the purchase. 3) What if I wrote my name in the book? Unfortunately, we can not give you a full refund for books not in mint condition as publishers will not accept this for credit. 4) What happens if I miss the last day for return? We may purchase the text book as "used" in accordance with our Buyback program. 5) What if I discover that my book has missing pages half way through the semester? We will replace the _ books, new or used, for a like copy of that title. Cash refunds are not given for defective books returned outside the normal return dates. BUYBACKS 1) What books do you buy back? We buy back all current edition textbooks. If we do not use them at UCC, we buy them back according to the value established in the North American marketplace. 2) How much do I get for my books? If bookie's is buying the book for use at UCC, you will receive 50% of the current new retail price. In order to receive optimum buyback price, discs and supplements must accompany the book. 3) What happens to the books that I sell? Books for bookie's are processed by our staff and sold to students at 75% of the new retail price. 4) What condition do my books need to be in? Books should be in good condition, meaning that the cover is still attached and all pages intact. Notes and markings on the pages of the books are perfectly fine. Workbooks and study guides are generally not purchased back unless they are free of all markings. No sales receipt is required for these books. BOOKSTORE HOURS Monday-Thursday 9:00am-6:00pm Friday 9:00am-5:00pm Saturday and Sunday Closed Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the passage? Answer: Student cards are needed to get a discount for the textbooks. William wants to borrow a book from the library. He comes to the library with his classmates. They can't see any assistant in it, but only some robots standing there. He says to the robot, "Hey, give me a book on music." But the robot doesn't move. Then another student tells William, " You must say 'Excuse me' and 'please' first when you want some help." William does so and the robot brings the book. But William can't get the book from the robot's hands. He thinks for a moment, then he says a word to the robot. The robot gives him the book. John gets the book and goes home happily. What does William say when he wants to get the book from the robot? Answer: Excuse me China Daily Classified Page Advertising Rates Published every Wednesday and Friday. 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After this deadline, additional charges will be incurred (brought upon oneself). Tel : (86 - 10)64941104, 64924488 ext. 2117 Fax: (86 - 10)64941104 E- mail: cads @ chinadaily. com. cn Which of the following advertising rates is the lowest? Answer: Education Most painters discover a style of painting that suits them and stick to that, especially if people admire their pictures. As artist grows older his picture may alter , but not very much. But Picasso, the great Spanish painter, was like a man who had not yet found his own particular style of painting. He kept on struggling to find the perfect expression till his death in 1973. Some of Picasso's paintings are rich, soft colored and beautiful. Others are ugly and cruel and strange. But such paintings allow us to imagine things for ourselves. They force us to say to ourselves, "What does he see that makes him paint like that?" And we begin to look beneath the surface of the things we see. Picasso painted thousands of pictures in different styles. Sometimes he painted the natural look of things. _ He showed us what the mind knows as well as what the eye sees. At the age of 90 he remained as _ about the world as he had been when he was young. That is why people have called him "the youngest painter in the world". The ugly, cruel and strange paintings by Picasso _ . Answer: make us think of what is hidden in the things we see A young lady was driving alone through the street. It was dark and rainy. Suddenly she saw an old woman by the side of the road, holding up her hands as if she wanted a lift . "I can't leave her out in this weather," the young lady said to herself. She stopped her car and opened the door. "Do you want a lift?" she asked. The old woman nodded and got on the car. After a while, she said to the old woman, "Have you been waiting for a long time?" The old woman shook her head, "Strange" the young lady thought. She tried again, "Bad weather, isn't it?" The old woman nodded. Then the young lady noticed the old woman's hands, which were large and hairy. Suddenly she realized the woman was a man! She was frightened at first. Then she stopped the car. "I couldn't see out of the rear screen ,"she said, "Would you mind cleaning it for me?" "The old woman" nodded and opened the door. As soon as "she"got out of the car, the frightened young lady drove off as fast as she could. When she got home, she noticed "the old woman" had left her handbag behind, she picked it up and opened it. Inside there was a gun. When the young lady talked with the old woman , she only nodded or shook her head because she _ . Answer: didn't want the young lady to hear her voice
Question: Throughout your life, you spend the most time being with or dealing with yourself, but it is exactly yourself that you have the least understanding of. When you are going upwards in life, you tend to think too highly of yourself. When you are going downhill, you tend to have too low an opinion of yourself. It's likely that you think it wise for yourself to know your place and keep yourself from lacking courage to face whatever problem you meet with, in which case your energy and creativity would remain far from enough for your age. To get a thorough understanding of oneself is to gain a correct view of oneself and be a clear-minded realistic person-knowing both one's strength and shortage. You may look forward hopefully to the future but be sure not to expect too much, for dreams can never be fully realized. You may be brave to meet challenges, but it should be clear to you where to direct your efforts. To get a thorough understanding of oneself needs self-appreciation. Whether you hold yourself as a big tree or a thin piece of grass, whether you think you are a high mountain or a small stone, you show a state of nature that has its own reason of existence. If you really admire yourself, you'll have a real sense of self-appreciation which will give you self-confidence. As soon as you gain full confidence in yourself, you'll be enabled to fight and defeat any trouble that will otherwise defeat you. To get a thorough understanding of oneself also requires that you show yourself loving concern about your health and daily life. Unless you know perfectly well when and how to do yourself a favor, you won't be confident and ready enough even to resist the attack of illness. Therefore, just do yourself a favor whenever it's needed. In time of anger, do yourself a favor by giving an exit to it in a quiet place so that you won't be hurt by the anger itself; in time of sadness, do yourself a favor by sharing it with your friends so as to change a sad mood into a cheerful one; in time of tiredness, do yourself a favor by getting a good sleep or some other relaxation. All in all, to get a thorough understanding of oneself is to get a full control one's life. Then one will find one's life full of color1, pleasure and achievement. Where does our self-confidence come from? A. Our self-appreciation. B. Our courage to fight. C. Our natural existence. D. Our strength and shortage. Answer: A. Our self-appreciation. Question: Flight cancellations and loss of luggage can ruin even the best-planned holiday. The key to a stress-free trip is having a backup plan. Fly non-stop. The worst problems involve connections, so it is important to take non-stop flights whenever possible. If you do have to make a connection, try to route through a southern city, where snowstorms and de-icing delays will be less likely. Always allow at least two to three hours for flight connections. Check the weather. Check the weather in your connecting city, not just the arrival and departure city. If your departure flight is cancelled because of weather, you can go home or back to your hotel. Airlines promise to get you on the next available flight, not the next flight. That could be several days later on a sold-out holiday weekend. Go early. The earlier in the day you fly, the better your chance of getting rebooked the same day after a missed connection. It will also put you ahead of stranded passengers who arrive later. Rebook immediately. As soon as your flight is delayed or cancelled, get on the phone and rebook your flight instead of waiting at the ticket counter. If your rebooking is delayed, call or ask your travel agent to find a seat on another carrier, and then ask your original carrier to endorse your ticket to the new airline. Airlines are not required to do this but often do. Learn more at www. dot. gov/ airconsumer/ fly-rights. Ship bags. A few days before your flight, ship suitcases or holiday gifts to your destination by a documented express service. It's preferable to losing bags because of re-routed flights and sometimes cheaper than paying airline overweight bag fees. Know your rights. Airlines are not required to passengers for delayed or cancelled flights, but it never hurts to ask for goodwill vouchers for meals, taxis or a room. According to the passage, we can infer _ . A. it will take long to rebook the tickets B. your luggage is easy to be lost C. you will pay more for your overweight luggage D. with the same ticket you can take the next flight Answer: C. you will pay more for your overweight luggage Question: Tests are not fun--but they're necessary.But in places like Colorado, Connecticut and New York, we're seeing a new and problematic movement within public education to convince parents to pull their children from participating in any standardized testing.They're opting out of the exams designed to measure how well our schools are teaching our children. Let's look at why some parents are opting out.The most common argument is that standardized testing takes too much classroom time away from instruction.Yes, in too many schools and in too many districts, there is an overemphasis on testing.As a parent, I understand that problem.My daughter came home from public school one day and said class was easy now that "the test" was over.And I thought, "What are we communicating to our kids if they think the test is the most important thing--and once it's over, learning ends?" Those test-crazed districts need to change.But a new study by Teach Plus, an organization that advocates for students in urban schools, found that on average, in grades three and seven, just 1.7 percent of classroom time is devoted to preparing for and taking standardized tests.That's not shocking at all.Most people spend a larger percentage of their waking day choosing an outfit to wear or watching TV. We also shouldn't accept the false argument that testing restricts educators too much, _ innovation in the classroom or takes the joy out of teaching.That line of thought assumes that the test is the be-all and end-all--and if that's the perspective, the joy is already long gone.Teachers enter this profession because they care about kids, believe each one has the ability to succeed and want to teach far beyond minimum proficiency.The most valuable teachers are those who impart knowledge, not just information, and do so in a