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A well-developed class website can save teachers a lot of time in the long run, improving both student-teacher and parent-teacher communication while providing a repository of all classroom documents for future use. Although some extra time during the school year is required, once the site is up it needs just minor adjustments each new year. Have a question? Get an answer from online technology support now. Decide which type of software you will use to create a class website. Microsoft has many applications that can be used to create websites, such as Publisher, Word and Expression Web. Some web hosting sites also have simple editing tools you can use instead of a formal program. Find a place to host your class website. Your Internet provider often provides about some small space for a personal website for free, and many other free website hosting companies are on the Internet. Consider using a template for your first attempt at website design. Most templates also come with a selection of color and graphics already in place so you can concentrate on content instead of design. It will contain basic sections with your specific class information. Add content to your website. You need to have announcement sections for both parents and students, a syllabus or class rules area, homework assignments or a calendar, and maybe a links section for learning more about in-class topics and playing educational games. Decorate your website with graphics, clip art, background, cool fonts and other decorative items. It's best to find a theme you like, such as ducks or fire hydrants, and make your design elements all stick with your theme. If you think that is too attractive, go for an abstract look. Remember to keep it simple since too much color and graphics make a site look busy and detract from its usability. When you first create your class website, you are advised to _ . A buy a small space for the website B put all the class information on it C make it as appealing and colorful as possible D focus more on some details rather than design Answer: D. focus more on some details rather than design Food or friends? Lip salve or iPod? What is the most important thing in the US teenagers' lives today? Let's take a look. Some find that they can't do without people. "My biggest need is my friends. Without them, I wouldn't do much," said Adrian Fernandez, a 14-year-old boy. With others, food always comes first. "I do not think that I could live without chili con carne . I eat it every day. And if I didn't have it, it's all I would think about," said Max Wu, an 8th-grade boy. Sometimes, the things teenagers can't do without are strange. Take 14-year-old girl Hannah Sacchini for example. "I cannot live without lip salve, especially in winter," said Hannah Sacchini. "I go mad if my lips get dry." Of course, today everybody uses mobile phones and computers. Some teens can't live without these high-tech things. Justin Beck, a 15-year-old boy, feels like this: "I would not be able to live without my iPod. I use it for so many different things. I always have it with me," he said. So, now we know the things US kids really must have. What about you and your classmates? What can't you live without? ,. (10) We can learn that Justin Beck _ takes his iPod to school. A never B sometimes C always D hardly ever Answer: C. always Students' Insurance What Is Covered under Contents? Under the "Contents" section your possessions---which you do not have to be listed--will be protected on a "new-for-old " basis where items will be replaced as new--regardless of their age or condition. "Contents" include books,radios,audio and video players,TVs,jewellery,home computers,furniture,household goods,other electrical equipment and sports equipment. They will be insured as follows: ---Theft ---Fire,Lighting,Explosion ---Malicious Damage ---Storm,Flood and other natural disasters But new-for-old cover does not include clothing and linen. Where Does Cover Apply? Anywhere in Australia whether in: ---Your prefix = st1 /Living PlaceWhile at College ---Your Parents' Home or Any Temporary Residence---where you are staying when away from College ---Your College or Students' Union Building ---College Storage during Vacations Plus The Following Benefits Included Free Loss or Damage to: ---Gas, water and electricity meters and telephones--- up to$300 ---TVs and videos rented in your name ---Library books---up to$300 ---Daily things bought---up to$500 as to cover described under "Contents" ---College or Landlord's Possessions in your room(s)---by Fire or Theft--if you are legally responsible---up to$2,000 ---Personal Money---from your room---up to$60 PLUS fraudulent use of your Credit Card---up to$1,000 We can infer from the passage that_. A if you lose a radio you can get another one B if your jewellery is stolen you can get as much as$300 C if a fire breaks out in your room you can get everything back D if your possessions are stolen outsideAustraliathey are not insured Answer: D. if your possessions are stolen outsideAustraliathey are not insured Manners nowadays in big cities like London are particularly non-existent. It's nothing for a big, strong schoolboy to elbow an elderly woman aside in the dash for the last remaining seat on the tube or bus, much less stand up and offer his seat to her. This question of giving up seats in public transport is much argued by young men, who say that, since women have claimed equality, they no longer deserve to be treated with courtesy and that those who go out to work should take their turn in _ like anyone else. Women have never claimed to be physically as strong as men. Even if it's not agreed, however, that young men should stand up for older women, the fact remains that courtesy should be shown to the old, the sick and the burdened. Are we really so lost to all ideals of unselfishness that we can sit there indifferently reading the paper or a book, saying to ourselves " First come, first served", while a gray-haired woman, a mother with a young child or a cripple stands? Yet this is too often seen. Older people, tired and easy annoyed from a day's work, aren't angels, either--far from it. Many a brisk argument or an insulting quarrel breaks out as the weary queues push and shove each other to get on buses and tubes. One cannot commend this, of course, but one does feel there is just a little more excuse. If cities are to remain pleasant places to live in at all, however, it seems necessary, not only that communication in transport should be improved, but also that communication between human beings should be kept smooth and polite. Shop assistant won't bother to assist, taxi drivers growl at each other as they dash dangerously round corners, bus conductors pull the bell before their desperate passengers have had time to get on or off the bus, and so on. It seems to us that it's up to the young and strong to do their small part to stop such deterioration . According to the passage, communication between human beings would not be smoother unless _ . A people become more considerate towards each other B people are not so tired and easily annoyed C women are treated with more courtesy D public transport is improved Answer: A. people become more considerate towards each other People usually check whether their keys, wallets and phones are with them before going out . But many people in China now have one more important thing to take -- a face mask . They hope that it can protect them from polluted air. Since January, many cities in China have seen a lot of foggy days.In Beijing, only five days in January were free of smog . It is dirty air that looks like a mixture of fog and smoke caused mainly by smoke from cars and factories in cities. Poor air has done harm to people's health, especially for children and old people. They fall ill easily and the hospitals are full of the the patients of respiratory problems. To respond to the air problems, the Chinese government and many Chinese people have started to take action. Beijing announced plans to use cle an fuel in government vehicles and plant trees. It also asked citizens to set off fewer fireworks for celebrations. Three students from No.4 High School in Beijing wrote a report to advise how to fight the air pollution. They suggested that cars with large emissions should not be allowed to use and factories should be closely watched. We hope more people will join us in making a difference. With all our efforts , the blue skies will certainly return for good. Why do the air problems and environmental protection become a concern for the whole nation? A Because people can't see things clearly. B Because there are many hazy days. C Because the poor air is bad for people's health. D Because there are so many cars in China. Answer: C. Because the poor air is bad for people's health.
Like human beings, dogs may catch cold because of cold weather, wet conditions or can also get it from other sick dogs. If a dog has a running nose and watery eyes, coughs or sneezes , then it is quite probable that the dog has caught cold. A dog's cold can get over after a few days without treatment but it totally depends upon the owner to treat it with medications or improve its immune power to get rid of the cold naturally. Following are some of the things you can do if your dog gets a cold. You can improve its immune power by giving it proper nutrient diet. Healthy food can really do wonders. Try to give it food which is either suggested by the vet or is healthy for your pet. Increase the intake of food which is rich in vitamins A, C and E. Keep your dog warm. The best place for your dog in winter is inside your house. Do not keep your dog outside when it is cold and wet. At home you can also keep the dog warm with the help of carpets. This will make him comfortable and help him to recover fast. Increase the fluid intake as it helps a lot. Water can be the best choice but you can also add broth in water which will give your dog strength. Warm water will make your dog more comfortable and will also keep the dog away from the respiratory infections . Steam treatment is considered to be effective in getting rid of cold. It makes the nasal passage wet, which helps proper breathing. Just fill your bathroom with steam and leave your dog inside the bathroom for 15 minutes. Do it nearly 2 to 3 times a day and you will see your dog recovering. These are some of the things you can do to help your dog recover from cold. However, if you are not able to find any improvement in its health, then turn to the vet for help immediately. Take your dog for regular checkups so as to avoid complications . When a dog catches cold, it is wrong to _ . A. keep it inside during cold and wet weather B. leave it inside the bathroom full of steam C. let it eat too much solid food D. keep it sleeping on carpets at home Answer: C. let it eat too much solid food A city without cars would be very strange, right? But Venice is such a city. Venice is in the northeast of Italy. It wasn't built on land, like Beijing or Shanghai, but on more than 110 islands. Seawater is everywhere around the city. Even so, travel isn't difficult. The waterways have always been the best ways to get around. There are 117 waterways and more than 400 bridges that can guide you where you want to go.People in Venice move from place to place by boat. They like to enjoy the scenery and cool summer nights while taking boat trips. They can talk to other people as they go along. Venice grew out of small islands in saltwater lakes when some Italians escaped from a war more than 1,500 years ago, and built homes there. Water makes the city special, but it is also a big problem. Once, people used too much underground water. This made the city get lower little by little. Now the city has gone down by 23 centimeters. Another problem is the rising seawater. The temperature has risen over the years. This has made the ice of the Arctic Ocean melt . Every year, high waters hit the city in autumn and winter. When a lot of water comes, more than half of the city is underwater. Scientists are trying different ways to stop the city from getting even lower. ,. What seasons are dangerous for Venice because of high waters? A. Summer and autumn. B. Autumn and winter. C. Summer and winter. D. Spring and winter. Answer: B. Autumn and winter. We recycle rubbish, so why not language? Recycling language means using vocabulary that you have learnt before again and again. However, unlike rubbish that piles up in our environment, if we do not recycle language, we simply forget it. So how do you recycle language? There are basically three ways to do it. The first is through reading. Go back to your favourite articles and read them once more. Just reread them and do not worry about each vocabulary item. If there are some that you are not sure about, make a guess and you will probably guess right. The second way to recycle is through writing. Look at some of your favourite articles and write either a short paragraph or a few sentences in your own words. After you have done this a few times, go back and read through what you have written, checking vocabulary functions. Don't worry if you have made mistakes. That's how you learn. The third way to recycle language is by having an imaginary chat with yourself about your favourite articles at home. You can pretend there is someone with you who speaks English and tell him what you are thinking about or how you feel. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in recycling language? A. Reading. B. Listening. C. Writing. D. Speaking. Answer: B. Listening. Do you like to sit in front of the computer and play computer games hour after hour? Have you ever thought of what that may be doing to your health? More and more children are becoming overweight and growing less creative because they spend too much time in front of the computer according to a survey. Last week Child Protective Services in America organized an activity. The aim of the activity was to encourage children to do some outdoor activities instead of playing computer games at home. Many American children spend about 1,000 hours a year playing computer games -- more time than they spend in school. As a result, they are overweight. Some of them have very poor _ , and they can't see clearly. Everyone should pay attention to his health and try to keep healthy. The doctor says that the longer children play computer games, the more overweight they may become. And the junk food children eat while they're playing computer games makes the weight problem more serious. To keep fit, children need to take exercise regularly, play outside with friends, and explore the world around them. Can you spend two weeks without playing computer games? It might be difficult for computer lovers, but why not have a try? Children may become _ if they play computer games all day. A. much younger B. much lighter C. less creative D. less careful Answer: C. less creative Last summer, my family and I went on a trip to the China Dinosaur Park in Changzhou by bus. The one-hour trip seemed very long. We arrived at the park at about 9 a.m. There were many fun places for us to choose from. We first went to the Crazy Firedrake Drill. When I looked at the giant yellow machine, I wasn't afraid at all, But when I was really on it, I felt a little nervous. First, the machine took us to the highest point. We all screamed "Ah". 1 dared not look down. Then it turned around fast and moved very quickly at the same time. The wind was so strong that I couldn't open my eyes. I felt as if I would fall down. 1 couldn't stop screaming through the whole ride. It only moved for a few minutes, but it seemed to be many hours. When the game ended, I was too frightened to walk. Later we took part in the game called "Crossing Jurassic ". After waiting for half an hour, we got into a boat. The boat went into a tall building. It was dark around us. There were many model dinosaurs on both sides. They looked like the real ones. From time to time. the model dinosaurs made some frightening shouts, which sounded terrible. The game ended with a sudden rush from a very high place into a big pool. What an exciting experience! Which of the following is TRUE? A. The yellow machine turned around fast and moved quickly at the same time. B. The first game moved for a long time. C. There were many real dinosaurs in the park. D. The second game began with a sudden rush from a very high place into a big lake. Answer: A. The yellow machine turned around fast and moved quickly at the same time.
Question: Everyone has a family name. In China, the family name is the first name, but in English countries the family name is the last name. Do you know how English people get their family names? And what do they mean? English people usually get their family name in these ways . Some family names come from the places of their homes. A man live on or near a hill, his family name may be Hill. In England, people's names may be Wood, Lake because they live near the wood or the lake. Some family names come from a person's job. If a person is a cook, his family name may be Cook. And many people get their family names from their father's family names. If you hear the name "Jackson", you can know that he is the son of Jack. Jack's family name is Cook. His family name may come from the _ . A. place B. hobby C. job D. country Answer: C. job Question: A tender woman, or an independent one, which one would you prefer? Arecent research shows that most people would choose the latter. This type of woman is called a nuhanzi ("tough woman"). Experts believe these characteristics have social and psychological roots among young femalesin China. Su Hao's friends all call her a tough woman, because she can finish tough tasks usually carried out by men. For example, she carries 10-litre water to her dormitory on the 5th floor. "I depend on no one but myself," she says. According to a recent survey by China Youth Daily, tough women have become rather common in society. Of the 21,265 respondents, 78.5 percent said they are familiar with a tough woman. About 50 percent said they like women with tough characteristics, while less than 29 percent expressed the opposite view. Why are tough women gaining popularity? Shen Meng, a psychological consultant, believes the fierce competition in society is contributing to this trend. "Women are often in a disadvantaged position compared to men," Shen says. "In order to survive, they have to be independent, strong and tough." Liu Xiao lin, professor of psychology at Wuhan Mental Health Center, believes tough women are brought up this way. They are often on close relationship with their fathers, who teach their daughters to be brave and decisive," he says. As a result, these women are more likely to be psychologically healthy and more tolerant to stress, according to Liu. Though Liu believes that this is a good trend, Hu Shenzhi, a psychologist at the Guangdong Sunflower Counseling Center, says the popularity of tough woman indicates an unclear line between gender identities, which can lead to relationship problems. "Some women with characteristics that differ from the traditional female image may have a difficult time finding Mr Right," he says."Even if they get married, their manly characteristics might cause family conflicts. How many respondents like tough women? A. about 16,700. B. 21,265. C. about 6,200 D. about 10,600. Answer: D. about 10,600. Question: Just two weeks ago, I was about to cross a busy road when I noticed an old grandpa with a heavy load on his head just a few meters from me. He looked very weak. A few minutes later, I realized I'd forgotten to cross the road. And he'd seen me looking at him. I love my grandparents so much that whenever I see any old people I won't forget to smile at them. I couldn't let go of this grandpa, either. He came near me and handed me a note on which there was an address. I showed him the directions and said he would need a taxi as it was 3 pm on a hot summer's day. Anybody would faint dead in this weather and I didn't want him to walk all the way. But he looked disappointed. I asked where he had come from. He replied weakly that he was from Chidambaram, about 240 kilometers from where we were. I was shocked because he looked like he could not even take 2 steps without falling. I called a taxi immediately and asked the driver to drop him at his place. The grandpa wasn't ready because he had no money. I paid for his journey and asked the driver to drop him off safely. When I turned to look at the grandpa, who was leaving, tears filled my eyes and I didn't want to leave. Memories of my grandparents flashed in my mind, making me feel like crying. I said goodbye to the grandpa, and some happy tears dropped from his eyes. The old man that the author noticed _ . A. was too weak to stand still B. fell down on the road C. had a load on his head D. didn't know how to cross the road Answer: C. had a load on his head Question: We are all interested in equality, but while some people try to protect the school and examination system in the name of equality, others, still in the name of equality, want only to destroy it. Any society which is interested in equality of opportunity and standards of achievement must regularly test its pupils. The standards may be changed ---- no examination is perfect ---- but to have no external tests or examinations would mean the end of equality and of standards. There are groups of people who oppose this view and who do not believe either in external examinations or in any controls in schools or on teachers. This would mean that everything would depend on luck since every pupil would depend on the efficiency, the ideal and the purpose of each teacher. Without external examinations, employers will look for employees from the highly respected schools and from families known to them ---- a form of favoritism will replace equality. At the moment, the bright child from an ill-respected school can show certificates to prove he or she is suitable for a job, while the lack of a certificate shows the unsuitability of a dull child attending a well - respected school. This defense of excellence and opportunity would disappear if external examinations were taken away, and the bright child from a poor family would be a prisoner of his or her school's fame, unable to compete for employment with the child from the favored school. The opponents of the examination system suggest that examinations are an evil force because they show differences between pupils. According to these people, there must be no special, different, academic class. They have even suggested that there should be no form of difference in sport or any other area: all jobs or posts should be filled by unsystematic selection. The selection would be made by people who themselves are probably selected by some computer. These people are not just against school organization, but are at war with the whole idea of modem competitive society and they are using children in schools for their destructive purposes. There is no reason why we should allow such people to determine the way our schools are organized when it is to the obvious disadvantage of the pupils, of the schools and of our society as a whole. The opponents would agree that _ . A. computers should be selected to take over many jobs B. particular people should not be chosen for particular jobs C. well-respected schools should be got rid of as soon as possible D. the students are not equally treated if they take external examinations Answer: D. the students are not equally treated if they take external examinations Question: Fed up with huge mortgage payments, Simon Dale decided to take matters into his own hands. Armed with only a chisel, a chainsaw and a hammer, the 32-year-old moved his family to a hillside in Wales and started digging. The result is a wooden eco-home - constructed in four months and costing just PS3,000 - which would look perfectly at ease alongside the Hobbit houses in The Lord Of The Rings. Mr Dale, who has no experience in carpentry or architecture, created his sustainable family home using scrap wood for floors, materials scavenged from skips and by diverting water from a nearby spring. He said: "Being your own have-a-go architect is a lot of fun and allows you to create and enjoy something which is part of yourself and the land rather than, at worst, a mass-produced box designed for maximum profit and the convenience of the construction industry. Building from natural materials does away with producers' profits and the cocktail of carcinogenic poisons that fill most modern buildings. The family struck lucky searching for a site for their dream project. In return for looking after the area, the owner of the woods gave them their plot for free. After digging into the hillside, Mr Dale - with the help of his father-in-law, a builder - first constructed the building's timber frame. The roof, which came next, has a layer of straw bales for insulation and is covered with sheets of plastic to make it waterproof. Finally it is covered with a layer of earth, which ensures the house blends perfectly into its surroundings. Once the outer shell was complete, the family made an interior wall from straw bales stacked on dry-stone walling and staked together with hazel sticks. As well as being made from sustainable material the Hobbit house, as it is dubbed by locals, has lime plaster on its walls instead of cement, a compost toilet, a fridge cooled by air from beneath the foundations and solar panels for power. It can be inferred from the passage that the Hobbit houses _ A. don't exist in the real world at all B. belong to the lord of The Kings. C. lie in a lonely area of Wales D. are a kind of environmental friendly houses created by Simon Dale Answer: A. don't exist in the real world at all
Mary likes to invent things. She creates a new language and teaches it to her friend, Jean. Mary and Jean like to talk to each other in their own language because they think no one understands them and it is funny. When they go shopping, they say things like: "Look! He is fat." "This CD is awful." "I want to eat free hamburgers." A clerk comes but he can't understand what they say. He asked them: "May I help you?" Mary and Jean just laugh. What fun it is to create something new. What do they do in the store? A. They buy some things. B. They talk with the clerk. C. They want to understand what people say. D. They use their new language and talk about people and things. Answer: D. They use their new language and talk about people and things. I'm a boy. My name is Tom White. I am ten years old. I am in Class 2, Grade 1. I'm in No. 1 Middle School. My teacher is Mr. Wu. I have a good friend at school He is Jim Green. Jim is his first name and Green is his last name. He is ten, too. But he is in Class 1, Grade 1. His teacher is Miss Wang. , . Tom is _ . A. 9 B. 10 C. 11 D. 12 Answer: B. 10 One day, an old man went(go)for a walk in a park in Washington, and when he was(is) tired, he sat(sit) down on a bench . A young person was standing on the other side of the pond . "My goodness" the old man said(say)to the person sitting next to him on the bench."Do you see the person with loose pants "and long hair? Is it a boy or a girl?" "A girl," said the person sitting next to the old man. "She's my daughter." "Oh!" the old man said quickly, "please excuse me. I didn't know that you are her mother." "I'm not her mother," said the person."I'm her father!" From the story we know that person sitting next to the old man was _ . A. something like a man B. something like a woman C. very tired D. eastern countries Answer: B. something like a woman Claude Monet was born on November 14, 1840, in Paris, but he spent most of his childhood in Le Havre, a city of southern France. By the time he was fifteen Monet had become popular as a caricaturist . Through an exhibition of his drawings at a local frame shop in 1858, Monet met the French landscape painter Eugene Louis Boudin, who introduced Monet to outdoor painting, an activity that soon became his life's work. By 1859 Monet had committed himself to a career as an artist and began to spend as much time in Pairs as possible. During the 1860s he met Edouard Manet. With other ambitious French painters, they formed the impressionist school. Working outside, Monet painted simple landscapes and he began to have some success. As his style developed, however, Monet broke one traditional artistic convention after another. His experiments with bright color1 became more and more daring, and he seemed to cut himself off from the possibility of a successful career as a conventional painter supported by the art establishment. In 1874 Monet and his colleagues decided to organize their own exhibition. They called themselves independents, but the press soon labeled them impressionists because one of Monet's paintings had borne the title Impression: Sunrise. Then the name stuck. By the mid-1880s , Monet , generally regarded as the leader of the impressionist school, had achieved significant recognition and financial security. In 1890 he was able to purchase some property in the village of Giverny, not far from Paris, and there be began to construct a water garden--a water lily pond with a Japanese bridge. Beginning in 1906, paintings of the pond and the water lilies occupied his mind for the rest of his life. His famous series Water Lilies, painted between 1990 and 1926, Clearly shows the artist's strong interest in color1 and produces a remarkable visual effect. Despite failing eyesight, Monet continued to paint almost up to the time of his death, on December 5,1926, at Giverny. We know from the passage that Monet_. A. spend most of his childhood in Paris B. was greatly influenced by Boudin C. chiefly relied on traditional painting skills D. devoted his whole life to painting portraits Answer: B. was greatly influenced by Boudin This is the twin's bedroom. The two beds looks the same . This bed is Wang Lei's. It is near the window. That one is Wang Fang's. It's behind the door. The twins have one desk and two chairs. Their clock, books and pencils are on the desk. Their schoolbags are on the chairs. Wang Lei's shirt is on his bed. On Wang Fang's bed there is her skirt. It's yellow. The room isn't big, but nice. This is _ bedroom. A. your B. my C. our D. Wang Lei and Wang Fang's Answer: D. Wang Lei and Wang Fang's
As a boy, Sanders was much influenced by books about the sea, but by the age of fifteen he had decided to become a doctor rather than a sailor. His father was a doctor. So he was often with the doctors and got along very well with them. When he was fourteen, he was already hanging around the hospital where he was supposed to be helping to clean the medicine bottles, but was actually trying to listen to the doctors' conversations with patients in the next room. During the war Sanders served in the army as a surgeon . "That was the happiest time of my life. I was dealing with real sufferers and on the whole making a success of my job." In Rhodes he taught the country people simple facts about medicine. He saw himself as a life-saver. He had proved his skill to himself and had a firm belief that he could serve those who lived simply, and were dependent upon him. Thus, while in a position to tell them what to do he could feel he was serving them. After the war, he married and set up a practice deep in the English countryside, working under an old doctor who hated the sight of blood. This gave the younger man plenty of opportunity to go on working as a life-saver. When he was a small boy, books about the sea had made Sanders want to be _ . a sailor One day a teacher was giving her young students a lesson on how the government works. She was trying to explain the principle of income tax . "You see ," she began , speaking slowly and carefully , "each person who works must pay part of his or her salary to the government . If you make a high salary, your taxes are high. If you don't make much money, your taxes are low ." "Is that clear?" she asked. "Does everyone understand the meaning of income tax?" The students nodded. Are there any questions?" she asked. The students shook their heads. "Very good!" she said." "Now, I would like you to take a piece of paper and write a short paragraph on the subject of income tax." Little Joey was a slow learner. He had lots of problems with spelling and grammar, but this time he at least seemed to understand the task.. He took his pen and after a few minutes, he handed the teacher the following composition: Once I had a dog. His name was Tax. I opened the door and in come Tax. Little Joey _ . wrote a paragraph about his dog An American spacecraft is moving closer to a dwarf planet called Ceres . The American space agency's Dawn spacecraft is set to reach the planet-like object in March. Space agency scientists will then place Dawn in an orbit around the dwarf planet. Agency scientists want to know more about ice on Ceres. The spacecraft will gather clues about whether Ceres may have once had conditions to support life as we know it. Dawn left Earth more than seven years ago on a trip to explore Ceres and another dwarf planet, called Vesta . Both dwarf planets are in the main belt of asteroids , a group of large objects, between the planets Mars and Jupiter. Marc Rayman is the chief engineer and director of the Dawn mission. Scientists call Vesta and Ceres "protoplanets ". Mr. Rayman says they were in the process of becoming full-size planets when, in his words, "their growth was terminated ." Scientists believe Ceres is made of rock, and covered with ice. The Dawn mission is based in Los Angeles, California. Scientists there send second-by-second commands to the spacecraft. They direct its every move, including telling it what pictures to take. Dawn will make a map of the dwarf planet. It will also try to discover how Ceres' surface has changed. Carol Raymond is the deputy principal investigator of the project. He says Dawn made an unexpected discovery while orbiting Vesta. "Instead of being bone dry, which we expected, there were _ on the surface of Vesta that showed significant amounts of water bound in the rocks and possibly even free water that could have flowed on the surface in the past." She says that if Earth's water came from wet worlds like Vesta and Ceres, then life could have developed there, too. If Dawn finds that the environment of Ceres could have supported life, scientists may seek to explore the dwarf planet with other scientific instruments. Dawn will gather information about Ceres until the middle of 2016. It will then continue to orbit the small planet. The passage mainly tells us _ . NASA Spacecraft, Dawn, is moving closer to a 'Dwarf Planet'. On Jan. 13th, 2009, the Peanut Corporation of prefix = st1 /Americaissued a recall for products it had made over the past six months, after five people had died and more than 400 had fallen ill with salmonella poisoning as a result of contamination. Two weeks later, the recall was extended to more than 400 consumer products made since Jan. 1, 2007, including Jenny Craig nutritional bars and Keebler Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers, while the toll from the contamination had reached eight dead and more than 500 sickened in 43 states, half of them children. The company's factory in Blakely,Ga., which was the source of the contamination, supplied some of the largest food makers in the nation. The outbreak showed the complexities of the industrial food chain, and left consumers to figure out if some food in their cabinets had a danger. The recall of peanut products is the latest in a series of increasingly severe food contamination scares involving tomatoes, spinach, cantaloupes and other foods. TheGeorgiaplant, which is closed, packed peanut butter in bulk ranging from 5 to 1,700 pounds, much of which was shipped to institutions. Many school districts have pulled peanut butter from menus, with some substituting more commonly recognized supermarket brands. New York City school officials said they had not bought any peanut butter or products with ingredients that originated at theGeorgiaplant. An F.D.A. inspection team that visited the plant on Jan. 9 discovered that on 12 occasions in 2007 and 2008 tests conducted by the company found salmonella contamination in its products but that it shipped the contaminated products to customers after a retest found no contamination and did nothing to clean the plant. We can learn from the passage that _ . people may now worry about the food at their homes. One way humans cause pollution using antibacterial soap
Richard Gray was a famous explorer. He was also a millionaire. He had visited every country in the world. He had crossed Antarctica, flown across the Atlantic by balloon, and climbed Mount Everest. Last year he decided to walk across Death Valley, the hottest place on Earth. He walked for days over the hot desert sand. One night he found the camp where he had been the night before. Gray had walked in a circle. He was lost. Two days later he had drunk all his water. He couldn't walk. He crawled to the top of a sand dune , and there he saw a man. The man was wearing smart, clean trousers, a white shirt and a tie. Gray crawled over to him. "Water...water..."he said. "I'm terribly sorry, old boy,"replied the man,"but I haven't got any water with me." "Help me!"shouted Gray,"I'm a rich man...a millionaire...I'll give you anything." "That's very nice of you, old boy,"said the man."Look, I can't give you any water, but would you like to buy my tie?" "A tie? Of course not!" screamed Gray, and crawled away. He _ led slowly up the next sand dune. His mouth was full of sand. His lips were cracked and dry. He couldn't breathe. He reached the top of the dune and there he saw a huge good hotel. Girls were swimming in the large swimming pool. Beautiful fountains were all around the hotel. "Is it a mirage ?"he thought."Am I dying?"He stood up and staggered down the dune. A waiter in a shining white uniform came out of the door. "Water...water...a bath! Food!" screamed Gray. "I'm sorry, but you can't come into his hotel,"said the waiter. "Why not? I've got plenty of money...I'm a millionaire." "Ah,"replied the waiter,"but you aren't wearing a tie!" The famous explorer _ . Answer: had traveled all over the world This holiday my sister and I went to Shanghai. My sister had just graduated and she wanted to find a job in Shanghai. My uncle lived in Shanghai, so we lived with him after we got there. On the first day we went to a lot of interesting places, including Waitan and Huangpu Park. We spent the next few days helping my sister find a job. We read many advertisements in newspapers to find one. My sister couldn't get the first job because they said she was too young. Then we lost our way and couldn't find the second company. We had a map but the city is so big, so we had to ask someone for help and finally found the second company. The boss had a talk with my sister and asked her to wait at home for their decision. A month later we went home. My sister couldn't find a job in Shanghai because she was not knowledgeable enough or she didn't have enough experience. In this holiday we learned that if we want to succeed in life, we have to work hard and get a lot of knowledge. What does the passage mainly tell us? Answer: If we want to succeed in life, we have to work hard and get a lot of knowledge. A new word is becoming more and more popular on the Internet in China - but no one knows quite what it means.The word "duang" is so new that you can't even find it in the Chinese dictionary. But it has already spread like fire on the Chinese Internet , appearing more than 8,000,000 times on Weibo, where 15,000 users had more than 312,000 discussions. On Baidu, it has been looked up almost 600,000 times. But what does it mean? "Everyone's duang-ing and I still don't know what it means! Looks like I'd better go back to school now," said Weibo user Fahmida. Another user asked: "Have you duang-ed today? My mind is full of duang duang duang." "To duang or not to duang, that is the question," wrote user Beatrice. "Duang" seems to be imitating a sound. It all seems to have started with Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan, who in 2004 appeared in a shampoo ad where he used the sound "duang" to describe his soft and black hair. The word came to people again recently after Chan posted it on his Weibo page. Thousands of users then began to visit Chan's Weibo page with comments . The word seems to have many different meanings, and there's no perfect Chinese meaning for it, but you could use it to give emphasis to the word that follows it. A kid might be "duang cute", for example. In 2004, Jackie Chan used "duang" to _ . Answer: describe his hair Bill is from Australia. He lives in Sydney. He can speak French and English, but he can' t speak Chinese. He has a pen pal in the United States. Her name is Lisa and she lives in New York. Bill' s favorite sport is basketball and he can play the guitar. Lisa' s favorite sport is tennis. She can't play the guitar, but she can play the piano and sing very well. What is Bill' s favorite sport? Answer: basketball Is there anything the latest cell phone can't do? It can record movies, surf the net, and download the newest MP3 songs, but don't let those fancy features fool you. After all, chances are that phones have a Global Positioning System (GPS) chip. GPS lets phone companies determine the location of your phone at all times. If you are hurt and call 911, rescuers can find you by using your phone's GPS. But emergency officials aren't the only people interested in knowing where you are. Several new companies are using cell phones with GPS to monitor teen drivers for _ parents. The programs vary, but most of them allow parents to use the Internet to monitor their kids' locations, driving habits and speed. Some programs even let parents set speed and location limits so that they are alerted if their kids drive too fast or go beyond a predetermined boundary. Supporters of monitoring say that the programs also help if a teen is kidnapped or lost. Andrea Gutierrez uses a driving program to help her daughter get home. "I give her directions by looking at an online map, which shows me where she is". Jean Nichols, 17, says that parents are forgetting one very important thing: trust. "I don't like the idea of someone using a device that keeps tabs on me." Others say the information could be misused. "If everyone can find out exactly where your 17-year-old girl is at all times, it will present a potentially dangerous problem," Hohn Lawford told the Ottawa Citizen. Alana Watenpuhl, 19, says that teens can easily outsmart the programs. "Teens can always leave their cell phones somewhere and then go out with their friends. It's not likely that the chips are attached to their bodies," she told reporters. "But who knows?" she added. "That might be what's coming next." From the text, we can infer that _ . Answer: children can easily fool their parents even with GPS
Huang Naihui was born in 1964 in Taipei. When he was a child, he had a very high fever, which made him partially paralyzed. His parents were afraid that he would bring bad luck to the family and abandoned him. But his grandmother brought him up. It was at the age of 13 that he went to school. At the age of 22, he would study and work part-time. He would sell flowers during the day and attend classes at night. During his spare time he would study. The learning made him very happy. He used his knowledge very well in his business of selling flowers. He would go door to door selling flowers during the day. He would sell flowers at pubs and night clubs at night. At times, in order to sell, he had to sing. He was often tricked. However, he would face the next customer with a smile. His grandmother passed away when he was 24. It was the darkest day of his life. Today Huang Naihui owns 3 flower shops and employs disabled people to work for him. He would spend his spare time doing charity work. His book Facing the sun and his story have encouraged many people. ,. What made Huang Naihui disabled? A. A high fever. B. The hot weather. C. The hunger. D. The cold. Answer: A. A high fever. Dear Economist, My newly-wedded wife and I are deeply in love.There is, however, one issue that threatens the happiness of our marriage.I absolutely insist on shopping at Walmart.My wife, meanwhile, would rather avoid Walmart at all costs. I have recently tried to convince her that not only does Walmart offer the lowest prices known to man, but that the chain is also a force for good--lower prices mean better standards of living for all consumers, increased global trade means a tighter-knit international community, and efficient operations translate into higher productivity growth for the economy.My wife complains about poor labour policies, the "fact" that Walmart squeezes suppliers, and that it puts local shops out of business. Who is right? Will our marriage survive? Brian Gee Dear Brian, I have to agree with you about Walmart.Jason Furman, then an economist at New York University, now an adviser to President Obama, famously argued in 2005 that Walmart was unwittingly a progressive success story.The chain's prices don't much affect me (I prefer Whole Foods) but Furman estimated that they benefited low-and-middle-income Americans to the sum of around $250 billion a year. Walmart does not pay much, so it may depress wages.Then again, it may increase wages by offering jobs to the otherwise-unemployed.Either way, the benefits of low prices to Walmart shoppers far outweigh any seemingly reasonable costs to Walmart employees.And while it is true that Walmart employees tend to be poor, the same is true of Walmart shoppers. Armed with this information you can face your wife with confidence.You are sure to win the conversation.The divorce is likely to be more argued. Economist Brian Gee's wife tends to hold the opinion that _ . A. it is wrong for Walmart to depress its employees' wages B. consumers' lives have improved thanks to Walmart C. Walmart's business operation increases productivity in economy D. Walmart's business increases global trade Answer: A. it is wrong for Walmart to depress its employees' wages A horse doesn't think she is beautiful. She goes to see the God, "My God! Thanks for giving me a beautiful body, but I want to be more beautiful." The God says, "What do you want to be like?" The horse says, "If you can make my neck a little longer, my upper body will be more beautiful. And if you can make my legs much thinner, then my lower body will look more beautiful." Then the God makes her become a camel . "Oh, God, I want to become more beautiful. But now ... " says the horse. The God says, "This is what you ask for." The horse cries, "Oh no, I don't want to be a camel!" The God says, "Never try to get more. If you want more and more, you will have no idea what the result will be." The horse thinks a camel is _ . A. nicer than a horse B. stronger than a horse C. uglier than a horse D. thinner than a horse Answer: C. uglier than a horse Teens who become addicted to their cellphones may be placing their health at risk by harming their ability to sleep well,a new Swedish study suggests. "The message is that teenagers who use their cellphones excessively are much more stressed, much more restless, much more tired, and have a great tendency to develop sleep deprivation as a result of their calling habits, " said the study author Dr. Gaby Bader. He focused on the experiences of 21 healthy Swedish boys and girls between the ages of 14 and 20. The teens kept what the authors described as "regular working/studying hours" and were not previously diagnosed with any particular sleep irregularity. He observed that the above-15 call group kept more irregular sleeping hours than the lower-use group,had more difficulty falling asleep,more difficulty waking up,and experienced more sleep disruptions . Bader said that among young people,a ly recent technological invention like the cellphone has quickly become existed nearly everywhere,giving rise to considerable pressure to keep in touch. And this pressure can develop into an addiction,with serious negative results for teenager health. "We see more and more people--especially the young generation-- who grew up with these kinds of items and gadgets in their hands," Bader said. "And they become dependent on the technology. So,we have to teach young people to be structured. To know when to have the cellphone on,and when to switch it off. To avoid becoming the slave of technology,instead of the master. " Dr. Mary Carskadon expressed little surprise with the finding. " Interpersonal contact is one of the things that's best at keeping us awake," she observed. "And so,a young person receiving cellphone texts or phone calls is going to have more deep disturbances. And they are going to be tired and restless,and probably,as a result,going to use more stimulants .And judgment is not always the best in our teenage years. So, that's where I think parental attention to this issue may be useful. " Teens who become addicted to their cellphones will become . A. too anxious to relax. B. unable to stay still. C. unable to have real rest. D. excited to forget sleep. Answer: A. too anxious to relax. Do you know a child who has used first aid to save a life or help an injured person? St.John Ambulance is seeking young people who have acted quickly, calmly and effectively at a real emergency for its annual Young First Aider of the Year awards. The awards are open to all those under 18, and the closing date for nomination is April 30, 2016.The winners will be invited to attend a special ceremony in June, 2016. "St.John Ambulance believes it is essential for young people to learn first aid so that they can help anyone who is injured," said Sandra Stocker, director of St.John Ambulance Awards Committee."The Young First Aider of the Year is a wonderful way to celebrate their bravery and quick-thinking." Nomination for the Young First Aider of the Year is now open.Please complete and return the nomination forms as soon as possible and certainly no later than April 30, 2016.The committee will decide which of the nominees will receive the Young First Aider of the Year awards by considering the actions of the nominees along with their ages and other factors.You should send any evidence you have with the nomination form, showing the nominees' actions. Examples of evidence could include: * Newspaper clippings of the incident. * Police incident record numbers. Once a nomination form is received, the nominee or nominator may be approached for further details of the incident.For further information please get in touch with Sandra Stocker by email or on 020-73244082 or 020-732440813. Find out who our winners will be for 2016. Which of the following is the best title for the passage? A. Demand for First Aiders B. Importance of First Aid C. St.John Ambulance Awards D. Young First Aider of the Year Answer: D. Young First Aider of the Year
A sea cow would be most uncomfortable in A reptile's body temperature Father Maurice Chase used a special way to celebrate his 90th birthday. The Catholic priest took $ 15,000 in cash to Los Angeles' gutter and gave it away. Twenty wheelchair-bound people received $100 bills, while the rest received $1to $ 3 each. "I come out here to tell them that God loves them and I love them and that someone is concerned about them," Chase said. Chase has given away cash and blessings every Sunday at the same corner for 24 years. Several hundred people wait for him every week. He makes a point of coming on Thanksgiving and Christmas, too, but this is the first year he spent his birthday in the downtown neighborhood where people live mainly in shelters and on dirty sidewalks. "It's the place that makes me the happiest.I just love it," said Chase. "I look forward to coming here." The money comes from donations he receives from rich and famous people he met during his work as assistant to the president of Loyola Marymount University. The crowd broke into choruses of "Happy Birthday" several times. Some people presented him birthday cards, to his delight. Travis Kemp, a 51-year-old disabled man with long black hair, was one of the lucky 20 to receive $ 100. He said he had no special plans for spending the money. "He has a lot of respect from me," Kemp said. "I know I couldn't do it." Which of the following makes Chase feel the happiest? Alex London Research Laboratory (ALRL) is part of Alex Co., Ltd., a major Australian medicine-making company. Opened in 1992, ALRL specialises in the development of new medicines for the treatment of heart diseases. A position is now open for a Research Operations Manager(ROM) to support our growing research team at the new laboratories in Hatfield,due to open in the autumn of 2012. Reporting to the Director,you will help set up and run the technical and scientific support services of our new laboratories now under construction.You will be expected to provide expert knowledge about and be in charge of all areas of ALRL'S Health and Safety,and to communicate with support employees at ALRL'S laboratories based at University College London.Working closely with scientists and other operations and technical employees,you will manage a small number of research support employees providing services to help with the research activities to be carried out at the new laboratories. Candidates will have experience of both management and research support/technical services.Knowledge of research operations and excellent communication skills are necessary. Education to degree level is also desirable. If you are interested in this position,please send your CV to Alex London Research Laboratory,University College London,Hatfield,London,W1E 6B7 or by email to ALRL@alex.co.uk. For more Information.please visit www.alex.co.uk. What is the purpose of the text? Hollywood is on the edge of a nervous breakdown. Worried about an industry wide writers' strike, struck by a series of theater-chain bankruptcies , burdened with unreasonable corporate profit, requirements and seemingly incapable of producing consistently creative movies, the American film industry is in a period of soul-searching. There's little doubt it will survive this crisis. But most insiders agree there is disease at both ends of the business--where film are produced, and where they're shown---that may take years to overcome. While annual box-office income increases for nine straight years, largely due to increased ticket prices, the number of actual tickets sold declined for the second year in a row. The construction boom has added nearly 10,000 theaters(more than 200,000 more seats) in the last five years. But due to a static audience base, eight major chains have gone into bankruptcy and several others are in terrible financial situations. In fact, insiders say, Hollywood is now in a business it does not want to be in. "There's a general problem in that the companies that have the most consistent output of material are least interested in what they're making," says former 20thCentury Fox CEO, Bill. And, Bill adds, "We're in a period where movies are getting bigger and more costly and less interesting and fulfilling to an audience." Today the studios are under the stress to increase profit margins for their corporate parents, and profit margins are hard to control in a business whose products are seen as impulse buys . Other business can increase profits by cutting costs--buying cheaper material, or making the candy bar smaller. Not Hollywood. "What we're cutting is risk," says the head of one major studio, who asked not to be named, "And risk is what great film has always demanded." While the studios are avoiding risky concepts, their competitors in the home entertainment business have been expanding the boundaries of the imagination. It was this pressure---in electronic games, the Internet, EVDs----that forced the movie theater chains into a self-destructive craze of expansion. What do we know about the profit of the film industry?
Jessica Alba rebelled from her "strict" parents when she was just five. The 29-year-old actress admits her Catholic education made her want to "break away" from her mother Catherine and father Mark. She explained: "It's always been weird because I grew up in a very traditional, Catholic household. My parents were very strict but I broke away from that at an early age. I was a feminist when I was five. These days, I am much more independent but I still respect their beliefs." As Jessica has grown older she has learnt to accept her parents' views, but still considers herself an independent woman. In her latest film 'Machete' Jessica gets to stab a love rival in the eye with her stiletto heels , something she thoroughly enjoyed. She said: "Walking in 3in heels wasn't as much fun as putting one in someone's eye. It was 104 degrees where we were shooting in Texas and they were not comfortable." Jessica - who has a two-year-old daughter Honor with husband Cash Warren - is regularly referred to as one of the world's most beautiful women, but she doesn't think of herself as "sexy". She added in an interview with the Metro newspaper: "I don't really pay attention to that sexy image. It just goes with the character in the movie. At the end of the day, it's all a part of selling a product." This passage is mainly about _ . Answer: As we all know, any country has good reasons to want its citizens to be as healthy as possible. This led to the introduction of a health service in many countries. France has developed into a country in which all citizens can get most of the health treatment free. The money for this is partly from the people who are willing to offer. But there are different opinions about the Health Service. The number of patients treated every year and the cost of treatment are much greater than expected. This means that the people who work for the Health Service --- doctors, nurses and other hospital workers, have much more work to do, and as a result they have little time for preventive treatment. However, the tough problem is that as many people are able to receive treatment more expensive than they can pay, sometimes people go and visit their doctors when they don't really need to. As there are many patients, doctors cannot spend time long enough with each patient. So some people prefer to pay for their own treatment so that their doctors can examine them more carefully. In fact, some rich people feel that they should pay more free money, which would be given to other citizens. What is the problem in the Health Service? Answer: In many ways, the earliest periods of photography are the most satisfying. Learning to use the controls is easy and comes quickly, and you can measure the results in terms of sharp and correctly developed pictures. Once you have mastered that, you can start on the second step of your photographic work. Using these basic skills in a wide variety of situations to give the pictures you want, noticing what you see through the viewfinder and turning that into the most effective picture becomes totally interesting. All good photographs have one thing in common; there is no doubt what the subject of the picture is meant to be. Every photographer must use those same standards to his or her work, not only to the finished results but to the subject before he or she takes it. Always work out quite clearly what the subject of the picture is to be and why you are taking the picture. For example,"I am going to take a picture of this street to show the different styles and ages of the buildings and that people have been living, working and shopping in them since time began."By doing this you have a better idea of what to include in the picture and what to leave out. How often have you been shown photographs taken by people away on a trip somewhere? The judgment is always similar, something about"the car park is out of the picture to the left", or"you can't quite see from this picture but if you go up the street". The photographs are usually collections of buildings, people, parked cars, possibly a distant look of an ancient church, and best of all, a figure which you are told is Aunt Henrietta, disappearing in the middle distance. When photographers show you their pictures, they have a clear idea of what they want to bring to your attention, but it often does not appear in the picture. If they had given just a little of their time to think about their future judgment before taking the picture, then the picture would relate its own story. Good pictures can show their subjects quickly and easily. What does the author mean by saying"in many ways, the earliest periods of photography are the_most satisfying"? Answer: Jim and Tom were eating at a restaurant . On the table there was a cup of hot ( )mustard . Jim thought it was sweet and took a spoonful of it into his mouth. Tears ran down from his eyes. However, he wished Tom to do the same thing. So he said nothing. Tom saw Jim crying , and asked,"What for, my friend?" "I'm thinking of my father, he was hanged 20 years ago,Jim said.Soon after Tom took a spoonful of mustard and when tears began to run down from his eyes, Jim asked "Why are you crying, then?""I am thinking why you were not hanged 20 years ago." How was Jim after he took a spoonful of hot mustard? Answer: I'm often told how I have a dream job, that I work for a great company, getting to deal with the leaders in social media every day, and especially that I get to work from my home. Usually the people who tell me that working from home is wonderful have never worked fromhome. They spend most of their career working from an office and hate it. In fact, I love being able to work from home and make my own hours. I truly appreciate beingable to drop what I'm doing to attend kids or go shopping, but there's a side to it we don't often talk about, the hard side. No one wants to believe people like me, working from home, have anything tocomplain about. Really, I'm not going to complain, but I do want to share a few things about telecommuting that few home-based people want to tell you, because working from home doesn't look so wonderful. One of the reasons I love my job is the flexibility . I know that I can volunteer for school projects,meet friends for lunch and work out for an hour as long as I get my work done. But did you know telecommuters have to make up the time if they wish to fill their days with fun items? Sowhile my husband and kids are watching a movie, I'm working until midnight. Besides, when youwork from home, you're held to your phone and Skype in case someone wants to talk toyou during business hours. So it's not so easy to be flexible! Who is the passage mainly intended for? Answer:
When I decided to write the story of my early years growing up in poverty,many of my friends and family members were shocked.They were more interested in my story of success,such as how I was able to create the nation's largest law firm and sell it to a bank,and how one sells a law firm for millions of dollars.That's the story everyone wanted me to write,but it's not the story I wanted to tell. Looking back,I see so clearly how often,throughout my boyhood,I was touched by random acts of kindness that helped shape me into the man I am today.And random acts of violence and ignorance played just a powerful role in making me who I am.Becoming a successful lawyer involves hard work,but escaping generational poverty is the hardest thing I have ever done. I chose to write the story of my childhood years in poverty,with the hope that a child somewhere in the world will read my story and be inspired to break the cycle of poverty.My publisher was quick to point out that the market would be small for a memoir written by a ly unknown author.To everyone's surprise,the book received over 1,000 prepublication orders one month before the scheduled launch date.The book launch scheduled for October 1,was moved up to September 14.Less than four months later,the first print run of 5,000 copies were sold out. Today,the memoir is being used by universities,high schools and middle schools,as a case study of the behavior patterns of the culture of poverty as well as valuable lessons on how to succeed in life.Here is a quote from the principal of a middle school in Texas on October 27,who is using my memoir for students 5th through 8th grades:"We are halfway through your story.It is changing the lives of our students and the perspectives of our teachers." What can be concluded from the passage? Answer: "Just take a deep breath." "Don't think about it." "You're more likely to die in a car wreck on the way to the airport than you are in a plane crash." These are just some words given to people with a fear of flying. But as Tom Cruise, playing Lt. Daniel Kaffee in the movie A Few Good Men, said, "I get sick when I fly because I'm afraid of crashing into a large mountain. I don't think Daniel will help." But there's a new application that just may. Today, the VALK Foundation, a Dutch group that's a partnership between KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and the University of Leiden, launches the app in the US. The VALK Foundation was one of the first centers for research and fear-of-flying treatment in the world and is the organizer of three world conferences on fear of flying.The foundation said the app, called Flight App VALK, is the first scientifically-developed, web-based treatment for people who suffer from mild to moderate fear of flying. "The fear of flying application we have created aims to transfer all of the knowledge we have developed through our program into a mobile application that will help ease travelers' fears," said Dr. Lucas van Gerwen, director of the VALK Foundation. Dr. van Gerwen is also a psychologist and professional pilot with more than 30 years experience. The foundation said up to 30% of adults are fearful fliers. The Flight App is designed to help relax passengers before and during flights by educating users about flight safety and turbulence. It explains the sounds and sensations they can expect during departure, flight and landing. And, if a passenger's flight stress reaches a panic level, they press a special panic button which provides audio and written information to help decrease stress levels. Most importantly, the Flight App can be used during the flight in the airplane mode. Once downloaded, the program does not require Internet connection in the air. By saying the words at the beginning of the passage, people are expected to _ . Answer: If you're in the North Pole the North Star may be visible when? Answer: Peter is thirteen years old. He is in Grade Two this year. He likes playing football and watching football matches. And he often reads newspaper. He does his best to know where and when there is going to be a football match. Now Peter is having lunch. He is listening to the radio, too. He is very happy because there is going to be a nice football match on TV at four this afternoon. He wants to watch it very much. But he is going to have English and Chinese lessons. He thinks hard and finds a way. "Hello, Mrs. Black," Peter says to his teacher on the telephone. " Peter is ill in bed. He wants to ask for half a day's leave ." "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," says Mrs. Black, "But who's that? " "It's my father, Mr. Black." Which sentence is right? Answer: James and his wife went to Beijing Restaurant for dinner at 7:00 pm. On April 1st, 2005, while they were eating, a waitress came to tell them that the two men at the next table were film-makers and that they would like to have a talk with James. James agreed. One man came to sit down next to him and said that they were making a film named "The Magic Gloves." The story was like "Harry Potter" and they were looking for an actor to play a magician. They would like to invite James to have a try. James was excited, "Many people think I look like Patrick Steward." However, as he was going to leave China in 3 days, he wanted to try out after dinner. The man agreed. At 9:00 pm, when James asked for the bill so that he could go with the film-makers, the manager of Beijing Restaurant said sorry to him with a smile, "It's April Fool's Day joke! Your meal is free. Thank you." James completely forgot about it but when he found that he was fooled, he didn't leave at once. The waitress asked him if he needed some help. James said, "I was fooled once. I'm afraid the meal is not free. I am waiting for the bill to see if it is another joke." When the manager came to tell him the truth, James _ . Answer:
My name is Eric. I know many students like going to the movies and I'm sure that different people like different kinds of movies . Well ,what kind of movies do you like? Last Monday I went to a school and asked some students about their favorite movies. Here are some of their answers. Jack, an 11-year-old boy, likes watching scary movies. He thinks scary movies are scary but exciting .His classmates.Alice,13,can't stand documentaries . She thinks they are boring and they are for parents. But she really likes comedies because they are funny. James, a big boy ,doesn't mind documentaries. But he doesn't like comedies because he thinks they are not exciting! The survey showed that the most popular movies were action movies. Most of the students enjoyed them very much. Who can't stand documentaries? Answer: The Internet is now a central part of everyday life. The number of Internet hours in the West is increasing each month, but online addiction is still not attracting a great deal of attention. Perhaps one reason Internet addiction has not _ in the West is that there are too many other vices available. In a society ly open to sex, gambling, alcohol and drugs, computer games are not always appealing to young people. In fact, there is almost a shame attached to playing online games. Many consider it an "uncool" thing to do. They would rather spend their free time meeting friends. But this is not to say that people don't do it. One website, wowdetox.com, still offers support to recovering "addicts". One user posted on the website: "I would play all night and spend all day sleeping. I just quit a month ago. Best decision ever." This is just one example from around 1,660 pages of confessions . Still, computer game addiction is not officially recognized in the West. Just last years, the American Medical Association refused calls to have computer game addiction classified as a disease, saying that, "Nothing suggests it is a complex disease similar to alcoholism." Online gaming is more personal in the West. It is rare for people to visit Internet cafes or play with friends at home. After all, the majority of households have their own fast Internet connection. This removes the social joy with friends. And this choice of playing alone is not very appealing to many people. According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE in the USA? Answer: Watching the Olympics probably made some people feel a little guilty about not exercising.The truth is that, if physical inactivity were a sport, a lot of us could give a gold-medal performance.Or should we say non performance? Public health experts say physical inactivity is the world's fourth leading cause of death. They estimate that inactivity plays a major part in six to ten percent of deaths from non-communicable diseases. These include conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and colon and breast cancer. Min Lee at the Harvard School of Public Health worked with a team that studied inactivity. She says the findings are conservative and may even underestimate the problem and that Physical inactivity is harmful to health, as harmful as far as deaths are concerned as smoking." So when we did our analysis, we looked at increased risk of disease after taking into account other health habits that might be associated with physical activity. For example, we know that if you are active, you probably smoke less. Additionally we factored out obesity, independent of the fact that active people also tend to weigh less. The researchers compared data on physical inactivity with disease rates in one hundred twenty-two countries. They find high income countries are the most inactive around the world, but low to middle income countries are not going to be far behind as things change, as their economies improve and their people rely more on the improvements that basically engineer physical activity out of our daily lives. It is not just telling someone to go out and be physically active, but how we rely on the transportation sector or how our cities or neighborhoods are designed, how crime can be minimized to help people become more physically active in their neighborhoods, simply walking to the store or walking down and being outside with friends and family and so on. These broader environmental issues are becoming much clearer in terms of their effects. In what kind of country can man have more possibility to be ill because of inactivity? Answer: Problem: I'm bored. We have a day off because of the heavy rain. If you didn't go to school today, what would you do? Why? Linda Some advice: If I were you, I would be at home doing something, such as making my bed or helping my mother do some chores. That way, my room would be clean and my parents would be happy. Tina I would do what I love! Maybe I would help Mom do some cooking. I would learn how to make dumplings. Kathy I don't have enough time in one day to do all the things I want to. People who get bored usually don't have a good imagination . There are lots of different books to read, websites to surf, people to visit and things to make. June Well, if I were you, I would watch a good movie and then take a good nap . Your brain and body will then be relaxed and ready for classes the next day. Lisa ,. (10) What do we know from the reading? Answer: It all began with a stop at a red light. Kevin Salwen was driving his 14-year-old daughter, Hannah, back from a sleepover in 2006 . While waiting at a traffic light, they saw a black Mercedes Coupe on one side and a homeless man begging for food on the other. "Dad, if that man had a less nice car, that man there could have a meal."Hannah protested. The light changed and they drove on, but Hannah was too young to be reasonable. She pestered her parents about _ insisting that she wanted to do something. "What do you want to do?" her mom responded. "Sell our house?" Warning! _ . Hannah seized upon the idea of selling the luxurious family home and donating half the proceeds to charity, while using the other half to buy a more modest replacement home. Eventually, that's what the family did. The project --crazy, impetuous and utterly inspiring -- is written down in detail in a book by father and daughter scheduled to be published next month: "The Power of Half." It's a book that, frankly, I'd be nervous about leaving around where my own teenage kids might find it. An impressionable child reads this, and the next thing you know your whole family is out on the street. At a time of enormous needs in Haiti and elsewhere, when so many Americans are trying to help Haitians by sending everything from text messages to shoes, the Salwens offer an example of a family that came together to make a difference -- for themselves as much as the people they were trying to help. In a column a week ago, it described neurological evidence from brain scans that unselfishness lights up parts of the brain normally associated with more primary satisfaction. The Salwens' experience confirms the selfish pleasures of selflessness. Mr. Salwen and his wife, Joan, had always assumed that their kids would be better off in a bigger house. But after they downsized, there was much less space to retreat to, so the family members spent more time around each other. A smaller house unexpectedly turned out to be a more family-friendly house. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage? Answer:
Question: One hot summer day in August my family and I wanted to go to the beach. We had not gone to the beach in a very long time and felt that today was a great day to do it. We piled everyone into the car-my mom, my dad, my sister, my dog, and me. I begged mom and dad to let me sit in the front seat, but they said no. I had to sit next to the smelly dog instead for the whole trip. When we got to the beach and opened the car door our dog raced down to the water to play. I grabbed the large umbrella we brought and walked down to the sand with mom and dad. After we had found a spot, they let me go play in the water. It felt really good to cool off in the ocean water on such a hot day. As I swam around I saw many cool things, like fish, seaweed, and shells. I brought the interesting shells that I found to a bucket I had on the beach and threw them in. They would be great to add to my collection at home. When I got tired of swimming, my sister and I wanted to make a sand castle. We built towers using buckets and dug a huge ditch with our shovels. When our castle was complete we were about to take a picture, but then the dog ran it over and smashed it. I was about to yell at the dog, but then mom said it was getting late and we had to go home. When we got home I was wiped out from playing all day, so I went to sleep almost immediately. It was a very good day that I'll always remember. Why did the dog almost get yelled at? A. The dog was almost yelled at for sitting in the seat for the whole trip. B. The dog was about to get yelled at for smashing the sand castle. C. The dog was almost yelled at for racing down to the water to play. D. The dog was almost yelled at for digging a huge ditch. Answer: B Question: Foam weather stripping is often placed in the frames of doors and windows in a home. What is the purpose of this weather stripping? A. The weather stripping increases heat transfer by radiation. B. Heat is conducted quickly through the weather stripping. C. The weather stripping reduces heat loss due to convection. D. Heat can transfer through the weather stripping due to reflection. Answer: C Question: Chinese media and Internet users on Monday condemned lack of morals in society after a toddler was struck twice -by two different vans-and left bleeding on the road as more than a dozen bystanders did nothing to help the seriously injured girl. The incident, captured by a surveillance camera and broadcast by Southern Television Guangdong (TVS),showed the two-year-old girl was knocked down and run over by a white van on a narrow market street on the afternoon of Oct.13,in Foshan City of Guangdong Province. The driver fled the scene of the accident,leaving the girl to bleed on the sidewalk.Over the next six minutes,more than a dozen people walked by the girl,yet not one individual did anything to help her.The girl was then hit a second time by another van before an elderly trash collector came to her aid and brought the attention of the girl's mother,according to the video and eyewitnesses. Doctors said that the girl,who was put on life support after being hospitalized,remains in a deep coma.The girl's parents,who are migrants living in the city,are now with her. Police said the drivers of both vehicles have been arrested.However,the apathy of the bystanders shown in the video has shocked the public,as Internet forums have seethed with anger, and people are questioning the morality of society. High moral standards were once triumphed as national pride in China where individuals known for selflessly helping others were adored by the public. But in recent years,the perception of a decline of morals has become a hot topic as profit and materialism are perceived to be affecting society's values. On Sept.2 an 88-year-old man in central China collapsed,his face striking the pavement.Yet,no one came to his aid,and he ended up choking to death on the blood from his nose. Some have linked the absence of good Samaritans to a previous case in which a man trying to help an elderly woman who fell was accused of harming her. A strong chorus of opinion on the Internet says laws should exempt Samaritans from liability ,yet laws themselves cannot solve society's morality dilemma. Cao Lin,a China Youth Daily commentator,said in a signed article published on Monday that the worry of liability should not be an excuse for not helping,and this case exposes the decline of humanity in Chinese society. Which of the following is TRUE about this passage? A. Nobody helped the girl who was struck twice by two different vans. B. The toddler died immediately after she was hit a second time. C. High moral standards were once regarded as national pride in China. D. Journalists from TVS captured the incident by using a camera. Answer: C Question: The Colonel asks Ashenden a good many questions and then suggested that he had particular qualifications for the Secret Service. Ashenden knew several European languages and the fact that he was a writer provided excellent cover: on the pretext that he was writing a book he could, without attracting attention, visit any neutral country. It was while they were discussing this point that the Colonel said, "You know you might get material that would be very useful to you in your work. I'll tell you an incident that occurred only recently. Very dramatic. A foreign government minister went down to a Mediterranean resort to recover from a cold and he had some very important documents with him that he kept in a dispatch case . A day or two after he arrived, he picked up a beautiful blonde at some restaurant or other, and he got very friendly with her. He took her back to his hotel, and when he came to himself in the morning, the lady and the dispatch-case had disappeared. They had one or two drinks up in his room and his theory is that when his back was turned the woman slipped a drug in his glass. "Do you mean to say that happened the other day?" said Ashenden. "The week before last." "Impossible," cried Ashenden. "Why! We've been putting that incident on the stage for sixty years, we've written it in a thousand novels. Do you mean to say that life has only just caught up with us?" "Well, I can guarantee the truth of the story." said the Colonel, "And believe me, the government has been put to no end of trouble by the loss of the documents." "Well sir, if you can't do better than that in the Secret Service," sighed Ashenden, " I'm afraid that as a source of inspiration to the writer of fiction, it's washout." The reason for the Minister's trip was _ . A. to fetch some documents B. to get over an illness C. to meet a spy D. to deliver some papers Answer: B Question: EP Portable Heater We all know that the cost of heating our homes will continue to be a significant burden on the family budget. Now millions of people are saving on their heating bills with the EP Portable Heater. With over one million satisfied customers around the world, the new EP heats better and faster, saves more on heating bills, and runs almost silent. The EP has no exposed heating parts that can cause a fire. The outside of EP only gets warm to the touch so that it will not burn children or pets. The EP will not reduce oxygen in the room. With other heaters, you'll notice that you get sleepy when the heat comes on because they are burning up oxygen. The advanced EP also heats the room evenly, wall to wall and floor to ceiling. it comfortably covers an area up to 350 square feet. Other heaters heat rooms unevenly with most of the heat concentrated to the center of the room. And they only heat an area a few feet around the heater. With the EP, the temperature will not vary in any part of the room. The EP comes with a 3-year warranty and a 60-day. no questions asked. Satisfaction guarantee. If you are not totally satisfied, return it to our expertise and your money will be given back to you. Now, we have a special offer for 10 days, during which you can enjoy a half price discount and a free delivery. if you order that, we reserve the right to either accept or reject order requests at the discounted price. Take action right now! From the passage, we can learn that the EP _ . A. doesn't burn up oxygen B. runs without any noise C. makes people get sleepy D. is unsuitable for children and pets Answer: A
Mr and Mrs Brown are from America. They are now teaching English in Beijing .Their son Jack is with them. Jack speaks English. They want him to learn some Chinese. Jack is in Grade Three in a Chinese school .He likes to play with Chinese children every day. He listens to Chinese, speaks Chinese, reads books in Chinese and writes in Chinese. He is good at his Chinese. Who does Jack like to play with ? Chinese children Students are learning about the natural resources in Maryland. One group of students researches information about renewable natural resources in the state. The other group researches information about nonrenewable natural resources in the state. The resources the students investigate include plants, animals, soil, minerals, water, coal, and oil. Which nonrenewable natural resource heats homes? natural gas If you are looking for the place that has everything, there ' s only one place to visit, and that's New York. It's a whole world in a city. The World Of Theatre: All of New York is. And it begins with Broadway. Where else can you find so many hit shows in one place? Only in New York! The World Of Music: Spend an evening with Beethoven at Lincoln Center. Swing to the great Jazz of Greenwich Village. Or rock yourself silly at the hottest dance spots found anywhere. The World Of Art: From _ to Picasso. From Egyptian tombs to Indian Teepees. Whatever kind of art you like, you'11 find it in New York. The World Of Fine Dining : Whether it' s roast Beijing duck in China-town, lasagna in little Italy, or the finest French coq au vin found anywhere, there's a world of great taste waiting for you in New York. The World Of Sights: What other city has a statue of Liberty ? A Rocketfeiler center? Or a Bronx zoo? Where else can you take a horse drawing carriage through Central Park, only in New York! From the text we know that the word Rembrand is most likely the name of a famous _ . painter Today there are twenty to twenty-five million shopping carts rolling around the world.In fact,the shopping cart is presently one of the most often used items on four wheels,second only to the automobile.Indeed,almost everybody in America will spend a part of his or her life behind a shopping cart.They will,in a lifetime,push it many miles.But few will know-or even think to ask-who it was that invented them. Mr.Sylvan N.Goldman of Oklahoma City invented the shopping cart in 1937.Mr.Goldman's invention did not make him famous.It did,however,make him very rich.When Goldman invented the cart he was in the supermarket business.Every day he would see shoppers lugging groceries around in baskets that they had to carry.One day Goldman suddenly had the idea of putting baskets on wheels.The wheeled baskets would make shopping much easier for his customers.And by lightening their chore,he would attract their business.Pondering the idea,Goldman walked into his office and sat down on a folding chair.Looking down at the chair,Goldman had another idea.The carts,he realized,should be made so they could be folded up.This would make it easier to store them when not in use. On June 4,1937,Goldman's first batch of carts was ready for use in his market.He was terribly excited on the morning of that day as customers began arriving.He couldn't wait to see them using his invention.But Goldman was disappointed.Most shoppers gave the carts a long look,but hardly anybody would give them a try.After a while,Goldman decided to ask customers why they weren't using his carts."Don't you think this arm is strong enough to carry a shopping basket?"one offended shopper replied. Day after day,the same thing happened.People wouldn't use the carts.They preferred a basket on the arm to a basket on wheels.But Goldman wasn't beaten yet.He knew his carts would be a great success if only he could persuade people to give them a try.To this end,Goldman tried something that was both very clever and very funny.Believe it or not,he hired a group of people to push carts around his market and pretend they were shopping!Seeing this,the real customers gradually began copying the phony customers. As Goldman had hoped,the carts were soon attracting larger and larger numbers of customers to his market.But not only did more people come-those who came bought more.With larger,easier-to-handle baskets,customers unconsciously bought a greater number of goods than before. Today's shopping carts are five times larger than Goldman's original model.Perhaps that's one reason Americans today spend more than five times as much money on food each year as they did before 1937-before the coming of the shopping cart. The passage is written to . introduce the history of an invention Sudha Chandran, a classical dancer from India, had to have her right leg cut after a car accident.She was also cut off on her bright career road. However, she didn't stop struggling. In the painful three months that followed, Sudha met a doctor who had an operation on her leg. So strongly she wanted to go back to dancing after she had been fitted with a man-made leg. Sudha knew that she believed in herself and could realize her dream,so she began her brave journey back to the world of dancing -- learning to balance, bend, stretch,walk, and turn. After every public recital , she might ask her dad about her performance. "You stillhave a long way to go" was the answer she used to get in return. In January 1984, Sudha gained popularity again by giving a public recital in Bombay. She performed in such a great manner that it moved everyone to tears and this performance pushed her to the number one position again. That evening when she asked her dad the same question, he didn't say anything. He just touched her feet as a praise. Sudha's comeback was so touching that a film producer decided to make the story into a film,which has moved more and more people. When someone asked Sudha how she had managed to dance again, she said quite simply, "YOU DON'T NEED FEET TO DANCE." Nothing is impossible in this world. If you have the will to win,you can achieve anything. Sudha's performance in Bombay _ . was a great success
If you have failed in the past to try to make big changes in life,try again now,one tiny step at a time. Every year it's the same.As December comes to an end,you think about the new year and all the ways you want to improve your life. But as you start to write down your hopes for the new year,you think about the last year.You excitedly write down all the changes you are going to make,but by the end of January those ideas get lost in your busy life. Here's a suggestion:Forget the too big,hard-to-achieve goals and just think about the small ones."We often think that we have to do everything in big steps, even though it's so hard for us to reach it." said Robert Maurer,who recently wrote the book One Small Step Can Change Your Life."What we try to do is to begin with such a small step that we can't find any excuse not to do it." "Kaizen",a Japanese word,is used to mean to change behavior and attitudes .During World War Il,American factory managers were able to increase productivity by trying small, continuous improvements instead of sudden changes.After the war,the idea was brought to a rebuilding Japan.It made Japan develop fast. The Japanese called it "kaizen", which means "improvement". Maurer studied the idea and did some experiments with it. "Kaizen" could possibly help people succeed in doing everything Robert Maurer wrote a book to tell us _ . When we are unfamiliar with something,we may feel nervous and fearful.The assistance of others is a good way to help us pull through. I write for a big newspaper, and I wanted to write a story about parachute jumping.To make it a realistic as well as exciting story,I decided that I first had to make a jump myself. Unfortunately,I am not good at any sports of any kind,let alone parachute jumping. My friend Mr. Smith was willing to give me a hand.He took me to a ground school.The first day's training included several hours of instruction but not my first drop from an airplane For this,I had to wait until the following morning. The next morning,after a hurried,anxious breakfast,I was taken to the airfield.There,two heavy parachutes were put on my back,and an orange helmet was pushed down onto my head.Then I was asked to make my way to a small plane which had just stopped slowly on the runway. Once on board,the plane was soon climbing.I began to feel nervous.As we reached one thousand metres,Harry,my teacher, hooked a line from my parachute to a steel ring inside the plane.The line was to pull my parachute open after I jumped. "Get ready, Henry,"Harry said.I moved carefully to the door.I wanted to cry,"No,no,no!"But no word came. "Jump!"Harry called loudly."Jump!" To my surprise,kicking like a frog I did jump.Away from the plane,and down,down I fell,arms stretched.It worked! The air seemed to hold me up.All at once I was very happy. Then I felt a quick pull.My big parachute had opened! It was the best surprise I ever had. I looked down.There were rivers,trees,fields and houses.I heard the soft sound of the air This was fun ! How did the writer feel after he jumped out of the plane? Good afternoon, and welcome to England. We hope that your visit here will be a pleasant one. 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 of age, nor may your friends buy it for you . Secondly, noise. Enjoy yourselves by all means, but please don't make unnecessary noise, particularly 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 pedestrian crossings and do not take any changes when crossing the road. My next point is about litter. It is an offence to drop litter in the street. When you have something to throw away, please put in your pocket and take it home, or put in a litter bin. Finally, as regards smoking, it is against the law to buy cigarettes or tobacco if you are under 16 years of age. I'd like to finish by saying that if you require any sort of help or assistance, you should contact your local police station, who will be pleased to help you . Now, are there any questions? Who do you think is most likely to make the speech? When I decided to write the story of my early years growing up in poverty, many of my friends and family members were shocked. They were more interested in my story of success, such as how I was able to create the nation's largest firm for millions of dollars. That's the story everyone wanted me to write, but it's not the story I wanted to tell. Looking back, I see so clearly how often, throughout my boyhood, I was touched by random acts of kindness that helped shape me into the man I am today. And random acts of violence and ignorance played just a powerful lawyer involves hard work, bur escaping generational poverty is the hardest thing I ever done. I chose to write the story of my childhood years in poverty, with the hope that a child somewhere in the world will read my story and be inspired to break the cycle of poverty. My publisher was quick to point out that the market would be small for a memoir written by a ly unknown author. To everyone's surprise, the book received over 1,000 pre-publication orders one month before the scheduled launch date. The book launch scheduled for October 1, was moved up to September 14. Less than four months later, the first print run of 5,000 copies were sold out. Today, the memoir is being used by universities, high schools and middle schools, as a case study of the behavior patterns of the culture of poverty as well as valuable lessons on how to succeed in life. Here is a quote from the principal of a middle school in Texas on October 27, who is using my memoir for students 5th through 8th grades; "We are halfway through your story. It is changing the lives of our students and the perspectives of our teachers. What can be concluded from the passage? I'll be a photographer. I'm going to bring bits of Australia back home with me. I told myself this before, yet I feel so doubtful on this plane that's flying me thousands of miles away. I was so confident yesterday .But today I don't belong to this plane where men sit with briefcases reading newspapers. They're all adults. I've never been out of the US. And now ,I'm traveling into Australia alone, a world I know nothing about. A part of me recognizes it as home. I remember little about my mother, but I remember she had an Australian accent and golden hair. She wan fun and she would often take us to New Jersey beaches, where we would spend the whole day taking walks along the shore. My mom told me that in Australia, Christmas was always spent on the beach with friends and family, and everyone wore Santa hat with their bathing suits. It never got cold and bitter there. My mom was different and I was proud of her. I don't know how she met my father. but after they met several years, they got married and moved into an apartment in New Jersey. Then I was born and we were a perfect family of three who went out to dinner and watched movies in the dark and loved each other. I know things have been hard on my father since my Mom died years ago. It's hard for me, too, and I have to experience the wonderful place my mom grew up in and loved. My mom talked about Australia so much and now I have to see this place. This is an adventure. Where did the author most probably write this passage?
