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Boy's schools are the perfect place to teach young men to express their emotions and involve them in activities such as art dance and music. Far from the traditional image of a culture of aggressive masculinity , the absence of girls gives boys the chance to develop without pressure to agree with a stereotype, a US study says. Boys at single-sex schools were said to be more likely to get involved in cultural and artistic activities that helped develop their emotional expressiveness, rather than feeling they had to agree with the "boy code"of hiding their emotions to be a "real man". The report, presented at a conference of the International Boys'Schools Coalition in London attended by the heads of private and state schools, goes against _ that boys do better when taught alongside girls. Tony little, headmaster of Eton, warned that boys were being failed by the British education system because it had become too focused on girls. He criticized teachers for failing to recognize that boys are actually more emotional than girls. The research argued that boys often perform badly in mixed schools because they become discouraged when their females peers do better earlier in speaking and reading skills. But in single-sex schools teachers can tailor lessons to boy's learning style, letting them move around the classroom and getting them to compete in teams to prevent boredom, wrote the study's author, Abigail James, of the University of Virginia. Teachers could encourage boys to enjoy reading and writing with "boy-focused"approaches such as themes and characters that interest them. Because boys generally have more acute(sharp)vision, learn best through touch, and are physically more active, they need to be given "hands-on"lessons where they are allowed to walk around. "Boys in mixed schools view classical music as feminine and prefer the modern type in which violence and sexism are major themes" James wrote. Single-sex education also made it less likely that boys would feel they had to agree with a stereotype that men should be "masterful and in charge" in relationships, "In mixed schools boys feel forced to act like men before they understand themselves well enough to know what that means." The study reported. According to Abigail James's report, which of the following is characteristic of boys? Answer: They have sharper vision Going back to school is a very exciting event for my two boys. It means getting new school bags and books, and seeing friends again after the summer holiday. My oldest son, 9-year-old Salem, asked me several times where we would go to buy a backpack, while my other son, 6-year-old Abdullah, asked what school would be like this year. For the last three years, school was a nightmare for many children and their parents as violence increased and there were more attacks on schools and teachers. As a result, many parents prevented their children from going to school. One of six children in this country did not attend primary school in 2009. Many kids who did attend school were accompanied by a parent for the entire day to make sure nothing happened to their children. For poor families or those with large families, back to school can be an expensive time. The government gives some help to those living in poor neighborhoods, and school bags, note books and other items are given for free. Most of the merchants who sell notebooks and pens now sell their products out on the street instead of in stores. They sit on the ground and lay their items on the ground or they have a small table to sell their goods. The bags cost between $10 and $20, while clothes and shoes cost between $20 and $30. I found all the things I needed for my sons and even bought something for myself. I spent about $50 on each of them, including school uniforms. At the end of the day, we returned to our home carrying many shopping bags filled with items that made my children happy and excited to go back to school. I just hope this school year will be a peaceful one. The author's children are _ to go to school. Answer: eager Many people have talked about whether or not computing machines can think. Can they or can't they? Almost certainly, a machine can do any work in thinking that a person can do--if the correct way for doing the thinking work can be told exactly. Besides, many programs have been made to direct machines so that they work in very clever ways. Machines have been taught to play chess and to learn from what happens in the games so as to make their play better and better. Machines can beat many persons who play chess. Machines can translate from one language to another. They can prove statements in geometry as taught in school. Machines can notice printed marks on paper, so that a person is no longer needed to look at the marks. Computers can be used in many ways, such as business, science, industry, and government. _ If people cannot tell exactly the correct way to do certain work in thinking, it is still a question how much of _ a machine can do. Suppose a person is "teaching" the machine and telling the machine "yes" when the machine is right, and "no" when the machine is wrong. Then the machine can keep on searching among possible ways for solving a problem--until the machine can do as well as the person, and perhaps much better. But, what is thinking? People can agree about much that is thinking, and much that is not thinking; but they can't reach agreement because the word "think" is not a scientific word with an exact meaning. A lot of the discussion is wasted breath because the persons are using different meanings of the word "think". People, however, have only had experience with machines that appear to think since 1944. It would be too early to say that after the next 200 years, machines will not be thinking. And to consider that machines can think gives people a big push to give to machines more and more work in thinking. What does the writer want to say in the passage? Answer: A machine will do any work in thinking like a human being. A wise man once said that the only thing necessary for the victory of evil is for good men to do nothing. So, as a police officer, I have some urgent things to say to good people. Day after day my men and I struggle to hold back a tidal wave of crime. Something has gone terribly wrong with our once-proud American way of life. It has happened in the area of values. A key ingredient is disappearing, and I think I know what it is: accountability. Accountability isn't hard to define. It means that every person is responsible for his or her actions and liable for their consequences. Of the many values that hold civilization together --- honesty, kindness, and so on --- accountability may be the most important of all. Without it, there can be no respect, no trust, no law --- and, ultimately, no society. My job as a police officer is to impose accountability on people who refuse, or have never learned, to impose it on themselves. But as every policeman knows, external controls on people's behavior are far less effective than internal restraints such as guilt, shame and embarrassment. Fortunately there are still communities --- smaller towns, usually --- where schools maintain discipline and where parents hold up standards that declare: "In this family certain things are not tolerated --- they simply are not done!" Yet more and more, especially in our larger cities and suburbs, these inner restraints are loosening. Your typical robber has none. He considers your property his property; he takes what he wants, including your life if you annoy him. The main cause of this breakdown is a radical shift in attitudes. Thirty years ago, if a crime was committed, society was considered the victim. Now, in a shocking reversal, it's the criminal who is considered victimized: by his underprivileged upbringing, by the school that didn't teach him to read, by the church that failed to reach him with moral guidance, by the parents who didn't provide a stable home. I don't believe it. Many others in equally disadvantaged circumstances choose not to engage in criminal activities. If we free the criminal, even partly, from accountability, we become a society of endless excuses where no one accepts responsibility for anything. We in America desperately need more people who believe that the person who commits a crime is the one responsible for it.. The writer is sorry to have noticed that _ . Answer: people in large cities tend to excuse criminals Iron oxides, such as rust, form when iron metal reacts with oxygen in the air. What are the chemical symbols for the two elements found in iron oxide? Answer: Fe and O
Mu Yumin had no idea that when he stopped by the computer club as a freshman looking for something fun, it would decide his career four years later.The 22 -year -old biology major at Huazhong University of Science and Technology found a job as an IT technician in Shanghai." My experience in the club gave me another 'diploma' ," said Mu." More importantly, I found something I am good at and can make a living from." Now campuses around the country have started recruiting fresh faces for all kinds of clubs.Upperclassmen and experts suggest a hobby-based choice of clubs, which might have a lasting impact on one' s life and career Zhang Ling did not get many chances to write stories as an environmental protection major at Jiangxi University of Science and Technology.But this changed when she joined the university broadcast station.Her daily interviews with students and teachers expanded her horizon.Now she is determined to become a journalist on environmental issues with her degree in environmental protection."Journalism changed my life track," said the 22 -year-old girl."I only wanted to be a science teacher in a local senior high school.But now I am applying for a graduate school in journalism." Lan Yujie, professor at Anhui University of Technology, regards Mu and Zhang as good examples of choosing "what I like" instead of " what is practical" in finding jobs and seeking further study. "Some freshmen don't know what to choose," said Lan."Just following a hobby and doing something you like can easily give you the experience that makes you happy and special." Lan further says that joining clubs should not necessarily have a purpose, As part of campus life, a club experience will impact one's life and career m one way or another."The point of clubs is to have as many diverse experiences as possible so that students can explore more of their life," said Lan. According to the text, joining the campus club has many advantages EXCEPT _ . A. helping you know what you really like B. making you plan your career better C. helping you to make more friends D. obtaining more life experiences Answer: C A very close friend phoned me this weekend and asked a specific question about earning a few extra dollars each month online. For the benefit of keeping her name and details secret, I will call her Annie in this article. You see Annie suffers from a severe form of inaction syndrome ; she is full of great ideas that never materialize into cash and she is having a problem finding the link that will achieve this. Somebody once said that knowledge is power, yet we constantly find from readers of our website that they have knowledge to burn and still do not have power. Just look at the academics in universities all around the world; they have so much knowledge that they should control the wealth of the world. In truth they work for peanuts and very few of them ever achieve the power of independence. So knowledge certainly isn't power. Therefore, we should change that "wise" statement to: "Power is the ability to use knowledge to your own benefit." That paragraph was inserted because Annie is a typical academic--strong on talk and plans but a little weaker on actions. In the period of a twenty-minute conversation, she expounded a whole list of plans and ideas to make the extra few hundred dollars each month she was seeking. Any one of her many ideas was a potential money maker, but she had taken action on none of them. At one time she said, "I'm lost as to what to do next." That was my cue to get involved. "Take action," I advised. All that is wrong is that Annie was inactive without knowing it. In five minutes we drew up a plan of action and agreed to talk again in a month to review progress. When we finished the conversation, she sounded much happier and more motivated than when we started. Annie just needs a little _ into beneficial action. What is the most important according to the author? A. The ability to use one's knowledge. B. The ability to acquire knowledge. C. A great deal of knowledge. D. A good understanding of oneself. Answer: A It is well-known that it will take travelers only 48 hours by train to go from Beijing to Lhasa, the capital of west China's Tibet on July 1 this year. Travelers can enjoy the beautiful views during the 48 hour train ride. The new railway line will be controlled by the Beijing' s West Railway Station from July 1, 2006. The most important part of the line, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, has been completed. The Qinghai-Tibet part of the railway is the world's highest railway. About 960 kilometers of the train tracks are 4,000 meters above sea level. The highest parts reach 5,072 meters. The railway is the world' s longest plateau railroad which is 1,956 kilometers long, from Qinghai's capital Xining to Lhasa in Tibet. The Golmud-Lhasa part is 1,142 kilometers long and goes across the Kunlun and Tanggula mountain ranges. The trains running on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway have very good conditions. If the passengers feel hard to breathe, they will be provided with oxygen masks, because all of the trains have oxygen supplying equipments. When we talk about the Qinghai-Tibet part of the railway, we say _ . A. the railway is well-known B. the railway is the highest C. it is easy to operate D. it was completed easily Answer: B Do you like Hunan TV shows ?What do you think of them ? A popular TV show may have 70,000,000 TV viewers . A TV show can make something or someone well-known overnight . That's why more than 10,000,00 women and girl of 4-89 years old watch Hunan TV's "Super Girl" show. These "game" shows put ordinary people on TV to play a game for prize and money .These game shows can make anyone a star , and he or she can also get lots of money , so many people watch the shows . "Super Girl" is the first show of this kind in China. It's so close to you. Everyone can join in it . For the show, many girls stop their classes. "They hope they can be superstars someday. But the best way to success is to learn more and work hard," said some directors . The oldest viewer in this show is _ years old . A. ninety-eight B. four C. eighty-nine D. eighty Answer: C American black bears appear in a variety of colors despite their name. In the eastern part of their range , most of these bears have shiny black fur, but in the west they grow brown, red or even yellow coats. To the north, the black bear is actually gray or white. Even in the same litter , both brown and black furred bears may be born. Black bears are the smallest of all American bears, ranging in length from 5 to 6 feet, weighing from 300 to 500 pounds. Their eyes and ears are small and their eyesight and hearing are not as good as their sense of smell. Like all bears, the black bear is shy, clumsy and rarely dangerous. However, if cornered, the black bear can become a fearful enemy. Black bears feed on leaves, roots, fruit, insects, fish and even larger animals. One of the most interesting characteristics of bears, including the black bear, is their winter sleep. Unlike many other animals, bears do not actually hibernate . Although the bear does not eat during the winter months, its temperature remains almost normal, and it breathes regularly four or five times per minute. Most black bears live alone, except during the mating season . A litter of one to four cubs is born in January or February and they remain with their mother until they are fully grown or about one and a half years old. Black bears can live as long as thirty years in the wild, and even longer in game preserves set aside for them. American black bears have a good sense of _ . A. smell B. hearing C. eyesight D. taste Answer: A
Four Simple Keys to Transform Your Life The Power of Choice.Every one of us makes countless choices every day.Every choice we make has an impact on our lives.Even insignificant choices can affect what we experience and how we feel.When hunger strikes, we can reach for a healthy, nutritious snack, or we can choose the sugar high of junk food.The more important the decision, the greater its effect.For instance, how do I act towards that person who treated me badly? Do I generally choose to be passive, or do I actively set clear intentions and create what I want in my life? Every choice we make, however big or small, affects us in some way. How Do You Make Choices? If you are interested in living a richer, fuller life, there is a foundation upon which you can base all of your decisions which can make life better not only for you, but also for those around you.This foundation is to choose based on what's best for all.Imagine a world where every parent, spouse , friend, teacher, business person, and politician truly did their best to choose what's best for all involved in every decision they made. We would certainly live in a more caring, supportive world. It's the Intention."But how do I know what is really best?" you might ask.The answer is simple.It doesn't matter.What matters is not the choice you make, but rather the intention beind your choice.What matters is that whatever decision you make, you are clear in your intention of choosing based on what's best for all.If it later turns out that you made what appears to have been a bad choice, there's no need for guilt.Knowing that you did your best to choose with a sincere desire for what's best for all, your conscience stays clear and open.This then allows you to more easily learn from your mistakes, and to live with a clear heart and mind. What's Best for Me, Too! Choosing what's best does not mean you have to always sacrifice yourself for others.An overly exhausted mother can lose her temper easily.Some time off for this mother might seem selfish, yet in the long run, it can help her to be a better mother to her children.So as we move through each day of our lives, let us remember to include ourselves as we do our best to choose what's best for all. How should we make choices? The fourth-graders at Chicago's McCormick Primary School are unaware of the difficulty in learning Chinese. For most, who speak Spanish at home, it's becoming their third language. They've been learning and using Chinese words since kindergarten, and it's now second nature to give a hearty "ni hao" when strangers enter the classroom. The classroom scene at McCormick is unusual, but it may soon be a common fixture in American schools, where Chinese is rapidly becoming the hot new language. Government officials have long wanted more focus on security--useful languages like Chinese, and pressure from them--as well as from business leaders, politicians, and parents--has driven a quick growth in the number of programs. Chicago itself is home to the largest effort to include Chinese in US public schools. The program here has grown to include 3,000 students in 20 schools, with more schools on a waiting list. Programs have also spread to places like Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, and North Carolina. It's true that the number of students learning Chinese is tiny compared with how many study Spanish or French. _ see knowledge of the Chinese language and culture as a help in a global economy where China is growing in importance. "This is an interesting way to begin to engage with the world's next superpower," says Michael Levine, director of education at the Asia Society, which has started five new public high schools that offer Chinese. "Globalization has already changed the arrangements in terms of how children today are going to need to think about their careers... The question is, when not whether, the schools are going to adjust." In Chicago, the trend extends beyond schools with high numbers of Asian students. "The fact that my students are 98% low income and 99% Latino and they are succeeding in _ , tells me everyone should have a try at learning languages," says Virginia Rivera, principal at McCormick. "We want to give our young people opportunities to advance... and Chinese is a great opportunity to survive in today's economy," says Richard M. Daley, Mayor of Chicago. What CANNOT be learned from this passage? My parents lived to be ninety-three and ninety-four. Mother lived longer and kept her mental sharpness until a few days before she died. Dad suffered from dementia probably for the last six months of his life. It's hard to say how long because his dear wife knew how to cover his forgetfulness or sometimes strange behavior up for him. There were times, however, when mother became totally frustrated with the changes she saw taking place and she would blame him for doing things on purpose just to make her angry. He loved juicy fruit gum, but she kept it hidden from sight and rationed it because he could chew five or six sticks in an hour and ask for another package. "I have to watch him like a hawk." she said. Even though they lived in an assisted-living facility, my father would not bathe himself and would not let any staff person help him. So mother adjusted his shower temperature, washed his back, brought him a dry towel, and helped him dress. With her heart failure and the need for oxygen full time, this chore wore her out, both physically and emotionally. Then he started getting up in the middle of night. He would go into their bathroom, which was actually a part of their bedroom, turn on all the lights, and shave. Mother could not convince him to return to bed until he finished. As a result, mother couldn't get enough sleep at night. I don't have any answers that might have made their last months together any easier. Since they were very private people, sometimes it was hard to know what was really going on. When I stopped by their place, mother would talk nonstop as usual and daddy would smile a lot, like what he used to do. I took along food they enjoyed to them, like smoothies or milkshakes. Mother lovedorchids and they thrived under her care so she usually received one for any special occasion. Daddy would often let me brush his "angel hair", as mother named it, and I might help her fasten jewelry. All of these little things were ways to say "I love you", but we didn't often discuss some of the truly important issues related to my daddy's declining health. I tried to respect their privacy and treat them with the dignity they deserved. I think they both tried to protect me, their daughter. I guess that's what parents do. The writer didn't know much about her father's dementia, because _ . I know now that the man who sat with me on the old wooden stairs that hot summer night over thirty-five years ago was not a tall man. But to a five-year old, he was a giant. Once again, I was caught in the middle of circumstances. The fourth born of six children, it was not uncommon that I was either too young or too old for something. This night I was both. While my two baby brothers slept inside the house, my three older siblings played with friends around the corner, where I was not allowed to go. I stayed with Grandpa, and that was okay with me. I was where I wanted to be. "Thirsty?" Grandpa asked. "Yes" was my reply. "Would you like to run over to the gas station there and get yourself a bottle of Coke?" I couldn't believe my ears. On my family's modest income, Coke was not a part of our budge or diet. A few sips were all I had ever had, and certainly never my own bottle. "Okay," I replied shyly. Opening his fist, Grandpa instructed me to pick out a dime. "Okay," he said, " I'm going to stay here and I'll tell you when It's safe to cross. You go over to the Coke machine, get your Coke and come back out. Wait for me to tell you when it's safe to cross back." My heart pounded. Grandpa held my hand tightly. When he told me it was safe to cross, I ran faster than I had ever run before. Reaching the other side, I turned to find Grandpa. There he was, standing exactly where I had left him, smiling proudly. I waved. "Go on, hurry up," he yelled. Coke in hand, I proudly marched back out into the early evening dusk. Grandpa was waiting patiently. He smiled. "Come on, now," he said, "run." I did." "Don't ever do that alone, he warned. I held the Coke bottle tightly, fearful he would make me pour it into a cup, ruining my dream. He didn't. One lone swallow of the cold drink cooled my sweating body. I don't think I ever felt so proud. What did the author fear after getting back from the gas station? We may be very pleased with the rapid progress we have made in every field of study. But the way to test a student's knowledge and ability still remains as poor as it was. We have almost done nothing to improve our examination system. It is well known that the examination system we are now using may be a good way of testing a student's memory, but it can tell you nothing about a student's ability. It does no good to students and teachers. As soon as a child begins school, he enters a world of examination that will decide his future of job. In fact a good examination system should train a student to think for himself. But it now does nothing about that. So students are encouraged to member what is taught. It does not enable them to gain more and note knowledge. The students who come out first in the examination often may not be the best in their studies. Besides, the examinations often force teachers to train students what to do with the coming examination from time to time. There must be some simpler and better way to test a student' s ability besides knowledge. And that is what we should do at once. The examination system we are now using can only make the students _ .
The interaction of the skeletal and muscular systems to produce locomotion is coordinated by which human body system? Answer: The novelist, Harriet Beecher Stowe, born 200 years ago, was a poor housewife with six children, and she suffered from various illnesses. Driven by the hatred of slavery, she found time to write Uncle Tom's Cabin, which became the most influential novel in American history and caused great change, both at home and abroad. Today, however, the book has a different reputation, owing to the popular image of its character, Uncle Tom, whose name has become a saying for a cowardly black man who betrays his race. But this view is wrong: the original Uncle Tom was physically and morally strong, an inspiration for black people and other oppressed people worldwide. Indeed, that was why, in the mid-19th century, Southerners attacked Uncle Tom's Cabin as a dangerously destructive book, while Northern reformers--especially black people--often praised it. The book was influential overseas too. In Russia it inspired Vladimir Lenin, who recalled it as his favorite book in childhood. It was the first American novel to be translated and published in China, and it fueled anti-slavery movements in Cuba and Brazil. The book's progressive appeal was the character of Uncle Tom himself: a strong man who is notable because he does not betray his race; one reason he gives up escaping from his plantation is that he doesn't want to put his fellow slaves in danger. And he is finally killed because he refuses to tell his master where two runaway slaves are hiding. Unfortunately, these themes were lost in many of the stage versions of Uncle Tom's Cabin. The play, seen by more people than those who read the book, remained popular up to the 1950s and still appears occasionally. But in the play, Stowe's revolutionary themes were drowned. But it doesn't have to be that way; indeed; during the civil rights era it was those who most closely resembled Uncle Tom--Stowe's Uncle Tom, not the embarrassed one of popular myth--that proved most effective in promoting progress. Both Stowe and Uncle Tom deserve our reconsideration and our respect. Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin because she _ . Answer: Shen Hao was born in 1964. He was the former first secretary of Party branch of Xiaogang Village, Fengyang County, Anhui Province. He died on November 6, 2009. From 2004 to 2009, he had done many good things for villagers. For the development of Xiaogang Village he had made great contributions. So he was respected by all the villagers. During the six years, he repaired the village roads, built a building for a number of villagers. He rented a house in the village and thought about how to get the villagers to get rich all day. Even in the New Year, he still got together with his villagers. At last, under his leadership, Xiaogang Village was out of _ . Now the villagers are leading a rich life. He is a very filial son, but he had almost no time to get together with his over 90 year-old mother. But she never complained. His wife works in the bank and she is very busy. They both have little time to look after their daughter. Although he did not do what he should do to his mother, wife and daughter, all the villagers will remember their good secretary forever. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? Answer: Scientists are making new studies of color and its effects on our health. They have known for a long time that the color of a room or the color of the light in it can affect our feelings and emotions. Many prisons and hospitals have at least one room that is painted pink. Officials have found that light and color can produce physical changes in our bodies. Professor Falfan worked with a group of 9 disabled children at school in Albert. Two of the children were blind. The other seven had normal sight. The scientists changed the color of the school room, then looked for changes in blood pressure, heart beat and breathing rate. The effects of color changes were the same for the blind children as for those with normal sight. Their blood pressure dropped from about 120 to 100. Similar changes were reported in heart-beat and the breathing. The children also were calmer and less excited. Then the colors of the room were returned to orange and white. Blood pressure, heart-beat and breathing rate went up and the children became excited again. Professor Falfan said different colors produce different levels of light energy. He said the differences seem to affect chemicals in the brain that carry messages from nerve to nerve and from nerve to muscle. According to the text, orange and white are colors which can make people _ . Answer: Going on a road trip? The St. Louis Arch, Statue of Liberty and Golden Gate Bridge are normal tourist sites. But if you prefer offbeat destinations, check out the following road-side attractions. World's Largest Ball of Paint Alexandria, Ind. In 1977, Michael Carmichael set out to create the biggest ball of paint anywhere. Starting with a baseball as a center, he painted layer after layer of paint day after day, year after year. The ball weighs more than 1,300 pounds, with more than 20,000 coats of paint, which is recognized by Guinness world Records. Visitors can paint the ball themselves and become part of history. The Museum of Dirt Boston, Mass. The museum is the idea of Glenn Johanson. Labeled glass bottles contain such treasures as dirt from the Great Wall of China, as well as sand from a desert in Saudi Arabia and Omaha Beach in France. Best of all, the cost of seeing this museum is dirt cheap: It's free. Mount Horeb Mustard Museum Mount Horeb, Wis. It's heaven for hot dog lovers! This museum claims to have world's largest collection of prepared mustard . Its more than 4,100 bottles of spices come from 60 nations, including Turkey and Tibet. Visitors learn the history of mustard, from how it's made to how it's advertised and sold. The museum's creator, Barry Levenson, loves mustard so much, he even puts it on ice cream! Paper House Rockport, Mass. Swedish immigrant Ellis Stenman was much ahead of his time in 1922, when he started to build a two-room house almost entirely out of newspaper. At the time, people didn't give much--if any --thought to recycling paper. In fact, "recycling" wasn't even a Word yet. The house is framed with wood, but the walls are made of 215 layers of newspaper. In all ,he used about 100,000 newspapers. Which of the following is TRUE about Barry Levenson? Answer:
Part-time Waitress Busy cafe needs honest and good-looking waitress for weekends. Must enjoy working with a team and dealing with customers. Call Li Ling at 0732-8536724 after 6 pm. Delivery Person Young, healthy person able to deliver heavy boxes of books. Must have a driver's license and can carry heavy boxes. We're looking for a person for this position. Call Liu Fang at 0732-7887766 at any time. _ Wanted Kind, hard-working nanny wanted to look after three friendly children. Must be experienced and have childcare quail fications . Please call Chen Yiping at 0732-6774538 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m Which of the four statements is true? Answer: You can call Liu Fang at any time. My tears run down from my cheeks when I talk to my parents on the phone. What are they doing when I call them? Dad works from seven o'clock in the morning to nine o'clock in the evening. My mum does all the housework, she also has to work in the field. But I can't do anything for them. Every day she gets up at around 4 o'clock in the morning. When I sometimes call her at 7:30 in the evening, she tells me that she is still in the field and doesn't have supper. I tell her I'll study hard in the school. I also ask her to take care of herself and dad because I can't live without them. Mum says that the happiest time for dad and her is when my sister and I come back home. We play cards in the room, watch TV, or do anything we like, with dad and mum making delicious food in the kitchen. It is also the happiest time for me. Love, sometimes, doesn't need many words. Love your parents like they love you. Give them a call, tell them you miss them. Why can't the writer live without their parents? Answer: Because she loves her parents and they love her very much. It was almost four o'clock in the morning when the fire broke out."We watch one window blow out,and then another,and heard people shouting,"says Stanley,21,a junior from Westfield State College in Massachusetts.Students were throwing ropes made from bed sheets out their windows,and a couple of them were trying to climb down. Almost all the hotel's 502 rooms were filled with college students from across the United States who were spending their holiday here in Acpulco,Mexico.As the smoke thickened,Moreno ran upstairs to where other Westfield students were rooming."Some people had no idea what was going on,"he says."I was shouting at the top of my voice.I made sure I hit every door."At the same time,Stanley was downstairs helping people get through the smokefilled hall.There he joined forces with Nalewanski who had just come back from his own night out. "Let's go."Nalewanski says.He and Stanley wet their shirts in the bathroom and wrapped them around their mouths and noses so they could breathe.Then they ran up the stairs. Nalewanski and Stanley found Moreno on the fourth floor.They all ran upstairs and down the corridors on every floor,hitting every door hard. In the end,no one was seriously injured.Even more unbelievable,all the Westfield students made it back to Massachusetts later that same day. Westfield president Evan Dobelle says,"I have a great deal of pride in these young men and they were able to react in such an emergency." What's the best title for this passage? Answer: Heroes:close call in a hotel fire Once there was a girl named Ruth, who loved to play outside whenever she could. One day, she was running around outside with a friend, but she tripped and scraped her knee very badly. She doubled over in pain, screaming for her father "DADDY!!!" she yelled, until he ran outside to help. "Thank goodness that only the skin on your knee was hurt!" he said, as he picked her up to bring her inside. "We need to cover your cut, and it looks like it was about to start raining anyway," he said. He brought her into the restroom, so he could wash the cut, then put on medicine and a large bandage. "That medicine hurt..." Ruth said, but her cut was feeling better than it did before. "Well, at least now you don't have to worry about it getting worse," her father said. "Hopefully it won't take long for your cut to get better, then you can go back to playing outside again - be careful from now on!" How did Ruth's father treat the cut? Answer: He cleaned it with medicine and put on a bandage. French doctors and American scientists have reported doing an operation in which the doctor was outside the operating room. This kind of operation is known as robotic operation. Doctor Marescaux did the operation in an office in New York City last month, while a sixty-eight-year-old woman patient was in a hospital in Strasbourg, France. A doctor in Strasbourg got the patient ready. He placed medical tools and a small video camera in her stomach area. Doctor Marescaux in New York watched the patient on a video screen. Then he used the computer to send messages to the robot machine. The robot moved the tools that cut the woman's gallbladder away. The woman got well soon after the operation and left the hospital two days later. Experts say the main problem with such a robotic operation is based on high-speed telecommunications between the doctor and the robot. Technology must be able to send a doctor's order to a robot to move the tools quickly. Experts also say a successful robotic operation will improve an operation. For example, the robot can make much smaller movements than a person can. A robot machine can turn tools in ways that a doctor's hand cannot. Doctors say such a robotic operation will make possible safer and better operations in the future. They say it will improve doctor training. It will also mean that doctors could do an operation on people in dangerous places far away. And it could mean that people could have operations done by top doctors without having to travel to the city where doctors work. If we want to use the robot in the operation, we must solve the problem of _ . Answer: high-speed telecommunications
Which best describes why winds at the beach change direction between day and night? A because the temperatures over land and over water change B because warm air over land sinks and stays in place over land C because cool air rises and is replaced by warm air from the ocean D because cool air sinks and stays in place over land Answer: A When we talk about superstitious beliefs , the beliefs associated with Friday the 13th , no doubt , deserve a special mention . In fact , such is the fear associated with this date that people just can't seem to stick to their daily routine on this day . The data from Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute suggests that somewhere around 17 to 21 million Americans are affected by the fear associated with this day , i.e. the combination of Friday and 13 . Even worse , the financial losses caused on this day amounts to as much as US$800 million every year . As we flipped through the pages of history , we realized that Friday the 13th bears the brunt of bad luck associated with number 13 , the unluckiest number , and Friday , the unluckiest day of the week . Number 13 has always been considered unlucky , mainly as a result of it being associated with various occurrences in mythology . While some associate it with the instance of Norse mythology , in which the god of joy and gladness - Balter , was killed in a dishonest manner by Loki - the god of discord and mischief , who was the 13th guest , others associate it with the Last Supper , in which the 13th guest was Judas , who betrayed Jesus to his enemies for 30 pieces of silver . Similarly , Friday has also been a sign of bad luck to many people , with incidents like Jesus being crucified on this unfaithful day , contributing to this belief . It is also widely believed that Cain killed Able on this very day of the week . The fear of Friday the 13th is known as friggatriskaidekaphobia and paraskevidekatriaphobia , the former combining the words frigga , meaning Friday , and triskaidekaphobia , meaning the phobia of number 13 . Over the period , the belief that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day has just become one of the most widely accepted superstitions , which consequently causes much blind panic and unreasonable fear in the world . What is the passage mainly about? A The psychology of superstition B The history of a common superstition C The origins of Friday the 13 th D Influences of Friday the 13 th Answer: C Einstein was born in 1879 in Germany. As a child, he was slow to learn to talk. As a pupil, he was backward. But when he was fourteen years old, he became clever. He taught himself maths from textbooks. He studied hard because he wanted to be a physicist. In 1901, Einstein began teaching. In 1902 he continued his studies at the University of Zurich. Several years later, he formulated his famous Theory of Relativity .To most people the law of relativity is difficult to explain. But once Einstein explained it very well to a group of young students. He said, "When you sit with a good girl for two hours, you think it is only a minute. But when you sit on a hot stove for a minute, you think it's two hours. That is relativity." After Hitler came into power in Germany, Einstein went to America. In 1940 Einstein became an American citizen. In 1955, Einstein's life ended at the age of seventy-six. Which of the following do you think is true? A The Germans owed their scientific progress to Einstein. B Einstein made a very great contribution to modern science. C Einstein owed a great deal to the modern world. D The Americans owed all their economic development to Einstein. Answer: B Our planet is home to about seven billion people. Since the 1990s, population experts have predicted the number would grow to nine billion before it begins to slow down and possibly decrease. But a new report predicts the world's population is likely to increase to almost 11 billion by 2100. Based on the most modern statistical tools, the new report makes use of government records and considers expert predictions, including death rates, birthrates and international migration, or people moving across borders. The report says during the rest of this century, Africa's population will grow from about 3.5 billion to 5.1 billion over the next 85 years John is director of the United Nations Population Division. He says that in the past, researchers thought population growth in Africa would be similar to that of other areas. They expected slower growth rates as birth control use became more widespread. But he says those ideas were wrong. "The level of contraception use has continued to increase but slowly -- more slowly than expected, and birthrate therefore has been falling less rapidly than expected, and the population therefore continues to grow somewhat more rapidly than we expected.The new findings are based on a joint research project of the United Nations and the University of Washington. The researchers believe the population of Asia will reach five billion by 2050. That is up from the current 4.4 billion. And then begin to decline. The researchers also believe that North America, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean area will have a total population of below one billion. John says the pressure of feeding the rising population is likely to be less than that might be expected. "The relatively good news is that the world has been winning the race between population growth and food production. If you look back historically over the last 50 years, certainly for the world as a whole and for many, most individual countries and regions, the increase in food production has outpaced the increase of population.\|\|" Why is the pressure of feeding the rising population less than expected according to John? A Expert predictions are not exactly like what the facts happen. B Birthrates have always been falling less rapidly than we expected. C The population grows less rapidly than population experts expected. D The increase in food production has outpaced the increase of population. Answer: D Dear mommy and daddy, I write this letter to you in hopes that you should consider your method of parenting me before I arrive. I am a joyous child. I expect love and respect, order and discipline. When I arrive, I will seem very small to you. Even though I don't look like an adult, please understand that I am a human being. Even though I will not speak words to you, I will know you with my heart. I will feel all your feelings, absorb your thoughts. I will come to know you more than you may know yourself. Do not be misled by my silence. I am open, growing and learning more rapidly than you can imagine. I will keep in heart all that I see, so please give me sweet music and language that tells me how much I am loved. Give me silence to rest my ears. I will absorb all that I feel, so please wrap life in love. I am waiting patiently to be with you. I am so happy to have the opportunity to be alive. Maybe when you see me you will remember how precious life is too! Your joyous child According to the text, we can infer the "child" is in fact _ . A a lovely boy B a joyous child C an unborn baby D a lovely girl Answer: C
Question: Some years ago on a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the lake behind his house. He ran out of the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was getting close. The mother in the house was looking out of the window and saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In great fear, she ran toward the water, shouting to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the little boy made a U--turn to swim to his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him. The mother caught her little boy by the arms just as the alligator pulled his legs. That began an unbelievable tug-of-war between _ . The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother did her best not to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard their screams, rushed from his truck and helped them. Luckily, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were seriously scarred by the terrible attack of the animal. And on his arms, were deep scars where his mother's fingernails dug into his arms in her effort to pull the son she loved. The newspaper reporter, who interviewed the boy, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted the legs. And then, he said to the reporter, "Look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my mum wouldn't let go." What's the best title of the passage? A. A Terrible Attack B. The Scars on the Legs C. The Scars of Love D. An Unforgettable Tug-of-war Answer: C. The Scars of Love Question: I've always felt a bit sad for weekend fathers, who are divorced and must maintain a bond with their children through visits on the weekend.Not having the opportunity for a lot of quality time, they go in for quantity giving lots of gifts and taking the children on non stop outings. But now I can understand.I'm a weekend mom.My child, Henry, is a dog. Henry just returned to his father, Jack, after a happy stay with me.For ten days, I fed him the best food, canceled plans to stay home with him and let him sleep on the bed every night. Jack and I broke up a year ago.But neither of us wanted to part with Henry, so we share him.Not surprisingly, Henry is a willing participant in our contest for his love. Jack doesn't let Henry sleep on his bed, so that's where I can always gain big points.I feed Henry higher quality food.I am always replacing his expensive "thingy" ,a cotton knot he likes chewing on.It' s his favorite toy, and the only one he has is at my house.Score another one for me. Jack now has a girlfriend, Lucy.At first she was afraid of dogs, which secretly delighted me.But that Henry, just trying to be polite(the way I taught him to be),won her over. If truth be told, as time passes, there has been a slight change in Henry' s behavior toward me.The worst was one day when Jack dropped him off for a two week stay.Henry and I were in the backyard playing as Jack was driving off.When he heard Jack's truck, he ran after it for two blocks until Jack had to stop and bring him back. That hurt, especially since I had friends over at the time.In a rare conciliatory mood, Jack said to me, "You know, I' m his best friend, but you'll always be his mom." Whatever it takes, I plan to make sure it stays that way. This article is mainly about _ . A. the tips on keeping dogs B. the writer' s happy life with a dog C. the writer' s efforts to win a dog's love D. the relationship between the writer and Jack Answer: C. the writer' s efforts to win a dog's love Question: The first newspapers were written by hand and put up on walls in public place. The earliest daily newspaper was started in Rome in 59 BC. In the 700's the world's first printed newspaper was published. Europe didn't have a regularly published newspaper until 1609, when one was started in Germany. The first regularly published newspaper in the English language was printed in Amsterdam in 1620. In 1621, an English newspaper was started in London and was published once a week. The first daily English newspaper was the Daily Courant . It came out in March 1702. In 1690, Benjamin Harris printed the first American newspaper in Boston. But not long after it was first published, the government stopped the paper. In 1704, John Campbell started The Boston Newsletter , the first newspaper published in the American colonies. By 1760, the colonies had more than thirty daily newspapers. There are now about 1,800 daily papers in the United States. Today, as a group, English language newspapers have the largest circulation in the world. But the largest circulation for a newspaper is that of the Japanese newspaper Asahi Dhimbun . It sells more than eleven million copies every day. The first printed newspaper in America came out in _ . A. Washington B. Boston C. New York D. New Orleans Answer: B. Boston Question: Connecting with Patients Dr. Paris often treats several generations of a family over many years. "He's seen us through two births, one operation, multiple earaches, a broken wrist and a recovery from a serious traffic crash," says Jill Farrow, a 43-year-old lawyer whose first visit to Dr. Paris was as a teenager. During the birth of her younger son, Farrow began bleeding badly. Dr. Paris managed to solve the problem in a delicate procedure. "Twenty years ago, she probably would have died," he says. Today, when he performs school sports physical examinations for the Farrow boys, 10 and 11, he is always reminded that lives are changed forever by doctors just doing their jobs. To be a mix of country doc and somewhat adventurer, the 55-year-old family physician moved to Hailey after completing his residency . He hoped to practice medicine there and ski at nearby Sun Valley. Unfortunately, the only job opening was for an emergency-room doctor in Missoula, Montana, 300 miles away. Dr. Paris took it. "I'd ski all day and then drive all night to be in Missoula for a 48-hour shift," he recalls. "I'm lucky to be alive." Knowing he couldn't keep up with his eight-hour commute , he began taking flying lessons. In 1981, Dr. Paris joined a small medical practice in Hailey, a former mining town with a population at the time of 2,109. As Hailey grew in the shadow of Sun Valley's booming popularity, Dr. Paris's own practice expanded to seven physicians, including his wife, Kathryn Woods, who is also a family doctor. They met in 1986 at a certification exam in Denver when, in a room full of men in stodgy suits, Woods arrived wearing a Lycra biking outfit and carrying the front wheel of her bicycle (which she couldn't lock up outside). Dr. Paris asked her out on the spot. In 1989, they married. Dr. Paris often reminds himself that _ . A. lives of people should not always stay the same B. people can rely on themselves to change their life C. doctors should change their own life D. it is the duty of a doctor to heal the patients Answer: D. it is the duty of a doctor to heal the patients Question: The playwright George Bernard Shaw once said humorously, "England and America are two nations divided by a common language. If he were writing today, he might add 'divided by a common technology--- e-mail'". Two completely different styles of e-mail have formed on either side of the Atlantic-Euromail and Amerimail. Americail is informal and chatty. It's likely to begin with a "Hi" and end with a "Bye". The chances of Amerimail containing a smiley face or an "xoxo" are disturbingly high. We Americans are unwilling to dive into the meat of an e-mail. We feel we have to first inform recipients about our vacation on the island which was really excellent except the jellyfish were biting and the kids caught a cold, so we had to skip the whale watching trip, then about that investors ' meeting in New York. Amerimail is a bundle of contradictions, casual and yet direct, respectful yet over proud. In other words, Amerimail is America. Euromail is stiff and cold often beginning with a formal "Dear Mr. X" and ending with a simple "Sincerely". You won't find any mention of kids or the weather or jellyfish in Euromail. It's all business. It's also slow. Your correspondent might take days even weeks to answer a message. Euromail is exactly like the Europeans themselves. Recently about 100 managers were asked on both sides of the Atlantic whether they noticed differences in e-mail styles. Most said yes. Here are a few of their observations: "Americans tend to write (e-mail) exactly as they speak." "Why don't you just call me instead of writing five e-mails back and forth?" "Europeans are less interested in checking e-mail". "In general, Americans are much more responsive to e-mail--they respond faster and provide more information." So which is better, Euromail or Amerimail? I realized it's not popular these days to suggest we have anything to learn from Europeans, but I'm fed up with an inbox filled with casual, barely meaningful e-mails from friends and colleagues. If the alternative is a few earnestly written, carefully worded bits of Euromail, then I say, "Bring it on." Which of the following is most likely to be the "meat" of an Amerimail? A. The jellyfish were biting. B. We had an excellent vacation on the island. C. We were to attend the investors' meeting in New York. D. We had to skip the whale watching trip. Answer: C. We were to attend the investors' meeting in New York.
It happened to me recently that I was telling someone how much I had enjoyed reading Barack Obama'sDreamsfromMyFatherand how it had changed my views of the current US president.The person I was talking to agreed with me that it was,in his words,"a wonderfully written book". However,he then _ to talk about Mr Obama in a way that suggested he had no idea of his background at all.I sensed that I was talking to a book liar. And it seems that he is not the only one.Clearly two thirds of people have lied about reading a book which they haven't.In the World Book Day survey,DreamsfromMyFatheris at number 9.The survey lists top ten books,and various authors,which people have lied about reading.As I'm not one to lie too often,I'll admit here and now that I haven't read the entire ten books.But I am pleased to say that I have read the book at number one,GeorgeOrwell's1984.I think it's absolutely outstanding. Asked why they lied,the most common reason was to impress someone they were speaking to.This could be difficult if the conversation became more indepth! The World Book Day survey also has some other interesting information in it.It shows that many people lie about having read classical works by Jane Austen,the Bronte sisters,Charles Dickens and so on.But when asked which authors they actually enjoy,they named J.K.Rowling,Jilly Cooper,and Stephen King (ah,the big sellers,in other words).Fortyone percent of people asked admitted they turned to the back of the book to read the end before finishing the story. So which books have you lied about reading--if any--and which is your favourite? What does the World Book Day survey show? A. Nearly half of the people surveyed didn't read through a whole classical book. B. People don't like DreamsfromMyFatherandGeorgeOrwell's1984. C. Few people lie about having read classical works by Jane Austen. D. People usually enjoy reading books by Charles Dickens. Answer: A If you are in a town in a western country, you'll often see people walking with their dogs. It is still true that a dog is the most useful animal in the world. But the reason why one keeps a dog has changed Once upon a time, a man met a dog and wanted it to help him in the fight against other animals, and he found that the dog listened to him and did what he told him to. Later people used dogs for hunting other animals, and the dogs didn't eat what they got until their master agreed. So dogs were used for driving sheep and guarding chicks. But now the people in the towns and cities do not need dogs to fight other animals. Of course they keep them to frighten thieves, but the most important reason is that people feel lonely in the city. For a child, a dog is his best friend when he has no friends to play with. For a young wife, a dog is her child when she doesn't have her own. For old people, a dog is also a child when their real children have grown up and left. Now people do not have to use a dog, but they keep it as a friend, just like a member of the family. A dog can be _ . A. a child's friend only B. a young woman's son C. old people's real child D. everybody's friend Answer: D Werewolves aren't the only creatures affected by the moon's cycles. A full moon slightly affects people's sleep, reports a Swiss team of scientists. Even people's sleep in a lab without windows experienced a small shortfall in sleep once a month. To test the moon's effect, 33 adult volunteers of both sexes and various ages spent several nights in a sleep lab. As they slept, researchers recorded their brain activity, eye movements and hormone levels. On nights closer to a full moon, the subjects took an average of five minutes longer to fall asleep, and slept for 20 minutes less. In addition, brain activity decreased by 30 percent during the sleep stage that the brain normally uses to recover from its daylight work. And levels of hormone that help control sleep cycles dropped. On these nights, the sleepers complained of poor sleep quality even though they were unaware of the moon's cycle. On the bright side, not a single participant turned into a werewolf. The Swiss team doesn't know how the moon affects sleep. The gravity of the moon causes ocean tides to rise and fall. But that force is too weak to affect sleep, Gajochen says. He believed some body's biological clock may be tied to the moon cycles. There may be another explanation, says David Dinges. This sleep researcher at the University Of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia says that the body clock is very sensitive to light at night. Volunteer's sleep could have been affected by exposure to extra moonlight before arriving at the lab. The passage is mainly about _ . A. the sleeping problems caused by the moon's cycles B. the influence of the moon on human sleeping habits C. the moon's effect on sleeping and its possible reasons D. the ways to improve sleep quality on a full moon night Answer: C Recently I came in contact with the true meaning of love. That would have been, Kane, a boy. Kane was the two-year-old son of Jolene, my new neighbor. At a glance Kane was a sight. He'd been born with hard sticks for legs. And on that morning I witnessed the effect that Kane's physical shortcomings had on his family. But I also witnessed much more than that. I saw an extraordinary family that embraced this special child. A family that wouldn't allow Kane to know he was different. Jolene had constructed a small cart just a few inches off the floor for his son to get around. Using his hands to move about, Kane moved the cart to "go to" any place just as everyone else was able to do. Kane worked that little cart like a master. Kane was a vital focus of the entire family. He was more than just a member of the family; he was the soul. This child was the driver, the motivator, and the founder of much of the interaction. Much later in my life, I came to realize that God had sent this child to help some of us who just weren't getting what love was all about. Even with my limited capacity for understanding at the time that Kane was a highly developed spirit with great wisdom. Kane demanded attention, but not because of his mobility challenges or other apparent shortcomings. In his mind, he had no challenges or shortcomings. The truth is that he received attention because he was alive and real and had so much to offer. Kane was and still is a lot of warm and powerful energy sent to us all, so we might learn that love surpasses all things. Kane, a fragile yet lovely baby, was here to teach us all an important lesson. And at the age of two he did just that. According to the author, God made Kane with disability to help _ . A. his parents get to know their responsibility B. his family members know the importance of union C. people especially the healthy realize what love really means D. people especially the disabled realize their inner power Answer: C To many basketball fans in Taiwan, the William Jones Cup or the Basketball Association may be their sweetest memory. But if you ask them, "What's the hottest basketball event now?" There is the only answer: HBL, the High School Basketball League. Founded in 1988, the HBLwas at first just a high school basketball tournament. After the Taipei School Sport Federation took charge in 1996 and renamed it HBL, everything changed. The Federation decided to co-operated with Nike, the well-known sportswear manufacturer, and use its experience in marketing to promote the game. The HBL started with 129 teams; today there are more than 250. no longer just of interest to the players, it's now Taiwan's biggest basketball event. Fellow students, alumni (,), and sports fans all over Taiwan cheer for their favorite teams. At last year's finals, Taipei and Kaohsiung mayors came to cheer for their teams. The HBL starts in September with qualifying and preliminary(,) rounds and continues through April of the following year, when the finals are held. Broadcasting the games on television has helped make the HBL a wildly popular event. It's become the place to spot young basketball talent. Today's HBL players are tomorrow's professionals. Recent HBL tournaments have been very competitive, with no one school taking the advantage. This wide-open quality of the tournament makes it more exciting. Everyone wants to see how this year's games will come out. HBL fever just keeps getting hotter. What was it that helped to make the High School Basketball League wildly popular to the public? A. The co-operation with Nike, the well-known sportswear manufacturer. B. Broadcasting the games on television. C. Taipei and Kaohsiung mayors' coming to cheer for their teams at last year's finals. D. Many tomorrow's professionals' joining. Answer: B
Question: WASHINGTON--Tofu and Soyaburgers may be coming to American school lunch menus.What will the kids say? "Terrible," said Greg Dudzinski,17,of Ripon High School in Wisconsin,as he toured the US capital. "The regular hamburgers are bad enough,so soyaburgers would be a lot worse," offered Zach Richey,13,of Scottsboro Junior High in Alabama,another tourist. But the United States government--hoping to reduce the amount of fat that children are eating--has approved the use of soy as a meat substitute in meals for schools and day-care centers. Not all kids dislike the change Mariel Spano,17,of Sandy Creek High School in New York,also visiting the capital,said she likes soyaburgers:"There's less fat,and they're better for you.They taste the same,and they're just as good." The government tried to make soy a meat substitute nearly 20 years ago-but later dropped the idea.At the time,the plan was intended as a cost-cutting move .US Agriculture Department officials say their purpose now is only to make meals healthier. Schools are likely to increase the amount of soy that is mixed with hamburgers and other foods already on their menus,and they will also be looking to food companies to develop new soy products that children will like "I can't see putting tofu on a student's plate as being acceptable.I can see taking a product that's familiar to the students and adding a large amount of soy to it and having it be acceptable," said Jill Benza,director of food services for the Mesa,Arizona schools. What Jill Benza said shows that_. A. students are not used to soy products B. it is hardly possible to make soy products popular C. she does not like the change in meals for students D. schools are unwilling to change the lunch menus Answer: A Question: Wonder is the story of a ten-year-old boy who lives with his parents and sister in New York. August, or Auggie, is an ordinary boy in many ways. He rides a bike and likes playing with his Xbox. But Auggie has deformities of the face and looks very different from other children. At the start of the book, he tells us "My name is August. I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse." In the street, people look at Auggie and his appearance shocks them. Auggie has never been to school because he has spent a lot of time in hospital. His mother teaches him at home. But now he's ten, she thinks he should go to school. At first, Auggie doesn't want to go. He worries that other students will look at him and say bad things. But then he visits a school with his mum. He likes the head teacher and decides to go. Auggie's first year at school has good times and bad times. Auggie makes some good friends but other children are unfriendly to him. At the end of the year, Auggie goes on a school trip and a frightening event there changes things completely. Which of the following is WRONG ? A. Auggie is a boy in New York. B. Auggie likes the head teacher. C. Auggie is a handsome boy. D. Auggie's first year at school has good times and bad times. Answer: C Question: ?Allen! 5/7 Monday I'm busy this week. The following Sunday is Mother's Day and there are many activities at school. One of them is PTA Day. It's on Friday. Mum and Dad are both coming. I'm a little nervous . What will Mr. Chang tell them? 5/8 Tuesday Mr. Wu is our new music teacher. He teaches us Mother, a beautiful song about our love for mothers. 5/9 Wednesday We practice Mother today. This is the special present for our parents on Friday. 5/10 Thursday It takes us two hours to decorate our classroom for PTA Day. I'm tired. Mum is nervous. It's the first time for her to meet our teachers. She is always nervous about talking to teachers from her childhood . That's funny. What is the special present for our parents on Friday? A. A beautiful song about our love for mothers. B. To decorate our classroom. C. To meet our teachers. D. To dance. Answer: A Question: When I was young I wanted to be a model,so when a national contest was staged,I convinced my parents to take me for an audition .I was selected and told I had potential.They said that for only $900 I could attend a weekend event which dozens of the most prestigious modeling agencies from around the world would attend.At 13,my hopes of fame and fortune clouded all judgement and I begged my parents to let me go.We have never been rich,but they saw my enthusiasm and agreed. I imagined being signed by some famous model companies.For months,any boredom or disappointment I faced was pushed aside because I knew I would soon have the chance to be real model.I thought I would grace the covers of famous magazines! Of course,I wasn't signed,but what hurt the most was being told that if I grew to 5'9''(about 1.75 metres) I could be a success.I prayed for a growth spurt because I could not imagine giving up my dream.I made an appointment with a local modeling agency and the agent demanded $500 for classes.$500 for a photo shoot,and $300 for other expenses.My parents only agreed after hours and hours of my begging. The agency sent me out on a few auditions,but with every day I didn't receive a call,I grew more depressed. _ came in July after I had decided to focus on commercial modeling.There was an open call in New York City.We spent hours driving and another few hours waiting,only to be told that I was too short.I was devastated . Years later,I realized that the trip to New York was good as it made me notice I didn't actually love modeling,just the idea of it.I wanted to be special and I was innocently determined to reach an impossible goal.The experience has made me stronger and that will help me in the future. What did the author learn from her experience of struggling to be a model? A. Where there's a will there's way. B. Being a model is not that easy. C. We should have our own judgement and should not just follow others. D. We might set unpractical goals but the experience can help us grow. Answer: D Question: Yucai Middle School will have a School Day on Friday.Students don't need to have any classes.Instead,they are going to do a lot of things for fun.Here is a poster for it. The most wonderful game of the year Meet our school basketball stars Basketball Court 3:00 p.m.-- 5:00 p.m. Tel:375 -- 7682 Water Sports It's really cool! Xingsha Beach The whole afternoon Tel:375 -- 7442 Talent Show Are you good at singing,dancing,acting or playing the guitar? Come and show yourself! Music Hall 7:00 p.m.-- 9:00 p.m. Tel:375 -- 9876 Chess is fun! Different kinds of chess Who will win at last? Chess Club 8:00 a.m.-- 10:30 a.m.1:00 p.m.-- 3:30 p.m. Tel:375 -- 7465 For further information,please call the school office.Just do it! Enjoy yourself! If you are good at singing and dancing,you should call at _ . A. 375-7682 B. 375-7442 C. 375-9876 D. 375-7465 Answer: C
Mrs. Brown lived in a small town near a big farm. One Friday afternoon, after she finished doing housework, she went to her small shop. She opened the window of the shop and looked outside. She liked to see the green farm. There were many cows, horses, and small animals on the farm. Suddenly she saw a kangaroo under her window. It was interesting to see that the kangaroo was wearing an old jacket. It stood there and looked hungry. Mrs. Brown gave some bread and waterto it. The kangaroo had them all. Then it became happy and jumped away. Suddenly something dropped on the ground there was $300 and a photo in it. That was a man's photo with his name "John" on it. John? She looked more carefully and remembered she had a brother many years ago. His name was also John. "Is this man my lost brother?" She thought. She took the wallet with her and began to look for the man. She asked many people in the town, and then she came to the farm and asked the farmer. To her great surprise, it was John, her lost brother. They were very excited and happy to see each other. Why did Mrs. Brown lose her brother many years ago? A His parents didn't want him. B We don't know. C He went out to work and didn't know the way home. D His parents didn't have money. So he didn't want them. Answer: B. We don't know. "We're leaving you a great gift,"Papa once told us, " _ !"We thought this was another one of Papa's jokes.But Papa and Mama knew the true value of that gift.We children didn't -until much later.What great gift did our parents leave us? They left us the oil lamp On winter nights,I felt my way through the dark kitchen to get a drink of water for Papa.I was so afraid of the darkness that I never took the time to light the oil lamp or even to drink before I filled his glass.I always sipped from the glass on my way back to him, "Don't drink it all before you get here Miss,"Papa would call. They left us the milking Today I buy milk in bottles,pure and cold.But as a girl I had to milk the cows each day.Then after the milking I had to wash the milk pails and pans.I couldn't use soap,because the water had to be fed to the pigs.The same was true of the dishwater.Soap in the water would have made the pigs sick.But even without soap,the dishes must shine,Mama said.So we had to make them shine! Now we have the blessed telephone and the automobile.There's no barn to clean out,no hitching of horses.There is the warming magic of the furnace .There are the electric lights,with no oil lamp to clean.There are the vegetables that come in neat clear bags.If I want an apple pie,I don't have to climb a tree first. And there is always water!It comes from shiny taps. Now I know what Papa meant when he said, "We're leaving you a great gift.It's a great gift--the gift of going without.It makes you rich for all the days of your life!" According to this passage, "the gift of going without"means _ . A to live with poor living conditions B to work hard C to be satisfied with something that one already has D to develop continually Answer: C. to be satisfied with something that one already has 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. According to the text, the tree _ A is more than 90 years old B has survived two storms in its life C will fall down after the author's father's death D is the only large tree in the neighborhood Answer: A. is more than 90 years old What are made of nerve cells? A bones B sensory system C nervous breakdowns D food Answer: B. sensory system Part of the fun of watching sports events is following an exciting rivalry . But where do all these rivalries come from? Some rivalries start because athletes spend a lot of time close to opponents . Other rivalries get personal. Things that one rival says that are thought to be not respectful to the other can cause a rivalry, even if the words are misunderstood. And sometimes, rivalries grow just because the athletes don't like each other's personalities. Some sports may also be more likely than others to cause rivalries. "Some sports only meet a few times, so there is less chance for rivalries to build," For example, in sports where athletes perform on their own, such as diving, rivalries might also take longer to appear than in sports in which athletes compete at the same time. But in tennis, players often face each other, and rivalries are more likely to happen. So do the rivalries do good or harm to the athletes? Some believe that rivalries can be a good thing because they encourage athletes to try harder to win. But rivalries can also become too personal, taking athletes' attention away from their sports. Keegan agreed that rivalries often do athletes more harm than good. "They can be a huge distraction and lead to focusing on the opponent more than the game," he said. "Top athletes often have physical and mental training that they follow in order to worry less and prepare to compete", Gould further explained. An important part of that preparation is preventing from distractions, including rivalries. "The better athletes don't care too much about a rivalry - they try to treat every competition the same," Gould told LiveScience. Why does Keegan think rivalries could do more harm than good to athletes? A Rivalries could result in physical and mental suffering. B Rivalries could cause athletes to worry needlessly. C Rivalries could drive athletes to train too hard. D Rivalries could distract athletes from their sports. Answer: D. Rivalries could distract athletes from their sports.
One sixth of undergraduates in Beijing this year have registered at a driving school . The students , mostly from majors such as business management or international trade , will finish there driving courses within 20 days or so .Training costs have dropped to ,2,600yuan for students , according to the Haidian Driving School in Beijing . The price is not really low , but students will accept it , seeing it as an investment in their future . Familiarity with the operation of computers and fluent English are the basic skills graduating students need to find a job . But a driver's permit has become another factor. "In the job market , owning a driver's permit sometimes strengthens a graduating student's competitiveness for a good position ," says Zhou Yang , an undergraduate at the China University of Political Science and Law . Cars will become a necessary part of many people's lives in the coming years , and it's difficult to get a permit out of campus because of the pressures on working people's time . "Having a full-time job after graduation offers limited time to learn to drive . We senior students have plenty of spare time , plenty of opportunities to learn." Xu Jian , an official at the driving school, said undergraduates were very able and serious , and could grasp in an hour what it took ordinary people four hours to learn . In this driving school, middle-aged people , young women and college students are the main customers . To get a driver's permit , a beginner is now required to have at least 86 hours' practice before the final road test . Which of the following would be the best title of this passage ? Answer: Students Learn to Drive In 1901, H.G. Wells, an English writer, wrote a book describing a trip to the moon. When the explorers landed on the moon, they discovered that the moon was full of underground cities. They expressed their surprise to the "moon people" they met. In turn, the "moon people" expressed their surprise. "Why," they asked, "are you traveling to outer space when you don't even use your inner space?" H.G. Wells could only imagine travel to the moon. In 1969, human beings really did land on the moon. People today know that there are no underground cities on the moon. However, the question that the "moon people" asked is still an interesting one. A growing number of scientists are seriously thinking about it. Underground systems are already in place. Many cities have underground car parks. In some cities, such as Tokyo, Seoul and Montreal, there are large underground shopping areas. The "Chunnel", a tunnel connecting England and France, is now complete. But what about underground cities? Japan's Taisei Corporation is designing a network of underground systems, called "Alice Cities." The designers imagine using surface space for public parks and using underground space for flats, offices, shopping, and so on. A solar dome would cover the whole city. Supporters of underground development say that building down rather than building up is a good way to use the earth's space. The surface, they say, can be used for farms, parks, gardens, and wilderness. H.G. Wells' "moon people" would agree. Would you? The explorers in H. G. Wells' story were surprised to find that the "moon people" _ . Answer: lived in so many underground cities Of all the animals in the animal kingdom, which one (aside from man) is the cleverest? There are several ways of measuring the intelligence of animals. In one test a scientist sets three same cans on a table. While the animal watches, he puts food under one of the cans. Then he leads the animal away. Some time later, he brings it back to see if it remembers which can has the food. No smelling is allowed; the animal must go directly to the correct can or it fails. This is called a delayed-response test. The idea is to find out how long an animal's memory can keep information. The scientists would try showing the cans to the animal one hour later, or two hours later, or even a full day later. They discovered that chimpanzees and elephants have the best memory, and were able to remember the correct can for at least twenty hours. No other animal is close. Dogs came next, but they only remember for nine hours. To settle the matter, the scientists designed a huge maze and ran the chimps and elephants through it. The maze was very difficult, with many blind paths and dead ends. It took the chimps ten minutes to find their way out. The elephants needed half an hour. Even allowing for the elephants' slower rate of speed, the test shows that chimpanzees are the cleverest animals. From this and other tests, the scientists drew the following conclusion: an animal's intelligence depends on the size of its brain in proportion to the size of its body. The elephant's brain weighs ten pounds. But this is only 1/600th of its 6,000 pounds body. A chimp's brain weighs about one pound, or 1/120th of its total body weight. So in proportion to its body size, the chimp has four times as much brain as the elephant----more brain for less body. The chimp is the champ! Which is the best title? Answer: The Cleverest Animal Which object refracts light? Answer: glass prism Nowadays many people have to work very hard in order to live a better life. And the hard they work, the less they pay attention to their health. But it's very important for us to keep healthy in our everyday life. Here are some ways for you to follow. First, you should have a healthy diet. It's necessary to eat enough fish and vegetables, as they contain many kinds of vitamin you need every day. Do not eat too much fat, such as butter or anything too fatty. Too many sweets can do harm to your teeth, so you'd better not eat too many sweets or chocolates and keep off coffee. Second, good habits can help you keep fit. Doing regular exercise is certainly a good way to ensure that your body is healthy. After a day's work, an eight-hour sleep is needed. And avoid working or studying too hard. According to the passage, the reason why many people have to work hard nowadays is that they want to _ . Answer: live a better life
Which type of water reservoir contains the largest volume of fresh water? A. lakes B. rivers C. ice sheets D. aquifers Answer: C. ice sheets One evening last summer, when I asked my 14-year-old son, Ray, for help with dinner, his response shocked me. "What's a colander ? " he asked. I could only blame myself. In the family, nobody else's hands went in the sauce except my own. But that night, as I explained with a touch of panic that a colander is the thing with holes in it, I wondered what else I hadn't prepared Ray for. As parents, while we focus on our sons' confidence and character, we perhaps don't always consider that we are also raising someone's future roommates, boyfriends, husbands, or fathers. I wanted to know that I'd raised a boy who would never ask the woman in his life, "What's for dinner?" So I came up with a plan: I would offer Ray a private home economics course. I was delighted to find that he didn't say no. For two hours, three days a week, Ray was all mine. One day, as his tomato sauce reduced on the stove, he washed and seasoned a chicken for roasting. Then he rolled out the piecrust and filled it with apples, all while listening to my explanation on the importance of preheating an oven. I knew that he would rather have been shooting hoops in the driveway than learning to mend socks with his mother--he tried to beg off sewing lessons, even though I insisted that one day, someone would find the sight of him fixing his own shirt very attractive-- but it couldn't be denied that he was learning, and more than just housekeeping. "I appreciate what you do as a mom," he told me one day. Ray now understands the finer points of cooking, and more importantly, he realizes there's nothing masculine about being helpless. Now, not only can he make his own dinner, but also he can make a big meal for his family. That's what I call a man. I'm glad that I prepared so great a present for my future daughter-in-law. In the author's opinion, some parents pay little attention to _ . A. building up children's confidence B. telling kids what is right and wrong C. preparing children for their future life D. making children live a hard life Answer: C. preparing children for their future life When water vapor rises and cools, the liquid water in the air comes together forming A. wind. B. clouds. C. lightning. D. tornadoes. Answer: B. clouds. Why does the rate of heart attacks increase during the World Cup football finals? How can we help an overweight patient to lose weight? They're just some of the topics covered in a new book by University of Sussex academics, which is helping student doctors to consider the importance of psychology in medical practice. Psychology for Medicineis the first textbook of its kind, providing medical trainees and new doctors with all the relevant psychological knowledge they need. Previously, students had to refer to many different books for the relevant psychology. The book, by Sussex psychologists Dr. Sussex Ayers and Dr. Richard de Visser, has been well received by fellow academics and medical doctors and was finished with the help of the students and staff of the Brighton and Sussex Medical School. The studentsproofread the chapters, provided ideas for the content and even modeled for the photographs. The book provides a solid grounding in psychological study relevant to medicine, along with practical tips and advice for practice. One student, Simon Hall, drew cartoons for the book. The study psychology is important for doctors for a number of reasons. Psychological and physical symptoms are highly related. Up to a third of patients will have psychological disorders, while physical causes are usually only found in around 15 per cent of people's symptoms. In treatment, a lot of the effect drugs can be due to patients believing they will recover rather than the drug itself. Dr. Ayers says, "The important thing about this book is that it's applied science --- it shows why psychology is important to medicine and how we should use it. The book's presentation is really important. It's not just lots of theory, but full of tips and advice so that students can take what they learn in the classroom and apply it to real-life situations." The bookPsychology for Medicine is mainly written for _ . A. scientists B. overweight people C. patients D. student doctors Answer: D. student doctors "How call I obtain more drugs?" I cried."I can't live without the help of drugs!''.You see,I was only 14 years of age when someone said to me,"Here,smoke this! It will make you feel good." So that is how my habit of d rug-taking began. Soon I felt I could not live without more and more drugs.So I found I needed more and more money to buy drugs.So I began to steal things from my family and from shops.Then in the street I pointed my gun at people,saying, "Give me your money,or I will shoot you!" I lost all my friends.My family also said,"Get out of this house and never return here!" I then realized the truth-drugs were killing me."Unless someone told me how to escape from the desire for drugs,I will soon be dead," I said . Then one day,I read in a paper, "We help drug-takers!'' I decided,"I will go and see what these people think they can do for me."So I stayed at their meeting place for seven months.But they failed.They did not take the desire for drugs from me. Then one day,I read something in the magazine called "La Paloma".I read how people said,"We could not escape from the desire for drugs.But now we have freedom.God gave us power to escape this desire.God gives us the power of the spirit when we believe what Jesus Christ obtained for us by dying for us."SO I decided,"I will go to this Betel meeting place as reported in 'La Paloma'.I will see if they can help me.'' Now I found these Betel people never left me alone.Yes,someone was always there with me day and night.Then one day I cried out to God,"God,please help me!" I know God heard my cry.I found I now had power to escape the desire for drugs. At last I am free from the desire for drugs.I have found real peace of mind.I now enjoy life and help other people to overcome their d rug problem. The author realized that drugs were really killing him when he A. took drugs for the first time B. began to point his gun at other people C. had no money to pay for drugs D. was deserted by all his friends and his family Answer: D. was deserted by all his friends and his family
The dam was put under much more stress after the A drought B huge rain storm C breakup. D party Answer: B. huge rain storm Many people write to newspaper and magazines to express their opinions. Letters to the editor must carry the writer's full name, address and telephone number, although the information is not necessary for publication. This requirement to provide personal particulars is a clear indication that writers are held responsible for what they say. When a writer wants his voice heard, he needs to claim ownership of his voice. Responsibility is the name of the game. "People today prefer living together to putting their signatures on a marriage certificate because they refuse to accept responsibility for the relationship," said social worker Ken Yip, "and this is what is causing a lot of family problems." When we sign a paper, for example, a business contract or a bank document, the signature is a seal of consent, an agreement to take the matter seriously. Most governments and many organizations will not process written complaints if they do not bear the writer's signature. The absence of a signature, they explain, tells us that the writer cannot be too serious and therefore does not deserve a reply. There are people who wish to remain anonymous for various reasons. Multi-billionaire Mr. King donates generously to charity several times a year. He gives simply because he wants to help but not for the publicity his donations may bring, and he does not want his good deeds to make news. In other cases, people insist on anonymity because they are afraid of the consequences of revealing their identity. Crime witnesses may be willing to assist the police, but most are unwilling to give their names when reporting a crime. Name or no name? The answer is very personal and lies in how much we want to get involved. We all have a name. It is a matter if responsibility to use it when we make a statement, a claim or an accusation. We all want to honor our own name, and it is only by stamping our expression of an opinion with our own name that we honor what we say. Some people don't want their names known because they are _ . A hesitant to make a donation B unwilling to draw public attention C afraid of an accusation D ready for involvement Answer: B. unwilling to draw public attention Aggie Bonfire was a long-standing tradition at Texas A&M University as part of the college rivalry with the University of Texas at Austin. For 90 years, Texas A&M students--known as Aggies--built and burned a bonfire on campus each autumn. Known to the Aggie community simply as "Bonfire", the annual autumn event symbolized Aggie students' "burning desires". The bonfire was traditionally lit around Thanksgiving in connection with festivities surrounding the annual college football game. Although early Bonfires were little more than piles of trash, as time passed, the annual event became more organized. Over the years the bonfire grew bigger, setting the world record in 1969. Bonfire remained a university tradition for decades until, in 1999, a collapse during construction killed twelve people--eleven students and one former student--and injured twenty-seven others. The accident led Texas A&M to declare a pause on an official Bonfire. However, in 2002, a student-sponsored-and-off-campus "Student Bonfire" came up. In 2003, the event became known as Student Bonfire. In a design approved by a professional engineer, Student Bonfire uses a wedding cake design, but, in a departure from tradition, every log in the stack touches the ground. For added support, four 24 feet poles are spaced evenly around the stack and then bolted to the 45 feet center pole with a steel pipe. Since the group does not receive funding, Student Bonfire charges a fee to each attendee to cover expenses. Attendance for Student Bonfire ranges from 8,000-15,000 people and the event is held in Brazos County or one of the surrounding counties. Which of the following might serve as the best title of the whole passage? A From Aggie Bonfire to Student Bonfire. B A brief history of American Bonfire. C Why not join Bonfire? D Bonfire in Texas of the United States. Answer: A. From Aggie Bonfire to Student Bonfire. A puddle after a rain will eventually A leave to town B jump for joy C recede from warmth D burn with acid Answer: C. recede from warmth Nancy was new to America. She had an 8-year-old son. They found a house in New York. They were there for only two months when a neighbor's dog jumped into their yard. The dog ran toward Nancy's son. Nancy put her body in between the dog and her son. The dog stopped when it saw Nancy standing in front of it. She was going to hit it on the nose. The dog turned around. Shaking, Nancy took her son upstairs. They stayed in the house all the weekend. Then Nancy found another house. It was close to her son's school. She and her son walked everywhere. They found there was a park and a supermarket near the house. Nancy was very happy. Her son Tommy liked playing badminton, and he could practice in the park every morning. Where was the second house? A It was close to Tommy's school. B It was near the first house. C It was next to the supermarket. D It was in the south of New York. Answer: A. It was close to Tommy's school.