way that engages students and makes school interesting. "Okay," the opt-out crowd replies, "what about kids who are stressed out and suffering from anxiety because of standardized tests?" You know what? Life can be stressful; it can be challenging.The alternative is to hand out prizes just for participating, give out straight A's for fear of damaging a kid's ego--and continue to fall further and further behind as a country.I reject that mind-set . Rather than encouraging parents to opt out of testing, it would be much more productive for the leaders of this distracting movement to help improve the assessments.Make the exams more reflective of student learning.Ultimately, students and educators need test data--opting out does harm to both.And it risks endangering the progress that all of our children need. In the author's eyes, stress _ . A. can be got rid of easily B. should be treated objectively C. is more important than praise D. affects children's development Answer: B. should be treated objectively Question: Success starts within our mind. Now, we will discuss four steps to change our lives and create a new future. # 1. Think big. Get rid of negative beliefs. Your beliefs have developed from what happened to you in the past. You should realize that the past is not equal to the future, unless you really live there. The first thing you need to do is to drive all the negative beliefs away from your mind. Those beliefs are not useful for creating a new future. Think that everything is possible if you put enough effort in it. When you change your beliefs into positive ones, you will feel more powerful. You will then be able to move on to the next level. # 2. Write your plan to achieve your goals. Your great goals should be divided into smaller goals. Make a timetable for each goal so that you can measure your progress. Write a detailed plan to achieve these goals. # 3.Take action according to your plan. Nothing bears fruit without action. Every successful person has to work hard towards his or her goals. There is no exception . Be prepared to work according to your plan. Be willing to invest in the resources necessary for your progress. Do not give up. # 4. Review what you have done and know how good you are. While you are in the process of your work, take some time to review how well you have done. Review your progress based on your plan and see if you need to change anything. You can change your methods but you should not change your goals. What's the best title for the passage? A. How to Live a Happy Life B. Ways to Create Your New Future C. How to Change Yourself D. Nothing Bears Fruit Without Action Answer: B. Ways to Create Your New Future Question: Why do we dream?It's a question researchers have been studying for years. Now new research suggests that some dreams may result from the brain's effort to keep learning, even as we sleep. In a study in Boston, 100 volunteers were trained for an hour on a maze .They tried to find their way through the difficult puzzle as quickly as possible. Then half of the volunteers were allowed to sleep for 90 minutes. The other half stayed awake, reading or relaxing. The ones who slept were asked to describe their dreams when they woke up. After the rest, the volunteers were asked again to solve the maze. Those who hadn't slept showed no improvement or did even worse after the break. Sleepers who didn't report any maze related dreams did better but showed only a little improvement. However, four nap-takers who reported dreaming about the maze showed a surprising improvement. They scored 10 times higher after sleeping and dreaming about the maze. Even though the number of dreamers was small, the researchers noted that the gap in learning between the dreamers and non-dreamers was so wide that the finding was significant . The dreamers had all performed poorly on the test before dreaming about it. That suggests that struggling with a task might be the _ that leads the sleeping brain to focus on it and work on how to deal with it. "It's almost as if your brain is going through everything that happened today,"Dr Stickgold,a scientist at Harvard Medical School, said. "The things you're obsessed with are the ones that your brain forces you to continue to do with." According to the study, which group showed the greatest improvement? A. Those who didn't sleep. B. Those who slept but didn't dream. C. Those who dreamed about the maze while sleeping. D. Those who thought about the maze before falling asleep. Answer: C. Those who dreamed about the maze while sleeping.
Solar energy is adsorbed by Thunder was coming when Reginald Eppes woke up at five in the morning. He checked the weather forecast. A violent storm was coming ,but it sounded like his small town wouldn't be hit too hard. But Eppes, a firefighter, had clearly known the power of these huge storms from experiences. "Do you know where the flashlights are?" he asked his wife. Danielle. Just then, thunder was all-around them. The moment he turned the flashlight on. The house lights went off. A second later, the kitchen windows were broken. Eppes and Danielle ran to their boys who were still sleeping in their bedroom. "Get up, get up, R.J.! " Eppes shouted, waving his flashlight. The sleepy boy moved to the edge of the bed. Eppes held out his arms and ordered his son to jump. He was too late. The roof was torn down. R.J. was buried ,under the pieces. "I've lost him," Eppes thought. Quickly, he hurried to Joel to shield him. Glass, wood, and plaster ( ) hit them. Then something huge, heavy-maybe the washing machine-knocked into him. He hurt his arms, but he still held the flashlight in one hand. After a long period, the wind began to die down. Eppes found himself standing in the ruins of his home. Darkness lay all about him. Then he thought he saw a shape moving straight toward him. It was R.J., guided home by the light of his father's flashlight. At the hospital later, R.J. described what had happened to him. "I rushed out when the wall started moving I was scared. My mom and dad were gone. Pieces of glass hit my back, and something hit my neck really hard. " R.J. had been raised up into the air by the wind and dropped back to the ground. Amazingly, R.J. was not hurt badly. Of all his family, Eppes was hurt most seriously. The lights in Eppes ' house went off when _ . People who enjoy a dream-filled sleep are better at recalling information and making links between facts when they wake, scientists found. But recharging with a shallow nap offers no such mental improvement, the research suggests. The results of the study add to the evidence that Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep is very important to the brain's ability to strengthen memories. An average night's sleep includes four or five periods of REM sleep, but these tend to be longer towards the end of the night. This means that adults who get less than the recommended seven to eight hours a night -- and therefore inadequate REM sleep -- may be damaging their mind's ability to form strong memories. Although REM sleep is not classified as a type of deep sleep, it is only reached after the brain has passed through deep sleep stages. In the most recent study, participants were shown groups of three words -- such as "cookie", "heart", and "sixteen" -- and asked to find another word that can be associated with all three words. In this example, the answer would have been "sweet". They were tested once in the morning and then given the same task again in the afternoon. In between, some were allowed a nap with REM sleep, some a nap without REM sleep, while the others had a quiet rest period. The quiet rest and non-REM sleep groups showed no improvement in their test results, but the REM sleep group improved on their morning performance by an average of almost 40 percent. Dr Sara Mednick, a sleep researcher at the University of California who led the study, believes the formation of connections between previously unassociated information in the brain -- which leads to creative problem-solving -- is encouraged by mental changes which occur during REM sleep. People woken while their closed eyes made rapid movements recalled much more color1ful and detailed dreams than people woken during other stages of sleep. If you don't sleep seven to eight hours at night very often, _ . As my bride of many years greeted me one evening, her voice was heard through the door, "Guess what?" I always take a deep breath on this very leading question. "What?" I asked. "I just won a sales contest at work and the prize is dinner for two at the new fancy restaurant down by the river front!" Her excitement was inspiring. We knew the restaurant was superior because we could only understand parts of the menu. "See? I told you there would be a place for me to wear my new spring outfit," she shyly reminded me. "Two can play at that game," I responded. "I will wear my gray suit, my Borsalino imported straw hat and a new silk tie. We will be dressed very well. This town will never be the same. Almost like our first date." It was early spring and nearing dusk as the head waiter showed us to a table by a window, with a view of the river. The table was beautifully set, with a smoke-gray tablecloth decorated by bright red napkins, lemon slices in the long-stemmed water glasses, fresh flowers. A delicious meal served in such an atmosphere should be remembered a long time. As it turned out, this would probably never be forgotten. As the shadows lengthened, the riverboats rocking in the river, I murmured, "Why don't we walk down the path like we did in Paris a few years ago? Remember the fun we had?" Hand in hand, we walked by the stores. People smiled and nodded. Lots of smiling and nodding, in fact. "I never realized there were so many friendly people as we have seen this evening, dear," I observed. "Probably your new straw hat. Or the fact that you're such a handsome guy," she answered. We completed the walking tour past the store windows. After acknowledging many smiles, we found ourselves back at the restaurant, looking at our reflection in the window. It was then that I saw the reason for all the smiles. Caught in the fly of my trousers and hanging down for all to see was a bright red napkin from the restaurant! Why did the author write the passage ? Joe was a young boy who was excited for his first day of school. He jumped out of bed with a big smile on his face, ready for school. He looked in the mirror as he put on his white shirt and blue jeans, and ran down the stairs to get breakfast. His breakfast was waffles with syrup and eggs. His favorite breakfasts are pancakes and cereal, but the waffles were good. After eating all his food, he grabbed his lunch and ran out the door towards the yellow school bus. He arrived at the bus stop and waited for the bus. The bus was running late, but then he finally saw the bus pull up to the bus stop. He did not want to wait one more second so he talked to the bus driver and then took his seat on the bus. He then took a good look out the window and watched as the bus began driving him to the first day of school he had been waiting for. Finally, the bus came to a stop. The children all ran off the bus towards the elementary school. Joe did not see many other second grade students so he walked to the doors alone. Once he entered the school, he saw many of his friends from third grade and began talking to them. Then the bell rang and Joe's first day of school began. What did Joe eat for breakfast?
