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Name: Edward Scott School: Revin Grove State High School Grade: 7 Term ending: 6 May Subjects : Mathematics He is a little weak in this, but he has tried his best to catch up with others. Science He can work out many difficulties.Well done! French He is the best in the class.Keep it up. History He is not so good at this, but has done better than before. Geography He is familiar with the names of many places in the world. Music He doesn't like pop songs, though sings very well. Conduct: Fair No.in class: 9 Absences: 8 Remarks : Edward has the ability to do a lot better.More work is needed next term. Class teacher: Ivy Principal: M.L.Martin School reopens: 11 September Edward's best subject is _ . _ Pass for a native. Pimsleur courses help people who need to speak another language quickly. Our courses took 40 years to develop and are now used by the FBI, CIA, and business professionals everywhere. They are so effective that you have nothing to lose! You will get everything in 10 days: * Language instruction that is proven effective * No boring charts or meaningless rules 8 fluency-oriented lessons on 4 audio CDs (or cassettes) Audio teaching with a 25-year history of success. Full 30-day money-back guarantee Special offers on our more advanced courses There are so many reasons to learn a new language with the Pimsleur approach : * Speak without an accent so you sound like a native. Form new sentences that sound right and make sense. Practice what is natural to you in English. Feel safe and confident. You will know how to deal with any situation. Protect your busy life. 30-minute lessons are perfect for your lunch break or workout. Remember without trying. Material is scientifically arranged so you remember without pain. *Join 25 million people who have graduated with success since 1980. The purpose of the course ; The entire Pimsleur approach is what language learning should be : quick, fun and easy J Many foreign language students have difficulty in learning. Their textbooks teach boring drills, grammar rules and lists of words. But textbooks alone can never bring it all together. Your only real goal in taking any language course is to speak naturally with others. You will keep building on what you have learned. Best of all,Pimsleur courses do not waste your time by cramming grammar down your throat. You learn to recognize what sounds right through practice. What does the ad promise? In times of economic crisis. Americans turn to their families for support. If the Great Depression is any guide, we may see a drop in our skyhigh divorce rate. But this won't necessarily represent. an increase in happy marriages. In the long run, the Depression weakened American families, and the current crisis will probably do the same. We tend to think of the Depression as a time when families pulled together to survive huge job losses, By 1932. when nearly one-quarter of the workforce was unemployed, the divorce rate had declined by around 25% from 1929 But this doesn't mean people were suddenly happier with their marriages. Rather, with incomes decreasing and insecure jobs, unhappy couples often couldn't afford to divorce. They feared neither spouse could manage alone. Today, given the job losses of the past year, fewer unhappy couples will risk starting separate households, Furthermore, the housing market meltdown will make it more difficult for them to finance their separations by selling their homes. After financial disasters family members also tend to do whatever they can to help each other and their communities, A 1940 book. The Unemployed Man and His Family, described a family in which the husband initially reacted to losing his job "with tireless search for work."He was always active, looking for odd jobs to do. The problem is that such an impulse is hard to sustain Across the country, many similar families were unable to maintain the initial boost in morale . For some, the hardships of life without steady work eventually overwhelmed their attempts to keep their families together. The divorce rate rose again during the rest of the decade as the recovery took hold. Millions of American families may now be in the initial stage of their responses to the current crisis, working together and supporting one another through the early months of unemployment. Today's economic crisis could well generate a similar number of couples whose relationships have been irreparably ruined. So it's only when the economy is healthy again that we'll begin to see just how many broken families have been created. In the Great Depression many unhappy couples close to stick together because China is now sending more college students to study in the United States than any other country. A new report shows a 23 percent increase in the number of Chinese students coming to the U.S. The latest edition of the annual Institute of International Education(IIE)and another US institute found a 5 percent rise in the number of international university students in the US compared to one year ago. There are now over 157, 000 Chinese students at U.S. colleges and universities. Aisa accounted for four of the top five countries and regions to take advantage of the US higher education system. "Increased numbers of students from China, particularly at the undergraduate level, largely accounts for the growth this past year," the report stated. "They really enroll in a full range of US higher education," said Peggy Blumenthal, senior counselor to the president of IIE, the group that made the report. "20 years ago, students from China only knew of a handful of US insitiutions, but now, they are enrolling in our community colleges, in our small liberal arts institutions, in the research universities. Really spread across the country," she said. Chinese mainland was in the number one spot, while India was the number two country of origin. South Korea was third and Canada was number four. China's Taiwan held the number five spot. Saudi Arabia was in sixth with a 44-percent increase, while Japan was seventh, down 14 percent. Blumenthal attributes the increase in the number of Chinese students heading to US colleges to limited university places in China, as well as a feeling from students and their parents than they want a "unique" educational experience. China's family planning policy, says Blumenthal, has also meant that families can concentrated resources on a single child. The University of California at Los Angeles has one of the largest Asian student populations of any college in the United States. Why is the number of Chinese students going to the US increasing? Do you dream of being a reporter or an editor? Are you a good writer who loves the news? If so, then you may have what it takes to be a winner in the TFK Kid Reporter Talent Search. We're looking for 12 students from around the nation to be members of the TFK Kid Reporter Team for the 2008-2009 school year. Next year's team will continue the tradition of reporting local and regional news stories for TIME FOR KIDS magazine and TIME FOR KIDS online. Professional journalists from TIME magazine and TIME FOR KIDS will select this exclusive team. In the past, TFK kid Reporters have Interviewed national leaders, celebrities and other newsmakers. Written news stories, reviews and opinion pieces for TIME FOR KIDS. Appeared on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, Today and The Tonight Show with another famous kid Jay Leno to talk about their work. How to Enter Get the official rules at time for . Entries must be postmarked by Dec. 20, 2008. Good luck! This ad is written for _ .
A Brooklyn man who was quarreling with his girlfriend yesterday threw a dog off the balcony of her 23rd-story apartment in TriBeCa, killing it, the police said. The man, John Jefferson, 43, of Bedford-Stuyvesant, has been charged with robbery, criminal possession of a weapon and animal cruelty, the police said. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital Center yesterday for psychiatric evaluation , they said. The incident began shortly before 11 a.m., the police said, when Mr. Jefferson went to visit his girlfriend, Eugenia Miller, 41, at her apartment on 80 North Moore Street. She had filed a police report on Friday accusing Mr. Jefferson of stealing from her, but yesterday she allowed him in and they began arguing, the police said. Mr. Jefferson threatened Ms. Miller with a knife, and she called 911, the police said. When officers arrived at her door, she ran into the hallway and Mr. Jefferson stayed in the apartment, they said. Mr. Jefferson began throwing Ms. Miller's things off the balcony, first the television, the air-conditioner and clothes, then her dog, Ribsy, the police and witnesses said. The dog had lived in the neighborhood for more than a decade and was well liked by children. "He was like a person and he would hang out with us guys or go visit kids at the basketball court," said neighbors. From the passage we know that _ . Answer: Cob is a six-year-old boy. An aid organization brought him to the farm run by Joy from another province. Both Cob's parents died of serious disease when he was a two-month-old baby. His eighty-year-old grandmother treated him badly. He developed a disease over time, which led to him being unable to keep things in mind well; on the other hand, there was nothing good for him to bear in mind as well. When he first arrived at the farm, it appeared to him like a huge playground. Cob plyed around, hid behind trees and bushes, and enjoyed this new area. Over time, he gained confidence, chose Joy as his new mother, and let her carry him around. Amy, Joy's real daughter, the same age as Cob, had to learn to share her mother with the other child. She also needed to see the other children as her brothers or sisters and accept them although she may be unwilling to do so. In the beginning, Cob did not use the facilities on the farm. Slowly Joy tried to help him use them and during the day, he kept on with them but not at night. All attempts to send him to school failed. As soon as he arrived there, he ran off into the wide world like a free rabbit. He enjoyed running around in school rather than doing what teachers told him to do. Finally, the head teacher announced that the school was not suitable for Cob. Cob had to go back to the farm. At daytime, he watched adults and elder children bicycle and if there was any chance, he took a bicycle, then pushed and pulled it up and down the hill. One day Cob found there was a small bicycle standing next to the big ones. It was a gift for him! It was new with wheels on each side of the back wheel, which was just right for a little child without any experience in riding a bicycle. Cob pushed it up the hill, got on it and off from time to time. From then on Cob began riding his bicycle every day. Although he often fell and got hurt, he went on. During rainy days, he stored the bicycle in his room and slept close to it at night. Maybe even in his dreams he was happy -- he had found the entrance to a happy and satisfying life. Upon being taken to the farm, Cob felt _ . Answer: 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 and 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 then 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. The author wrote the passage to Answer: What a great Paralympic Games this has been. An outstanding Opening Ceremony, splendid athletic performances in perfect stadiums, the best-ever Paralympic Villages, amazing high definition television coverage, a never ending and self-generating supply of passion and emotion, superb organization, wonderful volunteers, millions of new Paralympic sports lovers both here in China and around the world. These are the greatest Paralympic Games ever. --Philip Craven, president of the International Paralympic Committee It was another spectacular show. Perhaps it's not quite as sublimely beautiful as the opening, but a fitting end to what has been a memorable 12 days in the Chinese capital. The Paralympics were inspiring. Not only the Paralympians themselves, but also the warmth of people in Beijing and the sense of self-respect among the disabled in China that these Games seem to have inspired, as well as a new attitude in general from the government and form Chinese society as a whole. -- Jeff Z. prefix = st1 /Klein,New YorkTimes It doesn't get any better for disabled persons living in Beijingthan September 2008, with increased access for them in public areas. But there are still problems. Some taxi drivers are not willing to pick up wheelchair users. Some companies deliberately break employment laws that ask them to employ a percentage of disabled persons. Many schools haven't opened their door to disabled students. During the past Paralympics, Chinese society has witnessed firsthand the abilities of disabled persons in sporting. And the next step will be for the abilities of disabled people on the Paralympics to be translated into a realization of their abilities to study, work and go about daily life in a barrier-free society. -- Eric Roeder, China Daily Eric Roeder thinks _ . Answer: Recently I paid a visit to Harvard University, where there are top class scientists and professors and the best academic system in the world. I was pretty shocked when I first stepped onto the campus. Well, it's not even really a campus. It's more like a district in a small town. Harvard's main buildings are from the 18thcentury. They look very old and simple. You might even say they're a little shabby. They don't fit the modern idea of university at all. The buildings are surrounded by grass and trees, so I felt as if I had walked into a medieval castle. But when I looked across the street, busy shops and in-fashion students made me feel like I was in the 21stcentury again. It creates a strong contrast and brings a special atmosphere to the school. Our tour guide Gary took us around and told us, "You see this grass field in the center of the school? Here is where they host their graduation ceremony. They just set up tents and benches and have a very simple ceremony. Unbelievable! Who would think the most talented students just graduate on the lawn?" I saw some students put a blanket on the grass and lie down to read a book. When I listened to the soft sound of pages turning, along with the chirping of the birds, I felt very calm. There was no competitive feeling at all. Harvard has the world's first computer in its science center and there are hundreds of high-end computers too. Its religion and the literature departments are also among the best. It is the perfect mix of tradition and new technology. It makes Harvard a very attractive place to study in. I hope one day I'll attend my dream school---Harvard. According to the article, in which fields is Harvard top in the world Answer:
Which of the following is a mineral? diamond Almost one in five drivers had dozed off behind the wheel, a shocking news report had showed. Of those who were dozing off, 29% have done so with their cars speeding at 70 miles per hour. The report also found a quarter of men have fallen asleep while driving, making it almost twice as many as women. The Safety on Wheel Report, by Post Office Insurance, also looked at how often tiredness or a lack of concentration caused accidents. Three in ten drivers have experienced an accident, from passing a walker crossing to hitting another vehicle, because of a lack of concentration. Meanwhile, almost half (49%) of UK drivers have driven when they do not concentrate. Paul Havenhand, head of insurance at Post Office, said, " When tiredness strikes, drivers should avoid the roads." There is no measurement for tired driving, unlike driving under the influence of alcohol, yet it could result in an equally dangerous accident. Drivers are advised to take a 15-minute break from driving every two hours. However, a third (36%) are so eager to reach their destination that they will ignore feelings of tiredness. What's more, almost one in five (18%) will drive for longer than four hours without a break, while 6% carry on for up to 6 hours. Just over a quarter (27%) choose a quick stop to buy a cup of coffee, which is a very popular way for drivers to get rid of tiredness, and only 17% stop to have a rest until they feel energetic again. Mr. Havenhand added, "Drivers should plan ahead and rest before starting a long journey; besides, they can take regular breaks to _ while on road; in some cases, if they do feel too tired to concentrate on the roads, they could consider an alternative means of transport." What's the purpose of the writer in writing this passage? To warn people of the danger of tired driving If a wolf is unable to catch prey reliably, the wolf will show ribs Tom and Fred are talking about the year 2020. "What will our world be like in the year 2020?" asks Tom. "I don't know," says Fred. "What do you think?" asks Tom. "Well, no one knows, but it's interesting to guess," says Fred. "In the year 2020 everyone will carry a pocket computer. The computer will give people the answer to all their problem. We will have telephones in our pockets, too, and we will be able to talk to our friends," says Tom. "A lot of people will live and work under the sea. Machines will do most of the work, and so people will have more holidays. They will be able to fly to the moon by spaceship and spend their holidays there," says Fred. "And I hope I will be able to live under the sea," says Tom. "Won't that be very interesting? Just like a fish." Tom and Fred are talking about _ . their life in the future There are many types of tea. They have their own functions. Green tea is the best choice for office workers People who always work in places with air condition may face skin problems such as easily dry skin. Among all the drink, green tea is the best choice. Because there are important things in green tea and they are often called catechins . Moreover, drinking more green tea can prevent computer radiation. Winter is the season to drink black tea Chinese medicine believed that different people should drink different tea based on the different characteristics and tastes of each kind of tea. Black tea can warm the stomach and quicken digestion . Therefore, drinking warm black tea in the cold winter is a most suitable choice. Do not drink strong tea Strong tea may make the body far too excited and can badly _ the cardiovascular as well as the nervous system. For a person who has problems with these parts, to drink overly strong tea cause heart and blood pressure illness, or even make the old illness much worse. Do not drink too much tea when you are eating Drinking too much tea or strong thick tea may not be good for taking in many constant elements and trace elements .Also, people should not drink tea with milk or other milky food. If you always work with computer, what kind of tea should you drink? Green tea.
Question: This site contains 100 original short stories about life in America. These stories are written for ESL(English as a second language ) learners who are, at least, high beginners. We want to help ESL students learn English as quickly and effortlessly as possible. Learning should be interesting, not boring. We hope that learners will find that these stories are of some help to improve their English. The stories have interesting topics and are easy to understand. Each story comes with an audio narrative so that learners can listen as they read. The audio requires downloading the free Real Player. Each story contains a search for pictures, definitions, and pronunciation." Following each story are four sets of exercises, and each containing 10 items. Exercise A is "Yes / No Questions". The learner is asked questions like, "Does Sara have children?" The learner can then type in, "Yes, she does." Then the learner can check whether it's the right answer or not. Exercise B is "Wh-Questions". The learner is asked questions like, "Where does Sara live?" The learner can then type in, "She lives in Pasadena." Then the learner can check his answer. Exercise C is "Ask Questions". The learner is given an answer like, "They have two children." The learner must then type in a question like, "How many children do they have?"The learner can then check to see whether he is correct or not. Exercise D is "Dictation". The learner listens to a sentence. Most of the sentences duplicate the sentences in the stories. The learner types the dictation and then checks to see whether he is correct or not. Work on the site is in progress. Help us make it better as the years go by. We welcome all comments, suggestions, complaints, new ideas, and questions. Click here to send us emails. All of the following statements are correct EXCEPT _ . A. the learners can listen to a story while reading it B. there are pictures, definitions, and pronunciation, as well as exercises followed C. new ideas and suggestions are welcomed D. the stories are suitable for learners of different levels Answer: D Question: The length of a year is equivalent to the time it takes for one A. rotation of Earth B. rotation of the Sun C. revolution of Earth around the Sun D. revolution of the Sun around Earth Answer: C Question: the breaking down of food into simple substances occurs in the A. hair B. shoes C. inner sustenance canals D. beach Answer: C Question: Writer and power chair adventurer Mary Laver has not walked for twenty years. Yet the cheerful and positive 60 year old is not only refusing to let her disability get her down ---- she is also planning to cross the length of Britain in a power wheelchair. Getting ready for the trip is not easy. She has already run into many problems - not least officials and organizations who view her as a health and safety risk. One police officer wrote to Mary requesting: 1. The proposed route through our area with road numbers. 2. The dates and times each day that this will be taking place. 3. The location details of the proposed overnight stops. 4. The names and mobile phone contact details of the Support Crew. Another police officer asked her to travel off road! As Mary told me, this was unacceptable - as a power wheelchair user with limited movement _ ". There are other problems in her way though - she is, after all, in her 60's and has severe rheumatoid arthritis . However, unlike many other people with arthritis, she is no longer in pain. "When you are in a power chair and it is going at eight miles an hour, believe me it feels fast ... to me it is the Formula One chair of electric wheelchairs." At the end of the interview, I asked Mary if she had a message for any other power chair users who wanted to do a challenge, and her reply was simple:"Just do it!" When Mary said "Just do it !" at the end of the interview, she meant " _ " A. Be brave though disabled. B. Fear no challenges at all. C. Take action right away. D. Make it whoever you are. Answer: C Question: It is Mother's Day. John is busy with his work during the day. When he passes by a flower shop in the evening, he thinks, 'I'll send Mum some roses .' While John is looking at the flowers, a young man comes inside. 'How many roses can I buy for only five dollars , madam?' he asks. The shopkeeper tells him that a dozen of roses is forty dollars. Maybe he can buy some carnations . They are much cheaper. 'No, I only want to have red roses,' he says. 'My mum was badly ill and I didn't spend much time with her. Now I want to give her something special, it must be roses because rose is her favorite.' After hearing it, John says he can help him pay for the rest of the money. The shopkeeper is moved and says, 'Well, lovely young men, thirty dollars a dozen, only for you.' Taking the roses, the young man almost jumps into the air and runs out of the shop. Then John pays for his dozen of roses and tells the shopkeeper to send them to his mother. As he walks out, he feels nice. Suddenly he sees the young man crossing the street and going into a park. But soon John knows it is not a park but a cemetery . Crying, the young man carefully puts down the roses, 'Mum, oh, Mum, why didn't I tell you how much I loved you? God, please help me find my mum and tell her I love her.' Seeing this, John turns and quickly walks to the shop. He will take the flowers home himself. What is the main idea of the article? A. Buy roses for mother when she is ill. B. Let mother know how much you love her. C. Work hard to make money for mother. D. Send mother flowers on Mother's Day. Answer: B
Each of us would like to be trusted by parents, because we all want to get freedom. Parents are more likely to give us our freedom if they trust us. If you want your parents to trust you more, you have to show them through your actions. Let your parents know what's going on at school and with your friends. If you truly can be trusted, then you have nothing to hide, right? Keep your bedroom door open when you are back. Do not be crazy when they see what you are looking at on the Internet. Invite your friends to your house to meet your parents. When you do something wrong, it can break trust. Broken trust takes a long time to rebuild. It's not easy dealing with your parents when you've broken their trust. But, it can be done. It's not talking about groveling and sweet-talking them into trust. I'm talking about getting them to respect you again. I find it easy to make the mistake of no telling my parents things I've done wrong, hoping they won't find out. There are lots of reasons: I don't want to get into trouble; I don't want them to be disappointed or get mad at me; I don't want to lose their trust; I don't think they will ever find out. And the list goes on and on. But they find out somehow, and then you're in hot water. Of course, even if Mom and Dad never find out, you still know about. Most parents will respect you more for coming to them and telling them yourself. Doing so shows honesty, responsibility and maturity . If you can't tell them face to face, you can try writing a note. Trust can't be built in a day or even a week, but you can gradually do things to help your parents build trust in you. The best title of the passage is _ . All students need to have good habits : When you have good study habits, you can learn things quickly. You can 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 study, do not forget to clean your desk. A good desk light is important , too. You'll feel tired easily if there is not enough light. You should remember to _ before you study. Bailey and her friend Kara were bored one Saturday. It was a hot summer day. They didn't want to stay inside any longer but they didn't know what to do. They were tired of watching TV inside. Suddenly, Kara had an idea. She said, "Bailey, we could make some money." "How?," asked Bailey. "Well, it is hot outside," said Kara. "People are thirsty out there. We could make money by making some lemonade and iced tea and have people pay for it." "That is a great idea," answered Bailey, "let's do it!" Kara had made some iced tea with her mom earlier that day. She asked her mom permission to use it. Her mom said yes. She and Kara made two pitchers of lemonade. They got a cooler full of ice and made a sign so people knew what was for sale. Kara's mom helped them get a table and chairs and set up out on the corner in their neighborhood. It was so hot out that people who saw their stand came to buy drinks right away. Their first visitors to their stand were their friends, Abby and Molly. In a half hour, they had to close their stand. They were all out of lemonade and iced tea. They had made a lot of money. They split the money and each got ten dollars. It was a great day. How many pitchers of lemonade did they make? Jo was the first to wake in the gray dawn of Christmas morning. No stockings hung at the fireplace, and for a moment she felt as much disappointed as she did long ago, when her little sock fell down because it was crammed so full of goodies. Then she remembered her mother's promise and, slipping her hand under her pillow, drew out a little red-covered book. She knew it very well, for it was that beautiful old story of the best life ever lived, and Jo felt that it was a true guidebook for any pilgrim going on a long journey. She woke Meg with a "Merry Christmas," and asked her to see what was under her pillow. A green-covered book appeared, with the same picture inside, and a few words written by their mother, which made their one present very precious in their eyes. Presently Beth and Amy woke to find their little books also, one grey-color1ed, the other blue, and all sat looking at and talking about them, while the east grew rosy with the coming day. "Girls," said Meg seriously, "Mother wants us to read and love and mind these books, and we must begin at once. I shall keep my book on the table here and read a little every morning as soon as I wake, for I know it will do me good and help me through the day." Then she opened her new book and began to read. Jo put her arm round her and, leaning cheek to cheek, read also, with the quiet expression so seldom seen on her restless face. Much impressed by the pretty books and her sisters' example, the other two started reading too. And then the rooms were very still while the pages were softly turned, and the winter sunshine crept in to touch the bright heads and serious faces with a Christmas greeting. "Where is Mother?" asked Meg, as she and Jo ran down to thank her for their gifts, half an hour later. "Your ma went straight off to see what was needed in a poor woman's home." Replied Hannah, who had lived with the family since Meg was born, and was considered by them all more as a friend than a servant. "She will be back soon, I think, so fry your cakes, and have everything ready," said Meg, looking over the presents which were collected in a basket and kept under the sofa, ready to be produced at the proper time." "There's Mother. Hide the basket, quick!" cried Jo, as a door slammed and steps sounded in the hall. The girls rushed to the table, eager for breakfast. "Merry Christmas, Mummy! Thank you for our books. We read some, and mean to every day," they all cried happily together. "Merry Christmas, little daughters! I'm glad you began at once, and hope you will keep on. But I want to say one word before we sit down. Not far away from here lies a poor woman with a little newborn baby. Six children are huddled into one bed to keep from freezing, for they have no fire. There is nothing to eat over there, and the oldest boy came to tell me they were suffering hunger and cold. My girls, will you give them your breakfast as a Christmas present?" They were all unusually hungry, having waited nearly an hour, and for a minute no one spoke, only a minute, for Jo exclaimed excitedly, "I'm so glad you came before we began!" Then the four girls put the cream, the muffins and the buckwheat bread into a big basket. "I thought you'd do it," said Mrs. March, smiling as if satisfied." You shall all go and help me, and when we come back we will have bread and milk for breakfast, and make it up at dinner time." They were soon ready, and the procession set out. A poor, bare, miserable room it was, with broken windows, no fire, ragged bedclothes, a sick mother, crying baby, and a group of pale, hungry children cuddled under one old quilt, trying to keep warm. How the big eyes stared and the blue lips smiled as the girls went in. "Ach, mein Gott! It is good angels come to us!" said the poor woman, crying for joy. "Funny angels in hoods and mittens ," said Jo, and set them to laughing. In a few minutes it really did seem as if kind spirits had been at work there. Hannah, who had carried wood, made a fire and stopped up the broken panes with old hats and her own cloak . Mrs. March gave the mother tea and gruel , and comforted her with promises of help, while she dressed the little baby as tenderly as if it had been her own. The girls meantime spread the table, set the children round the fire, and fed them like so many hungry birds, laughing, talking, and trying to understand the funny broken English. That was a very happy breakfast, though they didn't get any of it. When they went away, leaving comfort behind, there were not in all the city four merrier people than the hungry little girls. They gave away their breakfasts and contented themselves with bread and milk on Christmas morning. Which of the following is the closest in meaning to "When they went away, leaving comfortbehind, there were not in all the city four merrier people than the hungry little girls." "How did Norman know, Sister Emma?" "He overheard you and Aryan arguing. I suspect that he purposely overheard on you. Norman knew or concluded what profession Aryan practiced. He might well have followed Aryan on his explorations. Whether he did or not is beside the point. When Aryan came back yesterday afternoon, Norman certainly decided that he had made some find, for Aryan told Norman that he would be leaving for the capital to meet the detective the next morning. He probably followed Aryan to your room and overheard what passed between you. "Since you could not act against the law of man and God, he would serve a natural justice in his own way. He took the jar of poison hemlock from the chemistry shop and when Aryan asked for a drink, he supplied it. Norman did not know the precise quantity needed and so Aryan did not suffer the full effects until after the bell called the community into the dining hall for the evening meal." Abbess was following Sister Emma closely. "And then?" "Then I began my investigation, and then the detective arrived seeking Aryan for an explanation for his death." "But who killed Norman?" "Norman knew that sooner or later he would be discovered. But more importantly in his guileless mind there was also the guilt of having taken a man's life to be considered. Norman was a simple man. He decided that he should accept the punishment--the honor-price of a life. What greater honor-price for the life of Aryan could he offer than his own? He also took a draught of poison hemlock." There was a pause. What can we conclude from the above story?
Question: 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. What lesson can we learn from the text? A. A lie will never be known. B. True friends don't cheat each other. C. Telling lies makes one suffer from fears. D. Making up a story is lying. Answer: C Question: which one of these can be used to power up a system? A. a handful of sand B. a liter of water C. a bowl of water D. a tin of gasoline Answer: D Question: Look ! What's this in English? Ah, it's a photo. Who's that in the photo? It's Li Yan. Li Yan is my good friend. She is a beautiful girl. Who's that? The boy in black? It's Jim. He is an English boy. He is very cool . He is my friend, too. We are all in the same school. I like Jim and Li Yan. Li Yan is _ . A. a good boy B. a cool boy C. a beautiful girl D. an English girl Answer: C Question: Scientists have claimed a milestone in the drive for new energy--development of the first practical artificial leaf, an advanced solar cell that imitates the process,called photosynthesis ,that green plants use to make sunlight and water into energy. "A practical artificial leaf has been a dream of scientists for decades,"said Daniel Nocera,who led the research team."We believe we have made it.The artificial leaf shows particular promise as an inexpensive source of electricity for homes of the poor in developing countries. One can imagine villages in India and Africa soon purchasing an affordable basic power system based on this technology." The leaf is like the shape of a poker card but thinner.Placed in water in a bright sunlight,it could produce enough electricity to supply a house in a developing country with electricity for a day by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen, which are stored in a fuel cell to produce electricity. The"artificial leaf"is not a new concept.The first artificial leaf was developed more than a decade ago by John Ttlrner.However, it was impractical for wider use,as it was composed of rare,expensive metals and was highly unstable with a lifespan of barely one day. Nocera's new leaf overcomes these problems.It is made of inexpensive materials that are widely available,works under simple conditions and is highly stable.Laboratory studies showed that it could operate continuously for at least 45 hours without a drop in activity. The key to this breakthrough is Nocera's recent discovery of several new powerful, inexpensive catalysts,which are able to accelerate the chemical reaction under simple conditions.Right now, Nocera's leaf is about 10 times more efficient at carrying out photosynthesis than a natural leaf.Yet he is optimistic that he can boost the efficiency of the device much higher in the future. The passage is most probably from _ . A. a science fiction story B. a fairy tale book C. an advertisement for solar products D. a science news report Answer: D Question: The managing editor is usually the person in charge of the day-to-day editorial process of a newspaper. He or she makes sure that the newspaper comes out on time each day and that costs are kept within a budget. He or she is usually responsible for hiring and firing newsroom staff, and serves as the spokesperson for the newspaper. The managing editor may also be involved in story, photo and graphics selection, assignments, laying out pages, and editing copy and writing headlines. The news editor is in charge of the news pages of the newspaper. He or she makes decisions on which stories are used and which are not. The news editor and his or her assistants also lay out pages of the paper. The copy editor edits wire and local stories and writes headlines. The copy editor is often the last person to see a story before it actually appears in print. The city editor makes sure that the news in the city is covered and that as many local stories as possible get into each edition. The city editor monitors the local general assignment, beat and specialty reporters. The state editor supervises reporters who cover communities and areas outside the city but still within the circulation area of the newspaper. The national editor _ reporters in bureaus in cities outside the circulation area of the newspaper. Most newspapers rely on the wire services for national news, but some have correspondents who work in other cities and report to the national editor. From the passage, we can learn that _ . A. the managing editor is mainly responsible for laying out pages of the paper B. the news editor determines which stories are used C. the copy editor is often the first person to see the story D. the state editor supervises the local general assignment, beat and specialty reporters Answer: B
Question: How many things can you see in the night sky? A lot! On a clear night you might see the Moon, some planets, and thousands of sparkling stars. You can see even more with a telescope. You might see stars where before you only saw dark space. You might see that many stars look larger than others. You might see that some stars that look white are really red or blue. With bigger and bigger telescope you can see more and more objects in the sky. And you can see those objects in more and more detail. But scientists believe there are some things in the sky that we will never see. We won't see them with the biggest telescope in the world, on the clearest night of the year. That's because they're invisible. They're the mysterious dead stars called black holes. You might find it hard to imagine that stars die. After all, our Sun is a star. Year after year we see it up in the sky, burning brightly, giving us heat and light. The Sun certainly doesn't seem to be getting old or weak. But stars do burn out and die after billions of years. As a star's gases burn, they give off light and heat. But when the gas runs out, the star stops burning and begins to die. As the star cools, the outer layers of the star pull in toward the center. The star squashes into a smaller and smaller ball. If the star was very small, the star ends up as a cold, dark ball called a black dwarf. If the star was very big, it keeps squashing inward until it's packed together tighter than anything in the universe. Imagine if the Earth were crushed until it was the size of a tiny marble . That's how tightly this dead star, a black hole, is packed. What pulls the star in towards its center with such power? It's the same force that pulls you down when you jump - the force called gravity. A black hole is so tightly packed that its gravity sucks in everything - even light. The light from a black hole can never come back to your eyes. That's why you see nothing but blackness. So the next time you stare up at the night sky, remember: there's more in the sky than meets the eyes! Scattered in the silent darkness are black holes - the great mystery of space. According to the article, what causes a star to die? A. As its gases run out, it cools down. B. It crashes into other stars. C. It can only live for about a million years. D. As it gets hotter and hotter, it explodes. Answer: A. As its gases run out, it cools down. Question: Today, paper-making is a big business. But it is still possible to make paper by hand, since the steps are the same as using big machines. You should use paper with small amounts of printing. Old envelopes are good for this reason. Colored paper also can be used, as well as small amounts of newspaper. Small pieces of rags or cloth can be added. These should be cut into pieces about five centimeters by five centimeters. Everything is placed in a container, covered with water and brought to a boil. It is mixed for about two hours with some common chemicals and then allowed to cool. Then it is left until most of the water dries up. The substance left, called pulp , can be stored until you are ready to make paper. When you are ready, the pulp is mixed with water again. Then the pulp is poured into a mold. The mold is made of small squares of wire that hold the shape and thickness of the paper. To help dry the paper, the mold lets the water flow through the small wire squares. After several more drying steps, the paper is carefully lifted back from the mold. It is now strong enough to be touched. The paper is smoothed and pressed to remove trapped air. You can use a common electric iron used for pressing clothes. The passage is most probably intended to _ . A. introduce the history of paper-making B. describe the process of paper-making C. compare the ancient with the modern paper-making D. argue about the possibility of paper-making by hand Answer: B. describe the process of paper-making Question: I often hear some students say English is difficult, and it gives them a headache. But English is very easy for me. I'm good at it. I'm very glad to tell you something about how I study English. First, I think an interest in English is very important. When I learned English first, it was fresh for me. I was interested in it, so I worked hard at it. Soon we had an English exam and I got a very good mark. How happy I was! After that, I learned English harder and harder. Our English teacher often teaches us English songs, and the songs sound nice. I often think how interesting English is! Second, I think English is a foreign language. I should learn it well in the following ways: Listen to the teacher carefully, speak bravely, read aloud and have a good vocabulary. Then practice again and again, never be tired. And I also have a good habit: Asking whenever I have a question. I must make it clear by asking our English teacher. How happy I am when I understand! Besides this, I often read English stories, jokes and easy novels. They help me understand a lot of things. So to do more reading is an important way to learn English well. And I also write English diaries. English has become a close friend of mine. The sentence "I got a very good mark" means _ . A. I got a good way B. I had a good idea C. I did badly in the exam D. I did well in the exam Answer: D. I did well in the exam Question: A person wanting to learn something new when they are very young will often try A. running with the bulls B. skydiving from a plane C. swimming with great white sharks D. rotating feet on pedals Answer: D. rotating feet on pedals Question: I will never forget the lesson about my window. Four years ago, I moved to a house in a large town. One of my new neighbors' house was only a few feet away from mine. There lived a woman. Through one of my windows, I could see her reading by her window every afternoon. Several months later, I found I couldn't see the woman clearly. I thought her window was too dirty. I said to myself, "Why doesn't she clean her window? It looks terrible!" One afternoon, I decided to clean my house including the window. I felt tired after three hours of hard work. So I sat down by the window for a rest. What a surprise! I could see the woman reading there clearly again! By that time, I realized that my own window was too dirty, not hers! I really felt _ for myself. I had been watching her through my dirty window in the past days! The experience is very important for me. So I try to clean the window of my heart before judging others. What did the woman do every afternoon? A. Read by her window. B. played tennis on the grass. C. Danced in her house. D. sang in front of the house. Answer: A. Read by her window.
Born with easy-broken bone disease, Zhang Yonghong is only half a meter tall and must use a wheelchair. His thin arms and legs can hardly support any weight, and he is unable to take care of himself. However, his hands are able to produce fine paper-cuts, which will free his daughter from the same disease. To support himself, he learned how to make paper-cut art from his mother. He sold his artwork and taught his techniques in Xi'an for eight years before discovering his young daughter _ the disease from him, leading Zhang to move his family to Beijing for his daughter's better treatment five years ago. The daughter's treatment costs about 30,000 yuan a year. The family's savings was used up in two years, and Zhang was forced to start to sell his work in underground passages with his healthy wife, who soon left him because of the hard life. With a little help from government, he was lucky to meet some kindhearted people in Beijing. A Hong Kong businessman gave 60,000 yuan to him last year to treat the girl and start a small shop on Qiangulouyuan, which is known as a famous hutong that attracts lots of tourists over holidays. Zhang Rui, a university graduate, spends most of her time helping Zhang sell the paper-cuts, translating the stories of the paper-cuts into English and selling the works on the roadside of Nanluoguxiang. However, the artist still lives beyond his income and struggles to continue his small business. "Selling paper-cuts is his only source of income. Without this, he can't support the family and treat his daughter," says Zhang Rui, who hopes more people will help Zhang. Why did Zhang grow only half a meter tall? A His easy-broken bone disease affected him. B His parents also had the same disease. C His poor family couldn't provide him with rich food. D An unexpected accident caused him to grow slowly. Answer: A. His easy-broken bone disease affected him. I find some of the ways in which Chinese parents show love for their children rather surprising. Obviously there are some pretty big differences between our behaviors and theirs in this respect. Most Chinese children seem to get whatever they want, from ice creams, sweets and toys to endless attention from the adults around them. Is this a sort of spoiling or love? I wonder. Most westerners would think it is a sort of spoiling rather than love. We think love means educating your children and bringing them up to lead an independent life. That includes learning to accept the fact that he can't get everything he wants. As an adult, he will not always get the quite expensive car he hunts for; she will not always manage to acquire the beautiful dress she longs for. So we try to teach our children early to cope with the disappointment of not getting what they want. I find too much such kind of love for the children can actually spoil them. To my surprise, it seems that the life of a Chinese child is rather hard. Without doubt, the child is the very center of a whole circle of adults, but on the other hand he or she is also expected to start studying according to adults' wishes. Many children of my son's age take piano lessons, painting classes and even English lessons. It looks as if Chinese adults think that just playing without learning anything is a waste of time. So in this respect our children appear spoiled, just because they are allowed to play. But without this sort of play how can western children develop such free and rich imaginations? In fact the connection between this imagination and the creativity is so important in the children's future life. The author thinks Western children appear spoiled because _ . A they can manage time by themselves B they can have the freedom to play C they can take piano lessons D they may have expensive toys Answer: B. they can have the freedom to play Nicole Delian, 17, suffers from a condition that makes her sleep up to 19 hours a day and as much as 64 days in a row. Nicole Delian is tired of sleeping. This 17-year-old teenager from North Fayette, Pa., has a rare condition called Kleine-Levin Syndrome -- or "Sleeping Beauty Syndrome" -- that makes her sleep 18 to 19 hours a day. And when she does wake up, she is often so tired out that she is in a sleepwalking state and doesn't remember doing basic things like eating, according to KDKA-TV. Nicole's sleepwalking state has been so severe that she once slept through the holidays, awaking one day in January when she finally opened Christmas gifts alongside her family, according to ChartiersValley.Patch.com. . "She's never really adjusted to it," her mother, Vicki Delien told the website. "She's 17 now and it really upsets her. She's missed out on a lot." Delien told talk show host Jeff Probst that the teen has at times slept 32 to 64 days in a row, waking only in sleepwalking mode to eat. Kleine-Levin Syndrome is incredibly rare, only affecting about l,000 people worldwide, and very hard to diagnose. In Nicole's' case, it took 25 months for doctors to diagnose her, according to ChartiersValley.Patch.com, and everything from a virus, to epilepsy to West Nile was mentioned, including, unfortunately, the possibility she was faking it for attention.. When a typical episode of Sleeping Beauty Syndrome begins, the patient becomes progressively drowsy and sleeps for most of the day and night, waking only to eat or go to the bathroom, according to the Klein-Levin Syndrome Foundation website. "When awake, the patient's whole behavior is changed, often appearing "stupid" or childlike. When awake he experiences confusion, complete lack of energy, and lack of emotions." Patients also report that everything seems out of focus, and that they are hypersensitive to noise and light. Some patients also have intense food cravings . The Delians did not say whether Nicole has experienced these symptoms. There is no known cure, but Nicole's family is using a combination of epilepsy and narcolepsy medication to minimize the incidents to just two a year. Frorn the passage we can infer that_. A the disease will change the patients' behavior for good B the case of Nicole has been covered several times by different media C the.patients of this kind are more and more sleepy when the syndrome begins D the patients of this kind become too sensitive to being exposed to any noise and light Answer: B. the case of Nicole has been covered several times by different media Old George selected his food in the supermarket more carefully than NASA chose its astronauts. When he left the cashier, he was pleased to think that he had saved 80 cents today. At the exit, the cold wind made him think of his gloves. He looked for them in his coat and pants but could not find them anywhere. He had bought the black gloves at a good price, for just $35, years ago. They were soft and very comfortable. He had taken great care looking after them, so they were _ . George, calm on the outside but mad on the inside, re-entered the store. He followed the same route he had walked before. Several minutes of searching turned out to be in vain . His black gloves were gone. "People have changed," he said to himself. "Years ago, if somebody picked up something lost, they would give it back. Not any more!" He stared at anybody wearing black gloves to see if they looked like his. On his way to the dairy section, he noticed a lady wearing a pair of black gloves. He sped up and in three seconds was in front of her. But when the surprised woman looked over, his eyes dropped, for her gloves were just far too small to be his. He went over to the cashier to ask if she had received any lost gloves, but she said no. He finally walked out into the street. A few days later, poor George decided to buy another leather pair. Before getting on the subway, he stepped into the supermarket again to see if by any chance his gloves had been returned to the lost and found office. "What color are they?" the woman in the office asked. "Black," he gave the same answer. She looked into her drawer and drew out a pair of men's leather gloves. "Are they?" "Yes! Those are mine," George exclaimed, his eyes full of joy. How do you think George felt when he finally left the supermarket without finding his gloves? A silly B disappointed C horrible D tired Answer: B. disappointed News that Microsoft made a $44.6 billion bid to buy Yahoo resulted in heated discussions made by many Internet users. Here are some responses: Diane Burke of Weeks bury, Kentucky I think it would definitely be an interesting combination. Everyone recognizes the names Yahoo and Microsoft, but everyone also says, "Did you Google it?" Such a catchphrase is going to be hard to beat. Shaun Carney of Laurelville, Ohio I think the merger will provide more competitions for Google. I don't think the merger will allow Microsoft to develop faster than Google, though. I believe the increased competition this merger brings will force Google to stay on top of its game by offering more fresh and original Internet tools and expanding on the tools it already offers. Toni Suarez of Hacienda Heights, California I view the merger as a necessary element in preventing a monopolization . Perhaps it would bring better high technology innovations to e-mail and help in researching and developing a better Internet! Rick R. of Edgewater, Florida It sounds like a disaster to me. If this were to happen, I would stop using my Yahoo e-mail account because I don't like the feeling of Microsoft spying upon my business. I will sign up for Google. Antonio Glosser of Kansas City, Missouri 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. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage? A Shaun's attitude towards Google is passive. B Toni believes the Internet will have a promising future. C Rick will support Google after the merger. D Antonio is afraid that the merger will cost Yahoo's free features. Answer: A. Shaun's attitude towards Google is passive.
Grandpa was a carpenter . One day he was making some boxes for the clothes his church was sending to an orphanage in Egypt. On his way home, he reached into his shirt pocket to find his glasses, but they were gone. He drove back to the church, but his search turned out to be fruitless. Suddenly, he realized what happened. The glasses had slipped out of his pocket and fallen into one of the boxes, which he had nailed shut. His new glasses were heading for Africa! Grandpa had six children and he had paid twenty dollars for the glasses that morning. "It's not fair," he told God as he drove home. "I've been very faithful in giving my time and money to YOUR work." Several months later, the director of the orphanage was on holiday in the United States. He wanted to visit all the churches that helped him in Egypt, so he came to speak on Sunday night at my grandfather's small church in Chicago. "But most of all," he said, "I must thank you for the glasses you sent last year. You see, I had just broken my glasses. Then your boxes arrived. To my surprise, I found a pair of glasses in it and it fit me very well!" The people listened, happy for the amazing glasses, but thought that the man must have confused their church with another. There were no glasses on their list of items to be sent overseas. Sitting quietly in the back, with tears in his eyes, Grandpa realized that God had played a big trick on him. Who got the glasses in the end? The director of the orphanage. Greenheart Travel Correspondent Scholarship Greenheart Travel offers the opportunity for high school students to broaden their perspective through studying abroad. Greenheart Travel Correspondent Scholarship Opportunities: US $3,000 scholarship award for a High School Study Abroad program in China US $1,000 scholarship award for a Teen Summer Language Camp in France US $1,000 scholarship award for a Teen Summer Language Camp in Germany US $1,000 scholarship award for a Teen Summer Language Camp in Italy *Applicants are only able to apply for ONE scholarship opportunity Deadline for Application: April 1, 2015 Summary of Submission Requirements of the Scholarship: In addition to completing the teen program online application, applicants must also submit the following: Official High School Transcript: Applicants must have a minimum academic standing of a 3.2 GPA to be _ . Teacher/Coach Referral: Applicants must provide the name and phone number of an educator or coach that will be able to recommend the student as a good candidate for the scholarship award. Greenheart Travel will contact this referral prior to announcing the scholarship winner. Written essay: In a 500-to 800-word essay, please explain how this cultural exchange experience will benefit both you and your local community. Summary of Participant Requirements: Pre-program Submit one blog or video 2 weeks BEFORE your program Start Date introducing yourself and why you are excited to travel on your program and what you hope to learn while abroad. During Program For study abroad programs: submit a written blog post and 3-5 photos or a video, once every 2 weeks by discussed deadlines. For language camp programs: submit weekly written blog post and 3-5 photos or a video, by discussed deadline. After Program Submit one blog or video 2 weeks AFTER your program End Date reflecting on what you learned, your favorite part of the program and tips for anyone wanting to travel abroad. What do participants need to do during the program? They need to submit 3-5 photos once a week for language camp programs. I am Jerry. My family is in New York. We have got a big house. There are three bedrooms . One is for my parents. One is for my sister Betty. One is for my brother Tony and me. I haven't got any grandparents, aunts or uncles in my family. My father is forty-three years old. He is a hotel manager. My mother is forty. She is a secretary in a factory. Betty is sixteen years old. Tony is nine years old and I'm twelve years old. We are students. I love my family. _ is the best title for this passage. My Family The mother of the 13-year-old Dutch girl Laura Dekker, whose plans to make a solo sailing trip around the world have recently made world headlines, has spoken out against the trip. "It breaks my heart to think that because of this I could lose contact with my daughter," she said in an interview. "I have never before made such a difficult decision. But I must accept the consequences. I would rather have a live daughter who I will never see again than a dead daughter." It is the first time that Laura's mother, Babs Muller, has spoken out against the trip. Laura's parents are divorced and the girl has lived with her father since she was six. Her father Dick Dekker supports Laura's plans. However, the Dutch Child Protection Board has decided to place the girl under supervision for two months to ascertain whether she is mentally and physically capable of undertaking the journey. Ms Muller says she is confident that Laura is technically capable of making the journey. "She can sail like the devil. That's not the problem." However, she is afraid of the problems a 13-year-old girl can encounter in the harbors of Third-World countries and of the psychological pressure of being alone for such a long period on the ocean. "The most important thing, in my eyes, is that she is not yet an adult." Ms Muller says she told Laura once before that she was opposed to the idea. Her daughter replied, "If you forbid me, you will have ruined my entire life. Then I'll never want to see you again." However, Laura's mother says that reports that a camera team is planning to follow her around the world could change her opinion about the trip. Laura Dekker's plans to sail solo around the world _ . have attracted wide attention Environmentalists said our planet was doomed to die. Now one man says they are wrong. "Everyone knows the planet is in bad shape," thundered a magazine article last year. Species are being driven to die out at record rates, and the rivers are so poisonous that fish are floating on the surface, dead. But there's a growing belief that what everyone takes for granted is wrong: things are actually getting better. A new book is about to overturn our most basic assumptions about the world's environment. Rivers, seas, rain and the atmosphere are all getting cleaner. The total amount of forests in the world is not declining. The Skeptical Environmentalist by Bjorn Lomborg, professor of statistics at the University of Aarhus in Denmark, is an attack on the misleading claims of environmental groups, and the "bad news" culture that makes people believe everything is getting worse. Now the attacks are increasingly coming from left-wing environmentalists such as Lomborg, a former member of Greenpeace. The accusation is that, although the environment is improving, green groups -- with profits of hundreds of millions of pounds a year -- are using scare tactics to gain donations. Lomborg's book doesn't deny global warming -- probably the biggest environmental threat -- but destroys almost every other environmental claim with many official statistics. The Worldwatch Institute claims that "deforestation has been accelerating over the last 30 years". But Lomborg says that is simply rubbish. Since the dawn of agriculture the world has lost about 20 per cent of its forest cover, but in recent decades the forest area's depleting has come to a stop. According to UN figures, the area of forests has remained almost steady, at about 30 percent of total land area, since the 1940s. Forests in countries such as the US, the UK and Canada have actually been expanding over the past 40 years. Despite all the warnings the Amazon rainforest has only shrunk by about 15 percent. Nor are all our species dying out. Some campaigners claim that 50 percent of all species will have died out within 50 years. But other studies show only 0.08 percent of species are dying out each year. Conservation efforts have been successful. Whales are no longer threatened and the bald eagle is off the endangered list. Environmental groups claim that many of the improvements are the results of the success of their campaigns. Stephen Tindale, director of Greenpeace UK, said, "There are important examples, such as acid rain and ozone, where things aren't as bad as predicted, and that's because behavior has changed." In his book, The Skeptical Environmentalist, what is Lomborg's main argument? The world's environment is improving.
William was sitting in his room working on his homework. It was something he did since he went to kindergarten. William could see outside from where he was sitting. He had a view of a beautiful sunset this time of year. It was late spring, and he sometimes found his mind wandering as he looked outside, and hated losing time like that. The sooner he finished his homework, the sooner he could go to his friend Jacob's house, where he was spending the night. William loved sleepovers with Jacob. They would do fun stuff like tell jokes, watch TV, play board games, and eat lots of junk food. Jacob also had a cool RC car that William liked to play with. But William's parents wouldn't allow him to go to Jacob's house until he finished his homework first. Where was William doing his homework? Answer: Mini Book Excerpts Biography When Salinger learned that a car park was to be built on the land, the middle-aged writer was shocked and quickly bought the neighboring area to protect it ... The towns-people never forgot the rescue and came to help their most famous neighbor. J.D. Sulinger : A Life by Kenneth Slawenski (Random House, $27) Mystery " You' re a smart boy. Benny's death was no accident, and you 're the only one who saw it happen. Do you think the murderer should get away with it?" The boy was staring stubbornly at his lap again. A thought suddenly occurred to Annika, " Did you... You recognized the man in the car, didn't you?" The boy hesitated, twisting his fingers, " Maybe," he said quietly. Red wolf by Liza Marklund (Atria books, $25.99) Short stories She wants to say to him what she has learned, none of it in class. Some women are born stupid, and some women are too smart for their own good. Some women are born to give, and some women only know how to take. Some women learn who they want to be from their mothers, some who they don't want to be. Some mothers suffer so their daughters won't. Some mothers love so their daughters won't. You Are Free by Danzy Senna ( Riverhead Books, $15) Humor Do your kids like to have fun? Come to Fun Times! Do you like to watch your kids having fun? Bring them to Fun Times! Fun Times! 's " amusement cycling" is the most fun you can have, legally, in the United States right now. Why spend thousands of dollars flying to Disney World when you can spend less than half of that within a day's drive of most cities? Happy: And Other Bad Thoughts by Larry Doyle (Ecco, $14.99) After finishing the book Red Wolf, the readers would learn that _ . Answer: Basketball stars become hip-hop singers. It's true. In NBA, hip-hop music is very popular. Many of the players, like Shaquille O'Neal of the Los Angeles Lakers, write rap words when they travel on planes from one city to another. Some of them even have rap radio shows and others perform in music video. When some of the younger stars play basketball, they even try to look like hip-hop singers. "Hip-hop is just part of their culture," says one player. "All of us grew up listening to rap and playing basketball, and rappers grew up doing the same thing." Master P. is a famous rap star who wants to become a basketball player. Two NBA teams have invited him to join them. They enjoy listening to his music. An NBA player has become a rapper. He has made four successful rap albums . NBA has a closer connection to hip-hop than any other sports league. Which of the flowing is NOT right? Answer: In the summer of 1980 a Spanish tourist, Gaspar Carner, went to Great Britain on holiday. When he was travelling in Scotland, he decided to visit Loch Ness, the famous lake where people say there is a monster. But while he was going across the lake in a boat, his bag fell into the water. In the bag were his passport, car keys, pen, and all his money. Loch Ness is 150 metres deep, so he didn't expect to see the bag again! Fourteen years later, in 1994, some scientists decided to explore the lake. They looked for the Loch Ness monster. Suddenly one of them saw something black in the water. They carefully went nearer. They thought the black thing was the monster. They went nearer and nearer. It was a bag. They took the bag out of the lake. They found that the photo on the passport was still clear. One of the scientists happened to be familiar with Gaspar Carner. So the bag was returned to him. How did the explorers know the bag was Carner's? Answer: Hello! My name is Mark Brown. I am in Shanghai, China now. I am a student in a middle school. I like green and blue. I have a blue cup. I have two friends. One is Liu Wei, a girl, and one is Fang Jun, a boy. Liu Wei's telephone number is 6523-4476. She has a black jacket and she likes it. Fang Jun has no phone. His QQ number is 80123354. He has a jacket, too. He likes yellow. He has a yellow ruler and a yellow pen. . ? Answer:
Address: 9020 Bridgeport Road Open: Mon. to Fri. 7:00a.m. --- 2:30p.m.and 5:00 p.m. --- 9:00p.m. Sat. 7:00a.m. --- 11:00a.m. and 5:00p.m.--- 9:30p.m. Sun. 11:00a.m. --- 2:00p.m. and 5:00p.m.---9:30p.m. NEW YORK MUSEUMTelephone: 364431 Address: Vanier Park, 1100 Chestnut St. New York America's largest museum specializing in American history and part of our native people. Open: Mon. to Fri. 9:00a.m.---5:00p.m. (Monday free) Sat. 9:00a.m.---1:00p.m. LANSDOWNE PARK SHOPPING CENTERTELEPHONE: 3562367 Address: 5300 NO.3 Road Open: Mon. Tues. and Sat. 9:30a.m. ---5:30p.m. Wed. Thurs. and Fri. 9:30a.m. ---9:30p.m. Sun. 11:00a.m. --- 5:00p.m. SKYLINE HOTELTelephone: 2785161 Address: 3031 NO.3 Road ( at Sea island Way) The Hangar Den: Wed. to Sun. Lunch from 10:30a.m. Coffee Shop: Mon. --- Fri. 6:00a.m. ; Sat. 6:00a.m. and Sun. 7:00a.m. Mon. --- Wed. to 10:00p.m.; Thurs. --- Sun. to 11:00p.m. What can you do after 9:30p.m. on Sunday? A. Visit New York Museum. B. Do some shopping in Lansdowne Park shopping Center C. Go to Garden Restaurant D. Go to the Coffee Shop of Skyline Hotel Answer: D. Go to the Coffee Shop of Skyline Hotel The school day begins at 8:45.Class teachers meet the class and check who is present and absent at the beginning of the day. We meet as a whole school once a week on Fridays. The head teacher makes a speech to the whole school. Morning lessons begin at 9:05.There are three one-hour lessons with a fifteen-minute break.The lunch break is from 1 p.m. to 1:45p.m..Afternoon lessons begin at 1:50p.m. and the school day finishes at 4 p.m. All students study and take exams in maths, science and English. In addition, they choose one subject from history, geography, Art, Design and Technology, French and Spanish... All students take PHSE(Personal Health and Safety Education) lessons but no exams are offered. After school sports practice and matches are arranged on Wednesday afternoon and Saturday morning. Chess, music, language and theatre clubs also arrange meetings after school. Students may join as many clubs as they like, but should join at least one. The school has a good record in sports. Last year we were champions in football and tennis, and individual students won prizes for swimming and gymnastics. What would be the best title for the passage? A. A busy school day B. Our colorful school life C. My favourite school D. My happy times at school Answer: B. Our colorful school life Which of these will best separate iron filings from sand? A. water B. a magnifying glass C. a magnet D. rubbing alcohol Answer: C. a magnet It's the end of class. When the bell rings, students of Luohu Foreign Languages School in Shenzhen quickly take out their cell-phones. They want to log on to their microblogs to check the funny things that have happened in the last hour. Since last year, the trend of microblogging has swept the country. Recent surveys show that most students in middle schools have a microblog, and some even update their blogs over five times per day. "We learn many fresh and interesting things on microblogs and they have become popular topics in class," said Liang Jianmin, 14, a student at Harbin No 3 Middle School. "If you do not know about them, you are out of the loop ." It is also a great place for students to _ stress. "My parents always ask me to study hard, and encourage me before exams, but actually it adds pressure ," said Zhang Yazhe, 15, a student in Luohu Foreign Languages School. "When I share these feelings on my microblog, I get many replies from friends in the same situation, which makes me feel better." But parents are worried that microblogging could be a waste of time. Some misleading messages may even cause danger to kids, they said. Shen Mingde, a professor at the China Education Association, suggests parents not worry too much as long as kids are not crazy about microblogging. Instead, it can become a window for parents to understand their children. "If parents can read their children's microblogs, they'll know their thoughts, thus leading to better communication and solutions to problems," he said. Micro blogging tips for kids 1. Don't microblog for more than one hour a day. 2. Never microblog in class. 3. Try to talk face to face with people instead of just microblogging. 4. Be critical . Don't trust all the messages on a microblog. Which statement is true according to the passage? A. Kids should microblog for more than one hour a day. B. Kids should try to talk face to face with people instead of just microblogging. C. The trend of microblogging has swept the country since five years ago. D. Kids should trust all the messages on a microblog. Answer: B. Kids should try to talk face to face with people instead of just microblogging. Have you ever seen snow? Many people in the world have not. Some countries never have snow; some have only a little on the tops of very high mountains. In the north of England, there is quite a lot of snow every winter, but in the south of England, there is usually little. When a student from a warm country comes to England in autumn for the first time, he feels cold at first. There are often dark clouds, grey sky and cold rain in England in autumn, and most students from warm countries do not like this. But snow is different. Though it is cold, it is also beautiful. Perhaps, after several dark mornings, the student wakes up one day, and there is a lot of light in his room. He thinks "Is it so late?" and jumps out of bed. But no, it is not very late. He looks out of the window and there is the snow on the ground and on the houses and everywhere. The light of his room comes from clean, beautiful snow. In which part of England is there much snow in winter? A. In the east. B. In the north. C. In the west. D. In the south. Answer: B. In the north.
If I wanted to create noise I could A. tap a chopstick on a pillow B. stand completely and utterly still C. hold in a fart D. remain completely and utterly silent Answer: A There are many clubs in our school. My English is not good. I want to join the English club. Wang Ying wants to learn to paint. So he wants to join the art club. Zhang Ping likes running. He wants to join the running club. Li Nan is good at singing and she wants to join the music club. What club does Han Mei join? Oh, she likes eating and she joins the cooking club. Li Nan _ very well. A. dances B. paints C. sings D. plays tennis Answer: C It was evening rush hour on Pacific Coast Highway in Redondo Beach, CA. Drivers lined up from traffic signal to traffic signal and were anxious to get home. On a side street merging into this highway was a timid driver who was afraid to edge in and no one let her in. Some of the drivers backed up behind her and loudly blasted their horns. This made her more upset and nervous. On the right of this side street, the signal on Pacific Coast Highway turned red and traffic stopped. A driver who saw what was happening to this woman stopped a few car lengths behind her car and motioned to her to pull in front of his car. She quickly did and as he waited, two more cars dashed in behind her car. While the woman he'd helped waited for the signal to turn green, she sank into her driver's seat and was deeply relieved. Although this thoughtful man couldn't see it, her body language expressed her gratitude. If you've been in a traffic situation like the one she was in, you know how upsetting it can be. But this little act of kindness allowed her to safely reach her home. She told others about this, which encouraged them to do something nice for someone else. This kindness spreads. Someone does something nice for you and in turn you're likely to do something nice for that person or for someone else. A simple act of kindness could have a widespread effect. It's like a stone that drops in a pond and causes ripples in each direction. No one knows how far those ripples will travel but they will affect everything they touch along the way. How does the writer feel about the behavior of the man who helped the lady? A. Worried. B. proud C. Upset. D. Moved. Answer: D In-line skating is a fun sport that everyone can enjoy. Follow these safety tips to keep skating safe and fun. Step 1: Gear up! Even before you put on your skates, put on all your safety gear . Step 2: Buckle up! Strap on your skates. Make sure they fit well and are snugly around your ankles. This helps your ankles stay strong and straight. Step 3: Fall down! You probably do not usually try to fall. But it is good to practice falling on skates. Fall forward onto your knee pads. Put out your hands and let your wrist guards hit the ground. See? Are you surprised that it doesn't hurt? Practice falling until it is easy to fall forward and get up again. If you are not afraid to fall, you will try new things. Knowing how to fall will help you be a better skater and find your balance. When you can stay balanced, you won't fall as much. Step 4: Stop! Make sure you can stop on your skates. The quickest and safest is probably the brake stop. The brake is usually on the back of the right skate. The brake stop: Roll forward with your skates pointing the same way. Let your right skate roll a little forward. Bend your knees as if you are sitting down. Then press your right heel down hard. This will make your brake pad drag on the ground until you stop. The T stop: Roll forward with your skates pointing the same way. Then turn your right foot out so the toes are pointing to your right. Drag your right skate. Let the wheels drag on the ground until you come to a stop. Another way to stop is to run or jump onto the grass. Step 5: Roll around! Find a flat, smooth place to practice. Do not skate in streets. Parks and playgrounds are good places to practice. Look for "No skating" signs to make sure you can skate there. According to the article, which of these steps are most important for a new skater? A. Learn to fall and stop safely. B. Find a class and skate fast. C. Relax and have fun. D. Buy expensive gear and skates. Answer: A My name is Jane. I'm now living in a small house with my parents. Life for us is difficult but happy. I must study hard to buy a big new house someday. I call it a dream house. My dream house is near the sea. It has three floors with five bedrooms, three bathrooms, two big dining rooms and two living rooms. When my friends come to visit me, I will have enough bedrooms for them. We have a swimming pool behind the house and a garden in front of the house. In the morning, my parents can _ in the garden to keep them healthy. The air will be very good and nice. When it's hot, we can have a swim in the swimming pool. Life will be easy for us. Where is Jane's dream house? A. It's in a big city. B. It's in the town. C. It's near the sea. D. It's near the mountain Answer: B
Question: On a cold evening I was waiting for a taxi in New York. About 5 minutes later, I was picked up by a driver, and he said how terrible some people were. I knew there was a part of me that wanted to be silent, but I had to listen out of kindness. The man told me that he had just come from JFK Airport without a customer. During the taxi ride, what started as anger changed slowly and he mentioned that he had read an article which said that the happiest people are the ones that give, so he hoped he'd have more chance to give in his life. I was really starting to enjoy being with this man. As we arrived at the place where I wanted to go, I paid my money by credit card. I pulled out an extra $20 and said, "Sir, since we've been talking about giving this whole time, I want to share that feeling with you. I've already paid my money, but here's an extra little bit. You can tell the next passenger in this taxi that their ride is a gift from another." I thought I was pretty cool at this point, but he turned toward me, tears in his eyes, and said, "Sir, I have a better idea. You give that $20 to a homeless person around here and I will give the next passenger a free ride myself. It was a great honor meeting that man and learning the lesson of how everyone gives and adds joy to another with their generosity. According to the text, when the author got in the taxi, the driver was _ . A. angry B. nervous C. worried D. regretful Answer: A. angry Question: One day, a young man visited a small farm in the countryside. As he got closer to the farm, he saw many chickens and an eagle playing together. He then went up to the farm house and talked to the farmer, "Sir, I was just passing by and I saw that you have many chickens and an eagle." The farmer smiled and said, "That's not an eagle. It's a chicken." The young man kept saying that it was an eagle. He said to the farmer, "Sir, that is an eagle! I can proveit to you." The farmer laughed, "Sure, go ahead." The young man then pulled that big bird out and climbed a high mountain. He held the bird in his hands and said, "You are an eagle, fly!" But the bird failed. The young man tried the second time. He said to the bird, "I don't care you have been _ as a chicken for those years. But I know what you were created to be. You are an eagle, now fly!" After the young man tried another three times, the bird began to flap its wings. Finally, it flew high and began to fly around the farm. It is true to us. Some people around us have continued to keep us down by lying to us. Over all of those years, we were told to be a failure, not to be good enough and to accept the "reality". They are wrong. We should try our best to reach our highest potential to prove that we are eagles. What is the best title for the story? A. You Are an Eagle B. Chickens And an Eagle C. How to Prove the Eagle D. A Farmer And a Young Man Answer: A. You Are an Eagle Question: Defendant was prosecuted for bankruptcy fraud. Defendant's wife, now deceased, had testified adversely to Defendant during earlier bankruptcy proceedings that involved similar issues. Although the wife had been crossexamined, no serious effort was made to challenge her credibility despite the availability of significant impeachment information. At the fraud trial, the prosecutor offers into evidence the testimony given by Defendant's wife at the bankruptcy proceeding. This evidence should be A. admitted, under the hearsay exception for former testimony. B. admitted, because it is a statement by a person identified with a party. C. excluded, because it is hearsay not within any exception. D. excluded, because Defendant has the right to prevent use of his spouse's testimony against him in a criminal case. Answer: A. admitted, under the hearsay exception for former testimony. Question: Doctor Carl was a very busy man. He always worked hard. He often forgot his families' birthdays. Yesterday afternoon he remembered it was his wife's birthday. He loved his wife. He wanted to give her a present. On his way home from hospital, he bought some beautiful flowers in a shop. When doctor Carl got home, he gave his wife the flowers and said, "Happy birthday to you, dear!" "It's April 20th today. I remembered your birthday this year." Mrs. Carl laughed and said, "My birthday was the day before yesterday, but thank you all the same. Better late than never!" What did Carl buy for his wife's birthday? A. Some fruits. B. Some food. C. Nothing. D. Some flowers. Answer: D. Some flowers. Question: A deer inherits some of its features from its parents. Other features come from its environment. Which feature would a deer most likely inherit from its parents? A. a long scar B. brown eyes C. missing teeth D. a broken antler Answer: B. brown eyes
As we know, many teen celebrities feel and think that having a slimmer figure can do great good to them. But, does size really matter? Are teenage fans trying hard to become like their celebrity idols ? Do celebrities really have the power to influence people, especially teenagers? For the longest time, many parents blame teen idols for influencing the way their kids act. Have you noticed how teens idolize the celebrities these days? Even, their personal affairs are being followed by kids these days. Take for example the case of Lindsay Lohan of Mary Kate Ashley. They are definitely famous teen stars. But, since they are trying to project an image to satisfy a lot of people in show business, their health and body suffer. Many kids are aware of this problem. But they are easily influenced by these celebrities to exercise and eat less. It is a fact that the media, and especially famous teen celebrities, can influence people powerfully. But teenagers are easily influenced because teenage years are the period when our personality and identity developments take place. Teens watching TV shows and reading magazines are easily pulled into the dieting and harmful eating habits because the media have some ways to pull these acts. They use thin models and celebrities to endorse products or to star in an up-and -coming shows or movies. With fierce competition, celebrities are forced to eat less and do extreme exercise routines to get the roles or offers that come their way. Living in today's time and generation is a bit disturbing to a lot of parents. Media, especially as well as the celebrities, have a very powerful influence to drive teenagers to good or bad. It's good that we can control ourselves to avoid bad things from happening. If not, parents should really be aware and guide their teens to determine what's in ad what's out. From the passage we can find Lindsay Lohan _ . Answer: lives an unhealthy lifestyle Granite is classified as a rock because it Answer: is made of minerals. But what is teacher quality? How can one measure it reliably? An analysis is issued on a sample of data from a Texas school district. Experts argue convincingly that teacher effectiveness should be measured by students' gains on standardized tests: Mr. Smith is probably a better teacher than Ms. Brown if his students consistently improve their test scores more than hers do. Though this approach is appealing, there are tricky issues. For example, what if Ms. Brown teaches in a school where students score so high there is little room for improvement? The authors try to correct for this problem, as well as other sorts of measurement issues, to generate a measurement of teacher effectiveness. The paper is primarily concerned with how this measure is related to other observable characteristics. The first finding is that there is a large variation in teacher effectiveness: some teachers consistently have a larger impact on their students' achievement than others. Second, easily observable characteristics like having a master's degree or a passing score on the teacher certification exam are not correlated with teacher effectiveness. Then what does matter? The most important single influence is experience: first-year teachers are much less effective than others. The second year is significantly better, and by the fourth year, _ . It is not entirely clear whether this experience effect is learning by doing (the more you teach, the more effective you become) or survival of the fittest (those who are not good at teaching tend to drop out early.) From my reading of the paper, both effects appear important and there is no simple answer. The data do suggest, however, that teacher effectiveness is pretty clear by the end of the second year, so the information to make an informed decision is available at that time. The authors also investigate the contentious issue of racial matching of students and teachers. Here they find strong evidence that minority teachers tend to be more effective with minority students. Again, it is unclear whether this is because of a role model effect (students respond better to a teacher of their own race) or an empathy effect (teachers empathize better with students of their own race) or something else entirely. The authors also look at teacher mobility. There is some evidence that teachers who quit teaching or switch schools tend to be below average in effectiveness. This is consistent with the survival-of-the-fittest model. Why do black teachers tend to be more effective with black students? Answer: The reasons are far from clear and definite. Spending time with your kids is the best way to give them you attention. No matter whether you stay at home or work outside the home, you can still give quality time to your kids. Quality time doesn't mean the whole family sitting for four hours watching TV. It means turning the TV off and playing games together, reading books, going for walks---anything! Giving kids your attention means listening to them when they talk. I don't mean half-way listening and saying "uh huh" like we do to our spouses when they're talking about their day at work. I mean sitting down, looking children in the eye, and listening. Ask questions. Be interested. It shows that you're paying attention, even if your question is just, "So you say you painted the cat blue?" Raising kids is not the time to be selfish with your time. You can be selfish later on when they're grown and having kids of their own. If you feel guilty about not being able to spend enough time with your kids, resist trying to buy their attention. You don't have to make every weekend a Disneyland day. And you don't have to continually buy them gifts as a means of letting them know you love them. The answer is "time". Time is what they want most from you. Your kids, no matter what age, are on some type of schedule. They get up, eat breakfast, eat lunch, eat dinner, etc. What do they do the rest of the time? Fill up some of the empty spots in their schedules with activities. Have them help you do something around the house or make them take part in a project with you. This is how day care workers are able to keep so many kids under control---they fill up the day with activities. The text is written for _ . Answer: parents Jeff Green has a bad habit. He can not look after his things well. Look, this is his room. His things are _ . Look at his desk. Some things are on it. They are notebook, CDs, video tapes, rulers and erasers. He doesn't put his rulers and erasers in his pencil box. Look, some of his sports collections are on the desk and chair. It's eight in the morning, and Jeff is in bed. It's Sunday. He doesn't go to school. Oh, what's under the bed? A soccer ball. He likes playing soccer. He can not play volleyball well. His schoolbag is under the bed. Why is his bag under the bed? We don't know. What's that under the sofa? It is one of his socks. Where is the other one? We can't see it. Jeff needs to ask his parents to find it, I think. What sports does Jeff like? Answer: Soccer
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..." ,. Peter's parents are very _ . A. small B. modest C. poor D. rich Answer: D. rich Students dropped different rocks into sand to simulate meteorite impacts. Their goal was to determine which rock made the deepest crater. Which variable should the students control in order to have the most accurate results? A. the height from which the rocks are dropped B. the average time it takes the rocks to fall C. the density of the rocks D. the mass of the rocks Answer: A. the height from which the rocks are dropped What are some of the steps a person can take to prevent his house from being broken in while he or she is away? One step is to make sure that the house has a _ look. Living room shades could be pulled down only half-away. Bedrooms that usually have the shades pulled down at night should be left down. Another is to make sure that all outside looks are the dead-belt type. Still another is to leave several low-watt lights burning and make sure that one is in the kitchen. Lights that turn on and off automatically are the best. Then, too, it is a good idea to leave a radio turned into a talking station. Any type of conversation makes a burglar think twice before trying to enter. Finally, while away on vacation, make sure that nothing collected in the front or back of the house. Make certain that the newspaper is stopped and that a trusted neighbor has been asked to pick up the posts. The most important room to leave a light burning in is the _ . A. bedroom B. bathroom C. living-room D. kitchen Answer: D. kitchen We walked in so quietly that the nurse at the desk didn't even lift her eyes from the book. Mum pointed at a big chair by the door and I knew she wanted me to sit down. Then, Mum took off her hat and coat and gave them to me to hold. She walked quietly to the small room by the lift and took out a wet mop . She pushed the mop past the desk and as the nurse looked up, Mum nodded and said, "Very dirty floors." "Yes, I'm glad they've finally decided to clean them," the nurse answered. She looked at Mum strangely and said, "But aren't you working late?" Mum just pushed harder, each swipe of the mop taking her farther and farther down the hall. I watched until she was out of sight and the nurse had turned back to writing in the big book. After a long time Mum came back. Her eyes were shining. She quickly put the mop back and took my hand. As we turned to go out of the door, Mum bowed politely to the nurse and said, "Thank you." Outside, Mum told me "Grandma is fine. No fever ." "You saw her, Mum?" "Of course. I told her about the hospital rules, and she will not expect us until tomorrow. Dad will stop worrying as well. It's a fine hospital. But such floors! A mop is not good. You need a brush." When she took a mop from the small room what Mum really wanted to do was _ . A. to see a patient B. to please the nurse C. to clean the floor D. to surprise the story-teller Answer: A. to see a patient "Reduce, reuse and recycle, this familiar environmentalist slogan tells us how to reduce the amount of rubbish that ends up in landfills and waterways. The concept is being used to deal with one possibly dangerous form of waste - electronic junk , such as old computers, cell-phones, and televisions. But this process for managing e-waste may be used in an unscrupulous way more often than not used, a recent report suggests. "A lot of these materials are being sent to developing nations under the excuse of reuse - to bridge the digital divide," said Richard Gutierrez, a policy researcher. One of the problems is that no one proves whether these old machines work before they hit the seaways. Because of this, the report says, e-waste is a growing problem in Lagos, Nigeria, and elsewhere in the developing world. Much of the waste ends up being thrown away along rivers and roads. Often it's picked apart by poor people, who may face dangerous exposure to poisonous chemicals in the equipment. Businessmen also pay workers a little money to get back materials such as gold and copper. This low-tech recovery process could expose workers and the local environment to many dangerous materials used to build electronics. According to Gutierrez, this shadow economy exists because the excuse of recycling and reusing electronics gives businessmen "a green passport" to ship waste around the globe. "Developing nations must take upon some of the responsibility themselves," Gutierrez said. But, he added, "A greater portion of this responsibility should fall on the exporting state." China, for example, has become a dumping place for large amounts of e-waste. The nation is beginning to take action to stop the flow of dangerous materials across its borders. The Chinese government, after many years of denial, is finally beginning to take the lead. From what Gutierrez said we can learn that _ . A. exporting countries should mainly be responsible for this problem. B. neither rich nor poor countries should be blamed for this problem C. developing countries should be responsible for this problem D. poor countries should blamed for this problem Answer: A. exporting countries should mainly be responsible for this problem.
