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Rocky Hurt and Ethan Wilson were playing football in their front yard in Marietta. Suddenly a woman they had never met ran out of her house shouting to them to call an ambulance. That woman was Susanna Rohm. Her 12-week-old baby seemed to stop breathing. She was so scared that she couldn't find her cell phone. so she had decided to rush outside to ask for help. After getting their parents to make the call, the two boys followed their mother to see if they could do anything to help. And help they did! As Susanna was trying to do CPR on her baby. Young Rocky came in and told her she was doing it all wrong. Instead he asked her to use two fingers, push on the chest 5-10 times. tilt( ) the baby's head. plug the nose and then do a mouth-to-mouth resuscitation ( ) by breathing into the baby's mouth. Luckily for him and the baby. Susanna accepted his advice for even a second and came a loud cry from the baby. Soon the doctors came and the baby was sent to hospital. The most amazing part of this story is that neither boy has attended a CPR class. Instead. They learned it all by carefully reading the posters on the walk of their school hall. And, while they are now being called as heroes and even interviewed on national television .neither really cares. They are just glad to have saved the baby's life! "Thanks to the posters on the walls, they could save the kid! "Their teacher said to the reporter proudly. How did Rocky and Ethan learn CPR? A. They used to go to the hospital to learn from the doctors. B. They often listened to the radio and kept it in their minds. C. They usually watched the medical care programmers on TV D. They read the posters about it on the walls of their school. Answer: D. They read the posters about it on the walls of their school. There once was a girl named Erin who had a really close friend named Kevin. They really liked being with each other, only it was difficult as Erin lived in England and Kevin lived in the United States. Because they both liked traveling and Erin wanted to see Kevin, she planned a trip to see him in the United States one summer. They had planned to travel around where Kevin lived and then go to see New York City at one point in order to see the sights and have a really nice steak dinner together. Once Erin arrived and met Kevin at the airport, she ran up to him and jumped into his arms, giving him a great big hug. They drove home where Kevin helped Erin organize her things before they changed and watched a movie together. The next day, they went out to have breakfast at the diner. They thought about getting eggs, French toast, or cereal... but couldn't make up their minds. Finally, Kevin asked the worker to bring out pancakes for the two of them to share. They had a really fun time together, visiting the beach, watching movies, and even visiting New York City like they had planned. In the morning, they went to see the Empire State building. In the afternoon, they saw the Statue of Liberty and Central Park. At night, they went to have their dinner and went back to their hotel. As Erin's trip was ending, Erin became really sad about leaving Kevin. They talked and came up with a plan for the months ahead which made Erin feel a lot better. Erin then went home and waited for Kyle to come to see her. What kind of dinner did Kevin have with Erin in New York? A. chocolate B. steak C. eggs D. pancakes Answer: B. steak When my son was a teenager he already knew he wanted things. He wanted nice things and he wanted to get them by himself.He never depended upon us to provide for him.He gladly accepted the room and other different necessities we gave him,but when it came to the luxuries ,or the extra things of life,he knew he would have to make his own way. At the age of 13,he started talking to me about working.His sister had worked at a local amusement park for several years as her first job so he gave that some thought. He had us drive him to the park and he went in and applied. Within two days he was called back to go to work. His sister had been a model employee and the park didn't even ask what he was able to do. He worked at least 20 hours a week at the local amusement park. With his first week check he came home with a big smile. He had made something like $60 for his four days of afterschool efforts,and he wanted to thank us for our his wealth. He needed transportation both to and from work so we would take him there and back;no matter when the park closed,we would be there. With his very first check,he insisted on treating me and his dad. He took us and his sister to an expensive restaurant. We had a wonderful time there and we spent his entire check. He didn't care;he knew he had to take care of those who had made it possible for him to have the check in the first place. He had always been a generous boy,perhaps too generous sometimes,but very loving. The boy got a parttime job easily at the amusement park because of _ . A. his great abilities B. his sister's good example C. his independence D. his sister's good advice Answer: B. his sister's good example It seems school children all over the world complain about their school food.Cherie Blair,the wife of Prime Minister Tony Blair,said that she would prepare a packed lunch for her son if school dinners do not improve. So what do students of your age eat for lunch at school? Japan High schools have canteens,which serve everything from noodles to rice,but not burgers and chips.Other children bring food from home such as cold rice balls,meat or fish,pickles and vegetables. The United States A typical menu from a US school is made up of a hamburger with fried potatoes or roast chicken,lettuce and pickles,fruit and cookies.School lunches must also provide at least one-third of the daily dietary allowances of protein ,vitamin A.vitamin C,iron,calcium,and calories . Australia Meat pies,sausage rolls and hotdogs are all traditional dishes in Australian school shops.But as the nation pays more attention to children's health,healthier foods have started to find their way onto school menus. Many schools have used a traffic light system.The sale of red-labelled foods including pastries,chocolate and soft drinks,is served only twice a week.Healthier green-labelled foods such as sushi,sandwiches,corn and watermelon,however are served every day. In some schools.students have a choice of up to 89 foods to choose from,including popcorn and rice. South Africa Most of South Africa's schools do not serve meals at all.Classes end at 1:30 pm and students get their own lunches.Many students bring food from home,usually sandwiches. Fast food and fried food sell the best among students,which has led to a rise in obesity among children.But as more people began to realize the fact that being too fat may cause different diseases,some schools in towns have led the way towards better nutrition .Now students at these schools are provided with lunches of porridge with vegetables,such as cabbages,onions,beans,carrots and tomatoes. .Who is the article meant for? A. School lunch suppliers B. Headmasters. C. Students. D. Nutritionists Answer: C. Students. In a series of chemical reactions, X→Y→Z→A, X converts to Y, Y converts to Z, and Z converts to A. Which term describes the process if the production of A interferes with the conversion of X to Y? A. a complimentary response B. a control system C. negative feedback D. positive feedback Answer: C. negative feedback
A Gold Cup for an Orange There is a poor man. He has an orange tree. On the tree, there are many fine oranges. One of them is very, very big. It is as big as a football. Nobody sees so big an orange. The poor man is very happy. He takes it to the king . The King is so pleased that he gives the man a lot of money for it. When a rich man hears of it, he says to himself, "It's only an orange. Why does the king give so much money for it? I'll take my gold cup to the king. He'll give me more money". The next day when the king receives the gold cup, he says to the rich man, "what a beautiful cup! I'll show you something wonderful, please take this great orange away. The rich man takes his gold cup to the king for _ A the orange B the orange tree C a football D money Answer: D At midnight at New Year's Eve people in Rome and Italy throw ( ) all the things they no longer want .The streets are filled with old chairs ,beds ,clothes and dishes .... In Madrid, Spain, new year comes in more quietly ( ) . People go to the main square, each holding a bag of grapes .As the clock strikes ( ) twelve ,the people eat grapes . In Tokyo people eat noodles at New Year's Eve. This food is said to bring long life. Early the next morning , some Japanese families climb Mount Fuji. There they watch the first sunrise ( ) of the new year. In China , New Year's food include ( ) a whole fish and a chicken . The chicken must be presented ( ) with a head ,a tail and two feet to symbolize ( ) completeness ( ) . People in China eat _ at New Year's Eve because they symbolize completeness. A grapes B noodles C fish and chicken D whole fish and chicken Answer: D NEW YORK--Australian mining enterpriser Clive Palmer on Tuesday unveiled blueprints for Titanic II, a modern copy of the doomed ocean liner, although he didn't call the ship unsinkable any more. The ship will largely recreate the design and decoration of the fabled original, with some modifications to keep it in line with current safety rules and shipbuilding practices, and the addition of some modern comforts such as air conditioning, Palmer said at a press conference in New York. The three passenger classes, however, will be prevented from mingling , as in 1912, Palmer said. "I'm not too superstitious . "Palmer said when asked whether recreating a ship best-known for sinking was tempting fate. White Star Line, the operator of the original ship, had said the Titanic was designed to be unsinkable. About 1, 500 people died on Titanic's _ voyage in 1912 from Southampton to New York after the ship collided with an iceberg in the North Atlantic. Palmer, who created the company Blue Star Line last year, refused to make a similar boast. "Anything will sink if you put a hole in it,"Palmer said. "I think it would be very cavalier to say it." Unlike the original, TitanicII will have more than enough space in its lifeboats for every person on board and will have additional escape staircases. Markku Kanerva, sales director at Deltamarin, the Finnish company designing the ship, said it would be "the safest cruise ship in the world". Palmer refused to answer questions about the project's cost. Although the Titanic was the world's largest ship in her time, she would be smaller than many of today's modern cruise ships. "It's not about the money, "Palmer said. "I've got enough money for it. I think that's all that matters." Forbes estimated Palmer's net worth to be $795 million in 2012. He describes himself as a billionaire. TitanicII will be built by Chinese state-owned CSC Jinling Shipyard, which has already built four ore carriers for Palmer's mining business, he said. The contract to build TitanicII has not yet been signed, Palmer said. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage? A 1, 500 people died on Titanic's maiden voyage in 1912. B The Titanic collided with an iceberg in the South Pacific. C The Titanic was equipped with air conditioning. D The Titanic was the world's largest ship at that time. Answer: D In the Adirondack forests of New York, some trees have died. The change in the forest is thought to be related to air pollution and rain. Which abiotic factor most likely has been changed as a result of the pollution and rain which resulted in the death of the trees? A a decrease in the amount of available oxygen B an increase in the amount of sunlight C a decrease in the pH of the soil D an increase in soil nutrients Answer: C Hello, I'm Frank. What's this? It's a pen. It's my red pen. My black pen is in my bag . My bag is orange. And my key is in it. It's blue. This is my ruler. It's white. It's on my desk . And my orange is on the desk, too. What color is the ruler? A Red. B Black C White. D Blue. Answer: C
Dear Deidre, I am 17. Further education is not for me. I want to be out seeing the world in the army. My mum and dad say they will cut me off and have nothing to do with me if I go into the military. They have other plans for me. My friends all laugh at me and say I won't ever get on. I know I am not the fittest guy in the world but I thought that would come with the training. I am now asking myself if I should just give up my lifelong ambitions and get the sort of job my parents approve of. I don't want to look back with regrets but sometimes I think maybe they are right and know more than me. Samson Dear Samson, It's your life and your future. Your parents mean well, and may be fearful of what could happen to you if you are posted to a danger zone, but you must decide this by yourself. At least talk to an army recruitment office about what is involved and about how fit you need to be. Do your research. Find out everything you can about what choices you will have. Then go for it. Start a sensible eating and exercise plan right away. If you are motivated you can get reasonably fit in a few weeks. Tell your parents and friends you want to give it a try. If you still feel it's right for you, then apply. If it isn't for you, at least you won't regret for the rest of your life. Parents and friends may say, "I told you so", but you will know that you've followed your dream and made up your own mind about the sort of career for you. Talk to At East which is an independent and confidential organization providing advice and support for those who are in the military and those who would like to be. They can explain when you are allowed to leave and how much attention you have to give. Deidre It can be inferred from the first letter that Samson is _ . puzzled now As the world watched the twin towers of theprefix = st1 /WorldTradeCentercome under attack, a common phrase was repeated:" It looks like a movie." But this time there was no superman to save the people or the famous building. The attack destroyed one of the world's highest skyscrapers and left 5,000 people dead or missing. Movie fans have become used to such events after years of Hollywood films showing disasters, terrorism and danger, The Empire State Building, the White House, New York City and even the American president himself have all been threatened by terrorist attacks in these exciting films. The film"True Lies", released in 1994 is considered to be a good example of this kind of movie. The special effects, including explosions and missiles, make the action look like a real thing. "Independence Day"in 1996 took this type of movie one step further by blowing up the White House. This science fiction movie is about a war between human beings and aliens from another planet. In the movie, the WorldTradeCentertowers are destroyed. Violence has become a major part of Hollywood movies. And this is what people enjoy. Soon after the attacks, many famous film companies stopped the planned releases of some of their new movies, especially if their films showed terrorist attacks or plane crashes. "Swordfish" was top of the American box office in June, 2001. But the movie's story was frighteningly similar to the Sept.11 disaster. The film would have been stopped in American and British cinemas after the attack. But it's unlikely thatHollywoodwill stay quiet for long. It is already waiting for the feeling inAmericato calm down. From this article we know that_. in fact, the Sept.11 attack had nothing to do with Hollywood films. A traveler once visited a city where everyone wore blue. Puzzled, he went to a dyer and said, " Please dye the handkerchief red." "I don't know how to dye red." "Then dye it green." "I can't dye it green. There are forty master dyers in this city, and every one of us can dye only blue." "I can dye all color1s," said the traveler, "Hire me and I'll teach you my art." "We never allow a stranger to enter our craft ", said the dyer. The traveler made the same offer to the other master dyers, but none would hire him. So he began his own dye shop. Folks soon crowded around asking, "What are all these beautiful color1s called?" He answered, "This is red and that is yellow," and so on. Everyone began bringing him cloth to dye. When the master dyers saw this, they quickly apologized for their past insults , begging him to hire them and teach them his art. The traveler visited the first dyer in order to _ . see if the dyer could dye different color1s Leonardo da Vinci's mother may have been a Chinese slave according to a new research by an Italian historian and novelist-Angelo Paratico, who has spent the last 20 years living and working in Hong Kong,researching the links between his homeland and China over the past half century. Mr. Paratico said the documents he has uncovered during two years of research form the basis of his latest book Leonardo Da Vinci, a Chinese scholar lost in Renaissance Italy. The book, which is due to be published next year, uncovers evidence that there's a link between Da Vinci and the Far Fast. Speaking to the South China Morning http://w\|ww?.wln%100.com @Post, Mr. Paratico said, "I am sure that Leonardo's mother was from the East, but to make her a Chinese, we need to use a deductive method . One wealthy client of Leonardo's father had a slave called Caterina. After Leonardo's date of birth, she disappeared from the documents. She was no longer working there." It is believed that his mother was called Caterina, who, according to some reports, was a local peasant. But Mr. Paratico's new work claims it is most likely that Da Vinci's mother was a slave. Supporting his theory, he said, "During the Renaissance, countries like Italy and Spain were full of slaves from the East." He claimed that there were certain aspects of Da Vinci's life and works which suggest a Chinese link. For instance, he was writing with his left hand from left to right and he was also a vegetarian, which was not common. Mona Lisa is probably a portrait of his mother, as Sigmund Freud said in 1910. On the back of Mona Lisa, there is a Chinese landscape and even her face looks Chinese. Mr. Paratico said he believes the only way to solve the mystery is to dig out some of Da Vinci's relations in Florence and extract some DNA. Mr. Paratico has stayed in Hong Kong for 20 years to _ . explore the connection of Italy and China Tomorrow evening I will be interviewed on stage by a museum official. I will be an interpreter, talking from experience as a disability rights lawyer and activist. In "special" schools and camps for children with physical and mental disabilities, I grew up knowing we were a category of person that the world did not want. Most of us had a story of some doctor advising our parents to put up away or to let us die. We owed our survival to parents who had irrationally bonded with us. We knew we were lucky and hoped our luck would hold. To increase the chance of surviving, we tended to be charming. We developed By the time I roll onto the stage the next night, I've thought a lot about there and here, then and now. When the first question comes, I tell them about my fascination with the wheelchair, and somehow it sounds funny, and laughter fills the room. We talk from the horror of Nazis killing (Nazis once killed the disabled patients as useless) to a funny confession that I, too, tend to stare at disabled people on the street. What has come over me? In this room, people with disabilities in thrilling variety make me feel at home. Here people, disabled and not, are gathered by choice. I haven't forgotten that 2 million people remain in US disability institutions, that some disabled children still cannot attend mainstream schools, that too many of us live in poverty. But I can't hold onto anger and sorrow for I feel a shared sense of possibility, a drive for a world that will embrace both the fit and the unfit and hold them so dear that the division dies. What's the author according to the passage? A disabled lawyer.
Nowadays, most of us live a busy life. What do you do to keep yourself relaxed? Besides spending time with family, having a glass of wine with friends or reading a book, how about a hobby? Personally, I'm a collector. I like blue and white pieces the best---blue and white anything!Plates,jars,vases, cups, bowls---I love them all. Collecting items is like something you can't get enough of. You get one, and you want to have more. I find collecting to be a fun and inspirational hobby. In many ways, it's like a puzzle I'm never tired of solving. I look high and low for new pieces to add to my collection. I can often be found visiting Marshell's, looking over their inexpensive offerings. In fact, I found one of my favorite pieces there. I've mixed inexpensive pieces from Marshell's with more expensive finds. A lot of times, it's the piece I'm not looking for that falls into my lap; I find a way to make it part of my blue and white family. What I love about my collection is that when I get inspired, I can move them around the house, mix and match and make things look fresh and new. Ever since I was a little girl, blue has been my favorite color1. I think I got it from my aunt in Mexico. Some of my earliest memories are visiting her in Mexico and sitting on a chair in her kitchen, which had blue and white tiles from the floor to the ceiling. I would spend countless hours admiring all the beautiful blue and white plates and shiny blue tiles around her kitchen. Once I had a home, I began to build my own blue and white collection. We can infer that in the writer's opinion, _ . This Teaching Assistant Level 3 course is designed for people who either are, or wish to become a teaching assistant. Teaching assistants carry out their tasks under the direction of the class teacher. This is a fully supported home study course, and the help is available whenever you need it --- either online or over the phone. There is a huge demand for teaching assistants around the country but also many thousands of applicants for these positions. Having this Teaching Assistant Level 3 qualification will help you stand out from other applicants. Our Level 3 Teaching Assistant course is similar to the NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) Level 3 because it is an equivalent level of learning. The teaching assistant is able to contribute in four main areas: Supporting the teacher Supporting the pupil Supporting the school Supporting the curriculum The salary a teaching assistant is expected to earn a year: London fringe :PS16,856 - PS26,052 Outer London: PS18,789 - PS27,992 Inner London: PS19,893 - PS29,088 Rest of England and Wales: PS15,817 - PS25,016 The fee and the time of enrolment Enroll for only a PS35 deposit. Teaching Assistant Level 3 is only PS345. To help you on your way towards achieving your qualification, we are offering all of our potential students a PS115 reduction in their enrolment fees for June. The normal fee for this course is PS460 but for this month it has been reduced to only PS345. There has never been a better time to start learning and take that first step towards a brighter future! 100% money back guarantee, if you are not satisfied. That's why we'll happily give you your money back on any course returned within 7 days. It's easy for you to enroll now by telephone 01223 923 913. You can get free friendly help and advice from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, on Monday to Friday. Call 01223 923 915. What's the teaching assistant's task? Annual holidays have become a luxury and are no longer a staple of family life, according to government research. A getaway of a week or more is no longer considered essential by many families and is often beyond their reach, said the analysis of what parents and children say they really need. Fashionable clothes for the children, expensive birthday parties and lots of toys are also on the list of luxuries families don't have to have. Instead, recession -hit parents are thinking of the future, and the things they want for their children centre around learning to behave properly, good education and good health. Their picture of what a family ought to have includes a space to eat together away from the television, plenty of fruit and vegetables, and bicycles so children can get exercise. The breakdown of necessities and luxuries was prepared by researchers from the Department for Work and Pensions(DWP) who were trying to establish an up-to-date picture of what parents say they really need. Their findings show how families have scaled down their expectations in the face of economic difficulties -- how parents are now concentrating their attention and money firmly on the long-term interests of their children. Many believe that while it is vital for a family to do things together, day trips or weekend breaks are enough. Spending on furniture or decorating the house was also considered luxurious, unless the state of the home was so bad it became difficult to invite visitors in. Instead, researchers said: A family home should have an area where the family can eat together, not on their laps in front of a television. Families should be able to go on outings, overnight trips and possibly short holiday: the fact of being able to share these experiences is more important than the precise activity and its cost. In the opinion of most parents, _ . Food is colorful. Some food is green, some food is red, and some is black. Now more and more people like to have black food--black rice, black beans, black grapes. Why do they like black food? * Black food can make grey hair into black hair. * Black food is good for the heart. * Black food can help children become smart. * Black food can also help women look young. Black food is very good, but we need food with different colors. Doctors say that it isn't good to be _ about food. So we had better eat all kinds of food. Now more and more people like to have _ . glass crystals will cause light to
SAN FRANCISCO -- In the western U.S., Hawaii and elsewhere across the globe, moon watchers were treated on Saturday to a rare celestial phenomenon: a total lunar eclipse . For about 50 minutes starting at 6:06 a.m. PST, the moon was completely blocked by the Earth's shadow. With only some indirect sunlight able to reach it after passing through the Earth's atmosphere, the moon took on a reddish weak light. Since the atmosphere scatters blue light, only red light strikes the moon, giving it a dark red color1. Dally Sam, who runs a public relations firm in Hawaii, said it had been cloudy and rainy, but the weather cleared just in time for the eclipse. Around 3 a.m., he awoke, as he usually does, and remembered to step outside the house in time to catch the beginning of the eclipse about a half hour later. No one else in the neighborhood was up then. "It was turning that dark red color1," Sayre, aged 47, said, "I'd better get a camera. To be able to see it just right outside our house was really cool." At the local observatory in Los Angeles, some 300 people, many holding coffee cups in the cold morning air, sat with blankets and chairs on the observatory's great grass land. "It's really a celestial festival out here," John Peter, aged 39, told the Los Angeles Times as he set up his camera. Lying on a slope north of downtown near the Hollywood sign, the place offers clear views of the sky. Observatory officials reminded the crowd when the eclipse began and big applause burst when the celestial event ended. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon goes through the long shadow cast by the Earth and is blocked from the sunlight that brightens it. ks5u What do we know about the lunar eclipse from the passage? Answer: My life, as it really is, is always filled with sadness and little joy. However, no matter what happens, I can always face it bravely. In July, last year, I couldn't believe the news that I was allowed to enter the only key high school in my hometown. Then I rushed to my home and told my parents. But my father didn't seem as excited as I was. They didn't say a word. My father just kept smoking and my mother put her head down and couldn't help crying. What I saw didn't make me surprise. I knew very well what my family was like. My mum had been in bed for two years because of her disease. I knew my family lived a hard life and couldn't afford my tuition fee . I felt so upset at that moment, but I could say nothing to my parents. I decided to help my father with his work to support my family instead of continuing my schooling. To my surprise, things completely changed just three days before the beginning of the new term. My head teacher who had taught me three years came to my family with some money, which had been raised by my schoolmates. He encouraged me, "Always have dreams." At the same time,my father also earned some extra money so that he could afford part of my tuition fee. I knew I was such a lucky dog and decided to study harder in return. With tears in my eyes, I stepped into the key high school that I had dreamed of. I have been studying hard since I entered the high school. Whenever I meet difficulties, I always think of my teacher and schoolmates, and I can always get enough courage to go on, because I have a college dream and must work hard for it no matter how hard the life is. I believe what the saying "where there is will, there is a way." tells us. ,. Who helped the writer step into the key high school? _ Answer: The vaccination of children against childhood contagious diseases (such as measles, diphtheria and whooping cough) has traditionally been a function of private doctors and local and state health departments. Because vaccination rates have declined in recent years, especially in urban areas, the President proposes to appoint a Presidential Advisory Commission on Vaccination which would be charged with conducting a national publicity campaign to encourage vaccination as a public health measure. No federal statute authorizes or prohibits this action by the President. The activities of the Presidential Advisory Commission on Vaccination would be financed entirely from funds appropriated by Congress to the Office of the President for "such other purposes as the President may think appropriate." May the President constitutionally create such a commission for this purpose? Answer: Thousands of people began pouring into Pennsylvania from other states. They wanted to buy lottery tickets. The tickets cost only $0.9each. But that small spending could bring them a reward of $90 million. That was the second largest lottery jackpot in history. More than 87 million tickets were bought for the Pennsylvania lottery drawing . Those who bought tickets had to choose seven numbers from 1 to 80 The chance of winning was one in 9.6 million. But that little chance certainly did not affect tickets sales. In the last few days before the drawing , tickets were selling at the unbelievable rate of 500 per second . Experts say many people buy lottery tickets because they just want to have a piece of the action .Others say the lottery is a stock market for poor people . It allows them to dream about wealth they will probably never have . But many people believe lotteries are no better than legalized gambling . Some critics note that most people who play are poor and may not be able to afford the tickets .There are also many addicts who take the game seriously, They may pour their life savings into lottery tickets .Some clubs have been formed to help them kick the habit. Politicians like lotteries because they provide money that would otherwise have to come from new taxes. The profits from lotteries are usually used to pay for education or programs for senior citizens. But critics say this arrangement just allows states to legalize vice under the name of social progress . No matter whether you regard state lotteries right or not , you can not refuse to accept their extreme popularity with many Americans . Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage ? Answer: People born in winter are more likely to suffer mental health disorders, according to a recent study carried out by researchers at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. Researchers raised baby mice from birth to weaning in either "summer" light cycles of 16 hours of light and 8 hours of dark or "winter" cycles of 8 hours of light and 16 hours of dark. A third group experienced 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark a day. Then half the winter mice stayed in a winter cycle, while half switched to a summer schedule. The summer mice were similarly _ . The mice raised in equal periods of light and dark were split into three groups, one of which stayed on the 12hour schedule, one of which joined the winter group, and one of which joined the summer group. After 28 days, it turns out the summerborn mice behaved the same whether they stayed on the summer cycle or switched to winter. But among the winterborn mice, those stayed in winter kept their previous schedule, while those that switched to summer stayed active for an extra hour and a half, which indicates that mice born and weaned in a winter light cycle showed dramatic disruptions in their biological clocks. The finding is the first of its kind in mammals, and it could explain why people born in winter are at higher risk for mental health disorders including bipolar depression, schizophrenia and seasonal affective disorder. "We know that the biological clock regulates mood in humans,"said study researcher McMahon. "If the mechanism similar to the one that we found in mice operates in humans, then it could not only have an effect on a number of behavioral disorders, but also have a more general effect on personality." How many groups of mice are there finally in all in the experiment? Answer:
Winston Churchill was born into a famous family.His father was a successful politician.However, as a boy, Churchill was considered a slow learner in school.Later he entered the Army and saw action in various countries. In October 1900, Churchill began his political career.For the next sixty years Churchill's work as a great politician was both brighter and more difficult than his father's had been.In 1939 German attacked Poland.Churchill prepared to fight.In 1940 he became the Prime Minister of English. France fell.The Germans fought their way through Western Europe.It looked as if Britain was about to lose the war.Was it now possible to ask for peace, and listen to Hitler? Churchill spoke: "I have nothing to offer but blood, hard work , tears and sweat... You ask what is our policy? I will tell you, it is to fight, by sea , by land and air, with all our force and with all the strength that God can give us.You ask what is our aim? I can answer in one word: Victory." The Germans began moving their armies to the French coast and prepared to go to war with British.The British had not enough guns to go around.Churchill gave the answer: " We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be.We shall fight on the coast ; we shall fight on the landing grounds; we shall fight in the fields and in the streets; we shall fight in the hills; we shall never give up." By his courage and hard work, Churchill _ his people and other nations fighting together against Hitler.Victory finally came when the Germans lost World War II. Churchill died in 1965 and was given a state funeral.This was a fitting payment to one of all the greatest men the world had ever seen. The Germans attacked British _ . Answer: after France was defeated Many of us believe that a person's mind becomes less active as he grows older. But this is not true, according to Dr Jarvik, professor of _ at the University of California. She has studied the mental functioning of aging persons for several years. For example, one of her studies concerns 136 pairs of twins , who were first examined when they were already 60 years old. As Dr Jarvik continued the study of the twins into their 70s and 80s, their minds did not generally decline as was expected. However, there was some decline in their psycho-motor speed. This means that it took them longer to finish mental tasks than it used to. But when speed was not a factor, they lost very little intellectual ability over the years. In general, Dr Jarvik's studies have shown that there is no decline in knowledge or reasoning ability. This is true not only with those in their 30s and 40s, but with those in their 60s and 70s as well. It is true that older people themselves often complain that their memory is not as good as it once was. However, much of what we call "loss of memory" is not that at all. There usually was incomplete learning in the first place. For example, the older person perhaps had trouble hearing, or poor vision, or was trying to learn the new thing at too fast a speed. In the cases where the older person's mind really seems to get worse, it is not necessarily a sign of decline due to old age. Often it is simply a sign of a sad emotional state. This passage is mainly about _ . Answer: a new discovery about mental decline Everybody needs water. Everything needs water. We use water to wash the bowls , clothes and ourselves. We use water to plant trees, flowers and crops . Where does all water come from? It comes from clouds. Some of rain goes into the ground. Many people get it under the ground. Some rain water goes into the hills. It runs into lakes and rivers. Many people get it there. ,. We use _ to plant trees, flowers and crops Answer: water Born in 1982 in Australia, Nick came into the world with neither arms nor legs. Through his childhood Nick dealt with the challenges of studies as well as sadness as he was questioned why he was different from all the other kids. But soon he realized that even with them, he was still unlike his classmates. As Nick grew up he learnt to do more and more things on his own. He adapted to his situation and found ways to finish tasks that most people could only do by using their arms. As time went by Nick began to _ his situation and achieve greater things. In grade seven Nick was elected captain of his school and worked on various fund-raising events for local charities. After school Nick went on with further study and get a double bachelor degree . By the age of 19 Nick started to fulfil his dream of being able to encourage other people through motivational speaking and telling his story. Nick believes that there is a purpose in each of the struggles we meet in our lives and that our attitude towards those struggles can be the single most effective factor in overcoming them. At 25 years old he moved to California, USA, where he is the president of an international organization.Since his first motivational speaking when he was 19, Nick has traveled around the world,sharing his story with millions of people. Which of the following shows the right order of Nick`s life experience? Answer: a captain of his school--- his double bachelor degree ---his first speaking--- the president of an organization Testing new drugs for safety and effectiveness is a costly process in the United States. It also can take:lot of time. Some scientists are now designing silicon computer chips that act like human organs. The scientists think they have found a way to make the process faster and more economical. The silicon computer chips are smaller than a child's hand. Each one has living cells that act and react like a human organ. The chips are being created as part of a program to test the safety of drug compounds. It is called the Tissue Chip for Drug Screening Program. It is a project of the US National Center for Advancing Tmnslational Sciences, or NCATS. Danilo Tagle is the center's Associate Director. He says a three-dimensional computer chip can be designed to act like a human lung. Some computer chips contain very small models of the human digestive system. They copy the real function or duties of the human stomach and intestine , moving when breaking down food. Drugs are added to the tiny organs for testing through instruments known as micro-tubes. Experiments with the tissue chips have produced more detailed information than tests using animal or cell models. NCATS just announced$17 million in grants to develop an entire human organ system over the next three years. Why are scientists designing silicon computer chips acting like human organs? Answer: To make testing new drugs faster and cheaper.
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." The second letter suggests that Mr. Edward_. A. is worried about Joan's problem B. warns Joan not to quarrel with her friends C. encourages Joan to be brave enough D. advises Joan on how to refuse people Answer: D (CBS/AP)Lawyers for the stepfather of an 11-year-old girl tried to convince Massachusetts' highest court on Tuesday that he should have a say on whether his stepdaughter is removed from life support. If the girl dies, Jason Strickland could face a murder charge for illegally taking part in the beating that left her comatose . Jason Strickland is asking the court to overturn a juvenile court judge's decision allowing the state to remove Haleigh Poutre from her ventilator and feeding tube. Haleigh Poutre was hospitalized in September after her stepfather and adoptive mother kicked her and beat her nearly to death with a baseball bat. Within two weeks of being charged, the adoptive mother, who was also Haleigh's aunt, was found dead. Strickland is free on bail while awaiting trial. Sharyn Alfonsi from CBS reports that the girl's biological mother, Allison Avrett, gave up her parental right years ago and now she has no say in what happens to Halleigh--but she wants life support to be relieved. "I want her to rest," Avrett told Alfonsi."Being kept alive like that, it's not a life." The state Department of Social Services wants to remove her from life support, according to opinions from her doctors that the girl is in a permanent vegetative state.And Strickland could face a murder charge if she dies. Both of Haleigh's doctors agree that she should be removed from the ventilator, but they can't decide whether her feeding tube should be disconnected.They have said that with her feeding tube alone, Haleigh could live as long as two months. Haleigh was adopted by her aunt about five years ago her biological mother moved to Virginia with a new boyfriend.Jason Strickland never formally adopted the girl, but is arguing that as the stepfather, he should be a _ parent and allowed to have a say in whether she lives or dies. CBS/AP are most probably _ . A. two news reporters B. a newspaper and a news reporter C. a news agency and a newspaper D. two news agencies Answer: D The Batsquatch is described as a great winged bat. It's reported that it lives in the shadows of Mt. Saint Helens. It has purple skin, red eyes and the character is quite similar to the bat's. Since reports tell it likes eating small animals like chickens, goats and pigs, some believe that it is actually a flying primate . But researchers say that it is more closely related to the fruit bat of northern America. Fear still fills the hearts of men, women and children of Washington. In May of 1980 during the eruption of Mount Saint Helens, the Batsquatch showed itself in the shadows of clouds from the eruption. In 1994, a local mountaineer was able to take pictures of the Batspuatch making the rumor seem real. During this event some farm animals seemed to disappear though luckily no humans were reported missing at the time. The local mountaineer told about his meeting with the Batsquatch. When he suddenly heard a loud deep voice from the shadows, the mountaineer was knocked down. He tried to look for the creature that had made the sound. He saw a great creature with purple wings in the sky. It looked like it was about 30 feet tall. The mountaineer kept this story a secret in fear of being laughed at by others but when new stories came in about the Batsquatch he shared his story. The reality of the Batsquatch can no longer be ignored. It is only a creature that is trying to live. Respect! This is how we should take news such as this. Respect for a living creature instead of fear. Why did people believe the rumor of the Batsquatch was real? A. Because it was reported in the newspaper B. Because it was seen by many local people C. Because someone once caught one D. Because someone took its picture Answer: D Watching television makes it easier for toddlers to kick and scream, according to a US study.Children under two should not watch any TV.The longer they sit in front of TV,the worse their behavior becomes. Just having the TV on in the background, even if the child wasn't watching it,was also connected to troublemaking behavior although the relationship wasn't as strong, said the researchers. "Parents should be smart about TV use,"researcher Jennifer Manganello from the University at Albany, New York, said. "They should limit the time that children use TV, pay attention to the content of TV programs,and consider how TV is used throughout the home." The study looked at 3,128 women from 20 US cities who had a child between 2005 and 2008. While there was some diversity of education among the women,onethird hadn't graduated from high school. Twothirds of the mothers said their threeyearold children watched more than two hours of TV a day,and the average viewing time for children was around three hours.On average,the TV was on for about five additional hours on a common day. After accounting for factors such as living in a violent neighborhood,scientists also found watching TV was strongly connected to behavior such as hitting others,having angry moods,being disobedient ,and screaming a lot. The researchers thought that children may see violence on TV,and spend less time on positive development tasks such as reading or playing. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests no TV at all for children at two and younger,and two hours a day or less for older kids. Children who spend much time watching TV will _ . A. become easily angry B. be influenced by others C. be popular with others D. know more about the neighborhood Answer: A Science and Technology Museum Opening hours Saturday-Wednesday 10:00 am-17:30 pm Charge Adult :Y=10 Student: Y=5 Under 12: Free What's on Ancient Technology - the ground floor Modern Technology -the first floor Space - the second floor The Silk Road: Trade and Travel - the second floor Shop - the third floor Please note The museum is closed for 3 days during Spring Festival every year. Contact us Information desk: 73238299 Email: information@scienceandtechnologymuseum You can go to the Science and Technology Museum _ . A. at 9:00 am on Sunday B. at 6:00pm on Monday C. at 11:00 am on Wednesday D. at 2:30pm on Friday Answer: C
My grandfather took me to the fishing pond on the farm when I was about 7 years old, and he asked me to throw a stone into the water. I did what I was asked. Then my grandfather told me to watch the waves made by the stone. Moments later, he asked me to think of myself as that stone. "You may make a lot of splashes in your life, but remember the waves that come from those splashes will affect the peace of all your friends beside you," he said. "Remember that you are responsible for what you throw into your circle, and that your waves will touch many other circles. Always try to live in a way that the waves that come from your circle send out the peace of your goodness to other circles." "Remember the waves that come from anger and jealousy will also send those feelings to other circles. You are responsible for all the waves." That was the first time I realized each person creates the inner peace or anger that flows out into the world. We cannot create world peace if we have hatred and anger. We _ the feelings and thoughts that we hold inside, whether we tell others about them or not. Whatever is inside of us is flowing out into the world and touching all the other circles of life. ,. What should we do to create world peace according to the writer? A. Spread anger and jealousy. B. Hold doubt and hatred inside. C. Have a lot of money and good health. D. Send out the peace of goodness. Answer: D You are what you eat and fats are a main food for Asia's fast-food generation. Dr.Chwang, director of the Department of Food Nutrition, says children are consuming more meat and soft drinks. That is a thorough departure from the traditional diet of vegetables and rice and little meat." They like big pieces of fried meat with a soft drink. So although they may eat the same volume of food, their calorie intake has increased. Now that 40 to 45 percent of their calories come from fat," says Chwang. Although on the whole Asians tend to thinness, culture--namely Asians' hospitality--is a reason for the fatness of today's generation, according to Chwang. "Asian people love food," she says." Eating and drinking are important social and family functions." In the past, however, big meals were only hosted on special occasions, as people were more careful with money. In today's climate of wealth and remarkable consumption,10-course meals are no longer reserved for significant occasions. "In the past, people had four or more children--now, they have one or two, so they tend to spoil them," says Chwang. "The earliest way is to give them quality food. Parents think feeding them well is showing their love. They feel bad when their children look thin." When describing the physical condition of most overweight Asian children, Chwang says: "there is a clear relation between fatness and indoor play. Children get fat because they don't move, and eventually, they don't want to move because they are fat." Thanks to technology, a growing army of children prefer video games to old outdoor sports. "What do children do when watching TV or sitting in front of the computer playing video games? They eat chocolate and drink Coke," says Chwang. The purpose of this article is to _ . A. compare the traditional diet with today's diet of Asian children B. find reasons for increased food consumption of Asian people C. explain why many Asian children are overweight nowadays D. prove the relationship between fatness and indoor play Answer: C "What If" questions can help you think about what to do in case something should happen. There are no fight answers because every case is different.Use the questions with your parents or with friends and decide what you think might work? Think of your own solutions and make up new"What If"questions to answer. 1 ) You are walking to school and a gang of alder bullies(person who uses his strength or power to frighten or hurt weaker people) demands your money Do you: a.Shout and run away? b.Give them the money? Give them the money(or other possessions)your safety is more impoaant than money. 2) You are in the school toilet and an older student comes in,beats you and then tells you not to do anything or'you'II get worse'.You know who the person is and you have never done anything to him/her.Do you: a.Wait until the person leaves and then tell a teacher? b.Get it a fight with him/her? c.Accept what happened and don't tell? Tell the teacher--you didn't deserve to be beaten and the bully was wrong to do it.If you don't tell,the bully will just keep on beating up other kids. 3) A gang of bullies gets you alone and starts beating you.Do you: a.Do nothing--just take it? b.Fight back? e.Shout to attract attention? d.Watch for your chance and run away? You must decide.but c.&. d.together could work very well.It would be quite difficult to a whole gang of bullies and you might be hurt badly if you did. 4) Someone in your class always makes rude comments about you and says them loud enough for you(and others)to hear.It really upsets you.Do you: a.Ignore the comments? b.Face the bully and tell him/her off? c.Tell the teacher? d.Hit the bully on the nose? You may feel like beating the bully,but you'll probably be the one to get into trouble if you do. Try a .first--ignoring comments is difficult,but can work if the bully gets tired of trying to get you to be angry or cry or show some reaction.Your teacher should be told about the comments because no one should make hurtful comments to others.If you are feeling brave,tell the bully of Try practicing in the mirror to get the right effect ! What is the passage mainly about? A. The bully's behaviors. B. The questions the students meet. C. The solutions to the students'questions. D. The advice on how to fight against the bully. Answer: D Homeownership has let us down. For generations, Americans believed that owning a home was undoubtedly good. Our political leaders hammered home the point. Franklin Roosevelt held that a country of homeowners was "unconquerable." Homeownership could even save babies, save children, save families and save America. A house with a lawn and a fence wasn't just a nice place to live in or a risk-free investment; it was a way to transform a nation. No wonder leaders of all political types wanted to spend more than $100 billion a year on subsidies and tax breaks to encourage people to buy. But the dark side of homeownership is now all too apparent: Indeed, easy lending stimulated by the cult of homeownership may have caused the financial crisis. Housing remains a drag on the economy. Existing-home sales in April dropped 27% from the prior month, worsening fears of a double-drop. And all that is just the obvious tale of a housing bubble and what happened when it popped. _ For the better part of a century, politics, industry and culture lined up to create a fetish of the idea of buying a house. Homeownership has done plenty of good over the decades; it has provided stability to tens of millions of families. Yet by idealizing the act of buying a home, we have ignored the downsides. In the bubble years, lending standards slipped dramatically, allowing many Americans to put far too much of their income into paying for their housing. And we ignored longer-term phenomena too. Homeownership contributed to the hollowing out of cities and kept renters out of the best neighborhoods. It fed America's overuse of energy and oil. It made it more difficult for those who had lost a job to find another. Perhaps worst of all, it helped us become casually self-deceiving: By telling ourselves that homeownership was a pathway to wealth and stable communities and better test scores, we avoided dealing with these frightening issues head-on. Now, as the U.S. recovers from the biggest housing bust since the Great Depression, it is time to rethink how realistic our expectations of homeownership are--and how much money we want to spend chasing them. Many argue that homeownership should not be a goal pursued at all costs. What is the author's attitude towards homeownership? A. Cautious. B. Puzzled. C. Favorable. D. Optimistic. Answer: A After my brother died in an accident, my mother was in deep sadness. I was only a four-year-old girl at the time, but I still understood the sudden shift in my mom's attitude towards safety. Suddenly everything around us was potentially dangerous. Overnight, the world had gone from a playground to a dangerous zone. I grew up with a lot of limits and rules. I couldn't walk home from school by myself, even though everyone I knew already did. I couldn't go to summer camp because what if something happened to me? As I got older, the list of things of fear got longer. My whole life was divided into "things you should avoid", and "things you needed to do in order to have a good, long life." I became a natural worrier. I worry about things like getting cancer, losing my wallet, car accidents, earthquakes, and losing my job -- disasters big and small, real and imagined. The funny part is that you'd never know it by looking at my life. In fact, I've developed a rule for myself: If it scares me, then I have to do it at least once. I've done lots of things that my mom would have worried about: I've ridden a motorcycle; I've traveled --a lot. I've performed stand-up comedy, and I'm planning my second wedding. There's something else I don't usually talk about, but it's a cornerstone in my belief: When I was 14, my mother died suddenly in a car accident. At my mom's funeral I remember making a choice. I could either live out the rest of my life trying to be "safe" or I could be brave enough to live out a fulfilling, exciting and, yes, sometimes dangerous life. I worry that I may have betrayed my mother by writing her in this light, but she has been a driving force in my life and, in the end I think she would have been proud of me. Courage isn't a natural character of human beings. I believe that using courage is like developing a muscle. The more often I do things that scare me or that make me uncomfortable, the more I realize that I can do a lot more than I originally thought I could do. Even though I inherited my mother's cautious nature. I've also come to believe that fear can be a good thing, if we face it. Believing that has made my world a less scary place. What does the passage mainly talk about? A. Mothers influence their children much. B. Fear is in fact not a bad thing. C. Facing fear bravely produces courage. D. The world is not as scary as people expect. Answer: C
If a tree is separated from it's roots it will Answer: expire It was 1963, in Paris. While walking through the fruit and vegetable market Alice Waters was struck by the display of brilliant color1s, the music of farmers selling their produce, and in the middle of a great city. She felt "directly connected to the land." Chez Panisse, a Berkeley restaurant, which was founded upon Waters' ecological philosophy, has been named "The Best Restaurant in America" by both the James Beard Foundation and by Gourmet magazine, many times in the past. Only the food grown in accordance with the principles of sustainable agriculture was used in the restaurant. Menus offered nightly at Chez Panisse have consisted only of fresh ingredients, harvested in season, and purchased from local farmers. Alice Waters has successfully demonstrated how a restaurant can develop successfully while contributing to the general welfare of the farming community. Sharing a meal between the people was one of the wishes of Alice Waters as she would love her customers to know each other. In 1996, inspired by the Garden Project at the San Francisco County Jail , Waters decided to apply her principles to education. The project was first started at the Martin Luther King Middle School in Berkeley with the idea to transform some land near the school into a garden and, in the process, to teach local school children about food and agriculture. In 1999, over 120 people came to help plant the first cover crop, which prepared the field for farming by adding nutrients to the soil. The student garden staff has had several years' worth of harvest, and has started growing gardens like herb and tea. Here, agricultural practices are continually being revised and updated and every year the Schoolyard staff attends the Ecological Farming Conference in Monterey. A kitchen classroom has also been created, where students learn about main foods eaten in other parts of the world. "I believe that every child in this world needs to have a relationship with the land...to know how to nourish themselves...and to know how to connect with the community around them," says Waters. The middle school has become a model in itself. The students work the land and harvest the crops, while the cafeteria buys and prepares the produce for school lunches. This program will go a long way in teaching kids to value fresh food and their own contributions. This project is sure to inspire a national change in school curricula . In fact, many middle and high schools in California and Ohio have launched similar projects. In 1997, Alice Waters received the Humanitarian Award from the James Beard Foundation in recognition of her dedication and contribution towards environment. In 1999, the U.S. Department of Education Secretary, Richard Riley, honored her with a John H. Stanford "Education Hero" award. We can infer from the passage that _ . Answer: We can draw a conclusion that a great change in school curricula is certain to take place soon. When other nine-year-old kids were playing games, she was working at a petrol station. When other teens were studying or going out, she struggled to find a place to sleep on the street. But she overcame these terrible setbacks to win a highly competitive scholarship and gain entry to Harvard University. And her amazing story has inspired a movie, " Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story " , shown in late April. Liz Murray, a 22-year-old American girl, has been writing a real-life story of willpower and determination. Liz grew up in the shadow of two drug-addicted parents. There was never enough food or warm clothes in the house. Liz was the only member of the family who had a job. Her mother had AIDS and died when Liz was just 15 years old. The effect of that loss became a turning point in her life. Connecting the environment in which she had grown up with how her mother had died, she decided to do something about it. Liz went back to school. She threw herself into her studies, never telling her teachers that she was homeless. At night, she lived on the streets. _ " she wrote in her book Breaking Night. She admitted that she used envy to drive herself on. She used the benefits that come easily to others, such as a safe living environment, to encourage herself that " next to nothing could hold me down " . She finished high school in just two years and won a full scholarship to study at Harvard University . But Liz decided to leave her top university a couple of months earlier this year in order to take care of her father, who has also developed AIDS. " I love my parents so much. They are drug addicts. But I never forget that they love me all the time. " Liz wants moviegoers to come away with the idea that changing your life is " as simple as making a decision " . What actually made her go towards her goal? Answer: Willpower and determination. 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. The authour decided to buy a bicycle because he intened _ . Answer: to experience local culture This was no ordinary class. The students who came together were all science or engineering professors at Cornell University. They had interrupted their research to accept an invitation to take part in an unusual experiment: "an interesting week of poetry." This class was part of a study to answer the questions: Why is science difficult for many nonscience students? What can teachers learn about teaching if they take a class that is not in their field? The students in the poetry class listened to lectures and took notes. They had reading tasks and had to write three short papers. All students noticed one thing - the importance of spoken words. In science and engineering classes, the instructors put tables and drawings on the blackboard. But in this poetry class, the instructors just talked. They didn't write anything on the board. The scientists and engineers noticed one similarity between science and poetry. In both subjects, students need to find layers of meaning . Some layers are simple, clean, and on the surface; other layers are deeper and more difficult. This search for different levels of meaning doesn't happen much in undergraduate science classes, but it is important later, in graduate school. And it is always important in humanities . Both the poetry instructors and their students learned something about teaching from this experience. One poetry instructor, for example, now sees the importance of using informative as he teaches. Most of the scientists agreed on several points. First, humanities classes might help science students to see patterns and decide which information is important. Second, the poetry class was fun. One engineer decided, "We need to change the way we teach engineering to make to make it an enjoyable experience for students." But perhaps the most important result of the experience was this; All of the professors began to think about how they teach and how they cam teach better. What did the science professors learn after the experiment? Answer: They should change the way they teach
Goats are being hired to do the work of men in a neighborhood just outside of San Diego. The fires that occurred in Hillborough four years ago destroyed thirty homes, most of which have been rebuilt. While the home were rebuilt, the grasses, bushes, and shrubs were re-growing. The area is now so overgrown in brush that it again brings a major danger of fire. The city government asked for bids to remove the brush. The lowest bid they received was $50,000. And that was if the city provided breakfast and lunch for the work crews for the six weeks it would take to clear the overgrown area. The city government said no, offering unlimited coffee and a doughnut a day for each crew member. When that offer was rejected, the city asked for help on its website. A sheepherder in Montana and a goat-herder in San Bernardino read about the city's problem while surfing the web on their laptops. They both offered to do the job for $25,000. The government chose the goat-herder because he lived closer. When told that the city dump was overflowing, the goat-herder said, "No problem. My goats will eat everything in your dump. Except for the automobile engines, of course." So, for another $5,000, the city killed two birds with one stone. If all goes well, they will invite the goat-herder and his "family" back every three years. The goat-herder said he will probably visit San Diego while his goats are in the dump. "I want to go there by plane; I just hope we don't crash. My goats would miss me a lot," he said. The goat-herder was chosen to do the job because _ . A. he offered to do it for the lower price B. it was easier to transport his goats C. goats can do the job better than the sheep D. the city wanted to raise more goats. Answer: B Betty and Harold have been married for years. But one thing still puzzles old Harold. How is it that he can leave Betty and her friend Joan sitting on the sofa, talking, go out to a ball game, come back three and a half hours later, and they're still sitting on the sofa, talking? What in the world, Harold wonders, do they have to talk about? Betty shrugs . Talk? We're friends. Researching this matter called friendship, psychologist Lilian Rubin spent two hundred women and men. No matter what their age, their jobs, their sex, the results were completely clear: women have more friendships than men, and the difference in the content and the quality of those friendships is "marked and unmistakable". More than two-thirds of the single men Rubin interviewed could not name a best friend. Those who could were likely to name a woman. Yet three-quarters of the single women had no problem naming a best friend, most trusted person, or the one they would turn to in time of emotional distress . "Most women," says Rubin, "identified at least one, usually more, trusted friends to whom they could turn in a troubled moment, and they spoke openly about the importance of these relationships in their lives." "In general," writes Rubin in her new book, "women's friendships with each other rest on shared emotions and support, but men's relationships are marked by shared activities. "For the most part, Rubin says, interactions between men are emotionally controlled - a good fit with the social requirements of "manly behavior". "Even when a man is said to be a best friend," Rubin writes, "the two share little about their innermost feelings. Whereas a woman's closest female friend might be the first to tell her to leave a failing marriage, it wasn't unusual to hear a man say he didn't know his friend's marriage was in serious trouble until he appeared on night asking if he could sleep on the sofa." Rubin's study shows that for emotional support a married woman is more likely to turn to _ . A. a male friend B. a female friend C. her parents D. her husband Answer: B If a person restores a garden complete with oaks, then they have replaced A. concrete B. jelly C. steam D. a resource Answer: D The United States is trying to improve an education system that produces millions of citizens who cannot read, write, or add--let alone finding their country on a map. In his first State of Union message since taking office a year ago, President George Bush promised to wipe out illiteracy in the next decade and declared that "by the year 2008, U.S students must be first in the world in math and science achievements. " They have a long way to go. American students were placed 14th in a recent general science test conducted in 16 countries. In a separate survey of chemistry students, the United States came 12 out of 14. In a mathematics test, they were last. According to Bush, there are 17 million illiterates in this country of 245 million people. Other estimates put the number as high as 23 million. In percentage terms, that ranks the United States alongside Nicaragua and below C], 'uba. "This nation," Bush said in his State of the Union address, "will not accept anything but excellent in education." Bush, who has declared himself "Education president", and senior officials of his administration are warning that the United States will be unable to compete in the world without an educated workforce. How to increase educational standards is a matter of debate in a country whose schools have no uniform national curriculum and are subject to a confusing variety of state and local controls. Most experts think that the problem lies at the elementary and high school' levels rather than with universities-but even their graduates show huge gaps in general knowledge. Among the root causes most frequently mentioned in education debates is the low respect in which U.S. society holds teachers-in contrast to Japan and Germany. In Japan teaching is a profession of high prestige and high pay. In the United States teachers are near the bottom of the society. Which of the following statements can be inferred from the passage? A. .President Bush carried out his promise made in his first State of Union message. B. The education in Japan and Germany is in higher level. C. According to Bush, the number of illiterates accounts for 9% of the total. D. Teachers in the United States enjoy good treatment and great respect. Answer: B Not everyone has a chance to be a detective , but I got one when I was 13 years old. It happened in 1994. One afternoon, I was walking down the street when I saw my father's new car. I expected to see my father in the driver's seat. But to my surprise, I saw a young woman driving instead, "She has stolen my father's car," I thought. So I quickly stopped a taxi and got in. I said to the driver, "Follow that new car in front," I told him why. The taxi driver had a car phone, so I asked him to call the police. Soon we heard the sound of a police car. The police told the woman to stop the car using a loudspeaker. The taxi came to a stop, too. I got out right then and said to the woman, "This is not your car. It's my father's car." The woman smiled and said, "Oh. You're Mr. Johnson's son, right? I've seen your photo in your father's office." Before I could say one word, the woman explained that she was my father's new assistant . My father had asked her to take his computer to the shop to have it repaired. He lent her his car. After hearing this, I called my father and he told us what the woman said was right. The police and the taxi driver laughed. I felt very sorry. It was both the first time and the last time I worked as a detective. How did the writer feel when he found out the truth? A. He felt good about himself. B. He felt sorry. C. He felt very happy. D. He felt excited. Answer: B
Question: There is a big zoo in our city. There are lots of different animals in it. There are some scary tigers and lions. They like eating meat and they eat much meat every day. There are also two big elephants and a baby one. Children like to ride them. The elephants are very kind and friendly. They eat much grass and bananas. In the zoo, we can also see different kinds of bears----brown bears, black bears and white bears. They are all slow and clumsy. They stand on their back legs and lift their front legs to ask for food. They like cakes very much. Do you like pandas? There's only one in the zoo. Her name is Lingling, she is very cute. She likes eating bamboo a lot. She is kind of shy. She is very interesting and lovely. _ are lovely and interesting. A. Tigers B. Elephants C. Bears D. Pandas Answer: D. Pandas Question: Do you usually go Dutch(AA) when you take someone out to dinner? Do you expect your date to pay for the whole meal? Many people say that as long as there's love, money doesn't matter much. But this might change when the relationship gets serious and it is related to the money borrowed from the bank, the family present accounts and debt. A survey among 8 million couples in the UK suggested that 44% of married couples don't know exactly what their partner earns. An astonishing 23% actively try to keep their finances secret from their partners. About 38% of them are open to each other. Another 12% refuses to tell the truth. British relationship expert Russell says: "It's very difficult to talk about money. Often there's guilt, there's shame. To start those conversations is difficult. Money can be about how we value ourselves, how we feel valued. It's not just a simple case of talking about hard cash." So if you are in a couple, it might be a good idea to check if you both are on the same page about money before bills pile up on the kitchen table and love flies out of the window. When moving in together, couples should not only talk about their personal habits but also about their financial ones. Russell has a word of advice: "Accept the fact that in your relationship you might do money differently - there might be a spender or a saver. It's very attractive if your partner does things differently to say they're wrong. Do it differently but plan it well." And now, back to that date. Would you be bored with someone who was attractive but expected you to pay the bill by yourself? There's food for thought. Which of the following can be the best title of the passage? A. Problems from Money B. How to Be Good Couples C. True Love Means Money D. Love and Money Answer: D. Love and Money Question: Do you know the following expressions? Faustian bargain According to most stories, Faust was a German scholar who was rather unhappy with his life.The devil , Mephistopheles, promises him that in return for his soul.he will give Faust unlimited power and knowledge.Faust agrees and experiences all kinds of pleasures, but, in the end, his soul goes to the hell.A "Faustian bargain" therefore is a deal that finally results in one's ruin.It means a bargain made for temporary gain without taking future consequences into consideration. A three-ring circus When you refer to a situation as being a three-ring circus, you are saying that it is a situation of complete confusion.There are so many activities taking place all together that they leave you confused or annoyed.The expression comes from the world of entertainment--the circus.The area where the artists perform their acts is called the "ring".In the past, some of the circuses were so large that they had three acts taking place meanwhile in three different "rings".The audience had to decide which "ring" they wanted to focus on. In the swim(of things) When someone is in the swim of things, he is actively participating in the things happening around him, as in "I've been ill, but soon I'll be back in the swim of things." In the world of fishing, fishermen use the word "swim" to refer to the section of the lake/river where fish can be found in plenty.So, if you are a fish man and wish to catch a lot of fish, where would you be? You would be "in the swim"! In the past, why did a circus perform different acts at the same time ? A. It was the audience's requirement. B. The time was limited. C. The circus was very big. D. They wanted to earn more money. Answer: C. The circus was very big. Question: The popular Disneyland has some deep, dark, and sometimes amusing secrets that you probably don't know. Read on to learn them. General Main Street By using a special method of construction , Disneyland created an effect that you don't notice until your tired family leaves the park. The next time you enter Disneyland, make note of the distance that it appears you have to travel to get to the "Partners" statue. Then look at the exit of the park from the statue. That's correct. The distance appears to be shorter entering the park than going out. The purpose was to keep guests from wanting to take the long walk out. Birthday fun If you visit Disneyland on your birthday, be sure to tell the person at the gate that it's your big day. You'll be sent to City Hall where you'll be presented with a special sticker by cast members, letting everyone know it's your birthday. You may also be able to score special items from other cast members throughout the park, so it's certainly worth a try! The music never stops. Visitors like the music and sounds in the park.. Did you know the music never stops at the park? Even when the park was closed, the music and sounds are kept on going. Some believe it cost too much for Disney to keep turning off the music and then restarting it each day. But the truth is that it helps some workers clean up after 2 a.m! Club 33 "Club 33" is the only place in Disneyland that provides guests with alcoholic beverages . Club 33 members and their guests get free entrance to Disneyland so long as they have a meal at Club 33 on the day of their visit. There are _ amusing secrets about Disneyland mentioned in this passage. A. two B. three C. four D. five Answer: C. four Question: A winter wonderland on the outskirts of Quebec City has become one of Canada's hottest attractions and most sought out accommodations. Guests stay close for warmth in sleeping bags on beds of ice, hats pulled over their ears to prevent frostbite, while sipping cocktails in glasses also made of ice. A cool place to host a memorable wedding or for a romantic getaway, the Quebec Ice Hotel has attracted 600,000 curious tourists, including 30,000 who stayed overnight, since opening seasonally 11 years ago. Like Victoria and Jeremy Martin, dozens of couples will exchange vows this winter in a temporary church next to the hotel, made entirely from blocks of ice with seats covered in furs. Average temperatures fall below minus 20 degrees C (minus four F) in winter, but inside the hotel's 36 rooms it is relatively comfortable. Thick walls of packed snow and ice act as an _ , trapping body heat inside. Each room is uniquely decorated, using designs created by Quebec architecture students. Two hotel bars also sell special cocktails in ice glasses. First-time guests of the hotel, however, are recommended to stay only one night as sleeping in sub-zero temperatures is not very refreshing. This year for the first time the ice hotel has teamed up with a brick and concrete Quebec City hotel to offer packages for one-night accommodations at each. Prices for one night only at the ice hotel start at 200 US dollars per person. The 3,000-square-metre (32,300-square-feet) buildings take six weeks starting in December to build, using 15,000 tons of snow and 500 tons of ice, at a cost of some 750,000 US dollars. Eleven weeks after its seasonal grand opening, the hotel will close on March 27 and then melt away with the arrival of spring. What is true with the ice hotel? A. 630,000 people have visited it. B. Its rooms all look alike. C. It stays open for two months each year. D. Wedding ceremonies are often held there. Answer: D. Wedding ceremonies are often held there.
Under the terms of a written contract, Karp agreed to construct for Manor a garage for $10,000. Nothing was said in the parties' negotiations or in the contract about progress payments during the course of the work. For this question only, assume the following facts. After completing 25% of the garage strictly according to Manor's specifications, Karp assigned his rights under the contract to Banquo as security for an $8,000 loan. Banquo immediately notified Manor of the assignment. Karp thereafter, without legal excuse, abandoned the job before it was half-complete. Karp subsequently defaulted on the loan from Banquo. Karp has no assets. It will cost Manor at least $8,000 to get the garage finished by another builder. If Banquo sues Manor for $8,000, which of the following will the court decide? Answer: Manor wins, because his right to recoupment on account of Karp's breach is available against Banquo as Karp's assignee. Friendships can be difficult -- because often people aren't as honest and open as they should be. Sometimes, people finally get hurt. Most problems with friendships come up because people are just too selfish to care about the things that their friends need. They care about their own needs much more, which makes it hard for friendships to work. However, being selfish is part of human nature. A person is put together in order to take care of themselves and their own needs, not necessarily those needs of other people. Even though being selfish is something that all humans are born with, it is something that everyone should be against. The best thing to remember when you are a friend to anyone is that you need to treat your friends the same way that you'd like to be treated . This is wonderful advice for a friendship, because it is really the only way to make sure that you are giving your friends everything you would want to be given in a friendship. Whenever you have a question about how you should treat a friend, it is easy to find an answer simply by asking yourself what you would like your friend to do for you, if he or she was in your shoes. Even if you're always thinking about how you'd like to be treated, and your friends are too, there are problems that come up from time to time in each friendship, and it is important to understand how to deal with these problems so that you can build stronger and healthier friendships. Problems like friends getting boyfriends or girlfriends and not spending enough time with their friends, or even friends finding new friends and leaving old friends behind are problems that will probably come up with one or more of your friendships. It is important to know how to deal with these friend problems so that you can keep your friends and make new ones. No one wants to have a broken friendship. According to the passage, the first and most important thing to be other people's friend is _ . Answer: to treat your friend as you like to be Now and then we all get ill. Then we usually go to see a doctor. Doctors know a lot about what makes us ill. They may give us something to take. The medicine often makes us well again. But sometimes the doctor's medicine doesn't work. A sick person does not get well. The pain doesn't go away. There was such man. He was in hospital, but he wasn't well. Then he found a new "doctor" inside himself. This "doctor" was his own sense of humor . He saw funny films. He read funny books. And he liked to learn something interesting. Laughing took away his pain. Then he was able to sleep and rest. His own happy feeling helped him to feel well again. And he told his story in a book. He said that laughing was his best "medicine". His doctor thought so, too. Another man was ill, and he had a terrible pain in his back. The doctors could not stop it from hurting. So the man began to "picture" his pain. In his head he "drew" a picture of a dog. He imagined it as a real dog. And it was biting his back. It was hurting him. Then the man talked softly to the dog. He put his hand on the dog's head. He made friends with the dog. And his pain went away! These stories may surprise you. But more and more people are getting well in this way. So call on the "doctor" inside your own head. And stay happy and well! The second patient felt well again because of _ . Answer: the "dog" in his head A graded reader is a book containing simplified languages used to help learners master the language. Readers come in different levels, from beginners to advanced. English learners need to choose a reader that is suitable for their level. Why use readers? Lots of research shows that extensive reading improves all aspects of language learning, including vocabulary, speaking skills, fluency ,writing skills and reading comprehension. prefix = st1 /Reading is a way of learning English without classes or a teacher. It helps develop learner independence. And while reading graded readers, learners don't have to run to a dictionary because the language is at their level. How do I get started? The entire class can read the same book or different books at different times. How do I know the right level? If your class is all reading the same book, choose one that is appropriate for their level. If your students are reading different books, you can have a selection of books at different levels. In this case, don't worry too much about the level. A learner who is interested in detective stories might read a higher level book if the motivation is there. How to read the book depends on students' age, motivation and class time available. Some classes like to read silently, others like to read aloud in small groups and some enjoy being read to by the teacher. Be sensitive to the class and ask for their opinions. Some pre-reading activities are needed. Before students open a book, it is important to spark interest in the story and in the whole process of reading. For example, ask them to guess what the story is from cover, chapter titles and let students put them in the best order, or discuss the author. During reading, choose a suitable chapter or chapters that can be broken down to make a comic strip . Or students select a part of the book to make into a radio play. Students can also become journalists and report on parts of the story. Choose a piece of action and have students write it up. Besides, students can role-play an interview with a character. From the passage, we can learn that_. Answer: extensive reading improves all aspects of language learning Mr. Laurence was not allowed to see Beth, and Meg felt unhappy writing letters to her mother saying nothing about Beth's illness. Jo nursed Beth night and day, but the time came when Beth did not know her and called for her mother. Jo was frightened, and Meg begged to be allowed to write the truth, but Hannah said there was no danger yet. Then a letter came saying that Mr. March was worse and could not think of coming home for a long time. How dark the days seemed. How sad and lonely. The sisters worked and waited as the shadow of death lay over the once happy home. It was then that Meg realized how rich she had been in the things which really mattered--love, peace, good health. And Jo, watching her little sister, thought about how unselfish Beth always was--living for others and trying to make home a happy place for all who came there. Amy, sad and lonely at Aunt March's house, just wanted to come home so that she could do something to help Beth. On the first day of December, the doctor came in the morning. He looked at Beth, then said quietly, 'If Mrs. March can leave her husband, I think she should come home now.' Jo threw on her coat and ran out into the snow to send a telegram. When she arrived back, Laurie came with a letter saying that Mr. March was getting better again. This was good news, but Jo's face was so unhappy that Laurie asked, 'What is it? Is Beth worse?' 'I've sent for Mother,' said Jo, beginning to cry. 'Beth doesn't know us any more.' Laurie held her hand and whispered, 'I'm here, Jo. Hold on to me. Your mother will be here soon, and then everything will be all right.' Meg had to write to her mother because _ at the moment. Answer: her mother was looking after her father in hospital
Goldie's Secret She turned up at the doorstep of my house in Cornwall. No way could I have sent her away. No way, not me anyway. Maybe someone had kicked her out of their car the night before. "We're moving house."; "No space for her any more with the baby coming." "We never really wanted her, but what could we have done? She was a present." People find all sorts of excuses for abandoning an animal. And she was one of the most beautiful dogs I had ever seen. I called her Goldie. If I had known what was going to happen I would have given her a more creative name. She was so unsettled during those first few days. She hardly ate anything and had such an air of sadness about her. There was nothing I could do to make her happy, it seemed. Heaven knows what had happened to her at her previous owner's. But eventually at the end of the first week she calmed down. Always by my side, whether we were out on one of our long walks or sitting by the fire. That's why it was such a shock when she pulled away from me one day when we were out for a walk. We were a long way from home, when she started barking and getting very restless. Eventually I couldn't hold her any longer and she raced off down the road towards a farmhouse in the distance as fast as she could. By the time I reached the farm I was very tired and upset with Goldie. But when I saw her licking the four puppies I started to feel sympathy towards them. "We didn't know what had happened to her," said the woman at the door. "I took her for a walk one day, soon after the puppies were born, and she just disappeared." "She must have tried to come back to them and got lost," added a boy from behind her. I must admit I do miss Goldie, but I've got Nugget now, and she looks just like her mother. And I've learnt a good lesson: not to judge people. In her first few days at the author's house, Goldie _ . Jim was a farmer. He lived in a village far away from the town. One day he was very ill , and everyone thought he would die . But his family wouldn't give up. They decided to sent for a doctor in town . The doctor arrived the village two days later and looked over the man. The doctor wanted a pen and some paper , But there was no pen or paper in the village , because nobody could read or write . The doctor looked around and picked up a piece of burnt wood. Using the wood, he wrote the name of the medicine on the door of the house." Get the medicine for him right away, " he said, "and he will soon get well.' family and friends did not know what to do . They could not read the writing . Then the village baker had an idea . He took off the door of the house and took the door to the nearest town . He bought the medicine, and Jim was saved. After that Jim would not let anyone wash the magic words off the door . People in the village thought James would die because _ . Chores were not popular at my house.My children didn't like to do chores.They always saw me do chores, but they hardly ever helped me do them. A year ago, I made a game called "The Endless Chore Game".It's really great.Here's how the game works. I made a card with forty squares ( ) and I write a different chore on each square.These chores can be easy and interesting like making dessert.Then my family roll the dice to decide what chores we have to do.The card also has a few squares with fun things, like watching TV and singing.If you are lucky, you can watch TV when the others are doing the chores. My son likes the game very much.He goes to the kitchen happily every morning to do the game.It is really a good way to make my children do chores.You can have a try if you have the same problem with me. When does the writer's family do the game? Imagine yourself halfway across the world in the beautiful hills of South Africa surrounded by the smiling faces of African children.Each day you wake to the sounds of laughing children.This place is Botshabelo, "place of refuge".However, these children were not always laughing, happy or safe.Nearly all of these children have been abused or ignored.Many are HIV positive and all have lost some or all of their family to AIDS.Here at Botshabelo, they are safe from hunger, cold, illness, poverty, hopelessness and fear. These children may live in Africa, but like all children they belong to the world.Through volunteering at the Children's Village, our global student ambassadors will experience themselves in a larger context of life, gain an expanded world view, build confidence and develop understanding of the balance between all living creatures. EXPERIENCES: Our global group will volunteer for two weeks at a Children's Village. Here we will take care of 150 children.The days are always full and never dull.We will volunteer at a lion reserve later, where we will help care for baby lions.We will also spend one day at another reserve taking in the beauty of the African landscape and hoping to catch sight of giraffes, zebras and the African elephants. WHO: Students aged 16 and above are invited to participate as our valued Student Ambassadors.A working knowledge of the English language is required.Adults are invited and needed to participate in the program as Adult Mentors, who will lend your unique skills and support throughout the program.We can promise you all an unforgettable, life-changing journey! WHEN: July 24, 2012 to August 7, 2012 COST: $ 1, 750 plus the cost of airfare If we join the volunteer program, we will _ . Are you a high school student who loves to be outdoors and is eager to experience new challenges, learn new skills and meet new people? Learn all about the world of building and maintaining hiking trails, and experience it in a safe, teamwork-oriented environment in various locations across the state. WTA offers first-time participants country trips and returning students have the option to go on trips in the back country . Front Country Trips Our front country trips provide opportunities for people to experience projects near the ocean, in the scenic Cascade Mountains and in northeast Washington. All our trips provide you with experienced crew leaders, a great project, some camping tents, sleeping bags and all your meals for the week. Advanced Back Country Trips On these trips you will be backpacking to the work site and will have a chance to advance your trail and leadership skills under the supervision of a WTA crew leader. Approval from a previous crew leader is necessary. Trip Details In 2014, trip fees for WTA members will be $195 for the first trip and $145 for each additional trip. Non-members will pay an additional $40 for their first trip and can be qualified to be members in the second trip. There will be a $30 cancellation fee for cancellations more than 30 days prior to the trip, and no refund for cancellations less than 30 days prior to the trip. Due to the popularity of our trips, please submit your payment and application within two weeks of signing up for a trip. If a trip is full and you would like to be added to the waiting list, please call us at 206/625-1367 or email trail _ teams@wta.org. Scholarships We believe no student should have to stay at home this summer because he or she can't afford to go outside. Thanks to donations from members and supporters, WTA is proud to announce that we are able to offer a limited number of scholarships. Application deadline: March 1, 2014. 2014 Youth Volunteer Vacation You must be 14 to 18 years old to go on one of our Youth Volunteer Vacations. We always recommend that volunteers go on a one-day trip before attending a Youth Vacation to understand what the work will be like for a week. If you are going on one of the trips for the first time, you can't go on trips _ .