Life is full of change, and this leads to growth. Change is what keeps our lives moving, and allows us to achieve what we desire and deserve. Like it or not, we need to be willing to go with the flow, and be adaptable when something doesn't go according to plan. A catalyst is a person that causes something else to happen, and if you're not currently a catalyst for change, here are some things you can do to become one. Take a look at what you've got going on in your life right now. Write down everything that comes to mind. Is there anything that jumps out at you that you're not content with? Is there something that isn't moving forward as quickly as you would like it to? Identifying what you want to change is the first step to getting somewhere with it. Take the initiative to make change happen. Once you have identified what you want to work on changing, write down several possible "next steps" you can take to realizing that change. Whatever it is you want to change, you won't get very far without having specific actions in mind to carry out. Start small, and then focus on items that are a bit more involved or difficult and just keep going! When carrying out a change, it's great if you're able to _ , particularly if they can help you implement that change in some way. Be receptive to feedback, but realize that others' opinions are not golden. Also remember to give feedback when asked for it. Be sure it's genuine and that you are able to stand behind it. Create an environment for change. There is nothing more discouraging than trying to create change in an environment that is not conducive to it. It's like trying to stick to a diet in a house that is filled with chips, cookies, ice cream and chocolate; you are just making it more difficult for yourself. Change is good, and often leads to process improvement, increased productivity and efficiency. Take the initiative, and make changes to your life to get to where you want to go faster than you are going right now. Which would be the best title for the text? Answer: How to be a catalyst for change. Our Community One Tuesday evening in the beginning of the fall 1996 semester at Shippensburg University, sirens sounded. These sirens were not in celebration; they were a cry to the university that something was wrong. A house, only one block away, was on fire. Nine of the university's students lived there. From the minute the word got out that help was needed, it seemed like everyone showed up. The victims of the fire were offered endless invitations for housing for the night. The very next day, everyone got into gear to do their part in helping them. Flyers were posted with items that were immediately needed, just to get these students through this next couple of days. Boxes for donations and money jars were placed in every residence hall . As a residence director, I went before the students in my hall to ask them to do what they could. I knew that college students don't have much, but I asked them to do their best: "Every little bit will help." I really didn't think they could do much. I was proved wrong. At the hall council meeting the night after the fire, my residents decided to have a wing competition, where each wing of the building would team up to see who could bring in the most donations. I announced that the wing who won would receive a free pizza party. Thursday evening we announced over the PA system that we were beginning the wing competition. Within minutes, the place exploded. The single large box that I had placed in the lobby was overflowing. We quickly grabbed more boxes, and we watched as they, too, filled to the brim(;). Members of the resident assistant staff and I began to count the items. I was astonished by what I saw, and I was inspired by these kids. When we came to the final tally , the winners turned to me and announced that they would like to donate their winnings as well. They wanted the victims of the fire to have their pizza party. Tears welled up in my eyes. I had watched these students jump to action, work tirelessly and donate all that they could. And then, as if that were not enough, they handed over their reward. I was touched and so very proud of them. At first, the residence director thought _ . Answer: the college students would donate something, but not much Steven Spielberg was not a scholar, and his classmates teased him. Rather than read, the kid really preferred running around with an 8mm camera, shooting homemade movies, which he showed to friends for a small fee. In his first year of high school, he dropped out. But when his parents persuaded him to return, he was mistakenly placed in a learningdisabled class, which lasted one month. Only when the family moved to another town did he land up in a more suitable high school, where he eventually graduated. After being denied entrance into a traditional filmmaking school, Steven Spielherg enrolled in English at California State University at Long Beach. Then in 1965, he recalls, in one of those serendipitous moments, his life took a complete turn. Visiting Universal Studios, he met Chuck Silvers, an executive in the editorial department. Silvers liked the kid who made 8mm films and invited him back sometime to visit. He appeared the next day. Spielberg, dressed in a dark suit, carrying his father's briefcase with nothing inside but a sandwich and candy bars walked confidently up to the guard at the gate of Universal and gave him a casual wave. The guard waved back. He was in. "For the entire summer," Spielberg remembers, "I dressed in my suit and hung out with the directors and writers, including Silvers, who knew the kid wasn't a studio employee, but winked at him. I even found an office that wasn't being used, and became a squatter . I bought some plastic tiles and put my name in the building directory: Steven Spielberg, Room 23C." It paid off for everyone. Ten years later, the 28yearold Spielberg directed Jaws, which took in $470 million, then the biggest grossing movie of all time. Dozens of films and awards have followed because Steven Spielberg knew what his teachers didn't--talent is in the eyes of the filmmaker. What did Steven Spielberg intend to do after graduating from high school? Answer: Go to a traditional filmmaking school. As we all know, it was Thomas Jefferson who wrote the Declaration of Independence (<<>> ). He wrote it in two weeks, and after a few changes, it was accepted by the Congress . As a result, he became famous. Born in 1743 in Virginia, Thomas Jefferson, a wonderful student at school and almost talented( ) lawyer later, was much interested in politics. Jefferson was elected the Governor of Virginia in 1779, and he was sent to France as the representative of the American government in 1784. Sixteen years later, at the age of 57, he was elected president after Washington and Adams. Far from a handsome man, he was tall with long arms and big hands. Jefferson, who was an amusing talker in conversation but a poor speaker, was generally good-natured. Jefferson was regarded as a defender of freedom in America. As a president, he protected the right of free speech. Interestingly enough, in his eight years as president, Jefferson never vetoed a bill which the Congress had passed. He did a lot in organizing the new University of Virginia. Thomas Jefferson died on July the fourth, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of American Independence. From the passage we can infer that America won its independence in _ . Answer: 1776 The world is not only hungry, it will also be thirsty for water. About 97% of water on the earth is sea water, or salty water. Man can only drink or use the other 3% of the fresh water which comes from rivers, lakes and underground. The sea is very big. Look at the map of the world, there is more sea than land. It covers quarters of the earth, it looks very beautiful when the sun is shinning on it. But it can be terrible when there is a strong wind. Some parts of the sea are very deep. There is one place near Japan. It's nearly 11 kilometers high. If we put that mountain into the sea at that place, there would be 2 kilometers of water above it! The sea is salty. There is one "sea" called the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is not a sea. It's a big lake in the Jordan Valley. It's the saltiest. It's near the city of Jericho. It's about 80.kilometres long, between 4.8 and 17.7 kilometers wide. The river Jordan runs into the Dead Sea. The sun is not there and the water is salty. Fish can't live in the Dead Sea and plants can't grow near it. People can't swim well in the Dead Sea, but they can float on the water. The water is very blue and the air is clean. In winter, people come to the Dead Sea to enjoy the sunshine. The Dead Sea is _ . Answer: 80 kilometers long
The following are the world-renewed attractions in London, so don't miss them while touring there. Shakespeare's Globe Shakespeare's Globe, which officially opened in 1997, is a reconstruction of the Globe Theatre, built in 1599, and brings Shakespeare's world to life. As a visitor to the exhibition,you'll discover how shows were produced in the theatres during Shakespeare's time. The guide-storytellers take you on a fascinating half-hour tour. Price: Adult PS9.00;Child(5-15) PS6.50; Student PS7.50; Under 5 FREE. The Tower of London The tower, nearly 100 feet high, with walls 15 feet thick, was built in the early 1080s. King Henry III made this tower his home. King Edward V and his younger brother were murdered inside by their uncle. Queen Elizabeth I was shut up in the tower for two months by her half sister Mary who felt that her throne was being threatened . In 1603, part of the tower became a museum. Price: Adult PS16.50; Child (5-15) PS9.50; Under 5 FREE; Student PS13.50; Family (two adults with three children) PS46.00. Banqueting House Banqueting House is the remains of Whitehall Palace which was built in 1529 and was home to the English kings. It was destroyed by fire. Famous for its architecture and painting, the building is also known for being the scene of Charles I's execution . Price: Adult PS4.50; Child PS2.25; Student (with ID) and senior citizen (60+) PS3.00; Under 5 FREE. Tower Bridge Exhibition Tower Bridge has stood over the River Thames in London since 1894 and is one of the finest, most recognizable bridges in the world. At the Tower Bridge Exhibition you can enjoy breath-taking views from the high-level walkways and learn about the history of the bridge and how it was built. You can then visit the Victorian engine rooms, home to the original steam engines that used to power the bridge. Price: AdultPS6.00; Child (5-15) PS3.00; Under 5 FREE; Senior citizen(60+) PS4.50; StudentPS4.50. How many places used as a king's home are mentioned in this passage? A. One. B. Two. C. Three. D. Four. Answer: B. Two. My oldest child, Emma, just returned to campus after a long holiday break to finish up her last period of college. These days, friends and family have begun flooding me with one question: What is she going to do after graduation? The job market is, after all, awfully tough. Just this month the Federal Reserve Bank published a study showing that "recent graduates are increasingly working in low-paid jobs or working part-time." The bright spot, according to the study, is for students who majored in STEM-- science, technology, engineering and mathematics -- areas in which recent graduates "have tended to do relatively well". But Emma is a student of the humanities at a small college. She's an American Studies major with a focus on the politics and culture of food. For quite a while, I think her field of study is so fashionable right now that I'm not the least bit worried she will find a good job. Yet the more I've thought about it, the more I've decided to be honest. "I'm not sure what Emma is going to do," I now say. "But she's gotten a great education and has really found her interest. -- and I know those things will serve her well over the course of her life." Nowadays, more and more universities and colleges are being measured by the salaries of their recent graduates. In this climate, encouraging your kid to study the humanities, seems, at best, unwise or, at worst, unconcerned with earning a living. But a college is not a vocational school. And promoting STEM subjects should not be society's only answer to helping the next generation grow in a competitive world. From the beginning, we never urged Emma to pick a college or a major with an eye on its expected return on money, as more and more families are doing. To Emma, what really matters will be something that we may not be able to measure for quite a long time: Emma's contribution to the world and how happy she is in it. The author's friends and family _ . A. are worried about Emma's safety B. have been worrying about the flood C. are concerned about Emma's future D. are worried about the job market Answer: C. are concerned about Emma's future Peter wondered why he didn't have many friends. The reason was that he was always taking, never giving. One day Peter told Bill, "I'd like to give a party on Saturday. I'd like you to come and bring Martha, too. " "Thanks, Peter. We'd be happy to come. ""Perhaps you'd like to bring your violin. You and Martha sing well together. I'm sure everyone will want you to sing for us. "That was how Peter began to plan his party. Next he asked another friend, Betty, to bring a cake. "You make the best cake in the world, Betty, and I like to eat your cake better than have one from the bakery . "Peter invited a few other friends to come to his party. He didn't forget to ask for something from each of them. He even asked Jim Jackson and Mary Jackson to let him give the party at their house! They agreed. The party was a big success. However, as the guests were leaving, they said "Thank you! "to Bill and Martha for the music, Betty for the cake, the Jacksons for the use of the house and to others for their hard work. To Peter they just said, "Thanks for the invitation. " Which of the following is NOT true? A. Betty made the best cake. B. Mary Jackson sang well. C. Bill sang well. D. The Jacksons did hard work for the party. Answer: B. Mary Jackson sang well. Yuan Guiren, Minister of Education, announced some measures to reform the NCEE, known as Gaokao, for this year in a media conference. The first measure is to balance the recruiting quota around the nation, with particular emphasis on recruiting more students in central and western provinces. In addition to this, Yuan said that 200,000 places would be available in the universities in eastern China for students from western China. The third measure is to cancel some policies that allow students with special talents to receive extra points on their final result of the NCEE. "All national-level bonus marks for Gaokao will be cancelled in 2015, while over 60 percent of the province-level bonuses will be cut. Ten provinces have already canceled the policies while other provinces have cut down 63 percent of the policies," said Yuan. The policy was originally introduced to be aimed at making Gaokao fairer because some students have special abilities but fail to get high scores in the national exams. Yet, it has been abused by corrupt officials to get the bonus marks for their children. This is a good example of corruption ruining a good policy. Additionally, all students can recommend themselves for independent recruitment in some education institutions without any restrictions. Schools can also recommend their students to some universities. The date for independent recruitment is scheduled for after the NCEE in 2015, and universities will be required to publicize their recruiting requirements, processes and results. The last measure mentioned by Yuan is to gradually unify the NCEE around the nation. Students in three more provinces will sit for the same exams in 2015. Seven more provinces, totaling 25 provinces, will use the same exam format in 2016. The best title for the passage could be " _ ". A. Extra points to be Cancelled B. The NCEE to be Unified C. Chances to Favour Western Students D. China to Reform NCEE Answer: D. China to Reform NCEE Hong Kong, a city of seven million--and growing fast. By the year 2050 Hong Kong's population will almost double. Where will these people live? There's only one place to go--up. Fast forward 50 years.This is the tallest man-made structure on the planet. Its name:Millennium Tower. It would stand twice as tall as anything built before. Over 60 thousand people would live or work here. Millennium's designers think it represents the best solution for the coming population explosion. It would cost ten billion dollars and consume more building materials than any single nation could produce. David Nelson, one of Millennium's key designers, said:"It would be a massive project and a world project. But to actually realize it, resources would have to come from all over the globe. The challenge and the motivation for doing it would be to realize one of the world's largest and most complex construction projects." Millennium would be more complex than anything ever built. So its builders won't know for sure the building is safe until it's up, and they can't afford to make an error. Massive earthquakes have brought down entire cities in this part of the world. Can Millennium's designers make it immune to these quakes of the earth? For Millennium, like all the other buildings, safety is just one concern among many. It will need to be a home, one that welcomes people in. Getting people into the building and making sure they have a great experience well be what makes Millennium successful, but how to do it? For the design team, the secret was to bring all the elements of city life within. Cafes and restaurants, theatres and stores would provide entertainment. Health clubs, even schools and medical clinics would also serve the towers' residents. Millennium's designers have proven something. Things that seem impossible today, might just become reality tomorrow. The engineering problems have, for the most part, already been solved. Our achievements are limited only by our imaginations. How does the writer develop this passage? A. By providing descriptions. B. By using figures. C. By giving examples. D. By analyzing causes. Answer: A. By providing descriptions.
When I was a high school student , mathematics looked like a big hurdle for me and several of my classmates.When we reached the ninth class, we got Mr. Iyer, a strict maths teacher who was also our class teacher.He always stuck to his discipline.We had to arrive on time, pay undivided attention to his lectures, and dared not neglect any of h is homework. Even so, as our class teacher, we got to know him better.Noticing some of us fidgeting one day as the mid -term exams approached, he stopped solving a mathematical problem to ask us why." There' s too much to do," we sighed."We're afraid we'll never manage to finish our revision before the exams." "Nothing is impossible," Mr. Iyer told us. "This classroom is on the second floor. Do you have a problem reaching here ?" We reacted with blank stares. "No, you don' t !"he said , answering his own question."You have a staircase to help you climb up to this level.No one expects you to make it in two giant leaps.You simply take one step at a time.Any task can be solved if you focus on the immediate action to be taken.The rest w ill take care of itself, if you keep at it.One step at a time.That' s the secret." Then he wrote down an o ld motto on the blackboard --the longest journey starts with a single step.Having heard his staircase analogy , w e understood why he asked us the question and we saw him in a new light. Most of my classmates scored distinctions in maths.And I went on to become an English teacher.To this day , whenever I pass on Mr.Iyer's invaluable advice to my own students , they brighten up at the prospect of a lighter academic burden. The staircase analogy implies that. Answer: Today almost everyone knows computers and the Internet. If I ask you "What is the most important in your life ?" maybe you will say "Computers and the Internet." The first computer was made in 1946. It was very big but it worked slowly . Today computers are getting smaller and smaller. But they work faster and faster. What can computers do? A writer has said, "people can't live without computers today." The Internet came a little later than computers. It is about twenty-five years later than computers. But now it can be found almost everywhere. We can use it to read books, write letters, do shopping, play games or make friends. Many students like the Internet very much. They often go into the Internet as soon as they are free. They make friends on the Internet and maybe they have never seen these friends. They don't know their real names, ages, and even sex . They are so interested in making the "unreal friends" that they can't put their hearts into study. Many of them can't catch up with others on many subjects because of that. We can use computers and the Internet to learn more about the world. But at the same time, we should remember that not all the things can be done by computers and the Internet. The Internet was born in about _ . Answer: At Institute for the Future, game designer Jane McGonigal creates massive multi-player free online role-playing games (MMORPGs), which focus on social changes and environmental problems. She hopes that players will use their new skills to make the real world better. According to Jane, our addiction to gaming is actually a great thing, so long as we use it properly.Speaking at the TED (Technology/Entertainment/Design)2010 Conference, Jane says that people should devote more time to games to build the skills necessary to make the world better.People who take part in MMORPGs develop specialized skills in problem-solving as a team.So, if gamers are willing to take part in role-playing games based on real-world problems,they will be able to work together to find ways that can be used in the real world. Jane focuses on creating the kinds of video games that enable players to make a difference in their own lives and the lives of those around them.In 2007, she helped create a video game called A World Without Oil, in which 1, 800 players tried to find new ways to transport themselves in a world without oil.Even after completing the game, the players focused on the problem and its possible solutions.Her next game, Evoke, takes an even more practical way.Game players are mainly young people in Africa.They will learn to create a business that will help stop problems such as poverty and AIDS on a local level.By the end of the game, players will be guided by experts on how to start their own businesses. "We can make any future we imagine and we can play any games we want," she said at the TED Conference."So let the world-changing games begin." The MMORPGs are created by Jane McGonigal to _ . Answer: Teeth are important. Strong , healthy teeth help you chew foods that help you grow. They help you speak clearly. And yes ,they help you look best. Here are some tips for you to take care of you teeth: 1. Brush your teeth the right way. Brush your teeth at least twice a day - after breakfast and before bedtime. If you can, brush after lunch or after sweet snacks, too. Brush all of your teeth, not just the front ones. Spend time brushing teeth along the sides and back of your mouth. Spend at least three minutes each time you brush. Play a song you like to help pass the time. Get a new toothbrush every three months. When you buy toothbrush, be sure it has soft bristles . 2. Learn how to floss your teeth.. Flossing is a very important way to keep your teeth healthy. Food may hide between two teeth. Flossing can help get rid of it. You'll need to floss your teeth at least once a day. 3. Have good eating habits. You need to be careful about what you eat and drink. Eating sugar is a major cause of tooth decay . Eat lots of fruits and vegetables and drink water instead of soda . Which is the right way to take care of teeth? _ Answer: Do your parents smoke? Where do they smoke - outside, at work or at home when you are around? According to a survey published in the journal Academic Pediatrics, an alarming number of US parents are still risking their children's lives by smoking in front of them. Half of all children aged 6 to 19, even those with asthma , have been exposed to second-hand smoke in the country, reported Reuters. "It's well known that smoking kills, but many smokers still don't realize the damage their smoke causes to those around them," Dame Sally, Chief Medical Officer for England, was quoted by the Independent as saying. Tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, hundreds of which are poisonous. About 70 of them can cause cancer, not to mention other diseases, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What's most scary is that there is no safe level of contact with second-hand smoke---even "low-level" exposure can be harmful to one's health. And "low-level" means when a parent or family member smokes in another room or even outside. While second-hand smoke can be harmful to people of all ages, children face a greater risk than adults: they have smaller lungs; they breathe more quickly; and they have less developed immune systems. Also, young children have little control over their surroundings. Babies can't move to another room because the air is smoky. They depend on the adults in their lives to make sure that their environments are safe. Recent years have seen second-hand smoke exposure drop---but for adults rather than kids, because policies have been started around the world to ban smoking in public places such as offices, bars and restaurants. However, "Children tend to be exposed to second-hand smoke in homes and cars, and these places are not included in most laws and policies," Amy Ferketich, a researcher at The Ohio State University, US, told Reuters. So what can we do to limit children's exposure to second-hand smoke? Parents should stop smoking for good. But if they can't, they should never smoke---or let others smoke---around their children. Which of the following is TRUE according to the article? Answer:
Question: The BBC was founded in 1922, including radio and television services. It is based at Broadcasting House in London. The BBC is controlled by some governors chosen by the government, but these people have freedom and the government can't interfere . That is, the BBC is supposed not to be the mouthpiece of the government. It has to be as fair as possible in giving radio and television time to, for example, political parties and religious groups. There is a kind of interesting service in British-rental services. Many people prefer to rent their television sets instead of buying them. The rent for a black and white set is about 80 pence a week. The rent of a color set is more than twice that of a black and white set. If the sets go wrong, people can have them repaired free of charge or replaced immediately. Everyone has to buy a yearly license, since there is no advertising on BBC radio or television. It is from the sale of licenses that the BBC gets most of its money. A license for a black and white set costs 8 pounds, and for a colour set 18 pounds a year. There are four specialized radio channels, which broadcast different kinds of programmes. Radio I is mainly pop music.Radio 2 deals with light music, sports and other programmes. Radio 3 broadcasts serious music, talks on serious subjects etc.News broadcasts are mainly given by Radio 4. There are special programmes for Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and certain parts of England.It also broadcasts programmes about Britain--in many different languages as well as in English to all parts of the world. How does BBC get most of its money? A. It gets money from all kinds of advertisements. B. The BBC depends on the rent of TV sets. C. The BBC gets money mainly by selling licenses and TV sets. D. It gets its money mainly by selling licenses. Answer: D Question: There was a time in my life when beauty meant something special to me. I guess that would have been when I was about six or seven years old, just several weeks or maybe a month before the orphanage turned me into an old man. I would get up every morning at the orphanage, make my bed just like the little soldier that I had become and then I would get into one of the two straight lines and march to breakfast with the other twenty or thirty boys who also lived in my dormitory. After breakfast one Saturday morning I returned to the dormitory and saw the house parent chasing the beautiful monarch butterflies who lived by the hundreds in the bushes scattered around the orphanage. I carefully watched as he caught these beautiful creatures, one after another, and then took them from the net and then stuck straight pins through their head and wings, pinning them onto a heavy cardboard sheet. How cruel it was to kill something of such beauty. I had walked many times out into the bushes, all by myself, just so the butterflies could land on my head, face and hands so I could look at them up close. When the telephone rang the house parent laid the large cardboard paper down on the back cement step and went inside to answer the phone. I walked up to the cardboard and looked at the one butterfly who he had just pinned to the large paper. It was still moving about so I reached down and touched it on the wing causing one of the pins to fall out. It started flying around and around trying to get away but it was still pinned by the one wing with the other straight pin. Finally its wing broke off and the butterfly fell to the ground and just trembled. I picked up the torn wing and the butterfly and I spat on its wing and tried to get it to stick back on so it could fly away and be free before the house parent came back. But it would not stay on him. According to the passage, the author's life in the orphanage was _ . A. dull and full of strict rules B. simple and easy C. happy and full of hope D. hard and busy Answer: A Question: Do you enjoy visiting a museum? Did you ever make a plan before a visit? Every museum must have something that attracts you. And there are many possible ways to enjoy yourself in a museum. If you follow these steps below, you'll know what is worth seeing and doing, so that you can make the most of your time at the museum. Decide what museum you will visit. There are so many different kinds of museums and you first need to find one that you like. It's easy for you to choose one and start an enjoyable visit! Do some research online. Every museum now has a website which allows you to look through the information about it. On the website, you may look for such things as: The exhibits -See what is on show at the museum at all times, and what special exhibitions are held for a short time. The history of the museum -There will often be very interesting stories about the exhibits and the benefactors . That can make your visit more interesting. Activities -See whether there are talks, tours our special activities on the day when you visit. Many museums hold some activities that meet the interests of all age groups. Cost, food or shortage - It's important how much the visit will cost. You have to decide whether or not you can eat there. You might also need to find out transportation needs, as well as storage for coats, bags etc. Learn at least one thing on your visit. It is always good to take away something new from your visit. Plan breaks into your visit. When you walk around, standing here and studying exhibits there, you may become very tired. So it is important to take breaks. A break is a good opportunity for you to think of what you have seen and what else you might wan t to do in museum. Take a friend or two. Visiting museums is always a lot more fun when you are with someone else. You can talk over what you're seeing. A friend also brings another way of thinking when you talk about the exhibit. To make our visit more interesting, we can _ . A. organize activities like special shows and talks B. learn about the interests of all age groups C. read the stories about exhibits and benefactors D. walk around the museum without breaks Answer: C Question: My grandfather died more than twenty-five years ago. I was fifteen. He was kind, strong, fair, and very funny. When I was a young musician, he was my biggest fan. I played my violin for him when he visited, and he loved everything, but each time he had one request. "Could you play 'Amazing Grace'?" he asked, full of hope and with a twinkle in his eye, because he knew my answer was always, "I don't know that one!" We went through this routine at every major holiday, and I always figured I'd have time to learn it for him later. About the time I entered high school and started guitar, Grandpa got cancer. The last time I saw him alive was Thanksgiving weekend in 1985. My mom warned us that Grandpa didn't look the same anymore and that we should prepare ourselves. For a moment I didn't recognize him. He looked so small among all the white sheets. We had all gathered in Ohio for the holiday, and I'm sure we all knew we were there to say good-bye. I can see now that Grandpa held on long enough to see us each one more time. I remember how we ate in the dining room and laughed and talked while Grandpa rested in his hospital bed. I wonder if it was sad for him to be alone with our voices and laughter. _ The next morning I found my moment alone with him. I pulled out my guitar, tuned to his appreciative gaze, and finally played for him "Amazing Grace." I had worked on it for weeks, knowing it never mattered whether I actually played it well and choosing not to believe as I played that it was my last concert for my biggest fan. The cancer had stolen his smile, but I saw joy in his eyes. He held my hand afterward, and I knew I had done something important. I argued with people all through college about my music major. I was told by strangers that music wouldn't make me any money and it wasn't useful like being a doctor. But I know firsthand that with music I was able to give my grandpa something at a point when no one else could. At first the author didn't play 'Amazing Grace' for Grandpa because _ . A. her grandfather was just joking. B. she found it difficult to play C. she disliked playing it. D. she hadn't learned it yet Answer: D Question: Do you know how to use a mobile phone without being rude to the people around you? Talking during a performance irritates people. If you are expecting an emergency call, sit near the exit doors and set your phone to vibrate . When your mobile phone vibrates, you can leave quietly and let the others enjoy the performance. Think twice before using mobile phones in elevators, museums, churches or other indoor public places--especially enclosed spaces. Would you want to listen to someone's conversation in these places? Worse yet, how would you feel if a mobile phone rang suddenly during a funeral! It happens more often than you think. Avoid these embarrassing situations by making sure your mobile phone is switched off. When eating at a restaurant with friends, don't place your mobile phone on the table. This conveys the message that your phone calls are more important than those around you. Mobile phones have sensitive microphones that allow you to speak at the volume you would on a regular phone. This enables you to speak quietly so that others won't hear the details of your conversations. If you are calling from a noisy area, use your hand to direct your voice into the microphone. Many people believe that they can't live without their mobile phone. Owning a mobile phone definitely makes life more convenient, but limit your conversations to urgent ones and save the personal calls until you are at home. The author implies that the use of mobile phones in such places as museums should be _ . A. limited B. expected C. encouraged D. recommended Answer: A
When carbon and oxygen combine chemically, the mass of the product is A. greater than the mass of the carbon plus the mass of the oxygen B. equal to the mass of the carbon plus the mass of the oxygen C. equal to the mass of the carbon D. less than the mass of the carbon Answer: B. equal to the mass of the carbon plus the mass of the oxygen My bookshelves are full of dust -- and with good reason. When it comes to cleaning that part of my home, I suffer from the most serious case of avoidance . The thing is this: when I do set out to clean and re-organize my books, which seldom happens, I place myself into a really bad situation. No sooner do I take a title from the shelf, blow off the dust, and wipe down the cover than I find myself sitting on the floor with legs crossed and my back against the wall. Pretty soon books get piled up on my legs as I am reunited with old friends. It is as if these books have voices, and each wants to say its piece. "Remember me? I was given to you when you went into the Navy, so that you would never lack for companionship," one whispers. Another says, "I was your first book of poems, given to you before you learned to love poetry." And a third, "I was the book that made history so attractive to you." Perhaps the greatest pleasure of re-organizing my books are the surprises -- or better said, reunions -- that occur. During my latest book-cleaning adventure, I found one that had fallen behind the shelf: "Tales of Edgar Allan Poe." Not an unusual title, but the words written on the first page made it very special: "With Love from Mom and Dad, Christmas 1965." What's this? A book on the physics of lasers . It is filled with mathematical statements, and I had bought it at a library sale when I was 12, not long after the laser had been invented. I couldn't understand a bit of it, but I did learn what "laser" meant. What I end up with when I empty my bookshelves is a cross-section of my personal history. It's like a road cut where one sees all the layers of rock going back through time to the beginning of the simplest life forms. The books I've read -- and kept -- are not just old friends. They are my What does the author enjoy most from re-organizing his books? A. Finding some missing books. B. Putting books in good order. C. Learning something new from the books. D. Rediscovering interesting stories behind some books. Answer: D. Rediscovering interesting stories behind some books. Mrs Weeks was reading a newspaper story to her class. The story said: Were you ever in a hospital when you were small? How did you feel? The doctors in Children's Hospital are asking for money for children's toys. Some children in the hospital must stay in bed for many weeks. Toys are needed to keep these sick children happy and quiet. Money for them can be sent to the hospital. After Mrs. Weeks read the story, she said,"This story gave me an idea." "You want us to bring some money for the toys.""We could bring some of our own toys for the children in the hospital, "said the boys and girls one after another. "Well, your ideas would be nice, "Mrs. Weeks said,"but mine is different." Mrs. Weeks smiled. "Do you think you could make toys?" she asked. "Yes, yes," the whole class answered. "Great! Let's begin to make toys tomorrow," said Mrs. Weeks. On Saturday afternoon, Mrs. Weeks took the children to the hospital with the toys made by her students. The children in the hospital felt very happy to see the toys. The children in the class felt happy, too. A few days later, Mrs. Weeks read another newspaper story to the class: Some school pupils brought toys to Children's Hospital last week. The toys were made by the pupils of Grade Three in Green Street School. The doctors said, "We have never had so many wonderful toys. Our children are very happy with them. They say, 'THANK YOU, GRADE THREE'" What "idea" did Mrs. Weeks have in mind? A. Ask the class to give some money to the children in the hospital. B. Ask the class to send some of their own toys to the children in the hospital. C. Let the class make some toys themselves and give them to the children in the hospital. D. Tell the class to go to see the children in the hospital. Answer: C. Let the class make some toys themselves and give them to the children in the hospital. More than meets the eye Fine wines, food, perfume, luxury brands and art-in the eyes of many Chinese, France is a country of romance and fashion. but there is more to France than that. In an interview with CCTV, French President Francois Hollande, who paid a state visit to China on April 25 to 26 with hopes of fighting the recession in his country by improving relations with China, said that France also stands out in fields such as science and technology. Indeed, during Hollande's stay in China, the two governments signed a series of deals on nuclear power, urbanization, new energy tourism and agricultural products, and a deal for 60 Airbus plans. France is China's fourth largest trading partner in the EU, while China is France's largest trading partner in Asia and its largest source of imports in the world. "I look forward to the future of our global strategic partnership,"President Xi Jinping said at a news conference with Hollande. The French leader, in a speech delivered at Shanghai Jiaotong University, also addressed issues that directly concern Chinese young people .In the speech, he promised to shorten the processing tine of visa applications for Chinese students studying in France. France is the most popular travel destination with Chinese tourists, according to a 2012 survey by the China Tourism Academy. In response to several recent attacks on Chinese tourists in France, Hollande and the country's tourism minister promised to take measures, such as deploying more police in scenic spots frequented by Chinese tourists to ensure their safety. Chinese tourists were also reminded not to carry too much cash with them. China and France began interacting with each other in the 17th century, when French kings sent numerous missionaries to China to promote Christianity. They also spread Western science in China. Jean-Francois Gerbillon (1654-1707),for instance, who went by the name of Zhang Cheng in China, was one of them, A good mathematician, Gerbillon taught Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty about Western science. The missionaries' description of a stable and powerful China, compared with Europe's sectarian conflicts and problems at the time, led to a "China fever" sweeping across France and other parts of Europe during the 17th and 18th century. In the 19th century, however, China became weak and was defeated in several wars with industrialized France and other European powers. The 20th century, especially in 1964, saw Sino-French relations turn a new page. That year, France became the first Western country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. Since then, "France-China relations have been good or very good over the long run,"Xinhua said. But the relationship between the two countries hasn't been all well-established. The disruption of the Beijing Olympic torch relay in Paris and comments by French politicians on Tibet, for example, have caused anger in China. The passage is mostly about _ . A. the relationship between China and France. B. French President Hollande's state visit to China. C. France also stands out in science and technology. D. a series of deals signed by China and France. Answer: A. the relationship between China and France. Mrs. Bertha Flowers was the aristocrat of Black Stamps. She had the grace of control to appear warm in the coldest weather, and on the Arkansas summer days it seemed she had a private breeze which swirled around, cooling her. One summer afternoon, she stopped at the store to buy supplies. Another Negro woman of her health and age would have been expected to carry the paper sacks home in one hand, but Momma said, "Sister Flowers, I'll send Bailey up to your house with these things." "Thank you, Mrs. Henderson. I'd prefer Marguerite, though." My name sounded so beautiful when she said it. "I've been meaning to talk to her, anyway." They gave each other age group looks. There was a little path beside the rocky road, and Mrs. Flowers walked in front swinging her arms and picking her way over the stones. Without turning her head, she spoke to me, "I hear you're working very good school work, Marguerite, but that it's all written. The teachers report that they have trouble getting you to talk in class." We passed the triangular farm on our left and the path widened to allow us to walk together. "Now no one is going to make you talk--possibly no one can. But bear in mind, language is man's way of communicating with his fellow man and it is language alone which separates him from the lower animals." That was a totally new idea to me, and I would need time to think about it. "Your grandmother says you read a lot. Every chance you get. That's good, but not good enough. _ " She said she was going to give me some books and that I not only must read them, I must read them aloud. She suggested that I try to make a sentence sound in as many different ways as possible. "I'll accept no excuse if you return a book to me that has been badly handled." My imagination boggled at the punishment I would deserve if in fact I did abuse a book of Mrs. Flowers'. The odors in the house surprised me. The sweet scent of vanilla had met us as she opened the door. "Have a seat, Marguerite. You see, I had planned to invite you for cookies and lemonade so we could have this little chat." She carried a plate covered with a tea towel. As I ate she began the first of what we later called "My lesson in living." She said that I must always be intolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy. That some people, unable to go to school, were more educated and even more intelligent than college professors. She encouraged me to listen carefully to what country people called mother wit. That in those homely sayings was couched the collective wisdom of generations. When I finished the cookies she brought a thick, small book from the bookcase. I had read A Tale of Two Cities and found it up to my standards as a romantic novel. She opened the first page and I heard poetry for the first time in my life. "It was the best of times and worst of times..." Her voice slid in and curved down through and over the words. She was nearly singing. I wanted to look at the pages. Were they the same that I had read? Or were there notes, music, lined on the pages? Her sounds began cascading gently. I knew that she was nearing the end of her reading. "How do you like that?" It occurred to me that she expected a response. The sweet vanilla flavor was still on my tongue and her reading was a magic to my ears. I had to speak. I said, "Yes, ma'am." It was the least I could do, but it was the most also. "There's one more thing. Take this book of poems and memorize one for me. Next time you pay me a visit, I want to recite." I have often tried hard to search for the enchantment I so easily found in those gifts. To be allowed, no, invited, into the private lives of strangers, to share their joys and fears, was a chance to exchange the Southern bitter wormwood for a cup of mead with Beowulf or a hot cup of tea and milk with Oliver Twist. When I said aloud, "It is a far, far better thing than anything I have ever done..." tears of love filled my eyes at my selflessness. I was liked, and what a difference it made, I was respected not as Mr Henderson's grandchild or Bailey's sister but for just being Marguerite Johnson. Which can be the best title for the passage? A. The Power of Language B. A Lesson in Living C. A Respectable Lady D. My Initial Access to Charles Dickens Answer: B. A Lesson in Living
Question: It is a very nice Sunday morning. Ann and her mother are on a big bus. There are many people on it. Some are from America. Some are from England and Japan. They are all friends. They are going to the Great Wall. There are two Chinese on the bus, too. They are a young man and a young woman. They can speak English. The young man is the driver of the bus. The woman is talking about the Great Wall. The others are all listening to her. They all like the Great Wall. Ann and her mother are going to the Great wall _ . A. on foot B. by taxi C. by bus D. by train Answer: C. by bus Question: Need a solid excuse to dust off your running shoes? Joggers have been found to live an average of six years longer than those who don't jog. However, you'll have to run for at least one hour a week for benefit, according to a new study in Denmark. Researchers found that jogging was associated with a 44 per cent reduction in the risk of death for those over 35 years compared with deaths among those who did not run. The same benefit applied to both men and women. The 44 per cent reduction translates to an 'age-adjusted survival benefit' of 6.2 years in men and 5.6 years in women, according to Dr. Peter Schnohr, chief cardiologist from the Copenhagen City Heart study. Furthermore, the jogger's lives are not only longer but happier too as those who ran reported an overall sense of well-being, said Schnohr. The results of our research allow us to definitively answer the question of whether jogging is good for your health,' Schnohr said in a statement. 'We can say with certainty that regular jogging increases longevity. The good news is that you don't actually need to do that much to reap the benefits,' he continued. The study also found that the optimum benefit of jogging was for those who jogged at a slow-to-average pace for between an hour and two and a half hours spread over two or three weekly sessions. Researchers then compared deaths among the joggers among the non-joggers in the main study pool of almost 20,000. Over 35 years, 122 joggers died compared with 10,158 non-joggers. All the participants involved with the Copenhagen City Heart Study had their cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose, and BMI, measured and they were questioned about smoking, alcohol consumption, education, and income. Which of the following is true according to the article? A. Regular jogging decreases longevity. B. The more jogging you do the longer you live. C. The less jogging you do the longer you live. D. Regular jogging makes people live longer. Answer: D. Regular jogging makes people live longer. Question: In the past, people who graduated from college felt proud of their academic achievements and confident that their degree would help them to find a good job. However, in the past four years the job market has changed greatly. This year's college graduates are facing one of the worst job markets. For example, Ryan Stewart, a graduate of San Jose State University, got a degree in religious studies, but he has not gotten any job offers. He points out that many people already working are getting laid off and don't have jobs, so it's even harder for new college graduates to find jobs. Four years ago, the future looked bright for his class of 2006. There were many high-tech("dot com") job opportunities, graduates received many job offers, and they were able to get jobs with high salaries and benefits such as health insurance and paid vacations. However, "Times have changed. It's a new market," according to an officer of the university. The officer says students who do find jobs started preparing two years ago. They worked during summer vacations, they have had several short-time jobs, and they majored in fields that are still paying well, such as accounting or nursing. Even teaching is not a secure profession now. Ryan Stewart wanted to be a teacher. But instead he will probably go back to school in order to become a college teacher. He thinks college teaching could be a good career even in a bad economy. In conclusion, these days a college degree does not automatically lead to a good job with a high salary. Some students can only hope that the value of their degree will increase in the future. Why does Ryan Stewart want to be a college teacher? A. Teaching jobs are well-paid. B. He majored in teaching in the university. C. College teaching is less challenging than high-tech jobs. D. College teaching career won't be influenced by economy. Answer: D. College teaching career won't be influenced by economy. Question: The history of the computer keyboard started way back in 1714, when the first typewriters were manufactured. Then, they looked more like sewing machines, since they were designed by Remington, which also used to manufacture sewing machines. They were not used for commercial purposes but to produce legal documents that were neat. 1868 was the year when Christoper Latham Scholes created the typewriter that is common today and was later mass marketed in 1877. Before the typewriter advanced to become the modern-day keyboard, there were a few developments that led to it. First there was the combination of the typewriter with the telegraph to create a teletype. Key punches were also created by the combination of the typewriter with punch card systems. The teletype was used to input data in the very first computers, and this is where the development of the computer keyboard started. How the teletype worked with the computer is that a card was inserted into the teletype. The keys would then be pressed in the teletype and a series of holes would be punched in the card. These were known as key punches, which would then be put into a card reader which analyzed the cards as data. This was in 1946, and in 1948 an electromagnetically controlled teletype was brought into operation for the binary automatic computer . There later came the video display terminal and electronic keyboards. When people typed, they would immediately see the results on the screen. This was in the 1970s, and people accepted the technology because it was user-friendly. There was no long process involved in getting something typed. The very first designs of these keyboards were big and heavy, and most did not come with the computer. This was later modified to a smaller size and different colours and designs, and that is the keyboard we use today. Which of the following is TRUE, according to the text? A. In the 1970s keyboards came with the computer. B. Christoper Latham Scholes created the first typewriter in 1714. C. An electromagnetically controlled teletype was introduced in 1877. D. The development of the computer keyboard started from the teletype. Answer: D. The development of the computer keyboard started from the teletype. Question: When the musical sound rings you, you immediately reach for your pocket ready to have a chat. But although you probably use it all the time, have you ever thought about the manners related to talking on the phone? If you haven't, here are some tips to guide you. Always give the person you are calling plenty of time to get to the phone before you hang up. If the person who answers is not the one you want, give your name and ask if you may speak to the person you want. Think about the time you call people. Try not to call too early in the morning (before about 9:00) or too late at night (after about 9:30). Also try not to call at mealtimes. If you go by plane to visit your relatives at Christmas, remember to follow airline instructions. Cell phone must be turned off as soon as the plane doors are closed and remain so until the doors open again on arrival. When you're face to face with someone, do not talk on the phone. It is rude to be on the phone when a waiter is trying to take your order in a restaurant, or when you are returning the shoes you have just been trying on in a shop. Finish any face-to-face business before taking a call. Continuing to use the phone while nodding to the person in front of you is quite impolite. When in a restaurant with your friends, keep phone conversations short. Make a call only if it is important. Practice speaking in a low voice. If no one turns to your way, _ . If you go to a theatre, a concert or a cinema, consider the other people around you. Check that your phone is "off" before you enter. If you are expecting a very important call, put your phone on "vibrate" and run for the exit as soon as you feel it. If you forget both "off" and "vibrate" and your phone rings, don't answer it, turn it off straight away. From the tips given above, we can decide the writer must agree with the opinion that _ . A. like the saying "clothes make a man", nowadays cell phones make a man B. as the old saying goes, money talks, nowadays cell phones talk C. the way we use the cell phones tells what we are like D. we are what cell phones we use Answer: C. the way we use the cell phones tells what we are like
Do you think of white when someone talks about a polar bear? In fact, the polar bear does not have white fur. It just appears to be white. Polar bears have a very good sense of smell. It helps them to find food. During summer, polar bears sleep longer, because they are able to find their food more easily at night. Usually, after a meal, polar bears have a short sleep. A polar bear can have 2-3 babies at a time. They live with their mothers until they are about two-and-a-half years old. However, polar bears will die out soon because of people. There are only 20,000 to 25,000 polar bears in the world. The ones that are left are trying to survive today. The number of polar bears is becoming smaller and smaller because of the loss of sea ice-- polar bears mostly inhabit the sea ice, not the land ice. This is happening because of global warming , pollution, hunting and so on. Ordinary people don't care, but great people have the power and want to save tigers, fight for giant pandas and save polar bears. Ordinary people will wait, but great people will find a new world. For me, I will not waiting. I will take the bus more often from now on. Join me and save the polar bears, and, of course, the tigers, the giant pandas and... What can we learn from the passage? Answer: A Frenchman was once traveling in England. He could not speak English at all. One day he went into a restaurant and sat down at a table. When the waiter came up, he opened his mouth, put his finger in his mouth and took it out. He wanted to showed, "Bring me something to eat." The waiter soon brought him a cup of tea. The man shook his head and put his finger in and out of his mouth again. The waiter understood him and took the tea away. In a moment he came back with a cup of coffee. But the man refused it. He shook his head again and again whenever the waiter brought him something to drink, for drinks were not food. When the Frenchman was going away, he saw another foreigner came in. This new comer saw the waiter, and put his hand on his stomach(,). That was enough. In a few minutes there was a large plate meat and vegetables on the table in front of him. The waiter took the tea away because _ . Answer: When I was eight, I saw a movie about an island that had an erupting volcano and jungles filled with wild animals. The island was ruled by a beautiful woman called Tondalaya, the Fire Goddess of the Volcano. It was a low-budget movie, but to me, it represented the perfect life. But through the years, Tondalaya was forgotten. The week I turned 50, my marriage came to a sudden end. My house, furniture and everything I'd owned was sold to pay debts that I didn't even know existed. In a week I had lost my husband, my home and my parents who had refused to accept a divorce in the family. I'd lost everything except my four teenage children. I used every penny I had to buy five plane tickets from Missouri to Hawaii. Everyone said I was crazy to think I could just run off to an island and survive. I was afraid they were right. I worked 18 hours a day and lost 30 pounds because I lived on one meal a day. One night as I walked alone on the beach, I saw the red orange lava pouring out of Kilauea Volcano in the distance. It was time to live my imagination! The next day, I quit my job, bought some art supplies and began doing what I loved. I hadn't painted a picture in 15 years. I wondered if I could still paint. My hands trembled the first time I picked up a brush. But before an hour had passed, I was lost in the colors spreading across the canvas in front of me. And as soon as I started believing in myself, other people started believing in me, too. The first painting sold for $1,500. The past six years have been filled with adventures. My children and I have gone swimming with dolphins, watched whales and hiked around the crater rim of the volcano. We wake up every morning with the ocean in front of us and the volcano behind us. The dream I had more than 40 years is now reality. I'm living freely and happily ever after. We can infer from the passage that _ . Answer: The nose is used in many popular expressions. Some people are able to lead other people by the nose. For example, if a wife leads her husband by the nose, she makes him do whatever she wants him to do. Some people are said to be hard-nosed. They will not change their opinions or positions on anything. It is always helpful when people keep their nose out of other people's business. They do not interfere . The opposite of this is someone who noses around all the time. Such people are interested in other people's private matters. They're considered nosy. Someone who keeps his nose to the grindstone works very hard. This can help a worker keep his nose clean or stay out of trouble. One unusual expression is that is no skin off my nose. This means that a situation doesn't affect or concern me. We also say that sometimes a person cuts off his nose to spite his face. That is, he makes a situation bad for himself by doing something foolish because he is angry. More problems can develop if a person looks down his nose at someone or something. The person acts as if something is unimportant or worthless. This person might also turn up his nose at something that he considers not good enough. This person thinks he is better than everyone else. He has his nose in the air. In school, some students thumb their nose at their teacher. They refuse to obey orders or do any work. Maybe the students do not know the correct answers. My mother always told me when I was a student, "If you study hard, the answers should be right under your nose or easily seen." Which of the following expressions could be used to tell someone to stay away from your private affairs? Answer: Hotels can make a person's stay away from home as restful as possible. Hotels provide warm beds to allow guests a peaceful night's rest. Besides, some hotels offer guests special services such as newspapers to read in the morning, fresh coffee, and even breakfast. Hotel workers want their guests to feel warm and welcome when they stay in their hotel. One hotel near the Arctic Circle, however, is different. This hotel gives its guests a cold welcome. The Ice Hotel, in Sweden, is all made of ice. The Ice Hotel might sound strange, but in some ways it is a special hotel. It has a front lobby where guests check into the hotel, plenty of rooms to sleep in, and even room service, which guests can use to have food delivered to their rooms. The Ice Hotel is different, though, because most of the items are made from ice. It takes more than 30 tons of ice and snow to build the Ice Hotel. It melts in the summer and is rebuilt each winter. Different builders and artists create the Ice Hotel, so each winter this famous hotel has a new shape and design. The effort of building the Ice Hotel is worth it, however. Walking into the Ice Hotel is like walking into a diamond. The walls reflect even the smallest bits of light. Ice pillars support the roof. The floor below shines like glass. Almost every inch of this hotel sparkles inside. Visiting the Ice Hotel is truly an unusual experience. Temperatures inside the Ice Hotel are usually below freezing. Guests wear warm jackets, hats, gloves, and thick boots. Even the owners of the Ice Hotel know that staying in a building with walls of ice four feet thick can be a bit cold. They have a solution though. The Ice Hotel has a sauna for its guests. A sauna is a room filled with steam, where guests can warm themselves. In a way, then, one could say that the Ice Hotel does give their guests a warm welcome after all. Why must the Ice Hotel be rebuilt each year ? Answer:
(1)Full-time Secretary Position Available Applicants should have at least 2 year's experience and be able to type 60 words a minute.No computer skills required.Apply in person at United Business Ltd, 17 Browning Street, Leeds. (2)Part-time Job We require three part-time shop assistants to work during the evening.No experience required, applicants should be between 18 and 26 years old.Call 0115665643 for more information. (3)Computer Trained Secretaries Do you have experience working with computers? If you want to know more about us, call 0457996754. (4)Teaching Assistants Needed Hania's Playshool needs 2 young teaching assistants to help with classes from 9 to 3 pm.Applicants should have references.For more information please visit www.Haniaplayschool.com.uk. (5)Weekend Work Available We are looking for retired adults who would like to work part-time on weekends for Rubberlast Group Ltd.Duties include answering the telephone and giving customers' information.For more information call us at 0113--6741326. (6)University Positions Open The University of Bristol is looking for 4 teaching assistants to help with homework correction.Applicants should have a degree in one of the following Political Science, English, Economics or History.Please call the University of Bristol for more information. (7)Home Delivery Representative We are looking for someone who has excellent customer care, communication skills, a sales background with at least one year's experience and is a good team player with creative ideas.In return we offer a starting salary of $ 20,000 and 25 days paid holiday per year.For more information please call Direct Delivery Team of Yorkshire Post on 0113--2388318. Which is the only position that has a formal educational requirement? Answer: There are 115 distinct species of pine trees with 35 native to North America. Pines are defined as evergreens with long, needle-like leaves and are only native to the northern hemisphere. Pine trees are an adaptable and tough species that can survive in many conditions where other plants cannot. The average pine is 45 to 60 feet tall, but some are nearly twice as high. Western White Pine The western white pine grows the tallest of any pine tree, reaching up to 110 feet in height. They have blue-green needles arranged in bundles of five and produce a long cone . Bristlecone Pine The bristlecone pine grows slowly, reading about 20 feet tall. It is one of the oldest species of pine. Mexican Pine The Mexican pine can grow to 50 feet tall, with long, slender needles that drape off it like a weeping willow . Often nicknamed the "willow pine", it is native to Mexico. Its leaves can droop up to 12 inches long. Sugar Pine The sugar pine is another of the large pine species, such as the bull pine, but it also has the largest cones of any pine species, at 10 to 20 inches long. It grows from Oregon to California and is often used for construction. Jack Pine The jack pine is one of the smallest species of pine with rare leaves. Compared with the pines mentioned above, it doesn't seem to belong to the family. It is considered a member of the scrub-pine family; it prefers sandy soil. The Mexican pine _ . Answer: My name's Molly. I'm a lion. I am three years old .My favorite food is meat and I like to eat little animals .I like the forest ,but I live in the zoo now, I live in a big cage. I can't run and I can't see my parents,I don't like the zoo or the cage. Every day I get up in the cage ,I have breakfast,lunch and dinner in the cage. I sleep in the cage .I really want to run in the forest and live with my parents. Molly's parents _ . Answer: People often like collecting things. Collecting stamps, books, pictures and pens are some common hobbies. I know many kinds of collections. but do you know the collection of clocks? My friend Mr. Clock, a short man, has the hobby. He has one thousand five hundred clocks. There are clocks here and there in his house. You can see lots of clocks on shelves. As there is not enough room for so many clocks, the man has to put clocks into some boxes under the beds in his house. Mr. Clock likes his large collection of clocks, but his wife,Mrs. Clock does not enjoy them at all. She complains every day because she has to do much work,for it is not easy to clean hundreds of clocks. She also complains about the noise. Each clock keeps a different time. So she can hear the chimes almost any time day and night. There is something even worse. With so many clocks around, she is never able to know the correct time! Mrs. Clock complains every day because _ . Answer: What would make it to your list of top 10 country songs? This article talks about the classic songs that make the cut... Ring of fire Sung by Johnny Cash, Ring of Fire remains as powerful a song today as it was when it was written and sung in the 1960's. Johnny Cash's singing, together with June Carter's lyrics , makes it on any list of top 10 country songs. Sweet Dreams Sweet Dreams was released after Patsy Cline's death in a plane crash. It reflects her emotional style. The song is a good sample of one of the most successful and talented musicians of the 20th century. Written by Don Gibson, this country song is an all-time classic, and one of the most popular country songs around. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry Sung by Hand Williams, this soul stirring country song is still loved by millions of fans worldwide, because of the spirit its lyrics convey and Williams' beautiful voice. Many artists have recorded their own versions, but nothing comes close to the magical original . Coat of Many Colors Dolly Parton's single from the album of the same name, describing the poverty of her youth, is widely regarded as one of her best works, and also one of the best country songs ever. Coat of Many Colors made it to Time Magazine's "100 Greatest Albums of All Time" list. Calypso Although John Denver's Country Roads, Annie's Song and Rocky Mountain High are perhaps more famous. Calypso with its powerful notes and lyrics remains my favorite John Denver country song of all time. The kiss Faith Hill's foot tapper make it to the number one slot on the Country Charts in both the US and Canada. Although her single Breathe is also amazing, This Kiss may well be one of the top 10 country songs of all time. If you are interested in Pasty Cline's , emotional music style, you can listen to _ . Answer:
Question: moist means high in what? A. rock B. solids C. watery D. heat Answer: C Question: BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhuanet)--- A new hotel concept has been realized in a village in Northern Sweden, which aims to make the simple treehouse become a world-class destination for travellers. The Treehotel, located in a place called Harads, will consist of four rooms when it opens on July 17th: the Cabin, the Blue Cone, the Nest, and the Mirrorcube. Two additional rooms are scheduled to open in October. The long term vision is even more _ . "Our goal in five years is to have 24 rooms from 24 different architects," says Treehotel co-founder Kent Lindvall. The first six rooms were designed by five different architects. The Mirrorcube which stands four meters high and four meters wide, and the walls of which are made with a mirrored glass, has drawn widespread attention as it will be attached to a single tree. "It's an interesting building. You can't find anything else like this in the world today. It's unique ," says Lindvall. "Everything will reflect in it---the trees, the birds, the clouds and the sun in the forest. So it could hardly be seen in the forest. This is untouched forest and we want to keep it the same way." Lindvall says the Treehotel's vision proves a powerful draw, with enquiries coming in from far and wide. "I think what's exciting here is that we're just 60 km below the Arctic Circle. It means there's a good possibility to have the northern lights in the winter and of course to have the midnight sun in the summer." The motto of the Treehotel is "Feel Free in a Tree" and expense will cost up to about $555.50 for two guests in the Cube, which is designed to hold up to four guests. According to the passage, the Mirrorcube is a unique building because _ . A. everything can reflect in it B. it's large with plenty of space C. there is a large mirror wall in it D. it has limited effect on local wildlife Answer: A Question: Everyone hopes to have a healthy lifestyle. But do you know what a healthy lifestyle is like? Here are some ways to have a healthy life. Get active This is the most important way of a healthy lifestyle. Walking, running, playing basketball and other sports will help you keep healthy. Keep clean Keep the places around you clean. Unclean and untidy places can not only make you angry but also (...) make you ill. Eat healthily Our health depends on our food, so everyone should remember to eat healthy food. The healthier food you eat, the healthier you will be. Live green This is the easiest way to live a healthy lifestyle. Plant trees around your house. Try your best to use less water. Stop using things if they are bad for environment . How many ways does the passage tell people to have a healthy lifestyle? A. Two. B. Three. C. Four. D. Five. Answer: C Question: My family moved from Taiwan to a small town in central Georgia, where my dad got a visa for his family and a job. I had just learned English, and from what little I could gather from my classmates, Santa Claus would come down one's chimney and put toys in one's stocking on Christmas Eve! What a great country, I thought. After I looked up "stocking" in my Chinese-English dictionary, I knew _ . On that fateful night, after everyone went to bed, I took my longest, cleanest knee sock and attached it to a nail already on the mantel . Obviously, the previous owners of this house were no strangers to this Santa character. I woke up before everyone else on Christmas Day and ran to the fireplace. To make a sob story short, I was hit with the reality of an empty sock and the biggest lie ever told. I burst into tears, quickly took down the sock, and stuffed it in the back of a drawer. Santa was dead. Every December since then, the topic of Christmas memories would unavoidably come up, and I would amuse my friends with my poor-little-me story. I had to make it as funny as possible, or else I would cry. How could I know that Santa was just late? Nine years ago, on Christmas Eve, an older man with a white beard and a red cap knocked on my front door. He said, "I've been looking for you for twenty-five years." He handed me a bulging red stocking, winked, and left. On top of the stocking was a card. It read: "For Becky--I may have missed you in the second grade, but you've always lived in my heart. Santa." Through tear-blurred eyes, I recognized the handwriting of Jill, a friend I had met just two months before. I later discovered that the older man was her father. Jill had seen the hurt little girl underneath the thirty-something woman and decided to do something about it. So now I believe that Santa is real. I don't mean the twinkle-eyed character of children's mythology or the creation of American holiday marketers. Those Santas annoy and sadden me. I believe in the Santa Claus that live inside good and thoughtful people. This Santa does not return to the North Pole after a crazy delivery but lives each day purposefully, really listens to friends, and then plans deliberate acts of kindness. It can be inferred from the passage that the author's parents _ . A. didn't love their child at all B. didn't know the previous owners of the house C. didn't know much about Christmas tradition D. didn't have enough money to buy the author Christmas presents Answer: C Question: Of all the famous English writers, probably the best known is William Shakespeare. He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564 on April the 23rd. His father was an important man in town so Shakespeare had a good upbringing. Shakespeare probably went to school (although no records survive to prove this) but not university. He got married when he was 18 to Anne Hathaway and the couple had 3 children. Shakespeare wrote 38 plays and 154 sonnets (a sonnet is a kind of poem). He began working in his home town of Stratford but by 1592 was writing in London. He became rich enough to buy a house in the capital and one in Stratford. He wrote sad stories called tragedies, like Romeo and Juliet, funny stories or comedies, romantic stories and stories about historical figures such as Julius Caesar. Shakespeare died on his birthday in 1616, almost 400 years ago. But why is his work still popular today? His work looked at common human themes, such as betrayal, murder, lust, power, ambition and love. These themes are as much a part of human nature today as they were all those years ago and are the themes we see in modern soap operas and Hollywood films. Even though his theatre, The Globe, burned down in 1613 it was rebuilt in London in 1997 and you can still see his plays performed there today. Shakespeare's influence on the English language can still be felt today. We talk about "fair play", meaning honest behaviour but this phrase was first used by Shakespeare. He coined the phrase "you can have too much of a good thing". And it was Shakespeare who came up with the expression to disappear "into thin air" which we still use today when we lose something. Shakespeare's work has been translated into every major language in the world. And perhaps we'll still be as fascinated by his work 400 years from now as we've been for the last 400. What do we know about Shakespeare's work? A. It covers different themes. B. It mainly talks about love. C. It is only shown in his theatre. D. It's only about the life in London. Answer: A
My name is Susan. I am a junior high school student. I like my school and my friends. I like my school because we have good teachers. They teach us many things. But then, I don't understand lots of things about school. I don't understand why we have to take so many tests . I have to take a heavy school bag with many books in it. I may have a test anytime. I don't like taking tests all the time. I wonder if I like my school life. It is hard for me to answer this kind of question. On one hand I am not happy because there are so many tests in the school; on the other hand I am happy because I can learn a lot and I can make good friends in school. . Why doesn't Susan sometimes like her school life? Some kinds of fish live most of their lives in salt water but lay their eggs in freshwater. Their ability to survive in different environments is an example of Many people have great difficulty in saying goodbye. But from goodbye moments, we can always learn something. Once, I overheard a father and daughter in their goodbye moment. The father said, "I love you, I wish you enough." The daughter answered, "Daddy, our life together has been more than enough. Your lover is all that I need. I wish you enough, too, Daddy." They kissed and she left ... The father walked over towards me. I could see he wanted and needed a cry. He came over to me and asked, "Did you ever say a forever goodbye to someone?" Before I could answer, he went on, " I am old and she lives much too far away. I know her next trip back would be for my funeral ." "When you were saying goodbye I heard you say, 'I wish you enough.' May I ask what that means?" He began to smile , "It's a wish that has come down from my great-great-grandparents. And my parents used to say it to me." He stopped for a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it. He smiled even more. "When we said'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life full of enough good things." Then, turning towards me, he shared the following "wish" from his heart. I wish you enough sun to keep you bright . I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more. I wish you enough happiness to keep you alive. I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger. I wish enough hellos to get you through the final goodbye. My friends, I wish you enough. From the passage, we may learn _ . Americans are very direct people. When they want something, they say"Yes", and when they don't, they say "No".If they want something different from what is given, they ask for it. Here's an example : I arrive at someone's house and he or she gives me wine, but I don't want wine. Maybe I don't like it or maybe I just don't want it. I will say "No thanks". If everyone around me is drinking something, I would ask for something else,"No thanks. But I'll take a bit of tea if you have some." It's a polite way to ask something you really want. If I really want wine, I just say "Yes, thank you". Unless they happen know the Chinese customs(;), _ will not ask you again and again after you to eat or drink something. ,,. (10) From this passage we know that _ . 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. Which of the following is true according to the passage?
Exploit your parking space An unused parking space or garage can make money. If you live near a city center or an airport, you could make anything up to PS200 or PS300 a week. Put an advertisement for free on Letpark or Atmyhousepark. Rent a room Spare room? Not only will a lodger earn you an income, but also, thanks to the government-backed "rent a room" program, you won't have to pay any tax on the first PS4500 you make per year. Try advertising your room on Roomspare or Roommateeasy. Make money during special events Don't want a full-time lodger? Then rent on a short-term basis. If you live in the capital, renting a room out during the Olympics or other big events could bring in money. Grashpadder can advertise your space. Live on set Renting your home out as a "film set" could earn you hundreds of pounds a day, depending on the film production company and how long your home is needed. A quick search on the Internet will bring up dozens of online companies that allow you to register your home for free--but you will be charged if your home gets picked. Use your roof You need the right kind of roof, but some energy companies pay the cost of fixing solar equipment(aroundPS14,000) and let you use the energy produced for nothing. In return, they get paid for unused energy fed back into the National Grid. However, you have to sign a 25-year agreement with the supplier, which could prevent you from changing the roof. Where can you put an advertisement to rent out a room during a big event? Answer: The City Bike program rolled into New York last spring and proved a hit, with nearly 12,000 New Yorkers signing up for annual memberships. Since 2010, over a dozen US cities have introduced bike-share programs. There're plenty of bike stations near parks and other car-free areas. The programs we looked at in major cities work the same way. You buy a 24-hour pass. During the time, you get an unlimited number of 30-minute rides. If you go over your given half-hour ride time, you start paying fees for each following 30-minute period. Here are some of the biggest bike-share program in America. Minneapolis: Nice Ride Minnesota Station : Minnehaha Ave. & Minnehaha Pkwy How much: $ 6 for a 24-hour pass. How it works: The first 30 minutes are included in the pass; $ 1.50 for the second 30 minutes; $ 4.50 for the third 30 minutes; later $ 6 for every half an hour. Chicago: Divvy Bikes Station : Lakeshore Drive and Monroe St; also Museum Campus How much: $ 7 for a 24-hour pass, with unlimited 30-minute trips. How it works: The first 30 minutes are included in the pass; $ 2 for the second 30 minutes; $ 6 for the third 30 minutes; later $ 8 for every half an hour. New York City: Citi Bike Station : Central Park So. & 6thAve; also Broadway & W.57thSt. How much: $ 9.95 for a 24-hour pass. How it works: The first 30 minutes are included in the pass; $ 4 for the second 30 minutes; $ 9 for the third 30 minutes; later $ 12 for every half an hour. Boston: Hubway Station : Tremont St. & West St. How much: $ 6 for a 24-hour pass. How it works: The first 30 minutes are included in the pass; $ 2 for the second 30 minutes; $ 4 for the third 30 minutes; later $ 8 for every half an hour. We are volunteers. If you want to know more information, please contact us. If you visit Boston by riding Hubway bike for 3 hours, you have to pay _ . Answer: Which is more likely to be able to develop? Answer: What is your earliest childhood memory? Can you remember learning to walk? Or talk? The first time you watched a television program? Adults seldom call back events much earlier than the year or so before entering school, just as children younger than three or four seldom remember any specific, personal experiences. A variety of explanations have been suggested by psychologists for this "childhood amnesia". Now Annette Simms, a psychologist of Riverdale University, offers a new explanation for childhood amnesia. According to Dr. Simms, children need to learn to use someone else's spoken description of their personal experiences in order to turn their own short-term, fast forgotten impressions of them into long-term memories. In other words, children have to talk about their experiences and hear others talk about them. Without this verbal reinforcement , children cannot form permanent memories of what they have experienced. So why should personal memories depend so heavily on hearing them described? Dr. Simms presents evidence that the human mind organizes memories in that way. Children whose mothers talk with them about the day's activities before bedtime tend to remember more of the day's special event than those whose mothers don't. Talking about an event in this way helps a child to remember it. And learning to organize memories as a continuous story is the key to a permanent mental "autobiography " of important life events. Dr. Simms suggests that we humans may be biologically programmed to turn our life experiences into a novel. The key to creating this mental life story is language, says Dr. Simms. "Children learn to talk about the past," she says. "Talking to others about their short-term memories of the past leads to the establishment of long-term memories." One way it does this is by helping a child to recognize that the retelling of an experience is just the experience itself, recreated in the form of words. The child learns that this "word-description" of an experience can then be stored in the memory and called back at any time. But a child's language skills are usually not ready for this until the age of three or four, so they have no way to remember the earliest of their experiences. Which of the following is the main idea of this passage? Answer: My name is David Green. I am an English boy. My family are in Beijing. My father and mother work there. I have a sister but no brothers. We have a nice house in Beijing. There is a TV, a radios, a telephone, a computer, two small beds, a big bed and a soccer ball in it. The computer is next to the TV. The telephone is in the big bed. The football is under one of the small beds. I like playing football , but my sister likes watching TV. There is a computer _ . Answer:
Question: This summer, Liu Hongcan, a 30-year-old Chongqing woman, had to say goodbye to her daughter again. She sent her little girl to Guizhou province to stay with her daughter's grandparents for the summer vacation _ in Chongqing. A list of "hottest cities" in China came out last month. Chongqing is No.1 on the list. Fuzhou and Hangzhou take the second and third place. The list is based on a "heat index" .It uses temperature and humidity date 1981 to 2011.The scientists tried to learn how hot the weather was over a period of time, and find out how people feel. High humidity will stop heat leaving the body. It makes people feel worse on high-temperature. Dryness, on the other hand, can allow heat to leave the body. In July this year, Chongqing saw 25 days of high temperature (over 35degC). Forty-eight people in the city had heatstroke from the start of April to the middle of August, the local health bureau said. Chongqing people have to look for different ways to cool down. Throwing themselves into water is a good choice. Lin Jing, a worker at the Caribbean Water Park has received more guests this summer than before. About 15,000 people have visited the park a day during this year's hot season. Where is the passage probably from? A. Movies. B. Story book. C. Newspaper. D. Science book. Answer: C Question: To most people, noise pollution is a jet flying over their head. For one Spanish woman, it is a neighbor playing the piano. The woman has taken her neighbor to court. Now she wants to send her neighbor to prison for over seven years on the charges of psychological damage and noise pollution. In a country known for its noisiness, the case has raised eyebrows. Neighbors often complain about street noise in Spain, but people seeking prison time for someone practicing the piano is unheard of. At the trial, Sonia Bosom says she has been suffering noise pollution up to now due to the practice sessions of Laia Martin, who lives below her. Martin, 27, didn't admit that she played at home that often, saying she took regular classes in other towns and mostly practiced at home on the weekends. On the first day of the trial, the newspaper reported that Bosom told the court she now hated pianos so much that she couldn't even stand seeing them in a film. Bosom says years of hearing constant playing has caused her "psychological injury". Medical reports show she has suffered from a variety of problems, including insomnia , anxiety, and panic attacks. She says tests by local authorities have found that the sound levels made by the piano are up to 10 decibels higher than the limit. City authorities have asked the family several times to either stop the piano playing or soundproof the room. The family told the court they carried out soundproofing work twice but the complaints continued. The court hasn't made a final decision. A spokeswoman says the trial will end before May. Bosom wants to send Martin to prison because _ . A. Martin's playing the piano damaged her health B. Bosom suffered from heart attack C. Martin refused to take regular classes in other towns D. Martin flew a jet over her head Answer: A Question: In Germany there are different kinds of high schools. Some prepare students for workers, others prepare them for college. All schools are great places for making friends and learning German. Short days Most high schools in Germany begin at about 8:00 a.m. and end at about 3:30 p.m. This means your morning will be busy with classes. You will have time to do homework and take part in private clubs after school. Formal setting In Germany, teachers and students' relationship is more formal than you might be used to. Teachers are _ and students must use the formal "Sie(,)" when talking to teachers. Getting to school Most students take public transport to school or ride a bicycle. Some areas have school buses. It is not common for parents to drive students to school. Private clubs In many countries, schools offer official sports and after-school activities. This is less common in Germany. After-school activities are usually organized through private clubs. There are clubs for things like soccer, dance, choir, theatre and almost everything else. Once you are in Germany, ask around at school and talk to other students to find out what private clubs are in your area and meet your interests. Different states, different schools Each of Germany's 16 states has its own slightly different school systems. The school system in Brandenburg will be a little different from the system in Bavaria for example. Where you live, your knowledge level and your age will decide what school you can attend. For high school students in Germany, which is NOT the common transport to school? A. School buses. B. Parents' cars. C. Public transport. D. Students' bicycles. Answer: B Question: One Friday Mrs. King asked her class to write a story after class. "Use your imagination!" she cried, "You can write your story about anything." Kenny looked worried. "A story?" he thought, "What could I possible have to write about? I don't know any stories." The bell rang and all the kids went home. The next day, Kenny sat at his desk at home, thinking and thinking. The warm sun was shining through the windows, making him _ And soon he fell fast asleep. As he slept, Kenny began to dream about fantastic things. First he dreamed that he was a world-famous doctor, saving whole cities and curing diseases. Then he dreamed that he was in a UFO. He was talking to strange but friendly space creatures. Then he dreamed that he had become as small as a mouse by a bad scientist. He had to find a way to stop the plot of the mad scientist! Kenny dreamed wonderful and exciting things until his little brother woke him up. "What were you dreaming about?" he asked. Kenny told his brother the wonderful dreams. His brother enjoyed the stories. Suddenly, Kenny knew that he had his kinds of stories in his imagination. How many dreams did Kenny have? A. One B. Two C. Three D. Four Answer: C Question: An eight-year-old boy named Liangliang liked watching cartoons every day instead of doing his homework, so his mother stopped him from watching cartoons. Liangliang called the police to take his mother away--such a "good reason" to call the police. Most people would just laugh it off. However, it shows that something is wrong with our education. It rings alarm to our Chinese parents to think about it. Parents should ask themselves why they're so angry when their kids want to watch cartoons instead of doing homework. Kids are supposed to be simple and naughty . They can just ask their kids to do things they expect them to do. Schoolwork is important but a healthy childhood is much more important. If they push their kids too hard, the kids will not listen to them. Instead, parents should spend some time talking to their kids and help them grow in a good way. It's also a good way to help parents themselves to grow, too. In China, lots of parents care more about scores than any other things. They hope their kids can be top students and go to the top colleges. Curriculum Reformation is coming though, and it would bring some changes to our schools. It's also time for parents to change their minds to reduce pressure on their kids and help them to grow happily and naturally. The main idea of the passage is that _ . A. kids can call the police if they are angry with their parents B. parents should not care about scores any more C. kids should be allowed to watch cartoons D. parents should help kids to grow happily and naturally Answer: D
Question: A plant will get more light energy A. if it drinks power drinks B. if the trees cover it C. if it gets more rain D. if the leaves are bigger Answer: D. if the leaves are bigger Question: Statuses are marvelous human inventions that enable us to get along with one another and to determine where we "fit"in society.As we go about our everyday lives,we mentally attempt to place people in terms of their statuses.For example,we must judge whether the person in the library is a reader or a librarian,whether the telephone caller is a friend or a salesman,whether the unfamiliar person on our property is a thief or a meter reader,and so on. The statuses we assume often vary with the people we encounter,and change throughout life.Most of us can,at very high speed,assume the statuses that various situations require.Much of social interaction consists of identifying and selecting among appropriate statuses and allowing other people to assume their statuses in relation to us.This means that we fit our actions to those of other people,based on a constant mental process of _ and interpretation.Although some of us find the task more difficult than others.most of us perform it rather effortlessly. A status has been compared to ready-made clothes.Within certain limits the buyer can choose style and fabric.But an American is not free to choose the costume of a Chinese peasant or that of a Hindu prince.We must choose from among the clothing presented by our society.Further more,our choice is limited to a size that will fit,as well as by our pocketbook.Having made a choice within these limits,we can have certain alterations made,but apart from minor adjustments.We tend to be limited to what the stores have on their racks.Statuses too come ready made,and the range of choice among them is limited. By saying that"an American is not free to choose the costume of a Chinese peasant or that of a Hindu prince",the writer means _ . A. different people have different styles of clothes B. ready-made clothes may need alterations C. our choice of statuses is limited D. statuses come ready made just like clothes Answer: C. our choice of statuses is limited Question: How to Study Smarter, Not Harder Here are some of our favorite study tips that will help any student study smarter, not harder: Recite As You Study Reciting--saying things out loud should first take place as you read through each paragraph or section. Test yourself. This will help you to understand as well as learn faster because it is more active than reading or listening. It will also help you to notice your mistakes and the topics you have trouble understanding. Take Fuller Notes Notes should be in your own words, brief and clear. They should be tidy and easy to read. Writing notes will help you better than just underlining as you read, since it forces you to rewrite ideas in your own words. Study the Middle The best time to review is soon after you've learned something. You are more likely to remember the material at the beginning and the end of the lesson, so make sure you focus on the middle when you review. Sleep On It Study before going to bed, unless you are very tired. It's easier to remember material you've just learned after sleeping than after an equal period of daytime activity, because your brain continues to think even after you've fallen asleep. Combine Memory and Understanding There are two ways to remember: by memorizing and by understanding. Multiplication tables, telephone numbers, and math formulas are better learned by rote. Ideas are best learned by understanding. The more ways you have to think about an idea, the more meaning it will have; the more meaningful the learning, the better you can remember it. Pay attention to similarities in ideas and concepts, and then try to understand how they fit in with things you already know. Never be satisfied with anything less than a completely clear understanding of what you are reading. If you are not able to follow the thought, go back to the place where you first got confused and try again. When taking notes, you should _ to better help you with reading. A. underline important notes B. write notes in your own words C. take down every detail D. write as quickly as possible Answer: B. write notes in your own words Question: Ice Age Cave Art of Southwest France May 2 1,2013--May 27,2013 Day 1 U.S.--Bordeaux,France Leave the U.S. for Bordeaux to start our prehistoric exploration . Day 2 Bordeaux--Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil On arriving in Bordeaux,join the group to Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil,France's prehistory capital. Check into Les Glycines hotel. Enjoy a welcome dinner here. Day 3 Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil Begin at the Combarelles cave,believed to have been used by Cro-Magnon man between 14,000 and 12,000 years ago. After lunch in a restaurant in the rock,enjoy a guided tour of the National Prehistory Museum,containing one of the largest prehistoric collections. Our day ends at the cave of Font-de-Gaume. Discovered in 1901,it remains one of the most exciting places in the world,with many drawings of horses,deer and so on. Day 4 Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil Journey through Black Perigord,starting with a tour of Sarlat. After lunch in town,visit Bernifal. Discovered in 1898,it offers its visitors various paintings. Day 5 Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil At the Rouffignac cave,get on an electric train to explore the nearly 10 kilometers of cave--a real underground maze of prehistoric drawings and several surprising handprints. Pause for lunch in a local farm house,then continue to Abril Castanet. Day 6 Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil After checking out of Les Glycines,travel to Cougnac cave,containing the oldest paintings in a site open to the public. Enjoy lunch in this beautiful town on the Dordogne river. As you leave Rocamadour,visit the Abrides Merveilles,then continue to the popular Chateau de Mercues. Day 7 Toulouse--U.S Check out of the Chateau de Mercues,and travel to the Toulouse airport for your return flight to the U.S. Where will tourists have a welcome dinner? A. At the Rouffignac cave. B. At the Cougnac cave. C. In the Les Glycines hotel. D. At the Combarelles cave. Answer: C. In the Les Glycines hotel. Question: The strong emphasis on educational achievement in China, Japan and other parts of South-East Asia may be coming at a heavy price. Researchers say that hard work at school plus the lack of exposure to outdoor light is damaging the eyes of almost nine out of ten students--with one in five at serious risk of visual impairment and blindness. The scientists say that young people need up to three hours a day of outdoor light, but many infants are also missing out as they nap during lunch time. Dr. Ian Morgan is the lead author of the study. "I think what's happened in South-East Asia is that we've got _ . We've got the massive educational pressures and we've got the construction of a child's day in a way that really minimises the amount of time they spend outside in bright light." The scientists say that genetic factors, long thought to play a big role in short-sightedness, are not as important as the environment. They point to Singapore as a place with several different racial groups, all of whom are now suffering high levels of short-sightedness. The authors suggest that compulsory time outdoors should be considered by educational authorities across South-East Asia as a way of dealing with the problem. What does the passage mainly talk about ? A. Educational achievement in Asia. B. Sight problems in South-East Asia. C. Risk of visual impairment and blindness. D. Massive educational pressures Answer: B. Sight problems in South-East Asia.