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. The hottest months in Australia are from _ . A. June to November B. April to June C. November to March D. November to February Answer: C Terry Thomas has a very boring job ,although it pays very well .What Terry does is sitting in a rowboat all day long .He makes $ 16.37 an hour ,which is certainly an excellent wage for sitting in a little boat and doing nothing. The boat stays all day under a bridge that is being rebuilt. There is a distance of about 100 feet between the boat and the workers on the bridge overhead. The rest of Terry's fellow workers are up on the bridge working. Terry's job is to rescue anyone who falls off the bridge into the water. So far, no one has given him anything to do .Although he's delighted that none of his companions has fallen into the water, he also admits that the job is very boring because there is nothing to do. No one on the work crew really wants duty on the boat. But the job is a union requirement, and it must be filled. To quality for the job, a person must be an excellent swimmer and have training in lifesaving skills. Only a few men on the work crew meet those standards. Before Terry took the boat job, several others had it and gave up because they found it so tedious. What does Terry do in his little boat all day? He spends a good bit of time making sure that his suntan lotion is adequate for the job of protecting his skin. He reads and listens to the radio .Each day he looks forward to lunch and then to quitting time. Terry uses the suntan lotion because _ . A. he likes the smell B. he is out in the sun all day C. his shirt is torn D. it keeps the fly away Answer: B A proverb says :"Time is money."But in my opinion, time is even more valuable than money. Why? Because when money is spent ,we can earn it back .However when time is gone ,it will never return .This is the reason why we must value time. There is no doubt that the time we have is unusually limited. So even an hour is extremely precious. We should make full use of our time to do useful things .As students we must not relax our efforts to engage in our studies so as to serve our society and our nation in the future. But it is pity that there are a lot of people who do not know the importance of time .They spend their valuable time smoking, drinking and so on. They do not realize that wasting time is equal to wasting a part of their valuable life. In a word, we should get into a good habit of saving time. Do not put off what can be done today until tomorrow. Laziness will not only bring us failure but also lead us to the road of poverty. If people get lazy, _ . A. they will bring us failure. B. they are likely to fail C. they are usually busy smoking, drinking and so on D. they will lead us the road of success Answer: B 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. Which of the following shows us the action of vandalism? A. People enter the sites and destroy or damage the buildings. B. Governments build high fences to protect the site from vandals. C. Guards patrolled the sites and they fixed more television cameras. D. They also spend money looking after old places. Answer: A Beijing's markets will soon be flooded with more and cheaper colorful fruit such as orange, mangos and green durian all year round. Thanks to a new free trade agreement signed last Monday between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN),more and more tropical Southeast Asian fruit will enter the country. The agreement means that from July 1,2005, China and ASEAN countries will begin to cut tariffs. There are about 7,000 products included in the cuts. As global communication develops, countries are trading more and more goods with each other. When products are sold across national borders, countries put a tax on them. This type of tax is called a tariff. Just like removing an obstacle from the path of these goods, the reduction of tariffs will encourage trade between China and ASEAN countries. It means more products and lower prices. The agreement will bring real benefits for Chinese customers, said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman. "In the Beijing markets you will easily find more tropical fruit like durian, which used to very, very, very expensive. Now they will be cheaper." The current tariff rate on durian is 22 per cent but will fall to zero in 2005. In the first 10 months of this year China did US$84.6 billion of trade with ASEAN countries. Experts believe this may reach US$100 billion next year. Founded in 1967, ASEAN now includes Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Brunei, Viet Nam, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos. A tariff is money paid _ . A. when buying goods B. to sell or buy products of foreign brand names C. to sell or buy goods across the border of the country D. to go through the customs Answer: C
"I don't want to buy a traditional yearbook. I can keep and share memories of my high school on the Internet."You may often hear this from many American high school students now. Instead of buying a book, more and more students choose to sign up at My Yearbook.com. My Yearbook.com was created by two teenagers, Catherine Cook and her brother, 18-year-old David Cook, in 2005. They built it up to about 950,000 members in a year. The site allows people to create a profile with separate sections for high school, college, graduate school and professional life. Students who sign up are linked to other people at their school. Acting as their own editors, they can select friends from their classmates. The site also connects students through clubs and spprts pages. Like other so-called social-networking sites, it allows members to show photos and post messages. Students can do lots of things that old-fashioned yearbooks can't offer, including hearing music and watching videos. Catherine and David developed the idea because they thought that their own yearbooks weren't good enough and were too expensive. "We just think yearbooks are obsolete," said Catherine Cook, 16."If you think about it, all you're going to do with it is put it on the shelf and never really look at it." Many American teenagers want different things out of their yearbooks than their parents did. They like the idea of creating an online yearbook. That is the reason why My Yearbook.com is becoming more and more popular. Some people, however, still wonder if this free website can ever truly replace the traditional printed book of high-school memories-even for the generation that have grown up with the Internet. Some students would like to be the users of the My Yearbook.com as well as buy a traditional yearbook. The"war" between the tradition and the new technology will never end. Everyone is free to choose what he prefers and even has both. According to the author, _ . When we talk about village teachers, we often think of difficult conditions, heavy teaching tasks and little income. But there is a village teacher who makes his teaching jobso interesting. His name is Liu Yuesheng who is now called "the most beautiful teacher", Liu comes from Liugang Village Middle School in Dagang, Tianjin. The school is a rural area middle school. It has only about more than 300 students and teachers. Though the school is small, it is only a village school that takes the municipal scientific research projects in Tianjin. Since Liu started to work at Liugang Village Middle School in 1999, he has led his students completing the 300 designs and reportings of national patents . Liu spent three years writing a book called Practice and Invention. In this book, he mostly tells people his teaching experience. The inventions of his students won the silver medal in the national youth science and technology competition. The rural students improve their living skills while they are inventing. Many of the students start their own business after graduation . Liu also guided his students to make a big 260 Model Airplane. He often takes his students to go to the wetlands and take photos during holidays. In order to call on people to pay more attention to protecting environment, he further watches the number of the birds with his students. Today , the wetland aerial of his school of has reached the UAV level. Liu and his students tell people to protect environment by _ . China news, Beijing, June 5 -- The Horizon Research Group conducted a survey about Chinese parents and their children in May last year and this year. Based on a random sampling method, the survey, done in May last year, investigated about 1,095 people living in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xinjiang, Jinzhong, and Luzhou. All these people were aged between 18 and 60. The survey shows that 55.5% of the parents did not know who their children's best friends were. Fathers, in particular, knew even less about their children than mothers, as the survey shows only 33.8% of fathers knew who their children's best friends were while 50.8% of mothers did so, China Youth Daily reported. Parents with little education were less concerned with their children's life, or whom their children played with. The survey shows that among parents that graduated from primary schools or without any educational background, only 33.1% knew who their children's best friends were. Among parents that had received middle school education, the related proportion reached 45.5%. This year's survey was also based on random sampling. In May 2007, the Horizon Research Group investigated some 1,456 families in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Changsha, Xi'an, Chengdu and Harbin. The survey shows that children under the age of 12 play for less time with their playmates than their parents did when they were young. The survey also shows that most children at present spend only 21.9% of their time playing with their friends, while their parents spent 36.8% of their time with their playmates when they were young. Nowadays, most children spend more time with their grandparents or babysitters than with their parents. The article tells us that the two surveys show the following aspects EXCEPT that _ . A young American doctor is asleep when his doorbell rings. It is late at night, but he has to put on his coat to answer it. It is a man! He is standing with a hat in his hand. "How do you do?" says the man. "Can you go with me now to a place out of the town? It is quite far from here, but I know you have a car and I can show you the way." "Certainly," says the doctor, "I can go with you now." The car is at the front door. The man gets into the doctor's car and they drive off. They drive for a long time, and finally the man says, "Here we are. This is my home. Now I give you money and you may go back." "But I must see the patient ," the doctor says. "How can I go back without seeing the patient?" "There's no patient," says the man, "nobody is ill. I live here. There is no taxi at this time, but a doctor often goes out for night calls . So, excuse me. Here is your money. Thank you, doctor. Good night!" Which of the following is TRUE? Hello! My name is Mike. I am from America. Now I am with my parents. I like breakfast at home. I have an egg, some bread and porridge for breakfast. I do not like milk. I have no time to go home for lunch. So I have it at school. The lunch in our school is good. I can have different food for lunch. I eat rice, meat and vegetables. Sometimes I have noodles and dumplings. I have dinner at home with my parents. Sometimes we go out to eat with friends. We have chicken, vegetables and fruit. He has lunch _ .
In the Ituri forest of America live many tribes,one of which is Pygmy. Most of the Pygmies in the tribe are not taller than four feet. They weigh only about eighty pounds each. In spite of their small size, they are the best hunters among all the jungle people. Even the great elephant can be caught by them. Since they do not plant any crops, Pygmies are constantly moving around. They seldom sleep in one camp for more than a few days. In their camps there is not furniture at all except for some weapons such as spears, bows and arrows. There are no cooking pots either. Food is eaten uncooked or smoked over a lire. So when the tribe moves to a new camp there is nothing to carry except these weapons and babies too small to walk. Pymies can move on the tree tops almost as skillfully as monkeys. Often they travel great distances through the branches without touching the ground. One of the surprising facts about these small men and women is their great appetite . A Pygmy can eat up sixty bananas at a single meal besides quantities of meat. After eating, they will lie on their hard earth bed and groan in all night. But in the morning, they are ready to eat the same amount of food or fight among themselves. Pygmies are so skillful that _ . Answer: they can move on the top of trees 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's the main reason why the author wanted to be a model? Answer: She wanted to get reputation and wealth. A "blogger" is a person who writes on an Internet computer Web site called a "blog ".The word "blog" is a short way of saying Web log, or personal Web site. Anyone can start a blog, and they can write about anything they like. There are millions of blogs on the Internet today. They provide news, information,advertisements, advice and ideas for many people who read them. They contain links to other Web sites. And they provide a place for people to write about their ideas and react to the ideas of others. A research company called Perscus has studied more than 300 Web logs. It says that blogs are most popular with teenage girls. They use them to let their friends know what is happening in their lives. The study also says that more than 100,000 bloggers stopped taking part in the activity after a year. However, some people develop serious blogs to present political and other ideas. For example, the Republican and Democratic parties in the southern state of Kentucky recently started their own blogs. And American companies are beginning to use blogs to advertise their products. At the same time, some long-standing blogs have ended. Last week, blogging leader Dave Winer closed his free blog service "weblogs. com". He says the site became too costly to continue. He started the blog four years ago. And thousands of people had written on it. They are now upset because they did not know that the site was closing. One blog that is still going strong is called Rebecca's Pocket. Rebecca Blood created the Web-site in 1999. She wrote about the history of blogs on the site. That article led to a book called "The Weblog Handbook". It has been translated into four languages so far. Ms. Blood says Rebecea's Pocket gets about 30,000 visitors a month. She writes about anything and everything -- politics, culture and movies. She recently provided medical advice. And she wrote about how to prevent people from stealing money from on -line bank accounts. Dave Winer closed his "weblogs. Com" because _ . Answer: He couldn't afford the increasing money needed to run the blogs Would you like to go to Beijing, our capital? It's far away from Guangdong. It's 2313 kilometers from Beijing to Guangdong. The city of Kunming is 2216 kilometers away from Guangdong. It's always very warm there. But it's very hot in summer in Wuhan. It's 1084 kilometers from Guangdong to Wuhan. Changsha is near Guangdong. It's 726 kilometers from Changsha to Guangdong. Do you know which city is the biggest in China? It's Shanghai. It's 1811 kilometers from Guangdong to Shanghai. If you travel by air, you'll find it very interesting and fast enough to fly from Guangdong to Beijing. It only takes you about four hours and you'll get there easily, safely and unhurriedly .But traveling by train is quite different. You have to stay on the train for over thirty hours to arrive in Beijing. More and more people like to travel by air. You can see why, can't you? If you go to Beijing, our capital, you'll know _ . Answer: You have to travel long by train from Guangdong to Beijing. This March is a busy month in Shanghai.There's a lot to do.Here are the highlights. Live Music - Late Night Jazz Enjoy real American jazz from Herbie Davis, the famous trumpet player.He's coming with his new 7-piece band, Herbie's Heroes.Herbie is known to play well into the early hours, so don't expect to get much sleep.This is Herbie's third visit to Shanghai.The first two were sold out, so get your tickets quickly. PLACE: The Jazz Club DATES: 15---23 March PRICE: Y=80,120 TIME: 10:00p.m.till late! TEL: 6466--8736 Scottish dancing Take your partners and get ready to dance till you drop.Scottish dancing is fun and easy to learn.Instructors will demonstrate the dances.The live band, Gordon Stroppie and the Weefrees, are also excellent. PLACE: Jack Stein's DATES: every Monday PRICE: Y60 including one drink TIME: 7:00 ---0:00 p.m. TEL: 6402-1877 Exhibitions - Shanghai Museum There are 120,000 pieces on show here.You can see the whole of Chinese history under one roof.It's always interesting to visit, but doubly so at the moment with the Egyptian Tombs exhibition.There are lots of mummies and more gold than you've ever seen before.Let us know if you see a mummy move! PLACE: Shanghai Museum PRICE: Y=30 (Y= 15 for students) TEL: 6888-6888 DATES: daily TIME: Monday - Friday 9:00a.m.- 5:00p.m., Weekends 9:00a.m.--- 9:00p.m. Dining - Sushi chef in town Sushi is getting really big in Shanghai.In Japan, it's become an art form.The most famous Sushi 'artist' is Yuki Kamura.She's also one of the few female chefs in Japan.She'll be at Sushi Scene all of this month. PLACE: Sushi Scene in the Shanghai Hotel DATES: all month PRICE: Y=200 TIME: lunchtime TEL: 6690-3211 For a full listing of events, see our website. Suppose you are going to attend an activity at 8: 00p.m.on Saturday, which one can you choose? Answer: Exhibitions - Shanghai Museum
All the animals were having a picnic. Turtle brought hotdogs for everyone. All the animals came to make their hotdogs. Rabbit put ketchup on his hotdog. Duck put mustard on his hotdog. Bear put ketchup and mustard on his hotdog. Turtle and Fox did not put ketchup or mustard on their hotdog. Goose looked at the hotdogs. He did not like hotdogs at all. He was very hungry. He looked around for something else to eat. Duck had brought chips, but Goose did not like chips. Bear had brought salad, but Goose did not like salad. Fox had brought apples, but Goose did not like apples. Rabbit brought carrots, but Goose did not like carrots. Goose looked around for something that he liked. Then he saw something near the edge of the meadow. It was a bunch of red strawberries. Goose liked strawberries very much. He took a basket and gathered up as many strawberries as he could and brought them to the picnic. Everyone was happy, and Goose was not hungry any more. Who likes ketchup on their hotdog? A. Duck and Goose B. Rabbit and Bear C. Fox and Turtle D. Goose and Turtle Answer: B. Rabbit and Bear Share flats happy valley big flat, 1 room ready for use immediately. quiet and convenient, fully furnished, park view. $6, 800 including bills with maid. female nonsmoker. no pet. sara 25720836 or 10077809. moving sale 2 armchairs, red/brown at $400 each; coffee table, black, wood, $800; oil painting, big, $900; tianjin carpet, green 3x7, $600; double bed, $500; mirror, big, square, $500; fridge, big, double-door, $1000; old pictures, $140, up, each; plants, big and small. tel: weekend, 2521-6011/weekday, 2524-5867. * part-time laboratory assistant wanted required by busy electronics company to help with development of computer. should have an electronics degree and some practical experience of working in an electronics laboratory. hours 9:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. mon.-fri. fourteen days paid leave. salary Y=6598-Y=10230 dependent on experience. letter of application to: mrs. g chan, nova electronics, 45 gordon rd, hung hom kowloon. If you want to buy some old furniture, you may _ . A. get in touch with nova electronics B. call at 2524-5867 any day except Monday C. do it before you move to another place D. call at either 2524-5867 on Monday or 2521-6011 on Saturday Answer: D. call at either 2524-5867 on Monday or 2521-6011 on Saturday It is early in the morning, about seven o'clock. Peter is on the bus. He's going to school. There are many people on the bus and it is a bit hot. Peter is sitting by a window with a book in his hands. The bus driver is driving slowly . Most people on the bus are using their mobile phones. A girl in a red sweater is standing near Peter. She looks very happy. She is reading some funny things on her mobile phone. A fat boy behind him is busy playing games on his mobile phone. A tall man is Jack. He is listening to music on the mobile phone. He's about thirty years old. They are all busy and happy. What is the girl doing? A. Driving a car. B. Reading. C. Playing games. D. Listening to music. Answer: B. Reading. Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village, though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year. He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound's the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake. The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep. What kind of article does this passage belong to? A. A story. B. A poem. C. An advertisement. D. A report. Answer: B. A poem. The First Day at My Senior High School Today is September1,2012.It is the first day of my senior high school.Everything in the school is new to me. The school is very modern. The gate of the school is artistic . When you go through the main gate,you can see a high stadium on the left side of the road, which has a 400-meter runaway and a soccer field with green grass. Buildings are tall and beautiful. The library is the most attractive building on the right side of the main road. There are many green trees and colorful flowers on both sides of the roads. The classrooms are amazing. They are big, clean and bright. In each classroom, there is a computer and a big screen,through which our teachers can show us tests,photos, and so on. In my class, there are 60 students. We don't know each other, but we are all friendly.Everyone has a smile on his/her face. When we meet, we always say "Hello"to each other. Most of our teachers are young. Some students think young teachers cannot teach well, but I do not think so. In my opinion,young teachers are very energetic and easy to make friends with. What's more, they may have a lot of new teaching methods. I love my new school very much. I hope, in my new school, I can learn more from my teachers and make progress together with my classmates. The writer thinks differently from other students about _ in the school. A. teaching methods B. classes C. young teachers D. buildings Answer: C. young teachers
In the winter months the temperature in most of Canada usually stays below 0degC. However, in some parts of Canada, such as southern British Columbia, the temperature rarely goes below 0degC. In most areas where people live, snow will be on the ground from mid-December to the middle of March. Though Canada's winter may be much colder and longer than you are used to, it can be very enjoyable. For many Canadians, being active in winter is an important part of enjoying life. There are many outdoor winter activities, including skiing, ice fishing, walking, and skating. Joining in one of these activities may help you appreciate winter and enjoy your time outside in the snow. Dressing for winter. During winter in Canada, you will need warm clothing. If possible, arrive with these items or be prepared to buy them soon after your arrival. You will need: A warm waterproof boots. A scarf for your neck. A hat that covers your ears. Gloves for your hands. Thick winter coats, pants and sweaters. Layers keep you warm. It's a good idea to layer your clothing by, for example, wearing a T-shirt and a sweater underneath a jacket. If you become too hot, it is always easier to remove a piece of clothing than to add another. On the West Coast, prepare to dress for cool rainy or snowy weather. You will need: A warm waterproof coat. Waterproof hats. An umbrella. *Rain boots or snow boots. Learn more about weather and seasons across Canada. You can also contact Related Links.com, for example, an immigrant-serving organization in the community where you live for more information about dressing for winter. The author suggest layering your clothing probably because _ A. it is cool to dress like that. B. it is a rule to dress like that. C. the weather there is changeable. D. the weather is usually very hot. Answer: C "Racism is a grown-up disease," declares the saying on Ruby Bridge's website along with a photo of Mrs. Bridge today, a 6-year-old girl four decades ago. In the photo, she is walking up the steps of the William Frantz Public School in New Orleans, a little black girl accompanied by two officers who protect her on her way to school. Her name then was Ruby Nell. It was Nov. 14, 1960. She was the first black child to enroll at this all-white elementary school according to the court order to desegregate in New Orleans schools. Her story is moving -- she was a very courageous child -- and remains a significant proof against intolerance of all kinds. Ruby's photo brings out another powerful image on her website: Norman Rockwells symbolic painting for Look magazine on Jan. 14, 1964, "The Problem We All Live With." Rockwell was an illustrator of exceptional skill and charm. He produced a vast number of unforgettable images over a long career, many of them involving children. His American kids are innocent and appealing, but often, at the same time, decidedly naughty. His method was to photograph his models, and the resulting paintings were photographic. But it is revealing to see how the artist slightly changed facial expressions from photo to oil painting in order to make his paintings communicate with the viewer. Communication, even persuasion, lay at the back of his work; this was art for effect. "The Problem We All Live With" belongs to Rockwell's later work, when he began openly showing his strong belief in liberty. This is a highly persuasive image. Before he arrived at the final copy, one sketch shows the little girl closer to the two officers following her than to those in front. In the finished picture, the girl seems more determined, independent, and untouched. The unfriendly tomatoes thrown on the wall are behind her now, and she, is completely unaffected. The main topic of this passage is _ . A. how Rockwell encouraged Ruby to fight against racism B. how Ruby won her fight to go to an all-white school C. how Rockwell expressed his protest in .Iris work D. how persuasive Rockwell's earlier work of art is Answer: C Justin Bieber's birthday wish has come true. The teenage star announced earlier this week that he wanted his fans to donate $17,000 to charity---so far the total of gifts that have poured in is more than $31000. "I have had a great year and it is all because of the fans helping me live my dream," said the young singer. "I'm turning 17 years old on Tuesday, and have so much to be grateful for! So this year, I really want my birthday to be all about helping others. Instead of asking for gifts, I'm asking friends, family and fans to consider donating $17 for my 17thbirthday to help make a change." Bieber asked his fans to donate to a charity that builds clean water projects in developing countries. "Together, we've made a big difference for many causes. Did you know that about 4,500 kids die each day from waterborne diseases ? By building clean water projects for villages that need them, we can prevent this! I want to make my birthday matter this year--- let's make it so more kids can grow up to have a 17thbirthday like me. Join me to make a change. "I'm really so grateful for my family, friends and fans--- and I believe we can do something big to help bring clean water to people in need. Even if you don't have $17 to give I just ask you to go out in your community and try and make a positive difference. Even the smallest act of kindness can go a long way." ,. What do you think of Justin Bieber? A. Warm-hearted. B. Rich. C. Serious. D. Outgoing. Answer: A B It was a hot, humid day, and my brother Walt and I had decided that the only way to survive it would be to go swimming in a deep swimming hole across Mr.Blickez's pasture and through some woods. The only problem with our plan was that this pasture was guarded by a huge, mean Hereford bull.Mr.Blickez had told us that Elsie was the meanest bull in the township, maybe even the county, and we believed him.But the hotter it got, the more we thought there was something fishy about his claim.For one thing, we remembered Mr.Blickez liked telling tall tales; for another, Elsie seemed like an odd name for a bull. Finally, I talked Mom into asking permission for us to walk through the pasture, but then another problem surfaced.Mom said she would talk to Mr.Blickez if we would take our cousin Joanie along with us.Joanie was almost two years older than me and a head taller.If her teasing ever got around my grade school, it would be all over for me.In fact, I still had a headache from a quarrel with her that morning."I'm not going swimming with that dumb girl cousin." I told my mom. "Either Joanie goes with, or you stay home alone," Mom said in her serious tone.I gave in and we set out.On our way across the pasture, Walt yelled suddenly.Elsie had approached him quietly and was licking his back.Joanie and I dove under the wire fence, but while I was on the ground I looked up and saw that Elsie wasn't a big mean bull after all.She was going to keep licking my brother's back as long as he stood still. We had many good days growing up and visiting our secret swimming hole guarded by the so-called "big mean bull".And as it turned out, for a girl cousin, Joanie hasn't been too bad.She's been one of my best friends over the years. What does the author think of Elsie in the end? A. Aggressive. B. Unkind. C. Bad-tempered. D. Friendly. Answer: D HANGZHOU, China -- Millions of Chinese basketball fans who were upset about the retirement of Yao Ming, are excited to see another even more shining star, Jeremy Lin, rising from the N.B.A and becoming a household name all across China. "We are amazed by Lin Shuhao's magic performance and should cheer him on," one Internet user wrote. "His sport shirts have sold out, even including the counterfeit ones," said Zheng Xiaojun, a 24-year-old clerk. Lin's amazing success over the last month has caught the imagination of the Chinese. He has been particularly popular here in northern Zhejiang province, from which his grandmother went to Taiwan in the late 1940s. Cai Qi, a well-known micro blogger, posted a message on micro blog over the weekend stating that Lin's hometown is Jiaxing, a city near Hangzhou where Lin's grandmother grew up. Cai Qi's nephew Yu Guohua, a 56-year-old factory worker, is Lin's closest still living in northern Zhejiang. He said in a telephone interview that Lin had come to play basketball with the Jiaxing High School team last May and had been surrounded by admirers. Yu said he did not have a chance to meet Lin in the crowd, but managed to speak with his family. "His father was very supportive of Lin's playing basketball, but his grandmother was not, for fear he would be injured," Yu said. Lin may owe his height, 6 feet 3 inches, to his grandmother's family, Yu said. Chen Weiji, the father of Lin's grandmother, was well over 6 feet and all of Chen's children were tall as well, he said. The N.B.A. believes that 300 million people in China play basketball. The retirement last year of Yao Ming took its main Asian draw away from the N.B.A. But Lin's appearance has helped the league remain a hot topic of Chinese online chatter. Why does Lin Shuhao appeal especially to people in northern Zhejiang ? A. He was born in Zhejiang. B. His sports shirts are made in Zhejiang. C. He once visited Zhejiang. D. His grandmother grew up in Zhejiang. Answer: D
Amusement parks make most of their money from admission fees paid by guests attending the park. Other sources include parking fees, food and drink sales and souvenirs. Practically all amusement parks operate using one of two admission principles: Pay-as-you-go In this form, a guest enters the park at little or no charge. The guest must then buy rides one by one, either at the attraction's entrance or by buying ride tickets. The cost of the attraction is often based on its complexity or popularity. The park may allow guests to buy unlimited admissions to all attractions within the park. A pass is then shown at the attraction entrance to gain admission. Disneyland opened in 1955 using the pay-as-you-go form. Initially, guests paid the ride admission fees at the attractions. Soon, the problems of dealing with so many coins led to the development of a ticket system that, while now out of use, is still part of the amusement-park vocabulary. In this new form, guests bought ticket books that contained a number of tickets, with "A," "B" and "C." Rides and attractions using an "A-ticket" were generally simple, with "B-tickets" and "C-tickets" used for the larger, more popular rides. Later, the "D-ticket" was added, then finally the now-famous "E-ticket," which was used for the biggest rides, like Space Mountain. Smaller tickets could be traded up for use on larger rides. Disneyland, as well as the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, gave up this practice in 1982. The advantages include: guests pay for only what they choose to experience attraction costs can be changed easily The disadvantages include: guests may get tired of spending money almost continuously guests may not spend as much on food or souvenirs According to the pay-as-you-go principle, guests _ . A don't pay at the gate of the park B must pay for each ride they take C have to pay for all rides in the park D needn't pay after entering the park Answer: B Helen's eyes are not very good, so she wears glasses. But she doesn't wear glasses when she is with her friend, Jim. When Jim comes to her house to take her out, she will take her glasses off, and when she gets back, she puts on the glasses. One day her mother asks her, "Helen, why don't you wear glasses when you are with Jim? He takes you to many lovely places in his car, but you can't see anything. " Helen says, "I look more lovely to Jim when I'm not wearing my glasses and he looks better to me, too. " Which sentence is right? A Helen doesn't like Jim. B Helen wants to look more lovely. C Jim doesn't like glasses. D Helen's mother knows Helen very much. Answer: B On the way to California, my family stopped for lunch. As we walked toward the entrance to the restaurant, a man with a dirty face jumped up from a chair, opened the door for us and greeted us in a friendly way. Once inside, my daughters said in a low voice, "Mom, he smells." After we ordered our lunch, I explained, telling the kids to look beyond the dirt. Seeing this rudeness truly upset me, I wanted to set a good example to my children, but sometimes being a good example was difficult. When our meal arrived, I realized I had left the car-sick pills in the truck. With the windiest trip ahead, the kids needed them, so Iwent back to the car for them. Just then, the "doorman" was opening the door for me, I said a loud "thank you" to him as I exited. When I returned, we talked a bit. He said he was not allowed inside unless he bought food. I went back and told my family his situation. Then I asked our waitress to add one soup and sandwich. The kids looked puzzled, but when I said the order was for the "doorman", they smiled. When it was time to continue our trip, I noticed the "doorman" enjoying his meal. Upon seeing me, he stood up and thanked me heartily. He then lifted his hand for a handshake and I gratefully accepted. I suddenly noticed the tears in his eyes-tears of gratitude . What happened next drew great astonishment: I gave the "doorman" a hug. Back in truck, I fell into deep thought. While we can't choose many things in life, we can choose when to show gratitude. I said thanks to a man who had simply helped open a door for me, and also said thanks for that opportunity to teach my children by example. It can be learned from the passage that the doorman _ . A refused to accept the offer B took the offer for nothing C gave the author a thankful hug D was moved to tears for the kind help Answer: D Every summer, no matter how urgent work schedule is, I take off one day exclusively for my son. We call it dad-son day. This year our third stop was the amusement panic, where we discovered that he was tall enough to ride one of the fastest roller coasters in the world. We experienced through face-stretching turns and circles for ninety seconds. Then, as we stepped off the ride, in a calm voice, he remarked that it was not as exciting as other rides he'd been on. As I listened, I began to sense something seriously out of balance. Throughout the season, I noticed similar events all around me. Parents found it hard to find new stimulations for cold kids. Surrounded by ever-greater stimulation, their young feces were looking disappointed and bored Facing their children's complaints of "nothing to do", parents were spending large numbers of dollars for various forms of entertainment In many cases the money seemed to do little more than buy relief from the terrible complaint of their bored children. This set me thinking the obvious question: "How can it be so hard for kids to find something to do when there's been such a range of stimulating entertainment available to them?" What really worries me is the strength of the stimulation. I watch my little daughter's &ce as she absorbs bloody special effects in movies. Why do children facing such excitement seem starved for more? Thai was, I realized, the point I discovered during my own adolescence that what creates excitement is not going fast, but going faster. Excitement has less to do with speed than changes in speed. I am concerned about the increasing effect of years at these levels of feverish activity. It is no mystery to me why many teenagers appear uninterested and burned out, with a "been there, done that" air of indifference toward much of life. As increasing numbers of friends' children are advised to take medicine to deal with inattentiveness at school or anti-depressants to help with the loss of interest and joy in their lives--I question the role of kids' boredom in some of the diagnoses . My own work is focused on the chemical imbalances and biological factors related to behavioral and emotional disorders. These are complex problems. Yet I've been reflecting more and more on how lie pace of life and the strength of stimulation may be contributing to the rising rates of psychological problems among children and adolescents in our society. From his own experience, the author came to the conclusion that children seem to expect _ . A a much wider variety of sports facilities B activities that require complicated skills C the change of the forms of recreation D more challenging physical exercise Answer: C Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have given $500,000 to help the town of Joplin --a town near the Mississippi River, where Pitt's mother went to school recover from a huge tornado that struck on May 22, 2011. The couple made the donation through the Jolie-Pitt Foundation on Thursday to help rebuild the town of Joplin after about 30% of the buildings were destroyed by the tornado. Over 150 people were killed. "The Joplin community faces great challenges ahead," said Brad. "Having spent most of my childhood there, I know these people to be hardworking, humble and especially resilient. "The locally based Community Foundation of the Ozarks will be working shoulder to shoulder with these Joplin citizens for long to rebuild their lives. We, too, hope to further help with these rebuilding efforts." "Last year 42 million people worldwide were hurt by natural disasters," added Angelina. "So often, these disasters seem far away; but now, the need is right here at home for thousands of people. Our hearts go out to the families in Joplin who have lost so much." The Community Foundation of the Ozarks was founded in 1973 and has since grown to include 43 branch community foundations. The Foundation's task is to improve the quality of life in the Missouri Ozarks area through resource development, community grant making, working together, and public leadership. "We had a call in the first day or two afterward from an organization representing them," said Brian Fogle, president of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. "They made several calls afterwards, but we learned that they made a donation. The best title for the passage is _ . A A disaster by a huge tornado in Joplin B Rebuilding efforts after the disaster C The Community Foundation of the Ozarks D A donation from the Pitts Answer: D
A team of British surgeons has carried out Gaza's first organ transplants for a long-term plan to train local medical staff to perform the operations. Two patients underwent kidney transplants at the Shifa, Gaza's biggest public hospital. The operations were conducted a fortnight ago by a volunteer medical team from the Royal Liverpool hospital. Ziad Matouk, 42, was born with one kidney and was diagnosed with renal failure several years ago. Matouk, whose wife donated one of her kidneys, hopes to return to his job within six months. The couple had sought a transplant in Cairo, but were rejected as unsuitable at a state hospital and could not afford the fee at a private hospital. "We were desperate," said Matouk. The UK-Gaza link-up began about a year ago after Abdelkader Hammad, a doctor at the Royal Liverpool hospital, was contacted by an anaesthetist at the Shifa, who outlined the difficulties the Gaza hospital was facing with dialysis . The Shifa is forced to rely on generators because of power cuts; spare parts for its ageing dialysis machines have been difficult to import; and supplies of consumables are often scarce. After an exploratory trip last April, Hammad---whose family is Palestinian---and three colleagues from Liverpool arrived in Gaza via Egypt last month, bringing specialist equipment. Two patients were selected for surgery. The first, Mohammed Duhair, 42, received a kidney donated by his younger brother in a six-hour operation. Two days later, Matouk received a transplant after his wife, Nadia, 36, was found to be a good match. The surgeon was carried out by the British team, assisted by doctors and nurses from the Shifa. "We are very satisfied with the results," said Sobbi Skaik, head of surgery at the Gaza hospital. Skaik hopes that Gaza medical teams will eventually carry out kidney transplants independently, and that other organ transplants may follow. The Shifa is working with the Gaza ministry of health on a plan to train its doctors, surgeons, nursing staff and laboratory technicians in transplant surgery at the Royal Liverpool. "Funding is a problem," said Hammad. "In the meantime we'll go back as volunteers to Gaza for the next couple of years to do more transplants." The Liverpool team's next visit is scheduled for May. What did Dr. Hammad and his team do recently? Answer: They carried out two transplant surgeries in Gaza. The kitty did not want to freeze, so it found a place to stay warm in a trashcan near a bush. The kitty had been left outside in the rain, but some friendly people thought that they would let it in when they found it in the trashcan outside. They gave the kitty some water to sip, and food to eat. When the phone would ring, the kitty would run and hide. The kitty would hide in the bathroom. Sometimes, the kitty would take its food into the bedroom and eat it there. The kitty's claws were so sharp that they ended up cutting everything that it scratched. The kitty also scratched the finger of one of the nice people. When the rain stopped, the nice people put the kitty back outside. They put it outside because it was making them sneeze. The kitty left their home happy and with a full stomach. All of its kitty friends were waiting for it. Why did the nice person get their finger cut? Answer: The cat had very sharp claws. Jack went to a barber's shop and had his hair cut, but when he came out, he was not happy with the result . When his friend Bob saw him, he laughed and said, "What has happened to your hair, Jack?" Jack said, "I tried a new barber's shop today, because I wasn't quite satisfied with my old one, but this one seems even worse." Bob agreed . "Yes, I think you're right, Jack. Now I'll tell you what to do when you go into a barber's shop next time: look at all the barber's hair, find out whose hair looks worst, and then go straight to him." "Why shall I go to him?" Jack asked. "But that would be foolish!" "Oh, no, it wouldn't," answered Bob. "Who cut that man's hair? Just think it. He couldn't cut it himself, could he? Another of the barbers cut it. So you know he can't be the worst barber." Bob told Jack to find out which barber's hair looked the worst and then go straight to him. Why? Answer: Because he wasn't the worst barber. An example of camouflage is Answer: a lizard appearing like the dead things that fall from trees in the fall Dear Economist, My newly-wedded wife and I are deeply in love.There is, however, one issue that threatens the happiness of our marriage.I absolutely insist on shopping at Walmart.My wife, meanwhile, would rather avoid Walmart at all costs. I have recently tried to convince her that not only does Walmart offer the lowest prices known to man, but that the chain is also a force for good--lower prices mean better standards of living for all consumers, increased global trade means a tighter-knit international community, and efficient operations translate into higher productivity growth for the economy.My wife complains about poor labour policies, the "fact" that Walmart squeezes suppliers, and that it puts local shops out of business. Who is right? Will our marriage survive? Brian Gee Dear Brian, I have to agree with you about Walmart.Jason Furman, then an economist at New York University, now an adviser to President Obama, famously argued in 2005 that Walmart was unwittingly a progressive success story.The chain's prices don't much affect me (I prefer Whole Foods) but Furman estimated that they benefited low-and-middle-income Americans to the sum of around $250 billion a year. Walmart does not pay much, so it may depress wages.Then again, it may increase wages by offering jobs to the otherwise-unemployed.Either way, the benefits of low prices to Walmart shoppers far outweigh any seemingly reasonable costs to Walmart employees.And while it is true that Walmart employees tend to be poor, the same is true of Walmart shoppers. Armed with this information you can face your wife with confidence.You are sure to win the conversation.The divorce is likely to be more argued. Economist What can be inferred from the reply letter? Answer: Some employees accept the low pay to keep the job.
A man and his girlfriend were married. It was a large celebration. All of their friends and family came to see the lovely ceremony. Everyone could tell that the love they had for each other was true. A few months later, the wife came to the husband with a piece of advice, "I read in a magazine, a while ago, about how we can strengthen our marriage," she offered. "Each of us will write a list of the things that we find a bit annoying with the other person. Then, we can talk about how we can fix them together and make our lives happier together." The husband agreed. So each of them tried to think of the things that annoyed them about the other and wrote down what they came up with. The next morning, at the breakfast table, they decided that they would go over their lists. "I'll start," offered the wife. She took out her list. It had many items on it, enough to fill three pages. In fact, as she started reading the list of the little annoyances, she noticed that tears were starting to appear in her husband's eyes because he never thought that he had so many shortcomings. The wife continued to read until she had read all three pages to her husband. "Now, you read your list and then we'll talk about the things on both of our lists," she said happily. Quietly the husband stated, "I don't have anything on my list. I think that you are perfect. I don't want you to change anything for me. You are lovely and wonderful and I wouldn't want to try and change anything about you." The wife, touched by his honesty and the depth of his love for her and his acceptance of her, turned her head and wept. In life, there are enough times when we are disappointed, depressed and annoyed. We don't really have to go looking for them. We have a wonderful world that is full of beauty, light and promise. Why waste time in this world looking for the bad, disappointing or annoying when we can look around us and see the wonderful things before us? Why were there tears in the husband's eyes when the wife read his annoyances? Answer: Because he never thought he had so many annoyances in his wife's eyes. Siam Park -- Lagoa, Portugal Slide and Splash is Portugal's largest water park and at 16,000 acres, it is widely considered to be one of the best in Europe. In this beautiful water park you can find attractions for everyone. Whether you love to relax and enjoy, or search for excitement, you can find everything for everyone there. Their best attractions are the Dragon and the Tower of Power. Beach Park -- Aquiraz, Brazil Beach Park in Aquiraz is a place which will make you a child again and again. The Beach Park has a resort, a beach leisure area with hot spring besides the water park itself. The place has over 18 unforgettable attractions, which they separate in 3 different parts: family, moderate and insane attractions. The last one is only for the brave visitors, as you can tell by the name. Aquatica -- Orlando, Florida Aquatica water park is placed directly across from Sea World Orlando and is an excellent way to cool off from the hot sun. The park has a huge variety of attractions. Once you are there, don't miss some of the greatest park attractions: The Dolphin Plunge, The HooRoo Run, The Omaka Rocka. Before you go, you should know that the park do not permit personal cameras while using their water slides or tube attractions. Aquaventure -- Dubai, United Arab Emirates This Dubai water park is a water world oasis at the tip of Palm Island. It is a perfect place to cool off, whatever your age. At this huge 42-acre water park at Atlantis the Palm you can speed down the world's largest water slide tube (30 feet wide), or brave the twists and turns of the world's first double slide within a slide. Which can satisfy you if you want to take a bath in hot spring? Answer: Beach Park. Some water use is consumptive. Instead of returning to its source, the water evaporates from reservoirs or transpires from crops. How does this type of use most likely affect the hydrosphere? Answer: by shifting water to different stages in the water cycle Children are getting so fat that they may be the first generation to die before their parents, an expert says. Today's young people will be affected by potential killers such as heart disease because of their weight. Fatty fast-food diets combined with the lifestyles with televisions and computers could mean kids will die young, says Professor Andrew Prentice, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. At the same time, the shape of the human body is going through a great change because adults are getting so fat. Here in Britain, the latest research shows that the average waist size for a man is 36~38 inches and may be 42~44 inches by 2032.This compares with only 32.6 inches in 1972. Women's waists have grown from an average of 22 inches in the 1920s to 24 inches in the 1950s and 30 inches now. One of the major reasons why children now are at greater risk is that we are getting fatter younger. In the UK alone, more than one million under 16 years old are thought to be overweight or fat--double the number in the 1980s. One in ten of four-year-olds are also medically said to be obese. The obesity which started in the US, has now spread to Europe, Australia, Central America and the Middle East. Many nations now record more than 20 percent of their population as obese and well over half of the population as overweight. Professor Prentice says the change in our shape has been caused by high-energy foods combined with a dramatic drop in the energy we use as a result of technology developments. He is not alone in his concern. Only last week one medical magazine revealed how obesity was fuelling a rise in cancer cases. Obesity also increases the risk factor for heart disease and so on. An averagely obese person's lifespan is shortened by around nine years while a seriously obese person by much more. Professor Prentice says, "So _ will _ parents _ live _ longer _ than _ their _ children, _ as _ an _ American _ obesity _ expert _ said _ recently?" "The answer is yes--and no." Yes, when most children become obese. No, because this is now becoming an alarmingly serious problem in the US. "Such children will have a greatly reduced quality of life on both body and mind." So say "No" to sandwiches and hamburgers. According to Professor Prentice, people become fatter because _ . Answer: the energy people take in is more than they need Advertising actually has a dual function:to sell,as well as to inform.If you stop to think of it,advertisements(ads)provide information of almost everything in our household and immediate environment,from shampoo to fuel for cars.An obvious purpose is to inform consumers of new products and services as well as to remind them of established ones.Performance,price,value for money,quality and reliability are some of the main features mentioned in ads. Yet there is another important side of advertising that should not be forgotten:choice.A number of ads for different brands of the same product,e.g.toothpaste,shampoo or washing powder allow the consumer to choose.Choice is an important part of buying. In this busy day and age,there is little time for _ .To determine which product is the best to buy,and at the most competitive price,consumers these days rely on advertising in its various forms.This saves time and energy and makes shopping easier. Few can deny that ads benefit the consumer since they encourage healthy competition.When companies compete for the consumer's dollar,this is good for the purchaser of the product or service.Advertising tends to increase competition since it informs consumers of what is available.One company's offer will be either matched or bettered by another company in its advertising. It was unheard of ten years ago to buy products directly using a personal computer,but it has become a matter of course for some people to browse the Internet,surfuntil they find an e commerce site and then select the product.Marketing products has been almost turned upside down by new ways of selling and buying.More than at any time in history,the choice of goods is unlimited.The whole world is a customer's marketplace.For busy people like you and me,advertisements actually do us a favor. What the writer of this passage wants to tell us most is that------------------. Answer: advertisements benefit busy people in many ways
A chocolate printer that allows sweet lovers to create 3D desserts by themselves is to go on sale at a cost of 2,500 pounds. The machine squirts out chocolate and, via computer instructions, allows the user to build any shape they like out of the food. But makers Choc Edge have missed the Easter rush. Even so, they hope the printer will be snapped up by retailers immediately they come to the market. Britain's biggest chocolatiers Thornton's have already said they are interested. Because of the high cost, however, few individuals are likely to buy one. But the devicecould one day allow people to design their own 3D objects after submitting their designs on a website. Dr Hao, founder of Choc Edge came up with a prototype last year and has only just perfected it so that it can now go on sale. "We've improved and simplified the machine, so now it is really easy to use," he told the BBC. "You just need to melt some chocolate, fill a syringe that is stored in the printer, and get creative printing of your chocolate." 3D printing is a technology where a three dimensional object is created by building up successive layers of material. The technology is already used in industry to produce plastic and metal products, but this is the first time the principles have been applied to chocolate. The research has presented many challenges. Chocolate is not an easy material to work with because it requires accurate heating and cooling cycles. Dr Hao said, "What makes this technology special is that users will be able to design and make their own products. From reproducing the shape of a child's favourite toy to a friend's face, the possibilities are endless. It could be developed to help consumers design many products from different materials, but we've started with chocolate as it is easily available, low cost and harmless." "There is also no wastage as any spoilage can be eaten." Dr Hao added, "Eventually we may see many mass-produced products replaced by unique designs created by the customer."[:] EPSRC chief executive Professor Dave Delpy said, "This is a good example of how creative research can be applied to create new manufacturing and retail ideas. By combining developments in engineering with the commercial potential of the digital economy,We can see the new market prospect --creating new jobs and, in this case, the chocolate printer is called sweet business opportunities." What can we conclude from the passage? A The printer sold well during last Easter. B The technology of 3D printing promises a good future. C The printer was perfected and went on sale many years ago. D It's the first time that the technology has been used in industry. Answer: B One day, my friend Jimmy told me a story. Farmer Joe was in his cart when he was hit by a truck. He decided his injuries from the accident were serious enough to take the trucking company (which caused the accident)to court. In court the trucking company's lawyer was questioning Farmer Joe. "Didn't you say, at the same scene of the accident, 'I'm fine'?" said the lawyer. Farmer Joe responded, "Well, I will tell you what happened. I had just loaded my favorite mule Bessie into the..." "I didn't ask for any details," the lawyer interrupted, "Just answer the question.Did you not say, at the scene of the accident, 'I'm fine? ' " Farmer Joe said, "Well, I had just got Bessie into the cart and I was driving down the road..." The lawyer interrupted again and said, "Judge, I am trying to make clear the fact that, at the scene of the accident, this man told the police on the scene that he was just fine. Now several weeks after the accident he is trying to cover the fact. I believe he is telling lies. Please tell him to simply answer the question." By this time the Judge was fairly interested in Farmer Joe's answer and said to the lawyer, "I'd like to hear what he has to say about his favorite mule Bessie." Joe thanked the Judge and went on, "Well, as I was saying, I had just loaded Bessie, my favorite mule, into the cart and was driving her down the road when this huge truck ran into the stop sign and pushed my cart right in the side. I was thrown into one side and Bessie was thrown into the other." "I was hurt so badly that I didn't want to move. However, I could hear old Bessie breathing loudly and groaning . I knew she was in great pain. Shortly after the accident a traffic policeman came to the scene. He could hear Bessie groaning so he went over to her. After he looked at her, he took out his gun and shot her between the eyes. Then the patrolman came across the road with his gun and looked at me. He said, "Your mule was in such pain that I had to shoot her. How are you feeling?" Farmer Joe and his mule were _ . A taking a rest by the road when the truck ran over and hit them B just on their way when the truck hit a sign on the roadside and then hit them C going to stop by the road when they were hit by the truck D going so fast that they ran into a truck Answer: B A cow and a frog have similar bone structures in their forelimbs. Both have phalanges, radius, ulna, and humerus bones. However, the cow and frog are animals with very different life cycles from each other. Which most likely describes why the body structures of these animals are so similar? A Both have undergone similar mutations. B Both descended from a common ancestor. C Both reacted similarly to environmental pressures. D Both spread out from the same geographical region. Answer: B To Whom It May Concern: My husband and I got married in 1965 and for the first ten years of our marriage I was very happy to stay home and raise our three children. Then four years ago, our youngest child went to school and I thought I might go back to work. My husband was very supportive and helped me to make my decision. He emphasized all of the things I can do around the house, and said he thought I could be a great success in business. After several weeks of job-hunting I found my present job, which is working for a small public relations firm. At first, my husband was very proud of me and would tell his friends , "My clever little wife can run that company she's working for." But as his joking remark approached reality, my husband stopped talking to me about my job.I have received several _ and pay increases , and I am now making more money than he is. I can buy my own clothes and a new car. Because of our combined incomes, my husband and I can do many things that we had always dreamed of doing , but we don't do these things because he is very unhappy. We fight about little things and my husband is very critical of me in front of our friends. For the first time in our marriage, I think there is a possibility that our marriage may come to an end. I love my husband very much, and I don't want him to feel inferior, but I also love my job.I think I can be a good wife and a working woman, but I don't know how .Can you give me some advice? Will I have to choose one or the other or can I keep both my husband and my new career? Please help. "Distressed" The letter was most probable written _ . A in 1975 B around 1980 C four years ago D in 1965 Answer: B Sandstorms hit northwestern China's Gansu Province and North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on the first day this year. According to Sun Landong,a meteorologist with the Lanzhou Meteorology Observatory,visibility was less than 100 meters in Minqin, a Gansu county near Inner Mongolia,because of sand. When visibility drops to less than 1 kilometer, it is called a sandstorm. The sandstorm in Minqin blew up dust in neighboring towns, such as Baiyin,Wuwei,Jinchang and Lanzhou,the capital city of Gansu Province Dust-laden winds also swept into Beijing. Brought by northwesterly blowing at more than 20 meters per second, dust first reached the capital's suburbs at 7 a. m.,downtown areas at 9 a. m. The winds,which died down during the night,brought the temperature down to as low as 8 0C below zero and many flights put off their planned time from the city's airport. It is quite rare for sandstorms,which are frequent between March and June,to happen in winter,when the earth is frozen. The sandstorms in Gansu and Inner Mongolia do not necessarily mean there will be more of them in the spring than last year,when they were serious,but Beijing is taking it very seriously. It is reported that Beijing will spend 6 billion yuan( US 725 million) in preventing sandstorms in the capital and has already set up a special team to make sure what causes them. What is the main idea of the passage? A Sandstorms took place in Gansu. B Sandstorms happened on the first day of the new year. C Sandstorms are very serious,compared to last year. D Experts are trying their best to determine the cause of the sandstorm formed this year Answer: B
She almost did not run. Christine Williams admits that now. She could barely put one foot after another following the wake for her sister, who had died in an automobile accident. But she did run. With the cheers of friends and strangers reaching her heart, Williams set a C.W. Post record in Boston. Now she will run again, in the national Division II cross-country championships in Evansville, Ind. She wanted to be sure she was doing the right thing by running. She was the middle of three sisters, between Kerry, who is 25, and Jennifer, who was 18. Just going through any motions was hard enough, but Christine Williams wanted to know if she should put on her uniform and her shoes and run through the woods on an autumn afternoon, in the awful gaping time between her sister's wake and her funeral. "I kind of got upset beforehand." Williams admitted. Not a chatterbox under normal conditions, she now holds herself the best way she can, the fewer words the better. She almost walked away from the start line. But her friend Angela Toscano, who had flown up to Boston with her, directly from the wake, was standing near the line and talked her through it. "She said my sister would have wanted me to run." Christine said. And that was enough to get her started. The accident happened just after midnight on Nov, 4. Four young women were driving in an unfamiliar area of Long Island in Eastport, N.Y., when one of them apparently ran a yield sign, and the car was hit by another vehicle. Heather Brownrigg and Jennifer Williams died, and their friends April Brown and Kaci Moran were treated at a hospital and released. The crash made the papers. April Brown was charged with drunken driving and driving without a license. The wake began on Nov. 6. The next day Christine was to run with the Post cross-country team at the regional meet. Rich Degnan, the Post coach,"and Post officials offered a car service and tickets on the last flight-to Boston for Christine and Toscano. When they arrived at the hotel, the entire team was waiting up for her. Everybody knew about it at the regional meet. Degnan had to arrange for the flexibility of an alternate, just in case Christine could not go. Several times during the race, Christine felt she could not continue. But then she heard her friends and all those other people, those strangers from other colleges, calling her name. She thought about Jennifer. And she ran. She finished fourth in 22 minutes 58 seconds, breaking the Post record for the 6-kilometer distance by 15 seconds. And although the Post team didn't qualify for the nationals, Christine did. What is the crucial factor contributing to Christine's success in the race? Answer: Our little boy came up to his mother one evening while she was cooking supper, and handed her a piece of paper with some words written on. And this is what it said: For cutting the grass in the garden $5.00 For cleaning up my bedroom this week $1. 00 For going to the store for you $0. 50 For baby-sitting my kid brother while you went shopping $2. 25 For taking out the rubbish $1. 00 For getting a good report card $5. 00 Total owed : $14.75 After reading, his mother thought for a while. Then she picked up the pen, turned over the paper and wrote: For the nine months I carried you while you were growing inside me--free For the nights and days I worried about you--free For the toys, clothes, food--free For all the love I've given you--free Then with tears in his eyes, our son looked straight up at his mother and said, "Mom, I love you. " And he took the pen and wrote: "PAID IN FULL". We can learn from the passage that _ . Answer: According to legend, the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, Italy, which connects the Palazzo Ducale to an ancient prison, got its name because the walk across it gave prisoners on their way to jail a final chance to appreciate the beauty of the city. The view from the bridge today, however, is more likely to be of a giant billboard selling Bulgari or Coca - cola. Beyond the billboards, monuments are being restored. The money comes from advertising profits. But when the Coke billboards went up this summer on buildings near the Piazza San Marco, which is at the historic heart of Venice, there was a public debate. "We can't commercialize everything," said Alessandra Mottola Molfino, a Venetian. "The lesson that goes out is that a price is for everything." "We couldn't stay quiet," said Maria Camilla Bianchini d'Alberigo, president of a heritage protection association. "Too much is too much." There needed to be rules, she added, rules that prevent the advertising billboards clashing with the monuments of the city. City of officials, however, argue that without these ads, the city could not afford to maintain its heritage. Many have been damaged by centuries of wear and are even a threat to public safety. "I can't turn down the image of bottle when there are pieces of the Palazzo Ducale falling to the ground," said Renata Codello, a Cultrue Ministry official. The Culture Minister has a budget of about $ 47 million (315 million yuan) for restoration of monuments, but Italy has a rich architectural heritage, and funds are always tight.Of that amount, $ 1.8 million was given to the entire Vector region, which includes Venice. Two years ago, the city signed an agreement with the Dotter Group, a company responsible for the restoration of the Bridge of Sighs and the Palazzo Ducale.It allows it to sell ad space. But there is a condition in the agreement: The ads should not offend public taste, In August, Venice banned US actress Julianne Moore's Bulgrari ad from a billboard in the Piazza San Marco. The photo shows a naked Moore covered with lion cubs, handbags and jewelry, Mayor Giorgio Orsoni called the image too racy and unsuitable for the Piazza San Marco. "I take account of the fact that Venice is part of the real world... but we cannot accept these Hollywood-style images.There arc intelligent sponsors, and we need to come up with advertising that suits Venice, not Times Square," he said in a speech. From the article we can conclude that Rcnata Codello_the advertising. Answer: Long long ago, there was a man who lived in a village. One day, he went to a market and did some shopping. He suddenly found two boxes. Both the two boxes were very beautiful and the man fell in love with them at the first sight. So he bought them. After he got home, he didn't know how to use the boxes. He thought it over and decided to do something special. He decided to put all of his happiness in the yellow box and all of his sadness in the black box. He thought that it was funny to do that. A few days later, the yellow box was very heavy, but the black box was still light. He didn't know why. He decided to open the two boxes and found out the truth. He opened the yellow box and found nothing. Then he opened the black box and saw a hole at the bottom. Then he smiled to himself and said, "Happiness is for me. Let sadness go." What does the writer want to tell us? Answer: How to improve my life? Many people think that they have to accept whatever life throws at them. They'll say, "This is my fate, my destiny. I cannot change it." Of course not! You don't have to suffer needlessly. Your destiny depends on you, not on any other external factors. I know someone who says she just accepts what life gives her because she has done everything she can to improve it. Guess what her lifestyle is? She wakes up in the morning, goes to work, comes back home, relaxes, chats with people, watches TV, then goes to sleep. Next day, the same routine cycle follows. Huh! Is this what she calls "doing her best"? She believes she has tried her best and just accepts it in her heart that this is the life that God has intended for her to live; that her luck can only change if God wills it. Of course God wants us to be happy and live our life to the fullest, but we have to do our share of exerting the effort to live the life of our dreams. Remember that you reap what you sow. You just don't sit around and wait for a million dollars to fall from the sky. You have to get off the couch, get your eyes off the TV screen, get your hands off the phone. Don't expect your luck to change unless you do something about it. If something goes wrong, don't just regard it as a temporary setback; but use it as feedback. Learn your lesson, make the most of the situation, and do something to solve the problem. It's not enough to think positively; you also have to act positively. If someone's life is in the trouble, do you just hope and pray that things will turn out fine? Of course not! You get to do anything you can to save the person. So it is with your own life. It is not enough to hope for the best, but you have to do your best. In other words, don't just stand (or sit ) there, do something to improve your life. According to the woman mentioned in Para.3, her life _ . Answer:
Climbing the corporate ladder during my 32 years at Southern Bell (now AT&T) never appealed much to me. But climbing telephone poles? Now that's a whole different story. In 1978, I became the first female lineman in Columbus, Georgia. I really enjoyed the work, and most of the men accepted me because I worked hard at it. I think that at first, they didn't think I could do it. But I got right in there and proved myself. I was a lineman for about three years. Then l went on to work at other outdoor jobs at the company before l retired in 1997. I decided to become a lineman because I wanted to work outdoors. I was a tomboy as a child and even built my own tree house, so you could say I had a little experience. My husband, William, encouraged me to give the job a try. After work, I liked to drive around town and show him the wires I'd spliced that day. People were surprised to see a female lineman. They'd say, "Look, that's a woman up that pole." One day I heard a man say, "Oh, look, there's a telephone man-woman!" Safety belts and hooks minimized the risk of falling, but concentration was essential. Sometimes I felt a little nervous, but the guys told me I was less likely to fall if I wasn't too confident. It helped that I was strong, because the cables and equipment are heavy. I'm not sure every woman could've done what I did. 1 took a lot of pride in it. When the author first became a lineman, _ . Answer: she loved it and went all out for it Visit New York City with your kids where there are numerous things to do which will entertain their spirits and feed their minds. The Whispering Gallery Make your way to the Whispering Gallery. Kids can get a lot of fun there. Once inside the gallery, place one person facing the corner at one end of the room and then place another person facing the corner at the opposite end. Ask one of them to whisper a phrase or a quick sentence and the person at the opposite end will be able to hear every word that was said. E.42nd St. New York, NY 10017 212-771-5322 grandcentralterminal.com American Museum of Natural History The American Museum of Natural History was founded in 1869. In addition to its impressive exhibits, permanent attractions bring the cool feeling to kids. They can enter the Fossil Halls and take in the impressive dinosaur skeletons. And the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life educates kids on the fragility of the ocean. Central Park West at 79th St. New York, NY 10024 212-769-5606 amnh.org The Scholastic Store Most parents want their children to read, and moreover, to enjoy reading. The Scholastic Store helps to make that wish a reality by publishing well-written stories that appeal to children, such as Clifford the Big Red Dog, the Magic School Bus and Harry Potter, the Scholastic Store will delight your children. 557 Broadway. New York, NY 10012 212-343-6100 scholastic.com Ellen's Stardust Diner The restaurant is a place where each person in your family can find something to eat. A diverse menu will satisfy every one's appetite. Arugula salads, grilled cheese burgers and meatloaf are all on this varied menu. The hall of beauty queens, a drive-in theatre can add to the unique dining experience. 1650 Broadway, corner of 51st St. New York, NY 10019 212-956-5151 ellensstardustdiner.com In addition to your favorite food in Ellen's Stardust Diner, you can also _ . Answer: enjoy some entertaining programs A mountain range has hills around its edges. How are the mountains and hills alike? Answer: Both are taller than the land around them. If a person is running a salad bar and needs to keep the bar cold, and therefore the ice frozen, they might Answer: pour sodium over the ice One of the hardest things to do when you are a small child is to start school, and have a new teacher every year. I remember when I was in fourth grade, there were tons of rumors about my teacher. They said that he would hit kids with erasers. _ , and to this day I still remember him as one of those people who really helped me in life. One of the things that you can do to help your kids get ready for a new teacher is to go to meet him or her before the year starts. This allows students to know who the teacher is, and break the ice. It is common for students to be fearful of the teacher for the first few days. Maybe they look scary . However, as a parent, you need to teach your kids that teachers are people too, and that they want nothing but the best for you in life. If your child is still having trouble adjusting to a teacher, you could ask your child to be taught by a different teacher. Adjusting to teachers can be an uncertain thing for a young child. Whether your child knows nothing about this person, or maybe he has heard a rumor about him, it can be a scary thing. As a parent, all you can do is to make sure that your children know the teacher is there to help, not be scary. At the beginning of the school year, kids are most probably _ . Answer: fearful
The United States is one of the greatest fruit-growing countries in the world. Fine red apples come from Washington and New York. Golden oranges come from Southern California and Florida. Fruit grows in all parts of America. The kind of fruit that is grown depends on the weather in each place. Orange trees cannot be grown where temperatures drop below freezing. Southern California and Florida are far from each other, but their weather is much the same. They do not often have freezing temperatures. In Washington, apple trees are planted near the Atlantic Ocean. In New York, they grow near the Great Lakes. Apple trees are often planted near water. Water temperature changes more slowly than land temperature. Near water, temperature does not drop so fast. There is less chance of frost in late spring or early autumn. Frost can kill apples. America has many kinds of weather. It has many kinds of soil. Because of this, they grow and eat more fruit than any other country in the world. The main idea of the whole passage is that _ . Answer: different fruits grow in different weather Barry and Jim are twin brothers. But they like different things. Barry likes basketball and soccer. He is in the school basketball club, and he plays soccer every day. He has 9 basketballs in his bookcase. He also likes volleyball. He has 3 white volleyballs and 3 blue volleyballs. He doesn't like tennis. He wants to be a soccer player. Jim doesn't like sports. He likes books. He thinks reading books is interesting. He reads a book every day. He has many books about English. He has a great collection of English books. But he puts these books everywhere in his room. He thinks books are good friends. He wants to be a writer. Which of the following is right? Answer: Jim has many English books. Volunteer at Shelter - North Toronto Cat Rescue---Bayview/Hwy 7 Do you like animals? Come and volunteer at our cat shelter. North Toronto Cat Rescue is a no-cage, no-kill cat shelter. We are a volunteer organization, funded totally by donation, and are a licensed Canadian charity. We are looking for volunteers who can join us once a week for a 3 month period (at least). The work is not wonderful but it is very rewarding. Mainly, we feed, clean, and scoop litter. Of course we also spend quality time with our cats. We have 2 shifts per day, 7 days per week: Mornings are 9am-1pm. Evenings are 5-7pm or 6-8pm. Please note that any new volunteer who wishes to work evening shift must be able to work 4 morning shifts on a team before moving to an evening shift. This is required in order to gain the ability to work more independently, as required during evening shifts. Students must be at least 16 years old. Adults are also welcome. If you do not have your own personal transportation, please check the public transportation from your area to our location at Bayview/Hwy 7 area before responding to this ad. Which of the following volunteers can work evening shift? Answer: A worker who has worked five morning shifts at the shelter. The following story took place long ago in Israel. One day when government officials were rebuilding an office, they found a mouse hole in a corner and used smoke to force the mice inside the hole to come out. A while later they indeed saw mice running out, one after another. Then, everyone thought that all the mice had escaped. But just as they were just about to start to clean up, they saw two mice squeezing out at the exit of the hole. After some endeavor, the mice finally got out. The strange thing was that after they came out of the hole, they did not run away immediately. Instead, one chased after the other near the exit of the hole. It seemed that one was trying to bite the tail of the other. Everyone was puzzled, so they stepped closer to take a look. They realized that one of the mice was blind and could not see anything, and the other one was trying to allow the blind mouse to bite on his tail so he could pull the blind one with him to escape. After witnessing what happened, everyone was speechless and lost in thought. During meal time, the group of people sat down in a circle and started to chat about what happened to the two mice. One serious Rome official said: "I think the relationship between those two mice was that of emperor and minister." The others thought for a while and said: "That was why!" Thus the Rome official showed his arrogance . A smart Israeli said: "I think the relationship between those two mice was husband and wife." Again the others thought for a while, and all felt it made sense; so they expressed agreement. Therefore, the Israeli's countenance (,)showed self-satisfaction. A Chinese, who was accustomed to the firm tradition of loyalty to parents, said: "I think the relationship between those two mice was that of mother and son." Once again the others thought for a while, and felt this was more reasonable. So they expressed agreement yet another time. Therefore, the face of the Chinese showed professional modesty. At that moment, one pure-minded Samaritan who was squatted on the ground resting his chin in his hands, bewilderedly looked at other people, and asked: "Why did those two mice have to have a certain relationship?" Suddenly, the atmosphere froze. Then the group looked back at the Samaritan and remained speechless. The Rome official, the Israeli and the Chinese who had spoken earlier all lowered their heads in shame, and did not dare to respond. In fact, the true love is not established on benefit, friendship and loyalty or blood relationship. Instead, it is based on no relationship. Why did they lower their heads in shame according to the passage? Answer: They did not express themselves much better. It's not uncommon in America for a person to belong to some kind of volunteer group. Donating one's time and services is very much a part of the American way of life. Most charitable activities are organized by churches and groups around the nation and even encouraged by the government. The helping hand is extended to the poor, the homeless and the disabled. Some people work to teach youngsters how to read. Others open up soup kitchens to feed the homeless. Volunteers also take care of the disabled by making reading tapes for the blind and working in orphanages to help children without parents. High school students are often encouraged to become volunteers and many school club activities center around volunteer services. Students may work with disabled children during a summer program, or participate in a club activity which helps to bring meal to senior citizens who are shut-ins. With their sense of idealism students are often eager to donate their spare time. They see such activities as a way of becoming involved in the community and the adult-world. Social action for them becomes as important as their academic studies. In a like manner, throughout the year,fund raising drives are also conducted by schools and community groups to raise money for a worthy cause. They may respond to a recent earthquake in a foreign country, a flood somewhere within their own, or another natural disaster which has left people destitute and homeless. They may organize drives to collect food, clothing and medicines to serve an immediate need. Today even the Halloween custom of 'trick or treat'has become an occasion to collect money for a charitable cause. The motive to help those less fortunate comes from the poor origins of the American nation. Those immigrants who were poor and downtrodden became dependent on the kindness of their neighbors to make a new life for themselves. American volunteers work throughout the world in less developed countries. They volunteer by serving as a champion of goodwill both at home and abroad, which no doubt enriches both his life and those whom he serves. American charitable activities started because _ . Answer: poor immigrants needed help badly
It's generally thought to be impolite not to give waiters some money as a tip after getting good services in western countries. However, hard economic times mean tourists are giving fewer tips, according to a survey . As many as one third of holidaymakers are giving smaller tips or have stopped tipping entirely, the survey by TripAdvisor found. Also, only 46% of British always know what is expected in the way of tips in other countries. The survey of 5,595 travellers, including 1,197 from the UK, showed that 41% of European travellers were tipping less or not at all this year. A total of 63% of European travellers knew how to tip in other countries, with Italians coming first. The survey also showed that 29% of British tended to give the same amount in tips whatever country they were in. As many as 8% of British said they had had a holiday ruined by a bad tipping experience, while 16% said they they had been once in a situaiton where the waiter complained about the amount of the tip. Also, 12% of British said tipping on holiday made them nervous, while 22% said _ . TripAdvisor spokeswoman Emma Shaw said: "It's been a challenging year for the British economy and Brits are spending very carefully. While the majority are still rewarding good service on holidays with tips, many Brits are giving smaller tips as cost-saving continues to be important." Why do the tourists give fewer tips? Answer: They are suffering from tough economy. On Sunday, our family went for a picnic. Mom, dad, Alice, Sissy (our dog), and I got in the van and drove to the park. Alice and I played fetch with Sissy. Dad fired up the grill and made some hamburgers. Mom made some salad. Mom asked me to spread the picnic cloth. Sissy wanted to help me too. Once the burgers were ready, we sat down to eat. They were delicious, I ate two! Alice only ate one hamburger. I didn't like the salad because I don't like carrots. Mom says they're good for me. Sissy doesn't like carrots either. After lunch, I played with dad and Alice played with mom and Sissy. Dad and I were flying a kite. Alice and mom played with flowers. Then we packed up the van and went home. I fell asleep on the way home. Sunday was a lot of fun. I want to do it again! What did I eat two of? Answer: Hamburgers For the second time in three years, Norway's Robert Sorlie delivered a brave performance to win sled-dog racing's toughest contest--the Iditarod. The 47-year-old firefighter crossed the finish line in Nome, Alaska, at 8:39 a.m. local time Wednesday morning. "It feels good to be here," he declared, after passing the finish line. "I'm ready for breakfast." Frosty temperatures, rough land, and exhaustion couldn't break the musher , who completed the race in 9 days, 18 hours, 39 minutes, and 31 seconds. Runner-up Ed Iten finished 34 minutes later, and defending champ Mitch Seavey finished third. Sorlie took his first lead at the 365-mile mark, but fell into second place halfway through the race. With 500 miles to go, he regained the lead for good. Iditarod officials rewarded Sorlie with a generous prize of $72,066 and a new truck. But even more exciting for the winner was the historic nature of his ride. By winning this year's race, Sorlie joins a best group of mushers, becoming only the sixth person to win the Iditarod more than once. After winning several major long-distance races in Europe, Sorlie made his Iditarod first appearance in 2002, finishing in ninth place. A year later, he returned to take on the Alaskan wilderness once again, and won. Iditarod: A Quick History Since 1973, the world's top competitors have gathered in Alaska to undertake the Iditarod's 1,150-mile trail, which stretches from Anchorage to Nome. The race commemorates a group of courageous mushers and dogs. In 1925, they traveled across part of the Idit trail to deliver serum to save sick children in Nome. How long did it take Ed Iten to finish the race? Answer: 9 days, 19 hours, 13 minutes, and 31 seconds. For millions of people,the American dream of owning a home seems to be slipping out of reach. "Maybe young couples can no longer afford to buy a ready-made house as their parents did,' says 40-year-old building instructor Pat Hennin."But they can still have a home.Like their pioneer ancestors,they can build it themselves,and at less than half the cost of a ready-made house." The owner-builders came from every occupational group,although surprisingly few are professional building workers.Many take the plunge with little or no experience."l learned how to build my house from reading books,"says John Brown,who built a six-room home for$25,000 in High Falls,New Jersey."If you have patience and the carpentry skill to make a bookcase,you can build a house."An astonishing 50 percent of these owner builders hammer every nail.1ay every pipe,and wire every switch with their own hands.The rest contract for some parts of the task.But even those who just act as contractors and finish the insides of their homes can save from 30 percent to 45 percent of what a ready-made home would cost. One survey revealed that 60 percent of owner-builders also design their homes.Many others buy commercial house plans for less than $100 or use plans available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. What does the passage mainly tell us? Answer: The American dream of owning a house. The future of pinnipeds looks much brighter today than it once did. At one time, about 100 years ago, it seemed certain that many pinnipeds in the world would be destroyed by human hunters. Today, it appears that most species( ) of pinnipeds are out of danger. Hunting was not controlled during the 18th and 19th centuries, because little was known about the lives of pinnipeds. Whales and pinnipeds were hunted for the oil from their body fat. This oil was used in lamps before electric lights were invented. Millions of seals and other pinnipeds were used to provide oil for the lamps of the world. As a result, the numbers of many pinniped species fell rapidly. Several things happened that helped to save pinnipeds. First, species that were hunted to near extinction were left alone because their numbers were too low and the cost of hunting them went up greatly. At the same time, electric lights were invented and the market for seal oil became smaller. Finally, governments around the world made laws to protect pinnipeds. As a result of all these things, the numbers of most pinniped species have grown in recent years. With some species, such as Northern fur seals, there may be as many animals alive today as there were before all the hunting began. However, oil is still a danger to pinnipeds and all sea animals. But this time it's not because they are hunted for their oil. The oil that puts them in danger is from oil spills in the sea. The oil covers their fur and reduces their body temperatures. Oil also sticks to the foods they eat. This modern danger to pinnipeds and their environment is one we must work to prevent. In which part of a magazine can we most probably read this passage? Answer: Wildlife.