Paleontologists are scientists who study evidence of past life on Earth. Which method do paleontologists most likely use to determine the forms of life that existed millions of years ago? Answer: Children who grow up in households where books are plentiful go further in school than those without books, a new study finds. This book benefit was seen across countries, and held regardless of the parent's educational back-ground, father's occupation or the political system of the country, the researchers say. The results, based on data from 73,249 people living in 27 countries, including the United States, show that having a 500-book library boosted a child's education by 3.2 years on average. "You get a great effect for your books," said study researcher Mariah Evans, a sociologist at the University of Nevada, Reno. "It's quite a good return-on-investment in a time of scarce resources." For years, educators have thought the strongest predictor of attaining high levels of education was having parents who were highly educated. But according to the findings, a good-sized book library is just as good as university-educated parents in terms of increasing education level. "Even a little bit goes a long way," in terms of the number of books in a home, Evans said. Having as few as 20 books in the home still has a significant impact on propelling a child to a higher level of education, and the more books are added, the greater the benefit. In some countries, such as China, having 500 or more books in the home propels children 6. 6 years further in their education. In the United States, the effect is less, 2.4 years. But, Evans points out that 2.4 years is still a significant advantage in terms of educational achievement. For example, Americans who have some college or an associate's degree, but not a bachelor's degree, earn an average of $ 7,213 more annually than those with just a high school education. Those who attain a bachelor's degree earn $ 21,185 more each year, on average, than those with just high school diplomas. Having books in the home is twice as important as the father's education level, and more important than whether a child was educated in China or the United States. What was the author's purpose of writing the passage? Answer: Jules Verne was a Frenchman who was born in 1828 and died in 1905. He read a great many scientific books and wrote a number of exciting books about the things which he thought that scientists and inventors would one day be able to do. Years later, many of the things really happened. At that time, however, his stories seemed like fairy tales. Jules Verne's most famous book is 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.(A league is an old word meaning a distance of about three miles). In those days submarines had not been invented but he described an underwater ship very like a modern one. Many of the things Jules wrote about in his books more than a hundred years ago to look into the future, however, were surprisingly exact. In his book From the Earth to the Moon he wrote at the age of about forty, three men and a dog made a journey around the moon in a hollow ship fired from a gun. After going around the moon, they returned to the earth and splashed down into the sea not far from where the first real moon traveler landed in July, 1969. Jules wrote a lot of exciting books partly because he _ . Answer: Growing up in town, I classified myself as a "city girl." I had very little knowledge about farming and rural areas, but all of that changed six years ago when my mother and stepfather married and we moved to my stepfather's farm. Surrounded by cows and cornfields, I was unsure of what to do. However, I did enjoy the beauty and peace of the countryside. On the farm, I helped with odd jobs like feeding cows. When I was old enough to get a real summer job, my step-father said I could choose between two options--getting a job at our local Dairy Queen or selling produce that I grew on our farm. While I came up with a short list of pros for working at the fast food restaurant, I found more advantages to selling produce. Yet I realized the numerous disadvantages to selling produce: responsibility for the success or failure of the operation, early mornings, and long days. At last, I decided to start my own farming business. My stepfather and I began planning in March. Together we chose three varieties of seeds, prepared the land, and planted the first batch of sweet corn at the end of April. Throughout the spring, my stepfather continued to plant sweet corn every two weeks as I rode in the tractor with him. The sweet corn needs taking great care while growing. As the corn was putting forth ears, we applied fertilizer and sprayed pesticide to prevent worms. I watched them grow taller and taller, dreaming about the money I would soon make. We planned to harvest and sell the corn at our local farmer's market. It sounded easy and looked good on paper, but it worked out a little differently. Nonstop rain delayed the harvest by a week or so. When my sweet corn was finally ready to pick, I found that a pack of raccoons had visited the field at night, ruining about half of it. We picked what was still good and prepared for market. This was it--my first day at market! I was excited to see my hard work finally pay off. I loaded my materials into the pickup truck and arrived early at the farmer's market to find a good spot. There were many customers and several other tradesmen. Probably because I was young and new, potential customers would look at me and smile, then head straight to my competitor, Mrs Cates, who had been in the market for years and had an established following. At the end of the first day, about half of my corn was left, so I donated it to a local homeless shelter and went home disappointed. Soon I noticed that Mrs Cates and her crew did not arrive at the farmer's market until about 11 am. So I decided to show up an hour earlier. This meant that we had to start picking corn at 6 am, no easy task with teenage workers. But the effort paid off; I was selling half of my corn before Mrs Cates arrived and most of it by the end of the day. Although the farmer's market was only open three days a week, the corn needed to be picked and sold daily because it would not keep. On days the farmer's market was not open, I developed a marketing plan that included sending e-mails to family and friends. I also went to local businesses to sell corn and distribute business cards. Customers began calling, and I took orders over the phone. Before I knew it, I had a loyal following. I stayed busy by making weekly and sometimes daily deliveries to these businesses while maintaining my produce stand at the farmer's market. Then something wonderful happened. I had made more money than any of my friends with typical teenage jobs. I feel a sense of accomplishment when I see people buy produce from me. How did the author describe his step-father? Answer: My six-year-old came home from school this week with two envelopes. One was for a donation to help people in the Philippines. The other was to help hungry families have a Thanksgiving meal. "I'll put a check in each of these. Then you can add your own money from your piggy bank, okay?" I said, thinking he'd be so excited to put his own stamp on things. "That's okay, mom. You put money in. I don't want to waste mine," he sweetly sang as he colored. "I want to fill my bank all the way up." Ack! I guess I know what our dinnertime discussion will be about tonight, I thought. I had figured that through watching his parents donate items, helping us take toys from time to time to needy kids and putting money in the basket at church, he would just understand why it was important to help people in need -- and even want to do it himself. But of course he doesn't really understand yet. "There's a big disconnect between the people 'over there' and my piggy bank," said parenting educator Vicki Hoefle. "There's nothing wrong with the child. There's just no connection." As for having that conversation immediately, or forcing my son to put money into the envelopes: "Try not to do it now," Hoefle said. Teaching a child about donating their own money or toys or time to people in need "should be a gentle introduction into what we hope will be a way of life for our kids." She suggested these things to help children understand the importance of giving: * Just talk about it. Then explore the issue from a perspective he can understand. * Use the course of a year to introduce kids to opportunities. That way, they won't be shocked when you ask them to stuff their own money into an envelope (like this writer just did). * Pick a family charity for the year and have a conversation about how you all can help throughout the year. * Think of this not as something you must teach, but as something to expose them to. At her house, Hoefle said, "When you got something new, you gave something up." Each birthday, her children would pick what toys they had outgrown and give them away. "There was a comfort in it. It just became a natural part of the kids' lives." So I will fill those envelopes alone this time. But I'll make sure he understands why they should be filled--gradually. Hoefle's attitude towards children's unwillingness to donate money can be best described as " _ ". Answer:
The great Snipe is a little shore bird-not one that would be considered a great athlete. However, a recent study has shown that these slightly fat birds not only fly nonstop for long periods of time during their annual migration, but do so at record speeds. The brown migratory birds that are about the size of a pigeon spend their summers in Eastern Europe and winters in Central Africa, a distance of about 2,800 to 4,000 miles. In May 2009, a team of researchers led by Dr. Raymond Klaasen from Sweden's Lund University fitted ten Great Snipes with tiny geo-locating devices that allow scientists to figure out when and where the birds travel, and let them loose. The following year they found three of the birds and took back the devices. What they discovered was quite _ . All three birds had flown nonstop to Central Africa in August of 2009-one had flown 4,225 miles in just 3.5 days. The second one had covered a distance of 3,833 miles in three days, while the third had managed to fly 2,870 miles in a mere 48 hours or two days. Even more surprising was that these birds had traveled at speeds that averaged about 50 miles per hour-making it the fastest known migration ever. While many birds migrate longer distances, they do so over a period of a few months, resting and feeding in between. However, despite the fact the Great Snipe has plenty of opportunities, it does not stop. And they do the entire flight with their own power, with no assistance from the wind. The tiny bird is able to make this unbelievable direct flight because of all the fat it gradually gathers in its body, which it then uses as fuel. Native no North Eastern Europe, Great Snipes live in marshlands and wet meadows . But they are also on the list of endangered animals because of loss of habitat. What do we know about the three birds scientists found? Answer: An American psychotherapist Glenn Doman wrote a best-selling book calledHow to Teach Your Baby to Readin 1963. Now translated into 17 languages, this book arose from his work with brain-damaged children in Pennsylvania. Doman and his team of specialists had wondered why brain-injured children didn't improve with treatment. Then they realized that orthodox methods of treatment only relieved the symptoms, not the problem, which of course was the brain itself. So they develop a new approach. "All we do for all the children here is to give them visual, auditory and tactile stimulation with increased frequency, intensity and duration, in recognition of the orderly way in which the brain grows," says Doman. "The result was that by 1960 we had hundreds of severely brain-injured two-year-olds who could read and understand." The team had discovered that even children who had half their brains removed could, by stimulation, achieve higher IQs than the average normal child. Then the team began to think if such amazing results could be achieved with brain-damaged children, what would happen if the same treatment were given to normal children? So eight years ago the Better Baby Institute was opened for the benefit of normal children. The same stimulating environment was provided, and by the time the children left, around seven years old, they could generally speak and read three foreign languages, play a musical instrument, read three full-length books a week and do all the other things that a so-called "normal" child could do. In Doman's view, the child's passion to learn during the years up to six must be fed. He believes that, like muscles, the brain develops with use, especially so in those first few years. Nowadays, parents come from all over the world to Pennsylvania to see and learn from the workof Doman and his team; they want to discover how they can fulfill their roles as nature's teachers, by using their love, understanding and instincts for the benefit of the children. For in the words of Doman, "every child born has a greater potential intelligence than Leonardo da Vinci used". The passage suggested that Doman's new approach was to _ . Answer: Wade is my good friend. We study at the same school. At weekends he usually turns on his computer. He sends and gets e-mails to and from his friends back in France. He also gets on the Internet to learn about what is going on in the world. His parents sometimes take him to some places of interest in China. Sometimes I ask him to come over to my home for a weekend. My parents say that they can't understand what we talk about because there are two languages in our talks--Chinese and English. My mother sometimes says to him,"Can you talk to my son in Chinese only,Wade?" He always smiles and answers, "Not today. I'm going to speak good Chinese very soon." He is not good at Chinese and I am weak at English. But we like these talks because we can learn when we are talking. The text is mainly about _ Answer: Not a day goes by when we don't use the World Wide Web. Today it has become almost as important to every family as food and water! This year, the World Wide Web has turned 25 years old. What many people don't know is that the web was at first created to improve communication between thousands of scientists in Switzerland. In 1989, Tim Berners-Lee was a 34-year-old British physicist working as a software engineer at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research in Switzerland. Since CERE was a huge organization with thousands of scientists, communication between them was becoming increasingly difficult. Berners-Lee wanted to develop a system to solve the problem. His paper suggested an information system, where a page on one computer could have a link to another page on another computer ( connected through the Internet) allowing scientists to read lots of information quickly. However, Berners-Lee's boss said that it sounded exciting but impossible. Even though there were many difficulties and few supporters, Berners-Lee went on to develop the World Wide Web. He came up with ideas such as Hyper-text Transfer Protocol to allow computers to talk to each other, Hyper-text Markup Language (HTML) to create the pages, a server to serve the pages, and a browser to see them. In December 1990, the World Wide Web was demonstrated and in 1991, the WWW project was made public, so that other programmers could develop their own browsers. Berners-Lee believed that it could be used for more than scientific purposes. He wanted the Internet to be easy for anyone to use-a free open software. His wishes soon came true. Although the World Wide Web has today turned into a completely different thing from what it meant at first, it has become necessary and important to our lives, powering our mobile technologies and the way we get information. As for Berners-Lee's paper, his boss_. Answer: Jim: Let's play volleyball, OK? Tony: Sorry, I don't have a volleyball. But I have a basketball. Jim: I don't want to play basketball. I only want to play volleyball. Tony: Who has a volleyball? Do you know? Jim: Maybe Tom has one. Let's go and ask him. (Say to Tom.) Hi, Tom! Do you have a volleyball? Tom: No. I don't. Does Peter have one? Tony: Oh, yes, he does. Tom: Hi, Peter! Do you have a volleyball? Peter: Yes, I do. But it is at home. Tom: Sorry to hear that! Tony: Well, let's play basketball. OK? Jim: OK! Tom: Peter, please join us. Peter: OK! Let's play! ,. Who has a volleyball? Answer:
Question: A 34-year-old mother has spoken of how she woke up thinking she was 15 years old and living in 1992. Naomi Jacobs, from Manchester, was convinced she was still a teenager. In her mind, John Major was Prime Minister and George Bush Sr. was running the White House. She also showed how she screamed when a boy appeared and called her "Mum". Mobile phones and e-mails were puzzling and Google, Facebook and YouTube sounded like made-up words, she said. Ms. Jacobs, who had no memory of the years, was told by doctors that she had Transient Global Amnesia (TGA). She has now written a book about the experience which happened in 2008. "I fell asleep in 1992 as a brave, very confident know-it-all-15-year-old, and woke up as a 32-year-old single mum living in a rented house," Ms. Jacobs said. "The last thing I remember was falling asleep in my bed, dreaming about a boy in my class. When I woke up, I looked in the mirror and had the fright of my life when I saw an old woman with wrinkles staring back at me. Then a little boy appeared and started calling me Mum. That's when I started to scream. I didn't know who he was. I didn't think he was much younger than I was, and I certainly didn't remember giving birth to him. I began sobbing uncontrollably. I just wanted my mum. I couldn't get my head around going to bed one night and waking up in a different century." TGA is a rare type of amnesia which can occur suddenly, affecting around three people per 100,000 each year. Fortunately, permanent memory loss is rare. Ms. Jacobs' memory started to return after eight weeks. Some people who often suffer from migraines also appear to be more likely to have TGA. The cause of TGA is unknown. Some think that it may be caused by a temporary cut of blood flow to parts of the brain involved in memory. When a little boy came to call her "Mum", Naomi Jacobs was _ . A. excited B. frightened C. worried D. embarrassed Answer: B. frightened Question: Even if you're not an astronomy fan, chances are that you can easily recognize certain constellations and stars such as the Big Dipper and the North Star. The North Star is the brightest star in the constellation known as the Little Dipper. It is so-called because of the special position. If you were to stay up all night looking at the stars, you'd slowly see them move around a point in the sky known as the North Celestial Pole. You would notice, however, that one star remains still. This is the North Star, so named for its location almost directly in line with the North Celestial Pole. Due to its position in the sky, at one time sailors used the North Star as a navigational tool. By measuring the angle between the northern horizon and the North Star, a navigator could accurately determine the ship's latitude.[:ZXXK] But latitude, or the imaginary lines stretching across the globe parallel to the equator, was not enough to plot a ship's location. Knowing latitude only allowed navigators to locate themselves on a particular latitude line at a particular distance from the equator. It was only with the invention of a way to accurately measure longitude that precise navigation became possible. Although the North Star is no longer used by navigators, it remains a heavenly symbol of human curiosity and exploration. Which of the following statements about the North Star is TRUE? A. The North Star is the brightest star in the night sky. B. The North Star, together with some other stars, make up the Little Dipper. C. The North Star moves along the same course with other stars. D. The North Star is exactly located in line with the North Celestial Pole. Answer: B. The North Star, together with some other stars, make up the Little Dipper. Question: Some of the planet's most precious animals and plants are disappearing, according to the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The group, based in Switzerland, works with governments and experts to protect threatened species. On September 12, the IUCN released its Red List, a list of species at greatest risk of extinction. The list includes 41,415 animals and plants. The IUCN says that habitat destruction, hunting and other causes threaten one in four mammals, one in eight birds and one in three amphibians . Who is to blame? Scientists believe that 99 percent of threatened species are at risk because of human activity. "We are losing animals and plants at a high rate," says Julia Marton-LefEevre, director general of the IUCN. "We need to change our behavior." Warmer oceans and over-fishing are changing sea life. This year for the first time corals made their appearance on the list. The gharial, a crocodile living in India and Nepal, has lost almost 60 percent of its population in the last 10 years. It is a victim of habitat destruction. Still, the news is not all bad. Thanks to efforts made to protect it, the Mauritius echo parakeet, a bird once endangered, has seen an increase in its population. "This shows that protection methods can work," says Marton-LefEevre. "That's the message we want to send to young people." In China the new reserve itself is part of green efforts that have seen more than 2,400 nature reserves of various kinds being set up, covering more than 15 percent of the nation's land area, official figures showed. "The country's natural resources have benefited from conservation," said Lei Guangchun, director of the nature reserve department of Beijing Forestry University. "It is a big increase nowadays compared with other countries." Lei said. The total areas of China's natural reserves have covered 1.38 million km2, which accounts for 15.4% of China's area, higher than both the world average of 11% and the rate in most developed countries. Li Zhong, an official in charge of the nature reserves office with the State Forestry Administration, thought it was important to increase investment in such reserves at all levels. Which of the following is not the cause of the disappearance of the animals? A. Bad weather B. Over-hunting C. Warmer oceans D. Habitat destruction Answer: A. Bad weather Question: Sam Allred suffers from a rare and incurable kidney disease. One day, when his sister was playing a song repeatedly, Sam sang along. His sister thought it was funny so she recorded it and posted the video online. The video -- and Sam -- became a hit. Only 8 years old at the time, he couldn't have expected the response. "(The television show) The Doctors called and wanted me on their show so they paid for me to go to California," says Sam, now 13, "and we got to stay in a hotel where all the movie stars stayed." During that visit to California, Angie Allred, Sam's mother, had an idea about Sam writing a children's book. Together, she and Sam wrote Opening Hearts, which tells Sam's experience of living with a chronic illness. "I wrote the book to teach people to be kinder to people," Sam says. Moreover, Sam wanted to send pillows to sick children staying in hospitals around the country to make their stay more comfortable, an idea that came from a time when he was in the hospital. "A few kind boys came in with pillows and they gave me one and it meant a lot to me that someone cared about kids in the hospital," says Sam. Angie thought of starting a nonprofit organization to provide a way for people to contribute money to realize Sam's ideas. She named the nonprofit Kindness for Kids. Since then, Sam has taken pillows to children staying at Providence Hospital in Anchorage. Sam's father, Scott Allred, owns a small business that contracts shipping services with FedEx Ground. He asked the company for help. "FedEx Ground learned about Sam's pillow project," says Erin Truxal, manager of public relations for FedEx Ground. "We thought, 'What a perfect way for us to get involved.'" The company provided shipping services for Sam to ship about 5,000 pillows to hospitals. Sam wants to send more pillows to all of the children's hospitals in every state. His goal is simple: "Kids in the hospital as happy as they were before they got sick," he says. What is FedEx Ground's attitude towards Sam's career? A. Doubtful. B. Surprised. C. Approving. D. Uninterested. Answer: C. Approving. Question: Americans love to talk and generally it is OK to talk even to strangers about nearly any subject at any time as long as you are polite.However there are some subjects,like racism,American foreign policy,gun ownership,and religion that are best discussed among friends. In America,it is OK to approach a stranger and start up a conversation with him as long as the subject is not too abstract.In America,it is not considered inappropriate to talk to people you don't know.Talking to a stranger about the weather or the quality of nearby restaurants,or the prices in a grocery store is all perfectly fine.Even complimenting someone on the car they drive or asking them where they bought their clothes are all appropriate topics of conversation with complete strangers. Generally,Americans prefer that people say what they think and they respect frankness.Usually when it comes to personal matters,it's best to accentuate the positive:don't tell someone that their children are ugly or that their cooking is terrible.However;it's OK to tell someone that they are wrong as long as you do so politely and with respect.Americans generally believe that you show someone respect by telling them the truth.Don't be afraid to be honest with Americans,but be appropriate. Most Americans will start a conversation with a person they just met by asking them what they do for a living.This question is not only considered appropriate by Americans,but it's also considered an important way to learn about someone. The passage mainly tells us _ . A. how to make friends with Americans B. how to make proper conversations with Americans C. what Americans like to talk about in their dailv life D. what to avoid in talking with Americans Answer: B. how to make proper conversations with Americans
"He could have lived on his good looks, but instead he chose to live on talent and hard work." This is how Internet users praised Chinese swimmer Ning Zetao. On Aug 6, the 22-year-old won the 100-meter freestyle at the 2015 FINA Swimming World Championships in Russia. He was the first Asian to ever achieve this. Overnight the 191-cm-tall, handsome young man became the nation's hero. Ning didn't let the sudden fame get to his head. He said he only saw "a slight change" in his life after winning. "My life is full of changes and challenges," he said . "I welcome them and am never afraid of _ ." The first big change in Ning's life came at 2009.At the time, he specialized in breaststroke and was successful. But he felt a sharp pain in his knee. He suffered every time he practiced his kicks. When he was 16,the knee pain got worse, and he had to stop swimming the breaststroke. Then he switched to sprint freestyle swimming. Ning didn't let the change bring him down. Instead, he took advantage of it and became one of the best freestyle swimmers. Last year, he won four gold medals in freestyle races at the Incheon Asian Games in South Korea. What is the next change Ning would like to see in his life? He said he wants to improve on his English. "English will help me communicate with foreign coaches and compete in the world games in the future." Obviously Ning has high expectations for himself at the Rio Olympics next year. We wish him good luck. What is Ning's first big change in his life? Nora is an American girl. She studies in a middle school. She has a little sister. Her name is Kate. Kate is only four. Nora likes Kate very much. Today is Sunday. Nora wants her pen. She takes out her pencil case. "Oh, dear! Where's my pen?" She can't find her pen. She goes to ask her sister in her bedroom. "Kate! I can't find my pen. Can you see......Oh, what are you doing with my pen?" "I'm writing to my friend, Betty." Kate answers. "But how can you? You don't know what to write."."It doesn't matter . Betty can't read." Kate says. _ can't find her pen. If' you are finding it tough to land a job, try expanding your job-hunting plan to include thefollowing strategies: Set your target While you should always keep your opinions open to compromise, you should also be sure to target exactly what you want in a job. A specific job hunt will be more efficient than a random one . Schedule abundant interviews Use every possible method to get interviews-answering ads, using search firms, contacting companies directly, surfing the Web, and networking. Even if a job is not perfect for you, every interview can make you learn from it. Follow up Even if someone does not hire you, write them a thank-you note for the interview. Then. some weeks later, send another brief letter to explain that you still have not found the perfect position and that you will be available to interview again if the original position you applied for-or any other position, for that matter-is open. Do this with every position you interview for, and you may just catch a break. Make it your full-time job You can't find a job by looking infrequently. You have to make time for it. If you're unemployed and looking for a job, devote as much time as you would to a full-time job. If you have a job while you're looking, figure out an organized schedule to maximize your searching time. Network vertically In the research phase of your job hunt, talk to people who are on a level above you in your desired industry. They'll have some insights that people at your own level won't have, and will be in a good position to hire you or recommend you to be hired. Keep your spirits up Looking for a job is one of the toughest things you will ever have to do. Maintain your confidence, stay persistent, and think positively, and eventually you will get a job that suits you. According to the author, your job-hunting plan had better be as _ as possible. Argus Corporation is privately owned and incorporated in the state of Kiowa. It contracted with the United States to construct a dam across the Big Sandy River in the state of Arapaho. The state of Arapaho imposed a gross receipts tax on all business conducted within the state. Arapaho sued Argus Corporation to collect that tax on the receipts Argus received under this federal contract. No federal statutes or administrative rules are applicable, and the contract between the United States and Argus Corporation does not mention state taxation. The court should hold the state tax, as applied here, to be Experts believe that there are about 40,000 different types of jobs in the world. Choosing the right one is a difficult task. "Finding a job" is not the same as "choosing a job". Many young people end up in a job that they are not suited to do. "Chance" may play a more important part than "decision". So here are a few steps to help you think about jobs. First, it is important to recognize what kind of person you are and what special qualities make you different from everyone else. The most important thing is to know your interests and skills. But the point is that there is a difference between an interest and a skill. If you like art and enjoy looking at pictures, it is an interest. But if you can draw a horse that looks like a horse rather than a big dog, that is a skill. The best job is one that uses your skills in doing something together with your interests. As well as this, it is an advantage if you believe that a particular job is worth doing in the world. To examine your skills and abilities still further, ask yourself this question: in the following three areas--skills with people, skills with information or skills with things -- which are your best skills? After that, the next step is research. To find out as much as possible about different kinds of work, go to the library and read books, magazines and newspapers. Ask your friends about the work they do. If you are interested in banking, it is better to talk to a bank clerk of twenty-four, rather than a bank manager of sixty-four. Do not ask your parents' friends for information. A younger person will be able to describe a normal day at work and tell you about the interesting or boring things when you first start working. Finally, trust your own ideas and your own thinking! It is your own life, so find something that you enjoy doing. If you are interested in banking, you should talk to a bank clerk of twenty-four instead of a bank manager of sixty-four because _ .
I got your letter and was glad to find that you had not forgotten Jourdon, and that you wanted me to come back and live with you again in Tennessee, promising to do better for me than anybody else can. Although you shot at me twice before I left you, I did not want to hear of your being hurt. It would do me good to go back to the dear old home again and see Allen, Esther, Green, and Lee. Give my love to them all, and tell them I hope we will meet in the better world, if not in this. I want to know particularly what the good chance is you propose to give me. I am doing tolerably well here in Ohio. I get twenty-five dollars a month, with food and clothing; have a comfortable home for Mandy, the folks call her Mrs. Anderson; and the children--Milly, Jane, and Grundy--go to school and are learning well. The teacher says Grundy has a head for a preacher. We are kindly treated. Now, if you will write and say what wages you will give me, I will be better able to decide whether it would be to my advantage to move back again. We have concluded to test your sincerity by asking you to send us our wages for the time we served you. This will make us forget and forgive old scores and rely on your justice and friendship in the future. I served you faithfully for thirty-two years, and Mandy twenty years. At twenty-five dollars a month for me, and two dollars a week for Mandy, our earnings would amount to eleven thousand six hundred and eighty dollars. Add to this the interest for the time our wages have been kept back, and deduct what you paid for our clothing, and three doctor's visits to me, and pulling a tooth for Mandy. If you fail to pay us for faithful labors in the past, we can have little faith in your promises in the future. In answering this letter, please state if there would be any safety for my Milly and Jane, who are now grown up, and both good-looking girls. I would rather stay here and starve--and die, if it should come to that--than have my girls brought to shame by the violence and wickedness of their young Masters. You will also please state if there has been any schools opened for the colored children in your neighborhood. The great desire of my life now is to give my children an education and have them form virtuous habits. Say howdy to George Carter, and thank him for taking the pistol from you when you were shooting at me. Which of the following is RIGHT according to the passage? A. The family name of this letter writer is Anderson. B. The writer is paid the same as he was in Tennessee. C. The writer will certainly get at least 11,680 dollars. D. Safety rather than education weighs a lot to the writer. Answer: A Nick is a student. He has four friends. They are Ben, Eric, Peter and Andy. But they are all very different. Nick is confident and kind. He is also a good listener. All of his friends like to talk to him about their problems. This is his best quality. Ben is the quietest friend of them. He is not energetic and active like Eric, or outgoing like Peter. But he is so patient and fair. When they have an argument, Ben is always there to listen to everyone and make sure that everybody stays friends. Andy is very clever and hard-working. He does the best in exams at school. It is really kind of Andy to help Peter with his homework when he is having trouble. They get along well with each other like brothers. What is Peter like ? A. Energetic B. Outgoing C. Quiet D. Patient and fair Answer: B 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. What do penguins like best? _ . A. Ice B. Bamboos C. leaves D. Meat Answer: A New Scientist Event Instant Expert-- How Your Brain Works Saturday, 20 May 2017from 10:00 to 17:00 London, United Kingdom Ever wondered how your brain works? How that stuff in your head enables you to see, hear and think about the world around you, make decisions and act on them? Join six leading scientists to explore what we know about 4fcthe most difficult kilo of matter in the universe". The day will be chaired by psychologist and presenter of BBC Radio 4's All in the mirtd,Claudia Hammond. ' Overview: The brain has long been a source of fascination. In 1819, the radical thinker and surgeon William Lawrence put it like this: "It's strongly suspected that a Newton or Shakespeare excels other men only ... by having an extra inch of brain in the right place." Today, many such suspicions are certainties. This event will introduce you to the evolution of the brain. We'll study technique for controlling the brain using electric and magnetic fields, as well as the latest technologies that follow you to control the outside world using your mind alone. Topics covered will include: Evolution of the brain How memory makes us human Emotion Sleep and brain Booking information: The event will be held in Brunei Auditorium at RCGP/30 Euston Square. And doors to the Auditorium will open at 9:15 am. We require the name of each person attending -- please ensure this is provided at the time of booking. The schedule for the day will be confirmed closer to the event, and will be emailed to all ticket holders. *A minimum of 100 early bird discounted tickets are available priced at PS129 (saving PS20 on the full ticket price of PS149). What can attendees learn from the event? A. How much their brain weighs. B. How their sleep is related to their brain C. Whether they can act on decisions they made. D. How their brain is controlled by electric and magnetic fields. Answer: B Douglas Adams was born in Cambridge in March 1952, educated at Brentwood School, Essex and St John's College, Cambridge where, in 1974 he gained a BA (and later an MA) in English literature. He was the creator of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy(<<>> ), which started life as a BBC Radio 4 series in March 1978. Since then it has been transformed into a series of best-selling novels, a TV series, a record album, a computer game and several stage adaptations. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy's success sent the book straight to Number One in the UK Bestseller List and in 1984 Douglas Adams became the youngest author to be awarded a Golden Pan. He won a further two (a rare feat), and was nominated--though not selected - for the first Best of Young British Novelists awards. He followed this success with The Restaurant at the End of the Universe (1980); Life, The Universe and Everything (1982); So Long and Thanks for all the Fish (1984); and Mostly Harmless (1992). The first two books in the Hitchhiker series were adapted into a 6-part television series, which was an immediate success when first showed in 1982. Other publications include Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (1987) and Long Dark Tea-time of the Soul (1988). In 1984 Douglas teamed up with John Lloyd and wrote The Meaning of Life and their second huge success, The Deeper Meaning of Life followed in 1990. One of Douglas's personal favorites was written in 1990 when he teamed up with zoologist Mark Carwardine and wrote Last Chance to See an account of a world-wide search for rare and endangered species of animals. Douglas sold over 15 million books in the UK, the US and Australia. He was also a best seller in German, Swedish and many other languages. Douglas Adams died on Friday, May 11, 2001, in Santa Barbara, CA. He will be greatly missed by fans worldwide. The main idea of this passage is _ . A. Douglas Adams, always loved by fans B. Douglas Adams and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy C. Douglas Adams and his works D. Douglas Adams's personal lives Answer: C
Hundreds of years ago, life was much harder than it is today. People didn't have modern machines. Life today has brought new problems. One of the biggest is pollution. Water pollution has made our rivers and lakes dirty. It kills our fish and pollutes our drinking water. Noise pollution makes us talk louder and become angry more easily. Air pollution is the most serious kind of pollution. It's bad to all living things in the world. Polluted air from cars, planes and factories is so thick that it is like a quilt over a city. This kind of quilt is called smog . Many countries are making rules to fight pollution. Factories must now clean their water before it is thrown away. And they mustn't blow dirty smoke into the air. We need to do many other things. We can put waste things in the dustbin and not throw it on the ground. We can go to work by bus or with our friends in the same car. If there are fewer people driving, there will be less pollution. The most serious kind of pollution is _ . A noise pollution B air pollution C water pollution D waste paper Answer: B. air pollution Why are so many people so afraid of failure? Quite simply because no one tells us how to fail so that failure becomes an experience that will lead to growth. We forget that failure is part of the human condition and that every person has the right to fail. Most parents work hard at either preventing failure or protecting their children from the knowledge that they have failed. One way is to lower standards. A mother describes her child's hurriedly-made table as "perfect"! Even though it couldn't stand on uneven (not same in height) legs. Another way is to shift blame. If John fails in science, his teacher is unfair or stupid. The trouble with failure-prevention methods is that they leave a child unequipped for life in the real world. The young need to learn that no one can be best at everything, that no one can win all the time and that it's possible to enjoy a game even when you don't win. A child who's not invited to a birthday party, who doesn't make the honor roll or the baseball team feel terrible, of course. But parents should not offer a quick comfort prize or say "It doesn't matter" because it does. The young should be allowed to experience disappointment and be helped to master it. Failure is never pleasurable. It hurts grown-ups and children exactly alike. But it can make a positive contribution to your life once you learn to use it. Step one is to ask "Why did I fail?" Control the natural impulse to blame someone else. Ask yourself what you did wrong, and how you can improve. If someone else can help, don't be shy about asking them. According to the passage, if you are facing failure, you should _ . A blame someone else. B face it yourself and not ask others to help. C forget it as soon as possible. D think it over and find way to improve it. Answer: D. think it over and find way to improve it. Which is a reason for Arkansas having multiple seasons? A the tilt of Earth's axis B the speed of Earth's orbit C Earth's distance from the Sun D Earth gravitational pull toward the Moon Answer: A. the tilt of Earth's axis During the day we work and play, and at night we sleep. Our bodies rest while we are sleeping. In the morning we are ready to work and play again. When we are asleep, our bodies grow most. When children feel tired and angry, they usually need more sleep. We can get our lessons better, and we feel better, too, when we have enough sleep. Boys and girls, eight or nine years old, need ten hours of sleep every night. Our bodies need plenty of air when we sleep. If we do not get enough fresh air we wake up feeling tired. While in bed we must not cover our heads. If we do, our lungs will not get enough fresh air. If we open our windows at night we can have plenty of fresh air. Cool air is better than warm air. Boys and girls must get plenty of sleep if they want to grow and be strong. How can you get enough fresh air at night? You can _ . A open your windows B not sleep in bed C sleep ten hours D cover your head Answer: A. open your windows Which of the following factors would most likely cause a hurricane to decrease in strength? A staying over a warm body of water for a long time. B increasing the number of large clouds. C moving over a continent. D moving toward tropical waters. Answer: C. moving over a continent.
Question: Brendan loves cats. He owns 8 cats. He has 7 girl cats and only 1 boy cat. Brendan brushes the cats' hair every day. He makes sure to feed them every morning and evening and always checks to see if the cats have water. Sometimes he feeds them special treats because he loves them. Each cat gets 3 treats. He doesn't give them food like chips and cake and candy, because those foods aren't good for cats. He likes to play with the cats. The cats like to chase balls of paper that Brendan makes for them. Some of his cats have orange fur, some have black fur, some are spotted and one is white. The white cat is Brendan's favorite. She is the first cat he owned. Her name is Snowball. When he first got Snowball she was a kitten. His other cats are named Fluffy, Salem, Jackie, Cola, Snickers, Pumpkin and Whiskers. What does Brendan feed his cats? A. cake B. chips C. candy D. cat food and treats Answer: D. cat food and treats Question: How we look and how we appear to others probably worries us more when we are in our teens or early twenties than at any other time in our life. Few of us are content to accept ourselves as we are, and few are brave enough to ignore the trends of fashion. Most fashion magazines or TV advertisements try to persuade us that we should dress in a certain way or behave in a certain manner. If we do, they tell us, we will be able to meet new people with confidence and deal with every situation confidently and without embarrassment. Changing fashion, of course, does not apply just to dress. A barber today does not cut a boy's hair in the same way as he used to, and girls do not make up in the same way as their mothers and grandmothers did. The advertisers show us the latest fashionable styles and we are constantly under pressure to follow the fashion in case our friends think we are odd or dull. What causes fashions to change? Sometimes convenience or practical necessity or just the fancy of an influential person can establish a fashion. Take hats for example. In cold climates, early buildings were cold inside, so people wore hats indoors as well as outside. In recent times, the late President Kennedy caused a depression in the American hat industry by not wearing hats, and more American men followed his example. There is also a cyclical pattern in fashion. In the 1920s in Europe and America, short skirts became fashionable. After World War II, they dropped to ankle length. Then they got shorter and shorter until the miniskirt was in fashion. After a few more years, skirts became longer again. Today, society is much freer and easier than it used to be. It is no longer necessary to dress like everyone else. Within reason, you can dress as you like or do your hair the way you like instead of the way you should because it is the fashion. The popularity of jeans and the "untidy" look seems to be a reaction against the increasingly expensive fashion of the top fashion houses. At the same time, appearance is still important in certain circumstances and then we must choose our clothes carefully. It would be foolish to go to an interview for a job in a law firm wearing jeans and a sweater, and it would be discourteous to visit some distinguished scholar looking as if we were going to the beach or a night club. However, you need never feel depressed if you don't look like the latest fashion photo. Look around you and you'll see that no one else does either! Which of the following is True according to the passage? A. President Kennedy once caused a disaster in the American hat industry B. Before the second World War , skirts had dropped shorter to ankle length. C. You can't dress however you like or do your hair the way you like today. D. The "untidy" jeans are a reaction against the increasingly expensive fashion. Answer: A. President Kennedy once caused a disaster in the American hat industry Question: Lots of people get money from ATMs before going shopping. If you don't know how to use an ATM, read the following instructions carefully. Put your card into the machine . Look at the screen. Input your _ into the machine. Input how much money you want on the screen of the machine. Then press OK. Get the money from the machine. If you want, you can also get a receipt . Take back your card. Remember these rules: Don't write your password on your card. Don't let other people know your password. If you lose your card, tell the bank at once. According to the passage, you _ . A. shouldn't write your password on the card. B. can let your best friend know your password. C. shouldn't tell the bank that you lose your card. D. shouldn't use the ATM to get your money. Answer: A. shouldn't write your password on the card. Question: As we all know, the Dragon Boat Festival is our country's traditional festival, but do you know there is also a Dragon Boat Festival in South Korea, which also falls on May 5 of the luar calendar ? It has been reported that South Korea will apply to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) to make the celebration of the Dragon Boat Festival its own intangible cultural heritage . If successful, people from other countries may see the Dragon Festival as a Korean creation. As the birthplace of the yearly event more than 2,000 years ago, China is not happy with the situation. "It would be a shame if another country successfully made a traditional Chinese festival part of its own cultural heritage ahead of China," said Zhou Heping, deputy culture minister. The Ministry of Culture is even thinking of making its own application to UNESCO, covering all traditional Chinese festivals, including the Dragon Boat event. It is thought that the festival is held in memory of the great poet Qu Yuan (340-278 BC), who lived in the State of Chu during the Warring States Period. Qu was known to be a patriot and admired by ordinary people. He is said to have jumped into Miluo River, because he had lost hope in his country's future. When people heard about Qu's death, they sailed up and down the river searching for his body. They also beat the drums to frighten away the fish and threw Zongzi into the water to stop the fish touching Qu. Dragon boat racing is said to come from this search for the poet's body. Over the years, the Dragon Boat Festival has spread throughout the world. In Japan and Viet Nam, as well as South Korea, the festival has mixed with and become part of the local culture. Now, the Dragon Boat Festival has become _ activity. A. a nationwide B. a worldwide C. an Asian D. a foreign Answer: B. a worldwide Question: Bonus culture has become the subject of many studies nowadays. Many people have been angered by the way some bankers and high officials seem to have been rewarded for failure. Others find the idea of offering many-million-dollar bonuses morally disgusting. But few have asked whether performance-related bonuses really do improve performance. The answer seems so obvious that even to ask the question can appear ridiculous. Indeed, in spite of all the complaints about them, financial encouragements continue to be introduced in more and more areas, from healthcare and public services to teaching and universities. So it may come as a shock to many to learn that paying for results can actually make people perform badly in many circumstances, and that the more you pay, the worse they perform. No one is arguing that bonuses can help companies and institutions attract and keep the best staff. Nor does anyone argue against the idea that you can encourage people to do specific tasks by linking payments to those tasks. Rather, the point is about how to get the best out of people. Do employees really perform better if you promise to pay them more for getting results? There are some obvious reasons why such payments can fail. It has been argued, for instance, that cash bonuses contributed to the financial crash, because traders had little enthusiasm to make sure that their companies enjoyed long-term survival. Most bonus projects are poorly designed, says Professor Malcolm Higgs. He thinks the reason is that organizations try to keep bonus arrangements simple. Nevertheless, he thinks bonus projects can work as long as they link the interests of individual employees with the long-term goals of a business. Bonuses can also encourage cheating. "Once you start making people's rewards dependent on outcomes rather than behaviors, the evidence is people will do whatever they can to get those outcomes," says Professor Edward Deci. "In many cases the high officials simply lied and cheated to make the stock price go up so they got huge bonuses." But the work of Deci and others suggests the problem with bonuses runs far deeper than poor design or cheating. In 1971, he asked students to solve puzzles, with some receiving cash prizes for doing well and others getting nothing. Deci found those offered cash were less likely to keep working on puzzles after they had done enough to get paid. These studies suggest that offering rewards can stop people doing things for the pure joy of it. This was the basis for a series of books by Kohn in which he argues that rewarding children, students and workers with grades, scholarships and other "bribes" leads to low-quality work in the long run. Those who believe in the power of bonuses fail to distinguish between inner drive and outside pressure -- wanting to do something because you like it for itself in contrast to doing something because you want the reward, Kohn says. "It's not just that these two are different, it's often that the more you reward people for doing something, the more their inner drive tends to decline." A "do this and get that" approach might improve performance in the short term, but over longer periods it will always fail, Kohn says. People who receive bonus will naturally play safe, become less creative, cooperate less and feel less valued, he adds. What's more, the studies also suggest that offering rewards can also stop people taking responsibility. According to Malcolm Higgs, designs that _ are the good ones. A. drive people to finish short-term tasks B. help to attract and keep good employees C. link financial rewards with the quality of the outcomes D. connect individual interests with long-term business goals Answer: D. connect individual interests with long-term business goals
It was a sunny night. Jim was having a drink with his friend. He drank too much, and he had to leave at half past eight because he had a ticket for a music festival, which would start at nine o'clock. It was half past an hour's walk from the pub to the theatre. Jim knew a _ that would only take ten minutes, but it meant crossing rails , and was dangerous. He took the shorter way, however, and when he reached the rails, he tripped and fell over. Then he fell asleep with his face down. After a while, a train came. When the driver saw a body lying on the track, he tried hard to stop the train. When it finally stopped, it was several meters before the body. The driver quickly got off and checked. Luckily, he found the man was still alive, but sleeping. Though the driver tried hard to wake him, Jim just kept sleeping. The driver took Jim to the hospital, where he woke up at last. When Jim was told what had happened, he decided to give up drinking. "I'm so lucky that I have a chance to turn my life around,' he said. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? Answer: The train stopped before reaching Jim. The best way to experience the Web,email,photos,video and other features. All of the builtin programs on iPad were designed from the ground up to take advantage of the large multitouch screen and advanced capabilities of iPad. And they work in any orientation. So you can do things with these programs that you can't do on any other device. Safari iPad is the best way to experience the Web. View whole pages in portrait or landscape on the large multitouch screen. And let your fingers do the surfing. All iPad models come with builtin WiFi,and safari can make iPad connected to the Web via highspeed WiFi. And when you're away from a WiFi network,you should choose iPad with WiFi+3G,which will make you surf the Internet anywhere,and sign up for access to 3G data service. Email There's nothing like the mail program on iPad. With a splitscreen view,and expensive onscreen keyboard, it lets you see and touch your email in ways you never could before. Photos A vivid LEDbacklit IPS display makes viewing photos on iPad extraordinary. Open albums with a tap. Flip through your pictures one by one. Or play a slideshow and share your photos. Multitasking You can do just about anything on your iPad. With multitasking,you can do even more. Be more productive as your work,have more fun as you play,or do a little of both. Find My iPad You keep all sorts of valuable data on your iPad. If you happen to misplace it,find My iPad helps you locate it on a map,remotely set a postcode lock,display a message,and more. A magical and revolutionary product at an unbelievable price. Starting at $499,get your own iPad at the nearest Apple retail store,at as reseller(with 0.05% product tax),at the Apple online store or in a shopping centre. You can get an iPad at the following stores at the same price except _ . Answer: a reseller Li Mingyang only joined Alibaba's investment platform one month ago but he has already transferred almost all the cash in his bank account - nearly Rmb200,000 ($32,000) - to the online fund. He is far from alone . More than 30 million people in China have signed up to Yu'E Bao, or "Leftover Treasure", only six months since its launch. Initially as the Chinese e-co mmerce group as a platform for its users to manage extra funds in their online payment accounts, Yu'E Bao is becoming something far more powerful: a straight-up substitute for traditional bank deposits ."There's no point in keeping money in the bank any more. This is just as reliable, more flexible and you can earn a lot more from it," Mr Li says. A quick hit of the Yu'E Bao application on his phone shows the Shanghai-based editor has earned more interest on his account over the past day than 94 per cent of other local users ."This is fun, almost like a computer game," he says with a laugh. For every Rmb12 that companies and individuals have deposited in Chinese banks since June, they placed roughly Rmb1 in their Yu'E Bao accounts, according to Financial Times calculations based on official data. While it remains tiny compared with total deposits in the Chinese banking system, this transfer of cash from banks to the Alibaba platform is only speeding up. In the process, it threatens to upend( ) the rules of China's state-protected financial department, break banks' profit model and shifting power to savers in a way that was scarcely imaginable at the start of this year. Other Chinese tech companies are getting in on the act. Tencent, developer of the hugely popular messaging app WeChat, is said to be designing a fund platform similar to Yu'E Bao. Baidu, the search engine company, began marketing investment products in October. "Internet companies, with their ability to instantly reach millions of consumers, have already started to change the competitive dynamic in finance," says Ernan Cui, an analyst with GK Dragonomics, a Beijing-based research firm. If Rmb12,000 is deposited in Chinese banks, then how much money will flow into Yu' E Bao accounts according to the passage? Answer: Rmb 1,000 Tidal motion can be used to Answer: activate turbines on shore About ten men in every hundred suffer from color blindness in some way. Women are luckier, only about one in two hundred is affected in this matter. Perhaps, after all, it is safer to be driven by a woman! There are different forms of color blindness. In some cases a man can not see deep red. He may think that red, orange and yellow are all shades of green. Sometimes a person cannot tell the difference between blue and green. In rare cases an unlucky man may see everything in shades of green - a strange world indeed. Color blindness in human beings is a strange thing to explain. In a single eye there are millions of very small things called "cones". These help us to see in a bright light and to tell difference between colors. There are also millions of "rods" but these are used for seeing when it is nearly dark. They show us shape but no color. Some insects have favorite colors. Mosquitoes like blue but do not like yellow. A red light will not attract insects, but a blue lamp will. In a similar way human beings also have favorite colors. Yet we are lucky. With the aid of the cones in our eyes we can see many beautiful colors by day, and with the aid of the rods we can see shapes at night. One day we may even learn more about the invisible colors around. We can attract and kill mosquitoes by using a _ . Answer: blue light
Question: Playing is a serious business for children. In fact, it's what they do best! Ask them why they do it, and kids will probably say, "Because it's fun!" But it's much more than that. It's also good for them. Studies show that from birth babies begin learning through playing. They use their five senses to get to know their new world. Touching allows them to discover how different things feel. Brightly color1ed toys and clothing help develop a baby's sense of sight. When small children choose which toy to play with, they begin developing their abilities in deciding something. Children love toys that allow them to use their imagination. Sometimes an empty box is more fun than a high-tech toy. That's because a box can become anything a child imagines it to be. Crayons, paints and Ply-Doha are also good because they allow children to create. Traditional building blocks teach important pre-math skills like problem-solving. Playing doesn't become any less important once children start school. _ ? . Kids learn how to share, take turns and play by the rules. Which sentence can be filled in the ? A. Classroom is the most important place for children to learn life. B. Many useful lessons about life are learned on the school playground. C. Five senses are used in children's study when they are at school. D. Children don't like to go to school if they can play on the school playground. Answer: B Question: Sitting is art that isn't getting passed along. People these days feel as though they have to be doing something. If they are not working, they are jogging, or playing tennis or golf, or taking courses to improve their minds or bodies -or they are parked in front of the TV. Sitting in front of the TV isn't sitting - it's watching. People used to sit a lot. You would walk down the street or drive down the road, and there they would be, out on the doorsteps, sitting. You could go down to the store and sit on the bench out front in the summer or around the fire in the winter. There were sitting benches out in the town square. At the garage, there were straight-backed chairs. There among the oilcans and tries and spare parts, you could kick back and sit. Houses used to have sitting rooms, where the grown ups would go after Sunday dinner. Mom and Dad, Grandpa and Aunt Ruby would sit and digest the fried chicken and talk about Aunt Ethel's illness, and how well the minister did today. Outside, the children would play, and the afternoon would pass by in a comfortable haze . That sort of thing looks like doing nothing. A recharging battery doesn't look as if it's doing anything either. Sitting restores your soul if you want to enjoy a truly full life, don't just do something -sit there. The sitting room mentioned in the text used to be a place for _ . A. eating food . B. watching TV . C. gathering together. D. playing with children. Answer: C Question: I have two pets. They are Fly, a dog, and Huahua, a cat. Fly is brown and grey. He is naughty . He sometimes steals food in the kitchen.Once, when there was nobody at home, Fly pulled a piece of meat off the table. But he was not careful enough. The plate also fell to the floor. When I got home, I saw the broken plate all over the floor, so I became very angry. Fly was so afraid that he went back to his bed at once. Huahua is a white and yellow cat. She is not beautiful but she is very lovely. Every night at weekends, Huahua sleeps on my bed. When she sleeps, she always snores. It is very funny. Huahua is also naughty. Whenever she does something bad and my grandma tries to catch her, she runs away quickly and hides quietly under the bed. Fly and Huahua love to play games with me and I like them very much. What colour is Huahua? A. White and brown. B. Brown and grey. C. White and grey. D. White and yellow. Answer: D Question: Franz Kafka wrote that " _ "I once shared this sentence with a class of seventh graders, and it didn't seem to require any explanation. We'd just finished John Steinbeck's novelOf Mice and Men. When we read the end together out loud in class, my toughest boy, a star basketball player, wept a little, and so did I. "Are you crying?" one girl asked, as she got out of her chair to take a closer look. "I am," I told her, "and the funny thing is I've read it many times." But they understood. When George shoots Lennie, the tragedy is that we realize it was always going to happen. In my 14 years of teaching in a New York City public middle school, I've taught kids with imprisoned parents, abusive parents, irresponsible parents; kids who are parents themselves; kids who are homeless; kids who grew up in violent neighborhoods. They understand, more than I ever will, the novel's terrible logic--the giving way of dreams to fate . For the last seven years, I have worked as a reading enrichment teacher, reading classic works of literature with small groups of students from grades six to eight. I originally proposed this idea to my headmaster after learning that a former excellent student of mine had transferred out of a selective high school--one that often attracts the literary-minded children of Manhattan's upper classes--into a less competitive setting. The daughter of immigrants, with a father in prison, she perhaps felt uncomfortable with her new classmates. I thought additional "cultural capital" could help students like her develop better in high school, where they would unavoidably meet, perhaps for the first time, students who came from homes lined with bookshelves, whose parents had earned Ph. D.'s. Along withOf Mice and Men, my groups read: Sounder, The Red Pony, Lord of the Flies, Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth. The students didn't always read from the expected point of view. About The Red Pony, one student said, "it's about being a man, it's about manliness. "I had never before seen the parallels between Scarface and Macbeth, nor had I heard Lady Macbeth's soliloquies read as raps , but both made sense; the interpretations were playful, but serious. Once introduced to Steinbeck's writing, one boy went on to readThe Grapes of Wrathand told me repeatedly how amazing it was that "all these people hate each other, and they're all white." His historical view was broadening, his sense of his own country deepening. Year after year, former students visited and told me how prepared they had felt in their first year in college as a result of the classes. Year after year, however, we are increasing the number of practice tests. We are trying to teach students to read increasingly complex texts, not for emotional punch but for text complexity. Yet, we cannot enrich the minds of our students by testing them on texts that ignore their hearts. We are teaching them that words do not amaze but confuse. We may succeed in raising test scores, but we will fail to teach them that reading can be transformative and that it belongs to them. To the author's surprise, the students read the novels _ . A. creatively B. passively C. repeatedly D. carelessly Answer: A Question: There is more than one reason for which you need to hire a business attorney . It is very important to hire some good attorney for your business especially because of the fact that you will need their knowledge and advice from beginning to all the time through your business. An attorney actually provides useful advice and guidance for your business and above all for your finance. When you start some business you need to hire a business attorney for helping you in decision making for which kind of business you are going to start. So, all steps and all legal requirements will be provided to you and you can work without any trouble. Therefore, you will be introduced to all that you need to know and how to organize your business. You will be made aware about what type of organization would be the most useful and the best for you. Moreover, it is very useful when you have business consultant and especially in the law area, because he will provide you with legal knowledge and direct about what is legal for business and what is illegal. At the same time, he will provide you with legal contract that you need to have for your corporate reports. Also, when you are a beginner in business it is very difficult to handle all kind of state taxes and fee; so a business attorney is here to help you with that. When there are some questions about auction, good and professional business-attorney will lead you through acquisitions , sale mergers and similar matters. These are only few reasons why you need to hire a good attorney, but there are more of them. So when you start some business, use advice of professionals and take the right decision. If you need a good and excellent attorney, you don't hesitate to get in touch with Arizona Business Attorney .Click here to find an Arizona Business Attorney According to the author, _ . A. you'd better consult a lawyer before starting a business B. it is the best to hire an attorney before opening a business C. you should contact Arizona before your business D. it is rule to invite an attorney in America Answer: B
Deep in the western Amazon rainforest, live butterflies that drink turtle tears. That sounds like a line straight out of a fantasy novel, but it's one hundred percent real life! It's an unusual sight--a crowd of butterflies flying around the eyes of yellow-spotted river turtles, trying to get a little tear.s. The poor turtles try to avoid them, hut the butterflies insist drinking their tears until they've had their fill. The butterflies are likely attracted to the turtles' tears because the liquid drops contain salt, specifically sodium, an important mineral that is rare in the western Amazon rainforest, said Phil Torres, a scientist who does much of his research at the Tambopata Research Center in Peru and is associated with Rice Univtrsity. Turtles get plenty of sodium through their largely carnivorous diet. Meat contains significant levels of the salt, Torres told LiveScience. But herbivores butterflies sometimes .struggle to get this extra mineral source, he added. Torres explained the western Amazon rainforest is lower in sodium than many places on earth, because it t is over l,000 miles away from the Atlantic Ocean---a main source of salt. The region is also cut off from the mineral dirt blown towards the west from the Andes Mountains. Most of these windblown minerals are removed from the air by the rain before they have a chance to reach the western Amazon. In fact, the butterflies have other sources to get sodium besides turtles' tears, which include animal urine , muddy river banks, sweaty clothes and so on. People can't help wondering if the process is painful for turtles. Torres said it's not completely clear, but the teary effort probably has little effect on the turtles, other than perhaps making them more vulnerable to their enemies like big cats, since the butterflies can block out their vision. What is the best title of the passage? A Turtles' enemy or turtles' fiends? B A line straight out of a fantasy novel C The western Amazon rainforest's turtles D Amazonian butterflies drinking turtle tears Answer: D. Amazonian butterflies drinking turtle tears How Do Animals Catch their ZZZ's ? Different creatures have developed some pretty creative ways to get their rest and stay safe. The lizard likes to sleep at the far end of small branches hanging out over a pond or lake in the rain forest. If a snake tries to slither up the branch to eat it, it will shake the branch and knock the lizard off, and the lizard will fall safely into the water. Chameleons can change color to match their surroundings in order to hide even while sleeping. Gorillas like to sleep high in the trees. They build a new bed every night, sometimes taking up to half an hour to pile branches, twigs, and leaves into a comfortable bed. Birds also find it safe to sleep in the trees, but unless they have eggs or young chicks, they don't use a nest. They just lock their feet around a branch and hang on. A special tendon in their legs is automatically tight when they are at rest, so they won't let go and fall. Dolphins live underwater, but must come to the surface to breathe. Scientists now believe that dolphins may sleep with only half their brain, while the other half stays awake to keep them safe and breathing. Seals also do this, lying on their sides on the surface of the water with one flipper underwater paddling to keep their noses above the surface. Some ducks may also have this ability, and actually sleep with one eye closed and one eye open. How do dolphins breathe? A They breathe underwater. B They come to the surface to breathe. C They breathe underwater or come to the surface to breathe. D We don't know. Answer: B. They come to the surface to breathe. When I was 12, all I wanted was a signet ring. They were the "in" thing and it seemed every girl except me had one. On my 13th birthday, my Mum gave me a signet ring with my initials carved into it. I was in heaven. What made it even more special was that it was about the only thing that wasn't being "replaced". We'd been burnt out in fires that swept through our area earlier that year and had lost everything--so most of the " new" stuff we got was really just to replace what we'd lost. But not my ring. My ring was new.www.ks5u.com Then, only one month later, I lost it. I took it off before bed and it was missing in the morning. I was sad and searched everywhere for it. But it seemed to have disappeared. Eventually, I gave up and stopped looking for it. And two years later, we sold the house and moved away. Years passed, and a couple of moves later, I was visiting my parents' when Mum told me that she had something for me. It wasn't my birthday, nor was it Easter or Christmas or any other gift-giving occasion. Mum noticed my questioning look. " You'll recognize this one," she said, smiling. Then she handed me a small ring box. I took it from her and opened it to find my beautiful signet ring inside. The family who had bought our house 13 years earlier had recently decided to do some redecorations, which included replacing the carpets. When they pulled the carpet up in my old bedroom, they found the ring. As it had my initials carved into it, they realized who owned the ring. They'd had it professionally cleaned up by a jeweler before sending it to my mother. And it still fits me. When she got the ring back, the writer was about _ . A 13 years old B 15 years old C 26 years old D 28 years old Answer: D. 28 years old Thanksgiving Day is always celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.It is the most traditional American holiday.The first Thanksgiving was held in Massachusetts in 1621.After a year off great hardship,the colonist wanted to give thanks to God for their first harvest.They invited their Indian friends to join,them in a big feast . Today the holiday is still celebrated as a day for giving thanks.But it Wasn't a regular national holiday until President Lincoln declared that the last Thursday in November would thereafter be Thanksgiving Day in 1863.It is a day of reunion and it is customary to invite friends to share the meal.In some large cities,there are important football games that are played on Thanksgiving Day. For Americans,Thanksgiving Day is one of the few days of the year when the entire family gets together.Everyone is glad to see everyone else and there is a very busy exchanges of greeting.The women soon disappear into the kitchen to help prepare the dinner.The men,meanwhile,settle down to watch a football game on television,or to discuss business or politics.If weather permits,some of the more athletic men go outside to play ball with the children.Then everyone will sit down to dinner.in which traditional Thanksgiving foods such as stuffed turkey ,sweet potatoes,chestnuts ,and pumpkin pie are served. After dinner,people will sit around and talk. All of the following are customs connected with Thanksgiving Day EXCEPT _ A family members usually get together on Thanksgiving Day B people send greeting cards to each other C in some cities,there are important football games. D people usually have Thanksgiving dinner served with traditional Thanksgiving foods Answer: B. people send greeting cards to each other Connie Talbot was born on November 20th, 2000. She is an English child singer from Streetly, West Midlands. She is best known for being on "Britain's Got Talent"(<<>> )when she was just six. She has been singing since she was 19 months old. The song she is most known for is Somewhere over the Rainbow. And now she is touring the country with the UK's biggest children's choir--Young Voices. Do you know what the Young Voices Tour is? Well, it's a great event for children. It is great for them to sing on a big stage with thousands of other children. Everyone waits for the parents to arrive in the evening to watch the children put on a great show. There is so much fun. When the lights turn on, everyone sings together at the same time as one. It's so loud and powerful . Connie loves looking around at the choir and seeing everyone so happy when she was performing. "We've heard you got a new Guinness world record!" I asked her. "Yes! I am very proud. It was amazing to get the Guinness world record for the biggest choir at the back of a singer. I am glad to share that world record with more than 6000 other children present that day," she answered. Connie has been famous _ . A since she was only 6 months old B since she was 6 years old C ever since she was 12 years old D since she was 18 months old Answer: B. since she was 6 years old
Mary Cassatt is one of the first great women American painters. At first her father did not want her to become an artist. But she followed her dreams and became an artist.She was born on May 22, 1844, and lived in Europe for several years as a child. Her family returned to the United States and, at age 16, Mary attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Four years later she decided she couldn't learn anything fresh and practical in Philadelphia, so she returned to Europe. There she studied the skills of the masters in Rome, Seville, Antwerp, and Paris. Mary received the chance of a lifetime at the age of 33 when the famous French painter, Edgar Degas, asked her to join a group of painters that included now-famous artists like Manet and Renoir. Their style of painting is called Impressionism. They used primary colors and short brush strokes in their work. They recognized Mary 's spirit and powerful talent and invited her to exhibit in the Impressionist art shows. Mary painted what she saw: gardens, and paintings of persons , especially of mothers and children involved in everyday living. One of her paintings, "Young Mother and Two Children," was given to the White House in 1954 where it hangs today. Mary never married and, in 1877, her parents and sister moved to Europe to join her. Mary devoted much of her time to them for the next 18 years to their care. Mary painted until 1914 when her failing eyesight made it impossible to continue. She spent the later years of her life in Paris. She died in 1926 at the age of 82. Unfortunately,all her life, she refused to accept students. Mary left Pennsylvania for Europe at age 20 mainly because _ . A she wanted to learn another style of paintings B she didn't learn anything in Pennsylvania C her desire for the learning wasn't satisfied well D her father didin't want her to learn painting again Answer: C. her desire for the learning wasn't satisfied well It's the dirty little secret many shampoo companies don't want you to know. When you wash your hair with certain traditional chemical shampoos, you may actually be removing your hair and scalp of their natural oils. These shampoos generate a thick bubble to clean hair, they can also create dryness, curl, dullness, and color fade. We then spend a lot of time and money on products that are effectively repairing the damage caused by shampoo. Chaz Dean got tired of clients leaving his salon _ t their color and the feeling of their hair---brassy and dull. He knew the main cause was likely their shampoo, so he started experimenting with various ingredients, including natural herbs and botanicals, that he knew had cleansing and hydrating properties. The result was a totally new approach to the way we cleanse our hair. It's called WEN(r) Cleansing Conditioner. WEN(r) contains a super-hydrating natural herbs and botanicals mixture of glycerin, chamomile , rosemary, calendula, and Cherry bark, which when combined, will both cleanse the hair as well as give shine and softness, even to damaged hair. WEN(r) is a 5-in-1 formula that takes the place of your shampoo, And the most amazing thing about it is that it cleanses without bubble. Instead, when mixed with water, it creates a smooth bubble for shiny, healthy-looking, manageable results. The first time you try it certainly feels strange, but the results speak for themselves. Before being marketed, WEN(r) went through extensive consumer tests, and the results were impressive. More than 90 percent of the participants in the studies reported that their hair was more shiny, less frizzy, and had more bounce. WEN(r) is recommended for all hair types, and once you start using it, it will become the only cleanser/conditioner you will want to include in your daily routine. Right now, WEN(r) is offering an easy way for online shoppers to try the product. Now you just pay less than $30 and have a 60 day money back guarantee if you are not completely satisfied. Click here to learn more about WEN(r) and try this revolutionary new approach yourself. Where does the passage come from ? A magazine B website C newspaper D text Answer: B. website When someone says, "Well, I guess I'll have to face the music," it doesn't mean he is planning to go to a concert. It is something far less pleasant, like being called in by your boss to explain why you did this and did that, and why you did not do this or that. Terrible music indeed, but it has to be faced. At sometime or another, every one of us has had to "face the music", especially as children. We can remember father's angry voice, "I want to talk to you!" And only because we did not obey him. What an unpleasant business it was! The phrase "face the music" is known to every American, old and young. It is at least one hundred years old. Where did the expression come from? The first explanation came from the American novelist, James Fenimore Cooper. He said, in 1851, that expression was first used by actors while waiting in the wings to go on the stage. After they got their clue to go on, they often said. "It's time to face the music." And that was exactly what they did - facing the orchestra which was just below the stage. An actor might be frightened or nervous as he moved on to the stage in front of the audience that might be friendly, or perhaps unfriendly, especially if he forgot his lines. But he had to go out. If he did not, there would be no play. So the expression "face the music" came to mean "having to go through something, no matter how unpleasant the experience might be, because you knew you had no choice." Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage? A If you'd like to enjoy songs, you'll face the music. B When actors have to face the music, it means they have to go on stage to perform, however changeable the situation is. C When you have to face the music, it is probable that you have met something unpleasant. D If a child does something against his parent's will, maybe he'll face the music. Answer: A. If you'd like to enjoy songs, you'll face the music. Is language, like food, a basic human need? Judging from the extreme experiment of Frederick in the 13th century, it may be. Hoping to discover what language a child would speak if he heard no mother tongue he told the nurses to keep silent. All the babies died before the first year. But clearly there was more than language deprivation (,). What was missing was good mothering. Without good mothering, in the first year of life especially, the ability to survive is seriously affected. Today no such extreme deprivation exists as that ordered by Frederick. Nevertheless, some children are still backward in speaking. Most often the reason for this is that the mother is insensitive to signals of the baby, whose brain is programmed, to mop up language rapidly. There are critical times, it seems when children learn more rapidly. If these sensitive periods are neglected, the ideal time for acquiring skills passes and they might never be learned so easily again. Linguists suggest that speech milestones are reached in a fixed order and at a constant age, but there are cases where speech has started late in a child who eventually turns out to be of high IQ. Recent evidence suggests that a baby is born with the ability to speak. What is special about man's brain, compared with that of the monkey, is the complex system which enables a child to connect the sight and feel of, say, a teddy bear with the sound pattern "teddy bear". But speech has to be developed, and this depends on interaction between the mother and the child, where the mother recognizes the signals in the child's babbling, clinging, grasping, crying, smiling, and responds to them. Insensitivity of the mother to these signals reduces the interaction because the child gets discouraged and sends out only the obvious signals. Sensitivity to the child's nonverbal signals is basic to the growth and development of language. If the mother seldom responds to her child's signals, _ . A the child will be able to speak properly B the child will continue to give out signals C the child will invent a language of own D the child will make little effort to speak Answer: D. the child will make little effort to speak In my country, daily meals usually start with breakfast. People usually have something to drink for breakfast, like tea with sugar and lemon, cold or warm milk or Coke. Many people have some bread, egg, hamburgers and so on. We must always remember that breakfast must be healthy and light. The noon is lunchtime, many people take their meals to schools or their workplaces, but some people like going to a restaurant or having fast food in McDonald's. I think that these meals are not healthy. We can have some rice with some vegetables or meat. More healthy fish and poultry slowly _ beef and pork. It's healthy to drink one glass of water, juice or tea after each meal. At six or seven in the evening, it's time for dinner. At this time, family members usually get together. We often have warm dishes. Sometimes we go out to restaurants. The writer mainly tell us _ . A what three meals are B how to eat healthily C three meals in his / her country D where to eat meals Answer: C. three meals in his / her country
In response to massive layoffs of employees of automobile assembly plants located in the state of Ames, the legislature of that state enacted a statute which prohibits the parking of automobiles manufactured outside of the United States in any parking lot or parking structure that is owned or operated by the state or any of its instrumentalities. This statute does not apply to parking on public streets. Which of the following is the strongest argument with which to challenge the constitutionality of this statute? A The statute imposes an undue burden on foreign commerce. B The statute denies the owners of foreignmade automobiles the equal protection of the laws. C The statute deprives the owners of foreign-made automobiles of liberty or property without due process of law. D The statute is inconsistent with the privileges and immunities clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Answer: A It's a popular belief that a fish's memory lasts for only seven seconds. It may seem sad to think that they don't remember what they've eaten or where they've been, and they don't recognize you or any of their friends -- every moment in their life would be like seeing the world for the first time. But don't be so quick to feel sorry for them. A new study has found that fish have a much better memory than we used to think. In fact, certain species of fish can even remember events from as long as 12 days ago. In the study, researchers from MacEwan University in Canada trained a kind of fish called African cichlids to go to a certain area of their tank to get food. They then waited for 12 days before putting them back in the tank again. Researchers used computer software to monitor the fish's movements. They found that after such a long break the fish still went to the same place where they first got food. This suggested that they could remember their past experiences. In fact, scientists had been thinking for a long time that African cichlids might have a good memory. An earlier study showed that they behaved aggressively in front of certain fish, perhaps because they remembered their past "fights". But until the latest findings, there was no clear evidence. Just as a good memory can make our lives easier, it also plays an important part when a fish is trying to survive in the wild. "If fish are able to remember that a certain area contains safe food, they will be able to go back to that area without putting their lives at risks," lead researcher Trevor Hamilton toldLive Science. For a long time, fish were placed far below chimpanzees, dolphins and mice on the list of smart animals. But this study has given scientists a new understanding of their intelligence. What is the article mainly about? A Fish having very bad memories. B Fish being smarter than we thought. C How fish improve their memory. D What we can learn from fish. Answer: B As we become richer and richer, we are producing more and more rubbish. The Asian Development Bank(ADB) says that our largest cities produce 760 000 tons of solid waste every day. It predicts that there will be an increase--to 1.8 million tons--by 2025. It seems too much to deal with. "The growing waste is simply trying to cover our cities," says Michael Lindfield, a specialist of ADB in Manila. _ The World Bank says some governments are spending as much as half of their budgets dealing with rubbish. And even so, it is common that half of all the waste goes uncollected. Much of the added difficulty is packaging from consumer products and the products themselves--all of which need years, even centuries to decompose . Lindfield believes that four of every five products we buy are thrown away after a single use. It all makes the work to deal with solid waste much more expensive. The rubbish is more than just an environmental problem--it also influences national economies by disturbing the world market, discouraging tourism and slowing down industrial development. Lots of rubbish also influences the look of our cities. As he walks to work from his home in Bangkok every day, Chatchat Mutita, a 36-year-old advertising specialist, must pass a lot of ugly, smelly rubbish that isn't collected until late at night. He says things get worse when it rains because some yellow water will stream from the rubbish to the sidewalk. Modern technology can make the problems of open dumps less serious. But Chettiyappan Visvanathan, a professor at the Asian Institute of Technology in Pathumthal, Thailand, believes that there are no engineered facilities in nine of every ten dumps all over the country. Some countries depend on most solid waste to produce energy, but there's a growing problem of air pollution. Burning is far more dangerous than open dumps. The ADB says the growing rubbish must be dealt with by the "3Rs" --reducing the waste, reusing things that are being thrown away and recycling materials. What's the main idea of the passage? A What our environment looks like. B How important to clean our cities. C What a serious problem we have. D How difficult to remove rubbish. Answer: C Researchers claimed that waitresses who wear red get up to 26 percent extra in tips than they would wearing other colors. However, the team finds that the sexes tip very differently--with the bigger tips coming only from male customers. No matter what color they wear, female diners will give the same kind of amounts for service every time. Yet men, whether they realize it or not, add anything between 15 and 26 percent more to a waitress in red than they would if it was the same waitress wearing a different color. The test was simple. Take 11 waitresses in five restaurants over a six-week period and ask them to wear the same kind of T-shirt every day but change the colors. Previous research has suggested waitresses could earn more if they acted charmingly or wore more make-up than their colleagues. But this study, by the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research, only changed the color of the T-shirt. Every other aspect from make-up to behavior remained the same. When wearing either black, white, green, blue or yellow T-shirts, the size of the tips from both male and female customers was almost _ . But when they wore red, the size of the tips went up by between 15 and 26 percent from male customers, yet stayed the same from female ones. A total of 272 restaurant customers were studied by researchers Nicolas Gueguen and Celine Jacob for the international journal of the tourism industry. Even as a T-shirt, it shows just how much the color red is thought, by men, to increase the physical and sexual attractiveness of woman, said the researchers. The researchers wrote: As red color has no negative effect on women customers, it could be in their interest to wear clothes at work. Which of the following is right according to the passage? A Bright color can increase the physical and sexual attractiveness of women. B Waitresses in red make no difference to female customers. C Make-up makes no difference to man customers. D Whether male customers tips more or not depends on service. Answer: B Sports can help you keep fit and get in touch with nature.However,whether you are on the mountains,in the waves,or on the grassland,you should be aware that your sport of choice might have great influence on the environment. Some sports are resource-hungry.Golf,as you may know,eats up not only large areas of countryside,but also tons of water.Besides,all sorts of chemicals and huge amounts of energy are used to keep its courses in good condition.This causes major environmental effects.For example,in the dry regions of Portugal and Spain,golf is often held responsible for serious water shortage in some local areas. There are many environment-friendly sports.Power walking is one of them that you could take up today.You don't need any special equipment except a good pair of shoes;and you don't have to worry about resources and your purse.Simple and free,power walking can also keep you fit.If you walk regularly,it will be good for your heart and bones.Experts say that 20 minutes of power walking daily can make you feel less anxious,sleep well and have better weight control. Whatever sport you take up,you can make it greener by using environment-friendly equipment and buying products made from recycled materials.But the final goal should be"green gyms".They RYe better replacements for traditional health clubs and modern sports centers. Members of green gyms play sports outdoors,in the countryside or other open spaces.There is no special requirement for you to start your membership.And best of all,it's free. Which of the following is the author most probably in favor of? A Cycling around a lake. B Motor racing in the desert. C Playing basketball in a gym. D Swimming in a sports center. Answer: A
Colin walked slowly home from school. He looked across the hills at the little Irish fishing village. It did not seem like Christmas Eve. Perhaps this was because it still had not snowed. But Colin knew there was another reason--a reason he did not dare whisper even in his heart. He looked toward the sea. There was no ship. And seven days ago his father's fishing boat hadn't gone home in time. "I'll bring you a small sheep dog from the Shetland Isles," Colin's father told him the morning he left. But now it was Christmas Eve. Colin looked toward the lighthouse, high on the hill. For seven days, there had been no light to guide his father's ship. Colin pushed open the door of his cottage. "We'll need more peat for the fire, Colin," said his mother as he entered. "It has burned itself out. And it's near time to light the Christmas candle. Everybody in Ireland lights a candle on Christmas Eve, even when there's sadness in the house. It shows that your house and heart are open to strangers. I've two candles, one for each of us. If you gather some peat, we'll be ready for supper soon." Colin nodded and went outside. He led their donkey up the hill. But while he was staring at the lighthouse, Colin had an idea. He came to the lighthouse and knocked on the door. Mr. Duffy, the keeper, opened the door. "What's up, young man?" "Mr. Duffy," said Colin, "what did you use to light the lighthouse?" "Well, we used an oil lamp. But we've no oil to burn." "Maybe kerosene would do," suggested Colin. "Well, I suppose," Mr. Duffy thought. "But you wouldn't find even a little spare kerosene in this village. Everyone is so poor ..." Colin was gone before Mr. Duffy could finish his sentence. He ran back to the cottage. Then he ran out with four buckets. Colin could see candles glowing in nearly every cottage in the valley. A candle on Christmas Eve meant that a stranger would be welcome and given whatever he asked. He didn't stop running until he came to the first house. "Could you spare me just a half cup of kerosene from your lamp?" he asked. Colin went to every house where a candle was shining . In one hour he had filled two buckets. Slowly and painfully he carried them up to the lighthouse door. "What's this?" Mr. Duffy asked. "This won't keep the lamp burning for more than an hour or so." "I'll get more!" Colin shouted as he started down the hill. After three more long hours, Colin had gathered five more buckets of kerosene. He was on his way with the sixth pail, when the tower suddenly shone with light. The light spread toward the dark heart of the sea like a finger pointing home. Mr. Duffy had lighted the lamp! It was very late when Colin reached home. His mother jumped from her seat near the fire. "Colin, where have you been? You've had no supper, nor lighted your candle!" "Oh, mom! I've lighted a candle, and it's a big one!" Colin slept soundly that night, dreaming of candles. Suddenly, a loud shout aroused him from his sleep. "The boat! The boat was just different in the fog, lost." Colin rushed to the window. His mother was running toward the harbor. It was true! There floated his father's boat. Colin ran across the yard and raced to the harbor. He felt a wet wind on his face. It was beginning to snow. Oh, it was Christmas morning all right, falling right from heaven and into his heart! Which of the following can NOT be inferred from the passage? Colin's father had his boat turned over in a storm. South Korean Films An audience can view five new South Korean films, all with Chinese subtitles until April 19 at the Tuixin Cinema in the Beijing National Library grounds. Two other South Korean films completed their full runs at the Tuixin Cinema earlier this month. Location: Tuixin Cinema, Beijing National Library, 39 Baishiqiao Road, Haidian District. Tel: 86415566 "My Love My Bride" April 15: 9:00, 13:00, 15:30, 17:30, 19:30 "Kim's War" April 16: 9:00, 13:30, 18:15 "Because You Are a Woman" April 17: 13:30, 18:15 Marriage Story" April 18: 9:00, 13:30, 15:30, 18:15 "Sopyonje" April 19: 9:00, 13:30, 15:30, 17:30, 19:30 Leon's show Hong Kong pop star--Leon Lai will give a personal performance at 7:30pm from tomorrow through to September 21 at the Shanghai Gymnasium. The show is to celebrate the opening of the 93rd Huangpu Tourism Festival. Tickets: 60, 90, 120, 180 yuan RMB, available at 66 Jiangning Road. Tel: 29189188, 29171145, 49384952, 29197113 Russian concert The Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra will put on some excellent Russian Orchestra works at 7:15pm on September 26 and 27 at the Shanghai Concert Hall. They will sing Russian folk songs and mass under a Russian Conductor who is very famous for conducting choirs and has given a successful choral concert in Beijing. Tickets: 6, 8, 10, 12 yuan RMB, available at the hall's ticket office. Address: 523 Yan'an Road W. Shanghai. Tel: 32275694. Korean songs The Song and Dance Troupe of North Korea will give a song and dance show at 7:30pm tonight at the Shanghai Center Theater. Tickets: 10, 20, 30 yuan RMB, available at the theater's ticket office. Address: 1376 Nanjing Road W. Shanghai. Tel: 29798663 According to the advertisement, a six-yuan ticket is for _ . Russian concert All living things on the earth need other living things to live. Nothing lives alone. Most animals must live in a group, and even a plant grows close together with others of the same kind. Sometimes one living thing kills another, one eats and the other is eaten. Each kind of life eats another kind of life in order to live, and together they create a food chain . Some food chains are simple, while others are not. But all food chains begin with the sun, and all food chains become broken up if one of the links disappears. All life needs sunlight to live on. But only plants can use sunlight directly. Plants are 'factories'. They make food from sunlight, water and things in the soil and air. Plants feed all other living things. Animals can only use the sun's energy after it has been changed into food by plants. Some animals feed directly on plants, others eat smaller animals. Meat-eating animals are only eating plants indirectly. What about humans? We are members of many food chains. We eat rice, vegetables, and fruits and so on. We also eat meat and drink milk. But we often break up the food chains. We kill wild animals and also make rivers, lakes and seas polluted. When these rivers, lakes and seas are polluted, the fish in them can not be eaten. If we eat the fish, we will get strange illnesses. Each form of life is linked to all others. Breaking the links puts all life in danger. Which living things can use the sun's energy directly? Plants. Good nutrition and a balanced diet will help your children grow up healthily .No matter how old your kids are , you can take steps to improve nutrition and to encourage smart eating habits .Here are some suggestions. Family Meals Family meals are comforting for both parents and kids. Children like to guess what they are going to have and parents get the chance to introduce new food to children and to find out which food they like and which ones they don't. Teens may turn up their noses at your plan of a family meal. It is not surprising because they're trying to establish independence. Yet studies find that teens still want their parents' advice, so use the mealtime as a chance to reconnect. Stocking up on healthy food Kids, especially younger ones, will eat mostly what they can get at home. That's why it's important to control the supply lines -- the food which you serve for meals and have on hand for snacks. You should have enough fruits, vegetables, lean meat and other good sources of protein, such as eggs and nuts, and healthy snacks, such as yogurt, peanut butter and whole-grain biscuits. Being a good example The best way for you to encourage healthy eating is to eat well yourself. Kids will follow the lead of the adults they see every day. By eating fruits and vegetables and avoiding fast food and sugary drinks, you'll be sending the right message. No conflicts over food Parents might find themselves shouting at children to get them to have healthy food in front of them. This in fact can make children dislike what they are aske d to eat. Get kids included Most kids will enjoy making the decision about what to make for dinner. Talk to them about making choices and planning a balanced meal. It can help them make good decisions on their own about the food they want to eat. The best title for the article is " _ ". Help kids form healthy eating habits It would be pleasant to believe that all young girls in the past got married for romantic reasons; but the fact is that many of them regarded marriage as their only chance to gain independence from their parents, to have a provider, or to be assured of a good place in society. A couple of generations ago, an old maid of twenty-five did not have much to look forward to, she was more or less fated to remain with her parents or to live in some relative's home where she would help with the chores and the children. Not so any more. In the first place, women remain young much longer than they used to, and an unmarried woman of twenty-eight or thirty does not feel that her life is over. Besides, since she is probably working and supporting herself, she is free to marry only when and if she chooses. As a result, today's women tend to marry later in life. They have fewer children-or none at all--if they prefer to devote themselves to their profession. The result is a decline in the birthrate. The new role that women have developed for themselves has changed family life. Children are raised differently; they spend more time with adults who are not their parents: baby sitters, day-care center personnel, relatives, or neighbors. Whether they gain or lose in the process is a hotly debated question. Some child experts believe that young children must spend all their time with their mother if they are to grow sound in body and mind. Others think that children get more from a mother who spends with them "quality time" (a time of fun and relaxation set aside for them) rather than hours of forced and unhappy baby sitting. And many child psychologists point out that children kept in day-care centers every day are brighter than those raised at home. No matter what it is, one thing about child-raising to be certain of is that the longer the child is with the mother, the better. It can be concluded from the passage that _ . the birthrate is declining as a result of women's pursuit of careers
On a flight from Johannesburg, a middle-aged rich white South African lady had found herself sitting next to a black man. She called the cabin crew attendant over to complain about her seat. "What seems to be the problem, Madam?" asked the attendant. "Can't you see?" She said, "You have seated me next to a black person! I can't possibly sit next to this kind of person. Find me another seat!" "Please calm down, Madam," the stewardess replied. "The flight is very full today, but I will tell you what I will do---- I will go and check to see if we have any seats available in club or first class." The woman glanced at the angry black man beside her. A few minutes later, the stewardess returned with the good news, which she delivered to the lady. "Madam, unfortunately, as I expected, economy is full. I have spoken to the cabin services director, and club is also full. However, we do have one seat in first class." Before the lady had a chance to answer, the stewardess continued, "It is most extraordinary to make this kind of upgrade, however, and I have had to get special permission from the captain. But, learning this condition, the captain felt that it was shocking that someone should be forced to sit next to such a tiring person." Having said that, the stewardess turned to the black man sitting next to the lady, and said, "So if you'd like to get you things, sir, I have your seat ready for you..." At this point, obviously the surrounding passengers stood and gave an applause while the black man walked up to the front of the plane. What was the other passengers' attitude towards the lady? Answer: They disliked her because she looked down upon the black man. Snooker is a big sport in China.It is said that there are 300 million snooker players in China, so it's not surprised that some of the world's best players come from China.Ding Junhui is one of them. When Ding Junhui was eight years old, there were not many snooker clubs.His father often played with his friends on a table in the street,and one day Ding Junhui played with one of his father friends and beat him.His father,a shoe salesman,discovered that his son was talented at snooker.He then took Ding Junhui to China's nation snooker training center in Dongguan,Guangdong Province.There.they lived in a room of five square meters.When they ran out of money.Ding's father phoned his wife and told her to sell their house. After years of hard training,Ding turned professional in 2003 and became China's No.1.In 2005.more than 100 million people watched Ding Junhui win the 2005 World Snooker China Open.Since then, snooker has become more and more popular in China. "When I was a small boy, snooker was not in the top 10 favorite sports in China,"Ding says."Table tennis was top, followed by soccer, basketball and badminton.Now,basketball is top,but snooker is surely in the top five." The passage mainly tells us _ . Answer: snooker player Ding Junhui's story On February 14th,2000,my class went on a field trip to the beach. I had so much fun. When we returned to school,my teacher told me to go to the headmaster's office. When I got into the office,I saw a police officer. Suddenly I realized something was wrong. The police officer told me what had happened and we went to pick my sister up. After that,we went to the hospital and waited. Time went slowly. Finally,we got to see our mother. It was terrible. On the next day,the headmaster came and told my two teachers what had happened. I was taking a rest that day. I knew it had something to do with my mother. I kept thinking that she either died or had gotten better. How I wished that she had gotten better. When my teacher took me outside,my sister ran up to me. She started crying,"She's gone. Teresa,mommy's gone. She's dead." I couldn't believe it. We jumped into the car and drove straight to the hospital. Most of my family were there. The silence was terrible. I knew I had to say goodbye. Today when I look back,I still miss my mother very much,but I know that I will live. My mother was a strong mother,who had the biggest heart. My mother was an angel walking on the earth. I will always remember her as living. When someone is asked who their hero is,they usually say someone famous,like Michael Jordan or Britney Spears. When someone asks me who my hero is,I tell them,my mother. My mother lives every day. That is what makes her a true hero. Where was the writer when she learned her mother was very ill? Answer: At school. During a lab investigation a scientist heats a solid substance. The scientist observes that the solid has two different melting points. The scientist is able to separate the two resulting liquids. Which statement best classifies the original solid substance? Answer: It was a mixture. At most schools, "going green" means generating less trash or making an attempt to recycle.But at New York's Riverdale Country School, it means being encouraged to run and even jump in the hallway. That's because the school was the first to install ( ) the specially-designed Pavegen floor tiles in America. The tiles use kinetic energy expanded by the kids and transform it into electricity that can be used to power classroom lights, science projects and charge electronic devices. The first US installation of Pavegen tiles near the school's student center is thanks to 14-year-old Zach Halem, who managed to convince the officials to purchase them. Besides providing fun green energy, the tiles also serve as a learning tool. Every time a student steps on one, a brightly-lit LED board provides instant feedback on how much energy was generated. Depending on the force, every step results in between one to seven watts-enough power to light an LED street lamp for about 30 seconds. Made largely from rubber and other recycled materials the tiles are invented by the 26-year-old British industrial designer Laurence Kembell-Cook. While new to the US, they have been installed in numerous places in Europe, ranging from a London underground station to a marathon track in Paris. However, it was not until Pavegen started getting popular in London schools that Laurence realized that his invention not only saved energy, but was also fun! Though the young inventor will not give too many details about the technology behind this green tile, he says that it is very different from other kinetic energy harvesting systems. Whatever the secret, let's hope more US schools decide to install these fun tiles. In fact, why stop at schools? These tiles could be installed everywhere, from sidewalks to homes. Then we could all be "green" and have fun! Who knew that was even possible? Which of the following statements is TRUE about Laurence Kembell-Cook? Answer: His original motive to invent the Pavegen tiles was to save energy.