Question: On the first day of school, Jack found a little old lady with a warm smile."Hi, handsome. My name is Rose. I'm 87 years old."she said. "Why are you in university at such a YOUNG age?" Jack asked. "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of kids, and then retired and travel." she answered. Jack knew she's joking but he was surprised what encouraged her to be here at her age. "I always dreamed of having a university education and now I'm getting one!" she told me. We became friends. Every day they would talk after class. Jack always enjoyed listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with him. And Rose easily made friends wherever she went. At the end of the term, Rose was invited to make a little speech. She said, "We don't stop playing because we're old. We grow old because we stop playing. Being happy and achieving success may keep you staying young. If you have a dream, hold on. When you lose your dreams, you die." "Anybody can grow older. _ doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding the chance in change..." Rose went to the university in order to _ . A. meet a rich husband B. make new friends C. get a better job D. get a university education Answer: D. get a university education Question: A tourist comes out of the airport.There are a lot of taxis,but the tourist asks every taxi--driver his name.He takes the third taxi.It costsPS5 from the airport to the hotel."How much does it cost for the whole day?" the tourist asks."PS100",says the taxi-driver.This is very expensive,the tourist accepts the price. The taxi--driver takes the tourist everywhere.He shows him all monuments and all the museums.In the evening they go back to the hotel.The tourist gives the taxi-driverPS100 and says,"What about tomorrow?" The taxi-driver looks at the tourist."Tomorrow? It's anotherPS 100 tomorrow."But the tourist says,"That's OK.If that's the price,that is the price.See you tomorrow."The taxi--driver is very pleased. The next day the taxi-driver takes the tourist everywhere again.They visit all the museums and all the monuments again.And in the second evening they go back to the hotel.The tourist gives the taxi--driver anotherPS100 and says,"I'm going home tomorrow."The taxi-driver is sorry.He likes the tourist and,above all,PS100 a day is good money."So you are going home.Where do you come from?" he asks. "I come from New York." "New York!" says the taxi-driver,"I have a sister in New York.Her name is Susannah.Do you know her?" "Of course 1 know her.She gave mePS200 for you." Why is the taxi-driver very pleased with the tourist? A. None but the tourist agrees to the price given without arguing with him. B. His sister knows the tourist. C. His sister has brought so much money to him. D. He wants to be the guide of the tourist. Answer: A. None but the tourist agrees to the price given without arguing with him. Question: Recently, the TV show Where Are We Going, Dad? has become one of China's most popular TV shows, attracting more than 600 million viewers each week. In this program, five celebrity fathers traveled to six countryside locations across China, including some villages in Beijing, Yunnan, Shandong, Hunan, Heilongjiang and a desert in Ningxia. They took care of their kids without the help of the kid's mothers. At the same time, they also took part in different kinds of activities with their kids together, such as cooking, fishing and selling goods. Why is the show so popular? "It reflects social reality. In big cities, fathers are always busy earning money and making achievements in their career. They don't spare more time with their kids." said Xie Dikui, general director of the show. As the father of a 3-year-old daughter, Xie said that he found his own heart being touched as he made it. "Although these fathers are busy, they are able to spare time for their kids. We can do better than them." _ also happens in some rural areas in China. More and more men from rural areas are now working in big cities, leaving their kids at home under the Grandparents' care. "I have a son and a daughter in my hometown." said Xu Canyong, a 33-year-old man working in Shantou, Guangdong Province. "They come to live with me only during summer and winter vacations. I miss them very much. I want to have them live with us in Shantou, but the cost of living here is too high." said Xu. Xu Canyong can't live with his two kids in Shantou because _ . A. he can't afford to live there together B. he has no time to look after his kids C. Shantou is too far from his hometown D. his kids are used to living with their grandparents Answer: A. he can't afford to live there together Question: A casual employee is one who is engaged and paid as such by agreement between the employer and employee. There is a three-hour minimum payment for each period of engagement and a four-hour minimum engagement on a Public Holiday. No notice of termination is required. For night work between 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Monday to Friday a penalty of $1.28 per hour (or part of hour) shall be paid with a minimum of $4.37 for any one day on which such hours are worked. Meals: Casual employees whose engagement extends for five hours or more shall be provided with a meal free of charge, or shall be paid in lieu of $5.00 ($6.00 from 1 May 1996) Casual employment over eight hours: Paid at the overtime rate of full time employees. Payment of wages: By mutual consent either weekly or on termination of engagement. Annual leave: Pro-rata Annual Leave entitlement for casuals is on the basis of 1/12thof earnings. Many employers pay this inclusive with the hourly rate. If this is not done, it should be paid on termination of services or at the end of 12 months' service. Special clothing: A casual employee is required to provide and wear a black and white uniform or an equivalent standard specified by the club (e.g. blue and white, cook's clothing, etc.) this includes how tie and cummerbund if required by the employer. The employer may launder all uniforms, or pay the employee and allowance of $1.00 per engagement ($1.20 from 1 May 1996) for general staff. Cooks shall be paid $1.50 per engagement ($1.70 from 1 May 1996). In casual employment, notice of termination is _ . A. not possible B. not necessary C. provided D. paid in lieu Answer: B. not necessary Question: Students are studying the classifications of stars and they learned that the majority of stars are similar to the Sun. What can the students conclude knowing that most of the stars in the galaxy are like the Sun? A. Most of the stars will become black holes. B. Most of the stars are main sequence stars. C. Most of the stars are protostars. D. Most of the stars are red giants. Answer: B. Most of the stars are main sequence stars.
Long ago in a small town, there was a place known as the House of 1,000 Mirrors. A small, happy little dog learned of this place and decided to visit. When he arrived, he bounced happily up the stairs to the doorway of the house. He looked through the doorway with his ears lifted high and his tail wagging as fast as it could. To his great surprise, he found himself staring at 1,000 other happy little dogs with their tails wagging just as his. He smiled a great smile, and was answered with 1,000 great smiles just as warm and friendly. As he left the house, he thought to himself, " This is a wonderful place. I will come back and visit often." In this same village, another little dog, who was not quite as happy as the first one, decided to visit the house. He slowly climbed the stairs and hung his head low as he looked into the door. When he saw the 1,000 unfriendly looking dogs staring back at him, he growled at them and was horrified to see 1,000 little dogs growling back at him. As he left, he thought to himself, "This is a horrible place, and I will never go back there again." All the faces in the world are mirrors. What kind of reflections do you see on the faces of the people you meet? Why was the first dog surprised when he entered the house? A Because he didn't expect to see so many happy dogs. B Because he didn't know there were 1,000 mirrors in the house. C Because he was always in a mixed mood. D Because he saw so many dogs smiling at him. Answer: A. Because he didn't expect to see so many happy dogs. Today, over six billion people live on the planet. This means that there are very few places on Earth with no people. One place that has very few people is at the bottom of the Earth. In Antarctica, the icy continent surrounding the South Pole, you will not find anyone who lives there all the time. First, Antarctica is the coldest place on Earth. For example, it can be -l30degC in the winter. Humans cannot live in this kind of environment. Because it is so cold, very few plants or animals live there. This means there are no farms and no places to find wild plants or animals to eat. Second, Antarctica can be dangerous. Many people think that it is safe to travel to Antarctica in the summer months when it is warmer. However, Antarctica is mostly ice, so when it's summer, the ice melts. When the ice melts, the ice can break. So, people cannot travel around Antarctica during the summer. If the ice breaks, they could fall into the water and die. Another serious problem in Antarctica is the sun. Because Antarctica is