winter-swimming has become popular in Beijing. three years ago, few people would go swimming in the city waters. but now there is a winter-swimming enthusiasts'club and it has more than 2,000 members. the oldest is 84 years of age and the youngest is only 7. _ They may be workers, peasants, soldiers, teachers, students....Though it is now the coldest part of the season and the water temperature in the city's lakes is around 0degc, many winter-simmers still swim in the icy waters, even when it is snowing. They enjoy themselves in the lake, while the people by the side of the lake are wearing heavy clothes. why are so many people interested in winter-swimming? Because winter-swimming can be good for one's health. Bei Sha is a good example. He is 69 years old, and he once suffered from heart trouble for 26 years. After ten years of winter-swimming he is now in good health. Scientists are now studying the effects of winter-swimming on health. Winter-swimming has become popular in Beijing because _ . A more and more people like to swim in winter B it is more interesting than swimming in summer C winter-swimmers are brave men D winter-swimming does a lot of good to one's health Answer: D I was in a strange city and I didn't know the city at all and what is more,I could not speak a word of the language. After having spent my first day in the town-centre,I decided to lose my way on my second day, since I believed that this was the simplest way of getting to know the strange city. I got on the first bus that passed, rode on it for several stops then got it off and walked on. The first two hours passed pleasantly enough. Then I decided to turn back to my hotel for lunch. After walking about for some time, I decided I had better ask the way. The trouble was that the only word I knew of the language was the name of the street in which I lived and even then I pronounced it badly. I stopped to ask a friendly-looking newspaper-seller. He smiled and handed me a paper. I shook my head and repeated the name of the street and he put the paper into my hands. I had to give him some money and went on my way. The next person I asked was a policeman. The policeman listened to me carefully, smiled and gently took me by the arm. There was a strange look in his eyes as he pointed left and right and left again. I thanked him politely and began walking in the direction he pointed. About an hour passed and I noticed that the houses were getting fewer and fewer and green fields were appearing on either side of me. I had come all the way into the countryside. The only thing left for me to do was to find the nearest railway station, The policeman _ . A didn't help him B pointed at him C didn't understand what he really meant D didn't know the way Answer: C James lives in Hawaii and his mother lives in Korea. James speaks English (he never learned Korean), and his mom only speaks Korean. They communicate perfectly. Eric is from Honduras, but he lives in the U.S. Eric just started learning English and speaks very little. But, everyday Eric reads the latest local US news on the Web, with no problem. What these people (and close to 60 million others around the world) share is a remarkable, free software program called Babylon. Babylon may well be the most advanced translation software in the world, and it's a must-have for anyone whose life goes beyond the borders of their own language or those who want it to. Once you download it, you can simply highlight the part in practically any format, and it's instantly translated into the language of your choice. You can use it to translate a website, email, word doc, pdf, and actually any document in any format you can think of. You can write a document in your native language, and Babylon will instantly translate it into another before you send it. The program translates 75 languages, including Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Indian, and Russian. It also includes up-to-date encyclopedias , dictionaries, and spell checkers. Babylon is a long way from early translation software that would, more often than not, make an unreadable text with grammar errors that was better suited for making laughs than comprehension. Babylon's ability to understand and translate is perfect. In fact, businesses are adopting Babylon as the standard when it comes to translating commercial communications and other important documents. Babylon is also a great tool for people who are learning another language. Use it anytime you come across a word or passage you don't understand. What users enjoy most is the program's ability to open up a different world to them. Whether it's surfing a news site in a different country, or being able to properly communicate with a family member or friend overseas, Babylon can make it happen. Best of all, Babylon is free! To get your free copy, visit Babylon.com. Which of the following is more likely to use Babylon? A Students learning their languages. B A man working as a secretary. C A company doing international trades. D People who often chat on line. Answer: C When you are feeling unhappy or forget how great you are, these are six ways to make you feel good about yourself. Look in the mirror and say to yourself,"I am a special person and there's no one in the world like me. I can do anything!" It may not sound so good, but it really works! Do something nice for someone. Helping others always makes you feel good. Smile! Be friendly to people you meet. Look for the good things in your friends and family. Learn something new! Have you always wanted to decorate your own room or learn how to swim? Go for it! New challenges are fun and give you a sense of accomplishment when you have finished. Read and start a diary, Turn off the TV and let your imagination fly! Write you're your thoughts, dreams or anything you want! Writing always helps to express your feelings. Stay with your family. We all need our family time. Talk with your Mum or Dad or maybe even your cousin. This passage may be taken from _ . A a science book B a story book C a magazine D school rules Answer: C How to apply for a free mailbox ? First you have to connect to the Internet and go to the homepage of the ICP providing free mailboxes. Then you will find an icon , an agreement about the rules for using the free mailbox will appear. If you want to go, click the icon "I agree". Then you have to fill in a form about your basic personal data, and the name and PIN of the mailbox. The PIN is the key to the mailbox. After finishing these, you will get a mailbox like this:your name @ mail server (for example:tvguide@mail.cctv.com.cn. "tvguide" is the name of the mailbox, and "mail.cctv.com.cn" is the name of the mail server.). The mailbox is separated into two parts by a separator "@", which is read as "at". The former part is the name of the mailbox. The latter is the domain name of the mail server. All mails to you will be received by the server and put into your mailbox. You can read these mails on any computer on the Internet in the world, if you have the name and PIN of the mailbox. When you get a FREE mailbox, you can send an e-mail _ . A by paying some money B to anyone C without paying money D anywhere Answer: C
Every small child knows the panic of losing sight of its mother in the supermarket, and as these delightful pictures show, small whales obviously feel the same way. Taken by a British diver who was following the sperm whale calf, _ show the minute the baby - who had lost track of its mum - found her again in the sea off the Azores. Soaring 30ft across the waves, the newborn slammed its body onto the water with joy after becoming separated from its family group in the chilly waters. But the whale calf was doing more than just jumping for joy. British biologist and dive guide Justin Hart, 44, who took the pictures, says that young whales communicate with older ones in the ocean by creating a slamming sound which travels through the water to the ears of the adults deep below. By leaping out of the water and slamming its 12ft long body onto the surface of the sea up to 30 times, the baby whale is telling its relatives where it is so they can regroup. He said: "We had been following the sperm whale calf for most of the day. Sperm whales, of all the whales and dolphins, are the species that dive the deepest and for the longest time." "The calves have to follow what's going on below them from the surface as best they can probably listening to the echo location clicks of the adults." "However, sometimes the adults re-surface far out of sight of the calf, and in this situation the whales often leap out of the water causing a large bang as their bodies hit the surface. In this way, the whale family could regroup." He added: "When I took the photo, two adults' females had just resurfaced and the calf quite literally began jumping for joy." Mr. Hart captured the rare image four miles from the port of Lajes do Pico while he was working as a crewman on an underwater documentary with special license to film sperm whales in the area. Sperm whales live in nearly all the world's oceans in groups of about 15 to 20 animals and they practice communal childcare. The calves do not have to follow their mother too closely as sperm whales can take milk from any milk-producing female in its social group. What would be the best title for the text? Just three years since Lady Gaga had her first US number one single, the pop star has claimed the top spot in Forbes magazine's annual Celebrity 100 list. The popular star moved up four positions from last year and has knocked TV chat show host Oprah Winfrey of the top spot. But how has the singer become such a global phenomenon in such a short space of time ? Two experts in music, fashion and social networking give their opinions. George Ergatoudis ----Head of Music Radio1 " The key thing is Lady Gaga realized by using all the current social networking sites, and connecting that with her fashion, she has become an all-round star. Every time she goes out the door she looks different. She's getting photographed, she's aware of that and she's using it by updating her look literally on a daily basis. Another key thing wat that quite early on, her record label was showing how gifted she is as a musician. The music she makes, the songs she writes and the production she has are all brilliant contemporary pop music. She literally is turning into a global superstar." Calum Brannan ---Co-Founder of social Networking support company crowd Control HQ "Social media is a reflection of what we love, so people are becoming very good at sharing exactly what they love and the brands and musicians they love. The fact she has 10 million Twitter followers and 30million Facebook fans is a massive reflection on Lady Gaga and the influence she has. Once out there, Twitter and Facebook help keep that person's profile alive. Her fans are always talking about her and sharing everything she does even when she's not on stage or in concert. I think even if she wasn't on Facebook and Twitter, her fans and followers would put her there anyway. But the most important thing is,she is on there and she's using them." What can be inferred from the text? In June 2008,Benita Grist was driving in her hometown of Mississauga as a passenger in the car ahead threw a paper cup out of the window.When Grist horned to express her displeasure, the passenger responded by throwing out a bag. Instead of annoyed, she decided to do something about it.She organized a one woman litterawareness campaign.She started small,chatting with her neighbors about litter--and asking them to be more conscious of any tendencies they might have to litter.Soon,she noticed local families, kids and all--picking up litter around their homes."I thought,that's all it took--for me to open my mouth?" she says."So I decided to knock on more doors." And she didn't stop there.She approached people on the street,in malls,even in the waiting room before getting an X ray. Grist often started her appeal with something such as,"I hope you don't think I'm crazy,but..." Yet she was _ by the positive response--so much so that in August 2008, she began to contact officials in various levels of government, companies and other institutions in an effort to reach a wider audience. Through a local Mac's Convenience Store,Grist managed to contact the company that produces content displayed on their in store monitors.That led to a public service announcement about litter that ran in almost 600 Mac's stores in Ontario from November 2008 to June 2009. Grist continues to explore every opportunity she has to get the message out.Her grassroots campaign may be different,but she has begun to open people's eyes about the problem of litter.And thanks to her efforts,in Mississauga,at least,they have begun to do just that. How did Benita Grist start her campaign? Incinerating half a herd of cows means there will be Michael Jackson, the American pop legend, died of a cardiac arrest in a Los Angeles hospital, just weeks before he hoped to resurrect his four-decade long career with a series of sold-out shows in London. The pop superstar was taken to the University of California at Los Angeles medical centre last night, and doctors tried resuscitation (,) in the ambulance. He did not regain consciousness and was reported dead about three hours later. "My brother, the legendary King of Pop, passed away on Thursday 25 June at 2:26pm," his brother Jermaine said, "We believe he suffered a cardiac arrest at his home, however the cause of his death is unknown until the results of the autopsy are known. The personal physician who was with him at the time attempted to resuscitated him." A spokesman for the UCLA medical centre said, "When he arrived at hospital at approximately l:14pm, a team of doctors attempted to resuscitate him for a period of more than one hour, but they were unsuccessful." Police said they were investigating, which is the standard procedure in such cases. Jackson's death brought a tragic end to a long decline from his peak in the 1980s when he was music's greatest all-around performer, a uniter of black and white music who shattered the race barrier on MTV. His 1982 album Thriller, which included the blockbuster hits Beat It, Billie Jean and Thriller is still the best-selling album of all time, with over 50m copies sold worldwide. The world famous entertainer had planned a series of 50 concerts in London from 12 July. Although in the last two decades his reputation was destroyed by charges of child molestation and his fantastic public behavior, all tickets were sold within hours, proving the King of Pop had enduring appeal. Where did Michael Jackson die?
Every year people celebrate the Spring Festival in China.Usually it is in January or February.It's the most important festival in China.So before it comes,everyone buys many things,and they often make a special kind of food called dumplings-It means"come together".Parents always buy new clothes for their children and children also buy presents for their parents.On the Spring Festival eve ,all the family members come back home. They sing, dance and play cards.When they enjoy the meal,they give each other the best wishes for the coming year.They all have a good time. The food dumplings means" _ ". Answer: Miss. Green taught Physics in a London school. Last month she explained to one of her classes about sound, and she decided to test them to see how well she did in her work. She said to them, "Now, I have a sister in Washington. If I was calling her on the telephone, and at the same time you were 20 metres away, and listened to me from the other side of the street, who would hear what I said earlier, my sister or you? And why?" The cleverest boy answered at once, "Your sister, Miss. Green, because electricity travels faster than sound waves." "That's very good." Miss. Green said. But then one of the girls put up her hand. Miss. Green said, "Yes, Betty?""I don't think so," Betty said. "Your sister would hear you earlier because when it's eleven o'clock here, it's six o'clock in Washington." Miss. Green was teaching the class _ . Answer: By knowing what kind of learner you are,you can organize your study to best suit your particular way of learning. Visual learning style These learners like to draw,build,design and make things.They like looking at pictures and enjoy jigsaw puzzles and mazes.They tend to think in pictures rather than words. Verbal learning style These learners are very good at listening and are often very good speakers and story tellers.They think in words rather than pictures.They like to read and write,and usually have good memories for such things as names,dates and places. Logical learning style These learners are very logical. They easily recognize numerical and word patterns and look for logical connections between ideas.They like to figure things out for themselves and love solving problems.They enjoy working with abstract ideas. Bodily learning style These learners like to move around a lot and to touch objects and people.They often wave their hands around when they are talking.They are good at physical activities,such as sport and dancing,and they enjoy making things with their hands. Naturalistic learning style These learners love to be outside.They are interested in nature and are usually fond of animals.They are often involved with nature conservation groups.They are excellent at planning picnics and other outdoor activities.They like to understand how things in nature work. Music learning style These learners appreciate music.They are usually good at singing or playing musical instruments and can often compose music.They are often very sensitive to noises around them and are sometimes easily distracted by background noises. Interpersonal learning style These learners like to be surrounded by people.They usually have lots of friends and like to join groups and clubs.They ale often the leaders of any group they join and they are very good peace makers. Intrapersonal learning style These people are quite happy in their own company.They spend a lot of time thinking about things such as their dreams and hopes and their relationships with other people.They prefer to work alone and to follow their own interests. If a person usually puts things into categories and sorts when thinking,he is most probably _ . Answer: Compared to the amount of hereditary information in a human body cell, how much hereditary information is contained in a human sex cell? Answer: Dora, who was eight years old, went to the grocery store with her mother. Dora pushed the grocery cart while her mother put items into it. Dora's mother remained near Dora at all times. Peterson, another customer in the store, noticed Dora pushing the cart in a manner that caused Peterson no concern. A short time later, the cart Dora was pushing struck Peterson in the knee, inflicting serious injury. If Peterson brings an action, based on negligence, against the grocery store, the store's best defense will be that Answer:
Millions of American kids come home to or leave an empty house every day. However, parents are increasingly using an existing technology -- home security systems -- to keep an eye on their "home-alone" children. In the early days of home security, the systems were basically designed just to keep the bad guys out. Now, many parents are also using them to make their children safe when they are at home alone. Below are some simple rules for adults to teach their children: Every child should memorize his or her own full name and address, and home, work and cellphone numbers of each parent. Also keep this information posted next to the phone at home. If your child is too young to memorize the information, he or she may be too young to be home alone -- for any time. Teach your child to observe things around him or her when he or she returns to the house. If a door or window is slightly open, the child has any reason to suspect someone has been in the house that shouldn't be, have him or her call you, then wait at a safe house a neighbor offers. Warn your child never to answer the doorbell or telephone when they are home alone. Besides, set a rule that he or she must never play outside the house when no one else is at home. Be sure he or she knows how to disarm and arm your home security system. Program your control panel to give you a message when your child enters or leaves the house, and arms or disarms the system. If your child forgets to rearm the system, you can call him or her with a personal reminder. To learn more about home security systems that can help parents protect their "home-alone" children, visit www.ProtectAmerica.com. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? Answer: Children and adults should work together to use the system. When Andrea Peterson landed her first teaching job, she faced the daunting task of creating a music program with almost no money for equipment or supplies in a climate where standards-based learning was the focus and music just provided a break for students and teachers. For her drive and creativity in overcoming those challenges, she's been named national teacher of the year. Principal Waynes Kettler said he's worked with many outstanding teachers in his 22 years as an educator, but Peterson is "just that one step above anybody I've ever worked with before." Kettler and others at Monte Cristo Elementary School talk about the ways she has introduced the learning from other classrooms into her music program and her creativity in working around things such as the lack of money for new music. When students were reading S.E. Hinton's novel The Outsiders in their regular classroom, Peterson helped them write a 30-minute play with scenes from the book. Then they chose three Broadway tunes that focused on race, equality and social justice, the themes of the book. Peterson composed two other songs herself after classroom discussions about the play and the book. The honor means a lot to residents of Granite Foils. It's inspiring to know that people from small towns even win national honors. As national teacher of the year, Peterson will spend the more years outside the classroom, as a national and international spokeswoman for education. She said it's essential for schools to offer classes such as art or music and physical education because for some kids one of those subjects is the only thing that attracts them to come back to school day after day. What is the most important reason that Peterson won the award? Answer: She motivated students to learn music with her creativity. People like to give gifts to others on _ days. Do you know how to choose gifts? You should choose gifts that your family or friends like. Different gifts are for different people. For example, boys often like to play with robots ,toy guns and balls. And girls may like something lovely, like flowers, dolls and beautiful clothes. Of course, you don't need to choose something expensive. Your feeling is much more important than money. There is a Chinese saying, " _ When you buy your friend a gift, you should choose something that _ . Answer: he or she enjoys Beach balls contain Answer: carbon dioxide Parents have to do much less for their children today than they used to do, and home has become much less of a workshop. Clothes can be bought ready made; washing can go to the laundry; food can be bought-cooked, canned or preserved; bread is baked and delivered by the baker; milk arrives on the doorstep; meats can be had at the restaurant, the work's canteen, and the school dining-room. It is unusual now for a father to pursue his trade or other employment at home, and his children rarely, if ever, see him at his place of work. Boys are therefore seldom trained to follow their father's occupation, and in many towns they have a fairly wide choice of employment and so do girls. The young wage-earner often earns good money, and soon acquires a feeling of economic independence. In textile areas it has long been customary for mothers to go out to work, but this practice has become so widespread that the working mother is now a not unusual factor in a child's home life, the number of married women in employment having more than doubled in the last twenty-five years. With mother earning and his older children drawing substantial wages father is seldom the dominant figure that he still was at the beginning of the century. When mother works, economic advantages accrue, but children lose some-thing of great value if mother's employment prevents her from being home to greet them when they return from school. The writer mentions home as workshop because _ . Answer: parents had to make food and necessity themselves for their daily-life
Question: A Bite of China Season Two(<< >> ) is coming! The program is shown at 9 : 00 0n CCTV-1 every Friday night from April 18 to June 6, 2014. There are altogether eight episodes , all about history and culture of food, eating and cooking in China. The directors spent one year visiting more than 150 different parts of China. More than 300 types of food are covered in the documentary . As an old Chinese saying goes, food is what matters most to people. It plays an important role in our daily life, and the rich food culture is also one of the most important parts of Chinese culture. A Bite of China Season Two wants to show the joys and sadnesses of ordinary Chinese in changing times through food. A Bite of China Season One was shown on CCTV in 2012. It attracted more than 100 million viewers. It is all about food, while the second season cares more about the relationship between the people and the food. For example, the first episode shows a young man spent four hours climbing a 40-metre-high tree to get something nice for his brother. The show reminds viewers of their homes and the tastes of childhood. One Weibo user wrote, "A Bite o f China Season Two makes me have so many words to say. It makes me think of my parents and my grandmother. I haven't been home for a long time, so I have decided to go back in a few days. " The show uses food as a window to introduce China to the world. Viewers can see how Chinese people love life by loving food. Anyone who wants to know more about Chinese culture and Chinese society should have a bite of the program. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage? A. The show explains to people why Chinese people love life. B. The show reminds viewers of their homes and the tastes of childhood. C. The show uses food as a window to introduce China to the world. D. The show tells people about history and culture of food in China. Answer: A Question: Still seeking a destination for your weekend break? There are some places which are probably a mere walk away from your college. King's Art Centre A day at the Centre could mean a visit to an exhibition of the work of one of the most interesting contemporary artists on show anywhere. This weekend tees the opening of an exhibition of four local artists. You could attend a class teaching you how to 'learn from the masters' or get more creative with paint ---- free of charge. The Centre also runs two life drawing classes for which there is a small fee. The Botanic Garden The Garden has over 8,000 plant species; it holds the research and teaching collection of living plants for Cambridge University. The multi-branchedTorch Aloe here is impressive. The African plant produces red flowers above blue-green leaves, and is not one to miss. Get to the display house to seeDionaea muscipula, a plant more commonly known as the Venus Flytrap that feeds on insects and other small animals. The Garden is also a place for wildlife-enthusiasts. Look for grass snakes in the lake. A snake called 'Hissing Sid' is regularly seen lying in the heat of the warm sun. Byron's Pool Many stories surround Lord Byron's time as a student of Cambridge University, Arriving in 1805, he wrote a letter complaining that it was a place of "mess and drunkenness". However, it seems as though Byron did manage to pass the time pleasantly enough. I'm not just talking about the pet bear he kept in his roans. He spent a great deal of time walking in the village. It is also said that on occasion Byron swam naked by moonlight in the lake, which is now known as Byron's Pool. A couple of miles past Grantchester in the south Cambridgeshire countryside, the pool is surrounded by beautiful circular paths around the fields. The cries of invisible birds make the trip a lovely experience and on the way home you can drop into the village for afternoon tea. If you don't trust me, then perhaps you'll take it from Virginia Woolf- ----over a century after Byron, she reportedly took a trip to swim in the same pool. What is the passage mainly about? A. Some places for weekend break B. A way to become creative in art. C. The colourful life in the countryside. D. Unknown stories of Cambridge University. Answer: A Question: My family lives in London. In the morning, my father goes to work and we go to school. My father takes us to school every day. My mother stays at home. She does the housework. She always has lunch at home, and visits her friends in the afternoon. In the afternoon, we go home from school by bus. My father gets home from work late. At night my two brothers and I always do our homework. We go to bed at about ten. My father and my mother usually read newspapers. We can watch TV at the weekend. _ goes to work in the morning. A. Everyone B. My father's friend C. My father D. My mother Answer: C Question: If milk is going to be measured, it can be measured in A. only a thin tube B. only a round dish C. any kind of shape container D. only a square container Answer: C Question: Diamonds are no longer a girl's best friend, according to a new U.S. study that found three of four women would prefer a new plasma TV to a diamond necklace. The survey, specially by U.S. cable television's Oxygen Net-work that is operated by women found the technology gender gap has almost closed with most women buying new technology and using it easily. Women were found on average to own 6.6 technology devices while men own 6.9, and four out of every five women felt comfortable using technology with 46 percent doing their own computer trouble--shooting "People have the thought that women are not as advanced as men when it comes to technology and I was surprised at the equivalence men and women now have in terms of technology," Geraldine Laybourne, chairman and chief executive of Oxygen Network said. The Girls Gone Wired survey of 1,400 women and 700 men aged 15 to 49, which was conducted by market researcher TRU, found that given the choice, women would choose tech items rather than luxury items like jewelry or vacations. The study found 77 percent of women surveyed would prefer a new plasma television to a diamond necklace and 56 percent would go for a new plasma TV over a weekend vacation in Florida. Even shoes lost out. The study found 86 percent would prefer a new digital video camera to a pair of designer shoes. The study found over the next five years women see themselves increasing their activities in six tech areas: digital cameras, cell phones, e-mail, camera phones, text-messaging and instant messaging. Laybourne said this increasing use of technology among women was expected to continue. It can be inferred that _ . A. there is no point in buying luxury items if people are not in need of them B. it is hard to make a decision between a plasma TV and a necklace C. tech items will cost much more than luxury items D. tech items will become more and more popular among American women Answer: D
Is it wrong to use someone else's wireless(Wi-Fi) connection?Just recently,a man was arrested for doing just that.At that time,he was sitting in the street with a laptop and using an unsecured wireless connection to surf the Net.What do you think about this topic?Listen to the following different views on it. For a start,if someone is using your Internet service or downloading,this will affect your speed of access or download limit.Also,it's bad for Internet service providers.They will suffer in the long run because fewer people will pay for an Internet service if they know they can get it for free.And finally,just imagine this:what if the person who is stealing your Internet connection is involved in an illegal activity?I think the police are totally right to arrest these criminals. --by Sandra Wilkins Basically,if the person who paid for the service still has everything they paid for,what's the problem?It's just like using the light from streetlamps to read your book,or watching someone else's firework display.It's not stealing. Also,if you leave your wireless connection unsecured,then it is your own fault if someone else uses it.Just as you wouldn't leave your front door unlocked,or your car door open,neither should you leave your wireless connection open.By leaving your wireless connection open,you are inviting people to use it.Securing your wireless connection is as easy as clicking a few settings on your router .And finally,haven't the police got more important crimes to solve?They're always saying how they haven't got the manpower to solve real issues.But this is just ridiculous . --by James Hoarley What does Sandra Wilkins think of people using others' Internet service? Answer: He thinks it is unacceptable. Residents along Australia's east coast awoke in the morning to an orange sky as winds swept millions of tons of red dust from the country's inland and dumped it on Sydney. Tanya Ferguson,living in Sydney,saw that the room was completely orange.She thought there was a bush fire.But when she went outside,the entire city was covered in a film of orange dust. "It was like being in the outback ,but it was right here in the city,"she said On that day,a big dust storm swept through Sydney.It covered the city in orange dust for about eight hours,making landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House and Harbor Bridge invisible. The storm affected the transportation system.Flights were delayed.Roads were busy as drivers struggled in the difficult conditions.Children and the elderly were told to stay indoors until the dust had cleared.Later strong winds blew it out to the sea and up the coast. No one was hurt in the storm,though health officials answered hundreds of calls from people with breathing difficulties.Emergency services responded to hundreds of calls about tree branches brought down by strong winds. Dust storms are common in the Australian outback,where the land is arid .But the storms rarely reach the coastal regions. Officials said it was the worst dust storm of the past 70 years.Air pollution levels were 15,500 micrograms of pollutants per cubic meter. "On a clear day the pollutants are around 10--20 micrograms per cubic meter,"said Chris Eiser of the NSW department of the environment. Experts said that dry conditions in the outback and strong winds caused the sandstorm. "Ten very dry years over inland southern Australia and very strong winds have combined to produce the storm,"said Nigel Tapper,an environmental scientist at Monash University, Australia. The article is about_. Answer: the worst dust storm in Australia in the past 70 years A 51-year-old lawyer has moved back in with his mother-after giving up his Los Angeles home to a family of strangers for a year. Tony Tolbert looked for a family in need after his father set a glowing example when he was growing up by always welcoming people to stay in their spare room. "You don't have to be Bill Gates or Warren Buffet or Oprah," Tolbert told CBS. "We can do it wherever we are, with whatever we have, and for me, I have a home that I can make available. " His mother, Marie Tolbert, added, " He is go giving, and he's always been that way. " Tolbert went to Alexandria House, a shelter for homeless women and children, and came across Felicia Dukes, who lived in a single bedroom with three of her children. Her family had been separated as the shelter was just for children and her eldest son was unable to join them. Tolbert told the staff he wanted to bring the. family back together, and offered his home. The family has now moved into the three-bedroom, two-bathroom home - with Duke's oldest son. It is worth nearly $400,000, according to online estimates. "My heart just fills up with appreciation, " Dukes said, as she wiped away her tears. The heartwarming story comes after the report that l0-year-old Gracie McNulty, from England, served Christmas dinners t0 50 homeless people, achieving her fathers last Christmas wish. Her father Craig, 38, was a regular charity volunteer who had served breakfast to the homeless on Boxing Day. But as a roofer, he suffered serious head injuries when he fell while working. And 'he died soon after the accident in August. "It's been the best Christmas ever, " Cracie said. "I was just at school feeling sad and so I decided I wanted to do something to make him proud and this felt like the perfect thing. " How did Tony Tolbert help Felicia Dukes and her family? Answer: He offered his house to them. Become a volunteer and help those who need your help in your community ! Volunteer work includes helping the poor, helping the families whose houses were destroyed by national disasters or creating green spaces for neighborhood families. Whichever service activity you choose, you have the "power of one" to make a difference and create a real change in the community! Our holiday volunteer jobs are open to all Americans. You don't need any special skills to join and there are no age limits . With Biosphere Expedition , you can be a wildlife and environmental volunteer for anywhere from two weeks to two months. You'll work with local scientists, and the leaders from Biosphere Expedition will be by your side. We need students at the age of 16 and up who study at school and want a chance to use their talents, skills and knowledge to help the little kids. Most of them have enough patience and are warm-hearted. Join the Volunteer Service Center today! Volunteers are the greatest people in the world. Let's work together to make the world a better place. Which of the following is TRUE? Answer: The volunteer can choose any service activity in the community. Dinner, for the English people, is the richest meal of a day and is, different from Chinese dinner, a very formal meal. Many people even wear special clothes for dinner. So if you are asked out to dinner, you must find out whether you are expected to wear a formal suit. You would feel upset if, when you got there, you were the only person in ordinary clothes. Dinner is generally served at about half past seven. All the members of the family sit down together and are on their best behavior. The guest of honor will sit on the right of the lady of the house. There are two schools of thought as to the seating of the hostess. One is that she sits at the foot of the table but this may mess up the man-woman-man setting order. The other way is for the guest of honor to sit at the foot and the hostess to sit on his right. The wife of the guest of honor will sit on the right of the host. This is subject to change according to the wishes of your employer. During the meal when conversation is carried on, you should try to get into conversation with the person on your right or left, but you should not try to talk to someone who is a long way from you. Don't forget to drop your hosts a thank-you note or make a brief phone call. English dinner is different from Chinese, for _ . Answer: English dinner is a very formal meal
Mrs. Obama spoke to the graduates of Martin Luther King Jr. High School on Saturday in her only high school commencement speech this year. The ceremony took place in the gymnasium of Tennessee State University. The first lady told the 170 graduates that she spent too much of her time in college focusing on academe achievements. While her success in college and law school led to a good job, she said, she ended up focusing on public service. "My message to you today is that don't waste a minute living someone else's dream," she said. "It takes a lot of real work to discover what brings you joy and you won't find what you love simply by checking mailboxes or surfing the net." She said MLK reminded her of her own high school experience in Chicago. "My No.1 goal was to go to a high school that would push me and challenge me," she said. "I wanted to go somewhere that would celebrate achievement. Unfortunately, schools like this don't exist for every kid." she said. "You are blessed." The first lady told graduates that failure may be a part of their college lives and careers, and that how they respond determines what they will become. "That's when you find out what you're really made of in those hard times," she said. "But you can only do that if you're willing to put yourself in a position where you might fail." Overcoming difficulties has been the mark of many great people, she said, "Oprah was demoted from her first job as a news reporter, and now she doesn't even need a last name," she said of media giant Oprah Winfrey "And then there's this guy Barack Obama, I could take up a whole afternoon talking about his failures. He lost his first race for Congress", the first lady joked, "and now he gets to call himself my husband." By mentioning Oprah's example, Mrs. Obama wanted to tell graduates _ . Answer: to be brave enough to risk failing Dick is seven years old, and his sister May is five. One day, their mother takes them to their aunt' s house to play and she goes to the town to buy some new clothes. The children play for an hour, then at half past four their aunt takes Dick into the kitchen. She gives him a nice cake and a knife and says to him, "Now here is a knife, Dick. Cut this cake in half and give one of the pieces to your sister, but remember to do it like a gentleman ." "Like a gentleman?" Dick asks. "How do gentlemen do it?" "They always give the bigger piece to the other person," answers his aunt. "Oh," says Dick. He thinks about this for a few seconds . Then he takes the cake to his sister and says to her, "Cut this cake in half, May." The children's mother leaves them at their aunt's house because she wants _ . Answer: to do some shopping Hello, everyone. Because of the high rate of school violence in some areas, teenagers' safety becomes a serious problem. We are planning to set up an organization named School Watch to make sure that students have a safe school environment. Please be part of our plan! What is School Watch? School Watch is a volunteer project in our school. It helps us stop violence and improve the quality of school life. It will keep yourself and your schoolmates safe. The other members of School Watch care for you and your classroom, and you do the same for them. Is it for everyone? Anybody can become a member of School Watch because everyone has something to offer. What else can it do? School Watch makes it possible for us not only to help each other but also to make friends with each other. Some members may offer to help the schoolmates who have problems with their homework. Who is the School Watch? Our school will look for the School Watcher and give him or her lots of prizes. You could be the one! How do you start? To be part of this plan, the only thing you need to do is to talk to the director of the plan in your grade. You can check the official website _ if you want to get more information. If you want to become a member of School Watch, you should _ . Answer: talk to the director of the plan in your grade Not long ago, few little girls imagined they could grow up to become astronauts. For years in the United States, on1y men had that opportunity . In 1983, that changed. Sally Ride made history by becoming the first American woman to travel to space. On Monday, Ride died at the age of 61, ''Sally was a national hero and a powerful role model,"President Barack Obama said in a statement. "She inspired generations of young girls to reach for the stars." Ride became interested in space when she was a kid. "If you asked me when I was 12 whether I wanted to be an astronaut ,I'm sure I wou1d have said yes," she said in a 2010 interview . " But I didn't even think about that as a possible career." After studying physics in college and graduate school, Ride got her chance. She was accepted into NASA's astronaut training program in 1978, and then chosen to be the first American female in space. In 1983, she blasted into space aboard the Challenger shuttle." _ ," she said. Ride returned to space on the Challenger a second time in1984 . Between the two missions, she spent a total of 343 hours in orbit. After that, she remained involved with the space program and also worked to share her passion for science with kids. She co-authored six science books for children , and started her own science education company. Ride knew that she he1d a unique place in history . " I realized how important it was for a woman to break that barrier and open the door for other women to be able to do the same exciting things that the men had been doing," she said. Since Ride's historic trip, more than 40 other American women have traveled to space. They all had Ride to thank for opening the door to the final frontier. By saying ''There is no amusement park ride on the Earth that even comes so close", Ride really meant _ . Answer: the trip to space was far more interesting than any ride on the Earth "Can't hold a candle to" is a popular expression.When there wasn't electricity, someone would have a servant light his way by holding a candle.The expression meant that the person who cannot hold a candle to you is not fit even to be your servant.Now,it means such a person cannot compare or compete. Another expression is"hold your tongue."It means to be still and not talk."Hold your tongue"is not something you would tell a friend.But a parent or teacher might use the expression to quiet a noisy child. "Hold out"is an expression one hears often in sports reports and labor news.It means to refuse to play or work.Professional football and baseball players"hold out" if their team refuses to pay them what they think they are worth. The expression"hold up" has several different meanings.One is a robbery.A man with a gun may say,"This is a hold up.Give me your money."Another meaning is to delay.A driver who was held up by heavy traffic might be late for work.Another meaning is for a story to be considered true after an investigation.A story can hold up if it is proved true. "Hold on"is another expression,which means wait or stop.As you leave for school,your brother may say,"Hold on,you forgot your book." It is used to ask a telephone caller to wait and not hang up his telephone. Our final expression is"hold the line."That means to keep a problem or situation from getting worse--to hold steady.For example,the president may say he will"hold the line on taxes."He means there will be no increase in taxes. If some teachers"hold out",they probably _ . Answer: refuse to work
Many blind people use guide dogs to help them get safely from place to place and to warn them of danger. But what can blind people do if they are allergic to dogs or just don't like them? For these people, they can turn to the Guide Horse Foundation. Janet and Don Burleson founded the organization in 1999. They began training miniature horses to help guide blind people. Miniature horses look just like common horses, only much smaller. They are generally less than 34 inches tall. Cuddles was the foundation's first guide horse in full service. She became 45-year-old Dan Shaw's helper. Shaw has an eye disease and his sight is very poor. One night, while filling out a form to get a guide dog, Shaw heard a news story on TV about people training horses to guide the blind. Shaw loves horses and wanted a guide animal that would live a long time. So he applied ,and a year later, Cuddles and Shaw began training as a team. On a trip to New York, Cuddles helped Shaw safely visit many places of interest .They even traveled on a boat and on the subway system. Shaw says that he is very lucky to have Cuddles. He believes that Cuddles has changed his life for the better by giving him the chance to do things himself and making him feel much more confident about himself. According to the text, miniature horses _ . Answer: A 14-year-old girl was attacked by a grey bear while competing in a bike race. She managed to whisper the word "bear" to her rescuer. The girl suffered serious head, neck and leg wounds. Now she is in a dangerous condition in hospital. The girl was taking part in a 24-hour race through Bicentennial Park in Alaska when she was attacked by the bear. Bicentennial Park is next to Chugach State Park where some wild animals live. The animal attacked the girl in a heavily wooded area at about 1:30 am. The girl called emergency services but she was unable to say any word. Another rider Peter Basinger found her lying unconscious on the ground. He told the Anchorage Daily News that she managed to say the word "bear" when he stopped to help. Her helmet had been ripped off in the attack and rolled into the woods. Mr. Basinger waited with the girl for about 20 minutes until doctors arrived. Armed police trekked 3 km with doctors to pick up the girl. Animal expert Rick Sinnott said something must be done as soon as possible to prevent the bear from attacking people again. "It was extremely terrifying," he said. Mr. Sinnott told the Anchorage Daily News that the bear might be a mother. It hurt two runners on a nearby path two weeks ago. He also said that the girl was lucky to have been wearing a bike helmet because the bear had bitten her head several times. When the girl was attacked, she was _ . Answer: Scientists have discovered a gene that plays a role in violence in men ill-treated in childhood.The discovery could explain why some experience unhappy childhoods and go on to normal lives, while others turn to violence, crime of antisocial deeds. But it will also restart another argument. Terrie Moffitt and Avshalom Caspi report in Science today that one common form of a gene in the brain makes men more likely to be violent--but only if they have experienced cruelty or rejection in childhood . The researchers followed up the life histories of 442 boys born in New Zealand in 1972. Of these, 154 had been ill-treated in the first 10 years, 33 of them badly. They had either experienced sexual attack, beatings or rejection by mother or stepparents. Of the 154 children , 55 had a less active variant of a gene called MAOA, and 99 had the more active variant . The 55 boys were more than twice as likely to have been in trouble as the other ill-treated group . They made up 12% of the total, but were responsible for 44% of all crimes from among the 442 boys. Prof Moffitt thought a "violence" gene had not been discovered. Boys with the less active form who were not ill-treated during childhood lived normal lives. "It is very common in the population. One third of us have it." she said, "So the gene doesn't do much of anything, it doesn't cause any trouble in any way, unless we are also ill -treated". The gene might also show the ability to bear mental stress. The army or the police might examine the applicants to see if they have the more active form . But the discovery also raises the argument that people with the less active form of the gene could be social dangers, to be treated with medicine. "This research can easily lead people to fix social problems through medical treatment," said David King of the UK Gene Alert Group. According to the passage, the less active variant of the gene_. Answer: BEIJING Nov. 28 (Xinhuanet) - Premier Wen Jiabao on Sunday pledged central and local government funds to provide and improve school bus services in the wake of the traffic accident that killed 19 preschool children and sparked national outrage . He urged relevant departments of the State Council to "rapidly" formulate safety regulations for school coaches, and said China will accelerate the setting up of standards on design and production. Central and local governments will share the costs on providing more school buses that meet safety requirements, the premier said. However, Wen said a lot of local governments have failed to meet the rapidly increased demand for safe school buses or established sound management systems. Officials will face investigations into their responsibility if tragedies such as the one in Gansu occur again, he warned. Yuan Guilin, an education professor at Beijing Normal University who is known for his research into rural education, has proposed that all school buses should be equipped with black boxes, adding that it is achievable and affordable. The government should also improve the wages and benefits for drivers to prevent them from taking extra jobs and often driving while tired, he said. Given that some authorities complain that they are short of money, Yuan suggested they be allowed to sell advertising space on school buses. Gan Yuanchun, who participated in a campaign to promote school bus safety, said the central government should encourage the use of smaller school buses in rural areas, as roads in remote countryside areas are not as wide as in cities. Students' parents should also be able to get involved in deciding how school buses are managed, he added. In rural areas, especially in western parts, many children are struggling to receive quality preschool education because public kindergartens are scarce and most private ones often do not have qualified teachers or hardware. Which way can not be used to promote school bus safety? Answer: Wide awake in Aunt Bet's Southern house, Annie Van Lew shivered at the sounds of distant guns. It was bad enough that America was at war, but the young Virginia girl was not used to battles being fought this close. _ .Annie sat up in bed and listened.Had a stranger broken in? Earlier, the family had heard that captured officers recently escaped from a prison nearby. Quietly opening her bedroom door, Annie walked out. A figure in a black gown was walking down the hall. It was Aunt Bet, carrying a candle in one hand and a plate of fried chicken in the other. Annie followed her aunt to a stairway at the far end of the house. Aunt Bet climbed to the top, and opened a door leading to the attic . Annie followed closely behind. In the attic, Aunt Bet stopped at a chest of drawers, moved it aside, and felt along the wall behind it. Slowly a door sprang open, revealing a hidden room. A thin man stepped out of the opening. As Aunt Bet handed him the plate of food, the young man saw Annie in the doorway and froze. Desperately shaking her head "no", the girl raised one finger to her lips. The officer understood and shifted his look. Quickly Annie went back downstairs and hid, waiting until after Aunt Bet left to return. Back inside the attic,Annie called softly to the man inside, who told her where to find the hidden spring. Soon the young officer stood in the open doorway. A small candle burned on a table behind him and, in its soft light, Annie studied his face. Clear eyes reflected the calm of one who faced death bravely. Smiling, he said,"What trouble you should have gotten into if your aunt had turned around!" That night, Annie learned Aunt Bet was one of many daring Southerners whose hatred of slavery drove them to risk their lives by spying for the North. The girl chatted as she dared, wishing her new friend luck when he said he would leave at dawn. Back in her room, Annie felt proud and was determined to guard her family's secret to the end. The main reason why the author doesn't give information about whom Aunt Bet is visiting in the attic is to make the _ . Answer:
Question: If "I love you" are the three nicest words in the English language, then "just in case" must be the three most annoying. They are often followed by "you never know..." suggesting a whole bundle of horrors if you don't go along with the "just in case" idea. The first "just in case" you heard was probably from your mother. Do you remember "Always make sure your underwear is clean. Just in case"? You'd ask "In case of what?" and she'd say, "You never know..." If you kept asking she would finally say the ominous words. "You could be in an accident." Through most of you school years, besides books, pens, etc... you carried around a heavy sweater, sunscreen, and a rain coat, just in case it got cold, or hot, or it rained. Thanks to Mom, "just in case" ruled your life. It was the same with Halloween candy. "Don't eat in until Mom or Dad can check it out, just in case." "In case of what?" you'd say. "You never know." "Know what?" And then it came - _ . which ensured you would end up letting Mom and Dad eat all your candy. Simply because they loved you so much and wanted to protect you from harm. "There could be poison in it." As we get older the habit has become so deep-rooted that we force it on ourselves. We leave for the airport to catch our Flight half an hour before the aircraft leave its previous location, just in case the traffic is bad. "Just in case". The phrase is so much a part of our lives. I'm going to print up this article now, but I'll also save it onto my hard drive, just in case my computer crashes. I'll also save it on a disc, and just in case the disc gets damaged I'll save it on my flash drive. Well...you never know. Thanks a lot, Mom! Your parent always says the three words "just in case"because he or she wants to_. A. control your life B. bring you an easy life C. brighten your life D. ensure you a safe life Answer: D Question: Football is,I believe,the most important game in England:one has only to go to one of the important matches to see _ . Rich and poor,young and old,one can see them all there,shouting for one side or the other. To a stranger,one of the most surprising things about football in England is the great knowledge of the game which even the smallest boy seems to have. He can tell you the names of the players in most of the important teams. He has pictures of them and knows the results of large numbers of matches. He will tell you who he expects will win such a match,and his opinion is usually as good as that of men three or four times his age. Most schools in England take football seriously--much more seriously than nearly all European schools,where lessons are all that are important,and games are left for the children themselves. In England,it is believed that education is not only a matter of filling a boy's mind with facts in classroom,it also means the training of character by means of games,especially team games,where the boy or girl has to learn to work with others for the team instead of working for himself or herself alone. The school therefore plays games and matches for its pupils. Football is a good team game;it is good for both body and mind. That is why it is every school's game in prefix = st1 /England. From the passage, we learn that_. A. football is popular mostly among English children. B. schools in Englandmake use of football for the training of body and mind. C. football is more important than lessons in England. D. other European schools consider football unimportant Answer: B Question: The earth receives uneven amounts of UV rays due to A. height B. distance C. it's axis D. width Answer: C Question: For better eyesight, doctors advise limiting the hours of screen time and encourage having enough eye resting time. However, another study shows that sitting in front of computer or TV screens for long hours is not the only reason formyopia . An Australian research team studied young children in Sydney and Singapore to find the reasons for myopia. The research team found that theprevalence of myopia among children in Sydney was lower than children in Singapore, even though they spent more time in front of computer and TV screens. The major finding is that children in Sydney spend longer hours on outdoor activities than those in Singapore. Indoor and outdoor sports activities both make the eyes focus on more distant objects, which prevents the eyes from changing shape. But outdoor activities may better help avoid myopia than indoor sports activities. Jane Gwiazda, who does research in sight problems, says: "Natural light is good for eye growth. And extra vitamin D from the sun might contribute to eye growth." Many doctors suggest that every child get its first eye test done when he/she is about two and half years old, and even if his/her sight seems perfect. It is necessary for myopic children to wear glasses to prevent headaches, trouble reading or injuries. It is also important that schools invite doctors to test their students' eyes. If that is not possible, school teachers should at least encourage parents and children to have regular eye examinations and wear glasses. And parents should remember not only to limit the total screen time for their children, but also to encourage them to spend time outdoors. What's the aim of the study by the Australian research team ? A. To find the reasons for myopia. B. To find the ways to treat myopia. C. To prove the bad effects of myopia. D. To prove the prevalence of myopia. Answer: A Question: Drinking more than two alcoholic drinks daily in middle-age may raise your stroke risk more than traditional factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes , according to new research in the American Heart Association journal Stroke. In a study of 11,644 middle-aged Swedish twins who were followed for 43 years, researchers compared the effects of an average of more than two drinks daily ("heavy drinking") to less than half a drink daily ("light drinking"). The study showed that: Heavy drinkers had about a 34 percent higher risk of stroke compared to light drinkers. Mid-life heavy drinkers (in their 50s and 60s) were likely to have a stroke five years earlier in life _ of genetic and early-life factors. Heavy drinkers had increased stroke risk in their mid-life compared to well-known risk factors like high blood pressure and diabetes. At around age 75, blood pressure and diabetes appeared to take over as one of the main influences on having a stroke. Past studies have shown that alcohol affects stroke risk, but this is the first study to pinpoint differences with age. "We now have a clearer picture about these risk factors----how they change with age and how the influence of drinking alcohol shifts as we get older," said Pavla Kadlecova, M.Sc., a statistician at St. Anne's University Hospital's International Clinical Research Center in the Czech Republic. Researchers analyzed results from the Swedish Twin Registry of same-sex twins who answered questionnaires in 1967-1970. All twins were under age 60 at the start. By 2010, the Registry had provided 43 years of follow-up, including hospital discharge and cause of death data. Researchers then sorted the data based on strokes, high blood pressure, diabetes and other cardiovascular incidents. Almost 30 percent of participants had a stroke. They were categorized(......) as light, moderate, heavy or non-drinkers based on the questionnaires. Researchers compared the risk from drinking and health risks like high blood pressure, diabetes and smoking. Among identical twin pairs, siblings who had a stroke drank more than their siblings who hadn't had a stroke, suggesting that mid-life drinking raises stroke risks regardless of genetics and early lifestyle. The study is consistent with the American Heart Association's recommended limit of two drinks a day for men and one for women. That's about 8 ounces of wine for a man and 4 ounces for a woman. Regular heavy drinking of any kind of alcohol can raise blood pressure and cause heart failure or irregular heartbeats over time, in addition to stroke and other risks. "For mid-aged adults, avoiding more than two drinks a day could be a way to prevent stroke in later productive age ," Kadlecova said. What does the passage mainly tell us? A. People without a stroke can drink more alcohol than those having a stroke in middle age B. There is a higher possibility that heavy drinkers will have a stroke in middle age C. Drinking alcohol has been regarded as the most dangerous factor in strokes D. The amount of alcohol taken by men should be twice than that taken by women. Answer: B
Carbon dioxide can be found in what goes through the Answer: neck West, a witness in a contract case, testified on direct examination that four people attended a meeting. When asked to identify them, she gave the names of three but despite trying was unable to remember the name of the fourth person. The attorney who called her as a witness seeks to show her his handwritten notes of the part of his pretrial interview with her in which she provided all four names. The trial court is likely to consider the showing of the notes taken as Answer: a proper attempt to refresh West's recollection. Directions:Read the following three passages.Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements.For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D.Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage you have just read. Death is a serious theme worthy of great poets.For example, John Keats's 'When I Have Fears That I May Cease to Be' and John Donne's 'Death, Be Not Proud' both discuss death in reflective ways.However, the imagery in these poems shows that while Keats believes that death can only destroy, Donne believes that death can be overcome. Keats is afraid of death, because to him death means the loss of those things that make his life worth living: 'On the shore/ of the wide world I stand alone, and think/ Till Love and Fame to nothingness do sink.' Earlier in the poem, Keats says that he hopes this 'Love' will be a 'high romance' with a 'fair creature.' He also says that he hopes the 'Fame' he seeks will be the result of the 'high piled books' produced by his 'crowded brain.' In other words, Keats's fear is that death is a 'nothingness' that will arrive before he can finish his life's work or find his true love. Donne has a different attitude toward death, and so the imagery in his poem is different, too.To Donne, death should 'be not proud,' because it is not 'mighty and dreadful.' Unlike Keats, Donne sees death as weak and merely a 'slave to Fate, chance, kings, and desperate men.' He also says that death is like 'rest and sleep'.Donne believes that we will all wake from the sleep of death to everlasting life, just as we wake from our normal sleep to our everyday lives.In fact, Donne believes that it is death itself that will die: 'One short sleep past, we wake forever,/ And Death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.' Keats and Donne both know that death is a prat of life, and both poets use powerful imagery to talk about that difficult theme.The differences in this imagery show two very different attitudes toward the subject, one of which is much more positive than the other.Which poet to believe is up to the reader to decide. Not surprisingly, the readers' own experiences may play a part in the way they respond to these poets' approaches.Like the two poets and their beliefs, contemporary readers also may be divided on the subject.This may explain why Keats's and Donne's poetry remains fascinating years after their won deaths. Which of the following best describes the main writing style of the passage? Answer: Comparison. Americans can travel almost anywhere they choose. But to protect its people, the government lists a few dangerous places where Americans cannot go. These places are unfriendly countries or countries at war. There, the travelers might not be safe. These countries are listed in a small book called a passport . This passport is a government request for the safety of its traveling people. It is also a government's pledge that the people will obey the rules of the host country. To receive a passport from the government, a traveler must prove that he is an American citizen. An American cannot go abroad without a passport. Only certain close countries such as Canada and Mexico do not ask for passports Stuck inside the passport is the traveler's picture. Children traveling with their parents are included in one parent's book. Thousands of people from the United States visit other countries every year. An American traveler might carry plane tickets, money, clothing and many other things. But the most important thing that he carries in another country is his passport. A passport is not needed when an American goes to _ . Answer: Canada or Mexico Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao promised that the country would take actions to improve school bus safety on Sunday, a day after China saw its second terrible school bus accident in November, 2011. "School buses should be safe mobile campuses for students," the premier said at a national meeting on women and children, "Society should remember in mind that children should be the first to enjoy all kinds of social caring and the last ones to suffer from any disaster." School buses have become a hot topic in China since the deaths of 21 people, including 19 pre-school students, in a traffic accident between a truck and a school-owned minibus in Gansu province on Nov. 16, 2011. The nine-seat minibus was carrying 64 people at the time of the accident, according to the reports. The second accident, in which a school bus in the northern province of Liaoning _ on Friday, left 35 people injured, according to China Daily. "In recent days, a series of big accidents involving school buses has led to great anger among the people. These accidents have also made me uncomfortable," said Mr Wang, an old teacher from Jiangsu. And he also thought that school bus safety must become a serious problem for schools and the government. Premier Wen has already asked the government to develop new safety standard for school buses and made sure to help local government with safe buses for school-age children. Which of the following sentences is Not True? Answer: 21 pre-school students died in the school bus traffic accident in Gansu.
Suppose a key man in your firm had just met with a terrible accident. The doctor tell you that this man upon whom you depend for directing sales, checking your books or for performing some other important roles, will be laid up for months, You'd have to replace him, wouldn't you? And probably at a pay about equal to his ? Then you'd be faced with double paying for one job because stopping the pay of an injured man would simply be out of the question. You can prevent this kind of unproductive outgo on your payroll by providing your key man with the protection of Travelers Business Accident Insurance! This insurance provides total medical expense and a weekly income in case a key man is disabled for some time. Should the disability prove everlasting, an income for life is certainty. Why not make out a list of your key men now? Then get together with Travelers Insurance Company, and let us tell you how little it costs to apply this much needed protection to your business. Write and we'll serve you! Travelers Insurance Company _ for a person insured. won't get much from the firm He was an old man who fished alone in a boat in the Gulf Stream and he had gone eighty-four days now without taking a fish. In the first forty days a boy had been with him. But after forty days without a fish the boy's parents had told him that the old man was now definitely and finally salao, which is the worst form of unlucky, and the boy had gone at their orders in another boat which caught three good fish the first week. It made the boy sad to see the old man come in each day with his skiff empty and he always went down to help him carry either the coiled lines or the gaff and harpoon and the sail that was furled around the mast . The sail was patched with flour sacks and, furled, it looked like the flag of permanent defeat. The old man was thin and gaunt with deep wrinkles in the back of his neck. The brown blotches of the skin cancer the sun brings from its reflection on the tropic sea were on his cheeks. The blotches ran well down the sides of his face and his hands had the deep-creased scars from handling heavy fish on the cords. But none of these scars were fresh. They were as old as erosions in a fishless desert. Everything about him was old except his eyes and they were the same color1 as the sea and were cheerful and undefeated. "Santiago," the boy said to him as they climbed the bank from where the skiff was pulled up. "I could go with you again. We've made some money." The old man had taught the boy to fish and the boy loved him. "No," the old man said. "You're with a lucky boat. Stay with them." "But remember how you went eighty-seven days without fish and then we caught big ones every day for three weeks." "I remember," the old man said. "I know you did not leave me because you doubted." "It was papa who made me leave. I am a boy and I must obey him." "I know," the old man said. "It is quite normal." "He hasn't much faith." "No," the old man said. "But we have. Haven't we?" "Yes," the boy said. "Can I offer you a beer on the Terrace and then we'll take the stuff home." "Why not?" the old man said. "Between fishermen." The boy left the old man and went in another boat to fish because _ . the boy's parents ordered him to These days a green building means more than just the color1 of the paint. Green building can also refer to environmentally friendly houses, factories, and offices. Green building means "reducing the effect of the building on the land," Taryn Holowka of the US Green Building Council in prefix = st1 /Washington,DC, said. According to Holowka, buildings account for 65 percent of total USelectricity use. But green buildings can reduce energy and water use. Also, the buildings are often located near public transportation such as buses and subways, so that people can drive their cars less. That could be good for the environment, because cars use lots of natural resources, such as gasoline, and give off pollution. Green buildings are often built on developed land, so that the buildings don't destroy forests or other wild habitats. Marty Dettling is project manager for a building that put these ideas into action. The Solaire has been called the country's first green residential high-rise building. According to Dettling, "We've reduced our energy consumption by one-third and our water by 50 percent. The Solaire cuts energy in part by using solar power. The Solaire also has lights that automatically turn off when people leave the room. Plus, the building has lots of windows. This allows people to use the sun for light instead of lamps during the day. Green buildings are _ . earth-friendly Think about the different ways that people use the wind. You can use it to fly a kite or to sail a boat. Wind is one of our cleanest and richest power sources, as well as one of the oldest. Something shows that windmills began to be used in ancient Iran back in the seventh century BC. They were first introduced to Europe during the 1100s, when armies returned from the Middle East with knowledge of using wind power. For many centuries, people used windmills to make wheat into flour or get water from deep underground. When electricity was discovered in the late 1800s, people living in faraway areas began to use them to produce electricity. This allowed them to have electric lights and radio. However, by the 1940s when electricity was available to people in almost all areas of the United States, windmills were hardly used. During the 1970s, people started becoming more cared about the pollution that is created when coal and gas are burned to produce electricity. People also realized that the supply of coal and gas would run out one day. Then, wind was rediscovered, though it means higher costs. Today, there is a global movement to supply more and more of our electricity through the use of wind What is the best title for this passenger? The development of the wind power Stephen Hawking was one of the most famous scientists in this century. He was born in 1942. He's a world well-known on space and time. Stephen is researching some very big questions, such as: How did the universe begin? How will it end? Stephen was a student at Oxford University. He studied math and science. Then, at the age of twenty, he became sick. He was so young, but the doctors said to his family, "He has only two more years to live." As a matter of fact, the doctors were wrong---- he didn't die. He can't walk now but he uses a wheelchair . He can't feed himself and get in or out of bed himself. But he refused to give in to the condition. He talks with the help of a computer. After Oxford, Stephen went to Cambridge University. Three years later, in 1965, he became a doctor of philosophy . Because of his serious health problems, it was difficult for him to draw diagrams or to write. So he started to think in pictures. With this new way of thinking, he became one of the most famous scientists in the world. In 1991, he met the Pope in Rome. They talked about his ideas. Then in 1998, he wrote his first important book, A Brief History of Time. It sold more than 5.5 million copies in 33 different languages. He was once invited to China, he impressed us with his self-confidence, humorous and witty conversation. Stephen's studies DO NOT relate to _ according to the passage. art
WHAT do you do when you feel lonely? Hide yourself away and spend your time reading, watching TV or walking around? You might think that feeling lonely is just like feeling happy, sad or scared - that it's just one of your various moods . That is true. However, if you let yourself be lonely for too long without dealing with it, you could be making a serious mistake. Doctors have known for some time that feeling lonely is bad for the mind. It can lead to mental health problems such as depression ,stress and reduced confidence. "Being lonely means not feeling connected or cared for, it's not about being physically alone," Lisa Jaremka, scientist from Ohio State University, US, told Live Science in January. But there's growing evidence that not having friends is connected with physical illness as well. In 2006, for example, scientists studied 2,800 women who had cancer. They found that those who had few friends or family were five times more likely to die of their disease than women with many social contacts. Also, even healthy people had a better chance of falling ill if they felt left out by others, according to the BBC. The results have scientists thinking that loneliness might hurt the immune system , which protects the body from diseases. Hoping to prove this theory, Jaremka and her research team put volunteers through a stress test. During the test, volunteers were asked to make an unprepared speech in front of a group of stony-faced people. The researchers found that volunteers who said they were lonely in their daily lives felt more stress during the test. And their blood samples showed that all the stress had managed to cause harmful changes to their immune system. "Loneliness has been thought of in many ways as a chronic stressor --- a socially painful situation that can last for quite a long time," explained Jaremka, who led the study. The number of people suffering from loneliness is increasing all over the world. However, solving the problem is easier said than done. It won't work to just "tell anyone to go out and find someone to love you", said Jaremka. " We need to create support networks." What makes scientists think loneliness makes the body worse at fighting diseases? A. Growing evidence of mental problems linked to loneliness. B. Some research results about the relationship between cancer and loneliness. C. Some studies showed that people who suffered from loneliness fell ill or died more easily than those who didn't. D. Different results after comparing healthy conditions of people who suffer from loneliness and those who don't. Answer: C. Some studies showed that people who suffered from loneliness fell ill or died more easily than those who didn't. Dear Customers, I love slipping into a comfortable chair for a long read--as I relax into the chair, I also relax into the author's words, stories and ideas. The physical book is so elegant that it disappears into the background, and what remains is the author's world. Today, we at Amazon are excited to announce Mindle, a wireless, portable reading device with instant access to more than 90,000 books, magazines and newspapers. We've been working on Mindle for more than three years. Our top design objective was for Mindle to disappear in your hands--to get out of the way--so you can enjoy your reading. We also wanted to go beyond the physical book. Mindle is wireless, so whether you're lying in bed or riding a train, you can think of a book, and have it in less than 60 seconds. No computer is needed--you do your reading directly from the device. We chose the same wireless technology used in advanced mobile phones. But unlike mobile phones, there are no monthly wireless bills, no service or data plans, and no yearly contracts. There is no software to install (,). We want you to get lost in your reading and not in the technology. Mindle uses a new kind of display called electronic paper. Sharp and natural with no strong light, reading on Mindle is nothing like reading from a computer screen. Mindle weighs only 10.3 ounces--less than paperback--but can carry two hundred books. Enjoy learning about Mindle and many thanks! Jeff Bezos Founder & CEO From the passage we learn that Mindle is a device which _ . A. has neither wires nor weight B. is operated by a computer C. disappears while you read D. can find a book within one minute Answer: D. can find a book within one minute According to Pete Singer, a researcher who wrote a number of books on the military, active involvement of robots in battles could worsen warfare by making machines do all the dirty work for humans. He says that humanity is currently at point of breakthrough in war, like the discovery of the atomic bomb. "What does it mean to go to war with US soldiers whose hardware is made in China and whose software is made in India?" The research predicts that by 2015 American soldiers will be half robots, half humans. It is worth mentioning that attack drones and bomb-handling robots are just some of the devices that armies use in battles. Besides having no mercy in battle, robots, in contrast to humans, also cut off living soldiers from horrors. "The United States is ahead in military robots, but in technology there is no such thing as a permanent advantage," Mr. Singer said, adding that currently Russia, China, Pakistan and Iran are working on the development of military robots as well. The researcher mentioned that robotics is something terrorists can take advantage of as well. "You don't have to make robots believe they are going to get 7 million dollars when they die to get them to blow themselves up," he said. In addition, Mr. Singer mentioned that military robots feature cameras that record everything a machine sees, providing digital video that is uploaded on You Tubein graphic clips, which soldiers call "war porn". "It turns war into entertainment, sometimes set to music. The ability to watch more but experience less," he said. David Hansco, who is a robotics designer, creates robots that have more features of a human. For example, his robots feature synthetic flesh faces and have the ability to read human facial expressions and copy them. The engineer states that the main idea is to create robots that can show empathy . The advantage of using robots in the war is _ . A. that they use the advanced technology B. that they can suit all kinds of condition C. that they are no longer in fear of war as men D. that they cost less money in the war Answer: C. that they are no longer in fear of war as men I hear many parents saying that their teenage children are rebellion . I wish it were so. At your age you ought to be growing away from your parents. You should be learning to stand on your own two feet. But take a good look at the present rebellion. It seems that teenagers are all taking the same way of showing that they degree with their parents. Instead of striking out bravely on their own, most of them are trying to seize at one another's hands for safety. They say they want to dress as they please. But they all wear the same clothes. They set off in new directions in music. But somehow reason for thinking or acting in thus-and-such a way is that the crowd is doing it. They have come out of their cocoon -----into a larger cocoon. It has become harder and harder for a teenager to stand up against the popularity wave and to go his or her own way. Industry has firmly opened up a teenage market. These days every teenager can learn from newspapers and TV what a teenager should have and be. And many of today's parents have come to award high narks for the popularity of their children. All this adds up to great difficulty for the teenager who wants to find his or her own path. But the difficulty is worth getting over. The path is worth following. You may want to listen to classical music instead of going to a party. You may want to collect rocks when everyone else is collecting records. You may have some thoughts that you don't care to share at once with your classmates. Well, go to it. Find yourself. Be yourself. Popularity will come-----with the people who respect you for who you are. That's the only kind of popularity that really counts. According to the writer, many teenagers think they are brave enough to act on their own, but, in fact, most of them _ . A. are not sure of themselves B. have much difficulty in understanding each other C. dare not do things D. are very much afraid of getting lost Answer: A. are not sure of themselves One morning, I stepped out of bed and put my feet on the floor. Suddenly, a mean little man jumped out from under the bed and stabbed (,) an ice pick through my left foot. Figuratively speaking, yes. I took another step and he stabbed it again. This went on all day. Step, stab, scream. Over the next few days, I started limping . My whole body hurt. Even my hair. I kept thinking that the little man would get tired of stabbing me and go pick on somebody else.We often take things for granted until we lose them or they start to hurt. My brother deals with pain every day. He's also blind and suffers from cerebral palsy , needs a walker to walk, doesn't take much for granted. I had to wonder: What would he think about my foot? Finally, after a week of pain, I went to see a very nice foot doctor. The doctor studied my foot, took X-rays, shook his head, and said the little man's name: Arthur Itis, or Arthritis . I knew it well. I'd often heard it hissed angrily by my grandparents and parents, all attacked by Arthur's ice pick when they got older. "Wait," I said. "Doesn't Arthur usually just pick on old people?" The doctor smiled, looking at my chart. "How old are you?" I gave him a look. "Never mind," I said. "Can you fix it?" "Well," he said, "we can try." He listed several options and I chose the injection . It didn't hurt much. Not half as much as the ice pick. That was yesterday. This morning, I awoke, took a few careful steps and ... hallelujah!It hurt just a bit, but no ice pick. I looked under the bed. No sign of Arthur. Maybe he was hiding in the closet, waiting for another day.But for now, he was gone, and I was grateful.My mind began to race with plans to do all the things I'd been putting off for days:unpack, clean the house, wash my hair ... Then it hit me. Another stab. Not in my foot. In my heart. I remembered that I hadn't called my brother in a long time. It's easy to take some things for granted. But it should never be the people we love. Why didn't the author go to see the doctor for the first week? A. Because she was afraid that her brother would laugh at her. B. Because she thought it was too cold to step out of her room. C. Because she expected that the pain would gradually disappear. D. Because she believed that she could endure the pain like her brother did. Answer: C. Because she expected that the pain would gradually disappear.