The human body has hundreds of muscles. The three types are skeletal muscles, smooth muscles and cardiac, or heart muscles. Each kind of muscle has a special job to do. The skeletal muscles are attached to the bones; they actually hold the skeleton together. Strong cords, called tendons , help connect these muscles to the bones. Skeletal muscles give us strength and allow us to move in many ways. If you look at skeletal muscles through a microscope, you will see that it has bands of fibers that look like stripes . These stripes are called striations. Skeletal muscles usually move because the brain has sent a conscious message to them telling them what to do. This is called voluntary movement. Another type of muscle is smooth muscle. Unlike skeletal muscle, smooth muscle does not have striations. This is found in organs such as the stomach, the bladder , the lungs and the eyes. Smooth muscles are smaller than the skeletal muscles and they move involuntarily. The brain tells these muscles what to do, but we aren't even aware of it. For example, we don't have to think about breathing or digesting food. The smooth muscles just do their jobs automatically. For this reason smooth muscles are sometimes called involuntary muscles. Like smooth muscle, cardiac muscle also works involuntarily. It is a very thick muscle that is found only in the walls of the heart. Its job is to pump blood out of the heart and into blood vessels called arteries . The arteries help carry the blood to all parts of the body. When the cardiac muscles relax, they let blood back into the heart. Cardiac muscles have striations, just like skeletal muscles do. When we _ , the job is done by smooth muscles. A close our eyes B kick a ball C hug our friends D lift a suitcase Answer: A Michael learned that the movement of Earth in the solar system causes changes that can be seen on the planet. Which change could be seen on Earth in the time it takes Earth to rotate once on its axis? A day becoming night B winter changing to spring C January changing to February D a new moon becoming a full moon Answer: A Rubbish sorting probably doesn't sound like much fun. But there is a new mobile game that may change your opinion about it, and you might even learn something while you play it-Meet Sortee. Meet Sortee is a puzzle game developed by Flow Studio, a UK company. It makes you think deeply about everyday objects and their meanings. The rule of the game is quite simple. Two bins are placed on either side of the screen. Each of the bins has a label next to it and the label explains what it is for. When an object, such as a car or an apple, appears on the screen, you need to decide which bin it should be sorted into and then send it there by moving your finger. The game seems easy enough at first. But as you move on to more levels, it gets harder. The number of bins increases to three or four and the time given gets shorter. You need to think and move faster. That can be really difficult. There are 400 0bjects in total and more than 100 bins in the game. The more objects you correctly sort, the more game coins you can get It's a bit like working in a rubbish recycling center, but it has no bad smell. You can download the free game from Apple's app store , but it only lets you play the first few levels. If you want to open the next 40 levels, you need to pay 6 yuan for the full game. The passage is probably taken from _ . A a postcard B a newspaper C a comic book D a novel Answer: B What's your opinion on spicy food? Some people cannot handle even the smallest amount of chili in their dinner while others can't get enough of it. Scientists have long been puzzled by why some people love chili and others _ it. Plenty of research has been done on the subject, dating as far back as the 1970s. Previous results showed that a love of chili is related to childhood experiences, and cultural influences affect our taste buds, too. But the latest study has found that a person's love of spicy food may be linked to his or her personality more than anything else, CBC News reported. "We have always assumed that liking drives intake---we eat what we like and we like what we eat. But no one has actually directly bothered to connect these personality traits with intake of chili peppers," said Professor John Hayes from Pennsylvania State University, who led the study. But before you look at the study, you should first know that "spicy" is not a taste, unlike sour, sweet, bitter and salty. It is, in fact, a burning sensation that you feel on the surface of your tongue. This got scientists thinking that maybe a love of spicy food is brought about by people's longing for thrill, something they usually get from watching action movies or riding a roller coaster. In the study, 97 participants, both male and female, were asked to fill out questionnaires about certain traits of their personality, for example. Whether they like new experiences or tend to avoid risks. They were then given cups of water with capsaicin , the plant chemical that makes chili burn, mixed into them. By comparing the answers to questionnaires and what participants said they felt about the spicy water. Researchers found that those who most tended to enjoy action movies or take risks were about six times more likely to enjoy the spicy water. Interestingly, we used to believe that the reason some people can withstand spicy food is that their tongue have become less sensitive to it. However, this latest study has found otherwise. It's not that it doesn't burn as badly, it's that you actually learn to like the burn," Hayes explained. What did Professor John Hayes and his team discover from their study? A what we eat actually helps to develop our personalities. B Males are more likely to enjoy spicy food than females. C Those trying to avoid risks tend to be less interested in spicy food. D People are wrong to treat spicy as a kind of taste rather than a feeling. Answer: C I was fairly new to this particular school since my parents only moved to the area. There was a boy, who, as it turned out, was an orphan and was living and working for a small farming family. He didn't appear at first glance to ever be fully engaged in the school learning process;he would sit quietly, never seem to get any attention from the teacher, and would spend a lot of time staring out of the window just behind him. Over the next few weeks, I got to know this boy while playing outside in the schoolyard playing baseball, or soccer. He was very athletic and very good at anything we played. I started to wonder why he didn't seem to do well in school and why the teacher ignored him. He told me he had been in several foster homes since he was a little boy and that most of his time in the last few years had always been on farms. He said he was made to work before he went to school and as soon as he got home until it was time for bed. He was never given a chance to go out and play, nor was he allowed to have any friends although he told me he really didn't have any friends anyway, because he was an orphan and they did not want anything to do with him. I had never before been acquainted with prejudice of any kind. Here was one characteristic of a human being who through no fault of his own carried a label that prevented him from even having friends as a child. His potential was also being ignored by the teacher. It wasn't that he couldn't learn, or didn't want to -- it was because he wasn't encouraged or in some cases, allowed to. We may all meet people through the years that we tend to apply labels to without really taking the time to get to know them, to discover their real potential because our vision is clouded by how we always put people into _ that we are used to or comfortable with. What was the first impression that the boy gave the author? A He was a troublemaker in class. B He was not drawn into learning. C He often played outside in the schoolyard. D He tried to get his teacher's attention. Answer: B
What's life like on a deserted island? Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona decided to find out. The adventurous senator took a vacation from Capitol Hill and went on a four-day Robinson Crusoe style holiday with his two teenage sons to a remote, uninhabited island in the North Pacific Ocean. The senator and his sons, 15-year-old Tanner and 13-year-old Dallin, traveled 5,200 miles from Phoenix, Arizona to the island of Biggarenn. They didn't carry any food or water. The island is part of the Marshall Islands. It offered no basic facilities, so the Flakes had to catch and cook their own food and purify their water. Their diet was made up of coconuts, crab and fish. They captured the crab and fish themselves and cooked the food over an open fire started with a magnifying glass . The Flakes brought along a lobster trap in hopes of having some delicious treats, but lost it within the first few hours after it was attacked by a shark. They also carried two pumps to remove salt from ocean water. It took them hours each night pumping for just a few gallons of fresh water. One of the most memorable moments of the trip, the father said, was when he and his 15-year-old son were chased by sharks after spearing a fish in the ocean. Still, it was quite an enjoyable holiday for the senator. "For a dad it was a wonderful thing. No video games around, no television, no distractions, no texting," Flake recalled. What's a Robinson Crusoe style holiday like? It was a quarter past nine as Marie hurried into the office building where she was going to work. Her bus had inched along through heavy morning traffic, making her a few minutes late for her very first job. She decided to start out half an hour earlier the next day Once inside the lobby, she had to stand at the elevators and wait several minutes before she could get on one going to the sixth floor. When she finally reached the office marked "King Enterprises", she knocked at the door nervously and waited. There was no answer. She tapped on the door again, but still, there was no reply. From inside the next office, she could hear the sound of voices, so she opened the door and went in. Although she was sure it was the same office she had been in two weeks before when she had had the interview with Mr King, it looked quite different now. In fact, it hardly looked like an office at all. The employees were just standing around chatting and smoking. At the far end of the room, somebody must have just told a good joke, she thought, because there was a loud burst of laughter as she came in. For a moment she had thought they were laughing at her. Then one of the men looked at his watch, clapped his hands and said something to the others. Quickly they all went to their desks and, in a matter of seconds, everyone was hard at work. No one paid any attention to Marie. Finally she went up to the man who was sitting at the desk nearest to the door and explained that this was her first day in the office. Hardly looking up from his work, he told her to have a seat and wait for Mr King, who would arrive at any moment. Then Marie realised that the day's work in the office began just before Mr King arrived. Later she found out that he lived in Connecticut and came into Manhattan on the same train every morning, arriving in the office at 9:35, so that his staff knew exactly when to start working. We can infer from the text that the employees of the enterprise _ The past week has been warm, humid and foggy. As the weather is supposed to cool a little bit tomorrow, a reasonable person could assume that tomorrow will be To which planet do National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientists hope to send humans next? A passenger told an air hostess that he needed a cup of water to take his medicine when the plane just took off. She told him that she would bring him the water in ten minutes. The air hostess was kept so busy that she forgot to give him the water. As a result, the passenger was held up to take his medicine. Thirty minutes later, when the passenger's ring for service sounded, she hurried over to him with a cup of water, but he refused. In the following hours on the plane, each time the air hostess passed by the passenger, she would ask him with a smile whether he needed help or not. But the passenger never answered a word. When he was going to get off the plane, the passenger asked the air hostess to hand him the passengers' booklet . She was very sad. She knew that he would write down sharp words, but with a smile she handed _ to him. Off the plane, she opened the booklet, and smiled, for the passenger put it. "On the flight, you asked me whether I needed help or not for twelve times in all. How can I refuse your twelve sincere smiles?" That's right! Who can refuse twelve sincere smiles from a person? Ten minutes later, the passenger didn't get the water because _ .
Life affects friendships. As we grow, marry, fight in wars, move across the country or change jobs, old friendships fall away and new ones form. As long as we live, the things around us change, and as long as things change, friendships are affected. When we were children we had best friends. No matter what happened we were still friends. We live our lives, however, and do what life calls for us to do, and as we get older, memories fade, faces blur, and even friends' names from childhood are forgotten. Do you have a question about friendship? Do you wonder what to do with a friend who is no longer friendly? Perhaps you will see that you can't control others. If someone wants to be your friend, it is their choice. All you can do is treat them well and do the best for them when you are with them. Then you wish them well when they leave. You can talk to old timers and they will tell you that life is full of incredible joy and incredible sorrow, and that what bothers you today will one day becomes a memory and the sting will be gone. Seniors might tell you that you will learn more as you get older. They will tell you that friendships come and friendships go. Sometimes when they go it will hurt, but you will be okay with it. It's the way life works, after all. What can we learn about friendship, according to the text? Friends in childhood are sometimes forgotten by us. Nowhere else like Alaska can you enjoy a whale exploding out of the water or an eagle pulling a silver fish from the river. Combine these images with high mountains, brilliant icebergs and wonderful meals and you really do have the Best of Alaska! Join us for an unforgettable 7-day holiday to Alaska! You can have fun here: JUNEAU: Juneau, the state capital, is rich in culture and scenic beauty. It is here that we start and end our trip. HAINES: Haines is a small community located along thefjords . The natural beauty and expansive wilderness found here have made Haines an important center for adventure in Alaska. ALASKA INDIAN ARTS: Alaska Indian Arts is a nonprofit corporation devoted to the preservation and continuation of traditional native craft and culture of the Northwest Native Tribes. You can spend a few hours learning carving, playing nativebeading from local artists. SKAGWAY: Skagway is a lively town, which still reflects its gold rush roots and origins. In Skagway, you may stop at the Klondike Gold Rush National Park Visitor's Center and ride the White Pass Yukon Route Railway. GUSTAVUS: Gustavus is the gateway to Glacier Bay National Park. You'll stay at a comfortable house here for two nights. This will be the base for both the whale-watchingexcursion and a full daycruise in Glacier Bay. DATES/ PRICES: May 16, June 20, July 18, August 15. 7 days --- $3,500, including lodging, all meals, excursions, guides, park fees, sales taxes, and transportation between Juneau, Skagway, Haines, and Gustavus. Not included: Alcohol, personal items, airfare to and from Juneau. Contact: E-mail: info@alaskamountainguides.com Call: 1.800.766.3396 Address: Alaska Mountain Guides& Climbing School P.O. Box 1081, Haines AK 99827 You can watch a whale exploding out of the water at _ . Gacier Bay National Park For many people of Norway ,skiing is the best way to have fun in winter. Almost everyone can ski. Children learn to ski after they learn to walk. Long long ago in Norway ,there were no buses, trains or cars. People had to find a way to walk over the deep snow. Skis were the right answer! Although they love winter, the people of Norway are also happy to see summer come. They enjoy the out-door activities at any time of the year. In summer they swim and sunbathe near the beach. Some people go hiking and go mountain climbing. Sail-boating is also very popular during the warm sunny summer months. The Norwegians , like people everywhere, find many in-door ways to have a good time. During the long winter they also enjoy movies. They like to read books from the libraries in all seasons . Family life is very important to the people of Norway. Which sentence is right? Norwegians also like indoor activities. Television has a huge influence on our lives. It is one of the most important ways of getting information. People spend part of their spare time watching television, and much of what they learn comes from it. What we see on TV-movies, news shows, sports shows, advertisements and so on have increased our knowledge and have changed the way we learn about the world today. However, not everything on TV is true. Most of the viewers are children. Television sometimes is like a baby-sitter . It spends more time with children than parents do. But it keeps them in the living room away from healthy outdoor activities. They spend less time playing soccer or walking in the park or playing games in the yard. Of course, there are some programs on TV that are good for children. But there are also some shows which are bad. Children should not watch unhealthy shows. Maybe we can't change what is on TV, but we can choose what we watch. Do you agree? What's the writer's attitude towards television? Neutralist One of my main concerns when I am helping people achieve their goals is how they measure success. I see individuals getting frustrated as they struggle hard for success. One of the main reasons that cause this frustration is that people allow their definition of success to be determined by someone or something else. Another is that they become frustrated at their own apparent lack of success when comparing themselves to other people. We are individuals with individual wants, skills and experiences. We should look at our own skills to determine what is successful to us. We should look inwards to determine what it would mean for us to be successful in our own mind rather than someone else's. Evaluating a successful person needs to look at his pathway to success, his actions ,his determination and translate that into his own experience to see how he can improve himself. You must set your own course of action, and stay on your course. You alone must determine what success means to you. Do what you do to the best of your ability and the rest will take care of itself. For example, I believe that I am successful but I am not a millionaire! Others may not see me as successful in their eyes but that does not matter. It is how I see myself that is important to me and my life. Here is the truth. Being a success is doing your best, not being the best. Success is not something you become; it is something you continue being. When we get to that point, we will experience a lot more joy and a lot less frustration. And that sounds good to us! Remember the great quote from Napoleon Hill, "If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way." In terms of success, the writer thinks people feel frustrated because they _ underestimate themselves
Humans may not have landed on Mars just yet, but that isn't stopping a European company from devising a plan to send four people to the Red Planet within the next few years. This project, called Mars One, aims to send a small group of people to Mars in 2022 and eventually establish a permanent colony on the planet. "Everything we need to go to Mars exists," said Mars One co-founder Bas Lansdorp in March 2014. "We have the rockets to send people to Mars, the equipment to land on Mars, the robots to prepare the settlement for humans. For a one-way mission, all the technology exists." Yet the four astronauts chosen for the trip will be stuck on Mars--forever. And despite Mars One's thorough planning, there are a number of challenges that may prevent the mission from ever taking place. The biggest road block could be the mission's huge cost ($6 billion). However, Lansdorp is confident that Mars One will be able to fund the project by selling the broadcast rights for the mission and subsequent experiences living on the planet. Those broadcast rights will also play a part in helping to select the people who will be sent to Mars. Lansdorp said the company will hold a selection process similar to a reality show. Lansdorp is expecting at least 1 million applications from people around the world. In addition to the cost, several other potential problems could inhibit the mission to Mars. "It's even more challenging to send people there with life support, with food, with air, with all the other things like books, entertainment, means of communication and of providing for their own resources for a long stay on Mars," said Adam Baker, senior lecturer in space engineering at Kingston University in London. "The size of the rockets you'd need to do this would be absolutely _ " According to Project Mars One, humans could send four people to Mars within the next _ years. eight Children are our future, and it's up to us to arm them with the tools to succeed. Sadly, today's children are being armed with more dangerous tools like weapons , drugs and gangs. Once a relatively peaceful environment, many schoolyards of today are becoming unsafe for both students and teachers. Home schools are available to give you choices. Home schooling provides top-quality education, flexibility, and freedom to create your own schedule. At Heritage Home School we believe the choice should be yours. Thanks in part to modern technology, home schooling information is becoming readily available across our nation. A recent study by the ITBS (Iowa Tests of Basic Skills) and TAP (Tests of Achievement and Proficiency) shows us that students of home schools do particularly well when compared with the nationwide average. In every subject at every grade level, students of home schooling scored obviously higher than those in public and private schools. If you're new to home schooling, you may be asking yourself, "Will home schools really work for my children?" Fact: A nationwide study using a random selection of 1,516 families found students of home schooling to be scoring, on average, at or above the 80th percentile in all areas on standardized achievement test. Note: The national average on standardized achievement tests is the 50th percentile. Collectively, the staff at Heritage Home School brings 65 years of experience in home schooling curriculum. We've placed students in the top 2 % of the nation in math and many are successfully moving on to college. One study found that of the home schooled adults, 0% were unemployed, 0% were on welfare and 94% said home education prepared them to be independent persons. For more home schooling information, call us today toll free at(877)532-7665. What is the purpose of the text? To persuade people to choose home schools. Every time Lionel Messi breaks a record, it seems appropriate to compare him to the legends that came before him. In 2012, he rewrote soccer history on multiple occasions, and his latest record came when he scored his 86th goal of the calendar year, breaking Gerd Muller's previous mark, before wrapping up the year with 91 goals. All statistics indicate that Messi is currently the best player in the world, and that he will go down in history as the top footballer of his generation. But when he is judged against all-time greats like Pele and Diego Maradona, he still has work to do. We don't know whether the Barcelona striker will have another year in which he records more than 90 goals, but he must still sustain a similar level of production for the next several seasons. Messi has already taken part in three of Barcelona's victorious Champions League campaigns, and he played an important role in two of them. In order to firmly establish himself as the greatest club football player in history, he must win the tournament a few more times. Most importantly, the Argentine needs to win on the international stage. Regardless of what Messi does for Barcelona, his legacy will be incomplete if he cannot win the World Cup with Argentina. Both Pele and Maradona led their countries to the top of international soccer during their careers, and Messi's performances for his country have been severely disappointing. While he was still a teenager in 2006 --and his lackluster showing is excusable due to his youth--he cannot brush off the disappointment that characterized Argentina's performance in 2010. But the 4-0 loss to Germany in the 2010 World Cup Quarter Final seems to have sparked Messi. He scored 12 times for Argentina last year, and the next World Cup could finally be Messi's breakout performance in blue and white stripes. Due to all of his accomplishments, it is easy to forget that the extraordinary footballer is just 25 years old. If he can avoid injury or lengthy slumps until his speed and skills start to decline due to age, he may continue to break records and win trophies. What is the best title of the passage? Lionel Messi, the Best Soccer Player of All Time ? Many French academics,teachers and parents complain because they feel that intellectual levels are falling rapidly!The figures prove it:young people visit museums less,spend their lives chatting on the Internet,read nothing but Stephen King,while watching American soaps such as Friends or reality shows like Star Academy on television,music player glued to their cars,and the games console handy. It is,however,easy to see these habits in a positive light.Music is the favorite leisure activity:86% of 14-to18-year-olds put it at the top of their activities,above the cinema(71%),clubbing(68%),sport(56%) and television(48%).For 90% of young people aged 14to 18,radio is also very popular:they listen to it every day without exception.International popular music has a strong showing,but songs in French are still in the majority(60%). Young people do,of course,watch a lot of television,but less than their elders,and if they tend to choose mostly soaps and reality TV shows,that is because these are the programs people talk about,which encourages social interaction.Do young people read less than they used to?Maybe,but that's also true of the elders.Young people still read more than their elders.When asked,"Do you like reading?",94% of 14-to-18-year-olds say they do,and 81% are convinced that computers will never replace books. Contrary to popular belief,reading continues to occupy an extremely important place in leisure-time activities,but the reading matter young people choose has changed considerably:there is a greater variety of media(computers and new technologies) and young people admit to taste they would perhaps have been ashamed of in the past.For example,comic strips,Stenphen King or other authors not recognized by mainstream culture,such as Betty Mahmoody (Not Without My Daughter),Mary Higgins Clark or Jostein Gaader (Sophie's World).As Beatrice Toulon,Editor in Chief of the magazine Phosphore,see it,"They don't read the same things as their parents did,but they are not afraid to admit it.They have their own culture,which they flaunt openly!" Which of the following can be best title for the passage? Young People and Culture in France The class teacher thought that hobbies were important for children. So she encouraged all her students to have one, and sometimes she arranged hobby shows for their parents to see as a result. One morning the teacher told the class to have a holiday and get their hobby things to school before 5 p.m. A hobby show would be held the following afternoon. So in the afternoon, the students with nothing to show did their lessons at school as usual, while the lucky ones had a holiday to go home for their hobby works. When the afternoon lessons began, the teacher was surprised to see that Tommy was not there. "I don't believe Tommy has a hobby," she thought. However, at a quarter to five. Tommy arrived with a beautiful collection of butterflies in glass case. The teacher liked the samples very much and put them on a desk in the classroom. But, to her surprise, Tommy picked them up again and began to leave. "What are you doing, Tommy?" she asked. "Those things must stay here until tomorrow afternoon. That's when the parents are coming to see them. " "I know that," answered Tommy, "and I will bring them back tomorrow, but my big brother doesn't want them to be out of our house at night. " "But, aren't the butterflies yours?" asked the teacher. "No," answered Tommy. "They are my brother's." "But Tommy, you should show your own hobby here, not somebody else's. " "I know that," answered Tommy. What surprised her most was the answer. "My hobby is watching my brother collecting butterflies. " What would NOT happen the following afternoon? The butterflies would fly away.
If you're not a fan of KFC's famous Double Down hot dog, don't worry! KFC in the UK is developing a new treat: an edible coffee cup. The product is still in the trial stage and not yet available for purchase, but according to a KFC news report, the treat is made from a unique biscuit, wrapped in sugar paper, and lined with a layer of heat-resistant white chocolate, which helps keep the coffee hot. As you drink the coffee in the cup, the white chocolate lining will begin to melt slowly, and the biscuit begins to soften. But it doesn't end there --- the cups are not only edible, they also have a pleasant smell. KFC partnered with The Robin Collective, an experimental food company, to make the cups with coconut sun cream, freshly cut grass and wild flowers scents. According to the news report, that's because the scents arouse the positive memories we associate with warm weather, sunshine and summer holidays. Sounds ... delicious? A manager at KFC said, "We have been experimenting with the edible packaging in limited quantities to see if it could be a popular product in the market. We believe if our customers occasionally like to have their cake and eat it, why wouldn't they want to have their cup and eat it instead! " The edible cups will only be available in the UK when it comes out. According to a spokesperson for KFC, there are at present no plans to bring it to the U.S. yet. The cup is lined with a layer of white chocolate to _ . Answer: prevent the heat giving off soon These eco-inspired books get kids thinking about nature and environment. How to Raise Monarch Butterflies --By Carol Pasternak Have you ever watched a monarch transform from a caterpillar to a butterfly from up close? In this book, learn everything about the monarch life cycle and how to raise monarchs from eggs to adult butterflies. You will also get to know the efforts involved to protect the species. A Kid's Guide to America's Parks --By Erin McHugh This year, the US National Park Service's National Park Week is on April 21-29. During the week, all the national parks offer free admission. Enrich your knowledge with this book, as it introduces the national parks and some interesting places in the US, including their geography, specific animals as well as environmental challenges. The book's featured places include Yosemite National Park, Ellis Island (home of the Statue of Liberty) and the National Park of American Samoa, the only U.S. national park south of the equator . Where Do you Recyclable Materials Go? --By Sabbithry Persad Tiana had been learning about recycling at school. But when her dog, Bubbles, gets lost running after a recycling truck, she ends up learning a lot more about recyclable materials than ever! Follow Tiana and her family as they search for Bubbles around town and at the Material Recovery Facility. Along the way, readers will learn a lot about recycling and how they can do their part in protecting the environment. Scrap Kins Build-It Book Volume1 --By Brian Yanish Meet the Scrap Kins. They are creative, friendly monster who live in a recycling center, known as Scrap City. They'll show you how to turn junk into pretty cool things. Readers will learn how to create cute bags from old jeans, beautiful ships from milk boxes, and more. Remember that one person's trash is another person's treasure! Why is the National Park of American Samoa special? Answer: It lies south of the equator. Despite the high technology and investment in flood defences by the Environment Agency, there is no way to stop all flooding -- sooner or later nature will produce something that will beat even the strongest defences. Warning people of this danger is very important if we are to prevent the great loss of life seen fifty-three years ago. Indeed if the Flood Warning System that currently exists had been around on that cold, stormy night in January 1953, many lives would have been spared. The Environment Agency took over the role of flood warning in 1995 from the police who had to go door to door or sound alarms to get the news out. The service is being constantly improved and a combination of better technology and increased investment following the Easter Floods of 1998 has led to the creation of Floodline and an automatic messaging system that can warn thousands of people in very little time. Floodline 0845 988 1188 offers information and advice 24 hours a day and if warnings are in place, callers can get information either from local updates or by using a quickdial code for their area. The Flood Warning team in Kent has also sent letters to the people living close to the rivers or the sea and invited them to join the AVM (automated voice messaging) system. Anyone choosing to take up this free service will receive a recorded message directly to their home, business or _ telling them of the level of warning, giving them as much time as possible to carry out their flood plan and save items that cannot be replaced if lost or damaged, such as photographs or children's favorite toys. The best title for this passage may probably be _ . Answer: Flood Warning System Dear Liz, My stay in Thailand has certainly been the experience of my life. Life is busy and exciting.Bangkok is just like any other big city with a population of 10 million and heavy traffic.I'm very lucky because my host family is in a nice quiet area outside the city.There are Mr. and Mrs. Phairat, their son Sanan, who is 18, the daughter Chinda, who is 16, and Grandpa and Grandma. I go to an international school with Sanan and Chinda.The school teaches about 70 percent in English,and 30 percent in Thai. I've learned some spoken language,but Thai writing is very difficult.The cooking lesson is my favourite.I'm learning all about Thai food and culture People don't use chopsticks here,but spoons and forks.When I come back,I'm going to cook you a real Thai meal. Last weekend we visited some temples.We also drove to Pattaya beach near Bangkok.I thought it was great,but Sanan and Chinda say that next month they're taking me to Phuket Island,where the beaches are even more beautiful.The month after next,we're going to travel to Mr.Phairat,s hometown in the north of Thailand.The Phairats own land there,and they have two elephants.I'm going to ride those elephants -- and even wash them.Sanan and Chinda say it's really fun. I'm amazed by everything in this country,especially by the elephants.Elephants are an important pan of Thai culture and way of life.They have been a traditional symbol of Thailand for many years in times of war and peace.In the seventh century,a Thai king trained 20,000 elephants for battle. I'll tell you all about my Thai boxing lessons next time I write. Love, Mandy From the e-mail we know that Mandy is _ when she stays In Thailand. Answer: excited The hottest show this summer---"the Voice" just finished on Sunday at the Shanghai Stadium. But the show that had a good start didn't end to everyone's satisfaction. The two and a half hour show dragged on for more than four hours because of the huge amount of advertising, which the audience and residents living nearby could hardly bear. This summer, something hotter than the weather came to Shanghai. That is the Voice of China. The show soon became a cash cow for the organizer as the advertisement prices reached 1.16 million yuan for 15 seconds. And the show has earned more than 100 million yuan up to now in ad income only, But the organizers' bliss was audiences' melancholy. In the final live show on Sunday, about 14 rounds of advertisements were aired, each of which came at a crucial result-announcing moment. Frequently interrupted by advertisements, some live audience members complained that the show wasn't worth its ticket prices of 180 to 1680 yuan. The planned two and a half hour show went two hours overtime because of the advertising. This annoyed audience members, and touched the nerves of residents living near the site. Someone called the police, and the show is now facing punishment for going over-time and disturbing residents late at night. Which of the following can best serve as the title of the passage? Answer: The Voice of China---hard to say I love you.
Do you often talk with your parents? Here is some advice on how to talk with them. Try to start your talk with something fun. This will make talking easier. For example, ask them questions about their day. How is work? They love this. Make it clear what you want to tell your parents. If they have an opinion, let them finish and don't stop their talking. Ask them to do the same for you. Show them respect by listening to them carefully. Look at them in the eye. Be honest. Honesty builds trust. Life is good when your parents trust you. If your parents don't understand, that's OK. It doesn't mean that they don't love you. Sometimes you have to explain the things to them again. When you finish the talk, thank them for listening. Say something like "Thanks, that helps." It will let them know that is important to you and make them want to do it more often. What's the main idea of the passage? What do you think life would be like if whenever you were asked to do something you had to answer "yes"?Would it be more exciting?Dangerous?A little crazy? Well,that's the premise of a new American comedy called Yes Manthat stars Jim Carry. In the film,Carry plays a divorced loser named Carl,whose idea of a good time is to sit on his couch watching DVDs.Carl's working life is just as boring--he's been at the same bank for five years,and still hasn't got the promotion he wants. But everything changes when he bumps into an old friend on the street,who invites him to attend a seminar about the power of the word "yes".At the seminar,the speaker preaches that if you say "yes" to every opportunity,you'll have a much happier and more fulfilled life than if you let opportunities pass you by. Carl takes this to heart,which sees him offering lifts to homeless people,bungee jumping,and learning to speak Korean and to play the guitar.He also meets a beautiful girl. While the power of "yes" seems to change Carl's life in a positive way,he soon discovers that if you don't make your own decisions,you can end up in some very _ situations. Yes Mansees Carry returning to a comedic role after starring in several serious movies.It came out on December 19thin the US and ranks No.1 at the box office. While the majority of Carry's movies are comedies,he actually considers himself quite a serious person,he said recently on the American talk show "Larry King Live".Carry told Larry King he first started out doing comedy because his mother suffered from depression,and he wanted to find a way to cheer her up or "fix her". And as for whether or not he's a "yes man",Carry said that he hires a whole group of "people who say no for me"so that he can "stay the nice guy everybody knows and loves". According to the passage,Carl learns that _ . What is a riverbank made of? Otto pushed a toy car across a floor. The car traveled fast across the wood, but it slowed to a stop on the carpet. Which best explains what happened when the car reached the carpet? Thousands of taxi drivers in Shenyang, Liaoning province, reportedly blocked streets with their vehicles on Sunday in protest against unlicensed vehicles using taxi-hiring apps and apps-based car rental companies providing passenger services, including high-end cars. Although the drivers also complained about the withdrawal of the fuel subsidy by the government, their main complaint was the loss of business because of the rising number of Internet-based car services companies. On Wednesday, news reports came that Beijing transport authorities will take measures to stop the illegal "taxi business" of private cars through the newly rising Internet apps, following the footsteps of Shenyang and Nanjing.[:Z#xx#k.Com] It is not yet clear how the Shenyang city government will handle the issue and whether it will declare the services offered by market leaders such as Didi Dache, a taxi-hiring app provider backed by Tencent Holdings, and Kuaidi Dache illegal. But Shanghai transport regulators have set a rule, by banning Didi Zhuanche, or car services offered by Didi Dache in December. Such regulations will cause a setback to the car-hiring companies and investors that are waiting to cash in on the potentially booming business. Just last month, Didi Dache got $700 million in funding from global investors, including Singapore state investment company Temasek Holdings, Russian investment company DST Global and Tencent. Besides, the market is uncertain that Kuaidi Dache is about to finalize its latest round of funding after getting $800 million from global investors. Regulatory uncertainties, however, could cast a shadow on the future of the Internet-based car-hiring services, which have become popular in most of China's big cities. To be fair, these companies' business model is anything but bad. For example, Didi Zhuanche works side by side with established car rental companies to provide high-end car service mainly for businesspeople through the Internet and mobile phone apps. Every link in this business model chain has legal companies and services. Hence, it is hard to define it as illegal and ban it. Why did taxi drivers in Shenyang block the streets with their vehicles?
Penguins can taste only sour and salty food, scientists have discovered. A genetic study suggests the flightless birds lost three of the five basic tastes long ago in evolution. Taste is critical for survival in most animals, but may not matter in the penguin, which swallows fish whole, say researchers in China and the US. Many other birds are unable to taste sweet things, but they do have receptors for detecting bitter and umami (or meaty) flavours. The discovery was made when researchers decoding penguin genomes found some of the taste genes were missing. A closer look at the DNA of penguins revealed that all species lack functioning genes for the receptors of sweet, umami, and bitter tastes. "Based on genetic data, penguins are believed to have sour and salty tastes, but have lost sweet, umami, and bitter tastes," lead researcher Prof Jianzhi Zhang, of the University of Michigan, US, and Wuhan University, China, told the reporter. The umami taste gives food the strong, savoury flavour associated with meat. Lacking this sense is surprising for a carnivorous animal, but does not matter that much in the penguin, which swallows fish without chewing. "Their behaviour of swallowing food whole, and their tongue structure and function, suggest that penguins need no taste perception," said Prof Zhang. "Although it is unclear whether these traits are a cause or a consequence of their major taste loss." The findings, published in Current Biology journal, were a puzzle, he added. One clue comes from the bird's evolution on the frozen ice sheets of Antarctica. Sending signals from sweet, umami, and bitter (but not sour or salty) taste receptors to the brain does not work at very low temperatures. This may have led to the penguin gradually losing its sense of taste, say the researchers. Intriguingly , the sweet taste is missing in almost all birds. The hummingbird, which feeds on sweet nectar, is an exception. Which of the following animals can taste sweet flavour according to the passage? Answer: Jenny is an English girl. She is a nice girl. and she is my good friend, My name is Amy. My father is John. My mother is Helen. Jack is my brother. I love them. I like singing. Jack likes reading. My favorite color is blue. Amy likes _ . Answer: Sleep -- or a lack of it -- is probably the most-discussed part of baby care. New parents discover its importance in those first few weeks and months after their babies were born. Actually, the quality and quantity of a baby's sleep affects the well-being of everyone in the family. So how do new parents get their children to bed through the cries? And how much sleep is enough for their children? It all depends on their children' s age. Sleeping charts that list the hours of sleep likely to be required by a baby or a two-year-old may cause concern if individual differences aren't considered. These numbers are simply averages reported by large groups of children of a particular age. There's no satisfactory number of hours required by all kids in a certain age group. Two-year-old Sarah might sleep from 8:00 pm to 8:00 am, while two-year-old Johnny is just as alert the next day after sleeping from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am. Still, sleep is very important to a child's well-being. The link between a child's lack of sleep and his or her behavior isn't always obvious. When adults are tired, they can have low energy, but kids can become overexcited, disagreeable and have extremes in behavior. Most children's sleep requirements fall within a predictable range of hours based on their age, but each child is a unique individual with different sleep needs. Here's a summary of a few ways that may help your child ease into a good night's sleep: Stick to bedtime. Consider playing soft music. Don't give your baby a bottle of milk or any sugar-containing drink to aid sleep. There isn't one sure way to raise a good sleeper, but every parent should be encouraged to know that most children have the ability to sleep well. The key is to try, from early on, to establish healthy sleep habits that may last a lifetime. What can we conclude from the behavior of tired children? Answer: After having worked in the University of Maryland for three years, I got a job offer from another university---Lynn University. I left my letter of offer on my present boss's desk, turned around, and closed the door quietly. I was expecting a call from my boss saying congratulations, which would show her approval of my leaving. In the afternoon, my boss called me, saying, "Can we meet tomorrow? " _ . The next day, I met with my boss. She said, 'Nicholas, we want you. What do you want?" I said, "Boss, I deserve a significant pay raise this year due to my outstanding performance. I think I need a 10% pay raise next year as a condition for me to stay here." My boss said, "No problem.'' When I left her office, I called Lynn University and told them that I was going to get a 10% pay raise. They had to give me 10% more than their original pay offer in order for me to accept the job. The new boss told me that he was willing to give me more, but I would feel very bad working at this university with such a high pay. I would win a battle, but I would lose a war. He said, "The problem is that your colleague will earn less than you, so you will feel guilty and uncomfortable. But, I can still give you 5% more than the original offer." I delivered this massage to my present boss, and she told me that she would give me another 5% pay raise if I promised to refuse this new job offer. On top of that, she would strongly support my early promotion from assistant professor to associate professor. According to the university policy, you must take at least 6 years to get promoted. That was my third year of employment at this university. After refusing the new job offer, I finally enjoyed both a pay raise and early promotion. How much pay raise did the author finally get as a result of refusing the new job offer? Answer: The atmosphere of Mars is almost entirely composed of a greenhouse gas. Compared with Earth, which factor accounts for the low, nighttime surface temperatures on Mars? Answer:
Spain is famous for its tomato festival, called La Tomatina. It happens in a small town Hanoi on the last Wednesday of August every year. During the festival there are all kinds of activities, but the most exciting part is the tomato fight. It takes place at the end of long celebration . You are encouraged to throw tomatoes in the fight. There're many stories about how the festival began. One of the stories goes that during the 1940's, some friends started a tomato fight, while another story is about a local band. Anyway, everyone in Bunol seems to have a different story. Before the tomato fight, there are parades ,musical bands, street parties and so on. On the day of the fight, shopkeepers cover their windows and doors in order to keep away from the tomato fight. At the same time, thousands of tourists and local people come to the town square together. Then large trucks full of tomatoes arrive. From theback of the large trucks, a great town band start to throw tomatoes at others. Then the crowds fight back, throwing the tomatoes at anything and anyone. Soon the streets are in the sea of red tomato juice. Everyone is supposed to obey a small number of rules: You must squash the tomato before throwing it and you are allowed to throw nothing but tomatoes. It is usually over in less than half an hour. Everyone then sets off to the river to clearup. Sounds like fun! On the fight day, _ . Answer: A lot of management training each year for Circle K Corporation, a national chain of convenience stores. Among the topics we address in our course is the retention of quality employees-a real challenge to managers when you consider the pay scale in the service industry. During these discussions, I ask the participants , "What has caused you to stay long enough to become a manager?" Some time back a new manager took the question and slowly, with her voice almost breaking, said, "It was a $19 baseball glove." Cynthia told the group that she originally took a Circle K clerk job as an interim position while she looked for something better. On her second or third day behind the counter, she received a phone call from her nine-year-old son, Jessie. He needed a baseball glove for Little League. She explained that as a single mother, money was very tight, and her first check would have to go for paying bills. Perhaps she could buy his baseball glove with her second or third check. When Cynthia arrived for work the next morning, Patricia, the store manager, asked her to come to the small room in the back of the store that served as an office. Cynthia wondered if she had done something wrong or left some part of her job incomplete from the day before. She was concerned and confused. Patricia handed her a box. "I overheard you talking to your son yesterday," she said, "and I know that it is hard to explain things to kids. This is a baseball glove for Jessie because he may not understand how important he is, even though you have to pay bills before you can buy gloves. You know we can't pay good people like you as much as we would like to; but we do care, and I want you to know you are important to us." The thoughtfulness, empathy and love of this convenience store manager demonstrates vividly that people remember more how much an employer cares than how much the employer pays. An important lesson for the price of a Little League baseball glove. Although a new manager, Cynthia would do her job well in keeping quality employees because she _ . Answer: It is exciting to visit different places. As you travel, you will see beautiful sceneries typical of the region. Besides, you can meet and make friends with people of different color1s and races. Finally, you can get to know the customs and living habits of the local people. Today people are so fond of travelling that tourism has become one of the fastest growing industries in most countries. The main reason why people travel is, perhaps, for pleasure. For example, having worked hard throughout the weekdays, people will find a widened trip to the nearby mountains or beaches for a relaxation. For another example, spending an annual holiday travelling abroad is an especially satisfying experience for those who do not have much of an opportunity to be away from their homelands. When people return from their travel, they will generally feel fresh and energetic, ready to work harder. Travelling is also one of the best means for learning. You may have read or heard about something but you can never get an accurate picture of it until you see it for yourself. _ . Furthermore, if you are a careful observer, you can learn much during your travel about the geography, biology, and history of the places you visit. No matter how well educated you are, there is always a lot for you to learn through travelling. The knowledge _ from travel, as you have found in your life, is no less valuable than that from any influential reference books. By saying "Seeing is believing", the author means that _ Answer: Hippos have always attracted people's interest. Modern hippos in Walt Disney movies can dance lightly. A stone hippo in a 13th-century church in France has wings. And in ancient Egyptian fairy tales, the hippo was a goddess that guided the dead to the afterworld. Despite their popular appeal, hippos, as well as other animals, have difficulty when their needs conflict with those of humans. The early Egyptians liked to hunt hippos for their teeth and because they were dangerous animals. Amulets to protect babies from demons were made from hippo bones. About 4,000 years ago, there were so many hippos in Egypt that they caused serious crop damage. Egyptian farmers killed them routinely, and by the beginning of the 19th century, all the hippos in Africa had been killed. People used to see hippos fight in the arenas of ancient Rome. After the fall of the Roman Empire, hippos weren't seen in Europe again until a few zoos began to exhibit them in the mid 1800s. All the various uses and abuses of hippos through the centuries have made their population fall greatly. Where they do occur, mostly in national parks, they live in such high density that they make the grasslands bare. This causes other grass-eating animals to go farther for food, and hippos, which can't live far from water, destroy their own feeding grounds. In Africa, hippos became extinct _ . Answer: The year 2006 was a busy one for space and technology workers. A planet lost its status and space flights caught the imagination of people around the world. The following is a short list of the major events of the year: _ IBM has built a chip that runs about 100 times faster than the ones we have now. The development could lead to faster computers. The chip was first made in June. It can run at a speed of 500 gigahertz . Pluto loses face The International Astronomical Union created the first scientific definition of the word "planet" in August. Under the new rules, Pluto is no longer called a planet but a "dwarf planet" . Pluto had been considered a planet since its discovery in 1930. For now, there are only the eight "classical" planets in the solar system : They are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Woman space tourist The first woman space tourist was launched on a Russian rocket from Kazakhstan on September 18. The flight carried a businesswoman, named Anousheh Ansari, along with a fresh crew for the International Space Station (ISS). Ansari is a 40-year-old American. She has paid at least US$20 million for the trip. She returned on September 28 after her eight-day stay at the International Space Station. Discovery sent up The US space shuttle Discovery took seven astronauts on a 12-day repair mission to the International Space Station on December 9. It was the first night launch by NASA in four years. The last one ended in the failure of the space shuttle Columbia in 2003. Which of the following statements is WRONG? Answer:
Is there a difference in meaning between "It's too late to telephone. Mary is asleep now." and "It's too late to telephone. Mary will be asleep now."? Yes. The difference is in the reason given for it being too late to telephone. In the first sentence "Mary is asleep now", the speaker is stating a fact. In the second sentence "Mary will be asleep now", the speaker is saying what Mary usually does. In fact, it's possible that Mary isn't asleep, but she is usually asleep at this time. So let's take two situations. In the first case, imagine Mary's mother answers the telephone. You: "May I speak to Mary, please?" Mother: "No. It's too late. Mary is asleep now." You: "Are you sure? It's only 10 0'clock." Mother: "Yes. I went to her room and she was asleep." The mother knows that Mary is asleep because she went into her room and saw her. Here is another case. Two friends decide to telephone Mary. Jack: "Let's telephone Mary. It's 10 0'clock." Jill: "No. It's too late. She will be asleep now." Jill knows that Mary always goes to bed before 10 o'clock, so now she'll probably be asleep. But it is also possible that she is staying up late. In the first situation. Mary's mother _ . A. is afraid to wake up Mary B. wants to tell you that she knows Mary is asleep C. knows that Mary wants to sleep at this time D. wants to know if she can take a message for Mary Answer: B Parents, our first teachers, play a highly significant role in our lives.However, doesn't it seem that many of us come to have conflicts with them when we start high school? We're less likely to listen to them and take their suggestions--we even rebel against them. Why? It may be the so-called "generation gap".A generation gap appears when we begin to feel our parents are ignoring us, don't understand us, and we feel we can no longer share our feelings with them. The key reason is our desire for independence.In senior high school, we start to want to take responsibility for our own lives and make our own decisions.But parents resist this.They still want to control us and try to force us to do things they think we should do.Debate and discussion often come to nothing.Gradually, we talk with them less, and keep our feelings locked up inside. Zhang Xiaoyun, 16, of Ningbo, Zhejiang, has talked less and less with her mother since she started senior high school."She believes studies should be my priority, not my inner world," Zhang said."Each day, she asks me the same old questions like, 'How was your last exam? or 'Have you made any progress in physics?" To Zhang, these questions are annoying and so she always tries to ignore them and answers _ ."Sometimes, when I get upset, I quarrel with her.After, she comes to apologize and comfort me.But I know, she doesn't completely understand me," Zhang said.Now, a home that was once full of laughter has fallen into gloom and silence. The generation gap can be harmful.Because of the lack of communication, our parents no longer know what we are thinking about.There are quarrels, even over trivial things.When that happens, we may not be able to concentrate on our studies.Some of us even become afraid to go home after school-- a very serious situation for the whole family. Which of the following is not included in article? A. The causes of generation gap. B. The effects of generation gap. C. One example of generation gap. D. Ways of narrowing generation gap. Answer: D The Royal Mint has chosen Beatrix Potter's thieving Peter Rabbit as the first character from children's literature ever to appear on a UK coin. Peter, pictured in the blue jacket that he is forced to abandon in the garden of Mr McGregor when he is caught stealing vegetables, is captured on a special, coloured edition of a 50p coin available from now. The Royal Mint, which described Peter as "the most recognizable of Potter's creations, and one of the most cherished from children's literature", will release uncoloured versions of the coin in change later this year. Three more of Potter's characters will also be committed to currency later this year, as part of celebrations marking 150 years since the children's author's birth. The images have been created by coin designer Emma Noble, who said it was "amazing to be given the opportunity to work with such famous and treasured literary characters". Potter's The Tale of Peter Rabbit, featuring Peter and his better-behaved siblings Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail, was the first of her stories to be published, released in 1902 by Frederick Warne & Co. Potter would go on to follow it with a series of much-loved stories which remain popular today, from The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin to The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck. Which of the following statement is true? A. Peter Rabbit is one of the most recognized literary characters in UK. B. The Tale of Peter Rabbit mainly features his better-behaved siblings. C. It was Emma Noble who created Peter Rabbit, the famous literary character. D. Uncoloured versions of the Peter Rabbit coin are available now. Answer: A A short Chinese man is one of the biggest men in the world right now. He is Jack Ma(Ma Yun),the Chair-man of Alibaba Group. On Sept. 19,2014,Alibaba went public and raised$25billion . Ma,a former English teacher,has become the richest man in China. Born in 1964 in Hangzhou,Zhejiang. Ma grew up as a happy kid. When he was a teenager he wanted to learn English. Every morning,he got up at 5 a.m., rode his bike for 40 minutes to a hotel near the West Lake and talked with foreign tourists in English. He did it for nine years , rainy or shine. The experience made him an excellent English speaker and opened his eyes to the outside world. In 1994,Ma Yun heard about the Internet. And on a 1995 trip to the US ,Ma was shown the Internet for the first time. He searched the word "beer" on Yahoo,and found that there was nothing there about China. Seeing the chance,Ma returned to China and set up a website called China Pages without even knowing much about computers. Four years later,Ma,his wife and his friends set up Alibaba in HangZhou. He believed in the Internet business potential when few other Chinese did.15 year later,Alibaba has developed into the world's largest e-commerce company ,owning popular shopping websites like Taobao and Tmall. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? A. The first website Ma Yun set up was Yahoo. B. Alibaba raised a lot of money after it went public. C. Ma Yun began to learn English when he was a teenager. D. Ma Yun believed that lnternet business world have a bright future. Answer: A If a snake bites you, take a photo with your mobile phone! It save your life. This is the surprising advice of a British cook. One day Henry Jackson was working in a restaurant kitchen. He picked up a dish from a table, and suddenly a snake appeared and bit him on the hand. A few days earlier, the snake came to the restaurant from Asia in a box of bananas. It climbed out of the box and hid under the dish. " I tried to pick it up and it bit me. I threw it away, but it landed in the fridge. So I closed the door." Jackson said. Anyway, Jackson was cool and he took a photo of the snake with his mobile phone. Soon his hand began to ache and he went to hospital. Then his chest began to hurt. Doctors couldn't say what was wrong because they didn't know what kind of snake it was. Then Jackson remembered his mobile phone photo. The doctors sent it to London Zoo. When they knew the kind of snake, they could give Jackson the right medicine, and he left hospital the next day. " So my advice is this: If a snake bits you, pick up your phone. Take its photo first and then call the hospital. Show the photo to the doctors," suggests Mr. Jackson. " Oh, and if the snake doesn't smile for its photo, don't worry!" Mr. Jackson threw the snake away probably because _ . A. he was surprised B. he wanted to get a better photo C. his chest began to hurt D. the fridge door was open Answer: D
Millions of people die of hunger in southern Africa every year, but when Zambia was offered thousands of tons of free maize by the US, the government politely said no. "We don't know whether the food is safe," said Zambia's commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Dipak Patel. His worries are shared by countries around the world that are in two minds about America's genetically modified(GM,)crops.Just last week, EU member nations were discussing whether or not to import GM sweet corn from the US. Ever since people started farming, they have tried to crossbreed plants to make them stronger or better tasting. At one time, only related plants could be crossed with each other. But when GM techniques were developed in the 1970s, scientists were able to put a single gene from a living creature into an unrelated creature. This means they can make crops more productive and resistant to disease by adding genes from other species.They can also create food with special characteristics, such as "golden rice", which is enriched with vitamin A. But many people believe GM foods are a health risk. At the moment, the official argument is that GM foods "are not likely to present risks for human health". But there are still many questions to be answered as the foods are produced in different ways. Some experts believe the genetic material added to plants can transfer to humans and give damage to our bodies. Further harm could be caused by the genes from GM plants crossbreeding with naturally produced crops. People in China are also getting worried about GM foods. More than 70 percent of the country's soybean oil is produced from imported GM soybeans. Meanwhile, an investigation last November found that 12 of 60 famous foods sold across the country were GM products. The government has begun to introduce a marking system for GM goods so that people can choose whether or not to eat them. Which of the following statement is TRUE? A. GM foods are a health risk. B. Only Zambia worries about the safety of GM foods . C. China's government hasn't taken any action about GM foods. D. Some experts believe human bodies can absorb genetic material from GM foods. Answer: D. Some experts believe human bodies can absorb genetic material from GM foods. Shakespeare's life can be divided into three periods: the first 20 years in Stratford, which includes his schooling,early marriage, and fatherhood;the next 25 years as an actor and playwright in London; and the last five in retirement back in Stratford where he enjoyed the wealth gained from his theatrical successes. The years linking the first two periods are marked by a lack of information about Shakespeare, and are often referred to as the "dark years". Shakespeare probably left school at 15, and took some sorts of jobs, especially since this was the period of his father's financial difficulty. A great number of references in his plays suggest that William may have in fact worked for his father, thus gaining specialized knowledge. At some point during the "dark years", Shakespeare began his career with a London theatrical company -- perhaps in 1589 -- for he was already an actor and playwright in 1592. Shakespeare apparently wrote and acted for Pembroke's Men, as well as a lot of others, in particular Strange's Men, which later became the Chamberlain's Men. When, in 1592, the theaters were closed for about two years, due to a terrible disease. Shakespeare turned to writing book-length poetry. Most _ were Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece, both of which have been translated into many languages and even been included in students' textbooks. During this same period, Shakespeare was writing his sonnets , which are more likely signs of the time's fashion rather than actual love poems detailing any particular relationship. He returned to play writing when theater reopened in 1594, and published no more poetry. His sonnets were published without his permission in 1609, shortly before his retirement. His final play was Henry VIII, two years before his death in 1616. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true? A. Shakespeare didn't write any plays between 1592 and 1594. B. Shakespeare's sonnets were written between 1592 and 1594. C. After writing Henry VIII, Shakespeare wrote nothing. D. Shakespeare published his sonnets in 1609. Answer: D. Shakespeare published his sonnets in 1609. All boys and girls like good stories. I am sure that all children who read The Ugly Duckling will be glad to know something about the 'King of Story Tellers', who wrote it for them. Thousands and thousands of children have read this story, only to ask for it again and again. It has travelled the wide world over, and has been told in every country. Hans Christian Andersen, the author of "The Ugly Duckling," was born in Denmark. If you look on a map, you will see this little country in northern Europe. There, in the little village of Odense, he spent his boyhood. His father and mother were very poor. The family lived in two little rooms near the top of a house, where his father worked as a shoemaker. On the roof was a box filled with earth. In this box his mother planted her vegetables. Little Hans loved to walk with his father in the woods, where he could pick wild flowers and hear the birds sing. His father read to him when his work was done, or told him stories. What his father did helped him open up a new world. Once, when Hans was still a child, he went into a wheat field with his mother and a number of children, to pick the rest wheat which the reapers had left in the field. While they were busy picking only a small amount of wheat for each of them, an angry bailiff came rushing into the field, armed with a whip . All ran, as fast as they could, away from the angry man. _ and the sharp stalks of the wheat plants which had been cut down, cut his feet so that he could not get away. Unafraid, the boy faced the angry man and his upraised whip. "How dare you hit me when you know God sees you?" he cried, looking fearlessly into the face of the angry bailiff. The whip came down, but not on little Hans. The bailiff admired the boy's courage, and praised him for it. He sent him home with gifts, rather than punishments.[:] While Hans was still a boy, his kind father died. Then Hans and his mother were left alone, to care for each other. "What will you do, Hans?" the mother asked "Would you like to become a tailor?" "No, mother," the boy answered; "I will go to Copenhagen and study. One day I shall write books." "But where will the money be found to pay your way?" asked the mother. "I will work, and God will take care of me," Hans replied. So the boy left his native village and walked all the way to Copenhagen, which was very far. What do you think the meaning of the underline sentence " _ " is? A. There was something wrong with Little Hans' feet. B. Little Hans did not wear shoes. C. Little Hans was a disabled boy. D. Little Hans' feet were cut by a sharp knife. Answer: B. Little Hans did not wear shoes. Companies trying to market products to mothers need to head onto the Internet with a survey showing the mothers today are online daily, using Facebook to connect to friends and Google to diagnose illnesses. A survey by parenting website BabyCenter.corn found 63% of online mothers now use social media networks such as Facebook regularly, compared to only 11% three years ago."They don't watch TV as much, they are not reading magazines as much, but instead they check Facebook where people are really drawn together over parenting questions," BabyCenter's Editor-in-Chief Linda said."One of the major activities is looking for comments on products.They are information seeking, particularly when it comes to babies, and companies need to realize this." Companies also need to know their market well as mothers are sharing information--and complaints--online regularly. A drug company learned the hard way last November when online mothers found an ad targeting moms to be offensivedl , which result in a hot debate on the micro-blogging site Twitter.The company had to take the video ad down from its website and apologized for any offense caused. The online survey also found that mothers aren't going to the doctor as often.Instead they are using the Internet to find out what is wrong with their children and, when they do go to the doctor, asking which drug they should use rather than for a diagnosis.In online communities children's health issues are the leading topic of interest rating as high as 91 percent followed by childhood development tips at 79 percent and product reviews at 72 percent. The survey by parenting website BabyCenter.corn mainly intends to _ . A. better understand some parenting questions B. help mothers how to find the products they prefer C. provide best online services for children's growth D. find out what mothers today do when they're online Answer: D. find out what mothers today do when they're online "In the old days," as one wife said. " The husband was the husband and the wife was the wife." In the past husbands each had their own way of going on. The wives' jobs were to look after them. "The wives wouldn't stand for it nowadays. Husbands help with the children now. They stay more, as well as have more interest, at home." We shall give some examples of what husbands do, firstly in sharing work with their wives; and secondly, in their largely independent domain of house repairs. "Some husbands, as well as doing much of the heavy work in the home, carrying the coals, and emptying the rubbish, act as assistants to their wives for at least part of the day." Mr. Hammond washes up the dishes every night and lays the breakfast for the morning. Mr. Clark said that on Sunday mornings he usually hovered around and read plays aloud for his wife while she did a bit of washing. Mr. Davis polishes the floors and helps to make the beds at weekend, and during weekdays, takes the dog out for one of his twice-daily walks. So it goes on.... The passage is mainly about _ . A. the division of husbands, wives and children. B. how to get on well between husbands and wives. C. the relationship between husband, wives and children. D. the relationship between husband and wives today. Answer: D. the relationship between husband and wives today.
Researchers are placing robotic dogs in the homes of lonely old people to determine whether they can improve the quality of life for humans. Alan Beck, an expert in human-animal relationship, and Nancy Edwards, a professor of nursing, are leading the animal-assisted study concerning the influence of robotic dogs on old people's depression, physical activity, and life satisfaction. "No one will argue that an older person is better off being more active, challenged, or stimulated ," Edwards points out. "The problem is how we promote (......) that, especially for those without friends or help. A robotic dog could be a solution." In the study, the robot, called AIBO, is placed for six weeks in the houses of some old people who live alone. Before placing AIBO in the home, researchers will collect baseline data for six weeks. These old people will keep a diary to note their feelings and activity before and after AIBO. Then, the researchers will review the data to determine if it has inspired any changes in the life of its owner. "I talk to him all the time, and he responds to my voice," says a seventy-year-old lady. "When I'm watching TV, he'll stay in my arms until he wants down. He has a mind of his own." The AIBOs respond to certain orders. The researchers say they have some advantages over live dogs, especially for old people. Often the elderly are disabled and cannot care for an animal by walking it or playing with it. A robotic dog removes exercise and feeding concerns. "At the beginning, it was believed that no one would relate to the robotic dog, because it was metal and not furry, " Beck says. "But it's amazing how quickly we have given up that belief." "Hopefully, down the road, these robotic pets could become a more-valuable health helper. They will record their masters' blood pressure, oxygen levels, or heart rhythms. AIBOs may even one day have games that can help stimulate older people's minds. " In the research, the old people are asked to _ . Answer: record their feelings and activity. The Amazing Kids! PenPals Program is a literacy-based , traditional letter-writing pen pal program, available to all children aged 5-17 worldwide. At $10 per child, our program is a low-cost and fun way to help your children practice their literacy skills while they are making new friends. Groups of 15 or more receive a 50% discount. Children love our program because: It helps them develop new (and possibly life-long)friendships. It allows them to practice the traditional form of letter writing and correspondence. They love getting letters in the mail from their pen pals! Parents love our program because: It offers one of the few remaining choices for finding an established, safe and trusted traditional pen pal program to their children. It helps strengthen communication and literacy skills taught in their children's classroom. It helps open their children's eyes to a larger world, and other cultures and traditions outside their own. Many parents remember having a pen pal when they were children and want to give their children the same positive, fun learning experience. Parents love helping their children find new friends of their own age and gender. Frequently asked questions Why is there a fee? We are a small, all-volunteer non-profit organization, and the fees help cover our cost of running the program. How did the Amazing Kids! PenPals Program begin? The program began as a way of reaching out to the children affected by the devastating hurricanes of 2005. Our hope was that by matching young hurricane survivors with a new pen pal, we could help them in their recovery from the trauma they experienced. The program is now available to all children worldwide. We continue to welcome teachers, youth groups or agencies who like to work with hurricane survivors. How does it work? Amazing Kids! will match students of the same gender and age with other students who may share similar interests and hobbies, based on the information provided on the registration form. I've completed all forms and made my payment. What happens next? Someone from Amazing Kids! will contact you once a match has been found. You will be asked to call the other parent, teacher or group leader of the pen pal Amazing Kids! has selected. If both adults agree that the pen pal match is a good one, then the students may begin writing to each other. If the match is determined not to be a good one, Amazing Kids! will try and find an alternative match. .If a group of twenty children want to join the program, they should pay _ altogether. Answer: $100 In my opinion, there is only one legitimate handgun sport and that is aim practice. It is practiced at objects which are properly monitored and usually quite safe. Only certain handguns are true "sporting weapons", seen as such by the sport's lovers. On the other hand, shooting at tin cans and other small objects in one's backyard is not and should not be considered a serious sport. When uncontrolled, it can be a very dangerous practice. Some opponents of handgun control have stated that we are out to stop all hunting and that controlling the handgun would severely affect hunting. That is simply untrue. Handgun control would in no way limit the freedom of the true hunter. Few if any hunters consider the handgun an effective hunting weapon. There are a few hunters who do hunt with handguns, but most states place restrictions on the type of guns that can be used in hunting, the reason is that killing of game should be done in as humane a way as possible. Some small handguns are more likely to wound the animal rather than kill it at once. Only long guns, rifles and shotguns are effective arms of hunting. People must understand that handguns and hunters are separate matters. Because most of the hunters use a rifle or shotgun, there is no reason why their search for game and sport should be affected by handgun control. Mixing the anti-hunting matter with the handgun matter confuses the killing of animals with killing of people. According to the writer, hunting is not affected by handgun control because _ . Answer: most hunters use rifles rather than handguns When we talk about intelligence,we do not mean the ability to get a good score on a certain kind of test,or even the ability to do well in school. These are at best only indicators of something larger,deeper,and far more important. By intelligence we mean a style of life,a way of behaving in various situations. The true test of intelligence is not how much we know to do,but how we behave when we don't know what to do. The intelligent person,young or old,meeting a new situation or problem,opens himself up to it. He tries to take in with mind and senses everything he can about it. He thinks about it,instead of about himself or what it might cause to happen to him. He grapples with it ly,imaginatively,resourcefully ,and if not confidently,at least hopefully;if he fails to master it,he looks without fear or shame at his mistakes and learns what he can from them. This is intelligence. Clearly its roots lie in a certain feeling about life,and one's self with respect to life. Just as clearly,unintelligence is not what most psychologists seem to suppose,the same thing as intelligence,only less of it. It is an entirely different set of attitudes. Years of watching and comparing bright children with the not-bright,or less bright,have shown that they are very different kinds of people. The bright child is curious about life and reality,eager to get in touch with it,embrace it,unite himself with it. There is no wall,no barrier,between himself and life. On the other hand,the dull child is far less curious,far less interested in what goes on and what is real,more inclined to live in a world of fantasy. The bright child likes to experiment,to try things out. He lives by the maxim that there is more than one way to skin a cat. If he can't do something one way,he'll try another. The dull child is usually afraid to try at a11. It takes a great deal of urging to get him to try even once;if that try fails,he is through. Nobody starts off stupid. Hardly an adult in a thousand,or ten thousand,could in any three years of his life learn as much. Grow as much in his understanding of the world around him,as every infant learns and grows in his first three years. But what happens,as we grow older,to this extraordinary capacity for learning and intellectual growth?What happens is that it is destroyed,and more than by any other one thing,it is destroyed by the process that we misname education--a process that goes on in most homes and schools. Why does the writer say that education is misnamed? Answer: Because it discourages intellectual growth. People hold different views on what or how much homework should be. It is partly due to the fact that people can't seem to agree on the purpose of homework. Some teachers think that homework is necessary to reinforce what is learned in school. And so they ask their students to memorize what was discussed in class through homework. Some teachers think the point of homework is to cover material that the class didn't have time to get to, so their homework is to let students learn additional things. Other teachers like homework simply because they want students to form work habits and still others believe homework is necessary because it's the best way for parents to learn what their children do in school. However, many parents seem to have different ideas. Elisa Cohen, who has twins at Lafayette Elementary School, doesn't like the fact that third-grade students in DC elementary schools are asked to write about 25 book summaries a year. She said, "They do the same thing over and over without really getting into alternate ways of thinking about books, reading and writing." Some education reformers , such as Howard Gardner, a Harvard University professor well-known for his theory on multiple intelligence, think that Cohen is on the right track. But it's often hard to persuade overworked teachers to give much thought to homework tasks. Some education reformers think we should improve our school education by _ . Answer: reducing homework
The Come-back Coffeehouse The sign in the window read"Carl's Coffee Shoppe,"spelled the old-fashioned way.Hallie shook her head and wondered how many times she had suggested an alternative.She entered the shop and saw only one person. "I could help with the books,Dad",Hallie offered,"There's not much you could do."Her father signed."How about if you clean the counters instead?"His statement made her feel like a little girl instead of a senior in high school.Hallie sprayed some cleanser and ran a cloth over the worn countertops,After she had washed a few of the old eggshell-color1ed cups,she began her homework.At closing time,Hallie's parents sat beside her."You know the shop has not been profitable lately,"Mr.Rhodes began."We need to decide if it is even worth keeping it open.""We're going to visit Uncle Harold over spring vacation."Mrs,Rhodes continued."He can look over the books and tell us what our options are.You and Aunt Tess will run the shop for the week." By spring vacation Hallie was ready for an adventure.Hllie's parents gave some instructions,and said good-bye.Hallie stared absently out the window at the passersby:young people on their way to work,and kids on their school vacation.They were not the same people that her grandpa Carl had served.Suddenly Hallie had an idea.She confided in Aunt Tess,who approved.The two eagerly set to work. At the end of the week,Hallie was coming out from the kitchen when she saw her parents standing in the shop,confused.She smiled as her parents staredat the teens around the counter and the young families seated at the tables. "Welcome back!"Hallie swept her arms to present the restaurant'scheerful new decoration.Bright,attractive coverings spread over the tables,and modern posters hung on the walls,while,color1ful mismatched dishes contributed to the pleasant atmosphere." I brought board games from home,"Hallie added excitedly,"and the bookstore down the street donated the posters.When we talked to our friendsabout what we were doing,they were happy to give us some dishes."Hallieheld her breath as she waited for her parents'reaction. "Everyone certainly seems to like the changes,"noted Mrs.Rhodes. "Speaking of changes,"Mr.Rhodes said,"I see our name has changed,too." "Do you mind?I changed our name to'Come-Back Coffeehouse'to make the shop sound welcoming,as in'Please come back again'..." A smile spread across her father's face."The new name is fitting."Thanks to you,this place certainly has made a comeback!" What do we learn about"Carl's Coffee Shoppe"? A It is behind the times. B It has regular customers. C It is located on a quiet street. D It follows family traditions well. Answer: A Florence Nightingale was born in a rich family. When she was young, she took lessons in music and drawing, and read great books. She also travelled a great deal with her mother and father. As a child, she felt that visiting sick people was both a duty and a pleasure. She enjoyed helping them. At last, her mind was made up. "I'm going to be a nurse," she decided. "Nursing isn't the right work for a lady," her father told her. "Then I will make it so," she smiled. And she went to learn nursing in Germany and France. When she returned to England, Florence started a nursing home for women. During the Crimean War in 1854, she went with a group of thirty-eight nurses to the front hospital. What they saw there was terrible. Dirt and death were everywhere to be seen and smelled. The officer there did not want any woman to tell him how to run a hospital, either. But the brave nurses went to work. Florence used her own money and some from friends to buy clothes, beds, medicines and food for the men. Her only pay was the smiles from the lips of dying soldiers. But they were more than enough for this kind woman. After war, she returned to England and was honoured for her service by Queen Victoria. But Florence said that her work had just begun. She raised money to build the Nightingale Home for Nurses in London. She also wrote a book on public health, which was printed in several countries. Florence Nightingale died at the age of ninety, still trying to serve others through her work as a nurse. Indeed, it is because of her that we honour nurses today. When she was a child, Florence_. A wrote a book on public health B knew what her duty in life was C loved to help the sick people D was most interested in music and drawing Answer: C If you are having trouble falling asleep, you are in good company. About 65% of Americans said they have sleeping problems a few nights each week, according to a recent study by the National Sleep Foundation. Sleeping too little can lead to a higher risk of becoming fat and getting depressed . But before you go to a doctor for advice, it is worth examining your sleeping habits one more time. Some of your favorite evening habits may have something to do with the sleeping problems. Setting a Bright Alarm Clock The light of your bright alarm clock can prevent you from falling asleep. You can make your room as dark as possible. Cover the bright numbers with a book or consider buying a small travel clock. Your cellphone alarm may also do the trick. Counting Sheep When you just can't fall asleep, it's useless to stay in bed to count sheep. If you've been trying to fall asleep for more than 30 minutes, the National Sleep Foundation suggests you get up to do some reading or watch TV for a while. Such activities will make you sleepy. Before you know it, you'll be going back to bed really tired. Exercising Late at Night? Daytime workouts will keep you full of energy for hours. That's why you don't want to exercise within three hours of _ . Fierce physical activity raise your body temperature and pumps your energy level--both are bad for a good night's sleep. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage? A The bad results o f getting too little sleep. B Why the bright alarm clock keeps you awake. C What to do if you can't fall asleep after 30 minutes. D Why watching TV and reading books make people sleepy. Answer: D Famous Places around the World Mexico The best time to visit Mexico is spring. The weather in Mexico is hot and wet for most of the year, except in Mexico city. It can get very stormy at the end of August. And you should keep in mind that hurricane seas on lasts from June to November. South A frica South Africa has a pleasant climate, with lovely warm sunny days for most of the year. The summer is from November to February, and the weather is really hot at this time. In August, it's winter and the weather is usually warm, except at night. Greece The best time to visit Greece is April to June. If you just want to sit on a beach and see the sunshine every day, then August is the perfect month. But, be careful! Temperatures are really high. In the southeast of Greece, it might be 30--35 centigrade. Australia It's winter in Australia in July and August. The hottest months are from November to March. The best time to go is September or October. It's warm enough to swim in the sea. It's cool enough to tour around, and it's not too rainy. If you prefer it colder, go in August. For most of the year, the weather in South Africa is _ . A cool and rainy B hotand wet C warm and sunny D cold and snowy Answer: C Have you ever wondered what goes through your mind when you choose where to sit in a new classroom? Or in a waiting room full of strangers? Or on a bus? Researchers have found out some interesting facts. Perhaps unsurprisingly, we prefer to sit closer to people like ourselves. Girls sit by girls and boys sit by boys. Adults sit together and young people choose another young person to sit near. But it goes further than this. We even choose to sit near someone who looks like us. People with glasses are more likely to sit near other people with glasses. People with long hair sit closer to other people with long hair. We seem to believe that people with similar habits or hobbies will share similar attitude and we are more likely to be accepted by people like ourselves or even, we think we may be safer with people who look like us. Sometimes that's true but it's a pity if we always stick to the same people, the same group. The danger in always staying in our comfort zone is that we just recycle the same opinions, the same tastes and the same ideas. We lose the chance to learn something new, find out about interesting things, hear funny stories and discover difference. When we always stick to the same people, how can we ever break down the barriers which prevent us from getting to know people with different ideas? And how can we avoid the ignorance ,which too often leads to prejudice and even fear? If instead you want to live in a society that opens to changes and new things and different opinions, be the cat among the pigeons. Move out of your comfort zone. Go and sit next to someone different. And don't just sit there in silence. Say hello. Ask a question. Start a conversation. That's how we make friends. That's how we learn about people. That's how we open our minds to new ideas. That's how we live an exciting life. What is the purpose of the passage? A To tell us just to be ourselves in social life. B To introduce ways to learn about the world. C To explain how people communicate with others. D To encourage us to meet people of different kinds. Answer: D
Researchers have found a village that may have been home to the builders of Stonehenge. The village of small houses dates back to about 2600 BC. That's about the same time Stonehenge was built. "Clearly, this is a place that was of great importance," said researcher Mike Parker Pearson. The ancient houses are at a site known as Durrington Walls. It is about 3.2 kilometers from Stonehenge. Researchers believe Stonehenge was a memorial site or cemetery for the villagers. The village also had a wooden version of the stone circle. It may have been used by people attending festivals at Stonehenge. Eight of the houses have been dug up. Researchers say there may be as many as 25 of them. The wooden houses were square and about 5 meters along each side. There are signs that there were beds along the walls. There are also signs of a storage unit. The houses also had fireplaces. Two of the houses were separate from the others. They may have been the homes of community leaders. Researchers say those didn't have the household rubbish that was found in the other homes. Stone tools, animal bones, arrowheads and other things were found throughout the village site. Stonehenge is a popular tourist spot in England. It is a huge circle made out of stones, which were placed in a grass field in southern England. The stone arches were made with two stones at the bottom and one across the top. All of the stones weigh a lot more than a big car. Scientists have long wondered not only how people built Stonehenge, but also why. The shape of the stone arches was a bit like the letter _ . A n B m C u D w Answer: A. n Do you have any friends from other countries? Do you know what they are like? The Germans are very quiet and they don't get excited easily. They don't want to say more words. They look serious , but they like all kinds of amusements . They work hard and like tidiness. Most German women like to keep their houses clean. In some ways, the English look the same as the Germans. They are also quiet and never talk too much with others. They are really polite, so we often hear "Thank you." or "Sorry." from them. The French have long holidays. They like travelling and usually spend their long time in other countries. The French are more outgoing than the Germans. It is very easy to make friends with them. Compared to (......) the French, the Americans are more outgoing. And they are even opener. They don't like to depend on others. So it is very popular that students do part-time jobs. In Americans' eyes, working and success are important. Which is the best title of the article? A Different people's hobbies. B Who are more outgoing? C Characteristics of the people in different countries. D Working hard is an important part in people's life. Answer: C. Characteristics of the people in different countries. In their last moment before the flight took off, I heard a father saying to his daughter, " I love you, I wish you enough." The daughter said, "Daddy, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough to." They kissed goodbye and the daughter left. I could see the father was very sad. Suddenly the father walked towards me and asked me, "Did you ever say goodbye to someone knowing it would be the last time?" His words made me think of my father. Realizing that my father's days were limited ,I took the time to tell him face to face how much he meant to me. So I understood what this father was experiencing. " Yes, I did." I answered, " But why is this a last goodbye?" " I am old and my daughter lives much too far away. Maybe her next trip back will be for my funeral ," he said. " When you were saying goodbye, I heard you say 'I wish you enough'. What does that mean?" He began to smile. "my parents used to say it to me . When we say 'I wish you enough',we want the other person to have a life filled with enough good things." He stopped for a moment and continued, "I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright. I wish you enough rain to appreciate (, ) the sun more. I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive. I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life seem much bigger... I wish you enough 'Hellos' to get you through the final ' Goodbye'". He then said goodbye to me and walked away. ,. (5,2, 10) Which is NOT mentioned according to the passage? A The father's parents used to say " I wish you enough". B The writer was the father's friend. C The father was sad when his daughter left. D The father wished his daughter to live a happy life. Answer: B. The writer was the father's friend. As you are students of English, it's very possible that you'll be interested in England. That's where the language was first spoken. But England is often called by other names. This often confuses people and I wonder if you know what these names mean. So, now I would like to tell you about this matter of names. I believe that you have heard people use the names--England, Britain or Great Britain. Let's see what each of these names means. If you look at a map of Europe, you'll see a group of islands--one larger island off the northwest coast, one smaller and many tiny ones. These make up what is called the British Isles. The largest island of the British Isles is Britain. It is also called Great Britain. The smaller island is Ireland. Britain is divided into three parts: Scotland, Wales and England. But sometimes the word "England" is used instead of "Britain". Why so? In ancient times, what is Britain now used to be three different countries. People in these different countries spoke different languages. Over many years the three countries became one. England is the largest and richest of the three and it has the most people. So the English people take it for granted that their own name stands for the whole island. There's another thing that confuses people: sometimes you may hear people say "the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". That is the official name of the country. Northern Ireland is only one sixth of the island of Ireland. The rest of the island is an independent state, called the Republic of Ireland. So we have the names of "England", "Britain", "Great Britain", and "the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". Now do you know what each of them means? English was first spoken in _ . A Britain B England C Great Britain D Ireland Answer: B. England One of the best things you can do for your health is to drop a few pounds. Or maybe morethan a few pounds. Being overweight increases your danger of heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer,,the list seems almost endless. You'd better find several simple things you can do on a daily basis such as making rules of eating more vegetables and less fat and getting more physical activities. After breakfast, make water your primary drink. At breakfast, go ahead and drink orange juice. But throughout the rest of the day, focus on water instead of juice or soda. The average American consumes an extra 245 calories a day from soft drinks. That's nearly 90,000 calories a year -- or 25 pounds! And research shows that neither the calories nor sugary drinks give you a sense of fullness the way that food does. People take only 2,000 to 3, 000 steps a day. Adding 2,000 steps will help you keep your present weight and stop gaining weight. Adding more than that will help you lose weight. Eat five or six small meals or snacks a day instead of three large meals. A 1999 South African study found that when men ate parts of their morning meal at intervals over five hours, they consumed almost 20 percent fewer calories at lunch than when they ate a single breakfast. Where is the passage probably taken from? A A travelling diary. B A story book. C A science magazine. D An English dictionary. Answer: C. A science magazine.