mostly ice, there are no trees so there is no shade. Also, the ground is mostly white ice so the sun bounces off it. The light from the sky and the light from the ground can burn people's skin and hurt their eyes. People must be very careful in this situation. For example, they must wear sunglasses to protect their eyes. They must also cover their hands and faces all the time. Although Antarctica is a tough place to live, explorers have discovered coal in Antarctica. This leads them to believe that Antarctica at one time was a land of swam and forests. We can learn from the text that _ . A Antarctica is a place with no animals B no people can survive in Antarctica C Antarctica is colder than any other continent on Earth D the temperature in Antarctica is below zero all the time Answer: C. Antarctica is colder than any other continent on Earth Three boys, Tom, Sam and Jim bought seventeen apples. Tom wanted the half . Sam wanted one-third ,and Jim wanted one-ninth * But they didn't know how to do. Just at that time,a little boy came with an apple in his hand. The boy said to them, "Don't worry. Let me help you" Then he put his apple into their apples, and made the number of the apples eighteen. Then he gave Tom nine apples, he gave Sam six apples,and he gave Jim two apples. He gave away seventeen apples and took his apple back. The three boys were very happy. And they said: "How clever the boy is!" ,. What was the three boys' problem? A They couldn't eat the apples. B They couldn't go home. C They couldn't divide the apples. D They wanted to borrow some apples, Answer: C. They couldn't divide the apples. Thousands of people have been killed in a massive earthquake in Japan. The quake -- the most powerful to hit Japan in more than 100 years -- caused massive _ and many people are missing and feared dead. The 8.9 magnitude quake struck Friday(March 11) off Japan's eastern coast, and prompted tsunami warnings across the Pacific as far away as South America and the U.S. West Coast. Several days after a 8.9-magnitude earthquake and resulting 10-meter-high tsunami devastated the coastline. The United States Geological Survey says it was the fifth largest earthquake since 1900. The largest, with a 9.5 magnitude, shook Chile in 1960. In Japan, the tsunami swept away boats, cars and hundreds of houses in coastal areas north of Tokyo. The quake shook buildings in the Japanese capital and caused several fires. All train and subway traffic in Tokyo has been stopped, and thousands of people there were unable to get back home. People are just trying to find clean water. Food supplies are running out. In the convenience stores, there are no rice balls left. There is no bottled water left. People are facing a really serious situation in the days ahead for these people that are living in areas that were only moderately damaged. The final death toll could range from the thousands to tens of thousands, depending on how many of these communities are gone. Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said the government would do everything it can to minimize the effects of the disaster. And in Washington, President Obama said the United States is ready to help the people of Japan. If you're in Tokyo these days, what you can't get from the convenience store? A newspapers and magazines B some medicine C paper napkins and toothpastes D rice balls and bottled water Answer: D. rice balls and bottled water This summer I will leave the junior high school where I have been for three years. I am generally considered to be a careful and polite boy now. However, five years ago, I was a little bit bossy . I often fought with other boys and sometimes I even fought with my elder sister. When I saw Superman on TV for the first time, I dreamed of being a superman one day. One P.E. class, I called up all of my friends to get together in our classroom. "Can anybody jump out of the window?" I asked them. After hearing this, all my friends kept silent. " _ ," I said. "Can you?" one of my friends asked me. "Sure!" I answered. "If I do it, I will get all the toys that you have. If I fail, you will get all of my toys, OK?" They said, "OK!" Then I went up to the window of the second floor. I took a deep breath and then jumped down, stretching out my arms just like Superman. Then I hit the ground. When I opened my eyes, I found myself lying in the hospital. I was taken to the hospital because my arms were badly hurt. Later, I heard that my P.E. teacher nearly lost his job for this, but I never received the serious punishment I feared. What is the best title for this passage? A An Easy Flight B A "Brave" Superman C A Serious Punishment D My Classmates Answer: B. A "Brave" Superman
55% of deaths caused by road accidents occur in the first few minutes after a crash. Up to 85% of these deaths could be prevented if first aid were given. The first person on the scene of a road accident will almost certainly be another road user. So as a driver your knowledge of first aid could make a real difference to someone in the event of a road accident. Assess conditions Remain calm. Judge the scene and seriousness of the collision. Determine what has happened, how many people and vehicles are involved and the exact location. Determine how many casualties there are, what is the severity of the injuries, whether anyone is trapped, and whether there is a danger of fire. Make safe Make sure you stay safe and keep off the road. If you need to stop or warn approaching cars, signal to them from the pavement. Wear reflective clothing, use warning triangles, flashing lights and warning lights. Don't smoke. If you are in a car and you come across an accident, first park safely and turn off the engine before you get out to help. Use a triangle warning danger if necessary. Consider the safety of others. Don't move the vehicles, look out for dangers -- leaking fuel, chemicals, broken glass or dropping loads -- guide uninjured passengers to a place of safety. Call for help Dial 999 (or 112) for the emergency services. If there is no phone nearby, send two people in opposite directions to seek help. Do this as soon as you can or get someone else to do it while you deal with an injured person. You will need to tell the emergency services: where you are what has happened (describe the accident) how many people are injured whether they are breathing or bleeding. The operator will talk you through what to do while you wait for an ambulance to arrive. Apply emergency first aid Remain calm. Reassure the victims. Do not allow smoking or offer food or drink to casualties as this could _ urgent medical treatment. The passage mainly tells us _ . A radio station broadcasting across a large area is experiencing thunderstorms. How will the radio waves from the station be affected? Now our environment is becoming worse and worse. Everyone wants to live healthily. Here is some information about what our life will be like in ten years. Cars will run on a solar power and will be much cleaner. They will be much safer. For example, if you are too close to another car or if you are driving dangerously, your car will slow down or stop by itself. New cities will be built in the sea. Some cities on water will have two floors. People will live on the second floor, the first floor will be used for traffic, shops and factories. Biotechnology will make food better and healthier. Plants without insects will be developed. The taste of fruit and vegetables will be better and food will be able to keep longer. Many new ways to cure illness will be found. However, some new illness will appear . Solar power cars _ according to the passage. It was on the early afternoon of a mid-October day in 2012. Bismark Mensah, who came to America several months ago, was collecting carts outside a Walmart in Federal Way. It was a part-time job for him. He earned $9.05 an hour in charge of getting carts out of the parking lot. He was used to finding stuff in carts that customers had somehow forgotten -- keys, credit cards, wallets. And he turned them into a customer service. But a particular item stood out. It was a white envelope with a clear window in the middle, and there was a lot of cash in it, around $20,000. Mensah turned them into customer services. Because of what he did that afternoon, Mensah is now the winner of Walmart's national 2013 "Integrity in Action Award". Bismark Mensah says that since the story ran, he has become the model the youth in Ghana (his native country). He is now employed full-time at the Federal Way Walmart, earning $10.95 an hour, up from the $9.05 an hour he earned working part-time. Mensah, 33, no longer collects carts and such. He is in the backroom, dealing with inventory . "I want to learn everything about operating a store like Walmart store," he says. He plans to return to Ghana to run some shops owned by his family. He also plans to go to college and earn a degree in business administration. What's Mensah's future plan? Hello, I'm Linda. This is Jen. She's my mum. She's 38 years old. She's wearing a red coat, a pair of red shoes and a pair of blue pants. She often wears a big hat, too. She is a teacher. And the students in her school like her very much. She likes singing . But she doesn't like playing sports. On Sundays, she goes shopping with me. ,. What is the colour of Jen's shoes?