My husband and I had just opened up a pet sitting business earlier that year. Our customers had slowly risen from three to thirty a month. We were busy through those hot summer months, driving between visits. Our work was strictly done at the pet owner's home. It was almost too busy for the two of us, but we were making good money! We asked pet owners new to our business to phone two weeks ahead so we had enough time to meet the owners and pets at their homes and make any following meetings before the owner leaves. One day, we decided to take on a new customer just two days before they would leave. We met the family, filled in a form, and spent some time with their dog, Hercules. He playfully jumped on us and touched our hands and arms using his tongue. The family laughed as he did this, showing us that he was very loving. Two days later I appeared at the house, alone. I came up to Hercules and said hello happily. I filled up his water bowl and cleaned any messes he made. Meanwhile, he was so lovely sitting beside. I thought this would be the good picture to send to the owners as usual. After the light and "click" sound went off, Hercules rushed at me. I didn't know what had just happened until I noticed the drops of blood. I ran out and did the only thing--calling my husband. Then I went to neighbors for help. My husband arrived after ten minutes. The helpful neighbor and my husband led Hercules back into his pen . Then my husband and I took off to the hospital. I must have looked like I was shot when I walked into the hospital. The nurses quickly moved me to a room. I asked the doctor in a weak but playful manner, "Am I going to die?" He replied, "Finally." The doctor's answer gave us a sense of _ . Earlier this month, two rock climbers achieved what many thought impossible: They climbed up the 3,000-foot-high Dawn Wall in Yosemite National Park without specialized equipment. Climbing without this equipment is called"free-climbing."Until now, no one had free-climbed to the top of the rock face, which is a part of the mountain EI Capitan. El Capitan, which means"the captain"or"the chief"in Spanish, has always presented a challenge to climbers. But the Dawn Wall, on the mountain's southeast face, is a particularly difficult route to the summit . It is a rock formation that is both steep and relatively smooth. This makes free-climbing the rock face seem almost impossible. About seven years ago, professional climber Tommy Caldwell spotted a possible route up the wall. It took years of planning and preparation, but this month, Caldwell, 36, and his friend Kevin Jorgeson, 30, finally make the climb. Free climbers do use ropes and other basic safety equipment to catch them if they fall -- and Caldwell and Jorgeson fell often. Before starting their climb, they broke down their route into 32 sections. Each section was based on a rope length called a"pitch."The rope was secured into the rock face to catch the climbers if they fell. Caldwell and Jorgeson's goal was to climb the Dawn Wall without returning to the ground. If they fell, they had to start that pitch all over again. The two men started climbing on December 27. They slept in hanging tents, and a team of friends brought them food each day. The men had spent years rehearsing the movements it would take to get through each pitch. They made it through the fist half of the climb relatively easily. But halfway up, Jorgeson ran into trouble. In one difficult spot, he fell each time he attempted to climb. After 10 days of trying, Jorgeson finally made it to the next pitch. Getting through that troublesome pitch gave both climbers renewed energy. They finished the rest of the climb five days later, on January 14. Which of the following words can best describe Jorgeson? Any mistake, which is made in the printing of a stamp, raises its value to stamp collectors. A mistake on a two-penny stamp has made it worth a million and a half times its face value. Do you think it possible? However, it is true. The mistake was made more than 100 years ago in Mauritius, a small island in the Indian Ocean, which was a British colony at that time. In 1847, an order for stamps was sent to London. Thus prefix = st1 /Mauritiusbecame the fourth country in the world which had the stamps made in other countries. Before the order was filled ,that is, the stamps arrived from England, a big dance party was planned by the commander-in-chief of all the armed forces on the island. The party would be held in his house and letters of invitation would be sent to all the important people in Mauritius. So stamps were badly needed to post the letters. Therefore, an islander, who was a good printer, was told to copy the pattern of the stamps. He carelessly put the words "Post Office" instead of "Post Paid", two words seen on the stamps at that time, on several hundred that he printed. Today, there are only 26 of these misprinted stamps left: fourteen One-penny Reds and twelve Two-penny Blues. Because of so few Two-penny Blues and because of their age, collectors have paid as much as $16,800 for each of them. Which of the following can be a title for the passage? Photos that you might have found down the back of your sofa are now big business! In 2005, the American artist Richard Prince's photograph of a photograph, Untitled (Cowboy), was sold for $ 1, 248, 000. Prince is certainly not the only contemporary artist to have worked with so-called "found photographs"--a loose term given to everything from discarded prints discovered in a junk shop to old advertisements or amateur photographs from a stranger's family album. The German artist Joachim Schmid, who believes "basically everything is worth looking at", has gathered discarded photographs, postcards and newspaper images since 1982. In his on-going project, Archiv, he groups photographs of family life according to themes: people with dogs; teams; new cars; dinner with the family; and so on. Like Schmid, the editors of several self-published art magazines also champion found photographs. One of _ , called simply Found, was born one snowy night in Chicago, when Davy Rothbard returned to his car to find under his wiper an angry note intended for some else: "Why's your car HERE at HER place?" The note became the starting point for Rothbard's addictive publication, which features found photographs sent in by readers, such a poster discovered in our drawer. The whole found-photograph phenomenon has raised some questions. Perhaps one of the most difficult is: can these images really be considered as art? And if so, whose art? Yet found photographs produced by artists, such Richard Prince, may riding his horse hurriedly to meet someone? Or how did Prince create this photograph? It's anyone's guess. In addition, as we imagine the back-story to the people in the found photographs artists, like Schmid, have collated , we also turn toward our own photographic albums. Why is memory so important to us? Why do we all seek to freeze in time the faces of our children, our parents, our lovers, and ourselves? Will they mean anything to anyone after we've gone? In the absence of established facts, the vast collections of found photographs give our minds an opportunity to wander freely. That, above all, is why they are so fascinating. By asking a series of questions in Para 5, the author mainly intends to indicate that _ . Nearly all prehistoric bones are found in
Question: Poor families in some countries spend as much as eighty percent of their money on food. Rising prices in recent months have created the worst food crisis in more than thirty years. The United Nations World Food Program says high food prices could push one hundred million people into hunger. Nathan Childs is an expert on rice markets. He notes that the harvest for the latest growing season was the largest on record. But India, Vietnam and others have restricted exports to keep prices down at home and protect supplies. Thailand's agriculture minister says his country will never restrict rice exports. He told the Reuters news agency Thursday that Thailand has enough supplies to meet demand at home and for export. Thailand is the world's largest rice exporter. Recent signs of an increase in supplies have helped ease record prices for Thai rice. Prices rose last week above one thousand dollars a ton. Vietnam, the second biggest exporter, has banned exports until June. And Vietnamese officials have now warned that non-food traders who buy rice for speculation will be severely punished. Some experts say speculation is a necessary part of market activity. But the head of the U.N. Environment Program blames it for the high food prices. "We have enough food on this planet today to feed everyone." Achim Steiner told the Associated Press. Earlier, a member of the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission didn't accept the idea that speculators are the main cause. Bart Chilton blamed reduced harvests and grain supplies and the falling value of the dollar. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called heads of major international agencies to a meeting this week in the Swiss capital, Bern. He says high food prices could harm world trade, economic growth, social progress and political security. All of the following are the results of rising prices of food EXCEPT _ . A. the worst food crisis B. reduced harvests and grain supplies C. people spending more money on food D. pushing one hundred million people into hunger Answer: B Question: Soccer star David Beckham will be there with his pop star wife Victoria. Elton John is attending with partner David Furnish. The guest list for the April 29 union of Prince William and Kate Middleton is still being kept secret, but details have begun to leak out, with some coming forward to say they are attending and the Mail on Sunday newspaper claiming to have the official invitation roster . The palace dismissed the newspaper's list as speculation Sunday. It won't be clear until the day how the royal couple has balanced the protocol demands that they invite statesmen, diplomats, religious leaders, politicians and the like with invitations to the people they really want to see, particularly the crowd they made friends with when they met and fell in love at St. Andrews University in Scotland. Kate Reardon, editor of high-society magazine Tatler, said many _ Britons acted as if they didn't really care about receiving an invitation while secretly checking the mail every day to see if the invitation had arrived. "Everyone's been hoping," she said. William and Middleton have showed their modern side by inviting a number of close friends, including some former sweethearts, the newspaper said. The wedding is not technically a state event, which somewhat limits the protocol requirements applied to the guest list. But royal obligations still order that a large number of the 1,900 or so seats go to guests from the world of politics, not actual friends of the couple. The couple have also invited many guests from the charities they work with, and Middleton has used her influence to invite the butcher, shopkeeper and pub owner from her home village of Bucklebury. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle were not invited and many other international leaders are also expected to be watching on TV, not from a seat at Westminster Abbey. It is not clear if treasured Brits from the world of stage and screen and pop music will be on the list. The best title for the passage might be _ . A. Prince William and Middleton fall in love at St. Andrews University B. British royal wedding guest list details leaks out C. Prince William and Middleton prepares for their grand wedding D. British singers and movie stars invited to the wedding Answer: B Question: Sixteen years ago, Eileen Doyle's husband, an engineer, took his four children up for an early morning cup of tea, packed a small case and was never seen or heard from again. Eileen was astonished and in a state of despair. They had been a happy family and, as far as she knew, there had been nothing wrong with their marriage. Every day of the year a small group of men and women quietly pack a few belongings and, without so much as a note or a good-bye, close the front door for the last time, leaving their debts, their worries and their confused families behind them. Last year, more than 1,200 men and nearly as many women were reported missing from home -- the highest in 15 years. Many did return home within a year, but others rejected the past completely and are now living a new life somewhere under a different identity. To those left behind this form of desertion is a terrible blow to their pride and self-confidence. Even the finality of death might be preferable. At least it does not imply rejection or failure. Worse than that, people can be left with an unfinished marriage, not knowing whether they will have to wait seven years before they are free to start a fresh life. Clinical psychologist Paul Brown believes most departures of this kind to be well planned rather than impulsive. "It's typical of the kind of personality which seems able to ignore other people's pain and difficulties. Running away, like killing yourself, is a highly aggressive act. By creating an absence the people left behind feel guilty, upset and empty." The man or woman left behind with an unfinished marriage usually _ . A. admits their responsibility for the situation B. feels embarrassed and useless C. will have no legal marriage life for seven years D. wishes the person who has left were dead Answer: B Question: Billie Holiday was one of the greatest jazz singers in America. Her life was just a mixture of success and tragedy . Her singing expressed her experiences and feelings. Billie Holiday's parents Sadie Fagan and Clarence Holiday were young when their daughter was born. Their marriage failed because Clarence Holiday was often out. He traveled as a musician with some of the earliest jazz bands and inspired his daughter. Sadie cleaned people's houses to make a living. Later she moved to New York City where the pay was higher, for which she had to send her daughter to one of her s. The young girl changed her name to Billie, because she liked a movie star, Billie Dove. The talented Billie Holiday loved singing. She sang and listened to music whenever she could. In one place near her home there was a machine that played records. The building was a theater where many famous singers also performed their newly-made songs for free. Billie cleaned floors and did other jobs for the theater so that she could listen to the records. It was there that young Billie first heard the records of some famous black American blues artists of the 1920s. She heard Bessie Smith sing the blues. And she heard Louis Armstrong play the horn. Both musicians had a great influence on her. Billie Holiday once said, "I do not think I'm just singing. I feel like I am singing the song from my heart. What comes out is what I feel." Billie Holiday's parents' marriage ended because _ . A. Sadie moved to New York City B. the family couldn't support itself C. Clarence spent too much time in working D. Clarence was a strange person Answer: C Question: Now, there is a growing movement to pay the students in American schools---in some cases, even just for coming to class. Students at one school in New Mexico can earn up to three hundred dollars a year for good attendance. In Baltimore, Maryland, high scores in state graduation tests can be worth more than one hundred dollars. And a New Jersey school system plans to pay students fifty dollars a week to attend after---school tutoring programs. Schools that pay students can be found in more than one---fourth of the fifty states. Other schools pay students with food or other rewards. Robert Schaefer is a public education director. He says paying students may improve performance in the short term, but students develop false expectations for the future. He sees a lack of long term planning in these programs because of the pressure on schools to raise test scores. Public schools need to show improvement under the education reform law. Low---performing schools may lose their federal money; teachers and administrators may lose their jobs. Often these schools are in poor neighborhoods where getting students to go to school can be a continual problem. Critics say paying students sends a message that money is the only valuable reward. But some students say it makes school more exciting. And some teachers have reported getting more requests for extra help. In two thousand four, the city schools in Coshocton, Ohio, launched a program. They wanted to see if paying elementary school students as much as one hundred dollars would help in passing the state exams. Now, Eric Bettinger of Case Western Reserve University (EUCWRU) has reported mixed results. Math scores increased, but only white students were able to get paid. And there was no evidence of higher scores in reading, social studies and science. Official will decide later this year whether to continue the program. The text is mainly written to _ . A. persuade teachers to give students more prizes B. tell people how to become an excellent student C. introduce something about American paying students program D. explain the advantages of American paying students program Answer: C
Norah had a cottage on a cliff above a big bay. In winter it could be very unpleasant because of strong winds and sea waves. In fact, when a _ was blowing, Norah and her husband got used to sleeping in a small room downstairs, because their bedroom upstairs, which faced the gales, had a very big window, and they were afraid that an extra violent wind might break it and blow pieces of broken glass over them. Also, the salt wave from the sea put an end to many of the colorful plants Norah planted in her garden. She tried putting up a fence to protect them, but the wind just hit it, went up over the top and then down the other side, so in the end she filled the garden with trees and bushes that liked salt. But most of the summer Norah enjoyed her cottage and garden very much. At weekends she could sit out-of-doors in the sun, looking at the beautiful view, with interesting ships and boats passing by, and she could very easily cycle down to the sea for a swim. Now, Norah and her husband had plenty of friends and relations. In the summer lots of them used to come to enjoy the beautiful place, and in the end it really became quite annoying for the couple. When they were at home, they found friends and relations arriving, expecting to be given unlimited drinks and meals, and to sit in the sun for hours, talking as if Norah and her husband had nothing else to do but entertain and listen to them. This went on for several years. Norah didn't wish to appear rude by refusing to let her friends and relations in, but on the other hand, she was getting tired every summer. Then one day Norah was complaining about this to her hairdresser while she was doing her hair. "You're disturbed by too many uninvited guests, are you?" said the hairdresser. "Why don't you try my way of escaping?" "What's that?" asked Norah. "Well," the hairdresser answered, "when the bell rings, I put on my coat and take my shopping bag. If it's someone I don't want to see, I say innocently, 'I'm sorry, but I've got to go out.' But..." Which of the following is the best title? A A Good Place of Enjoying the Sea B A Visit to Norah C A clever Way of Escaping D A Warm-hearted Couple Answer: C Two old men lived in a room on the third floor of an old people's home. Both men were very old and badly ill, and they spent 24 hours a day in bed in the room. Luckily, one of the old men had his bed by the window, and every day he spent hours telling his friend far from the window what he could see through the window. He told him about the traffic going by, the children playing in the park opposite, and the birds flying in trees. The old man far from the window got a lot of pleasure from hearing about the world outside, but after a time he began to get rather unhappy. How nice it would be, he thought, if he had the bed by the window and could see everything for him, instead of just hearing about it. One night, the man by the window called to his friend, "Quick! Pull the alarm by your bed; I don't think I can get through the night!" But his friends, expecting an empty bed by the window, did nothing---he just closed his eyes and went back to sleep. The next morning, the nurse found the man dead in his bed by the window. The old man was very excited as they moved him into the empty bed by the window. He sat up in bed, pulled back the curtain, looked out --- and saw only a wall. The old man didn't pull the alarm by the bed because _ . A he was too weak to do it. B he had fallen into a deep sleep. C he didn't hear what the other man asked to do D he wanted to move to the bed by the window. Answer: D I'm Cindy. Today is January 20th. It's my birthday. I get up at 7:30am. My parents say"Happy birthday!" to me. Today I get lots of gifts from my parents and my friends. My father gives me a book. My mother gives me a blue skirt. Ben, one of my good friends, gives me a basketball. There is a green note on my table. It says," I'm your gift, and I'm behind your schoolbag." Aha, it's a radio! It's from my brother, Jim. I'm a very happy girl. I love my family and my friends very much. Cindy's birthday is on _ . A January 19th B January 20th C January 21 st D January 22nd Answer: B With a PS4 million ITV contract in her pocket and an engagement to her England footballer boyfriend, it's been a good year for Christine Bleakley.Perhaps it's no wonder, as the TV presenter is 31, the age at which women are the most attractive, according to a survey. While the average British woman of 31 may be married with a child, the survey noted they are at a wonderful age because they have not only youthful beauty but also more confidence and a better sense of style than flesh-faced teenagers. Some 70 percent of more than 2,000 men and women surveyed considered confidence as a key factor in making a woman attractive, ahead of the 67 percent who included physical beauty and 47 percent who looked for a sense of style.Almost two thirds of the women agreed with the opinion "With age, comes beauty", and over half said that as they age they do away with their insecurities and feel more beautiful, while 55 percent felt they knew the best make-up to wear. Self-confidence varied widely across the country in the survey: London women emerged as the most confident about their looks, with 37 percent describing themselves as beautiful, compared with just 28 percent of Welsh women.Meanwhile, East Midlands women spend the most on beauty programs --PS129.69 monthly--compared with a national average of PS105.50. The research was carried on for TV shopping channel QVC to mark the launch of its "Beauty Month".QVC marketing director Sue Leeson said: "This research shows what many have always suspected -- real beauty is about more than just good looks but a combination of confidence, style and personality, too." Which fact shows that a woman is confident? A Paying little attention to style. B Wearing expensive make-up. C Considering herself as beautiful. D Spending much on beauty programs. Answer: B In my thirty years as a time management speaker, I have observed a lot of what we can not and should not do to increase our daily results. Time management is not necessarily working harder, but rather smarter. A lot of our time management has to do more with what we are not doing rather than what we are doing. Sometimes our mistakes will keep us from running at a full pace. Here are some time management mistakes we should all avoid to help us increase our daily efficiency: Start your day without a plan of action. Without a plan, you will have worked hard but may not have done enough right things. Time management is not doing the wrong things more rapidly. That just gets us nowhere faster. Time management is doing the right things. Work with a messy desk or work area. Studies have shown that the person who works with a messy desk spends, on average, one and a half hours per day in looking for things. That's seven and a half hours per week. If you have ever visited the office of a top manager, you can easily find that he or she is working with a clean desk environment. Don't take a lunch break. Many people do not take a lunch break. They work through that time period in the hope that it will give them more time to finish the task. Studies have shown that it may work just the opposite. After doing what we do for several hours, our mind will become boring. A lunch break, even a fifteen-minute break, gives us a chance to get our batteries all charged up again. With a plan of action, you can _ . A work harder B do the wrong things more rapidly C avoid doing wrong things D get nowhere faster Answer: C
The idea of "law" exists in every culture. All societies have some kind of law to keep order and to control the interactions of people with those around them. The laws of any culture tell people three things: what they can do (their right), what they must do (their duties), and what they may not do. In addition, there are usually specific types of punishment for those who break the law. Although all societies have laws, not all have the same idea of justice--which is "right" and "wrong" and how "wrong" should be punished. In most Western cultures, it is thought that punishing criminals will prevent them from committing other crimes. Also, it is hoped that the fear of punishment will act as a deterrent that prevents other people from committing similar crimes; in other words, people who are considering a life of crime will decide against it because of fear of punishment. In most non-Western cultures, by contrast, punishment is not seen as a deterrent. Instead, great importance is placed on restoring balance in the situation. A thief, for example, may be ordered to return the things he has stolen instead of, as in Western societies, spending time in prison. Another difference in the concept of justice lies in various societies' ideas of what laws are. In the West, people consider "laws" quite different from "customs". There is also a great contrast between "sins" (breaking religious laws) and "crimes" (breaking laws of the government). In many non-Western cultures, on the other hand, there is little separation of customs, laws, and religious beliefs; in other cultures, these three may be quite separate from one another, but still very much different from those in the West. For these reasons, an action may be considered a crime in one country, but be socially acceptable in others. For instance, although a thief is viewed as a criminal in much of the world, in a small village where there is considerable communal living and sharing of objects, the word thief may have little meaning. Someone who has taken something without asking is simply considered an impolite person. Most countries have two kinds of law: criminal and civil. People who have been accused of acts such as murder or theft are heard in the criminal justice system, while civil justice deals with people who are believed to have violated others' rights. The use of the civil system reflects the values of the society in which it exists. In the United States where personal, individual justice is considered very important, civil law has become "big business." There are over 600,000 lawyers in the United States, and many of them keep busy with civil lawsuits; that is, they work for people who want to sue others. If a man falls over a torn rug in a hotel and breaks his arm, for instance, he might decide to sue the hotel owners so that they will pay his medical costs. In a country like Japan, by contrast, there is very little use of the civil justice system. Lawsuits are not very popular in Japan, where social harmony is even more important than individual rights, and where people would rather reach agreement outside court. Which of the following cases are not heard in the criminal justice system? A Robbing a pedestrian. B Kidnapping people for ransom. C Breaking into a bank. D Failing to pay back the money. Answer: D All the animals were having a picnic. Turtle brought hotdogs for everyone. All the animals came to make their hotdogs. Rabbit put ketchup on his hotdog. Duck put mustard on his hotdog. Bear put ketchup and mustard on his hotdog. Turtle and Fox did not put ketchup or mustard on their hotdog. Goose looked at the hotdogs. He did not like hotdogs at all. He was very hungry. He looked around for something else to eat. Duck had brought chips, but Goose did not like chips. Bear had brought salad, but Goose did not like salad. Fox had brought apples, but Goose did not like apples. Rabbit brought carrots, but Goose did not like carrots. Goose looked around for something that he liked. Then he saw something near the edge of the meadow. It was a bunch of red strawberries. Goose liked strawberries very much. He took a basket and gathered up as many strawberries as he could and brought them to the picnic. Everyone was happy, and Goose was not hungry any more. Who doesn't like hotdogs at all? A Bear B Goose C Turtle D Rabbit Answer: B "Wolf!" Lydia Angiyou's five-year-old nephew Paulussie whispered with alarm as he touched her arm. At first, she didn't believe him. Angiyou, Paulussie, her other nephew Lucassie, also five, and her youngest son Jessie, seven, were walking to her mother's house -- only two doors down from her own -- one night last February. Animals were often sighted near Ivujivik -- a village on the shore of Hudson Bay in north-eastern Canada -- but rarely on its streets. The 41-year-old teacher and mother of five turned around. Looking behind her into the darkness, at first she thought that Jessie was the wolf. But a metre behind the boy was a 350kg polar bear -- no wolf in sight -- standing on the icy road. Jessie turned and saw it, too, then ran, screaming, to his mother. Angiyou felt a rush of blood to her brain. "Get as far away as you can!" she shouted to the boys as she ran towards the bear. She stopped just in front of it, then faced it quietly. It made a move to go around her to get to the boys, who must have seemed like the easier meal. But Angiyou moved with the bear to maintain her position blocking the children. Finally she got the animal's attention. In response, it rose on its hind legs, stretching to its full 2.5m height. The bear charged, paws thundering down and knocking her into a seated position. The skin under her nose tore. Falling onto her back, she screamed for help and kicked at the animal in a bicycling motion. She soon passed out. Sirqualuk Ainalik, a fellow teacher, had been at his brother's house nearby when Jessie dashed inside for help. Grabbing a rifle , the 33-year-old ran to the road, firing a warning shot into the air. He then aimed his gun at the huge bear. At this time Angiyou came to and heard the gunshot in the distance, then watched as the animal turned its attention away from her and towards the loud sound. With two more shots, Ainalik killed the polar bear. The story shows that Lydia Angiyou is _ . A strong and clever B skilled and careful C devoted and fearless D cautious and brave Answer: C A device that stops drivers from falling asleep at the wheel is about to undergo testing at Department of Transport laboratories and could go on sale within 12 months. The system, called Driver Alert, aims to reduce deadly road accidents by 20% - 40% that are caused by tiredness. Airline pilots can also use it to reduce the 30% of all pilot-error accidents that are related to fatigue. Driver Alert is based on a computerized wristband. The device, worn by drivers or pilots, gives out a sound about every four minutes during a car journey. After each sound the driver must respond by squeezing the steering wheel. A sensor in the wristband detects this pressing action and measures the time between the sound the driver's response. Tiredness is directly related to a driver's response time. Usually, a watchful driver would take about 400 milliseconds to respond, but once that falls to more than 500 milliseconds, it suggests that the driver is getting sleepy. In such cases the device gives out more regular and louder sounds, showing that the driver should open a window or stop for a rest. If the driver's response continues to slow down, the sounds become more frequent until a nonstop alarm warns that the driver must stop as soon as possible. The device has been delivered to the department's laboratories for testing. If these tests, scheduled for six months' time, are successful, the makers will bring the product to market within about a year. When the driver gets sleepy while driving, Driver Alert _ . A moves more regularly B stops working properly C opens the window for the driver D sounds more frequently and loudly Answer: D The American tradition of Thanksgiving dates back to colonial times, to the Pilgrims of Plymouth rock Colony. To escape religious persecution in England, the Pilgrims journeyed to the New World on their ship, the Mayflower. After a long journey, they finally arrived at Plymouth Rock in autumn of 1620. They could not finish building the settlement before winter, so many froze to death. They ate most of their food on the journey over, so many also starved. However, the Pilgrims met a Native American named Tisquantum, or Squanto as he was better known, who taught them how to plant corn and catch eel . By the same time next year, the Pilgrims had built a steady settlement, and had a bountiful harvest. To thank the Native Americans for their help and to celebrate the harvest, the Pilgrims held a grand banquet . Together, they feasted on corn, yams, fish, and most importantly: roast turkey, which became the highlight of the modern Thanksgiving feast. Schools always make a big deal about Thanksgiving, because they feel that it teaches children how to be thankful and to treat others with kindness. I spent the many years of elementary school making paper turkeys, fake cornucopias(a shell filled with food, a symbol of the holiday), and writing lists of what I'm thankful for. When I grew older, I watched movies and read books about the First Thanksgiving, and completed crossword puzzles and word searches filled with holiday themed words. While the idea for Thanksgiving is great, and it is a wonderful opportunity to instill certain values in children, I don't think we should name a special holiday for being thankful. We should be thankful for what we have every day, not just Thanksgiving. Why did the Pilgrims hold a banquet one year after their arrival in the new world? A To memorize their family members left in England. B To celebrate their survival from religious persecution. C To thank the Native Americans for their help. D To celebrate the new state they've set up. Answer: C
"It's So Good" in French, was one of Eartha Mae Kitt's first hit songs. But her childhood wasn't so good. She was born into a poor family in South Carolina in nineteen twenty-seven. When Eartha was eight, her mother remarried. Her stepfather did not like her so she was sent to New York City to live with an aunt, who helped pay for her piano and dance lessons. Eartha Kitt worked in a factory as a young teenager. But she kept up her dance lessons. One day she tried out for a famous African-American dance company. Soon, Eartha was performing in shows around the world with the Katherine Dunham Dance Troupe. In Paris, Eartha left the dance company to sing in a nightclub. Her voice was very attracting. She learned French quickly and gained French fans. Soon the film director Orson Welles discovered Eartha Kitt singing in Paris. Welles asked her to play a lead part in a play he was directing. The play made her find her acting talent for the first time. After that Eartha Kitt returned to New York and appeared in the Broadway show with "Monotonous", a song about a bored woman, and it became famous. She soon signed with a record company. Then Eartha Kitt acted her first role in a film in nineteen fifty-seven in "Mark of the Hawk". Kitt was very careful about choosing her roles in films. She refused parts that were not respectful to black people. In nineteen sixty-seven, Eartha Kitt got the part of Catwoman on the popular television series "Batman". Fans loved the special way she said her "r"s to create a sound like a cat, which made her an unforgettable Catwoman. She was strongly against the Vietnam War and in nineteen sixty-eight she became blacklisted in America. For about ten years, she could only find work in other countries. But that brought her a greater international achievement. Who helped Eartha Kitt find her acting talent? _ . A Her mother B Her aunt C Her stepfather D Orson Welles. Answer: D. Orson Welles. Guangzhou (Xinhua)----12 people were killed and 20 injured early yesterday morning when they jumped from a burning train car into the path of an oncoming goods train in Southern China. When No. 247 Wuchang----Guangzhou passenger train was passing the Dayaoshan Tunnel in Guangdong Province, South China at 00 :17 hours yesterday, a fire caused by passengers' smoking broke out on No. 17 car. They wanted to extinguish fire. As the train stopped some frightened passengers jumped from windows. 12 people were crushed to death and 20 others injured by a northward passing goods train(No. 1766). What was the cause of the fire? A A heavy rain. B High temperature. C Carelessness. D Fear. Answer: C. Carelessness. They stood outside the door - two children in shabby outgrown coats. "Any old papers, lady?" I was busy, I wanted to say no until I saw the snow on their clothes. And their little sandals were also covered with snow. "Come in and I'll make you a cup of hot cocoa." There was no conversation. Their wet sandals left marks upon the floor. I served them cocoa and toast with jam to strengthen them against the cold outside. Then I went back to the kitchen and started again on my household. The silence in the front room got me to look inside. The girl held the empty cup in her hands, looking at it. The boy asked in a flat voice, "Lady, are you rich?" "Am I rich? Mercy, no! " I looked at my shabby sofa. The girl put her cup back in its saucer carefully. "Your cups match your saucers, she said." They left then, holding their bundles of papers against the wind. They hadn't said thank you. They didn't need to. They had done more than that. Plain blue cups and saucers. But they matched. I tasted the potatoes and looked at the meat. Potatoes and meat, the roof over my head, my man with a good steady job - these things matched, too. I moved the chairs back from the fire and tidied the living room. The muddy prints of small sandals were still wet upon my floor. I let them be. I wanted them there in case I ever forget again how very rich I am. What can be seen from the passage is that_. A the author was very rich and unkind B the children took away the cups and saucers C the author's husband had a steady job D the two children were looking for jobs. Answer: C. the author's husband had a steady job Overnight, TFboys, a boy band consisting of three middle school students, became the talk all over China. Founded last year, the oldest member of TF boys is only 14. But the number of their followers on Sina Weibo has reached 11 million. Their music videos are also getting millions of views online. Some say that TFboys has become popular only because of their pretty faces. But take a serious look at the three boys, and you may find out what has helped them win over so many people. Wang Junkai, 14, from Chongqing What did you do when you were 8 years old? Wang had become a trainee at TF Entertainment at that age, he still goes to school like other kids during weekdays. But his weekends were filled with training classes. He learned how to sing and dance. He had to do the splits again and again. Many boys couldn't stand it and quit, but Wang didn't give up. Before he finally became a TFboy, the tough guy has been practicing for five years. Wang Yuan, 13, from Chongqing Fans like to call Wang "Er Yuan" because he is a funny guy who's always telling dry jokes. But when he starts to sing, you'd be thrilled by his clear voice and high pitch . The cheerful boy lives a simple life. He doesn't like to compare himself with others. His mobile phone cost only 300 yuan. He's a big fan of Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf. He has watched every Pleasant Goat movie at the cinema. Yiyang Qianxi, 13, from Hunan Yiyang is the shortest of the three boys, but he definitely has the most splendid resume . He is a top student. He is an excellent dancer. He takes part in TV shows. He has played different roles in many movies. He is even good at calligraphy . When other teenagers show off their new clothes on Weibo, Yiyang displays his calligraphy work. How can he be good at so many things? " I'd practice dancing while others were chatting," he said. What doed the word "splendid" mean? A great B full C bad D high Answer: A. great Han Dan comes from China, she is a clever and beautiful girl. She studies in a middle school. She has four pen pals. They are from different countries and like different animals. Linda is from America. Her favorite animal is the penguin. The penguin likes ice very much. Lily comes from Australia .The koala is her favorite animal. The koala likes to eat leaves. And it sleeps all day, but it gets up at night. Bob is from India. His favorite animal is the elephant. Grass is the elephant's favorite food. Tom is a Canadian boy. He likes the tiger best. The tiger likes to eat meat. What is Han Dan's favorite animal? It is the panda. Bamboo is panda's favorite. Han Dan likes _ . A penguins B koalas C elephants D pandas Answer: D. pandas
Question: Grandma celebrated her fifty-third birthday just weeks before grandpa died of cancer in 1965. Although his passing was very difficult for her, I think their shared struggle to make his life longer taught grandma that good health was not to be taken for granted, and she made up her mind to live the rest of her own life as fully and as long as she could. One day, when she announced to attend lessons at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Portland, Oregon, where she lived, we rolled our eyes in embarrassment and helplessly wished she would just stay home and bake cookies as normal grandmothers did. Many years filled with countless dance lessons passed before we learned to appreciate the wonder of having a dancing grandma. I suppose grandma's primary motivation for wanting to learn to dance was social. She had been a shy girl, always very tall and heavy, and had married into grandpa's quiet lifestyle before developing any elegance or confidence in her personal appearance. Dancing, on the other hand, filled her life with flash lights, wonderful parties, beautiful dresses, handsome young dance instructors, and the challenge of learning. Although the weekly dance lessons did not change her ample, two-hundred-pound figure, grandma surprised everyone with energetic performances on the dance floor, which soon gave her as much elegance and confidence as any Miss American competitor. Having taken weekly dance lessons for years, my grandma learned various dances easily and was soon participating in dancing matches all over the Northwest. When I was fourteen, grandma proudly invited me to watch her compete in one of these matches to be held in the grand ballroom of the Red Lion Inn. My attitude was still unenthusiastic at that point, but to make her happy, my mother and I attended the match. As if to prove me wrong, grandma made a wonderful showing in every event she entered. I thought she was truly the queen of the ball during the dance, and my thoughts were shared by the judges a short time later when she was awarded a gold cup for her outstanding performance. The author felt _ when he was invited to watch grandma's match. A. happy B. proud C. excited D. uninterested Answer: D Question: Mr. and Mrs. Green were going on their vacation with their children, and they had to arrive at the airport before 11:40 the next morning. "It takes us thirty minutes to get there in a car," Mr. Green said, "so we must get ready before eleven o'clock. Don't be late." At ten fifty, all of them were busy doing something, but Mrs. Green wasn't. She sat quietly in a chair in the garden and enjoyed the good weather. Mr. Green and the children were surprised, but Mrs. Green said, "Don't worry! Before I went to bed last night. I made all our clocks and watches twenty minutes ahead . Now we can get to the airport early." How did Mr. Green and the children feel when they saw Mrs. Green sitting in the garden. A. They felt sad. B. They felt happy C. They felt surprised D. They felt interested. Answer: C Question: Women in Nazi Germany were to have a very special job. Hitler was very clear about this. This job was that they should be good mothers bringing up children at home while their husbands worked. Except for some special fields, Hitler saw no reason why a woman should work. Within months of Hitler coming to power, many female doctors, teachers and lawyers were . By the start of the Second World War, very few German women were in fulltime work. From their earliest years, girls were taught that all good German women married at a young age to a proper German and that the wife's job was to keep a good home for her working husband and to have children. One of the earliest laws passed by Hitler once he came to power in 1933, was the Law for the Encouragement of Marriage. This law stated that all newly married couples would get a government loan of 1000 marks. This loan was not to be simply paid back. The birth of one child meant that 25% of the loan did not have to be paid back. Two children meant that 50% of the loan didn't need to be paid back. Four children meant that the entire loan was cleared. What was more, as housewives and mothers, their lives were controlled. Women were not expected to wear make-up or trousers. Only flat shoes were expected to be worn. Women were discouraged from slimming as this was considered bad for child birth. Which of the following is a suitable title for the text? A. The life of women in Nazi Germany B. The cruel rule of Hitler in Germany C. The marriage policy in Nazi Germany D. Hitler -- a powerful leader in Germany Answer: A Question: A world-famous Canadian author, Margaret Atwood, has created the world's first long-distance signing device , the LongPen. After many tiring book-signing tours from city to city, Atwood thought there must be a better way to do them. She hired some technical experts and started her own company in 2004. Together they designed the LongPen. Here's how it works: The author writes a personal message and signature on a computer tablet using a special pen. On the receiving end, in another city, a robotic arm fitted with a regular pen signs the book. The author and fan can talk with each other via webcams and computer screens. Work on the LongPen began in Atwood's basement . At first, they had no idea it would be as hard as it turned out to be. The device went through several versions, including one that actually had smoke coming out of it. The investing finally completed, test runs were made in Ottawa, and the LongPen was officially launched at the 2006 London Book Fair. From here , Atwood conducted two transatlantic book signings of her latest book for fans in Toronto and New York City. The LongPen produces a unique signature each time because it copies the movement of the author in real time. It has several other potential applications. It could increase credit card security and allow people to sign contracts from another province. The video exchange between signer and receiver can be recorded on DVD for proof when legal documents are used. "It's really fun", said the owner of a bookstore, who was present for one of the test runs. "Obviously you can't shake hands with the author, but there are chances for a connection that you don't get from a regular book signing." The response to the invention has not been all favorable. Atwood has received criticism from authors who think she is trying to end book tours. But she said, "It will be possible to go to places that you never got sent to before because the publishers couldn't afford it." What do we know about the invention of the LongPen? A. It has been completed but not put into use. B. The basement caught fire by accident. C. Some versions failed before its test run. D. The designers were well-prepared for the difficulty. Answer: C Question: My friend BJ Gallagher told me a great story recently, about her own experience with resentment . She once worked as the training manager for a large newspaper, where she found the corporate culture extremely frustrating. The company was a hundred years old and their past success had blinded them to the need for change. Finally, after _ several senior executives many times, she left the company. But she found that she hadn't left her resentment, frustration, and anger behind when she resigned. "I finally decided to write about my experiences and my feelings at the newspaper. I wanted to be rid of that company and those people, once and for all. So I wrote and I wrote. It wasn't just a story that poured out; it was a whole book! We called it A peacock in the Land of Penguins. I was the peacock and those newspaper executives were the penguins." "It took me several more years to finally get over my negative emotions. Through a lot of soul-searching and reflection, I finally was able to let go of my resentment. I came to see that there was nothing personal in the way they treated me, and they were good people doing what they thought best for the company. I was the one who had made it personal. I thought they were making my life miserable on purpose."[:Z#xx#k.Com] "Finally, the time came when I decided to make amends for the sharp, angry things I had said about the company. I invited my former boss to dinner and made my apology. It was a great healing process for me. I finally felt free of the resentment that had been eating me up." "What was the final outcome?" I asked her. "Gratitude," she replied. "Not only wasn't I resentful any more, I was grateful to the company. If I hadn't had those painful experiences, I would never have written a book. And the book became hugely successful - now published in 21 languages; it transformed my business." BJ Gallagher finally felt grateful to the company because _ . A. she was forgiven by her former executives B. she was accepted by the company again C. her painful experiences there was valuable for her D. she learned how to forgive others Answer: C
If sustainable competitive advantage depends on workforce skills, American firms have a problem. Human-resource management is not traditionally seen as central to the competitive survival of the firm in the United States. Skill acquisition is considered an individual responsibility. Labour is simply another factor of production to be hired--rented at the lowest possible cost--much as one buys materials or equipment. The lack of importance attached to human-resource management can be seen in the corporate management. In an American firm the chief financial officer is almost always second in command. The post of head of human-resource management is usually a specialized job, off at the edge of the corporate hierarchy. The executive who holds it is never consulted on major strategic decisions and has no chance to move up to Chief Executive Officer(CEO). By way of contrast, in Japan the head of human-resource management is central--usually the second most important executive, after the CEO, in the firm's hierarchy. While American firms often talk about the vast amounts spent on training their work force, in fact they invest less in the skills of their employees than do either Japanese or German firms. The money they do invest is also more highly concentrated on professional and managerial employees. And the limited investments that are made in training workers are also much more narrowly focused on the specific skills necessary to do the next job rather than on the basic background skills that make it possible to absorb new technologies. As a result, problems arise when new breakthrough technologies arrive. If American workers, for example, take much longer to learn how to operate new flexible manufacturing stations than workers on Germany (as they do), the effective cost of those stations is lower in Germany than it is in the United States. More time is required before equipment is up and running in production, and the need for extensive retraining generates costs and creates bottlenecks that limit the speed with which new equipment can be used. The result is a slower pace of technological change, and in the end the skills of the bottom half of the population affect the wages of the top half. If the bottom half can't effectively make the processes that have to be operated, the management and professional jobs that go with these processes will disappear. According to the passage, the decisive factor in maintaining a firm's competitive advantage is _ . the improvement of workers' basic skills The survey was done among 29,760 students at 100 US high schools. The results suggest that in the past year, 30 percent of US high school students have stolen from a store. And 64 percent may have cheated on a test. However, 93 percent of the students said they were satisfied with their honesty. And 77 percent said,"when it comes to doing what is right, I am better than most people I know." Some teachers were unhappy about the survey results. Some, however, defended (......) today's students. "The competition is greater and the pressures on kids have increased greatly,"said Mel Riddle, who was a high school teacher and headmaster for 40 years."It is the pressures that make it easy for students to be dishonest." "I think these students are better than other generations,"he said."I find them more active, better to work with and more thankful for support."" We have to create situations where it's easy for kids to do the right things, "he added."We need to create classrooms where learning is more important than having the right answer." What advice does Mel Riddle give on improving the honesty of students? Make it easier for them to learn Best-selling horror writer Stephen has another hit on his hands - but don't go looking for it at our bookstore. King's new ghost story, Riding the Bullet is only available on the Internet. The story - which King wrote while he was recovering from serious injuries which happened to him in a hit - and - run accident near his summer home in Maine last year - produced instant traffic blocks on the Web the moment it became published and availed online at 12:01 a. m. Tuesday. King gave out a statement saying "he is curious to see what sort of reaction there is and whether or not this is the future of publishing." He is not the first author to make his work available wholly online, but he is the first among the top ranks of writers to take that step. King told Time magazine that his experiment with putting his story Riding the Bullet on the Internet has been so successful that he is considering putting a fulllength book online. "The new way of publishing", said King, "could exactly change the way people regard reading." The story was put out fully over the Web and it will only be available on the Internet, as an "e - book". It was given away for free the first 24 hours. After that readers could download it for $ 2.50. As of Sunday, more than 5,000,000 people had downloaded the piece. Simon & Schuster, which is electronically publishing the e - book, says 4,000,000 readers ordered it in the first 24 hours during which it was available. The company is now in talks with other authors about publishing more e - books. Publishers say King's decision to publish the story fully online shows that the e - book format is here to stay. King himself says the Internet has great promise as a way to share our literature, but he doesn't think "anything will take the place of the printed word and the book with a cover." How will readers get a copy of King's new book Riding the Bullet? Pay & 2.5 for an e - book version. Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, has died at the age of 82. Many people paid tribute to the former astronaut. But other people feel regret that no human has been back to the moon since 1972, just three years after Armstrong landed on it and gave his famous "giant leap for mankind" speech. Elliot Pulham, Chief Executive of the Space Foundation, thinks that America's space agency NASA should get more money, like in the 1960s, during the moon landings programme, when astronauts went to the moon. "In this age of limited goals and tiny NASA budgets, Armstrong is a reminder of what our nation was once capable of," he said. Armstrong died because of heart problems after surgery. His recovery seemed to be going well, and his death was a surprise to many people. His family described him as a "reluctant American hero" and said: "Honour his example of service, and the next time you walk outside on a clear night and see the moon smiling down at you, think of Neil Armstrong and give him a wink." Speaking from the White House, Barack Obama said Armstrong was "among the greatest of American heroes - not just of his time, but of all time". He added: "And when Neil stepped on the moon for the first time, it was a moment of human achievement that will never be forgotten." Buzz Aldrin flew with Armstrong on Apollo 11. He was the second man to walk on the moon. He said he was very sad at the death of his good friend and companion. "When I look at the moon I remember that special moment, over forty years ago, when Neil and I stood on the moon," he said. "Looking back at our brilliant blue planet Earth hanging in the darkness of space, I realized that even though we were farther away from Earth than two humans had ever been, we were not alone. Almost the entire world took that memorable journey with us. I know many millions of people around the world will join me in mourning the death of a true American hero and the best pilot I ever knew. My friend Neil took the small step but giant leap that changed the world and will always be remembered as a historic moment in human history." In the US, people felt that he represented the achievement of a past age of American greatness. Today, things are very different: NASA has cancelled a number of missions because they don't have enough money. Former astronaut Eugene Cernan, the last man on the moon, said: "Neil did something that people thought was impossible." Others complained about the state of the US. Journalist Andrew Pasternak wrote: "It will take longer to rebuild lower Manhattan after 9/11 than it took to build an entire space program and send a man to the moon." Of course, NASA has its modern successes. Its engineers have landed a nuclear-powered robot on Mars. There will also be another Mars mission. It will drill below the planet's surface. But these achievements are not as exciting as Armstrong's. NASA administrator Charles Bolden expressed that in his tribute. "As we enter this next era of space exploration, we are standing on the shoulders of Neil Armstrong," he said. Armstrong was disappointed by what NASA has become. Blogger Eric Berger saw an email from Armstrong and other former astronauts. It expressed frustration at the current problems at NASA and quoted Yogi Berra, an American baseball legend: "If you don't know where you are going, you might not get there." What did Neil Armstrong almost certainly think of the current situation at NASA? He was very disappointed. To American visitors, Iceland is a very interesting country, partly because it is different in so many ways from what he or she is used to seeing at home. There are quite a few things that are not done, or that do not exist on the island - quite a few "No's". There is no pollution, for instance. No dogs are permitted in Reykjavik, the capital. There is no television on Thursdays or during the entire month of July, and only three hours of black-and-white TV the rest of the time. There is no hard liquor on Wednesdays and no beer at any time. There are no handguns; only one jail of thirty-five cells in the entire land - an admirable figure, even for a small country of 313,376 people. There is no army, air force or navy. There is no tipping for anything. There are no large stores open on Saturdays or Sundays. Since Iceland is situated just under the Arctic Circle, there is no darkness in summer and do daylight in winter. But thanks to Gulf Stream, the climate is rather mild, with temperatures ranging from 34 degrees Fahrenheit to 52 degrees in July. The rules on television, liquor, and guns are the result of governmental decision. But the absence of pollution is due in great part to the fact that Iceland gets its power from the enormous geyser and the thousands of hot springs that come out of the ground. They provide all the energy needed by the country. In fact, Iceland uses only 3 percent of all its available power. Iceland has been described as a democratic independent country where more fish are caught and more books published per person than anywhere else in the world. The Icelanders have always felt a particular love for literature. They composed their first works in the ninth and tenth centuries AD. These works were poems and tales about the kings, heroes, and heroines of Iceland and Norway. At first the stories were memorized and passed from generation to generation. The Icelanders have never stopped writing ever since. "Rather shoeless than bookless," they proudly say. The following statements are true EXCEPT _ . there are no crimes in Iceland
Question: Compared to high heels , they don't look dangerous, but flip-flop wearers should think twice before slipping on a pair. The National Health Service spends PS40 million a year treating injuries caused by wearing the casual footwear. More than 200,000 people end up in hospital every year after suffering falls or developing long-term problems. Once worn only at the beach, flip-flops have become the regular summer footwear of choice for women, with two in five women owning at least one pair. But experts are warning the public of the dangers of wearing flip-flops, such as the risk of joint pains. They say flip-flops force people to change the way they walk so that when taking a walk with long steps they put pressure on the outside of their foot, rather than their heel, causing long-term damage. And there is also the risk of serious injury. Frequent complaints include twisted ankles, but some have broken their arms or wrists after falling because their flip-flops caught on uneven ground. Many also suffer aching toes as they constantly wear them. Mike, a spokesman, warned wearers of the damage done by flip-flops. He said, "They land on the outside and then roll the foot inwards putting all the pressure on the big toe." This constant rolling puts pressure on the ankle joint, causing it to weaken. The lack of support of the flip-flop also causes pain on the inside of the foot and lower leg. And if you're not used to wearing them, they can cause blisters , he added. Doctors say flip-flops cause far more damage as they are worn for longer periods of time. Emma Supple, consultant podiatrist , said, "Flip-flops are universally popular. They are easy to put on and easy to wear but women do need to be mindful that wearing on hard flat surfaces can cause considerable foot and leg problems." She encouraged women to wear suitable shoes to help recover from summertime injuries. What is the Emma Supple's attitude to wearing flip-flops according to the text? A. Cautious B. Unclear . C. Regretful. D. Positive. Answer: A. Cautious Question: Mark Twain left school when he was twelve. He had little school education but had to live. He made millions of dollars by writing whose real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens, but he is better known all over the world as Mark Twain, his penname. Mark Twain was born in 1835 and he was not a healthy baby. In fact, he was not expected to live through the first winter. But with his mother's tender care, he managed to survive. As a boy, he caused much trouble for his parents. After his father's death in 1847, Mark Twain began to work for a printer, who only provided him with food and clothing. Then, he worked as a printer, a river-boat pilot and later joined the army. But shortly after that he became a miner. During this period, he started to write short stories. Afterwards he became a full-time writer. In 1870, Mark Twain got married. In the years that followed he wrote many books including Tom Sawyer in 1876, and Huckleberry Finn in 1884, which made him famous, and brought him a great fortune. Unfortunately, Mark Twain got into debts in bad investments and he had to write large numbers of stories to pay these debts. In 1904, his wife died and then three of their children passed away. At the age of 70, his hair was completely white. He bought many white suits and neckties. He wore nothing but white from head to foot until his death on April 21, 1910.(260 words) What brought Mark Twain fame and lots of money? A. His works. B. His investments. C. His printing. D. His family Answer: A. His works. Question: David and Sue went to their Auntie's house to visit on Saturday morning. She had some new ducklings in the pond that they wanted to see. They went out to the pond and on the way they saw a frog. They also saw a boat in the water. They saw a water lily. They looked in the water until they saw the mother duck and her ducklings. They were different colors. Six of them were brown and yellow. Four of them were only yellow. Two ducklings were brown. There was one that was white. They were all very fuzzy. They went back to the house to tell Auntie Beth about the ducklings. She was cooking on the stove. She asked Sue to get some eggs. She asked David to get some butter. Auntie Beth poured some milk into a bowl of flour. She made them a cake. "I'm so glad you've come to visit me," Auntie Beth said. Sue told her about the things they saw at the pond. David said, "We saw a frog. Don't forget the frog. It was my favorite." It was a good visit. What did Sue get for Auntie Beth A. eggs B. flour C. milk D. butter Answer: A. eggs Question: Though she is already one of the most famous pop stars of the 21st century, you've probably never heard of a 25-year-old singer, song writer named Stefani Germanotta --- but that's only because almost everyone knows her by her stage name, Lady Gaga. Born in New York City in 1986, Lady Gaga enjoyed music, singing and dancing from an early age: she started playing the piano when only four years old and loved performing in musicals at high school. At 17, she went to a special school for the arts but later left because she wanted to become a professional singer as soon as possible. She became a global star with her first album The Fame in 2008 and followed it in 2009 with The Fame Monster. Earlier this year she released a single, "Born this Way," which broke the record for quickest sales for a piece of music on iTunes, with one million downloads in only five days. Her third album, also called Born this Way, went on sale in May this year. www.ks5u.com Because of how much money she earns, how much she is written and talked about in the media, and how many internet searches are made with her name, Forbes magazine recently put her at number one in its list of the "world's most powerful celebrities ." Most music critics say that what makes Lady Gaga's music stand out are her strong voice and also the strong electronic rhythm of most of her songs, which makes them popular in nightclubs. They also say her music often sounds like the work of other artists, and she herself is quite open about the fact that groups such as Queen and female singers such as Madonna have been a big influence on her. More original than her music, perhaps, is the way she looks. A big part of her image is her outlandish clothes, with her strangest piece of clothing probably having been a dress made partly out of meat, which she wore once in 2010. Part of what has made Lady Gaga so famous so quickly is the way she has used social media. She has over 30 million Facebook friends, for example, and almost 10 million followers on Twitter. Which of the following gives the best description of Lady Gaga? A. A Singer and Song-writer. B. A Talent in Music. C. A Media Supported Actress. D. A Most Powerful Celebrity. Answer: B. A Talent in Music. Question: BEIJING - Astronomers have defended against rumors that the terrible earthquake and the following tsunami in Japan were closely related to or even caused by the "supermoon" that will appear in the sky on Saturday. The word "supermoon" was introduced in a report by the British newspaper Daily Mail on March 9, which said amateur scientists were warning that such an astronomical phenomenon could disturb the Earth's climate patterns and may even cause earthquakes and volcanic activity. The moon will be 356,577 kilometers from the Earth on Saturday, the closest in 19 years, and the closest point in its oval orbit coincides with a full moon, the report said. However, Saturday's moon is not actually the closest to Earth in 19 years, Tang Haiming, an astronomer with Shanghai Astronomical Observatory under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told Xinhua News Agency. A shorter distance of 356,570 km between the two bodies was reached in January 2005, and a distance of 356,566 km was seen in December 2008. Yet some people suggest that previous supermoons have occurred prior to extreme weather events. In 1974 the phenomenon was followed by Cyclone Tracy in Darwin, Australia, and in 2005 it occurred shortly before a deadly tsunami in Indonesia. Coincidentally, two fresh disasters happened in Asia right before Saturday's supermoon. The public's concern about their connection with the moon boomed after Japan's terrible earthquake and tsunami and an earthquake in Southwest China's Yunnan province that killed 25 people on March 10. But astronomers are trying to _ people that such rumors are merely unreasonable. "A supermoon could cause high tides but has no direct relation with natural disasters such as earthquakes," Liu Jie, a researcher with the China Earthquake Network Center, told China Daily on Tuesday. "We can't find any necessary connection between previous supermoons and earthquakes. And the quake in Japan occurred because the Earth's inner energy had accumulated to some extent, and it's not related to the moon. " he said. James Garvin, chief scientist at the Goddard Space Flight Center under NASA, said in an article on NASA's website that "the effects on Earth from a supermoon are minor.""The combination of the moon being at its closest to Earth in its orbit, and being in its 'full moon' configuration ( to the Earth and sun), should not affect the inner energy balance of the Earth, since there are lunar tides every day. " Zhu Jin, curator of the Beijing Planetarium, said"the moon moves around the earth in a certain path, so each orbit has a perigee - its closest approach, and an apogee - its furthest distance.""A lunar perigee occurs once a month and there are very small differences in distances between perigees,"he said."Those tiny differences are far from enough to cause earthquakes or eruption of a volcano,"he added. What would be the best title for the passage? A. "Supermoon" and earthquake B. The earthquake in Japan . C. Experts clarify worries over "supermoon" D. A rumor about "supermoon" Answer: C. Experts clarify worries over "supermoon"
Jack White's house is near the river. Every morning, Mr White goes to work, and the children go to school. Their father takes them to school in his car every day. Mrs White stays at home. Every day, she does the housework. She often has lunch at 12:00. In the afternoon she often sees her friends. They often drink tea together . In the evening, the children come home from school. They get home early. But Mr White comes from work late. At night, the children often do their homework. Then they go to bed. Mr White often reads books and sometimes he watches TV with Mrs White. _ does the housework at home. Answer: A young man learns what's most important in life from the guy next door. It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him. Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days. "Jack, did you hear me?" "Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said. "Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him. "I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said. "You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said "He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important...Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said. As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his s had passed away. The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time. Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture....Jack stopped suddenly. "What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked. "The box is gone." he said. "What box?" Mom asked. "There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most'." Jack said. It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it. "Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him." Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom." It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from work one day, Jack discovered a note in his mailbox "Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days." the note read. Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. "Mr. Harold Belser" it read. Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside. "Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved: "Jack, Thanks for your time! -Harold Belser." "The thing he valued most was...my time" Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" Janet, his assistant asked. "I need some time to spend with my son," he said, "Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time!" From the passage we can infer _ . Answer: This is John Roberts reporting from Cardiff. The result of the match which finished at four this afternoon between France and Wales was a _ . Neither side scored. The Dutch referee did not allow the one goal which France managed to kick. The reason for this was that a French player was unfortunately off side. So both teams went home disappointed with the game. They particularly admired the French forwards, who were always fast and often threatened the Welsh defense. Once it looked as if the Welsh goalkeeper was in serious trouble. He dived to his right to save a shot from the French centre forward and crashed his head against the goal post. A doctor examined him and he soon began to play again. Of course the large, friendly crowd cheered for him. Wales will certainly welcome another visit from this splendid team. This passage is _ . Answer: I needed to get some money so, after Christmas, I took a job in the clothes department at Graham's for the first fortnight of the January sale.I can't say that I enjoyed it, but it was an experience I'll never forget. I could never understand why there were so many things in the sales, where did they all come from? Now I know the secret! Firstly, there is the special winter stock and the stock that people buy all the year round; some of these things are slightly reduced.Secondly, there are the summer clothes they couldn't sell last year; these are heavily reduced to clear them.Thirdly, there are cheap clothes bought in specially for the sales; these are put out at high prices ten days before the sale begins and then are reduced by 60% in the sale.Clever! Lastly, they buy in "seconds"(clothes not in perfect condition) for the sale and they are sold very cheaply. When I arrived half an hour before opening on the first day of the sale, there was already a queue around three sides of the building.This made me very nervous. When the big moment arrived to open the doors, the security guards looking less confident than usual, came up to them, keys in hand.The moment they had unlocked the doors, they hid behind the doors for protection as the noisy crowd charged in.I couldn't believe my eyes; this wasn't shopping, it was a battlefield! One poor lady couldn't keep her feet and was knocked over by people pushing from behind. Clothes were flying in all directions as people searched for the sizes, colours and styles they wanted.Quarrels broke out.Mothers were using their small children to crawl through people's legs and get hold of things they couldn't get near themselves. Within minutes I had half a dozen people pushing clothes under my nose; each wanting to be the first served.Where had the famous English queue gone? The whole day continued like that, but I kept my temper81 was taking money hand over fist and began to realize why twice a year, Graham's were happy to turn their expensive store into a battlefield like this. In the sale fever; people were spending money like water without thinking whether they needed what they were buying.As long as it was a bargain it was OK.You won't believe this.But as soon as I got home I crashed out for four hours.Then I had dinner and went back to bed, fearing the sound of the alarm which would tell me to get ready for the second day of the sale. The expression "crashed out" means _ . Answer: To be a friend of the environment Answer:
Most American families are smaller than the families in other countries. Most American families have one or two parents and one or two children each. Children in the US will leave their parents' home when they grow up. They usually live far from their parents because they want to find good jobs. They often write to their parents or telephone them. And they often go to visit their parents on holiday. Parents usually let their children choose their own jobs. Americans think it important for young people to decide on their lives by themselves. Children are asked to do some work around their house. And in many families, children are paid for doing some housework so that they learn how to make money for their own use. Which of the following statements is NOT true? Answer: An old farmer lived on a farm with his young grandson. Each morning Grandpa was up early to read his Bhagavat Geeta. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could. One day the grandson asked, "Grandpa! I try to read the Bhagavat Geeta just like you but I don't understand it, What good does reading the Bhagavat Geeta do?" The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, "Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water." The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, "You'll have to move a little faster next time," and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the same took place. He told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water with a basket. The old man said, " You're just not trying hard enough," So the boy again dipped the basket into the river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. he said, "See Grandpa, it's useless!" "So you think it is useless?" The old man said, "Look at the basket." The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket into a clean one inside and outside. "You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and out. That is the work of Krishna in our lives." What would the grandson like to do in the future? Answer: When you discuss about eating out with your friend, first of all, you must make it clear who will pay for the meal.If somebody suggests having lunch with his friend, he might simply say something like this "I'm afraid it'll have to be some place nearby ,as I have little money." The other person may say. "OK. I'll meet you at Mcdonald's." This means he has agreed that the two will go Dutch, that is, each person pays for himself. He may say "Oh, no. I want to take you for lunch at Johnson's " This means the person is to pay the bill for both of them. Although the other person is pleased with the invitation, there is one reason why he shouldn't accept it by simply saying "Thank you." American customs are much the same as those in other parts of the world. American women used to expect men to pay for all the meals. But today, some of them like to. However, if a woman is asked to attend a dinner or a dance outside, the invitaton itself means "Come as my guest". So, as you see, it is a polite thing to make the situation clear at the very beginning. Which of the following is the best title? Answer: These are tough times for the charities, many of which will be experiencing lower levels of donations -- so if you can support them please do. HIPPO HIPPO is dedicated to relieving poverty and overcoming hunger and malnutrition in poor countries through the provision and production of vegan food. They help vegan orphanages and some of the poorest families in the community, and encourage and assist the development of sustainable agriculture and gardening. Plants for a Future Plants for a Future(a project based in Cornwall)researches perennial , eatable and useful plants for sustainable agriculture / living. Their achievements include the creation of an online database of 7,000 plants. Respect for Animals Respect for Animals campaigns against the fur trade. They run the annual Design Against Fur competition and were responsible for the anti-fur advertising campaign of the 80's. Vegan-Organic Trust The Vegan-Organic Trust is a charity "devoted to education about animal-free food growing". They produce a regular magazine and provide information for both large- and small-scale growers. Vega Research Vega Research campaigns on farming and human health issues. Sponsors research into vegan nutrition and the links between diet and health. What do all the charities and causes have in common? Answer: Dear College Dean It is my understanding that this college has received a large donation to be used to enhance (improve) the quality of life for students: expand the bookstore or add computers to the computer lab. It is the tradition of this school to promote education and to be at the vanguard of new technology. That is why I strongly argue in favor of the addition of more computers to the computer lab. Although expanding the campus bookstore to include CDs, gifts, and a snack bar will give a nicer look to the college, we have to think about a greater goal and a more practical way to enhance the quality of life for students. What do we want for our students and our college? Do we want our college to be known as a place with a great bookstore where you can find CDs and gifts, or as a place where the students can explore and research in their field using the best tools provided by technology? In addition, there are already several snack bars on campus, and there are music stores nearby, so students do not depend on the college bookstore for these things. We live in a highly technological world and computers play an increasingly important role in how we live. As a learning institution, this college has the responsibility to offer its students the best technology to help them prepare for their future. Many students will be expected to be familiar with the latest software and other tools when they go on to work or to graduate school. While they are in college, students find they are expected to use computers. Many professors expect students to use computers to do homework or to complete projects. Students are asked to create PowerPoint presentations and use spreadsheets and database programs, as well as to research many topics on the Internet. Since students are competing for good grades, those who have limited access to computers are at a great disadvantage. Furthermore, being able to do projects using the computer enhances the process of learning, giving students the opportunity to find information that without a computer would be much more difficult to find. If there are more computers, students will also be able to complete their work more efficiently. No more will they have to wait in line, paper and disk in hand, while scanning the room for an empty chair and computer. No longer will they have to sit and wait while an outdated computer struggles to follow their commands. Having more new and faster computers available will enable students to finish their work more quickly. The more computers are used in society the more colleges will depend on them as a tool of teaching and learning. Making computers more available to students facilitates their learning process by making the process easier, more interesting, more engaging, and in the process enhancing their quality of life The purpose of the author in writing the passage is _ . Answer:
From the time each of my children started school, I packed their lunches. And in each lunch I packed, I left a note. The note might be a thank-you for a special moment, or a few words of encouragement for the coming test or sporting event. When they were little, they loved their notes. And when I went back to teaching, they even put notes in my lunches. As they grew older, my elder son, Marc, told me that he no longer needed my daily notes. Telling him that he no longer needed to read them but I still needed to write them, I continued the tradition until the day he graduated. Six years after high school graduation, Marc called and asked if he could stay at home for a couple of months. He had spent those years well, and he was very successful. He lived far away from home. With his younger sister leaving for college, I was especially looking forward to seeing Marc at home. Since I was still making lunch every day for his younger brother, I packed one for Marc, too. Imagine my surprise when I got a call from my 24-year-old son, complaining about his lunch. "Did I do something wrong? Aren't I still your kid? Don't you love me any more, Mom?" he asked. I laughingly asked him what was wrong. "My note, Mom," he answered. "Where's my note?" This year my younger son will be in high school. He, too, has said that he is too old for notes. But like his elder brother and sister, he will receive those notes till the day he graduates. What is the BEST title for the passage? A Love notes B Children's complaint C My children's story D Lunches for children Answer: A There are many American expressions about insects like bees, for example. Bees are known as very hard workers. They always appear to be busy, moving around their homes or hives. So you might say you were "as busy as a bee" if you spent your weekend cleaning your house . Here is an expression about bees that is not used much any more, but we like it anyway. We think it was first used in the nineteen twenties. If something was the best of its kind, you might say it was "the bee's knees". Now, we admit that we do not know how this expression developed. In fact, we do not even know if bees have knees!. Hornets are bee-like insects that sometimes attack people. If you are really angry, you might say you are"mad as a hornet".And if you "stir up a hornet's nest", you create trouble or problems. Butterflies are beautiful insects, but you would not want to "have butterflies in the stomach". That means to be nervous about having to do something, like speaking in front of a crowd. And do you know any expressions about ants? Which of the following would be discussed next? A Some expressions about ants. B Some expressions about noses. C Some expressions about flowers. D Some expressions about colors. Answer: A If English is not your first language, it is a good idea to take English language classes to improve your written and spoken communication skills. There are many ways to learn English. You can learn from a book, a DVD, on the Internet or by attending classes. One of the most successful ways to improve your English is to join a course in a country where English is widely spoken. The more you practice, the more you will learn. But why learn the English language? English is an important language for anyone who is planning to travel or become involved in business. Many people love travelling, but if their English is poor, it can be difficult to understand signs, read directions and make themselves understood. Before travelling, it is important to understand the culture and customs of the places you visit. Learning basic English before you travel will help you to understand these customs and avoid mistakes that could be embarrassing. When you are travelling, you will also enjoy meeting new people. If you can speak English, you will have a better chance of being able to communicate with the people you meet. Many of your new friends will speak English and others will have English as a second language. Without English, your friendships will be limited as you travel around the world. If you are involved in business, it is important to be able to communicate in English. The Internet, world travel and modern communication systems have made the world seem like a much smaller place. These days business people interact with customers and other business people from all over the world. That makes your English language skills more important than ever. There are many English language courses that major in business communications. Improving your English skills is one of the best things you could ever do to increase your chances of business success. Which of the following is the best way to learn English well? A Travelling around the world with English-speakers. B Taking a course in an English-speaking country. C Learning from all kinds of books or DVDs. D Learning on the Internet by yourselves. Answer: B As Archie walks to the park, he wonders which route would be faster. He decides to walk to the park using different routes and times how long it takes. Which should he do to make his comparison fair? A walk to different parts of the park each day B walk with a different friend each day C walk at the same speed each day D walk at the same time of the day Answer: C In many parts of the world, cars play an important role in daily life and many societies would not exist without them. So the idea that in 20 years' time, no one will own cars may be hard to believe. But this is the prediction made by a team of transport researchers who are taken seriously, not only by government but also by car manufacturers. The Human Science and Advanced Technology Institute at Loughborough in the UK is part of an international research program. The team there believes that by 2020 all cars will be computerized. That will mean much saving, no accidents and better use of roads. The super-intelligent car in the future will drive itself. And it will not be owned by one individual. Instead, we will have a choice of cars and change them as frequently as we change our clothing. According to Dr. David Davis, who leads the research team, these predictions are based on the rising cost of the car culture, which had blocked up our cities, polluted our air, and caused more deaths than both world wars put together. Davis says, cars will be fitted with some intelligent devices to regulate the distance between one car and another. The car will automatically speed up, or slow down, to match the speed of the car in front. computers are much safer drivers than people, so cars in a road train will be able to drive much closer together than cars driven by people. By 2016, Dr. David Davis believes, car technology will give motorists a clear view of the road, whatever the weather conditions, by projecting an image of the road ahead on to the car's windscreen. And by 2020, cars will travel in line, linked to each other electronically. Cars will be connected by an electronic tow bar to the car in front to form "road-trains". "The front vehicle in such a train burns the normal amount."says Davis. "but all the others in the train would burn about ten percent of the normal amount, and so produce about ten percent of the pollution." What will happen if cars are linked to each other electronically in 2020? A Motorists will get a clear view of the road. B The weather conditions won't have effect on motorists. C There will be a great decrease in the pollution caused by cars. D All trains will burn less fuel than present. Answer: C
Which of the following materials would best slow the transfer of heat? Answer: What form of energy is stored in a battery? Answer: Colorful hair speaks more about beauty. Now it becomes popular and people are dyeing their hair to make it different. Dyeing hair with natural products is good for health while dyeing with chemicals is harmful. Researches have found that dyeing hair with chemicals can make people have cancer. Lead is very harmful for the human body and it is used in most hair dyes. Since the base of hair is the scalp ,you may have allergic reaction . While dyeing your hair it is important to take some safety measures. You can follow them even when you are applying dye on your hair at home. * It is better to apply hair dye for a few minutes. If you leave your hair with dye, longer than the necessary time,then you may get some skin problems. * Don't forget to wear gloves while applying dye on the hair. This will protect the skin of your hands. * After applying hair dye it is important to wash your hair with water. * Hair dyes are made of chemicals. If you mix different hair dyes ,there may be chemical reaction. So, It is not a good idea to mix different hair dyes at the same time. * Finally all the bags of hair dyes carry the directions( ) Try to follow them very carefully. This will lower the chance of allergic reaction. What do most hair dyes contain? Answer: Nowadays the U.S. students are sleepy in school because they spend too much time texting, playing video games, watching TV and using the media in other ways. "Heavy media use interferes with sleep by reducing sleep duration, making it harder to fall asleep, and lowering sleep quality," Meilan Zhang, an assistant professor at the University of Texas at El Paso, wrote in her research review in the journal, Sleep Medicine. But the relationship between youth's media use and sleep is not so simple, said Michael Gradisar, who authored both that review and the Sleep Medicine meta-analysis. "Technology use is the new evidence when we are trying to answer 'Why are school-age children sleeping less?'" said Mr. Gradisar, an associate professor of psychology at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia. There may be safe limits to technology use, Mr. Gradisar stated. For instance, recent research results indicate that using a bright screen for an hour before bed or even playing violent video games for less than that will not necessarily interfere with teenagers' sleep, he wrote. But longer periods of usage can be harmful to sleep, Mr. Gradisar added. Rather than delaying school start times, he said, the first step should be educating parents about limiting the hours that their children are using technology before bed, and enforcing a consistent bedtime. Early school start times are also commonly blamed for students' sleepiness, especially for adolescents. Secondary schools around the nation and the world have been delaying start times, often with positive results. Mr. Minnich of the TIMSS and PIRLS International Study Center hesitated to put blame to any particular factor. But he did think that cost-saving measures to consolidate bus routes might help explain U.S. students' sleepiness. "For those children who board the bus first, they must get up earlier, may end up sleeping on the way to school, and may end up arriving at school sleepy." he said. Who are most likely to be interested in the text? Answer: Franco is from Italy.He lives in a small city on a beautiful island on the coast of Italy.The sea is blue there and he likes going fishing when he doesn't work.in summer it is very hot and sometimes he goes to the 1110untains because it is cooler there. Rome is the capital of Italy.It is a very old city.There are lot of famous buildings .St Peter's is a very big and beautiful church .Rome is a very busy city.It is in the middle of Italy. Milan.is in the north-west of Italy and it has a _ of about 4,000,000 people*People there are usually busy working.Milan has a lot of factories,shops and banks.Venice is a famous city in Italy.It is on the sea,, and people use boats for traveling.Venice is very beautiful,with lovely and old bridges and buildings by the water. How many cities are mentioned in the passage? Answer:
LONDON--Archaeologists have discovered a smaller prehistoric site near Britain's famous circle of standing stones at Stonehenge. Researchers have named the site "Bluehenge" after the color of the 27 Welsh stones that were laid to make up a path. The stones have disappeared, but the path of holes remains. The new circle, unearthed over the summer by researchers from Sheffield University, represents an important find, researchers said Saturday. The site is about a mile away from Stonehenge. Bluehenge, about 80 miles southwest of London, is believed to date back to about the time Stonehenge was built, about 5,000 years ago. Mike Parker Pearson of Sheffield University said he believed the path and stonehenge itself were linked to rituals of life and death. Mike Parker suggested that the ancient funerary rituals began at a different circle site known as "Wood-henge", which represented the world of the living. The bodies of the dead were then brought down the River Avon to Bluehenge, which represented death, and were finally carried along a ceremonial route known as the Avenue to Stonehenge. Bournemouth University Professor Tim Darvill, an expert on Stonehenge, told Britain's Dail Mail that Bluehenge "adds to the richness" of the ancient site's story. "This henge is very important because it forms part of the picture of ceremonial monuments in the area and puts Stonehenge into context," Darvill was quoted as saying. "It's no longer Stonehenge standing alone, but it has to be seen in context with the landscape." Who believed the Stonehenge is related to ancient ritual of death? Answer: Mike Parker Pearson Once a king got two nice falcons from his son. He had never seen such beautiful falcons before. He loved them so much and he ordered the best falconer to train them to fly. After several months, the king came to see how the training was going on. He found that one falcon had already been able to fly high in the sky, while the other was staying on the branch of a tree quietly, just keeping still. The king called all his falcons together and ordered them to try every way they could to make the other falcon fly. But none of them succeeded. One day, while the king was taking a walk in the forest, an idea came to his mind. Maybe someone who knew the natural environment well could solve this problem. He spent for a farmer who lived in the forest into his palace to train it at once. The next morning, the king saw the other falcon flying above in the sky freely. " it is unbelievable !" shouted the king. How could you make it happen?" The farmer replied,"It's very easy. I just cut off the branch where the falcon rested." It is always the same to human beings. We all have "two flying wings" in our hearts as well, but we often seem not to notice them and stay where we just for safety and comfort. We won't realize we can fly so high and freely until the "branch" we are resting on breaks. . What is the best title for the text? Answer: The Flying Wings. Mary is twenty-three years old. She is a nurse at a big hospital. She is very kind, and all of her patients like her very much. One day she was out shopping when she saw an old woman waiting to cross a busy street. Mary wanted to cross the street, too, so she went over to help the woman cross. When Mary was near her, she shouted happily, "Mrs Herman! You were my patient last year." "Oh, thank you very much, Mary," Mrs Herman said, and stepped forward. "No, no, Mrs Herman," Mary said quickly, "the light's still red.""Oh," Mrs Herman answered as she stepped back. "I can easily cross the street alone when the light's green." Mary told Mrs Herman_. Answer: not to cross the street until the light was green It took 100 years, but finally, scientists proved Albert Einstein's theory that gravitational waves exist. The waves were predicted as part of Einstein's general theory of relativity nearly 100 years ago. It was the theory of the physics behind the workings of our world and the universe. The idea was that the waves are like ripples in space, caused by some of the violent and energetic processes in the universe. For example, two black holes crashing into each other. Now a group of scientists, including ones from Caltech, MIT and the LIGO Scientific, Collaboration finally found the gravitational waves. David Reitze is the executive director of the LIGO observatory at Caltech. "We have detected gravitational waves. We did it!" What are these gravitational waves? Well, imagine throwing a rock into a pond. When the rock hits the flat surface of the water, it creates ripples or waves. Space-time is like the surface of the water. So that means gravitational waves are like the ripples moving out from where the rock hits the water. It might be hard to understand, but those gravitational waves expand and contract space and time as they move through space. And when they get to the Earth, the waves pass through, and they contract and expand the planet as the waves go by. It was Einstein who said these gravitational waves should be observable. But these are not huge waves. They are very, very small, which is why it took so long to find them. You cannot see them with your eyes. They are smaller than the size of an atom. How did the scientists find them? They used a giant scientific tool called LIGO, which stands for the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory. The billion-dollar LIGO project is two L-shaped observatories. One is in Louisiana and the other in Washington state. For years, scientists have been watching two black holes in another faraway galaxy. The two were spinning around each other, moving closer and closer together. When they finally crashed into each other, it was with such power and force that gravitational waves rang throughout the universe, like a giant bell. Those waves, traveling at the speed of light, finally reached the Earth, some l. 3 billion years later. They are the same waves that the scientists announced this past week. So, what does this discovery mean? Our understanding of the heavens changed dramatically. What are gravitational waves about? Answer: About the workings of the universe. Using the Internet , doctors "can answer more questions from more patients in a shorter time, " writes Dr Badal Pal, a famous doctor in Manchester, IJK. According to Pal, nearly 40% of American patients say they have used e-mail to communicate with a doctor in the past. He notes however, that although patients have such interest, only up to 2% of doctors in the United States offer e-mail services. Using e-mail, doctors can make sure of their advice and point patients to patients information materials and sources on the Internet. It's said that more than 10.000 health-oriented websites already exist now. However some people worry that widespread use of medical e-mail might set up two kinds of care--one "haves" and another for the "have-nots". But Pal points out that "In the near future nearly every library will offer (Internet and e-mail)services in the United States, " allowing even low-income patients to use such means. Pal also talks about other possible barriers to acceptance of medical e-mail. "Doctors may be unwilling to offer e-mail services for fear of increasing workload and uncertainty about the time they spent," he explained, and patients may worry that their medical information might be read by others. "But these problems can all be solved," he adds. E-mail may well help us a lot in health care, Pal concludes. "Patients want to know more than they can get in normal clinics," he points out, "and they might find communication on the information superhighway less fearful than face-to-face dialogue with their doctors." All the following points are advantages of using medical e-mail EXCEPT _ . Answer: it is more reliable
Full of happiness and sadness, the year 2015 is coming to an end and we invite you, the foreign friends to share your stories with our millions of readers all over the world. We will choose some of the best and give prizes to the writers. _ Foreigners with some experiences about China during the past year. You may have visited for just a few days, stayed longer here or just met with Chinese in your own countries. What to write? Anything about China or Chinese people that happened to you. It can be Chinese food, buildings, tradition or anything you think worth writing about. How to join? E-mail your writing to readers@chinadaily.com.cn. Rules: At least 200 words and one photo about your story. More words and photos are encouraged. Please write the information, such as who, what, where and when, below your photos. Prize: A mobile phone. Deadline : December 26th, 2015. A foreign friend can NOT write about _ in his/her story. A. the mooncake B. Western food C. the Dragon Boat Festival D. the Great Wall Answer: B. Western food We grew up with the familiar toy bricks that gave us the imagination to build towers and castles. Generations have been attracted by this toy that lets children and adults alike create anything and everything. But with over 200 millions sets being sold a year in over 100 countries, the question remains -- where did Lego actually come from? Lego was born from the creative mind of Danish carpenter , Ole Kirk Christiansen, back in the early 1930s. He established a small business in Denmark. He and his team built a variety of household goods like ironing boards along with wooden toys. The Lego name was adopted in 1934, formed from the Danish words "Leg Godt" or "play well", which means "I study" or "I put together" in Latin. Christiansen's company continued to make wooden toys until 1942 when fire struck -- the entire Lego factory burned to the ground. Unwilling to give in, the factory was rebuilt and the production line restarted soon after. By 1954, Christiansen's son, Godtfred, had become the junior managing director of the Lego Group. It was during his conversation with an overseas buyer that he was struck by the idea of a toy system. For over 30 years, the Lego Company made only toys and related goods. Then, in 1968, the company opened its first Legoland in Denmark. Combining the Lego building bricks with a computer, the Robotics Invention System 1.5 is now the most advanced toy in the Lego Company, which is targeted at users aged twelve and above, and that includes any parents or grandparents that want to join in. Now the Lego Company is expanding its production lines to include lights, cameras and so on. Lego Company has done a lot to entertain many children around the world. What can we learn from the text? A. The Lego Company expands its production lines with computers. B. The author thinks highly of Lego, which entertains many children. C. The name Lego means "I put together" in the Danish language. D. Lego enjoys the greatest popularity among children of 12. Answer: B. The author thinks highly of Lego, which entertains many children. The run-up to the launch of China's first lunar orbiter at the end of this month has caught the country's imagination, with more than two thirds of the nation hoping to see the launch live on TV, according to a survey. According to the survey by China Youth Daily and www.qq.com, almost the entire nation hopes to catch images of the event at some point, with 99 percent of the 10358 respondents saying they expected to witness the satellite launch and 68.9 percent said they were certain to watch the live broadcast of the launch. On www.qq.com and www.sina.com, two popular web portals in the country, internet users have contributed some 2,000 poems and 5000 drawings on the theme of Chang'e I. "The satellite launch means much more than just saying 'hello' to the moon. Maybe in the future we could also send some people to accompany sister 'Chang'e'," said a college student in the survey. Remarkably, many people expect to visit the moon one day, with 93.4 percent of respondents saying they expected to do so. Chang'e I is named after Chang'e, a famous character from Chinese mythology. She ascended from earth to live on the moon as a celestial being after drinking an elixir. There is also another connection between the moon and China. In the 1970s, a crater on the moon was named after a Chinese stargazer, Wan Hu, who is said to be the first astronaut in human history. Legend says about 600 years ago, around the middle of the Ming Dynasty, Wan Hu, a local government official, tried to fly into space with the help of a chair, two big kites and 47 self-made gunpowder-filled rockets. According to the legend after the rockets were lit there was a huge bang and lots of smoke. When the smoke cleared Wan was nowhere to be found. China's first astronaut flew into space in 2003 with the launch of the Chinese-made spaceship Shenzhou V. China became the third country, after the Soviet Union and the United States, to carry out manned space missions. Which is true according to the passage? A. According to a survey, two thirds of the nation are hoping to see the launch live on TV, B. The internet users have drawn some 5000 pictures of 'Chang'e'. C. Wan Hu, a Chinese stargazer(n. ,,) , was dead after the huge bang and a lot of smoke. D. China's first astronaut flew into space in 2003 in the spaceship Shenzhou VI. Answer: C. Wan Hu, a Chinese stargazer(n. ,,) , was dead after the huge bang and a lot of smoke. Mitchell and his brother, Graham are biking to the store to buy lemons. They want to make a lemonade stand for their friends. In order to do this, they need to buy lemons, sugar, and cups from the store. While they are at the store, they run into their friends Jimmy and Justin. Jimmy and Justin are also brothers. Mitchell and Graham stop to talk to their friends for a bit before they go back to their shopping. After filling up their basket with the items they need to make lemonade, they go to the front of the store to pay. Once they get home, they start making lemonade and set out their table by the sidewalk. They talk to a few of their neighbors as they walk buy and some of them buy some lemonade. After sitting outside for some time, they think about making a sign to let the neighbors know that they have lemonade for sale. Mitchell gets the markers and Graham gets the sign. They work together to make the sign. After putting the sign in front of the table, they find people want much more lemonade. Later Jimmy and Justin stop by and buy some lemonade. Mitchell and Graham talk to their friends about things that Jimmy and Justin would need to do to make their own stand. After their friends leave, Mitchell and Graham count their money and choose to split the money. Each of the boys put the money in their piggy banks. How did the boys get more people to buy their lemonade? A. Create a sign B. Tell people walking by C. Asking their friends to help D. Telling their friends to start their own stand Answer: A. Create a sign Most people will rest and relax when they are old. They do not work. And most people are certainly not famous. But Grandma Moses is different She starts a new job at the age of 76. This is her story. She was born in a poor farmer's family in 1860. Her parents named her Anna Mary Robertson. She married Thomas Moses in 1887. He was a farm worker. Now it is 1930. Anna Mary Moses is 70, and is a grandmother. She begins to paint pictures. She does paintings of country life. One day, her daughter takes her paintings to a store in town. Her paintings are put in the window. A man from New York sees the paintings in the window and buys them. And he wants more! The man likes Grandma Moses' paintings. He wants to help her. So he takes her paintings to galleries in New York City. Otto Kallir has a famous gallery there. He likes the paintings by Grandma Moses. Now it is 1940 and Grandma Moses' paintings are in Kallir's gallery. She is 80 years old. Grandma Moses suddenly becomes famous. Everyone wants her paintings. So she paints more and more. She wins many prizes for her paintings. She becomes famous in the United States and Europe . When she is 100 years old, the State of New York makes her birthday "Grandma Moses' Day". After her 100thbirthday, she paints 6 more paintings. She dies at age 101 and a lot of people think she is amazing. The writer of the passage thinks that _ . A. Grandma Moses is too old to paint at age 100 B. people like her paintings but do not like her C. it is never too late to start a new job D. many people prefer paintings by old ladies Answer: C. it is never too late to start a new job
Plastics are considered one of the most serious pollutants causing environmental problems. The garbage containing plastics end up in the waterways that eventually flow into the oceans. Accumulation of plastic in the ocean endangers marine life and pollutes the water. Does a plastic continent exist? Yes, a plastic continent does exist and was discovered by Captain Charles Moore a decade ago. The plastic continent is twice the size of Britain and it is the region between the Hawaii Islands and California in the central Pacific Ocean. One of the causes of the lack of marine life in this region is due to pollution and pollutants are none other than plastics. Captain Charles Moore believes plastic waste started accumulating in the 1950s. The plastic continent is the man-made continent of floating plastic waste. The fisher men and the sailors have avoided this region for years. The reasons are: 1. There are no fish here because of the lack of nutrients. 2. The zone also lacks the wind that is essential for sailing. To do research on the ocean pollution, Captain Moore founded Algalita Marine Research Foundation. Other organizations such as Greenpeace supported his cause. The reports of The United Nations Environment Program show that millions of seabirds and marine animals are dying due to the invasion of plastics. The waste plastics can be recycled, but in fact they are being thrown into the oceans. The marine animals mistake these for food and eat them. This leads to their death that affects the marine food chain. To save the oceans from the plastic continent you need to reduce the use of plastics, reuse plastic bags and recycle plastics. It is implied that the work of plastic recycling proves to be _ . To Whom It May Concern: Your address was forwarded to us by How to Magazine.All of us here think The International Institute of Not Doing Much is the best organization in the world.You know how to avoid unnecessary activities! As a matter of fact, we closely followed the advice in your article.First, we replaced all our telephones with carrier pigeons.Simply removing the jingle of telephones and replacing them with the pleasant sounds of birds has had a remarkable effect on everyone.Besides, birds are cheaper than telephone service.After all, we are a business.We have to think of the bottom line.As a side benefit, the birds also fertilize the lawn outside the new employees' sauna . Next, we sold the computers off to Stab, Grab, Grit, and Nasty, a firm of lawyers nearby.Our electricity bill went way down.Big savings! The boss is impressed.We have completely embraced paper technology.Now that we all use pencils, doodling is on the increase, and the quality of pencil woman ship is impressive, as you can tell from my handwriting in this letter.By the way, if you can, please send this letter back to us.We can erase and reuse it.Just tie it to Maggie's leg and she'll know where to take it. Now it's very calm and quiet here.You can notice the difference.No more loud chatter on the telephones! All we hear is the scratching of pencil on paper, the sound of pigeons, and the delivery of inter-office correspondence by paper airplane. Wonderful! I've always wanted to work for an insurance company ever since I was a little girl.Now it's perfect. Sincerely yours, Eleanor Lightly Spokeswoman and Company Hair Stylist ABC Activity Insurance: insure against overdoing it Which of the following best describes the life the author is leading? With winter fast approaching, flu season is here. People can easily catch the flu bug and they try to fight it with western medicine, traditional Chinese medicine or some homemade secret recipes. Yet some of these strategies are ineffective or even harmful, the best way to counter the flu is to protect us from contracting it. So here are some good habits to protect people from contracting flu from the very beginning. During the day, keep the bedroom window open to let fresh air in. Wash your face with cold water in the morning and wash your feet with hot water in the evening. This practice can help boost blood circulation and improve the body's resistance. Do some exercises in the morning. such as jogging or shadowboxing for 10 minutes. Rinse your mouth with salt water or tea every morning and every evening. This can help kill flu bacteria, clear phlegm and keep the mouth fresh. Wear more clothes when it's cold and take some off when it's warm Get a bottle of vinegar or Chinese white wine at hand and smell it now and then. Their pungent smell can help people get refreshed and improve their body's resistance. * Drink two kinds of beverages before going to bed, which can help people stay away from the flu: soup made of radish and vinegar, and tea made of fresh ginger . *Close the doors and windows and put a pot of boiling vinegar in the room Vinegar steam is a good way to kill flu bacteria in the air. Some people like washing their face with cold water in the morning and washing their feet with hot water in the evening perhaps because _ . I have a friend. His name is James. He's an English boy. He is thirteen years old. He is tall. He has a round face, big eyes and a big nose. His mouth is wide, but his ears are small. His hair is short. ,. James has _ hair. Is there a nationwide shortage of nurses? It's hard to say. However, some characteristic symptoms often indicate that there is indeed a shortage. One symptom is the vacancy rate, or the percentage of budgeted positions that are unfilled. New England's hospitals currently report that an average of 7 to 12 percent of their registered nurse positions are vacant, the highest level since the last shortage in the late 1980s. Vermont has a ly low vacancy rate, at 7.8 percent. But its vacancies were at 1.2 percent just five years ago. Another symptom is the increased use of stopgap measures to fill empty positions. For instance, many nurses report an _ in how frequently they are asked to stay past their shifts. According to Murphy, working in the St. Elizabeth's Hospital, "The shortage has definitely created a lot of opportunities of overtime for our nurses, whether they want them or not." Similarly, a national survey of registered nurses shows that in an average week, nurses in the U.S. work 2.4 more hours than they are scheduled to. Much of this extra time is voluntary, as nurses earn overtime pay when they stay to fill in blanks in the schedule. When they can't fill open positions by more traditional means, health care providers hire temporary staff to tide them over. Travelling workers are the largest part of the temporary health care workforce, hired for thirteen-week reduction at health care facilities facing short-term lack of workers. Temporary workers, mainly nurses, cost hospitals $ 7.2 billion in 2000. "Any successful solution to the shortage depends on convincing more people to become nurses, and that is not an easy goal to reach. To achieve it," says Buerhaus, "society needs to place more value on nursing. Legislation can't do that - it should come from people." And if this continues, we might have to learn to care for ourselves in the hospital. What's the author's attitude towards nurse shortage?