NOT all memories are sweet. Some people spendall their lives trying to forget bad experiences. Violence and traffic accidents can leave people with terrible physical and emotional scars. Often they relive these experiences in nightmares. Now American researchers think they are close to developing a pill, which will help people forget bad memories. The pill is designed to be taken immediately after a frightening experience. They hope it might reduce, or possibly erase the effect of painful memories. In November, experts tested a drug on people in the prefix = st1 /USandFrance. The drug stops the body releasing chemicals that fix memories in the brain. So far the research has suggested that only the emotional effects of memories may be reduced, not that the memories are erased. The research has caused a great deal of argument. Some think it is a bad idea, while others support it. Supporters say it could lead to pills that prevent or treat soldiers' troubling memories after war. They say that there are many people who suffer from terrible memories. "Some memories can ruin people's lives. They come back to you when you don't want to have them in a daydream or nightmare. They usually come with very painful emotions," said Roger Pitman, a professor of psychiatryat Harvard Medical School. : "This could relieve a lot of that suffering." But those who are against the research say that changing memories is very dangerous because memories give us our identity . They also help us all avoid the mistakes of the past. "All of us can think of bad events in our lives that were horrible at the time but make us who we are. I'm not sure we want to wipe those memories out," said Rebecca Dresser, a medical ethicist Which of the following does Rebecca Dresser agree with? A. Some memories can ruin people's lives. B. People want to get rid of bad memories. C. Experiencing bad events makes us different from others. D. The pill will reduce people's sufferings from bad memories. Answer: C. Experiencing bad events makes us different from others. Even with the multimedia excitement of the web. Electronic Mail, email, is the most frequently used application of the Internet. Many people who have a chance to use the Internet at school, home, and work. They use the Internet for no other purposes than to send or receive emails. It's all very easy. You prepare the message, log onto the Internet, and send it. The message first goes to your Internet Service Provider's mail server, which in turn sends it to the recipient's mail server. On the way your message may go through several servers, each reading the name in order to send it to the right server. The message then remains in the recipient's mail email server until he requests it by "checking his mail". The benefits of emails are obvious: mostly it's quick. Also, many people feel that the rules for regular mails don't apply to email, making it less formal, which in turn make email easier to write and send. It's not just friends and coworkers that are receiving emails. Wherever you look, the Web is providing email addresses. This has made communication between strangers easier than ever. You can read an interesting article online and immediately send the author an email. Anyone who posts his email address on a Web page is saying he wants to receive email. There are places you can go if you don't know someone's email address. Check out Bigfoot, the Internet Address Finder, or Netscape's Email Directories for more information. Email is one of the services offered by your Internet Service Provider--a service that you're applying for every month. If you don't know someone's email address, _ . A. look up in a dictionary B. check on Netscape's Email Directories C. ask your computer teacher D. refer to your textbook Answer: B. check on Netscape's Email Directories More and more people are interested in traveling. Why do people travel? "To see more of the country and the world," many people would say. Of course it offers us good chances to meet people from other countries, learn about their culture. In 2014, Chinese people traveled to other countries 30% more than in 2013. The number reached 77,000,000. Chinese people usually join large tourist groups and visit several countries in one trip. Chinese people don't just travel for sights. They can also go shopping. For example, during Christmas, shops usually offer discounts. Then shopping in Europe and the United States is popular among Chinese travelers. In winter, China goes through a cold season. So many people like going to some countries in Southeast Asia because the weather there is pleasant. Now more Chinese can go traveling. But some of them don't have a sense of public manners. A report says some Chinese don't follow the traveling rules. Someone writes 'Ding x x has come here', someone litters, spits, snatches bus seats, takes off shoes in public, talks loudly and smokes in non-smoking areas. We should stop doing these. What's the best title of the passage? A. Traveling in China B. Traveling to other countries C. Chinese tourists D. Chinese people like traveling Answer: D. Chinese people like traveling Aava Whistler Hotel Star Ratings: Location: Whistler Rooms:192 Stay at the Aava Whistler Hotel (formerly Coast Whistler Hotel) and experience a great vacation. The Aava Whistler Hotel is within minutes from over a hundred shopping malls and restaurants. It also has a great number of recreational facilities,including swimming,diving and even skiing. Hotel services include 24-hour reception,laundry and room service. Guests can stay in cozy rooms equipped with air-conditioning, bathroom and television. From CN Y=496 per night. Best Western Cairn Croft Hotel Star Ratings: Location: East Lundy's Lane Room:l66 Relax and unwind at the Best Western Cairn Hotel. This resort-style hotel is located just minutes from the airport. At the Best Western Cairn Croft, guests can enjoy a large number of recreational facilities,including children's activities, sightseeing and a swimming pool. Business travelers can also take advantage of spacious meeting and banqueting facilities for hosting corporate events. All rooms come with basic amenities . From CNY=439 per night. Clarion Hotel&Suites Downtown Montreal Star Ratings: Location:Montreal Rooms:266 Conveniently located just 20 minutes from the airport, the Clarion Hotel&Suite Downtown Montreal is a moderately-priced three-star hotel that provides services to both business and leisure travelers. The Clarion has spacious meeting facilities and modern business centers for business travelers. It also has a sauna and whirlpool where guest can relax. All rooms come with basic amenities, including cable TV and a kitchenette. From CNY=553 per night. Delta Bow Valley Hotel Star Ratings: Location:Calgary Rooms:398 The Delta Bow Valley Hotel is located a couple of blocks north of Olympic Plaza, east of James Short Park, and north-east of the Petro-Canada Centre. Apart from business and recreational services such as a business centre,fitness centre and restaurant, all rooms in the Delta come with a mini bar and in-house movies. From CNY=l,227 per night. What do all four of the hotels have in common? A. They all have a three star ratings. B. They all have the same number of rooms C. They are all close to the airport D. They all provide a room with a mini bar. Answer: A. They all have a three star ratings. At Dulles High school in Sugar Land, Texas, the roster for Advanced Chinese begins with Jason Chao and ends with Kathy Zhang. In between comes an unexpected name: Elizabeth Hoffman. Hoffman, now a 12thgrader, began learning Chinese in the eighth grade, has spent a summer studying in Nanjing and plans to perfect her Mandarin next fall. When asked by her peers---why she is learning Chinese, she responds with a question: "why aren't you?" As China rushes toward superpower status, America's schools and government officials are responding to Hoffman's opinion. Earlier this year Eush Holt of New Jersey introduced legialation calling for increased money of programs for less commonly taught languages, "For reasons of economics, culture and security, we should have much better facilities with Chinese languages and dialects," he said. The State Department has pointed out Chinese is becoming a "critical language", but the most recent data show that only 24,000 students in Grade 7 to Grade 12 study Chinese. Still, the number is growing. In Chicago public schools, enrollment in Chinese classes has skyrocked from 5000 students in 2005 to nearly 35,000 students this year. In the Santa Clara County, California, enrollment has quadrupled during the same period. In 2007, when the College Board first introduces advanced-placement language exams in Chinese and Italian, 2,400 high school plan to offer AP Chinese---10 times the number of students that plan to offer AP Italian. Much of the interest can be explained by China's increasing competiviveness. "People are always trying to judge what languages are going to be useful for the future," says Marty Abbot, the director of education at the National Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, Stephanie Wong, a student At Monta Vista High School in Cupertino, California, chose Chinese so that she could speak with her grandfather. Wong also predicted that Chinese will be important if she becomes a doctor. 80 percent of people in her hometown are Asians. _ arouses America's schools interest in Chinese. A. The fact that Chinese is becoming a "critical language" B. China's increasing competitiveness in the world C. The beautiful Chinese traditional culture D. The population of people speaking Chinese Answer: B. China's increasing competitiveness in the world
There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner. As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck. Just out of impulse ,he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck in the head and killed it. He was shocked! In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood, only to see his sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing. After lunch the next day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes". But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen. "Then she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?" So Johnny did the dishes. Every time Grandma asked Sally to do some housework, she will repeat the same story. After several days of Johnny doing both his work and Sally's, he finally couldn't stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck. Grandma gave him a hug and said, "Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you. " In our daily life, whatever we do, God is always standing at the window and he sees the whole thing. He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you. The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness, he not only forgives you, but also he forgets. From the story we can learn that _ . A. everyone has to forget the sad thing B. grandparents won't be frightened by children's mistakes C. those who often lie to others will become the devil D. one should be brave to admit his mistakes Answer: D. one should be brave to admit his mistakes There is just one four-legged animal that can walk two hundred miles without stopping once to rest. It would take a person two days and two nights to walk this far, and only one man has ever done it without stopping. What amazing animal has such endurance ? The camel! The camel is well known for something else, too. It can cross an entire desert without a single drink of water. Its body is built in a special way to help it store water and food. A person has just one stomach, but a camel has quite a few. Within each stomach are layers and layers of cells. These cells are like tiny water balloons, storing liquids until the camel needs them. When the camel drinks, the cells grow larger and larger. For a whole week, they can keep the animal's thirst away by sending water to all parts of its body. Have you ever wondered why the camel has a hump ? The hump is a storage place for fat. Because it has this storage area, the camel does not need to eat very often. When the animal needs energy, the layers of fat serve as fuel to keep it going on the long, hot days in the burning sun. The camel has another gift that makes it well suited to arid regions. This gift is its amazing nose. A camel can smell a water hole from miles away! When a camel moves, it sways from side to side like a ship on a wavy ocean. Because of this swaying motion, the camel has been called the "ship of the desert". Which factor contributes to a camels' endurance except _ ? A. It has several stomachs B. The nose of a camel is special. C. The camel has a hump which can store fat. D. It has a swaying motion. Answer: D. It has a swaying motion. A farmer's potato crop all dies and is gone to waste. The farmer looks in the field closely and can tell that the crops were destroyed by A. Jupiter B. all C. flowers D. bugs Answer: D. bugs The Amber Room belongs to the eight wonders of the world. It was given the name because almost several tons of amber were used to make it. First it was designed for the palace of FrederickI. Then Frederick William I, the next king of Prussia, sent it to Peter the Great as a gift of friendship from Prussian people. Later, CatherineII had the Amber Room moved to a palace outside St. Petersburg where she spent her summers and she told her artists to add more details to its design. Unfortunately, during the Second World War, the Nazi German was at war with Russia. In September 1941, the Nazis secretly stole the Amber Room and sent boxes of the Amber Room on a train for Konigsberg. After that what really happened to the Amber Room remains a mystery. The story is about _ . A. the war between the Russians and Germans B. the history of the Amber Room C. how to build the Amber Room D. why the king built the Amber Room Answer: B. the history of the Amber Room The producer of a new Indonesian movie about President Obama's childhood years in Jakarta is hoping that interested Americans will flock to see the film, Little Obama, in theatres across the country. Little Obama is the creation of Damien Dematra, an Indonesian writer and artist who has worked on the project since November when he was struck with the idea of writing about the time a young Obama lived in Jakarta with his mother and stepfather in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The film is based on a novel published in March Obama Anak Menteng, and focuses on the president's childhood friendships in Indonesia. The novel and the film are fictionalized(-) accounts of the president's time in Jakarta and are based on interviews with people who are childhood friends and neighbours of Mr. Obama. Many Indonesians share a deep pride about a man who spent part of his shaping years in the country and went on to become U.S. president. The film star is a 14-year-old Hasan Faruq Ali, an American who has lived in Indonesia with his family for about 10 years. Like the president, he is the son of a white mother and a black father. Since filming began, he has been under the shine of media attention. "My whole life changed overnight," he says. The film, which was made on a budget of $1 million, won't get its first public screening until Wednesday, but ads for the movie on YouTube have got a few thousand hits. It isn't clear whether Little Obamawill get a U.S. release , but the film's producer says he is in talks with a U.S. distributor . Which is NOTtrue about Obama and Hasan Faruq Ali? A. Their nationality is American. B. They shoot a film when they are young. C. they have the experience of living in Indonesia. D. Hasan has a white mother and a black father. Answer: B. They shoot a film when they are young.
I moved from Chicago to Brooklyn in July of 2010,just in time to watch my mother die. Our parents were both gone now; I took with me as many things they had left behind as I could. I was out walking one Saturday later that summer when something caught my eye - a pale green dress. Laid out on the pavement was stuff like earrings, glass candle-holders, books. Hanging on the fence behind were a few pairs of jeans and a green cotton dress. The woman, the host oPS the stoop sale, looked like she was getting rid of a past she didn't need or want. A dress that was too big for her. A chest of drawers that took up too much space, space she needed, maybe, to heal ,recover, or grow. I wasn't planning on buying anything really, but now I needed to show her that I appreciated her things and I would give them a safe home. Then I had my first stoop sale --I paid her 20 dollars for her green cotton dress and her blue candle-holder, From that day on, I became interested in stoop sales. Some of my favorite things are from someone else's life. I find no joy in shopping at regular stores any more. I love trying to sniff out a memory from a bud vase or a drawer. It is comforting to know that someone has breathed and laughed inside a sweater before me. A few weeks ago, I carried my mother's dresses to a friend's stoop. These were her best items ,which were once worn by the most important person in my life. For many hours, I watched from across the path people advancing the stoop, some leaving with Mom1S dress. I used to think that her stuff was as forever sacred as my memory of her, I know now that once I love a scarf or shirt too dearly,it needs to find a new home. Even that green dress is long gone by now. It can be inferred that the author will _ . Answer: Recently, we were given the opportunity to review a book written by a young author. When we received it, I noted how beautifully done it was. While often the case---we see beautifully written and illustrated books all the time---but how often do they come from a 10-year-old? Sewing a Friendship, written by a creative and talented young girl named Natalie Tinti, is such a book. Developing friendships is an area that Natalie Tinti has researched in her own life. In her book, Sewing a Friendship, she tells what great things can happen if kids take a step toward friendship. Tinti's characters in Sewing a Friendship have colorful and creative personalities. Jonsy Jipsy loves singing and belly dance. Sokron Blossom lives in a neat and tidy world and loves to read fashion magazines. Meeka likes brain games and Nina is happy with her life and the music it brings her. All but one of the characters seems happy with their lives. One of the girls, Kiki Shaver, was sad to live in a small home with her aunt and uncle. She had no friend and didn't know how to make them. When four girls invites her into the circle of their friendship, it's no wonder that Kiki is hesitant and uneasy. The story continues as the four girls invite and accept a " not so likeable" girl into their circle to win a fashion show. The girls feel a strong bond of friendship after the show. Kiki then understands that taking a step towards friendship is better than being alone. All the girls learn that by having the courage to include others, you can " sew a friendship". Today, it seems that almost every news headline begins with a child's suicide---or murder---because of being bullied ,not having friends or family to discuss issues with and feelings of low self -respect. What's causing these senseless terrible events? If more kids would invite the outcasts into their circle of friends, lives would be saved as well as pointed in another direction. Natalie Tinti finds her voice in Sewing a Friendship ---and shows a talent that's rare for such a young girl. Recommended reading for all young adult fans. The author seems to agree that _ . Answer: Singer-songwriter Tori Kelly is close to a huge breakthrough. Her recent performances on the BET Awards shows have created a sensation in pop music. You couldn't call Kelly an overnight success. Sure she's only 22. The Southern Californian girl first appeared in public on the talent show "Star Search" when she was only 10. But her real appearance came from posting videos on YouTube. Eventually Kelly made her way to "American Idol", and advanced through to Hollywood. But she did not make the Top 24. That loss encouraged her to write more of her own material, which eventually became part of her first album "Handmade Songs by Tori Kelly". "Even just releasing music in general is an achievement. I get to put out a whole album of songs that I just put my whole heart into, and people are responding really well to it," she said. "It's like the best feeling in the world because these are songs about my life. So it's really cool to be able to do what I love." "Handmade Songs" sold well enough to reach the top 10 in a number of music charts .She followed that success with live performances at clubs in Los Angeles. Recently, Kelly excited audiences at the Billboard Music Awards with her performance of her song "Nobody Love". The singer-songwriter says that being within reach of her goal is amazing. "I think all the awards shows I have done so far have just been so _ l," she said. "Like, I always dreamed of being on different awards shows, sitting at home on my sofa and watching. I think as a kid I just always put myself on that stage, and the fact that it's actually happening, that I get to be a part of these shows is unbelievable." Kelly released her full-length album "Unbreakable Smile" in June, 2015. Her single "Should've been us" is also rising on the Billboard Hot 100. Tori Kelly is not an overnight success because _ . Answer: Today's world is very unsafe for children. We all listen to news of child abduction everyday on TV and feel concerned about the safety of our children. So, it is necessary for parents to know about the methods of protecting children from illegal elements and criminals. GPS tracking system comes in handy for such a purpose and gives a sigh of relief to the worried parents. With the help of GPS child tracking device you can locate your child easily at any time. GPS child tracking system is also very helpful for watching the activities of teenagers.This age is called the most risky age, as in this age it is very easy to attract child towards effortless shortcut ways of achieving success. money etc. Bad-intentioned people try to misuse the innocence of children. With the GPS child tracking system, you can keep a watch on your child and prevent him from falling in bad company. A less than 2 inches square device, it is very easy to operate and doesn't need much technical expertise . You can put it in the backpack of your child. With this device, you can keep a watch on your child 24 hours via your personal computer. If you witness some threat or if the child feels some danger in any situation, he can press the SOS button. The device is easily rechargeable and battery runs 18~24 hours after each recharge. Why are teenagers at the most risky age? Answer: Parents will do anything for their children. Whether it would be the food, clothes, or the place they live in, parents will always make sure their children have the best of everything. One of the biggest concerns that parents currently have is educating their children. They are faced with lots of difficulties when it comes to education for their young ones. Choices include private school, charter school, public school or home schooling. Fortunately for parents,there are a variety of different strategies that they can take in order to increase their child's overall intelligence. According to Ross A. Thompson, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of California at Davis, a child's brain will actually reach 90% of its full size by the time they start kindergarten. Researchers at Northwestern University in Chicago concluded that playing a musical instrument directly affected the brain stem, the lower section of the brain. Moreover, children that learn an instrument at an early age tend to continue it when they are older. And numerous studies show that a well balanced meal is essential for a child's mental as well as physical health. Some other researchers recommended that a second language should be taught when children are in preschool. They state that three to four years of age is the perfect time and that any age under four would work perfectly well for a child's brain development. The average child will learn how to read between kindergarten and second grade. Many parents can give their children a _ by teaching them to read before they start school. Children could have an adequate background of the alphabet and sounds of words before attending school. This can be done by simply reading to them whenever you want. The more comfortable they get,the easier the process will be. What suggestion may the researchers in the passage make? Answer:
Is war unavoidable? Can war be prevented? History tells that there were wars, great or small, in every century, in every decade. Throughout the ages, from the Stone age to the Atomic Age, men have been fighting, first with swords and shields , then with guns and cannons, and now, hydrogen bombs and missiles are used for military purpose. But, in spite of all these, it is still my belief that war can be prevented and peace can be won, but it requires the effort of every one of us. I am sure that we would not like to experience another world war. If it ever happens, two-thirds of the world and much of the civilization which men have gained through time, patience and effort will be destroyed. Will then the remaining one-third of the world be able to survive on its own? Our task now is not to blame the past, but to plan for the future. If there is peace in the world, men can use their rockets to explore the mystery of space, their submarines to explore the depth of the sea, their missiles to deliver mails and their fine equipment to penetrate the jungles of Africa, instead of using them military. Governments can use their money to build more schools, so that more children can be educated to be useful citizens. Scientists can use atomic energy to propel steamships and planes. They can also design new machines to increase the production of goods and thus improve the way of living of the people. How can a peaceful world be achieved? It requires, in my opinion, the understanding and friendship between all people from all nations. Let no one suffer discrimination by reason of color, race, religion, or national origin. Let the rich support the poor and the strong help the weak. We know that neither peace nor such a dream world can come true in a day or a month. It may even take decades or centuries. But let us plan and begin now. What should we do to achieve peace? A Spend more money educating children. B Stop military exploration C Call on people to help each other D Act from right now on. Answer: D After her husband had gone to work, Mrs Richards send her children to school and went upstairs to her bedroom. She was too excited to do any housework that morning. In the evening she would go to a fancy dress party with her husband. She wanted to dress up as a ghost and as she had made her costume the night before, she was impatient to try it on. Though the costume consisted only of a sheet, it was really splendid. After putting it on, She went downstairs to find out whether it would be comfortable to wear. Just as Mrs Richards was entering the dining-room, there was a knock on the front door. She knew it must be the baker. She had told him to come straight in if ever she failed to open the door and to leave the bread on the table. Not wanting to frighten the poor man, she quickly hid in the small store-room under the stair. She heard the front door opened and heavy footsteps in the hall. Suddenly the door of the store-room was opened and in came a man. Mrs Richards realized it must be the man from the Electricity Board who had come to read the meter. She tried to explain the situation, saying "It's only me. "but it was too late, the man let out a cry and jumped back several paces. When Mrs Richards walked towards him, he fled, losing the door heavily behind him. Mrs Richards went downstairs with the costume on so as to _ . A made sure that the costume fitted her well B frighten the person who was knocking on the door C find out if she had finished the costume D receive the bread and do some cooking Answer: A Let's Learn More about Each Other Are the lives of city kids the same as those in villages? In many ways, they are very different. But what are the differences? Hu Peng of Wuhan and four friends decided to find them out. Earlier this month, they lived for a week in Caidian, a village near Wuhan. Hu and his friends went door to door in Caidian and asked the kids there lots of questions. They wanted to learn more about village kids' everyday lives, so they asked these questions like --Do your parents teach you how to do housework? How much money do you usually spend on dinner? What would you do if a thief came into your house? They also asked 150 city kids the same questions.What's the Difference? Last week the team gave a report to their class. There are lots of differences between children's lives in cities and those in villages. The biggest difference is independence. Hu's team said that 60 percent of city kids couldn't do much housework, but 90 percent of village kids could care for themselves. City kids told Hu they cared about school a lot, and they had no time for washing clothes or making their beds. Village kids said they helped their parents with housework a lot. They cooked, did some cleaning and fed animals. Hu's team also found that village kids had less pocket money . Many never used computers. They played in rivers or on mountains. Some didn't really like to make new friends. Hu and his friends said their trip gave them more self-confidence because they were doing something by themselves. But _ also made them a little worried because they saw they still had a lot to learn. "When we grow up, our parents can't take care of us," said Hu. "We have to learn to take care of ourselves." Shen Guanquan, one of Hu's friends said, "When children learn to care for themselves, they learn to do lots of things." Hu Peng and his friends finished their report by _ . A visiting schools in the village B questioning village kids and city kids C watching village kids' everyday lives D questioning village kids' parents Answer: B The rapid growth of Smartphones and electronic tablets is making the Internet favourite for Americans reading news, a report said. News consumption online increased 17% last year from the year before. Television news, newspapers, radio and magazines all lost audience last year. For the first time, the number of people who get news online at least three times a week is larger than the number of people who get news from the newspapers. TV news has been the most popular since the 1960s. It has replaced the afternoon newspapers. But now the online news seems to be more popular than the TV news. People are used to having the Internet available on phones or small tablets. In December, 2010, 41% of Americans said they got most of their news on the Internet, more than double the 17% who said that a year earlier, the report said. In January, 2011, 7% of Americans owned electronic tablets, nearly double what it was three months earlier. It was the fastest-growing new digital technology, ahead of mobile phones when they were introduced. The online ad income was expected to surpass print newspaper ad income for the first time in 2010. The news business used to be the intermediary . You needed newspapers and TV stations to reach your customers. In this age of the computer, it's the software developers that you need. Americans like getting news from _ best today. A TV news B the Internet C newspapers D radios Answer: B Do you like doing sports every day? A lot of people like doing sports because they can help them to keep fit. Today Yoga is women's favorite kind of sports. But many people like to watch others to play ball games. They like Yao Ming and David Beckham very much. Yao Ming plays basketball very well. David Beckham is good at playing football. People often watch their favorite players or teams on TV. When they watch them on TV, they feel excited. Sports change with the seasons. People play different games in different seasons. They will swim in summer and skate in winter. In autumn, they enjoy playing volleyball and tennis. They love going on a trip in spring. Doing sports is good for people's health. Swimming is suitable for the hot weather but skating is great for the cold weather. Swimming in some places is popular. People living near the sea or lakes or rivers often swim in summer. Many American families do some sports at the weekend. They are happy and healthy. What does David Beckham do? A He plays football well. B He watches players on TV. C He does sports every day. D He is a football player. Answer: D
Mom: Daniel, I need to talk to you about your behavior. Dad and I realize there is probably an explanation for why the house is so dirty, but you shouldn't have run out of the room and closed the door so hard like that. Daniel: Mom, I'm sorry, but I was so angry! You want me to act like an adult but you and dad treat me like a child. Why didn't you just ask me what had happened? Mom: Well, I know that grown-ups are supposed to make good decisions but sometimes we make mistakes. We were angry too. None of us stopped to think and we should have. Can you explain to me now why the house was a mess and what you did with the money we left? Daniel: Spot was sick, Mom. Eric and I didn't want to call you and dad on your vacation, so I used the money you left and some of my own to take him to the vet. We stayed there and waited for him all day. That is why we didn't have time to clean the house. Who is Spot? A He is Daniel's brother. B He is Eric's classmate. C He is a pet dog. D He is a sporty boy. Answer: C In my thirty years as a time management speaker, I have observed a lot of what we can not and should not do to increase our daily results. Time management is not necessarily working harder, but rather smarter. A lot of our time management has to do more with what we are not doing rather than what we are doing. Sometimes our mistakes will keep us from running at a full pace. Here are some time management mistakes we should all avoid to help us increase our daily efficiency: Start your day without a plan of action. Without a plan, you will have worked hard but may not have done enough right things. Time management is not doing the wrong things more rapidly. That just gets us nowhere faster. Time management is doing the right things. Work with a messy desk or work area. Studies have shown that the person who works with a messy desk spends, on average, one and a half hours per day in looking for things. That's seven and a half hours per week. If you have ever visited the office of a top manager, you can easily find that he or she is working with a clean desk environment. Don't take a lunch break. Many people do not take a lunch break. They work through that time period in the hope that it will give them more time to finish the task. Studies have shown that it may work just the opposite. After doing what we do for several hours, our mind will become boring. A lunch break, even a fifteen-minute break, gives us a chance to get our batteries all charged up again. The text mainly tells us _ . A how to avoid wasting time B we should get our batteries all charged up C how important time management is D some time management mistakes Answer: D US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is likely to visit China at an "appropriate" time this year, a senior Chinese military official said on Monday. Colonel Tu Qiming, director of the American and Oceania Affairs Bureau of the Foreign Affairs Office at the National Defense Ministry, made the remark during Sino-US defense talks this week. This is the first ever "special defense policy dialogue" between the two defense ministries, according to the Chinese military. * FRANCES Agriculture Ministry has confirmed the first case of mad cow disease detected in a goat last Friday. The goat killed in 2002 tested positive for mad cow disease. It is the first case in the world of the fatal disease being found in an animal other than a bovine. The human form of mad cow disease causes brain-wasting, personality change, loss of body function, and ends in death. The European Commission has not advised any change in farming and consuming goats, said the French Ministry in a statement published last Friday. * MOBILE phone sales hit a new record in 2010, with some 684 million units sold around the world, the US research institute Strategy Analytics said on Thursday. The number represents an increase of 32 per cent over 2003, when 571 million units were sold. Strategy Analytics predicts a more modest rise of 8 per cent for this year, to 735 million. Finnish cell phone provider Nokia stayed out in front in 2010, with sales of 207.6 million units, giving it a market share of 30.4 per cent. Motorola moved to No 2, just ahead of the South Korean company Samsung. *** SIX male penguins at a German zoo are proving stubbornly resistant to females brought in from Sweden to make them into breeding .Of the ten male penguins at the zoo, six have formed into "homosexual" couples and have shown no interest in the females, making breeding an impossibility. So the zoo imported the four female penguins from Sweden last month, full of hope that the new arrivals could "turn" the males. But so far, the boys are remaining strictly with the boys. Which will probably reach the sales of 735 million units in 2010? A Nokia. B Motorola. C Samsung. D Cell phones. Answer: D Soap operas from South Korea have been popular in China for two decades now. So, it is not the first time Chinese TV dramas have paled in comparison. But this time, the one-two punch from The Heirs and My Love From the Star really hurts. A senior official freely admitted to being an occasional participant in the vast club of Korean soap watchers. It has also been reported that he follows House of Cards, an American political thriller that would understandably fascinate him. His remark opened the flood gate of complaints about why we are falling behind in the creative industry. Most seem to agree that, given some content limits, China's television industry is not able to produce something like House of Cards, which is very dark and filled with conspiracy . But there is a concern about our inability to make something as entertaining as My Love from the Star, a Korean love story about a time-traveling professor and a proud movie star. Judging from Chinese shows in recent years, time travel is not strictly forbidden, but allowed when it is used as a background and handled with kid gloves. A series of palace dramas is built on the plot that the female leading character is transported from contemporary times back to ancient China, playing the game of an unhappy girl and a real prince coming to her rescue. There are many reasons why Chinese soap operas have become the favorite punching bag. Among them is the most important one that the industry itself has never set right its mechanism for operation. The role of the creator, the most important job for American TV series programming that is often taken on by the head writer, is vacant in China. Because Chinese television came from the film industry, few have realized that, unlike director-dominated films, TV is the art of the writer, which is accepted in almost all countries with highly developed television industries. Compared with soap operas from South Korea, Chinese TV dramas_. A have received criticism for the first time B always reach more watchers C prove less entertaining for many times D have as many content limits Answer: C Food is colorful. Some food is green, some food is red, and some is black. Now more and more people like to have black food--black rice, black beans, black grapes. Why do they like black food? * Black food can make grey hair into black hair. * Black food is good for the heart. * Black food can help children become smart. * Black food can also help women look young. Black food is very good, but we need food with different colors. Doctors say that it isn't good to be _ about food. So we had better eat all kinds of food. _ is good for our health. A red food B green food C black food D Food with different colors Answer: D
Question: A good modern newspaper is an extraordinary piece of reading. It is remarkable first for what it contains: the range of news from local crime to international politics, from sport to business to fashion to science, and the range of comment and special features as well, from editorial page to feature articles and interviews to criticism of books, art, theatre and music. A newspaper is even more remarkable for the way one reads it: never completely, never straight through, but always by jumping from here to there, in and out glancing at one piece, reading another article all the way through, reading just a few paragraghs of the next. A good modern newspaper offers a variety to attract many different readers, but far from one reader is interested in what brings this variety together in. One place is its topicality , its immediate relation to what is happening in your world and your locality now. But immediacy and the speed of production that goes with it mean also that much of what appears in a newspaper has no more than transient value. For all these reasons, no two people really read the same paper: what each person does is to put together out of the pages of that day's paper, his own selection and sequence, his own newspaper. For all these reasons, reading newspapers efficiently, which means getting what you want from them without missing things you need but without wasting time, demands skill and self-awareness as you modify and apply the techniques of reading. It can be concluded from the passage that newspaper readers _ . A. apply reading techniques skillfully B. jump from one newspaper to another C. appreciate the variety of a newspaper D. usually read a newspaper selectively Answer: D Question: Digital technology -- email and smart phones especially -- have vastly improved workers' ability to be productive outside of a traditional office. Even so, most white-collar work still happens in an office. One reason is that, according to findings of a new survey of office workers conducted by Wakefield Research for the IT company Citrix, most bosses are doubtful about remote working. Half of the workers say their boss doesn't accept it and only 35 percent say it's tolerated. Skeptical bosses will likely have their doubts reinforced by the same survey, which shows that 43 percent of workers say they've watched TV or a movie while "working" remotely, while 35 percent have done housework,and 28 percent have cooked dinner. It is true, however,that working at home makes people much more efficient , because it allows workers to take care of annoying housework while still getting their jobs done. It's much faster, for example, to shop for groceries at a quarter to three than to stand in line during the after-work rush. The fact that such practices remain officially unaccepted reflects how far we haven't come as a society from the days when we expected every full-time worker to be supported by a full-time homemaker. More broadly the Wakefield survey suggests that employers may be missing a low-cost way to give workers something of value. Sixty-four percent of those survey participants who have worked remotely would rather give up some bonus in order to get even one day a week working from home. Under such circumstances, smart firms need to find ways to let their employees have enough flexibility to manage their time efficiently. Why do some employers hesitate to allow remote working? A. They fear losing control of their workers. B. They want to stick to their routine practice. C. They have little trust in modem technology. D. They are used to face-to-face communication. Answer: A Question: Now, it may be difficult to predict the future, but many people believe that we will live on Mars by the year 2100. Our own planet, Earth, is becoming more and more crowed and polluted. Well, what problems will we need to solve before we prepare to go to Mars? First of all, transport should be much better. At present, humans need to spend months going to Mars by spaceship. However, by 2100, spaceship can travel at half the speed of light. It might take us two or three days to get there! Secondly, humans need food, water and air to live. Scientists should develop plants that can be grown on Mars. These plants will produce the food, water and air that we need. However, there is no answer for all the problems now. There is also a problem for us to live on Mars. Mars attracts us much less than the Earth does. This will be dangerous because we could easily jump too high and fly slowly away into space there. We will have to wear special shoes to make ourselves heavier. In some ways, life on Mars may not be better than that on the earth today. Food will not be the same --meals will probably be in the form of pills and will not be as delicious as they are today. Also, space travel will probably make many people feel very uncomfortable. Which looks like life on Mars according to the passage? A. We can wear the shoes that we like to wear. B. We can drink easily and conveniently. C. We can walk faster than on the earth. D. We can boil food to eat. Answer: C Question: The government-run command post in Tunis is staffed around the clock by military personnel, meteorologists and civilians. On the wall are maps, crisscrossed with brightly colors arrows that painstakingly track the fearsome path of the enemy. What kind of invader gives rise to such high-level monitoring? Not man, not beast, but the lowly desert locust . In recent months, billions of the 3-inch-long winged warriors have descended on Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia, blackening the sky and eating up crops and vegetation. The insect invasion, the worst in 30 years, is already creating great destruction in the Middle East and is now treating southern Europe. The current crisis began in late 1985 near the Red Sea. Unusually rainy weather moistened the sands of the Sudan, making them ideal seedbed for the locust, which lays its eggs in the earth. The insect onslaught threatens to create yet another African famine. Each locust can eat its weight (not quite a tenth of an ounce) in vegetation every 24 hours. A good-size swarm of 50 billion insects eats up 100,000 tons of grass, trees and crops in a single night. All $150 million may be needed this year. The U.S. has provided two spraying planes and about 50,000 gal. of pesticide. The European Community has donated $3.8 million in aid and the Soviet Union, Canada, Japan and China have provided chemical-spraying aircraft to help wipe out the pests. But relief efforts are hampered by the relative mildness of approved pesticides, which quickly lose their deadly punch and require frequent replications. The most effective locust killer dieldrin has been linked to cancer and is banned by many Western countries and some of the affected African nations. More than 5 million acres have been dusted with locust-killing chemicals; another 5 million will be treated by the end of June. On May 30, representatives of Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Mauritania will meet in Algiers to discuss tactics to wipe out the ravenous swarms. The move is an important step, but whatever plan is devised, the locust plague promised to get worse before the insects can be brought under control. The favorable breeding ground for the locust is _ . A. rich soil. B. wet land C. paces covered crops and vegetation D. the Red Sea Answer: B Question: A GRANDMOTHER, Michelle Riotton, 78, survived after falling down a mountain valley. She set off for a walk alone dressed only in a light jacket and trousers. "I slipped into a valley!" said Mrs Riotton, who said the fall happened in a deep forest close to her home village. It was warm and sunny when the accident happened, but temperatures dropped to very low when night fell, and it rained. "I wasn't afraid," said Mrs Riotton. "But I was worried that my children and grandchildren would become too worried about me." Mrs Riotton said she covered herself in leaves when feeling cold, taking very small bites of two biscuits which she had in her pocket and drinking rainwater which fell down her face. She spent six nights before she was found on Saturday. She was lying at the bottom of the valley, which was less than a mile from her home. The search had once been stopped, but Patrice Fossard, one of her neighbors, insisted that the search continue. "There was no way we could give up her, even if deep inside we felt we had little hope of finding her alive," said Mr Fossard. "It was a miracle that Michelle was finally found." Mrs Riotton said she would be taking life easier from now on. "Enough is enough!" she said. "No more forests -- don't want to visit one again." A mountain policeman said walking alone in the mountain was not recommended and that Mrs Riotton should have carried a mobile phone with her. "The mountains are particularly dangerous at this time of year as sunny afternoons can quickly change into cold, wet and stormy evenings." he said. "Anybody walking into the mountains should carry safety equipment and be prepared for any kind of emergency." Michelle Riotton covered herself with leaves to _ . A. keep warm during her suffering B. prevent the harmful animals C. make herself noticed by others D. avoid getting wet in the rain Answer: A
As skies are filled with millions of migrating birds, European scientists say the seasonal wonder appears to be strange: The fatter the bird, tile better it flies. The results of their study led to a theory opposite to a central one of aerodynamics , which says that the power needed to fly increases with weight. For birds, obviously, the cost of flying with heavy fat is much smaller than we used to think. Researchers found that red knot wading birds double their normal body weight of 100 grams before making their twice-a-year nonstop flight between the British Isles and the Russian Arctic. Distance: 5,000 kilometers. Another study in the magazine Nature measured the advantage of flying in an aerodynamic group which allows birds to save energy by flying smoothly and quietly in the lead bird' s air stream. Flying in groups, their heart rates were 14.5 percent lower than flying alone, according to Henri, a French scientist. The findings help explain how birds complete difficult migrations. Researchers had thought that thinner, stronger birds would have the best chance to survive. The first study suggests that building up fat to be burnt as fuel during the migration is worth more than the energy it takes to carry the additional weight. In the study, researchers said their team studied the birds flown at different body weights during 28 simulated flights. They forced a small amount of special water into the birds' bodies so that they could measure the amount of energy burnt during the flight. A _ red knot wading bird has a better chance to survive during its migrating flight. Answer: fatter On the Olympic flag, the rings appear on a white background. The flag reinforces the idea of the Olympic Movement's universality , as it brings together all the countries of the world. Pierre de Coubertin, the father of the modern Olympic Games, explains the meaning of the flag: "The Olympic flag has a white background, with five interlaced rings in the centre: blue, yellow, black, green and red. This design is symbolic; it represents the five continents of the world, united by Olympism, while the six color1s are those that appear on all the national flags of the world at the present time." (1931) Combined in this way, the six color1s of the flag (including the white of the background) represent all nations. It is wrong, therefore, to believe that each of the color1s corresponds to a certain continent! At the Olympic Games, the flag is brought into the stadium during the opening ceremony. Since the 1960 Games in Rome (prefix = st1 /Italy), it has been carried horizontally by a delegation of athletes or other people well known for their positive work in society. After its arrival, the flag is hoisted up the flagpole. It must fly in the stadium during the whole of the Games. When the flag is lowered at the closing ceremony, it signals the end of the Games. The mayor of the host city of the Games passes the Olympic flag to the mayor of the next host city of the Games. In the history, even though Pierre de Coubertin intended the Olympic Games to be an international event from the time of their re-establishment in 1896 in Athens (Greece), it was only at the 1912 Games in Stockholm (Sweden) that, for the first time, the participants came from all five continents. One year later, in 1913, the five rings appeared at the top of a letter written by Pierre de Coubertin. He drew the rings and color1ed them in by hand. He then described this symbol in the Olympic Review of August 1913.It was also Coubertin who had the idea for the Olympic flag. He presented the rings and flag in June 1914 in Parisat the Olympic Congress. The First World War prevented the Games from being celebrated in 1916 in Berlin (Germany) as planned. It was not until 1920 in Antwerp (Belgium) that the flag and its five rings could be seen flying in an Olympic stadium. The universality conveyed by the rings and the flag was a new idea at the beginning of the 20th century. Nationalism was very strong and tension between certain countries was high. It was in this climate, however, that Coubertin proposed a symbol which aimed to encourage world unity. The author mentioned_Olympic Games except the one in 1916 in the passage. Answer: 4 Tony is Allen's classmate. One day,Tony comes to Allen's home. When he sees many books in Allen's study, he says to Allen, "Allen, you have so many good books. Can I borrow a book from you?" Allen doesn't want to lend a book to his classmate and he says, "Why do you want to take my book home? You can read it here in my home. " Tony sees that his classmate is very selfish , but he says nothing. The next day, Allen comes to Tony's house and says, "Tony, you have a good garden-knife. I want to work in my garden tomorrow. Can I use it for two days?" Tony answers, "Why do you want to take my garden-knife home? You can work with it in my garden. " Tony is Allen's _ Answer: classmate What do you do if you are in trouble on a lonely island? Surely you need to find a way to get in touch with the outside world. Your best chance of doing this is to draw the attention of a passing plane. Body signals Pilots from different countries understand body signals if they have the correct training, When you wave your arms up and down in a straight line, it means, "yes". When you point downwards and swing your arm from side to side, it means "no". If you want the pilot to know that it's safe to land, push your hands out in front of you and bend your knees. If you want to say that it's not safe to land, put your arms in the air and move them to one side. Smoke signals The smoke from a fire can be seen from far away, so it's a good way to draw attention. If the weather is dry, it isn't hard to start a fire. Remember, however, that fires can be very dangerous if they get out of control. Never light a tire unless you're sure that it can't spread. If the ground is dark, light smoke can be seen more easily. Green grass and leaves produce light smoke. Ground-to-air signals It's a good idea lo build some signals, too. Use large pieces of wood to make the symbols . If you can't find any wood, use earth. Some useful symbols are: F "I need food and water" II "I need medicine." I "I am badly hurt." X "I am unable lo move from here." Pilots' replies If the pilot lowers the plane's wings from side to side, this means: "message received and understood" (At night, the pilot flashes the plane's green lights.) If the pilot flies the plane in a clockwise circle, this means "message received hut not understood" (At night, the: pilot flashes the plants red lights.) However, there is no signal which means "message not received. What is the passage mainly about? Answer: Ways of sending out signals on a lonely island. Everybody cheats. Whether it's the taxi driver who tricks a visitor and takes them the long way round, or the shop assistant who doesn't give the correct change, or the police officer who accepts a bribe - everybody's at it. Cheats in the nest include the scientist whose research was based on fake data, the game show competitors who worked with a friend in the audience or win a million pounds, and the doctor who made up his qualifications and wasn't really a doctor at all. Everybody cheats; nobody's playing the game. Is cheating acceptable, a natural way of surviving and being successful? Or is it something that should _ , and young people discouraged from doing? If it's the latter how can we explain to children why so many bend the rules? Take sport for example. The Word Cup was filled with cheating. Whether diving, pretending to be hurt or denying a handball, footballers will do anything for a free - kick or a penalty shot. France striker Henry denied cheating to win the free - kick which led to his side's second goal in their 3 - 1 victory over Spain. Many footballers, however, are often putting it on. Whatever the nationality there's one common ploy: the player rolls over holding their leg, ankle or head seeming to be in great pain. As a result a yellow card and / or free - kick is given for the foul and then, a few seconds later, the player is up and about as if nothing had happened ! The ref may be taken in by it but youngsters watching the game aren't. they also see their heroes getting away with it. Of course it's not just football. In 1998 the Tour de France, the world's greatest cycling event, was hit by a drug - taking scandal . The 40 bottles of forbidden drugs found with the Fustian team caused a massive investigation that almost caused the Tour to be abandoned. One rider, Veronique, was banned for 9 months. He claimed: "You have cheats in sport, just as you do in business - there will always be people trying to take a short cut. At least we're not turning a blind eye to the problem, which other sports are." Is it all unavoidable? There's huge pressure on all athletes to perform for their fans and for their sponsors. It's success, money and power that rule professional sport rather than an honest at tempt to do the best one can. Meanwhile companies around the world are losing billions of dollars to fake products. From cut price CDs and DVDs to sportswear, cheap fake products are everywhere. It has become socially acceptable to buy fake Gucci bags and illegal copies of films. If parents are doing this, their children will follow. So perhaps it's not surprising that around the world more pupils than ever are caught cheating during exams. In one case missing exam papers were put up for sale on the Internet. In another, widespread cheating took place by pupils using their mobile phones to receive tested answers. They blame the pressure put on them to do well in exams. It doesn't help that their role models are also cheats. Surely we can't complain when we're setting such a bad example. Which of the following is the main idea of the passage? Answer: If adults cheat, children will cheat too.
Question: One day Bob took two of his friends into the mountains. They put up their tents and then rode off to a forest to see how the trees were growing. In the afternoon when they were about ten kilometers from their camp, it started to snow. More and more snow fell. Soon Bob could hardly see his hands before his face. He could not find the road. Bob knew there were two roads. One road went to the camp, and the other went to his house. But all was white now. Everything was the same. How could he take his friends back to the camp? Bob had an idea. The horses! Let the horses take them back! But what would happen if the horses took the road to his house? That would be a trip of thirty - five kilometers in such cold weather! It was getting late. They rode on and on. At last the horses stopped. Where were they? None of them could tell. Bob looked around. What was that under the tree? It was one of their tents! ,. They could not find their way back because _ . A. there was only one road to their camp. B. there was no roads in the mountains at all. C. they couldn't decide which of the two roads led to their tents. D. everything was covered by the white snow. Answer: D. everything was covered by the white snow. Question: Alexander the Great was a mighty king and conqueror . He was one of the greatest military geniuses the world has ever known. He was born in Pella, Macedonia. Alexander grew to be a handsome, brilliant man. Aristotle, the famous philosopher , came from Greece to teach him---geography, politics, literature, medicine and science. Alexander's father, King Philip II of Macedon, taught him to plan and win battles. The young prince became King when he was 20. He then began the series of marches that continued until he ruled almost all of the then-known world. On his great war horse, Bucephalus, he first took over Greece. He went on to conquer southeastern Europe, Asia Minor, Egypt and India. On his way he crushed the Persian Empire, and was made King of Egypt and Asia. He and his troops traveled over 11,000 miles(17,700 km). He spread Greek customs and ideas wherever he went. In India his men refused to go further. They were tired and frightened, and wanted to go home. Worn out, Alexander agreed to turn back. He died of fever in Babylon, at the early age of 33. Which of the following statements is TRUE? A. He died in his late thirties. B. Bucephalus was probably a big ship. C. He conquered all the countries then known in the world. D. Alexander was very ready to listen to anybody including his officers and soldiers. Answer: D. Alexander was very ready to listen to anybody including his officers and soldiers. Question: Go, known as Weiqi in China and Baduk in South Korea, was viewed as the last game where humans can defeat machines. Lee Se-dol, one of the greatest Go players, has won 18 world championships for 21 years of his professional career. AlphaGo, a computer program developed by Google's DeepMind, beat the European Go champion, an achievement that was not expected for years in October, 2015. The match between Lee and AlphaGo was seen as a representative game between humans and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The match of the century drew great attention from news organizations, Go fans and the general public across the world as well as in South Korea. Go originated from China more than 2,500 years ago. It involves two players who take turns putting markers on a net-shaped board to gain more areas on it. One can occupy the markers of the rival by surrounding the pieces of the other. Go is considered to be a lot more complex than chess where artificial intelligence scored its most famous victory to date when IBM's Deep Blue beat grandmaster Gary Kasparov in 1997. But experts say Go presents an entirely different challenge because of the game's incomputable number of move options. In other words, the computer must be capable of human-like "intuition" to win. "I was very surprised because I did not think that I would lose the game," said Mr. Lee.He said AlphaGo's early strategy was "excellent" and that he was shocked by one unconventional move it had made that a human never would have played, which he believed directly resulted in his loss. AlphaGo is proud of a deep learning capability to learn for itself and discover new strategies by playing games against itself and adjusting neural networks based on a trial-and-error process known as reinforcement learning. In spite of his loss, he did not regret accepting the challenge. "I had a lot of fun playing Go and I'm looking forward to the future games," he said after AlphaGo won 3-0 in a five-game match. "Playing against a machine is very different from an actual human player. Normally, you can sense your rival's breathing, their energy. And lots of times you make decisions which depend on the physical reactions of the person you're playing against. With a machine, you can't do that", Lee said. Which of the following is TRUE? A. Only people in South Korea pay attention to the match between Lee and AlphaGo. B. Artificial intelligence rewrote the history as AlphaGo beat Gary Kasparov in 1997. C. AlphaGo's early strategy was to play by regular moves the same as human beings. D. Lee Se-dol was convinced he would finally win the match before the series started. Answer: D. Lee Se-dol was convinced he would finally win the match before the series started. Question: Students who date in middle school have significantly worse study skills. They are four times more likely to drop out of school and report twice as much alcohol and tobacco use as their single classmates, according to new research from the University of Georgia. "Romantic relationships are a trademark of adolescence, but very few studies have examined how adolescents differ in the development of these relationships," said Pamela Orpinas, study author and professor in the College of Public Health and head of the Department of Health Promotion and Behavior.[: _ Z _ X _ X _ K] Orpinas followed a group of 624 students over a seven-year period from 6th to 12th grade. Each year, the group of students completed a survey indicating whether they had dated and reported the frequency of different behaviors, including the use of drugs and alcohol. Their teachers completed questionnaires about the students' academic efforts. He found some students never or hardly ever reported dating from middle to high school, and these students had consistently the best study skills according to their teachers. Other students dated infrequently in middle school but increased the frequency of dating in high school. "At all points in time, teachers rated the students who reported the lowest frequency of dating as having the best study skills and the students with the highest dating as having the worst study skills," according to the journal article. Study skills refer to behaviors that lead to academic success such as doing work for extra credit being well organized, finishing homework, working hard and reading assigned chapters. "Dating a classmate may have the same emotional complications of dating a co-worker," Orpinas said, "When the couple break up, they have to continue to see each other in class and perhaps witness the ex-partner dating someone else. It is reasonable to think this could be linked to depression and divert attention from studying." "Dating should not be considered a ceremony of growth in middle school," Orpinas concluded. What can possibly happen to the school couples after they break up? A. They don't want to see each other any longer. B. Their attention to studying will be affected. C. They will miss their ex-partners sometimes D. They will think it reasonable to get depressed. Answer: B. Their attention to studying will be affected. Question: As the queen prepares to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee, one of her closest s and oldest friends has been allowed to give a deep description of the family life of the royals. There have been hundreds of other books declaring to offer a quick look behind the Palace doors, but this is the first written by someone who is closely related to the royal family and has shared their lives----not only throughout the Queen's reign but also through that of her father, King George VI. The Final Curtseywas written by Her Majesty's cousin and childhood playmate, the Honorable Margaret Rhodes. It tells in detail the story of Mrs. Rhodes's relationship with the royal family over eight decades. The book, showed with delightfully informal and never-before-seen pictures, has been written with the full knowledge of the Queen, who has read and approved parts of it. Mrs. Rhodes lives on the royal farm in Windsor Great Park, in a house given to her by the Queen in 1980. She tells how it was offered out of the blue one day when she and the Queen---whose 60 years on the throne next year will be marked with many national famous people---were out riding. She suddenly turned around and said, " Could you bear to live in the suburb?" Therefore Mrs. Rhodes is now still living here. Born in 1925, the youngest daughter of the 16thLord Elphinstone and his wife Mary, the Honorable Margaret Rhodes has led an extraordinary life. She was the childhood playmate of her cousin, the Queen; she was a wartime MI6 spy; she was a lady-in-waiting to her aunt, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, from 1991 until the latter's death in 2002. At the Queen's 80thbirthday in April 2006, Margaret gave an interview to the BBC in which she proved that, in her own opinion and despite several false reports, the Queen would not abdicate . Now, at the age of 86, she has written a charming autobiography that paints a first-time close portrait of the private world of the royal family. Elsewhere in the book she reveals how the Queen Mother was a fan of the TV shows Two Fat Ladies and Dad's Army. Perhaps more surprisingly, she was also a fan of the poet Edith Sitwell and the Poet Laureate Ted Hughes, who was a regular and favoured guest. Life at Birkhall, the Queen Mother's home of the edge of the Balmoral Estate, is described along with sometimes noisy dinners. Mrs. Rhodes recalls: "At the end of the meal, Queen Elizabeth would start a series of toasts. As well as 'Hooray for...' with glasses held high, there was even more of ' Down with...' with glasses almost disappearing beneath the table." What makes Mrs. Rhodes write The Final Curtsey? A. She wishes to earn enough money to buy the royal farm. B. She hopes to prove her relationship with the Queen is good. C. She wants to remind the Queen of remembering the Queen Mother. D. She wants to present her life and the world of the royal family in a private but real way. Answer: D. She wants to present her life and the world of the royal family in a private but real way.
Question: A Nobel Prize is considered by most people one of the highest international honors a person can receive. As you know, the prizes were started by a Sweden called Sweden Alfred Nobel. Alfred Nobel was born in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, and lived from 1833 to 1896. Alfred Nobel was a chemist and inventor. He made two important inventions, so he became very rich. Although he was rich, Nobel was not a happy man. He never married or had children. Also, he was a sick man in large part of his life. Nobel died at the age of sixty-three. When he died, he left a fund of $9,000,000. The money was to be used in giving prizes to those who made outstanding achievement in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and the promotion of the world peace. The first Nobel Prize were given on December 10th,1901, five years after Nobel's death. Many famous people all over the world have been given Nobel Prizes for their achievements. Albert Einstein was one of them. Each prize has three parts. The first part is a gold medal. Second, a winner of a Nobel Prize is given a diploma saying that he has been given the prize. The third part of the prize is a large amount of money---about $40,000. Often a prize is given to just one person, but not always. Sometimes a prize is shared. It might be given to two or more people who have worked together. It is also sometimes true that a prize is not given at all if there is no outstanding achievement. In 1972, for example, not a Nobel Prize was given. It is the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm that decides whether to give the prize or not. When he died, Nobel left an amount of money _ . A. to his wife and children B. to the university he used to study in C. to his parents and his studies D. to be spent on setting five prizes Answer: D. to be spent on setting five prizes Question: 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. Where does this text most probably come from? A. A study on habits of bears in the Western mountains. B. A scientific report on human-bear relationships. C. A human interest article in a camping magazine. D. A handbook on bear's living habits. Answer: C. A human interest article in a camping magazine. Question: Li Bingyin is now studying law at the Stern School of Business at New York University. She wrote this letter just before hurricane Sandy destroyed the East Coast. Dear readers, The storm will really _ on the city! Right now I am sitting in my dormitory , waiting for the blackout to come any second, and listening to the wind howl outside my windows. Hurricane Sandy is supposed to hit the East Coast hard today. Due to the bad weather, most schools and universities have canceled classes for Monday and Tuesday. Luckily, the university has taken steps to prepare for this storm. University officials sent out e-mails with explanation in the case of a blackout, evacuation , or other emergency. Just recently, I received several text messages from the school about power off in certain dormitories. They advised us to prepare a bag with essentials , in case we needed to leave the building and move to a safer place. Yesterday I went out to buy a flashlight , but all of the nearby stores were sold out. Everyone was storing water, food and other supplies for the storm. Right now the city is unusually quiet. On any other day, there would be the sounds of cars, people chatting, and street artists performing. Tonight, there's just the wind and rain hitting the window. The subway system has been closed since last night, and there is nobody on the streets. Hopefully Hurricane Sandy will soon pass without leaving much damage Sincerely, Li Bingyin What steps has the university taken to prepare for the storm? A. The university has asked students to leave the school at once. B. The university has asked students to close all the windows and doors. C. The university has sent text messages to students about what time the storm will come. D. The university has asked students to prepare necessary things in case of evacuation. Answer: D. The university has asked students to prepare necessary things in case of evacuation. Question: Oxford University, said that time spent on homework showed the influence of the school--if children were expected to do homework and if they enjoy their subjects. "That's one of the reasons Indian and Chinese children do better. They put more time in it." he added. It's also reported that students who enjoyed school got better results. It is suggested that children aged 5 to 7 should be given one-hour homework a week, half an hour a night for 7 to 11-year-olds, two hours a night for 14 to 16-year-olds. "Headteachers should make their own homework policy ," the government says. It is suggested that 5 to 7-year-old children should be given _ . A. one-hour homework a night B. half an hour homework a night C. Two- hour homework a week D. one-hour homework a week Answer: D. one-hour homework a week Question: Koala bears as pets might be appealing to many of us. However, there are quite a few points to consider even before thinking of adopting one. Koala bears are one of the most lovely Australian animals. In certain cases where the koala has been raised by hand, they have turned out to be quite affectionate pets. These people tied a piece of fur to a pillow and placed it beside a joey (a baby kola) as a substitute for the mother koala. This trick seemed to work well with the baby koala. However, it is a known fact that human handling causes stress to koalas. In my personal opinion, this aspect clouds the fact that koala bears can be tamed . In Australia the koala is a priority animal as far as conservation status assessment is concerned. It was hunted to near extinction for its fur. In fact the koala had been wiped out from South Australia in the 1920s. However, rehabilitation efforts have brought the animal back in the state. As for the Australia government, the koala is not a threatened animal, but the US government does list the koala as one. Although they may live in 40 to 60 kinds of eucalyptus trees, they prefer only 10 to 14 specific kinds. Koalas sleep for most part of the day, which is about 16 to 18 hours, and for most of their waking hours all they do is eat. Koala bears eat the leaves of eucalyptus trees. A full-grown koala can eat almost 2 to 3 pounds of leaves in a day. Despite their slow movements and sweet look, koala bears can be _ when hungry. Other than this, there are the stress caused to koalas due to human handling and the fights that start in koalas. Almost everyone finds koalas lovely in the zoo. However, as far as having koala bears as pets is concerned, there are legal issues to consider. Other than that, being able to provide for its diet and habitat is another point that needs some attention before any law legalizing their adoption as pets is passed. Why did Australians hunt the koala? A. To get its fur. B. To eat its meat. C. To wipe it out. D. To have it for fun. Answer: A. To get its fur.
A micro blog with space for 140 Chinese characters had once been a source of endless amusement for Wang Ganghui, a senior majoring in biochemistry at Ji'nan University. Until last month, the 21-year-old Wang had believed that he was part of a broader movement. Recently, however, Wang's micro blog is silent. The reason? It's because of a woman known as "Zhao Meimei". Earlier this month, Wang joined many other users to criticize the US-based student for her wealthy overseas life, because they thought her money came from _ since her mother was a local official. But later Wang found out that the woman student was actually being supported by her father, a hard-working businessman. "I felt guilty... Someone hid part of the truth to make a conflict. The worst thing is - I did not even have a chance to apologize to her," he says. Wang is not the only young Internet user to be confused by an online world made up entirely of broken information. According to official statistics, the number of micro bloggers in China now exceed 300 million. For private users, a micro blog can provide real-time updates from anyone a user chooses to "follow". These can range from family members to celebrities . Information can instantly be spread through "re-tweeting". In the public area, however, a micro blog can also become a link between users and the authorities. However, with the increasing popularity of micro blogs comes a number of problems. Chen Changfeng, deputy director of the School of Journalism and Communication at Tsinghua University, stressed two major types of misbehavior that can occur on micro blogs and upset young users. "Some marketers spread fake news just to make some person or product known to more people; others use the free channel to manufacture and spread fake news and rumors like a virus," Chen says. He says that an average micro blogger receives and transmits information, but when faced with such a vast amount of information, he may lack the ability to tell the difference between the real and the fake stories. Having realized this, Internet users have come together to combat micro blog misconduct by forming voluntary groups such as the Rumor Clarification Association. The government and individual operators of micro-blogging sites have also stepped into monitor posted content. What's the purpose of showing Wang Ganghui's experience in the passage? Answer: One day, around Christmas time, fishermen off the west coast of Peru started on their traditional fishing trip. Much to their surprise, there were no fish! They knew immediately what had happened. Tales from years gone by had told them this was the result of El Nino which sometimes stop fishing for many months! El Nino is a warm _ that comes and goes along the west coast of South America. It got its name from fishermen in Peru more than a century ago. Every few years, they noticed a sudden warming in the normally cool Pacific water where they fished. Because this warming often came about around Christmas, they called it El Nino, which is Spanish for the "Christ Child". Generally, El Nino occurs every three to seven years and lasts only a few weeks to a month or more. El Nino warms the water it flows through. Because the fish and sea birds need cold water to live, many of them die when El Nino comes through. El Nino also causes both floods and droughts. It is believed that El Nino may have caused the 1993 Mississippi and 1995 California floods. And at the same time, it may have caused droughts in South America, Africa and Australia. El Nino has occurred thirteen times within the last fifty years, bringing natural disasters to many countries such as Indonesia and Peru. However, El Nino does not often trouble China. During this period China was badly hit by El Nino only once. In 1998, North China had a terrible drought, while South China was troubled by floods. If El Nino happens, the following will take place EXCEPT _ . Answer: Animation means making things which are lifeless come alive and move. Since earliest times, people have always been astonished by movement. But not until this century have we managed to take control of movement, to record it, and in the case of animation, to retranslate it and recreate it. To do all this, we use a movie camera and a projector . In the world of cartoon animation, nothing is impossible. You can make the characters do exactly what you want them to do. A famous early cartoon character was Felix the Cat, created by Pat Sullivan in America in the early nineteen twenties. Felix was a wonderful cat. He could do all sorts of things no natural cat could do like taking off his tail, using it as a handle and then putting it back. Most of the great early animators lived and worked in America, the home of the moving picture industry. The famous Walt Disney cartoon characters came to life after 1928. Popeye the Sailor and his girl friend Olive Oyo were born at Max Ficischer in 1933. But to be an animator, you don't have to be a professional . It is possible for anyone to make a simple animated film without using a camera at all. All you have to do is to draw directly on to an empty film and then run the film through a projector. It can be inferred from the passage that _ . Answer: MIANYANG--At a corner of the city's Jiuzhou Stadium, one of the biggest camps set up for those left homeless in the earthquake, 62-year-old Liu Yaorong was leaning against a window on Thursday. Pointing to a quilt and clothes he received from the local government, he said: "These are all I have. My home collapsed in the quake, and everything in the town was flooded." He used to live in Xuanping town of Beichuan county which was destroyed by the quake. Adding to his _ , rivers blocked by landslides led to flooding in the town. But Liu said he was lucky because he was healthy, otherwise he would not have the energy to walk 10 hours on damaged and dangerous mountainous roads to escape the flood on Monday. He said the trip used to take him about 90 minutes when the roads were in good condition. The journey was difficult and "rocks kept falling," he said, showing injured legs and black, split toenails. Liu said his three sons were working in eastern cities as migrant workers. "I've been living alone in the mountains for more than 20 years. My wife died 30 years ago," he said in a low voice. During his journey to Mianyang, Liu said he saw many elderly people who chose to stay. "Soldiers were persuading them to leave for fear of floods," he said. Talking about his home before the quake struck, Liu's mood lifted. "I raised pigs and chickens, and grew vegetables. I could have rice, meat and greens almost every day," he said. "But now, I have only biscuits and instant noodles." Liu said one of his sons returned home from Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, after the quake, but left because the father refused to go with him. "I don't want to leave home. And I know it is difficult for them out there. How could I add to their burden?" he asked, his eyes red. "I still want to go back to my home. Given a small piece of land, I could live by myself." It is learnt that resettlement plans for displaced people have not been finalized. However, not every elderly person is as strong-willed as Liu. Psychologists said the elderly need as much comfort as children. Lu Jianguo, a psychologist from Chengdu Medical College, said "We will first let them cry and tell their stories, and then help them regain confidence." What would be the best title for the news report? Answer: Two classic car collectors from the US state of Idaho found the wallet after it fell out of the back of a vintage car they were planning to restore. After an Internet search they found and contacted the owner, Glenn Goodlove. Mr. Goodlove said he probably lost the wallet in the back seat of his 1946 prefix = st1 /Hudsoncar while kissing a girl when he was home on leave from the US Navy. Jon Beck, 61, and Chuck Merrill, 72, bought the now-vintage vehicle in Idahoafter placing an ad in a local newspaper to buy a classic car in need of restoration. Driving the car home after buying it, the collectors stopped at a restaurant and saw something from below the back seat. "Like a couple of kids, we thought we had a goldmine," Mr. Beck said. Instead, they found some small change -- the leather wallet held a $10 bill, Mr. Goodlove's military ID, his social security card, his driver's license and several jewellery receipts from 1952. But they were all in the name of Glenn Putnam. After searching online, Mr. Beck discovered that Mr. Putnam had since changed his name to Glenn Goodlove and moved to San Diego,California. He called Mr. Goodlove, asking to speak to a man who used to drive a '46Hudson. "There was a silence for about 15 seconds," Mr. Beck told the Twin Falls Times-News. "Then he said, 'Who is that?'" Mr. Goodlove, now 75, says he did not even remember losing the wallet, but the find has brought memories of his youth inEverett,Washington, flooding back. "I could see the house and the car and the town and all the good stuff from living there," he said. "They've been flowing ever since he talked to me." The most proper title for the passage is _ Answer:
Where Are We Going, Dad? has become one of China's most popular television shows, since its debut in October, averaging more than 600 million viewers each week. Sponsorship rights for the show's second season were sold for 312 million yuan (about $ 50 million), more than ten times higher than the rights to the first season. What accounts for its popularity? The show features a new generation of Chinese fathers, who, as part of the country's new middle class, have faced more problems with modern child-raising techniques such as taking an active role with their children. Part of the appeal of the show is the chance to throw a glance at the lives of Chinese celebrities and their children. Audiences are interested in watching the failed attempts of celebrity dads making dinner, doing hair, and disciplining children -- tasks often left to mothers in a society still influenced by the saying that "men rule outside and women are inside." "In traditional Chinese culture, fathers are strict and mothers are kind. But on the show, we see fathers who are much gentler on their kids and more involved in their upbringing, " said Li Minyi, an associate professor. "This show raises an important question for modern Chinese society -- what is the role of fathers in today's China?" After each episode goes to air, the Chinese internet explodes with comments on each celebrity's parenting style. Actor Guo Tao tries to communicate with his son, Shitou, but is seen as a more traditional Chinese father, and has been criticised online for being too _ . Zhang Liang, a supermodel, is an audience favorite for treating his son, Tiantian, more like a friend. The show's most famous celebrity, Lin Zhiying, a film star, was originally praised as patient with his son Kimi. But as the season progresses, fans begin to criticise him for raising a spoiled, undisciplined boy. Director Wang Yuelun is at a complete loss when it comes to care of his daughter's hair. Even the People's Daily is pleased with the success of the show. According to the writer, _ is the most successful father. A Guo Tao B Zhang Liang C Lin Zhiying D Wang Yuelun Answer: B Yellowstone and Grand Tetons Multisport Tour In four great days, we discover waterfalls, wild animals, and natural hot springs in Yellowstone. In the Tetons, we rock climb, go biking in wildness and go boating on the Snake River's fun-filled rapids. DAY 1: Bridger-Teton--Upper Geyser Basin Ride a bicycle through the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Then head to Yellowstone and walk through Upper Geyser Basin and the world's largest active geysers . Witness Old Faithful's performance and settle into the comforts of classic Old Faithful Inn, dating from 1903. DAY 2: Jenny Lake-Grand Tetons Choose your own adventure! Spend the day in Grand Teton National Park hiking to Inspiration Point and Cascade Canyon. Or choose to hike along the shoreline of Jenny Lake for the whole day. DAY3: Hidden Falls--Grand Tetons Rock climb near Hidden Falls. Just bring a spirit of adventure, then leave the rest to our experienced guides. Or you can choose instead to take another hike, horseback ride or enjoy fishing in the area. DAY 4: Antelope Flats--Snake River--Jackson Ride a bicycle through wildlife-filled Antelope Flats before going boating for an exciting afternoon on the Snake River and the end of our journey in Jackson. Trip Details 4 Days/3 Nights Trip Type: Multisport Price: $1,798 (camping); $2,298 (inn & camping) Meeting Place: Jackson, Wyoming Dates: June 24-June 29 (Singles, Camping); July 08-July 13 (Family, Camping); July 29-Aug. 03 (Family, Inn & Camping) We can know from the advertisement that the tour . A is self-guided B has experienced guides C ends in Wyoming D costs no more than $2,000 Answer: B Nearly a quarter-century after a German boy threw a message in a bottle off a ship in the Baltic Sea, he's received an answer. A 13-year-old Russian, Daniil Korotkikh, was walking with his parents on a beach when he saw something lying in the sand. "I saw that bottle and it looked interesting," Korotkikh told The Associated Press on Tuesday. "it looked like a German beer bottle and there was a message inside. " It said, "My name is Frank, and I'm five years old. My dad and I are traveling on a ship to Denmark. If you find this letter, please write back to me, and I will write back to you." The letter, dated 1987, included an address in the town of Coesfeld. The boy in the letter, Frank Uesbeck, is now 29. His parents still live at the letter's address. The Russian boy and the German man met each other earlier this month through an internet video link. The Russian boy said he did not believe that the bottle actually spent 24 years in the sea. He believed it had been hidden under the sand where he found it for a long time. Uesbeck was especially happy that he was able to have a positive effect on a life of a young person far away from Germany. "It's really a wonderful story," he said. "And who knows? Perhaps one day we will actually be able to arrange a meeting in person. " What is this passage mainly about? A Traveling on a ship. B A beautiful beer bottle. C Message in a bottle. D Meeting an old friend. Answer: C Here are four of my friends. Get to know them and their interesting experiences. I'm Mark. I'm 12. I have learned a lot about cycling and cycled about two hundred miles with my friends. We all felt very excited. My name is Sam. I'm one year older than Mark. I have entered a competition. At last, I won it and the prize was a seven---day holiday to my favourite country --America. You can call me Linda. I'm the same age as Mark. I have been to Hong Kong Disneyland with my parents. I was excited to see so many cartoon characters because I often dreamed about them. John is my name. I'm one year younger than Sam. I have learned to ride a horse because I thought it was exciting. Before I learned it, I fell off the horse many times. But that was very interesting for me. What did Sam win in the competition? A A holiday to America. B A visit to London. C A travel to Hainan. D A trip to Hong Kong Disneyland. Answer: A Are _ born or made? In my case it was definitely made. In my early 20s, I hardly went to bed before midnight, and I would always get up late the next morning. But after a while I couldn't ignore the high relationship between success and rising early. On those rare occasions where I did get up early, I noticed that my productivity was always higher. So I set out to become a habitual early riser. But whenever my alarm went off, my first thought was always to stop that noise and go back to sleep. Eventually some sleep research showed that my strategy was wrong. The most common wrong strategy is this: supposing you're going to get up earlier, you'd better go to bed earlier. It sounds very reasonable, but will usually fail. There are two main schools of thought on sleep patterns. One is that you should go to bed and get up at the same time every day. The second school says you should go to bed when you're tired and get up when you naturally wake up. However, I have found both are wrong if you care about productivity. If you sleep at fixed hours, you'll sometimes go to bed when you aren't sleepy enough. You're wasting time lying in bed awake. My solution is to combine both methods. I go to bed when I'm sleepy and get up with an alarm clock at a fixed time. So I always get up at the same time (in my case 5 a.m.), but I go to bed at different times every night. However, going to bed only when I'm sleepy, and getting up at a fixed time every morning are my ways. If you want to become an early riser, you can try your own. The passage is mainly about _ . A main schools of thought on sleep patterns B how to have a good sleep C wrong strategies for getting up early D how to become an early riser Answer: D
Each country has many kind people who volunteer to take care of others. For example, some high school and university students in the US often spend many hours as volunteers in hospital or old people's homes. They read books for the people or they just visit them and play games with them or listen to their problems. Other young volunteers go and work in the homes of the sick people. They clean up their houses or do the shopping. For boys who don't have fathers there is an organization called "Big Brothers". University students and other people take these boys to play baseball games and help them get to know things that boys usually learn from their fathers. Each city has a lot of clubs where boys and girls can go to play games or take part in other activities. Some of these clubs show movies or have short trips to the mountains, the beaches or the museums. Most of these clubs use a lot of high school and university students as volunteers because they can understand the problems of these boys and girls more easily. Volunteers believe that some of the happiest people in the world are those who help to bring happiness to others. Why do most of the clubs use a lot of high school and university students as volunteers? Answer: Do Americans have morals ? That's a good question. Many people insist that ideas about right and wrong are merely personal opinions. Some voices, though, are calling Americans back to traditional moral values. William J. Bennett, former U.S. Secretary of Education, edited the Book of Virtues in 1993 to do just that. Bennett suggests that great moral stories can build character. The success of Bennett ' s book shows that many Americans still believe in moral values. But what are they? One of the most basic moral values for Americans is honesty. The well-known legend about George Washington and the cherry tree tells this value clearly. Little George cut down his father's favorite cherry tree while trying out his new axe. When his father asked him about it, George said honestly, "I can not tell a lie. I did it with my axe." Instead of punishment, George received his father's praise for telling the truth. Sometimes American honesty-being open and direct-can offend people. But Americans still believe that "honesty is the best policy." Another virtue Americans respect is perseverance. Remember Aesop's fable( )about the rabbit and the turtle that had a race? The rabbit thought he could win easily, so he took a nap. But the turtle finally won because he didn't give up. Sympathy may be the queen of American virtues. The story of "The Good Samaritan" from the Bible describes a man who showed sympathy. On his way to a certain city, a Samaritan man found a poor traveler lying on the road. The traveler had been beaten and robbed. The kind Samaritan, instead of just passing by, stopped to help this person in need. In no way can these brief descriptions cover all the moral values honored by Americans. Responsibility, loyalty, courage, gratitude and many others could be discussed. In fact, Bennett's bestseller-over 800 pages-highlights just 10 virtues. Even Bennett admits that he has only covered the surface. But no matter how long or short the list is, moral values are invaluable, they are the foundation of American culture-and any culture. At least how many kinds of moral virtues does the writer list in this passage? Answer: My mom takes pride in the fact that I was talking in three and four word sentences before I was ten months old. Some say it's a gift while others simply think I talk too much. As my thirties came to a close, I found myself reflecting on my life. I'm very happy and have no significant regrets. However, when I looked back on those times of difficulty, I saw a clear common denominator ; I didn't seem to know when to stop talking. Whether it was hurting someone's feelings, or having carelessly told a secret, the incident could have been avoided had I closed my mouth sooner. So I decided to practice the power of quiet. To take this step, I needed to understand how people could sit comfortably in a group and not talk. Why does my husband feel completely content to say nothing in a conversation? He's highly intelligent and has wonderful opinions but he'll sit quietly and just listen. Even when he's asked a pointed question, he'll answer with few words while still communicating effectively. What a talent! Can you imagine being happy just listening? In surveying those I know who talk less than I do, I got two answers--they either didn't feel confident enough to speak up, or they just didn't feel the need to participate in the conversation. Of course there were other reasons for not talking, but these were the two most popular answers. The first one didn't work for me. I'm just fine letting people know what I think about them, and hopefully it will make the conversation much more interesting. The second one didn't work either. I do feel the need to participate. I feel it physically like an electrical pulse through my body; sometimes it's so strong that it causes me to behave badly in the form of interrupting or speaking in an unusually loud voice. _ An interesting thing happened on this journey to the power of quiet. During my weekly yoga class, it came to me like an answer so clear that the words rang in my head like soft, heavenly bells. I talked too much so people would know I cared about them. It was my way of taking care of those I love. I decided before my fortieth birthday, that from that day forward, those around me would know I loved them, and cared what they thought and felt, but I was going to practice the power of quiet. As my forty-second birthday approaches, I can say that deciding to talk less has been more about focusing on quality rather than quantity. I've found that listening more shows those who I care about that I really do care how they feel. Now when I break in, it means more to them. Oh, sure, I still have my short periods of talking too much, but for the most part this has been one resolution that I can call a success. Which of the following best describe the writer's character? Answer: Grey clouds move as low as smoke over the treetops at Lolo Pass. The ground is white. The day is June 10.It has been snowing for the past four days in the Bitterroot Mountains.Wayne Fairchild is getting worried about our trek over the Lolo Trail-95 miles from Lolo Montana to Weippe in Idaho, across the roughest country in the West. Lewis and Clark were nearly defeated 200 years ago by snowstorms on the Lolo.Today Fairchild is nervously checking the weather reports.He has agreed to take me across the toughest,middle section of the trail. When Lewis climbed on top of Lemhi Pass,140 miles south of Missoula,on Aug.12,1805,he was astonished by what was in front of him;"high mountain chains still to the West of us with their tops partially covered with snow."Nobody in what was then the US knew the Rocky Mountains existed,with peaks twice as high as anything in the Appalachians back East. Today their pathway through those mountains holds more attraction than any other ground over which they traveled,for its raw wilderness is an evidence to the character of two cultures:the explorers who braved its hardships and the Native Americans who prize and conserve the path as a sacred gift. It remains today the same condition as when Lewis and Clark walked it. The Lolo is passable only from July to mid-September.Our luck is holding with the weather,although the snow keeps getting deeper.As we climb to Indian Post Office,the highest point on the trail at 7,033 ft,we have covered 13 miles in soft snow,and we hardly have enough energy to make dinner.After a meal of chicken,I sit on a rock on top of the ridge .There is no light visible in any direction,not even another campfire.For four days we do not see another human being.We are occupied with the things that mix fear with joy.In our imagination we have finally caught up with Lewis and Clark. We learn from the text that before 1805 _ . Answer: In a 2013 study, it was reported that almost 66 percent of recent high school graduates went to college, a 4 percent decline since 2009, when college enrollment reached an all-time high. So, what are the other 35 percent of high school graduates doing after they walk out of their school for the last time? Here are what some Robinson High students have planned. For Robbie Claiborne, graduation means the start of a military career.He plans to join the Coast Guard after graduation."I was born around the ocean.I love the water.I want to fight for my country and for what I love," said Claiborne. Others just want a break from school."I really want to take _ ," Liliam Clavijo said."I'd really love to work in Spain for a year before going to college." Most students, however, are rather excited.Eban Trunk, a junior, has been planning his future career since middle school."I really want to be a mailman.It just seems like a cool job.Everyone loves the mailman," Trunk said."One day the idea just came to me, and I knew that was what I wanted to do." For many students, a high school diploma means more choices."I'm not really sure what I'll do after high school," senior Joshua Loring said."I might do technical school.I'm in auto shop classes right now." Meanwhile, Cassidy Grunderson plans on working at Busch Gardens full time."I just want to live on my own, get a job and move out," Grunderson said. Stephen Hambleton, who teaches auto tech classes at Robinson, says many of his students choose to enter the automobile industry after graduation."It's an instant job, and after taking years of auto shop in high school, it's easy to get hired," he said.Several seniors in his class, including Loring, plan to enter the industry upon graduation. "College isn't for everyone, and I really respect people who decide to do their own thing," said Coleman Parks, a senior student."I think too many people feel that they're only as valuable as their degree." Graduates are proving that college isn't the only option when high school ends. What can we learn from the study in 2013? Answer:
Question: Founded in 1764 by French traders, St. Louis today is the fifteenth largest urban area in the United States. There are many attractive destinations for touists. American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog Dog lovers who visit St. Louis won't want to miss this 14,000-square-foot museum. Inside are over 500 paintings,prints, watercolors,and a variety of other dog art objects. The Museum is open year round,Tuesday through Saturday 10 AM to 4 PM, and Sunday 1 PM to 5 PM. Admission is $5 for adults,$2.50 for seniors, and $1 for children up to 14. Anheuser Busch Brewery The Anheuser Buxch Brewery tour is not just for beer lovers.The tour includes the historic Brew House.Then the tour continues to the modern Bevo Packaging Plant. The best will be the Budweiser Clydesdale stables. The tours are always free. Gateway Arch Designed by Eero Sarinen and Hannskari Bandel, it took over two years and 900 tons of stainless steel to build. It is the tallest of the country's National Monuments. The Arch is part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. About one milion people per year come to the top of the Arch, where there is an observation platform providing a great view of the city. The St. Louis Zoo First version of the St. Louis Zoo opened in 1904 at the St. Louis World's Fair, but in the century since it has grown into one of the chief zoos in the world. The passenger train takes visitors around the Zoo,which contains over 9,000 animals of over 800 species. The Zoo is open every day but Christmas and New Year,with summer hours of 8 AM to 7 PM,and hours the rest of the year of 9 AM to 5 PM.Admission to the Zoo is free. Which of the following statements about Gateway Arch is TRUE? A. People can see the city clearly on the top of the Arch. B. It was designed by two famous Italian architects. C. It took 900 tons of stainless steel and cement to build. D. It is the largest of the country 's National Monuments. Answer: A. People can see the city clearly on the top of the Arch. Question: What are you going to do if you are in a burning house? How will you escape? Do you know how to save yourself? Please read the following passage. Escaping a fire is a serious matter.Knowing what to do during a fire can save your life.It is important to know the ways you can use and show them to everyone in the family,such as stairways and fire escapes,but not lifts. From the lower floors of the buildings,escaping through windows is possible,learn the best way of leaving by windows with the least chance of serious injury. The second floor window is usually not very high from the ground.An average person,hanging by the finger-tips will have a drop of about six feet to the ground.It is about the height of an average man.Of course,it is safer to jump a short way than to stay in a burning building. Windows are also useful when you are waiting for help.Be sure to keep the door closed.Or smoke and fire may be drawn into the room.Keep your head low at the window to be sure you get fresh air rather than smoke that may leaked into the room. On a second or third floor,the best windows for escaping are those that open onto a roof.From the roof a person can drop to the ground more safely.Dropping onto cement might end in injury.Bushes and grass can help to break a fall. It is possible to escape through the windows _ . A. if there are some bushes on the ground B. if you are strong enough C. if you live on a lower floor D. If you have a long rope Answer: C. if you live on a lower floor Question: A group of reporters asked a group of 4-to-8-year-old children this question, "What does love mean?" The answers were surprising. The children would answer like they did below. Rebecca --- age 8 "When my grandmother hurt her knees , she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails any more. So my grandfather would do it for her all the time, even when his hands hurt, too. That's love." Samantha --- age 6 "Love is when someone hurts you, and you get so mad but you don't shout at her because you know it would hurt her feelings." Terry --- age 4 "Love is what makes you smile when you're tired." Bethany --- age 4 "I let my big sister pick on me because my Mum says she only picks on me because she loves me. So I pick on my baby sister because I love her." Lauren --- age 4 "I know my elder sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new clothes." Elaine --- age 5 "Love is when Mummy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken." Clear --- age 5 "My Mummy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night." Jessica --- age 8 "You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget." Who told us the love between Mum and Dad? A. Clear. B. Elaine. C. Rebecca. D. Lauren. Answer: B. Elaine. Question: China has announced it's abolishing its one-child policy. What difference has it made, statistically speaking? 400 million births prevented The one-child policy, officially in place since 1979, has prevented 400 million births. Parents have faced fines and other punishments for having more children. The majority of the decrease in China's fertility rate happened in the 1970s. It dropped from 5.8 children per woman in 1970 to 2.7 in 1978. Despite the one-child policy the rate had only fallen to 1.7 by 2013. 21:28-baby deaths rate Since the one-child policy was introduced, baby girls have become more likely to die than boys. In the 1970s, according to the United Nations, 60 males per 1, 000 live births died under the age of one. For girls the figure was 53. In the 1980s, after the one-child policy became official, the rate for both was 36. By the 1990s, 26 males per 1,000 live births died before the age of one - and 33 girls. The 2000s saw 21 boys per 1,000 live births dying and 28 girls. 1.16 boys born for every girl Sexually selective abortions have been considered as a major cause of China's unusual imbalance. Gietel-Basten, associate professor in social policy at Oxford University, says the births of many girls are not registered if parents have broken the rule by having two children, adding officials often turn a blind eye. It's estimated there are now 33 million more men than women in China. 4: 2: 1 families With the ageing of China's population and the continuation of the one-child policy, a "4: 2 :1" home is the description given to households in which there are four grandparent, cared for by two working age parents, who themselves have one child. By 2050, it's predicted that a quarter of China's population will be 65 or older. The predicted decline in the number of people of working age is thought to have persuaded the government to drop the one-child policy. When was the baby deaths rate for both boys and girls equal? A. In the 1970s. B. In the 1980s. C. In the 1990s. D. In the 2000s Answer: B. In the 1980s. Question: Some futurologists have assumed that the vast upsurge of women in the workforce may mean a rejection of marriage. Many women, according to this hypothesis, would rather work than marry. The converse of this concern is that becoming a multi-paycheck household could encourage marriage. In the past, only the earnings and financial prospects of the man counted in the marriage decision. Now, however, the earning ability of a woman can make her more attractive as a marriage partner. Data show that economic downturns tend to put off marriage because the parties cannot afford to establish a family or are concerned about rainy days ahead. As the economy comes to life, the number of marriages also rises. The increase in divorce rates follows to the increase in women working outside the home. Yet, it may be wrong to jump to any simple cause-and-effect conclusions. The impact of a wife's work on divorce is no less cloudy than its impact on marriage decisions. The realization that she can be a good provider may increase the chances that a working wife will choose divorce over an unsatisfactory marriage. But the reverse is equally plausible . Tensions grounded in financial problems often play a key role in ending a marriage. By raising a family's standard of living, a working wife may strengthen her family's financial and emotional stability. Psychological factors also should be considered. For example, a wife blocked from a career outside the home may feel caged in the house. She may view her only choice as seeking a divorce. On the other hand, if she can find fulfillment through work outside the home, work and marriage can go together to create a stronger and more stable union. Also, a major part of women's inequality in marriage has been due to the fact that, in most cases, men have remained the main breadwinners. A working wife may rob a husband of being the master of the house. Depending upon how the couple reacts to these new conditions, it could create a stronger equal partnership or it could create new insecurities. Which of the following statements can best summarize the authors view in the passage? A. The stability of marriage and the divorce rate may reflect the economic situation of the country B. Even when economically independent, most women have to struggle for real equality in marriage C. In order to secure their marriage women should work outside the home and remain independent D. The impact of the growing female workforce on marriage varies from case to case. Answer: D. The impact of the growing female workforce on marriage varies from case to case.