Question: Women, Race & Class Angela Y Davis PS7.99 Analysing the differences and similarities between the experiences of black and white women, Davis casts new light on the struggle for human rights. The Words to Say it (an autobiographical novel) Marie Cardinal translated by Pat Goodheart PS7.99 Marie Cardinal's groundbreaking book was the first and remains the complete book about the personal experience of psychoanalysis . It reveals her traumatic childhood and institutionalisation , followed by her escape to the cul-de-sac where her analyst lived. There, for many years, she made the journey towards recovery through Freudian psychoanalysis. A worldwide bestseller, translated into eighteen languages, it remains one of the most highly-praised books of our age. Jade Millie Murray PS4.99 Jade Wilson is smart, young, black and ambitious. And she's just been given the chance of a lifetime - a try-out for the Commonwealth Games swimming team. Jade lives with her mum, Jojo, a successful business woman. Jojo is overprotective of Jade, but she has her reasons. As a young model with a wonderful career ahead of her, she fell pregnant with Jade, and, much as she loves her daughter, she's determined not to let anything get in the way of Jade's success. So when Jade starts dating Dicey, there is hell to pay. Will Jade survive her Mum's constant nagging ? And what if she were to get pregnant - would she, could she, do the same as Jojo and give up her career? As things start hotting up with Dicey, Jade is faced with some very tough choices... . The book is very popular with people all over the world. The sentence "there is hell to pay" in the third part probably means _ . A. there are a lot of ghosts B. there is a lot of trouble C. the price has to be paid D. it cost too much to do something Answer: B Question: Blind photography sounds strange.But a striking exhibition of photographs in California argues that it develops as a result of the contemporary art.The show "Sight Unseen", at the California Museum of Photography until Aug.29, includes everything: underwater scenes, landscapes, abstracts and everything else you might expect from a "sighted" photographer. How do the blind take their photographs? Some rely on assistants to set up and then describe the shots , and others just point and shoot in the right place."Just like any good artists," says McCulloh."They have their unique ways of operating." One participating photographer is Pete Eckert, an artist with multiple degrees in design and sculpture who only turned to photography after losing his vision in the mid-1990s.He opens the shutter on his camera and then uses flashlights, lights, and candles to paint his scene on film.A former fashion photographer in Chicago, Weston, lost his vision due to AIDS in 1996 and focuses on images of destruction and disability.His photos are also a star of the show. What do gallery-goers say? "I was very impressed by it.The technique and experience was amazingly different," says John Hesketh, a printmaker in Anaheim."You never have a sense of feeling sorry for these people because they've worked very hard to prove their value." Beyond the praise, however, the exhibition also makes a great example for disabled people everywhere.That point was explained in early May during a discussion on the TV show.At the very end of the talk, one attendee expressed his opinion."This exhibition is extraordinary and revolutionary for many reasons.I think that by being an artist with a disability, you are continuing the work of those people who fought for basic civil rights to gain access and to have a voice.In that way, it's so wonderful that your photographs say it all." The significance of the exhibition lies in the fact that _ . A. the California Museum of Photography receives praises for holding the show. B. the public have a chance to know what the blind people are concerned about. C. the blind photographers have a good place to show their works. D. the exhibition can be very inspiring to the blind in the world. Answer: D Question: A passenger told an air hostess that he needed a cup of water to take his medicine when the plane just took off. She said to him that she would bring him the water in ten minutes. The air hostess was kept so busy that she forgot to give him the water. As a result, the passenger was held up to take his medicine. Thirty minutes later, when the passenger's ring for service sounded, the air hostess hurried over to him with a cup of water, but he refused it. In the following hours on the plane, each time the air hostess passed the passenger, she would ask him with a smile whether he needed help or not. But the passenger never replied to her. When the passenger was going to get off the plane, he asked the air hostess to hand him the passenger' booklet. She knew that he would write down sharp words about her job,but with a smile she handed it to him. Off the plane, the air hostess opened the booklet, and smiled because the passenger wrote, "On the flight, you asked me whether I needed help or not for twelve times in all. How can I refuse your twelve sincere smiles?" At the end of the story, we know the passenger was _ with the air hostess. A. pleased B. unhappy C. angry D. bored Answer: A Question: Every summer, no matter how urgent work schedule is, I take off one day exclusively for my son. We call it dad-son day. This year our third stop was the amusement panic, where we discovered that he was tall enough to ride one of the fastest roller coasters in the world. We experienced through face-stretching turns and circles for ninety seconds. Then, as we stepped off the ride, in a calm voice, he remarked that it was not as exciting as other rides he'd been on. As I listened, I began to sense something seriously out of balance. Throughout the season, I noticed similar events all around me. Parents found it hard to find new stimulations for cold kids. Surrounded by ever-greater stimulation, their young feces were looking disappointed and bored Facing their children's complaints of "nothing to do", parents were spending large numbers of dollars for various forms of entertainment In many cases the money seemed to do little more than buy relief from the terrible complaint of their bored children. This set me thinking the obvious question: "How can it be so hard for kids to find something to do when there's been such a range of stimulating entertainment available to them?" What really worries me is the strength of the stimulation. I watch my little daughter's &ce as she absorbs bloody special effects in movies. Why do children facing such excitement seem starved for more? Thai was, I realized, the point I discovered during my own adolescence that what creates excitement is not going fast, but going faster. Excitement has less to do with speed than changes in speed. I am concerned about the increasing effect of years at these levels of feverish activity. It is no mystery to me why many teenagers appear uninterested and burned out, with a "been there, done that" air of indifference toward much of life. As increasing numbers of friends' children are advised to take medicine to deal with inattentiveness at school or anti-depressants to help with the loss of interest and joy in their lives--I question the role of kids' boredom in some of the diagnoses . My own work is focused on the chemical imbalances and biological factors related to behavioral and emotional disorders. These are complex problems. Yet I've been reflecting more and more on how lie pace of life and the strength of stimulation may be contributing to the rising rates of psychological problems among children and adolescents in our society. The reason why the author felt surprised in the amusement park was that _ . A. his son was not as excited by the roller coasters ride as expected B. his songs enjoyed turns and circles with his face stretched C. his son appeared upset but calm while riding the roller coasters D. his son could keep his balance so well on the fast moving roller coasters Answer: A Question: Meeting people from another culture can be difficult. From the beginning, people may send the wrong signal. Or they may pay no attention to signals from another person who is trying to develop a relationship. Different cultures emphasize the importance of relationship building to a greater or lesser degree. For example, business in some countries is not possible until there is a relationship of trust. Even with people at work, it is necessary to spend a lot of time in "small talk", usually over a glass of tea, before they do any job.In many European countries -- like the UK or France -- people find it easier to build up a lasting working relationship at restaurants or cafes rather than at the office. Talk and silence may also be different in some cultures. I once made a speech in Thailand.I had expected my speech to be a success and start a lively discussion; instead there was an uncomfortable silence. The people present just stared at me and smiled.After getting to know their ways better, I realized that they thought I was talking too much. In my own culture, we express meaning mainly through words, but people there sometimes feel too many words are unnecessary. Even within Northern Europe, cultural differences can cause serious problems. Certainly, English and German cultures share similar values; however, Germans prefer to get down to business more quickly. We think that they are rude. In fact, this is just because one culture starts discussions and makes decisions more quickly. People from different parts of the world have different values, and sometimes these values are quite against each other. However, if we can understand them better, a multicultural environment will offer a wonderful chance for us to learn from each other. The author mentions his experience in Thailand to show that _ . A. the English prefer to make long speeches B. too many words are of no use C. people from Thailand are quiet and shy by nature D. even talk and silence can be culturally different Answer: D
When we buy a house, we all want to have nice neighbours, because most of us think that it is helpful to live with some good neighbours. But what kind of neighbour is good? The answers are different from people to people. Here are my answers. First, it is very important to respect each other. If our neighbours try to know more about our life, what will we feel? He or she may also talk with others about our life. Do you want to live with him or her any more? The answer is "No". We will feel very sad to have this kind of neighbour and move away quickly. Next, a good neighbour is always ready to give us a hand when we need him or her. For example, if we are not at home, our good neighbours will watch our house for us. Finally, a good neighbour should love the environment . He or she never puts rubbish here and there. Good neighbours should keep the place clean, because the good environment can make us comfortable and happy. I think we all should learn to be good neighbours, and I also hope everyone will have good neighbours and live a happy life. We want to have nice neighbours because _ . A. they can share food with us. B. they can tell interesting stories. C. they can make us feel happy. D. it is helpful to live with good neighbours. Answer: D. it is helpful to live with good neighbours. Are you looking for some interesting and meaningful places to take your kids to? Here are some places for you to choose before they grow up: Alaska Not to sound cool, but "it's a good chance to experience a trip through the icebergs. There are over 100,000 glaciers in Alaska, more than anywhere else in the world combined. You can also spot whales and other wildlife, visit the famous Denali National Park, enjoy the landscapes and even learn about the roughly 20 different native languages Spoken there New York City You definitely don't want to be chasing after your shopaholic teens in Manhattan, so plan your trip to _ Apple when the kids are still young enough to enjoy the family-friendly trips! There are several family-friendly Broadway shows to see. You can also bring them for a walk in Central Park, pay a visit to the giant M&M'S store in Times Square, take a City Sightseeing Cruise, get on a boat to see the Statue of Liberty, visit the Brooklyn Children's Museum, and even enjoy a yummy street hot dog Cape Canaveral There are few things m the world as cool as rockets that fly to the outer space, so obviously ,a visit to Cape Canaveral's Kennedy Space Centre is one of the coolest trips you can you're your children on. Though you won't see any more launches from this space station and its retired rockets, you can find out what it feels like to be in the Shuttle Launch Experience flight simulator Plus, it's only one hour away from Orlando, Florida, so if you visit Disney World as well, this quick side trip will be an easy one to make. The Canadian Rockies If you happen to visit the Canadian portion of the nor them Rocky Mountains, a visit to Banff National Park will certainly not disappoint you. There are so many great activities for the whole family to enjoy like wildlife viewing, spaceflight tours, fishing, horseback riding, and hiking. Let your children experience the beauty of the Canadian Rockies and learn more about the history of this impressive UNESCO World Heritage site. What can children do if they go to Alaska? A. See the Statue of Liberty and enjoy Broadway shows. B. Visit Disney World and see some retired rockets. C. Learn the history of a UNESCO world Heritage site and enjoy horse riding. D. Learn some native languages and experience a trip through the