The English language is the result of the invasion of the island of Britain over many hundreds of years.The first invasions were by a people called Angles about 1, 500 years ago. The Angles were a German tribe who crossed the English Channel . Later two more groups crossed to Britain. They were the Saxons and the Jutes. Through many years, the Saxons, Angles and the Jutes mixed their different languages. The result is what is called Anglo-Saxon or old English. The next great invasion of Britain was done by Vikings about 1, 100 years ago. Many English words used today come from these ancient Vikings. The next invasion of Britain took place more than 900 years ago, in 1066. History experts call this invasion the Norman Conquest. The Normans were a French-speaking people from Normandy in the north of France. These new rulers spoke only French for several hundred years. It was the most important language in the world at that time. It was the language of educated people. But the common people of Britain still spoke old English. Old English took many words from the Norman French. Some of these include "damage", "prison", and "marriage". The French language used by the Norman rulers greatly changed the way English was spoken 800 years ago. English became what language experts call Middle English. Middle English sounds like Modern English. But it is difficult to understand now. The history of the English language continues as Middle English becomes Modern English, which is spoken today. How many groups of invaders are mentioned in the passage? Scientists have devised a way to determine roughly where a person has lived using a strand ( ) of hair, a technique that could help track the movements of criminal suspects or unidentified murder victims. The method relies on measuring how chemical variations in drinking water show up in people's hair. "You're what you eat and drink, and that's recorded in your hair," said Thure Cerling, a geologist at the University of Utah. While U.S. diet is ly identical, water supplies vary. The differences result from weather patterns. The chemical composition of rainfall changes slightly as rain clouds move. Most hydrogen and oxygen atoms in water are stable, but traces of both elements are also present as heavier isotopes ( ). The heaviest rain falls first. As a result, storms that form over the Pacific deliver heavier water to California than to Utah. Similar patterns exist throughout the U.S. By measuring the proportion of heavier hydrogen and oxygen isotopes along a strand of hair, scientists can construct a geographic timeline. Each inch of hair corresponds to about two months. Cerling's team collected tap water samples from 600 cities and constructed a map of the regional difference. They checked the accuracy of the map by testing 200 hair samples collected from 65 barber shops. They were able to accurately place the hair samples in broad region roughly corresponding to the movement of rain systems. "It's not good for pinpointing ( )," Cerling said. "It's good for eliminating many possibilities." Todd Park, a local detective, said the method has helped him learn more about an unidentified woman whose skeleton was found near Great Salt Lake. The woman was 5 feet tall. Police recovered 26 bones, a T-shirt and several strands of hair. When Park heard about the research, he gave the hair samples to the researches. Chemical testing showed that over the two years before her death, she moved about every two months. She stayed in the Northwest, although the test could not be more specific than somewhere between eastern Oregon and western Wyoming. "It's still a substantial area," Park said, "But it narrows its way down for me." What did Cerling's team produce in their research? 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. What did the boy become at last? Xinhua News Agency-The International Conference on Power Engineering (ICOPE) 2013, organized by the Chinese Society of Power Engineering, School of Energy and Power Engineering, China-EU Institute for Clean and Renewable Energy, opened in Wuhan, on Oct 24. More than 300 energy experts, scholars and businessmen from countries and areas including the United States, Japan, the EU, Australia, South Africa, Thailand, Nigeria, Arab and China are attending the three-day academic conference on the world's energy problems. Professor Zheng Chuguang, from the School of Energy and Power Engineering at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, gave a speech on the development of oxygen fuel technology in China, and said that settling the problem of cost ranks highest. George Saxon, vice-president of Conco Systems Inc, US, presented a report on the topic of Energy Engineer to Shape the Future. He said that the company's research and innovation are of great significance for the future and already contribute to reducing costs and improving efficiency . Professor Didier Mayer from the Ecole des Mines de Paris, France, spoke about "Wind Energy R&D Line Based on the Global Renewable Energy Status", and Professor Yasuo Koizumi of Shinshu University in Japan and Li Chun-Zhu of Curtin University of Technology in Australia also gave speeches at the conference. The academic meetings are expected to cover topics from various fields. In addition, the participants will discuss the most advanced academic research around the world, the latest progress and development trends in the various fields. The conference has attracted 232 academic papers, with 176 papers from China, and 56 from abroad. What is the purpose of the passage? It is said that a person has about 6,000 thoughts every day, Yet, of the 6,000 thoughts you have today, ninety percent of these are the same as the 6,000 you had yesterday and the day before, leaving little room for new thoughts. No wonder life can seem _ at times. Unless you start to think differently, you are to continue to create and repeat the same old reality every day. Is it not time to change your thoughts, enliven your dreams and let reality catch up? Most of our thoughts and actions are habits, and we go thought the same motions each day, with little change in our behaviors or outlook. What would happen if you challenged these habits or customs? What if you were to step out of your comfort zone and explore new ideas or new ways or doing things? Would your life not change as a result? Thought is a form of energy. Does this energy keep you forward or hold you back? You have a choice about the thoughts you think. How many times in the past have you chosen to disregard your positive thoughts and focus on your negative thoughts? At this moment, if you were to be at ease and to focus on your positive thoughts while discounting your negative thoughts, how would your life change? To realize your dreams, pay attention to what is happening around you. Be curious. Notice how your thoughts about yourself, your thoughts about others and your thoughts about what others may be thinking of you influence and what you are able to achieve. Start to think, see and experience things, people, places and events in new ways. Recognize what happens when you begin to think differently about yourself and what you are capable of achieving. The author thinks our life changes very little because
Deadly heat waves, home-wrecking hurricanes, neighborhood-burning wildfires...When you stop to think about it, global warming can be thoroughly depressing. According to rising evidence, climate changewon't just cause new cases of stress, anxiety and depression. People who already have serious psychological problems will probably suffer most in the result of natural disasters and extreme weather events. "When these events happen, people with pre-established mental illnesses often have more extreme difficulty," said Lisa Page, a psychiatrist. "This is an area we maybe need to think about a little more seriously." In public health circles and even in climate talks, scientists have studied how climate change might affect physical health, by for example, causing the spread of malaria, fever and other infectious diseases. For the most part, though, the experts have made only vague references to the link between climate change and mental health, even though evidence for such connections is starting to pile up. In the future, climate models predict more destructive storms, floods, droughts and diseases. In turn, the new study suggests, more psychological crises will follow. Heat waves -- like the one that killed some 70,000 people in Europe in the summer of 2003 -- will also happen more frequently, last longer and be severer in coming years. The mentally ill will be hardest hit by these events because they're more likely to live in poor housing without air conditioning. People with pre-existing mental challenges will probably also have an extra hard time dealing with other forecasted consequences of climate change, including the sinking of coastlines and mass migration away from flooded shores. Then, there's the general sense of sadness that can come from reading about climate change, and recognizing that the world is changing. The author mentioned heat waves in Europe to prove _ . the increasing cases of mental disorders Doctor are known to Be terriBle pilots. They don't listen Because they already know it all. I was lucky: Became a pilot in 1970, almost ten years Before I graduated from medical school. I didn't realize then, But Becoming a pilot makes me a Better surgeon. I loved flying. As I flew Bigger, faster planes, and in worse weather. I learned aBout crew resource management , or CRM, a new idea to make flying safer. It means that crew memBers should listen and speak up for a good result, regardless of positions. I first read aBout CRM in 1980. Not long after that, an attending doctor and I were flying in Bad weather. The controller had us turn too late to get our landing ready. The attending doctor was flying; I was safety pilot He was so Busy Because of the Bad turn, he had forgotten to put the landing gear down. He was a Better pilot - and my Boss - so it felt unusual to speak up. But I had to: Our lives were in danger. I put aside my uneasiness and said, "We need to put the landing gear down now!" That was my first real lesson in the power of CRM, and I've used it in the operating room ever since. CRM requires that the pilot/surgeon encourage others to speak up. It further requires that when opinions are from the opposite, the doctor doesn't overreact, which might prevent fellow doctors from voicing opinions again. So when I'm in the operating room, I ask for ideas and help from others. Sometimes they're not willing to speak up. But I hope that if I continue to encourage them , someday someone will keep me from " ". The author deepened his understanding of the power of CRM when _ . he saved the plane By speaking up Travel Unaccompanied Now many young people are traveling around the world on their own, not because they have no one to travel with, but because they prefer to go alone. Kristina Wegscheider from California first traveled alone when she was at college and believes that it is something everyone should do at least once in their life. "It opens up your mind to new things and pushes you out of your comfort zone." Wegscheider has visited 46 countries covering all seven continents. In foreign countries, with no one to help you read a map, look after you if you get ill, or lend you money if your wallet is stolen. It is challenging. This is what drives young people to travel alone.It is seen as character building and a chance to prove that they can make it on their own. Chris Richardson decided to leave his sales job in Australia to go traveling last year.He set up a website, The Aussie Nomad, to document his adventures. He said he wished he had traveled alone earlier. "The people you meet, the places you visit, or the things you do, everything is up to you and it forces you to grow as a person," said the 30-year-old. Richardson describes traveling alone like "a shot in the arm", which "makes you a more confident person that was ready to deal with anything". He said: "The feeling of having conquered something on my own is a major part of what drives me each day when I'm dealing with a difficult task. I walk around with my head up because I know deep down inside that nothing is impossible if you try." The great 19th century explorer John Muir once said: "Only by going alone in silence can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness." What can we infer about Chris Richardson? He used to work as a salesman. I grew up in the south of Spain in a little community called Estepona. I was 16 when one morning, my father told me I could drive him into a remote village called Mijas, about 18 miles away, on the condition that I take the car in to be serviced(,) at a nearby garage. Having just learned to drive and hardly ever having the opportunity to use the car, I readily accepted. I drove Dad into Mijas and promised to pick him up at 4 p.m., then drove to a nearby garage and dropped off the car. Because I had a few hours to spare, I decided to catch a couple of movies at a theatre near the garage. However, I became so interested in the films that I didn't pay attention to the time. When the last movie had finished, I looked down at my watch. It was six o'clock. I was two hours late! I knew Dad would be angry if he found out I'd been watching movies. He'd never let me drive again. I decided to tell him that the car needed some repairs and that they had taken longer than had been expected. I drove up to the place where we had planned to meet and saw Dad waiting patiently on the corner. I apologized for being late and told him that I'd come as quickly as I could, but the car had needed some major repairs. I'll never forget the look he gave me. "I'm disappointed that you feel you have to lie to me, Jason." "What do you mean? I'm telling the truth." Dad looked at me again. "When you did not show up, I called the garage to ask if there were any problems, and they told me that you had not yet picked up the car. So you see, I know there were no problems with the car." A feeling of guilt ran through me as I weakly confessed to my trip to the movie theatre and the real reason for my being late. Dad listened intently as a sadness passed through him. "I'm angry, not with you but with myself. You see, I realize that I have failed as a father if after all these years you feel that you have to lie to me. I have failed because I have brought up a son who cannot even tell the truth to his own father. I'm going to walk home now and think seriously about where I have gone wrong all these years." "But Dad, it's 18 miles to home. It's dark. You can't walk home." My protests and my apologies were useless. I had let my father down and I was about to learn one of the most painful lessons of my life. Dad began walking along the dusty road. I quickly jumped in the car and followed behind, hoping he would weaken. I begged all the way, telling him how sorry I was, but he simply ignored me, continuing on silently, thoughtfully and painfully. For 18 miles I drove behind him, at a speed of about five miles per hour. Seeing my father in so much physical and emotional pain was the most distressing and painful experience that I have ever faced. However, it was also the most successful lesson. I have never lied to him since. According to the passage, the boy's father _ . had already checked with the garage to see whether the car was still being serviced This week Faith Lapidus and Doug Johnson will tell you about Chuck Berry.Chuck Berry,born on October 18,1926,is often called the father of rock and roll.He is one of the most popular and influential performers of rhythm-and-blues and rock'n'roll music during the 1950s,1960s and 1970s. He started singing in church when he was six years old.His interest in music stuck with him.A lot of Chuck Berry's material is about teenage life,especially school.Chuck Berry left school when he was 17.He headed west with two friends,but they did not get far.They were arrested after they used a gun to steal a car in Kansas City,Missouri.He was set free after four years. Chuck Berry signed his first recording contract in 1955,with the company Chess Records.Because one of his early hits,"Rock&Roll Music", _ in the United States then,which was greeted with enthusiastic reviews.Many other famous bands copied it again and again. Filmmaker Taylor Hackford made a documentary called"Hail! Hail! Rock'n'Roll", named for a Chuck Berry song.It centered on the making of a concert to honor the musician on his 60th birthday in 1986.Guitarist Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones organized the concert.Listening to Chuck Berry songs got him interested in music.In Keith Richards'words,"I didn't dream I could make a living at it but that's what I wanted to do."More than 75 artists and bands have done their own versions of Chuck Berry songs. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland,Ohio,included Chuck Berry in its first year of honors in 1986.The Hall of Fame had this to say:"While no individual can be said to have invented rock and roll,Chuck Berry comes the closest of any single figure to being the one who put all the essential pieces together." Thank you for your listening.Faith Lapidus and Doug Johnson were your announcers. Which of the following about Chuck Berry is true? Chuck Berry can be said to have formed rock and roll's basic structure.
I used to hate my mother because she worked a lot and didn't spend much time with me. Then one Friday morning I took part in a three-day self-help program for teenagers. Whether you believe it or not, that weekend changed my life. About 100 other teenagers were there. During the first two days I met a lot of great people. I was glad because I made so many friends there. On Sunday, the leader did an interesting exercise called "Chocolate or Toys". He asked a girl which she liked better, chocolate or toys. She chose chocolate. Then he asked her to choose again between chocolate and chocolate. Of course, she didn't have a choice. This exercise told us that sometimes we don't have a choice in life, and that sometimes we have to accept something, rather than complaining . A girl stood up and started talking about her mom who was a drug addict and how much she hated her mother. "I want a new mom," she cried. "Unluckily, you can't have one," the leader replied. "You have to accept the mother that you have." This hit me hard. I realized that, for better or worse, my mom was my mom. I couldn't choose another mom, but I could try to make the best of the situation. The writer started to change his thinking _ . Answer: China is a land of bicycles.At least it was back in 1992 when I travelled the country.Back then everyone seemed to be riding a bicycle.Millions of them,all black.Cars were rare.Yet since my arrival in Beijing last year,I've found the opposite is true.There were millions of cars.However,people still use their bicycles to get around.For many,it's the easiest and cheappiest way to travel today. Bicycles also come in different colours---silver,green,red,blue,yellow,whatever you want. It's fun watching people biking. They rush quickly through crossroads,move skillfully through traffic,and ride even on sidewalks . Bicycles allow people the freedom to move about that cars just can't provide. Eager to be part of this aspect of Chinese culture, I decided to buy a bicycle. Great weather accompanied my great buy. I immediately jumped up on my bicycle seat and started to ride. My first ride home was orderly .To be safe,I stayed with a "pack"of bikers while cars on the streets came running swiftly out of nowhere at times. I didn't want to get hit.So I took the ride carefully. Crossing the streets was the biggest problem. It was a lot like crossing a major highway back in the United States. The streets here were wide,so crossing took time,skill and a little bit of luck. I finally made it home. The feeling on the bicycle was amazing. The air hitting my face and going through my air was wonderful. I was sitting on top of the world as I passed by places and people.Biking made me feel alive. Which of the following best describes the authour's biking experience? Answer: Where might you find eggs? Answer: The pounding was driving Edward crazy. A new neighbor had just moved into the apartment below him. The newcomer was deaf, or seemed to be, because he played his stereo loud enough for the whole building to hear. On the first day he heard the stereo rocking over, Edward marched downstairs and politely told the newcomer that his stereo was too loud. He asked the new tenant to turn the volume down and keep it down as long as he lived in the building. The tenant appeared surprised and embarrassed, and said, "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize it was that loud." So, Edward returned upstairs, feeling good, because he had taken a stand and politely let the newcomer know that loud music was not going to be tolerated. The next day all was quiet, and Edward continued to be pleased with himself. The following day, Edward thought it must be Fourth of July, because a marching band was playing on his street. In fact, it was the new neighbor who was playing his music loud again. Edward was not one to repeat himself, feeling that each time you repeated yourself, you diminished the value of your words. So, he did what he always did with rude neighbors-grin and bear it. Eventually, they would move away. What else are you going to do? In Los Angeles a year ago, a woman had complained to her upstairs neighbor that he was playing his drums too loud and too often. The drummer repeatedly ignored her. One day the woman walked upstairs and shot the drummer in the head and his girlfriend in the chest. The woman was sentenced to prison for 20 years. The dead drummer won't bother anyone with his drums, but the woman might be wishing now that she had learned to grin and bear it. If she were still living in her apartment, she could always move. When you're in prison, you don't have that option. The man living below where Edward lived was _ . Answer: The horsepower was first used two hundred years ago. James Watt had made the world's first widely used steam engine. He had no way of telling people exactly how powerful it was, for at that time there were no units for measuring power. Watt decided to find out how much work one strong horse could do in one minute. He called that init one horsepower. With this unit he could measure the work his steam engine could do. He discovered that a horse could lift a 3,300-pound weight 10 feet into the air in one minute. His engine could lift a 3,300 pound weight 100 feet in one minute. Because his engine did ten times as much work as the horse, Watt called it a ten-horsepower engine. Watt made the world's first _ . Answer:
In the rush to get to school, you drop a piece of toast on the floor. Do you throw it away or dec ide it' s still OK to eat? If you're like most people, you eat it. Maybe you follow the "5-second rule", which claims foods are safe to eat if you pick them up within 5 seconds after dropping them. But you might want to think again. Scientists now say that 5 seconds is all it takes for foods to become polluted with enough bacteria to make you sick. Bacteria can cause many kinds of illnesses. Some kinds of bacteria can grow on food. If you eat foods on which these bacteria are growing, you can become sick. One of these food-borne bacteria is Salmonella. It makes 1.4 million people sick every year. Salmonella is often found in raw eggs and chicken. Cooking kills these bacteria, which is why it is so important to cook eggs, chicken, and other foods thoroughly. But how long does it take these bacteria to pollute food? A team of scientists in South Carolina did an experiment. First, they placed an amount of Salmonella on three surfaces; wood, tile , and carpet. They placed a piece of bread and a piece of bologna on each surface for 5,30, or 60 seconds. After just 5 seconds, both the bread and the bologna picked up enough bacteria to make you sick. So forget the 5-second rule. If your toast drops on the floor, throw it away and get another piece of clean toast. This time, be careful not to drop it! What's the writer's attitude to the "5-second rule"? Answer: Negative This week was busier than usual, and I was very tired today. All I wanted to do was to go home and enjoy a bowl of good hot soup. But when I saw my daughter's car, _ Since his parents separated, I had tried to have my six-year-old grandson spend a few hours with me at least once a week. I had always tried to make it a special time for him. We did many interesting things; Bryan loved all these activities, and so did I. But today I had to give up our evening. I said how tired I was feeling. "Bryan, I'm sorry. Tonight I don't feel like having fun or playing games. We'll have our night together some other time." I saw the sadness in Bryan's eyes. He said, "I like soup, Grandma." I knew he meant "Please don't send me away. Please let me stay." I saw the shadow in Bryan's eyes. Something else was changing. Maybe he thought I wouldn't want to have him come any more -- not tonight, not next week, not ever. Finally, I said OK. I was glad to see his eyes light up. After I put the soup on the stove and turned on the TV, I fell asleep. When I woke up, there was a coat over my legs, and the soup was gone. Bryan was on the floor, reading a coloring book and watching a television show at the same time. The poor boy must have been so bored ! When he found I was awake, he ran over and gave me a big hug. "I love you, Grandma," he said. "Haven't we had a nice time together?" His big smile and happy eyes told me that this time he meant exactly what he was saying. That was the keyword -- together. We had done nothing exciting or special. But we were together. From the passage, we can infer that _ . Answer: the author and her grandson loved each other very much Tech-Camp prefix = st1 /6 Devon Road, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong a technology day camp for students 12--17 About Tech-Camp: Tech-Camp is a day camp with a focus on computers and electronics technology. We offer 2-week summer programs for students of 12 to 17 years of age. We have a computer lab with the latest and fastest equipment, an electronics lab, and a video production studio. Our staff is special, too. Our program leaders are experts in computers and electronics, of course, but they are also people who care about children and enjoy working with them. The benefits of Tech-Camp: In all of our programs, we show students how to work in teams and how to solve problems by themselves. We encourage them to think creatively. What students will do at Tech-Camp? Each day at Tech-Camp is filled with useful, interesting and challenging activities. For example, in the Computer Program, students learn basic computer programming, and how to use the Internet. In the High-tech Program, they make radio-controlled model cars and produce their own short videos. Program Session 1 Computer Program 15June-26June High-tech Program 29June-10July 27July-7August Fee: HK $ 2,000 per student (10% discount available for groups of l0 or more students) For more information about Tech-Camp, please contact Director of Summer Program, Ms Julia Brown, by phone, fax or e-mail. Telephone :26548898 Fax: 26948850 e-mail: juliab@ techcamp. com. HK From the brochure we can know that _ . Answer: Students will learn how to work with their friends and how to think and solve problems creatively through a lot of activities. It seems that everywhere around the world, people are spending more time at work and less time with their families and friends.People are busier than ever before. In the past in many countries,the father worked and the mother stayed at home, took care of the children, and did the food shopping,cooking,and cleaning.At present in most of the families,parents need to work on weekends,so they both have to do the shopping,cooking,and cleaning in their free time.Parents don't have much time with their children,however,they often had time in the past.There are also many single parent families.In these families,the single parent has to do everything. These days,many children come home from school to an empty apartment or house.A lot of children spend many hours each day in front of the television.Even when families are together,it is common for family members to do things by themselves.For example,they watch programs on their own TVs in different rooms,they use the Internet,they talk with friends on the telephone,and they do other things by themselves. Isn't it strange?Thanks to technology,people are able to communicate so easily with people far away,but sometimes they don't communicate with people in their own homes. It is common that family members lack _ . Answer: communication The values of artistic works, according to cultural relativism , are simply reflections of local social and economic conditions. Such a view, however, fails to explain the ability of some works of art to excite the human mind across cultures and through centuries. History has witnessed the endless productions of Shakespearean plays in every major language of the world. It is never rare to find that Mozart packs Japanese concert halls, as Japanese painter Hiroshige does Paris galleries, Unique works of this kind are different from today's popular art, even if they began as works of popular art. They have set themselves apart in their timeless appeal and will probably be enjoyed for centuries into the future. In a 1757 essay, the philosopher David Hume argued that because"the general principles of taste are uniform in human nature,"the value of some works of art might be essentially permanent. He observed that Homer was still admired after two thousand years. Works of this type, he believed, spoke to deep and unvarying features of human nature and could continue to exist over centuries. Now researchers are applying scientific methods to the study of the universality of art. For example, evolutionary psychology is being used by literary scholars to explain the long-lasting themes and plot devices in fiction. The structures of musical pieces are now open to experimental analysis as never before. Research findings seem to indicate that the creation by a great artist is as permanent an achievement as the discovery by a great scientist. According to Hume, some works of art can exist for centuries because _ . Answer: they appeal to unchanging features of human nature
The human brain weighs about 1.4 kilograms, but it can, hold much more information than most computers. However, there is another difference between humans and computers. Computers don't forget information they are given, but humans often do. No one remembers everything, and luckily we don't usually have to. But everyone can improve their memory if they want to. Here are some suggestions. * Try to use new information immediately. For example, if you meet someone who says "Hi! I'm Carlos," don't just say "Hello." Repeat the person's name. Say" _ " * Break a big number into smaller parts. For example, it's hard to memorize 109244153. But if you break it into three parts--109/244/153--it becomes easier. Write out what you need to remember over and over again. This will help you keep it in mind longer, especially for memorizing formulas or facts. Always review information. If you bring what you've learned back to your mind, they become easier to remember. For example, before you go to sleep, it's a good idea to review the new things you learned that clay. * Discuss with a friend. It is always easier to remember things through discussions. You can have a discussion about what's right and what's wrong, and it will lead to the right answer. *Never tell yourself that you have a bad memory. You can always do something to help improve your memory. And everyone's memory gets better if they use it often enough. All of the suggestions are helpful. If you follow them, you are certain to improve your memory. Which of the following is true according to the passage? Discussing with friends can help you remember things. Have you ever walked down a city street and suddenly seen a bright garden full of vegetables and flowers? It may be a community garden. The community gardens are planted by the people in the community. They are not just pretty places. They improve the neighborhoods. People first started planting these gardens during the 1970s. At that time, the price of vegetables and fruits was rising. In many city neighborhoods, crime was increasing. There were also many other problems. People decided to get together to plant gardens to fight against these problems. The gardeners thought they might make the area more beautiful and improve people's life. These gardeners were right! Community gardens have many benefits. They improve their neighbourhoods. They also make people feel they belong to the community. When people work together in a garden, they feel they are connected with each other. People work on a small area within the garden. They grow vegetables or fruits. Each person decides what he or she is going to grow. However, they also work together to help each other. Some members have gardening experience. They can help those who are just learning how to grow vegetables and fruits. Sometimes, garden members pay for supplies. The supplies usually include small plants and tools. Many community gardens have sponsors . They pay for the supplies for the gardens. It helps to keep the gardens going every year. Sponsors may be parks, schools and local companies. Some groups want to be a part of the community. They help clean up and beautify a neighborhood. They also pay for the supplies. Community gardens give people a chance to work together. They can make the community stable . There are many programs of community gardens. Some gardens provide programs for children and elder people. They may provide classes. They may give the vegetables and fruits to poor people. Community gardens also improve air. Today there are about 10,000 community gardens in cities in the US. They have become popular because of their benefits. People enjoy having vegetables and flowers in their neighborhoods. What do sponsors do for community gardens? Theypay for the supplies. Invented in Turkey and patented by Nanopool, a German company, the spray-on liquid glass might become one of the most useful inventions in the field of nanotechnology. The product was tested at the Saarbrucken Institute for New Materials. It is worth mentioning that the invention is transparent and non-poisonous. The liquid glass can protect any type of surface from damages caused by water, UV radiation, dirt, heat, and bacterial infections. Besides, it is flexible and breathable, which means that the liquid glass can be applied on plants and seeds as well. Researchers found that the spray greatly increases the resistance of plants to bacteria-caused diseases. The trials also showed that the sprayed seeds grew faster. Depending on the type of surface that is to be covered, researchers can add water or ethanol to the spray. Scientists say that _ . The spray produces a coating that is just 100nm thick. Trials by food processing plants in Germany have concluded that foods covered with the glass can store longer than those stored in normal condition. According to Neil McClelland, UK project manager with Nanopool, due to its capabilities, the spray-on liquid glass can become one of the most useful inventions around the world, ending up being used by a lot of industries that will cover their products. At present, the invention is being used by a train company and a hotel chain in the UK, as well as a hamburger chain in Germany that are carrying out tests of the liquid glass for various uses. The spray-on liquid glass was also tested in a Lancashire hospital, where it showed "very promising" results, being used to cover medical equipment and bandages. The invention could be also used on clothing, because it cannot be seen by the naked eye, thus clothes could become stain resistant. Due to its unique characteristics, the liquid glass can be used to cover bathrooms, sinks and many other surfaces in the home. According to the researchers, the spay-on glass can last for a year. It is expected to hit the DIY stores across Britain at a price of 5 pounds. Which of the following about the liquid glass is NOTtrue? It will cause plants to have some kind of disease. Cyberspace, data superhighway, multimedia, for those who have seen the future, and the linking of computers, televisions and telephones will change our lives for ever. Yet for all the talks of a forthcoming technological utopia, little attention has been given to the implications of these developments for the poor. As for all the new high technology, the West concerns itself with the "how", while the question of "for whom" is put aside once again. Economists are only now realizing the full extent to which the communication revolution has affected the world economy. Information technology allows the extension of trade across geographical and industrial boundaries, and transnational corporations take full advantage of it. Terms of trade and exchange, interest rates and money movements are more important than the production of goods. The electronic economy made by information technology allows the haves to increase their control on global markets -- with a destructive impact on the havenots. For them the result is unstable. Developing countries which rely on the production of a small range of goods for export are made to feel like small parts in the international economic machine. As "futures" are traded on computer screens, developing countries simply have less and less control of their destinies. So what are the options of regaining control?One alternative for developing countries is to buy in the latest computers and telecommunications. Yet this leads to long-term dependency and perhaps permanent constraints ( ,) on developing countries' economies. Communication technology is generally exported from the US, Europe or Japan;the patents, skills and ability remain in the hands of a few industrialized countries. It is also expensive, therefore imported products and services must be bought on credit usually provided by the very countries whose companies stand to gain. It can be inferred from the passage that _ . the interests of the poor countries have not been given enough consideration Americans usually eat three meals a day. Breakfast usually comes before eight o'clock in the morning. They usually have eggs, some meat, bread, fruit juice and coffee. Lunch is between twelve and one o'clock. It is like a light meal and working people must take lunch with them or get it near workplace. Children in school take sandwiches, fruit, and cookies with them or eat in school. Supper, the main meal, is between six and eight in the evening. People cook it carefully. They may have meat or chicken, turkey and duck. They may all have potatoes or rice, vegetables or salad. The drink is coffee, tea or milk. Then comes the dessert. Americans usually have breakfast and supper at _ . home
Rome-Doctors and medical groups around the world last weekend reacted with strong opposition to the news that an Italian specialist is _ cloning the first human baby. DL Severino Antinod,who is the head of a hospital in Rome,has been referred to in an Arab newspaper as claiming that one of his patients is eight weeks pregnant with a cloned baby. Antinori refused to comment on the reports,but in March 2001 he said he hoped to produce a cloned embryo for implantation within two years.So far seven different kinds of mammals have already successfully cloned,including sheep,cats and most recently rabbits. Doctors showed their doubt and were strongly opposed although they admit that human cloning would finally come true unless there was a world wide ban on the practice. Professor Rudolf Jaenisch of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology says,"I find it astonishing that people do this where the result can be foretold that it will not be a normal baby.It is using humans as guinea pigs.It makes people feel sick."But Ronald Green,director of the Ethics institute at Darmouth College in the US,said it is unlikely that an eight-week-old pregnancy would lead to a birth. So far all cloned animals have suffered from some different serious disorders,many of them dying soon after their births. Doctors are opposed to human cloning because they are worried about the welfare of the cloned child if there is one. "There are no benefits of cloned human begins,just harm."said Dr.Michael Wilks of the UK. What is the doctor's general attitude to cloning of humans according to the passage? Answer: They are against it. "Ten pence for a view over the bay,"said the old man with the telescope. "Lovely clear morning, have a look at the old lighthouse and the remains of the great shipwreck of 1935." Ten pence was robbery, but the view was certainly magnificent. Cliffs stretched into the distance, shining waves beaten severely by the wind were unrolling on to the beach, and a few yachts , with creamy-white sails, were turning sharply and making a sudden movement gracefully on the sea. Just below, a flock of seagulls screaming at one another as they twisted and flew smoothly over the water. A mile out to sea, the old lighthouse stood on a stone platform on the rocks, which were being greedily licked by the waves. In no way indeed did I _ my money. As I directed the telescope towards the lighthouse, the man beside me tapped my wrist. "Have you heard about the terrible tragedy that occurred there in that lighthouse?" he asked in a whisper. "I imagine there may be plenty of legends attached to such a dramatic-looking place," I suggested. "It's no legend ," declared the old man." My father knew the two men involved. It took place fifty years ago. Let me tell you." His voice seemed to grow deeper and more dramatic. "For a whole week that lighthouse had been cut off by storms," he began, "with terrifying seas surging and crashing over the rocks. People on the shore were anxious about the two men working there. They'd been on the best terms until two or three weeks before, when they had a quarrel over cards in the village inn. Martin had accused Blake of cheating. Blake had swore to punish Martin for what he had said. But thanks to the wise advice of a man they both respected, they apologized to each other, and soon seemed to have got over their disagreement. But some slight resentment and bitterness remained, and it was feared that the stress of continued separation and rough weather might affect their nerves, though, needless to say, their friends had no idea how serious the consequence would be." ...... The old man paused and I turned to go. "By the way," he added, "Have you any free time this afternoon? If so, why don't you have tea in the lighthouse? We are putting on a special boat trip today. We are charging a pound. ..... " What was the weather like in the story? Answer: windy and bright Get Your Degree at Home! Have you ever wondered what a degree might be worth to your job or career? It means a lot of Americans with an Associate Degree average nearly $ 10,000 more in their earnings than those with just a high school diploma. Harcourt Learning Direct offers you a way to get a Specialized Associate Degree in 11 of today's growing fields---without having to go to college full time .With Harcourt, you study at home, in your spare time---so you don't have to give up your present job while you train for a better one. Choose from exciting majors like Business management, Accounting, Dressmaking & Design, Bookkeeping, Photography, Computer Science, Engineering, and more! Your training includes everything you need! 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Then, write in the name and number of the one program you're most interested in, and mail it today. We'll rush you 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 anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. www.harcourt-learning.com. E-mail: Harcourt @ learning .com What kind of people will probably answer this advertisement? Answer: High school graduates preparing to have at-home training. Tom comes from Australia. He is now staying in Beijing with his family. Every day he gets up at about six thirty and has breakfast at seven o'clock. Then he leaves home at seven fifteen. He gets to school at seven forty- five. His first class begins at eight. There are four lessons in the morning. Morning classes are over at eleven fifty, and he has lunch ten minutes later. Afternoon classes begin at one thirty. There are two lessons in the afternoon. They are over at three ten. Tom stays at school for another hour to play games, and he gets home at about four thirty. Tom usually has supper at six. In the evening he does his homework. Sometimes he watches TV. He goes to bed at about ten. Tom does his homework _ . Answer: at home This year marks 46 years since Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon . In all , 12 American astronauts have walked on the moon , the last - Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt - doing so in 1972 . Enthusiasm for space travel has always decreased and increased . In 2010 , President Barack Obama cut funds for a NASA mission that would have put humans back on the moon by 2020 . " I understand that some believe that we should attempt a return to the surface of the moon first , as previously planned . But I just have to say here : We've been there before , " Obama said . NASA Administrator Charles Bolden has also thrown cold water on the idea of a return mission to the moon . But others believe there are benefits to going back to the moon . " It's the closest body to us , making it the least challenging to explore of all the planets , moons and asteroids in our solar system , " wrote Gene R. Grush , from NASA Johnson Space Center . " It's an opportunity to establish a permanent presence off Earth - a moon base for scientists or a colony for all of humanity . " " There is a lot of good science on the moon that we've only scratched the surface on , " said former astronaut Tom Jones . Richard Vondrak , from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center , agrees , saying , " Astronauts can accomplish scientific exploration that is beyond the capability of robotic explorers . " And then there's the private business . In the last few years , several private companies - including Elon Musk's SpaceX - have launched rockets of their own , ending the national control over space flight . NASA is even considering a partnership with SpaceX , and Musk has said that if demand to go to the moon exists , his company will help fill it . Meanwhile , Buzz Aldrin , the second person to walk on the moon , believes that there's a much better target for exploration : Mars . " We've done the moon - we understand it better than anything else , " Aldrin said . " We've got to start thinking of long-term investments . " How many people mentioned in the passage are against going back to the moon ? Answer: 3
Joan worked in a hospital as a nurse. One evening there was a big dance at the hospital. Most of the doctors and nurses would be there, but it was Joan's turn to look after the sick children. She liked dancing very much, so she felt very sorry for herself. She went to each sick child one after another and said good-night, until she came to one little boy, Dickey. He was eleven years old, but he was already able to talk like an adult( ). Poor Dickey had a very serious illness, and now he was hardly able to move any part of his body except his hands. Joan knew he would never get any better, but he was always happy and always thinking about other people instead of about himself. Dickey knew that Joan loved dancing, so now when she came to say good-night to him, he greeted her with the words, "I' m very sorry that you have to miss the dance because of us. But we are going to have a party for you. If you look in my drawer , you ' Il find a piece of cake. I saved it from my supper today, so it' s quite fresh. And there is also a dollar there, You can buy something to drink with that. And I' d get up and dance with you myself if I was able to," he added. Suddenly the hospital dance seemed very far away and not at all important to Joan. Which of the following is not true? Answer: Richard Rodriguez from the United States is a great roller coaster fan. Recently he broke his 15th world record after he spent 104 days riding the world's largest roller coaster. "It got more difficult to ride and ride because of the muscle tiredness," Rodriguez, a teacher at the University of Chicago, said as he stepped down from the ride in a German park. He spent 10 hours a day on the roller coaster. Rodriguez tried to keep himself busy during the rides on the big roller coaster in a southwestern town in Germany. "I read the newspapers...I have a walkman, I have my cellphone, so I try to talk to people and message people during the day," he said. Although the 42yearold said he felt sick on the first few days, he said he soon got over the problem. "My face hurts sharply and I have a little backache, but I am good." The "Expedition GeForce" is one of the world's biggest roller coasters. It measures 62 meters at its highest point. On his 95th day on the coaster, after travelling over 25,000 kilometers, Rodriguez had a toothache and was treated by a local dentist. He went on after that and succeeded in breaking the record. Rodriguez celebrated with members of the park staff and his supporters, who had sent him postcards and emails encouraging him not to give up. Rodriguez kept on riding that long because _ . Answer: Doctors sometimes use light therapy to treat a form of depression in people who get too little morning sun. But too much light at other times may actually cause such mood disorder. Long-lasting exposure to light at night brings depression, a new study finds, at least in animals. The new data confirm observations from studies of people who work night shifts, says Richard Stevens of the University of Connecticut Health Center. Mood disorders join a growing list of problems, including cancer, obesity and diabetes that can occur when light throws life out of balance by disturbing the biological clock and its timing of daily rhythms. In the new study, Tracy Bedrosian and Randy Nelson of Ohio State University exposed mice to normal light and dark cycles for four weeks. For the next four weeks, half of the mice remained on this schedule, and the rest received continuous dim light throughout their night. Compared with mice exposed to normal night-time darkness, those getting dim light at night lost their strong preference for sweet drinks. "A sign that they no longer get pleasure out of activities they once enjoyed," Bedrosian says. In a second test, mice were clocked on how long they actively tried to escape a pool of water. Those exposed to night lights stopped struggling and just floated in the water, a sign of "behavioral despair", 10 times as long as the mice that had experienced normal night-time darkness. All symptoms of depression disappeared within two weeks of the mice returning to a normal light-dark cycle, the researchers report. The scientists could also _ the behavioral symptoms by injecting the brains of animals with a drug that prohibits the activity of certain molecules linked with human depression. This finding further suggests that light at night may cause something related to depression. Human studies linking night-time light and mood disorders are important but can not easily detect molecular underpinnings as animal studies can, says George Brainard of Thomas Jefferson University. The new work, he says, suggests that the change of the biological clock by light at night can be "an extremely powerful force in regulating biology and behavior". After being exposed to continuous night-time light, the mice _ . Answer: Which would create the most pollution Answer: Boom boom!( I'm here, come to me!) Krak krak!( Watch out, aleopard !) Hok hok hok!( Hey, crowned eagle!) Very good -- you've already mastered half the basic vocabulary of the Campbell's monkey, which lives in the forests of the Tai National Park in Ivory Coast. The adult males have six types of call, each with a specific meaning, but they can mix two or more calls together into a message with a different meaning. Having spent months recording the monkeys' calls in response to both natural and artificialstimuli , a group led by Klaus Zuberbuhler of the University of St. Andrews in Scotland argues that the Campbell's monkeys have a certain form ofsyntax . This is likely to be controversial because despite great effort to teachchimpanzees language, they showed little or no ability to combine the sounds they learned into a sentence with a larger meaning. Syntax, basic to the structure of language, uniquely belongs to humans. "Krak" is a call that warns of leopards in the neighborhood. The monkeys give it in response to real leopards and to leopard shouting broadcast by the researchers. The monkeys can vary the call by adding "-oo": "Krak-oo" seems to be a general word for hunter, but one given in a special context - when monkeys hear but don't see a hunter, or when they hear the alarm calls of another species. The "boom-boom" call invites other monkeys to come toward the male making the sound. Two booms can be combined with a series of "krak-oos", with a meaning entirely different to that of either of its single parts. "Boom boom krak-oo krak-oo krak-oo" is the monkey's version of "Timber!" - it warns of falling trees. If Zuberbuhler is correct, the Campbell's monkeys can both vary the meaning of specific calls by adding something and combine calls to make a different meaning. According to the passage, it seems that _ . Answer:
We're one of the biggest ESL professional organizations in Shanghai, China and we have 10 primary schools, 2 middle schools, and 5 kindergartens in Shanghai and 1 in Suzhou. For these schools, we only need oral English teachers. We also own an international school whose name is Shanghai World Foreign Language Primary and Middle School. For this school, we need classroom teachers and subject teachers to teach Science, PE, and Music in English. We prefer to hire experienced teachers with TESOL or Teacher's Certificate. If you want to know more about us, please visit our website at http://www.shyulun.com/. Dates and Durations We need 1 teacher for every position as below: 1. Classroom Teacher Position in Shanghai World Foreign Language Primary School (From 17th Feb 2009, 12 months) 2. Subject Teacher Position in Shanghai World Foreign Language Middle School (From 1st Sep 2009, 10 months) 3. Oral English teachers in Shanghai Changning Experimental Primary School (From 3rd March 2009, 3 months) Basic requirements for the Positions 1. Native English speakers for all of the above positions 2. Bachelor Degree at least (Position 1 and 2) with related teaching experience 3. TESOL or related certificate (Position 3) Working Conditions and Environment www.zxxk.com The schools are the top schools in Shanghai with libraries and public computer rooms. Every teacher will have the office desk, free access to the Internet. We provide teaching materials and teaching guidelines. Salary, International Travel Allowance and Bonus The salary ranges from 6,000 RMB to 10,000 RMB per month according to the position you apply for, which can ensure you have a comfortable life in Shanghai. We will offer you part or full international travel allowances depending on how long you will work for us. Generally, we will pay you a return ticket for one year contract. The passage is probably taken from a _ . Answer: When a Swedish ship that sank in 1628 was recovered from the port of Stockholm, historians and scientists were overjoyed with the chance to examine the remains of the past. The ship construction showed how ships were built and operated during the seventeenth century. In this way, artifacts, objects made by human beings, provided a picture of daily life almost 400 years ago. Underwater archaeology-----the study of ships, aircrafts and human settlements that have sunk under large bodies of water-----is really a product of the last 50 years. The rapid growth of this new area of study has occurred because of the invention of better diving equipment. Besides the Swedish ship wreck ,underwater archaeologists have made more exciting discoveries such as the 5000-year-old boats in the Mediterranean Sea. Underwater archaeology can provide facts about the past. In ancient ports all over the world are ships sunken in the past 6,000 years. There are also sunken settlements in seas and lakes telling of people's way of life and their systems of trade in ancient times. Underwater archaeologists want to study these objects to add to the world's knowledge of history, but they have to fight two enemies. One enemy is treasure hunters who dive for ancient artifacts that they can sell to collectors. Once sold, these objects are lost to experts. The second enemy is dredging machines often used to repair ports. These machines destroy wrecks and artifacts or bury them deeper under sand and mud. By teaching the public about the importance of underwater "museums" of the past, archaeologists are hoping to get support for laws to protect underwater treasures. Underwater archaeologists are worried because _ . Answer: Europe's deadly outbreak of a rare form of E. coli bacteria has brought new attention to food safety issues. One of the problems when people get sick from food is that the simplest question is often difficult or even impossible to answer. Just what did the people eat that made them sick? Of course, one way to avoid these medical mysteries is to keep dangerous organisms out of the food supply. This is easier said than done, but scientists keep looking for new ways. Scientists in the United States have developed an experimental system that uses a high-tech optical scanner. The system is designed to identify the presence of contaminants like soil or animal waste on fresh produce. These can be sources of E. coli. E. coli bacteria naturally live in the intestines of humans and many animals. Most kinds of E. coli are harmless but some can make people sick. The new scanner can also show damage and imperfections that might make the produce unappealing to shoppers. Scientists designed the system at a Department of Agriculture research center in Beltsville, Maryland. Moon Kim of the Agricultural Research Service led the team. MOON KIM: "We were requested, we were asked, to develop a method to detect contamination in produce. So we started with the apple as the model sample." The scanner uses a high-speed camera placed over the conveyer belt that moves the produce along. As the apples move along the belt, the scanner captures images of each piece of fruit. Moon Kim says the team hopes the system will be available before long. MOON KIM: "We are targeting for development in commercial plants for the next several years." The scanner can direct a sorting machine to separate the bad apples from the good ones. The system is currently able to show the surface of only half the apple as it speeds by. The inventers hope to improve the process so it can show the whole surface. E. coli bacteria _ . Answer: When the shooting of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was complete, it was much more than a movie wrap-up . Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley, toldThe Sunday Timesthat he's happy to have the time for romance now filming is over. Emma Watson, who is Hermione Granger in the movies, said she looked forward to "finally being free, being my own person" - a change signaled by her new haircut. Daniel Radcliffe, who has been the face of the boy wizard since 2001, said that he "did cry like a little girl" when the last movie finished. "It's like the ending of a relationship," he toldThe Vancouver Sun. "There's a sense of, 'God, what am I going to do now?'" He said he was eager to see "what life holds for him beyond Hogwarts". Along with the three actors, Harry Potter fans, now in their late teens, came of age with J.K. Rowling's characters. For them, the last film isn't just a goodbye to a decade of magic, but the close of their childhoods. "We are the Harry Potter generation," Canadian Andrea Hill, 19, toldThe Vancouver Sun."We started in elementary school, reading about a boy our age who was going through the same things we were going through. We grew up, so did he." For Emily Chahal, an 18-year-old student, the series has been an inspiring journey. "That first book was what started my love of literature. It was the inspiration for everything - really teaching me to appreciate my friends, and to face difficulties with a sense of courage," she said. "I have a sense of sadness. The end of the movies is kind of the end of my childhood, too." Fortunately, to the delight of die-hard fans, there are many things that keep the boy wizard alive. For example, in June this year, a Harry Potter theme park opened in Florida, US. Some schools in the US and UK also have Quidditch teams - players ride broomsticks. "We're not waiting anymore to see what happens to Harry next," Hill told The Vancouver Sun. She founded a Quidditch club at Carleton University in Canada. "We're still engaged in that magical world." How did Emma Watson feel when she finished the shooting of the Harry Potter series? Answer: Job Interviews You have the education and the work experience; now all you need is the job. Most people spend more time getting ready for an evening out than they do preparing for a job interview. There are several things you can do to have a successful job interview. Here are some of them: 1. Know about the company where you are trying to get a job. Find out what the company does and who their competitors are. 2. Know yourself. Most interviewers will ask a question related to your strengths and weaknesses. Before the interview, examine the job you are applying for and determine the top skills needed for that position. For instance, if you are applying for a job as a telephone operator, it's more important that you have strong communication skills than that you are tidy. 3. Have proof. It's easy to say you have good organization skills. But if you can tell the interviewer about a time you organized an event, it makes the claim much more solid. 4. Prepare questions to ask about the company and the job. An interview is a stressful event. When you are under pressure, it can be difficult to think straight. Preparing before the interview will make it easier to give answers to those tough questions. But you can't think of every question they might ask. So relax and be confident. Remember, first impressions are lasting. A good skill for a telephone operator to have is _ . Answer:
Some weightloss camps, which are rare in China just a few years ago,have multiplied in Beijing, Qingdao, Shenzhen,and other cities. Today about 15 percent of adults, or 200 million Chinese, are reportedly overweight.Of these, 90 million--about 7 percent--are obese . Experts say the obesity epidemic is spreading to children, though more slowly than in adults. The obesity, they say, will do harm to the health of China' s citizens and economy."We're seeing a very large number of teenagers who are quite heavy and aren't moving much," said Barry Popkin, a nutrition professor. Popkin carries out an ongoing healthandnutrition survey of 16,000 households in China. He says more kids today are overeating and putting on weight "quite quickly." In just ten years China's childhood obesity rate has doubled,with the greatest gains coming in urban areas."In big cities it's a big problem." Some experts blame the extra fat on a range of factors, many of them tied to China' s rapidly changing economy and culture. The diets of Chinese adults and children are far higher in meats, fish, eggs, dairy products, fats and sugars than ever before. In addition,kids--especially city dwellers--are more today and spend more time indoors in front of homework, television,computer games, and the Internet. Shuwen Ng,a health economist, says that kids in China now have pocket money, and they spend a portion of it on junk food. Ng adds that advertising and peer groups influence kids' food choices. Certain foods, such as new candies or fast food, have attractive features. China' s childhood obesity rate stillfall behind that of the United States, where some 15 percent of kids are said to be obese. But the longterm effects are equally serious. What's the best title for the passage? Answer: Chinese Childhood Obesity problem If you want to become a better reader, here are four important points to remember about rate or speed of reading: First, knowing why you are reading and what you are reading to find out will often help you to know whether to read rapidly or slowly. Second, some things should be read slowly. Examples are directions for making or doing something; arithmetic problems, science and history books. They are full of important information. You must read such things slowly to remember each important step and understand each idea. Third, some things should be read rapidly. Examples are simple stories for enjoyment, news, letters from friends, items or bits of news from local or hometown paper, telling what is happening to friends and neighbors. Fourth, in some of your readings, you must change your speed from fast to slow, and slow to fast, as you read. You'll need to read certain pages rapidly and then slow down and do more careful reading when you come to important ideas which should be remembered. _ should be read slowly. Answer: Some things full of important information Where do mushrooms thrive? Answer: the Amazon It was just three degrees above zero."That's cold", thought Jane as she got ready to deliver her morning papers . Jane had 50 customers ,and on cold mornings when she couldn't ride her bicycle , it took her more than an hour to make her rounds. As she collected her papers and put them into a big canvas bag , Jane regretted that she hadn't finished her maths homework the night before . There was still time . She would hurry with the papers and finish the maths before breakfast. Less than an hour later Jane nearly finished. She had only five customers to go. She could then go home to finish her maths homework while her Mom cooked breakfast . As she rounded the corner , she saw a car in the middle of the street . It was Mr Zimmerman , the elderly man who walked with a walking stick . His car was out of gas . "I'd like to help Mr Zimmerman," thought Jane ,"but if I do , I won't have time to do my homework." She hated to think what Mr Robert would say if she didn't finish papers. "It's his own fault for running out of gas," Jane talked to herself. "The station is only a half mile down the street . Surely Mr Zimmerman can walk that far, even on a cold morning like this...can't he?" As she walked down the street , Jane still wondered what to do. The best title for this reading should be _ . Answer: There's No Easy Answer There once was a little boy who wanted to meet the king. He set off, walking towards the king's castle. After many years of walking, the king's castle came into his view. However, as the boy drew closer to the outside of the castle, the guards noticed him. "Get out of here!" ordered the guards. Well, _ . He turned...and ran. All he wanted to do was to tell the king wonderful things, and see all the beautiful things in the king's house. But he couldn't even get near the castle! The boy finally stopped running, sat down and cried. A young man happened to be coming down the path at the very moment. He saw the little boy and stopped. "What's wrong, young man?" he asked. "Sir, I walked and walked just to see the king. But these guards made me scared. I wanted to tell the king how lovely everything is and just tell the king that I just wanted to see him.!" The man looked at the little boy thoughtfully. "Look, why don't you try again. I'll come with you this time." The little boy got up and took the man's hand. The king's guards spotted them. "Look, mister, we don't have to do this...I don't want you to get hurt. We can just turn around now." The man held the little boy's hand and went on. The boy really thought the man might be crazy until he looked back up at the guards. They were all smiling now. The little boy was amazed. "Who are you?" asked the little boy in astonishment. "Why, I'm the king's son. You can enter the castle and be with the king." Said the man. The little boy broke into a huge smile. Why did the boy want to see the king? Answer: To share wonderful things with the king.