Question: Mary Walker works at a bank. She begins working at eight in the morning. She has a break at noon for one hour. She stops working at five in the afternoon. At five the bank closes. Everybody goes home. Some people drive home. Some ride bikes. Some take the bus or the train. But Mary walks home. She likes to walk. She walks, and walks, and walks and walks. Mary lives eight miles from the bank. She walks for three hours. At eight in the evening, Mary is at home. She eats dinner. At ten she goes to bed. Mary is tired . She is 82 years old. How far is it from Mary's house to the bank? A. Five miles. B. Six miles. C. Seven miles. D. Eight miles. Answer: D Question: In this age of Internet chat, videogames and reality television, there is no shortage of mindless activities to keep a child occupied. Yet despite the competition, my 8-year-old daughter Rebecca wants to spend her leisure time writing short stories. She wants to enter one of her stories into a writing contest, a competition which she won last year. As a writer, I know about winning contests - and about losing them. I know what it is like to work hard on a story only to receive a rejection letter from the publisher. I also know the pressure of trying to live up to a reputation created by previous victories. What if she doesn't win the contest again? That's the strange thing about being a parent. So many of our own past scars and destroyed hopes can resurface in our children. A revelation came last week when I asked her, "Don't you want to win again?" "No," she replied, "I just want to tell the story of an angel going to first grade." I had just spent weeks correcting her stories as she spontaneously told them. Telling myself that I was merely an experienced writer guiding the young writer across the hall, I offered suggestions for characters, conflicts and endings for her tales. The story about a fearful angel starting first grade was quickly "guided" by me into the tale of a little girl with a wild imagination taking her first music lesson. _ Staying back and giving kids space to grow is not as easy as it looks. Because I know very little about farm animals who use tools or angels who go to first grade, I had to accept the fact that I was co-opting my daughter's experience. While stepping back was difficult for me, it was certainly a good first step that I will quickly follow with more steps, putting myself far enough away to give her room but close enough to help if asked. All the while I will be reminding myself that children need room to experience, grow and find their own voices. Why did Rebecca want to enter this year's writing contest? A. She believed she possessed real talent for writing. B. She was sure of winning with her mother's help. C. She wanted to share her stories with readers. D. She had won a prize in the previous contest. Answer: C Question: Expo 2010 Shanghai China Duration: May 1 to Oct 31, 2010 Welcome to the World Expo 2010 Shanghai China. In order to ensure a safe and orderly visit, the organizer of Expo 2010 has formulated these rules. Operation Time The operation time of the Expo Site shall be 9:00~24:00. The opening hours of the pavilions shall be 9:30 ~ 22:30. Visitors shall enter the Expo Site before 21:00 and leave before 24:00 on the day of admission. Those with evening admission tickets may enter the Expo Site between 17:00 and 21:00. Orderly Entry Visitors shall go through ticket check and security check before entering the Expo Site. Those who refuse to cooperate may be denied entry. Children eligible for free admission and other visitors with walking difficulties may only enter the Expo Site when accompanied by adults. Codes of Conduct Visitors are required to observe public order within the Expo Site, and shall queue up to enter the pavilions or event venues . In the Expo Site, visitors are prohibited from: (1) damaging any buildings, facilities or exhibits. (2) climbing over any buildings or fences (3) conducting any exhibitions or promotional or fundraising activities without permission. Special Management Measures In case of bad weather, too many visitors and technical problems, the organizer may restrict the entry of visitors into the Expo Site, pavilions or event venues. _ Visitors Service Centers are available in the Expo Site, providing visitors with such services as inquiries, rental, lost and found, first aid, mother-baby service, and assistance for lost persons. The centers also accept and process visitors' complaints. Free rental of wheelchairs are available for the disabled. We can infer that the organizer is intended to help _ . A. parents with children under 5 B. foreigners C. women D. the disabled Answer: D Question: Most of us know about the Nobel Prize, especially the Nobel Peace Prize, but few of us know anything about the man who set them up. His name was Alfred Nobel. He was a great scientist and inventor himself. Besides, he had a big business. His business may surprise you. He made and sold explosives . His companies even made and sold weapons. Isn't this something that surprises you? The man who made money from weapons should set up the Peace Prize? Though Alfred Nobel had a lot of money from weapons, he hated war. He hoped that there would be no war in the world. He was one of the richest in Europe. When he died in 1896, he left behind him a lot of money and his famous will. According to his will, most of his money was placed in a fund . He wanted the interest from the fund to be used as prizes every year. We know them as the Nobel Prizes. The Nobel Prizes are international. Alfred Nobel wanted the winners to be chosen for their work, not the country they came from. Alfred Nobel had given his whole life to his studies and work and to the benefits of mankind. He made money all by his own efforts, but he left the world share his wealth. His inventions and wealth stay with the world for ever. Alfred Nobel did the following EXCEPT _ A. choosing the winners of Nobel Prize B. making and selling weapons C. setting up the Nobel Prize D. making and selling explosives Answer: A Question: What could loosen the soil by creating tunnels? A. candles B. spaceships C. love D. rabbits Answer: D
In September 2013, the China National Tourism Administration issued a new set of tourist guideline in order to improve tourists' behavior when they travel abroad. Although the 64-page handbook contains suggestions for Chinese tourists when traveling at home, the main purpose is to improve the poor reputation of Chinese tourists abroad. In 2013, more than 83 million Chinese people traveled overseas, up 18 percent from the year 2012, according to the China Tourism Academy. But even as they travel farther, the Chinese tourists continue to take bad habits with them. From damaging ancient Egyptian temples to letting children defecate in the middle of airports, Chinese tourists have earned a bad fame. Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Yang even stressed the need for Chinese tourists to behave better while traveling overseas so as to protect China's image abroad. Now with the latest "guidebook", Chinese travelers should have no excuse for rude behavior. According to the guidelines, when using the restroom, Chinese tourists are asked not to forget to flush the toilet after using it. The guidelines also remind tourists of not fighting with others when they want to take pictures at tourist attractions. When flying, the guidelines advise travelers not to take life vests away from airplanes. Chinese tourists are also encouraged to be respectful of local customs wherever they travel. In the United Kingdom, for example, it is not polite to ask people. Where are you going?" or "Have you eaten?", the handbook says. Nevertheless, with a very short history of traveling overseas, it is not surprising that many Chinese tourists behave badly on their foreign trips. We should give them time to change. ,. What's the main purpose of the new guideline? Welcome to Franklin Hotel. To make your stay enjoyable, we hope you will use our facilities to the full. Dining Room: You can have three meals in the dining room. (breakfast 8-9 a.m.; lunch 12-2:30 p.m.; dinner 7:30-9 p.m.) Room Service: You can dial 0 for Reception to make a phone call while you are on bed. There are also pay telephones near the reception desk. Shop: You can buy presents, gifts and goods from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. here. _ We have a laundry in the building, and will wash and return your clothes within 24 hours. You can ask the room staff to collect them. Bar: The hotel bar is open from 12 to 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 11 a.m. Banking: We can cash cheques & exchange any foreign money for you. What can you do if you want to make a phone call to your friend in your room? Today, there's hardly an aspect of our life that isn't being upended by the tons of information available on the hundreds of millions of sites crowding the Internet, not to mention its ability to keep us in constant touch with each other via electronic mail. "If the automobile and aerospace technology had exploded at the same pace as computer and information technology," says Microsoft, "a new car would cost about $ 2 and go 600 miles on a small quantity of gas. And you could buy a Boeing 747 for the cost of a pizza." Probably the biggest payoff, however, is the billions of dollars the Internet is saving companies in producing goods and serving for the needs of their customers. Nothing like it has been seen since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, when power-driven machines began producing more in a day than men could turn out in nearly a year. "We view the growth of the Internet and e-commerce as a global trend," says Merrill Lynch, "along the lines of printing press, the telephone, the computer, and electricity." You would be hard pressed to name something that isn't available on the Internet. Consider: books, health care, movie tickets, construction materials, baby clothes, stocks, cattle feed, music, electronics, antiques, tools, real estate, toys, autographs of famous people, wine and airline tickets. And even after you've moved on to your final resting place, there's no reason those you love can't keep in touch. A company called FinalThoughts.com offers a place for you to store "afterlife e-mails" you can send to Heaven with the help of a "guardian angel". Kids today are so computer literate that it in fact ensures the United States will remain the unchallenged leader in cyberspace for the foreseeable future. Nearly all children in families with incomes of more than $75,000 a year have home computers, according to a study by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Youngsters from ages 2 to 17 at all income levels have computers, with 52% of those connected to the Internet. Most kids use computers to play games (some for 30 hours or more a week), and many teenage girls think nothing of rushing home from school to have e-mail chats with friends they have just left. What's clear is that, whether we like it or not, the Internet is an ever growing part of our lives and there is no turning back. "The Internet is just 20% invented," says cyber pioneer Jake Winebaum. "The last 80% is happening now." According to the author, the biggest benefit of the Internet is that _ . What fun the animals' party was! The zebras did a great job with the decorations.The lions and giraffes put together delicious food.No one knew music like the forest birds.The bears made clever posters to spread the news to all the animals. When the talent shows began, one of the monkeys hurried out to the dance floor.He was a dancing fool! The birds played some lively music.When the music stopped, the animals clapped and shouted.The monkey returned to his table.Friends gathered around to shake his hand and praised about his skills. The elephant saw all the attention the monkey was getting.He wanted some attention for himself."I can dance too," he told himself."I will show these animals what I can do!" The elephant hurried out to the dance floor.He started to dance.It was not pretty.The elephant knocked over the table that held the wine bowl! "Give up your dance!" a gorilla called. "What are you doing?" cried three frogs."Stop it!" The other animals shouted.They were sad about the elephant for making a mess! They chased him off the dance floor and away from the party. The bears shook their heads and said, "One should never try to be what one is not." The _ did the decorations for the party. Grade 9 Welcomes You to Parents'Night! Welcome to Parents' Night at Johnson School On Tuesday night. We will share some of our work with you. Please spend some time looking around our classroom. Here are some of the things you will find: A class book, the Bare Facts about Bears, that we just published. Each student wrote one page about a bear of his or her choice. Some of the bears you will about polar bears. Maps of the countries we are studying. Through our maps, you will learn about India, Mexico, and France. You will also know about the different countries and languages of these countries. Models of the planets in our solar system. We used small balls and colored paper to build a model of planets and the sun. Our classroom store. Here we buy and sell things. We learn about money and also practice math skills. Which country will parents learn about through the map?
Ashley and Chris work in the same department designing postcards. Chris had a college degree in art and deeply felt that the degree of his designs was excellent. His last postcard showed the depth of a desert's beauty and delights. "It's just a picture of the desert," Ashley said. "Not deep at all." "Some people desire seeing beauty," Chris replied. "Mine delivers that". Ashley laughed and said, "well, that depends on what you think beauty is." Days later, someone delivered a letter to Ashley. The letter said, "You are worthy of the bad things that will come your way. You will know the taste of defeat, and I will destroy you." Ashley suddenly felt very cold. It was as if the room temperature had dropped 30 degrees. "Who would do such a shocking deed?" she wondered. "I will not let a simple letter defeat me." Just then, Chris came into the room and offered Ashley a piece of his sandwich. "Try some," he smiled widely. "It's delicious." "Are you trying to poison me?" Ashley asked. Chris's answer was delayed from confusion. "What's your problem?" he asked. The next day, Ashley brought a bat to use to defend herself. When Chris saw her bat, he joked, "Defend and win one for the team." Ashley took no notice of him. She spent the whole day reading self-defending books and placed her work on delay. "You can't delay your work. Our job demands us to do our work on time," Chris said. "We must meet the demands of our job." "You're not the boss," Ashley replied. "Don't make demands of me." Because Ashley failed to do her work, she was fired. Chris glanced at Ashley's empty desk and smiled. We may infer from this passage that _ . Chris herself must have written the letter Weather Report (8:00 a.m. December 17--8:00 a.m. December 18) Influenced by a cold front northern Xinjiang, the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and the northern and eastern parts of Heilongjiang are expected to experience light snow today. Drizzle is forecast for most areas of Sichuan and western coastal areas of South China. Northerly winds of force 4-6 are expected to affect western and southwestern Inner Mongolia, and most parts of Northeast China while northerly winds of force 5-7 will sweep across the Bohai Sea, the northern parts of the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, the Taiwan Straits, and the central and northern parts of the South China Sea. Weather forecast for major Chinese cities From December 17 to December 18, if you go to _ , you may be caught in the snow. Northern Xinjiang and Tibet Traditional fairytales are being given up by parents because they are too scary for their young children, a study found. Research uncovered that one in five parents has got rid of old literature such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and Rapunzel in favour of more modem books. One third of parents said their children have been left in tears after hearing the _ details of Little Red Riding Hood. And nearly half of mothers and fathers refuse to read Rumplesliltshin to their kids as the themes of the story are kidnapping and killing. Similarly, Goldilocks and the Three Bears was also a tale likely to be left on the book shelf as parents felt it forgives stealing. The survey of 2,000 adults was completed to mark the launch of the hit US drama GRIMM , which starts tonight at 9pm on Watch, and sees six drama series based on traditional fairytales. The survey found a quarter of parents questioned wouldn't consider reading fairytales to their kids. And 52 percent of the parents said Cinderella didn't send a good message to their children as it describes a young woman doing housework all day. Steve Hornsey, General Manager of Watch, said: "Bedtime stories are supposed to calm children down and send them off to sleep soundly.But as we see in GMMM, fairytales can be dark and dramatic so it's understandable that parents worry about reading them to young 'children.As adults we can see the innocence in fairytales, but a five - year - old child could take them too literally.Despite the dark nature of classic fairytales, as: we see in GRIMM, good will defeat evil and there is always a moral to the story." The study also found two thirds of mums and dads try to avoid Stories which might give their children nightmares. However half of parents said traditional tales are "more likely to have a strong moral message than a lot of modem kids' books, such as The Gruffato, The Hungary Caterpillar and the Mr Men books. Classical works for children are being avoided by parents they think _ they are terrifying Can trees talk? Yes, but not in words. Scientists have reasons to believe that trees do communicate with each other. Not long ago, researchers learned some surprising things. First a willow tree attacked in the woods by caterpillars changed the chemistry of its leaves and made them taste so terrible that they got tired of the leaves and stopped eating them. Then even more astonishing, the tree sent out a special smell---a signal causing its neighbors to change the chemistry of their own leaves and make them less tasty. Communication, of course, doesn't need to be in words. We can talk to each other by smiling, raising our shoulders and moving our hands. We know that birds and animals use a whole vocabulary of songs, sounds, and movements. Bees dance their signals, flying in certain patterns that tell other bees where to find nectar for honey. So why shouldn't trees have ways of sending messages? According to the passage, the willow tree was able to communicate with other trees by _ . giving off a special smell (PARIS) ----An English tourist who was highly praised for rescuing a three-year-old boy in Paris said he didn't think twice before diving into the freezing river. Tuesday's news said 25-year-old John Smith from England was the man who left the spot quickly after the rescue last Saturday. He lifted the little boy out of the water after he fell off the bank. He handed the child to his father, David Anderson, who had dived in after him. "I didn't think at all," John told the News. "It happened very fast. I reacted very fast." John, an engineer on vacation, was walking with his girlfriend along the pier when he saw something falling into the water. He thought it was a doll, but realized it was a child when he approached the river. Immediately, he took off his coat and jumped into the water. When he reached the child, he appeared lifeless, he said. Fortunately, when he was out of the water, he opened his eyes. Anderson said his son slipped off the bank when he was adjusting his camera. An ambulance came later for him, said John, who was handed dry clothes from onlookers. John caught a taxi with his girlfriend shortly after. The rescue happened on the day before he left for England. John said he didn't realize his story had greatly moved Paris until he was leaving the city the next morning. "I don't really think I'm a hero," said John. "Anyone would do the same thing." What did John do shortly after the ambulance came? He left the spot quickly with his girlfriend.
Oleksander Pylyshenko is either very fearless,very foolish... or both. The 40-year-old zookeeper from the Ukraine recently spent five weeks in a cage with Katya, a 200-kilo African lioness. Why? Well for a start, he wanted to raise awareness of the treatment of animals in captivity. Secondly, he hoped to break the Guinness World Record for time spent living in a cage with a lion. And thirdly? "I wanted to show my children what kind of man I am," said Oleksander. For 36 days, Oleksander and Katya shared the cage together. They ate hunks of meat thrown into the cage by Oleksander's wife, and slept side by side on a bed of hay. Oleksander did have a few more creature comforts than his feline flatmate - he built himself a shower and toilet inside the enclosure. But he didn't use any soap as the sharp scent is upsetting to lions. And as if living with the king of the jungle wasn't dangerous enough, Katya was also pregnant at the time. She gave birth during Oleksander's stay. Wild animals are very protective of their young but the zookeeper said Katya trusted him completely. Oleksander' wife, Olena, was also very trusting. "when he first told me about the plan I was very scared. But I decided to support my husband." Once the five weeks was up, Oleksander stepped out of the cage and declared the experiment a success. He told a Russian news agency, "Katya taught me a lot about honesty and kindness." Also, a representative from Guinness World Records confirmed that Oleksander ahd beaten the previous record by three weeks. But the parting was also bittersweet. "Katya was very sad to see me go," Oleksander noted. Oleksander's wife, on the other hand, was very happy to have her husband back. [(<<>> 20121 "Into the Lion's Den" )] What did Oleksander do in order to live more comfortably in the cage with a lion? [ ] A. He made a bed with soft pillow and warm quilt. B. He equipped the enclosure with modern facilities, for example, a computer. C. He put up a tent to protect himself from sun and rain. D. He himself built a shower and toilet inside the enclosure. Answer: D Nancy would like to take part in a fancy-dress party . She had to go to the party with her friends because her husband has been to another city to go on a business trip. Later that night, she was busy in dressing up herself as a ghost, including putting on masks and some special costumes. After finishing it, she went downstairs to look at herself in the mirror. Suddenly, there was a knock on the front door. She knew that it must be the baker . She had told him to come straight in if ever she failed to open the door and to leave the bread on the kitchen table. Not wanting to frighten the poor man, Nancy quickly hid in the storeroom under the stairs. To her surprise, it was her husband who changed his plan and came back home 2 days earlier. The husband called his wife's name happily and looked for her all around. Nancy was so excited that she ran to her husband without realizing she was a ghost at that moment. But it was too late. Her husband let out a cry and jumped back several steps. Then he lost his sense and lay on the ground. What happened at the end of the story? A. Nancy went to the party with her husband happily. B. Nancy's husband was so scared that he lost his sense. C. Nancy had a wonderful party to welcome her husband at home. D. Nancy's husband was angry with her and left home alone at once. Answer: B Myfriend'sgrandfathercametoAmericafromafarminThailand.Afterarriving in New York, he went into a cafeteria inManhattan to get something to eat. He sat down at an empty table and waitedfor someone to take his order. Of course nobody did. Finally, a woman with abig plate full of food came up to him. She sat down opposite him and toldhim how a cafeteriaworked. "Start out at that end," she said, "Just go along the line andchoose what you want. At the other end they'll tell you how much you have topay." "I soon learned that's how everything works in America,"the grandfather told my friend later, "Life's a cafeteria here. You can getanything you want as long as you want to pay the price. You can even get success,but you'll never get it if you wait for someone to bring it to you. You have toget up and get ityourself." The woman in the cafeteria mightbe _ . A. awaitress B. a friend ofgrandpa's C. acustomer D. an assistant Answer: C For many people the subject of hiccups is a joke, but for Harry Mendes, a fifteen-year-old schoolboy from Birmingham, it was something quite different. His hiccups began one Sunday lunch time and continued day and night for two weeks. After the first week, Harry's parents took him to hospital, but it took another week for the doctors to cure his attack. Harry, who is now back at school, described what happened to him. "When I began to hiccup, I drank a glass of water but that didn't do any good. That evening I had hiccups every four seconds. We tried everything to stop them. I held my breath and drank cold drinks. My father even tried to give me a shock but that didn't work either." After a week of sleepless nights, he went to hospital. The doctors took an X-ray of his chest but they couldn't find anything wrong. "They gave me some medicine and my hiccups slowed down, but it was another week before the medicine worked completely and my hiccups stopped." Harry was very lucky. The world record holder is the American farmer Charles Osborne, who hiccupped for sixty-eight years. He stopped in 1990 at last, but nobody knows why. His parents decided to take him to hospital when he _ . A. hiccupped for four seconds B. held his breath C. hiccupped at night D. couldn't stop hiccupping Answer: D Without proper planning, tourism can cause problems. For example, too many tourists can crowd public places that are also enjoyed by the inhabitants of a country. If tourists create too much traffic, the inhabitants become annoyed and unhappy. They begin to dislike tourists and to treat them impolitely. They forget how much tourism can help the country's economy. It is important to think about the people of a destination country and how tourism affects them. Tourism should help a country, keep the customs and beauty that attract tourists. Tourism should also advance the wealth and happiness of local inhabitants. Too much tourism can be a problem. If tourism grows too quickly, people must leave other jobs to work in the tourism industry. This means that other parts of the country's economy can suffer. On the other hand, if there is not enough tourism, people can lose jobs. Businesses can also lose money. It costs a great deal of money to build large hotels, airports, air terminals, first- class roads, and other support facilities needed by tourist attractions. For example, a major international class tourism hotel can cost as much as 50 thousand dollars per room to build. If this room is not used most of the time, the owners of the hotel lose money. Building a hotel is just a beginning. There must be many support facilities as well, including roads to get to the hotel, electricity, sewers to handle waste, and water. All of these support facilities cost money. If they are not used because there are not enough tourists , jobs and money are lost. Which of the following do you think has been discussed in the part before this selection? A. It is extremely important to develop tourism. B. Building roads and hotels is essential. C. Support facilities are highly necessary. D. Planning is of great importance to tourism. Answer: D
Let's pay a visit to some of the most amazing and unusual places in the world, from icy hotels to temples on the side of cliffs . Hotel de Glace -- Canada If you don't mind the cold, this igloo style hotel is certainly for you. Nearly everything, including the bedding, is made of ice! This hotel is so well insulated that whatever the temperature outside is, the temperature inside never changes more than a few degrees. It's around 23 degrees to be exact. Since it is made of ice the hotel does have some dress requirements that can be found on their website. Arctic sleeping bags are provided for every guest, including children. For more information, visit the website: http://www.icehotelcanada.com. The Tigers Nest Monastery -- Bhutan Built directly onto a cliff side, this ancient temple has claimed its spot since 1692. Rich in history, Tigers Nest is constructed around eight attractive caves on the mountainside. Most of the caves are easy to reach through the natural rock stairways. However, some are more difficult, and can only be reached by shaky rope bridges. Visit the website http://www.bhutantouroperators.net/taktsang-monastery.php for more information. Dinosaur Provincial Park -- Canada Known to be one the greatest fossil locations in the world, Dinosaur Provincial Park has nearly 500 specimens in all shapes and sizes. The park itself has a vast collection of fossils and a unique natural ecosystem. For more information, please visit http://tpr.alberta.ca/parks/dinosaur/index.aspx. Leshan Giant Buddha -- Sichuan China The world's largest Buddha sits on the edge of two great rivers. Construction is believed to have started around the year 713, and at the time of this construction it was the tallest carved statue in the world. All 233 feet of the stature was carved from the surrounding cliffs and preserved in amazing condition. Even the 2008 earthquake was not enough to shake it. Its website http://yeschinatour.com/china-guides/china-attractions leshan-giant-buddha-leshan will provide you with more information. The passage is probably taken from a magazine on _ . travel If you've ever seen a James Bond movie,you'll know that the hero gets around in a smart Aston Martin car. Even if you know full well that you could never afford such an expensive vehicle, you don't forget the name, or the car. Why? You have been affected by product placement. Companies pay a film to place their products in the movie. Product placement took off in the West in the 1980s and is now catching on in China. Two Hunan Satellite TV dramas are recent examples:Ugly Wudi and Let's Go Watch the Meteor Shower (<<>> ). Shampoo, mobile phones, cars and fitness centers-anything can be product-placed. Advertisers value the mass appeal of the movies, knowing that a successful film can showcase their goods to hundreds of thousands of viewers. But when product placement takes over, artistic considerations can take a back seat. Cai Zhiyong has been product-placing for years. The Beijing-based advertiser admits there is a conflict between art and business. He explains the way one ad works. In If You are the One (<<>> ), the actress Shu Qi plays a flight attendant. The movie contains product placement for airline companies. _ filmmakers often have to give less consideration to the quality of their work because they need money from advertisers. In the original story for Meteor Shower, the heroine's mother owned an ice cream shop. But no ice cream company wanted to sponsor the film. For this reason, the story was changed. In the film the man drinks 20 cups of milk tea instead of eating ice cream. So you may see the power of business over the movies, since the script was perhaps written so that a product could be placed-whether it was ice cream or milk tea. Product placement can have a bad effect on the _ of a movie. artistic value Mr Reese was born in a big city. His father had several companies and got a lot of money. He could give his son all the young man wanted. He was busy with his business and never asked him how he got along with his studies. So the boy spent most time in the restaurants or cinemas. Of course he was weak at his lessons and learned nothing at school. He made many friends but none of them was good and when they knew he came from a rich family, they began to teach him to gamble . Of course he lost much money. Now Mr Reese was twenty and finished middle school. He could not do anything. But his father didn't mind it until one day he found the young man had sold one of his companies. He became so angry that he made him leave his house. The young man couldn't gamble any longer. His friends made him pay his debt. He had to ask his mother to help him and the woman often gave him some money. But one evening his father happened to find it. The old man stopped his wife from doing so. They began to fight in the room. The young man brought out a knife and killed his father. His mother helped him to run away, but soon after that he was caught and sentenced to death. It was a cold and wet day. Suddenly it began to rain hard when Mr Reese was being sent to the execution ground . Soon both he and the soldiers were wet through. He said angrily, "Bad luck! I shall be shot in such bad weather!" "Don't complain , brother, "said one of the soldiers. 'You're luckier than us all. We'll have to go back to the city after that!" Mr Reese complained _ . [ ] he would be shot in bad weather After too long on the Net, even a phone call can be a shock. My boyfriend's Liverpudlian accent suddenly becomes too difficult to understand after his clear words on screen; a secretary's tone seems more rejecting than I'd imagined it would be. Time itself becomes fluid--hours become minutes, and alternately seconds stretch into days. Weekends, once a highlight of my week, are now just two ordinary days. For the last three years, since I stopped working as a producer for Charlie Rose, I have done much of my work as a tele-commuter. I submit articles and edit them by E-mail and communicate with colleagues on Internet mailing lists. My boyfriend lives in England; so much of our relationship is computer-mediated. If I desired, I could stay inside for weeks without wanting anything. I can order food, and manage my money, love and work. In fact, at times I have spent as long as three weeks alone at home, going out only to get mail and buy newspapers and groceries. I watched most of the blizzard of '96 on TV. But after a while, life itself begins to feel unreal. I start to feel as though I've merged with my machines, taking data in, spitting them back out, just another node on the Net. Others on line report the same symptoms. We start to strongly dislike the outside forms of socializing. It's like attending an A. A. meeting in a bar with everyone holding a half-sipped drink. We have become the Net opponents' worst nightmare. What first seemed like a luxury, crawling from bed to computer, not worrying about hair, and clothes and face, has become an avoidance ,a lack of discipline. And once you start replacing real human contact with cyber interaction, _ can be quite difficult. At times, I turn on the television and just leave it to chatter in the background, something that I'd never done previously. The voices of the programs relax me, but then I'm jarred by the commercials. I find myself sucked in by soap operas, or needing to keep up with the latest news and the weather. "Dateline", "Frontline" , "Nightline," CNN, every possible angle of every story over and over and over, even when they are of no possible use to me. Work moves from foreground to background. What is the author's attitude to the computer? At first she likes it but later becomes tired of it. When the swim season began, my 11-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, and I cut a deal. She would go to practice three times a week and try really hard, and I wouldn't make her compete in the swim meets because on the day of a meet, she would be nervous all day. Her nerves rooted from the possibility that she would do something horribly wrong and let everyone down. Recently, they had a T-shirt relay, which works like this: one person from each relay team puts on a T-shirt and a pair of socks, swims 50 meters, and gets out of the pool. She takes off the clothes and puts them on the next person, who then swims 50 meters. This continues until everyone on the team has completed a lap. By the last leg, Elizabeth's team had built up a moderate lead. Then it was Elizabeth's turn to swim. She seemed to swim faster in the T-shirt and socks than when she wasn't wearing them. Approaching the halfway mark, she was still in the lead. Then one of Elizabeth's socks fell off and was floating in the pool. "She has to get that sock on before the end of the race," a swimming official told her team, "or you will be disqualified." Everybody on her team started screaming, "Elizabeth! Elizabeth! Stop! Get the sock!" But she couldn't hear them. As she started her last 25 meters, a girl in Lane 2 was gaining on Elizabeth. It was time for desperate measures. A girl on my daughter's team jumped in the pool, grabbed the sock, and swam after Elizabeth. She grabbed Elizabeth's foot. "You have to put the sock on," the girl screamed. Elizabeth continued swimming while her teammate put on the sock. By now, the girl in Lane 2 was about to pass Elizabeth. With the sock finally on, Elizabeth swam her heart out for the last 15 meters. It was close, but Elizabeth beat the other girl to the wall for the victory. On the ride home, she relived her moment of glory again and again. She told me that if the T-shirt relay was an Olympic event, her team would win the gold medal. I told her that in my professional opinion, she was absolutely right. From the passage, we know that _ . Elizabeth's team narrowly won the match
For many years, women could only be seen on the seat behind the men operating the two-wheeled motorcycle. Now more and more women are taking the front seat. More than twenty million people in the United States ride motorcycles. Since 1998 the number of female bikers has risen sharply. Lady Sport Riders began in 1999 in Washington. The women formed the organization to share their love of motorcycle riding. But later it wanted to be more than just an organization for women to gather and ride motorcycles, so it started to organize events that help national health organizations and women's shelters. It also permits women to share a strong sisterhood, and gives financial awards to poor students. Like other motorcycle clubs, the members of Lady Sport Riders also help their community. Different from male riders, female riders ride for more than fun. This sport gives women a sense of freedom and control. Female riders have helped change motorcycle culture. More than five years ago manufacturers began making equipment especially for women. Some bikes now have smaller, softer seats and controls that are easier to reach. Modern clothes for riding now look good and still provide protection. In the past, women rode motorcycles that traveled at a moderate speed. Now theirs are as powerful as the ones men ride. Safety is very important when riding because the risk of injury is high. So the women wear protective clothing and equipment at all times, especially for the head. Lady Sport Riders believes women have earned their place in the sport of motorcycle riding. When speaking of male motorcyclists, the members of the club say, "They Made the Game. We Came to Play!" In the beginning, Lady Sport Riders was organized to _ . Answer: "How are you asleep? It's six in the morning!" "Hello Dad," I said. My dad thought waking me up early for father-son time was a treat. I wished we could hang out at night instead. He sat in the chair at the foot of my bed with an enormously cheesy grin on his face, with a big shopping bag on his lap. "What's in the bag, Dad?" "I bought you some presents! You're a growing young man, and it is only right that you pick a sport." Dad dug through the bag, and pulled out a football and a baseball. "Any of these look good?" "Dad, you know all I want in life is to join the circus! Why can't you let me be myself?" Dad leaned in closer to me, a serious look on his face. "Son, when I was eight I wanted to join the circus too. But when I got to high school, everybody made fun of me. They told me I was dumb for not playing sports and dumb for practicing juggling all day. They told me that nobody would marry me if I didn't give up my circus dreams." "Then how did you find Mom?" "By giving up my dreams of circus juggling and playing football instead! Come on, you'll like it." I slowly pulled myself out of bed and grabbed the football from Dad's hand. I wanted to make him happy. But I wish he could've been happy with a dream where you didn't get hit with things. Why did the Dad play football in high school? Answer: EAT YOUR VEGETABLES. Wash your hands. Always say "please" and "thank you ".We are full of advice for our children, but when it comes to money, we often have little to say. As a result, our children may grow up with clean hands and good manners, but without any idea how to manage their money.Here are some basics that will help guide them their entire lives: Show them the future. If your 13-year-old girl were to save $1.000,invest it at 8% and add $100 every month, by the time she's 65,she would have $980,983!zxxk Be careful of credit .Credit cards can help you buy necessary things and build a credit history, but they must be used responsibly, which means paying off your debt in time. Explain to your children that when you buy something using a credit card, you can easily end up paying two or three times what you would have paid if you used cash. Teach patience. Suppose your child wants a new bicycle that costs $150.Rather than paying the cash, give him some regular pocket money and explain that by putting aside,say,$15 each week, he will be able to buy it for himself in only ten weeks. Provide _ . Tell your children the importance of saving. "For every dollar he or she agrees to save and invest rather than spend, you agree to add another dollar to the pot, "says Cathy Pareto, expert in money planning. Explain your values. Values and money are deeply intertwined , says Eilleen Gallo, co-author of The Financially Intelligent Parent. When your child demands that you buy something, explain why you really don't want to buy it. "You might say, 'I'd rather save that money for your education,'" advises Gallo. Every time you spend or don't spend money, you have a chance to share your values. What leads the writer to write this article? Answer: Perfect Disaster All around us buildings shook. We decided to leave the town. We stopped once we had left the buildings behind us. The carts were moving in opposite directions, though the ground was perfectly flat, and they wouldn't stay in place even with their wheels blocked by stones. In addition, it seemed as though the sea was being sucked backwards, as if it were being pushed back by the shaking of the land. Certainly the shoreline moved outwards, and many sea animals were left on dry sand. Behind us were frightening dark clouds that opened up to show fire--like lightning, but bigger. Not long after that the clouds reached down to the ground and covered the sea. Now came the dust, though still thin. I looked back. A dense cloud appeared behind us, following us like a flood pouring across the land. Then a darkness came that was not like a moonless or cloudy night, but more like being in a closed and unlighted room. You could hear women and children crying, men shouting. Some were calling for parents, others for children; they could only recognize them by their voices. Darkness and ashes came again, a great weight of them. We stood up and shook the ash off again and again; otherwise we would have been covered with it and crushed by the weight. At last the cloud became thinner and thinner until it was no more than smoke or fog. Soon there was real daylight. The sight that met our still terrified eyes was a changed world, buried in ash like snow. --from Pliny's letter to a friend Pliny left the town after _ . Answer: Dear iPhone 4 Users, The iPhone 4 has been the most successful product in Apple's history. It is the best smartphone ever, and most users have told that they love it. So we were surprised when reading reports of reception problems, and we immediately began researching them. To start with, holding tightly almost any mobile phone in certain ways will reduce its reception by 1 or more bars of signal strength. This is true of iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, as well as many other phones. But some users have reported that iPhone 4 can drop 4 or 5 bars when tightly held in a way. This is a far bigger drop than normal, and as a result some have said the iPhone 4 has a faulty antenna design. Upon research, we find that the formula we use to calculate how many bars of signal strength to display is totally wrong. Our formula usually mistakenly displays 2 more bars than it should for a given signal strength. The big drop in bars is because the high bars were never real in the beginning. We will give a free software update to correct the formula. This software update will also be available for iPhone 3GS. If you are not fully satisfied, you can return your undamaged iPhone to any Apple Retail Store or the online Apple Store within 30 days of buying and get all your money back. Thank you for your patience and support. Apple The text is a letter _ . Answer:
A woman planning "Harry Potter night" at a supper club she runs at home has been forced to change their name after a warning from film studio Warner Bros . The evenings in Kiburn, north London, were due to include food and other elements from the Harry Potter books. However, Warner Bros, maker of the Harry Potter films, wrote to the club's organizer "Ms Marmite Lover" warning that the parties would infringe its rights. The club will now hold two "Genetic Wizard nights" for Halloween. On her blog,Ms Marmite Lover explains that she researched and developed her menu with her Harry Potter-obsessed teenage daughter and a food writer. Guests would have to enter the venue, called the Underground Restaurant, through "Diagon Alley" and by giving a password--while a "Sorting Hat" would decide the seating plan. After Warner Bros learned about the event, he wrote to Ms Marmite Lover saying: "While we are delighted that you are such a fun of the Harry Potter series, unfortunately your proposed use of the Harry Potter Properties without our permission would amount to an infringement of Wamer's rights." The letter added: "Warner does not, of course, object to you holding a generic wizard/Halloween night at the Underground Restaurant." Ms Marmite Lover suggested in her blog: "JK Rowling herself, having at one time been a struggling single parent, and having donated to the National Council for one Patent Families, would probably approve of a single mother being entrepreneurial and creative". The Underground Restaurant usually charges diners about 20-30 each, except alcohol. Warner Bros says it has guidelines to help Harry Potter fans run non-profit and charitable events true to the spirit of the stories. The vast majority of non-commercial events are able to go ahead with the studio's support, it says. We can infer from the passage that _ A. "Sorting Hat" is the password to go through "Diagon Alley" B. the charges that the guests pay for the dinner include alcohol C. Ms Marmite Lover was not pleased with Warner Bros D. Warner is a charity organization which helps the single mother. Answer: C. Ms Marmite Lover was not pleased with Warner Bros What is the sky? Where is it? How bright is it? What lies above it? These questions are difficult to answer, aren't they? Is the sky blue? The sky has no color. We know that there is air around the world. When planes fly, they need air to lift their wings. Planes can't fly very high because the air gets thinner when they go up higher. If we go up about 1,200 kilometers from the earth, we'll find no air there. When we talk about the sky, we usually mean the atmosphere around the earth. It is like a very thick "cover" over the earth and keeps it warm. Without the "cover", the earth would be a very cold place and nothing could live on it. Looking up above us, you will see the blue sky with white clouds. It is usually light blue, but the sky would be dark blue if you go to the top of the highest mountains. And you will see fewer clouds between you and the sun. And if you sit in a spaceship high above the earth, there is no air at all. The sky would be so dark that its color would be black. Sometimes the sky doesn't look blue. When the sun rises and falls, you will see red, orange, and other colors in the sky. These are the most beautiful moments of the day. Now you may understand that we see colors because the air scatters the sunlight. Light travels through the air. Without air, there would be no light and no colors. Which of the following is TRUE? A. There is little air without light and colors in the sky. B. The sky will look red, orange and other colors at noon. C. The sky has only one color when the sun rises and falls. D. The sky is dark blue if you go to the top of the highest mountains. Answer: D. The sky is dark blue if you go to the top of the highest mountains. We've been judging people based on the way they look for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks turned it into a science, "physiognomy". As early as 500 BC, the mathematician Pythagoras would look carefully at young men's faces to determine if they'd make a good student, not long after Aristotle wrote how large-headed people were mean. It was widely believed at the time that the animal a person resembled was a good judge of character. By the Middle Ages it was well and truly mainstream. Professionals coined the phrase "stuck-up" to refer from the belief that those with upturned noses had an air of superiority, "high-brow" to refer to the high foreheads of nobles and "low-brow" to the less educated foreheads of the lower classes. Back in 2016, we're still doing it. We view those who resemble Labradors as warm, while those who resemble lions as more of a ruler. We think of those with "resting moody face" as more aggressive, those who are less attractive as sick and expect people who look familiar to share our values. Many of these judgments occur in as little as 50 milliseconds. To get to understand and find out why having a babyface is so great, first we need to know what happens when we recognize an actual baby. In fact, the features of babies and those universally considered "cute" are nothing more than a series of developmental accidents. Our eyes are already fully grown by the time we're born but our heads aren't. Similarly, our bodies do a lot more growing later on than our heads. Babies have more body fat than adults, chubby cheeks, for example. The list goes on. And regardless of whether you're very maternal or find babies really annoying, we're unconditionally to respond to their features by turning into gentle baby-talking fools. Most importantly, gazing into their innocent faces makes us less aggressive and more generous and helpful. So there you have it. Next time you find yourself staring affectionately into the eyes of a baby-faced friend, colleague or date, just remember, you may be the latest victim in a long-running systematic evolutionary trick. What's the passage mainly talking about? A. The features of faces. B. The science of judging people by face. C. The trick of faces. D. The importance of judging people from their looks. Answer: C. The trick of faces. Tanzania Tarangire is a national Park which lies in Tanzania. The park itself covers an area of around 2,850 square kilometers, making it the sixth largest park of its kind in the country. I recently visited Tarangire to see what it was like.... One of the first sightings upon entering the park which I found was a huge herd of elephants. Our guide told us that Tagrangire was probably the best place in Tanzania to find large herds of elephants, and that their population in the park was around 2,500. We continued to watch the elephants as they stood under trees and scratched themselves against the trees to hit the spot of an itch . To the right of the elephant herd, we noticed a big tree! Our guide informed us that this was a Baobab tree and that they could live for hundreds of years. Compared with this tree, the elephant just looked like dwarfs ! We were informed that Tarangire was one of the best National Parks in Africa to see so many Baobab trees. As we continued our drive through the park, we finally reached a watering hole. Our guide warned us that there were lions all around us. It took us all a while to find them, but there they were! Most of them are resting in the shade under brushes, but there was one that was drinking from the watering hole directly in front of us. We then noticed just to our right, there were a couple of fresh zebra corpses -- it seemed as if the lions which were resting had killed them! We were unlucky not to have seen the actual kill, as our guide had mentioned that the zebra corpses were fresh and the kill had occurred within the last hour. Our final big sighting was one that none of us were expecting to see, even our guide! We pulled over to where there was a large gathering of cars, with a sleeping leopard there! We took photos happily and excitedly and observed its surprising body before returning to our hotel as it was getting late. So, I hope you enjoyed my description of Tarangire, and that I have inspired you to add this amazing park to your very own Tanzania travel route. Which statement is correct about the park? A. It covers an area of about 2,580 square kilometers B. It is the largest park of its kind in the country C. Their population in the park was around 2,000 D. There are a lot of Baobab trees in it. Answer: D. There are a lot of Baobab trees in it. Where is Love? How can we find Love? Once a little boy wanted to meet Love. He knew it was a long trip to where Love lived, so he got his things ready with some pizzas and drinks and started off. When he passed three streets, he saw an old woman sitting in the park and watching some birds. She looked very hungry. The boy gave her a pizza. She took it and smiled at him. The smile was so beautiful that he wanted to see it again, so he gave her a Coke. She smiled once again. The boy was very happy. They sat there all the afternoon, eating and smiling, but they said nothing. When it grew dark, the boy decided to leave. But before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old woman and gave her a hug. The woman gave him her biggest smile ever. When the boy opened the door of his house, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face and asked what had made him so happy. "I had lunch with Love. She has got the most beautiful smile in the world." At the same time, the old woman,s son was also surprised at his mother,s pleasure and asked why. "I ate a pizza in the park with Love," she said, "and he is much younger than I expected." If the world is full of love, we can enjoy a better life. Which of the following is TRUE? _ A. The little boy failed to find Love. B. Both the little boy and the old woman found what they wanted at last. C. The little boy decided never to go home. D. The old woman gave the little boy a hug to thank him. Answer: B. Both the little boy and the old woman found what they wanted at last.
I really hadn't meant to yell at them. But that grey afternoon saw it just as my son and daughter were making a terrible mess on the floor in the kitchen. With a tiresome report to write, I felt bothered at my desk. Suddenly, it occurred to me that my kids were at fault. A voice inside me insisted that I do something quickly. "Ok, you two here, but what an awful thing you are attempting!" I was shouting angrily. I made for them, while it became evident that _ "Get away from us!" he shouted back, there being an expression of support from his sister. All of a sudden, I found the fault in myself. Quickly I shaped my hands into pincers and crawled towards them, "Crabby Daddy is here. Ha, Ha, Ha, he likes to yell at children, and then eat them!" My son continued to keep me away, but now he was laughing and crying at the same time. My mission to repair the damage caused by my yelling seemed to work well. Still, I regretted not having controlled myself first in a right way. Need I let them know how badly they were acting by blaming? This is a lesson that serves myself. It only shows just how to get rid of something (ill-feelings, responsibility...) by blaming others. It's not my "best self". We have to search for our "best self" when with our children. They don't need perfect parents, but they do need parents who are always trying to get better. Here, I am reminded of the words of a great thinker. "When a man lives with God, his voice shall be as sweet as the murmur of the book..." Then, in our lifetime, couldn't we always speak to our kids in such a sweet voice since most of us consider them as the most precious in the world? And before we reach this level, what should we do when we come across various difficult cases with our children? According to the passage, the author will _ in another similar situation. Snapping a rubber band most likely produces which type of energy? For many people in the US,sports are not just for fun. They're almost a "religion".Thousands of sports fans buy expensive tickets to watch their favorite teams and athletes play in person .Other fans watch the games at home,sticking to their TV sets,never missing a game. Many a wife becomes a "sports widow" during her husband's favorite season. Americans' devotion to sports has created a new class:professional athletes. Sports stars often receive milliondollar salaries. Some even make big money by appearing in advertisements for soft drinks,shoes and almost everything. Sports are an important part of American culture. Throughout their school life,Americans learn to play many sports. Many students try out for the school teams. Athletic events at universities attract scores of fans and benefit the whole community. Many people also enjoy noncompetitive activities,like hiking,cycling,horseback riding,camping or hunting. Many sports were imported from other countries. Europeans brought tennis,golf,bowling and boxing to America .Football and baseball came from other Old World games. Only basketball has a truly American origin. Americans export sports fever as well. Satellites broadcast games to sports fans around the globe. NBA is a good example. The names of American superstars like basketball great Michael Jordan have become household words all over the world. The writer mainly intends to tell us _ . I have always really loved receiving my monthly pocket money form my dad. After getting the money I would be very excited and would rush off to my friend's place where after much consideration we would decide what to do with it and where to spend it. Mostly it would go for the ice cream treats(;) or jam sessions with our favorite people around. Girls will manage to find some way of budgeting so the money we save can be used for other purposes. I think that the best way to enjoy your pocket money would be to enjoy those treats that come occasionally. Since just mere pocket money would be not enough, many girls are doing a part time job of some form so that a larger amount of money can be collected. The best use of pocket money is to spend it in such a way that it involves lots of fun with your closest friends. Those treats are no fun if done alone. Company, especially good company can work wonders for providing you the best relaxation that you need. It is also best to spend your pocket money on things that otherwise parents end up refusing. When you use your pocket money to get this sense of achievement you will just feel so crazily happy. I remember the time when a friend and I were just so tired of our everyday _ life that we decided to go out, have some great food and then head out to the beach and have those lovely grape and mango ice-creams. And we did exactly that. That day has just been one of the most refreshing days of my life. I think the true meaning of pocket money is to be able to maximize your fun at a minimal cost! We can know from the passage that _ . The next generation telephone is called Superphone or personal Communication Network (PCN). Your superphone goes wherever you go, in your pocket. You can use it in the street, in an aeroplane, a boat, or a taxi; you can call from anywhere on the globe to anywhere else. Calls travel at the speed of light, via satellites using ultraviolet, high-frequency wave bands and each communication is automatically billed to your account. This new phone is the size and shape of a billfold . You unfold it to use it., making it long enough to reach from your ear to your mouth. There is a miniaturized touch pad, on which to enter the number you are calling. There is also a tiny liquid crystal screen on which you can read weather, news or financial reports. These news items are constantly updated by the company that sells the service. Letter keys on the touch pad also allow you to use this electronic marvel as a computer or word processor. You can plug it into your large home or office computer in order to transfer any data that you feed in during a business trip. The PCN also stores any useful information of your own that you might need as you travel, such as the names, addresses and phone numbers of several hundred people, important meetings, flight details and so on. When you need information, you simply call it up on the screen. You can even use your PCN to activate electronically controlled equipment at home. For example, you could switch your oven on or off, start the sprinkler system in your garden during a dry spell, get your video recorder to record a show on television, turn off the central heating, and so on. All of this from thousands of miles away, perhaps from the back of a camel in the desert. Prototypes are already being trialed. In spite of the complex technology, they will be cheap because of the enormous sales that will be made. The next generation telephone doesn't own the function of _
Education plays a very important role in everybody's life. We go to school because we want to know more about the world around us. The typical classroom used to be the place where teachers and students were working and exploring the wonderful world of knowledge together, but now everything has changed. The Internet is one of those approaches. Learning via the Internet is a new style that seems to become successful than the traditional teaching. The Internet provides schools with a large amount of learning material that is accessible to students online. Owing to the choices of courses online, completing a program becomes much easier. We used to go to the library when we needed information and spend hours searching for the right sources. Today there is a "library" in our house and it is available 24 hours a day. From my personal experience, being a first time mother, I find that using information online is very helpful. While I am at home with my baby, I can still search for the material I need and exchange thoughts and information with my classmates without leaving my house. The Internet is not only a big information provider but also a money and time saver. People predict that education will be much cheaper in the future because of Internet access to information. The cost of land, building and wages for teachers are continuously increasing. In addition, regular courses (offline) depend heavily on books and other paper-based materials, while online education posts lectures, and assignments electronically, which saves thousands of dollars every year. With no physical restrictions, the Internet classes and courses are also very convenient. In classroom-based education there is a limitation on the number of students while Internet education is available to everyone. Students don't have to struggle in order to register for classes they like. Students will have more choices to take their courses and classes online. The Internet offers a wonderful opportunity to obtain knowledge in a more convenient and less expensive way. In my opinion, online life in the future is simply inescapable. As a first time mother, the author _ . Answer: Mr.Brown is 80 years old. Every morning he goes for a walk in the park. And he comes home at twelve thirty for lunch.But today a car stops at his house. At twelve, two policemen help him get out.One of them says to Mr.Brown's daughter, "The old man can't find his way in the park. He asks us to take him home by car." The daughter thanks the policemen and leave. Then she asks her father,"Dad, you go to that park every day. But today, you can't find the way. What's wrong with you?" The old man smiles like a child and says, "I can find my way. I don't want to walk home." How does Mr.Brown come home today? Answer: For the British, the home is a private place in which he or she goes to hide away from the troubles of life. It is very seldom that one would be invited to a British person's home. It is rude to knock on a person's door if you are not invited. If you are invited, don't ask to see more than the downstairs that your British host invites you into. Never ask how much the house or any of the items in it cost. To the American, most of them want their home to be a place where they can entertain and share their lives with their friends. They may be delighted to give you a full tour of their houses. They may also be pleased when you show your interest and pleasure in their houses. Both British and American people will _ quite a bit of chat and a drink or two before the meal is served. After the first mouthful, you should say how delicious the food is and ask something about it. Remember, never eat with your mouth open and make very little noise while eating. It would be nice of you to help your host in any way. Maybe offer to pour some drinks or clear up after the meal. If your British friend invites you to his home, you can _ . Answer: Millions of citizens throughout the central US are jumping into pools, sitting in the shade, and turning on their air conditioners as they try to beat the heat.With record-breaking temperatures and unbearable humidity attacking the central US.17 states from Texas to Michigan have all received heat advisories and warnings. "Even with the air conditioning on, it's 82 degrees Fahrenheit in the house," said North Dakotan Betty Smokov.'The heat is really unpleasant and sticky.'"I According to the National Weather Service, the heat is not likely to ease up soon. In Western Oklahoma, the heat is even worse.There, temperatures have frequently climbed to above 110 degrees over the past several weeks." _ " said Daryl Williams, a weather forecaster in Norman, Oklahoma.On Saturday night, the asphalt at a busy road in Enid, Oklahoma, crumbled due to the extreme heat. Across the area, citizens are keeping cool in many different ways.Cities like Chicago and Detroit are providing relief for their citizens by opening cooling centers for those without air conditioning in their homes.Others are heading to the water to cool down.But in some cases, the water itself needs cooling.Dwight Anderson, an amusement park owner in Omaha, Nebraska, had to put two tons of ice cubes into his park's swimming pools to lower the water's temperature from 88 degrees to 82 degrees. But not everyone is complaining about the heat.Sixty-five-year-old Detroit citizen Marcellus Washington enjoyed the weather as he walked along the Detroit River to stay cool."What a wonderful weather! It's a very pleasant day, " he said. According to Marcellus Washington, the hot weather _ . Answer: According to a survey, which was based on the responses of over 188,000 students, today's traditional age college freshmen are "more materialistic and less altruistic " than at any time in the 17 years of the poll. Not surprising in these hard times, the student's major objective "is to be financially well off. Less important than ever is developing a meaningful philosophy of life." It follows then that today the most popular course is not literature or history but accounting. Interest in teaching, social service and the "altruistic" fields is at a low. On the other hand, enrollment in business programs, engineering and computer science is way up. While it's true that we all need a career, it is equally true that our civilization has accumulated an incredible amount of knowledge in scientific or artistic fields. It is equally true that, in studying the diverse wisdom of others, we learn how to think. More important, perhaps, education teaches us to see the connections between things, as well as to see beyond our immediate needs. The most important argument for a broad education is that in studying the accumulated wisdom of the ages, we improve our moral sense. I saw a cartoon recently which shows a group of businessmen looking puzzled as they sit around a conference table; one of them is talking on the intercom :"Miss Baxter," he says, "could you please send in someone who can distinguish right from wrong?" From the long term point of view, that's what education really ought to be about. According to the author's observation, college students _ as today. Answer:
Many people feel that their parents were harder on them than on their brother or sister. And many are quick to blame negative results in adulthood on it. But results from a Temple University study published this month suggest that it is not necessarily true. Researchers have found that among siblings in the same family,recalled negative early experiences such as conflicts with parents seem to have little influence over psychological wellbeing in midlife. "Existing research suggests the importance of early childhood parental treatment on later wellbeing,but respondents in this study who thought they were treated less favorably than their siblings have been found to be just as satisfied in their lives,"said Adam Davey,a psychologist in the College of Health Professions. Davey's study looked at data collected from 1,369 siblings between the ages of 26--74 from 498 different families to determine the extent to which different childhood treatment reached into adulthood. Each sibling answered a series of questions about their memories of parental affection ,conflicts with their parents when they were young and current wellbeing. Davey and his team found that those who remembered having more conflicts with their parents than their siblings still tended to have generally high levels of wellbeing in adulthood. Not surprisingly,they also found that happier memories,such as memories of affection and warmth,can have positive effects. Older respondents who were married and had children of their own tended to have a more positive recollection of their childhood. Davey says these findings could suggest that life experience acts as a filter for remembering childhood memories. He adds that personality also plays a role:those who were more outgoing tended to have a better recollection of their childhood. "Even people who grow up in the same environment can have different ways of recalling the past. And it's not necessarily what happens in the past,but the way we remember it that makes a difference to our wellbeing,"said Davey. What's the purpose of the passage? Answer: The following is a true story. It happened in the northern end of Queensland, Australia, where all kinds of animals live in the forest. Lisa, a 33-year-old woman, went to prepare lunch in the kitchen, leaving Barney, her three-year-old son, playing by himself in the back garden. Suddenly, a sharp cry of Barney came into the mother's ears, and Lisa rushed into the backyard in a hurry and found a big snake entwining the little child with its terrible body and trying to eat the boy as its delicious dish! It was a boa ! Lisa was terrified and quite angry. She made up her mind to save her son from the snake's mouth. It was fearless mother love that made Lisa forget what she faced. She took up an old hoe from the ground and beat the boa with all her might. One...two... With the hoe, Lisa beat the snake repeatedly, but useless. The little boy's voice and breath were getting weaker and weaker. Lisa's heart was broken and she got nearly mad. Suddenly Lisa put away the hoe and threw herself to the boa, opening her mouth and bit into the boa's back as if trying to eat a rare steak . Lisa was really mad! Blood was spurting out of the boa's body and covered most of Lisa's body. The boa was so badly wounded that it let go of Barney and moved back into the forest hurriedly. It had never known how a man had such terrible sharp teeth! On halfway home, the boa died. It was fearless mother love that saved the little boy. Lisa bit the snake because _ . Answer: London has a population of over 7,000,000. From about the year 1800 until World War II, London was the biggest city in the world. But now there are many cities which are much bigger than it. London is famous for many things. Tourists come from all over the world to visit its famous buildings and hear the famous clock, Big Ben. Like many big cities, London has problems with traffic and pollution which stop the city from developing. Over one million people a day use the London underground, but there are still too many cars on the streets. The air isn't clear, but it is anyhow cleaner than it was 100 years ago. For me, the best things about London are the parks. There are five in the city center. But my children's favorite place is Hamleys, the biggest toy shop in the world. When was London the biggest city in the world? Answer: When the world was very young, people lived in hot places .They didn't live in cold places because they could not keep warm there. At first men didn't know how to make a fire. Sometimes trees were hit by lightning .Then a fire was started .People took some of the fire near their homes. A fire was very important for three reasons. It kept them warm. Wild animals were frightened when they saw it. And when food was cooked, it tasted much better. But men didn't know how to make a fire. When they had a fire, they didn't let it stop burning. If it went out, they couldn't start it again. They had to wait for lightning to start another fire. Sometimes they had to wait for years. Later, they learned how to make a fire. But it was not easy to make something burn . Now we have matches. We can carry them in our pockets and make a fire when we want to. Millions of years ago people didn't live in cold places because _ . Answer: Tom, Jean, Jack and Lucy are talking about the movie theaters in the city. My name's Tom. I go to the Movie Palace twice a month. It's about two kilometers from my home. The service is good. But the price of a ticket is a little expensive. I never go to Moon Cinema. It's about 10 kilometers from my home. I'm Jean. I go to Moon Cinema more often. There are often new movies on show and the screens are big. Most importantly, the price is cheaper. It's always half price for students, about 30 yuan. I go there once a week. I'm Jack. I live about 5 kilometers from Moon Cinema and 8 kilometers from Movie Palace. I think the seats in Moon Cinema are hard and the music is too loud. So I prefer to go to Movie Palace. I go to Movie Palace once a month. I'm Lucy. I prefer to go to Movie Palace. It's in the center of the city and is very modern. I like shopping and there are some shopping centers around. I go there once a month. Who go to a cinema once a month? Answer:
Today was a special day for me. I had my doctor'sappointments in a town that's about 45 minutes from where I live. After my appointment was done, Istarted walking down from the building through a long breezeway and I noticed an elderly woman pacing at the end. I asked if she waswaiting for someone or she needed assistance. As it turned out, she was havingtrouble walking the distance and had looked for a staff member to pick her up.No one had come for several minutes. I asked her to sit still when I went toget a wheelchair. I ran full speed to the help desk and asked for one. Thereceptionist and I walked to the end of the breezeway to the lady, who said, "Iwant her to help me."She was referring to me. I carefully, slowly andattentively helped the woman into the wheelchair. After she was seated, shesoftly looked up to me and thanked me for my help. How could I not have helpedher? I just wanted her to be alright. When I returned home, I called my bestfriend to ask if she needed me. She wanted me to take her and her boyfriend tothe Boost Mobile Store. I did and after all was taken care of, I took myfriends back home. I thanked them for the opportunity to help them and that Iappreciated it. Maybe it meant little to them, but a lot to me. Which is True according to the passage? A. The old lady had a heartattack. B. The author had met theold lady before. C. The old lady's words inspiredthe author. D. The author went back witha wheelchair alone. Answer: C. The old lady's words inspiredthe author. Hair has always been an important sign of beauty. This is especially true for women. Next to the face, hair is one of the main qualities people look for when they consider a woman's beauty. Whether long or short, curly or straight, hair often gets a lot of attention. Each hair on a person's head grows from a single tube-like hole in the skin called a follicle. People are born with all of the hair follicles they are ever going to have. The average person has about one hundred thousand hair follicles. _ begin to form around the third month of pregnancy. Each hair grows independently of other hairs. There are three periods of hair growth. Not all hairs experience the same period of growth at the same time. The period of active growth is called Anagen. During this period, hair grows at a rate of about three tenths millimeters a day, or one centimeter a month. About 85 percent of hair follicles are going through this process at any given time. This period can last from two to six years. The Catagen period of hair growth comes next. It is then that hair growth begins to slow down. This period usually lasts two or three weeks. Finally, hair growth comes to a complete stop and the hairs begin to fall out. This period is known as Telogen. It affects about 15 percent of all hairs at a time. On average, a person loses between 50 and 100 hairs every day. Since each hair grows at a different rate, this process is overlooked. Once the Telogen period has ended, the hair growth process begins again. Which of the following shows the process of hair growth? A. Anagen - Telogen - Catagen B. Anagen - Catagen - Telogen C. Anagen / \ Catagen - Telogen D. Anagen / \ Telogen - Catagen Answer: D. Anagen / \ Telogen - Catagen The general objective of public interest advertising is to inform, persuade, or remind people about the particular idea, cause, or philosophy being advertised. This kind of advertising is often used by non-business institutions, such as schools, hospitals and charity organizations. We also see advertising by associations. In addition, we witness millions of dollars' worth of advertising placed by government organizations. Much government advertising announces the availability of such valuable government services as consumer assistance, welfare aid, or career guidance. However, with the resource available to it, the government can also use advertising techniques for propaganda purposes. Many state governments use advertising to attract new businesses, tourists, or workers to aid their economy. Because of the fact that public interest advertising is nonprofit, the words it uses are much more different from the other 3 kinds of advertising. Its purpose is not to urge readers to spend their money, but to disseminate a kind of concept or advocate a social ethic. The headline of public interest advertising also acts as a role of attraction. The average words of them are 10.6, and most of them are curious headlines (60%) and emotional headlines (30%). We can know from the statistics that attracting the reader is still a main task for the headline of public interest advertising, because only when the readers feel the advertising will benefit them (no matter physically or mentally) should they have the patience to read it further--that's the rule of all the advertisements. I also notice that only 10% of those advertisements include their advertiser's brand, which shows that the public interest advertisements do not aim to propagandize any company or organization. Straight-line body copy is the most frequently used form--which is 50% of the 20 ads. 75% of those ads have used imperative sentences. Most of these sentences are urging readers to take action immediately for others or social ethics. All these data show the fact that public interest advertising does not please readers by beautiful words or original ideas, but touch them through true feelings. What can we learn from the passage? A. Public interest advertising encourages people to buy goods. B. Public interest advertising sometimes forces concepts upon the public. C. We cannot see any advertiser's brand in public interest advertisements. D. The words of public interest advertisements are mostly emotional. Answer: D. The words of public interest advertisements are mostly emotional. Summer Holiday Fun 2010 ! The summer holidays are upon us again. Here is our guide to summer holiday fun in Peterborough! Peterborough Museum The Age of the Dinosaurs is the museum's main attraction this summer. Get up close to prehistoric creatures via some great hands-on exhibits! Watch out for monsters lurking around every ember! The museum is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Saturday, and from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Sundays in August. Call 01733-864663 for details. Saxon Youth Club School holiday fun: young people aged 13-19 will be able to produce their own music, compete in sports activities,or try their hand at cooking at Saxon Youth Club,Saxon Community Centre, Norman Road, Peterborough every Monday and Wednesday from 3:00 pm. PLUS an aeroball tournament will take place on Thursday, 12th August between 3:30 pm and 6:30 pm. Call 01353-720274 for details. Houghton Mill Through the Looking Class----a new production of the family favorite on Monday, 30thAugust. Bring rugs or chairs to sit on and a picnic if you wish to eat during the play.Gates open 5:30 pm,performance 6:30 pm--8:30 pm.Tea room will be open until end of the interval. Adult PS10. ChildPS7. Family PS20. Booking advisable on 0845-4505157. Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey Farmland Games: from Wellie Wanging to Pretend Ploughing matches, come and join the Farmland Team. Collect your sporting stickers and create a color1ful rosette that is fit for a winner! No need to book, just turn up between 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm on Thursday, 19th August. Suitable for children aged four and above, each child should be accompanied by an adult and all activities are included in the normal admission price. Tickets Cost:PS7 per child. For further information, call 01223-810080. If you are interested in cooking, you can go to _ . A. Peterborough Museum B. Houghton Mill C. Saxon Youth Club D. Farmland Museum Answer: C. Saxon Youth Club Morgan is very happy these days. She is in Grade 7 at L.B Clarke Middle School, the USA. She gives her journals to the teacher. She writes them in the summer holiday. She says, "I read many books to finish them." In the summer holiday, most schools in the USA ask students to read. But L.B.Clarke starts a program this year. Students write their journals three times a week. The journals are about books they read or their everyday life. _ says a teacher in the school, "Our program also asks them to read, but in a different way." Caroline, another student, finishes six journals. She writes about her favourite books and family trips. "The program helps me learn new things," she says, "and if I forget something, I can look in my journals." How does Morgan finish the journals? A. She visits many places. B. She asks many friends. C. She asks her parents for help. D. She reads many books. Answer: D. She reads many books.