Some scientists have suggested that it might in some cases be ethically acceptable to clone existing people. One possibility is generating replacement for a dying . All such possibilities, however, raise the concern that the clone would be treated as less than a complete individual, because he or she would likely suffer from limitations and expectations based on the family's knowledge of the genetic "twin." Those expectations might be false, because human personality is only partly determined by genes. The clone of an extrovert could have a quite different way of behavior. Clones of athletes, movie stars, or scientists might well choose different careers because of chance events in early life. Some people have also put forward the belief that couples in which one member is infertile might choose to make a copy of one or the other partner. But society ought to be concerned that a couple might not treat naturally a child who is a copy of just one of them. Because other methods are available for the treatment of all known types of infertility, the traditional choice seems more appropriate. None of the suggested uses of cloning for making copies of existing people is ethically acceptable to my way of thinking, because they are not in the interests of the resulting child. It should go without saying that I am strongly opposed to allowing cloned human embryos to develop so that they can be tissue donors. In spite of this, it seems clear that cloning from cultured cells will offer important medical opportunities. Predictions about new technologies are often wrong: societal attitudes change; unexpected developments occur. Time will tell. But biomedical researchers looking into the potential of cloning now have plenty to do. According to the passage, one's personality is determined by _ . Answer: The teacher was leaving the village, and everybody seemed sorry. The miller lent him the small cart and horse to carry his goods to Christminster, the city of his destination. Such a vehicle proved of quite enough size of the teacher's belongings, for his only article, in addition to the packing-case of books, was a piano that he had bought when he thought of learning instrumental music. But the eagerness having faded, he had never acquired the skill of playing, and the purchased article had been a permanent trouble to him. The headmaster had gone away for the day, being a man who disliked the sight of changes. He didn't mean to return till the evening, when the new teacher would have arrived, and everything would be smooth again. The blacksmith, the carpenter and the teacher were standing in confused attitudes in the sitting room before the instrument. The teacher had remarked that even if he got it into the cart he should not know what to do with it on his arrival at Christminster, since he was only going into a temporary place just at first. A little boy of eleven, who had been assisting in the packing, joined the group of men, and said, "Aunt has got a fuel-house, and it could be put there, perhaps, till you've found a place to settle in, sir." "Good idea," said the blacksmith. The smith and the carpenter started to see about possibility of the suggested shelter, and the boy and the teacher were left standing alone. "Sorry I am going, Jude?" asked the latter kindly. Tears rose into the boy's eyes. He admitted that he was sorry. "So am I," said the teacher. He continued, "Well---don't speak of this everywhere. You know what a university is, and a university degree? It is the necessary hallmark of a man who want to do anything in teaching. My plan, or dream, is to be a university graduate. By going to Christminster, I shall be at headquarters , so to speak, and if my plan is practical at all, I consider that being on the spot will afford me a better chance." The smith and his companion returned. Old Miss Fawly's fuel-house was big enough, and she seemed willing to give the instrument standing-room there. So it was left in the school till the evening, when more hands would be available for removing it; and the teacher gave a final glance round. Why did the teacher leave for Christminster? Answer: Sam was a-fifteen-year-old boy living with his little sister, Julie. Their parents had passed away long ago. Sam had taken care of Julie by himself. One day, Sam woke up at three in the morning as usual. When Julie was sleeping alone, Sam left their little house to send newspapers. When he found an old man sitting in front of their house, Sam was so surprised that he stopped to look at him closely. It was an icy morning and he looked very cold. The poor old man didn't have anything to cover himself with. Sam went into his house to get the old man a blanket. However, there were no extra blankets, so Sam thought hard and took his father's coat. It was the only thing of his father's that he had left. Sam wrote a short note. "Sir, I found you sleeping in front of my house. This is my father's coat. I hope it fits you well." He put the note in a pocket of the coat, and covered the old man with the coat. Then he went to work. When he came back three hours later, both the man and the coat were gone. Sam thought that it was the best thing he could have done with his father's coat. That afternoon, Sam hurried home after school because Julie was at home alone. However, Julie and the old man were standing in front of the house, and Julie shouted to Sam, "Brother! He's our grandfather!" The grandfather smiled and said, "Sam. Thank you for giving me the coat and letting me know how good my grandson is. This coat was the one that I gave my son a long time ago!" Their parents passed away long ago means "Their parents _ long ago". Answer: Beijing plans to keep a tight rule on pollution by cutting emissions caused by industrial production and vehicles when it hosts the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November. From November 3 to 12, the city will restrict the use of private vehicles based on evenand oddnumbered license plates, reducing the use of such vehicles by 35 percent, the municipal traffic committee said on Thursday. All vehicles transporting construction waste and dangerous chemicals will be banned from the capital's roads during this period, but the restriction will not apply to buses, taxis and other vehicles such as police cars. The measures are similar to those introduced from July 20 to Sept. 20 in 2008 during the Beijing Olympic Games. "The number of passengers using public transport will increase by 3 million a day, " said Li Shaoming, deputy director of the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau. During the 10 days, 400 additional buses will be used to transport commuters to meet the increased demands. The municipal government has also drawn up eight plans to reduce industrial pollution during the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation forum. Zhuang Zhidong, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau, said, "From Nov. 3, production at some companies listed by the government will be _ for 10 days." Work will also be suspended at all construction sites and on demolition projects during this period. "More importantly, Beijing will work with its neighbors to control emissions," Zhuang said, adding that there will be regular discussion on air pollution among six governments. Neighboring authorities in Tianjin Municipality, Hebei, Shanxi and Shandong Province and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region will operate strict pollution control measures over the 10 days. Media reports said that from Nov. 7 to 12, employee departments, institutes and social organizations in Beijing can have a holiday, except for departments dealing with the APEC meeting and city management. What is the purpose of the vehicle restriction? Answer: Once there was an old man in a town. He always forgot a lot of things. So his wife always had to say to him, 'Don''t forget this!' One day he went on a long trip alone. Before he left home, his wife said, 'Now you have all these things. They are what you need for your trip. Take care of your things during the trip.' He went to the station, bought a ticket and got on the train with it. About half an hour later, the conductor began to see the tickets. He came to the old man and said, 'Will you please show me your ticket?' The old man looked for his ticket in all his pockets, but he could not find it. He was very worried. 'I can't find my ticket. I really bought a ticket before I got on the train.' said the old man. 'I believe you bought a ticket. All right, you don''t have to buy another one, ' said the conductor kindly. ' But how can I know where I'm going? I can't remember my station!' the old man said sadly. The old man was sad because Answer:
A town in Oxfordshire has become the first in the UK to have biomethane gas from human waste piped to their homes for gas central heating and cooking. Up to 200 families in Didcot now receive the gas via the national gas power system. Head of energy and technology at British Gas, Martin Orrill, said customers wouldn't notice any difference as the gas is purified to the highest standard and has no smell. The gas is produced at a sewage treatment works plant in Didcot. The entire process takes only less than three weeks, with the sewage being collected and sent first to settlement tanks. The solid waste material is then fed into digesters, where anaerobic bacteria digest the sewage, with the aid of enzymes to speed up the process. The digestion process produces methane, which can be burned to drive machines to produce electricity, or can be purified and fed into the gas network and piped to homes and businesses. British Gas says supplying the gas rather than electricity is far more efficient since around two-thirds of the energy is lost in producing electricity. Partners in the Didcot project, British Gas, Scotia Gas Networks, and Thames Water, all hope to expand the process to other towns, and other companies such as Ecotricity and United Utilities have also announced biomethane projects being planned. One of these projects, in Manchester, could be supplying 500 homes with biomethane by mid next year. Another British Gas project in Suffolk will provide gas from digestion of brewery wastes to around 235 families. The Didcot project cost PS2.5m and was influenced by promises of government aids aimed at encouraging companies to develop renewable technologies. An EU directive means the UK must ensure at least 15 percent of its energy is from renewable sources by 2020. The UK produces about 1.73 million tons of sewage annually. If all sewage treatment works in the UK were fitted with the technology, they could supply gas for up to 350,000 families. What is the function of the enzymes? A. To digest the solid waste material. B. To help get rid of anaerobic bacteria. C. To help purify the biomethane. D. To speed up the digestion process. Answer: D Ottawa is the capital of Canada. It is the second largest city in Ontario and the fourth largest city in the country. The Centre Block is the main building on Parliament Hill . It is also the location of several ceremonial spaces, such as the Hall of Honor and the Memorial Chamber. The present Centre Block is the second iteration of the building,after the first was destroyed by fire in 1916,and it is one of the most recognizable buildings in Canada. Downtown Ottawa is the commercial and economic centre of the city. Most of the buildings are office towers. While most of Ottawa's high tech industry is based elsewhere, it has a significant presence in the downtown core. The downtown also contains a number of apartments, hotels, and the older single family homes and townhouses along its edges. The National Gallery of Canada is one of Canada's premier art galleries. The Gallery has a large and varied collection of paintings, drawings, sculpture and photographs. Although its focus is on Canadian art, it also holds works by some noted American and European artists. The Rideau Canal is the oldest continuously operated canal system in North America. At the very beginning,the purpose of the Rideau Canal was military, as it was intended to provide a secure supply and communication route between Montreal and the British naval base in Kingston. It remains in use today primarily for pleasure boating, with most of its original structures undamaged. The locks on the system open for navigation in mid-May and close in mid-October. Collections in the National Gallery of Canada are mainly _ . A. paintings and drawings B. sculpture and photographs C. works by Canadian artists D. artwork by Americans and European Answer: C China has Mid-Autumn Festival. Canada and the US have Thanksgiving Day. Many countries around the world have harvest festivals. This is the best time for the harvest. Every year in the United States, Thanksgiving Day is on the fourth Thursday of November. But in Canada, people have Thanksgiving Day on the second Monday in October, because Canada is north of the United States, and it is colder, the harvest comes earlier in the year. The harvest brings a lot of food to the people. On Thanksgiving Day, people in Canada and America like to have a big meal with their friends and family--just like Chinese people do at Mid-Autumn Festival. Many Canadians and Americans put flowers, vegetables, and fruits around their homes to say "Thank you" for the harvest. Many countries around the world have harvest festivals because _ A. they like festivals B. harvest brings a lot of food to the people C. they can have big dinners D. they always have a good harvest Answer: B People are talking about the "new economy." It's very different from the "old economy". In the old economy, people travel to walk. They buy things in stores. They use the post office, the fax and the telephone to send information. They see people face-to-face at their jobs or in stores. People get information from newspapers, radio, television, books and libraries. In the new economy, people do business through the "net," which is a connection of millions of computers everywhere in the world. In the new economy, workers often work at home. They can get information online. They can communicate with employers and co-workers by e-mail. Businesses have "virtual stores". They are websites on which customers can see the products. Businesses can sell to customers anywhere in the world. In the new economy, people live a fast paced, convenient and colorful life. The whole world develops more quickly than before. But the new economy is a double-edge sword. Its disadvantage is also obvious. For example, the Internet has led to a huge increase in credit card cheating. Some illegal websites offer some cheap or banned goods or services. Online shoppers who enter their credit card information may never receive the goods they want to buy and their card information could even be for sale in an illegal website. So people in the new economy should be smarter and knowledgeable. Which of the following is NOT true? A. People can get all kinds of information on the Internet. B. Telephone, radio, television, newspapers and so on will disappear in the new economy. C. People in the new economy should have high quality. D. Life in the new economy is more comfortable than the one in the old economy. Answer: B A puppy may be taken away from people if they A. keep it outside lacking protection B. play with it affectionately C. feed it quality food D. give it clean water Answer: A
In northern Scotland there is a long, deep lake called Loch Ness. More than 200 meters deep, it is the largest lake in the UK. People say a big monster lives in its dark, cold waters. It weighs more than 1,000 kilos and is at least ten meters long. Some people say it has a head like a horse. Others say it looks like a snake. Many people travel to Loch Ness to look for this strange monster, but only a few people have seen it. At least, they say they have seen it. The Loch Ness Monster is a famous legend . The first story about a monster in Loch Ness was told over 500 years ago, but the legend of the monster spread widely only in the twenties century. In 1933, a husband and wife reported that they saw a big monster in Loch Ness. Several people have taken photos, but at least one of them was a hoax . During the 1960s, a team was formed to look for the monster. They took many photos and made movies, but they were never able to find a monster. There is no real fact that a monster lives in Loch Ness, but there is also no fact that one doesn't live. One thing is true about Loch Ness: there are a lot of tourists there. In northern _ there is a long, deep lake called Loch Ness. Answer: Scotland Every few years comes a fitness trend that has people scratching their heads in amazement. "Crunning" will probably be one of them. The "c" stands for "crawling" . This new sport needs two-legged humans running on all fours! The funny idea is the brainchild of Shaun McCarthy. The 34-year-old is convinced that it will revolutionize fitness as we know it. According to the sports enthusiast, "The only thing that crunning's changed about fitness is that it's changed everything about fitness." Mccarthy has no scientific evidence to prove that crunning is more efficient than traditional two-legged running. However, he believes it is a more effective way to exercise because it puts an emphasis on the shoulders and arms, providing a complete body workout. Mccarthy also says crunning seems to tire him out more. He therefore concludes that the unconventional exercise is a bigger calorie burner than normal running. While experts generally agree that crunning may provide a better workout, many are not sure if it is the right exercise for humans. Fitness coach Kevin Dean says we are not built to be on all fours and our wrists are therefore not as strong as our ankles. He believes crunning, which he calls a fad , could result in bad wrist and shoulder injuries, not to mention broken noses. But McCarthy is not worried. Since the release of his crunning video a few weeks ago, many Melbourne residents have been seen scampering around on all fours. As it turns out they are not the only ones. In the Chinese city of Zhengzhou, crawling, a much slower version of crunning, has been a favorite activity for many years. According to some enthusiasts, the light exercise that is believed to date back two thousand years to the Han Dynasty, is good for curing back and spine ailments. Ready to give crunning try? Then Mccarthy recommends investing in some good shoes, hardy gloves and most important of all, a face mask! What can we learn about crawling according to Kevin Dean? Answer: Our ankles are stronger than our wrists. When the famous dancer Fred was interviewed for a job by a Hollywood producer , the movie Expert turned him down, saying,"Can't sing. Can't act. Dances a little." Here's another stupid mistake. When the great scientist Albert Einstein was at school, his teachers considered him rather dull. And a final story, the famous Polish pianist Paderewski was told by a teacher that he'd never be a success as a performer because the middle finger on each hand was too short. What lessons can be drawn from these three experiences? First, true genius cann't be suppressed .For some reason or other it works its way out. Second, early judgments of a person's abilities may be unfair or just wrong. Third, when there is a real determination to succeed, obstacles fall by the wayside. The famous motto "ad astra per aspera" can be translated as " To the stars through hardships". Astaire, Einstein and Paderewski proved their critics wrong. When Paderewski's teacher told him he'd never be a success, the teacher was _ . Answer: Seriously mistaken A trip to London My family had dreamed of a trip to London for a long time.Luckily it was possible for us to realize our dream because all of us were free on the weekend. We planned to drive into Cambridge and caught the 7:34train to Liverpool Street Station.Then my wife and I would separate from Joan,my wife's sister,to do different things and finally meet again for lunch.And after lunch,we would go to the concert. But we were late because of a thick London fog.The train had to move along so slowly that it was not until 10:30that it got there.In spite of our late arrival,Joan decided that she would go to see the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London while we went shopping.It was only after her sister had disappeared into the fog that my wife realized that we hadn't decided where we should meet for lunch.Since I had our three tickets for the concert in my pocket,this was indeed a problem.We didn't have any mobile phones at that time.There seemed to be nothing we could do except taking a taxi to the Tower of London,and try to find her there.Needless to say,we didn't find her. It was now one o'clock,and the concert began at 2:30."Perhaps she will think of waiting outside the concert hall,"said my wife hopefully.By this time the fog was so thick that road traffic had to stop,and the only way to get there was by subway.Hand in hand we felt our way along the road to where we thought the nearest station should be.An hour later we were still trying to find it.Just when I was about to become angry,we met a blind man tapping his way confidently through the fog.With his help we found the subway station which was just fifty meters down the road. By now it was far too late to get to the concert hall before the performance began at 2:30,so we decided to return to Cambridge.It took seven hours instead of the usual two to make that journey.Nor were we able to get any food and drink on the train.We were tired and hungry. We finally reached home at ten.Opening the door we were amazed to find Joan at home; she had seen the Crown Jewels,had managed to get another ticket for concert,and had had a wonderful dinner at a restaurant.Of course,she managed to get home,too.Oh my god! The writer and his wife separated from Joan because . Answer: they planned to do different things until lunch time In the old time, there was a man. He wanted to buy a pair of new shoes. Hemeasured his feet with a straw , and then went to a shoe shop in town. The man in the shop took out a pair of new shoes, and let him try it on. But when he looked into pocket, he found that the straw was not there. So he said, "I'm sorry. I forget to bring the size here! Let me go home to get it back." After that, he ran out of the shop. It was very far from his home to the shoe shop. When he got back home, he was very tired. With the straw in his hand, he went back to the shoe shop again .But the shop was closed . Someone near the man said, " Your feet are with you. Why did you not try which pair of shoes fitted your feet?" One day a man wanted to _ . Answer: buy a pair of shoes
Soon, you' re going to have to move out!" cried my neighbor upon seeing the largest tomato plant known to mankind, or at least known in my neighborhood. One tiny 9-inch plant, bought for $1. 25 in the spring, has already taken over much of my rose bed, covering much of other plants, and is well on its way to the front door. Roses require a good deal of care, and if it weren't for the pleasure they give, it wouldn' t be worth the work. As it is, I have a garden full of sweet-smelling roses for most of the year. Bushes must be pruned in early spring, leaving ugly woody branches until the new growth appears a few weeks later. It was the space available in the garden that led me into planting just one little tomato plant. A big mistake. Soil conditions made just perfect for roses turn out to be even more perfect for tomatoes. The daily watering coupled with full sun and regular fertilizing have turned the little plant into a tall bush. The cage I placed around it as the plant grew has long disappeared under the thick leaves. Now the task I face in harvesting the fruit is twofold. First, I have to find the red ones among the leaves, which means I almost have to stand on my head, and once found I have to reach down and under, pick the tomatoes and withdraw my full fist without dropping the prize so dearly won. I found two full-blown white roses completely hidden as I picked tomatoes in June. But they were weak and the leaves already yellow for lack of light. Here I am faced with a painful small decision: To tear up a wonderful and productive tomato plant that offers up between ten and twenty ripe sweet tomatoes each day or say goodbye to several expensive and treasured roses. Like Scarlett in Gone With the Wind, I' ll think about that tomorrow. The writer planted the tomato plant because . there was room for it in the garden American doctors have been trying to figure out the secrets behind Asians being healthier than Americans since the early 90s - The Japan has the lowest mortality rates in the world and Chinese medicine has been around for thousands of years, since around 2000 B.C. only meant that there's more to Asian health philosophy. In Asian medicine, there's an acknowledgment of the whole-body theory of medicine, instead of isolationism that's prevalent in many American doctor's offices. The main reason behind a better health lies in the difference between Asian and American culture. Diet, exercise, and a holistic approach to medicine all contribute to Asians living longer and healthier than their American counterparts. In addition, the result of the Asian lifestyle has led to a stronger overall immune system and better detoxification efficiency. The more preferred drink in the American lifestyle is soda, beer or coffee. However, in Asian culture, the preferred drink is water or herbal tea. Consumption of water serves to immediately strengthen one's body detoxification program, since water dilutes toxins and helps flush the body. Americans savor red meat and pork, while most Asians prefer chicken, rice and fish. Also, the foods in Asia are mostly organic and lack the hormonal toxins that American food carries. Overall the Asian diet leads to less food-introduced toxins into the body, and allows the body to spend its energy on its immune system rather than toxin control. Also, the fish that Asians consume have very strong immunological effects, providing more antioxidants than the red meat preferred in America. The average American family has more than one car. In Asia, on average there's 1 car per 4 families. In Asian cultures, people use bicycles more than four-wheeled transportation. The Asian lifestyle also involves more labor and physical work, such as agricultural labor and gardening. The American lifestyle praises white-collar jobs which lead to Americans sitting in front of computer screens for hours on end. Exercise helps detoxification in two ways: it speeds up metabolism, and induces sweat. Medicine in Asia centers mostly on natural ingredients that have healing properties. Asian medicine also addresses the mind-body connection and the importance of mental balance. There are more traditional medicine doctors per person in Asia than in America. American medicine costs more and is symptom-focused, often ignoring the overall cause of the symptoms. In America, the prescriptions that are chemically derived are dangerous toxins that stress the body's detoxification system. Using Asian medicine means using only natural ingredients, which the body can easily detoxify while getting the same health benefit. It is not very difficult to adopt the Asian lifestyle and improve your body's detoxification and immune system. You can change your lifestyle today by eating and drinking organic, exercising rigorously at least three times a week, and using organic health alternative therapies over dangerous prescription medicines. ks5u Emma Deangela is the author of detox and fasting site at eDetoxify.com. Combining both Asian and Western philosophy, Emma Deangela has helped many people by giving them health consultation to make their lives better and healthier through natural health philosophy. Visit eDetoxify.com to discover the health philosophy that leads many people to a healthy life. The differences between Asian and American culture are not discussed in _ Accidents Lactose intolerance is a condition of the digestive system in which an individual has an inability to digest lactose, the sugar found in milk. An individual affected with lactose intolerance does not produce enough of the enzyme lactase, which is needed to break down lactose. If more adults than children are diagnosed with lactose intolerance, what does this most likely suggest? The production of lactase decreases over time. Teenagers need family love and support at a time when lots of other things in their lives are changing . You can keep family relationships with your child strong through ordinary , everyday activities . Adolescence can be a difficult time ---your child is going through rapid physical changes as well as emotional ups and downs . Young people aren't sure where they fit , and they are still trying to work it out . Adolescence can also be a time when peer influences and relationships can cause stress for teenagers and their families , and family support can be vital (=very important) to getting through these challenges. During this time , your family can be a secure emotional base where your child feels loved and accepted , no matter what's going on in the rest of her life . Your family can build and support your child's self-belief , confidence and optimism .When your family set rules , boundaries and standard behaviour, you give your child a sense of consistency and predictability . And believe it or not , your life experiences and knowledge can be really useful to your child ---she just might not always want to know that . Supportive and close family relationships can reduce risky teenage behaviour, such as alcohol and drug abuse , and problems such as depression . They can also increase your child's feeling of being connected to school , and his desire to do well academically . Strong family relationships can go a long way toward helping your teenager grow into a well-adjusted , considerate and caring adult . Research suggests that just being around family is associated with fewer behaviour problems in teenagers. This could be as simple as being in the kitchen when your child's in her room , so she knows she could come and talk to you if she wanted to . Teenagers benefit from knowing that support is available , even though they might not be using it . The author intends to _ . tell us the family is very important to children The Olympic Games are seen as the greatest test of an athlete's ability and are supposed to celebrate the spirit of fair play. But in fact, sportsmen have been using drugs to cheat their way to victory since the Games first began. In the early years, athletes ate mushrooms and plant seeds to improve their performance. Nowadays, this kind of cheating has a name doping . Just last month, Britain's top sprinter Dwain Chambers and several American athletes tested positive for the drug THG. Until a coach secretly gave a sample of THG to scientists, no one knew how ho test for it. "We're like cops chasing criminals--athletes are always adapting and looking for areas we haven't investigated," said Jacquew de Ceaurriz, a French anti-doping expert. Since the first drugs test was carried out at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, many cheats have been caught out. The most famous case in history is that of Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson. He broke the 100 meters world record in winning gold at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. But days later, he tested positive for drug use, lost his gold medal and was banned from the sport. Five years later, he returned to action--only to be found positive again and banned forever. China has also had problems with drug cheats. At the 1994 Asian Games, 11 Chinese athletes--seven of them swimmers--tested positive for banned drugs. Sports organizations promised that cheating on this scale would not happen again. Experts are also worried that doping can damage a person's health. It is believed to increase the risk of liver and kidney diseases, and women may experience reproductive problems. As long as they can stay ahead of the scientists, it is unlikely the cheats will stop. But experts say there is a limit to what can be achieved and that athletes will not be able to change their bodies using gene technology. "For the moment, genetic doping does not exist," said de Ceaurriz. "Even in 10 or 15 years it will not be done easily--the scientific community will not let it happen." We can infer from the passage that _ . problems with drug cheats are still serious though they are severely tested
Boxing is a fist fighting sport between two matched combatants wearing padded gloves. A boxer's primary aim is to land as many blows as possible to the head and torso of the opponent, using strength and speed to dominate the contest. One of the oldest sports still practiced, boxing dates back to thousands of years ago. Today the sport is popular in many parts of the world and encompasses both amateur and professional matches. For most of the 20th century boxing attracted huge fan and media attention in the United States. Some boxing champions became legendary, larger-than-life figures, such as Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, and Muhammad Ali. Criticized to varying degrees throughout its history for its violent nature and high injury rate, boxing has somehow always managed to survive----and even thrive----as a sport. Modern boxing regulations are based upon the 12 rules set out by British boxing officials in the mid-19th century. These rules became known as the Marquess of Queensberry Rules, named after the 8th Marquess of Queensberry, John Sholto Douglas, who sponsored and published them. In addition to in-the-ring rules, modern boxing also has specific regulations regarding eligibility for the fighters themselves. The modern rules for professional and amateur boxing differ, but both types of contests are divided into time periods called rounds. In professional boxing, each round lasts three minutes; in amateur boxing, two minutes. A one-minute rest period between rounds is standard. Amateur contests consist of three rounds; professional contests may consist of up to 12 rounds. A bell is usually sounded by a timekeeper to begin and end each round. A key step in making boxing safer and more respectable was the introduction of gloves, ending brutal bare-knuckle competition. Boxing gloves are heavily padded to soften the impact of the blow and to protect the hands of the boxer. As an added protection, the hands are taped before being placed in the gloves, which are essentially huge mittens. Professional gloves usually weigh between 170 and 226g; amateur gloves average 226 to 340g. Which of the following statements can best describe the sport of boxing as a whole? It is a controversial sport, which nevertheless enjoys great public support. On october5,2011,around 3:00p.m., Steven P.Jobs,the co-founder of Apple, died at his home in Palo Alto, California, aged 56, six weeks after resigning as CEO of Apple. The death was announced by company that Mr.Jobs and his high school friend Stephen Wozniak started in 1976 in a suburban California garage. Jobs was born in San Francisco and adopted at birth by Paul Jobs and Clara Jobs. Paul Jobs taught his son basic electronics and how to work his hands. Asked in a 1995 interview what he wanted to pass on to his children, Jobs replied,"Just to try to be as good a father to them as my father was to me." Following high school graduation in 1972, Jobs was admitted to Reed College in Portland, Oregon. Although he dropped out after only one semester, he continued taking classes at Reed, sleeping on the floor in friend' rooms, returning Coke bottles for food money, and getting weekly free meals at the local temple. In the late 1970s, they designed, developed, and marketed one of the first commercially successful personal computers. The Apple II series. In 1985, after losing a power struggle, Jobs left Apple and founded NeXT, a computer platform development company specializing in the higher-education and business markets. In 1986, he put money in and produced Toy Story (1995), making Jobs Disney's largest shareholder at seventy percent. Apple's 1996 buyout of NeXT brought Jobs back to the company. He became a permanent CEO from 2000, developing the iPod,iPhone and iPad products.From 2003,he fought an eight-year battle with cancer.He received a liver transplant in 2009.And he took three medical leaves of absence before stepping down in August and turning over the power to Cook. Jobs married Laurene Powell on March l8,1991,and the couple had a son and two daughters. How old was Jobs when he got married to Laurene Powell? 36 Tales From Animal Hospital David Grant David Grant has become a familiar face to millions of fans of Animal Hospital . Here Dr Grant tells us the very best of his personal stories about the animals he has treated ,including familiar patients such as the dogs Snowy and Duchess , the delightful cat Marigold Serendipity Diamond . He also takes the reader behind the scenes at Harmsworth Memorial Animal Hospital as he describes his day , from ordinary medical check-ups to surgery . Tales From Animal Hospital will delight all fans of the program and anyone who has a lively interest in their pet ,whether it be cat , dog or snake I ! $ 14.99 Hardback 272 pp Simon Schuster ISBN 0751304417 Isaac Newton : The Last Sorcerer Michael White Form the author of Stephen Hawking : A Life in Science , comes this colorful description of the life of the world's first modern scientist . Interesting yet based on fact , Michael White's learned yet readable new book offers a true picture of Newton completely different from what people commonly know about him . Newton is shown as a gifted scientist with very human weaknesses who stood at the point in history where magic ended and science began. PS8.99 Hardback 320 pp Fourth Estate ISBN 1857024168 Fermat's Last Theorem Simon Singh In 1963 a schoolboy called Andrew Wiles reading in his school library came across the world's greatest mathematical problem : Fermat's Last Theorem . First put forward by the French mathematician Pierre de Fermat in the seventeenth century, the theorem had _ and beaten the finest mathematical minds , including a French woman scientist who made a major advance in working out the problem , and who had to dress like a man in order to be able to study at the Ecole Polytechnique . Through unbelievable determination Andrew Wiles finally worked out the problem in 1995 . An unusual story of human effort over three centuries , Fermat's Last Theorem will delight specialists and general readers alike . PS12.99 Hardback 384 pp Fourth Estate ISBN 1857025210 In Michael White's book , Newton is described as _ . a great but not perfect man Thirteen, for me, was a challenging year. My parents divorced and I moved to a new town with my father, far from my old family and friends. I was terribly lonely and would cry myself to sleep each night. To ease my sadness, my father purchased an old horse for me at a local auction. I named him Cowboy. Cowboy was without a doubt the ugliest horse in the world. But I didn't care. I loved him beyond all reason. I joined a riding club and suffered rude comments and mean snickers about Cowboy's looks. I never let on about how I felt, but deep inside, my heart was breaking. The other members rode beautiful, registered horses. When Cowboy and I entered the events where the horse is judged on appearance, we were quickly _ . No amount of preparation and love would turn Cowboy into a beauty. My only chance to compete would be in the speed events. I chose the jumping race. One girl named Becky rode a big brown horse in the race events. She always won the blue ribbons. Needless to say, she didn't feel threatened when I competed against her at the next show. She didn't need to. I came in next to last. The stinging memory of Becky's smirks made me determined to beat her. For the whole next month I woke up early every day and rode Cowboy five miles to the arena . We practiced running and jumping for hours in the hot sun and then I would walk Cowboy home totally exhausted. All of our hard work didn't make me feel confident by the time the show came. I sat at the gate and sweated it out while I watched Becky and her horse charge through the course and finish in first place. My turn finally came. I put on my hat, rubbed Cowboy's neck and entered the arena. At the signal, we dashed toward the first fence, jumped it without trouble and raced on to the next one. Cowboy then flew over the second, third and fourth fences like a bird and I turned him toward the finish line. As we crossed the line the crowd was shocked into silence. Cowboy and I had beaten Becky and her fancy horse by two seconds! I gained much more than a blue ribbon that day. At thirteen, I realized that no matter what the odds, I'd always come out a winner if I wanted something badly enough to work for it. When the final race finished, nobody cheered because _ . the win was unexpected You're in your office when you learn there's someone with a gun wandering outside. You can hear gunshots and screams. What do you do? That's the challenge for users of a new virtual reality program called SurviVR, designed to train employees how to deal with an active shooter situation in the workplace. The program works with HTC Vive, the virtual reality headset released earlier this year. An active shooter situation is when an armed person or people actively shoot in a small, populated area with the intention to kill. There were 20 such situations in the United States last year and 20 the year before, according to FBI statistics, resulting in a total of 231 deaths. This year saw the deadliest active shooter situation in US history , with 49 people killed in a nightclub in Orlando. In the training situation, users have four choices. They can lock themselves in the office. They can hide, perhaps in the office closet. They can run for an exit. Or they can use something in the office--a computer or a cup a pair of scissors-as a weapon to fight the shooter. This is an improvement on standard active shooter training. Gallo says, which typically teachers people to lock themselves in place and hide. The "lock down" method is often ineffective, he says, and has resulted in many deaths in recent years. In the training's basic level, no one gets killed. But as the trainings become more advanced, players who make a wrong choice be shot. There's no blood; the screen simply turns black slowly. If this sounds terrifying, that's the point, says Gallo. There are plenty of training programs to teach employees how to deal with workplace violence, sometimes involving role play with toy guns. But these trainings are basically games. Gallo says, with employees relaxed and even enjoying themselves. To teach people what they really need to know for an active shooter situation, they need to be scared. "SurviVR will take the fear and turn it into confidence." Gallo says. What would be the best title? A New Virtual Reality Program on Active Shooter Training
Valentine's Day is on February 14th every year. On this day, people send valentines to their loved ones. Valentine's Day is a special time to tell how much you care about a person. Many people send candy in hearted shaped boxes to people they love. Flowers are also presents that people send on Valentine's Day. Valentine cards with words are often used by many people. Can you guess who gets the greatest number of Valentine cards in the USA each year? Is It mother or father, sister or brother? Is it uncle or aunt? Is it the special friend? No, it isn't! Mothers get a lot of cards, but school teachers get the most each year. Do you know who sends the most? Children do. Children send five times as many on February 14 th as adults do. We can know from the passage that Valentines refer to A. mothers and fathers B. cards, flowers, candy and so on C. teachers and students D. uncles and aunts Answer: B. cards, flowers, candy and so on Every autumn, as families across the United States get ready to send their kids to college, the economics of higher education receive renewed attention. College is expensive and becoming more so in the U. S. The situation raises two questions: Why does it cost so much, and how can students and their families afford it? Several studies published in the past few weeks reflect on these questions. The findings provide comfort to poor families. First, it appears that only the minority actually pay the "high price". A study by the US Education Department's National Center for Education Statistics found that 55 percent of college students last year received some forms of help--scholarships, loans or jobs. Other factors are also at work. The government has increased the size of its grants to lower-income students. Grants, unlike loans, don't have to he repaid and are awarded only to college students who have not earned a bachelor's or professional degree. At the same time, most colleges are spending more on undergraduate education than they are collecting in tuition fees. A study, which is part of the Williams College Project on the Economics of Higher Education, reaches the conclusion that on average colleges "subsidize " their students. The results of these studies, however, leave unanswered the questions of whether educational costs are higher than they need to be. Some experts argue that much of the college cost results from educational competition for fame, students and facilities. This puts upward pressure on tuition, hut many colleges feel that good fame will enable them to attract students even if they charge them more. Therefore, until something important changes in the marketplace, costs seem likely to continue rising. And American families will continue to beat down the doors of the high price "college in the end. The writer of this passage seems to hold the opinion that _ . A. college fees rise too fast for poor families. B. poor people should borrow money from banks C. poor people don't need to send their children to college D. colleges should get more money to improve themselves Answer: A. college fees rise too fast for poor families. Secondhand smoke isn't just a health threat to people.It can also hurt dogs and cats,veterinarians say. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,more than 126 million Americans who don't smoke are exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes,vehicles,workplaces,and public places.This exposure causes thousands of lung cancer and heart disease deaths among nonsmokers every year,according to the California Environmental Protection Agency. "Making the leap from the effects of secondhand smoke on humans to their effects on pets isn't a big one," says veterinarian Carolynn MacAllister of Oklahoma State University. "There have been a number of scientific papers recently that have reported the significant health threat secondhand smoke poses to pets," MacAllister said."Secondhand smoke has been associated with oral cancer and lymphoma in cats,lung and nasal cancer in dogs,as well as lung cancer in birds." Studies have also shown that dogs living in a smoking household are susceptible to cancers of the nose and sinus area,particularly if they are a long-nosed breed,because their noses have a greater surface area that is exposed to carcinogens and a greater area for them to accumulate.Dogs affected with nasal cancer normally don't survive for more than one year. "Short and medium-nosed dogs are more susceptible to lung cancer,because their shorter nasal passage aren't as effective at accumulating the inhaled secondhand smoke carcinogens," MacAllister said."This results in more carcinogens reaching the lungs." Birds are also at risk for lung cancer,as well as pneumonia,because their respiratory systems are hypersensitive to any type of air pollutant. To help prevent animals from being adversely affected by smoking,pet owners who smoke should have a designated smoking area that is separated from the home or stop smoking altogether,MacAllister said. From the passage,we can see secondhand smoke maybe not harmful to _ . A. smokers B. non-smokers C. pets D. trees Answer: D. trees Alabama Students in Alabama take the Alabama High School Graduation Exam, which consists of multiple-choice questions. In the classroom, Alabama high school students must prove specific skills in English and take certain math classes. Among the 2013 U.S. News Best High Schools in Alabama, two were awarded gold medals, 16 received silver medals and 72 were considered bronze medal schools. One of the gold medal schools, Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School, lies about 90 miles south of Birmingham in the state capital of Montgomery, within the Montgomery County School District. Alaska To graduate, Alaska high school students must get at least 21 credits, including a half credit in Alaska history. Alaska judges students from the third grade through senior grades. Students first take the Alaska High School Graduation Qualifying Examination at the tenth grade. It includes math, reading and writing skills. 10 schools were awarded silver medals and 21 received bronze medals among the U.S. News Best High Schools in 2013. While Alaska's capital is Juneau, several of the state's Best High Schools are in or near Anchorage, in the Anchorage School District. Delaware Delaware students have a high GPA and 10 hours of community service. If they hand in their FAFSA by a certain date, they may get the Inspire Scholarship, which helps pay for tuition at Delaware State University. Before they go to college, however, students must pass the Delaware Student Testing Program Exams. Among the Delaware schools in the 2013 U.S. News Best High Schools, there are three silver medal schools and four bronze medal schools. The top school in the state is Delmar Senior High School. It is part of the Delmar School District and is about 50 miles from Delaware's capital, Dover. The Inspire Scholarship is a prize _ . A. that any student in gold medal schools can apply for B. that is given to the top students in gold medal schools C. that helps to pay for tuition at Delaware State University D. that is very difficult to get for students in silver medal schools Answer: C. that helps to pay for tuition at Delaware State University We moved to a new area when our son was in Grade Five. Before we moved, we took him to spend half a day at his new school. There he saw his new classmates and teachers. He enjoyed the visit. During the almost 150-kilometre drive home, he told us that he had told some of the students the dace when we would move there. And he had also invited them to visit us. The moving day, a Saturday, was a busy day. We arrived at our new house at noon. About an hour later, kids began to come and soon one of them invited our son to his house to play for the afternoon. By the time he returned, he knew where most of the kids lived and the histories of their families. On Monday morning, the doorbell rang just before the time he would leave for school. Then it rang again and again. By the time he was ready, we had eight young boys waiting to walk to school with him on his first day. They all live near us. I asked them if their parents had sent them. The answers surprised and pleased me, "No, we just came so that he would have someone to walk with." and "It is the right thing to do." The friendships were formed from that day. We have lived here for nearly six years and the same group of kids still play together, go to parties on weekends together, and surfing the Internet together. I am still thinking how welcoming and kind those kids are. And how lucky my son is to have them as friends. Before the family moved to the new area, the son was taken to his new school to _ . A. invite the teachers to visit them B. get to know it C. see if the school was far D. play with his classmates Answer: B. get to know it
I'm Rich Kleinfeldt with some financial expressions used in business and the stock market. Our first expression is "in the red." It is another way of saying that a business is losing money. In the past, numbers in the financial records of a company were written in red ink to show a loss. A business magazine recently published a report about a television company. The report said the company was still in the red, but was able to cut its loss from the year before. A profit by a business is written in black numbers. So a company that is "in the black" is making money. Another financial expression is "run on the bank." That is what happens when many people try to withdraw all their money from a bank. A "run on the bank" usually happens when people believe there is danger a bank may fail or close. Newspaper reports about a banking crisis in Russia used that expression. They said the government acted because of fears that the crisis would cause a run on the banks. "Day trading" is a system that lets investors trade directly on an electronic market system. It was the first completely computerized stock market. It sells stocks of companies not listed on any stock exchange. Many high technology companies are listed on it. Day trading companies provide a desk and a computer system to an investor who wants to trade. Individuals must provide fifty thousand dollars or more to the trading company to pay for the stocks they buy. Thousands of other investors do day trading from computers in their homes. A day trader watches stock prices carefully. When he sees a stock rise in price, he uses the computer to buy shares of the stock. If the stock continues to rise in price in the next few minutes, the day trader sells the shares quickly to make a small profit. Then he looks for another stock to buy. If a stock goes down instead of up, he sells it and accepts the loss. The idea is to make a small profit many times during the day. Day traders may buy and sell stocks hundreds of times each day. Rich Kleinfeldt might be a_. A newspaper reporter B boss from a company C emcee in a radio program D investors of a Day trading Answer: C Computer Technician (Part Time Student Helper) * Government Department * Flexible schedule * Good opportunity for the young adults Our client, a Government Department, is now looking for numbers of Part Time Computer Technicians to join their supporting team. Job Responsibilities * Responsible for answering queries to end users on the use of computer and electronic systems and facilities * Provide general technical support to end users Handle, on regular health checks on equipment, reset problem terminals and reinstall software Job Requirements: Diploma/ higher diploma in Computer Science or related discipline obtained from Hong Kong University / IVE or above Part-time experience in Customer Services and/or IT support is an advantage Good at verbal and written English, Cantonese and Mandarin * With basic knowledge or experience in IT networking * Good working attitude, energetic and self-motivated candidate is highly preferred * Students in Year 1 and Year 2 are preferred * Training will be provided Attractive remuneration package will be negotiated to the right candidate. Interested parties please email a MS Word Version resume and expected salary to technology @man power professional, com. hk (CC: iris. cheung @ manpower-professional. Com. hk) and quote the job reference. Job Ref: 506-111213-IR Job Type: Contract Location: Start Date: ASAP Duration: Salary/Rate : Contact: Iris Cheung Open To: Hong Kong Residents Only Submitted: 12/04/2016 The job will be offered only to _ . A citizens from Hong Kong B university students C computer technicians D young people Answer: C A statute in the jurisdiction defines murder in the first degree as knowingly killing another person after deliberation. Deliberation is defined as "cool reflection for any length of time no matter how brief." Murder in the second degree is defined as "all other murder at common law except felony-murder." Felony-murder is murder in the third degree. Manslaughter is defined by the common law. At 2 a.m., Duncan held up an all-night liquor store using an assault rifle. During the holdup, two police cars with flashing lights drove up in front of the store. In order to create a situation where the police would hesitate to come into the store (and thus give Duncan a chance to escape out the back) Duncan fired several rounds through the front window of the store. Duncan then ran out the back but upon discovering another police car there, surrendered quietly. One of the shots he fired while in the store struck and killed a burglar who was stealing items from a closed store across the street. The most serious degree of criminal homicide Duncan is guilty of is A murder in the first degree. B murder in the second degree. C murder in the third degree. D manslaughter. Answer: B Swimming and English Learning Can you swim? Do you like swimming? Yes? Well, how can you learn to swim? I think the best way is to go into the water and learn. I'm afraid you'll never learn to swim just by reading books about swimming or looking at others swimming. It's the same with the English study. We must practice, practice and practice. Listening and speaking are very important for beginners. The children in English-speaking countries first listen to others. Then they try to imitate and speak. We can listen to English programs on radio. You may just understand a few words. It doesn't matter. Just be relaxed, try to catch every word. Somebody may be a good listener. But he dare not speak. He's afraid of making mistakes. You know we sometimes make mistakes when we speak Chinese. Don't be afraid. We must be brave. If you really want to learn English well, you must try to speak with everyone so long as he knows English. Whether you know him or not is not important when there's nobody to talk with, you can talk to yourself in English. It's interesting and also a good way to practice your spoken English. Remember, the more you speak, the fewer mistakes you'll make. Reading and writing are more important for senior school students. First we must choose the books we're interested in. A lot of reading will improve your language sense. This is the most important. Keep writing English diaries. We can also write English articles. You may even post them to English magazines. Don't be afraid of failure. Failure is the mother of success. Easier said than done. Well, let's do more practice from now on. I'm sure you'll learn English well in this way. What's more important for senior school students? A listening B speaking C reading and writing D learning Answer: C In a book called Magnificent Obsession, by Lloyd C. Douglas, a description is given of people helping others but doing it secretly. When difficult problems worried an individual , friends nearby would meet to discuss possible solution without the individual knowing their actions. When a solution was agreed upon, one or two of the friends would carry out the plan and solve the problem secretly, to the great delight of the worried individual. The helpers would stand by privately , content with their success. No reward was given to the problem solvers, not even a sincere "thank you", because they were never known. This concept is popular today but in a different way. The phrase _ is now used when one person helps another. However, the person helped may not be able to repay the person or group that helped them. So rather than return the favor to their helpers, they are supposed to help someone else in the future, which means they pay it forward. It is a sense of responsibility which makes us want to give back in equal measure to the one who has helped us. But, in this case, the responsibility turns to helping someone in the future. Suppose your elderly grandmother pays part of your schooling. She may tell you there is no need to repay her because it is a gift from someone who loves you very much. Nothing would please her more than to have you use her money to get a good education. You may never be able to repay her for such a gift. However, she not only gave you some money, but she provided you with an example that you should also help other people who need it. People with serious needs are everywhere. Many are children who need better clothes, more books and even better schools. Some are elderly people who can't afford their medicine or a doctor's care. Consider how you can "pay it forward" rather than pay money back to your grandmother. What does the writer suggest with the example of "your elderly grandmother"? A We should learn to respect our grandparents. B We should work hard to get a good education. C We should also lend a hand to other people in need of help. D We should never forget to repay people for their help. Answer: C
NASA on Thursday announced the discovery of Kepler-452b, the most Earth-like planet ever found.Located 1,400 light-years from our planet, NASA called it "Earth 2.0", because it's the first planetdiscovered in the habitable zone of a G star similar to our sun."We can think of Kepler-452b as an older, bigger cousin to Earth, providing an opportunity to understand and reflect upon Earth's evolving environment," said Jon Jenkins, the Kepler data analysis lead at NASA's Ames Research Center. The planet is 5 percent farther away from its star than Earth is to the sun, making for a slightly longer year of 385 days, but gets similar light because its sun is 20 percent brighter than our own. "The sunshine from this star would feel very similar to the sunshine from our star," Jenkins told reporters. NASA believes the planet has a mass about five times more massive than Earth's, with a rocky surface below a thicker atmosphere than our own. Gravity would be about twice as strong on Kepler-452b as it is on Earth, NASA said. The planet is located in the Kepler-452 system in the constellation Cygnus . Its sun has the same surface temperature as our own, but has a diameter that is 10 percent larger. While NASA scientists have no idea if Kepler-452b's atmosphere is conducive to life, they do know that there has been plenty of time for organisms to develop. "It's awe-inspiring to consider this planet spent 6 billion years in the habitable zone of its star, which is longer the age of the Earth," Jenkins said. "That is considerable time and opportunity for life to arise somewhere on its surface or oceans if all the necessary conditions for life exist on this planet." What type of writing is the text? It's _ . a news report Here is an examination notice . Mrs. Dickson gave it to her students last week. To the students of Class 3 * Examinations start on January 22 and end on June 23. * The time for each of the subject is: English June 22 9:30 A.M.- 10:30 A.M. Math June 22 11:00 A.M.- 12:00 A.M. History June 22 2:30 P.M.-3:30 P.M. PE June 23 8:00 A.M.-10:00 A.M. Music June 23 1:00 P.M.-3:00 P.M. * For the PE test? go to the playground. For the music test, go to the Piano Room. All else are written tests. They will be held in Classroom 3. * No student can get into the examination room more than 15 minutes after the exam starts. * No food or drink during ANY test. * No dictionaries during the English exam. * Wear pants and sports shoes for the PE exam. * If you have questions, go to the Teacher's Office before the tests. When were the written test held ? On the morning and afternoon of June 22. The UN Environment Programme says that rising temperatures could mean the end for some migrating animals. Migrating or mobile animals move through several environments as they travel away from the cold of winter to warmer areas. Birds may fly from one part of the world to another, perhaps stopping at feeding grounds on the way. Whales and turtles cover vast areas of ocean. The report says that changes in any one of the places which these animals use can cause serious harm. "Obviously these animals have developed their travelling patterns over thousands of years. But climate change is almost certain to be extreme over the next 25 to 50 years and it is extremely unlikely that these animals can change their habits fast enough," said the report author Dr Robert Hepworth. Hardest hit by rising temperatures are turtles. Scientists have found that at higher temperatures, turtles produce far more female eggs than male ones. In parts of Malaysia, turtle birthing sites are producing only females, the report says. It also provides evidence that some turtles are more likely to develop cancer as the waters get warmer. With birds, the main problem is climate-related damage to important areas at either end of the travels or at resting places along the way. About one-fifth of migrating birds are now in danger because of climate-related changes including rising sea levels, land loss and more violent storms, the report concludes. Other animals picked out as particularly in danger include: * the North Atlantic Right Whale, whose main food (tiny shrimp) is disturbed by the change in ocean flows and * the White-Nose Dolphin, which is out-competed by other kinds of dolphins in warmer waters. The report is not all bad news. Even with major climatic changes, protecting the environment can still help mobile animals to recover. "We need governments to start taking action at the national and international lever. "The clock is running." said Dr Hepworth. And some animals are already adapting, with the report mentioning whales that are changing their feeding behaviour, finding new feeding grounds and new foods to eat. What can be inferred about turtles from the text? Those born nearer a hotter area are more likely to be female. New Library Rules 1. Open time: 8:30am.-4:30pm. From Monday to Friday. 2. No talking. 3. No eating any food. 4. No listening to music. 5. No taking photos. 6. No taking books out if you don't ask the people here. 7. Keep the library books for only one week. 8. Give the books back on time. 9. Renew books on time. 10. Pay for the lost books. When can you go to the library? 3:30pm. on Tuesday. Calling all poets! TIME For Kids(TFK) has a challenge for you. WHO: The contest is open to students who are 8 to 13 years old. WHAT: Write a funny, rhyming poem and enter it in the TFK Poetry Contest. By entering, the entrant should promise that the poem is an original one that does not copy another poet's work, has not been published in an y medium and has not won an award. HOW: Send your poem by e-mail to contest@poetry4kids.com. The subject line of your e-mail message should read "TFK POETRY CONTEST". Be sure to include your first name only, your e-mail address and your parents' e-mail address. Limit one entry per person or e-mail account. The sponsor is not responsible for lost, late or incomplete entries, or those not received for any reason. WHEN: This contest begins 12:01 a.m. on January 13,2013, and ends 11:59 p.m. on March 1,2013. JUDGING: All entries will be judged by poet Kenn Nesbitt, based on the following standards: creativity and o riginality (50%),use of language and rhyme (25%) and relatedness to contest theme(25%).Winner will be informed by e-mail and must respond within five days. WINNER'S LIST: For names of the winner and finalists, visit timeforkids.com (after April 1,2013, you can get for a period of 10 days). PRIZE: Our judge will select four semifinalists from which one grand-prize winner and three finalists will be chosen. The one grand-prize winner will receive an online class visit from poet Kenn Nesbitt and a signed copy of one of his books of poetry. The poem of the grand-prize winner will be published on timeforkids.com. The finalists will receive signed copies of one of Nesbitt's books of poetry. The poems of finalists will be published on timeforkids.com. Only the grand-prize winner can _ . receive an online class visit from poet Kenn Nesbitt
Many of us don't pay much attention to the importance of eye care. It is said that if you take care of your body, then you can surely be healthy. That is why our eyes should be given a lot of care. Natural eye care should be put in a number one place. There are several causes leading to poor eyesight like not enough food, genes and aging . Televisions, computers and reading are also the causes of having poor eyesight. If you happen to work in front of the computer, it is best to take a break every once in a while. Something dirty can cause redness and they will make you feel uncomfortable. It is bad for your eyes, too. If this happens, the best way is to clean your eyes by using cold water. You must also try your best to protect your eyes from harmful things. For example, sunglasses are not just for fashion but they can also serve as a great way to protect your eyesight form UV rays. Eating healthy foods will do good to your eyesight. Remember that vitamins A, C and E are good for eyes. Try to eat food groups that have these vitamins. And you should do eye exercises because exercise protects your eyesight, too. If a person exercises regularly and eats the right kind of food, his eyes will stay in good condition for a long time. All above are natural ways of eye care that help us keep healthy eyes. Being happy all the time can be helpful to a person's eyesight, too. In a word, eye care is very important, no matter how old a person is. What should you do if you have to work in front of the computer? Have a rest after working for a while. The Bay Hotel. It's a quiet, comfortable hotel overlooking the bay in an uncommercialised Cornish fishing village on England's most southerly point. If pop music is no longer your strong point, and you are considering a relaxing holiday where the scenery is breathtaking and the sound of the sea is live music to your ears, come and stay with us. For adults only. Sssh! Don't tell everyone! 01326 280464 Willapark Manor Hotel. Peaceful situation in 14 acres of separated gardens and woodland, overlooking picturesque bay. Close to coastal path and beach. Excellent cuisine. Our excellent service brings our guests back year after year. Children (reductions) and pets welcome. 01840 770782 The Country Garden Hotel. Delightful hotel set in lovely gardens; calm Island of Wight near Tennyson Downs, Great food! Garden, sea view and ground floor rooms. Please call for brochure and sample menu. Adults only and pets welcome. 0800 980 1943 Boscastle. Romantic 17th Century farmer's cottage in countryside with splendid coastal views. Well- equipped. Sleeps 5. Regret no pets/smoking. Garden with furniture. Brochure: 01633 450417 Godshill. 4 star self-served units. Non smoking. Sleeps 2 - 4. Open all year. Good walks. Close to pubs. Peaceful. Cosy. No pets. Brochure: 01983 840371 The Blakeney Hotel. Overlooking harbour, traditional privately owned friendly hotel with bedrooms, lift, heated indoor pool, spa bath and saunas. Relax, walk, sail, play golf, explore the villages, countryside and coast. Special seasonal midweek price for aged citizens. 01263 7407 S W France. Rural setting near Cordes. Two beautifully repainted old houses, sleeps 4/5, Gardens, woodland, pool, views, excellent walks. Available all year round. Outstanding. 01962 776967 All of the following hotels are close to the sea EXCEPT _ . S W France People with bigger brains ftend to score higher on standardized tests of intelligence, according to new study findings. However, the study author Dr Michael A.McDaniel of the Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond emphasized that these findings represent a general trend, and people with small heads should not automatically believe they are less intelligent. For instance, Albert Einstein's brain was "not particularly large", McDaniel noted. "There's some relationship between brain size and intelligence on the average, but there's plenty of room for exceptions," he said. Interest in the relationship between brain size and intelligence grew in the1830s, when German anatomist Frederich Tiedmann wrote that he believed there was "an unquestionable connection between the size of the brain and the mental energy displayed by the individual man". Since that statement, scientists have conducted numerous studies to determine if Tiedmann's assertion was, in fact, correct. Most studies have looked into the link between head size and intelligence. More recently, however, researchers have published additional studies on brain size and intelligence, measured using MRI scan . For his study, McDaniel analyzed more than 20 studies that looked into the relationship between brain size and intelligence in a total of 1,530 people. The studies showed that on the average, people with larger brain volume tended to be more intelligent. The relationship between brain volume and intelligence was stronger in women than men, and in adults than in children. McDaniel notes in the journal Intelligence. McDaniel is not sure why the relationship was stronger for adults and women. "Other research has shown that women, on the average, tend to have smaller brains than men, but score just as well--if not higher--in tests of intelligence," he said. McDaniel insisted that the relationship between brain size and intelligence is not a "perfect" one. "One can certainly find lots of examples of smaller-sized people who are highly intelligent," he said, "But, on the average, the relationship holds." By mentioning Albert Einstein, the writer wants to show _ . brain size doesn't necessarily decide the level of intelligence Growing up on a tobacco farm, Emma Avery was used to hard times. When she was seven, her family's farmhouse burned to the ground. Her father made a temporary shelter, where eight people had to sleep in two beds. As soon as Emma and her four brothers and two sisters were big enough, they were out in the fields. Emma would find her comfort in school, even as a C student, thanks to one teacher. When she moved on to middle school, Emma was alarmingly far behind her classmates. She kept her head down, trying not to be noticed, struggling to catch up, and feeling like an outsider. Then one day, when Emma was 16, a teacher named Mr. Potts changed everything. Looking his students in the eye, Mr. Potts said, "Being a C student does not mean you do not have a valuable contribution to make. Some of you have to work in the fields in the evening and do not have time to study. But if you do your best, you have a gift to give." The teacher's words made Emma believe she could do well, and she worked harder. In the end she won a scholarship to St. Paul's College, graduated with a degree in elementary education in 1967, and got a job in the public-school system. Then, at George Washington University, she received a master's in education in 1970, and afterwards in the same year she married Ron Smothers. Over the next six years, Emma taught in public schools in Miami. In 1976, after saving $10,000, she opened her first restaurant in Los Angeles. Eventually Emma stopped teaching, and her business expanded to six restaurants. In gratitude for what she has been able to achieve, Emma donates a lot. She has no idea how much money she's given away. She says, "Those I want to help are the C students who just need help, direction and confidence." The text mainly wants to tell us _ . confidence is the first step to success During the time the moon orbits the Earth 13 times the Earth orbits the sun once
Seven years of careful design and planning all came together on Monday, when James Cameron became the first human to make a solo trip to the deepest known point on earth - the Challenger Deep! More importantly though, he appeared safely seven hours later, completing with exciting-photos and videos from this dark mysterious world that has been visited by only two humans before! Seated inside a specially built 12-ton green submersible called the Deep Sea Challenger, the brilliant filmmaker caught every moment of his 2-hour-36-minute journey down to the bottom of the Mariana Trench on video -- given that it is 120 times larger than the Grand Canyon and a mile deeper than Mount Everest. Absolutely nothing! There were no large alien creatures or mysterious footprints -- just a flat desolate landscape, 50 times larger than the Grand Canyon. Mr. Cameron describes it as "devoid of sunlight, any heat, any warmth". The only things swimming around, were some tiny shrimp-like creatures no bigger than an inch. While the 57-year-old had expected to spend six hours at the bottom, he was forced to return in three hours, because the robotic arm that was supposed to help him collect samples went wrong and began leaking oil. He also lost some thrusters and a whole starboard side, causing the submersible to spin around in circles. However, these small setbacks did not make the whole trip any less exciting for Mr. Cameron. The director, who returned to the surface in a speedy seventy minutes, believes this is just one of many trips he and other adventurers will be taking. In fact, Sir Richard Branson, the founder of the Virgin Group, is currently in the midst of planning a similar trip to the Puerto Rico Trench that lies five miles below the surface of the water. Though Mr. Cameron's is promising to move his historic trip into an exciting 3-D National Geographic documentary, he is tight-lipped about how the experience will be used in his next movie! We cannot wait to see! On the bottom of Challenger Deep, _ . it is dark and cold Living things depend on energy from the Sun An English traveller found himself in Norway with only enough money to buy the ticket for his journey back home.As he knew that it would take him only two days to get to England,he decided that he could easily spend the time without food. So he bought a ticket and got on the ship. The man closed his ears to the sound of the lunch bell.When dinner time came,he didn't go to dining room,saying that he was not feeling very well. The next morning he still didn't have breakfast and at lunchtime he again stayed in his room. But at dinnertime he was so hungry that he went to the dining room and ate everything the waiter put in front of him. He got ready for the quarrel. "Bring me the bill,"he said."The bill,Sir?" said the waiter in surprise."There isn't any bill.On our ship meals are included in the money for the ticket,"said the waiter. Why didn't the traveller go to the dining room first? Because he had no money. You might think the largest library in the world would be in Europe. But it isn't. It's in Washington D.C. It's called the Library of Congress. President John Adams started the library in 1800 for members of Congress. He wanted them to be able to read books about law. The first 740 books were bought in England. They were simply set up in the room where Congress met. Then Thomas Jefferson sold Congress many of his own books. He felt Congress should have books on all subjects, not just on law. This idea changed the library forever. The library grew and grew. Now it covers a large area of land. It contains20million books as well as many pictures, movies, globes and machines. Experts in every field work there. Hundreds of people call every day with all kinds of questions. Many of them get answers right over the phone. The library is a huge storehouse. Thomas Edison's first movie and Houdini's magic books are preserved there. And it is the proud owner of the world's best collection of humorous books. The best title for this passage is_. General Introduction to the library of congress The human body gets the energy it needs for growth and repair directly from food
Guinness World Records, the global authority on record-breaking achievements, presented China Central TV (CCTV) the world record for Most Watched National Network TV Broadcast for its annual Spring Festival Gala show. The program, which is produced especially to celebratethe Chinese New Year, had a unique reach of 498,659,000 viewers on CCTV-1, 3 and 4 in 2012 , making it the most watched national variety entertainment show in the world. The official record certificate was presented by Guinness World Records, Global Managing Director, Mr. Alistair Richards to CCTV Vice President Mr. Luo Ming during a special "China in Cannes" reception co-hosted with Reed MIDEM as part of the celebrations to honor the Chinese delegation at this year's MIPTV market. CSM Media Research, which supplied the viewing figures for Guinness World Records verification , considered viewers aged 4 years or above who watched at least one minute of the 2012 show on either CCTV-1, 3 or 4, the three channels which aired the show at the same time. The figure refers to viewers on any one of the three channels, therefore excluding duplications . This represents almost 40% of the China TV population aged 4 years or above. Commenting on CCTV's incredible record achievement which is based on reach of audience, Alistair Richards said, "It is fitting that we celebratethis amazing achievement at MIPTV. National networks have the power to move nations and CCTV's Spring Festival Gala is the ultimate example. It reaches nearly half a billion people on the biggest holiday of their year." CCTV Vice President Luo Ming, who accepted the Guinness World Records certificate on behalf of CCTV, said, "Chinese New Year is a special time for families in China and our Spring Festival Gala has been the traditional TV entertainment highlight for three decades. Although this is a world record achieved by our viewers, it is also a record won by the staff of CCTV, who makes it possible for our television shows to reach homes right across China." The new record will be included in the next edition of the world famous Guinness World Records book. _ provided the exact viewer figures for the Guinness World Record to confirm. A. China Central TV B. Reed MIDEM C. MIPTV D. CSM Media Research Answer: D. CSM Media Research The world economy has run into a brick wall. Despite countless warnings in recent years about the need to address a looming hunger crisis in poor countries and a looming energy crisis worldwide, world leaders failed to think ahead. The result is a global food crisis. Wheat, corn and rice prices increases combined with soaring energy costs will slow if not stop economic growth in many parts of the world and will even undermine political stability, as evidenced by the protest riots that have erupted in places like Haiti, Bangladesh and Burkina Faso. Practical solutions to these growing woes do exist, but we'll have to start thinking ahead and acting globally. So, what should be done?Here are three steps to ease the current crisis and avert(, ) the potential for a global disaster. The first is to scale-up(,) the dramatic success of Malawi, a famine-prone country in southern Africa, which three years ago established a special fund to help its farmers get fertilizer and high-yield seeds. Malawi's harvest doubled after just one year. An international fund based on the Malawi model would cost a mere $10 per person annually in the rich world, or $10 billion in all. Second, the U.S. and Europe should abandon their policies of subsidizing the conversion of food into biofuels . Third, we urgently need to weatherproof the world's crops as soon and as effectively as possible. For a poor farmer, sometimes something as simple as a farm pond--which collects rainwater to be used for emergency irrigation in a dry spell--can make the difference between a bountiful crop and a famine. The world has already committed to establishing a Climate Adaptation Fund to help poor regions climate-proof vital economic activities such as food production and health care but has not yet acted upon the promise. The food crisis provides not only a warning but also an opportunity. We need to invest vastly more in sustainable development in order to achieve true global security and economic growth. Which of the following is the best title? A. How to end the global food shortage B. How to end the global disaster C. How to help the farmers in the poor countries D. How to subsidize the farmers to increase food products Answer: A. How to end the global food shortage There are popular programmes about the work of the police on TV. People like them because they are interesting and useful. In London there is a TV programme called "Police Five". It takes five minutes a week.A TV reporter talks about crimes in London. He asks people for help, because the police station needs their help. The TV reporter shows picture of lost painting, lost cars and other lost things during the week. Sometimes he shows the picture of the car that the thieves drove away. When people see the picture of such things on TV, they may remember something so that they may tell the police where or when they saw them. With their help the police may catch more thieves. Sometimes the police find a car or something expensive that has ever been lost, the TV reporter shows them on TV. Then the owners may see them and they can get them back. The police _ by this programme. A. let people understand them B. ask for people's help C. let people know what was lost D. let people feel interesting Answer: B. ask for people's help Which of these would you use in order to figure out why buildings may have collapsed? A. radio B. clock C. seismometer D. pendulum Answer: C. seismometer 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 After reading this, we know this is _ . A. a studying plan of Edward Scott B. a teaching plan of Ivy C. a school report of Edward Scott D. a working plan of M.L.Martin Answer: C. a school report of Edward Scott
I do not need a calendar to tell me when it is winter. All I need is my nose. When I wake up in the morning and smell the tasty treats my mom is cooking downstairs, I know winter has arrived. The first one is the smell of chocolate. During the holiday season (from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day) my mother makes her special hot chocolate. She always adds a peppermint candy cane to the drink and tops it with cream. The hot chocolate gets me out of bed, but it is my mother's chocolate fudge that makes me run downstairs. It is a thick chunk of chocolate that tastes like heaven. My mother adds nuts. That gives it more texture . But my mother isn't done yet. She also makes a treat she calls "window panes ". She takes a few different colored marshmallows and melts them together with chocolate. The final product looks like a colorful church window, so we call it "window panes". These tasty holiday treats are usually eaten after a meal as a dessert. But don't tell Santa Claus because I secretly eat them all day long. With nuts, the chocolate fudge tastes _ . A softer B sweeter C harder D hotter Answer: A " Culture consists of all shared products of human society" ( Robertson, 1981). This means not only such material things as cities, organizations and schools, but also non-material things such as ideas, customs, family patterns, languages. Putting it simply, culture refers to the entire way of life of a society, "the ways of a people". Language is a part of culture and plays a very important role in it. Some social scientists consider it the keystone of culture. Without language, the maintaining of culture would not be possible. On the other hand, language is influenced and shaped by culture, it reflects culture. In the broadest sense, language is the symbolic representation of a people, and it comprises their historical and cultural backgrounds, as well as their approach to life and their ways of living and thinking. We should not go further into the relationship between language and culture. What needs to be stressed here is that the two interact, and that understanding of one requires understanding of the other. Social scientists tell us that cultures differ from one another, that each culture is unique. As cultures are diverse, so languages are diverse. It is only natural then that with differences in cultures and differences in languages, difficulties often arise in communicating between cultures and across cultures. Understanding is not always easy. Learning a foreign language well means more than merely mastering the pronunciation, grammar, words and idioms. It means learning also to see the world as native speakers of that language see it, learning the ways in which their language reflects the ideas, customs, and behaviors of their society, learning to understand their "language of the mind". Learning a language, in fact, is inseparable from learning its culture. There will be no difficulty in communication if _ . A .people from different countries can speak each other ' s languages B people from different countries can know each other ' s cultures C people from different countries can know each other ' s languages and cultures D there were no difference between the two cultures Answer: C The other day at a supermarket, I saw a naughty boy of about six crying loudly, falling to the floor and refusing to move. All the while the troubled mother was trying to persuade him to behave well but failed.A little smack on his bottom would have done the job,I thought. Teenagers also cause discipline problems.As a teacher, I had a 16-year-old student who had fallen in love with a waiter at a fast-food restaurant.In fact,she had left home to stay with him.So we decided to put her in the school hostel.She refused.When she heard her mother begging her to stay in the hostel she turned round and said:"Why don't you stay in the hostel if you like it so much?" My palms were itching to slap her for being so rude but the poor mother continued to _ her,hoping that gentle persuasion would work wonders.It did not.The last I heard,she had run away from home again. The list goes on and on.Could it be that today's parents are softer and believe that they must not rod their children for fear of the bad result? Or do they actually believe that the children will get rid of the bad habits and behave well naturally as they grow older? I beg to disagree.I believe it is the parents' duty to discipline the children even at a young age. My children who are now adults will prove the fact that I used the rod when I thought it necessary.Later when they went abroad,they related to their British university friends on how they were disciplined.Their friends abroad were filled with horror and told my daughter that I could be charged with child abuse .However,my daughter showed great respect for me when she told them that she would not be where she was today if not for my strict discipline. We can learn from the passage that _ . A the naughty boy's mother hit him B the teacher's daughter is living with the teacher C the author's daughter was thankful for the author's strict discipline D the author was charged with child abuse by her daughter's friends abroad Answer: C My name is Frank. I am from St. John Middle School in America. I am in Class Three, Grade Seven. We study Chinese at school. Our Chinese teacher is Joy Black. He is not Chinese, but he is good at Chinese. I have a lot of friends in my school. Jimmy is tall and has black hair. He is good at playing basketball. He is in the school basketball team . May is short and she wears glasses. She is good at Maths. Sandra has long hair. She likes swimming. She is in the school swimming team. Maria is new here. She is from Hong Kong. She has black hair and big eyes. She is good at English and computers. Nick is tall. He has small eyes. He is funny. He plays football very well. , Who comes from China in Frank's class? A Maria B May C Nick D Joy Black Answer: A Of all nature's disasters, forest fires are often considered the most frightening. Moving at lightning speed, huge walls of flames can burn acres of land in just a few minutes. And although technology, including the use of tire-retardant chemicals, has greatly helped the fight against forest fires, they still take great damage. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, the fire season last year was the worst on record in terms of the number of fires and acres burned. There were 96.385 fires and9,873429 acres affected by fire in a year that was 125% more destructive than the 10-year average . These fires cost the federal govemment $1.5 billion to fight, and this figure does not include the money spent by local and state govemments as part of the effort. Fires in the southern states represented half of the national total last year. with Texas. Oklahoma and Arkansas being home to an usually high amount of activity. Wildfire have also taken place in Western states such as California, Colorado. and Alaska throughout the past 10 years. It is said that two-thirds of forest fires are started accidentally by people. almost one quarter are purposely set, while lighting causes 10%. Forest fires can have advantageous effects. Charcoal enriches soil, and some plant species grow well after. The cones of the jack pine tree, for example, will not spread their seeds unless there is heat. Douglas fir trees grow best in open sunlight areas after fire. Forest fires are considered to be the most frightening because _ . A they make the greatest loss of all disasters B huge walls of flames can burn acres of land C fire-retardant chemicals can't be made use of D they spread too fast and make great damage. Answer: D