icebergs. Answer: D. Learn some native languages and experience a trip through the icebergs. It isn't often that an entire industry is symbolized in the figure of a single human being, and such is the case with Canadian aviation and the aircraft industry. The man is the Hon. John A. D. McCurdy and the life story of this still vigorous , distinguished Canadian is at once and at the same time the thrilling history of aviation's progress in Canada. It all began one cold February day in 1909 at Baddeck, Nova Scotia, when John McCurdy confounded the critics by flying the Silver Dart, an aircraft designed by himself, for half a mile over the ice of Brasdeor Lakes. This was the first powered flight in Canada and the first by a British subject in the Commonwealth. McCurdy gave proof of his flying ability and of the development and the use of the aileron by being the first man in the world to carry out a figure high in the air. He became the first to pilot a flying boat, taking off from Long Island Sound. He flew the first airplane to Mexico. In 1911 he had made the longest flight to date, and that over open sea 90 miles from Key West to Havana. He won the first crosscountry race in Canada 40 miles from Hamilton to Toronto and he transmitted the first radio message from aircraft. When World WarIIcame, McCurdy took on board supervisory authority for Canadian aircraft production by serving with the government in various senior positions. Following World WarII, McCurdy was honored by being made lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia where he made Canada's first historic flight. He now lives in Montreal with a summer home in Baddeck, site of his first flight. According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true about McCurdy? A. He was a Canadian. B. He is regarded as the symbol of Canadian aviation and aircraft industry. C. He is the first man to finish a figure high in the air. D. He now lives in Baddeck. Answer: D. He now lives in Baddeck. In 1991, Kentucky Fried Chicken announced that it was officially changing its name to "KFC" as well as updating its packaging and logo with a more modern look. The public relations reason was that health-conscious consumers associated the word "fried" with "unhealthy", causing some of them to completely avoid the wide variety of "healthy" menu items. The new title and image were designed to attract customers to a restaurant now offering foods branded as "better for you". It sounded good, but the real reason behind the shift to KFC had nothing to do with critical consumers. In 1990, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, trapped in debt, took the unusual step of trade marking its name. Therefore, anyone using the word "Kentucky" for business reasons would have to obtain permission and pay licensing fees to the Commonwealth of Kentucky. It was an unusual and brilliant scheme to lighten government debt, but it was also one that alienated one of the most famous companies ever associated with Kentucky. The Kentucky Fried Chicken chain refused as a matter of principle to pay royalties on a name they had been using for four decades. After a year of fruitless talks, Kentucky Fried Chicken changed their name instead, introducing new packaging and products to hide the real reasons behind the change of the name. Kentucky fried Chicken was not the only one who bravely refused to give in. The name of the most famous horse race in North America, held every year at Churchill Downs, was changed to "The Run for the Roses" for similar reasons. In November 2006, KFC and the State of Kentucky finally reached a settlement over the use of the trademarked word "Kentucky", and the restaurant chain announced it would be reusing its former name of "Kentucky Fried Chicken". The public relations reason for Kentucky Fried Chicken's updating its packaging and logo was that _ . A. it was losing money B. most customers didn't like the old logo C. it wanted to get involved in other businesses D. it decided to offer better foods to customers Answer: D. it decided to offer better foods to customers When I was six years old, my mother started making me take piano lessons. Every morning, she would make sure I sat in front of the piano and practiced for at least one hour. After two years, I still didn't like it. When the time for my Grade I examination, I couldn't go through with it. I cried because I didn't want to play the piano anymore. In the end, I was spared from going for any more lessons. That was the end of my music career. When I look back at that time, I ask myself--why did I do that for two years? I didn't think abut it then but the answer seems obvious now--I didn't think I had a choice. Then for twelve years, I felt that my life had no meaning. I felt that I really couldn't go on. I kept waiting for something outside of me to happen to make me happy. But the universe intervened and sent me help disguised in the form of a sales call. One afternoon a lady called me about a Tony Robbins event called Unleash the Power Within. Part of me was curious; but when the time came, I still was considering if I should go in or go to the beach instead. I made a choice to give it a try. In that hall filled with 4,000 people, Tony gave me back something I never knew I had---the power of choice. I left there renewed and refreshed, excited about my new life, knowing from that point forward that in life there are no victims, only choices. To this day, I sometimes wonder how differently my life would have turned out if I had missed taking that sales call. Sometimes in life, we are stuck in certain situations and it may seem that there is nothing we can do about it. Just remember that everything in life is about choice. You can make a choice to remove yourself from any situation that is not serving you right now. The question is---will you? In the author's opinion, the sales call is _ . A. to promote certain kind of products to him. B. to help him in a different form. C. to give him a chance to make a choice. D. to interfere his normal life. Answer: B. to help him in a different form.
The Crouch quadruplets have always been considered quite special but not so special---all four have been accepted into America's Yale University. Dean at the university, Jeffrey Brenzel, said the admission for Kenny, Martina, Ray and Carol, all 18-year-old students at Danbury High School in Connecticut , was probably the first for the university. "The living memory in the office here shows that we've just had twins, never quadruplets," he told the reporters. "They are all interesting and quite smart in their own way. They are extremely lively kids, very attractive, but clearly four different people. They are all in the top 10 percent of the class." The quadruplets explained to The New York Times how they nervously logged on one by one to the Yale website to discover their fates, First was Ray, who described how the screen suddenly turned Yale blue and displayed the university's bulldog mascot with the message "welcome to the Class of 2014". "We just kept logging on and screaming, logging on and screaming,' Martina, last to find out, said in an interview with the local television station WINH-TV. Until May 1 they have to decide whether to accept Yale's offers and part of the decision will come down to money, they told the Times. Their father Steven works as a case manager with the Connecticut mental health department and their mother, Caroline, who originally came from Nigeria, is studying for her master's degree in social work, according to the Times. Ranked as one of the top three universities in the US after Harvard and Princeton, Yale's school fees each year can be as high as 36,500 dollars, which would land the Crouch family with a very heavy load by the time they graduate in 2014. How much money will their parents spend on their four-year schooling ? Answer: $584,000 On Sunday, our family went for a picnic. Mom, dad, Alice, Sissy (our dog), and I got in the van and drove to the park. Alice and I played fetch with Sissy. Dad fired up the grill and made some hamburgers. Mom made some salad. Mom asked me to spread the picnic cloth. Sissy wanted to help me too. Once the burgers were ready, we sat down to eat. They were delicious, I ate two! Alice only ate one hamburger. I didn't like the salad because I don't like carrots. Mom says they're good for me. Sissy doesn't like carrots either. After lunch, I played with dad and Alice played with mom and Sissy. Dad and I were flying a kite. Alice and mom played with flowers. Then we packed up the van and went home. I fell asleep on the way home. Sunday was a lot of fun. I want to do it again! What was mom doing at the beginning? Answer: Making a salad New findings suggest that brainy card games such as contract bridge may temporarily raise production of a key blood cell including in fighting off illness. After 90 minutes of play, bridge players had increased level of immune cell, according to research reported last week. A researcher, Diamond, studies bridge players from a woman's bridge club. She chose bridge players because the game includes skills stimulating a part of the brain called the dorsolateral cortex. Earlier animal research suggests that this part of the brain may play a role in the immune system. The findings are based on blood samples drawn from 12 women players. Their blood samples showed a rise in levels of white blood cells called T cells after they played bridge for 90 minutes. T cells are produced by the thymus gland and used by the immune system against diseases. The T cells count jumped significantly in eight of the bridge players, and slightly in the other four. The findings contribute to the field of neuroimmunology , whose name reflects the fact that the nervous system and the immune system are not considered separate and isolated systems. What isn't clear is whether the help to the immune system from an activity like contract bridge is lasting or temporary. It's also not clear whether the increase in T cells could finally be targeted against special illness. Diamond chose to study bridge players for the research because _ . Answer: this game stimulates a part of the brain that has something to do with immune system A friend of mine was fond of drawing horse. He drew the horses very well, but he always began the tail. Now it is the Western rule to begin at the head of the horse, that is why I was surprised. It struck me that it could not really make any difference whether the artist begins at the head or the tail or the belly or the foot of the horse, if he really knows his business. And most great artists who really know their business do not follow other people's rule. They make their own rules. Every one of them does his work in a way peculiar( ) to himself; and the peculiarity means only that he finds it more easy to work in that way. Now the very same thing is true to literature. And the question, "How shall I begin?" only means that you want to begin at the head instead of beginning at the tail or somewhere else. That is, you are not yet experienced enough to trust to your own powers. When you become more experienced you will never ask the question, and I think that you will often begin at the tail -- that is to say, you will write the end of the story before you have even thought of the beginning. A friend of the writer's drew the horses _ . Answer: in the way of his own rule When I was quite young, I discovered that somewhere inside the telephone lived an amazingperson - "Information Please" and there was nothing she did not know. One day while my mother was out, I hit my finger with a hammer. The pain was terrible, but there was no one home to give me any sympathy. I walked around the house, finally arriving at the telephone! Quickly, I called "Information Please" and told her what happened. She told me to open the icebox and hold a little piece of ice to my finger. After that, I called "Information Please" for everything. When my pet bird died, I told "Information Please" the sad story. She tried to comfort me, she said quietly, "Paul, always remember that there are other worlds to sing in." Somehow I felt better. Another day I was on the telephone, "How do you spell 'grateful'? ". All this took place in a small town in the Pacific Northwest. When I was 9, we moved to Boston. A few years later, on my way to college, my plane put down in Seattle. I had about half an hour or so between planes. Without thinking, I dialed my hometown operator and said, "Information, please." Surprisingly, I heard the small, clear voice I knew so well, "Information." I hadn't planned on this but I heard myself saying, "Could you please tell me how to spell 'grateful'?" There was a long pause. Then came the soft-spoken answer, "I guess your finger must have healed by now." I laughed. "So it's really still you," I said, "I wonder if you have any idea how much you meant to me during that time." I told her how often I had thought of her over the years and asked if I could call her again. "Please do," she said, "Just ask for Sally." Three months later I was back in Seattle. A different voice answered me. I was told that Sally passed away five weeks before. Before I could hang up she told me that Sally left a message for me--"Tell him I still say there are other worlds to sing in. He'll know what I mean." I thanked her and hung up. I knew what Sally meant. Never underestimate the impression you may make on others. Whose life have you touched today? When did the author get in touch with "Information, Please" again after he moved to Boston? Answer: When his plane stopped in Seattle for half an hour.