Life is like the four seasons. Now I am very old, but when I was young, it was the spring of my life. After I was born, I played a lot, and then I started school. I learned many new things. Like a flower, I grew bigger every day. There were happy days and _ ldays: some days the sun shone, and some days it didn't. In my twenties, I had a good job. I was strong and happy. Then I married and had a child. In those days, I didn't have much time to think. Every day I was busy and worked very hard. And so, I started to get some white hairs. The summer of my life passed quickly. Then the days got shorter. Leaves fell from the trees. My child was a university student, and then an engineer. My home was much quieter. I started walking more slowly. One day I stopped working. I had more time. I understood this was my autumn, a beautiful time when the trees change color and give us delicious fruits. But the days kept getting shorter and colder. Winter has come. I am older and weaker. I know I do not have many days left, but I will enjoy them to the end. The best title of the passage can be _ . Answer: The First Day at My Senior High School Today is September1,2012.It is the first day of my senior high school.Everything in the school is new to me. The school is very modern. The gate of the school is artistic . When you go through the main gate,you can see a high stadium on the left side of the road, which has a 400-meter runaway and a soccer field with green grass. Buildings are tall and beautiful. The library is the most attractive building on the right side of the main road. There are many green trees and colorful flowers on both sides of the roads. The classrooms are amazing. They are big, clean and bright. In each classroom, there is a computer and a big screen,through which our teachers can show us tests,photos, and so on. In my class, there are 60 students. We don't know each other, but we are all friendly.Everyone has a smile on his/her face. When we meet, we always say "Hello"to each other. Most of our teachers are young. Some students think young teachers cannot teach well, but I do not think so. In my opinion,young teachers are very energetic and easy to make friends with. What's more, they may have a lot of new teaching methods. I love my new school very much. I hope, in my new school, I can learn more from my teachers and make progress together with my classmates. according to the passage,which of the following is NOT true? Answer: I have two pets. They are Fly, a dog, and Huahua, a cat. Fly is brown and grey. He is naughty . He sometimes steals food in the kitchen.Once, when there was nobody at home, Fly pulled a piece of meat off the table. But he was not careful enough. The plate also fell to the floor. When I got home, I saw the broken plate all over the floor, so I became very angry. Fly was so afraid that he went back to his bed at once. Huahua is a white and yellow cat. She is not beautiful but she is very lovely. Every night at weekends, Huahua sleeps on my bed. When she sleeps, she always snores. It is very funny. Huahua is also naughty. Whenever she does something bad and my grandma tries to catch her, she runs away quickly and hides quietly under the bed. Fly and Huahua love to play games with me and I like them very much. Which of the following is NOT true? Answer: Nearly 300 miles long, up to 18 miles across and 4000 vertical feet down, the 8th new wonder: the splendid Grand Canyon . Viewing its glory, President Theodore Roosevelt called the Grand Canyon "a natural wonder, ly unparalleled throughout the rest of the world". He urged Americans to preserve what he described as the "wonderful greatness, the nobleness, the great loneliness and the beauty of the canyon". More than a hundred years later, it's still easy to see why almost 5 million annual visitors call the Grand Canyon a wonder. The canyon stretches as far as the eye can see. Some 5 or 6 million years ago, the Colorado River rushed through this land, carving out the massive canyon we see today, exposing even older layers of rock previously buried. Geologists say some are 2,000 million years old. Native Americans were the first people to make these rocky walls as their homes about 12,000 years ago. Today the Hualapi and Havasupai Indians live deep in the canyon, balancing age-old traditions with modernity. There are no roads to this village; mules carry the mail here. But at the same time, the tribes are designing a skywalk that promises an excellent view over the canyon early next year. The bald eagle, wild and endangered American icon is another longtime resident of the Grand Canyon. The tribes living in the canyon are building _ . Answer: When I was nine years old, I loved to go fishing with my dad. But the only thing that wasn't very fun about it was that he could catch many fish while I couldn't catch anything. I usually got pretty upset and kept asking him why. He always answered, "Son, if you want to catch a fish, you have to think like a fish", I remember being even more upset then because, "I'm not a fish!" I didn't know how to think like a fish. Besides, I reasoned, how could what I think influence what a fish does? As I got a little older I began to understand what my dad really meant. So, I read some books on fish. And I even joined the local fishing club and started attending the monthly meetings. I learned that a fish is a cold-blooded animal and therefore is very sensitive to water temperature. That is why fish prefer shallow water to deep water because the former is warmer. Besides, water is usually warmer in direct sunlight than in the shade. Yet, fish don't have any eyelids and the sun huts their eyes... The more I understood fish, the more I became effective at finding and catching them.. When I grew up and entered the business world, I remember hearing my first boss say, "We all need to think like sales people." But it didn't completely make sense. My dad never once said, "If you want to catch a fish you need to think like a fisherman." What he said was, "You need to think like a fish." Years later, with great efforts to promote long-term services to people much older and richer than me, I gradually learned what we all need is to think more like customers. It is not an easy job. I will show you how in the following chapters. According to the author, fish are most likely to be found _ . Answer:
55% of deaths caused by road accidents occur in the first few minutes after a crash. Up to 85% of these deaths could be prevented if first aid were given. The first person on the scene of a road accident will almost certainly be another road user. So as a driver your knowledge of first aid could make a real difference to someone in the event of a road accident. Assess conditions Remain calm. Judge the scene and seriousness of the collision. Determine what has happened, how many people and vehicles are involved and the exact location. Determine how many casualties there are, what is the severity of the injuries, whether anyone is trapped, and whether there is a danger of fire. Make safe Make sure you stay safe and keep off the road. If you need to stop or warn approaching cars, signal to them from the pavement. Wear reflective clothing, use warning triangles, flashing lights and warning lights. Don't smoke. If you are in a car and you come across an accident, first park safely and turn off the engine before you get out to help. Use a triangle warning danger if necessary. Consider the safety of others. Don't move the vehicles, look out for dangers -- leaking fuel, chemicals, broken glass or dropping loads -- guide uninjured passengers to a place of safety. Call for help Dial 999 (or 112) for the emergency services. If there is no phone nearby, send two people in opposite directions to seek help. Do this as soon as you can or get someone else to do it while you deal with an injured person. You will need to tell the emergency services: where you are what has happened (describe the accident) how many people are injured whether they are breathing or bleeding. The operator will talk you through what to do while you wait for an ambulance to arrive. Apply emergency first aid Remain calm. Reassure the victims. Do not allow smoking or offer food or drink to casualties as this could _ urgent medical treatment. The passage is most likely to appear in a newspaper's _ section. It is amazing how many of the things in science fiction and movies have become reality. For instance, in the movie Star Trek, the workers could go to a replicator and order food, drinks or anything they could program into the computer. Before long, the item would appear. This is possible today, in a way, with technology we have had for years. Several manufacturers have created 3D printers. One company, MakerBot, has created a printer that the average person can afford. It is called The Replicator. You can download a lot of design software from the Internet for use with The Replicator. In the near future, rather than going to a store to buy what you need, you may be able to download what you want from the Internet and print it out at home. The process was first used with music. At the very beginning, music was recorded onto plastic disks with etching . Music can now be copied without a physical product. _ Rather than having to buy a physical book or magazine, you can now download them from the Internet in digital form. This technology is already used in engineering and architecture. Melissa Shoes, a Brazilian footwear company, is using this technology to create shoes. Rather than having to go through the current process of product design and development, the company is able to design and print shoes for display to see how well they will sell before having lots of them made. What do we know about The Replicator created by MakerBot? Any mistake, which is made in the printing of a stamp, raises its value to stamp collectors. A mistake on a two-penny stamp has made it worth a million and a half times its face value. Do you think it possible? However, it is true. The mistake was made more than 100 years ago in Mauritius, a small island in the Indian Ocean, which was a British colony at that time. In 1847, an order for stamps was sent to London. Thus prefix = st1 /Mauritiusbecame the fourth country in the world which had the stamps made in other countries. Before the order was filled ,that is, the stamps arrived from England, a big dance party was planned by the commander-in-chief of all the armed forces on the island. The party would be held in his house and letters of invitation would be sent to all the important people in Mauritius. So stamps were badly needed to post the letters. Therefore, an islander, who was a good printer, was told to copy the pattern of the stamps. He carelessly put the words "Post Office" instead of "Post Paid", two words seen on the stamps at that time, on several hundred that he printed. Today, there are only 26 of these misprinted stamps left: fourteen One-penny Reds and twelve Two-penny Blues. Because of so few Two-penny Blues and because of their age, collectors have paid as much as $16,800 for each of them. When a mistake is made in the printing of a stamp, the stamps will _ . Russian President Putin named Time magazine's person of the year Russian President Vladimir Putin was named Time magazine's "Person of the Year" on December 19th,2007for strengthening stability that made Russia a world power again. The magazine recognized Putin's "extraordinary feat of leadership in taking a country that was in a mess and bringing it stability," said Richard Stengel, Time's managing editor. The magazine noted that "Person of the Year" is not an honor or an endorsement but a recognition of leadership that shapes the world. Putin, who is 56 years old, is very popular in Russia, making a great effort to cause economy to come to life on revenue from oil and natural gas. Putin recently supported vice-PM Dmitry Medvedev's presidential bid, and said he would accept Medvedev's offer to serve as prime minister if Medvedev is elected March2. The Kremlin said Wednesday the Time reconnition was seen there as an _ of Putin's role in helpingprefix = st1 /Russiapull out of its social and economic troubles in the 1990s. Others considered for Person of the Year included Nobel Prize-winner Al Gore and author J.K. Rowling. This year's choice was a return to the magazine's tradition of picking an individual rather than last year's choice of "You", which refers to anyone creating or using content on the World Wide Web. Putin is the fifth Russian(or Soviet) leader to be named Person of the Year: Gorbachev, Andropov, Khrushchev and Stalin, who was named twice. How many times have Russian leaders been named Person of the Year so far? After my sixth voyage I was quite determined that I would never go to sea. One early spring day, however, I was brought to see the Caliph. He said, "Sindbad, I have chosen you to deliver a letter and a gift to the King of Serendib in return for his message of friendship." The Caliph's commandment fell upon me like a thunderbolt . "Your Majesty," I answered, "I am ready to do all that your Majesty commands, but I have made a promise never again to leave Baghdad." "I admit," said he, "that you have indeed had some extraordinary experiences, but I do not see why they should prevent you from doing as I wish. You have only to go straight to Serendib and give my message, and come back as you will." At last, I agreed. The Caliph was delighted and gave me a thousand sequins (gold coins) for the expenses of the voyage. Soon I sailed quickly and safely to Serendib after a nearly 30-day voyage where I was well received, and brought into the presence of the king. I displayed the Caliph's gifts: a bed which cost a thousand sequins, and more beds of different fashion. The King received the assurance of the Caliph's friendliness with satisfaction. Since my task was accomplished, I was anxious to depart. The king dismissed me with many presents, and I left immediately on the end day of May. On the fifth day we suffered from pirates who killed some of us and made the rest prisoners of whom I was one. On a distant island they sold us for slaves. I fell into the hands of a rich merchant. The merchant asked me to shoot elephants in the forest. When he left, he said, "When you have succeeded in killing one come and tell me." So saying, he gave me a supply of food and returned to the town. I settled myself in the tree and kept watching. The next morning I saw a large group of elephants passing by. I shot one to death and run back to tell my master of my success, for which I was praised and regaled(,) with good things. Then we went back to bury the elephant I had killed, in order that when it became a skeleton my master might return and keep its tusks safely. I hunted for two months. One morning as I watched the coming of the elephants which paused instead of passing the tree, trumpeting(,) horribly. I was terrified. The largest of the animals brought me to the ground .I thought now that my last hour was surely come; but the huge creature, picking me up gently enough; set me upon its back, then turned into the forest. After what seemed a long time to me, I was standing on a great hill where there was filled with bones and tusks of elephants which are more than I could carry away in a lifetime. I run to my master's house, and was received by him with joyful surprise. He asked me what had happened to me and why I was still alive. I soon satisfied his curiosity, and the next day we went together to the Ivory Hill, and he was overjoyed to find as many tusks. He said, "My brother, these wild elephants have killed numbers of our slaves every year. You alone have escaped; therefore you must be under the special protection of Heaven. You deserve your liberty, and I will give you a fortune." I only asked liberty to return to my own country "Well," he answered, "the monsoon will soon bring the ivory ships here, and then I will send you on your way." So I stayed with him till the time of the monsoon. When the ships at last arrived, my master put on board for me a great store of supply, also lots of ivory, and said me goodbye. I left without feeling at ease upon the sea after what had happened. I sold my ivory and bought many expensive presents. I joined a traveling team of merchants. Our journey was long and boring, but gradually, I did not to fear storms, or pirates, or any of the other dangers. When the fall wind came blowing, we reached Baghdad. I brought myself to the Caliph and told him everything about my experience. My story was written in letters of gold, and laid up among his treasures. I took my leave of him, well satisfied with the honors and rewards he gave me; and since that time I have rested from my labors, and given myself up wholly to my family and my friends. How long did Sindbad' s last voyage last ? _
The Internet began in the 1960s as a small network of academic and government computers primarily involved in research for the prefix = st1 /U.S.army. Originally limited to researchers at a handful of universities and government departments, the Internet has quickly become a worldwide network providing users with information on a range of subjects and allowing them to purchase goods directly from companies via computer. By 1999, 84 millionU.S.citizens had access to the Internet at home or work. More and more Americans arc paying bills, shopping, ordering airline tickets, and purchasing stocks via computer over the Internet. Internet banking is also becoming increasingly popular. With lower overhead costs in terms of staffing and office space, Internet banks are able to offer higher interest rates on deposits and charge lower rates on loans than traditional banks. "Brick and mortar" banks are increasingly offering online banking services via some special websites to enlarge their traditional services. At present, 14 percent of Internet households conduct their banking by means of the Internet, and the figure is expected to double during the next two or three years. Increasing commercial use of the Internet has heightened security and privacy concerns. With a credit card, an Internet user can order almost anything from an Internet site and have it delivered to their home or office. Companies doing business over the Internet need many security measures to protect credit card, bank account, and social security numbers from unauthorized access as they pass across the Internet. Any organization that connects its networks to the global Internet must carefully control the access point to ensure that out-siders cannot disturb the organization's internal networks or gain unauthorized access to the organization's computer systems and data. Which commercial usage of the Internet does the author NOT refer to? Answer: Applying for a credit card. The circulatory system is so long it Answer: could be wrapped around the earth It's not every week that England's greatest playwright William Shakespeare hits the headlines, but the Bard of Avon has been the subject of two news stories in recent days as new information has come to light about the writer and his working environment. In the first development, a portrait of Shakespeare, which is believed to be the only picture painted of him during his lifetime, was _ in London. The artwork has been dated back to 1610, meaning it was painted six years before the writer's death. The painting had been owned by a family descended from Shakespeare's literary patron tor hundreds of years without them ever knowing who the man in the picture was. Alec Cobbe, who inherited the portrait, realized that the painting was a likeness of Shakespeare after visiting an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery where he saw a portrait that had, until 70 years ago, been accepted as a life portrait of Shakespeare. Mr Cobhe immediately realized he was looking at a copy of the painting that had been in his family for centuries. The painting will now go on display in Shakespeare's hometown Stratford-upon-Avon. In a separate story, archaeologists in London believe they have unearthed the remains of Shakespeare's first theatre. The site was excavated by a team from the Museum of London last summer, and is believed to have been built in 1576. Experts think that Shakespeare himself acted at the theatre, which may have been where the play Romeo and Juliet was premiered . It is believed that 25 years after construction, the building was pulled down and moved timber by timber to the South Bank of the Thames, where a reconstruction of the theatre now stands. .Which of the following is true? Answer: The theatre rebuilt stands on the South Bank of the Thames. How can we reduce the risk? There are four general approaches to dealing with volcanic dangers. We can try to keep the danger from occurring-often an impossible task. We can try to change its path or reduce its impact on existing development. We can take steps to protect future development. We can also do our best to have disaster response plans in place before they are needed. Removing the Threat Clearly, there is no way to stop an eruption. We can, however, attempt to reduce the eruption's effects by strengthening structures, for example, building protective works such as walls to make lava flow away from developed areas. Such efforts can be and have been successful, but are of limited use in a large-scale eruption. Planning for the Future Protecting future development from volcanic dangers is a simple task. Before building houses, we should judge the risk. If the risk seems too great, a safer location should be found. This type of planning is very effective, but all too often, people are drawn to the lush ,rolling land of a quiet volcano. Disaster Preparedness When a volcano comes to life, a few weeks may not be enough time to avoid a tragedy. Planning is the key to saving lives. Well before the warning signs occur, people must be educated about volcanic dangers. Escape plans must be in place. Communication between scientists, officials, the media, and the general public should be practiced. Emergency measures must be thought out and agreed upon. If you doubt the importance of these efforts, take another look at past volcanic tragedies, such as the eruption of Nevado del Ruiz. Communication failures left the town of Armero unprepared for escape. When a deadly mudflow came down the slope , 21,000 people--90 percent of the town's people--died. When building houses , people tend to _ . Answer: like to live near a quiet volcano The energy crisis has made people aware of how the careless use of the earth's energy has brought the whole world to the edge of disaster. The over-development of motor transport, with its increase of more cars, more traveling, has contributed to the near-destruction of our cities and the pollution not only of local air but also of the earth's atmosphere. Our present situation is unlike natural disasters of the past. Worldwide energy use has brought us to a state where long-range planning is vital. What we need is not a continuation of our present serious state, which endangers the future of our country, our children, and our earth, but a movement forward in order to work rapidly and effectively on planetary problems. This country has been failing back under the continuing exposures of loss of morality and the revelation that lawbreaking has reached into the highest place in the land. There is a strong demand for morality to turn for the better and for some devotion that is vast enough and yet personal enough to enlist the devotion of all. In the past it has been only in a way in defense of their own country and their own benefits that people have been able to devote themselves wholeheartedly. This is the first time that we have been asked to defend ourselves and what we hold dear in cooperation with all the other people of this planet, who share with us the same endangered air and the same endangered oceans. There is a common need to reassess our present course, to change that course and to employ new methods through which the world can survive. This is a priceless opportunity. To grasp it, we need a widespread understanding of nature if the crisis we and the world are facing is no passing inconvenience, no byproduct of the ambitions of the oil-producing countries, no environmentalists' only fears, no byproduct of any present system of government. What we face is the result of the invention of the last four hundred years. What we need is a transformed life style. This new life style can flow directly from science and technology, but its acceptance depends on a sincere devotion to finding a higher quality of life for the world's children and future generation. The author wrote the passage in order to _ . Answer: demand devotion to nature and future generation
Talbot and Rogers, as lessees, signed a valid lease for a house. Lane, the landlord, duly executed the lease and delivered possession of the premises to the lessees. During the term of the lease, Rogers verbally invited Andrews to share the house with the lessees. Andrews agreed to pay part of the rent to Lane, who did not object to this arrangement, despite a provision in the lease that provided that "any assignment, subletting, or transfer of any rights under this lease without the express written consent of the landlord is strictly prohibited, null, and void." Talbot objected to Andrews's moving in, even if Andrews were to pay a part of the rent. When Andrews moved in, Talbot brought an appropriate action against Lane, Rogers, and Andrews for a declaratory judgment that Rogers had no right to assign. Rogers' defense was that he and Talbot were tenants in common of a term for years, and that he, Rogers, had a right to assign a fractional interest in his undivided onehalf interest. In this action, Talbot will A prevail, because a cotenant has no right to assign all or any part of a leasehold without the consent of all interested parties. B prevail, because the lease provision prohibits assignment. C not prevail, because he is not the beneficiary of the nonassignment provision in the lease. D not prevail, because his claim amounts to a void restraint on alienation Answer: C First Lady Michelle Obama urged students to visit China at the "100,000 Strong" China Study Abroad forum at Howard University in 2011. President Barack Obama announced the "100,000 Strong" Initiative during his 2009 visit to China. The program aims to increase and diversify the number of American students studying in China by making studying abroad more affordable. During the event at Howard, Mrs. Obama spoke about the importance of studying abroad, something she never did while in college. "Studying in countries like China is about so much more than just improving your own prospects in the global market. The fact is that with every friendship you make and every bond of trust you establish you are shaping an image of America projected to the rest of the world," she said. David Marzban from Pepperdine University recalled a time when he formed a cross-cultural bond with a complete stranger at a restaurant near Fudan University in Shanghai. He noticed a young chef signaling him to come over. "He presses the play button on his media player and starts singing 'California Dreaming' and wants me to sing along with him," Marzban said. "At this time I knew a great friendship had started during my first two weeks in China." Nicole Baden, a senior communications major at Howard University, recalled how her time in China really helped her master the language. "You have to experience the culture while learning the language to really master it and to understand why things are how they are compared to your own culture," Baden said. Mrs. Obama encouraged students to set aside concept that studying abroad is for rich kids only or for those attending certain schools. In addition, the first lady announced that the Chinese government is giving 10,000 "Bridge Scholarships" to cover costs for American students and teachers studying in China. Students from several schools attended the forum. 12-year-old Sarah Davis, who studied in China last summer, said she was very excited to hear Michelle Obama talk about the country. "I love Chinese. Out of all the languages I've learned, Chinese is the most difficult and interesting," she said. The examples mentioned in the passage mainly indicate that _ . A the US students' life in China is helpful and worthwhile B all students of the US are living a comfortable life in China C Chinese young people are friendly to foreigners D it isn't realistic for some US young people to study in China Answer: A Stopping teens from smoking is a big challenge many communities face today. Many communities can only watch without being able to act while local businesses continue to sell tobacco products to children, even under the risk of punishment by law. Recent studies show that a large percentage of teens today are getting their cigarettes from stores, mostly gas stations or convenience stores. As teens continue to be able to buy their own cigarettes, more and more communities begin to punish those who sell cigarettes to the teens. One community has experienced success in their attempts to stop the sale of tobacco products to children. Woodridge, Illinois, started a program seven years ago which forbade and strictly punished the sale of tobacco products to children. The entire program includes local licensing of vendors , repeated undercover inspections to see if the sale to children has stopped, and education programs in schools. Woodridge has become a model community as other communities are moving to stop teen tobacco use. A recent national study showed that 36.5% of females, and 40.8% of males buy their cigarettes from stores, whether it is a gas station or a supermarket. Hopefully, as more and more sellers see the trouble they face if caught selling to children, they will stop selling. True, tightening down on stores that sell tobacco to children isn't going to completely stop the problem of teen tobacco use. Teens continue to get them from other sources. But it definitely does prevent their efforts. With more education in schools, and perhaps stronger punishments for teens caught with tobacco, more and more teens will see the problems with the tobacco usage, and will stop the habit. Which of the following is NOT a way Woodridge uses to stop tobacco sale to children? A Local licensing to tobacco sale. B Repeated undercover inspections. C Education programs in schools. D Stronger punishment of teens caught smoking. Answer: D Nancy is an eight-year-old girl. She has a beautiful yellow cat, Mimi. Mimi has six new kittens . Three kittens are black, and two are white. One kitten is black, but it has white feet and a white face. Nancy asks, "Mom, can we keep all the kittens?" "We can't keep six kittens," she says, "When the kitten are three months old, we will _ them _ ." Nancy asks, "Can I keep one?" Her mom says yes. Nancy decides to keep the kitten with white feet. She calls it Boots. When the other five kittens are three months old, Nancy's mom takes pictures of them. On Monday, Nancy takes the pictures to school. She shows the pictures to her friends. All her friends love the kittens. They come to her house that afternoon. They take all the five kittens except Boots. How old are the kittens when they leave their mother? A Six moths old. B Eight years old. C Eleven months old. D Three months old. Answer: D On April 20,2013, a big and powerful earthquake attacked Ya'an, Sichuan Province. A great many buildings and houses _ a lot of people were killed and even more people lost their homes in the earthquake . Death toll from the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that hit Ya'an in southwestern China's Sichuan Province has risen to 188 (as of 18:00 pm, April 22, ), according to latest calculations by local Civil Affairs Bureau. At least 11,826 were reportedly injured in the quake while 25 are still missing, the bureau said. Experts are anticipating much less casualties in the quake than that from the 8.0 magnitude quake hit Wenchuan on May 12, 2008, also in Sichuan Province, which killed more than 80,000 and injured over 300,000. Energy released from Wenchuan earthquake would be 30 times of that from Ya'an quake, according to Zhang Xiaonan, an expert with China's Geophysical Union. Dai Junwu with Harbin-based seismological bureau expects the death toll at less than 1,000, and economic losses from the quake could reach up to 100 billion yuan. Police and expert teams have already rushed for rescue in the quick stricken areas, and the State Council has banned unauthorized rescue efforts and individual vehicles from going to the quake zone to avoid congestion . Rescue efforts were carried "timely and orderly", said Chinese Premier Li Keqiang who flew to the quicken-stricken area on Sunday, the second day of the quake. He was quoted as saying that "the current priority is to save lives". When did Ya'an earthquake occur? A April 22,2008 B April 20,2013 C May 12,2008 D May.22 2013 Answer: B
When it comes to problem solving, many of us have heard of the skills of the crow in Aesop's Fables (<<>> ). In the story, a thirsty crow comes across a bottle of water, but the water level is out of its reach. The bird then drops small stones into it until the water level rises enough for the bird to drink. "Oh, it's just a fable," you may think. After all, it's hard to imagine birds knowing about "problem solving". But new research has found that crows' brains may sometimes be better than those of 6-year-old children. In a recent experiment, US scientist Corina Logan and her team caught six crows to test them. There were two tubes of water, one wide and the other narrow . Each crow was given four stones, enough to help them get the water in the narrow tube, but not the wide one. Surprisingly, the crows dropped all or most of the stones into the narrower tube and got the food reward! They had found out the cause-and-effect relationship.Using such brains, crows are making their lives easier. For example, some crows in cities have learned to use road traffic for breaking nuts, National Geographic News reported. But how are their wits compared to humans'? Logan's team did another experiment, this time on both crows and children. Here, the crows and children had to choose between two sets of tubes. With the red set, when they dropped a stone into a wide tube, the water level raised in a connected narrow tube that contained food. The blue set of tubes, however, had no connection between them. So dropping a stone in the wide tube did not cause the water level to rise in the narrow tube. Children aged 7 to 10 were able to learn the rule. Children aged 4 to 6, however, failed. Five of the six crows failed the test. But Kitty, a 6-month-old crow, passed it. She put all or most of the stones into the red tube. So, could a bird be more clever than a kindergartner? Don't be too quick to say no. What can we learn from the experiment on crows and children? A Five of the six crows threw stones into the red tube. B Children aged 6 did better than children aged 4. C One crow passed the test while the younger children didn't. D Some crows proved to be more clever than children aged 10. Answer: C. One crow passed the test while the younger children didn't. Which resource is most likely found in large amounts in forest ecosystems? A iron B wood C plastic D petroleum Answer: B. wood When shopping in a store, I met a boy. When I saw him waving his hands excitedly in the air and shouting in a loud voice, " Mommy, I'm here," I knew he was mentally challenged. I asked his name and he said proudly, " My name is Denny and I'm shopping with my mother." "Wow," I said, " That's a cool name. How old are you, Denny?" " How old am I now, Mommy?" he asked his mother. " You're fifteen years old, Denny; now be a good boy and let the man pass by." I continued to talk to Denny for several more minutes about summer, bicycles and school. _ Denny's mom thanked me for talking with her son. She told me that most people wouldn't even look at him, let alone talk to him. I told her that it was my pleasure and then I said, " There are plenty of red, yellow, and pink roses in the garden, however, 'Blue roses'are very _ and should be appreciated for their beauty and distinctiveness . Denny is a 'Blue ses'and if someone doesn't stop and smell that rose with their heart and kindness, then they've missed a chance to appreciate the beauty." She was silent for a second, and then went away with tears in her eyes. Where did the writer meet the boy? A In the street B In a store C In a garden D In a school Answer: B. In a store Due to the increasing number of violence acts produced in schools all over the world, more and more parents prefer to have their children educated at home rather than at school. This way they can ensure their safety and well-being, although teachers and school representatives are trying to improve the situation in schools by increasing the number of the persons in charge of the safety of the students. The main reason for violence acts are the films and cartoons that fill the children's time. They want to do everything they watch on TV and never think of the consequences, and they may hurt a classmate or a teacher. On the other hand, parents are not fully satisfied with the children's results obtained in classes and they consider private classes would have better results. When a teacher has to watch 30 students in class he can't probably see what each of them is doing, how he is writing, or if he understands the explanations. At home the teacher can explain in details everything the child doesn't understand as many times as he considers proper. And many times the child grows fond of the teacher at home, who becomes his best friend, and who helps him whenever he needs someone to talk to. However, the best solution would be a mixture between the education received at school and that at home, because school makes children communicate and socialize. Keeping a child at home for fear there might happen something bad to him only makes the child's character weak and prevents him from knowing what real life is. Staying in _ only does harm to the child. All in all, schools have been created to help children, not to harm them, so it's best to keep children in these special places, where they learn, laugh, have fun and make new friends The writer's purpose in writing the text is to _ A teach parents the ways to keep their children safe B show solutions to developing children's character C analyze an education problem and give opinions D explain the main reason for violence acts in schools Answer: C. analyze an education problem and give opinions A city without cars would be very strange, right? But Venice is such a city. Venice is in the northeast of Italy. It wasn't built on land, like Beijing or Shanghai, but on more than 110 islands. Seawater is everywhere around the city. Even so, travel isn't difficult. The waterways have always been the best ways to get around. There are 117 waterways and more than 400 bridges that can guide you where you want to go.People in Venice move from place to place by boat. They like to enjoy the scenery and cool summer nights while taking boat trips. They can talk to other people as they go along. Venice grew out of small islands in saltwater lakes when some Italians escaped from a war more than 1,500 years ago, and built homes there. Water makes the city special, but it is also a big problem. Once, people used too much underground water. This made the city get lower little by little. Now the city has gone down by 23 centimeters. Another problem is the rising seawater. The temperature has risen over the years. This has made the ice of the Arctic Ocean melt . Every year, high waters hit the city in autumn and winter. When a lot of water comes, more than half of the city is underwater. Scientists are trying different ways to stop the city from getting even lower. ,. Which is the most impossible way for people in Venice to get around ? A On foot. B By boat. C By car. D By bike. Answer: B. By boat.
When my son, Mark, was in the third grade, he saved all his pocket money for over three months to buy holiday presents. The third Saturday in December Mark said he had made his list and had twenty dollars in his pocket. I drove him to a nearby supermarket. Mark picked up a hand basket and went in while I waited and watched in the car. It took Mark over 45 minutes to choose his presents. Finally he came to the checkout counter and reached into his pocket ... Mark stood there holding his basket, tears falling down his face. Then a surprising thing happened. A woman came up to Mark and took him in her arms. "You would help me a lot if you let me pay for you," said the woman. "It would be the most wonderful gift you could give me. I only ask one day you will pass it on. When you grow up, I would like you to find someone you can help. When you help others, I know you will feel as good about it as I do now." Mark took the money, dried his tears and ran back to the checkout counter as fast as he could. That year we all enjoyed our gifts almost as much as Mark enjoyed giving them to us. I would like to say "thank you" to that very kind woman, and tell her that four years later, Mark went house to house collecting blankets and clothes for the homeless people in the fire. And I want to promise her that Mark will never forget to keep passing on. When they got to the supermarket, Mark went in _ . by himself I am Greek,and my family go to Greece every summer.Uncle Spyro and my God-mother Aunt Aspa lived about 45 minutes outside of Athens.Every summer when we traveled to Greece.we would spend a couple of days with them. I remember all then things we would do there..We would shake almonds off the branches of Uncle Spyro's almond tree.Using his strong hands,he would break the shells off.and present us with the shiny white nut.With Aunt Aspa we would pick lemons off her lemon trees and carry them inside the small house with the help of Uncle Spyro.Drinking the fresh lemonade and eating the delicious almonds,we would sit on the porch and talk.Uncle Spyro and Aunt Aspa didn't speak English,and my Greek wasn't and still isn't perfect.But those peacefully quiet times on the porch were the times that I miss the most. Uncle Spyro developed cancer from smoking for most of his life and he became very sick. We didn't go to Greece in 2000,but we planned on going again in 2001.We found out that Uncle Spyro was in the hospital shortly before we left for Greece.My mother,Alethea,and I wanted to see him.But we waited until the day after we arrived.Now,I wish that we had gone the first daywe had arrived and that we had seen him for the last time. But my uncle didn't wait for us to go. We still Visit Aunt Aspa,and we still pick almonds and lemons.We still drink the fresh lemonade and eat the delicious almonds on the porch.But somehow the lemonade isn't as fresh and the almonds aren't as delicious as before. I thank God that I'm still here to comfort Aunt Aspa and that I'm still here to finish my life.I'm not afraid of death anymore like some people.And I know that when I do die,I'll just be going up to Uncle Spyro,and we'll eat almonds and drink lemonade,just like before. We learn from the passage_. the author doesn't live inprefix = st1 /Greece Very few people enjoy exams. I don't, either. And although I tell myself not to worry about them, I always do! So I'm not surprised that my students worry about them, too, even though they usually don't need to. Because they are afraid of failing. However, since it is hard not to worry at all, we all must try not to worry too much. Why? Because worrying makes exams worse! How to do this? Ask the teacher about how to revise and about exam skills--how to work when you are in the exam. Good students don't wait until the week before an exam. They study all through the year. It is not possible to learn everything at the last minute. So don't leave it till then. If you start planning and working for each exam early and you make sure that you understand what you're studying, then, when it is over, you'll be able to say, "What a good exam that was!" Take a short rest during your time of work and revision. If your mind is tired, it won't remember well. Work at the time when you know you'll work at your best. If you're studying in the evening, don't go straight to bed afterwards. Your mind will still be "going round and round"--thinking too much. Do something else, maybe walk or get exercise. Choose something that will relax you, and make you think of other things. If you feel bad, talk to someone about your worries. But don't be too relaxed! Some stress over exams makes you work hard for them. Why are the students afraid of exams? Because they are afraid of failing. In spite of ill health and a physical incapacity that threatened her career, Carson McCullers completed a novel in the summer of 1961 that made the best-seller list before its official publication; date by virtue of prepublication sales. In an interview at her home, the noted novelist looked back on some of her problems of recent years and spoke without emotion of her latest book, Clock without Hands, her first in fifteen years, "For many years I had been thinking of the novel and finally wrote it this passed year. ""The tall, frail novelist, forty-three years old in 1961, suffered a series of strokes in her twenties that left her partially incapacitated, and she also admitted that a mental block kept her away from writing for many years after the strokes. Mrs McCullers once wrote that "writing is a wandering, dreaming occupation. " But beyond the admission that she works" very hard" at her writing, she is shy about discussing her work. She is remote from literary fashions, and she has never learned to intellectualize her art, but she reads her critics and takes them seriously. Clock Without Hands depicts Mrs McCullers' native South and the slow passing of the old way of life through the lives of a dying pharmacist , a white judge and former congressman, his rebellious grandson, and two Negroes. Among her earlier noted works are Member of the Wedding, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, and Ballad of Sad Cafe. Clock without Hands was the product of _ . both B and C A campaign is being launched to encourage children to _ 30 minutes of screen time a day to head for the great outdoors. The newly formed Wild Network--a collaboration of nearly 400 organizations--is attempting to attract youngsters away from television and computer screen and to fields, woods and parks. Members of the network include the National Trust, RSPB, Play England and the NHS. Organizers say it is the UK's biggest ever campaign to reconnect children with nature and outdoor play, and claim it could help improve fitness, mental alertness and general wellbeing. A documentary film, Project Wild Thing, will forecast the launch at more than 50 cinemas across the UK from Friday. It looks at the increasing link between children and nature. Andy Simpson, chairman of the Wild Network, said, "The tragic truth is that kids have lost touch with nature and the outdoors in just one generation. Time spent outdoors is down, roaming ranges have fallen largely, activity levels are declining and the ability to identify common species has been lost." Suggestions of how to get more time in nature include collecting conkers , camping or snail racing, and observing autumn colour on trees. From January, the network will aim to make suggestions to politicians on how government can do more to get children muddy and bright-eyed. This is not the first time the message of less screen, more play has been brought up. Children in the 1980s were requested to do the same by the BBC TV series Why Don't You, which somewhat confusingly called on its viewers to "switch off your TV set and go to do something less boring instead". Which of the following shows that kids have lost touch with nature and the outdoors? Time spent outdoors is less and activity levels are down.
Question: Man has always wanted to fly. Some of the greatest men in history have thought about the problem. One of these, for example, was the great Italian artist, Leonardo da Vinci. In the sixteenth century he made designs for machines that could fly. But they were never built., Throughout history, other less famous men have wanted to fly. An example was a man in England 800years ago. He made a pair of wings from chicken feathers. Then he fixed them to his body and jumped into the air from a tall building. He did not fly very far. He fell to the ground and broke every bone in his body. The first real step took place in France in 1783. Two brothers, the Mongolfiers, made a very large "hot air balloon". They knew that hot air rises. Why not fill a balloon with it? The balloon was made of cloth and paper. In September of that year, the King and Queen of France came to see the balloon. They watched it carry the very first air passengers into the sky. The passengers were a sheep and a chicken. We do not know how they felt about the trip. But we do know that the trip lasted 8 minutes and that the animals landed safely. Two months later, two men did the same thing. They rose above Paris in a balloon of the same kind. Their trip lasted twenty-five minutes and they traveled about 8 kilometers. The very first air passengers in the balloon were _ . A. the King and Queen B. two Frenchmen C. two animals D. the Mongolfiers Answer: C Question: We eat what our friends eat, according to a new study presented at the Agricultural and Applied Economic Association's 2013 annual meeting in Washington, D. C. The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Illinois and Oklahoma State University, provided fresh confirmation of how much our environment influences our eating habits. The scientific team analyzed the lunch receipts from a restaurant in Oklahoma that agreed to use three menus designed by the researchers for three months in 2010. One group of diners -- the control group -- used the restaurant's original menus with item and price listings. The second group received menus with calorie counts and the third group used menus that had both calorie counts and a traffic light symbol designed to indicate calorie ranges. A green traffic light meant an food option was 400 calories or less, a yellow light indicated 401 calories to 800 calories and a red light was placed next to choices with more than 800 calories. By analyzing diners' receipts, the researchers picked out interesting patterns in what regular customers ordered. They also interviewed servers and found that people who were part of larger parties and received menus with traffic lights typically ordered healthier choices, which the researchers say suggests the influence of peer pressure. The researchers then created a model to assess how customers felt about their choices. Based on the popularity of menu items, the researchers determined the probability that individuals were satisfied with their choice. Interestingly, this standard of satisfaction was influenced by expected factors such as price and calories, but also by fellow diners' menu choices as well. They found that even if a customer firstly felt less satisfied about their choice of say, a salad, they felt better about it if their friends ordered an item within the same menu category. "The message from this research is that people were happier if they were making similar choices to those sitting around them," study author Bill Ellison, an economist at the University of Illinois, said in a statement. "If my peers are ordering higher-calorie items or spending more money, then I am also happier, or at least less unhappy, if I order higher-calorie foods and spend more money. " So if you're hoping to eat better, try dining with friends who do too. Which of the following is the best title for this passage? A. Want to Eat Cheaper? Bring a Rich Friend to Dinner. B. Want to Eat Less? Bring a Thinner Friend to Dinner. C. Want to Eat More? Bring a Fat Friend to Dinner. D. Want to Eat Healthier? Bring a Healthy Friend to Dinner. Answer: D Question: Guo Liqin, 24, works as a primary school teacher in a distant area in Yunnan Province. The Internet offers him the latest news and entertainment from the outside world. And many people like him also depends on the online libraries for the free literature reading. A survey in China last year found the online literature is the biggest growth area of Internet entertainment. Reading for free is also popular in other countries. See what solutions other countries are taking. Public Libraries In countries such as Germany, Canada, and the UK, governments pay the authors to have their books in public libraries. The pay is different from country to country. Some pay according to how many times a book has been borrowed; others pay according to whether the library has bought the book or not. Google Books Google Books allow users to see some free parts before buying them. The author can choose to make from 20% to 100% of the book's content for free reading . But you can see a full view of books that are out of copyright . E-magazines E-magazines are usually about pop culture, and make money through advertisements. The writers are usually paid by the numbers of words they write. Digital Library There are many free online libraries of books which are no longer in copyright. American and European websites offer classic literature and non-fiction texts like dictionaries for download in different languages. Guo Liqin depends on _ for free reading. A. online libraries B. city bookstores C. school libraries D. borrowing books Answer: A Question: Most people report that they do not usually feel confident. But exciting things can happen when we actually believe in ourselves. Here is a man who believed in his own ability even as a boy, and that confidence helped shape his adult life. At the turn of the last century, a young boy quit school to help with the family expenses. When he was fifteen, he became interested in automobiles and worked in a garage. He subscribed to a correspondence home study course on automobiles and, after a long day in the garage, studied at the kitchen table by lamplight. When he felt ready, he walked into the Frayer-Miller Automobile Company of Columbus, Ohio. When Mr. Frayer noticed him, he asked, "Well, what do you want?" "I just thought I'd tell you I'm coming to work here tomorrow morning," the boy replied. "Oh! Who hired you?" "Nobody yet, but I'll be on the job in the morning. If I'm not worth anything, you can fire me." Early the next morning the young man returned to the plant. Noticing the floor was thick with metal shavings and accumulated dirt, the boy got a broom and set out to clean the place. Because of his self-confidence and work ethic, the boy's future was predictable. He went on to stand out in many fields, including automobile racing, piloting World War I planes and founding what was to become one of America's largest airline companies -- Eastern Airlines. People who become more confident habitually encourage themselves. Without confidence, we are not likely to move far in the direction of our dreams. But become our own best friend and almost anything will be possible. It is important that we always believe in ourselves. In order to reach victory, we must believe in ourselves even when we make mistakes and fall short. How did the boy learn knowledge concerning automobiles? A. He attended school in the daytime. B. He studied hard at home. C. He read books in the garage where he worked. D. He turned to some instructors for help. Answer: B Question: I had a perfect life. No one died; no one was sick; we were all happy and loving life. Then I discovered my grandfather had cancer. No matter how much I told myself he could live, and that he might not die, somehow I still felt as if it was a death sentence. He was so young, only 63. He fought so hard. Whenever I feel my own life taking a turn for the worse, as if things will never get better, I remember how many years he lived fighting such a scary and difficult disease. He died with a huge party going on around him, with all his friends and family. They ate and I honestly didn't know how to cope. I never cried alone. I had the compassion of my friends and the support of my family and teachers. I just remembered my grandfather's wish that we should celebrate his life. That's how we came up with the idea for Hives for Lives----a business my sister and I started where all the profits go to the American Cancer Society (ACS). We sell honey, honeycomb, beeswax candles and lip balm, which all come from our beehives in Virginia. It started out small, 2 years ago, with just an idea. During our first year we donated more than $2,000 to the ACS. The next year a man who belonged to my grandparents' bee club willed his honey to us, and our little business grew. We sold at craft fairs, wine festivals, schools, and to anyone else who would buy! We had my uncle sell in California and my grandmother sell in Chicago. We have sold honey in 13 states---even in Puerto Rico. This year we donated more than $10,000 to the ACS and we're hoping to do more next year. Hopefully our business will help find a cure or just improve the life of someone with cancer. I feel like Hives for Lives is a way to honor my grandfather. Honor his love, his life and his strength. With Hives for Lives reminding me of my grandfather every day, I feel as if I can move on in life, that he will always be alive in my heart and memories. It made me capable of coping with his death, because I felt like I had truly honored his wish of celebrating his life. I have made his spirit everlasting through the business and I honor him every day. He always taught me to make the best of things. Well, grandpa, that's what I'm doing, for you. I hope he is smiling from heaven. Which of the following statements is true according to the text? A. The profits they make are all donated to the ACS. B. They struggle to develop their business without any help. C. They have helped find a cure for those with cancer. D. All their relatives joined in their activity. Answer: A
Question: It was 1963, in Paris. While walking through the fruit and vegetable market Alice Waters was struck by the display of brilliant color1s, the music of farmers selling their produce, and in the middle of a great city. She felt "directly connected to the land." Chez Panisse, a Berkeley restaurant, which was founded upon Waters' ecological philosophy, has been named "The Best Restaurant in America" by both the James Beard Foundation and by Gourmet magazine, many times in the past. Only the food grown in accordance with the principles of sustainable agriculture was used in the restaurant. Menus offered nightly at Chez Panisse have consisted only of fresh ingredients, harvested in season, and purchased from local farmers. Alice Waters has successfully demonstrated how a restaurant can develop successfully while contributing to the general welfare of the farming community. Sharing a meal between the people was one of the wishes of Alice Waters as she would love her customers to know each other. In 1996, inspired by the Garden Project at the San Francisco County Jail , Waters decided to apply her principles to education. The project was first started at the Martin Luther King Middle School in Berkeley with the idea to transform some land near the school into a garden and, in the process, to teach local school children about food and agriculture. In 1999, over 120 people came to help plant the first cover crop, which prepared the field for farming by adding nutrients to the soil. The student garden staff has had several years' worth of harvest, and has started growing gardens like herb and tea. Here, agricultural practices are continually being revised and updated and every year the Schoolyard staff attends the Ecological Farming Conference in Monterey. A kitchen classroom has also been created, where students learn about main foods eaten in other parts of the world. "I believe that every child in this world needs to have a relationship with the land...to know how to nourish themselves...and to know how to connect with the community around them," says Waters. The middle school has become a model in itself. The students work the land and harvest the crops, while the cafeteria buys and prepares the produce for school lunches. This program will go a long way in teaching kids to value fresh food and their own contributions. This project is sure to inspire a national change in school curricula . In fact, many middle and high schools in California and Ohio have launched similar projects. In 1997, Alice Waters received the Humanitarian Award from the James Beard Foundation in recognition of her dedication and contribution towards environment. In 1999, the U.S. Department of Education Secretary, Richard Riley, honored her with a John H. Stanford "Education Hero" award. It was in Paris that Alice Waters _ . A. made up her mind to be a farmer B. learned about cooking delicious food C. took a fancy to a unique food culture D. opened Chez Panisse, a Berkeley restaurant Answer: C. took a fancy to a unique food culture Question: A caterpillar is a part one of the mundane four stage life cycle of A. a machine B. a company C. an engine D. a colorful invertebrate Answer: D. a colorful invertebrate Question: prefix = st1 /Britainis facing a sharp rise in its rat population as growing numbers of people leave fast food scraps in the street , an environment group warned . Keep Britain Tidy said the rodents were stopping their traditional hunts underground and were roaming the streets ,tempted by discarded burgers ,pizzas and crisps. "The rat population is on the rise and soon it'll be as common to see a rodent on our street as it is to see a dog or a cat," said group Director ,Sue Nelson. The practice of dumping fast food litter and scraps on the street rather than in the trash-with young men the worst offenders-was behind the rise. According to the National Rodent Survey in 2005, Britain's rat population has grown by nearly one quarter since 2000 and is now estimated at 60 million , two million more than the human population. On average a rat can give birth every 24--28 days and just a single pair of rats can produce a colony of 2,000 a year. Around 200 people a year get Weil's Disease----an infection which can lead to liver or kidney failure and eventually death and which is arrived in rat's waste. To highlight the issue , Keep Britain Tidy launched a cinema ad entitled "How close do you want them to get?" The advertisement gave a shocking image of a young woman sleeping in a bed of rots, echoing the nightmare scene from James Herbert's classic horror tale The Rats, in which mutant rodents begin to prey on humans. Where did the rodents use to search for food? A. In the Street . B. Under the ground. C. From the trash cans. D. In burger shops. Answer: B. Under the ground. Question: A group of reporters asked a group of 4-to-8-year-old children this question, "What does love mean?" The answers were surprising. The children would answer like they did below. Rebecca --- age 8 "When my grandmother hurt her knees , she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails any more. So my grandfather would do it for her all the time, even when his hands hurt, too. That's love." Samantha --- age 6 "Love is when someone hurts you, and you get so mad but you don't shout at her because you know it would hurt her feelings." Terry --- age 4 "Love is what makes you smile when you're tired." Bethany --- age 4 "I let my big sister pick on me because my Mum says she only picks on me because she loves me. So I pick on my baby sister because I love her." Lauren --- age 4 "I know my elder sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new clothes." Elaine --- age 5 "Love is when Mummy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken." Clear --- age 5 "My Mummy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night." Jessica --- age 8 "You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget." What is love according to Terry? A. Love is the care between husband and wife. B. Love is a rest when you are tired. C. Love is what cheers you up when you are tired. D. Love is a kiss from parents. Answer: C. Love is what cheers you up when you are tired. Question: C 8:30 PM Outlook Outlook is back with a new series of reports to keep you up date with all that's new in the world of entertainment. Stories go all the way from the technical to the romantic, from stage to screen. There will be reports of the stars of the moment, the stars of the future and the stars of the past. The director with his new film,he designer with the latest fashion and the musician with the popular song are part of the new Outlook . The program is introduced by Fran Levine. 9:00 PM Discovery When a 10-year-old boy gets a first class degree in mathematics or an 8-year-old plays chess like a future grand master, they are considered as geniuses . Where does the quality of genius come from? Is it all in the genes or can any child be turned into a genius ? And if parents do have a child who might become a genius in the future,what should they do? In this 30-minute film, Barry Johnson , the professor at School of Medicine , New York University will help you discover the answer . 10:00 P Science/Health Is it possible to beat high blood pressure without drugs? The answer is "yes", according to the researchers at Johns Hopkins and three other medical centers . After a study of 800 persons with high blood pressure , they found that after 6 months , those devoted to weight loss--exercise and eating a low--salt , low-fat food--lost about 13 pounds and became fitter . Plus , 35% of them dropped into the "normal" category . This week, Dr . Alan Duckworth will tell you how these people reduce their blood pressure to a level similar to what's achieved with Hypertension drugs . Who will be most probably interested in Discovery ? A. Parents who want to send their children to a school of medicine . B. Children who are good at mathematics . C. Parents who want their child to become another Albert Einstein . D. Children who are interested in playing chess . Answer: C. Parents who want their child to become another Albert Einstein .
All living things on the earth need other living things to live.Nothing lives alone.Most animals must live in a group,and even a plant grows close together with others of the same kind.Sometimes one living thing kills another,or one eats and the other is eaten.One kind of life eats another kind of life in order to live,and together they form a food chain .All food chains begin with the sun,and all food chain become broken up if one of them disappears. All life needs sunlight to live on.But only plants can use sunlight directly.Plants are"factories".They make food from sunlight,water and things in the soil and air. Plants feed all other living things.Animals can only use the sun's energy after it has been changed into food by plants.Some animals feed directly on plants,and others eat smaller animals.Meat-eating animals are only eating plants indirectly. What about human beings?We are members of any food chain.We eat rice,vegetables,fruits and so on.We also eat meat.But men often break up the food chain.They kill wild animals.They also make rivers,lakes and seas dirty.When these rivers,lakes and seas are polluted,the fish in them cannot be eaten.If men eat the fish,they will get strange diseases. Each form of life is linked to all others.Breaking the links puts all life in danger. Food chains suggest that _ . A every life needs food B plants are very important C no living thing can live alone D 1iving things need different food Answer: C. no living thing can live alone Frank Lloyd Wright did not call himself an artist. He called himself an architect. But the buildings he designed were works of art. He looked at the ugly square buildings around him, and he did not like what he saw. He wondered why people built ugly homes, when they could have beautiful ones. Frank Lloyd Wright lived from 1869 to 1959. When he was young, there were no courses in architecture, so he went to work in an architect's office in order to learn how to design buildings. Soon he was designing buildings that were beautiful. He also wanted to make his buildings fit into the land around them. One of the houses he designed is on top of a high hill. Other people built tall, square houses on hills, but Wright did not want to lose the beauty of the hill. He built the house low and wide. Now other architects know how to design buildings to fit into the land. Frank Lloyd Wright showed them how to do it. Which of the following statements is not true? A He learned building designing in an architect's office. B He built a low and wide house on top of a high hill to keep the beauty of the hill. C Many architects learned from Frank Lloyd Wright to design buildings to fit into the land. D When he was young he took courses in architecture in college. Answer: D. When he was young he took courses in architecture in college. It happened one morning 20 years ago. A British scientist Alec Jeffrey came across DNA fingerprinting: He identified the patterns of genetic material that are unique to almost every individual. His discovery changed everything from the way we do criminal investigations to the way we decide family law. But the professor of genetics at the University of Leicester, UK, is still surprised, and a bit worried, by the power of the technology he released upon the world. The patterns within DNA are unique to each individual, except identical twins, who share the same pattern. The ability to identify these patterns has been used to convict(...) murderers and to clear people who are wrongly accused. It is also used to identify the victims of war and settle disputes over who is the father of a child. Jeffrey said he and his colleagues made the discovery by accident while tracking genetic variations . But, within six months of the discovery, genetic fingerprinting had been used in an immigration case, to prove that an African boy really was his parents' son.*In 1986, it was used for the first time in a British criminal case: It cleared one suspect after being accused of two murders and helped convict another man. DNA testing is now very common. In Britain, a national criminal database established in 1995 now contains 2.5 million DNA samples. The U.S. and Canada are developing similar systems. But there are fears about the stored DNA samples and how they could be used to harm a person's privacy. That includes a person's medical history, racial origin or psychological profile. "There is the long-term risk that people can get into these samples and start getting additional information about a person's paternity or risk of disease," Jeffrey said. DNA testing is not an unfailing proof of identity. Still, it is considered a reasonably reliable system for determining the things it is used for. Jeffrey estimates the probability of two individuals' DNA profiles matching in the most commonly used tests at one in a billion. DNA samples are not popular with all the people because _ . A the government in Britain establishes a criminal database B the US and Canada develop similar systems C DNA samples can be used to harm a person's privacy D DNA testing is too expensive and dangerous now Answer: C. DNA samples can be used to harm a person's privacy Which of the following elements is the least electrically conductive? A sodium B tungsten C zinc D argon Answer: D. argon A 14-year-old girl was attacked by a grey bear while competing in a bike race. She managed to whisper the word "bear" to her rescuer. The girl suffered serious head, neck and leg wounds. Now she is in a dangerous condition in hospital. The girl was taking part in a 24-hour race through Bicentennial Park in Alaska when she was attacked by the bear. Bicentennial Park is next to Chugach State Park where some wild animals live. The animal attacked the girl in a heavily wooded area at about 1:30 am. The girl called emergency services but she was unable to say any word. Another rider Peter Basinger found her lying unconscious on the ground. He told the Anchorage Daily News that she managed to say the word "bear" when he stopped to help. Her helmet had been ripped off in the attack and rolled into the woods. Mr. Basinger waited with the girl for about 20 minutes until doctors arrived. Armed police trekked 3 km with doctors to pick up the girl. Animal expert Rick Sinnott said something must be done as soon as possible to prevent the bear from attacking people again. "It was extremely terrifying," he said. Mr. Sinnott told the Anchorage Daily News that the bear might be a mother. It hurt two runners on a nearby path two weeks ago. He also said that the girl was lucky to have been wearing a bike helmet because the bear had bitten her head several times. Mr. Sinnott said the girl was lucky because _ . A she was then in a heavily wooded area B she was then wearing a bike helmet C she didn't get hurt badly D she was rescued by another rider Answer: B. she was then wearing a bike helmet
In April, 2013, I visited Yangzhou. Ge Garden is very beautiful and peaceful. The ticket has a map on the back of it that I didn't noticed until I had already left. But to be honest, I don't think that map is very useful because it isn't very clear an tailed. In my opinion, it's better to improve it. Compared with He Garden, the map on the back of the ticket for He Garden is much clearer, more detailed and more useful. However, in the room that has the picture of the family members, there is only Chinese, no English, so my advice is to add English in interesting places. I got lost in the Slender West Lake. I spent about 30 minutes just trying to get out of one area. I think they need more signs posted along the trails. I like the Slender West Lake best, as she is so pretty! The ladies that were sweeping were very sweet. They always smiled at me and said hello, so it was nice. Taking a taxi is the most efficient and quickest way to get around Yangzhou. I didn't have a problem getting to the places which I'd like to go to while using a taxi. The driver was very friendly. The fare isn't too high, either. But I didn't enjoy taking the bus. The bus ride to the Mastixia Bay took long although I only had to pay one yuan. It was also hard finding where Bus 32 was. I tried asking some people in English but they couldn't understand me, so I had to ask in simple Chinese that I only know buy that still didn't work. I spent about one hour walking around the city to look for Bus 32. The tricycle was nice, but it was a little too expensive for a small distance. Maybe I was _ by the guy who rode for me, but it was an enjoyable ride. I felt like I was part of the garden city more. Over all I am satisfied with Yangzhou and will recommend it to others. Which of the following I NOT the writher's advice? Henry Smith taught science at the City School. One day, he wen to a bookstore and bought some books. Most of them were expensive. He left them in his car in a quiet street. Then he went and bought some other things at other shops. At 6 o'clock he came back to the car. One window was open and the books were gone. Henry drove back to his home in Lake Street. That night he wrote a letter to a newspaper. The next day he went to the police station. On Friday people read an advertisement in the newspaper. BOOKS WANTED DO YOU HAVE ANY BOOKS THAT YOU NO LONGER WANTED? I BUY OLD AND MODERN BOOKS. OPEN ALL DAY ON SATURDAY. HENRY SMITH, 18 LAKE STREET. Henry stayed at home on Saturday. His first visitor came at 8 o'clock. Henry took him to the kitchen. At half past nine another man arrived. He had a bag under his arm. "Mr Smith?" the man asked. "That's right," Henry said, "Can I help you?" "I have some good books. You buy books, don't you?" "Yes, bring them in. I'll have a look at them." Soon the books were on the dining-table. "Come in now," Henry called out, "And bring the list." A policeman came into the dining-room. He read the titles on the books and those on the list in his hand. They were the same. "Come with me, Sir," the policeman said to the man. Henry got his books back _ . I am not just a successful architect . I also like to play the piano. In my spare time I often turn some dry musical symbols into beautiful music. Many years ago, while I was in a university studying architecture, I worked in a workshop. During the break I found an old piano in the corner of the room. With the allowance of the boss I sat down to have a try. Following my fingers the keys danced brilliantly and at the same time beautiful music flew out and then to every part of the room. All my workmates suddenly stopped talking and made their ears ready for my music. After graduation, I began to devote myself to my profession. All my musical talent was wasted into zero. Then one evening we went to a concert at which Mr. Stevenson, one of the ordinary workers in my company, sang us some beautiful songs. His musical talents made us all surprised. We all enjoyed ourselves with his beautiful voice so much that we even thought him a professional singer. I was also reminded of my musical talent. I began to train in a training center. My teacher was strict with me. He encouraged me to train every weekend and each time he asked me to play better than the last. Now I can proudly say I am also a successful pianist because every time I played on the stage fresh flowers and warm clapping would come from my audience. So I say, my friends, don't busy yourself with your work too much. Find some time to develop your potential talent and your life will become more wonderful. What did the author do in his spare time? There was once a little fairy named Twinkles who lived in an old willow tree. The tree grew next to a river in a large, green forest. Twinkles loved to fly around the forest with her best friend Betsy the Bat. Betsy was a very forgetful bat. One day Twinkles and Betsy were playing next to the bushes by the river bank when Betsy shouted, "Oh no, I've forgotten my lunch that my mom packed for me today! It is late in the afternoon and I am hungry." "Do not worry," said Twinkles. "I am going to wait here for you until you get back." With that, Betsy flew off toward her home in the wet cave near the other end of the river. An hour went by and Betsy still had not returned. "Hmm," thought Twinkles, "I wonder where Betsy went off to." Twinkles flew off to find her best friend. Soon, she heard a voice calling from down below. "Help me! I'm stuck!" Twinkles looked down. Sure enough, it was Betsy! She had been caught in a pile of sticky mud near the mouth of the cave. "Don't worry, I am coming to save you!" cried Twinkles. Twinkles swooped down to the ground. She found a strong stick nearby that she could use to help her pull Betsy out of the thick mud. Betsy grabbed the end of the stick that Twinkles held out to her. After some heavy tugging, Betsy was free. "Thank you so very much for pulling me out of the mud! I was looking for some berries to use for jam down by the river. They grow on the bushes there. I wanted some for a little dessert after my lunch. I accidentally walked into the pile of mud on the floor and got stuck." "No problem," said Twinkles. "That's what friends are for." Why was Twinkles glad to help Betsy the Bat? College students constantly hear the praises of education.We have all become used to believing that a college education is always a guarantee of an easier life.I was nine years old when my fourth-grade teacher presented me with a task, to write down all of the things I wanted in my life.I filled my paper with things like: own a big house and have servants; be rich and have a good job.The next day my teacher handed back my paper and in red ink she wrote: " GO TO COLLEGE." For a long time, I was convinced that once I obtained an education, BAM! Life would be easier. However, education cannot promise all wishes, dreams, and desires.Society must reject the foolish idea that a college education's main purpose is to satisfy our desires and secure success.Like most challenging things, education is a gamble in which results depend entirely on people's ability to look past their wants to see the realism and reason behind their wants. For instance, my first year of college, I took a sociology class.In class, we were taught that Third World countries were poor.We learned that our quality of life would be almost impossible for an average person in those countries.I began to examine my own desire to be rich.To always go after money felt selfish when knowing others had none at all.Learning about other society's financial situations forced me to look beyond what I wanted. Through the process of education, everything once desired is tested.Wanting something no longer is enough; it's more important to examine why we want it and whether we really want it.When my desire for money changed, everything changed.I stopped longing for money-driven careers and stopped valuing the people who had them.I began to examine the things I purchased and my reason for wanting them. Education is a tool to be used to develop and advance our desires, so we can discover the things that are truly significant in life.Education is a source to expand our society to see beyond the superficial appeals and the "quick fixes" , leaving the belief of an effortless life behind in order to desire a meaningful one. Why does the author mention her sociology class?
Don't drive your kids to school. Let them ride a bike to school. In England 8.3 million children travel to school every day. It is reported that only a small number of pupils cycle to school (under 2%), although one in three children would actually like to. Experts say that to stay healthy, children need at least one hour of moderate exercise every day. But only six out of ten boys and four out of ten girls get that. One of the reasons is that parents have developed a habit of driving their children to school when they could just walk or ride a bike to school. Teachers often say that children who walk or ride a bike to school are more ready to listen to their classes, ask and answer questions in class than those driven by car, and the school journey is a good chance for children to learn about road safety and other life skills. Also, for many children, riding a bike is more fun than going to school by car. Most parents know the benefits . Then what's stopping them from letting their kids ride a bike? Safety is the number one worry for them. But actually riding a bike is not as dangerous as parents think it is. When you decide to buy a bike, you should be aware that a bike that is too big or too small is dangerous. Don't try to get a bike that your child will "grow into". Get the right size in good working order. Generally, 20-inch wheels are on bikes for 5-8 year olds; 24-inch wheels are for 9-11 year olds; 26-inch wheels are suitable for those over 11, and some older children should even take bikes with 28-inch wheels, but the main thing is that the bike fits your child. Parents don't allow their children to ride a bike to school mainly because _ . they are worried about their children's safety. My friend Tom is a schoolboy. Everyone likes him very much because he is funny. He can play many instruments. When he is with his friends, he often plays for them. Today is October 8th. It's Tom's birthday. He has a big and interesting party at home. Many friends come to his party. Tom's mother cooks a lot of food for them. Everyone gives a beautiful gift to him. Sally gives him an English dictionary because Tom also likes English. Bob gives Tom a guitar because he likes playing the guitar very much. At the party, Tom plays the guitar and he also plays the piano. We sing many songs and play some interesting games. We have a good time today. ,. Who gives Tom an English dictionary? Sally. So far as I know, Miss Hamah was the first person to give the basic difference between work and labor. To be happy, a mall must feel,firstly, free and secondly, important. He cannot be really happy if he is forced by society to do what he does not enjoy doing,or if what he enjoys doing is lowly thought of by society as valueless or unimportant. In a society where slavery in the strict sense has been got rid of, the sign that what a man does is of social value is that he is paid moneyto do it,but a laborer today can be called a Wag e slave. A man is a laborer if the job that society offers him is not interesting to himself but he has to take it just owing to the necessity 0fearning aliving and supporting his family. The opposite side to labor is play. When we play a game,we enjoy what we are doing,otherwise we should not play it,but it is a purely private activity;and society could not care whether we play it or not. Between labor and play stands work. A man is a worker if he is personally interested in the job which society pays him to do;what from the point view of society is necessary labor is from his own point of view willing play. Whether a job is to be classified as labor or work depends,not on the job itself, but on the tastes of the individual who does it. The difference does not. For example,agree with the difference between a physical and a mental job;a gardener or a taxi driver may be a worker, a bank clerk is a laborer. , Which a man is can be seen from his attitude toward leisure(1 To a worker, leisure means simply the hours he needs to relax and rest in order to work efficiently. He is therefore more likely to take too little leisure than too much;workers die of heart attack and forget their wives'birthday. To the laborer, on the other hand,leisure means freedom from compulsion ,so that it is natural for him to imagine that the fewer hours he has to spend laboring,and the more hours he is free to play, the better. Whether a job can be classified as labor or work depends on the tastes of the person who does it SAN FRANCISCO -- In the western U.S., Hawaii and elsewhere across the globe, moon watchers were treated on Saturday to a rare celestial phenomenon: a total lunar eclipse . For about 50 minutes starting at 6:06 a.m. PST, the moon was completely blocked by the Earth's shadow. With only some indirect sunlight able to reach it after passing through the Earth's atmosphere, the moon took on a reddish weak light. Since the atmosphere scatters blue light, only red light strikes the moon, giving it a dark red color1. Dally Sam, who runs a public relations firm in Hawaii, said it had been cloudy and rainy, but the weather cleared just in time for the eclipse. Around 3 a.m., he awoke, as he usually does, and remembered to step outside the house in time to catch the beginning of the eclipse about a half hour later. No one else in the neighborhood was up then. "It was turning that dark red color1," Sayre, aged 47, said, "I'd better get a camera. To be able to see it just right outside our house was really cool." At the local observatory in Los Angeles, some 300 people, many holding coffee cups in the cold morning air, sat with blankets and chairs on the observatory's great grass land. "It's really a celestial festival out here," John Peter, aged 39, told the Los Angeles Times as he set up his camera. Lying on a slope north of downtown near the Hollywood sign, the place offers clear views of the sky. Observatory officials reminded the crowd when the eclipse began and big applause burst when the celestial event ended. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon goes through the long shadow cast by the Earth and is blocked from the sunlight that brightens it. ks5u We can infer from Para 5 that at 3:30 a.m. Dally Sam _ . still had to wait for a long time to see a total lunar eclipse Can you imagine that someone could cure all the diseases in the world? It seems like an impossible job, But Priscilla Chan wants to make it come true. Chan, 31, is from the United States. Many people may know her as a wife of Mark Zuckerberg , the founder of Facebook. But Chan herself has done a lot to help people. Chan and Zuckerberg said in September that they would give out $3 billion , that's about Y=20 billion in the next 10 years to help deal with all of the world's diseases. As a doctor for children, Chan was a big driver in this decision. "By investing in science today, we hope to build a future in which all of our children can live long and meaningful lives," she said. She cares about not only children's health but also their education. Before becoming a doctor, Chan taught science to the 4th and 5th graders at a school in California for a year. That year she started a project called The Primary School. It provides education for children from kindergarten to the 12th grade. Chan herself knows how important education is to a child. She has a Chinese father and a Vietnamese mother. Her parents didn't come to the US with much. But they worked hard to make sure Chan and their other two daughters had the best opportunities possible. Chan went to Harvard University in 2003 and now works as a doctor. "I realized that I was so lucky to be what I was," said Chan. "It drives me to make sure others, no matter what background they have, can have their opportunities, to reach their dreams and their full potential ." What does Chan really want to do to help others? Provide opportunities for others to reach their dreams.