To understand how Americans think about things, it is necessary to understand "the point". Americans mention it often: "Let's get right to the point." They will say, "My point is..." "What's the point of all this?" The "point" is the idea or piece of information that Americans suppose is, or should be, at the center of people's thinking, writings, and spoken comments. Speakers and writers are supposed to "make their points clear", meaning that they are supposed to say or write clearly the idea or piece of information they wish to express. People from many other cultures have different ideas about the point. Africans traditionally tell stories that express the thoughts they have in mind, rather than stating the point clearly. Japanese traditionally speak indirectly, leaving the listener to figure out what the point is. Thus, while an American might say to a friend, "I don't think that coat goes very well with the rest of your _ ," a Japanese might say, "Maybe another coat would look even better than the one you have on." Americans value a person who "gets right to the point". Japanese are likely to consider such a person insensitive if not rude. The Chinese and Japanese languages are characterized by vagueness and ambiguity. The precision and directness Americans associate with "the point" cannot be achieved, at least not with any grace, in Chinese and Japanese. Speakers of those languages thus have to learn a new way of reasoning and expressing their ideas if they are going to communicate satisfactorily with Americans. In order to communicate with Americans satisfactorily, speakers of Chinese need to _ . A mind their manners B explain their reasons clearly C change their ways of expressing ideas D be careful about their choices of words Answer: C Giving a gift can mean a lot. It can be a way to deepen a friendship. Before you get a gift for someone, spend time really thinking about what makes him or her special. Think about their interests, hobbies, needs and happiest moments. For example, friends and families with children might love a special calendar that contains everyone's birthday and other special dates and events. For music fans, a CD filled with their favourite music always makes a special gift. Spending time with loved ones is also a way to give them a gift. You might take that special person out for a birthday dinner at your favourite restaurant. Making a gift for someone using your own skills is very special. It is much more meaningful than a store-bought gift and shows how much you care! Writing your feelings in a greeting card can be a simple way to make a keepsake that will be remembered for years. According to the passage, _ gifts are the best. A special B popular C expensive D store-bought Answer: A Chicago's children's Hospital is the lucky receiver of a surprise $18million gift from Gladys Holm.She once was a secretary who never earned more than $15000 a year and never married.She lived alone in a small flat in Chicago,and was a volunteer at the Children's Hospital.She was called the "Teddy Bear lady" because she brought toy animals to sick children on her regular visits.But Miss Holm,who died in 1996 at the age of 86 ,was also a long-time buyer of stocks .Over the years,she saved money that rose up to $18 million ,which she left to the Children's Hospital .It was the largest single donation in the hospital's 115-year history.The hospital president,Jan Jennings,was shocked when she heard the news "when Miss Holm's lawyer called to tell me how much that money was,I asked him to repeat it ,since I was certain I had misheard." Why did Gladys Holm fell so strongly about the Children's Hospital? Jennings said the hospital first touched Miss Holm's heart nearly 50 years ago,when doctors there saved the life of her friend's daughter.She never forgot the happiness she felt all those years ago. Holm's gift will be devoted to heart disease research.People at the hospital said they regretted that they couldn't thank Miss Holm for the surprising gift. According to the text ,Miss Holm built up her fortune by _ . A playing Teddy Bear Lady B working as a secretary C helping in the hospital D buying stocks Answer: D Every day on the road, accidents are caused. They do not only happen. The reason may be easy to see: an overloaded tray, a shelf out of reach, a patch of ice on the road. But more often than not there is a chain of events leading up to the misfortune-frustration, tiredness or just bad temper-that show what the accident really is, a sort of attack on oneself. Road accidents, for example, happen frequently after a family quarrel, and we all know people who are _ , so often at odds with themselves and the world that they seem to cause accidents for themselves and others. By definition, an accident is something you cannot predict or avoid, and the idea which used to be current, that the majority of road accidents are caused by a minority of criminally careless drivers, is not supported by insurance statistics. These show that most accidents involve ordinary motorists in a moment of carelessness or thoughtlessness. It is not always clear, either, what sort of conditions make people more likely to have an accident. For instance, the law requires all factories to take safety actions and most companies have safety committees to make sure the regulations are observed, but still, every day in Britain, some fifty thousand men and women are absent from work due to an accident. These accidents are largely the result of human error or misjudgment-noise and fatigue, boredom or worry are possible factors which contribute to this. Doctors who work in factories have found that those who drink too much, usually people who have a high anxiety level, run three times the normal risk of accidents at work. What do you think would be the best title for the passage? A Accidents and Human B Why accidents happen C Human Factors in Accidents D How to Prevent Accidents Answer: C In 1996, John Tierney suggested in the New York Times Magazine article that "recycling is garbage." He wrote, "The money spent on recycling programs should have been spent on real social and environmental problems. Recycling programs not only increase energy use and pollution, but also cost more money than the disposal of plain old garbage. Recycling may be the most wasteful activity in modern America." Environmental groups were quick to express their disagreement. They wrote reports on how recycling programs in cities can reduce pollution and cost less than regular garbage pickup and disposal. Michael Shapiro, an official of the US Environmental Protection Agency(EPA), said that "recycling can be good value for money, although there's still room for improvements." But in 2002, New York City, a pioneer of recycling, found that its recycling program was losing money, so it stopped glass and plastic recycling. Other major cities watched closely to see how New York was dealing with its remaining program (the city never stopped paper recycling). But then it closed its last landfill , and private companies out of New York raised prices due to the increased workload of carrying away and disposing New York's garbage. As a result, glass and plastic recycling became profitable for the city again, and New York brought the program back. According to Cecil Adams of The Chicago Reader, the lessons learned by New York are relevant everywhere. He believes that, if managed correctly, recycling programs should cost cities less than garbage disposal. Even though the benefits of recycling over disposal are many, keep in mind that it better serves the environment to "reduce and reuse" before recycling is even considered as a choice. Why did other cities watch closely to see how New York was doing? A Because New York was doing extremely well. B Because they didn't want to have a recycling program C Because they felt worried about the waste of money. D Because New York was running a new recycling program. Answer: C
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." . What does the text mainly talk about? A MRI scans are applied to intelligence. B On the average, a bigger brain means higher IQ. C Dr McDaniel did well in his intelligence study. D Scientists are interested in Tiedmann's idea. Answer: B As children grow up, they become curious about different kinds of things. When they are babies, they are interested in the parts of their bodies and in the smiles of their mothers. The they become interested in the physical world around them: the plants, the animals, the sky. Later, they become interested in the things that people have made: wheels, bicycles, cars. And when they are adults, their curiosity continues. Sometimes this curiosity leads to a career (, ) in science. Scientists spend their lives trying to find out about the world. Those who work with the earth sciences study the earth, the oceans, and the skies. Other scientists who study living things work with the biological sciences. A third group of scientists study the physical sciences, e. g. physics, chemistry . These scientists have already discovered a lot about our world. For example, they tell us why your heart beats fast when you run. They say that when you are quiet, your heart normally beats sixty-five or seventy-five times a minute. Your heart is a pump that pumps blood to all parts of the body. The blood carries oxygen and nutrition. When you run, your muscles work very hard and use the nutrition that the blood carries to them. The muscles need oxygen, too . So your brain sends a signal to the heart. The signal means that the muscles need more nutrition and oxygen. Then the heart beats fast and sends blood quickly to the muscles. It may beat 90 to 140 times a minute. Of course, scientists cannot answer all of our questions. If we ask, "Why does the ocean water taste salty?" Scientists will say that the salt comes from rocks. When a rock gets very hot or very cold, it cracks. Rain falls into cracks. The rain then carries the salt into the earth and into the rivers. The rivers carry the salt into the ocean. But then we ask , "What happens to the salt in the ocean? The ocean does not get saltier every year." Scientists are not sure about the answer to this question. We know a lot about our world, but there are still many answers that we do not have, and we are curious. When you run, your muscles need _ . A more nutrition and oxygen B more signals C more salt D water Answer: A One day, a brave jackal came to the river to drink some water. He saw a lion looking weak and tired, and asked, "What is the matter, King of the Jungle?" The lion told the jackal his story. The jackal felt sorry for the lion. He pulled and pulled at the lion's tail until the lion became free. The lion was very happy and said, "Thank you so much for helping me. I thought I would die! You are my friend for life! I would like you to come and live with me. From now on, I will hunt and share my food with you." The jackal moved in with the lion's family and had a wonderful time. Soon, the lion had children of his own and so did the jackal. The lioness was not happy about the friendship. She complained to her children. Her children complained to the jackal's children; the jackal's children complained to their mother and their mother complained to the jackal. The jackal was upset and told the lion, "You told me to live with you. If you don't like it any more, you should have said so yourself." The lion was shocked and said, "This is not true. I've never complained about you. I still want you to continue staying with me." The jackal said, "We understand each other. But our families don't. Perhaps it is better for us to live apart, but continue meeting each other when we are free. We can even hunt together!" The two families parted, but the lion and the jackal met often and remained friends for the rest of their lives. From the above paragraphs, we can conclude that in order to keep our good friendship, we have to give something up or give in in some particular cases. However, we can never give up or destroy our families. What do you think of it? We can learn from the text that _ . A we should try to value true friends without giving up our family B family relationship is more important than friendship C it is easy to give up a friendship D we should not make friends with those who refuse to help you Answer: A All people need to sleep. Sleep is a necessary process that promotes proper body functioning and can improve the quality of your life. Not only is the quantity of sleep important, but also the quality of sleep. Your bedroom should be shaped to your taste and to allow you to sleep in a peaceful environment. One of the biggest mistakes people make in their sleep is to use their bedroom for activities other than sleep. If your bedroom also functions as a command station for your life and work, the likelihood of your sleeping being poor is rather high. Bedrooms should be designed, decorated and used for mainly sleep. TVs, computers and other things should not be in your bedroom if at all possible. Establishing regular sleeping and waking times can help improve the quality of your sleep especially for those suffering from sleeplessness. Avoid hot food, caffeine, sugar and alcohol at least 4 to 6 hours before your sleep time. Develop a regular exercise program. Proper exercise and nutrition will help improve sleeping patterns. However, avoid exercising 2 hours before sleeping, since this may stimulate your body and make sleeping more difficult. Establish a pre-bedtime rule that will help focus you on sleep. You can try meditation ,reading or deep breathing and relaxation. Your bedtime rule should be yours. Do not worry about it fitting into a specific category. Do what is the best for you. Things such as room temperature, noise and light levels and even your bed mattress can have a lot of effect on the quality of sleep that you experience. Block out distracting noises and lights. You are in your bedroom to sleep and not be distracted by environmental interferences . If you have sleep problems, _ . A a well- designed bedroom is important to you B you'd better have steady sleeping and waking time C cold food and sugar are good for you D you need proper exercise and nutrition Answer: B Mr. White looks out of his window. There is a boy at the other side of the street. The boy takes some bread out of a bag and begins eating it.There is a very thin dog in the street, too. The boy says to it, "I'll give you some bread." The dog is hungry and goes to the boy, but he does not give it any bread. He kicks the dog. It runs away, and the boy laughs. Then Mr. White comes out of his house and says to the boy. "I'll give you a shilling ."The boy is happy and says "Yes.""Come here," Mr. White says. The boy goes to him, but Mr. White does not give him a shilling. He hits him with a stick .The boy cries and says, "Why do you hit me? I do not ask you for any money." "No," Mr. White says, "and the dog does not ask you for any bread, but you kick it." Why does the dog go to the boy? Because _ . A it wants to eat B the boy asks it to do so C the boy is the dog's owner D the boy is friendly to it Answer: A
I have a big family. My name is Tony Brown. I'm English. My father and mother are teachers. They teach English in No.1 Middle School. I have a sister. Her name is Mona. We are students in N0.1 Middle School. My grandfather's name is David, My grandmother's name is Sue. They are retired , they are at home. Paul is my uncle. He is a worker . Paul's wife --Jane, is a doctor . They have ason. His name is Jeff. He's only three. There are _ people in Tony'sfamily. A six B seven C eight D nine Answer: D. nine Millilters mL is a unit generally used for values between 1 and 1000 to measure A the space inside a container B the height of a container C the weight of a container D the length of a container Answer: A. the space inside a container Once upon a time a married couple celebrated their 25th marriage anniversary . They had become famous in the city for not having a single _ in the period of 25 years. Local newspaper editors had gathered at the occasion to find out the secret of their well known "happy going marriage". The editor asked, " Sir. It's amazingly unbelievable. How did you make this possible?" The husband, recalling his old honeymoon days, said, "We had been to Switzerland for honeymoon after marriage. Having selected the horse riding finally, we both started the ride on different horses. My horse was pretty okay but the horse on which my wife was riding seemed to be a crazy one. On the way ahead, that horse jumped suddenly, making my wife fall off. Standing up from the ground, she patted the horse's back and said ' This is your first time'. She again climbed the horse and continued with the ride. After a while, it happened again. This time she again kept calm and said ' This is your second time' and continued. When the horse dropped her the third time, she silently took out the gun from the purse and shot the horse deadl I shouted at my wife, ' What did you do? You killed the poor animal. Are you crazy?' She gave me a silent look and said, ' This is your first timel ' " The husband added, "That's it. We are happy ever after. " ,. What is the best title for the passage? A The happy honeymoon B The success of marriage. C The death of the horse D The twenty _ fifth marriage anniversary Answer: A. The happy honeymoon Rome wasn't built in a day, and the Internet didn't come out of a golden egg. Many of today's creations were not born of people who had creative ideas, but who did not stop at simply having an idea. They took one brick of capital , another brick of knowledge, perhaps a brick or two of family and friends, and built their empires brick by brick. If you want to build an online empire, you cannot settle for simply having a website full of articles, or a website full of pictures--there are already thousands of sites like that, so you need to come up with something new and creative. So if you are starting to build something up, ask yourself: what do you really want to do, and what are you really good at? Believe it or not, you can make money at something that you are an expert in, and you need to know what that is. Remember, having an online empire does not mean that you have to do it alone. You can take _ along with you. Having a friend advertise your services online is a good way to attract more visitors to your empire. Building an online empire, you will have to be prepared to not only come up with creative ideas, but to carry your ideas through. Talk to people who have already succeeded in building their own empires. Talk to people who are struggling. Join a mailing list that will help you get through your struggle to achieve your goal. As you move forward, you will find that you can help other people, and you will have a good many stories to tell--not to mention a lot of money in the bank. If you learn the real secrets of creating a long term stable online business then you will have enough money to retire on. What is the purpose of joining a mailing list? A To get a lot of help. B To write many emails. C To make more email friends. D To talk people into buying your product. Answer: A. To get a lot of help. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to play the character of Ronald McDonald for the McDonald's Corporation. One day each month,we visited hospitals bringing a little happiness to the children there. But there were two rules placed on me during a visit. First, I could not go anywhere in the hospital without permission. And second, I could not physically touch anyone within the hospital. They did not want me to carry germs from one patient to another. Breaking either of these rules, I was told, I could lose my job. One day, as I was heading down a hallway and on my way home, I heard a little voice coming through a halfopened door,"Ronald,Ronald." I stepped in and saw a boy,about five years old, lying in his dad's arms, Mom with a nurse on the other side. I knew by the feeling in the room that the situation was _ . I asked his name. He told me it was Billy and that I did a few simple magic tricks for him. As I stepped back to say goodbye, he asked me "Ronald, would you hold me?" At such a simple request, my heart was screaming, "Yes!"But my mind was screaming louder. "No!You are going to lose your job!" "Hold me" was such a simple request, and yet I searched for any reasonable excuses that allowed me to leave, but none. It took me a moment to realize that in this situation, losing my job may not be the disaster I feared. Then, I picked up this little boy. He was so weak and so scared. We laughed and cried for 45 minutes. With tears in my eyes, I left them. Less than 48 hours later, I received a phone call from Billy's mom that Billy had passed away. She and her husband simply wanted to thank me for making a difference in their little boy's life. Billy's mom told me shortly after I left the room. Billy looked at her and said, "Momma, I don't care any more if I see Santa this year because I was held by Ronald McDonald." For the record, McDonald's Corporation did find it out, but, given the situation,permitted me to go on with my job. I continued as Ronald for another year before leaving the corporation to share the story of Billy and how important it is to take risks. We learn from the story that _ . A the author left the corporation because he broke the rules B the author left the corporation because he didn't like the rules C the boy was quite happy with the experience with the author D the boy was quite happy with Santa at Christmas Answer: C. the boy was quite happy with the experience with the author
Question: Nowadays we can see ATMs everywhere. So we'd better learn how to use an ATM to withdraw money. First, we must find an ATM for your cards. Some ATMs can only work with certain bank's cards. But now more and more ATMs can use all the banks' cards. Second, we can put our cards in a slot on the right side of the machine. Make sure the card is facing the right way. Then , when the screen says, "Please enter your PIN," we can press the numbers. After that, we can select the type of transaction .So we can press the key for withdrawing money. Next, we can put in the amount of money we want to withdraw by pressing the numbers. Then the screen may say, "Please wait". After a short while, we can take our money from the slot at the bottom of the machine. At last, if we don't need other services, we can press the key for ending. Then our cards will come out from the slot we put it in. And we can finish our dealing and take the cards and money away. When should we enter PIN? A. Before we put our cards into the machine B. After we put our cards into the machine. C. After we select the type of transaction. D. After we put in the amount of money. Answer: B. After we put our cards into the machine. Question: Moral science is taught as a subject in most schools but with little effect. Perhaps part of the problem lies in the fact that morality is not a science, strictly speaking. It is too much of a social phenomenon, and also has too much of the personal and subjective things mixed within. Besides, morality itself changes with generations. So it is impossible to be defined in a textbook. I remember sitting through forty minutes of moral lessons, which told stories about little children who never told lies and were rewarded for their goodness. It had little effect and left no impression on me, though. If moral science has to be taught as a subject in schools, it needs a participatory approach. When you tell a child about morals, you also have to deal with social norms and cultural differences. You have to explain that morality can be subjective, and be able to co-exist in society. You will probably have to refer to the morals of the present time. The best way to tell a child how to live is to show him what is valued. If a child likes his friend, you have to make the child think about why. Once the child notices and recognizes goodness in others, he or she is likely to develop it as well. In fact, children learn most of their morals by watching people around them. They absorb behavior patterns from teachers and older students. They watch to see what is rewarded and who is punished. They learn on the sports field and through social work. Moral science lessons should simply consist of letting them live and interact, and watch you support correct values and reward good behavior. When you tell a child about morals, you should _ . A. teach him to share personal moral ideas with others B. tell him about social norms and cultural differences C. explain that nobody can influence his moral ideas. D. say that the present morals are likely to be changed. Answer: B. tell him about social norms and cultural differences Question: Have you ever noticed how busy our roads are becoming? Every year more and more cars are using them. Already in such countries as America, almost every family has a car. Many accidents happen because cars are now made to travel very fast. Also, people waste time and money every day as long lines of cars move slowly into towns and cities. In most big towns it is very hard to find parking spaces. Wide, smooth , straight roads must be built now in place of the old and narrow roads. These roads must not pass through towns and cities. They must not be crossed by other roads. Today such roads are being built in many countries in the world. These roads have at least two lanes , one for slow-moving traffic and the other for fast-moving traffic. These roads do not pass through town and cities; horses and bikes are not allowed on them. Accidents do not usually happen. Cars can travel hundreds of miles without having to stop. But these modem roads often cannot be built in towns and cities. Before a road in a town can be made wider, many buildings have to be pulled down. Some people feel that more car-parks should be built outside a city, then the drivers should leave their cars and catch a bus or take a taxi to their offices. The passage is mainly about _ . A. the old roads B. roads of the future C. how to build the modem roads D. roads in towns and in the country Answer: B. roads of the future Question: Farmers grow cocoa trees in the shady areas of rainforests near the Earth's equator. These trees can be difficult to grow. They require an exact amount of water, warmth, soil and protection. After about five years, cocoa trees start producing large fruits called pods. The seeds inside these pods are harvested to make chocolate. Today we travel around the world exploring the history of chocolate. Its story begins with a plant whose scientific name, Theobroma cocoa, means "food of the gods". People have been enjoying the rich flavor of chocolate, a product made from this plant. Most people know that chocolate is made from cocoa and that the origins of chocolate can be traced back to Central and South America. For centuries, the natives there regarded cocoa as a gift from the gods. But how did chocolate go from being the food of the gods to being the food of love? Historians believe the Maya of Central America first learned to farm cocoa plants around two thousand years ago. The Maya took the cocoa trees from the rainforests and grew them in their gardens. They cooked the cocoa seeds, and then crushed them into a soft substance. They used the cocoa bean as the main part in a dark, bitter drink that we would call "chocolate". They believed that chocolate had mystical characteristics -- but cocoa also had commercial value. In fact, cocoa beans were used as a form of currency that was worth its weight in gold! The explorer Christopher Columbus brought cocoa seeds to Spain after his trip to Central America in 1502. But the Spanish explorer Conquistador Hernando Cortez was the first European explorer to realize cocoa's commercial possibilities. When he arrived in the New World in 1519, he soon established his own cocoa plantation. In 1529, Cortez returned to Spain and introduced chocolate -- as a drink mixed with sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon -- to European society. The wealthy people of Spain first enjoyed a sweetened type of the chocolate drink. Later, the popularity of the drink spread throughout Europe. The English, Dutch and French began to plant cocoa trees in their own colonies. Chocolate remained a drink that only wealthy people could afford to drink until the eighteenth century. During the period known as the Industrial Revolution, new technologies helped make chocolate less costly to produce. It caught on -- especially with the noble people, who enjoyed hot chocolate as an aphrodisiac (a kind of medicine). As its popularity spread, people found new ways to make and use chocolate. These days, chocolate is enjoyed as both a tasty treat and a romantic indulgence everywhere. Which of the following might be the best title for the passage? A. History of chocolate, as rich as its taste. B. Chocolate, food of the gods. C. Value of chocolate, as costly as gold. D. Chocolate, food of love. Answer: A. History of chocolate, as rich as its taste. Question: An early invention by Albert Einstein has been rebuilt by scientists at Oxford University. They are trying to develop an environmentally friendly refrigerator that runs without electricity. We all know that modern fridges cause damage to the environment. They work by using a kind of man-made greenhouse gas called Freon , which is far more damaging than carbon dioxide. Now Malcolm McCulloch, an electrical engineer at Oxford, is leading a three-year project to develop appliances that can be used in places without electricity. His team has completed a prototype of a fridge patented in 1930 by Einstein. It used only pressurized gases to keep things cold. The design was partly used in the first refrigerators, but the technology was dropped when more efficient compressors became popular in the 1950s. That meant a switch to using Freon. Einstein's idea uses butane and water and takes advantage of the fact that liquids boil at lower temperatures, when the air pressure around them is lower. "If you go to the top of Mount Qomolangma, water boils at a much lower temperature than it does when you're at sea level and that's because the pressure is much lower up there," said McCulloch.At one side is the evaporator , a bottle that contains liquid butane. "If you introduce a new vapor above the butane, the liquid boiling temperature decreases and, as it boils off, it takes energy from the surroundings to do so," says McCulloch. "That's what makes it cold." The gas fridges based on Einstein's design were replaced by Freon-compressor fridges partly because Einstein's design was not very efficient. But McCulloch thinks that by changing the design and replacing the types of gases used it will be possible to quadruple the efficiency. However, McCulloch's fridge is still in its early stages. "It's very much a prototype," he said. "Give us another month and we'll have it working." We can learn from the text that the prototype completed _ . A. changed the air pressure around it B. was tested on the top of Mount Everest C. increased the liquid boiling temperature D. used only pressurized gases to keep things cold Answer: D. used only pressurized gases to keep things cold
In a recent study, researchers have estimated the energy required to produce bottled water, including the energy required to manufacture plastic, make the plastic into bottles, process the water, fill and seal the bottles, transport the bottles, and chill the bottles for use. Combining all the energy input totals for treatment and distribution, researchers found that producing bottled water requires between 5.6 and 10.2 million joules of energy per liter, depending on transportation factors. That's up to 2, 000 times the energy required to produce tap water. To break down the energy requirements, researchers found that producing the plastic bottles and transporting the bottles greatly dominated the energy input. Although some companies are experimenting with producing lightweight bottles or using recycled materials, the researchers calculated that the manufacturing cost is about 4 million joules of energy per plastic bottle weighing 38 grams, and the cap weighing 2 grams. "Our previous work had suggested that bottled water production was an energy intensive process, but we were surprised to see the results, " the researchers said. Transportation costs vary depending on the distance and mode of transport and both factors depend on the type of bottled water. There are two main kinds of bottled water in the US:"spring water" which comes from an underground spring and "purified water",which is city tap water that has received further treatment. For purified water distributed locally by truck within Los Angeles, the total transportation energy is about 1.4 million joules per liter. In the second situation, spring water shipped from Fiji (such as Fiji Spring Water) across the Pacific to Los Angeles, and then delivered locally by truck requires about 4 million joules per liter for transportation. For the spring water, the transportation energy equaled (in the case of Fiji) the energy required to produce the bottle. With this data, the researchers hope that future studies will have the ability to make specific estimates for different situations, and possibly find ways to cut energy costs. What's the main purpose of the passage? To help consumers themselves make more environmentally sustainable choices. An unpunctual man never does what he has to do at the right time. He is always in a hurry and in the end loses both time and his good name. A lost thing may be found again, but lost time can never be got back. Time is more useful than material things. In fact, time is life itself. An unpunctual man is always wasting his most important things as well as others'. An unpunctual person is always saying unhappily that he finds no time to answer letters or return calls. But the man who really has much to do is very careful of his time. He knows that he can not finish all his work unless he carefully does every piece of work. Being unpunctual is the sign of disrespect ( _ ) towards others. If a person is invited to dinner and arrives later than the time when he should be there, he keeps all the other guests waiting for him. Usually this will be thought as a great disrespect to the host and all the other guests. Not like a punctual person, an unpunctual one can't do his duty wonderfully, whether it is public or personal. Imagine how it would be if those who should do important tasks failed to be on time. A man who is known to be often unpunctual is never believed by his friends or fellow men. When you are invited to dinner, you'd better arrive there _ . at the decided time One night I was at my friend's house where he threw a party. We were enjoying our dinner at night when all of a sudden we heard a knock on the door. I opened the door and saw this guy who had scar on his face. I asked my friend "who is that guy?", and he told me that it was his friend. I didn't trust that guy because he looked very strange. After we had dinner the strange guy asked my friend to come outside because he wanted to talk to him. A few seconds later I heard a noise from outside and when I ran outside I saw that the strange guy was trying to beat my friend. I ran towards him and asked him to leave our house. He left the house but after half an hour he came back and this time he was dressed up as superhero and he also had a sword. As soon as I saw him I ran inside the house and called the cops. The cops came and the guy ran away as soon as he heard the cop car coming. We never found out what happened to that guy after that day. Why did the strange guy run away? because he heard the cop car While applying to college may seem easy, getting in can be tough! When you apply for college, you will have to be honest with yourself and do a bit of research to find the right fit. Here are three steps to take when applying to colleges for the best chances at getting into the best college for you. Step l: Making A List Of Colleges To Apply To With over 6,000 colleges in the United States, the first step in applying to college is to do some research and make a college list . This process will be different for everyone. The number of colleges you apply to can vary, from applying to 1 school (not recommended) to 30 schools (not recommended),each applicant can choose how many colleges they apply to. Many limit the number because applications are accompanied by a fee. . Step2: Splitting The List Into Target, Reach and Safety Schools In general, students will want to apply to three types of schools: Target, Reach and Safety schools. It is up to you how many applications you send, but a good mix would be more target than reach, and at least one safety. You will need to take your list, and now decide which are your top picks, which are attainable for you academically, which are affordable for you only with aid, and refine your broad list into a group of schools that gives you the best chance for success. Talk to an admissions counselor at your high school if you have questions about this. Step 3: Completing and Sending Applications to Colleges Once your list is complete you are ready to apply to college by completing and sending in applications! College applications take time to complete --you have to write essays, ask for recommendations and get test scores sent to schools--so stay organized! All colleges will require these types of application materials, so start thinking about these items well before October or December. Once you complete and send them, then you have successfully applied to college. The text is mainly about _ . how to apply to college Mr. Perkin did not like to be different from other people, so he always tried to wear the same clothes, eat the same food, and do the same things after work as others. One day Mr. Perkin stood at the bus-stop. As he watched the cars go by, he noticed that many of them were new Beta 400s and most of them were yellow. The following week, Mr. Perkin bought a new bright yellow Beta 400s. He was very pleased with it, and drove to work in it the next day. He was even more pleased with his new car, when he saw all the other Beta 400s, in front, behind, and on both sides of him. Mr. Perkin parked his car near his office, and walked the rest of the way. But when he came back at five o'clock, there were so many bright yellow Beta 400s that Mr. Perkin didn't know which car was his. He tried his key in some of the cars, but people gave him a strange look which he didn't like, so he stopped. Poor Mr. Perkin had to wait nearly two hours until there was only one yellow Beta 400S left. Mr. Perkin tried his key in some of the cars _ . because he wanted to find his car in this way
Once upon a time there were a zebra and a monkey in a zoo. The zebra and the monkey had many napkins. What did the zebra and the monkey do with all the napkins? They didn't know. They ate the napkins. The zebra felt good. The monkey got a stomach ache. Why did the monkey get a stomach ache? The napkins were make out of straw. Straw is good for zebras. Straw is not good for monkeys. The monkey did not like eating the napkins. The zoo worker came and gave the monkey a pill. The pill made the monkey feel better. Now the monkey does not eat napkins. The monkey eats bananas instead of napkins. Now the monkey is always happy and feels good. The zebra does not like to eat bananas. The zebra eats all the napkins and feels good. The zebra and the monkey are both very happy. What does the monkey eat instead of napkins? A. zebra steak B. bananas C. a cheese sandwich D. a pill Answer: B All right! Enough cookies,cola, and chips! It seems that junk food is all that the children want to eat these days.Television controls their tastes.The kids see well-known personalities eating potato chips, candy and other processed food, and they want to be like their heroes.How do they do it?They eat the same food. I wish there were more characters like old Popeye , the sailor, who ate spinach and not French fries. Now I don't expect my children to eat healthy food because I like brown rice, beans, and fresh vegetables. I'm glad to cook traditional meals of meat and potatoes for them. I really can't be too upset with the kids because most adults aren't careful about what they eat. The other night, my wife and I went to a party where there was plenty to drink but very little for us to eat. They served hot dogs and hamburgers. I can't eat hot dogs, with all those preservatives , and hamburgers are filled with chemicals so that they look better. Besides the meat, they had sugar-filled cookies and cake, and of course, chips. I don't want the world to change because of me, but I think people should realize that there are alternatives to eating meat. They always tell me that I probably don't get my essential proteins. I feel better than ever and I'm sure that it's because I'm a vegetarian . I would really like to see more television advertisements which show the benefits of good, healthy, natural food. which of the following is NOT true? A. Television influences children's food choice B. The author is not single and he eats meats C. Though the author is a vegetarian, he feels very healthy D. It is certain that beans and spinach are not junk food Answer: B Two days ago I was woken up at 1 am. My roommate stood at the door (she was returning from a club) along with a huge middle-aged man with long hair. "Please let him in," she told me, "He has been locked out of his apartment." She had seen him, cold and shivering (it had snowed the previous night) and immediately asked him to sleep at our place. He was a law student in his fifties who had been doing his homework at the Laundromat when he found he had left his keys in his house. I have never had a strange man sleep in my house before. My roommate and I are both less than 5 feet and we have been asked not to speak to strangers since we were kids. Not to mention that we're in a new city that we have lived in for less than a month. He accepted our kindness with hesitation and as soon as dawn broke he left. The next day he came to our house, saying he owed us big time for not being frozen out in the cold. He left us a beautiful card saying--"Thank you so much. Your actions are so sincere." Later he cooked us a wonderful simple "thank you" dinner over which he told us about his life (a coach, a guide, a law student). He told us how he was completely touched by our concern for a total stranger. I learnt a lot that evening. As he talked about how once he brought a homeless man in to eat Christmas dinner with his family, I was deeply touched. My roommate taught me a huge lesson: Let go of your fear; always leave the door of compassion open and you can never go wrong. When the writer knew the man would stay in their house for the night, at first _ . A. she felt nervous B. she was angry C. she felt excited D. she was disappointed Answer: A Are you a problem shopper? The answer is "Yes", if you or someone else thinks that you sometimes get carried away with shopping. In other words, do you or does someone else think you are occupied in extreme shopping? If people have regrets later about their shopping, or have an "out-of-control" feeling about the quantities of what they buy or the amount of credit they use, they may be considered to be problem shoppers. Extreme shopping can lead to a more serious problem - addictive shopping. Addictive shoppers feel driven by the desire to shop and spend money. They experience great tension which drives them to shop and spend money and they feel a "rush" during the time they are occupied with the shopping activity. Extreme or addictive shopping may result from long-time unpleasant feelings, of which anxiety, pain and shame are common ones. When we feel bad inside, we often do something to make ourselves feel better. In this case, we often go shopping. A few people shop to relieve their boredom or emptiness. For some people, the motivation is a desire for status, power, beauty or success. Some love to shop as it makes them feel valued in the eyes of the shop assistants. Others shop simply because it makes them forget, at least temporarily, tension, fear or unhappiness in their life. Besides, shopping malls are designed to encourage continual shopping. For instance, there are some malls where you can't see clocks displaying the time because they don't want you to become too aware of the time you spend there. What's more, food courts, coffee shops and restrooms are provided, so you don't have to leave the mall because of your physical needs. Therefore, once you become aware of how market forces work, you will certainly come to control your shopping behavior. For example, how much time you will spend and what areas you will visit can be decided before you enter the mall. Keep a written account of what items you will buy and how much money you will spend. Make a plan for what you are going to buy before you feel the urge to shop and then stick to it. That is vital for gaining self-control. The author writes this passage to _ . A. inform the shopping malls how to attract more shoppers B. tell a shopping story C. scold the problem shoppers D. provide solutions to the problem shopping. Answer: D There is a famous saying from the French politician J.A. Brillat-Savarin that goes: "Tell me what kind of food you eat, and I will tell you what kind of man you are." It can be easy to not really think about what you eat. For example, whenever you go into a supermarket to buy a drink, it is all too easy to pick up an ice cream or a piece of chocolate as well. You might not even really want them, but sometimes their bright, nice packaging can be too hard to refuse. So, in our special food magazine we will show you why you should really pay more attention to what you eat! Food not only influences our health but also our beliefs, customs and personalities. The first article will look at the way fast food is leading to obesity . The famous cook, Jamie Oliver, has made it his purpose to introduce ideas about healthy eating. In a speech, Jamie Oliver told the world that during the 18 minutes that he gave his speech, four Americans would die because of the food that they ate! Obesity is also a growing problem in China. As China Daily reported in February, the number of obese people under the age of 18 in China has reached 120 million. Jamie has worked for 10 years to try and fight this problem. Learning about food is important not just because of health problems but also because many people still don't have enough food today. And we know as the improvement of science sometimes we have to face genetically modified food. Don't worry - we'll make you know more about all these topics in our special article! We'll also tell you something interesting about food. For example, do you know what the largest food on the menu is all over the world? It's the roasted camel and it has been served for several hundred years, often stuffed with chicken, lamb, egg, fish and rice! Hopefully by the time you finish reading this edition , you'll pay more attention to the food that you eat. As Oliver says, food is something that can help us enjoy our life. It is important that we love it! Someone is too fat , maybe because he eats too much _ . A. chicken B. lamb C. roasted camel D. fast food Answer: D
Question: Welcome to Franklin Hotel. To make you stay as enjoyable as possible. We hope you will use our facilities to the full. Dining Room:Breakfast is served in the dining room from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Also the room staff may bring breakfast to your room at any time after 7 a.m. If this happens, please fill out a card and hang outside your door when you go to bed. Lunch is from 12 to 2:30 p.m. Dinner from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Room service:This operates 24 hours a day; phone the reception desk, and your massage will be passed on the staff. Telephones: To make a phone call. Dial "0"for reception and ask to be connected. We apologized for delays if the lines are very busy. These are also public telephones near the Reception Desk. Tell Reception if early calls are needed. Shop: The hotel shop is open for presents, gifts and goods from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Laundry: we have a laundry in the building, and will wash, iron and return your clothes within 24 hours, ask the room staff to collect them. Bar :The hotel bar is open from 12 to 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Banking: The reception staff will cash cheques and exchange any foreign money for you. The text tells us that _ . A. the hotel offers at least seven kinds of services B. it's not convenient to stay up in the hotel C. you'll have trouble without the money of the country the hotel belongs to D. you can shop at any time inside the hotel Answer: A Question: 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. ,. When the writer was allowed to enter the only key school in his hometown, _ . A. his mother didn't say a word but to cry B. he decided to study hard from then on C. his father just put his head down without saying anything D. all his family were very excited Answer: A Question: Which is a true statement regarding the graphing of data? A. It is always better to leave data in a table than to graph it. B. Bar graphs are the best type of graphs for scientific data. C. For any given set of data, there is only one correct graph or way to display it. D. Data can be displayed in many types of graphs in order to show different things about the data. Answer: D Question: It's not often you get information about a destination from a heavy metal band, but in Debrecen, Hungary's second largest city, locals are used to having to make a noise to get heard. Just off the historic center, Roncs bar is a pub that also hosts live music. It has the atmosphere of a student party in an old building that might soon be knocked down. Roncs is owned by Hungary's best-known heavy metal rock band, Tankcsapda. Sometimes referred to as the "Hungarian Metallica", the band has taken a type of music that is famous worldwide and-through lyrics, album covers, and an annual New Year's party and concert-made it all about their home city. It's perhaps fitting that Tankcsapda should be seen as ambassadors for Debrecen-the city sometimes needs loud heavy metal rock music to get noticed. "Foreigners think that Hungary is Budapest and there's nothing else," is a familiar saying on Debrecen's[:streets. Debrecen has, at times, been more important than the current seat of power, with locals claiming it takes over in times of trouble. That doesn't quite add up. Debrecen survived an attack from the Mongols in the 13th century, the Black Death, 150 years of struggle against the Ottomans and numerous conflicts, and yet it[:has still only briefly been the country's capital twice. This happened for the first time after a short-lived revolution in 1849, and for a second time at the end of World War II. Today, Debrecen may not be well known to tourists, but that only adds to the charm of this relaxed city. It's a small place; the historical center is sized for strolling and regular cafe stops. There's also a view of Debrecen's mix of architectural styles, a result of the frequent large fires that back in the 19th century led the city's students to form one of Europe's first-ever fire brigades . You can also see traditional _ from the rooftops, featuring Islamic star and crescent moon symbols that once advertised to Ottoman invaders that the city preferred trading to fighting. Trade meant that Debrecen's skilled people became very successful and the city became famous for-among other things-fine foods, hats and clay pipes. In the early 19th century, 10 million clay pipes were reportedly made a year, with thousands bought for Britain's navy. What is the key message the author wants to deliver in this passage? A. Debrecen actually is more important than Budapest. B. Debrecen is a place which is worth visiting. C. Debrecen citizens love music and create their unique culture. D. Debrecen citizens are proud of their culture and history. Answer: B Question: A cancer-stricken British teenage girl said Thursday she had been moved by messages of support from around the world after writing an online "Bucket List" of things she wanted to do before dying. Alice Pyne, l5, created an Internet blog in which she described her fight against a cancer of the white blood cells. " I've been fighting cancer for almost four years and now l know that the cancer is gaining on me and it doesn't look like I'm going to win this one," she wrote. For her list, the teenager took inspiration from the 2007 film "The Bucket List", in which two terminally ill men, played by Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson, draw up a list of things they wish to do before they die. On her list, at the site www. alicepyne. blogspot. com, she has included making everyone sign up to be a bone marrow donor , swimming with sharks, meeting boy band Take That and getting a purple iPad computer. Messages of support and offers of help quickly flooded her webpage and it became one of the most talked about subjects on Twitter. "Oh dear and I thought that I was just doing a little blog for a few friends!" she wrote after her site attracted huge attention. "Thank you so much for all your lovely messages to me." Pyne, who lives with her family in the northwest English town of Ulverston, revealed the management of Take That had arranged for her to see the band after reading her blog. A group of local lawmakers have also joined forces with the Anthony Nolan blood cancer charity to encourage people to join its stem cell register. Which of the following is NOT on Alice Pyne's "Bucket List"? A. To meet a boy. B. To get a cool computer. C. To swim with sharks. D. To ask people to donate bone marrow. Answer: A
You will go to college some day and college is one of the most exciting stages of one's life.If you wish to make the most of your campus experience and become a better person after those four years,then first you ought to make friends.Close friends contribute to your selfgrowth for they provide you with moral support that is so important to survive the stressful college life.Friends can lend a helping hand when necessary like collecting your homework when you're too sick to leave your dorm,and help you develop the right attitude by pointing out to you your weaknesses. Being home most of your life and then suddenly finding yourself on your own in a large campus without your parents to hold your hand can be annoying.However,rather than thinking about your missing home too much,why not see this new stage in your life as an opportunity for selfgrowth and develop the right attitude that will prepare you for the rigors of postgraduation life,particularly when you join the workforce? Specialinterest clubs or organizations are great for selfgrowth.Here,not only do you get the opportunity to meet with likeminded people,you can also discover more things about your field of interest.Club meetings usually include lively discussions,so go there with the right attitude.You should try to build a good name in the organization by being respectful,active and considerate to others. You might not like all of your professors,but they are there to provide knowledge you need to be successful in your chosen field.Thus,show up for each class with the right attitude and determination to learn.Whether you get along well with your professors or not has a huge effect on your selfgrowth as it is a measure of how well you can respect authority and obey requirements. Actively participating in a class debate or lecture contributes to your selfgrowth as it helps you build confidence in speaking up and improves your communication skills.It also helps you develop the right attitude by exercising diplomacy when you choose your words carefully especially when discussing a very politically sensitive issue and exercising patience when dealing with classmates who shoot down your ideas. In the writer's opinion,how can college students develop a positive attitude? A By joining specialinterest clubs. B By focusing on their studies. C By taking up parttime jobs. D By making friends with others. Answer: D. By making friends with others. Most children like watching TV. It's very interesting. By watching TV they can see and learn a lot and know many things about their country and the world. Of course, they can also learn over the radio. But they can learn better and more easily on TV. Why? Because they can hear and watch at the same time. But they can't see anything over the radio. TV helps to open children's eyes. It helps to open their minds , too. They learn newer and better ways of doing things. Many children watch TV only on Saturday or Sunday evening. They are always busy with their classes. But a few children watch TV every night. They go to bed very late. They can't have a good rest. How about you, my young friends? TV helps to open children's _ . A eyes and minds B minds C body D eyes Answer: A. eyes and minds Goods must be of proper quality ,must be as described on the package and must be fit for any particular purpose made known by the seller .Those three rules used for the goods you buy can also be used for the goods you get on hire ,or for the goods you get as part of a service. There are also rules which deal with the standard of services you get--from ,say ,travel agents ,shoe repairers ,hairdressers and builders. _ tell you what you should expect from any service you pay for. A person providing a service must do so: --With reasonable care and skill .You should expect a proper standard of workmanship . A new house should have straight walls and the roof must not leak . --Within a reasonable time. A shop should not take three months to repair your TV. You can always agree upon a completion time with the supplier of the service. You ,the customer ,must pay: --A reasonable charge for a service, where no price has been fixed in advance .A trader can not expect a large payment for a small job. What should the supplier do when offering a service? A He should determine the completion time himself. B He should provide free repairs within three months. C He should make sure the service meets proper standards. D He should reach an agreement on the payment with his workers. Answer: C. He should make sure the service meets proper standards. Which of these best defines the term "pollutant"? A anything humans add to the atmosphere and oceans B any substance that is harmful to the environment C any substance that is a waste product of industry D a substance that does not break down over time Answer: B. any substance that is harmful to the environment Can 13-year-olds do something to change the world? Cris Kesz Valdez, 13, from the Philippines believes so. At the age of 7, Valdez set up an organization to give homeless kids things like slippers and toothbrushes. So far he has helped more than 10,000 children improve their lives in his hometown. Valdez won the 2012 International Children's Peace Prize on September 19, 2012. "My motto is 'we can change the world one heart at a time,' " Valdez said at the award ceremony. In fact, Valdez is a homeless kid himself. He looked for food from trash, lived on the streets and slept in a public cemetery for most of his childhood. His parents didn't care about him and often beat him. Valdez said he felt he was living in " _ " at that time. But this "darkness" didn't turn him into a dark person. Valdez got help from community workers. On his first birthday party, at the age of 7, Valdez decided what he wanted most was to help other children who were still living on the streets. "I didn't have a lot of money, but I had a lot of love to give," Valdez explained. That day was the birth of the organization, Championing Community Children. Since then, Valdez and his friends visit homeless children and hand out bags with slippers, toys and even candy. They nurse their wounds, teach them about their rights and offer them hope. "I want children on the streets to get the same chance as I have," he said. Cris Kesz Valdez helped homeless kids in _ . A China B America C the Philippines D Japan Answer: C. the Philippines
In the Netherlands,cycling isn't seen as an eco-friendly exercise; it's part of everyday life, as it's people's top choice to school and work. "There are more bicycles than residents in the Netherlands. In cities like Amsterdam and The Hague, up to 70 percent of all journeys are made by bike," said BBC. So how did cycling become such a popular means of transportation in the European country? In the 1970s, the Dutch government began to improve its cycling infrastructure due to both a social movement demanding safer cycling condition for children and the oil crisis in the Middle East, when oil producing countries stopped their exports to Western Europe. To make cycling safer and more appealing, the Dutch have built the widest cycling network in the world. The country has over 40,000 kilometers of bicycle lanes and paths,which are clearly marked. They have smooth surfaces,separate signs and lights for those on two wheels. The lanes are wide enough to allow side-by-side cycling and passing. In many cities the bike lanes are completely segregated from motorized traffic. And in many traffic situations cyclists are given priority over drivers. Sometimes,where space is limited and both must share, you can see signs showing an image of a cyclist with a car behind accompanied by the words "Bike Street:Cars are guests". As young people aren't allowed to drive alone until they are 18, cycling offers Dutch teenagers an alternative form of freedom. The government also makes cycling training lessons a compulsory part of the Dutch school curriculum . Bike parking facilities are everywhere in the country. Cyclists are accommodated in the way motorists are elsewhere. Take Groningen, a city in the northeastern part of the Netherlands, for example. The city's central train station has underground parking for 10,000 bikes. For many Dutch people, bikes are trusty friends for life's adventures. In that kind of relationship it is longevity that matters--that's why many Dutch people ride older bikes. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the article? Answer: LAST week's decision by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) to _ Pluto _ its planetary status, held since its discovery in 1930, has made a lot of people sad. "Pluto," American science writer Dava Sobel writes in her book "The Planets", "still has an emotional hold on planethood. People love Pluto. Children identify with its smallness. Adults felt it hard to accept its isolated existence." Many people felt sorry about Pluto's demotion . "I just cannot accept this at this time," says Liu Ming, 29, who runs a small company in prefix = st1 /Shanghai. "I was taught that 'the Nine Great Planets' formed our solar system since primary school. And now they suddenly decrease the planets to eight. This will take some time for most of us to absorb it," says Liu. Ordinary people are simply not used to it, but for some professionals, especially the persons in charge of planetariums and educators, the change has become a real headache. The "eight instead of nine" change will affect thousands of planetariums around the world. Schools will also be greatly affected. InChina, teachers are anxious as outdated textbooks are printed and given out to the remotest corner of the country for school children ready to start a new term soon. According to the Ministry of Education, new textbooks with changed contents will not be available until next year. Zhao Zhiheng, a member of the Astronomy Association from Tianjin, suggested that primary and middle school teachers be trained in the improved knowledge, and that the media carry more stories to let people know about the change as soon as possible. In the following suggestions, which one is made by Zhao Zhiheng? Answer: It was a sunny holiday Monday. Olivier Ferrante was cooking sausages on the barbecue and entertaining friends in his garden north of Paris when the phone rang. The call came from the BEA, France's air accidents investigation bureau , where the 38-year-old former football player and driver was an investigator. The news was grim. "An Airbus is missing over the Atlantic: we need you." As a safety investigator,Ferrante and his teams had participated, directly and indirectly,in the recovery of crashed planes from the Red Sea, the Black Sea,and every ocean. But this investigation would be his toughest ever: the plane had disappeared without a witness, or a trace on radar . At least eight ships and a dozen military aircraft gathered on the plane's last known position, about halfway between Brazil and Western Africa. After six days the aircraft's tail fin and 50 bodies were spotted on the surface and the first burning questions were answered. The plane wreckage and passenger injuries indicated the doomed Airbus was unbroken when it hit the water. It was not exploded apart by a bomb or lightning, now broken up by violent weather. Strangely, no mayday message had been sent by its pilots. Ferrante worked energetically with his team:collecting offers of help from around the world, consulting navy ministries and research organizations in France and elsewhere, and contracting suitable ships and high-tech equipment. He would not return home for another 29 days. His team used the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle(AUV) operated around the clock, searching about 400 square kilometers a day. But the race against time was lost and no signals were heard and no more wreckage was found. Day after day, the screen remained bare except for objects that turned out to be stones or garbage from ships. Stressed by media attention and painful meetings with victims' s,Ferrante went jogging one day to clear his head. Then he had an idea. He decided to look at what had happened to nine other planes that crashed after something abruptly went wrong while flying at high altitude. He found that none had traveled more than 30 km before hitting the sea; most covered less than half that distance. AUV operations continued but now they focused on a 30 km circle around the plane's last known position. On the ninth day of the new-strategy searching, after searching for 22 months, their hard work paid off finally. The first thing they saw was a woman's handbag. Next,they saw bits of twisted aircraft parts and a panel with "AF" painted on it. Without a doubt,this was the missing Aribus,lying 11 km northeast of its last known position, but nobody felt much like cheering the discovery. "The screen also exposed well-preserved human bodies,and for some of us they were hard to look at," says Ferrante. Based on the passage,which of the following is most probably true? Answer: I entered college in China in 1981. Many things seemed to remain the same. For many things are dominated by one thing: the national entrance examination to get into college. In my year, about 4% high school students went to college. Now the number is 22%, as compared to 40% in the US. The significant increase in the entrance rate doesn't seem to have relieved the anxiety. As a parent to a freshman college student, I can prove that junior and senior years in high school are not much fun even for students in the US. Once a country has vastly increased the rate of college entrance, students will still want to get into "better" colleges. _ , no matter where you are. The NYT Magazine article also mentioned the Soviet-style over-specialized education in Chinese colleges. My class in college had maybe 60 students specialized in compressors, another 60 students specialized in refrigeration, and yet another 60 students specialized in welding . I was among the 60 specialized in mechanics. I cannot recall the numbers exactly, but you get the picture. It really wasn't as terrible as it sounds. In order to specialize in mechanics, we had to study math, physics and chemistry. We studied electrical circuits, alloy treatment, mechanical drawing, Fortran. We even had a continuous stream of humanity courses: history of communist party, political economics... I'm not sure I enjoyed all the courses, but I cannot claim that these courses damaged my brain, either. I remember some of the humanity courses required writing, which turned out to be a useful skill. As a consequence of specialization, we did learn a lot of mechanics. By the end of college, we had courses on analytical mechanics, strength of materials. I often feel sorry for American students in my undergraduate class, knowing that strength of materials will be their first and last course in the mechanics of materials. So many beautiful sights unseen! But they also seem to turn out to be OK. A liberal and superficial eduction doesn't damage their brains, either. All this high level debate about education makes me dizzy, and turns me off. So far as I can tell, both systems of eduction work fine, and have their own limitations. The bottom line is that the quantity of knowledge is too large to be crammed into 4 years, and you'd have to make choices, making it either narrow or shallow or perhaps both. You'll just have to be prepared to engage yourself in life-long learning. What is the author's attitude towards his courses? Answer: Jesse McCartney began entertaining and delighting audiences at a very early age in off-Broadway stage shows including Oliver, A Christmas Carol, and Annie Get Your Gun. At the age of seven, he began a national tour the stage musical show of The King and I. 1998 brought his big chance in television with the role of Adam Chandler, Jr. on All My Children. McCartney stayed with the show for the next three years and won several awards for his role of Chandler. In 1999 he showed great interest in music, when he auditioned for and won a spot in a boy band called Dream Street. Sales of the group's album once reached up to 300,000 copies. Shortly after the album _ , they toured around the USA with Britney Spears before the band broke up in 2002.His first band was called the Sugar Beats, and in 2003 McCartney partnered with their producer Sherry Kondor to launch his solo career. The song Beautiful Soul became the title track for McCartney's first solo album. Following the great success of his album, it took McCartney one and a half year to make his new one, Right Here You Want Me, which, according to McCartney himself, has had more personal experiences and thoughts. McCartney never gave up acting and appeared the films The Pirates of Central Park and The Strange Legacy of Cameron Cruz. In 2004 he successfully played the role of Brandin Westerly on the TV series Summerland. He has also combined music and film, contributing songs to films. Born April 9, 1987, Jesse is the oldest of three children. His parents were actors in New York City. His sister Lea Joyce was born in 1991 and brother Timmy, with whom Jesse is very close, came along in 1996.He graduated from Ardsley High School (New York) in 2005, where he was a junior baseball pitcher . Jesse's best friend is former band mate Greg Raposo. Which of the following is NOT mentioned of Jesse McCartney? Answer:
The oldest and most common source of renewable energy known to man, biomass is one of the most important forms energy production in the United States and elsewhere. Since such a wide variety of biomass materials is everywhere --- from trees and grasses to agricultural and city --- life wastes ---biomass promises to play a continuing role in providing power and heat for millions of people around the world. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists(UCS), biomass is a kind of renewable energy source that produces no carbon dioxide , because the energy it contains comes from the sun. When plant matter is burned, it gives off the sun's energy. In this way, biomass serves as a sort of natural battery for storing the sun's energy. As long as biomass is produced continuously ---with only as much grown as is used-- the "battery" lasts forever. According to the Energy Information Administration, biomass has been one of the leading renewable energy sources in the United States for several years running through 2007, making up between 0.5 and 0.9 percent of the nation's total electricity supply. In 2008---although the numbers aren't all in yet---wind power probably took over first place because of the rapid development of wind farms across the country. Producing power from biomass helps reduce some 11 million tons of carbon dioxide each year. Some homeowners also try to make their own heat by using biomass materials. Such practice may save homeowner's money, but it also produces a lot of pollution. So, the best way is to encourage power plants to use it. Why does the author encourage power plants to use biomass? A. To prevent the waste of energy. B. To increase production safety. C. To reduce pollution. D. To save money. Answer: C Swimmers Wanted Can you swim? Do you like kids? Can you help them with swimming on weekends? Come and join us. Call Jane at 330-8976 for more information . Chess Club Do you like to play chess? Mr Chen can teach you. You can come here every Friday afternoon. Tel: 623-1940 Add: Room 102 in School's P.E. Building Let's Learn French Can you speak French? Do you want to learn French? Join the French club now. Time: 9:00 am--11:30 am(from Monday to Friday) Call Henry at 543-1248. Musicians Wanted Boys and girls, are you music lovers? Can you sing or dance? Can you play any instruments ? Welcome to our Star Rock Band. Please call Victor at 891-3453 or send an email to music@yahoo.com. ,. Mike is in the chess club. When does he go to the club? A. On weekends. B. From 9:00 am to 11:30 am. C. Every Friday afternoon. D. On Monday. Answer: C One suicide and three attempted ones that left two seriously injured, all by middle school students in Shanghai last week, cast a gloom over an otherwise happy beginning of a new term there. The terrible things took place even as the Ministry of Education and China Central Television organized the first lesson on TV about personal safety for students last Monday, the first day of the new semester. Such things suggest that this first lesson is more than necessary. Not only should kids be taught how to protect themselves in times of emergency, they should also be made aware of the value of tile2 One student was prevented from killing himself from his school building. He said he just could not accept the fact of not being able to go tip to a higher grade with his classmates, and thus considered life meaningless. Another 12-year-old boy who jumped off a building to his death was said to have been a good student, and no one could say why he chose to end his life. Obviously, their inner worlds were seriously affected. But when they chose to take their own lives, their irresponsible choice was clearly the result of a lack of adequate understanding of the value of life. The ancient sage Confucius stressed that one must protect even one's hair and skin from being hurt. He meant that the sense of responsibility for one's parents was important as far as the value of life was concerned. When we talk about the enthusiasm of making contributions to our motherland, we are referring to values that constitute the nobler part of the meaning of life. The value of life should be far beyond the concern for personal interest. Undoubtedly, those kids who chose to take their own lives were faced only with their own sadness that they could not overcome. If they had a little concern for their parents, for their parents' expectations of them or for their own potential contributions to this world in the future, they would not have gone that far. Difficulties or sufferings are supposed to help kids develop their sense of responsibility and thus help them better understand the value of life. Too much attention and care from their parents and grandparents have made most of the only children self-centered. Many think it is natural that they deserve to be taken care of by others in whatever way they want. They expect to have their problems solved by their parents or someone else. With such a false sense, they fail to grasp the tough reality of life. They suffer from the illusion that their life should be nothing but plain sailing, Whenever the illusion is broken, they can hardly gather enough courage to face life as it is. So a hotline is indeed necessary to help those kids who find it hard to accept the tough reality of life. But parents and teachers also need to take lessons from the things. They need to know that life should not always be sugar-coated for kids; they should be made to taste the bitter side too as early as possible. Which of the following would be the best title of the passage? A. An irresponsible choice. B. The value of life. C. Weak-minded generation. D. The reality of life. Answer: B Mr. White works in a park. He can't hear or speak. He looks after the chairs in the park. Some chairs in the park look very old. Mr. White wants to paint them. It is cloudy today. There are few people in the park,so Mr. White starts to paint a chair. After he paints it,he goes back to his office and brings a card with "WET PAINT" on it. He wants to put the card near the chair. He takes the card and walks to the chair. Dave is taking a walk in the park. He feels a little tired .He wants to sit on a chair. He sees the chair. He is walking to it,too. Mr. White finds someone behind him walking to the same chair. He walks quickly. When Dave sees this,he begins to run. Mr. White begins to run,too. Dave runs faster than (......)Mr. White and he sits on the chair. He does not know the paint is wet. Mr. White is not happy to see him sitting on the chair. He shows Dave the card. Dave feels very embarrassed . From the passage,we can learn _ . A. Dave's clothes get wet paint at last B. there are many people in the park C. Dave feels hungry when he walks in the park D. Mr. White doesn't talk to Dave because he doesn't know him Answer: A The terrible college entrance exam is not only a big challenge for Chinese high school students,but also a very important exam in the lives of South Korean students.Although the long,cold winter has already started in South Korea.the annual national exams have made the atmosphere very heated. More than 675,000 South Korean high school graduates took the college entrance exam last Wednesday.They usually take exams in Korean,maths,sociology,history and foreign languages. Officially there is one college place for every 1.33 students.But because all the students want to go to the top universities in the country,the competition can reach one place for 10 students.The students want to attend these colleges for both their famous names and better job opportunities. Because students face fierce competition,they have to study very hard to realize their dreams.park Seung said he and his classmates often go to school before 7:30 in the morning.After school has finished at 6:30 P.m,most of them go to the library to continue their study instead of returning home.Since many libraries in South Korea are open 24 hours a day,they often stay long into the night Many of the Senior 3 students only sleep for three to four hours a day. "I feel a lot of pressure.but I have to study very hard in order to make my dream come true.This is my lifetime goal and it will be a turning point in my life which could decide my future,"Park said. The exam day is a very serious day for the whole of South Korea.Vehicles are not allowed within a 200-metre radius of all the test sites to make sure the students have quiet surroundings.Noises are forbidden,even airplanes are ordered to avoid landing and take-off near the test sites during listening comprehension test hours. Students are told their scores in December before they apply for college.This is followed by face-to-face oral tests.There are public and private universities in South Korea .Many private universities are well-known, but their fees can be 18,000 yuan each term.This has made a lot of students think again. The students want to study in top colleges mainly because_. A. They can succeed more easily in future B. they can learn more information C. they can make more money D. it is interesting to study there Answer: A
Question: Every time you visit Disney World, there's something new to see. What began in 1971 as theprefix = st1 /MagicKingdomnow includes the high-tech, movie-mad Disney and Animal Kingdom. Each time the park expands, so do your chances to spend money. How can you save? As a family guide to Disney World, I've been to the park more than 25 times with my kids, and I've developed a few money-saving plans. * Buy the five-day All-in-One Hopper Pass . Even if you're visiting for fewer days, it's a deal (the pass costs $ 229 for visitors ages 10 and up, $ 183 for kids ages three to nine and is free for kids under age three). Without the pass, you'll have to pay separately for PleasureIslandand the water parks. A single trip toBlizzardBeach, for example, would cost a family of four $ 100. * Dine out at lunch. The prices at some of the nicer restaurants, especially those in Epcot's World Showcase, are much lower at noontime than at dinner. It's wise to make reservations before you leave home. Call 407-W-DISNEY. * Become a Gold Card Member. For $65, you can get a Magic Kingdom Club Gold Card (call 1-800-56-DISNEY). Card-holders get up to 20 percent off Disney hotel rooms, plus price breaks on character breakfasts, theme park tickets and goods from Disney stores. * Don't pay extra to see a character. Character-theme dinner shows are expensive, costing a family of four about $ 140, and even a character breakfast, where Mickey or Donald Duck joins you for cakes, can _ $ 50. If your budget is tight, try to meet the characters inside the theme parks and at free in-park shows. You can watch the Diamond Horseshoe show, for example, in theMagicKingdomfor no additional cost, while the similarly themed Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue requires expensive tickets. * Wait until the end of your trip to buy souvenirs. By then, the kids will really know what they want, and you won't waste money on expensive things. If you are short of money, the writer suggests _ . A. you should not buy things for the kids from Disney stores B. you should not buy souvenirs at the beginning of the trip C. you should not make a trip toBlizzardBeach D. you should not have your meals out at noontime Answer: B. you should not buy souvenirs at the beginning of the trip Question: The continuous changes of a seed to an adult plant that produces seeds is known as a A. lunar cycle. B. weekly cycle. C. daily cycle. D. life cycle. Answer: D. life cycle. Question: Compared to Earth, the Moon is A. drier. B. larger. C. heavier. D. brighter. Answer: A. drier. Question: Researchers from France and Italy discovered that Canadian parents are less strict with their children than mothers and fathers in France and Italy. "Our most important finding was the difference between Canadians and the others," said Professor Michel Claes,the lead author of the study."Canadians focus on independence and negotiation.On the other hand,Italians,for example,exercise more control.We found Canadians seem to focus on negotiation in case of a conflict." Claes said Canada,France and Italy were selected for the study because they share important cultural and social factors."We chose FrenchCanadians because they share the same language as France,and originally came from France and share certain values.Italy was included because it was considered to have similar,strong and important family values," he explained. The researchers examined the emotional ties between parents and their children by questioning 1,256 students aged 11 to 19 years old. Canadian students reported less control and more free actions,according to the study.Italian parents were stricter and French parents were somewhere in the middle. Claes explains that the differences lie in education in Canada,France and Italy. "North America has its own educational values,which promote individualization.Tolerance and comprehension are encouraged.Italy,on the other hand,promotes respect of authority,control,and the need for permission." he said. Children from all three countries described their mothers as warm and communicative.Italian and Canadian children had similar feelings about their fathers,and reported high levels of emotional ties.But French fathers were generally thought by their children to be more distant and cold. "We were surprised by this," Claes admitted."It seems as though the relationships between French mothers and their children were becoming closer over time,while fathers maintain a form of distance and coldness,which is more of a source of conflict in France than in the other countries." Professor Michel Claes believes that Canada,France and Italy _ . A. have the same family spirit B. have some similar cultural traditions C. have experienced some similar social changes D. have experienced similar cultural developments Answer: B. have some similar cultural traditions Question: Once a circle lost a piece of its own. The circle wanted to be whole, so it went around looking for its missing piece. But because it was incomplete ,it could only roll very slowly. It enjoyed the flowers and the sunshine along the way. It talked with insects . It found lots of different pieces, but none of them fitted. So it left them all by the side of the road and kept on looking for the missing piece. Then one day the circle found a piece that fitted perfectly, it put the missing piece into itself. It could be whole, with nothing missing. It was so happy and began to roll. Now that it was a perfect circle, it could roll very fast, too fast to see flowers or talk to insects. It realized how different the world was when it rolled so quickly. It felt so sad that it stopped, left the piece it found by the side of the road and rolled away slowly. Sometimes, we are perfect when we lose something. A man who has everything is a poor man in some ways. He will never have hopes, dreams or something better. We couldn't be perfect, but we must be brave enough to love, kind enough to share happiness with others and clever enough to know there is enough love around us. The story mainly tells us that _ . A. nobody loves us if we give nothing B. a man who has everything is the happiest C. losing something may not be a bad thing sometimes D. we are not whole when we lose something Answer: C. losing something may not be a bad thing sometimes
Question: British men are encouraged to cry There are certain things British men like to believe about themselves. The first is that one day they will again win the World Cup. They also believe they do not cry. Over the centuries, Britons are believed to have a "stiff upper lip". But is this true? Yes, it is. A recent study arranged by Kleenex on how the British express their emotions shows that 95 percent of them still contain their emotions. Moreover, while 72 percent think this is unhealthy, 19 percent can't remember the last time they "let it out". As a result, Kleenex is carrying out the "Let It Out" campaign that encourages the British to grab a tissue and have a good cry. These days, however, the male Briton's attitude toward crying is changing. Though the majority still struggles to open up emotionally, a 2004 study by Oxford's Social Issues Research Center found that 77 percent of British men considered crying in public increasingly acceptable. Half of London males admitted crying in front of their mothers. Scotsmen are the least emotional, although they are the most likely to cry at weddings. Peter Marsh, director of the center, said: "Crying can now indicate sensitivity rather than weakness. Like with David Beckham, crying because you're dropping off your boy at nursery isn't seen as weak." Winston Churchill was said to be a frequent crier, shedding tears at seeing a survivor in an air raid shelter, and when he saw his wife after a long absence. Psychologists say that while society has accepted that men can cry, there are limits. Ronald Bracey, a consulting psychologist, said: "If a man began to cry when he was having stitches in hospital, he would be considered as a wimp . Men still need to be seen as strong when it comes to physical pain." What does the author think of the British men's crying? A. They should cry if hurt. B. They should keep firm not to cry to show they are not wimps. C. They should be brave in face of physical pain and cry if necessary when facing other problems. D. They should "let it out" whatever problems they meet with. Answer: C Question: In the book The Best Little Girl in the World, Kessa has a serious eating disorder called anorexia nervosa. But she is not alone. Many people have this eating disorder. In the beginning of her story, Kessa is a normal 15-year-old. She is good at many things, especially dancing. She has danced for many years and loves it. One day her dance teacher tells her to continue eating right, but maybe lose a few pounds. Once Kessa hears this, she takes things too far. Instead of cutting down on snacks and junk food, she decides not to eat at all. She does not eat breakfast, lunch, or dinner. She begins losing weight and becomes slimmer and slimmer. But she loses weight to a point where she is unhealthy. As her poor eating habits continue, her parents start getting as much help as possible to cure their beautiful daughter. But it is just as hard for Kessa's parents to deal with her disorder as it is for her. Everyday she exercises to lose more pounds and plans what and when she will eat. Her parents try everything, but Kessa decides not to have any fat on her body. Kessa's doctor and parents finally take her to the hospital. She is now so thin that she can hardly walk. There, she is given good care. In the rest of the book, Kessa goes through a lot of trouble in order to cure her eating disorder. This book, I think, can help to prevent people from doing this to themselves. It shows the trouble that people go through just to be slimmer, and all the terrible things they must experience to be cured. It is a book I think every teenager should read. What does Kessa do to lose weight? A. She stops eating. B. She eats less junk food. C. She has three small meals a day. D. She dances many more hours a day. Answer: A Question: Something in chocolate could be used to stop coughs and lead to more effective medicines, say UK researchers. Their study found that theobromine , found in cocoa, was nearly a third more effective in stopping coughs than codeine, which was considered the best cough medicine at present. The Imperial College London researchers who published their results online said the discovery could lead to more effective cough treatment. "While coughing is not necessarily harmful it can have a major effect on the quality of life, and this discovery could be a huge step forward in treating this problem," said Professor Peter Barnes. Ten healthy volunteers were given theobromine, codeine or placebo, a pill that contains no medicine, during the experiment. Neither the volunteers nor the researchers knew who received which pill. The researchers then measured levels of capsaicin, which is used in research to cause coughing and as a sign of how well the medicines are stopping coughs. The team found that, when the volunteers were given theobromine, the capsaicin needed to produce a cough was around a third higher than in the placebo group. When they were given codeine they needed only slightly higher levers of capsaicin to cause a cough compared with the placebo. The researchers said that theobromine worked by keeping down a nerve activity , which cause coughing. They also found that unlike some standard cough treatments, theobromine caused no side effects such as sleepiness. According to Professor Barnes, theobromine _ . A. cannot be as effective as codeine B. can be harmful to people's health C. cannot be separated from chocolate D. can be a more effective cure for coughs Answer: D Question: Sigmund Freud was one of the first scientists to make serious research of the mind. The mind is the collection of activities based in the brain that involve how we act, think, feel and reason. He used long talks with patients and the study of dreams to search for the causes of mental and emotional problems. He also tried hypnosis . He wanted to see whether putting patients into a sleep-like condition would help ease troubled minds. In most cases he found the effects only temporary. Freud worked hard, although what he did might sound easy. His method involved sitting with his patients and listening to them talk. He had them talk about whatever they were thinking. All ideas, thoughts and anything that entered their mind had to be expressed. There could be no holding back because of fear or guilt. Freud believed that all the painful memories of childhood lay buried in the unconscious self. This part of the mind he said contains wishes, desires and experiences too frightening to recognize. He thought that if these memories could somehow be brought into the conscious mind, the patient would again feel the pain. But this time, the person would experience them as an adult. The patient would feel them, be able to examine them and, if successful, finally understand them. Using this way, Freud reasoned, the pain and emotional pressure of the past would be greatly weakened. They would lose their hold over the person's physical health. Soon the patient would get better. Many of Freud's theories about how the mind works also had strong sexual connections. These included what he saw as the repressed feelings of sons toward their mothers and daughters toward their fathers. If nothing else, Freud's ideas were revolutionary. Some people rejected them. Many others came to accept them. But no one disputes his great influence on the science of mental health. Sigmund Freud held the idea that the painful memories of childhood _ . A. could be forgotten forever B. could have a life-long influence C. could become wises and desires D. could be understood unconsciously Answer: B Question: "I left Tangier, my birthplace, the 13th of June 1325 with the intention of making the pilgrimage to Mecca... to leave all my friends both female and male, to abandon my home as birds abandon their nests." So begins an old manuscript in a library in Paris-the travel journal of Ibn Battuta. Almost two centuries before Columbus, Ibn Battuta set off for Mecca, returning home three decades later as one of history's great travelers. Driven by curiosity, he journeyed to remote comers of the Islamic world, traveling through 44 modern countries, three times as far as Marco Polo. Little celebrated in the West, his name is well known among Arabs. In his hometown of Tangier, a square, a hotel, a cafe, a ferry boat, and even a hamburger are named after him. Ibn Battuta stayed in Mecca as a student for several years, but the urge to travel soon took over. In one adventure, he traveled to India seeking profitable employment with the sultan of Delhi.On the way, he described his group being attacked in the open country by 80 men on foot, and two horsemen. "We fought... killing one of their horsemen and about twelve of the foot soldiers... I was hit by an arrow and my horse by another, but God in his grace preserved me... ". In Delhi, the sultan gave him the position of judge, based on his _ study at Mecca. But the sultan had an unpredictable character, and Ibn Battuta looked for an opportunity to leave. When the sultan offered to finance a trip to China, he agreed. IbnBattuta set off in three ships, but misfortune struck while he was still on the shore. A sudden storm grounded and broke up two ships, scattering treasure and drowning many people and horses. As he watched, the third ship with all his belongings and slaves (one carrying his child), was carried out to sea and never heard from again. After a lifetime of incredible adventures, Ibn Battuta was finally ordered by the sultan of Morocco to return home to share his wisdom with the world. Fortunately, he agreed and wrote a book that has been translated into numerous languages, allowing people everywhere to read about his unparalleled journeys. What is the main topic of the article? A. Visitors to Mecca. B. A great travel joumal. C. Ibn Barttuta and the sultan. D. Ibn Battuta and adventures. Answer: D
More than 50,000,000 people live in the rainforests of the world and most of them do not hurt the forest they live in. They eat the fruits that grow on the forest trees, but they do not cut them down. They kill some animals to eat, but they do not destroy them. When we cut down the rainforests, we destroy these forest people, too. In 1900, there were 1,000,000 forest people in the Amazon forest. In 1980, there were only 200,000. The Yanomami live along the rivers of the rainforest in the north of Brazil. They have lived in the rainforest for about 10,000 years and they use more than 2,000 different plants for food and for medicine. But in 1988, someone found gold in their forest, and suddenly 45,000 people came to the forest and began looking for gold. They cut down the forest to make roads. They made more than a hundred airports. The Yanomami people lost land and food. Many died because new diseases came to the forest with the strangers. The Yanomami people tried to save their forest, because it was their home. But the people who wanted gold were stronger. Many forest people try to save their forests. Chico Mendes was famous in Brazil because he wanted to keep the forest for his people. "I want the Amazon forest to help all of us-forest people Brazil, and all the Earth," he said. A few months later, in December 1988, people who wanted to cut down the forest killed Chico Mendes. In Borneo, people were cutting down the forest of the Penan people to sell the wood. The Penan people tried to save their rainforest. They made _ across the roads into the forest. In 1987, they closed fifteen roads for eight months. No one cut down any trees during that time. In Panama, the Kuna people saved their forest. They made a forest park which tourists pay to visit. The Gavioes people of Brazil use the forest, but they protect it as well. They find and sell the Brazil nuts which grow on the forest trees. From the passage, we learn that _ . A we need wood to build houses, so we have to cut down trees B the rainforest people have done something to protect their home C to humans, gold is more important than trees D we mustn't cut down any trees or kill any animals Answer: B. the rainforest people have done something to protect their home This US competition is for camping related articles in which you share your tips, advice, experience, etc. Closing: When we've received 100 articles -- so you'd better be quick. Prizes: $100,$75,$25 -- all in VISA Gift Cards. How to enter our writing competition In your own words, write an article on a camping topic such as: how to's, reviews, tips and advice, or any topic camping related.The best articles will include useful information about camping, in an interesting and well-written way.Remember that it should be no less than 200 words. Other requirements 1.Fill in all the information required, including your article, on our webpage CampTrip.com and then submit it. 2.You must be 16 years old or over to take part in the competition. 3.You must be a student who is now studying in the US. And what's in it for you? We are giving out a VISA Gift Card for first, second and third best articles.Simply share your experience with others and try to win a VISA cash card.The writing competition is limited to 100 articles which gives you a better chance of writing.So why don't you take up this chance? Who will most probably be interested in the competition? A Teachers. B Students. C Writers. D Parents. Answer: B. Students. Traveling to every part of the world gets easier, but how well do we know and understand each other. Here's a simple test. Imagine you are planning to hold a meeting at four o'clock. What time should you expect your foreign business friends to arrive? If they are Germans, they'll arrive on time. If they are Americans, they'll probably be 15 minutes early. If they are Englishmen, they'll be 15 minutes late, and you should allow up to an hour for the Italians. The British seemed to think since the English language was widely used in the world, people would always understand what they do. However, they found they were completely wrong. For example, the British are happy to have a business lunch and discuss business matters and have a drink during the meal. The Japanese prefer not to work while eating. Lunch is a time for them to relax and get to know each other and they don't drink at lunchtime. The Germans like to talk business before dinner. The French like to eat first and talk afterwards. They have to be well fed and watered before they discuss anything. According to the text, if a group of Englishmen, Americans and Italians hold a meeting, who will be the last to arrive? A The Englishmen. B The Americans. C The Italians. D Both the Englishmen and the Italians. Answer: C. The Italians. 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. , Swimming is _ favourite sport. A Jimmy's B May's C Sandra's D Frank's Answer: C. Sandra's A person feeds their cows corn. They grow an acre of corn each year for the herd. They add another thirty cows to their herd, so they A burn the corn B grow less corn C plant several acres D remove some cows Answer: C. plant several acres
Rabbit Shiny and tortoise Smily were neighbours. One day they were reading a story about their great grandfathers: Shiny's and Smily's great grandfathers decided to have a race. While Shiny's great grandfather went to sleep during the race, Smily's great grandfather won the race by slowly walking towards the finish line. Smily said, "If your great grandfather didn't go to sleep, my great granddad might never win. So his win was not a real win." The next day there was a notice in the jungle newspaper. It said that there would be a race and the winner would win many prizes. The race started from the bear's house. From there, the runners had to cross the river. But most of the animals could not both run fast and swim fast. So they didn't know what to do. Shiny and Smily made a plan. Shiny ran, while smily was sitting on his back. He and other animals, like the deer, reached the river side at the same time. But they saw the swift water and stood there because they were worried. None of them liked the idea of crossing the river. Smily quickly got into the water and Shiny sat on his back. Smily started swimming. Soon they reached the other side of the river. Shiny got down from Smily's back and Smily climbed on Shiny's back again. Shiny ran fast. They reached the finish line first. "Both of them are the winners." The president of the jungle said, "Shiny and Smily helped each other during the race and they won. So let's give them a big hand." Many animals _ when reaching the river side. Beijing ---- A recent Chinese blockbuster "A World Without Thieves" is based on the experiences of a young migrant worker carrying 60,000 yuan on a train packed with thieves.But while the image of a warm-hearted but somewhat naive migrant worker may have made film fans chuckle, it's a sure bet that most of China's migrant workers are yet to step into a cinema to admire it. "Forty yuan a ticket? I can't afford it," said Shen Jie, a migrant worker at a construction site in Dongzhimen, east Beijing. Shen found it hard to remember when he last watched a film, or what it was about."It must be 10 years ago," he said. Though they are the builders of the nation's theaters and cinemas, a limited cultural life is common among China's 120 million migrant workers. Shen arrived from East China's Zhejiang Province in1991.Life was better then; money seemed to come more easily."Now, as more and more workers are rushing to the capital, it's too hard to earn money, and none of us dare think about watching films," he said. For many like Shen, the dream is earning enough to pay for their children's education so they can find jobs in the cities and say goodbye to the hardships of rural life forever.This drives them to work hard and save as much as possible. With a monthly salary of less than 500 yuan, Shen has to send money home to his little son and silver-haired parents. In Shen's small dormitory, which he shares with seven other co-workers, there is a well-thumbed copy of a magazine published in 1998. A recent survey by local media revealed that 80 percent of migrant workers spent their spare time sleeping and chatting because of exhaust and a lack of income.The same survey found that 47 percent of migrant workers have to work for more than 10 hours a day.Around 40 percent do not even possess a book, and nearly 60 percent say they are dissatisfied with their cultural life. Like many of Shen's co-workers, reading newspapers and hanging out in Beijing's streets provide evening entertainment. From China Daily According the passage, which of the following is TRUE _ . Congressional legislation authorizing marriages and divorces as a matter of federal law on prescribed terms and conditions could most easily be upheld if it At 4:53 pm. on January 12, United Nations aid worker Jens Kristensen was at his desk reading documents on the third floor of the Christopher Hotel, which served as UN headquarters in PortauPrince, when he felt a tremor . Four seconds later, the earthquake hit. "In a split second, I considered whether to run for the door or hide under my desk," says Kristensen, 48. "The door was closed, and I thought that maybe it was too far and I would be caught under falling debris , so I hid under the table." A bookshelf topped onto his desk, protecting him from being crushed by rubble and trapping him in a tiny pocket. "I was confined as if in a small coffin," he says. It was so dark, and it didn't matter if his eyes were open or closed. He used the light from his mobile phone to see around him. He found, among other items, a jar of instant coffee. "I had no food or water, only the coffee to suck on if I needed it." At about 6:30 am. on January 17, an oil leak silenced the building's generators, and Kristensen was able to hear muffled voices above where he was buried. "I thought, I was too tired to bang and shout. But then I realized, I had to take every chance. This could be one." So he called out. Six hours later, Kristensen saw his rescuers' faces. "It was so amazing. I felt I had received a second birthday," he recalls. Dehydration and pains but with only a bruise and a scratch, Kristensen took three days to recover. The UN lost more than 90 people in Haiti. But Kristensen says that the outpouring of love helps heal the pain: "The genuine happiness of people toward me here has been wonderful. You feel part of a larger family." When Jens Kristensen heard the voices, he came to know that _ . Welcome to the British Museum, the grandest and the most spectacular in the human history.The admission is free and we open every day from 10:00 to 15:30.You can explore 10 departments including: The Department of Africa, Oceania and America. The collection of the Department of Africa, Oceania and America includes around 350,000 objects.The scope of the collection is contemporary and historical.It includes most of Africa, the Pacific and Australia, as well as America.All of the collections were got during the 19 th and 20 th centuries and dates from this time. The Department of Asia. The Department of Asia covers the material and visual cultures of Asia--a vast geographical area of Japan, Korea, China, central Asia, Afghanistan, south Asia and south -east Asia.The collection dates from about 4000 BC to present day.It represents the cultures and ways of life of local people and other minority groups. The Department of Greek and Roman Empires. The Department of Greek and Roman Empires features antiquities .It has one of the most comprehensive collections of antiquities from the Classical world, with over 100,000 objects.These mostly range in date from the beginning of the Greek Bronze Age (about 3200BC) to the time of the Roman emperor Constantine in the fourth century AD. This passage is most likely to be a _ .