In western countries, especially in America, some social customs have lasted still today. For example, ladies first, that is to say, women in those countries are respected in many ways. In the U.S. and Europe, you will see men usually open doors for women and women generally walk ahead of men into a room or a restaurant unless the man have to be ahead of the ladies to choose the table, to open the door of a car or to give other services. On the street, men almost walk or across the street on the side of the ladies which is closer to traffic, but if a man walks with two ladies, he should walk between them. Which of the following statements is not true? Answer: In August 2015, President Obama announced that North America's highest mountain, Mount McKinley, would be renamed. Its new moniker , Denali, was actually its original Aleut name, meaning "the high one". The previous name, on the other hand, only dates back to 1896--the year when it was named in honour of William McKinley(1843--1901), who was shortly to become President of the United States. Denali is of course not the only mountain with an interesting linguistic history, so let's travel to Asia, and across Europe, to explore the naming of those continents' most famous peaks and mountain ranges. The Nepalese name Himalaya comes from a Sanskrit word meaning "Abode of Snow", from hima for "snow" and alaya for "abode". In Buddhist sources, Himalaya is known by various names such as Himava and Himavanta. In 1856, Mount Everest was named after Sir George Everest (1790--1866), who was the superintendent of the Trigonometrical Survey of India. Everest himself was initially displeased by the naming, since he feared that local inhabitants might not be able to pronounce it. K2 stands for Karakoram 2, because it was the second peak to be surveyed in the Trigonometrical Survey in the Karakoram system. It was also formerly known as Mount Godwin Austen after Col. H. H. Godwin Austen, who first surveyed it. Another alternative name for the mountain is Chhogori. Annapurna is a household Goddess for Hindus, who guarantees to her worshippers that food will not fail. The name derives from a Sanskrit word meaning "one who gives nourishment". The Matterhorn's name derives from the name of the nearby town of Zermatt, the second element of which is apparently Matte "meadow", and Horn, "horn". Horn is not an unusual element in German names of mountains with jutting peaks. The mountain is called Mont Cervin in French and Monte Cervino in Italian, from the Italian adjective cervino "deer-like", which conjures up a deer's antlers. Ben Nevis is the Anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic name Beinn Nibheis, which means"Mountain by the(River)Nevis". The name of the river apparently derives from a Celtic root for "water". Himalaya is a mountain also named _ . Answer: One evening Charlie was on his way home from the railway station. When he turned round a corner, he heard footsteps behind him and he thought someone was coming near. He began to walk fast. The footsteps came fast, too. He slowed down. The footsteps also slowed down. Now he was sure that someone must be going after him. He tried to hide. Still the steps followed him. He didn't know how to save himself, so he jumped over some tall grass and hid himself in a cemetery . He threw himself down on one of tombs . The man behind came near. Charlie could hear the man jump over the grass. Thoughts of thieves and robbers filled his mind. Charlie stood up and faced the man. "What do you want? Why are you coming after me?" He asked. "I say," the stranger asked, "do you always go home like this, or are you taking some special exercise tonight? I want to go to Mr. Green's and don't know the way. The station master told me to follow you as you live next door. Excuse me for asking, but is there much farther to go before we get there?" The stranger followed Charlie because _ . Answer: Zhou Yan, a Junior 3 student, wishes he never got a mobile phone. Last week, he went to see a doctor because his arms and fingers were injured. The doctor told him that he had had "mobile phone disease ". A growing number of teenagers are getting "mobile phone disease" because more and more are using mobile phones. Zhou got his mobile phone five months ago. He sent messages to his friends with it all the time, even when going to bed. Zhou started to do badly in exams because he spent too much time playing with his mobile phone. His mom got very angry with him, but he didn't stop playing with the mobile phone until his arms got injured. Yang Ling, a doctor, says that if someone uses his mobile phone too much, like Zhou Yan, he might get "mobile phone disease". If teenagers find their arms or fingers hurt , they should go to see a doctor as soon as possible. Yang says teenagers should try to use their mobile phones less, especially at school. If someone has "mobile phone disease", it means _ . Answer: We say that a person has good manners if he or she is polite, kind and helpful to others. Everyone likes a person with good manners. But no one likes a person with bad or careless manners. Yes, but what are good manners? How do I know what to do and what not to do? Here are some examples of the things that a well-mannered person does or does not do. He never laughs at people when they are in trouble. Instead, he tries to help them. When people are waiting for a bus, he stands in line and takes his turn. He never pushes to the front of the line. On the bus, he offers his seat to an older person or a woman with a child in the arms. If he gets in someone's way, he says "excuse me". He says "please" when he makes a request , and he says "thank you" when he receives something. He doesn't stop other people when they are talking. He does not speak with his mouth full of food when he is eating. If you want to be well-mannered, _ . Answer:
Question: Every year, thousands of young Europeans set off to explore their continent by train in the summertime. It is a necessary part of growing up and often the first time many Europeans travel without their parents. Now you too can share this adventure. There are so many places you can not afford to miss while travelling in Europe: the Eiffel Tower of France, windmills of the Netherlands and the Colosseum of Rome. How do young people afford to visit everything they want? The answer lies with the Eurail Pass. This ticket allows a traveller unlimited journeys by rail in European countries which are members of the scheme. Ambitious Chinese travellers can buy the ticket in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. The most popular type of Eurail Pass amongst young people, according to Zhao Jiaji, from China Air Service Ltd, is the Eurail Selectpasses. With this you can design your own trip by selecting three, four or five neighbouring countries from a total 18 nations including Liechtenstein, Monaco, Hungary and Romania. "There is plenty of choice with this pass: in total this range offers over 400 different combinations of countries to choose from!" said Zhao. The Eurail Selectpass gives 5 to 10 travel days within a 2-month period. For more flexibility there are the Eurail Passes which allow you to take trains in 17 countries on any day you like. It is valid for a period of either 15 or 21 days, one, two or three months. If you just want to travel in one or two countries to learn more about the local culture, Eurail Pass also offers two-country passes such as Spain-Portugal, France-Switzerland and Belgium-Luxemburg. And countries like Britain, France and Germany offer a kind of Eurail Pass which allows unlimited train travel in their country. Before buying the Eurail Pass, you should know some tips to save money. The 2nd class train travel ticket is cheaper than 1st class. And youths under 26 years old or groups of 2 or more people traveling together can enjoy discounts. For more information, please check out http://www.tt-europe.com. With the Eurail Selectpasses, you can _ . A. stay in Europe for 2 months or even longer B. enjoy a wide range of combinations of countries C. take trains on any day you like D. focus your trip in one or two countries Answer: B Question: 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 TRUE according to the text? A. All signs on the roads in Quebec are in English. B. Automobile radar detectors are allowed to be used in Manitoba. C. Passengers may choose not to wear seat belts while in a car in Canada. D. The speed of cars in Canadian cities should be less than 50km/hr. Answer: D Question: A woman leaves some meat on the counter, and bacteria begins to quickly grow on the surface. This bacteria may cause A. turned food B. growing beans C. sticky toffee D. pocked oranges Answer: A Question: What kind of job do you want to do in the future ? One that earns the most money or one that gives you the highest social position? What about a job that makes you feel happy? Surprisingly, these three things do not always go together in the job world . According to a general social survey by the National Organization for Research at the University of Chicago in the US, the ten happiest jobs are not those with better pay or higher social position. They are ordinary jobs. But what is it that makes a "happy" job? Researchers found that people are happier when they feel they are doing something worthwhile. Six of the top ten happiest jobs are based heavily on helping others, such as firefighters, teachers, and physical therapists( ). Being able to express oneself is also important for people to feel satisfied . Take authors as an example. Their pay is "ridiculously low or non-existent", but "the freedom of writing down the contents of your own mind leads to happiness ,"wrote business author Steve Denning on his blog on Forbes.com. These jobs are greatly different to the top ten "hated jobs", according a website survey earlier this year. Director of information technology, sales manager, technical specialist and others that are generally considered respectable jobs are on the list. Todd May from The New York Times didn't find the results strange. He argued that " a meaningful life must, in some sense then , make people feel worthwhile". If a person doesn't participate in the causes " that are generally regarded as worthy, like feeding and clothing the poor, their life will lack meaning ,"he said . Work takes up the greater part of most people's lives . It's no wonder that the people with the most worthwhile jobs are the happiest of all. However, it's important to remember that these two surveys are broad ones and that it doesn't matter whether your dream job is on the two lists. Now it is the time to think about the future . After all, something that satisfies your mind will always bring you happiness. According to the passage , which of the following is probably a happy job? A. A marketing manager B. An engineer of IT C. A teacher of art D. A technical expert Answer: C Question: Matt and his wife lived in the country. Matt was very mean and hated spending money. One day a fair came to the nearby town. They went to the fair and looked at all the things to buy. Matt's wife wanted to buy a hat only costing $28, but was refused. Later on, a comb of $5 attracted her attention, but he would not let her spend any money. Then, in a nearby field, they saw a small airplane. "Fun flight!" the notice said, "$10 for 10 minutes." Matt had never been in an airplane and he wanted to go on a fun flight. However, he didn't want to pay for his wife either. "I've only got $10," he told the pilot. "Can my wife come with me for free?" The pilot wasn't selling many tickets, so he said, "I'll make a bargain with you. If your wife doesn't scream, she can have a free flight." Matt agreed, and got into the small airplane with his wife. The pilot took off and made his airplane do all kinds of things. At one moment it was flying upside down. When the plane landed, the pilot said, "OK, your wife didn't make a sound. She can have her ride free." "Thank you," Matt said, "it wasn't easy for her, you know, especially when she fell out." How much did the couple spend at the fair? A. $28. B. $5. C. $43. D. $10. Answer: D
Twenty years ago,Oliver's back injury destroyed her childhood dream of becoming a ballet dancer.The 49--year--old recalls the injury that left her bedridden for six months when she was 21 years old and with constant pain for decades. However,the injury did lead her to tai chi,a martial art typically practiced in slow motion .Her initial hope was to improve her health. She later married her instructor,Rey Nelson,and founded a school with him,teaching the martial art to more than 10,000 students over eight years .But they found themselves in a bottleneck So the couple moved to shanghai in 2000 They taught English in universities and happily learned tai chi under various masers.After years of practice,Oliver found her occasional backaches had disappeared. But her greatest pain came when her husband died in 2003 She thought of giving up But she carried on to honor her husband She founded the Double Dragon Alliance in 2005. The organization enables Chinese kung fu masters to teach martial arts to Westerners and organizes seminars and events for them to experience Chinese massage,acupuncture,traditional medicine calligraphy and tea ceremonies "I learned a lot from many mentors They did not only teach me physically the tai chi but also the philosophy of how to he a better person,how to keep going when you felt you were tired". Because of her contribution to cultural exchange,Oliver was given the Shang hai Magnolia Award on Sept 30,2013.The award.named after Shang hai's city flower.is given to foreigners who have made significant contributions to the city.And she has been admitted as a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2011 by Britain's Queen ElizabethII--one of the hightest rewards to a citizen. "She (the Queen) asked me some questions about China (at the ceremony),"she recalls. "We talked about the cultural exchange in building friendship.And she said:"This is very Important work. You must keep it up'.And I said OK." "You see,"jokingly she says,"now I have no other choice." From what Oliver says we can infer that_. Answer: To write a great news story, you have to make sure it is correct, relevant and fresh. For a start, all the information in a story must be correct. Not only the spelling and grammar, but also the facts. Any mistakes that show up in a story can get a newspaper into big trouble. For example, if a newspaper said that Yang Liwei was the first man to go into space, it would be wrong. He wasn't the first. The newspaper would probably lose lots of readers because of that mistake. A news story does not only have to be correct, but it must also be relevant to its readers. People are mostly interested in news that happens near to them. That's why you care more about what happens at your school than at schools in America. It's also why newspapers in Beijing don't talk much about news in Shanghai or Hong Kong. Make sure it's fresh. Finally, news must always be fresh. When you pick up your evening newspaper, you want to read about news that happened that day. You don't want to read about news from last week! So, now you know what makes a good news story. Have a look at our paper and see if it's full of good news! You can try writing a news story for our paper like a real reporter. What will happen if there is a mistake in a newspaper? Answer: What do you know about the sea? You may have seen it. Some of us have swum or bathed in it. It looks beautiful on a fine sunny day and it can be very _ when there is a strong wind. What other things do we know about it? Of course, the sea is very large. In the world there is more sea than land. The sea covers three quarters of the earth. The sea is also very deep in some places. It is not deep everywhere, some parts of it are very great. At one spot, near Japan the sea is nearly 11 kilometers deep! Just think of it, the highest mountain in the world is only about 9 kilometers high! If you have swum in the sea, you know that the water is salty. Rivers carry salt from the land into the sea. Some parts of the sea are more salty than other parts. Do you know the Dead Sea in Arabia? It is very salty. Swimmers cannot sink in it! Fish cannot live in the Dead Sea. It is a strange sea. In most parts of the sea, there are a lot of fishes and plants. Some live near the top of the sea. Others live deep down. No sunlight can reach the depth of the sea. So it is completely dark. Strange fishes live there. Some are blind. Some have their own lights. Some have great jaws. With their great jaws, they swallow fish larger than themselves. The sea can be very cold. Deep sea divers know this well. At the top of the water may be warm. Then as the divers go down, the sea becomes colder and colder. Many scientists are now making a study of animal and plant life in the sea. They hope to find new resources for mankind. Which of the following statements is NOT true? Answer: Many teenagers feel that the most important people in their life are their friends. They believe that their family don't know them as well as their friends do. In large families ,it is quite often for brothers and sisters to fight ,and then they can only go to their friends for some ideas. It's 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 much time on the phone. This communication is very important in children's growing up, because friends can be the right one to talk about something with .These things are difficult to say to the family. However, parents often try to choose their children's friends for them. Some parents even ask their children not to meet their good friends. When teenagers have something difficult to say to their parents, they usually _ . Answer: Tommy cut his finger. His body needed energy to help heal the cut. Where did the energy come from to heal the cut? Answer:
A study by St.. Louis University has found that a lovable dog named Sparky and a robotic dog, AIBO, were about equally effective at reducing the loneliness of nursing home residents. The study confirmed previous findings that dogs have a good effect on nursing home residents. Dr. Andrew Smith led the Stanford University team that built a home-assistance robot. "If humans can feel an emotional tie with robots, some day they could be not just our assistants, but also our companions," he said. To test whether residents responded better to Sparky, a trained dog, or the Sony-made robotic dog, researchers divided 38 nursing home residents into three groups at three long-term care centers in St. Louis. One group had weekly 30-minute one-on-one visits with Sparky; another group had similar visits with AIBO; a control group had no contact with either dog. The groups' respective levels of loneliness were tested by having them answer a number of questions at the beginning and near the end of the visits. After two months, both groups that had contact with the dogs were less lonely and more attached. Most of the elderly regarded Sparky, a 9-year-old dog, as an audience for their life stories, said investigator Marian Banks. "He listened attentively, wagged his tail, and allowed them to pet him," said Banks, who adopted and trained Sparky after finding him in a street behind her home seven years ago. Those who were together with AIBO took a little longer to warm to the robotic creature. Over time, however, they grew comfortable with him, and petted and talked to him. He would respond by wagging his tail, vocalizing, and blinking his lights.. "AIBO is charming once you start to interact with him," said the study's author, Dr. William Banks, "He's an attractive sort of guy. He gives a feeling of being personal, not just a robot." What would be the best title for the passage? A. Robots Serve People Better Than Thought B. No More Lonely Old Age with Emotional Robots C. Advanced Technology Used to cheer up the Elderly D. Robots and Dogs Can Equally Cheer up the Elderly Answer: D Five teens from Sarasota, Florida, are making music from garbage. The Garbage-Men band's instruments are made from recycled objects. The guitars are boxes. A horn is made from pipes. The keyboard is formed from old bottles. The band started about two years ago. Jack Berry decided to make a playable, homemade guitar. After some trial-and-error, he ended up building it from a cereal box, a yardstick and toothpicks. After Jack showed his creation to his friend Ollie Gray, Ollie had the idea to form a band using other homemade instruments as a way to promote recycling. "We want to show people there is more to recycling than throwing things away in the bin ," Jack, 16, said, "You can actually reuse materials." Ollie, 15, plays drums made from trash cans. Evan Tucker, 15 (bass guitar); Harrison Paparatto, 15 (horns and violin); and Austin Siegel, 15, (keyboard), round out the band. The Garbage-Men plays at local events around Sarasota, including festivals, farmer's markets and community fundraisers. Typically, the teens will set up on the street and perform popular songs from the 1960s, including classic Beatles tunes and people's favorite "Wipe Out," by The Surfaris. In between sets, they talk about recycling the offer tips for how to help the environment. while they perform, Jack's little brother Trent, 11, gives out flyers about recycling and helps sell the band's CD and other merchandise. The band donates the money from sales to charity. They have raised more than $2,500 for Heifer International. The organization gives farm animals, seeds and agricultural training to people in poor countries to help end poverty and hunger. The band--all tenth graders--tries to play a gig for America's Got Talent. The teens hope to eventually take their show on the road by touring in other states. "Music is a really good way to get a good message across to people because it's really accessible," Jack says. Their instruments may be garbage, but their message isn't. What do you think the players have in common? A. They are of the same age. B. They are in the same grade. C. They each have made an instrument. D. They are all members of Heifer International. Answer: B What is the main function of the circulatory system? A. secrete enzymes B. digest proteins C. produce hormones D. transport materials Answer: D A car drives right past the gas station because it's motor is A. gas B. diesel C. coal D. electric Answer: D Oscar-winning actress Joan Fontaine, who rose to fame during Hollywood's golden age as the star of several Alfred Hitch.cock classics, died from natural causes at her home in Carmel, northern California on December 16, 2013 aged 96, US media reports said. Born in Japan to British parents, Fontaine moved in 1919 to California, where she and her elder sister -screen idol Olivia de Havilland-were to shape successful movie careers.Fontaine and de Havilland remain the only sisters to have won lead actress honours at the Academy Awards.Yet the two sisters also had an uneasy relationship, with Fontaine recording a bitter competition in her own account "No Bed of Roses ". Fontaine began her acting career in her late teens with Largely less important roles on the stage and later in mostly B-movies in the 1930s. It was not before famous British film director Hitchcock spotted her a decade later that her career took off. Greatly surprised by her expressive looks, the suspense master cast Fontaine in his first US film, a 1940 adaptation of the Daphne du Maurier novel "Rebecca". She received an Academy Award nomination for her performance as a troubled wife. A year later, Fontaine finally won the long-sought golden figure, for her role as leading lady in "Suspicion" opposite Cary Grant, becoming the first and only actress to earn the title for a Hitchock film. Although her sister, Olivia de Havilland, preceded her in gaining Hollywood fame, Fontaine was the first of the sisters to win an Oscar, beating Olivia's nomination as best actress in Mitchell Leisen's "Hold Back the Dawn". The dislike ,between the sisters was felt at the Oscars ceremony."I froze. I stared across the table, where Olivia was sitting.'Get up there!' she whispered commandingly," Fontaine said."All the dislike we'd felt toward each other as children...all came rushing back in quickly changing pictures...I felt Olivia would spring across the table and seize me by the hair." Olivia did not win her first Oscar until 1946, for her role as the lover of a World War I pilot in Leisen's " To Each His Own". Fontaine later made it known that her. sister had slighted her as she attempted to offer congratulations."She took one look at me, ignored my hand, seized her Oscar and wheeled away," she said. The sisters were also reportedly competitors in love. Howard Hughes, a strange businessman who dated the elder de Havilland for a time, offered marriage to Fontaine several times."I married first, won the Oscar before Olivia did, and if I die first, she'll undoubtedly be extremely angry because I beat her to it!" Fontaine once joked. As her film career fruited in the 1950s, Fontaine turned to television and dinner theatre, and also appeared in several Broadway productions, including the Lion in Winter". Anything but the ordinary lady, Fontaine was also a licensed pilot, a champion balloonist, an accomplished golfer, a licensed .decoration designer and a first-class cook. The dislike between Fontaine and Olivia began when they _ . A. competed for an Oscar B. competed for a husband C. were small children D. were successful actresses Answer: C
The market is a concept. If you are growing tomatoes in your backyard for sale you are producing for the market. You might sell some to your neighbor and some to the local manager of the supermarket. But in either case, you are producing for the market. Your efforts are being directed by the market. If people stop buying tomatoes, you will stop producing them. If you take care of a sick person to earn money, you are producing for the market. If your father is a steel worker or a truck driver or a doctor or a grocer, he is producing goods or service for the market. When you spend your income, you are buying things from the market. You may spend money in stores, supermarkets, gas stations and restaurants. Still you are buying from the market. When the local grocer hires you to drive the delivery truck, he is buying your labor in the labor market. The market may be something abstract . But for each person or business that is making and selling something, it is very _ . If nobody buys your tomatoes, it won't be long before you get the message. The market is telling you something. It is telling you that you are using energies and resources in doing something the market doesn't want you to do. You are buying from the market when you _ . Answer: dine at restaurant Health, Wellness and the Politics of Food 9:00--9:45 a.m. Blue Tent Panelists :Jami Bernard, David Kamp, Marion Nestle and Peter Singer. Hosted by Denise Grady, science writer for the New York Times. How does what we eat not only affect our bodies, but also the world?The food and nutrition experts debate the role that the diet plays in both personal and global health, and present a look at food politics. Sports Writing:For the Love of the Game 9:50--10:35 a.m. Blue Tent Panelists:Christine Brennan, Ira Rosen, Joe Wallace and Joe Drape. Hosted by William C. Rhoden, sports writer for the New York Times. Whether catching that key moment of victory or defeat, or covering breaking news, sports writers are anything but audience. Listen as some professionals discuss the special experience in reporting of sports news. The Art of the Review 11:15--12:00 a.m. Green Tent Panelists: John Freeman, Barry Gewen, David Orr, Celia McGee and Jennifer Schuessler. Hosted by Sam Tanenhaus, editor for the New York Times Book Review. How much of an effect does the book review have on book sales?Join this group of critics as they discuss the reality of book review and bestseller lists, and how they choose books for review. New York Writers, New York Stories 3:00--3:45 p.m. Green Tent Panelists: Cindy Adams, Richard Cohen, RicKlass and Lauren Redness. Hosted by Clyde Haberman, columnist for the City Section of the New York Times. Join this inspiring group of New Yorkcentric writers as they talk about why New York is a gold mine of ideas for their work. If you are free in the afternoon, you can attend _ . Answer: New York Writers, New York Stories Almost a decade ago, the federal government dropped $10 million for an Earth-monitoring satellite that never made it into space. Today it sits in a closet in Maryland. Cost to taxpayers for storing it: $1 million a year. And _ . Who knows what's in the rest of them? Because we think the government should be held to at least the same standards as a publicly traded company, and because as taxpayers, we're America's shareholders, we performed an audit of sorts of the federal books. We're not economists, but we do have common sense. We tried to get help from Congressional staffers from both parties, as well as various watchdog groups and agencies. In the end, we found that the federal government wastes nearly $1 trillion every year. That's roughly equal to the amount collected annually by the Internal Revenue Service in personal income taxes. Put another way, it's also equal to about one-third of the country's $2.9 trillion total annual budget. And reclaiming that lost trillion could help wipe out the country's annual budget deficit , improve education, and provide health insurance for those who don't have it. So how do you define "waste"? David Walker of the Government Accountability Office (GAO), a federal watchdog agency, calls it "the government's failure to give taxpayers the most for their money." For our part, we used the kind of household test you would use on a piece of meat sitting in your refrigerator: If it smells rotten, it's waste. Our government regularly pays for products and services it never gets, wildly overpays companies to do things it could do more cheaply itself, loses money outright due to lax accounting and oversight, and spends money randomly on unnecessary programs. How exactly does the federal government waste your hard-earned tax dollars? We've identified what we consider ten of the worst ways. The best title for the passage would be _ . Answer: The Government Is Wasting Our Tax Dollars! I came across quite a few language problems while on holiday with my family last summer. The most embarrassing was when my Mom apologized to the people we were staying with because her "pants were dirty". They looked at her in amazement, not knowing how to react. You see, Mom had fallen over and gotten mud on her jeans. But in Britain, "pants" means underpants, not trousers as it does back home. Katie -- From America When I asked for the "restroom" in a big department store, people kept directing me to a room with seats where I could sit and "rest". It took me years to get through to someone that I only wanted the toilet! Tom -- From America Last summer we went on a two-week family touring holiday, so Dad hired a car over the Internet. This was an old vehicle and there turned out to be lots of things wrong with it. When he phoned the hire company and tried to explain that the lock on the boot was broken, they thought he was talking about footwear! He had no idea their word for "boot" was "trunk". In the end we went to a _ and just solved the problem. Mary -- From Britain Last summer, I went to stay with a friend on the west coast. Her flat was on the first floor of a high-rise building so I got the lift up. Then I wandered round for ages looking for her flat but couldn't find it. Fed up and tired, I finally had to go out to find a phone box. She explained that her flat was on the first floor, which for me meant the ground floor. David -- From Britain When Tom asked for the "restroom", the people around him thought _ . Answer: he wanted to have a rest My father' s response to the bank building at 43rd Street and Fifth Avenue in New York city was immediate and definite: "You won' t catch me putting my money in there!" he declared, "Not in that glass box. " Of course, my father is a gentleman of the old school, a member of the generation to whom a good deal of modern architecture is upsetting, but I believe that his negative response was not so much to the architecture as to a violation of his concept of the nature of money. In his generation money was thought of as a real commodity that could be carried, or stolen. Therefore, to attract the custom of a sensible man, a bank had to have heavy walls, barred windows, and bronze doors, to make sure of the fact, however, untrue, that money would be safe inside. If a building' s design made it appear strong, the institution was necessarily reliable, and the meaning of the heavy wall as an architecture symbol showed the general attitude toward money. But the attitude toward money has, of course, changed. Except pocket money, cash of any kind is now rarely used; money as a tangible commodity has largely been replaced by credit. The banker no longer offers us a safe: he offers us a service in which the most valuable factor is the creativity for the invention of large numbers. It is in no way surprising, in view of this change in attitude, that we are witnessing the disappearance of the heavy-walled bank. Just as the older bank emphasized its strength, this bank by its architecture is proud of imaginative powers. According to this passage, a modern banker should be _ . Answer: imaginative and creative
A shop worker nicknamed Little Fatty told of his shock at becoming a Susan Boyle-like Internet star after a perfect Whitney Houston performance on a TV talent show. Lin Yuqun, 24, won over the judges and the audience of the Million Star show with perfect performances of Whitney Houston's I will Always Love You , and has got 480,000 hits on video sharing website You Tube. "I am shocked that I can draw so much attention. I'm really moved and happy that people like my performance of Whitney's song," said Lin, who works part-time at a musical instrument shop. "I've loved singing since I was a little boy and I feel like I am living my dream now. I hope I can pursue a career in singing," he told reporters. Reporters called him "China's Susan Boyle", describing him as "plain-looking and short", but Lin, who has the nickname "Little Fatty", told reporters the comparison made him proud. "I am honoured to be compared to Susan Boyle. I am inspired and encouraged by her because she proved that even a person who's seen as an underdog and who has ordinary looks can shine on the stage," Lin said. Since his performance was posted on Youtube late last week, he has been the subject of heated conversation in on-line chat rooms on American Yahoo! and other foreign websites. " _ " a viewer wrote on YouTube. Scottish single Susan Boyle got recognized around the world after she was discovered last year on the British's Got Talent television show with her performance of I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables, which was the best-selling debut in British chart history and also topped the US charts. Why does Lin Yuqun speak highly of Susan Boyle? A Because she is as ordinary as him. B Because she is a famous singer now. C Because he gets confidence from her. D Because she brings good luck to him Answer: C. Because he gets confidence from her. Jack is an 11-year-old boy. One day he was playing with a ball. The ball went into the street, and Jack ran for the ball. A car hit him. Jack's parents took him to the hospital. The doctors told them, "Jack's head is hurt. Maybe he will wake up very soon. Maybe he will never wake up." Every day Jack's parents went to see him and talked to him. But Jack never talked to them. He just slept. One day Jack's father said, "Wake up, Jack. Let's go home and play with Cody." Cody is Jack's dog. When Jack's father said "Cody", Jack moved his arm. Then Jack's parents had an idea. They told the nurse, "We want to bring Jack's dog to the hospital. Is it OK?" "A dog in the hospital?" the nurse said. "That's very unusual. But. yes, it's OK." The next day, Jack's parents brought Cody to the hospital. When they put the dog on Jack's bed, Jack opened his eyes. Jack's parents brought Cody to the hospital every day. Cody jumped on Jack's bed and touched Jack's arm. Jack said his first words, "Bad dog!" After seven weeks Jack was well. He left the hospital and went home with Cody. What was Jack's problem? A He couldn't get to sleep. B He couldn't sleep well. C He couldn't wake up. D He couldn't walk Answer: C. He couldn't wake up. 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. Which of the following is NOT one of the complaints of the 20-somethings? A They can't have children for at least a decade for they can't afford to buy a house. B They have only a one-bedroom apartment to live in. C They can't buy a house until 40 and are burdened by student loans. D in literature. Answer: B. They have only a one-bedroom apartment to live in. The Americans have been voted the world's "funniest nationality" ---the one "best at making people laugh" ---in a global poll , which also names the Germans the "least funny" nationality and the British "not as funny as they think". 30,000 people across 15 countries were asked to name both the "funniest" and "least funny" nationality in a poll conducted by Badoo.com, the world's largest social network for meeting new people, with 119 million users worldwide. The Americans were voted the funniest nationality, ahead of the Spanish --- the funniest Europeans --- in second, Italians in third and British in seventh. The voting for the "least funny" nationality confirmed the view of America's Mark Twain that "a German joke is no laughing matter". The Germans won, ahead of the Russians and Turks. The stereotype of German humourlessness is believed to _ from their reputation for efficiency, punctuality and rationality . Examples of German jokes include: "Yesterday, I met my friend Horst at the hospital. He'd swallowed a sponge. He says it doesn't hurt but he's always thirsty." "When we meet someone new, one of the first things we notice is whether they make us laugh", says Lloyd Price, Badoo's Marketing Director. "America is a worthy poll winner", says Price. "It's the world's only comedy superpower." The British pride themselves on their humour but learn from the poll that they're not as funny as they think. They placed just seventh of 15 --- behind the Brazilians, French and Mexicans. What is the author's purpose of telling us a German joke? A The author wants to show that Germans are good at telling jokes. B The author wants to confirm what Mark Twain said. C The author wants to prove that Germans are not funny at all. D The author just wants to say that swallowing a sponge is no harm. Answer: C. The author wants to prove that Germans are not funny at all. My father had returned from his business visit to prefix = st1 /Londonwhen I came in, rather late for supper. I could tell at once that he and my mother had been discussing something. In that half-playful, half-serious way I knew so well, he said,"How would you like to go to Eton?" "You bet. " I cried quickly catching the joke. Everyone knew it was the most expensive, the most famous of schools. You should be entered at birth, if not before. I understood my father. He disliked any form of showing off. He always knew his proper station in life, which was in the middle of the middle class; our house was medium-sized; he had avoided joining Royal Liverpool Golf Club and went to a smaller one instead; though once he had got a second-hand Rolls-Royce at a remarkably low price, he felt embarrassed driving it, and quickly changed it for an Austin 1100. This could only be his delightful way of telling me that the whole boarding school idea was to be dropped. Alas! I should also have remembered that he had a liking for being different from everyone else, if it did not conflict with his fear of drawing attention to himself. It seemed that he had happened to be talking to Graham Brown of the London office, a very nice fellow, and Graham had a friend who had just entered his boy at the school, and while he was in that part of the world , my father thought he might just as well phone them. I remember my eyes stinging and my hands shaking with the puzzlement of my feelings. There was excitement, at the heart of great sadness. "Oh, he doesn't want to go away. " said my mother. "You shouldn't go on like this. " "It's up to him. " said my father. "He can make up his own mind." The writer's father enjoyed being different as long as _ . A it drew attention to him B it didn't get him into an argument C it was understood as a joke D there was no danger of his showing off Answer: D. there was no danger of his showing off
A phase change happens Answer: Headington Oxford Summer School welcomes all students throughout the world and provides a fantastic summer school experience. It is close enough to visit London, which is a beautiful city in its own right and also has a number of attractions nearby. London: A trip to the UK would not be complete without a visit to the capital city of London. During the 'London Day' all students will have a chance to see famous tourist attractions such as Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Trafalgar Square. The students will also enjoy a boat trip on River Thames and a ride to the top of the Shard, an 87-storey building in London for a breathtaking view of the city. There will also be dinner in a London restaurant before heading back to the school. Thorpe Park: With over thirty extreme rides and attractions, and one of the world's most terrifying roller coasters, enjoy an exciting day out at one of the nation's most popular theme park Bath: Spend the day exploring this beautiful historic city with impressive architecture, including a visit to the famous Roman baths. Students also have the opportunity of a fantastic shopping experience in this famous market towns! Thinktank Science Museum & Birmingham: Spend the morning in the interactive state of the art science centre followed by an afternoon exploring Birmingham with time for shopping in the Bullring Shopping Centre. Warwick & Stratford: Visit one of medieval England's most beautiful castles full of history, tales and adventure. Afterwards, enjoy exploring the picturesque streets of Stratford Upon Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Brighton: This beautiful seaside town provides a fun-filled day out for all students. The day includes a visit to the Royal Pavilion and its museum as well as Brighton Pier and beach. There is also time for shopping in the famous Brighton Lanes before heading back to school. What can you do in both Bath and Thinktank Science Museum & Birmingham? Answer: Before the elevator was invented in the late 1800s,buildings were much smaller and lower,as people did not want to walk up and down stairs all day.With the invention of the elevator came high-rise buildings and _ . Some people find elevators make them a little uncomfortable because there are many people all standing close in a small room.It is best just to relax and enjoy the ride. When the elevator doors open,stand aside and let everyone out before you try to get in.Even if you are in a hurry,it's impolite to push someone so that you can get into an elevator. Don't stare at people or stand too close.Try to keep your eyes looking ahead or you could make others feel nervous or uncomfortable. If you have to move past people to get out of the elevator,say"Excuse me,please"or"I'm sorry"rather than just push them out of the way.Others will think you're welcome if you show some politeness. If you are standing close to the buttons ,ask others what floors they are going to and press the buttons for them.This is considered to be polite. In case of emergency ,follow the instructions written inside the elevator and try to keep others calm. According to the passage,if you stare at someone in an elevator,he or she may feel _ . Answer: If you have a fever, headache and runny nose, you might go to Google and type in the words "flu symptoms" to see whether you've come down with the disease. Google knows that you might do something like that, and it also knows which state you're in if you are in the United States. Now, it's putting that information together in a tool that could find out flu outbreaks faster than traditional systems currently in use, according to CNN report. It is called Google Flu Trends. "What's exciting about Flu Trends is that it lets anybody---doctors, health officials, moms with sick children---learn about the current flu activity level in their own state based on the data that's coming in this week," said Jeremy Ginsberg, the lead engineer who developed the tool. The tool operates on the idea that there's likely to be a flu outbreak in states where flu-related search terms are currently popular. To test the accuracy of the data, Google compared its figures against statistics filed over the past five years by the US Centers for Disease Control. It has a network of 1,500 doctors across the US who provide weekly reports on the number of patients complaining of flu-like symptoms. "We found we could highly accurately estimate what the flu activity levels would be in those years," Ginsberg said. They also found that the Google statistics, which can be gathered daily, were up to two weeks ahead of the government's data. The government's data took time to collect because it came from so many doctors. The ability to speed up the response of health services could prove invaluable when a serious outbreak happens. The results of Google's comparisons with official health statistics will be published in the science journal Nature. Google hopes to extend the service to other countries, and may in time include other illnesses. At present, the flu data is given for each of the 50 American states. The company says there are no privacy issues involved as the trends are gathered through combining millions of anonymous searches. The most important reason for Google Flu Trends' accurate and reliable estimates is that _ . Answer: Apollo 11, carrying Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin and Michael Collins, was launched on 16 July, 1969. Five days later they stepped down onto the moon. Neil Armstrong On the way there: Of all the wonderful views we had, the most impressive to me was on the way to the Moon when we flew through its shadow. We were still thousands of miles away, but close enough so that the Moon almost filled our window. The moon appeared blue-grey. It seemed almost as if it were showing us its roundness, its similarity in shape to our Earth, in a sort of welcome. I was sure it would be a hospitable host. It had been waiting for its first visitors for a long time. After touch down: The sky is black, you know. It's a very dark sky, but it still seemed more like daylight than darkness as we looked out the window. It's a very strange thing but the surface looked very warm and inviting. It seemed to be tan . It's hard to explain that, because later when I held the material in my hand, it wasn't tan at all. It was black, grey and so on. Edwin Aldrin On the Moon: The blue color of my boots has completely disappeared now into this soil--still don't know what color to describe this other than grayish cocoa. Back on board: The moon was a very natural and pleasant environment in which to work. On the Moon, in one-sixth gravity, you have a strong feeling of being somewhere. As we did our experiments, some objects we threw away would go in a slow, lazy manner. Edward Aldrin described the soil as _ . Answer:
All schools have their own rules. The rules change from one school to another. Some schools are much stricter than others. There are also some rules that are strange or funny to us. Here are some funny school rules: Strict Japanese rules Most schools ask students to wear uniforms, such as sports suits or skirts. But Japanese schools even have rules about the colour of underwear ! They also require that girls' socks should be folded in a certain way and boys' heads should be shaved . Other Japanese schools tell students that they can't go to the movies after sunset. Different shoes in the USA At some American schools, students have to change their shoes when they go into the schools every day. This makes sure students won't fall over on the floors and keeps the schools clean. No strange hair in the UK Strange hairstyles are not allowed in some British schools. But they might allow students to wear certain hairstyles during the World Cup years. There were two students who had special hairstyles during the 2002 World Cup. After the World Cup, their teachers asked them to go to the barber's at once. Students in Japanese schools should wear _ . uniforms How much pocket money do you get from your parents every month--200 yuan? Some may need more to buy birthday presents, ice cream or cartoon books.But for Li Hong,30 yuan each month is enough. The only thing she buys is lunch--1.5yuan each day."My favorite is noodles and rice." Said Li."But meat is too expensive for me."Li,14,is a student of Grade Eight. Her parents are migrant workers .They first came to Chongqing from a village in Henan two years ago.Her father now works as a cleaner and gets 500 yuan every month. Her mother has no job.Every day,Li gets up at 5:30 am and walks 50 minutes to get to school. She studies hard ,and even reads books during breaks! Her favorite subject is computer."I'm learning typing now. I hope to be the fastest in my class,"said Li. Like many teens, Li has lots of homework--- usually at last one hour every day. But that is not all he work. During the week she helps her mum cook. On weekends, she helps wash clothes. "I could cook when I was eight. Father said sometimes I cooked better than mum." Li said she wanted to be a doctor when she grew up. "I wacth TV and find out There are many people with AIDS in Henan. Some are kids.I really want to help them."Said Li. But she is afraid of having to leave school.Li didn't go to school at the age of 12 one year because her family had no money to send her.This year, the school didn't ask her to pay the 600 yuan fees because her family is too poor."I hope I will always be in school,"said Li."Dad works hard to get money.I have promised him I will study hard to be a good student and a good doctor in the future." Which of the following is WRONG? Li Hong has much pocket money. Most kinds of rose plants come from Asia. But roses are also native to other areas including northwest Africa, Europe and the United States. In 1986, Congress chose the rose as America's national flower. Technically, Congress and President Ronald Reagan declared it the "national floral emblem." Whatever the name, the decision did not smell sweet to supporters of others popular flowers. Some people say roses are difficult to grow. But you have a good chance of success if you start with a few suggestions from experts. You should plant your roses where they can get sunshine for about six hours on bright days. You can buy roses form a garden center or by mail order. You can buy potted roses, also known as container roses, or bare-root plants. Each kind has its fans. Some gardeners say potted roses are easier to plant. They say the roots develop better. But Jeffrey Dinslage, an expert, pint out that bare-root roses come without soil. So they weigh less to transport. Another expert advises getting bare-foot roses as close to planting time as you can. If they arrive before you are ready to plant them, make sure the packing material is moist. Keep the plants in a cool, dark place. The resting plants have no leaves but still need water. When growing roses, the soil should feel _ deep down. Watering should be done in the morning. But do not water too much. People often ask Jeffrey Dinslage about unhealthy discoloration on rose leaves. He says the spots are usually caused by too much water. After heavy rains or too much watering, he advises pulling away mulch, the substance used to protect the roots, temporarily from around the roots. This will help dry the soil. Why does Jeffrey Dinslage suggest planting bare-root roses? They are cheap to transport In the near future, we may be using our eyes to operate our smartphones and tablets, even when it comes to playing popular games like Fruit Ninja. The GazeGroup has been developing eye-controlled computer technology for nearly 20 years. But those devices have been mainly designed to aid those with disabilities, and are very expensive. "After a while, we figured out that probably the best way is to go for a mass-market approach," says Gaze's Sune Alstrup Johansen, "where everybody would have this available." Johansen and some of his colleagues have formed a new company, The Eye Tribe, which is hoping to develop the technology on a mass commercial level. The technology works by sending an infrared light from the computing device toward the user's face. After measuring the user's eye movements, the technology is then able to easily know where a person's eyes are moving, allowing the eyes to control a cursor . A software can determine the location of the eyes and tell where the user is looking on the screen. It even knows which image he is looking at. There has been a gradual change toward hands-free technology in recent years, particularly in the gaming world. Following Nintendo's popular Wii system, Xbox released the Kinect device, which lets users control their Xbox and play certain games using only their hands, legs and voices. Since most smartphones and other mobile devices can't come standard with an infrared device, Johansen said a replaceable filter would be an inexpensive, convenient choice for most consumers. And even as companies like The Eye Tribe work to create a commercially practical product for the average user, making the eye-controlled technology more accessible and less expensive will have similar benefits for disabled users. "Then I can go to any computer, and then I can control it and I can use it, instead of just bringing my own," said Stig Langvad, who heads up Denmark's umbrella organization for people with disabilities. "So I'll be a part of society on an equal foot, instead of being a special solution." Which the following statements about The Eye Tribe is true? It is formed to develop commercially practical eye-controlled technology. The seventh-inning stretch is one baseball tradition that helps make the game one of America's favorite pastimes. In the middle of the seventh inning fans ritualistically stand and stretch before the home team comes to bat. No one really knows the origin of the custom, but there are theories on how it started. Baseball historian Dan Daniel provided this explanation: "It probably began as an expression of fatigue. That would explain why the stretch comes late in the game instead of at the halfway point." A more popular story involves President William Howard Taft and the birth of two baseball traditions. According to the account, Taft attended the first game of the 1910 baseball season. On the spur of the moment, plate umpire Billy Evans gave Taft the ball. He asked him to throw it over the plate. Taft did so, and the custom of having the president launch the baseball season with the first pitch was born. The story continues that later that same day, President Taft, who weighed well over 300 pounds, became uncomfortable in his small chair. In the middle of the seventh inning, he stood up to stretch his legs. The crowd thought that the president was leaving, so they stood up out of respect. A few moments later, Taft sat down again. The fans followed, and the seventh-inning stretch was born. What a day for traditions! No matter how the tradition began, fans have since added to the fun. Now, as they stand to stretch during the seventh inning, they can sing along to Jack Norworth's 1927 version of the song "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" after the visiting team has batted. How did the custom of following the "seventh-inning stretch" begin? No one knows for sure where or when the custom began.
If you are looking for a day trip with the family, here's a list of festivals and fairs happening within a reasonable drive from Charlotte. Hopscotch Music Festival Where: Downtown Raleigh(various places) When: Today---Saturday Highlights: This music festival features performances by more than 175 national and international bands playing in 15 different places, all within walking distance. Music _ will include rock, hip-hop, heavy metal, dance, classical, folk and everything in between. Admission: $10--$30 Details: www.hopscotchmusicfest.com Flatwoods festival Where: 451 Peach Tree Toad, Bennett When: 10 am. Saturday--5 pm Sunday Highlights: This annual festival, which is in its 15thyear, features family fun, food and horse rides. There will also be musical entertainment and a grand parade with cars, trucks, tractors, horse-drawn vehicles, floats, farm equipment and more. Admission: On Saturday, free; on Sunday, $5 for ages 13 and under. Details: 919-548-5192; www.visitpittsboro.com NC Mountain State Fair Where: 1301 Fanning Bridge Road, Fletcher When: Various times, today---Sept.16 Highlights: In celebration of the people, agriculture, art and traditions that make our region great, the fair offers performances and even a man who carves artwork with a saw. Admission:$7; $3 for kids 6---12 and seniors Details: 828-687-1414; www.mountainfair.org Where can visitors see a special kind of artwork? A Charlotte. B Downtown Raleigh. C Bennett. D Fletcher. Answer: D Andy rode slowly on his way to school, day-dreaming about the fishing trip that his father had promised him. He was so busy dreaming about all the fish he would catch that he was unaware of everything else around him. He rode along until a strange sound drew him to the present. He came to a stop and looked curiously up to the sky. What he saw shocked and terrified him. A huge swarm of bees filled the sky like a black cloud and the buzzing mass seemed to be heading angrily towards him. With no time to waste, Andy sped off in the opposite direction, riding furiously--but without knowing how to escape the swarm. As the bees came closer, his panic increased. Andy knew that he was sensitive to bee stings . The last sting had landed him in hospital--and that was only one bee sting! Suddenly, his father's words came to him. "When you are in a tight situation, don't panic. Use your brain and think your way out of it." On a nearby hill, he could see smoke waving slowly skywards from the chimney of the Nelson family home. "Bees don't like smoke," he thought. "They couldn't get into the house." But Andy knew he could not reach the house in time. He estimated that the bees would catch up with him soon. Suddenly, out of the corner of his eyes, he spotted a small dam used by Mr. Nelson. Off his bike and into the cool water he dived, disappearing below the surface and away from the savage insects. After holding his breath for as long as he could, Andy came up for air and noticed the bees had gone. Dragging himself out of the dam, he struggled up the hilly slope and rang the doorbell. Mrs. Nelson took him inside and rang his mother. Which of the following can best describe Andy's escape from the bees? A No pains, no gains. B Once bitten, twice shy. C Where there is a will, there is a way. D In time of danger, one's mind works fast. Answer: D We all have our ways of marking time. As a photographer,my life is measured from one story to the next. My oldest son was born in the middle of a long story about the Endangered Species Act. My daughter came along with a pack of gray wolves. Twenty stories later,though,it's the story in Alaska that I'll remember best. It was the story about the loss of wilderness--and the story during which my wife Kathy got cancer. That's the one that made time stand still. I stopped taking pictures on the day when she found that tumor .Cruelly,it was Thanksgiving. By Christmas,she had become very weak. Some days she was so sick she couldn't watch TV. Early examination saves time. But ours was not early. By the time you can feel it yourself,it's often bigger than the doctor want it to be. Cancer is a thief. It steals time. Our days are already short with worry. Then comes this terrible disease,unfair as storm at harvest time. But cancer also has the power to change us,for good. We learn to simplify,enjoying what we have instead of feeling sorry for what we don't. Cancer even made me a better father. My work had made me a stranger to my three kids. But now I pay attention to what really matters. This is not a race. This is a new way of life and new way of seeing,all from the cancer. In the end each of us has so little time. We have less of it than we can possibly imagine. And even though it turns out that Kathy's cancer has not spread,and her prognosis is good,we try to make it all count now,enjoying every part of every day. I've picked up my camera again. I watch the sky,searching for beautiful light. When winter storms come,Kathy and I gather our children and take the time to catch snowflakes on our tongues. After all,this is good. This is what we're living for. What is the biggest change the cancer has brought to the author? A He treasured every bit of time with his family. B He has become a stranger to his children. C He takes his work more seriously. D He focuses more on medical care. Answer: A In the early morning, I headed for the back door and found 10 inches of snow blanketing our home. Oh, no, Bryan would have to clear the roof again, I thought. But Rio rolled onto his back, playing in the white stuff and kicking his back legs, delighted. His days in an animal shelter in New Mexico were long forgotten---he had wholeheartedly enjoyed life as a Colorado dog. Rio needed a walk. I had planned to attend an emergent webinar, but my husband was busy clearing. Rio pushed my leg with his snout , wondering why we were still inside. We were overdue for our morning hike. I pulled on my boots reluctantly. I didn't have time for this. Rio and I walked a block through our neighborhood to the beginning of a road. Rio leaped happily into the snow, which was up to his neck. But I walked slowly with heavy steps, worrying about my to-do list, and I didn't notice that the world around me until Rio started barking. A squirrel chattered at him from a high branch of a pine tree. We hadn't seen a squirrel in at least a week because of all the storms, so this was a treat for us. Once again, my animal teacher was reminding me to enjoy the present moment, and I was grateful. I took a deep breath ans looked around. Suddenly, there was an explosion of snow. A nearby tree had released its heavy burden, snapping back upright. Silver snowflakes dusted the air around me as a group of birds fled the area, talking to one another as they flew overhead. I watched and listened in wonder for what seemed like a full minute. There would be 1,440 minutes in this day, but this was the one I would remember most. Then I looked back to the earth and there was my sweet boy, waiting patiently for a treat. He knew I would want to celebrate this moment we had just shared. "I love you, Rio!" I said as I gave him a cookie. He had trained me well. When we walked home, I smiled broadly, spirit washed clean, ready for whatever the day might bring. Which can be the best title for the text? A How I trained my dog B A busy day with Rio C Dogs in animal shelters D Lifted by walk in fallen snow Answer: D The clock struck eleven at night. The whole house was quiet. Everyone was in bed except me. Under the strong light, I looked sadly at a huge pile of those trouble things --books. I was going to have my exam the next day. "When can I go to bed?" I asked myself. I didn't answer. And I could not. The clock struck twelve. "Oh, dear! Ten more books to read before I go to bed!" We students are the most wretched ones in the world. Dad does not agree with me on this. He did not have to work so hard when he was a boy. The clock struck one. I was quite hopeless now. I forgot all I did learn. I was too tired to go on. I did the only thing I could. I prayed , "My god, please let me pass the exam tomorrow. I will work hard next time, Amen." My eyes were so heavy that I could hardly open them. A few minutes later, with my head on the books, I fell asleep. The best title for the passage is _ . A The Night Before The Exam B Working Far Into Night C A Slow Student D Going Over Lessons Answer: A
Safe practices in the laboratory include all of these except performing each step quickly. There was once a guy who suffered from cancer, a cancer that can't be cured. One day he was sick of staying home and wanted to go out. He passed a CD store and looked through the front door for a second. He saw a beautiful girl about his age and he knew it was love at first sight. He opened the door and walked in, not looking at anything else but her. He walked closer and closer until he was finally at the front desk where she sat. She looked up and asked, "Can I help you?" She smiled and he thought it was the most beautiful smile he had ever seen before. He said, "UH...Yeah...Umm... I would like to buy a CD." He picked one out and gave her money for it. "Would you like me to pack it for you?" she asked, smiling her cute smile again. He nodded and she went to the back. She came back with the packed CD and gave it to him. From then on, he went to that store every day and bought a CD. He took the CD home and put it in his closet. He was still too shy to ask her out. His mother found out about this and encouraged him. So the next day, he took all his courage and left his phone number on the desk before he ran out. Several weeks later the phone rang, and the mother picked it up. It was the girl!!! The mother started to cry and said, "You don't know? He passed away yesterday..." Later that day, the mother went into the boy's room and opened the closet. Inside were piles and piles of unopened CDs. She picked one up and opened it. Out fell a piece of paper, saying: "Do you want to go out with me? Love, Jocelyn." The mother was deeply moved and opened another CD... Again, there was a piece of paper with the same words. Which of the following can be used to describe the girl? Cute and brave. Here is some news of the future. March 20, 2035 There was a lot of news around the life extension drugs that hit the market a decade ago. They didn't promise that you would like forever, but they gave you a chance to extend your life an extra five to ten years. Even though the life expectancy rate at birth has increased greatly, the life expectancy for seniors hasn't improved that much. Basically, you have a greater chance to become a senior, but you will not have a much longer lifespan, and this is where the anti-aging drugs intend to kick in. So, do the anti-aging drugs work? Well,it is too early to tell. But the sales so far are very good. April 19, 2035 Of the total US population of 378 million, people over 65 years of age now make up 20% for the first time. The senior ratio of only 4.1% by year 1900, and 12.4% 30 years ago. The number of people above 65 compared to those of what is considered working ages, between 15 and 64, is currently 33.7%. This is up from 18.5% since year 2005, which means that for every retired person there are now two workers, compared to four workers 30 years ago. The number of people above the age of 80 has grown to 23.8 million, making them 6.3% of the total population compared to 3.6% in 2005. April 12, 2040 Although introduced in the market only five years ago, 10% of all hydrogen fuel now sold in the US is of the environmentally friendly Re-Hydro label, produced through eletrolysis based on a source of 100% renewable energy. Several producers have turned to producing Re-Hydro, mainly because of lower tax, which also keeps the price of Re-Hydro on the same level as regular hydrogen. Most analysts believe that Re-Hydro will be the dominating fuel in the future. According to News 1 we know that the life extension drugs _ . were first sold in the year 2025. Joey is loyal, encouraging and self-sacrificing, always putting others' interests ahead of his own. He is a hard worker, who also loves to run and play. In short, he's an ideal friend and a heroic character. Here is the thing: Joey is a horse, who appears as the main character in Steven Spielberg's new film War Horse. It is based on Michael Morpurgo's 1982 novel, which also caused the same-titled Tony Awards winning play. The film follows the saga of Joey, a racehorse that's trained for farm work under the loving care of Albert (Jeremy Irvine )after Albert's drunk father Ted(Peter Mullan ) overpays for the animal at auction . Then the World War I tears Albert and Joey apart. Joey is sold into the war effort for the British and starts his episodic adventures in Europe. Splendidly staged, the battle plots in the film are visually and impressive. And with Spielberg's unique, top-notch direction and storytelling skills, War Horse cannot escape its episodic nature, calling to mind another Spielberg film about the horrors of war and its effects upon soldiers and civilians--Saving Private Ryan. While that film shocked with horrific scenes of bleeding, it relied on a company of easily-described characters and a focused storyline to present heroic themes. Like Saving Private Ryan, War Horse clings to a series of characters, not only Albert, but also British officers, French civilians and German soldiers, who display courage in the face of danger. Everyone who comes in contact with Joey is either already in touch with their inner angel or is quickly moved to become more humane. Although none of this covers the fact that we've seen this stuff elsewhere before, the lovely sentiment will steal your heart. And the emotional signature of Spielberg can be felt as he establishes the relationship between the boy and the horse and the mood of the piece - there will be tears. Therefore, calling this beautiful, dramatically incomplete film " Saving Private Joey", is entirely justifiable. What is the best title for the passage? Saving Private Joey An amphibian has what temperature blood? chilly
Sleeping for less than six hours a night greatly increases the risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke , a study has found. It is the stuff of nightmares for those whose busy work schedule or busy family life means getting up early and staying up late. Scientists claim that the modern tendency to delay going to bed in order to get through more of the items on the 'to do' list has serious health consequences. But take care. Those who have too much sleep are also more likely to suffer a heart attack. While the extra sleeping is unlikely to be the cause, long-term illnesses such as heart disease often make sufferers feel tired, so sleeping for longer than nine hours a night may be an early warning sign. Researchers found that those who slept for less than six hours were almost 50 per cent more likely to suffer a heart attack and 15 per cent more at risk of strokes. They believe that not having enough sleep disrupts the balance of two key hormones , ghrelin and leptin , which control the appetite. Poor sleepers tend to eat more and are more likely to be fatter, so are at greater risk of high blood pressure and heart disease, which lead to heart attacks and strokes. Experts recommend adults get at least six or seven hours' shut-eye a night to stay healthy. But as many as 60 per cent of us do not think we are sleeping enough, with a third suffering from sleeplessness. The researchers, from the University of Warwick, warned that trying to push too much into one day by going to bed late and getting up early could lead to serious illnesses later in life. They looked at the sleeping habits of almost 475,000 participants from 15 previous studies across eight countries, including the UK, the U.S., Japan, Sweden and Germany. Their findings, published in the European Heart Journal, show that those who slept for less than six hours were 48 per cent more likely to develop or die from heart disease and 15 per cent more likely to develop or die from a stroke. Not having enough sleep decreases the levels of leptin in our blood, which means we do not feel as satisfied after eating. At the same time, it raises the levels of ghrelin, responsible for triggering our appetite, thus making us feel hungrier. The scientists believe that our 'work hard, play hard' society encourages us to sacrifice sleep and ignore our health. The trend for late nights and early mornings is actually a ticking time bomb for our health so you need to act now to reduce your risk of developing these life-threatening conditions. According to the passage, why don't we feel as satisfied after eating? A Because not having enough sleep disrupts the balance of two key hormones, ghrelin and leptin, which control the appetite. B Because not having enough sleep decreases the levels of leptin in our blood. C Because not having enough sleep raises the levels of ghrelin, thus making us feel hungrier. D All above add up. Answer: D. All above add up. It's Friday morning in the year 2025, and you're running late. You got distracted watching the music video that as playing in the corner of your bathroom mirror while you were brushing your teeth. How will you get to your office at Mega Giga Industries on time? A quick check of your Internet-connected refrigerator magnet tells you your train which travels at speeds up to 250 miles an hour as it electromagnetically hovers above its guide track is a bit behind schedule, too. So you decide to drive your environmentally-friendly hydrogen fuel cell car instead or rather _ . It's programmed to know the way, and it will get you there without speeding, getting lost, or crashing. Sealing into your office chair, which changes color to match what you're wearing, you pick up yesterday morning's newspaper. Printed on reusable electronic paper, it instantly rewrites itself with today's headlines. Now it's time for your big meeting. Uh-oh! You've left your handwritten notes at home. No problem! The digital ink pen you used has stored an electronic copy of what you wrote. Your wrist watch videophone suddenly rings. Your best friend's face pops up on the organic light-emitting diode screen asking what you're doing this weekend. Will you slap on your 3D contact lenses and play virtual soccer with the US Olympic team? No, no. Your friend says, so you have to take the new nanotube elevator (made of microscopic fibers many times stronger than steel) 60,000 miles into space. Could this scene really take place in just a couple of decades? The researchers who are currently developing all this stuff think so. These things may be as common in 20 years as cell phones and DVD players are today. The author wrote the passage to _ . A show picture the life of the future B introduce some high technology C tell us the future life is fantastic D tell us the future life is convenient Answer: A. show picture the life of the future Some years ago industries had more freedom than they have now, and they did not need to be as careful as they must today. They did not need to worry a lot about the safety of the new products that they developed. They did not have to pay much attention to the health and safety of the people who worked for them. Often new products were dangerous for the people who used them; often conditions in the work place had very bad effects on the health of the workers. Of course sometimes there were real disasters which attracted the attention of governments and which showed the need for changes. Also scientists who were doing research into the health of workers sometimes produced information which governments could not ignore. At such times, they inquire into the causes of the disasters or the problems. New safety rules were often introduced as a result of these inquiries; however. the new rules came too late to protect the people who died or who became seriously ill. Today many governments have special departments which protect customers and workers.In the U.S, for example, there is a department which tests new airplanes and gives warnings about possible problems. It also makes the rules that aircraft producers must follow. Another department controls the foods and drugs that companies sell. A third department looks at the places where people work. and then reports any companies that are breaking the laws which protect the health and safety of workers. Of course, new government departments and new laws cannot prevent every accident or illness. but they are having some good results. Our work places are safer and cleaner than before. The planes and cars which we use for travel are better. Producers are thinking more about the safety and health of the people who buy and use their products. It is implied in the passage that _ . A governments and companies had different opinions about the safety of products B governments paid little attention to the safety of products C government officials often did not listen to scientists D in the past no safety laws were introduced by governments Answer: D. in the past no safety laws were introduced by governments The world's most famous awards, the Nobel Prizes, are given for achievements that benefit humankind. Ironically they are named for a 19thcentury scientist who invented powerful explosives that came to be used as weapons of war. Alfred Nobel, a Swedish-born chemist who died in 1896, was known by some as "The Mad Scientist," and by others as "The Merchant of Death." He was really pacifist, who at one time believed that his explosives could end warfare. Later, he realized that he was wrong. "High explosives will not stop men from war," he wrote. "Nobody will benefit from my inventions except manufacturers of war materials, some generals, and diplomats." Nobel was born in Sweden in 1833. His father was an architect and inventor who moved to Russia. With only one year formal schooling, Nobel became a chemist and inventor by the age of 16. He was also excellent in languages, speaking English, Russian, German, and French in addition to Swedish. He wrote poetry. His study of explosives began with manufacturing liquid nitroglycerin for use in mining and construction. But in 1864, the factory blew up, killing his youngest brother and four others. He then discovered that liquid nitroglycerin could be dried and handled safely to be a mixture, which can explode. He called the mixture dynamite, after the Greek word dynamis, meaning "power." He then perfected a more powerful form of dynamite that made him a multimillionaire. When he died, his fortune was about $9 million. Nobel never married, and he left his fortune to what has since become known as the Nobel Prizes. The money is invested and the interest is given out every year as prizes for the most important work in six fields: Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Peace. Nobel Prize winners receive money, a gold medal, and a diploma. Prizes were first awarded in 1901, and the list of Nobel laureates contains many well-known names: Albert Einstein in Physics, Marie Curie in Chemistry, Toni Morrison and William Faulkner in Literature, Martin Luther King, Jr., for Peace. How old Nobel when he passed away? A 16. B 31. C 63. D 77. Answer: C. 63. "The Book That Can't Wait" is a great new idea that seeks to strengthen bonds between first time writers and their readers by getting their books read quickly. Argentinean independent publishers Eterna Cadencia are publishing a collection of short stories by new South American authors using special ink that slowly disappears once it comes in contact with sun and air, completely vanishing within 2 months after the book has been opened. This makes for an interesting approach to motivating book buyers to read books more quickly, giving first-time authors the attention they need to survive. "The Book That Can't Wait" tackles an important problem for new authors: How to get readers. The creative independent publishers teamed up with DRAFTFCB in the city of Buenos Aires to develop this project. "Books are very patient objects. We buy them, and then they wait for us to read them. Days, months, even years. That's OK for books, but not for new authors. If people don't read their first book, they'll never make it to a second," says the project coordinator Tito Santana. That's why Etema Cadencia, which also runs its own bookstore, has decided to create something different to launch its new authors into the market. It presented its first "The Book That Can't Wait" for the critics and the press last month. The invention is a success. Hundreds of people came to the bookstore to pick up a copy. To help spread the word, they gave away the first edition to customers for free. The very same day it was released, the publishing house claimed that it received thousands of requests for more copies of the book. So it will print a new edition later this month to satisfy the demand. And the best result? This time they have the guarantee that their new authors will be read. The company plans to use the book as a platform for other titles, because they believe there is a lot of literature out there that doesn't deserve to wait on the shelf. And these books won't wait at all. The main purpose of publishing "The Book That Can't Wait" is to _ . A sell more books B make it fun to read C invent a new kind of book D get new authors' books read quickly Answer: D. get new authors' books read quickly
Welcome to Moonlight Hotel! To make you stay as enjoyable as possible, we hope you will use our facilities to the full. Dining Room: Breakfast in the dining room is from 6:30 a.m. Also the room _ may bring breakfast to your room at any time after 6:00 a.m. If you would like this, please fill out a card and hang it outside your door before you go to bed. Lunch is from 11:50 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dinner is from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Room Service: We provide a 24-hour service for you. Call the Reception Desk, you're your message will be passed on to the staff Telephones: To make a phone call, dial 0 for Reception and ask to be connected . If the lines are busy, please wait and try again. There are also public phones near the Reception Desk. Tell Reception if you need morning calls. Shop: The hotel shop is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Bar: The hotel bar is open from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Banking: The Reception staff will cash checks and change any foreign money for you. You can see the notice probably _ . A in the hotel dining room B at the hotel bar C in every room of the hotel D in the hotel shop Answer: C. in every room of the hotel As the molecules of water begin to slow down they go into a phase where they are no longer able to easily move past each other. The water is passing through a phase change and will A remain a mixture. B remain a compound. C become an element. D become a compound. Answer: B. remain a compound. Jack and Mike are on holiday in France. Mike loves visiting old building. So does Jack. In the village Jack and Mike see a beautiful old church , but when they come into the church, some people are there. They don't know what the people are doing. "Oh! Just sit quietly , and act like the others!"Mike says. Because they don't really know French, so they stand, kneel and sit to follow other people. At that time, the priest says something. And the man who sits next to Jack and Mike stands up. "We should stand up, too!"Jack whispers to Mike. So, Jack and Mike walk to the priest. "What's so funny?"Jack asks in English. With a smile on his face the priest says, "Boys, there is a newbaby born, we ask the father to stand up." Mike shakes his head. He smiles and says, "We should understand what people do before we act like them!" The man next to Jack and Mike stands up because _ . A he is the baby's father B all the people laugh C Jack and Mike stand up D he knows French Answer: A. he is the baby's father It was Monday. Mrs. Smith's dog was hungry , but there was not any meat in the house. Considering that there was no better way. Mrs. Smith took a piece of paper, and wrote the following words on it:"Give my dog half a pound of meat."Then she gave the paper to her dog and said gently:"Take this to the butcher(* person whose job is selling meat)and he's going to give you your lunch today." Holding the piece of paper in its mouth, the dog ran to the butcher's. It gave the paper to the butcher. The butcher read it carefully, recognized that it was really the lady's handwriting and soon did it as he was asked to. The dog was very happy, and ate the meat up at once. At noon, the dog came to the shop again. It gave the butcher a piece of paper again. After reading it, he gave it half a pound of meat once more. The next day, the dog came again exactly at noon. And as usual, it brought a piece of paper in the mouth. This time, the butcher did not take a look at paper, and gave the dog its meat, for he had regarded the dog as one of his customers. But, the dog came again at four o'clock. And the same thing happened once again. To the butcher's more surprise, it came for the third time at six o'clock, and brought with it a third piece of paper. The butcher felt a bit puzzled . He said to himeself,"This is a small dog. Why does Mrs. Smith give it so much meat to eat today?" Looking at the piece of paper, he found that there were not any words on it! It seemed that the dog knew well that the paper Mrs. Smith gave it _ . A might do it much harm B could do it much good C would help the butcher D was worth many pounds Answer: B. could do it much good Toyota is the world's largest automaker, but its road to success has been long and filled with speed bumps . 1958:The company's first foray into the American market was the Toyopet in 1958. It was a flop. 1964:Toyota introduced their Corona line of automobiles and sales hit 6,400 in 1965, marking an increase in popularity. 1969:Toyota began importing the Corolla and in 1985 it would become the first Toyota built in the U.S. 1975:Toyota surpassed the popular German brand Volkswagen to become the top import sold in the U.S. 1986:The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ordered its first _ of Toyota cars due to "speed control" problems. 1988:The First North American Toyota plant opened in Georgetown, Ky. 1989:Toyota introduced the Lexus LS 400, the company's first U.S. luxury car. It was a major hit. 1997:Toyota debuted their Prius gas-electric hybrid car. 2002:The first consumer complaints emerged of the Camry's engine surging under braking. 2004:The NHTSA opened a defect investigation into 2002-2003 Camry, Camry Solara and Lexus ES models. 2006:Toyota "Americanizes" and opened a new plant in Texas to build full-size pickups 2007:Toyota surpassed General Motors to become the world's largest automaker. 2007:The NHTSA investigated pedal entrapment in some Toyota vehicles, which led recalls of floor mats on Camry and Lexus models. 2007:The NHTSA investigated pedal entrapment in some Toyota vehicles, which led recalls of floor mats on Camry and Lexus models. Aug. 2009:An off-duty California Highway Patrol officer and three family members were killed when their rental 2009 Lexus ES speeds out of control. Nov. 2009:Toyota recalled 3.8 million Lexus and Toyota models to remove floor mats that can trap pedals. Jan. 2010:Toyota recalled approximately 2.3 million more vehicles with potential sticking pedal problems. On Jan. 26, Toyota stopped selling eight models involved in the recall. Feb. 2010:Prius and Lexus hybrids are now being recalled for brake problems in 2010 models. The purpose of this passage is to _ . A advertise for Toyota B display Toyota's glory C uncover Toyota's braking problems D introduce Toyota' s struggle in the US Answer: D. introduce Toyota' s struggle in the US
Hello, I'm Severn Suzuki speaking for E.C.O. -- The Environmental Children's Organization. Coming here today, I am fighting for my future. I am here to speak for all generations to come. I am here to speak on behalf of the starving children around the world whose cries go unheard. I am here to speak for the countless animals dying across this planet because they have nowhere left to go. I am afraid to go out in the sun now because of the holes in the ozone . I am afraid to breathe the air because I don't know what chemicals are in it. You don't know how to fix the holes in our ozone layer. You don't know how to bring back an animal now extinct. And you can't bring back forests that once grew where there is now desert. If you don't know how to fix it, please stop breaking it! Here, you may be delegates of your governments, business people, organizers, reporters or politicians-- but really you are mothers and fathers, brothers and sister, aunts and uncles-- and all of you are somebody's child. At school, even in kindergarten, you teach us to behave in the world. You teach us: not to fight with others, to respect others, to clean up our mess, not to hurt other creatures, to share-- not be greedy. Then why do you go out and do the things you tell us not to do? Do not forget why you're attending these conferences, who you're doing this for-- we are your own children. You are deciding what kind of world we will grow up in. But are we even on your list of priorities? My father always says "You are what you do, not what you say." Well, what you do makes me cry at night. You grown-ups say you love us. I challenge you, please make your actions reflect your words. Thank you for listening. Why did the speaker mention what she was taught at school? A. To praise her teachers and her father. B. To warn children of the importance of study. C. To show her great achievements at school. D. To prove the grown-ups' words and actions were not consistent. Answer: D. To prove the grown-ups' words and actions were not consistent. During the school year many parents take on the role of driver as they drive their children from one lesson to another .Understandably so. Many of us want our children to have a little taste of everything, from organized sports to music, dance and more. But we can overdo it, leaving our children feeling a little burnt out, and according to parent educator Diane Loisie ,it's their school work which suffers the most. "After school, if they're busy in a number of sporting events, besides they need to do their homework, then the time they'll feel sleepy is in the classroom. Your child needs free time. So if you're filling up that after school time, then it's during the day that they're going to be taking a break." Professor Claire McDermott agrees that there's a lot to be gained from sometimes putting those scheduled lessons and activities away. "Relaxing time is important for children. It's time just to do the things they want to do. A child can go up to their room, or they can play around. It doesn't look like productive time; parents certainly wouldn't be saying 'Wow, are they ever learning things now?' But this relaxing time gives both the body and the brain just a wonderful chance to relax after a day. It helps a child prepare for sleep, but it also helps to understand the learning that's gone on that day." It's hard to prevent signing our kids up for some activities and lessons. After all, many of us want our children to have a head start in life and the chance to join in great activities in the arts or sports is a part of that. However, Loisie feels that in the long run most children feel better with just a few key activities because it gives them an opportunity to master them. "When we get our children in too many activities because we want our children to experience everything, then what we're doing is setting them up not to be good at one thing or gaining a skill." So choose your children's activities wisely. It may be one of the best things you've ever done for your kids... and for the family drivers! What should we think of children's playing around aimlessly? A. It is productive. B. It is helpful. C. It is a bad habit. D. It is a waste of time. Answer: B. It is helpful. Volunteer at Shelter - North Toronto Cat Rescue---Bayview/Hwy 7 Do you like animals? Come and volunteer at our cat shelter. North Toronto Cat Rescue is a no-cage, no-kill cat shelter. We are a volunteer organization, funded totally by donation, and are a licensed Canadian charity. We are looking for volunteers who can join us once a week for a 3 month period (at least). The work is not wonderful but it is very rewarding. Mainly, we feed, clean, and scoop litter. Of course we also spend quality time with our cats. We have 2 shifts per day, 7 days per week: Mornings are 9am-1pm. Evenings are 5-7pm or 6-8pm. Please note that any new volunteer who wishes to work evening shift must be able to work 4 morning shifts on a team before moving to an evening shift. This is required in order to gain the ability to work more independently, as required during evening shifts. Students must be at least 16 years old. Adults are also welcome. If you do not have your own personal transportation, please check the public transportation from your area to our location at Bayview/Hwy 7 area before responding to this ad. Where is the ad most likely to appear? A. In the local newspaper B. On the Internet C. On TV D. In a magazine Answer: A. In the local newspaper One day a man was walking in the street when he met a penguin .It was a handsome and very brave bird. It seemed to take an immediate liking to the man, because it walked up to him and then followed him wherever he went.This was funny for a while but in the end became rather embarrassing . "Go away, you silly bird, ''the man said to the penguin, but the bird ignored him. It simply would not leave him alone.Wherever he went, the bird went too. At last, in desperation the man walked into a police station."Excuse me, officer." he said. "I need some advice. I met this penguin in the street and I don't know what to do with it." A bored policeman looked up from what he was writing and said, "Just take it to the zoo, sir.'' "Oh,all right.''said the man. The next day the man was walking along the street, still accompanied by the penguin, when he met the policeman he'd spoken to the day before.The policeman was not pleased to see them."I thought I advised you to take that animal to the zoo, " he said. "Well, yes, officer, you did.And I did take him to the zoo, " the man explained. "And we had a great time. But we can't go to the zoo every day.I thought today I'd take him to the movies.'' Which statement is true? A. The penguin received a nice treat at the police station. B. The policeman took the bird to the zoo. C. The policeman who received the man was not patient with him. D. The policeman felt sorry for not giving any help. Answer: C. The policeman who received the man was not patient with him. Each nation has many good people who help to take care of others. For example, some high school and college students in the United States often spend many hours as volunteers in hospitals, orphanages or homes for the old. They read books to the people in these places, or they just visit them and play games with them or listen to their problems. Other volunteers go and work in the homes of people who are sick or old. They paint, clean up, or repair their houses, do their shopping or mow their lawns . For boys who no longer have fathers there is an organization called Big Brothers. College students and other men take these boys to baseball games or on fishing trips and help them to get to know things that boys usually learn from their fathers. Each city has a number of clubs where boys and girls can go to play games or learn crafts . Some of these clubs show movies or organize short trips to the mountains, beaches, museums or other places of interest. Most of these clubs use a lot of high school and college students as volunteers because they are young enough to remember the problems of younger boys and girls. Volunteers believe that some of the happiest people in the world are those who help to bring happiness to others. , Volunteers think that _ . A. they have got to be unhappy in order to make other people happy B. the happiest people in the world are those who make themselves happy C. the happiest people in the world are those who are young and healthy D. bringing happiness to others makes them the happiest people in the world Answer: D. bringing happiness to others makes them the happiest people in the world
Joe:What do you do on weekends? David:Well, I usually have to study on Saturdays. Joe:And how about Sundays? David:Well, we have lunch together. You know, all of the members of my family. Then after lunch, I go to the park and meet my friends. Joe:Oh? What do you do there? David:We play football. After that I usually go to see a film outside the city. Joe:Do you often go out of the city? David:About once a month. My uncle has a small farm. Joe:It's nice. Do you go alone? David:No, my mum, my two sisters and some of my friends go there, too. Joe:But why do you go there? David:Many things: green trees, clean air, and there are few people. Where do they play football? In the park. Many middle school students don't know how to spend their free time. When they have holidays, they always have nothing to do and feel bored. Some may play computer games all day long and some may stay in bed and sleep all day. It's not a good way. Here are some suggestions . If you don't like to stay at home, you can go for a picnic or play some sports. In this way, you can take some fresh air and keep healthy. If you like to stay at home, you may enjoy some light music or read a few novels. You can play some indoor games such as chess, cards, and table tennis. You can also plant some trees and flowers in your garden to make your home beautiful. It is also a good way to keep a pet and talk with it. Just develop some hobbies and you will feel much happier after a long holiday. Which is NOT a good way to spend our free time according to the writer? Sleeping all day. Adventure Vacations People like different kinds of vacations. Some go camping. They swim, fish, cook over a fire and sleep outside. Others like to stay at a hotel in an exciting city. They go shopping all day and go dancing all night. Or maybe they go sightseeing to places such as Disneyland, the Tai Mahan or the Louver. Some people are bored with sightseeing trips. They don't want to be "tourists". They want to have an adventure--a surprising and exciting trip. They want to learn something and maybe help people too. How can they do this? Some travel companies and environmental groups are planning special adventures. Sometimes these trips are difficult and full of hardships, but they're a lot of fun. One organization, Earth watch, sends small groups of volunteers to different parts of the world. Some volunteers spend two weeks and study the environment. Others work with animals. Others learn about people of the past. Would you like an adventure in the Far North? A team of volunteers is leaving from Mormons, Russia. The leader of this trip is a professor from Alaska. He's worried about chemicals from factories. He and the volunteers will study this pollution in the environment. If you like exercise and cold weather, this is a good trip for you. Volunteers need ski sixteen kilometers every day. Do you enjoy ocean animals? You can spend two to four weeks in Hawaii. There, you can teach language to dolphins. Dolphins can follow orders such as "Bring me the large ball." They also understand opposites. How much more can they understand? It will be exciting to learn about these intelligent animals. Another study trip goes to Washington State and follows orcas. We call orcas "killer Whale", but they're really dolphins--the largest kind of dolphin. This beautiful animal travels together in family groups. They move through the ocean with their mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers. Ocean pollution is chasing their lives. Earth watch is studying how this happens. Are you interested in history? Then Greece is the place for your adventure. Thirty-five hundred years ago a volcano exploded there, on Santorum. This explosion was more terrible than Karate or Mount Saint Helens. But today we know a lot about the way of life of the people from that time. There are houses, kitchens, and paintings as interesting as those in Pompeii. Today teams of volunteers are learning more about people from the past. Do you want a very different vacation? Do you want to travel far, work hard and learn a lot? Then an Earth watch vacation is for you. From the passage, on an adventure trip, people _ . may not spend much time on sightseeing " To seek happiness is to look for it" was once said by the famous French author Jules Renard. Look for it? Sure...but don't spend a lifetime trying, especially if it's well within your reach but you're just too blind to see it. Discover the three keys to happiness that you have already understood, but that you are just too afraid to find it. 1. Accepting Yourself The idea of happiness is difficult to understand if you are not at peace with yourself. Learn to accept yourself as you are. Your next step will be to improve your attitude for tomorrow, for the next day, for the day after that, and so forth. By beginning to accept reality, you will come to the final point of true happiness. Only when you are at peace with yourself, will you finally be able to admit that you are, in fact, a happy person. 2. Forgiving Others Forgiving others is a true show of humanity which also allows us to feel more at ease. When you learn to forgive, you also learn to keep a firm hold on your life. To forgive is to open the doors of personal satisfaction. Yet you simply open your mind to answer, " Do I really want to allow my anger to grow and eat me from inside out?" 3. Helping Your Neighbors When a friend seems to be suffering from a state of depression , it's quite easy to help him or her out of the trouble. The best attitude to have in this situation is to make him or her understand that he or she is not alone. If you come to save a friend in need, you'll feel a lot more at peace with yourself. You will feel high--spirited by knowing that someone is looking at life on the brighter side thanks to your kind words. ,. We are advised to appreciate ourselves A man claiming to be a pastor apparently tried to stiff a waiter on a tip, explaining that his work for God allowed him not to leave one. A photo of the receipt, posted to Reddit.com, shows a bill for $34.93 with an automatic 18 percent gratuity (or $6.29) added above a blank space for an additional tip. "I give God 10%," the diner wrote on the receipt, scratching out the automatic tip. "Why do you get 18?" He then wrote "Pastor" above his signature, and an emphatic "0" where the additional tip would be. (The automatic gratuity, however, had already been added to the total.) The Reddit user who submitted the image explained in the comments section that the receipt was part of a total bill for a party of 20, which is why the gratuity was automatically added. "Parties up to eight ... may tip whatever they'd like, but larger parties receive an automatic gratuity," the server wrote. "It's in the computer; it's not something I do." The server added: "They had no problem with my service, and told me I was great. They just didn't want to pay when the time came." Scribbling notes on receipts has become something of a trend. Earlier this month, the manager of a North Carolina Red Robin surprised an overdue pregnant woman by comping her meal. "Once seated, a manager came up to us and started talking," the woman's husband told Consumerist. "He was extremely friendly and jokingly asked my wife if this was her last meal before heading to the hospital." When the check came, a note from the manager next to her portion of the bill read: "MOM 2 BEE GOOD LUC." "It was a pleasant surprise and made my tired-of-being-pregnant wife a little more cheery," the man said. What do you learn from the article? A party of six diners can choose whatever gratuity they want to pay.