The story goes that some time ago, a man punished his 3--old--daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became angry when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. However, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, "This is for you, Daddy." The man was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger burst again when he found out the box was empty. He yelled at her, stating, "Don't you know when you give someone a present, there is supposed to be something inside?" The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and cried, "Oh, Daddy, it's not empty at all. I blew kisses into the box. They are all for you, Daddy." The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl and begged for her forgiveness. Only a short time later, an accident took the life of the child. It is also told that her father kept that gold box by his bed for many years and whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there. According to this passage, which of the following statements is true? A The little girl wanted to show her father that she had no money. B The little didn't think the box wrapped with gold paper was beautiful. C The little girl was misunderstood by her father at first. D The little girl wanted to play a joke on her father. Answer: C. The little girl was misunderstood by her father at first. Greg enjoys playing with his friends. On Friday, Greg went outside to play with two of his friends, Peter and Lucy. They played with a ball for some time, but then they got bored. Lucy said that she wanted to climb a tree. Peter thought that they could see if their other friend Robert could play with them. The three of them went to find Robert. They saw Robert in front of his house, but he said that he was busy and he could not play with them. Greg and Peter then thought that Lucy's idea was good. There was a large tree in the park. Greg, Peter, and Lucy walked to the park together. When they got to the park, they were surprised by the size of the tree. It was much larger than they thought. At first, Greg was scared to climb the tree. But Peter and Lucy told him that it would be fun, so he began to climb. When he had climbed the first few branches, he slipped and fell down. But he was not hurt. After that, the three friends thought that it was too dangerous to climb that tree. So they all went home. When Greg went home, his mother asked him what happened. She saw that his shirt was dirty. Greg explained about the tree. Then he changed into a different shirt, so that his mother could wash the dirty shirt. What was the name of Greg's friend who could not play with them? A Peter B Greg C Lucy D Robert Answer: D. Robert Many animals go on long and difficult journeys to find food or places for their young to start life. They often travel very far, sometimes even halfway around the world. Some animals make one of these amazing journeys every year, while others make only one amazing journey in their lives. Some animals travel over land, some through water and others in the air. Green turtles spend most of their lives in the sea, but they come to the shore to lay their eggs. Every two or three years, fully-grown female turtles swim a long way to the same beach where they were hatched and lay their eggs there. Some turtles may travel over 1240 miles to reach the same beach. No one knows how these turtles are able to find the same beach again. Monarch butterflies live in North America. At the end of summer, they fly south to Mexico. In spring, they fly back north. During this journey, the adults lay their eggs and then they die. When the young butterflies hatch, they continue the journey north. No one knows how the young butterflies know where to go. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? A Some animals make the amazing journey once in a lifetime. B Some animals make the journey through water. C Female turtles lay eggs on the same beach where they were hatched. D Young monarch butterflies fly back to Mexico after they hatch. Answer: D. Young monarch butterflies fly back to Mexico after they hatch. In the past, going to a piano teacher was the most popular way to learn how to play the piano. You could get one-to-one teaching and have the opportunity to learn as much as the teacher knew. If you didn't have private lessons, you could still learn the piano, but you would have to teach yourself. This was easy for some, but very difficult for most. However, with technology developing today, there is at last another way that you can take piano lessons. You can take an online course. An online course is much cheaper than a private lesson. _ . You can take a whole online course in piano for just a fraction of the money that you would spend on weeks of private lessons. Also, private lessons are usually only one hour per week. So you would have to wait for your next lesson to continue your learning. However, online piano courses are quite different. With an online piano course, you can work at your own pace. You can also take as many lessons per week as you want, or go back and listen to your last lesson if you have forgotten anything. Most adults who want to learn how to play the piano enjoy being able to go back and listen to the lessons again. Of course if you need someone to sit beside you and offer you immediate feedback as you are playing, you might not get that from an online piano course. However, the lessons online can be viewed at any time, or as often as you'd like, which means that you can get your own type of feedback from an online piano course. This passage mainly tells us _ . A the disadvantages of the traditional ways of learning to play the piano B the differences between traditional piano courses and online courses C why people prefer online piano courses to traditional piano courses D the advantages of learning to play the piano through an online course Answer: D. the advantages of learning to play the piano through an online course Shopping is not as simple as you think! There are all sorts of tricks at play each time we reach out for that particular brand of product on the shelf. Coloring, for example, varies according to what the producers are trying to sell. Health foods are packages in greens, yellows or browns because we think of these as healthy colors. Ice cream packets are often blue and expensive foods, like chocolates, are gold and silver. When some kind of pain killer was brought out recently, researchers found that _ because they made the product look weak and ineffective. Eventually, it came on the market in a dark blue and white package because we think of it as safe, and white as calm. The size of a product can attract a shopper. But quite often a bottle doesn't contain as much as it appears to. It is believed that the better-known companies spend, on average, 70 percent of the total cost of the product itself on packaging. The most successful producers know that it's not enough to have a good product. The founder of Pears soap, who for 25 years has used pretty little girls to promote their goods, came to the conclusion: "Any fool can make soap, but it takes a genius to sell it." Which of the following would be the best title for this text? A Choice of Good Products B Disadvantages of Products C Effect of Packaging on Shopping D Brand Names and Shopping Tricks Answer: C. Effect of Packaging on Shopping
Everyone knows what a needle is. Of course there are needles and needles. Needles for sewing machines, needles for injection , you name it. But few people think of the wonder a needle works in the hands of those who practice acupuncture . During the past ten years or so, I have been suffering from terrible headache. It seems to be getting from bad to worse these days . Last night I got a sudden pain in my head. It was so terrible that I could hardly bear it. Although I swallowed all kinds of pain-killers, I didn't feel any better, It seemed that there was nothing I could do but phone for a doctor. One of our neighbors happened to be with us. He was not a doctor, but he timidly offered his help, saying "Do you mind if I tried acupuncture on you? These needles may possibly do you some good." I agreed. In a moment, he had taken out a few needles from his purse. Without a moment's delay, he fixed a few needles into the skin on my head here and there, Before long, I felt thoroughly relieved. Just then, the doctor sped through my house and said, "Where is our patient?" "Sorry, Doctor, You are too late, It's killed!" I answered in delight. It's a miracle , isn't it? The sentences" You are too late. It's killed ." mean that Answer: before the doctor came the man's headache was already cured A WOMAN walks into a small stall and eats a cheap bowl of instant noodles, paying 1,500 won. Then she moves into a Starbucks coffee shop, where she drinks a cup of mocha, paying 4,300 won. Surprised? This is the typical behaviour of South Korean young women. They are called "denjang girls". The term "denjang girls" referred to female shoppers who would eat cheaply and then _ to be seen drinking a cup of expensive coffee. Now it has grown to a new army of women in their 20s who look smart, rich but are actually buying luxuries they probably can't afford. Internet users created the term when debating the popularity of Starbucks coffee among South Korean women. In prefix = st1 /South Korea, the coffee costs, on average, over a dollar more than inJapanand theUS. Despite the higher price, Starbucks sales inSouth Koreaincreased from 72.1 billion won in 2004 to 91.2 billion won in 2005. Ahn Ji-Yoon, a student at Yonsei University in Seoul, says she can spend two hours surfing the web for discounts on skin cream and dinner. Yet she would think nothing of spending US$550 on a Gucci bag. Girls like Ahn live by extremes - hunting for bargain items while spending heavily on "necessary luxuries". According to the passage , which one is correct? Answer: In South Korea, the coffee costs more than inJapanand theUS. Mrs Black is sixty-nine years old. She has only a daughter named Sandra. Mr Black died twelve years ago. She was very sad and lived in her house alone. Two years later her daughter had a baby. The woman was busy all the time and no time to look after her son James. She asked her mother to live with with them. The old woman had to sell her house and moved there. She was strong and could do all the housework. And the family liked her. Last autumn Mrs Black went to do some shopping. A car hit her and her leg was hurt. She had to be in hospital for three months. She couldn't do anything after she came back. At first her daughter was kind to her, but soon she began to tired of her. The old woman wanted to leave, but she had no money to buy a house and nobody could take care of her. She didn't know what to do. One morning Mrs Black broke a plate. It made her daughter angry. She told James to buy a wooden for her grandma. That afternoon James came back with two wooden plates. She was surprised and asked "Why did you buy two plates, son" "One is for my grandma," answered the boy. "The other is for you." She cried for long. She's kind to her mother as she did before. The family liked Mrs Black because _ Answer: she could do the housework for them Is there link between humans and climate change or not? This question was first studied in the early 1900s. Since then, many scientists have thought that our actions do make a difference. In 1997, the Kyoto Protocol explained our role in the Earth's changing atmosphere and set international limits for gas emissions from 2008 to 2012. Some countries have decided to continue these reductions until 2020. More recently, the Paris Agreement, stuck by nearly 200 countries, also aims to limit global warming. But just now how much warmer it will get depends on how deeply countries cut carbon emissions. 3.5degC This is how much temperatures would rise by 2100 even if nations live up to the initial Paris promises to reduce carbon emissions; this rise could still put coastal cities under water and drive over half of all species to extinction. 2degC To meet this minimum goal, the Agreement requires countries to tighten emissions targets every five years. Even this increase could sink some islands, worse drought and drive a decline of up to a third in the number of species. 1.5degC This is the most ambitious goal for temperature rise set by the Paris Agreement, after a push by low-lying island nations like Kiribati, which say limiting temperature rise to 1.5degC could save them from sinking. 0.8degC This is how much temperatures have risen since the industrial age began, putting us 40% of the way to the 2degC point. 0degC The baseline here is average global temperature before the start of the industrial age. If those island nations not far above sea level are to survive, the maximum temperature rise, since the start of the industrial age, should be _ . Answer: 1.5degC The government-run command post in Tunis is staffed around the clock by military personnel, meteorologists and civilians. On the wall are maps, crisscrossed with brightly colors arrows that painstakingly track the fearsome path of the enemy. What kind of invader gives rise to such high-level monitoring? Not man, not beast, but the lowly desert locust . In recent months, billions of the 3-inch-long winged warriors have descended on Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia, blackening the sky and eating up crops and vegetation. The insect invasion, the worst in 30 years, is already creating great destruction in the Middle East and is now treating southern Europe. The current crisis began in late 1985 near the Red Sea. Unusually rainy weather moistened the sands of the Sudan, making them ideal seedbed for the locust, which lays its eggs in the earth. The insect onslaught threatens to create yet another African famine. Each locust can eat its weight (not quite a tenth of an ounce) in vegetation every 24 hours. A good-size swarm of 50 billion insects eats up 100,000 tons of grass, trees and crops in a single night. All $150 million may be needed this year. The U.S. has provided two spraying planes and about 50,000 gal. of pesticide. The European Community has donated $3.8 million in aid and the Soviet Union, Canada, Japan and China have provided chemical-spraying aircraft to help wipe out the pests. But relief efforts are hampered by the relative mildness of approved pesticides, which quickly lose their deadly punch and require frequent replications. The most effective locust killer dieldrin has been linked to cancer and is banned by many Western countries and some of the affected African nations. More than 5 million acres have been dusted with locust-killing chemicals; another 5 million will be treated by the end of June. On May 30, representatives of Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Mauritania will meet in Algiers to discuss tactics to wipe out the ravenous swarms. The move is an important step, but whatever plan is devised, the locust plague promised to get worse before the insects can be brought under control. The main idea of the first sentence in the passage is that _ . Answer: the command post is crowded with people all the time.
One evening after dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Tisich called a family meeting. --We've had to make a difficult decision, Mr. Tisich announced. --You see, your mother has been offered a post as co-director of a television station in Chicago. Unfortunately, the station is not here. After thinking long and hard about it, we've concluded that the right decision is to move to Chicago. Marc looked shocked, while his sister Rachel breathlessly started asking when they'd be moving. --It's surprising, but exciting! she said. Marc simply said, --We can't go--I can't leave all my friends. I'd rather stay here and live with Tommy Lyons! The Tisichs hoped that by the time they moved in August, Marc would grow more used to the idea of leaving. However, he showed no signs of accepting the news, refusing to pack his belongings. When the morning of the move arrived, Marc was nowhere to be found. His parents called Tommy Lyon's house, but Mrs. Lyons said she hadn't seen Marc. Mrs. Tisich became increasingly concerned, while her husband felt angry with their son for behaving so irresponsibly. What they didn't know was that Marc had started walking over to Tommy's house, with a faint idea of hiding in Lyons's attic for a few days. But something happened on the way as Marc walked past all the familiar landscape of the neighborhood: the fence that he and his mother painted, the tree that he and his sister used to climb, and the park where he and his father often took evening walks together. How much would these mean without his family? Who make them special in the first place? Marc didn't take the time to answer that question but instead hurried back to his house, wondering if there were any moving cartons the right size to hold his record collection. Hearing the decision to move to Chicago, Marc and Rachel both felt _ . A. angry and upset B. surprised C. anxious for more details D. worried about packing Answer: B In many countries today,laws protect wildlife.In India the need for such protection was realized centuries ago. About 300 B.C.an Indian writer described forests that were somewhat like national parks today.The killing of game animals was carefully governed.Some animals were fully protected.Within the forest,nobody was allowed to cut trees,burn wood,or trap animals for their furs.Animals that became dangerous to human visitors were trapped or killed outside the park,so that other animals would not become uneasy. The need for wildlife protection is greater now than ever before.About a thousand sorts of animals are in danger of extinction,and the speed at which they are being destroyed has been _ .With mammals ,for example,the speed of extinction is now about one sort every year;from A. D.1 to 1800,the speed was about one sort every fifty years.Everywhere,men are trying to solve the problem of saving wildlife while caring for the world's growing population. The growth of the world's population means _ . A. greater danger to wild life B. people like animals better C. over a thousand sorts of animals are extinct D. only one sort of animal is extinct every year Answer: A More than a hundred reporters from around the world thronged and bustled in the Stock Exchange Building in Stockholm's Old Town for about an hour before the doors to the Swedish Academy swung open. Notably, there were many Japanese reporters present, hoping to break the news that Haruki Murakami had won the prize. Finally, the Swedish Academy's Permanent Secretary Peter Englund stepped out from the doors and said Canadian short story writer Alice Munro has won the 2013 Nobel Prize in Literature. The following is a truncated Q&A with reporters and Englund. (The questions have been simplified and clarified.) Why did Alice Munro win? We gave her the Nobel Prize in Literature because she is a master of the contemporary short story. Which book to begin with? One of the amazing things about her is that she has no weak works in her writing. She has always worked to the best of her ability; she has always cultivated the short story to perfection. And she has never really written a weak or bad book. So you can take your pick. 'The Moons of Jupiter' was the first book I read by her and you can see both her different themes in that book and also her very special narrative mode, you can find it there. She tells her stories a bit like nobody else. She has a very economical language and sparse style. You can find that in 'The Moons of Jupiter.' You can take your pick. The latest one is obviously very interesting, 'Dear Life,' which contains a number of autobiographical sketches at the end that gives a key to the entire authorship of Alice Munro. How was she informed? Well, I left a message on her answering machine. I couldn't reach her and it was of course pretty early in the morning. But she will be notified by courier, by email to her both agents, by standard mail and so on. What kind of message did you leave? Basically, congratulations! You've won the Nobel Prize in literature. What's the Importance of a woman winning? Don't ask me. We picked her for excellence, nothing else. Of course it matters when you start doing the headcount. But she is no representative. She has received this prize just because of what she has done. Nothing else. So the sexual balance doesn't count? We don't have these kinds of quotas; thank god ... We don't have any quotas. We could, if we wanted to, award this prize four times in a row to a children's book writer working in the United States. If we wanted to. We can do as we please. We don't have to fill any quotes in any direction. We just give it to authors who show an extraordinary literary quality. One of these is Mrs. Alice Munro. Alice Munro is best known for her work _ . A. "Dear Life", which contains a number of autobiographical sketches that gives a key to her entire authorship B. "The Moons of Jupiter", which represented both her different themes and also her very special narrative mode C. "DanceoftheHappyShades", which helped her win the first Governor General's Award D. no specific work, but the uniqueness and perfection reflected in all her works Answer: D Mary Cassette is one of the first great female American painters. She followed her dreams and became an artist. She was born on May 22, 1844, and lived in Europe for several years as a child . Her family returned to the United States and at the age of 16,Mary attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.Four years later she found she couldn't learn any more in Philadelphia,so her parents sent her back to Europe.There she studied the techniques of the masters in Rome,Seville,Antwerp,and Paris. Mary received the chance of a lifetime in 1877 when the famous French painter,Edgar Degas,asked her to join a group of painters that included now--famous artists like Monet and Renoir.Their style of paintings is called Impressionism .They used primary color1s and short brush strokes in their works.They recognized Mary's powerful talent and invited her to exhibit in the Impressionist art shows. Mary painted what she saw:gardens, and portraits,especially of mothers and children in everyday life.One of her paintings,Young Mother and Two Children,was donated to the White House in 1954 where it hangs today. Mary never married and,in 1877,her parents and sister moved to Europe to join her.Mary devoted much of her time to them for the next 1 8 years.Mary painted until 1914 when her failing eyesight made it impossible to continue.She died in 1926 at the age of 82. What style of paintings influenced Mary Cassette most? A. Realism. B. Impressionism. C. Abstract. D. Expressionism. Answer: B Eighth-grader Victoria Bills is talking about money with her classmates. She is worried that a company's stock price could fall. It may be an unusual topic of conversation for a 13-year-old. But at Bills' school in Chicago, US, you hear it all the time. The Chicago school's 420 students learn about economic . They also get a chance to make money. Each 1stgrade and 5thgrade, students learn the basics of economics and investing . Then in 6thgrade, they put what they've learned to work. Students join a junior group that manages the $20,000. The group, made up of 12 to 14 students, decides which stocks to buy. After graduating, students pass on $20,000 to the next 1stgrade class. They keep half of the rest of the money; the other half goes toward improving the school. They can choose to put their money in a college-savings program or take the cash. In 2007, Bills suggested that her class buy the stock of the Apple computer company. This was just before the iPhone came out. "We bought stock just at the right time," she says. The kids bought Google stock as it reached $400 a share. It is now worth over $500. "It was a good buy," says Myles Gate, 13. He hopes to be a banker one day. The school's two graduating classes of 2005 and 2006 have each earned about $10,000 in profits . What's the passage mainly about? A. How students make money in the US. B. Students learn economics and investing at school. C. Myles Gage hopes to be a banker one day. D. What US students hope to do after graduation. Answer: B
Look! This is Li Mei's room. What's in her room? Her books are on the desk. This is one of her shoes. Where is the other one? Oh, It's under the desk. She can not find her school bag. Where is it? Oh, It's behind the door. Li Mei can not look after her things. Her mother often says to her, " Li Mei , you must look after your things." ,. (5) Look ! One of Li Mei's shoes is _ Answer: Even before World War II ended in 1945,many world leaders dreamed of a new organization that would keep international peace and safety,and encourage international cooperation .An organization was formed.The United Nations was to work to this ideal of mankind. When the UN was founded in 1945,it was made up of fifty members.Fifteen members sat on the Security Council .Five members--the United States,the Soviet Union,Great Britain,France and China--were given,not changing membership on the Council.The Council was given the power to settle fights among nations by persuasion,mediation or other means.A General Assembly ,which included every UN member,was also set up.The Assembly could consider,discuss,and pass resolutions . As the UN passed its fortieth birthday in 1985,it came under increasingly sharp attack by Americans.It declared that the UN is unfit as a peace keeper and cited 130 wars since 1945 as a proof . The UN's supporters say that the organization is the world's best hope for peace.The UN provides,supporters also point out,much needed economic and technical help to less developed nations. The UN's supporters _ . Answer: In1909, Sonora Dodd was sitting in her church in Spokane, Washington, listening to a Mother's Day sermon( ) when she had an idea: There should be a day to honor fathers. Sonora's father, William Smart, had raised Sonora and her five siblings all by himself after his wife, Ellen, died. Sonora felt her father _ a special day, so she went to work persuading her community to set aside Sunday to celebrate dads. Moved by her action, the following year, the mayor of Spokane declared June 19 to be the first Father's Day celebration .This date was selected because it was Smart's birthday. News of this day for dads spread across the country. In 1966, President Lyndon Johonson designated the third Sunday of every June as Father's day. However, it was not until 1972-62 years after the first official celebration in Spokane-that President Richard Nixon signed a law making Father's Day an everlasting holiday. Countries all over the world have special days to honor their dads. In Catholic countries like Spain and Portugal, dad is honored on March 19 during the feast of St.Joseph. In Thailand ,Father's Day is celebrated on the king's birthday. The current king, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, was born on December5.In Canada, people wear roses on Father's Day. There are currently 70.1 million dads in the United States. Many of these dads are spending more time with their kids than dads did in the past ,according to a recent study by the Pew Research Centre .Years ago, taking care of kids was considered a job mainly for women. Now, however, the roles are sometimes overturned .According to the US Census Bureau ,in 2010,154,000 dads stayed at home to take care of their kids ,and 1.8 million dads raised their kids alone like Sonora's dad. On Sunday, dads across the country will open cards and gifts. Whether they know it or not , they have _ someoneto thank for the special recognition. Why are there so many dads in the US looking after their kids? Answer: Ogilvie the detective arrived. Both the Duke and Duchess were extremely nervous. The Duchess went to the door herself. The detective's piggy eyes surveyed her. His gaze moved on to sweep the spacious, well-decorated room, and the Duke. "Pretty neat set-up you've got."Ogilvie said slowly. The Duchess said sharply, "Imagine you didn't come here to discuss the decoration." "No, Madame. I like nice things, though. Like that expensive car of yours. The one you keep here in the hotel." "In what way does our car concern you?"The Duchess had sat in a straight-backed chair. "Now," he said."You two were in the hit-and-run." She met his eyes directly. "What are you talking about?" "Don't play games, lady. You saw the newspapers. There's been plenty on radio, too." Ogilvie's words spat forth with sudden strength. "You listen to me. This city's mad -- everybody. When they find who killed that kid and her mother, and run away, what will they do? Now I know what I know, and if I do what by rights I should, there'll be police here. But I come to you first, so you could tell your side of it to me." The piggy eyes blinked, then hardened. "If you want it the other way, just say so." The Duchess--three centuries and a half of in-born pride behind her--did not give in easily. Springing to her feet with great anger, gray-green eyes burning, she faced the detective straightly. Her tone would have frightened anyone who knew her well. "You unspeakable blackguard! How dare you!" Ogilvie said nothing. But the Duke cut in, "It's no go, old girl, I'm afraid. It was a good try." Facing Ogilvie, he said, "What you accuse us of is true. I was driving the car and killed the little girl." "That's more like it," Ogilvie said, "now we're getting somewhere." The Duchess sank back into her chair. She asked, "What is it you know?" "I'll tell you, I got a curious nature. You and your wife drove home, you were driving, after a drink. Last night I saw you come in--through the basement, looking shaken, the pair of you. I got wondering why. Like I said, I got a curious nature." The Duchess breathed, "Go on." "Late last night the word was out about the hit-and-run. I went over the garage and took a quiet look at your car. On your car you got a damaged headlight. There's plenty of blood." "Oh, my God!"A hand to her face, the Duchess turned away. Her husband asked, "What do you suggest?" The fat man rubbed his hands together, "Like I said, I come to hear your side of it." The Duke said desperately, "What can I possibly say? You know what happened. You'd better call the police." "There's no way bringing back the kid nor her mother. Besides, what they'd do to you, Duke, you wouldn't like it at all. I was hoping," Ogilvie said, "that you could suggest something." The Duke said uncertainly, "I don't understand." "I understand," the Duchess said. "You want money. You came here to blackmail us." The house detective shrugged . "Whatever names you call things, they don't matter to me. All I come for is to help you people out of trouble. But I've got to live too." "You'd accept money to keep silent about what you know?" "I think so." "How much do you want?" The piggy eyes blinked."Ten thousand dollars." "What would we receive in return?" The fat man seemed puzzled. "Like I said, I keep quiet about what I know." "No." The statement was clear. "We will not pay you." Ogilvie's round face reddened, "Now listen, lady...." She cut him off. "I won't listen. Instead, you will listen to me. We won't pay you $10,000. But we will pay you $25,000. In return, you will drive our car north." "$25,000," she repeated. "$10,000 now. $15,000 more when you meet us in Chicago." The fat man's piggy eyes were focused upon hers. The silence hung. Then, he gave the slightest of nods. The Duke and Duchess were extremely nervous because they _ . Answer: A girl signals her friend by shining a flashlight on a mirror. Her friend can see the signal because Answer:
A city without cars would be very strange , right ? But Venice is such a city . Venice is in the northeast of Italy. It wasn't built on land, like Beijing or Shanghai, but on more than 110 islands. Seawater is everywhere around the city. Even so, travel isn't that difficult. The waterways have always been the best way to get around. There are 117 waterways and more than 400 bridges that can guide you where you want to go. People in Venice move from place to place by boat. Water makes the city special, but it is also a big problem. Sometimes tourists will have such strange experiences . One moment they walk across the Rialto Bridge , and there's nothing special . But when they come back to the bridge an hour later , it's underwater and everyone is wearing rain shoes . Once, people used too much underground water. This made the city get lower little by little. Now the city has gone down by 23 centimeters. Another problem is the rising seawater. The temperature has risen over the years. This has made ice of the Arctic Ocean melt . Every year, high waters hit the city in autumn and winter. When a lot of water comes, more than half of the city is underwater. Scientists are trying different ways to stop the city from getting even lower. The Italian government has asked some of Italy's biggest companies to build the MOST project , which was planned to be built under the seawater to stop the rising water . Anyway , this project is helping solve the problem . Venice has gone down by 23 centimeters because _ . A. people used too much underground water B. it got higher little by little C. the temperature has fallen over the years D. more than half of the city is underwater Answer: A which one of these is approximately opposite in acquisition to doing chores? A. instinctive behavior B. cleaning the yard C. mowing the lawn D. washing the dishes Answer: A 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. What does the writer imply about the Japanese robot? A. It performs fewer functions than readybot can. B. it looks more like a person than Readybot does. C. It speaks more languages than Readybot does. D. It costs 1ess to manufacture than Readybot does. Answer: B Sadness and happiness are often talked about by people in their spare time. Most people want themselves to be happy for ever, but few know how to find happiness. Others say if you own lots of money and success, you will be happy. However, money and success alone do notbring lasting happiness. A famous a Greek thinker, Aristotle, said, "Happiness depends upon ourselves." That's to say,we make our own happiness. Here are a few suggestions to help you be happier. The first secret of happiness is to enjoy the simple things in life. Too often, we spend so much timethinking about the future. For example, getting into college or getting a good job, which we fail to enjoy thepresent. You should enjoy life's simple pleasures, such as reading a good book, listening to your favorite music, or spending time with close friends. People who have several close friends often live happier and healthier lives. Another secret to living a happy life is to be active. Many people go dancing or play sports. People can forget about their problems and only think about the activities. Finally, many people find happiness in helping others. Studies show that people feel good when they spend their time helping others. If you want to feel happier, do good things for someone. You can help a friend with his or her studies, go shopping or help out with some things around the house for an elderly person. If you do above, you will be happy. According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true? A. Money and success alone do notbring you lasting happiness. B. If you want to feel happier, you can go shopping for an elderly person. C. Spending so much time thinking about the future can enjoy the present. D. Active person may live a happier life than inactive person. Answer: C The news that China bans time-travel TV dramas and movies got a lot of attention on the Internet. Yet, time travel in China is a bit different from time travel in common sense. It is anything but science fiction and always goes backwards in time. There is minimum imagination involved--no ever-ending circles that mess up present and future, no advanced technology, no new social orders or new human forms from the twenty--whatever century, everything is a known historical fact when you travel through in China. It is not even called time travel; rather the Chinese people refer to it as time crossover. Time crossover has been an extremely popular theme for online novels for years (in fact, it is an indispensable part of China's online culture), and didn't get picked up by TV and the big screen until recent two years. Most of time-travel dramas and movies are adapted from popular online novels and like in other cases adaptations are never better than the original books. The main plot of time-travel novels or TV dramas can be very well summarized in one sentence: from nobody to somebody. Time travel in China is more about escaping from the reality than about realizing wild dreams. In China, there is no need of time machine either. People travel backwards in time via the possession of antiques presence at historical places of interest encounter of life-threatening accidents or simple a look into the mirror. Some time-travel novels even start with ''I wanted togo back to history so much that one morning when I opened my eyes I was back.'' Technology is not relevant at all. Though China is not short of histories to go back to, people have their own preferences and it is pretty much a gender thing.If the main character is male then he usually goes back to special times in history when he is able to help build up or tear up a dynasty. A typical example is A Step Into the Past , the first time-travel TV drama in China, which tells the story of how a SWAT member helps to unite China and build up Qin Dynasty. On the other hand, female characters primarily go back to Qing Dynasty partly because Qing Dynasty has the most number of princes to fall in love with. YongZheng Emperor is the favorite. As can be seen in Startling by Each Step , a Qing time crossover classic, a girl goes back to Qing Dynasty and falls in love with YongZheng Emperor and his brothers. The writing purpose of this passage is to _ . A. analyze why the time-travel TV dramas are banned in China B. show the difference between time travel in China and in other cultures C. introduce the characteristics of the time-travel TV dramas in China D. advise people to watch the time-travel TV dramas in China Answer: C
Question: Every year, British newspapers report on the stranger questions asked in Oxbridge (Oxford & Cambridge) interviews. Often, though, these questions are not as strange as they first seem. And they are all designed to give applicants a chance to think. Arriving for her first Oxford interview, my sister Jen saw that there was only one chair in the waiting room. On the chair was a large fork. Jen had heard about the strange things in Oxbridge interviews, and believed that this was a test. "What if they're watching me?" she thought. "If I move the fork, it will show initiative ; if I don't move it, it will show that I can easily fit into new situations." In the end, she sat uncomfortably on the edge of the chair! Applicants must be prepared for the unexpected. Now it was Jen's turn. She was handed a monkey skull and asked to talk about it. At first, this seemed unfair --- what could she say? But she soon calmed down, started thinking, and found that there was plenty to talk about. Oxbridge interviews are designed to find out how you think, not just what you think. And there are no wrong answers. Jen learnt that, and she passed the interview. What advice does she give? " Don't be nervous, and be prepared for the unexpected!" On her first interview, Jen _ after she entered the waiting room. A. moved the fork B. sat down on the fork C. sat down on the chair D. moved the chair Answer: C Question: Treasure hunts have excited people's imagination for hundreds of years both in real life and in books such as Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island .Kit Williams ,a modern writer ,had the idea of combining the real excitement of a treasure hunt with clues found in a book when he wrote a children's story Masquerade, in 1979. The book was about a hare ,and a month before it came out, Williams buried a gold hare in a park in Bedfordshire .The book contained a large number of clues to help readers find the hare ,but Williams put in a lot of "red herrings ",or false clues ,to mislead _ Ken Roberts ,the man who found the hare ,had been looking for it for nearly two years .Although he had been searching in the wrong area most of the time ,he found it by logic ,not by luck .His success came from the fact that he had gained an important clue at the start .He had realized that the words :"One of Six to Eight" under the first picture in the book connected the hare in some way to Katherine of Aragon ,the first of Henry VIII's six wives. Even here ,however ,Williams had succeeded in misleading him .Ken knew that Katherine of Aragon had died at Kimbolton in Cambridgeshire in 1536 and thought that Williams had buried the hare there .He had been digging there for over a year before a new idea occurred to him. He found out that Kit Williams had spent his childhood near Ampthill ,in Befordshire and thought that he must have buried the hare in a place he knew well ,but he still could not see the connection with Katherine of Aragon ,until one day he came across two stone crosses in Ampthill Park and learnt that they had been built in her honor in 1773. Even then his search had not come to an end. It was only after he had spent several nights digging around the cross that he decided to write to Kit Williams to find out if he was wasting his time there .Williams encouraged him to continue ,and on February 24th 1982 ,he found the treasure. It was worth PS 3000 in the beginning ,but the excitement it had caused since its burial made it much more valuable . What is the most important clue in the story to help Ken Roberts find the hare ? A. Two stone crosses in Ampthill B. Stevenson's Treasure Island C. Katherine of Aragon D. Williams' hometown Answer: C Question: Peyton,an 11-year-old boy from Florida,has the enthusiasm of scientific invention and the-gift of Thomas Edison. The sixth-grader put his math and science skills as well as some real-life experience to use and created something that could benefit our world a lot ---- the sandless sandbag.Today he was named the winner of the Young Scientist Challenge for his sandbag. "I had a really terrifying experience with a hurricane," said Peyton."When I was 4,I experienced Hurricane Wilma.When it hit Florida in October 2005,my family and I crowded in a closet and watched the storm bring damage and death to our area,feeling terrible and hopeless." Saltwater flooding caused great damage,which made him think about how people can prepare for floods.Peyton,who has been solving math problems since he was 3,eventually came up with the sandless sandbag. "Instead of filling it with sand,I filled it with just the right amount of chemicals and salt,"he said."What's amazing is that when you pick these bags up and they're not wet,they only weigh a pound or two." Unlike regular sandbags,Peyton's is light and easy to carry.They only expand when doused with water.The bags are portable when dry and will not float away when wet. Experts praised his invention and said that the sandless sandbag could someday save a lot of lives and possessions."He understands the big picture.He thinks in terms of the influence on society and safety for the people around this area,"said Dr.Antonio,the engineering chairman at the University of Miami."We'd love to have him at our university." Peyton has to get through middle school and high school first,but until then,the young scientist will continue thinking and inventing. when the sandless sandbag is wet,it will _ . A. be portable B. float away C. get heavy D. 1ose weight Answer: C Question: One day a mime is visiting the zoo and tries to earn some money as a street performer. As soon as he starts to draw a crowd, a zookeeper pulls him into his office. The zookeeper explains 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 mime a job to dress up as the gorilla. The mime accepts. The next morning the mime puts on the gorilla suit and enters the cage before the crowd comes. He soon discovers he can sleep, play and make fun of people and he draws bigger crowds than he ever did as a mime -- the job he likes but loses. However, with days going by, 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. The lion gets angry at this. The scene is _ to the crowd. At the end of the day he is given a raise for being such a good attraction -- well, this continues for some time. The crowds grow larger, and the mime's pay keeps going up. Then one day when he is dangling over the lion he slides and falls. The mime is terrified. He starts screaming "Help me!", but the lion is quick. The mime soon finds himself flat on his back looking up at the angry lion and the lion says, "Shut up you fool! Do you want to get us both fired?" The mime's first contact with the lion is to _ . A. find pleasure for himself B. win back his audience C. get his pay raised D. get the lion's attention Answer: B Question: Mr. Jones had a nice brown coat . He loved it very much, but his wife didn't like it. Because it was old. She often said. " Give it to a poor man . " But Mr. Jones always answered, " No, I like this coat. " Then a cigarette fell on it and made a hole in it. So Mrs Jones said, "Please don't wear it again. " Mr. Jones took it to a small tailor " Please make another coat like this one ." The tailor made the coat very carefully. Then he lit a cigarette, and made a hole in it in the same place. _ made a hole in the coat. A. Mr. Jones B. Mr. Jones C. Mr. And Mrs. Jones D. A cigarette Answer: D
The cars were honking on the road one morning as I was walking to the park. I walked on and soon found the cause -- a little taxi that had got stuck in the middle of the road. There was sweat on the driver's face as he tried to start the engine again and again -- nothing happened. "No petrol," I said to myself and then found myself getting angry. "Why doesn't the fool move his taxi to the side?" I thought, so did all the others who honked and shouted. He got up tiredly, and the passenger in the taxi got out. He was a young man in a white shirt, who watched the driver try to push it to the side. "Stupid guy!" I said. "Can't he lend a helping hand? " I watched as the poor driver pushed it to the side. Cars, buses and trucks went past cursing ( ) the poor man. The young man took another taxi and went off. The taxi driver began mending his taxi. "Stupid passenger!" I said to him. "He didn't help you!" The taxi driver slowly got up. "Sir!" he asked, "Did you?" I looked at him guiltily, then looked away, and walked away fast, asking myself, "Did I help the poor man push his taxi?" What had I been doing as the traffic jam took place? How had I helped deal with the problem? Did I help the poor man push his taxi? I'd done my bit, with my mouth. But never had I moved to solve the problem. I was shocked with guilt as I heard him asking, "Sir! Did you?" The author's attitude toward the passenger is that of _ . A anger B respect C sympathy D guilt Answer: A In the north of Scotland there is a lake called Loch Ness. It is the biggest lake in Britain. It is over thirty kilometres long and in places nearly 300 meters deep. It is cold and dark and not many people went there until after 1930. Then a road was made around the lake. Holiday makers began to use the road, and this was when the stories began. Someone said that he had seen a monster in the lake. He said it was twelve meters long. It had a long neck and a small head. Then someone else said he had seen it. Others said the same thing and in 1933 a London doctor took a photo. It looked like a monster with a long neck and a thick body but the photo was not dear. The newspapers printed the picture and called it the Loch Ness monster, or "Nessie". Then the argument began. Some people, however, were certain there was something living in the lake. Others said there was nothing there. In 1961, a lot of people joined together to make a real effort to see and photograph the monster if there was one! Several times people thought they saw something but after ten years there was still no real proof. Later underwater television cameras were used, but no one found any real proof. However, they did find something interesting: a huge underwater cave. It was big enough to be home of a monster, but of course, this was not a proof. In 1975, however, some American scientists formed a search group. They used an underwater camera. It took pictures every seventy seconds. Some of the pictures seemed to show a red-brown creature. Its body was about four meters long and had a very ugly head on the end of a four meter neck. Many people then began to believe in the monster. But even today we can not be certain. Who first took a photo of the monster? A An American B A television camera C A holiday-maker D A doctor from London Answer: D High heels, coffee cups and dogs have been regarded as three of the most dangerous things to have in a car. The seemingly harmless items have been responsible for more than 13 million crashes and near misses on Britain's roads. While men were responsible for the greater number of accidents reported, women played their part by driving in high heels. Putting fashion over function meant 44 percent of female motorists had been prevented from using the pedals correctly by their high heels--with those aged 25 to 34 accounting for most of the incidents reported. Those keen for a caffeine kick while driving can also create an accident if they leave empty coffee cups lying around their vehicle. Twenty percent of those surveyed admitted they had crashed their car or had a near miss after a deserted coffee cup or empty drink bottle rolled under their brake pedal . However, it is not just wearing and eating that cause a threat from inside the car, man's best friend could also cause a catastrophe if not safely secured. One in eight motorists claimed to have had a scrape or near miss on the road due to their dog's wandering freely, climbing into the front seat or trying to escape through the windows. The accidents meant drivers took their eyes off the road for more than three seconds each time, according to the poll of 2,000 British motorists. The survey has found drivers will pick up an average bill of PS261.47 for the damage caused by every crash. Londoners were the most at risk of an accident closely followed by motorists in the West Midland and Wales. Janet Connor, a managing director, said many accidents could be avoided if people cleaned their cars regularly, as one in ten drivers involved in crashes admitted to driving inside a mountain of debris. She said, "The possible dangers and distractions outside the car are well known but as the evidence suggests, those within the car are often forgotten." Why shouldn't drivers put their dogs in the car while driving? A Dogs may bark loudly when they see the traffic lights. B Dogs may walk around or even try to escape. C Dogs may make the inside of the car dirty. D Dogs may break the window to get fresh air. Answer: B Do you always forget where you placed your keys or your purse? What was the name of the movie you saw last week? The major cause of your forgetfulness may be linked to what you store in your body, not in your short-term memory bank. Tests continue to show that people with enough Vitamin B-2 do well in memory exams. The "B" could stand for "brain", if you're one of many with limited instant recall. And the number one source of that vitamin is sunflower seeds. Even when you're sleeping or relaxing, your brain is still at work. Although it makes up just two percent of your total body weight, it uses up to 30 % of the calories you take in each day. For it to work properly, it must be fed. Even if you're not a breakfast eater, that meal is the best way to prepare your brain for the day. A quick and easy English _ with peanut and butter in it, a glass of milk, and an orange, might be what your brain may be asking you the first thing in the morning when you feel your head is in a fog. Having sunflower seeds and fruit between meals adds more muscle to that hungry, demanding organ. Vitamin B-1 also helps the memory, and that is found in eggs, meats and nuts. In Chinese culture, walnuts are known as the fruit for a long life because it is believed that they feed both the kidneys and the brain. And according to Chinese culture, if you keep those two important organs in good working order, you'll live longer. However forgetful you are, just keep in mind the letter "B", which will help you to "bear in mind almost everything" even on those days when life's challenges are sending you in a billion directions. What can we conclude from the passage? A Two percent of our brain is still active when we are sleeping or relaxing. B What we eat seems more important than what we learn in terms of memory. C It doesn't make much difference to our brain whether we have breakfast or not. D Life's challenges have no effect on our memory, if dealt with in a proper way. Answer: B The fact that blind people can see things using other parts of their bodies apart from their eyes may help us understand our feeling about color1. If they sense color1 differences, then perhaps we, too, are affected by color1 without knowing it. Salesmen have discovered by experience over a long period of time that sugar sells badly in greenwrappings , that blue foods are considered not agreeable to the taste, and that cosmetics should never be packed in brown. Their discoveries have grown into a whole subject of color1 psychology . Some of our preferences for color1s are clearly psychological. Dark blue is the color1 of the night sky and therefore connected with calm, while yellow is a day color1 connected with energy and encouragement. Experiments have shown that color1s, partly because they are connected with psychology, also have a direct effect on people's mind. People in bright red surroundings show an increase in breathing speed, heartbeat and blood pressure; red is exciting. Pure blue has exactly the opposite effect; it is a calming color1. Being exciting, red was chosen as the signal for danger, but a close study shows that a bright yellow can produce a more basic state of alarm, so fire engines in some advanced areas are now rushing around in bright yellow color1s that stop buses, trucks and cars. If people are exposed to pure blue, _ . A their blood pressure rises B they want to taste blue foods C they will feel like buying things D they won't easily feel nervous Answer: D
If you walk slowly through downtown Helsinki during the day, taking in the splendid 19thcentury buildings, white boats and noise of passing trams , you will start to understand why it is called a city of two colors: white and blue. The sea is always present in Helsinki. When you take a walk over the great open space of the central square, you will hear seabirds screaming. When you take the tram ,suddenly and unexpectedly, you are faced with a calm, shining blue sea. You may notice that people in Helsinki do not rush about as in other cities. Instead ,they walk along the roads, politely letting other people by. An usual way to see Helsinki for the first time is to start out by the boats. You will walk by the elderly women selling fish and vegetables in the market square and find yourself in front of a beautiful park. You may enjoy a pleasant walk in the park for a few hours and then take the tram. Trams are the perfect way to get around in Helsinki. Watching the old houses, parks, theatres, churches, shops, restaurants and people in the streets, you may have a slightly sad film feeling to it. The pale summer nights are another wonder in the city. Following the waterfront of the city after sunset, you couldn't help stopping and listening to the sweet silence, interrupted only by the screaming seabirds and leaving fishing boats. However, in some way. Helsinki is also the most modern city in northern Europe. You will surely want to visit the white Glass Palace, the modern art museum, and all those extremely popular cafes and design stores. This passage is most likely to be found in _ Answer: I can still remember the day I met my best friend Judy. She had just moved into the neighborhood and her grandmother brought her down to meet me. I hid behind my mother and she hid behind her grandmother,scared to look at each other. Soon we lost the shyness and started playing with each other. In the 7th grade ,I first lost touch with her. She was going through family problems and I _ her to be with the cooler people. None of my new friends liked her as much as I did because they knew she had problems. However, every summer we would always sit at each other's house, watch soap operas and talk about all the boys we like. It was last year when I noticed the problem. I guess I was too doveted in high school to realizeshe needed someone there. Anyway ,she made a new best friend and so did I. Then I didn't know why, but she started cutting herself! She then was diagnosed with clinical depression .At first, I was very upset, but we still stayed in touch. I wanted to be there with new her best friend basically deserted her and people were calling her crazy. Yesterday she came to me and said,"I never knew what a best friend was until you, the only person, would stop me cutting. I appreciate your help so much, and you didn't even know you were helping me." We both cried. And I guess a kind of lesson from my life so far is never to give up on your friends. Even if they aren't as cool as others, or people think they are crazy, they need someone there. If you desert them, you will only be guilty yourself. This passage mainly talks about _ . Answer: One day after school, I went to the teacher's office to see my teacher, but nobody was there. As I was about to leave, I noticed a piece of paper on the floor. I picked it up and saw the words "FINAL-TERM EXAMINATION" at the top. I put the paper into my school bag secretly and ran out of the room. After I came back home, I took out the paper quickly. It was the exam paper of my worst subject, History. I felt excited. My heart beat fast. I took out my History book and started working on the answer. I had never answered any questions so seriously. On the day of the History exam, I went into the exam hall confidently. When the paper was sent to me, I dreamt of getting the highest mark in the whole grade and could not help smiling. "My History teacher always encouraged me to work hard and get better grades, but I let him down time and time again. This time I will give him a big surprise," I thought. When the teacher said we could start, I turned the paper over. To my surprise, all the questions were different. Later I felt nervous. In the end, I almost left the paper undone. After the exam. I ran to the toilet, took out the paper and carefully read it from the top. Oh! It was last year's exam paper. I read all the questions but I hadn't read the date. This is a lesson in which I know I have to put my feet on the ground. I regretted doing such a silly thing. After that, I told my teacher the truth and I promised to be honest. From then on, I worked harder than ever before. When did the writer know it was last year's exam paper? Answer: Kataria is the founder of the worldwide laughter movement. The celebration of World Laughter Day is a positive activity for world peace and is intended to build up a global sense of brotherhood and friendship through laughter. The first "World Laughter Day" gathering took place in Mumbai, India, on 11th January, 1998. 12,000 members from India and international Laughter Clubs attended it. Now there are over 5,000 Laughter Clubs worldwide on all 5 continents. "HAPPY--DEMIC" was the first World Laughter Day gathering outside India. It took place on 9th January, two years after the Mumbai gathering. In Copenhagen, Denmark, more than 10,000 people gathered at Town Hall Square. The event went into Guinness Book of World Records. "World Laughter Day" is now organized on the first Sunday of May every year. Hundreds of people gather worldwide on that day to laugh together. Today, many people fear widespread international terrorism. The world has never faced so much unrest before. People are at war within themselves. Laughter is a universal language, which has the ability to unite humanity without religion. Laughter can build a common connection between various religions and create a new world order. The idea may sound over -ambitious , and maybe it is. But maybe it is not. It is our deep belief that laughter and only laughter can unite the world, building up a global sense of brotherhood and friendship. Studies also say that laughter helps your body do the following: lower blood pressure; lighten depression; reduce stress; work out the heart, especially for those who are unable to perform physical exercise. So in life, when you can laugh, you should laugh loudly and with your entire body-because it's good for you. The purpose of celebrating World Laughter Day is _ . Answer: When many people are worried that there are no more heroes in the modern times, two university students who lost their lives to rescue drowning children have shown that heroes still exist. According to the Inner Mongolia Morning Post, the tragedy on the afternoon of December 14, 2002 when three school students skating on a frozen lake in Qingcheng Park in Hohhot fell through the ice into the freezing water. More than 20 university students who happened to be near the place where it happened immediately went to the rescue of the children. Two children were quickly rescued, but the third died. The child's body was not found for three hours. Two of the rescuers, Liu Ye and Hao Longbiao, also died of cold and tiredness. The body of Hao who took the lead in jumping into the lake was not found until the next day. A student who was unwilling to tell his name said he and his classmates from the local college were taking photos at the lake. When they heard the children's cries for help, they went to the ice hole hand in hand to rescue the children. But the ice kept breaking, causing most of them to fall into the icy water. Local people held mourning ceremonies at the lake. Eight of the students were seriously affected by the freezing water and were being kept in hospital for further observation , but their lives were no longer in danger. The author wrote the passage to _ . Answer:
It is common for older people to forget things. Now an American study has found that memory starts to fail when we are young adults. People younger than thirty years of age usually do not know that they are starting to forget information. But scientists from the University of Michigan say the loss of memory has usually already started. Researchers say people do not observe this slow reduction in mental ability until the loss affects their everyday activities. Denise Park led the new study. She directs the Centre for Aging and Cognition at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan. Her team studied more than 350 men and women between the ages of twenty and ninety years. The study identified people in their middle twenties with memory problems. She says young adults do not know they are forgetting things because their brains have more information than they need. But she says that people in their twenties and thirties are losing memory at the same rate as people in their sixties and seventies. Ms. Park says people between the ages of sixty and seventy may note the decrease in their mental abilities. They begin to observe that they are having more trouble remembering and learning new information. The study found that older adults are more likely to remember false information as being true. For example, they remembered false medical claims as being true. Younger people remembered hearing the information. But they were more likely to remember that it was false. Ms. Park is now using modern imaging equipment to study what happens in the brains of people of different ages. She is studying what parts of the brain older adults use for different activities compared to younger adults. Ms. Park says mental performance is a direct result of brain activity and brain structure. She says keeping the brain active is important. She hopes future studies will identify ways to improve the operation of our aging minds. Which of the following is a suitable title for the passage? Answer: Memory Reduction Dadi Computer Company LiuYing Manager 45Nantou,Shenzhen 518000 Tel:0755-6561382 E-mail:ly@hot mail.com Fax:0755-6660388 Chaoyang Foreign Language School Chen Lijun Music Teacher 65 Xigang,Dalian 116000 Tel:0411-4313861 E-mail:Chenlj@shoul.com Fax:0411-4312789 Dongfang Children's hospital Zhang Jing Doctor 23 Taiping Road,Qingdao,Shandong 266000 E-mail:zhing@yahoo.com Fax:0532-4313861 New Century Bus Company SongWei Baiwanzhuang,Beijing,China 100037 Tel:010-88488970 13501368855(mobile) BP:63987120-30926 Does Song Wei have an e-mail address? Answer: No,he doesn't. Many children think mobile phones are cool. They come in fun colours and you can talk with a friend anytime and anywhere. In the USA, more than 90 million people use mobile phones. Many of those people are children. For children, mobile phones are more than phone calls. They are fashionable. Most mobile phone users don't think about the health problems caused by mobile phones. Some scientists say that mobile phones give off radiation that might be bad for users. One recent study shows that mobile phone radiation might raise a person's chance of getting some kinds of cancer. Other scientists say mobile phones are not bad for people's health. They say that they didn't find any link between mobile phone use and cancer. Scientists say that people can protect themselves from mobile phone radiation. One way is to use an earphone, or people can make shorter calls. In the USA, who thinks mobile phones are more than phone calls? Answer: children ,by Brian Selznick,is a novel like no other.There are pages of exciting events and then suddenly,wait! A picture with tiny details,then a big picture that takes up the whole page-and the next page,and the next page,and the next!The pictures are actually telling the story.It's like a book and a movie all in one. I recently had the opportunity to talk with Selznick about his unique novel.I wanted to know just how he came up with the concept of writing a novel that reads like a picture book. "Because the book was so much about movies and the history of cinema,I also wanted to figure out how to make a book that was also like a movie," Selznick said. Writing and illustrating the book was a long and hard process,Selznick said.One of the challenges was figuring out what the story was really about and what happens to the main character,Hugo.Selznick also had to figure out how to make the narrative and the pictures work together to tell the story. Working with pictures was natural for Selznick.He has actually spent most of his career as an illustrator and really considers himself more of an artist than a writer. But sometimes figuring out what was going to happen in the story was not easy,he told me.He had no idea what the story was going to be about when he started writing.He didn't know if it was going to be sad,adventurous,or exciting.For now,Selznick doesn't plan on writing a sequel to the book,but he warns,"You can never say never." It can be inferred that the text is _ . Answer: a summary record of an interview At Bristol Zoo Gardens you can enjoy an amazing world of animals, all within our award-winning 12 acre gardens. With over 400 species and nine animals houses under cover, it's one of the best days out in Bristol whatever the weather. We suggest you allow 2-5 hours for your visit to really take in everything we have to offer. By visiting Bristol Zoo you will be directly contributing to the conservation of endangered species and habitats. Admission prices at Bristol Zoo include a 10% voluntary donation to help support our conservation projects. With so many things to do in Bristol Zoo, it really is one of the top attractions in Bristol and the South West. Adopting an Animal Help us look after your favorite animal by becoming an animal adopter; it makes a fantastic gift for any age! Choose from 10 of our favorite animals to adopt, which costs just PS45. Adopt them in a matter of minutes online. Opening hours We're open every day from 9 am to 5:30 pm in peak season, and close at 5 pm during off peak. The Zoo is closed on Christmas Day. Last entry to the Zoo is an hour before closing time and animal houses close half an hour before closing time. Traveling by bus Our bus service is operating every 30 minutes on Sundays and public holidays only. The service will enable guests to travel to the Zoo or anywhere along the route. The service is FREE to Bristol Zoo members -- all you need to do is bring your membership card. We encourage all of our guests to use public transport when coming to the Zoo. By visiting the zoo, you will _ . Answer: contribute to protecting endangered species
For a while, I wrote a "Tuesday tip" on my blog Lyonsdenmom.com. It was about easy week-night dinners, organizing parties or perhaps finding time out for friends. About a year ago, I ran out of tips. The truth? As a busy working mom with five busy kids, I probably do have a few tips to share. But honestly, the bar is set pretty low---on a recent day when I was walking our dog, a stranger who knew I had five kids said, "Wow! You have a dog, too?! And it even looks like you showered today!" Yes, it's true, I shower. Not every day, but most days. See, I'm telling the truth. Honestly, in this cold winter, I'm probably taking a shower more to warm up than to clean up. Other funny truths? I'm tired. In fact, for the past year, I've been too tired to type up any update on our life here in Lyons Den. It's hard to arrange a career with all these kids. Although folks just believe that it must be so much easier now since all the kids are in school, I'm here to tell you, it's not. It's really not. When I get home from work, I'm often tearfully greeted by five kids and five homework folders filled with math facts, invitations, notices and artwork. All those happy smiling faces I share on Facebook are real. We are a happy family---thank God for that! But we're not always smiling, and even in those rare best times when I can get all five kids looking at the camera, the odds would be that one of them isn't wearing underwear, one is pinching someone behind the scenes and one is just perfectly pronouncing "Damn!" So, less perfectly-posed pictures, but more telling the truth. Even if only on Tuesday. Which of the following is true about the author? Answer: Several decades ago, US sociologists developed a series of universal facial images supposed to represent the seven basic human emotions: happiness, sadness, surprise, fear, disgust, anger and neutrality . But now, a new study by researchers at the University of Glasgow indicates that these standardized facial images aren't so universal at all. For the study, the Scottish researchers found 13 Western Caucasians (mainly Europeans) and 13 East Asians (mostly Chinese students). The volunteers were shown the standardized facial images and asked to identify the emotions being expressed. At the same time, the researchers electrically monitored the eye movements of the volunteers. According to the results, published in the journal Current Biology, the Asian participants had a harder time than the Caucasians telling the difference between a face meant to look fearful compared with one showing surprise, and a face supposedly expressing disgusting compared with one displaying anger. "This strongly suggests that the meanings of facial expressions are different across cultures," says Rachael Jack, who led the study. The study also showed that the volunteers focused on different parts of the face in their efforts to understand the underlying emotions. "Westerners look at both the eyes and the mouth to the same degree, yet Easterners favor the eyes and overlook the mouth. This means that Easterners has difficulty distinguishing facial expressions that are similar around the eyes," Ms Jack says. The faces representing fear and surprise" both have big, wide open eyes, while the mouths are very different," she notes. "It would be difficult to distinguish between the two if you didn't look at the mouth." So why would different cultures express emotions in different ways? Ms Jack thinks it may be considered impolite in some Asian cultures to display certain emotions in an obvious manners, and that they use more subtle ways to express them. In particular, muscle movements around their eyes could be more important for expressing feelings than over-expressive mouth movement, explaining why the Asian participants focused on the eyes. The best title for the text would be " _ ". Answer: At the end of my senior year of high school, I got a job working at a local coffee shop.I thought the job would be easy and stress-free.I pictured myself pouring the best coffees, making delicious doughnuts , and becoming friends with regular customers. I wasn't expecting the people with enormous orders, the women who complained that the coffee was much too creamy , or the men who wanted their iced coffees remade again and again until they reached perfection.I couldn't seem to please anyone. One rainy day, one of my regular customers came in looking upset.He said he felt like getting in bed, pulling the sheets up over his head, and staying there for a few years.I knew exactly how he felt. Before he left, I handed him a bag along with his iced coffee.He was surprised, since he hadn't ordered anything but coffee.I had given him his favorite type of droughnut. "It's on me," I told him."Have a nice day." He smiled and thanked me before heading back out into the rain. The next day, it was still raining.I spent my afternoon hanging out the window handing people their orders.I was completely wet and freezing cold.Worse, no one was tipping that day.Every time I looked into our empty tip jar, I grew more depressed. In the evening, the customer from the day before drove up to the window.He handed me a pink rose and a note.He said that not many people took time to care about others and he was glad there were still people like me in the world.With a friendly wave, he drove away. I ran to the back of the shop and read the note.It read: Christine, Thanks for being so sweet, kind and thoughtful yesterday.It is so nice to meet someone who's indeed nice.Please don't change your ways! Have a great day! -Hank After that, whenever I felt depressed or sick of coffee, I thought of Hank and his kindness.Then I would smile, hold my head up high, clear my throat and ask politely, "How can I help you?" What can we learn from the passage? Answer: Opened in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was the first longspan bridge to carry motor traffic, and it quickly became the model for the great suspension bridges of the following century. Spanning New York's East River, it provided the first traffic artery between Manhattan Island and Brooklyn. Before that, the only transportation was by ferries, which were slow and could be dangerous in winter. The construction of a bridge over the EastRiver had been discussed since the early 19th century, but the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 _ all consideration of the project. When the war ended in 1865, the bridge became an important issue once more. In 1867, the New York State passed an act setting up the New York Bridge Company for the purpose of constructing a bridge between Manhattan Island and Brooklyn. John Augustus Roebling was chosen to design the bridge. Born in Germany in 1806, he held aggressive views as a student and was listed by the German police as a dangerous figure. He emigrated to America in 1830 to escape political discrimination. Roebling proposed a bridge with a span of 1,500 feet (465 m), with two towers in the East River serving as the main piers. The bridge that was actually built is longer--1,597 feet (486 m), the longest suspension bridge at that time. Which of the following is TRUE about the Brooklyn Bridge? Answer: Annabelle Smith and her two best friends, Samantha and Kristy, loved going to Sand City School. Mrs. Lemming, their teacher, would read them a story. That Monday afternoon, Mrs. Lemming read them a story called Super Sophie Saves the Day. After school, Annabelle, Samantha and Kristy walked home together. "I decide that from now on I'm going to be a superhero like Sophie," Annabelle told her friends. "You mean heroine," Kristy said. "You're a girl, Annabelle." The next day Kristy and Samantha picked Annabelle up on their way to school. Annabelle had a red towel taped to her blue shirt. "I am Super Annabelle," Annabelle said. "I'll save someone on the way to school." Charlotte, another second-grader, walked past the girls. Her sweater was tied around her waist. She ran a little faster, and her sweater was nearly on the ground. Annabelle wondered what she would do. Giving her a dirty look, Charlotte ran away. Annabelle walked into her father's study when she got home. She had a homework question for him. A note on her father's desk said he was lending some books to Charlotte's father. She noticed a magazine on his desk that said Go Green. "Homework can wait," Annabelle thought. "Maybe Charlotte goes green!" In the woods, Annabelle saw a man cutting down a tree. Trees were good for the environment. She prevented him from cutting down the tree, and then she fell on the hard ground. Annabelle walked farther in the woods, where she found Charlotte picking up litter. Annabelle said, "You are the second-grade's hero, Charlotte." Charlotte stared at Annabelle. "I'm picking up litter to make the earth a better place," she said. "I don't care about being famous." Annabelle felt slightly ashamed of herself. After listening to Mrs. Lemming's story, Annabelle wished _ . Answer:
Question: When I looked at the grade on my math paper my jaw almost dropped to the ground: a big "65" in bright red ink. I had never received such a terrible grade before. I was so ashamed that when I got home that afternoon I lied to my dad. I told him I got 85 and that the report wouldn't come until the end of the month. Dad smiled. His daughter would never lie about her grade, so he didn't doubt the unusual delay of my report. A month later, Dad casually asked me again about the report at the dinner table. He looked right into my eyes and asked for an answer. Having no choice, I told him that I had in fact got just 65 in my math final. I had lied because I didn't want to let him down. For a moment, he just looked at me. I would have preferred a telling off than that silence. Finally, Dad said, in a hurt voice, "You have already let me down, with your lie. I am not disappointed at your math score. That is no big deal - no one can be perfect all the time. But I am very disappointed in you. If you can't be honest with your dad, who can you be honest with? It's much easier to achieve a better grade than rebuild someone else's trust in you." Dad's words touched my heart. I couldn't forgive myself for having hurt his feelings. I took out the report that I had been hiding for weeks, handed to him and apologized, sincerely. I realized that my honesty is not only important to me personally, but to those around me that truly care about my well-being. In one of Shakespeare's plays a character says: "No legacy is so rich as honesty." After the crisis between Dad and me, I began to understand those words. . The purpose of the article is to tell us that _ . A. dishonesty may work sometimes, but there is a price to pay B. sometimes a lie can make things easier C. we should study hard to make our parents happy D. we should accept the fact that we are not perfect Answer: A. dishonesty may work sometimes, but there is a price to pay Question: Ever feel like you've been hit on the head after a bad night's sleep? According to scientists, the thought isn't as unbelievable as it seems. A study found going without sleep for just one night causes changes in the brain similar to those that occur after a blow to the head. The researchers said the healthy young men examined in the study showed a sudden increase in the same chemicals which indicate brain damage. Professor Christian Benedict, of Uppsala University, Sweden, explained that the chemicals NSE and S-100B are biomarkers for brain damage, such as concussion . He said, "What we found was their levels in the blood rose in the group that went without sleep for a night. This was not to the extent that would happen after a head injury, for instance, but it was still significant. During sleep, the brain cleans poisonous substances off itself." Benedict also said previous studies which linked a lack of sleep with increased risk of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis could applaud his study. The rise of the chemicals in the blood after sleep loss may suggest not getting enough sleep contributes to a loss of brain tissue, he explained. Benedict, whose study is published in the journalSleep, added, "In conclusion, the findings of our experiment indicate a good night's sleep may be critical to maintaining brain health." A third of the UK population suffer from sleep-related problems, while the average person now sleeps for only seven hours a night, compared with almost nine a few decades ago. Many scientists believe irregular sleeping patterns lead to illnesses ranging from aches and pains to heart disease, while less than eight hours' sleep a night can lower the IQ the next day. What's the main idea of the passage? A. Eight hours' sleep is important. B. Regular sleeping patterns improve health. C. Sleep loss is close to a blow to the head. D. Human brains work during sleep. Answer: C. Sleep loss is close to a blow to the head. Question: A small ,white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree and it has been there for the past ten years or so. It all began because my husband Justin hated Christmas--oh, not the true meaning of Christmas.Overspending was one thing, but compared to the difficult experience of choosing gifts--running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and a pair of gloves for Grandma...,spending money is nothing. I felt too tired to think of any special gifts. Knowing Justin felt the same way, I decided one year not to buy the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so on. I reached for something special just for Justin. The inspiration came in an unusual way. Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended; and shortly before Christmas, there was a match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church.These youngsters, dressed in such worn-out shoes that shoe strings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, while our boys were in their blue and gold uniforms and new wrestling shoes. As the match began, I was shocked to see that the other team were wrestling without wearing helmets to protect their ears. Well, our boys ended up defeating them. We took every weight class. Justin, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, "I wish just one of them could have won," he said. "They have a lot potential , but losing like this could take the heart out of them." Justin loved kids--all kids, and he knew them, having coached little league football and baseball. That's when the idea for his present came. That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought different kinds of wrestling helmets and shoes. I sent them to inner-city church without leaving my name. On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Justin what I had done and that was his gift from me. His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and since then the envelope has become the highlight of our Christmas. Why did the writer send gifts to the inner-city church without leaving her name ? A. To avoid being thanked B. To play a joke on Justin C. To give Justin a surprise D. To protect her private information Answer: C. To give Justin a surprise Question: The class teacher thought that hobbies were very important for every child.She encouraged all her pupils to have one, and sometimes arranged for their parents to come and see the work they had done as a result. One Friday morning the teacher told the class that those of them who had a hobby could have a holiday that afternoon to get the things they had made as parts of their hobbies ready for their parents to see the following afternoon. So on Friday afternoon, while those of the pupils who had nothing to show did their usual lessons, the lucky ones who had made something were allowed to go home, on condition that they returned before five o'clock to bring what they were going to show, and to arrange them. When the afternoon lessons began, the teacher was surprised to see that Tommy was not there.He was the laziest boy in the class, and the teacher found it difficult to believe that he had a hobby.However, at a quarter to five, Tommy arrived with a beautiful collection of butterflies in glass cases.After his teacher had admired them and helped him to arrange them on a table in the classroom, she was surprised to see Tommy pick them up again and begin to leave. "What are you doing, Tommy?" She asked."Those things must remain here until tomorrow afternoon.That's when the parents are coming to see them." "I know they are coming then, " 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 in case they are stolen." "But what has it got to do with your big brother?" asked the teacher, "Aren't the butterflies yours?" "No, " answered Tommy."They belong to him." "But Tommy, you are supposed to show your own hobby here, not somebody else's ! "said the teacher. "I know that , " answered Tommy, "My hobby is watching my brother collecting butterflies." The teacher _ . A. asked her pupils to bring something they had made that Saturday afternoon B. was certain that her pupils were good at making things, so she wanted to show them to the parents. C. invited the parents to come and see what the pupils had made D. allowed the pupils who had hobbies not to go to class that Friday afternoon Answer: C. invited the parents to come and see what the pupils had made Question: Swiss International Air lines(SWISS)will introduce daily non-stop flights between Beijing and Zurich. The new service to the financial center of Switzerland is expected to start on Dec.12,2012,which marks an expansion of services for the Chinese market.In May 2008,SWISS already started direct flights to Shanghai. The first flight to Europe has a special price of 2,680 yuan,which does not include taxes and fuel surcharges. "I am delighted the airlines of Switzerland can contribute to growing economic ties between the two countries with new daily flights scheduled,"says SWISS CEO Harry Hohmeister. "We are witnessing a growing demand for tourist travel in both directions." Apart from Shanghai and Hong Kong,Beijing will be the third Chinese destination for SWISS. The new route marks a return to Beijing for SWISS:the airlines previously flew to the Chinese capital as late as June 2003. SWISS will initially operate its new daily non-stop Beijing-Zurich flights with an Airbus A340-300(219 seats)and Airbu: A330-300(236 seats)air-crafts. The modem SWISS business class offers the most suitable comforts since the seats can be adjusted into a two-meter-long bed. Seating firmness and softness can be adjusted thanks to air cushions. With the introduction of the new SWISS service from Beijing,the Lufthansa Group Airlines may attract more Chinese customers when traveling to Europe. SWISS.Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines already connect five Chinese cities with Europe and beyond. This airlines group is the leading European airlines network in the Chinese market. In the summer of 2011,the Lufthansa Group operated 78 weekly flights from China including Hong Kong to Europe. SWISS is part of the Lufthansa Group as well as a member of the Star Alliance,the world's biggest airlines grouping. According to the passage,from Dec.12,2012, _ . A. it will only take us a day to fly from Beijing to Zurich B. we can fly directly from Beijing to Zurich C. the first flight from Beijing to Europe will only cost you 2,680 yuan D. the direct flight to Shanghai started by SWISS will be canceled Answer: B. we can fly directly from Beijing to Zurich
On my first day in America, I was excited, but nervous as well. It was my dear neighbor Susan who helped me get used to my new life far away from home. There was a knock at the door. When I opened it, Susan came in with a home-made apple pie. She hugged me and said:"You must be the precious Chinese doll!" With a big smile, she went on:"Alice, I am sure you have never, ever tried a home-made apple pie before! You are going to love it so much!" To be honest, I was greatly surprised by this welcome from a stranger. And the apple pie made me feel at home. Susan was very helpful to me. When I was thinking about a costume to wear on Halloween, she suggested I dress up like a traditional Chinese girl. "I happen to have a traditional Chinese dress and guess what, I am a great make-up artist!" she said. Susan didn't hide her excitement, when, after an hour of hard work, she pushed me to the mirror to examine our work. The clothes fit me perfectly! I am sure that I _ from the crowd that Halloween, and I am very grateful to Susan for her help. My first Thanksgiving was another highlight. On the festival morning, I was surprised to find a gift box in my front yard. There was a note on it:"Hello Alice, I am the Thanksgiving bunny! Enjoy your gift!" I looked around and caught Susan looking at me from the porch. Seeing that she had been caught, she awkwardly picked up a newspaper and pretended to read it. I couldn't help laughing. When I walked up to her, she said:"It was not me. It was the Thanksgiving bunny!" Susan is such a lovely person; she is the American above all others I need to thank. I saw that the spirit of the Chinese saying, that "Neighbors carry more weight than distant relatives," is alive and well in America. Susan filled my heart with warmth and joy, just as angels do. What does the phrase "stood out" mean in the passage? A To be more eye-catching. B To rise up. C To be much better. D To be strange. Answer: A. To be more eye-catching. Living in the desert is really hard! With less than 10 inches of rainfall a year, deserts are dry all year round. Lots of heat from the sun and a shortage of water are just a few of the challenges facing desert animals. Deserts are homes to many animals and plants. Few large animals have got used to life in the desert because their size makes it difficult to find shelter from the heat and they can't store water. In order to survive, desert animals have developed a number of ways to live in their special habitat. The most common way is staying under plants or rocks or digging underground in the heat of the day. And many desert animals stay in shelter during the day and hunt at night when it is cool. Some animals get the water they need from the insects, plants and seeds they eat, and do not need to drink. They do not have sweat glands and pass only small amount of waste water. Some animals develop their own ways of surviving in deserts. The Thorny Devil is a kind of lizard that lives in Australian desert areas. It has a body that channels raindrops directly into its mouth when it rains. Water-holding frogs spend most of the year underground in Australian desert areas, and develop a sort of cocoon that enables them to store water to keep them going through the dry times. When it rains, they come out to lay their eggs in ponds. The eggs hatch within days and develop quickly, before the water dries out. Which of the following is not a source of water to some desert animals? A Insects B Seeds C Plants D Sweat Answer: D. Sweat Finding something to do during the school holidays isn't always easy, but one mum has set up a new website to help families find activities and events in Norfolk. Fiona Anthony of Bawburgh, near Norwich, was persuaded by her friends to set up the website, Info4Families, when they noticed she always knew what events were happening in the county . "I am always looking for things to keep my children _ and Norfolk has such a lot going on," she said. Detail from Info4Families "But I found it quite difficult to get information about events and activities for children and families, as there was no central information point and it would often involve collecting leaflets and checking notice boards at different places. "So I decided to set up a website which would allow people to find things to do, without leaving home," she added. Fiona was also concerned that some events she had booked had to be cancelled because not enough people wanted to go. "It is a real shame that some parents can't find the events and some event organisers don't get the numbers they need. I want to help bring the two together," said Fiona. The website gives details on regular, one-off and free events, and includes activities which children can do on their own or with the family. Parents can look for activities by category and by age so that they can find events suitable for their children's interests and needs. The site also links to local places of interest, such as libraries, museums and cinemas. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? A Not all the events on the website are free of charge. B Fiona always knew what events were happening in her country. C Children must take part in the activities provided by the website together with their parents. D some organizers often feel disappointed that not enough people take part in their activities. Answer: D. some organizers often feel disappointed that not enough people take part in their activities. One midnight, a little girl woke up to go to the bathroom. She got up and down her bed, walked to the bedroom door and opened it. She looked outside and walked back, because it was so dark that she was scared. Her mother said, "Don't be afraid, honey. Take courage!" "What's courage?" she asked, running to her mother's bed. "Courage is the brave breath," her mother answered. "Mum, do you have courage?" "Certainly!" The girl held out her hands, saying, "Mum, please blow some of your courage breath to me." After her mother blew out two mouthfuls of breath into her little cold hands, the little girl held her hands nervously , afraid that the "breath of courage" would run away. Then, she walked out of her bedroom towards the bathroom with nothing to fear. Her mother said to herself, " It will be nice if someone can blow some kind of "breath" to me. Then I can hold it in my hands too when I feel afraid or lost." In fact, mostly, what we are afraid of is nothing but the fear in our mind. Who we should beat against is nobody but ourselves. The writer mainly wants to tell us that _ A adults are always brave enough B children learn to be brave quickly C the fear in mind is the real problem D mothers can deal with anything with breath Answer: C. the fear in mind is the real problem Do you want to get home from work knowing you have made a real difference in someone's life? If yes. don't care about sex or age! Come and join us, then _ ! Position: Volunteer Social Care Assistant (No Pay with Free Meals) Place: Manchester Hours: Part Time We arc now looking for volunteers to support people with learning disabilities to live active lives! Only 4 days left. Don't miss the chance of lending your warm hands to help others! Role: You will provide people with learning disabilities with all aspects of their daily lives. You will help them to develop new skills. You will help them to protect their rights and their safety. But your primary concern is to let them know they are valued. Skills and Experience Required: You will have the right values and great listening skills. You will be honest and patient. You will have the ability to drive a car and to communicate in fluent written and spoken English since you'll have to help those people with different learning disabilities. Previous care-related experience will be a great advantage for you. The text is meant to _ . A leave a note B send an invitation C present a document D carry an advertisement Answer: D. carry an advertisement
The United States economy has dipped into economic recession . This caused discomfort and hardship in every level of society; but for many of the nation's poor, discomfort and hardship turned into misery . An increase in homelessness is probably the worst result of a nation's financial disaster. About 3 million Americans were homeless because of a lack of affordable housing. Experts suggest that a family should spend no more than 30 percent of its income on housing. In fact, in some families housing costs make up 50 percent or more. An unexpected event, such as losing work or illness, can quickly push a family into homelessness. An article in Time magazine tells a story of one such family. A young couple and their three children rented a two-bedroom apartment for about $350 a month. They could hardly go on with the husband's $920-a-month take-home pay; so when their rent was raised to $500 a month, they could no longer make ends meet. Another woman was found dead on a street in Washington D.C., the capital, and she died at a bus-stop across the street from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. People become homeless for different reasons. Some may not be able to pay for housing, because they have lost their job and cannot find another place they can afford. Others have mental diseases, or are addicted to drugs or alcohol, many of whom do not live with their family. And what's more, there are not enough centers for shelter as the government doesn't pay enough attention to this social problem. People are making efforts to solve the problem. However, it will not be easy, because it is a personal and economical problem as well as a social problem. One main result that economic recession has led to is _ an increase of homeless people Since the invention of Guitar Hero and similar computer games, it is no longer necessary to imagine what it would be like to play along with the Beatles--you can come together with them in the virtual world. Bill Wyman, former bass player in the Rolling Stones, has pointed out that music video games discourage kids from learning to play real instruments. My own opinion suggest quite opposite. Last year, I bought Guitar Hero III for our 14-year-old son, Jack. Jack quickly mastered the process and entered an intense period of playing the game. A few months later, while I was away on tour, a couple of his friends came around with a real electric guitar. Playing Guitar Hero had taught them how to play along the track. Now they wanted to see if they could apply that to the real thing. Jack's friends taught him how to play along to his favorite songs using just his index finger on the bass string. He got it right away. Guitar Hero had helped him over the first difficulty for guitar players--how to strum the strings with one hand while making chord shapes with the other. He never plays Guitar Hero now, preferring to rock out in the garage with his mates. Despite my attempts at getting him to learn an instrument, it was Guitar Hero that taught him the basics of playing and built up his confidence to the extent that he was able to make a recognizable sound the first time he played it. So let's not complain about a game that encourages kids to become music fans and, in our son's case, gives them the basic skills needed to learn how to play guitar. What's the best title for the text? In defense of Guitar Hero One day on my luxury holiday cost 30 yuan. Bus ticket: 2 yuan. Breakfast, lunch and dinner: 5 yuan. Hotel: 20 yuan. OK, so it was a 10-seater bus with only four seats that weren't broken and 20 other people on it. OK, all my food came from one steamed bun stand at the side of the road, and the "hotel" was a hostel , and I shared a room with four strangers. But the steamed buns I bought were so delicious and the bed in the hostel was soft and comfortable and I had the best night's sleep I'd had in years. Cheap travel is " _ ". It's on reality shows, and it's all around us. People who once went to five-star scenic spots are suddenly filling youth hostels and campsites, showing off to their friends about their 24-hour trip in the third-class sleeper train across Mongolia. Now, I'm not a millionaire who can afford more than a budget holiday. But even if I could, I don't think I'd spend the money. Budget travel is addictive . It's partly the challenge of squeezing the most out of your pennies -- and it can get a bit ridiculous . My stomach wasn't too impressed with the meat stir-fry I bought from a stand simply because it was 1 yuan, for example. But it's easy to travel in a smart way, too. With the Internet, you can always check out reviews and find hostels, food and things to do, recommended by other budget travelers who've been there before. You don't have to suffer, and it means you can afford to spend more nights on holiday, see more things and have more experiences. What's the author's suggestion to budget travelers? Read other budget travelers' tips online. What's used by migrating animals to find locations? our planet's magnetic patterns For as early as I could remember, my mother had been a bright, cheerful woman deeply interested and involved in the world around her. However, in the last fifteen years of her life, she had to live with senile dementia . I would go to my home to pay her a visit in California and she would curiously look at me and then ask, "Who are you?" I would answer, "I'm your own son, of course." "Where do you live?" She would ask. "In Virginia", I would tell her. "Isn't that interesting," she would say, "I have a son in Virginia." Mother seemed only forgetful as well as confused at the beginning of that disease, but sometime later she would go through different time of intense anxiety. She would keep walk ing through the house she used to live in most of her life crying uneasily that she would like to go home. Or sometimes she left home and wandered away if she were unattended for a short time. Hoping to make her happy and put her mind at ease I would take her in my car, visiting sites where she used to live when she was a child. In the yard of the hillside house in Shipman I sat in the car and admired the view of the old oaks and long green lawn . I _ my mother there was a little girl playing with the pet lamb she had been so fond of. I looked to her for some response. She shook her head and said, "I want to go home." Over the years I have decided that what my mother was calling home was not a place, but a time. I think it was a time when she was much younger, when her children were still underfoot, when her husband was still energetic and attentive. Watching my mother's suffering set me wondering where I would have in mind if someday I couldn't find home and wanted to go there. In this family we tend to be long-lived and we grow fuzzy minded as the years go by. At eighty I have already noticed some alarming symptoms. My doctor says the forgetfulness is only natural and that it comes with age. Still the fear of senile dementia is haunting there. Someday if and when I become even more cloudy minded than I am now, unable to drive and unable to tell you where "home" is, my dear son, I expect I will ask you to take me home, I know you will do your best to find the place I need to be. I leave these notes for your guidance. What's the best title of the passage? Take Mother Home.