People believe that climbing can do good to health. Where can you learn the skill of climbing then? If you think that you have to go to the mountains to learn how to climb,you're wrong. Many Americans are learning to climb in city gyms . Here,people are learning on special climbing walls. The climbing wall goes straight up and has small holding places for hands and feet. How do people climb the wall? To climb,you need special shoes and a harness around your chest to hold you. There are ropes tied to your harness. The ropes hold you in place so that you don't fall. A beginner's wall is usually about 15 feet high,and you climb straight up. There are small pieces of metal that stick out for you to stand on and hold on to. Sometimes it's easy to see the new piece of metal. Sometimes, it's not. The most difficult part is to control your fear. It's normal for humans to be afraid of falling, so it's difficult not to feel fear. But when you move away from the wall,the harness and the ropes hold you,and you begin to feel safe. You move slowly until you reach the top. Climbing attracts people because it's good exercise for almost everyone. You use your whole body,especially your arms and legs. This sport gives your body a complete _ . When you climb,both your mind and your body can become stronger. Why does the author write this passage? A To tell people where to find gyms. B To prove the basic need for climbing. C To encourage people to climb mountains. D To introduce the sport of wall climbing. Answer: D. To introduce the sport of wall climbing. It's nine o'clock on a Tuesday night.You are trying to finish your maths assignment. You have only two problems left to go.Almost done!You are looking forward to a nice snack and your favorite TV show.You read the next problem and groan.You don,t have a clue how to do it .You may check your notes from class .Or you may try reading your text-book .But the problem might as well be written in a foreign language. Does this sound familiar? Most people who have taken any kind of maths class have had this experience.What do you do when you get stuck? Perhaps you call a friend.Or you ask a family member for help.But what if it's late at night? Years ago there were very few ways to get help if you were stuck on a maths problem. Maths is different from other school subjects.You often cannot find what to do in a book.A dictionary or even an encyclopedia probably won't help you.You need someone to show you the steps.Learning most kinds of maths is something like learning to play a musical instrument.You need a coach to show you what to do. In many areas there are homework telephone lines.These hot lines have volunteers.They can help you do homework in all subjects.A maths volunteer can explain the steps in a maths problem that has you stumped* Today you can also get help on the Internet.There are several homework help programs and Web pages .In some,you leave your question on a message board.Or you write it in an e-mail note.In other maths-help programs there are live volunteer teachers.You can wait for a real maths teacher to help you do the problem. This passage is mostly concerned with _ . A why maths is difficult to do B ways of getting help with maths homework C using reference books to do maths homework D using a computer to do maths Answer: B. ways of getting help with maths homework A language holiday is a combination of "holiday" and study abroad to learn or improve a foreign language. English language holidays are taken in English-speaking countries like England, the USA or Australia. While there, you study in a language school with students from many different countries. You live with local people, often staying with a host family. A language holiday can be of any length - from one week to one year - but most are two or three weeks. What are the Benefits of a Language Holiday? Language holidays have become a very popular method of learning English because they have many advantages: Total Exposure Because you are in an English-speaking country, you are constantly exposed to English from the time you wake up and have breakfast with your host family until late evening and your last drink in a local pub. You have little or no opportunity to escape the English language. This is how you learn your own language - constant exposure. Mixed Classes When you study in your own country, all the other students in your class speak your language, so you are not forced to use English. On a language holiday, students come from countries all over the world. It is possible that nobody in your class will speak your language, so you will just have to speak English! Freedom From Pressure On a language holiday you are away from home and can forget the everyday pressures of school or business. Your mind is more relaxed and you can learn more easily. Cultural Understanding Learning a language is not only about learning words. Different nations have different cultures. People think and behave differently. Their language is closely associated with their culture. By visiting and living in a foreign country, you learn to understand the culture and the people - and so better understand the language. You'll find schools offering language holidays at EnglishClub.com ESL World. Why are mixed classes good for English learning? A Because you are forced to speak your language B Because students come from English countries. C Because nobody in your class speaks your language. D Because you have no choice but to speak English. Answer: D. Because you have no choice but to speak English. A city child's summer is spent in the street in front of his home,and all through the long summer vacations I sat on the edge of the street and watched enviously the other boys on the block play baseball. I was never asked to take part even when one team had a member missing--not out of special cruelty, but because they took it for granted that I would be no good at it. They were right,of course. I would never forget the wonderful evening when something changed. The baseball ended about eight or eight thirty when it grew dark. Then it was the custom of the boys to retire to a little stoop that stuck out from the candy store on the corner and that somehow had become theirs. No grownup ever sat there or attempted to. There the boys would sit, mostly talking about the games played during the day and of the game to be played tomorrow. Then long silences would fall and the boys would wander off one by one. It was just after one of those long silences that my life as an outsider changed. I can no longer remember which boy it was that summer evening who broke the silence with a question;but whoever he was,I nod to him gratefully now. " What's in those books you're always reading?" he asked casually. "Stories," I answered. "What kind?"asked somebody else without much interest. Nor do I know what drove me to behave as I did,for usually I just sat there in silence,glad enough to be allowed to remain among them;but instead of answering his question,I told them for two hours the story I was reading at the moment. The book was Sister Carrie. They listened bugeyed and breathless. I must have told it well,but I think there was another and deeper reason that made them so keen an audience. Listening to a tale being told in the dark is one of the most ancient of man's entertainments,but I was offering them as well,without being aware of doing it,a new and exciting experience. The books they themselves read were the Rover Boys or Tom Swift or G.A. Henry. I had read them too,but at thirteen I had long since left them behind. Since I was much alone I had become an enthusiastic reader and I had gone through the booksforboys series. In those days there was no reading material between children's and grownups' books,or I could find none. I had gone right from Tom Swift and His Flying Machine to Theodore Dreiser and Sister Carrie. Dreiser had hit my young mind,and they listened to me tell the story with some of the wonder that I had had in reading it. The next night and many nights thereafter,a kind of unspoken ritual took place. As it grew dark,I would take my place in the center of the stoop and begin the evening's tale. Some nights,in order to taste my victory more completely,I cheated. I would stop at the most exciting part of a story by Jack London or Bret Harte,and without warning tell them that was as far as I had gone in the book and it would have to be continued the following evening. It was not true,of course;but I had to make certain of my newlyfound power and position. I enjoyed the long summer evenings until school began in the fall. Other words of mine have been listened to by larger and more fashionable audiences,but for that tough and athletic one that sat close on the stoop outside the candy store,I have an unreasoning love that will last forever. What is the message conveyed in the story? A One can find his position in life in his own way. B Friendship is built upon respect for each other. C Reading is more important than playing games. D Adult habits are developed from childhood. Answer: A. One can find his position in life in his own way. Which best describes a parallel circuit? A Electricity flows along one pathway. B The flow of electricity comes from one source. C Electricity flows along more than one pathway. D The flow of electricity comes from more than one source. Answer: C. Electricity flows along more than one pathway.
Coyotes notice that their territory begins to get more and more dry. This means that in order to properly hydrate, the coyotes will need to Answer: migrate for fluid One day an out of work mimic is visiting the zoo and attempts to earn some money as a street performer. As soon as he starts to draw the crowd,a zoo keeper grabs him and drags him into his office. The zoo keeper explains to the mimic that the zoo's most popular attraction,a gorilla ,has died suddenly and the keeper fears that attendance at the zoo will fall off. He offers the mimic a job to dress up as the gorilla until they can get another one. The mimic accepts. So the next morning the mimic puts on the gorilla suit and enters the cage before the crowd comes. He discovers that it's a great job. He can sleep all he wants,play and make fun of people and he draws bigger crowds than he ever did as a mimic. However,eventually the crowds tire of him and he tires of just swinging on wires. He begins to notice that the people are paying more attention to the lion in the cage next to his. Not wanting to lose the attention of his audience,he climbs to the top of his cage,crawls across a partition ,and dangles from the top to the lion's cage. Of course,this makes the lion very angry,but the crowd loves it. At the end of the day the zoo keeper comes and gives the mimic a raise for being such a good attraction. Well,this goes on for some time-the mimic keeps taunting the lion,the crowds grow larger,and his salary keeps going up. Then one terrible day when he is dangling over the angry lion he slips and falls. The mimic is terrified. The lion gathers itself and prepares to attack. The mimic is so scared that he begins to run round and round the cage with the lion close behind. Finally,the mimic starts screaming and yelling,"Help me,help me!"But the lion is quick and attacks. The mimic soon finds himself flat on his back looking up at the angry lion and the lion says,"Shut up,you idiot!Do you want to get us both fired?" The mimic climbs to the lion's cage because _ . Answer: he wants to attract the attention of his audience Finding a suitable place to live is not easy for a student who first arrived in a strange place . I was lucky because I had booked a dormitory with the school before I arrived .. I t was a flat with seven independent rooms and a shared bathroom and kitchen . all of my flatmates are all students form Britain . I thought I was lucky to be part of this flat with these energetic young men . However , I found myself unhappy with them only a few days after I stayed there . These young people seemed never to be quiet . Usually they would not come back until late into the night .They even played football in the room whenever they like , whether _ was early morning or late night . Worse still , they always had parties . Those loud music and laughter made me sleepless the whole night . Finally , I had no choice but to ask the authority to move me to another flat where most of the students were international students pursuing their master degrees . They were older in age and hold heavier study burden . So they were quieter . My advice for those who want to study in the UK is to get in touch with the international student accommodation service of your school first and tell them to arrange for you to share a flat with graduates before you come here. What was the trouble while living with the British students? Answer: They disturbed the writer's living greatly . Many people say dolphins are very intelligent. They seem to be able to think, understand, and learn things quickly. But are they smart like humans or more than cats or dogs? Dolphins use their brains differently from people. But scientists say dolphin intelligence and human intelligence are similar in some ways. How? Fact 1: Talk to me Like humans, every dolphin has its own "name". The name is a special whistle. Each dolphin chooses a specific whistle for itself, usually by its first birthday. Actually, scientists think dolphins, like people, "talk" to each other about a lot of things, such as their age, their feelings, or finding food. And, like humans, dolphins use a system of sounds and body language to communicate. But understanding their conversations is not easy for humans. No one speaks "dolphin" yet, but some scientists are trying to learn. Fact 2: Let's play Dolphins are also social animals. They live in groups, and they often join others from different groups to play games and have fun--just like people. In fact, playing together is something only intelligent animals do. Fact 3: Fishermen's helper Dolphins and humans are similar in another way: both make plans to get something they want. In the seas of southern Brazil, for example, dolphins use an interesting strategy to get food. When fish are near a boat, dolphins show signs to the fishermen to put their nets in the water. Using this method, the men can catch a lot of fish. What is the advantage for the dolphins in doing so? They get to eat some of the fish. What is the passage mainly about? Answer: Dolphins and humans are similar in some ways. Do you know that man? He is my uncle. His name is David Smith. He is forty-eight this year. He is a worker. He works in a Car Factory. His factory is not near his home. So he gets up early in the morning and takes a bus to work. At about seven thirty, he gets to his factory. He makes the parts of the car. He makes many every day. He works very hard. Everyone likes him and says he is a good worker. He has his lunch in the factory. He often plays basketball after work. In the evening, he learns Chinese at home. His Chinese is good, too. Sometimes he helps me with my Chinese. I like my uncle very much. That man is _ . Answer: a worker
Myth: Skipping meals helps you lose weight fast. Truth: There's no truth in this advice. Not only will you lose weight by starving yourself, but according to Carol Ann Rinzler, this may actually cause you to gain weight. Rinzler reasons that missing a meal causes your metabolism to slow down so that you burn food more slowly. This only makes you feel hungrier and by the time you finally do reach the table you will probably eat more food. Strange as it may seem, studies show that eating several small meals and snacks throughout the day is a more healthy way to lose pounds. Myth: If you swallow gum ,it will stay inside your stomach for seven years. Truth: Actually, it takes just a few days for gum to make its exit---not seven years, says Nei Izenberg, M. D., editor of Kids Health Organization. But because gum is made of the same thing as rubber, it cannot be fully digested in your stomach--- so if you gum up the works on a regular basis, you might find yourself in a sticky situation. Myth: The best way to stop a nosebleed is to lift your head back. Truth: Now that's bad advice. Bloody noses are caused by broken blood vessels , so while lifting your head back might stop the fluid from rushing out of your nose, it won't stop the bleeding; you'll just end up swallowing lots of blood. Your best bet? "Rest quietly. Don't poke or pick, and the blood will naturally clot within a minute or two". Suggests Dr. Izenberg. Myth: Cutting your hair will make it grow long faster. Truth: That's not true. "Your hair isn't like a lawn or a rosebush, where cutting can stimulate fresh growth," says Phillip Kingsley. The length of your hair is genetically ( ) determined. When it reaches a certain length, it stops growing. When you clear up the dead split ends, this make your hair look healthier, but not necessarilylonger. According to Carol Ann Rinzler, skipping meals will _ . Answer: Dogs have long been regarded as a loyal friend of humans. They are not only a good companion to their owners, but also a security guard in some way. However, in fact, dogs do more things than just that. Recently, a British middle school has invited a dog to the classroom. Why? For fun? For security? Or for experiments? Flossie, a ten-month-old poodle, says "No" to all the above guesses. He is there to help increase students' reading confidence. It is a little hard to believe, but it's real. Vice-headmaster Sue Frost is responsible for training and taking care of the dog. She said, "Flossie has a great _ on students.They are willing to read for him. This is really a good way for students to learn more new words and make new progress." Flossie is quite popular among students. Jacob Wicks, an 11-year-old schoolboy, entered the school last November. He said, "I think Flossie is a lovely dog. He always listens to me quietly when I am reading. There is no need for me to worry about negative comments if I don't read well." Another student named Jordan Leatherhead said that he liked reading Guinness world Records for Flossie, and that Flossie like listening to him because there are many records about dogs and other animals in the book. Wow! This is really an interesting teaching method. Why not have a try if you have a pet dog at home? ,. What can Flossie do? Answer: Every time I came home from work at midnight, I often saw a shadow walking in our neighborhood. Was it "a night walking"? Someone walked alone in the dark, and this always made me afraid a lot. I think it was "a sleep walker". So I never bothered it. But one night, when I walked past it quietly and quickly as usual, I heard a low voice. "Do you often have to work at night?" I was a little afraid. I looked around, but no one was nearby. I ran home as quickly as possible. Later on, I heard it was a neighbor, an old man who has been living alone at home. He's NOT a sleep walker. He enjoys having a walk at night. So I seldom see him in the neighborhood in the day. It's said that he was a soldier many years ago. He has two children, a son and a daughter. His son has a family in Shanghai. His daughter went abroad, in Sydney. He has been living alone since his wife died several years ago. Without any children living with him, he feels lonely and helpless. I feel sorry for the old man. We might care less about our parent who lives alone. When we grow up, our parents get old. We should often go back home even though we're busy with work. How did the writer feel when he saw "the sleep walker"? Answer: Teen Climbing Camp 2010 This 5-day climbing camp is suitable for teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18 who have an interest in rock climbing. The climbing days are designed for beginners and those who have some basic experience in a gym or outdoors. Participants will find themselves challenged physically and mentally. Rock Dimensions camps are designed to be a positive and memorable experience by providing healthy communication between participants, individual goal setting, and challenges that lead to personal growth. Dates Monday, June 29-Friday, July 3 Monday, July 27-Friday, July 31 Locations Climbing Tower at Footsloggers Linville Gorge and Table Rock area Local climbing areas near Boone Responsibilities Participants will meet Rock Dimensions guides at our location each morning and at the end of each day. Rock Dimensions will provide all climbing items, including a safety rope, a helmet and climbing shoes for each participant. Participants are responsible for bringing their own lunch, water, small backpack, appropriate clothing, and personal items like sun cream, etc. Pre-camp planning Participants will receive the following information in their registration packet Medical Form, Responsibility Agreement, Clothing/Equipment List, and Directions. Cost $575/person for the 5-day camp $325/person for the first 3 days Anyone interested in participating in just the last two days of the camp should call to discuss pricing and necessary skills/experience. If Paul wants to participate in the climbing camp from July 27 to July 29 and his brother from July 27 to July 31, it will cost them _ . Answer: Welcome to the Amazing kids Website! Here you can read about clever children all over the world. Gina, who is thirteen years old, got first prize in the "Young Look of the Year" competition and is now writing her own recipe book for kids. "I want it to be fun to read and easy enough for children to use," she says. Gina learned by observing her father, who's also good at cooking, in the kitchen. She wants to encourage other children to cook because "everyone needs to eat, so it's a skill that will always be useful! Fourteen-year-old Bren used to love running until he had a serious car accident three years ago. He lost part of one leg and didn't even expect to walk again. Now he's an athlete who has recently completed a marathon. "After my accident I wanted to give up," he says. "But now I'm happy to be alive and able to continue running." Helga has always been good at science, but she thought it was too difficult to become an inventor. Then she heard about an accident that had happened when a car hit a train in her town. "That gave me an idea," says the clever sixteen-year-old girl. It took her over a year to invent a special machine that tells car drivers when a train is coming. One company is already interested in selling it, so it may be in the shops soon! Which of the following is true about Helga? Answer:
Corned Beef & Cabbage. From Quick Cooking "I've been making this meal for more than 40 years," remarks Ruth Warner of Wheat Ridge, Colorado. "It is so easy and so delicious. It's especially good served with a salad of peaches and cottage cheese." INGREDIENTS 4 cups water 1 corned beef brisket with spice packet (2 pounds) 1 medium head cabbage , cut into 8 wedges 2 large red potatoes , cut into 2-inch chunks 1 can (14--1/2 ounces ) chicken broth 4 large carrots , cut into 2--inch chunks 1 medium onion , cut into 2--inch pieces SERVINGS, 4--6 CATEGORY , Main Dish PREP , 10 min. METHOD, Pressure Cooker COOK, 45 min. TOTAL, 55 min.DIRECTIONS In a 6-qt. pressure cooker ,combine water and contents of corned beef seasoning packet; add beef. Close cover securely ;place pressure regulator on vent pipe .Bring cooker to full pressure over high heat .Reduce heat to medium-high and cook for 45 minutes .(Pressure regulator should maintain a slow steady rocking motion; adjust heat if needed.) Meanwhile ,in a large saucepan ,combine the cabbage ,potatoes and broth .Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes .Add carrots and onion. Cover and simmer 20--25 minutes longer or until vegetables are tender ;drain. Remove pressure cooker from the heat; allow pressure to drop on its own. Remove beef to a serving platter. Discard cooking liquid .Serve beef with cabbage ,potatoes ,carrots and onion. Yield: 4--6 servings. For more recipes ,click here. When cooking corned beef ,one thing you should pay attention to is_. A. to use the seasoning packet B. to bring cooker to full pressure C. to adjust heat from time to time D. to place it on vent pipe Answer: C Which resource when used causes the most pollution? A. solar B. coal C. wind D. water Answer: B Every kid wishes to be an adult. But now as grown-ups, some adults find they cannot leave childhood behind. They become "kidults" (kid+adult). Being a kidult has become a lifestyle-choice among young people across Asia. Some kidults collect toys they once played with. Hello Kitty, Garfield, and Snoopy have many adult fans around the world. It is not unusual to see a 20-something woman with a big, Garfield-shaped cushion on her sofa or a Hello Kitty mobile phone accessory. Other kidults still enjoy children's stories and fairy tales. For example, Bloomsbury even published the Harry Potter novels with an adult cover. That way, no one else on the subway will know that an adult is actually reading a children's book! "Kidults can be like vitamins to society. Adults who value their childhood and hold on to pure, child-like emotion may be needed in such a rough and dry society," said Lee Sojung, professor of Foreign Studies at Hankuk University. He added that kidult culture may fill the generation gap between adults and kids. It could give children and their parents books, movies, and cartoon shows to enjoy together. He may be right. Tim Greenhalgh, a professor, explained that some kidults just refuse to grow up. They cling to childhood because life in a busy and stressful city frightens them. Kidults would like to forget their age and openly show their fear of society and adulthood. " So, they can escape from increasingly complex and stressful lives that are hard to deal with." Greenhalgh said. The main cause of the kidult culture is that _ . A. some companies are taking advantage of it. B. modern life is stressful and hard. C. some people like to stay young and energetic. D. some people wish to fill the generation gap. Answer: B I ran into a local store today to pick up a few things. With an important meeting to attend, I was in a hurry , so I didn't take a cart on my way inside. As I walked between the shelves in the store, I passed by a young couple and their baby. I continued going through the store, picked up a few items I needed and ended up standing behind this couple in the checkout line. While waiting, I noticed that the young father was holding his money tightly and nervously. The young mother was carrying a baby in her arms and asked the cashier for a job application. When the total was rung up, they had to pick items out of their cart because they didn't have enough money. But all their items were basic necessities that they needed most. It just broke my heart to watch the couple try to think about what they could do without. However, they were able to _ their items and paid the bill with the money that they had. After they left, I quietly asked the cashier to add those items to mine. The cashier rang everything up, and then got me a shopping cart. We put in their items and I hurried over to their car. "This is for you," I told them. The young father just looked at me with such appreciation and thanked me. I will never forget the expression in his eyes. As I was getting into my car, they drove over. The young mother said, "Miss, thank you so much." Tears welled up in my eyes---as they are again now, while I write this. "You are so welcome. Pay it forward some day," I replied. The author felt _ to watch the couple taking some items out. A. angry B. sad C. excited D. interested Answer: B American officials have sharply reduced their expecmtions for this year's corn and soybean crops.Farmers in the Midwest are struggling with record heat and the worst drought in many years. The United States is the world's largest producer of com and soybeans.Last Friday the Agriculture Department predicted corn production would add up to 10.8 billion bushels this year.That was down 17%from a prediction made just a month ago.And it was down 13%from last year's level.The average yield per hectare could be the lowest in seventeen years. At the sarne time,the government predicted that soybean production would be 12% lower than last year. The price of corn has hit record levels.Corn is a major part of animal feed,so the price of meat,milk and eggs is also expected to climb. The FAO says average food prices worldwide rose 6%in July.The American drought was a big reason. The situation has renewed the fight between food and fuel.About 40%of the nation's corn crop goes into making ethanol .The production process leaves some of that in a form that can be fed to animals.Still,at least one-fourth of the American corn crop is now made into fuel. The United States requires that part of its corn crop be used in the production of biofuels .The use of ethanol has grown as government requirements have increased.But Jose,the head of the FAO called for"an immediate,temporary pause"of that requirement.He said more of the American corn production could then be used as food or to feed animals. The American livestock industry is also urging Congress to stop the law that requires ethanol in gasoline.But corn farmer Alan Bennett says doing that would hurt his town. A 2005 law requires automobile fuel to contain ethanol.The growth of the ethanol industry and competition for corn has been helping parts of rural America that had been reducing for years. Which of the following statements is TRUE? A. Ethanol should be added to all gasoline according to the American law. B. Forty percent of the nation's com crop is now made into fuel C. America requires the use of ethanol be stopped temporarily. D. Most American corn has been used as food or to feed animals. Answer: A
Sitting on a chair all day in school can make anyone want to move around. So, more and more teachers are letting students have a ball. By sitting on exercise balls instead of chairs , teachers find students' posture and attention improve. Dottie Pownall, a fifth-grade teacher in West Virginia, USA, has been using balls as chairs since December 2008. "The students love them", she says. Pownall took a survey of her students. She found that 80% of the students thought sitting on the balls helped them pay more attention to what they were learning. The teacher, Pisa Witt, felt so strongly about the use of balls as chairs, she started Witt Fitt. This company encourages the use of the balls. And the company educates not only teachers but also students on how to use them. "Our products are used in 24 states, three provinces in Canada, Puerto Rico and Japan," says Witt, " Research shows that sitting on the balls makes them sit up straighter . You can slouch on a ball," says Witt, "but it feels bad." Because the students are moving, their blood increases. That carries more oxygen( ) to the brain , so the kids have more energy and can pay attention longer. "Besides, they're fun." says Pownall. Teachers choose balls instead of chairs because sitting on balls helps the kids _ . Answer: How would you like to learn more without having to study more?Here's how: 1.Get to bed and go to sleep.Your performance,attention,and the ability to concentrate are damaged by lack of sleep.Teenagers need nine to ten hours of sleep a night for best performance. 2.Feed your head.The brain runs badly if it doesn't get enough fuel.That means protein and complex carbs -eggs and wheat bread for breakfast,say,rather than sugary cereal and orange juice.The biggest mistake teens make is not to have breakfast or to go for sugar,which raises blood sugar levels. 3.Body exercise is brain exercise.Body exercise really improves brain performance,perhaps because it increases blood flow,or perhaps because it reduces stress and anxiety .Twenty minutes of activity a day that raises your heart rate will do great good. 4.Learn now what you want to remember for the rest of your life.Teenage brains are much better at remembering things than the brains of young children or adults.Scientists aren't sure why.Whatever the reason,the teenage years are the time to learn new languages and master other lifelong skills. 5.Learn the power of risk taking.Adults are always worried about the _ of teenage risktaking,and it's true that teenagers are more likely than adults to get themselves in trouble by drinking and driving.But the fact that the parts of the brain that drive people to try new,risky,and exciting things appear to be more developed in teenagers can be a huge advantage.Pick certain challenges-difficult sports,a hard job,mastering a performance art,traveling overseas-and the teenage brain is able to deal with them.They have this power they're given to go out and do it without fear. 6.Learn what you love.Because emotional systems develop fast in teenager brains,teenagers learn things they're interested in quickly and well.Their brains give them tools like attention on the project. It can be learned from the passage that _ . Answer: As ipod sale plummet apple reports major Answer: Tiny particles of moisture may be found Answer: The very wealthy English Baron Fitzgerald had only one child, a son, who understandably was the apple of his eye. His wife died when the child was in his early teens. So Fitzgerald devoted himself to (...) fathering the kid. Unfortunately the son died in his late teens. Meanwhile, Fitzgerald's wealth greatly increased. He spent a lot on art works of the masters . Later Fitzgerald himself became seriously ill. Before his death, he had carefully prepared his will as to how his wealth would be settled - to sell his entire collection at an auction . Because of the large quantity and high quality of his collection, a huge crowd of possible buyers gathered for the auction. Many of them were museum directors and private collectors eager to bid . Before the auction, the art works were shown, among which was a painting of Fitzgerald's son by an unknown artist. Because of its poor quality, it received little attention. When it was time for the auction, the auctioneer gaveled the crowd to attention. First the lawyer read from Fitzgerald's will that the first art work to be auctioned was the painting of his son. The poor-quality painting didn't receive any bidders, except one old servant who had served the son and loved him, and who for emotional reasons offered the only bid. As soon as the servant bought the painting for less than one English pound, the auctioneer stopped the bidding and asked the lawyer to read again from the will. The crowd became quiet, and the lawyer read from the will: "Whoever buys the painting of my son gets all my collection." Then the auction was over. Fitzgerald's will showed _ . Answer:
The world itself is becoming much smaller by using modern traffic and modern communication. Life today is much easier than it was hundreds of years ago, but it has brought new problems. One of the biggest problems is pollution. To pollute means to make things dirty. Pollution comes in many ways. We see it, smell it, drink it and even eat it. Man has been polluting the earth. The more people, the more pollution. Many years ago, the problems was not so serious because there were not so many people. When the land was used up or the river was dirty in one place, man moved to another place. But this is no longer true. Man is now slowly polluting the whole world. Air pollution is still the most serious. It's bad for all living things in the world, but it is not the only one kind of pollution. Water pollution kills our fish and pollutes our drinking water. Noise pollution makes us angry more easily. Many countries are making rules to fight pollution. They stop people from burning coal in houses and factories in the city, and from putting dirty smoke into the air. Pollution by SO2 is now the most dangerous kind of air pollutions. It is caused by heavy traffic. We are sure that if there are fewer people driving there will be less air pollution. The earth is our home. We must take care of it. That means keeping the land, water and air clean. And we must take care of the rise in pollution at the same time. : Which of the following in NOT true? A Many countries are making rules to fight pollution. B The pollution of the earth grows as fast as the world population does. C The problem of pollution is not so serious because there are not so many people living on the earth. D If people could go to work by bus or bike instead of car or motorbike, it would be helpful in fighting against the problem of SO2. Answer: C. The problem of pollution is not so serious because there are not so many people living on the earth. Twenty years ago, Americans were a rare sight in China. But decades later, things have changed greatly. Americans are found in every Chinese province and region and in all walks of life. Much of this change is due to the increasing exchange and improving relationship between the two countries, but what attracts many here is China's rapid development and the huge opportunities that have arisen with that development. Erik Nilsson has been working for the English newspaper China Daily as a reporter for five years since his graduation from Central Michigan University. Although his original plan was to become a conflict zone reporter in Latin America, he decided to stay at China Daily Robert Brownell, a former IT engineer with Microsoft in Seattle, is now teaching in China and appreciates the different atmosphere in the school. His actions are a lot less restricted here than they would be in the U.S. "For good students, I can give them candy," he explains. "But in American schools, if you give food to students, they have to be sealed and tested. In China I can pat them on the back and raise my voice. But in America, everything is regulated so much, you just can't do anything." Kodi Keith Avila, the 30-year- old Hawaiian is running a business English school, New York Minutes, in Beijing. Avila first came to China in 2007 on a scholarship program as a student of University of Hawaii. It was encouragement from his professor that finally convinced him to go to China. "He thought China would overtake other countries in trade, consumption and technology," Avila said."I saw many good opportunities for personal careers or business development in China. So many limousines Audi, Mercedes-Benz, so many businessmen and skyscrapers. One can get a business license in China as long as one has a good business plan"he told China Today. "I came to China because I am interested in Chinese medicine. Learning Chinese language will help me learn Chinese medicine," Caponigro told China Today. She is not alone among Americans in becoming more and more fascinated with Chinese culture. Kodi Keith Avila stays in China running his business because _ . A he is on a scholarship program as a student of University of Hawaii B he was encouraged and seized the business opportunity C he has provided the start-up capital D his professor convinced him to run a school Answer: B. he was encouraged and seized the business opportunity Carmen Arace Middle School is situated in the town of Bloomfield,but four years ago it faced many of the same challenges as inner--city schools nearby:low scores in standardized tests and dropping enrollment of students.Then the hard-driving headmaster, Delore Bolton,persuaded her school to shake up the place by buying a laptop computer for each student and teacher to use in school and at home.For good measure,the board provided wireless Internet access at school.Total cost :$5 million. Now an hour before classes start,every seat in the library is taken by students eager to get online.The teacher talks about rocks as students view them at a colorful website,after school students on buses pull laptops from backpacks to get started on homework.Since the computers arrived,scores in state tests are up 35%and the enrollment increases by 20%. Indeed,school systems in rural areas are eager to follow Carmen Arace Middle School's example.Angus King,the state governor, has proposed using$50 million from an unexpected budget to supply computers for students. However, the school is seeking federal grant money to expand the laptop program.In the meantime,most of the problems have been worked out.Some students use computers to visit unauthorized websites,but teachers have the ability to track where students have been and restrict them."That is the worst when they disable you" says a boy.The habit is rubbing off on parents."I taught my mom to use e-mail."says the honorable girl."And now she is taking computer classes.I'm so proud of her!'' Students are limited when they get online because _ . A they view lessons at a colorful website B they will waste an awful lot of money C they visit unauthorized website sometimes D they are disabled students Answer: C. they visit unauthorized website sometimes A metal sticker remains on a fridge because of A vibrations in the surface of the fridge door B a force that pulls two objects together C magic that Juggaloes are unable to explain D the entropy of the universe Answer: B. a force that pulls two objects together The Elysee Palace in France enjoys equal popularity in the world with the Buckingham Palace in the United Kingdom, the Kremlin in Russia as well as the White House in the U. S. It is the residence of the president of the French Republic and the symbol of the supreme authority in France. The Elysee palace, with an area of 11,000 square metres, is at the eastern end of the Champs Elysee in the city of Paris proper and backed by a large and peaceful garden of more than twenty thousand square metres. Its main building, quite handsome and graceful, is a two-story classical stone architecture of European style, and beside it are two side buildings facing each other and with an extensive rectangular courtyard in the middle. There are altogether 369 halls and rooms of different sizes. The Elysee Palace, built in 1718, has a ling history of close to300 years to date. This house was at first a private residence of a count named d'Evreau, so it was called Hotel d'Evreau. It had later gone through many changes and its owners had been changed for many times, but all the residents in it were distinguished persons and high officials. The house was renamed Bonaparte Mansion when it was owned by Louis X V and Louis X VI successively when they acted as emperors. Napoleon I signed his act of abdication here when he had suffered defeat in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Nopoleon III moved in the Mansion in 1848 when he was elected president, and the house became a Royal Palace when he declared himself as emperor. The Third French Republic issued a decree in 1873, appointing officially the Elysee Palace as the residence president of the French Republic. Over the hundred years since then, almost all the president of the French Republic worked and lived there. Starting from 1989, the Elysee Palace is open to the public every year in September on the French Castles Day. Why does the writer mention the Buckingham Palace? A To tell us it's very famous in the world B To tell us the Elysee Palace is as large as it. C To show that the Elysee Palace is also a symbolic building. D To show that it is also the living place of the president. Answer: C. To show that the Elysee Palace is also a symbolic building.
Here is a report from Xinghua Daily Newspaper. Computer games are very popular not only with the young people but also the adults. In some ways, they will take the place of the traditional games such as cards, chess and so on. Because you only need a computer to play computer games. But in the past, if a man wanted to play chess, he must look for another one. In fact, computer games themselves are so interesting and exciting for us. The games can bring you happiness and excitement. They have been used in too many places such as schools, business, hospitals and so on. Now there are many educational games for the students. They are helpful to the students. They can make the students learn more and better by changing the study ways. When the students play the educational games, they use their brains, eyes, ears and hands. The students will be active to get knowledge while playing. But now the students shouldn't spend too much time on the computer games. Otherwise, it may _ their study. We have gone into the computer age. And learning too much knowledge through the computer is becoming true. Which is TRUE about the computer games according to the passage? Answer: Which is safer --- staying at home, traveling to work on public transport, or working at the office? Surprisingly, each of these carries the same risk, which is very low.However, what about flying compared to working in the chemical industry? Unfortunately, the former is 65 times riskier than the latter! In fact the accident rate of workers in the chemical industry is less than that of almost any of human activity, and almost as safe as staying at home. The trouble with the chemical industry is that when things go wrong they often cause death to those living nearby.It is this that makes chemical accidents so newsworthy.Fortunately, they are extremely rare.The most famous ones happened at Texas City (1947), Flixborough (1974), Seveso (1976), Pemex (1984) and Bhopal (1984). Some of these are always in the minds of the people even though the loss of life was small.No one died at Seveso, and only 28 workers at Flixborough.The worst accident of all was Bhopal, where up to 3,000 were killed.The Texas City explosion of fertilizer killed 552.The Pemex fire at a storage plant for natural gas in the suburbs of Mexico City took 542 lives, just a month before the unfortunate event at Bhopal. Some experts have discussed these accidents and used each accident to illustrate a particular danger.Thus the Texas City was caused by tons of ammonium nitrate, which is safe unless stored in a great quantity.The Flixborough fireball was the fault of management, which took risks to keep production going during essential repairs.The Seveso accident shows what happens if the local authorities lack knowledge of the danger on their doorstep.When the poisonous gas drifted over the town , local leaders were incapable of taking effective action.The Pemex fire was made worse by an overloaded site in an overcrowded suburb.The fire set off a chain reaction of exploding storage tanks.Yet, by a miracle, the two largest tanks did not explode.Had these caught fire, then 3,000 strong rescue team and fire fighters would all have died. From the passage we know that "ammonium nitrate" is a kind of _ . Answer: Eating foods high in trans-fats(fats present in artificial form in industrially-produced cakes and fast food...) and saturated fats increases the risk of depression, according to a Spanish study, confirming previous studies that linked "junk food" with the disease. Researchers also showed that some products, such as olive oil, can fight against the risk of mental illness. Authors of the wide-reaching study, from the universities of Navarra and Las Palmas, followed and analyzed the diet and lifestyle of over l2,000 volunteers over six years. When the study began, none of the participants had been diagnosed with depression; by the end, 657 of them were new sufferers. "Participants with an increased consumption of trans-fats presented up to a 48 percent increase in the risk of depression when they were compared to participants who did not consume these fats," the head study author said. "The more trans-fats were consumed, the greater harmful effect they produced in the volunteers." The research team found, at the same time, that after assessing the effect of polyunsaturated fats made up of larger amounts of fish and vegetable oils and olive oil, these products are associated with a lower risk of suffering depression. The report, published in the online journal PLOS ONE, noted the research was performed on a European population that enjoys a relatively low intake of trans-fats--making up only 0.4 percent of the total energy taken in by the volunteers. "Despite this, we observed an increase in the risk of suffering depression of nearly 50 percent," said researcher Miguel Martinez. "On this basis we think it of great importance to take this effect into account in countries like the United States, where the percentage of energy _ from these fats is around 2.5 percent." The report pointed out that the current number of depression sufferers in the world is around l50 million people, and has increased in recent years. This rise is attributable, according to the authors, "to great changes in the sources of fats consumed in Western diets, where we have replaced certain types of beneficial fats in nuts, vegetable oils and fish with the saturated and trans-fats found in meats, butter and other products such as mass-produced cakes and fast food." Which of the following increases the risk of suffering depression? Answer: One day, there was a blind man called John sitting on a bench with a hat by his feet and a sign that read, "I am blind. Please help me." A reporter named Tom was walking by the blind man and stopped to see that the man only had a few coins in his hat. He put a few of his own coins in the hat. Without asking for permission, took the sign, turned it around and wrote a new message. Then he put the sign by the feet of the blind man, and left. Later that afternoon the reporter returned to the blind man and noticed that his hat was almost full of bills and coins. The blind man recognized his footsteps and asked if it was he who had changed his sign. He also wanted to know what the man wrote on it. The reporter said, "I just wrote the message a little differently." He smiled and went on his way. The new sign read, "Spring has come, but I can't see anything." Who wrote a new message? Answer: What's On? Trouble in Mind Alice Childress won an Off-Broadway award in 1956 for this story of a black actress rehearsing a play with a white director who increasingly finds it impossible for the show to go on. Tanya Moodie and Joseph Marcell star in the play directed by Laurence Boswell. 8.30p.m.--10.30p.m., Theatre Royal. Box office: 01225 448844. Lazarus Inspired by the sci-fi (science fiction) novel and movie,The Man Who Fell to Earth, this musical deals with a hero, Thomas Newton. Likely to be the autumn's hottest ticket, the score includes new songs composed by Bowie. 7.00p.m.--9.00p.m., King's Cross theatre. Box office: 0844 871 7604. The Gaul On the night of 8 February 1974, a fisherman FV Gaul disappeared off the coast of Norway. For people on board, waiting for news was great suffering. Theories began to come up, including the possibility that the boat had fallen victim to cold war. Even when he was discovered, many still felt there were questions that remained unanswered. Mark Babych directs Janet Plater's play. 8.00p.m.--11.00 p.m., Royal Shakespeare theatre. Box office: 01482 323638. The Suppliant Women It is a new version of Aeschylus's 2,500-year-old play about a group of women seeking shelter who make the long journey to escape forced marriage. It was written by David Greigand directed by Ramin Gray. An ancient piece asks a contemporary question: when we are introuble, who will open their doors and give us a harbor? 8.30p.m.--10.00p.m., Hampstead theatre. Box office: 0131 248 4848. Which one will probably sell best? Answer:
Sports can help us a lot. Taking exercise can make us strong. In collectivesports like basketball,volleyball or football,wewill learn the importance of cooperation. And sports can also help us relax after work or study. However,as the saying goes,"There are two sides of everything. "Sometimes we may hurt other players or ourselves if we are not careful enough when participatingin sports activities. What's more,too much or hard practice can be bad for our health. Sports can make us healthy both physically and psychologically. It is also a good way for people to know each other and can improve friendship between people. So long as we are careful enough,sports can do us nothing but good. Too much exercise can be _ for us. Answer: You may think that an underground town of 3,500 people is something out of a science-fiction film. You may not believe that such a town has shops car parks, hotels, restaurants, cafes and much more. Well, Coober Pedy in Australia is just such a place. Miners and their families choose to live like this, hoping to get rich looking for the precious stones that Australia is famous for --- opals . Living underground is the only way to be away from the sandstorms and the high temperatures above ground. Deep down in the town far below the desert surface, the temperature is between 19degC and 20degC and life is cool. Mary Deane and her husband Jim are among the lucky ones. They live in a home, built with money from the opals Jim has found. "Whenever people hear we live underground, they always imagine a dusty cave," says Mary, "but they are amazed at my clean kitchen, our furniture and electrical appliances in here." However, not everything is perfect in Coober Pedy. Mary has a tiny garden that she is very proud of, but the grass is not real. Plant life is rare. Water is five times more expensive underground than it is overground. Recycling is a way of life, so Jim usually washes his car with bath water and they have a special system to reuse the water from the dishwasher and washing machine. Even so, most families enjoy life in Coober Pedy. The children can make as much noise as they want and there are no complaints from the neighbors because the thick walls stop sounds from traveling. Adults enjoy the peace and quiet away from the world above. Children enjoy the life in Coober Pedy mainly because they _ . Answer: Some people learn a second language easily. Others have trouble learning a new language. How can you help yourself learn a new language, such as English? There are several ways to make learning English a little easier and more interesting. The first step is to feel positive about learning English. If you believe that you can learn, you will learn. Be patient. You do not have to understand everything all at once. It is natural to make mistakes when you learn something new. We can learn from our mistakes. In other words, do not worry about taking risks. The second step is to practice your English. For example, write a diary every day. You will get used to writing it in English, and you will feel comfortable expressing your ideas in English. Several weeks later, you will see that your writing is improving. In addition, you must speak English every day. You can practice with your classmates outside class. You will make mistakes, but gradually you will become comfortable communicating in English. The third step is to keep a record of your language learning. You can write this in your _ . After each class, think about what you did. Did you answer a question correctly? Did you understand something the teacher explained? Perhaps the lesson was difficult, but you tried to understand it. You must be positive about learning English and believe that you can do it. It is important to practice every day and make a record of your achievements. You will enjoy learning English, and you will feel more confident in yourself. To feel positive about learning English means _ . Answer: Alice is an American girl. She has two good friends. One is Tom, the other is Jim. They come from the same country. They are studying in Beijing now. They are at the same school-- No.2 Middle School. They have a lot of Chinese friends here. They go to school from Monday to Friday. They go to school at seven in the morning. They all go to school by subway. In the evening, they do their homework and learn Chinese. On Saturdays and Sundays they go to their friends' homes. There they learn more Chinese from their Chinese friends and their friends learn English from them. Sometimes they write to their parents in America. They tell them about China and their life in China. They all like living here . They want their parents to come to China one day. Why do they go to their Chinese friends' home on weekends? Answer: During the summer holidays there will be a revised schedule of services for the students. Changes for dining-room and library service hours and for bus schedules will be posted on the wall outside of the dining-hall. Weekly film and concert schedules, which are being arranged, will be posted each Wednesday outside of the student club. In the summer holidays, buses going to the town center will leave the main hall every hour on the half hour during the day. The dining-room will serve three meals a day from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm during the week and two meals from noon to 7:00 pm on weekends. The library will continue its usual hours during the week, but have shorter hours on Saturdays and Sundays. The weekend hours are from noon to 5:00 pm. All students who want to use the library borrowing services must have a new summer card. This announcement will also appear in the next week's student newspaper. In the summer holidays, the library will have _ . Answer:
The morning had been a disaster. My tooth was aching,and I'd been in an argument with a friend. Her words still hurt:"The trouble with you is that you won't put yourself in my place. Can't you see things from my point of view?"I shook my head stubbornly-and felt the ache in my tooth. I'd thought I could hold out till my dentist came back from holiday,but the pain was really unbearable. I started calling the dentists in the phone book,but no one could see me immediately. Finally,at about lunchtime,I got lucky. "If you come by right now,"the receptionist said,"the dentist will fit you in." I took my purse and keys and rushed to my car. But suddenly I began to doubt about the dentist. What kind of dentist would be so eager to treat someone at such short notice?Why wasn't he as busy as the others? In the dentist's office,I sat down and looked around. I saw nothing but the bare walls and I became even more worried. The assistant noticed my nervousness and placed her warm hand over my icecold one. When I told her my fears,she laughed and said,"Don't worry. The dentist is very good." "How long do I have to wait for him?"I asked impatiently. "Come on,he is coming. Just lie down and relax. And enjoy the artwork,"the assistant said. "The artwork?"I was puzzled. The chair went back. Suddenly I smiled. There was a beautiful picture,right where I could enjoy it:on the ceiling. How considerate the dentist was!At that moment,I began to understand what my friend meant by her words. What a relief! What made the author begin to doubt about the dentist? Answer: Have you ever had the desire to wander the world and see what was out there? While some people prefer to stay in the comfort of their own home, others been bitten by the travel bug and can't wait to explore the world. Exotic places call to them. "Come to visit us and we will show you my mysteries," they say. Every year millions of people pack their suitcases or put on backpacks and flock to visit the seven continents of the world. They wander through the castles and museums of Europe, and the cities and natural of North and South America. Some visit the vast exotic cultures of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The great outback of Australia is a wonderland for those who go there. And a few lucky people even realize their dreams to visit the most mysterious continent on the earth--Antarctic. Why do people want to explore the world? It gives them a better understanding about the earth and the people living on it. It opens their minds, it gives them a feeling of accomplishment, and it makes them feel alive. So save some money, get your passport ready, and see the world. It will change your life forever. If a person is bitten by a travel bug, he _ . Answer: Ginger and Joey were two young dogs. They were happy because it was now the summer and they could play outside more often. Today Ginger and Joey were running around in their big backyard. They had fun barking at many things. They barked at squirrels. They barked at a bus. They barked at the mailman. They barked at a weird bug. They barked so much, they were never quiet! The neighbor was a grumpy old man. His name was Bert. Bert threw a shoe at them because they were barking too much. He couldn't take a nap because they were so loud. Bert got too angry and Bert throws things when he gets too angry. The shoe missed both Ginger and Joey, but they barked a little less. Now they ran even faster. After a very long time, they began to get tired. They sniffed around the edges of the yard and found some old watermelon. That's a good snack for young dogs like Ginger and Joey! Next, they rolled around in the dirt. Then they chased their tails. Finally, their mom came out and told them to come inside. They were so dirty, they needed a bath. Ginger loved baths and jumped right into the tub. Joey was scared and ran away to hide. After a little bit, his mom found him and he got a bath in the end, too. What was the name of one of the dogs? Answer: An interesting experiment is taking place at the Children's Hospital in London. Dogs, cats, and even horses help sick children to get better. Dr. Marcus Finch of the Children's Hospital says,"Children have many problems as they are growing up. When they have problems, it's not easy for them to open up. But when they are with a pet animal, they feel relaxed and always smile. Animals don't speak, so they don't criticize .They listen and don't stop children. Children can talk with animals because they can believe them. Animals know how to keep secret! Also, children feel they are needed because they help to feed the animals and look after them."At the Children's Hospital, you can find children playing with cats, dogs, and goats,and riding horses. The doctors just watch them and are surprised at the power of the animals. Why do children feel they are needed? Answer: A group of swimmers has described how a group of dolphins protected them from a group of white sharks off the coast of New Zealand. The lifeguards were on a training swim when they came across a group of great white sharks before the dolphins raced in to help. The swimmers were surrounded by the dolphins for forty minutes before they were able to make them safety back to the beach. It was an uncomfortable experience as they were circled by a group of white sharks, which came within a couple of meters of them. Lifeguard Rob Howes was in the water with a colleague and his teenage daughter. He said around half a dozen dolphins suddenly appeared and forced them to gather together. The mammals swam in tight circles to create a protective wall between the white sharks and the lifeguards as the great white sharks were under the surface. The swimmers said the dolphins were extremely upset and repeatedly slapped the water with their tails as if to try to prevent the white sharks from attacking them. It's a day they'll never forget, especially for one who was on her first day as _ They have no doubt that the dolphins acted on purpose to protect them. Researchers have said that they're not surprised. A marine biologist insisted that dolphins, which are considered to be one of the most intelligent mammals, "like to help the helpless." How many swimmers are attacked by the white sharks? Answer:
Many parents like setting family rules for their kids. When kids break rules, parents will give them some punishments, which aren't included in rules. In fact, when you tell your kids about a new rule, you should talk with them about the price they should pay for breaking the rule -- what the punishment will be. Punishments you set should be reasonable, without violence or threat . For example, if you find your son smoking, you may limit his social activities for two weeks. You should punish your kids only in ways you have discussed before the rule is broken. A study shows that the most popular punishment is to limit kids' TV time. It's understandable that you'll be angry when rules are broken. Punishment is a way to express your anger, but it's not a very good one. Sharing your feelings of anger, disappointment or sadness with your kids can have a better effect on them. Try to do that. When your kids know what they have done has made you sad, they will feel _ . When they know their actions influence you greatly, they will obey rules better. Rules are made to help your kids behave better. If your rules or ways of punishment make them unhappy or under a lot of pressure, are they helpful? What's the passage mainly about? Answer: How to educate kids. A little homeless girl stood crying near a small church from which she had been turned away because it was too crowded. " I can't go to Sunday school." She cried to the priest as he walked by. The priest took her inside. The child was very happy because they found a room for her. She went to bed that night thinking of the children who had no place to sleep or pray in. Two years later, the girl died there. As her little body was being moved, a worn and red purse was found, which she had found in the rubbish. Inside the purse was 57cents and a note, written in childish handwriting, which read: "This is to help make the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday school." After the priest tearfully read that note, he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion to others. Soon, a newspaper reported on it. It was read by a wealthy man who offered the church a piece of land worth many thousands of dollars. When told that the church could not pay much, he offered to sell it to the little church for 57 cents. Soon, the church collected a large amount of money. Within five years, the girl's gift had increased to $250,000. When you are in the city of Philadelphia, visit Temple Baptist Church, Temple University, and the Sunday school building. No child here is left outside on Sunday school days again. One of the rooms of the Sunday school building is hanged with the picture of the sweet face of the little girl whose 57 cents made such a remarkable and real history. What is the best title for the passage? Answer: A Red Purse. Your body is special - no two people in the world are alike , Although you are different from everyone else , you have exactly the same body parts as the people around you , doing different jobs that keep all of us alive . What is inside my head ? Your head _ the most valuable part of your body - your brain . As you are reading , your eyes send pictures to your brain which makes meaning from what you see . Your brain helps you to remember and think , and makes sure your body is doing what it should . What is my skin for ? Your skin covers your body . In most parts of your body , the skin is just as thick as half a centimeter . If you have your skin cut , it will have a quick cure and stop viruses from getting into your body . Your skin also helps you feel the heat and coldness of the environment around you . Hair grows from inside the skin . When you feel hot , extra heat comes out through your skin . As a result , your body temperature drops . How do I move ? Muscles are found in most parts of your body . They work with your bones to help you move - whenever you cry or smile , eat or speak , walk or dance , etc . Why do I breathe ? Your body needs to take in oxygen from the air and give out the unwanted carbon dioxide in the body . When you breathe , air comes through your nose and mouth into your lungs where oxygen flows to different parts of your body . What makes me sneeze ? When dust or a strong smell gets into your nose , you sneeze . This is the way your body cleans up the dust in your nose . Your lungs push out the air and try to clear your nose . What does my heart do ? Your heart is a very special muscle . It is slightly bigger than your fist and grows bigger as you do . If you place your hand on your heart , you will feel your heart beating which forces blood to move around your body . What is the true fact about your body ? Answer: Sneezing is a way to clear our nose . More and more people are trying to learn English than any other language in the world. English is the world language of politics and international business. It becomes the international language of science, medicine, sports, travel and so on. In most schools in Asia, English is taught as the main foreign language. School children in China and Japan begin to learn English at an early age. English is the official language of more than seventy-five countries including Britain, Canada, the United States and Australia. Many different languages are spoken in some countries. However, English is often used as an official language to help people communicate with each other. India is a good example. English is the common language in this country, but at least twenty-four languages are spoken there. Do you know the history of English? Old English took many words from the French language. Most English words came from French, especially those words used for describing the law and the government, such as "damage"," prison "and " marriage". Then, English became what language experts called Middle English. The history of English continues as Middle English, and then it becomes Modern English, and it is spoken today. ,. The word " marriage" comes from _ Answer: French Last night my husband and I were on the way to a show. We were both hungry and wanted to grab a quick bite on our way there, so we swung through a Jack-In-the-Box- Drive-thru Restaurant and placed our order. When we got up to the window the lady smiled at me, which is sometimes rare and asked how I was doing while she was collecting our money for the food. I replied, "Fine, and how are you'?"She went to get our order ready and I asked my husband to pass my "Drive-thru Smile bag" to me. He handed it to me and watched in amazement as I gathered together a "You make a difference" paper, including a smile card, a smile stamp and a smile button. She came back to the window almost before I finished putting it all together. Without looking too closely she passed the bag and said, "Thank you. Have a good day." I said, "Wait! This is for you." As I placed the little smile gifts in her hand a smile spread across her face. As she looked at the items it got a little bigger but when I thanked her for her smile there was no holding back. She gave the biggest smile and she was laughing. It was very heartwarming. My husband was very impressed by it. It made him smile too. It just takes a little effort to connect in a human way to everyone we have dealings with, even with something as small as a Drive-thru transaction. Remember, we all make a difference! The lady became happy because she received _ . Answer: some kindness
It doesn't matter when or how much a person sleeps, but everyone needs some rest to stay alive. That's what all doctors thought, until they heard about Al Herpin. Al Herpin, it was said, never slept. Could this be true? The doctors decided to see this strange man themselves. Al Herpin was 90 years old when the doctors came to his home in New Jersey. They thought for sure that he got some sleep of some kind. So they stayed with him and watched every movement he made. But they were surprised. Though they watched him hour after hour and day after day, they never saw Herpin sleeping. In fact, he did not even own a bed. He never needed one. The only rest that Herpin sometimes got was sitting in a comfortable chair and reading newspapers. The doctors were _ by this strange continuous sleeplessness. They asked him many questions, hoping to find an answer. They found only one answer that might explain his condition. Herpin remembered some talk about his mother having been injured several days before he was born. But that was all. Was this the real reason? No one could be sure. Herpin died at the age of 94. After watching him closely, the doctors came to believe that Al Herpin _ . A needed some kind of sleep B needed no sleep at all C was too old to need any sleep D often slept in a chair Answer: B. needed no sleep at all Before the arrival of Europeans, many Native American tribes lived in Brazil. In 1500 Pedro Alvares Cabral sailed from Lisbon and arrived at Porto Seguro, in Bahia. Brazil got its name from a kind of reddish tree, native to this land, which was sold in Europe. Salvador da Bahia was founded in 1549 and became the capital city of the new Portuguese colony. Portuguese settlers started to produce sugar and the northeast of Brazil became a wealthy corner of the world. During that time, Portugal brought millions of black slaves to work in its sugar refineries . In the 18th century, many Portuguese started to explore the remote areas that were far away from the coastal cities. Gold was discovered in Minas Gerais and Vila Rica became one of the richest cities in the world. In 1763 the Portuguese decided to move Brazil's capital city from Salvador to Rio de Janeiro. In the 19th century, when Napoleon invaded Portugal, the royal family moved to Brazil and Rio became the capital city of the Portuguese Empire. When the king returned to Portugal, Brazilians didn't want their land to be a colony anymore and declared their independence in 1822. During that period of time, lots of European immigrants were crossing the ocean to find jobs in the coffee markets. In 1889 Brazil became a Republic. In 1960 Brazilians moved the national government from Rio de Janeiro to Brasilia, a modern planned city that was built to be capital of Brazil. Nowadays Brazil is the most powerful country in South America and one of the most important nations in the world. In spite of its growing economy, poverty and many crimes appear which are nothing but far from being solved in the short term. The northeast of Brazil once became rich because of _ . A trade with coastal cities B black slave's hard work C gold discovered in Minas Gerais D the move of the country's capital Answer: B. black slave's hard work Science fiction is a popular kind of writing, and many people think of Jules Verne as the father of science fiction. He was born in France in 1828. His father wanted him to become a lawyer , but when he was about twenty years old, Verne decided to become a writer. At first he wrote plays for the theater. Then, in 1863, he wrote a story called Five Weeks in a Balloon. The success of this book encouraged him to write more stories such as A Journey to the Center of the Earth(1864) and From the Earth to the Moon(1865). In the 19th century, many people were interested in science and inventions. Jules Verne wrote about scientific subjects in his stories and, as a result, they were very popular. Verne's writing included many predictions for the 20th century and many of them came true. He described space flight, movies, and air conditioning, a long time before they appeared. These books were very successful and they made Verne rich. Jules Verne's books have been the subjects for many movies. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was a successful movie for Walt Disney. It was the first Disney movie to use real actors instead of cartoon drawings. Around the World in Eighty Days is another famous movie based on one of Verne's books. The main character is an Englishman called Phileas Fogg. For him, the most important thing is to be always on time! What encouraged Jules Verne to write more stories? A The success of Five Weeks in a Balloon. B The encouragement from his father. C The plays he wrote for the theater. D The encouragement from his friends. Answer: A. The success of Five Weeks in a Balloon. For hundreds Of years, scientists have been trying to answer what things have an effect on people's emotions . How you feel is controlled by many things. Your emotions can be affected by your personality, by the actions of others and by events around you. Perhaps you don't know your emotions can be influenced by the weather as well. People often say they feel good when the sun is shining and sad when it is cloudy. In fact, sunlight makes us feel good. When sunlight hits our skins, our bodies produce a vitamin. Vitamins are natural chemicals which we all need to stay healthy. Sunlight helps our bodies produce vitamin D. Vitamin D helps our bodies make a special chemical. This special chemical affects our brains and makes us feel happy. For example, there are long, dark winters of little sunlight in Sweden and Norway, so many people in these countries often feel sad. Without much sunlight, their bodies produce less vitamin D. Without enough vitamin D, their bodies make less of this special chemical which makes them feel good. To help the people in these countries feel better, special "sunrooms" with artificial lights have been built. People can go there and get "sunlight" for an hour or two! The weather can also affect people's emotions in other ways. Hot weather can make people angry because people feel uncomfortable when they are hot. In the same way, rain can make people angry because being wet can be unpleasant. As you can see, the weather can have an effect on the chemicals which control our brains. Through these ways, the weather can influence our emotions. Sadly, while the weather can change us, we can hardly change the weather. Which of the following is true about vitamin D according to the passage? A It is a kind of artificial chemical. B It makes us worried by affecting our brains. C It is needed by us all to keep fit. D It is in the sunlight. Answer: C. It is needed by us all to keep fit. Street art can be found on buildings, street signs and even dustbins from Tokyo to Paris to New York City. This special kind of art can take the form of paintings, sculptures, cloth or even stickers. Street art has become part of a culture which can be seen around the world. Now, even art museums and galleries are collecting the works of street artists. People have different thoughts about street art. Some think street art is bad, but others see this art as a rich form of non-traditional cultural expression. Street art began in New York City in the 1960s. Young adults would use paint in special cans to spray their "tag" on walls and train cars around the city. This tag was a name they created to show off themselves and their artwork. This style of drawing and writing became known as graffiti . Graffiti art showed that young people wanted to rebel against the rules. They traveled around cities to make paintings that everyone could see. Street artists do their work for some reasons. A number of them choose street art because it is closer to the everyday life. What they enjoy most is the freedom of expressing themselves which street art permits . One well-known street artist is Swoon. She cuts out paper images of people and puts them on walls. Swoon didn't start her career as a street artist. She studied art but, as time went on, got bored with the works she saw in museums. Then she fell in love with graffiti. The people in New York enjoy Swoon's strong and interesting style. Some museums have already bought some of her works. Nowadays street art has become part of a world-wide culture. It is supported by websites, artist groups, books and magazines. We can learn from the passage that _ . A street art is good for the environment B street art is developed in the museum C street art is drawing more attention D all people are interested in street art Answer: C. street art is drawing more attention
Fri, Jun. l Nightlife Back to the Age of innocence This performance, organized by the group Lifetime Wharf, will celebrate Children's Day and commemorate the lost childhoods of office workers. Five bands will perform: DH & Chinese Hellcats, DUDE, Candy Monster, Residence A and Island Mood. Where: Yugong Yishan Livehouse, 3-2 Zhangzizhong Lu. Dongcheng District When: 8 pm Admission: 60 yuan pre-sale; 80 yuan at door Tel:64042711 Sun, Jun.3 Movie Chinese Girl by Guo Xiaolu The indie film Chinese Girl directed by Guo Xiaolu is about the life of a girl who lives in the countryside. The lead actress. Huang Lu, will attend the screening and answer participants' questions afterwards. Where:UCCA, 4Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District When:7 pm Admission:15 yuan(10 yuan for students, free for VIP) Tel:57800200 Mom, Jun. 4 Script Reading Scripts written by students from the 166th Middle School of Beijing will be performed. They include: Love Sleeping Beauty, Lucky Ferris Wheel production, Jane Eyre, Our Self-study Class and Farewell-Bing xin. Where: Penghao Theater, 35 Dongmianhua Hutong, Dongcheng District When: Until Jun. 5, 7:30pm Admission: 80 yuan(40 yuan for students) Tel:64006472 Thu, Jun.7 Movie Invictus This film is directed by Clint Eastwood and stars Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman, both of whom were nominated for Academy Awards. Where: China Film Archive, 3 Wenhuiyuan Lu, Haidian District When: Until Jun. 8,7:30-10 pm Admission:120-480 yuan Tel:66550000 If Mr. Green(VIP), together with his wife and his three schoolchildren watches the movie Chinese Girl, how much will they pay for the admission? Answer: 45 yuan. Houses fall down. Trees fall over. Large holes form in the ground. Could Alaska be sinking? That's what some villagers in Alaska have been asking themselves recently--and scientists think they know why. Warmer temperatures may be causing Alaska's frozen ground to thaw . About 85 percent of Alaska's land surface has _ . Permafrost supports the ground above it--including trees, houses, and roads. But why is the permafrost thawing? Some scientists say that human-caused pollution is leading to global warming. And most scientists agree that Alaska has been getting warmer. They say that the warmer temperature is causing permafrost to thaw in some areas. The thawing permafrost can cause problems for people, plants, and animals. "The collapsing is a problem in the villages in Alaska which are built on permafrost, and some of them may have to move to safer ground, where there is no permafrost," Weller said. The Alaskan town of Glennallen saw its old post office collapse. And, according to James Walters, a permafrost expert at the University of Northern Iowa, house-moving companies have been very busy. "Melting permafrost can also destroy trees and forests," Weller said. "When holes in the ground form, trees fall into them and die. This could turn a forest into a swamp , and animals which need the forest will have to move elsewhere." The melting could cause "severe problems." Weller says: "This could take hundreds of years, but in the end Alaska will look quite different from what it looks like now." Houses in the villages fell down because _ . Answer: they were built on permafrost At the shopping mall, you probably think about spending, not saving. Think about all the lights that keep the mall bright. Think about all the water faucets in the toilet. Think about all the air conditioning in summer. Saving energy is a hot topic for such a big place! Many things at the mall use energy. Electric lights, infrared faucets and air-conditioners need electricity to work. One way to save energy is by keeping lights clean. More and more dust and dirt make the lights less bright. When malls keep lights clean, they can use fewer lights and keep the area just as bright ,Using fewer lights means using less energy. You step up to the water faucet. The water starts to flow. You don't have to touch a thing. Why do malls have such fancy faucets?. The answer is simple. They save water. Sometimes people forget to turn the water off after they wash. Infrared faucets turn themselves off. The... _ is a hot topic for a big mall. Answer: To save energy Dillon held up a gasoline station. During the robbery he shot and killed a customer who attempted to apprehend him. Dillon was prosecuted for premeditated murder and convicted. Thereafter, he was indicted for armed robbery of the station. Before the trial, his attorney moved to dismiss the indictment on the ground that further proceedings were unconstitutional because of Dillon's prior conviction. The motion to dismiss should be Answer: denied, because there is no constitutional requirement that all known charges against Dillon be brought in the same prosecution. Some places in the world have strange laws. It's important for you to know about them before going there. Whoever likes to chew gum may have to leave Singapore. The government really wants to keep the city clean and will fine you for chewing gum. Before you leave for the United Arab Emirates you'd better make sure you aren't visiting during Ramadan . During that time you aren't allowed to eat or drink in public. Tourists have been fined up to $275 for drinking in public. Lovers spend so much time kissing each other goodbye at train stations that trains often start late. This law -- no kissing your lover goodbye at train stations - is rather old, and isn't in use today in France. In Thailand it's against the law to drive a car or motorcycle without a shirt on, no matter how hot it is. Punishments are different in different areas and can include warnings and tickets costing about $10. No joke -- the local police will stop you. Studies in Denmark have shown that cars with their headlights on are more noticeable by other drivers than those with their headlights off. Drivers there are required to leave their headlights on even during the day, or they may face a fine up to $100. Do you often buy things using coins? Don't do it in Canada. The Currency Law of 1985 doesn't allow using only coins to buy things. Even the use of the dollar-coin is limited . The shop owner has the right to choose whether to take your coins or not. Make sure you know about these laws before your next trip. Better safe than sorry. What is mainly talked about in the text? Answer: Some strange laws you should know about for your trip.