Do you love having your own room? Do you hate to clean it? Sometimes your room becomes so messy , and you can't find what you want. You can't even see the floor! It isn't because you are lazy. It is because you are not arranged . But don't worry. American writer Julie is here to help. She has written "Organizing from the Inside Out for Teens" to help make your life more organized. In the book, the writer points out that your room is the only space in the world just for you. If you keep it clean and tidy, you will find things easier and have success in life! But, to have more success, you must arrange all parts of your life. Not just your room! The book gives many _ to help you do this: 1. Always put things back where you find them. 2. Keep anything important in one easy-to-reach drawer. 3. When you buy a new textbook, put your old ones in a drawer. 4. Put labels on your drawers saying what is in them. 5. Make a plan for each day. Then you will know what you should be doing at all times. 6. Keep to your plan. If you follow these tips, you will learn to arrange your space and time. And your future will be full of success! Which is right according to the book Organizing from the Inside Out for Teens? A You should always put everything back where you find them. B You should put anything necessary in a drawer that's easy to reach. C When you buy a new textbook, made a label for it. D You should put important things in a drawer hard to reach. Answer: A. You should always put everything back where you find them. While I lived in Ireland, part of my college course was to work with children with special needs. I was selected to work in a school with children with disabilities . I had a lot of rooms to choose from, but I chose to work in the room that was for children with severe disabilities. They had no speech and most were in a wheelchair. The teacher of that room asked if I would work with a girl who had epilepsy and other brain disabilities. She was 15 years old. The teacher thought that it was an achievement for her to be able to put on her coat all by herself. I saw more in her. She always wanted to put string through the shaped blocks to make a necklace. For the 5 years she was in the school the teachers always tried to help her but always ended up doing all the work. I knew this smart girl could do more and so I encouraged her. She had a thumb which she could not move but I encouraged her so much to try. She got very upset most days and sometimes I wanted to give up. Finally after a week this young girl was able to do what she had been wanting to do by herself for so many years. Her teacher cried when she saw what this girl was able to do with just some encouragement. I wish everyone would encourage people rather than tell them they can't or do it for them. We can learn from the passage that _ . A the writer was willing to take on big challenges B the girl was helpful even if she had disabilities C the writer didn't like working with the children at first D the girl's health improved a lot with the writer's help Answer: A. the writer was willing to take on big challenges Hi! My name is Robert and I live in Chicago. My school is called Parkside Elementary. It is Jake and Elizabeth's school too. Michael and Trevor's school is called Lincoln Middle School. In the USA many students go to elementary school between the ages of 5-10, then middle school between the ages of 11-13, and then a four year high school, and last but not least, many people go to college or vocational school. Our elementary school starts at 8:30 am and ends at 3:20 pm. We go to school on Monday through Fridays and have the weekends off. Some of the favorite sports here in America are basketball, baseball, football, soccer, hockey, and more. But, my favorite sport is football. My favorite player in the NFL (National Football League) is Brian Urlacher of the Chicago Bears ( the Bears are my favorite team too). Americans wear jeans, a shirt, socks, shoes, and sometimes a hat. I usually wear a baseball hat, my favorite pants, and my favorite shirt. My pants have 4 pockets on it, and my shirt has red and black stripes on it. There is no common agreement in the west about the best method of education. Many _ can be found among parents, teachers, and students. http://library.thinkquest.org/CR02www.qzjyzx.com2/italy.html http://www.cfl.cqu.edu.cn/jpkc/kj/xb/xb2/2-1/culturalnotes.htm The third passage mainly tells us _ . A the writer's favorite sports B the writer's favorite food C the writer's favorite clothes D the writer's favorite color Answer: C. the writer's favorite clothes My students often tell me that they don't have "enough time" to do all their schoolwork. My reply is often a brief "You have as much time as the president."I usually carry on a bit about there being twenty-four hours in the day for everyone, and suggest that "not enough time" is not an acceptable explanation of not getting something done. Once in graduate school,I tried to prove to one of my professors by saying that I was working hard.His answer to me was. "That's irrelevant .What's important is the quality of your work. " Since then I have had time to think carefully about the "hard worker" dodge ,and I have come to some conclusions--all relevant to the problem of how much time we have. If you analyze the matter, you can identify two parts of the prob1em:There is, of course,the matter of "time", which we call think of as fixed. Then there is the problem of "work" during that time. But, as my professor suggested, it's not how hard one works but the quality of the product that's important. That led me to a new idea: the quality of the work.That concept is perhaps best explained by a sign I once saw on the wall in someone s office: "Don't work harder. Work smarter." There is a lot of sense in that idea. If you can't get more time,and few of US can,the only solution is to improve the quality of the work.That means thinking of ways to get more out of the same time than we might otherwise get.That should lead us to an analysis of our work habits.Since "work" for students usually means "homework", the expression "work habits' should be read as "study habits". Then, as a smart student,you will seek to improve those skills that you use in study, chiefly reading and writing. If you learn to read better and write better,there are big advantages that pay off in all your studies. From the passage,we know that the author is probably _ . A a poet B an educator C a novelist D an engineer Answer: B. an educator "Hey! That isn't fair! Knights can't fly! Only wizards like me can! And maybe also witches." Bobby yelled. "Yes! They can, too!" Frank said, "They're the most powerful and you can't stop me from flying!" "Well, if you fly, then I can fight with a sword, too. It's only fair," Bobby said back. "No! They can't! They aren't even strong enough to pick up a sword. They can't even pick up a knife, they're so weak! I don't even know what you're talking about. You're crazy, aren't you?" Frank pointed his finger at Bobby and ran at him with the sword made out of cardboard. Bobby jumped out of the way as quickly as he could! Bobby then pointed a finger at Frank. "FREEZE!" Frank stopped in place. "Hey, you can't use the freeze spell. How can I fight you if I can't move? I'm going to tell mom." "I can use any spell I want! I can use Freeze, Trap, and Fly! I can do any of them! I'm also telling mom that you think you can fly and you can't. You're a stupid knight with no brains. I have all the brains here." Bobby crossed his arms over his chest and stomped a foot on the ground. "You take that back! I'm the smartest knight there is and I'll get you any day!" Suddenly, Frank pulled Bobby to the ground. "Take it back right now!" "BOYS! What's all the noise?" Mom asked. "Bobby called me stupid!" Frank yelled. "Frank is trying to fly!" Bobby cried. "Oh boy." Mom laughed. What spell did Bobby use that Frank didn't like A Fly B Freeze C Trap D Heal Answer: B. Freeze
Question: As a substitute teacher, my daily routine involves driving to a new school almost every day so I'm usually unable to anticipate the day's events, good or bad! On one particular day, I was teaching in a very difficult classroom. I was managing behavior all morning and by lunch time, I knew I needed coffee to even consider surviving the afternoon. So on my lunch break, I drove to a nearbyplaza to get a cup of coffee. Upon returning to the car I realized I had locked my keys and my phone inside! I had about 15 minutes to get back to the school which was a good 4 or 5-minute drive away. I contemplated sprinting back, but it being winter, I thought a nasty fall on ice would only make the situation much worse. So I ran into a McDonald's which was in the same plaza and asked the man at the counter who happened to be the manager to please call me a cab. I briefly explained my situation to him, and I could tell by the look in his eyes, that he empathized. He hurried to the back to use the phone while I paced in the restaurant. I had less than 10 minutes to get back to my school at this point. The manager returned only to tell me that the cab company had put him on hold and then the line got disconnected, and that he was now on hold again, but had not yet been able to request the cab yet. My expression, I assume, began to resemble some combination of hopelessness and fear. Without a thought, he grabbed his coat and offered to drive me to the school. Without hesitation, I followed him into his car and made it back into my classroom with 2 minutes to spare before the bell! Upon arriving at the school, I thanked this man endlessly. His calmdemeanor and kind nature made me think he was probably a wonderful manager to work for, and also a wonderful human being to have on this earth. This experience makes me realize that out of every seemingly hopeless situation, there is the opportunity for acts of kindness totranspire , which can have an unimaginable impact on those who receive them. What happened to the author after he got a cup of coffee? A. He fell on the icy road. B. He realized his keys and phone were locked inside the car. C. His car was broken. D. He lost his keys and phone. Answer: B Question: Sir John a British scientist who won last year's Nobel prize for medicine, said he had predicted at the time of his frog experiments that the successful cloning of a mammal would happen within 50 years.and that "maybe the same answer is appropriate" far the step to human cloning. Parents who lose children in accidents may be able to clone "copies" to replace them then. Although any attempt to clone an entire human would raise complex moral issues, the biologist claimed people would soon overcome their concerns if the technique became medically useful.Cloning was regarded with extreme doubts when it was first developed but became widely accepted after the birth of Louise Brown, the first "test tube baby" He said, "When my first frog experiment.s were done, an American reporter asked how long it will be before these things can he done in mammals or humans I said, 'Well, it could be anywhere between 10 years and 100 years-how about 50 year ?' It turned out that it wasn't far off the mark as far as Dolly was concerned.Maybe the same answer is appropriate." Sir John added that cloning a human being effectively means making an identical twin, and doctors would therefore simply be "copying what nature has already produced" The average vote on allowing parents of deceased children, who are no longer fertile , to create another using the mother's eggs and skin cells from the first child, thinking the technique was safe and effective, is 60 per cent in favor.The reasons for "no" are usually that the new child would feel they were some sort of a replacement for something. . Sir John predicted the human cloning would be a reality in _ at most. A. 100 yea B. 60 years C. 50 years D. 10 years Answer: C Question: 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 at Manoa) student Tuesday & Thursday 1:00p.m. -- 1:30p.m.: Meet with a University Representative 1:30p.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 Honolulu 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 15 percent. 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). The author writes the passage so that readers can _ . A. know about the beauty of the campus B. know about the learning programs C. know more about the university D. visit the campus as easily as possible Answer: D Question: Would you be surprised to learn that your eyes are like an eagle's eyes in some ways? You and an eagle can see colors. And an eagle's eyes and yours are about the same size. But therre are a lot more of a special type of cell in an eagle's eyes than in your eyes. These cells send information to the eagle's brain. Getting a lot of information helps an eagle see much better than you. In fact, eagle can spot a fish in the sea from a mile away. You and an eagle have eyes that make tears. Your eyes make watery tears that clean your eyes. An eagle's eyes for watery tears and oily tears. Eagles dive into the sea to catch fish. The oily tears guard their eyes from the saltwater. Like you, eagles have eyelids. You have two eyelids, and you close your eyes by lowering the top lid. When eagles close their eyes, their bottom lids raise up. Eagles have a third eyelid that moves across the eye every few seconds. It wipes dust away from the eye. An eagle can see through this third eyelid. The eyelid guards the bird's eyes when it _ at 100 miles an hour after its prey . Your eyes help you learn about the world. An eagle's eyes help it _ . A. catch its prey B. fly fast C. blink its eyelids D. send information Answer: D Question: It is not a good idea to stop the actor Richard Griffiths in the middle of a play.During the past year he has stopped performances many times at the National Theatre when mobile phones rang, and he threw out one member of the audience because she failed to turn off her phone. So when a mobile rang out for the third time during his performance in Alan Bennett's The History Boys, he spoke angrily to the theatergoer , "I am not going to compete with these electronic devices ." Griffiths' actions led to a debate in the UK theatre world over whether phones should be forbidden by law from British theatres, too.Actors have already asked the government to legalise the use of an electronic device that stops mobile phone signals in theatres. Technology companies have "stopping" devices that send out a high-powered signal on the same frequency as a mobile phone, stopping the mobile phone signal. However, these are forbidden in many countries because they might stop emergency calls from being made. Rosemary Squire, president of the Society of West End Theatre, said, "Phones are one of the biggest problems theatres face.We should look at equipment that could stop phones or make a London-wide theatre rule." Nick Allott, the managing director of Sir Cameron Mackintosh's theatre group, said, "We would all welcome some ways of stopping ringing phones but doctors and emergency workers need to be connected in a theatre and we mustn't stop that." What can we do to solve the problem? According to Nick Allott, _ . A. "stopping" devices can make the sound of mobile phones disappear B. no one except doctors and emergency workers should have mobile phones C. phones are one of the biggest problems theatres face D. stopping phones in theatres has some side effects Answer: D
One of the most popular items in the school newspaper is the advice column. No one knows who writes it. The students think their teacher does, but it might be a student using a false name. The students enjoy thinking up problems for the advice column. Here are some of them and their answers. Ask the Wise Owl Q: I'm always late for school. I try not to be, but I can't help it. Please advise me what to do. Tommy. A: You are probably late for school because you don't really like school. My advice to you is to try and enjoy school more, then you won't be late so often. Q: I find it difficult to make friends. What do you think I should do? Sara. A: I can't advise you until I know more about you. Your problem may be that you are shy. On the other hand, it may be the opposite. You may be too bold . Write and tell me more about yourself. Q: I'm always at the bottom(,) of the class. What do you advise me to do? Molly. A: I advise you to concentrate on improving your grades in one subject to start with. If you can do this, you should move a little way up from the bottom. Next, try to improve your grades in another subject, and so on. If you concentrate on one subject at a time, by the end of the year you should be quite a long way up from the bottom in all your classes. What is the main idea of this passage? The advice column in the school newspaper is very popular. Odland remembers like it was yesterday working in an expensive French restaurant in Denver. The ice cream he was serving fell onto the white dress of a rich and important woman. Thirty years have passed, but Odland can not get the memory out of his mind, nor the woman's kind reaction . She was shocked, regained calmness and, in a kind voice, told the young Odland. "It is OK. It wasn't your fault." When she left the restaurant, she also left the future Fortune 500 CEO with a life lesson: You can tell a lot about a person by the way he or she treats the waiter. Odland isn't the only CEO to have made this discovery. Instead, it seems to be one of those few laws of the land that every CEO learns on the way up. It's hard to get a dozen CEO's to agree about anything, but most agree with the Waiter Rule. They say how others treat the CEO says nothing. But how others treat the waiter is like a window into the soul. Watch out for anyone who pulls out the power card to say something like, "I could buy this place and fire you," or "I know the owner and I could have you fired." Those who say such things have shown more about their character than about their wealth and power. The CEO who came up with it, or at least first wrote it down, is Raytheon CEO Bill Swanson. He wrote a best-selling book called Swanson's Unwritten Rules of Management. "A person who is nice to you but rude to the waiter, or to others, is not a nice person," Swanson says. "I will never offer a job to the person who is sweet to the boss but turns _ o someone cleaning the tables." Odland learned one of his life lessons from _ . his experience as a waiter. Long ago, near the village of Hedley, there lived a strange and playful trickster , known as the Hedley Kow. Sometimes it looked like an ordinary object. Sometimes it looked like a donkey or a goat. One evening, as an old woman went along the path, she saw an old iron pot lying in the ditch. "Fancy that," she said. "Nobody seems to want this old pot. I will take it home and plant pretty flowers in it." When she tried to lift it, she saw that it was full of gold pieces. "Well, now, if that doesn't beat all," she said. "I'm rich! I can buy a fine house and fancy clothes." The pot was heavy, so she tied her shawl around it and began to drag it home. After a while, she stopped to rest. When she looked in the pot, she was amazed to see that it was full of silver pieces! "Oh, my God!" she said. "Aren't I the lucky one! If it were gold, thieves would have been after me. My friends might have been jealous. But I can hide these silver pieces, take out a few at a time, and live like a queen." On she went, pulling the pot after her. She was nearing home now. At her gate, she looked into the pot. What a surprise! The silver had changed into a lump of iron. "Iron," she said. "Well, now! No one will be jealous or want to steal this from me. I can use this iron to prop my door open and let in fresh air and sunlight. Lucky me!" As soon as she said that, the pot began to grow and later it became a goat. Then it jumped up and ran off down the road laughing. "Fancy that!" said the old woman. "I believe I have seen the Hedley Kow! Not many folks can say that, and that's a fact. I'll just sit up by my fire tonight thinking about how lucky I was to see it for myself. I truly must be the luckiest person in the world!" From this passage we can know the old woman is _ . optimistic Cars are an important part of life in the United States. Without cars most people feel that they are poor. And even though a person is poor, he doesn't really feel poor when he has a car. Perhaps you have heard of Henry Ford. He first started making cars in large numbers. Perhaps he didn't know how much the car was going to be to American culture . The car made the United States a nation on wheels . And it helped make the United States what it is now. The car has become popular in the United States. The Americans like to move around in cars. With a car people can go to any place without spending a lot of money. Who was Henry Ford? _ . He was one of the famous car makers Many Christmas customs are based on the birth of Christ, such as giving presents because of the Wise Men, who brought presents to the baby Jesus Singing Christmas carols is based on the scene of the birth with figures of shepherds, the Wise Men and animals surrounding the baby Jesus. The origin of Santa Claus begins in the 4th century with St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, an area in the present-day Turkey. By all accounts St. Nicholas was a generous man, particularly devoted to children. After his death around 340 A. D. he was buried in Myra, but in 1087 Italian sailors were believed to steal his remains and removed them to Italy, greatly increasing St. Nicholas' popularity throughout Europe. His kindness and reputation for generosity gave rise to claims that he could perform miracles and devotion to him increased. St. Nicholas became the patron saint of Russia, where he was known by his red cap, flowing white beard, and bishop's mitre. In Greece, he was the patron saint of sailors; in France, he was the patron of lawyers, and in Belgium, the patron of children and travelers. Thousands of churches across Europe were dedicated to him and sometime around the 12th century an official holiday was created in his honor. The Feast of St. Nicholas was celebrated on December 6 and the day was marked by gift-giving and charity. After the Reformation, European followers of St. Nicholas declined, but the legend was kept alive in Holland where the Dutch spelling of his name Sint Nikolass was eventually transformed to _ . Dutch children would leave their wooden shoes by the fireplace, and Sinterklaas would reward good children by placing treats in their shoes. Dutch colonists brought this tradition with them to America in the 17th century and here the English name of Santa Claus appeared. What was the Feast of St. Nicholas held for? Honoring St. Nicholas.
Do you want to be in good health? Try to do the following things! You can become strong. Drink eight cups of water every day. Water helps your body in many ways. If you feel......,have a cup of water. Don't forget to eat your breakfast. Breakfast gives you everything your body needs for the morning. So do not forget your breakfast. Calcium . Your bones need it. Milk has more calcium. You may also drink orange juice with calcium in it. Go for a walk every day after meals. Walking is a good exercise, and people need exercise for good health, It's better to walk after meals. Stretch for five minutes after sitting for one or two hours. Stretching your arms and legs is good for your body. Use your brain every day. For example, you can do crossword puzzles or read a new book. Have a rest about twenty minutes when you are tired. You may do something different to have a break. For example,get up and walk. Or sit down to listen to music. It's better to take a walk after meals, isn't it? A NO, it isn't B Yes, it is C No, it doesn't D Yes, it was Answer: B. Yes, it is Chinese government has decided to give up the rules of food with no checking .According to the Xinhua News, from September 17th , 2008, Chinese government decided to give up the rules of food with no checking. Many people said yes to it. The officer said that these days, the food safety accident about children milk of Sanlu made the government decide to give it up. In order to keep the food safe and people healthy, Chinese government said that all the food must be checked. The rule of food with no checking made in 1999 was given up from that day. "I think if the companies get the food with no checking, they will never check their food. It gives them the chance of making the food of poor quality," an old man said in the shop. " I hope our government not only gives it up, but also makes some strong rules to manage the companies," a young woman told us. " The important point is our government should send officers to the companies and check their food every time," a shop owner said. A young expert of food safety said, " The department of government should take the food from the shop or supermarket and check, not ask them to send. In that way, we can get the real checking." But in order to keep people's health, the government asks the officers to check all the food before they are sent to the shop or supermarket. That means all the food must be checked before they are sold. You may read the passage _ . A in a letter B in a book C in a newspaper D in a magazine Answer: C. in a newspaper Concern with money, and then more money, in order to buy the conveniences and luxuries of modern life, has brought great changes to the lives of most Frenchmen. More people are working harder than ever before in France. In the cities the traditional leisurely midday meal is disappearing. Offices, shops, and factories are discovering the great efficiency of a short lunch hour in company lunch rooms. In almost all lines of work emphasis now falls on ever increasing output. Thus the "typical" Frenchman produces more, earns more, and buys more consumer goods than his counterpart of only a generation ago. He gains in creature comfort and ease of life. What he loses to some extent is his sense of personal uniqueness, or individuality. Some say that France has been Americanized. This is because the United States is a world symbol of the technological society and its consumer products. The so called Americanization of France has its critics. They fear that "assembly line life" will lead to the disappearance of the pleasures of the more graceful and leisurely (but less productive) old French style. What will happen, they ask, to taste, elegance, and the cultivation of the good things in life to joy in the smell of a freshly picked apple, a stroll by the river, or just happy hours of conversation in a local cafe? Since the late 1950s life in France has indeed taken on qualities of rush, tension, and the pursuit of material gain. Some of the strongest critics of the new way of life are the young, especially university students. They are concerned with the future, and they fear that France is threatened by the triumph of this competitive, goods-oriented culture. Occasionally, they have reacted against the trend with considerable violence. In spite of the critics, however, countless Frenchmen are committed to keeping France in the forefront of the modern economic world. They find that the present life brings more rewards, conveniences, and pleasures than that of the past. They believe that a modern, industrial France is preferable to the old. The passage suggests that _ . A in pursuing material gains the French are suffering losses elsewhere B it's now unlikely to see a Frenchman enjoying a stroll by the river C the French are fed up with the smell of freshly picked apples D great changes have occurred in the life style of all Frenchmen Answer: A. in pursuing material gains the French are suffering losses elsewhere I have two good friends .They are Peter and Gina .Here are two photos .The first one is a photo of Peter's family , and the next one is a photo of Gina's room . In the first photo , you can see four people . They are Peter's parents , Peter and his sister .Peter's father is a teacher . And his mother is a teacher too .Can you see the boy on the bed ? That's Peter . A red hat is on his head .Who is the girl ? Oh , she is Peter's sister . Her name is Nancy . In the next photo , you can see a tidy room . It's Gina's room . A blue desk , a yellow chair , a green bookcase and a white bed are in it . A computer and some CDs are on the desk .Her red schoolbag is on the chair .A dictionary is on the bed . Gina's room is very clean and tidy . There are _ people in Peter's family . A five B two C three D four Answer: D. four At primary school in New Zealand, I was introduced to a school savings account run by one of the local banks. When our money box was full, we took it to the bank and watched with pride as our coins flowed across the counter. As a reward,we could choose our next money box from a small variety, and start the whole savings routine again. Every week I watched my parents sort out the housekeeping and "make ends meet". Sometimes it was annoying to wait for things we really felt we needed. Later, as a university student, I managed on an extremely small student allowance. Students were ignored by banks then, because we were so poor, and there was no way I could have gotten credit, even if I had tried. We collected our allowance three times each year, deposited it to the best advantage and withdrew it little by little to last until the next payout of the allowance. When our daughter, Sophie, began to walk, we made a purposeful choice to encourage her to use money wisely. We often comment when the TV tells us "You owe it to yourself to borrow our money"--to whom do we really owe it? And what would happen if our income were reduced or dried up? Now, as a 12-year-old child, it's almost embarrassing to see her tight "financial policy",and wait for the unavoidable holiday sales to buy what she wants. I agree that financial education in schools is very important. But the root of the problem lies with us and the way we behave as role models to those who follow. What's the text mainly about? A Parents,money problems. B Students' school performance. C Children's saving behavior. D Children's financial education. Answer: D. Children's financial education.
Charlie Vansant, a college student of Athens, Ohio who reported that his car was stolen, got a surprise when he learned a woman had mistaken it for her daughter's car and taken it-using her key. Kate Anderson became an accidental car thief when picking up her daughter's car near an Ohio University building last week. Anderson spotted the Toyota Camry and used her daughter's key to unlock the car, start the engine and drive home-without realizing that the car wasn't her daughter's. When Charlie Vansant left class a short time later, he found only an empty parking spot. He first assumed the car had been _ , but when the police couldn't find a record of it, they took a theft report. The morning after Anderson took the car, her daughter discovered the Camry in the driveway wasn't hers. Anderson said she was able to find Vansant's name on paperwork in the glove compartment and look up his phone number on the website for the university. When Anderson told Charlie the car was in her driveway, "It sounded real suspicious at first, as she wanted to hold the thing for ransom ," said Vansant. He eventually went to the house with a police officer, where he was reunited with his car. According to the police report, the case was closed "because of mistaken car identity", Anderson wasn't charged. Vansant seemed to blame the car company more than the "thief". "Her key fit not only my lock, but my ignition as well - so high-five for Toyota. I guess." he said. What is likely to happen next according to the passage? Charlie would ask the Toyota Company to give him an explanation. Meryl Streep is an American actress who has worked in theatre, television and film. She is regarded as one of the most talented actresses of all time. The following is a list of movies that Meryl Streep has been involved with: Kramer vs. Krammer (1979) In the film, Meryl plays a mother caught up in a custody dispute . Her co-star, Dustin Hoffman, said, "She's extraordinarily hardworking. I think she thinks about nothing else but what she's doing." Meryl won her first Oscar for her performance in this film. Sophie's Choice (1982) Meryl plays Sophie, a Polish war survivor. To prepare for the role she learned to speak German and perfected a Polish accent. Film critic Roger Ebert said, "This is one of the most astonishing and yet one of the most natural performances I can imagine." Meryl won her second Best Actress Oscar for her performance. Out of Africa(1985) Meryl is Karen Blixen, a Danish woman living in Kenya in the early 20th century. The story follows Karens attempts to run a coffee plantation and her love affair with big-game hunter Denys. The film is based on the memoirs of the real Karen Blixen. A Cry in the Dark (1995) This is based on the true-life case of the disappearance of baby Azaria. Meryl plays Linda Chamberlain, a mother who is wrongly accused of killing her own child. After spending four years in prison, it was found that wild dogs had taken away the baby. Meryl won Best Actress at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival. The Bridge of Madison County (1995) This movie is based on one of the biggest bestsellers of the 20th century (the book sold 50 million copies worldwide). Meryl plays Francesca Johnson, an Italian war bride living in 1960s Iowa. It's about her brief affair with photographer Robert Kincaid. Mamma Mial(2008) This is a romantic comedy based on the stage musical Mamma Mial, featuring the music from 1970s Swedish pop group ABBA. Meryl plays Donna Sheridan, a hotel owner on the Greek island of Kalokairi. Mamma Mial made over U.S. $ 600 million worldwide. Apparently, Meryl had seen the musical in 2001 and was completely absorbed in it. She had no idea that seven years later she'd be in the movie version. It can be learned from the text that the movie Mamma Mial _ . probably has audiences screaming with laughter Linus Pauling,the only person who has won two undivided Nobel Prizes,was born in Portland,Oregon. He attended Washington High School but because of an unimportant detail he did not receive his diploma until 1962,long after he had received his Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Orgon State College in 1922. He had chosen to study his major because he could get a good job with it. He won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1954 for his research into the nature of the chemical bond and its application to the explanation of the structure of complex substance. His interest in the "behavior" of molecules led him from physical chemistry to biological chemistry,especially of the human body. He began with proteins and their main parts,the amino acids ,which are called the"building blocks of life".In 1950,he constructed the first satisfactory model of a protein molecule,a discovery very important to the understanding of the living cell. During World WarII,Pauling was a member of the Research Board for National Security,for which he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Merit in 1948. However,the use of the atomic bomb near the end of the war turned Pauling in a new direction. Having long worked on the structure of molecules,he took an immediate interest in the deadly effects of nuclear fallout on human molecular structures. From then on,Pauling protested the production of the hydrogen bomb and supported the prevention of the spread of nuclear weapons. Through his efforts,The NuclearTestBan Treaty,declaring all nuclear tests to be illegal except underground ones,came into effect on October 10,1963,the same day Linus Pauling was awarded the Nobel Peace. The main idea of the passage is to show _ . Linus Pauling's contributions to the world Someone asked me, "what do you think of youth?" I showed him a can of COKE. See this? "C" means "courage". There's a seed in everyone's heart. As long as you really keep watering it, it will grow and harvest. Courage gives us the power to follow our dreams. Believe in yourself and be prepared for anything in the future. "O" stands for "optimism". When in trouble, some people feel disappointed but some people still keep their dreams. Be sure to choose the latter. Life is very much like a mirror. If you smile on it, it smiles back on you. If you frown, you will get a similar look in return. Throw away the sadness in your heart while filling it with brightness and hope. "K" can be understood as "knowledge". In order to keep up with the times, we should use knowledge to enrich ourselves. Knowledge is the food of thought and, as long as it is put in our brain, we will grow wiser. "E" is short for "enthusiasm ". Enthusiasm is the sign of youth. We use colourful paint-brushes in our hands to create the pictures of youth on our own. Let the sky and sea know we're young. Let out our enthusiasm wherever we go. Drink a can of COKE. You will find your youth as refreshing as a can of coke. Enjoy and value your youth. The seed in everyone's heart in fact is _ . courage "You'll have to take care of the baby today," a woman told her husband. "I'm not feeling well." "Then you must stay in bed and rest, dear" her husband said. "I'll be pleased to look after our baby." "By the way, shall I do the shopping for you as well?" her husband asked. The woman was very glad and said, "That will help me very much. I'll give you a list of things to buy" She wrote out the list and gave it to him. The man took the baby to the supermarket and put him in the shopping cart. Then he pushed the shopping cart along the rows of things and looked for those that were on his list. At first everything was OK, but then the baby began to cry. Then he started to scream. And scream! And SCREAM! "Keep calm, George," the man said. "Don't get excited. Don't shout, George. _ , George." A woman in the supermarket heard him saying so. She walked up to him. "I think you are wonderful," she said. "You are so patient with your little George." "Madam," the man said, "I'm George. He's Edward." The man took care of the baby instead because his wife was _ . ill
I opened my new patient's chart and headed for her room. My son, Eric, had just brought home a disappointing report card, and my daughter, Shannon, and I had argued again about her getting a driver's license. For the next eight hours I wanted to throw myself into helping people who I knew had much more to worry about than I did. Rebekah, mother of three lovely little girls, was only 32, admitted for chemotherapy after breast-cancer surgery, When I gave her an injection, Rebekah shut her eyes tightly and murmured a prayer until it was over. Then she smiled and squeezed my hand. "Before you go, could you get my Bible from the table?" I handed her the worn book. "Do you have a favorite Bible verse?" she asked. "Jesus wept. John 11: 35." "Such a sad one," she said. "Why?""It makes me feel closer to Jesus, knowing he also experienced human sorrow." Rebekah nodded thoughtfully and started flipping through her Bible as I shut the door quietly behind me. During the following months, her hospital stays became frequent and she worried about her children. One day when I entered her room, I found her talking into a tape recorder. She picked up a notebook and held it out to me. "I'm making a tape for my daughters, " she said. I read the list on her pad: starting school, confirmation, turning 16, first date, graduation. While I worried how to help her deal with death, she was planning for her children's future. She usually waited until the early hours of the morning to record the tapes so she could be free from interruptions. She filled them with family stories and advice,trying to cram a lifetime of love into a few precious hours. Finally, every item in her notes had been checked off and she entrusted the tapes to her husband. I often wondered what I would say in her place. My kids joked that I was like an FBI agent, with my constant questions about where they'd been and who they'd been with. Where, I thought, are my words of encouragement and love? It was three o'clock one afternoon when I got an urgent call from the hospital. Rebekah wanted me to come immediately with a blank tape. She was breathing hard when I entered her room. I slipped the tape into the recorder and held the microphone to her lips. "Ruthie, Hannah, Molly, this is the most important tape." She held my hand and closed her eyes. "Someday your daddy will bring home a new mommy. Please make her feel special. Show her how to take care of you. Ruthie, honey, help her get your Brownie uniform ready each Tuesday. Hannah, tell her you don't want meat sauce on your spaghetti. Molly, don't get mad if there's no apple juice. Drink something else. It's okay to be sad, sweeties. Jesus cried too. He knows about sadness and will help you to be happy again. Remember, I'll always love you. I shut off the recorder and Rebekah sighed deeply. "Thank you, Nan, "You'll give this one to them, won't you?" she murmured as she slid into sleep. A time would come when the tape would be played for Rebekah's children, but right then, after I smoothed Rebekah's blanket, I got in my car and hurried home. I thought of how my Shannon also liked her sauce on the side and suddenly that quirk, which had annoyed me so many times, seemed to make her so much more precious. That night the kids didn't go out; they sat with me long after the spaghetti sauce had dried onto the dishes. And we talked, without interrogations, without complaints,late into the night. Which of the following scenes was most likely to be seen at Nan's home before she met Rebekah? Answer: Recently, tests have proved that Beethoven died from lead poisoning. Bill Walsh directed the Beethoven Research Project. Mr Walsh and his team examined pieces of bone belonging to Beethoven. They found a large amount of lead in the bone pieces. They said the lead levels were equal to those found in pieces of his hair in earlier studies of other scientists. Genetic tests proved the bone pieces and hair came from Beethoven. The researchers also examined bone fragments( from someone else who lived during the same period. Both were from the top of the skull. The fragments from Beethoven had more lead than those from the other person. Their study didn't find measurable levels of cadmium or mercury , which scientists used to consider were the causes of his health problems. Beethoven was sick for much of his life. He experienced strong stomach pains, a sign of lead poisoning, and a change of personality when he was around 20. He also got angry easily, and suffered from depression and hearing loss. His health problems became worse as Beethoven grew older. Walsh said the lead levels found in Beethoven's skull suggested the metal might have been present in his body for many years. He said although there had been recognized cases of deafness caused by lead poisoning, there was no strong evidence to suggest that lead poisoning was the cause of Beethoven's deafness. Ludwig van Beethoven visited many doctors to find a cure for his health problems. In a letter he wrote to a friend, he asked researchers to examine his body after he died so that other people would not have to suffer as he did. In which section of the newspaper might you read this report? Answer: How do you study each day? You may answer it in one second: have classes at school, take notes and do homework. Feeling a little bored? There are other ways that can make learning interesting and varied. It's called digital learning. Digital learning is a way to help students learn by using the Internet. There are three important kinds of digital learning. Apps are computer software applications . People can download them on their mobiles. The other two kinds are social networking services, including weibo and WeChat and websites. Every one of them is like your teacher. They help you _ what you learn at school. Compared with traditional learning ways, digital learning has its advantages. Digital learning is also varied. It covers almost every school subject. More importantly, it always offers students the newest resources to learn from. Digital learning is also personalized. You can choose what you like to learn. If you don't master what you have learned at school, you can learn again through digital ways. However, digital learning also has disadvantages. When you use digital ways to learn, you've got little chance of talking with teachers and classmates. As digital learning uses computers or smartphones, watching the screen too long may be bad for your eyes. It is better to take a rest every 20 minutes. How do students usually study everyday according to the story? Answer: You're going to high school, aren't you? Maybe you don't know what to do. Well, here's a list of the top six things to do when you're in high school. These things will give you ideas of what your high school life could be like. Here you go! Find your passion and what kind of person you are: Whether it's dance, basketball, or drawing, the important thing is that you have found something you are interested in. Talk to people you wouldn't usually talk to: Meet new people, find new friends and even talk to the people you don't like. It will show what a great person you are. You never know what will happen after high school. Take part in at least one contest: This will give you tears of laughter, happiness and memories. Get a job: This will help you see what it's like to have responsibility .It can also help you make a little money to spend on yourself. Take a trip with your friends: It doesn't matter where you go or what you do, the memories will happen on the way and go on till the final place. Do your best at school: Don't ever get lazy. Working hard now will help you in the future. Which of the following you'd better not do according to the passage? Answer: If you flick an empty glass of water with your finger it will Answer:
Question: Two years ago,my family moved to a new city and I had to study in a new school.As I had few friends there.I felt lonely.Then I met Tony.The first time I saw him.he was standing in the center of a group of students,telling jokes.The children around laughed from time to time.Tony knew about my problem.He asked me to play basketball with his friends and helped me with my studies.We soon became good friends. About a year ago,however,Tony's father was killed in an accident.As a result,his family had to move to a small house.Tony changed into a different person.He became silent and he even lost his interest in studies.Several times.I invited him to go out and play basketball with me,but he refused.I wanted to help him,but didn't know what to do. Then something strange happened in my class.Two classmates lost the money in their schoolbags. Last Friday,just before the P.E.lesson,I went back to the classroom to get my running shoes I would use.The door was half open.I went in.To my _ ,I saw Tony was searching one of my classmates'schoolbags.I was shocked... How did the writer feel when he saw Tony's change? A. He felt angry. B. He felt surprised. C. He felt unhappy. D. He felt worried. Answer: D Question: Bet Winner MILLBURN, New Jersey-- An 11-year-old boy, he gave up television for a year in a bet with his mother, says he will use some of the money to buy himself an astronaut's suit. The bet ended at 9:01 on Monday morning, but Benjamin waited until his mother, Roslyn, handed him five 100-dollar bills in front of a gathering of newspapermen in the afternoon before switching on the TV. During the past year, he has filled his time reading and his grades have improved from ''satisfactory" to ''very good." CHINA DAILY, Wednesday, March 9, 2011 ( 94 words ) Why did the mother hand the bills to the boy? A. Because his grades had improved B. Because he had won some money C. Because he wanted to buy an astronaut's suit D. Because she had given him her promise Answer: D Question: We have fun with our school life every day. Our school often holds different after-school activities. There was a football match on the school playground yesterday afternoon. Our class played against Class Two. Every player tried their best as soon as the match began at 4:00 o'clock. The players from the two teams played very hard and well. At the beginning of the match, a big and strong player from Class Two got the ball and passed several of our players. He kicked the ball hard to the goal."Oh, dear!"my classmates shouted surprisedly. Luckily, our goalkeeper Steve caught the ball. At the end of the first half of the match, there was no score. After resting for ten minutes, the match began again. Our headteacher Mr. Zhang cheered us on all the time."Teamwork! Teamwork!"he kept shouting. At this time, Kangkang got the ball. He kicked the ball to Jack and Jack kicked the ball to our captain Li Lei. He passed four players with the ball and then kicked the ball into the goal. The crowd jumped cheerfully. My classmates felt excited. Finally, we won 1 to 0. My school life is colorful. I love my school life. ,. From the passage, we know _ . A. no team lost B. the writer's team won C. Class Two won D. the result was 0:0 Answer: B Question: A farmer grew some vegetables in his garden. One day his wife was ill and he had no money. He had to sell some cabbages and carrots in the market. The next morning he took two baskets of vegetables to town. But it was raining hard that afternoon and there were few people in the street. When his vegetables were sold out, it was dark. He bought some medicine and hurried to his village. On his way home he saw a person lying on the snow. He placed his baskets on the ground and was going to help the person to get up. At that time he found it was a dead man and there was much blood on his body. He was so afraid that he ran away quickly, without taking the baskets with him. The next afternoon the farmer was sent to the police station. Having shown the baskets, an officer asked: "Are these yours?" "Yes, sir." the farmer answered timidly . "Have you killed the man?" "No, no, sir." the farmer said in a hurry." When did you see the dead man?" "About seven last evening." "Did you see who killed the man?" "No, Sir." The officer brought out a knife and asked, "Have you seen it yet?" "No, Sir.' The officer became angry and told the policemen to beat him up and send him into prison. That evening the officer went on trying .Pointing to the knife, he asked again," Have you seen it yet?" "Yes, Sir." The officer was happy and asked," When and where?" "I saw it here this afternoon, sir." The farmer didn't sell out his vegetables until the evening because _ . A. they were too bad B. they were very expensive C. it rained hard that morning D. few people liked to go out on such a bad day Answer: D Question: We do the shopping on Sundays . I often go to the supermarket with my mother on Sunday morning in a car . Father likes fruit very much. We buy some red apples for him. Mother likes yellow bananas , but they're green. "Look! The strawberries are very nice, mum. Do you like them?" I say to Mum. "Yes, I like strawberries very much . " Mother buys some for herself. The oranges are very nice. Mother buys some for me . I like orange very much. We need some vegetables . The vegetables in the supermarket are very good . We buy some tomatoes, carrots and broccoli . I don't like broccoli, but my parents like it . I like carrots very much. We buy lots of carrots. After shopping , mother and I have some French fries, milk and ice cream. And then we go back home with the fruit and vegetables . Who like apples very much ? A. Mother B. Father C. I D. I don't know Answer: B
Richard Gray was a famous explorer. He was also a millionaire. He had visited every country in the world. He had crossed Antarctica, flown across the Atlantic by balloon, and climbed Mount Everest. Last year he decided to walk across Death Valley, the hottest place on Earth. He walked for days over the hot desert sand. One night he found the camp where he had been the night before. Gray had walked in a circle. He was lost. Two days later he had drunk all his water. He couldn't walk. He crawled to the top of a sand dune , and there he saw a man. The man was wearing smart, clean trousers, a white shirt and a tie. Gray crawled over to him. "Water...water..."he said. "I'm terribly sorry, old boy,"replied the man,"but I haven't got any water with me." "Help me!"shouted Gray,"I'm a rich man...a millionaire...I'll give you anything." "That's very nice of you, old boy,"said the man."Look, I can't give you any water, but would you like to buy my tie?" "A tie? Of course not!" screamed Gray, and crawled away. He _ led slowly up the next sand dune. His mouth was full of sand. His lips were cracked and dry. He couldn't breathe. He reached the top of the dune and there he saw a huge good hotel. Girls were swimming in the large swimming pool. Beautiful fountains were all around the hotel. "Is it a mirage ?"he thought."Am I dying?"He stood up and staggered down the dune. A waiter in a shining white uniform came out of the door. "Water...water...a bath! Food!" screamed Gray. "I'm sorry, but you can't come into his hotel,"said the waiter. "Why not? I've got plenty of money...I'm a millionaire." "Ah,"replied the waiter,"but you aren't wearing a tie!" Gray saw _ from the top of the next dune. A. a large good hotel B. many swimming girls C. a lot of drinking water D. a beautiful mirage Answer: A. a large good hotel Reach for the stars at the Euro Space Center. Find out everything you need to know about space -- from the origins of the universe to the future space exploration plans. Light, sound and special effects help to bring your space journey to life. Throughout your tour, our specially trained guides will answer your questions and provide you with any information you require. Begin your tour with our exhibition about the planets, then move on to the Space Laboratory and see some of the experiments carried out in space. Visit our international space station, where you can climb into our full-scale Space Shuttle model and experience life on board as an astronaut. You will know all about space by now and to help you further, our Space Center astronaut will tell you about how young people train as astronauts in our own training school. Finally, you can watch our amazing Space Show in our IMAX cinema, which will help you understand everything you have learned during your visit better. Outside we have an outdoor exhibition including a giant solar system, full-size rocket models and outdoor games. Don't worry if it rains -- much of this is under cover. After that, why not visit our restaurant Resto Space for food and drink on a space theme? And don't forget our Space Shop, offering you a lot of gifts to take home. The Euro Space Center is open every day during school holidays, and also during other times except Mondays. Opening times are 10:00-5:00. For entrance fees, call our booking service on + 32-61-650133. Or you can email us for up-to-date entry information at info@eurospacecenter.be. What's the best title for the text? A. Learn to be an astronaut B. Welcome to Space Shop C. Come and take a space walk D. Show your talent for science Answer: C. Come and take a space walk If a person blows on another person's arm, then nerves will A. curl up and die B. signal to the sky C. make more nerves in that area D. alert the brain of this Answer: D. alert the brain of this I sat at my seat waiting for the school paper to be passed around. I waited anxiously, knowing that once I received it I would know how good a writer I really am. When the paper arrived at my classroom, I nearly knocked down five of my classmates to get to the first paper. With a school paper in my hands, I returned to my seat. About a month earlier, I had handed in one of, what I believed to be, my best stories. I named it Symbol of Success. The head of the English Department at my school, Professor Cullen had said that she would include some reviews of students' stories in the latest school paper. Professor Cullen was known for her rough criticism. Impressing her was very hard but I wanted to be the first to do so. I sat at the edge of my seat as I read through the other story reviews. There wasn't one story that got more than three stars .I became calm and wasn't anxious to know my review. It was long after that I heard someone shout out "Five stars?! Seriously !" from behind me. I turned around and saw the shocked expression of Gene's face, "Peter, your story got five stars!" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I turned my attention back to my story and saw the five stars at the end of the review that I had not read yet. I looked through the review written by Professor Cullen. She wrote that I had a gift for story writing. I was proud that I achieved what I thought was impossible .For so long I believed I wasn't as good as I thought I was and that my talent was not enough to cover up my lack of wring skills .But this review proved that I was truly a good writer and that there was a future ahead of me in the field of fiction writing. The review and the five stars meant the world of me. Those five stars became the symbol of my success. Why did the review and the five stars mean the world to Peter? A. Because they helped him learn writing skills B. Because they made him happy for some time C. Because they helped him enter a key university D. Because they made him see his writing talents. Answer: D. Because they made him see his writing talents. Three men were travelling across the desert when their car broke down. There were no other traffics, so their only hope was to walk. Before they set off, they looked around in the car for useful things to take with them. One of the men took a bottle of whisky. Another took an umbrella. The third unscrewed a door from the car and carried that. After they had been walking for almost a day, they came across a camel caravan travelling towards them. "Let's try to join the caravan," one of the men said. "It's going the wrong way but we'll be safer than if we keep on alone across the desert." The other s agreed, so they asked the leader of the caravan for permission to join it. "You can join the caravan only if you answer three questions," he said. He pointed to the first man's bottle. "What is that and why are you carrying it?" he asked. "It's a bottle of whisky. I decided to carry it with me so that if I feel miserable and want to give up, I can get drunk, cheer myself up and then keep on walking." "Very sensible," the leader of the caravan said. Then he pointed to the next man and his umbrella. "It hasn't rained in the desert for many years," he said. "Why are you carrying an umbrella?" "I don't want to get heat exhaustion," he replied. "The umbrella will give me shade from the sun." "Very sensible," the leader of the caravan said. He pointed to the third man and his car door. "And why are you carrying a car door?" he asked him. "I thought that if I got too hot I could open the window and let some air in," he explained. They asked the leader of the caravan _ . A. if they could join the caravan B. how to get out of the desert C. how to avoid heat exhaustion D. where he kept his umbrella Answer: A. if they could join the caravan
Sugar--free beets that still taste sweet, tastier tomatoes and brighter-colored fruits and vegetables that stay ripe longer are all foods that are being grown now. How can they carry traits, such as being tastier, brighter, and riper? They are genetically engineered. Genetic engineering is like making a change in a recipe. For example, when you make cakes, you mix together all of the usual ingredients. If you add an extra ingredient, like salt, the cakes will taste differently. Genes are ingredients in the recipe for life. They carry the traits of living things. Your genes dictate what color hair and eyes you'll have, how tall you'll be, as well as many other traits. Genes carry traits for plants, too. By adding genes to a plant, you can sometimes create new traits. For example, adding a certain gene to a potato plant can make the potato plant distasteful to bugs . This makes some farmers happy because they don't have to use chemicals to keep bugs away from their plants. It sounds great, but some people are opposed to the idea of food that is genetically engineered. Ronnie Cummins, from the Campaign for Food Safety, is against it. He says that one of the major concerns is allergies . Supermarkets don't always label foods that are genetically engineered. A customer could unknowingly buy food that has an added gene from another plant that he or she is allergic to. It could be dangerous. Gary Burton from Monsanto, a seed company that engineers food, disagrees. He says his company tests for allergies. Burton believes that genetic engineering is a valuable tool for making better food. The technology can help farmers use less insecticide and grow healthier crops. Burton thinks there are many advantages. But Cummins says that we just don't know what will happen in the future if we keep adding genes to foods. We could mistakenly create a monster. People have different opinions about genetic engineering. One side supports it and thinks it will only help us. The other side is opposed to playing with nature and fears health risks. Which side do you think is right? It can be inferred that _ . Answer: there could be unknown dangers about genetic foods A nobleman and a merchant once met in an inn. For their lunch they both ordered soup. When it was brought, the nobleman took a spoonful, but the soup was so hot that he burned his mouth and tears came to his eyes. The merchant asked him why he was weeping. The nobleman was ashamed to admit that he had burned his mouth and answered, "Sir, I once had a brother who committed a great crime, for which he was hanged. I was thinking of his death, and that made me weep." The merchant believed this story and began to eat his soup. He too burned his mouth, so that he had tears in his eyes. The nobleman noticed it and asked the merchant, "Sir, why do you weep?" The merchant, who now saw that the nobleman had deceived him, answered, "My lord(="master)," I am weeping because you were not hanged together with your brother." The nobleman did not tell the truth because he _ . Answer: felt ashamed Everyone talks about the weather, but no one does anything about it. It is true. People usually begin their talks with"Isn't it a nice day?" Many people think they can tell what the weather is going to be like. But they hardly agree with each other. One man may say,"Do you see how cloudy it is in the east? It's going to rain tomorrow."Another man will say,"No, it's going to be fine tomorrow." People often look for the weather they want. When a farmer needs water, he looks for something to tell him it's going to rain; he won't believe anything else. When friends have a travel, they are sure the weather is going to clear up very quickly. Almost everyone listens to what the weatherman says, but he doesn't always tell us what we want, and sometimes he makes mistakes. Still , he probably comes closer to being right than anyone else. Weatherman is a man who _ . Answer: reports weather Sometimes when we are lost in the day-to-day activities of life and work, we forget there is a part of us that wants to serve and make a difference in the world. It is also a good time to look for ways to express yourself through service to others. Most people want to live a life full of meaning. If you recognize you have a true desire to serve, voluntary work in the community and a spirit of giving can lead you to an understanding of what you care about, what your natural talents are, and what your life purpose is. It can start you on the path to a new life. To live your purpose as fully as possible, use your natural gifts when you serve others. If you are a naturally-born teacher, you could teach students who are struggling with basic reading skills. If you are good at encouraging people, you could visit people who are sick or in nursing home. Many of us forget how luck we are and how much support we have. When we reach out to others, we sometimes realize how our lives have been blessed. When you are aware of all the blessing that you have received, you can understand your true ability to make a difference. Service is a spirit for living as well as a set of actions. You live your life purpose every day. It's not just when you are volunteering at church or the local food bank. It's every time you interact with anyone. Through your actions, your words and your smiles, you have the capability to either uplift someone or put them down. Meaningful, purposeful lives are built every moment, not just in isolated times spent volunteering. Whether it's at work, in traffic, in the line at the grocery store, or at a concert, you have an opportunity to serve or change the world. Your efforts don't have to be extraordinary, but your life certainly will be. In the author's opinion, to make your life fully meaningful, your service to others should _ . Answer: be based on what you are good at Beijing, January 25 ( Xinhuanet)--Air Canada announced that effective June 2, 2005 it will introduce non--stop service between Toronto and Beijing, further building its main Toronto hub with more non-stop flights to Asia and creating the first--ever direct link between eastern Canada and the Chinese mainland. Air Canada will operate four non-stop flights per week from Toronto to the Chinese capital of Beijing, complementing its daily non-stop flights to Beijing and Shanghai from Vancouver, and twice daily Hong Kong flights including a new non--stop service from Toronto. In addition, in response to increased demand on its Vancouver--Shanghai route, Air Canada will replace its 189-seat Boeing 767-300ER service with larger 282-seat A340-300 aircraft during the demand season beginning June 1,2005. With these new services, Air Canada is boosting seating capacity between Canada and China by 16 percent and providing freight forwarders with 45 percent more cargo tonnage( ) from one year ago. "China is the fastest growing aviation( )market in the world, and Air Canada's global network is well positioned to meet the needs of international travelers and freight senders," said Duncan Dee, senior vice president of Air Canada. "With the introduction of the first non-stop service to Beijing from our main Toronto hub, Air Canada is bringing the Americas that much closer to the Chinese mainland." What's the main idea of this passage? Answer: Air Canada will open non-stop flight between Beijing and Toronto.
Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando in Florida People say that it is the home of the "Harry Potter Theme Park". The Wizarding World is the most popular part of the park. Other popular rides include the Adventures of Spider-Man, Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges and the Jurassic Park River Adventure. It is open from Monday to Saturday. $15.95 for children, 3 to 13 years old; $29.95 for ages 14 and over. PI-O Indoor Theme Park in Longueuil The PI-O Indoor Theme Park features(......) 16 rides, a small sea train, a kid-sized bowling alley , a mirror maze , theme rooms which include the Christmas room on-the-sea, and a private reception room. "I wanted to create a safe environment for kids aged 1 to 10," explains owner Jocelyne Pinard. She noted how many competing amusement parks have sections that can be unsafe for young kids -- such as the "ball rooms" full of loose plastic balls. So this is how it is different from other amusement parks. Open seven days a week. The admission fees are $16.99 for individuals and $64 for families. Legoland Windsor Theme Park in London Legoland Windsor is the best choice for young families. The park is designed for children from 3 to 12. There are over 50 rides as well as live shows, workshops, and other attractions aimed at younger children, and especially those who are already fond of building-block toys. The park is open every single day. Adults: $35; Ages 3-15 and 60+: $26. Buy online and save $3 per person. Wonder La Theme Park in India Wonder La is a world-class amusement park. It's modern, clean and green, and has all kinds of attractions. There are over 50 rides, 12 of which are water based and 9 especially for small children. If you love getting wet, don't miss the Rain Disco -- an indoor dance floor with a rain system that provides showers of warm water to the music. Monday to Friday 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, Holiday and Festival seasons 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Single adult / child -- $13.50; Family ticket (for any four people) -- $50.00; Children 3 and under -- Free. If Jim is free this Sunday, he can choose to visit the following parks EXCEPT _ . A Islands of Adventure B PI-O C Legoland Windsor D Wonder La Answer: A. Islands of Adventure Monday: Here I am, in the middle of nowhere. This camping trip idea is not getting off to a very good start. It's raining and the tent leaks . The hiking seemed to take forever, and I still can't understand how it could all have been up hill! How did I ever let my brother persuade me into doing this? When we get home--if we ever get home--he's going to have to do something great to get back on my good side. Maybe he should sponsor a shopping spree at the mall! Tuesday: Things are looking up. The sun came out today, so we were able to leave the tents and dry out. We're camped at the edge of a small lake that I couldn't see before because of the rain and fog. The mountains are all around us, and the forest is absolutely beautiful. We spent most of the day dragging out everything out of our backpacks or tents and putting it where the sun could dry it out. Later in the afternoon we tried to catch the fish for dinner, but the fish were smarter than we were. At night we built a fire and sang songs happily. Wednesday: We hiked to the far side of the lake and climbed to the top of a small peak. From there we could see how high the other mountains were and how far the forest spread around us. On the way up we passed through a snowfield! Thursday: I caught my first fish! We followed the stream that fed the lake. After about two miles, we came to a section that Carol said looked "fishy". She had a pack rod , which can be carried in a backpack. I asked to cast it, and I caught a fish on my first try. Carol caught a few more. But they were just too pretty to eat for lunch, so we put them back in the stream. Friday: I can't believe we are going home already. It will be nice to get a hot shower, sleep in a real bed, and eat junk food, but the trip has been wonderful. We're already talking about another camping adventure next year where we canoe down a river. It's hard to believe, but I think this city girl has a little country blood in her veins. The whole morning of Tuesday, the writer _ . A hiked along the lake. B dried out her belongings. C climbed the mountain. D caught the fish for dinner. Answer: B. dried out her belongings. Birthdays often involve surprises. But this year's surprise on the birthday of the great British playwright William Shakespeare is surely one of the most dramatic. On April 22, one day before his 441st birthday anniversary, experts discovered that one of the most recognizable portraits of William Shakespeare is a fake. This means that we no longer have a good idea of what Shakespeare looked like. "It's very possible that many pictures of Shakespeare might be unreliable because many of them are copies of this one," said an expert from Britain's National Portrait Gallery. The discovery comes after four months of testing using X-rays, ultraviolet light, microphotography and paint samples. The experts from the gallery say the image --commonly known as the "Flower portrait"-- was actually painted in the 1800s, about two centuries after Shakespeare's death. The art experts who work at the gallery say they also used modern chemistry technology to check the paint on the picture. These checks found traces of paint dating from about 1814. Shakespeare died in 1616, and the date that appears on the portrait is 1609. "We now think the portrait dates back to around 1818 to 1840. This was when there was a renewed interest in Shakespeare's plays," Tarnya Cooper, the gallery's curator , told the Associated President. The fake picture has often been used as a cover for collections of his plays. It is called the Flower portrait because one of its owners, Desmond Flower, gave it to the Royal Shakespeare Company. "There have always been questions about the painting," said David Howells, curator for the Royal Shakespeare Company. "Now we know the truth, we can put the image in its proper place in the history of Shakespearean portraiture." Two other images of Shakespeare, are also being studied as part of the investigation and the results will come out later this month. _ The best title for this passage is _ . A Birthdays often involve surprises B The surprise on the 441st birthday of Shakespeare C One portrait of Shakespeare is a fake D How can we know Shakespeare's appearance? Answer: B. The surprise on the 441st birthday of Shakespeare Kelly's favorite subject is P.E. But she has a hard time in P.E. class. She is not good at jumping very far, she has trouble throwing a ball, and she can't run really fast. Sometimes, some kids make fun of her. So why does Kelly love P.E. class? The reason is that her teacher Mr. Burns always tells her to do her best. Though she only runs for a few minutes, Mr. Burns says, "Good job! Next time you will be able to go a little longer." Mr. Burns even put a small box on the floor so Kelly would be able to practice jumping over it. That night when Kelly finished dinner, she put three boxes and began practicing jumping over them. She made it! Kelly thought to herself, "Tomorrow I will be able to jump over those boxes in P.E. class." And sure enough, Kelly jumped over three boxes in class the next day. The other kids said to her, "Good job!" There was a relay race on Tuesday. Kelly was scared that she would not be able to go very far. But when Mr. Burns said, "Ready! Set! Go!", Kelly thought to herself, "I can do it." When Kelly ran around the track , she heard many cheers and kids shouting, "Go Kelly! You can do it!" That was all she needed to hear. Kelly ran fast. She finished first! The kids cheered for her. Kelly felt so good. "Thank you Mr. Burns," said Kelly. "Kelly, you ran the race, not me." "Yes, but you always said I could do it." At the end of the story, we can learn that Kelly felt _ . A happy B bored C upset D independent Answer: A. happy Sandstorms hit northwestern China's Gansu Province and North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on the first day this year. According to Sun Landong,a meteorologist with the Lanzhou Meteorology Observatory,visibility was less than 100 meters in Minqin, a Gansu county near Inner Mongolia,because of sand. When visibility drops to less than 1 kilometer, it is called a sandstorm. The sandstorm in Minqin blew up dust in neighboring towns, such as Baiyin,Wuwei,Jinchang and Lanzhou,the capital city of Gansu Province Dust-laden winds also swept into Beijing. Brought by northwesterly blowing at more than 20 meters per second, dust first reached the capital's suburbs at 7 a. m.,downtown areas at 9 a. m. The winds,which died down during the night,brought the temperature down to as low as 8 0C below zero and many flights put off their planned time from the city's airport. It is quite rare for sandstorms,which are frequent between March and June,to happen in winter,when the earth is frozen. The sandstorms in Gansu and Inner Mongolia do not necessarily mean there will be more of them in the spring than last year,when they were serious,but Beijing is taking it very seriously. It is reported that Beijing will spend 6 billion yuan( US 725 million) in preventing sandstorms in the capital and has already set up a special team to make sure what causes them. Which of the following doesn't belong to the bad effect the sandstorms have done in Beijing? A The temperature fell. B Flights put off their time to take off. C The air is dirty. D People had three days off Answer: D. People had three days off
In the 1880s, people drank John Pemberton's tonic to cure headaches. It wasn't a very popular drink, and he sold only about a dozen drinks a day. That's why Pemberton was willing to sell the rights to his medicinal drink. The buyer, Asa Griggs Candler, paid just $ 2,300 for the rights to Coca-Cola. Today, Coca-Cola (or Coke) is worth billions of dollars. It controls 50 percent of the world market in soft drinks. How did Coca-Cola become so popular? One answer is that Asa Candler was a very clever businessman. He was one of the first people to use mass marketing. How did he do this? First, he made his product unique. When he bought the rights to Coca-Cola, it came in ordinary bottles. It looked like every other drink on the market. To make Coca-Cola look different, Candler modernized the bottles. He also made an eye-catching logo for his products. _ In addition to the unique bottle and logo, Candler spent a lot of time and money advertising his product. He used advertising to make a powerful image of Coca-Cola in the minds of his customers. He gave away free bottles of Coke. He put the name of his drink on pencils, trays, Japanese fans, matches, and many other things. Then he gave the things to people for free. He advertised Coca-Cola in the newspaper and painted the words "Drink Coca-Cola" on the sides of buildings and barns. By 1902, Coca-Cola was the best known product in the United States. Candler was also able to make memorable advertisements. They often had catchy slogans such as "The Pause That Refreshes." He also used famous athletes to advertise his product. They helped people to think of Coca-Cola as a delicious drink for everyone. Today, businesses all over the world use mass marketing, but the makers of Coke were the first. Candler used slogans to advertise his product. Slogans are _ . memorable phrases When English as a foreign language is taught to children at the primary and early secondary levels of education, it is generally taught with a general education aim in mind--that is, it is regarded as a "good thing" for them to learn a foreign language as a part of a broad education. There is usually, however, no immediate and specific requirement for such children to make use of the language in any communicative situation. The purpose of learning the language is essentially a "deferred" purpose, deferred till the tertiary level of education, normally at university, where, it is agreed, a knowledge of English would be helpful in their academic studies. Immediate aims of learning English are defined by the requirements of examinations. Inevitably what is taught to primary and secondary level children is not a communicative knowledge of English language use, but a knowledge of how the rules of English operate. The language system is taught by means of systematic audio-lingual drill and exercise techniques based on habit formation theory of learning and a structural description of English. This may be an effective manner of teaching English usage, but it is less certain that an understanding of how these rules are related to language in use for communicative purpose is an automatic result of this instruction. What the thousands of children succeed in learning in this way is what is necessary in order to pass examinations. Whether such examinations accurately reflect the uses to which English will be put at the tertiary level is another matter altogether. Adults, on the other hand, unless they are learning a foreign language for "pleasure" at evening institutes, as a "cultural" and social experience, are generally highly conscious of the use to which they intend to put it. That use is frequently associated with an academic or professional requirement; without a knowledge of the foreign language, their development in their chosen sphere of work could be restricted or at least adversely affected. According to the author, the current examination system _ . does not enable students to use English for communication Revealed to the world by the famous British explorer, Dr David Livingstone, in 1855, the Victoria Falls are one of Africa's best-known natural wonders. They form a natural border between Zimbabwe and Zambia . The falls are named after Queen Victoria by Livingstone. They were known to the native people in the 18th century as: "the smoke that thunders". The waterfall is formed as the two-kilometer-wide Zambezi River spills over the edge of its giant stone riverbed and falls into the gorge below. At their highest point, the Victoria Falls drop a distance of 108m, almost twice as far as the Niagara Falls. As much as 546 million cubic meters of water per minute falls over the edge from that height. Viewing the falls from the Zambian side means that visitors can follow a path that goes right up to the falls. The falls can also be viewed from the Boiling Pot, right in the depths of the gorge at the bottom of the falls. The 111-meter-high Victoria Falls Bridge, a railway crossing, is now a popular place for Bungee jumping. It can be crossed on foot for excellent views of the falls and the winding blue-green waters of the Zambezi River. It is also possible to see the falls from a plane. The area around the falls is a major game-viewing place. The best time to view the Victoria Falls is between December and July, when the water level is the highest. Contact Addresses Tourist Centre, Livingstone, Zambia Tel: (03) 321 404E-mail: zntb@zamnet.zm Website: www.zambiatourism.com. According to the passage, we know that the Victoria Falls _ . were discovered by a British man A little old man and his wife walked slowly into McDonald's on a cold winter evening. They took a table near the back wall, and then the little old man walked to the cash register to order. After a while he got the food back and they began to open it. There was one hamburger, some French fries and one drink. The little old man carefully cut the hamburger in half and divided the French fries in two piles. Then he neatly put the half of the food in front of his wife. He took a sip of the drink and his wife _ . "how poor the old people are!" the people around them thought. As the man began to eat his hamburger and his French fries, his wife sat there watching him and took turns to drink. A young man came over and offered to buy another meal for them. But they refused politely and said that they got used to sharing everything. Then a young lady asked a question of the little old lady. " Madam, why aren't you eating? You said that you share everything, then what are you waiting for?" She answered, "The teeth." What can we know from the whole passage? The two old people shared the same teeth. A very new, young officer was at a station. He was on his way to visit his mother in another town, and he wanted to telephone her to tell her the time of this train , so that she could meet him at the station in her car.He look in all his pockets, but found that he did not have the right money for the telephone, so he went outside and looked around for someone to help him. At last an old soldier came by, and the young officer stopped him and said, "Have you got change for ten pence ?" "Wait a moment, " the old soldier answered. He began to put his hand in his pocket, "I'll see whether I can help you. " "Don't you know how to speak to an officer?" the young man said angrily. "Now let's start again. Have you got change for ten pence? " "No, sir," the old soldier answered quickly. Which of the following is not true? Both the young officer and the old soldier were angry.