Green tea is the best choice for office workers. People who always work in places with air conditioning may face skin problems such as easily dry skin. Among all the drinks, 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 believes 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 _ choice. Do not drink strong tea. Strong tea may make the body far too excited and can badly affect the cardiovascular as well as the nervous system . For a person who has problem with these parts, to drink overly strong tea may cause heart and blood pressure illness, or even make the old illnesses 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. ,. We can read the article in _ . A Life and Health B Chinese Culture C Fashion Times D Sports and Health Answer: A I am in my father's house in Connecticut, sitting at a crowded table with my brother, my two sisiters and all our partners, talking about a tree. "He doesn't want it cut down." My sister says when my father has gone to bed and none of us speaks of the tree in his presence. "He says he usef to climb it when he was a boy." When I was last here, a year and a half ago, for my father's 90th birthday, Hurricane Irene drove seawater into the roads. The large tree that hangs over the houses swayed alarmingly, but it stayed up. Last October, Hurricane Sandy acused a great deal of damage. Six months on, many of the surrounding houses are on sale, but the tree that hangs over the house still stands. "That tree," my brother says, "has survived the two worst storms of the last 100 years." Though my brother thinks highly of the amazing staying power of the tree, my sister says that the tree should never have been planted: it stops light from reaching the house. My other sister's partner says that all trees fall down eventually. There is plenty of evidence for what he says: throughout the neighborhood, the ramains of similarly sized trees lie on their sides, with their roots in the air. During this discussion, I offer to pay a quarter of whatever is required to remove the tree. "A guy I talked to," my brother says, "told me it could cost us$10,000." As night wears on, the discussion becomes increaslingly meaningless. There is no point in reaching any kind of agreement, since the decision is not for us to make. It's my father's tree, and he has refused to cut down the only thing in the neighborhood older than him. What can we learn about the two storms that the tree has survived? A The first storm happened a year ago. B The second storm lasted for six months. C The first storm damaged the tree more than the second one. D They were the two worst storms of the last 100 years. Answer: D Parents everywhere praise their kids when they do well in school, win a ball game, or build an impressive sandcastle --- anytime their kids do something remarkable , or in many cases, something ordinary. "We are becoming praise junkies as parents", says Jenn Berman, PhD, a marriage and family expert and the author of The A to Z Guide to Raising Happy and Confident Kids. "We have gone to the opposite extreme of the parents from a few decades ago who tended to be more strict, and now we overpraise our children." "Somehow parents have come to believe that by praising our kids we improve their self-esteem ," says Paul Donahue, founder and director of Child Development Associates. "Though well-intentioned, putting kids on a pedestal at an early age can actually hinder their growth." Too much praise can backfire , it seems, and when given in a way that's insincere, kids are afraid to try new things or take a risk for fear of not being on the top all the time. "There's an underlying message that the child has to get his parents' approval all the time and constantly depends on the parents for validation ," says Berman. Still, don't go too far in the other direction --- not giving enough praise which can be just as damaging as giving too much. Kids will feel like they are not good enough, or that you don't care, and may see no sense in reaching for their success. So what's the right amount of praise? Experts say that the quality of praise is more important than the quantity: if praise is sincere and genuine, and focused on the effort, not the outcome, you can give it as often as your child does something that is worth a reward. What kinds of parents can be regarded as praise junkies? A Those who praise their children too much. B Those who seldom praise their children. C Those who give sincere praise to their children. D Those who offer their children dangerous drugs. Answer: A An example of a renewable resource is A oil. B coal. C wood. D natural gas. Answer: C There is no question that fewer teenagers are on the roads in the US. In 1978, 50% of 16-year-olds had got their first driving licence. In 2008, according to the US Transportation Department, it was just 30%. The number of those aged 19 and under with driving licences has also been _ since 1978, when 11, 989, 000 had licence. In 2010, it was 9, 932, 441, or 4.1% of American drivers. In the UK, 683, 273 teenagers have driving licences- just 1.85% of total licence holders, according to Department of Transport figures from September 2010. But the decline in the US may have more to do with tougher tests and the introduction of the new rule in many states, which force drivers aged under 16 to be with licensed drivers of 21 years and older when driving. In recent years, the annual number of journeys being made by American drivers of all ages has declined clearly for the first time ever. Car use began falling in 2007, when average petrol prices almost doubled to $4.12 a gallon, and the economy became worse. But there are signs that it is getting back to normal and American remains a country on wheels. It has a higher number of cars per head of population than any other country in the world. "Cars will always be a popular means of transportation in America. You have to take into consideration some places don't have access to public transportation. Cars are the only way some people can get around," says Kristin Nevels. This makes driving necessary in some rural states, where about twice as many teenagers are on the road than in big cities. What can be inferred from the text? A The UK has more teenager drivers than the US. B A 15-year-old boy cannot drive alone in the US. C The US has very developed bus transportation system. D Big cities have more teenager drivers than rural areas in the US. Answer: B
I wish there would be a way to describe China in simple terms but that's impossible. For the most part Chinese people are friendly, easy-going and optimistic. They are curious and unusually patient and they are also the hardest-working people I have ever met. In China, family is everything. In my English classes when the students were asked what they would do if they only had a few hours to live, most students told me how they would spend their last few hours with their families and parents. Many times the subjects in the classes center on families and friends. I teach many students a year, talking to them freely. The cost of living here is very low compared with that of the US. The city of Xiang Fan I live in isn't large and I live better. Non-imported foods are very cheap, so are clothing and articles of everyday use. The cost of public transportation is very low, too. Chinese value education. However, it is reported that many children can't afford the expenses of schooling and are forced to leave school in some poor area in China. But they organized Project Hope many years age. It creates conditions for the poor children to go back to school. In my opinion, Project Hope is of great importance to the development of the rural education. When we read news of China in the west, rarely, if ever, will we see anything mentioned of the positive changes China has gone through. While it is true that economic miracles have not reached many areas of China, but we also have the same problems. When I am asked which country I consider better. China or the US, my answer has always been the same, "We are not worse or better than each other, we are only different." What does the author think of Chinese people? A. He thinks most Chinese people hardly work. B. He thinks most Chinese people are proud. C. He praises most Chinese people a lot. D. He dislikes most Chinese people. Answer: C. He praises most Chinese people a lot. Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel. Green said, "Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority." Blue interrupted, "You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis of life." Yellow chuckled . "The sun is yellow, as well as the moon and the stars. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile." Red could bear it no longer. "I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood-life's blood! I am the color of danger and bravery. I bring fire into the blood. I am the color of passion and love." Purple stood at his full height. "I am the color of royalty and power. I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They listen and obey." Finally Indigo spoke with determination, "Think of me and I am the color of silence. I represent thought and reflection. You need me for balance and contrast , for prayer and inner peace." The colors went on boasting , each showing off his or her own advantages. Suddenlythere came a flash of bright lightening. Thunder rolled and boomed. Rain started to pour down. The colors were scared to death. In the midst of the quarrelling, rain began to speak, "You foolish colors. Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me." Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands. From then on, when it rains, colors will stretch across the sky in a great bow of color. Whenever a rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one another. To show their power, the kings would prefer to _ . A. yellow B. red C. indigo D. purple Answer: D. purple Congressional hearings determined that the use of mechanical power hammers is very dangerous to the persons using them and to persons in the vicinity of the persons using them. As a result, Congress enacted a statute prohibiting the use of mechanical power hammers on all construction projects in the United States. Subsequently, a study conducted by a private research firm concluded that nails driven by mechanical power hammers have longer-lasting joining power than hand-driven nails. After learning about this study, the city council of the city of Green enacted an amendment to its building safety code requiring the use of mechanical power hammers in the construction of all buildings intended for human habitation. This amendment to the city of Green's building safety code is A. unconstitutional, because it was enacted subsequent to the federal statute. B. unconstitutional, because it conflicts with the provisions of the federal statute. C. constitutional, because the federal statute does not expressly indicate that it supersedes inconsistent state or local laws. D. constitutional, because the long-term safety of human habitations justifies some additional risk to the people engaged in their construction. Answer: B. unconstitutional, because it conflicts with the provisions of the federal statute. The BEST way to tell the DIFFERENCE between an oak and a maple tree is to compare the A. height of both trees. B. number of leaves on the trees. C. size of the root systems of the trees. D. shape of the leaves. Answer: D. shape of the leaves. It was Mother's Day,but the young mother was a little unhappy,because she was 800 miles away from her parents.In the morning she phoned her mother to wish her a happy Mother's Day,and her mother told her about the beautiful lilacs in the garden. Later that day,when she told her husband about the lilacs,he said,"I know where we can find all that you want.Get the children and come on."So they went,driving down the country roads. There on a small hill,they saw a lot of beautiful purple lilacs.The young woman ran quickly to enjoy the flowers.Carefully,she picked a few here and a few there.On their way home there was a smile on her face. When they were passing a nursing home ,the young woman saw an old granny sitting in a chair.She had no children with her.They stopped the car and the young woman walked to the old woman,put the flowers in her hands,and smiled at her.The old granny thanked her again and again.She smiled happily,too. When the young mother came back to her car,her children asked her,"Who is that old granny?Why did you give our flowers to her?" "I don't know her,"their mother said."But it's Mother's Day,and she has no children.I have all of you,and I still have my mother.Just think how much those flowers meant to her. There were many beautiful purple lilacs. A. in her garden B. in the market C. in her mother's garden D. in the nursing home Answer: C. in her mother's garden
Question: The largest earthquake ( magnitude 9.5) of the 20th century happened on May 22, 1960 off the coast of South Central Chile. It generated one of the most destructive Pacific-wide tsunamis . Near the generating area, both the earthquake and the tsunami were very much destructive, particularly in the coastal area from Concepcion to the south end of Isla Chiloe. The largest tsunami damage occurred at Isla Chiloe---the coastal area closest to the epicenter . Huge tsunami waves measuring as high as 25 meters arrived within 10 to 15 minutes after the earthquake, killing at least two hundred people, sinking all the boats, and flooding half a kilometer inland. There was large damage and loss of life at Concepcion, Chile's top industrial city. Near the city of Valdivia, the earthquake and following aftershocks generated landslides which killed 18 people. At the port city of Valparaiso, a city of 200,000, many buildings collapsed. A total of 130,000 houses were destroyed --- one in every three in the earthquake zone and nearly 2,000,000 people were left homeless. Total damage losses, including to agriculture and to industry, were estimated to be over a half billion dollars . The total number of death related with both the tsunami and the earthquake was never found accurately for the region. Estimates of deaths reached between 490 to 5,7002 with no distinction as to how many deaths were caused by the earthquake and how many were caused by the tsunami. However, it is believed that most of the deaths in Chile were caused by the tsunami. What is the total number of deaths in the earthquake? A. 2,000,000 B. between 490 to 57,002 C. 200,000 D. it was hard to know. Answer: D. it was hard to know. Question: When you are ill, you should go to see a doctor. After the doctor looks you over, he will give you a note to take to the _ for some medicine. Chemists are usually good at reading doctors' notes. But sometimes doctors write too badly and even the chemist can not read them. One day a woman wrote to a doctor to invite him to have dinner with her family . The doctor wrote an answer, but he wrote too badly and the woman could not read it. She asked her husband, "I don't know whether he is going come or not. I don't want to call and say that I don't understand him. " Her husband thought for a few minutes and then he had a good idea. "Take it to the chemist," he said , "He will be able to read it for us." "That's a good idea." said the woman. She went to the chemist's shop and gave the doctor's note to him. The chemist looked at it for a long time. "Could you wait a moment, Miss?" he said . Then he went to the back of the shop. After a few minutes he came back, carrying a large bottle. He gave the bottle to the woman. "Take a teaspoon every day." said the chemist to the woman. The best title for this passage might be _ . A. A Piece of Good Advice B. A Clever Chemist C. An Invitation to the Doctor D. A Bad Doctor Answer: C. An Invitation to the Doctor Question: which one of these activities can lead to animal gathering seeds A. Bees making nectar B. bees making honey. C. bees stinging human D. Bees collecting nectar Answer: D. Bees collecting nectar Question: For years, my family has vacationed in the same Florida town. In fact, we just returned home after spending a week of spring break there with our three sons. Many nights, we take the same scenic drive to dinner at a favorite restaurant. As we travel along Gulf Shore Boulevard, we admire a combination of small beach apartments, swanky high-rises and spectacular homes. A few years ago, we noticed that whenever we drive this particular route, there are always two men sitting in front of the same third-floor window of a low-rise apartment building that overlooks the road. All that is visible from the road are their two silhouettes. Even during off-peak months, they've always been there. Over the years, we've had great fun speculating about who they are, whether they're having a drink, and if so, what they fancy, where they're from, and what they might be discussing. Our guesses have become a modern form of car bingo. Widowers? Retirees? Partners? We've run through the gamut of possibilities.[:ZXXK] Eventually, I started beeping the horn as we passed. We'd wave. Our new friends would do likewise. There was something comforting in seeing them. In a world of constant change, it has been nice to look up and see that they are there, just as we remember from our last visit. And then last spring, we drove by and they were missing. The apartment was dark. No one was visible in the window. Strangely, we drove by and they were missing The apartment was dark. No one was visible in the window. Strangely, we grew worried about two people we'd never even met. Where did they go? A new round of the guessing game began. On our last trip at Christmastime, we were relieved to see them once again. We were driving past about 6 p.m., and there they were at cocktail hour. I told my wife that I suspected they were gin drinkers and said we should buy them a bottle. She said that if I bought it, she'd deliver it. I said, "Tomorrow." Which of the following can best describe the family? A. generous and sensitive B. curious and kind C. helpful and brave D. friendly and hurnorous Answer: D. friendly and hurnorous Question: Needing to use an umbrella could be the result of A. evaporation B. condensation C. altercation D. precipitation Answer: D. precipitation
Fires, although dangerous might help with A. magic B. my feelings C. cultivation D. sadness Answer: C Watch for us on TV THIS summer, many Beijing middle school students had a different kind of vacation. Instead of hanging out with friends or traveling, they were training hard for the National Day celebration. To mark the special anniversary of China this year, the students performed a group dance in a big parade on Tian'anmen Square on October 1. Students were training from 7:30am to around 10:00am or from 4 pm to 6:30pm. It was to avoid the summer heat. They wore white hats, T-shirts and dark-blue trousers. The hats and T-shirts were printed with a red logo, the number '60". The first week of training was PE. Students practiced standing and squatting . Then they moved on to practice the group display. The use colored sheets in the shape of flowers as a prop . When we watch the parade on TV we will see them making colorful patterns with them. What do the students think of their unusual summer? "Sometimes we find it a bit tiring." says Lu Wenqi,13."But most of us think it's a great honor to take part in such an important celebration." Li Hui, 15, thinks the same as Lu. She says her classmates are seldom late for training. "It's a wonderful chance for us,' says Li. "When my parents were in college, they also took part in a national day celebration. Now it's my turn!" By Wang Min 21st Century Teens staff What do most of the students think of their unusual summer? A. A bit tiring B. It's a bit honor C. It's meaningful D. It's meaningless Answer: C The drug store was closing for the night. Young Alfred Higgins, the shop-assistant, was ready to go home. Mr. Carr, the boss, stared at him and said: "Stop! Alfred. Maybe you'd be good enough to take the things out of your pockets and leave them here before you go." Alfred's face got red. After a little hesitation , he took out what he had stolen. Mr. Carr said, "Maybe I should call you mother and let her know I'm going to have to put you in prison." Alfred thought his mother would come rushing in, eyes burning with anger. But, to his surprise, she arrived wearing a smile. "Hello, I'm Alfred's mother. Is he in trouble?" she said. Mr. Carr was surprised, too. He had expected Alfred's mother to come in nervously, shaking with fear, asking with wet eyes for a mercy for her son. Yet, she was most calm, quiet, and pleasant, which made Mr. Carr feel guilty . Soon Mr. Carr was shaking his head in agreement with what she was saying. "Of course", he said, "I don't want to be cruel. You are right. Sometimes, a little good advice is the best thing for a boy at certain times in his life and it often takes the youth a long time to grow up." And he warmly shook Mrs. Higgins's hand. Back home, without even looking at Alfred, she said, "You are a burden. Your trouble came one after another, always! Why do you stand there so stupidly? Go to bed." In his bedroom, Alfred heard his mother in the kitchen. Getting to the kitchen, he saw his mother drinking a cup of tea. His mother's face was a frightened, broken one, totally different from the earlier cool, bright face. She lifted the tea cup, her hands shaking, the lips moving nervously. He watched his mother quietly, without making a sound. The picture of his mother nearly made him cry. Realizing all the troubles he brought his mother in her shaking hands and the deep lines of worry in her grey face, he felt he shouldn't have done such a shameful theft to hurt his mother so deeply. He determined to grow up like a true man and protect his mother rather than hurt her again. After the incident, young Alfred would probably _ . A. feel frightened at her mother B. change his attitudes towards life C. hate Mr. Carr for hurting her mother D. have an argument with his mother Answer: B So there are four of them in this car heading north from Coleman in the heart of Texas to the town of Abilene , some 53 miles away. It is a hot day, and the drive is dusty and boring. Someone has had the bright idea to interrupt a nice family game of dominoes to go on a four-hour round-trip to eat at a really not very good restaurant. When they are back home again, one family member admits that she hasn't enjoyed herself all that much. One by one they all confess that they would rather have stayed at home. "I only went along with it because I thought the rest of you wanted to go," says everyone. No one wanted to go to Abilene. It had just happened. This story was first told by Professor Jerry Harvey in an article published in 1974 calledThe Abilene Paradox and other meditations on management. It offers a wonderful insight into the way that decisions can sometimes just emerge, without ever being consciously "made". Whether they mean to or not, groups exert a pressure to conform . A senior management team can find itself a long way down the track to a bad decision without realizing that the idea has very little support around the table. Close-knit teams are easily influenced by the pull of groupthink. The late Professor Janis suggested several ways in which teams can avoid it. Two key steps are to invite experts from outside into meetings, and to appoint at least one person to the role of "devil's advocate" -- a role that should be played by different people in different meetings. According to Professor Janis, at least one person should be appointed to the role of "devil's advocate " at each meeting so that _ . A. the pull of groupthink can be avoided B. each member will play a different role C. team members can agree with each other more easily D. experts from the outside can be invited into meetings Answer: A What will you do if you have six million dollars? Different people give different answers. David I will buy an island if I have six million dollars. Then I will be the king of the island. I will invite my friends to my island and we'll have a good time there. Cathy If I get six million dollars, I want to start my own business and I will do a lot of things for my family. For me, nothing is more important than my family. I will buy a new house for my parents and take them to travel around the world. Julie If I have six million dollars, I will put five million in the bank and spend one million. I will visit Sydney, Toronto, Moscow and other interesting cities. I want to try different kinds of delicious food, and build a house with a swimming pool. Victor If I have six million dollars, I will use the money to do everything I like. I will use two million to open my own shop. And I will give another four million to schools and charities. I would like to help students in poor areas to get good education. I want everyone to live a happy life. Which of the following is NOT true according to this passage? A. Victor hopes everyone can live a happy life. B. Julie doesn't like traveling. C. Cathy loves her family very much. D. David gets on well with his friends. Answer: B
Most middle school students find it boring to learn English. But students in Yat Sen middle school in New York, US, don't think so. Why? Because they are in the school of One Program, which asks students to work on their own or in small groups on computers to have math lessons. "The program gives the students a new learning style. No traditional classroom can compare with it. We give each lesson according to the students' interest and their strong and weak points," said JoelI. Klein, the school's head teacher, "we're looking for a new way that interest students children." Students enjoy these math lessons, especially lessons with video games. They must find out the answers to math problems to get through the game. One such game is Dimension M. As students move through mazes with their keyboards, some questions come up. Caleb Deng had to answer the question: What is 5+ (6x3)? He _ on paper quickly because there was just a minute left to play. " I was right," said Deng, 14, as he ended the game with a high score . "this really makes math lessons more exciting, since we are fighting to learn better." This article is mainly about _ . Answer: Mr. Eckerd at the end of the street was a different fellow with a different kind of house. He let kids from the neighborhood come to see his house, but only if they had written permission from their parents, and if he'd already spoken to the parents before. What made it so different? He shared his home with rescued animals that the county couldn't keep. He had the permission to have things like monkeys, large cats, and other strange creatures. His house had the ivy -covered brick wall and the iron gate across the driveway. Once you went inside, the hedges lining the driveway were carved into the shapes of animals. There were other pretty plants on the grounds, too. The old brick house held a lot of surprises. The double doors with the lion's head door knockers opened into a large flat entryway. In the wooden board walls all around, there were fish tanks with colorful fishes. The ceilings were painted with scenes of plants and rare animals. Room opened off from there. Continuing down the hall, you came to a large courtyard, which had been caged in, partly open to the sky .A large group of tiny monkeys shook up and down trees. You had to walk through a caged tunnel into other parts of the house. They called out to whoever walked in, hoping for treats of fruits, nuts, and seeds. Behind that, the hall continued to a room full of snakes and lizards. It felt like a desert in that room, so dry and hot. It was not everyone's favorite room, but it certainly was interesting. The final room was actually out back, and definitely not something to miss. It was much like a large glass bird cage or a greenhouse. It was there that you would usually find Mr Eckerd on a bench next to some carvings of jungle animals. He was watching the Bengal tiger that wandered back and forth inside the cage. Mr. Eckerd's house was the strangest and most unique place in town, a place very well worth seeing. What exhibit or animal room seemed to be the least popular for most people? Answer: Moving water was the most important factor in forming which of these? Answer: Do you know what a castle is? A castle is a building special to Europe. Castles were built in the Middle Ages by king and other powerful people who live in. Castles were used by people to protect themselves from their enemies. They are big buildings made form stone and wood. Today there are still castles all over Europe. Some are in ruins. But some built later are still in good repair and used even today. One example is Windsor Castle, which is a home to the British queen. It is in the country or Berkshire, not far from London. Castles have walls around them. In the old days, soldiers would stand on the walls to guard the people in the castle. If enemies came they would shoot arrows and throw stones at them. Castles also had moats. A moat is a river around the wall that makes it difficult for enemies to get in. It could be either dry or filled with water. Other people from younger countries love European castles. In the US there are rich people who have brought broken parts of castles to their country and rebuilt them. And some people build "replica" castles---modern copies of Castle. You probably know the Disneyland Castle in California, US. But did you know it is based on a famous castle in Germany built by King Ludwig IIof Bavaria? We can tell from the story that a moat is _ . Answer: On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicted that 42% of Americans could be overweight by 2030.Our expanding waistlines lead to not only a medical problem, but according to a recent article in The New York Times, it could also endanger personal safety in some situations-in an airplane crash, for example. The New York Times' Christine Negroni reports that engineers and scientists are questioning whether airplane seats are adequately constructed to protect overweight travelers. Government standards for airplane seat strength -first set more than 60 years ago---require that the seats be made for a passenger weighing 170 pounds(77kg).Today, the average American man weighs nearly 194 pounds(88kg) and the average woman 165 pounds(75kg).Negroni reports: "If a heavier person completely fills a seat ,the seat is not likely to behave as intended during a crash,"Robert Salzar,the leading scientist at the Center for Applied Biomechanics at the University of Virginia. "The energy absorption(,) that is built into the aircraft seat is likely to be overpowered and the passengers will not be protected properly". "Nor would the injury be limited to that passenger only," Dr. Salzar said. "If a seat or a seat belt fails,"he said, "those people who are seated nearby could be endangered from the uncontrolled movements of the passenger." Most complaints about airplane seats focus on their lack of comfort and high ticket price, and whether overweight passengers should be made to buy two seats. But The New York Times' article bring up another reason to feel anxious about flying. Investigators of the issue got in touch with the airplane seat and seat belt makers, but they refused to comment on the problem.Experts agreed that crash testing should be done with overweight dummies .Both airplane seats and seat belts should be tested, _ said. Fortunately, however, according to Nora Marshall, a senior adviser at the National Transportation Safety Board, the board's investigators have never seen an accident involving a commercial plane in which the weight of a passenger was a problem. Robert Salzar would probably agree that _ . Answer:
Every girl wants to have a great-looking tattoo design that makes them more attractive. Small and lovely tattoo designs are the path to go for girls planning to get tattooed for the first time. Nowadays, more and more females are getting a tattoo inked on their body. In the last fifteen years, tattoos have grown from being a sign of rebelliousness and trouble to a state of popular acceptance as a mark of fashion. Tattoos are permanent so you need to be sure that you like it before getting one. A great way is to have small tattoos that look beautiful as well. You can get a cherry blossom tattoo on the foot, perhaps, a hibiscus flower on the shoulder or a lovely butterfly on the lower stomach; whatever design you choose, it can definitely add to your attractiveness and charm. Deciding to get a tattoo needs careful thought and reflection. Otherwise, you could make some serious tattoo mistakes. Try to avoid big and obvious designs if possible. Another important part of choosing a tattoo design is the location. What part of the body do you want it on? Choosing a hidden location can often make the tattoo the perfect adornment . As for professional women, tattoos should normally be where they can be hidden. Most importantly, no matter what tattoo design you choose the final goal is that the design should be something you like. If you are into the tattoo and really feel passionate about it you will carry yourself in a different manner when you get it inked on your body. What did people think of girls who got tattooed in the past? Answer: They thought these girls were rebellious NASA has opened the door to the next generation of space discovery by announcing great plans for a base for humans to live on the surface of the moon forever. The project to build a base on the moon will begin soon after 2020, with astronauts living there within four years. The project comes after several excellent scientists and environmentalists asked humans to look beyond Earth to ensure the survival of the species . Eventually, the moon will be a base for humans to explore the solar system and one day land on Mars. NASA began planning for the first moon landing since 1972 when George Bush, the US president, announced his new plan for space exploration four years ago. NASA has already talked about the design of the Orion spacecraft that will replace the old space shuttle fleet in 2010. The plan for the moon base, however, is the first detailed explanation of how NASA intends to prepare for the first manned exploration of deep space and a possible Mars mission within 30 years. Scientists also believe that the south pole on the moon contain rich natural gases such as the rare helium-3 that could be used as fuel for the generation of nuclear power. Besides, teams of astronauts living there for six months at a time would mine for hydrogen and oxygen to make water and possibly rocket fuel. When was the plan to explore space first announced according to the passage? Answer: In 1968. Many people go to school for a good education. They learn languages ,history, maths and other subjects. School education is very important and useful, yet no one can learn everything from school. No matter how much a teacher knows, he can't teach his students everything they want to know. His work is to show his students how to learn.He teaches them how to read and how to think. So, much more is to be learned outside school by the students themselves. It is always more important to know how to study by oneself. It is quite easy to learn something in language or formula ( )in maths, but it is difficult to use a formula to find the answer to a maths problem. Great inventors do not get everything from school, but they can invent many things and change the world a lot. Though Thomas Edison invented many things, he didn't have much school education. How do they do all this ? A lot of things are not taught in the classroom. They get knowledge( ) from books outside school. They work hard all their lives, and the most important thing is that they know how to use their heads. How can an inventor invent things? The most important thing is how to _ . Answer: use his head well Childhood is a happy time, right? Not necessarily. Consider these facts. Depression may occur in as many as 1 in 33 children. Once a child has an episode of depression, he or she has a 50 percent chance of experiencing another episode in the next 5 years. Suicide is the 6th leading cause of death for 5--to--15-year-olds. If your child experiences 5 or more of these signs or symptoms for at least 2 weeks, he or she may be experiencing depression or another mental illness. Feeling--Does your child demonstrate: 1Sadness 2Emptiness 3Hopelessness 4Guilt 5Worthlessness 6Lack of enjoyment in everyday pleasures Thinking--Is your child having trouble: 1Concentrating 2Making decisions 3Completing schoolwork 4Maintaining grades 5Maintaining friendships Physical problems--Does your child complain of: 1Headaches 2Stomachaches 3Lack of energy 4Sleeeping problems(too much or too little) 5Weight or appetite changes(gain or loss) Behavior problems--Is your child: 1Irritable 2Not wanting to go to school 3Wanting to be alone most of the time 4Having difficulty getting along with others 5Cutting classes or skipping school 6Dropping out of sports, hobbies or other activities Drinking alcohol or using drugs. Suicide risk--Does your child talk or think about: 1Suicide 2Death 3Other morbid subjects Sometimes, a child who causes problems at school or at home may actually be depressed, according to the prefix = st1 /AmericanAcademyof Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.If you think your child may be depressed, it's important to have your child treated. Discuss your child's problems with his or her doctor. The doctor may suggest a referral to a children's psychologist or psychiatrist . Treatment may include individual and family therapy , along with an antidepressant medication. This article is particularly written for_. Answer: parents 1.2 million road deaths worldwide occur each year, plus a further 50 million injuries. Toreduce car crash rate, much research now is focused on safety and new fuelsthough some electric vehicle and biofuel research aims at going faster. Traveling at speed has always been risky. One cutting edge area of research in motoring safety is the use of digital in-car assistants. They can ensure you don't miss key road signs or fall asleep. The use of artificial intelligence software allows these assistants to monitor your driving and makes sure your phone or radio doesn't distract you at a vital moment. Most crashes result from human and not mechanical faulfs. Some safety developments aim to improve your vision. Radar can spot obstacles in fog, while other technology "sees through" high-sided vehicles blocking your view. And improvements to seat belts, pedal controls and tyres are making driving smoother and safer. The color1 of a car has been found to be linked with safety, as have, less surprisingly, size and shape. And alternatives to fossil-fuel based petrol, such as plant oils, are a hot area of research. Fuel cells based on hydrogen burn cleanly, and are the subject of a serious research effort. But whatever is in the fuel tank,you don't want a thief in the driving seat and there have been many innovations ,some using satellite tracking and remote communications, to fight against car theft. These communication systems can also come into play if you crash, automatically calling for help. Accidents cause many traffic jams, but there are slighter interplays between vehicles that can cause jams even on a clear but busy road, such jams can be analyzed using statistical tools. Robotic drivers could be programmed to make traffic flow smoothly and will perhaps one day be everyone's personal tool, but their latest efforts suggest that won't be soon. What is the passage mainly about? Answer: .Different technology has been researched to avoid car troubles.
Schools and parents in Shenzhen City have been asked to take better care of children's eyesight as 45 percent of them were found to be shortsighted. Too much reading, poor lighting and too much TV are blamed . Of the city's high school graduates who applied to study at colleges this summer, but now he gets up earlier. In order to take care of eyes, children shouldn't _ . A read books B watch TV C make their eyes too tired D see things far away Answer: C. make their eyes too tired Which of the following structures does a frog develop as it changes from a tadpole to an adult frog? A eyes B heart C lungs D tail Answer: C. lungs Procter and Gamble(P&G)has announced that it'll enlarge its household products empire by combining with Gillette. The deal is expected to close this autumn because it should get permission from US Antitrust Regulators ,P&G said in a statement. P&G is to gain all of Gillette's business, including its producing and technical equipment. It will add a product variety popular with men. P&G said it expected the combination to bring in totaling US $14--16 billion. But it also said it was planning to cut the combined workforce of 140,000 by about 6,000 or four percent. P&G is based inprefix = st1 /Cincinnati,Ohio,US. It has about 110,000 employees in almost 80 countries. Its brands include Tide laundry detergent and Head&Shoulders shampoo. Gillette is famous all over the world for its shaving products. It's based in Boston,Massachusetts,USand has 32 factories in 14 countries. P&G ranks No. 1 in the world in its household and personal furnishing parts and the company had US$ 5.8 billion in profits in 2004. Gillette ranks No.5 and has a market capitalization of US$ 45.5 billion. This combination of two best of their class, at a time when they are both operating from a position of strength, is a special opportunity, and the combination is going to create the greatest consumer products company in the world. It's a dream deal. What does the writer think of the combination? A The deal is really great. B The deal will do harm to Gillette. C The deal will disappoint the business world. D The deal is welcomed by consumers. Answer: A. The deal is really great. Ms Tan,you've referred to your new novel as your eighth book. That's because it took me six or seven attempts at a second novel before I started and completed this one. Why do you think you had so many false starts? I would say that my reasons were wrong:I was trying to prove that I wasn't just a mother-daughter storyteller,or I was trying to prove that I didn't just have to write about things that were strictly Chinese or Chinese-American.Those were never the right reasons for writing those early stories.And I could never come up with other,better reasons for continuing them. What kept you going on this book? This book was different because it was based on my mother's real life.The reason for writing it became more personal and emotional.After The Joy Luck Club came out,my mother was always explaining to people that she wasn't any of the mothers in that book.And at one point she said to me,"Next book tells my true story."And then she started telling me things I never knew before.She also told me many,many stories,because my mother doesn't generalize.The book really grew out of that. Have you ever visited China? Yes.I've been there twice:about three years ago and then again last November,both times with my mother and my husband. Was it difficult to capture the Chinese-American dialect without sounding like a parody ? No,because it's the language I've heard all my life from my mother.She speaks English as it's direct translation from Chinese.But it's more than that:Her language also has more imagery than English. Can you think of an example? Somebody might say to me,"Don't work so hard.You'll kill yourself."My mother will say to me,"Why do you press all your brains out on this page for someone else?"So it's very vivid.That's the way she talks. Have many readers told you that the Chinese mother in your book reminded them of the typical Jewish mother? Many people have told me that.I think the mother-daughter relationship is very intense in both cases.Culturally there is an acceptance that mothers have the power to tell their children,especially their daughters,how to conduct their lives--not simply up until the time they are 18,but for the rest of their lives.However,when children grow up in a different culture from their parents',they tend to keep more secrets from their parents.The children think,"They just wouldn't understand that I had to do this."And that can really create a gap,and it can grow as the number of secrets grows. Which question is NOT answered in the interview? A How does she think of her mother's language? B How many books does she plan to write? C When did she visit China? D How is generation gap created? Answer: B. How many books does she plan to write? After too long on the Net, even a phone call can be a shock. My boyfriend's Liverpudlian accent suddenly becomes too difficult to understand after his clear words on screen; a secretary's tone seems more rejecting than I'd imagined it would be. Time itself becomes fluid--hours become minutes, and alternately seconds stretch into days. Weekends, once a highlight of my week, are now just two ordinary days. For the last three years, since I stopped working as a producer for Charlie Rose, I have done much of my work as a tele-commuter. I submit articles and edit them by E-mail and communicate with colleagues on Internet mailing lists. My boyfriend lives in England; so much of our relationship is computer-mediated. If I desired, I could stay inside for weeks without wanting anything. I can order food, and manage my money, love and work. In fact, at times I have spent as long as three weeks alone at home, going out only to get mail and buy newspapers and groceries. I watched most of the blizzard of '96 on TV. But after a while, life itself begins to feel unreal. I start to feel as though I've merged with my machines, taking data in, spitting them back out, just another node on the Net. Others on line report the same symptoms. We start to strongly dislike the outside forms of socializing. It's like attending an A. A. meeting in a bar with everyone holding a half-sipped drink. We have become the Net opponents' worst nightmare. What first seemed like a luxury, crawling from bed to computer, not worrying about hair, and clothes and face, has become an avoidance ,a lack of discipline. And once you start replacing real human contact with cyber interaction, _ can be quite difficult. At times, I turn on the television and just leave it to chatter in the background, something that I'd never done previously. The voices of the programs relax me, but then I'm jarred by the commercials. I find myself sucked in by soap operas, or needing to keep up with the latest news and the weather. "Dateline", "Frontline" , "Nightline," CNN, every possible angle of every story over and over and over, even when they are of no possible use to me. Work moves from foreground to background. Compared to the clear words of her boyfriend on screen, his accent becomes _ . A unreal B unbearable C misleading D not understandable Answer: D. not understandable
You can make an untraceable bullet with Answer: I recently had dinner with someone who told me that one of his best friends had been killed in a private plane crash, and something happened at the memorial service that he'll never forget. He shared the story with me. At the memorial service, his friend's wife walked to the platform to speak to the gathering. She said a friend had asked her the best memory she had of their life together. At the moment, she had been too sad to answer, but she had thought about it since and wanted to answer the question. They were in their late forties when he died, and she began talking about a time in their life almost twenty years earlier. She had quit her job to obtain her master's degree, and her husband never hesitated in his support. He held down his own job and also did the cooking, cleaning, and other housework while she studied for her degree. One time they both stayed up all night. She was finishing her paper, and he was preparing for an important business meeting. That morning, she walked out of her study, leaned against the door by the stairs, looked at her husband downstairs and just thought about how much she loved him. She knew how important this meeting was to his future, and she was feeling guilty that she didn't even have time to make his breakfast. He took his briefcase and hurried out. She heard the garage door open and close, but much to her surprise, she heard it open again about thirty seconds later. From above, she watched her husband dash into the house and walk over to the forgotten coffee table. Marking the surface of it with his finger through the dust with the words "I love you", then he raced back to his car. The new widow then looked out at her audience and said, "John and I had a wonderful life together. We have been around the world several times. We've had everything money can buy...but nothing comes close to that moment." Hearing this, I was deeply moved. "Love makes life worthwhile." Why did the woman quit her job? Answer: It was a Sunday and the heavy storm had lasted all night. The morning after the storm, though, was beautiful: blue skies, warm air and a calm, inviting sea touching the shore gently. My father realized it was a good day for fishing and invited my sister and me to go with him. I was only 14 and fishing had never been my thing, but I decided to go all the same. _ On the road to the harbour we could see the terrible destruction on the coast, but the harbour itself was in fairly good shape. After all, it was protected by the arms of a bay that had only one tiny channel to the sea. As we got on board, we noticed two big humps in the distance. On approaching them, we saw it was a mother whale with her baby. We couldn't believe it ----there aren't any whales along the coast here. The storm must have driven them across the ocean into the bay, in which the still water was so badly polluted that nothing could survive. The little baby whale----actually as big as our boat----was obviously stuck and could not move. The mother dived under the water and came up suddenly, making big whirlpools and waves. "She's trying to help her baby, but on the wrong side, "my father said. At this point, my father moved our boat in a semicircle to the other side and, heading the boat towards the baby whale, pushed it gently. With our several gentle pushes the big hump turned over and disappeared under water. Then it swam up right beside its mum. They struggled in their desperate attempts to escape but missed the exit and started heading in the wrong direction. We hurried up to the whales and tried to lead them towards the bay channel. Slowly, they let us lead them, some-times rising from the water right beside us to breathe----and to give us a trusting look with those huge eyes. Once they hit their first part of clean water flowing straight from the sea, the mum gave us a wave with her tail and off they swam into the distance. In the excitement it had felt like only a few minutes, but we had been with those wonderful animals for almost an hour and a half. That was the simple and lasting beauty of the day, Nearly four decades later, I still look back fondly to that golden day at sea. The harbour survived the storm owing to _ . Answer: Despite being tall, Michelle Obama is much smaller than she appears on television. And she seemed a little short by her surroundings in the great hall of Christchurch College as she spoke quietly without a microphone because of a technical mistake. Her audience were 40 young girls from a London state school where 50 languages are spoken. "I remember how well-meaning but misguided people questioned whether someone with my background could succeed at an elite university," she said. "When I was accepted, I had all kinds of worries and doubts. I wouldn't be as well prepared as students from privileged families and I wouldn't fit in. But you are just as capable and have just as much to offer as anyone else." This was Mrs. Obama's only solo outing during the state visit and part two of an unusual relationship which she has struck up with Anderson College in Islington. Two years ago on her first visit to the UK she visited the school. Yesterday she returned to meet the pupils but this time at Christchurch College where they were taking part in an open day run to improve Oxford's still poor record on diversifying student intake. Mrs. Obama was asked why she married her husband, what it was like being First Lady and when there would be a female President in the White House. Her message--which she repeated time and again--was work hard, have self-belief, and don't be afraid to fail. _ Afterwards there were hugs for everyone and a photo with her. And watching the group of multicultural young Britons surround her among the splendor of the college building one thought stood out. Had Mrs. Obama been born in Britain, she would almost certainly not have made it to Oxford as she did to Harvard. But now--thanks in part to her--some of these children just might. It is implied in the passage that these 40 young girls _ . Answer: If you ask most Americans, they would say their favorite season of the year is summer. The weather is warm. They do not have to wear heavy clothes to keep warm. Young people do not have to go to school. They can do many activities outside, like playing sports and swimming at the beach or the pool. They like the sunshine during the day and the warm summer nights. People have written and recorded hundreds of songs about summer. These are some of our favorites. One of the most famous songs about summer is from George Gershwin's opera "Porgy and Bess". He wrote the music in nineteen thirty-five. The opera takes place in the southern United States. It opens with these words: "Summertime and the living' is easy. Fish are jumping' and the cotton is high." Leontyne Price sings the song. The nineteen fifties and sixties produced many songs about teenagers enjoying their summer vacation from school. The songs are about having fun, swimming in the ocean, driving in cars. However, for some teenagers, summer vacation was not all fun and games. Some of them had to work to earn money. Which of following statements is NOT true? Answer:
Time and how we experience it have always puzzled us.Physicists have created fascinating theories, but their time is measured by a pendulum and is not psychological time, which leaps with little regard to the clock or calendar.As some-one who understood the distinction observed, " _ Psychologists have long noticed that larger units of time, such as months and years, fly on swifter wings as we age.They also note that the more time is structured with schedules and appointments, the more rapidly it seems to pass.For example, a day at the office flies compared with a day at the beach.Since most of us spend fewer days at the beach and more at the office as we age, an increase in structured tune could well be to blame for why time seems to speed up as we grow older. Expectation and familiarity also make time seem to flow more rapidly.Almost all of us have had the experience of driving somewhere we've never been before. Surrounded by unfamiliar scenery, with no real idea of when we'll arrive, we experience the trip as lasting a long time. But the return trip, although exactly as long, seems to take far less time. The _ of the outward journey has become routine. Thus taking a different route on occasions can often help slow the clock. When was become as identical as identical as beads on a string, they mix together, and even months become a single day. To counter this, try to find ways to interrupt the structure of your day--to stop time, so to speak. Learning something new is one of the ways to slow the passage of time. One of the reasons the days of our youth seems so full and long is that these are the days of learning and discovery. For many of us, learning ends when we leave school, but this doesn't have to be. The purpose of the passage is to _ . A. give various explanations about time B. describe how we experience time psychologically C. show the different ideas of physicists and psychologists on time D. explain why time flies and how to slow it down psychologically Answer: D A "lost tribe" that reached America from Australia may have been the first Native Americans, according to a new theory. If proved by DNA evidence, the theory will break long established beliefs about the southerly migration of people who entered America across the Bering Strait, found it empty and occupied it. On this theory rests the belief of Native Americans to have been the first true Americans. They would be classified to the ranks of escapee, beaten to the New World by Aboriginals in boats. To a European, this may seem like an academic argument, but to Americans it is a philosophical question about identity, Silvia Gonzales, of Liverpool University said . Her claims are based on skeletons found in the California Peninsula of Mexico that have skulls quite unlike the broad Mongolian features of Native Americans. These narrow-skulled people have more in common with southern Asians, Aboriginal Australians and people of the South Pacific Region. The bones, stored at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, have been carbon-dated and one is 12,700 years old, which places it several thousand years before the arrival of people from the North. "We think there were several migration waves into the Americas at different times by different human groups," Dr. Gonzales said. "The timing, route and point of origin of the first colonization of the Americas remains a most contentious topic in human evolution." But comparisons based on skull shape are not considered conclusive by anthropologists, so a team of Mexican and British scientists, backed by the Natural Environment Research Council, has also attempted to take out DNA from the bones. Dr. Gonzales declined yesterday to say exactly what the results were, as they need to be checked, but indicated that they were consistent with an Australian origin. It is generally considered that the first Native Americans came from _ . A. North Asia B. Australia C. South Pacific D. South Asia Answer: A A mother had two daughters. She loved them very much, but two girls would fight with each other from their earliest years. As they grew older, they became total strangers. They had no contact with each other when they were adults. This caused the mother great pain. Then, later, she had an idea. She decided to write a letter to them. In this letter, she told them how much she loved them, and how she wanted them to love each other in this way. She also gave them news of herself and some guidance on how to live happier lives. When the letter was ready, she wrote out one copy for each daughter, but these copies were special. Each copy contained only every second sentence of the original letter: the copy for one daughter had only the even sentences, and the other daughter's copy contained only the odd sentences. Neither contained the fullness of the mother's message. When the two daughters received their letters, they were puzzled. To understand the half-letter, they would have to put the two letters together and read them as one, which meant they must approach one another again in love and respect. But they each blamed the other for not helping them when trying to read the half-letter. For a long time, the mother waited in vain. Then one day, when the mother had almost given up hope, there was a knock at the door. There they stood, together. "We've come home," they said at the same time. "We've finally put our letters together, and we've come to say how much we love you, Mum." Then she hugged them both, tears of joy streaming down her cheeks, and welcomed them back home. What is the best title for the passage? A. An Unusual Letter B. A Mother's Endless Love C. Two Special Daughters D. A Sincere Apology to Mother Answer: A Jenny lived in a town.Her father,Mr.Young,had a shop there and sold clothes in it.The shopkeeper was born in a poor family and was in school no more than a year.He was always sorry for it though he had much money now.He hoped his daughter could become a scientist.But the girl didn't 1ike anything else except singing.She often went to the concerts,bought a lot of records the famous pop stars made and insisted on listening to the music when she was free.Of course she wanted to be a pop star,too.Her parents wanted to prevent her,but she didn't listen to them and they had to agree to her choice.They engaged an old man who was good at music as a private teacher. Five years passed.Mr.Young bought all kinds of musical instruments for Jenny and they visited some places where the famous singers were born.Of course he spent a lot of money on it.But he found the girl didn't make any progress.At last the teacher didn't think the girl could become a singer at all and had to tell Mr.Young about it.The man became angry and said,"Why didn't you tell me about it earlier? My daughter learned nothing but I paid you month after month!" "I think you should thank me for it,"said the teacher."Another teacher, who teaches badly,is paid more than I was.And I saved much money for you!" Mr. Young was in school for a short time because _ . A. he was too poor to go on studying B. he had to help his parents C. he was weak in his lessons D. he didn't like studying at all Answer: A Somepeople think only school children do not agree with their parents, however, it is not true. Communication is a problem for parents and children of all ages. if it's hard for you to communicate with your parents, don't worry about it. Here is some advice for you to _ the generation gap .Don't argue with your parents. Don't get to your parents when you are angry.Your parents probably won't consider your ideas if you are shouting at them. And you can't express yourself well if you are angry. Go to someplace to cool off . Make sure you understand why you are unhappy. Then think about what you want to say to your parents. If you don't think you can speak to them at the moment, try writing a letter. Try to reach a compromise . Perhaps you and your parents disagree on something. You can keep your disagreement and try your best to accept each other. Michael's mother didn't agree with him about buying a motorcycle. They argued over it. But they finally came to a compromise. Michael bought the motorcycle, but only drove it on certain days. Of course, your parents might refuse to compromise on something . In these situations, it is especially important to show love and respect to them. Showing respect will keep your relationship strong. Talk about your values. The values of your parents are probably different from those of your own. Tell your parents what you care about, and why. Understanding your values mighthelp them see your purposes in life. A good relationship with your parents can make you a better and happier person .It is worth having a try! According to the passage, who have a communication problem ? A. Parents and other people. B. Teachers and their students. C. Parents and children of all ages. D. Only school kids and their parents. Answer: C
Harvard student Julie Zauzmer turned 20 on January 22, and her birthday couldn't have been better: She got to working the overnight shift at the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter. That might seem an extraordinary act of selflessness for someone turning 20. But there's increasing evidence that commitment to community service is becoming much more ordinary to today's young adults. "Young adults are doing more volunteer service than in any point in history,'' said Scott Seider, an assistant professor of education at Boston University who studies the civic development of young adults. At Harvard, the Winthrop Street Homeless Shelter is one of 86 social service programs associated with the Phillips Brooks House Association, which is a student-run nonprofit organization. Students can work with deaf children, bring pets to nursing homes, and prepare Chinese students to become US citizens, and so on. Volunteerism develops well outside of colleges, too. Applications to AmeriCorps have risen to a very high level, jumping from 91,399 in 2008 to 258,829 in 2010. City Year, which puts young people in high-poverty schools as tutors and mentors for at-risk students, has had a 140 percent increase in applications since its 2007-2008 service year. Citizen Schools, which uses volunteers to work with students in middle schools, has had a 28 percent jump in applicants between 2008 and 2009. "Most of my friends know it's their duty to give back before they settle down,'' said Samantha Wolf, a 23-year-old Boston University graduate serving with City Year in a Mattapan school. City Year corps member Antonio Gutierrez, 22, graduated last year from Union College in Schenectady, N.Y., and is applying for admission to law schools, but this year he is tutoring and mentoring students at the Blackstone Elementary School in the South End. "I grew up in similar circumstances,'' said Gutierrez, who said he was a weak student until enrichment programs changed his academic trajectory . Raised by a single mother in low-income housing across the street from City Year's South End Headquarters, he used to watch the red-jacketed corps members come and go, and decided to become one someday. What's the goal of the program of City Year? A. It helps to find jobs for college students. B. It offers shelters to the homeless people. C. It helps to build schools for poor students. D. It engages young people to teach at high-poverty schools. Answer: D. It engages young people to teach at high-poverty schools. Fiona Famous was a very popular girl at school. She was clever and fun, and got on well with everyone. It was no accident that Fiona was so popular. From an early age she had tried hard to be kind and friendly to everyone. She invited the whole class to her birthday party, and from time to time she would give presents to everybody. She was such a busy girl, with so many friends. However, she felt very lucky, no other girl had so many friends at school and in the neighborhood. But everything changed on National Friendship Day. On that day, at school, everyone was having a great time, drawing, painting, giving gifts. They had to make three presents to give to their three best friends. However, when all the presents had been made and shared out among classmates, Fiona was the only one who had not received a present! She felt terrible, and spent hours crying. How could it be possible? So much she had done to make so many friends, and in the end no one saw her as their best friend? Everyone came and tried to comfort her for a while. But each one only stayed for a short time before leaving. When she got home that night and asked her mother where she could find true friends. "Fiona, my dear," answered her mother, "you cannot buy friends with a smile or a few good words. If you really want true friends, you will have to give them real time and affection . For a true friend you must always be there for them, in good times and bad". "But I want to be everybody's friend! I need to share my time among everyone!" Fiona argued. "My dear, you're a lovely girl," said her mother, "but you can't be a close friend to everybody. There just isn't enough time for everyone, so it's only possible to have a few true friends. The others won't be close friends". Hearing this, Fiona decided to change her ways so that she could finally have some true friends. That night, in bed, she thought about what she could do to get them. _ Her mother was always ready to help her. She could stand all of Fiona's dislikes and problems. She always encouraged her. She loved her a great deal... That was what makes friends! And Fiona smiled happily, realizing that she already had the best friend anyone could ever want. Fiona was a very popular girl because she _ . A. gave her best friends presents B. often made presents for her friends C. was kind and friendly to everyone D. invited some of her class to her birthday party Answer: C. was kind and friendly to everyone The Food and Drug Administration is, again, threatening to impose milk and meat from cloned animals on a public that opposes the technology and its products. Respected polls report that more than 60% of Americans think animal cloning is immoral, and that most people said they wouldn't knowingly eat the products even if the FDA approved them. But because the FDA would allow cloned meat and milk to be sold without identifying labels, consumers wouldn't be able to avoid them. The FDA has consistently tilted toward those who want cloned milk and meat in our food. Agency officials have repeatedly asserted that science shows cloned milk and meat are safe for humans. But the FDA has never published the complete scientific studies it says support that claim. The argument that cloning is safe for animals is unconvincing. Cloned meat and milk offer no public economic benefits. Having cloned cows produce more milk wouldn't reduce milk prices. prefix = st1 /USfarmers produce more milk than we drink, and the government is required to buy the surplus. Since 2000, dairy support programs have cost taxpayers more than $ 5 billion. Most important, this first decision to advance animal biotechnology raises ethical issues beyond the FDA's expertise. Techniques used to clone animals will advance the ability to clone humans-and create animals with human genes. Neither the agency nor animal scientists are qualified to tell us whether and when it is ethically acceptable for humans to alter the essential nature of animals. We need a national discussion, including ethicists and religious leaders, to consider the wisdom of cloned and transgenic animals. Given the risk of unintended consequences, we should proceed cautiously. The president should halt further FDA action on cloning and set in motion a process for beginning this broader discussion. From the text we know that cloning technique _ . A. developed well enough to clone human beings B. may cause unintended bad results to human beings C. will bring more unexpected economic benefits D. is supported by ethicists and religious leaders Answer: B. may cause unintended bad results to human beings Many scientists find that colours can change people's feelings. It's very interesting. Some colours can make people feel relaxed,and some colours can make people feel nervous. Now,this kind of knowledge is being used in many places. For example, school walls are always painted green because green makes students feel relaxed. It is also good for the students' eyes. Some books are also green or light blue for the same reason. Restaurant owners not only have to know how to make food,but also have to know how to make money. Here are some things they've learned from scientific studies. The colour red makes people hungry. Many fast food restaurants have red furniture or walls. Soft colours like pink and light blue make people feel relaxed,so they spend more time eating. Loud music may be nice at first,but it soon makes people want to leave. Hard seats also make customers want to eat quickly and leave. Many restaurants,especially fast food restaurants,use this knowledge to make customers eat faster. How does the colour green make the students feel? A. Hungry. B. Nervous. C. Angry. D. Relaxed. Answer: D. Relaxed. You-yes, you!-can help keep people from getting sick this flu season. How? It's not too hard. Just take these steps: Wash your hands often, especially before eating and after coughing or blowing your nose. Keep your coughs to yourself(use a _ instead of your hand). *Keep your hands out of your eyes, mouth, and nose. You may have heard all this before, but flu season is a great time to really start doing them. By following these pieces of advice, you might be able to keep yourself from getting sick and stop germs from spreading around and making other people sick. So your hands are very important. A lot of germs get in our bodies from there. Germs get on our hands and we put our hands in our eyes, noses, and, especially, our mouths. How to stop germs? Yeah, hand washing. You might pick up germs here and there. So when you wash your hands, you wash away germs. But how to wash your hands? That's easy: wash your hands with soap and warm water(not cold or hot). Don't forget to wash around your fingernails . This is one place germs like to be. Wash for about 15 to 20 seconds---about how long it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice. The passage mainly tells us _ . A. how to stop the flu spreading B. how to wash our hands C. how germs get into our bodies D. how we keep ourselves from getting sick Answer: D. how we keep ourselves from getting sick
Chinese people are now living happier and longer than before. According to the latest study, the number of people over 60 years old is 130 million, making up 10 percent of the whole population, and increases at a rate of 3 percent per year. This marks that China has stepped into the aged society. It is the Chinese tradition to respect, love, support, and help old people, and the aging problem has received more and more attention from the society. China has built the system to protect and serve old people's legal rights and interests, gradually developed social insurance, public health services and social welfare projects for old people, and also applied the minimum living standard protection system for the aged who are unable to work and receive no supports. Now, China is bringing the aging problem into the work of sustainable development according to China's conditions, to build and develop a social security system for old people, set up a system combined with the state, collectives and families to solve the problem of "the elderly should be provided for". The life of China's old people is more color1ful along with the fast and sound economic development of the country. Old people in today's China who don't have to consider their food and clothing hope to live more color1fully. The happy psychology of the aged makes them _ knowledge. Strong and healthy old people can be seen everywhere of the country. They learn new knowledge, surf the Internet, practice handwriting and drawing, and take part in fashion shows, exercises and entertainments. Their active and sound living attitude encourages the youth around and they are in fact an important role in ensuring a stable and peaceful society. Which of the following is NOTthe author's idea? Answer: Emergency rooms (ER) are supposed to cure people but Dr. John Stemgold wonders if working in an ER in Willits made him sick. The ER was downwind of the Remco chrome plant. "I used to sit facing that window and kind of daydream out the window, looking at Remco, looking at the fog coming out of there. Then I would cough and cough." Stemgold said. What Dr.Stemgold didn't know was that Remco was flowing out Chromium VI into the air--- a chemical known to cause cancer and breathing problems in humans. A recent state health department study found that people who were in Willits when Remco was in operation from 1964 to 1995 are at higher risk for cancer because of Chromium VI exposure. Today Dr.Stemgold has lots of time to play his guitar. It turns out he has a form of breathing difficulty. Hospital chemicals cause coughing so violently that he's broken bones and it's cost him his career. Others in this town believe the Chromium has made them sick, too, and their families. Actually, Chromium VI was classified as a carcinogen , a cancer-causing substance, thirty years ago, Twenty years ago, a group of state scientific specialists found no exposure level below which carcinogen effects would not have some probability of occurring. Still, Remco was allowed to flow out Chromium VI into the air. In the battle to balance public health and a healthy economy, laws often favor business, Alan Ramo is a professor of law at Golden Gate University. "There is a real drive to make money, to have employment. When there's a real job that's available and a theoretical risk of a chemical, jobs win out, business wins out." And chemicals are allowed to flood the marketplace and the government requires strict testing before any drugs can be sold. But the vast majority of industrial chemicals are put into use little testing of any kind Chemicals that people like us, you and me might be exposed to. Marilyn Underwood is with California state health department. " You need to have the convincing evidence that something is bad to then start regulating it." However, in most cases, chemicals are not tested until someone reports the abnormal, unnatural condition of the environment in general. "I think that if people really knew what really goes on with environmental protection I think they would be shocked and they should be." Says Professor Ramo. "It might be valuable for other people to know what has happened to me, not for me but for them." He said "because they might be in a similar situation because of where they work." When are new chemicals for industry tested? Answer: I first came across the concept of pay-what-you-can cafes last summer in Boone, N.C., where I ate at F.A.R.M (Feed All Regardless of Means) Cafe. You can volunteer to earn your meal, pay the suggested price($10) or less, or you can overpay--paying it forward for a future customer's meal. My only regret after eating there was not having a chance to give my time. So as soon as Healthy World Cafe opened in York in April, I signed up for a volunteer shift . F.A.R.M and healthy World are part of a growing trend of community cafes. In 2003, Denise Cerreta opened the first in Salt Lake City. Cerreta now runs the One World Everybody Eats Foundation, helping others copy her pay-what-you can model. "I think the community cafe is truly a hand up, not a handout," Cerreta said. She acknowledged that soup kitchens have a place in society, but people typically don't feel good about going there. "One of the values of the community cafe is that we have another approach," she said. "Everyone eats here, no one needs to know whether you volunteered, overpaid or underpaid." The successful cafes not only address hunger and food insecurity but also become necessary parts of their neighborhood -- whether it's a place to learn skills or hear live music. Some teach cooking to seniors; some offer free used books. Eating or working there is a reminder that we are all in this world together. My 10 am-1pm shift at World-Healthy-Cafe began with the cafe manager -- one of the two paid staff members. Our volunteer crew wasn't the most orderly, but we managed to prepare and serve meals with a lot of laughs in between. At the end of my shift, I ordered my earned meal at the counter, together with other volunteers. After lunch, I walked out the door, with a handful of new friends, music in my head and a satisfied belly and heart. How did the author feel about working at Healthy World Cafe? Answer: Mary is from the U.S.A. She has two brothers. Now her family are in China. Her father, Mr. Peterson teaches English in Xihu Middle School. And her mother works in the same school. She teaches English, too. Mary likes red clothes very much. Her mother likes red clothes a lot, too. Mary is a nice girl student. She is in Xihu Middle School .She can speak Chinese. She has many Chinese friends. She teaches them English, and they teach her Chinese. Her two brothers are twins. One is Bob, the other is Bill. They look the same. They are only three. So their grandparents look after them at home. Mrs. Peterson has many toys for the twins. Bob likes toy cars, but Bill likes toy bears. They are happy every day. Who is in Xihu Middle school ?. Answer: A breeze is blowing across a field, growing stronger and stronger. The breeze becomes a storm of wind, moving rocks and breaking trees. This wind is likely the cause of Answer:
Homeownership has let us down. For generations, Americans believed that owning a home was undoubtedly good. Our political leaders hammered home the point. Franklin Roosevelt held that a country of homeowners was "unconquerable." Homeownership could even save babies, save children, save families and save America. A house with a lawn and a fence wasn't just a nice place to live in or a risk-free investment; it was a way to transform a nation. No wonder leaders of all political types wanted to spend more than $100 billion a year on subsidies and tax breaks to encourage people to buy. But the dark side of homeownership is now all too apparent: Indeed, easy lending stimulated by the cult of homeownership may have caused the financial crisis. Housing remains a drag on the economy. Existing-home sales in April dropped 27% from the prior month, worsening fears of a double-drop. And all that is just the obvious tale of a housing bubble and what happened when it popped. _ For the better part of a century, politics, industry and culture lined up to create a fetish of the idea of buying a house. Homeownership has done plenty of good over the decades; it has provided stability to tens of millions of families. Yet by idealizing the act of buying a home, we have ignored the downsides. In the bubble years, lending standards slipped dramatically, allowing many Americans to put far too much of their income into paying for their housing. And we ignored longer-term phenomena too. Homeownership contributed to the hollowing out of cities and kept renters out of the best neighborhoods. It fed America's overuse of energy and oil. It made it more difficult for those who had lost a job to find another. Perhaps worst of all, it helped us become casually self-deceiving: By telling ourselves that homeownership was a pathway to wealth and stable communities and better test scores, we avoided dealing with these frightening issues head-on. Now, as the U.S. recovers from the biggest housing bust since the Great Depression, it is time to rethink how realistic our expectations of homeownership are--and how much money we want to spend chasing them. Many argue that homeownership should not be a goal pursued at all costs. Political leaders wanted to spend money encouraging people to buy houses because _ . Answer: homeownership could shape a country We are always told that TV is not good for us. If it is true, how come the TV-addicted kids of our young generation nowadays are much smarter than we are? In my family, the only persons who can work the TV remote control well are the children. Probably TV really educates us. For example, we can learn a very useful medical fact: _ . "The killer was..." (dies) But I suppose the biggest things that we learn from TV can be regarded as "Life Skills". Bad things simply happen on either stormy or dark nights. Emotional breakdowns make people wander in the heavy rain without raincoats or umbrellas. And contrary to the scientists, the crack of lightning and the accompanying flash come on at exactly the same time, wherever the scenes are. I've even got to know useful geographical facts from science-fiction shows: Aliens only speak the language of English no matter which planet they come from. To make good use of something that we learn from TV can make our security better. Consider these truths. When you are really attacked by 20 bad guys, you needn't worry about your being outnumbered. The criminals will hang back and take turns to approach you in ones and twos just so you can conveniently defeat them all. Bad guys who are completely covered in black clothes always remove their black masks to reveal that they are in fact, aha, women. TV often teaches us a lot of important information as well about escaping from danger. Watch and learn. (1) If anyone is running after you down a passage, you will find that boxes have been conveniently placed near all the walls you need to jump over. (2) If you are tall and handsome, you can run from any number of armed criminals, and every shot will miss you. Be warned, however, if your name card says "henchman" and you are part of a group of plain-looking people trying to catch a handsome individual, a single shot will kill you. But don't be anxious: TV also delivers useful information for bad guys. All cars are inflammable and have amazing shock absorbers that enable them to fly into the air and land without damage -- except police cars. TV even teaches us about TV. Whenever anyone turns on a TV, it shows a news flash about someone they know. They then turn the box off immediately after that news item. On TV what usually happens when a person turns it on? Answer: The news shown is always about someone the person knows. American children are not the only couch potatoes with nearly one third of children globally spending 3 hours a day or more watching TV or on computers, according to the study of over 70,000 teens in 34 nations. From Argentina to Zambia, Regina Guthold of the World Health Organization in Geneva and her colleagues found most children were not getting enough exercise and that it made no difference whether they live in a rich or a poor country. "With regards to physical levels, we didn't find much of a difference between rich and poor countries," Guthold said, "Growing up in a poor country doesn't necessarily mean kids get more physical activities." The researchers defined adequate physical activity as at least an hour of exercise outdoors for at least 5 days a week. Children spending 3 or more hours a day watching TV, playing computer games or chatting with friends were classified as sedentary. The researchers found only a quarter of the boys and 15 percent of the girls were getting enough exercise by these definitions. A quarter of boys and nearly 30% of girls were sedentary and didn't get enough exercise with girls less active than boys in every country aside from Zambia. Girls from India were the most active with 37 percent meeting exercise recommendation, while girls from Egypt were the least active with 4 percent getting enough exercise. Children in Myanmar were the least sedentary while the most sedentary nations were St .Lucia and the Cayman Islands. People show deep concern for kids' lack of physical activity in various nations. Why do they have a low level of physical activity? Guthold speculated that urbanization could be a factor as well as easy access to cars and TVs. Which of the following statements is true as to Guthold's finding? Answer: Most children around the world don't meet the exercise recommendation. Pete Rose,the famous baseball player,whom I have never met,taught me something so valuable that it changed my life.Pete was being interviewed in spring training the year he was about to break Ty Cobb's alltime hits record.One reporter asked, "Pete,you only need 78 hits to break the record.How many atbats do you think you'll need to get the 78 hits?" Without hesitation,Pete said,"78." The reporter yelled back,"Ah,come on Pete.You don't expect to get 78 hits in 78 atbats,do you?" Mr. Rose calmly shared his rule in life with all the reporters who were anxiously awaiting his reply."Every time I step up to the plate,I expect to get a hit! If I don't expect to get a hit,I have no right to step in the batter's box in the first place! If I go up hoping to get a hit,then I probably don't have a prayer of getting a hit.It is the positive expectation that has gotten me all of the hits in the first place." When I thought about Pete Rose's rule and how it was applied to everyday life,I felt a little embarrassed.As a business person,I was hoping to make my sales meet the quotas .As a father,I was hoping to be a good dad.As a married man,I was hoping to be a good husband.The truth was that I was an adequate salesperson,I was not so bad as a father,and I was an okay husband.I immediately decided that being okay was not enough! I wanted to be a great salesperson,a great father and a great husband.I changed my attitude to one of positive expectation,and the results were amazing.I was fortunate enough to win a few sales trips,I won Coach of the Year in my son's baseball league,and I share a loving relationship with my wife! Thanks,Mr. Rose! Which of the following is NOT a role of the writer? Answer: A teammate of Rose. Once upon a time, there lived a rich man. He had a servant . He and the servant loved wine and good food very much. Each time the rich man left his home, the servant would drink the wine and eat up all the nice food in the house. The rich man knew what his servant did, but he had never caught his servant doing that. One morning, when he left home, he said to the servant, "Here are two bottles of poison and some nice food in the house. You must take good care of them." With these words, he went out. But the servant knew that the rich man had said was untrue. After the rich man was away from his home, he enjoyed a nice meal. Because he drank too much, he was drunk and fell to the ground. When the rich man came back, he couldn't find his food and his wine. He became very angry. He woke the servant up. But the servant told his story very well. He said a cat had eaten up everything. He was afraid to be punished , so he drank the poison to kill himself. In the story, _ liked wine and good food very much. Answer: both A and B