A wise man once said that the only thing necessary for the victory of evil is for good men to do nothing. So, as a police officer, I have some urgent things to say to good people. Day after day my men and I struggle to hold back a tidal wave of crime. Something has gone terribly wrong with our once-proud American way of life. It has happened in the area of values. A key ingredient is disappearing, and I think I know what it is: accountability. Accountability isn't hard to define. It means that every person is responsible for his or her actions and liable for their consequences. Of the many values that hold civilization together --- honesty, kindness, and so on --- accountability may be the most important of all. Without it, there can be no respect, no trust, no law --- and, ultimately, no society. My job as a police officer is to impose accountability on people who refuse, or have never learned, to impose it on themselves. But as every policeman knows, external controls on people's behavior are far less effective than internal restraints such as guilt, shame and embarrassment. Fortunately there are still communities --- smaller towns, usually --- where schools maintain discipline and where parents hold up standards that declare: "In this family certain things are not tolerated --- they simply are not done!" Yet more and more, especially in our larger cities and suburbs, these inner restraints are loosening. Your typical robber has none. He considers your property his property; he takes what he wants, including your life if you annoy him. The main cause of this breakdown is a radical shift in attitudes. Thirty years ago, if a crime was committed, society was considered the victim. Now, in a shocking reversal, it's the criminal who is considered victimized: by his underprivileged upbringing, by the school that didn't teach him to read, by the church that failed to reach him with moral guidance, by the parents who didn't provide a stable home. I don't believe it. Many others in equally disadvantaged circumstances choose not to engage in criminal activities. If we free the criminal, even partly, from accountability, we become a society of endless excuses where no one accepts responsibility for anything. We in America desperately need more people who believe that the person who commits a crime is the one responsible for it.. Compared with those in small towns, people in large cities have _ . A person catches and measures a large fish called a halibut. She thinks that this halibut is above average in size. To help support her thinking, it would be most helpful to measure YUXI, China -- Many people of this city in southwester China spent Saturday night in tents, too scared to sleep in their homes after an earthquake which killed 188 people early that morning. Countless homes were destroyed and lots of people became homeless after the earthquake which is believed to have a magnitude of 7. The quake was not as serious as the 7.9-magnitude earthquake in 2008 that left more than 70,000 people dead in the Wenchuan area. But villagers who work in Chengdu, about 100 miles away, hurried back home Sunday morning, many on foot, the lucky ones on motorbikes, to check on their homes. Song Yuanqing, 43, a worker, arrived back after a 22-hour trip and found his house was still there but had already been very unstable . "We would like to do something, but we can't do anything," Mr. Song said as he sat with neighbors around an outdoor fire built by the village leader in his backyard. In all, the government sent about 7,000 soldiers and People's Armed Police officers to the earthquake-hit area. By Saturday evening, there were so many rescue workers in the area that the government asked volunteers to stop coming. Li Keqiang, China's prime minister, flew to the area and slept in a tent on Saturday evening in Lushan County. The earthquake shook Sichuan Province at 8 a.m., when people were getting up a little later than usual because schools and universities were closed. "We were just getting up and getting dressed in our dormitory when the building shook, and I looked outside from our window and saw a row of houses had collapsed," Xu Yan, 22, a student at the Agricultural University in Ya'an, said in a telephone interview. " _ ." The Chinese government said early Sunday that the death toll was 174, and about 5,700 people had been injured. The earthquake was also felt in Chengdu, one of China's biggest cities and the capital of Sichuan Province. People described water getting out of home aquariums and things like balls falling to the floor. In the town of Longmen, another hard-hit area near Ya'an, a local man, Zhang Yan, said 90 percent of the buildings had collapsed. "About 100 people died around here," Ms. Zhang said in a telephone interview. "Rescue teams have not yet arrived. There is no water or electricity." In the 2008 quake, many schools of poor quality collapsed and killed thousands of students. This time, many people also expressed their worries about students on their micro-blogs. Sichuan Province is also one of China's best-known hometowns for pandas, and at the Bifengxia reserve, about six miles north of Ya'an, workers said that 20 pandas in the park were safe. "We examined the panda area after the quake, and they were not affected," said Chen Yong, an officer of the reserve. Why did many people hurriy home after the earthquake. If plants are chilled in evening air, Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed Wednesday that the socialist path China has followed is "correct," and it is the choice of the "history and people." Citing the remarkable achievements China has made over the past 37 years when it initiated the reform and opening-up policy, Xi noted that it only took several decades for China to complete the journey the developed countries have gone through for centuries. "That fully shows that the Chinese people are following a correct path," the president said while addressing a banquet hosted by Lord Mayor of the City of London Alan Yarrow on Wednesday evening. Meanwhile, he _ that China will stay committed to a peaceful development path and does not accept the logic that a country will seek hegemony(,) once it gets strong. "No one and nothing -- in any reason -- can influence China's determination and will to pursue the path of peaceful development," he said. In his speech, the president also explained in detail about the development of friendly relations between China and Britain, citing tea culture, literature, movies, TV dramas, football and cultural exchanges. He specifically referred to Shakespeare's influence on him by sharing the story of his youth time in the countryside, when he was deeply attracted by the master's works. "The China-Britain friendship has been deeply rooted in the hearts of our two peoples. And there is a solid foundation in public opinion and in society for the two countries to grow long-term relations," he added. According to this passage, which of the following statements is NOT TRUE?
Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei province, has issued smog warnings for three days since Monday because of serious air pollution. The lingering smog forced construction sites to stop work and primary and middle schools to suspend outdoor activities. From Monday through Wednesday, the city's air quality index reading remained high, with the highest reading at 323, with PM2.5, or particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns, as the main pollutant, according to the city's meteorological bureau. Any reading over 300 is considered "seriously polluted". The city experienced at least eight heavily polluted days in the first two weeks of December, with the air quality index reading reaching a high of 440, China News Service reported. Among those affected was a square dancing team in Jiang'an district, which had to stop daily practices after several members fell ill. Square dancing is a common open-air fitness practice across China, with most of the participants middle-aged or elderly women. Media reported the leader of one dancing team had to go to a hospital after she had an asthma attack on Dec 11. Identified only as Fang, 65, the dance team leader said she decided to suspend the practices after she learned her illness was caused by smog, and after several other members also fell ill, the report said. The city plans to invest 28 billion yuan ($4.61 billion) in air pollution control by 2017. The plan says the city will boost the development of clean energy vehicles for public transportation and remove all of the current 140,000 heavy-polluting vehicles from Wuhan's roads by the end of 2016. What's the main idea of the passage? Answer: Wuhan issued smog warnings for three days because of smog. Singapore is a country with 42% of its population foreign born. Singaporeans, even those of the same ethnic group , have many different first languages and cultures. For example, within the Singaporean Chinese group, nearly a third speak English as their home language while almost half speak Standard Chinese as their home language and the rest speak various Chinese dialects as their home language. Due to these reasons, the English fluency level of people in Singapore varies vastly from person to person. Most reasonably educated Singaporeans do speak Singapore Standard English, alternatively known as Educated Singapore English, which, grammatically, is not different from standard British English, with changes being limited to accent and a few borrowed words, causing few challenges to any native Britons. Singapore English derives its roots from the 146 years of British colonial rule over Singapore until its independence in 1965. Before 1965, the standard form of English in Singapore had always been British English. After Singapore declared independence, English in Singapore began to take a life of its own, leading to the development of modern Singapore English. English had been the official language of the colonial government, and when Singapore gained self-government in 1959, the local government decided to keep English as the main language in order to help develop economy. The use of English as the nation's first language serves to bridge the gap between different ethnic groups in Singapore. English is the global language for commerce, technology and science, and improvement of English also helps to expedite Singapore's development and it becomes important part of the global economy. There is an increasing trend of Singaporeans speaking English at home. For children who started primary school in 2009, 60% of Chinese along with 60% Indian pupils and 35% of Malay pupils mainly speak English at home. Because many Singaporeans grew up with English as their first language in school, some Singaporean Chinese may not be able to speak Standard Chinese. How many people in Singapore are native? Answer: Nearly sixty percent of the population. The Late Heavy Bombardment was a period of extensive comet impact on Earth about 3.8 billion years ago. Scientists