Mr. Robinson never went to see a dentist, because he was afraid , but then his teeth began aching a lot, and he had to see a dentist. The dentist did a lot of work in his mouth for a long time. On the last day Mr. Robinson asked the dentist, "How much is all the work going to cost ?" "Twenty-five dollars," said the dentist. But he didn't ask him for the money. After a month Mr. Robinson phoned the dentist and said, "You haven't asked me for any money for your work." "Oh," the dentist answered, "I never ask a gentleman for money." "Then how do you live?" Mr. Robinson asked. "Most gentlemen pay me quickly, the dentist said, "but some don't. I wait for my money for two months, and then I say, 'That man is not a gentleman,' and then I ask him for my money. Mr. Robinson _ until his teeth began aching a lot. A. wasn't afraid B. didn't see a dentist C. wanted to see a dentist D. went to see a dentist Answer: B World Health Day is celebrated on 7 April to mark the anniversary of the founding of WHO in 1948. Each year a theme is selected for World Health Day that highlights a priority area of public health concern in the world. The theme for 2013 is high blood pressure. High blood pressure increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes . If left uncontrolled, high blood pressure can also cause blindness, irregularities of the heartbeat and heart failure. The risk of developing these complications is higher in the presence of other risk factors such as diabetes . One in three adults worldwide has high blood pressure and this increases with age, from 1 in 10 people in their 20s and 30s to 5 in 10 people in their 50s. High blood pressure is most common in some low-income countries in Africa, with over 40% of adults in many African countries thought to be affected. However, high blood pressure is both preventable and treatable. In some developed countries, prevention and treatment of it has brought about a reduction in deaths from heart disease. The risk of developing high blood pressure can be reduced by: reducing salt intake; eating a balanced diet; avoiding harmful use of alcohol; taking regular physical activity; keeping a healthy body weight; and avoiding tobacco use. The final and most important goal of World Health Day 2013 is to reduce heart attacks and strokes, which includes as follows: 1.to raise awareness of the causes and consequences of high blood pressure; 2.to provide information on how to prevent high blood pressure 3.to encourage adults to check their blood pressure and to follow the advice of health-care professionals. Who are most likely to be affected by high blood pressure? A. Those who are in their 20s B. Those who are in their 30s C. Those who are in their 40s D. Those who are in their 50s Answer: D If you've ever seen the way dog people interacted with their pets, it comes as no surprise that there's some germ-exchanging going on there. A new study indicates that dog ownership specifically may be one of the biggest single contributors to what kinds of microbes live on your skin. A team of researchers led by Se Jin Song at the University of Colorado, Boulder, took swabs of the tongues, palms, forehead and feces of members of 60 family households. Some of the families had children or household pets and some did not; dogs were the only pets swabbed. Researchers then analyzed the DNA of the bacteria they found to determine how diverse the bacteria populations were. Not surprisingly, family members who lived together had more bacteria in common than members of separate households. Bacteria on the skin were especially similar within households, probably because we pass microbes through the air, through direct contact, and via the surfaces we touch. The most surprising finding, however, was the large bacteria contribution Fidonad made. The skin bacteria of dog owners from different households was almost as similar as if they'd cohabited without a dog. Put another way, you and a friend across town who both own dogs share a skin ecosystem as alike as a married couple does. The reason for this appears to be that dogs harbor some kinds of bacteria that are rare on human skin. One in particular, a family of bacteria called Methylophilaceae, was abundant in the mouths of dogs sampled as well as the skin of their owners--indicating "a common occurrence of oral-skin transfer between dogs and their owners," according to the results published in the journal eLife. The research took the following factors into consideration EXCEPT _ A. varieties of swabs from members of 60 family households. B. families with children or households pets. C. families without children or households pets. D. dogs being the only pets in the households. Answer: D August has always been difficult for me. It is the time when I realize that the books my English teacher assigned to me are not going to read themselves and that I have a difficult month in front of me. You might think that I don't want to spend my summer reading, but that's not the problem: I love reading. On the first day of my summer holidays this year, I went to the library and got "A Gathering of Old Men" by African-American writer Ernest Gaines. I enjoyed it very much. I read all the magazines that my parents subscribe to and spend about 30 minutes every day with the morning paper. So why do I hate summer reading for school? Because the books on summer reading lists are often slow-going and just uninviting. Teachers and librarians don't understand that summer reading can be entertaining as well as educational. They choose books that a friend of my mother's calls "spinach books": good for you, but not much fun to take in. Every summer, I read them, hate them and get bitter about the experience. This bitterness started three years ago when I was about to begin high school. As preparation, my English teacher told me to read "The Age of Innocence" by American author Edith Wharton. I'm sure there are many people who enjoyed "The Age of Innocence"--some might even say it's their favorite book. But I don't think any of these people read it as a 14-year-old boy on his summer vacation. "The Age of Innocence" is the story of a forbidden romance in prefix = st1 /New York100 years ago. At 14, my only experience with romance was my love for baseball. I couldn't imagine being in love, much less being in love in 1900. "The Age of Innocence" was totally different to my life. Most of my required summer reading has been like that--books written in a style that plays up the adjectives and plays down the verbs. I guess teachers don't think exciting plots make for "good literature". To me, though, a good writer describes events and characters in a way that makes the reader want to know what happens next. If I were making up a summer reading list, it would include "The Friends of Eddie Coyle" by George V. Higgins, "The Right Stuff" by Tom Wolfe, and "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer. These are all books that have literary value but, just as important, can also entertain kids on vacation. If the teachers could stand a little fun in the books they assign, my Augusts would be a lot more enjoyable. What can make students interested in August reading ought to be _ . A. romantic B. out of date C. entertaining and educational D. pure Answer: C Billy was like a king on the school yard. A king without a queen. He was the biggest kid in our grade, so he made all the rules during recess. He was a big bully. He told kids what to do, what to play, what to sing, and called them names like "Dork". He always had a smile on his face as he sat on the bench next to the big tree and watched his "kingdom". All of the other kids were scared of him. Even I was scared of him. He was mean and he could beat you up if you made him angry. Last week, a very, very stupid kid chose not to listen to Billy. Billy beat him up and Mr.Stupid Kid told the grownups that he tripped. No one would dare get Billy in trouble. Billy was mean, but he kept the school yard from getting too crazy. Well I had enough it. Billy had been picking on us for too long and we had to stop him. I grabbed some fishing line from home and brought it to school the next day. Before recess, I tied a long piece of fishing line around the tree by Billy's bench and tied the other end to a big rock. Then I went inside for class. When it was recess, Billy sat on his bench and started yelling at people. This was it. I called out, "Hey you big dummy! You're not so tough". Billy's face turned red with anger and he started marching my way. Billy marched and then tripped over the fishing line. Billy was lying face down and he seemed to be crying. Everyone cheered. The king was down. Billy was like a... A. prince B. dummy C. queen D. king Answer: D
Beldon and Canfield are two seashore towns, not far apart. Both towns have many hotels, and in summer the hotels are full of holiday-makers and other tourists. Last August there was a fire at the Seabreeze Hotel in Beldon. The next day this news appeared on Page Two of the town's newspaper, The Beldon Post. FIRE AT SEABREEZE Late last night firemen hurried to the Seabreeze Hotel and quickly put out a small fire in a bedroom. The hotel manager said that a cigarette started the fire. We say again to all our visitors, "Please don't smoke cigarettes in bed." This was Beldon's first hotel fire for five years. The canfield times gave the news in these words on Page One: ANOTHER BELDON HOTEL CATCHES FIRE Last night Beldon firemen arrived just too late to save clothing, bedclothes and some furniture at the Seabreeze Hotel. An angry holiday-maker said, " An electric lamp probably started the fire. The bedroom lamps are very old at some of these hotels. When I turned the bedside light on, I heard a funny noise from the lamp." We are glad to tell our readers that this sort of adventure does not happen in Canfield. What are the facts, then? It is never easy to find out the exact truth about an accident. There was a fire at the Seabreeze Hotel 1st August: that is one fact. Do we know anything else? Yes, we know that firemen went to the hotel. Which of the following BEST gives the main idea of this passage? Answer: Teachers' Day is coming soon. Miss Wang is talking to her students and her students are listening to her. "Good morning, boys and girls!"says Miss Wang,"Teachers' Day is on September l0th. I hear some students are going to buy some presents for your teachers. You want to show your love for your teachers. That is very good, of course. But teachers don't like to get presents from students. So please don't buy any! I think on Teachers' Day, a card from you all is enough . And the best present for our teachers is your good work. " The best present for the teacher is _ . Answer: One day,I noticed the most beautiful Cadillac pull in the lot while waiting for my husband.A pretty female driver pulled into the spot beside our car.There was a striking resemblance to Liz Taylor.Her eyes were as blue as the sea,and teeth like an even row of pearls.A few minutes 1ater,a nice looking man entered her car,leaned over and kissed her and she drove away. Sitting there,I wanted to cry.How could some people have it all? Then it became almost routine to see her about once a week.She seemed friendly and always waved,flashing a big smile.My envy continued to exist long after she drove away. A couple of weeks later,sitting in our usual parking lot,I was holding a book,watching her over the top of it.Her husband came to the car,took her arm and helped her out of the car.I could see very well as she moved to get out.She unsteadily walked around to the passenger side very slowly, leaning on a walking cane.Sitting sideways.she lifted one leg with her hands and then the other.The beautiful lady had a prosthesis on the left Ieg and a brace on the right leg. I couldn't watch them drive away as the tears were blinding me.Through my tears,I told my husband about the beautiful lady.He said he knew her husband and the story.The lady and her parents were in a car that got caught on the railroad tracks and was hit by a train.Both parents were killed and she was severely injured.She was only 12 years old.The railroad made a large settlement with her because the crossing had no signals.He explained her car was specially built for her needs as well as the home. I prayed for forgiveness all the way home.The lady I thought had everything I didn't.I realized how lucky I was to have my parents,the ability to walk,run or dance through life and many wonderful things money can't buy.I would not have traded places with the beautiful lady for anything. When you meet a person who seems to be much better off than you,don't be fooled. What made the author pray for forgiveness all the way home? Answer: According to a report by London's Sunday Times on December 24, 2011, the world's youngest professional gamer is an 8-year -old American boy, Victor De Leon. Victor has been gaming since age two, when his dad used to hand him a game-controller to soothe crying mood . He then gradually turned himself into Lil poison, king of the world of acrobatic combat . He got his first professional contract at the age of six. Lil Poison is beginning to make money from web tournaments, business activities and celebrity financial support. His name will soon appear on a line of some clothing and on special "skins" used to house gaming panels . Victor's success as a celebrity is burning great interest in what Americans are beginning to call "e-sports" or "cyber athletics". Which of the following statements is not true based on the passage? Answer: When you leave home to go and live somewhere else, you naturally take your own personality and cultural ways with you. When you arrive in a new country with a different culture you can experience different kinds of feelings and reactions. For example, you may feel confused and nervous, and like to depend on others. If you do experience these things, then you are probably experiencing culture shock. For example, coming to Australia from another country certainly gives you a chance to face many new things: the buildings look different, and the food is not what you are used to. You may not be able to speak with other people confidently. Learning to function effectively in a new culture is not easy. Meanings in cross-cultural situations are often unclear. This can be stressful because you are not sure what others expect of you or what you can expect of them. In these situations it is natural to feel anxious and frustrated . If you recognize that these feelings are a normal part of the experience of living away from "home", you may be able to deal with them more efficiently. Your sense of humor and openness will also help. As you gain greater understanding of the new culture, you can expect the stress to disappear. Dealing with culture shock needs a special effort, but it is the most important to remember that you are not alone in your feelings of distress. Most people in their first weeks and months in a new country experience similar reactions. Which of the following is the most important thing in dealing with culture shock? Answer:
Question: The day I became a mom was not the day my daughter was born, but seven years later. Up until that day, I had been too busy trying to survive my abusive marriage. I had spent all my energy trying to run a "perfect" home that would pass inspection each evening, and I didn't see that my baby girl had become a toddler. I'd tried endlessly to please someone who could never be pleased and suddenly realized that the years had slipped by and could never return. Oh, I had done the normal "motherly" things, like making sure my daughter got to ballet and gym lessons. I went to all of her recitals and school concerts, parent-teacher conferences and open houses alone. We suffered from my husband's rages when something was spilled at the dinner table, telling her, "It will be okay, Honey. Daddy's not really mad at you." I did all I could to protect her from hearing the awful shouting and complaints after he returned from a night of drinking. Finally I did the best thing I could do for my daughter and myself: I removed us from the home that wasn't really a home at all. That day I became a mom was the day when my daughter and I were sitting in our new home having a calm, quiet dinner just as I had always wanted for her. We were talking about what she had done in school and suddenly her little hand knocked over the full glass of chocolate milk by her plate. As I watched the white tablecloth and freshly painted white wall become dark brown, I looked at her small face. It was filled with fear, knowing what the consequence of the event would have meant only a week before in her father's presence. When I saw that look on her face and looked at the chocolate milk running down the wall, I simply started laughing. I am sure she thought I was crazy, but then she must have realized that I was thinking, "It's a good thing your father isn't here!" She started laughing with me, and we laughed until we cried. They were tears of joy and peace and were the first of many tears that we cried together. That was the day we knew that we were going to be okay. Whenever either of us spills something, even now, seventeen years later, she says, "Remember the day I spilled the chocolate milk? I knew you had done _ for us." That was the day I really became a mom. I discovered that being a mom isn't only going to ballet or gym, recitals, and attending every school concert and open house. It isn't keeping a tidy house and preparing perfect meals. It certainly isn't pretending things are normal when they are not. For me, being a mom started when I could laugh over spilled milk. What is the best title for this article? A. How To Be a Better Mon? B. The Day I Became a Mom C. A Thing Happened 17 Years Ago D. Survive an Abusive Marriage Answer: B Question: A single night of taking the drug Ecstasy can cause serious brain damage and speed up the start of Parkinson's disease , scientists say. Just two or three Ecstasy tablets can permanently destroy brain cells that affect movement and reasoning, according to American research that links the drug to Parkinson's for the first time. A study by a team at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, involving squirrel monkeys and baboons found that both species suffered permanent damage to key cells, which are lost in Parkinson's, after receiving three low doses of Ecstasy at three-hour periods. The study is particularly important because baboons are one of the best animal models for the human brain. George Ricaurte, who led the research, said that the widespread abuse of drug might have caused severe damage. "The most troubling result is that young adults using Ecstasy may be increasing their risk of developing Parkinsonism as they get older." Alan Leshner, a former director of the US National Institute on Drug Abuse, said, "This study emphasizes the multi-aspect damage that Ecstasy causes to users. We've long known that repeated use damages brain cells. But this study shows that even very occasional use can have long-lasting effects on many different brain systems. It sends an important message to young people: don't experiment with your own brain." Janet Betts, a mother whose teenage daughter Leah died after a single Ecstasy tablet in 1995, said, "This comes as no surprise. But people can't see the effects at first, and they say it won't happen to them. We'll see the symptoms later, just as we have with smoking." Why are squirrel monkeys and baboons involved in the experiments? A. Because these animals usually take drugs. B. Because their brain is similar to human beings. C. Because there is a model in the animals' brains. D. Because they will soon get well after the experiment. Answer: B Question: Dear Amy, My husband is a loving, creative and sensitive person who is 15 years my senior. (I am in my mid-30s.) Now I still struggle with my ups and downs, and he is still broke. I have continually asked my husband to get a job. I know he's trying, but even a part-time job at a convenience store would make ends meet. His former profession as a freelance producer dropped off with the economy, and while he tries hard to find work in his field, he is extremely unwilling to accept the fact that he may need to get a "regular"job. I love him very much, but I can't continue to keep my frustration bottled up. I tell myself I'm going to leave him if he doesn't find work, but I really want to stay together. How should I handle this? Round the Bend Dear Round, Having been a freelancer for many years, I assure you (and him) that the true meaning of freelancing is that you have the freedom to accept a variety of jobs, as well as the responsibility to make a living between jobs. Freelancers teach, tend bar, sell things door to door and do anything it takes to bring home the money. Volunteering is also a wonderful way to keep busy and meet new people. Amy Dear Amy, "Joan" was a 50-year-old reader who wants to spend her parents' gift (money) on a trip to India. Her retirement fund is less than half of what she will need for retirement. It's also clear that she hasn't budgeted monthly for car repairs and other out-of-pocket expenses. In your answer, you encourage her to go. She's 50 and the clock is ticking! How will she feel about the trip she took when she turns 70 when she can't afford to retire? Maybe there are other ways she can experience Indian food, culture, history and art without spending the entire sum of money. When her "health slows her down." she may wish she had kept a rainy-day fund. Realistic Reader Dear Realistic, Your argument is very logical and realistic, but there are also times when you have to go for it. I hope she does. Amy Who might be Amy? A. A reporter of a health magazine. B. A kind-hearted friend of Joan's. C. An advisor offering people career advice. D. An editor of "Ask Amy" section of a magazine. Answer: D Question: A good example of a mixture is A. dry wood and dry beans B. ocean and lake water C. rabbits and young hares D. old bread and buns Answer: B Question: War Horseis a historical story by Michael Morpurgo. It is written for kids ages 8 to 12. Now just sit and get through the introduction to the plot. In 1914, a young horse named Joey is sold to a farmer. The farmer' s son, Albert, is thrilled. He cares for Joey. When the family begins to feel the financial impact of war, Albert' s father secretly sells Joey to an army officer named Captain Nicholls. Albert begs the captain to let him join the army. Albert is too young, but Nicholls promises to take good care of Joey for him. Nicholls treats Joey well. Though Joey still remembers Albert, he grows to like his new master. He develops a friendship with another horse, Topthorn., who belongs to Nicholls' friend, Captain Stewart. The horses and men are shipped overseas for battle. They soon face their own battle in France, and Captain Nicholls is killed. A young soldier named Warren becomes Joey's new owner. Joey and Topthorn do well in battle, but the Germans capture Warren and Stewart and their horses. The horses' duty of pulling carts full of wounded German soldiers earns them praise. An old farmer and his granddaughter, Emilie, _ the horses as well. When the German army moves out of the area, Emilie and her grandfather keep the two horses. Joey and Topthorn are content to work the farm until another band of soldiers takes them. They become workhorses under bad conditions. Joey is very upset when Topthorn dies of exhaustion. Alone and frightened, Joey wanders into "no-man's-land" between the German and English camps. An English soldier takes him back to camp. Joey is reunited with Albert. As the war ends, Albert' s officer announces the horses will be sold in France. An old Frenchman buys Joey. The man, Emilie' s grandfather, tells Albert how Emilie lost the will to live after the horses were taken. However, he eventually sells Joey to Albert for one penny, as long as Albert promises to share Emilie' s story so her life will not be in vain. Joey and Albert return home. Which of the following is TRUE about Captain Nicholls? A. He's a rich man. B. He's a Frenchman. C. He's a man of his word. D. He doesn't win Joey's trust. Answer: C
When my father married my mother in 1943,he gave my mother a 1937 crown coin and told her to keep it in the back of her purse and not spend it.This would mean that she always felt that she was protected and would always have money if she really needed it. When I was married in 1970, my husband who had heard this story,obtained a 1937 crown for me and I have always kept it in my wallet,and I have always had enough for my needs. A friend recently fell on hard times,partly through external circumstances and partly through poor planning.Friends and I have loaned her money,paid her bills,even given her food.tried to teach her budget techniques,and none of them has been a solution.She has just slipped deeper and deeper into financial trouble and depression. Last week she looked pale and unwell,very depressed and hopeless.I then thought about how the crown, a reminder of another care and love,had protected me,so 1 went to the bank for a $100 dollar bill.I told my friend the story and asked her to keep the $100 in the back of her wallet.It turned out that she didn't have a wallet,so she put the money in a little pencil case where she kept her coins.She immediately felt better."I feel rich,and thank you for being a good friend",she said,and we were both a bit teary. The reason for passing this on is not to praise any generosity on my part,but to show the power of "random acts of kindness".I went home and remembered a little wallet I had that I'd never used,and thought,"I'II give that to my friend".I opened it,and inside,found $100. The universe is very just and if your heart is open the reward always comes. The writer's husband gave her a crown coin when they married because _ . Answer: Visiting Mineral City! Mineral City is an interesting place to visit. It is a beautiful little town with many old buildings. Take a walk through the center of the town on Main Street. Look first at the Mineral City Hotel. It is on the corner of Main Street and Glenn Avenue. It is about 150 years old and people will stay there. There is an interesting old building across the street from the hotel. This was a post office. Now it is a store for books and videos. There are many places to eat on Main Street. You can get lunch or dinner in one of these places. There is a park between Main Street and Oak Street. You can sit on a bench in the park. It is nice and quiet, and you can enjoy the trees and flowers. You can also take a walk down Glenn Avenue. Look at the old buildings and interesting little stores on this street. Which is NOT true? Answer: Online English Web Sites * www.english-zone.com----A site teaching English grammar; vocabulary and reading skills. Also lots of jokes. * www.theenglishprofessor.com----ESL (="English" as a second language) links. "Learning English free" is its slogan. Very good at helping students improve their writing skills. * www.globalstudy .com/est----Directory of "English as a Second Language" web sites in the United States; Canada; Australia; New Zealand; Great Britain and Ireland. * www.netsurflearning.com----A free English course using materials from the web and catering for all levels. You can improve all kinds of language skills there. * www.rg-chonang.com----Hundreds of ESL links for you to go to. * www.wfi.fr/volterre/weblinklearners.html----A wide variety of English language resources links. How many web sites provide free English courses? Answer: How do the waxy stem covering and needle-shaped leaves improve the ability of a cactus to survive in the desert? Answer: Dear Amy How are you? Mum, Dad and I went to Thailand last week. We had a great time! We arrived at the airport early on Friday morning. I chose a window seat on the plane. I could see the clouds clearly from the window. They looked soft and shiny. Four hours later, we landed in Thailand. We stayed at a hotel in Pattaya on our first day. We went to the beach. We played different water sports there. We had so much fun! We were tired when we got back to the hotel. On the next day, we went to Bangkok. We visited two temples there. They looked like golden bells with pointed tops. We took some photos outside the temples and had a walk in the gardens. In the evening, we had dinner at a restaurant next to a lake. The food was very _ so I kept drinking cold water! On the last day, we hung out at a shopping mall. Mum bought a beautiful tea set. Dad bought some T-shirts and I bought some dried mangoes . We went to the airport after lunch. I was lucky because I got a window seat again. This time I could see the beautiful sunset . We enjoyed the trip very much. I hope we will go on another trip again soon. Love Polly How long was Polly's trip in Thailand? Answer:
Steve Jobs, the designer of Apple Computer, wasn't smart when he was at school. At that time, he was not a good student and he always made trouble with his schoolmates. Then he dropped out . But he was full of new ideas. After he left college, Steve Jobs worked as a video game designer. He worked there for only several months and then he went to India. He hoped that the trip would give him some new ideas and give him a change in life. Steve Jobs lived on a farm in California for a year after he returned from India. In 1975, he began to make a new type of computer. He designed the Apple computer with his friend . He chose the name"Apple"just because it could help him to remember a happy summer he once spent in an apple tree garden. His Apple computer was such a great success that Steve Jobs soon became famous all over the world. ,. We learn _ according to this passage. A Steve Jobs finished his studies in the college. B Steve Jobs liked travelling all over the world. C Steve Jobs was always trying to make his new ideas come true. D Steve Jobs was weak in designing video games. Answer: C People who are outdoors in cold weather should avoid actions like suddenly lifting a heavy basket full of snow. Even walking through heavy, wet snow can a person's heart. Many people aren't conditioned to the physical stress of outdoor activities and don't know the dangers of being outdoors in cold weather. Those who like winter sports can suffer accidental hypothermia if they don't make certain preparations. Hypothermia means the body temperature has fallen below normal. It occurs when your body can't produce enough energy to keep the internal body temperature warm enough. It can kill you. Heart failure causes most deaths in hypothermia. Children, the elderly and those with heart disease are at special risk. As people age, their ability to keep a normal internal body temperature often decreases. Elderly people can suffer hypothermia without knowing they're in danger because they can't notice the cold conditions as quickly as the young. Besides cold temperatures, high winds, snow and rain can also steal body heat. Wind is especially dangerous because it removes the layer of heated air from around your body. At 30 degrees Fahrenheit in a 20-mile-per-hour wind, the cooling effect is equal to calm air at four degrees. Similarly dampness causes the body to lose heat faster than it would at the same temperature in drier conditions. To keep warm, wear more clothes. This traps air between layers. Also, wear a hat or head scarf. Much of your body's heat can be lost through your head. Keep your hands and feet warm, too, as they tend to lose heat rapidly. Don't drink alcohol before going outdoors or when outside. Alcohol makes you feel warm at first because blood vessels in the skin expand. But heat is then drawn away from the body's important organs. Based on the passage, one of the reasons why the elderly are at special risk of suffering from hypothermia is that _ . A they like exercising outside in cold mornings B they can't notice cold conditions if they are not told C their body temperature is generally lower than young people's D their ability to keep a normal internal body temperature is not so good Answer: D Millions of years ago dinosaurs lived on the earth. In the days of dinosaurs the whole earth was warm and wet. There were green forests and they could find enough to eat. Later, parts of the earth became cold and dry. and the forests there died. Then dinosaurs could not find enough to cat. This must be one reason why dinosaurs died out. We can guess another reason. New kinds of animals came on the earth. Some had big brains and were fast and strong. They could kill dinosaurs. There may be other reasons that we don't know about yet. Scientists are trying to make more discoveries about dinosaurs. Dinosaurs were of many sizes and shapes . Some were as small as chickens, while some were about 90 feet long. There were also terrible fights between dinosaurs. They might have happened more than 100 million years ago. Though there was no man to see any of the fights, we can be told by the animal's footprints that fight did take place. . One more reason may be that _ . A new kinds of animals came on the earth B some fast and strong animals with big brains could kill them C some dinosaurs were as small as chickens D some big dinosaurs died in the fights Answer: B While it is impossible to live completely free of stress, it is possible to prevent stress as well as reduce its effect when it can't be avoided. The US Department of Health and Human Services offers the following suggestions for ways to deal with stress. Try physical activity When you are nervous, angry or upset, try releasing the pressure through exercise or physical activity. Running, walking, playing tennis, or working in your garden are just some of the activities you might try. Physical exercise will relieve your anxiety and worry and help you to relax. Your body and your mind will work together to ease the stress in your life. Share your stress It helps to talk to someone about your anxieties and worries. Perhaps a friend, family member, teacher or even your leader can help you a better view of what's troubling you. If you feel your problem is serious, you might seek professional help from a psychologist or a doctor. Knowing when to ask for help is an important step in avoiding serious problems later. Take care of yourself You should make every effort to eat well and get enough rest. If you easily get angry and cannot sleep well enough, or if you're not eating properly, it will be more likely that you will fall into stressful situations. If stress repeatedly keeps you from sleeping, you should consult a doctor. Make time for yourself. Make a list of the things you need to do Stress can result from disorganization and a feeling that "there's so much to do, and not enough time". _ . Instead, make a list of everything you have to do, then do one thing at a time, checking off each task as it is completed. Set out to do the most important tasks first. Go ahead and cry A good cry can be a healthy way to bring relief to your anxiety. It might even help you avoid a headache or other physical effect of anxiety and stress. What is similarity between "Share your stress" and "Go ahead and cry"? A They both help you let out your feelings. B They both need physical movement. C They both require mental relaxation. D They can cause a headache. Answer: A Read the description of the experiment below to answer the question. One hundred pea seeds were put in petri dishes and covered with wet paper towels. The petri dishes were then put inside black plastic bags. Half of them were placed in an incubator set to 10°C. The remaining half were placed in an incubator set to 30°C. This experiment was most likely designed to study the effect of which variable on the germination of pea seeds? A temperature B water C light D seed type Answer: A
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. Brazilian carnival is _ . A. a type of Brazilian music B. a parade of 70,000 people dancing and singing C. a parade of millions of people on television D. the name of a samba school Answer: B Ice-climb in London The huge ice skating area at Somerset House has been drawing crowds each winter for years, but last November an ice wall was added for the first time, bringing even more danger and excitement. Standing more than 26 feet high is along line of pure ice, featuring three climbing faces of varying difficulty using crampons ,ice picks. and ropes. Using it costs about PS40 (020 7854600;www. somersethouseicednk. org. uk). It is open from late November to the end of January. Hang-gliding in Rio De Janeiro According to the hang-gliders of Rio, once you ' ve swooped over the city's streets,gazing at the Sugar Loaf, and the city of Niteroion, the other side of Guanabara Bay, you will understand why birds are peaceful animals. Accept the romantic idea on a 30-minute cycling flight from the 525-meter Pedra Bonita in the Sao Conrado mountain down to the Sao Conrado beach. It costs aroundPS55. Contact Air Adventures (021 98439006;www. rio-hanggliding, com). Sky-walk in Sydney This experience takes having a look at a nice view to the whole other level, as you are suspended more than 850 feet (260m)above street level,controlled to a glass viewing platform of Sydney Tower. It's the city's highest building. After a thorough briefing and being fitted with protective sky suits , sky-walkers make their way along two-purpose-built walkways and platforms, which have transparent floor,while a guide points out landmarks. Night time sky-walks. are also available. It costs PS46. Mountain-boarding in Leeds Riders roll down hills and fly off jumps, doing tricks. A number of special mountain-board parks have been opened around the country (see www. ridethehill. com). But the Leeds body of the Boarding Society practice at least twice a week in the city in locations that include Roundhay Park. Those with their own boards are welcomed to join them. Contact the society at www. scua. info. Alternatively, beginners can get lessons in Halifax at the Another World(014 22 245196; www mountainboarding.co.uk)mountain-board center for PS8 an hour with equipment. What kind of feeling would you have if you went hang-gliding in Rio De Janeiro? A. Flying peacefully like a bird. B. jumping quickly like a sportsman. . C. Flying over the city like a pilot. D. Flying like a romantic actor. Answer: A The Voice of China was hot during the summer of 2012! The Voice of China is the large music show in China. This show is also the only one which regards the Voice as the only ruler. It premiered at 21:15 on July 13, 2012, on the Zhejiang Television. It has attracted great attention. _ . The first season used "Real voice, real music" as its slogan. As a mentor , singers like Liu Huan, Na Ying, Yu Chengqing and Yang Kun will be responsible for seeking world-shaking voices of China in the following three and a half months, through four stages, namely, "blind choosing", "selecting", "team PK" and "yearly grand ceremony". It is really a miracle that The Voice of China can stand out in the flood of today's talent shows in China and attracts the audience. A great many of audience said this will be the best television show in this summer. They were all proud for these good voices of China. The students' beautiful voices moved everyone. Xu Haixing, a girl from Chengdu, sang "Self" to realize her father's dream and Liu Huan was moved to tears by her song. Huang Yong sang "In Spring" showing his persistence on his dream and Yang Kun cried for this. The blind girl Zhang Yuxia, a busker from Taiwan, played while singing. She was praised as "Deng Lijun No.2" for her unique voice, and her sincere feelings touched everybody. Na Ying went to the stage to sing with the students together for two times. The Voice of China casts off magnificent clothes and wonderful dancing. It regards "inspiration" and "professionalism" as the ruler of music. The singer uses their songs to tell their real stories and the happiness of life. Which of the following is NOT true according the passage? A. The best title of the passage is The Voice of China. B. The Voice of China last three and a half months. C. The fourth paragraph tells us The Voice of China is hot in China. D. Magnificent clothes and wonderful dancing are rulers of the show. Answer: D "I pity the empress. Poor empress." "Do you think Zhen Huan really loves the emperor?" From campuses to offices, from shopping malls to the streets, talk about Legend of Zhen Huan is everywhere. Unlike other long TV series, Legend of Zhen Huan, the 76-episode Qing dynasty drama series, has kept attracting new audiences along the way. It has enjoyed widespread popularity on the Chinese mainland over the past months. The story is seemingly the same as those dramas which look into the lives of women in the imperial palace. _ focuses on plots and intrigues within the Inner Palace during Emperor Yongzheng's reign. The heroine, Zhen Huan, initially a kind and innocent young lady, enters the emperor's harem of concubines. Discovering that the palace is a cruel and harsh place, Zhen learns how to survive on her own. However, Legend of Zhen Huan seems to arouse more discussion than any drama series. Why? Some experts say it's because it's a well-made series from inside out. Niu Hanting, deputy editor-in-chief of Art Panorama magazine, told Xinhua News Agency that the sets, props and costumes are carefully chosen. And the screenplay and dialogue are well-written. "The series takes care of every detail a good period drama should have," Niu said. "From that aspect, it's no coincidence that Zhen Huan could be big." More importantly, Niu added, the TV series strikes a chord among audiences in different ways. "For example, as a woman, Zhen is hurt by the man she once loved. And as a newcomer to the palace, she finds herself caught in the fierce infighting and she has to survive," Niu said, "Everyone may find themselves in Zhen's position at a certain point." Then it's not hard to understand why the story of Zhen Huan is even seen as a survival guide for newcomers in the workplace. Its director, Zheng Xiaolong, once admitted that in terms of society today, the "promotion" of Zhen Huan reflects a person's career path in some way. "Whether the principles can be applied in today's society, or not, I want to make the story as real as possible," Zheng told Sina.com. "There are many fairytale-like series that make audiences ignore or avoid reality, and the complexity of humanity." "But Legend of Zhen Huan, is a series that makes you think." This text is most probably taken from a(n) _ . A. textbook B. newspaper C. advertisement D. story book Answer: B Sometimes educators need to be reminded that their job is important and they are very much appreciated. Here are some movies that inspire us and make educators feel proud to be in the field of education where they really do have an impact. The Miracle Worker The ultimate teaching miracle, Anne Bancroft is awesome as Annie Sullivan who uses 'tough love' to get through to the deaf and blind Helen Keller played by Patty Duke. Very few people can watch the famous 'water' scene without experiencing a feeling of victory and relief. Excellent portrayal of the importance of perseverance. Both Bancroft and Duke won an Academy Award for their performances. The Karate Kid While not normally thought of as a 'classroom' movie, The Karate Kid has much to say to teachers: Sometimes we have to have our students do things that they will not understand until much later; Basic skills are most important; Honor and integrity are central to character; Students need to see us beam with excitement over their achievements. A fun, nostalgic and inspiring movie to relish. To Sir With Love Produced in 1967, this film with Sidney Poitier as a novice teacher has a lot to teach us today. Poitier takes a teaching position in the rough part of London in order to pay his bills. Realizing that his students need to be taught important life lessons more than the curriculum he has been handed to teach them, he throws out the lesson plans and makes a real impact on their personal lives. Mr. Holland's Opus This memorable movie gives all teachers hope that they truly have an impact on their students. Richard Dreyfuss is wonderful as a musician/composer who must take a teaching job to support his family. In the end, Dreyfuss' character realizes that he has had as much if not more of an impact from his teaching ashe would have as a composer. Which film tells us that students not only need to learn knowledge in the books but also knowledge in life? A. Mr. Holland's Opus B. The Karate Kid C. To Sir With Love D. The Miracle Worker Answer: C
The 2016 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXXI Olympiad, is a major international multi-sport event. The host city of the Games will be Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as announced at the 121st IOC Session held in Copenhagen, Denmark, on October 2, 2009. They are scheduled to be held from August 5 to 21, 2016, making them the first Summer Olympics to be held during the host city's wintertime. This will mark the first time a South American city hosts the event, and also the first time a Portuguese-speaking country hosts the event. "The world has recognized that the time has come for Brazil," said President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. There have been questions about Rio's bid because of the high level of violence which so often scars the city's image, but in one glorious moment that was all set to one side for a truly Brazilian party. In his speech earlier, President Lula had promised, "Rio will deliver an unforgettable Games. You will see for yourselves the passion, the energy and the creativity of the Brazilian people." "It will not be just Brazil's Games but South America's. It will serve to inspire the 180 million young people on the continent. It is time to redress the balance. It is time to light the Olympic flame in a tropical country." Rio plants to stage all the competitions inside the city, bringing "dynamics to the Games and facilitating the athletes' interaction," according to the bid website. The 2016 Summer Olympic programme features 28 sports and a total of 42 disciplines. Where did Brazil win the bidding for the 2016 Olympics? A In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. B In Copenhagen, Denmark. C In a South African city. D In a tropical country. Answer: B A woman is at the movies ,and she is enjoying the movie very much. A man in the next seat begins to look for something on the floor under him. The woman is angry and says, "What are you doing there? What are you looking for?" "A piece of chocolate." A man answers. " But it's dirty now ! Take this and be quiet, please .I am listening to the film!" She gives the man a big one. "But," the man says, "my false tooth is in it on the floor!" What does the woman give to the man ? A Money B A ring C A tooth D A big piece of chocolate Answer: D Pollution means adding dirty or harmful things to land, air, water and so on. As a result, they are no longer pleasant or safe to use. Pollution is bad for animals and plants, and it even makes people's health in danger. In our daily life, we can see different kinds of pollution in many places. There are three main forms of pollution: land pollution, air pollution and water pollution. Land pollution is caused by solid waste, such as cans, bottles and some plastic things which aren't broken down quickly. It makes the environment look very bad. However, air pollution is more serious than land pollution. It is much worse in cities and towns because of the fumes from traffic and the waste from human activities. When people drive their cars, fumes which are most made up of CO2, NO2 and SO2 are given off. After the gases get into the air, they may mix with clouds. Then they will become some harmful chemicals falling on the ground with rain. It is one of the reasons for soil erosion which is one example of water pollution. Various kinds of pollution will cause many health problems. People have realized they must change this serious situation. There are many ways to control pollution. To develop alternative energy is very popular in many countries. China, for example, has made up its mind to be a leader in this field. It is trying hard to make full use of energy from the sun and wind. It has paid plenty of money to make electric cars and trains instead of traditional traffic. We should also take action to make our environment cleaner every day. Take cloth bags while going shopping and drive cars less. We have only one earth. We must take steps now to help protect our environment for the future wherever we are. Why is air pollution much worse in cities and towns? A Because of the cans and bottles that people throw away. B Because of the plastic things which aren't broken down quickly. C Because of the fumes made up of SO2, CO2 and O2. D Because of the waste from human activities and the fumes from traffic. Answer: D Tony Wheeler was born to travel. His father worked for an airline. For the first 16 years of his life, Wheeler and his family lived in many different countries. In the early 1970s,Tony met a young woman named Maureen. They soon married. Before getting jobs, Tony and Maureen wanted to travel. They took a year long trip from England, through Asia, to Australia. On the trip,they visited places like Iran ,India, and so on. When Tony and Maureen arrived in Australia, people asked many questions about their trip. To answer these questions, Wheeler wrote a book called Across Asia on the Cheap. The book told people about different countries' weather, customs , and places to see. But unlike other travel books then,Tony Wheeler's book also talked about places most tourists did not go. He also wrote about unusual things to see and do. The book was very popular. Tony and Maureen started a company called Lonely Planet. They continued travelling. They wrote books for each place they visited. Today,800 people work {or Lonely Planet. The company has over 650 books. Tony Wheeler,the great traveller, still writes about travels to many places and will bring us more surprises. Tony Wheeler and his wife ended the year-long trip in _ . A England B Iran C India D Australia Answer: D If you're looking for the place that has everything, there's only one place to visit, and that is New York. It's a whole world in a city. The World of Theatre: All of New York is a stage. And it begins with Broadway. Where else can you find so many hit shows in one place? Only in New York. The World of Music: Spend an evening with Beethoven at Lincoln Centre. Swing to the great jazz of Greenwich Village. Or rock yourself silly at the hottest dance spots found anywhere. The World of Art: From Rembrandt to Picasso. From Egyptian tombs to Indian teepees. Whatever kind of art you like, you will find it in New York. The World of Fine Dining: Whether it's roast Beijing duck in Chinatown, lasagna in Little Italy, or the finest French coq au vin found anywhere, there is a world of great taste waiting for you in New York. The World of Sights: What other city has a Statue of Liberty? A Rockefeller Centre? Or a Bronx Zoo? Which of the following program can a visitor have only in New York? A To enjoy roast Beijing duck. B To taste the finest French coq au vin. C To spend an evening with Beethoven. D To see the Statue of Liberty. Answer: D
On November18, 1995, Itzhak Perlman, the world famous violinist, came on stage to give a concert at Lincoln Centre in New York City. If you have ever been to a Perlman concert, you know that getting on stage is not easy for him. He got polio as a child, and has to walk with the aid of two crutches now. That night Perlman walked slowly to his chair. Then he sat down and began to play. But, suddenly, one of the strings on his violin broke. You could hear it break---it broke with a loud noise. People thought to themselves, "He would have to get up to either find another violin or find another string for this one." But he didn't. Instead, he waited a moment, closed his eyes and then signaled the conductor to begin again. The orchestra began, and he played from where he had stopped. He played with such passion and such power. Of course, everyone knows that it is impossible to play a symphonic work with just three strings. But that night Itzhak Perlman refused to know that. You could see him changing and recomposing the piece in his head. When he finished, there was a silence in the room. Then people rose and cheered. We were all on our feet, doing everything we could to show how much we appreciated what he had done. He smiled and then he said in a quiet tone, "You know, sometimes it is the artist's task to find out how much music you can make with what you have left." His words have stayed in my mind ever since I heard them. That is also the way of life. Perhaps our task in this quickly changing world in which we live is to make music, at first with all that we have, and then, when that is no longer possible, to make music with what we have left. The lesson we draw from the story is that _ . Answer: we should make the best of what we have One Sunday morning Mr Green and his child , Bill ,are in a big shop . Mr Green wants to buy a new blouse for Mrs Green . Bill likes oranges , so his father buys two kilos of oranges for him , too . Bill wants to buy some picture--books and colour pencils , too . There are many people in the shop . They are men and women , old and young . They all want to buy something there . The shop is _ . Answer: full of people A letter to Edward, a columnist Dear Mr Edward: I grew up in an unhappy and abusive home. I always promised myself that I'd get out as soon as possible. Now, at age 20, I have a good job and a nice house, and I'm really proud of the independence I've achieved. Here's the problem: several of my friends who still live with their parents wish they had places like mine -- so much so that they make mine theirs. It started out with a couple of them spending the weekends with me. But now they seem to take it for granted that they can show up any time they like. They bring boyfriends over, talk on the phone and sometimes stay up late at night. I enjoy having my friends here sometimes -- it makes the place feel comfortable and warm -- but this is my home, not a party house. I was old enough to move out on my own, so why can't I seem to ask my friends to respect my privacy ? Joan Mr Edward's reply to Joan Dear Joan: If your family didn't pay attention to your needs when you were a child, you probably have trouble letting others know your needs now. And if you've gathered your friends around you to rebuild a happy family atmosphere , you may fear that saying no will bring back the kind of conflict you grew up with -- or destroy the nice atmosphere you now enjoy. You need to understand that in true friendship it's okay to put your own needs first from time to time. Be clear about the message you want to send to your friends. For example, "I really love your company but I also need some privacy. So please call me before you come over." According to Mr. Edward, why can't Joan tell her friends her feelings? Answer: Her family experience stops her from doing so. 150 Years of Cool Look in the bedrooms of young people around the world. You will probably find a pair of blue jeans in each room. Jeans are very popular all over the world. Jeans give you the feeling of comfort, youth and energy. They have long been liked by every person. Levi Strauss is an American company. It first made blue jeans. The company was founded in 1853 by 24-year-old Levi Strauss. Twenty years later, he made the first blue jeans in the world. The jeans were used as working trousers for the cowboys of the American West. During the Second World War, American soldiers brought blue jeans to Europe and Asia. People there began to wear jeans. Little by little, they become cool. People from different countries like different styles of jeans. Americans like to wear simple and single-colored jeans, but many Chinese like to wear jeans with lots of different colors. Jeans now can be seen everywhere: However, in many places, it's not always good to wear jeans. No matter how good they may look, or what color they are, it's often not right to wear jeans in formal places. But, when you are out, relaxing and having fun, jeans are the best choice. Jeans can be cool for nearly 150 years because _ . Answer: they make us feel youth, comfort and energy You may never think a documentary film could have aroused so much public enthusiasm in Chinese history. Nowadays everybody is talking about a new 7-part documentary called A Bite of China which was recently broadcast late at night on CCTV I. The documentary describes various _ across the vast Chinese culinary landscape. According to Taobao, China's biggest online retail website, just five days after the series began to air, nearly 6 million people went to the site in search of various local specialties, particularly those mentioned in the documentary. More than 7.2 million deals were concluded. A ham producer from Yunnan Province saw his sales grow 17-fold in five days. However, one can't help but believe that the documentary's popularity is probably linked to the endless stream of terrible food security issues that have emerged in recent years. In one well-received article, a netizen wrote, "I wonder how many felt so empty-hearted and sighed after watching the film. Blue-vitriol watered chive, formaldehyde sprayed cabbage, Sudan Red colored salty eggs, restaurants using gutter oil. The list is long..." How will a varied and ancient food culture that is famous worldwide and which should have made the Chinese proud end? Food is the most vital thing in people's lives. Yet China's food industry has made people a little worried due to some severe food safety crisis. The market is huge while the cost of faking and cheating is so low for immoral businessmen; and the punishment is too light. Take the milk industry as an example. Although Sanlu, the company that sold the melamine-adulterated milk powder, was punished, thousands of other dairies didn't work hard to improve the quality. Therefore, food safety problems should be an important concern of Chinese government so that our ancient food culture can be preserved. As the documentary shows, people are attracted not to gourmet items like matsutake, a species of rare mushroom grown naturally in remote forests, but to common Chinese dishes like barley, lotus root or tofu. They are what meet our basic needs. This explains why people are so excited about A Bite of China---it is a reminder that there is still a world out there where food is excellent and safe. According to the passage, China's food industry has a problem of faking and cheating because _ . Answer: the punishment for unscrupulous businessmen isn't serious enough
About us Summer Camps offer many programs that develop athletic skills, teamwork and healthy habits to kids. We create a safe and noncompetitive environment for learning and making friends. Our counselors are required to complete much training. Directors and head counselors are certified in CPR and First Aid and so on. Full-day Camp (ages 6-13) A typical camp starts with soccer, kickball, basketball or field games. After lunch, the kids do three activities. Depending on location, there are swimming, science and nature, arts and crafts, rope courses. Li'1 Rascals Day Camp (ages 3-5) Preschoolers get all the fun of full-day camp in half the time. Activities include arts and crafts, sports, games and relays. Each week has different themes. All participants must be able to be taught to use a patty . Specialty camps (ages 14-16) These specialty camps build many athletes. Our experienced staff will help your child be excellent in his or her favorite sport. Tennis Basketball Soccer Dance *Cheerleading Fee: $120 Contact Information Call: 068-990-3224; E-mail: summercampsforkids@hotmail.com or Write to: 125 Seventh Avenue South New York, NY 10014 What the parents from last year say about the camps: "All the activities were perfect. My son definitely wants to return next year and I will recommend the camp to others." --Kate "I think this is one of the best camps that my children have attended. The counselors and directors are enthusiastic and friendly. The programs are excellent and it is the only camp that they ask to go back to." --Jack "My children had an excellent time at your camp. I was very impressed by both your friendly, helpful counselors and directors and the excellent way that the entire camp was organized and run. I will consider next year! Many thanks." --Mary Children who join Li'1 Rascals Day Camp must _ . A go home alone B express themselves clearly C receive a complete physical examination D go to the toilet by themselves Answer: D Bobby was sitting out in his back yard in the snow. The thin sneakers he wore had a few holes in them. Try as he might, he could not come up with an idea for his mother's Christmas gift. Ever since his father had passed away three years ago, his mother worked nights at the hospital, but the small wage could only be stretched so far. What the family lacked in money and material things, they more than made up for in love and family unity. They ran the household in their mother's absence. All three of his sisters had already made beautiful gifts for their mother. It was Christmas Eve already, and he had nothing. Bobby started to walk down to the street. He walked from shop to shop. Everything seemed so beautiful and so out of reach. It was starting to get dark, then suddenly his eyes caught a shiny dime. Never has anyone felt so wealthy as Bobby did at that moment. He went inside a flower shop. When the owner asked if he could help him, Bobby presented the dime and asked if he could buy one flower. The shop owner looked at Bobby, then said, "You just wait here and I'll see what I can do for you." The shop owner returned holding red roses all tied together with a big silver bow. Bobby's heart sank as the owner placed them gently into a long white box. "That will be ten cents, young man," said the shop owner, reaching out his hand for the dime. Slowly, Bobby moved his hand to give the man his dime. Then the shopkeeper's wife appeared. "Where are the roses you were fixing?" The shop owner replied, "A strange thing happened to me this morning. I thought I heard a voice telling me to set aside a dozen of my best roses for a special gift. I wasn't sure at the time whether I had lost my mind or what, but I set them aside anyway. When I saw that little boy tonight, I knew who that voice was." Bobby slowly gave the dime to the shop owner because _ . A he did not want any rose flowers B the flowers weren't worth a dime C the shop owner would cheat him D he hardly believed what had happened Answer: C I can't remember when I fell in love with music. Maybe it happened when I was feeling blue sometime long ago. I can't tell you exactly how music makes me feel better. But while listening to music, especially light music, it makes me feel calm and peaceful. Now I am listening to a song named Moon River. It is really a fantastic song. I didn't like this song at the beginning, but later I found its slow melody and beautiful lyrics deeply touching. "Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker. Wherever you're going I'm going your way. Two drifters are off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see." Yes. Although there is a long way to go for the drifters and maybe there are many troubles ahead, he seems afraid of nothing. I like music. Music reminds me that human beings have a lot in common even if they come from different countries or backgrounds, because we all have the same feeling or understanding of melodies and words. The writer didn't like the song called Moon River _ . A now B at all C at the beginning D very much Answer: C Go to church, then have a big lunch, then go out to play while mum does the housework. That was a typical British Sunday in the 1960s. But things now could not be more different. Some British sociologists recently studied the typical British Sunday. They found that people get up later and do less housework than they did 40 years ago. They are far more likely to be out shopping or enjoying themselves than cooking Sunday lunch. Sunday mornings were busy 40 years ago. Most women caught up on their weekly housework and cooked a nice lunch. They seldom allowed themselves any "leisure" until afternoon, after the dishes were cleaned. Then there would be another rush to the table between 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm for tea. But now, Britons can have brunch at the restaurant. Fewer people bother to cook themselves. "You only have two free days a week. You don't want to have to waste one because there is nothing to do but watch boring TV," said Elizabeth Biggs, 25, a producer in London. "On Saturday you are recovering from the week," Biggs added. "Sundays are the last chance for the weekend -- you want to get as much as you can out of the day before you have to go back to work." In the past, British women usually did their shopping during the week, while the husband was at work. "Now men seem to do that as much as women," said Jonathan Gershuny, a professor who took part in the study. Men also do more housework now on Sundays. Back in the 1960s, men were far more likely to spend Sundays out of the house -- at the pub or playing football -- before lunch. What can we infer from the passage? A Men do more housework on Sundays. B Sundays in Britain might be very boring in the past. C No people go to church on Sundays now. D Britons all go out on Sundays. Answer: B A poor man has an orange tree in his garden. There are many fine oranges on it. He finds one of the oranges much bigger than the others. It is as big as a ball. the poor man takes the orange to the king. The king is very happy. He gives him a lot of money. A rich man hears of this. He takes his gold cup to the king. He hopes to get much more money from the kind. The king likes the cup very much. He says, "This cup is very nice. I'm going to show you something nicer. Please take this orange." The rich man is very angry and throws the orange away. The rich man _ the orange. A throws away B likes C wants to eat D wants to sell Answer: A
Recently,CCTV reporter have asked a simple question, "Are you happy?" The question has caught many interviewees off guard. Even Mo Yan, who recently won a Nobel Prize, answered by saying "I don't know." We should ask "What exactly is happiness? And how do you measure it?". Last year, China's Premier Wen Jiabao told the nation, "Everything we do is aimed at letting people live more happily." At last year's National People's Congress , officials agreed that increasing happiness would be a top target for the 12thfive-year plan. Many argue that happiness is _ . It also means different things to different people. For some, happiness can be as simple as having enough money to buy a new bicycle; for others, it's about socializing or finding the perfect spouse . Chen Shangyuan, 21, a college student, said his idea of happiness always evolves . "At present it relates to how productive I am in a day", he said. "It might be linked to job security or leisure time after I graduate." Form this passage, we can know that _ . different people have different ideas about happiness The word "day" has two meanings. When we talk about the number of days in a year, we are using "day" to mean 24 hours. But when we talk about day and night, we are using "day" to mean the time between sunrise and sunset. Since the earth looks like a ball, the sun can shine on only half of it at a time. Always one half of the earth is having day and the other half night. A place is moved from day into night and from night into day over and over by the spinning of the earth. At the equator day and night are sometimes the same length. They are each twelve hours long. The sun rises at 6 in the morning and sets at 6 in the evening. For six months the North Pole is tilted toward the sun. In those months the Northern Hemisphere gets more hours of sunlight than the Southern Hemisphere. Days are longer than nights. South of the equator nights are longer than days. For the other six months the North Pole is tilted away from the sun. Then the Southern Hemisphere gets more sunlight. Days are longer than night. North of the equator nights are longer than days. Winter is the season of long nights. Summer is the season of long days. When the Western Hemisphere is having day, the Eastern Hemisphere is having _ . night Parents say that honesty is the best policy, but they regularly lie to their children as a way of influencing their behavior and emotions, finds new research from the University of Toronto and the University of California. Surprisingly little has been published on the subject of parental lying, so Gail Heyman, professor of psychology at the University of California, Diem Luu, a former student of the University of California, and Kang Lee, professor at the University Toronto, set out to explore the under - researched phenomenon.They asked US participants in two related studies about parents lying to their children - either for the purpose of promoting appropriate behavior or to make them happy. In one of the studies, many parents reported they told their young children that bad things would happen if they didn't go to bed or eat what they were supposed to.Other parents reported inventing magical creatures.One explained, "We told our daughter that if she wrapped up all her pacifiers like gifts, the fair would come and give them to the children who needed them." In the other study, the researchers surveyed college students'recollections about their parents'lying and obtained similar results: parents often lie to their children even as they tell them that lying is unacceptable. The researchers refer to this practice as "parenting by lying"."We are surprised by how often parenting by lying takes place," said LEE.Though Heyman thinks that there are occasions when it is appropriate to be less than truthful with a child, she urges parents to think through the issues and consider alternatives before using lies." Children sometimes behave in ways that are disruptive or are likely to harm their long - term interests," said Heyman."It is common for them to try out a range of strategies, including lying, to stop them.However, parents should be concerned about the possible long - term negative consequences tochildren's beliefs about honesty." In which part of a newspaper would you most probably find the passage? Education. The Xin'an Street Community began three programs not long ago. The Neighborhood Clean-up Program Every Sunday at 5:00pm, the neighbors begin cleaning Xin'an Street from one end to the other. The head of the Community, Zhao Fuqin, said, "The first Sunday, only eleven people came, but we picked up over seven big bags of rubbish from the sidewalk and street. The next weekend, twenty people came, and filled eight rubbish bags. Now the neighborhood really looks great!" The Neighborhood Watch Program The neighbors on Xin'an Street began this program to look for problems in the neighborhood and to call the police if necessary. The neighbors all say the watch has already helped. SunYan, aged 60, a retired teacher, said, "In the past, I felt afraid at night. Now I know my neighbors are watching for trouble. " According to the police, there are fewer problems on Xin'an Street. "Calls to 110 went down last month. _ knew that the people on Xin'an Street were watching, so they stayed away," said a policeman. The Neighborhood Fitness Program A Health Club was built last month, where the neighbors can do different kinds of sports like basketball, ping-pong ball, tennis, etc. "Every morning you can see groups of neighbors running, dancing and playing Taijiquan. We have come to realize the importance of taking exercise," said Chen Jinliang, a businessman of 45. The community has more plans. "We plan to start the Kids Care Program for children. We are going to build an after-school club. And we want to have a picnic for everyone in the neighborhood!" said Zhao Fuqin. When do the neighbors of the Clean-up Program clean Xin'an Street? Every Sunday afternoon. DNA left at a crime scene could be used in the future to build up a picture of an offender's face, it was revealed tonight. A first step towards genetic _ has been taken by researchers in the US who link specific DNA markers with face shape. To identify the genes, they focused on known mutations that cause changes of the face and head. Normal versions of these genes were found to influence individual features. For instance, one gene affected the lips, another the shape and configuration of bones around the eyes, and a third the appearance of the mid-face and skull. In total, 20 genes had "significant effects" on facial appearance. Lead scientist Professor Mark Shriver, from Pennsylvania State University, said: "We use DNA to match to an individual or identify an individual, but you can get so much more from DNA. Currently we can't go from DNA to a face, or from a face to DNA, but it should be possible." The implications are far reaching, raising the possibility of creating a data bank of facial types based on genetic markers. DNA from a crime scene could then be used to produce a rough image of the face of an offender or victim. Such genetic mugshots may be more reliable than computer-generated "e-fits" based on witnesses' recollections. Other uses of the technique might include proving the identity of fathers in paternity cases, or visualising our remote ancestors from fossil DNA. The scientists wrote in the online journal Public Library of Science Genetics: "Such predictive modelling could be forensically useful; for example, DNA left at crime scenes could be tested and faces predicted in order to help to narrow the pool of potential suspects. Further, our methods could be used to predict the facial features of descendants, deceased ancestors, and even extinct human species. In addition, these methods could prove to be useful diagnostic tools." The team developed a model which first established a range of physical face shapes from people of mixed West African and European ancestry from the US, Brazil and Cape Verde. Measurements were taken of thousands of point co-ordinates on grids placed over 3D images of the faces. Statistical methods were then used to determine the relationship between facial differences and the effects of gender, ethnic ancestry and individual gene variants. According to Professor Mark Shriver, we know _ . there is a possibility of going from DNA to a face
Mr Smith was the manager of a hotel in Springfield. One weekend all of the hotels in the city were full because there was a large meeting. Late in the evening three men came into the hotel and asked for rooms. Mr Smith explained that because of the meeting, there were no rooms ready for use. The men were very unhappy because they had no place to stay in. Mr Smith wanted to help them. He remembered that Room 414, a very small room, was empty. He asked them if they would share a room. The three men agreed. Mr Smith told them that the room would cost $30: $10 for each. Each of them gave Mr Smith $10, and they went up to the room. Mr Smith soon began to feel sorry. "Thirty dollars is too much for that small room," he thought. He called one of his men over and said, "Here is $ 5. Bring it to the man in Room 414. I've asked too much money for their room." The worker took the money from his manager. While he was on his way to Room 414, he started to think, "How can I divide $5? Well, I'll give each of them only $1 and I keep $2. The men will be happy to get anything back. I'll make a little money and Mr Smith will never know." So he returned $1 to each man. You see, there come a problem, each man had at first paid $10. After the worker returned them $1 each, each man had paid 9. There were three men, $9 x 3 =" $27." The worker kept $2 --$27+$2="29." Where is the missing dollar? What is the best title of this text? Answer: A Strange Maths Problem What your body looks like and how it functions is something that is Answer: received from one's parents A boy who was cleaning shoes in the street said to a young man, "Let me clean your shoes." The young man said, "No, thank you." "You may pay me only one dollar for them." Said the boy. But the young man refused again. And then the boy told the young man that he would clean his shoes for nothing. The young man agreed to his, and soon one of his shoes became as clean as a new one. The man gave the other shoe to the boy, but the boy refused to clean it because he wanted the man to pay two dollars for his work. The young man refused to pay anything and went away. But the dirty shoe looked so bad that he couldn't walk away. He had to turn back and gave the boy two dollars. In a very short time the other shoe became clean. The boy refused to clean the other shoe because _ Answer: he wanted the young man to pay him How Super Are Supermarkets? Buying e week's groceries is tiring. You want to get it over and done with quickly, so you head for the nearest supermarket, you find everything you need under one roof, and you feel glad that those days of going in and out of different shops in the high street are over. Supermarkets seem to be a big plus. There is a downside, though. In the UK 90% of all the food people consume is bought at 5 different supermarket chains. This makes these companies extremely powerful, which lets them use their huge buying power to squeeze small suppliers to get the best deal. Milk is a good example. Supermarkets like to use things like milk, which is the top of almost everyone's shopping list to attract customers. To offer the lowest price possible to the consumer, the supermarkets force dairy farmers to sell milk at less than the cost of production. Supermarkets guarantee their good profits while farmers are left struggling to make ends meet, and the taxpayer pays to support the system without even knowing it. It would be nice if local grocers supported local agriculture. But for the big supermarkets this just doesn't make sense. Supermarkets don't want little farmers thinking they can decide prices. So supermarkets have started a global search for the cheapest possible agricultural produce. In many supermarkets it is difficult to find anything which is produced locally. UK farmers used to grow a lot of apples. Not anymore. In 1999 36% of apples were imported. By 2015 the figure had risen to 80% and the domestic production of apples had fallen by two thirds. The consumer might just be happy to get a reasonably priced meal made up of foods from Thailand, Spain, Italy and Zambia, but we should also bear in mind the Influence on local producers. Then there's packaging. Supermarkets like everything to be packed and wrapped so it can be piled neatly on shelves. Supermarkets produce nearly 10 million tons of waste packaging in the UK every year, of which less 5%is recycled. Some supermarkets make sure that large recycling bins are obvious in their car parks, showing that they are environment-friendly. But that is just an image. When a new supermarket is planned there are claims about the number of new jobs that will be created. Unfortunately, the number of jobs lost in the area is larger than the number of new positions in the supermarket. On average each new supermarket leads to the loss of 276 jobs. However, the modern world is all about shopping, and the freedom to buy whatever you what, so it would be impossible to stop people shopping at some particular kind of shop. But some measures do need to be taken when small suppliers lose profits, local producers suffer, sea levels rise and jobs are lost, anyway, we can't just care about a free car park and special offers. What is the author's attitude towards supermarkets? Answer: Critical Foulsham House is a fine, large house of the 1790s.It stands high above the River Byer, in twenty--five hectares of the best farmland in the southwest. The house was built by Smithson, and the story that George, the son of King of Whales, who fell in love with the beautiful Lady Kitty, at one of the first Foulsham's wild woods parties.Many years ago many great men rode on the hills about Foulsham. House, and many fine girls took tea in the Green Room. The house has eight bedrooms, three bathrooms , two living--rooms, and a dining--room with a real Adam fireplace.Its library has a good view over the park and the river.All rooms are light and airy, with good, high windows, and wood floors. At the back of the house there is room for four cars.The third Foulsham once kept there.In many other ways, this house of the 1790s meets the needs of the 1990s. If you wish to know more about Foulsham House, write to: Harvey.Platt, Longford &Son 6, Castle Green, Gilham, Byreside. People say that _ Answer: Prince George fell in love with KItty Wake at Foulsham House
Stacey Hillman, who is 10 years old, was reading a magazine about police dogs needing bulletproof vests . She thought that someone should start raising money for the police dogs. After she got permission from Chief LaBrusciano, she went to the County Sheriff Don Eslinger. She got busy visiting all the police dogs and telling the departments about her new charity. She made "collection boxes" by using bottles and put a picture of her with a police dog on it. She put these bottles in vet's offices and pet stores. The Chief from her hometown police department helped make Stacey's idea an official charity -- Pennies to Protect Police Dogs. The more money she collected, the more popular she became, and the more people offered to donate and help her with her goal of giving every police dog effective protection. Stacey travels all around her state to raise money and tell people how important the police dogs are. She speaks at schools, and they donate to her charity, too. Since Stacey started her charity, she has bought bulletproof vests for the police dogs with all the 140 thousand dollars she has raised. But she has many more K-9 friends that still need to be protected and she promises to keep doing her charity until every police dog in the whole country has a bulletproof vest. Each vest costs $700, and every police dog should have one. There are not always tax dollars to provide K-9s with these vests, and very few departments have them. The police dogs save lives just like police officers do, and often the police dogs are the first to go in. Stacey depends on donations from everyone to provide the dogs with bulletproof vests. K-9 friends probably refers to _ . Answer: There are thousands of products of all colors and shapes in a supermarket, making you believe that they are worth a try.How? Packaging is the silent but persuading salesman. There on the shelves, each bottle, can ,box, and jar has been carefully designed and measured to speak to the inner self of the consumer, because he/she is buying not only a product but also his/her belief in life.Scientists have studied consumer behavior recently and found that the look of the package has a great effect on the "quality" of the product and on how well it sells, because "consumers generally cannot tell between a product and its package.Many products are packages and many packages are products.", as Louis Cheskin, the first social scientist studying consumers' feelings for packaging, noticed. Colors are one of the best tools in packaging.Studies of eye movement have shown that colours draw human attention quickly.Take V8 for example.For many years, the bright red color of tomatoes and carrots on the thin bottle makes you feel that it is very good for your body.And the word "green" today can keep food prices going up. Shapes are another attraction.Circles often suggest happiness and peacefulness, because these shapes are pleasing to both the eye and the heart.That's why the round yellow M signs of McDonald's are inviting to both young and old. This new consumer response to the colors and shapes of packages reminds producers and sellers that people by to satisfy both body and soul. If a package or a product is round in shape, it can _ . Answer: The Dragon Boat festival is very popular in China, it usually comes in May or June. On that day, people eat a special food--- rice dumplings. It is known as dragon-boat racing. Dragon-boat racing is the most popular activity during the festival. A dragon boat looks like a dragon, and is painted in red, white, yellow or black. Usually, a dragon boat is 20 to 40 metres long, and needs 20 people to row. Boatmen row the boat in cadence with the drumbeats , and a man in the front of the boat waves a small flag to help coordinate the rowing. Dragon-boat racing becomes a popular activity in South China. International dragon-boat racing is held in Guangzhou and Hong Kong every year. Which is the most popular activity during the Dragon Boat Festival ? Answer: Last Friday a storm swept through two villages in the New Territories , destroying fourteen homes. Seven others were so badly destroyed that their owners had to leave them, and fifteen others had broken windows or broken roofs. One person was killed, several were badly hurt and taken to hospital, and a number of other people received smaller hurt. Altogether over two hundred people were homeless after the storm. A farmer, Mr. Tan, said that the storm began early in the morning and lasted for over an hour. "I was eating with my wife and children," he said, "when we heard a loud noise. A few minutes later our house fell down on top of us. We tried our best to climb out but then I saw that one of my children was missing. I went back inside and found him safe but very frightened." Mrs. Woo Mei Fong said that her husband had just left for work when she felt that her house was moving. She ran outside at once with her children. "There was no time to take anything," she said, "A few minutes later, the roof came down." Soldiers helped to take people out of the water area and the welfare government brought them food, clothes and some other things. Where was Mr. Tan when the storm first began? Answer: Tom likes to talk much but his father doesn't want him to speak when they have their meals.One day,when they have supper,Tom wants to say something,but he doesn't say.His father sees it and asks him,"Well,my boy.What's it?""Are flies good to eat,Father?"asks Tom."No,"says his father,"Why do you ask that?""You have one on your food and you have swallowed it." Why doesn't Tom tell his father there is a fly on his father's food? Answer:
On a cold morning at a bus station, a man played six famous pieces of music for about an hour. During that time, about two thousand people went through the station, most of them were on their way to work. 3 minutes later: a middle-aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed down, stopped for a few seconds and went away. 4 minutes later: the musician received his first dollar. A woman threw the money in the box and kept on walking without stopping. 6 minutes later: a young man stopped to listen to him. Then he looked at his watch and started to walk again. 10 minutes later: a 3-year-old boy stopped to look at the musician, but his mother took him away. Several other children did the same as the boy. And nearly all the parents took their children away. 45 minutes later: the musician kept on playing. Only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 persons gave him money but left quickly. After 1 hour, the musician finished playing. In the end, he collected $ 32. No one noticed that he had finished playing. No one knew this, but the musician was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. At that time, he played one of the most wonderful pieces ever written, with a very expensive violin. If we do not have time to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing with the most beautiful violin, how many other things are we missing? Joshua Bell played six famous pieces of music for _ at a bus station. A half an hour B an hour C fifteen minutes D a day Answer: B. an hour Do you see many signs around you? Do you know the signs are an important part of our daily life? They can be in pictures or in words to give people information. What do people think are good signs? If you are thinking about making signs for others, what should you know? The most important thing is that signs should be simple and easy to understand. It is important to use clear language. On the other hand, the words should be easy to write and you just need to write down what you want to do. "Keep off the grass" is a very good example. It means "Don't touch or walk on the grass". Nowadays, there is a saying that "A picture paints a thousand words". Perhaps that's why we are seeing more and more signs in pictures, or a combination of pictures and words. However, that's the difficult part, because picture signs may have different meanings in different countries. What's the best title of the passage? A The History of Signs B Word Signs C Picture Signs D Signs Are Important Answer: D. Signs Are Important Last Tuesday, a group of Washington, D.C. middle school students took a trip to New Zealand, learning, cooking and eating. The students were part of A Taste of New Zealand at the Blair House, the President's guesthouse. The event was hosted by USA Chief of Protocol, Ambassador Capricia Marshall, and featured the New Zealand Ambassador to the United States, the Right Honorable Michael Moore. Ambassador Moore was also previously the Prime Minister of New Zealand. New Zealand is an island in the South Pacific near Australia. It's composed of, as Ambassador Moore joked, around 4.5 million people and 40 million sheep. It also has nice multi-cultural food and traditions, which the students experienced firsthand. The local students were joined by kids from the New Zealand embassy and they all got their hands messy cooking some of the favorite dishes in New Zealand. The menu included lamb chops, fish and chips, and a Kiwi-style vegetarian mini-pie. The food was delicious and beautifully crafted with some help from the Blair House chief cooks and a special guest cooks from a New Zealand-style restaurant in Washington. For dessert, there were several delicious things to choose from. But what stood out from the rest was the Pavlova, a treat made with fruit and others. Not only was the Pavlova nice to look at, but it's also a dish with some controversy. Peter Macaulay, an adviser to the Embassy of New Zealand who attended with his two children, Brianna and Fraser, cheerfully explained why the Pavlova was so controversial. Named after a Russian ballet dancer who visited the country in 1927, the Pavlova was created by the New Zealanders in honor of their special guest. The hullabaloo started when the dancer was honored with the same exact dish when she visited Australia. Ever since, a friendly competition has carried on over which country should take credit for originating the dessert. "We say that we did. And I would stick with our story!" said Ambassador Moore, when asked about the dish. A Taste of New Zealand was the fourth place in a series designed to highlight the unique cultures of select nations around the world. Like previous events, it was fun, enlightening, and delicious! From the passage, we can infer that _ . A raising sheep is a big business in New Zealand B New Zealanders each have more than 10 sheep C sheep are what New Zealanders live on D Pavlova was a special guest to Australia for a ballet performance Answer: A. raising sheep is a big business in New Zealand Last summer, when Amanda R of Anaheim Hills, California, was running on a cross-country course with her team, she blacked out. "I got really dizzy," she says. "I was out for a few minutes." At first, Amanda thought she was just tired and didn't think she had a health problem. She did go to the emergency room, where she was fine after tests, but she fainted again several days later as she was talking with her coach. Another doctor guessed that Amanda had blacked out "because we were in heat so much with not enough water and not enough of the right kind of foods". Teens often don't want to stop and take a break or don't notice when they start to feel bad, doctors say. However, paying attention if you're not feeling well is important, as Amanda learned. As a result, Amanda has changed her habits. "I drink a lot more water," she says. "And put more salt in my diet. I'm eating more balanced meals." Amanda advises teen athletes to trust their coaches and speak up when they're not feeling well. "And recognize the difference between when you're tired and when there's something really wrong." Some people - up to 3 percent of the population - sweat too much, even in cold weather. The condition, called hyperhidrosis , can affect many parts and it often runs in families - hands down from generation to generation. Too much sweating over the whole body could be a symptom of another medical condition. Doctors aren't sure what causes hyperhidrosis, but using special medications or other treatments can help. The purpose of writing this passage is to _ . A tell teens the proper ways to take exercise in summer. B tell teens not to run in hot summer. C tell teens to pay attention to hyperhidrosis in the summer exercise D tell teens how to keep healthy. Answer: C. tell teens to pay attention to hyperhidrosis in the summer exercise Uncertainty spreads through our lives so thoroughly that it dominates our language. Our everyday speech is made up in large part of words like probably, many, soon, great, little. What do these words mean?Such verbal expression is not necessarily to be criticized. Indeed, it has a value just because it allows us to express judgments when a precise quantitative statement is out of the question. We have been trying to pin down by experiments what people mean by these expressions in specific contexts, and how the meanings change with age. For instance, a subject is told "There are many trees in the park" and is asked to say what number the word many mean to him. Or a child is invited to take "some" sweets from a bowl and we then count how many he has taken. We compare the number he takes when he is alone with the number when one or more other children are present and are to take some sweets after him, or with the number he takes when told to give "some" sweets to another child. First, we find that the number depends, of course, on the items involved. To most people some friends means about five, while some trees means about twenty. However, unrelated areas sometimes show parallel values. For instance, the language of probability seems to mean about the same thing in predictions about the weather and about politics: the expression "is certain to" (rain, or be elected) signifies to the average person about a 70 percent chance; "is likely to", about a 60 percent chance; "probably will" about 55 percent. Secondly, the size of the population of items influences the value assigned to an expression. Thus, if we tell a subject to take "a few" or " a lot of" glass balls from a box, he will take more if the box contains a large number of glass balls than if it has a small number. But not proportionately more: if we increase the number of glass balls eight times, the subject takes only half as large a percentage of the total. Thirdly, there is a marked change with age. Among children between six and fourteen years old, the older the child, the fewer glass balls he will take. But the difference between a lot and a few widens with age. This age effect is so consistent that it might be used as a test of intelligence. What will tell us about the intelligence of a child? A The consistency of picking up a certain glass ball. B How many glass balls he will take when he's asked to. C The difference between a lot and a few when he takes glass balls. D Whether there are marked changes in his first pick and second one. Answer: C. The difference between a lot and a few when he takes glass balls.