A recent survey showed that only 9 percent of teens in the United States smoke cigarettes.That's down from 23 percent in 2000.While this is good news for the US's overall health, tobacco use is still a problem. Cigarettes can cause many diseases, such as cancer ,lung cliscases and heart problems.Although they know about the health problems, teenagers still smoke.So the _ of the US Anti-smoking Organization is working to end teenage smoking.Their latest activity uses social media to remind teenagers of the dangers of smoking.And the activity also encourages teens to learn the facts and become the generation that ends smoking. However, anti-smoking campaigns may have a new problem to worry about.According to a 2013 report, the use of electronic cigarettes is on the rise.American high school students who reported having used an electronic cigarette rose from 4.7 percent in 2011 to 10 percent in 2012.The increased use of e-cigarettes by teens is deeply troubling.It may become lifelong addictied .Besides, we still don't yet understand the long-term effects of e-cigarettes. ,. (2,10) What do we know about e-cigarettes? A. E-cigarettes are becoming popular among teenagers. B. School students like e-cigarettes more than adults do. C. People won't let addicted to e-cigarettes. D. E-cigarettes have bad effects on people's health. Answer: A Walk through the Amazon rainforest today and you will find it is steamy, warm, damp and thick. But if you had been around 15, 000 years ago, during the last ice age, would it have been the same? For more than 30 years, scientists have been arguing about how rainforests like the Amazon might have reacted to the cold, dry climates of the ice ages, but until now, no one has reached a satisfying answer. Rainforests like the Amazon are important for _ CO2from the atmosphere and helping to slow global warming. Currently the trees in the Amazon take in around 500 million tons of CO2each year: equal to the total amount of CO2giving off in the UK each year. But how will the Amazon react to future climate change? If it gets drier, will it still survive and continue to draw down CO2? Scientists hope that they will be able to learn in advance how the rainforest will manage in the future by understanding how rainforests reacted to climate change in the past. Unfortunately, getting into the Amazon rainforest and collecting information are very difficult. To study past climate, scientists need to look at fossilized pollen, kept in lake muds. Going back to the last ice age means drilling deep down into lake sediments which requires specialized equipment and heavy machinery. There are very few roads and paths, or places to land helicopters and aero-planes. Rivers tend to the easiest way to enter the forest, but this still leaves vast areas between the rivers completely unsampled . So far, only a handful of cores have been drilled that go back to the last ice age and none of them provide enough information to prove how the Amazon rainforest reacts to climate change. The best title for this passage may probably be _ . A. Studies of the Amazon B. Climates of the Amazon C. Secrets of the Rainforests D. Changes of the Rainforests Answer: C One afternoon I toured an art museum while waiting for my husband to finish a business meeting. I was looking forward to a quiet view of the wonderful works.. A young couple viewing the paintings ahead of me chatted nonstop between themselves. I watched them a moment and decided she was doing all the talking. I admired his patience for tolerating her constant words. Disturbed by their noise, I moved on. I _ them several times as I moved through the various rooms of art. Each time I heard her constant talking, I moved away quickly. I was standing at the counter of the museum gift store doing some shopping when the couple approached the exit. Before they left, the man reached into his pocket and pulled out a white object. He turned it into a long cane and then tapped his way into the coatroom to get his wife's jacket. "He's a brave man," the clerk at the counter said, "Most of us would give up if we were blinded at such a young age. During his recovery, he made a promise his life wouldn't change. So, as before, he and his wife come in whenever there's a new art show." "But what does he get out of the art?" I asked, "He can't see." "Can't see! You're wrong. He sees a lot. More than you or I do," the clerk said, "His wife describes each painting so he can see it in his head." I learned something about patience, courage and love that day. I saw the patience of a young wife describing paintings to a person without sight and the courage of a husband who would not allow blindness to change his life. And I saw the love shared by two people as I watched this couple walk away arm in arm. Which of the following statements is true? A. The husband was doing all the talking when the couple viewed the works. B. The husband tapped his way to the coatroom to get his jacket. C. The husband was considered a brave man by the clerk at the store. D. The husband allowed blindness to change his life. Answer: C Some time ago I received a gift from both of my children. It had nothing to do with Father's Day. Yet, at the same time it had everything to do with Father's Day. My son was studying in a high school in Colorado. He lived in the school. While we were talking on the phone he shared some wonderful news with me. He said, "You know Dad, I am really happy with my life. I can't think of a thing that I would change about the way that I grew up, or the way that my life is now. " My daughter was living with her mother in Northern California at that time. She said almost the same thing to me just a few days later. Of course, I was delighted to hear this from both of them. And I told them both how happy I was, not only that they were happy ,but that they expressed it to me. And that was the gift that they were giving me ---with the heart to communicate. Certainly I hope for good news when I hear from them. But mostly I love that they will share their real feelings with me. Happy or sad, I love to be touched by their real thoughts and feelings. For a child, Father's Day isn't really about giving Dad a gift. It is about understanding the love that fathers express when they help put food on the table, teach their child to ride a bike, cheer at a soccer game, etc. For a father, Father's Day isn't so much about receiving gifts for a job well done. Remember, the greatest gift that we give our children is the real expression of our love. It isn't enough for them to feel love inside ourselves: we need to express that love. For a child, what is the real meaning of Father's Day according to this article? A. Realizing his father's love through daily life. B. Receiving a gift from his father. C. Helping his father with some work. D. Making his father happy. Answer: A Scientists from England's Newcastle University have discovered that bacteria have the ability to detect smells, according to a study by the university on Sunday. The team of scientists, led by Dr. Reindert Nijland, discovered that bacteria can detect certain types of smell- producing chemicals, including ammonia that is produced by other bacteria. Once they sense the smells from other kinds of bacteria, the bacteria will gather together to form a colony and form a layer of slime in order to force the competitors out of their area. The response decreases as the distance between the two bacterial colonies increases. That slime, also known as biofilm, is one of the primary causes of infection on many medical implants . Biofilms also slow down ships and are believed to cost the marine industry millions of dollars annually. However, they can also be used to clean up spilled oil floating on the sea, as they grow strong on it. "This is the first evidence of a bacterial 'nose'able to detect potential competitors," Dr. Nijland said in the August 15 statement, which confirms that bacteria possess qualities similar to four of the five senses that humans enjoy (sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell), the others being touch, taste, and sight. "The fact that bacteria formed slime when exposed to ammonia has important significance for understanding how biofilms are formed and how we might be able to use them to our advantage," he added. Their findings were published in Sunday's edition of biotechnology journal, and could change the way scientists look at how each of the senses developed over time. "It was thought for a long time that smell existed only in complex living creatures," Dr. Nijland said. "Now we see that bacteria are able to do the same, so the indication is that the ability may have developed even earlier." Which of the following would be the best title for the text? A. Bacteria can produce ammonia B. Bacteria have a sense of smell C. Why are biofilms so annoying? D. How do bacteria communicate? Answer: B
Question: Last July, my parents and I went to visit my aunt and uncle in Seattle, a city on the northwest American coast. Dad did some research and had no difficulty in finding us cheap tickets online. On the day of our flight, we had to wake up very early. When we checked our bags in, we found that one bag weighed too much, so we had to pay a fine. After that, Dad insisted that we go and have some breakfast at the airport restaurant. We had a lot of fun watching many different people there. Then we realized it was getting late, so we rushed to the gate. It took one hour for everyone to get on the plane, but finally the door was shut and we were on our way! I think my favorite experience during our trip was our visit to Mount Rainier, a volcano near Seattle. It was nothing like I had expected. Before we left, my aunt lent us hats to protect us from getting sunburned, so I supposed that it would be very hot. Imagine my surprise when we drove up the mountain and I discovered the top was covered in snow and ice! My uncle led us to a small path beyond the main trails to increase our chances of seeing wildlife. We walked over a small hill, and suddenly before us there appeared a field of snow. Small wild flowers grew up through the snow; underneath the snow we could hear rushing water -- a small stream. Little animals stood still to avoid being noticed; tiny birds rose into the air. It was the most beautiful sight that I'd ever seen. Why did they pay a fine? A. Because they got up late. B. Because they didn't wait in line. C. Because they came to the airport late. D. Because their bag was overweight. Answer: D. Because their bag was overweight. Question: In the early days of nuclear power, the United States make money on it. But today opponents have so complicated its development that no nuclear plants have been ordered or built here in 12 years. The greatest fear of nuclear power opponents has always been a reactor "meltdown". Today, the chances of a meltdown that would threaten U.S. public health are very little. But to even further reduce the possibility, engineers are testing new reactors that rely not on human judgment to shut them down but on the laws of nature. Now General Electric is already building two advanced reactors in Japan. But don't expect them even on U.S. shores unless things change in Washington. The procedure for licensing nuclear power plants is a bad dream. Any time during, or even after, construction, an objection by any group or individual can bring everything to a stop while the matter is investigated or taken to court. Meanwhile, the builder must add nice-but-not-necessary improvements, some of which force him to knock down walls and start over. In every case when a plant has been opposed, the Nuclear Regulation Commission has ultimately granted a license to construct or operate. But the victory often costs so much that the utility ends up abandoning the plant anyway. A case in point is the Shoreham plant on New York's Long Island. Shoreham was a virtual twin to the Millstone plant in Connecticut, both ordered in the mid-60s. Millstone, completed for $101 million, has been generating electricity for two decades. Shoreham, however, was singled out by antinuclear activists who, by sending in endless protests, drove the cost over $5 billion and delayed its use for many years. Shoreham finally won its operation license. But the plant has never produced a watt power. Governor Mario Cuomo, an opponent of a Shoreham start-up, used his power to force New York's public-utilities commission to accept the following settlement: the power company could pass the cost of Shoreham along to its consumers only if it agreed not to operate the plant. Today, a perfectly good facility, capable of servicing hundreds of thousands of homes, sits rusting. The author's attitude toward the development of nuclear power is _ . A. negative B. neutral C. positive D. questioning Answer: C. positive Question: Imagine that the rules of volleyball forbid the use of hands or arms---that's sepaktakraw . It's a difficult sport, but that isn't stopping the world from picking it up. The court where sepaktakraw is played is the size of one used for badminton doubles. A net and a plastic ball a little larger than a baseball are used. Two teams of three players(left inside, right inside, and server) take their places on either side. A teammate passes the ball to the server who kicks it over the net. Points are scored when the ball touches the court surface on the other side. How sepaktakraw began has been a hot topic. Many Asian cultures once had their own names and rules for it. In Thailand the sport can be found on a famous mural . It was also played to celebrate the writing of the nations' first constitution in 1933. however, various nations discussed to decide the official name and rules in 1960, At last, sepak is a Malay word for "kick", and takraw is Thai for "woven ball". International tournaments have been held for many years, but sepaktakraw continues to improve. It was introduced as an exhibition event at the 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung. And though no other countries can b equal to Thailand in sepaktakraw, they will show improvement. Twenty-five continents on five continents now claim active teams that play internationally. Finally, a place in the Olympic Games is also being sought. If these changes continue, sepaktakraw may soon be familiar to all. In sepaktakraw, players are not allowed to use _ . A. head and neck B. feet and head C. legs and knees D. hands and arms Answer: D. hands and arms Question: Mr. Evens works in Sydney. Last week he had a two weeks' holiday, but he didn't know where to go. He said to his friend Robert, "I hate the hot weather here, but I can't find a cool place in Australia. How will I take my holiday?" "That's easy," said Robert. "You'd better go to Moscow. Snow and ice are covering the ground now." Mr. Evens agreed with his friend. He bought an air ticket and soon arrived in Moscow. He made a happy journey there. But one day He got into trouble. After lunch he went to a park outside the city. He saw a dog following him while he was walking past a house. It was hungry and wished him to give it some food to eat. Bad luck! He had no piece of bread or cake in his pockets. He tried to send it away, but it began to bark at him. He wanted to look for a stick but couldn't find anything except snow and ice. Suddenly he saw a stone in the ground. He tried to pick it up but he failed. "How strange Russians are!" Mr. Evens said to himself. "They do not tie their dogs, but firmly tie the ground!" Which of the following is TRUE? A. Russians are all very strange. B. Russians never tie their dogs. C. Russians always tie the stones firmly. D. The stone was firmly frozen on the ground.[:. . ] Answer: D. The stone was firmly frozen on the ground.[:. . ] Question: Do you have any skiing equipment you are no longer need? A ski school in the far north of India could put it to good use. In March we published a photo story about the extraordinary Zsnskar region in northern India,which is cut off from the outside world for more than seven months of the year,and only accessible via a frozen river.We also included information about the limited use of skiing in the region and the recent creation of the Zanskar Ski School: "Despite the difficulties of travelling through the region when the snow comes,skiing hasn't traditionally been used as a means of transport by the locals,largely because trees don't grow here,so there is little in the way of raw materials from which to make skis.In 1995,a group of British scientists in the region noticed the lack of skis and one of them returned to set up the Zanskar Ski School in Padam.The school provides lessons for a small fee and rents skis to the local people.Among the benefits that the school hopes to bring are improved education--children often find it difficult to get to school through the deep snow--and the possibility of offering ski tours to tourists in the future.So far,more than 300 local people have received training,and local doctors and policemen regularly borrow skis." But,what we weren't able to include in the article is that the ski school is always on the look out for old skiing equipment--particularly of a size suitable for children--and,I thought.now the European ski season is drawing to a close,there might be a few of you out there who have some old equipment you'd like to see go to a good home.If that's the ease you can get in touch with the school via their website www.zanskarskischooL.org. The local people don't use skiing to go about because _ . A. it is against the local custom B. trees are in the way of the skiing route C. they don't have the wood to make skis D. it is dangerous to go skiing in this region Answer: C. they don't have the wood to make skis
If a person wants to move heat quickly, they could use the sun's warmth. The best thing for absorbing it would be Healthy eating starts with learning new ways to eat,such as adding more fresh fruit and vegetables,and _ foods that have lots of fat, salt and sugar. Healthy eating will help you feel your best and give you plenty of energy.It can help you deal with stress better. However,healthy eating isn't a diet . If you eat too little when you diet, you may eat more after you stop dieting. Eating a healthy, balanced diet is very satisfying. And if you match that with more exercise, you may be able to have a healthier weight. What can you do to make healthy eating habit? First, think about your reasons for heathier eating. Do you want to improve your health?Do you want to feel better? Next, think about small changes that you can make. Then set some goals and go for them. Set an easy goal you can reach.,like having a piece of fruit each day. Set a long-term goal too, such as having one meal not including meat or fish every week.What's more, having help from others is important . After you get more help, it'll be easier for you to make changes. Have family and friends help you make meals and give you useful advice on healthy cooking . If you need more help, talk to your doctor or look online for groups that care about healthy eating and tell success stories . What's the passage mainly about? 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,and working in your garden are just some of the activities you might try. Take care of yourself You should make every effort to eat well and get enough rest. If you easily get angry and can't 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 Schedule time for both work and entertainment.Don't forget,play can be just as important to your overall well-being as work. You need a break from your daily routine to just relax and have fun.Go window-shopping or work on a hobby.Allow yourself at least a half hour each day to do something you enjoy. Make a list of things to do Stress can result from disorganization and a feeling that "there's so much to do,and not enough time".Trying to take care of everything at once can be too much for you and as a result,you may not achieve anything.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 task first. According to the passage,how do you make a list of things to do? What's the difference between the British Isles, Britain, the United Kingdom and England? The British Isles is made up of two large islands: One is called Ireland and the other Britain. Britain, or Great Britain, is the larger of these two islands and it is divided into three parts: Scotland, Wales and England. The United Kingdom (UK) is short for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is made up of Scotland, Wales, and England (i.e. the whole of Britain), and also about one-sixth of Ireland, the Northern part. The rest of Ireland is self-governing . England is the largest, most populous , and generally speaking, the richest section. English people often use the words "England" and "English" when they mean "Britain" and "British". This sometimes makes the Scots and the Welsh angry. The Scots are very proud of their separate nationality. The Welsh too do not consider themselves as England, and have a culture and even a language of their own. Ireland became part of the United Kingdom in 1801, but is soon grew discontented , and for forty years the "Irish Question" was the greatest headache of British Parliament . At last, Ireland divided itself into two: Northern Ireland remained loyal to the Crown , and in 1922 the rest of the country broke away to form Irish Free State, now the Republic of Ireland. Which is the largest island of the British Isles?. One evening in February 2007, a student named Paula Ceely brought her car to a stop on a remote road in Wales. She got out to open a metal gate that blocked her path. That's when she heard the whistle sounded by the driver of a train. Her Renault Clio was parked across a railway line. Seconds later, she watched the train drag her car almost a kilometre down the railway tracks. Ceely's near miss made the news because she blamed it on her GPS . She had never driven the route before. It was dark and raining heavily. Ceely was relying on her GPS, but it made no mention of the crossing. "I put my complete trust in the device and it led me right into the path of a speeding train." she told the BBC. Who is to blame here? Rick Stevenson, who tells Ceely's story in his book When Machines Fail Us, points the finger at the limitations of technology. We put our faith in digital devices, he says, but our digital helpers are too often not up to the job. They are filled with small problems. And it's not just GPS devices: Stevenson takes us on a tour of digital disasters involving everything from mobile phones to wireless keyboards. The problem with his argument in the book is that it's not clear why he only focuses on digital technology, while there may be a number of other possible causes. A map-maker might have left the crossing off a paper map. Maybe we should blame Ceely for not paying attention. Perhaps the railway authorities are at fault for poor signalling system. Or maybe someone has studied the relative dangers and worked out that there really is something specific wrong with the GPS equipment. But Stevenson doesn't say. It's a problem that runs through the book. In a section on cars, Stevenson gives an account of the advanced techniques that criminals use to defeat computer-based locking systems for cars. He offers two independent sets of figures on car theft; both show a small rise in some parts of the country. He says that once again not all new locks have proved reliable. Perhaps, but maybe it's also due to the shortage of policemen on the streets. Or changing social circumstances. Or some combination of these factors. The game between humans and their smart devices is amusing and complex. It is shaped by economics and psychology and the cultures we live in. Somewhere in the mix of those forces there may be a way for a wiser use of technology. If there is such a way, it should involve more than just an awareness of the shortcomings of our machines. After all, we have lived with them for thousands of years. They have probably been fooling us for just as long. Which of the following would Rick Stevenson most probably agree with?
Miss Liu is an English teacher. She is very young. She works very well and the students all like her. There are twenty-six boys and twenty-four girls in her class. Now some of them are playing on the playground. Jim and Bill are jumping. Sam and Mike are running. Lucy and Simon are singing. The other girls are playing games with their teacher. They're happy. The students are _ . A. at work B. at home C. all happy D. in the classroom Answer: C. all happy Bamboo is a giant grass that grows in warm places. It has many uses. Everything--from chairs and fishing rods to basket and paper can be made from it. And that's not all. It can be eaten, too. People in China like bamboo shoots very much. They think the bamboo shoots are a delicious vegetable for parties and meals. In many parts of Asia, bamboo shoots are a favorite food. The winter shoots are the best because they are soft, with a white and green color. Usually they are boiled in water with some salt. Spring shoots are darker and harder, so they take longer to cook. But they are cheaper than winter shoots. Fresh bamboo shoots are seldom found outside bamboos' hometown. But people in other places can buy bamboo shoots, too. These shoots are kept in bottles and cans. They need no cooking and are almost as good as fresh bamboo shoots. Bamboo shoots kept in cans _ . A. need no cooking before eating B. are sweet C. can be made into chairs and tables D. are used to make rope Answer: A. need no cooking before eating I was fortunate to begin my day camp career at Ramaquois as a four-year-old in 1984. I can clearly remember my first bus ride to camp, sitting next to my older sister. Stepping out of the bus, and into a new, strange world, there was no way I could comprehend how important that moment was for me. Ramaquois would become my summer home until this day. My first summer at day camp was definitely a new experience for me. I had never had a "bunk " or a "cubby " before. My counselors sort of reminded me of my pre-school teachers, but they were...different somehow... I didn't usually enjoy new things and I was slow to warm up to camp. From what my parents tell me, my counselors were very patient with me. When I needed a friend, a counselor was there. When I needed words of encouragement, they got into conversation with me. When I was too shy to ask, they offered help. I don't remember the specific moment when things changed, but I know that at some point that summer, things just became different. I couldn't wait for the bus to arrive in the morning. I feared the weekends. And on the last day of camp, I cried--just like the first day. I was attracted. Ramaquois was a part of my life. I spent 11 summers as a camper at Ramaquois. I had no idea that those summers were just the beginning. I remained at camp for seven years as a counselor, five years a division leader and now I am lucky enough to be an assistant director working with the most unique and talented administrative team in the summer camp industry. I am one of the lucky people that truly enjoys going to work each and every day. In the author's opinion, the first summer at day camp _ . A. gave him a deep impression B. scared him really C. was a surprise for him D. cost him a lot of money Answer: A. gave him a deep impression the inability of a once breathing organism to function can be described as? A. a state of the union B. a state of activity C. a state of agility D. a state of being dead Answer: D. a state of being dead Food,football and fashion--Milan has it a11.The city is perhaps most famous for its annual Milan Fashion Week and its world-class soccer teams AC Milan and Inter Milan.And May will see it host the six-month Milan Expo,the theme of which is food and nutrition. Milan may not the first place tourists think of when they think of Italy.Rome is the most famous city in Italian history,Venice draws visitors who want to travel along its canals and Florence is popular with art lovers.Yet Milan can often be left off tourists'lists.But although some see Milan as the"ugly sister"of these cities,according to Lonely Planet,in 2015 the city is"suddenly back in fashion in a big way". The Milan Expo will look at the future of food,trying to answer the question of how Earth's fast-growing population can be fed in the future.According to Lonely Planet website."144 countries will set up shop northwest of central Milan,forming a mini city-within-a-city". Milan's famous opera house,La Scala,normally closed in the summer,will also host daily performances during the expo,reported Fox News. Not interested in opera?Don't worry.Visitors who prefer sports may want to visit the San Siro stadium,home of the soccer teams AC Milan and Inter Milan.Tile stadium is one of the most famous in Europe and has seen many important games over the years,both in Serie A and the European Champions League. So even if all of its fashion and beautiful people can make Milan seem"soulless",as Lonely Planet said.it still has"a serious sense of history and place".Many people will be discovering it this year,and eating great food from all over the world to help solve world problems.Will you? Which of the following statements is True about Milan? A. It is the largest city in Italy and has the longest history. B. It is hosting the world's largest Fashion Week in 2015. C. Football,fashion and ancient canals are three features of the city. D. The city's La Scala opera house will offer additional performances in 2015. Answer: D. The city's La Scala opera house will offer additional performances in 2015.
Question: How to be Prepared Electricity, water, gas and telephone may not be working after an earthquake. The police and fire department are likely to be tied up. You should be prepared to take care of yourself for at least three days, preferably for a week. This list can also be applied to other disasters, such as floods or wildfires. 1. food and water (a gallon a day per person) 2. a first aid kit 3. a fire extinguisher suitable for all types of fires 4. flashlights, a portable radio extra batteries 5. blankets, clothes, shoes and money (ATMs may not work) 6. baby and pet food It's also a good idea to decide beforehand how and where your family will reunite if separated during a quake and to conduct in-home practice drills. During an Earthquake If you are indoors, stay there. Get under and hold onto a desk or table, or stand against an interior wall. Stay away from exterior walls, glass, heavy furniture, and stay away from windows and outside walls and do not use the elevator. If you are outside, get into the open, stay into the open, stay away from buildings, power lines or anything else that could fall on you. If you are driving, move the car out of traffic and stop, avoid parking under or on bridges or overpasses, Try to get clear of trees, light posts, signs and power lines. If you are in a crowded public place, avoid panicking and do not rush for the exit. Stay low and cover your head and neck with your hands and arms. After an Earthquake If the phone is working, only use it in case of emergency. Likewise, avoid driving if possible to keep the streets clear for emergency vehicles. Be aware that items may fall out of cupboards or closets when the door is opened, and also that chimneys can be weakened and fall with touch. Check for cracks and damage to the roof and foundation of your home. Listen to the radio for important information and instructions. Remember that _ , sometimes large enough to cause damage in their own right, generally follow large quakes. If you leave home, leave a message telling friends and family your location. Which of the following items is unnecessary to prepare before an earthquake? A. Batteries B. Cash C. Medicine D. Creditcard Answer: D. Creditcard Question: The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league with 32 teams in. How does one choose which team to support? Some people choose the team of their hometown, or where they now live, or the team that their parents or their friends follow.[:ZXXK] A boy student from Oklahoma wrote a letter to each of the owners or presidents of the 32 NFL teams. He would see what answers he got, and then choose his team. Bill was home from school sick. It was the week before Christmas. He was "kind of bored" and needed something to do. So he asked his parents if he could write to every professional football team. Bill wrote the 32 letters by hand. "We weren't quite sure what we could get back. He didn't really have one team that he wanted to hear from," his mother said: "He just wanted to see what kind of reply he' d get." A letter to the Carolina Panthers' owner Jerry Richardson was one of those posted. Bill wrote in his letter, "My family and I love football. They are fans of different teams.But I don't have a team to cheer for yet. I am ready to pick an NFL team to cheer on for lifetime!" A few weeks later, Bill's mother was pulling into her driveway when a delivery man arrived with a box from the Panthers. When Bill came home, he excitedly opened the box. Inside he found a signed Carolina Panthers helmet as well as a handwritten note from Jerry. The team owner had written to Bill, "We should be honored if our Carolina Panthers became your team. We would make you proud of your joining us." Bill was overjoyed with what he got. He decided that from then on he would support the Panthers. He keeps the letter from Jerry in his bedroom. His mother says, "It's not the helmet they sent us. It's what they told us." That is what mattered to Bill and why he chose to become a Panthers' fan. The best title for the passage can be _ . A. Christmas Gift B. Helpful Mother C. Receiving a Helmet D. Choosing a Team Answer: D. Choosing a Team Question: The story happens on an island called Berk. Hiccup, a Viking teenager, lives with his tribe on the island. The Vikings are strong and good sailors . They often go on adventures . Fighting dragons is one of their traditions. Hiccup's father, Stoick the Vast, is the leader of the island. He hopes his son will become as strong as him and be the leader one day. But it does not seem to go well for him. Hiccup is nothing like his father. He is weak. People say he is not suitable to be the future leader. But Hiccup is smart and has a great sense of humor. Now Hiccup and other Viking teens are in Dragon Training. Hiccup will have to show others that he has what it takes to be a fighter. One day Hiccup hits a dragon with a stone cannon . He finds the hurt dragon named Toothless. Hiccup sets Toothless free and the two became friends. But his new friendship goes against the village's tradition. He has to stop others from killing the dragon! Will Hiccup be able to save his friend? What difficulties will he have to face? Go to see How to Train Your Dragon, a Hollywood 3D cartoon film. You'll find the answer. The film comes out on March 26. Hiccup, a Viking teenager is _ . A. the leader of the island B. as strong as his father C. not so strong as his father D. good at killing dragons Answer: C. not so strong as his father Question: Not many things in life can be more irritating: you are having a conversation with friends, but they check their phones and begin replying to texts or checking their emails. The Guardian described the scene of a friend's face buried in a screen as "a distinct 21st-century problem". A new word has been created to describe this --- phubbing. It is the act of looking at your mobile phone instead of paying attention to others during a social interaction. Like pointing at one's nose, phubbing is widely considered rude behavior. People everywhere are beginning to lose patience with the phenomenon. A "Stop Phubbing" campaign group has been started in Australia and at least five others have sprung up in its wake as anger about the lack of manners grows. The campaign's creator, Alex Haigh, 23, from Melbourne, said, "A group of friends and I were chatting when someone raised how annoying being ignored by people on mobiles was." He has created a website where companies can download posters to discourage phubbing. Phubbing is just one symptom of our increasing dependence on mobile phones and the Internet, which is replacing normal social interaction. A survey found that one out of three Britons would answer the phone in a restaurant and 19% said they would while being served in a shop. The survey came after a supermarket assistant in south London refused to serve a woman until she stopped using her phone. A poll, for a Sunday paper, also found that 54 percent of people checked Facebook, Twitter or other social media every day, with 16 per cent checking more than ten times a day. An unsurprising 63 per cent of people carry their phone with them "almost all, or all of the time", it found. Phil Reed, a professor of psychology at Swansea University who has studied the Internet addiction disorder, said many phubbers show symptoms of addiction to their mobile phones. Time magazine once pointed out, "Phubbing has a much greater potential harm to real-life connections by making people around us feel like we care more about posts than their presence." In the UK, Glamour magazine even imagined how novelist Jane Austen (1775-1817) would have written about people with bad mobile phone manners: "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man or woman in possession of a good mobile phone must be in want of manners." Which of the statements is TRUE about the "Stop Phubbing" campaign? A. It was first started in America and then it spread to Melbourne. B. Companies can update posters against phubbing on the website. C. Alex Haigh, 23, was the first one to find phubbing annoying. D. Up till now, at least six groups have claimed to support it. Answer: D. Up till now, at least six groups have claimed to support it. Question: You may know the English letters A, B and C.But do you know there are people called ABC? You may 1ike eating bananas.But do you know there is such a thing, a "banana person"? How strange! Are these people from "another earth"? No, they are just Chinese people like you and me. ABC means American-born Chinese.An ABC is a Chinese, but was born in the United States.Sometimes,people call an ABC a "banana person".A banana is yellow outside but white inside--their life and minds inside are Westerners, but they look like Chinese outside. Do you know why? Usually, ABCs know little about China or Chinese language.Some of them don't speak Chinese.Also, they are not interested in Chinese politics . But if ABCs cannot speak Chinese.can we still call them Chinese people? Yes,of course.They are Chinese.They are overseas Chinese.These people may be citizens of another country like the US, Canada or Singapore.But they have Chinese blood.Their parents, grandparents or great-grandparents were from China.They all have black eyes and black hair.But they are not Chinese citizens.For example.we all know the famous scientist C.N.Yang .He got the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1957.Chinese people love him.But he is an American citizen ABC in this passage means" _ ". A. three English letters B. a kind of banana C. Chinese born in America D. Americans born in China Answer: C. Chinese born in America
Life in Britain Homes and families Many British people live in Houses, not apartments. Most houses have gardens. Daily life Most office workers start work at about nine in the morning, and finish at about five or six in the afternoon. Most people don't go home for lunch, and they just have a quick meal. School life Children start school at about nine am, and finish at about three thirty pm. Most children have lunch at school. All children go to school when they are four or five years old, and leave when they are sixteen or seventeen. Shops Most shops open at about nine am and close at about six pm. Usually, they don't close for lunch. Most offices start work at about _ in the morning. Answer: nine Mr. and Mrs. Clark are 70 years old. They look young and they are very healthy. Why? Let me tell you. That's because they have a healthy lifestyle. They exercise every day, and every morning they exercise in the park. After that they usually go to the supermarket. They walk there for about half an hour. They don't take buses. Because they think walking is good for their health. They often take a walk after dinner. They also have a good eating habit. They drink milk every morning. They eat fruit and vegetables every day. As for meat, they only eat it twice a week. Besides (...) that, they never eat junk food. They don't drink coffee or cola at all. You see, they look after their health very well. Mrs. Clark likes watching soap operas and reading books. She reads books every day. Mr. Clark likes Chinese paintings. They usually go to bed at 9:00 pm and sleep for eight hours every night. How old is Mrs. Clark? Answer: 70 Peter was walking in the street with two big and heavy boxes. A stranger walked up to him and asked, "What is the time?" Peter stopped, put down the boxes and looked at his watch. "It's five fifteen," he said. "Hey, what a nice watch!" said the stranger. Peter smiled a little and said, "Yes, it's not bad. Look at this." Then he showed the stranger the time for 86 big cities in the world. He hit a few buttons and it told the time in Chinese. Peter went on ," You can set it in English, Chinese, Japanese and so on." The stranger looked very interested in the watch. "That's not all," said Peter. He then pushed a few more buttons and there was a small map appeared on the watch. "The map can show where we are," said Peter. "I want to buy this watch!" said the stranger. "Oh, no, I' m not selling it. I designed it myself. I spent nearly two years making it." said Peter. "Oh, you are the designer. I'll give you $ 1,000 for it!" "Oh, no, I spent more than that." "I'll give you $ 5,000 for it!" Peter stopped to think. The stranger quickly gave him a check and said ,"$ 5,000. Here it is." Peter finally agreed to sell the watch. When the stranger was going to leave with the watch, Peter pointed to the two big boxes and said, "Hey, wait a minute. Don' t forget your batteries ." We can know from the passage that Peter was a _ . Answer: designer Going whitewater rafting in North Carolina (N.C.), you are cutting bonds to the every-day troubles and for a short time you are back in the natural world with your co-travelers. Rafting in N.C. has the added benefit of a long, warm rafting season, beautiful scenery, and amazing history. Only twenty minutes from Asheville, N.C., whitewater rafting on French Broad River in N.C. still has the flavor wilderness and adventure. Half Day Trip: This N.C. whitewater rafting trip begins at Barnard and finishes at Stackhouse. Typical time on the river is 1.5 to 2 hours. A couple of factors that affect the time on the river are the size of the trip and the level of the river. A small trip at high water will move faster downstream than a larger trip at lower levels. $44.00 per person. Half Day with Lunch: This rafting trip travels the same section of the French Broad River as above. The lunch is served riverside. The time frame for this trip is the same as the half day trip. Add about an hour for lunch and a more leisurely pace. $51.00 per person. Full Day Trip: This rafting starts at Barnard and finishes 8 miles downstream in Hot Springs. This is one of the best whitewater rafting trips in N.C. and gives you a chance to spend a big part of your day on the French Broad River. There is a stop for lunch, served riverside. Time on the river for the full day trip can range from 3-5 hours depending on the size of the trip and the river level. Please be aware that summer-time river levels may make it necessary to alter this trip and make it a half-day with lunch trip. Surely you will be refunded the price difference. $62.00 per person. Float Trip: Rafting in N.C. does not necessarily mean only whitewater rafting. Some of North Carolina's best rafting is just the classic, lazy float trip. This trip floats through a beautiful section of the French Broad River valley. There are plenty of places to swim. It's good for those who are too young or too old. $44.00 per person. Trip Times: Typical morning trip time is 9:00 and afternoon 2:00. There's usually an hour of getting ready and transportation before putting on the river, and an hour of transportation, changing clothes, photo show, etc after taking off the river. If you choose Half Day Trip, how much time should you spend totally? Answer: 3.5-4 hours. Tokyo--Our kids,the Japanese government announced,have forgotten how to behave.They can't he bothered with housework.If they see someone being wronged,they probably look the other way. Few countries have placed more importance on being well--behave in public than Japan.The simplest requests for directions often result in guided tours.If is still a rule that shopkeepers are all smiles.Lost wallets usually make their way back to their owners. But according to recent surveys,all that may he going the way of the ancient hair-do.And Japan's government has got into a situation in which a lot of problems must be dealt with quickly. A Japanese Education Ministry survey formed last year and made public last month found that Japan moves behind other nations in teaching youngsters right from wrong. It also reposed that Japanese children are less helpful and do far less housework than the foreigners who are the same age as them in all classes.But they are better about taking dirty dishes to the kitchen after dinner. Besides,Japanese kids are more likely to color1 their hair and carry cell phones than American and Chinese kids,according to another survey. Children in about 18 percent of public school classrooms are so disorderly that teachers cannot give lessons,further recent reports show.Children refuse to sit,to listen or to stop talking. "Older and middle-aged Japanese continue to have a solid sense of good manners and social justice "said Professor Yoshina Hirano from Shinshu University,who was appointed to direct the ministry's survey. "Despite the knowledge of good manners among adults,the breakdown in manners may be spreading."he said. It is implied in this passage that Japanese kids Answer: like to follow the fashion
Russia is on the north of China. It is bigger than other countries .How much do you know about it ? Let's talk about something about its capital ----- Moscow . There is a famous square called Red Square in Moscow .It is the centre of Moscow .Is the square red? Why is it called Red Square ? Red has another meaning ---- beautiful . So " Red Square " means a beautiful square .As we all know ,there is a palace to the north of Tian'anmen Square .And there's a palace beside Red Square , too . Now , it is the offfice for the Russian government . A High bell tower stands in the palace . There is a shining red star on the top of the tower . ,, . (1,5) Red in "Red Sqaure " means _ A. weak B. boring C. beautiful D. popular Answer: C Maybe you are an average student. You probably think you will never be a top student. This is not necessarily so. Anyone can become a good student if he or she wants to. Here's how you can be a good student. Plan your time carefully. When planning your week, you should make a list of things that you have to do. After making this list, you should make a plan of your time. First, your time for eating, sleeping, dressing... Then decide a good, regular time for studying. Don't forget to set enough time for entertainment. A weekly plan may not work out all your problems, but it will push you to realize what is happening to your time. Find a good place to study. Look around the house for a good study place. Keep this space which may be a desk or simply a corner of your room, free of everything but study materials. No game, radio, or TV! When you sit down to study, concentrate on your subjects. Make good use of your time. Listen to everything the teacher says. Listening carefully in class means less work later. Taking notes will help you remember what the teacher says. Study regularly. When you get home from school, go over your notes. Review the important points that your teacher has mentioned in class. If you know what your teacher is going to discuss the next day, read that material. This will help you understand the next class. If you do these things regularly, the material will become more meaningful, and you will remember it longer. Develop a good attitude to tests. The purpose of a test is to show what you have learned about a subject. It helps you remember your new knowledge. The world won't end if you don't pass a test, so don't be worried. There are other ideas that might help you with your study. You will probably find many others after you have tried these. How many ways of becoming a good student are mentioned in the passage? A. 4 B. 5 C. 6 D. 3 Answer: B A mechanical device requires 420 J of work to do 230 J of work in lifting a crate. What is the efficiency of the device? A. 65% B. 50% C. 60% D. 55% Answer: D It was the Fourth of July and Frank the cowboy had a meal planned. He was going to cook for the whole town and do it in a bear costume, which was what they did in his part of the nation to celebrate the holiday and was not weird at all. Unfortunately Frank had mistaken powdered soap for sugar because the eye holes in his bear costume didn't quite match up with his own eyes. He put the whole box of soap in the strawberry punch that he meant to give to his party guests. "Try the punch," Frank said. Since they didn't want to be mean, after all Frank went through a lot of trouble in order to respect the town's bear costume wearing ways, the whole town drank the gross drink. No one got sick, but they were all pretty grossed out and after talking to each other planned to help Frank make the meal next year to keep it from happening again. Why was Frank dressed like a bear? A. His other clothes had punch spilled on them. B. He liked bears. C. It was a holiday. It was what they did in that town to celebrate. D. He wanted to scare his guests. Answer: C Fencing or Not Wildlife fences are constructed for a variety of reasons including to prevent the spread of diseases, to protect wildlife from poachers , and to help manage small populations of threatened species. Human-wildlife conflict is another common reason for building fences. Wildlife can damage valuable farm animals and crops. Some species carry diseases of agricultural concern, and a few threaten human lives. At the same time, people kill wild animals for food, trade, or to defend lives or property, and human activities destroy wildlife habitat . Separating people and wildlife by fencing can appear to be a _ beneficial way to avoid such harmful effects. But in a paper in the journal Science, published recently, some scientists argue that fencing should only be used if worse comes to worst. According to the scientists, although fencing can have conservation benefits, it also has costs. When areas of wildlife habitat are changed into islands, the resulting small and isolated populations tend towards extinction, and the resulting loss of larger-bodied species can affect interactions between species in ways that cause further local extinctions. Therefore, scientists are asking that conservationists carefully weigh up the biodiversity costs and benefits of new and existing fences. In addition to fences' ecosystem-wide impact, the scientists don't think they always achieve their specific aims. Construction of fences to reduce human-wildlife conflict has been successful in some places but the challenges of appropriate fence design, location, construction, and protection mean that fences often fail to deliver the anticipated benefits. In some places, fences also provide poachers with a ready supply of wire for making traps. A variety of alternative approaches, including better caring for farm animals, community-based crop-guarding, insurance and wildlife-sensitive land-use planning are suggested to reduce conflicts between people and wildlife without the need for fencing. Some projects working with local people and government agencies in Indonesia have shown that human-elephant conflict can be dramatically reduced without using fences. The scientists conclude that as climate change increases the importance of facilitating wildlife mobility and conserving landscape connectivity, fence removal may become an important form of climate change preparation, and so fencing of wildlife should be avoided whenever possible. The main purpose of the passage is to _ . A. argue and prove B. inform and explain C. appeal and discuss D. compare and assess Answer: B
Question: Do you know Marc Yu . He is very famous . He is only nine years old. He is a Chinese American. His mother is from Macao. He likes music very much and he has great musical talent . He can play forty pieces of classical music now. After hearing Mary Had a little Lamb one time at the age of three, he began playing it on the piano. Before that, he didn't learn the piano at all. He started to take the piano lessons at the age of three. His first public performance was at the age of three , too. Now he can play great music for people on the stage. He wants to be a famous musician like Lang Lang in the future. He likes LangLang very much. Lang Lang is his idol. Where is his mother from? A. His mother is from America B. His mother is from Macao C. His mother is from Tai Wang D. His mother is from Hong Kong Answer: B. His mother is from Macao Question: As an English teacher, I've been lucky enough to travel to many countries all over the world. I've seen people celebrate everything from the arrival of new babies to the delivery of new cars. I've attended weddings, parties and religious celebrations in countries such as Argentina and Japan, and I've noticed that gold---the metal or the colour of it---is always part of cultural events, traditions and celebrations. It makes me wonder: Why do people love gold? For some people, gold seems to be a status symbol. Indian businessman Datta Phuge loves gold so much that he even bought a shirt made of gold at a cost of $250,000. I'm not sure I'd spend so much money on a shirt, would you? But Datta Phuge has his reason .He explains," Some people want to own an Audi or a Mercedes. I choose gold." For other people, gold is an investment . The price of gold generally increases over time and in European markets, it reached even $1,500 per ounce in 2011. And for many people, a family heirloom brings together status and investment. My mother has a gold bracelet that was given to her by her grandmother who, in turn, inherited it from her own grandmother. It's quite a heavy piece and probably worth quite a lot of money. But its mental value is greater than its value in dollars. It's a beautiful object that holds many family memories. When the time comes, my mum will give the bracelet to me, and one day, I'll pass it on to the younger generation. Therefore, status and investment are good reasons to value gold. However, I think that the real reason why people love gold is that it can be made into beautiful objects. Think about Tutankhamen's death mask. Have you ever seen anything so beautiful? People love gold because it holds their minds, their imaginations and, above all, their hearts. According to the passage, in Europe,gold could be _ per ounce in 2010. A. $1,550 B. $1,500 C. $1,450 D. $1,600 Answer: C. $1,450 Question: In the United States and several other countries, 2.5 million children play baseball in an organization called Little League. They play on teams in their hometowns. Their parents and other adults in the community coach or instruct them and serve as umpires to make sure that everyone follows the rules. Local businesses give money for the ball fields and the uniforms. Local teams compete against each other and the winners get to play teams that are more distant. Eventually, the top teams go to the Little League World Series. One hundred years after Abner Doubleday invented baseball in Cooperstown, New York, in 1839, Little League got started in Pennsylvania. Three men started the game for neighborhood boys with a smaller playing field and fewer innings than adult baseball. Little League became popular after World War II when the game spread across the United States. By 1955 it was played throughout North America and within five years it had spread to Europe. Children's baseball really caught on in Japan and Taiwan of China and teams from those areas won the World Series seven out of eight years. After this, the organization tried banning foreign teams from the World Series, but the ban came to an end after one year. At first, Little League was only for boys aged nine to twelve. However, in 1974, the parents of girl baseball players brought a law suit. The courts ruled that Little League had to include both boys and girls. Later Little League added on softball and other games for teenagers up to age eighteen. Occasionally a Little Leaguer becomes a professional player. For example, Gary Carter went from Little League to play nineteen seasons in the Major Leagues, ten of them as an All-Star player. But, by and large, youngsters play baseball for fun and because their parents are proud of them. Why do most players take part in Little League? A. To play in the Major League. B. To have fun and please their parents. C. They expect a profit from All-Star games D. They want to learn how to serve as umpires. Answer: B. To have fun and please their parents. Question: Lomography was first officially introduced to China when the Lomography World Congress was held in Beijing in July, 2004. The Lomography World Congress is the greatest annual event of the Lomographic Society. It has been held in Madrid, New York, Tokyo, Cologne and Vienna, etc. The 2004's _ took place in Beijing and ran a full week. The first non-official affair of Chinese Lomographers was held in August, 2005 and it attracted much attention. A lot of energetic young people got together under the banner of "I Loma you" which was the slogan of this big party. In China Lomo is more of a symbol of fashion and youth, and most of the Lomographers are stylish young people who work with or study art. The organizer told the editor that the oldest Lomographer who came here is in his forties while the youngest one is about nine years old, but most of the people who are into Lomo are about 20 years old. In China the concept of Lomography is not only about Lomographyer taking photos with Lomo camera, but also a kind of spirit. "I think, generally, the Lomo spirit is everyone trying to love one's own life and discover the beauty of everyday life," the organizer said, "what I think more important is the idea of freedom and creativity. The 10 th Golden Rule is 'don't worry about any rules', I think it introduces to us a concept: It's you who make the rules and it's you who break the rules. So free your mind and let your creativity work, and your life will be fantastic." In China the concept of Lomo is _ . A. to search for the beauty of life B. to take photos with Lomo camera and a kind of spirit C. to make your life wonderful and amazing D. to free your mind and break rules Answer: B. to take photos with Lomo camera and a kind of spirit Question: Buckingham Palace is the Queen's house in London and one of only a few working royal palaces left in the world. Located in the heart of London and surrounded by 2 royal parks, a trip to Buckingham Palace is a must for any visitor to London during August and September. Ticket Pricing Adult: PS20.50 Over 60/Student (with valid ID): PS18.80 Child (under 17): PS11.80 Child (under 5): Free Opening Time 2015 1st August - 27th September 2015 There are plenty of exciting things to see and do at Buckingham Palace. State Rooms The 19 State Rooms at the palace are regularly used by the Royal family to entertain guests on their State, and official visits to the United Kingdom. During August and September the Queen makes her yearly visit to Scotland allowing the palace to open up these rooms to the public. A Royal Welcome Exhibition This special exhibition at the Palace will provide a unique understanding of what goes into creating an official state visit to Buckingham Palace. What food is cooked in the Royal Kitchen? What porcelain and bed linens are to be used? Every detail is examined carefully and perfected by Royal workers at the Palace during visits by VIP guests. The Garden The finale of a visit is a walk along the south side of the garden with views over the famous lake and over 350 different species of wild flowers. If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch. Email Address: info@londonpass.com Please call us on: +44 (0)20 7293 0972 You can write to us at: The Leisure Pass Group Limited 75 Wells Street London W1T 3QH A visitor who wants to know the details of how a visiting leader is received should go to _ . A. the State Rooms B. the Royal Welcome Exhibition C. the Garden D. the Royal Kitchen Answer: B. the Royal Welcome Exhibition
I have tried many ways to be ill. I don't wear a sweater when I should, and two days ago I walked in the rain without my shoes. But so far nothing has happened. Debbie once told me about a boy in her class who liked being away from school. He would rub the end of the thermometer until it went up to 39degC. Then he'd put it in his mouth and his mother would think he was really ill. This morning I tried doing that but it never went above 35degC and I rubbed it for ten minutes. So I held the thermometer next to the light on my desk and it went up to 40degC. I thought I'd put it in my mouth and walk downstairs like that. Then my mother would take it out and she would be worried when she saw that I was rather ill. The only trouble was I didn't know the thermometer would be so hot. As soon as I put it into my mouth, it burnt my tongue! I spit the thermometer out. It fell on the floor but it didn't break. I will have to think of a better way to get my mother and father back together. According to the passage, which of the following is true? A The boy in Debbie's class helped the writer a lot. B The boy in Debbie's class knew everything. C The boy in Debbie's class didn't like going to school. D The boy in Debbie's class was not healthy. Answer: C. The boy in Debbie's class didn't like going to school. Which item can be used more than once? A toilet paper B cloth pad C tampon D drugstore pad Answer: B. cloth pad Bookable study rooms The Library provides a variety of bookable group study rooms, some with presentationareas, for groups of between 6 and 12 students to use for team work. Group study rooms There are 10 Group Study Rooms on Level 30f Northampton Square Library. Rooms 3A, 3F, 3G, 3H, 3J and 3K are equipped with presentation area to help prepare group presentations. Rooms 3B, 3C, 3D and 3E are intended for group discussion and seminar work. These rooms are equipped with whiteboards. Whiteboard pens can be borrowed from the service desk on Level 2. Please do not use any other writing tools on the whiteboards. Maximum booking period of 2 hours at one time. Presentation areas provide: LED screen to practice presentation with group colleagues Network access on PC with wide range of software USB port to plug in your own device or laptop Assistive Technology Rooms Assistive technology rooms are available for students by using ID cards to get access permission and can be booked for a maximum of 4 hours per person per day. Rooms are equipped with the following software: Dragon, JAWS, Zoom Text, Kurzweil, Supernova, TextHelp and Inspiration. A scanner is provided for use with the assistive software packages. For further information click Guide to Library Services for Additional Needs. Which of the following is specially provided for students with disability? A 2 hours per person per day. B Whiteboard pens. C LED screen. D A scanner with assistive software packages. Answer: D. A scanner with assistive software packages. Get a Custom Salt Shaker for your Dining Table If you are looking for custom salt shaker for your dining table, then there are a number of varieties available from which you can have your pick. Get custom salt shakers for custom seasoning A wooden salt shaker has a beautiful design that can enrich your dining table. It is handmade from different pieces of wood of varying sizes. It has a pear shaped body with a ceramic grinder with fancy wood finish. The ceramic grinder for making salt into powder is built to last a life time. It does not wear away like metals do when used to grind salt. It is an extremely beautiful and very delicately made gift to be given to anybody. If you buy two pieces they offer you a generous quantity of Himalayan salt. Ceramic salt shakers for custom Seasoning A ceramic salt shaker is handmade and ideal to be kept in the kitchen to keep the cooking area neat and orderly. It is available in different colors, olive green, coffee brown, purple, egg blue, yellow and many more colors. You can use your fingers when you require a pinch of salt or use the spoon that accompanies it. It looks beautiful for kitchen use and can be given as a gift. Personalized salt shakers that can be given as anniversary gifts If you are looking for handmade anniversary gifts that you would like to give to your friends, you can give hand painted salt shakers. You can send your pictures and the makers will paint the picture of your friend and her loved one. Any message you like to add will be written on the salt shaker. This cannot be put in a dishwasher or soaked in water. It has to be washed carefully by hand. If you are a person who likes eco-friendly items then you can have a salt shaker made of bamboo. It has a solid construction which makes it ideal for kitchen setting. So if you are interested in buying a salt shaker for your table, you can choose one from above and order it. What can we learn from the passage? A Salt shakers with a solid construction can last a life time. B Hand painted salt shakers can be washed in dishwashers. C Bamboo salt shakers are harmless to the environment. D Metal salt shakers are painted with personal pictures. Answer: C. Bamboo salt shakers are harmless to the environment. When people ask your children to "get an education", they tell you only half the truth. What they really mean is to get just enough education to give manpower for your society. Get a high school diploma, at least. Without that, you are occupationally dead, unless your name happens to be George Washington or Thomas Edison and you can successfully stop study in primary schools. Get a college degree, if possible. With a BA, you should start to find a job. You have to _ now. If you do go for a master's degree, make sure it is an MBA and only from a first - class university. Otherwise, the famous law of diminishing begins to work. Do you know, for example, that long - distance truck drivers make more money a year than full professors? Yes, each driver was paid $28,000 in 1997 while a full professor managed to get $27,930. A PhD is the highest degree you can get, but except in a few specialized fields such as physics or chemistry, where the degree can quickly be turned to industrial or commercial aim, you are facing a not very bright future. There are more PhDs unemployed in this country than in any other part of the world by far. If you became a PhD in English or history or political science or languages or - worst of all - in philosophy , you take the risk of becoming over - educated for our national demands. Thousands of PhDs are selling shoes, driving taxis, waiting on tables and filling out applications month after month, and then may be taking a job in some high school or college with the pay much less than a door-keeper makes. Long-distance truck drivers make more money a year than full professors because_. A the famous law of diminishing functions B long - distance truck drivers only get a high school diploma C full professors are PhDs in English or history D long - distance truck drivers work harder than full professors Answer: A. the famous law of diminishing functions
Every successful independence movement needs a leader. The leader of the Indian independence movement was Mohandas Gandhi. He was born into a Hindu family. As a young man, Gandhi studied law in London. The Hindu leaders had threatened to punish him. But he went to London anyhow. Gandhi believed in fighting without weapons or force. He called his method non-violence . He would simply disobey any unfair law or policy. He was willing to be punished for his actions. Gandhi thought that the law would be changed if enough people protested in this way. It would show how strongly the people felt about his beliefs. Gandhi wanted all Indians to understand the independence movement. He walked barefoot through the villages, speaking to all people. Many people loved and understood Gandhi. His movement grew. The British flag came down in 1947. The Indian people honored Gandhi with the title Mahatma, which means "Great soul". Gandhi was an unusual kind of leader. He promised never to make money for himself. He always wore simple clothes and sandals. He was shot and killed in 1948. At his death, he owned little more than a few clothes, his eyeglasses, a book, and his rice bowl. An independence movement can't be successful _ . Answer: Climbing the corporate ladder during my 32 years at Southern Bell (now AT&T) never appealed much to me. But climbing telephone poles? Now that's a whole different story. In 1978, I became the first female lineman in Columbus, Georgia. I really enjoyed the work, and most of the men accepted me because I worked hard at it. I think that at first, they didn't think I could do it. But I got right in there and proved myself. I was a lineman for about three years. Then l went on to work at other outdoor jobs at the company before l retired in 1997. I decided to become a lineman because I wanted to work outdoors. I was a tomboy as a child and even built my own tree house, so you could say I had a little experience. My husband, William, encouraged me to give the job a try. After work, I liked to drive around town and show him the wires I'd spliced that day. People were surprised to see a female lineman. They'd say, "Look, that's a woman up that pole." One day I heard a man say, "Oh, look, there's a telephone man-woman!" Safety belts and hooks minimized the risk of falling, but concentration was essential. Sometimes I felt a little nervous, but the guys told me I was less likely to fall if I wasn't too confident. It helped that I was strong, because the cables and equipment are heavy. I'm not sure every woman could've done what I did. 1 took a lot of pride in it. What is needed to be a lineman according to the author? Answer: Beijing's markets will soon be flooded with more and cheaper colorful fruit such as orange, mangos and green durian all year round. Thanks to a new free trade agreement signed last Monday between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN),more and more tropical Southeast Asian fruit will enter the country. The agreement means that from July 1,2005, China and ASEAN countries will begin to cut tariffs. There are about 7,000 products included in the cuts. As global communication develops, countries are trading more and more goods with each other. When products are sold across national borders, countries put a tax on them. This type of tax is called a tariff. Just like removing an obstacle from the path of these goods, the reduction of tariffs will encourage trade between China and ASEAN countries. It means more products and lower prices. The agreement will bring real benefits for Chinese customers, said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman. "In the Beijing markets you will easily find more tropical fruit like durian, which used to very, very, very expensive. Now they will be cheaper." The current tariff rate on durian is 22 per cent but will fall to zero in 2005. In the first 10 months of this year China did US$84.6 billion of trade with ASEAN countries. Experts believe this may reach US$100 billion next year. Founded in 1967, ASEAN now includes Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Brunei, Viet Nam, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos. Which of the following statements about the agreement is NOT true? Answer: Ibrahim became disabled after contracting polio when he was three years old. At first his parents, like many other parents of disabled children in Niger, did not want to send him to school. They were worried he would be laughed at by his classmates. Despite his disability, and his parents' doubts, Ibrahim was determined to go to school. "When I was eight," Ibrahim says, "other kids of my age were going to school while I stayed at home. I did not like that. So, I pestered my parents until they finally let me go to school." Ibrahim's parents sent him to a private school nearby. Although the journey to and from school was a short one, it still wasn't easy for Ibrahim. He had to use his hands to help him move along, protecting them with plastic slippers. But at least he was getting an education. However, after only a year in school, Ibrahim's education was interrupted when his parents separated. His mother did not have the means to continue paying for his tuition. In 2007, Ibrahim received some money to be fitted with a leg brace , corrective shoes and his first pair of crutches . Now that he was more mobile than before, the most important thing for him was to find a way to go back to school. "I wanted to start school again last October," Ibrahim says. "After my mother told me she could not afford it, I went to visit some of my relatives for support. And I collected 5,000 francs CFA (US $8) to pay my tuition for half a year. I will find the rest of the money somehow." Ibrahim attends a school in which he is the only disabled student. According to his teacher, he is among the top five students in a class of 55. Ibrahim's education was interrupted because of his _ . Answer: The sloth's lack of urgency is a great example of Answer:
Two years after the First World War (1914-1918), a small group of soldiers left the army and returned to their hometown in France. Most of them lived well, but one of them was poor. His name was Clinton. Once a year they had supper in Barton's house. Barton was very rich. One evening Barton showed his friends a large gold coin at the supper table. The coin was passed around and praised by everyone. At the same time they were talking and talking. They soon forgot about the coin. After supper, Barton asked for his coin, but nobody could tell where it was. It was lost. One man said that everyone must be searched. One by one they turned their pockets inside out. Only Clinton refused, however."I didn't steal the coin, and I will not be searched," he said.After that, people turned their heads away from Clinton when they met him. He grew poorer. Soon his wife died. A few years later, Barton had his house repaired. The lost coin was found under the floor. Barton felt sorry and went to Clinton to apologize. "But," he asked, "you knew the coin was not in your pocket. Why did you refuse to be searched?" "Because I was a thief," Clinton answered. "My pockets were full of food at that time. I had taken some food from the table to carry to my hungry wife and children." The coin was passed and praised because _ . Answer: it was a large gold coin If you like texting and are trying to lose weight, a new study found that using texting to track diet and exercise habits may help you lose weight. Previous research has shown that keeping food and exercise diaries improves the likelihood of success when you are trying to lose weight. Using a computer or a pen and paper to record information, however, can be a burden and cause some people to give up. Duke University researchers said using text messages to track eating and exercise habits can save time, and increase the chances that people will stick with their weight-loss rules. The study included 26 obese women with an average age of 38. The women used daily texting as part of their weight-loss program. The text messages focused on tracking personalized goals, such as avoiding sugary drinks or walking 10,000 steps a day. Messages also provided brief feedback and tips. Every morning, the women received a text from an automated system that said, "Please text yesterday's personal information of steps you walked and how many sugary drinks you had." Based on the women's responses to the text message, the system sent another text with personalized feedback and tips. After six months, the women who used daily texting lost an average of nearly 3 pounds, while another group of women who used traditional methods to keep food and exercise diaries gained an average of 2.5 pounds, according to the study, which was published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research. "Text messaging has become popular and may be an effective method to simplify tracking of diet and exercise behavior," Dori Steinberg, who was responsible for this research, said. Steinberg said, "Text messaging offers several advantages compared to other self-monitoring methods. Unlike web-based diet and exercise diaries, data in a text message can be entered quickly on nearly all cellphone platforms so it is very convenient to receive feedback. Besides, because of the limited number of words used in text messages, it saves time." According to the study, traditional methods _ . Answer: may cause people to give up losing weight "If you want to see a thing well, reach out and touch it!" That may seem a strange thing to say. But touching things can help you to see them better. Your eyes can tell you that a glass ball is round. But by holding it in your hands, you can feel how smooth and cool the ball is. You can feel how heavy the glass is. When you feel all these about the ball, you really see it. With your skin, you can feel better. For example, your fingers can tell the difference between two coins in your pocket. You can feel a little drop of water on the back of your hand, too. All children soon learn what "Don't touch!" means. They hear it often. Yet most of us keep on touching things as we grow up. In shops, we touch things as we might buy: food, clothes. To see something well, we have to touch it. There are ways of learning to see well by feeling. One way is to close your eyes and try to feel everything that is touching your skin. Feel the shoes on your feet, the clothes on your body, the air on your skin. At first, it is not easy to feel these things. You are too used to them! Most museums are just for looking. But today some museums have some things to touch. There you can feel everything on show. If we want to see better, reach out and touch. Then you will really see. Which of the following can be the best title of the story? Answer: To See Better---Feel The oil from palms has a wide variety of uses and is found in food, soaps and shampoos. An international team found a gene that made some of the trees produce more oil than others. Dr Rajinder Singh, from government agency the Malaysian Palm Oil Board, said, "The oil palm has three fruit forms: a thick-shelled type --the Dura; those that don't have any shell--the Pisifera; a third form produced as a cross between the thick shell and the one without the shell--the Tenera, which are more of the fleshy fruit to produce the oil," and the researchers identified the gene producing this trait. While oil palm growers attempt to grow only the thin-shelled Tenera variety, up to 10% of the seeds can be contaminated , and turn out to be the other less oily plants. Prof. Martienssen, from the Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory, said, "We can now use that gene in genetic testing, which will allow growers as well as producers to know exactly what sort of tree they are planting before it produces fruit. It takes a long time for these trees to produce fruit, but by being able to predict exactly what sort of fruit that trees will produce, it will greatly assist growers." The researchers say this could offer a more sustainable form of agriculture. Prof. Martienssen said, "This finding gives us huge hope. We hope to maximize land usage and produce a lot more on the same amount of land, because we do not want to destroy the rainforest any more." However, the environmental group WWF-UK said that the global demand for oil palm was growing rapidly, making the expansion of plantations inevitable. Adam Harrison, the organization's food and agriculture policy officer, said, "In a sense it does not matter if a 'good' variety replaces forest or a 'bad' one, the wildlife and communities that need access to that land will suffer. So for palm oil to be sustainable, the process of allocating land needs to be controlled. There is an abundance of low-carbon, low-wildlife and conflict-free land available and there is no more need for forest areas to be changed." Over which issue Adam Harrison showed his concern? Answer: The plantation of oil palms will affect the native environment. It is a very common thing for a person to have a good friend. My good friend is Diana. She is a rich and proud girl. She often thinks that she is too good for anyone, so nobody wants to be her friend. One day after school, I was waiting for Diana when Vivien came up to me. She gave me a biscuit. I accepted it. We talked and joked, and from then on, I began to spend more time with Vivien than with Diana. I felt a little uneasy. After a few days, I went to see Diana with some snacks when Vinien came and sat with me. She offered me a sandwich. She also offered one to Diana, but Diana refused it. She walked away. I was angry with Diana for being so rude . "Never mind." Vivien said, "I'm used to it." After school, I tried to catch up with Diana. While walking home, I tried to correct her attitude , but she didn't listen to me. She said, "Go and join your dear Vivien. I know you make a new friend and forget the old one." For the next few weeks, we didn't talk to each other. Then one day, Diana came to Vivien and me, saying, "I'm really sorry about what I did. Would you please forgive me?" Vivien and I looked at each other and smiled. From then on, Diana, Vivien and I have been best friends. Vivien's words "I'm used to it."show that _ . Answer: Diana had been rude to her before
The ISS project is a partnership of five - the US, Russia, Europe, Japan and Canada. At the moment, no program for its use nor any money has been put in place to support the platform beyond 2015. One of the biggest issues stopping an agreement on station-life extension is the human spaceflight examination ordered by US President Barack Obama. The Americans are developing a new vision for space exploration, and the rockets and spacecraft they will need to start it. The future of US joining in the ISS is closely tied to the result of the examination. Mr Dordain, the European Space Agency's (Esa) Director General, said no one partner in the ISS project could alone call an end to the platform. A meeting would be held in Japan later in the year where he hoped the partners could get something clearly going forward. He said it was also necessary the benefits were increased and the costs were reduced. Increasing the benefits could include finding new uses for the station. Esa has called for ideas on how to use the ISS as a platform for Earth observation . Mr Dordain said the agency had received about 20 very good proposals. On the issue of reducing costs, there were many ideas on the table, he explained. He also questioned whether it was necessary for the station to have six astronauts at all times. If there were periods when little maintenance was required or the experiment load was light, could the ISS run on a smaller group of people, he suggested. Construction of the space station should finish this year. Next month, two _ s built in Europe - a connecting node and a robotic control room - will be flown to the platform by the US shuttle Endeavour. Tranquility and the Cupola, as they are known, will complete the non-Russian side of the ISS. Where do you think you can read this passage? A. In a story book B. In a handbook C. In an advertisement D. In a newspaper Answer: D. In a newspaper British potato farmers were angry and wanted the expression "couch potato" to be taken out of the dictionary because it harmed the vegetable's image. The British Potato Council wants the Oxford English Dictionary to replace the expression with the term "couch slouch", with protests being outside Parliament in London and the offices of Oxford University Press. Kathryn Race, head of marketing at the Council, which represents some 4,000 planters and processors, said the group had complained in writing to the OED but had yet to receive a response. "We are trying to get rid of the image that potatoes are bad for you," she said on Monday. "The potato has had its knocks in the past. Of course it is not the Oxford English Dictionary's fault but we want to use another term instead of "couch potato" because potatoes are naturally healthy." The OED says that "couch potato" began as American slang, meaning "a person who spends his or her leisure time sitting around, especially watching television or video tapes." The Potato Council says its campaign is backed by dieticians who say the vegetable is low in fat and high in vitamin C. Supporting the campaign, famous cook Antony Worrall Thompson said the vegetable was one of Britain's favorite foods. "Not only are they healthy, they are also convenient and yummy . Life without potato is like a sandwich without a filling," he said. John Simpson, chief editor of the Oxford English Dictionary, said the dictionary first included the term "couch potato" in 1993 and said "dictionaries just reflect the words that society uses." Simpson said words were never taken out of the full-length dictionary, which includes some 650,000 words in 20 volumes. But little-used words can be removed from the smaller dictionaries to make way for newer ones. "If society stops using words then they get taken out of the smaller dictionaries," he added. The first known recorded use of the expression "couch potato" was in an article in Los Angeles Times, in 1979, Simpson said. Nigel Evans, a member of Parliament for the Ribble Valley in Lancashire, has made a motion in support of the campaign, highlighting the nutritional value of the British potato. The farmers think that _ . A. potatoes have had a bad image B. Potatoes are good for people by nature C. potatoes sometimes do harm to people D. it's the dictionary's fault to use the expression "couch potato" Answer: B. Potatoes are good for people by nature When you are curious about something, and want to know more about it, you can use the way of asking questions. Asking questions is the first step to make discoveries and find interesting answers. The steps below can guide you during the research. Step 1 On a note card or piece of paper,write down the subject that you are interested in. Just get the main idea down. For example, you might write: Discover more about dinosaurs. Step 2 Next, stop and think for a moment about what you already know about your subject. List what you already know like the sentences below: (1)Dinosaurs lived long before human beings appeared. (2)Dinosaurs lived on the earth for more than 150 million years. (3)Some dinosaurs fed on plants, some on meat. Step 3 What can you do with what you want to learn? By asking questions. On your paper,start writing down questions about the dinosaurs as you think of them: (1)What's the best weather for dinosaurs to live in? (2)How many kinds of dinosaurs are there? (3)Have dinosaurs really disappeared? Step 4 Armed with your list of questions, you can now go to the nearest library or computer to begin your research. As you learn more about your subject, you'll probably discover some new questions. For example,you might discover that dinosaurs disappeared about 65 million years ago. Why?What happened?Asking new questions can help you research your subject more widely. The next time you find something interesting to research,take time to organize your thinking by asking good questions. And remember--learning more always bring more questions. According to the passage, which of the following is true? A. You can find all the answers online. B. Learn more, and you'll have no questions. C. During the research, you may keep finding new questions. D. Asking questions is the only way for research. Answer: D. Asking questions is the only way for research. Each year on the first Saturday in March, a group of middle-aged men and a few women gather at sunrise on a beach near prefix = st1 /St. Petersburg,Fla.Above the high-water line are more than 50 small boats. At exactly 7 a.m., Steve Isaac stands at the water's edge with his arm raised and yells: "Go!" Most of the boats are part of the Everglades Challenge. They head for a finish line many days and 300 miles to the south, at Key Largo. But this Saturday, for the first time, 10 of the brave mariners--including a journalist, whose progress will be available online--will compete in the world's toughest small boat race, called the Ultimate Florida Challenge. Instead of finishing at Key Largo, the 10 boaters will continue around the state, heading north past Miami, the Kennedy Space Center, and Jacksonville, then down the Suwannee River, eventually passing most of Florida before arriving back at the beach near St. Petersburg. It will be 1,200 miles of head winds and burning sun. But it will also take the challengers through some of the most impressive scenery in North America. The rules are no-nonsense: First one back to the beach wins. The voyage must be completed within a month. Human power or sails, only. No motors. No rides in cars or tows from power boats. No help from family or friends. And at least once a day, participants are required to acknowledge by cell phone or radio that they are still alive. The race will be a replay of the tale of the tortoise and the rabbit. The trick, if there is one, is to be a tortoise and just keep moving forward. But the one-month deadline means that being too much of a tortoise may result in failure. So challengers have to be a little bit of a rabbit, as well. What can we infer from the passage? A. People can watch the 1200-mile race on the net this year. B. Over 50 boats will take part in the 300-mile race this year. C. The racers cannot take a rest during the race. D. The winner will act as a tortoise in the play. Answer: A. People can watch the 1200-mile race on the net this year. My life plan is to visit all the states in the US. Several years ago, my husband and I were traveling in the northwest. One day, when we were having our breakfast, I lost my wallet that had over $300 in it. There was no way for us to be able to find it, but we went on with our trip. We went off to drive around and enjoy the city, completely forgetting my missing wallet. Later on, when I checked my phone, there was a message from the boss of the restaurant where we had our breakfast: "I have something that belongs to you, and you're going to be very happy." We got back to the restaurant and there was the wallet on the table with all the money in it! The boss's son found the wallet in front of the door, and brought it to him. He thought that it must belong to someone who had a meal in the restaurant, so he checked inside and found my phone number on a piece of paper. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? A. The writer lost her way when she was looking for her wallet. B. The writer finally found her wallet under the table of the restaurant. C. It was in front of the restaurant's door that the wallet was found. D. The boss's son knew the writer's phone number and called her. Answer: C. It was in front of the restaurant's door that the wallet was found.