There is a very instructive incident involving the life of Alexander, the great Greek king. Alexander, after conquering many kingdoms, was returning home. On the way, he fell ill and it took him to his death bed. With death staring him in his face, Alexander realized how his conquests, his great army, his sharp sword and all his wealth were of no consequence. So, he lay helplessly waiting to breathe his last. He called his generals and said, "I will depart from this world soon, I have three wishes, please carry them out without fail." "My first desire is that," said Alexander, "My physicians alone must carry my coffin." After a pause, he continued, "Secondly, I desire that when my coffin is being carried to the grave, the path leading to the graveyard be strewn with gold, silver and precious stones which I have collected." The king continued, "My third and last wish is that both my hands be kept hanging out of my coffin." Alexander's favorite general kissed his hand and pressed them to his heart. "Oh King, we assure you that your wishes will all be fulfilled. But tell us why do you make such strange wishes?" At this Alexander took a deep breath and said, "I would like the world to know of the three lessons I have just learnt. I want my physicians to carry my coffin because people should realize that no doctor can really cure any body. They are powerless and cannot save a person from the _ of death. So let people not take life for granted. The second wish of strewing gold, silver and other riches on the way to the graveyard is to tell people that not even a bit of gold will come with me. I spent all my life earning riches but cannot take anything with me. Let people realize that it is just a waste of time to chase wealth. And about my third wish of having my hands hanging out of the coffin, I wish people to know that I came empty-handed into this world and empty-handed I go out of this world." With these words, the king closed his eyes. Soon he let death conquer him and breathed his last. The author intends to _ . Answer: introduce readers to the instructive lessons of Alexander "Look, Mom! What a pretty fish!" said John to his mother. John's mother asked, "Where did you get it, John?" "Frank caught it in the river. I went to the river to get some water and saw this little fish. Then I told Frank about the fish, and he ran to get his fishnet . He put the net into the water, and caught the fish. I put it into this box," "Well, what will you do with it?" asked John's mother. "I will keep it, Mom," replied John. "But, my boy, it will not live in that box. You should put it back into the river." replied his mother. John felt sad and said, "I wish I could keep it. It is so pretty! May I put it into the pond?" "No, John," said his Mom, "you must put it into the river. A trout will not live in warm water." Who found the fish firstly? Answer: John. One day a woman spotted a beggar sitting on the corner. The man was elderly, unshaven and ragged. Passers-by wanted nothing to do with him. But the woman smiled. "Are you hungry?" she asked. The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly used to the finer things in life. Her coat was new. She looked like that she had never missed a meal in her life. "No, " he answered sarcastically . "I've just come from dining with the president. Now go away. "To his surprise, the woman continued standing. And her smile became even broader. "What are you doing, lady?" he asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone. " Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" He asked. "No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?" The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?" "See that cafeteria over there?" She asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold. " "Are you crazy, lady? I don't want to go in there!" Then the homeless felt strong hands lift him up. "Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything." "This is a good deal for you, Jack, "the officer answered. "Don't blow it. " Finally, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived. The woman turned to the officer, "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?" "Yes, ma'am. That would be very nice. " Then, she sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him. "Jack, do you remember me?" Old Jack searched her face. "I think so --I mean you do look familiar. " "I'm Penelope Eddy. I'm a little older perhaps, "she said. "In my younger days when you worked here, I came through that very door, cold and hungry. " "I was just out of college, "the woman continued. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally _ and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked down the streets, saw this place and came in to see if I could get something to eat. " Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said. "I was behind the serving counter. " "You made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen and you paid for it out of your own money. " "I got a job that very afternoon. Eventually I started my own business. "She pulled out a business card. "When you are finished here, I want you to meet the personnel director of my company. I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office. " There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you, "he said. "Don't thank me. "the woman answered. "Thank the Universe. It led me to you. " ks5u Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways. "Thank you for all your help, officer, "she said. "On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And thank you for the coffee. " She frowned. "I forgot to ask you whether you take sugar. That's black. " "Yes. I do. "the officer said. "But I don't need it now. I'm sure the coffee you bought me is going to taste as sweet as sugar. " By "I saw a miracle today", the officer means that _ . Answer: Jack was paid back for his kindness so many years later When a varmint eats a pear and discards the seeds what will develop Answer: a tree Joan worked in a hospital. One evening there was a big dance at the hospital. Most of the doctors and nurses would be there, but of course somebody had to be left to look after the sick children, and Joan was not of the lucky ones. She liked dancing very much, so when she had to start work that evening while her friends were getting ready to go to the dance, she felt very sorry for herself. She went to each sick child one after another and said good-night, until she came to one little boy, Dick. Dick was only eleven years old, but he had a very serious illness and couldn't move most parts of his body except his hands. Joan knew Dick would never get any better, but the little boy was always happy and always thinking about other people instead of himself. Dick knew that Joan loved dancing. So when she came to say good-night to him, he greeted her with the words, "I'm very sorry that you can't go to the dance because of us. But we are going to have a party for you. If you look in my drawer, you'll find a piece of cake that I _ from my supper today. And there is also a dollar there. You can buy something to drink with the cake. And I'll get up and dance with you myself if I was able to." Suddenly the hospital dance seemed very far away and not important at all to Joan. ,. What is Joan's job? Answer: She is a children's nurse
At the beach you are likely to find this type of stone: A recent report from Fuzhou Daily says about 18% of Fuzhou teenagers can have problems with their minds(,).Some students become worried because they have to study very hard. Others have trouble getting on well with people like their parents and classmates. Zhang Qiong, a junior 2 student from Fuzhou, could not understand his teachers in class and was doing badly in his lessons. He was afraid of exams. When he looked at the exam paper, he couldn't think of anything to write. Another student, a15-year-old girl called Wu Yuan from Xiamen often argued ( ) with herclassmates even her parents because of some difficult ideas. She became so angry with them that she started to cut her finger with a knife. However, many students who have problems won't go for advice or help. Some think they will look stupid if they go to see a doctor. Others don't want to talk about their secrets. here is some advice for the teenagers to solve the problems: Firstly, talk to your parents or teachers often. Secondly, take part in group activities and do sports. Thirdly, go to see a doctor if you feel unhappy or unwell. How many pieces of advice are given to the teenagers with problems in this passage? There is a saying, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." Although eating properly is important, being kind to others is also good tor your health. Studies show that people who perform kind acts are more relaxed, happier, and healthier than other people. In one study at Arizona State University researchers, found that many volunteers experienced a sudden feeling of joy, followed by a long period of calm, after performing a kind act. This feeling, called "a help's high" may actually help reduce stress as the body releases naturally painkillers. Stress can cause' serious health problems, and heart depression, and .sleeping problems. However, the study found that volunteers had fewer *stress-related health problems when they did helpful things for other people. The study also found that people who did nice things for others felt better about themselves as well. They had higher self-esteem , and were' happier. Many believe this is because volunteers spend more of their time with other people. People who are more outgoing are often healthier. Another study at the University of Michigan's Survey Research Center confirmed the health benefits of volunteering. A ten-year study showed that people who volunteered live longer than those who didn't. Although you shouldn't need a reason to be helpful, it is nice to know that kindness may help you live longer. You can get a help's high _ . More American people take their troubles with them on holiday, according to a new _ . Although 40 percent said that the main reason for going away is to escape pressure from work, almost all said they worry more than they do at home. Only four in every 100 said that they are happy and free of care. The most common worry is burglary ( ) , with four out of 10 worrying about their homes being broken into while they're abroad.More than a quarter fear they will feel crazy with some other noisy and rough holiday-makers and 22 percent worry they may be attacked or their possessions will be missing. One in five think the car may break down; and the same number worry about the chances of bad weather. The survey also showed that the stay-at-home Americans are no more. Three out of every five want to have a holiday abroad, a great increase from the figures only three years ago. The hotel holiday is still a winner, with about one third of all Americana preferring to go on a self-catering ( ) holiday. The third most common worry of American holiday-makers is that they may _ . My father suffered a disease once, but he was an optimist .He wanted to dosomething to keep himself busy, so he became a volunteer at a children's h}pital. Sometimes oneor two kids would die. At this time he would tell the heart-broken parents of the children that hewould be with their children in heaven and that he would look after them there. There was a girl with a disease that paralyzed her from the neck down. She couldn'tdo anything. My dad decided to help her with his true love. He started visiting her, bringingpaints, brushes and paper. He began to put the paintbrush in his mouth to paint. He didn't usehis hands. He would visit her whenever he could and paint for her. "You can do anything onceyou make up your mind to do it,"he said. Finally, she began to paint using her mouth, too. Later, my dad recovered and returned to work. He worked at the volunteer counter in thehospital. One day, he noticed the front door open. In came the little girl who had been paralyzed. She was walking! She hugged my dad tightly and gave him a picture she had done using herhands. At the bottom it read: "Thank you for helping me walk again!" After that my father often said love was more powerful than doctors. Why didn't the writer's father use his hands when painting for the girl?
Mark Twain has been called the inventor of the American novel. And he surely deserves additional praise: the man who popularized the clever literary attack on racism. I say clever because anti-slavery fiction had been the important part of the literature in the years before the Civil War. H. B. Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin is only the most famous example. These early stories dealt directly with slavery. With minor exceptions, Twain planted his attacks on slavery and prejudice into tales that were on the surface about something else entirely. He drew his readers into the argument by drawing them into the story. Again and again, in the postwar years, Twain seemed forced to deal with the challenge of race. Consider the most controversial, at least today, of Twain's novels, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Only a few books have been kicked off the shelves as often as Huckleberry Finn, Twain's most widely read tale. Once upon a time, people hated the book because it struck them as rude. Twain himself wrote that those who banned the book considered the novel "trash and suitable only for the slums ." More recently the book has been attacked because of the character Jim, the escaped slave, and many occurences of the word nigger. (The term Nigger Jim, for which the novel is often severely criticized, never appears in it.) But the attacks were and are silly--and miss the point. The novel is strongly anti-slavery. Jim's search through the slave states for the family from whom he has been forcibly parted is heroic. As J. Chadwick has pointed out, the character of Jim was a first in American fiction--a recognition that the slave had two personalities, "the voice of survival within a white slave culture and the voice of the individual: Jim, the father and the man." There is much more. Twain's mystery novel Pudd'nhead Wilson stood as a challenge to the racial beliefs of even many of the liberals of his day. Written at a time when the accepted wisdom held Negroes to be inferior to whites, especially in intelligence, Twain's tale centered in part around two babies switched at birth. A slave gave birth to her master's baby and, for fear that the child should be sold South, switched him for the master's baby by his wife. The slave's lightskinned child was taken to be white and grew up with both the attitudes and the education of the slave-holding class. The master's wife's baby was taken for black and grew up with the attitudes and intonations of the slave. The point was difficult to miss: nurture , not nature, was the key to social status. The features of the black man that provided the stuff of prejudice--manner of speech, for example-- were, to Twain, indicative of nothing other than the conditioning that slavery forced on its victims. Twain's racial tone was not perfect. One is left uneasy, for example, by the lengthy passage in his autobiography about how much he loved what were called "nigger shows" in his youth--mostly with white men performing in black-face--and his delight in getting his mother to laugh at them. Yet there is no reason to think Twain saw the shows as representing reality. His frequent attacks on slavery and prejudice suggest his keen awareness that _ did not. Was Twain a racist? Asking the question in the 21st century is as wise as asking the same of Lincoln. If we read the words and attitudes of the past through the "wisdom" of the considered moral judgments of the present, we will find nothing but error. Lincoln, who believed the black man the inferior of the white, fought and won a war to free him. And Twain, raised in a slave state, briefly a soldier, and inventor of Jim, may have done more to anger the nation over racial injustice and awaken its collective conscience than any other novelist in the past century. What best proves Twain's anti-slavery stand according to the author? Answer: Fires in forests from lightning rid the forest of dead branches and leaves. If the trees survive and the soil remains intact, the forest will experience regrowth to its climax state by which process? Answer: When I was a kid, my Mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at hospital. On that evening so long ago, my Mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned toast in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his toast, smile at my Mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him spread butter and jelly on that toast and eat every bite! When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my Mom apologize to my dad for burning the toast. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned toast." Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his toast burned. He took me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's really tired. And besides - a little burned toast never hurt anyone!" You know, life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people. What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship. This good quality is the base of any relationship --- husband-wife or parent-child or friendship! As far as I'm concerned, I'm not the best engineer as expected. However, I have made my efforts. That's enough. So learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life. Burnt toast isn't a deal-breaker! Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket but into your own. According to the text, to get a happy life, one should _ . Answer: Now,I'll tell you something about the Internet.The Internet is a network of computers.It became popular in the 1990s.Now,we live in the Internet Age.The Internet is very useful.You can get information,do some shopping or talk with people all over the world.You can do all these things in your own room. You can set up your own space on the Internet.We call it a homepage.It's open to anyone in the world.Write your message on your homepage.Soon,you can get answers by email from people around the world. The Internet is also useful when a flood or an earthquake happens somewhere in the world.We can learn about the needs of the people there and send them food and medicine more quickly than before. In the world of the Internet,everyone is equal.Famous writers,artists,and scientists--they are all your friends.A lucky person can even find a message from the president of a country. Some people lose themselves in the world of the Internet.That's really bad.Remember that the world of the Internet is not a real world.Facetoface communication with family,friends,and neighbours is very important.Don't forget that the Internet is only a tool for communication and information. Many people say that the Internet has some problems,but most people agree the Internet still has a wonderful future.For the first time in history,anyone can exchange messages and information immediately with other people. What do people think of the Internet? Answer: My friend Alice decided to be a nurse when she was four years old. She always to play at "doctors and nurses" with her playmates. When she left school last year, she still wanted to be a real nurse. Late September she started her studies in a big hospital in Newcastle. She had to work very hard. She went to classes every day and studied late at night. Then a really important day came: her first day in a ward . At last she was really helping sick people, not just sitting in classes or learning from books. At first, student nurses do lots of odd jobs in the ward. They help to serve meals, or wash the patients. They also keep the ward tidy and make the beds. But they cannot give injections or help the doctors. One of Alice's first jobs was in a ward of old people. She was told to clean all the patients' false teeth. She collected all the teeth and took them to the bathroom. Instead of cleaning each set of teeth one by one, she put them all into a big bowl. "It'll be quicker this way," she said to herself. "Then I can give back everyone's teeth in a few minutes." Give back everyone's teeth! Alice stood in the middle of the ward with her big bowl of teeth. She had no idea which teeth belonged to which old man! You can imagine the confusion of the next half-hour when each patient came to find his own teeth! One day Alice was told _ in the ward of old people. Answer:
Millions of sports lovers are still thinking about one thing----the Winter Olympics in Sochi Russia. Close to 2900 men and women competed in the 2014 Winter Games about a month ago. The Olympics brought a lot of attention to Sochi, a city on the Black Sea, which is a popular area for vacation travelers. The area is known for its mild winters. At least $50 billion was spent on the 2014 Winter Games, making it the costliest Olympics in history. Seven billion dollars was spent on the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada. Olympic officials chose Sochi to host the 2014 games almost seven years ago. At that time, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the games would cost about $13 billion. Yet the actual expenses exceeded his estimate. So where did all the money go? Some observers say the high cost is partly the result of security measures. Brian Jenkins, a terrorism expert from the RAND Corporation, gave the following explanation. There were anywhere between 70,000 and 100, 000 policemen and military troops deployed around the city. The main threat came from separatist and Islamist groups from the North Caucasus, especially from Chechnya and Dagestan. One group claimed responsibility for two suicide bombings in Volgograd last December. The attacks killed more than 30 people. The city is only about 600 kilometers away from Sochi. Bruce Hoffman is a terrorism expert from Georgetown University in Washington DC. He says the increased security made Sochi a difficult target for terrorists. It is thought that the terrorists' intention was to make life difficult for the Russians and to create some sort of incident that would take away the enjoyment. The last Olympians from around the world on Russian soil were in 1980. That was a year after Soviet troops invaded Afghanistan. More than sixty countries didn't take part in the Moscow Summer Games to show their anger. The terrorists might have attacked Sochi Olympics because _ A they wanted to make trouble for the Russians B they thought Russia shouldn't spend so much on sport C they thought Putin was not a nice president D they were not interested in winter sports Answer: A. they wanted to make trouble for the Russians A federal judge sentenced Bruce Jones to 12 years in federal prison for fraud . Over a 10-year period, Jones had managed to cheat thousands of people throughout the state out of almost $10 million. He advertised his fantastic ideas on TV. "For some reason," Jones said, "TV seems to break the ice. Even though you are a total stranger to the viewer, once he sees you on TV in his home, he feels like he knows you. You enter his living room and become a trusted friend." Jones had an imagination that wouldn't quit. One time he showed viewers an "official government" earthquake report which "proved" that the western half of California would collapse into the sea within three years. For $100, he said, Jones would insure your house and property for full value. Thousands of people who saw that TV ad sent him a hundred dollars each. In another TV ad, Jones claimed that he had come to an agreement with the federal and state government for exclusive air rights. He told viewers that, for only $100, they could own the first 10 miles above all their property. You would be able to charge any commercial plane that flew over your property $100 per crossing. You would also be able to charge government rockets, satellites, space shuttles, and space stations $100 for each and every violation of your air rights. Another time, Jones claimed to have invented a product that gets rid of calories. He showed the viewers a spray can of "NoCal." He said that by simply spraying NoCal on your food, a chemical interaction would cause all the calories in the food to simply disappear within about 10 seconds. The NoCal was only $10 a can. As usual, Jones received thousands of checks in the mail. The judge told Jones that he should be ashamed of himself. Jones responded that he was very ashamed of himself, and that when he got out of prison he hoped to become a TV adviser to help people avoid getting cheated. He told the judge that he was already developing an instructional CD that, for merely $100, would save people thousands of dollars in scams . The judge nodded, and then changed Jones' sentence from 10 years to 12 years. We can infer that people who wanted to buy "NoCal" from Jones . A were mainly from low income families B all had a rich knowledge of chemistry C were probably interested in losing weight D usually did the shopping through the Internet Answer: C. were probably interested in losing weight Thousands of teenagers will be able to move to a new wave of "studio schools" at the age of 14 to improve their chances of finding a job in UK. Twelve new-style schools are open to act as a bridge to the workplace and cut the number of NEETs. Under plans, schools will operate longer days and work outside standard school terms. Each teenager will be expected to spend between four hours and two days a week on work placements with business related to the school and a personal coach will be sent to the teenagers to act as a school "line manager". The reforms are put forward because of the fears that too many teenagers are finishing full-time education at present but they are short of the skills needed to succeed in the workplace. According to a recent report, more than two thirds of employers believe school and college leavers have less important employability skills, while 55% say they are unable to manage their time or daily routine. And the number of NEETs who are not in education has hit a record high, with almost one-in-five young people being left without a job or a training place. The Department for Education will tell the public the building of 12 studio schools - providing for around 3,600 teenagers - in areas such as Liverpool, Stevenage, Stock-on-Trent and Fulham, west London. Each one will be connected to the local employers. Under plans, teenagers will be able to move out of ordinary schools to attend them between the ages of 14 and 19. The government said all subjects would be taught "through projects, often prepared with employers" - with rules such as science being connected directly to local engineering companies or hospitals. Schools will operate a longer day to give teenagers a better understanding of the needs of the workplace. Along with their studies, students will carry out work placements for four hours a week, rising to two days a week of paid work for those aged 16 to 19. They will also get the chance to take professional qualifications connected directly to the needs of local employers. Compared to ordinary schools, studio schools will offer the young more _ . A skills to finish full-time education B personal coaches to help with the work C chances to get future jobs with job training D jobs to make money without going outside Answer: C. chances to get future jobs with job training All plants and animals have mechanisms that A transport nutrients B perform photosynthesis C regulate nerves D produce flowers Answer: A. transport nutrients The arctic environment mostly reflects all colors from the closest star because A it's covered in prisms B it's covered in white precipitation C it's always raining there D the ground is completely covered with white animals Answer: B. it's covered in white precipitation
The British Museum Description: The British Museum is a museum in London, which is one of the world's greatest museums of human history and culture. Its collections, which number more than 13 million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its beginning to the present. The British Museum was established in 1753, largely based on the collections of the physician and scientist Sir Hans Sloane. The museum first opened to the public on 15 January 1759 in Montagu House in Bloomsbury, on the site of the current museum building. Its expansion over the following two and a half centuries was largely a result of an expanding British colonial footprint and has resulted in the creation of several branch institutions. Until 1997, when the British Library (previously centered on the Round Reading Room)moved to a new site, the British Museum housed both a national museum of antiquities and a national library in the same building. The museum is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Since 2002 the director of the museum has been Neil MacGregor. Admission and opening hours: The museum is open every day from 10am to 6pm (Fridays 10am to 5:30pm)and it charges no admission fee, except for loan exhibitions. How to get there: By train: 7:00-18:30 every day. By Underground: 8:00-18:30 every day. By bus: 7:30-18:30 every day. By coach: 7:00--19:30 every day. Nearest underground stations: Tottenham Court Road (500m) Holborn (500m) Russell Square (800m) You are at the Museum at seven in the evening and you want to go back to Oxford. Which means of transportation will you choose? A. By coach. B. By bus. C. By train. D. By underground. Answer: A. By coach. Will life in the future be better, worse or the same as now? Futurologists predict that life will probably be very different in 2050. First of all, it seems that TV channels will have disappeared by 2050. A computer will send the program directly to the television. On TV screen appear holograms , which are pictures with certain height, width and depth. We will be able to see, smell and touch the things that we see on television. Water has become one of our most serious problems. Agriculture is changing and people are growing more fruit and vegetables to export. Demand for water will increase ten times in 2050. Some futurologists predict that water will be the cause of war if we don't act now. In transport, cars will run on new fuels and go very fast. A car will have computers to control its speed and there won't be any accidents. On the other hand, space planes will take people around the earth in about three hours. People will fly from Los Angeles to Tokyo by space plane in just half an hour. In the field of technology, robots will have replaced people in factories. By 2050, we will see robots everywhere. They do not ask for pay rises or go on strike, and they work 24 hours a day. Medicine technology will have conquered many diseases by 2050; we will be able to help blind and deaf people see again and hear again. Scientists have discovered how to control genes. They have already produced clones of animals and will be able to produce clones of people and decide how they look, how they behave and how much intelligence they have. If you want all this to come true, you should study science and technology hard. From the passage we can infer that by 2050 _ . A. people will spend less time in studying B. more and more people needn't go to school C. people will have more time to relax or rest D. no patients will be found in the world Answer: C. people will have more time to relax or rest Mrs. Black is sixty-nine years old. She only has a daughter named Sandra. Mr. Black died twelve years ago. Mrs. Black was very sad and lived in her house alone. Two years ago her daughter had a baby. The young woman was busy all the time and had no time to look after her son James. She asked her mother to live with them. The old woman had to sell her house and moved there. She was strong and could do all the housework. And the family liked her. Last autumn Mrs. Black went to do some shopping. A car hit her and her leg was hurt. She had to be in hospital for three months. She couldn't do anything after she came back. At first her daughter was kind to her, but soon she began to be tired of her. The old woman wanted to leave, but she had no money to buy a house and nobody could take care of her. She didn't know what to do. One morning Mrs. Black broke a plate. It made her daughter angry. She told James to buy a wooden plate for his grandma. That afternoon James came back with two wooden plates. She was surprised and asked, "Why did you buy two plates, son?" "One is for grandma," answered the boy, "the other is for you! You will also have to use a wooden plate when you're old, I think." The woman heard this and was sad. She cried for long. Now she is kind to her mother as she was before. Sandra is friendly to her mother again because _ . A. she knows she did wrong B. she was afraid of her son C. the old woman is poor D. it's her duty Answer: A. she knows she did wrong A friend of mine named Paul received an expensive car from his brother as a Christmas present. On Christmas Eve when Paul came out of his office, a street urchin was walking around the shining car. "Is this your car, sir?" he asked. Paul answered, "Yes, my brother gave it to me for Christmas." The boy was surprised, "You mean your brother gave it to you and it did cost you nothing? Sir, I wish..." He hesitated . Paul thought of course he knew what the boy wanted, but what the boy said surprised him greatly. "I wish, " the boy went on, "that I could be a brother like that. " Paul looked at the boy in surprise, and then he said again, "Would you like to take a ride in my car?" "Oh yes, I'd love to." The boy answered. After a short ride, the boy turned with his eyes shining and said, "Sir, would you mind driving in front of my house?" Paul smiled a little. He thought he know what the boy wanted, He wanted to show his neighbors that he could ride home in a big car. But Paul was wrong again. "Will you stop where those two steps are?" the boy asked. He ran up to the steps. Then in a short while Paul heard him coming back, but he was not coming fast. He Was carrying his little crippled brother. He sat down on the step and pointed to the car. "There he is, Buddy, just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave it to him for Christmas and it didn't cost him a cent . And some day I'm going to give you one just like it... then you can see for yourself all the nice things in the Christmas window- that I've been trying to tell you about." Paul got out and lifted the boy to the front seat of his car. The shining-eyed elder brother climbed in beside him and the three began an unforgettable holiday ride.[:Zxxk.Com] The urchin asked Paul to stop his car in front of his house _ . A. to show he had a rich friend B. to show his neighbors the big car C. to let his brother ride in the car D. to tell his brother about his wish Answer: D. to tell his brother about his wish April 20this Mary's fourteenth birthday. It is Saturday. She invites Kate, Helen, Jane, and Tom to her birthday party. Each of them brings a birthday present for her and says," Happy birthday, Mary" Mary's mother makes a big cake. It has fourteen candles on it. All says "How wonderful!" They have a lot of ice-cream, too. After finishing the ice-cream and cake, Kate plays the piano. How well she plays! Then they sing and play games. Mary is very happy. Everybody looks happy. How many friends does Mary invite to her party? A. Three B. Four C. Five D. Six Answer: B. Four
There are two kinds of memory: short-term and long-term. Information in long-term memory can be remembered at a later time when it is needed. The information may be kept for days or weeks. However, information in short-term memory is kept for only a few seconds, usually by repeating the information over and over. The following experiment shows how short-term memory has been studied. Henning studied how students who are learning English as a second language remember vocabulary. The subjects in his experiment were 75 college students. They represented all levels of ability in English: beginning, intermediate , and native speaking students. To begin, the subjects listened to a recording of a native speaker reading a paragraph in English. Following the recording, the subjects took a 15-question test to see which words they remembered. Each question had four choices. The subjects had to circle the word they had heard in the recording, Some of the questions had four choices that sound alike. For example, weather, whether, wither, and wetter are four words that sound alike. Some of the questions had four choices that have the same meaning. Method, way, manner, and system would be four words with the same meaning. Finally the subjects took a language proficiency test. Henning found that students with a lower proficiency in English made more of their mistakes on words that sound alike; students with a higher proficiency made more of their mistakes on words that have the same meaning. Henning's results suggest that beginning students hold the sound of words in their short-term memory, and advanced students hold the meaning of words in their short-term memory. From Henning's result we can see that _ . beginners have difficulty distinguishing the pronunciation of words Half of the world's population is affected by Asian monsoons , but monsoons are difficult to predict. American researchers have put together a 700-year record of the rainy seasons, which is expected to provide guidance for experts making weather predictions. Every year, damp air masses,known as monsoon,produce large amounts of rainfall in India, East Asia, Northern Australia and East Africa. All this wet air is pulled in by a high pressure area over the Indian Ocean and a low pressure area to the south. According to Edward Cook , a weather expert at Columbia University in New York., the complex nature of the climate systems across Asia makes monsoons hard to predict. In addition, climate records for the area are too recent and not detailed enough to be of much use. Therefore, he and a team of researchers spent more than fifteen years traveling across Asia, looking for trees old enough to provide long-term records. They measured the rings, or circles, inside thousands of ancient trees in more than 300 places. Rainfall has a direct link to the growth and width of rings on some kinds of trees. The researchers developed a document they are calling a Monsoon Asia Drought Atlas. It shows the effect of monsoons over seven centuries, beginning in the 1300s. Professor Cook says the tree-ring records show periods of wet and dry weather. "If the monsoon basically fails or is a very weak one, the trees affected by monsoons at that location might put on a very narrow ring. But if the monsoon is very strong, the trees affected by that monsoon might put on a wide ring for that year. So, the wide and narrow ring widths of the chronology that we developed in Asia provide us with a measure of monsoon variability." With all this information, researchers say they can begin to improve computer climate models for predicting the behavior of monsoons. "There has been widespread famine and starvation and human dying in the past in large droughts. And on the other hand, if the monsoon is particularly heavy, it can cause extensive flooding." said Eugene Wahl, a scientist with America's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "So, to get a sense of what the regional moisture patterns have been, dryness and wetness over such a long period of time in great detail, I would call it a kind of victory for climate science." According to Professor Cook, the rings of the trees _ . offer people information about the regional climate. A teacher showed three toys to his students and asked them to find out the differences. All the three toys seemed to have the same shape, size and material. After looking at them carefully, the students discovered holes in the toys. The first toy had holes in the ears. The second toy had holes in its ear and mouth. The third toy had only one hole in one of its ears. Then the teacher put a needle in one ear hole of the first toy. The needle came out of the other ear. For the second toy, when the needle was put in its ear , it came out of its mouth. And for the third toy, when the needle was put in, it did not come out. So the teacher explained to his students," The first toy represent those people who seem to be listening to you and caring for you. But they are just pretending to do so. After listening, as the needle comes out from the next ear, the things you said to them are gone. In fact, they don't care for you at all." "The second toy represents those people who listen to you and care for you. But as in the toy, the needle comes out from mouth, these people will use what you tell them to fight against you. They tell others what you said and tell your secrets for their purposes." "As for the third toy, the needle does not come out. It represents those people who will keep the trust you put in them. They are the ones that you can believe." When a needle was put in one ear of the first toy, it _ . came out of the other ear When I asked my daughter which item she would keep; the phone, the car, the cooker, the computer, the TV, or her boyfriend, she said"the phone". Personally, I could do without the phone entirely, which makes me unusual. Because the telephone is changing our lives more than any other piece of technology. Point 1 The telephone creates the need to communicate, in the same way that more roads create more traffic. My daughter comes home from school at 4:00 pm and then spends an hour on the phone talking to the very people she has been at school with all day. If the phone did not exist, would she have anything to talk about? Point 2 The mobile phone means that we are never alone. "The mobile saved my life,"says Crystal Johnstone. She had an accident in her Volvo on the A45 between Otley and Skipton. Trapped inside, she managed to make the call that brought the ambulance to her rescue. Point 3 The mobile removes our secret. It allows marketing manager of Haba Deutsch, Carl Nicolaisen, to ring his sales staff all round the world at and time of day to ask where they are , where they are going, and how their last meeting went. Point 4 The telephone separates us. Antonella Bramante in Rome says, "We worked in separate offices but I could see him through the window. It was easy to get his number. We were so near----but we didn't meet for the first two weeks!" Point 5 The telephone allows us to reach out beyond our own lives. Today we can talk to several complete strangers simultaneously ( ) on chat lines (at least my daughter does. I wouldn't know what to talk about). We can talk across the world. We can even talk to astronauts (if you know any) while they're space-walking. And, with the phone line hooked up to the computer, we can access the Internet, the biggest library on Earth. How do you understand'Point 1 --The telephone creates the need to communicate,6...'? People communicate more since telephone has been created. Welcome to your future life! You get up in the morning and look into the mirror. Your face is firm and young-looking. In 2035, medical technology is better than ever. Many people your age could live to be 150,so at 40, you're not old at all. And your parents just had an anti-aging treatment. Now, all three of you look the same age ! You say to your shirt , "Turn red." It changes from blue to red. In 2035, "smart clothes" contain particles much smaller than the cells in your body. The particles can be programmed to change clothes'color or pattern. You walk into the kitchen . You pick up the milk ,but a voice says , " You shouldn't drink that!" Your fridge has read the chip that contains information about the milk , and it knows the milk is old . In 2035, every article of food in the grocery store has such a chip . It's time to go to work . In 2035, cars drive themselves. Just tell your "smart car" where to go. On the way , you can call a friend using your jacket sleeve . Such "smart technology" is all around you. So will all these things come true? "For new technology to succeed," says scientist Andrew Zolli , "it has to be so much better that it replaces what we have already." The Internet is one example --- what will be the next? Which of the following is mentioned in the text? Cars will be able to drive automatically.
China's top labor official said the country is planning to push back the age at which workers can retire. Yin Weimin, minister of human resources and social security, demonstrated that we did not put a timetable on the move when he spoke about it during a forum at the weekend. "Delaying the retirement age is a very complicated issue and we will study it according to the situations of population and employment and consider different groups of people," Yin said. He noted that _ in the retirement age have been brought in by many countries and can be a good way to deal with an aging population and ensure the healthy and stable development of social security. The life expectancy of Chinese people is now 73 years and is expected to rise to 74 during the next five years, he said. Nearly three out of 10 Chinese people will be older than 60 by 2040, according to a United Nations forecast. The retirement age in China currently is 60 for men and 55 for female civil servants and 50 for female workers. The idea of delaying the retirement age is being widely supported by government officials, while many laborers and non-government employees were less enthusiastic about the prospect of working for longer. Currently, they have to pay into their pension plans for at least 15 years before they can retire. Chen Xianlian, a female worker at a motorcycle parts manufacturer in Chongqing municipality is among those who would like to see the retirement age left as it is. "I have to do lots of tough and repetitive work every day and I feel very tired after my working day," the 41-year-old said. "All my colleagues are discussing the government's possible move to lift the retirement age. None of us wants to work any extra years." University graduates also fear that any rise in the retirement age could limit their employment opportunities. Which of the following is true according to the passage? A All the Chinese people support the new policy. B The life expectancy of Chinese people is expected to rise to 73 during the next five years. C The retirement age in China will be 60 for men and 55 for female civil servants and 50 for female workers. D The government did not set a fixed timetable on the new policy. Answer: D 6-Day Trek in the Highland National Parks Destinations: Saigon -- Cat Tien National Park --Buon Ma Thuot --Lak Lake -- YokDon National Park Estimated trekking time: Average 4-5 hours/day Summary: This trip is ideal for those who love trekking in natural forests. From the southern part of Vietnam up to the central highlands, you will cross through two national parks. There will be opportunities to see wildlife and challenge yourself physically at a moderate level. Indulge yourself in the beauty of nature, escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, rediscover yourself in the natural world and refresh both mind and body. Highlights: Private tour Walk through the forest to a fascinating and beautiful wetland area. If you are lucky, you may be able to see many different kinds of animals using only binoculars . Night time wildlife-spotting excursion Elephant riding Includes: Travel insurance Private transportation English-speaking guide Guest house-twin shared room Meals as indicated in the itinerary Elephants Canoe Mineral water Entrance fees & all permits Excludes: Surcharges for other guides in other languages, festival season and peak season surcharges, which will be advised at time of booking Visa Gong show(80 USD/show) Tips Personal expenses In the forest, tourists will be able to _ . A have barbeques with natives B ride elephants C play with wild animals D race in canoes Answer: B Some people bring out the best in you in a way that you might never have fully realized on your own. My mom was one of those people. My father died when I was nine months old, making my mom a single mother at the age of eighteen. While I was growing up, we lived a very hard life. We had little money, but my mom gave me a lot of love. Each night, she sat me on her lap and spoke the words that would change my life, "Kemmons, you are certain to be a great man and you can do anything in life if you work hard enough to get it." At fourteen, I was hit by a car and the doctors said I would never walk again. Every day,my mother spoke to me in her gentle,loving voice, telling me that no matter what those doctors said, I would walk again if I want to badly enough. She drove that message so deep into my heart that I finally believed her.A year I returned to school--walking on my own ! When the Great Depression hit, my mom lost her job. Then I left school to support the both of us. At that moment, I was determined never to be poor again. Over the years, I experienced various levels of business success. But the real turning point occurred on a vacation I took with my wife and five kids in1951. I was dissatisfied with the second-class hotels available for families and was angry that they charged an extra $2 for each child. That was too expensive for the average American family. I told my wife that I was going to open a motel for families that would never charge extra for children. There were plenty of doubters at that time. Not surprisingly, Mom was one of my strongest supporters. She worked behind the desk and even designed the room style. As in any business,we experienced a lot of challenges. But with my mother's words deeply rooted in my soul, I never doubted we would succeed.Fifteen years later,we had the largest hotel system in the world--Holiday Inn. In 1979 my company had 1759 inns in more than fifty countries with an income of $1billion a year. You may not have started out life in the best situations. But if you can find a task in life worth working for and believe in yourself, nothing can stop you. What Kemmons'mom often told him during his childhood was _ A caring B moving C encouraging D interesting Answer: C Mei Qiyue, 13, of Chongqing, leaves her dorm early every morning and doesn't return until late at night. She feels stressed in the dorm. "My roommates look down on me. When I say something, they never agree with me. Sometimes, they even laugh at me together," said Mei. "The dorm is like hell. I want to leave the moment I walk in." Mei is not alone. Many middle school students lave such problems. Plans, opinions and other small differences can create conflict . "Most teenagers are the only child in the family where they are the 'King' or 'Queen'. They can't stand other kids' different ideas, so conflicts between them come out in the dorm," said Sun Yunxiao, a professor in Beijing. According to Sun, roommate relations are important in schools, and students should be serious about them. He suggests that students should be patient, sincere and cooperative in dealing with their roommates. Zou Ming, 14, of Shanxi, and his roommates didn't clean their dorm for a long time during their first semester. "Later, we began to hate each other because nobody would clean," said Zou. "One day, we had a dorm meeting. At the meeting we discussed the problem seriously and decided each other of us would clean for a week." After the meeting, they cleaned the dorm for the first time together, and the boys have become good friends. "I think we should take care of the dorm like our family and our roommates like our brothers," said Zou. "Only in this way can we have a happy dorm like and make lifelong friends." Why does Mei Qiyue dislike staying in her dorm? A Because she always thinks differently from others. B Because she thinks her roommates always look down her. C Because the condition of her dorm is very poor. D Because she is too shy to talk with anybody. Answer: B Energy is very important in modern life. People use energy to run machines, heat and cool their homes, cook, give light, and transport people and products from place to place. Most energy comes from fossil fuels--petroleum, coal, and natural gas. However, burning fuels causes pollution. Also, if we don't find new kinds of energy, we will use up all the fossil fuels in the twenty-first century. Scientists are working hard to find other kinds of energy for the future. What might these sources of energy be? Energy from the wind All over the world, people use the power of the wind. It turns windmills and moves sailboats. It is a clean source of energy, and there is lots of it. Unfortunately, if the wind does not blow, there is no wind energy. Energy from water When water moves from a high place to a lower place, it makes energy. This energy is used to create electricity. In Brittany, France, for example, waterpower produces enough energy to light a town of 40,000people. Waterpower gives energy without pollution. However, people have to build dams to use this energy. Dams cost a lot of money, so water energy is expensive. Energy from the earth There is heat in rocks under the earth. Scientists use this heat to make geothermal energy. San Francisco gets half of the energy it needs from geothermal power. This kind of energy is cheap, but it is possible only in a few places in the world. Energy from the sun Solar panels on the roofs of houses can turn energy from the sun into electricity. These panels can create enough energy to heat an entire house. Solar power is clean and there is a lot of it in sunny places. But when the weather is bad, there is no sunlight for energy. What can be inferred from the passage? A In order to protect our environment, we should try other kinds of energy. B All scientists in the world will unite to find energy. C People in modern life use energy every day. D Energy changes people's lives. Answer: A
Last month I had a health problem and had to see a doctor. After examining me, The doctor said to me, "The result isn't too bad ." But you must excise often and have healthy food every day. In fact, I'm a lazy person. I never get up early to exercise. And I often have junk food because I like it. In order to be healthy, I decided to change my lifestyle. Now I get up at 6:00 am every day. Then I go out to run for about an hour. I go to a gym on Wednesday and Saturday afternoon. And I hardly have junk food. I have healthy food, like milk and fish. I often eat vegetables and I have an apple every day. You know, " An apple a day keeps the doctor away " I also have about eight glasses of water. And I usually go to bed by ten. All these things make me healthy. We can use _ instead of "about". Answer: The United States is faced with serious traffic problems. Too many cars travel on the freeways to and from the city. This heavy traffic causes delays and lots of pollution from cars that are using their engines but not moving anywhere. Many cars going nowhere is called a "traffic jam." While many cities in the United States have traffic problems, some of the worst are in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles is a big city with a large downtown area. One of the reasons why there is so much traffic is that few people use public transportation to get around Experts say one possible solution to the traffic problem in Los Angeles would be to make people want to use the public transportation system of buses instead of their own cars. People say the buses should be made easier, faster, less costly and more dependable than driving a car. One suggestion is to reduce the cost of riding the bus. People who usually drive their cars could save a lot of money on gas and parking costs. Also, Los Angeles could make the buses easier for people to use. The buses could travel to more places in the city. And there could be more special lanes on the freeways that only buses could drive in. These changes would make taking the bus faster and easier than driving a car. Other experts have said that the best way to ease traffic problems is to charge people money to drive on the freeways. These charges, or tolls, would be for the most crowded roads. The tolls would be in effect during the times of day when most people drive to work and home again. These times in the morning and late afternoon are called "rush hour". People would try to avoid driving on these roads, which would decrease the amount of traffic. Also ,the money collected from these tolls could be used to improve the roads and public transportation system. The passage mainly discusses _ . Answer: Mr. Black was the manager of a hotel in Atlanta. One weekend all of the hotels were full because of a large business meeting being held in the city. On Sunday night, three men came into Mr. Black's hotel and asked for rooms. Mr. Black told them that there were no more rooms available. The men didn't know what to do because they had no place to stay in. Mr. Black wanted to help them. He remembered that there was an empty room at the far end of the first floor -- Room 112. It was a very small room, and had rarely been used as a guest room before. So, he asked the three men if they would mind sharing that small room. They replied that they would be very satisfied so long as there was a room for them to stay in for the night. Mr. Black then told them that the room would cost them $ 30 in total. On hearing this, each of the three men gave Mr. Black $ 10 before they left for their room. However, Mr. Black soon began to think that $ 30 was really too much for that small room. He called his assistant over and said, "Here is $ 5. Give it back to the three men in Room 112. Each of them paid me $10. That's too much." The assistant took the money. While he was on the way to that small room, he thought, "How can three men divide $ 5? I'll give each of them only $ 1 and keep the $ 2 left to myself. The men will be happy to get anything back, and I can also make some money that way. After all, Mr. Black will never know anything about it." So, the assistant returned only $1 to each of the three men. Each man had first paid $ 10. After the assistant returned $1 to him, each man had actually paid only $ 9. There were three men. $ 9x3="$27." The assistant kept $ 2. $ 27 + $ 2=" $" 29. Where is the missing dollar? How much did Mr. Black first ask each man for the room? Answer: I am a student in China now. My name is Kelly Smith. I live with my parents, two sisters and a brother in Beijing. My parents teach English in No.6 Middle School. I study in the same school. I am happy here, because I like my new school and the classmates. They are very friendly to me. They like to play with me because I look different from them. I have blue eyes and long blonde hair. They often say I look like a doll . Also I speak English well, so lots of students like to talk with me to improve their English. Why do students like to talk with Kelly? Answer: In the world of fairy tales, great and powerful men are often helped to victory by the small and weak. But in the prefix = st1 /USit has happened for real. Nine - year - old Noah McCullough from Texas, has taken on the role of speaking to the public in support of President George W. Bush's social security reforms. On February 25 he signed an agreement with the American Congress to work for the White House as a volunteer. "What I want to tell people about social security is not to be afraid of the new plan," Noah said. "It may be a change, but it's a good change." Besides this task, he already has a higher goal. He plans to run for the White House in 2032. So far, Noah seems to have a very bright future. Despite his age, Noah already has his firm opinion on running the US. "I firmly believe that the combination of large business and small governments creates a peaceful and present society because industry can stimulate economic growth," he said. Noah's politics do not come from his parents. "He is very patriotic and very republican," said Noah's mother, Donna McCullough. "It's the way he was born." Noah's interest began after a mock election in the kindergarten when he was five years old. Now he has read more than 3,000 books on presidential history. He can recite the names of all 43 American presidents. He can also describe the achievements and events that took place during a president's term of office. His unusual experiences in the presidential campaign last year made him a famous figure. He was a member of Bush's presidential campaign team. He gave speeches at the Republican convention and followed Bush around on his tour of 27 states. President Bush thinks highly of the boy, saying that he is "the miracle kid of the White House". Noah McCullough worked for the White House _ . Answer:
Question: In addition to the official basketball world, various other types of basketball are practiced around the world. Wheelchair Basketball Wheelchair basketball was invented in 1946 by former American basketball players, who, after wartime injury, wanted once again to experience the excitement of a highly athletic sport within a team environment. It is now played in more than 80 countries by over 25,000 men, women and children with a physical disability which prevents them playing competitive basketball on their feet. http://www.iwbf.org Beach Basketball Beach basketball is an exciting, non-stop action game played in the sand. The game was born more than forty years ago on the physical education fields of Gulf Shores School. This kind of basketball, invented by Philip Bryant, has grown from an extremely effective skill improvement game to a very popular, widespread competitive sport. http://www.beachbasketball.com Street Basketball Street Basketball or streetball is mainly played as a leisure game, but streetball players can also compete against each other. There are no specific streetball rules and the game is played outdoors; the players make up their own rules to play. Streetball is very popular among younger players and allows players to publicly show their own individual skills. http://www.streetball.com Deaf Basketball Basketball for the deaf (unable to hear in one or both ears) men and women has been played since the early 1920s. The game today has exactly the same rules as FIBA. http://wwwdibf.org Bankshot Basketball Bankshot is a new game of skill and challenge that is often described as "mini golf, but with a basketball." Bankshot is the only sports system that allows the able-bodied and athletes with a disability to play together at the same time. This game is about no running, jumping, or body contact and relies on the shooting skill. http://www.bankshot.com Which of the following types of basketball has the longest history? A. Bankshot Basketball B. Deaf Basketball C. Wheelchair Basketball D. Beach Basketball Answer: B. Deaf Basketball Question: Many birds migrate. This means that every year they fly somewhere warm in the winter and then return to the place they came from in the spring. One mystery is how birds know how to travel such long distances without getting lost. Scientists have wondered for years whether they are born with the knowledge of where to go or whether they learn it after they are born. Now, researchers have found evidence that shows that one type of bird, at least, learns how to migrate. The bird is the whooping crane , a tall, white bird that lives in the United States. In the 1940s, the number of these birds decreased to fewer than 25 individuals, and many people feared that they would die out. Thanks to efforts to save them, they have now increased to about 600. However, the birds are not very good at taking care of their young. Because of this, eggs are brought to a site in Maryland. There, scientists from the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership raise the baby birds. Later, the young birds are taken from Maryland to Wisconsin, where the scientists teach them how to fly. From there, they fly about 2,200 kilometers south to Florida to spend the winter. The first time, scientists lead the way in a small airplane. From the second year, though, the birds travel by themselves. For 14 years, the scientists have kept a careful record of every flight the birds have taken between Wisconsin and Florida. They have also recorded which birds fly together, the relationships between the birds, and the gender of each bird. When scientists analyzed the data, they were surprised by the results. These showed that each bird took a very different route. However, as they got older, they flew more and more directly between Wisconsin and Florida. This continued until they were five years old. This indicates that the birds gradually learned the best route to take. Moreover, when an older bird was in a group, the whole group flew more directly. This suggests that the older birds taught the younger ones a quicker route. Scientists say that this evidence marks a big step toward solving the mystery of bird migration. How do scientists from the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership support young whooping cranes? A. They help the birds learn how to survive in Wisconsin's winter. B. They fly together with a group of birds that are the same gender. C. They show the birds how to fly to Florida in their first winter. D. They provide food for the cranes on their journey south. Answer: C. They show the birds how to fly to Florida in their first winter. Question: President Obama is very busy, but he has time to go to the school to visit students. He tells them about his life. He says that he learns a lot from his mother. He also asks students to study hard at school. To help students to be better, President Obama has some good ideas for them. First, go to school on time every day. Second, listen to teachers carefully in class. Third, do their homework every day. Fourth, don't watch too much TV. Please do as President Obama says and you will be successful one day. Which is TRUE about President Obama's ideas? A. Don't go to school on time every day. B. Don't be late for school every day. C. Listen to students carefully in class. D. Don't watch TV. Answer: B. Don't be late for school every day. Question: Colleges taking another look at value of merit-based aid Good grades and high tests scores still matter--a lot--to many colleges as they award financial aid. But with low-income students projected to make up an ever-larger share of the college-bound population in coming years, some schools are re-examining whether that aid, typically known as "merit aid", is the most effective use of precious institutional dollars. George Washington University in Washington, D.C., for example, said last week that it would cut the value of its average merit scholarships by about one-third and reduce the number of recipients , pouring the savings, about $2.5 million, into need-based aid. Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa., made a similar decision three years ago. Now, Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., says it will phase out merit scholarships altogether. No current merit-aid recipients will lose their scholarships, but need-based aid alone will be awarded beginning with students entering in fall 2008. Not all colleges offer merit aid; generally, the more selective a school, the less likely it is to do so. Harvard and Princeton, for example, offer generous need-based packages, but many families who don't meet need eligibility have been willing to pay whatever they must for a big-name school. For small regional colleges that struggle just to fill seats, merit aid can be an important revenue-builder because many recipients still pay enough tuition dollars over and above the scholarship amount to keep the institution running. But for rankings-conscious schools in between, merit aid has served primarily as a tool to recruit top students and to improve their academic profits. "They're trying to buy students," says Skidmore College economist Sandy Baum. Studies show merit aid also tends to benefit disproportionately students who could afford to enroll without it. "As we look to the future, we see a more pressing need to invest in need-based aid," says Monica Inzer, dean of admission and financial aid at Hamilton, which has offered merit scholarships for 10 years. During that time, it rose in US News & World Report's ranking of the best liberal arts colleges, from 25 to 17. Merit aid, which benefited about 75 students a year, or about 4% of its student body, at a cost of about $ 1 million a year, "served us well," Inzer says, but "to be discounting the price for families that don't need financial aid doesn't feel right any more." Need-based aid remains by far the largest share of all student aid, which includes state, federal and institutional grants. But merit aid, offered primarily by schools and states, is growing faster, both overall and at the institutional level. Between 1995-96 and 2003-04, institutional merit aid alone increased 212%, compared with 47% for need-based grants. At least 15 states also offer merit aid, typically in a bid to enroll top students in the state's public institutions. But in recent years, a growing chorus of critics has begun pressuring schools to drop the practice. Recent decisions by Hamilton and others may be "a sign that people are starting to realize that there's this destructive competition going on," says Baum, co-author of a recent College Report that raises concerns about the role of institutional aid not based on need. David Laird, president of the Minnesota Private College Council, says many of his schools would like to reduce their merit aid but fear that in doing so, they would lose top students to their competitors. "No one can take one-sided action," says Laird, who is exploring whether to seek an exemption from federal anti-trust laws so member colleges can discuss how they could jointly reduce merit aid, "This is a merry-go-round that's going very fast, and none of the institutions believe they can sustain the risks of trying to break away by themselves." A complicating factor is that merit aid has become so popular with middle-income families, who don't qualify for need-based aid, that many have come to depend on it. And, as tuitions continue to increase, the line between merit and need blurs. That's one reason Allegheny College doesn't plan to drop merit aid entirely. "We still believe in rewarding superior achievements and know that these top students truly value the scholarship," says Scott Friedhoff, Allegheny's vice president for enrollment. Emory University in Atlanta, which boasts a $4.7 billion endowment , meanwhile, is taking another approach. This year, it announced it would eliminate loans for needy students and cap them for middle-income families. At the same time, it would expand its 28-year-old merit program. "Yeah, we're playing the merit game," acknowledges Tom Lancaster, associate dean for undergraduate education. But it has its strong point, too, he says. "The fact of the matter is, it's not just about the lowest-income people. It's the average American middle-class family who's being priced out of the market." A few words about merit-based aid: Merit-based aid is aid offered to students who achieve excellence in a given area, and is generally known as academic, athletic and artistic merit scholarships. Academic merit scholarships are based on students' grades, GPA and overall academic performance during high school. They are typically meant for students going straight to college right after high school. However, there are scholarships for current college students with exceptional grades as well. These merit scholarships usually help students pay tuition bills, and they can be renewed each year as long as the recipients continue to qualify. In some cases, students may need to be recommended by their school or a teacher as part of the qualification process. Athletic merit scholarships are meant for students that excel in sports of any kind, from football to track and field events. Recommendation for these scholarships is required, since exceptional athletic performance has to be recognized by a coach or a referee . Applicants need to send in a tape containing their best performance. Artistic merit scholarships require that applicants excel in a given artistic area. This generally includes any creative field such as art, design, fashion, music, dance or writing. Applying for artistic merit scholarships usually requires that students submit a portfolio of some sort, whether that includes a collection of artwork, a recording of a musical performance or a video of them dancing. With more and more low-income students pursuing higher education, a number of colleges are _ . A. offering students more merit-based aid B. revising their financial aid policies C. increasing the amount of financial aid D. changing their admission processes Answer: B. revising their financial aid policies Question: In the eyes of dog lovers, the dog is man's best friend. But for much wildlife, loose dogs may be a dangerous enemy, according to a study by a biologist from Utah State University in the US. Based on much existing research and their own case studies, Julie Young of Utah State University and four other scientists conclude that loose dogs may represent a huge danger to wildlife, especially endangered species, by hunting down or worrying them and by spreading diseases. They also found that dogs, their worldwide numbers around 500 million, can cause more damage to wildlife and livestock than wolves and other enemies of these animals. Young gave examples from the US state of Idaho, where research showed the presence of dogs reducing some deer populations. On the Navajo American Indians' reservation in northeastern Arizona, packs of loose dogs are chasing livestock. They have killed populations of small animals such as rabbits and act as a disease carrier for rabies among people and other animals, she said. Loose dogs also were to blame for distemper outbreak leading to a die-off of endangered black-footed ferrets in northwestern Wyoming in the 1980s. The phenomenon is not just limited to US; it's a global problen. Julie Young once studied three endangered species in central Asia: wild sheep, gazelles and antelope. The rate of injury and death to these animals by loose dogs was very high. In another case, Young found that dogs, not wolves, as originally suspected, were responsible for a large number of livestock killings in the mountainous Basque country between Spain and France. Authors of the new study said the problem is likely to worsen as communities expand. Then how to deal with it? Indeed, in many countries, leash laws permit punishment of dog owners whose pets chase wildlife. But lawbreakers are rarely punished because the police lack both people and money. Young has low-cost solutions to the problem for dog lovers, though. They include public dog-training programs and vaccinating dogs against rabies and other illnesses. . What is the main point of Julie Young's study? A. Many species are endangered because they are killed by loose dogs. B. Wild dogs are immune to many diseases. C. Wolves are still the greatest enemy of livestock. D. Loose dogs pose a great danger to wildlife. Answer: D. Loose dogs pose a great danger to wildlife.
I had recently arrived in London and I wanted to see some of the famous places. Should I go to the seaside? Or maybe one of the famous parks? I walked along the street, past a kindergarten playground, and suddenly saw an underground railway station. I was surprised because it was not on my map. I went to buy a ticket. The ticket-seller looked very old. He gave me a ticket, said "Remember it's a return", laughed and walked away without taking my money. Was it special for tourists? A train arrived. I could not see any other passengers. I got on and the doors closed. I suddenly felt I should not have got onto the train. It started to go faster and faster, shooting along the tracks. As it entered the tunnel, everything became as dark as midnight and I do not remember the next few minutes. The train came to a station and I got out. I could see light shining in the distance so I walked towards _ and came to a door. Beyond it there was a busy street. There were lots of English people walking about, and I could see some of the famous buildings of London, but there was something wrong. The people's clothes were strange. There were no cars, no motorbikes--but there were horses everywhere. Was someone making a film? "Excuse me," I said to a man. "Would you mind telling me where I am and what is happening?" "What do you mean? Who are you? Where do you come from? Are you from China? This is London and everyone's going to work. Can't you see that?" he asked. "Thank you, sir. I'm sorry, but could I look at your newspaper?" I asked. "You can have it," he said as he walked off. I looked at it; I saw "New Bicycle Law" and above that "July 5, 1880". Maybe I should have walked around, but I ran back to the door. I waited a long time. I was very afraid. A train came. I got on. It took me back to the first station. As I left, a woman asked, "What were you doing in that abandoned station?" I had no answer, but I still had the newspaper in my hand. Why was the author surprised at the beginning of the story? The Beijing Youth Daily on Thursday called attention to the struggles of traditional operas in China. The newspaper said the number of unique traditional Chinese opera styles had decreased to 286 from 368 in 1959, with three disappearing every two years on average. Altogether, 74 opera styles had only one troupe left, and most were at the risk of fading away. Xie Boliang, a professor at the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts, said, "It is well known that people should be held accountable for soil erosion, but why do we feel at ease when traditional operas fade away?" Overwhelmed by modern culture and entertainment such as movies, TV programs and pop music, traditional Chinese operas have been severely marginalized. Despite being included on the state-level Intangible Cultural Heritage list, some operas still have no place to perform. Because of the market slump and low salaries, more traditional Chinese opera practitioners are finding other work, as are many directors and playwrights. Sun Jiazheng, chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, said traditional operas are important carriers of Chinese culture, and should be preserved. The State Council issued a circular in July calling for the promotion and protection of traditional Chinese operas, saying that it would allocate financial support and extend preferential policies to opera troupes and schools. Many directors and playwrights find other jobs because _ . A person may bring harm to the environment by As a child,hopelessly unsporty,Rosie Pope nerve made the hockey team. But at the age of 57,in 2003, she ran around the world. Setting off from home in Tenby,she returned four years, 10 months later,having run 20,000 miles through Europe, Siberia,Alaska,Canada,America,Greenland and Iceland. Moreover,she did it alone with a small cart of food and equipment - running with it through the frozen wastes of Siberia and the streets of New York. Now Pope is at it again: she has just completed 26 marathons in 26 days. "If I can start out again at 63 and feel like 36,then anyone can,because I don't think I'm a superwoman.I'm a very ordinary person,"she said. Pope spent her early childhood in remote County Limerick in Ireland with her grandmother after her mother died when she was two.Her father also died at the age of 47.Pope didn't go to school regularly until she was 13;she was encouraged,instead,to spend her time outside,learning about the natural world.But it was her first husband,Colin Swale,a fearless sailor,who introduced her to the world of extreme adventure.In 1973 they became the first to go around Cape Horn in a catamaran .And in 1983,after they separated,Pope went on to sail across the Atlantic alone.After discovering running at 47,she spent her fifties completing a series of marathons in far-away places. But it was the death of her second husband,Clive,a businessman and photographer,from cancer,that triggered her biggest challenge so far. She had been thinking of running for cancer awareness,when"something broke through my grief as I was liiking at a world map on the wall.I thought I could do this."Pope is now a motivational speaker."Running around the world,or going to the moon or whatever,is only a metaphor ,"she says."The most extraordinary adventure is every day of your life." Pope's second husband's death caused her to In recent years, the price of gas has been rising sharply, and people have made many adjustments. There was, for a time, considerable unemployment in the auto industry, and three quarters of the garages and service stations have gone out of business. However; the bicycle and motor-scooter business has flourished ; and many people have found employment there: Now that Federal Motors has brought out its new Lilliput, which travels forty miles on a gallon, the auto business is picking up again. The factories that haven't switched over to two-wheel transportation are working on their new smaller models. There is talk, too, about bringing out new steam and electric automobiles that will be just as economical as the old cars. In the meantime, streetcars are gradually replacing buses all over the country because of the greater economy of electric power. And many people who have seldom used public transportation are now riding the streetcars while their automobiles rust in their garages. There's no market at all for their big, luxurious cars, for only the wealthy can now afford to operate them. Many people are now shopping in their own neighborhood, and small businesses are thriving. Ministers, educators, and editorial writers are pointing out that there has been a great improvement in family life. Families now stay at home more for their fun, and children and parents are becoming better acquainted. The stores report a booming business in parlor games, hobby materials, books, musical instruments and albums. People have lost their pale indoor look. The revival of the lost art of walking has brought a healthy pink back to many a cheek. This return to the heels has revolutionized the clothing styles; people now need to be ready for all kinds of weather: These conditions, however, may not last. Already our clever chemists are at work on new synthetic fuels which, they say, will put us right back where we wereon wheels. Shall we wish them success or not? Which is NOT the effect the rising oil price have on families ?