This week was busier than usual, and I was very tired today. All I wanted to do was to go home and enjoy a bowl of good hot soup. But when I saw my daughter's car, _ Since his parents separated, I had tried to have my six-year-old grandson spend a few hours with me at least once a week. I had always tried to make it a special time for him. We did many interesting things; Bryan loved all these activities, and so did I. But today I had to give up our evening. I said how tired I was feeling. "Bryan, I'm sorry. Tonight I don't feel like having fun or playing games. We'll have our night together some other time." I saw the sadness in Bryan's eyes. He said, "I like soup, Grandma." I knew he meant "Please don't send me away. Please let me stay." I saw the shadow in Bryan's eyes. Something else was changing. Maybe he thought I wouldn't want to have him come any more -- not tonight, not next week, not ever. Finally, I said OK. I was glad to see his eyes light up. After I put the soup on the stove and turned on the TV, I fell asleep. When I woke up, there was a coat over my legs, and the soup was gone. Bryan was on the floor, reading a coloring book and watching a television show at the same time. The poor boy must have been so bored ! When he found I was awake, he ran over and gave me a big hug. "I love you, Grandma," he said. "Haven't we had a nice time together?" His big smile and happy eyes told me that this time he meant exactly what he was saying. That was the keyword -- together. We had done nothing exciting or special. But we were together. How many times did the author describe Bryan's eyes? A 1. B 2. C 3. D 4. Answer: D. 4. Have you ever thought about why malls, restaurants, and even theaters have music? Well, to understand this, you simply just look back at how you felt when you heard music in these places. Music is known to improve the mood of people. Often music helps us pay attention to what we are doing. Music helps patients feel good and helps them recover faster and better. Depression is a state of mind that most of us experience at some point of time. There are some periods in our life when everything seems difficult. It seems that everything is getting worse and we have no control over our life. Studies have shown that music can be an important mood lifter in such situations. Music also plays a great role in making us feel less nervous or worried. Anxiety can often cause loss of sleep and other illnesses. Music is often known as an international language. We may not know the language another person is speaking, but most of us respond to music in the same way. Music can often be the best way to connect with someone. Music is one of the best ways to improve your moods, but this can depend largely on the kind of music you listen to. While happy music can certainly make you feel better, sad music can further lower your spirits. Listening to classical music can often make you feel a lot more powerful, while soft music can be the perfect way to relax at the end of a long way. If you want to use music to change the way how you are feeling, you need to understand the role of it, learn to recognize the kind of music that lifts your mood and helps you feel better. Once you realize the kind of music you can use, you can use it to change the way you feel. The right kind of music can be the perfect way to help us feel happier. The passage is mainly about _ . A what meanings music has B how we control our moods C how music affects our moods D what kind of music we listen to Answer: C. how music affects our moods Planetary changes which will have an influence on many are drawing near because of the poor ecological state of the planet. Actually change has already begun through climate changes, but most humans haven't noticed this yet. Climate change has begun to influence the world already and will begin to worsen within the next few years. Around 2020 most people will begin to see that the results of climate change will be far more serious than now understood. As the planet is under big geological stresses, which are continuously increasing, it will in the future no longer be able to support its population. Scarcity of resources, over-farming, lack of clean air, not enough clean drinking water and drought are some of the issues that will all play a much greater role in the near future. Humans have caused large ecological devastation . The lifestyles of many people are improving at a fast speed; however, this will finally result in a lack of some precious resources. When this scarcity begins to happen, people will no longer be able to have sustainable lifestyles. It's important to understand that everyone plays a role in the whole process of life. Each person's decision can finally affect the future. These decisions, all combined, can have good effect on what the future will be like for humans. So the future depends on the choices we make at the present moment. While more and more people are becoming aware of climate change and other environmental problems related to global warming, not all are fully understanding how far-reaching its effects will be. Unfortunately, most of the humans are aware that the planet isn't functioning well, but they don't understand that this is creating a major problem for the future survival of humans. So, every person should make the necessary changes to reduce their influence on the environment and help create a more sustainable future. The author's attitude in writing this text is _ . A indifferent B negative C serious D humorous Answer: C. serious Lack of exercise is considered a risk factor for cancer. There is considerable evidence that inactivity is connected with increased risk for lung cancer, breast cancer, etc. In the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study, more than 32,000 people (25,000 men and 7,000 women) were given a preventive medical examination that included a machine exercise test to measure physical fitness. They were given a physical fitness score, with one being the lowest and five being the highest fitness level. Then these people were followed for an average of 8 years. During this time, 179 men and 44 women died of cancer. Data from the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study show people have lower rates of cancer with higher levels of physical fitness. Studies from the Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research in Dallas suggest that men with high fitness levels are less likely to die of cancer. The Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study also found that fitness level was more important than weight in predicting longevity . While results showed that fitness and normal weight are the ideal combination, researchers found that men who were fat but performed well in the machine performance had just a slightly increased all-cause death rate, including cancer, compared to the more slim men. The fat, but fit, men particularly lived longer than the slim, but flabby , men. These statistics called for a warning to the overweight: The first health goal for the overweight should be to become as fit as possible at their current weight. 70. The author thinks the most important thing for the overweight is to _ . A increase their fitness levels B choose to eat vegetables C be on a diet D ask for help from doctors Answer: A. increase their fitness levels When Russell Lyons volunteered for the first time, he read "Goodnight Moon" to a class of San Diego preschoolers. And it wasn't reading--he'd memorized the book and was reciting it out loud. He was 4. Still, he said it felt good up there, in front of the other kids, lending a hand. He wanted more of that feeling. Thirteen years later, he's getting a lot of it. He's on a five-month road trip across America--not sightseeing, but volunteering. The University City resident has spent time at an animal reserve in Utah, a women's shelter in St. Louis, a soup kitchen in New York, a retirement home in Tucson. This week he's in Los Angeles, at a program that supports disabled youth. "I just like helping people and feeling that something I do is making a difference," he said. He resists the idea that his "Do Good Adventure" is all that unusual. It bothers him that the media often describe young people as lazy, self-centered and materialistic. So he sees his trip as a chance to make a statement, too. "About 55 percent of teens do volunteer work, higher than the rate for adults," he said, according to a 2002 study. "Not everybody knows that." Of course, some teens do volunteer work because it looks impressive on their college applications. Lyons said he mentioned his trip on his submissions. But charity work is a habit with him. Even before the crosscountry trip, he was volunteering about 200 hours a year at various places. He's made sandwiches for homeless families in Washington D.C. He's taught math to fifth-graders in Cuernavaca, Mexico. He gets some of that drive from his mother, Leslye Lyons, who has been involved in nonprofits for much of her life. She was there when her son "read" to the preschoolers--a memory of hers "that will never go away." What did Russell Lyons think of his first volunteering? A Creative. B Impressive. C Persuasive. D Imaginative. Answer: B. Impressive.
When I was a kid, the Easter holidays in Australia were my favorite time of the year. As soon as they began in April, my family would head straight to the beach for a weekend of camping. Unlike most of the world, Easter falls in autumn in Australia. This means that Easter is our last chance to enjoy the warm weather, swim in the ocean and sleep in the bush under the stars. We'd pitch our tents on clear patches of grass and look out onto an almost empty beach. Often we were the only ones camping and the whole beach would be ours alone. We used to spend all day outside - swimming, hiking and fishing. On Easter morning, my parents would wake up early and plan an Easter egg hunt for my three brothers and me. They would hide the eggs in the strangest places - in abandoned bird nests in the trees, under our tents and in every corner of the stones that surround the beach. In Australia, instead of chocolate bunnies, we had chocolate bilbies . Bilbies are Australian animals with long ears. Chocolate bilbies were the best treat to find and there was always one for each of us. But sometimes, other animals found them first, and all we'd find were brightly colored wrappers with animal tooth marks. After the hunt we would come back to the campsite with our bellies full of chocolate. For us, Easter wasn't about chocolate eggs or religious tradition. It was about being with our family in the great outdoors. What does the passage mainly talk about? Tsunami is a natural disaster, which is a Japanese word that means "sea wave". A tsunami is a huge sea wave that forms mainly in the Pacific Ocean area. People die and property is destroyed when a tsunami hits land. What causes these dangerous sea waves? Sometimes, tsunamis are caused when earthquakes take place underwater. Then, water begins to move up and down from the top of the ocean right down to the bottom. Waves begin to form, and each wave is called a tsunami. A tsunami is less than one meter high and can move at a speed of almost 800 kilometers per hour while it is far out in the ocean. But the tsunami rises much higher and moves more slowly as it comes closer to land. The weather bureau warns people over the radio and television when a tsunami is heading for land. These warnings have helped save many lives. According to this passage, _ . Mrs. Brown is a worker. She works in a big factory. She gets up at five every morning. She often has breakfast at six fifty. After that she goes to the factory by bus at half past seven. She cleans the machines when she gets there very early. Then her workmates come. They begin to work at 8:00. They all work very hard. She goes home at five. Then she does some cooking. After supper she usually helps his son Tom with his homework. Sometimes she reads books. She usually watches TV with her family on weekends. What's Mrs. Brown's job? Here are two pictures. You can see a man and a boy in one picture. Who are they? The man is Mr. Brown, and the boy's name is Jack. They are father and son. They are in Jack's room. Now let's look at the other picture. You can see a woman and a little girl in it. The woman is Jack's mother and the girl is her daughter, Ann. They're in Ann's room. You can see a photo of the family on the white wall. A clock is on the table. It's eleven. What's that on the floor? Oh, it's Ann's hat, but it looks *like a white cat. What color is Ann's hat? Well, when the huge wave hit the boat, my safety belt broke and I was swept overboard. I don't really understand how it happened, but it did. I heard someone yell out, but then my boat, Wild One, went off into the darkness and I was alone in a very rough sea. I then spent five and a half hours in the water. The place where it happened was, oh, about 50 kilometers from shore. It was likely that I wouldn't see another day, but I always thought I'd overcome the difficulties. At first I was watching out for Wild One. The rest of the crew knew I was gone, so they were sure to come back and look for me. After a while, I saw the boat's lights when it came looking for me. They were within about 300 meters of me, but the spotlight just missed me. The reason why they didn't see me was because of the huge waves. You know, I started sailing when I was seven, and started ocean racing when I was about eighteen, but I'd never been overboard before. I believed I was going to survive, but it was very cold, and as the hours passed I started to get desperate----and frozen! It was around 5 am when I saw the lights of a tanker coming towards me. I figured it was probably my last chance. At first, I thought they were going to miss me, and then they made a slight turn and I yelled out "Help!" and they heard me. Then another yacht appeared. These guys were terrific. They gave me dry clothes, and then one jumped into the bunk and hung onto me. They covered us with as much dry clothing as they could, and the guy in with me stayed to transfer his body heat to me. He was not saved by his crew because _ .
A goat in a lush field of dense vegetation will be bestowed Answer: a shiny coat "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 do some of the young people do every day? Answer: Both A and B When a rabbit sees something dangerous, it runs away. Its tail moves up and down as it runs. When other rabbits see this tail moving up and down, they run too. They know that there is danger. The rabbit has told them something without making a sound. It has given them a signal . Many other animals use this kind of language. When a bee has found some food, it goes back to its home. It cannot tell the other bees where the food is by speaking to them, but it does a little dance in the air. This tells the bees where the food is. Some animals say things by making sounds. A dog barks, for instance, when a stranger comes near. A cat purrs when pleased. Some birds make several different sounds, each with its own meaning. But human beings have something that no animal has ---a large number of words which have the meanings of things, actions, feelings or ideas. We are able to give each other information, to tell or inform other people what is in our mind or how we feel. By writing words down we can remind ourselves of the things that have happened, or send messages to people far away. No animals can do this. No animals have the wonderful power of language. No one knows how man learned to make words. Somehow he learned to make them. As centuries went by, he made more and more new words. This is what we mean by language. People living in different countries made different kinds of words. Today there are about fifteen hundred different languages in the world. A very large English dictionary, for example, _ four or five hundred thousand words. But we don not know all these. The words we know are called vocabulary. We should try to make our vocabulary larger. Read as many books as possible. When we meet a new word, look it up in the dictionary. A dictionary is the most useful book. A rabbit moves its tail up and down in order to _ . Answer: warn other rabbit of danger Father was a hardworking man who delivered bread as a living to support his wife and three children. He spent all his evenings after work attending classes, hoping to improve himself so that he could one day find a better paid job. Except for Sundays, Father hardly ate a meal together with his family. He worked and studied very hard because he wanted to provide his family with the best that money could buy. Whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. Though he often longed to spend more time with his family, he weighed his contribution to his family above everything else. The day came when the examination results were announced. To his joy, Father passed, and with distinctions too! Soon after, he was offered a good job as a senior supervisor which paid handsomely. Like a dream come true, Father could now afford to provide his family with life's little luxuries like nice clothing, fine food and vacation abroad. However, the family still did not get to see Father for most of the week. He continued to work very hard, hoping to be promoted to the position of manager. In fact, to make himself a worthily candidate for the promotion, he took another course in an open university. Again, whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. Though he often longed to spend more time with his family, he weighed his contribution to his family above everything else. Father's hard work paid off and he was promoted. Happily, he decided to hire a maid to relieve his wife from her domestic tasks. He also felt that their three-room flat was no longer big enough. It would be nice for his family to be able to enjoy the facilities and comfort of a condominium. Having experienced the rewards of his hard work many times before, Father resolved to further his studies and work at being promoted again. The family still did not get to see much of him. In fact, sometimes Father had to work on Sundays entertaining clients. Over again, whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. Though he often longed to spend more time with his family, he weighed his contribution to his family above everything else. As expected, Father's hard work paid off again and he bought a beautiful condominium overlooking the coast of Singapore. On the first Sunday evening at their new home, Father declared to his family that he decided not to take any more courses or pursue any more promotions. From then on he was going to devote more time to his family, and it was a promise. Father did not wake up the next day. How would the family feel when "Father did not wake up the next day"? Answer: They should have stopped Father from working so hard. On May 23, Shenzhen introduced new rules in order to prevent the "Chinese style of crossing the road". "Chinese people cross roads without thinking about traffic lights, so long as they are part of a group of people," said a post on Sina Weibo. A CCTV news program showed that in only an hour, more than 600 people jumped red lights when crossing a road in Shijiazhuang, Hebei. Many people say that they jaywalk because the red light lasts too long. Such an opinion is supported by a research group at Tongji University. _ did research on people's waiting times at different road crossings for three years. They found that Chinese people would wait for 70 to 90 seconds before they lost their patience. "People are likely to ignore the light when the waiting time is longer than they can bear," said Ni Ying, a member of the research team. However, a survey on Sina Weibo suggested that people jaywalk mainly because they ignore rules. "I always obey traffic rules. Time is important but safety should come first," someone wrote on his Weibo. Many countries give out punishments to jaywalkers. In Singapore, the maximum can be three months in prison . Some Chinese cities have started taking some actions, too. For example, the first three people in a jaywalking group will be fined 50 yuan in Shijiazhuang. But calling on people to obey rules is more important. To completely solve the problem, everyone should understand the importance of obeying the traffic rules. Why do people jaywalk according to the survey on Sina Weibo? Answer: Because people don't pay much attention to rules.
This year I am very busy doing my Christmas shopping. I really never find what I want, and many things my daughter wants are not in shops or their price is too high. You know children don't think about the price much. So I have to buy some online . I never think about online shopping before now. I have a few friends and they do online present shopping every year. So I ask them for help. First, they tell me to start shopping early. And then you need to be careful with the delivery charge because they can be very different. My friends also tell me that online shopping is easy, but I should get into good _ . And last but important, they tell me that if I feel good about a site, there may be a good reason. So they say I need find the reason before I buy things on it. What's the best title for the passage? Answer: A Good Night's Steep Sleep plays a vital role in good health and well-being throughout your life. While you're sleeping, your brain is forming new pathways to help you learn and remember information. Although we all know the importance of getting a good night's sleep, not all of us know the best way of getting it. A sleep expert, Phil Atherton, gave some top tips for getting the most out of the night, which will leave you ready for action in the morning. According to Phil Atherton, not eating a large meal before bedtime is important for getting a good night's sleep. The time difference between eating and sleeping should be at least three hours. So you'd better avoid eating any food three hours before bed, as it will lower your blood sugar during sleep and help minimize damage from too much sugar floating around. It's also important to find ways to prepare your body for sleep. You can follow a routine like trying not to expose yourself to too much artificial light within 1 hour before bed, as your brain uses light to help set internal "body clock". Although it might seem unnatural to schedule your sleep, the purpose is to send a signal to your body and mind that it's time to sleep. Another way to prepare your body for sleep is to get into a relaxed state by taking a bath or listening to soft music. Both of them will help to take the mind off the daytime pressures. Having a suitable bed, especially a suitable mattress , is necessary for a good night's sleep. Sleep is a personalized activity, and we all adopt different sleeping positions. Finding the mattress that suits you will reduce back pains that can result from a poor sleeping position. The bed should be four to six inches longer than its tallest user, allowing for space to move around. The recent research is pretty clear that a good night's sleep in a major component of good health. Since the start of the 21st century, studies have linked a lack of sleep to many diseases, such as diabetes and obesity. Taking action now will lead to long-term benefits for you and those around you. According to the author, before going to sleep, you'd better _ . Answer: No one knows exactly how many disabled people there are in the world, but estimates suggest the figure is over 450 million. The number of disabled people in India alone is probably more than double the total population of Canada. In the United Kingdom, about one in ten people have some disability. Disability is not just something that happens to other people: as we get older, many of us will become less mobile, hard of hearing or have failing eyesight. Disablement can take many forms and occur at any time of life. Some people are born with disabilities. Many others become disabled as they get older. There are many progressive disabling diseases. The longer time goes on, the worse they become. Some people are disabled in accidents. Many others may have a period of disability in the form of a mental illness. All are affected by people's attitude towards them. Disabled people face many physical barriers. Next time you go shopping or to work or visit friends, imagine how you would manage if you could not get up steps, or on to buses and trains. How would you cope if you could not see where you were going or could not hear the traffic? But there are other barriers: prejudice can be even harder to break down and ignorance inevitably represents by far the greatest barrier of all. It is almost impossible for the able-bodied to fully appreciate what the severely disabled go through, so it is important to draw attention to these barriers and show that it is the individual person and their ability, not their disability, which counts. Which of the following statement is NOT true according to the passage? Answer: How many times do you check your Moments or Facebook page in a day to see whether your latest post has got another "like" or "thumbs up"? Although you might be embarrassed to admit how many times you do this, don't worry. Psychological findings have shown it's completely normal. In fact, the pleasure we derive from getting a "like" is equal to that of eating chocolate or winning money, and we can't help wanting more. According to the findings of the UCLA Brain Mapping Center, which observed 32 teens aged between 13 and 18, the feedback circuit in the teens' brains are particularly sensitive, and the "social" and "visual" parts of their brains were activated when they received "likes" on a social network. The research also showed that though the thumbs up might come from complete strangers, the good they derive from it worked equally. So does it mean we should try our best to win as many thumbs up as possible? Not necessarily so if we know the reasons behind our desire for attention. In "Why do people crave attention" by M. Farouk Radwan, he explained several cases in which people naturally longed for attention. Radwan said people who were an only child, who were used to being the center of attention in their house, may try to reproduce these conditions. Feeling "overlooked and unappreciated" might also lead you to be eager for attention. Other times, the state of being jealous or wanting to cover your mistakes may also contribute to such longings. In fact, too much desire for attention can create anxiety, and in turn ruin your happiness even when you get it. So what can we do about it? The answer is quite simple. "If people could adopt goals not focused on their own self-esteem but on something larger than their self, such as what they can create or contribute to others, they would be less sensitive to some of the negative effects of pursuing self-esteem," wrote psychology professor Jennifer Crocker in the Journal of Social Issues. You may find this text in a magazine about _ . Answer: As a senior, my future is always on my mind. To be exact, thoughts of the future have kept me up countless nights and made me worry enough to do poorly on more than one test. Because of this, words of wisdom are a source of comfort. Steve Jobs gave a speech to Stanford's graduating class in 2005 and his words resound repeatedly in my mind whenever I think about my future. It wasn't always like that, though. It started when I became a junior, when college came into view. It's the first big step to making your life your own. So when Jobs discussed his life as a student, some fears were eased. He, too, felt the need to attend college to make something of himself. He faced what many are extremely afraid of: uncertainty. His lack of understanding caused him to stop attending college and focus on what he felt was important. His story had a happy ending, of course, since he certainly turned out well. This doesn't mean that students shouldn't attend college, but rather that they shouldn't worry so much. You'll get where you need to go, even if your path is a bit more winding than you'd like. Jobs talked about the hardships in his work. His love of his work helped him carry on and he got where he was meant to be, which restates the point: don't panic. One particular part of his speech stayed with me. Steve Jobs quoted the saying "Stay hungry, stay foolish" and it has become my motto. Staying foolish is realizing that you are still a fool, no matter how much you've learned or experienced. There is always more to explore. Staying hungry is wanting to find those things about which you are still uneducated. Steve Jobs's level of success is attainable, and I aim to prove that. With the will power to go into the world living every day like it's my last and allowing the future to take care of itself, I will do great things. In the last moments of my life, I'll be proud of what I have done and hope to have all the wisdom a person could wish for. The author felt worried when _ . Answer:
Tenant rented a commercial building from Landlord, and operated a business in it. The building's large front window was smashed by vandals six months before expiration of the Tenant-Landlord lease. Tenant, who was obligated thereunder to effect and pay for repairs in such cases, promptly contracted with Glazier to replace the window for $2,000, due 30 days after satisfactory completion of the work. Landlord was then unaware of the Tenant-Glazier contract. Glazier was aware that the building was under lease, but dealt entirely with Tenant. Sixty days after Glazier's satisfactory completion of the window replacement, and prior to the expiration of Tenant's lease, Tenant, then insolvent, ceased doing business and vacated the building. In so doing, Tenant forfeited under the lease provisions its right to the return of a $2,000 security deposit with Landlord. The deposit had been required, however, for the express purpose (as stated in the lease) of covering any damage to the leased property except ordinary wear and tear. The only such damage occurring during Tenant's occupancy was the smashed window. Glazier's $2,000 bill for the window replacement is wholly unpaid. Assuming that Glazier has no remedy quasi in rem under the relevant state mechanic's lien statute, which of the following would provide Glazier's best chance of an effective remedy in personam against Landlord? A An action in quasi contract for the reasonable value of a benefit unofficiously and non-gratuitously conferred on Landlord. B An action based on promissory estoppel. C An action based on an implied-in-fact contract. D An action as third-party intended beneficiary of the Tenant-Landlord lease. Answer: A The police use computers. They save all the information on the computer. So the police can often check the information. And they can also visit some websites and get more information to catch criminals on the Internet. Scientists today have computers for their work. They can do their work easily and quickly with the help of computers. Today in many schools, there is a computer room. Children can have their lessons with computers. For example, computers give questions on the screen of the monitor in front of the children and the children answer them with keyboards . A computer can do many things. With the computer, we can write novels, listen to music, draw pictures, play computer games, make friends, send emails and download information and so on. In the future, we may use computers for more things. But it can't take the place of man. We can think but it can't. How do the children answer computers' questions? A They answer them on the Internet. B They answer them with keyboards. C They answer them loudly with their mouths. D They answer them with a pen and a piece of paper. Answer: B A German company was concerned about talks in Moscow trying to sell some 100 million dollars worth of equipment to a Russian State company. Talks went smoothly but differences remained. So Martin Bayer himself, the CEO of the German Company, decided to come to Moscow to head the talks. Besides caring about his business, the CEO wanted to go to Russia to hunt bears. Martin Bayer was one of the greatest hunters of our time (and the Russians knew about it). He went to the Sahara more than hundred times and hunted lions, crocodiles; he hunted polar bears in the North Pole and tigers in the rain forests of India. But he had never hunted Russian bears. So the Russians decided to organize a bear hunt for Mr. Bayer to sweeten the talks. This wasn't a simple task. Some people in the west still believe that bears may be found and seen everywhere in Russian cities just like squirrels may be seen in our back yards. This is not true. The closest place one may find bears in the wild is maybe 2,500 miles away from Moscow. However, a solution was quickly found. The Russian businessmen went to Moscow Circus and for $2,000 bought a very old bear. This bear used to amuse and amaze audiences in many countries for 30 years, but got and looked too old, and was retired. "Be careful, the Russian bears are very dangerous, and frightening," they told to Mr. Bayer. "If compared to the Russian bears, your African lions are nothing more than harmless cats." The bear was brought to a forest 50 miles from Moscow and was left there. Mr. Bayer was told that bears were plentiful in that forest and that many cattle and even people had been eaten in the surrounding villages. Meanwhile, an 18-year old female drove through the forest on a motorcycle and suddenly saw a bear (no bears had been seen in those places for 200 years). She was frightened, fell, left her helmet and her motorcycle and ran away. Mr. Bayer was excited and ready to hunt. This could become the most successful part of his extraordinary hunting experience. The next moment Mr. Bayer saw a bear in a helmet driving on a motorcycle through the forest in front of him. The bear had a happy expression on his face, as he was doing something he had been doing in the circus for 30 years: circling on a motorcycle! Mr. Bayer lives in a private mental institution near Hamburg happily ever after. The equipment was never sold to Russia. It was sold to Iraq instead. Why did the Russians invite Mr. Bayer to hunt bears? A Russian bears are famous for their cruelty. B They managed to find a bear for hunting. C They expected the trade to be successful. D There was a bear in Moscow Circus. Answer: C Having an exercise plan is important, but you should always ask your doctor for advice before starting it. Keep in mind that you can have too much of a good thing: overexercising and exercising in a wrong way can hurt your body. The following suggestions can help you avoid this. Warm up before exercise. This helps to prepare your body for activities. It's especially important in the morning. Cool down after exercise. Rather than stop immediately, do a few light activities to avoid aches and pains later. Exercise with your limits . Build up slowly. Never try to exercise when you feel painful. If you don't listen to your body, you will hurt yourself. Avoid being thirsty. Water is important to keep your normal temperature during exercise and prevent tiredness. Wear sports shoes. These shoes can keep your feet safe and prevent you from being hurt. Before you start your exercise plan, you should _ . A make up these suggestions B ask your doctor for advice C find your health problems D have a careful health exam Answer: B You're walking down the street, minding your own business, when you see a snowball. No big deal, right? Except that the snowball is as tall as you are and weighs about a ton. Did we mention that it's June? That's the experience thousands of Londoners had when they crossed paths with "Snowballs in Summer", the brainchild of artist Andy Goldsworthy. Goldsworthy makes sculpture from all sorts of things he finds outside-leaves, earth, and rocks, as well as ice and snow. He wanted to find out how busy city people would react to an unexpected snowball melting in their midst. During the winter of 2005, he rolled 13 giant snowballs near his home in prefix = st1 /Scotland. He filled each one with a surprise in the center-such as pebbles, berries, feathers, or sheep's wool which would emerge as the snow melted. The finished snowballs were stored in a deep freeze until summer, then transported toLondonin refrigerated trucks. At midnight on June 21, 2006, while the city slept, Goldsworthy and his co-conspirators rolled their snowballs into place. People walking to work or school must have thought the sky was falling when they stumbled across snowballs of the size of baby elephants. Some of them had never even seen snow in real life, and they couldn't resist poking the snowballs or even breaking off a chunk . As the snow started to melt, things got even more interesting. The perfectly round snowballs took on different shapes as the stuff inside began to poke through. Two days later, most of Goldsworthy's snowballs were gone, and their fillings scattered. But Londoners were left with a really good story about that odd summer day when the snowballs came. How long had the snowballs been stored before they were seen? A For about half a year. B For 21 days. C For about a year. D For 13 months. Answer: A
Mr Clark goes to a dinner party in old clothes. He comes into the room, but the people in the room don't look at him. They don't ask him to sit at the table. Mr Clark goes home and puts on his good clothes. He goes back to the party. People in the room stands up and smiles at him. They give him very good food to eat. Mr Clark _ his clothes, and puts them in the food and say, "Eat, clothes!" The other people ask, "What are you doing?" He answers, "I'm asking my coat to eat food. When I am wearing my old clothes, you don't look at me. You don't ask me to sit down. Now I am in these clothes. And you give me very good food. Now I know, you give the food to my clothes, not to me!" ,. When Mr Clark comes to the party in good clothes, people _ . Answer: Movie World Movie world is the only movie-related theme park in Australia. With one of the best coast and a good handful of movie-related rides, you'll experience a fun-filled adventure with the glamour of Hollywood. Get "behind the scenes" movie information and stunt shows to keep the whole family entertained for the best part of a day. Contact Information: Phone: 07-5573-8485 Address: Pacific Motorway, Oxenford, Queensland 4210 Website: www.movieworld.com.au Sea World With an obvious emphasis on things that live in the water, Sea World has a fantastic range offish, sharks, dolphins, seals, polar bears and other assorted animals in the water. Throw in a bunch of great rides, water slides and roller coasters, Sea World emerges as perhaps the best all-round theme park on the Gold Coast. Contact Information: Phone: 07-5588-2222 Address: Sea World Drive, Main Beach, Queensland 42 Website: www.seaworld.com.au Tropical Fruit World Home of the world's largest variety of tropical fruit, it's free to get in and shop for gourmet varieties of bizarre, and wonderful fruits, or you can pay to check out the plantation safaris , mini train rides, jungle cruises and fruit tasting shows. Admission is about $32 for adults and $15 for kids and free for kids under 5. Contact Information: Phone: 02-6677-7222 Address: Duranbah Road, Duranbah, NSW 2487 Website: www.tropicalfruitworld.com.au Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Crocodiles, kangaroos, koalas and almost all of the other famous Australian native animals are living in Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. You can look at them, feed and pat some of them or just experience the fantastic 27 hectare bush land setting -- an oasis of wildlife amidst the Gold Coast bustle. Contact Information: Phone: 07-5534-1266 Address: 28 Tomewin Street Currumbin, Queensland 4223 Website: www.currumbin.sanctuary.org.au We can take a jungle cruise at _ . Answer: What requires nutrients to grow and gets nutrients with use of beak apparatus? Answer: BEIJING, Feb 13 -- Never has China's economic growth attracted so much global attention. The shock waves from the financial crisis that started in the United States have spread across the entire world, sending developed nations, including Japan and those of Europe, into serious recession . The world is now holding out hope that China, with its massive potential, will serve as the engine to fuel global economic growth. But China's real economic growth slowed sharply to 6.8 percent in the October-December quarter. For China, this rate of economic expansion must be as disappointing as negative growth is for Japan. Beijing has set an official goal of achieving a minimum annual growth rate of 8 percent -- a pace it regards as important to ensuring job security. The Chinese government is apparently confident the nation will achieve the minimum growth target of 8 percent in 2009. At the World Economic Forum's annual meeting of political and business leaders in Davos, Switzerland, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao stressed the Chinese economy began to show signs of recovery late last year. Last week, however, the International Monetary Fund predicted that China's economic growth in 2009 will be 6.7 percent. China's economic outlook is likely to keep both hope and anxiety for the time being. China's impressive economic growth has been fueled by swelling exports and massive investment in equipment to produce goods for overseas. But the US, Japanese and European economies, which have absorbed the bulk of China's exports, are expected to shrink simultaneous in 2009, for the first time since the end of World War II. For the first time since it started serious efforts to turn itself into a market economy in the 1990s, China is facing the challenge of maintaining healthy economic growth without depending on external demand. Expansion of domestic demand holds a key to China's success in tackling this challenge. Consumer spending accounts for only 35 percent of China's gross ) domestic product. The ratio is considerably lower than the 70 percent for the United States and the nearly 60 percent for Japan. That is because the middle class - the group that should lead consumer spending - is still relatively small in China, where the benefits of the nation's strong economic growth in recent years have mostly eluded rural villages and low-income earners. What's the best title of the passage? Answer: A lady in an old cotton dress and her husband, dressed in an old suit, stepped off the train in Boston, and walked into the president of Harvard's outer office. The secretary could tell in a moment that such country people had no business at Harvard. She frowned . "We want to see the president," the man said softly. "He'll be busy all day," the secretary said coldly. "We'll wait," the lady replied. For hours, the secretary didn't talk to them, hoping that the couple would finally become tired and go away. They didn't. And the secretary finally decided to disturb the president. "Maybe if they just see you for a few minutes, they'll leave," she told him. He frowned too. Someone of his importance obviously didn't have the time to spend with them. The president walked toward them unwillingly. The lady told him, "We had a son that attended Harvard for one year. He loved Harvard, and was very happy here. But he was accidentally killed. And my husband and I would like to set up a memorial to him somewhere on campus. " The president was so surprised that he shouted sharply, "We can't put up a statue for every person who attended Harvard and died. This place would look like a cemetery . "Oh, no" the lady explained, "We don't want to build a statue. We thought we would give a building to Harvard." The president rolled his eyes. He glanced at their plain clothes, and said with surprise, "A building! Do you have any idea how much a building costs? We have over seven and a half million dollars in the physical buildings here at Harvard." For a moment the lady was silent. The president was pleased. He could get rid of them now. The lady turned to her husband and said quietly. "Is that all it costs to start a university? Why don't we just start our own?" Her husband nodded. Mr. and Mrs. Leland Stanford walked away, traveling to Palo Alto, California where they set up the university with their name, Stanford University, a memorial to a son that Harvard no longer cared about. What did the old couple go to Harvard for? Answer:
Question: A fever is a response to a disease-causing agent infecting the body. Raising one's body temperature changes the shape of enzymes in the agent so it cannot reproduce. Which statement best describes a fever? A. A fever is an internal response to an external stimulus. B. A fever is an internal response to an internal stimulus. C. A fever is an external response to an external stimulus. D. A fever is an external response to an internal stimulus. Answer: B. A fever is an internal response to an internal stimulus. Question: How do you feel when you have to make a speech in front of class? What about when you go to a birthday party? Do you get really shy? Shyness means feeling nervous or afraid when you're around other people. Experts have found that more than 80% of middle school students feel afraid to be the center of attention. Some kids are born shy. Some become shy later because of their life experiences . It's OK if it takes you a while _ when you go to a new place or meet new people. In fact, everybody gets a little shy sometimes. It's just a case of how much. Most people have red faces and talk in broken sentences when they get shy. But some become so shy that they won't go to a restaurant because they are too nervous to order and pay for their food. Some are afraid of meeting new people, so they seldom go outside. This kind of shyness can be bad for a person. If shyness doesn't stop you from doing something you want to do, being shy isn't a very big problem. Some experts say shy people are cleverer because they think more and talk less. Shy people are also good at working with others because they think more for other people. Some great people in history were shy, too. You see, being shy isn't all bad. But remember not to let good opportunities pass by just because of it! If you have to sing a song at a birthday party or practice your spoken English in front of others, just do it! There's nothing to be afraid of. What kind of shyness can be bad according to the passage? A. You find it hard to enjoy yourself at a party. B. You feel a little nervous when you go to a new place. C. You seldom go outside, afraid of meeting new people. D. You have a red face when you're asked to answer a question in class. Answer: D. You have a red face when you're asked to answer a question in class. Question: Mrs. Thompson stood in front of her 5th grade class on the first day of school. She found a boy sleeping in his seat. He was Teddy. Also Thompson noticed the boy didn't play well with the other children. It got to the point "F" at the top of his papers. Mrs. Thompson reviewed each child's past records. However, when she reviewed Teddy's file , she was in a surprise. Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child. He does his work neatly and has good manners..." His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, but he is troubled because his mother has an illness and life at home is difficult." His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death had been hard on him. He tries his best, but his father doesn't show much interest in his study..." Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is _ and doesn't talk with other's. Also he doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class." By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents wrapped in beautiful and bright paper, except for Teddy's. He sent a rhinestone bracelet with some stones missing. But Mrs. Thompson told him with a smile, "I like it very much." After school Teddy said, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smell just like my Mother used to be." Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class. Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets." ,. From this passage, we know _ . A. Mrs. Thompson wasn't interested in Teddy's study B. Mrs. Thompson was the first teacher to find Teddy sleeping in class C. teacher's love can save a student D. Teddy's parents' death made his study fall behind others Answer: C. teacher's love can save a student Question: Jack woke up on a Saturday morning. He got out of bed and went to the bathroom, and brushed his teeth. He put on his clothes and walked to the kitchen. Jack had a few choices to pick for breakfast. He could choose between an apple, pear, cereal or eggs. He picked an apple to eat for breakfast. After his breakfast, he turned on the TV to find something to watch. He could watch sports, the news, the weather or a cooking show. He chose to watch the weather. The reporter said fall was coming but that the weather was getting warmer instead of cooler. He turned off the TV and went outside to the backyard. Jack wanted to make some hot dogs for lunch the next day. He went to the store to get hot dogs, mustard, and ketchup. After coming back home from the store, Jack made lunch. After lunch, he found that he needed to do some cleaning. He started cleaning the kitchen and moved on to the living room. Where did Jack start cleaning after lunch? A. backyard B. kitchen C. living room D. bathroom Answer: B. kitchen Question: Robert lives in a small town. Five years ago, when he was nineteen, he finished middle school. He didn't like any subjects except playing when he was at school. Of course he learned nothing and the bosses wouldn't use a man like him. He has to stay at home, but doesn't do any housework, only watches TV or lies on bed. It makes his parents angry. They want him to study something, he always think it difficult and doesn't listen to them. One day Robert was walking near a bookshop while some young men were talking about the writers. He heard the publishing house pays the writers a lot. He became interested in it. As soon as he got home, he began to write. But he couldn't write anything. At last he bought a book and copied a story. Then he posted it to the publishing house. He waited for nearly half a year, but didn't get any answers. He had to ask an editor on the telephone, "Have you read my story yet, sir?" "Yes," said the editor, "I had read it before you were born! " His parents are angry with Robert because _ . A. he wouldn't find any work B. he didn't study hard before C. he's too lazy to do any housework D. he isn't polite to them Answer: C. he's too lazy to do any housework
Rescue workers and volunteers in prefix = st1 /Floridaworked non-stop to help as many dolphins as they could to return to deep water. Some dolphins made it. About 24 died. For 35 dolphins in danger there was only one chance for survival--to be sent to the Marine Mammals Care Centre. The dolphins were placed in a water pool where they have been given care _ by hundreds of volunteers who signed up for four-hour shifts . By the second week in April, only 11 of the original 35 were still alive. Each year thousands of dolphins, the lovely marine mammals, are found beached or stranded along coastlines around the world. They can't get back to the sea and will die if they don't get help, according to the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society's website. Nobody knows what caused the dolphins to strand themselves, but the US Navy and marine wildlife experts are investigating whether the dolphin stranding was caused by sonar exercises of ships. And some scientists suggest disease, or human interference . The reason for stranding isn't completely understood. In the pool, volunteers hold the dolphins and keep their blowholes out of the water so they can breathe. A vet injects the mammals with vitamin E to help with muscle cramping . Unable to eat on their own, they are fitted with a feeding tube to get them the needed nutrition. "Today we made the first steps in getting them to eat dead fish and to eat them out of our hands," Banick said. It's a race against time and feeding times must be strictly kept to. How many dolphins had died by the second week in April? A 11. B 24. C 35. D 46 Answer: B In fine department stores everywhere, you'll see the light-blue boxes of Estee Lauder. These popular cosmetics are sold in more than 130 countries. Who's the woman behind this worldwide cosmetics empire ? Estee Lauder herself, of course. This businesswoman became, for a time, the world's richest self-made woman. Her secret? "I didn't get there by dreaming about it," she would say. "I got there by doing it." Estee was born in the early 1900s in Queens, New York. Her father ran a hardware store, and from him Estee learned how to be a successful salesperson. Estee learned from her uncle John Schotz, too. He made creams in a small laboratory behind the family's house. Estee watched him. Soon, she was experimenting with her own cosmetics. She put lipstick and creams on any female relative who'd let her, until her annoyed father told her to stop. She married Joseph H. Lauder in 1930, and continued her experiments. She would cook dinner for the family, and at the same time, make her face creams. Then she began to sell her products in a Manhattan beauty shop. In 1960, Estee began to sell her products in Europe. After many tries she succeeded and began selling her products in some stores in London. But France proved even more difficult. The store Galleries Lafayette refused to sell her products. So Estee "by accident" dropped a bottle of youth dew on the floor in the cosmetics department. As the _ spread around the store, customers came over and asked to buy it. The store soon began selling Estee's products. Estee led her company until 1982, when her son Leonard took over the business. Until her health worsened in the mid-1990s, she continued to attend the opening of a new store wherever in the world. She died on April 24, 2004. Estee Lauder's talent as a saleswoman was extraordinary. Her son Leonard said, "There was never anyone who could sell like she could." All who worked for Estee appreciated her special talent. Estee managed to get her products known to the French customers by dropping a bottle of youth dew on the floor in the cosmetics department of a store _ . A on purpose B with the store's permission C by accident D carelessly Answer: A It was a beautiful Sunday morning, and Maggie and I were returning from our walk through the woods.We were only a couple of blocks from home when I spotted a cell phone and a credit card sitting on the road.We took them home.We always find amazing things on the street and she looks upon them as a movable feast-a chicken wing here or a barbecue rib there. I found another cell phone a few years back, too, and called a number in its phone book.I explained the situation to the guy who answered.He said it was his sister's and that he'd come to pick it up, which he did. And that was that.No verbal thank-you, no written thank-you, no "here's a box of chocolates" thank-you. I didn't have time to call anyone on my latest found cell phone.I was pouring myself coffee when it started to shake and dance across the kitchen counter. "Who's this?" someone asked when I picked up. "Who's this?" I countered ."Sarah?" She was surprised at my knowing her name until she realized her name was on the credit card."Could you send them to me?" she asked. She lives in Arlington, which is 2 miles from my house. "Hmm, no, "I replied, adding that I thought she could come to get them, and that if I wasn't at home, they would be in my mailbox. A day later, when I was out for a run, someone got them back.There wasn't even a piece of paper put in the mailbox with "Thanks" on it.In this age of e-mail and cell phone, there's really no excuse.Years ago, I found something more precious than a $100 bill on the street:a driver's license.I saw that its owner lived a couple of blocks from me, so I called him up.He asked whether I could slip the license through his front door. "I guess I could, "I replied. And that was that. How did the writer know Sarah's name? A From her telephone's phone book B From her credit card C From her e-mail D From her driver's license Answer: B Some people make you feel comfortable. You can easily spend an hour with them and feel as if you have known them your whole life. These people, who can make others feel relaxed, have great people skills and if we observe them we can learn a lot. How do they do it? Here are several ways to put others at ease so you can make friends quickly. First of all, good talkers ask lots of questions. Almost anyone, no matter how shy he or she is, will answer a question put to him or her. One well-known businesswoman says: "At business lunches, I always ask people what they did that morning. It's a common question, but it will get things going." From there you can move on to other matters - sometimes even to really personal questions. How he or she answers will let you know how far you can go. Second, once good talkers have asked questions, they listen to the answers. This point seems obvious, but it is important to remember that your questions should have a point and help you understand what sort of person you are talking to. In order to find this out, you really have to listen carefully. Real listening means not changing the subject of conversation. If someone sticks to one topic, you can take it as a fact that he or she is really interested in it. Real listening also means not just listening to the words, but also to how the person is speaking. What is their tone of voice? If they sound bored then it might be time for you to change the subject. Finally, good talkers know how to end a conversation. If you're saying goodbye to someone, shake his or her hand and say: "I've really enjoyed meeting you." And if you want to see that person again, don't keep it a secret. Let them know, and they will walk away feeling as if they've known you their whole life. To be a good talker, you are advised NOT to _ . A ask many common questions B change the subject frequently C listen to the answers carefully D ask any personal questions Answer: B It is a fine Sunday morning .Ann and her mother are on a big bus .There are many people on it . Some of them come from America ,and some come from English and Canada. They are going to the Great Wall . There are only two Chinese on the bus .One is the woman .She is driving the bus .The other is a young man.He is their guide and can speak English very well. Now he is talking with an Ameican girl .Other people are listening to them .They are very interested in the Great Wall.They want to see it very much. Ann is from _ A America B England C Canana D We don't know. Answer: D
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama ended their first trip to India on Monday. The First Couple set off on the ten-day tour of Asia on Friday. Obama's goals for the tour are to improve ties between the US and the region, and to promote economic growth and job creation. The President and his team will return to Washington, D.C. on November 14. The Obamas began their trip in Mumbai, India, the financial and economic center of the country, on November 6. There, they met with government officials, business leaders and school groups. Up first on the schedule was a visit to a memorial at the TajMahal Palace and Tower Hotel. Obama's second day in India was lighter than the first. The Presidential visit took place on Diwali, or the Festival of Lights. The five-day religious festival is celebrated each year by Hindus, Sikhs and others. The Obamas spent the holiday visiting with local schoolchildren. On Monday, Michelle Obama joined 15 Indian school girls on a field trip to a museum of Indian craft work. During the tour, the First Lady stressed to the students the importance of education. Most of the children on the trip are the first girls in their families to attend school. Mrs Obama also encouraged the young women to stay fit, telling them that she likes to exercise because "women have to stay strong". Early tomorrow, the Obamas will travel to Indonesia, the country in which the President spent four years as a boy. After that, they will fly to Seoul, South Korea, to attend the Group of Twenty, or G-20, economic summit. The conference brings together leaders from 20 wealthy and developing nations and the European Union. They meet twice a year to address challenges that affect the global economy. The final leg of the tour will be in Japan, where Obama will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. We can know from the passage that Mr Obama _ . Vending machines are found in 16% of U.S.elementary schools, 52% of middle schools and 88% of high schools.About 22% of students in grades 1 through 12 buy food in vending machines each day--and those purchases added an average of 253 calories to their diets, according to a new study in the September issue of the Journal of School Health. Just to be clear, those were not 253 calories' worth of tofu, yogurt or carrot.The most popular vending machine items included soft drinks, candy, chips, crackers, cookies, cakes and ice cream.On the plus side , kids also bought low-fat milk, fruit juice and even fruit, the study found. But the eventual effect on kids' diets was not good.Those who bought from vending machines ate an average of 156 grams of sugar per day, compared with 146 grams for those who abstained .They also consumed less fiber, iron and vitamin B. _ Vending machine customers ate 4% less sodium than other students--an average of 3,287 milligrams per day compared with 3,436 mg for those who didn't buy from vending machines.That's probably because the extra snacks made kids too full to eat as much at mealtimes, when dishes are especially Salty.In any event, kids should eat no more than 1,200 to 1,500 mg of sodium each day, according to the Mayo Clinic.Even for adults, the government recommends a daily limit of 2,300 mg. Overall, vending machines in school appear to be a threat to children's health.The researchers calculated that all that snacking adds up to about14 extra pounds per child per school year.For some students this might be a serious contributor to weight issues.The study was based on data collected from 2,309 children nationwide for the third School Nutrition Dietary Assessment Study, which was conducted by the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service. What's the purpose of the text? Most Americans start to school at the age of five when they enter kindergarten . Children do not really study at this time. They only attend for half the day and learn what school is like. Children attend elementary school for the next six years. They learn to read and write and work with numbers. They also study the world and its people. After they leave elementary school, children go to junior high school for three years and senior high school for another three years. This is called secondary education. In some places, the children go to elementary school for eight years and high school for four. In all, elementary and secondary education together take twelve years to complete excluding kindergarten. ,. (2,10) In elementary school they should stay there _ . Spring is just around the corner and it's a time to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. Here is a selection of festivals around the country that are a great excuse to travel and get back in the spring sunshine. Dana Point Festival of the Whales Dana Point, California March 7 to 8 and 14 to 15, 2010 Each year, over two sunny weekends in March the town of Dana Point, California celebrates the return of migratory California gray whales to this part of the Pacific Ocean. Festivities include whale-watching, an arts festival and educational hands-on activities for the entire family. Prices start at $29 per adult and $19 for children. For more information, visit: www.dpfestivalofwhales.com Chandler Ostrich Festival Chandler, Arizona March 13 to 15, 2010 Chandler is the center of ostrich ranching in the USA. You can see ride these feathered beasts around the ostrich track at Tumbleweed Park. General admission is $9 for adults, $8 for seniors, $7 for children aged 5 to 12 and kids 4 and under are free. For more information, visit: www.ostrichfestival.com Festival of Houses and Gardens Charleston, South Carolina March 19 to April 18, 2010 The Historic Charleston Foundation gives curious travelers the opportunity to explore gardens of some of the finest private residences in America. Each 3-hour tour (afternoons from 2 to 5 pm and evenings from 6 to 9 pm) lets you visit 8 to 10 properties dating from the American colonial period. Prices range from $25 to $45. For more information, visit: www.historiccharleston.org Tulip Time Festival Holland, Michigan May 1 to 9, 2010 You don't need to travel to the Netherlands this spring to see and smell some of the world's finest tulips . The annual Tulip Time Festival, one of the largest flower festivals in the country, will kick off with fireworks on May 1. Admission fee ranges from $6 for the children's area to $38 for theatre tickets. Tickets and more information are available at: www.tuliptime.com Which of the following is TRUE of Tulip Time Festival? No matter how well you understand a foreign language, misunderstanding still exists between native speakers and you. Here is such an example. Three young Frenchmen were travelling in Britain. Though they had taken a few English lessons before their holiday, they were often in trouble because of their misunderstanding of English. One day they talked about their misfortunes together. The first Frenchman said, "I once heard someone shout 'Look out', I put my head out of a window and a bucket of water fell on me." The second Frenchman said, "I was once in a ship and heard the captain shouted, 'All hands on decks ' I put my hands on the deck and someone walked on them." The third Frenchman said, "I once called early on an English friend and the maid who came to the door said, 'He's not up yet' When I went again for him, she said, 'He's not down yet'. I said, 'If he's not up and he's not down, where is he?' She said, 'He's still upstairs now. When I told you he was not up I meant he had not got up yet, so he has not come downstairs by now' " When someone is calling "look out" to you,he probably wants you to _ .
One day, many years ago, when I was working as a psychologist in England, David was brought into my office. His face was pale and he looked at his own feet. David lost his father when he was two years old and lived with his mother and grandfather ever since. But the year before he turned 13, his grandfather died and his mother was killed in a car accident. His teacher told me that he refused to talk to others from then on. How could I help him? David didn't say a word. As he was leaving, I put my hand on his shoulder."Come back next week if you like. "I said. He came and I suggested we play a game of chess. He agreed. After that we played chess every Wednesday afternoon--in complete silence. Usually, he arrived earlier than agreed. It seemed that he liked to be with me. But why didn't he ever look at me? "Perhaps he simply needs someone to share his pain with," I thought. Months later, when I was looking at his head, he suddenly looked up at me. "It's your turn," he said. After that day, David started talking. He finally got friends in school and he even joined a bicycle club. He wrote to me a few times. Now he had re ally started to live his life. Maybe I gave David something. But I learned a lot from him. I learned how time makes it possible to get over what seems to be painful. David showed me how to help people like him. All they need is a shoulder to cry on, a friendly touch and an ear that listens. David's father died when he was _ years old. A 13 B 2 C 5 D 6 Answer: B Although he died almost 40 years ago,Bruce Lee is still considered the greatest and most influential kung fu performer of the 20th century.His films brought traditional Hong Kong kung fu movies to a new level of popularity,and introduced kung fu to millions of people in the West. Bona in the USA in 1940,Lee returned to his native Hong Kong before his birthday.As a teenager,the highly intelligent boy was accepted into one of Hong Kong's most famous middle schools but he paid little attention to his studies. He was more interested in sport,especially kung fu,and hanging out with his street-gang friends. In 1959,Lee got into trouble with the police for fighting.His mother,fearing he would end up in prison,sent him to the USA. Two years later,he began studying at university there. While still a student,Lee opened his own kung fu school,teaching a new fighting style he had developed.What made Lee's style different was that it used power,strength and,quick--action attacks.It also combined Japanese,Korean and South American fighting styles with traditional stow--moving Chinese kung fu. Among Lee's students were several famous actors who,impressed by his good--looks and fighting skill,encouraged him to start acting.Over the next fire years Lee achieved some Success in America.But his dream of introducing his fighting style into American movies was not accepted by local film makers who thought western audiences were not interested in kung fu. Determined to prove them wrong,Lee returned to Hong Kong in 1970.There he made two films (1971)and (1972),using his kung fu ideas and techniques.The movies were huge hits world--wide,making Lee an international star and symbol of kung fu.These were followed by what is widely considered the greatest kung fu movie of all time, (1973).Tragically however,Lee suddenly and mysteriously died while making his next movie . He was only 33 years old. Why was Lee sent to America? A His parents wanted him to study at university there. B He wanted to develop a new American fighting style. C His family:feared he was getting into too much trouble in Hong Kong. D He was determined to become a successful and popstar actor there. Answer: C Don't worry, be happy and, according to new research, you will also be healthy. It is estimated that over the course of one year, Americans suffer 1 billion colds. But new research shows that all it may take to avoid this common affliction is a positive and upbeat attitude. People who are energetic, happy and relaxed are less likely to catch a cold than those who are depressed, nervous or angry, finds a new study published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine. Healthy volunteers first underwent an emotional assessment in which they were asked to rate their tendency to experience positive and negative emotions--how often they felt pleased, relaxed, happy, or anxious, depressed and hostile. The subjects were next given a squirt up the nose of a rhinovirus, the nasty little germ that causes colds. Researchers then watched the volunteers to see who came down with a cold and waited to see how the unlucky ill manifested their cold symptoms. "We found that people who regularly experience positive emotions, when exposed to rhinovirus, are ly protected from developing illness," said Dr. Sheldon Cohen, lead author of the study and a psychology professor at Carnegie Mellon University." Increases in positive emotional styles were linked with decreases in the rate of clinical colds, but a negative emotional style had no effect on whether or not people got sick," Cohen said. So how can your emotions influence your health? In simple terms, when the brain is "happy" it sends messages to our organs that help keep the body healthy and sound." It's like a drug that is released by your state of mind and simply changing the state of mind can produce effects on the rest of the body through the nervous system and hormones," said Dr. Neil Shulman, associate professor of medicine at Emory University School of Medicine and author of Doc Hollywood. "Your chance of developing the common cold, pneumonia, or even cancer may very well be decreased by keeping your brain in a healthy state." In addition, happy and relaxed people tend to better health practices than their negative and stressed counterparts. They are more likely to get plenty of sleep and to engage in regular exercise, and have been shown to have lower levels of certain stress hormones. According to the passage, people are advised _ A to get plenty of sleep. B to engage in regular exercise. C to stay positive against getting ill D to wear heavy clothes in cold seasons Answer: C I suddenly felt like drinking some wine last night, because I had a tough decision to make. It's been too long for me to live in the shadow created by myself! Darkness has taken me but fortunately, I finally woke up and decided to make my way out. Amanda bought me a bottle of wine which tasted as bitter as the life I had been undergoing. I told her what I had experienced. It is I who chose to be like this! It's my own choicer. Had I not come back from Singapore, not decided to leave FX, not divorced with Maggie, I would not have met you! There are too many things, which are not supposed to happen, but happened to me! My job is stable but not well-paid, interesting but not challenging, relaxing but not what I want. There's nothing about the job I am proud of, except that I can be the interpreter for the vice mayor sometimes. But is it a big deal? No, I don't think so! There are now two options in front of me. I can either choose to stay in government or leave for foreign companies. I asked Amanda for advice, who suggested me to stay still in the government, and my parents also asked me to be patient! But my mind is totally blank now, and I don't know which to choose. I'm confused! Neither option is convincing, in terms of payment and long-term improvement. Working for the government will give me a stable career life. I won't need to worry about my sales targets and whatever insurance. But I will never be rich again! Working for a foreign company will bring good salaries and bonus to me. But I will be under great pressure to achieve whatever goals made by the company! I'm no longer a young salesman. My confidence is no longer as strong as before! God, it's so hard to make the decision! What does the author think of his present job? A Highly paid and stable. B Steady and relaxing. C Challenging and interesting. D Busy and difficult. Answer: B Children lie on couches or sit on floors, nearly hypnotized by all kinds of messages coming from the television. This scene has become all too familiar. Increasingly, young children are adopting a watching-TV lifestyle, at s stage in life when activity is important to their growth. Furthermore, family time is being destroyed by too much TV time. Here are some facts you need to know: Research shows that children spend between five and six hours per day watching TV, and they go to bed before having any communication with other family members. Time spent in front of a screen is reducing the amount of time children spend sleeping. The more time a youth spends in front of a screen, the more likely he or she is to be overweight. Experts offer the following advice to parents on how to stop their children from becoming addicted to television: Do not put a TV in a child's bedroom. Make meal time, family time -----turn off the TV during a family meal time. Better yet, remove the TV from the eating area. Make TV time active time by doing simple exercise during advertisement breaks. Help your kids be clever TV watchers by teaching them to recognize a sales trick in advertisements . Create family memories by planning fun activities instead of always watching TV with your family. * _ . Limit your own TV watching to less than two hours per day. The best way to learn is to follow; this is especially true for children. Which fact is not mentioned as a result of watching TV in this passage? A Family time has been destroyed. B Children who watch too much TV are often overweight. C Children spend less time sleeping because of watching TV. D Children's study can be badly influenced if they watch too much TV. Answer: D
The largest body in our solar system is Answer: Most dog owners feel that their dogs are their best friends. Almost everyone likes dogs because they try hard to please their owners. One of my favorite stories is about a dog who wanted his owner to please him. One of my friends has a large German shepherd ( ) named Jack. Every Sunday afternoon, my friend takes Jack for a walk in the park. Jack likes these long walks very much. One Sunday afternoon, a young man came to visit my friend. He stayed a long time, and he talked and talked. Soon it was time for my friend to take Jack for his walk, but the visitor didn't leave. Jack became very worried about his walk in the park. He walked around the room several times and then sat down directly in front of the visitor and looked at him. But the visitor paid no attention. He continued talking. Finally, Jack couldn't stand it any longer. He went out of the room and came back a few minutes later. He sat down again in front of the visitor, but this time he held the man's hat in his mouth. German shepherds aren't the only intelligent dogs. Another intelligent dog is a Seeing Eye dog. This is a special dog which helps blind people walk along the streets and do many other things. We call these dogs Seeing Eye dogs because they are the "eye" of the blind people and they help them to "see". Seeing Eye dogs generally go to special schools for several years to learn to help blind people. Which of the following titles would be the best for the passage? Answer: Ecosystems Answer: Who hasn't enjoyed eating peanuts? Did you know that although peanuts look like nuts and taste like nuts, they aren't nuts at all? They belong to the pea family, so they are called peanuts. The peanut grows flowers above ground, but its "fruit" grows underground. It grows in more countries than most other "nuts". The peanut is a native South American plant. Scientists believe that it grew wild in Brazil long ago. They think that for several thousand years the early peoples of South America made it a part of their diet. These peoples were nomads who moved on when a natural food could no longer be found in one area. Along the way they probably let fall some peanuts, which got into the ground and grew. This is believed to be the way the plant reached the place where the Incas lived. The Incas, from about 1100 to 1532, thought highly of peanuts. The peanuts were eaten in several forms and used as sacrificial offerings to the Incan Sun God. Later in the 16thcentury, European soldiers had brought peanuts to other parts of the world, including North America, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Pacific Islands. Although peanuts were found native in South America, they are now grown in almost every country that has warm weather. India produces the most peanuts. China's production is next, followed by the United States. The peanut is special in more ways than one. It can be eaten raw, boiled, roasted, or fried. Hundreds of widely different products have been made from it. Carver, an American scientist, set himself the task of discovering new uses for eating and for many other products. Peanuts are very highly _ and are also high in protein . Americans use about seven-tenths of their protein in the form of meat. In India, where the poor can't pay for meat or milk, peanut meal and peanut milk have been produced. These have been a great help to the poor. New products are continually being made from peanuts, among them peanut cheese and a powder that becomes peanut butter when water is added. The fact is that peanuts are so healthy that they were used by astronauts. The unusual nut that isn't a nut is one of nature's most amazing gifts. Which of the following is TRUE according to the article? Answer: Some people believe that classes, teachers and school buildings will no longer be necessary in the near future because of the Internet and other new technology. Perhaps this will be true one day, but if the world has no schools, I can't imagine how our society will be. In fact, we should learn how to use new technology to make schools better. We should invent a new kind of school connected to libraries, museums, science centers, labs and even companies. Technological companies should create learning programs for schools. Scientists could give talks through the Internet. TV networks and local stations could develop programs about things students are studying in school. Labs could set up websites to show new technology, so students could see it on the Internet. Is this a dream? No. There have been many cities where this is beginning to happen. Here the whole city is connected to the Internet, and learning can take place at home, at school, and in the office. Businesses provide programs for the schools and the society. The schools provide computer labs for people without their own computers at home. Because everyone can go on the Internet, older people use it as much as younger ones, and everyone can visit faraway libraries and museums as easily as nearby ones. How will this new thing of school change the usual way of learning? It is a little early to be sure, but it is very exciting to think about it. Technology will change the way we learn; schools will change as well; and we will learn something from the Internet. Why do people think learning can take place at home, at school, and in the office? Answer:

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