Question: In every British town, large and small, you will find shops that sell second-hand goods. Sometimes such shops deal mostly in furniture, sometimes in books, sometimes in ornaments and household goods, sometimes even in clothes. The furniture may often be " _ ", and it may well have changed hands many times. It may also be very valuable, although the most valuable piece will usually go to the London salerooms, where one piece might well be sold for hundreds of thousands of pounds. As you look around these shops and see the polished wood of chests and tables, you cannot help thinking of those long-dead hands which polished that wood, of those now-closed eyes which once looked at these pieces with love. The books, too, may be antique and very precious; some may be rare first printings. Often when someone dies or has to move house, his books may all be sold, so that sometimes you may find whole libraries in one shop. On the border between England and Wales, there is a town which has become a huge bookshop as well.Even the cinema and castle have been taken over, and now books have replaced sheep as the town's main trsde. There are also much more humble shops, sometimes simply called "junk shops", where you can buy small household pieces very cheaply. Sometimes the profits from these shops go to charity. Even these pieces, though, can make you feel sad; you think of those people who once treasured them, but who have moved on, to another country or to death. Although the British do not worship their ancestors, they do treasure the past and the things of the past. This is true of houses as well. These days no one knocks them down; they are restored until they are often better than new. In Britain, people do not buy something just because it is new. Old things are treasured for their proven worth; new things have to prove themselves before they are accepted. Books found in second-hand book shops may _ . A. be copies of the earliest printing B. be on sale for the first time C. never be worth very much D. never be rare Answer: A Question: At the beginning of the World Series of 1947, I experienced a completely new emotion, when the National Anthem was played. This time, I thought, it is being played for me, as much as for anyone else. This is organized major league baseball, and I am standing here with all the others; and everything that takes place includes me. About a year later, I went to Atlanta, Georgia, to play in an exhibition game. On the field, for the first time in Atlanta, there were Negroes and whites. Other Negroes besides me. And I thought: What I have always believed has come to be. And what is it that I have always believed? First, those imperfections are human. But that wherever human beings were given room to breathe and time to think, those imperfections would disappear, no matter how slowly. I do not believe that we have found or even approached perfection. That is not necessarily in the scheme of human events. Handicaps, stumbling blocks, prejudices -- all of these are imperfect. Yet, they have to be dealt with because they are in the scheme of human events. Whatever obstacles I found made me fight all the harder. But it would have been impossible for me to fight at all, except that I was sustained by the personal and deep-rooted belief that my fight had a chance. It had a chance because it took place in a free society. Not once was I forced to face and fight an immovable object. Not once was the situation so cast-iron rigid that I had no chance at all. Free minds and human hearts were at work all around me; and so there was the probability of improvement. I look at my children now, and know that I must still prepare them to meet obstacles and prejudices. But I can tell them, too, that they will never face some of these prejudices because other people have gone before them. And to myself I can say that, because progress is unalterable, many of today's dogmas will have vanished by the time they grow into adults. I can say to my children: There is a chance for you. No guarantee, but a chance. And this chance has come to be, because there is nothing static with free people. There is no Middle Ages logic so strong that it can stop the human tide from flowing forward. I do not believe that every person, in every walk of life, can succeed in spite of any handicap. That would be perfection. But I do believe -- and with every fiber in me -- that what I was able to attain came to be because we put behind us (no matter how slowly) the dogmas of the past: to discover the truth of today; and perhaps find the greatness of tomorrow. I believe in the human race. I believe in the warm heart. I believe in man's honesty. I believe in the goodness of a free society. And I believe that the society can remain good only as long as we are willing to fight for it -- and to fight against whatever imperfections may exist. My fight was against the barriers that kept Negroes out of baseball. This was the area where I found imperfection, and where I was best able to fight. And I fought because I knew it was not doomed to be a losing fight. It couldn't be a losing fight--not when it took place in a free society. And in the largest sense, I believe that what I did was done for me -- that it was my faith in God that sustained me in my fight. And that what was done for me must and will be done for others. We can infer from the passage that _ . A. the fight between Negroes and Whites never ends B. the civil war broke out because the Negroes fought for their freedom C. in the past Negroes were kept out of baseball D. the fight ended up with a game Answer: C Question: Welcome to this Website on the British Isles. Over the coming months it will be expanded to allow you to find information on all aspects of life in the British Isles. The British Isles is visited by millions of people each year, many returning time and again. Wales: Wales is full of fascinating places to visit and stay. The castles of Beaumaris, Conwy, Harlech and Caernarfon are officially listed as world heritage sites and provide an insight into the troubled past of this great land. The national park of Snowdonia is stunning and provides walkers and climbers with many opportunities to challenge their limits. South Wales also has interesting places to visit: Pembrokeshire is especially inviting for tourists. England: We all know about the attractions lf London but England has a lot more to offer outside of the city. The "English Riviers", Torquay, is blessed with good weather and is a major tourist attraction. This is a great place to stay and explore the local seaside resorts. Windsor castle is a great place to visit and the town and surrounding areas are beautiful. Warwick castle in the centre of England is world famous and holds regular evens to show how life was like in the time it was built. Scotland: A great place to visit, Scotland still has many places that are relatively uninhabited and are great for getting away from it all. Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles and the numerous lakes provide great fishing. In parts you can still hear Gaelic spoken and we all know about the Scottish expertise in making Whisky! You can also visit the ski resorts of Aviemore in the Cairngorms. Glasgow, the capital is now recognized as a centre of culture as well as being a great shopping centre. A mountain-climber will probably visit _ . A. Wales and England B. Wales and Scotland C. England and Wales D. Pembrokeshire and Torquay Answer: B Question: Foulsham House is a fine,stone house of the 1790s.It stands by the River Byre,in twenty-five hectares of the best farmland in the southwest. Smithson built the house,and the story goes back to George,the young Prince of Wales,who fell in love with the beautiful lady Kitty Wake,at one of the first Lord Foulsham's wild woods parties.In the past many great men rode on the hills about Foulsham House,and many fine ladies took tea in the Green Room. The house has eight bedrooms,three bathrooms,two living-rooms and a dining room with a real Adam fire-place .The gentleman's library has a view over the park and the river.All rooms are light and airy ,with wood,high windows,and wood floors. At the back of the house,where the third Lord Foulsham kept the horses,there is garage-space for four cars.In many other ways,this house of the 1790s meets the needs of the 2000s. If you wish to know more about Foulsham House,write to: Harvey,Platt,Longford & Sons, Castle Green, Gilham, Byreside. All the rooms in the house _ . A. have a view over the park and the river B. are light,and have good windows to let in fresh air C. have high floors and wood windows D. have fire-places and wood floors Answer: B Question: The US first lady Michlle Obama is among the world's 100 most powerful women in a list topped by German premier Angela Merkel for four years in a row, according to a Forbes ranking released on 19 August. Michelle Obama at No.40, coming in ahead of Talk Show host Oprah Winfrey at 41 and Britain's Queen Elizabeth at 42. Sheila Bair, chair of the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, which insures bank deposits, remained No.2 after debuting on the Forbes list last year. She has gained increased fame as the US recession lasts. The list is based on factors such as politics and economic impact ,media reach and career accomplishments. The chief executives of Dupont and Sunoco are new to the top 10, replacing the Xerox Cop. Chair, who dropped to No. 15, and the former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who fell off the list after leaving office in January. Rice's successor, Hillary Clinton, came in at No.36,dropping from No.28 last year when her presidential bid made her the woman with the highest public profile on the list. Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the US House of Representatives, retained No.35. "Woman in power are rising to leadership positions in business, government and philanthropy by making daring and unconventional moves," Forbes said. "Gone are the days of women feeling they have to stick with one employer and patiently wait for promotions." "Highly ambitious women are moving across companies and industries, making big leaps with each change, and repositioning themselves for opportunities that allow them to gain a breadth of experience." The business magazine said. Merkel , 55, became the first female premier of Germany in 2005 and was successful in retaining power in a federal election on September 27. Michelle Obama, 45,has won the support of fans for her down-to-earth personality, her views of healthy eating and the arts, and her fashion sense that has seen her grace several best-dressed lists. 44. We learn from the text that powerful women today _ . A. change their jobs more frequently B. are better political leaders than men C. are not content with being housewives D. have changed their traditional concept Answer: D
A well-known poem by Tang dynasty poet Du Mu tells of a scene in early April: "Rains fall heavily as Qingming comes, and passersby with lowered spirits go." This scene takes place on Tomb Sweeping Day, also known as Qingming Festival. Tomb Sweeping Day is a traditional Chinese festival. Tomb Sweeping Day is a traditional Chinese festival. It began in the Zhou dynasty, over 2, 500 years ago. Chinese people celebrate it to remember and honor their ancestors . This year, it falls on April 4. Tomb Sweeping Day became a public holiday in the Chinese mainland in 2008. People have one day off for that day. On this day. families bring flowers, food and wine to the grave sites of their ancestors. They place cakes, fruits in front of the grave and some may bum joss paper as money for the dead. After that, they sweep the tombs and cherish the memories of their dead family members. Tomb Sweeping Day gives us a chance to show respect to our ancestors and family members who have passed away and show that we miss them. This tradition shows that family values are an important part of Chinese culture. Tomb Sweeping Day is also the beginning of the time for gardening and outdoor activities in China. Families often get together for outings or to fly kites at this time. What can people take to the grave sites according to the passage? A. Flowers, food, fruits and umbrellas. B. Flowers, food, wine and joss paper. C. Food, fruits. joss paper and kites. D. Flowers, wine and pets. Answer: B A patient on the brink of death has received the world's first self--contained artificial heart--a battery--powered device about the size of a softball that runs without the need for wires,tubes sticking out of the chest.It is powered by a small battery pack worn outside the body that transmits current through the skin. Two surgeons from the University of Louisville implanted the titanium and plastic pump during a seven-hour operation at Jewish Hospital Monday.The hospital said the patient was''awake and responsive''Tuesday and resting comibrtably.It refused to eve personal details. The patient had been expected to die within a month without the operation, and doctors said they expected the artificial heart to extend the person's life by only a month.But the device is considered a major step toward inlproving the patient's quality of life. The new pump,called AbioCor,is also a technological leap from the mechanical hearts used in the l980s, which were attached by wires and tubes to large machinery outside the body.The most famous of those, the Jarvic-7,used air as a pumping device and was attached to an apparatus about the size of a washing machine. ''I think it's potentially a major step forward in the artificial heart development,''said Dr.David Faxon,president of the American heart Association.However,he said the dream of an implantable,permanent artificial heart is not yet a reality:''This is obviously an experimental device whose long--term success has to be demonstrated."Only about half of the 4,200 Americans on a waiting list for donor hearts received them last year,and most of the rest died. Some doctors,including Robert Higgins,chairman of cardiology at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond,said artificial hearts are unlikely to replace donor hearts."A donor heart in a good transplant can last l5 to 30 years.''he said.''It's going be hard replace that with a machine.'' Dr.David Faxon thinks the self-contained heart_. A. has achieved a long-term success B. will replace donor hearts C. is an implantable and permanent artificial heart D. is still in the experimental stage Answer: D Wearing the wrong type of glasses will do harm to your eyes. Incorrect glasses may not be good for the children under 10. You may see better with glasses that are specially made for you. Watching too much television may be bad for your eyes. This is not true for everyone. People with easily affected eyes may find they get red and achy from watching TV for long. Carrots will help you see in the dark. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene (b). The body can change beta-carotene into vitamin A, and too little beta-carotene can cause night blindness. However, a lot of research shows that night blindness is more likely to be connected with some other vision problems. According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE? A. Eating too many carrots can cause night blindness. B. Watching too much TV may do harm to everyone. C. Wearing wrong glasses may do harm to children's eyes. D. The human body is unable to change beta-carotene into vitamin Answer: C Have you ever noticed that some people are able to effortlessly remember even the most boring details, and quickly understand new things, and wished that you too could be like that? To unlock the full potential of your brain, you need to keep it active and acute. But how? Check out these tips: * Exercise & get your body moving Exercising doesn't just exercise the body; it also helps to exercise your brain. Without regular exercise your blood vessels begin to lose the ability to effectively pump blood and it also reduces the amount of oxygen and nutrients that your blood carries to your brain. When the nutrients don't make it there, the brain's ability to function is compromised. To prevent this from happening, make sure you get moving every day. Walking, swimming and dancing are all excellent activities. * Get rid of stressors and seek help for depression Among the most brain-damaging stressors is severe depression, which is actually often mistaken for a memory problem since one of its primary symptoms is the inability to concentrate. If you can't concentrate, you might feel like you are constantly forgetting things. Depression increases the levels of cortisol in your brain, which affects your memory. Seek professional help to get rid of your depression -- your brain will thank you. * Feed your brain 50 to 60 percent of the brain's overall weight is pure fat, which is used to insulate its billions of nerve cells. The better insulated a cell is, the quicker you will be thinking. This is exactly why parents are advised to feed their young children whole milk. Thus, eating foods that contain a healthy mix of fats is vital for long-term memory. Some excellent food choices include fish and dark leafy green vegetables. The real cause of the inability to focus is _ . A. poor memory B. serious depression C. little exercise D. unhealthy eating Answer: B 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 From the passage we can infer that _ . A. present computers in the college cannot meet the demands of the students B. computers in the college will be updated to meet the student's demands soon C. the college has the responsibility to help the students to prepare for their future D. it is also necessary to expand the college bookstore by using part of the donation Answer: A
A student drops a ball. Which force causes the ball to fall to the ground? Many job opportunities are offered to those who wish to work. It helps if you know more than one language. There are good jobs for interpreters and typists who know English and another language. There are many good jobs in government. In most cases, you must be a citizen of this country, and you must take a civil service examination. These examinations are open to everyone, regardless of race, religion, or color. For many civil service jobs you need a high school diploma. The person who does not have a high school diploma can get one. There are several ways. You can study high school subjects at home and then take special tests. If you pass the tests, then you get a diploma. Or you can go to night school. There are classes that prepare you to take special tests to earn a diploma. You can attend a night school that grants a high school diploma if you complete certain courses. If you do this, you do not have to take the special tests. Be as well trained as you can. Get as much training as you can. Opportunity knocks at every door. Be sure that when it knocks at your door you are ready. Which of the following is not true? If you want to get a high school diploma, you need _ . Tykoon is an online website that allows you to teach your child financial principles through allowances,assignment of tasks and daily chores.As the parent,you can assign a cash value to the things you want your child to do.Then,your child can go in,accept the task and add to their wish list of what they would like to purchase with the money that they earn. Let's start with the parent side of things.The parent must be the one to set up the account.You simply enter your information and your child's information to get started.You are then able to assign allowance amounts to your child. Then you can add tasks for your child to accept and link them to either their weekly allowance or a predetermined amount.Your child is then able to accept or decline their tasks.They can see how much each task earns,how often they need to do it and what they will get if they do!They can add items that they are working toward earning and can even earn nncash _ such as extra TV time or staying up late! Tykoon is a great way to start teaching your child about responsibility and financial principles in fun and safe way.Through the creation of their own profile and the ability to accept or decline tasks,they are taught the skills that they will need later in life when they are managing their own budgets!So,head over and sign up for a free account today and watch your child get excited about doing their chores! And right now,as a special reward,if you share Tykoon with your friends and have five friends sign up and stay active for more than a month,you'll earn a $25 Amazon.com gift card!So get your child enrolled ,tell your friends and let's start teaching all our kids about the important financial principles today! The purpose of the text is to _ . I didn't think I had a passion . I would sit in front of the TV all day, thinking about nothing but the next show. It was not long ago that I first learned how important having a passion is to life. That day I went with my mum to drive my sister to the gym. I was bored. Then, as my mum stopped at a red light, someone on the side of the road caught my eye . It was a man dressed in rags . He was homeless. That didn't interest me, for I had seen many like him before. But in some ways he was different. This man was not sitting down with a sad expression . He had a radio in his hand and was dancing happily to the music. The radio seemed to be the most precious thing he had. "Mum, why does that man have a radio even thought he's homeless?" I asked. "He bought it," she replied. I was still unable to understand. "But if he's homeless, why doesn't he use the money to buy food or clothes? He wasted it on something he doesn't need." "Well, Sarah, sometimes food and clothes aren't the most important things. We need happiness, too." The man must care too much about music to buy a radio instead of food clothes. I soon realized that happiness is the key to life. Without it, there's nothing to look forward to. Since then I've never gone a day without thinking of what's truly important. A home, a meal, clothes--these things are only part of the picture. What's often forgotten is that we all need a pleasure, a light in a dark day. We all need a passion. Why was the man different? Safety glasses should be worn around
In the office of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, there is a picture of Catherine the Great, the legendary Russian Empress. When asked why she has the picture, Merkel says, "She was a strong woman". Many say the same of Merkel. The most powerful woman in the world, according to US Forbes magazine, was in China last week. She came to discuss trade and environmental issues with China's top leaders. Germany's first woman leader is known as a brave and practical statesman . Even since her time at school, she had the habit of getting everything in order. Every day before doing her homework she would clean the desk and think about what to do next. "I prefer a long time for full preparations to make my decision. But once I decide, I will stand up for what I believe," Merkel said. Perhaps it was good habits that helped her do well in her studies. At 32, she got a doctorate in physics and then she worked as a researcher. However, the life of a scholar couldn't put off her love of politics. While working in labs, Merkel took time off to read political books and at last joined a political party. "Her calmness helped her stand out in the party. She could always find a way out while others felt hopeless," said one of her old friends. In her first big political job as Minister for the Environment in 1994, her scientific background proved very useful. In 2005 she became Germany's youngest chancellor since the second World War. Now half way through her four-year term, the 53-year-old woman has made a name for herself both in Germany and abroad. At the EU summit in 2005 when France quarreled with Britain over the EU budget , some people believed the EU was close to breaking down. But Merkel didn't give up. She shuttled between the heads of the two powers and had them reached an agreement. "Strength comes from composure and courage. Many people say I am a strong woman. But I would rather say I have perseverance," said Merkel. Why does Merkel put a picture of Catherine the Great on the wall of her office? Saturday, March 20, 2010 Dear Mom and Dad, The time has come: I'm graduating, and I thank you both for all your help during these 15 years. I still remember when you used to say, "You can be whatever you want". I'm so glad you are my parents, especially when I hear kids say they don't get on well with theirs. I'm glad that you support me when I decide to do anything. You always try to help, and that's important to me. Dad, I remember when you first took me fishing. I loved going even though I never caught anything. I also remember when you would get angry with me. I realize you were only trying to show me the right way. When I would cry, you would always be there to try to cheer me up. That's what I call a good, loving, caring dad. Sometimes you and Mom don't agree with me, but you are there by my side in anything that I do, and that's why I love you both so much. Mom, I enjoy going out with you and having our happy time every Friday night, and I hope that never changes. I love telling you everything; the best part about you is that you listen. I'm glad we do a lot together. You love to have fun, and _ You always give me your opinion and I listen. Thank you for bringing me up. Love always, Allison What makes Allison and her mother good friends? Every New Year brings renewed expectation for a change, for a better life and for a better you. That's a wonderful thing, because this fresh start gives us a chance to reinvent our lives and ourselves. Here's how. Let go Many times we are held back by our previous failures,emotions and barriers . This is all old baggage. Let everything unhappy from the past go. Let go of failures. Let go of fears you've built up. Let go of your ideas about what your life has to be like. Let go of long-held beliefs and habits which seem to be burdens to you. Clear away distractions Clear away email, your favourite blogs and news websites. Clearaway the iPhone or Blackberry, and clear away all the _ that pull at your attention. In fact, if you can, shut off the Internet for a while. You can come back to it after you take a break. Decide what matters most today Forget about your goals for all of this year. Instead, decide what you want to do today. What matters most to you and your life? What are you most passionate about right now? What excites you? What gives you the most fulfillment ? Often the answer would be in creating something, making something new, helping others, becoming a better person, and working on a project that you will be proud of. But whatever your answer, have it clear in your mind at the beginning of the day. Reinvent yourself every day Every day, you are reborn.Reinvent yourself and your life. Do what matters most to you. It might be the same thing that mattered most yesterday, or it might not be. That isn't important. What's important is today---right now! Be passionate, and be happy! You'll have a fresh start every single day---not just on January 1 of a new year. Writing this passage, the author seems to be _ . When I was seven years old, my family made me an ant farm. First, we put clean sand in a thin glass box. Then we waited for the ants to arrive. After the ants were in the glass farm, they started to make tunnels . I was amazed that each one knew exactly what to do. Each had its own job. On the fifth day a tragedy happened. I put my face so close to the glass farm that I knocked it over. All the tunnels fell down. Although the ants remained alive after their earthquake, one by one began to die. I was scared as I watched them give up building their tunnels to carry the bodies to a corner the farm. My mother said that the ants were dying of sadness. They simply could not stand that their tunnels were gone. Although much time has passed, I still think of that ant farm. Mom had hoped it would teach me about the natural world, but it taught me much more. Over the years, I came to realize the importance of teamwork. Working together, the ants were able to make an amazing world for themselves. I also learned that they should be admired for their hard work. But there was an even larger lesson that I did not realize until recently: Adversity is a natural part of life, and must be accepted. Unlike the ants, we cannot give up when we are sad. We have to realize that if a tunnel is gone, we must build another. Giving up, I say, is not a good choice. What did the writer learn from the ant tragedy a few years later? Dear Textual Healing, I would be very interested in your recommendations for any books to help me through a difficult time of my life. At 57, I am feeling a bit lost. I have a wonderful, loving husband and bright, caring teenage daughter but I am lonely and have lost my spark for life. I have always taken care of everyone and managed a career, but, after the death of my father this summer, my difficulties as a child in a terribly abnormal family have come back to me regularly. I have become unfocused and often alone while my husband is away frequently on business and my daughter busy with school and friends. I am seeking the help of a therapist and taking care of myself but I would love to read something to help me "get my groove back" and reengage with life. PC Dear PC, From the letter you've given us about your life, it's no wonder you're feeling a little lost. But before prescribing titles to help you get your groove back, I'd recommend taking a journey into Rebecca Solnit's non-fiction book,A Field Guide to Getting Lost, which is packed with the wisdom of everyone from Pat Barker to Thoreau and Keats. The word lost is rooted in the Old Norse "los", meaning the disbanding of an army. "This origin suggests soldiers falling out of formation to go home, ceasing fighting with the wide world. I worry now that many people never disband their armies, never go beyond what they know," Solnit writes. So instead of fearing that lost feeling, try seeing its potential for discovery. Explorers, remember, are always lost simply because they're forever someplace new. "Leave the door open for the unknown, the door into the dark," Solnit advises. "That's where the most important things come from, where you yourself came from, and where you will go." For something that asks a little less of the reader while still giving plenty in return, try a dose (--) of Anne Tyler, the beloved creator of numerous heroes whose serious conditions will move anyone who finds themselves in a midlife difficult situation. One such character is 53-year-old Rebecca Davitch, the heroine ofBack When We Were Grownups. Like you, she's combined marriage and motherhood with a career but suddenly finds herself feeling lonely in her own home. Could it be, she wonders, that she's "turned into the wrong person"? Don't be fooled by the way this novel ambles along -- as Rebecca revisits youthful ambitions and the college boyfriend she abandoned, it asks some heart-rending questions before arriving at a place of graceful, joyous acceptance. Along similar lines, I'm also going to recommendThe Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fryby Rachel Joyce. Its hero is 65 when he learns that a former colleague sick. On his way to post her a note,he decides instead to visit her -- on foot, from his home in deepest Devon to England's northernmost town, more than 600 miles away. You don't manage that without focus! It's a journey to a holy place that will take him 87 days to complete, during which he considers his childhood, marriage and relationship with his son, and becomes an accidental media sensation . By the time he reaches his destination, you'll feel anything but tired. Finally, Ruth Ozeki's novelA Tale for the Time Beingwill charm the missing spark back into your life. Combining the diary of a sad Tokyo teenager with the story of the middle-aged novelist who finds it, washed ashore on a remote island off the coast of British Columbia, it's a beautiful illustration of how our lives touch -- and are touched by -- others in ways we mightn't even be aware of. This "Man Booker Prize" finalist has plenty to teach about Zen Buddhism, and unless you happen to live in one of its settings, it provides a bracing change of scene, too. One other suggestion: books, as we all know, make great companions but that doesn't mean they can't be enjoyed in the company of others. If you find yourself home alone, why not slip one into your back pack and head out to a favourite cafe. What has mainly led to PC's negative attitude to life?
When the traffic lights turn red, we will stop driving a car or crossing a street. Why is red used for traffic lights instead of other colors? As we know, scattering happens when light goes through the air. For the same media , if the _ is long, the sscattering will be short. If the wavelength is short, then the scattering will be long. Of all lights we can see, red has the longest wavelength. So the scattering is the weakest. That means the red light travels far. In fact, it travels farther on rainy days. Using the red light can help drivers in farther places see the lights. It helps drivers slow down or stop in time. So there will be fewer accidents. Moreover, red can also excite people. We can act more quickly when we see the color red. In a word, red lights help drivers stop in time and help prevent accidents. According to the passage, the scattering of the red light is the _ . A. longest B. weakest C. farthest D. brightest Answer: B How good are you at saying "no"? For many, it's surprisingly difficult. This is especially true of editors, who by nature tend to be eager and engaged participants in everything they do. Consider these scenes: It's late in the day. That front-page package you've been working on is nearly complete; the last editing and it's finished. Then enters the chief editor, who makes a suggestion requiring a more-than-modest rearrangement of the design and the addition of an information box. You want to scream: "No! It's done!" What do you do? The first rule of saying no to the boss is "don't say no". He probably has something in mind when he makes the suggestion, and it's up to you to find out what. The second rule is "don't raise the risks by challenging his authority". That issue is already decided. The third rule is "be ready to put forward choices and consequences". The boss's suggestion might be appropriate, but there are always consequences. He might not know about the pages backing up that need attention, or about the designer who had to go home sick. Tell him he can have what he wants, but explain the consequences. Understand what he's trying to accomplish and propose a Plan B that will make it happen without destroying what you've done so far. Here's another case. Your least-favorite reporter suggests a silly story idea. This one should be easy, but it's not. If you say no, even politely, you risk holding back further ideas, not just from that reporter, but from others who heard that you turned down the idea. This case is common in newsrooms that lack a systematic way to filter story suggestions. Two steps are necessary. First, you need a system for how stories are proposed and reviewed. Reporters can bear rejection of their ideas if they believe they are given a fair hearing. Your natural reaction and strong rejection, even of a worthless idea, might not qualify as systematic or fair. Second, the people you work with need to make a "What if",agreement covering ''What if my idea is turned down?" How are people expected to react? Is there an appeal process? Can they perfect the idea and resubmit it? By imagining "What if...?" situations before they happen, you can reach understanding that will help ease you out of opposition. Instead of directly refusing your boss's suggestion, you should _ . A. pretend that you are sick B. seek what he is thinking about C. state that your design is quite perfect D. ask him to give the reason for his suggestion Answer: B David built in his backyard a garage that encroached two feet across the property line onto property owned by his neighbor, Prudence. Thereafter, David sold his property to Drake. Prudence was unaware, prior to David's sale to Drake, of the encroachment of the garage onto her property. When she thereafter learned of the encroachment, she sued David for damages for trespass. In this action, will Prudence prevail? A. No, unless David was aware of the encroachment when the garage was built. B. No, because David no longer owns or possesses the garage. C. Yes, because David knew where the garage was located, whether or not he knew where the property line was. D. Yes, unless Drake was aware of the encroachment when he purchased the property. Answer: C Kellyanne O'Niell had not even completed her first aid course when she was called upon to put her skills into action. Just halfway through her course, which was offered by Kilcooley Women's Education Group, Kellyanne was walking home when she found herself faced with an emergency. A youngster on the street had fallen onto broken glass. Describing the situation, Kellyanne said:"I noticed she fell onto some glass, and when she got up, I spotted a big wound starting at the thumb and finishing at the ring finger. I started applying pressure to the bleeding wound at once and sent someone to bring my first-aid box from my house." She continued: "I phoned for an ambulance and gave the lady every last detail that she wanted to know. I got another person to keep an eye out for the ambulance. The young girl was in great pain so she couldn't stay still. I was scared she was not going to respond to me. I held her hand above the heart so that the bleeding could at least stop a little bit." "Once the person came back with the bandage, the ambulance was there. The nurse got me to hold a flashlight for her while she bandaged the wound. Once the girl was all bandaged up, I helped her onto the seat in the ambulance and she was taken to hospital." Margaret Pridgen, the British Red Cross trainer who had been teaching Kellyanne, was full of praise for her swift action. She said:"I think this is quite an achievement for this young girl, I have really seen her confidence grow during the training and am delighted she had the poise to be able to deal with the situation and put her new skills into practice." We can learn from the text that _ . A. Kellyanne is a first-aid worker B. Kellyanne felt proud of herself C. Margaret is the boss of Kellyanne D. Margaret was satisfied with Kellyanne. Answer: D A light bulb will be lit up if it is all aside from A. turned on B. on a shelf C. connected to electricity D. screwed in Answer: B
New picture The National Gallery now has a fine _ by the 18th century Dutch painter Jan van Os.This large picture (89.1 cm x 71cm) of flowers and fruit is painted in light bright colours on wood.It is one of the first pictures of this type in the Gallery.The picture is signed and dated 1777 and 1778.It is not unusual for a picture to be dated two years: the artist waited for particular flowers to come out in their different seasons in order to paint them.This picture was given to the Gallery by Miss Violet Churchman in memory of her sister Ida Nancy. It is now on show in Room 25. Special exhibition The exhibition "Painting in Spain During the Late 18th Century" opened in the Sunley Room on 15 March.Recently the Gallery has bought works by three Spanish painters of this period--Paret, Melendez and Francisco Bayeu, who are the focus of the exhibition.These three artists are also joined by Francisco's brother Ramon, by Antonio Gonzalez and two Italians who worked in Spain during these years--Corrado Giaquinto and Giovanni Battista Tiepolo.The exhibition runs until 31 May. Lecture news Lectures will be given along with the special exhibition every Wednesday.On 8 April, Lizzie Barker will discuss the work of Melendez, while on 15 April, Sarah Symmons will lecture on Luis Patter.On 22 and 29 April, Juliet Wilson will talk about Francisco Bayeu.On 25 April, a Saturday, Erika Langmuir will explain how artists often "tell a story" through their pictures. Where will this passage most probably be found? Answer: In the booklet of a gallery. Collecting information about pre-employment and filling out an application form are closely connected, However, filling out an application form is much easier because you have total control and have enough time to think and plan. That you are given a form to fill out does not necessarily mean that you have to answer all the questions in it. If the form contains unclear questions or terms and conditions, you can make some changes before signing it, or refuse to answer some of the questions. What you must realize is that those terms and conditions have been written by highly paid lawyers. _ , or it would not be there; and you can be sure that there is not anything there that is written with your interests in mind. I know what I speak of because, as a lawyer for Litton Industries. I wrote the terms and conditions that were printed on the back of order forms, I wrote the most tiring terms and conditions anyone has ever seen. Still, 90 percent of the buyers would just sign on them without questioning anything. If anyone questioned them, we would reach an agreement on something that was acceptable to both sides. So when you see a preprinted application that contains questions or terms and conditions, read it all and read it slowly. If you don't like something, you can simply change the parts you don't like, Remember that everything can be settled by discussion. To what degree it can be settled depends on your position, of course, and that is something only you can determine. Filling out application forms is much "easier" because _ . Answer: you can control the form filling with enough time Greece declared a national state of emergency on Saturday as scores of forest fires that have killed at least 46 people continued to burn out of control, leaving some villages trapped within walls of flames, cut off from firefighters. Although most of the fires have been on the Peloponnesian Peninsula, some broke out on the outskirts of Athens on Saturday, forcing the evacuation of homes and closing a major road linking the capital to the main airport for several hours. The national fire brigade said that by evening it had brought those blazes under control, including one that came within about six miles of the city. The country has been helpless to fire this summer because of drought and three consecutive heat waves that sent temperatures high over 100 degrees. More than 3,000 forest fires have destroyed thousands of acres of wooded areas since June; the earlier fires killed nine people.The latest wave of fires on the peninsula started Friday. Strong, hot winds have spread the flames. Firefighters expect the death toll to rise, because they have not yet been able to search some areas that had been overrun by flames. Hardest hit by the fires were a dozen small villages around the town of Zaharo in the western peninsula, where at least 12 people, including some who may have been trying to flee by car, were killed. Scores of other residents, including elderly and disabled people, remained trapped in their homes, phoning into local television and radio stations, crying for help. Late Saturday, Mr. Karamanlis, Prime Minister of Greece appeared on national television and declared that he was mobilizing all of the country's resources to control the fire. Mr. Karamanlis also suggested that the recent fires might have been purposely set. "So many fires sparked at the same time in so many regions is no coincidence," he said, "We will get to the bottom of this and punish those responsible." The overstretched national fire services are being helped by an estimated 6,000 soldiers mobilized for the operation. A fleet of water-dumping aircraft was expected from France, Germany and Norway, after Greece appealed to the European Union for "urgent assistance." We can learn from the passage that _ . Answer: assistance from EU members is expected to come to help Greece The Knowledge Society According to American economist Peter Drucker, every few hundred years in Western history a sharp transformation takes place in which society rearranges itself. One such period happened between 1455 and 1517, beginning with the invention of the printing press, and included the Renaissance, the European discovery of America, a reawakening of science, and the Protestant Reformation. All these events had significant effects on the development of Western society. The next period lasted from the American Revolution and the Perfection of the steam engine in 1776 until Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo in 1815. During this time, the Industrial Revolution took place, public schools systems were established on a large scale, the first modern university was founded in Berlin in 1809, and both capitalism and communism emerged as economic and political ideologies. Again, society had been altered.Drucker suggested that another services to them. Those are the events which happened between 1455 and 1517 EXCEPT _ . Answer: the Industrial Revolution If we are driving a car or crossing a street, we will stop when the traffic lights turn red. Why do we use red rather than other colors? As we know, scattering happens when light goes through the air. For the same media, if the wavelength is long, the scattering will be short. If the wavelength is short, then the scattering will be long. Of all light we can see red has the longest wavelength, so the scattering is the weakest. That means the red light travels far. In fact, it travels farther on rainy days. Using the red light can help drivers in farther areas see the lights. It helps drivers slow down or stop in time. If drivers don't see the red light until they are close, they may not be able to stop the car in time. An accident may happen. Red can also excite people. We can act more quickly when we see the color red. In a word, red light helps drivers stop in time and help prevent accidents. Red light travels farther on _ days. Answer: rainy
One day in the early March of 1993, Pauline and Tom Nichter and their 11-year-old son, Jason, were shopping for a toy in Buena Park, CA. Suddenly, Pauline saw a wallet lying on the floor. When she looked inside, she found $200. The family, homeless and without work, knew that could change their lives. But they took the wallet to the nearby police station and turned it in. The wallet was found to have some other pockets, and more money in them--over $2,000! The police called the man who lost the wallet to pick it up. The man thanked the Nichters and shook their hands, but did not Luckily for the family, a TV news reporter filmed the story. People from all over the world heard the story and sent them letters, money, and even offered them jobs. A businessman even let them live in his house for free for six months. So far, the family has received over $100,000. Now the Nichters' future is bright. Which of the following is TRUE about the Nichters? A. They got lots of money from a reporter B. They made friends with the wallet loser C. They posted letters to people all over the world D. They became known to many people Answer: D Ji Xianlin, a famous paleographer , historian, and writer, was born in 1911. In 1930, Ji was admitted to Tsinghua University as a major in Western literature. In 1935, he went to Germany as an exchange student to study ancient languages, receiving his PhD degree in 1941. Ji returned to China in 1946, and in the autumn of the same year, became a professor in Peking University. Ji Xianlin believes, "Cultural exchange is the main drive for humankind's progress. Only by learning from each other's strong points to make up for shortcomings can people constantly progress, the ultimate _ of which is to achieve a kind of Great Harmony. " Over the past ten years, Ji has actively participated in discussions on the cultural problems between the East and the West, based on the same ideology. According to him, human culture is divided into four parts: Chinese culture, Indian culture, Arabic-Islamic culture and European-American culture, with the former three making up the Eastern cultural system and the last the Western one. With his achievements in the history of Sino-Indian cultural relations, Buddhism history, Indian literature, and comparative literature, Ji Xianlin is known as a master of Eastern studies both at home and abroad. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage? A. In 1930, Ji was admitted to Tsinghua University as a major in Eastern literature. B. The ultimate target of cultural exchange is to achieve a kind of Great Harmony. C. Ji Xianlin is a master of Western studies both at home and abroad. D. Ji Xianlin received his PhD degree in 1935. Answer: B Lost iPhone Unexpectedly, I lost my white iPhone 5s in Midtown on Friday night. It had a blue green cover on it. There are many pictures of my son in it, and I'm heartbroken. Please return, no questions asked. Reward. Reply to: -2652255359@craigslist. org Do you need a babysitter that you can trust? [:++] My name is Tina. I am a responsible babysitter that you can trust. If you are looking for someone dependable and affordable I am that person! I HAVE MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE (including disabled children)! I am a retired Home Health Aid and absolutely love children. I work with my sister Iris who has also more than 20 years' experience as a teacher's assistant. WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETINC YOU! Available 24 hours and flexible with fees! I am fully bilingual--Spanish/English. Please email me or call 712-867-7688. I BABYSIT ONLY AT MY HOME I accept children from all ages. Fee starts from $100~$150 a week depending on the hours. I am very flexible and my fee can change. Feel free to contact me via email or on my cell phone 566-67-1873 and we can work something out. Part-time Chinese Babysitter Wanted Part-time Chinese speaking babysitter needed to assist with one-year-old twins and to perform some light housework as needed. Assistance needed Fridays and occasional weekends. Please provide your salary expectation. College students are welcome to apply. Reply to: comm-encbq-2652113885@craigslist. org Who posted the lost and found information? A. A mother. B. A kind woman. C. A heartbroken girl. D. A parent. Answer: D Wanted Project Management Assistant Responsibility: Provide service for the project in Chongqing. Provide assistance to the project manager for everyday work. Responsible for file management, customer service for students & parents. Requirements: College degree and above. Good English and computer skill. Related working experience in an international organization. Patient, careful, supportive. Have strong team work spirit. English Teacher Responsibility: Conduct English teaching according to British education system. Requirements: University degree and above in English major or normal English. Eager to learn and open-minded with creativity. With deep understanding for different cultures. (Warmly welcome the fresh graduates to apply for this position.) Marketing Assistant Responsibility: Responsible for the local management of marketing & sales activities according to the instructions from the head office. Collect related information to the head office. Develop relationship with local media and customers. Requirements: College degree and above with good English (speaking & writing). With basic idea of sales and marketing, related experience is preferred. Working experience in the international organizations is a must. Good communication and presentation skills Accountant Responsibility: Accountant work for Chongqing office and project. Perform the finance management locally according to the rules & policy of the company. Requirements: College degree and above in finance area. Good English and good computer skill. Have sense of finance management. At least 2 years' experience as an accountant in an international organization is a must. Self-management, hardworking, independent and able to deal with pressure. You can go to _ for more information. Please mail or fax your resume (both in English & Chinese), diploma, training certificates and expected salary to the following address within two weeks. No personal visit or telephone call before that. Your materials will be kept in ACE files. Add: Room 1806 Plaza Building Yuzhong District Chongqing 40010 Fax No: 023- 63728428 Email: acercq @ cta.cq.cn If you want to get the position as the project management assistant, in your resume you'd better say _ . A. you always have new ideas and can't wait to see them realized B. you can decide everything for yourself and have your plan carried out C. you are good at persuading others to follow you and becoming a good leader D. you are always ready to listen and help carry out good decisions Answer: D Technology is making life easier for some dairy farmers.They use robotic systems to milk their cows.Cows are trained to follow a series of paths that lead to milking stations.Only one cow at a time can enter a station. Once inside,the cow is rewarded with food.As the cow eats,a robotic arm cleans and connects the animal to the milking machine.A few minutes later,milking is complete.The gate is opened,the cow is released and the next cow enters. The robotic systems are designed to operate 24 hours a day.The cows get to decide when they want to be milked.Cows are milked an average of about three times a day.Some are milked four to six times a day. The cows wear collars around their necks that identify them to the system.A computer keeps records on their eating and milking.A cow is released from the station if the computer decides it should not be milked. The automated system also measures the temperature and color of freshly produced milk.Milk is thrown away if it does not pass the tests. Professor Plaut believes the systems will appeal especially to the next generation of farmers.She means young people who are more interested in technology and less interested in working all the time on the farm.Still,she says the price of robotic milking systems will continue to limit their use. Doug and Tina Suhr have more than 100 cows on their family farm.Last year it became the fourth farm in southeast Minnesota to get a robotic milking system.A recent story in a local agricultural newspaper said the first robot cost 175 000 dollars.The second cost 150 000. Doug told AgriNews that wages that would have been paid for one employee in five years will pay for one robot.He says the increase in milk production reaches a high of more than six kilograms per cow per day. The best title for the passage may be _ . A. Letting robot milk your cow B. Milking cows by hand C. Improving the quality of milk D. Drinking fresh milk every day Answer: A
Question: One day an old man went for a walk in a park in Washington and when he was tired, he sat down on a chair by a swimming pool. A young person was standing on the other side of the pool. "Oh!" the old man said to the person sitting next to him. "Do you see the person with the loose clothes and long hair? Is it a boy or a girl?" "A girl," said his neighbor. "She is my daughter." "Oh!" the old man said quickly. "Please forgive me. I didn't know that you were her mother." "I'm not," said the person. "I'm her father." Please forgive me in the passage means _ . A. I'm not sure B. I'm surprised C. I'm not living here D. I'm sorry Answer: D. I'm sorry Question: On November 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln went to Gettysburg to speak at the National Soldiers Cemetery . The Civil War was still going on. There was much criticism of President Lincoln at the time. He had been invited to speak at Gettysburg only out of politeness. The other speaker was to be Edward Everett, a famous statesman and speaker of the day. Everett was a handsome man and very popular everywhere. It is said that Lincoln prepared his speech on the train while going to Gettysburg. Later that night, alone in his hotel room and tired out, he again worked briefly on the speech. The next day Everett spoke first. His speech lasted an hour and 57 minutes and it was a perfect example of the day. Then Lincoln rose. The crowd of 15,000 people at first paid little attention to him. He spoke for only nine minutes. At the end there was little applause . Lincoln turned to a friend and said, "I have failed again." Some newspapers at first criticized the speech. But little by little, as people read the speech, they began to like its simplicity and its deep meaning. It was a speech which only Abraham Lincoln could have made. Now everyone thinks of it as one of the greatest speeches ever given in American history. Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE? A. Lincoln's speech has deep meaning though it is simple in style. B. Neither Lincoln's speech nor Everett's was popular then. C. Lincoln's speech proved to be a great success later. D. Everett's speech was thought to be perfect at that time. Answer: B. Neither Lincoln's speech nor Everett's was popular then. Question: An average 30-year-old person who has eaten three meals a day since birth has eaten more than 30,000 meals to date. Even if you've only eaten half that much, you have to admit this: you've let some of that breakfast, lunch or dinner go to waste. And it turns out that we're all to blame for this shaming fact: 30% of all food produced in the world each year is wasted or lost. That's about 1.3 billion tons, according to a new report by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. That's the weight of more than 8.6 million full-grown blue whales, the largest creatures on earth. That's the weight of more than 2.3 million Airbus A380s, the largest planes in existence. That's as if each person in China, the world's most populous country with more than 1.3 billion people, had one ton mass of food they could just throw into the dustbin. It's almost _ ,isn't it? Setting aside that big number, we find the people with the most money are the ones who waste the most. Per capita( ), European and North American countries waste between 95 and 115 kilograms of food. Sub-Saharan African, South Asian and Southeast Asian countries waste much less -- between 6 and 11 kilograms per person. Here's another statistic: all the food that the world's richest countries waste is about equal to all the food that sub-Saharan Africa produces. The numbers: 222 million tons and 230 million tons, respectively( ). Basically, the wasted food of the rich could feed much of the African continent. And these numbers come as we've just been reporting about rising food prices around the world in the past week. And my own personal tip: if I eat at a restaurant and can't finish it all, I ask for a doggie bag. I used to be a waiter years ago and will never forget the amounts of food I saw left on the table after the bill was paid. There's no reason to waste food. It's up to all of us to use our common sense to eat and shop just a bit more wisely. It can be learned that the food the rich waste can support _ . A. half the people in Europe B. most people of America C. most people of Asia D. most people of Africa Answer: D. most people of Africa Question: Small reptiles in Texas can be brown or green on command, we call this A. sunscreen B. concealment C. social media D. cooling agent Answer: B. concealment Question: If a child scrapes his foot on a piece of rusty metal, it is important to get medical treatment because the A. metal is corrosive to the skin. B. foot carries large amounts of bacteria. C. foot is the most sensitive part of the body. D. metal may be contaminated and cause infection. Answer: D. metal may be contaminated and cause infection.
Why I've taken a break from holidays It is now close to four years since I last took a holiday.This is because I have come to the conclusion,over the course of my adult life,that I am not very good at it.You might think this sounds like saying you're not very good at drinking tea or listening to music.What could possibly be difficult about the natural act of putting your working life on hold for a couple of weeks and going somewhere warm to do nothing? I was a model holidaymaker as a kid.However,the problems started during my twenties.A trip to the south of France was ended after just two days,mainly because I had an urge to check my e-mails.Similarly,my honeymoon was cut short by 48 hours--not because my wife and I weren't enjoying ourselves,but because we were missing our cats. So what is my problem?On the surface,I'm probably a bit of a homebody.And I just find the pressure of being on holiday too severe:it always feels like having a gun held to my head and being forced to have fun.Somehow,packing a list of possessions and meeting a scheduled flight has none of the excitement of suddenly deciding to take a day off and driving somewhere for the fun of it. Thankfully,I'm not alone.This summer,most of my friends have decided not to have a break.And a recent survey proved the _ of holidays,with the results showing that nearly two thirds of people found that the calming effects of a holiday wore off within 24 hours,as stress levels returned to normal.And this year The Idler magazine published its Book of Awful Holidays.Here you will find a list of the five most ecologically-damaging vacations it's possible to take,along with 50 painful holiday experiences voted for on The Idler website. What interests me is what the concept of a "holiday" says about our lives.For me,the point of living is to have a life you enjoy for 52 weeks a year.The more I like my life and the better I structure it,the less I want to go away.Maybe I'm an unusual person for not liking holidays,but I just feel the time when I'm not working is too valuable to waste on them. What is the author's attitude towards "taking a holiday"? Disapproving. We live in the computer age. People use computers to do much of their work. But few people know how to look after them. Remember the following when you use your computer: 1.Keep your computer in a cool, dry room. Too much or too little heat is bad for computers. Damp is also bad for them. 2.Do not let people smoke near your computer. Smoke of all kinds is very bad for many parts of a computer. 3.Do not eat or drink when you are near your computer. Pieces of food and a little water in the keyboard are also bad for a computer. 4.Keep your screen clean and do not have it too bright. They are bad for your eyes. Make sure the screen is not too far from or too near your eyes. Some people use different glasses to protect their eyes when they use a computer. A dirty screen or a very bright screen is _ for your eyes. bad Oscar the cat seems to have an unnatural ability for predicting when nursing home patients are going to die, by curling up next to them during their final hours. His accuracy, observed in 25 cases, has led the staff to call family members once he has chosen someone. It usually means the patient has less than four hours to live. "Many family members take some comfort from it. They appreciate the companionship that the cat provides for their dying loved one," said Dosa, a doctor and assistant professor of medicine at Brown University. The 2-year-old cat was adopted as a kitten and grew up in a third-floor dementia unit at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where the facility treats people with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease and other illnesses. After about six months, the staff noticed Oscar would make his own rounds, just like the doctors and nurses. He'd smell and observe patients, then sit beside people who would end up dying in a few hours. Dosa said Oscar seems to take his work seriously. "Oscar is better at predicting death than the people who work here," said Dr. Joan Teno of Brown University, who treats patients at the nursing home and is an expert on care for the terminally ill. She was convinced of Oscar's talent when he made his 13th correct call. While observing one patient, Teno said she noticed the woman wasn't eating, was breathing with difficulty and that her legs had a bluish color1, signs that often mean death is near. Oscar wouldn't stay inside the room, though, so Teno thought _ . Instead, it turned out the doctor's prediction was roughly 10 hours too early. Sure enough, during the patient's final two hours, nurses told Teno that Oscar joined the woman at her bedside. Doctors say most of the people who get a visit from the sweet-faced, gray-and-white cat are so ill that they probably don't know he's there, so patients aren't aware he's a predictor of death. Most families are grateful for the advance warning. No one's certain if Oscar's behavior is scientifically significant or points to a cause. Teno wonders if the cat senses mysterious scents or reads something from the behavior of the nurses who raised him. What makes Oscar the cat so special? He senses when patients are to die. Tectonic plates move along planar fractures A new retail phenomenon from Japan which allows customers to walk away with free products is to launch in Britain. From tomorrow, visitors to Sample Trend's central London store can try anything on its shelves, and all of the products can be taken home without charge. For a nominal annual membership fee of PS60, users are free to enter the shop once a month and help themselves to no less than PS250 worth of goods every year. The only 'catch' is that shoppers are asked to complete a simple questionnaire about each product they try. Known as 'try-vertising', the concept allows manufacturers to test products and receive consumer feedback before launching onto the open market. It is already very popular in Japan and now looks set to transform the fortunes of the embattled UK retail industry. According to new figures, stores are facing a Christmas crisis with the weakest High Street trading for six months. Michael Ghosh, the brainchild behind Sample Trend, said: "The concept behind Sample Trend is unique in the UK. It allows shoppers the opportunity to walk away with a number of real, full-size products of their choosing without handing over a penny." The concept of in-store try-vertising is simple but effective. Businesses across all sectors, from cosmetic manufacturers to beverage makers, place new products on the shelves at Sample Trend and wait for consumers to try them out. Customers complete a short 10-point questionnaire about the product, and the feedback they provide is used to make any last-minute improvement before the product is brought officially to market. The Sample Trend store stocks everything from cosmetics, food and drink, and household goods. Ghosh, the former advertising and sales director for Disney Europe, said such feedback may also build brand loyalty from the outset---a particularly appealing prospect for new businesses. The word "catch" (in para2) can be replaced by _ requirement
Painting, the execution of forms and shapes on a surface by means of pigment , has been continuously practiced by humans for some 20,000 years. Together with other activities that may have been ritualistic but have come to be considered as artistic (such as music or dance), painting was one of the earliest ways in which man sought to express his own personality and his emerging understanding of an existence beyond the material world. Unlike music and dance, however, examples of early forms of painting have survived to the present day. And painting, like other arts, exhibits universal qualities that make it easy for viewers of all nations and civilizations to understand and appreciate. The major extant examples of early painting anywhere in the world are found in Western Europe and the Soviet Union. But some 5,000 years ago, the areas in which important paintings were executed shifted to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and neighboring regions. Therefore, Western shared a European cultural tradition ----the Middle East and Mediterranean Basin and, later, the countries of the New World. Western painting is in general distinguished by its concentration on the representation of the human figure, whether in the heroic context of antiquity or the religious context of the early Christian and medieval world. The Renaissance extended this tradition through a close examination of the natural world and an investigation of balance, harmony, and perspective in the visible world, linking painting to the developing sciences of anatomy and optics . The first real break from figurative painting came with the growth of landscape painting in the 17th and 18th centuries. The landscape and figurative traditions developed together in the 19th century in an atmosphere that was increasingly concerned with "painterly" qualities of the interaction of light and color1 and the expressive qualities of paint handling. In the 20th century these interests contributed to the development of a third major tradition in Western painting, abstract painting, which sought to uncover and express the true nature of paint and painting through action and form. Viewers of all nations and civilizations can understand and appreciate painting because _ . A painting displays universal qualities B painting is thought to be artistic C painting is similar to music and dance D painting has been practiced for some 20,000 years. Answer: A. painting displays universal qualities When you hear about a man saving his dog from a sinking ship, it's hard not to be moved by the tale of an animal lover's bravery.But the story becomes slightly less heroic when you learn that the man saved his dog before his own wife. But that's apparently what happened when Graham Annie and his wife, Cheryl, found their Yacht sinking after it hit a rock, while on a voyage from East London to Madagascar. National Sea Rescue Institute North London station commander Geoff McGregor said all three were wearing life jackets.The 9-year-old Jack Russell terrier named Rosie was wearing a tailored life jacket equipped with a light. "As the incident happened Graham sent a radio distress call for help and activated the EPIRB (a GPS beacon) but they were immediately forced to abandon ship," McGregor said in an interview, "He first swam Rosie to the shore safely before returning for his wife, whose safety line had caught on the steering gear McGregor added. The couple and their dog all made it out free of injury.Graham, a long-time volunteer with the National Sea Rescue Institute, said, "it was humbling to have the shoe on the other foot and need to be rescued." Some details have yet to come out.So, it's likely that Cheryl was in a position of safety and Rosie might have been in a more dangerous position had she been left on the boat. The couple did not want to speak with the media about their rescue.So, for now, it's left to readers to find out Graham's priorities during their troubled time. What can we learn from the passage? A Graham was very wise to save the dog first. B Graham was not experienced in rescue work. C Jack Russell terrier is a kind of dog. D Graham loves his dog better than his wife. Answer: C. Jack Russell terrier is a kind of dog. The Sieferts are the kind of environmentally conscious family who has solar panels atop their home. They use timers on their kids' showers and have planted drought-tolerant landscaping. But they feel kind of guilt. "I haven't thought about the pool as much as I probably should," said Annette Siefert. As California's drought worsens, swimming pools have become a target for those who think the classic backyard greens waste water. Some water districts have banned new pools from being filled and have limited how much water existing pools can use. But some of those agencies are walking back the rules as they make a surprising discovery: Pools aren't the water wasters some have made them out to be. Analyses by various water districts, along with scientific studies, conclude that pools and their surrounding landscapes use about the same amount of water as a lawn of the same size. Over time, pools might even use less water. With pool covers, experts say water evaporation can be cut by almost half, making pools significantly less wasteful than grass and about as efficient as drought-tolerant landscaping. Facing complaints over a recent ban on filling pools, the Santa Margarita Water District conducted its own water-use analysis. It found that pools require thousands of gallons of water to fill initially, but they use about 8,000 gallons less water than a traditional landscape after that. By the third year, the analysis found, the savings add up, and a pool's cumulative water use falls below that of a lawn. Water agencies such as the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power have come to similar conclusions. Armed with new information, Santa Margarita Water District officials will reconsider their ban next week. "We want to respect the people's rights to use their property. There are many families we know that have saved for pools," said Jonathan Volzke, spokesman for the 155,000-customer district. "But at the same time, the reality around us is that we're in the third year of a serious drought, and we don't know if we're in the third year of a three-year drought or the third year of a 10-year drought." According to analyses and scientific studies, a swimming pool _ . A had belter be filled up in the beginning B becomes more efficient against drought C isn't what people think to be wasteful of water D consumes more water than a lawn of the same size Answer: C. isn't what people think to be wasteful of water Computer programmer David Jones earned $ 150,000 a year designing new computer games, yet he cannot find a bank prepared to let him have a check card . Instead, he has been told to wait another two years until he is 18. He works for a small firm in Liverpool, where most young people of his age are finding jobs. David's biggest headache is what to do with his money. Though he has high payment, he cannot drive a car, or get credit cards. David got his job four months ago, a year after leaving school with six O-Levels and working for a time in a computer shop. "I got the job because the people who run the firm knew I had already written some programs," he said. "I suppose $150,000 sounds a lot but I hope it will come to more than that this year." He spends some of his money on records and clothes, and gives his mother $20 a week as he lives with his parents. But most of his spare time is spent working. "Unfortunately, computing was not part of our studies at school," he said. " But I had been studying it in books and magazines for four years in my spare time. I knew what I wanted to do and never considered staying on at school. Most people in this business are fairly young, anyway. I would like to earn a million and I suppose early retirement is a possibility. You never know when the market might disappear. Why does David think he might retire early? A He thinks computer games might not always sell so well. B He wants to stop working when he is a millionaire. C One has to be young to write computer programs D He thinks his firm might close down. Answer: A. He thinks computer games might not always sell so well. Skinner Creek ESL Guest Ranch offers a unique outdoor adventure camp for inter- national students. Students who come to Skinner Creek have the opportunity to learn English in an environment entirely different from a regular school setting. English classes are designed to meet the academic and spoken levels of each student. All English classes will be taught by instructors qualified in Teaching English as a Second Language. All levels of English are available. After class, students can enjoy many outdoor activities in a controlled safe environment. Experienced managers and camp teachers will prepare each activity to the level appropriate for each student. Students' safety is a priority for the staff of Skinner Creek ESL Guest Ranch. Students are monitored at all times and supervisors are in the cabins with the students at night. An emergency clinic is nearby and accessible 24 hours. English Classes: Class hours are from Monday to Friday, 9:00 a. m.-- 2:00 p.m. with a one-hour break for lunch. Students are challenged in reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary building and conversational English. Vocabulary is specific to related outdoor activities in some classes. Fun after-class outdoor and evening activities: Great after-class activities on site include: horseback riding lesson, hiking, base ball, volleyball, badminton, mountain hiking, bonfires and much more. Time to watch videos and TV and play games. Experience Canadian family life. Weekends: Special all-day and overnight weekend activities include: camping, days at the lake (fishing, swimming, boating), church and more. Travel Information: Students will be picked up in cars at Vancouver airport and dropped off again for their individual flights. Transportation to and from the ranch will be provided as well as overnight stays in Vancouver. Please contact the ranch directly for prices: skinnercreek@telus, net. If you attend Skinner Creek Summer Camp, you will _ . A study English in some regular schools. B learn how to deal with dangers in the wild C enjoy different sports activities after class D experience the traditional farmer lifestyle Answer: C. enjoy different sports activities after class
Many people say pennies are not worth saving. After all, a penny is only worth a cent. But one unusual penny turned out to be worth a lot more when a coin collector paid $1.7 million for it earlier this month. The coin is one of a kind. It is the only penny that the Denver mint made out of copper, instead of steel, in 1943. Because it is unique, it is also very valuable. No penny has ever sold for so much money. The Changing Penny The Lincoln penny first appeared in 1909. For 34 years, the one-cent coin was made out of copper. Then, in 1943, the penny changed. World War II was going on, and copper was needed for equipment. So for one year, pennies were made out of steel instead. At least most of them were. Only a few coins were made out of unused copper. There are three main mints, or places where coins are made, in the United States. Of the known copper pennies from 1943, twelve were made in the Philadephia mint, and five were made in the San Francisco mint. Only one was made in the Denver mint. Nobody knows for sure why a copper penny was made at the Denver mint in 1943, coin dealers Andy Skrabalak toldTime for Kids. "There is a rumor that a mint employee made the coin in the middle of the night." A Special Set The coin collector who bought the $1.7 million penny wants to remain unknown. But the reason for the trade is known. He already had two copper pennies from 1943 - one from the San Francisco mint and one from the Philadephia mint. To complete the set, he needed the Denver penny. The three coins will go on display at a coin exhibition in Tampa, Florida. The collector who sold the penny is also keeping his name a secret. It took four years to convince him to give up the rare coin. Now that he has finally donating all of the money to charity. At least how many copper coins were made in 1943? A Five B Twelve C Seventeen D Eighteen Answer: D. Eighteen Andrew waited for his granddaddy to show up. They were going fishing. His mom had packed them a lunch. She had made Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches. She also packed a bottle of nice cool water to drink. Andrew had wanted something else for lunch. He wanted chicken or cold cuts or left over meat loaf, but his mom sent Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches. The best way to get to the river was along the path. When the path ended, they needed to go through the bushes to the river. On some days they would think about going another way. They could go over the bridge, or through the back of the house or through Uncle Tom's yard. Today they took the path to the river. Andrew found some animal poop along the path. He asked his Grandpa what kind of animal poop he had found. He wanted to know if it was a lion, a tiger or a bear that had made the poop. Grandpa pointed in the bushes. Andrew saw a small black and white animal looking at him with big eyes. Andrew knew that he had was looking at a raccoon. He was sure that the raccoon had made the poop. When Andrew and Grandpa got to the river they put their fishing poles into the water. Andrew caught his first fish right away. He caught a second fish before lunch. He got hungry and had his Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich and cool water. He saw that Grandpa had fallen asleep. After eating his lunch, Andrew caught three more fish before he woke up his grandpa. When Andrew and Grandpa got back home they gave all the fish they had caught to Andrew's mother, so she could make a good dinner. How many total fish did Andrew catch? A Five B Four C Three D Two Answer: A. Five When I was a baby, I entertained you and made you laugh.Whenever I was "bad", you'd shake your finger at me and ask, "How could you?"--but then you'd give up, and roll me over for a belly scratch and I believed that life could not be any more perfect. My housetraining was a long process, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. We went for long walks, runs in the park and car rides. We stopped for ice cream. I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day. Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate.Eventually, you fell in love.She, now your wife, is not a dog person, but I still welcomed her into our home.I was happy because you were happy.Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement, I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them too. Your wife was afraid I would bite them.But nevertheless, as they began to grow, I became their friend.Now, you have a new job in another city and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets.You've made the right decision for your "family", but there was a time when I was your only family. I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the dog pound.It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness.You filled out the paperwork and said, "I know you will find a good home for her".They shrugged and gave you a pained look.The children were in tears as they waved me goodbye.And "How could you?" were the only three words that swept over my mind. Is it better to live with hope or without hope? At first, whenever anyone passed my pen , I rushed to the front, hoping it was you, that you had changed your mind and that this was all a bad dream. My beloved master, I will think of you and wait for you forever.I hope you receive more faithfulness from your family than you showed to me. Who tells this story? A A dog. B A child. C A dog's owner. D A dog trainer. Answer: A. A dog. I went to a volunteer orientation at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital in California several days ago. Before I went there, I thought it was just a meeting for us to learn some basic information on how to do volunteer work. To my surprise, this meeting lasted for four hours! It told us in detail how to be a good volunteer at hospital. For example, Graham, the director, told us to keep eye contact while offering help and never wait to be asked but offer help first. She also told us to bend down to listen while patients are talking to show that we're willing to hear. We should lead them to ask others for help if we can't answer their questions and never say: it is not my business. For the whole meeting, Miss Graham taught us how to satisfy patients through our words, body language and manners. It impressed me a lot. Americans pay so much attention to serving people with a professional attitude . I suddenly realized why many people feel foreigners are really nice and friendly. They have been trained to do so since they were young. They always ask themselves: How do people feel toward my service? How can I improve to let them feel better? I really like this kind of culture. What does the writer think of such culture in the US? A She feels that it is great. B She doesn't like it. C She feels that it is hard to understand. D She thinks only the US has this kind of culture. Answer: A. She feels that it is great. Tragedy struck for brothers Rob and Paul Forkan when they lost their parents in the 2004 Asian tsunami. Now, over ten years later, they're using their flip flop business to help other orphans. The boys had an unusual childhood. They were just 11 and 13 when their parents, Kevin and Sandra, took them out of the UK education system and moved the family to Goa in India. Their parents were of the philosophy that they would receive a healthier and fuller education by traveling the world and helping others. There they did lots of voluntary work and mixed with the local community. It was when the family were on holiday in Sri Lanka that the tsunami hit. Although the children managed to escape, their parents tragically couldn't. But Paul says their upbringing meant they were able to cope with this tough blow. "Our parents gave us this confidence that we could do anything, that nothing was hard to achieve," says Paul. What the boys did was to start a business selling ethically-sourced sandals. They're called 'Gandys' after the father of India's independence movement, Mahatma Gandhi. "He was in all our schoolbooks as kids; he's on all the money over in India; he's famous for wearing his flip flops," says Paul. The entire project was inspired by their parents' philosophy, their globetrotting childhoods and what happened to them in Sri Lanka. Their parents had previously worked in the fashion industry before quitting their jobs and focusing on humanitarian projects. Thus, Gandys is a very fitting tribute to their lives. Gandys sells flip-flops and donates 10 percent of the profits from every pair sold to orphans around the globe. In conjunction with Gandys, the Forkans also founded Orphans for Orphans, a charitable organization dedicated to helping orphans. They say they can make a profit and do good at the same time: they give 10% of their profit to charity, and have set up their own foundation through which they've been able to open a children's home in Sri Lanka. This year alone, Gandys has sold 250,000 pairs of flip flops, which is only expected to increase. In 2013, the business made around 1.2 million pounds ($1.8 million). With more profits, more orphans will receive assistance. Hence, it's safe to say that the Forkan brothers are making their parents very proud. The two brothers left the UK for India because _ . A the UK education system is not so good as that of India B their parents had humanitarian projects in India C the voluntary work in Goa attracted them D their parents expected them to grow through travelling Answer: D. their parents expected them to grow through travelling
Film 1 -- The environmental problems in South Africa This film will take you on a wonderful trip deep into the South African forests and across four decades of research to experience the changes in the environment in South Africa. With no roads or airstrips nearby, the waterways are the only choice for reaching the great forests. This unbelievable journey invites you to be among the few humans who have dared to go to the South African forests to examine the different disappearing creatures and plants of South Africa. Place: Cheerful Theatre Admission Fees: Front Stalls $30, Stalls $38 (Standard) Front Stalls $15, Stalls $19 (Concession) Note: 1. Concessions are applicable to senior citizens aged 60 or above. 2. Children under 3 years old will not be admitted. Duration: 50 minutes Show Dates: April1 - May 31 Discount: With the cash coupons offered by K&S Ltd., you can now enjoy a 50% discount on the $38 ticket and pay only $19 per head. Film 2 -- The climatic changes in India This film will take you to the mysterious land of India. This film features a scientist, Nina, who set out alone on a five-year journey across the country. Along the way, Nina experiences the harshness of India's land, which contains every type of natural environment on Earth -- from the freezing temperatures of the Himalayas to the extremely hot deserts, and to dense tropical rainforests. The film shows how she survives the tough journey in India. Place: Glorious Theatre Admission Fees: Front Stalls $50, Stalls $70 (Standard) Note: Children under 3 years old will not be admitted. Duration: 120 minutes Show Dates: May 15 - May 31, only one show every day from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Not on show at weekends. Special Feature: Good news for those who are interested in India! With the purchase of any two tickets at $70 each, you can join our prize-winning competition to win 2 round-trip tickets to India! Film 3 -- The power of nature This film features inspiring and frightening atmospheric and geological events. It shows how we can help increase our chances of surviving these events. The great earthquakes, exploding mountains, the sky turning black and violent -- natural forces that helped create life on our green planet but can also _ it. Experience our planet's strongest powers as this film delivers the amazing sights of earthquakes, volcanoes and hurricanes. From volcanic eruptions and trembling fault lines in Turkey to the hurricanes striking America, modern-day disasters are witnessed in eye-popping enormity on the giant screen. Place: Spectacular Theatre Admission Fees: Front Stalls $34, Stalls $42 (Standard) Front Stalls $17, Stalls $21 (Concession) Notes: 1. Concessions are applicable to full-time students, people with disabilities and senior citizens aged 60 or above. 2. Children under 6 years old will not be admitted. Duration: 150 minutes Show Dates: May 5 - June 30, only at weekends. Discount: A 3rd ticket is given free for every 2 tickets bought at whatever price. What does Film 1 show? There is only one way to reach the forests in South Africa. Want to find a job? Now read the following advertisements. FAIRMONT HOTEL Five Waiters and Ten Waitresses -- Aged under 22 -- At least high school graduate -- Good-looking; men at least 1.72 meters tall and women at least 1.65 -- Those knowing foreign languages favoured -- Paid 1 600--2 200 dollars per month One Secretary -- Aged under 30 -- Female favoured -- Good at writing and skilled at computer If interested, call 465-4768 or write to: Mr. Jack Hundris Room 0825, Fairmont Hotel 567 Wood Street, San Markers, 78003 Fax: 6954828 WILSON BOOKSTORE Accountant -- Aged between 25 and 40 -- With an experience of at least two years -- With a degree and an accountant certificate -- Paid 3 000--4 000 dollars monthly -- With a practical knowledge of computer Salesclerk -- Basic education of 12 years or more -- Good at computer -- Paid 1 800--2 200 dollars monthly Tel: 447-4398 Fax: 3485269 If you want to try for a job in Fairmont Hotel, you _ . have to be a woman and know foreign languages "In the online world you don't need to fill buildings or lecture theatres with people and you don't need to be trapped into a lecture timetable," says Peter Scott, director of the Open University's Knowledge Media Institute. The Open University, the UK's open access university, which allows people to study from home in their own time, has been an international pioneer of degree courses online. The university, with more than 263,000 students in 23 countries, has become a record breaker on the iTunes U service, which provides a digital library of materials for university students and staff.Instead of music or movies, Apple's iTunes U provides a download service for lectures and resources from universities around the world.Top universities from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard in the US to Oxford and Cambridge in the UK have been making their materials available, with no charge to the users. There have been 31 million downloads of OU materials, more than any other university, representing roughly 10% of all iTunes U downloads.Nearly 90% of these users are from outside the UK.In this online era, the OU student is also getting younger.A quarter of students are aged under-25 and only 10% are aged 50 or over.That change can only be accelerated as the cost of going to university increases in many countries.The prospect of learning from Harvard from your own bedroom is getting closer. "We have a belief that a degree and an opportunity are rights for all citizens.And we have got to enable the population of students attending higher education to scale up.What I am most excited about is that the privilege of going for higher education is not something only for the wealthy or for the smartest or for the most well-equipped students in the future," an American educator says.Online education will be a way of opening up more choices and getting beyond the big brand names of the most exclusive universities. At the Open University, Peter Scott says they are trying to develop services that give students exactly what they want, from face-to-face learning to the fully online experience."We can produce brilliant televisual material and get it to you on YouTube, on iTunes U or even on the web. What made the American educator most excited was that _ . more chances of attending the higher education will be offered to common people San Francisco's Chinatown is the biggest and oldest in the country. It's the third most visited tourist destination in the city. It's also the city's most densely populated neighbor- hood. So why are. businesses in Chinatown struggling? In this week's paper, I outline some of the reasons for why Chinatown's crowded streets and busy shops might be declining. Underneath the surface, Chinatown is falling. And the city, local organizations and businesses are trying to figure out what they can do to turn things around. While numbers of people visit Chinatown, they don't stay long and they don't spend a lot of money. And beyond annual festivals,1ike Chinese New Years, this month's Moon Festival and last month's Sunday Streets - which drew about 15,000 t0 20.000 people - the neighborhood has a hard time attracting locals. Can you remember the last. time you went to Chinatown ?If you can't, You're not alone. Locals told me that Chinatown doesn't have much to offer them - that the stores are all the same. There are some good eating joints, people said, but they don't know how to find them. Some people even told me that they sometimes go to extreme measures to avoid the neighborhood altogether. But when asked if the-v would like to see Chinatown gone, the answer was always a strong no. Locals are hopeful that things will get better and traffic will increase when the Central Subway is complete. But chat's not for another five years. at least. And if' new shops or restaurants don't make their way into Chinatown. the same problem of attracting locals will exist. Not that Chinatown's going to die. The dragon still has some fire in its belly. And many people are rooting for positive change. The question is, how does Chinatown change without losing the very importance of what makes it unique? Which can we know about Chinatown according to the passage? A great number of people visit it every year. Every year,there have been the Christmas specials for almost every sitcom and cartoon,which nod in sincerity towards the holiday season.Since Charles Schultz,the American cartoonist who created Charlie Brown and Snoopy,first got his hit on the holiday with A Charlie Brown Christmas in 1965.characters from television and comic books have tried on the Christmas clothes. This year,Fox has brought out its new"lce Age":A Mammoth Christmas,which was first shown on Thanksgiving day.The "Ice Age"films,which began in 2002,with a fourth feature for 2012,have been successful.one thing many fans would love the film is that they can have a chance to spend more time with the memorable animal characters from the series:Manny,Diego,and Sid.The film.tells the story of the birth of the Christmas tree,Santa'S deer,his sleigh and other things. It is also a"Christmas Must Be Saved" story and a"You Must Believe"story.Like the other"Ice Age" films,it involves a dangerous journey and time is found to cause sufferings to the poor little squirrel,Scrat. Christmas has been tied on to"Ice Age"like antlers on to a dog.In fact,the film-makers behind A Mammoth Christmas have spent most of their time working on the film itself rath--er than its Christmas special.It feels as if someone had merely made a list of tllings associated with the holiday. However,Sid,the series'most likable character,is a high point of the film.In the film,he's still got his silliness,enthusiasm and useful amusing shape.Whatever else is happening,the filmmakers make Sid reliably funny. We can infer from the text that _ . A Mammoth Christmas is a cartoon film