believe this period provided much of the matter now found in which part of the Earth system? Answer: hydrosphere Page last updated at 04:08, Friday, Nov. 22, 2013 US _ jet leaves tiny airport A Boeing 747 Dreamlifter cargo plane has safely taken off from a tiny airport in Kansas after it landed there by mistake. The huge cargo jet had been heading for McConnell air force base in Wichita, but instead touched down at nearby Colonel James Jabara airport. No one was injured and no property damage occurred when the plane landed. There had been questions as to whether the aircraft would be able to depart from the much shorter runway at Jabara. The Dreamlifter normally needs a runway of 2,780m (9,119ft) to get into the air at maximum weight; Jabara's runway is only 1,860m long. A tug was sent to the airport to turn around the huge cargo plane. Brad Christopher of the Wichita Airport Authority told the Associated Press news agency that the company operating the aircraft had assured us they've run all the engineering calculation and performance and the aircraft is very safe for a normal departure at its present weight and conditions here. The Dreamlifter, which landed at Jabara on Wednesday evening, is a modified 747-400 passenger aeroplane, which can carry more cargo than any aeroplane in the world, according to Boeing. The aerospace company uses its fleet of four Dreamlifters to transport large assembled components of its 787 Dreamliner from suppliers around the world to the final location in Washington State. What's the main idea of the news? Answer: A US huge cargo plane has left a tiny airport after a wrong landing. Many animals do strange things before an earthquake.This news may be important. Earthquakes can kill people and knock down houses.Animals may help to save lives. Some animals make a lot of noise before an earthquake.Farmers know about this.Dogs that are usually quiet start to bark.Horses on farms run around in circles.Mice leave their holes and run away.Cows give less milk. In a town in Italy, cats raced down the street in a group.That happened only a few hours before an earthquake.In San Francisco.a man kept tiny pet frogs.One Sunday, the frogs jumped around more than ever.They made loud noise.That night, an earthquake struck the city.People want to know when an earthquake is coming.Then they could get away safely.Right now, there is no sure way to know ahead of time.Maybe the best way is to watch the animals. People want to _ . Answer: find out early about an earthquake
Question: Are you reading this while sitting in an office cubicle ? If so, please take a moment and glance around you. Are there photos of your last vacation hung on the wall? One of your kid's drawings? A yellowed print of a favorite cartoon? If so, you are doing something good for both yourself and your organization. Newly published research suggests working in an environment that offers little privacy can lead to emotional exhaustion and burnout . But personalizing one's workplace is an effective protection against such unwanted outcomes. "Individuals may take comfort from the items with which they surround themselves at work, and these items may help employees to keep emotional energy high in the face of stresses that come from their work," writes a research team led by Gregory Laurence of the University of Michigan-Flint, Michigan, in north central U.S. In the Journal of Environmental Psychology, Laurence and his colleagues describe a study featuring 87 white-collar employees at a large, urban university in the Midwestern United States. Research assistants noted whether they worked in a private office (with a door that can be closed) or a cubicle. They also counted the number of items each worker had brought from home to decorate his or her workspace - a list that included photographs, posters, artworks. Not surprisingly, Laurence and his colleagues found a connection between the amount of privacy an employee enjoys and his or her rate of burnout. "High privacy conditions tend to serve as strong protectors against unwelcome interferences and distractions ," they noted, "contributing to a work environment supporting reduced emotional exhaustion." But this link disappeared when those employees had personalized their cubicles. Employees who had turned their workspaces into areas that reflect their interests and personalities reported the same (relatively low) level of emotional exhaustion, no matter whether they worked in an office or a cubicle. The research confirms "the calming effect" of having your own stuff around you. So if you're feeling exhausted at work, relief could be as simple as hanging a few of your kindergartener's colorful creations on your cubicle wall. Who might be most interested in the passage? A. Job hunters. B. Office workers. C. Kid's parents D. Employment researchers. Answer: B. Office workers. Question: Amsterdam is one of the most beautiful cities in Holland . It is the capital of Holland. There are many big squares and nice museums. Hundreds and thousands of people from all over the world visit there every year. Riding bicycles is a fun and easy way to get around Amsterdam. Most students go to school by bicycle. People ride their bicycles to work. Even the policemen work on bicycles. There are many roads and traffic signs for bicycles in Amsterdam. There are also many places for bicycle parking. If you travel in Amsterdam, you don't need to take a bus or a taxi, just ride a bicycle. You can reach more places by bicycle than by any other way. It is also fantastic to go for a ride. There are a lot of bicycle shops in Amsterdam. You can buy yourself a nice bicycle at a good price in the shops. If you don't wants to buy a bicycle, you can go to a bicycle rental . You can find one in almost every place of the city. You'd better find a guide when you are travelling in Amsterdam. Because he would take you to some of the city's most beautiful places. Riding bicycles in Amsterdam is great fun and relaxing. But there is one thing you must keep in mind. You should always follow the traffic rules. What can't you get from this passage? A. You can buy a bicycle by yourself. B. You can go to a bicycle rental to borrow one. C. You can borrow a bicycle in some special bicycle shops for free. D. There are also many car rentals there. Answer: C. You can borrow a bicycle in some special bicycle shops for free. Question: Dawn brought a chocolate bar for lunch, but the chocolate melted in her backpack. Dawn wants to perform a scientific investigation to determine the reason her chocolate bar melted in her backpack. Which hypothesis should Dawn use for her investigation? A. Chocolate will taste better when melted. B. Chocolate will taste the same even when melted. C. If the chocolate is broken then the chocolate will melt. D. If heat is added to chocolate then the chocolate will melt. Answer: D. If heat is added to chocolate then the chocolate will melt. Question: Every Thursday afternoon,my art history class meets not in our usual lecture hall but in the Yale University Art Gallery. We spend our one-hour class discussing two or three of the paintings,many of which are by artists that we have already studied in class. The professor begins by selecting one work of art.After giving us a quick background on the artist,he'll open up for our class discussion.Everyone is strongly encouraged to give opinions about the work.Not every piece we study is necessarily famous or striking in appearance and subject matter.Yet we always manage to make some interesting observations. In America,professors always take every opportunity to push textbooks aside and expose students to real world experiences. With some creativity, almost any subject can be applied to such beyond classroom learning.My art history class trips to the gallery are but one example. Many other subjects also offer opportunities to learn outside the classroom,such as business,psychology, art,journalism and biology. A friend of mine from Yale taking an advanced psychology course spends every Saturday working with mentally disabled children.Her mornings are spent staying with the kids and studying their sometimes uncontrolled behavior.Then in the afternoon she writes a report on her observations. Students generally appreciate these unique learning opportunities. They're almost always fun and interesting,and professors like them because students learn so much in just a few short months. No one denies the value of classroom learning,but it can only take students so far.Slides and textbooks may do a good j ob of carrying facts and dates,but creativity and originality of thought cannot be taught.They can only be got through firsthand experience. The writer holds the opinion that _ . A. learning outside the classroom is the best way B. teachers should develop students creativity C. professors had better shorten their lectures D. students should put their textbooks away Answer: B. teachers should develop students creativity Question: Our world is a noisy place, but quiet places remain. Eight years ago, audio engineer Gordon Hempton identified the quietest place in the continental United States. He calls the place "One Square Inch of Silence." He has used his symbolic spot in a northwestern rain forest to campaign against noise pollution. But the self-described "Sound Tracker" is now going deaf. For Gordon Hempton, it started with an experience known to many people. "I was lying in the bed in the springtime about a year ago. The sun was shining. The birds could be singing. They should be singing. But I was hearing none. I knew my life was going to be different." Hempton's eyes get watery as he describes his cruel situation. More than 20 years ago he trademarked his nickname as "The Sound Tracker." Sharp hearing defined his career as an Emmy award winning sound recordist. It also led to his activism against noise pollution. He has circled the globe three times in search of the perfect sounds of nature. Hempton says his hearing loss is quickly getting worse but he has to finish his project. "I am running a race to finish the Quiet Planet collection." That's the title of a planned 19-volume set of nature recordings. The sound tracks could be licensed for use in movies, video games, exhibits, plays and the like. Volunteer assistants now help Hempton review and edit sound files and identify imperfections. The exact cause of his hearing loss is not clear. Doctors say it may be the result of an infection, or a tumor or a combination of things. Hempton is self-employed. His health care plan does not pay for hearing loss treatment. So, for now, he's directing his attention to completing his "greatest hits" album. "After I get it finished, I have an economic cash flow to get my hearing back. That's the first thing on my to-do list." He's hopeful his hearing loss can be recovered. How did Gordon Hempton feel when he knew his ears were going deaf? A. Curious. B. Sad C. Annoyed. D. Inspired. Answer: B. Sad

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