Every September in China, people love to talk about the overprotective parents following their children around everywhere during university enrollment. Now, with more than 420,000 youngsters in the UK starting their new college school year, what is their first day like? BBC's Sean Coughlan described it in a recent report. According to Coughlan, at the very beginning it is not hard to spot something familiar to Chinese-a stream of parents arriving with their sons and daughters at the student village. Mothers, fathers and a teenager-now most likely taller than they are - stand together like the three might have done on the first day of primary school. "The approach road to the student village is a long traffic jam of family cars, stuffed full with boxes, pillows and nervous families," he writes. "The door closes on a student's room and parents and children go their separate ways. For many families, if childhood has a final moment, this is it." But saying goodbye to parents is not the only similarity between college freshmen in the UK and China. In both cases, new arrivals most want to know about their Internet connections. "It's their most urgent concern," notes Coughlan. Even on their first day, university in the UK won't be an entirely lonely experience for some new students. "Before they arrive they have been using social networking to get to know their future roommates," writes Coughlan. Still, the first night is something no UK university student ever forgets. There are people they meet and then spend three years avoiding and people who become their friends for the rest of their lives. First week stories are all about over-partying, bad cooking and misguided clothing, Coughlan says. As he concludes: "These new students are entering their own soap opera of romance, friendship and ambition. It's a huge adventure that they've worked for years to achieve." What is the author's purpose in writing the article? A To introduce how UK students prepare for college. B To show different challenges that college freshmen face in the UK and China. C To describe how UK colleges welcome newcomers. D To inform us about what the first day of college is like in the UK. Answer: D. To inform us about what the first day of college is like in the UK. Norm Pethrick, a 36-year-old man in Australia's northern city Darwin, was praised on Thursday for jumping onto a crocodile's back to save his wife Wendy at Litchfield National Park, a popular tourist spot southwest of Darwin, a local newspaper reported. Ms Pethrick was standing on a river bank Wednesday afternoon when the saltwater crocodile lunged , locking its jaws on both her legs as it tried to drag her underwater. Norm Pethrick, who with his wife had been collecting water, immediately went to help her. He jumped onto the back, poked the eyes of the crocodile and finally got his wife free. Ms Pethrick was later taken to Royal Darwin Hospital for a medical treatment. The doctors said she was suffering eight puncture wounds in her right leg, a puncture wound in her left leg and a serious cut to one of her fingers. "This could have been a fatal and tragic situation," said the general manager of Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH), Dr Len Notaras, according to a local report. He said Ms Pethrick was saved by her husband's "quick and diligent actions". Dr Notaras also said she would remain in hospital for three to four days and have an operation to clean the wounds, which are easy to get infected because of bacteria on the teeth of the crocodile. Which of the following statements is TRUE about Ms Pethrick? A One of her fingers also got hurt. B She had eight wounds altogether. C One of the crocodile's teeth was found in her leg. D Her eyes were badly poked. Answer: A. One of her fingers also got hurt. Climatic conditions are delicately adjusted to composition of the Earth's atmosphere. If there were a change in the atmosphere -- for example, in the amounts of atmospheric gases -- the climate would probably change also. A slight increase in water vapor , for example, would increase the heat-keeping capacity of the atmosphere and would lead to a rise in global temperatures. The level of carbon dioxide, CO2, in the atmosphere has an important effect on climatic change. Most of the Earth's incoming energy is short-wavelength radiation , which tends to pass through atmospheric CO2easily. The Earth, however, reradiates much of the received energy as long-wavelength radiation , which CO2absorbs and then goes toward the Earth. This phenomenon, known as the greenhouse effect, can result in an increase in the surface temperature of a planet. An extreme example of the effect is shown by Venus, a planet covered by heavy clouds composed mostly of CO2, whose surface temperatures have been measured at 430~C.If the CO2 content of the atmosphere is reduced, the temperature falls. According to one respectable theory, if the atmospheric CO2concentration were halved, the Earth would become completely covered with ice. Another equally respectable theory, however, states that a halving of the CO2concentration would lead only to a reduction in global temperatures of 3degC. If, because of an increase in forest fires or volcanic activity, the CO2content of the atmosphere increased, a warmer climate would be produced. Plant growth, which relied on both the warmth and the availability of CO2, would probably increase. As a consequence, plant would use more and more CO2. Eventually CO2levels would decrease and the climate, in turn, would become cooler. With reduced temperatures many plants would die; CO2would thus be returned to the atmosphere and gradually the temperature would rise again. Thus, if this process occurred, there might be a long-term oscillation in the amount of CO2present in the atmosphere, with regular temperature increase and decrease. Some climatologists argue that the burning of fossil fuels has raised the level of CO2in the atmosphere and has caused a global temperature increase of at least 1degC. But a supposed global temperature rise of 1 degC may in reality be only several regional temperature increases, restricted to areas where there are many meteorological stations. Other areas, for example, the Southern Hemisphere oceanic zone, may be experiencing an equal temperature decrease that is unrecognized because of the shortage of meteorological recording stations. The passage suggests that a large decrease in the amount of CO2in the atmosphere would result in _ . A at least a slight decrease in global temperatures B at the most a slight increase in short-wavelength radiation reaching the Earth C a slight long-term increase in global temperatures D a slight short-term increase in atmosphere water vapor content Answer: A. at least a slight decrease in global temperatures Small discoveries in Indonesia are causing a stir in the science world. Researchers have unearthed tiny bones that they believe belong to an entire new human species. If that's true, it will change how we think about our ancestors. Clues that the little people may have lived long ago were first revealed last year in the scientific journal Nature. Scientists said that they had found the bones of a three-foot-tall female on the island of Flores, in Indonesia. When they looked more closely, they saw that the nearly complete skeleton belonged to a full-grown adult. Researchers named her Hobbit, after the tiny heroes of the Lord of the Rings books. Now the team is saying it has unearthed even more pieces of the puzzle, including a jawbone and parts of arms, legs and hands from several individuals, as well as stone tools. They reported their find in Nature this month. "The new evidence makes it very clear that these people are a new species, distinct from modern humans," Peter Brown, a scientist on the team, said. They named these ancient humans Homo floresiensis. Brown says that these little people lived as recently as 12,000 years ago. If Homo floresiensis was a different species from modern humans, that would make our family tree bigger than we knew. It means, says Brown, that "until recently, a shared the planet with us." Many scientists think a new species is unlikely. Some argue that the bones must have belonged to modern humans whose small size was the result of a genetic problem. Daniel E. Lieberman, a scientist at Harvard University, thinks that the debate over the discovery is healthy. He believes that the questions and arguments raised by critics will help us learn more about these unusual skeletons. "Disagreement is an important part of the scientific process," Lieberman said. "As far as I'm concerned, the story's only just begun." Which of the following might be the best title of the passage? A Comparison between Different Peoples. B Arguments over Human Origin. C Discovery of a Possible New Human Species. D History of Indonesian People. Answer: C. Discovery of a Possible New Human Species. Australia is the smallest continent in the world. It is a little smaller than China. It is near the south of the equator .So when it is summer in our country, it is winter in Australia. Australia has a small population .The population of Australia is nearly the same as that of Shanghai, a city in China. Australia is famous for its sheep and kangaroos. After driving for a short time from any town, you will find yourself in the middle of white sheep. Sheep are everywhere. Have you seen a kangaroo? It has a "bag" below its breast . The mother kangaroo keeps its baby kangaroo in the "bag". It is very strange, isn't it? It is _ in Australia when it is summer in our country. A autumn B spring C winter D summer Answer: C. winter
If your idea of a good time is to sleep in a hut, carry your own rubbish, and eat insects and wild animals, then ecotourism may be just for you. But is it also for people who want to fly over a rainforest sky before checking into a comfortable and expensive hotel in the middle of a national park? Whatever ecotourism is, it is hot--perhaps too hot for its own good. The World Tourism Organization claims that the industry looked after 592 million travelers last year who spent $423 billion, and of all the types of tourism, ecotourism seems to be the fastest growing. By the broadest measure -- a trip with some sort of nature or wilderness element -- ecotourism already accounts for perhaps a third of these travelers. On a stricter definition favored by the Ecotourism Society, it is "responsible travel that preserves natural environments and keeps up the well-being of local people," which accounts for no more than 5% of tourism. Ideally, ecotourism helps both people and nature. Before the disastrous civil war, Rwanda's Mountain Gorilla Project was one such model. Visits to the gorillas were limited, local guides ensured good behavior or on the part of the humans, and the high admission charge - $170 a day -- paid for salaries and presentation of the gorillas' living areas. As this made the gorillas worth more alive than dead, poaching decreased. As another example, preservation Cooperation, Africa's largest ecotour operator, uses only local labor, buys products 5om local farmers, and supports building projects: such as clinics and schools. This contribution to social advance is also good business sense. Projects from which local people benefit directly are less likely to be affected by poaching and theft. Ecotourism's biggest problem is labeling. Going on an eco-tour is no guarantee of good ecology. So far, only Australia has an official system to grade tour operators and tourist attractions on the basis of their "greenness". Another issue is how eco-tourists damage the environment. Dolphin-feeding, for instance, is innocent and enjoyable, but after too many free meals, the dolphins forget how to catch their own dinners. Keeping prices high is one way to limit enthusiasm. But measuring the effect of ecotourism on human environments is trickier. It is common, for villagers to see ecotourism as a source of new income. Hence, the very tourists who venture in search of traditional cultures end up breaking them up. As ecotourism becomes more popular, it will finally threaten the very things that are good for business. Within the tourism industry as a whole, ecotourism _ . has no single, clear definition that would satisfy everybody The trouble started when Mrs. Cady lost control of her car on a mountain road. The car fell down thirty feet from the road into the water. It rolled over once and landed right side up in the rushing water. All three people, Mrs. Cady, and her two daughters, were wearing their seatbelts. Luckily, nobody was hurt; however, they couldn't leave the car. The rescue started almost at once. Another driver told the police about the trouble. The police called rescue workers and a truck to pull the car out. The driver of the truck, Paul, arrived first. Immediatedly he took a rope from his truck and began to walk through the rushing water to the car. Then he got caught in the ropes. He went under the water. Mrs. Cady saw him and pulled as hard as she could and brought him to the car door. Next the other rescue workers arrived. They put on special suits to keep warm. They brought safety ropes, life jackets, and warm blankets . First they pulled the people out of the back window onto the top of the car. Then they swam with each person to the shore . They saved Paul, Mrs. Cady, and the little girls. What was the most possible season when the trouble took place? Winter A small man went to a cinema, bought a ticket and went in. But after two or three minutes he came out, bought a second ticket and went in again. After a few minutes, he came out again and bought a third ticket. Two or three minutes after that, he came out a third time and asked for another ticket. But the girl said to him, "Why are you buying all these tickets? Are you waiting for friends in the cinema all the time?" "No, I am not doing that," answered the small man. "But a big woman always stops me at the door and tears my ticket up." The girl smiled and sold him another ticket. The big woman _ . was the ticket collector From Art to Zoo, the Smithsonian, the world's largest museum and research complex, has something to interest kids and students of all ages. Plan ahead online with The Official Kids Guide to the Smithsonian Institution - an interactive guidebook just for kids. The Last American Dinosaurs: Discovering a Lost World November 25, 2014 - 2018 Museum: Natural History Museum Location: 2nd Floor, West Explore how we learn about past ecosystems and organisms through the study of their fossils and find what goes into making a large-scale fossil exhibition. Watch fossils being prepared in a working fossil preparation lab. As We Grow: Traditions, Toys, Games August 22, 2012 - Indefinitely Museum: American Indian Museum Location: 1st Floor, near Imaginations Activity Center All children play. Native American children play like any others, but their toys and games are more than playthings. They are ways of learning about the lives of grown men and women and ways of learning the traditions of their families and their people. The toys, games, and clothing come from all over North, Central, and South America, representing many tribes and many time periods. The First Ladies November 19, 2011 - Indefinitely Museum: American History Museum Location: 3rd Floor, Rose Gallery On view are more than two dozen gowns, including those worn by Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, Barbara Bush, Nancy Reagan, and Jacqueline Kennedy. Four cases provide in-depth looks at Mary Todd Lincoln, Edith Roosevelt, and Lady Bird Johnson and their contributions to their husband's presidential administrations. Apollo to the Moon July 1, 1976 - Permanent Museum: Air and Space Museum Location: 2nd Floor, East Wing This gallery traces NASA's manned space program beginning with Project Mercury's Freedom 7 (1961); then the Gemini Project (1965 - 66); followed by the Apollo Program (1967 - 1972), with Apollo 17 as the last manned exploration of the moon. The purpose of the text is to _ . introduce some museum exhibitions Can you believe your eyes? A recent experiment suggests that the answer to that question may depend on your age. Martin Doherty, a psychologist at the University of Stirling in Scotland, led the team of scientists. In this experiment, Doherty and his team tested the perception of some people, using pictures of some orange circles. The researchers showed the same pictures to two groups of people. The first group included 151 children aged 4 to 10, and the second group included 24 adults aged 18 to 25. The first group of pictures showed two circles alone on a white background. One of the circles was larger than the other, and these people were asked to identify the larger one. Four-year-olds identified the correct circle 79 percent of the time. Adults identified the correct circle 95 percent of the time. Next, both groups were shown a picture where the orange circles, again of different sizes, were surrounded by gray circles. Here's where the trick lies in. In some of the pictures, the smaller orange circle was surrounded by even smaller gray circles -- making the orange circle appear larger than the other orange circle, which was the real larger one. And the larger orange circle was surrounded by even bigger gray circles -- so it appeared to be smaller than the real smaller orange circle. When young children aged 4 to 6 looked at these tricky pictures, they weren't fooled -- they were still able to find the bigger circle with roughly the same accuracy as before. Older children and adults, on the other hand, did not do as well. Older children often identified the smaller circle as the larger one, and adults got it wrong most of the time. As children get older, Doherty said, their brains may develop the ability to identify visual context. In other words, they will begin to process the whole picture at once: the tricky gray circles, as well as the orange circle in the middle. As a result, they're more likely to fall for this kind of visual trick. Doherty and his team of scientists did an experiment to evaluate _ . people's ability to see accurately
Three Boys and a Dad Brad closed the door slowly as Sue left home to visit her mother.Expecting a whole day to relax,he was thinking whether to read the newspaper or watch his favourite TV talk show on his first day off in months."This will be like a walk in the park,"he'd told his wife."I'll look after the kids,and you can go visit your mom." Things started well,but just after eight o'clock,his three little "good kids"--Mike,Randy,and Alex--came down the stairs in their night clothes and shouted "breakfast,daddy."When food had not appeared within thirty seconds,Randy began using his spoon on Alex's head as if it were a drum.Alex started to shout loudly in time to the beat .Mike chanted "Where's my toast,where's my toast" in the background.Brad realised his newspaper would have to wait for a few seconds. Life became worse after breakfast.Mike wore Randy's underwear on his head.Randy locked himself in the bathroom,while Alex shouted again because he was going to wet his pants.Nobody could find clean socks,although they were before their very eyes.Someone named "Not Me" had spilled a whole glass of orange juice into the basket of clean clothes.Brad knew the talk show had already started. By ten o'clock,things were out of control.Alex was wondering why the fish in the jar refused his bread and butter.Mike was trying to show off his talent by decorating the kitchen wall with his colour pencils.Randy,thankfully,appeared to be reading quietly in the family room,but closer examination showed that he was eating apple jam straight from the bottle with his hands.Brad realised that the talk show was over and reading would be impossible. At exactly 11:17,Brad called the daycare centre ."I suddenly have to go into work and my wife's away.Can I bring the boys over in a few minutes?"The answer was obviously "yes" because Brad was smiling.(2012*,B) Why did Brad ask the daycare centre for help? People are so busy these days that many people have no time to cook. This becomes a problem, because most families love home cooking. The food tastes good and warm, and a family meal brings everyone together. In some families, meals are often the only times everyone sees one another at the same time. Another reason people enjoy home cooking is that it is often a way of showing love. A parent who makes some cookies is not just satisfying a child's sweet tooth. She or he is sending a message. The message says, " I care about you enough to send an hour making cookies that you will eat up in 15 minutes if I let you." There is also something about the smell of home cooking. The smell of home cooking please people of all ages. It makes most of us feel good and loved---- even if we are the ones doing the cooking. "Next time you smell a cake making, stop for a moment and pay attention to your mood" .Why do fewer people cook now? _ . Today is Friday. Peter has six classes today. He goes to school at 7:30 a.m. At 8:00 a.m., he begins his first class. The first class is English. At 9:00 a.m., he has math. Peter likes math because it's interesting. At 10:00 a.m. she has a biology class. Peter thinks it's very boring. Then at 11:00 a.m., he has a history class. That's his favorite subject. He can learn a lot about the past from history. Peter has lunch at school at about 12:00. Then he has a short _ . At 1:30 p.m., he has a music class. At 2:30 p.m., he has a P.E. class. Peter likes this afternoon, because music and P.E. are easy and interesting. School is over at 4:00 p.m. Peter is happy because he can go home and have a good time on Saturday and Sunday. ,. Peter likes _ best in all his subjects. Answers to life can be found in everyday events. Watching nature, watching people and watching animals communicate with each other provide some of the simplest ways to life's biggest problems. This became clearer to me yesterday. It caused me to ask myself, "How do I respond to the storms in life?" People usually run when it starts to rain. I love to walk in it, stand on my front door and feel it. I grew up doing it and have never really felt the fear many people do. The animal world senses changes in the weather far earlier than humans. My dog, Ricky, begins to shake long before the storm is close enough to be noticed. I was about to feed my three dogs yesterday and as usual, I let them out in the yard first. They didn't move when thunder came across the skies. So I placed their food in their bowls and called Ricky into the kitchen. Ricky was just standing there in place next to his bowl. The thunder became louder, which forced him to stop eating his meal. Then I watched Phil. He made his way across the kitchen floor and stood over Ricky's bowl. He ate all the remaining food. Generally, if Ricky was standing there, he wouldn't dare come close. But today, he took advantage of the storm and got what he wanted. His hope for the prize outweighed his fear of the storm. That's when it hit me. As men, we face all kinds of storms. They come in unannounced. Sometimes we stay in a corner or under the blankets, hoping it will all pass. However, if you dare put your head out, you'll discover there're people doing what they must to get what they must have out of life. Isn't it time you decided to take advantage of the storm? What would be the best title for the passage? Books are not Nadia Konyk's thing. Her mother brings them home from the library, but Nadia rarely shows interest. Instead, like so many other teenagers, Nadia, 15, is addicted to the Internet. She regularly spends at least six hours a day in front of the computer, spending most of her time reading and commenting on stories written by other users. Her mother, Deborah Konyk, would prefer that Nadia read books for a change. As teenagers' scores on reading tests have declined, some argue that the hours spent surfing the Internet are the enemy of reading--destroying a precious common culture that exists only through the reading of books. Critics have warned that electronic media would destroy reading. Others say the Internet has created a new kind of reading. The Web inspires a teenager like Nadia, who might otherwise spend most of her leisure time watching television, to read and write. What is different now, some literacy experts say, is that spending time on the Web engages viewers with text. Web supporters believe that strong readers on the Web may eventually surpass those who rely on books. Reading five Web sites, experts say, can be more enriching than reading one book. "It takes a long time to read a 400-page book," said Spiro. "In a tenth of the time," he said, the Internet allows a reader to "cover a lot more of the topic from different points of view." Some literacy experts say that reading itself should be redefined. Interpreting videos or pictures, they say, may be as important a skill as analyzing a novel or a poem. "Kids are using sound and images so they have a world of ideas to put together," said Donna Alvermann, a professor of literacy education at the University of Georgia. "Books aren't out of the picture, but they're only one way of experiencing information in the world today." Next year, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which gives reading, math and science tests to 15-year-old students in more than 50 countries, will add an electronic reading component . The United States says it will not participate because an additional test would overburden schools. Which of the following statements is correct according to the passage?
Can a Language Become Extinct? A language can become extinct when the last person who can speak it passes away. Or more likely when the secondlast person who speaks it dies because then there is no one left to talk to. According to linguists there is nothing unusual about a single language dying out. But what is happening today is quite remarkable. According to the recent statistics, there are approximately 6,000 languages in the world as we speak. Of these, about half are going to die out in the next century. There are several reasons as to why a language can eventually die out. These range from natural disasters, such as hurricanes, to sociological factors, like cultural assimilation, in which the culture of a minority group is gradually replaced by a stronger one. The former can cause tribes to leave their natural habitat and therefore become fewer and fewer in number. However, it doesn't happen very frequently. In fact, the latter is a much bigger threat and it is responsible for the extinction of a lot of languages in countries like the USA and Australia. For instance, Chemehuevi is one of the languages which is really close to dying out since its sole speaker is an old, yet healthy, man named Johnny Hill, Jr. It is very important for as many languages as possible to be preserved. Scientists have been trying to raise people's awareness on how certain tribes have specific words which cannot be expressed in let's say English simply because there is no equal meaning. Namely, the Yupik of Alaska have 99 names to describe different layers of ice formation, or how the Tofa of Siberia classify reindeer . In other words, when languages die out, mankind's wisdom reduces. On a happier note, there are many famous cases which show what can be done to preserve languages in danger of extinction. In particular, the Maori in New Zealand have created socalled "language nests": organizations which help children under five learn the language. They provide them with a setting where they are exposed to the language intensively so that they get to realise that communicating in Maori is as natural as communicating in English. There is always, of course, the risk that the children won't keep the language alive after they have left their "nests". Nevertheless, hope dies hard. The author believes that _ . human wisdom can be reflected in languages Johnny the Explorer Johnny was three when he ran away from home for the first time.Somebody left the garden gate open.Johnny wandered out,crossed some fields and,two hours later,arrived in the next village.He was just able to give his name and address. By the time be was seven,Johnny used to disappear from home two to three times a year.Sometimes he covered quite long distances on foot.Sometimes he got on a bus or even a train,and simply sat there until someone asked for his ticket.Generally the police brought him home."Why do you do it?"they used to ask."I just like seeing places,"Johnny told them. Johnny continued to "see places"although everyone tried to stop him.His parents used to watch him closely,and so did his teachers;but sooner or later Johnny managed to slip away.As he grew older,his favorite trick was to hide on a long distance truck.Sometimes he trayelled hundreds of miles before anyone discovered him. It is hardly surprising that eventually Johnny managed to board a plane.He was twelve at the time.It was a cargo plane and a few hours later,Johnny found himself in Cairo.How did he get on board? No one knows! According to Johnny himself,it was easy:he just went into the airport,walked along some passages and got on board the nearest plane. In spite of all this,Johnny did well at school.He enjoyed mathematics and languages and,perhaps not surprisingly,he was especially good at geography."What do you want to be when you grow up?" his teachers asked him."An explorer!" he answered."But it,s difficult to become an explorer in this modern age,"they tried to tell him.But it was no use:Johnny knew what he wanted! Just before he left school,Johnny saw a notice in a daily paper.A long journey was about to go to Brazil to travel up the Amazon River.There were jobs for three young people"willing to work hard and with a sense of adventure".Johnny applied,and two months later,he was on his way to Brazil. People around Johnny tried to stop him froIli slipping away When John Milton , writer of "Paradise Lost" ,entered Cambridge University, in 1625, he was already skilled in Latin after seven years of studying it as his second language at St. Paul's School,prefix = st1 /London. Like all English boys who prepared for college in grammar schools ,he had learned not only to read Latin but also to speak and writer it smoothly and correctly .His pronunciation of Latin was English ,however ,and seemed to have sounded strange to his friends when he later visited Italy. Schoolboys gained their skill in Latin in a bitter way. They kept in mind the rules to make learning by heart easier. They first made a word-for-word translation and then an idiomatic translation into English .As they increased their skill ,they translated their English back into Latin without referring to the book and then compared their translation with the original .The schoolmaster was always at hand to encourage them. All schoolmasters believed Latin _ . After several years of study ,the boys began to write compositions in imitation of the Latin writers they read. And as they began to read Latin poems ,they began to write poems in Latin .Because Milton was already a poet at ten ,his poems were much better than those painfully put together by the other boys. During the seven yearsMiltonspent at university ,he made regular use of his command of Latin. He wrote some excellent Latin poems ,which he published among his works in 1645. Which of the following way is NOT true of the schoolboys' learning Latin? They didn't refer to English when putting English back into Latin. Xenons use current to produce light as well as thermal exchange "It hurts me more than you", and "This is for your own good"--these are the statements my mother used to make years ago when I had to learn Latin, clean my room, stay home and do homework. That was before we entered _ in education in which we decided it was all right not to push our children to achieve their best in school. The schools and the educators made it easy for us. They taught that it was all right to be parents who take a let-alone policy. We stopped making our children do homework. We gave them calculators, turned on the television, left the teaching to the teachers and went on vacation. Now teachers, faced with children who have been developing at their own pace for the past 15 years, are realizing we've made a terrible mistake. One such teacher is Sharon Klompus who says of her students "so passive" and wonders what has happened. Nothing is demanded of them, she believes. Television, says Klompus, contributes to children's passivity. "We're talking about a generation of kids who've never been hurt or hungry. They have learned somebody will always do it for them, instead of saying 'go and look it up', you tell them the answer. It takes greater energy to say no to a kid." Yes, it does. It takes energy and it takes work. It's time for parents to end their vacation and come back to work. It's time to take the car away, to turn the TV off, to tell them it hurts you more than them but it's for their own good. It's time to start telling them no again. We learn from the passage that the author's mother used to lay emphasis on _ . his ability to control behavior
Question: Smoking is the single worst thing you can do for your health. Fortunately, it's never too late to get the benefits of quitting. If you've tried to quit before and failed, it's time to make up your mind and try again. Smoking is responsible for one of every five deaths. That includes 29% of all cancer deaths, 87% of all lung cancer deaths, and nearly 20% of all deaths from cardiovascular disease. But long before smoking kills you, it ages you. You can see for yourself that smoking accelerates the drying and wrinkling of the skin. But there are less obvious effects as well. Indeed, smoking takes years away from your life. Nearly half of all chronic smokers die an average of 20 to 25 years before their time. Besides an early death from cancer or heart disease, smoking can cause lung disorders. People who smoke over a pack a day have almost three times the risk of contracting pneumonia than that of nonsmokers. By lowering levels of estrogen in men and women, smoking speeds bone less. If a woman smokes a pack of cigarettes every day, she will enter menopause with 5 to 10% less bone mass than a nonsmoker. The good news is that no matter what your age is or how long you've smoked, you'll live longer if you quit today. The Coronary Artery Surgery Study examined nearly 2,000 long-term smokers over age 54. Those who quit had significantly lower death rates six years later than those who didn't. Even the oldest ex-smokers had a higher survival rate. Not only will live longer if you quit, you'll feel better, breathe easier, and find that you have more energy. You'll have fewer respiratory infections,headaches, and stomachaches. What's more, you'll save money. Your clothes and breath won't smell unpleasant any longer. And your habit won't annoy--or threaten the health of --the people who live and work with you. What do we know from the Coronary Artery Surgery Study? _ A. It examined about 2,000 smokers who all quit smoking finally. B. Quitting smoking is easier said than done C. Long-term smokers should quit smoking gradually D. Quitting smoking always has a good effect on people's health. Answer: D. Quitting smoking always has a good effect on people's health. Question: A while ago, when I was a young 25- year-old, I traveled across the United States on a journey to make a film. During this trip, I ended up in Seattle where I met Laddie McCrea. Laddie was a hobo . He was about 60-70 years old and looked 100. Laddie had shoulder length white hair covered with weeds from the previous night's bedding. His clothes were a living journal of evenings in the shrubs and days in the sun. Laddie stank of alcohol and garbage. www.ks5u.com When I first met Laddie, he was standing on a busy downtown Seattle sidewalk. He greeted every passer-by with a smile, a pleasant greeting and an extended palm. Each day, society was rushing past Laddie - either unaware of his existence or avoiding him - a smelly, begging bum. I found Laddie to be an excellent character for my movie, so I paid him to allow me to stand in the background and film him. I spent three days hidden among the crowd, filming Laddie. Most of the time he was unaware of my existence. Each day he stood in a busy section of town greeting the world with a smile and an extended palm - just earning enough change for the evening's night cap . One special day, as I watched from a bench off in the distance, a young girl, around 6 or 7, with a pretty dress and her hair in a ponytail, approached Laddie from behind and tugged on his shirt. Laddie turned to the girl, who then reached up and handed him something. At that, Laddie showed his happiness and reached in his pocket, gave her something and the girl ran back to her parents excitedly showing them what she had received. I was so curious about the exchange that I was dying to go immediately to Laddie and ask him what took place, but in order to get candid shots, I knew I couldn't make my presence known. Later that afternoon when I finished my shoot, I spent some time with Laddie and asked about the event. Laddie replied: "The little girl came to me and gave me a quarter, so I gave her two quarters in return because I wanted to show her that when you are charitable, you will receive more than you give." What happened between the girl and Laddie? A. Laddie gave the girl more money back, hoping to make her feel good about giving. B. The girl's parents persuaded her to give a quarter to Laddie. C. Laddie gave the girl two quarters and a talk on the value of sharing. D. Knowing he was being filmed, Laddie gave the girl more money. Answer: A. Laddie gave the girl more money back, hoping to make her feel good about giving. Question: I will be traveling to Australia as a Student Ambassador with People to People. People to People arranges for American students to travel all around the world to learn about other cultures, and to help others understand American culture. The program was founded by former President Dwight D. Eisenhower to promote peace through understanding. I had to put in many hours of special work to get to this point. First, a teacher nominated me, and then I attended an informational meeting about the program. The application process included an interview, and finally, I was accepted. That's when the hard work really began. In addition to attending monthly meetings to prepare for the big trip, my parents encouraged my twin sister Beth (also participating in the program) and me to raise $ 2,000 each to help pay for the cost. And so the fund-raising began. We did everything from selling candy bars to selling an old car to decorating people's mailboxes during the holiday season. We also babysat, washed cars, held a yard sale, and washed windows. After months of hard work I had raised a total of $2319.87! Combined, Beth and I raised over $ 4500.00! Now I have a problem-packing. Yes, I know it sounds unimportant, but my suitcase seems to have shrunk as I placed my belongings inside. According to airline regulations , a suitcase can be no larger than 54 inches and weigh no more than 44 pounds. For a person who likes to wear a different outfit every day, packing all my clothes into such a small space seemed an impossible task. However, I have lessened my load and my suitcase which started out weighting overweight now checks in at a mere 36. Apart from a slightly bloated carry-on bag, my luggage is definitely manageable. I doubt that I will not get much sleep tonight because I am so excited! I know that what lies ahead is going to be the trip of lifetime! When does the author write the passage? A. Before leaving for Australia. B. Several months before the journey. C. Just hours after reaching the destination. D. The night when she was accepted. Answer: A. Before leaving for Australia. Question: Life has changed in Mexico City. Streets normally filled with people are empty. One of the most popular professional soccer teams recently played a game in an empty stadium that can seat more than100,000 people. It's swine flu that has made life in Mexico City grind to a halt . Seemingly out of nowhere, swine flu has caused confirmed deaths in 12 countries as of April 30. It has sent a wave of alarm around the world. Governments are trying to find ways to prevent further out-breaks. The World Health Organization has raised its swine flu global threat level to five out of six. People may be familiar with bird flu, but they know little about swine flu. Swine flu is a contagious respiratory disease in pigs. It is caused by a type-A influenza virus. Humans can also catch swine flu. The virus causes regular outbreaks in pigs, but people usually do not catch it. However, there have been cases of the virus spreading to people, and then from one person to another. The symptoms of swine flu are similar to the common flu. They include fever, lethargy , lack of appetite, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea , and vomiting . The high proportion of young adults among the deaths is one of several mysteries about this virus. Most of the dead had lung damage. What caused it is not yet known. The virus spreads the same way the common flu does. When an infected person coughs or sneezes around another person, the latter is put at risk. People can get the disease by touching something with the flu virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes. There are medicines to treat swine flu. Doctors suggest using anti - viral drugs. They keep the virus from reproducing inside the body. Although there are no vaccines for it now, several everyday steps can help prevent the spread of the virus: washing hands frequently; avoiding close contact with people who are sick; and avoiding touching surfaces that might have the virus on it. People may worry that they will get swine flu from eating or preparing pork. In fact, you cannot catch the virus from pork products if they have been properly prepared and cooked. Cooking food at temperatures of 71degCkills the virus. What is the main idea of the passage? A. It mainly tells us how swine flu broke out in Mexico City. B. It presents the reader with some information concerning swine flu. C. It tells us the differences between swine flu and bird flu. D. It mainly tells readers the dangers caused by swine flu. Answer: B. It presents the reader with some information concerning swine flu. Question: Cara and Ben are twins . They are ten. This is their room. It's a nice room. Two beds are in the room. The yellow bed is Cara's and that green one is Ben's. The twins have one desk and two chairs . Cara's English book is on his bed. Ben's CD is on his chair. Their clock and pencil boxes are on the desk . Their schoolbags are on the chairs. Cara's _ is yellow and Ben's _ is green. A. chair;bed B. chair;chair C. bed;chair D. bed;bed Answer: D. bed;bed
Warm water freezes more quickly than cold water. Sir Francis Bacon said that almost four hundred years ago. But few people believed him until 1970. In that year Canadian scientist Geoge Kell proved the English physicist was right. Dr Kell filled one open bowl with cold water. He filled another with warm water. He put both bowls to the same low temperature. The warm water froze first. The lack of covers on the bowls was the secret . Some of the warm water changed into vapor. It evaporated into the air. This meant that less of the warm water was left to freeze. And so the warm water froze faster than the cold water. Warm vapor can't freeze faster if the bowls are _ . Answer: covered Mr. and Mrs. Black want to go to Beijing. But their dog Bobby can't go there with them. So they leave him in a dog shop. It is Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Black get back home from Beijing very late at night. So they don't get Bobby back. On Monday morning, Mr. Black brings the dog back in his car. When he gets home, he says to his wife, "Bobby barks all the time. I think he wants to tell me something. He doesn't like the shop?" Mrs. Black looks at the dog carefully and then says, "You're quite right. He wants to tell you something. He wants to tell you that you bring the wrong dog home." . The dog gets back home on _ . Answer: Monday morning Bill and his family has been living in the six-family building for years. All the neighbors got along fairly well with each other until recently. An old man and his wife used to live on the second floor. Bill's mother and the old lady were good friends. Unfortunately the lady died last month. Her husband could not live alone, so he had his grandson move over and live with him. The grandson has become a problem to all the neighbors, especially to Bill's family. The walls of the building are thin and he is noisy. Bill is used to peace and quiet but the young man likes to listen to the radio late at night. Sometimes friends of his visit and they make a lot of noise. That is too much for Bill's family. Bill's mother once asked the old man politely if he was able to sleep well at night, but obviously the man didn't understand what she meant. If he did and spoke to his grandson, the young man obviously didn't listen, since things haven't changed any. Everyone in Bill's family agrees that something must be done though they don't want to hurt the kind old man. It seems that _ to solve the problem. Answer: nobody is likely I received pictures of my daughter floating on a lake in California. Right there under the sun during the hottest time of the day, she has only her swimsuit to cover her. When I showed it to my students, it was as if I had shown them scenes from a horror movie. "But she will get dark," they said. "That's what she wants," I told them. "We think darker skin is beautiful." They looked at me in disbelief. It was as if I came from the moon. For years, American girls spend their summer trying to get as tanned as possible. In China, on the other hand, girls use umbrellas all year round. What in the world is going on? The pale skin we think looks unattractive is what Asian women want. Both groups want to meet their culture's standard of beauty. In the US, if you can afford to go on vacation in the summer, you head for a river, a lake or a beach, where you try to get as much sun as possible. If you are rich you take a winter vacation in some sunny spot. Your winter tan shows your wealth. In China, once upon a time, the few wealthy were the ones who didn't have to work out in the hot sun. So the whiter the skin, the richer the woman. The folk opera performers who play these ladies wore lots of white makeup . The tradition survives to this day. So it comes naturally that none of my students wishes to follow the Western ways in this regard. But now I am noticing that a new business - the tanning booth - started up in China. I admire those brave enough to define(...)their own idea of beauty, but I do wonder what their grandmothers would have to say to them about it! In the US a winter tan usually means the person _ . Answer: has a Swimming is very popular in the world. Many people like swimming in summer, even in the other three seasons. Water makes people feel cool and swimming makes people keep fit. If you swim in a wrong place, it may not be safe. A lot of people died when they were enjoying themselves in water, and most of them were students. Now some people are not careful enough in swimming. They often think they can swim so well that nothing will happen to them in water. If you go swimming in summer, don't forget that a lot of good swimmers have died in water. They died not because they couldn't swim, but because of their carelessness . Don't get into water when you are alone. If there is a " No Swimming" sign, don't swim there. If you remember these, swimming will be safe and enjoyable . Some swimmers died in water because they were _ . Answer: too careless
It was a cold night. The taxi driver didn't take even one passenger all day. When he went by the railwaystation, he saw a young man coming out with two bags in his hands. So he drove to him and asked, " whereare you going ,sir? "To the Red Hotel," the young man answered. When the taxi driver heard this, he didn't feel happy anymore. The young man would give him only three dollars because the hotel was near the railway station. Butsuddenly, he had an idea. He took the young man through many streets of the big city. After a long time, they arrived at the hotel. "Here we are! You should pay me fifteen dollars, please."the taxi driver said to the young man. "What? Fifteen dollars! Do you think I'm a fool? Only last week, Itook a taxi from the railway station to this hotel and I only gave the driver thirteen dollars. I know how muchI have to pay for the trip." Which of the following is TRUE? Answer: The two taxi drivers cheated the young man. Betty is an American girl. She is thirteen. She is in Beijing with her parents. She doesn't know much Chinese. She can't speak Chinese well. Sometimes her friends don't understand her. It's Sunday morning. She's going to the zoo to see the pandas. She's waiting at the bus stop. At the bus stop she asks a Chinese boy how to go to the zoo. But the boy can't understand her. Then she takes out a pen and some paper. She draws a panda on the paper and shows the picture to the boy. The boy smiles and then shows her the way to the zoo. She's going to the zoo to _ . Answer: see pandas Walking down any of Shanghai's main shopping streets this week, newcomers might think the locals have been celebrating Christmas for centuries. Christmas may not be a customary holiday in China, but businessmen in Shanghai know it will bring something more valuable than tradition: people are willing to spend money. Most Chinese may feel little connection with the Christmas celebration, but with most shops offering discount , the message couldn't be clearer-- it is the season to part with one's hard-earned cash. Much of that marketing drive is directed towards thousands of foreigners and foreign companies that call Shanghai home. But for Shanghai's 13 million locals, regardless of personal interest, there seems no avoiding the season's commercial greetings. Along some major roads, nearly every shop window displays some symbols to the holiday: a man-made fir tree with lights, or a snowman. With an increasing number of westerners arriving in the city for work, young Shanghainese, eager to keep pace with the latest western fashions, have begun to show their interest in Christmas. But some people still don't think Christmas is an important festival in China. At least it is less important than the New Year and China's Spring Festival. Why are people willing to spend money during Christmas? Answer: Goods are much cheaper during this period of time. Hello! My name is Jane. I usually get up at seven o'clock and then have a cup of coffee and some bread for breakfast. After breakfast, I take a shower and then I go to work by bus. I get to work at nine o'clock. I work till one o'clock and then I have my lunch. I start again at two o'clock and finish at five o'clock. I do some shopping before I go home. I get home at about a quarter to six. I have supper at about seven o'clock. After super, I sometimes go out for a walk, but I usually just stay at home and watch TV. I go to bed before eleven o'clock. What does Jane usually do after supper? Answer: Watch TV. Since American students have been introduced into the era of the Massive Open Online Course, the opportunity for cheating appears greater than ever. The all-knowing Google search engine is within easy reach. So how can a teacher handle such a large number of examinees so far away, let alone searching out cheaters taking tests across the Internet? Using technology, of course. While special services via webcam and cheating detecting software have been developed now, Mettl, an online company, has developed advanced techniques for netting cheaters, which the company claims are even more reliable and easier to use. Whatever small attempt to cheat, he or she will be found out. Mettl has adopted a mass of technologies on its test-taking platform, creating a mini monitoring state in an exam. Here's how it works: A test-taker signs on to Mettl and selects his/her exam from the site's library of pre-loaded tests. Facial and keystroke recognition technology confirm the person that has signed in is the very person, and the system records both the test-taker (through the webcam) and the test-taker's screen throughout the test. Mettl's technology uses the test-taker's webcam to detect how many people are using the computer. Soon, it will track eye movement well enough to sense whether the test-taker is looking away from the screen, perhaps to consult a smart phone or a friend in secret. Mettl also monitors the test-taker's screen and can detect when the test-taker has changed a computer or moved from the test. The system will soon be able to record sound, detecting whether the test-taker is talking or being talked to. If any wrongdoings are detected, the system flags the incident and reports it back to the test's administrator. This can bring any number of things, depending on the test-giver's wishes: a complete shutdown of the exam, a warning message that appears on the test-taker's screen, even human instructions from the control center. Mettl is hoping its technology will help it break into the country's big MOOC markets. Which part of a newspaper does the article come from? Answer: Education
There was an old pear tree in a man's garden. In the past, tie tree fruited every year, .so the man would get many pears. But now, the tree got old. There were no more pears for the man. So the ungrateful man decided to cut the tree down. When he walked toward the tree with an axe in his hand, the tree said to him, "Please don't cut me down. I had so many pears for you in the past years. Now I will die soon. I only have a short time to live. Please don't kill a dying tree that has done so much for you." "I'm sorry. I have to do so," the man said, "because I need wood to make a chair." Then he began to wave his axe. At that moment, a bird in the old tree shouted at him, "Don't cut it down! Every time you go out and your wife feels lonely, she will come out to the garden and sit under the tree to enjoy its cool shade , and I sing songs to make her happy. We give much joy to your wife when you are away from home." The man didn't listen to the bird and drove it away. Just when he was about to cut the tree, some bees flew out of it and said, "Listen! If you agree not to kill this tree, we will give you nice honey every day. Would you please leave the tree with us?" The man got moved . He said, "You are so kind to the tree, although it has become old. Now I see that I shouldn't cut it down. It has done so much for me and my wife. Let the tree stay here, and let the bird _ its songs here." With these words, the man left. And the old tree lived there to its last day. Which can be the best title of the story? A. The Singing Bird B. The Man's Wife C. The Old Tree D. The Kind Bees Answer: C. The Old Tree AIDS' Threat to Asia Grows NEW DELHI----Just a few years ago, Mala was a typical middle-class Indian housewife. She cooked, cleaned and looked after her two small children. Last year, her life took a tragic turn. Her husband died of AIDS; she was found out HIV-positive and her mother-in-law took her children away from her, saying they would get the disease. "When friends dropped for a visit, she would introduce me, saying, 'She is my son's widow. She has AIDS,'" said Mala. AIDS is now described as "explosive " around the world. A study of a hospital in the port city of Durban in South Africa, where the world's biggest and Africa's second AIDS conference opened last Sunday, found that almost half the beds in medical wards were occupied by AIDS patients. South Africa has one of the world's fastest growing HIV infections, with 1,700 people infected daily, adding to the 4.3 million, or 10 percent of its population, living with HIV. Until now, Asia has been more successful in holding the AIDS virus than Africa, where the disease has killed about 12 million people. AIDS is now threatening to surround many of Asia's poverty-stricken countries. Countries in Asia, such as Cambodia, and Thailand, have HIV infection speeds over 1 percent. But the low speeds hide huge numbers of infected people, because of the population base. In India, for example, 3.7 million are infected, more than in any other country except South Africa. In China, an estimated 860,000 people (the actual number may be a little larger), mainly drug users, live with HIV/AIDS. Gordon Alexander, a senior advisor for UN AIDS in India, estimates that the number hit by AIDS in Asia will climb about eight million over the next five years from about six million. In many Asian countries, the battle against HIV is a social and cultural one against public discussion of sexual health put a nationwide media campaign into action to limit the speed of HIV through unsafe sex. Brenton Wong, an official for Singapore's Action for AIDS, _ . "Shame and deny is still very, very common so people are afraid to get tested and many times won't even tell their families if they test positive," said Wong. Which of the following statements is not right? A. The battle against Aids in many Asian countries is against their culture and social customs. B. Though the HIV infection in Asia develops with low speed, the infected number is still quite large compared to other continents. C. India has the second largest number of HIV infected people. D. Aids might affect the poverty-stricken countries more severely. Answer: A. The battle against Aids in many Asian countries is against their culture and social customs. John was excited for the treasure hunt. He called up his friends to help him find all of the items on the list. First he called Phil. Phil said he would come right over to help him find items. Next he called James. James said he could help, but had to finish breakfast first. Finally he called Pat and Paul. They were twins and were excited to join the treasure hunt. Finally, all his friends arrived. They were ready to look for the treasure hunt items. The items on the treasure hunt list were a cup, coin, apple, bell, mitten, and rock. The boys spread out in all directions, looking for the items. John found an item first. He found the rock. Phil found a coin on the sidewalk. He also found a mitten. James found an apple in the yard. Pat and Paul found a cup. All that was left to find was the bell. They looked and looked and finally, James found a bell beneath a bench. The boys were happy about finding all of the items. Who were the twins? A. James and Pat B. John and Phil C. Pat and Paul D. Phil and Pat Answer: C. Pat and Paul Have you ever ''Googled'' yourself? More Americans are Googling themselves-and many are checking out their friends,co-workers and romantic interests,too. In a report Sunday, the Pew Internet and American Life Project said 47 percent of U.S.adult Internet users have looked for information about themselves through Google or another search engine.That is more than twice the 22 percent of users who did in 2002,but Pew senior research specialist Mary Madden was surprised the growth wasn't higher. "Yes,it's doubled,but it's still the case that there's a large number of Internet users who have never done this simple act of plugging their names with search engines,"she said. Americans under 50 and those With more education and income were more likely to self-Google--in some cases because their jobs demand a certain online persona.Meanwhile.Pew found that 53 percent of adult Internet users admit looking up information about someone else. celebrities excluded. Often,it's to find someone they've lost touch with.But looking up information about friends, s,colleagues and neighbors was also common. Although men and women equally searched for online information about themselves.women were slightly more likely to look up information about someone they are dating. In many cases,the search is just done to find someone's contact information.But a third of those who have conducted searches on others have looked for public records,such as bankruptcies and divorce proceedings.A similar number have searched for someone else's photo. Few Internet users say they Google themselves regularly-about three quarters of self searchers say they have done so only once or twice.And most who have done so consider what they find accurate. Pew also found that teens were more likely than adults to restrict who can see their profiles at an online hangout like Facebook or news Corp's MySpace. Mary Madden's remarks suggest that . A. she was surprised that the growth wasn't higher B. many Internet users find it difficult to Google themselves C. more Internet users are expected to Google themselves because it's simple D. some Internet users have never tried Googled themselves though it's simple Answer: D. some Internet users have never tried Googled themselves though it's simple Michael Jackson's personal doctor was found guilty on Tuesday of involuntary manslaughter in the pop star's drug-related death in 2009 - but may not spend much time in jail. Dr. Conrad Murray, 58, was led away in handcuffs after the jury in Los Angeles convicted him guilty. Dozens of fans outside the court erupted in cheers and some burst into tears. "Justice was served. Michael is with us," said Jackson's brother Jermaine. Murray faces up to four years behind bars when he was sentenced on November 29 but may spend only months in LA's overcrowded prisons. Murray did not admit guilty for giving the "Thriller" singer a fatal dose of the powerful anesthetic propofol - normally used in surgery that ruled the main cause of his death at the age of 50.. The judge ordered Murray, who had been free on bail for two years, held in prison until his sentencing. The doctor did not speak at the six-week trial. Jackson's mother Katherine and sister Rebbie cried silently at the result. Other family members in court included his siblings La Toya and Randy, along with his father Joe. I am," Katherine Jackson said when reporters asked if she was pleased. Murray admitted giving Jackson a small dose of propofol to help him sleep. but his lawyers argued the singer was dependent on the drug and likely gave himself an extra fatal dose and swallowed a handful of sedatives without Murray's knowing. Prosecutors said Murray was to blame for administering the drug in a home setting, failing to monitor Jackson, delaying a call to emergency services and failing to tell medical personnel he gave the singer propofol. Judge Michael Pastor said Murray was "now a convicted person who has been considered the causative factor in Michael Jackson's death." Pastor said the doctor should be imprisoned before being sentenced to protect public safety. which of the following can act as the title of the passage? A. Michael Jackson Can Rest in The Heaven Now B. Michael's Family Won a Lawsuit C. Michael Jackson's Doctor Will be Imprisoned. D. Michael Jackson's Doctor Guilty of Manslaughter Answer: D. Michael Jackson's Doctor Guilty of Manslaughter
The first English dictionary was published in 1604. The dictionary was actually nothing more than a list of about 3, 000 difficult words, each followed by a one-word definition. The author, Robert Cawdrey, made no attempt to include everyday words in his dictionary. No one, he reasoned, would ever have to look up a word in a dictionary if he already knew the meaning of the word. During the 1600's more dictionaries were published. Each followed Cawdrey's lead and presented a few thousand hard words. Around 1700 one dictionary maker, John Kersey, did define easy words as well as hard words. But until the 1750's all the dictionaries were rather crude and not very valuable. A man named Dr Samuel Johnson changed all this. In 1755 Dr Johnson produced the first modern dictionary. He included in his dictionary all important words, both easy and hard, and he gave good meanings. He also gave good sentences to show how each word was actually used in speech and in writing. By the end of the 1700's most dictionary makers had followed Johnson's example. Dictionaries were getting better and better. The 1800's saw the greatest improvement in the quality of dictionaries. In England scholars planned and prepared the Oxford English Dictionary, a twenty-volume (;;) work. One of the most interesting features of the Oxford Dictionary is its word histories. It traces (;) the history of each word from its earliest recorded use up to the time of the printing of the dictionary. Which of the following statements is not true about Dr Johnson's dictionary? Answer: It was not very valuable. It's the end of class. When the bell rings, students of Luohu Foreign Languages School in Shenzhen quickly take out their cell-phones. They want to log on to their microblogs to check the funny things that have happened in the last hour. Since last year, the trend of microblogging has swept the country. Recent surveys show that most students in middle schools have a microblog, and some even update their blogs over five times per day. "We learn many fresh and interesting things on microblogs and they have become popular topics in class," said Liang Jianmin, 14, a student at Harbin No 3 Middle School. "If you do not know about them, you are out of the loop ." It is also a great place for students to _ stress. "My parents always ask me to study hard, and encourage me before exams, but actually it adds pressure ," said Zhang Yazhe, 15, a student in Luohu Foreign Languages School. "When I share these feelings on my microblog, I get many replies from friends in the same situation, which makes me feel better." But parents are worried that microblogging could be a waste of time. Some misleading messages may even cause danger to kids, they said. Shen Mingde, a professor at the China Education Association, suggests parents not worry too much as long as kids are not crazy about microblogging. Instead, it can become a window for parents to understand their children. "If parents can read their children's microblogs, they'll know their thoughts, thus leading to better communication and solutions to problems," he said. Micro blogging tips for kids 1. Don't microblog for more than one hour a day. 2. Never microblog in class. 3. Try to talk face to face with people instead of just microblogging. 4. Be critical . Don't trust all the messages on a microblog. What does Shen Mingde think of microbiogging? Answer: It can become a window for parents to understand their kids. A hare was very popular with the other animals who all said they were her friends.But one day she heard the hounds getting close and hoped to escape them by the aid of her many friends.So,she went to the horse,and asked him to carry her away from the hounds on his back.But he refused,because he had important work to do for his master.He felt sure that all her other friends would come to help her. She then came to the bull,and hoped that he would _ the hounds with his horns .The bull replied,"I am very sorry,but I have an appointment with a lady;but I feel sure that our friend the goat will do what you want."The goat,however,feared that his back might do her some harm if he took her upon it.The sheep,he felt sure,was the proper friend to ask for help. So she went to the sheep and told him the situation.The sheep replied,"Another time,my dear friend.I do not like to have anything to do with it,as hounds have been known to eat sheep as well as hares." The hare then went,as a last hope,to the calf ,who regretted that he was unable to help her,as he did not like to take the responsibility upon himself.By this time the hounds were quite near,and the hare took to her heels and luckily escaped. What does the story want to tell us? Answer: Having too many friends means no friends sometimes. People are being lured onto Facebook with the promise of a fun, free service, and don't realize that they're paying for it by giving up loads of personal information. Facebook then attempts to make money by selling their data to advertisers that want to send targeted messages. Most Facebook users don't realize this is happening. Even if they know what the company is up to, they still have no idea what they're paying for Facebook, because people don't really know what their personal details are worth. The biggest problem, however, is that the company keeps changing the rules. Early on, you could keep everything private. That was the great thing about Facebook--you could create your own little private network. Last year, the company changed its privacy rules so that many things--your city, your photo, your friends' names--were set, by default , to be shared with everyone on the Internet. According to Facebook's vice president Elliot Schrage, the company is simply making changes to improve its service, and if people don't share information, they have a "less satisfying experience." Some critics think this is more about Facebook looking to make more money. Its original business model, which involved selling ads and putting them at the side of the page, totally failed. Who wants to look at ads when they're online connecting with their friends? The privacy issue has already landed Facebook in hot water in Washington. In April, Senator Charles Schumer called on Facebook to change its privacy policy. He also urged the Commission to set guidelines for social-networking sites. "I think the senators rightly communicated that we had not been clear about what the new products were and how people could choose to use them or not to use them," Schrage admits. I suspect that whatever Facebook has done so far to invade our privacy, it's only the beginning,which is why I'm considering deactivating my account . Facebook is a handy site, but I'm upset by the idea that my information is in the hands of people I don't trust. That is too high a price to pay. Why does the author plan to stop using his Facebook account? Answer: He doesn't want his personal data badly used. What is your favourite colour? Ask famous persons like Cate Blanchett,Searlett Johansson and Bono,and maybe they will say"green."That's not because these artists particularly like the colour green.Instead,they are interested in green fashion. Green fashion is about making(and wearing)clothes that are good for humans,animals,and the Earth.In the past,green fashion made people think of hippies and ugly clothes.But today,green fashion is different.It is about looking good and caring about the Earth and other people.You can have interesting clothes and be green. Around the world,green fashion is becoming popular.For example,the U.K.company People Tree sells men's and women's clothing and accessories .They are made from natural fabrics like cotton and wool.Workers who make the clothes are from countries like Nepal,Kenya,and Bangladesh.People Tree pays the men and women good money for the clothes they create. Singer Bono and his wife also started a clothing company called EDUN.When the clothes sell,EDUN uses most of the money to help people around the world. Which sentence about green clothing companies is true? Answer: Most use natural fabrics to make clothes.