Question: In American schools there is something called the Home-coming Day. Many high schools and colleges with a football team have a home-coming game. This can be the most important event of the year. Students plan the Home-coming Day for many weeks. A few days before Home-coming Day, students start to decorate the school. There are signs to wish luck to the team, and many other signs to welcome all the graduates. Many people still come to Home-coming twenty or thirty years after their graduation . The members of school clubs build booths and sell lemonade, apples and sandwiches. Some clubs help to welcome visitors. During the day people like to look for teachers that they remember from long ago. Often they see old friends and they talk together about those happy years in school. Everyone soon comes to watch the football game. When the game is half over, the band comes onto the field and plays school songs. Another important moment is the moment when the Home-coming Queen or King appears. All the students choose a most popular student the Home-coming Queen or King. It is a great honour to be chosen. The Home-coming Day is a happy day. Even if the team loses, the students still enjoy it. Some stay at the school to dance, and others go to a party. For everyone, it is a day they will always remember. Which of the following in NOT talked about on the Home-coming Day? A. Seeing old friends. B. Visiting teachers they remember. C. Watching the football game. D. Going home to see their family. Answer: D Question: Long ago there was a man with the name Smith. He made a living by making caps. One day he went to sell his caps. He went through a forest. There were many monkeys in it. It was very hot. The man is very tired and wanted to have a rest. He came up to a large tree, put his caps on the ground, took one of them and put it on his head. Then he lay down and soon fell asleep. "Where are my caps?" Smith cried when he woke up.He looked up and saw many monkeys in the tree and each monkey had a cap on its head. "Give me back my caps!" the man shouted at the monkeys.But the monkeys didn't understand him.They only laughed.The man got angry,took off his own cap,threw it on the ground and cried,"If you want all my caps,you may take this one,too!" And what do you think happened?The little animals did the same. Each monkey took off its cap and threw it on the ground. The man was very glad. He quickly collected all his caps and went on his way. The man cried and told the monkeys _ . A. to return his caps B. not to get away with his caps C. to buy his caps D. not to laugh at him Answer: A Question: Which location on Earth has the least intense sunlight on December 22? A. Equator B. Florida C. Maine D. North Pole Answer: D Question: Cancer is feared by everyone. And there is more and more fear about cancer. Not the disease itself -- there is no such thing as a high incidence rates of cancer. Except for lung cancer, mostly caused by cigarette smoking, the incidence rates are not on the rise. However, some kinds of cancer are decreasing. But the fear of cancer is catching, and the country stands at risk of an anxiety. The earth itself is coming to seem like a huge carcinogen . The ordinary, more or less, scientific statement that something between 80 and 90 percent of all cancers are due to things in the environment is taken to mean that none of us will be safe until the whole environment is "cleaned up." This is not at all the meaning. The 80-percent calculation is based on the unthinkable differences in the incidence of cancer in various societies around the world -- for example, the high incidence of liver cancer in Africa and the Far East, stomach cancer in Japan, breast cancer in Western Europe and North America, and the relatively low figures for breast cancer in Japan and parts of Africa and for liver cancer in America. These data show there may be specific environmental influences, but largely based on personal life-style, which determines the incidence of various forms of cancer in different communities -- that is all the data suggest. The overall incidence of cancer, counting up all the cases, is probable roughly the same everywhere. It can be inferred from the passage that the writer's opinion about the relationship between cancer and environment is _ . A. positive B. negative C. neutral D. approving Answer: B Question: Recently, while hiking in the foothills of South Carolina, I happened to notice a small, yet quickly flowing whitewater stream. While relaxing and enjoying the aloneness, I sensed a battle for favorable position between the highly-spirited water and the large rocks resting on the bed along the edges of the stream. At first; the rocks, stubborn, immovable and unbending, seemed to have their way with their adversary . However, the water, determined yet forgiving, seemed merely inconvenienced by the presence of the rocks, as it effortlessly changed its course, running towards its original destination. Soon it became clear that the rocks, although remaining strong and firm, were losing this battle as the water's total indifference began to slowly reform these obstacles into smooth and beautifully polished stones. You see, there seemed to be total lack of struggle associated with the water's journey. Struggle is like bondage forcing harmony and the water would have none of that. On the contrary,the water seemed perfectly content to move around the rocks when necessary, following some route God had originally intended. I paused for thought. Maybe people need to be more determined and less stubborn. Maybe human beings need to always be open to different points of view, not afraid to readjust their direction as life presents all of its new and unforeseen challenges. When fighting with the water, the rocks _ . A. were made into irregular patterns B. were lacking in the spirit of struggle C. stuck to their original method all the way D. redesigned their path according to the situation Answer: C
Grace and I are good friends. We get on very well with each other, though sometimes we fight. I remember last year we didn't talk with each other for a long time before Mid-Autumn Day. But when we met each other that day, we became good friends again. We both study well. We like talking about the problems in our studies.We also like making up stories.We made one up in English last month. It was called "Magic Sunflower Club". I think this is a wonderful name. Grace is tall and active. She does better in P.E. than me. She is good at music. She plays the piano so well that sometimes birds come to listen to her. I'm shorter and quieter than Grace. I know a lot about science. I often have some new ideas. I'm good at math and art. Our teacher says my drawing is getting better and better. If we don't know something very well, we help each other. So we never have any problems. Last year they became good friends again _ . A on Mid-Autumn Day B the day before Mid-Autumn Day C the day after Mid-Autumn Day D two days before Mid-Autumn Day Answer: A For a writer, there is hardly any greater honor than winning the Nobel Prize for literature. And for a woman writer, claiming the prize is even harder, for only eight women once won it. Austria's Elfriede Jelinek is the ninth and the first since 1996. The Stockholm-based Swedish Academy announced last Thursday that Jelinek won this year's Nobel Prize in literature. She is recognized for her socially critical novels and plays. Jelinek, 57, made her literary debut in 1967. She has written plays, novels and poetry. She is best known for her autobiographical 1983 novel "The Piano Teacher", made into a movie in 2001. The basic theme of her work is the inability of women to live as people beyond the roles and personalities traditionally expected of _ . Her characters struggle to lead lives not normally acceptable in society. "The nature of Jelinek's texts is often hard to define. They shift between prose and poetry and songs, they contain theatrical scenes and film script," said the academy. The Nobel Prize was founded by Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel. Nobel died in 1896 and left his fortune of about US $920 million to a fund to honor people who have helped other human beings. This year each prize is worth US $13 million. This passage is most likely taken from _ . A a travel magazine B a history book C a newspaper D an advertisement Answer: C Today was an important day for Sam: he was going to go to the pet store and pick out a pet to take home and live with him! Sam was worried that he would not find a pet that would like him better than the other pets, but he knew he would find the pet for him. The pet store had a big, white door and Sam opened it up and heard lots of barking! He saw a nice man standing next to the dogs who said that his name was Chris. Sam said hello and petted the dogs. He really liked one of the dogs named Rocky, but Rocky did not like him. Chris said that Rocky was mean and did not like some people even when the people were very nice. Sam was a little sad, but he saw the next cage! There was a small, yellow dog in the cage named Button. Sam put his finger through the bars in Button's cage and Button licked his fingers. Sam laughed, and asked Chris to let him play with Buttons. Sam and Buttons played together in the grass outside of the store, and Sam was so happy. Buttons loved Sam, and Sam loved Buttons! Sam had some papers that he had to sign, and he showed Chris all of the toys and items he had bought to bring home with his new pet: Chris was so happy, too! Sam put his new friend on a leash and took Buttons home with him, and they loved each other very much. Why does Rocky not like Sam? A He is mean B He is sad C He is happy D He is scared Answer: A 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 used to hate his mother because _ . A she didn't care for him. B she had no time to be with him C she was a drug addict. D she was too strict with him. Answer: B A class is studying the density of rock samples. What scientific equipment do they need to determine the density of the rock samples? A microscope and balance B beaker and graduated cylinder C graduated cylinder and balance D microscope and graduated cylinder Answer: C
The environmental group 350.org has launched a new campaign called Climate Name Change that proposes to revise to how hurricanes are named: call them after policymakers who say that humans are not to blame for global warming. This will save the Katrinas and Sandys of the world from the injustice of having their names attached to major disaster, the group says. And, as a bonus, it will produce some peculiar weather reports. "Rick Perry leaves trail of death," appears under a broadcast titled "Rick Perry: The Tragedy." "Michelle Bachman is incredibly dangerous. If you value your life, please seek shelter from Michelle Bachman," says an official while addressing a news conference. The campaign is unlikely to influence the World Meteorological Organization, which has since 1954 named Atlantic tropical storms from an official list. But the campaign's goal seems less to actually name a hurricane after the speaker of the house, and more to call attention to an issue that this month has reached an alarming level of seriousness. The campaign comes just a month before the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change will release its most recent report on the state of global warming and a week after a draft of the report was given away to Reuters. In the draft, scientists concluded with near certainty - about 95 percent sure - that humans are to blame for the worldwide temperature hikes over the last few decades. That was a revision from the 2007 report, which put scientific certainty that human activities were driving global climate change at about 90 percent. And global warming, the report said, is not slowing down - it, actually, is accelerating. That means that sea levels could balloon upward as much as three feet by the end of the century, if emissions continue at their current pace. Still, as the Washington Post Climate notes, hurricanes are not the best sign of global warming. Though current data suggests that global warming will in the future stir up terrible super storms, there is still not enough evidence to support the idea that climate change strengthens the recent hurricanes that have torn at the US's eastern coastline. The draft of the global warming report tells us that _ . Answer: CARDIFF, Wales Poets, singers and musicians from across the globe gathered in prefix = st1 /Walesto celebrate the tradition of storytelling. "It might seem strange that people still want to listen in the age of watching television, but this is an unusual art form whose time has come again," said David Ambrose, director of Beyond the Border, an international storytelling festival in Wales. "Some of the tales, like those Inuit from Canada, are thousands of years old. So our storytellers have come from distant lands to connect us with the distance of time," he said early this month. Two Inuit women, both in their mid 60s, are among the few remaining who can do Kntadjait, or throat singing, which has few words and much sound. Their art is governed by the cold of their surroundings, forcing them to say little but listen attentively. Ambrose started the festival in 1993, after several years of working with those reviving (coming back into use or existence) storytelling in Wales. "It came out of a group of people who wanted to reconnect with traditions, and as all the Welsh are storytellers, it was _ here." Ambrose said. From the tales told by the Inuit, people can learn _ . Answer: There are more than 3000 languages in the world today, but only about ten are major languages of the world. Among them English is the most popular. More than 350 million people speak English as their first language. Major English-speaking countries are Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA. Another 400 million speak it as a second language. No one knows how many people speak English as a foreign language. They usually learn English as a school subject instead of learning it from their parents. Chinese is the only language with more speakers than English. This is because of the large population of China. English is the language for a better understanding between peoples of the world. It is also the language for business and science. Nearly half of the business deals in Europe are done in English, and more than half of the science magazines are in English. English is widely used in the world's computer network. And children should begin with English when they learn how to use computers. Through the English language peoples of different countries are able to work together and make things even better. English is the most popular language in the world because _ . Answer: The first time we started using it, we thought it would just be a bit of fun, a one-time thing. _ A _ "Let's just give it a try," my fiancee said. I was a bit nervous, but I knew some of our friends were already into it, and they said it was fine and that I should relax because everyone was doing it."OK," I agreed, convinced it would be harmless. _ B _ Before long, we were using it once a week. Then it became twice a week. We went from using it after work to using it in the mornings, and then at lunchtime, too. Suddenly we reached a point where we were using it every day. Even when I wasn't using it, I was thinking about using it. _ C _ That's when I realized the terrible truth. We couldn't stop. Dear readers, it shames me to admit it, but I am an addict of online shopping site Taobao. And I don't think I'm the only one. _ D _ I see the telltale signs every where: People with bags under their eyes, clearly exhausted after staying up late browsing items they might one day need (but probably won't),like the 1940s leather aviator cap I bought in the event I ever need to become an aviator in the 1940s. I see co-workers furtively sneaking down to the mailroom, eyes darting around suspiciously. I know what's going through your mind as you read this. "This isn't me," you're thinking, "I can stop anytime I want." But can you? In China you can get same day delivery for just about anything you buy online. In Australia, my home country, the same item would take weeks to arrive. "It's the convenience," I said to my fiancee. "That's why we're hooked." But is that convenience worth the risk of waking up one morning to discover you've been buried alive in masses of brand new women's shoes? In my case it's probably not, especially because I suspect my fiancee won't realize I'm missing until weeks later, when my credit card stops working and I've long since expired. So what can you do to battle this terrible addiction? Never fear, dear readers, because I've created a special five-step list to help you stop online shopping. Step one: Acknowledge you have a problem. Resist buying adult-sized, Star Wars Stormtrooper outfit on Taobao. You don't really need it. Step two: Try not to feel guilty about buying adult-sized, Star Wars Stormtrooper outfit on Taobao. Step three: Put the computer and smartphone away, get back to nature, and take a walk in the park. Step four: Try not to feel guilty about buying a new outfit for your walk in the park. I mean, it was on sale, right? Step five: Buying a book on how to quit Taobao...from Taobao. On second thoughts, maybe don't listen to me, after all. The author concludes this passage with a tone of _ . Answer: If you lose your wallet, how often do you think someone will be kind enough to return it to you, with cash and credit cards? Some people may be greedy, and others are simply too lazy to bother with the trip to the post office to send back a wallet to a stranger. But according to a psychology study by Dr. Richard Wiseman, there's one thing that'll greatly increase your odds of being reunited with a lost wallet: a photograph of a cute baby. In the study, hundreds of wallets were scattered around the streets of Edinburgh, Scotland. The psychologists wanted to see how many strangers would take the trouble to return them to the addresses listed on the drivers' licenses inside--but more than that, they wanted to find out what would make a person more likely to help out a stranger. To finish this, they included personal things in most of the wallets: some included a photo of a happy elderly couple, some contained a cute puppy, some contained a family portrait, and some held a photo of a lovely baby. Others had receipts showing that the wallet's owner had recently donated to a charity . Some contained no personal details. As the psychologists soon discovered, the sight of a smiling baby is enough to warm nearly any heart: only one in ten of the strangers who _ such wallets did not return them. In contrast, the second most successful image, the puppy, had a 53% return rate. When the wallet included no photograph, it stood only a one in seven chance of being returned to the owner. The success of the baby photograph shows a human compassion for the young that's been passed down through the ages, according to Dr. Wiseman. "The baby kicked off a caring feeling in people, which is not surprising from an evolutionary perspective ," he told theTimes. To ensure our species' survival, scientists think that we must feel empathy and compassion for our young. Scientists say that this study supports the argument that we won't feel compassion only for our own babies, but for any that we see--hence, the strong desire a stranger would feel to return a wallet to the baby's parent. On a more basic level, the study also provides a great tip to help ensure that if your wallet is ever lost, you're more likely to get it back. "If you want to increase the chances of your wallet being returned if lost, gain a photograph of the cutest baby you can find and ensure that it is clearly displayed," said Dr. Wiseman. The main purpose of the psychologists' leaving hundreds of wallets around was to find out _ . Answer:
Jack London was a famous American writer. He was born on January 12, 1876, in San Francisco, California. His family was very poor, and Jack had to leave school to make money.He worked hard in many different jobs. Later, Jack returned to school, but he didn't stay. He wrote," Life and pocketbook were both too short. " In 1897, he went to Alaska to find gold. Instead, he found ideas there for his books and stories. He returned home and started to write. His writings were successful, and he became rich and famous in his twenties. Jack London was not a happy man, however. In poor health, he took his own life in 1916. He was only 40 years old. Jack London became rich and famous _ . Answer: In America today, there are almost as many people making their living as bloggers as there are lawyers. Already more Americans are making their primary income from posting their opinions than Americans working as computer programmers or fire fighters The best studies we can find say we are a nation of over 20 million bloggers, with almost 2 million Americans getting paid by the word, the post, or the click - whether on their site or someone else's. The Information Age has developed many new professions, but blogging could well be the one with the biggest effect on our culture. What started as a discussion forum for politics and new technologies has now been used in health care, the arts, fashion and just about every other imaginable area of life. What started as a hobby for volunteers is becoming big business for newly appearing sites, for companies that now depend upon their reviews and for the people who work in this new industry. All this fits with the trend toward Opinion TV. Less and less of our information flow is devoted to gathering facts, and more and more is going towards popularizing opinions. Twenty-four-hour news channels have been replaced by 24-hour opinion channels. Some bloggers even serve as "spokesblogers"-paid by advertisers to blog about the products. They are highly paid and they have to report long hours-50 to 60 hours a week. Bloggers make money if their consumers click the ads on their sites. Some sites even pay writers by the click, which is of course a system that encourages using shocking words or doing whatever it takes to get noticed. For now, bloggers say they are very happy in their work, reporting high job satisfaction. But what happens if they lose work? Are they considered journalists under shield laws ? Is there someone to complain to about false blogs or hidden conflicts? There are more questions than answers about America's Newest Profession. What would be the best title for the passage? Answer: Once upon a time there was a baby eagle living in a nest on a cliff . The baby eagle liked the nest. It was the only world he had ever known. It was warm and comfortable. Many times each day the mother would _ down from the sky and land in the nest and feed the baby eagle delicious food. She was like a god to him he had no idea where she came from or how she worked her magic. The baby eagle was hungry all the time, but the mother eagle would always come just in time with the food. The baby eagle grew strong. The mother wanted him to try flying and getting the food out of the nest. But the baby eagle was afraid to do it. The mother eagle flew away and stopped coming to the nest. The baby eagle cried and cried. But there was no one there to hear him. Two days later, the mother eagle appeared at the top of the mountain cliff with a big bowl of delicious food and she looked down at her baby. The mother said, "Here is some very delicious food, all you have to do is come to get it." "Come to get it!" said the baby, with much anger. "How?" The mother pushed him out of the nest. The ground rushed closer, faster and faster. Something strange happens. He looked down and saw the sky. He wasn't moving towards the ground anymore, his eyes were pointed up at the sun. "Hug?" he said. "What's going on here!" " You're flying," his mother said. "This is fun!" laughed the baby eagle. The mother eagle stopped coming to the nest because _ Answer: Imagine you're in a dark room, running your fingers over a smooth surface in search of a single dot the size of this period, How high do you think the dot must be for your finger to feel it? Scientists have determined that the human finger is so sensitive it can detect a surface bump just one micron(l0-6m)"high. The human eye, by contrast, can't tell anything much smaller than100 microns.No wonder we rely on touch rather than eyesight when faced with a new roll of toilet paper. Biologically, touch is the mother of all sensory systems.It is an ancient sense in evolution: even the simplest single-celled living things can feel when something brushes up against them and will respond by moving closer or pulling away. It is the first sense aroused during a baby's development and the last to weaken at life's peak. Patients in a deep coma who seem otherwise lost to the world will show skin reaction when touched by a nurse. "Touch ,is so central to what we are that we almost cannot imagine ourselves without it," said Chris Dijkerman."It's 'not like eyesight, where you close your eyes and you don't see anything. _ .It's always there." Long ignored in favor of the sensory heavyweights of eyesight and hearing, the study of touch lately:: has been gaining new concern among scientists.They're exploring the effects of recently reported false touch impressions, of people being made to feel as though they had three arms, for example, with the hope of gaining the true understanding of how the mind works. Others are turning to touch for more practical purposes: to build better touch screen instruments and robot hands, a more well-rounded virtual life.. "There's a fair amount of research into new ways of offloading information onto our sense of touch," said Lynette Jones. "To have your cell phone buzzing (making a low sound) as opposed to ringing turned out to have a lot of advantages in.some situations." Touch is our most active sense, our means of seizing the world and experiencing it 'first hand. Dr.Susan Lederman pointed out that while we can become aware of something by seeing or hear,ing7;-.from a distance and without really trying, if we want to learn about something by means of touch, we must make a move.We must rub the cloth, or pet the cat. Touching is a two-way street, and that's not true for seeing or hearing. If you have a soft object and you squeeze it, you change its shape. The physical world reacts back." Our hands are smart and can do many tasks automatically - button a shirt, fit a key in a lock, play the; piano for others.Dr.Lederman and her colleagues have shown that blindfolded subjects can easily recognize a wide range of common -objects placed.in their hands.But on some feeling tasks, touch is all thumbs (very clumsy). When people are given a raised line drawing of a common object, they're puzzled."If all we've got is outline information;" Dr.Lederman said,."no weight, no texture, no temperature information, well, we're very, very bad with that." Touch also turns out to be easy to fool, Among the sensory tricks now being investigated is something called the Pinocchio illusion. Researchers have found that if they shake the band of the biceps , many people report feeling that their forearm is getting 'longer, their hand floating ever further from their elbow . And if they are told to touch the forefinger of the shaken arm to the tip of their nose, they feel as though their nose was lengthening, too. Scientists are lately getting interested in the following except _ . Answer: Career education is instruction intended to help young people identify, choose, and prepare for a career. Such instruction may focus on a person's role in work, leisure, or family life. Career education differs from vocational education, which is designed to teach specific occupational skills. Career education includes the formal and informal learning that occurs in the family, in the community, and in schools. In schools, career education consists of instructive activities included in many courses. These activities are designed to improve the attitudes, knowledge, and skills important for work roles. Career education helps students develop self- understanding and use it to plan their education and working life. A complete career education program in school begins in kindergarten and continues at least through high school. Many colleges and universities also offer career education through their counseling programs. In kindergartens and elementary schools, youngsters learn about different types of work. In middle schools or junior high school, children begin to explore the occupations and leisure activities that interest them most. In high school, students get more specific information about occupations and life styles. They may be in classroom, small group, or individual sessions where they learn how to make career decisions. They also should obtain the skills they need for further study or for a job after graduation. Counselors provide information on such matters as how to locate and apply for jobs and how to be successful in interviews. Teachers and counselors use a variety of methods to provide career education, including films about occupations or industries. Children may invite parents or other adults to come to school and describe their jobs. A student may accompany a worker on the job. Cooperative education s classroom study with practical work experience. It may be inferred from the passage that _ . Answer:
a paper clip is often made of ferromagnetic At age 61, identical twins Jeanne and Susan no longer look exactly alike. Susan smoked for many years and is an admitted sun worshipper, whose habits Jeanne does not share. A new study of twins suggests you can blame those coarse wrinkles, brown or pink spots on too much time in the sun, smoking, and being overweight. Because twins share genes, but may have different exposures to environmental factors, studying twins allows an "opportunity to control for genetic susceptibility ," Dr. Elma D. Baron, at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, and his colleagues explain in the latest issue of Archives of Dermatology. Their analysis of environmental skin-damaging factors in 65 pairs of twins hints that skin aging is related more to environment and lifestyle than genetic factors. But when it comes to skin cancer, the researchers say their findings support previous reports that both environment and genes affect skin cancer risk. Baron's team examined facial skin of 130 twins, 18 to 77 years old, who lived mostly in the northem Midwest and Eastern regions of the US, who were attending the Twins Days Festival in Ohio in August 2002. At this time, each of the twins also separately reported how their skin burned or tanned without sunscreen, their weight, and their history of skin cancer, smoking, and alcohol drinking. The study group consisted of 52 fraternal and 10 identical twin pairs, plus 3 pairs who were unsure of their twin status. From these data, the researchers noted strong ties, outside of twin status, between smoking, older age, and being overweight, and having facial skin with evidence of environmental damage. By contrast, sunscreen use and drinking alcohol appeared related to less skin damage. Baron and his colleagues say the current findings, which highlight ties between facial aging and potentially avoidable environmental factors--such as smoking, being overweight, and unprotected overexposure to the sun's damaging rays--may help motivate people to minimize these risky behaviors. Why did Baron's team do the research on twins? When I was growing up, I was embarrassed to be seen with my father. He was badly crippled , and when we would walk together, his hand on my arm for balance, people would stare, I would be ashamed of the unwanted attention. If ever noticed or bothered, he never let on. It was difficult to walk together--and because of that, we didn't say much as we went along. But as we started out, he always said, "You set the pace. I will try to follow you." Our usual walk was to or from the subway, which was how he got to work. He went to work sick, and even in bad weather. He almost never missed a day, and would make it to the office even if others could not. It was a matter of pride for him. When snow or ice was on the ground, it was impossible for him to walk, even with help... Such times my sister or I would pull him through the streets of Brooklyn, N.Y., on a child's sleigh to the subway entrance. Once there, he would try to grasp handrail until he reached the lower steps that the warmer tunnel air kept ice free. In Manhattan the subway station was the basement of his office building, and he would not have to go outside again until we met him in Brooklyn on his way home. w.w.w.k.s.5.u.c.o.m When I think of it now, I am surprised at how much courage it must have taken for a grown man to suffer from shame and disability. And I am also surprised at how he did it--without bitterness or complaint. He never talked about himself as an object of pity, not did he show any envy of the more fortunate or able. What he looked for in others was a "good heart", and if he found one, the owner was good enough for him. Now that I am older, I believe that is a proper standard by which to judge people, even though I still don't know exactly what a "good heart" is. But I know the times I don't have one myself. He has been away for many years now, but I think of him often. I wonder if he sensed my reluctance to be seen with him during our walks. If he did, I am sorry I never told him how sorry I was, how unworthy I was, how I regretted it. I think of him when I complain about my troubles, when I am envious of another's good fortune, when I don't have a "good heart". As a disabled man, his father _ . If you are looking to putting a tree in your home for Christmas, there is always one debate that seems to arise in most households: whether you want a real tree or fake tree. Year after year, as we find ourselves cleaning old pine needles for months on end, we decide that we will never get another real tree. So that begs the question: Which kind of tree is better? There is certainly a lot to be said for real trees. There is something fun about gathering the family together, going to a Christmas tree farm, and selecting or even cutting down your own tree. Real Christmas trees have that lovely holiday pine needle smell and they look great in your home. Of course, on the other hand, they also leave a complete mess behind and needles that seem to keep appearing for weeks or even months after the tree comes down. You must also find a way to deal with your real Christmas tree after you're done, which may mean cutting it into pieces so it will fit in the trash. Many dustmen will refuse to take away a tree that is left beside your regular trash, especially if it is a big tree or an old, yellow one with falling needles, making it hard to pick up. They don't want a face full of sharp needles any more than you do! With a fake Christmas tree, there is no mess, but there is also no Christmas smell and no exciting trip to the Christmas tree farm. Of course, these trees look the same in appearance as a real tree when decorated. _ For some people, a can of pine air freshener is enough to recreate the pleasant smell of a real tree. As to which tree is the better choice, it is really a matter of personal preference. Both real and fake trees certainly have their benefits, and knowing which is better for you this Christmas really depends on what your family wants. What is the author's attitude towards this debate? A woodcutter was working in the forest one day when he found a box full of gold coins. Unfortunately, his wife was the kind of woman who could not keep a secret. Somehow, he knew, he had to prevent her from talking about the gold. He thought about this for a long time, then had an idea. " I found something in the forest", he told his wife, "come with me and I'll show you.".His wife followed him into the forest and soon they came to a tree." Look at that!" the woodcutter said to his wife, and pointed to the tree. "There's a fish growing on that branch!" His wife was surprised ,especially when he climbed up the tree and brought down the fish for her to see.They walked on and soon came to the river. "I'll just pull in my net and see what I've caught", the woodcutter said. He pulled in his net and inside there were several hares . "How interesting!" he said "there are now hares in the river." After that, they came to where the woodcutter had found the box of gold. "Look, wife", he said "this is what I have found. A box of gold coins." The next day, his wife could not stop herself from telling her friends about all the wonderful things she had seen.Of course, nobody believe her! Where do you usually see hares? _
Many people take it for granted that black is a color of bad things while white should always mean something good. This may be because, in their opinion, black is related to darkness and white to purity. However, that is not always the case. Did you know that the same one color may mean something differently in different places of the world? In the English-speaking world, black is the color of mourning--people wear black at the funeral. Red is concerned with danger or bloodshed . Yellow is the word for fear. If you are afraid, you are yellow. Yet none of these sayings is true outside the English-speaking world. In China and Korea white is the color of mourning. In Russia, China and some other countries, red stands for beauty, life and excellence. In Italy and Germany, you are yellow with anger, not with fear. Even within the English-speaking area, it is not difficult to find color contradictions .A redcap in the United States is a porter in a railway station. In Britain, however, a redcap is a military policeman. Both names are logical, because both men wear red caps. Similarly, the British term for an American white-collar worker is sometimes called a black-coated worker. One does not have to cross an area to find color differences. Would you rather be red-blooded or a blue-blooded? If we go back to the origin, we find that both terms are logical as both names suggest. The expression "blueblood" comes from Spain, where some noble families proudly told the world that they had "blue blood". Actually they meant that they had no Moorish or Jewish blood. But then why "blue" blood? Because they were fair-skinned, and it is only natural that their blood vessels stood out appearing blue. Yellow is concerned with anger in _ . In the summer between my first year and second year in college, I was invited to be an instructor at a high school camp. On the first day, when we were dancing and playing games, I noticed a boy under the tree who was small and thin. His shyness made him appear weak. I walked towards him, introduced myself and invited him to join in the activities and meet some new people. He quietly replied, "No, I really don't want to do this." I could understand that he was in a new world but I knew it wouldn't be right to force him, either. Actually, the boy didn't need a close talk but a friend. At lunch the next day, I was leading camp songs when 1 saw the boy under the tree sitting alone. I tried again with the same invitation, but he refused once again. That evening I was told the boy's name was Tommy. Then I asked the campers to pay special attention to the boy and spend time with him when they could. The days went by and the time came when we had to leave. We held a big, warm party to celebrate the closing of the camp. All the campers shared their wonderful moments. To my surprise. 1 found the boy from under the tree dancing joyfully with two girls. I couldn't believe it was the same person. In October of my second year, I received a phone call from Tommy's mother. She told me that Tommy was hit by a car and killed. I offered my deep sadness. The mother said: "'Tommy mentioned you so many times. I want you to know that he went back to school and made new friends with confidence. You made a difference for Tommy during his last months." At that moment, I realized how easy it was to give a bit of yourself every day. You may never know how much each gesture may mean to someone else. I hope that everyone can pay attention to their own "boy under the tree". Before the writer came to the high school summer camp,he was a (n) _ . WHAT sets Spain apart from the rest of Europe? It might be "siestas", the three-hour lunch break that is customary in the country. The Spanish start work at 8 or 9 am, but in the early afternoon they usually take a three-hour break. After lunch, people can be seen napping in cars or on benches. During hot summer afternoons, Spanish village streets are often totally deserted . When they return to their offices at 4 pm, Spanish workers often have to make up for the lost time by working until 8 or 9 pm. So, while most other Europeans are sound asleep, Spaniards are still having dinner or watching television. "Everything in Spain happens later, from meal times to broadcast entertainment," described AP. "This work schedule is a Spanish cultural vice," said Nuria Chinchilla, head of the International Center on Work and Family at the University of Navarra in Barcelona. "Changing to the European schedule should be the most urgent project for the government." Many Spanish people complain about their never-ending workdays, and some even think the issue has affected the country's development. "In Spain we sleep almost an hour less than the World Health Organization recommends," lawmakers in the Spanish parliament wrote in a proposal. "This has a negative effect on productivity, stress, accidents and school dropout rates." That's why, last September, they recommended that Under the proposed newuthe government turn back the clocks by one hour. schedule, the lunchtime break would be cut to an hour or less. And a regular eight-hour workday would be introduced. However, some doubt that changing the time zone would reverse low productivity, which comes more from the country's service-oriented economy , according to Maria Angeles Durant, a sociologist with the Spanish National Research Council. But Ignacio Buqueras, the president of the Association for the Rationalization of Spanish Working Hours, told The New York Times that "changing the Spanish schedule would allow families more free time together and boost Spain's economy." The Spanish government is treating the campaign seriously, but it hasn't taken any action yet, reported The New York Times. Spain's siesta is not actually a product of its relaxed Mediterranean culture. At the start of the 20th century, Spain had the same working hours as many parts of Europe. It was during World War II that the country moved the clocks forward to align them with those of Nazi Germany. The same thing happened in Portugal. After the defeat of Hitler, Portugal returned to Greenwich Mean Time, but Spain did not. What can you infer from the passage? This is not a diet. It's a simple way to lose weight. You don't have to give up the food you love or join a gym. You just follow some habits thin people have. Keep them, and you'll become thin. Wake-up When you wake up in the morning, sit up slowly without using your hands. With legs straight out, lean forward until you feel sore in your back. It will use up 10 calories. Start with soup Order a clear soup, and have it before the main food. In this way, you'll feel fuller, so you'll eat less when the main food comes. An apple or more a day Apples are full of fiber and water, so your stomach will want less. Studies show that people who eat at least three apples or pears a day may lose weight. Talk it up Every time you use the cell phone, stand up and walk around. Heavy people sit on average two and a half hours more each day than thin people. This skill is very important and standing up and walking around will burn up 50 or more calories. Use these skills, and you will have a big weight loss. The text is to encourage you to _ . Greg Evans started to study film at Ryerson University, but had a change of heart and switched to social work at George Brown College in second year.Yet the college recognized only one of Evans' general-interest credits from Ryerson , and also made him take English all over again although he had passed it at university. "So I spent time and money taking a course I had already taken before", complained Evans."The system really needs to change." Evans was part of a chorus of Ontario students on Monday cheering a new $ 73.7 million five-year plan to help students switch from college to university, and from university to college. After years' of urging from students, the Ontario government set up a new Credit Transfer Innovation loud to help students move back and forth between the more hands-on courses of community college to the often broader academic focus of a university degree." We hear horror stories about students who can't get recognition from one institution for a very similar course at another, and in one case I believe the same professor was teaching them both," noted Malloy after announcing the new fund. Individual colleges and universities have decided on nearly 500 joint deals to honor each other's credits in certain courses.Each school is required to set targets for more credit-transfer agreements, and link these increases to provincial funding. More than 4,000 college graduates transfer to university in Ontario every year twice as many as eight years ago, noted Justin Fox, president of the College Student Alliance.Yet Ontario universities and colleges have been cautious about transferring credits, in part to avoid copying each other's courses, noted Bonnie Patterson, president of the Council of Ontario Universities ,who welcomed the increased flexibility. What attitude does Bonnie Patterson have towards the transferring system?
Having returned from her round trip, the angry woman stood outside the ticket office of the station. "The railway should pay me backPS12, so you owe me the money," she said to Harry Jenks, the young man who was working at the office. "You sold me a ticket for May 22nd, but there was no ship from Jersey that night. So my daughter and I had to stay in a hotel. It cost me PS12." Harry was worried. He remembered selling the woman a return ticket. "Come into the office, Madam," he said politely, "I'll just check the Jersey timetable for May 22nd." The woman and her little girl followed him inside. She was quite right, as Harry soon discovered. There was no sailing on May 22nd. How could he have made such a careless mistake? He shouldn't have sold her a ticket for that day. Wondering what to do, he smiled at the child. "You look sun burnt," he said to her, "Did you have a nice holiday in Jersey?" "Yes," she answered, shyly, "The beach was lovely. And I can swim, too!" "That's fine," said Harry. "My little girl can't swim a bit yet. Of course, she's only three..." "I'm four," the child said proudly, "I'll be four and a half." Harry turned to the mother. "I remember your ticket, Madam," he said, "But you didn't get one for your daughter, did you?" "Er, well..."woman looked at the child, "I mean... she hasn't started school yet. She's only four." "A four-year-old child must have a ticket, Madam. A child's return ticket to Jersey costs...let me see...PS13.50. So if the railway pays your hotel, you will owePS1.50. The law is the law, but since the fault was mine..." Which of the following is true? A. Harry's daughter could swim very well. B. The Jersey timetable was totally wrong. C. Actually, the little girl didn't need a ticket. D. The little girl was satisfied with the holiday. Answer: D In order for rocks to be classified as igneous, the rocks must A. solidify at the surface of Earth. B. be eroded and deposited in layers. C. be formed from magma. D. change form when pressure is applied. Answer: C In the course of working my way through school, I took many jobs I would rather forget. But none of these jobs was as terrible as my job in an apple plant . The work was hard; the pay was poor; and, most of all, the working conditions were terrible. First of all, the job made huge demands on my strength. For ten hours a night, I took boxes that rolled down a metal track and piled them onto a truck. Each box contained twelve heavy bottles of apple juice. I once figured out that I was lifting an average of twelve tons of apple juice every night. I would not have minded the difficulty of the work so much if the pay had not been so poor. I was paid the lowest wage of that time--two dollars an hour. Because of the low pay, I felt eager to get as much as possible. I usually worked twelve hours a night but did not take home much more than $ 100 a week. But even more than the low pay, what made me unhappy were the working conditions. During work I was limited to two ten-minute breaks and an unpaid half hour for lunch. Most of my time was spent outside loading trucks with those heavy boxes in near-zero-degree temperatures. The steel floors of the trucks were like ice, which made my feet feel like stone. And after the production line shut down at night and most people left, I had to spend two hours alone cleaning the floor. I stayed on the job for five months, all the while hating the difficulty of the work, the poor money, and the conditions under which I worked. By the time I left, I was determined never to go back there again. Why did the writer have to take many jobs at that time? A. To gain some experience B. To save for his future C. To support his family D. To pay for his schooling Answer: D A twenty-nine-year-old kindergarten teacher from Maryland was named National Teacher of the Year in 2006. On June first she would begin a year as a national and international spokeswoman for education. Kimberly Oliver was the first National Teacher of the Year from her state. She taught five-year-old children at a public school in Maryland, near Washington, D.C. President Bush honored her and other top teachers at the White House. Kimberly Oliver said she wanted people to understand that the first several years of a child's life were the most important for learning. She said investing in children at a very young age would result in great gains later in school and in life. She called on parents to read to children from an early age so they would not fall behind in school. One of the activities at her school was an event called " Books and Supprer Night ". Families read together at the school and received free books to take home. Parents, children and teachers also ate dinner together. Broad Acres Elementary School was in a poor area. Many of the parents were immigrants with limited English. Kimberly Oliver helped improve learning environment at her school. She received money to buy electronic learning systems, tape players and books in English and Spanish and sent them home with students. Parents said she had shown them how to help their children at home. She was born and raised in Delaware. She held one degree in English and another in Elementary Education. Kimberly Oliver would follow in the footsteps of another teacher Jason Kamras from the Washington area as National Teacher of the Year. Jason Kamras, as honored for his work, teaching math to middle school students in the nation's capital. The National Teacher of the Year program began in 1952. A fourteen-member committee choose from among teachers honored as the best in their states. Kimberly Oliver had been named National Teacher of the Year mostly because _ . A. she taught five-year old children at a public school B. the elementary school she taught in is in a poor area C. she was helpful ahd had many special and good ideas in teaching children D. she called on parents to read to children from an early age Answer: C There was once an alligator who liked to wear orange sweaters. He liked that is was orange instead of a boring color like white or black. All of the other alligators would laugh and point at him and say mean things about him. They would say it was silly for an alligator to wear a sweater. One night it got very cold and the ground was very hard. The alligator rested well with his sweater to keep his tummy warm and protected from the cold ground. After that night all of the alligators wore different colored sweaters (red, blue, green, and yellow) and were safe and warm from the cold weather. They thanked him and apologized for laughing before. The point of this story is that sometimes silly ideas turn out to be the best ideas and we shouldn't make fun of others. What did the other alligators do when they first saw the sweater before the cold night? A. Apologized for laughing B. Laugh and point at him and say that "alligators in sweaters" is a silly idea. C. Wear their own sweaters to look like him D. Come up with other silly ideas Answer: B
Seven years ago I was 13 years old. I still remember to this day where I was and how it all came down. I was in my social studies classroom, when a teacher came back and told us that the first building of the World Trade Center was hit by a plane. We immediately stopped our work and turned on the television. Throughout half the day we watched TV until the school was forced to let all of us home early. I walked home and immediately turned on the television and watched until my bedtime. I remember always seeing the towers walking to my Tae Kwon Do school; to me, a boy teenager, it was a great thing because at that time I have never seen any other building that caught my eye as much as _ did. And walking to my school that day was just a horrifying dream. Crossing the busy road of the Bell Pike was a big cloud of smoke and dust. It was very upsetting. Every day after that horrific day I looked up to the once stood Twin Towers just to see nothing there. To my eyes, that day will always be in my mind and in my heart, even though I didn't lose any loved ones, I still feel the pain as if I did. September 11th, 2001 will never be forgotten. When did the writer always see the Twin Towers? Shift Happens by Robert Holden Price: $ 6.49 It's an excellent book that will greatly improve your life. It has insightful wisdom that is easy toapply in everyday life. It's written in a very thoughtful and humorous way. Read it when you are stressed and it will help you remember what is important in your life. Balancing Work & Life by Robert Holden Price: $ 10.50 The book deals with the key challenges of our life. It is a must-read for anyone who is trying to balance work success, family joy and daily life. Practical techniques show you how to set your goals and make proper choices. Clear text and illustrations cover every aspect of defining success and achieving balance. Accessible charts and diagrams explore different choices for taking actions and provide examples. Happiness Now by Robert Holden Price:$8.00 This book explains what holds us back from being happy in our lives. Holden analyzes these similar questions and inthe process you will become more informed about what's really going on in your mind. This is a must-have book for anyone wanting to understand how your thoughts keep you from your happiness. The Secrets of Relationships by Renshaw Price: $9.50 Are you looking for a satisfying relationship? If so, you should read this book and discover: The secret of findingthe right partner The secret of communicating successfully The secret of getting along well with others The secret of getting what you want This book is your passport to a whole new relation-ship experience. Order online now and you can get a 20% discount. For more information, please click here. If you want to buy two copies of Balancing Work & Life and one copy of Happiness Now online, how much would you have to pay? Many of us have had this annoying experience:You are waiting at a bus station when someone near by begins to smoke a cigarette.You frown and move,but it seems that there isn't much you can do about it. The situation is changing now,as in Beijing,a new ban is set to fight against smoking.Seen as the toughest anti-smoking regulation in China's history,the law makes smoking in Beijing locations such as offices,restaurants,hotels and hospitals punishable by fines. Businesses that fail to rein in smoking can be fined up to 10,000 yuan and repeat offenders could have their licenses revoked . Individual smokers themselves can be fined up to 200 yuan.As well as indoor smoking,the law prohibits lighting up in some openair spaces close to schools,hospitals,and sports stadiums.Tobacco advertisements are not allowed to appear outdoors. Health commission inspectors will be in charge,carrying out spotchecks and acting on tip-offs from the publicposters in the capital advertise a hotline number,and the city government has launched a social media account allowing observers to upload images of smokers caught in the act. "Since previous anti-smoking laws have been poorly enforced ,we don't expect it will be en-tirely smooth running,"said Bernhard Schwartlaender,the WHO's representative in China."Key pointis...enforcement." "I don't think you can just rely on policy,"Yang Gonghuan,deputy head of the Chinese Association on Tobacco Control,said of the law."Parents and teachers who smoke have a strong influence on children.Smoking scenes in films and TV programs also make young people wrongly connect tobacco use with glamour and a cool image." Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? Some Chinese new-rich like eating shark fin soup because they think it shows their class. However, for the Chinese NBA idol Yao Ming, doing so is unacceptable as the practice has led to the overfishing of sharks. When Yao and his wife Ye Li got married in 2007, they publicly announced that they would not allow shark fin soup to be served at their wedding banquet. Actually, Yao had been saying no to shark fins since 2006, when he was appointed as the Goodwill Ambassador for wild life protection. Now, the 226-cm big guy is resorting to his personal influence to encourage more to say no to eating the soup and to raise awareness of animal protection. "Sharks are friends of human beings. They are not our food," Yao said. Other celebrity athletes like Olympic champions Li Ning and Kong Linghui are following on the heels of Yao, throwing themselves into serving the public as Goodwill Ambassadors for wild animal rescue. Recent reports about Yao's retirement have saddened tens of thousands of basketball fans both at home and abroad. Yet Yao's influence goes far beyond the basketball courts. Yao has engaged himself in charity and public welfare services for quite a while. When the devastating 8.0-magnitude earthquake hit Wenchuan in southwest China in 2008, Yao donated 2 million yuan . "When I was a little boy, my parents and teachers told me to help others and to be a good man," Yao recalled. "But I could not donate then because I had not much pocket money. After I moved to Houston, I got involved in quite a number of community service activities and I felt a strong sense of achievement when I got people together," Yao said. Like Yao, newly crowned French Open champion Li Na has showed her willingness to donate. Li gave 480,000 yuan of her prize money from the open, plus 20,000 yuan from her own pocket, to a local nursing home in her hometown. Another Chinese sports icon, hurdler Liu Xiang, has also been actively involved in charity for years. Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE? Most of us remember our teachers well. Three successful Americans talk about the teachers who encouraged them. Kevin Henkes is an excellent author and illustrator whose books include Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, The Year of Billy Miller, and Kitten's First Full Moon, which won the Caldecott medal. "I grew up in the school days of silent hallways and desks in neat,evenrows. One day, our forth-grade teacher allowed the class to move the desks out of rows intogroups of four. It might seem like a small thing now, but it taught me that you could do things differently; you could think outside the box. That teacher helped me view my world differently. Good teachers can change lives." Katherine Applegate has won many awards for her books, including the Newbery Medal for The One and Only Ivan. She also created the Animorphs series with her husband, Michael Grant."My sixth-grade teacher in Michigan sensed that 1 wanted to write,so one day she sent me home to write about the word'blue'in as many ways as possible. Because of that,for the first time in my life, I thought of myself as someone with special skills as a writer, someone who was unique. My teacher's actions said'I see something special in you.'" In his role as U.S.Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan is in charge of the department that collects data and directs research on America's schools."My high school English teacher was amazing. She challenged us to express our ideas clearly in class and in our writing. There was no such thing as a bad question. She wanted to hear from us and encouraged us to speak up and express ourselves. She pulled things out of me that I didn't know I had inside. I think that is the genius of good teachers." How did the teacher encourage Katherine Applegate?
Liverpool, my hometown, is a unique city. It is so unique that in 2004 it became a World Heritage Site. I recently returned to my home city and my first stop was at a museum on the River Mersey. Blanketed in mist , Victorian architecture rose from the banks of the river, responded to the sounds of sea-birds, and appeared unbelievably charming. When I headed toward the centre, I found myself surrounded by buildings that mirror the best palaces of Europe. It is not hard to imagine why, on first seeing the city, most visitors would be overpowered by the beauty of the noble buildings, which are solid signs of Liverpool's history. As if to stress its cultural role, Liverpool has more museums and galleries than most cities in Britain. At Walker Art Gallery, I was told that it has the best collections of Victorian paintings in the world, and is the home of modern art in the north of England. However, culture is more than galleries. Liverpool offers many music events. As Britain's No.1 music city, it has the biggest city music festival in Europe, and its musicians are famous all over the world. Liverpool is also well-known for its football and other sports events. Every year, the Mersey River Festival attracts thousands of visitors, making the city a place of wonder. As you would expect from such a city, there are restaurants serving food from around the world. When my trip was about to complete, I chose to rest my legs in Liverpool's famous Philharmonic pub . It is a monument to perfection, and a heritage attraction itself. Being a World Heritage Site, my home city is certainly a place of "outstanding universal value". It is a treasure house with plenty of secrets for the world to explore. What is the passage mainly about? Answer: The special cultural atmosphere of Liverpool Mr Li: Sam, did you enjoy your first Spring Festival in China? Sam: Yes, I did. During this festival, many family members get together. Mr Li: Yes. I hear that at Thanksgiving Americans also get together for a special meal. It sounds similar. Sam: Yes. It's similar. During these holidays, both the Chinese and Americans come home and have a big dinner. It's great fun. Mr Li: What do you think are the main differences between the Spring Festival and Thanksgiving? Sam: Well, we take part in different activities and eat different kinds of food. In China, people usually set off fireworks and eat dumplings. In the US, we usually watch a Thanksgiving parade and an American football game on TV. We also eat turkey. Mr Li: That's interesting. Who spent the first Spring Festival in China, Sam or Mr Li? Answer: Sam. Beijing--No Car Day was first started by 34 cities in France on September 22, 1998. It was started to protect the environment. By now, more than 1,000 cities around the world have had a No Car Day. The first No Car Day in China was in Chengdu in 2001. Other cities, including Beijing, Taipei, Shanghai and Wuhan also support the day. In Beijing, more and more people are joining in the activity. It asks drivers to leave their cars for one day each week and walk, take a bus or subway or ride a bike to work. The slogan for the activity is,"If we drive for one less day, we can have one more nice day." Beijing is trying to have 238 blue sky days this year. In the first quarter of this year Beijing only have 52 blue sky days. This was 11 days less than the number for the same period last year. Car exhaust is one of the most important reasons of the pollution. We must do more for No Car Day. So far, more than 200,000 drivers have shown their support. "We can't control the weather, but we can choose not to drive." said Wu Zonghua, a car club chairman. There are _ cities in China that support No Car Day according to the passage. Answer: five Since green plants make their own food, they are called Answer: producers On a cold winter Sunday, the little man came up to me as I was about to enter the telephone box and asked me whether I had a match. "I'm sorry,"I said."I don't smoke, so I haven't any. You'd better ask someone else." He looked rather disappointed, hesitated, and then turned away. I watched him walk slowly down the street before I picked up the telephone directory to look up the number I meant to dial. I'm not used to a public call box, so, at my first attempt to get through, the warning pips( ) had stopped before I realized I had to insert a coin. When I was at last able to speak, I was told that the person whom I urgently wanted to give a message to had just gone out. Swearing slightly under my breath, I got out of the box and came face to face with the little man. As he raised his hat again, I could see he was quite bald, and a thin line, resembling a dueling( ) scar, crossed one cheek. "Excuse my troubling you again." he said nervously."May I walk along with you a little way? I must tell you the truth. I need help desperately. " He had an unusually deep voice which suggested a strange combination of shyness and self-confidence. I was conscious of a fairly strong foreign accent and I wondered what country he had actually come from. I said that I had to catch a train in twenty minutes' time, but that he might accompany me to the station. "I'm going to shock you,"he said suddenly, after a moment's silence."Can you lend me five pounds? I have no money at all."I have come across many strange characters during my life and plenty of people have tried to borrow money from me. I have generally managed to avoid lending them any. But, perhaps because of the very directness of his appeal, I somehow had the impression that his need might be desperately urgent. "I'm sorry," I replied,"I'm afraid I can't lend you anything, as I'm not in the habit of carrying much money about with me. Don't you think the police might be the best people to ask for help?" He hesitated,"I dare not go to the police," he said quietly. "If I do go, they will have to send me home. That's what I'm afraid of. I don't know what to do. " He shook his head rather sadly, raised his hat and left me. I caught my train and soon forgot the incident. It was three weeks later that I happened to glance at an old evening paper and caught sight of a small paragraph at the bottom of the front page: "The unidentified body of a short bald man, with a deep scar across one cheek, was recovered from the River Thames yesterday. The police believed he had committed suicide." I then noticed the date: just two and a half weeks before. It was I who might have been the final cause of his terrible tragedy. For days afterwards the cruelty of my refusal made me suffer continual shame and regret. I swore that I would never again refuse any appeal for help. The author failed to get through in the phone box at his first attempt because _ . Answer: he didn't realize it was a pay phone
American parents generally can choose any name they want for their children. They may choose a name because it honors a family member. Or they may choose a name just because they like it. A website called Baby Center lists some unusual names given to American babies born last year. Some were named for characters in old stories, such as Hero, Thor and Ulysses. Other people named their babies after kinds of food, like actress Gwyneth Paltrow. She named her daughter Apple. Other people named their babies Banana, Pumpkin and Cookie. Still some babies were named for places. These included Brazil, India and Rome. Some parents used names of famous people from history such as Newton and Hannibal. Other parents named their babies after flowers or the weather. These babies were named Buttercup, Iris, Sunshine and Thunder. Recording artists and movie actors influence some parents' choices of names. Babies were named Beyonce, Charlize, Reda, Pierce, Shajira and Whitney. Movie actors themselves often give their babies unusual names. For example, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt named their baby daughter Shiloh. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes named their little girl Suri. Some American parents do not want unusual names. They want their baby's name to honor their religious faith. Such names include Abraham for boys or Sarah for girls. And many people give their babies the same name as a family member or good friend. The United States Social Security Administration once published a list of the most popular names for American girls and boys born. Many of the top ten boys, names are from the Jewish and Christian Bibles. If a girl is named Sarah, the name reflects her parents' _ . A love B career C expectation D religion Answer: D. religion Women were friends, I once would have said, when they totally love and support and trust each other, and bear to each other the secrets of their souls, and run--no questions asked--to help each other, and tell _ truths to each other(No, you can't wear that dress unless you lose ten pounds first.) when these truths must be told. In other words, I once would have said that a friend is a friend all the way, but now I believe that's narrow point of view. Friendships serve many different functions,meet different needs and range from those as all-the-way as the friendship of the soul sisters mentioned above to that of the most casual playmates. Convenience friends are women with whom we'd have no particular reason to be friends: a next-door neighbor or the mother of one of our children's closest friends. They'll lend us their cups for a party. They'll drive our kids to school when we're sick. They'll take us to pick up our car when we need a lift .As we will for them. But we don't , with convenience friends, ever come too close or tell too much; we maintain our public face and emotional distance. Special-interest friends aren't intimate ,and they needn't involve kids or cats. Their value lies in some interest jointly shared .And so we may have an office friend or a tennis friend. "I've got one woman friend," says Joyce," who likes, as I do, to take music courses, which makes it nice for me and her. I'd say that what we're doing is doing together, not being together." Crossroads friends are important for what was for the friendship we shared at a crucial ,now past, time of life. A time, perhaps, when we roomed in college together or went together through pregnancy, birth and that scary first year of new motherhood. Crossroads friends develop powerful links, links strong enough to endure with not much more contact than once-a-year letters at Christmas. And out of respect for those crossroads years, for those dramas and dreams we once shared, we will always be friends. Crossroads friends seem to maintain a special kind of intimacy ----dormant but always ready to be revived ---and though we may rarely meet ,whenever we do connect, it's personal and strong. Another kind of intimacy exists in the cross-generational friendships, the friends that form across generation in what one woman calls her daughter-mother and her mother-daughter relationships. There are good friends, pretty good friends and very good friends, and these friendships are defined by their level of intimacy. We might tell a good friend, for example, that yesterday we had a fight with our husband. And we might tell a pretty good friend that this fight with our husband made us so mad that we slept on the couch. And we might tell a very good friend that the reason we got so mad in that fight that we slept on the couch had something to do with a girl who works in his office. But it's only to our very best friends that we're willing to tell all, to tell what's going on with that girl in his office. The friendships in the passage are classified according to _ . A different stages of one's life B the purpose of making friends C how people make friends with others D how close the relationship is Answer: D. how close the relationship is Cyber language is popular among Chinese netizens, who create English words to reflect novel phenomenon in society. "Gelivable", combining pinyin of Chinese characters Geili (giving strength) with the English suffix for adjectives, literally means "giving power" or "cool". Similarly, "Hengelivable" means "very cool", and "ungelivable" means "dull, not cool at al". "Antizen" referred to the group of college graduates who, earning a poor salary and living in small rented apartments, are like the tiny and laborious ants. David Tool, a professor with the Beijing International Studies University said it's very interesting to combine Chinese with English to create new words. "English is no longer mysterious to the Chinese people. They can use the language in a flexible way according to their own experiences," he said. Chinese words and expressions were created, as well, by netizens. One example was "Suan Ni Hen". This three-character expression, which originally meant "you win" with the first character carrying the same pronunciation as garlic in Chinese, is used to satirize high garlic and food prices this winter. Chinese people use the character "bei" before a verb to show a passive voice, and it is used by netizens to show the helplessness in front of false conclusions and fake media reports. For instance, "zisha" means "suicide" while "beizisha" means "be officially presumed to have committed suicide", and xiaokang means "fairly comfortable life" while "beixiaokang" means "be said to be living a fairly comfortable life". Wu Zhongmin, a professor at the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, saw the phenomenon of word creation as a natural response of young people to social issues. "Cyber language is more vivid and it shortens people's distances," he said. What can we infer from the phenomenon of word creation? A It's getting more difficult to understand cyber language. B Young people are more likely to respond to nature. C Social phenomena are more easily reflected in cyber language. D The best way to create new cyber words is to combine Chinese and English. Answer: C. Social phenomena are more easily reflected in cyber language. In the old days, children were familiar with birth and death as part of life. This is perhaps the first generation of American youngsters who have never been close by during the birth of a baby and have never experienced the death of a family member. Nowadays when people grow old, we often send them to nursing homes. When they get sick, we send them to a hospital, where children are forbidden to visit terminally ill patients - even when those patients are their parents. This deprives the dying patient of significant family members during the last few days of his and it deprives the children of an experience of death, which is an important learning experience. Some of my colleagues and I once interviewed and followed about 500 terminally ill patients in order to find out what they could teach us and how we could be of more benefit, not just to them but to the members of their families as well. We were most impressed by the fact that even those patients who were not told of their serious illness were aware of its possible result. It is important for family members, and doctors and nurses to understand these patients' communications in order to truly understand their needs, fears and fantasies. Most of our patients welcomed another human being with whom they could talk openly, honestly, and frankly about their trouble. Many of them shared with us their great need to be informed, to be kept up-to-date on their medical condition and to be told when the end was near. We found out that patients who had been dealt with openly and frankly were better able to deal with the coming of death and finally to reach a true stage of acceptance prior to death. The elders in America today _ . A were often absent when a family member was born or dying B were quite unfamiliar with birth and death C usually saw the birth or death of a family member D had often experienced the fear of death as part of life Answer: C. usually saw the birth or death of a family member If you hear the sound of a handset beeping in a bag or pocket, you could be forgiven for thinking that someone has received a text message. But nowadays there are so many different ways of messaging someone that it could spell the death of the traditional text as we know it. Text messaging, or texting, is the art of sending a short, electronic message between two mobile phones or tablets . Users pay a certain amount to send messages via SMS--short message service. But in the last few years, messaging in this way has been on the decline . The rise of smartphones and tablets has seen an increase in the use of instant messaging apps , which take the place of traditional texts. Using wireless Internet connections, people can send limitless numbers of IMs to their friends for very little cost. Unlike traditional mobile texts, the user usually only has to pay to download the app once, after which each message they send is free. Web developers soon _ . Instant messaging apps have become popular all over the world. WhatsApp in America and Europe, WeChat in China and Kakao Talk in South Korea are but a few which have attracted hundreds of millions of people, who use the apps to chat to their friends in real time. These apps allow people to send picture messages for free--something which previously was quite costly. Research company Informa said that almost 19 billion messages were sent per day using chat apps in 2012, compared with 17. 6 billion SMS texts. And it expects the chat app market to grow t0 50 billion per day by 2014. So does this really mean the end for communication by text? Pamela Clark--Dickson from Informa doesn't think so. She says that there are a large number of people who use normal mobile phones, particularly in developing countries, who prefer the SMS messaging tool. There is an awfully big base of mobile phone users who are still going to find that SMS is the best messaging experience for them for a while. ,. What is the best title for text? A the death of text messaging B How to send messages via SMS C SMS costs less than IMs D WeChat in China is popular. Answer: A. the death of text messaging
The story I am going to tell you happened about three years ago when I started to learn how to drive. At first, I was very frightened, and I thought I could never learn how to drive a car. Driving a car frightened me because in my home country women never drive, but in the United States every woman has to know how to drive. My husband paid an to teach me how to drive. After that, my husband practiced with me for a long time. My husband always told me that I had to learn. It was important to me and my family. However, I couldn't get my license right away. I failed my driving test two times. After practicing for a long time, I decided to go for my third driving test. I had failed my first test because I was very nervous. Everybody encouraged me to continue practicing. Three weeks later, I decided to try it again, but I failed again. After that, I was very embarrassed , and I said I couldn't get it, so I stopped practicing for a while. Not knowing how to drive was bad because I couldn't do anything. I had two kids, my husband works, and I have to take care of everything. Driving was so necessary that I decided to try it again. And finally, that time, I passed the test. Now I have my license. I know how to drive, and it has changed my life in some important ways. Now I'm driving to the college, learning English and hoping I will get a good job in the future. The passage mainly shows us that the author failed for quite a few times but she never gave up and _ . Answer: she succeeded in passing driving test and got her license in the end A couple of years ago, those who forecast that oil price would reach $ 100 a barrel were seen as doomsters. However, now some are predicting $ 200 a barrel. Had economists been told that oil price would barely pause at $ 100 before reaching the recent peak of nearly $ 127, they would no doubt have forecast terrible economic consequences. But the global economy, though interrupted by the high price of energy, is still chugging along. Meanwhile, inflation has picked up, but the headlinerates of inflation in most developed countries are nowhere near the levels seen in the 1970s and 1980s. There are three explanations for the oil price's unclear impact. The first is that nowadays developed economies are more efficient in their use of energy, thanks partly to the increased importance of service industries and the diminished role of manufacturing . According to the Energy Information Administration, the energy intensity of America's GDP fell by 42% between 1980 and 2007. A second theory is that the oil-price rise has been steady, not sudden, giving the economy time to adjust. Giovanni Serio of Goldman Sachs points out that in 1973 there was a severe supply shock because of the oil embargo , when the world had to cope with 10%-15% less crude almost overnight. Not this time. The third explanation turns the argument on its head; rather than oil harming the global economy, it is global expansion that is driving up the price of oil. The most important factor is the shift in favor of the developing economies. America has responded to high price in familiar fashion: UBS forecasts that demand will drop by 1.1% this year and will be no higher in 2010 than it was in 2004. But the demand from China and other emerging markets is more than offsetting this shortfall. What is the passage mainly talking about? Answer: The increase of oil price Mark was walking home from school one day when he noticed a boy ahead of him. He had tripped and dropped all of the books he was carrying, along with some clothes, a baseball bat and a glove. Mark knelt down and helped the boy pick up the things. Since they were going the same way, he offered to carry some things for the boy. As they walked, Mark discovered the boy's name was Bill. He loved video games, baseball and history, but he was having trouble with some of his subjects. They arrived at Bill's home first. Mark was invited in for a Coke and to watch some television. The afternoon passed pleasantly with some laughs and talk. Then Mark went home. They continued to see each other around school, had lunch together once or twice, then both graduated from junior school. Three days before graduation, Bill asked Mark if they could talk. Bill reminded Mark of the day years ago when they had first met. "Did you ever wonder why I was carrying so many things home that day?" asked Bill. "You see, I took away all my things from school. I had stored away some of my mother's sleeping pills . I was going home to kill myself. But after we spent some time talking and laughing, I realized that if I had died, I would have missed so many good times. So you see, Mark, when you picked up those books that day, you did a lot more. _ " Three days before graduation, Bill asked Mark to talk because he _ . Answer: wanted to tell him his story A manufacturer wants to produce a container for food storage that does not break easily and is airtight, inexpensive, and microwave-safe. Which of the following is the best material to use to make the container? Answer: plastic Practicing yoga is a helpful, popular way to keep fit. It has many followers around the world. There are many kinds of yoga. You may have heard of "hot yoga" before. Now, in India, a new kind of yoga, water yoga, is becoming more and more popular among the local people. In the city of Agra, people practice yoga in water. It is more difficult to practice yoga in water than on land. But practicing yoga in water can be good for your flexibility . Harish Chaturvedi, a lawyer, teaches people water yoga _ --even the poor people can learn from him. "Water yoga can become more popular than other kind of yoga, because the body does not get tired so quickly," he said. "Everybody can learn to swim, but if they learn yoga at the same time, they will never feel tired." "The level of Oxygen is very high in water, and you will not have any breathing problem," he added. Harish believes that water yoga really helps people to keep away from illness. He mainly trains children. He has classes at the swimming pool of a local sports room regularly. Many children are interested in it and come to team from him. "Harish is very good at performing yoga in water," said Sudhir Narayan, a water yoga student. "He is teaching children free of cost and that is a very good thing." What can be the best title of the passage? Answer: Water yoga in India
What must you do when you receive a present for your birthday? You have to sit down and write a thank-you note. The word "thanks" is very important. We have to use them very often. We say them when someone gives us drink, helps us to pick up things, hands us a letter or lends us a book. It is rude to ask someone to do something without saying "please". We have to use it when we ask for something, too. It may be a book or a pencil, more rice or help. We have to use "please" to make request pleasant. We have to learn to say "sorry", too. When we have hurt someone, we'll have to go up and say we're sorry. When we have forgotten something, we will say "sorry". We can make people forget wrong by saying it. These three words are simple but important. Our children must learn to use them. They are pleasing words to use in any language. One of the important words in any language is "_". Answer: please We Chat, the Chinese social media smartphone app, saw an increase in user numbers of 41 per cent year on year to 500m at the end of 2014, in a sign that parent company Tencent is extending its reach for the mobile internet. Revenue grew 24 per cent to Rmb20.98billion, slightly higher than forecasts, driven mainly by online gaming revenues. It is unclear how much WeChat contributed to Tencent's revenues but the app's growth is a strong indicator of the company's long-term health as it tries to adjust its business to be more suitable for mobile devices. "We extended our leadership in games and online media, and made breakthroughs in emerging platforms such as online security . . . and mobile payments," Ma Huateng, Tencent chairman, said in a statement. WeChat is the second highest ranked app in China, behind QQ, Tencent's other chatting app, which claimed to have 815m registered monthly users at the end of 2014. However, that figure is more than the total number of internet users in China, which the government puts at 640million. Tencent has been unwilling to earn money through WeChat by flooding it with advertising, which could reduce efforts to increase the user base. But this is expected to change. Some analysts predicted that advertising would be introduced on later this year. Early attempts to test ads on the service have not always gone smoothly. After a BMW ad was introduced on some users' feeds in January, many users complained of "discrimination" by Tencent's data mining algorithm. They said it unfairly considered them as not wealthy or successful enough to view the sought-after BMW ad. What's some users' reaction after a BMW ad was introduced? Answer: Unfair Very hot weather is common in many parts of the world. Although hot weather just makes most people hot, it can cause medical problems and death. Floods, storms and other terrible natural events kill thousands of people every year. And we hear much about them in news reports. We general hear little about heat, which experts say may be nature's most dangerous killer. Health experts say that since the year 1900, very hot weather has killed more people in the United States than any other natural event. One year--- the unusually hot summer of 1980 heat caused about 1,700 deaths in the United States. In 1995, more than 600 people died in another heat wave in one city----Chicago, Illinois. Besides drinking lots of cool water , doctors say there are some other things to do to protect against the health dangers of heat. Stay out of the sun, if possible. Wear loose and light--colored clothes. Wear a hat while in the sun. Eat fewer hot and heavy foods. And, when possible, cook foods during cooler time of the day. If possible, rest more often. Health experts say these simple steps can prevent the dangerous health problems caused by heat. They will prevent sickness, help you feel better and may even save your life. The passage is talking about _ . Answer: the health problems in hot weather and the ways to stop them Many children first learn the value of money by receiving an allowance. Parents often give their children an amount of money that they may spend as they wish. The purpose is to let the children learn from experience at an early age when financial mistakes are not very costly. A child may receive an allowance each week or each month. The amount is not so important. But parents should make clear what the child is expected to pay for with the money. At first, young children may spend all of their allowance soon after they receive it. If they do this, they will learn the hard way that spending must be done within a budget. Parents should not offer more money until the next allowance is to be given. Older children may be responsible enough to budget larger costs like those for clothing. The object is to show young people that a budget demands choices between spending and saving. Many people who have written on the subject say it is not a good idea to pay your child for work around the home. These jobs are a normal part of family life. Paying children to do extra work around the home, however, can be useful. It can even provide an understanding of how a business works. Allowances give children a chance to experience three things they can do with money. They can share it in the form of gifts or giving it to organizations. They can spend it by buying things they want. Or they can save it. Saving helps children understand that costly goals require _ : you have to cut costs and plan for the future. Requiring children to save part of their allowance can also open the door to future saving and investing. Many banks offer free savings accounts for young people with small amounts of money. What's the main idea of the passage? Answer: Allowance helps teach children early about money. Dear Guys, I'd like to talk to you about the two minutes of total embarrassments you put me through last night. You a group of fit, young men, were playing soccer on the field across from my apartment building, I, a beautiful looking young woman, was walking by with my groceries. That's when your ball came flying over the fence and landed at my feet. One of you came to me, and asked politely if I would throw the ball back to you. Fighting the urge to flee screaming down the street, I agreed. And I put my bags down, picked up the ball and with eyes half shut, threw it as hard as I could. It hit the middle of the fence and bounced right back to me. I picked up the ball again and threw the ball upward with all my strength. The ball once again hit slightly higher up on the fence and bounced back to me. This is the point where I start to blame you. Wouldn't it have been a better use of your time, and mine, if you had just walked around the fence and collected the ball then? I was clearly struggling. And yet you all just stood there, staring. Seeing that you weren't going to get the ball yourselves, I become desperate. But I picked up the soccer ball for the third time. I forced a smile while crying inside as you patiently shouted words of support over the fence at me like I was a two-year-old holding a beech ball for the first time. "Throw it granny-style!" one of you said. "Just back up a little end throw it hard!" another offered And, most embarrassing of all, "You can do it!" I know you thought you were being encouraging, but it only served to deepen the embarrassment. However, I accepted your advice, took a deep breath, and let it fly. It hid the edge of the -fence and bounced back to me. I hoped that I would have a heart attack and pass out, just so I'd be put out of my misery. Alas, the heart attack didn't happen. Finally, I had to pick up the ball, walked close to the fence, and said angrily, "Please just come top get it." And you did. And thanks to you, I decided at that moment I would never throw anything over again, except scornful glances at people who play sports. Sincerely yours, Jen Cordery From the letter we know the author was _ . Answer: a passer-by
The Chinese word "Shanzhai" literally means a small mountain village, but it's now used to describe products that have names similar to famous ones. It became an accepted name for fake goods after "Shanzhai Cellphones" produced by small workshops in southern China became popular in the mainland market over the past two years. Besides "Shanzhai" electronic products, there are "Shanzhai" movies, "Shanzhai" stars and even a "Shanzhai" Spring Festival Gala , a copy of the 25-year-old traditional show presented by CCTV on Chinese Lunar New Year's Eve. "Shanzhai" has become a culture of its own, standing foranything that _ something famous,which has caused a public debate over whether it is healthy or sick being a copycat. In southwestern China's Chongqing, a "Shanzhai"-version "Bird's Nest" built by farmers with bamboo attracts wide attention and the "Shanzhai"-version "Water Cube" is popular with tourists. Both are copies of the famous Olympics places in Beijing. Xie Xizhang, a literature critic, said that taking the "Shanzhai" Gala as an example, when the traditional CCTV program becomes less and less attractive to the audience, the "Shanzhai" version appears naturally to attract people. "In spite of its poor techniques and operation, 'Shanzhai' culture meets the demands of common people and could be a comfort to their minds," Xie said. Tian Huiqun, a professor at Beijing Normal University, said that "Shanzhai" culture never copies classic things, only products in fashion. In that sense, it's like a computer virus without meaning. Though controversial, "Shanzhai" culture is a challenge as well as a motivation, said Xie, according to the newspaper. Tian said different kinds of cultures developing together are an ideal situation and they are for the public to choose. According to the passage, "Shanzhai" culture refers to _ . A. anything that imitates something famous B. the action that a person imitates famous people C. those similar names to famous brands D. products with poor techniques and quality Answer: A. anything that imitates something famous Many animals hide to stay alive. They hide in many ways. Some animals hide in leaves; some animals hide in snow. Usually their colors or shapes help protect them. It's hard to see an Arctic bear in snow. Its white fur helps protect it. Chameleons can hide by changing colors. Their skin turns the same color as what is around them. Some chameleons can change colors in five minutes. Many animals try to look bigger than they are to stay alive. Some animals can make other animals think they are very big. If they look very big, animals that are looking for food will run away. Bears can walk on two legs. They look very, very scary. Some animals will run away from them. Many animals try to stay around other animals. This helps them stay alive. Zebras stay close together so that they can help each other look out of danger. Seeing many stripes at once can also confuse animals that want to eat them. Some birds stay in a circle, each toward a different direction. In this way they can also help each other stay alive by looking around for animals that many want to eat one of them. Why do animals hide ? A. Because they like to play hide-and-seek. B. Because they are shy. C. Because they want to catch other. D. Because they want to protect themselves. Answer: D. Because they want to protect themselves. What would a polecat leave in a chair? A. poles B. poetry C. hair D. dusk Answer: C. hair Nowadays, computer games are becoming more and more popular in many cities and towns. A lot of small shops along busy streets have been made into small game houses in order to get more money. These places are always crowded with people, especially young boys. In the computer game houses, people spend a lot of money competing with the machines. It's hard for one to win the computer, but one can make progress after trying again and again. People have a kind of gambling psychology when they play computer games. The more they lose, the more they want to win. When class is over, the school boys run to the nearby computer game houses. Little by little , they forget all about their lessons and fall far behind others. Some of them can get enough money from their parents. But some of them are not lucky enough to get the money. They begin to take away other students' money and become thieves. Who always go to the computer game houses? A. Young girls. B. Young children. C. Young students. D. Young boys. Answer: D. Young boys. In December, one side of Earth will receive less energy from the Sun than the other side. Which statement best explains this fact? A. Earth rotates on its axis. B. Earth is tilted on its axis. C. Sunlight traveling to Earth reflects off the Moon. D. Sunlight traveling to Earth is blocked by Moon. Answer: B. Earth is tilted on its axis.