Hi, Peter. Thank you for your telephone call. I'm happy to tell you that we have a double room for you now. It's on the fifth floor. It faces the West Lake, so you can see it well. The price for each room is $150 per night. Every morning from 7:00 to 9:30, there is a free breakfast, but you have to pay if you have lunch and supper in the hotel. Remember to bring your ID card with you. If you have any more questions, please let us know and we will be pleased to help you. We _ you to come to the hotel on August 16. We hope you will enjoy your stay with us. Thanks again for choosing our hotel. Which meal is free according to the passage? Answer: Actually, long-distance bicycle camping is one of the happiest activities I have ever experienced. I generally sleep poorly at night, but in the woods on a tour, I sleep like a baby with the music of insects. In the morning, birds wake me up. I eat a snack before getting up, and then I quickly pack my sleeping bag, tent, and other things and get on the road. Usually I have less speed. Traveling by bike allows me to stop anywhere, such as lakes(especially places to swim), woods, and scenic spots . Somewhere near lunch, I find a small drugstore and buy some bread, sandwich materials, and fruit. In the afternoon, my speeds are higher, and I spend less time at stops. In the late afternoon, I start thinking about stopping. I finally find a place in the early evening, cook a simple meal, and rest and cool off. As it starts to get dark, I put up my tent, and fall asleep. There are exciting times and difficult times as well. Visiting strange or famous places are always exciting to me. I meet and talk with interesting people along the way. Enjoying beautiful scenes, meeting wild animals(usually at my camping site), and traveling up and down hills also make me cheerful. On the other hand, I may run into rainy or hot days, have to repair my bike, or just find myself in a bad state. The problems are easily dealt with. The pleasures remain in my mind for years. It can be inferred from the passage that the writer _ . Answer: My parents taught me not to waste food. My mum always found ways to make leftovers taste good. I went to YiLan to learn about some of their special food. As I was there, I learned about the food and the history of the area. I learned that they don't waste food, either, and they use leftovers! Many years ago, there was not enough food for everyone. People learned to cook and eat almost everything. They had to think of ways to make special dishes. One of these dishes is kao zha.It made with leftovers like meat, soup, oil and fat. That might not sound very good, but it does taste good. Today, kao zha is a special dish at big banquets . Another famous dish is called zao bing. It's made with fruit, meat and other things. I really liked it! But I didn't want to eat too much. It has a lot of fat in it. I smelled something burning and I saw smoke, so I found another special food of the YiLan area duck meat. The duck meat is put in a big oven to cook it. Smoke keeps the meat fresh. I don't usually eat meat, but this duck meat was delicious! It tasted sweet. YiLan is a great place with delicious food. I hope I can come back again! She finds that people in YiLan _ . Answer: A king in Africa had a close friend that helped him grow up. The friend had a habit of looking at everything positively that happened in his life and saying "This is good". One day the king and his friend were out hunting. The friend would prepare the guns for the king. The friend did something wrong in preparing one of the guns, and after the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off. On seeing the situation the friend said as usual, "This is good!" The king replied, "No, this is not good!" He was very angry and sent his friend to jail . About a year later, the king was hunting in a forest. Cannibals caught him and took him to their village. As they were going to kill him, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb. They never ate anyone who was less than whole, so they sent the king back. When he returned home, he felt sorry for his treatment of his friend. He went quickly to the jail to speak with his friend. "You were right", he said. "It was good that thumb was blown off." And he told the friend all that had just happened. "And so I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this." "No," his friend replied, "this is good!" "What do you mean? How could it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year?" "If I had not been in jail, I would have been with you, and I would have been eaten!" The king was sent back by Cannibals because _ . Answer: One of the requirements of every graduation ceremony speaker is that they offer some advice. Well, get ready, here it comes. Soon you will be leaving the company of those who think they have all the answers -your professors, instructors and counselors-and going out into what we like to call the real world. In time you will meet up with other people who think they have all the answers. These people are called bosses. My advice is: humor them. A little later you'll meet additional people who think they have all the answers. These are called spouses . My advice is: humor them, too. And of all goes well, in a few years you will meet still another group of people who think they have all the answers. These are called children. Humor them. Life will go on, your children will grow up, go to school and someday they could be taking part in a graduation ceremony just like this one. And who knows, the speakers responsible for handing out good advice might be you. Halfway through your speech, the graduate sitting next to your daughter will lean over and ask, "Who is that woman up there who thinks she has all the answers?" Well, thanks to the reasonable advice you are hearing today and that I hope you will all pass on, she will be able to say, "That is my mother. Humor her." According to the text, at a graduation ceremony you'll most probably hear _ given by the speaker. Answer:
Does this situation seem familiar to you? Your English is progressing well, the grammar is now familiar, the reading comprehension is no problem, you are communicating quite fluently, but: Listening is STILL a problem! First of all, remember that you are not alone. Listening comprehension is probably the most difficult job for almost all learners of English as a foreign language. The most important thing is to listen as often as possible. The first step is to find listening resources. The Internet is really a useful tool for English students. You can download The RealPlayer from RealMedia.com. The RealPlayer allows you to use the Internet like a radio station. Once you have begun to listen on a regular basis, you might still be frustrated by limited understanding. What should you do? Here is some of the advice I give my students: Accept the fact that you are not going to understand everything. Stay relaxed when you do not understand -- even if you continue not to understand for a long time. Do not translate what you hear into your native language. Listen for the general idea of the conversation. Don't concentrate on detail until you have understood the main ideas. I remember the problems I had in understanding spoken German when I first went to Germany. In the beginning, when I didn't understand a word, I insisted on translating it in my mind. This method usually resulted in confusion. Then, after the first six months, I discovered two very important facts. Firstly, translating creates a _ l between the listener and the speaker. Secondly, most people repeat themselves constantly. By remaining calm, I noticed that -- even if I didn't pay much attention, I could usually understand what the speaker had said. The best way to improve our listening is to _ . A practise as much as possible B find as many listening resources as possible C use the Internet like a radio station D speak naturally and read as much as possible Answer: A. practise as much as possible The name might sound like that of a superhero, but Pooperman's task is much more basic. He, or she, is trying to shame the irresponsible dog owners of Lincoln into cleaning up behind their pets. Pooperman sticks notes into dog waste that owners have failed to clean up, warning them not to do it again. The typed notes read, "Don't leave it. You might be the one who steps in it the next time you walk this way." While welcoming the purpose of the message, local government officers have _ Pooperman for producing even more rubbish. They say they would prefer it if people told them when there was a problem rather than adding to the rubbish problem. The city of Lincoln government's environmental officer, Tony Garner, said, "The public can help instead by observing dog owners to make sure they clean up after their pets, perhaps asking them to remove the waste if they try to leave it." "If this doesn't work we can take action -- people can tell us who the owner is, give us a description of the owner and the dog, or simply tell us when and where they allow their dog to produce the waste." "We can then focus our patrols and take action against irresponsible owners." Sue Grace, a dog owner from Birchwood, Lincs, said, "I always clean up after my dog. It's very irresponsible if you don't." "There's nothing worse than stepping in dog waste or dragging your long lead through it, but I don't know that putting notes on it is the answer." "It's good that the local government is fighting against dog waste, though it might take one or two prosecutions to make any difference." According to the environmental officer, the public can _ . A punish irresponsible dog owners when necessary B report irresponsible dog owners to the police if possible C force irresponsible dog owners to clean up dog waste in some way D request irresponsible dog owners to clean up dog waste then and there Answer: D. request irresponsible dog owners to clean up dog waste then and there Education has an important effect on the mind or physical ability of an individual. It is the process by which society passes its accumulated knowledge, skills, and values from one generation to another. Various non-traditional education options are now available and continue to flourish . One of the most important uses in education is the use of technology. Teachers are encouraged to use new technological devices in order to strengthen learning among students and meet the needs of various types of learners. The right to education has been created and recognized by jurisdiction . Education is the most important concern of the government of India. Recently India has gained world recognition because many students from foreign countries come here to gain higher qualifications. One has to be educated in order to speed up the growth process in order to influence the economy. Education is indeed a powerful weapon to stop the cut- throat competition that man faces at every period of life. The importance of education in India is progressing with time. Although India has been a great foundation of learning for many years, it still needs to improve not just on the quality of education but also on the number of people being educated. Education is not just for academic success but also to make a person become a better human being and a better performer in life. Education makes the students able enough, so that they can compete nationally and internationally. To make a student a successful survivor in life, the responsibility lies equally with the schools and the parents too. Selecting a good school is as important as choosing a suitable career option for a child. The goal of education is the advancement of knowledge and the _ of truth, it is education that gives us all the power and necessities of making a difference in any field. People who are not educated have few opportunities to do what they want to do. Educated people become more responsible and informed citizens, and have a voice in politics and society. It allows people to be more productive by encouraging them to play responsible roles in terms of contributing to society. Nowadays teachers are encouraged to _ . A study modern science and technology B pass all knowledge to their students C use non-traditional devices in class D meet the needs of intelligent student first Answer: C. use non-traditional devices in class The street food stands are very popular in Korea . They take their name from the two kinds of hot foods they sell : Dukbokgi and Odeng . Dukbokgi is a spicy hot food made of rice cakes and some vegetables . These rice cakes are finger-shaped . They are white , and they are about ten centimeters in length . They are mixed with sliced vegetables in a pan with a spicy red dressing . Fifteen minutes later , they are ready to eat . Odeng is made of ground fish . It comes in many shapes : some are square , others are round , and still others are stick style . You can buy big or small ones . At these food stands , you can also eat Odeng , which has been boiled in a pot . It is served on a long stick so can eat it easily . The food sold at these stands is not expensive , compared to what other foods in Korea cost . Each Dukbokgi and Odeng costs about twenty to fifty cents , depending on the owner . Each food stand has its own recipes for its food ; for example , some like to add sugar or other special ingredients in the food . Usually , there is just one owner , but if the food stand is big , there may be two or three owners . When I was an elementary school student , I used to stop at street food stands every day after school to eat street food because I like it so much . The owner gives the name of his street food stand according to _ . A the food he sells B their recipes C the special ingredients D the shape of the food Answer: A. the food he sells in the presence heat, which of these comes about? A a piece of gum B a slurpy at the cafeteria C an ice cream cone D a large metamorphic rock Answer: D. a large metamorphic rock
Question: Eddie McKay, a once-forgotten pilot, is a subject of great interest to a group of history students in Canada. It all started when Graham Broad, a professor at the University of Western Ontario, found McKay's name in a footnote in a book about university history. McKay was included in a list of university alumni who had served during the First World War, but his name was unfamiliar to Broad, a specialist in military history. Out of curiosity, Broad spent hours at the local archives in a fruitless search for information on McKay. Tired and discouraged, he finally gave up. On his way out, Broad's glance happened to fall on an exhibiting case showing some old newspapers. His eye was drawn to an old picture of a young man in a rugby uniform. As he read the words beside the picture, he experienced a thrilling realization. "After looking for him all day, there he was, staring up at me out of the exhibiting case," said Broad. Excited by the find, Broad asked his students to continue his search. They combed old newspapers and other materials for clues. Gradually, a picture came into view. Captain Alfred Edwin McKay joined the British Royal Flying Corps in 1916. He downed ten enemy planes, outlived his entire squadron as a WWI flyer, spent some time as a flying instructor in England, then returned to the front, where he was eventually shot down over Belgium and killed in December 1917. But there's more to his story. "For a brief time in 1916 he was probably the most famous pilot in the world," says Broad. "He was credited with downing Oswald Boelcke, the most famous German pilot at the time." Yet, in a letter home, McKay refused to take credit, saying that Boelcke had actually crashed into another German plane. McKay's war records were destroyed during a World War II air bombing on London -- an explanation for why he was all but forgotten. But now, thanks to the efforts of Broad and his students, a marker in McKay's memory was placed on the university grounds in November 2007. "I found my eyes filling with tears as I read the word 'deceased' next to his name," said Corey Everrett, a student who found a picture of Mckay in his uniform. "This was such a simple example of the fact that he had been a student just like us, but instead of finishing his time at Western, he chose to fight and die for his country." McKay's flying documents were destroyed in _ . A. Belgium B. Germany C. Canada D. England Answer: D Question: A woman in Santa Fe, New Mexico, left her home early to go to work on a Thursday morning, but after twenty minutes' drive her car suddenly broke down. Fortunately, at that moment, a kind man named Jackson Auk coming, helped her pull the car over, but when he opened the hood of the car he didn't find a dead battery. Instead, he found a living snake, 9 - foot, 20 - pound, "It was looking right at me. It flicked its little tongue, and I was a little frightened "Jackson Ault said. So Ault and the woman called the local police to get help. The first officer on the scene didn't know how to control the snake like most people and was not brave at that moment. But then the police - Lt. Louis Carlos showed up and the story suddenly became much less frightening and more delightful. "Cool, I wanted to hold it!" Carlos told a local TV reporter about his reaction to seeing the snake. "It was easy for me to go there, pick it up, hold it and let the snake feel the warmth of my hands and my body." After comforting the snake, Carlos called Animals Control Service, which brought the snake to the Santa Fe Animal Shelter. One people from the center said the snake was not dangerous and it was like a pet that wanted to escape from its owner's home. It was also just a baby, only halfway toward her estimated adult length. They said it almost certainly crawled on the top of the car's engine to seek warmth and shelter. "We had a lot of fun with it today - everyone there wanted to challenge their courage and handle the snake," people could read these words on the Santa Fe Animal Shelter's Facebook page. In fact, not everyone thought that way. "I was hesitant to open my own hood even though that sounds ridiculous," Ault said. Why did Carlos call Animals Control Service? A. To get hold of the snake. B. To pick up the snake. C. To take the snake away. D. To operate on the snake. Answer: C Question: With the decrease in size of Antarctica Fiji will soon be A. gone B. better for fishing C. richer D. colder Answer: A Question: "You didn't reach secondary-school level!" the supervisor at the prefix = st1 /Manilamanufacturing company _ . Camelia Santos was frightened by her supervisor's anger. Even more serious was that without her help, she couldn't get her job done. The supervisor gaveSantosinstructions for labeling products, but sometimes _ weren't clear. When she asked for some specific explanation, the supervisor would ignore her. IfSantosended up making mistakes, through no fault of her own, the supervisor would shout at her in front of everyone. Santosagonized for months. Finally, she approached the company's human resources department for help. Both she and the supervisor were called into a private meeting to work things out. Santossaid she was willing to learn but she had to have clear instructions. She also needed to know that she wasn't going to behumiliated in front of her colleagues if there were problems. The supervisor agreed to Santos's requests and from that day, they worked together without problems. Difficult bosses, colleagues or employees exist everywhere. Meeting with difficult people in the workplace is inevitable and dealing with them is no easy task. Workers in western countries exercise their rights to protect themselves more than Asians. In Asian countries, victims are often fearful of losing face and family respect, so they suffer in silence. Even without legal protection, there arestrategiesyou can use to help you -- everything from facing them bravely to avoiding meeting them skillfully. When meeting with difficult bosses, westerners tend to _ . A. protect themselves by law B. quit the job immediately C. avoid meeting them skillfully D. suffer in silence Answer: A Question: April Fool's Day is on April 1st. On this day, strange things may happen. Our friends will play jokes on us and try to fool us. People don't know the origin of April Fool's Day clearly. Some say April Fool's Day began many years ago in France. Long ago in France, the old New Year's festival was celebrated from March 25th to April 1st and ended with exchange of presents. Later the King changed the New Year to January 1st. some people still celebrated the New year in April. They were called April Fish and were given presents as a joke. But in many countries, April Fool's Day is not celebrated on April 1st but on other days. In Mexico( ), April Fool's Day is on the 28th of December. In ancient Rome , the day was on the 25th of March. In India, the day is on the 31st of March. In America, the day is mostly decided by young people and jokes who want to make fun of other people. But it is important to remember that your friends and you will be both happy. One must remember the difference between a good joke and a bad one. Is April Fool's Day in Mexico on the twenty - fifth day in March? A. Yes, it isn't. B. No, it isn't. C. Yes, it is. D. Sorry, we don't know. Answer: C
Rice plants normally grow well in still water. But most will die if they are completely underwater for more than four days. Now, researchers have identified a gene that helps rice survive longer underwater. They say the discovery will lead to new kinds of rice plants that can survive flooding, and therefore reach their final aim, ensuring more dependable food supplies. Tests are now being done in prefix = st1 /Laos,BangladeshandIndia. The researchers say experimental rice plants with the gene have survived underwater as long as two weeks. When flooding happens, most kinds of rice plants cannot get enough oxygen, carbon dioxide or sunlight. But the scientists say crop loss depends on several conditions. These include soil conditions and plant age. Others include the amount of time the plant is underwater and the amount of fertilizer used on the crop. On a genetic map of rice, the scientists became interested in a group of three genes. They experimented with one of them, a gene known as Sub-One-A. They found that when this gene becomes very active, it improves the ability of rice to survive longer when rice is covered by water. They believe it succeeds because it affects the reaction to hormones . _ control the ability of a flooded plant to survive. Placing the gene into rice plants that are especially good for conditions inIndia, researchers say the genetically engineered plants not only survived but also produced good crops. The researchers are now trying to identify all the genes governed by the Sub-One-A gene. Being able to leave water on rice plants for an additional week might also help farmers prevent the growth of weeds. Less weed growth around their crops would mean less need for herbicide chemicals. What would be the best title for the passage? Answer: Gene researchers work on flood-resistant rice People who have lost the ability to understand or use words due to brain damage are called aphasics . Such patients can be extremely good at something else. From the changing expressions on speakers' faces and the tones of their voices, they can tell lies from truths. Doctors studying the human brain have given a number of examples of this amazing power of aphasics. Some have even compared this power to that of a dog with an ability to find out the drugs hidden in the baggage. Recently, scientists carried out tests to see if all that was said about aphasics was true. They studied a mixed group of people. Some were normal; others were aphasics. It was proved that the aphasics were far ahead of the normal people in recognizing false speeches -- in most cases, the normal people were fooled by words, but the aphasics were not. Some years ago, Dr. Oliver Sacks wrote in his book about his experiences with aphasics. He mentioned a particular case in a hospital. Some aphasics were watching the president giving a speech on TV. Since the president had been an actor earlier, making a good speech was no problem for him. He was trying to put his feelings into every word of his speech. But his way of speaking had the opposite effect on the patients. They didn't seem to believe him. Instead, they burst into laughter. The aphasics knew that the president did not mean a word of what he was saying. He was lying! Many doctors see aphasics as people who are not completely normal because they lack the ability to understand words. However, according to Dr. Sacks, they are more gifted than normal people. Normal people may get carried away by words. Aphasics seem to understand human expressions better, though they cannot understand words. What do we learn from this text? Answer: People poor at one thing can be good at another. We take it for granted that with memory we can remember most of things which happened in our life. But it is difficult to imagine what life would be like without memory. The meanings of thousands of everyday perceptions , the basis for the decisions we make, and the roots of our habits and skills are to be found in our past experiences, which are brought into the present by memory. Memory can be defined as the ability to keep information available for later use. It not only includes "remembering" things like arithmetic or historical facts, but also involves any change in the way an animal typically behaves. Memory is involved when a rat gives up eating grain because he has sniffed something suspicious in the grain pile. Memory exists not only in humans and animals but also in some physical objects and machines. Computers, for example, contain devices for storing data for later use. It is interesting to compare the memory storage capacity of a computer with that of a human being. The instant access memory of a large computer may hold up to 100,000 "words"--strings of alphabetic or numerical characters--ready for instant use. An average U.S. teenager probably recognizes the meaning of about 1000,000 words of English. However, this is but a part of the total amount of information that the teenager has stored. Consider, for example, the number of faces and places that the teenager can recognize on sight. The use of words is the basis of the advanced problem solving intelligence of human beings. A large part of a person's memory is in terms of words and combinations of words. But while language greatly expands the number and the kind of things a person can remember, it also requires a huge memory capacity. It may well be this capacity that distinguishes humans, setting them apart from other animals. According to the passage, memory is helpful in one's life in the following aspects EXCEPT that _ . Answer: it warns people not to do things repeatedly London's newest skyscraper is called the Shard and it cost about 430 million pounds to build. At a height of almost 310 metres, it is the tallest building in Europe. The Shard has completely changed the appearance of London. However, not everyone thinks that it is a change for the better. The Shard was designed by the famous Italian architect Renzo Piano. When he began designing the Shard for London, Piano wanted a very tall building that looked like a spire * He wanted the glass surfaces to reflect the sky and the city. The sides of the building aren't regular. So the building has an unusual shape. It looks like a very thin,sharp piece of broken glass. And that is how the building got the name: the Shard. Piano says that the spire shape of the Shard is part of a great London tradition. The shape reminds him of the spires of the churches of London or the tall masts of the ships that were once on the river Thames. The Shard has 87 floors. At the top, there is an observatory. At the moment the building is empty, but eventually there will be a five-star hotel. There will also be top quality restaurants, apartments and offices. Before building work began, a lot of people didn't want the Shard though the plans were approved. Now they are still unhappy about the Shard. Some critics say that such a tall skyscraper might be good in a city like New York, but not in London. They say that the best thing about the Shard is its spire shape. But that is the only thing. There is no decoration, only flat surfaces. The Egyptians did that 4,500 years ago. They also think the Shard is too big for London. It destroys the beauty of the city. Other critics don't like what the Shard seems to represent. They say that the Shard shows how London is becoming more unequal. Only very rich people can afford to buy the expensive private apartments and stay in the hotel. But the people who live near the Shard are among the poorest in London. So the Shard seems a symbol of the division in society between the very rich and the poor. The Shard now dominates the London skyline. It is not certain, however, that ordinary London citizens will ever accept it as a valuable addition to the city. Which would be the best title for the passage? Answer: The Shard: A Change for the Better? Two little children come to a big city. Their names are Mike and Bob. They live with their father and mother. Their family is very rich. They have a driver and lots of servants. Mike and Bob are going to a new school. Their father says to them, "Mike and Bob, don't say we are rich at school." So they go to school. Their teacher says, "Hi, boys and girls. Today we write a composition about your family. " So all the children write something about their families. This is Mike's composition. "My name is Mike. My family is poor. My father and my mother are poor. Our driver is very poor and all the servants are very poor. " , . Their family is _ . Answer: rich
What travels through the stem of a plant? Answer: 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. Every year in the United States there are _ . Answer: Archaeologists studying Stonehenge and its surrounding area say they've dug up the relics of an untouched, ancient campsite that dates back to 6,000 years--a find that could rewrite British prehistory. "This is the most important discovery at Stonehenge in over 60 years," Professor Tim Darvill, a Bournemouth University archaeologist and a Stonehenge expert who did not take part in the new discovery, told theTelegraph. And as he told The Huffington Post in an email, the discovery changes earlier theories that Stonehenge was built in a landscape that was not heavily used before about 3000 B.C. The discovery was made during a dig at Blick Mead, a site about 1.5 miles from Stonehenge. Researchers found charcoal dating back to 4,000 B.C. and evidence of possible buildings, according to a statement released by the university. They also dug up burnt stone and tools, as well as the remains of animals--ancient cattle that served as food for ancient hunter-gatherers. The researchers plan further analysis on theartificial objects but say they're worried the tunnel construction could damage the site and get in the way of their work. "Blick Mead could explain what archaeologists have been searching for centuries--an answer to the story of Stonehenge's past," David Jacques, the University of Buckingham archaeologist who discovered the campsite, toldThe Guardian. "But our only chance to find out about the earliest part of Britain's history could be ruined if the tunnel goes ahead." Stonehenge, a prehistoric monument made up of a ring of standing stones, lies eight miles north of Salisbury, England in Wiltshire. It has been listed as a World Heritage Site since 1986. In which section of a newspaper can we read this passage? Answer: Chores were not popular at my house.My children didn't like to do chores.They always saw me do chores, but they hardly ever helped me do them. A year ago, I made a game called "The Endless Chore Game".It's really great.Here's how the game works. I made a card with forty squares ( ) and I write a different chore on each square.These chores can be easy and interesting like making dessert.Then my family roll the dice to decide what chores we have to do.The card also has a few squares with fun things, like watching TV and singing.If you are lucky, you can watch TV when the others are doing the chores. My son likes the game very much.He goes to the kitchen happily every morning to do the game.It is really a good way to make my children do chores.You can have a try if you have the same problem with me. We can learn from the passage that _ . Answer: Tom is a fat boy when he is ten. He likes watching TV very much. He watches TV at least 5 hours every day. Wherever he goes, he will be late. One day, he finds a pair of special glasses in his post-box. He also finds a message saying, "With these you can see time." The boy wants to have a try. He puts the glasses on, looks at his brother, a tall and thin boy, and sees a big box of flowers on top of his head. And it isn't just like his brother. When he looks at his parents, he also sees the flowers. The three boxes are very beautiful. Then, he looks at himself from the mirror. He sees the flowers, too. But his flowers goes to the mouth of the television. Its mouth is big. His flowers becomes fewer and fewer. At last, he learns that watching TV is a _ of time. He can learn nothing from it. He decides he will never again let the television eat his time. What will Tom do later? Answer:
The majority of Indian women wear a red dot between their eyebrows. While it is generally taken as an indicator of their marital status, the practice is primarily related to the Hindu religion. The dot goes by different names in different Hindi dialects, and "bindi" is the one that is most commonly known. Traditionally, the dot carries no gender restriction: Men as well as women wear it. However, the tradition of men wearing it has faded in recent times, so nowadays we see a lot more women than men wearing one. The position of the bindi is standard: center of the forehead, close to the eyebrows. It represents a third, or inner eye. Hindu tradition holds that all people have three eyes: The two outer ones are used for seeing the outside world, and the third one is there to focus inward toward God. As such, the dot serves as a constant reminder to keep God in the front of a believer's thoughts. Red is the traditional color of the dot. It is said that in ancient times a man would place a drop of blood between his wife's eyes to seal their marriage. According to Hindu beliefs, the color red is believed to bring good fortune to the married couple. Today, people go with different colors depending upon their preferences. Women often wear dots that match the color of their clothes. Decorative or sticker bindis come in all sizes, colors and variations, and can be worn by young and old, married and unmarried people alike. Wearing a bindi has become more of a fashion statement than a religious custom. Which of the following statements is true about the practice of wearing a bindi today? A Bindis are now used as a decorative item. B Bindis are worn anywhere on the face now. C Most Indian women do not like to wear bindis anymore. D Wearing a bindi has become more popular among Indian men. Answer: A I got married in 2008. My husband and I are very emotional and have loads of dreams in life. Now I want to share a hidden part of my life. After one month of my marriage, I started working because I could not sit home. To accomplish our dreams, we are both working hard day and night in spite of belonging to a good family. Life is very strange. When any turn happens, one cannot know. I started working because I was very ambitious. I used to wonder about people who worked to earn their bread but I never knew in my wildest dreams that I would be part of the crowd who work to earn a livelihood. I was blessed with a daughter in November, 2009. She was just three months and 15 days old when I rejoined my job. My husband supported me and my family supported me but I never wanted to work again because I belonged to a family where a mother should give her full attention to her child. Keeping all the values aside that I learnt from my parents, I went back to work and will work till my last breath. I missed my daughter every second. She has started recognizing and throwing expressions for likes and dislikes. I cannot share my feelings with anyone, as I do not want anyone to know that I am broken completely from inside. My husband and my daughter are my greatest strength but I ignore them just to earn money and fulfill my dreams that I have. If one day, my daughter complains to someone about her mom, please tell her that she is my reason for survival and happiness and she is the only one who brings smile to my face. The author began to work after her marriage mainly because _ . A She expected to prevent herself from doing housework B She hoped to achieve her dream C She wanted to support her husband D She wanted to make her own bread Answer: B Mrs. Smith is Jim's mother. She loves her family very much. She often buys food, fruit and clothes for Jim and his father. Now many clothes are on sale at good prices. Mrs. Smith comes to the store and she wants to buy some clothes. It has sweaters in all colors for Y=15 each and sports shoes for only Y=28. Mrs. Smith likes the red sweater and she buys one for herself. She buys a pair of sports shoes for her son. The T-shirts in the store are just Y=18! She buys a white one for Mr. Smith. And that's not all. The socks, in all colors, are Y=2 each. She buys five pairs. Mrs. Smith spends _ on the socks. A Y=2 B Y=4 C Y=10 D Y=20 Answer: C This year some twenty-three hundred teenagers(young people aged from 13 --19)from all over the world will spend about ten months in U. S. homes. They will attend U.S. schools, meet U.S. teenagers, and form impressions of the real America. At the same time, about thirteen hundred American teenagers will go to other countries to learn new languages and gain a new understanding of the rest of the world. Here is a two-way student exchange in action. Fred, nineteen, spent last year in Germany with George's family. In turn, George's son Mike spent a year in Fred's home in America. Fred, a lively young man, knew little German when he arrived, but after two months' study, the language began to come to him. The school was completely different from what he had expected -- much harder. Students roserespectfully1when the teacher entered the room. They took fourteen subjects instead of the six that are usual in the United States. There were almost no outside activities. Family life, too, was different. The father's word was law, and all activities were around the family rather than the individual. Fred found the food too simple at first. Also, he missed having a car. "Back home, you pick up some friends in a car and go out and have a good time. In Germany, you walk, but you soon learn to like it." At the same time, in America, Mike, a friendly German boy, was also forming his idea. "I suppose I shouldcriticize2American schools," he says. "It is far too easy by our level. But I have to say that I like it very much. In Germany we do nothing but study. Here we take part in many outside activities. I think that maybe your schools are better in training for citizens. There ought to be some middle ground between the two." Notes: 1 respectfully adv. , 2 criticize vt. , Choose the best answers according to the above: After experiencing the American school life, Mike thought _ . A a better education should include something good from both American and Germany B German schools trained students to be better citizens C American schools were not as good as German schools D the easy life in the American school was more helpful to students Answer: A Robert Spring, a 19th century forger , was as good at his profession that he was able to make his living for 15 years by selling false signatures of famous Americans. Spring was born in England in 1813 and arrived in Philadelphia in 1858 to open a bookstore. At first he make some money by selling his small but genuine of early U.S. autographs . Discovering his ability at copying handwriting, he began imitating signatures of George Washington and Ban Franklin and writing them on the title pages of old books. To make less the chance of detection , he sent his forgeries to England and Canada for sale and circulation . Forgers have a hard time selling their products. A forger can't approach a respectable buyer but must deal with people who don't have much knowledge in the field. Forgers have many ways to make their work look real. For example, they buy old books to use the aged paper of the title page, and they can treat paper and ink with chemicals. In Spring's time, right after the Civil War, Britain was still fond of the Southern states, so Spring invented a respectable maiden lady known as Miss Fanny Jackson, the only daughter of General "Stonewall" Jackson. For several years Miss Fanny's economic problems forced her to sell a great number of letters and manuscripts belonging to her famous father. Spring had to work very hard to satisfy the demand. All this activity did not prevent Spring from dying in poverty, leaving sharp-eye experts the difficult task of separating this forgeries from the originals. Robert Spring spent 15 years _ . A running a bookstore in Philadelphia B corresponding with Miss Fanny Jackson C as a forger D as a respectable dealer Answer: C
The American economic system is organized around a basically private-enterprise, market-oriented economy in which consumers largely determine what shall be produced by spending their money in the marketplace for those goods and services that they want most. Private businessmen, striving to make profits, produce these goods and services in competition with other businessmen; and the profit motive, operating under competitive pressures, largely determines how these goods and services are produced. Thus, in the American economic system it is the demand of individual consumers, coupled with the desire of businessmen to maximize profits and the desire of individuals to maximize their incomes, that together determine what shall be produced and how resources are used to produce it. An important factor in a market-oriented economy is the mechanism by which consumer demands can be expressed and responded to by producers. In the American economy, this mechanism is provided by a price system, a process in which prices rise and fall in response to demands of consumers and supplies offered by seller-producers. If the product is in short supply to the demand, the price will be bid up and some consumers will be eliminated from the market. If, on the other hand, producing more of a commodity results in reducing its cost, this will tend to increase the supply offered by seller-producers, which in turn will lower the price and permit more consumers to buy the product. Thus, price is the regulating mechanism in the America economic system. The important factor in a private-enterprise economy is that individual are allowed to own productive resources (private property), and they are permitted to hire labor, gain control over natural resources, and produce goods and services for sale at a profit. In the American economy, the concept of private property embraces not only the ownership of productive resources but also certain rights, including the right to determine the price of a product or to make a free contract with another private individual. In Para. 1, " the desire of individuals to maximize their incomes" means _ . A Americans never feel satisfied with their incomes. B Americans tend to overstate the amount of their incomes. C Americans want to have their incomes increased. D Americans want to increase the purchasing power of their incomes. Answer: D Education is not an end, but a means to an end. In other words, we do not educate children only for the purpose of educating them. Our purpose is to fit them for life. In some modern countries it has for some time been fashionable to think that by free education for all -- one can solve all the problems of society and build a perfect nation. But we can already see that free education for all is not enough; we find in such countries a far larger number of people with university degree; they refuse to do what they think "low" work; and, in fact, work with hands is thought to be dirty and shameful in such countries. But we have only to think a moment to understand that the work of a completely uneducated farmer is far more important than that of a professor; we can live without education, but we die if we have no food. If no one cleaned our streets and took the rubbish away from our houses, we should get terrible diseases in our towns... In fact, when we say that all of us must be educated to fit us for life, it means that we must be educated in such a way that, firstly, each of us can do whatever work suited to his brains and ability and, secondly, that we can realize that all jobs are necessary to society, and that is very bad to be ashamed of one's work. Only such a type of education can be considered valuable to society. The passage tells us about _ of the education. A the means B the system C the value D the type Answer: C Which of these animals is most likely to be found living and feeding on the forest floors of Virginia? A Bat B Trout C Deer mouse D Golden eagle Answer: C To get cash out in the 21st century, you won't need a bank card, a PIN or even have to move a finger. You will simply have to look the cash machine straight in the eye, declares National Cash Registers, a multinational company that makes automated teller machines, or ATMs. NCR has shown its first example machine that is believed to be the future of banking. Instead of asking you for your PIN on a screen, the Super Teller-Stella for short, asks you orally through a loudspeaker to look straight ahead while an infrared camera turns to your head, then your eye, and finally takes an infrared photograph of your iris . For identification purposes, an iris picture is better than a fingerprint, with around 256 noticeable characteristics compared with 40 for fingerprints. This means that the chances of someone else being recognized in your place is about 1 in 1020. Once you've been identified, Stella greets you by name and says: "Would you like cash or a statement?" An infrared port allows the machine to send a bank statement straight to your pocket computer. What is this new machine called? A Stella B ATM C PIN D NCR Answer: A Student Membership-----Cambridge Arts Cinema Cambridge Arts Cinema is one of the art houses in Britain and home of the internationally celebrated Cambridge Film Festival. Since 1947 generations of students have discovered the wealth of world cinema. Now you too can make most of it and save money. At the Arts you can... * choose from up to 40 films a month * see up to 8 premieres each month * catch screenings when you like--we open early and close late * increase your knowledge of film with our special events--each year we run seasons on various types of films and directors * meet the filmmakers What _ you _ get _ as _ a _ member: * invitation to a preview screening * PS1 off the standard prices(PS4.50/PS3.50)for any screening including special events * your own copy of each cinema programme mailed free of charge * a card with your own membership number * 50% off membership to the Cambridge Darkroom Gallery So what are you waiting for?Just fill in the form and return it either in person or by post to: Box Office Cambridge Arts Cinema 8 Market Passage Cambridge CN2 3PF It costs PS15 to join and your card can be used from 1st October 2011 to 30th June 2012. Cinema Information:01223 572929 (24hr) Box Office:01223 50444448. How long will the membership for Cambridge Arts Cinema last? A Four months. B Eight months. C Nine months. D One year. Answer: C
Paula Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday get up 7:10a.m. 7:10a.m. 7:10a.m. 7:10a.m. 7:10a.m. morning school school school school school lunch pizza rice rice rice rice afternoon Yo--yo Table tennis Table tennis Table tennis football evening homework homework television homework clothes Go to sleep 10:15p.m. 10:15p.m. 10:15p.m. 10:15p.m. 10:15p.m. Paula's favourite sport is _ . A. volleyball B. table tennis C. yo--yo D. football Answer: B An example of how sunlight is a source of light from the sun is A. weather being variable B. raising temps C. windmills producing energy D. frogs croaking Answer: B When you enter a crowded room or go on a picnic or to a party, who is the most attractive and appealing person? It is the person who is cheerful, has a smiling face and behaves as if he or she is enjoying every moment of the event! Such people have an optimistic opinion on life. They are the ones with a positive attitude. On the other hand, let's see that fellow in the corner with a long face. He is most probably thinking about the time and money wasted in having fun. He is a pessimist, one with a negative attitude. A person with a positive attitude gets on well with the job at hand. He doesn't worry about what's gone before or what might happen in the future. If there is a problem, he quickly thinks of ways to solve it. If the problem cannot be solved singly, he seeks help from someone else. He doesn't feel that it's beneath his dignity to seek assistance. When Sonal lost her history notes days before an important examination, she sat down and cried. Then she pulled herself together, borrowed a friend's notes, worked day and night and managed to copy down whatever she had lost. Sonal passed the exam with flying color1s. It's just not possible, even for the greatest optimist, to smile all the time and feel good all day. Everyone has a period of blues now and then, when everything seems sad and without cheer. But once you develop a positive attitude, once you realize that life is a series of ups and downs, dark clouds and bright sunshine, in no time at all, you've _ , ready to welcome the world again with open arms and a huge smile! So from this moment on, keep your face to the sunshine and you'll never see the shadows. The case of Sonal suggested that _ . A. a person can solve the problem once he thinks of a way B. Sonal made up for what she had lost by working day and night C. Sonal was a pessimist because he lost her history notes D. the history notes that she lost was not important for her Answer: A 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!" Who helped Ruth with her cut? A. Her mother B. A friend C. Herself D. Her "daddy" Answer: D As they went to the doors they saw they had the letters A, B, C, and D on them. What did it mean? Alpha, the leader, told everyone to stop and look at the doors, so as to see which door they would go through. The walls were brown and dirty. The lights were yellow. Door A was blue. This was Beta's choice. Door B was red. Door C was the same color as door A. Door D a color no one had seen before. Gamma felt that Alpha needed to make a choice soon before the monsters caught their scent. Delta was the first to voice a choice. He wanted to go in the red door. Alpha told him that the old books said to go in the blue door. This is why it was so hard for Alpha right now. Two doors were blue. Being a good leader, Alpha asked everyone what they wanted to do. The final choice was door D. They went in and enjoyed all of time in a world with odd colors. What color was door C? A. blue B. red C. yellow D. brown Answer: A
I have a rule of travel: never carry a map. I prefer to ask for directions. Foreign visitors are often puzzled in Japan because most streets there don't have names. In Japan, people tell landmarks in their directions instead of street names. For example, the Japanese will say to travelers, " Go straight down to the corner. Turn left at the big hotel and pass a fruit market. The post office is across from the bus stop." In the countryside of the American Midwest, usually there are not many landmarks. There are no towns or buildings within miles. Instead of landmarks, people will tell you directions and distance. In Kansas or Iowa, for example, people will say, " Go north two miles, turn west, and then go another mile." People in Los Angeles, California, have no idea of distance on the map. They measure distance by means of time, not miles. "How far away is the post office?" you ask. "Oh," they answer, "it's about five minutes from here." You say, " Yes, but how many miles away is it?" They don' t know. People in Greece sometimes do not even try to give directions because visitors seldom understand the Greek language. Instead of giving you the direction, a Greek often says, " Follow me." Then he will lead you through the streets of the city to the post office. Sometimes a person doesn't know the answer to your question. What happens then? A New Yorker might say, " Sorry, I have no idea." But in Yuchatan, Mexico, no one answers " I don't know." People in Yucatan think that " I don't know" is impolite. They usually give an answer, often a wrong one. A visitor can get very lost in Yucatan. However, one thing will help you everywhere---- in Japan, in the United States, in Greece, in Mexico, or in any other places. You might not understand a person's words, but maybe you can understand his body language. He or she will usually turn and then point in the correct direction. Go in that direction and you may find the post office. From the text we may know that _ . Answer: EVERYONE is talking about bird flu . Yes it is a very dangerous disease that could make people very sick. It will be a few months before we have good medicine for bird flu.But that doesn't mean you can't do anything to prevent it now. So far, all the people who have caught bird flu have been those who touched sick chickens or their droppings . So it is a good idea for people to stay away from live chickens. "People used to go to the markets to buy live chickens to eat, but now they have to change that habit," said Peter, an expert from World Health Organization. But if you do touch a sick bird, remember to wash your hands carefully with soap right away. Experts also say having good habits and a healthy body will help keep you safe from bird flu. For example, don't buy or eat birds that have not been checked. Don't eat anything that has touched raw meat. Also don't forget to open your windows often and exercise regularly. Getting enough sleep is also very important for fighting illness .If you feel sick, see a doctor right away.At present, no one in Shanghai has bird flu. But WHO says children under 12 years old could easily get sick with bird flu. Try to stay away from people who have the flu, and always cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. What should you do when you cough or sneeze? Answer: Almost every person uses the Web for something nowadays. This is a good idea since it is useful for so many different things. When you consider its speed and convenience, you will understand that there isn't any reason to use any other means to complete everyday jobs. Just consider the convenience factor when you need quick simple information. Looking for a movie can take just minutes by jumping online as opposed to going and getting a newspaper and then hoping it has the theater that interests you. It is also a great way to find a restaurant for the evening. From the online yellow pages to the various websites of different eateries , there are many different choices of spots to gather information. Find old friends from school by joining in one of the endless groups that have been created to put people together. Information is just so easy to get when you are using the Web. Find out how to build a pond yourself in your own backyard or garden by a quick search. Then shop for materials and fish as well. Shopping on the Internet also saves time and we can select a better product without having to travel a long distance. Using the Internet, shoppers can go through the product's prices from various stores while sitting in one place. Studying for school of any kind is easier when you can use the Web to find information. Now you can search an online dictionary that anyone can use at no cost. Doing research is easy, since there are lots of sites devoted to helping students of any type get their work completed. Businesses also have a huge existence on the Web. A company might only have a simple website to give directions and its location. There are many of us who now depend on the Web. If a business does not have some type of website, then it will not be found by those who search the Web for local businesses. What is the main idea of the passage? Answer: News one: As the pace of life in big cities is getting faster, people are looking for more ways to relax. Let's take a look at one way people are reducing stress in Beijing. The game is "Room Escape". "Room Escape" was originally a computer game. In recent years, it has been adapted to a real life game. There are more than 10 places in Beijing where people can play this game. According to the rules, the players are first taken to a house with several iron doors. They then need to find a way out of the house in one hour. Different houses have different ways of escaping, all of which require players' bold , careful thought, and teamwork. News two: The Chinese government has published a list of 24 guidelines on how to take better care of parents. They are a modern update to 24 old stories about respectful children from the Yuan Dynasty. The guidelines list 24 things to do with parents, including giving them a call every week, teaching them to use the internet, and supporting single parents' remarriage. The guidelines stem from a Yuan Dynasty book, about 24 filial-hearted children who treated their parents very well. It is a value younger generations should never forget. What should we not do to our parents? Answer: Every year on my birthday, from the time I turned 12, a white gardenia was delivered to my house. No card came with it. Calls to the flower-shop were not helpful at all. After a while I stopped trying to discover the sender's name and just delighted in the beautiful white flower in soft pink paper. But I never stopped imagining who the giver might be. Some of my happiest moments were spent daydreaming about the sender. My mother encouraged these imaginings. She'd ask me if there was someone for whom I had done special kindness. Perhaps it was the old man across the street whose mail I'd delivered during the winter. As a girl, though, I had more fun imagining that it might be a boy I had run into. One month before my graduation, my father died. I felt so sad that I became completely uninterested in my upcoming graduation dance, and I didn't care if I had a new dress or not. But my mother, in her own sadness, would not let me miss any of those things. She wanted her children to feel loved and lovable. In truth, my mother wanted her children to see themselves much like the gardenia-lovely, strong and perfect with perhaps a bit of mystery .My mother died ten days after I was married. I was 22. That was the year the gardenia stopped coming. The mother insisted that her daughter go to the graduation dance because _ . Answer:
Scientists use the term "light year" to describe Standing alone at Browns party,Anna Mackintosh thought about her husband Edward,establishing him clearly in her mind's eye. He was a thin man,forty-one years of age,with fair hair that was often untidy.In the seventeen years they'd been married he had changed very little:he was still nervous with other people,and smiled in the same shy way,and his face was still almost boyish. She believed she had failed him because he had wished for children and she had not been able to supply any.She had been annoyed for this fact over the years and in the end,quite some time ago now,she had consulted Dr.Abbat at Edward's request. In the Browns'rich living room,its walls and ceilings giving out a bright light with a metallic surface of imitation gold,Anna listened to dance music coming from a tape recorder and continued to think about her husband. In a moment he would be at the party too,since they had agreed to meet there,although by now it was three quarters of an hour later than the time he had planned to come. The Browns were people he knew in a business way,and he had said he thought it wise that he and Anna should attend this gathering of theirs. She had never met them before,which made it more difficult for her,having to wait about,not knowing a soul in the room. When she thought about it she felt herself unfairly treated,for although Edward was kind to her and always had been,it was far from thoughtful to be as late as this. Because of her nervous condition she felt afraid and had developed a sickness in her stomach.She looked at her watch and sighed. Why did Edward want Anna to attend the party? One bitterly cold day,a snowstorm blew into our area. Needing firewood,I quickly set out with my best friend,Bruce,to look for a tree to cut down. I was glad to have Bruce along with. Cutting down a tree in a snowstorm can be dangerous. So it was important to have a friend who could warn me of danger. When I chose a big tree about 23 meters tall and prepared to cut it down,my best friend suddenly warned me,"Don't cut down that tree!It's too close to the power line!"I wasn't sure about it. So I decided to _ his warning. I wanted to finish the job quickly and go home. So I began cutting down the tree. When the tree fell,there was no longer any doubt that my friend was right. The tree caught the power line,bringing it to the ground. I considered cutting the tree off the line. After all,electricity can't travel through wood,so I could safely remove the tree. As I reached out my finger to touch the tree,pain ran up my arm and through my head. I was shocked! After I returned home and told my mother what had happened,she quickly called the power company. The workers from the power company soon arrived on the scene. One of them asked if I had touched the tree,and when I told him I had,his face turned pale. "You should have been killed," he said. So why am I still alive?It was my boots that saved my life. Within two hours,the workers removed the tree. Soon _ . Even though she was glad I wasn't hurt,my mother was still serious. After all,I shouldn't have brushed off my friend's warning. Through this experience,I learn it's important to listen to people who offer a different perspective. time to listen might actually save a lot of time and trouble. It certainly would have kept me from getting the "shock" of my life. In spite of Bruce's warning,the author still cut down the tree because _ . Divorces in Japan have more than doubled, according to health ministry statistics. One in three Japanese marriages now ends in divorce. Atsuko Okano was in one of those failed marriages. Three years ago, she found herself alone in her 30s, with children to raise and a future full of question marks and social shame. But she also saw an opening, and became an advisor helping people like herself. "My husband was cheating on me," she recalled. 'I did everything to bring him back to me but it didn't work, so I _ him." Such frankness is a major characteristic of Japan's recently divorced. Divorced people - particularly woman - have long been looked down upon in Japan, where self-sacrifice and family stability are regarded as ideals. In the past, bored housewives remained bored. The security of the family unit was the most important thing. Now, young Japanese are increasingly choosing satisfaction in life over the demands of tradition, and more woman are financially independent. As a result, Japanese divorce rates are flying. Experts attribute this to the erosion of a long-standing double standard that granted divorced men respectability, but branded(gave somebody a bad name) divorced women as damaged goods. Over the past decade, growing numbers of highly educated and successful professional women have challenged that assumption(something taken for granted) by turning their backs on unhappy marriages and paying no attention to the taboo of divorce. The majority of divorce behavior now is started by women. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as the reason for rising rate of Japanese divorces? Honesty,my mum always used to tell me,is the best policy.Of course,this didn't include her when she told me that if I didn't eat all my vegetables Father Christmas would find out and wouldn't give me any presents. But when it comes to medicine.I had assumed it was important to always be honest with my patients.After all,the doctor-patient relationship is based on trust,and therefore honesty is essential.Or so I thought. I had just started working in geriatrics .Mr. McMahon was brought in when his belly was found very swollen.I took a medical history from his daughter who'd accompanied him in the ambulance.She'd been his main carer for years.I stood looking at him as she gave a detailed history."Has he lost any weight recently?"I asked."Well,it's funny you should mention that,but yes."she said slowly.There was silence for a few moments."Why? What are you worried about?"she asked.I hesitated.She was obviously very involved in his care and it was only fair that I told her the truth."Well.we need to prove it's not cancer."I said and talked briefly about some of the tests I was going to order. Half an hour later, a nurse called me:"Mr. McMahon's daughter broke down--she said you told her he had cancer."My heart sank.By the time I arrived at the ward,my consultant was already there,explaining that we still had to run lots of tests and that it was by no means confirmed that he had cancer.I stood silently at the end of the bed.My consultant was obviously angry with me and as we left Mr. McMahon,she turned to me."Why on earth did you do that?"she asked in disbelief.I looked at her and bit my lip."She asked me what I was worried about and I told her."I said,hanging my head."And give her more to worry about?"replied my consultant."You don't say the word'cancer'until it's confirmed.Even if you suspect it,think very carefully before you tell people." As it turned out, it wasn't cancer.But I did learn that when someone is stressed and worried about their loved one they're sometimes selective in what they hear and as a doctor it's important to be mindful of this.In being truthful,I'd made the situation worse. What lesson has the author learnt from his experience?
Lisa never had the chance to know her father. He and her mother divorced when she was just a young child. Even though he didn't move far, he never came to visit his children. Lisa often wondered about her father. What did he looked like and what he was doing. All she knew was his name: Jeff White. After Lisa grew up, she became a nurse at a hospital, where she would help provide medicine and comfort for patients in their final days. A few weeks ago, she received a new patient whose name was Jeff White. When Jeff came into his room, Lisa asked him if he had any children. Jeff told her that he had two daughters, Lisa and Elly. Lisa couldn't hold her tears back. She told him, "I am Lisa, your daughter." Jeff embraced her, saying that he was not a good father. And the daughter held his hand and kissed him. Then Jeff began to sing This Magic Moment. Jeff could have just weeks left to live, so Lisa wanted to make the most of the time she had with him. Lisa also brought her kids to the hospital to meet their grandfather. The kid made cards for him with the words, "I love you." Forgiveness is also a kind of love. What did Lisa know about her father? A. Her father's looks B. Her father's name C. Her father's hobby D. Her father's job Answer: B. Her father's name The next time you look up at the sky and see a cloud that looks like Mickey Mouse or your favorite fruit, look again. It may not be a cloud, but a Flogo -- a logo that flies. It's a new form of advertising in the sky that's never been used before. It's a different way to market your products, logos, and events. These funny logos are made with soap bubbles mixed with a little helium gas ,which makes them lighter than air and float in the sky. Special machines are used to make these new funny Flogos. The machine, which can be rented for $ 2,500 a day, can make a Flogo every 15-25 seconds. Flogos can fly much higher or lower if needed. They can last from a few minutes to an hour anywhere in the sky, depending on the weather conditions. Though they can fly up to 20, 000 feet, they usually float around at 300- 500 feet. Flogos are only white now, but people hope to have more colorful Flogos in the near future. Flogos are Green, 100% environmentally safe, because the soap used to make the Flogo comes from plants and leaves. So this fun way of advertising is healthy and good for the environment. From the passage, we can infer that Flogos _ . A. can fly for hours in the sky all day B. can have different colors at present C. may be influenced by the weather D. may be the cheapest way of advertising Answer: C. may be influenced by the weather Water is of vital importance in a healthy diet and lifestyle. There are many health benefits of drinking water .It helps get _ out of our systems. It aids in the delivery of oxygen and nutrients .In fact, nearly every system in our bodies depends on water for proper functioning .But how can we tell whether the water we're drinking is healthy? As to tap water, it's relatively easy .If your water comes from a governmental source , the suppliers are required by law to provide annual water quality reports .If you have a well, you can have an authorized lab test your water .It may cost $100 or more, but it's a small price to pay for peace of mind . When it comes to bottled drinking water, it can be more difficult to know what you're getting .Start by checking the label or the bottle cap. Some may tell you that the water comes from a governmental source or "community water system", which means tap water .If the label doesn't give any information, you can call the bottler and ask .But don't be surprised if you get the runaround and are transferred to several different departments .Some states have a bottled water program that tracks bottled drinking water and can tell you the origin of the water as well as other information . Safe and healthy drinking water has become big business .Thousands of companies are competing for your hard earned cash , and some are not always honest about what their products offer .The initial investment in a home drinking water filtration system can seem expensive at first , but over time , it is usually less expensive than bottled drinking water .And with a water filter , you at least know where the water you drink comes from and how it is treated . Before going out and spending your hard earned money on bottled drinking water , it's a good idea to do some research .You're likely to find that a drinking water filtration system or purifier is a healthier choice and provides the best value as well . By using a water filter, people _ A. can drink water without fearing that the water isn't treated B. will have to pay more money eventually than if they just drink bottled water C. will know if the water company is honest or not D. can check the quality of the water by themselves. Answer: A. can drink water without fearing that the water isn't treated Earthquakes happen without warning .They can happen any time of a day,at any point during the year.But don't worry because most are so weak that they cannot be felt. Only a few big ones hurt people. However,it's important to know what to do when an earthquake is happening. Do NOT go outside.You could get injured from falling glass or parts of buildings.If you are outside,stay away from buildings and power lines . Stay under a desk,table,or other strong furniture .Hold on to it.Or stay in a corner of the building.Cover your face and head with your arms and cover your mouth with a towel or clothing.Stay inside until shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Keep away from windows,pictures or advertisements on the wall or the building,and anything else that could fall and hurt you.Most people get injured by falling things during an earthquake,not by the shaking itself. Also keep away from a fire.You could fall down and burn yourself on the fire. If you are driving when an earthquake happens,stop the car if it's safe.Stay inside your car until the earthquake stops,and don't drive near bridges. Try not to stop by power lines or trees.These could fall and hurt you. From the passage,when an earthquake is happening,we should. A. stay under a big building B. stay under a strong furniture C. stand by windows D. drive near a big bridge Answer: B. stay under a strong furniture The phenomenon is becoming more and more popular that human beings have developed a closely relationship with the most dangerous of animals-Kevin Richardson treats lions like kitty cats,Andre Hartman has a special bond with Great White Sharks and now there is 79year old Werner Freund who has spent the last 40 years of his life in the company of wolves. While details about how and why the former paratrooper became attached to these beautiful wild animals are a little summary,he has been tending them in his 25acre Wolvespark located in the German province of Saarland,since 1972.While he currently has a group of 29,over the years he has raised almost 70 wolves belonging to all breeds ranging from Siberian to Arctic,Canadian,European and even,Mongolian.The wolves treat Werner as if he were one of their own.They nuzzle against him,play with him and are generally sheeplike when he is around,just like they would be around a head wolf! This,however,is not accidental-It is a position that Werner works on establishing and maintaining with a simple act,every single day-Whenever it's feeding time,he calls his wolves to come for the raw meat by howling.As the hungry animals rush to get their food,they are always met with this scene-Werner sinking his teeth into the raw meat first.While this may sound a little rude,that is how the position of hierarchy is established in the animal world.It is always the leader male that gets the first meal and only when he signals,can the rest join in.Werner's wolves know this rule quite well and never challenge his authority. While wolves,the largest member of the dog family,are believed to be dangerous,they rarely attack humans.Werner says that in reality,they are beautiful gentle souls,whose reputation has been tarnished,by fairy tales like Red Riding Hood! When Werner Freund feeds his wolves, _ . A. he whistles loudly B. he bites the meat firstly C. wolves challenge his authority D. wolves eat all their foods. Answer: B. he bites the meat firstly
Until late in the 20th century, most Americans spent time with people of generations. Now mid-aged Americans may not keep in touch with old people until they are old themselves.That's because we group people by age. We put our three-year-olds together in day-care center, our 13-year-olds in school and sports activities, and our 80-year-olds in senior-citizen homes. Why? We live away from the old for many reasons: young people sometimes avoid the old to get rid of fears for aging and dying. It is much harder to watch .someone we love disappear before our eyes. Sometimes it's so hard that we stay away from the people who need us most. Fortunately, .some of us have found our way to the old. And we have discovered that they often save the young. A reporter moved her family onto a block filled with old people. At first her children were disappointed. But the reporter baked banana bread for the neighbours and had her children deliver it and visit. Soon the children had many new friends, with whom they shared food, stories and projects. "My children have never been less lonely," the reporter said. The young, in turn, save the old. Once I was in a rest home when a visitor showed up with a baby. She was immediately surrounded. People who hadn't gotten out of bed in a week suddenly were ringing for a wheelchair. Even those who had seemed asleep wake up to watch the child. Babies have an astonishing power to comfort and cure. Grandparents are a special case. They give grandchildren a feeling of security and continuity. As my husband put it, "my grandparents gave me a deep sense that things would turn out right in the end." Grandchildren speak of attention they don't get from worried parents. "My parents were always telling me to hurry up, and my grandparents told me to slow down," one friend said. A teacher told me she can tell which pupils have relationships with grandparents: they are quieter, calmer, more trusting. Now in an American family, people can find that _ . Answer: not all working people live with their parents Now children can do many nice things after school. They can read books, ride bikes, watch TV and play games. But boys like playing ball games best. The children near my door often play football in the garden, and sometimes they break my windows. One Saturday afternoon I stay at home and read a book. After a few minutes, I close my eyes and go to sleep. Suddenly a sound at the door wakes me up. Soon a little boy comes in. " Not one of my windows again?" " Oh, no!" answers the boy. " Your window is open this time and our ball is in your bedroom. May I get it, please?" Which of the following is WRONG? Answer: The boys near my door break my windows every day. Huzhou, May 10 (Huzhou Daily)--A city eye examination has showed that Huzhou primary and high school children's eyesight has been getting worse. It showed test results were lower than those from the last examination in 2010. Only 10% of the tested students had good eyesight, but more than 30 percent in 2010. The examination covered 1,770 students from 54 classes. They were from primary and high schools in 5 districts. According to the test results of the junior high school group, children from Anji District scored an average of four, much lower than 4.8. Below four is classed as short-sightedness. None of the students from Deqing District tested above 4.8. Huzhou would adopt measures to improve children's eyesight. Most importantly, students should be freed from the burden of exams and relax their eyes more often every day. Which of the following is classed as short-sightedness according to the passage? Answer: The eyesight below 4. Tourism probably started in Roman times. Rich Romans visited friends and family who were working in another part of the Roman Empire. But when the empire broke down,this kind of tourism stopped. In the early 17th century, the idea of the "Grand Tour" was born. Rich young English people sailed across the English Channel .They visited the most beautiful and important European cities of the time, including Paris in France, and Rome and Venice in Italy. Their tours lasted for two to four years, and the tourists stayed a few weeks or months in each city. The "Grand Tour" was an important part of young people's education--but only for the rich. In the 18th century, tourism began to change. For example, people in the UK started to visit some towns, such as Bath to" take the waters". They believed that the water there was good for their health. So large and expensive hotels were built in these towns. In the 19th century, travel became much more popular and faster. When the first railways were built in the 1820s, it was easier for people to travel between towns, so they started to go for holidays by the sea. And some started to have holidays in the countryside as cities became larger, noisier and dirtier. Traveling by sea also became faster and safer when the first steamships were built. People began to travel more to far away countries. The 20th century saw cars become more and more popular among ordinary people. Planes were made larger, so ticket prices dropped and more people used them. Thus tourism grew. In 1949, Russian journalist Vladimir Raitz started a company called Horizon Holidays. The company organizes everything--plane tickets, hotel rooms, even food--and tourists pay for it all before they leave home. The package tour and modern tourist industry was born. The first travel agency in China was set up as early as 1949.But tourism did not take off until 1978.In 2002,the industry was worth 500 billion yuan and became an important part of China's social development. Modern tourism was born _ . Answer: in 1949 This is a picture of Mr Wang's family. The man in the middle is Mr Wang, the father. The woman is the mother. They have two daughters. One is Wang Fang. She is twelve. The other is Wang Li. She is thirteen. Wang Fang and Wang Li are in the same school, but not in the same grade. Wang Fang is in Grade One. Wang Li is in Grade Two. They are good students. Mr and Mrs Wang have _ . Answer: two girls
Rabbits are easy to raise. They are clean and quiet. They don't need a lot of room. And it costs a small amount of money to feed them, but you can get a big return. One male and two females will produce as many as fifty more rabbits in a year. That is enough to provide enough meat for a family. Rabbit meat is high in protein and low in fat. You don't have to be a farmer to raise rabbits. You can raise them in the city. Rabbit houses are easy to make with wood and wire. They don't have to be very big. But each rabbit must have its own little room in the house. This is very important. Each room should be about 75 centimeters wide, 60 centimeters high and one meter deep. Fencing is used for the sides and floor of the rabbit house. The holes in the wire fencing should be about one centimeter square. Waste from the animals will drop through the holes. This keeps the rabbit house clean and dry. Rabbits need a lot of fresh air and sunlight. Cover the sides of the rabbit house only to protect it from rain. Rabbits eat mostly grass and leaves. Hang feeding containers on the outside of the house to let the rabbits eat whenever they want. They simply pull the grass and leaves through the holes in the fence. Each room should have fresh water. The water containers should be heavy so the rabbit cannot turn them over. Or you can tie the containers to the fence. One month after mating , female rabbits give birth to about eight babies. In two months, a baby rabbit should weigh about two kilograms. This is big enough to make a meal for a small family. Rabbits are also valuable for their fur. It takes time, skill and money to prepare the fur and skin for use. If you have only a few rabbits, it probably would be best to let a tanner prepare the fur for you. Skill is also needed to remove the fur from the rabbit. _ . Many people enjoy keeping rabbits as friendly pets. And rabbit waste makes an excellent fertilizer . It can be mixed directly into the soil to improve the growth of vegetables, trees, and flowering plants. What is important if you raise rabbits? Answer: Different countries have different greeting customs.Now let's learn more about the greeting customs in different cultures. France France people greet each other with a handshake ,but close friends kiss each other on the cheek when they meet.They do this when meeting and before leaving. Korea In Korea ,it is a sign of respect for people to bow when greeting each other.In Korea, a bow is followed by a handshake.However ,Korea women do not shake hands with western men ,instead ,they bow slightly. Brazil Kissing women on the cheek is a common way of greeting.In a formal situation ,a handshake is often done to show respect.Men should shake hands before and after meeting, and once they have become familiar with each other ,a light hug is often given to each other. Ghana In a social situation, it's polite to greet everyone in the room.A handshake is used in greeting,and the palm must directly touch the palm of the other.It's considered impolite to touch the back of the hand. In Brazil ,it is very common to _ for two men who know each other well. Answer: Sometimes I really doubt whether there is love between my parents. Every day they are busy earning money. They don't act in the romantic ways that I read in books or I see on TV. My father has a bad temper. When he's tired from the hard work, it is easy for him to lose his temper. One day, my mother was sewing a quilt . "Mom, may I ask you a question?" I said. "What?" "Is there love between you and Dad?" I asked her in a very low voice. My mother stopped her work and raised her head in surprise. She didn't answer immediately. Then she continued to sew the quilt. I was very worried because I thought I had hurt her. But at last I heard my mother say the following words: "Susan, look at the thread . Sometimes it appears, but most of it disappears in the quilt. It makes the quilt strong. If life is a quilt, then love should be a thread. It can hardly be seen, but it's really there. Love is inside." I couldn't understand her until the next spring. My dad got sick suddenly. My mum had to stay with him in the hospital for a month. When they returned, they both looked very pale. _ . After they were back, every day in the morning and dusk, my mother helped my father walk slowly on the country road. The doctor had said my father would recover in two months. But after two months he still couldn't walk by himself. All of us were worried about him. "Dad, how are you feeling now?" I asked. "Susan, don't worry about me," he said gently. "I just like walking with your mom. I like this kind of life." Looking at his eyes, I knew he loves my mother deeply. Once I thought love meant flowers, gifts and sweet kisses. But now, I understand that love is just like the thread. Love is inside, making life strong and warm. What can we learn from the writer's dad's words? Answer: How do the sprouts of seeds buried in complete dark in the soil find their way to the surface of the soil? Answer: Tom is thirteen years old. He is in Grade Seven this year. He likes playing football and watching football matches. And he often reads newspapers. He does his best to know when and where there is going to be a football match. Now Tom is having lunch and he is also reading newspapers. He is very happy because there is going to be a nice football match on TV at four this afternoon. He wants to watch it very much, but he is going to have English and maths lessons in the afternoon. He thinks hard and finds a way. "Hello, Mrs Black,"Tom says to his teacher on the telephone."Tom is ill in bed. He wants to ask for half a day's leave ." "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that,"says Mrs Black."But who is that?" "It's my father, Mrs Black,"Tom answers. Why does Tom ask for half a day's leave? Answer:
Durban -- Canada Monday became the first country to pull out of the historic Kyoto Protocol , inescapably scarring the global anticlimate change efforts. The Kyoto Protocol, which set different duties for all countries to cut emissions , states that different countries should reduce their collective greenhouse emissions accordingly. However, the United States refused to sign the protocol in 2001, and is the only developed country that has not agreed to sign it. The move has cast a shadow over the global community, and has made some other developed nations hesitate to cut their emissions. To add fuel to the fire, Canada, became the first to call it quits, with the deadline of the first commitment period (20082012) approaching. The biggest concern at this moment is whether other developed countries would follow suit. Over the past four years, a drama has unfolded among developed countries over the emissions cuts and offering support to their developing partners. The Umbrella Group, consisting of Japan, Canada, Australia, the United States and other developed countries, hesitated and even backed away from their positions under certain excuses. The first one quoted by Canadian Environment Minister Peter Kent is that emission cuts damage the economy. Still another is requiring China and India to have the same duty of cutting emissions as developed countries. Actually, if emissions in developed countries could fall to the levels in developing countries, it would greatly help the fight against global climate change. In sum, any irresponsible action, in the anticlimate change campaign should be a cause for blame. It is widely hoped that the United States and Canada will see reason and join the rest of the world community in supporting the Kyoto Protocol. According to the passage, _ have refused to follow the Kyoto Protocol. A. Canada and Australia B. Japan and Canada C. the US and Canada D. China and India Answer: C. the US and Canada Writing articles about films for The Front Page was my first proper job. Before then I had done bits of reviewing--novels for other newspapers, films for a magazine and anything I was asked to do for the radio. That was how I met Tom Seaton, the first arts editor of The Front Page, who had also written for television. He hired me, but Tom was not primarily a journalist, or he would certainly have been more careful in choosing his staff. At first, his idea was that a team of critics should take care of the art forms that didn't require specialized knowledge: books, TV, theatre, film and radio. There would be a weekly lunch at which we would make our choices from the artistic material that Tom had decided we should cover, though there would also be guests to make the atmosphere sociable. It all felt like a bit of dream at that time: a new newspaper and I was one of the team. It seemed so unlikely that a paper could be introduced into a crowded market. It seemed just as likely that a millionaire wanted to help me personally, and was pretending to employ me. Such was my lack of self-confidence. Tom's original scheme for a team of critics for the arts never took off. It was a good idea, but we didn't get together as planned and so everything was done by phone. It turned out, too, that the general public out there preferred to associate a reviewer with a single subject area, and so I chose film. Without Tom's initial push, though, we would hardly have come up with the present arrangement, by which I write an extended weekly piece, usually on one film. The space I am given allows me to broaden my argument--or forces me, in an uninteresting week, to make something out of nothing. But what is my role in the public arena? I assume that people choose what films to go to on the basis of the stars, the publicity or the director. So if a film review isn't really a consumer guide, what is it? I certainly don't feel I have a responsibility to be 'right' about a movie. Nor do I think there should be a certain number of 'great' and 'bad' films each year. All I have to do is put forward an argument. I'm not a judge, and nor would I want to be. Which of the following best describes what the writer says about his work? A. He can freely express his opinion. B. He prefers to write about films he likes. C. His success varies from year to year. D. He writes according to accepted rules Answer: C. His success varies from year to year. Charlie was always happy. He liked helping others and people asked him for help when they were in trouble. He even got the name"Happy Charlie". One day, a boy called Waterworks came to the town on holiday. No matter what Charlie said to him, Waterworks would always find some reason to be sad-- My parents didn't buy me that toy; I can't watch TV; I don't like to go to school...... Everything seemed so sad to Waterworks. He was always sad. But Charlie didn't care and kept spending more time with Waterworks , trying to make him happy. Then, one day, they went out together. When Charlie was saying something, someone dropped a pie from a window and it leaned right on his head. He got such a sudden fear that couldn't say a word. The two boys were speechless. During those moments of silence, Waterworks missed Charlie's happy words so much that he finally said:"Wow,Charlie. That's a nice disguise." And, after saying those words, Waterworks felt so good and he realized that he was used to his friend's enthusiasm. And came to the town. After meeting Waterworks, Charlie _ . A. said few words to him B. did his best to make him happy C. showed no interest in him D. always felt disappointed in him Answer: B. did his best to make him happy The story of "Who Moved My Cheese?"was created by Dr. Spencer Johnson to help him deal with a difficult change in his life. It showed him how to take his changing situation seriously but not take himself so seriously. When his friends noticed how much better life had become for him, and asked why, Dr.Johnson shared his "Cheese" story. Many later said how greatly the story had helped them to keep their sense of humor, to change, and to gain something better, too. Twenty years after the story was created, "Who Moved My Cheese?" was finally published. It soon became a No.1 international best seller, with one million hardcover copies in print within the first sixteen months and over ten million copies within the next two years. Some critics do not understand why so many people find the book so valuable. They say the story is simple enough for a child to understand, and it insults their intelligence. Some even fear it suggests that people should mindlessly accept unnecessary changes forced upon them by others, although that is not in the story. The author said that both the fans and the critics are "right" in their own way. It is not what is in the story of "Who Moved My Cheese?" but how you understand it and apply it to your own situation that gives it value. Hopefully the way you understand the story of "Who Moved My Cheese?" and the way you put it into action in your life will help you find and enjoy the "New Cheese" you deserve . (278words) The writer's purpose in writing the passage is to _ . A. help Dr. Johnson sell more of his book B. introduce the meaning of the book C. help readers understand the book and get something from it D. introduce people's different opinions on the book Answer: C. help readers understand the book and get something from it What tool is used to determine the mass of an object? A. Balance B. Meter stick C. Thermometer D. Graduated cylinder Answer: A. Balance
In our life, there are always some days that will never be forgotten. This was one of those days, a day when we were on a hike, I became my children's hero. This event happened the first summer after we moved to the mountains of Colorado. Wanting to enjoy the beauty of the mountains, my wife and I planned a day hike to the Brown's Creek waterfall. The kids were excited--a day hike, a chance to experience a waterfall, and a day spent with Dad and Mom. Our hike would take us up the Brown's Creek trail and after about 3 miles the waterfall would be on our left. After slowly climbing the first mile, the trail took us through a beautiful grassland and across the creek a couple of times. We decided to turn back before reaching the waterfall, mostly because we were tired and still didn't know how much farther _ was. While crossing the creek by walking on a downed tree trunk, our little Izzie fell into the creek and immediately started moving up and down in the current . Immediately, I jumped into the creek after her. I managed to grab her and push her to the bank. But now, I was the one in need of being rescued. I thought this might be the end and I wasn't sure if I could hold on. Then, I heard the voice of the love of my life, my wife's voice. She shouted loudly--Stand up! Stand up! With the last bit of strength I had, I stood, and walked out of the creek. The kids showed little concern for my health; they were looking after Izzie, now safe in their arms. But I did hear one of the kids say: Thanks Dad, for saving Izzie. You're our HERO! As we walked back down the trail, I enjoyed a rare, but one of those sweet moments in life, that I wouldn't trade for anything on earth. I didn't care about my wet clothes, the squish of water in my boots, or the embarrassment of nearly drowning in water; none of that mattered. I just walked along following my family, with my head held up, my shoulders back and my chest pushed out proudly enjoying the fact that, at that moment in time, on that particular day in life, I was my children's hero. What can we know from the passage? A The family finally arrived at the waterfall. B Little Izzie was hurt badly on the way. C The mother pulled the author out of the creek. D Little Izzie was rescued by her father. Answer: D. Little Izzie was rescued by her father. Can you imagine keeping an alien dog as a pet? This is what happens in CJ7--a wonderful movie made in China. Maybe some of you saw it. It came out in January, 2008. The movie is about a poor man Ti, his son Dicky and their alien dog CJ7. Dicky, a 10-year-old boy, lives a poor life with his father Ti, a worker. One day,his father finds a ball in the trash and he gives it to Dicky. The ball becomes a cute alien dog. It's a small dog with big eyes and green hair. It can talk and do magic . Soon the dog comes to love Ti and his son. It goes to school with Dicky. It makes him laugh, but it makes trouble, too. When Ti falls off a building and dies, CJ7 saves his life. Because the dog loses all its power , it becomes a doll. But Dicky still wears the dog around his neck. He hopes that CJ7 will come back to life one day. Dicky's father finds CJ17 in the _ . A classroom B street C trash D tree Answer: C. trash With the level of high school education increasing, the expectations for high school athletes are directly affected. Most high school athletes are faced with high stress levels due to the rising expectations of sports teams. As a result>> many of them are trying their best to prepare themselves to be varsity athletes but also feel the pressure to be good students as well. In our society, more and more parents are pushing their kids to be their best and want them to possess more and better than what they had. However ,sometimes the pressure from parents, students and fellow teammates can be a little too much for them. Colleges now are looking to accept not only good students but socially well-rounded students too. How are they supposed to be able to be socially popular? How can they balance school work and sports practices? Don't you think it is too much for them? Everyone wants to have a personal life and does what they like to. But actually, they are always caught up in trying to be the ''best,' and planning ahead for their future. Therefore ,many teens have to struggle both at school and outside of school. To become varsity athletes tmost teens are required to stay very late in the school. In this way it leaves very few hours to eat, shower, do homework and then get to sleep and the next day they have to wake up early again. Sports seem to become more and more competitive every year ,just as academics do as well. At some point, teens will start to suffer greatly. So in order to fix this, the school needs to care more about the students participating in sports. In other words, varsity athletes should have the right to rearrange their schedule due to their sports season and sports coaches should also understand the teens. When an athlete asks to leave early, it doesn't mean that they want to give up ,but rather, they are trying to keep up with everything. What might be the author's attitude towards the high school athletes? _ . A Sympathetic B Doubtful C Unconcerned D Ambiguous Answer: A. Sympathetic Oscar-winning actress Joan Fontaine, who rose to fame during Hollywood's golden age as the star of several Alfred Hitch.cock classics, died from natural causes at her home in Carmel, northern California on December 16, 2013 aged 96, US media reports said. Born in Japan to British parents, Fontaine moved in 1919 to California, where she and her elder sister -screen idol Olivia de Havilland-were to shape successful movie careers.Fontaine and de Havilland remain the only sisters to have won lead actress honours at the Academy Awards.Yet the two sisters also had an uneasy relationship, with Fontaine recording a bitter competition in her own account "No Bed of Roses ". Fontaine began her acting career in her late teens with Largely less important roles on the stage and later in mostly B-movies in the 1930s. It was not before famous British film director Hitchcock spotted her a decade later that her career took off. Greatly surprised by her expressive looks, the suspense master cast Fontaine in his first US film, a 1940 adaptation of the Daphne du Maurier novel "Rebecca". She received an Academy Award nomination for her performance as a troubled wife. A year later, Fontaine finally won the long-sought golden figure, for her role as leading lady in "Suspicion" opposite Cary Grant, becoming the first and only actress to earn the title for a Hitchock film. Although her sister, Olivia de Havilland, preceded her in gaining Hollywood fame, Fontaine was the first of the sisters to win an Oscar, beating Olivia's nomination as best actress in Mitchell Leisen's "Hold Back the Dawn". The dislike ,between the sisters was felt at the Oscars ceremony."I froze. I stared across the table, where Olivia was sitting.'Get up there!' she whispered commandingly," Fontaine said."All the dislike we'd felt toward each other as children...all came rushing back in quickly changing pictures...I felt Olivia would spring across the table and seize me by the hair." Olivia did not win her first Oscar until 1946, for her role as the lover of a World War I pilot in Leisen's " To Each His Own". Fontaine later made it known that her. sister had slighted her as she attempted to offer congratulations."She took one look at me, ignored my hand, seized her Oscar and wheeled away," she said. The sisters were also reportedly competitors in love. Howard Hughes, a strange businessman who dated the elder de Havilland for a time, offered marriage to Fontaine several times."I married first, won the Oscar before Olivia did, and if I die first, she'll undoubtedly be extremely angry because I beat her to it!" Fontaine once joked. As her film career fruited in the 1950s, Fontaine turned to television and dinner theatre, and also appeared in several Broadway productions, including the Lion in Winter". Anything but the ordinary lady, Fontaine was also a licensed pilot, a champion balloonist, an accomplished golfer, a licensed .decoration designer and a first-class cook. Fontaine won her Oscar for her role in the film of " _ ". A Rebecca ' B Suspicion C To Each His Own D Hold Back the Dawn Answer: B. Suspicion Patricia Blues, 29, has a new aim in life: to keep drivers' hands on their steering wheels and off their cell phones. On November 2, 2007, Blues lived through a horrible experience. A motorist dialing a cell phone drove through a stop sign at 45 miles per hour and ran into the side of Blues' car. Blues' 2-year-old daughter was killed immediately in the crash. Blues has since devoted her time top pushing for laws that would prevent this type of tragedy from happening again. Cell phones are not the only distractions that cause accidents. Eating, changing CDs, reading maps, talking to passengers, and just reaching for an object on the floor can be dangerous. Therefore, the emphasis should be on educating drivers to avoid all distractions. However, talking on cell phones might be easier to regulate than eating or changing music. At least 34 states have already passed laws to restrict cell phone use in moving cars. No state has banned it yet, but several US. cities. Worldwide, 13 nations, including Australia, England, Germany, Japan and China have banned drivers' use of cell phones in moving cars. To date, no scientific evidence has been published showing that talking on the phone affects driving safety. But according to a test by some high school students, "driving while on the phone does affect safety and probably shouldn't be done". Which of the following is TRUE according to the text? A Using cell phones while driving is easier to be controlled by law than other distractions B It is more important to make laws than educate drivers to be aware of driving safety. C Driving while on the cell phone is firmly against only by some students from high schools. D It is extremely urgent for the cities with a large population to restrict using cell phones Answer: A. Using cell phones while driving is easier to be controlled by law than other distractions

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