James Naismith was a Canadian. He invented basketball in 1891. At that time. He was a P.E. teacher a Springfield College,. In the USA.. He invented an indoor game for his students so that they could play it even in bad weather. Do you know how to score points in the game? Well, just put the ball into the other side's basket. You can throw the ball into the basket from any part if the court. And you can throw it with one hand or both hands. But you must follow the rules. Now, over a century later,. More and more people play basketball ..In the USA. ,the NBA is very popular. People from all over the world like to watch and play basketball. They love this game. ,A, B, C, D,. (10) Which of the following sentences is not right? A You must put the ball into the other side's basket to score. B You must follow the rules. C You can only throw it with both hands D You can throw the ball into the basket from any part of the court. Answer: C A farmer wants to plant seeds, but first needs a field with soil. There is a field with pebbles, which have potential to become soil after experiencing A time's passage B light rain C cloudy days D gentle singing Answer: A Farm-raised pigs are dirty, smelly animals that get no respect. They're also an environmental hazard. Their manure contains phosphorus ,which, when it rains, runs off into lakes and rivers, consuming oxygen, killing fish, stimulating algae overgrowth and emitting greenhouse gases. Doing away with the pig is not an option. Pigs provide more dietary protein, more cheaply, to more people than any other animal. Northern Europe still maintains the highest pig-to-human ratio in the world (2-1 in Denmark), but East Asia is catching up. During the 1990s, pork production doubled in Vietnam and grew by 70 percent in China--along densely populated coastlines, pig density exceeds 100 animals per square kilometer. The resulting pollution is "threatening fragile coastal marine habitats including mangroves ,coral reefs and sea grasses ,"according to a report released in February by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. As it turns out, there is a solution to the pig problem, but it requires a change of mind-set among environmentalists and the public. Two Canadian scientists have created a pig whose manure doesn't contain very much phosphorus at all. If this variety of pig were adopted widely, It could greatly reduce a major source of pollution. But the Enviropig, as they call it, is the product of genetic modification--which is anathema to many Westerners. The Enviropig is one of many new technologies that are putting environmentalists and organic-food supporters in _ : should they remain categorically opposed to genetically modified (GM)foods even at the expense of the environment? Elsewhere, trees grown for paper could be made amenable to much more efficient processing, reducing both energy usage and toxic chemical bleach in waste water from paper mills. The most significant GM applications will be ones that help lessen the problem of agriculture , which accounts for 38percent of the world's landmass and is crowding out natural ecosystems and species habitats. Chances are, farmers will continue to grow their polluting organic pork, their allergenic organic soy and their neurotoxin sprayed organic apples. Worse still, they will make sure that no one else gets a choice in the matter of improving the conditions of life on earth--unless, that is, others rise up and demand an alternative. Which of the following statements is TRUE? A Pigs bring more destruction than benefit to human beings. B No other countries have the higher percentage of pig-to-human than East Asia. C The pork production has increased to 70% in China. D The pollution brought by pigs is a killer to the creature of the sea. Answer: D Bali is a tiny island that is part of Indonesia today. It is a pretty island that has many mountains and a pleasant climate. For a long time, Bali was cut off from much of the world. The people of Bali were happy and had a peaceful life. They were not allowed to fight. At one time there had been terrible wars on Bali. Then the people decided it was wrong to fight or have wars. They made rules to keep apart those people who wanted to fight. Bali was divided into seven small kingdoms. The land around each kingdom was kept empty, and no one lived there. Since the kingdoms did not share the same borders , the people could not fight about them. On Bali, even children were not allowed to fight. If two children started a fight over a toy, someone separated them. When two boys argued, they would agree not to speak to each other. Sometimes they did not talk together for months; this gave the boys a chance to forget their anger. Families who were angry with each other also promised not to speak. Their promise was written down, and the whole village knew about it. If they broke their promise, they had to offer gifts to their gods. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? A Bali is a beautiful island with many mountains and nice weather. B People had to offer gifts to the villagers if they broke their promise. C At one time there were terrible wars on the island. D You'll hardly see children fighting on the island. Answer: B Fitness isn't just physical: Change your thoughts, and you change your world. Of course we can all agree that gaining and losing weight, exercise, diet, strength, and flexibility are all a part of fitness. But what about body image, self-esteem, aging, relationships, success and happiness? They are all related, all connected, and fitness in all areas is important if you want true and total fitness. But you may say, "I just want to lose 20 pounds. If I do, I will feel better about myself and I will be happy." Maybe in the short term, but honestly, if we don't deal with our mental and emotional fitness while working on the physical fitness, there is very little chance of keeping the weight off, feeling good about yourself, and improving every other area of your life. Let's not waste time in changing our bodies when they will only change back if we don't change our minds, too. Let's work "out" and work "in" at the same time. Change your mind-and you must, because if you have been trying to lose weight, but cannot, there is something inside of you that is disallowing it. You can change this pattern, improve your self-esteem, increase your joy, and change your body for good by focusing on changing your mind, too. This is training of life. Work-ins will recondition your mind, improve your attitude, change your perception and stimulate motivation at the same time you are conditioning your body for weight loss, shaping, strength and endurance. If you repeat a positive statement over and over to yourself-like a mantra, your mind will change, the same way your body does, even if you don't believe it. Like lifting a weight over and over, your muscle changes-even if you don't believe it. Try it-what have you got to lose? Say, "I am ready for my body to be healthier, leaner, and stronger. I love it already." Say it over and over while you are walking or running or doing any exercise. Pick a statement that works for you-something positive and in the present tense. If work-ins can recondition your mind and improve your attitude, then work-outs probably can _ A improve your looks B cause you to gain more weight C make you more motivated D benefit your physical reshaping Answer: D
A primary school in Wuhan has used new desks and chairs to prevent students from getting short sight. The desks and chairs make students have the correct posture, especially when reading and writing. Each desk has an adjustable steel bar. The bar can help students keep their eyes at least 30cm from books. Zhang Jianming is headmaster of the primary school. She said the new desks and chairs were provided by an eye care centre in the city. The school carried out a survey last September. It showed that about 7 percent of its 1,093 students said they suffered from short sight. The new desks and chairs have already improved the students' posture, but both teachers and students might need more time to get used to them. Yang Lihua is head of the Wuhan Youth Eye Care Center. She said the desks and chairs were introduced to 19 schools on a trial basis. "During our research into short sight, we noticed that the number of students with short sight was increasing. This is because parents are teaching their children to read and write at a very early age without paying enough attention to their posture," she said. Feng Junying is a doctor at Beijing Jingshan School. "I think the new desks and chairs in Wuhan will certainly be helpful," she said. "But bad reading habits at school are not the only reason for short sight. Children are using mobile phones and iPads when they are very young. This can be another reason for short sight at a young age." Feng Junying's words mean _ . Answer: Each child has his individual pattern of social, as well as physical, development. Some of it depends on his home life and his relationships with the people who love him. Children in large families learn how to get along with others through normal brother- sister play and tussles . An only child, on the other hand , may have to learn his lessons in social living through hard experiences on the playground or in the classroom. Twins who always have one another to lean on may be slow in responding to others because they do not need anyone else. A child who is constantly scolded and made to feel he does everything wrong may have a difficult time developing socially. He may be so afraid of displeasing the adults around him that he keeps to himself (where he can't get into trouble)or he may take the opposite route and go out of his way to create trouble. Like the deserted child, he too may return to infantile pleasures, developing habits that will satisfy him, but create barriers toward social contact. We can inferred from the passage that _ . Answer: Here are some tips on how to relax after a long day's work. This will not only make sure you don't notice the cleaning you should do, but also make you more relaxed. When the light is weak, you will be more likely to relax your eyes. Use candles instead of electric lights! They can help you feel comfortable and relaxed. When it comes to relaxing, it is important for you to enjoy a good meal. Cook some food yourself. Enjoy _ when you are cooking as the process can help you relax. Make the food as delicious as you can! If you're too tired, you should think about ordering food just for this night, but don't make it a habit! Nothing can take your mind off work as a good friend can! Make sure you don't talk about work all night but do something fun together! After work, your friend is probably tired too, so don't plan on doing everything at once and save the exciting and fun activities for future. Have a cup of tea, play a game or watch your favorite TV series. It's good for you to be social after a long day of work. It is important to get a good night's sleep if you are planning to work better the next day and have the energy to do something nice after work. If you are working hard for a long period of time, enough sleep is necessary for keeping you going. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Make your body relax and let go. This passage is most probably written for _ . Answer: Not willing to pay $400 for a basic room or upwards of $1,200 for a suite at a luxury hotel? We hear you. In the past, this meant having to put up with cheap hotels. Essentially, you got what you paid for. But all that's changed, as mid-level hotels have begun competing for a population that travels more then ever. Even in New York and San Francisco --- two of the most expensive cities in the country --- one can find comfortable, affordable options with much modern conveniences. We searched the country for the best hotels under $150. Hotel 340 St. Paul, Minnesota, USA This twelve-storey English-renaissance building once served as a downtown clubhouse for St. Paul's outstanding people; today, the repaired structure houses the hotel on the top three floors. Its 35 rooms stand out for hardwood floors, marble showers and nice views of the Mississippi River, and room comforts include iPod docks , free local and national telephone calls and coffee makers. The University Club of St. Paul, a grand hall bar, and an all-new-60,000-square-foot fitness center(free for guests)also share space in the building. Marina Inn San Francisco, California, USA Located in the Marina district, where the streets are lined with luxury stores and great restaurants, the Marina Inn is the ideal place for business or pleasure. Few destinations offer the quality and variety of environment, scenery, entertainment, accommodation, and dining that waits for you here at the Marina Inn. It's a ten-minute walk to Fisherman's Wharf and there are abundant bus connections to take you anywhere in the city. Hotel Havana San Antonio, Texas, USA When one thinks of his historic Texas town, usually the southwest comes to mind. So does Mexico. Since 1914, the hotel has served passers-by. The 27 rooms come in all shapes and sizes, many of which include Turkish carpets and elegant Cuban art on the walls. Bathrooms are distinguished with Red Flower body care products. When you select the Hotel 340, _ . Answer: There are two kinds of changeschemical change and physical change. In a chemical change, there is always a new substance formed. Breaking up water into hydrogen and oxygen is a chemical change. In each of the chemical change at least one new substance is formed. A change is not a chemical change if it doesn't form a new substance. Physical changes are very common, too. There are many examples. You can make a physical change by tearing a piece of paper into two, or by cutting a piece of iron with lathe . Here paper is still paper, and the iron is still iron. Another way of making physical change is dissolving something in water. When you dissolve salt in water, the salt disappears. You may think that a new substance has been formed. But really there is no new substance. The salt is still salt. You can still taste it. So the dissolving of anything is a physical change. When water freezes, the change is also a physical one. The water changes from liquid to solid, but it is still the same substance. That is why the freezing of anything is a physical change. The dissolving of salt in water is _ . Answer:
Ven owned Goldacre, a tract of land, in fee simple. Ven and Pur entered into a written agreement under which Pur agreed to buy Goldacre for $100,000, its fair market value. The agreement contained all the essential terms of a real estate contract to sell and buy, including a date for closing. The required $50,000 down payment was made. The contract provided that in the event of Pur's breach, Ven could retain the $50,000 deposit as liquidated damages. Before the date set for the closing in the contract, Pur died. On the day that Addy was duly qualified as administratrix of the estate of Pur, which was after the closing date, Addy made demand for return of the $50,000 deposit. Ven responded by stating that he took such demand to be a declaration that Addy did not intend to complete the contract and that Ven considered the contract at an end. Ven further asserted that Ven was entitled to retain, as liquidated damages, the $50,000. The reasonable market value of Goldacre had increased to $110,000 at that time. Addy brought an appropriate action against Ven to recover the $50,000. In answer, Ven made no affirmative claim but asserted that he was entitled to retain the $50,000 as liquidated damages as provided in the contract. In such lawsuit, judgment should be for A Addy, because the provision relied upon by Ven is unenforceable. B Addy, because the death of Pur terminated the contract as a matter of law. C Ven, because the court should enforce the express agreement of the contracting parties. D Ven, because the doctrine of equitable conversion prevents termination of the contract upon the death of a party. Answer: A. Addy, because the provision relied upon by Ven is unenforceable. In his lowest days when few people bought his records, Taiwan singer Steve Chou lived alone in Canada and did little. One day, he passed by a local CD store and accidentally heard a song that greatly enchanted him. His passion for music was suddenly rekindled . "My heart tells me that music is the thing I truly want to do, not for fame or money," Chou told Teens. "So I asked myself, 'why not start all over again?'" That's how we luckily regained this music genius, who has since then composed lots of _ for the pop music charts . His emotional voice is enthralling . "Sometimes we need to get close to nature to look deeply into our souls and see what we genuinely want to follow," he said. Following the success of Turkey in Blue, he has recently released his latest work Lovers Genesis. In this album he explores human relationships in the Internet age. This time, he takes the role of a calm observer rather than a struggling insider. " _ ," is Chou's advice to teenagers. Chou often gets his music ideas from trips. He has traveled to many places around the world and believes that learning a country's language is the fastest way of experiencing the culture behind it. Which of the following songs belongs to Steve Zhou ? A Heal the world B I swear C Lovers Genesis D Lemon tree Answer: C. Lovers Genesis Fourteen - year - old Richie Hawley had spent five years studying violin at the Community School of Performing Arts in Los Angeles when he took part in a violin contest. Ninety two young people were invited to the contest and Hawley came out first. The contest could have been the perfect setup for fear, worrying about mistakes, and trying to impress the judges.But Hawley says he did pretty well in staying calm. "I couldn't be thinking about how many mistakes I'd make--it would distract me from playing," he says."I didn't even remember trying to impress people while I played. It's almost as if they weren't there. I just wanted to make music." Hawley is a winner. But he didn't become a winner by concentrating on winning. He did it by concentrating on playing well. "The important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part," said the founder of the modern Olympics, Pierre de Coubertin."The important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle.The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well." A characteristic of high performers is their intense, pleasurable concentration on work, rather than on their competitors or future glory or money, says Dr.Charles Garfield, who has studied 1,500 achievers in business, science, sports, the arts, and professions."They are interested in winning, but they're most interested in self-development, testing their limits." One of the most surprising things about top performers is how many losses they've had and how much they've learned from each. "Not one of the 1,500 I studied defined losing as failing," Garfield says."They kept calling their losses 'setbacks'." A healthy attitude toward setbacks is essential to winning, experts agree. "The worst thing you can do if you've had a setback is to let yourself get stuck in a prolonged depression. You should analyze carefully what went wrong, identify specific things you did right and give yourself credit for them." Garfield believes that most people don't give themselves enough praise. He even suggests keeping a diary of all the positive things you've done on the way to a goal. According to the passage, successful people concentrate on _ . A challenging their own limits B learning from others C defeating their opponents D avoiding setbacks Answer: A. challenging their own limits Burns can be caused by fire, the sun, chemicals, heated objects or fluids, and electricity. They can be minor problems or life-threatening emergencies. Distinguishing a minor burn from a more serious burn involves determining the degree of damage to the tissues of the body. If you are not sure how serious the burn is, seek emergency medical help. First-degree burns are those in which only the outer layer of skin is burned. The skin is usually red and some swelling and pain may occur. Unless the burn involves large portions of the body, it can be treated at home. Second-degree burns are those in which the first layer of skin has been burned through and the second layer of skin is also burned. In these burns, the skin reddens intensely and blisters develop. Severe pain and swelling also occur. Second-degree burns require medical treatment. Third-degree burns are the most serious and involve all layers of skin. Fat, nerves, muscles, and even bones may be affected. Areas may be charred black or appear a dry white. If nerve damage is substantial, there may be no pain at all. These burns require emergency medical attention. Follow these steps when treating minor burns at home 1) If the skin is not broken, run cool water over the burn for several minutes. 2) Cover the burn with a sterile bandage or clean cloth. 3) Take aspirin to relieve any swelling or pain. Seek emergency treatment immediately for major burns. Before an emergency unit arrives, follow these steps 1) Remove the person from the source of the burn (fire, electrical current, etc.). 2) If the person is not breathing, begin mouth-to-mouth resuscitation immediately. 3) Remove all clothing to stop further burning. If the clothing is stuck to the burn, do not attempt to remove it. 4) Cover the burned area with a cool, moist, sterile bandage or clean cloth. Do not place any creams, ointments or ice on the burned area or break blisters. 5) Monitor the patient for signs of shock, and treat accordingly. It can be inferred from the passage that _ . A you shouldn't cover the burn with a bandage or cloth if it is severe B you shouldn't move the person unless you know how to do first aid C you shouldn't run cool water over the burn if the skin is broken D you shouldn't place any wet towels on the burned area Answer: C. you shouldn't run cool water over the burn if the skin is broken Dining in a completely dark room, unaware what's on your plate while sitting next to a complete stranger may not sound like an ideal restaurant experience but it's certainly an _ way to spend a rainy night in London. Dans le Noir, close to London's financial district, is a restaurant full of blind waiters and waitresses who become your eyes around the restaurant, whose original Paris branch opened in 2004. In the bar with the light, you choose whether you want the fish, meat or vegetable, but the dishes themselves remain a secret, as do the ingredients of the "surprise" cocktails. Bags, coats and devices that light up, including watches and mobile phones, are kept in the bar. Placing your hand on the shoulder of your guide, you are led to a table in a black dining room that sets up to 60 people. And it is dark. The waiters tell you when the food is being placed down in front of you, then the fun begins, trying to get food into your mouth, then identifying just what it is that's on your plate, and finally whether you have missed any of it. It's also a great chance to break social convention and eat using your fingers. Those same fingers are also the only way you can tell how much wine you're pouring into your glass. The happy atmosphere in the dining room also made the night memorable. You can't really avoid talking to the person next to you at the long tables and guessing what the dishes are certainly provides adequate fuel for the conversations. All will be revealed at the end of the meal when you are led back out into the lit bar. Not only do you finally get to see what you've just been eating but also who you' ve been talking to for the last 90 minutes. We know from the text that the customers in "Dans le Noir" _ . A are forbidden to eat with their fingers B can talk to the strangers at table C will book the menu in a dark bar D can take their mobile phones into the dining room Answer: B. can talk to the strangers at table
If I see one more article about how wonderful alternative energy is compared to oil, I will flip . Alternative energy sources can be good---- very good in fact. And it's pretty obvious that we're going to need them, and that our dependence on oil is a Bad Thing. But accepting that does not mean accepting that any kind of alternative energy is a good thing. To be a good thing, it has to have three properties: 1) It has to help reduce our dependence on oil, 2) It has to be no worse for the environment, and 3) It has to be economically practical. Many of the things praised meet one or even two of those properties. Solar panels, for example. They can reduce our need for oil, at least in certain regions, and they're certainly not bad for the environment. But they're expensive. If you spend the money to make your home solar-powered, you probably won't get back your costs for at least 15 years, which approaches the lifespan of the panels. Certainly we need to clean up our act big time and find workable sources of alternative energy. But we also have to keep in mind that every one of these alternative-energy sources comes at a cost, which is something people seem to forget. They hear the phrase "alternative energy" and automatically assume it's got to be good. But green isn't always good, and oil isn't always bad. One seemingly "green" technology that pops up again and again is electric cars. It is praised by well-meaning people as good for the environment and a way to reduce our oil dependence, especially as oil prices continue to rise. Electric cars are dirty. In fact, not only are they dirty, they might even be more dirty than their gasoline-powered cousins. People in California love to talk about " zero-emissions vehicles", but people in California seem to be clueless about where electricity comes from. Power plants mostly use fire to make it. Aside from the new folks who have their roofs covered with solar cells, we get our electricity from generators. Generators are fueled by something---- usually coal, oil, but also by heat generated in nuclear power plants. There are a few wind farms and geothermal plants as well, but by far we get electricity mainly by burning something. In other words, those "zero-emissions" cars are likely coal-burning cars. It's just because the coal is burned somewhere else that it looks clean. It is not. It's as if the California Greens are covering their eyes ---- " If I can't see it, it's not happening. " Gasoline is an incredibly efficient way to power a vehicle; a gallon of gas has a lot of energy in it. But when you take that gas ( or another fue) and first use it to make electricity, you waste a nice part of that energy, mostly in the form of wasted heat ---- at the generator, through the transmission lines, etc. A gallon of gas may propel your car 25 miles. But the electricity you get from that gallon of gas won't get you nearly as far ---- so electric cars burn more fuel than gas- powered ones. If our electricity came mostly from nukes; or geothermal, or hydro, or solar, or wind, then an electric car truly would be clean. But for political, technical, and economic reasons, we don't use much of those energy sources. In addition, electric cars' batteries which are poisonous for a long time will eventually end up in a landfill. And finally, when cars are the polluters, the pollution is spread across all the roads. When it's a power plant, though, all the junk is in one lace. Nature is very good at cleaning up when things are too concentrated, but it takes a lot longer when all the garbage is in one spot. According to the text, electric cars _ . burn more fuel than gas-powered ones Which object has a gravitational force so strong that it forms the center of the solar system? the Sun On a hot day, it can be hard to know what to do to feel good. Playing in water is one way to feel cooler. Taking a cool bath or a shower can feel really good on a hot day. It is also important for us to drink water. If you feel thirsty, you should drink water immediately. On hot days, you can lose about 16 glasses of water in one day, so many doctors advise that you should try to drink at least that much every day. Mixing a little fruit juice into your water is a fun way to help you drink plenty of water. The food we eat also makes a difference in how we feel in the heat. Cold food, such as ice cream and drinks with some ice, can cool down our bodies. However, eating spicy food makes our bodies even warmer. The clothes we wear can help us feel cooler as well. Light-coloured, light-weight clothes feel cooler in the sun than dark, heavy clothing. Loose clothes are more comfortable in the heat than tight ones. Even though it is not healthy to run around during the hottest time of the day, that doesn't mean a hot day is not fun! You can read stories in your room. You can also paint or draw without moving your body too much. These are just some of many cool things to do on a hot day. What can't you do on a hot day if you want to feel good? Play volleyball on the beach. A telescope uses what to redirect light shiny glass The rise of multinational corporations , global marketing, new communications technologies, and shrinking cultural differences have led to an unparalleled increase in global public relations or PR. Surprisingly, since modern PR was largely an American invention, America's relations is being threatened by PR efforts in other countries. Ten years ago, for example, the world's top five public relations agencies were American-owned. In 1991, only one was. The British in particular are becoming more sophisticated and creative. A recent survey found that more than half of all British companies include PR as part of their corporate planning activities, compared to about one-third of U.S. companies.It may not be long before London replaces New York as the capital of PR. Why is America lagging behind in the global PR race? Firstly, Americans as a whole tend to be fairly provincial and take more of an interest in local affairs. Knowledge of world geography, for example, has never been strong in this country. Secondly, Americans lag behind their European and Asian counterparts in knowing a second language. Less than 5 percent of Burson--Marshall's U.S.employees know two languages. Ogilvy and Mather have about the same percentage. Conversely, some European firms have half or more of their employees fluent in a second language. Finally, people involved in PR abroad tend to keep a closer eye on international affairs. In the financial PR area, for instance, most Americans read the Wall Street Journal. Overseas, their counterparts read the Journal as well as the Financial Times of London and The Economist, publications not often read in this country. Perhaps the PR industry might take a lesson from Ted Turner of CNN (Cable News Network). Turner recently announced that the word "foreign" would no longer be used on CNN news broadcasts. According to Turner, global communications have made the nations of the world so interdependent that there is no longer any such thing as foreign. What is the immediate cause of the downfall of America's public relations? Other countries have increased their efforts in public relations.
Believe it or not, there is always something nice to do on weekends. If you take some time to think about your weekends and plan them carefully, they may become more exciting, refreshing and as a result more rewarding. Throughout weekends, you can join in endless activities. You may attend a weekend course to increase your knowledge, for example, listen to a lecture on ancient Egypt. You may also try various activities, such as short countryside trip, or you may want to go skiing on a cold winter weekend. You may invite your best friend to a picnic, tell each other jokes and enjoy each other's company or you may invite more friends to your weekend party and have one another give a talent show. You can help out in a local library or nursing home and do some voluntary jobs. You can go to a sports ground or amusement centre to play various ball games and others. You may do weekend shopping alone or with somebody. Whatever you do, I hope you have a good weekend. The author suggests doing all the activities EXCEPT _ . A. going skiing B. doing some shopping C. holding a party D. going over lessons Answer: D Our children and grandchildren may not have a chance to visit many of the most famous places around the world. War, weather, age, traffic and pollution damage these famous places. Looking after these places often costs more than one country can afford. In the early 1970s, world governments decided that if they joined together, they would be able to preserve our history. If every country paid some money, they said, it would be possible to look after important historic places. Also, if they discovered that a monument needed urgent help, they would have money for repairs. For these reasons, countries around the world united to form the World Heritage Organization in 1972. Today, the organization helps to maintain and restore the most important places from our history. However, one of the biggest problems for historic places is vandalism. People sometimes enter the sites and destroy or damage the buildings. At some sites, such as Stonehenge in England, governments have built high fences to protect the site from vandals. There are many different ideas about how to solve the problem of vandalism. Some experts say that if guards patrolled the sites, vandals would not be able to get in. Some experts say that if they fixed more television cameras, they would not need so many guards. Other experts say that the best solution is education. If people learned to respect history, they would not destroy or damage it. They would also want to spend money looking after old places. For this reason, the World Heritage Organization helps to spread information about the value of historic sites. What's the best way to solve the biggest problem of vandalism? A. Every country spends more money looking after these places often. B. To form the World Heritage Organization. C. Too many guards are needed to prevent vandals getting in. D. To make people know information about the value of historic sites. Answer: D Which is most helpful to a constipated Elephant? A. cheese B. bubblegum C. oats D. empty promises Answer: C Have you ever hoped a toy balloon? They are very light. But there are much bigger balloons can fly very high up in the sky. They are big enough to carry people. They are called hot-air balloons. To make a hot-air balloon go up, turn on the burner . That will make the air inside the balloon hotter. Then the balloon will go up. To make the balloon go down, turn off the burner. The air inside the balloon will get cooler. Then the balloon will go down. Underneath(....) the balloon there is a large basket. That is where the pilot and the passengers go. The burner is just above the basket. You can stand in the basket and turn the burner on and off. The balloon will go where the wind is blowing the right way! Do you want the balloon to go somewhere special? First make sure the wind is blowing the right way! People have been flying in hot-air balloons for over two hundred years. Before planes it was the only way of flying. Today people fly in hot-air balloon for fun. Some people like to race hot-air balloons. Now everything is all right! The balloon is flying across the sky. Where are you going? A. Towards the sun B. To the seaside C. Where the wind blows you. D. To the nearest mountains Answer: C From Art to Zoo, the Smithsonian, the world's largest museum and research complex, has something to interest kids and students of all ages. Plan ahead online with The Official Kids Guide to the Smithsonian Institution - an interactive guidebook just for kids. The Last American Dinosaurs: Discovering a Lost World November 25, 2014 - 2018 Museum: Natural History Museum Location: 2nd Floor, West Explore how we learn about past ecosystems and organisms through the study of their fossils and find what goes into making a large-scale fossil exhibition. Watch fossils being prepared in a working fossil preparation lab. As We Grow: Traditions, Toys, Games August 22, 2012 - Indefinitely Museum: American Indian Museum Location: 1st Floor, near Imaginations Activity Center All children play. Native American children play like any others, but their toys and games are more than playthings. They are ways of learning about the lives of grown men and women and ways of learning the traditions of their families and their people. The toys, games, and clothing come from all over North, Central, and South America, representing many tribes and many time periods. The First Ladies November 19, 2011 - Indefinitely Museum: American History Museum Location: 3rd Floor, Rose Gallery On view are more than two dozen gowns, including those worn by Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, Barbara Bush, Nancy Reagan, and Jacqueline Kennedy. Four cases provide in-depth looks at Mary Todd Lincoln, Edith Roosevelt, and Lady Bird Johnson and their contributions to their husband's presidential administrations. Apollo to the Moon July 1, 1976 - Permanent Museum: Air and Space Museum Location: 2nd Floor, East Wing This gallery traces NASA's manned space program beginning with Project Mercury's Freedom 7 (1961); then the Gemini Project (1965 - 66); followed by the Apollo Program (1967 - 1972), with Apollo 17 as the last manned exploration of the moon. Which of the following has been on for the longest time? A. The First Ladies. B. Apollo to the Moon. C. As We Grow: Traditions, Toys, Games. D. The Last American Dinosaurs: Discovering a Lost World. Answer: B
My class will put on a short play in English at the end of the year. Yesterday our English teacher gave us copies of the play. "Choose a character in the play whom you'd like to be, "she told us. "This afternoon learn a few lines of this part for homework. Then tomorrow you can say those lines in front of the class. Ill decide who play each part." I wanted to have one of the bigger parts in the play, so I choose the part of the king. He has a lot of lines to say. I learned them by heart. This morning in our English lesson we had to say our lines. I acted the part of the king. When I said my lines, I put a lot of expression into my acting. I thought I acted really well. Everyone in the class read a part and then the teacher who would play each part. Many of the students in my class couldn't act at all. They couldn't even read without making lots of mistakes. I was sure that I would get a big part in the play. However, the teacher gave me the part of a soldier. He has only one line. It is, "Yes, sir!" I was very disappointed. At the end of the lesson I went up to her and asked her why I had such a small part. "You put too much _ in your acting," she said. "Good acting is not big acting. It is acting the audience can believe in." I think I know what she means. How did the boy feel when the teacher told the class they would put on a play? A Bored. B Sad. C Excited. D Unhappy. Answer: C. Excited. A 33-year-old financial analyst in California recently quit his job to devote himself to an unpaid job teaching math on the Internet, and his lessons are reaching almost 100,000 people a month. Salman Khan's voice is heard every day on the net -- by tens of thousands of students around the world who are hungry for help learning math. He has posted 1,200 lessons on You Tube --lessons that appear on an electronic blackboard, which range from basic addition to advanced mathematics for science and finance. And they are free. Khan lives in Silicon Valley, with his wife, a doctor, and their new baby. He got the idea for his "Khan Academy" four years ago, when he taught a young cousin how to convert kilograms to grams. With Khan's help, the cousin got good at math, and Khan began a new career. Now, Khan records his lessons himself, but he never goes on camera. "It feels like my voice in their head. You're looking at it and it feels like someone's over your shoulder talking in your ear, as opposed to someone at the blackboard, which is distant from you," he said. When Springfield High School in Palo Alto, California invited Khan to speak in person--he immediately connected to the students there. The idea of short lessons that can be played over and over again attracted high school senior Bridget Meaney. She says she had trouble with math in the seventh grade. "I think the teachers are good, but they can't teach at a speed that's perfect for everyone," she said. "I like the idea of learning something in class but then going back and pressing pause or rewind and actually getting a deeper understanding of it." Originally, Khan kept his lessons short because of YouTube restrictions. Now, he thinks short is better. "Education researchers now tell me that 10 minutes is how long someone can have a high level of concentration. And anything beyond that and your brain switches off," he said. For Khan, teaching math, science, and finance is just the beginning. He says he's ready to expand his YouTube site to include other subjects as well. From the passage, we know that _ . A Khan travels to many schools to promote his lessons B Khan plans to include more subjects in the future C Khan gives live math lessons every day for free D Khan set up the Khan Academy with his wife Answer: B. Khan plans to include more subjects in the future Poteet Strawberry Festival Poteet, Texas, USA April 11 - April 13 Description: The Poteet Strawberry Festival is one of the oldest, most popular events in the state and is recognized as the largest agricultural festival in Texas as well as one of the most exciting, dynamic festivals in the Greater Southwest. The 100-acre site, which is located on Hwy. 16, 20 minutes south of San Antonio, offers free parking, clean public restrooms, handicapped accessibility, complete RV facilities, and tent covered activities during the fun filled Festival Weekend. The Poteet Strawberry Festival includes fourteen areas of continuous, family entertainment featuring concerts with nationally known Country Western and Tejano stars, dancers, gunslingers, clowns, puppets, regional bands, various contests, and rodeo performances. These activities are included in the price of a $10.00 admission ticket. Children aged 12 and under are admitted free of charge as well as active, reserve and retired military with proper ID. Performers: Craig Morgan, Pam Tillis, Rick Trevino Location: Poteet, Texas Directions: 30 miles south of San Antonio on Hwy. 16 Times: The Festival Grounds will open at 6:00 pm Fri. and at 10:00 am both Sat. & Sun. Admission: Adult $10.00 Children 12 & under / active, reserve, and retired military personnel with proper ID are admitted FREE Website: http://www.strawberryfestival.com Telephone: 830-276-3323 Email: nitaharvey@sbcglobal.net Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage? A The position of Poteet Strawberry Festival. B The open time of Poteet Strawberry Festival. C The price of parking cars. D The price of taking a train there. Answer: D. The price of taking a train there. Generally, electricity cannot flow through A incomplete conductive paths B complete conductive paths C closed circuits D low-resistant electrons Answer: A. incomplete conductive paths During its lifetime, which object is known to change in brightness, color, and temperature? A star B moon C asteroid D planet Answer: A. star
Good afternoon and welcome to England. We hope that your visit here will be pleasant. Today, I would like to draw your attention to a few of our laws. The first one is about drinking. Now you may not buy alcohol in this country if you are under 18 years old, nor may your friends buy it for you. Secondly, noise. Enjoy yourselves by all means, but please don't make unnecessary noise, especially at night. We ask you to respect other people who may wish to be quiet. Thirdly, crossing the road. Be careful. The traffic moves on the left side of the road in this country. Use the crossing for walking and don't take any chances when crossing the road. My next point is about rubbish. It is an offence to drop litter in the street. When you have something to throw away, please put it in your pocket and take it home, or put it into a rubbish bin. Finally, smoking. It is against the law to buy cigarettes or tobacco if you are under 16 years old. I'd like to finish by saying that if you need any kind of help, you can turn to the police. The police will be pleased to help you. You can call, or directly go to ask any policeman. Who do you think most probably makes the speech? A. A teacher. B. A person who makes laws. C. A guide. D. An English officer. Answer: C Jeanette Rankin was born on a ranch in Montana,USA in 1882.In those days,Montana was still a frontier state,and life there was hard.Men and women shared the difficult outdoor work.But young Jeanette noticed men and women were not equal in many ways.For instance, at election time, women were not allowed to vote.Jeanette thought this was not fair, and several years later, after graduating from college, she realized how to help change the situation. First, she joined with other women.and gave speeches through the state.Thanks to their years of efforts, Montana women were finally allowed to vote.This experience changed Jeanette's life.She wanted do work for the welfare of women and children everywhere.She was now well-known throughout Montana, so she decided to run for the US Congress.In 1916,she became the first woman in the Congress of the United Staters. Just six days after Rankin first attended Congress in 1917,American President Wilson called for a vote to go to war against Germany, as German submarines attacked American ships during World War I.When Jeanette was called upon to vote,she said,"I want to stand by my country, buy I cannot vote for war.I vote no."Forty-nine other congress members also voted no,but she was the person who was criticized most.Newspapers said her decision came from weakness and she was anti-American. In the Second World War, Japanese warplanes attacked the American base at Pearl Harbor in 1941.The time came again for the US Congress members to vote for or against going to war.Everyone was waiting for Jeanette Rankin to vote, who rose and said,"As a woman, I can't go to war, so I refuse to send anyone else".Out of 471 members,she was the only member who voted against war.After that,she received thousands of letters.Most people criticized her, but some praised her for her courage. Shortly before she died in 1973, she was asked if she regretted voting "no"to the two wars."Never,"she answered."If you are against war,you're against war regard less of what happens." Today, in the US Congress Building,there is a statue of Jeanette Rankin.On the base of the statue are her words:"I cannot vote for war." She decided to run for the US Congress because _ . A. She wanted to become famous throughout the USA B. She hated was C. She wanted to help more women and children D. She was a born politician Answer: C A girl with a burn scar on her arm was most likely A. in a swimming pool B. in a safe space C. near a running kiln D. protected from any injury Answer: C We took a rare family road trip to the Adirondacks in late August,and it was as refreshing and exhausting as family vacations tend to be.Toward the end of our long drive home, even the kids were leaning forward in their seats urging my lead foot on.At that point in a road trip,even sixty-five miles per hour feels slow. We have become numb to our speed and numb to the road signs flashing by. My family lives on the edge of Lancaster County. Only thirty miles from home,I hit the brakes,and we began to roll,slowly,behind a horse-drawn carriage. We began to open our eyes again.We saw familiar green hills and the farm with the best watermelons. I rolled down the windows, and we breathed again.Just-cut hay and a barn full of dairy cattle. At five miles per hour,you remember what you forget at sixty-five.You are thinking about a place,even when you are moving from place to place. I am a placemaker. A homemaker, too. I am a mother of a young kid at home,and also a writer and a gardener.But,for me,those roles are wrapped up with the one big thing I want to do with the rest of my life:I want to cultivate a place and share it with others. The place I make with my family is a red-brick farmhouse built in l880. It has quite a few nineteenth-century bedrooms and a few acres of land,and we love nothing more than to fill them with neighbors and friends. We grow vegetables and flowers,keep a baker's dozen of egg--laying chickens,and,since we moved in three years ago,we have planted many,many trees. Living with my life's purpose does not allow for much travel. I need to be here,feeding the chickens and watering the tomatoes. Any extra in the budget,and we spend it on trees. But I learned something at the end of our family road trip.Travel can help me in the task of caring for my own place.When I slow down and pay attention to the road between here and there,travel tells me the connections between my place and all the other places. What can be the best title of the passage? A. On the Way Home B. Never Travel again C. Escape from a Family Life D. Life on the Farm Answer: A The landmark success of Tu Youyou, the first Chinese woman to win a Nobel prize in science, has aroused great national pride and hopes on the future of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Tu, born in 1930, shared the 2015 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine with Irish-born William Campbell and Japan's Satoshi Omura for her discoveries against malaria . She discovered Artemisinin , a drug that has greatly reduced the death number for patients suffering from malaria. "Artemisinin is a gift for the world people from the traditional Chinese medicine. It is of great importance for curing malaria and other diseases and for protecting the health of the world people," Tu said in Beijing. " The discovery of Artemisinin is a successful example of collective research on traditional Chinese medicine. The prize winning is an honor for China's science cause and traditional Chinese medicine." "Tu's winning the Nobel Prize shows China's great progress in science and technology. It also shows China's growing strength and rising international standing," Premier Li Keqiang said in a letter Monday evening. How old was Tu Youyou when she won the Nobel Prize? A. 81. B. 85. C. 45. D. 25. Answer: B
Question: Birds in cold climates ________ by growing thick feathers A. migrate B. adapt C. die D. reproduce Answer: B Question: Snow can be very beautiful. When snow covers everything around you , the world looks like a "Winter Wonderland". That is the name of a very popular song about winter. Richard Smith and Felix Bernard wrote the song in 1934. But winter is not always such a beautiful and happy time. It is cold outside.The wind blows and makes it even colder. The days are shorter and darker. The sun rarely shines. The leaves on the trees are brown or have fallen to the ground. The flowers are mostly gone. It is not surprising that some people are sad in winter. And some people dream about being somewhere else where it is warm and pretty----like the state of California. The Mamas and the Papas recorded their famous song, "California Dreaming" in 1965. During the 1960s, many other famous rock groups sang songs about winter. Here is a song by Simon and Garfunkel called "A Hazy Shade of Winter". They sing about life and hope. In 1968, the group Blood, Sweat and Tears recorded this gentle, sad song about winter. They sing about a lost love and forgotten memories in "Sometimes in Winter". Gordon Lightfoot wrote and recorded another sad and lovely song about winter in 1975.Sarah McLachlan recorded "Song for a Winter's Night" for an album in 2006.She sings about reading a love letter and wishing the writer were with her. Finally, on a lovely note, we leave you this sad song by Wayne. What can we infer from the passage? A. It is usually warm in California in winter. B. "Song for a Winter's Night" is a very happy song. C. Blood, Sweat and Tears are the names of three singers. D. Simon and Garfunkel often felt sad. Answer: A Question: Whether you admit or not, music is rooted in our daily life, weaving its beauty and emotion through our thoughts, activities and memories. So if you're interested in music theory, music appreciation, Beethoven, Mozart, artists and performers, we hope you'll spend some time here and learn from those music articles of note for all ages and tastes. When I first started studying the history of music, I did not realize what I was getting into. I had thought that music history was somewhat of an unimportant pursuit . In fact, I only took my history of classical music class because I needed the credits . I did not realize how really attractive music history was. You see, in our culture many of us do not really learn to understand music. When I began to learn about the history of Western music, however, it changed all that for me. When most of us think about the history of music, we think of the history of rock music, we _ that the history is simple because the music is simple. In fact, neither is the case, The history of music, whether you're talking about classical music, rock music, jazz music, or any other kind, is never simple. Even when the class was over, I would not stop learning about the history of music. It had attracted my interest, and I wanted more. (Originally created) What can we infer about the author according to the passage? A. He didn't like music at the beginning. B. He prefers history to music. C. He doesn't study hard at school. D. The students in his school need some credits in other subjects besides the credits in their majors before they graduate from their college. Answer: D Question: Bolivia has a population of three and a half million. About one tenth of the total population are white; one-fourth are mixed Indians and white; and more than half are full-blooded Indians. The government and the industries are under the control of the white people. The Indians today live in much the same way as their ancestors. Most of them are farmers. Many work in the mines, for mining is the most important industry on Bolivia's. Of all the mining products, tin is the most important, which makes up three-fourths of all Bolivia's exports. The eastern slopes of the Andes, since there are very few roads there, are fertile but not highly developed. The two primary means of transportation are river boats and porters. East of the hill region is the great plains where tropical plants are grown. A serious problem for Bolivia is the transport of food from the warm regions, where it is grown, to the mountainous regions, where most of the people live. Bolivia gained its independence from Spain about a hundred years ago. It has been slow in developing, but its rich resources promise a better future in it. The main product Bolivia exports is _ . A. tropical plants B. gold and silver C. tin D. food Answer: C Question: Accidents and illness are unhappy things to talk about, but no one can expect to live a lifetime without having some kind of accident or becoming ill. Some accidents and illnesses are serious and may result in long periods of invalidism. The newspapers contain spectacular accounts of accidents in the street and highways and public places, but nearly as many accidents occur around the home. Somebody trips on a rug. Somebody falls off a stepladder. Somebody is careless in cooking dinner, and is burned. Accidents incurred in the playing of sports and swimming also accounts for a large number of injuries, big and little. Despite constant campaigns to reduce the number of accidents, there are still approximately 100,000 accidental deaths and nearly 9,000,000 nonfatal injuries in the United States each year. It has been estimated that around 3,000,000 people are constantly ill in the United States throughout the year and that over half the illness is caused by respiratory diseases, chiefly colds and influenza. The pain and suffering caused by accidents and illness tell only half the story. Loss of time from school and work and medical and hospital expenses often make the pain seem worse. Money spent in this country for doctors, services, hospitalization, nursing care, drugs, medicines, Xrays, and special treatments, amounts to a huge annual sum. Added to this expense is another much larger amount that is lost to wage earners throughout the nation by reason of their loss of wages or income while sick or otherwise disabled. Accident and health insurance is a form of insurance devised to protect against these economic losses. It protects the earning of wage earners and finishes financial aid to the family of the breadwinner by the payment of his doctor and hospital bills. Today, business and professional men, farmers, industrial workers, clerks and those engaged in various occupations, whose earning power is shut off for a week, a month, or sometimes years, because of accidents or illness can insure themselves against this financial loss by accident and health insurance. Protection is available to all types of workers and the cost(called the premium)ranges from a few cents a day for small or limited policies to a month for policies paying larger amounts(called indemnities). Policy is another name for an insurance contract . Most accident and health policies are cancelable policies--that is, they are sold for a definite term such as a week, a month, or a year, similar to contracts of fire insurance and automobile liability insurance. There are, however, policies which cannot be canceled or terminated by the insurance company until the policyholder reaches an age at which he usually has no further earning power--most often at sixty or sixtyfive years. These noncancelable policies cost more than the cancelable policies. What is the passage mainly concerned about? A. Everyone will have some sort of illness or accident. B. Accident and health insurance is available to everyone. C. Cancelable insurance policies are better than noncancelable one. D. Insurance is a good protection against accidents and illness. Answer: D
If your dog looks pleased to see you - it is probably because it loves the particular way you smell. The odour of a familiar human apparently lingers like perfume in the animal's brain - where it triggers an instinctive emotional response, research published yesterday reveals. Our scent acts on a part of the canine brain associated with reward and the strongest reactions are produced by humans that pets know best, say scientists in America. Gregory Berns, of Emory University in Atlanta, said: 'While we might expect that dogs should be highly tuned to the smell of other dogs, it seems that the "reward response" is reserved for their humans. 'When humans smell the perfume or cologne of someone they love, they may have an immediate, emotional reaction that's not necessarily cognitive. 'Our experiment may be showing the same process in dogs. But since dogs are so much more olfactory than humans, their responses would likely be even more powerful than the ones we might have. 'It's one thing when you come home and your dog sees you and jumps on you and licks you and knows that good things are about to happen. 'In our experiment, however, the scent donors were not physically present. Why do animals avoid pylons? Because they emit terrifying flashes of light that are INVISIBLE to humans. Dolphins use sponges to protect their sensitive noses while foraging for food on the sea floor 'That means the canine brain responses were being triggered by something distant in space and time. It shows that dogs' brains have these mental representations of us that persist when we're not there.' The university's experiment - the first of its type - involved 12 dogs of various breeds who underwent brain scans while five different scents were placed in front of them. The scent samples came from the subject itself, a dog the subject had never met, a dog that lived in the subject's household, a human the dog had never met, and a human that lived in the subject's household. The familiar human scent samples were taken from someone else from the house other than the handlers during the experiment, so that none of the scent donors were physically present. The results showed that all five scents elicited a similar response in parts of the dogs' brains involved in detecting smells. Responses were significantly stronger for the scents of familiar humans, followed by that of familiar dogs. The findings, which were published in the journal Behavioural Processes, showed that dogs reacted strongest to the scent of a familiar human even when they were not there. Pets trained as help or therapy dogs showed greater brain activity than the other dogs in the test. Researchers say the findings could improve the way animals who assist wounded veterans or disabled people are selected. Why does your dog look pleased to see you ? A. because your dog wants to play with you B. because your dog is hungry C. because your dog wants to attract your attention D. because your dog loves the particular way you smell. Answer: D. because your dog loves the particular way you smell. Long bus rides are like television shows. They have a beginning, a middle, and an end with commercials thrown in every three or four minutes. The commercials are unavoidable. They happen whether you want them or not. Every couple of minutes a billboard glides by outside the bus window. "Buy Super Clean Toothpaste." "Drink Good Wet Root Beer." "Fill up with Pacific Gas. "Only when you have fallen asleep, which is equal to turning the television set off, can you get separated from the unending cry of "You Need It! Buy It Now!" As for the ride itself, the beginning of it is comfortable and somewhat exciting, even if you've traveled that way before. Usually some things are keeping changing out of the windows -- various houses, crop fields, attractive bridges, ... and sometimes even a small accident. Your bus driver may have a unique style of driving and it's fun trying experience it the first hour or so. If the driver is particularly reckless or daring, the ride can be as thrilling as an adventurous story. Will the driver pass the truck in time? Will the driver move into the right or the left hand lane? After a while, of course, the excitement dies down. Sleeping for a while helps pass the middle hours of the ride. Food always makes bus rides more interesting. But you've got to be careful of what kind of food you eat. Too much salty food can make you very thirsty between stops. The end of the ride is somewhat like the beginning. You know the riding will soon be over and there's a kind of expectation and excitement with that. The seat, of course, has become harder for the hours having passed. By now you may sit with your legs crossed, or with your hands in your lap, or with your hands on the arms, or even with your hands crossed behind your head. That is to say that the end comes just at no more ways to sit. The writer thinks that the end of the ride is somewhat like the beginning because both are . A. exciting B. comfortable C. tiring D. boring Answer: A. exciting Beijing, April 2----Starting from this year, the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau will begin to promote a home medical service. With this service a medical team which is made up of a doctor, a nurse and a medical health worker will be sent to some communities in the city. They will set up a medical filing recorder for every resident in community and publicize their contact information to them. If people in the community feel sick, they can consult their community doctor first. If community doctors cannot treat their illness, they will then be transferred to large hospitals. Liang Wan, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau, made the statement last Friday . In addition ,the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau will set up some funds to train home medical service workers for families whose members suffer either from high blood pressure, diabetes,cerebral apoplexy , or coronary heart disease . The home medical service workers will remind patients to take pills on time and lead the patients to follow some health tips in their daily life. They will also learn some practical knowledge to save patients in case of an emergency . The work will first begin in the medical service room in the 25 community centers and spread to all communities in Beijing. The disease prevention and control centers at various counties and districts in Beijing will be responsible for teaching community doctors and giving home medical service lectures, or advice . These workers will not be able to work until they pass related examination and obtain the work certificates. It is expected that by the end of this year, there will be 10000 home medical service workers in Beijing . Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? A. The medical team which is made up of a doctor, a nurse and a medical health worker will set up a medical filing record for every resident. B. The home medical service workers not only give some healthy suggestions to the patients, but also learn practical knowledge about first aid. C. Some funds will be provided by Beijing Municipal Health Bureau for home medical service training. D. The government aims to offer the home medical service for free. Answer: D. The government aims to offer the home medical service for free. Psychological noise refers to forces within a communicator that interfere with the ability to express or understand a message exactly. For instance, an outdoor person might overstate the size and number of the fish he caught in order to convince himself and others of his talents. In the same way, a student might become so upset upon learning that she failed a test that she would be unable ( Perhaps " unwilling" is a better word) to understand clearly where she went wrong. Indeed, psychological noise is a very important communication problem. But the linear model, despite its advantages, suggests that communication flows in one direction, from sender to receiver. Although some types of messages ( printed and broadcast messages, for example) do flow in a one-way, linear manner, most types of communication, especially the interpersonal variety are two-way exchanges. To put it differently, the linear view ignores the fact that receivers react to massages by sending other messages of their own. Consider, for example, the meaning of a friend's yawn as you describe your romantic problems. Or imagine the hot face you may see as you tell one of your dirty jokes to a new friend. Nonverbal behaviors like these show that most face-to-face communication is a two-way affair. The discernible response of a receiver to sender's massage is called feedback. Not all feedback is nonverbal, of course. Sometimes it is oral, as when you ask an instructor questions about an upcoming test or volunteer your opinion of a friend's new haircut. In other cases it is written, as when you answer the questions on a midterm exam or respond to a letter from a faraway friend. The linear view holds that _ . A. communication flows heavily in one way B. communication is a two-way exchanges C. a receiver reacts to the sender in their own way D. a person doesn't have to emphasize a receiver's response Answer: A. communication flows heavily in one way A car driven by Dan entered land owned by and in the possession of Peter, without Peter's permission. Which, if any, of the following allegations, without additional facts, would provide a sufficient basis for a claim by Peter against Dan? I. Dan intentionally drove his car onto Peter's land. II. Dan negligently drove his car onto Peter's land. III. Dan's car damaged Peter's land. A. I only. B. III only. C. I, II, or III. D. Neither I, nor II, nor III. Answer: A. I only.
Peter Woolf and Will Riley, both 55, greet each other with a large hug whenever they meet. They're now really good friends, but they weren't ten years ago. Before the men ever had a proper conversation, they had a serious physical fight. Peter hit Will over the head with a heavy pot, and then they both rolled down the stairs of Will's North London home before Peter hit him again with a pot. Will was knocked out and bleeding from the back of the head, but he refused to give in to Peter-a desperate heroin addict with a 30-year habit who had broken into Will's home to steal whatever valuables he could then sell to buy drugs. It was 5 p.m. on March 2002, when Peter forced the front door of Will's five-storey Georgian home in Islington. And when Will walked into his bedroom to get something, he was shocked to find an unpleasant-smelling man in front of him. "I asked him what he was doing in my house, and he said he was a neighbor who had heard a noise and was worried," says Will. "I was sure he was a thief, so as he went past me, I grabbed him and pushed him to the floor. "I managed to get him downstairs and out into the street after pulling his jacket down to trap his arms. I was shouting, 'Thief! Thief!' Someone had heard me shouting and called the police, who arrived within minutes." The police put Peter into the back of their police car. He soon began a three-year sentence in London's Pentonville Prison on a charge of breaking and entering. Despite having spent 18 years of his life in prison, Peter somehow remained hopeful that he could clean himself up, stop taking drugs and go on to do something useful on his eventual release. A few weeks later, Will received a telephone call from police officer Kim Smith, who explained that a trial in restorative justice was about to take place and he wondered if Will would like to meet Peter, who was waiting for sentencing. Will met Peter again. He says, "I thought I might be able to help him change _ ." Will saved Peter's life. "We're great friends, we get on extremely well, and when we meet, we talk about everything," says Will. "Peter's a fine man." It can be learned from the text that Peter and Will _ . Answer: became good friends after a fight Once there was a poor farmer and his farm belonged to a rich man. One day he brought a basket of apples to the rich man's house. On the doorsteps, he met two monkeys dressed like children. They jumped onto the basket to eat the apples and threw some on the ground. The farmer politely took off his hat and asked the monkeys to get off. They obeyed and the farmer went into the house. He asked to see the rich man. A servant took him to the room where the rich man was sitting. "I have brought you the basket of apples you asked for," he said. "But why have you brought a half-empty basket?" the rich man asked. "I met your children outside, and they stole some of the apples. What did the monkeys do when the farmer was on the doorsteps? Answer: They ate some of the apples. Raising pets is not a new thing in China , but recently it has taken on a new meaning . As a famous Chinese saying goes, pursuit of petty (,) pleasures weakens one's will to make progress . The saying has been so popular that even today many people still consider raising pets as a hobby of the idle . Things have changed much recently and now raising pets has become a popular pastime , resulting in a successful pet care industry . Pet food is sold in almost all supermarkets and many special stores for pet needs have been set up . Animal hospitals provide various medical services for sick dogs and cats , and pet exchange fairs are held regularly . At the China International Pet Show which took place recently in Beijing , more than 100 factories from across the country exhibited their products . Thousands of dealers and pet owners went to the show. "People's swollen pockets make it possible for many to raise pets , a hobby that used to be enjoyed only by the wealthy ," said Wang Wei , who works with the National Kennel Association of China . Wang Yuyan , vice president of the Small Animals Protection Association , agreed , " In many films and novels , having a pet is used as a symbol of wealth . That's not a complete picture . " Wang added that pets are friends in a real sense of the word , not just playthings . " Anyone with a loving nature can raise pets . " Still the high cost of keeping a pet is something many people have to think about . "I like dogs and cats , but I have neither time nor money to raise them , "said Li Jun , in her 40's , a civil servant from Beijing . The cost of raising a dog is high in Beijing , where registration is a must for all dogs and costs 5,000 yuan for each animal . In addition , pet owners must pay for regular injection of vaccines . Most of all , dog food is quite expensive . Unlike his mother , Li Jun's 10-year-old son, Li Qiyu, dreams of the day he will have his own pet . "I hope I can have a dog in my house , " he said . According to Wang Yuyan's opinion , raising pets _ . Answer: is harmless for most people Campers Gene and Marie Marsden took pride in being good citizens when in the wild. While driving miles to the Green River Lakes area, they taught their children what they had learned in the bear safety handbook put out by the Bridger-Teton Forest Service. Mr. and Mrs. Marsden did their best to keep a tidy camp. As the handbook had said to hang all food at least ten feet off the ground and four feet out from the trees, they did that and locked their food in their trailer at night. It was already dark when they went to bed, but they _ the campsite with flashlights, making sure nothing was left out. Following the bear book's advice, they slept a hundred yards from where they cooked their food, and kept the car near their tents, separated from the trailer, which they left up at the other camp. The Marsdens liked having their dog Spike on guard. But on the first night, Spike would not stop barking. When Marie Marsden pulled the tent open and shone her flashlight, she saw a young bear. They all piled into the car and drove quickly down the path, calling out of the window to Spike and abandoning the trailer. They drove to a pay phone and called a Fish and Game Department guard, who identified the bear by the white ring of the fur the Marsdens had seen around his neck. The authorities informed the Marsdens that the bear was a young male that they'd been keeping an eye on. The next morning, the Marsdens heard helicopters circling over the mountain and wondered if it might have something to do with the bear. After spending the night in the public campground, they drove back to their site. Wandering the area in search of clues, Marie came to a stop below a tall tree. She slapped her head and shouted, "Oh no!" "What is it?" Gene asked. Marie pointed at the ground where Spike's dog food bowl lay upside down. A week after their return home, the Marsdens read the headline in their local paper. "Bear Killed in Wind Rivers." According to the article, the Fish and Game Department had shot the young bear because, having been rewarded for invading a human campsite, it would likely to do so again. The Marsdens knew they had been lucky in the encounter, yet much to their shame and sadness, they also knew that the bear had not. Who is mostly to blame for the bear's death according to the writer? Answer: The Marsdens. One Saturday morning Ann was going on business. Before starting, she took her son Sam to her friends, Bill and Kate, and asked them to look after him for the day. Sam, an independent boy of six years old, had black hair and was wearing a pair of jeans and a bright yellow shirt. At eleven o'clock Bill took Sam into town. Sam walked along behind Bill, looking at the windows of all the shops they passed. After lunch they went to the park and walked about. The whole place was very crowded. Bill stopped to buy some chocolate. When he turned round to give some to Sam, the boy wasn't there. Bill ran round calling Sam, but he couldn't find him. About an hour later, just in front of a shop, he saw the black hair, the pair of jeans and the bright yellow shirt. The boy looked as if he was waiting for someone to come out of the shop. Bill ran across the road, took the boy by the hand and hurried off, as it was quite late. The boy began to cry and pull hard, but Bill, who didn't know much about children, couldn't understand a word the boy was saying. All the boy made was a lot of noise. When they got home at last, Bill went straight to the kitchen, with the boy still crying. At the door Bill stopped with an amazed look. There, sitting at the kitchen table with Kate, was a small boy with black hair, in a pair of jeans and a bright yellow shirt. Why did Ann take Sam to Bill and Kate? Answer: Because Ann was too busy to look after Sam.
Some colors people see late at night could cause signs of clinical depression . That was the finding of a study that builds on earlier study findings. They show that individuals who live or work in low levels of light overnight can develop clinical depression. Doctors use the word "clinical depression" to describe severe form of depression. Signs may include loss of interest or pleasure in most activities, low energy levels and thoughts of death or suicide. In the new study, American investigators designed an experiment that exposed hamsters to different colors. The researchers chose hamsters because they are nocturnal, which means they sleep during the day and are active at night. The animals were separated into four groups. One group of hamsters was kept in the dark during their night-time period. Another group was placed in front of a blue light, a third group slept in front of a white light, while a fourth was put in front of a red light. After four weeks, the researchers noted how much sugary water the hamsters drank. They found that the most depressed animals drank the least amount of water. Randy Nelson heads the Department of Neuroscience at Ohio State University. He says animals that slept in blue and white light appeared to be the most depressed. "What we saw is that these animals didn't show any sleep uneasiness at all but they did mess up biological clock genes and they did show depressive sign while if they were in the dim red light, they did not." Randy Nelson notes that photosensitive cells in the eyes have little to do with eyesight. He says these cells send signals to the area of the brain that controls what has been called the natural sleep-wake cycle. He says there's a lot of blue in white light. This explains why the blue light and white light hamsters appear to be more depressed than the hamsters seeing red light or darkness. What can help people who work late at night to avoid being depressed? Answer: Equipping their computer screens to put it more in the reddish light. Which statement on a toothpaste package best supports the claim of fighting cavities? Answer: certified by the American Dental Association In today's prefix = st1 /Ireland, it seems hard to imagine the grim days of the 19thcentury when so many of the population starved, or that, in those days, many poor people had no clue how to prepare any food other than boil a potato. Nowadays, it is quite possible to eat both well and heartily all over the island. Tourism has made a _ difference to the standards of cooking inIreland. Until recently there was hardly any tradition of eating out in many districts, except perhaps on very few occasions at a local hotel. Patterns of diet were old-styled, based firmly on 'meat and two vegetables' (somewhat overcooked), potatoes (of course) and large quantities of dairy produce. Now things are very different. Tourist demands for predictable, inexpensive fast-food are met, as everywhere, with hamburgers and pizzas - a better bet being fish and chips. But more sophisticated tastes have introduced wholefoods and vegetarian restaurants (almost unheard of before), and a vast number of new restaurants, often French in style, have opened in the main tourist centres. Food 'events' such as Kinsale's Gourmet festival or Galway's Oyster Festival attract large numbers of visitors and reflect the new interest in food. Whatever Irish cooking lacks in finesse , it nearly always makes up for in plenty, and ingredients are of a high quality. Home-grown produce includes rich dairy foods, beef, lamb and pork, and a great variety of seafood. One of its great specialities is soda bread. It is made with buttermilk and is served fresh and warm with every meal. Recently there has been a return to simple Irish foods such as stews and potato dishes. One of the best-value meals in Irelandis breakfast. A 'traditional Irish breakfast' is a plateful of bacon and eggs with soda and potato breads. Accommodation rates are nearly always quoted with a full breakfast included, so you might as well eat enough to keep you going all day and get your money's worth! Which of the following statements is true according to the text? Answer: Nowadays French-style restaurants are quite common in tourist centres. "Reconstituted" families are more and more common in the UK. Steve and Debbie got married in 2001 and had two children,Lily and Alex.Unfortunately,Steve and Debbie's marriage didn't work out and they got divorced in 2006.The children live with Debbie.In 2008,Debbie remarried.Her new husband,Martin,has three children from his previous marriage and they visit Debbie,Martin,Lily and Alex at weekends.In addition,Debbie is pregnant with her third child.She's expecting a boy who will be a halfbrother to Lily and Alex and also to Martin's three other children. Confused?Debbie's family arrangements might have seemed strange 30 years ago but nowadays this kind of "reconstituted" family is increasingly common in the UK.Almost half of all marriages in Britain end in divorce and over 40% of marriages are remarriages.More than 10% of all British children live with one birth parent and a stepparent--a parent who isn't their biological mother or father.The traditional "nuclear" family of two parents and their children is not so traditional any more. What does all of this mean for parents in these "reconstituted" families?"There are difficulties and challenges," says Debbie."Different families have different routines and it can be difficult for children to move between their two families.Birthdays and holidays can be tricky.Where do the children go?Who should they spend their time with?Also,when my children are naughty it can be difficult for Martin to _ .Things that might be simple in a traditional family can be a bit more complicated." And how about the children?Martin's eldest child,Ella,is 12."I like my two families," she says."I live with my mum but visit my dad quite often and I'm happy that my mum and dad get along OK.They're not married any more but it's good that they can still be friends." Of course divorce and separation are never easy but many families in the UK are finding ways to make family life work in new ways. Why did Steve and Debbie get separated? Answer: They couldn't get along well. I always experienced guilt when I passed by without giving a coin or two to a beggar. My conscience was pricked again on a tour of Venice in 2010. I had taken refuge from the crowds in a quiet canal-side cafe. Outside the cafe was an old woman kneeling on the ancient cobbled stones, begging. Steady streams of tourists were walking past her. A lone young back-packer stood away from the crowds drinking something, but I noticed he was also observing the woman. A tourist group glanced at the woman and walked on. Another group of tourists arrived and, again, walked past her. The backpacker watched. Then, as I prepared to leave, I stopped at the sight of the backpacker stepping forward and placing some money in the woman's cup. He did this rather ostentatiously , just before the arrival of another tourist group. I watched as the leader of the group stopped and put some money in the cup. Having been shown the way, other tourists followed suit and added more coins to the woman's cup. The young backpacker repeated this process in front of the next tour party going past. Once again, the subtle peer pressure worked on the tourists, who all added coins to the cup. His work done, the young man walked over to the old beggar woman, patted her shoulder and said, "I hope that helps a bit." I don't know if the woman understood his English or realized what had just happened, but I did. I placed some money in the woman's cup and continued my travels, light-hearted after witnessing such an act of caring. Before the backpacker dropped some money in the woman's cup, the tourists _ . Answer: walked by without giving any money
In the 1960s, many young Americans were dissatisfied with American society. They wanted to end the Vietnam War and to make all of the people in the U.S. equal. Some of them decided to "drop out" of American society and form their own societies. They formed utopian communities, which they called "communes ," where they could follow their philosophy of "do your own thing". A group of artists founded a commune in southern Colorado called "Drop City". Following the ideas of philosopher and architect Buckminster Fuller, they built dome-shaped houses from pieces of old cars. Other groups, such as author Ken Kesey's Merry Pranksters, the followers of San Francisco poet Steve Gaskin, and a group that called itself the Hog Farm, lived in old school houses and traveled around the United States. The Hog Farm become famous when they helped organize the Woodstock Rock Festival in 1969. The followers of Steve Gaskin tried to settle down on a farm in Tennessee, but they had to leave when some members of the group were arrested for growing marijuana . Not all communes believed in the philosophy of "do your own thing", however. Twin Oaks, a commune founded in Virginia in the late 1960s, was based on the ideas of psychologist B. F. Skinner. The people who lived at Twin Oaks were carefully controlled by Skinner's conditioning techniques to do things that were good for the community. In 1972, Italian architect Paolo Soleri began to build Arcosanti, a utopian city in Arizona, where 2500 people will live closely together in one large building called an "archology". Soleri believes that people must live closely together so that they will all become one. Where did the members of the Hog Farm commune live? Answer: In old school houses treating water is used to remove harmful substances before what? Answer: guzzling Most rain forests lie close to the equator ,where the climate is often mild and there are long hours of sunshine.The warmth of the land heats the air above,causing it to rise and tiny drops of water to fall as rain.The rainfall can reach at least 98 inches a year.This wet,warm world with plenty of sunlight is perfect for plants to grow,so the trees grow fast with green leaves all the year round.The trees themselves also have an effect on the climate.They gather water from the soil and pass it out into the air through their leaves.The wet air then forms clouds,which hang over the treetops like smoke.These clouds protect the forest from the daytime heat and night-time cold of nearby deserts,keeping temperatures fit for plant growth. Rain forests slightly farther away from the equator remain just as warm,but they have a dry season of three months or more when little rain falls.Tree leaves fall during this dry season and new leaves grow when the wet season or monsoon begins.Thus these areas are known as the "monsoon forest". Another type of rain forest grows on tropical mountains.It is often called the "cloud forest" because clouds often hang over the trees like fog. The rain forest is the ideal place for the growth of many different trees.Most of them depend on animals to eat their fruits and spread their seeds.When the fruits are eaten,the seeds inside them go undamaged through animals' stomachs and are passed out in their droppings.The seeds lying on the forest floor then grow into new trees. The climate of the rain forests near the equator is _ . Answer: warm,wet and sunny Have you ever felt annoyed when left talking to yourself after your mobile phone battery runs out in the middle of a call? If yes, then here comes some good news. Scientists are now perfecting a way to recharge electrical equipment while on the move. Researchers from theprefix = st1 /Netherlands,FranceandPortugalannounced last week that they have developed very thin solar panels that can be put on clothes. They can also be added to furniture and rooftops. They change light from the sun into electricity. In about three years, you'll be able to wear a jacket that will recharge your phone as you walk. For camping fans, the development could lead to a tent which charges batteries all day so you can have light or music at night. The basic technology of wearable solar panels is the same as that used for traditional solar panels. Pairs of sheets of semi-conducting silicon are linked together to form the panel. But scientists made them much thinner by using different silicon. At one micrometre, they are of the same thickness as photographic film. "This technology will make it easier for people to use clean energy sources," said a physicist in theNetherlandswho led the team of scientists. But the thin panels are not as efficient as the thicker ones. While some solar panels now operate at an efficiency of about 20 per cent, the new flexible panels are only 7 per cent efficient. But the thinner panel is cheaper. An A4 sized panel put onto the back of a jacket cost less than US$13. It could charge a cellphone during a summer walk in the countryside. As long as you stay within range of the transmitting masts that relay a call to the networks, phones will never again run out of power. Which of the following is TRUE about the electrical equipment? Answer: It will be put into use in a few years. When it comes to making a good career in the business world, being honest and getting along well with colleagues gives a person a solid competitive advantage, claims a new research. Dr.Jon Bohlmann has found that project managers can expect better performance by far from the members of their team if treating them with honesty, kindness, and respect. According to another study , the Gross-functional product development teams, can achieve a great quality and better cost benefits from socializing and interacting with individuals who work for their suppliers. The first, Dr. Bohlmann's study analyzed cross-functional product development teams, which combine together engineers, researchers and business personnel. The point to involve people with various backgrounds was to show that there was a focus on finance, marketing, and also on a design and functionality, right from the start of the product-development process. In addition to all this, this diversity also helped to make communication more effective in order to ensure that all members of the team were socializing and cooperating, and not just working at cross-purposes. As a result, it indicated that "interactional fairness awareness" indeed had an effect on a "cross-functional communication." In other words, all the team members who thought that they had been treated well and respected, showed a great increase in their commitment to the success of the project they had been working on in cooperation with other team members, and, in particular, when they realized their project manager or supervisor to be a kind, nice and honest guy. According to Dr. Bohlmann, the increase in such commitment is very essential and important because it could improve performance that would result in the achievement of team goals. And if Bohlmann's study comes to the conclusion that nice and honest guys are the first to finish, the second research by Dr. Rob Handfleld shows us that cooperating and socializing well with others can give a team, and even a company an edge, when it comes to product development. The best title for the passage might be _ . Answer: Honest and kind people make better business career
Question: Cities could soon be looking after their citizens all by themselves thanks to an operating system(OS) designed for the metropolis. The Urban OS works just like a PC operating system but keeps buildings 9 traffic and services running smoothly. The software takes in data from sensors dotted around the city to keep an eye on what is happening. In the event of a fire the Urban OS might manage traffic lights so fire engines can reach the blaze swiftly. The idea is for the Urban OS to gather data from sensors buried in buildings and many other places to keep an eye on what is happening in an urban area. The sensors monitor everything from large scale events such as traffic flows across the entire city down to more local phenomena such as temperature sensors inside individual rooms. The OS completely bypasses humans to manage communication between sensors and devices such as traffic lights, air conditioning or water pumps that influence the quality of city life. Channeling all the data coming from these sensors and services into a over-arching control system had lots of benefits, said Steve Lewis, head of Living Plan FT-the company behind Urban OS.The system can help with monitoring patients at hospitals. Urban OS should mean buildings get managed better and gathering the data from lots of sources gives a broader view of key city services such as traffic flows, energy use and water levels. " If you were using an anatomy analogy, the city has a network like the nervous system, talking to a whole bunch of sensors gathering the data and causing actions," said Mr.Lewis. " We distribute that nervous system into the parts of the body--the buildings, the streets and other things. Having one platform managing the entire urban landscape of a city means significant cost savings, implementation consistency, quality and manageability, he added. "And it' s got local computing capacity to allow a building or an automotive platform to interact with people where they are, managing the energy, water, waste, transportation, logistics and human interaction in those areas." That' s dealt with by the building itself, with the devices very locally talking to each other to figure out what' s the best solution for the current dilemma. If a big city has been equipped with the Urban OS it can _ . A. waste a large amount of money B. save a large amount of money C. take the place of police D. take the place of the nurses Answer: B Question: Every vehicle needs tires, but eventually they wear out. Roads wear out too, and they often need repairing. But new research by a pair of teens suggests the rubber from worn-out tires could lengthen the lifetime of asphalt pavement. Also roads made with this material might need fewer patches . The young researchers presented their findings in May, 2014, as finalists at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). The 64th annual Intel ISEF shows some of the best high school science projects from around the globe. Many roads are made with asphalt, which requires much petroleum. But Jordan is a country that has very few oil wells or other sources of petroleum, notes Mohammad Salameh, who is a 10th-grader at the International School in Amman, Jordan. For Jordan, having to import most of the country's petroleum adds greatly to its cost, the teen notes. The extra expense means that there's less money to build and maintain roads. That has resulted in poorer quality roads. As a result, those roads need to be patched almost constantly. Therefore, 16-year-old Mohammad and his research partner, 15-year-old classmate Adam Belaid, came up with the idea of adding rubber to asphalt. But that rubber can come from old tires. Even a worn-out tire contains much rubber, which means the material should be plentiful, says Mohammad. Drivers in Jordan replaced 9 million tons of tires between 2006 and 2010, and only 0.3% of that rubber was recycled. That leaves much rubber that could possibly go into road construction. But first the teens had to show adding rubber to asphalt resulted in better roads. To test their idea, they created several different asphalt-rubber recipes. They also tried out different temperatures at which the mix was heated. And their tests suggested that when the surfacing material includes 8% rubber, it should hold up for 10 to 15 years of traffic instead of the normal 5 years. And their recipe should reduce the need for patching worn areas from once a year, to maybe once every 5~7 years in the future. What made the two teenagers think of carrying out the research? A. Frequent road repairs in Jordan. B. Their interest in recycling old tires. C. The slowdown in the Jordanian economy. D. Their desire to replace petroleum with something. Answer: A Question: At 2 p.m. on December 5, 1945, five Navy aircraft took off in perfect flying weather from a naval air installation in southeastern Florida, on a routine training mission over the Atlantic Ocean. Less than two hours later, the flight commander radioed that he was "completely lost". Then there was silence. A rescue plane was sent to search for the missing aircraft, and it, too, disappeared. Despite one of history's most extensive search efforts, involving more than 300 planes and dozens of ships, the Navy found nothing, not even an oil stain floating on the water. This is just one of the many frightening stories told of "the Bermuda Triangle", a mysterious area of the Atlantic Ocean roughly stretching southwest from Bermuda to the Florida coast and down to Puerto Rico. During the past 30 years, the triangle has claimed the lives of some 1,000 sailors and pilots. Stranger yet are the numerous "ghost" ships that have been found floating crewless within the triangle. On one strange occasion in 1881, the cargo shipEllen Austindiscovered a small sailing ship, sails waving uselessly in the wind. The boat was full of wood with no one on deck. The captain of theEllen Austininstalled a new crew to sail it, but two days later, during a rough storm, the two ships temporarily lost sight of each other. When the captain again boarded the boat, he found his crew had disappeared. After a second crew was assigned, the ship was again lost in a fog bank. This time, no trace of the boat -- or the crew -- was ever found. Charles Berlitz, a man with an interest in Atlantis, the legendary lost island, puts forward his theory that a giant solar crystal, which once was the power generator for Atlantis, lies on the ocean floor. From time to time, according to his theory, passing ships and planes set off the crystal, which confuses their instruments and _ them into the ocean. Officially, the U.S. Navy does not recognize the triangle as a danger zone and is convinced that "the majority of disappearances in the triangle can be due to the unique features of the area's environment." These include the swift Gulf Stream current and the unexplored valleys under water of the Atlantic. Also, the triangle is one of only two places on earth where a compass needle points to true north rather than magnetic north, causing problems in navigation. However, other scientists argue that beings from outer space have established a highly advanced civilization in the unexplored depths of the Atlantic inside the triangle. There, they believe, most of the missing vessels - and their crews - may still be on display for study by these higher intelligences. What did the captain ofEllen Austindo when he discovered a small sailing ship floating crewless? A. He had all the wood transferred onto his own ship. B. He had new powerful sails fixed on the small boat. C. He sent a message that they were in danger and needed help. D. He asked some of his sailors to get onto the boat to sail it. Answer: D Question: Angry survivors demanded answers on Sunday after a terrible accident at "Love Parade 2010", a music festival in Germany, killed 19 people and left hundreds hurt. The German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her shock over Saturday's tragedy in the western city of Duisburg., "This was a very sad day," Merkel said. Witnesses said that people pushed into the narrow tunnel, the only entrance to the Love Parade festival, from both sides until it was dangerously overcrowded. The panic began as festival-goers began to lose consciousness as they were crushed against the walls and each other. The dead included eight foreigners, from Australia, Italy, the Netherlands, China, Bosnia and Spain. More than 340 people were injured. After the panic, a lot of emergency vehicles , including helicopters, could be seen carrying away the injured people. The festival itself, however, went on. Police were afraid that ending the music altogether could cause further unrest among the crowd. "The event was a real mess," Patrick Guenter, a 22-year-old baker, said. "Although the festival was full, they kept letting people in," he added. "It seems the organizers didn't plan the route. And no one knew what was going on." said Taggart Bowen-Gaddy, 20, an American from Philadelphia. Officials said 4,000 police officers and 1,000 security guards provided security for the event, which attracted up to 1.4 million people. "I warned one year ago that Duisburg was not a suitable place for the Love Parade. The city is too small and narrow for such events. It is a pity that..." German police union chief Rainer Wendt said. The chief organizer, Rainer Schaller, said the popular event would never be held again, "out of respect for the victims and their families". We can infer from the passage that _ . A. Rainer Wendt's warning went unnoticed B. Rainer Wendt was a chief organizer of "Love Parade 2010" C. the popular event would be held in the next year D. Duisburg is a suitable place for the Love Parade Answer: A Question: As the Chinese mainland's first Disney park kicks off ticket sales on Monday, Chinese scalpers are already running a thriving trade in tickets, some of which are being hawked at 1,600 yuan ($246), triple the official price. A rough search for Shanghai Disneyland tickets on Chinese e-commerce giant Taobao on Sunday yielded some 250 results, with prices ranging from 1 yuan to 1,600 yuan. "We began to sell tickets about one month ago. You can prepay for tickets which will be delivered by the end of March," one Taobao shop owner told the Global Times on Sunday, claiming that over 1,000 tickets have been sold. Another shop owner claimed that tickets for the coming June, July and August are sold out. Tourists can book tickets on Shanghai Disneyland Park's official website, its official WeChat account and at authorized online shops beginning at 12 am on Monday. Several Taobao shop owners reached by the Global Times on Sunday pledged their tickets' authenticity. While some explained that they will help customers book tickets when official sales begin, others claimed that they were selling coin certificates that will be exchanged for tickets. While an ID card check is required for entry to the park, one Taobao shop owner claimed that their tickets will only require a check of visitors' cell phone numbers and names. The park has denied selling tickets for "trial operations," after some netizens tried to sell tickets for early access to the park, thepaper.cn reported. As the first Disney park in the Chinese mainland, Shanghai Disneyland Park is expected to receive a huge number of tourists when it opens to the public on June 16. Many Net users have expressed their hopes to visit the park, which they expect will be cheaper than a trip to Hong Kong, where China's first Disney park was built. What's the official price of Shanghai Disney park ticket? A. 1,600 RMB B. 4,800 RMB C. 534RMB D. 246 RMB Answer: C
In 1968, Easter preparation started on Saturday and Mom color1ed eggs. Mom boiled a few dozen eggs and while they cooled, Dennis, Diane and I gathered supplies. We put some color1 powder in each of six bowls, added boiling water and vinegar, and then mixed them together. Before dipping an egg into one of the pretty color1s, I'd catch a crayon and carefully print "Darlene" on one egg. Dennis and Diane did the same. Then Mum and Dad put the eggs with our names and some presents in separate baskets. When we hunted on Easter morning, we'd be sure to get the right basket. Being 8-year-old, I am quite familiar with the rule, and I explained to my younger sister, Diane: Firstly, if you find the basket with the others' egg in it, quietly put it back and continue the hunt. Secondly, if the basket with your egg in it isn't found by fifteen minutes before church, you have to continue looking for it after church. That year I was unlucky, I didn't find my basket before church, so I spent one more hour looking for my hunt. The next Easter was a different story since I was lucky enough to find my basket first. I was jumping up and down, and staring at the big chocolate rabbit in my basket when Mom and Dad told us to get dressed. I proudly left my basket in the sun porch before heading out of the door. After church, my sisters and brothers ran ahead, but I was pleased to walk between Mom and Dad since I'd already found my basket and huge chocolate rabbit. As I jumped up the porch steps I knew Dennis found his too, since he was laughing his head off. "Hungry for chocolate soup? " Dennis laughed. "Chocolate soup?" I was surprised. One look at Dennis pointed finger made me realize my beautiful chocolate rabbit was now a chocolate puddle . But I always think of the unforgettable Easters when I was a child. When Dennis said "Hungry for chocolate soup?", he was to _ . Which is the best example of an inherited behavior? Olympic medalist Dara Torres, the 41-year-old swimmer, is more than a feel-good story. Torres is as determined and driven in her daily life as she is in the pool. She is dedicated to pursuing her passions and following her dreams-something she hopes to instill in her 2-year-old daughter and women and girls everywhere. After all, her dreams took her to Beijing. Upon her return after the Olympics, SUCCESS writer Don Yaeger, caught up with Torres, who shared her insights. What insights can you offer others ( non-athletes, too) about setting and staying on track to reach goals? Everyone has his highs and lows when doing things, but you have to remember what the end result is when you're having those tough times. I think about the end and about my feelings of success, and that keeps me going. I definitely set goals for myself and try not to get too distracted trying to reach them. And always remember to have fun ! Any strategies or tips for overcoming mental obstacles to be your very best? Mental obstacles are tough. For my personally, if I was having mental obstacles, I would talk to my coach, who was the most important person to me during this comeback. It's so important to have that person in your life, a trusted advisor. Communication is very important, and I've learned it's OK to turn to others if you're having a tough time. When I was younger, I would internalize(...) things. Not any more. It's a great relief to be able to share. When saying" more than a feel-good story" ,the writer means that_. Xinhua News--The Beijing government has set out to _ thousands of university graduates to work as junior officials in rural areas to both improve rural administration and ease the city's employment problems. The government plans to recruit 3,000 university graduates this year, 1,000 more than last year, to work as assistants to village heads or party secretaries in suburban areas. People interested in jobs in Beijing's rural villages and towns can send applications to Beijing Municipal Bureau of Personnel or log on to www.bjbys.com from February 1 through March 15. "We hope university graduates will seize this opportunity to use their knowledge in rural villages and to start their careers," Sun Zhenyu, the Deputy Director of Beijing Personnel Bureau, told Xinhua News Agency. The government has promised successful candidates a monthly salary of 2,000 Yuan in the first year, 2,500 Yuan the second year and 3,000 the third year, provided their performance is up to the required standards, Sun said. Wang Lina, who graduated from Beijing Union University last year, was one of the first graduates to find work in the city's countryside. After majoring in Industrial and Commercial Administration, Wang served as the assistant to the village head of Ertiaojie Village in suburban Beijing's Pinggu District. For one project, Wang contacted people at Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences and arranged for the local farmers to receive training in strawberry planting. Her efforts paid off. The village had a plentiful harvest of organic strawberries earlier this year. Nationwide, about 150,000 university graduates found employment in rural areas last year, according to the figures provided by the Ministry of Education. The ministry predicts that 4.95 million students will graduate from universities across the country this year, 820,000 more than last year. About 1.4 million of them are unlikely to find jobs when they graduate. In Beijing, a record of 200,000 people are expected to graduate from university this year. Less than half of them are expected to be offered jobs, according to Beijing Personnel Bureau. Which of the following can be the best title for this passage? 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. The young woman gave the flowers to the old granny because _ .