Question: Scientists Alan M.Goldberg and Thomas Hartung describe recent advances in replacing the use of animals in toxicology testing.Improvements in cell and tissue culture technologies,for example,allow a growing number of tests to be performed on human cells alone.Computer models are becoming increasingly complex and many could one day become more accurate than trials in living animals. Since the late 1990s,Huntingdon Life Sciences--a company that conducts testing of substances on animals conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration--has become a proving ground for aggressive strategies by animal-rights militants .At a hearing,a Senate.committee listened to testimony against Huntingdon employees and financial institutions providing services to the company.One experimentation witness at the hearing insisted that any means necessary were justified to spare animals' lives;he has previously accepted the idea of murder to that end. Use of animals in testing and in biomedical research continues to be necessary in many instances and is ethically preferable to experimenting on humans or giving up cures that could save human lives.But for the sake of people and animals alike,the development and acceptance of animal substitutes deserve enthusiastic support. In some instances, substitutes are already thought as good or better than animals,but supervising agencies have yet to catch up.In both the European Union and the U.S.,scientists and companies wanting to use the new alternative tests complain that regulatory standards for proving a drug or chemical to be safe for humans force the continued use of animals.Thus,animal-loving Americans might turn to persuading the EPA and the FDA to speed validation of new methods so that they can be more widely employed.And animal advocates who want to influence business could consider investing in the small biotech's and large pharmaceutical companies that are working to develop alternatives to animals in research. From the passage,we can find _ . A. the use of animals in testing has been stopped abruptly B. animal substitutes are not preferable C. supervising standards contribute to the continued use of animals in testing D. only Huntingdon Life Sciences is accused Answer: C Question: Erica and Steve Lineberry have been rock climbing since 2005. They were first introduced to it while visiting a family in Montana. Now they are at climbing centers, like Inner Peaks in Charlotte, three times a week, and on weekends they climb outdoors. Steve said they first started climbing as part of their exercise. Years later, he lost 60 pounds. But as the couple's interest in the sport grew, they consulted some _ and started climbing outdoors. Then Erica got pregnant. "Most people think that rock climbing and pregnancy don't go very well together," Erica said. But with lots of places to go, Erica kept climbing through her pregnancy. Then her son, Canaan, was born. She says the baby immediately started participating in the family sport. "He went to the gym the first time with us at four weeks old, and then we took our first outdoor trip, just a day trip, at six weeks old with him." Now Canaan is three-year-old, and Erica is once again pregnant: 7 months along. During her first pregnancy, she blogged about climbing while pregnant. Now her Cragmama.com website is a top resource for families who rock climb. Erica said, "I think a lot of people will say, they'll wait a few years until they get into an easier age or an easier life phase with their kids. And I think if they wait for that they're going to wait forever." Her message to women is to quickly climb back into the things you love; and that your life is not over once you are a mother. Cragmama.com website is quickly becoming the face of mommy rock climbing. She contributes to a handful of climbing magazines. Outdoor equipment companies ask her to wear and use their gear . And her website is a popular resource for families who are not only interested in climbing with their children, but also interested in taking on other adventures too. Who will visit Cragmama.com website? A. The women who expect to have babies. B. The families who have brought up a child. C. The women who have sympathy for Erica. D. The families who take interest in rock climbing. Answer: D Question: In many English homes people eat four meals a day. They have breakfast at any time from seven to nine in the morning. They eat porridge , eggs and bread and drink tea or coffee for breakfast. Lunch comes at one o'clock. Afternoon tea is from four to five in the afternoon and dinner is at about seven thirty. First they have soup, then they have meat or fish with vegetables. After that, they eat other things, like bananas, oranges or apples. But not all English people eat like that. Some of them have their dinner in the middle of the day. Their meals are breakfast, dinner, tea and supper. And all these meals are very simple . English people have lunch _ . A. at any time B. at one C. from four to five D. at nine Answer: B Question: If you want to find out a piece of information about anything , the best place to search for it is Wikepedia. This online encyclopedia is written by thousands of people around the world. Anyone can add or change the information if he or she finds it not correct or not well written. In this way, people who know a lot about a certain subject can write about it even if they are not university professors. What is more, Wikepedia includes articles written in about 235 languages. This fact makes it one of the few websites on the Internet that are truly international. It was started in 2001 by Larry Sanger and Jimmy Wales, as a free online English-language encyclopedia project. By April 2008, over 10 million articles had been put on Wikipedia. A quarter of the articles are in English. Wikipedia is also a place where people can find the latest news. However, Wikipedia has its own problems. There have been many complaints that some of the information on Wikipedia is not accurate and some important subjects are not included. This has led to arguments between the writers of articles. The people running Wikipedia say that the accuracy of the information is improving and that it is one of the top 20 visited websites on the Internet. So, if you are looking for some information, why not try Wikipedia? Wikipedia is _ . A. a computer game B. a name of a magazine C. a free university D. an online encyclopedia Answer: D Question: For many years, scientists have warned that smoking tobacco is bad for your health. Yet people around the world still smoke. The World Health Organization tells that almost 5,000,000 people around die each year from the effects of smoking. That number is increasing. WHO officials say tobacco use will have killed more than 8,000,000 people a year by 2020 if nothing is done to control the problem. In the United States, more than forty-sixty million adults currently smoke. American health experts say tobacco use is the leading cause of death in the United States. This year, 440,000 Americans will die of diseases linked to smoking. Smoking tobacco is the leading cause of lung disease. Smoking also has been linked to heart disease and many kinds of cancers. The American Cancer Society says smoking is responsible for about 87% of all lung cancers in the United States. American government health experts say smoking affects not only the smokers. Women who smoke cigarettes during pregnancy are more likely to have babies with health problems. Pregnant women who smoke are at risk of having a baby who weighs less than normal. Low birth weight babies have an increased risk of early death and may suffer from a number of health disorders. Experts say tobacco smoke also affects the health of people who do not smoke. Smokers may harm the health of family members and people at work when they breathe out smoke from cigarettes. This is called "second-hand smoke". The American Cancer Society says there is no safe way to smoke. It says smoking begins to cause damage immediately. All cigarettes can damage the body. Smoking even a small number of cigarettes is dangerous. What would be the best title for the passage? A. The Harmful Effects of Smoking B. People Around the World Continue to Smoke C. Smoking is the Leading Cause of Lung Diseases D. Smoking Affects the Health of people Who Don't Smoke Answer: A
Around 200 people who thought their only experience of the London 2012 Olympic Games would be minor heats of synchronized swimming have received an unexpected hange to the men's 100m final because of an embarrassing ticketing mistake. The London 2012 Organising Committee (Locog) confirmed on Wednesday that an error n its ticket selling had led to four synchronised swimming competitions being oversold by 10, 000 tickets. Locog and its ticket agent spent the Christmas period contacting ticket holders and offering them alternatives that included the tickets they had applied for but unsuccessful.The hanges need no additional cost.It has also offered to return any discrepancy if the n ew tickets cost less than the originals.Locog said the replacement tickets would come from a number of unsold seats across the Olympic Games and _ was doing all it could to make up the error to the fans who bought tickets. Locog said the error occurred in the summer, between the first and second round of ticket sales, when a member of staff made a mistake, entering "20,000" into the computer rather than the correct figure of 10,000 remaining tickets.The error was discovered when Locog checked the number of tickets that had been sold against the final seating numbers, and began contacting ticket holders before Christmas. Thousands of ticket holders have already struck lucky, changing to tickets for major events including swimming and athletics finals, and in around 200 cases the hottest of all, the men's 100m final.Locog said the decision to award 100m final tickets was made because one of the synchronised swimming competitions was on the same afternoon as the event, August 5. As a result of the ticketing mistake, about 200 people _ . Answer: will luckily be able to watch the men's 100m final Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who wrote the story of the detective Sherlock Holmes, was having a trip in Europe. One day he got out of the railway station and climbed into a taxi. Before he could say a word, the driver turned to him and asked, "Where can I take you, Mr. Doyle?" Doyle was rather surprised. He asked the driver if he had ever seen him before. "No, sir," the driver replied, "I have never seen you before." Then he explained, "This morning's newspaper had a story about your being on vacation in Marseilles. This is the taxi stop where people who return from Marseilles always come. Your skin color tells me you have been on vacation. The ink spot on your right fingers suggests to me that you are a writer. Your clothes are very English, not French. Adding up all those pieces of information, I conclude that you are Sir Arthur Conan Doyle." "This is truly surprising!" the writer cried out. "You are a real-life copy to my fictional story, Sherlock Holmes!" "And there is one other thing," the driver added, with a smile on his face. "What's that?" "Your name is on the front of your suitcase." Doyle was rather surprised because _ . Answer: the driver could call him by his name Ensure you are prepared for your exams by understanding the processes, dates and support information relating to examinations. Please read the information under Examination Policies and Processes below, especially the Rules to be observed by candidates for examinations. Examination period Semester 1, 2015 Monday 15 June -- Saturday 27 June (inclusive) Semester 2, 2015 Monday 9 November -- Saturday 21 November (inclusive) Important notice: special consideration All students are reminded that submitting an unreal medical certificate or PPC with a special consideration application amounts to misconduct and carries severe fines and punishment. Final personal exam timetables will be available from 4:00pm Thursday the 8th of October. Rules to be observed by candidates for examinations (updated April 2012) You need to follow all instructions given by examination teachers. 1. You may take in pens, pencils, drawing instruments and small items of food such as sweets. These items may be left on the desk during the examination. You may also bring in small valuables such as wallets, purses, mobile phones and laptops which must be powered off, not just silent. These items must be placed on the floor below the desk. Don't leave money or valuables in bags. The University can accept no responsibility for the loss of students' personal property. 2. Anything taken into an examination room must be made available for inspection by the examiner or other University staff. 3. The use of approved calculators may be permitted in examinations. The make and model of all calculators used by students in formally inspected examinations will be recorded. You are not permitted to share calculators, or pass them between each other in an examination. Mobile phones which have a calculator facility are not allowed. Use of a non-approved calculator may be regarded as misconduct. If you are unsure what functionality is permitted, make sure you check with your examiner that your calculator may be used in the examination. 4. No candidate may be admitted to an examination room after 30 minutes from the start of writing. No candidate who has entered an examination room and seen the examination paper may leave until 30 minutes has passed from the time writing started. No candidate may leave during the last ten minutes of any examination. 5. Smoking is not permitted in examination rooms. Students with disabilities, medical conditions or injuries Students with a disability, including serious medical condition, or recent injury, which puts them at a disadvantage during examinations should contact Disability Services, Level 5, Jane Foss Russell Building, as soon as possible. Phone: +61 28627 8422 Fax: +61 28627 8482 If appropriate, special arrangements can be made to meet particular requirements. Serious illness, injury or misadventure -- Special Consideration regarding assessments Please read about Special Consideration. Students who feel too ill to attempt an examination at the scheduled time should consult a medical practitioner after reading the Special Consideration section. *Students who fall ill during an examination will be asked by invigilators whether they wish to consult a doctor at the University Health Service. If this occurs the doctor will complete a Special Consideration form and forward it to the relevant examiner. Misreading of the timetable is not accepted as a reason for failing to attend an exam. Past exam papers You can view many past exam papers at the University Library website. When you are in the exam room, you are supposed to _ . Answer: be prepared for any inspection by your examiner When Nathan Winograd announced that he was leaving his job as a lawyer in California to run an animal shelter in Tompkins County, New York, his father looked at him for a long minute and then asked, "What do dogs and cats need a lawyer for?" The move meant giving up eight weeks' vacation, an office with a view of the San Francisco Bay and a big house among the redwoods, and moving to a rural area know for its harsh winters. But Winograd's wife, Jennifer, also an animal lover, was all for it. So they packed everything they owned, and with two young children, plus two dogs, and a bunch of cats Winograd had rescued, drove cross--country. On the second day, they had no room for six more puppies they received. They found an old horse trough, filled it with hay and nestled the animals inside. They placed it next to the front desk, and within a day or two, all six had homes, adopted by people who walked into the shelter and couldn't resist. Blind dogs, cats with missing limbs--all find homes. "There is no dog or cat too old, too ugly or too undesirable not to be adopted by someone," says Winograd. Today, Tompkins County is considered the only no-kill county in the United States. Nine out of ten dogs cats that come through the shelter doors are saved. Only animals with incurable injuries or illnesses, and the truly evil, are put down. The national average is half of all dogs and 70 percent of cats, totaling more than four million animals last year alone. Even though he drives an old car that leaks when it rains, and his family lives on a tight budget while his classmates from Stanford Law earn six-figure salaries, Winograd says he's doing what he'd always wanted to do when he grew up; run an animal shelter and save all the animals. As a young district lawyer, he kept his goal in mind, starting when he raised his first animal cruelty case. A man was accused of intentionally setting his brown cat on fire. Winograd made his case, and the abusive owner was sentenced to prison. It was the first of many such cases, and he raised each with vigor. But the senseless violence, neglect and ignorance never failed to shock him. He decided simply, "I need to get to the other side and start saving these animals." Now, Winograd is helping to save thousands, even millions, "I'm convinced that a no kill nation is possible, I'm just here trying to shorten the time until it arrives." Which could be the best title of the passage? Answer: No Pet Left behind In the hit film , Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman meet in hospital in California after they have been diagnosed with cancer. Between them they cook up a "bucket list" - a to-do list of all they want to do before they . The movie makes you wonder what would be on your bucket list. So let's pack up some and see what it would cost to go out and have a little fun. THE PYRAMIDS, GIZA, EGYPT On to the pyramids, surely on anyone's bucket list. Exotik Tours can take you there on a variety of trips, including their popular Egypt Express which includes three nights in Cairo and a three-night Nile Cruise . From $1,384, including four-and five-star accommodation, 12 meals and a ton of sightseeing. 416-646-3347 TAJ MAHAL, AGRA, INDIA One of the world's most fascinating images, India's Taj Mahal makes even Nicholson and Freeman look calm. Toronto's Goway Travel has many suggestions for India, including a three-day independent visit to Agra. Stay at the attractive Oberoi AmarVilas overlooking the Taj. Include two breakfasts, touring and airport transfer from $1,420. 416-322-1034 THE GREAT WALL, CHINA If the Great Wall of China is on your bucket list, check into Tour East Holiday's four-day Amazing Beijing Tour for $580 per person, four-star accommodation, sightseeing including the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, breakfasts and two lunches, transportation and guide. 416-929-0888 THE HIMALAYAS, NEPAL And on to the Himalayas. Talk about "something truly majestic . See the top of the world on GAP Adventures' Everest Adventure tour, a 15-day exploration including Everest Base Camp, teahouse lodge stays, and walking through Sherpa villages. Incredibly affordable at just $665 plus local payment of $250. GAP Adventures warns that this is a physically demanding trip. 416-260-0999 According to the passage, where can you enjoy a view of the whole Taj Mahal? Answer: At Oberoi AmarVilas
Health insurance is a great concern to Americans now. It's likely that many Americans lack health insurance with the economy having no sign of picking up. The National Academy of Sciences reported Thursday. "Unless health insurance is made more affordable, the number of uninsured Americans is likely to continue growing over time," said Mary Sue Coleman, co-chairwoman of the committee that wrote the report. The report is the first six planned by the institute of Medicine over two years. The series is planned to find out who lacks health insurance and why, and determine what the consequences are and provide the groundwork for debate on how to correct the problem. The institute is part of the academy, a private organization supported by Congress to advise the government of scientific matters. This first report seeks to draw a picture of the millions who lack insurance. It does not offer any recommendations. "Much of what Americans think they know about the uninsured is wrong," said Dr. Arthur Kellermann, a public health professor at Emory University Schools of Medicine in Atlanta, who also worked on the report. The Census Bureau reported last month that 38.7 million Americans went without coverage for all of 2000, compared with 39.3 million the year before, thanks to the booming economy. Experts say the trend is likely to reverse this year, given that the economy was slowing even before the Sep. 11 terrorist attacks. "Unfortunately, the recent economic slowdown might have reversed the modest gains in coverage for shorter periods." The report said that with insurance costs rising, more employers and individuals may conclude they are unable to afford coverage. Premium increases were often absorbed by employers in the strong economy of the 1990s, but that may not continue as the economy softens, the report said. The panel found that about 13.6 million of the uninsured work for employers that do not offer health insurance. Individually purchased coverage may be prohibitively costly. What is the best title of the passage? Jodie is a good student. She usually gets up at 6:30 in the morning. She has breakfast at home. Then she reads English from 6:30 a. m. to 7:00 a. m. She goes to school at 7:15 a. m. She has four classes in the morning. She usually has lunch at school, but on Sundays she has lunch at home with her family. She has three classes in the afternoon. She goes home at 5:00. She usually has dinner at home. Then she does her homework. She doesn't watch TV in the evening. ,A, B, C, D. (5) What does Jodie usually do at 6:45 a. m.? Every day, life is made and lost. Every day, life goes on. Every day we experience some of the most important parts of life and may not even realize it: love, generosity, and perseverance. These values aren't just important to us, they make the world what it is. Scientists say that the gravity makes the world turn, but some people say that love makes _ go around. Love can be found anywhere: in families, friends, even strangers. Even if you can't see it, you know it's there. Love may connect people all over the world, but what would the world be without generosity? Whether after a national disaster or a school fund raiser, one thing is certain--- it is better to give than to receive. Generosity is found everywhere and whether it's a large or small act, it makes a difference. Most of all, generosity is not something you need any qualifications for, and no matter what you do, it can make a difference. Sometimes, though, it takes effort to be generous, which leads us to perseverance. Founding a country, riding a bike, or finishing a novel, these are all finished with perseverance. Perseverance is the one thing that can help us achieve whatever we want. It is what helps scientists discover cures for illnesses, and athletes become winners. You may fail, but every time you make a mistake, that's one less to make the next time. There is an infinite number of things we value. But without love, generosity, and perseverance, we just don't think that our lives or the world would be the way it is. Which of the following statement is TRUE? Mary had a nice summer vacation last year. She went to Hawaii in July. Mary likes fruits, and the Hawaiian bananas and oranges were great. The weather was very fine, but sometimes it rained heavily. On Monday she went to the museum. It was an interesting place and not very crowded . On Tuesday she went to the mountains. On Wednesday she visited an old friend. They went to the movies in the evening. The movie was so funny that they laughed again and again. On vacation she felt like she she was a flying bird! The vacation cost her about 600 dollars, but Mary had a fun time. How did Mary feel about the Hawaiian fruits? A cow will gain energy from eating
The first newspaper were handwritten sheets which were posted in pubic places. The earliest recorded newspaper was started in Rom in 59 BC. In the 700's the world's first printed newspaper was developed in China. The paper was printed from carved wooden blocks and sent out among the citizens. Europe didn't have a regularly published newspaper until 1609, when one was started in Germany. The fist regularly published newspaper in the English language was printed in 1620. In 1621, an English newspaper was started in London and was published weekly. The first daily English newspaper was the Daily Courant, which didn't appear until March 1702. In 1690, Benjamin Harris printed the first American newspaper in Boston. But the local government soon stopped its publication. In 1704, John Campbell started The Boston News-letter, the first newspaper to be published daily in America. By 1760, the whole America had more than thirty daily newspapers. There are now about 1800 daily papers in the United States. Today, as a group, English language newspapers have the largest circulation in the world. The largest circulation for a newspaper, however, is that of the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun, which sells over eleven million copies every day. As suggested by the article, which of the following newspapers have the largest umber of readers in the world? A Italian language newspapers. B German language newspapers. C English language newspapers. D Japanese language newspapers. Answer: C. English language newspapers. Free and secure accommodation, no bills and even the odd home-cooked meal. It sounds like the perfect living arrangement for cash-strapped students. Two mothers believe they have devised a way for struggling students to save on accommodation costs when they leave home to study at university. Kate Barnham and Amanda Flude have launched Student Swaps, an online accommodation forum for parents and students, in advance of the introduction in September of PS3,000 higher education top-up fees. Their website says, "The principle behind Student Swaps is to enable students to literally swap family homes." The website will hold a database of students who would like to swap and link them with suitable matches. So those from one town / city could swap with those from a different town / city. The site describes itself as offering a "cost-free accommodation alternative... at a time of growing student debt". There is no charge for the service at the moment but Ms Barnham and Ms Flude intend to introduce a PS10 annual fee if it becomes established. However, the National Union of Students (NUS) has warned that, while the scheme may sound appealing to struggling freshers, it lacks any formal regulation. Veronica King, NUS vice-president of welfare, said, "The fact that this scheme has even been suggested is evidence to the high levels of debt students now face on graduation." Recent research has shown that students are more likely to live at home in coming years, in a bid to cut down on the cost of a degree. "This is worrying, as it may mean that students choose their university on the basis of where it is, rather than because it offers the best course for them. It also means students will miss out on what is for some a key part of the student experience-living away from home." Now many students would prefer a university _ . A which can give them free accommodation B which is not far away from their homes C which offers the best courses D which can offer home-cooked meals Answer: B. which is not far away from their homes Sports can help you keep fit and get in touch with nature.However, whether you are on the mountains, in the waves, or on the grassland, you should be aware that your sport of choice might have great influence on the environment. Some sports are resource-hungry. Golf, as you may know, eats up not only large areas of countryside, but also tons of water.Besides, all sorts of chemicals and huge amounts of energy are used to keep its courses in good condition.This causes major environmental effects.For example, in the dry regions of Portugal and Spain, golf is often held responsible for serious water shortage in some local areas. There are many environment-friendly sports. Power walking is one of them that you can take up today. You don't need any special equipment except a good pair of shoes; and you don't have to worry about resources and your purse.Simple and free, power walking can also keep you fit.If you walk regularly, it will be good for your heart and bones.Experts say that 20 minutes of power walking daily can make you feel less anxious, sleep well and have better weight control. Whatever sport you take up, you can make it greener by using environment-friendly equipment and buying products made from recycled materials.But the final goal should be "green gyms".They are better replacements for traditional health clubs and modern sports centers.Members of green gyms play sports outdoors, in the countryside or other open spaces.There is no special requirement for you to start your membership.And best of all, it's free. The author thinks the golf is resource-hungry because of the following EXCEPT that _ . A Golf wastes large areas of countryside B Golf runs out of much water C Keeping golf court in good condition needs too much energy D Golf is bad for people's health Answer: D. Golf is bad for people's health Louis Pasteur, one of the world's great scientists, was born in 1822, and died in 1895.While still a young boy, Louis Pasteur made his decision to become a scientist. He spent much of his life time studying the diseases of cattle, chickens and other tame animals. His wife learned to help him with his work. Almost everyone knows that Pasteur is the man responsible for finding a way of preventing milk from spoiling . Not many people know he was the first to imagine and to prove that air we breathe is full of germs . One of his greatest successes was finding a treatment for people and animals to prevent a disease called rabies . Louis Pasteur won many honors and could have got large amount of money. But Pasteur preferred to live simply. The real happiness of this unusual man came from his work. Louis Pasteur did so well in his life that the French government took up his work and created the Institute Pasteur in the year 1888. Pasteur could have got large amount of money if he had _ . A cared much about it. B made more discoveries. C lived a better life. D achieved more successes. Answer: A. cared much about it. Dealing with a difficult roommate can be both annoying and challenging. However, by becoming aware of the context of the situation, steps can be taken in order to improve the circumstance. Identify the source of the problem. Sometimes, when someone is annoying, it is difficult to tell exactly which aspect of the situation is causing the anger. Therefore, it is important to find the one element that caused your anger to begin with. Evaluate the source of the conflict. Is the conflict _ , or is it serious ? Sometimes, people can become angry over things that seem like a big deal at the time, but when contemplated , are really unimportant. Nevertheless, before any problem is dealt with, it is necessary to determine how serious it is. Talk to the roommate about what is bothering you. Communication is very important when dealing with problems. The problems will only become worse if measures are taken without telling one another what is even wrong to begin with. Listen to the explanation that the roommate has to over. Listening is also important when dealing with conflicts. Hearing each side of the story will make it easier to arrive at a possible solution. Compromise with one another in order to form a solution. Sometimes, conflicts can be resolved simply by changing small occurrences. How many tips does the writer offer to deal with a difficult roommate ? A Three. B Four. C Five. D Six. Answer: C. Five.
WASHINGTON-School lunches have been called many things, but a group of retired military officers is giving them a new label: national security threat. That's not a reference to the mystery meat served up in the cafeteria line either. The retired officers are saying that school lunches have helped make the nation's young people so fat that fewer of them can meet the military's physical fitness standards, and recruitment will be difficult. A new report being released Tuesday says more than 9 million young adults, or 27 percent of all Americans ages 17 to 24, are too overweight to join the military. Now, the officers are advocating for passage of a wideranging nutrition bill that aims to make the nation's school lunches healthier. The military group acknowledges that other things keep young adults out of the armed services, such as a criminal record or the lack of a high school diploma. But weight problems that have worsened over the past 15 years are now the leading medical reason that recruits are rejected. Although all branches of the military now meet or exceed recruitment goals, retired Navy Rear Adm. James Barnett Jr., a member of the officers group, says the _ trend could affect that. "When over a quarter of young adults are too fat to fight, we need to take notice," Barnett said. He noted that national security in the year 2030 is "absolutely dependent" on reversing child obesity rates. This isn't the first time the military has gotten involved in the debate over school lunches. During World War II, military leaders had the opposite problem, reporting that many recruits were rejected because of stunted growth and inadequate nutrition. After the war, military leaders pushed Congress to establish the national school lunch program so children would grow up healthier. Today, the group is urging Congress to eliminate junk food and highcalorie beverages from schools, put more money into the school lunch program and develop new strategies that help children develop healthier habits. What is the main problem of the lunches in schools according to the military officers? Answer: MUMBAI - Indian commandos battled into the early hours of Friday to end a multiple hostage crisis in Mumbai after suspected Islamic militants killed 125 people across the city. Officials said they had almost totally cleared the luxury Taj Mahal hotel where gunmen had been held up for more than 24 hours. Indian security forces personnel released hostages from Nariman House in Mumbai.Thirty-nine people were rescued from the five-star Oberoi hotel, where "mopping up " operations were still underway, police said. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the militants had come from "outside the country." The Press Trust of India said one Pakistani militant had been arrested, although Pakistan's government fiercely denied any involvement. Indian media reports said between six and nine foreign nationals were among the dead in Mumbai -- including a Japanese businessman, an Australian, a Briton , a German and an Italian. At least five gunmen had been shot dead and one captured, police said.Fourteen security personnel were also killed, including the head of Mumbai's anti-terror squad. To draw maximum international attention, the militants used small groups to attack a total of about a dozen targets in India's financial hub , including the main railway station, a hospital and a restaurant popular with tourists. An unknown group calling itself the Deccan Mujahedeen claimed responsibility, with one gunman telling an Indian TV channel by phone that the outfit was of Indian origin and motivated by the treatment of Indian Muslims. Up to 327 people were reported wounded. The main Bombay Stock Exchange was closed until further notice, as were shops, schools and businesses. Prime Minister Singh said the aim had clearly been to spread panic by choosing high profile targets and "indiscriminately killing foreigners." Witnesses said the gunmen had been very particular in their choice of hotel hostages."They said they wanted anyone with British and American passports," said one British guest at the Taj Mahal hotel. The best title of this passage can be _ . Answer: According to a recent survey, Canadian parents realize their role as protectors and providers to raise their children both emotionally and physically. That's not very different from the way our parents saw themselves. But with more two-career families and busy schedules, one thing parents today recognize more than ever is the need to set aside special time for their children. These 'nurturing moments' are changed into memories that they will treasure all their lives. Nurturing moments might be the time between our work and life,bringing your child to work with you to see what you do during the day,visiting your child's make-believe world,discussing his other school day and exploring the natural world outside your door. These times are not merely a luxury , they're a necessity. It's during these moments that parents pass values and attitudes to their children. Over time, children pick up good habits and positive self-image. Here are a few tips for making the most of your family time together: Regularly sit down as a family to share a meal. Allow each person to describe something interesting about his or her day. Make one night a week family night. Family members take turns choosing a special activity for the evening everyone partakes in the fun. Show your children you care about their interests by having them teach you about their activity or hobby. Nurturing healthy children involves body, mind and spirit. The little things you do to your care are the building blocks for confidence, self-esteem and a healthy outlook. By giving your children these tools, you prepare them for life. The purpose of the author in writing this article is _ . Answer: Fuzhou Road is famous for its book stores. Shanghai's City of Books (Nandong) Address: No. 345, Nanjing Road. E. near Shandong Road N. Tel: 6322-1557 Opening Hour: 9:30--21:30 It is a branch of Shanghai's City of Books. It doesn't sell any foreign language books, but you can buy CDs of computer games and software. Traffic: Metro Line No. 2 (Nanjing Road E. Station) Shanghai's City of Books Address: No. 465, Fuzhou Road Tel: 6391-4848 Opening Hour: 9:30--20:30 This is the biggest book store in Shanghai with six floors. Each floor has different kinds of books, but most English books are for Chinese students preparing for exams. Foreign Language Bookstore Address: No. 390, Fuzhou Road Tel: 6322-3200 Opening Hour: 9:00--18:00 You can find many English novels on the ground floor, as well as dictionaries. There is a corner on the ground floor for foreigners who want to learn Chinese. On the higher floors, you can find some professional books in English. Of course, many of the books are for Chinese students. Shanghai Culture Commercial Building Address: No. 355, Fuzhou Road Opening Hour: 9:00--17:30 This store has a variety of stationery and painting materials. If you major in painting or art, this is a good place to find professional materials. If you want to buy CDs of computer games, you can get off at _ . Answer: Dubai boasts that it has just built a "new global landmark"---the Dubai Tower, which stands 512.1 meters high now and has just become the tallest building in the world. The Dubai Tower now _ Taiwan's Taipei 101, which is 508 meters tall, and has 141 storeys, more than any other building in the world. The Dubai Tower, being built by South Korea's Samsung Corporation and scheduled for completion next year, is one of a series of great projects taking shape in Dubai. The final projected height of the tower has remained a secret since the project was launched in January 2004; however, it is rumored that the tower will be more than 700 meters tall and have more than 160 storeys. The Dubai Tower has become the tallest building in the world in just 1,276 days, leaving behind other tall buildings. The Dubai Tower will house 30,000 apartments in addition to the world's largest shopping mall. It is the centerpiece of the 20-billion-dollar venture. Another venture gradually emerging across the desert sands is Dubailand, a series of multi-billion-dollar projects claimed to be the Middle East's very own Orlando. Dubai also paid 100 million dollars to buy the Queen Elizabeth II, one of the world's superb cruise liners , which it plans to turn into a luxury floating hotel. Faced with decreasing oil wealth, the Western-oriented emirate has raced to turn itself into a business and leisure hub and it aims to more than double the number of tourists to 15 million by 2015. Why has the Western-oriented emirate paid more attention to becoming a business and leisure center? Answer:
Question: The English Fashion recently asked people about their wonderful ideas and plans about things they could do.The magazine asked people the following question, "If you had all the money you wanted, what would you like to do?" About 500 people answered the survey question. Almost half (49%) of the people in the survey said they would buy material things such as a bigger house or a better car.One fifth (20%) of the people said they would travel to the interesting or famous places.17% answered that they would give money to someone else.They would donate money to a charity or to help poor people.More than half of the rest of the people (about 10%) said they would give money to help medical research .All the other people in the English Fashion survey said they would save money in the bank.They said they didn't know what they would like to do right now, but perhaps in a few years they would find a good use for the money. "Lots of people think that if they buy bigger and better things, they will feel happier," said Dr Mary Wilson. " However," she said, " _ will not last long.After a while, they won't be happy with them any longer." Dr Wilson thinks the happiest people are those who make a change in people's lives.She thinks those people who give money to someone else or to medical research are thinking more of others at the moment.If they had all the money theywanted, they would change the world. What is the English Fashion? A. A book. B. A magazine. C. A newspaper. D. A TV programme. Answer: B. A magazine. Question: There is some unwelcome news for students preparing for exams and officers putting in long hours-----you don't need the break as much as you may think that makes you feel less tired. Scientists have long assumed that willpower is a limited resource, which is why you feel the need to have a rest, have a snack and come back to a task when you're feeling better. They argued that the only way to restore willpower was by rest, food or entertainment. But psychologists have challenged this theory, saying weak willpower is all in your head. They found that people's beliefs in willpower determine how long and how well they'll be able to work on a tough mental exercise. "If you think of willpower as something that's limited, you're more likely to be tired when you perform a difficult task," said Prof.Veronika Job. "'But if you think of willpower as something that is not easily used up, you can go on and on." The researchers designed four experiments to test students'-beliefs in willpower. After a tiring task, those, who believed or were led to believe that willpower is a limited resource, performed worse on standard concentration tests than those who thought of willpower as something they had more control over. They also found that leading up to final exam week, students who believed the limited resource theory ate junk food 24 percent more often than those who believed they had more control in resisting temptation . Mr. Job said. "The theory that willpower is a limited resource is interesting, but it has had unintended consequences. Students who may already have trouble studying are being told that their power of concentration is limited, and they need to take frequent breaks. But a belief in willpower as a non-limited resource makes people stronger in their ability to work through challenges.'" The findings could help people who are" battling temptation. Willpower isn't driven by a biologically based process as much as we used to think. The belief in it is what influences your behavior. What's the best title for the passage? A. A new theory about willpower B. How to build strong willpower C. The great influence of willpower D. Willpower doesn't last long Answer: A. A new theory about willpower Question: The education of thousands of children with reading and sight trouble is being held back because of a lack of awareness of their legal rights, say campaigners. They are calling for greater efforts to increase awareness of the rights of such children to have text books in design other than standard print. The campaign is being supported by five times Olympic gold medalist, Sir Steve Redgrave, who has reading trouble. Pupils have the right to receive text in another way, and parents can take action under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) if they feel their children are being treated in a different way through a lack of support. But new research suggests 89 per cent of print disabled pupils and their parents are unaware of software which changes standard print into other substitutes like combined text and audio files which can be read or listened to. Sir Steve has teamed up with software company Dolphin Computer Access to raise awareness of software turning tools. He said: "I recognize that schools have competing priorities for their resources , but I would like to see a much greater effort on the part of the government and schools to raise awareness among parents that these additional solutions exist and that their children have a right to use them." Mike Foster, Dolphin's local MP in Worcester, is _ the campaign. "There is clearly an issue to solve concerning software for special needs. I'll be asking ministers what steps can be taken to improve the situation", he said. Sir Steve Redgrave suggests that _ . A. government and schools raise awareness of disabled children's legal rights B. parents take greater efforts to ask the government and schools for help C. parents should take action to raise awareness of software turning tools D. software company work with him to make the products Answer: A. government and schools raise awareness of disabled children's legal rights Question: The kids in this village wear dirty, ragged clothes. They sleep beside cows and sheep in huts made of sticks and mud. They have no school. Yet they all can chant the English alphabet, and some can make words. The key to their success: 20 tablet computers dropped off in their Ethiopian village in February by a U.S. group called One Laptop Per Child. The goal is to find out whether kids using today's new technology can teach themselves to read in places where no schools or teachers exist. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers analyzing the project data say they're already amazed. "What I think has already happened is that the kids have already learned more than they would have in one year of kindergarten," said Matt Keller, who runs the Ethiopia program. The fastest learner--and the first to turn on one of the tablets--is 8-year-old Kelbesa Negusse. The device's camera was disabled to save memory, yet within weeks Kelbesa had figured out its workings and made the camera work. He called himself a lion, a marker of accomplishment in Ethiopia. With his tablet, Kelbasa rearranged the letters HSROE into one of the many English animal names he knows. Then he spelled words on his own. "Seven months ago he didn't know any English. That's unbelievable," said Keller. The project aims to get kids to a stage called "deep reading," where they can read to learn. It won't be in Amharic, Ethiopia's first language, but in English, which is widely seen as the ticket to higher paying jobs. It amazed Keller that with the tablet Kelbesa could _ . A. draw pictures of animals. B. learn English words quickly. C. write letters to researchers. D. make phone calls to his friends. Answer: B. learn English words quickly. Question: Bai Yansong, a famous TV host, expressed his support for students wearing green scarves at a primary school in Xi'an. He wore a green tie on a TV program on October 19, 2011. "I just want the students to know that I'm also wearing green. And we are all great people and are as good as those wearing red scarves." The First Experimental Primary School in Xi'an made children with poor schoolwork and behavior wear green scarves. Parents whose children wore green scarves were angry. "The children still need their self-esteem even though they are very young, and they know the green scarf means something is not quite right," said one mother. Now, the school has stopped the practice. Educational expert Li Zhenxi said that primary and junior high school students have strong self-esteem. They are eager to be respected and understood. Punishment will hurt them. "It's better to encourage them rather than separating some 'bad' students," he said. A survey made by the Ministry of Education shows that 75 percent of students feel nervous and scared when the teacher is about to announce their grades. Some schools have done better in protecting students' privacy and encouraging them. In American schools, teachers post test results on the wall. Instead of using student names, they use secret numbers. This way, students know their secret numbers and can check their own grades only. Some teachers might call the students up to the desk and tell them their scores one at a time. But test scores are not the only measures of a student's ability. Everyone has his own strengths and everyone can make great progress by working hard. Why did those parents whose children wore green scarves feel angry? A. Because their children did do well at school. B. Because they thought the school didn't have the right. C. Because it was against the law. D. Because it hurts their children's self-esteem. Answer: D. Because it hurts their children's self-esteem.
The other day when I was passing a clothing store, I fell in love with a skirt. I knew it would suit me best at first sight. But when I looked at the price tag , I knew I had to give it up. The love for beautiful clothes has been planted in my heart the day when I was born to be a woman. Several years ago I read an article in a magazine. The article stated that when a woman is at her best time, she is usually poor or tasteless, so she can't get the right clothes; when she can afford to buy the clothes she likes, she often finds that they do not suit her anymore. On the way home, I was quite disturbed by such thoughts. It was just a pity, like many other pities. I thought to myself this way. But when I was about to enter the building where I was living, I saw the big mirror placed in the entrance. I saw a girl in it who was in cheap but cleanly washed sweater and jeans. _ was rather young, healthy and energetic. For quite a while I was touched by what I had seen in the mirror. Then I almost forgot the tale: A person without shoes cried until he saw a man without feet. Being young without good clothes is like the person without shoes. I should have felt grateful that I haven't lost my feet. Why was the author touched by what she saw in the mirror? Answer: It is 7 o'clock in the morning. You check yourself in the mirror, adjust your collar, and consider the busy day ahead. But at least you know that the stress won't damage your health, for this is no ordinary set of clothes you are wearing. Set within the fabric are numerous sensors, constantly monitoring your vital signs. If danger signs are detected, the garment is programmed to contact your doctor and send a text message telling you to take it easy. Garments that can measure a wearer's body temperature or trace their heart activity are just entering the market, but the European project BIOTEX weaves new functions into smart textiles. _ biosensors in a textile patch can now analyse body fluids, even a tiny drop of sweat, and provide a much better assessment of someone's health. Jean Luprano, a researcher at the Swiss Centre for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM), coordinates the BIOTEX project. "One of the most obvious applications for smart fabrics is in the medical field," he says. "There has been a good deal of progress with physiological measurements, body temperature or electrocardiograms . But no one has yet developed biochemical sensing techniques that can take measurements from fluids like sweat and blood. We are developing a suite of sensors that can be integrated into a textile patch. The patch is a sensing and processing unit, adaptable to target different body fluids and biochemical species. At the very least, some basic biochemical analyses could complement the physiological measurements that can already be monitored. In some circumstances, fluidic analysis may be the only way to get information on a patient's health status." What is the text mainly about? Answer: Park sued Officer Dinet for false arrest. Dinet's defense was that, based on a description he heard over the police radio, he reasonably believed Park was an armed robber. Police radio dispatcher Brigg, reading from a note, had broadcast the description of an armed robber on which Dinet claims to have relied. The defendant offers the following items of evidence: I. Dinet's testimony relating the description he heard. II. Brigg's testimony relating the description he read over the radio. III. The note containing the description Brigg testifies he read over the radio. Which of the following are admissible on the issue of what description Dinet heard? Answer: Jim Dunbar has been late for work, holidays, meals with friends, left women waiting on first dates and even had to sneak into funerals long after they've begun. The 57-year-old said that his poor timekeeping is down to a medical condition that he was diagnosed with at an appointment at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, which he was 20 minutes late for. It is thought that the condition is caused by the same part of the brain affected by those who suffer from Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and means Mr Dunbar cannot properly judge how long things take to complete. "I blamed it on myself and thought.Why can't I be on time? I lost a lot of jobs.I can understand people's reaction and why they don't believe me," said Mr Dunbar. Mr Dunbar recently tried to go to the cinema and knowing it could be a problem getting there for a 7 pm showing, he gave himself an 11-hour head start.But he still managed to arrive 20 minutes late. He has a special clock in his living room to make sure that the time it displays is always exactly right, but it doesn't help.He has tried wearing a watch, setting his clocks fast but still hasn't found a solution. "I've been late for funerals and slipped in and hid at the back of the hall.I arranged to pick my friend up at midday to go on holiday and was four hours late.He was angry because we had booked a ferry and everything.A friend invited me for a meal and I was more than three hours late.It has affected my entire life." But some experts are skeptical about Mr Dunbar's diagnosis. "The condition isn't in the DSM5 (the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) so I'm not sure you can really call it a condition," said Dr Sheri Jacobson."Repeated lateness is usually a symptom of a condition such as ADHD or depression but it can also just be habit.I think making everyday human behaviour into a medical condition is unwise." What is people's attitude towards Mr Dunbar's lateness? Answer: The head of the World Health Organization (WTO) yesterday warned of worsening health in the country's vast rural areas while praising the government for its commitment on improving healthcare in the countryside. "The health indicators have failed to improve in pace with economic indicators." said Margared Chan when addressing a conference on rural primary healthcare in prefix = st1 /China. "The health gap between rural and urban areas has grown even wider and health in parts of rural China is deteriorating ,"she said, adding medical costs are rising faster than the growth of per capital income in rural areas. She said she appreciated the government's efforts and plans to build a medical system for all people. Saying "when fair and accessible public health services become the clear targets of a country's public health policy, people's health will improve." The WTO chief said she noticed that the tasks on improving people's well-being in the report by Party chief Hu Jintao at the 17thNational Congress of the Communist Party of China included a basic medical insurance system for urban dwellers and a cooperative medical care system in rural areas. She said recent WTO research has found that diseases are the source of poverty for 30 to 50 percent of the rural population of 737 million. A growing number of rural people, especially the aged, are suffering from various diseases; however, few have access to decent healthcare, she told the conference. Chan criticized the practice of allowing healthcare services to be commercialized in rural areas, warning it will cause the patients more suffering. The government has pledged to provide its population with basic medical care by 2020. It's expanding medical care through the Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme, a plan under which subscribers are provided with 50 yuan($6.4) per person--20 yuan ($2.6) each from the central and local governments and 10 yuan ($1.3) from the individual. Vice-Minister of Health Chen Xiaohong said nearly 85 percent of the country's rural area, or 2,429 counties, are participating in the plan. What is Margaret Chan's attitude towards The Rural Cooperative medical Scheme ? Answer:
About five years ago, an American electrical engineer named Scott Brusaw and his wife Julie came up with the idea of putting solar panels on the ground rather than the roof. Then they began to develop the Solar Roadway. The Solar Roadway is an intelligent road that provides clean renewable energy using power from the sun while providing safer driving conditions, along with power and data delivery. They predict that the Solar Roadway will pay for itself through the generation of electricity along with other forms of income and that the same money that is being used to build and resurface current roads can be used to build the Solar Roadways. Each Solar Road Panel measures roughly 4 meters by 4 meters and contains a microprocessor that monitors and controls the panel, while communicating with neighboring panels and the vehicles traveling overhead. The inventors suggest that this provides a communications device every 4 meters on every road which could be used for example to warn drivers of cars which are moving across a centre line and various other speed control problems. The top of the Solar Road panels is made of super-strong glass that would offer vehicles the tractions _ need. According to the inventors, the Solar Roadway creates and carries clean renewable electricity and therefore electric vehicles can be recharged at any conveniently located rest stop, or at any business that has paved Solar Road Panels in their parking lots. The inventors say their Solar Roadway has many functions and advantages from main roads to driveways, parking lots, bike paths, sidewalks and runways. The Federal Highway Administration has given Brusaw $100,000 to develop the invention and Brusaw hopes to build a smart-road parking lot in the coming spring . In the inventors' opinion, the Solar Roadway _ . Are you looking for something fun? Would you like to help other people in your free time? Then join us and be a volunteer . We have volunteer jobs for people of all ages. Anyone, between the age of 12 and 80, can become a volunteer. You can help people in many ways. Nursing homes need volunteers to take care of old people. Hospitals need volunteers to look after children while their parents see a doctor. Animal lovers can help take care of those dogs and cats without homes. There is something that out volunteers want to tell you. "As a volunteer, I don't want to get anything. Seeing the children's happy faces, I am happy, too." said Carlos, an old woman of 62. " I often played computer games in my free time before. Now I help middle-aged people learn how to use computers." said another volunteer at the age of 18. If everyone gives a hand, we'll have a better world to live in. Interested? Call us on 1-800-555-5756 or visit our website: www.active.com. This passage is _ . Morgan conveyed Greenacre, her one-family residence, to "Perez for life, remainder to Rowan, her heirs and assigns, subject, however, to First Bank's mortgage thereon." There was an unpaid balance on the mortgage of $10,000, which is payable in $1,000 annual installments plus interest at six percent on the unpaid balance, with the next payment due on July 1. Perez is now occupying Greenacre. The reasonable rental value of the property exceeds the sum necessary to meet all current charges. There is no applicable statute. Under the rules governing contributions between life tenants and remaindermen, how should the burden for payment be allocated? What is art? According to one definition, it is the creation of something that appeals to our sense of beauty. This definition may include painting, drawing, sculpture, and architecture, or performing arts such as music and drama. Cultural and historical influences, as well as one's own consciousness of what is aesthetically( )pleasing, play a role in what one believes to be art. To some people, art is the description of an object--- a painting or sculpture of a person, for example. For others, art may be a blank canvas, or a piece of chalk. In order to talk about the different artistic styles that have existed over time, art historians have classified these styles into different periods and organized them in chronological order. The works of art produced within each period mirror the culture and events of that time. The earliest forms of art, from the prehistoric era , include simple cave paintings and figures made from stone. There were followed by the sculptures and carvings of Ancient Civilizations era. Styles of the later Classical era (800 B.C. to 200 A.D.), reflect the culture of the time--- one that favored simplicity and balance. The period of the Middle Ages followed, and was succeeded by a revival of classical styles in the Renaissance era, beginning around 1400. Well-known artists of this time include Michelangelo and da Vinci. One hundred years of Baroque style, and then fifty years of Rococo followed the 200-year Renaissance. The start of the nineteenth century saw the rise of the Premodern era, followed by the Modern era, a period that lasted until 1945. This was followed by Postmodern era that characterizes the present day. In addition to differences in artistic styles between eras, there are also differences within each era. The Postmodern era, for example, has featured innovative artistic styles such as Pop Art ( which includes work by Andy Warhol), Minimalism, and Conceptualism. Since the 1960s, Conceptualism has grown in popularity. This style focuses more on the idea or 'concept' of art using realistic objects, rather than on art that is created using traditional materials such as paint, canvas, stone, or clay. Whereas Warhol used a can of beans as the basis for a painting, for example, a conceptual artist might say that the can itself is a work of art. Conceptualism has become an increasingly controversial art style, particularly as result of numerous conceptual artists winning the Turner Prize. This PS20,000 award is presented annually to a British artist under the age of fifty, in recognition of an outstanding work. Sponsored by the Tate Gallery of Britain, it is recognized as one of Europe's most prestigious awards for visual arts. Its aim is to promote discussion about contemporary British art. In 2002, pop music icon Madonna presented the Turner Prize to conceptual artist Martin Creed. ...... Which statement is NOT true according to the passage? My name is Amanda LaMunyon. I have Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism . I don't see myself as a person with a disability. I share who I am when I paint, sing and write. I started writing poetry because I wanted to tell people what it was like to have Asperger's syndrome. I don't know how my life would be different without Asperger's, but I know I look at the world differently than most people. I'm also learning that you don't have to be like everybody else. You just have to be confident in who you are. I discovered I could paint when I was 7. My math teacher Mrs. Brock loved one of my paintings so much that she hung it on the wall in her bedroom. I was so encouraged by her and since then my life has changed greatly. Soon after, people asked me to show my art for charity events. I began to donate prints of my work for charity auctions . I was glad that I really made a difference. I learned that when you give, you receive happiness. I think it is very important for teens to express themselves. It's a way to know yourself more clearly. You can turn your thoughts and feelings into a piece of artwork or a poem. For example, when you paint, colors can help you express different emotions. When you write a poem, you have to get really honest with yourself and not be afraid to write down what you feel. Creativity makes you unique and sets you apart from others. Creative ideas also help you make your dreams come true. They help you look at things in a new way. I hope my story helps people to believe they can overcome their challenges and achieve their dreams. I like to encourage others. I know what encouragement has meant to me. The author advises teens to _ .
In order for a species to continue, constant mating is required to make babies David planted ten corn seeds in sandy soil and ten corn seeds in clay soil. He kept both groups of plants at room temperature, gave them the same amount of water, and placed them all in the same sunny room. Which of the following questions is David most able to answer with his experiment? Do corn plants grow better in sandy soil or in clay soil? While some scientists overlook the existence of a sixth sense for danger, a new research from Washington University in St. Louis has discovered a brain area that clearly acts as an early warning system and helps us adjust our behavior to avoid dangerous situations. "Our brains are better at picking up not obvious warning signs than we previously thought," said Joshua Brown, a PhD in psychology in the issue of the journal Science. The findings offer exact scientific evidence for a new way to form a concept of the complex control processes taking place in and around the ACC, a brain area located near the top of the frontal lobes and along the walls that divide the left and right hemispheres . "In the past, we found activity in the ACC when people had to make a difficult decision, or after they make a mistake," Brown said. "But now we find that this brain area can actually learn to recognize when you might make a mistake, even before a difficult decision has to be made. So the ACC appears to act as an early warning system---- it learns to warn us in advance when our behavior might lead to a negative outcome, so that we can be more careful and avoid making a mistake." By providing a clearer picture by which we self monitor and control our behavior, the study is an important step in efforts to develop more effective treatments for mental illnesses. It also provides a new way of understanding inappropriate behaviors that often accompany mental illnesses. "Our results suggest how injury of the ACC can lead to breakdowns in the early warning system, so that the brain fails to stop or control inappropriate behavior ahead of time," said Brown. "On the other hand, in those persons with mental disorder, the ACC might warn us of an upcoming problem even when no problem is in the existence." Known to be an important part of the brain's control system, the ACC is believed to help adjust between cold, hard, fact-based reasoning and emotional responses, such as love, fear or expectation. According to the passage, the ACC _ . sends warning messages in advance FOR many young people, having to attend school with a parent would be their worst nightmare. However, Senior 1 student Li Qinmei is happy taking her father with her as long as she can go to classes. He is disabled and unable to take care of himself. The 16-year-old country girl in Zhucheng, Shandong Province has experienced one disaster after another in her short life. Li lost her mother at three. Four years later, her father became paralyzed after a tractor accident. At 12, her misfortune returned with the death of her grandma. Since then she has been forced to shoulder all the responsibility for her broken family. Li learnt to cook and managed to live a life with an allowance of only 24 yuan per month. The most difficult thing she had to deal with was helping her father bathe, dress and use the toilet as he could hardly move. "I felt embarrassed, and so did my dad. It was really hard at the beginning," she recalled. During most of her junior school years, Li went to classes only once a month as her father was seriously ill at the time. "I taught myself at home and asked teachers for help on my school days," she explained. Li's hard work paid off this fall. She was admitted by Zhucheng No 1 High School, a local key school, based on her good performance in the entrance exams. The school offered Li and her father a room on campus to live in so she could look after him during breaks. Once in a while, Li felt sad when she saw her classmates going shopping or _ with friends. "I envy them sometimes because they have both mum and dad to look after them. However, I soon feel relieved as I still have my dad with me," she said. Li admitted that the difficulties in life had taught her to be strong. "I believe I will go on and continue my studies at a good university," she said, in a confident tone. Her teacher Mr. Wang has the same belief. Li made great progress in the recent monthly exams. "She works hard and is always eager to excel . It's not easy for her never to be late for school, but she has managed to make it work," Wang said. What's the best title of the story? _ . A strong-minded girl-Li Qinmei McDonald's Corp, founded in 1940 with a restaurant opened by Dick and Mac McDonald, which was bothered by criticism of its fatty foods, says it will remove Supersize French fries and soft drinks by the end of the year, to please health-minded customers. McDonald's Supersize option, which includes a 7-ounce fries carton and 42-ounce fountain soda, has also been targeted by critics as contributing to a growing obesity crisis in the United States where more than half the population is considered _ . From a neighborhood restaurant established in Des Plaines, Illinois in 1955 to today, more than 30,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries worldwide, McDonald's is the largest quick service restaurant organization in the world, selling primarily variations on meals consisting of hamburgers, carbonated drinks besides French fries. As the first international fast food company, McDonald's has become a focal point in public debate about rising obesity rates and consumer responsibility. Most standalone McDonald's restaurants offer both counter and drive-through service, with indoor and sometimes outdoor seating. The larger McDonald's grows, the more sensitive it becomes to negative customer understanding. According to this, McDonald's has tried to cater to varying cultural requirements, such as by customizing its menu to each country. The company, which began offering Supersize portions widely in 1994, said it is making the menu changes to "support a balanced lifestyle" approach that is in keeping with other recent moves to promote healthier behavior. These include a planned national launch of a Happy Meal for adults called Go Active! In the past year, it has introduced several health-oriented foods, such as entree-sized salads and healthy alternatives in children's Happy Meal, including milk and fruit. A new documentary film, called Super Size Me illustrates the negative effects of over-consumption of McDonald's food. The film has been released, but a McDonald's spokeswoman said that the menu changes are not related to any impact of the film on public awareness. McDonald's recognized that to be successful, it would have to be flexible and adapt to social changes. The company has been reducing complexity of its menu, part of a broader push to improve operations and service in its more than 13,000 US restaurants. Analysts said the change will allow McDonald's to continue its emphasis on foods with higher-quality elements and more money-earned, such as entree-sized salads and all-white-meat Chicken McNuggets. What might be the author's attitude towards McDonald's new measures? Objective.
In London, there has always been a main problem. In order to solve this problem, the government has decided to have a bike revolution . It has decided to provide 6,000 bikes for the people to rent. The government encourages local people to ride bikes in order to solve the traffic problem. More than 12,000 people have agreed to the idea. Some of them ask for more than one key. Although there are not enough bikes, an official from the government said that they would find some ways to deal with such a shortage. Local people can get these bikes at special docking stations .There are about 315 docking stations across the city. About 12,450 keys have already been handed out to the local people, but only 6,000 keys can be used now. Let's see the cost you need to pay. One key costs PS3, and the cost of using the bike is PS1 for an hour. The cost per hour increases as the hours increase, so it will cost PS50 if you rent the bike for 24 hours. The official from the government said they also needed to face a lot of problems, for example, some bikes may be lost. But they said they would try their best to solve all the problems to make sure the success of the program. About _ keys have already been handed out to the local people. For Chinese students nowadays, no matter what kind of schools they are going to universities, high schools and even primary schools, they have to face and tackle the problem of learning English. All examinations they want to pass require them to first pass English. English has become the most popular course in tutorial classes and even in the self-study classroom. When nearly all students' attention is focused on English, looking at the situation of our mother language, even Chinese _ get confused about its use. Not only have many new words and phrases which are very popular on the Internet started to fill in every corner of the society, common use of Chinese is full of mistakes and misunderstandings are all around. Chinese has the most speakers of any world language and also one of the oldest in history. Around the world, many countries have started enthusiastically learning Chinese and Chinese has become one of the most important foreign languages in some foreign countries. Besides, there are 282 Confucius Institutions around 88 countries and regions in the world that are teaching Chinese, while more than 260 institutions from 50 countries and regions applied to establish Confucius Institutions. The number of people learning Chinese is about 50 million outside China. For those foreigners that are so crazy about Chinese language, what kind of attitude should the Chinese have? Frankly speaking, learning English itself shouldn't have been criticized too much, and we need to learn English to communicate with the world to show our culture and society. ,. In China, it is true that _ . As a human being you may have the choice of three basic attitudes towards life. You may treat life with the philosophy of the vegetable, in which case your life will include being born, eating, drinking, sleeping, marrying, growing old and dying. The second basic attitude is to look at life as if it were a business. A great many so-called successful men and women believe that life is a business. If you believe so, your first question of life, naturally, is " What do I get out of it? " " How much is this worth to me?" In a word, based on this attitude, happiness becomes a matter of successful competition. The great majority of human beings today look at life as if it were a business. The third attitude toward life is the way of the artist. Here the basic philosophy is "What can I put into it?". They value cooperation and contribution. This point of view has been proved by history; for history remembers best those who have contributed most richly to the interests of their fellow-men. The more we investigate ,the more we become certain that the artistic attitude is the only one which goes with human happiness. People who are best remembered by history are probably Visiting Balboa Island, in sunny southern California, proved an exciting experience that I will never forget. I had never been to Balboa Island, even though it is only about an hour from my home in northern San Diego. Our first stop was for a specialty called a "Balboa Bar". It is a famous chocolate covered ice cream on a stick, created many years ago. As we drove along the streets toward the boat, I also saw some interesting buildings that stood for many years. Many of the building designs seemed like dollhouses and someone in our group said that the style was called, Victorian. After we parked our car on one of the streets, we got on the boat sailing to Balboa Peninsula. As I looked around the boat, I saw a bird flying very close to the water and our boat. A little girl near the boat' s edge jumped out to touch it and shockingly fell into the water! Her dad, who stood nearby, jumped in after her at once and everyone on the boat ran to help. The boat's engine stopped and both father and daughter got saved with the help of people on the boat. On Balboa Peninsula my family and I went to various shops, especially for food! We saw a restaurant at the very end. We enjoyed our lunch there, at the first Ruby's Diner ever opened in southern California. Although I have been to other restaurants of this popular chain , being at the very first is a great memory. On our way back to Balboa island we stopped at the huge Ferris Wheel, bought some sugars and played games. It was an exciting afternoon walking around on Balboa Island. I look forward to returning soon to spend some time on the beach again or maybe even to try fishing! Balboa Bar is the name of In some children who go blind, certain parts of the brain that normally control vision appear to switch jobs and focus instead on sound, a new study has found. The study, by researchers at the University of Montreal, involved 7 adults who could see and 12 adults who had lost their vision when they were children. Each participant sat in a room with 16 loudspeakers at different locations. The room was designed so that there were no echoes During the experiment, the speakers irregularly produced sounds. Participants had to point to where the sounds were coming from. Meanwhile, the researchers monitored blood flow in the brains of the participants to see which brain structures were working during the task. The results showed that five of the blind participants were very good at pointing to where sounds were coming from. In these people, blood flow increased in the visual cortex --- an area at the back of the right side of the brain. This part of the brain is usually associated with vision. The other seven blind participants showed no increase in activity in the visual cortex. These people didn't do very well at picking out where sounds were coming from. Now, the researchers are looking at whether these people have gained an enhanced sense of touch instead of sound to replace their lost vision. The scientists say that their study shows how adaptable parts of the brain can be. Which of the following statements is the main idea of the passage?
An American writer, Mr Green once said, "Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it." It is true that everybody talks about the weather. Many people begin their talks by saying, "Isn't it a nice day?" "Do you think it will rain?" "I think it's going to snow." Many people think they can tell what the weather is going to be like. But sometimes they don't 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, and he doesn't look for anything else. When friends have a picnic, they hope the weather is going to be fine and they can sit eating their lunch under the blue sky. Almost everyone listens to what the weatherman says. But he doesn't always tell us what we want, and sometimes he makes a mistake. Still, he is right most of the time. People often begin their talk by _ . saying something about the weather A New Zealand volcano _ for more than a century has erupted,sending up ash clouds,disturbing flights and closing roads. Mount Tongariro, one of three volcanoes in the centre of the North Island, became active just before midnight local time, with reports of loud explosions,pouting rocks and steam. The 1, 978m peak is in a national park popular with hikers. No damages have been reported after the eruption. Witnesses described a dramatic scene as the volcano erupted. "I saw this beautiful. big cloud and I thought: 'Gee that looks like a volcanic plume'. Just as I thought that there was a great big orange flash," truck driver Bryn Rodda told New Zealand National Radio. "It was quite impressive." Mount Tongariro last erupted 115 years ago. And scientists said they did not yet know if this eruption was a single event. Experts said they were caught by surprise--they had recorded some activity like an earthquake in recent weeks but were not expecting an eruption. "This might just be a quiet period and we should expect it to start again at any time. So we are watching things Very closely," volcanologist Michael Rosenberg told TVNZ. Eruption activity has currently reduced, New Zealand media said.Meteorologists said the ash was blowing east towards the Pacific Ocean. A number of inland flights from the North Island to the South Island had been affected by the volcanic activity, Air New Zealand said. Police said highways that had been closed because visibility was affected after the eruption are now open. Some residents in the nearby areas had temporarily left their homes. Officials have not ordered an evacuation , but advised those affected by the ash cloud to stay indoors and close their doors and windows. What effect did the eruption cause? Road block. Polluted airborne particles kill 7 million people a year, reports the World Health Organization. That news may not come as a surprise to anyone who has seen images of chimneys in Beijing, Delhi or Mexico. But those factories-or even the jammed roadways of modern cities-are not the biggest killer. Each year, some 4.3 million people die earlier than they should because of polluted air inside their homes, says the WHO. What's causing the air inside people's homes to be so poisonous that it kills around 11,000 people a day? Stoves. "Having an open fire in your kitchen is like burning 400 cigarettes an hour." says Kirk Smith, a professor at the University of California at Berkeley, whose research suggests that household air pollution from cooking killed between 3.5 million and 4 million people in 2013. Not all stoves cause this kind of harm. The ones Smith's talking about are those that the 3 billion people in the developing world use for heat and cooking, which burn solid fuels such as wood, coal, or crop waste instead of gas. The smoke from those fires produces harmful fine particles and carbon monoxide into homes. Poor _ then prevents that smoke from escaping, raising fine particle levels 100 times higher than the limits that the WHO considers acceptable. Breathing this air day in day out eventually causes a lot of diseases: more than a third of the 4.3 million die of a stroke, while a quarter die of heart disease. And around one-third of annual lung disease deaths worldwide are due to waste from coal stoves. Exposure tends to be extremely harmful for the people who spend the most time around the fire-usually women and young children. In fact, the WHO reports that household air pollution almost doubles the risk for childhood lung disease. What should be the deadly killer in a household kitchen? Cooking smoke. A Chinese actor's divorce from his wife has social media buzzing, with posts about the subject gaining over five billion views. WangBaoqiang announced online on Sunday that he was divorcing his wife, Ma Rong. He alleged that his marriage broke down after his wife had an affair with his agent, and that she had also transferred the couple's joint assets. The topic has sparked a debate about relationships and divorce, and it seems Wang's predicament has struck a chord with many -- which could explain the number of views, which are high even by Chinese standards. What exactly are they saying? Chinese netizens seem to have rallied around Wang, with topics like #WangDon'tCry# #WangWeSupportYou#, quickly trending after news of the divorce spread. Statistics by Weibo showed that 87% of netizens' posts condemned Ma for her affair, saying it had shattered her family. Some have even published her home address online. "Wang is a hardworking man from a rural area. She cheated an honest man. I hate these kinds of people,"said one commenter on weibo. But why are they so interested? No other celebrity divorce or marriage has ever caused such a big stir on Chinese social media. On the surface, this might seem like just another Chinese celebrity split. But what is it about this one that's got all of China ruffled up? Some people feel that this divorce seems to fit a certain trope -- of a beautiful but ordinary girl marrying a rich but less good-looking man. It is not uncommon to hear the belief that a couple has to "match" at every level -- be it in status, or physical appearance -- for a relationship to work out. "The concept of being evenly matched is still one that is widely believed in China," Dr Mu Zheng, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology at the National University of Singapore told the BBC's Yvette Tan. It's also making people talk about divorce. A lot of social media discussion has also centred around divorce, and in particular how people can protect themselves. Wang has alleged that his wife transferred and hid some of the couple's assets. They're a wealthy couple -- their assets, according to Chinese media, include nine flats, a BMW car and various luxury goods. As a result, people are debating the importance of protecting individual assets, even after marriage. Attitudes towards divorce are fast changing in China, and divorce rates are on the rise. State newspaperGlobal Timessays a total of 3.84 million couples in China divorced in 2015, an increase of 5.6% from 2014."People are getting much more open to the idea of divorce now, especially as Chinese people become more educated and open-minded towards both marriage and divorce," says Dr Mu. Which section can you find this news in a newspaper? Society You have probably heard of the Mozart effect. It's the idea that if children or even babies listen to music composed by Mozart, they will become more intelligent. A quick Internet search exposes plenty of products to assist you in the task. Whatever your age there are CDs and books to help you taste the power of Mozart's music, but when it comes to scientific evidence that it can make you more clever, the picture is more mixed. The phrase "the Mozart effect" was made up in 1991, but it was a study described two years later in the journal Nature that sparked real media and public interest about the idea that listening to classical music somehow improves the brain. It is one of those ideas that sound reasonable. Mozart was undoubtedly a genius himself; his music is complex and there is a hope that if we listen to enough of it, we'll become more intelligent. _ , with thousands of parents playing Mozart to their children, and in 1998 Zell Miller, the Governor of the state of Georgia in the US, even asked for money to be set aside in the state budget so that every newborn baby could be sent a CD of classical music. It was not just babies and children who were exposed to Mozart's music on purpose, even an Italian farmer proudly explained that the cows were played Mozart three times a day to help them to produce better milk. I'll leave the debate on the effect on milk yield to farmers, but what about the evidence that listening to Mozart makes people more intelligent? More research was carried out but an analysis of sixteen different studies confirmed that listening to music does lead to a temporary improvement in the ability to handle shapes mentally, but the benefits are short-lived and it doesn't make us more intelligent. What would be the best title for the passage? Listening to Mozart, necessary?
The place of the family computer may turn into a hot argue as your children get older. Whether you have one computer in the house or five, you should think the following things as you make a final decision. There is a certain number of danger if you allow your children to have a computer with Internet in their rooms with no parental direction. They may share improper information and chat with strangers if they know that no one will be watching. This does not mean that you cannot allow your children to have a computer in their rooms. Think allowing a computer without Internet. This is especially useful for teens who use the computer for creative projects, playing video games and listening to music. Keep in mind, however, that it is possible that your kids are more skilled at computers than you are and may remove any blocks you have in place. Computer Use The way your family computers are used will play a role in deciding where they should be placed. A machine used only for homework will need to be in a quiet place where there is low traffic. One used for chatting online can be in the room where most of the family spend their time. If Mom and Dad use a computer for work, those needs will also have to be thought. Space Space must also be considered in computer placement. The computer will need electricity, plenty of desk space and a spot away from this bright light of windows. You will not want it placed in a room where your kids may be noisy. Which of the following might be a danger to children? Generally speaking, American food is not very thick in taste. Salads are much liked and are served all year round. Many Americans are trying to keep down their weight. This is shown in menus offering "low calorie " or "weight watchers" meals. In markets, one can find "No Cal" drinks (meaning without calories) such as cola. Many Americans drink coffee or tea with their meal. If a waiter in an American restaurant asks "Now or later?", what he means is "Do you want coffee with your meal or later?" When eating out in the USA, we can ask for tea, milk, beer, and so on, if we prefer these to coffee. American restaurants cannot serve beer, wine, or liquor unless they are licensed to do so. The main dish in American meals is usually meat, chicken or fish, but more than one of these is hardly served at the same meal. Most Americans eat quickly during the day--that is, breakfast and lunch--unless it is a social, business, or family situation. The evening meal, however, is usually a family time. Racing through daytime meals is part of the "American pace" of life, for working hours are considered important. The nationwide fast-food restaurants are suitable for the ways of American eating. The standard products, of nearly the same price, are served quickly, and taste the same whether bought in New York City or in Los Angeles. McDonald's is a popular restaurant. It offers many choices of hamburgers, French fries and "cokes". These foods are rich in fats, sugar and salt. Often, they are the major meal of the day of many young working people. In American restaurants, the standard foods _ . When bedrock in Massachusetts is examined, it often appears scraped and polished. Which of the following most likely caused the bedrock to appear scraped and polished? Soup on my nose, a nearly spilled glass of wine and chocolate down my white blouse, as blind dates suggest, this was a really messy one. I have never made so much noise with plates and glasses, nor had I dined with a never-before-met companion. This blind date was quite different: we could see nothing. "Put your left hand on my shoulder, and then we'll take small steps forward," said Michael, the visually impaired server, in an East London accent. We three felt our way carefully bumping past heavy curtains before being arranged at the dining table, where we would eat and drink three completely secret and unseen courses. Welcome to Alchemy in the Dark, Hong Kong's first full-time restaurant in total darkness. Upon arrival, diners briefly tell the chef on their allergies , lock away their mobile phones and enter the windowless restaurant, which can seat 25. When the meal is over, the contents of the delicious menu are shown --- often to the diners' surprise. "This is definitely duck," my friend said, while eating chicken. "This soup," I declared, "is carrot and coriander." Even the too-close smell did not reveal the real tomato and cumin flavors. Dining in the dark changes everything: the sense of smell is heightened, manners go out of the window ----using your hands to feel around the plate becomes normal--- and there is a strange thrill in being able to ignore your facial expressions. Best of all? You don't have to spend hours beforehand wondering what to wear. Alchemy in the Dark is at 16 Arbuthnot Road, Central, (tel: 6821 2801) and is open Monday to Saturday, from 7pm to 11pm. Reservations are required. A three-course meal with wine pairing costs HK$700 per person. Five per cent of all profits go to the Hong Kong Society for the Blind. According to passage, which of the following is true? Which of these describes water in a solid state?

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