On April 20th,2013, a big earthquake hit Ya'an, Sichuan. Nearly 200 people died. Many people were hurt. Why do earthquakes happen? The surface of the earth has many pieces. These pieces are always moving. When two pieces move past each other, there is an earthquake. Scientists are working hard to find out more about earthquakes. They try to predict them, but it's very hard. Do you know how to get ready for an earthquake? Do you know what to do during an earthquake? Here are some things you should know. What to do before an earthquake Make sure you have two bottles of water, a packet of biscuits, a clean towel , a few band-aids , a radio and a flashlight at home. What to do during an earthquake If you are inside: Stay where you are. Quickly move under a strong desk, or along a wall. This will protect you from falling things. Don't stand near windows. Turn off the lights. Don't get into a lift during an earthquake. If you are in a lift, get out quickly. If you are outside: Don't stand near buildings. Things may fall on you. Lie on the ground until the shaking stops. You must protect yourself in an earthquake by _ . Answer: How long does it take Earth to fully revolve one time Answer: A programmer and an engineer are sitting next to each other on a long flight from Los Angeles to New York.The programmer leans over to the engineer and asks if he would like to play a fun game.The engineer just wants to take a nap, so he politely declines and rolls over to the window to catch a few winks. The programmer persists and explains that the game is really easy and has a lot of fun.He explains, "I ask you a question, and if you don't know the answer, you pay me $5.Then you ask me a question, and if I don't know the answer, I'll pay you $5." Again, the engineer politely refuses and tries to get to sleep. The programmer, now somewhat anxious, says, "OK, if you don't know the answer you pay me $5, and if I don't know the answer, I'll pay you $50!" This catches the engineer's attention, and he sees no end to this torment unless he plays, so he agrees to the game. The programmer asks the first question."What's the distance from the earth to the moon?'' The engineer doesn't say a word, but reaches into his wallet, pulls out a five dollar bill and hands it to the programmer.Now, it's the engineer's turn.He asks the programmer, "What goes up a hill with three legs, and comes down on four?" The programmer looks up at him with a puzzled look.He takes out his laptop computer and searches all of his references.After about an hour, he wakes the engineer and hands him $50.The engineer politely takes the $50 and turns away to try to get back to sleep.The programmer, more than a little angry, shakes the engineer and asks, "Well, so what's the answer?" Without a word, the engineer reaches into his wallet, hands the programmer $5, and turns away and goes back to sleep. What kind of person is the programmer according to what he said? Answer: Psychology has a new application in the field of medicine. Many doctors, together with their patients, are looking for alternative methods of treatment of physical problems. In large hospitals, modern therapy seems to focus on the physical disease. Patients may feel they are treated like broken machines. Some doctors have recognized this as a problem. They are now using psychological therapy, in which the patient is working with the doctors against the disease with the help of medicine. The patient does not wait for the medicine and treatment to cure him or her, but instead the patient joins in the fight. The doctor knows that a disease affects a patient's body physically. The body of the patient changes because of the disease. He is not only physically affected, but also has an emotional response to the disease. Because his mind is affected, his attitude and behavior change. The medical treatment might cure the patient's physical problems, but the patient's mind must fight the emotional ones. For example, the studies of one doctor, Carl Simonton, M. D., have shown that a typical cancer patient has predictable attitudes. She typically feels depressed, upset, and angry. Her constant depression makes her acts unfriendly toward her family, friends, doctors, and nurses. Such attitudes and behaviors prevent recovery. Therefore, a doctor's treatment must help the patient change that. Simonton's method emphasizes treatment of the "whole" patient. The attitude of a cancer patient receiving radiation therapy, an X-ray treatment, can become more positive. The physician who is following Simonton's psychological treatment plan suggests that the patient imagine that he or she can see the tumor in the body. In the mental picture, the patient "sees" a powerful beam of radiation like a million bullets of energy. The patient imagines the beam hitting the tumor cells and causing them to shrink. For another cancer patient, Dr. Simonton asks him to imagine the medicine going from the stomach into the bloodstream and to the cancer cells. The patient imagines that the medicine is like an army fighting the diseased cells and sees the cancer cells gradually dying and his blood carry away the dead cells. Both the medical therapy and the patient's positive attitude fight the disease. Doctors are not certain why this mental therapy works. However, this use of psychology does help some patients because their attitudes about themselves change. They become more confident because they use the power within their own minds to help stop the disease. Another application of using the mind to help cure disease is the use of suggestion therapy. At first, the doctor helps the patient to concentrate deeply. The patient thinks only about one thing. He becomes so unaware of other things around him that he is asleep, or rather in a trance . Then the physician makes "a suggestion" to the patient about the medical problem. The patient's mind responds to the suggestion even after the patient is no longer in the trance. In this way, the patient uses his mind to help his body respond to treatment. Doctors have learned that this use of psychology is helpful for both adults and children. For example, physicians have used suggestion to help adults deal with the strong pain of some disease. Furthermore, sometimes the adult patient worries about her illness so much that the anxiety keeps her from getting well. The right suggestions may help the patient to stop being anxious. Such treatment may help the patient with a chronic diseases. Asthma is an example of a chronic disorder. Asthma is a disease that causes the patient to have difficulty in breathing. The patient starts to cough and sometimes has to fight to get the air that he or she needs. Psychology can help relieve the symptoms of this disorder. After suggestion therapy, the asthma patient breathes more easily. Physicians have learned that the psychological method is very useful in treating children. Children respond quickly to the treatment because they are fascinated by it. For example, Dr. Basil R. Collison has worked with 121 asthmatic children in Sydney, Australia, and had good results. Twenty-five of the children had Excellent results. They were able to breathe more easily, and they did not need medication. Another forty-three were also helped. The symptoms of the asthma occurred less frequently, and when they did, they were not as strong. Most of the children also felt better about themselves. Doctors have also used suggestion to change habits like nail-biting, thumb-sucking, and sleep-related problems. Many professional medical groups have accepted the medical use of psychology and that psychology has important applications in medicine. The use of psychological therapy is helpful to some patients in that _ . Answer: More people speak English than any other language except Chinese .English is the main language spoken in the United Kingdom,Ireland,Australia,New Zealand,Canada,the United States and some other countries. Altogether more than 450 million people speak English as their everyday language .Another 100 million or more speak at least some English. Most English words come from old Anglo Saxon,French,or Latin words. Modern English developed through the efforts of literary and political writings .Modern English was influenced by old English,the beginning of the university educated people,Shakespeare,the common language found in the middle of presentday England and an effort to show and standardize English. British English,known as Standard English or Oxford English,underwent changes during the colonization of North America and the creation of the United States .British English words changed into American English words,such as centre to center,metre to meter,theatre to theater and so on. Until the 18th century,British and American English were very similar with almost no difference .Immigration to America by other English peoples changed the language by 1700.Noah Webster,author of the first authoritative American English dictionary,created many changes. What is the title of the passage? Answer:
There once was a doggy named Jack that was really bored. One day he was sitting on the sofa he thought to himself, "Maybe I'll go for a ride." The dog put on his shoes and hat and walked out of the door. He began riding down the street and he saw a lot of funny things. He saw a pumpkin name Sue using toothpaste, a cat name Walt watching a movie and a bear name Phil cooking on a grill. On his drive back home he saw a rat name Randy, and a lion name Leo riding a bike. When the doggy got back home he wanted to write a book about all of the things that he saw. He went into his office and gathered the pen and paper, sat down and began writing. After hours of writing he felt that his leg was hurting from being bent under the table so long. He wrote his last sentence and got up to walk off the pain. The doggy cooked his dinner, ate, then went to bed and the next day he woke up and read his story and liked what he wrote so much that he thought he would write another story later that day. What is the doggy's name? A. Phil B. Walt C. Sue D. Jack Answer: D One afternoon, Coyote went hunting. Suddenly, a large frog laughed in front of him. Coyote pounced and pinned Frog to the ground. Frog thought quickly and came up with a plan. "Brother Coyote," he called. "You must not eat me today!" Coyote laughed loudly, _ "Why, I have a bet to make with you," Frog stated. "Tomorrow there is to be a race." Coyote's ears twitched. "A race?" "Yes," Frog continued. "You and I will race. If you win, then you may eat me." Coyote agreed. Frog hurried to the lake. In the morning, the animals gathered to watch as Coyote and Frog agreed on the course they would run. They were to start at the large stone and circle all the way around the lake. The first one back to the stone would be the winner. When the sun reached the noonday mark, they were off. Coyote ran as quickly as he could. Frog bounded into the grass and waited. Coyote looked behind him. Seeing no sign of Frog, Coyote was sure he would win. As Coyote was beginning to tire, Frog's look-alike friend jumped onto the course from behind an alder tree ahead. Coyote was surprised to see what he thought was Frog, and ran even faster, determined to win. Coyote dashed past him and called, "You may be fast, but I'm faster, I'll wait at the finish line to eat you up, Frog!" When Coyote came in sight of the finish line, Frog had appeared from his hiding place and easily hopped across the line. "You may be fast, Coyote, but I've managed to beat you!" Frog joyfully called out. Silently, he added, "With the help of my friends." Coyote went home puzzled and hungry again. Which word best describes Coyote in this passage? A. Weak. B. Foolish. C. Afraid. D. Tricky. Answer: B Laresce was born with a condition called hypermobility which meant her joints were"bend".The condition can use severe joint pain and lead to dislocations . But rather than feel sorry for herself, she used her misfortune to inspire her to become Britain's strongest schoolgirl. Just two years ago,the condition left Laresce in so much pain that she couldn't even take part in sports.But now she has six British and World Champion power lifting records.It's an incredible achievement. Laresce's trainer Tania George said her condition is the secret to her success."She has more flexibility in her back than most people,which gives her the technique of bending her back strongly and safely.Most power lifters would kill to try to bend their backs like Laresce.She has perfected the technique to lift incredibly heavy weights,"Tania said. "I used to suffer a lot of pain from my hypermobility.I remember coming home from school with pains in my knees,joints and hips.It would stop me doing normal things at schoo1.The pain would be so much that some nights I couldn't sleep at all and I just couldn't face going to school like that.And after each dislocation,I had to do six months of physiotherapy to recover,"said Laresce. However, since taking up the sport of power lifting 18 months ago she is now effectively cured."really enjoyed the feeling of power I got and the excitement of people encouraging me to do my very best,"she said. "I've made lots of friends a It's an incredible feeling when everyone's cheering me on.It's the support of other people that makes the difference to winning.Becoming a champion was a big surprise--I just started off for fun and wasn't expecting anything.So to win six titles over just a few months was amazing." We can learn from the passage that _ . A. Laresce is suffering a lot from hypermobility B. hypermobility is helpful to increase one's strength C. Laresce didn't go to school because of her illness D. the flexibility in Laresce's back helps her to lift heavy weight Answer: D Hearing live music is one of the most pleasurable experiences available to human beings. The music sounds great, but it sounds greater when you get to watch the musicians as they create it. No matter what kind of music you love, try listening to it live. This guide focuses on classical music, a tradition that _ before recordings, radio, and the Internet, back when all music was live music. In those days live human beings performed for other live human beings, with everybody together in the same room. When heard in this way, classical music can have a special excitement. Hearing classical music in a concert can leave you feeling refreshed and energized. It can be fun. It can be romantic. It can be spiritual. Classical music concerts can seem like snobby affairs full of foreign terms and unusual behavior. It can be hard to understand what's going on. It can be hard to know how to act. But don't worry. Concerts are no stranger than any other amusement, and the rules of behavior are much simpler and easier to understand than the stock market, football, or system software upgrades. If you haven't been to a live concert before, or if you've been confused by concerts, this guide will explain, so you can relax and enjoy the music. The author considers that live classical music _ . A. is full of foreign terms B. is too difficult to understand C. is stranger than other amusements D. is exciting to both players and listeners Answer: D Robots industry is developing so rapidly that there is no denying that we may one day find ourselves surrounded by robots. The humanoid (human like) robots with two legs such as Honda Motor Co. Ltd's ASIMO would likely have an easier time climbing up stairs inside homes than a robot that moves on wheels, developers say. But it will be some time before such devices make their way into people's homes. "They may look smart, but they are still quite stupid," Shimoyama said. "I don't think they will ever be as smart as humans." While safety is an obvious concern, robots also need to be sensitive to people's needs. Researchers at Fujitsu Frontech Ltd and Fujitsu Laboratories responsible for developing "Enon", a guide and patrol robot designed for use in shopping malls and corporate facilities , are working on this. Enon, which has a humanoid upper body but no legs, is equipped with a touch screen on its chest and space in its stomach to carry loads weighting up to 10 kg. In guide mode, it will check a newcomer and approach the person with a nod and a greeting: "Are you a visitor? Hello." Visitors requiring directions can point to icons displayed on Enon's chest screen. If the restroom icon is pressed, the screen will display a map that shows the way. The robot will then face and point in the direction of the restroom, although it won't actually walk the visitor there. Enon is now in use at four locations in Japan, including a shopping mall near Tokyo. The main goal is to make it more helpful for the elderly. "People who work in the transportation sector often ask whether we can build a robot that will find elderly people who look lost in train stations, and ask them if they are all right," said Toshihido Marita, director of Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd's autonomous system laboratory. "Actually that is hard to do, very hard," he said. The advantage of Honda Motor Co. Ltd's ASIMO is that _ . A. it can do any housework for us B. it can talk with patients or old people C. it can climb up stairs as humans D. it can walk smoothly with its wheels Answer: C
These days haze is around us here and there. In fact,everyone has the power to change their living habits to help reduce it. Many local governments call on their people to take action to make the air cleaner. Transport is one of the biggest contributors to haze. When,where,how,why and what you drive all affect air quality. When one drives to work for one year,he uses as much energy as a bus rider uses in 10 years. So walk or ride your bicycle to work or school whenever possible. If it is necessary,you can use public transport instead of your car. Each person using public transport for a year instead of a car can save nearly a tonne of pollutants,including CO2,from going into the atmosphere. Carpooling is another way to reduce carbon emissions .Carpooling is the sharing of car journeys so that more than one person travels in a car. It immediately reduces your car's emissions by half. What you do inside your living space can have a big effect on the air quality outside it. You can do a lot of things inside and around your home that will help you pollute less and save some money. A large amount of our energy supply comes from burning coal,another contributor to haze. By cutting down your electricity use,you are cutting down on haze. So you may try to reduce your use of electricity by turning off lights,using your air conditioner wisely during the summer months,or updating some of your electrical appliances to low-energy models. For example,you can use energy-saving lamps that require less energy and last 10 times longer than common bulbs. We can infer from the passage that the writer thinks _ . A cars can be used only when people have to B cars should be given up as soon as possible C cars must be improved to reduce air pollution D cars may cause the most serious pollution of all Answer: A. cars can be used only when people have to Money Matters for Students GETTING A GRANT Who pays? The local education authority (LEA) for the area in which the student is living. Who can get this money? Anyone who gets a place on a first degree course,although a student who has already attended a course of advanced further education may not.Students must also have been resident in the UK for at least three years,which can exclude some students from overseas. SPECIAL CASES If a student has worked before going to college: A student who is 26 or more before the course starts and who has worked for at least three of the previous six years will get extra money--PS 155 a year if 26,increasing to a maximum of PS 615 at 29 or more. If a student is handicapped: LEAs will give up to PS 500 to help meet extra expenses--such as buying a tape recorder for a blind student,extra heating or special food. Banking: Most of the big banks offer special services to students who open accounts (in the hope that they will stay with the bank when they become rich officials).A student won't usually have to pay bank charges as long as the account stays in credit.Some banks allow students to overdraw by PS 100 or so,and still don't make charges (though they do charge interest). You are a new student.Why may a bank welcome you as a customer? A They know you receive money regularly. B They charge students extra. C They hope you will be rich in the future. D They need students accounts in term-time. Answer: A. They know you receive money regularly. Famous Places around the World Mexico The best time to visit Mexico is spring. The weather in Mexico is hot and wet for most of the year, except in Mexico city. It can get very stormy at the end of August. And you should keep in mind that hurricane seas on lasts from June to November. South A frica South Africa has a pleasant climate, with lovely warm sunny days for most of the year. The summer is from November to February, and the weather is really hot at this time. In August, it's winter and the weather is usually warm, except at night. Greece The best time to visit Greece is April to June. If you just want to sit on a beach and see the sunshine every day, then August is the perfect month. But, be careful! Temperatures are really high. In the southeast of Greece, it might be 30--35 centigrade. Australia It's winter in Australia in July and August. The hottest months are from November to March. The best time to go is September or October. It's warm enough to swim in the sea. It's cool enough to tour around, and it's not too rainy. If you prefer it colder, go in August. If you want to sit on the beach and see the sunshine in August, you can go to _ . A Mexico B Greece C South Africa D Australia Answer: B. Greece Mr Green has a car. In the morning he takes his children to school in his car. Then he drives to work. Mr Green and his children do not have lunch at home, but Mrs Green does. She does not go to work. She stays at home and does some shopping and cleaning in the morning. In the afternoon she usually goes to see some of her friends, has tea and talks a lot with them. Then she cooks supper for her family. Mr Green comes back home much later than his children. They do not come back in their father's car. They take a bus home. They usually come back home before five. Which of the following is TRUE ? A Mr Green comes back home by bus with his children. B Mr Green drives to work. C Mr Green usually has his lunch with his children. D Mr Green takes his children back home from school in the afternoon. Answer: B. Mr Green drives to work. GOLDEN, British Columbia (AP)---A 3-year-old girl found alive in the upside down wreckage of an airplane survived because she was _ in a car seat, rescuers said. They said they knew she was OK when she cried for her teddy bear. Sunday's crash killed Kate Williams' pilot-grandfather, Allen D. Williams, 65, and another passenger, authorities said. The plane was found nose down and turned over in the icy water at the edge of a riverbank in the mountains of southeast prefix = st1 /British Columbia. "What saved her life was being strapped into that car seat," said Mike Plonka, a member of the search-and-rescue team. "You could see that she was very frightened. Her big concern at the time was her little teddy bear. She didn't want to leave without it. . . " "She was just pointing at it and calling it 'Baby'. " he said Monday. The girl suffered head injuries but was reported as stable, hospital officials in Golden said. She was reunited with her parents. Police said the Cessna 172 was on its way to Edmontonwhen it took off from Golden around 1 pm Sunday into low clouds and snow. Visibility was poor. An hour later, the Search and Rescue Centre in Victoria picked up the plane's emergency signal from somewhere near the BlaeberryRiver. A team using a hand-held beacon locator found the wreckage, and two military search and rescue technicians--Sgt. Scott Elliston and Master Cpl. Bruno Lapointe---landed nearby in a helicopter. As they checked for survivors, they discovered the girl alive but surrounded by debris in the back of the plane. The two soldiers tried to remove her from the wreckage, but she made it clear she didn't want to leave without her teddy bear. "I got her out and I handed her to Bruno. She was calling out for her teddy bear. I picked up the teddy bear to give it to her but it was covered with snow. She wasn't too happy that it was covered with snow so I brushed it off. "Elliston said. Williams was CEO and founder of Edmonton-based A. D. Williams Engineering Inc. The passenger who was killed, Steven T. Sutton, was chief financial officer. The two had been attending a business meeting in Golden. The cause of the accident was under investigation. What is the cause of the accident? A Low clouds. B Not mentioned. C Heavy snow. D Poor visibility. Answer: B. Not mentioned.
The petals of flowers often are brightly colored. These petals provide a benefit for the plant because they - A prevent insects from taking pollen to other flowers B hide the plant from predators that would eat its flowers C protect the leaves from injury by birds and insects D attract insects that can carry the pollen needed for plant reproduction Answer: D. attract insects that can carry the pollen needed for plant reproduction Tired of telling students to ask questions and to think about what they were doing, Damien Hynes, a high school geography teacher in Australia, decided to do an experiment to test what he had long been thinking.He wrote some well-organized nonsense (something untrue) on the blackboard.The students simply copied it but very few asked any questions.This shows that students are willing to believe anything given by teachers.The story is repeated in support of the Project for Enhancing Effective Learning (PEEL). PEEL was carried out by some teachers and researchers in Melbourne who had concluded that normal teaching methods seldom achieve their intended goals; what the teachers think they are teaching is one thing and what the students actually learn is something else.Students' lack of an over-all view of learning goals and their concentration on test scores make them see each lesson as a separate activity. Researchers realized that many students do not come into class empty-headed but have their own explanations of how the world works.Their own ideas can remain important to them even when they differ from scientific explanations that are learned later.In fact such ideas are hardly affected by traditional teaching.Students accept the teacher's scientific explanation, but do not drop their own.They simply keep both and use them practically: in a class test, they copy the teacher's idea, but in real life they use their own. Clearly what was needed was to make students understand their learning process , and this is what the PEEL teachers set out to deal with.On the surface, a class being taught by PEEL methods only differs from an ordinary class in being a little noisier, because more people are talking.But there are some meaningful changes.Students are given much more time to express their views, and teachers don't make immediate judgment.The students are allowed to guide what is done in class and their own ideas are always respected.This draws their attention to the actual learning process, and they become responsible for their own progress. Why did some teachers and researchers carry out PEEL? A To ensure teachers do scientific work. B To help students get higher test scores. C To find the differences between what is taught and learnt. D To help normal teaching methods achieve their goals. Answer: D. To help normal teaching methods achieve their goals. Do you forget to turn off the lights and heaters when you go out of a room? In 2040 it will not matter. They will turn themselves off--and on again when you return. You will choose the temperature for each room, the lighting and the humidity. A sensor will find the presence of a human (and, with luck, ignore the dog!) and turn the systems on, and when the humans leave it will turn them off again. The sensors will work through the central home computer, and they will do much more than just turn the fires and lights on and off for you. They will find faulty electrical appliances, plugs or switches, separate them so that they cannot harm anyone, and then warn you that they need repair. They will detect fire and if you are out of the house, the computer will call the fire brigade. It will not be too difficult because the locks on the outside doors will be electronic. You will open them using your personal card--the one you use for shopping--maybe using a number known only to you. It will be impossible to lose the key, and a housebreaker will have to tamper with the lock or with a window. It is not very difficult to make such tampering send a signal to the computer. The computer will be more than a fireman-policeman-servant. It will be an entertainer, and most of your entertainment will come right into your home. It does now, of course, but by 2040 "entertainment" will mean much more. For one thing, you will be able to take part actively, rather than just watching. The best title for the passage might be _ . A Sensors and Computers B Life at Home in the Year 2040 C The Development of Science and Technology D Lights and Heaters in the Year 2040 Answer: B. Life at Home in the Year 2040 Airtight plastic bags can help farmers protect their harvests without the use of harmful chemicals. These bags are designed to keep air out of crops in storage. Using them is a simple way to fight insects and keep crops fresh. Ten countries in West and Central Africa are involved in a project to improve the storage of cowpeas, also known as black-eyed peas. Farmers can lose much of the harvest to insects called bruchids , which grow from egg to adult in a few weeks and then lay forty to sixty eggs. They can destroy the whole harvest within months. Farmers can sell their crops immediately. But selling at harvest time means more competition and lower prices.Or they can use pesticides to kill the bugs. But a crop scientist Dieudonne Baributsa says, "They end up misusing or overusing the pesticide. In Nigeria, they have reported a lot of cases of death. They usually call cowpeas 'killer beans' in Nigeria." Mr. Baributsa is a researcher at Purdue University in Indiana, America. The project is called PICS---Purdue Improved Cowpea Storage. He says the storage bags are thick enough that any insects already in the cowpeas willdie from a lack of oxygen. The lack of air will also help prevent the growth of bacteria that can ruin the harvest. The bags cost about two dollars each. Mr. Baributsa says that is not much, especially if it means farmers can wait long enough to get a better price for their crops. The bags are produced locally. Donors currently support the project, but the groups involved are working to build a lasting market for the bags because donation for the project will not lastforever. A company based in the United States called GrainPro makes another kind of airtight bags. These are called SuperGrainbags. Phil Villers, the company's president, says storing a harvest safely not only helps farmers earn more money, but also reduces the amount of the harvest loss to insects, spoilage and mishandling. "What does not get wasted and eaten means it is possible to feed a hungry world," said Phil Villers. How does the name of "killer beans" come out? A The beans are poisonous by nature. B People eat beans that are infected by bugs. C Farmers use chemicals to kill bugs improperly. D Bugs ruin beans within a short time. Answer: C. Farmers use chemicals to kill bugs improperly. Doctors in Britain are warning of an obesity time bomb, when children who are already overweight grow up. So, what should we do? Exercise more? Eat less? Or both? The government feels it has to take responsibility for this expanding problem. The cheerful Mr. Pickwick, the hero of the novel by Charles Dickens, is seen in illustrations as someone who is plump and happy. In 18th century paintings, beauty is equated (...) with rounded bodies and soft curves. But nowadays being overweight is seen as indicating neither a cheerful character nor beauty but an increased risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. So what do you do? Diet? Not according to England's chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson. He says that physical activity is the key for reducing the risks of obesity, cancer and heart disease. And the Health Secretary John Reid even said that being inactive is as serious a risk factor in heart disease as smoking. So, having bought some _ , how much exercise should you do? According to Sir Liam Donaldson, at least 30 minutes of moderate activity five days a week. Is going to the gym the answer? Luckily for those who think that running machines are boring, the Health Development Agency believes that physical activity that fits into people's lives may be more effective. They suggest taking the stairs rather than the lift, walking up escalators, playing active games with your children, dancing or gardening. And according to a sports psychologist, Professor Biddle, gyms "are not making the nation fit", and may even cause harm. There's new scientific evidence that too much exercise may actually be bad for you. Scientists at the University of Ulster have found that unsuitable exercise releases dangerous free radicals that can adversely (oppositely) affect normal function in unfit people. The only people who should push their bodies to that level of exercise on a regular basis are trained athletes. So, should we forget about gyms and follow some expert's advice to reduce sedentary activities and increase exercise in our daily life? After all, getting off the bus a stop early and walking the rest of the way can't do any harm! One final thought. How come past generations lacked gym facilities but were leaner and fitter than people today? Mr.Pickwick and the paintings of the 18m century are used as examples to show that _ . A beauty should be overweight B a fat man is usually a cheerful character C fatness was considered something good at one time D fatness leads to an increased risk of disease Answer: C. fatness was considered something good at one time
Astronaut Mark Kelly announced today that he is retiring from NASA in order to focus on the recovery of his wife, Gabrielle Giffords. Kelly, who is 47, began his NASA career in 1996. He has traveled to the International Space Station four times and served aboard space shuttles Endeavour and Discovery. Most recently he was commander of Endeavour's final voyage, which ended on June l. "After 25 years of service to our country, I am retiring from the United States Navy and leaving NASA. My retirement will take effect on October l. " he said. "This was no easy decision. Words cannot express my deep gratitude for the opportunities I have been given to serve our great nation. And I have always been proud to be a member of the NASA. Public service has been more than a job for me and for my family. My brother continues to serve in NASA and in the Navy. My parents are retired police officers. And my wife Gabrielle proudly serves in the US House of Representatives." he continued. "As life takes unexpected turns we frequently come to a crossroads. I am at this point today. Gabrielle is working hard every day on her way to recovery. I want to be by her side. Stepping aside from my work in the Navy and at NASA will allow me to be with her and with my two daughters. I love them all very much and there is no doubt that we will move forward together. After some time off, I will look for new opportunities and I'm hopeful that one day I will again serve our country." Kelly said. On Jan 8, Giffords was shot in the head and was severely injured while meeting with her supporters. She returned to her Tucson home last week for the first time since then. We can learn from the passage that_. A Mark Kelly has already retired from NASA B Mark Kelly is proud of his wife and his family C Gabrielle Griffons is now being treated in hospital D Gabrielle Griffons will come back to work soon Answer: B. Mark Kelly is proud of his wife and his family As a child, Alain Robert was afraid of height. One day, when he was 12, he returned home from school. At the front door of his building, he looked for his keys. He didn't have them. It was 3.30 p.m. and his parents worked until 6.00 p.m. Alain looked at his apartment on the eighth floor. He saw an open window. He closed his eyes and imagined himself climbing the building. When he opened his eyes, he told himself,"I can do it."Fifteen minutes later, he was in his house and his fear of height was gone. Today Alain still climbs buildings. In 2003, he climbed a building in London dressed as Spiderman to advertise the movie. In 2004, he climbed Taipei 101(one of the tallest buildings in the world). To reach the top of a building, Alain uses only his hands and special shoes. He has no rope or other safety tools. Alain climbs as a hobby. He also does it to raise money for _ (for poor children and the homeless).When he climbs, he wants to send a massage to people. If you have a dream----something you really want to do, it can become real. But you must be brave and keep trying. If something bad happens, don't give up. Close your eyes and tell yourself, "I can do it." Alain climbs for two reasons. They are _ . A for fun and for his health B for charity and for his job C for his health and for charity D for charity and for fun Answer: D. for charity and for fun My father was Chief engineer of merchant ship, which was sunk in Word War II. The book Night of the U-boats told the story. Memories In September, 1940, my mother, sister and I went to Swansea, where my father's ship was getting ready to sail. We brought him a family photograph to be kept with him at all times and keep him safe. Then I remember my mother lying face down, sobbing. She had heard from a friend that the ship had been sunk by a torpedo . I can remember the arrival of the telegram , which in those days always brought had news. My grandmother opened it. It read, "Safe, Love Ted." My most vivid memory is being woken and brought down to sit on my father's knee, his arm in a bandage. He was judged unfit to return to sea and took a shore job in Glasgow for the rest of the war. For as long as I can remember, he had a weak heart. Mother said _ was caused by the torpedoes. He said it was because of the cigarettes. Whichever, he died suddenly in his early 50s. Ten years later I read Night of the U-boats and was able to complete the story. Torpedo One torpedo struck the ship. Father was in the engine room, where the third engineer was killed. He shut down the engines to slow the ship making it easier for it to be abandoned. By the time he got on deck he was alone. Every lifeboat was gone except one which had stuck fast. When he tried to cut it free, it swung against the ship, injuring his hand and arm. He had no choice but to jump -- still with the photograph in his pocket. Three days later, he and other survivors were safe in Glasgow. All 23 with him signed the back of the photograph. A Toast In my room is the book and the photograph. Often, glass in hand, I have wondered how I would have dealt with an explosion, a sinking ship, a jump into a vast ocean and a wait for rescue? Lest we forget, I have some more whisky and toast the heroes of the war. What did the author learn about the father from the telegram? A he was still alive. B His knee was broken. C His ship had been sunk. D He had arrived in Glasgow. Answer: A. he was still alive. A chemist observed bubbling and fizzing after adding an acid solution to a white powdery substance in a beaker. Which of the following can be inferred? A The acid boiled when poured into the beaker. B The acid and powder formed a new product. C A physical reaction produced a gas mixture. D A reaction occurred that produced heat. Answer: B. The acid and powder formed a new product. Bob, Jim and Alice are good friends. They all study in the same class in Red Star Middle School. The weekend is coming and the weather is going to be sunny and warm. Now they are talking about their plans. Bob is going to the hospital on Saturday. It is not far from his house, so he wants to go there by bike. He is going to visit a sick boy called Ben in the hospital. He wants to make Ben happy and give him some interesting storybooks. He is going to stay there for the whole day. Jim is going to ride to Great Zoo with his father on Sunday. He wants to see the pandas, tigers, lions and elephants. He wants to stay there for the whole day. On Saturday, Alice is going to the Green Park with her friends on foot. She is going fishing by the lake, going boating on the river and playing on the slide . She plans to stay there for the whole afternoon. Alice will not _ on Saturday. A go fishing B play on the slide C read some interesting storybooks D go boating Answer: C. read some interesting storybooks
Jenny found her old bicycle at the back of the garage.It was a lot smaller than she remembered.When she sat on it and put her feet on the pedals,her knees nearly touched her chin. She then asked her dad for a new bicycle. "Well,I'm sorry,but I can't afford a bicycle now,"said Dad."Why don't you work and earn some money? You can save up for a bicycle yourself." Jenny began to work.That day she earned five dollars for cutting the grass and ten dollars for mowing the lawn for her dad. That night Jenny went on the computer.She wrote"Gardening and Housework--Ten dollars an hour.Call Jenny at 23 Roseville Lane."She decorated the page with pictures of cleaning and gardening equipment.She printed it fifty times.Then she posted the pages through all the doors on her street. That week,Jenny was very busy! Lots of people had jobs to do,but they didn't have time to do them.So they called Jenny.Every day,Jenny rushed home from schoo1.She did her homework quickly,and then she went out to work. At the end of the week.she had$65! She told her father. "That's enough for a second hand bicycle."he said. "Yes,but if I work for one more week,I might have enough money for a new bike,"said Jenny."In two more weeks,I could buy a really good bicycle! I think that's what I'll do. I want to have the best bicycle in the class,because I earn it myself!" Jenny's dad hugged her."I think you learned something important.We appreciate things a lot more when we earn them.When we get something without earning it,we do not realize its true value." We can infer from Jenny's words at the end of the story that she was _ . Answer: optimistic about making more money 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. What's the purpose in writing the text? Answer: To ask people to give away their skis to the school The HOPE IS A GAME--CHANGER PROJECT will deliver unbreakable soccer balls to kids who, all too often, see things horrible, broken and not survive the simplest of circumstances. The project started taking form well before anyone knew where it would lead -which is to test the power of like-minded people working together to turn inspiration into action. Four years ago Bobby was in Rwanda offering help to the people there and taking photos of a child soldier named Moise with his "soccer ball",which was a pile of rubbish tied together with a string. This "ball" was the only thing Moise could call his own --- no family, no home, no place to go. Forced to fight in the Congo and having killed three people at the unbearably young age of seven, the boy's spirit was broken. And Bobby knew, as he took one photo after the next, that he'd never forget him. In fact, he returned the following year to tell Moise he had stayed deep within his heart ---but he was gone. I recently helped Bobby launch his new bookThe Power of the Invisible Sunwhich features a photo of Moise, his ball, and kids from war-torn areas around the world. All of his earnings go towards the HOPE IS A GAME-CHANGER PROJECT for the kids he visited over the past decade. They caught the emotional landscape from heartbreak to joy, but share the undeniable longing for recovery and hope. Bobby and I share the unchangeable belief that delivering hope is really a game-changer, especially to a child. We believe that each indestructible ball will come to represent a lasting symbol of hope. A light no matter how small---The Power of the Invisible Sun. This holiday season, I ask you to think about whether you are doing enough to help someone else in the world. Or as Bobby likes to put it, consider _ , which added together, can create transformational change. It's my great hope that the HOPE IS A GAME-CHANGER PROJECT will change the lives of children the world over --- one book, one ball at a time. How may Bobby feel about Mosie? Answer: He felt sorry for Mosie's ruined childhood. Mrs. Black wants to visit her son. Her son works in a post office in the city ,but she doesn't know where it is , She begins to look for it , but she can't find it. She asks an old man, "Excuse me , how can I get to the post office?" "We have about forty post offices in the city," says the old man. "Which one do you want to go to ?" She gives her son's letter to him and the old man says , Walk along this street to the first crossroads and then turn left. You will see it on your left," She thanks the old man and soon finds her son . They are very happy. _ tells her the way to the post office. Answer: An old man. Many people are concerned about the state of the earth in terms of its energy supplies and changing climate.The clear message broadcast by all responsible governments is that every person has a part to play.Here are some detailed instructions. 1.Prevent pollution by disposing of all your litter and waste in the correct,legal way,such as using onstreet waste receptacles when you are out and about,or putting it in your domestic rubbish can when you're at home.Follow local procedures for normal waste disposal.Contact your local authority for advice on disposing of unusual waste items,such as paint and computer parts. 2.Recycle all materials that can be processed by your local authority.Place plastics,metals,paper and glass in the correct collection receptacles.Donate unwanted items to the charities that are happy to accept good condition clothing,furniture and even automobiles. 3.Look after reserves of water by making sure you turn off the tap after use and by repairing leaks and drips.Purchase waterefficient appliances.Take showers instead of baths.Gather rainwater for garden use and use your lawn sprinkler less often or not at all. 4.Save energy by choosing Energy Star products.Turn these off,as well as lights,when you don't need them to be on.Use air condition and heating less often.Make sure your home is insulated correctly to maintain a steady temperature. 5.Reduce the amount of the material you use.Print emails occasionally or not at all rather than printing them every time.You buy new things when you actually need them rather than on a whim .Organize a car pool with friends to use fuel efficiently. In a word,we should try to use the world's resources efficiently to protect the environment. What's the main idea of the whole passage? Answer: How to protect the environment?
Hippos live in Africa. Their sweat is red. Sometimes they walk a long way to find water. In fact hippos walk in the water. They can't swim. Hippos love to play in the water in the day. They liked to eat plants at night. They never eat meat. They are easy to be angry. An adult hippo is about 3,000 kg. He can run very fast. But he cannot run a long way. His longest tooth is about 60 cm. His open mouth is big. A child can get into it. Crocodiles eat young hippos. But they cannot adult hippos. Hippos can't _ in the water. A. run B. swim C. walk D. jump Answer: B. swim You know eating fruit and vegetables is virtuous. But did you know it can also make you look good? People who increased their intake over just six weeks developed a healthy glow and appeared more attractive, researchers found. Scientists at St Andrews University found eating them subtly increased yellow and red pigments in the volunteers' skin. They monitored the food intake of 35 people and took pictures of their faces, arms and hands using a sensitive camera at the start, and after three and six weeks. Increasing their intake of greens by 2.9 portions a day was found to make the person look healthier and an extra 3.3 portion could enhance their attractiveness, when their photographs were rated by others. Fruit and vegetables are rich in carotenoids , which are known to protect against cell damage from pollution and UV rays, and can also prevent age-related diseases including heart disease and cancer. But while it was known eating extreme amounts of certain vegetables such as carrots could turn skin orange, it was not known a small increase was perceptible to others and was seen as _ . A camera measured changes to the skin's redness, yellowness and lightness, and found it significantly changed in people who naturally increased their intake. These changes were not evident at three weeks. Using light sensors, the researchers showed these red and yellow hues(,) were linked with the levels of carotenoids in their skin. There are hundreds of carotenoids but those thought to have the most dramatic effect are lycopene which gives tomatoes and red peppers their red color1 - and beta-carotene found in carrots as well as broccoli, squash, and spinach. Skin color1 is also affected by chemicals called polyphenols , found in apples, blueberries and cherries, which cause blood rush to the skin surface. Among hundreds of carotenoids, which are most effective? _ A. tomatoes and red peppers B. squash, and spinach C. lycopene and beta-carotene D. heir red colour and beta-carotene Answer: C. lycopene and beta-carotene Why is water considered to be a renewable resource? A. Water can be used over again. B. Water can be found all over Earth. C. Water can dissolve other substances. D. Water is needed by organisms to stay alive. Answer: A. Water can be used over again. Have you ever thought of joining a book club and buying new books through the post? Here at the International Book Club, we already have many members buying books from us by mail. Immediate benefits: As a special offer, you may choose any reduced-price books from our new members' book list, to the value of $6 in total (plus postage and packing). By doing this, you will save pounds on the publishers' prices. Tick the box on your form to order a free watch. If you reply within seven days, we will send you another free gift carefully chosen from our book list by our staff. Order a DVD from the many on offer in our list, at half the recommended retail price. *When you've joined: As a member, you'll enjoy savings of between 30% and 50% off the publisher's price on every book you buy, and what's more, they'll come straight to your door. Your free club magazine arrives once a month, to keep you up-to-date with the latest bestsellers. This means that every year we offer over 1,000 books to choose from. On the Internet, you can find all our titles for the year on our exclusive members' website. Being a member: All we are asking you to do while you are a member is to choose four books during your first year. After that, you can decide on the number of books you wish to take. In each of our monthly club magazines, our experienced staff choose a Club Choice book -- a work of fiction or a reference title which they feel is particularly worth buying, and which is offered at an extra-special price. However, if you do not want this book, just say so in the space provided on the form. We will always send the book if we do not receive this. So, return your application form today, but hurry -- it's not every day we can make you an offer like this. To apply to become a member, all you need to do is simply fill in the enclosed form and return it in the envelope supplied. Before you know it, your books will be with you. Please don't send any money now, as we will send you your bill with the books. And remember, you have up to a fortnight to decide if you wish to keep the books you have ordered. You should then either return the books or send your payment. What should you do if you want to join the book club? A. Just send the club an email. B. Ask other club members to recommend you to the club. C. Fill in an application form and return it to the club. D. Apply for a membership card. Answer: C. Fill in an application form and return it to the club. Most students hate their endless homework. The students from Class 2, Senior 2 of the High School Affiliated to Peking University certainly did so before they published their own collection of English novels at home. Their small book contains stories about a holy war, the happy life of a self-taught artist and the story of a laid-off worker who devoted his last breath to playing his beloved accordion . The book becomes an instant hit on campus. About 3,000 copies have been sold and the class is already working on the second volume. "We're up to our ears in homework. Exercises and exams make us out of breath. But to do something creative and full of imagination is such a great achievement," said Yu Xiaoxiao, 16. "I took the writing as an ordinary homework at the beginning, but after I finished the first part of my story, I could not help but let it flow," said Wang An, who wrote "Accordion". Inspired by "Lord of the Rings", Jiang Lu wrote his story about magic wins between angels from the light and the dark side. "The main message of the story was to look at the balance of the world. Both dark and light angels fight with love as their weapons. I want to tell people that selfish love might bring hate," Jiang said. "I was shocked by their work and felt so proud to be the editor of my students' book," said Nathaniel Timmermann, the oral English teacher at the school. Liu Xiuqin, an English teacher, started the project by asking students to write whatever was in their mind every week. "They have performed beyond expectation," Liu said. "They wrote interesting stories and their English has improved after they started to express their real minds." "We never imagined that our homework would be so popular and profitable . We sell the novels at five yuan, but many teachers pay more to encourage us," said Yuan Mengyao. What is the reason for the students ' liking to write interesting stories? A. It is creative and imaginative. B. It is profitable. C. Interesting stories are sure to be popular. D. Interesting stories can be well sold. Answer: A. It is creative and imaginative.
Every kid wishes to be an adult. Do you remember playing houses as a child pretending to be a grownup like your parents? Did you imagine you were a doctor, a soldier or a teacher? At that time, anything seemed more exciting than young. But now as grownups, some adults find they cannot leave childhood behind. They become "kidults"(kid+adult). Being a kidult has become a lifestyle choice among young people across Asia. Some kidults collect toys they once played with. Hello Kitty, Garfield, and Snoopy have many adult fans around the world. It is not unusual to see a 20something woman with a big, Garfieldshaped cushion on her sofa or a Hello Kitty mobile phone accessory . Other kidults still enjoy children's stories and fairy tales. For example, even an edition of the Harry Potter novels with an adult cover came out in Britain. That way, no one else on the subway will know that an adult is actually reading a children's book! "Kidults can be like vitamins to society. Adults who value their childhood and hold on to pure, childlike emotion may be needed in such a rough and dry society," said a professor in a Korean University. He added that kidult culture might fill the generation gap between adults and kids. It could give children and their parents books, movies, and cartoon shows to enjoy together. Tim Greenhalgh, a professor in London explained that some kidults just refuse to grow up. They cling to childhood because life in a busy and stressful city frightens them. Kidults would like to forget their age and openly show their fear of society and adulthood. "So, they look for an escape from increasingly complex and stressful life that are hard to deal with," Greenhalgh said. In the opinion of the Professor in a Korean University, kidults are _ . A immature and weak B necessary to our society C looked down upon D getting more and more Answer: B. necessary to our society Fahad Azad, an engineer in India, invented a robot named DuctBot.The toy-car sized DuctBot measured 23 centimeters in length, 19 centimeters in width and 9 centimeters in height and weighs just two kilograms. The robot is designed to snake through dark, narrow air conditioning ducts and clean them.A pair of LEDs fitted on the robot light up the dirty scenery, so _ can be captured by a camera. In order to control it more easily, Mr. Azad chooses to fix DuctBot on wheels.The robot can clean off lots of dirt, as well as dead pigeons and insects.Keeping indoor air in good quality and monitoring carbon-dioxide levels in buildings with central air conditioning is a challenge.It is important in some places where clean air can mean a difference between life and death, such as hospitals.Dirty air has a bad influence on people's health. EPSCO, a Dubai-based company which specializes in improving indoor air quality, read about Mr. Azad's invention in a national newspaper after he had won an international robotics competition.EPSCO had cleaning equipment, but it needed someone to get into those ducts to do the dirty, dangerous work.Across India, for example, the task still falls to children.They are small enough to go through those ducts. In 2005, Mr. Azad who was still at university decided to do something about it.Six years later his own company, Robosoft Systems, has Bluestar, EPSCO and the Indian Navy, some leading air condition makers, as partners. Mr. Azad and his ten employees are currently exploring robot designs to examine oil tanks or sewage pipes.Their biggest challenge is to make the robots user-friendly enough.Mr. Azad hopes that the robot could eventually be operated not by engineers but by workers.There will be lots of difficulties they need to overcome in the future. What can we learn about Ductbot? A It is a toy car and popular with children. B It is designed to move like a snake in the ducts. C many LEDs are fitted on it to tell its location. D It is actually a camera to capture dirty scenery. Answer: B. It is designed to move like a snake in the ducts. Until recently, I hadn't done much community service.In face, I did nothing to benefit anyone but myself.My selfishness and laziness were clear before I received an assignment from my teacher.Each student was required to complete 10 hours community service.To me, 10 hours was a huge amount of time to spend helping others.Volunterring, for me, has been a truly life - changing experience. My mom suggested that I organize a food drive in our development and donate what I collected to a local shelter.Anything that would help finish the project seemed like a good idea, so I agreed.I made up flyers asking for donations and placed flyers at every house in my neighborhood. I was getting ready to fetch the cans from my neighbor's yards on the day of the food drive when all of a sudden it started to pour.Rain flooded the roads and wind blew hard, but I was determined to complete my task.My mom drove me around our development and I jumped out at every house to collect items people had put out. When we finally arrived the shelter, I was a little nervous because I had never been there before.The woman in charge was extremely grateful for the donations and said that the world would be ganizing the food drive and delighted that my service to the community would make a difference in people's lives. As I was leaving the shelter, a man asked if I was the one who had brought all the food.I shyly nodded, and he said, "A round here, you are a hero." From that point on, I made myself a promise that I would serve the community more often, even when it was not required.Through this school assignment, I have realized that caring for others is an important part of living and the world would be a completely different place if people all help those who are less fortunate. The author wrote this passage in order to _ . A show his pity for those poor people B care about the future of the world C give advice on organizing a drive D expect more people to think of others Answer: D. expect more people to think of others It's hard to track the blue whale, which has almost been killed off by commercial whaling. Attaching radio devices to it is difficult and visual sightings are too unreliable to give real insight into its behavior. So biologists were delighted early this year when, with the help of the US Navy, they are able to track a particular blue whale for 43 days recording its sounds. This was possible because of the Navy's former top secret system of underwater listening devices across the oceans. Tracking whales is but one example of an exciting new world just opening to civilian scientists after the cold war as the Navy starts to share and partly uncover its global network of underwater listening system built over the decades to track the ships of potential enemies. Earth scientists announced at a news conference recently that they had used the system for closely observing a deep-sea volcanic eruption for the first time and that they planned similar studies. Other scientists have proposed to use the network for tracking ocean currents and measuring changes in the ocean and global temperatures. Different layers of ocean water can act as channels for sounds focusing them in the same way a stethoscope does when it carries faint noises from a patient's chest to a doctor's ear. This focusing is the main reason that even relatively weak sounds in the ocean, especially low-frequency ones, can often travel thousands of miles. The deep-sea listening system makes use of _ . A the ability of sound to travel at high speed B the top-level technology of focusing sounds under water C the unique characteristic of layers of ocean water in carrying sound D low-frequency sounds traveling across different layers of water Answer: C. the unique characteristic of layers of ocean water in carrying sound Mrs Green had a young dog which was very clever. It often helped her buy a newspaper. One winter evening, the dog went out to play. It was snowing heavily. Soon the ground became white. " The dog never loses his way. Where is he now?" Mrs Green thought. She shouted his name. But still the dog didn't come back. So she telephoned the police and told them a lot about her dog. " My dog is very clever. He always goes out and comes back soon. Sometimes he plays with his friend, Mickey. He can buy a newspaper. _ ." The policeman was tired and said, " I think you'd better put your telephone down. Maybe _ is trying to telephone you now." The story happened _ A in summer B in winter C in autumn D in spring Answer: B. in winter
Question: Surtsey was born in 1963. Scientists saw the birth of this island. It began at 7.30 a.m. on 14th November. A fishing boat was near Iceland. The boat moved under the captain's feet. He noticed a strange smell. He saw some black smoke. A volcano was breaking out. Red-hotrocks, fire and smoke were rushing up from the bottom of the sea. The island grew quickly. It was 10 meters high the next day and 60 meters high on 18th November. Scientists flew there to watch it. It was exciting. Smoke and fire were still rushing up. Pieces of red-hot rock were flying into the air and falling into the sea. The sea was boiling and there was a strange light in the sky. Surtsey grew and grew. Then it stopped in June 1967. It was 175 metres high and 2 kilometres long. And life was already coming to Surtsey. Plants grew. Birds came Some scientists built a house. They want to learn about this young island. A new island is like a new world. Surtsey is _ . A. an island not far from Iceland B. a captain C. a fishing boat D. a place in Iceland Answer: A Question: For the most part, you are probably only exposed to the music that is played on your favorite radio stations and TV shows, music Web sites, or the music that your friends and family members enjoy. While you probably know a lot about your favorite type of music, it can be a rewarding experience to enlarge your horizons , discovering artists and types of music that you're not familiar with. Who knows, you might discover you like certain types of music you never even considered. Have you ever wondered about the history and influences of your favorite types of music ? For example, did you know that rock 'n' roll originated from the blues, and that the blues began as a form of musical expression for African Americans during slavery ?Did you know that most hip-hop is heavily influenced by early rhythm blues and jazz ? There are many fun ways to learn about different musical styles and their historical roots. For example, if you like hip-hop, listen to some of your favorite CDs and take note of the samples the performers used to create the songs. There is a possibility that the artist used parts of older songs to create the music. You can go to the library or online to learn more about the artists and listen to more of their music by checking out CDs from the library or downloading songs online for a small fee. You can learn so much about culture and history just by paying attention to different types of music and what is being expressed in the songs. There are so many different styles of music to learn about, and _ it to yourself to make an effort to listen to and learn about them. What music did African Americans use to express their feelings of being slaves ? A. Rock 'n' roll. B. The blues. C. Hip-hop. D. Jazz. Answer: B Question: In which of the following situations is Defendant most likely to be guilty of common law murder? A. Angered because his neighbor is having a noisy party, Defendant fires a rifle into the neighbor's house. The bullet strikes and kills a guest at the party. B. During an argument, Harry slaps Defendant. Angered, Defendant responds by shooting and killing Harry. C. Defendant drives his car through a red light and strikes and kills a pedestrian who is crossing the street. D. Using his fist, Defendant punches Walter in the face. As a result of the blow, Walter falls and hits his head on a concrete curb, suffers a concussion, and dies Answer: A Question: One afternoon, after finishing shopping in a supermarket, my family and I went to the checkout. I suddenly thought we didn't need any of the junk, and we abandoned all of those, saving $300. That got me thinking about all our pointless expenses in life. With a promise that we'd stop if it was killing us, I convinced the family to take the leap into frugality . The rules were that we would buy nothing for 30 days except absolutely essentials. Our adventure began with a great start. By 9 a.m., my wife, Ruth, had already made cakes from old strawberries and picked flowers I didn't even know we had in the garden. I cleared the car by hand for the first time for years. I read and returned the neighbor's newspaper before he woke up. Total spending on the first day: $0. As days turned into weeks, we became so proficient at living frugally. We started riding our bikes to save gas. My child's finger painting was recycled as gift wrap for the homemade presents. We started to use an Internet application like Skype for free phone calls and ask neighbors with gardens for extra vegetables and herbs. In the end, we saved more than $2000 by not spending for a month. When we began, I imagined we would rush out the moment we were done and buy a lot of things in the supermarket, then maybe hit the mall or go to the movies. We can infer from the passage that before that very afternoon, the family _ . A. had had higher income B. had had a good habit of saving money C. had often spent money without thinking much D. hadn't realized they would have met financial problems Answer: C Question: It has been two years since I published my first article on Yahoo!Contributor Network.I was very excited when I saw that what I had written was published on the Internet. I recognized that the content sites such as Associated Content can provide a fertile ground for learning how to become a writer.I was thrifty --I could see that this was an open door for systematically learning some basic writing skills without paying college tuition for classes,all to be finished at my own speed and without leaving the comfort of my own home. During these past few years I gained enough experience and understanding of using Associated Content to try writing.I found writing for that site was not my cup of tea.However,my experience there was positive as I was rewarded with even more learning opportunities just by giving it a try.Through Associated Content I was introduced to the world of bolgs .I decided to learn how to set up a blog myself.Now I'm interested in blogs and continue to work as a writer. Writing for the content site Yahoo!Contributor Network gives me a chance of trying creative writing--news,reviews and numerous lifestyle issues.And all of these topics are my own choices.Then there is an opportunity to meet other writers.Yahoo!Contributor Network has a wonderful in-house messaging system that allows its writers to communicate easily with one another.Not all your tries are satisfactory and easy when you write for a content site,but the benefits are many if you try it. My teacher once said,"If you don't quit,you will win."I have no desire to quit writing as I really enjoy it.My thanks go out to Associated content and yahoo!Contributor Network for all my progress in writing!And to my fellow writers--thank you so much for your support and friendship.May we continue in our efforts of inspiration for many years to come! In the author's eyes,writing for Associated Content was not _ . A. a job he can deal with B. his favorite thing C. a difficult task for him D. meaningful work for him Answer: B
What if you arrived home to find a delicious hot meal waiting for you,prepared by your very own kitchen robot? It might sound like science fiction,but professors at the university of Tokyo have taken the first steps toward making that scenario a reality.The team recently introduced a humanoid kitchen robot that can pour tea and other drinks into cups and serve them to guests.When teatime is over,the robot can also wash the dishes and put them away. In California,another interesting kitchen robot has been developed.Called the Readybot,it can pick up objects and either store them in cabinets or put them in the trash.It also carries a separate floor-cleaning robot that can operate by itself.Unlike the Japanese robot,Readybot is not humanoid.Instead,it looks more like a large box with arms and wheels. Readybot was created by engineers and designers who established a club called the Readybot Challenge.They believe that in the future millions of robots will be needed in homes to perform ordinary household tasks.Readybot is just the first step in their plan to create a robot that can tackle jobs not only in kitchens but in other rooms of homes and in offices as well. Clearly there are technological hurdles to overcome before robots can cook a complete dinner,and there are also many safety concerns.Not everyone(especially parents)would be comfortable with the idea of robots in their house,manipulating hot pans and sharp knives.The European Commission recently funded a project to study these concerns. Where do the engineers and designers hope that Readybot will operate in the future? At companies When Pat Jones finished college, she decided to travel around the world and see as many foreign places as she could while she was young. Pat wanted to visit Latin America first, so she got a job as an English teacher in a school in Bolivia. Pat spoke a little Spanish, so she was able to communicate with her students even when they didn't know much English. Once, A sentence she had read somewhere struck her mind: if you dream in a foreign language, you have really mastered it. Pat repeated this sentence to her students and hoped that some day she would dream in Spanish and they would dream in English. One day, one of her worst students came up and explained in Spanish that he had not done his homework. He had gone to bed early and had slept badly. "What does this have to do with your homework?" Pat asked. "I dreamed all night, Miss Jones. And my dream was in English." "In English?" Pat was very surprised, since he was such a bad student. She was even secretly jealous . Her dream was still not in Spanish. But she encouraged her young student, "Well, tell me about your dream." "All the people in my dream spoke English. All the newspapers and magazines and all the TV programs were in English." "But that's wonderful," said Pat. "What did all the people say to you?" "I am sorry, Miss Jones. That's why I slept so badly. I didn't understand a word they said. It was a nightmare ". From the passage we can infer that _ . in Bolivia, people speak Spanish We all know that when leaves fall to the ground they die and become food for worms. When worms pass the leaves, their waste can help to make the soil rich, from which the plants use to get their nutrition. The plants grow and provide food for animals. When the animals eat the plants, their waste goes back into the soil. It's a perfect cycle. But at the Elephant Conservation Centre in Lampang, Northern Thailand, they are using elephant waste for something more--to make 100% natural, beautiful color1ful paper products! 100 years ago over 100,000 elephants in prefix = st1 /Thailandworked on farms, building sites and even in the army. However, only 6,000 remain there today because of advances in technology that have made elephants' old word less necessary. Elephants are doing new jobs now, including entertaining tourists by painting and playing football, and now by helping in the paper making industry. And their keepers, called Mahouts, can earn a living for their families and help their elephants by using elephant waste, also called "dung" to make beautiful, natural, paper products without any bad smell. Every day an adult elephant eats about 200kg of plants like bamboo, grass and watermelon seeds. His body system breaks the plants into 50kg of fibers, which can produce 115 sheets of fibrous paper. The first step to make this special natural paper is to collect the fiber rich "dung" from the elephant. The next step is to wash it and boil it for five hours to kill bacteria. (The water the use in this process is reused to water plans at the Centre, which, in turn, feed the elephants). After it's boiled, they cut fibers up. During the cutting process, they add in the desired color1 of the paper. For the fourth step, they take the mixture and make balls of 300g. Each ball is then speeds lightly over bamboo frames to dry into one large sheet of paper. After a few hours in the sun, the sheets are dry enough to remove. The result is a wonderful, 100% natural, recycled paper. People around the world are getting interested in buying this special elephant paper for their holiday cards, writing paper and much more, because it's beautiful, natural and helps so many. Why are there few elephants in Thailandtoday than before? Because they technology develops very fast. Most people call it "body language" -- the clues to the meaning that we get from gesture, facial expressions, posture -- everything that isn't spoken.Experts call it "nonverbal communication," but it means the same thing: a second source of human communication that is often more reliable to understanding what is really going on than the words themselves. Understanding body language is important to success, whether in the business world or in our personal lives.However, most of our ideas about body language are wrong, according to modern communication research. There is a belief that people with shifty eyes are probably lying.As Paul Ekman says, "When we asked people how they could tell if someone was lying, too much blinking and shifty eyes were the winners.But sometimes people act like that because they are shy.Liars pretend to be calm in order not to be caught. Ekman goes on to argue against such a wrong belief.Although this kind of body language is probably an expression of nervousness, it is not always because the person is lying.Shyness can, for example, make people shift their eyes.To understand what someone's behavior means, you have to watch them carefully. There is also a belief that when meeting someone, the more eye contact , the better.As a result people would like to make initial contact in formal situations, like a job interview, by staring fixedly at the other human.Yet Ekman points out that most of us are comfortable with eye contact lasting a few seconds, but any eye contact that is longer than that can make us nervous. In short, you must carefully consider the speaker and the speaking environment.Experts suggest that unless you know about someone's basic communication style, you will have little hope in understanding their true feelings through body language.In other words, body language carries important but not always true messages. According to the passage, body language is _ . a source of human communication How would you like to learn more without having to study more?Here's how: 1.Get to bed and go to sleep.Your performance,attention,and the ability to concentrate are damaged by lack of sleep.Teenagers need nine to ten hours of sleep a night for best performance. 2.Feed your head.The brain runs badly if it doesn't get enough fuel.That means protein and complex carbs -eggs and wheat bread for breakfast,say,rather than sugary cereal and orange juice.The biggest mistake teens make is not to have breakfast or to go for sugar,which raises blood sugar levels. 3.Body exercise is brain exercise.Body exercise really improves brain performance,perhaps because it increases blood flow,or perhaps because it reduces stress and anxiety .Twenty minutes of activity a day that raises your heart rate will do great good. 4.Learn now what you want to remember for the rest of your life.Teenage brains are much better at remembering things than the brains of young children or adults.Scientists aren't sure why.Whatever the reason,the teenage years are the time to learn new languages and master other lifelong skills. 5.Learn the power of risk taking.Adults are always worried about the _ of teenage risktaking,and it's true that teenagers are more likely than adults to get themselves in trouble by drinking and driving.But the fact that the parts of the brain that drive people to try new,risky,and exciting things appear to be more developed in teenagers can be a huge advantage.Pick certain challenges-difficult sports,a hard job,mastering a performance art,traveling overseas-and the teenage brain is able to deal with them.They have this power they're given to go out and do it without fear. 6.Learn what you love.Because emotional systems develop fast in teenager brains,teenagers learn things they're interested in quickly and well.Their brains give them tools like attention on the project. According to the passage,teenagers should have _ for breakfast. wheat bread and eggs
More and more Americans are showing an interest in healthy and locally-produced food. As the interest increases, raising chickens has been gaining popularity in some American cities. "Look, we get three eggs this time." Collecting eggs is a daily pleasure for the Hurst family. Naomi Hurst says her family started to raise chickens in back of their home in Maryland a month ago. "We have wanted to try having backyard chickens for a couple years now. And really just didn't have the time to build my own coop(;) and look out where to buy chickens. And then we met Rent a Coop," said Naomi Hurst. Rent a Coop is a chicken rental business. Tyler Phillips launched the company with a partner 18 months ago. It comes with a mobile coop on wheels, two egg-laying hens, feed, bedding, water bowl, feed bowl, and our 24-hour chicken hotline. You can call with any questions. The price is 185 dollars for four weeks. After the four weeks passed, individuals can extend the rental agreement, return everything or purchase the animals and supplies. Tyler Phillips designs and makes the coops. He says he wants to do as little damage as possible to the environment. "We always try to have as many recycled materials as possible. And I want the coops to be safe for kids. I want the chickens to be comfortable and they have access to the grass while being inside the coop. I want it to be easily movable, light weight," he said. Some cities require people have large pieces of land, if they want to raise farm animals. Others require an agreement with neighbors, limit the number of chickens, or, even ban the birds. Tyler Phillips expects that would change as interest in small poultry coops grows. "I see cities around the D. C. area changing laws almost monthly and different cities will change the law to being prochicken . That is happening all around the United States," he said, He believes that there will be chicken rental businesses in most American cities within five years. We can learn from the passage that _ . I have a dog . It's a girl dog. She is two years old. Her ears and eyes are big. But she has a small nose and a small mouth. Her hair is long. She has four long legs, too. Does she have mum and dad? Yes! They come from Cuba. What's her name? Can you guess? Her name is Juzi, because she is orange. Wow, she is my toy dog. Juzi's mum and dad are from _ . Although he will always be remembered for starring "Superman," the greatest role of actor Christopher Reeve's life was as a champion of sufferers of spinal cord injuries and an supporter of stem cell research. Unlike the man of steel, he wasn't faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than an engine and he couldn't leap tall buildings in a single bound. But the courage and determination Reeve showeed in trying to overcome his paralysis from a 1995 horse-riding accident went beyond any of the achievements of the comic book hero. "He became a real-life Superman. His heroism, his courage was extraordinary," Colin Blakemore, the chief executive of Britain's Medical Research Council said. "Like many people who suffer some terrible injuries, Christopher Reeve was totally changed by that experience and brought the kind of energy and enthusiasm that made him successful as a film star to an entirely different issue, with huge effect." Reeve, 52, died of heart failure on October 10, 2004 after having treatment for an infected pressure wound without realizing his dream of walking again. But in the nine years since his accident, he made personal progress to regain respect and admiration, founded the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, a non-profit research organization, and used his fame to raise millions of dollars for research into spinal cord injuries. He also provided hope and inspiration to other patients and made speeches to support scientists to be allowed to conduct stem cell research in the hopes of eventually curing paralysis and other illnesses such as diabetes and Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. "He has been our champion. If you think of spinal injuries, you automatically recall a picture of Christopher Reeve," said Paul Smith, executive director of the Spinal Injuries Association in England. It is because of Reeve that spinal cord injuries and stem cell research are so widely discussed, according to Smith. The fact that it happened to Reeve showed it can affect anyone, even Superman. Reeve did not live long enough to see whether stem cell research could help restore movement to the paralyzed. The research is still in its early days and no one knows what advances it may bring. Which of the following words can best describe the characteristics of Reeve? Have you ever complained that life is so tiring or that there is too much homework? Does the sky sometimes seem dark to you? Are your studies sometimes not successful? Well, friends, cheer up and smile all the time. If you look at the world with a warm heart, you will find that the whole world smiles at you. While in school, sometimes you are tired of your lessons, but have you noticed the happy smile on your teacher's face when you do a good job? If one day it is fine, but just before you go out, it suddenly starts to rain. Maybe you would feel very sad and start complaining about the weather. Dear friends, why don't you sit down and listen to the free concert that the nature offers you? Also with the timely rain, crops in the fields will grow better and better and farmers will have a good harvest. Although everyone wants to succeed in what he tries to do, sometimes failure can't be avoided. I think failure is not terrible. The terrible thing is that we are afraid of it and give up hope. When we face failure, we must be confident of ourselves, draw a useful lesson from it and try our best to finish what we have decided to do. As a popular saying goes, "Failure is the mother of the success." Attitude decides everything, with an _ attitude life is easy and pleasant. Let's smile at whatever we meet and the whole world will smiles at us. ,. Students sometimes complain _ . Which of these geographic features most directly influences the climate of Nevada by limiting the amount of water vapor that can reach the state and fall as rain?
Letter A Dear Rose, I like your programmes very much. I'm now writing to ask you something about American social customs . My American friends want me to join them in their dinner party. I am very happy and have decided to go, but I'm a little worried about it, too. The social customs in my country are very different from here, so I'm afraid of making mistakes. Should I bring a present, such as sweets or flowers? Should I arrive on time or a little late? At the dinner table, how can I know which fork or knife to use? How can I let the family know that I'm thankful for their kindness? Wang Lin Letter B Dear Wang Lin, It's a good idea to bring a small present when you go to a dinner party. Flowers are always nice, or you may bring a bottle of wine if you know that your friends drink it. You should arrive on time or five to ten minutes late. Don't get there early. If you're going to be more than fifteen minutes late, you should call and tell them. Try to be free at the dinner table. If you don't know about choosing the right fork or knife, just watch the other people, and follow them. If you still have no idea of what to do, ask the person next to you. If you like the food, say so. Of course, you'll thank them for the meal and for their kindness. It's also a good idea to send a thank-you card the day after. Rose From the letters we've learned that it's very _ to know something about American social customs. Answer: helpful Which can be used to pass information from one person to another? Answer: an invention by Marconi What would be the result of adding one proton to an atom? Answer: the atomic number would change Snapshots, the new fashion for an artistic portrait photo: Take it underwater. Zhang Xiaomei, a 20 something Shanghai native who works in the media industry, tried it out twice. "It was a completely different experience," says Zhang of her first such experience last May. "You get the feeling that you're cut off from the rest of the world. But also it s romantic and like a fairy tale." She then successfully convinced her husband to be to have their wedding photos taken underwater a couple of months after her first try. "Can you imagine a 1.87-meter-tall man trying out something like a fishtail under the water?" Zhang says, laughing. A commercial underwater photo portrait is perfect for post 80 and post 90 generations who adore taking snapshots, but are looking for new ways to be artistic, says Ai Cheng, owner and photographer of No.55 Underwater Photography in Shanghai. Ai opened a studio in Shanghai's suburb of Songjiang two years ago, building a 5-meter- deep, fan-shaped pool equipped with heating facilities to start up the business. A 30-minute training on how to smile under the water so that you won't drink too much water and how to open your eyes underwater is offered in his studio for those who don't know how to swim. Ai says most of his customers are female--half of them coming for an artistic portrait photo and the rest for wedding pictures. "Some of them drag their boyfriends or husband-to-be, who are unwilling to go down to the water, to shoot as well," he says. What would be the best title for the text? Answer: The Best Smiles May Be All Wet. You want to know about my staying in America ,right ? Well ,to tell you the truth ,it is really an eye-opening experience to study here . In China ,I had English classes five times a week since fifth grade .However ,I didn't know how different textbook English could be from everyday English until I came to Hotchkiss School ,Connecticut . When I first studied English ,I was told to say ,"I am fine"when people say"How are you ?"But in the US ,I found that people say ,"I am good "or"I'm tired". One day , someone greeted me with "What's up ?"It made me _ .I thought for a moment and then smiled because I didn't know what to say . Since then ,I have discovered more and more differences between Chinese and US cultures . To my surprise ,US girls spend a lot of time in the burning sun to get a tan .However , in China ,girls try every possible way to get their skin paler , or"whiter". I was also surprised by how hardworking US students are . In China ,schoolwork is almost everything ,so we study hard and that's it .But here ,a "good "student gets good grades ,does a lot for the public and plays sports or music . The kids here are so talented ,I am starting to be sorry that I gave up playing the piano at an early age and that I have never thought about sports . A good US student spends his/her time _ . Answer: on studies ,sports or music and public work

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